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Mon, 29 May 2017
Cyclone Mora won't bring any immediate danger to India: Met department

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23:50   Cyclone Mora won't bring any immediate danger to India: Met department
The Meteorological Department on Monday said that Cyclone Mora which will be hitting Bangladesh by on Tuesday morning is not expected to bring any immediate danger to India.

A K Sen, a scientist at the Met department said that Mora might affect North-Eastern states and bring strong wind and shower in parts of West Bengal.

"Cyclone Mora is over East Central Bay and adjoining North east Bay. It is moving gradually towards north-eastwards. Cyclone Mora expected to hit Bangladesh coast by tomorrow morning or noon. We don't find any immediate danger due to Mora in India," said Sen.

"Cyclone Mora will cause damages mostly in Bangladesh, but damages also expected in North Eastern states. Kolkata and suburbs may expect strong winds throughout the day tomorrow, districts of Gangetic West Bengal to receive rain," he added.

The tropical cyclone formed in Bay of Bengal is set to make a landfall in Bangladesh near Chittagong in next 24 hours.

North-eastern state of India including Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall due to this cyclone.
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23:10   Chanda Kochhar draws Rs 6.09 cr remuneration in FY17
ICICI Bank today said its managing director and CEO Chanda Kochhar has drawn Rs 6.09 crore as total remuneration in 2016-17.
However, total remuneration of Rs 7.84 crore, including Rs 2.2 crore as performance bonus, was due to her for the fiscal ended March 2017.
The performance bonus is paid to the top management after clearance from the regulator RBI and it is staggered over next few years.
"Remuneration comprises various components including basic salary, allowances and perquisite, PF, superannuation allowances, gratuity and performance bonus. Payment of performance bonus is deferred over a multi-year period," ICICI Bank said in a statement.
"So the total compensation paid to our MD and CEO in FY17 stood at Rs 6.09 crore not Rs 7.84 crore," it said.
According to latest annual report, the monthly basic salary for Kochhar will be within the range of Rs 1,350,000-Rs 2,600,000.
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23:01   It's taken 20 years to come to terms with mother's death: Prince William
Britain's Prince William has said that it has taken him 20 years to open about his mother's death, as he lamented that his wife Kate Middleton and children will never meet Princess Diana.
The Duke of Cambridge, whose mother Diana, Princess of Wales, died 20 years ago in August, said he would like to have had her advice.
"I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won't, that they will never know her," the 34-year-old British royal told the GQ magazine in a candid interview to publicise charity Heads Together.
William said it has taken nearly 20 years for him to become comfortable speaking about his mother's demise.
Talking about the imminent anniversary of his mother's death, he said, "I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long time, where I can talk about her more openly, talk about her more honestly, and I can remember her better, and publicly talk about her better."
"It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage. I still find it difficult now because at the time it was so raw. And also it is not like most people's grief, because everyone else knows about it, everyone knows the story, everyone knows her," the second in line to the throne said.
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22:50  
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets and interacts with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Schloss Meseberg.
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21:49   PM condemns killing of Swachh Bharat hero, announces aid
Prime Minister Narendar Modi on Monday condemned the killing of e-rickshaw driver in Delhi for stopping two men from urinating in public.

Modi, who is on four-nation tour, also directed authorities to punish the culprits.

The PM also announced ex gratia of Rs.1 lakh to next of kin of deceased Ravindra Kumar, who asked two men urinating outside Gate number 4 of the GTB Nagar Metro station to use the Sulabh Shauchalaya that was barely few metres away from the spot. 

According to police, the men took offence at Kumar's objection and threatened to teach him a lesson. 

Later, they returned to the area after seven hours along with 20 other men and beat him up following which he died.

No arrests have been made so far.
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21:24   Tiger Woods arrested on drink-driving charge
Golf legend Tiger Woods was arrested on Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence in Jupiter, Florida, Jupiter police spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said. 

Woods was booked into a local jail and released on his own recognizance with no bond a few hours later, according to the Palm Beach County sheriff's office's online records.

The 41-year-old has been recovering from a recent back surgery and last blogged about his health on 24 May.
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20:43   'Exercise restraint': China to India on Bhupen Hazarika bridge
China on Monday asked India to maintain a "restrained and measured" approach to resolve the boundary dispute through negotiations, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a strategic bridge linking Assam with Arunachal Pradesh, claimed by Beijing as South Tibet.
Asked for its reaction to the inauguration of India's longest bridge, the first major infrastructure project in Arunachal Pradesh, the Foreign Ministry said China's position on the eastern part of the China-India boundary is consistent and clear.
"We hope that the Indian side on the relevant issues will take a restrained and measured attitude on the boundary issue before the final solution, and work together with the Chinese side to control disputes, safeguard regional peace and tranquillity along the border," the ministry said.
"China and India should resolve the territorial dispute through negotiation and consultation," it said, without directly referring to the bridge.
Over the years, China has been ramping-up infrastructure including massive construction of rail, road and airports in Tibet, sparking concerns in India as it could enable speedier and easier movement of troops.
India in recent years has stepped up its infrastructure in border areas.
The 9.5-km long bridge inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on May 26 is India's longest bridge. Besides connecting Assam with Arunachal Pradesh it can facilitate movement of heavy military equipment including battle tanks to frontier areas.
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20:32   Trainee pilot arrested in connection with Manchester attack
A Libya-born 'trainee pilot' was today arrested in the UK, bringing the total number of people in custody in relation to the Manchester terror attack to 14.
According to the police, the 23-year-old was arrested at a property in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, more than 400-km from the Manchester Arena, where Salman Abedi detonated a suicide bomb a week ago killing 22 people.
The Sussex arrest early today brings the number of people in custody in relation to the May 22 attack to 14.
The National Health Service said 54 people injured in the attack were still being treated in 8 hospitals with 19 receiving critical care.
A total of 116 people had required hospital care in the wake of the massacre. 
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20:28  
Earthquake measuring 6.9 in magnitude hits Indonesia, 130 km southeast of Palu in Sulawesi, reports Reuters.
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19:54   PM Modi arrives in Berlin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Berlin in Germany in first leg of his 4-nation Europe tour. 

