A 'grand alliance' at the Centre was Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's birthday wish today as greetings poured in from Congress president Sonia Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar and other leaders.

'Delhi will now see the leadership of mahagathbandhan. All coalition partners should start preparations,' Prasad, who turned 70, tweeted after Bihar Congress chief and state education minister Ashok Chaudhary wished him.

The RJD chief also reminded Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee that they stand in solidarity for the 'great cause ahead' after she extended greetings to him.

Ever since a Nitish-led 'mahagathbandhan' (grandalliance) of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal-United and Congress handed down a stunning defeat to the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2015 Bihar assembly election, a grand alliance is being seen as the only way to stop the saffron juggernaut.

Nitish drove to 10, Circular Road, where the RJD supremo lives in the official residence allotted to his wife Rabri Devi, and gave a bouquet to Prasad before the two embraced each other.

Speaking to reporters, Kumar said : "Lalu Prasad has made notable contributions to Bihar politics and our society."

The Bihar chief minister again greeted the RJD supremo after dedicating two bridges, Sonepur-Digha and Ara-Chapra, to the people and said that what could be a better occasion to do so than the birthday of Lalu Prasad. -- PTI

Son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has been released after five years of captivity.

Saif was released from the north-western Libyan city of Zintan under a 'General Amnesty Law' passed by Libya's House of Representatives, the CNN quoted Abu Bakr al-Sideeq militia, that captured him during the civil war, as saying in a statement on Saturday.

He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

Libya has been divided since Muammar Gaddafi's fall nearly six years ago, with three governments, multiple parliaments and competing tribes and militia vying for power.

The House of Representatives -- based in the country's east -- is not internationally recognised.

However, in its statement, the Abu Bakr al-Sideeq Brigade said Libya's House of Representatives was the country's legitimate authority and it was releasing Gaddafi as a result of that parliament's amnesty.

Saif, who is 44 and has a PhD from the London School of Economics, was once considered the heir apparent to his father, who ruled Libya for over 30 years.

Before the 2011 Libyan civil war, he was believed to be a moderate in comparison to his father.

But in 2011 the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged crimes against humanity during attempts to quash the revolution that led to his father's ouster.

However, Libyan authorities refused to hand him over, saying the court did not have authority to try the case.

A trial was held in Libya's capital, with Saif facing charges relating to attempts to suppress the revolution uprising, including the killing of protesters.  -- ANI

Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya was today heckled by cricket fans who chanted 'chor, chor' (thief, thief) as he arrived to watch the India vs South Africa Champions Trophy match at The Oval cricket ground in London.

The 61-year-old chief of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, who has been living in self-imposed exile in Britain since last year and is facing extradition proceedings in United Kingdom courts, walked speedily past Indian fans outside the stadium.

'Chor gaya chor (there goes a thief) and chor, chor (thief, thief),' were among the chants that could be heard from the crowds.

Mallya, whose Kingfisher Airlines allegedly owes more than Rs 9,000 crore to various banks, had left India on March 2016.

The UK's Crown Prosecution Service is currently working on extradition proceedings against him based on evidence provided by Indian authorities.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Tuesday.

Last week, Mallya had caused a stir by his attendance of the India vs Pakistan match in Birmingham after which he had said on Twitter that he would be attending all India matches in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

'Wide sensational media coverage on my attendance at the IND v PAK match at Edgbaston. I intend to attend all games to cheer the India team,' he had tweeted.

He also made an appearance at captain Virat Kohli's fundraising dinner in London to raise funds for anti-human trafficking charity Justice and Care.

"Virat or his foundation never invited Mallya at the function," a Board of Control for Cricket in India (BBCI) official had claimed. -- PTI

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar gives her statement on the incident outside Poes Garden in the morning:

"I regret incident (at Poes Garden) which happened in front of me. I request the Tamil Nadu government to immediately step in and take action.

"I have all documents of the property (Poes Garden), they are all out to kill me, this was definitely a trap for me today.

"I have sought an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whenever he gives me an appointment I will go there," she said.

Terrorists fired upon a policeman outside his camp in south Kashmir's Shopian district today, leaving him injured.

The shooting happened in Imam Sahib area of the district near the the camp of the special operations group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, a police official said.

Special Police Officer Khursheed Ahmad, who was injured in the attack, was rushed to the sub-district hospital.

Police have launched a hunt to nab the attackers, the official said, adding that further details are awaited.  -- PTI

JUST IN: Maharashtra government announces complete loan waiver to farmers, will form a committee to decide criteria to waive off loans.

Maharashtra farmers have been agitating with a seven-point, including loan waiver.

