New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) India attaches high priority to strengthening its engagement with Vietnam both bilaterally and within the framework of the ASEAN and Ho Chi Minh City is a pillar of India's 'Look East' policy, President Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday. Le Thanh Hai, politburo member of the Vietnam Communist Party and secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, called on Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan Thursday. Le is in India at the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations' Distinguished Visitors Programme.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Taking note of the Italian government going back on its assurance on the return of its two marines accused of killing two Indians, the Supreme Court Thursday restrained Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini from leaving the country without its permission. An apex court bench of Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, Justice Anil
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is visiting India from March 18 to 21 at the head of a high-level delegation of ministers and business leaders, at a time when trade between the two sides has witnessed a record 30 percent jump. The new Egyptian government headed by Morsi is "looking at a much deeper engagement with India, looking to diversify their relationship, and they genuinely look at India as a country from which they can access our knowledge, experience and expertise in information technology, microfinance and small and medium enterprises," said Indian ambassador to Egypt Navdeep Suri. Morsi had voiced keenness to learn from India about capacity building, so that he can address the problem of unemployment, and also to learn from India's pluralism.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) With the attack in Srinagar adding to concerns over cross-border terrorism, the government has opted against implementing the proposed group tourist visa facility under the liberalised visa regime with Pakistan from March 15, an official said Thursday. "The group tourist visa facility under the liberalised visa regime agreed by India and Pakistan will not be implemented from March 15," a home ministry official said.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Sri Lanka has been told to speedily release the 53 Indian fishermen arrested by its navy Wednesday and Thursday, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said. Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, Khurshid said the government conveyed its view to Sri Lanka's deputy high commissioner after summoning him to the foreign ministry
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) India and Britain have agreed to support innovative businesses in both countries which are working together on the commercialisation of research in various areas, including energy and healthcare, an official statement said Thursday. The new programme further strengthens the Britain-Indian research and innovation partnership, which was one of the themes during Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to India last month, said a statement issued by the British High Commission here.
New Delhi/Colombo, March 14 (IANS) India Thursday told Sri Lanka to treat the 53 Indian fishermen arrested by its navy humanely and release them at the earliest. The external affairs ministry said Sri Lankan authorities arrested 19 fishermen Wednesday and another 34 Thursday for allegedly fishing in Sri Lanka's waters.
Mumbai, March 14 (IANS) India Thursday invited the Czech Republic to invest in its National Investment Manufacturing Zones as the country's industrial sector is set to witness rapid growth in the next ten years. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said that according to a recent UNIDO release, India ranks among the top 10 manufacturers globally. "India has also been ranked second on manufacturing competence in the 2010 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index prepared by Deloitte and US Council on Competitiveness," he said.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) India said Thursday it was reviewing "all aspects of our relationship" with Italy following a diplomatic row over the non-return of two Italian marines charged with killing two fishermen off the Kerala coast mistaking them for pirates.
New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Italy said it has "solid reasons to proceed in the direction of international arbitration" for not sending back to India two Italian marines who killed two Indian fishermen. "We have juridically solid reasons to proceed in the direction of international arbitration," Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said on arriving in the Israeli city of Herzliya
