The Shiv Sena skipped the filing of nomination papers by the National Democratic Alliance's candidate Ram Nath Kovind for presidential poll today as it didn't want the Bharatiya Janata Party to take its regional ally for granted on the issue, said a highly-placed source in the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Interestingly, the source of the Sena, which had in 2007 and 2012 backed the then United Progressive Alliance nominees during the presidential polls, suggested the party has extended support to Kovind reluctantly and it would still have preferred nomination of either Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat or veteran agriculturist M S Swaminathan, whose names it had suggested earlier.

Officially, Sena has stated there was no specific reason behind not attending the event.

Speaking to PTI, Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said, "I and Anand Adsul (party MP) have been in Delhi for the two days. We signed as proposers on the nomination form (of Kovind) and returned to Mumbai only yesterday. There was no specific reason why we did not attend Kovind's filing of nomination papers today. We just didn't go."

For his part, Adsul, who was among proposers, blamed 'miscommunication' regarding the timing of the event as the reason for not attending it.

When Kovind's candidature was announced by the BJP, Thackeray had initially said his party was against backing him if his nomination was aimed at garnering Dalit votes.

However, a day later, Thackeray changed his tack and extended support to the NDA's pick for the top office.

Sena, a key constituent of the NDA, shares an uneasy relationship with the BJP as it couldn't reconcile to the reality of the BJP's spectacular ascent to power at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

Raut said Sena still sticks to the names of Bhagwat and Swaminathan.

"...The BJP chose somebody else (instead of Bhagwat or Swaminathan) which is OK. Once he (Kovind) is nominated as the presidential candidate, he is above all party politics," Raut said.

In a bid to needle the BJP, Sena had proposed the name of Bhagwat on Hindutva line as the likely nominee for the presidential poll.

However, as the RSS chief didn't show any inclination, the party proposed the name of Swaminathan who too didn't show any interest.

According to the source, who is believed to have Thackeray's ears, another reason for the party not attending the nomination filing event was that it wanted to send a message to the BJP that the latter is dependent on Sena's support in the matters of the national importance.

"We have already announced our support for Kovind and even signed as proposers. However, the BJP had to be given a message that however powerful it may be, it would still need our support in the matters of the national importance," he said. -- PTI

The Opposition presidential nominee Meira Kumar today said the president of India must uphold the values of inclusiveness, social justice and pluralism as the supreme representative of the nation.

She said the post was not symbolic and that capability and experience must supersede all other considerations.

In an appeal to the electorate comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and legislators in state assemblies, she said the post was responsible for 'safeguarding and defending' constitutional principles.

"The values I hold dear -- of inclusiveness, social justice and pluralism -- are the values the president must uphold as the supreme representative of our nation," she said.

If the values were undermined, so would the Constitution,the former Lok Sabha Speaker said.

"India can then not hope to achieve the progressive modernity envisioned by its founding fathers and reflected in the collective will of its people," she said in a statement.

Kumar said the post embodied the diversity of India's socio-political culture and the vision of its 'composite ideology'.

"It transcends the considerations of caste, religion or region," she said.

The post, she stressed, was not symbolic.

"It articulates, in the fullest sense, the basis of our electoral philosophy -- that capability and experience must always supersede all other considerations," she said.

In her appeal, she asked members of the collegium to base their decision on 'these cherished principles and secure them for our future generations'. -- PTI

Former Calcutta high court judge C S Karnan, arrested for committing contempt of the Supreme Court, today remained admitted to a hospital with the doctors describing him as 'not fit' to be discharged.

"He is a bit better but not in a state to be released from the hospital. Doctors are keeping an eye on him," a senior officer at the Presidency correctional home (jail) told PTI.

Karnan, 62, was admitted to state-run SSKM hospital last evening after he complained of 'uneasiness' and chest pain. It was learnt that the doctors at the hospital conducted a few medical tests on the former judge today too and the results are being awaited.

