In a video posted by the Islamic State group today, an elderly Syrian is shown to have taken part in stoning his daughter to death for alleged adultery. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the execution took place in August or September in an IS-controlled rural area in the east of the central province of Hama.  

Prince William's wife Kate attended her first official royal engagement here today to greet the president of Singapore since it was announced that she is pregnant with her and the Duke of Cambridge's second baby.  

Russian and French experts were investigating today a plane crash at a Moscow airport which killed the CEO of French oil giant Total, Christophe de Margerie, whose private jet struck a snowplough on takeoff. 

A mentally ill British man accused of trying to set up a terrorist training camp in Oregon was extradited to the US today after losing a nine-year legal battle. London's Metropolitan Police said Haroon Aswat was taken from Broadmoor psychiatric hospital west of London and escorted onto a plane by US officials.

Thousands of Hong Kong protesters listened raptly from the streets on Tuesday as student leaders debated their call for full democracy for the Chinese-run city with government leaders to try end a weeks-long occupation of major traffic arteries.

Indian nurses who have read of two colleagues in the US who fell ill caring for a critically-ill Ebola patient, are worried. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has issued guidelines, but those don't seem to have had much impact. "We do not have respirators, and we have never worn goggles,' a nurse told The Indian Express. "And we have no experience with the virus. We have met the nursing superintendent and asked for classes."

Read 

Terry Walsh on resigning as Hockey India coach: It was a very difficult decision to make. The second reason is family commitments and time. Has been hard to be away from home for a long period of time. Need to be more in the home environment. Decision making is not central to any group, takes place across, from players to major organizations to SAI.

Changes in the BJP:
JP Nadda made party in-charge of Maharashtra
Rajiv Pratap Rudy made BJP in charge of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. OP Mathur in charge of Uttar Pradesh
Siddharth Nath Singh in charge of West Bengal

Amid the continuing stand-off with the Shiv Sena, the BJP's Maharashtra Assembly poll in-charge Om Mathur today said his party was the new "big brother" in the state and others should not think themselves as bigger when "the people's verdict is otherwise".

"The people of Maharashtra have given us the mandate (to form government). A person or political party cannot think of themselves as bigger when the people's verdict is otherwise. In the current situation, we are the big brother," he said.

Rubbishing media reports of Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray having demanded deputy chief minister's post and key portfolios like Home, Finance, Irrigation and PWD as a precondition for reuniting with BJP, Mathur said, "It is a figment of media's imagination."

"It is true that Uddhav Thackeray called up the Prime Minister and (BJP president) Amit Shah. He had called me as well. But it was just a courtesy call to congratulate us on our win. All these reports of him demanding ministries are completely baseless and bear no truth," he said.

When asked if BJP will accept NCP's offer of support to form the next government, Mathur said a decision will be taken by the Central Parliamentary board.

"We have won handsomely and, since we are short of just a few seats, it is usual for parties to come forward and extend us their support. But it is the Parliamentary Board of our party which will take a final call," Mathur said.

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday refused to grant temporary bail to 2002 Naroda Patia riots case convict Babu Bajrangi, who sought one week's release for  the treatment of his ailing son.

The High Court said that the disease of the applicant's  son is not critical and can be cured, so the temporary bail in this condition can be ruled out.

Awesome! An alleged bootlegger, who posed as a Union minister, was provided escort by local police when he went to attend a function in Meerut. The faux pas came to light when local BJP leaders created a hue and cry on seeing Tanzeem Abbas, saying he was not a minister. 

Demands for Union Transport minister Nitin Gadkari to be Maharashtra CM as soon as he lands in Nagpur this afternoon. Sudhir Mungantiwar, a Gadkari loyalist, says the state unit wants Gadkari to be CM. "We all want Nitin (Gadkari)ji should think about Maharashtra. He should considering coming here. When party asked Nitin-ji if he wants to come to Maharashtra he refused. We are very surprised about that. We will request him to come," said Mungantiwar.

