US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday reaffirmed "strong commitments" to the European Union (EU) in a bid to allay the bloc's doubts on the new administration's stance towards it.

"Today is my privilege to be on behalf of President (Donald) Trump, to express strong commitments of the United States to continue cooperation and partnership with the EU," Pence said at a joint press conference with European Council President Donald Tusk after their meeting in Brussels.

He stressed that despite differences between the US and the EU, the two sides "share the same heritage, the same values, above all the same purpose to promote peace, prosperity, freedom, and rule of law," Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, Pence met with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who in her tweeter hailed the "excellent meeting" as "good basis for our cooperation".

Pence will meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg later in the day.

Pence is on his diplomatic foray to Brussels, after attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Pence said on Saturday at the conference that his country would "strongly support NATO" as European members of the military alliance were worried about security uncertainties arising from possible change in US policy.

While seeking to reassure European leaders, Pence also urged NATO members to shoulder their fair share.

"NATO requires your commitment as much as ours," he added.

US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday reaffirmed "strong commitments" to the European Union (EU) in a bid to allay the bloc's doubts on the new administration's stance towards it.

"Today is my privilege to be on behalf of President (Donald) Trump, to express strong commitments of the United States to continue cooperation and partnership with the EU," Pence said at a joint press conference with European Council President Donald Tusk after their meeting in Brussels.

He stressed that despite differences between the US and the EU, the two sides "share the same heritage, the same values, above all the same purpose to promote peace, prosperity, freedom, and rule of law," Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, Pence met with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who in her tweeter hailed the "excellent meeting" as "good basis for our cooperation".

Pence will meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg later in the day.

Pence is on his diplomatic foray to Brussels, after attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

Pence said on Saturday at the conference that his country would "strongly support NATO" as European members of the military alliance were worried about security uncertainties arising from possible change in US policy.

While seeking to reassure European leaders, Pence also urged NATO members to shoulder their fair share.

"NATO requires your commitment as much as ours," he added.

A Turkish court on Monday began the trial of 47 people over their alleged involvement in plotting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's assassination during a coup attempt in July last year.

The defendants, among them 37 soldiers who formed an alleged hit squad, are mainly accused of attempting to kill the President, remove the constitutional order and kill intentionally, Xinhua news agency reported.

Six life sentences have been demanded for each of the defendants, three of whom are still on the run, court sources said.

The defendants are accused of joining efforts to raid a hotel in Turkey's Aegean resort town of Marmaris, where Erdogan and his family were on holiday, after some in the Turkish military launched a coup attempt on the night of July 15, Xinhua reported.

The overthrow bid was crushed hours later but left nearly 250 people dead.

Erdogan said the hotel was bombed 15 minutes after he left. Two police officers in charge of the president's security were killed during the raid.

Outside of the courthouse, a group of people staged a protest demanding a reinstated death sentence for it to be applied to the coup plotters, the state-run Anadolu Agency said.

Ankara believes the coup attempt was masterminded by Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in the US, and has been pushing for his extradition. 

India was the world's largest importer of major arms in the last five years and its overseas procurement was far greater than that of China and Pakistan, a Stockholm-based think-tank said on Monday.

As per latest report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India accounted for 13 per cent of the total global arms import between 2012 16 which is highest among all the countries.

The report said while China was increasingly able to substitute arms imports with indigenous products, India remained dependent on weapons technology from Russia, the US, Europe, Israel and South Korea.

"India was the world's largest importer of major arms in 2012 16, accounting for 13 per cent of the global total," the leading think-tank said.

It said India increased its arms imports by 43 per cent between 2007 11 and 2012 16 and in the last four years its global procurement was far greater than those of its regional rivals China and Pakistan.

In the last five years, the report found that trade of major weapons has increased to its highest volume since the Cold War, triggered mainly by sudden spurt in demand from Middle East and Asia.

Saudi Arabia was the second largest arms importer in 2012-16, with an increase of 212 per cent compared with 2007 11. Arms imports by Qatar went up by 245 per cent.

According to the report, Russia accounted for a 23 per cent share of global exports in the period 2012 16 and 70 per cent of its arms exports went to India, Vietnam, China and Algeria.

The US was the top arms exporter in 2012 16 with a one- third share of global arms exports and its supplies rose by 21 per cent compared with 2007 11. Almost half of its arms exports went to the Middle East, said the report.

The report said China's share of global arms exports rose from 3.8 to 6.2 per cent between 2007 11 and 2012 16.

"It is now firmly a top-tier supplier, like France and Germany which accounted for 6 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively," said the think-tank.

A Delhi court on Monday asked the CBI to file its reply on a bail plea by Anuj Saxena, the COO of Elder Pharmaceuticals, accused of bribing former Corporate Affairs Ministry official BK Bansal who committed suicide last year.