Karnan, who had been evading arrest since May 9 after the Supreme Court awarded him a six-month jail term, was arrested on the June 20 night by a team of West Bengal CID from a private resort at Malumichampatti, about six km from Coimbatore, where he was hiding for a few days.

He was brought from Chennai to Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon and was taken to the Presidency correctional home. -- PTI

An Islamic State sympathiser, who allegedly wanted to carry out subversive activities in the country, was today arrested here by the city police.

According to the police, Konakalla Subramanyam alias Omer, 22, was in touch with other IS sympathisers through social media.

'On receipt of credible information, the Special Investigation Team apprehended Omer and found in his possession one mobile phone, which contained incriminating conversation with ISIS sympathisers,' a release issued by Hyderabad Police said.

Based on a complaint filed by SIT Inspector K Syamala Rao, Omer was booked on charges of sedition, criminal conspiracy and under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, it said.

His interrogation revealed he had embraced Islam in 2014.

Later, he visited Gujarat and trained in religious rituals and scriptures.

He also visited Srinagar and other places in Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, the police said.

He allegedly chatted with IS sympathisers through Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and was in regular touch with Abu Qahafa Al-Hindi, a Mumbai-based IS sympathiser.

'Omer wanted to carry out subversive activities in the country at the instigation of Abu Qahafa Al-Hindi. The accused is being remanded in judicial custody,' the police added.  -- PTI

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act case against Jamat-ud Dawah chief and Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and members of Hurriyat Conference, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.

The ED will investigate flow of funds through hawala and other illegal channels (domestically and abroad) for funding separatist and terrorist activities.

More details awaited. -- ANI

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said that he was deeply disturbed by the brutal act in which Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) Mohammed Ayub Pandith was lynched to death by a mob, adding he was not present inside the mosque at the time of the incident.

"The media is reporting falsely that when the incident happened, I was present inside the mosque. I reached the mosque at 12.15 a.m., while the incident had happened before that," he said in a press release.

"The incident that happened in Nowhatta outside the Jamia Masjid is the most unfortunate. I am deeply disturbed by this brutal act. Mob violence and public lynching is outside the parameters of our values and religion," he said.

Mirwaiz also stated that what the state of Jammu and Kashmir has wreaked on them was largely responsible for this kind of brutalisation.

"Mirwaiz said that the violence that the state has wreaked on us is largely responsible for this kind of brutalisation, as the police are being used against the people in the most brutal ways which leads to brutal reactions," he said.

He repeatedly said that they had been asking the Indian state to address the Kashmir dispute and initiate steps to resolve it, so that the bloodshed of Kashmiris and those killed at the LoC is stopped, but to no avail.

Last night, Pandith was lynched to death by a violent mob in downtown Srinagar.

The deceased DSP was on surveillance and was allegedly clicking pictures of people emerging from the Jamia Masjid, when a mob attacked him.

After the situation got out of control, the cop in his own defence opened fire, through his service pistol on the mob, in which three people got injured.

The angry mob then proceeded to attack him and ended up taking his life.

The police have recovered the body of the deceased and are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said two people have been arrested and a third person has been identified in connection with the lynching.

Image: Grieving relatives of DSP Mohammed Ayub Pandith who was lynched outside a mosque while on duty. Pic: Umar Ganie

The Reserve Bank of India today said it has not issued any instructions restricting the exchange of Qatari Riyals in the country. The central bank came up with the clarification amid reports that certain authorised dealers/persons are not undertaking the sale or purchase of the Qatari currency. "It is clarified that the Reserve Bank has not issued any instructions restricting the exchange of Qatari Riyals in India," RBI said in a notification.

The unrest in Jammu and Kashmir continues to take a toll on the state's tourism industry with foreign visitors giving it a miss for another year. In 2016, only 63,207 foreign tourists visited the state as compared to 86,477 in 2014.


The state has been under the grip of violent protests since July last year following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani. The state was ranked 23rd in the list of India's top 36 tourist destinations this year. According to data compiled by the Market Research Division of the Ministry of Tourism on domestic and foreign tourist visits to states and Union territories, Tamil Nadu retained its position as the top destination for both foreign and domestic visitors.