HERE is the breakup of PM Modi's engagements during his tour:
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19:06   Conditions favourable for onset of monsoon in Kerala tomorrow
Conditions are 'favourable' for the onset of South-West monsoon in Kerala by tomorrow, the Indian Meteorological Department said today.

While south Kerala has been receiving widespread rains since early today, only few places have received rains in the northern parts.

However, it is likely to improve by tomorrow, IMD Thiruvananthapuram Director S Sudevan told PTI.

"Present meteorological analysis indicate that conditions are favourable for onset of southwest monsoon in Kerala in the next 24 hours," the director said.

While Mavelikkara (Alappuzha) and Vaikom (Kottayam) each received six cm of rain, Kochi witnessed five cm rainfall.

Enamackel and Irinjalakuda (Thrissur) besides Quilandy (Kozhikode) were among the areas which received three cm of rain.

Thiruvananthapuram city, Minicoy and Peermade (Idukki) each received one cm of rain.

Rain and thundershowers are most likely to occur at most places in Kerala in the next five days. Strong winds from westerly direction with speed occasionally exceeding 45-55 kmph are likely off Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep.

Meanwhile, in Kottayam a huge tree got uprooted and fell on a house, causing injuries to three persons, who have been hospitalised, police said.  -- PTI
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18:17   CBI registers PE in cases linked to Air India, Indian Airlines merger
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a preliminary enquiry to probe issues relating to merger of Air India and Indian Airlines.

The CBI has registered a PE against officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India to probe the issues with the merger causing a loss of over Rs 1,000 crore.

The CBI has registered three separate cases in connection with the alleged irregularities in 111 aircraft purchase.

The case has been booked under Indian Penal Code Sections 120B and 420 and the Prevention of Corruption Act. -- ANI
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17:58   Arunachal Police intensify search operations for Sukhoi-30 crew
Arunachal Pradesh Home Parliamentary Secretary Pani Taram today said that search operations have been intensified on the ground to locate missing crew members of the Sukhoi-30 fighter jet.

The Su-30 MKI jet on a routine training sortie went missing since Tuesday last.Director General of Police Sandeep Goel told ANI that though the wreckage including black box was recovered on Friday morning but the fate of the crew was still not known for which the forces deployed in West Kameng district were asked to double up their efforts.

Pointing out that the state police had deployed its forces in search operations since the news of broke, IGP Navin Payeng said the wreckage was found inside a thick forest in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, 60 km from Tezpur.

DIG Tusar Taba also confirmed intensive search operations, saying the senior officers have been constantly monitoring.

The Su-30 MKI jet, with two pilots on board, had gone missing on Tuesday shortly after taking off from the Tezpur Salonibari Air Force station on a routine training sortie.

The aircraft had lost radar and radio contact near the China border 40 minutes after its take-off and declared 'overdue' and a search and rescue operation was launched on Tuesday afternoon to locate the aircraft and the pilots, according to the Defence PRO.

"Aerial search was carried out in a massive way around the last-known position of the aircraft, but incessant rain and dense clouds seriously hampered the search operations in air and ground as well," he had said, adding an IAF had ordered a court of inquiry on Friday to probe the cause of the accident.

That is why very often than not the these jets on routine practice fly over the state capital sky with their veering sound heard almost regularly.

It may be recalled that Su-30 MKI jet, piloted by Arunachalee group captain Mohanta Panging had performed fly-past over Itanagar sky on Arunachal Pradesh statehood Day on February 20, 2012 with then defence minister A K Antony as chief guest. -- ANI
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17:46   Unconstitutional and illegal, says Mamata on cattle slaughter ban
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has challenged the new legislation brought by the Central government to implement a ban on cattle slaughter.

In a press conference in Kolkata, the West Bengal CM said that the Centre's move is unconstitutional. She said that West Bengal will neither accept it nor are they bound by it. "We won't accept the Centre's decision, it is unconstitutional; we will challenge it legally," she said.


The CM said it was a move by the Modi government to demoralize and destroy the federal structure of the country. She branded it as a direct encroachment to the federal structure.


She said that the law was very clear and as per the Constitution, the Centre has no right to dictate terms to states with respect and would challenge the law constitutionally.

