British detective writer P D James, the creator of the best-selling series featuring poetry-writing sleuth Adam Dalgliesh, died today at the age of 94. 

Six years after ten Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai and killed 166 people in 60 hours of mayhem, the chief of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad Himanshu Roy has reassured the city that it is much safer now.

Thirty nine out of forty Indian workers who went missing in Iraq this June have reportedly been killed by the Islamic State militants, claim two Bangladeshi workers whom ABP News spoke exclusively in Kurdistan's capital Erbil. The Indian Government is yet to verify these reports.

The two Bangladeshi nationals working for a construction company in Iraq mentioned about one Indian worker Harjeet who miraculously escaped from the clutches of the militants. 

Reuters reports of explosion, gunfire in diplomatic quarter of Afghan capital.

Alleged ISI operative Mohammed Zahir Hussain today pleaded guilty in an NIA court here to the charges against him including waging war against India by conspiring to carry out terror acts at the behest of his handlers in Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Pakistan today said it is wrong to blame it for creating hurdles in economic integration of the SAARC region, saying it was not the only country which had not completed internal procedures for the inking of connectivity agreements during the Summit in Nepal. 

The special trial court for the 2002 Gulberg Society riot case, in which 68 people including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri were killed,commenced hearing today on a day-to-day basis. Advocates of both the sides appeared before the special trial court judge P B Desai today.

Parliament nod to amendment bill on appointment of CBI chief. So, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha will be replaced soon. 

Amit Shah, the President of the BJP, cannot hold a rally in the heart of Kolkata on Sunday, the Kolkata corporation decided today.

At least 24 Indian fishermen are currently under detention or arrest in Sri Lankan jails on the charge of alleged fishery related violation, the government said today. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs Gen (retd) V K Singh gave this information.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin on The Handshake: "In the retreat, the atmosphere was very comfortable, pleasant courtesies were exchanged.

"India is for peaceful and co-operative relations with Pakistan. If today's interaction leads to that we will welcome it. We go back very satisfied with the outcome of this summit.

"SAARC is not just about India and Pakistan, but about all the neighbours in South Asia. No proposal on expansion of SAARC membership, proposal on table was to consider the observers as dialogue partners," he said. 

HRD minister Smriti Irani charmed MPs across parties in Parliament today. The multi-lingual MP spoke to Trinamool Congress MPs in Bengali, and her party MPs in Gujarat. Irani is one quarter Punjabi, Maharashtrian, Bengali and Assamese.

When she met Shiv Sena MPs, it was Marathi she used, since she has lived in Mumbai before moving to Delhi as an MP.

Then came AIADMK MPs, to whom Smriti spoke with in English, except for Dr V Maitreyan with whom she speaks in Marathi. Maitreyan, an MBBS from Nagpur, is fluent in Hindi and speaks a little Marathi.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh quipped that Smriti Irani should now learn the German language a dig at the government's decision to replace Sanskrit with German in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Congress MPs in the Rajya Sabha looked dejected today. There are three groups - headed by Madhusudan Mistry, Digvijaya Singh and Anand Sharma -- parallel power hubs in the house. 

Sharma is the deputy leader of Congress Party in the Rajya Sabha.

Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao shouted at Sharma saying, "You and I are here because of Rajiv Gandhi. Who are you Anand Sharma to stop me from shouting against  the move of the BJP government to rename the Rajiv Gandhi airport in Hyderabad?

Congress MPs says Mistry instigates MPs to rush into the well of the house on each and every issue and raise slogans against Narendra Modi. Digvijaya is far too smooth and polished to join the fray. 

Dhruv Goyal, the son of Union Minister Piyush Goyal, has been elected as vice chairman of the Harvard University students council, the first Indian to get to this position.

Dhruv (21) worked as an intern in 2013 at the office of Narendra Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister.

That's probably why the proud father was in such good spirits in Parliament today.

We spotted DMK MP Trichy Siva talking for a long time with AIADMK MPs.