During 2016, the number of foreign tourist visits to the states and UTs was 24.71 million as compared to 23.33 million in 2015, a growth of 5.92 per cent. The top 10 states in terms of number of foreign tourist visits were Tamil Nadu (4.72 million), Maharashtra (4.67), Uttar Pradesh (3.16), Delhi (2.52), West Bengal (1.53), Rajasthan (1.51), Kerala (1.04), Bihar (1.01), Goa (0.68) and Punjab (0.66). The top 10 states attracted about 87.02 per cent of total foreign visitors in 2016.


Image: Grieving relatives of DSP Mohammed Ayub Pandith, who was lynched last night, at his funeral.

Passengers on board a Mathura-bound train allegedly stabbed a man to death and injured two of his cousins on suspicion that they were carrying beef, police said on Friday. Read more

RJD chief Lalu Prasad today again appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar not to make a "historic blunder" by extending support to the NDA nominee for the presidential poll.


Describing the combined opposition nominee Meira Kumar as "Bihar ki Beti" (daughter of Bihar), Prasad appealed to Kumar to "mend the historic blunder" of supporting NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind.


"We are still treading on the path you had suggested to make the country 'Sangh-mukt'...don't know what made Kumar move away and extend support to a RSS man," Prasad told reporters on his arrival at the Jayprakash Narayan Airport at Patna from New Delhi.


The RJD president, however, made it clear that the divergent paths taken by his party and the JD(U) would have no impact on the Grand Alliance government in Bihar headed by Kumar.


"There will be no impact of this (different views of the RJD and the JD(U)) on the Grand Alliance government in the future," Prasad said.

Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday in its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C38) launched the 712 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation along with 30 co-passenger satellites.

This is India's 40th mission, apart from the first mission, all 39 missions have been successful.Indian space scientist and the chairman of ISRO Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar said that PSLV is emerging as a credible launch vehicle for people across the globe.

Talking about the future plans, the ISRO chairman said, "The next PSLV launch is carrying a replacement satellite. The clocks of one of the first satellites have stopped functioning. So, we need to replace that. Before that, we have a communication satellite GSAT 17, getting launched on 28th of this month."

Later this year, GSAT-11 will be launched.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today termed the lynching of a deputy superintendent of police in Jammu and Kashmir as "horrific", saying the incident marked a new low in the state. He lamented that the state had gone back several decades due to the "complete failure" of the PDP-BJP combine there.

"The brutal lynching of Deputy SP Md Ayub Pandith marks a new low. Pained beyond words at the horrific incident," he said on Twitter. "Heartbreaking to see J&K being pushed back several decades because of the complete failure of the PDP/BJP government," he tweeted.

Gandhi has been on a vacation abroad to meet his grandmother where he also celebrated his birthday.

DSP Mohammed Ayoub Pandit was stripped naked and stoned to death by an irate mob after he allegedly opened fire at a group of people, who caught him clicking pictures near a mosque in Srinagar's downtown area in the early hours today.

More on the upcoming bilingual Indian passport: EAM Sushma Swaraj launches a commemorative stamp on the completion of 50 years of the Passport Act. She also announced a 10% reduction in passport fee for applicants under eight years of age and over 60 years.

Eight unprecedented hours with "Mr. Everything,' Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Read it here.

Mumbai-raised, British novelist Susmita Bhattacharya, who we interviewed a couple of years ago, emailed us to tell us about the Authors for Grenfell Tower initiative to raise funds for the victims of the horrific London building fire.

Susmita has put a signed copy of her book up for auction and tells us that do gooders worldwide can browse more wonderful offers to help the victims.  

Take a look...

All passports will be in English and Hindi languages from now on and not just English, External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj announces in Delhi.

This is among the host of changes that the government has introduced recently.

