New York emergency authorities were responding to reports of an explosion at New York's Port Authority, one of the city's busiest commuter hubs, during Monday morning's rush hour.   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Rahul Gandhi for his elevation as Congress President.

AIADMK MPs are likely to get four bedroom apartments from the Tamil Nadu government which they can use for their life time. Free.

The apartments are in Thirumangalam Anna Nagar in Chennai and are worth around Rs four crore.

This bonanza for the MPs are said to have been approved by the Tamil Nadu Cabinet on Thursday.

Chief Minister E Palaniswamy has given an in-principal approval to bring a cabinet note. This scheme will prevent the CPM, CPI and DMK MPs from getting benefits.

Anwar Raza, the AIADMK MP from Ramanathapuram raised the free accommodation issue in the AIADMK MPs meet in Chennai yesterday. The CM has since approved this scheme.

There are 39 AIADMK MPs from Lok Sabha. Out of the 39, at least 32, will get government flats. The remaining seven MPs are stationed in Chennai and they have their own houses.

The apartments are strictly for those MPs who have no homes in Chennai. These MPs are from interior districts of Tamil Nadu and moreover are those who are fence sitters between the TTV Dinakaran camp and the EPS camp.


This demand for free housing has been pending with the Tamil Nadu Government since J Jayalalitha's days as CM, and the E Palaniswamay has finally agreed to allot the flats.

There is no Congress MP from Tamil Nadu. DMK MPs from Rajya Sabha have however own a flat in Chennai, and are therefore disqualified to get the free lifetime accommodation.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday expressed happiness on the elevation of Rahul Gandhi as party president and said the latter has shown a lot of mettle over a period of time and will be able to execute his responsibility well.


Azad said the entire Bharatiya Janata Party including the prime minister and his 80 ministers were sitting in Gujarat for months but were still unable to counter Rahul.


"Entire country has lot of expectations from Rahul Gandhi. He has shown his mettle over a period of time and particularly in the ongoing election in Gujarat. Much before he was elected he has made Prime Minister Modi rattled," Azad said. "He knows his responsibility and priorities very well," he added.


Echoing similar sentiments, former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said at the time when the situation is 'worst under the ruling government', elevation of Rahul will prove to be good. -- ANI

Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's statement on PM Modi's allegations at an election rally that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls. Modi alleged that Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had held a meeting at his house which was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a former Indian vice president, Pakistan's high commissioner in India, and a former Pakistani foreign minister.

Dr Singh issued this statement today: "I am deeply pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards being spread to score political points in a lost cause by none less than PM Shri Narendra Modi.

"I am deeply pained and anguished by the falsehood and canards being spread to score political points in a lost cause by none less than Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Fearing imminent defeat in Gujarat, the desperation of the Prime Minister to hurl every abuse and latch on to every straw is palpable. Sadly & regrettably, Shri Modi is setting a dangerous precedent by his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office, including that of a former Prime Minister and Army Chief.

"The Congress Party needs no sermons on "Nationalism" from a party and Prime Minister, whose compromised track record on fighting terrorism is well known.

"Let remind Shri Narendra Modi that he had gone to Pakistan uninvited after the terrorist attacks in Udhampur and Gurdaspur. Let him also tell the country the reason for inviting the infamous ISI of Pakistan to our strategic Air Base in Pathankot to investigate a terror attack that emanated from Pakistan.

"My track record of public service to the country over the last five decades is known to everyone. No one, including Shri Modi, can  lamely question it to gain lost political ground.

"I reject the innuendos and falsehoods as I did not discuss Gujarat elections with anyone else at the dinner hosted by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar as alleged by Shri Modi.

"Nor was the Gujarat issue raised by anyone else present at the dinner. The discussion was confined to India Pakistan relations.    

"Names of the distinguished Indian public servants and journalists present at the dinner are enclosed to this statement. None of them could be accused of indulging in any anti-national activities.

