A 31-year-old Indian-origin Islamic State suspect, who is fighting in Syria, has posted a picture of himself on Twitter posing with an AK-47 rifle and his newborn baby.

India today said it plans to develop a tourist circuit tracing Chinese scholar Huen Tsang's travels during his nine-year stay in the country in the seventh century.

Plans are afoot to launch the tourist circuit to promote people-to-people contacts between the two nations, India's Ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha said during an interaction with a 100-member delegation of youths from India at the Indian Embassy here. India and China have already released an encyclopedia on their age-old cultural contacts, tracing back their history to over 2,000 years, starting from the visit of Huen Tsang (known as Xuan Zang in Chinese) to India in the 7th century to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. 

Amid continued strain in ties, Pakistan today said it does not see any prospect of having structured talks with India in the near future and made it clear that the ball is in India's court to initiate dialogue.

Shiv Sena today alleged that even six years after terrorists intruded into Mumbai via a sea route and launched a spate of killings, the maritime security of the region continues to be at "God's mercy" due to "lax"attitude of government.

Visitors from over 40 countries, including Israel, Palestine, Germany and the US, will be able to avail of the much-awaited electronic visa facility from tomorrow.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist boxer Manoj Kumar today lashed out at Kapil Dev, saying the Arjuna Award is a "fitting reply" from him to the former India cricket captain, who had earlier refused to recognise the pugilist.

"Today I can tell Kapil Dev that I am Manoj Kumar, who had won the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and now I have got the Arjuna award," Manoj told reporters after being belatedly bestowed with the prestigious honour by the Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his Shastri Bhawan office.

"I have today given a fitting reply to Kapil Dev," he added.

Manoj was earlier denied the award by the Kapil Dev-led selection committee even as another boxer Jai Bhagwan was recommended for the coveted honour. According to the boxer, Kapil had cut the phone when he wanted to convey his grievances, asking who he was.

Pakistan PM's advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz says, "We are ready for talks with India, but India will have to take the initiative. I don't see any possibility of structured talks between India and Pakistan as of now." 

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who were sitting two seats away from each other, did not look at each other even when Sharif went across both before and after delivering his speech at the 18th meeting of the eight-member regional bloc.

The leaders of Maldives and Nepal were seated between Modi and Sharif.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley responding to the black money debate in the Rajya Sabha.

Ten takeaways from what he has just said.

1. We took over half done job from UPA. We want the black money to be brought back. It is everyone's wish that money siphoned off be brought back.

2. Issue is not whether to disclose these names or not, issue is when to disclose it.

3. Govt has identified holders of 427 accounts abroad, notices have been sent to them.

4. Out of these HSBC cases (627), we have been able to trace and identify about 427, we are giving notices to most of them.

5. At least 250 account holders have admitted to having accounts abroad. In the next few weeks, more prosecution cases will be filed; once the cases go for prosecution, names will become public.

6. The offence is committed in India and the money is Indian. The evidence is outside Indian shores. No government can march its police or investigating officers to another country. There is a prescribed procedure.

7. If we disclose the names publicly in a press conference without evidence, that will be a one-day thrill.

8. UPA government didn't want Supreme Court to give any orders on this issue. Forming SIT was our first decision.

9. In this age, no one physically carries the black money abroad. Some take it through Hawala and other ways.

10. Names will become public when prosecution begins.

"I have never felt so elated. I'm at a place where I always wanted to be. Congress is the only party which can keep India united which is why I'm here," Khushboo Sundar on joining the Congress today.

The actress-turned-politician quit the DMK today saying that she had given her 100 percent to the DMK party but she was never recognised for it. "I quit my membership with DMK with a heavy heart," she had said.

Protest marches have sprang up across the United States, and police battled to stifle another night of unrest in Ferguson, ground zero of America's latest racially-charged riots.

Violence erupted in the St Louis, Missouri suburb for a second night, after Monday's decision by a grand jury not to prosecute a white police officer for shooting dead an unarmed black teenager in August.

Windows were smashed at city hall, a police car was set on fire and protesters pelted police with rocks, bottles, chunks of concrete and a Molotov cocktail, St Louis County police said.

A last-ditch effort is being made to salvage the SAARC summit. Pakistan stalled the inking of SAARC connectivity agreements, including the motor vehicle pact, saying it was yet to complete its "internal process".

PM Narendra Modi has held one-on-one meetings with all heads of state at SAARC except Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Pakistani PM has said the ball is in India's court because Delhi cancelled talks earlier this year after the Pakistani envoy consulted Kashmiri separatists ahead of a scheduled dialogue between the Foreign Secretaries of both countries.

The way Pak may be cajoled to come around is at an informal retreat outside Kathmandu tomorrow.

Other countries, including India and Sri Lanka, have been strongly pitching for strengthening the people-to-people contact and movement of goods in the region.