Special CBI Judge Gurdeep Singh sought the agency's response by Tuesday and posted the matter for Thursday.

Saxena, also an actor, model and producer, was also sent to 14 days' judicial custody after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the court that his custodial interrogation was not required.

On February 16, Saxena surrendered before the court and was allowed to be quizzed by the CBI till Monday.

Saxena was directed by the Delhi High Court on February 13 to surrender before the trial court.

The CBI has alleged that Saxena played a direct role in bribing Bansal to ensure that he does not order a Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) inspection against his company on charges of illegal collection of Rs 175 crore from 24,000 investors, diversion of funds to companies abroad and not filing returns on time.

The CBI has also alleged that Bansal was dealing with the violations by Elder Pharmaceuticals.

Bansal and his 31-year-old son Yogesh committed suicide on September 27, 2016 by hanging themselves at their house in east Delhi. His wife Satyabala, 57, and daughter Neha, 27, committed suicide on July 19.

Bansal was arrested by the CBI on bribery charges on July 16 last year. He was accused of taking Rs 9 lakh from Elder Pharmaceuticals.

Monaco midfielder Joao Moutinho emphasised teamwork was the key to victory over English football giants Manchester City in UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg on Tuesday.

"To beat City, we have to play as a team," he told the club's website on Monday, a day before the clash at the Etihad Stadium, reports Efe news agency.

Moutinho, joining Monaco in 2013, enjoyed his life during the past four years, especially when the team was at the top of the table.

"I've enjoyed playing for Monaco for almost four years now. Undoubtedly it's more fun to play when you're on a winning path, which is our case this season. We're currently at the top of the league," said the Portuguese midfielder.

"We have a good team, a young squad that gives its all. Every day we want to give our 100% to win the game," he added.

The matchup against Manchester City will bring Moutinho reminiscent of days at the Portuguese side Porto as he will reunite with his former teammates Fernando and Nicolas Otamendi.

"They are my friends, but they won't be during the match. We all want to win the game. I'll give everything for Monaco to advance to the next round," said Moutinho.

Farzana draws all eyes when she dances, with the twist of her hips and hair — but today she is above all the voice of a Pakistani community with an ambiguous status: the khawajasiras.

The 30-year-old is a guru, a matriarch at the head of a "family" of several hundred khawajasiras, an umbrella term in Pakistan denoting a third sex that includes transsexuals, transvestites and eunuchs.

She is co-founder and president of TransAction, a rights organisation launched in 2015 in Peshawar, capital of deeply conservative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

Faced with brutal aggression and daily humiliation, this solid Pashtun, whose hoarse voice betrays her birth sex, "filed complaints in almost every KP police station" — but in vain.

"More than 50 khawajasiras were killed in 2015 and 2016 in KP alone," she says, recounting with fatalistic calm how she was repeatedly raped and blackmailed by police.

The status of khawajasiras — also known as hijras — is opaque in Pakistan to say the least.

Modern-day Pakistani transgender people claim to be cultural heirs of the eunuchs who thrived at the courts of the Mughal emperors that ruled the Indian subcontinent for two centuries until the British arrived in the 19th century and banned them.

Later, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to legally recognise a third sex. They number at least half a million people in the country, according to several studies — up to two million, say TransAction.

Since 2009, they have been able to obtain an identity card as "khawajasiras", and several have run in elections. A Lahore court has ruled they should be counted in the next census, set to be held this year.

Like Farzana, many earn their living by being called upon for rituals such as blessing newborns or to bring life to weddings and parties as dancers — and, sometimes, in more clandestine ways.

But despite these signs of integration they live daily as pariahs, often reduced to begging and prostitution, subjected to extortion and discrimination.

The catalyst for TransAction's mobilisation in Peshawar was the exclusion of transgenders from aid to populations fleeing Talibanisation and fighting in the tribal areas on the border with Afghanistan.

Sohana, 24, fled in 2008 from Kurram tribal district, where the Taliban had banished dancing and music, and forced men to grow beards.

"If I had stayed, I would be dead by now," she says.

Scot Andy Murray stayed at the top of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) men's singles rankings released on Monday, with 11,540 points.

The 29-year-old led the rankings for the first time on November 7 and has kept the lead since, reports Efe news agency.

Serbian Novak Djokovic came second with 9,825 points, followed by Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

Belgian David Goffin has climbed one place in the rankings to join the top 10 tennis players in the world.

The current ATP rankings and point scores are:

1. Andy Murray (Scotland) 11,540 points

2. Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 9,825

3. Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) 5,695

4. Milos Raonic (Canada) 4,930

5. Kei Nishikori (Japan) 4,730

6. Rafael Nadal (Spain) 4,115

7. Marin Cilic (Croatia) 3,410

8. Dominic Thiem (Austria) 3,375

9. Roger Federer (Switzerland) 3,260

10. David Goffin (Belgium) 3,245.

In a riposte to Australia captain Steve Smith's jibe that the visitors won't shy away from sledging, India batsman Ajinkya Rahane revealed that the hosts have designed plans for every single player.