"I sincerely hope that Prime Minister will show the maturity and gravitas expected of the high office he holds instead of concentrating his energy solely on erroneously conceived brownie points. I  sincerely hope that he will apologize to the nation for his ill thought transgression to restore the dignity of the office he occupies."

Last week member of Parliament from Lakshadweep P P Mohammed Faizal of the Nationalist Congress Party had complained that the Navy and Coast Guard had not done enough in the aftermath of the Ockhi cyclone. 

Global investment bank Nomura has predicted India's economy to register a 7.5 per cent growth rate in 2018, saying it is on the cusp of a cyclical recovery.


India's Gross Domestic Product growth bottomed-out in the second quarter of 2017 at 5.7 per cent year-on-year, rising to 6.3 per cent in the third quarter, it said. It has forecast 6.7 per cent in the fourth quarter and a full-year growth of 6.2 per cent this year, rising to 7.5 per cent in 2018, it said.

"We remain bullish on India's macroeconomic outlook," Nomura said in its Asian economic outlook 2018. The Indian economy is on the cusp of a cyclical recovery and the government has continued to implement structural reforms and prudent macro policies, the tangible benefits of which may be harder to pinpoint right now, but over time will be positive for growth, it said in the report. Higher crude oil prices and state election results are the main risks, it said. Given the base effects, Nomura expects the growth in the first half of 2018 to be at 7.8 per cent, higher than the 7.1 per cent of the second half of 2017.

"Further out, we expect a growth of 7.3 per cent in 2019 -- a solid print, aided by manufacturing and private services on the supply side and investment and private consumption on the demand side," the report said.


It listed out factors supporting a strong growth. It would be the normalisation of Goods and Services Tax- related supply disruptions; the positive effects of bank recapitalisation, a positive remonetisation impulse and a positive fiscal impulse.  -- PTI

Rahul Gandhi has been elected Congress president unopposed, announces  Mullappally Ramachandran, Congress leader. "Eighty-nine nomination proposals were received, all were valid. Since there was only one candidate. I hereby declare Rahul Gandhi elected as the president of Indian National Congress," he said.

The 47-year-old Gandhi will be the sixth Nehru-Gandhi scion to helm the party. His mother and incumbent party president Sonia Gandhi had signed the first nomination paper for the election of her son.

In all, over 90 sets of nominations were said to have been filed supporting Gandhi before the deadline expired at 3 pm on December 4. Had there been any contest, today (December 11) would have been the last date for withdrawal. Since there was no other nomination, Rahul has been declared elected today.

The BJP says this was an election that he was bound to win since dynastic succession is the norm. 

Army vehicle attacked by terrorists in Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir. More details awaited

Religious bigotry has official sanction in the new India. It is fashionable in saffron circles and common among the middle class. The common refrain is that India is a Hindu country and finally the majority community need not be apologetic any more about it. Brazen bigotry is the zeitgeist of the ruling Hindu right-wing BJP, whose icons, such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, openly trash secularism and want those who introduced the concept in independent India to be penalised.

Read the full column in the Dawn.

Congress leader Haresh Moradiya and his wife allegedly commit suicide in Rajkot, Gujarat.   Details awaited.

Apologists for imperialism and its critics are too busy bickering over their interpretations of history -- and a controversial paper by a former Hong Kong journalist -- to notice what's going on right now. Read more

The man accused of molesting Dangal actress, Zaira Wasim, during a Vistara Delhi-Mumbai flight has told the police that his leg touched the star unintentionally and that he had apologised to her after she raised an alarm.

Vikas Sachdev (39), who stays in Andheri in suburban Mumbai, said he was returning from Delhi after attending a funeral and was exhausted as he hadn't slept in a while.

He said he had in fact asked the cabin crew not to disturb him during the flight and chose not to eat his meal as he wanted to sleep throughout the flight.

Vikas's claims match the official statement given by Vistara to the Mumbai Police, which is investigating the alleged molestation.

