Yemeni rebels said today that they shot down a fighter jet as Saudi-led coalition air strikes intensified a day ahead of a hoped-for five-day humanitarian truce. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) today said it would grant the next tranche of USD 506 million in aid to Pakistan in June after the country passed a review by the donor agency. 

Emergency crews were searching through wreckage Monday in parts of Texas and Arkansas and were attempting to contact relatives after a line of tornadoes battered several small communities, killing two people and leaving at least 10 missing.

The Pakistan Government today announced that it will confer civil gallantry award 'Sitar-e-Pakistan' on the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines and wives of Indonesian and Malaysian envoys who were killed in the army helicopter crash in the PoK.

Janaki Karmacharya sits on a plastic chair under the tarpaulin that now serves as her office and despairs at the wreckage of her once magnificent library in the heart of Kathmandu. 

A local court in Ahmedabad today dismissed an application which had sought action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violation of election-related laws during last year's Lok Sabha elections.

Chief judicial magistrate, Ahmedabad rural court, S R Sinh, rejected the petition filed by Nishant Verma, a worker of the Aam Aadmi Party. "Records produced before this court do not reveal any material necessary for taking cognisance," the order said.

"The investigation (by detection of crime branch of city police)...is just and proper...no prima facie case against any accused is made out," the court said.

On April 30, 2014, as the voting for 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat was still underway, PM Modi -- then BJP's prime ministerial candidate -- addressed the press immediately after casting his own vote at a school in Ahmedabad's Ranip area. He also took selfies with the party symbol lotus.

It had triggered a controversy and the Election Commission directed Ahmedabad crime branch to register an FIR and probe the alleged breach of poll code.

The 15th season of the famous talent show American Idol will be its last.

Fox announced today the show would end after its next, 15th season, with the current judges roster of Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr., as well as host Ryan Seacrest, staying on for one last round.

The show, once a behemoth in American entertainment and a cultural touchstone, no longer occupies the same position in the television firmament. Its ratings have dropped and it is watched by 10.7 million viewers on Wednesday nights, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

On Sunday, the legendary investigative journalist Seymour Hersh finally released a story that he has been rumored to have been working on for years: the truth about the killing of Osama bin Laden.

According to Hersh's 10,000-word story in the London Review of Books, the official history of bin Laden's death is a lie.

Hersh's story is amazing to read, alleging a vast American-Pakistani conspiracy to stage the raid and even to fake high-level diplomatic incidents as a sort of cover. But his allegations are largely supported only by two sources, neither of whom has direct knowledge of what happened, both of whom are retired, and one of whom is anonymous, says Max Fisher in his piece published on vox.com. 

The story is riven with internal contradictions and inconsistencies. It simply does not hold up to scrutiny. 

Read the full report here

Britain's Prince Harry today spoke out about his yearning for love and a family with children like his older brother, Prince William.

"Of course I would love to have kids right now but there's a process that one has to go through and tours like this are great fun. Hopefully I'm doing all right by myself," he said in an interview with Sky News during his ongoing tour of New Zealand.

"It would be great to have someone else next to me to share the pressure, but you know, time will come and whatever happens, happens," he added.

The royal, who was pushed down to fifth in line to Britain's throne by his new niece Princess Charlotte, is on a week-long tour of the Commonwealth nation before he returns to the UK. "There come times when you think now is the time to settle down, or now is not, whatever way it is, but I don't think you can force these things, it will happen when it's going to happen," the prince said.

The 30-year-old bachelor recently retired from the armed forces after completing a month-long attachment with the Australian defence force and will focus voluntary work in the coming months. He said he was looking forward to returning home to hold the new princess.

The White House is dismissing as "baseless" a controversial report alleging President Barack Obama's administration lied about the circumstances surrounding the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, CNN reports.

"There are too many inaccuracies and baseless assertions in this piece to fact check each one," White House National Security spokesman Ned Price said in a statement to reporters.

He took aim specifically at journalist Seymour Hersh's assertion that the administration collaborated with Pakistani officials to kill the Al Qaeda leader, saying that "the notion that the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden was anything but a unilateral US mission is patently false."

"As we said at the time, knowledge of this operation was confined to a very small circle of senior US officials. The president decided early on not to inform any other government, including the Pakistani government, which was not notified until after the raid had occurred," Price said.

"We had been and continue to be partners with Pakistan in our joint effort to destroy the Al Qaeda, but this was a US operation through and through."