Gadkari, say media reports, is not comfortable at the prospect of Devendra Fadnavis becoming Chief Minister. And unless Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands firmly by Fadnavis, he has little chance.

Mungantiwar said he was surprised to hear Gadkari say that he was happy in Delhi.

Gadkari had said that he does not aspire to be CM and was happy in Delhi.

Just in: President Pranab Mukherjee signs ordinance on e-auction of coal blocks, says Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson. 

Former sports minister MS Gill on hockey coach Terry Walsh's resignation: We have a lot of rules and departments over us. The Sports Ministry is also tied by rules. A marriage between a "gora" coach and Indian rules does not work, you can bring a pundit, granthi or maulvi. 

More power to this awesome lady! Asha Bhosle tweets: @ashabhosle Had fun Beating the drums at recent Ahmedabad concert. 

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar today said BJP's victory in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections will have its bearing on state politics.

"BJP's performance in Lok Sabha elections was a major step towards Congress free India, now it has been repeated in Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. This will have its effect on Karnataka politics," Shettar said.

"This election was crucial; people have voted in favour of BJP. It has created a political impact; political polarisation has already started and will definitely have its impact on Karnataka politics," he said. "We can expect major changes in the state politics," he said.

Why Bollywood's biggest star approached a small YouTube channel for help. Read

On the basis of a top secret report from an investigating agency, the Prime Minister Office has abruptly moved an Additional Secretary to the government.  The two-page report contained details of the Additional Secretary's involvement in rendering possible assistance to the kin of a senior Union Minister in the UPA regime to play the stock market. The PMO is also keen to refer this issue to the CBI for a preliminary enquiry.

The oath taking ceremony of Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana CM will be held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium (Panchkula) on 26th Oct.  

JUST IN: India hockey coach Terry Walsh decides to step down, cites bureaucratic hurdles and personal issues for the move. Walsh led India to an Asian Games gold this year and an Olympic Games qualifier as well.

Walsh, who worked as Technical Director with USA field Hockey from 2005-2012, pursued his coaching career in 1990 where he worked as head coach of the Malaysian national hockey team till 1994.

He also worked as head coach of the Australian National team from 1997-2000 and under his coaching the team had won the Commonwealth Games in 1998, Champions Trophy in 1999 and a Bronze medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

Raosaheb Dadarao Danve, BJP: Because Shiv Sena is an old associate therefore if required they will be the first ones we will take support from.

Subramanian Swamy, BJP: Despite all the media driven news and Dubai Harkat I am convinced that BJP and Shiv Sena will remarry soon.

Saharan sun could provide energy for UK homes in 8bn plan to build 100 sq km solar farm - and a very long power cable. Read

Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, whose party the National Conference is in favour of delaying the elections in the state, said it was the decision for the Election Commission to take.

"I do not have to take a decision on the elections. It has to be decided by the EC. They came here, had discussions at official level and talked to various political parties and perhaps they will announce their decision in the coming few days.

"If they decide on conducting elections, then people have to be ready for that. I cannot say anything on it as the head of a government, but the party's stand on the issue has been made clear to the EC and to the people through the media," he said.

Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Ranjib Biswal has said that the West Indies players will be playing in Season 8 of the cash-rich league.

So, the BJP may not take support from the Sena or the NCP to form government in Maharashtra. BJP's election in-charge for the state, Om Mathur, says that nobody in the party is talking to the Shiv Sena. He said that the BJP has the support of 15 Independents and other smaller parties, which takes the number to 138. 

Oscar Pistorius was not the first in his family to sleep with a gun close to hand. His parents divorced when he was six, and his mother Sheila -- a paranoid alcoholic according to Dr Merryll Vorster, a psychiatrist called as an expert witness at his trial -- kept hers under her pillow. Read

In other news: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said BJP's win in Haryana and Maharashtra would have some effect on the assembly elections in the state, but maintained that the influence would not be as much as previously expected.

"While obviously, the BJP will have some effect in Jammu and Kashmir, I don't think it will be as much as previously expected," Omar said.