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said the ministry has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 to ensure that the sale of cattle is not meant for slaughter purposes.
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17:32   Why do our neighbours dislike or suspect us?
"China held a meeting on the One Belt One Road and India boycotted it. However, all of India's neighbours attended, except for one, Bhutan. India warned those attending that the partnership with the Chinese would come at a heavy price, but almost nobody heard us. The question is: Why not?" asks Aakar Patel. Read his column here.
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17:30   Cross defamation cases: Court issues NBW against Medha Patkar
A Delhi court today issued non- bailable warrant against Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar for her failure to appear in cross defamation cases filed by her and KVIC Chairman V K Saxena.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vikrant Vaid took strong objection to Patkar's absence and rejected her request for exemption from appearance through a counsel, who did not possess an authorisation letter from her, saying the grounds taken by her were "not convincing" and "do not inspire confidence of the court".
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17:03  
Just in: Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla appointed chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia.
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17:01   Venkaiah assures 'strongest action' against killers of Swachh Bharat hero
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Monday visited the family of the deceased e-rickshaw driver who was beaten to death in northwest Delhis Mukherjee Nagar area on Saturday after he stopped two people from urinating in public.

The Urban Development Minister also gave a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the family of the driver as compensation, according to news agency ANI.

Earlier in the day, the minister expressed grief over the whole incident and tweeted, Sad that an e-rickshaw driver was beaten to death for stopping 2 people from urinating in public in Delhi. He was promoting Swachh Bharat. 

He has also spoken to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik asked him to take strongest action possible against the culprits.

The two men were urinating outside Gate number 4 of the GTB Nagar Metro station when the deceased Ravindra Kumar asked them to use the Sulabh Shauchalaya that was barely few metres away from the spot.

According to police, the men took offence at Kumars objection and threatened to teach him a lesson. Later, they returned to the area after seven hours along with 20 other men and beat him up following which he died.

No arrests have been made so far.


Image: Family members of the rickshaw driver with the compensation cheque given by the government.
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16:27   40% decline in US visas for Pakistanis; 28% increase for India
Pakistan has had a significant 40 per cent drop in the number of American visas granted to its nationals under the new Trump administration despite not being on the list of the US President's travel ban countries.


Interestingly, the number of non-immigrant US visas to Indians has increased by 28 per cent in March and April this year as compared to the monthly average of the previous year, according to the newly-released monthly official data. Non-immigrant visas granted to Pakistanis are down by 40 per cent in March and April this year compared to the 2016 monthly average, a Pakistani media report said quoting data released by the US State Department.


Pakistanis were issued 3,925 non-immigrant visas in April and 3,973 visas in March 2017 under the Trump administration. The Obama administration last year issued a total of 78,637 non-immigrant visas to Pakistanis with a monthly average of 6,553, which was 40 per cent higher than the current average.


Before March this year, the State Department did not release monthly breakdowns of visas and only annual figures were available. The report compared the March and April 2017 figures with monthly averages for 2016.


Even in 2015, monthly average remained 6,179 as a total of 74,150 Pakistanis had been granted visas. A spokesperson of the State Department told the The News International: "Visa demand is cyclical, not uniform throughout the year and affected by various factors at the local and international level. Visa issuance numbers tend to increase during peak travel seasons, such as during the summer and the winter holidays, though there may be different trends at the country, nationality, or visa-category level".
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16:10   Himachal CM, wife granted bail in DA case
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh were today granted bail by a special court in New Delhi in connection with a nearly Rs 10 crore disproportionate assets case. Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal granted the relief to all the accused on a personal bond of Rs one lakh each and one surety of the like amount.


The court, however, asked them not to leave the country without its prior permission. Earlier in the day, the CBI had opposed the bail plea of the Chief Minister saying they may influence the witnesses and the ongoing probe in a disproportionate assets case against them.


The public prosecutor said Singh was the "King of the state" and if granted bail, no one will dare to come forward to depose before the court.


In their bail plea, Virbhadra Singh, who has not been arrested so far, and the other accused submitted that the investigation was complete as the CBI has already filed the charge sheet.


But the CBI said the investigation in the case was still on and granting of bail might hamper it. The 82-year-old politician had also cited several medical reports, saying he was suffering from serious ailments.


The accused persons also claimed that they will be able to look after their case in a better manner if they are out on bail. Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh on May 22 appeared as accused in connection with a nearly Rs 10 crore disproportionate assets case and sought bail.
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16:06   Congress will make sure nobody's sentiments are hurt: Salman Khurshid
Condemning the incident where Youth Congress activists publicly butchered a calf in Kerala's Kannur to protest against the Centre's cattle ban, the Congress on Monday assured that the party is committed to bring people together, adding they will ensure that nobody's sentiments are hurt.


"Already a formal statement has been given by the Congress leadership. Let us be clear that this is not the time to further divide people in our country. I think as far as the Congress party is concerned, we are committed to bring people together. We must ensure that nobody's sentiments are hurt," Congress leader Salman Khurshid said.


He added that now is the time when all should take a balanced position on the matter, instead of looking for ways to attack.


"We have a responsibility to bring people together and for that sometimes you have to be careful, you have to be willing to sacrifice, willing to accommodate and adjust," Khurshid said.


Kannur Police yesterday registered a case against district president of Youth Congress and other Congress workers under Section 120 (A) of the Kerala Police Act, for slaughtering calf in public view.
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15:56   Priyanka to get Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award
Actress Priyanka Chopra will be honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Award for being an international icon. The "Baywatch" star will be given the award under the newly introduced 'Internationally Acclaimed
Actress' category at a ceremony in Mumbai.

