US propagates partnership with Europe

The US sees Europe as its indispensable partner in addressing threats and challenges as well as opportunities, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said here Saturday. Speaking at the 50th Munich Security Conference, Hagel said: “It’s clear to us and President (Barack) Obama that our future requires a new and enhanced partnership with friends and allies, […]

733 killed in Iraq violence in January: UN

733 killed in Iraq violence in January: UN

A total of 733 people were killed in violent attacks in Iraq in January, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has revealed. A total of 618 civilians and 115 members of the security forces were killed and 1,229 were wounded in terrorist and violent acts in January across Iraq, Xinhua quoted UNAMI as saying […]

Six new H7N9 cases reported in China

Six new human cases of H7N9 bird flu and a death case due to it were reported in China Saturday, health authorities said. The new cases included two in the southern Guangdong province, two in the eastern Zhejiang province, one in the eastern Fujian province and one in Hunan province in central China, Xinhua reported. […]

Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Feb 18

Iran nuclear talks scheduled for Feb 18

The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six major world powers will be held Feb 18 in Austria’s capital Vienna, said an Iranian minister. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the decision Friday after his meeting with Catherine Ashton, European Union foreign policy chief, on the sidelines of the Munich Security […]

Samsung is most trusted brand in India: Study

Samsung is most trusted brand in India: Study

South Korean consumer electronics major Samsung is India’s most trusted brand followed by Sony of Japan and the homegrown salt-to-steel multinational Tata, says a study report released Thursday. The ‘Brand Trust Report 2014’ says: “Samsung has grown steadily in trust ranks over the last four years – fifth in 2011, fourth in 2012, second in […]

UN urges Syria to speed up chemical weapons’ elimination

UN urges Syria to speed up chemical weapons’ elimination

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Tuesday said that he has expressed concern to the Syrian government of its “now behind schedule” elimination of chemical weapon and said it was “imperative” Damascus “intensify its efforts.” Ban, in a letter sent to the UN Security Council Tuesday , said that he was aware of the “volatile security […]

Obama vows to veto new sanctions against Iran

Obama vows to veto new sanctions against Iran

Declaring that “for the sake of our national security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed”, President Barack Obama has reiterated that he would veto any new sanctions bill from the US Congress. International negotiations on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon will be difficult and “they may not succeed”, he acknowledged in […]

India in world’s ‘Fragile Five’

India in world’s ‘Fragile Five’

The recent turmoil in emerging markets has produced a new expression – the Fragile Five – and India is one of them. The new term coined by a little-known research analyst at Morgan Stanley last summer identifies Turkey, Brazil, India, South Africa and Indonesia as economies which have become too dependent on skittish foreign investment […]

India ranked 155th on Yale’s environmental performance index

India ranked 155th on Yale’s environmental performance index

Despite an improvement in overall performance, India comes out worst among other emerging economies, including China, in efforts to address environmental challenges, with dramatic declines on air quality, according to Yale University researchers. India ranks 155th out of 178 countries in the 2014 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) issued by Yale University, while China ranks 118th, […]

Iran, world power to finalise nuclear talks next month

Iran, world power to finalise nuclear talks next month

Iran and the six world powers will resume nuclear negotiations in New York in February to finalise a comprehensive agreement on the dispute, an official said Monday. The new series of nuclear negotiations will be held in the presence of Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and representatives […]