According to Vikas, he apologised to the actor after finding out that his leg had had touched her shoulder.

Vikas' wife Divya, supported her husband's claim. "My husband was coming home from Delhi. His mamaji (maternal uncle) had passed away and he was not in the right frame of mind. He was feeling very low and asked for a blanket. He wanted to sleep. I am shocked at (the actor's) allegation. The police have taken my husband into custody," Divya said.

A case under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault with intention to outrage a woman's modesty) was registered against Vikas Sachdev. The POSCO act was invoked since the actor is a minor.

According to sources, after the incident, came to light a team of three Vistara officials flew to Mumbai from Delhi to take note of the incident. A meeting between the actor and the officials was organised at a hotel in Mumbai. The meeting went on for over an hour where the star narrated the incident in front of the Vistara officials.

BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, not on the best of terms with the ruling BJP, and considered a rebel, tweets after the PM yesterday claimed at an election rally that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls. Modi also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel chief minister of Gujarat.  Modi alleged that Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had held a meeting at his house which was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a former Indian vice president, Pakistan's high commissioner in India, and a former Pakistani foreign minister.

Sinha tweeted,

"Hon'ble Sir!  Just to win elections anyhow, and that too at the fag end of the process, is it a must to come up with & endorse new, unsubstantiated & unbelievable stories everyday against political opponents? Now linking them to Pak High Commissioner & Generals?! Incredible!.

"Sir! Instead of new twists & turns, stories & cover ups, let's go straight to the promises that we made, regarding housing, development, employment of youth, health, "Vikas model". Lets stop communalising the atmosphere & go back to healthy politics & healthy elections. Jai Hind!"

While he did not name anybody in the tweets, the actor-turned-politician - who has never minced his words and has been critic of the BJP leadership, including the PM, did not leave much room for doubt.

Hardik Patel in Ahmedabad on a motorcycle rally: I am getting very good response from the people and I am very confident.

The much-awaited Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli wedding is in all likelihood set to take place on December 12.

Confirming this, a friend and co-star of actress Anushka Sharma, who does not want to be named added, "She has mentioned her wedding plans, but there was no invitation. She made it very clear that the wedding would be a very intimate family affair."

Apparently both Anushka's and Virat's families want to keep the marriage as low-key as possible. "The decision to move the venue of the wedding outside India and to keep the guest list extremely restricted was taken by both the families, who met and agreed on the venue and the date," says the source.


Though Anushka's spokesperson denied reports about her wedding, she was spotted at Mumbai airport on Thursday night with her family and their family guru Maharaj Anant Baba.


The Sharmas were reportedly flying to Milan with Virat and his family scheduled to join them from Delhi.

If reports are to be believed, the couple have only invited close friends to the wedding -- a villa in Tuscany has reportedly been booked for the occasion -- and that may include Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.

Mumbai newspapers reported that Colonel Ajay Sharma (retd), Anushka's dad, has invited the family's neighbours to a reception in Mumbai later this month.

- Subhash K Jha.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on tweet by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: "Completely abhor outside interference in India's internal affairs. Pakistan's promotion of terrorism in India is well known but Pakistan must stop giving us lessons; we are proud of our democracy. Condemn this unwarranted statement."


Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal had said on Twitter:  India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible."


Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday claimed at an election rally that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls. Modi also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel chief minister of Gujarat.

Congress responds to PM Modi's remarks that the Congress is conspiring with Pakistan for the Gujarat elections.


Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma says, "It's outrageous. This is just an attempt to polarize ahead of second phase of voting. This also shows his desperation and that BJP's loss is now guaranteed. Ex-Pakistan Foreign Minister was here (in Delhi) to attend a wedding, there was a dinner organized for him in which there were former diplomats, former Army chief among other dignitaries. Does PM think they were all conspiring with Pak? Reprehensible. PM must apologize."

Pakistan today said India's politicians should not drag the country into its domestic politics during campaigning for the Gujarat assembly polls.


