Amritsar, Jan. 12 : Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Monday said that Indians live in a plural society and should cherish their cultural heritage and diversity.

In a speech delivered after inaugurating the 14th National Youth Festival here, Ansari said this diversity presents itself in terms of regions, languages, religions, food habits and in a multitude of other ways.

"Yet each of these is Indian and is equally authentic. The challenge, then, is to think Indian and act Indian within the framework of this unity and diversity," he added.

New Delhi, Jan. 12 : The eight-day-old strike by transporters has been called off following a second round of discussions held between the government and representatives of the All India Motors Transport Congress (AIMTC).

Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Brahm Dutt told reporters here this evening that the strike has been called off.

The details of the agreement reached between the government and the AIMTC managing committee members, however, were not fully divulged.

Islamabad, Jan. 12 : Pakistan''s National Assembly on Monday passed a unanimous resolution against Israel''s attacks on the Gaza Strip in a bid to neutralise the militant group Hamas, which has been firing rockets into Israel.

A Geo News report said that the parliamentarians crossed party lines to strongly condemned the Israeli aggression in Gaza and called on all concerned international bodies to adopt binding resolutions for an immediate stop to the aggression.

Islamabad, Jan. 12 : Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is reportedly holding consultations with key security and intelligence officials on whom to select as his new national security adviser (NSA), sources said on Monday.

The News quoted the sources as saying that the government is yet to take a final decision on who will replace sacked NSA Major-General (retired) Mahmud Ali Durrani.

The names of Tariq Aziz, former army chief Gen. (retired) Jehangir Karamat, Gen (retired.) Abdul Qayyum and former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar are being considered for the vacant job.

Chennai, Jan. 12 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday said that he would once again raise the matter about Sri Lankan Tamilians during his meetings with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Karunanidhi said he would ensure bringing about ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the island nation

"I will once again speak to Prime Minister and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the Lankan Tamils issue," said Karunanidhi in the State capital.

Karunanidhi said that the country would do itself pride it could be stop the ongoing war in Sri Lanka.

New Delhi, Jan. 12 : The Supreme Court on Monday gave Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati a month''s time to respond to the Central Bureau of Investigation claim in a disproportionate assets case against her.

The CBI has claimed that there is ample evidence to prosecute her in a disproportionate assets case registered against her five years ago.

Mayawati, through a plea before the court, has asked to quash any criminal proceedings against her in the stated case stating that was registered against her due to political vendetta.