Maria Sharapova won't feature at this year's French Open after being snubbed by the Fedration Franaise de Tennis. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress chief is all set to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss a common presidential nominee from the Opposition ranks. However, meeting the press after the meeting, Banerjee said they did not discuss any names. She said the BJP was attacking the Opposition through CBI raids.


Banerjee had reached 10, Janpath, in New Delhi in the evening, according to news agency ANI.


President Pranab Mukherjee's term ends in July.


Sonia has already held meetings with JD (U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and NCP leader Sharad Pawar in this regard.


ANI also reports that Congress Pradesh Committee president Adhir Chowdhury wrote a letter to Gandhi, requesting her to deal with the TMC chief carefully as most of her party leaders are under the scanner in Saradha and Narada scams. In the current situation, Mamata might settle for a common candidate selected by all major parties. She may even propose President Mukherjee's name for the post.


File pic

Markets soared to record-smashing heights for the second straight session today as investors remained enthused by the early onset of monsoon amid quarterly earnings cheer. Benchmark Sensex finished at a fresh lifetime high of 30,582 while the broader Nifty closed above the 9,500-mark for the first time. Both indices had hit record highs in yesterday's trade as well.

Olympian PT Usha's new academy at Kozhikode opens on June 15.  Called the "Usha School of Athletics' it will train budding athletes. The academy is spread across 30 acres and is built at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore sanctioned by the Centre. It will have a 8-lane synthetic track, a mud track, a 40-bed hostel, and a gymnasium. The Academy will have a team of trained coaches, physios and other key officials to assist the athletes.


Image: PT Usha called on Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Vijay Goel in New Delhi for the opening of her Academy.

Malkangiri (Odisha): Sirisa Kurami, daughter of a former woman Maoist cadre has been selected for the under-18 national volleyball team.


Also read: The CRPF is not fighting just the Maoists in Bastar

"The trial of India's first upper-class "crime of passion" - a gripping tale of love and honour - had enough twists and turns, leading to an unexpected pardon for the naval officer. It also turned out to be India's last trial by jury."

Bachi Karkaria, senior journalist and author of In Hot Blood: The Nanavati Case That Shook India, on the story that became a mix of morality, patriotism and communal pride. Read

The CBI today carried out searches at the house of former media baron Peter Mukerjea in Mumbai as part of investigations into a case linked to Karti Chidambaram, son of former union minister P Chidambaram, over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to a firm, INX Media, in 2007.


The search was among the raids carried out at multiple locations across the country, including at the homes of the former finance minister and his son, CBI sources said.


A team of CBI sleuths are conducting searches at Peter's bungalow in the posh Worli area in south Mumbai, PTI sources said. Both Peter and his wife Indrani Mukerjea, founders of INX Media, are accused in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case and are lodged in jail in Mumbai.


The CBI has been conducting searches at 17 locations across the country, including New Delhi, Gurgaon, Chennai and Chidambaram's hometown of Karaikudi, as part of a probe into the alleged criminal misconduct in approval of foreign investments in India.


The agency had yesterday registered a case regarding alleged irregularities in granting the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media in 2007 when Chidambaram was the finance minister.


The agency has registered the case against INX Media through its director Peter, Indrani, Karti Chidambaram, Chess Management Services (a company of Karti), Advantage Strategic Consulting Limited through its director Padma Vishwanathan. Indrani was arrested in August 2015 after chilling details of the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora came to light that year. Peter was arrested and made an accused later in November 2015. According to CBI, which investigated the murder case and filed the chargesheet, that both Peter and Indrani had siphoned off money from INX Media.

Slamming the BJP following income tax raids at 22 locations in Delhi, Gurugram on companies and people associated with him, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav asserted that he is not afraid of the onslaught against him.

Lalu took to Twitter to slam the BJP, saying the saffron party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are trying to pressurise him, knowing that he will expose their 'lies, loot and jumlas.'Challenging the Centre to reveal the names of the 22 places raided, the former Bihar chief minister said, "At least tell which 22 places were raided, you illiterates. Lalu is not scared of BJP-backed media and government puppets."