The chief minister said though BJP did well in the elections in the two states, the results were not upto their expectations.

The Chief Minister said, "Yes, they (BJP) have done well, but not nearly as well as they had expected. If you compare BJP's Parliament results in Haryana and BJP-Shiv Sena results in Parliament (polls) till now, they haven't translated Parliament results into Assembly results in those states."

Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle says there will be no appeal -- the family expected him to go to jail.

June Steenkamp has not made a formal statement, but has said the five-year sentence brought a sort of closure, but there would be no closure without Reeva "unless you can magic her back".

June Steenkamp, mother of Reeva, told reporters in court, that the sentence was 'right'.

May be finally some closure for Reeva's mother, June Steenkamp, who smiles briefly after Pistorius is sentenced. The family has said that they will not accept a correctional sentence for Pistorius. The athlete will be taken to Pretoria Central Prison.

Is five years enough? Is there ever any perfect sentence, so to speak? In the minds of South Africans Oscar Pistorius remains a murderer.

Very little reaction from the family or Oscar Pistorius himself. He has to serve at least 1/6th of the sentence of five years, after which he can be sent for correctional supervision. This means he cannot be considered for release before 10 months.

Judge Masipa rules out both a non-custodial sentence - and a long sentence. One would be inappropriate, the other would be unmerciful.

Oscar Pistorius gets five years in jail for culpable homicide, on the firearms charge, Pistorius gets three years in jail, wholly suspended for five years.

Just in: MS Dhoni rested for first three ODIs against Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli to lead the side.

Left parties have been remarkably silent over the results of the Maharashtra and Haryana polls. Even those who draft the press statements of the CPM and CPI were astonished over the landslide victory of the BJP, so much so that the ink seems to have dried up in their quills. Consequently, there have been no official or otherwise, statements from the politburo. A BJP leader commented that the Left is probably waiting for the the plenary session of the Congress before they make a statement.

While on fasts and banquets, Kumari Selja, a close confidant of Sonia Gandhi (remember the time she escorted an ill Sonia out of the Parliament) and an arch enemy of former Haryana Chief Mniister Bhupinder SIngh Hooda is hosting a Diwali dinner in Delhi. The do is likely to cause ripples in the Haryana Congress leadership. Or may be it won't, since ML Khattar will now be the new Haryana CM.

As for the PM, he will be spending Diwali with flood victims.

In other news, our sources in Delhi tell us that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi observes fasts very often and therefore either does not eat or gives state banquets a miss, senior union ministers have been doing much the same.

A minister joked that it saves the state exchequer from considerable expenditure.

In the month of August -- the incidental expenses of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) dropped drastically.

An RTI query on the expenses of the Dr Manmohan Singh cabinet for 10 years -- has created a ripples -- not only in the PMO but also in Congress -- for the lavish spendings.

Pistorius sentencing: Judge Masipa tells the court that society cannot always get what they want. Courts do not exist for a popularity contest but only to dispense justice. The general public may not even know the difference between punishment and vengeance.

So, does this mean Pistorius will not be jailed, which is what people seem to want.

JUST IN: BCCI to initiate legal action against West Indies. All future tours stopped for now. 

Back in the Pretoria High Court at the sentencing of Oscar Pistorius, Judge Masipa says there cannot be a different rule for the rich and famous. Pregnant women go to jail and they are also vulnerable.

The majority view was is in favour of having a non-Jat as chief minister. Party insiders say Khattar, a sworn bachelor, enjoys the confidence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as well Prime Minister Narendra Modi. So, the lack of administrative experience as well as popularity among the masses didn't turn out to be a spoiler for him. 

Manohar Lal Khattar to be the new Haryana chief minister.

The defence witnesses argued that Pistorius would be able to address his behaviour through correctional supervision --  that is, outside prison.

@timothytiah  Watching the Oscar Pistorius sentencing. Oscar looks like a broken man. Can't help but feel a bit sad for him.


@Laikenfarmerxo If Oscar Pistorius doesn't get a jail sentence today, I won't be happy

Pistorius will be sentenced for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of Reeva Steenkamp. The State prosecutor has asked for a 10-year sentence for Pistorius.

