The fate of Shrien Dewani, the British-Indian millionaire accused of murdering his Indo-Swedish bride during their honeymoon in 2010, is expected to be decided on Monday by a South African court.

Judge Jeanette Traverso will decide whether to throw out the high-profile trial of Dewani even before he has started his defence against accusation that he plotted to kill his 28-year-old wife Anni.

Traverso has to decide if the prosecution case she has heard against the 34-year-old businessman is so weak at this stage that she can see no reasonable prospect she might find him guilty once she has also heard his defence.

Prosecutors in the six-week-long trial said Dewani was a closet homosexual, and "needed to find a way out" of his marriage.

He admitted at the start of the trial that he is bisexual and visited male bondage prostitutes. But he also insisted that he loved his new wife Anni and had no hand in what happened.

Traverso, the second most senior in the province, has made no secret of her dismay at the prosecution case. She has rejected evidence about Dewani's sexuality as "irrelevant" and repeatedly lambasted the prosecutors leading it, Telegraph reported.

Both Dewani's lawyers and the policemen who investigated his wife's death believe the fact the judge took more than a week to weigh her decision means she is minded to overturn the high-profile trial, rather than taking the easier option of hearing the defence's side before returning a verdict.

Thousands of lucky tennis fans experienced a lifetime moment today when they watched global icon Roger Federer play on Indian soil for the first time at the Delhi leg of the International Premier Tennis League.

The Federer-represented Indian Aces defeated Singapore Slammers 26-16. 

It was a perfect India debut for Federer, who along with Sania Mirza blanked Bruno Soares and Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 before winning his men's singles against Tomas Berdych and men's doubles with Rohan Bopanna.

In the legends' match, which was the first of the day, Slammers' Pat Rafter beat Indian Aces' Pete Sampras 6-2. In the mixed doubles match, Federer and Sania thrashed Soares and Hantuchova.

Federer then combined with Rohan Bopanna to beat Nick Kyrgios and Leyton Hewitt 6-1 in the men's doubles match, before the Swiss legend saw off Tomas Berdych's challenge 6-4 in the men's singles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address his maiden election rally in Kashmir tomorrow, will visit the army's Badami Bagh headquarters also to pay tributes to the soldiers killed in deadly militant attack in Uri on Friday.

"The Prime Minister, before addressing the election rally in Srinagar, will visit the local army headquarters to pay tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives while repulsing the militant attack in Uri," a state BJP leader said.

Eleven security force personnel--eight soldiers and three policemen--were killed in the predawn attack by militants on an army camp in Uri area of Baramulla district on Friday. All the six militants involved in the attack were also killed.

Modi is expected to arrive in Srinagar in the afternoon to address his first election rally in the Kashmir Valley at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, which has been sealed off as part of the security drill for the high-profile visit.

A ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting was held between personnel of the Indian Army and Chinese People's Liberation Army on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control in the Chushul sector on the occasion of India's Army Flag Day.

 

The meeting marked an improvement of relations between border troops of India and China and helped to enhance the bonhomie between them along the LoAC, an official press release said.

 

The Chinese delegation participated in the Flag Day celebrations, which were marked by the saluting of the Indian tricolour by members of both delegations. This was followed by a ceremonial address by the leaders of both delegations and exchange of greetings.

Both sides also committed themselves to upholding the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two countries to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC, it added.

A CISF jawan was injured today as militants hurled a grenade at a polling booth in Tral constituency of Pulwama district, where polling is to be held on Tuesday. 

The ultras lobbed the grenade at higher secondary school, which has been designated as a polling station, at Noorpora in Tral area of south Kashmir, 35 kms from Srinagar, a police officer said.

A CISF jawan on polling duty sustained minor injuries in the attack, he said.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. 

Tral is one of the 16 constituencies ---spread over three Kashmir Valley districts -- going to the polls in the third phase of elections on December 9. 

Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a series of militant attacks since the start of the polling process.

In the wake of the recent spurt in terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir, a prominent Muslim cleric today said India "should cross the border, target and destroy terrorist infrastructures that exist on Pakistani soil" to end killings of civilians and security forces personnel. 

"To end everyday terrorist attacks sponsored and aided from the Pakistani soil in which our brave soldiers, policemen and even the common citizens die, we should cross the border, target and destroy terrorist infrastructures that exist on the Pakistani soil," said Maulana Athar Hussain Dehlavi. 

Dehlavi is the chairman of the Anjuman Minhaje Rasool, an Islamic organisation working for peace and communal harmony. He said the recent terrorist attacks were a display of "frustration" of the Pakistani side following the huge voter turnouts that the state witnessed in the first two phases of Assembly elections. 

"Pakistan is frustrated with the huge voter turnouts in the first two phases, that is why it is using the terrorists to disrupt the poll process," Dehlavi said. 

Dehlavi said terrorist leaders like Hafiz Sayeed were spewing venom against India and alleged that was being aided by the Pakistani establishment.

China has rushed 1,000 tonnes of fresh water to Maldives by planes and ships, days after India dispatched over 1,200 tonnes of fresh water to overcome the crippling water crisis in the island nation's capital. 

