New Delhi: India and France will seek to step their civil nuclear cooperation and intensify economic ties when External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid goes on a two-day visit to Paris starting tomorrow. Announcing the visit, Syed Akbaruddin, the spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, said Khurshid will hold talks with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.
Khurshid will also call on French President Francois Hollande.
This will be the first visit by Khurshid to Paris since he assumed charge as the foreign minister. During the talks, India and France are expected to discuss a cluster of issues, including civil nuclear cooperation, trade and investment, defence cooperation and the global financial crisis.
Trade and investment between India and France are steadily surging. Bilateral trade is estimated to be $8.9bn. More than 800 French companies have their representative office in India. Over 100 Indian companies have established their presence in France. India is the 13th largest investor in France.
MIM leader Akbar Owaisi arrested
Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi was arrested yesterday in a case booked against him for delivering alleged hate speeches.
After undergoing medical tests through the day at government-run Gandhi Hospital, the legislator was arrested by police. The medical tests showed that he is fit to face the questioning.
Police said Akbar Owaisi is being shifted to Nirmal town in Adilabad district, about 200 km from here, for questioning.
Smriti sues Nirupam for defamation
New Delhi: TV actress-turned-politician Smriti Irani yesterday filed a defamation here against Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam for using “indecent language” against her during a television debate.
While discussing the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, Nirupam mocked at the Bharatiya Janata Party MP as a former dancer who had entered politics only some years ago.
Himachal Pradesh legislator surrenders
Chandigarh: A court in Panchkula town in Haryana sent a newly elected Congress legislator of Himachal Pradesh, whose name figured in a murder case, to six days police remand after he surrendered earlier yesterday.
Ram Kumar Chaudhary, who was wanted by the Haryana Police for the murder of a 24-year-old woman Jyoti along with three others, was absconding for the past few days.
Police had tried to arrest him by raiding various places in Himachal but he evaded arrest. Police on Monday announced a reward of `200,000 to anyone giving information about his whereabouts. Chaudhary was supposed to take oath as a legislator in the Himachal assembly in Dharamsala yesterday but he appeared in the Panchkula court and surrendered.
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