US President Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency in Florida as Hurricane Matthew strengthened and headed for the US Southeast, the White House said on Thursday.

Hurricane Matthew has claimed at least 108 lives in Haiti, Interior Minister Francois Anick Joseph said today, two days after the monster storm ripped through the poorest country in the Americas.

Taking carrier rivalry to a new level, the owner of GoAir airlines moved the Bombay high court seeking direction to rival Interglobe Aviation Ltd to remove the prefix 'go' from their airline's web address 'goindigo.in' but the hearing also saw some lighter moments. 

Leading global sandwich chain Subway today said it has opened an outlet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

Whatever the government puts in public domain is determined by national security, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday, about providing video evidence of the surgical strikes.   

Thousands of residents of Bishahra village in Dadri sat in dharna on Thursday demanding the immediate release of all the 17 accused who were arrested on charges of killing Mohammed Akhlaq.


Ravi Sisodia, 22, of the accused in the infamous Dadri lynching case died on Tuesday of kidney and respiratory failure at a hospital in Noida. He was rushed to Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Hospital from the district hospital in Noida in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after suffering "kidney failure".


"He was brought here in a very bad condition, with kidney failure and high blood sugar level, around 12 noon. He died around 7 PM of kidney and respiratory failure," Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital, Dr J C Passey said yesterday.


Sisodia's casket was draped with the national flag and he was hailed as a "martyr' by the villagers who alleged that he was killed by the jail staff.


His family members have maintained that Sisodia was "perfectly fine', and had no history of kidney disease. However, on September 30 the family had submitted an application in court that Sisodia was suffering from chikungunya and he be transferred to Gautam Buddh Nagar district hospital for better treatment.


VHP leaders like Sadhvi Prachi and members of cow vigilante groups are present in the village.

In Dadri's Bishada village, Mohammed Akhlaq (51) was dragged out of his house and killed by a mob in September last year on suspicion of eating beef, triggering communal tension in the region.


Image: The body of Ravi Sisodia awaits cremation in Dadri village. The villagers have demanded a compensation of Rs 1 crore, say reports.

The BJP-AAP war of words on cross-LOC surgical strikes today intensified as the Arvind Kejriwal-led party accused Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar of "demeaning" the armed forces and threatened to file a police complaint against him.


Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra called Parrikar "Shah Rangeela", the Mughal Emperor who it is claimed indulged in merrymaking instead of paying attention to his empire, and said while a high alert has been issued across the country, the Defence Minister was busy "celebrating over the corpses of martyred soldiers".


It also lashed out Parrikar for his remarks comparing the army to Hanuman. On October 1, at an event in Dehradun, Parrikar had made a reference to the Ramayana in which the monkey god crossed an ocean in a single stride after he was reminded about his extraordinary powers by Jamwant.


"Indian troops were like Hanuman who did not quite know their prowess before the surgical strikes," Parrikar had said. Addressing a news conference, senior party leader Sanjay Singh said by giving such a statement, Parrikar was insulting the army which has time and again proved itself and did a remarkable job in the 1948, 1965, 1971 and Kargil war with Pakistan.


The AAP said it will approach the police to file a compliant against Parrikar in the matter.

Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association meets MNS leaders, appeals to allow release of completed films with Pakistani actors. 

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today questioned the "loyalty" of those who doubted the Army and sought proof of surgical strikes across the LoC even as he made it clear that there is no need to give out any video of the operation.


Describing the cross-LoC operation as "100 per cent perfect surgical strike", he said the borders of the country are secure under the Narendra Modi government.


However, he warned that one has to remain vigilant against "certain elements" who don't owe their loyalty to the country completely.


"No one had doubted bravery of our forces ever, but for the first time recently some people are doubting," he said, maintaining that he would not like to take names.


Highlighting the news report of CNN News18 in which a Pakistani police officer has admitted that surgical strikes did happen, Parrikar said, "There is now no more reason to release video or to give any proof."


Parrikar, who was speaking at a BJP organised public meeting, said that many ex-servicemen have shown willingness to fight on the border if required.


"Some ex-servicemen wrote to me and said that they are ready to fight on the border if need arises. I salute them," said the minister, adding, "Our nation carries the heart and courage to carry this task out." He also said that the forces and citizens will have to be vigilant against "frustrated" terrorists who will try and attack because of the shame they have been put to as a result of the surgical strikes.


