Man arrested for plotting French Prez Macron's assassination

Ravi Shastri has become the frontrunner for the India head coach job after he formally submitted his application to the BCCI. 

Union Textiles minister Smriti Irani's throwback picture of the Ekta Kapoor soap, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, that catapulted her to success and politics. Smritiiraniofficial writes: 17yearsofkyunki #it#began like this. 

Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha is all praise for PM Narendra Modi, who he has referred to in the past as a, 'dashing, dynamic  action hero', but sceptical at the same time.

The PM's push to launch GST has evoked mixed feelings in the MP. I am not sure if a majority of Indians understand GST. Weve seen the peril of hasty economic reform and I just hope there wont be confusion over the finer points this time. A large part of the Indian population doesnt know about digitised  banking and taxation. Forget about digitisation, a majority of Indians dont even own a PAN card, Sinha said.


When asked if he was questioning the Prime  Minister or the Finance Minister's decision on GST, Sinha said, Not at all. I am very confident that Modi saab and Jaitley Saab know what theyre doing. I am just not  sure if the public is ready for these radical reforms. I hope and pray they are ready.


--  Subhash K Jha

The BSE Sensex rose nearly 1 per cent on Monday heading for a third straight session of gains. The Sensex zoomed 300.01 points to close at 31,221.62; Nifty gained 94.10 points to 9,615. 

This comes in the backdrop of India on Saturday rolling out its biggest tax reform, replacing more than a dozen Central and state taxes with the GST.

The midnight launch of the GST, the biggest tax reform since independence, catapults India into a select league of nations that have a national sales tax.

Amid boycott of the launch ceremony by principal opposition parties like the Congress which termed it as "tamasha" (gimmick), the new tax regime replaces the messy mix of more than a dozen state and central levies built up over seven decades.

The one national GST unifies the country's $2 trillion economy and 1.3 billion people into a common market, an exercise that took 17 tumultuous years.

The GST will eliminate the compounding effect of the current multi-layered tax system as well as the cross-state tax heterogeneity by fixing the final tax rate.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav reacts to the RTI report that says 86 per cent of the grant sanctioned by the SP government for organisations working for cow welfare in Uttar Pradesh went to an NGO run by her. Aparna Yadav said there was nothing wrong with it. "If some organisation is doing good work for welfare of animals then why should it not be helped financially?"

With the coming of the monsoon, the state of Arunachal Pradesh, including its capital Itanagar, has been severely affected by landslides, flash floods and road blockades.

The road between Itanagar and Naharlagun has been blocked due to a massive landslide.

The road between Hoj-Potin has also been blocked by a landslide and left vehicles stranded.

In Tirap District, a huge landslide occurred between Khonsa and Longding roads, threatening the very lifeline between the two districts.In East Siang District, the Siang River crossed the danger mark last night measuring at 153.98 meters, threatening Pasighat.

The river volume in the morning receded at 153.91 metres, which is below the danger mark.

The district administration has advised the residents living in the low-lying areas to take precautionary measures and remain alert, in case of any mishap.

The affected roads and bridges have made the people's movement in the capital and its peripheries extremely difficult.

There has been no report of casualties from any part of the state.The state government along with the concerned authorities is working hard to restore the normal road communications.

India and Israel will elevate their ties and sign several agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in the country, the first ever by an Indian premier, hailed as a "very significant step" in strengthening bilateral relations that are on a "constant upswing".


Modi's three-day visit beginning tomorrow is aimed at commemorating 25 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and will also see discussions between him and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to explore ways to enhance cooperation in key strategic areas.


The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday approved major decisions to deepen Indo-Israel ties.


Among the measures proposed include:

-- the establishment of a US$ 40 million joint fund to encourage Israeli and Indian business cooperation,
-- agreements permitting and extending incentives to Bollywood filmmakers looking to shoot in Israel,
-- efforts to promote growth in tourism and a joint government project in the fields of water and agriculture.


Modi will not travelling to neighbouring Palestine during the visit, a clear signal of de-hyphenation of its ties with the two West Asian nations.

-- The two sides are expected to sign number of agreements in the field of innovation, development, science and technology and space.

-- Apart from boosting cooperation in the water and agriculture sectors, India and Israel will also discuss ways to strengthen people-to-people contact, air connectivity and investments.


