Indian and French naval ships took to the seas off Goa as part of the sea phase of Varuna, the largest Indo-French naval exercise till date, a statement issued by the Indian Navy on Wednesday said.


Indian, French ships embark on sea phase of 'Varuna'


IANS Automatic

Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was cleared by the Supreme Court of blasphemy charges last year after spending eight years on death row, has left the country, officials said on Wednesday.


Aasia Bibi leaves Pakistan after blasphemy acquittal


The Pakistani company Hamdard has offered to supply RoohAfza in India, after media reports of shortage of the summer refreshment syrup during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan.


Hamdard Pakistan offers RoohAfza supply for India's shortage


Iran will partially withdraw from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal signed with six other nations, President Hassan Rouhani announced on Wednesday, a move that comes a year after the US unilaterally withdrew from the pact.


Iran announces partial withdrawal from nuclear deal


With peacekeeping operations trapped in a "no-man's land" of vague realities and expectations, India says there has to be a readiness to adapt to the emerging threat situations.


Peacekeeping needs to adapt to growing threat situations: India


With Brexit delayed, the UK will have to hold European elections, despite hopes from the government that the deal would be done by then, said the Prime Minister's de facto deputy. The vote is due from May 23 to 26.


Brexit delay: UK will take part in European polls


Pratica di Mare (Italy), May 7 (IANS/AKI) Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday he hoped to meet war-wracked Libya's eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar for face-to-face talks aimed at de-escalating the deadly battle for the capital, Tripoli,"very soon".


Italian PM to meet Libyan military strongman 'very soon'


Rome, May 7 (IANS/AKI) Italy is spearheading a diplomatic push for a truce leading to a negotiated political settlement in war-torn Libya and has held talks on the crisis over the past month with key players Russia and Egypt,  Premier Giuseppe Conte told Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at a meeting here on Tuesday, sources said.


Italy 'seeking political solution to Libyan conflict'


India and the US have agreed that Afghanistan's political future is for its people to decide through an inclusive and legitimate process, US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said on Tuesday after his talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and senior officials here.


Afghanistan's future be decided by its people: India, US


The US' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has warned Norway that a prominent Arab activist who is living in the country under asylum protection is facing a potential threat from Saudi Arabia, the media reported on Tuesday.


CIA warns Arab activist of 'threat from Saudi Arabia'


Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday detained seven people, including three Chinese men, on suspicion of being involved in human trafficking, a day after arresting 10 Chinese nationals on similar charges.


Pakistan detains 13 Chinese men for human trafficking


Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un without conditions to resolve mutual mistrust and sort out ongoing bilateral issues, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.


Abe wants to meet Kim without conditions


Iran's Supreme National Security Council has described the US military deployment in the Middle East as "psychological warfare" by Washington against Tehran.


Iran: US military deployment in Middle East 'bluff'


China on Tuesday said it will send its top trade negotiator Li Hu to the US for talks despite Washington's breaking the truce amid the ongoing trade war by deciding to increase tariffs on the Chinese imports worth $200 billion.


China's top trade negotiator will go to US for talks


Following intelligence showing Iran made plans to target US forces in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, decision to reinforce the American military presence in the region was taken in an effort to deter any possible moves by Tehran, Dow Jones Newswires reported.


US deployment triggered after inputs of Iranian attack plans


Rome, May 6 (IANS/AKI) The international community needs to strive for a brighter future for those living in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli diplomat said on Monday after a weekend of deadly violence that began during protests at the ongoing Israeli blockade of the area.


Nations must secure better future for Gaza: Israeli diplomat


As many as 150 Taliban and 30 civilians were killed in airstrikes by the US and Afghan forces on the militant group's drug labs in western Afghanistan, officials said on Monday.


150 Taliban among 180 killed in Afghan airstrikes


Malaysia has handed over a former executive of Goldman Sachs to the United States after he was allegedly linked to the multi-billion dollar corruption scandal related to state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (IMDB), the Malaysian Attorney General's office said on Monday.


Malaysia extradites ex-Goldman Sachs banker to US


China on Monday said that its trade delegation is still readying to go Washington after US President Donald Trump abruptly announced to crank up tariffs from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on Chinese imports worth $200 billion.


China sending trade team to US despite Trump's threat


Amid political unrest in Venezuela, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that embattled President Nicolas Maduro is "ruling for the moment", but cannot be part of the country's future.


Maduro can't be part of Venezuela's future: Pompeo


China is still preparing to send a delegation to Washington for trade talks despite US President Donald Trump latest threat to impose fresh trade tariffs worth $200 billion on Chinese goods, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said here on Monday.

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