China has arranged delivery of bottled water in two Chinese civil aircrafts to Male. The first plane has arrived with 12 tonnes bottled water yesterday morning, while the second one with eight tonnes got there last night, Chinese foreign ministry said, adding that more water will be sent. 

An ocean rescue vessel of the Chinese navy suspended its escort mission and headed for Male port on Friday. With 960 tonnes fresh water and seawater desalting facility on board, the vessel is scheduled to arrive at the destination on Monday, Chinese Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency. 

Aircraft of Chinese air force have been ready for urgent rescue mission, and the Chinese side is applying for air route with relevant countries, it added. 

Male, located on a low-lying island in the Indian Ocean, has no natural water source and entirely depends on treated sea water. 

A major fire broke out at the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (generator control panel on December 4, causing extensive damage to the cabling of the generator to the Distillation plants, disconnecting water supply.

The Maldives has appealed for aid from India, Sri Lanka, the US and China. 

Seventy eight companies have gone untraceable after raising funds from investors, with Gujarat having the maximum number of 17 such entities, according to official data. 

These entities are spread across Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and some other states. 

Companies, which fail to file documents and balance sheets after raising funds through public issues and go untraceable, are called 'vanishing companies'. 

Cumulatively these 78 vanishing companies have raised a little over Rs 310 crore. 

Among the 78 entities, Gujarat has the maximum at 17. Others include 10 such companies in Tamil Nadu and nine Maharashtra. 

West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi each have five vanishing firms, as per data compiled by the Corporate Affairs Ministry. 

FIRs have been lodged against all 78 companies and their directors to trace their whereabouts and also to take action against them under the Indian Penal Code, government informed Parliament on Friday. 

Besides, prosecutions have been filed against these entities under various provisions of the Companies Act. 

The coming together of erstwhile 'Janata Parivar' is a "permanent alliance", RJD chief Lalu Prasad said today, noting that such a united front to fight BJP was being missed for long.

"It is a permanent alliance. We have been missing it for long. Now its has been cemented," Lalu told reporters in Lucknow. 

The Rashtriya Janata Dal President was here for a pre-engagement ceremony of his daughter Raj Lakshmi with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandson and Lok Sabha member Tej Pratap Yadav.

Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are neighbouring states and it is a relationship of hearts, Lalu said on forging political unity as well as establishing family ties with Mulayam. 

Asked about the new political formation, the RJD chief said 'Netaji' (Mulayam) has been authorised to take further decision.

"Netaji has been authorised to take further decision. There is no ego problem now," he said.

The two Yadavs are in the forefront of consolidation of opposition forces, bringing six constituents of the erstwhile 'Janata Parivar' under the banner of one party.

The United Nations will soon declare June 21 as World Yoga Day following a proposal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today. 

"Three months ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the world community that India's yoga should be celebrated as World Yoga Day. I am happy to inform you that we have received support of 170 nations and four days from today, the United Nations will declare June 21 as the World Yoga Day," Swaraj said at a function in the presence of yoga guru Ramdev.

Addressing the 'Gita Prerna Mahotsav', organised "to celebrate 5,151 years of religious book Gita" at the Red Fort Maidan here, the senior BJP leader said that yoga is not merely an exercise, but a road to prosperity and good health. 

During his visit to the United Nations in September this year, Modi had urged the world community to celebrate Indian yoga at the international level and that June 21 be declared as the World Yoga Day.

At least five militants, including a key Al Qaeda leader, were killed today in a US drone attack in Pakistan's troubled North Waziristan region. 

The strike took place in the Khar Tangi area of Datta Khel district in the region, where the Pakistani military has been battling Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants since June. 

A security official said that five people were killed when two missiles fired from the drone hit a compound. 

The compound was completely destroyed in the attack. 

One of the dead was identified as Umer Farooq who served as al-Qaeda's spokesman in Pakistan. 

Also known Umer Ustad and Ustad Farooq, he was also working as Al Qaeda chief for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 

His killing came a day after Pakistan forces killed top Al Qaeda operative Adnan Shukrijuma in raid at a house in South Waziristan.

The chief of Al Qaeda's global operations, Shukrijuma was wanted by the US over a 2009 plot to attack the New York subway system. 

North Waziristan has long been used as shelter by the Taliban and al-Qaeda-linked militants and has frequently been targeted by US drones. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears favourite to win the 'Time Person of the Year' poll, leading the online voting with a comfortable margin ahead of Ferguson protesters as voting closed for the annual honour. 

Modi was the front runner with 16.2 per cent votes, followed by Ferguson protesters who got 9.2 per cent votes at the time the polls closed midnight last night. 

While Time magazine's editors will choose the 'Person of the Year', the winner of the readers' poll will be announced on December 8. 

The annual honour, bestowed by the magazine since 1927, goes to the person who "most influenced the news" during the year "for better or worse." 

In a separate "Face-off" poll, Modi has been pitted against Indonesia's new president Joko Widodo. 

In this poll also, Modi has maintained a significant lead and garnered 69 per cent votes as against Widodo's 31 per cent.