-- During the visit, a deal with the Uttar Pradesh government is also likely to be signed to clean-up a patch of river Ganges apart from setting up of industrial research and development fund of USD 40 million.


-- Before the visit, the external affairs ministry in New Delhi said it will provide an impetus for deeper bilateral engagement in areas of mutual interest.


-- Modi will also pay homage to Indian soldiers at the Indian Cemetery in Haifa.


-- Modi will also meet 26/11 Mumbai terror attack survivor Holtzberg Moshe, who was only two when he was saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel. Moshe's father Rabbi Gavriel and mother Rivkah were among eight Israeli nationals killed in the 2008 terror strike. Netanyahu earlier hailed Modi's visit as a "very significant step" in strengthening bilateral relations that are on a "constant upswing".


-- The Indian prime minister would also be meeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and the leader of opposition Isaac Herzog on July 5.


"Next week, the Indian Prime Minister, my friend, Narendra Modi will arrive in Israel, This is a historic visit to Israel.


In the 70 years of the country's existence, no Indian Prime Minister has ever visited and this is further expression of the state of Israel's military, economic and diplomatic strength," Netanyahu had said.


"This is a very significant step in strengthening relations between the two countries," he had said. The two leaders have already met twice on foreign soil on the sidelines of UN-related events and are said to be constantly in touch with each other over the phone.


The defence ties between India and Israel have often drawn worldwide attention and acquired strategic dimensions. It is believed that Modi's visit would further solidify security ties as Israeli defence industries have shown greater inclination towards participating in joint ventures to give a boost to the National Democratic Alliance government's 'Make in India' campaign.
 President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015 and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in 2016 visited both the countries. Modi's visit will be the first by an Indian premier to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Ezer Weizman visited India in 2003 and 1997 respectively. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin had also paid a visit to India in November last year.

Man held for threatening to kill France's President Macron: ANI.

Pakistani newspaper, Dawn covers 42 years from 1906 to 1948, that led to the creation of a separate Muslim state under the leadership of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the Pakistani nation. Take a look.

China today said the Sino-India border in the Sikkim sector is well demarcated and the Indian Army's action there is a "betrayal" of the position taken by successive Indian governments.


"Former Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru endorsed the 1890 Sino-British Treaty on Sikkim in a letter to the then Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai in 1959. Successive Indian governments have also endorsed this," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a media briefing.


He said India needs to observe the treaty and pull back troops immediately from Doklam. "The India-China boundary in the Sikkim section is well demarcated. The action taken by India is a betrayal of the position taken by the Indian governments," he said.


China accused Indian troops of transgressing into the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector, which it claims as a part of its territory. Bhutan also claims the area as a part of its territory.


China also said it has closed the Nathu La route in Sikkim for Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims from India. "The other route to Tibet through Lipu lake is open as it is located in the middle section where there is no dispute, Geng said.

Professor Stephen Hawking has slammed President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord and said it could lead to a "tipping point" that "turns Earth into Venus". Read more

Union minister for Law and Justice and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad tweets this lovely picture that is far removed from politics.

@rsprasad My daughter Aditi got married to Ajay - son of Girija and Shekar Iyer from Tamil Nadu. Maya & I seek your blessings & good wishes.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday called on the 'insensitive' Centre to roll back the 'disability tax' under the Goods and Services Tax regime, stressing that it would lead the disabled people through further hardship.

"Congress Party demands a full roll back of this 'disability tax' that will put millions of our disabled people through further hardship," Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Venting his ire on the Union Government, Rahul said that GST on disability aids like wheelchairs and Braille typewriters shows Centre's insensitivity toward the most vulnerable faction.

The Indian National Congress also said in a tweet that Modi Government has abandoned those who need its support the most by rolling out the GST hastily.

The GST on Braille typewriters and papers, carriages for the disabled and wheelchairs and other assistive devices have been fixed at rates varying between 5 to 18 percent.

As per rates approved by the GST council, 18 per cent tax has been imposed on Braille typewriters, 12 per cent on Braille paper, five per cent on carriages for the disabled, wheelchairs and assistive devices, and 12 per cent on hearing aids.