The protesters had, two days ago, threatened to intensify their agitation if the Maharashtra government fails to meet their demands by June 12. -- ANI

Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav, social activists Medha Patkar and Swami Agnivesh, and Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union president Mohit Kumar Pandey were today stopped from entering Mandsaur to meet the families of the five persons killed in police firing.

The activists, around 30 in number, were stopped by the police at the Dhodhar toll plaza in the neighbouring Ratlam district. The police told them that their visit could disturb peace in Mandsaur, from where curfew was lifted on Saturday.

Prohibitory orders under Code of Criminal Procedure Section 144 are in place in the district.

After being stopped, the activists sat on protest on the Mhow-Neemuch Highway, disrupting traffic movement.

Farmers in the state began protests over low prices for their crops on June 1.

The Mandsaur-Neemuch region, about 300 km from the state capital Bhopal, became the nerve centre of the storm of farmer distress.

Later, protests spread to some other parts of the state.

In Mandsaur, the curfew was imposed after five persons were killed in police firing during a farmers' protest on June 6.  -- PTI

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses media on goods and services tax rates:

- Traders, manufacturers and restaurants with turnover of up to Rs 75 lakh can avail the composition scheme, against Rs 50 lakh earlier.

- GST Council reduces tax rates of 66 items as against representations received for 133 items.

- GST Council lowers tax rate on computer printers to 18 per cent from 28 per cent.

- GST on insulin, agarbatti lowered to 5 per cent; school bags to attract tax of 28 per cent.

- GST on movie tickets below Rs 100 cut to 18 per cent; 28 per cent tax on tickets above Rs 100.

- Next meeting of GST Council on June 18; to take up lottery taxes, e-way bill.  -- PTI

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan breaks his fast at Dussehra Maidan, Bhopal.

He had yesterday said that he 'will not end my fast till peace is restored in the state'.

Meanwhile, Mandsaur, the epicentre of the farmers' agitation, remained peaceful on Sunday with relaxation in curfew continuing.

Mandsaur local BJP MP Sudhir Gupta alleged that the Congress provoked the farmers to resort to violence and said the farmers' stir was led by the opposition party.

The Neemuch-Mandsaur MP alleged that the Congress organised this stir to divert people's attention from the recent public slaughter of a cow by Youth Congress leaders in Kerala. -- Agencies

The Unique Identification Authority of India has refused to share information on cases of fake and duplicate Aadhaar cards, saying the disclosure might affect national security, or can lead to incitement of an offence.

Replying to a right to information query by a PTI correspondent, the UIDAI, which issuesthe card, also denied to give details of action it has taken in such cases.

It said, the UIDAI's Central Identities Data Repository facilities, information assets, logistics and infrastructure and dependencies, have been classified as 'Protected System', under the Section 70(1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

"Any disclosure of the UIDAI grievance database, which essentially forms a part of the UIDAI CIDR operations, therefore, would have an impact on national security, strategic, scientific and economic interest of the state etc," the UIDAI said in response to the RTI application.

It was asked to provide details related to the cases of duplicate and fake Aadhaar cards received by the UIDAI, and action taken on them.

The information sought would fall under Section 8(a) ofthe RTI Act, and therefore, it is denied, the UIDAI said.

The section bars information 'disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India,the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence'.

Further, the format in which information is held by the UIDAI, contains identity details which, if divulged, may be prone to identity-theft etc, the authority said.

The Aadhaar card carries 12-digit unique identification number. The card acts as a proof of identity and address. There have been a few complaints against certain unauthorised websites for promising Aadhaar-related services.

At least eight FIRs have been filed by police against asmany unauthorised websites for promising such services. -- PTI

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar to visit New Delhi tomorrow to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday greeted Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad on his 70th birthday.

Kumar drove to the house of former chief minister Rabri Devi at 10 Circular road to wish Lalu on his birthday.

Speaking to reporters, Kumar said, "Lalu Prasad has contributed immensely to Bihar politics and our society."

Meanwhile, stream of well-wishers comprising leaders, legislators, and party workers visited the 10 Circular road to extend their greetings.

Prasad celebrated his birthday with family members at the stroke of midnight by cutting a cake. The party has planned to celebrate Prasad's birthday at the residence of his wife where a giant 70-pound cake will be cut by him, RJD state unit president Ramchandra Purvey said.  -- PTI

IMAGE: RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav celebrates his 70th birthday with family members at his residence in Patna on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Country's largest lender State Bank of India has expressed apprehensions that demonetisation may continue to result in slowing down of the economy, and adversely affect its business.