It's D-Day for Oscar Pistorius today. He will learn whether he will be jailed or given community service today. Ahead of the sentencing, family members of both Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp have been talking to the media about what they hope to hear from Judge Thokozile Masipa today.

The United States and its allies continue to bomb northern Iraq and Syria. The purported target is the Islamic State (IS), whose territory stretches across the borders of the two countries. Read

A case has been registered against those waving ISIS flags, says Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah. He adds that till now no terror links have been found, but an inquiry will reveal the details.

A protester had been seen waving the flag of the terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last week after Eid prayers. In July too, ISIS flags had been seen in the Valley.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi on October 14, Omar had said, "You have to understand that no ISIS group has been identified so far in the Valley. The flag... was waved by some idiots, which does not mean that ISIS has any presence in Kashmir. Unfortunately, some channels have tried to make an issue out of this and drag me into this as if we are not doing anything about it."

NCP leader Ajit Pawar had yesterday claimed he was approached by a Congress leader who proposed forming a coalition government with Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena as constituents.

"A Congress leader contacted me on phone and suggested we form a government that also includes Shiv Sena...I told him together we have 146 MLAs and the government thus cobbled together will not be stable," he had said.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections witnessed a surge in number of people going for None Of the Above (NOTA) option in Mumbai, as against the total number of NOTA votes cast in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

In a total of 36 Assembly seats in Mumbai, 65,735 people chose to reject all the candidates in their constituencies, while 52,952 people in all opted for NOTA in the general elections held in April-May.

The number of voters who pressed the NOTA option across Maharashtra were more than the votes cast for smaller parties like Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party, Swabhimani Shetkari Paksha, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and others in the Assembly polls.

A woman, who was set on fire in a train, has died of her injuries. It is believed the woman was travelling on a train in Kerala's Kannur district, when she was set on fire in an empty compartment on Monday.

She was admitted to a hospital in Kozhikode with serious burn injuries, but died today. A case has been registered but no arrests have been made as yet. Details are awaited.

Oscar Pistorius' siblings have criticised media coverage of his trial, on the eve of the South African athlete's sentencing.Aimee and Carl Pistorius said they were anxious ahead of Tuesday's hearing, and that the truth had been "twisted and manipulated" and "sensationalised".

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide after shooting dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but cleared of murder.The prosecution has argued for a minimum 10-year jail sentence. Read more

A tribute to Oscar de la Renta, who passed away today. He was 82.
Take a look

Can Rahul revive the geriatric Congress? Keshav's cartoon on the Hindu today. 

The possibility of a terror attack in the country cannot be ruled out, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. "We cannot ignore terror activities. Hence alerts are issued," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.

Singh was replying to a question on whether there is a possibility of a terror attack during the festival season. Asked about the advisory issued by the Home Ministry telling all states to ensure security in places of worship and communally sensitive places during festival season, the Home Minister said such advisories are being issued regularly on the basis of the information receive by the government. 

Hitting out at NCP's decision to extend outside support to the BJP in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena today charged that the offer made by the Sharad Pawar-led outfit is to ensure that its "scam-tainted" leaders enjoy full protection.

"Until yesterday, BJP was a communal force and was mocked to be a party full of half pant wearing individuals by the NCP. They insulted Hindutva by mocking the Sangh's diktat of wearing half pants. Are they now really concerned about providing stability to Maharashtra? They only want to ensure that their corruption is not brought out in front of people," the Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

Terming NCP leader Praful Patel as an opportunist, Sena said his party doesn't even qualify to have an opposition leader.

Not that they are being asked, but Congress senior leader Ajay Maken says the party will never support the Shiv Sena to form government. It is for the BJP to decide whether they want an alliance with the 'Hafta Vasooli' party or the Naturally Corrupt Party like they said earlier. Congress is ready to sit in opposition and play a vigilant, meaningful and constructive role."

CBI files revised closure report in a coal block allocation case involving industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others in a Delhi court.

