WASHINGTON, January 26. /TASS/. The United States has asked Russia to assist in determining the right agenda on certain aspects of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and Moscow is ready to contribute along with other participants in the six-party process, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov told reporters on Friday after talks with his US colleagues in Washington.

Raipur, Jan 25 (PTI) A woman naxal was gunned down Friday in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

The gun-battle took place at around 4 pm in the forests under Puspal police station area when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist operation, Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI.

The DRG is a locally raised force vested with the task to tackle Maoists.

Srinagar, Jan 26, 2019; Two Kashmiri sepratists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday in Khunmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of separatists in the area, a police official said, as Republic Day events were being held in parts of the city.

He said the search turned into a gun battle after separatists opened firing on security forces.

Guwahati, Jan 25 (PTI) The CPI(M) announced on Friday that it would would protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill across the country on February 4.

The CPI(M) Politburo appealed to all parties, groups and citizens who believe in the unity and diversity of the country and the common basis of citizenship as enshrined in the Constitution to join this protest, a release issued by Hari Singh Kang on behalf of the CPI(M)'s Central Committee office said.

OSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. Appointing new US special envoy for Venezuela is an attempt to directly manage the situation in the Latin American country, Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page on Saturday.

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Amid a row over Rahul Gandhi's Kailash Mansarovar visit last year after the Congress chief on Friday said he had also met Chinese ministers during his trip, the Beijing's envoy here said all Indian pilgrims were welcome to the country.

"The Chinese government, the Chinese side will welcome all pilgrims from India," Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui said in response to a question on Gandhi's meeting with his country's ministers.

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Talks are underway between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to strengthen ties between the two nations and step up cooperation in a range of areas, including defence, security and trade.

26 Jan 2019; DW:  Germany and Spain say Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro must hold elections. If not, both would consider following the United States in recognizing the head of the opposition as president.

Germany and Spain said on Friday that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido should be recognized as president if standing President Nicolas Maduro did not agree "immediately" to hold new elections.

Agartala, Jan 26 (PTI) Tripura Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today stressed on the need for cordial relations with the neighbouring Bangladesh for development of transport routes that would benefit the state as well as the entire north eastern region.

Addressing the 70th Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles Ground here after unfurling the Tri-colour, Solanki said a new waterway is being set up between Bangladesh and Tripura to make the state a trade hub.

New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Saturday greeted people on the 70th Republic Day and urged citizens to renew their solemn pledge to build a strong, confident, peaceful and economically prosperous nation.

In his message, Naidu asked fellow countrymen to do their best to contribute in building a peaceful, prosperous and compassionate world and realise the ideal of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) IndiGo's new CEO Ronojoy Dutta Friday told the staff that the airline would be making a major expansion into international markets.

Dutta's appointment as the CEO of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of IndiGo, was made by the board on Thursday amid the carrier working on expansion of its presence.

IndiGo is the country's largest airline in terms of domestic market share.

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. Russia is implementing a project on upgrading the Cuban railway network that carries a price tag of about 2 bln euro, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told reporters on Friday.

"We have advanced in implementing the project to upgrade Cuba’s railway network. The price of this project is nearly 2 bln euro. It will take seven years and will play a key role in the economy of Cuba. We agreed to break it down into two phases, optimize required loan resources, and we will begin specific work on the project soon," the official said.