Moscow/New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Recognising that India-Russia strategic partnership is at a critical juncture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin should follow more robust approach to further engagement between two nations in new avenues of cooperation, a report said on Thursday. Exploring new avenues of collaboration includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), a substitute for Western IT technologies, the Arctic region, Africa, and regional cooperation, which could fur…

Windhoek, Aug 14 (IANS) Namibia continues to grapple with deep-rooted poverty and inequality, despite more than three decades of economic growth, National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said on Thursday. The Speaker highlighted those issues while reflecting on the country’s constitutional journey 35 years after its independence, Xinhua News Agency reported.Speaking at a conference titled “Namibia’s Constitution amidst Reflection, Reform, and Renewal”, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila praised th…

Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS) South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun will arrive in India on Friday on a two-day visit during which he is scheduled to attend a number of key engagements besides holding bilateral discussions with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. During his visit, the two nations will discuss ways to boost exchanges and cooperation, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Lee Jaewoong emphasised on Thursday.”Min…

Kabul, Aug 14 (IANS) Several undocumented Afghan migrants have been arrested as Pakistani police ramped up operations in Peshawar on Thursday as part of a wider crackdown targetting those who do not have valid legal documentation. Pakistani police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arrested a significant number of undocumented Afghan migrants during a security drive in Peshawar, leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported. Authorities claimed that they have seized weapons and narcotics from those who ha…

Seoul, Aug 14 (IANS) South Korea’s trade minister met with the Japanese ambassador to South Korea on Thursday to discuss ways to strengthen the countries’ economic partnership amid growing uncertainties in the global trade environment, officials said. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Amb. Koichi Mizushima in Seoul earlier in the day, as President Lee Jae Myung prepares to visit Japan to hold his first summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba next Saturday, Yonhap News Agency r…

Quetta, Aug 14 (IANS) The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Thursday accepted a petition for hearing that challenges the suspension of mobile phone and internet services in the province. While accepting the petition for hearing, the BHC issued notices to the provincial home department and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), summoning their representatives on August 15. The petition was filed in the court after authorities suspended mobile internet services in majority of the districts …

Vientiane, Aug 14 (IANS) The Irrigation Department under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has intensified efforts to prepare for natural disasters in this rainy season, urging local authorities to monitor flood-prone areas and remain alert for heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. To cope with natural disasters such as floods during the rainy season, the department is working closely with local authorities to monitor flood-prone areas and inspect key infrastructure, particularly…

Mumbai, Aug 14 (IANS) Government PSU, the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with several private sector banks to enhance the availability of credit for MSMEs under its MSME Credit facilitation programme, an official statement said. The MOUs also aim to enhance accessibility and affordability of the credit to MSMEs, an official statement said.The MOUs were signed with Axis Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Karnataka Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and IndusI…

Kochi, Aug 14 (IANS) Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty on Thursday said the state government has taken serious note of allegations that a Class 5 student was locked in a dark room at a school in Ernakulam for coming late.“This incident of a Class 5 student being locked in a dark room at a school in Ernakulam has come to my notice and such behaviour from anyone will not be tolerated in any school across the state. No teacher or school management can do such a thing,” warned Sivankutty.T…

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) The ED has restored properties valued at Rs 12.79 crore to the liquidator of a company involved in a Rs 29.75-crore fraud against Punjab National Bank, an official said on Thursday. The ED has restored properties valued at Rs 12.79 crore to Ashok Kumar Gupta, the liquidator of M/s Dynamic Shells (India) Private Limited, in a bank fraud case of Dynamic Shells (India) Private Limited & others, said the official.The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR N…