PM Modi and Israeli PM Netanyahu issue press statements, in Israel. 

For those wondering what PM Modi wrote in the visitor's book at Yad Vashem in Israel, here's a peak at it. He wrote the 'memorial is a mirror to societies especially in dealing with intolerance, hatred and terror'.

In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, the VHP on Tuesday cautioned against the conspiracy towards maligning the holy vow of cow-protection. 

A Chrysanthemum flower will be named in honour of PM Narendra Modi. The flower will be called 'Modi.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has hit back at the state's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks saying that he was behaving like a 'BJP block president'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers welcome remarks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is the first ever visit by an Indian prime minister to Israel. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport as PM Modi arrives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in in Israel in the first-ever visit to the country by an Indian prime minister. 

The minister of state for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju, had a close shave on Tuesday afternoon when the BSF chopper he was travelling in had to make an emergency landing in a small field in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, due to bad weather.

TV reports said the helicopter was caught in heavy rain and fog, which made navigation difficult due to the low visibility. The pilots managed to keep the chopper steady and manoeuvre it around for 10 minutes amid the rain, before finding a small strip for a safe landing. 

Ahead of his departure to Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the IAS class of 2015 officers.

Addressing more than 500 IAS and 150 IPS officers, the PM gave them unusual advice -- do not follow in the footsteps of your seniors.

He asked them to be progressive in their approach to developmental issues.
Speaking about GST, the Prime Minister said he encountered lots of stumbling blocks from seniors. "Young officers like you should ask thought-provoking questions on GST  and developmental issues." He said he was keen to talk to the 'electronic and digital' generation.

Gossip amongst New Delhi babudom was that the PM's  message to the IAS officers were a subtle warning for the seniors. The BJP feels that there are at least 60 babus who still have an allegience towards the Congress despite the BJP getting an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha with 288 MPs.

MoS Home Kiren Rijiju's chopper makes an emergency landing in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, due to bad weather. All on board safe.

Special Public Prosecutor seeks life term for Abu Salem in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, during argument on quantum of sentence before TADA Court, Mumbai

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sent out a strong political message to its alliance partner in Bihar -- the Congress -- yesterday that is still reverberating in Delhi's corridors of power.

The message is about Bihar and its future with the JDU and RJD alliance. Kumar talked about the Congress' inability to set the agenda and accused it of sidelining farmer issues by focusing on the presidential polls.

Today, the BJP national headquarters at Ashoka Road in New Delhi witnessed a flurry of activity with MPs from Bihar at the office.

Was Bihar's political future discussed? What should the BJP's next move be?

The final outcome of the meeting, according to a source close to BJP President Amit Shah, is under wraps and the party is adopting a wait-and-watch approach.

Shah is waiting for more hard-hitting statements by Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad either for or against the Congress. Read what Nitish Kumar said here.

Party leaders want the Presidential polls to get over before it takes any decision on the JD-U. This means July is done and dusted.

In fact, BJP insiders feel that more than the BJP  reacting to Bihar politics, the Congress should be spelling out their strategy.

This correspondent spoke to a few JD-U leaders today who said unanimously that its 17 years with the BJP was a smooth ride compared to its alliance with the Congress.

They said the Congress leadership is neither accommodating nor warm or forthcoming about its plans.

JD-U leader KC Tyagi informally told this correspondent that the party does not share the views of Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi's 'reactive' politics and asked why the Congress waits for action by Narendra Modi to react. It would rather that its alliance partner write its own narratives.

For the sake of a united Opposition, the Congress is the the 'mother' of the GST, but the party has now distanced itself from it, even obstructing the  implementation. The JD-U feels the Congress should not have reacted to the GST in the manner it did.

So does Tyagi articulate Nitish Kumar's thinking? Corruption charges and the benami transactions of Lalu Prasad have now become an issue in Bihar and is a problem Nitish can do without.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today began discussions on a resolution moved by the government for implementing the GST regime without affecting the special status of the state.


Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu moved the resolution seeking suggestions from the lawmakers on how to implement the 101st amendment of the Constitution of India pertaining to GST in the state with modifications to ensure that the special status under Article 370 of the Constitution is not affected.  -- PTI

In what seems to be a big relief for pubs shut down along the highway, especially those in Bengaluru and Chandigarh, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that there was nothing wrong with denotifying highways if such roads are within a city.  Read more

India Real Time started in 2010 as the first attempt by a global newspaper to offer a news product for Indian readers through the internet. Seven years and crores of clicks later, The Wall Street Journal is winding down the successful blog. Read more

And this is what defence experts say on the Prime Minister's visit to Israel.


P K Sehgal: "Israel and India suffer same problems of terrorism. Thus our requirements are similar. Since both countries have compatibility, both will be able to terminate terrorism. Israel has got some of the finest intelligence sharing and they will share it with us."

Sehgal said defence, security, technology, education, agriculture and innovation would be areas of discussion.

Sehgal also said that Israel as a small country needs markets, and India provides a huge market.

S R Sinho said, "Israel has always supported us. It is an asset to India. This is the first visit of the PM to Israel in the last 25 years and I hope it will benefit us."

Uday Bhaskar said, "Israel is one country, which unequivocally supports India on terrorism. Both the countries have a shared political consensus. 26/11 attacks would also be one of the points of discussion, as along with India, Israel too had tragic experiences, with Jewish being attacked."

He added that there are a lot of competencies in Israel, which India could benefit from. -- ANI

Biju Janata Dal MP Baijayant Panda says the PM Narendra Modi's decision to visit Israel -- the first ever for an Indian PM -- was a good development. "It's unfortunate we have not always acted in national interest because of certain political correctness," Panda said.


Panda, who has angered his party for his independent opinions shorn of political colour, was sacked as party spokesperson after he wrote an article in an Odia paper, asking that his party introspect about its below-par performance in the local body elections in Odisha.

The Congress took an opposing view attacking the Prime Minister on his foreign trips, saying they have not benefited India "even a bit" and that only time will tell about the gains from his current visit to Israel.

The party's remarks came as the prime minister left on a three-day visit to Israel, the first by an Indian premier to the country. Senior AICC spokesperson Ajay Maken claimed Modi's last "64 visits in more than 3 years" have catered only to domestic Indian audience through "televised shows" instead of ensuring concrete gains for the country. "Only the time will tell how India will benefit out of the 65th visit, but if you look at the track record, India has not benefited a bit out of his last foreign visits," he said.

Another batch of 1,786 pilgrims today left Jammu for the high-altitude Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Escorted by the CRPF, the pilgrims comprising 1,485 men,  301 women left in 53 vehicles in a convoy for Baltal and  Pahalagam base camps this morning, officials said.

With today's batch a total of 17,146 pilgrims and sadhus have left Jammu for Amarnath since the yatra began from Jammu on June 28. As many as 15,813 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine yesterday and 62,608 pilgrims have done the same till date.

President Pranab Mukherjee, on Monday, hosted a farewell dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet hall for 85 senior journalists, who have been closely acquainted with him.

As he entered the magnificent Durbar Hall amid fanfare followed by the national anthem, his remarks, however brief, touched a chord with the media.

To the familiar faces before him, he said, "You all grew up with me. After demitting office my doors will remain open to the media."

After his speech, as journalists converged around him, he called out the names and as the journalist stepped up, spoke about their scoops and exclusive stories.

When the President approached this correspondent, he spoke of the scoops reported, which he said could be 'very dangerous and risky'.

Of course, the President spoke in some detail about politics, but in confidence.

His secretary, Omita Paul, the President's Military Secretary and the entire secretariat escorted the President out of the Durbar Hall.

On July 12, President Mukherjee is hosting a farewell dinner for governors, followed by a dinner with the Council of Ministers on July 24.

Similarly, there will be another dinner for the presiding officers of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and with the Leaders of Opposition in both the Houses. The President embodies the Parliament, hence a farewell dinner for Parliamentarians.


Image: Journalists line up at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at a dinner hosted by President Mukherjee

The Shiv Sena today said lynching people in the name of cow protection was against Hindutva and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come up with a national policy on beef.


A string of such incidents have been reported from several states, including BJP-ruled Jharkhand, Haryana and UP, prompting protests.


"The issue of beef is related to eating habits, business and employment. Hence, there should be a national policy over the issue," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.