In an essay published on Monday, New Republic Senior Editor Noam Scheiber -- who grew up speaking both Hebrew and English -- explains why he stopped speaking only Hebrew to his three-year-old daughter.  Read

Rejecting his bail plea, a city court today extended by three days CBI remand of Trinamool Congress MP Srinjoy Bose, who was arrested for alleged complicity in the Saradha scam.

A Congress MP today tried to raise the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben filing an RTI application seeking details of security provided to her, in the Rajya Sabha.

The chair, however, disallowed it. Madhusudan Mistry (Cong) tried to raise the matter during Zero Hour, but Deputy Chairman P J Kurien asked him to give notice.

Kurien said the Chairman had allowed 15 issues to be raised during Zero Hour on Tuesday and all the issues listed were important. Mistry, however, insisted that he had given a notice to raise the issue. 

"We are happy to offer this award to the most deserving Manoj Kumar. We believe he will bring more and more glory to the country," says sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the Arjuna award being presented to the boxer.

At least 26 workers were killed and 50 others injured when a major fire today engulfed a coal mine in China's northeastern Liaoning province soon after a mild earthquake jolted the region, in one of the worst mine accidents in the country in recent years.

Indian Boxer Manoj Kumar conferred Arjuna Award by Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The Kapil Dev-led award committee had earlier refused to give the coveted award to the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Angry with the government's decision not to give him the award, Manoj had filed a case in the Delhi High Court and won the case.

PM Narendra Modi thanks Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa for pardoning and sending back five Indian fishermen on death row, earlier this month.

Modi had spoke to the Sri Lankan President on November 9 over the death sentence handed out to five Indian fishermen.

The five - Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet - were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on October 30 on charges of drug trafficking.

Following the conversation, the Sri Lankan president had pardoned the men.

In all, 600 articles have been uploaded to the Tulu Wikipedia which is still in its incubation stage, according to U.B. Pavanaja, Wikipedia representative and Programme Officer, The Centre for Internet and Society, Bengaluru. Read more

A 14-year-old is fighting for his life in a hospital near Delhi after he set himself on fire in school. The family alleged that he was being harassed by a teacher.

The boy, a Class 8 student of a private school in Faridabad near Delhi, had taken a bottle filled with petrol to school, said police sources. He poured the petrol on himself in a bathroom after the school assembly and set himself on fire. The CCTV footage from the school showed him going alone into the bathroom, an officer said. -- NDTV.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had to skip an election meeting in West Singhbhum district's Badajamda township today as the pilot of his chopper failed to locate the landing strip.

The pilot taking off from Majhgaon in West Singhbhum district, headed for Bagbera, near Jamshedpur, where he is scheduled to address a poll meeting, after failing to land.

The chopper's pilot failed to locate the landing strip, he said.

PM Modi met with PM of Bhutan Tshering Togbay. Togbay said Bhutan has sacrificed growth for sustainable development, but we will continue to do what is right for the country. 

It is a simple vegetarian spread "with less spices and oil" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his stay in Nepal for the SAARC Summit.

Hotel Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee, where the SAARC leaders are staying for the two-day Summit, has taken special care of the tastes and preferences of the visiting leaders.

Breakfast: mixed fruits, uthappam or idli and digestive biscuits along with tea. 

"Modi eats simple vegetarian food with less spices and less oil," a hotel staff involved in preparing the cuisine said. Instructions have been given to make the dishes less oily and less spicy with less use of paneer

Lunch: Jeera rice with dal and two types of vegetables, tawa roti and vegetable soup, curd and masala chaas. Instructions have been given to make the dishes less oily and less spicy with less use of paneer.

Dinner: Khichadi with Gujrati curry, dal and roti, while for dessert, he takes mixed fruit.

Modi is staying at the Executive Suite in the hotel's main building.

For Pakistani Premier Sharif, halal meats are prepared. He also prefers fish made in a special Pakistani preparation and takes organic chicken or mutton for lunch and dinner. For dessert, it's saffron kheer.

Sharif is staying in Real Suite in a separate bungalow built in the premises of the hotel along with all other SAARC dignitaries.

PM Modi made it a point to have bilateral talks with all heads of state at SAARC except for Pakistan. Here he is seen with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Pak PM Nawaz Sharif and NSA Sartaj Aziz refused to answer when questioned if Pakistan was trying to block agreements in SAARC.

Sharif had sought to put the ball in India's court for an initiative for talks, saying "cancellation of talks was New Delhi's unilateral decision," and "ball is now India's court for talks between both the countries".

India maintained that it was for "meaningful dialogue" which involves specifics.

They shared the dais but leave alone a handshake, there was no exchange of courtesies between Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan during the nearly three-hour SAARC Summit here today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who were sitting two seats away from each other, did not look at each other even when Sharif crossed before and after delivering his speech at the 18th meeting of the eight-member regional bloc.