It was the White House's first response to Hersh's stunning report, published this weekend in the London Review of Books, outlining what he describes as the true circumstances surrounding Laden's death.

Image: White House released a photo of President Barack Obama and his Cabinet inside the Situation Room, watching the Osama raid unfold.

The Supreme Court today told BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that it will hear him tomorrow on the issue of black money when the Special Investigation Team is also likely to file a fresh status report.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, said that it will take up the matter tomorrow at 4 pm.

The BJP leader, in his plea, has suggested some measures for bringing back black money. Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the SIT, headed by former apex court judge Justice M B Shah, to file a fresh status report by May 12 on the progress made by it on black money probe.

Prior to this, it had asked the SIT to consider suggestions of senior advocate Ram Jethmalani, who had filed a PIL in 2009 on the black money issue, on the way forward to bring the illegal money stashed in banks abroad.

The court had also said that the SIT, after considering the suggestions in accordance with law, would be sending "a copy of its report to that effect" in a sealed cover to the apex court.

The stars seem to be aligned for convicts...


All 10 convicts in the Satyam case including B Ramalinga Raju, granted bail by the MSJ court in Hyderabad. The court heard an application filed by Satyam Computers founder B Ramalinga Raju and nine others, seeking suspension of their sentence and fines imposed on them in the multi-crore rupee accounting fraud.


Raju, the kingpin of the scam, and nine other convicts, currently lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison, had filed the appeals and applications in the MSJ court on Monday, challenging their conviction, besides sentences and fines imposed by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (ACMM) in the over Rs 7,000-crore scandal that came to light in 2009, and enlarging them on bail.


On April 9, six years after the biggest accounting fraud shook the corporate world in India, Satyam chief B Ramalinga Raju and nine others were found guilty by a special court on charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating in the Rs 7,000 crore (Rs 70 billion) scam. The court sentenced Raju to seven years of imprisonment, television channels reported. He was also asked to pay a fine of Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million).

PM Modi calls and congratulates Jayalalithaa after she is acquitted in the disproportionate assets case. 

"I can only say, he's not in Pakistan," Pak High Commissioner Abdul Basit on being asked about Dawood's location. (Iske baare mein yahi keh sakta hun ki wo sahab Pak mein nhi hain, iss se zyada kya kahun.).


Home Minister Rajnath Singh Union told the Lok Sabha today that 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan and that India is determined to bring him back. "Even if we have to pursue Pakistan or build pressure, we will bring Dawood Ibrahim back," he said.


While making a statement in Lok Sabha, Singh launched an attack on Pakistan and said that the neighbouring country has failed to trace the location of underworld don.


Rajnath's statement comes after Minister of State for Home Haritbahai Chaudhary, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on May 5, had said that the extradition of Dawood would be initiated once his location is known. 

Also read: From 1996 to 2015: Twists and turns in Jayalalithaa case

O Paneerselvam likely to quit as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister tonight to pave way for boss Jayalalithaa. 

Meanwhile, the AIADMK took its celebrations over the acquittal of party chief J Jayalalithaa in a graft case on to its website. The normally sluggish website had a swift makeover with a green backdrop and animation fireworks, declaring "Amma is back'.


A beaming, Photoshopped and whitewashed Jayalalithaa adorns the homepage, while you can listen in to a a Tamil song welcoming Amma.


When you enter the website, a message in Tamil declares that 'sometimes evil overcomes justice, but justice finally prevails'  -- a reference to the Karnataka high court's acquittal of Jayalalithaa following her appeal against her conviction by a lower court last year for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to her known sources of income.

India still has one of the lowest divorce rates in the world, but marriage breakdowns are becoming more common. Most of those splitting up are members of its thriving, urban middle class whose lives have been transformed by the economic boom. This has led to a huge rise in the number of matrimonial services, some unscrupulous, targeting divorcees. Anasuya Basu, who was recently divorced, found out. Read

Fire breaks out on the 3rd floor of the Transport Bhawan in Delhi, five fire trucks dispatched. The building has been evacuated and the fire is under control now. No details as yet on what caused the fire, but the good news is that the situation is under control .


This comes in the backdrop of terrible fire in a four-storey under-repair building at Kalbadevi in South Mumbai, which collapsed four hours after a fire broke out on Saturday, killing two firemen. Eight persons, including a Chief Fire Officer and his deputy suffered severe burn injuries. Two firemen who were rescued from the debris were declared dead at GT Hospital.