File pic

The BCCI refuses to give an undertaking that it will comply with the Lodha recommendations. The Supreme Court reserves order on suspension of BCCI brass on hold till tomorrow.


Supreme Court earlier served an ultimatum to the BCCI saying it would pass orders if the cricketing board did not t follow the Lodha recommendations.


The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to examine the RM Lodha panel's plea to supersede office bearers of the BCCI with a panel of administrators.


"Writing that we have high regards for this court is fine but this respect had to be shown in your deeds," the top court told the BCCI.


The SC told the BCCI: Don't pay money to associations that don't fall in line and are not accepting the reforms. They have no right to demand money. Supreme Court gives directions to BCCI to stop all disbursements to state associations. The Supreme Court asks the BCCI to file an undertaking that it will comply with directions of the Lodha Committee.


Earlier in July, the top court had asked the cricket body to implement the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel.

Also read: Lodha effect: BCCI still 'confused' over payments issue

BCCI vs Lodha Panel hearing: The Supreme Court is back in session after the break. The Apex Court has asked the BCCI: "Will you implement the Lodha Committee recommendation or not?"


The Supreme Court Thursday agreed to examine the RM Lodha panels plea to supersede office bearers of the BCCI with a panel of administrators.

"Writing that we have high regards for this court is fine but this respect had to be shown in your deeds," the top court told the BCCI. Earlier in July, the top court had asked the cricket body to implement the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel.

Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali condemns Uri Attacks. Ali has become the first Pakistani artiste to go on record to condemn the Pakistan-sponsored Uri terror attack that left 19 Indian jawans dead. "I condemned the Uri terror attack, however, I don't know about others," Shafqat Amanat Ali said while speaking to TV channels yesterday.


On being asked about other Pakistani artistes for maintaining their silence on the issue, the Pakistani singer says, "They may not have condemned the Uri terror attack because of threat letter. As far as I know, Pakistani artistes' stand on terror is the same."


Last week, in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the surgical strikes carried out across the LoC, Shafqat's concert scheduled to be held in Bengauru on September 30 was called off by the organisers.

Members of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association met MNS office bearers to demand the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees. But MNS has refused to back out from their protest; MNS says that "now its not an MNS protest but the will of common Indians."

India Today reports that it received fresh inputs from intelligence sources on the manner in which the commando operation was conducted.


Following approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the DGMO activated the Special Forces units deployed under Northern Command.


The two units chosen for the task were the Udhampur-based 9 Para Commandos and the 4 Para Commandos.


The commanders were told to provide their best 'assault troops' for covert strikes on terrorist launch pads which were being monitored closely by the local intelligence units in the Uri, Poonch and Bhimbher sector along the Line of Control.


The Special Forces squad comprised four assault teams - a total of nearly 100 men. There were three assault teams and one weapons team with troopers who operate heavy weapons - including RPO7 flame throwers, PK machine guns captured from terrorists and rocket launchers.


The assault teams of 24 Special Forces operatives each from the 9 Para and the 4 Para were further divided into teams of 12 each. These small teams were pushed into PoK under the cover of darkness from four locations in Kel, Tutmari Gali, Nangi Tekri and Baalnoi post in Mendhar sector.


The artillery units in the area provided support and cover to the Special Forces by shelling Pakistani posts across the 250-kilometre arch besides diverting the attention of the Pakistan Army posts.


Around midnight, the troops began moving in to destroy identified launchpads which are used by terrorists as a waiting section. The commandos, in jungle camouflage, walked slowly using night-vision devices and night sights on their Israeli Tavor rifles.

They don't make them like this anymore. Rishi Kapoor shares this vintage photograph of Vinod Khanna who turns 70 today. 

Kashmir is a "money making machine" for the Pakistani Army which wants to maintain status quo in the Valley, a prominent activist from Gilgit Baltistan has said and quipped that "a thief" in Gilgit cannot be a friend in Jammu and Kashmir.


"Pakistan has proxies in Indian Kashmir with explosives and other things," alleged Senge Sering, the Director of the Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress, said.


"Every time the money dries, you show up with blackmail, Russia talk, China talk. I request US to get out of this vicious cycle. Pakistan is not good for any country and it has not done good for the United States," he said.


