Rome, July 4 (IANS/AKI) NATO is "a pillar of peace and global stability", Italy's President Sergio Mattarella said on Tuesday after meeting his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid during an official visit to the Baltic state.


NATO underpins peace and global stability, says Italian President


IANS Automatic

Highlighting the need to systemise disaster data by setting up a database on a sustainable basis, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said it will be India's endeavour to set up disaster database expeditiously well before the target date of 2020, an official statement said.


India to set up disaster database before 2020: Rijiju


Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday agreed to complete the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment (APPI) as early as possible to expand investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.


Sri Lanka, UAE to ink pact to expand investment promotion


Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday reiterated his country's intention on sticking to the Iranian nuclear deal despite the withdrawal by the US.


Iran to stick to nuclear deal despite US withdrawal: President


The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the exemption of commercial rates for the plot of land allotted to the High Commission of Fiji in New Delhi here, an official statement said.


Cabinet approves exempting land for Fiji mission from commercial rates


Pakistan has become attractive for investments in multiple sectors after the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), President Mamnoon Hussain has said.


Pakistan attractive for investments after CPEC: President


Pakistan and the US have agreed to remain engaged for peace in Afghanistan, a media report said on Wednesday.


Pakistan, US to work towards peace in Afghanistan


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Tuesday the appointment of Major General Jose Eladio Alcain of Uruguay as head of mission and chief military observer for the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).


Guterres appoints Uruguayan to head UN military observers in India, Pakistan


Rome, July 3 (IANS/AKI) Italy will donate 12 extra boats to Libya to help the turmoil-wracked country boost its coast patrols and stop migrant trafficking boats setting sail from its shores, Premier Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday.


Italy to give Libya 12 extra patrol boats


UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the suicide attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad that killed 19 people, most of them Sikhs, and called for the protection of minorities, his spokesperson Farhan Haq said.


Guterres condemns Jalalabad attack targeting Sikhs, Hindus


The US administration has recommended that state-owned China Mobile, the world's biggest cell phone carrier, be denied a licence to operate in the US, prompting Beijing to warn Washington to shun "Cold war mentality".


Trump tries to block China Mobile's US entry


US President Donald Trump has written to leaders of several NATO countries, including Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada, demanding that they increase their defence spending and warned that Washington "is losing patience with their failure to meet security obligations shared by the alliance".


Trump demands NATO allies to boost defence spending


To celebrate their strengthened relationship, India and Britain's Greater Manchester on Tuesday kicked off a joint summit to encourage more bilateral trade.


India, Manchester hold joint summit to promote trade


Iran's armed forces "are fully prepared to give a firm and crushing response to the enemies' threats of any kind," a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said here on Monday.


Iranian forces vow to give 'crushing response' to US


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday "strongly" condemned the terror attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city that killed at least 19, including many Sikhs on Sunday, and offered India's assistance to Kabul.


Modi condemns Jalalabad attack, Sushma meets victims' kin


India should allow ethanol imports to increase its refineries' "efficiency and profitability", delegates at an ethanol summit in the US said on Monday.


India should allow ethanol import, say experts at US summit


India has agreed to provide tariff concessions on 3,142 products to the six member nations of the Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) effective from July 1, an official statement said on Monday.


India grants tariff concessions to APTA members on 3,142 items


Pushing for greater integration in the Saarc region, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday said the South Asian region will remain backward until it pushes for greater trade, greater investments and more tourism within the region.


NITI Aayog for more trade, greater integration of Saarc region


The future of German Chancellor Angela Merkels ruling coalition is hanging in the balance after Interior Minister Horst Seehofer offered his resignation after weeks of battling to change her mind on migrant policy.


Merkel's Interior Minister 'offers to resign' over migrant issue


South Korean President Moon Jae-in will embark on a two-nation Asia tour to India and Singapore next week aimed at enhancing his country's relations with its Asian neighbours, the presidential office announced on Monday.


S. Korean President to visit India, Singapore next week


The private sector in Iran was allowed to export crude oil in a bid to thwart US sanctions, Iran's first Vice President said here on Sunday.

Page 108 -