India

China's parliament ratified an agreement with the world's largest emerging nations on July 1 to create a new development bank, state news agency Xinhua reported. 

The New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS Bank, is one of two international development banks that China is promoting as an alternative to western institutions such as the World Bank. 

Landslides triggered by heavy rain killed at least 21 people across India's famed tea-growing region of Darjeeling, with more feared trapped under mounds of mud and debris, police said July 1. 

India is reinvigorating an $18 billion campaign to provide fast internet connections for all, with a "digital week" aimed at popularising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign promise to connect 250,000 villages in India by 2019. 

Countries from five continents formally signed up on June 29 to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank -- a potential rival to the Washington-based World Bank -- as Beijing steps up its global diplomatic and economic role.

Istanbul has been has the hub of three imperial haute cuisines, making use of not only lo-cal but imported foodstuffs ranging from caviar from the north coast of the Black Sea to spices from India. But one special import ingredient has defined its royal cuisine right from the start. Here Mary I??n explains:

What would you do if someone asked you to summarize the major tensions of human beings on this blue planet of ours? I?m talking about the big, systemic issues ? the problems of capitalism, war, climate change and development. These things are too complicated for any one person or single generation to solve. 

Bulgaria's chess grandmaster Veselin Topalov claimed on Thursday the championship title at the Norway Chess Supertournament, which took place in Stavanger.

In the last ninth round of the tournament, Topalov drew with Viswanathan Anand from India, who finished second in the final ranking.

Reza Zarrab?s road to export glory, recently recognized in a controversial award ceremony, was paved by a series of smart maneuvers designed to sidestep U.S.-led sanctions on Iran.  

Reza Zarrab?s road to export glory, recently recognized in a controversial award ceremony, was paved by a series of smart maneuvers designed to sidestep U.S.-led sanctions on Iran.  

Bulgaria's chess grandmaster Veselin Topalov retained his lead and moved closer to claiming the championship title at the Norway Chess Supertournament, which is taking place in Stavanger.

In the seventh round, which took place on Tuesday, Topalov drew the Italian Fabiano Caruana after 48 moves, adding another half a point to his score.