Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said today that he will meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin next week to discuss the six-month conflict between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. 

Delegates from around 50 countries including India, the US and Russia will participate in a donors conference starting here tomorrow to chalk out plans for rebuilding the Gaza Strip following the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant movement Hamas.

Pak troops fire at 3 BSF posts along IB in Arnia sector in Jammu: BSF spokesman. 

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Libya's capital Tripoli on Saturday for talks with the country's warring factions fighting over control of the oil producer, in the highest-level visit of a foreign visitor for three months.

Sunanda Pushkar's son Shiv Pushkar Menon today asked the Delhi Police to conclude the inquiry into his mother's death expeditiously and impartially and expressed dismay at people "conjecturing" on the cause of her death. 

As many as 135 couples lodged in Tihar jail here today celebrated Karvachauth amid tight vigilance and special festive arrangements. 

Nearly 80 Indians have died during the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year with most of the deaths due to illness or age-related ailments, a senior official said today. Of the 136,020 Indian pilgrims who performed Haj this year, 100,020 came through the Haj Committee of India.

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has been voted out as Rajasthan Cricket Association president

If any of the speculation about Kim Jong Un being in ill health -- or worse -- proves to be true, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency wouldn't be the first to know about it. No spy agency in the world would.

Liberia's United Nations peacekeeping mission says 41 staff members, including 20 military personnel, are under "close medical observation" after an international member of its medical team contracted Ebola. 

As millions of married Hindu women fast to seek longevity and prosperity for their husbands today on the occasion of Karva Chauth, mainly in north India, the data reveal that their prayers are often reciprocated by violence. 

A fire broke out in a four-storey commercial building in suburban Bandra in Mumbai, but no casualties were reported. 

The cause, apparently, was a short circuit at a restaurant on the fourth floor. A makeshift tent on t e terrace also caught fire.

A stepped-up screening program to check the temperatures of travelers arriving from West Africa is starting at New York's Kennedy International Airport, part of an effort to stop the spread of Ebola. 

R R Patil, NCP leader and former Maharashtra home minister, has sparked yet another row with his insensitive remark on rape.

While campaigning in Sangli for the upcoming assembly polls, Patil said that MNS candidate Sudhakar Khade, who has been accused in a rape case, should have committed the crime after the elections, The Times of India reported.  

"Khade's supporters came to me and extended their support to me. I asked them why were they doing so? They replied that their candidate was in the prison in a rape case."

"If he (Sudhakar Khade) wanted to become a MLA, he should have at least committed rape after the election," he said.

This is not the first time, Patil is in trouble for his callous remarks. After the Badaun sisters' rape earlier this year, he had said, "Many crimes against women happen within the confines of homes. Is it possible to have a policeman in every household?" 

A breakaway faction of Pakistan Taliban, whose militants had pumped bullets into her two years ago, has criticised the choice of Malala Yousafzai for the 2014 Nobel Peace prize, calling her "an agent of non-believers".

Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, which had separated from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in August, posted on microblogging website Twitter last night that Malala was being used by non-believers for propaganda.

"Malala speaks so much against guns and armed conflicts. Does she not know that founder of her recent Nobel award was the inventor of explosives," tweeted militant outfit spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan.

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and his staff have received death threats from the Islamic State, he has claimed.

"After we started suspending their accounts, some folks affiliated with the organisation used Twitter to declare that employees of Twitter and their management should be assassinated," said Costolo talking at the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit.

Accusing the Narendra Modi government of trying to weaken laws on land acquisition and rural employment brought in by the UPA, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi today asked people to be wary of BJP and INLD, claiming their sole aim was to "grab power for vested interests".

"Today, when polls are before us, our rival parties, in a bid to capture power, have come out of their houses and even out of the jails," she said addressing a rally in Tosham in this Harayna district ahead of October 15 assembly election.

She said the electorate should not fall into the "trap" of the BJP which "promises a lot but delivers little". She also took a dig at INLD leader and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was serving a 10-year imprisonment in a graft case but was campaigning while on bail on health grounds, for his remarks that if his party comes to power he will take oath from Tihar jail.

