Domestic equity markets were trading in the positive zone in the first hour of trade on Tuesday amid hopes that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be implemented on time as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has tabled four-key GST Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In Union government wants to implement the GST from July 1, 2017.

At 11.25 am, the Sensex was trading 183 points or 0.64 per cent higher at 29,424 while the Nifty50 was trading 59 points or 0.65 per cent lower at 9,104.

In the broader markets, BSE Midcap index jumped 0.7 per cent while BSE Smallcap Midcap index surged 0.8 per cent.

All the BSE sectoral indices, except Oil & Gas, were trading in the positive with Telecom index leading the gains, up over 1 per cent. Auto (up 0.8 per cent) Bankex (up 0.8 per cent), Meetal (down 0.7 per cent) and Realty (down 0.7 per cent) indices were other notable gainers. Oil & Gas index slipped 0.2 per cent.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Axis Bank (up 2.4 per cent), Tata Motors (up 1.3 per cent), Sun Pharma (up 1.3 per cent), HDFC (up 1.1 per cent) and Asian Paints (up 1 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: ONGC (down 1.2 per cent), Gail (down 0.7 per cent), Coal India (down 0.5 per cent), Hero Motocorp (down 0.2 per cent) and Dr Reddy’s Labs (down 0.1 per cent).

Among the Asian markets, Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index jumped 1 per cent, Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.9 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index shined 0.6 per cent, Korea’s KOSPI index rose 0.2 per cent and China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.5 per cent.

Actress Kate Hudson confirmed her romance with guitarist Danny Fujikawa after they were spotted kissing each other here.

According to a source, the couple's lip-lock session lasted 10 minutes as they were spotted hanging out together, reports dailymail.co.uk.

The source further shared that Fujikawa whispered "sweet nothings" into Hudson's ear as the pair enjoyed their extended embrace on the streets.

Earlier in the day, the couple were seen shopping together.

Hudson has two sons from her previous relationships. 

She was married to The Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson for six years. They were separated in August 2006. Later on, Hudson was engaged to Muse frontman Matt Bellamy. They got separated in December 2014.

Indian and Israeli cultures share "many similarities" and people of both the countries believe in professionalism and rarely "back down from a fight", US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said.

Highlighting her Indian connection, 45-year-old Haley said while there were many "good things" about the people of the two countries, they were also "aggressive" and "stubborn".

"I am the daughter of Indian parents, who reminded my brothers, my sister and me everyday how blessed we were to live in this country. The truth is, I have seen so many similarities between the Israeli culture and the Indian culture," Haley said in her address to Americans Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference on Monday.

"We're very close knit. We love our families. We have a strong work ethic. We believe in professionalism and philanthropy, and giving back. So that's all the good things.

We're aggressive. We're stubborn. And we don't back down from a fight," Haley said in response to a question.

She also rued that the Iranian deal had only empowered the Iranians.

"It's concerning. And the reason it's concerning is because when the Iran deal took place, all it did was empower Iran, and it empowered Russia. And it emboldened Iran to feel like they could get away with more," she said.

"It is – you can put sanctions on a country. To take sanctions away, it's very hard to go back and put sanctions back on. So what we have said is, we're going to watch them like a hawk. We're going to make sure that every single thing they do is watched, processed and dealt with," she said.

Noting that there are a lot of threats to peace and security, Haley said the US will not take its number one democratic friend in the Middle East and beat up on them.

"I think what you're seeing is they're all backing up a little bit. The Israel-bashing is not as loud. They didn't know exactly what I meant outside of giving the speech, so we showed them. So when they decided to try and put a Palestinian in one of the highest positions that had ever been given at the UN, we said no and we had him booted out," she said.

Thousands of devotees thronged temples in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday on the first day of the nine-day long Chaitra Navratri festival.

"Special arrangement has made to tackle the rush during the Navrati festival. We are expecting more than 50,000 people every day at the Brajeshwari Devi shrine," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Debasweta Banik said.

