Beijing - China and Peru on Tuesday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that the Chinese government hailed as an "important signal" of closer international cooperation amid the global financial crisis. "With the global financial crisis looming, the China-Peru deal sends a positive message of deepening cooperation and tiding over difficulties," state media quoted Chinese Commerce Ministry official Zhu Hong as saying.

Lucknow, April 28: BJP’s firebrand leader Varun Gandhi on Tuesday deposed before the National Security Act board here following recent directions of the Supreme Court justifying imposition of the NSA against him in connection with his hate-speech.

Sources said that the deposition before the NSA board took place in camera.

Earlier, BJP supporters gave a rousing welcome to Varun on his arrival in the city by helicopter. He was escorted to the party headquarters where he reportedly addressed the gathering.

Patna, Apr 28: Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPM) leader Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya.

Yechury also criticized the Congress for failing in its duties to prevent the national shame.

“The BJP played the role of the murderer and the Congress failed in its duty as police captain to protect the Babri mosque,” Yechury said at a press conference here.

Srinagar, Apr 28: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said the state government will facilitate talks between the Central Government and separatists after general elections in the country are over.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Abdullah, who is the National Conference party''s candidate for the Srinagar-Budgam seat, said: "As I said earlier, we are committed to it. A new government will be formed after the elections, we will talk to them (separatists) and facilitate them to talk to the federal government."

New Delhi, Apr 28: Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj on Tuesday dismissed BJP leader L K Advani''s allegation that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was working at the behest of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and clarified that no attempt has been made to save Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, the lone surviving suspect in the Bofors payoff case.

New Delhi - The International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday shifted the 2011 World Cup secretariat to Mumbai from Pakistan's Lahore and said India would be hosting a bulk of the matches followed by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The move comes after the ICC removed Pakistan as co-host of the event due to the "uncertain political situation" in that country.