The new norms will reduce the paperwork and documentation required for several categories of applicants. The new norms have overridden the passport Rules, 1980, which says applicants born on or after January 26, 1989 have to submit birth certificates.

Now, Sadhus and sanyasis can now mention the names of their spiritual gurus instead of biological parents, while Separated or divorced applicants will not have to mention the name of her or his spouse in the application form either.

The new passport rules will also eliminate the mandatory requirement of the birth certificate as the proof of date of birth.

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji among honorees of this year's Carnegie Medal, considered the most prestigious prize in philanthropy.

Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday condemned the brutal lynching of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP), Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammed Ayub Pandith by a mob, stating that such brutality to snatch the humanity and values cannot be allowed.

His statement comes amid reports that Farooq was inside the Jamia Masjid when the DSP was doing surveillance.

Farooq tweeted: "Deeply disturbed & condemn the brutal act at Nowhatta. Mob violence & public lynching is outside the parameters of our values & religion....," he tweeted."....We cannot allow state brutality to snatch our humanity & values," he added.

Restrictions were today imposed in parts of the summer capital Srinagar to foil the protest call by separatists against the killing of a civilian in alleged police firing in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.


The separatists have called for peaceful protests against the killing of Tawseef Ahmad during clashes with security forces at Kakapora in Pulwama yesterday. The clashes erupted after an encounter in which three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed.


The separatists, chairmen of both factions of Hurriyat Conference -- Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - and JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik, in a joint statement, said it was not possible to call for a strike in view of the 'Shab-e-Qadar' and 'Jumaat-ul-Wida', asking people to stage peaceful protests against the killing.

Former J-K CM Omar Abdullah‏ reacts to the assault and lynching of a cop on duty in Srinagar. @abdullah_omar: "He was a Dy SP in the Security Wing of J&K Police & I understand he was there on security duty for access control at Jamia Masjid. His death is a tragedy & the manner of his death a travesty. May the people who lynched DySP Pandith burn in hell for their sins."

NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind after filing his nomination papers said it was country first, not politics. "Ever since I became governor, I don't belong to any political party.  The post of President is above party politics. I am thankful to everybody for their support. I will strive to keep President's post above party politics. Development is priority. I appeal to all for cooperation."


All chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and its allies except Manohar Parrikar of Goa and Mehbooba Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir were present. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami were among those present.


Besides NDA constituents, which comprise over 48.6 per cent of votes in the electoral college that will elect the next president, regional parties such as the AIADMK, BJD, TRS and JD(U) have announced their support to the Dalit leader, making his win an almost foregone conclusion.


Kovind is guaranteed to get more than 61 per cent of votes, and the finally tally depends on how some still- undecided regional parties vote, BJP source said.


A group of opposition parties had yesterday announced that former Speaker Meira Kumar, also a Dalit leader, would be their joint candidate against Kovind. The election is scheduled for July 17 and the counting of votes will take place on July 20.


The term of President Pranab Mukherjee ends on July 24. Once elected, Kovind will be the second Dalit to occupy the highest constitutional office.


The first was K R Narayanan, who was in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1997-2002. A low-profile Dalit leader who held various organisational positions in the BJP, Kovind, 71, was made the Bihar Governor in 2015 after the NDA came to power in May 2014.


The name of the two-term Rajya Sabha member did not figure among the probables but his nomination by the BJP is now being seen as a "political masterstroke".


He enjoys a clean reputation and has steered clear of any controversy in his over 26-year-old political career. His Dalit background makes him a sound political choice for the saffron party working overtime to woo Dalits.

Ram Nath Kovind flanked by the PM and the BJP president. 

NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind after filing his nomination papers: "Ever since I became governor, I don't belong to any political party.  The post of President is above party politics. I am thankful to everybody for their support. I will strive to keep President's post above party politics."

The kerfuffle between Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli that has hogged headlines across the cricket world in the past few days has turned my attention to people like Ramakant Achrekar and his ilk.

