New Delhi, April 25: In sync with New Delhi's continued anti-terror efforts in its diplomatic engagements, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar is leading a high-level Indian delegation to the two-day Conference on Combating Terror Financing that started in Paris on Wednesday.
Welcoming India's participation in the conference, French Ambassador to India Alexandre Ziegler said in a statement: "As the hosting country, France is delighted that India is sending a high-level, comprehensive delegation to the event."
Headed by Akbar, the Indian delegation comprises Rajinder Khanna, Deputy National Security Advisor, Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) in the External Affairs Ministry, Chander Modi, Director-General of the National Investigative Agency (NIA), and other representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance.
"This impressive participation is both a reflection of counter-terrorism being a shared priority for our two countries, and the excellence of our partnership in this regard," Ziegler said.
Ministers from 80 countries and nearly 500 experts are gathering in Paris from Wednesday for the conference on combating the financing of terror groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda, thelocal.fr news website reported citing French officials said.
Terrorist attacks across the world have become increasingly low-cost since the 9/11 atrocities in the US, particularly in recent years when followers of the Islamic State (IS) have used vehicles and guns as their main weapon of choice
"But French authorities remain concerned about a huge war-chest amassed by IS between 2014 and 2016 when it ruled over large swathes of oil-rich territory in Iraq and Syria," the website report said.
"A French presidential official briefing journalists on Tuesday said that IS income was estimated at about $1 billion (820 million euros) a year."
India, meanwhile, has been seeking the world's support for the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) that it initiated in the UN in 1996.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