Lalu further said that the BJP lacks courage to suppress his voice and if they try to do so, then million more Lalus will emerge all across India.

In a challenge, Lalu cautioned the BJP saying, "I am not scared of the BJP. There is a lot more to be done by bringing together all the parties sharing the same ideology."

Supreme Court advocate Karuna Nundy‏ @karunanundy tweets:  Let's make sati, casteism, honour killings legal again.

That's in response to Kapil Sibal's remark in the SC today. Sibal, who is representing the Muslim Personal Law Board in the triple talaq hearing told the court today: "Triple talaq is going on since 1400 years, how can you say it is unconstitutional?"

Pranab Mukherjee rules out a second term as President in the wake of a statement from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

According to sources in Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President feels that since the BJP has absolute majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls it gets the right to choose the President of India.

So that's that.

Nitish Kumar on Monday said there would be no better idea than reelecting Mukherjee as President of India.

He also asked the ruling party at the Centre to try to build consensus with all opposition parties for the unanimous election of President.

Ahead of his upcoming visit to Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today conveyed to Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas India's "unwavering support" to the Palestinian cause.

After holding extensive talks with Abbas, Modi said India hopes to see a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, co-existing peacefully with Israel. The two countries also inked five agreements following talks between Modi and Abbas. "India has been unwavering in supporting the Palestinian cause," the Prime Minister said in his media statement. Modi also saids that India hopes for an early resumption of talks between Palestinian and Israeli sides so as to move towards finding a comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue.

Hours after the income-tax department conducted raids on at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, the RJD chief said he is not afraid. Lalu said, "Main jhukne aur darnewala nahin hoon.

Lalu congratulated the BJP for its new ally. "BJP ko naye sahyogi mubarakbad," he said without naming the ally.

Lalu's statement has left political circles speculating about he meant Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, whose perceived closeness to the BJP has led observers to believe he may join the the NDA.

But RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told newspersons that Lalu was talking about the IT department and the CBI as BJP's new allies.

MI Khan/Rediff.com

China today took strong exception to India's stand on its One Belt One Road initiative, saying it was welcome to participate in the mega project but New Delhi should explain what kind of "meaningful dialogue" it wants Beijing to hold with it.

"Over the past four years since the project was initiated we have been holding the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits" for the Belt and Road initiative, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, reacting to Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Gopal Bagley's remarks that China should hold a meaningful dialogue on concerns over the OBOR project.


"I do not know what the spokesperson (of MEA was) trying to say. What kind of dialogue is a meaningful dialogue. What kind of a positive attitude the spokesman wants China to hold?" Hua said when asked for her reaction to Bagley's remarks a day before the two-day Belt and Road Forum. India boycotted the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) held from May 14-15.

The meeting was attended by 29 world leaders, including Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. India skipped the meeting due to its sovereignty concerns over the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

A fire broke out at the popular Oberon Mall in Kochi on Tuesday. The fire is believed to have originated in a restaurant in the food court. The fourth floor of the mall has been damaged. Everyone has been evacuated.

Chemicals found in Chinese folk medicines may be used to make next generation of 'molecular condoms' that may serve as a safe alternative to today's hormone-based contraceptives, scientists say.

The chemicals, extracted from two plants, thunder god vine and aloe, are effective at low doses and have no adverse effect on egg or sperm, other than preventing a key step in fertilisation - the meeting of egg and sperm.

They work by stopping sperm's power kick, which is normally stimulated by the hormone progesterone secreted by cells surrounding the egg and makes the sperm's tail whip forcefully to propel it toward and into the egg.

According to researchers from the University of California (UC) Berkeley in the US, the chemicals may serve as an emergency contraceptive taken either before or after intercourse, or as a permanent contraceptive via a skin patch or vaginal ring.

Human sperm take about five to six hours to mature once they enter the female reproductive system, which is enough time for the drug to enter the system and block the kick.

Branding P Chidambaram as an 'emerging leader', the Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to tarnish the former union minister's reputation because he is voicing against the Narendra Modi-led Government.

