London, Aug 15 (IANS) India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Vikram Doraiswami on Friday said that the two nations need each other in the current volatile world while stressing that the recently concluded comprehensive economic trade agreement will have a significant impact on driving growth forward. Speaking to IANS in London, Doraiswami stated, “I see huge prospects. I think the UK and India need each other in a particularly volatile world and it is very relevant that we have co…

Islamabad, Aug 15 (IANS) In August 1947, two nations – India and Pakistan – were born almost as twins, separated by an arbitrary border, having shared a colonial past and launched into the modern world with battered economies and fractured societies. 70 years later, India has surged into the ranks of the world’s most powerful economies and largest democracies while Pakistan has faltered, burdened by political instability, economic crisis, and the persistent shadow of its military establishment…

Islamabad, Aug 15 (IANS) At least 33 people have been killed and 25 others are missing after heavy rains and a cloudburst caused floods and landslides in several districts of northwestern Pakistan, officials said on Friday, local media reported.Rescue teams worked amid difficult terrain and weather conditions as disaster hit several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Floodwater swept through villages, destroying homes and cutting off access roads. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 stated that 16…

Jerusalem, Aug 15 (IANS) Calling India and Israel as “two proud democracies”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday extended wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and people of India on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day. In his greetings, Netanyahu stated that both India and Israel have achieved much together and expressed confidence that the best chapters of the partnership between two nations are still waiting to be written.”Congratulations to my dear friend PM Narendra …

Seoul, Aug 15 (IANS) An associate of former first lady Kim Keon Hee appeared for a court hearing Friday for his arrest on charges of embezzlement as part of a special counsel probe targetting the former first lady. Kim Ye-seong, known as the “butler” of the former first lady’s family, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul nearly two hours before the hearing scheduled at 2 pm, Yonhap News Agency reported.Kim is accused of embezzling 3.38 billion won (USD 2.43 million) from…

Moscow, Aug 15 (IANS) Russia will make its position clear during the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, Russian media reported on Friday.”We are not planning anything in advance. We know that we have arguments, a clear and understandable position,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the Rossiya-24 TV channel upon his arrival in Alaska, where the summit will take place. He added that they would make their arguments clear.Significant g…

Paris, Aug 15 (IANS) French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday congratulated “friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on the country’s 79th Independence Day, hoping that the strategic partnership between both countries will continue to deepen towards 2047 and beyond. “Warm congratulations to the people of India on your 79th Independence Day! I fondly recall welcoming my friend Narendra Modi to France in February, and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership towar…

Moscow, Aug 15 (IANS) The chief of Russia’s parliamentary lower house met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang and conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Russian media report said Friday. The meeting between Kim and Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, took place the previous day during his visit to Pyongyang for the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese occupation, TASS reported, citing a Russian parliamentary news release, Yonhap News …

Moscow/New Delhi, Aug 15 (IANS) Russia on Friday offered condolences over the tragedy caused by a massive cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Kishtwar district, which has resulted in the death of at least 56 people till now, including two CISF personnel. “Russian Embassy is deeply saddened with disastrous cloudburst in the Kishtwar region of J&K which has claimed dozens of lives. We extend our condolences to the families of those perished and wishes for a speedy recovery to all injur…

Seoul, Aug 15 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that he would respect North Korea’s political system and will not pursue unification by absorption while pledging to take steps to restore the 2018 inter-Korean military deal to reduce tensions. Lee’s speech marking the 80th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, rebuffed a recent reconciliatory overture by th…