Prior to the new uniform tax regime, which was rolled out on July 1, these goods were exempt from any custom and excise duty. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar speaks on reports of his criticism of the Congress, a member of the Grand Alliance government headed by him in Bihar.

"What I said during a party meeting yesterday was in a particular context, don't interpret it differently.

"I have said several times that the Congress is a big party and it should set the agenda. Opposition needs an alternate narrative, just reactive narrative won't work.

"I have said earlier also that I am not the PM face of opposition in 2019, neither am I eligible."

On not attending the midnight GST event, he said, "There was no invitation,so where is the question of attending or skipping?"

On various allegations leveled by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Modi against his government and his alliance partner Lalu Yadav and his two sons, Kumar said, "He (Sushil Modi) has a habit of giving statements daily, I don't read and neither do I have interest."

At a meeting of top leaders yesterday of his Janata Dal-United, the Chief Minister said that the Congress has heavily dented the impact of a large league of opposition parties with lethargy and inaction on key issues including the decision on who to field as the candidate for President of India.

The Supreme Court today permitted a woman, who is in her 26th week of pregnancy, to abort her foetus which has severe cardiac problems.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and M Khanwilkar said the procedure of termination of pregnancy should be carried out 'forthwith' at the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.

The direction came after the bench perused the report of the medical board and the SSKM Hospital, which advised the termination of pregnancy on the grounds that the mother would suffer 'severe mental injury' if the pregnancy is continued and the child, if born alive, has to undergo multiple surgeries for severe cardiac ailments.

"Keeping in view the report of the medical board, we are inclined to allow the prayer and direct medical termination of pregnancy of petitioner no. 1 (woman)," the bench said.

The woman and her husband had approached the apex court seeking permission to abort her foetus on grounds of abnormalities which could be even fatal to her.  -- PTI

UPDATE: Jammu and Kashmir police issues clarification that a policeman who was shot at by terrorists in Anatnag is alive and admitted to hospital in critical condition.

The Supreme Court stays criminal contempt proceedings against author Arundhati Roy. The case was being heard in a Nagpur court. Roy had written an article supporting GN Saibaba when Nagpur bench of Bombay HC had refused to grant Saibaba bail. Saibaba is a Delhi University professor who was sentenced to life for links with Maoists. 

A policeman has lost his life after terrorists attacked a police party near a bus stand in Anantnag, reports ANI. 

Constable Ghulam Hassan was shot in the neck by militants from close range at Anantnag bus stand, a police official said.

The policeman who was injured in the attack and succumbed thereafter, was taken to a district hospital in Anantnag from where he was referred to 92 Base Hospital of the Army in view of his "critical" condition.

Hassan was unarmed at the time of the attack, the official said.

In a move that could be embarrassing for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a minister in his cabinet has announced a dharna in Ghazipur tomorrow to demand transfer of the district magistrate there.


Om Prakash Rajbhar, national president of the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, a BJP ally that won four seats in the assembly elections, alleged that Ghazipur DM Sanjay Kumar Khatri was not paying heed to the problems of the people.


Rajbhar said he had spoken to the chief minister on the issue but nothing had been done. "We will be sitting on dharna in Ghazipur tomorrow for removal of DM," Rajbhar, who holds the backward and handicapped welfare department portfolio in the Yogi government, told PTI.


Asked whether he would meet the chief minister, Rajbhar said, "CM is in Delhi. Let him come... I will try to meet him." "I have been complaining against the DM... if he is not removed I will sit on dharna," the MLA from Zahoorabad constituency in Ghazipur said.


He added that he had taken up 19 issues with the DM so far, but none had been resolved. "On June 25, I met UP BJP organisation secretary Sunil Bansal and on June 27 called on the chief minister to take up the matter.


However, the DM is yet to be removed," Rajbhar said. "People's representatives are accountable to those who voted us to power. People are angry that their work is not getting done even after the cabinet minister's request." The demonstration will be held at the Surju Pandey Park in Ghazipur.

J&K: A policeman has lost his life after terrorists attacked a police party near bus stand in Anantnag. More details awaited.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday rejected reports of Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra offering his resignation. "So far Home ministry has not received any proposal from Jammu and Kashmir Governor N. N. Vohra offering to resign," said MHA spokesperson.