Achrekar's name resonates the most in modern Indian cricket because he has coached and mentored an impressive number of cricketers (in the past three decades or so) who went on to play, or were very close to being picked for India.

His most famous pupil Sachin Tendulkar strode across the cricketing world like a colossus for almost a quarter century, turning the spotlight not just on himself and Indian cricket, but also his coach. Read more

Ram Nath Kovind with Union minister Venkaiah Naidu, who along with Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh was tasked with getting a consensus for their presidential nominee. 

BJP Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind files his nomination as the 15th President of India in Parliament House. Present are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior leaders Lk Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, BJP President Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj, chief ministers of seven states.The nomination will be filed before Anoop Mishra, the Lok Sabha secretary general, who is the Returning Officer for the Presidential polls.


The BJP has prepared four sets for Kovind's nomination.

In the first set, proposer Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present along with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

In the second set, proposer BJP chief Amit Shah and Union Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will be there.

In the third set, proposer Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal, Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu will be present.

In the fourth set, proposer Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be present.   

Cop lynching in Nowhtatta: J&K DGP SP Vaid said two people have been arrested, a third person has been identified. "They will have to face the law. People should understand what is good and what is bad. They have lynched a person who was sent to guard them. Logon ko samajhna chahiye achha kya hai bura kya hai, jo unki hifazat ke liye wahan duty kar raha tha use hi lynch kar diya."

30 new smart cities selected in the 3rd round of Smart City Mission, taking the total number of smart cities to 90, says Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu.

Does your city figure in this list?

"It is not only the media that are largely tame. Agencies such as India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate of the finance ministry, the tax authorities and even local police forces are often accused of doing the government's bidding. Since the upstart Aam Aadmi Party won control of the local assembly in Delhi, India's capital, from the BJP in 2015, its leaders have been hit by a barrage of investigations. Their impressive reforms to health and education have won widespread praise, but Delhi's government has trouble filling administrative posts because career bureaucrats refuse its vacancies for fear of harassment."

India under the Modi government in the Economist. Do read 

J-K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the police has been showing restraint, but she was shocked at this assault and killing. "This is an extremely shameful situation," she said after paying homage to the slain cop lynched by a mob in Nowhatta, Kashmir. 

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz @ahmedalifayyaz  tweets: His daughter had returned from her medical college in Bangladesh to celebrate Eid with her family. All in shock and mourning ahead of Eid!!

Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti pays homage to Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammed Ayub Pandith who was lynched by a mob in Kashmir.

The deceased DSP was allegedly making a video of the local stone pelting. Objecting to it, the murderous mob attacked him and beat and stoned him to death.

Reports say the cop opened fire in self defence with his service pistol on the mob, in which three people got injured.

The angry mob then lynched him.

Police have recovered the body of deceased and are investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police confirmed the incident and tweeted, "Another officer sacrificed his life in line of duty DySP Mohammed Ayub Pandith of Security beaten to death by mob at #Nowhatta last night."


Image: J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti offers prayers at the coffin of Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammed Ayub Pandith who was brutally murdered by the people he was deputed to protect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon be travelling to Washington D.C. for a visit with President of the United States Donald Trump.

Since the two men will be meeting for the first time, a major focus of their exchange will be testing the waters of personal chemistry -- which famously flourished between Modi and Barack Obama, resulting in an unlikely big-name bromance.

Accordingly, the June 26 meeting -- which won't be designated as an official state visit -- will lack the pomp and pageantry that marked Modi's engagements with Barack Obama. And it likely won't yield splashy announcements or accords.

Still, because the meeting marks their first encounter, the visit is fraught with significance.

How Trump, perhaps the most unpredictable president in American history, handles the summit remains to be seen.  Read more


The image has been Photoshopped.

NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind leaves North Avenue, to file nomination papers in the PM Narendra Modi's presence. Kovind will be filing his nomination from Parliament House to be the 15th President of India.

The Prime Minister tweeted to say, Will accompany Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji as he files his nomination papers today for the upcoming Presidential election."

