Obama rejects Putin's claim on Syria chemical weapons attack, exchanges letters with Iran's Rouhani

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obamarejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that Syrian rebels were responsible for an August 21 chemical gas attack but, in an interview broadcast on Sunday, he welcomed Putin's diplomatic role in the crisis. 

Iran orders release of 19 Indian fishermen

CHENNAI: Iran has ordered the release of 19Indian fishermen, including 16 from Tamil Nadu, who were jailed in December last year for straying into Iranian waters. 

Confirming the decision to waive their fine and release them, Sibi George, deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, told TOI on Friday that the fishermen were expected to be home in the next few days. "Our diplomats are in the processing of getting their air tickets confirmed," he said. 

Iran demands $500000

NEW DELHI: Indian tanker Desh Shanti was held to ransom by Iranian authorities — spearheaded by the dreaded Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — for 26 days, the Centre has concluded in a damning initial assessment of the incident that has sent shockwaves across countries in Asia and Europe importing oil from the Persian Gulf. More alarmingly, it has been revealed that authorities at Iran's Bandar