"Priyanka's hard and sincere efforts have helped her place herself on an international platform with grace. "She is representing India at a global level and that has made every Indian proud of her work. This compelled us to introduce this fresh category in the awards," Dadasaheb Phalke Academy and Award Committee chairman Ganesh Jain said in a statement.

Celebrities like Anil Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Juhi Chawla and Nitesh Tiwari, among others, are expected to attend the event.

The board of trustees for Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards include Johny Lever, Pahlaj Nihalani, Mithun Chakraborty and TP Agrawal. The award ceremony will be held on June 1 in Mumbai
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15:56   The road to mob rule in Uttar Pradesh
The economic and social backwardness of UP is due to the faulty and flawed policies of many previous chief ministers. Congress chief ministers encouraged cronyism and corruption; Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party chief ministers promoted casteism and corruption. The belief that the 'U' in UP stands for 'Ungovernable' long precedes the rule of Adityanath. Yet there is little question that in the 60 days he has been in office, the state has moved further backwards. One statistic says it all.


Before Adityanath became chief minister, reports the Indian Express, his Hindu Yuva Vahini received between 500 and 100 applications for membership per day. Now more than 5,000 people seek to join this vigilante army each day. That translates into a lakh- and-a-half volunteer vigilantes a month, 1.8 million in a year, or 9 million if Adityanath serves out his full term. I suppose that is one way of solving UP's unemployment problem.  Read more
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15:35  
1993 Mumbai Blasts Case: Special TADA court in Mumbai to pronounce judgement on June 16th, against 7 accused including Abu Salem.
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15:33  
Why the BJP wants AFSPA in a Kerala district. Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com finds out. Do read
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15:17  
@ShashiTharoor tweets: Delightful review of Arundhati Roy's new book. Looking forward to reading it (&discussing it w/ @SirPareshRawal!)
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14:59   Anyone who opposes Modi is immediately embroiled in cases: Shourie
"It's a decentralised emergency. What we are going towards is a pyramidal decentralised mafia state, where local goons will belabour anyone whom they think is doing something wrong. The central people will look the other way. The central people will provide a rationale for the goondas at the local level. Like "gau rakshaks'', like "love jihad' '" this becomes the rationale for me to beat up anybody. It's not love for the cow but just an instrument for domination."

Arun Shourie -- columnist, journalist, author, and now, Modi critic -- in an interview to the Wire in January. Do read
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14:51   Why war with Pakistan  is not an option
"Pakistans accelerated achievements in nuclear technology, missile delivery systems, logistic supply chain of equipment and spares as well as new-age technologies such as cyber and drone warfare are all the result of cooperation between the two countries.

In contrast, India has not even been able to integrate its three services, what to speak of assimilation with political leadership, industry, academia and indigenous defence capabilities."

Columnist and author Raghu Raman holds forth. Do read
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14:45   Bring down the rhetoric, can't call Tharoor names: HC rebukes Arnab
The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Arnab Goswami and his newly-launched news channel Republic TV on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's defamation plea against them.

In his plea, Tharoor has claimed damages and compensation of Rs 2 crore from the journalist and his channel for allegedly making defamatory remarks against him while airing news relating to the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

"Bring down the rhetoric. You can put out your story, you can put out the facts. You cannot call him names. That is uncalled for," Justice Manmohan said while issuing notice to Goswami and the channel and seeking their replies by August 16, the next date of hearing.

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for Tharoor, said he should be protected and the channel and the journalist directed to justify the statements made against him.

Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for Goswami and the channel, said they would justify each and every statement made by them and therefore, there was no need for any interim order or injuction against them.

Tharoor had on May 26 filed a civil defamation suit against Arnab Goswami and Republic TV in the Delhi High Court claiming damages and compensation of Rs 2 crore for allegedly making defamatory remarks against him while airing news relating to the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar.

The Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram has also sought a direction from the high court to restrain the TV channel from broadcasting any show relating to the death of his wife till the investigation is completed by the Delhi Police. He has referred to the broadcasting of news items from May 8 to 13 when the TV channel claimed to air an expose connected to the death of his wife.
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14:25   Merkel-Felipe-Putin-Macron... the full itinerary of PM's 4-nation visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-nation began on Monday, and he will land in Germany for the first leg of his six-day tour.

Here is the breakup of PM Modi's engagements during his four-nation tour:

May 29, 2017, Germany

Upon landing in Berlin, the Prime Minister will directly depart for Schloss Meseberg, the official State Guest House of the Germany.
The Prime Minister will sign Visitor's Book.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host a dinner for PM Modi at Schloss Meseberg.


May 30, 2017, Germany

Germany will host ceremonial welcome for PM Modi.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister and German Chancellor will attend fourth biennial Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) plenary meeting at International Conference Room at Chancellery.
After the meeting, both the leaders will address the media.
Later, both the countries will sign MoUs. Chancellor Merkel will host lunch for PM Modi and Indian delegation.
Then the Prime Minister will depart for Hotel Adlon Kempinski at Palaisaal to attend Indo-German Business Summit 2017.
PM Modi is expected to invite the German investment in India under Make in India.
From the summit, the Prime Minister will depart for Castle Bellevue to meet German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
After meeting with the German President, the Prime Minister will depart for Berlin Tegel Airport to start his Spain tour. He will rest at Hotel Intercontinental.

