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The United States on Wednesday welcomed the steps taken by New Delhi to return Jammu Kashmir to full economic and political normalcy consistent with India's democratic values. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the US, at the same time, continues to follow developments in Jammu Kashmir closely. The US policy with regard to Kashmir has not changed, Price told reporters at his daily news conference. "We welcome steps to return Jammu Kashmir to full economic and political normalcy consistent with India's democratic values. As we've said before, Secretary (of State Tony) Blinken has had a couple opportunities to speak to his Indian counterpart, both bilaterally and in the context of the Quad," Price said. The Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, is aimed a...

  The prosecutor of International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, said that she has launched an investigation into alleged crimes in the Palestinian territories. Outgoing Fatou Bensouda said in a statement the probe will be conducted "independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favor.” She said : "The decision to open an investigation followed a painstaking preliminary examination undertaken by my office that lasted close to five years. In the end, our central concern must be for the victims of crimes, both Palestinian and Israeli, arising from the long cycle of violence and insecurity that has caused deep suffering and despair on all sides." Bensouda, who will be replaced by British prosecutor Karim Khan on June 16, said in December 2019 that "war crim...

Freedom House in its report Democracy under Siege has said that India's status as a free country has changed to "partly free", according to an annual report on global political rights and liberties. The report said that since the arrival of Narendra Modi into the Government in Centre, Civil liberties in India have declined.buy tadacip online https://www.ecladent.co.uk/wp-content/themes/twentysixteen/inc/new/tadacip.html no prescription In its report, the US-based Freedom House, a non-profit organization that conducts research on political freedom and human rights said that the number of countries categorized as "not free" last year was the highest since 2006. The report further added that India's "fall from the upper ranks of free nations" could have a more damaging effect on the...

  President Joe Biden on Friday released an intelligence report that found that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of Khashoggi, a US based contributor to The Washington Post who was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was strangled to death and dismembered. The report classified under former president Donald Trump, a close ally of the Saudis found that seven of the 15 members of the hit squad that flew to Istanbul came from the Rapid Intervention Force, which it said 'answers only to him' (the crown prince). 'We have urged Saudi Arabia to disband this group and then adopt institutional, systemic reforms and controls to ensure that anti-dissident activities and operations cease and cease completely,' State Department spokesman Ned Price to...

  India and Japan will join hands to set up a $ 250 million LNG import terminal in Sri Lanka, the first collaboration between the two to counter China’s growing influence in the Island nation. Petronet LNG Ltd, India’s biggest gas importer, last year proposed to set up an up to 2 million tonne (MT) liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility on the coast of Sri Lanka to meet its energy needs. Sri Lanka, however, wanted Japan also to have a role in it. “An agreement has been reached between the governments of India, Sri Lanka and Japan to set up the LNG terminal as a 50:50 joint venture by Petronet and a Japanese company,” Petronet Managing Director and CEO Prabhat Singh said here. Japan is yet to identify the company which will form an equal joint venture with Petronet ...

  Iran warned Tuesday against a planned resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog which will condemn its suspension of some nuclear inspections, but stressed it remains committed to diplomacy. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian confirmed Tuesday that France, Britain and Germany will put forward a resolution at this week s meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency s board of governors. "I have to give this warning, that actions against our expectations will have adverse effects on diplomatic processes, and can quickly close the windows of opportunity," Iran s government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters. Iran expects "all parties to act rationally and prudently, and to know the value of fleeting moments," he added. "We are still committed to diplomacy." A d...

  On Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres urged rich nations to finish coal use by 2030 so the world can meet its targets to curb international warming, urging G7 nations to make that dedication earlier than or at a leader's summit in June. In a video message to a digital gathering of the “Powering Previous Coal Alliance", Guterres mentioned emissions-cutting pledges by governments fell far brief of what’s wanted to restrict local weather heating to 1.5 levels Celsius above preindustrial ranges. But when speedy motion had been taken to finish use of what he known as the dirtiest, most polluting and more and more expensive fossil gas in energy era, “then we’ve got a combating likelihood to succeed”, he added. “Phasing out coal from the electrical energy s...

The U.N Human Rights Officials said it has received credible information that on Sunday, at least 18 people were killed and 30 were wounded in a crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar. They added that mass arrests were also made in the crackdown. It would be the highest single-day death toll among the protesters who are demanding that Aung San Suu Kyi to be restored to power after being ousted by a February 1st coup. On Sunday, about 1,000 people are believed to be detained. The U.N Human Rights Office said in a statement that reportedly deaths occurred as a result of live ammunition fired on protesters in Yangon, Dawei, Mandalay, Myeik, Bago and Pokokku, adding that the forces used tear gas, flash-bang grenades and stun grenades. U.N Human Rights Office spokesperson R...

  Hong Kong police have charged a group of 47 prominent dissidents with "conspiracy to commit subversion." It is the single largest use yet of Beijing's controversial, sweeping national security law against the city's democracy movement. The 47 charged on Sunday were among more than 50 pro-democracy activists arrested by police in January. Those detained in the crackdown had links to an unofficial primary election organized by pro-democracy parties ahead of a since-postponed legislative election. They were later released. Eight of the activists involved in that case were not charged, according to a report in the Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post. The National Security office had ordered some of those arrested in January to report to local police station...