The ruling NDA government has nominated Bihar Governor Kovind for the position for for the post of Indian President.

The BJP has prepared four sets for Kovind's nomination.

In the first set, proposer Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present along with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

In the second set, proposer BJP chief Amit Shah and Union Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will be there.

In the third set, proposer Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parkash Singh Badal, Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu will be present.

In the fourth set, proposer Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be present.

Johnny Depp has made his disdain for President Donald Trump more than clear. But his recent quip has left people wondering if his intentions are a little more than just nefarious.

During an appearance at Glastonbury, the actor received a huge ovation at Cineramageddon and introduced his 2004 film 'The Libertine' along with director Julian Temple, but soon began to talk about the President of the United States Donald Trump, reports The Guardian.

Talking about Trump, he said that he needs help and there are many wonderful dark places where he could go.

Adding, "I think he needs help and there are a lot of wonderful dark, dark places he could go. It is just a question - I'm not insinuating anything. By the way, this is going to be in the press. It will be horrible. I like that you are all a part of it."

The 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' star also joked about assassinating Trump during the Q&A.

"When was the last time an actor assassinated a president? I want to qualify, I am not an actor. I lie for a living. However, it has been a while and maybe it is time," Depp joked.

Depp, who arrived in a blue vintage Cadillac, was greeted with crowds of screaming fans holding phones.

Post the end-moment announcement of the presidential nominee by the Opposition, senior NCP leader Majeed Memon on Friday said that the party member must decide in a non-political way between Meira Kumar and Ramnath Kovind as who would serve as a better leader, adding the decision should favour Kumar.

"I would humbly appeal to the party members that if they want to continue to sail with the Opposition, which they are saying, then they must reconsider now and apply their mind in an absolutely non-political way between Meira Kumar and Ramnath Kovind and see who would make a better leader of India. I think they should decide in favour of Meira Kumar," Memon told ANI.

He further said that the declaration of Kumar's name as the combined Opposition candidate has come through the unanimous decision of 17 Opposition political parties.

"Some of the political parties like JD (U), (Biju Janata Dal) BJD, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) or Shiv Sena have already announced that they are supporting Kovind. I would pose a question to them that don't you think that your decision was a little too immature and in haste when you took important decision like who is going to head the Indian executive for the next five years? It's an important decision," he questioned.

Memon further said that they took this decision without knowing whether Kovind is going to be a single man in the contest and there will be no contest against him."They should have waited for some time," he asserted.

Former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar was on Thursday announced as the Opposition' Presidential nominee.The Opposition - Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI), and other parties - met yesterday to discuss the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) decision on Presidential nominee Ramnath Kovind, following which they announced their candidate.

The BJP had earlier said that the Opposition was a divided house over the Presidential elections as many of its partners have extended support to ruling NDA candidate.BJP chief Amit Shah had announced the name of Kovind as NDA's consensus candidate for the post of Indian President.


The election for the next President of India is to be held on July 17 as President Pranab Mukherjee will demit the office on July 24. The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued the notification in this regard and the process of the nomination has started that will continue till June 28.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is set to meet US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival here for a summit meeting with President Donald Trump.


The Jaishankar-Tillerson meeting is likely to give final touches to the Modi-Trump meeting at the White House on Monday. Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet the Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.


Jaishankar, a former Indian ambassador to the US, has been playing a leading role in shaping the India-US relationship under the Modi Government. Modi's US visit will begin on June 25.

ISRO's sixth Cartosat-2 series satellite weighs 712 kg and the 30 nano 'co-passenger' satellites that has been launched with it together weigh 243 kg

-- Of the 30 nano satellites that will be launched, 29 are foreign and one is Indian

-- The 29 international nano satellites being launched are part of the commercial arrangements between ISRO's commercial arm, the Antrix Corporation Ltd and 14 international customers. These customers are Austria, Belgium, Britain, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the US.

The United States is looking forward to strengthen ties with India, the Trump Administration has said, ahead of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump next week.