Big day for the PM today after he called a media meet, the first of many to come. As for the rest of the news, here it is... 

1. Saudi govt backlash for women drivers begins
2. Raina fined 25% match fees for code breach
3. 'Taliban leader Mullah Omar not in Pakistan'
4. IMF's new chief, Lagarde, unveiled
5. Suu Kyi warned to halt political activities
6. Guest wrote will as Kabul hotel's attacked
7. PM: I will be very happy to step down
8. PM: No group can insist their's is last word
9. PM: I initiated talks with Baba Ramdev

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi today hailed the nomination of France's Christine Lagarde to head the IMF saying she was "best suited" to dealing with the current economic crisis. 

Berlusconi, who was one of the first European leaders publicly to back the French finance minister's candidacy, congratulated her in a statement.
"I am convinced that she is the best suited in terms of professional qualities and experience to confront the current economic situation and make the best use of the IMF's potential to manage the crisis," he wrote.

Frankly, does Berlusconi's ratification really matter?

In Saudi Arabia, fiesty women have been fighting for a basic right -- the right to drive, banned by the government lolling around in the Middle Ages.

At least five Saudi women have been taken into custody accused of defying the men-only driving rule in the ultraconservative Arab kingdom, an activist said today.
The detentions mark the first major backlash by authorities since a campaign was launched by Saudi women nearly two weeks ago to challenge the driving restrictions. 

Dozens of women have since driven through the capital Riyadh and other cities.

"This is the first big pushback from authorities, it seems," al-Nafjan said.

Finally, here they are -- the names of the five editors who were invited to the PM's media conclave today. T N Ninan (Chairman, Business Standard), Raj Chengappa (editor-in-chief, Tribune), Kumar Ketkar (Editor, Divya Marathi), Alok Mehta (editor, Nai Dunia) and M K Razdan (editor-in-chief and CEO, Press Trust of India). The Prime Minister will meet other regional and national editors over a period of time.

If you're a royal follower, this should interest you.

The eye-catching gold bracelet that Kate was seen flaunting in public twice this week, was gifted to her by none other than her new stepmother-in-law Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Daily Express gushes: the treasured gold bracelet is testimony to the growing bond between them. Kate had it on her right wrist while presenting medals to the Irish Guards at Windsor on Saturday, and again when she and her husband watched Andy Murray triumph at Wimbledon on Monday.

The bracelet has been much admired and discussed by royal watchers and public alike. (Get a life, people!)

In a bid to provide relief to consumers hit by recent fuel price hike, the Maharashtra government today decided to reduce VAT on diesel and kerosene by two per cent.    

Following the decision, diesel prices in Maharashtra are expected to reduce by 72 paise per litre and those of kerosene by 28 paise.

However, there will be no reduction in prices of LPG in Maharashtra as the state government does not levy VAT on cooking gas, said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Colleagues can't stop sniggering at Uday Chopra trending on Twitter. The 'actor' is to quit 'acting' after Dhoom 3 apparently, and for all that, you have to admire his honesty. 

Uday Chopra on Twitter: "Ok confession time...Dhoom 3 is my swan song...my last film...no I'm not giving up acting...quite the opposite, acting is giving up on me! "...kya sachai hai issme..acting achchii nahi karta par banda achchaa hai..sach toh bolta hai! 

Here's what happens if you talk too much.

Batsman Suresh Raina was fined 25 per cent of his match fee for a Level I
breach in ICC's Code of Conduct on the first day of the second cricket Test against West Indies here yesterday.
According to a release issued by the ICC, the batsman was found to have breached Article 2.1.3 of the code which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision by action or verbal abuse".

R Rajagopalan on Twitter and he's got it absolutely right.

Aam Admi could not watch live proceedings of Dr Manmohan Singh interaction with 5 editors, too pathetic to hear about PM from Editors. Vinod Sharma Political Editor HT aptly put it. Should we hear journalists commenting to journalists about their interactions with PM?

Pakistan today said it was not aware of where Taliban's spiritual leader Mullah Mohammad Omar is currently hiding, Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said.

On Tuesday, senior US military commanders had told the Congress that Pakistanis knew that Mullah Omar is in Pakistan and were ignoring US requests to find him.

Speaking to media persons at his residence, Mukhtar said that even if Mullah Omar was earlier in Pakistan, he must have escaped immediately after the May 2 US raid on Osama bin Ladens hideout in Abbottabad.

If you believe that, you need to sign up for the Earth is Flat club

With Manmohan Singh personally favouring bringing the post of Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal, the Anna Hazare team today suggested he should show his commitment in this regard as he did on the issue ofnuclear deal with the US.

"Well, the Prime Minister shall perhaps need to go by his personal call of conscience and take a stand like he did on nuclear power," Kiran Bedi, activist and Hazare team member.

