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Terrorism is foremost threat to international peace, security: EAM Swaraj

Baku (Azerbaijan), Apr 05 (ANI): While addressing the delegates at the Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said terrorism is foremost threat to international peace and security. Swaraj also said terrorism undermines nation's ability to attain developmental goals. "Unfortunately, talks to combat terrorism haven't been matched by our actions" added Swaraj.

EAM Swaraj meets Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza

Baku (Azerbaijan), Apr 05 (ANI): On the sidelines of Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza in Azerbaijan's Baku on Thursday. Swaraj is on a three-day visit to the Central Asian country to attend the NAM mid-term ministerial conference. Swaraj on Wednesday held talks with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Hope China changes trade practices to avert tariffs: White House

Washington, DC (United States), Apr 05 (ANI): The White House on April 04 said it hoped China would change its "unfair trade practices" in a way that would avoid the need for the Donald Trump administration to move forward with announced import tariffs. "It'll be a couple months before tariffs on either side would go into effect and be implemented and we're hopeful that China will do the right thing," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters. "I would anticipate that if there are no changes to the behavior of China and they don't stop the unfair trade practices then we would move forward," she said.

Leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran hold talks on Syria

Ankara (Turkey), Apr 05 (ANI): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held a three-way summit in Ankara on April 04 on the Syrian conflict. The three countries are working together to try to reduce the violence in Syria despite supporting opposing sides in the war. Russia and Iran are Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's strongest backers, while Turkey supports anti-Assad insurgents. Despite their differences Iran, Russia and Turkey are three of the major powers involved in a conflict whose course has been largely defined by foreign interventions, and their influence could increase further if the United States pulls out. Iranian state television reported that the three leaders said on Wednesday it was important to prepare the ground for the return of Syrians displaced by conflict to their country.

EAM Swaraj arrives in Baku to participate in Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Conference

Baku (Azerbaijan), Apr 04 (ANI): Union External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday arrived at Azerbaijan's capital city Baku to participate in Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Conference. The NAM Mid-Term Ministerial Conference will be held in Baku on 5-6 April under the theme of "Promoting international peace and security for sustainable development". During her three-day visit, EAM Swaraj will hold bilateral consultations with her Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. The two sides will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest. India and Azerbaijan enjoy warm and friendly relations based on historical and cultural ties.

Bilateral meeting held between Nirmala Sitharaman, Russian Defence Minister Army General Sergey Shoygu

Moscow (Russia), Apr 04 (ANI): A bilateral meeting was held between Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Russian counterpart Army General Sergey Shoygu in Russia's Moscow on Wednesday. The talks were aimed to reinforce defence cooperation between the two countries focusing specifically on Military Technical Cooperation. Sitharaman is currently on a three-day visit to Russia to attend the seventh Moscow Conference on International Security. This is her first visit to Russia after taking over as the Defence Minister.

Hafeez Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim in UNSC terrorist list

New York (US), Apr 04 (ANI): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has released a consolidated list of terrorist individuals and organisations, with 139 entries from Pakistan alone. The list includes prominent names such as Dawood Ibrahim and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed. According to the Council, Dawood has held several Pakistani passports issued in Rawalpindi and Karachi. The agency also claims that Dawood owns a palatial bungalow in Karachi. Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has been listed as a personnel wanted by the Interpol for involvement in terror activities. Osama bin Laden's heir apparent, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has also been named as a terrorist by the UNSC. The UN data claims that he is in hiding somewhere "in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area". The UN list has also identified several of his aides, who the UN believe are hiding with him.

Nepal PM Oli apprises parliament about his upcoming India visit

Kathmandu (Nepal), Apr 04 (ANI): The Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, on Tuesday briefed the House of Representatives about the agenda he would take up during his upcoming visit to India. Oli, who will begin his three-day visit to India from Friday, informed that his government will aim for developing strong bilateral ties with India and other countries in the neighbourhood. Oli reiterated his commitment to further bolstering ties with India. Oli informed the parliament that the focus of his visit to India would be on sectors such as agriculture, waterways, energy and railways. Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also set to inaugurate an integrated check post, which is built in the town of Birgunj in Nepal, during the latter's visit.

'Active shooter' at YouTube headquarters shot dead

California (US), Apr 04 (ANI): A female gunman allegedly died of a self-inflicting gunshot in an incident of cross-firing at the headquarters of the YouTube in California. Further, four civilians were reportedly injured in the incident. The YouTube office has now been barricaded.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin

Ankara (Turkey), Apr 04 (ANI): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin with an official welcome ceremony in the Turkish Capital Ankara on April 03. The two leaders were scheduled to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the Akkuyu nuclear plant and co-chair a high level cooperation council meeting. The leaders are also expected to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Turkey for a summit on Syria.

Thailand makes one of the 'largest-ever' crystal meth seizures

Bangkok (Thailand), Apr 04 (ANI): Thailand has made one of its largest ever busts of crystal meth. Police said Tuesday it was stopped on its way from Southeast Asia's notorious Golden Triangle. The haul is apparently over 1500 pounds - or 700 kilograms - worth of the drug. Officials also say that in Thailand, it would be worth $22 million dollars. Two locals and two Malaysian suspects were jailed in connection with the bust. The pills were on their way to neighboring Malaysia.

Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement faces crisis

Hong Kong, Apr 03 (ANI): Hong Kong's once thriving pro-democracy movement, weighed down by growing pessimism among its supporters over China's ever-increasing control in the city, is facing a crisis of confidence about its future. It was a fiery movement against Beijing's heavy hand, but in recent days the fight for Hong Kong's democracy has fizzled out.Pro-democracy parties have been losing ground and last month they won only two of three seats they were expected to take easily in by-elections.

Malaysia becomes first country to outlaw 'fake news'

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Apr 03 (ANI): Malaysia's parliament has approved a new law for publishing and sharing false information on digital platforms and social media, but critics are concerned the law could impact free speech. Malaysia is the first country to outlaw "fake news" and offenders could land in prison for up to six years. On Monday, Prime Minister Najib Razak got a majority in parliament to approve the law for publishing or sharing false information on digital platforms and social media. The law's expected to pass the country's upper house this week and come into effect soon after. In the leadup to a general election, critics of the new law say they could be used to stifle dissent and imprison journalists. The bill does not appear to clearly define fake news but it allows for broad consequences, including fines of over 120,000 U.S. dollars as well as jail. The government says the law would not violate freedom of speech, and cases would fall under an independent court.

PoK residents protest against Pakistani brutalities

Muzaffarabad (PoK), Apr 03: People in Pakistan occupied Kashmir continue to protest against the Pakistan Army and the government, forcing the latter to stop cross-border firing. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and other political parties jointly held a protest rally from Tetri Mor to Madarpur. The police carried out a baton charge and opened fire on the protesters. In retaliation, locals attacked army posts and set them on fire.

Global concerns over Islamic forces gaining ground in Bangladesh

Dhaka (Bangladesh), Apr 03 (ANI): As Bangladesh gears up for the general elections to be held in December this year, the Islamic forces in the country have started gaining ground. The Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamic fundamentalist groups, are making attempts to root out the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League. Experts believe that the Jamaat-e-Islami has committed war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War and killed three million people in the name of Islam. Around 500,000 women were reportedly violated by the Pakistan Army and their collaborators. Shahriar Kabir, a Dhaka-based journalist and human rights activist, said, "The rise of Islamic militancy, terrorism in the name of Islam that is being perpetrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hifazat-e-Islam, and backed by the BNP, one of the largest political parties of Bangladesh. Because of the BNP, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hifazat-e-Islam as well as other fundamentali

xWinnie Mandela dies at 81, Twitter mourns

Apr 03 (ANI): Twitter is mourning the loss of South Africa's Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the anti-apartheid campaigner and former wife of the late Nelson Mandela. The activist died following a long illness at age of 81. Her followers and fans have been outpouring their grief on the social media. Madela died after a long bout of illness that kept her in and out of the hospital since the beginning of the year.

Year-end Bangladesh polls being closely watched by New Delhi

Dhaka (Bangladesh), Apr 02 (ANI): Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh are due by December end. While the odds seem to favour the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League's return to power for the third time in succession, New Delhi cannot rule out an upset victory by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is led by Begum Khaleda Zia. India is closely watching the developments in Bangladesh as the Awami League Government has been friendly towards New Delhi. The coalition BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh (Jamaat) government that was in power in Bangladesh between 2001 to 2006 was intensely hostile to India as was the BNP Government that was in power from 1991 to 1996. Both the BNP and the BNP-Jamaat-led coalition Governments had vigorously continued the policy of preceding military dictatorships of providing shelter, funds, weapons and training to secessionist insurgent groups of north eastern India like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodolan

Chinese dams compromising Mekong River's biodiversity, resources

Cambodia/ Vietnam, Apr 02 (ANI): The Mekong ranks as one of the world's most productive inland fisheries. Its basin banks support a population of 60 million Thai, Laotians, Cambodians, and Vietnamese. the great biodiversity and precious resources of the Mekong are increasingly endangered by the rush to dam one of the world's great rivers. A total of 11 mainstream dams and 120 dams on tributaries are planned, which scientists warn will imperil the already fragile river system. Recent studies call for a suspension and review of future projects. A UNESCO report has warned that Chinese dams built on the upper sections, known as Lancang, have caused a 70 per cent reduction in sediment, which will adversely impact fisheries and rice production in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Watch: British royal family attends Easter service at Windsor's chapel

Windsor (United Kingdom), Apr 02 (ANI): Britain's Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family attended annual Easter service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor on Sunday. Queen Elizabeth was greeted by Princess Anne, Prince Andrew upon her arrival. St. George's Chapel will also be the venue for Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle's wedding scheduled this year in May. Prince William along with wife Catherine, due to have their third child, also attended the service.

North Korea to take part in next two Olympics

Beijing (China), Apr 01 (ANI): North Korea will take part in the next two Olympic Games in Japan and China, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said on March 31 after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. Bach traveled to Pyongyang on Thursday (March 29) in a visit that comes after North Korea's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Games helped ease tensions over the Korean peninsula.