KABUL, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghan people marked the 30th withdrawal anniversary of former Soviet Union troops from the war-ravaged country on Friday.

In a gathering held at the Presidential Palace, participants including former resistance leaders paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for jihad, or holy war, against the invading forces to defend their country's freedom.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah said that the current achievements in the past decades were the results of the struggle of the people of Afghanistan.

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon abruptly dropped plans Thursday for a big new headquarters in New York that would have brought 25,000 jobs to the city, reversing course after politicians and activists objected to the nearly $3 billion in incentives promised to what is already one of the world’s richest, most powerful companies.

“We are disappointed to have reached this conclusion — we love New York,” the online giant from Seattle said in a blog post announcing its withdrawal.

15 Feb 2019; DW: A court in Myanmar has passed a death sentence against two men involved in the assassination of prominent Muslim lawyer Ko Ni, a close aide of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The suspected mastermind remains at large.

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday condemned the "heinous and cowardly terrorist attack" in Iran's southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province that killed 27 and wounded 13 others.

In a statement, the members of the council expressed their sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iranian government and wished a speedy and full recovery to the injured.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s company is scrapping plans for two new hotel chains announced two years ago, casting blame in part on a hostile political environment.

The Trump Organization said Thursday that it will no longer try to open hotels under its Scion and American Idea brands catering to budget and mid-priced travelers, a departure from its focus on luxury hotels. The announcement comes as the company has posted losses at a few of its golf properties and brand experts say it has lost some of its appeal.

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) The Supreme Court Friday decided to hear a fresh plea challenging the constitutional validity of the 1993 central law by which 67.703 acre land, including the disputed premises of Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, was acquired.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan tagged the matter with the main petition in which a constitution bench is dealing with the main title dispute.

MONTEVIDEO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and Argentine President Mauricio Macri on Wednesday expressed their wish to revive regional integration following a meeting in the Uruguayan department of Colonia.

During the meeting, both leaders evaluated the situation of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), according to a joint statement released after the meeting.

New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) A Delhi court Thursday sent corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, arrested in money laundering case, to 14-day judicial custody.

Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann sent Talwar to the judicial custody after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that it does not need him for further interrogation in its custody.

Ludhiana (PB), Feb 14 (PTI) Three more persons, including a juvenile, were held Thursday in connection with the gang rape of a 21-year-old woman near Issewal village here, taking the total number of those nabbed in the case to six, police said.

"All six accused involved in the gang rape have been arrested," Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta told the media here Thursday.

KANPUR: Why did I marry him? She groaned, burying her powdered face into her palms and rubbing her nose against the neck of the fabric covering her head. She eloped with her lover on Valentine’s Day exactly. She made an excuse for her ill health which made her family members admit at the hospital for proper treatment. But they remained unaware of the very fact. The worst part of it was that she did not  accept the groom of her family choice. She prepared herself for ignoring the parents’ wish.

Washington, Feb 13; GANASHAKTI: America's tough-talking National Security Adviser John Bolton has warned countries, including India, against buying Venezuelan oil, saying nations and firms that support the embattled President Nicolas Maduro will "not be forgotten".

Bolton's warning came a day after Venezuelan Oil Minister and President of the Latin American state-run oil company PDVSA Manuel Quevedo told reporters in India that his sanctions-hit country wants to sell more crude oil to India.

TEHRAN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the United States over the existing issues.

"As for America, no solution for the (existing mutual) problems is in prospect," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a statement published by his official website.

"Talks with America will bear no fruit, but material and spiritual loss for the Islamic republic," Khamenei was quoted as saying.