The imam of the mosque in the northern French town where a church was attacked today said he was "stunned" by the murder of the local priest, who he described as a friend.             

A Delhi court on Tuesday dismissed bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested for allegedly threatening a woman. Khan has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

A woman had alleged that Khan tried to mow her down after she visited his residence to raise the issue of power cuts. He was sent to one-day police custody on Sunday.


Khan, also the chairman of the Delhi Waqf board, was first detained for questioning and then arrested, a day after he alleged in a press conference that the woman was 'pressurised' by police into giving a false statement against him.

According to police, on July 22, the woman had recorded her statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC.

A British convert to Islam, dubbed 'Jihadi Jack' after travelling to Syria, has denied joining the Islamic State terror group. Jack Letts told a UK news channel that he had fled his home in Oxford to study in Syria but did not regret the move.

"I came here searching for the truth, and people of the truth, and I don't regret that I came," he told Channel 4 News. Asked if he is an IS fighter, he said: "Currently I'm not. I'm not and nor do I agree with lot of what they follow."

In a separate online statement in Arabic, which he said should be remembered as his final words if he is killed, he wrote: 'I oppose so-called Islamic State, but that doesn't mean I am with you, the dirty non-Muslims.'

Speaking from somewhere in Syria, Letts admitted to missing home comforts like 'kebabs and Krispy Kreme doughnuts' but said he knows he would not be welcome back in the UK.

His parents, John Letts and Sally Lane, are awaiting trial after being charged with terrorism offences relating to allegedly sending money to their son.

They have denied the charges of funding terrorism and are due to stand trial in January 2017.

Jack said in an online statement he 'hated his parents for the sake of Allah' because they are non-believers, and called on them to convert.

"They reject the religion of truth, so I reject them. I hate the kuffaar (non-believers), and am free from them. Die in your rage," he said.

Despite narrowly surviving an air strike with just a 'scratch', the 20-year-old said he is not afraid of death.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the constitution of a seven-member Expert Committee for exploring possible alternatives to pellet guns as 'non-lethal' weapons.

The Expert Committee will be under the chairmanship of T V S N Prasad, joint aecretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and will submit its report within two months.

The pellet guns were used to quell protests in Kashmir and were criticised of late for causing grievous injuries, mostly severe eye injuries, to young protestors and children. There were also cases of people, including children, who were not protesting but hit by pellet guns and lost eyesight.

The Director General of Central Reserved Police Force had yesterday regretted the injuries caused by pellet guns, but said that it was the 'least-lethal' mob-control option available to security forces.

Market benchmark Sensex broke below the 28,000-mark today after sliding 119 points as investors booked profits in recent winners amid caution ahead of key meetings of central banks in the US and Japan.

The broader NSE Nifty also failed to maintain the key 8,600-level. Shares of the country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki plunged 1.44 per cent to Rs 4,485.25 despite reporting a 23 per cent jump in profit for June quarter to Rs 1,486.2 crore.

Drug major Dr Reddy's Laboratories plummeted 4.37 per cent to Rs 3,322.85 after its consolidated net profit declined by 80 per cent to Rs 126.3 crore for the June quarter. Offloading of positions by participants on upcoming July derivatives expiry on Thursday also influenced sentiment.

At least two Pakistani soldiers were killed today after four bike-borne unidentified gunmen attacked their vehicle in one of the busiest commercial areas in the country's largest city.


According to initial details, four gunmen on two motorcycles opened fire on a military vehicle near the Parking plaza in Saddar close to the congested Empress market area.


Karachi police chief Mushtaq Mahar told reporters that the two security personnel were badly wounded in the firing and rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.


Mahar said that four men on two motorcycles had intercepted the vehicle as it slowed down to take a sharp turn. Television channels reported that the attack left the driver of the vehicle seriously wounded who lost control of the vehicle which hit a wall. The gunmen managed to flee from the scene.

"When my own party has put me out to graze, what greener pastures do I look for?" So writes former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit whose mother Sheila Dikshit, three term Delhi chief minister, is now the Congress face for Uttar Pradesh.