Her comments came as Singh remarked to top editors during an interaction that he has no hesitation in bringing himself under the purview of Lokpal but many of his Cabinet colleagues feel that bringing the institution of Prime Minister under itwill create instability.

On Singh's remarks that government will reach out to civil society but no group can insist that their views are the last word, Bedi said they were for an open debate and had approached the government for it.

Hugh Hefner, who was dumped by Crystal Harris just days before their wedding, has defended his decision for getting a girlfriend so soon.

Hefner, who had introduced his new love, playmate Shera Bechard, on his Twitter page, received backlash for taking on a new relationship so soon.

However, the 85 year old responded to his critics and explained why he got a new girl friend.

"A new GF is the only logical response to heartbreak...What's your remedy for a broken heart?" he quipped. 

After emerging as the most eligible member of the Royal Familyfollowing Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, Prince Harry appears no longer to be a bachelor, reveals the Telegraph, UK.

The Prince is believed to have spent time in private with Florence, 25, a lingerie and swimwear model. She is a descendant of the seventh Earl of Cardigan, Lieutenant General James Thomas Brudenell, who famously led the Charge of the Light Brigade against Russian forces during the Crimean War. Florence and Prince Harry have reportedly known each other for years

Even as Christine Lagarde readies to make history as the first woman head of the IMF after Dominique Strauss-Kahn was booted out, here's a read on who the woman is. Read

Harry Potter will cringe if he knows of this, but it seems Emma Watson had a 'huge crush' on her Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton -- or the character Draco Malfoy, who is Potter's nemesis.

The 21-year-old, who plays Hermione in the hit franchise, fell for Felton while filming of the first two movies, reveals the Daily Mail. 

Read more

Saiz Ahmed, an American Ph.D. student in Kabul studying Afghan legal history, had just eaten dinner and returned to his fourth-floor room at the Hotel Inter-Continental when he heard odd noises.

The cnn.com report says that his room was pitch black because the electricity was out, and he did not initially recognize the sounds. "I thought it was construction," he said, recalling that a sign he had seen earlier in the day on the elevator apologizing to guests for work being done.

But the noises got louder, and he soon realized that it was not construction. "It was clear that people were shooting from inside the building -- a number of people I didn't know where -- and from outside," he said. "I didn't know who was who."

Read more

At least 18 people have been killed in a more than four-hour standoff between militants and police at the hotel.

The first warning was issued almost immediately after pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, but they were more mild.

Now, the Myanmar junta government has warned her party to halt all political activities. The interior ministry told the Nobel peace prize laureate her party was breaking the law by keeping its offices open and holding meetings. Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in November following Burma's first election in 20 years.

The NLD was officially dissolved for refusing to register for the poll.

France has begun parachuting arms shipments to Berber rebels fighting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces in the highlands south of Tripoli. 

According to the paper, which said it had seen a secret intelligence memo and talked to well-placed officials, the air drops are designed to help rebel fighters encircle Tripoli and encourage a popular revolt in the city itself.

"If the rebels can get to the outskirts of Tripoli, the capital will take the chance to rise against Gaddafi," said an official quoted in the report.

Read this piece of news only for its quaint factor.

The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Board has recommended to enhance the limit of ex-gratia paid to the next of kin of people killed by wild animals from Rs
one lakh to Rs two lakh.
The Wildlife Board has also suggested to raise the compensation for those who are permanently disabled as a result of animal attacks from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh and in the cases of serious injury from Rs 33,000 to Rs 50,000, an
official spokesman said today. 
For any minor injury it has been recommended to increase the compensation from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000, the spokesman added.

It's really no secret now, but here's another confirmation.

A top US General has said that America's relationship with Pakistan at present is strained and Islamabad needs to take concrete steps against terrorist
safe havens inside its tribal areas to improve the ties.
"It (Pakistan not taking action against safe havens) is a function probably of capacity, but it might also be a function of their hedging, whether they have determined that the United States is going to remain in Afghanistan, whether
our strategy will be successful or not," Lt Gen John Allen told a Senate Committee.

Meanwhile on the Express Tribune, an interesting twist to the Shahbaz Bhatti murder case. Bhatti was the Pakistan minority affairs minister, who was assassinated in March.

An investigation report has revealed that the Ilyas Kashmiri group had crafted the plan to assassinate the former minorities' affairs minister. Bhatti was gunned down by unknown persons in front of his residence in Islamabad in broad daylight on March 3, 2011.

The group had planned to kill Bhatti with the help of Asmatullah Mawaia, the self-proclaimed leader of the Punjabi Taliban, according to a six-page report by the Ministry of Interior, based on the findings of the Joint Investigation Team probing Bhatti's murder case.

The PM has finally shown who's boss and about time.

Dismissing talk that he is a "lameduck" Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh today said he has been entrusted with the job by the Congress party from whichhe has not heard "any contrary view".

