chidThe government will, by March end, review and may revisit some of the restrictions imposed on gold imports, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday. Addressing an event to mark the International Customs Day here, Chidambaram hinted at easing the curbs on gold imports if there is a firm grip on the current account deficit (CAD). […]
The UN Security Council Monday adopted a resolution calling on all countries not to pay ransom to terrorists in incidents of kidnapping and hostage-taking, Xinhua reported. In the unanimously approved resolution, the Security Council expressed its determination to prevent kidnappings and hostage-takings committed by terrorist groups and to secure the safe release of hostages “without […]
ndiPakistan opened the US-Pakistan strategic dialogue resumed after a gap of three years with a complaint that its “legitimate concerns” are not conveyed to India with the same intensity as New Delhi’s to Islamabad. Meeting US Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister’s advisor on National Security and Foreign […]
On his first visit to Myanmar, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim Sunday announced that the WB Group plans to invest $2 billion in a multi-year development programme for the country, Xinhua reported. The plan will include projects that dramatically improve access to energy and health care for poor people and support other key government […]
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrives Saturday on a brief but hectic official visit that would see him hold talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh on trade and investment and defence cooperation besides regional and global issues. Abe, who arrives Saturday afternoon, will hold annual bilateral summit talks with Prime Minister Singh within hours […]
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai Saturday reiterated his preconditions for inking a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US, saying he will not sign unless the peace process begins and security is ensured in the country. “We want to sign the BSA with US but in return we want peace and security for the people of […]
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s island of Java Saturday, causing damage to houses, an official said here. The earthquake struck at 12.14 p.m., with its epicentre at 104 km southwest of Java at a depth of 48 km under seabed, an official of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency told Xinhua. The quake was […]
As the chair of the G20 this year, Australia would try to help promote global growth, said Prime Minister Tony Abbott Thursday, setting four priorities for the group in the new year. “Economic growth is the result of global conditions as well as domestic policies,” said Abbott in a written message posted on the website […]
A US drone strike hit a group of people driving a car in Yemen’s central province of Marib Thursday night, killing at least four people and injuring several others, a Yemeni interior ministry official said. “Four people were killed in the US drone strike which took place Thursday night in coordination with the Yemeni interior […]
A French naval ship intercepted a hijacked Indian dhow near the Gulf of Aden and rescued its 11-member crew, an official said Wednesday. On Jan 18, French landing platform dock Siroco, flagship of the EU Naval Force Atalanta, released the Indian crew and arrested five suspected pirates holding the crew hostage, a statement from the […]