Category: WORLD NEWS

Seoul, Jan 9 (DIN NEWS) North and South Korea began their first official talks in more than two years today, focussing on the forthcoming Winter Olympics after months of tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme. The talks in Panmunjom, the truce village in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, came after the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un indicated in his New Year’s speech that he could send a delegation to next month’s Games in Pyeongchang in the South. Seoul responded with an offer of a high-level dialogue, and last week the…

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The Iranian parliament held a closed-door meeting today to discuss the deadly protests that hit the country last week, while more pro-regime rallies were held in several cities. Lawmakers interrogated Interior Minister Abdolrahmani Rahmani Fazli, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, parliament’s ICANA website reported. Some voiced concern over the internet controls put in place during the unrest, including a ban on Iran’s most popular messaging app, Telegram, which officials said had been used to incite violence. “The parliament is not in…

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met with her Singaporean counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan here and discussed bilateral and multilateral issues relating to the economic and strategic partnership, officials said. The two leaders also discussed the enormous potential for cooperation between ASEAN and India, officials said. They had discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues relating to the economic and strategic partnership, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet. Swaraj addressed the Indian diaspora at the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) during which she reaffirmed India’s commitment to…

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“The world will be watching what you do,” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has warned Iran during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation in the Islamic nation which has faced a series of nationwide anti-government protests. During the meeting, three members France, Russia and China of the permanent five, joined Iran in asserting that this 15-membered body was not an appropriate forum to discuss the current situation in Iran as it does not pose any threat to international peace and security.Heated debate…

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Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today slammed the conviction in the US of a top Turkish banker in a trial on Iran sanctions busting, saying it was part of a “chain” of plots against his nation. “What we are seeing in America is a chain of serious plots,” Erdogan told reporters at Istanbul airport after the conviction of Mehmet Hakan Atilla, deputy chief executive of Turkish lender Halkbank. “If this is the US understanding of justice then the world is doomed. There can be no such understanding of justice.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today discussed a range of issues of connectivity, security and cultural cooperation with her Thai counterpart here to keep up with the growing momentum of bilateral ties. Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Thailand. During the first day of her visit she held extensive talks with Thailand Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. “Keeping up with the growing momentum of bilateral relationship, EAM @SushmaSwaraj discussed issues of connectivity, security and cultural cooperation with Don Pramudwinai, Foreign Minister of Thailand. #ActEastPolicy,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh…

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Pakistan and Japan exchanged views on the evolving peace and security environment in their respective regions and on international issues of mutual interest during a meeting between their foreign ministers here. Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif briefed his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts that are targeting all terrorists, irrespective of their origin or orientation. They exchanged views on the evolving peace and security environment in their respective regions and on international issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Asif briefed Foreign Minister Kono on…

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Palestinian leaders said today they will not be “blackmailed” after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid worth more than USD 300 million annually, his latest provocative move that could upturn years of careful diplomacy. Relations between Trump’s White House and the Palestinians were already tense after the US president’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month. The December 6 announcement concerning the disputed city led Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to say the United States could no longer play any role in the Middle East peace process. Trump’s…

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US President Donald Trump has dissolved a controversial commission he had set up to investigate illegal voting in the 2016 election, attributing the move to various states’ refusal to participate in the board. Trump had established the commission in May after claiming without evidence that massive voter fraud had cost him the popular vote in the presidential election, and he appointed Vice President Mike Pence and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach to lead the panel. His rival Hillary Clinton won three million more votes overall than Trump in results…

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Nine people were killed as fresh unrest hit Iran overnight, state television said today, with protesters trying to storm a police station despite attempts to crack down on the biggest demonstrations in years. The attack on the police station in the town of Qahderijan, in the central province of Isfahan, led to violence that claimed the lives of six protesters, the state broadcaster reported. A young member of the Revolutionary Guards and a passer- by were also reported dead in towns near the cultural hub of Isfahan city, while TV…

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