May 31, 2017, Spain

In the morning, PM Modi will sign Book of Honour at Sala Tapies, La Moncola Palace.
After the signing ceremony, PM Modi will have a meeting with Spanish President Mariano Rajoy.
After the meeting, President Rajoy will host breakfast for PM Modi and Indian delegation.
Thereafter, bilateral agreements will be exchanged and conclusion of the CEOs Forum will be presented at Antechamber of Building of Council of Ministers at La Moncloa Palace.
PM Modi will then depart for Palacio de la Zarzuela to call on Spanish King Felipe VI.
After the meeting, the Prime Minister will depart for Hotel Intercontinental where he will participate in Roundtable interactions at Granados Hall with Spanish CEOs and business tycoons.
Once the PM completes interactions with the Spanish businessmen, he will depart for St. Petersburg to start his Russia visit.
PM Modi will stay at Grand Hotel Europe at St. Petersburg.


June 1, 2017, Russia

In Russia, the first engagement of the Prime Minister is to pay homage at the Piskarovskoye Cemetery.
He will then depart for Konstantin Palace where he is scheduled to address the CEOs Forum after lunch. Both the countries will issue press statement after signing bilateral agreements.
Russian President Vladmir Putin will host dinner for PM Modi.


June 2, 2017, Russia

This will be probably the busiest day for the Prime Minister in his trip.
In the morning, the Prime Minister will take part in presentation of Urga Kanjur to Jampa Donod.
Then the PM is scheduled to meet Tigran Sargasyan, chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission and former Prime Minister of Armenia.
PM Modi will next visit the State Hermitage Museum and Institute of Oriental Manuscripts.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister will attend the plenary session of St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Thereafter, he will interact with Governors and visit 'Make in India' Pavillion.
PM Modi will also meet Prime Minister of Manogila J. Erdenebat, Federal Chancellor of Austria Christian Kern, and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
In the evening, PM Modi will depart for France to start his last leg of four-nation tour. He will be staying at Hotel Plaza Athene in Paris.


June 3, 2017, Paris

In the morning, the Prime Minister will meet newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron.
After the meeting, Macron will host lunch for PM Modi.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister will leave for India and is expected to reach Palam Airport early morning on June 4.

A file pic of PM Narendra Modi with German chancellor Angela Merkel
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13:53   Road rage case: Manipur CM's son given 5-year-jail term
A Manipur trial court on Monday awarded five years' jail term to the present CM N Biren Singh's son, Ajay Meetai in a 2011 road rage case, reports the Times of India.

Last week, the apex court's vacation bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and Navin Sinha issued notices to the Union Home Secretary and the Manipur Chief Secretary to respond by May 29 on the plea by Irom Chitra Devi, mother of Irom Roger who was killed.

The bench didn't issue notice to the Chief Minister and others in the case as sought.

Ajay Meetai has been awarded a five-year jail term under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC for firing at Roger in a road rage incident on March 20, 2011, and killing him.

The incident had occurred after Roger had allegedly not allowed Meetai to overtake him in his SUV which had irked the chief minister's son.

The plea, filed through advocate Utsav Bains, alleged that the parents of the victim were fearing for their safety in the state. The parents have sought directions "to provide security for the safety of the life and liberty of petitioners and their family members against any kind of threat and victimisation for their peaceful stay throughout India."

They have also sought a direction for an independent probe by a central agency on the ground that the state police was working at the behest of the convict.

Advocate Kamini Jaiswal, who appeared for on behalf of the parents, also said no lawyer was ready to appear on their behalf before the Manipur High Court which is hearing the criminal appeal against the award of five year jail term to the son of the chief minister.

A file picture of Manipur CM Nongthombam Biren Singh
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13:43   Head cut, another sprouts
One's shot dead, another swiftly moves to assume charge of the trigger - the Hizbul Mujahideen, Kashmir's indigenous militancy regime, seems never short of commanders willing to put their lives on the line.

A day after Sabzar Bhat, the latest to hold the command chain, was gunned down in an encounter, Saddam Padder is set to embrace the blood-ridden mantle. Read more

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13:06   No cricket with Pak till terrorism remains, govt warns BCCI
As the Board of Control for Cricket in India prepares to meet the Pakistan Cricket Board to discuss the MoU signed between the two countries in 2014, Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Monday asserted that there cannot be a bilateral series between the two nations until there is terrorism from the Pakistani side.

"BCCI should come out with a proposal on Pakistan only after consultations with the government. I have already made it clear that any bilateral series with Pakistan is almost impossible because there cannot be sports relations between the two countries until there is terrorism from the Pakistani side," Goel said.

"Sports and terrorism cannot go hand in hand," he added.

Goel, however, added that there was no control of the government on multilateral games.

India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy encounter to be played at Edgbaston on June 4.

BCCI acting secretary Amithabh Chaudhry, along with the members of the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators, will today meet PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan in Dubai.

The PCB had earlier this month sent a legal notice to its Indian counterpart for failing to honour the MoU signed between the two cricket boards in 2014.
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12:59   IIT students beef up protests
That's the beef fry that IIT Madras students dug into last night to protest the Centre's ban on cattle slaughter. 
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12:52   CBI takes custody of Shahabuddin
The CBI today took custody of RJD leader Shahabuddin whose name has cropped up as an accused in journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case. CBI sources said Shahabuddin has been brought to the agency headquarters for questioning in this case.


