India's pace of economic reforms may slow down in the coming months because of the impending elections, although it has carried out major reforms that could help the nation reap the benefits of the upswing, said the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).


Upcoming elections may slow Indian economic reforms pace: IMF chief


IANS Automatic

Two Palestinians were killed and over 40 injured on Friday during clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers near the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said.


2 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers


India has urged the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries to set up an independent rating agency of the group, according to an Indian official.


India pushes for BRICS rating agency


Seoul and Pyongyang on Friday set up a telephone line between their leaders, enabling direct dialogue between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un who are also set to meet in person next week.


Seoul, Pyongyang set up direct Moon-Kim hotline


Turkey remains excluded from India's liberalised visa regime designed to boost people-to-people contact whereby the latter has already granted e-visa facilities to 160 countries, Turkish Ambassador Sakit Ozlan Torunlar said on Friday.


Turkey not in India's e-visa list of 160 countries: Ambassador


US President Donald Trump has said he'd bring up Japan's sensitive abductees issue when he meets North Korea top leader Kim Jong-un in an upcoming historic meeting.


Trump to bring up Japan's abductees with Kim


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched India's interest for the development of small island nations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here.


India pitches for small island nations' development at Commonwealth summit


As part of India's diplomatic reach-out across the Commonwealth nations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met a number of leaders of Commonwealth nations, including the Prime Ministers of Australia and Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here.


Modi meets leaders of Commonwealth nations on sidelines of CHOGM


As part of India's diplomatic reach-out across the Commonwealth nations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met a number of leaders of Africa, and the island nations of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and the Pacific on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here.


Modi meets leaders of Commonwealth nations on margins of CHOGM


Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he personally authorised an investigation against an Australian nun who was detained in the country earlier this week after being accused of political activity that breached her visa.


Duterte ordered probe against detained Australian nun


China is set to impose temporary anti-dumping measures on imports of synthetic rubber from the US, the EU and Singapore, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.


China to impose anti-dumping measures on synthetic rubber imports


Former Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar is slated to join Tata Sons as its head of global strategy and has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a waiver of the mandatory cooling-off period for bureaucrats seeking commercial employment, well-informed sources said on Thursday.


Jaishankar seeks waiver of cooling-off period for joining Tatas


Chinese bike-sharing company ofo received more than 1.1 million orders in India in the first quarter in 2018, the firm said on Thursday.


Chinese bike-sharing service ofo welcomed in India


Countries joining the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are likely to see their growth lifted over the next five years, according to a survey.


Countries joining Belt and Road Initiative can expect growth: Survey


China and the US have still not held any bilateral talks over trade frictions, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.


US, China have not held any trade dispute talks yet, says Beijing


The US and China, the most important trade partners to each other, need cooperation instead of trade wars, said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P.


US, China need cooperation, not trade wars: Bloomberg


US President Donald Trump has said that if his planned talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are not fruitful he will "walk out", media reported.


Trump 'will walk out' if North Korea talks not fruitful


The US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday he is negotiating a bilateral trade agreement with Japan and that his country would only re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) if its member countries offered him a deal he could not refuse.


Trump negotiates trade deal with Japan


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India's foreign policy is done with level eyes and that New Delhi has emerged as the key voice for the Third World on the global platform.


India's foreign policy done with level eyes: Modi


India and Britain on Wednesday signed a number of agreements and announced initiatives, including in the areas of technology, trade and investment, during the course of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here.


India, Britain sign nine agreements, announce initiatives


Rome, 18 April (IANS/AKI) The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development and leading technology company Ant Financial Services Group have signed an agreement aimed at propelling rural economic development and reducing poverty in China and elsewhere, the IFAD said Wednesday in a statement.

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