INDIA

Major emerging powers stood ready on Friday to pledge money to bolster the International Monetary Fund's crisis-fighting war chest, though Brazil was holding out for promises that their voting power at the global lender would increase.

Gold rose above $1,645 an ounce on Friday as a better-than-expected German business sentiment survey lifted the euro versus the dollar, but trading was light as investors awaited further news on the euro zone crisis and U.S. monetary policy.

Major emerging powers stood ready on Friday to pledge money to bolster the International Monetary Fund's crisis-fighting war chest, though Brazil was holding out for promises that their voting power at the global lender would increase.

Chinese experts believe that India has downplayed the capacity of its new nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V. Du Wenlong, a researcher at China's PLA Academy of Military Sciences has told Global Times that Agni-V is more powerful than what is claimed by New Delhi.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower Friday as weak US economic data and fears over European debt crisis weighed on the sentiment.

It appears that Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will make a comeback on television post delivery with American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey's new show. According to recent reports, the actress who is slowly taking up some tiny projects post delivery will supposedly make a comeback with Oprah Winfrey’s much awaited “Oprah's Next Chapter” which is airing this Sunday.

Asian stock markets declined Friday as batch of disappointing economic readings from the US signaled that the recovery was slowing in the world's biggest economy.

Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's plan for resolution of Siachen issue, which includes bilateral withdrawal of troops from the disputed zone, was met with a cautious welcome from India due to the concern on whether Islamabad would authenticate the ground position line at the world's highest battlefield.

Major emerging powers stood ready on Friday to pledge money to bolster the International Monetary Fund's crisis-fighting war chest, though Brazil was holding out for promises that their voting power at the global lender would increase.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner pressed India’s Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday for reassurance that New Delhi welcomes foreign capital and remains committed to boosting bilateral trade and investment, following concerns connected to India's newly proposed retrospective tax measures.

Syria and the United Nations signed an agreement Thursday on terms for hundreds of observers to monitor a ceasefire.

As Earth Day approaches on April 22, organizers view 2012 as a pivotal year to bring the environmental issues facing the planet to the forefront of the global political agenda.

The International Monetary Fund's bid to win a big boost in funding to handle the euro-zone debt crisis hit a speed bump on Thursday when Brazil demanded more power at the IMF for emerging economies as a condition for lending it extra cash.

The 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, spoke to a rapt crowd of 12,000 at San Diego University on Thursday morning. He stressed the importance of compassion and the oneness of humanity.

As Afghanistan troop withdrawals are scheduled for 2014, Australia has renewed its pledge to adhere to NATO plans. But an abrupt U-turn this week indicates the political difficulties of adhering to an international commitment.

After running in eight marathons successfully over the past twelve years, Fauja Singh, the world's oldest marathon runner at 101-years-old, has decided that his last marathon ever will be in London this Sunday. As a tribute to the world's oldest marathon runner, here are photos of Fauja Singh.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said on Thursday she expects to win a big boost in funding to help the lender contain damage from the euro-zone debt crisis now that Europe has taken significant steps on its own.

The global economy is set to expand by a modest 3.3 percent this year as a still-smoldering euro zone debt crisis and a relatively slow U.S. recovery continue to leave Asia as the main driver of growth, Reuters polls showed on Thursday.

China issued a cautious statement that seemed to downplay any threats the missile may pose.

The European Union will formalize a suspension of sanctions against Myanmar next Monday, allowing for major easing on restrictions against the country over the next year.

A 31-year-old Indian boy who lost his mother in 1986, when he was just five, found his home back using Google Earths' satellite images, 25 years later.