Kathmandu, Dec 3 (IANS) As bilateral ties between Nepal and India have seen a thaw in recent days, the stalled high-level visits and exchanges have resumed.

Seoul, Dec 3 (IANS) Six more US soldiers and two other American civilians in South Korea have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, it was confirmed on Thursday.

Moscow, Dec 3 (IANS) Russia's overall Covid-19 caseload has increased to 2,375,546 after 28,145 people were reported to be infected in the last 24 hours, a new record in single-day cases since the onset of the pandemic, health authorities said on Thursday.

Hong Kong, Dec 3 (IANS) Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was denied bail on Thursday after he was charged with fraud and is likely to spend Christmas behind bars.

Kabul, Dec 3 (IANS) Negotiators from the Afghan government, as well as the Taliban, have agreed on procedural rules to continue the peace talks in the Qatari capital of Doha, it was confirmed by both the sides.

Islamabad, Dec 3 (IANS) A senior counsel of the Sindh High Court (SHC) told the Pakistan Supreme Court that the 2002 abduction and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl were part of events related to international terrorism, the media reported on Thursday.

Islamabad, Dec 3 (IANS) Pakistan's overall coronavirus caseload has increased to 406,810 after an additional 3,499 people tested positive in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) Senior Democrats, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have signaled willingness to embrace a trimmed-down Covid-19 relief bill, urging Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to join negotiations.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) US President-elect Joe Biden has urged all Americans not to travel during the upcoming holiday season due to the unabated coronavirus resurgence in the country, which is currently the worst-hit in the world.

Brussels, Dec 3 (IANS) The European Union (EU) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to improve its ties with the US, which the bloc believes has been severely damaged under the current administration of President Donald Trump.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its guidelines regarding the Covid-19 quarantine period, from 14 days to seven to 10 days, depending on one's test results and symptoms.

United Nations, Dec 3 (IANS) India has accused Pakistan of violating the spirit of a UN resolution it had itself sponsored by transferring the control of the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara to a non-Sikh body.

Vienna, Dec 3 (IANS) The group of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, will meet on Thursday over a possible extension of production cuts in the coming months.

San Francisco, Dec 3 (IANS) California reported a record single-day increase of more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases, significantly surpassing the previous high of 18,350 set last week, health authorities said.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) A coalition of US colleges and universities has urged Congress and President Donald Trump's administration to finalise negotiations on a Covid-19 relief with at least $120 billion for higher education.

Beijing, Dec 3 (IANS) China's Chang'e-5 probe has completed sampling on the moon, and the samples have been sealed inside the spacecraft, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Thursday.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) The US reported 2,713 new coronavirus fatalities in the past 24 hours, the highest single-day spike since April, which increased the country's overall death toll to 273,316, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) Under a new regulation issued by the US Department of Transportation, airlines will no longer consider emotional support animals as service animals, limiting dogs as the only type that can fly with travellers for free.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) Some 30 per cent of employees at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said they were discriminated against based on their gender or race, a survey has revealed.

Triploi, Dec 3 (IANS) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that it started a three-day distribution of core relief items to thousands of internally displaced Libyans.

Paris, Dec 3 (IANS) Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the President of France from 1974 to 1981 and a key actor in European integration, has passed away at the age of 94, the media reported.

Washington, Dec 3 (IANS) The US economy is "plateauing" due to a continued resurgence of new coronavirus cases across the country and the lack of fiscal support, a senior Federal Reserve official said.

Baghdad, Dec 3 (IANS) Iraqi President Barham Salih and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have called for reducing regional tensions and stressed the need to continue international efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

New York, Dec 3 (IANS) A US federal judge has struck down two rules introduced by President Donald Trump's administration requiring higher wages for those getting H1-B employment visas, adding restrictions and tightening some required qualifications.

Ramallah, Dec 3 (IANS) Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has called on the donor countries to take more serious measures to boycott the Israeli settlements.