One of the most famous shrines in north India, the Brajeshwari Devi temple in Kangra town, seat of one of the 52 Shakti peeths, sees a majority of pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Likewise, a huge rush was seen at the popular shrine of Chintpurni in Una, Baba Balak Nath in Hamirpur, Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur, Jwalaji and Chamunda Devi in Kangra, and Bhimakali and Hateshwari in Shimla district.

More than 750 police and Home Guards personnel have been deployed for security in the Chintpurni temple premises to tackle the rush, an official said. This temple normally attracts more than six lakh devotees every year.

The Chaitra Navratri festival will conclude with Ram Navami April 5.

Himachal Pradesh is known as the 'land of gods'. It has 28 prominent temples, most of which are in Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Shimla districts.

Former US Ambassador to India Richard Verma has joined the Georgetown University as its Centennial Fellow to support the prestigious varsity's 'India Initiative', a signature programme aimed at advancing research and teaching around India.

The Centennial Fellows programme at the School of Foreign Service brings distinguished practitioners and scholars to be resources for students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as the broader public, the varsity said on Monday.

In this capacity at the School of Foreign Services 48-year-old Verma will help support Georgetown's India Initiative, a signature programme to advance research and teaching around India, world affairs and the United States, according to a media release.

"I'm really honoured to be a part of the School of Foreign Service and the Centennial Fellows program," Verma said.

"Georgetown has always been at the forefront of international relations scholarship, and I look forward to engaging with students, faculty and staff as we compare notes about developments in Asia, and in particular recent trends in India," he said.

During Verma's tenure as the top American diplomat from December 2014 to January 20, 2017, US-India relations experienced a significant resurgence with important gains made in defence, trade and clean energy.

He managed an unprecedented nine meetings and three summits between former US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to over 100 new initiatives and more than 40 government to government dialogues.

"Ambassador Verma has a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors. He will bring to the School a unique perspective that will help all of us re-imagine our mission in a new and changing world," Senior Associate Dean Anthony Clark Arend said in a statement.

Verma previously served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, where he led the State Department's efforts on Capitol Hill.

He worked in the Senate for many years, serving as Senior National Security Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader, besides working in the House of Representatives.

Actress Bipasha Basu has denied all rumours about being pregnant and says curiosity about it is a "tad annoying".

There were reports stating that Bipasha, who tied the knot with actor Karan Singh Grover last April, is expecting her first child. 

Taking to Twitter, the 38-year-old actress shot down rumours and said that whenever it happens she would share it with her fans and followers. 

"The curiosity about me being pregnant…is sweet and a tad annoying. I am sorry to disappoint the people who are so eager for this to happen," Bipasha tweeted on Tuesday morning. 

"We are not planning to have a baby right now.When we do plan..it will be joyous news which we will share with our well wishers then," she added.

The actress, who was last seen on screen in the 2015 horror film "Alone" starring alongside Karan, said the she is a straight forward person. 

"The constant guessing game is tiring..as am more than straightforward person.So please do not believe anything that gets written. Thank you all," she added.
 

Opener KL Rahul struck a half-century to help India defeat Australia by eight wickets in the fourth Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, Dharamsala on Tuesday.

With this, India have clinched the series 2-1 to claim the shimmering Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rahul remained unbeaten on 52 runs, while captain Ajinkya Rahane was on 38 (not out) at helm. Earlier, Murali Vijay (8) and Cheteshwar Pujara (0) were dismissed cheaply.

Rahul hammered the final nail in the coffin, scoring winning runs on a well-bowled delivery by spinner Steve O'Keefe.

For Australia, pacer Pat Cummins was the only successful bowler in India's small chase of the 106-run target.

"This is our best series win so far. I thought England was intense, but the way Australia gave us a fight it was amazing on their part but our guys kept bouncing back," India skipper Virat Kohli said in the post match ceremony.

Indian tweaker Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed 25 wickets in the four-match Test series, was awarded the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series.

"I developed as a player overall. Some time ago people didn't consider me a Test bowler. This season is a good response to them," Jadeja said after the victory.

North Korea has conducted another ballistic missile engine test, US defence officials told CNN.

The officials on Monday said the latest engine trial is the third such test using similar technology.

