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India values worth of UNESCO and cherishes our partnership: PM Modi at UNESCO

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a gathering at the UNESCO headquaters in Paris during his 3-day official visit to France. PM said that India values worth of UNESCO and cherishes the partnership between India and UNESCO. He added that he will defend right and liberty of every citizen. Modi further recalled Mahatma Gandhi's message to UNESCO calling for urgent action to address needs of education to secure lasting peace.

PM Modi pays floral tribute to Sri Aurobindo

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited UNESCO headquarters in Paris where he was welcomed by Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova. PM Modi also paid floral tribute to Sri Aurobindo's statue in UNESCO. Earlier today, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The national anthems of both countries were played before the French army accorded him the guard of honour. Chief of Defence Staff General Pierre de Villiers and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius were also present at the occasion. Prime Minister Modi will reach the German city of Hannover on Sunday on the second leg of his visit. He will reach Canadian capital Ottawa on Tuesday on the final leg of his visit.

Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Lakhvi walks free

New Delhi, April 10 (ANI): 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, today walked free from a Pakistani jail after spending nearly six years in detention. A Pakistani court on Thursday ordered the release of Lakhvi. The court suspended the Punjab government's detention order against him under a public security act and ordered his immediate release. The court also stated the detention as 'illegal'.

I have called for global public action for clean energy: PM Modi at UNESCO

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a gathering at the UNESCO headquaters in Paris during his 3-day official visit to France. PM Modi said that climate change is a pressing global challenge and calls for a collective human action and comprehensive response. He added that he has called for global public action for clean energy. He further said that the 70th anniversary is a time to look at the experience that they have gained.

Culture must connect, not divide our world: PM Modi at UNESCO

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a gathering at the UNESCO headquaters in Paris during his 3-day official visit to France. PM Modi said that UNESCO's initiatives to preserve the world's cultural heritage, including in India are inspiring. He added that culture must connect and not divide our world. He further added that the programme to educate and support the girl child in India is one that is closest to his heart. Speaking about Digital India, he said that it will enable the government to connect with citizens digitally.

India and UNESCO hold vision of development of science, education and technology in common: UNESCO DG Part - 1

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday visited UNESCO headquarters in Paris where he was welcomed by Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova. Bokova stated India and the UNESCO hold vision of development of science, education and technology in common. PM Modi also paid floral tribute to Sri Aurobindo's statue at the headquarters. Modi is on his nine-day visit to France, Germany and Canada, with the objective of holding bilateral talks as well as people to people contacts with all three key global economic powerhouses.

Mallika Sherawat reaches Paris on special invitation by UNESCO to attend PM Modi's address

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Bollywood Actor Mallika Sherawat on Friday reached Paris after she received special invitation by UNESCO to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UNESCO address. PM Modi is scheduled to visit UNESCO's headquarters today and meet UNESCO's Director General Bokova and address the diplomatic community, private sector representatives and UNESCO's Paris-based goodwill ambassadors. Sherawat said that she finds PM Modi's speech very inspiring and that she would like to meet PM Modi.

PM Modi attends Round Table Conference with CEOs on infrastructure in Paris

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Paris on a bilateral visit, on Friday, attended a Round Table Conference with CEOs on infrastructure as theme. The Round Table Conference took place at the Executive council Room in Paris. Modi was accompanied by Indian delegates during the conference with the French CEOs. Following the same, the prime minister will attend another Round Table Conference with CEOs on defence. Modi is in France on the first leg of his three nation tour.

PM Narendra Modi accorded ceremonial welcome in Paris

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Paris on the first leg of his three nation tour, was accorded a ceremonial welcome. Modi will be in France till April 12. He will have meetings with President Francois Hollande and interact with different sections of French society as well as the leadership there and members of the Indian community in France. All eyes are on the multi-million dollar Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) deal for which France's Dassault Rafale was selected in 2012, but which has run into massive hurdles ever since. Modi is on his nine-day visit to France, Germany and Canada, with the objective of holding bilateral talks as well as people to people contacts with all three key global economic powerhouses.

Former Australia cricketer Richie Benaud dies at 84, PM announces state funeral

Sydney, April 10 (ANI): Former Australian cricket captain Richie Benaud, the celebrated 'voice of cricket' in the commentary box, has died at the age of 84 after battling skin cancer. A giant figure in the game both on and off the field, Benaud died peacefully in his sleep in a Sydney hospice late on Thursday, his employer Channel Nine reported, citing family. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Benaud. Benaud revealed in November he was fighting a skin cancer on his head and his public appearances had become increasingly rare in recent years. After starting his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder, Benaud led the side to three successive Ashes series victories in the 1950s and 1960s. He played 63 tests for his country and was the first player to score 2,000 test runs and take 200 test wickets. Meanwhile, tributes poured in from former players, celebrities and politicians and Abbott confirmed that the former cricketer would be honoured with a state funeral.

PM Modi arrives in Paris, will discuss range of issues with French President Hollande: MEA

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris and will discuss range of issues with French President Francois Hollande. Akbaruddin said that the two leaders will discuss international issues as well as regional issues based on welfare of both India and France. PM Modi is to meet Hollande on Friday morning and the 'two strategic partners' will have discussions on various issues. The prime minister will also have the much awaited 'Nao pe Charcha' with President Hollande later in the day.

PM Modi arrives in Paris on first leg of his three nation tour

Paris, April 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris today on the first leg of his three nation tour. He was welcomed by the Indian community members at the Orly International Airport of Paris, carrying the Indian national flag. Modi landed to a pleasant welcoming crowd of people whom he greeted with gratitude. He later headed to Media Hotel on a special convoy where he will stay for a day before moving on to Toulouse city of France. The Indian prime minister is also scheduled to visit UNESCO's headquarters to meet the organization's director general Irina Bokova and address the diplomatic community, private sector representatives and UNESCO's Paris-based goodwill ambassadors. Modi is on his nine-day visit to France, Germany and Canada, with the objective of holding bilateral talks as well as people to people contacts with all three key global economic powerhouses.