At the third position was 18-year-old student activist Joshua Wong, who has become the face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests. 

He had got seven per cent of the votes cast, followed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai with 4.9 per cent votes.

US President Barack Obama could not make it to the top 10 slots and was trailing with 2.2 per cent votes at the 11th position.

In a massive blow to Pakistan cricket, all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez was today suspended by the ICC after his bowling action was found to be illegal in bio-mechanic tests. 

"The International Cricket Council today confirmed that an independent analysis has found the bowling action of Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez to be illegal and, as such, the off-spinner has been suspended from bowling in international cricket with immediate effect," the ICC said in a statement. 

The 34-year-old Hafeez was tested last month at the Loughborough testing center, one of ICC's latest accredited laboratories, after being reported for an illegal action during the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Abu Dhabi.

"The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations," the ICC said.

"Hafeez can apply for a re-assessment after he has modified his bowling action in accordance with clause 2.4 of the Regulations for the Review of Bowlers Reported with Suspected Illegal Bowling Actions," it added.

The analysis of his action was performed on November 24 by the ICC's accredited team of Human Movement Specialists using the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough.

Despite being under suspicion, Hafeez had been yesterday named in Pakistan's preliminary squad of 30 for next year's ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. 

Veteran actor Dilip Kumar, who was hospitalised yesterday for treatment of pneumonia after he complained of cough and cold, is stable. 

"Dilip saab is fine. He is stable and recovering. He is in a normal room and not in ICU," a family source said today. 

The 91-year-old actor was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He has been under observation for routine check-ups, sources said.

When contacted, hospital spokesman said the veteran actor was admitted with chest infection yesterday, and is stable and recovering. 

Earlier, the actor was hospitalised in September last year after he suffered a silent heart attack. 

Kumar, known as the King of Tragedy, essayed iconic roles in classics like Devdas, Madhumati, Mughal-e-Azam and Ganga Jamuna. 

Born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on December 11, 1922, in Peshawar (now in Pakistan), his acting career spanned six decades and over 60 films. He was the first to receive Filmfare Best Actor honour when the awards were started in 1954 and, with eight wins,  he shares with Shah Rukh Khan the record for the most number of Filmfare awards won in that category.

With budget carrier SpiceJet wobbling amid fund drought and the aviation regulator keeping a close tab on its curtailed operations, the no-frill carrier's pilots are flocking to other airlines in search of a job, industry sources said.

As many as 54 SpiceJet pilots of the over 125 pilots who have quit the airline have already applied for a jobs in the two major airlines -- Jet Airways and IndiGo, the sources said.

"The exodus of pilots from SpiceJet continues in view of the prevailing uncertainty. Around 125 pilots have already quit the carrier so far and of them 54 have already applied for a job with Jet Airways and IndiGo," one of the sources said.

Of the 54 pilots, 40 have sought a job with Jet Airways, while the remaining have applied in the budget carrier IndiGo, the sources said. 

The airline auditors, in their recent report, have cast doubts over the ability of SpiceJet to run as a "going concern".

Concerned over the deteriorating condition of SpiceJet and large-scale flight cancellations, aviation regulator DGCA yesterday withdrew 186 of its slots and asked it to clear salary dues of all its employees by December 15.

After selling land in Gurgaon for Rs 1,211 crore recently, Sahara group is believed to have finalised two more land parcels deals - one in Mumbai and another in Jodhpur - for over Rs 1,250 crore. 

Besides, talks are in final stages for sale of another land parcel by Sahara group in Pune, sources said. 

Similar to the Gurgaon land deal, which is probably the biggest so far this year in the national capital region, all the three land parcels may be sold to the local real estate developers in the respective cities.

The land sales are part of the group's efforts to raise funds to secure release of its chief Subrata Roy from Tihar Jail, where he is lodged since March 4 in a case related to alleged non-refund of money collected from investors for certain bonds even as the group claims to have repaid over 93 per cent of the outstanding amount directly to investors.

The group has also maintained that the amount already deposited with the regulator Sebi exceeds the pending dues. 

In Gurgaon, Sahara has sold 185 acres of land to M3M India Ltd, which plans to use for 'mixed-use development' and would pay the group the entire money in six instalments. 

The deal was announced last Thursday within days of the Supreme Court permitting the Sahara Group to proceed with the sale of four domestic properties, which is likely to fetch Rs 2,710 crore, in its bid to raise Rs 10,000 crore for Roy's release.

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is serving his fifth consecutive term, is set to complete 20 years in office next week and may break the 23-year-old record of Jyoti Basu if he completes his present tenure in 2019.

64-year-old Chamling first assumed office on December 12 in 1994 when his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won the assembly elections. 

He won a fifth consecutive time in the state assembly elections held in May 2014. 

Chamling is currently the longest serving chief minister in the country. Basu was Chief Minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 6, 2000. 

During Chamling's tenure, the Sikkim government has started various flagship programmes for making the tiny hill state a model state in the country, an official release said. 

Sikkim has become the leading state of producing organic fruits and vegetables with a total 58,168 hectare of land under organic cultivation.