New Delhi

US Vice President Kamala Harris, Chinese premier Li Qiang and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov attended an East Asia summit in Indonesia on Thursday, offering an opportunity for direct, high-level diplomacy between the rivals.

Major roads in New Delhi are teeming with giant posters and billboards announcing India's presidency of this week's summit of the Group of 20 nations. And one leader's picture — smiling benignly from every traffic circle — stands out from the rest: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Athens opens a new chapter in bilateral relations which have been least-favoured for decades. Despite vast class inequalities and widespread poverty, India has emerged as a major power in the Indo-Pacific region.

US President Joe Biden on Sunday expressed disappointment that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not attend the G20 summit in India this week, as Washington seeks to repair relations with Beijing.

Asked about Xi reportedly not planning to join the gathering in New Delhi, Biden told reporters, "I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him," without elaborating.

Greece and India are systematically working to strengthen bilateral ties. The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Athens on August 25 will be the culmination of diplomatic efforts of the last years. It was only 40 years ago when Indira Gandhi flew to Greece on the invitation of her counterpart, Andreas Papandreou.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday his meeting with Indian President Draupadi Murmu earlier in the day had addressed cooperation in six key areas and that friendly ties and political cooperation would be deepened further.

The prestigious competition registered nominations from a total of 700 participants from all over the world

The decision was made in light of attempts by the United States and its allies to renew their military presence in Central Asia, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today.

India has extended restrictions on the export of diesel and gasoline, the government said in a notification, as New Delhi tries to ensure the availability of refined fuels for the domestic market.

The government had imposed the curbs on gasoline and gasoil exports through the end of the financial year.

At least 13 people were killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan by a strong earthquake felt across thousands of kilometres, but the region appeared Wednesday to have dodged the mass casualties usually associated with a tremor of such scale.