The statement comes in the wake of the CBI raids underway at former union minister Chidambaram's residence in Chennai, which is in connection with alleged favours granted in FIPB clearance to a firm.

Speaking to the media here state Congress leader Karate R. Thiagarajan said, "This is a politically motivated raid. Chidambaram is an emerging leader. He can be the chief minister of the state. They are trying to damage his reputation. He is the one who is raising voice against BJP in Delhi."

Echoing similar views, Tamil Nadu spokesperson Peter Alphonse asserted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid is yet another agenda in play by the BJP.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today alleged that the Centre was using investigating agencies to target his son and his friends to "silence" his voice against the government.


"All I will say is, I shall continue to speak and write," he said in a statement in Chennai as CBI today launched searches at several places linked to the former finance minister and his son Karti over alleged favours granted in foreign investment clearance to a firm, INX Media, in 2007.


Chidambaram said the FIPB approval was granted in "hundreds of cases." Each case was processed according to law and approval was granted or refused in accordance with the recommendations of the FIPB consisting of five secretaries to the Government of India, he said.


The five secretaries who constitute the FIPB, the officials of the FIPB secretariat and the competent authority in each case are the public officials, he said, adding there was no allegation against any of them. "There is no allegation against me," he added.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has said his government will withdraw a proposal seeking permission from the Centre to allow hunting of nilgais and wild pigs by declaring them as vermin. Instead of hunting these animals, the state government would put up 97.5 lakh meters of fences around affected farmlands across the state, an official release said yesterday.

As per the release, the state government has alloted Rs 200 crore for the purpose.

There was a ban on the hunting of nilagais (blue bull) and wild pigs, as they were protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However, since there was a large population of the animals which were found responsible for destroying crops, the state government had sent a proposal to the Centre demanding that they be declared as vermin, the release said.

Rupani made the announcement after analysing various aspects pertaining to this issue during a recently held meeting of state board for wildlife, it said.

The Delhi High Court today transferred to the CBI from the police the investigation into the disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, who is missing since October 15, 2016.


A bench of Justices G S Sistani and Rekha Palli transferred the matter to CBI with immediate effect on a plea by the student's mother after the Delhi Police said it has no problem with such a direction.


The court said the probe by the CBI would be supervised by an officer not less than the rank of a DIG. While transferring the matter, the court noted that the Delhi Police had implemented all directions and suggestions given by the court. The matter will be taken up next on July 17.

JUST IN: Delhi high court transfers case of Jawaharlal Nehru University missing student Najeeb Ahmad to Central Bureau of Investigation. -- ANI 

As Congress leader and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, arguing on triple talaq case, told the Supreme Court that it 'shouldn't decide or interfere in one's faith and belief', Justice Rohinton Nariman asked him, "You mean to say that we shouldn't hear the matter?"

To which, Sibal replied, "Yes, you shouldn't."

Appearing for the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in the case, Sibal told the bench, "If Hindus faith about Rama's birth at Ayodhya can't be questioned, then triple talaq, a matter of faith for Muslims shouldn't be." -- ANI

A fire broke out in a coffee shop at Park Street in southern Kolkata in the morning today, fire brigade sources said. Five tenders were pressed into service to bring the blaze under control, which broke out at 11.05 am. 

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today asked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre what it was celebrating after three years in power, as all it had to show for this time were 'broken promises' and 'non- performance'.

Pointing to farmer suicides and unemployment in the country, he said the last three years were a 'betrayal' of the mandate the government had received.

"Youth are struggling to find jobs, farmers are committing suicide & soldiers are dying at the border. What exactly is the Govt celebrating?" Gandhi tweeted.

"3 years of broken promises, non performance & betrayal of a mandate," he said in another tweet.

The BJP is organising a 'Modi Fest' across the country to mark three years of its rule at the Centre. 'Modi', however, does not refer to the Prime Minister's name but stands for Making of Developing India.

The festival will be kicked off by the prime minister with a series of events and a public meeting in Guwahati on May 26, and will conclude on June 15. -- PTI

Irfan Habib, intellectual and historian tweets: @irfhabib 125 Modifests, celebrating 3 years of Modi govt: Keep marketing the Man, governance can wait.