The government had discontinued Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes from November 9, 2016 and issued new Rs 500 and Rs2,000 currency notes in exchange for the discontinued ones.

The long-term impact of this move on the Indian economy and the banking sector is uncertain, SBI told institutional investors prior to its Rs 15,000 crore share sale through private placement.

The effects of India's recent demonetisation decision are uncertain, which may adversely affect the bank's business, results of operations and financial condition, the bank said in the Preliminary Placement Document to investors while flagging the 'risk factors'.

"The demonetisation has and may continue to result in a slowing down of the Indian economy, which may adversely affect the bank's business," it said.

The document, SBI had said contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Further, the financial performance may differ from 'such forward-looking' statements as a result of certain factors.  -- PTI

A British author ate his book during a live TV show after his prediction that the opposition Labour Party would poll less than 38 per cent votes went wrong.

Matthew Goodwin, 35, a professor of politics at the University of Kent, is the co-author of 'Brexit: Why Britain voted to leave the European Union'.

He said in a tweet last month that he did not think Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party would poll 38 per cent in the general election on June 8.

However, the Labour Party won 40.3per cent of the vote.

'I'm saying this out loud. I do not believe that Labour, under Jeremy Corbyn, will poll 38 per cent. I will happily eat my new Brexit book if they do,' he had tweeted.

After the results came in, Goodwin was trolled by Labour supporters for his tweet.

Appearing on Sky News yesterday, he was asked if he is a man of his word, to which he replied: "Well indeed I am. I was surprised that Jeremy Corbyn got two percentage points more than I had expected, and I did say that I would eat this book," Metro news reported.

"Two percentage points makes a big difference, I am a man of my word, so what I am going to do is just sit here and eat my book, while you guys carry on," he said as he began eating pages of his book, the report said.

Goodwin scrunched up a piece of paper and uncomfortably shoved it into his mouth and said: "It is actually a hardback,there are lots of chemicals but I have got to get through the whole thing."

He then gave a slightly sad thumbs up to the camera.

Later, a Sky News producer tweeted that Goodwin did not swallow the page he was munching on, the report added.  -- PTI

Unidentified persons made an unsuccessful bid to rob a bank in central Kashmir's Budgam district, police said today.

Burglars tried to loot a bank in Chadoora area of the district last night, but an alert security guard of the bank raised an alarm and foiled their attempt, a police official said.

He said following the alarm by the security guard, local people rushed towards the bank, forcing the burglars to flee.  -- PTI

JUST IN: Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Bimber Gali sector at 9.45 am today. The Indian army is retaliating.

The firing is still on.

Moreover, Pak Rangers started firing on forward Border Security Force troops in Ramgarh (Samba) at 10 am today, the BSF retaliated.

Firing continued for 45 minutes with no loss of life. -- ANI

Two Indian fishermen were killed and 11 injured when a Panama registered cargo ship hit their fishing boat early today off Kochi coast, the police said.  

'HDFC Bank, the second-largest private sector lender, will start charging customers for outgoing Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who started an indefinite fast on Saturday amid raging farmers' protests in the state, on Sunday said that despite falling asleep "intermittently", the farmers and their issues were a constant presence through his dreams and thoughts and hence, vowed to solve the pertinent matters.  

Ten persons died after a car in which they were travelling in fell into a canal at Makera area in Mathura this morning, the police said. 

A man who opened fire from a shotgun in Kratovo village of Ramensky district in Moscow, killing four people, was eliminated by the police and National Guard in the course of a special operation. 

At least eight people were injured after a car ploughed into pedestrians outside Amsterdam Central train station.  

Nine passengers died and 12 others were injured when a private bus heading towards Latur overturned early today in Beed district.  

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung has said the party has decided to go on an indefinite strike from Monday demanding a separate state of 'Gorkhaland'.  

A cook, working at the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, has alleged that the ADC to the CM thrashed him for not serving bread.  

In the wake of the helicopter accident on Saturday morning, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered the suspension of helicopter operations to Sahastradhara, Harshil, Badrinath and Kharsali helipads in Uttarakhand from Sunday till further orders. 

The Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy has launched a yoga awareness drive through mascots and flash mobs in the run-up to International Day for Yoga. 

Terming the death of five people in police firing during a farmers' agitation in Madhya Pradesh as "very unfortunate", Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has alleged that it is "well-planned conspiracy" to target the BJP government in that state.  

Shiv Sena Goa unit president Shivprasad Joshi on Saturday said many people in neighbouring Karnataka cannot sing the national anthem, remarks that could trigger a political controversy.