Leaders of Maldives and Nepal were seated between Modi and Sharif.

Though there is no "structured" meeting scheduled between the two leaders, a brief exchange of pleasantries was expected given that they would be attending the same conference and the retreat tomorrow.

Former Telecom Minister, A Raja, has decided to write his version of the events in the dramatic 2G case that created a political storm during the second term of the UPA government.

Raja's as yet unnamed book is likely to create a flutter for various political parties. Sources tell us that it's little details of the 2G episode that form the central feature of his memoirs which cover 10 years, between 2004 and 2014.

One chapter, we are told is on how the Tamil Nadu Congress leaders played havoc with him and the DMK. The book is likely to be released in March 2015.

The book has eight chapters bu the chapter that most readers will want to turn to is on the 'scam', which  exposes the Congress party.

The book is being published by Penguin and priced at around Rs 500.   The jacket design is still wrapped in secrecy.

Bhajan maestro Anup Jalota's wife Medha, who was sick for quite some time, has died in US following multiple organ failure. Medha was admitted to a hospital in New Jersey almost two months ago. She had undergone a number of surgeries. Medha died yesterday morning.

Medha, who was the niece of former Indian Prime Minister, Inder Kumar Gujral, is survived by her husband and their 18-year-old son, Aryaman.

Medha's former husband filmmaker Shekhar Kapur took to twitter to condole her death. "Probably the bravest person I ever knew. Medha Jalota. Rest in Peace Medha. You showed that life can be lived and loved despite all odds," Kapur posted.

Without adequate preparations for its consequences, the State has gone ahead with the merger of small schools with the larger ones. Is there a way out? Read

Godmen do extraordinarily well in our country than in most others, and that is where the puzzle lies. Is our society more vulnerable? Or, does this show up so blatantly among us because of the way we practise democracy and secularism? Read

Just in: Naxals attack poll team in Latehar, Jharkhand. They attacked the poll team while it was returning from the polling station. A gun battle is on between CRPF personnel and the Naxals.

Jharkhand recorded an impressive 62 per cent voter turnout in the first phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday.

Polling was peaceful in all 13 Naxal-affected constituencies despite a boycott call by Maoists.

"Barring sporadic incidents of damage to EVMs, polling in all 13 constituencies was peaceful with an impressive turnout of around 62 per cent," said Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Jajoria.

In view of the Maoist threat, voting started as early as 7 am and ended by 3 pm.

The second phase polling for 20 seats will be held on December 2.

Just how hygienic is Mumbai's street food? Vendors cook it without wearing gloves, handle money with the same hands and leave it lying out in the open. So what happens when you send pav-bhaji to the laboratory for testing? Read

Floral tributes were paid to the martyrs who laid down their lives while fighting terrorists on the sixth anniversary of the 26/11 attack. Take a look at our slideshow.

On the 93rd birthday of Dr Verghese Kurien all the dairy majors have joined hands to celebrate the day as National Milk Day in the memory of the Father of India's White Revolution.

They live together. Portraits of Chanakya and Veer Savarkar adorn the walls of the visitors' room of BJP chief Amit Shah. Quite naturally, the portraits are a topic of conversation and Shah launches off into their contribution to India. 
Another key attraction is a little shrine of Saibaba. Shah's wife performs puja at this shrine, which is just opposite the visitors' room, every day. 

BJP president Amit Shah has moved into a Lutyens Bungalow at 11 Akbar Road in New Delhi. As president of a ruling party he is entitled to a type 7 bungalow as per the Accommodation Committee.  

"Today is 26/11, this matter had to come up (at SAARC). We will never forget what happened (on 26/11), a matter we will pursue and one that is high on our agenda, but we will pursue it separately," MEA on 26/11

Syed Akbaruddin, MEA, on the still undecided meeting between the PM and Nawaz Sharif. "We do not plan any structured meeting of PM & Pak PM, it is simply because we have not received any request to that end."

Meanwhile, Pak has blocked connectivity agreements at SAARC. The proposed agreements for better regional connectivity, including a motor vehicle pact, to be signed during the SAARC Summit are unlikely to be inked with Pakistan opposing them, saying it was yet to complete its "internal processes".

Masuri Group Ltd., the closely held maker of the helmet Australia's Phil Hughes was wearing when he sustained a severe head injury, said cricket players can't avoid injuries wearing head protection that allows movement.

Read

Narendra Modi as prime minister has had an outstanding record overseas. He has impressed the leaders of most Asian countries, of the United States of America and the United Kingdom, as well as of Australia. In the process, he has depicted the broad contours of his foreign policy. Read more

Narendra Modi on 26/11: "Today, as we remember the horror of the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008, we feel the endless pain of lost lives. Let us work together to fulfil the pledge we have taken to combat terrorism and trans-national crimes.