Update on the triple talaq hearing in the Supreme Court.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board today told the Supreme Court that triple talaq is a matter of faith being practiced by Muslims for the last 1,400 years and hence the question of constitutional morality and equity did not arise.

The Muslim body also equated triple talaq with the Hindu belief that Lord Rama was born at Ayodhya.

"Triple talaq is there since 637. Who are we to say that this is un-Islamic. Muslims are practicing it for last 1,400 years. It is a matter of faith. Hence, there was no question of constitutional morality and equity," former Union Law Minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for AIMPLB, said.

"If I have faith that Lord Rama was born at Ayodhya, then it's a matter of faith and there is no question of constitutional morality," Sibal told a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar.

He also referred to the fact that the source of triple talaq can be found in Hadith and that it came into being after the time of Prophet Muhammad.

The AIMPLB is advancing arguments before the bench which also comprises Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, U U Lalit and Abdul Nazeer.

Yesterday, the Centre had told the apex court that it will bring a new law to regulate marriage and divorce among the Muslim community if all forms of divorce including triple talaq are struck down.

Today is the fourth day of the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging triple talaq, polygamy and 'nikah halala' which is going on before a bench comprising members of different religious communities including Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Hindu and Muslim.

The Supreme Court is hearing the triple talaq case. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the case, Supreme Court lawyer Kapil Sibal is arguing the case on behalf of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

Sibal, who is also amicus curiae in the case, told the court that 'triple talaq is going on since 1400 years, how can you say it is unconstitutional?'

The court wanted to know from the AIMPLB what is the position of e- divorce given on WhatsApp in Islam?

Sibal tells the court that there is no question of Constitutional morality and equity in matters of faith.

The government on Monday told the Supreme Court that it will come out with a law to regulate marriage and divorce among Muslims if triple talaq is held invalid and unconstitutional by the court.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a five-judge Constitution Bench+ headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar "If the practice of instant divorce (triple talaq) is struck down by the court, then Centre will bring a law to regulate marriage and divorce among the Muslim community."

Rohatgi's submission came when the court asked him what are the remedies for a Muslim man to come out of a marriage if such practices are struck down.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed by President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Abbas landed in New Delhi late Sunday for a three-day visit looking to strengthen ties with India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to Israel.

He will meet Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj today after a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan and laying a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.

He is scheduled to head back home on Wednesday.

Finnish mobile firm HMD Global will start selling the new version of the iconic Nokia 3310 handset for Rs 3,310 in India from May 18.

"The Nokia 3310 will be available across top mobile stores in India starting May 18, 2017... will retail at a recommended best buy price of Rs 3,310," HMD Global said in a statement.

The new Nokia 3310 will come in four colours -- warm red and yellow, both with a gloss finish, and dark blue and grey, both with a matte finish.

Raising the bar, the Sensex today shot up another 181 points to a fresh all-time intra-day high of 30,503 and the Nifty 9,482, with retail investors steering the ship amid unabated foreign capital inflows. Encouraging earnings also supported the rally.

The 30-share BSE index leapt 181.36 points, or 0.60 per cent, to trade at a new record 30,503.48, surpassing its previous milestone of 30,366.43 (intra-day) touched on May 11.

The gauge had rallied 134 points in the previous session. The National Stock Exchange index Nifty did not disappoint either, gaining another 36.90 points, or 0.39 per cent, to hit a new high of 9,482.30, breaching its previous intra-day high of 9,450.65 hit on May 11.

The Income Tax department today conducted raids and surveys on at least 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas on charges of alleged benami deals worth Rs 1,000 crore linked to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and others.

Officials said the department began raiding the premises of some prominent businessmen and real estate agents in Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and few others since early morning.

The searches are also being conducted at the premises of the son of RJD MP P C Gupta and few other businessmen. While raids are being conducted at a dozen locations, ten other official premises are being surveyed by the I-T department, they said.