"We don't know if they will sledge or not. We have some plans against each of them, I can't discuss that here. Skill wise or sledging wise, there is definitely a plan. We know that Australian players play mind games. Our aim would be to dominate them in every aspect," Rahane told reporters here.

"We will look to play positive cricket, attacking cricket not only against the spinners but all the bowlers. Practice game and the Test match is completely different, so we have to read the condition well and play according to the situation, that would be the key," the right-handed batsman said.

Rahane asserted that the Indians will focus on their own strengths rather than dwelling on what combinations the Aussies will employ.

"They are coming to India and will be expecting a turning track. So, yes, three fast bowlers and five spinners is their combination but for us it will be important to play to our potential and not focus on their bowling attack, strategies. It is important for each team member to back our own game."

"It will be a different wicket. We have to wait and watch. Once the first day is over, we will have an idea about how it will behave the five days," he said.

On the issue of shuttling between formats in modern-day cricket, Rahane said it is all about mental adjustments.

"Whatever format you play, you want to give your best for your team whether it is T20I, Test or ODI. But if you are playing two or three formats, it is all about how you adjust mentally. It is all about mental adjustments rather than technical adjustment."

Returning from a injury lay-off with a 133-ball 82 in the first innings against Bangladesh in the one-off Test, Rahane vindicated skipper Virat Kohli's faith in him. Kohli played him ahead of Karun Nair who was coming into the tie on the back of a triple hundred.

"That innings was very important for me. I was really excited about that Test match, coming back after two months and importantly I got 82, good to spend time in the middle. But it is important to start afresh here," the Mumbai batsman said.

"Australia, we all know, is a very good, experienced team. So it will be important to play to our potential, back ourself in the middle. As a team we are playing really well and it is important to take one game at a time."

The first stage of the two-stage lifting of limits on cash withdrawals from savings bank accounts became effective on Monday, with the weekly limit rising to Rs 50,000 per account from Rs 24,000.

Cash withdrawal limits are slated to cease from March 13. 

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor R. Gandhi announced the lifting of limits on February 8. 

On January 30, the RBI ended all curbs on withdrawals from Current Accounts, Cash Credit Accounts and Overdraft Accounts.

The limits were placed following the November 8 demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes. The upper limit for withdrawals from ATMs was Rs 2,500 initially and was later raised to Rs 4,500.

In January, the RBI hiked the daily ATM withdrawal limit to Rs 10,000 and doubled the weekly Current Account withdrawal limit to Rs 1 lakh.

The upper limit for weekly withdrawal from bank accounts was raised to Rs 24,000 from Rs 20,000 in November.

The lifting of ATM withdrawal limits from March 13 will represent a coming full circle for these machines.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Centre has sanctioned a special package for strengthening the security in three eastern districts of Arunachal Pradesh to tackle the insurgency problem there.

The special package for Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts will also include creation of new posts, purchasing of vehicles and equipment for police, he said addressing the 31st Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day programme here.

He assured necessary funds from his ministry at the earliest for construction of over 20 police stations in the three districts and asked the state government to expedite the work.

Singh said his ministry was actively considering the proposals submitted by the Arunachal Pradesh government for strengthening the security system in the state.

The state government had sent a proposal for setting up of an ITBP battalion here, Singh said adding he had asked his ministry s officials to immediately examine it.

He also assured to sanction a forensic science laboratory in the state.

We will do whatever is possible in the interest of the state for development. There is no dearth of fund. But every penny from the Centre should be judiciously utilised to maintain transparency so that nobody could point a finger.

Developmental fund should be utilised with utmost honesty as the Centre has been sanctioning honestly for the state s development. I appeal to the government functionaries to work in the spirit of Team Arunachal to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Pema Khandu who is embarking on a focussed approach for development of the state, he added.

Referring to the hydro power potential of the state, Singh said a robust connectivity infrastructure was a must to tap the hydro power potential which could be a money spinner for the state.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari had already announced a Rs.50,000 crore project for roads and bridges for Arunachal Pradesh, which would be sanctioned within the next two years.

Four state roads in Arunachal have already been announced as national highways and the state government should send early proposals free from all incumbencies including land allocation for early sanction, Singh added.

The Pakistan Army has moved heavy artillery towards the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, security officials said on Monday.

The move came just two days after the military "decimated" camps of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group on the Torkham border opposite Mohmand and Khyber tribal regions, Geo News reported. 

The group, which claims to be behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks, has found safe haven in Afghanistan, according to the Pakistani security establishment.

