Tariq Khosa, former DG of Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan, has said that 2008 Mumbai attack was planned and launched from Pakistani soil. In an article published in Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Tariq Khosa has said that "Pakistan has to deal with the Mumbai mayhem, planned and launched from its soil."

"The entire state security apparatus must ensure that the perpetrators and masterminds of the ghastly terror attacks are brought to justice. The case has lingered on for far too long," Tariq Khosa writes in the article. Ten Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai from the sea in November 2008 and massacred 166 Indians and foreigners in an attack that almost brought the two countries to war.

India Meteorological Department predicts dry September

The weather office has stuck to its earlier forecast of a 12 per cent monsoon deficit in the season and a 10 per cent shortfall in August, implying that September would be exceptionally dry. "Quantitatively, the rainfall for the country as a whole during second half of the season is likely to be 84 per cent of long period average (LPA) with a model error of 8 per cent," the India Meteorological Department said in its updated forecast for the monsoon season. Rainfall in August, which usually gets one-third of the total monsoon rain, is likely to be 90 per cent of normal with an error margin of 9 per cent, it said.

Indians kidnapped by IS fine, says freed captive

The two Indians still in IS captivity in Libya are fine, said Laxmikant Ramakrishna who was among the two freed and sent home. Four people working at the University of Sirte were abducted by the Islamic State on July 29. He said he had been given a special phone number to call to check on them from time to time. He said he has been trying to do that and appealed to the media to carry news "with responsibility".

MP high court stays transfer of Vyapam whistle-blower's wife

Taking cognizance of frequent transfer of Vyapam scam whistle-blower Dr Anand Rai and his wife Dr Gauri Rai, both working with state health department, Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday gave two-day time to state government to explain the reason behind transfer and directed state not to take any action against the couple till the outcome of the case. The HC heard  a petition filed by Dr Anand Rai challenging transfer of his wife, who has been transferred twice in last one month.

CBI files 2 cases against former Noida chief engineer Yadav Singh

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday filed two cases against former NOIDA chief engineer Yadav Singh in the disproportionate assets case. The investigative agency has also sought opinion from the Enforcement Directorate if he can be booked for money laundering.Singh has been accused of amassing assets worth Rs 900 crore while in office. Diamonds worth Rs 100 crore, cash worth Rs 10 crore and two kilograms of gold were recovered from his residence. Singh was said to be close to the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government.

Pakistan singer Adnan Sami allowed to stay in India on 'humanitarian grounds'

Pakistani singer Adnan Sami has been allowed to stay in India for an indefinite period following his appeal to legalise his stay in the country on humanitarian grounds. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday conveyed to Lok Sabha that Sami had been exempted from deportation proceedings under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act. This came after 46-year-old Sami submitted a representation to the Home Ministry on May 26, 2015 requesting his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Foxconn team meets communication minister

Union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad along with the secretaries of six ministries are expected to help finalise an estimated $20 billion investment in India by Foxconn Technology, the Taiwanese electronic component manufacturer. Prasad was meeting with a delegation of 30 members led by the chairman and founder of Foxconn, Terry Gou, at a prominent hotel in the capital. The company could potentially manufacture Apple's iPhone in India, which would lower the prices for the Indian market, and allow them to take on Samsung and local players such as Micromax.  The move could help boost electronic component manufacturing in India, and allow the country to take on its rival China in the field of manufacturing cheap electronic goods.

Democracy is being murdered: Sonia Gandhi on suspension of 25 Congress MPs

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday described the Lok Sabha Speaker's decision to suspend 25 of her party MPs as a "murder" of democracy as she led a protest against the decision at the parliament house complex in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi said that the suspension of 25 MPs of the Congress by Mahajan was "anti-democratic" and described it as "murder" of democracy. "It's duty of the government to run the house. The way our MPs were suspended, was anti-democratic. Democracy is being murdered," she told the media. Wearing black arm bands, all major Congress leaders of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, former union ministers Anand Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Azad and leader of the Congress in the lower house Mallikarjun Kharge joined the protest in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue outside the main gate of the Parliament building.

Parliamentary logjam holding up GST, other key bills: CII

Continued logjam in Parliament is delaying passage of key Bills like GST, which are crucial for economic growth, industry body CII said today. "Industry is keen to undertake the next cycle of investments as soon as the economic reforms process kicks in. With several crucial economic bills getting delayed, investment deceleration is plaguing the economy."Core sector growth has slowed down, the industrial production index remains volatile and bank credit is locked up. Parliament holds the key to unlocking the investment pipeline and CII urges taking up the necessary bills," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee sai