Dikshit's gutsy and soulful piece is a pointer to the sharp divide ripping the Congress party from within.Dikshit in his nuanced piece made the important point that a section of the Congress "is too busy capturing the Congress, while the 'other side' captures India and its mindset".  Read more

Update on the shooting of a doctor in Germany. AFP says no sign of terror attack in Berlin hospital shooting, says police.


A doctor has died after being shot by a patient at a hospital in Berlin this afternoon.The doctor's colleagues tried to save his life after the shooting at the University Hospital in Steglitz, but police in Germany have said that he has now passed away.

According to preliminary information, a patient at the hospital shot a doctor and then killed himself, a spokesman said.


The spokeswoman added that there was no indication this was a terror attack.

Update on the attack in Germany: A shooter has allegedly shot himself after shooting a doctor inside the University Hospital Steglitz.


It is not yet known whether the doctor, who was critically injured, has survived the shooting.


Charit is one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe, based in the centre of the German capital.


The attack comes less than 48 hours after Syrian refugee Mohammad Daleel blew himself up in the German town of Ansbach, injuring 15 outside a wine bar after being rejected from a music festival in the town.

Earlier on Sunday another Syrian refugee killed a pregnant woman and injured another with a machete in the town of Reutlingen near Stuttgart.

Representational image.

Updates at this moment: German media reports a doctor has been shot at and a gunman has shot himself at a clinic in Berlin. The shooting took place at 11:00 am (Germany time) in the Steglitz district, located in the southwest region of the city.


French President Francois Hollande says the two assailants in church attack claimed allegiance to Islamic State, reports Reuters.

n 86-year-old priest had his throat slit by two knifemen who cut his throat after bursting into a French church and taking nuns and worshippers hostage before being shot dead by police.

Five people, including the priest, two nuns and two parishioners were held by the assailants who raided the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy on Tuesday.

Image: Police and rescue workers at the scene after two assailants took five people hostage in the church at Saint-Etienne-du -Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy. Photograph: Steve Bonet/Reuters

Eminent diplomat Arundhati Ghose, who was India's ambassador to the UN and played a decisive role in India's negotiations on Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), passed away late on Tuesday night at the age of 76. She was suffering from cancer and breathed her last at around 12:30 am at her residence in Palam Vihar in West Delhi, a family member said.During her illustrious career, Ghose had served in a number of positions including in Indian Missions in Austria, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, South Korea and Egypt. She was also the first Indian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.

Ghose was head of Indian delegation to the conference on the CTBT in Geneva in 1996 and she is hailed for strongly outlining India's position in opposing the treaty.

A FIR has been filed against Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal for revealing identity of Burari rape victim. The 14-year-old Dalit rape victim who was repeatedly sexually assaulted and was forced to drink a corrosive substance, died at a hospital in New Delhi on Sunday. 

Violent crime is on the rise so far this year in major cities across the US compared to the number of homicides, rapes, robberies, assaults and shootings that occurred in the same cities by this point in 2015, according to a new report. 

Former Delhi principal secretary Rajendra Kumar granted bail in corruption case.

A new women's group is emerging in Parliament. Young women MPs have been meeting every day in the Central Hall of Parliament. Dimple Yadav wife (UP CM Akhilesh Yadav's wife), Misa Bharti (Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter)  lunch together every day. Misa does not socialise with other MPs like Kanimozhi, Supriya Sule, Harsimrat  Badal, Poonam Mahajan or Meenakshi Lekhi, since they speak in English, we are told.  

BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi has been bereaved. Her  dog died at the age of 13 and Lekhi observed three days mourning and was absent from Parliament. As any one lucky enough to have been loved by an animal can vouch, it's never easy saying goodbye. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee entered the Central Hall of Parliament today flanked by her MPs.

She entered like a queen, walking ahead of the entourage and went to her usual corner seat in the last row of Central Hall.

Almost immediately 50-60 journalists and 40 MPs surrounded her and jostled to hear her.

She began by talking about GST - WB finance minster Amit Mitra meeting union finance minister Arun Jaitley.


She also accused Congress of stalling developmental bills and for more than one hour held court at Central Hall.