Security sources said their forces have resolved to restrict illegal border movement and any attempt to breach border security will be responded with full force. 

Security forces have stepped up patrolling in the areas along the Afghan border, while security has been put on high alert in North and South Waziristan agencies.

The stringent border checks were implemented after a week of deadly attacks by terrorists left over 100 people dead and injured in different cities of Pakistan, prompting a pledge of "revenge – immediate revenge" from Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. 

Security forces have also indefinitely closed the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Pakistan Army has moved heavy artillery towards the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, security officials said on Monday.

The move came just two days after the military "decimated" camps of the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group on the Torkham border opposite Mohmand and Khyber tribal regions, Geo News reported. 

The group, which claims to be behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks, has found safe haven in Afghanistan, according to the Pakistani security establishment.

Security sources said their forces have resolved to restrict illegal border movement and any attempt to breach border security will be responded with full force. 

Security forces have stepped up patrolling in the areas along the Afghan border, while security has been put on high alert in North and South Waziristan agencies.

The stringent border checks were implemented after a week of deadly attacks by terrorists left over 100 people dead and injured in different cities of Pakistan, prompting a pledge of "revenge – immediate revenge" from Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. 

Security forces have also indefinitely closed the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Development of the Northeast is essential for the country's economic development, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday while criticising the previous UPA regime at the Centre for neglecting the region for years.

Singh, who was addressing a function to mark the 31st Arunachal Pradesh statehood day, called the Northeast a "holy place" and one of the richest in the country.

"But no one had taken care of it even after several decades since Independence," he said.

"In 2001, the NDA government under Prime Minister A B Vajpayee created the Ministry of Department of Northeastern region as an independent one. After this, the region got a momentum in terms of development," he told the gathering.

"And now Prime Minister Narendra Modi had rechristened the 'Look East Policy' as 'Act East Policy' to fast track development in the region after years of negligence," he said.

The senior BJP leader said the Centre was keen on development of Arunachal Pradesh which is "strategically located sharing international borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar", and assured full support to the state for its all round development.

Referring to the border dispute between India and China, Singh said the relations between the Asian giants had improved and they were involved in bilateral trade worth USD 70 billion.

Singh, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and BJP national secretary Ram Madhab, said, "Arunachal Pradesh is in its full youthfulness and interestingly the Chief Minister is also the youngest in the country. He has the vision and will power to lead the state to the zenith of development." 

"I am confident that under Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh will shine among developed states of the country," he said.

BJP had formed the government in Arunachal Pradesh last year after 33, out of 43 Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined the party.

The Union Minister also declared open a four-day Festival of Arunachal and released a souvenir on the occasion.

Development of the Northeast is essential for the country's economic development, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday while criticising the previous UPA regime at the Centre for neglecting the region for years.

Singh, who was addressing a function to mark the 31st Arunachal Pradesh statehood day, called the Northeast a "holy place" and one of the richest in the country.

"But no one had taken care of it even after several decades since Independence," he said.

"In 2001, the NDA government under Prime Minister A B Vajpayee created the Ministry of Department of Northeastern region as an independent one. After this, the region got a momentum in terms of development," he told the gathering.

"And now Prime Minister Narendra Modi had rechristened the 'Look East Policy' as 'Act East Policy' to fast track development in the region after years of negligence," he said.

The senior BJP leader said the Centre was keen on development of Arunachal Pradesh which is "strategically located sharing international borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar", and assured full support to the state for its all round development.

Referring to the border dispute between India and China, Singh said the relations between the Asian giants had improved and they were involved in bilateral trade worth USD 70 billion.

Singh, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and BJP national secretary Ram Madhab, said, "Arunachal Pradesh is in its full youthfulness and interestingly the Chief Minister is also the youngest in the country. He has the vision and will power to lead the state to the zenith of development." 

"I am confident that under Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh will shine among developed states of the country," he said.

BJP had formed the government in Arunachal Pradesh last year after 33, out of 43 Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined the party.

The Union Minister also declared open a four-day Festival of Arunachal and released a souvenir on the occasion.

A key Taliban commander was killed in a drone strike attack on a militant hideout in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a defence official confirmed on Monday.

"Acting upon an intelligence report, the drone attack was conducted in Nawa district on Sunday that killed the commander named Qari Salim," the official told Xinhua news agency.

Qari Salim, according to the official, was commanding several dozen militants, besides organising suicide attacks in the province.

A key Taliban commander was killed in a drone strike attack on a militant hideout in Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a defence official confirmed on Monday.

"Acting upon an intelligence report, the drone attack was conducted in Nawa district on Sunday that killed the commander named Qari Salim," the official told Xinhua news agency.

Qari Salim, according to the official, was commanding several dozen militants, besides organising suicide attacks in the province.