Islamic State has lost its control over a symbolic stronghold in North Syria.

China is ready for its longest-ever manned space mission with a spacecraft carrying two astronauts set to lift off on Monday to dock with an experimental lab fora month-long stay under the Communist giant's ambitious plans to establish its own permanent space station by 2022.

Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, 50, and 37-year-old Chen Dong will be blasted into space aboard 'Shenzhou-11' (heavenly vessel) spacecraft at 7:30 am (5 am IST) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center near the Gobi Desert in northern China.

The mission will be carried out with a Long March-2Fcarrier rocket, Wu Ping, Deputy Director of China's manned space engineering office said.

It will dock with orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 within two days and the astronauts will stay in the lab for 30 days, she was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

China, which conducted its first manned space mission in 2003 that lasted 15 days, is putting in billions into its space programme in a bid to catch up with the US and Europe.

Representative image.

JUST IN: Pak troops fire at Indian army position in Rajouri sector on Line of Control.

One Indian army jawan killed in Pakistani firing.

This is the second ceasefire violation by Pak forces in one day.

More details awaited.

 BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit in Goa is underway.

Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, addressing the summit, said that 'we must collectively condemn, fight against threat of terrorism in all forms and manifestations'..

Russian President Vladimir Putin said, "We want to fight terrorism together, we all will collectively work on it."

While addressing the meet, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina said, "We all must join hands to deal with terrorism, violent extremism."

"Terrorism remains a grave threat to global peace, security and stability," Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said.

"We are here at a time when our host India has over the past several months suffered frequent terror attacks. Bhutan strongly condemns these terror attacks, and stand in solidarity with India and like minded countries in fight against terror," Tobgay said.

Sashastra Seema Bal Jawan, who was martyred in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, was cremated at his ancestral village in Rajasthan's Dausa district today.

The body of 24-year-old Ghyanshyam Gurjar was cremated with full state honour at Khawaraoji village in Dausa.

His elder brother lit the funeral pyre, police said. Food and Civil Supply minister Hem Singh Bhadana, SSB, officers of district administration and police were present on the occasion.

Gurjar, the Jawan of SSB's 59th Battallion, was killed and 8 others, including a policeman, were injured in the militant attack at SSB convoy in Zakura area on the outskirts of Srinagar on Friday evening.

He had joined SSB in April 2013.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M K Stalin today condemned 'harassment' of his party cadres under the pretext of taking action against those spreading rumours about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's health on social media and aske police to immediately stop such 'oppressive' measures.

In a statement, he alleged that acting on 'false' complaints by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam IT wing personnel and other party functionaries, the cyber crime police was summoning the DMK members, harassing them and threatening to block their social media accounts.

"We will never tolerate police targeting DMK men under the guise that they were spreading rumours on social media. I strongly condemn the police action," Stalin, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said.

Police should immediately stop taking action targeting DMK men on social media based on the complaints by AIADMK, he said, noting that seven persons had been arrested and 50 cases filed on complaints of alleged spreading of rumours about Jayalalithaa's health on social media.

PM's address at plenary session of BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit:

- Terrorism, radicalisation pose grave threats to each of us.

-In South Asia and BIMSTEC, all nation states barring one are motivated to pursue a path of peace, development and economic prosperity.

- Geographical barriers and borders pose no limitations on those who wish to harm our societies.

- Unfortunately, this country in India's neighbourhood embraces and radiates the darkness of terrorism.

- Terrorism has become its favourite child, and the child in turn has come to define the essential nature of its parents.

Plenary session of BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit underway in Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks. Excerpts from his address:

- BRICS and BIMSTEC have been shaped by different context. Together we represent two thirds of humanity. But we are joined by common vision and peace, stability and development. We are also united by similar challenges and concerns.

- Together we represent almost two thirds of humanity. We are united by similar challenges and concerns.

- There are many economic opportunities. We have shared aspirations for growth, development, commerce and technology.