"Those who were safeguarding cows were Hindus till yesterday. Today, they have become murderers," it said. In a tough message against cow vigilantism and mob lynching, Modi last week said killing people on the pretext of protecting cows is not acceptable and warned that no one has the right to take law into his hands.


"We welcome the stand taken by the prime minister over the issue. Nobody has the right to take law in his hands in the name of cow protection. Lynching people is against the principles of Hindutva," the Sena said. "We thank him (Modi) for clearly defining Hindutva. He should now come up with a national policy on beef to ease tensions," the ruling alliance partner said.


Under attack over mobs killing those suspected of cow slaughter or eating beef, BJP chief Amit Shah recently termed such incidents as "serious", but claimed more of these happened under the previous governments than the three years of NDA rule.  -- PTI

Just in: RBI to introduce Rs 200 notes, printing order has been placed, reports ANI.  Details awaited.


This comes on the back of reports that the Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the Centre and asked them to give another chance to "genuine people to deposit old notes".


The Centre has been given two weeks to respond.Rebuking the Centre for setting up a deadline for depositing demonetised currency, the apex court observed, "One cannot make people suffer if they have genuine reasons, should be allowed to deposit old notes".


The Supreme Court today asked the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India, whether a window can be provided to the people who could not deposit their old Rs. 500 and 1,000 currency notes.


The Central government told the division bench of the Apex Court today that it would file an affidavit in the case.The apex court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Sudha Mishra and others seeking a direction from it in connection with the deposit of old currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000.


Following the announcement of demonetizing currency notes worth Rs. 500 and 1,000 in November last year, the Government had instructed people to deposit their old currency notes with the RBI till December 30, 2016.

The Reserve Bank is expected to cut its key policy rate by 25 bps in its review meet on August 2 as June CPI inflation is expected to be around 1.5 per cent, a report says.

It could be sheer coincidence, not wilful planning, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Israel on the 41st anniversary of 'Operation Thunderbolt', popularly known as 'Operation Entebbe'.


On July 4, 1976, Israeli commandos, led by Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, raided Entebbe airport where 105 hostages were being held. They were passengers of an Air France flight that was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists after taking off from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.


The operation lasted 90 minutes and 102 hostages were rescued. Yonatan Netanyahu died, the only fatality suffered by the commandos. He is still remembered as the Hero of Entebbe. He was the elder brother of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister. It's a day of remembrance for the Israeli prime minister and citizens.


This year, it will also become the day the first prime minister of India set foot on the soil of Israel, ending decades of shaming and shunning by the New Delhi Establishment of a natural ally and a true friend. In a sense, history will be made on this fourth of July by Modi's historic visit.

Kanchan Gupta reports from Tel Aviv for Rediff.com.

Read the column here.

North Korea on Tuesday claimed to have successfully test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile just days ahead of the G20 summit scheduled to take place in Hamburg, Germany, says reports.

Leaders from the Group of 20 nations are due to discuss steps to rein in North Korea's weapons programmes.

The lynching of Jammu and Kashmir deputy superintendent of police, Mohammed Ayub Pandith, was captured on a video which was so violent that the state government bought and destroyed it for fear of public repercussions, a top state official told the Hindustan Times.


The 57-year-old officer's body was found outside Srinagar's main mosque where thousands of people had gathered for night-long congregational prayers on Islam's holiest night of Shab-e-Qadr on June 23.


"He was stripped naked and violently pummelled. His arms and legs were bent and broken just as someone breaks a sugarcane before eating it,'' said the top official who saw the video of Pandith's lynching.


The official, who saw the video, said they had to work overtime to source and destroy the video for a "financial consideration'. The lynching, he revealed, had been recorded by a civilian who has been an informant of several agencies operating in the Valley.  Read more

North Korea says has successfully tested ICBM: Reports

"Pakistans India-centred strategic paradigm is one of the biggest drags on the countrys progress. Data to prove this is indisputable. I have contended Pakistan must invert its traditional refrain of politics before economics with India by transforming itself into a transit and investment hub for the region. This is just about the only way Pakistan can retain a solid negotiating hand with India in the long term while furthering its (and the regions) human welfare goals. The status quo is untenable because it isnt working differential with India is growing by the day. Also, no one in the international community, including China, accepts the logic of Pakistans approach anymore."

Read the column in the Dawn.

