The development comes just two days before President Donald Trump is set to sigh a 'phase one' of a trade deal with China. The US treasury said in its semi-annual report to Congress that the yuan has strengthened and Beijing is no longer considered a currency manipulator.

An Indian official who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “Both sides are in touch to work out mutually convenient dates for the visit.” He did not elaborate on the timeline of the state visit.

Reports are coming in with the information that a fresh set of rockets have slammed into an Iraqi airbase north of Baghdad where US forces have been based. Four local troops have been injured in the attack on January 12.

The US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a warning to Iran against the killing of protesters who have been raising voice against the downing of a civilian airliner as his defense secretary left the door open to talks with Tehran without preconditions.

Iran will welcome any peace initiative from India in de-escalating tensions with US after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian envoy here said on January 8 reaffirming that they want peace and not war.

"What we know is that the US State Secretary (Mike Pompeo), in a call to the Secretary General of the United Nations, said: 'We did not have time to issue a visa for Mohammad Javad Zarif and we will not issue a visa'," Zarif said.

Thousands of Iraqis were seen chanting death to America as they mourned a top Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack. The attack has developed a situation of triggering a regional proxy war between Washington and Tehran.

In a tweet defending Friday's drone strike assassination of a top Iranian general in Iraq, Trump said 52 represents the number of Americans held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran for more than a year starting in late 1979.

A former US basketball player who had inspired the famous 'ice bucket challenge', which became famous across the globe, to tackle a deadly neurodegenerative disease has passed away at an early age of 34, said the family.

A notification has been issued by the Trump government to the United States Congress mentioning its consent to sell naval guns for use against warships, anti-aircraft and shore bombardment worth a billion dollars to India. With this Indian Navy will be more equipped and powered to enhance their capabilities.