- Technology can bridge gaps and connect communities. It can also deliver services that make a difference in our daily lives.

- Environment and disaster management are areas where we can work together.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon visit Chennai to enquire about the health status of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who has been hospitalised, minister of State for highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan said today.

"The prime minister is keen to know about the health condition of Jayalalithaa and get updates on it and will soon visit Chennai," he told reporters at nearby Tirupur.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo hospital on September 22 for fever and dehydration.

A galaxy of leaders, including Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah had visited the hospital since then to enquire about her health status.

There was no trilateral meet between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', the Ministry of External Affairs said, countering a report published in a Nepali newspaper.

The Himalayan Times had reported, along with a photo of the meeting, that Prachanda held a trilateral meeting with Modi and Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Goa and pitched Nepal as a 'dynamic bridge' between the two Asian giants.

"It was only a coincidence that all three leaders were present at the same time at leaders lounge," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

A day after senior party leader Ramgopal Yadav suggested Akhilesh Yadav be made the chief ministerial candidate, Samajwadi Party state president today said he will himself propose Akhilesh's name for the post of chief minister if the party is voted to power again.

"Ramgopal is party's national general secretary. He can write to party national president and give him advice. There is nothing wrong in it. I will myself propose name of Akhilesh as CM, if party is voted to power in 2017," Shivpal told reporters.

Ramgopal, in a letter to Mulayam, yesterday said he would be held responsible if the party's fortunes plunged in the forthcoming assembly elections.

'Akhilesh is undoubtedly the most popular leader of the state and under him Uttar Pradesh has seen unprecedented development works. If SP has to win the elections, Akhilesh must be made its CM face,' the letter said.

Leaders of BIMSTEC nations pose for a group photo in Salcet, Goa as the meet is about to begin.

At the arrival ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Srilankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the media after concluding BRICS Summit in Goa. Excerpts from his address:

- We have adopted the Goa declaration that lays a comprehensive vision for our cooperation within BRICS and international issues. The discussions were useful and forward looking.

- BRICS needs to work together and act decisively to end this menace of terrorism.

- We agreed those who nurture, shelter, support and sponsor forces of violence and terror are as much a threat to us as terrorists themselves.

- We were unanimous in recognising the threat that terrorism, extremism and radicalisation presents.

- We welcome the early entry into force of the Paris Climate agreement, India was proud to ratify it on 2nd October this year.

- We underscored the need for close coordination on tracking sources of terrorist financing and target the hardware of terrorism, including weapons' supplies, ammunition, equipment and training.

- BRICS is committed to strengthen our consultations on peace ad security matters. BRICS is committed to strengthen our consultations on peace and security matters.

Signing of agreements by BRICS nations underway in Goa.

Memorandums of Understanding on Agricultural research, co-operation between diplomatic academies & regulations on custom cooperation signed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at BRICS Summit in Goa. Excerpts from his address:

- Combating terrorism, including cross border terrorism and its supporters, will be key BRICS priority.

- We will work closely to fight tax evasion, black money and corruption.

- I think through common vision and collective action we will create and sustain deeper bonds among BRICS nations.

- I congratulate China and offer our full support as they take over the Presidency next year.

Prime Minister Prachanda held a trilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Goa and pitched Nepal as a 'dynamic bridge' between the two Asian giants, a media report in Kathmandu said today.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who reached India to attend the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit yesterday, first held a one-on-one meeting with Chinese President Xi which lasted for around 20 minutes and later Modi joined them, The Himalayan Times reported along with a photo of the meeting.

The three leaders discussed issues of common interests, Prachanda's personal secretary Prakash Dahal was quoted assaying.

During the meeting yesterday, Prachanda was quoted assaying that though Nepal is a small country, it is extremely rich in cultural and religious diversity.

He said Pashupatinath, Gautam Buddha and Janaki have connected to the three countries.