"You (Pakistan) occupies one third of Kashmir. An occupier cannot be a friend of Kashmir on the other side. You have been exploiting resources in Gilgit Baltistan, without paying royalty or compensation. I call you a thief in Gilgit Baltistan. A thief in Gilgit Baltistan cannot be a fried in Jammu and Kashmir," he alleged.


Kashmir, he alleged, is a "money making machine" for the Pakistani Army, which wants to maintain a status quo in Kashmir. Pakistan, which calls for implementation of the UN Security Council resolution of a plebiscite, is not fulfilling its first perquisite, which is that Pakistan should vacate the area and hand it over to India.


"The double talk that you have been doing in Afghanistan, Kashmir and the US needs to be exposed," Sering alleged. Such remarks from Sering and several other Pakistani expats came during an interaction of two Special Envoy of Prime Minister on Kashmir -- Mushahid Hussain Syed and Shazra Mansab '" at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council, a top American think-tank.

The Goa government will ban liquor consumption at a few spots like religious places with the state Excise Department likely to implement the ban from next month, officials said today. The government's move comes as part of its efforts to project the state as a "family tourist destination".

Expelled RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav who got bail in a rape case, meets Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna

The Handwara encounter is over; a huge cache of arms and ammunition have been recovered. Maps, GPS and radio sets and food items and medicines with Pakistan markings have also been recovered.


Three terrorists, who attacked an Army camp in J-K's Handwara early this morning, have been killed. It was a Fidayeen attack on 30 Rashtriya Rifles camp in Langate and all terrorists came in army combat dress.


The Army foiled 3 infiltration bids at LoC and killed the terrorists in a gunfight. Two Army jawans have reportedly been injured in the attack, but no casualties reported so far. Massive search operations are going on.


Image: The arms recovered from the three terrorists who were killed in the Handwara encounter.

The international community should condemn the distortion of facts by India regarding held Kashmir and the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper on Thursday.


"We expect the international communtiy to condemn Indian insinuations and fabrications about a nation that has made unparalleled contributions to the global fight against terror," he said while addressing a passing out parade of cadets.


He said the Pakistani armed forces are fully prepared to give the "most befitting response" to any internal or external threats directed at the country.


"Pakistan is a responsible country and remains committed to the policy of friendship with all other countries based on equality and mutual respect."

So bad, it's good...

Virender Sehwag @virendersehwag tweets:
Today let's drink Juice of Ganna.
To wish Happy Birthday to Vinod Khanna.

The Madras High Court dismisses a petition seeking the government's statement on Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa's health and interim CM; Court observes it's a publicity petition.


The Madras high court on Tuesday had ordered state officials in Tamil Nadu to submit information regarding Chief Minister J Jayalalithaas health by Wednesday, 12 days after the chief minister was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai.

People are anxious to know about the health condition of the chief minister as some information is already in public domain, a division bench orally observed when a public interest litigation filed by social activist K R Traffic Ramaswamy came up for hearing. Ramaswamy wanted to know the real facts surrounding the chief ministers illness and treatment being given to her.

The CMs followers have been collecting each day outside the hospital praying for her good health.

However, rumours of her health and her well-being have been circulating with the Opposition -- the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham asking the state government to publish images of the CM.

But, the state government has not released any official statement on the same. A bulletin released by the hospital on Monday said the health of the chief minister continues to improve.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu police filed a case against an unknown person for allegedly circulating rumours about the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremos condition.

The case was filed under various sections of the IPC, including those dealing with public mischief and promoting enmity between classes.

Three militants were today killed in an encounter with security forces after they attacked an army camp in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, the army said in Srinagar today.


The militants opened fire on an army camp at Langate in Kupwara district at around 5 am, which was retaliated by the alert jawans, an army official said.


After repulsing the attack, the security forces launched a search operation in the area, during which the militants fired upon them, leading to an encounter.


"Three militants have been killed in the ensuing encounter and three AK 47 rifles have been recovered from the spot," the official said. He said the operation was on and further details were awaited.

Actress Angelina Jolie, who filed for divorce from Brad Pitt last month, is reportedly eager to remove all tattoos related to him.


According to a source, Jolie wants to remove all the inklings she has related to Pitt "as soon as possible -- and wants to "erase any negativity" surrounding her, reports aceshowbiz.com.


