Samode (Rajasthan), Feb 22: Laughter rings in the air in a small courtyard of a house in Rajasthan, as a group of French clowns try to cheer residents up.

Barefooted French and Indian artists with colourful hats and trademark red noses use body action and wordless expression to interact with residents of Samode village.

The seven French artists led by Jathper Menal, a renowned French clown director, and their Indian counterparts are performing in the village as part of a bilateral cultural exchange programme.

Lorence, a French artist, says she has been able to discover India through her acts of clowning.

France 31 January :- French bank Socie

New

New Delhi, Sept 14: Pakistan is presently negotiating with the French Government to buy air-to-air missiles and radars for its JF-17 fighter aircraft, but there are apprehensions that this European technology could fall into Chinese hands.

Experts say a possibility exists of circumventing a European arms embargo on China that has been in place since the Chinese military crushed pro-democracy protests in 1989.