MoS Home Kiren Rijiju‏ @KirenRijiju joins the campaign As a former Member of Khadi Commission I value cotton. I join to celebrate Indian summers & cotton industry with my #CottonIsCool look. 

This is the picture BJP MP Hema Malini posted for the #CottonIsCool campaign.

Textiles minister Smriti Z Irani kicks off a #CottonIsCool initiative to promote cotton clothes in India.

Irani posted a picture of herself in a pretty cotton sari, before an idol, presumably at the Nathdwara temple near Udaipur, with this message: I celebrate Indian summers and cotton industry with my #CottonIsCool look. What is your #CottonIsCool look?! (See the picture alongside)

Soon after, BJP MP Hema Malini also picture of herself in an off-white sari with a zari border, saying: @dreamgirlhema  Nothing like fresh cottons to beat the heat I believe in staying cool even on the hottest days #CottonIsCool.

Soon after she assumed office in July last year, Irani kicked off a Selfie with handlooms campaign on social media. Promoted with the hashtag #IWearHandloom on Facebook and Twitter, Irani launched the movement by posting a photo of herself in a royal blue Bihar silk, and tagged peers like Devendra Fadnavis, Kiran Bedi, Anandiben Patel and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Yesterday, speaking to a TV channel, she mocked Rahul Gandhi, and said unlike him, she cannot turn her back on the people of Amethi from where she unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls against the Congress vice president.

Digvijaya Singh @digvijaya_28 Strongly condemn raids against Chidambaram and Kartik. Political vendetta of the worst kind.

Congress leader P Chidambaram reacts to CBI raids at his residence and other places:

"The government by using CBI and other agencies is targeting my son and his friends. The government wants to silence my voice," Chidambaram said.

"The government wants to stop me from writing, as it has tried to do with leaders of opposition parties, journalists, columnists, NGOs and civil society," he said.

"Every case processed according to law and approval granted or refused in accordance with FIPB recommendations consisting of five government of India secretaries," Chidambaram clarified. -- ANI

IMAGE: CBI conducts a raid on former Union minister P Chidambaram's residence in Chennai. Photograph: ANI

After threatening to drag Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Tihar Jail, sacked Delhi minister Kapil Mishra will on Tuesday approach the Central Bureau of Investigation and Central Board of Direct Taxes to submit evidences of corruption against the former.

Mishra, ended his indefinite hunger strike on the sixth day on Monday after stating that the doctors would not discharge him until he starts taking liquids.

In fact, Mishra also tweeted saying that he has to go to CBI and CBDT.

Before heading to the CBI, Mishra told ANI, "Kejriwal's game is over. He should now get prepared to go to Tihar."

Earlier on Sunday, addressing a press conference, Mishra said, "Arvind Kejriwal, have some shame. If you don't resign by today evening, I will drag you from your office to Tihar Jail." -- ANI

A blast has been reported in a car parked at Kishtwar mini bus stand in Jammu and Kashmir.

One person has been injured. More details awaited. -- ANI

JUST IN: The Central Bureau of Investigation has conducted raids on Chennai residence of former Union minister P Chidambaram, ANI reported on Tuesday.

More details related to the raid are awaited.

As many as 27 children fell ill on Monday after they ate the mid-day meal in which a dead lizard was found.

The incident took place in Bihar's Jamui.

The children were rushed to a nearby hospital for immediate treatment.

This comes to light after a baby snake, also known as a 'snakelet' was found in the food served to children in Rajkeeya Girls Senior Secondary School in Haryana's Faridabad.

On finding the snakelet, the children were immediately stopped from consuming the meal, but unfortunately some students had already eaten portions of it.

Some students even vomited as soon as they had eaten the meal.

When the principal and other teachers were tasting the food, they saw the snakelet after which they immediately intimated the other students to not eat it.

The students were taken aback upon discovering the reptile in their food. They admitted that they often got a 'stale smell' from the food generally, but this was something which was terrifying for them.

Braj Bala, the school's principal informed about the same to higher officials and Iskcon food relief foundation, the organisation supplying mid-day meal.

The other schools, where the same food was supplied, were also apprised about the same. -- ANI

Representative image.