The PM made a reference to the Mumbai carnage that claimed 166 lives in his maiden address to the 18th SAARC summit during when he reached out to the South Asian countries, announcing business visas to India for three to five years and immediate medical visa for the patient and an attendant travelling to the country for medical treatment.

J-K CM Omar Abdullah tweets: Anchors, reporters talk in studios and say separatists lost, militants lost, but this could spur them to act. Restraint needed.

The first phase of state assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday recorded a turnout of around 70 percent and was incident free.

Around 70 percent electorate cast their vote in todays polling for the first phase of the assembly elections across 15 constituencies spread in seven districts of the State, chief electoral officer, Umang Narula said.

Vinita Bisht and Vinita Kamte lost their husbands -- one an NSG commando, the other an IPS officer -- in the 26/11 terror attacks. Six years later, Archana Masih/Rediff.com meets them to discover that closure is one of the hardest things to find. Read

Protesters returned to the riot-scarred streets of Ferguson, a day after crowds looted businesses and set fire to buildings in a night of rage against a grand jury's decision not to indict the white police officer who killed an unarmed black 18-year-old, a case that has inflamed racial tensions in the US.

Hundreds of additional National Guard troops were sent to the St Louis suburb to help local authorities keep order. Hours after nightfall, tensions escalated as a police car was set on fire outside City Hall, and authorities released tear gas.

The MDMK chief Vaiko has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishing Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the SAARC summit. In a statement he said, "I am terribly pained at the attitude of my prime minister. It's atrocious to commend the racist president who has killed several Tamils. And the PM of India is wishing him I am ashamed of it. I condemn it."

Speaking at the SAARC summit, PM Modi said, "India will now give business visa for 3-5 years for SAARC countries." He also asked leaders of the SAARC countries to produce goods for India, which would give jobs to their youth. He also promised immediate medical visas to those who wished to travel to India for medical treatment.  He also said that India is ready to connect South Asian students through online courses and e-library. 

Addressing leaders at the SAARC summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "This is my first visit to SAARC summit but my second to Nepal. Speaking in English, he said, "The future I dream for India is the future I wish for our entire region." He added that ours is a region of thriving democracy and we all face the same challenges. Emphasising the importance of SAARC, he said, "Where does South Asia wish to stand in the world, we need to ask this question to ourselves." He said, "There is much to learn from each and more to do together.'   "India and Nepal has begun a new era of cooperation in energy sector,' the PM added and also spoke of his arrangements with Sri Lanka and Maldives. 

After day-long protests in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, the government has agreed to have a discussion on illegal money deposited in off-shore bank accounts. Opposition parties - Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal-United and Samajwadi Party - had on Tuesday led continuous protests both inside and outside Parliament demanding that the PM apologise for being unable to fulfill his promise of returning back money  within 100 days of forming government.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the crowd at the SAARC summit today right after the Nepal PM inaugurated the summit. Sharif in his address expressed hope and said that cooperation was very important to Pakistan. The PM said, "Pakistan attaches high importance to SAARC and would like to congratulate Nepal for this effort.'  He added, "Pakistan stands for peace, prosperity and progress and the theme at the summit reflects our common desire in reaching out to get a win-win situation."

On the sixth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, politicians, families, friends and other loved ones gathered at Mumbai's Police Gymkhana to pay tribute to the heroes of the incident. The families paid floral tributes at the site.

Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri tripled the number of National Guard troops in suburban St Louis city of Ferguson and broadly expanded their role in keeping the peace, after a night of arson, looting and rampaging demonstrators showed that weeks of preparation for a grand jury decision in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown had failed to prevent violence.

In the late 1990s the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, but the fighting that brought them to power left many militants struggling with the psychological effects of war. One doctor, Nader Alemi, recognised the problem and, although he disagreed with the Taliban's ideology, agreed to treat them.

US President Barack Obama's visit to India in January to attend the Republic Day Parade will be spread over two days and include summit-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Pranab Mukherjee and Modi are expected to host banquets in the honour of Obama, who is the first American president to be the guest of honour at the R-Day festivities.

On the sixth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to those who laid down their lives in a series of tweets on Twitter. He wrote, "We remember the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai on this day in 2008 and pay homage to the innocent men and women who lost their lives."

Bird flu: Red alert issued in 3 districts in Kerala

Modi govt faces Opposition heat in Parliament over black money 

India cancelled talks, let it resume them: Sharif

Massive turnout in J&K: 70 pc voting recorded 

Modi holds strategic talks with Nepal, gifts Bodhi sapling, helicopter 

India, US hold first trade dialogue in 4 years

After 6 weeks of climb, Sensex takes a plunge 

Tendulkar's autobiography crosses a record 200,000 copies