"Angie's tattoos are very symbolic for her. Sadly, not for the first time in her life, she's thinking of having the procedure reversed," the source told OK! Magazine.


"She wants this done as soon as possible and insists the pain is worth it in order to erase any negativity surrounding Brad, who also has tattoos dedicated to her," the source added.Earlier, Jolie reportedly had the tattoo of her ex husband Billy Bob Thornton's name removed.

Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly attacked Tamil Nadu fishermen with stones besides ramming and sinking a mechanised boat and destroying fishing nets of several other vessels off Dhanushkodi, a Fishermen Association functionary said today.


The Lankan naval personnel cut fishing nets of about 70 boats and pelted stones and bottles forcing more than 2,000 fishermen in Rameshwaram to flee and return to the shore this morning, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja told reporters.


Windscreens of some of the boats suffered damage, he said. The fishermen from this region had put out to sea in 437 mechanised fishing boats last night and were fishing off Dhanushkodi sea when Lankan Naval personnel allegedly rammed their vessel against one of the boats, Sesuraja said.

A team of experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, arrived in Chennai on Wednesday to provide consultations on further treatment for Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has been admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.


The Hindu reports that the team, comprising GC Khilnani, Professor, Pulmonary Medicine; Anjan Trikha, Professor, Anaesthesiology; and Nitish Naik, cardiologist who was also former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's personal physician, will be available for consultations over the next few days, according to sources in Delhi.


It is expected that the doctors will assess the treatment and recommend changes, if necessary, in consultation with the team of experts currently treating the Chief Minister.


It is also learnt that the London-based intensivist Dr Richard Beale who was in Chennai last week at Apollo to assist with the treatment, may be back soon.


On Wednesday, there was no bulletin from the Apollo Hospitals on the status of Jayalalithaa. She had been hospitalised on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration.


Image: A Jayalalithaa supporter gets emotional.

The "sell-by date" of Pakistan's "anachronistic approach" is long over and the country should "abandon" its "futile quest" for Kashmir, India has said in a strong rebuttal to Islamabad's allegations that New Delhi is escalating the current situation.


India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin strongly rejected remarks by Pakistan's envoy Maleeha Lodhi, who said during a General Assembly debate on 'Report of the Secretary General on the Work of the Organisation' that India has created conditions that pose a threat to peace and security in the region by its recent "declarations and actions." 


Akbaruddin responded sharply by saying that Pakistan's claims in the UN are finding no resonance and it should abandon its quest for Kashmir, which is an integral part of India.


"Our response to Pakistan is consistent. Abandon your futile quest. The state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so," Akbaruddin said asserting that no amount of "misuse" of international platforms by Pakistan will change that reality.


"The sell-by date of Pakistan's anachronistic approach is long over," he said yesterday. Akbaruddin said claims by Pakistan, a global epicenter of terrorism, on Kashmir find no resonance amongst the international community, with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raising the Kashmir issue in his General Assembly address also finding no support.


"We have heard one such lone voice again a short while ago, making claims to an integral part of my country. This comes from a country which has established itself as the global epicenter of terrorism. Such claims find no resonance amongst the international community," he said.


The Indian envoy emphasised that during the recently concluded high-level UN General Debate, there was "a singular lack of support" for Sharif's "baseless claims". "Need one say more," he said.

Author Shobhaa De, who sparked a war of words with Sonam Kapoor by calling her a "lassie who lacks oomph", has now referred to her as "super hot".


It's a way from Shobhaa's end to extend an olive branch to the Khoobsurat actress.


Inspired by online portal eBay India's campaign titled #ThingsDon'tJudge, Shobhaa took the first step towards reconciling with Sonam.


On Wednesday, she tweeted: "Saw this ad #ThingsDontJudge but people do. Inspired to make amends. Sonam Kapoor, I got it wrong: You are super hot."


Recently, Sonam had written an extensive blog, opening up about her struggle to deal with criticism about her body, her looks and her other issues regarding her appearances.


Sonam's tiff with Shobhaa started when the author criticized her film I Hate Luv Storys in one of her blogs, labeling it as I Hate Dumb Storys and calling Sonam "a lassie who lacks oomph".