There are 4-5 "small" leads with regard to the AN-32 aircraft of the IAF which went missing four days back with 29 people on board, the government told the Rajya Sabha as it faced questions over the issue.

The Ministry of Defence also tweeted saying, "Contrary to the report appearing in some TV channels, it is informed that no positive clues have been found till now."


A TV channel had reported that orange drums had been seen in the area where the plane is suspected to have gone down, which is not true.


During the Question Hour, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was asked about the status of the plane which disappeared during a flight from Tambaram airbase in Tamil Nadu to Port Blair on Friday last.


"There are 4-5 small leads and attempts are being made to verify them," he said, adding, however, that there has been no confirmed finding yet.


Asserting that the government had spared no efforts in locating the plane, Parrikar said the government had used satellite imagery and deployed 30 ships and submarines for the purpose.


Responding to questions about quality of AN-32, he said it is one of the safest aircraft and there have been reports of only two accidents in the last ten years. There have been some minor snags at times, he said.


Parrikar was also asked if the government was in talks with the US for conducting joint naval patrols in the South China sea over which China has laid a claim. He replied that there have been no such talks.

Image: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar oversees the search operation for the missing IAF AN-32 on Saturday.

Emirates flight from Dubai to Maldives with 309 passengers onboard, makes emergency landing in Mumbai. More details awaited.

French media reporting #Normandy church hostage-takers killed priest before being shot in police raid.

The 4-day visit to China by the US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, despite the brouhaha over the arbitration tribunal award on South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines, is a diplomatic signal by Washington that life moves on. Read MK Bhadrakumar's blog here.

That was quick! Both the assailants who took people hostage in a church in Normandy have been neutralised. The two knife-wielding men were killed, it's unclear if any of the hostages were harmed. 

Just in: Two men with knives take several people hostage in a church in Normandy in France. At least four to six people are being held by the assailants in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray. Details awaited.


File picture of people being evacuated to safety during the terror attack in Nice last week.

Just in: Manipur's 'Iron Lady' Irom Sharmila to break her 16-year fast on August 9 and contest elections in Manipur, reports News18.

Manipuri rights activist Irom Sharmila has been fasting so that the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is scrapped.

In 2014, the Aam Aadmi Party had approached the activist to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, but she had refused.

A P J Abdul Kalam had planned a "big surprise party" for his elder brother who would turn 100 this November by gathering all the family members at Rameswaram, putting up banners saying '100' and playing Tamil songs but destiny had other ideas.


Sixteen years older, A P J Maracayer was like a father figure to Kalam and counselled him on several important decisions and was also his spiritual guide. But as fate would have it, seven weeks after this planning session Kalam passed away on July 27 last year.


Kalam's aide Srijan Pal Singh presents a tribute to the late President on his first death anniversary in the form of a book "What Can I Give?: Life Lessons from My Teacher, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam."


The book, published by Penguin Random House, brings alive rare personal and unheard-of anecdotes as well as unseen pictures from Kalam's life. Taking Kalam's vision ahead, Singh has decided to donate all the royalties from the book to the charitable cause of providing free education to underprivileged children through an initiative called The Kalam Library Project.


On the grand plans made by Kalam for his brother's 100th birthday celebrations, Singh writes, "In 2015, in the month of May, Kalam's brother dropped by for a visit. It was a special moment as Janaab A P J Maracayer was about to turn 99 in a few months. His birthday was on the 5th of November. The day his brother was leaving for Rameswaram, Kalam met him over dinner. He said to me later, 'You fellow, listen. My brother will turn 99 years old in November. Tell me, now by the end of this year, how many orbits will he have completed around the sun?'

"This was the question he always asked on people's birthdays. A true rocket engineer, he loved equating years to the number of orbits the earth had made around the sun and the number of orbits the moon had made around the earth. I was familiar with this question by now."

"Hundredth orbit!" Singh replied.

Ahead of the first death anniversary of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on July 27, the temple town of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, his hometown where he was buried, is already dotted with posters and banners commemorating the day. Rediff.coms A Ganesh Nadar, who is in Rameswaram, sent us this photograph.

India has lost the arbitration case between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Devas in the international tribunal and may face up to $1 billion in damages.