The BJP still remains as to who will be the next chief minister. However, a decision is expected today.

It is a close race between M L Khattar, an RSS activist, and Captain Abhimanyu, a young BJP spokesperson who was dispatched to Haryana by party president Amit Shah to help win the state.

Captain Abhimanyu could have been seen to enjoy that distinct advantage, but for one fact that he is a Jat.  

Union Commerce and Industries Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there was no inquiry into complaints against e-commerce giant Flipkart of predatory pricing of goods and unfair trade practices during its recent 'Big Billion Day' sale.

"I would like to state that no enquiry has been planned or proposed on the e-retailer on the concerns raised by customers on the big billion day sale," she told reporters.

On October 8, Sitharaman had said that the Centre would look into complaints of predatory prices on goods sold by Flipkart after allegations of unfair trade practices were levelled against it during the discount sale on October 6.

Extending gains for the third straight day, the benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 74 points in early trade today on sustained buying by funds and investors after the government stepped up economic reforms amidst a mixed trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index, which had gained 430.51 points in past two sessions, rose further by 74.19 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 26,504.04 with stocks of consumer durables, metals, power, banking, IT and healthcare sectors moving up.

The National Stock Exchange index Nifty also moved up by 21.80 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 7,901.20.

NDTV reports: Fourteen women and three men have died in the fire that broke out at a firecracker factory in Andhra Pradesh yesterday, three days before the Diwali festival.

Six people died of severe burn injuries in hospital this morning. The police say two more women are missing since the fire.

Read the full report here

Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has been appointed as a BJP observer to oversee government formation in Maharashtra said today that he will visit Mumbai after Diwali.

Singh and senior leader J P Nadda will decided who will lead the BJP government in the state.

The BJP has secured 122 seats in the 288-member assembly, well short of absolute majority. The NCP has offered outside support, but the party is yet to take a call on it. Former ally Shiv Sena has said it is waiting for the BJP to make the first move towards a possible reconciliation.

The US has said that negotiations are ongoing for the release of some 200 Nigerian girls held hostage by Boko Haram militants, who have reached a "ceasefire" deal with that country in this regard.   

"We can confirm reports that a ceasefire has been announced, appears to have been put into place," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf, told reporters.   

"We would welcome that ceasefire, call on all parties both to implement and maintain such a ceasefire, and hope that such a ceasefire would herald the return of peace to the northeast. This is a region that has had far too little of that," she said.   

"It's our understanding that negotiations about a deal to release the girls continue," Harf said when asked about the negotiations between Boko Haram and Nigeria on their release.   

The Nigerian government had earlier said that more than 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram in April are to be released, after it signed a ceasefire agreement with the militant group.

BBC reports: American fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, who dressed former first ladies Jackie Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, has died aged 82, US media reports.

De La Renta, who most recently designed Amal Clooney's wedding dress, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

Read the full report here

In its editorial mouthpiece Saamna, the Shiv Sena today hit out at the Nationalist Congress Party for offering support to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra after the counting for the assembly polls on Sunday.

"Not unusual that the NCP would resort to such opportunism," the editorial said.

The BJP has emerged as the largest party in the 288-member assembly with 122 seats. However, it is still 22 seats short of the magic figure of 145.

The Shiv Sena has won 63, the NCP has 41 and the Congress 42.

On Monday, the stand-off between former allies BJP and Shiv Sena, whose coming together will obviate the need for an outside support from NCP, continued even after Uddhav Thackeray's phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah on Sunday to congratulate them on the party's electoral triumph in Maharashtra and Haryana.

Maharashtra picture still hazy as Sena, BJP stand-off continues 

PM Modi hosts pre-Diwali dinner for ministers

Govt to end stalemate in coal sector; plans e-auction of mines

The desi Oprah who gifted 200 homes, 491 cars for Diwali 

Life sentence for 5 in Delhi BPO gang-rape case 

In-form Kohli displaces Amla to go 2nd; Bhuvneshwar breaks into top 10