Journalism has its occasions for consternation. I have been sued for defamation. The publisher washed his hands of the matter, and asked me to face the suit on my own. Luckily, there are amongst my friends a couple of lawyers - a husband-and-wife team - they have saved me whenever I got into a soup.


And then there was the minister who wrote to an editor I wrote for that I had personal animus against him. I gave the minister any number of examples when I had been nice to him. But it did not save me; eventually, I was eased out of a job I enjoyed. But I was lucky; I continued writing elsewhere.

Ashok V Desai on journalists and journalism. Read

In a big relief to all those who are bearing the brunt of demonetisation, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the Centre and asked them to give another chance to "genuine people to deposit old notes".


The Centre has been given two weeks to respond.Rebuking the Centre for setting up a deadline for depositing demonetised currency, the apex court observed, "One cannot make people suffer if they have genuine reasons, should be allowed to deposit old notes".


The Supreme Court today asked the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India, whether a window can be provided to the people who could not deposit their old Rs. 500 and 1,000 currency notes.


The Central government told the division bench of the Apex Court today that it would file an affidavit in the case.


The apex court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Sudha Mishra and others seeking a direction from it in connection with the deposit of old currency notes of Rs 500 and 1,000.


Following the announcement of demonetizing currency notes worth Rs. 500 and 1,000 in November last year, the Government had instructed people to deposit their old currency notes with the RBI till December 30, 2016.

The Supreme Court today refused to give an early hearing in the PMLA case filed by the Enforcement Directorate against former finance minister P. Chidambaram's son Karti Chidamabaram.


A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar refused to give an early hearing in the case.The Enforcement Directorate asked the apex court whether the Madras High Court has the jurisdiction to hear Kati's plea or not.


Karti had filed a plea in the Madras High Court challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate.Last month, following the Income-Tax raids at his residence in Chennai, the Enforcement Directorate slapped a money laundering case against Karti and others taking cognizance of the CBI FIR against him.

As ever, Amul's witty take on current affairs -- this time it's the flavour of the season -- GST. 

The editorial in Israel's respected newspaper Jerusalem Post, ahead of PM Narendra Modi's historic visit to the country -- a first for an Indian PM.


"The increased cooperation comes against a backdrop of broader political changes taking place inside India. The rise to power of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party has resulted in the assertion of Hindutva or "Hindu-ness,' an unapologetic approach to India's Hindu majority religion and culture. If India's leftists viewed Israel as a "neo-imperialist proxy of America,' BJP supporters -- and Hindus in general -- tend to see Israel as a plucky democracy with a strong, non-Muslim religious identity standing up to nihilistic Islamist terrorists -- not unlike the Indians themselves.

"Many parallels can be drawn between BJP and our Likudled government. Both seek to strengthen what they see as a more authentic national identity -- Hindutva in India, Judaism in Israel -- while maintaining a robust democracy."

Read the full editorial here.

"The prime minister has merely paid lip service condemning these crimes instead of launching a massive crackdown against such brutalities," argues Professor Mohammad Sajjad. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu today to elevate 25 years of diplomatic relations between the countries.


Ahead of their meeting, both leaders recognised the threat terrorism poses to their countries and to global peace and stability.


"Accordingly, a few years ago we signed a landmark agreement on cooperation in homeland and public security. India and Israel are committed to working together to fight this scourge," the leaders said in a blog post.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Israel commences today and he will be the first serving Indian prime minister to visit Israel to mark 25 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Jerusalem.


"The 'Make in India' initiative to strengthen the Indian manufacturing base has been enhanced by its Israeli 'Make with India' counterpart. We are pleased that this vision is already bearing fruit. This week's historic visit, as we celebrate 25 years of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel, reflects not just the close cooperation of our governments, but also the great sympathy and affinity between our peoples. We marvel at the changes we have witnessed over the last two and a half decades and are proud that India and Israel are genuine partners for development, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship," both the Prime Minister's said, reaffirmed their commitment to economic ties.

Celebrating 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the leaders further stated, "We are confident that 25 years from now, Indians and Israelis will look back on this visit as the first of many historical milestones that we reached together in the great friendship between our peoples. The natural partnership between India and Israel, formally elevated 25 years ago to full diplomatic relations, has grown stronger from year to year. The deep connection between our peoples reflects our many similarities in spirit, if not in size. Ours are two modern, vibrant democracies that draw on our rich historical traditions while striving to seize the promise of the future for our peoples."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left for his two-nation visit to Israel and Germany.