ISRO's commercial arm Antrix had cancelled a deal involving use of two satellites and a spectrum after which Devas Multimedia filed the case against the former.

According to the deal, signed when G Madhavan Nair was at the helm of affairs in the Department of Space, Antrix was to provide 70 MHz of the scarce S-Band space segment to Devas for its digital multimedia services.

This was to be done by leasing 90% of the transponders in satellites GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A that are proposed to be launched by ISRO. Devas, in turn, was to pay Antrix a total of $300 million over 12 years.

After reports about the possible revenue loss, the then Manmohan Singh-led government had in 2011 said the project was already under review and action has been initiated for termination of the contract.

Olympic medal winning wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt today joined the chorus of support for Narsingh Yadav, caught in a dope scandal, saying that the matter should be investigated throughly.

Narsingh's dope test came positive barely 10 days before the start of the Olympics and he cried foul, saying it was a conspiracy against him.

"Khusti ke liye bht dukhi hun. Iski janch honi bht zaruri hai. Mujhe vishwas hai narsingh aesa nai kar sakta (I am very sad about the state of wrestling. This matter should be investigated. I am sure that Narsingh cannot do something like this)," Yogeshwar wrote on his twitter handle.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) also strongly put its weight behind the 26-year-old grappler, insisting that it was a clear case of sabotage. WFI also urged with the Sports Ministry and top officials in the government to help Narsingh's case.

Narsingh will get a final chance to prove his innocence when he faces the NADA disciplinary committee tomorrow.

Loved every word of the Obamas speeches over the years? Here's the woman who wrote them. Meet Sarah Hurwitz.

The arrest of a terrorist in Kupawara in Jammu and Kashmir is a "big success" for security forces as it brings in open the game plan of Pakistan, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today said.

"Catching a terrorist alive is a big success as it brings in open the game plan of Pakistan. The arrest of terrorist in Kupwara is a big achievement of security forces," he said.

Four militants were today killed and another apprehended by security forces during an encounter in Naugam sector near the LoC in Kupwara district of Kashmir, an army official said in Srinagar. He said all the militants were foreign nationals.

File picture

Flipkart-owned Myntra today said it has acquired Jabong from Global Fashion Group for an undisclosed amount, a move that will mark further consolidation in India's booming e-commerce industry.

Myntra, which itself was acquired by Flipkart in 2014 in an estimated Rs 2,000 crore deal, will have access to a combined base of 15 million monthly active users. No financial details were disclosed.


"The acquisition of Jabong further strengthens Flipkart Group's position as the undisputed leader in Fashion and Lifestyle segment in India. Jabong is among India's major fashion multi-brand e-store with more than 1,500 on-trend international high-street brands, sports labels, Indian ethnic and designer labels and over 1,50,000 styles from over a thousand sellers," Myntra said in a statement. No official statement was available from Jabong.

Some of global brands that will be exclusive to both the platforms include Dorothy Perkins, Topshop, Tom Tailor, G Raw Star, Bugatti Shoes, The North Face, Forever 21, Swarovski, Timberland and Lacoste.

Michelle Obama, the first black first lady in American history, gave a 15-minute address to the Democratic national convention that drew cheers, left some delegates openly weeping and did more than any governor or congressman to unite and fire up the party for November's presidential election. It also added a chapter to the dynastic saga of the Obamas and the Clintons, coming four years after Bill Clinton gave an extraordinary speech to help Barack Obama get re-elected.

The former president was in the audience on Monday -- caught on camera mouthing the word "wow' as Michelle Obama delivered one of the most passionate speeches of election year. On Twitter, President Obama wrote: "Incredible speech by an incredible woman."

Here's what she said. Read

Huge blast heard near Somalia's Mogadishu airport, reports Reuters.

Just in: The Supreme Court refuses to lift the ban on Jallikattu, likening the bull-racing sport to child marriage and criticises proponents who say it is a part of  Tamil Nadu tradition.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea against the centre's notification on Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu. The Animal Welfare Board of India had challenged a notification issued by the Centre lifting the ban on Jallikattu (bull fighting).


