Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's biggest and which is fuelled by petrodollars, will divest its oil and gas holdings to reduce its exposure to the oil sector, the Norwegian government announced on Friday.

08 Mar 2019; AFP: While the decision is based solely on financial considerations and not on the environment or climate change, a divestment by an investor worth more than $1 trillion will undoubtedly be seen as a major blow to polluting fossil fuels.

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's economic growth target for this year will allow policy makers to focus on improving the quality of growth, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) spokesman said Thursday.

"As China shifts the economic model from less export orientation to more domestic consumption, (in regards to) the quality quantity issue, this is an appropriate step," Gerry Rice, director of the IMF's communications department, said at a press briefing.

Rice told Xinhua the resetting of the growth target will also help avoid creating too much debt.

HEFEI, March 8 (Xinhua) -- A new China-Europe freight train service was launched Thursday night, linking Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, with Duisburg of Germany.

A train carrying electronic components, solar cell modules and power cabinet components departed from an international railway logistics center in Hefei, marking the start of the service.

New Delhi, Mar 7 (PTI) Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dubbing him the "poster boy of Pakistan" for publicly hugging former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif and inviting the neighbouring country's spy agency ISI to Pathankot after the IAF base was attacked.

Gandhi's remarks came after Modi on Tuesday called the opposition as the "poster boys of Pakistan" for seeking proof of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) action on a terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan.

New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday referred the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for mediation and appointed former apex court judge Justice (retd) F M I Kallifulla as chairperson of the panel of mediators.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the other members of the panel will be spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu.

Panaji, Mar 8 (PTI) The state-run Goa Meat Complex Limited will outsource its abattoir operations to a private player for a period of five years starting June 1 this year, its managing director Rajendra Prabhugaonkar said Friday.

He said the GMCL, set up in 1971 in North Goa's Usgao village to cater to the beef requirement in the coastal state, was shut since October, 2014 due to technical issues and lack of animals for slaughter.

Sitamarhi (Bihar), Mar 7 (PTI) Eight police personnel here were on Thursday placed under suspension in connection with the death of two persons inside a lock-up at a police station.

According to Superintendent of Police, Sitamarhi, Chandrabhushan Kumar Singh, the SHO of Dumra police station and seven other police personnel have been placed under suspension. A team has been constituted to inquire into the death of Mohd Tasleem and Mohd Gurfan.

New Delhi, Mar 7; PTI?GANASHAKTI: The Editors Guild of India on Thursday “unequivocally” condemned Attorney General's remarks before the Supreme Court pertaining to the documents based on which the media had reported on the Rafale deal, saying any attempt to use the Official Secrets Act against the media is as "reprehensible" as asking journalists to disclose their sources.

The Guild, in a statement, also denounced “threats” against the media in the matter and urged the government to refrain from initiating any action that might undermine the media's freedom and independence.

ANKARA, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Russia will begin joint patrols in Syria's northern province of Idlib, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Friday.

Speaking in an interview with the state-run Anadolu news agency, Akar said the joint patrols in the de-escalation zone will be an important step for maintaining cease-fire and ensuring stability.

Akar denied concerns that Turkey was in direct contact with the Syrian government, saying Ankara was only holding talks with Russia and Iran when needed.

Patna, Mar 7 (PTI) Firing a fresh salvo at the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, disgruntled BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha on Thursday termed as shameful the submission made before the Supreme Court that documents pertaining to the Rafale deal had gone missing.

Lucknow, Mar 7; PTI/GANASHAKTI:  After a group of men were seen on camera assaulting Kashmiris selling dry fruits in Daliganj locality in Uttar Pradesh's capital city, police swung into action and arrested four persons involved in the act.

The incident took place Wednesday evening amid the nationwide backlash on Kashmiris following the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama.

Bhopal, Mar 7 (PTI) The NDAgovernment should clear the air over the last month's aerial strike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan to put to rest all "doubts and suspicions" over the operation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said Thursday.

He said details related to the February 26 aerial strike by the Indian Air Force on a terror camp run by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at Balakot in Pakistan should be made public.