Former Union minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has finally broken his silence regarding the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

"Let the police probe the case and give us a report. We will assist in whatever way we can," Tharoor said today. 

The case took a new turn on Thursday with the leak of her latest post mortem report submitted to AIIMS, that stated the cause of death as "poisoning".

However, the Delhi police, which is investigating the case, has a different opinion on the matter. "The forensic report at the moment is not conclusive, our inquest status in today's date is pending," Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi told reporters in New Delhi.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a high-level meeting this evening to review preparedness for the approaching Cyclone Hudhud, NDTV reports.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall around Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday before noon, according to the Meteorological department.

After calm along the Line of Control since Thursday night, Pakistan has violated ceasefire once again in the Poonch area of Shahpur sector, Jammu and Kashmir.

Four Indian army posts and some villages are being targeted, CNN-IBN reports.

More details are waited   

India has said it is committed to cooperating with the international community in the research and development of a vaccine to cure Ebola, assuring its help to the ongoing global efforts to manage the threat.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asoke Mukerji told the UN General Assembly that the Indian government has put in place several measures to deal with the possible threat within the country and activated the relevant national disaster response mechanisms to maintain high alert.

Highlighting India's track record of participating actively in multilateral efforts to tackle public health emergencies in the past, he said India had provided immediate financial assistance to three of the affected countries Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea for purchase of medical supplies.

An uneasy calm today prevailed along the 192-km long International Border in Jammu region as there has been no ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops since Thursday night.   

Eight persons have been killed and nearly 90 others injured in mortar shelling and firing by Pakistan troops from October 1-9 along the IB in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts forcing over 32,000 people from 113 border hamlets to flee.   

"There have been no ceasefire violation from across the border along IB in Jammu region since Thursday night", Divisional Commissioner, Jammu division, Shant Manu told PTI.   

Manu said there was no firing and shelling by Pakistan along the borderline in Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts and there is peace along the border. The last ceasefire violation took place on Thursday night when there was brief firing by Pakistan on four border outposts in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.  

"It was peaceful overnight after long spell of shelling and firing", he said.

BBC reports: New York's JFK airport will start screening to try to stem the Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 4,000 people.

Passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- the worst-hit countries -- will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions. Checks at O'Hare in Chicago, Newark, Washington's Dulles and Atlanta's airport will begin in the coming days.

This comes after the first person died of Ebola in Texas on Wednesday.

A fire broke out at a jewellery showroom in Mumbai's Bandra suburb this morning.

Fire engines and water tankers were rushed to the spot. The terrace area was damaged completely due to the fire. However, no casualties have been reported.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Read why Nobel Peace prize Kailash picked 'Satyarthi' as his last name? Find out here  

During the launch of the Adarsh Gram Yojana, PM said, "Let us take interest and create an atmosphere where every person is proud of his or her village: Kaam aasan hain, mijaz badalna hain, janata ko jodna hain (The work is easy, we have to change the mood and unite the public.) Aspiration of villagers are not small compared to city dwellers. This scheme is not going to be driven by supply, but by demand."  

"We have an opportunity to create social harmony. This effort is to correct flaws in earlier schemes."

"Jai Prakash Narayanji said something very relevant -- you can't separate democracy with politics. And we need good politics," the PM added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana today on the occasion of birth anniversary of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, which aims to keep the soul of rural India alive while providing people with quality access to basic amenities and opportunities to enable them to shape their own destiny.

Modi had announced the scheme during his Independence Day address. Adarsh Gram aims to ensure 100 per cent access to health, education, sanitation, schools, toilets, libraries and smart schools.

At the launch Modi said, "Mahatma Gandhi always fought for the right of villagers. The welfare of our poor is our dream. This scheme is for the poor and the farmers."

"Apart from his/her own village, MPs can select whichever village they want.  I too have to select a village for Varanasi. I received the guidelines. Will go there, discuss and decide."

"There are several villages that make model villages,but not all villages are model villages. This means there's a lot more beyond government schemes," he added.

