Putin spoke by phone to Modi, Kremlin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and discussed the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine, TASS news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying.

10 killed in France apartment fire

A fire broke on Friday in an apartment building in the French city of Lyon, killing at least 10 people, including five children, authorities said.

Satellite launched to map the world’s oceans, lakes, rivers

 AUS-French satellite that will map almost all of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers rocketed into orbit on Friday. The predawn launch aboard a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California capped a highly successful year for NASA.

India’s GDP growth expected to slowdown in 2023-24

India’s GDP growth is on course to print close to 7 percent this year in 2022-23, foreign brokerage, JP Morgan said in a report. While buoyant, it would still leave output about 7 percent below its pre-pandemic potential trend

War of words

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s statements describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘nefarious’ and ‘shameful’ has drawn sharp criticisms.