'Intense week for bilateral & multilateral diplomacy. PM @narendramodi departs for Tel Aviv, the first leg of his tour,' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

The first Indian PM to visit Israel, Modi will meet his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to elevate 25 years of diplomatic relations between the countries.

Modi will also call on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

In the second and final leg of his tour, Prime Minsiter Modi will visit Hamburg in Germany to attend the 12th G-20 Summit. -- ANI

MUST READ ON MODI'S ISRAEL VISIT

• Revealed: 5 outcomes from Modi's Israel visit
• India must not be carried away by Israel's bluster
• 'If Israel is in our hearts, India is in our blood': Indian Jews

Rajasthan Anti Terrorist Squad on Tuesday arrested a person from Chennai over alleged links with the Islamic State.

The ATS team arrested the suspect for allegedly transferring funds to IS module.

The suspect, identified as Haroon, has been taken to Jaipur for further inquiry.

The team arrested him after other suspects, (Jamil Ahmed and Mohammad Iqbal) who are already in ATS custody, identified him.

Ahmed was arrested by the ATS team in November last year from Sikar district of Rajasthan for allegedly transferring funds to the IS module. -- ANI

As many cinema theatres across Tamil Nadu shut down to protest the imposition of 28 per cent GST on top of the 30 pc entertainment tax levied by the state government, the deserted Mani's theatre in Peelamedu, Coimbatore, is proof of how movie halls have been affected in the aftermath of the new tax regime kicking in.

A third terrorist was killed today in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of South Kashmir as the operation entered the second day, police said.

One more terrorist was killed this morning and the body has been recovered, a police official said.

He said three terrorists have been killed in the encounter so far.

The search operation was on in the area, the official said.

Security forces launched a search operation in Bahmnoo area of Pulwama yesterday following information about presence of terrorists there.

The gunfight ensued after the terrorists fired upon the security forces during the search operation.

Two Army personnel yesterday sustained minor injuries during the operation. -- PTI

IMAGE: An army jawan takes position during the encounter in Pulwama on Monday. Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com

Five persons allegedly involved in cattle thefts in the national capital have been arrested.   

Microsoft is planning layoffs as it refocuses its sales force on making the software colossus a pivotal part of businesses relying on cloud computing, according to media reports.

While many reports forecast the changes would result in thousands of job cuts, Microsoft only confirmed that changes were on the way.

"Microsoft is implementing changes to better serve our customers and partners," a Microsoft spokesperson was quoted as saying by news agencies.

Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella has reportedly sought to reduce focus on software, shifting to cloud computing and business services.

"From large multinationals to small and medium businesses to non-profits all over the world, organizations are using Microsoft's cloud platforms to power their digital transformation," Nadella said when the company reported its earnings for the first three months of this year.

Microsoft has announced thousands of jobs cuts in recent years, the most severe being 18,000 positions eliminated in 2014 related from its acquisition of Nokia and failed efforts in the smartphone market.

The technology giant cut 7,800 jobs in 2015, and 4,700 last year. -- Agencies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today begin his two-nation tour starting from Israel. He is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the state.

Upon arriving in Israel, Prime Minster Modi will hold talks with his counterpart Benjamin Netanyahuin Tel Aviv on all matters of mutual interest.

This year both the countries are commemorating 25 years of diplomatic relations.

The prime minster, in his Facebook post, said, both leaders will also discuss major common challenges like terrorism.

During the visit, he will engage with a cross section of Israeli society.

The PM said, he is looking forward to interacting with the large vibrant Indian diaspora in Israel that represents an enduring link between the two countries.

Modi will also call on President Reuven Rivlin.

He will address the Indian community in an event in Tel Aviv. He will also attend a CEO forum in which CEOs of companies from both the nations will participate to discuss their shared priority of expanding the bilateral trade and investment.

The PM will also visit the Indian cemetery in Haifa where he will pay homage to Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during the first world war.

In the second and final leg of his tour, Prime Minsiter Modi will visit Hamburg in Germany to attend the 12th G-20 Summit. -- ANI

• India's ties with Israel are special: Modi