Palestinian embassy opens in Vatican City
Vatican City, Jan 15 (IANS) Pope Francis and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met here to open a Palestinian embassy in the Vatican City. “We are very grateful about the role that the Holy See has…
Diplomacy
UN welcomes US decision to ease sanctions on Sudan
Khartoum, Jan 15 (IANS) The UN welcomed the United States’ decision to lift some sanctions imposed on Sudan. “This decision is recognition of steps taken by the government of Sudan during recent months in a…
China, Vietnam agree to manage differences on South China Sea
Beijing, Jan 15 (IANS) China and Vietnam issued a joint communique, pledging to manage maritime differences and safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea. According to the communique issued on Saturday, China…
African, French leaders open summit on peace, climate, economy
Bamako (Mali), Jan 15 (IANS) African and French leaders kicked off a summit here, focusing on key issues including peace and security, climate and economy. The 27th Africa-France Summit was held under the theme of…
US will be invited to Astana talks: Turkish FM
Ankara, Jan 15 (IANS) The United States would be invited to Syrian peace talks due to be held on January 23 in Astana, Kazakhstan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said. Officials from Turkey, Russia, and…
US embassy moved to Jerusalem won’t help peace, says Abbas
Rome, Jan 15 (IANS) The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday said that the President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would hinder…
US warns citizens to avoid Kenya-Somalia border
Nairobi, Jan 15 (IANS) The United Sates has warned its citizens living in Kenya to avoid travelling to the border area between Somalia and Kenya because of threats by the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. In a…
‘One China’ policy non-negotiable, Beijing tells Trump
Beijing, Jan 14 (IANS) China on Saturday told the US that the ‘One China policy’ is the political foundation of bilateral ties and “is nonnegotiable”. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks in response…
Amazon should respect Indian sentiments: Government
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) In the wake of Mahatma Gandhi flip-flops being sold on Amazon website, the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said the company should respect Indian sensitiveness and sentiments. “As a…
Pakistan’s ex-army chief to speak at Davos forum
Islamabad, Jan 14 (IANS) Pakistan’s former Army Chief retired General Raheel Sharif has been invited to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he will speak on the subject of…
‘BRICS cooperation to be strengthened during Chinese presidency’
Shanghai, Jan 14 (IANS) Indian banker and New Development Bank chief (NDB) K.V. Kamath has said that cooperation between the five BRICS countries will be strengthened during Chinese presidency over the bloc in 2017. Kamath…
Abe stresses importance of TPP during Australia visit
Canberra, Jan 14 (IANS) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday underlined the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during his trip to Australia to discuss trade, security and the election of Donald Trump as…
Trump hints at lifting sanctions against Russia, changing ‘One China’ policy
Washington, Jan 14 (IANS) US President-elect Donald Trump has hinted at lifting sanctions against Russia and said he was not committed to the longstanding ‘One-China’ policy. The incoming President who is scheduled to take office…
Coming Trump world order: Western intelligence at sixes and sevens
By Saeed Naqvi Pardon my naivet?, but I cannot for the life of me comprehend why the entire US establishment, with the intelligence community in the vanguard, is in convulsions about the alleged Russian efforts…
Cubans cheer end of US ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy
Havana, Jan 14 (IANS) Cubans have welcomed a White House decision to end “wet foot, dry foot” immigration practice that allowed undocumented Cuban migrants to remain and become permanent residents of the US. Cubans on…
Over 25,000 ‘lone’ child migrants reached Italy in 2016: Unicef
Rome, Jan 14 (IANS) Some 25,800 unaccompanied minor migrants reached Italy in 2016, more than double the figure of 2015, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) has said. The figure represented more than 90 per cent…
‘Trump aide spoke with Russian envoy in December’
Washington, Jan 14 (IANS) Michael Flynn, US President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser, took a phone call last month from Russia’s ambassador to the US, Trump’s spokesman said on Friday. The call between…
Pakistan’s largest trade expo opens in Sri Lanka
Colombo, Jan 13 (IANS) Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Friday inaugurated a mega trade expo in capital Colombo to strengthen economic and trade ties between the two countries. The trade expo, the largest-ever of its…
Obama lifts some sanctions on Sudan
Washington, Jan 13 (IANS) US President Barack Obama announced on Friday that he would lift some of the economic sanctions on Sudan, citing recent “positive actions” by the government of the African country. In an…
Nepal can’t remain a poor country between China and India: Envoy
New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Ambassador of Nepal Deep Kumar Upadhyay on Friday said that Nepal can no longer afford to remain a poor country, sandwiched between the two emerging economies of China and India….