Shahabuddin was lodged in Tihar prison. The agency has told a Muzaffarpur court that his name has surfaced as an accused in the case and it needs his custodial interrogation. The agency was granted the permission by the court to question him. The four-time RJD MP from Siwan is alleged to have been involved in the murder of Ranjan, a journalist of a prominent Hindi daily in Siwan last year.
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12:28   Maoists threaten Akshay Kumar, Saina Nehwal over CRPF support
Pamphlets by Maoists threating actor Akshay Kumar and badminton ace Saina Nehwal have been recovered from Bailadila area in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Bastar district.

Kumar and Nehwal had donated Rs 9 lakh and Rs 6 lakh, respectively, to the families of each of the 25 CRPF jawans who were martyred in a Maoist ambush in the states Sukma district on April 24.

Kumar had also recently met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi expressing his desire to contribute to the security forces and also with a plan to develop an smartphone app (application) so that any citizen can donate money to the family of those needy jawans or officers who get killed in the line of duty.

The pamphlets were circulated during the week-long anniversary of the Naxal movement, a senior police officer in Bastar said.
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12:06  
JUST IN: CBI takes custody of former RJD MP Shahabuddin injournalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case, taken to CBI Headquarters for questioning
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11:59   2 days later, curfew-like restrictions remain in parts of Valley
Curfew-like restrictions continued in parts of Kashmir for the second consecutive day today as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Bhat in an encounter with security forces.

The restrictions were in place in seven police station areas of Srinagar - - Khanyar, Nowhatta, Safakadal, M R Gunj, Rainawari, Kralkhud and Maisuma, officials said.

Strict restrictions also continued in Anantnag and Shopian districts and Pulwama town in south Kashmir and in the township of Sopore in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, the officials said.

In all the restrictions were in place in four out of 10 districts in the valley.

The officials said the curbs in these areas continued for the second day as a pre-emptive measure to prevent spread of violent protests which took place on Saturday immediately after Bhat was killed along with his colleague in an encounter in Soimoh area of Tral in south Kashmirs Pulwama district.

A civilian was also killed allegedly in cross firing between militants and security forces during the encounter.

Though there were few stone-pelting incidents in some areas of the valley yesterday, the situation remained under control.
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11:47   IIT Madras students chew on beef to protest ban on cattle slaughter
A group of students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, conducted a beef festival, reflecting their anger against the Centre's recent order against selling cattle thus imposing an indirect beef ban.

More than 50 students supported the cause by participating in this fest late on Sunday night.

Earlier on May 27, Students' Federation of India staged a similar protest in Kerala by eating beef outside University College, Trivandrum.

Another fest was also organised at different locations across Kerala.

Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan on Friday ordered that the ministry has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 to ensure that the sale of cattle is not meant for slaughter purposes.

"Aim of the rules is very specific. It is only to regulate the animal market and the sale of cattle in these markets, and ensuring welfare of cattle dealt in market. And the rule provides for a strict animal monitoring committee and an animal market committee at the local level," Vardhan told ANI.

He said the seller and buyer both have to ensure that the cattle is not being bought or sold in the market for slaughter purposes.

"An undertaking to this effect has to be given to the member secretary of the animal market committee from the seller as well as the buyer," Vardhan added.

As per the notification, cattle is defined as "bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves and camels".

The rules also state that the purchaser shall not sacrifice the animal for any religious purpose or sell it to a person outside the state without permission and must keep in with the state's cattle protection laws.
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11:37   'Were in an even deeper malaise
"India's unemployment rate has actually increased since the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government took office. The number of jobs added by the Modi government in its three years in office is just 50% of the jobs added by the previous Manmohan Singh government in its final three years.Even as the Modi government is unable to live up to its promise on increasing employment, it has also slipped on its promise of small government."

Read more
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11:25   Is RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group in talks with Living Media to pick majority stake?
With the Aditya Birla Group on its way to exit Aroon Purie-controlled Living Media India that runs India Today Group, the latter is believed to have agreed to sell out majority stake to the $2.6 billion (revenue) conglomerate RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. Multiple sources privy to the development informed Best Media Info that the deal was in an advanced stage. Read more
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11:23   Prolonged, jaw-clenching, white-knuckled... handshake wasn't innocent, says Macron
With US President Donald Trump's signature handshake managing to make highlights almost every time, the newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron described his recent encounter with him as 'the moment of truth'.

"My handshake with him - it wasn't innocent. It's not the be-all and the end-all of a policy, but it was a moment of truth," said Macron, as reported by the Guardian.

Trump and Macron's handshake was white-knuckle prolonged one, with as usual fierce, crunched bones, tightened jaws and both had a fixed smile and as per the French President is was entirely intentional.

As per reports, during the handshake both the leaders were shared a gaze a little longer than a moment, and was ended when Trump after two attempts were able to disengage himself.

Macron further stated that he doesn't see relationships in terms of a balance of power, neither believe in diplomacy by public abuse.

"Donald Trump, the Turkish president or the Russian president see relationships in terms of a balance of power. That doesn't bother me. I don't believe in diplomacy by public abuse, but in my bilateral dialogues I won't let anything pass," Macron said.