Later, the actress posted on the social media platform: "Guys please don't take Shobhaa De seriously. She's a fossil who's getting no action and going through menopause. So just for her."

A Pakistan police officer has admitted that India indeed carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and killed at least five soldiers and several terrorists in an operation that Islamabad denies, news channel CNN News18 reported on Wednesday.


Ghulam Akbar, the Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) of the Mirpur Range in Paksitani Kashmir, told the network that the strikes took place at many sectors on the early hours of September 29.The report said on Wednesday that one of its journalists, Manoj Gupta, posed as Inspector General of Police Mushtaq while speaking to Akbar over telephone.


The channel aired excerpts of the conversation, quoting Akbar as saying that he personally knew about the strikes.


The Indian operation, he said, occurred at Samana in Bhimber, Hazira in Poonch, Dudhniyal in Neelam and Kayani in Hathian Bala, the border sectors on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC).


Akbar said the Pakistan Army cordoned off all these areas immediately after the Indian incursion.


"Sir, it was night... you can say roughly 3-4 hours... between 2 am and 4 or 5 a.m... The attack continued between that time," he said."There were attacks on separate places... Several places were attacked... They also met (with) resistance," Akbar said.


Akbar also said that the Pakistan Army was caught unawares by the Indian attack and lost five soldiers. The channel said it had the names of the killed Pakistani soldiers but did not reveal them.

First, they said there were no terror strikes. Now, Pakistan says the video footage of the strikes handed over by the Indian Army to the NIA is fake.


"The Indians are busy filming a fake video of conducting 'surgical strikes' in Pakistan, which will be released in a couple of days," reported Pakistan's The News International website.


The website provided details by an "independent Kashmiri legislator' and said that the pressure is mounting on the BJP-led Indian government to produce evidence and hence "the Indians are busy trying to save face'.


The Indian Army conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control before dawn on September 29 and killed several jihadis. The jawans also destroyed terrorist launch pads.


However, on Wednesday during Cabinet Committee meeting on security, NSA Ajit Doval informed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others that Pakistan has built up other launch pads after the attack with at least a 100 jihadis waiting to enter India.


This morning, Pakistani terrorists opened fire outside the 30 Rashtriya Rifles camp in Handwara (Jammu and Kashmir). While no casualties have been reported on the Indian side, the terrorists have fled. 

Large-scale movement of terrorists to staging posts along the Line of Control has been observed over the past three days, intelligence sources have told The Indian Express, raising fears that a new terror offensive could commence inside weeks.


The Indian Express reports that the build-up, which has swelled numbers at the staging posts to almost 250, comes even as Pakistani troops have escalated shelling and small-arms fire directed at Indian forward positions, with over 25 ceasefire violations reported in the past three days. 


Prime Minister Narendra Modi, government sources said, was briefed on the build-up by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday morning, at the second meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security since the September 29 surgical strikes on terrorist staging posts.


Estimates prepared by the Intelligence Bureau after the attacks show the concentration of jihadists is focused on the central stretches of the Line of Control, with upward of 45 jihadists now believed to be present at staging posts in the Leepa valley, one of the key areas struck by the Indian Army in the raids.

Until recently, the supporters of Inspector General (Bastar) Shivram Prasad Kalluri have blamed 'anti-national' journalists, lawyers and social activists for vitiating the atmosphere of the region. However, tables seem to be turning for their narrative as Adivasi organisations and political parties are joining hands to raise their voice against atrocities committed by the Bastar police in the name of anti-Naxal operations. Read

"I feel like a full-fledged Bong dinner tonight, she said, curled up on my grandparents' four-poster with the unguilty self-indulgence of the errant NRI, but does that mean we'd have to go to one of those ghastly family places where there's no alcohol and they play Tagore on the synthesizer? Possibly, I answered, they do make the gloom rise up from deep within one's guts, don't they? Before long, we got talking about the Old Man and his songs. She did not have a word of Bengali, but knew a great deal about Hindustani classical music and had grown up with Cole Porter and Begum Akhtar in Parsi Colaba."

On Tagore, four-poster beds and Bengal. Read

Terrorists attacked an army camp in north Kashmir's Kupwara district this morning, prompting security forces to retaliate, army said. 

Indian satellite GSAT-18 successfully launched on board Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou in French Guyana.