"Schemes must be formulated in accordance with changing times. We are around 800 MPs, if every year we make 3 model villages by 2019 we will reach about 2500 villages. If on the basis of this Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, the states also launch scheme for MLAs,we will be able to make more model villages," he said. 

NDTV reports: Cyclone Hudhud is currently 330 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 380 km south-southeast of Odisha's Gopalpur. It has a wind speed of 120-130 kilometres per hour.

Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, 79, is expected to surrender to Tihar Jail authorities today, after the Delhi high court cancelled his bail and ordered him to discontinue his political rallies.

He was convicted in January last year for running a graft-laden scheme to recruit teachers for government institutions when he was in office in 1999.

Chautala, who was granted bail on medical grounds in May last year, has been actively holding rallies to campaign for the assembly elections in Haryana.

Chautala, the chief of the Indian National Lok Dal, was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

United States President Barack Obama congratulated anti-child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, saying this is a victory for all who strive to uphold the dignity of every human being.

"On behalf of Michelle, myself and all Americans, I want to congratulate Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Today's (Friday) announcement is a victory for all who strive to uphold the dignity of every human being," Obama said in a statement yesterday.

"In recognising Malala and Kailash, the Nobel Committee reminds us of the urgency of their work to protect the rights and freedoms of all our young people and to ensure they have the chance to fulfill their God-given potential, regardless of their background, or gender, or station in life," said Obama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

Cyclone Hudhud that is currently on course to hit the Visakhapatnam coast by Sunday afternoon accompanied by wind speed of up to 155 kmph and very heavy rains, The Times of India reports.

The Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to evacuate as many as 4.56 lakh people from the coastal villages of east and west Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts by this evening.

Much before the expected landfall on Sunday, the cyclone will generate suqally wind touching a speed of 70kmph along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from the morning of October 11 onwards, the Met office cautioned.


Read the full report here

From Voice Of America: The US State Department has updated its "worldwide caution" for Americans overseas, saying it "remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against US citizens and interests.

"The department said Friday authorities believe there is "an increased likelihood of reprisal attacks" for the US-led airstrikes on Islamic State militants, especially in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia. Friday's statement identified "US, Western and coalition partner interests" as being at risk.

Lauding the accomplishments of Indian children rights activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani girl Malala Yousafzai, a leading human rights group said the Nobel Peace Prize to the two will draw attention to the severe challenges in enforcing child rights.

"Far too many children around the world risk their lives to get an education," Bede Sheppard, deputy children's rights director at Human Rights Watch said.

"This prize is an award to two activists, but it is also a testament to the fortitude of children everywhere fighting for the right to study and learn without fear."

Sheppard applauded Satyarthi for building a global movement against child labor and rescuing thousands of children from exploitative labor and trafficking.

"Satyarthi has campaigned for decades on ending child labor, particularly bonded labor, in India. Honouring Satyarthi and Yousafzai draws attention to the severe challenges in enforcing the child rights and protections in the subcontinent," Sheppard said.

CNN reports: The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for a stronger response to the spread of Ebola on Thursday, saying that "we have to work now so that this is not the world's next AIDS."

"In the 30 years I've been working in public health, the only thing like this has been AIDS," CDC director Thomas Frieden said at a World Bank meeting in Washington

Read the full story here

BBC reports: The UN special envoy to Syria has warned that up to 700 people, mainly elderly, are still trapped in the Syrian border town of Kobane.Staffan de Mistura also urged Turkey to allow in volunteers to Syria to defend the town from Islamic State militants.

Read the full article here

The Pakistan Rangers today termed the Indian firing at the Sialkot border a "small-scale war"between the two countries.

"India is not just violating ceasefire but fighting a small-scale war with Pakistan," Director General Rangers Major General Tahir Javaid Khan told journalists.

"It appears a political agenda...," he said.

Khan claimed that the Indian Border Security Force used small firearms on the working boundary between 2010 and 2014.

"More than 30,000 mortar shells have also been fired during the last four years," he said, noting such a large amount is not even used in a "full-scale war."