Joint Secretaries in the Union Ministry of Power may be popping antacids. Power minister Piyush Goyal stayed up till 3 am today in Shram Shakti Bhavan -- the headquarters of the Power Ministry -- clearing specific files.  At 11 am, Goyal was in Parliament looking bright and alive, answering questions in Lok Sabha. All work and no play make ministers bright.

MPs from the YSR Congress and the TDP are bitter enemies inside Parliament. We hear that these MPs from Andhra Pradesh are wary of the violence they may let loose inside Parliament. Today, a few YSR Congress MPs almost came to blows, but better sense prevailed and TDP MPs quietly walked out of the house.

Army Jawan killed in Arnia encounter identified as Naik Kulwinder. His family has been informed. RIP

SAARC countries agree to give three months time for approval of regional motor vehicle and railway agreements, says Nepal PM Koirala.

Applause in the SAARC hall and Indian media centre at the handshake after three days of Arctic vibes. 

India PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM shake hands furiously at the end of the SAARC summit. The summit has just ended. Other than this, there has been no breakthrough, no dialogue between India and Pakistan at SAARC, which remained largely unremarkable.

Not Dimple Khanna, you Bollywood watcher you, the person is Dimple Yadav, Samjawadi Party MP. She also happens to be the wife of UP CM Akhilesh Yadav.

Mrs Yadav touched Jaya Bachchan's feet at the Central Hall of Parliament. She then sat next to Mrs B in the front benches and exchanged pleasantries with her. We hear Mrs B, senior SP MP, asked after the UP CM's health and Dimple's father-in-law, Mulayam Singh Yadav. They spent 15 minutes talking after which Dimple touched Jaya's feet again and left.

The encounter in Arnia sector near the LoC is still on. A group of four or five terrorists are holed up in an abandoned army bunker near the border with Pakistan and are exchanging fire with the army. Seven people - three terrorists, three civilians, and an army soldier has died since the militants attacked this morning at 8 am.

Convivial atmosphere at retreat, sets the tone for concluding session of SAARC Summit. A thawing after the meal as Pakistan agrees to sign energy deal. For those of you who have joined us now, it was a 25-item meal at Dhulikhel. Burp.   

Just in: The energy pact deal goes through after pressure on Pak PM Nawaz Sharif.  Pakistan has agreed to back an energy pact for SAARC nations, salvaging a summit that has been clouded by frosty ties between India and Pakistan. Pakistan's assent came at the informal retreat for SAARC leaders in Dhulikhel, where Narendra Modi and Sharif shook hands and exchanged pleasantries but did have a separate conversation. 

It was an all vegetarian fare at the SAARC retreat at Dhulikhel, with each of the eight member nations represented in the menu.

Lunch: Dumplings infused with spinach, seasonal vegetables and home-made cottage cheese. It was served with Himalayan spicy tomato pickle. The main course included Nepali thali, cauliflower curry, cottage cheese curry, zuccini curry, spiced mushroom curry, lentil kofta, sauted palung greens, organic rice and chapatis.

The salad served at the launch comprised cucumber rolls filled with avocado, cheese and mizuna greens topped with fenugreek, fruit and edible flower and molasses. Nettle and fenugreek soup was served with home-made assorted breads.


Desert: Picked up from all the eight member countries included -- from India it was Gujrati Basundi with Jalebis while Baklava from Afghanistan was also laid out. The desert from Bangladesh was Rasbari while Shahi Tukra from Pakistan was also served. The Maldives' Pirni, Nepal's Sikarni and Bhutanese desert Daisee and Waterlappan from Sri Lanka comprised the desert. 

From traditional Nepali thali to Gujrati Basundi with Jalebi, it was a lavish vegetarian spread of cuisines laid out for the SAARC leaders as they met in the cooler climes of exotic Dhulikhel resort for a retreat session.

The leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrived at the resort, around 30 kilometres from Kathmandu in the morning and held talks in informal settings with most leaders seen in a relaxed mood.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina could not join her counterparts at the retreat as she was unwell.

Foreign Ministers of SAARC countries, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, were also present at the retreat.

Phillip Hughes never lost the grounding of a rural upbringing on his journey to Test cricket. Read this moving obit. 

