U.S. President meets Malala at the Oval Office

U.S. President meets Malala at the Oval Office

Latest Indian News

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have met Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai in the Oval Office of the White House and praised her remarkable courage and efforts.
"President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama today welcomed Malala Yousafzai to the Oval Office to thank her for her inspiring and passionate work on behalf of girls' education in Pakistan," the White House said after the meeting on Friday.

U.S. joins with the Pakistani people and so many around the world to celebrate Malala's courage and her determination to promote the right of all girls to attend school and realise their dreams, the White House said.

"As the First Lady has said, 'Investing in girls' education is the very best thing we can do, not just for our daughters and granddaughters, but for their families, their communities, and their countries," it added.

"As Obama said in his proclamation to mark today as the International Day of the Girl, 'Across the globe there are girls who will one day lead nations, if only we afford them the chance to choose their own destinies'," the White House added.

"And on every continent, there are girls who will go on to change the world in ways we can only imagine, if only we allow them the freedom to dream. We salute Malala's efforts to help make these dreams come true," the White House said.

Malala, 16, was among the favourites to win this year's Nobel Peace Prize for her bold campaign for girls' right to education in Pakistan, which went to the OPCW, a UN-backed chemical weapons watchdog which came into prominence after the Syria crisis.

The young activist emerged as a contender after continuing her work to promote better rights for girls despite being shot in the head by the Taliban.

Malala, who is now based in Birmingham, UK, was shot by the Taliban as she travelled on a school bus in the Swat Valley in October last year.

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33 dead as boat capsizes in Mediterranean

33 dead as boat capsizes in Mediterranean

Latest Indian NewsYesterday

At least 33 people reportedly died while some remained missing after a boat carrying around 250 African migrants capsized on Friday in the Mediterranean, between waters of Malta and Italy, Xinhua reported citing local media in Rome.
According to Italy's Rai state television, 33 bodies including some women and children have been recovered so far after the heavily overloaded boat was toppled as the agitated migrants tried to catch the attention of a military aircraft that was flying over the area, some 104 km south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

About 200 people have so far been rescued, it added.

The latest accident occurred a week after a shipwreck left more than 300 people dead near the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Earlier reports said some 50 people have died after the boat capsized.

The heavily overloaded boat capsized some 104 km south of Lampedusa, in waters where Malta has search and rescue responsibilities.

A patrol boat of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) was first on the scene. Two Italian Navy ships also rushed to the spot after they received an alarm from Maltese authorities.

A total of 150 survivors were placed on a Maltese vessel and another 56, including 10 children, were on an Italian Navy ship, reported ANSA news agency citing rescue sources.

Meanwhile, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat confirmed 27 deaths in the tragic incident, while saying that 203 people had so far been rescued, BBC reported.

Muscat said the dead included three small children and called on the European Union to bolster search and rescue patrols to prevent further tragedy. "We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a cemetery," he told reporters in Valletta, the Maltese capital.

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Rupee up 29 paise against dollar

Rupee up 29 paise against dollar

Latest Indian NewsYesterday,

The rupee on Friday appreciated further by 29 paise to 61.10 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market on increased selling of the US currency by exporters and increased capital inflows.
Forex dealers said besides selling of the American currency by exporters, gains in other Asian currencies against the dollar and a higher opening in the domestic stock market also buoyed the sentiment.

The rupee had gained 54 paise to close at an almost two-month high of 61.39 against dollar on Thursday.

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