New Delhi, Apr. 14 : Government officials from South Asian countries, the European Union and the United States are participating in a conference this week in New Delhi on Countering Terrorist Financing in the Charitable Sector.

The conference, hosted by the U. S. Embassy and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, is promoting government action to prevent terrorist organizations from exploiting humanitarian or religious charities as a way to conceal the illegal international movement of funds.

Tehran- Iran and the European Union on Monday agreed to resume talks over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, which for the first time could involve direct negotiations with the United States. During a telephone conversation between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saaid Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the two sides agreed to pursue talks between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 group, state television network IRIB reported.

Brussels - The European Union on Monday expressed "great concern" at the situation in Thailand and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the country's government and opposition. The EU presidency urged anti-government demonstrators in Thailand to refrain from violence on the streets, saying this could lead to further tension and harm Thailand's stability and reputation.

The EU said it hoped the political divide could be overcome through dialogue and democratic means, within the framework of the constitution.

Prague  - US President Barak Obama is likely to face pressure from Washington's European Union (EU) allies at an US-EU summit in Prague to draw up concrete measures to combat global warming.

After delivering a speech in central Prague calling for world action to face up to the threat posed by nuclear proliferation, Obama was meeting with the heads of the
27-member EU.

Speaking ahead of the US-EU summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU expected Obama to present concrete steps aimed at dealing with climate change.

Berlin  - Responding to US President Barack Obama's ambitious plans for a non-nuclear world, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, called Sunday for the first disarmament moves this year.

In remarks reported by the Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, he said, "Nuclear weapons and their unchecked proliferation are a major threat to us all.

Prague  - The European Union (EU) joined the international community Sunday in strongly condemning North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket.

A statement issued by the Czech government, which currently holds the EU's sixth-month rotating presidency, said the North Korean action placed additional strains on regional stability and was contrary to United Nations resolutions.

"These actions place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence building," the EU said.