Chintan is under arrest for the murder of his wife and famous installation artist Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani, while Vidyadhar Rajbhar is on the run.Financial transactions of both Chintan and Vidyadhar will be examined to determine whether money changed hands for the killings, a senior police officer said.

Vidyadhar Rajbhar, Pradeep Rajbhar and Shivkumar Rajbhar carried out the killings whereas Vijay Rajbhar and Azad Rajbhar helped them, the probe so far has revealed.

Except for Vidyadhar, all others have been arrested.Shivkumar and Vidyadhar had kept others in the dark about their plan to leave the city, the officer said.

"Am personally touched by Nawaz Sharif sahab's gesture of welcoming me at Lahore airport and coming to the airport when I left," Modi said in a tweet after returning to New Delhi. He also termed as "very touching" Sharif's affection towards BJP veteran and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"He (Sharif) recalled their interactions & asked me to convey his regards to Atal ji," Modi said in another tweet. Modi, who sprang a surprise by making a sudden stopover in Lahore on his return to New Delhi from Kabul, said he had a spent a warm evening with the Sharif family at their family home.

"Nawaz sahab's birthday & granddaughter's marriage made it a double celebration," he added.

Briefing the media after Nawaz-Modi meeting at Jati Umrah residence of Sharifs, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said: "PM Modi's visit to Lahore was not a planned one. It was organised on a short notice after Mr Modi expressed his wish to come here en route to Delhi from Afghanistan."

He said Modi's visit was "purely a good will visit" and PM Sharif has termed it "positive".

"The meeting between the two premiers was held in a cordial atmosphere. Both premiers agreed to continue the peace process (between the two countries) and work together for the purpose," he said.

The last visit to Pakistan by an Indian prime minister was in 2004 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose 91st birthday fell today and who is credited with bringing about a thaw in relations with Islamabad.

Earlier in the day, Modi arrived in Lahore on Friday for a meeting with  Sharif in a surprise visit to this country -- the first visit to Pakistan by an Indian premier in more than 10 years.

Sharif had invited Modi to attend the marriage of his granddaughter Mehrun Nisa which is taking place on Friday at the Sharif's Raiwind palatial residence.

The blast took place when the mosque at Bagmara town, some 250 kilometres from Dhaka, was packed with worshippers during Friday prayers amid the nationwide celebration of Eid- e-Milad-un Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad.

"The explosion killed the suicide bomber and injured 10 others," a police officer said. According to local media reports, the attacker exploded the bomb that he had concealed under his garments. Police was yet to confirm the identity of the bomber but suspected that the attack was plotted by an Islamist group.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but in recent months, homegrown outlawed militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Islamic State group claimed responsibility for bomb attacks on a shrine and a mosque of minority Shia Muslims in northern Bangladesh.

Made of used water bottles and supported by steel rods from inside, the tree decorated with stars, lights and other material, was photographed by people from all walks of life.Bindu, the designer of the tree, said she wanted to create an environment-friendly product.

"We have made a Christmas tree with steel and 1021 bottles, 18 feet height, where this is used pet bottles which are used to show the public that we can use everything in a recycled model. We have never used any trees or papers of anything to show an eco-friendly based Christmas tree," said designer of the tree, BindhuChristians across India and world throng churches, sing carols, and celebrate Christmas on December 25.

While the monarch spoke of finding hope in "moments of darkness", Reverend Justin Welby warned that the Islamic State is "igniting a trail of fear, violence, hatred and determined oppression". 

"It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it'," Queen's Christmas Day message read.

The 89-year-old queen recorded her Christmas message at a desk in Buckingham Palace's 18th Century Room earlier. She writes her own address, which is one of the rare occasions when she voices her own views.

Reports say that Nawaz will host Modi at his ancestral home in Rawalpindi.

"There have been many strains in our relationship. The ice was finally broken by the NSA-level talks and the visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Pakistan. Now that process is being followed up by Modi's visit," CPI National Secretary D Raja said.