"India should stop dragging Pakistan into its electoral debate and win victories on own strength rather than fabricated conspiracies, which are utterly baseless and irresponsible," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on Twitter.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday claimed at an election rally that there was an attempt by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls. Modi also raised questions about the alleged appeal by former director general (DG) of the Pakistan Army Sardar Arshad Rafiq for making senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel chief minister of Gujarat.


Modi alleged that Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had held a meeting at his house which was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, a former Indian vice president, Pakistan's high commissioner in India, and a former Pakistani foreign minister.


"On one hand, Pakistan Army's former DG is interfering in Gujarat's election, and on the other, Pakistani people are holding a meeting at Mani Shankar Aiyar's house. After that meeting, people of Gujarat, backward communities, poor people and Modi were insulted. Don't you think such events raise doubts?" the prime minister had said while addressing a poll rally in Gujarat. -- PTI


Image: PM Modi gets the tricolour pinned on to his jacket on Flag Day on December 7. Picture courtesy: @narendramodi

A World Record Long Live Painting will be organised today at the Central Park in Connaught Place in the heart of Delhi.

The painting will start at 1.30 pm under the banner of 'Harmony Through Watercolor'.

Around 75 painters, including world master artists, will be participating in the 75m long watercolor painting as well.

Their achievements would be certified by the Face International Book of Records.

More than 450 artists from 50 countries will be exhibiting in the painting event from December 9 to December 14.

The chief guest of the painting event is Naresh Kumar, IAS and Chairman of NDMC and the Guest of Honour will be Atanur Dagan from Turkey.

The themes are - Smart City Delhi and Clean Delhi, Green Delhi. The event witnesses a huge footfall from art buyers, art students, painting artists and water colour lovers. -- ANI

Hardik Patel supporters take out a motorcycle rally in Ahmedabad. The Patidar leader has proven his ability to draw large audiences. He has pledged support to the Congress, but has not made a joint appearance with Congress VP Rahul Gandhi at any place in Gujarat during the campaign trail.

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to three trustees of the Ryan International Group in connection with the killing of a student in the school premises. A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre said the "petition is dismissed."


The court had earlier reserved the order on the plea of the father of 7-year-old boy, who was found dead in Ryan International School in Gurgaon, challenging the anticipatory bail granted to the trustees of the group.


Pradhyumn, a Class II student, was found with his throat slit in the school washroom in Gurgaon on September 8. School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was earlier arrested by Haryana Police in connection with the crime. He was recently granted bail by a lower court.


The case was transferred to the CBI and the agency had apprehended a Class 11 student in connection with the killing. The high court had on November 21 granted anticipatory bail to Ryan International Group CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents -- founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, in connection with the killing of the boy.


The boy's father had approached the apex court seeking cancellation of the bail to the trustees. -- PTI


File pic: Ryan International School. 

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to three trustees of the Ryan International Group in connection with the killing of a student in the school premises. A bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre said the "petition is dismissed."


The court had earlier reserved the order on the plea of the father of 7-year-old boy, who was found dead in Ryan International School in Gurgaon, challenging the anticipatory bail granted to the trustees of the group.


Pradhyumn, a Class II student, was found with his throat slit in the school washroom in Gurgaon on September 8. School bus conductor Ashok Kumar was earlier arrested by Haryana Police in connection with the crime. He was recently granted bail by a lower court.


The case was transferred to the CBI and the agency had apprehended a Class 11 student in connection with the killing. The high court had on November 21 granted anticipatory bail to Ryan International Group CEO Ryan Pinto and his parents -- founding chairman Augustine Pinto and managing director Grace Pinto, in connection with the killing of the boy.


The boy's father had approached the apex court seeking cancellation of the bail to the trustees. -- PTI


File pic: Ryan International School. 