Reports are rife that Vohra has offered to step down as Jammu and Kashmir Governor and has also written a letter to the Centre demanding the same.Some sections of media reported that Vohra sought his resignation citing health issue.


The home ministry, however, clarified that they did not receive any letter regarding it.Vohra was appointed Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2008 and was offered second term in 2013.Earlier, he had also served as Defence Secretary and Union Home Secretary.


Vohra, a Padma Vibhushan awardee, had also served as Principal Secretary to Prime Minister I.K. Gujral during 1997-98.

The Supreme Court refuses an urgent hearing on the plea of of jailed former High Court judge CS Karnan seeking bail and recall of order convicting him for contempt.

KK Venugopal takes over as the next Attorney General of India. To his left. is former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi. The decision to appoint 86-year-old Venugopal as the successor of Rohatgi was discussed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, Portugal and Netherlands.

PTI said that Venugopal had a meeting with the Prime Minister before his departure for the three-nation tour. When PTI reached out to Venugopal for his comments on the same, he said: I will speak only after the notification is issued.

Rohatgi asked the NDA government to not reconsider him for reappointment to the top constitutional post, the government had decided to appoint senior constitutional expert Venugopal as the Attorney General.

The case of rioting against Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, and some 200 other inmates of Byculla women's prison in central Mumbai, has been handed over to the Mumbai crime branch. Sanjay Saxena, Joint Commissioner of Police (crime), said yesterday that the crime branch had taken over the case from Nagpada police station.


Mukerjea, who is 'accused no 1' in this case, instigated other inmates to rioting after the death of a convict, the police had claimed earlier. The 44-year-old former media executive was among the nearly 200 inmates of the Byculla Jail booked by the Nagpada police for rioting and other offences after they staged a protest over the death of convict Manju Govind Shette. Shette (45) died at the government-run J J Hospital on the night of June 23 after allegedly being beaten up by jail officials.


The next day, enraged women inmates rose in protest, some of them went up to the prison's roof, while others made a bonfire of newspapers and documents on the premises to express their anger, a police official said.


The inmates alleged that Shette was mercilessly beaten up by the woman prison official which led to her death. Indrani instigated the inmates, police had claimed. Six jail personnel were suspended in connection with Shette's death.


They were arrested on Saturday on the charge of murder. Indrani, lodged in the prison after her arrest in August 2015, and the other inmates were booked for rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on public servant and other relevant sections of the IPC.


The jail houses 251 inmates. Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and ex-driver Shyamvar Rai are accused of killing 24-year-old Sheena, Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, on April 24, 2012.

Also read:'Is that a terrorist or is that Indrani?!'

Nearly 86 per cent of the grant sanctioned by the SP government for organisations working for cow welfare in Uttar Pradesh went to an NGO run by the then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's sister-in-law Aparna Yadav, an RTI reply has revealed.


To a query by activist Nutan Thakur, the UP Gau Sewa Aayog replied that from 2012 to 2017, it sanctioned Rs 9.66 crore, of which Rs 8.35 crore (86.4 per cent) went to Jeev Ashraya, the NGO run by Aparna Yadav. Aparna is the wife of Prateek Yadav, the step-brother of Akhilesh Yadav. Her NGO runs a gaushala at Amausi in Lucknow district.


The Aayog comes under the state Animal Husbandry department and gives funds to guashalas (cowsheds) and organisations working for the welfare of cows.


In the reply, the Aayog's Public Information Officer Sanjay Yadav said that during financial years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, Jeev Ashraya was given Rs 49.89 lakh, Rs 1.25 crore and Rs 1.41 crore, respectively. In the financial year 2015-16, Jeev Ashray got Rs 2.58 crore, while Sripad Baba Goshala in Vrindavan got Rs 41 lakh, the RTI reply stated.


"In 2016-17, of the total grant of Rs 3.45 crore, Jeev Ashraya got Rs 2.55 crore, while among other four NGOs, Sripad Goshala got Rs 63 lakh," it stated.


However, during 2017-18, till now, Rs 1.05 crore has been given to various gaushalas. But Jeev Ashraya was not one of the recipients. Dayodaya Goshala in Lalitpur got the highest amount, Rs 63 lakh, it said. Nutan Thakur is the wife of IPS officer Amitabh Thakur who had running feud with the Samajwadi Party's first family. Aparna Yadav was not immediately available for comments.