Noting that this was Modi's first visit to Pakistan, he said it would help arrive at a better understanding and strengthen mutual trust so that the dialogue process can be taken forward.

The party said that "friendship and betrayal cannot go hand in hand" as it reacted sharply to the surprise announcement by Modi as he prepared to wind up his brief visit to Afghanistan today. "I am stunned and shocked. At this moment, I can think of beheaded Hemraj," said JD-U leader KC Tyagi. Lance Naik Hemraj was killed and beheaded by Pakistani soldiers on January 8 last year in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

The deceased was identified as Badri and the injured persons were all labourers at the construction site. The incident took place at 10.10 am.

"That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen (This is how it should be with neighbours)," Swaraj said on twitter to the news of Modi's visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Modi today made a surprise announcement of a stop-over in Lahore as he wrapped up his brief Afghanistan visit. 

"Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi," the PM tweeted. Earlier, Modi had wished Sharif on his birthday. 

"Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif and wished him on his birthday," Modi had tweeted.

While the BJP leadership expressed enthusiasm over the development, calling it statesmanship of the highest quality, the Congress predictably termed the sudden stopover as just plain ridiculous.

If on the one hand, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "That's like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen (Relations with our neighbours should be just like this)", Congress leader and former union minister Manish Tewari said, "This adventure of PM Modi is going to have serious implications on India's national security. If the decision is not preposterous, then it is utterly ridiculous."

The announcement came from Modi himself in a tweet as he prepared to wind up his brief visit to Afghanistan. "Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi," he tweeted. 

"Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif & wished him on his birthday," Modi added in another tweet. Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister tweeted greetings to Sharif on his 66th birthday and wished him good health.

"I wish the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and pray that he remains in wonderful health," tweeted Modi from Afghanistan where he landed in the wee hours while returning from Moscow.

"The Samajwadi Party wants to make it a political issue because 2017 is coming. Unfortunately, in this country every year, there is an election. Therefore every one wants to raise this issue and connect it with an election. It is wrong to relate this issue with election," BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told ANI.

India is here to contribute not to compete. To lay foundations of future not light flame of conflicts.

Today, I announce 500 scholarships for children of the martyrs of Afghan security forces while scheme of 1000 scholarships will continue.

We could not have chosen a more special day than the birthday of former PM Vajpayee ji who dreamt of this project with Karzai Saheb.

I am deeply touched that you have chosen to name one of the wings in this building Atal Block, he says.

"A country with an abiding faith in tradition of Jirga has chosen democracy, against challenges that would have defeated lesser people," he says.

The security forces had launched an anti-militancy operation in the north Kashmir town last evening following information about presence of ultras there, the official said.

He said Sheikh's body was recovered from the encounter site late last night and handed over to his family in Chatapora area of Pulwama district. Meanwhile, a shutdown was observed in Pulwama town and adjoining areas.

The police official said a heavy deployment of police and paramilitary personnel has been carried out in Pulwama for maintaining law and order.

The skirmish took place this morning in Kapnar village forest under Pakhnar police outpost of Darbha area, Bastar Additional Superintendent of Police Vijay Pandey said. A joint squad of Chhattisgarh Armed Force, District Reserve Group and district police had launched a combing operation in the area surrounding Pakhnar since early this morning, he said. As they were cordoning-off a forested hill between Kapnar and Toynar, a group of armed cadres opened indiscriminate fire on them, prompting the security forces to retaliate.

However, the ultras soon fled from the spot as the security forces zeroed-in on them, Pandey said. Later, during a search of the place, the body of a rebel clad in 'uniform' and a weapon were recovered from the spot, he said.

"I wish the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Nawaz Sharif on his birthday and pray that he remains in wonderful health," Modi, who is in Afghanistan, tweeted. 

 The relations between India and Pakistan witnessed some positive developments after chill for several months. The two countries recently decided to launch a comprehensive dialogue after Modi and Sharif met in Paris.

Flooding have dampened Christmas eve celebrations in parts of Latin America, leaving five people dead and driving almost 150,000 from their homes in Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.

