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BRUSSELS, Aug 22 (NNN-SPUTNIK-BERNAMA) — The European Union (EU) is against inviting Russia to the G7 format and thus resuming the G8 format until the country addresses the issues that led to its exclusion back in 2014, Sputnik news agency reported, quoting  a high-ranking source in EU institutions on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday, ahead of the G7 summit in France’s Biarritz, that he would support Russia’s possible return to the format.

VIENTIANE, Laos, Aug 22 (NNN-KPL) – Laos is targeting an increase in electricity trade with Vietnam on a year-on-year basis, after the two sides reached agreements on developing energy and mining projects and electricity trading contracts earlier this year.

The bilateral cooperation agreement on developing energy and mining projects, was among several pacts signed at the 40th Meeting of the Laos-Vietnam Inter-governmental Committee in Vietnam in 2019.

August 22, 2019; GANASHAKTI: Ahead of his visit to France, the UAE and Bahrain, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the engagements will strengthen India's relations with time-tested friends and help explore new areas of cooperation. Modi left for France at midday on Thursday.

Modi will visit the three countries from August 22 to 26. He will reach France on Thursday.

Washington, Aug 21 (PTI) US President Donald Trump has said that he would discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the situation in Kashmir and help ease the Indo-Pak tensions when they meet at the G7 Summit in France this weekend.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday while welcoming visiting Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Trump said he was happy to try and help calm the situation in Kashmir amidst fresh Indo-Pak tensions after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Washington, Aug 22 (PTI) The US is seeking a balancing act in South Asia after India revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories, according to a congressional report which said President Donald Trump's offer to "mediate" on the issue may have contributed to the timing of New Delhi's moves.

According to the latest Congressional Research Service (CRS) report which runs into over 15 pages the longstanding US position on Kashmir is that

Mumbai, Aug 22 (PTI) The rupee opened on a weak note and fell 17 paise to 71.71 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday amid foreign fund outflows and cautious opening in domestic equities.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened weak at 71.65 then fell to 71.72 against the US dollar, showing a decline of 17 paise over its previous closing.

The Indian rupee on Wednesday had closed at 71.55 against the US dollar.

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets are mixed Thursday following Wall Street’s rebound as investors looked ahead to a speech by the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman for clues about possible interest rate cuts.

Investor reaction was muted following Wednesday’s release of notes from the latest Fed meeting showing conflicting opinions about rates.

Benchmarks in Shanghai and Hong Kong fell, while Tokyo and Sydney climbed.

NAIROBI, Aug 21 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s maiden crude oil will hit the international market next week destined for China.

The crude oil will be shipped by Chinese state owned firm ChemChina which won the tender to buy the maiden Kenyan oil early this month.

Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau has said the sale gives momentum to the nascent oil exploration industry in Kenya.

Kamau further says the construction of 810 kilometers pipeline between Lokichar and Lamu is expected to commence next year and take three years to complete.

TEHRAN, Iran, Aug 21 (NNN-TASNIM) – An Iranian court started hearing the case of the British oil tanker, Stena Impero, which was captured by Iranian forces last month, for “violating international maritime regulations,” at the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Mohammad Rastad, deputy minister of roads and urban development, the documents and evidence of the seized tanker’s “violations” have been submitted to the court.

The case is being heard by the judicial authority, in the Iranian southern port city of Bandar Abbas, said Rastad.

WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US will take every action it can to prevent an Iranian tanker from delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Tuesday.

“We have made clear that anyone who touches it, anyone who supports it, anyone who allows a ship to dock is at risk of receiving sanctions from the United States,” Mr Pompeo said.

“If that ship again heads to Syria we will take every action we can consistent with those sanctions to prevent that.”