Indian Sub-continent

Mumbai, Nov 11 (PTI) The Congress on Thursday demanded that the Rafale aircraft deal with France be thoroughly investigated by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) immediately.

The remarks came days after French investigative portal Mediapart, in fresh revelations, alleged bogus invoices were used that enabled French aircraft maker Dassault Aviation to pay at least 7.5 million euros in secret commissions to a middleman to help it secure the Rafale deal with India.

New Delhi, Nov 11 (PTI) Amid a row over his views on Hindutva, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Thursday stood by what he has written in his new book and asserted that Hindutva has pushed aside 'Sanatan Dharma' and Hinduism and taken an aggressive position similar to Boko Haram and the likes.

Khurshid sparked a controversy by comparing a "robust version" of Hindutva to Boko Haram, in his book prompting the BJP to accuse the Congress of weaving a "web like a spider against Hindus".

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Nov 12 (PTI) Two Uttar Pradesh Police officials have been suspended after the Delhi High Court pulled up the neighbouring state's police department for illegally arresting a Delhi-based man and his son.

The second son of the Delhi-based man had eloped with a 21-year-old woman from Shamli in Uttar Pradesh and married her against the wishes of her family.

New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the country's national security is "unpardonably compromised" as the government does not have a strategy on China.

He cited a news report where the External Affairs Ministry and the Chief of Defence Staff had a different take on the China border issue.

Kanpur: When the cricket fans are excitedly waiting for the opportunity to enjoy an International match at Green Park here after, over a week, they also look uneasy about no factual information on the sale of the ticket for the forthcoming match between India and New Zealand. 

However, they should not be uneasy at this matter. According to the news, the date of the ticket sale will only be concluded after the finalisation of spectators capacity in the gallery. Along with this there is also required confirmation of the security arrangements in and around the venue.

NEW DELHI, Nov 11 (NNN-PTI) – Ten people were killed today, in a head-on collision between an auto-rickshaw and a goods truck, in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam, officials said.

The accident took place on a highway in Karimganj district, about 310 km south of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.

According to police, the dead include five women and two children.

Officials said, the victims were returning to their homes after participating in a religious ceremony.

FIROZ KOAH, Afghanistan, Nov 11 (NNN-BIA) – Four Afghan children were wounded, in a landmine explosion, in the western province of Ghor, as landmines and explosive remnants of war continued to pose a lingering threat to Afghans’ lives, a local official confirmed today.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, when children were grazing their sheep in Tasarqi village, on the outskirts of provincial capital, Firoz Koah, Abdul Satar, chairman of the provincial health directorate, said.

COLOMBO, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the adverse weather conditions in Sri Lanka rose to 25 on Thursday while over 200,000 people had been affected, the country's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said in its latest update.

According to official figures, one person was reported missing and seven people were injured as heavy rains and strong winds lashed out across the country since last weekend.

Twenty-three houses were fully damaged while 1,253 were partially damaged, the DMC said.

KABUL, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The caretaker government of Afghanistan on Wednesday downplayed the security threat posed by the hardliner Islamic State (IS), or Daesh outfit, saying security forces had arrested 600 militants affiliated with the armed group over the past three months.

"The security forces of the Islamic Emirate have destroyed 21 bases of the Daesh group in different provinces including Kabul, Nangarhar and Herat and also captured about 600 militants over the past three months," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters at a press briefing here.

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day visit as head of a high-level delegation to hold wide-ranging talks with the Pakistani leadership.

Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and Abdul Razak Dawood, advisor to Pakistani prime minister on commerce, textile, industry and production, and investment welcomed Muttaqi on his arrival, according to the state television of Pakistan.