Pak court orders immediate release of 26/11 mastermind Lakhvi

New Delhi, April 09 (ANI): A Pakistani court on Thursday ordered the release of Zaki-ur-Rehman, the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The court suspended the Punjab government's detention order against Lakhvi under a public security act and ordered his immediate release. The court also stated the detention as 'illegal'. Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq ordered Lakhvi to submit two surety bonds worth Rs 1 million each for his release. In March, the Punjab government had detained Lakhvi before he could be released from prison after a court ordered his release. Lakhvi and six others - Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attack in November, 2008 that left 166 people dead.

EAM Sushma Swaraj meets President of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, April 08 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday held bilateral talks with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. Swaraj said that she had a very productive meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedo. She added that they talked about important issues like bilateral relations, defense cooperation, fertilizer plant and cultural relations. She further said that Turkmenistan and India share cultural and historical linkages.

Japan contributes to farming, automotive sector in India

Tokyo, April 08 (ANI): "Tochi otome", a Japanese variety of strawberries is now produced in the suburbs of Pune. The fruit is grown by using a Japanese method called elevated hydroponics culture. Japan's NEC Corporation has come up with an idea to create both social and economic value of this project using Information and Communications Technology. NEC has teamed up with the Institute of Cultural Affairs, an India based NGO to set up strawberry project in Pune. Growing Japanese strawberries requires high skills and experience. NEC's support of Information Technology services makes it capable to expand to overseas market. Data such as temperature, humidity and sunlight hours as required for cultivation of crop are collected from several sensors installed in the Poly-house. The cultivation data has been shared with the professionals in Japan through NEC's cloud system. The Japanese agriculture professional organisation, GRA, is in charge of cultivation of strawberries in India. GRA analy

Sushma Swaraj to hold talks on gas pipeline and key issues in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, April 08 (ANI): Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj who is on a three-day visit to energy-rich Turkmenistan, would be discussing key bilateral and regional issues, including the multi-billion TAPI gas pipeline project. Swaraj, who arrived in the country on Tuesday was received by Turkmenistan's deputy foreign Minister Berdy Matiyev, Indian Ambassador TV Nagendra Prasad and others in capital Ashgabat airport. The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, valued at more than $3 billion, has long been discussed by governments and energy companies but instability in Afghanistan has so far made its construction impossible.

Retired Government Employees Fighting for Their Pension Rights in PoK

Muzaffarabad, PoK April 07, 2015: The retired government employees in Pakistan occupied Kashmir are made to suffer for want of pension, denied by them by the authorities, despite serving in the government for years. Angry over the callous attitude of the administration, they took to the streets to fight for their demands. Holding banners, questioning the callousness of the government, the retired employees of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir took to the streets to press for their demands. The employees have been denied their pension by the government for years now, forcing them to live a life of misery in their old-age. Chanting anti-administration slogans, the employees held a protest demonstration near the assembly secretariat and later marched through the main market. Urging government to release their pension, the employees, all senior citizens, held a day-long-protest, despite bad weather conditions. They threatened to intensify the stir if their demands are not met. The people of Pakist

Pakistan says Saudi asked for warplanes, warships and soldiers in its campaign against Shi'ite Houthi forces

Islamabad, April 07 (ANI): Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan for military aircraft, warships and soldiers, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said at the start of a parliamentary debate on whether Pakistan should get involved in a Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's main Sunni Muslim power, has asked Sunni-majority Pakistan to join a Saudi-led military coalition that began conducting air strikes last month against largely Shi'ite Houthi forces in Yemen. Sharif has said repeatedly that he will defend any threat to Saudi Arabia's "territorial integrity" without defining what action such a threat might provoke. Sharif owes the Saudis. Endemic tax dodging means Pakistan needs regular injections of foreign cash to avoid economic meltdown. Last year, the Saudis gave Pakistan 1.5 billion US dollars. Saudi Arabia also sheltered Sharif after he was overthrown in a 1999 military coup.

Bangladesh Supreme Court dismisses final appeal by Islamist leader against death sentence

Dhaka, April 6 (ANI): Bangladesh's Supreme Court on Monday rejected the final review petition by an Islamist leader to overturn his death sentence over atrocities committed during the country's war of independence from Pakistan in 1971. In May 2013, a special war crimes tribunal found Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, 62, an assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, guilty of genocide and torture of unarmed civilians during the war that took place more than four decades ago. The review petition was "dismissed" by a four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha. With the last legal hurdle for his execution cleared, Kamaruzzaman may become the second Islamist leader to be executed for war crimes after Abdul Quader Molla. Prosecutor, International Crime Tribunal, Barrister Doctor Tureen Afroz, said that Kamaruzzaman's last resort to escape the gallows was to file a clemency petition before the President.

Thousands of Bangladeshis protest against political violence in country

Dhaka, April 6 (ANI): Thousands of commoners, professionals and freedom fighters of 1971 Liberation War took out a protest march against Bangladeshi opposition's "militancy" in Dhaka. Under the banner of 'Sammilita Sramik,Peshajibi Oikya Parisad' (United Labourers And Professionals Platform), protesters hit the streets demanding justice for the lives lost in political unrest. More than 120 people have been killed and hundreds injured in political violence, most in petrol bomb attacks on vehicles, amid transport blockades and strikes by the opposition aimed at toppling the government. The protesters also demanded former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia's immediate arrest.