Three terror suspects arrested in Belgium

Brussels, Jan 27 (IANS) Police in the north-western Belgian town of Kortrijk confirmed Tuesday that three men have been arrested for suspected terrorism. The three were arrested in the nearby town of Harelbeke Monday night following a car chase by police. Police in Kortrijk confirmed Tuesday that the men have been kept in custody on […]

23 killed in Ukraine fighting

Kiev, Jan 27 (IANS) Ukrainian troops and independence-seeking forces were locked in fierce fighting in eastern regions, killing at least 23 people, authorities said Tuesday. The separarists had fired 120 times on the Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, with upsurge in fighting concentrating around the government-controlled Debaltsevo town, Xinhua quoted Ukraine’s army spokesperson […]

Russia, India remain strategic partners: Russia

Moscow, Jan 26 (IANS/TASS) In view of the growing strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said Monday that Russia and India remain strategic partners and no external influence can affect them. “Our relations with India have an independent value. Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Sujata Singh said Moscow remained […]

N-deal ‘breakthrough’ is about how to resolve issues: US

Washington, Jan 26 (IANS) The “breakthrough” understandings on the India-US nuclear cooperation are on how to resolve the issues and break a logjam for the last six years rather than a done deal, according to US officials. The understanding is on necessary information sharing and contact between the two governments on critical issues including liability […]

Rebel leader warns of offensive against Ukraine

Kiev, Jan 23 (IANS) Alexandr Zakharchenko, leader of independence-seeking insurgents in eastern Ukraine, Friday said the rebel forces were going to step up offensive on Ukrainian positions to capture more government-controlled territories, Xinhua reported. “We would advance the offensive through to the borders of Donetsk region, but if I see a threat anywhere else, it […]

13 killed as shell hits tram stop in Ukraine

Moscow, Jan 22 (IANS/EFE) At least 13 people were killed and dozens injured Thursday when an artillery shell struck a tram stop in Donetsk, said the pro-Russian separatists who control the city in eastern Ukraine. “As a result of a mortar striking a tram stop in the Lenin region of Donetsk this morning, 13 people […]

Sri Lankan president pardons former army chief

Colombo, Jan 21 (IANS) Sri lanka’s newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday granted full pardon to former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, convicted of corruption, an official statement said. “Former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was acquitted from all charges and given complete amnesty by President Maithripala Sirisena,” the President Office said in a statement, Xinhua […]

New Sri Lankan govt to work closely with India, China

Colombo, Jan 21 (IANS) Sri Lanka’s newly elected government promised to work closely with “key players” India and China and added that the ongoing development projects with international partners would continue, a media report said Wednesday. “The reality is that we have to work in the Asian region and India and China are two of […]

British army won’t shrink below 82,000: Cameron

London, Jan 21 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron has given an “absolute guarantee” against cutting the size of the country’s army, following speculation that the government was mulling a force of just 60,000, media reported Wednesday. The Guardian reported that under current plans, the army would shrink to 82,000 personnel by 2020, with the […]