Eight persons were today arrested for allegedly beating up and molesting a woman from Varanasi and leaving a French national injured when he tried to intervene. UP Police maintained that no attack was made on the French national. The woman along with a group of French tourists and her relatives was visiting the Lakhania Dari Waterfall in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, when the incident took place.


A police spokesperson said, "No attack was made on any French national, but a French national sustained injuries as he tried to intervene in an altercation between two group of Indians."


The French national sustained injuries on his hand, police said. He said the woman, a resident of Varanasi, was molested by some persons and was also beaten up.


"The vehicle by which she had come here carried about half a dozen French tourists," he said. The woman later filed a complaint with the police, based on which the eight persons were arrested, the official added. The spokesperson said that yesterday the woman in her police complaint had alleged that nearly a dozen persons molested her and beat her. She said her relatives too were beaten up by the men. -- PTI

At least 30 people were injured on Monday morning after the bus they were travelling in fell off the Jamni River bridge in Tikamgarh area of Madhya Pradesh. Four people were critically injured in the accident. All the injured have been shifted to hospital. The bus was returning from Jhansi  and heading to Tikamgarh when the accident took place at around 4 am. -- ANI

Image: Ambulances at the accident spot.

The internet services have been suspended on Monday in some areas of Jammu and Kashmir following the killing of three terrorists in Handwara's Unisoo.


The internet services have been suspended in Sopore, Baramulla, Handwara and Kupwara.

At least three terrorists allegedly from Pakistan were neutralised by a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Rashtriya Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force in Unisoo of Handwara during the encounter on Sunday night.Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir S P Vaid took to Twitter and said, "In Unisoo, Handwara all the three terrorists apparently Pakistanis have been neutralised by Joint team of J&K Police, RR & CRPF."


"It has been raining whole night & boys were out there in the cold," he tweeted.


According to police, a local woman also lost her life in the Sunday's cross firing as she was trapped in a house where the terrorists were hiding.


Along with the deceased woman, around six to seven people were stuck inside the house and were later rescued by the security forces.


Police said the terrorists were likely to be members of Lashkar-e-Taiba.  Arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession.The search operation is on in the area. -- ANI

Representational image.

Who would have thought that something Mani Shankar Aiyar said would become an issue, and perhaps THE issue, of a Gujarat election?


I certainly did not and nor do I think it is an issue of the size in Gujarat that people think outside it is.


When I heard about the scandalous remark, I checked my Gujarati dictionary, which translates 'neech' as 'dusht'. The English translations are 'wicked', 'vile' and 'mean'.


Should Aiyar have used the word? No: Political debate, and all debate must be civil. But does it have a meaning that links it to caste? No.


Aakar Patel on oonch and neech of political debate.Do read his column on Rediff.com here.

"There are a lot of positive things these reforms are bringing about and it is only a matter of some quarters before the growth rate picks up momentum. Until then we need to be a little bit patient." Soumya Kanti Ghosh, the group chief economic advisor at the State Bank of India, speaks to Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com. Read the first part of the interview here.

Roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Ahmedabad tomorrow cannot be held as the police has refused permission, citing security issues and public inconveniences, Anup Kumar Singh, Police Commissioner, Ahmedabad, said.

There is a likelihood of an overlap in the road shows of PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

Both roadshows would have passed crowded areas, which would have caused major inconveniences to people.

Tomorrow is the last day of campaigning for the second round of voting in Gujarat.

The results will be announced on December 18.

Image: PM Modi's rally in Vadodara yesterday. Pic courtesy: @narendramodi

A new report reveals that the Indian judiciary is in dire straits and throws light on the various reasons, besides flaws in recruitment process, behind immense shortage of judges in the country. The Hindu takes a closer look at the first-of-its-kind study done by Delhi-based Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.
Read more

Around 5:30 each morning, President Trump wakes and tunes into the television in the White Houses master bedroom. He flips to CNN for news, moves to Fox & Friends for comfort and messaging ideas, and sometimes watches MSNBCs Morning Joe because, friends suspect, it fires him up for the day.