Terming the perception that his government had gone "comatose" and was "lameduck" as clever propaganda of the Opposition "to which some sections of the media had lent ear", Singh asserted that "truth will prevail" and his performance will speak.

Singh spoke of "maximum possible cooperation" that he was getting from Congress President Sonia Gandhi whom he met one-on-one every week. He had never felt that she was an "obstacle".

During a 100-minute interaction with five editors at his official residence, a relaxed Prime Minister confidently fielded questions on a wide range of issues including the talk that Rahul Gandhi should take his place, the Lokpal Bill, corruption and relations with neighbouring countries. 

Sonia Gandhi had done a "superb job" as Congress President for nearly 15 years now, he underlined. Asked about occasional statements from party functionaries that Rahul Gandhi should become Prime Minister, Singh said that the Congress Party and its President had entrusted him with this job and he had not heard any contraryview from the Congress high command.

"In fact, the Congress high command has always been most supportive, particularly Mrs Gandhi," the Prime Minister said.

He went on to add, "Personally, if you ask me, the general proposition that younger people should take over, I think, is the right sentiment". Whenever the party "makes up its mind I will be very happy to step down,  but so long as I am here I have a job to do". 

The PM also said the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had complained to him about the suspected bugging of his offices and he had ordered the Intelligence Bureau to investigate. :It is a closed chapter now," the PM said.

The PM admitted that the country needs a strong Lokpal, "although it is not a panacea (to all evils). 

Manmohan Singh says Cabinet reshuffle is "work in progress", it will happen, but refuses to disclose when it will take place.

He was also critical of the media and said that it has become "accuser, prosecutor and judge".

PM also said he has no problem being under the ambit of the Lokpal, a hugely contentious issue between the government and Anna Hazare's team.

The PM said that allies in the Cabinet have varied opinions about the issue, but he was willing to be under scrutiny.

PM Manmohan Singh, in a debut initiative is meeting editors of newspapers today. From the meeting news is that the PM dismissed talks that he is a lameduck Prime Minister and said it was a clever propaganda by the Opposition. He said he has got got maximum cooperation from Sonia Gandhi who has done a superb job as Congress president.

And in a surprise statement said, he initiated talks with Baba Ramdev.

More follows

Amid tight security, the second batch of 2185 pilgrims today left he Jammu base camp on their pilgrimage to the 13500-feet high cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas.

As many as 2185 pilgrims, including 1328 males, 441 females, 66 children and 350 sadhus, left in 66 vehicles from Bagwatinagar base camp in Jammu at around 5 am, a police control room official said.

The pilgrims' convoy, escorted by CRPF personnel, has reached Patnitop area in Ramban district, he said.

Over 50 flights were delayed by around 30 minutes after the server of the check-in system at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport developed some technical problem this morning.

Due to some technical problem in the check-in system, which started around 4 am, airlines had to check in manually, airport sources said.

As a result, around 50 flights got delayed by upto 30 minutes, causing inconvenience to the passengers.

Passengers had to stand for hours in long queues at all the airlines counters, they said.

The Supreme Court today asked the West Bengal government not to return land to farmers in Singur.

Calling it an interim protection, the apex court said the Calcutta high court will proceed with the main matter pending before it.

The Tatas had challenged West Bengal's decision to return the Singur land to villagers, acquired during the Left Front regime for the Tatas' still-born Nano project, before the Supreme Court after the high court refused to stay it.

Get set to welcome another yoga teacher -- what will the modern world be like without them!

Dechen Thurman (yes, you guessed his lineage right, he is the son of Prof Robert Thurman and brother of oh-so-hot Uma), who has also acted in a few Hollywood films, is now reported to be teaching yoga in Germany and Italy.

Last summer he is also said to have taught open-air yoga classes at the Berlin yoga festival.

With a listing in New York's teaching faculty for Jivamukti Yoga School, Thurman Jr's teaching style is said to 'create a delicious sense of playfulness' in his yoga class. Ah, we like, we like:)

Once not too long ago, he, along with Kaluwitharana, was considered one of the most explosive one-day batsmen.

On Tuesday, Sanath Jayasuriya bid farewell to the game that had made him a household name, in a fashion that would not warm the cockles of his fans' hearts.

Playing the first ODI against England, Jayasuriya, who will turn 42 tomorrow, scored just two runs. As a consolation, perhaps, he also took a wicket.

Surely, this is not how he would have wanted to bow out of international cricket?

Good morning and welcome to another day's Live News As It Happens.

The morning has brought the news that two top women quarter-milers returning positive for a banned substance in tests conducted by the International Association of Athletics Federations. With this, doping has come back to haunt Indian athletics.

The 'A' samples of the two 400m runners taken by an international agency -- International Doping Tests and Management of Sweden -- on behalf of the IAAF at NIS Patiala and tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory in New Delhi had returned positive for prohibited substance.