Justice Misra hearing the plea said, "Child marriage too is an age old tradition. Does that make it legal? In earlier times child marriage was common. Does that justify its practise."

The matter has now been posted for final disposal on August 23.


The four-year-old ban on holding of Jallikattu was lifted on January 8 by the Centre vide a notification. The notification had been criticised by animal rights' activists. The notification read :"Central Government, hereby specifies that following animals shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals with effect from the date of publication of this notification, namely bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers, lions and bulls. Provided that bulls may be continued to be exhibited or trained as a performing animal, at events such as Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu and bullock cart races in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat in the manner by customs of any community or practiced traditionally."

SC likens bull-racing sport Jallikattu to child marriage, criticises proponents of Jallikattu who say it is a part of TN tradition.

Kabali hit the screens on July 22 and is smashing box-office records with its collection. Kabali earned Rs 48.95 crore on its first day of release in India, beating Salman Khan's Sultan by a huge margin.

Right from the 4am show to the surge ticket pricing, the world witnessed the invincible superstar that Rajinikanth is. On the third day of its release, Kabali is said to have earned Rs 35 crore in India.

Curfew was today lifted from all parts of Kashmir, except Anantnag town, after 17 days of unrest in the Valley in which 47 persons were killed and 5500 others injured in clashes following killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.


"Curfew has been lifted from all parts of Kashmir except Anantnag town, today," a police official said. The official said there is no curfew or restrictions on the movement of the people in the district.


"However, in other parts of the Valley, restrictions on assembly of four or more people will continue to maintain law and order," the official said. Curfew was imposed across Kashmir on July 9, a day after killing of Wani, as a precautionary measure.


However, violent clashes between protestors and security forces saw 47 persons including two policemen killed while 5500 others were injured. Mobile telephony, mobile Internet services and train services remained suspended for 18th day while schools, colleges and other educational institutions also remained closed due to a strike called by the separatist groups. The separatist camp, which is spearheading the protests against civilian killings, has already announced a relaxation in the strike from 2 PM onwards today.

However, they have called for three days of shutdown from tomorrow to July 29. The separatist groups have also called for a march to Kulgam tomorrow.

The search and rescue operation for the missing AN 32 aircraft entered its fifth day today even as hopes of finding alive the 29 defence personnel on board receded as all leads till now have turned out to be bad.


"A lot of resources are in place. All leads till now have turned out to be bad. We are trying to concentrate on some links or sound which has emitted from some area. Trying to find out, that needs to be ascertained but there were some false leads but false leads of similar type," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.


He said that a state of art ice-class research vessel, Sagar Nidhi, of the National Institute of Ocean Technology has been called for from Mauritius.


"That will reach but any deep vessel to operate, it will need specific area. "Because deep vessels which go inside cannot go and search per se unless you have some definite small area. So last time (Doriner crash), submarine had identified the location and then we had send it (deep sea vessel of Reliance). It is a secondary operation after initial identification," Parrikar said.

Sagar Nidhi comes with Dynamic Positioning System which keeps its position stable, which is required for oceanographic research.

Just in: Supreme Court refuses to lift ban on Jallikattu.

India loses major arbitration case in international tribunal involving space agency ISRO, may face up to $1 bn in damages. Details awaited.

CBI special court convicts Rathi Steel and Power Ltd and three promoters for criminal conspiracy and cheating in connection with the muti-crore coal scam.

Arundhati Ghose, former diplomat and Ambassador, dies at 76.

Four terrorists killed; one apprehended in an operation near LoC in Naugam sector of Kashmir, says Army.

Gujarati writer Amrut Makwana to return the Gujarat government's 'Daasi Jeevan Shreshtha Dalit Shahityakriti' literary award over Una violence against Dalits.

Journalist and author of 'Curfewed Night' Basharat Peer, in a recent column for The New York Times, wrote of the terrible situation in Kashmir. 

The FBI on Monday confirmed they are investigating a hack into the Democratic National Committee, the first acknowledgment from the agency that they are probing the incident, which US officials suspect came from a Russian cyber attack.

India asks its diplomats to withdraw kids from Pakistani schools