Condemning the Lucknow acid attack, the Samajwadi Party on Monday said that somewhere the state government is supporting the criminals to execute such horrific acts.

"This incident has confirmed the fact that law and order in Uttar Pradesh has been shattered. The state is now being ruled by goons and criminals. I feel that somewhere these criminals are getting support from the state government," Samajwadi Party leader Sunil Sajan told ANI.

He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself went to meet the victim and even after his warning, the same horrific act was witnessed which shows the corrupt administration of Uttar Pradesh.

The acid attack victim, whom the UP Chief Minister met in the hospital a few months back, again faced the same brutal act in Uttar Pradesh's Aliganj on Saturday.

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had earlier given a cheque of Rs one lakh as compensation to the victim's husband.

He also directed the police officials to immediately nab the accused and take strict action against the guilty.

The Dalit victim was attacked by the same group of suspects, marking the fourth such attack on her.

She was forced to drink a 'corrosive liquid' by unidentified persons on train while she was returning to Lucknow from her village.

She was gang-raped earlier in 2008 and a case was registered in this regard in Unchahar town of Raebareli district.

She was first attacked with acid in 2011 followed by other serious attacks again in 2011, twice in 2012 and another in 2013.

The Supreme Court will today hear the plea filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, seeking its intervention in the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. Swamy sought permission to perform puja in the temple.


On March 31, the apex court refused Swamy's plea, seeking urgent and expeditious hearing of the Ayodhya matter.


The apex court questioned Swamy's role in the matter and said it did not have the time to hear the plea. "What is your locus standi in the case? We didn't know that you are a party to the case. We don't have time to hear you now," the court said.


Swamy said, "Of course, I m not connected with the petty issue of property ownership. All I am concerned about is with my fundamental right to worship."


The court has said that the Ayodhya dispute is a sensitive and sentimental issue that needs to be settled amicably and through consensus.The court suggested that if required, a principal mediator can be chosen by the court to settle the issue.


Chief Justice JS Khehar said if the parties want him to mediate, then he is ready for the task.

A terrorist has been gunned down in an encounter by the security forces in Pulwama district's Bamnoo area on Monday morning.


On a specific information received, the Special Operations Group Pulwama and 44 Rashtriya Rifles of the army launched cordon and search operation in the area.


Meanwhile, two more terrorists are trapped in the area, and operations are underway to smoke them out.


Yesterday, the security officials in a joint operation began to cordon off Pulwama's Malangpora area in search of terrorist. Army, local police and Central Reserve Police Force began search operation in to nab terrorists trapped in the area.


Representational image.

The Supreme Court today will hear the plea filed by lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma, seeking a thorough investigation into the Electronic Voting Machines.

He further claimed that American computer scientists should investigate the alleged tampering of EVMs.

He, in his petition, claimed that in the recently concluded five state elections, the EVMs were allegedly tampered.

Earlier, the apex court had issued a notice to the Union Government seeking a reply into Sharma's plea.

A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and DY Chandrachud, issued the notice over the petition filed by lawyer Sharma.

The top court, however, at this stage refused to pass any order for a CBI inquiry.


Image: AAP had demonstrated how EVMs could allegedly be tampered, but the EVM was a replica of the ones used by the Election Commission and not a genuine EVM. 

Senator John McCain, who is leading a US Congressional delegation to Islamabad, reiterated Washington's stand that dialogue is a prerequisite for India and Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue.


The delegation met Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and discussed bilateral issues, including terrorism, Pakistan's relations with India and Afghanistan and regional peace, reports Dawn.


"Kashmir problem should be resolved in a peaceful way through negotiations," McCain said, adding that the U.S. has not changed its stand regarding the Kashmir issue.


Both sides also came to the agreement that U.S. and Pakistan need to forge closer cooperation in confronting the peace and security challenges in the region and beyond.


Aziz conveyed to the US delegation about Pakistan's success against terrorism through Operations Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad, asserting that the terrorist networks had been dismantled, their sanctuaries eliminated under the overarching National Action Plan.

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin admits on a Pakistan TV channel to carrying out terror attacks in India.