Just in: Enforcement Directorate arrests two alleged Delhi-based hawala dealers in connection with the IPL-betting case and seizes Rs 25 lakh cash from them. 

CBDT puts on hold MAT assessments on FIIs and reopening of fresh cases following constitution of AP Shah panel to look into the issue.

Jyotsana Yagnik, the special judge who convicted and handed life terms to former Gujarat minister and BJP leader Maya Kodnani (pictured), former Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi and 30 others in the 2002 massacre of 97 Muslims in Naroda Patiya, has received at least 22 threat letters and "blank phone calls' at her home since the August 2012 verdict.  Read the full report here.

Two CRPF personnel, including an officer, were killed in a militant attack in Sangam area of Anantnag district on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway today, police said.


Militants attacked a CRPF picket at Hatmulla in Sangam area, around 40 km from Srinagar, this afternoon, a police officer said. "Two CRPF personnel were martyred in the militant attack," he said.


The deceased have been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Omkar Singh and Constable Tilak Raj, he added. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched an operation to track down the militants, the officer said, adding, further details of the incident are awaited.

Mukhtar Ahmad reports from Srinagar: Two Central reserve Police Force jawans were killed when militants ambushed a road opening party near Sangam on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway this afternoon.

An argument with a traffic cop at Delhi's posh Golf Links took an ugly turn when a policeman hit a woman with a brick. Sketchy reports say the woman was travelling with her daughters when the incident occurred.  The victim claims the cop asked her for a bribe which she refused after which an altercation took place and he attacked her.

The woman said the policeman attacked her with a stone. "My hand and back are hurt. My kids were with me, I didn't give him (traffic cop) money that is why he thrashed me," the victim said.

Delhi CP, BS Bassi, said the cop has been arrested. "The head constable has been arrested. I have ordered the inquiry and a criminal case has been registered."

Details awaited. 

Video grab of the cop holding the brick aloft to hit the woman.

Jaya verdict celebrations:

In Madurai: Poojas and homams were performed in many temples praying for the acquittal of Jayalithaa in the case. At the Meenakshi Amman temple at least 300 special poojas were performed in a week for Jayalalithaa.  AIADMK workers burst crackers and distributed sweets after the acquittal.


In Coimbatore AIADMK workers were dancing in front of the party office. They also burst firecrackers and distributed sweets and prasad. 

A Jayalalithaa supporter bathes her picture in milk. Sigh. 

Subramanian Swamy @Swamy39 tweeted: JJ was convicted by Session Court it was Kannadiga bias. She is now acquitted by KHC so vindication and justice. If SC convicts her then?

Jayalalithaa's supporter bathes her poster with milk.

Jayalalithaa's disqualification as MLA stands cancelled. Speaking to reporters outside the Karnataka High Court court, B Kumar, senior counsel for Jayalalithaa said the prosecution case made by the "then DMK government now stands dismissed. The consequence of this pronouncement is that she is entitled to resume the office of Chief Minister," a beaming Kumar said.

Moments after she was acquitted, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa began consultations with senior party functionaries, including incumbent Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, over her party's next move, at her residence here. The meeting which is being attended by top party functionaries is currently on at "Veda Nilayam" bungalow at Poes Garden here.


A decision is set to be taken on when Jayalalithaa would be formally elected as leader of the legislature party, and later as chief minister, partymen said.


Partymen and supporters, meanhwile, have been continuously pouring in at the Poes Garden shouting slogans in praise of Jayalalithaa and seeking her immediate return as chief minister. A formal announcement from AIADMK is expected soon.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and four other AAP leaders, accused of violating prohibitory orders here and obstructing public servants in discharge of their duty during an agitation, were today directed to appear before a Delhi court on May 15.

With the Karnataka High Court acquitting his arch rival and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa in a graft case, DMK President M Karunanidhi today said this was "not the final verdict." "What has been pronounced today is not the final verdict. I would like to remind one and all about Mahatma Gandhi's saying there is a court above all courts and that is conscience," he said in a statement.

Jayalalithaa: I recall with sorrow the demise of 233 party cadres who lost their lives after a special court delivered it's verdict on my sentence. The DMK didn't win electorally so they tried to put an end to my career through other ways, finally justice has prevailed. I thank the people of Tamil Nadu for reposing faith in me and I thank God for the gift of people's love.