The French president recently elected for the very first time after defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

In his three-day visit in Brussels, Macron and Trump met for the first time for lunch before a gathering of European and Nato leaders last Thursday.

During this meet, Macron pointedly turned past Trump to embrace German chancellor Angela Merkel and later shook hand with the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, and Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, before greeting the US President.

Trump responded by yanking the French President's hand hard towards, which he has been seen applying in the past, notably with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe possible to establish dominance.

According to reports Macron was particularly outspoken, but was not very successful in urging Trump to announce at the G7 that he would not to pull the US out of the Paris climate change accords.

"I have good hopes that having considered the arguments put forward by various people and his country's own interest he will confirm his commitment in his own time. I saw someone who listens and who is willing to work," Macron said.
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11:12   Pakistan fears Indian influence in Afghanistan, say US spy chiefs
The US intelligence community, in a rare acknowledgement of Pakistan's concerns, has informed Congress that Islamabad does not want heavy Indian influence in Afghanistan and will likely turn to China to offset New Delhi's sway on its western borders. Read more
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11:08   Pak funding: Two Separatist leaders to appear before NIA today
Two separatist leaders from Jammu and Kashmir will appear before the National Investigation Agency today in its Delhi headquarters.

According to reports, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate and Javed Ahmed Baba alias 'Gazi' of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat will be present before the agency.

They have been summoned in connection with a case related to the funding of terror and subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two leaders also have been asked to bring certain bank and property documents, besides other papers.

Earlier this month, the NIA had questioned them in the national capital for four consecutive days.

The NIA, which went to Srinagar to probe into the alleged funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, continued questioning the separatist leaders regarding their involvement in raising, collecting and transferring funds through hawala and other channels for terror funding in Kashmir.
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10:59   Fiction takes its time: Arundhati Roy on her second novel
When Arundhati Roy completed her new novel, her first in 20 years, she told her literary agent, "I don't want all this bidding and vulgarity, you know.' She wanted interested publishers to write her a letter instead, describing "how they understood' her book. She then convened a meeting with them. "OK,' her agent prompted afterwards. "You know what they think. You've met them. Now decide." "Oh no,' she told him. "Not yet. First I'll have to consult."

He was puzzled. "You consult me, right?' "No, I have to consult these folks. You know, the folks in my book.' So the author and her agent sat together in silence while she asked the characters in her novel which publisher they liked the best. When Roy announced their choice, her agent pointed out that his bid was half what other publishers were offering. "Yes," she shrugged. "But they like him."

Seeing my expression as she relates this, Roy starts to smile. "Everyone thinks I live alone, but I don't. My characters all live with me." They're always with her? "Oh yes. As soon as I shut the door, it's, "So what did you think of that person? Idiot, right?'' Will she ask them how this interview went after I leave? She looks surprised I'd need to ask. "Yes, of course."

The Guardian speaks to Arundhati Roy ahead of the release of her book The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Read the full interview here.
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10:46   The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy review: all too obvious
"True to her campaigning instincts, Roy the activist is soon referring to the tragic history of her country. "Then came Partition. God's carotid burst open on the new border between India and Pakistan and a million people died of hatred." The graveyard, as is obvious, is a metaphor for India. But then everything is obvious in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Despite the violence and the brutality; religious tensions and emphasis on varying darkness of skin colour, the underlying tone is hopeful, which should be acknowledged as the narrative is so ramshackle and randomly conceived, a reader could easily lose interest -- and probably will."

The Irish Times reviews Arundhati Roy's The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Read the review here.
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10:43   We never asked anyone to 'smell good' before meeting CM: Congress
Hitting out at the burgeoning law and order crisis in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress on Monday said that the Yogi Adityanath led-government is unable to control the ongoing crisis, adding the state government is also ignorant about the Dalits and minorities.


"Since the BJP government has come in power in the state, the law and order seems out of control. If the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister thinks that whatever he is doing is right and he knows everything, then he is wrong. The law and order in the state is becoming worse by every passing day. They are ignorant towards the development of minorities and Dalits," Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI.


He further said that Uttar Pradesh is a large constituency and the situation at in the state affects the rest of the country as well.


"They are unable to meet the demands of the public. The BJP has a powerful publicity and only that is helping them," he asserted.


Echoing similar sentiment, another Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that there were no communal clashes and molestation cases during the rule of Congress party.


"Whatever happened in Kushinagar was not at all acceptable. Nobody from the Congress Party has ever said that you have to smell good if you want to meet the Chief Minister," Singhvi added.


Earlier, the District Administration in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar asked the residents to have a bath before attending a meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, so that they 'smell good'.


To ensure the instructions were followed, soaps, shampoo and perfumes were distributed among the villagers.


The members of the Mushahar community were called to attend a vaccination program for the eradication of Encephalitis, a campaign started by the Chief Minister in Kushinagar's Kasiya division.


Five children from the community were to be vaccinated under the campaign from the area.


Ahead of the event, local officials distributed the soaps and shampoos to those attending the event, in order to make them "look clean and smell good."


Ahead of the event that the Chief Minister was going to attend, roads were paved, toilets were fixed overnight and streets were cleaned up in the village.


