WORLD

Kabul, Oct 28 (IANS) The latest round of talks between delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul ended without any outcome with mediators citing several differences as the reasons that hindered any agreement on security concerns, local media reported on Tuesday.The talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan, held for three consecutive days, ended without any breakthrough despite regional mediation efforts. Mediators admitted that the positions of two nations remained far apart as there were differences between two sides in expectations and priorities. These differences stopped officials of two nations from making any progress during the discussions, Afghanistan's leading news agency Khaama Press reported, citing a Geo News report. The lack of coordination between two nations has s...

Tokyo, Oct 28 (IANS) Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri, an indigenously built Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, arrived at Japan's Sasebo on Tuesday. Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force welcomed INS Sahyadri upon arrival, Indian Embassy in Japan said in a statement on Tuesday.INS Sahyadri commanded by Captain Rajat Kumar is participating in Japan-India Maritime Exercise- JAIMEX 25.In a post on X, Indian Embassy in Japan stated, "INS Sahyadri arrived at Sasebo to a warm welcome ceremony by JMSDF Sasebo District. Sahyadri commanded by Capt Rajat Kumar is participating in Japan-India Maritime Exercise- JAIMEX 25."Commissioned in 2012, INS Sahyadri is a testament to India's growing pursuit of indigenous defence technology and the nation's vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reli...

Tokyo, Oct 28 (IANS) Emphasising that the bilateral relationship between Japan and the United States has now become "the greatest alliance in the world", Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday pledged to build with visiting US President Donald Trump a "new golden era" of partnership between the two countries.Trump and Takaichi met in Tokyo on Monday for the Japan-US Summit meeting during which they finalised the signing of various agreements to bolster cooperation in the fields of defence and economy.It also included a 'United States-Japan Framework For Securing the Supply of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths through Mining and Processing' which intends to support the supply of raw and processed critical minerals and rare earthscrucial to the domestic industries of the Uni...

Gyeongju, Oct 28 (IANS) Senior officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are working to reach common ground on ways to boost trade and reduce barriers, among other initiatives, as they move to finalise a road map on Tuesday for key agenda items ahead of the leaders' summit.The Concluding Senior Official's Meeting (CSOM) wrapped up two days of discussions on ways to advance APEC initiatives for growth and cooperation on its last day of the meeting, Tuesday, according to the organising committee.Its recommendations will be delivered to the ministerial meeting, set for Wednesday, before being finalised at the leaders' summit, set for Friday and Saturday, Yonhap News Agency reported.As this year's APEC chair, South Korea aims to build consensus with its fellow ...

Gyeongju, Oct 28 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung faces high-stakes diplomacy as he hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering this week in Gyeongju, with bilateral summit talks with US President Donald Trump set to take place over lingering security and trade issues.This week's APEC gathering has drawn keen attention as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are also set to meet in South Korea on the sidelines, while speculation has persisted over whether Trump will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Yonhap News Agency reported.The main APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will take place on Friday and Saturday, with eyes on whether member countries will adopt a joint declaration amid growing challenges to free trade and multilateralism.Throughout the APEC week...

Port Louis, Oct 28 (IANS) Chhath Puja was celebrated across Mauritius and Australia on Tuesday with utmost devotion and festivities, as people marked the conclusion of the four-day auspicious festival. One of the most significant Hindu festivals, Chhath Puja, is primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also celebrated in parts of Nepal and among Indian communities worldwide.Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, on Tuesday joined in the Chhath Mahaparv celebration.The event, organised by the Swastikam Foundation in Mauritius, was attended by Mauritian President Dharambeer Gokhool, Members of Parliament and several other dignitaries.Addressing the event, Srivasata underscored the Indian government's efforts to have Chhath Puja included in ...

Seoul, Oct 28 (IANS) South Korea and Japan have been arranging bilateral summit talks between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi later this week, a media report showed on Tuesday.Seoul and Tokyo are seeking to arrange the summit for Thursday, the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said, noting that the leaders of the two countries both appear to seek to maintain the momentum to improve bilateral ties.The envisioned meeting comes as Takaichi is expected to arrive in South Korea on Thursday to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to kick off in the southeastern city of Gyeongju the following day.In a press conference earlier in the day, Japan's chief cabinet secretary officially announced that Takaichi will pay a three-day...

New York, Oct 28 (IANS) India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, briefed the visiting Indian delegation on the multi-faceted nature of India-UN partnership.The 13-member delegation is led by BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari. They met the Indian envoy on Monday (local time) to discuss the India-UN relations.Taking to X, Ambassador Harish said, "We gain a lot from their leadership. A great opportunity for the Team Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York to learn from their perspectives."Harish expressed delight in welcoming the delegation as the UN celebrates the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and International Law Weeks during its Committee season."UN benefits from India's Parliamentary democracy. Confident that t...

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 28 (IANS) The Kuala Lumpur Declaration reaffirmed the participating countries' unwavering commitment to the 2005 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the East Asia Summit, which laid down the broad vision, principles, objectives, and modalities of the EAS.It further reiterated their dedication to the 2010 Ha Noi Declaration commemorating the fifth anniversary of the EAS, the 2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration marking the tenth anniversary, and the 2020 Ha Noi Declaration celebrating the fifteenth anniversary.The declaration recognised that the world and the region are currently facing numerous geopolitical tensions and conflicts, along with economic uncertainties, security threats, and other transboundary challenges. It emphasised that these issues require collective collaboration a...

Yokota Air Base, Oct 28 (IANS) The United States "very much" supports South Korea doing more to lead conventional defence against North Korea, a senior US defence official said on Tuesday, as the administration of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hopes to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington within its term.The official made the remarks in a press briefing as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back are set to discuss the OPCON transition efforts when they meet for the two countries' annual defence ministerial talks, called the Security Consultative Meeting, in Seoul on November 4."We very much support the ROK doing more to lead its conventional defence in deterrence against the DPRK. We support those efforts," the official ...