The Afghan Taliban on Tuesday announced that the insurgent group was ready to negotiate with the US amid ongoing national and international efforts to initiate a political settlement in the war-torn country.


Ready to negotiate with US: Afghan Taliban


IANS Automatic

The decision to hold the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Mumbai in June is an acknowledgement of India's active participation in the multilateral institution, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday.


AIIB's 3rd annual meet in Mumbai in June


Even as the Chinese Communist Party amended the country's Constitution to pave the way for President Xi Jinping to continue beyond the traditional two-term presidency, a leading Indian Sinologist and former envoy to Beijing described the Chinese supremo's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a "strategic opening to expand its regional and global profile" that will inevitably "impinge on India's strategic space".


'China impinging on India's strategic space'


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said bilateral trade between India and South Korea in 2017 reached $20 billion, the first time in six years.


India-S.Korea bilateral trade in 2017 reached $20bn: Modi


Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered daily "humanitarian pauses" in Syria's Eastern Ghouta to allow evacuation of civilians from the zone held by militants, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday.


Putin orders humanitarian truce in Syria's Eastern Ghouta


At the crest of landslide reforms, Saudi Arabia is changing. And with aid diplomacy, the wealthy kingdom now wants to overhaul its global image and be seen as a world humanitarian leader.


With aid diplomacy, S Arabia wants to be global humanitarian leader


King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, accompanied by a business delegation, will come on a three-day visit to India starting on Tuesday, the External Affairs Ministry announced on  Monday.


King of Jordan to visit India


Airstrikes by the US-led anti-terror coalition on an area in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour have killed 25 civilians, a monitor group reported on Monday.


US-led airstrikes kill 25 civilians in Syria


Southeast Asia today presents an anomalous situation with widespread economic progress but also widening disparity, apparent stability in all its countries which, however, face a range of challenges from ethnic insurgencies to terrorism, and most worryingly, democracy losing ground, says a leading regional specialist.


'Democracy retreating in Southeast Asia, India must play bigger role'


The seventh round of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations began in Mexico City with hopes of finalising more sections.


7th round of NAFTA talks begin in Mexico


The Indian military's Andaman and Nicobar Command is going to host biennial multinational naval event 'Milan-2018' at Port Blair from March 6 to March 13 with the underlying theme of "friendship across the seas", it was announced on Sunday.


Indian Navy's biennial multi-national military event Milan-2018 in March


India on Sunday congratulated China for being elected Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering and terror financing among other financial crimes, expressing the hope that it will uphold its objectives.


India hopes China upholds global financial watchdog's objectives


Odisha Parba will once again bring to life the socio-cultural ethos of the coastal state in the heart of the national capital, an official said on Sunday.


Odisha Parba to showcase state's socio-cultural ethos in Delhi


South Korea will invest in the construction of a solar power plant in Zarandieh county in Iran, the media reported.


S. Korea to invest in Iran's solar power plant project


North Korea on Saturday accused the US of secretly making preparations to wage a large-scale cyber war on Pyongyang prior to a military attack.


US preparing for cyber war: N. Korea


Saudi state-run oil giant Aramco is looking to buy stake in existing Indian refineries and in their capacity expansion, as well as in the proposed petrochemicals refinery on India's west coast, Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz al-Falih said on Saturday.


Saudi Aramco considers buying stake in Indian refineries


India and China, during Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale's two-day Beijing visit, have stressed that "sound development of relations" between them will help in bringing stability to today's world, the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday.


India, China agree sound bilateral ties to help global stability


Slovenia on Saturday sought Indian investment and joint ventures, particularly in the areas of tourism, hospitality, automotive and medicaments.


Slovenia seeks Indian JVs, investments in tourism, automotive


After a day of hectic negotiations and three delays, the 10 elected members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) failed to get its five permanent members to compromise on a resolution for a 30-day ceasefire in war-torn Syria and to allow humanitarian aid to reach besieged areas.


Compromise on Syria ceasefire resolution eluding UNSC


Brussels, Feb 23 (IANS/AKI) An international summit on the Sahel held here on Friday was "a very important moment" for Europe's commitment to the "fragile" African region, Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said.


Summit crucial to EU support for Africa's Sahel region: Italian PM


Geneva, Feb 23 (IANS/AKI) United Nations migration agency IOM on Friday appealed for almost $194 million to help millions of Syrians living in and outside their war-torn country as well to aid the communities who are hosting them.

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