UN agencies warn that the latest fighting has newly displaced nearly one quarter of the Gaza Strip's population this month
India has invited French President Emmanuel Macron to be the chief guest at the country's Republic Day celebrations next month, in what Macron's office described on Friday as a powerful gesture for the two nations' ties.
The visit for Republic Day on January 26 will be Macron's third to India as president. The event marks the 74th anniversary of the adoption of India's Constitution on January 26, 1950, nearly three years after it won independence from British colonial rule.
India's official guest in January 2023 was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, for a 90-minute parade that ended with a flyby featuring 75 air force fighters, including French-made Rafale jets, transport planes and helicopters.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Previous French guests for the event have included all of Macron's immediate predecessors as France's president: François Hollande, Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac.
Macron's office called the invitation “an extremely strong gesture".
India’s External Affairs Ministry described the two nations as “strategic partners" and said: “India and France share a high degree of convergence on a range of regional and global issues.”
ALSO READ:
Macron also visited India in 2018 and again for a Group of 20 summit in September.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was guest of honour this year at France's annual Bastille Day parade in Paris on July 14.
India and France are looking to further strengthen cooperation on an array of topics ranging from climate to military sales and the strategic Indo-Pacific region.
In July, India’s Defence Acquisition Council approved the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Navy. The purchase of three Scorpene submarines, developed by France and Spain, was also approved.
UN agencies warn that the latest fighting has newly displaced nearly one quarter of the Gaza Strip's population this month
Despite the bail, Khan, 71, will not be immediately released as he is serving sentences in two other cases
Projections consistently show that low-lying Thai capital risks being inundated by the ocean before the end of the century
The Israeli army sought an explanation for footage showing armed men next to UN Palestinian relief agency vehicles
Pizzorusso is not the first person to have claimed to have solved the mystery but she cites her knowledge of geology to back her claims
A central laboratory equipped with the latest technologies will analyse food samples, to make sure safe and quality food is offered to pilgrims
The country opened an inquiry last week into the recruitment of its citizens for the conflict
Prabir Purkayastha was arrested last year after a New York Times investigation alleged his outlet was funded by a network pushing Chinese propaganda