Jaya: Verdict has helped me emerge like gold refined by fire. The judgment has removed the slander cast on me. This is a defeat for those who conspired to defame and malign me. I don't take the verdict as a personal victory; it's the victory of truth and the victory of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa, who is set to take over as Tamil Nadu CM reacts to her acquittal. "I stand vindicated. The High Court verdict has given me immense satisfaction and relief. The verdict has removed the aspersions cast on me and verdict shows that I have not done anything wrong."


Jayalalithaa was today acquitted by the Karnataka HC in the DA case that came as a huge relief to the AIADMK chief that will enable her stage a political comeback and return to the chief minister's post.

Usually, the Pakistan Army does not play the blame game directly. But in a departure from practice, a formal meeting of Pakistani corps commanders in Rawalpindi on May 5 blamed India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), for "whipping up" terrorism in Pakistan.

Read

Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to visit Afghanistan on May 12. Sharif has said relations with Afghanistan have undergone a "qualitative change", especially the bilateral security ties, since the new government in Kabul took over last year.

ICICI Bank's non-executive chairman KV Kamath is set to be the chief of BRICS Development Bank, after the government cleared his name for the position on Monday. 

"I don't [see myself as prime minister], but anything is possible in politics." Jayalalithaa's 1999 interview to Rediff.com. Read

Thousands throng the half-kilometer stretch leading to Jaya's bungalow in Chennai's post Poes Garden localilty, Jayalalithaa met the Tamil Nadu chief minister and other cabinet ministers at her house for a celebratory party minutes after the verdict.

The AIADMK is likely to go in for a snap poll in November, at least six months before the schedule. However, there is no formal confirmation of the same.

Jayalalithaa will address the media after 2 pm.

Subramanian Swamy, the first petitioner in the case against Jayalalithaa, says Jaya has now earned the right to be sworn again as the CM. It's not an unusual thing (acquittal). When you are in a democratic system then such twists and turns are expected.

In 1989, J Jayalalitha takes oath as an MLA in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, while Chief Minister M Karunanidhi looks on. She was headling the rival faction of the AIADMK in 1989 and was the leader of the opposition in the TN Assembly.

N Satya Murthy, political analyst and Rediff.com columnist says that there is no doubt that J Jayalalithaa will return as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The only question is when she will takeover. Today and tomorrow are Ashtami and Navami, both inauspicious days, which means it may be any time after that.

Jaya's assets include a 1000-acre estate in the Nilgiris, another 1000 acres in Tirunelveli, 30 kilograms of gold, 12,000 sarees.

ONLY Karnataka govt can challenge the verdict in the SC. Dr Swamy has said that he will appeal the case. He can appeal to the court to allow him to appeal. The complainant has no locus to file, but he can approach the High Court bench and plead that he be allowed to appeal. The DMK can also appeal the case on the same grounds.


For now, all charges against Jayalalithaa stand cancelled.

Meanwhile, in Parliament today, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Union said that 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan and that India is determined to bring him back. "Even if we have to pursue Pakistan or build pressure, we will bring Dawood Ibrahim back," he said.

While making a statement in Lok Sabha, Singh launched an attack on Pakistan and said that the neighbouring country has failed to trace the location of underworld don.


Rajnath's statement comes after Minister of State for Home Haritbahai Chaudhary, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on May 5, had said that the extradition of Dawood would be initiated once his location is known.

BV Acharya, Special Public Prosecutor, in the case says the prosecution has been denied adequate opportunity to put forth the case. The prosecution has been denied opportunity to have oral arguments. But we don't think there is any ground for appeal. 

AIADMK MPs breakdown after hearing about Jaya's acquittal. Those are tears of joy, in case you are wondering.  

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who is the one of the two petitioners in the DA case against Jayalalithaa says he is shocked and surprised at the acquittal. "I will appeal against the verdict," he said. Swamy was the first to move a Chennai court against Jayalalithaa accusing her of amassing disproportionate wealth.

For the AIADMK, winning the Srirangam by-election without Jayalalithaa campaigning for it, and having Panneerselvam as chief minister, is saying a lot in its favour. But again, a year and more is a long time in electoral politics in the country, and more so in Tamil Nadu, says N Sathiya Moorthy.  Read his column published in February.

Jaya's lawyer says the case was nothing but political vendetta against her. TN CM O Panneerselvam arrives at Jaya's residence. Jaya's acquittal is as much of a relief to him since he has been derisively called a benami chief minister by his rivals, is taunted and is the butt of jokes on social media and messaging apps.

Jayalalithaa to reclaim her position has TN CM immeditaely. O Pannerselvam, who took over as CM when she was sentenced will now resign. Jaya will re-enter the TN Assembly as an ML through a by-poll.  