Hundreds of thousands of Swiss people eat cat and dog meat say activists, who want the practice to be made illegal. A petition with 16,000 signatures has been handed to the Swiss parliament, calling for the government to stop people eating "domestic animals". Read

Pakistan's former interior minister Rehman Malik has claimed that he had documentary evidence about the presence of the dreaded Islamic State terror group in the country. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should sensitise the world community about the rapid penetration of IS into several countries and use the forum of SAARC for setting up of an international desk for sharing information about the group's activities.

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien today raised the issue of SBI loan to Adani group, saying it was an example of crony capitalism.

After weeks of negotiations, the BJP and the Shiv Sena are close to reaching an understanding. And the understanding is this -- the Sena is likely to join the Maharashtra government headed by Devendra Fadnavis.

The Maharashtra CM said today that the Sena was part of the NDA at the Centre. "We have decided the Shiv Sena should also be a part of the Maharashtra government. Both the BJP and the Shiv Sena have a feeling that they should govern together in Maharashtra," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis is all set to carry out the cabinet expansion ahead of the crucial winter session beginning in Nagpur on December 8.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has triggered a discreet and informal investigation into how November 26 was chosen for the inauguration of the 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

The choice of the sixth anniversary of the Pakistan-linked terrorist attacks on Mumbai made it impossible for Modi to meet his counterpart from Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif, on the opening day of the summit even if their relations with each other had been at their best. Read more

MEA spokes Syed Akbaruddin tweets: Goodbye Dhulikhel. PM @narendramodi leaving SAARC retreat.

India's two-day Adelaide tour match has been cancelled as a mark of respect to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes. Hughes died in hospital today, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match. 

Nepal journalist Yubaraj Ghimire says that Nepal PM Koirala has asked Narendra Modi to have a meeting with Nawaz Sharif.  

SAARC retreats are ideally organised outside the summit venue in resorts and hotels where the leaders can relax and discuss the bilateral and multilateral agendas. It also provides an opportunity to quell disagreements on unresolved issues.

Pic: Narendra Modi in conversation with Afghan president Ashraf Ghani at Dhulikhel.

Pakistan has blocked key proposals to integrate energy grids and free up road and rail movement. Sources say SAARC nations are pushing for at least an energy pact to avoid a total collapse of the summit. The retreat at Dhulikhel today was seen as an opportunity for other SAARC leaders to persuade Nawaz Sharif to change his mind on the agreements he opposed, forcing the cancellation of a signing ceremony.

JUST IN: The silence ends. PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif exchange pleasantries at the SAARC retreat in Nepal.

"Yes, they have met and shook hands at the retreat,' Nepal Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey told IANS over phone from Dhulikhel, where the retreat is being held on the second day of the two-day Saarc Summit.

Both the prime ministers have taken a tour in and around the resort which is famous for a stunning view of the Himalayas.

The leaders will spend almost five hours at the retreat.

Yesterday, they shared the dais but other than a formal handshake, there was no exchange of courtesies between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan during the nearly three-hour South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who were sitting two seats away from each other, did not look at each other even when Sharif went across both before and after delivering his speech at the 18th meeting of the eight-member regional bloc.

The leaders of Maldives and Nepal were seated between Modi and Sharif.

Pic: SAARC leaders pose at Dhulikhel, a retreat near Kathmandu, where they will spend five hours.

The cricketing community has rallied behind New South Wales all-rounder Sean Abbott whose bouncer struck Phillip Hughes. Hughes died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday, two days after being hit on the head during a Sheffield Shield game. Abbott was distraught when Hughes staggered after being hit. He was one of the first players to rush to help the injured batsman. The Australian Cricketers Association said it is monitoring Abbott closely. All players involved in the match are receiving counselling and psychological support.

PM Narendra Modi and Nepal PM Sushil Koirala share a quiet moment at Dhulikhel. 

Special Protection Group (SPG) chief K Durga Prasad's unceremonious removal from his post has led to speculation about the reasons for his sudden exit from the force mandated to provide security to the Prime Minister, former prime ministers and their families.  Read

Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com reports: In the second encounter today, the army has foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier Poonch district of Jammu region this morning and arrested a militant.