Albeit, Nepal is located between two giant powers of Asia-- India and China -- a prosperous Nepal is possible with their help and cooperation, Prachanda said.

"We wish to reap benefits of this geographical specialty by working as a dynamic bridge between the two countries," he said.

Chinese President Xi agreed with Prachanda stating that geography of any country would not play a decisive role in terms of many things like development, the report said.

He also praised Nepal's role in keeping an equidistant relationship with China and India while expressing belief that the relations between the three countries would strengthen in the future.

'Likewise, Indian PM Modi acknowledged there are geographical, emotional and cultural relations among India,Nepal and China,' the report said.

Prachanda's spouse Sita Dahal was also present in the meeting.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Prakash Dahal/Facebook

Chinese President Xi Jinping said in Goa that his country is ready to align development strategies with Nepal and hopes to build the two neighbors into a community of shared destiny, Xinhua reported.

"China and Nepal are close neighbors linked by mountains and rivers," Xi said in a meeting in the western Indian state of Goa with Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on the sidelines of the eighth summit of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS, which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, China-Nepal relations have withstood the vicissitude of the international situation and maintained sound and stable development, Xi said.

China, he added, attaches great importance to developing relations with Nepal and is willing to work with Nepal to deepen practical cooperation.

He called on the two countries to strengthen high-level contacts and political communication, and enhance mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Apparently hinting at China's move of blocking India's efforts to get a United Nations ban imposed on Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the plenary session of BRICS summit in Goa that 'selective approaches to terrorists, individuals and organisations will not only be futile but also counter productive'.

He further said:

- Terrorists funding, their weapon supply, training and political support must be systematically cut off

- We need to deepen the security cooperation between our NSAs, early adoption of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism will be an expedition of our resolve to fight this menace.

Plenary session of BRICS Summit 2016 underway in Goa. The PM speaks:

- We are celebrating 10 years of our partnership under BRICS, it has produced strong benefits of cooperation.

- We must speed up the work on setting up BRICS agricultural research centre, railway research network and BRICS Sports council.

- There is a clear need to build norms, create structure to stop tax invasion, black money and stop corruption.

- In a world of uncertainties, BRICS stands as a beacon of peace, potential and promise.

- BRICS Trade Fair just concluded, it should become a regular platform for business exchanges.

- We look forward to translating into reality the idea of BRICS credit rating agency.

- Security and counter terrorism cooperation is necessary if we have to safeguard the lives of our citizens.

- Our response to terror must be nothing less than comprehensive, we need to act both individually and collectively.

- Terrorism casts a long shadow on our development and economic prosperity, it has grown more lethal.

PM Narendra Modi speaking at the BRICS Business Council:

-We have taken a number of steps for ease of doing business in country and the results are visible

-We count on BRICS Business Council to achieve our common goal of strengthening business trade, building investment linkages

-We have transformed India into one of the most open economies in the world today.

-NDB's success is concrete result of our common efforts.It has kept clean energy & sustainable infra as its priority. We welcome it.

Aam Aadmi Party's Matiala MLA Gulab Singh was arrested today in an extortion case after he surrendered before Delhi Police team in Gujrat's Umra.

A non-bailable warrant was issued against the AAP MLA in an alleged extortion case involving his associates.

The Matiala legislator, who is also the co-incharge of AAP's Gujarat affairs, was arrested for failing to join the investigation in the  case involving his associates.

Singh's driver was arrested in the same case last month along with an associate.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra have batted for the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil after a cinema owners association announced it would not release films with Pakistani actors in four states.

Taking to Twitter, Kashyap slammed COEAI's stand, writing, 'The World must learn from us..We solve all our problems by blaming it on movies and banning it..#ADHM. With you on this @karanjohar.'

'@narendramodi Sir you haven't yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM.. It was december 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHM? Why? (sic),' he tweeted.

He further raised questions saying, '@narendramodi Why is it that we have to face it while you can be silent??'