Syed Salahuddin, declared a global terrorist by the US last week, vowed on Saturday to continue his armed struggle against Indian forces to liberate Jammu and Kashmir.


"We will not end this fight without liberating Kashmir from India," Salahuddin, 71, told a news conference in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).


The United States declared Salahuddin, who also heads the Pakistan-based United Jihad Council, a "global terrorist' hours ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington on June 26, a decision the militant leader said was only made to appease India.


He said the Hizbul Mujahideen only targets Indian forces and the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda have no presence in Kashmir.

The Supreme Court will today hear the Haji Ali Dargah trust case, regarding demolition of encroachments around the area.


The apex court earlier in April asked the Haji Ali Dargah Trust in Mumbai to demolish all encroachments in and around the Dargah excluding the mosque standing on 171 sq metres area.


A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar passed the interim order after hearing a plea filed by the petitioner, Haji Ali dargah trust which told the court that the encroachment portion should be removed.


The apex court also made it clear that the Haji Ali Dargah trust will remove the alleged encroachments by May 8.


The apex court also in its order said that no court shall grant any injunction on the removal of the alleged encroachments, adding that if any party wanted some modification of the court order, it can certainly move to this court.

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said there has been difference of opinion between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on numerous issues, but that didn't affected the relation between him and the latter.


"Surely there have been divergences of views, between me and Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi. But we have been able to keep divergences only to ourselves, that didn't affect our relation," Mukherjee said on the occasion of the release of the book, 'President Pranab Mukherjee - A statesman'.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, it was his privilege to work with President Mukherjee.Prime Minister Modi said, "It is my privilege that I got to work with the Honourable President."

Getting emotional during his speech, the Prime Minister added, "The Presidency is much more than protocol. Through the photographs in the book, we see the human side of our President and we feel proud."

He also took the occasion to laud the efforts of photographer Varun Joshi towards the making of the coffee table book. President Mukherjee's term expires on July 12. The polls for the post are slated for July 17.

To his long list of skills - powerful oratory; indefatigable energy; peerless grandstanding; bear hugging every world leader within handshaking distance - Narendra Modi just added another one: a talent for black humour.

That talent was evident in his remarks in Ahmedabad last Thursday. Speaking at a function at Sabarmati Ashram, the prime minister said, "Killing people in the name of gau bhakti is not acceptable." And added, with a straight face, "We are a land of non-violence. We are the land of Mahatma Gandhi. Why do we forget that?"

Those words certainly jogged -and mocked - public memory, coming as they did from a man who was chief minister of Gujarat when riots left over 2,000 dead and who resolutely refused to express any remorse, then or since. And a man who, as prime minister, has chosen to ignore the violence unleashed by vigilantes on a regular basis.  Read the column here.

At a news conference welcoming China's foreign minister to Islamabad, Pakistan's foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz declared, 'Pakistan's relations with China are the cornerstone of our foreign policy.'

Islamabad's political pivot from Washington to Beijing, already its dominant investor and increasingly important global interlocutor, is hardly surprising, a Washington Post report said quoting experts.

Pakistan has been concerned about Washington's emerging friendship with India, at the same time, Pakistani officials have been worried for months that the Trump administration will put heavy pressure on their government, possibly by cutting aid or even declaring it a 'state sponsor of terrorism'.

Read more

UPDATE: Ongoing encounter in Pulwama's Bamnoo. Gunned down terrorist identified as Kifayat.

Two other terrorists are trapped.

One terrorist has been gunned down by security forces in Pulwama's Bamnoo in Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation is still going on.

Security forces began a cordon and search operation in Bamnoo on Monday morning to hunt down terrorists hiding in the area.

More details awaited.

Representative image.

At least eight people suffered injuries after two gunmen fired gun shots outside a mosque in South France's Avignon city.

The incident took place on Sunday late night at 10.30 pm (local time), after two men fired shots, the Independent quoted La Provence.

The police officials, however, have ruled out a terrorist motive and suggested it could have been a revenge attack or related to a quarrel.

The policemen now have launched a manhunt for the accused.

This incident comes days after a man was arrested for driving his car into a crowd in front of a mosque in the Paris' Creteil city.

However, no injuries were reported. -- ANI