"The infiltration bid was foiled near the Leharan Company Operating Base in Lam Battalion area at around 06:30 hours. Our alert troops noticed suspicious movement near LoC," a defence spokesman said in a statement.

"The troops responded immediately and in the ensuring cordon and search caught an individual with one AK 47 with 30 rounds, one Pakistan-made pistol and Rs 8100 Pakistan currency. The individual is Adul Qayoomi alias Punjabi resident of Leheran. Detailed search is in progress,' the spokesman said.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweets: Tender care. Minister @SushmaSwaraj waters a sapling planted by PM @narendramodi at Dhulikhel.

Australian cricketing circle also took to the twitter to express their shock and sadness on Hughes' death.

"RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you ! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family xxxx," Australia coach Darren Lehnman wrote.

"No no no no no. RIP Phillip Hughes," was how former captain and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist reacted on hearing the news.

Australia pace great Glenn McGrath and former opener Matthew Hayden also exprssed their sympathies for the bereaved cricketer's family. "Such terrible news with the passing of Phil Hughes. Our deepest sympathies to his family," McGrath wrote.

"Rest peacefully our little brother...may God hold you in the palm of his hand forever. Deepest sympathies to the Hughes Family and friends," Hayden tweeted.

There were condolence messages from cricketers of other countries as well on Hughes demise.

"May you RIP Hughesey. Words cannot explain one's feelings right now. Prayers are with his family, friends and Teammates.. #RIPPhilHughes," South African all-rounder J P Duminy wrote on twitter handle.

Former Protea skipper Graeme Smith and current captain AB de Villiers too were shaken by the news. "Totally , totally sick inside and have no words.thinking and praying for friends and family. #RIPPhilHughes," Smith tweeted.

SC asks N Srinivasan to furnish details of shareholding of India Cements and composition of its Board members.

Updates:

1. Encounter between militants and security forces near Pindi post in RS Pura Sector, Jammu and Kashmir. Two people have been injured

2. And in the other encounter at Arnia, a soldier injured in the firing has died. The operation against militants is still underway in the Arnia Sector, J&K, say Army sources. Two terrorists killed in operation in Arnia.

Four terrorists, who crossed the border from Pakista early this morning, got cover fire from Rangers. Area has been cordoned off by the Army and BSF. Operation in progress.  J&K. One injured

The extent of Hughes's injury may not be known for days, but there is a long list of cricketers who have suffered horrific injuries that have been career ending and sometimes fatal. Read

Pic: Indias Raman Lamba died in 1998 at the age of 38 after being struck in the temple by a cricket ball hit by a Bangladesh batsman.

Andy Murray announces engagement with Kim Sears ...and sacks coaches. Read

SAARC leaders at a retreat in Dhulikel.This is where a last ditch effort by Nepal and other SAARC countries will be made to push Nawaz Sharif to come around on the agreements he has refused to give his nod to. 

Veritas man Nitin Mangal who clobbered Indiabulls taken in custody. Read 

How to opt out of Twitter's new thing that tracks which Apps you install. Read

The Supreme Court asks suspended BCCI president N Srinivasan to explain how there was no conflict of interest as he was BCCI president and owned IPL team Chennai Super Kings. The top court sought to disqualify CSK.

Srinivasan has been slammed by the Supreme Court for conflict of interest. The top court has taken exception to the fact that he heads Chennai Super Kings as well as the BCCI. Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan has been indicted by the probe panel for betting. Meiyappan has been identified as a CSK team official. According to IPL rules, CSK can face termination.

Sachin Tendulkar condoles Phillip Hughes death: Shocked to hear about Phil. Sad day for cricket. Deepest condolences to family, friends and well wishers. RIP #PhilipHughes

The group of heavily armed terrorists crossed over from Pakistan to the Arnia sector this morning. This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a SAARC nations meeting in Kathmandu called for a pledge to unitedly combat terror reminding them of the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

Just in: The army has denied a report that an officer was killed in an encounter with militants in the Arnia sector of Jammu.