Image: A Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar district shows the bars of soap she received ahead of CM Yogi Adityanath's visit
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10:25   1993 Mumbai blasts: TADA court likely to pronounce orders against Abu Salem
A special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court in Mumbai is likely to pronounce its orders today against underworld don Abu Salem and others in connection with the 1993 blasts case.

Salem has been named in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case and is an accused in a slew of cases related to murder and extortion.

Salem is currently lodged in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai. In February 2015, Salem was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in the 1995 murder of Mumbai builder, Pradeep Jain.
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10:03   The sickle temple of Uttarakhand
Devotees at the Gopal Bisht temple in Fatehpur, Uttarakhand have been offering sickles to the deity after their wishes got fulfilled. Scores of villagers gathered at the temple yesterday to offer prayers and sickles to the deity.

"The specialty of this temple is that it is deep inside the forest. People here have a lot of faith in this temple. We believe that anyone who asks something here, his or her wish gets fulfilled," said a devotee to ANI.

They said that most of their wishes were fulfilled after offering prayers at the temple, where people pray for the protection of their animals and farms.
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09:52   High alert in Pathankot after mystery bag with army uniforms found
A high alert has been sounded in Punjab's Pathankot district after a suspicious bag was spotted this morning.

Three Army uniforms were recovered from the bag which had Jammu' written on it. The bag was found hidden and stuffed in a gunny bag.

The Army and SWAT commandos have launched a search operations for the owner. More details awaited on this.

This is not the first time that a suspicious bag has been found in Pathankot. Earlier in May, two suspicious bags were found lying unattended just a few yards away from the military base. In the bag were batteries used in mobile towers.  

In January last year, seven jawans were killed and over 37 people were injured in a terror attack on the Pathankot air base.
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09:40   Army Chief's support for Major Gogoi will boost force's morale: Defence Experts
Applauding Army chief General Bipin Rawat for defending Major Leetul Gogoi over the human shield controversy, Defence experts on Monday said such felicitations give morale boost to the Indian Army.

Defence expert Major General (Retd.) P.K. Sehgal told ANI that he totally stands by the Army Chief's statement, where the latter said his men need such innovative ways to fight the "dirty war"

"The situation there was very different and may be this was the only way. He came out with an out of the box innovative solution. He thankfully succeeded. With this decision, many people life has been saved. It was very important for the Army Chief to say this because it increases the morale and motivation of the Army. And plus it send as very strong message to the society. I totally stand by it," he said.

Echoing similar views, Defence expert Wing Commander (Retd.) Praful Bakshi told ANI that such extraordinary situation requires an extraordinary solution and Major Gogoi carried it out beautifully.
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09:21   Man objects to youth urinating on road, beaten to death
An e-rickshaw driver was allegedly beaten to death near the GTB Nagar metro station on Saturday after he objected to the accused urinating on the road.

Around 1:30 pm, Ravindra Kumar alias Chindu, 32, was ferrying passengers in the area when he saw two youth relieving themselves near the metro station. When he objected, the duo allegedly started abusing him.

He told them to not urinate. The two, however, abused him and told him that they would teach him a lesson, said Ravindras brother Vijendra Kumar.

Ravindra then went home and went back near the metro station around 6:30 p.

Around 8:30 pm, the duo, accompanied by 8-10 friends, went to the spot and allegedly beat him up. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera.

Ravindra was rushed to Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. He had abrasions all over his body, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Milind Mahadeo Dumbere.
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08:56   Kashmir human shield debate: The General has it wrong
It is highly regrettable that Gen Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Army Staff, has chosen to justify and extol the actions of Maj Leetul Gogoi, who used a Kashmiri civilian as a human shield against stone-pelters in Budgam on April 9. 

It is understandable that Gen Rawat feels a loyalty to his men, and a concern for the morale of his troops. But his defence of Maj Gogoi achieves neither of those objectives. 

If anything, it undermines the prestige of the Army, and makes even worse a bad situation in the Valley.

Read full column HERE
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08:24   Confident of winning presidential poll with at least 54 per cent votes, says BJP
The government is confident that the NDA candidate will sail through the presidential poll with sources claiming that the NDA camp has already stitched up 54 per cent of votes in the electoral college.

Sources said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi is likely to support the government while the AIADMK is certain to back it. 

"DMK going with Congress and attending Sonia Gandhi's luncheon meeting of opposition parties has sealed the deal between AIADMK and BJP," a senior BJP leader said.

The total value of votes in the electoral college for the presidential poll is 10,98,882 with the majority mark at 5,49,442.

As a confident BJP prepares to install its own candidate in Rashtrapati Bhavan, a top party source claimed that there was "movement towards the NDA" and the "momentum will soon be visible".
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07:53   PM Modi begins 4-nation tour today with visit to Germany
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a four-nation tour today to boost bilateral relations and seek investment. Over the next six days, he will visit Germany, Spain, Russia and France. 

"My visits to these nations are aimed at boosting India's economic engagement with them & to invite more investment to India," the prime minister tweeted. 

The tour will start with a visit to Germany, where PM Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel and call on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Beside bilateral talks, the day-long visit will include the Fourth India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations and interaction with top business leaders of both countries.

The two nations will "chart a roadmap" with focus on trade and investment, security and counter-terrorism, technology, skill development, infrastructure, railways, civil aviation and clean energy, the PM said.

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