International Affairs

Delegation accompanied by UN envoy A rebel delegation flew out of the Yemeni capital on Tuesday heading for high-stakes talks in Sweden with the government aimed at ending the country’s devastating war. The departure of the Houthi insurgents on a Kuwaiti plane followed a prisoner swap deal and the evacuation …

Parliament’s vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal will go ahead on December 11, her office said on Thursday, despite a newspaper report that Ministers had sought a delay to prevent a defeat. The British Parliament is mid-way through a five-day debate on the Brexit deal, ahead of …

Russia has begun allowing some ships to enter Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov, Kiev said on Tuesday, in what could signal an easing of tensions in the flashpoint area. Ukraine has accused Moscow of blocking merchant vessels from entering and leaving the ports. In late November, the situation …

Proposes talks with Xi and Putin to halt the ‘uncontrollable’ arms race U.S. President Donald Trump boasted on Monday that U.S. relations with China have taken a “BIG leap forward” following his meeting in Argentina with President Xi Jinping. “Very good things will happen. We are dealing from great strength, …

While their manoeuvre in the legislature proved inadequate to oust Mr. Rajapaksa’s disputed government, Monday’s appeal court order delivered a legal blow to the legitimacy that the Rajapaksa camp claims. On November 13, the Supreme Court stayed Mr. Sirisena’s dissolution of Parliament and restrained the Election Commission from preparing for …

Israeli researchers say an inscription on an ancient ring discovered near Jerusalem may include the name of Pontius Pilate, the Roman official who Biblical accounts say sentenced Jesus to death.It would be a rare example still in existence of an inscription with the name of the man believed to have …

On November 17, Guillaume Féral and Mike Lomberg took off from Geneva, Switzerland, for Verona, Italy, the first of 150 hops on an around-the-world adventure that will take them to six continents and 80 countries over nine months. Not unusual, such adventures. Except that the pilots are wheelchair users.Mr. Féral, …

Two centuries ago experts predicted that Icelandic would be a dead language by now. But the doomsayers can eat their words: Icelandic is alive and kicking despite an onslaught of English brought on by modern technology.Currently spoken by the 355,000 inhabitants of this North Atlantic island, Icelandic has repeatedly come …

“It’s still straightening,” said engineer Roberto Cela, gazing at the Leaning Tower of Pisa gleaming in the autumn sunshine of northern Italy. “And many years will have to pass before it stops.”The gravitationally-challenged landmark is leaning less after years of ambitious engineering work. Fortunately for the millions of tourists who …

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he briefed his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump on the Ukraine crisis as he came under pressure over Moscow’s robust foreign policy at the G20 summit in Argentina.Mr. Putin said he explained Moscow’s position to Mr. Trump when the leaders met briefly at …

Chinese state media has welcomed the truce in the trade war between China and the U.S., amid apprehensions that follow-up negotiations are unlikely to yield quick returns.A commentary in the state run Xinhua news agency, following talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines …

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he hoped to organise a second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in early 2019, perhaps as soon as January or February.Mr. Trump told reporters travelling home to Washington with him aboard Air Force One from Argentina that “three sites” were …

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday surveyed the damage from a day of riots across Paris and led a crisis meeting that ended with a call for further talks with anti-government activists who have staged two weeks of protests.Mr. Macron held crisis talks with the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and …

Referring to the talks between the Special Representatives on the border issue as well as defence and various other delegations, President Xi said the two sides should work together to build an open world economy and make globalisation more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, the statement said. “We …

In a year, if all goes to plan, the dusty roads leading to the Kartarpur shrine in Pakistani Punjab’s Narowal province will be transformed into a bustling network of tourists and pilgrims. In this town by the river Ravi, the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, spent his last 18 years. …

What are the terms? On November 25, leaders of the EU-27 group of nations signed off on the 585-word treaty setting out the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the union as well as a non-binding political declaration of aspirations for the future relationship. While insisting that she did not share …

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G20 summit here and invited him to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year. Mr. Ramaphosa has accepted the invitation. “Glad to have met President @CyrilRamaphosa. At a time …

India on Friday presented a nine-point agenda before G20 countries, calling for “strong and active cooperation” to deal with fugitive economic offenders comprehensively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the agenda in the second session of the G20 Summit on international trade, international financial and tax systems here. “Cooperation in legal …

In a blow to the Trump administration, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly (63-37) to move forward a bipartisan resolution ending U.S. support to the Saudi Arabia-led war in Yemen. The resolution, which essentially directs President Donald Trump to remove U.S. troops from Yemen, will be discussed on the full Senate …

The Taliban in Afghanistan have not yet shown any sign that they are serious about ending their 17-year insurgency despite U.S. efforts to push for a fresh peace process, the country’s de facto Prime minister has said.Abdullah Abdullah, who serves as “chief executive” of the unity government in Kabul, struck …