Rediff.com has learnt that there have been no casualties so far.  Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com reporting from Srinagar says that the encounter between a group of militants and security forces is still on. Militants attacked a bunker in the Kathar area in the sector this morning.

"A gunfight is on in the area. More reinforcements have been rushed there," a senior police officer said.

Three security personnel, including a JCO, and a civilian were injured in a fierce encounter with infiltrating militants.

J-K CM Omar Abdullah tweets: Some things will never change, SAARC summit is on, Ind & Pak PMs at the same venue and a fierce encounter breaks out in Jammu.

ABC Radio presenter Mark Colvin tweets: If you're writing about Hughes: The family have let the ABC know they prefer him to be called Phillip rather than Phil.

In other news: An Indian man working in Liberia died in September after contracting the deadly Ebola virus, the BBC reports. The man's family was informed after his death and he was buried in Liberia. Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have been worst hit by the Ebola outbreak.

@janecat60  Condolences to Phil Hughes's loved ones but thoughts really with Sean Abbott right now. What a devastating thing to live with.

Condolence tweets pour in for Phillip Hughes:

@BoredCricket: So long, Phil Hughes, see you in cricket heaven, where matches aren't fixed and you don't stop playing.

@3AW693 (Hughes) was a very humble kid. You never heard a bad word from him when he got dropped. He worked harder" - former mentor @ProfDeano.

@OllyNoonan Hughes' death must show sporting codes the importance of properly dealing with head injuries. Some good can and must come from this.

@SAfridiOfficial  My heartfelt condolences to the family of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes on the sad demise.  (That's a tweet from Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi)

5 takeaways from the Phillip Hughes story.

-- Phillip Hughes had been rushed to hospital after he was hit in the head in the Sheffield Shield game. He was admitted to intensive care after surgery, but was announced dead this afternoon.

-- Hughes had made 63 out of a total of 2 for 136 while batting for South Australia in the match against New South Wales.

-- He was hit in the head after misjudging a ball from Sean Abbott.

-- The 25-year-old was wearing a helmet but the ball hit him beneath its rim. He bent over before collapsing on to the ground and was taken off the field on a stretcher.

-- He had been in an induced coma at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.

-- In a statement, Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said: "He was not in pain before he passed away and was surrounded by his family and close friends."

Paramedics took 15 minutes to reach Phillip Hughes at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday as he lay critically injured on the field, and it took two calls to triple-0 to get them there.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Ray Creen will be hauled before the Health Minister on Thursday to discuss the incident after the service put out two conflicting statements on Wednesday about how long it took for an ambulance to get to the SCG.  Read more

Australian PM Tony Abbott's message on cricketer Phillip Hughes death.

"Phillip Hughes was a young man living out his dreams.
His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family.
What happened has touched millions of Australians.
For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration.
He was loved, admired and respected by his teammates and by his legions of cricket fans.
Australians' thoughts and prayers are with the Hughes family."

Shashi Tharoor tweets: Awful news about Phillip Hughes. No young man ventures onto a sports field thinking he's risking his life. My thoughts & prayers4 his family.

Australian cricketer Phil Hughes dies 3 days after being hit in the head by a ball bowled by Sean Abbott. 

CBI files case diary of a coal scam case involving industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others in sealed cover before special court.

Army finds 9 soldiers guilty of killing 2 teenagers in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam earlier this month.

The National Green Tribunal has passed the order that all the petrol and diesel vehicles older than 15 years would not be permitted to ply on the national capital's road.

Hundreds protest at US embassy in London over Ferguson case: About a thousand Britons have protested outside the United States embassy in London in sympathy with demonstrations across the US over the killing of a black teenager by a white police officer. 

Daman Marine Police recovered two abandoned fishing boats on the Daman coast on Wednesday.

Global Ebola toll rises to 5,689: WHO:  

PM ignores Sharif, chooses to meet other SAARC leaders

No prospect of structured talks with India: Pakistan 

Government won't follow 'suicidal' course on black money: Jaitley

Australia batsman Hughes continues to fight for life

Black money: Gold imported via Switzerland under govt's scanner

Rupee ends higher at 61.84 against the dollar

ISL, I-League to merge within five years: FA official