Some 130,000 people have been forced from their homes across Paraguay, officials said yesterday, as President Horacio Cartes declared a state of emergency to free up more than USD3.5 million in disaster funds.

Three people traveling Paraguay's international Route 2, which links Asuncion and Foz de Iguazu in Brazil were killed when a tree fell on their vehicle before dawn.

Another woman traveling by motorcycle in Asuncion was killed by a falling tree overnight, official sources said. 

The National Emergency Secretariat reported a dozen other similar incidents in the capital. 

High-end handgun maker Cabot Guns is making a pair of pistols from a meteorite.

Cabot Guns announced that its "extra-terrestrial pistols" will be forged from a meteorite as old as the Earth itself, and could sell for as much as $1 million at auction next year.

Read more HERE.

The British, US and French embassies in China say they have received information of possible threats against Westerners visiting a popular shopping district in Beijing around Christmas.

The embassies sent out warnings to their citizens and staff, urging extra vigilance if they are in the Sanlitun district. The Australian embassy soon followed suit.

The district is home to a popular open-plan mall that boasts high-end brands like Mango, Reiss, and Lacoste, and some of Beijing's best Western dining.

In August, a woman was stabbed to death in broad daylight by a sword-wielding man there. The attacker also injured a French man. Beijing police said the man stabbed the two passerby "without cause or reason."

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said authorities are familiar with the reports.

"Relevant Chinese departments have always attached great importance to social security work, and spared no effort in protecting the safety of Chinese citizens and foreign institutes and their staff in China," Hong said.

Panic erupted at a US mall packed with Christmas Eve shoppers today, amid reports of a shooting inside.

Local broadcaster WBTV said the incident happened at the Northlake Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The CBS affiliate, citing an unnamed witness, said that a gunman was shot and killed by an officer. 

CNN also reported that one person had been shot by an officer after pulling out a gun during a confrontation, but it said his condition was unclear.

On its Twitter feed, WBTV quoted a witness as saying there was an argument before shots were fired, also suggesting the shooting was the result of a dispute of some sort.

Frantic shoppers reportedly ran out of stores seeking shelter, with one woman telling WBTV that she hid in a storage room. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wrapped up his two-day visit to Russia, during which the two countries signed 16 pacts to expand cooperation in various sectors, including nuclear and defence.

It is learnt that Prime Minister Modi was heading towards the Afghan capital Kabul from Moscow. The Kabul visit has not been officially announced but Modi was expected to make a stop-over in Kabul on his way back home. 

In Kabul, he is expected to inaugurate the new building of the Afghan Parliament constructed by India at a cost of about USD 90 million.

At least 10 people were killed as spring-like storms mixed with unseasonably warm weather and spawned rare Christmastime tornadoes in the US South, officials said today.

Emergency officials blamed the severe weather for injuring scores of others and destroying dozens of cars, homes and businesses.

The threat of tornadoes eased as the line of storms moved east today and brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to Atlanta and the Carolinas. In the communities worst-hit by yesterday's tornadoes, search parties hunted for missing people and volunteers helped clear debris on a day often reserved for gift wrapping and last-minute shopping.

Bobby Watkins and his wife huddled beneath their old oak dining table for shelter as storm winds roaring outside their Mississippi home tossed a barn onto their truck outside, tore the steeple off a nearby church and reduced a neighboring building to rubble.

I will emigrate to the Comoros or any distant country to flee your faces, you security agency spies. I really hope to do so.

With this painful sentence, the internationally known writer ended a tweet he posted yesterday in response to a news report that was widely circulated, claiming that he applied for emigration status at the American embassy for himself and his family and that the embassy approved his application.

Alaa Al-Aswany denied applying for emigration status, but he did not deny his desire to flee the swamp of ugliness and hatred in which Egypt has been drowned since the scorching summer of 2013; he wishes for it.

It is not important to remind everyone that Alaa Al-Aswany is one of the individuals who helped dig this inhumane swamp, and it would not accomplish anything to say that he was one of the people urging the people to accept this fate, the misery of which he is now personally suffering from.

Read more HERE.