China trade ties unaffected by Nobel prize: Norway

SHANGHAI: Trade and economic ties between China and Norway remain strong, with ongoing negotiations between the two countries for a free trade agreement on track, Norway’s Fisheries Minister said on Friday.

“In trade, and seafood everything is fine. We have a very good relationship between China and Norway both in shipping and in seafood and in many other trade areas,” Lisbeth Berg-Hansen, told Reuters in an interview at the Shanghai World Expo.

Beijing has cancelled several official meetings with Norway after the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. AGENCIES

Unannounced curfew in H-Kashmir to thwart anti-India demos

SRINAGAR: The authorities clamped curfew in Srinagar, Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara and Bandipore while imposing strict restrictions in Baramulla, Pulwama, Islamabad, Kulgam, Budgam and other towns in Held Kashmir to thwart anti-India demonstrations.

Life continued to remain disrupted in the Valley with shops, business establishments, educational institutions and banks remaining closed and traffic off the road. Despite restrictions, people staged protests in Srinagar, Budgam, Pampore, Shopian, Pulwama, Sumbal, Safapora, Hajan and Langate areas. Indian police subjected the demonstrators to heavy baton charge and excessive teargas shelling, injuring several of them.

US, India sign counter-terror pact

NEW DELHI: India and the United States signed an anti-terrorism pact on Friday.

The India-US Counter Terrorism Cooperation Initiative aims to boost security ties between the two countries, including closer liaison between their commando and Special Forces, an Indian government statement said.

India said the pact also aims to increase “exchanges between coast guards and the navy on maritime security” and establish procedures to undertake joint investigations.

Signed in the form of a memorandum of understanding the accord will enhance cooperation in tracking money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the home ministry statement said.

Are Odd Couple Turkey and Israel Breaking up?

A raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound aid convoy has plunged already crumbling ties between Israel and its long-time Muslim ally Turkey to a new low.

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Are Odd Couple Turkey and Israel Breaking up?

FO calls for talks with India to build trust

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called on Monday for sustained and meaningful dialogue with India after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said a trust deficit was the main obstacle in ties between the nuclear-armed rivals.

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FO calls for talks with India to build trust

Loud blast heard in Bangkok

BANGKOK: A loud blast was heard around Bangkok”s main business and embassy district on Friday, close to where troops and anti-government protesters clashed earlier in the day, a foreign news agency reported.

The explosion came after troops blocked key roads, an upmarket area dotted with Western embassies, banks and luxury hotels. Gunfire was also heard at the nearby Sala Daeng intersection.

Clashes erupted in central Bangkok earlier Friday when protesters tried to stop troops from blocking roads to establish a perimeter around the a sprawling encampment occupied by the demonstrators.

Two people have been killed and 20 wounded in the violence since Thursday evening.

Greek PM meets Turkish counterpart

ATHENS: The prime ministers of longtime rivals Greece and Turkey met on Friday to ease tensions and discuss cuts in defence spending, a crucial step for Athens as it struggles with a debt crisis that is shaking the euro.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Athens with 10 ministers and about 80 businessmen to begin what both sides hope will be a new era in ties between the two NATO members.

Holbrooke:US Has No Plans Of Pak-India Reconciliation

TrendPK.com Holbrooke:US Has No Plans Of Pak-India Reconciliation:KABUL: America has no plans of helping India and Pakistan reconcile, said the US envoy for Pak-Afghan Richard Holbrooke in an interview with a foreign newspaper at Kabul Sunday.
He said that the improvement in ties between Pakistan and India will help the efforts of the [...]