Boris Johnson has promised a renewed effort to secure a deal with the EU before the Brexit deadline. The UK's Brexit negotiators will now meet their EU counterparts twice a week next month, in the run up to a crucial summit on October 17-18. It follows a backlash from MPs and

Political leaders of J&K will be released in due course as part of a phased withdrawal of restrictions in the Valley based purely on assessment of the ground situation by the local administration, a government functionary said on Thursday, reports Times of India.  “As the situation

Security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir have been accused of carrying out beatings and torture in the wake of the government's decision to strip the region of its autonomy. The BBC heard from several villagers who said they were beaten with sticks and cables, and given

Ports in Gujarat are on high alert after inputs that Pakistani commandos are likely to infiltrate into Indian waters through the Kutch area and use the sea route to try and incite communal trouble or carry out a terror attack in Gujarat, according to security agencies. An alert has

Brazil has banned setting fires to clear land for 60 days in response to a massive increase in the number of fires in the Amazon rainforest. The decree was signed by President Jair Bolsonaro, who has faced intense criticism at home and abroad for failing to protect the rainforest. A

The prime minister's decision to suspend Parliament has prompted an angry backlash from MPs and opponents of a no-deal Brexit. It sparked protests across the country, a legal challenge and a petition with more than a million signatures. The government said the five-week

Several thousand people have rallied in Hong Kong to protest against alleged sexual violence by police during the past months of demonstrations. The rally was billed as a #MeToo event, echoing global protests to end sexual assault and harassment. Organisers said some 30,000 people

Myanmar's navy will join maritime drills with the US in Southeast Asia next week, a spokesman said Wednesday, in a rare show of military cooperation despite Washington slapping sanctions on top army brass over the Rohingya crisis. The inclusion in the drills does not violate US

The UK government has asked the Queen to suspend Parliament just days after MPs return to work in September - and only a few weeks before the Brexit deadline. Boris Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his "very exciting

At least 23 people are dead in the Mexican state of Veracruz after a fire at a bar, the attorney general’s office said early Wednesday. The fire happened Tuesday night in Coatzacoalcos, in the southern part of the state and the state attorney general’s office condemned "what may

The constitutional validity of the government of India's move to scrap special status for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 earlier this month will be reviewed by the Supreme Court in October, the top court said today.  The top court has also sought a response from the centre as

Suicide bombers thought to be aligned with the Islamic State (IS) group have attacked two police checkpoints in Gaza, killing three Palestinian officers, security sources says. The attacks follow a recent operation by Hamas, which controls Gaza, against militants linked to IS. One

Sixteen people were killed and five others seriously injured in an accident involving three vehicles on National Highway 24 in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur of India on Tuesday morning, police said. The accident took place on Jamka crossing when a speeding truck hit a tempo and

The Brazilian government has said it will reject an offer of aid from G7 countries to help tackle fires in the Amazon rainforest. French President Emmanuel Macron - who hosted a G7 summit that ended on Monday - said $22m (£18m) would be released. Brazilian officials gave no reason

Using nuclear weapons to destroy hurricanes is not a good idea, a US scientific agency has said, following reports that President Donald Trump wanted to explore the option. The Axios news website said Mr Trump had asked several national security officials about the possibility. The

Iran's foreign minister made a brief and unannounced visit to the G7 summit in France on Sunday. Mohammad Javad Zarif attended side-line talks in the seaside town of Biarritz where world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have gathered. Reports suggest the US

A Hong Kong police officer fired a gunshot during protests on Sunday, the first time a live round has been used since demonstrations broke out in June. Images show several other officers also pointed guns at protesters who charged at them with sticks and poles. In another first,

Heavy rainfall and flash floods have killed 62 people in Sudan and left 98 others injured, the official SUNA news agency reported on Sunday. Sudan has been hit by torrential rains since the start of July, affecting nearly 200,000 people in at least 15 states across the country

International leaders gathering at the G7 summit are reportedly nearing an agreement to help fight fires in the Amazon rainforest. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday a deal to provide "technical and financial help" was close. Leaders from the US, Japan, Germany, France,

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at the Centre for the restrictions in Kashmir and accused it of being anti-national by silencing the people of the valley, a day after her brother and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were sent