"On October 6, alone, 51,000 small arms were fired across the boundary, while on October 7, more than 4,000 mortar shells were fired," he claimed.

US President Barack Obama today congratulated Indian anti-child labour activist Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai on winning the Nobel Peace Prize, saying this is a victory for all who strive to uphold the dignity of every human being.

"On behalf of Michelle, myself and all Americans, I want to congratulate Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today's announcement is a victory for all who strive to uphold the dignity of every human being," Obama said in a statement. "In recognising Malala and Kailash, the Nobel Committee reminds us of the urgency of their work to protect the rights and freedoms of all our young people and to ensure they have the chance to fulfill their God-given potential, regardless of their background, or gender, or station in life," said Obama, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

At just 17, Malala Yousafzai has inspired people around the world with her passion and determination to make sure girls everywhere can get an education, Obama said, adding when the Taliban tried to silence her, Malala answered their brutality with strength and resolve.

The Centre has okayed allocation of IAS, IPS and IFoS officers for the newly-formed state of Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh. As per the guidelines finalised by the Department of Personnel and Training, 163 posts of Indian Administrative Service, 112 of Indian Police Service and 65 Indian Forest Service officers (including promotees) have been allotted to Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh will now have 211 posts for IAS, 144 for IPS and 82 for IFoS officers, it said. DoPT has issued officer -wise list for the IAS, IPS and IFoS officers, which is available in the public domain.

The composition of the three all-India services is based upon a recommendation by a six-member committee headed by former Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha.

Earlier, Andhra Pradesh had a total authorised strength of 376 IAS, 258 IPS and 149 IFoS officers. DoPT has also issued a notification defining the cadre strength for IAS, IPS and IFoS officers.

At least eight people, including a child, were killed and 40 injured in a stampede at a public rally by opposition leader Imran Khan in central Pakistan today.

The incident occurred in Multan city, 350 kilometers from Lahore, after Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf party chairman addressed a crowd to press his demand for the resignation of of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over alleged rigging in last year's elections.

When the cricketer-turned-politician ended his speech, hundreds and thousands of people gathered at the venue left from the five gates.             "One of the gates remained half open that caused stampede," District Coordination Officer (Multan) Zahid Gondal told reporters.

He said eight people, including a child, died in the stampede.  PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi held the district administration responsible for the tragic incident.

A supporter of Imran Khan, chairman of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, holds a sign against Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, during a rally in Karachi. Photographer: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

BBC reports: The number of deaths attributed to the Ebola outbreak has risen above 4,000, the World Health Organisation says.

The latest figures show there have been 4,024 confirmed or suspected deaths in the worst-affected West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.Eight deaths are linked to the haemorrhagic fever in Senegal and one in the US.

Pakistan opposition leader and Tahreek-i-Insaf Party chairman Imran Khan today asked PrimeMinster Narandra Modi to use his mandate to resolve Kashmir issue.

"Modi! I give you a free suggestion. The Indian people have given you mandate. You should show a big heart and act like a statesman on Kashmir issue," Khan said today while addressing a big public rally.

The cricketer-turned-politician further said: "There has been extreme poverty in the sub-continent. Instead of fighting a war and wasting money on weapons, Pakistan and India should do something to end poverty."        He said both the countries should take measures for lasting peace besides increasing the trade volume between them.

Castigating Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not condemning "Indian aggression" on the LoC, Imran Khan said:"There has been not a word from Nawaz Sharif on Indian aggression at the LoC that resulted killing of many Pakistanis.

"I on behalf of Nawaz Sharif tell Modi that Pakistan is not afraid of its aggression. If you think Pakistanis will be intimidated by Indian firing at the LoC then your are seriously mistaken. Pakistan is united to face any aggression."

Fresh report on Sunanda's death inconclusive: Delhi police, BJP, Cong spar
10 things you should know about Nobel winner Satyarthi
Tension at Indo-Pak border disappointing, says peace-loving Malala
EC gives the green signal to Modi for 'mann ki baat' speech
Hudhud roaring in, ready to slam Odisha and Andhra Pradesh