TEHRAN (FNA)- India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and its partner Hinduja group may sign a multi-billion dollar deal next month for developing oil and gas fields in Iran.

On a day when the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, said his country intended to strengthen its military presence in the NATO force in Afghanistan, a car bomb exploded at a crowded farmers’ market in southern Afghanistan, killing eight civilians and wounding 17, Afghan officials said.

LONDON (AFP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday that France will boost its military presence in Afghanistan, a move welcomed by his allies in Britain and the United States.