'@narendramodi And you actually diverted your trip on our tax money while the film shot then was on money on which someone here pays interest.'

'@narendramodi I am just trying to understand the situation because I am actually dumb and I don't get it. Sorry if you feel offended,' he said.

Adding, 'Btw Bharat Mata ki Jai Sir @narendramodi.'

Alia said she felt it is unfair to stall the release of a film. The actress, who is close to Johar, said she has seen bits of the movie and found it beautiful. 'On a personal level I found the film very beautiful and I've seen bits of it. It is an emotional film. On the other level, as a proud resident of this country and as a privileged member of the industry, I feel whatever is happening with the film at this point is unfair,' she said.

'Ban on #AeDilHaiMushkil good example of how cinema in India is vulnerable to all kinds of arbit rage & misguided passion of everyone...,' she tweeted.

'Instead of banning & boycotting films I wonder how many self proclaimed patriots make any real contribution benefiting our soldiers???' she said, rallying behind Johar and wished him all the best for the film.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will arrive in New Delhi on November 6 on her first bilateral visit outside Europe during which she will hold talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and review all aspects of the India-United Kingdom strategic partnership.

The three-day visit was announced today by the External Affairs Ministry.

'This will be her first bilateral visit outside Europe. She will hold talks with Prime Minister Modi and review all aspects of India-UK Strategic Partnership. The Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting will be held on the sidelines of the visit,' the ministry said.

During the visit, Prime Minister May, alongside Modi, will inaugurate the India-UK Tech Summit in New Delhi jointly hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

'The summit will be an opportunity for the two sides to strengthen business to business engagement in the areas of technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, design, IPRs and higher education,' it said.

The two sides had agreed to hold the summit during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the UK in November 2015.

Amid the ongoing BRICS Summit in Goa, heads of the states visited the sand sculptures of monuments of all the five member countries created in the lobby of a five-star resort in Benaulim, Goa.

India's renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik has created the sculptures of monuments of all five participating nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"It was a great honour when Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained the importance of all the monuments to the Heads of the States. The leaders spent around ten minutes looking at the monuments and also clicked a group photograph," Pattnaik said.

While Taj Mahal represents India in the monuments, the sculptures also include Great Wall of China (China), Saint Basil Cathedral (Russia), Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) and Statue of Nelson Mandela (South Africa).

Pattnaik said the sand sculptures were created over three days before the BRICS event kicked-off.

'Sand from all the five different nations has been used in the sculptures. All the respective governments had volunteered to send the sand. Total 45-50 tonnes of sand was used in it,' he said.

'It is a great honour that I was given an opportunity to show the creativity during an event of such a massive scale. The message through the sculpture is unity of all the nations,' the artist said.

BRICS leaders restricted meeting underway in Goa, PM Modi says BRICS nations have been a voice for peace, reform, reason and purposeful action.

"We've built new global institutions to complement existing architecture. The NDB (New Development Bank) and Contingency Reserve Arrangement stand out," says PM at BRICS summit.

"The most serious direct threat to our eco prosperity is terrorism; Tragically, its mother-ship is a country in India's neighborhood," PM Modi said, apparently referring to Pakistan.

"The growing arc of terrorism today threatens Middle East, West Asia, Europe and South Asia," he said.

"Terror modules around world are linked to this mother-ship. This country shelters not just terrorists. it nurtures a mindset," he said.

""A mindset that loudly proclaims that terrorism is justified for political gains. It's a mindset that we strongly condemn. And, against which we as BRICS need to stand and act together," the PM said.

Top officials including foreign secretary and DGMO are scheduled to brief a panel of MPs, including Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, on the surgical strikes conducted by the army across the LoC on October 18.

Sony Max, the Hindi movie channel from Sony Pictures Networks India, has made history of sorts by grossing Rs 50 crore in ad revenue from the television premiere of the Salman Khan-starrer Sultan.