AIADMK says, "It always knew Amma was innocent. God is there. She is the only leader in the world. It's a new political career for Amma."

The trial court had sentenced her to four years in jail and fined her Rs 100 crore. She spent three weeks in prison, before she was given bail by the Supreme Court, which also ordered that the case be decided by the High Court expeditiously.

AIADMK MPS in parliament are distributing sweets after Jaya's acquittal. In Chennai, celebrations outside Jayalalithaa's residence, supporters dance and burst crackers. Celebrations also inside Courtroom 14 after charges against Jayalalithaa are dropped. The court has also acquitted co-accused, N Sasikalaa, J Elavarasi and V N Sudhagaran. 

Lawyers outside the Karnataka HC said Justice Kumaraswamy announced the vedict in 10 seconds of entering the court. Now that Amma is acquitted,  Panneerselvam, chief minister-in-waiting of Tamil Nadu, will faithfully bow out and keep his finance portfolio.

AIADMK supporters rejoice outside the party office; huge disappointment for the DMK. Celebrations outside her Poes Road residence in Chennai. Jubilant lawyers outside the Karnataka HC say the case was false and truth has prevailed.

The Karnataka HC overturns the order by the trial court. This means she can now return as Tamil Nadu CM.

Karnataka HC acquits J Jayalalithaa and sets aside all convictions 

DMK leaders Stalin, A Raja gather at Karunanidhi's house ahead of the verdict. 

Special prayers were held in Coimbatore on Monday ahead of pronouncement of Karnataka High Court's verdict on former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's appeal against her conviction in the disproportionate assets (DA) case that will have a bearing on her political future.


Supporters also gathered outside the former chief minister's residence, raising slogans that read 'long live Amma.'


It will be a high-stake test as the judicial outcome could swing the political fortunes either way for the ruling AIADMK supremo and alter the political course in Tamil Nadu which will go to assembly polls in about a year. The imposition of Section 144 will prohibit any gathering in a radius of one kilometre around the High Court.

If Jayalalithaa is acquitted today, she can return as Tamil Nadu chief minister. However, if her conviction is upheld, she will be sent to jail - at least till she seeks and gets relief from the Supreme Court - and will continue to be disqualified from contesting elections. 

The AIADMK leader's prosecution was marked by many twists and turns over the years as the accused repeatedly sought legal remedy for various issues. 

The Delhi police personnel will soon be seen in a new avatar. The men-in-khaki are set to get a new uniform and caps, besides better and upgraded bulletproof jackets and weapons that they carry while patrolling the city. 

The government is set to bring the GST bill before the Rajya Sabha today which aimed at reforming of India's indirect tax regime. The Lok Sabha has already passed a vital legislation to introduce the bill, rejecting the demand of the opposition for sending it to the Standing Committee. Being a Constitution Amendment Bill, it was passed by two thirds majority of the members present and voting.

A day after a driver of the Delhi Transport Corporation was beaten to death, allegedly by a biker in a case of road rage, drivers of the state-run bus service have called a strike, causing problems for thousands of commuters and schoolchildren. 

A stretch of the Agra-Lucknow expressway in Uttar Pradesh is set to become a road runway for combat jets of the Indian Air Force, a first for military aviation in the country. A delegation of officers from Air Force Station Bakshi Ka Talab in Lucknow will meet Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today to seal a deal on the issue, an officer in the CM's secretariat said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron ruled out giving Scotland another independence referendum despite spectacular gains by Scottish nationalists in a UK-wide election, saying Scots had "emphatically" rejected a breakaway only last year. 

Information provided by India on the location of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim as well as details of passports being used by him does not exist in the immigration records of Pakistan, Islamabad's Interpol division have told their counterparts in New Delhi, indicating that the neighbouring country has not put Dawood and his family members on a watchlist, which would have resulted in them being detained at ports and airports. 

"We are confident that Amma will become CM of Tamil Nadu shortly,we hope everything goes fine," says Prasad, an AIADMK supporter, who is standing outside Jayalalithaa's house ahead of the HC declaring the verdict in her DA case. 

The Jalandhar police booked Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, for his alleged controversial remarks against freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The case was registered against Gandhi under Section 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) of the IPC after a complaint by the chairman of an NGO, Jan Jagriti Manch, Kishan Lal Sharma.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa faces a crucial judicial test today with the Karnataka high court set to pronounce its verdict on her appeal against her conviction in the DA case that will have a bearing on her political future.