The initial assessment indicates that the engine technology could possibly be used in an eventual intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

However, it was not clear whether the engine would require some adjustment to be used in an ICBM, if it can indeed be used that way at all.

Possession of an ICBM could allow North Korea to threaten the continental US, the officials said. 

Meanwhile, Washington announced on Monday that the US Marines have deployed F-35Bs to South Korea for the first time as part of an exercise that began on March 24.

"This is the first time we have operated the F-35B in South Korea," CNN quoted Pentagon spokesman US Navy Captain Jeff Davis as saying.

The new short takeoff and vertical landing capable stealth strike fighter was only first declared operational in July of 2015.

The deployment is part of a training exercise with the South Korean military, an exercise Davis called "defensive in nature".

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pledged a contribution of $54 million to the Interpol Foundation for a Safer World to support seven projects designed to combat global crime and terrorism ahead of a security forum here.

The first Unity for Security Forum is being held in partnership with the UAE government from Tuesday to Thursday.

The forum will bring together ministers, senior government officials, and representatives from the private sector, to collectively discuss and address common issues and identify their responsibilities in combating future security threats. 

The seven Interpol projects focus on counter-terrorism, cybercrime, cultural heritage, vulnerable communities, vehicle crime, drugs and illicit goods.

Brigadier Hamad Ajlan Al Amimi, Director-General of the Federal Criminal Police at the Ministry of Interior, stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and partnership with all countries, institutions and international bodies in order to enhance the efforts of the UAE to ensure the safety and security of the international community.

"Building relations with relevant institutions in the fight against crime, including Interpol, its member countries and the Interpol Foundation for a Safer World, strengthens the fight against global crime through cooperation," he said a press conference on Monday.

Elias Murr, president of the Interpol Foundation for a Safer World, said: "We welcome the continued partnership and leadership demonstrated by the government of the UAE in sponsoring these seven projects, which deal with some of the complex threats we currently face."

"This funding will help to ensure we are able to build diverse collaborations that bring together technical expertise and knowledge of the issues that help us to ensure safety and security," he added.

Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock said the contribution comes at a time when the world policing body is being encouraged to play a larger role in improving global security.

"The threats posed by terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime are more complex and global than ever, requiring Interpol to play an even stronger role in international police cooperation.

The UAE became an Interpol member country in October 1973. 
 

American Airlines has agreed to pay $200 million for a stake in China Southern Airlines, one of the country's three major state-owned carriers, and expand commercial cooperation.

China Southern Airlines said in an announcement Tuesday through the Hong Kong stock exchange the purchase will represent 2.76 per cent of its shares.

China Southern said the purchase requires regulatory approval. It said details of closer cooperation have yet to be worked out but might include code-sharing, sales, passenger loyalty programs and sharing airport facilities. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that he is committed to working with US President Donald Trump to achieve peace with the Palestinians and all of the Jewish state's neighbours.

"Israel's hand and my hand is extended to all of our neighbours in peace," EFE news quoted Netanyahu as saying in a videoconference address to the annual meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the main pro-Israeli pressure group in the US, in Washington.

"I believe that the common dangers faced by Israel and many of our Arab neighbours now offer a rare opportunity to build bridges towards a better future — a future more prosperous, more secure, more peaceful," he said.

Netanyahu urged the Palestinian National Authority to "stop teaching hatred to its children. It must stop paying terrorists. It must stop denying our legitimacy and our history. It must above all, once and for all, recognise the Jewish state."

The Israeli leader said that "Israel has no greater friend than America and America has no greater friend than Israel", and he added that he was certain that the alliance between the two nations will grow even closer in the coming years.

He also referred to Iran as the greatest threat to Israel and appealed to the Trump administration to prevent "Iran from ever … developing nuclear weapons. That … will always be our policy."

The premier said that "our partnership (with the US) means also confronting Iran's aggression in the region and its terrorism around the world" and he added that "it means utterly vanquishing ISIS" and "building alliances with … those moderates who seek to build a better future and embrace modernity and peace."

"In this battle between modernity and medievalism, more and more countries in the region and outside the region, around the world, realise that Israel is on their side," the premier said.

Netanyahu delivered his speech after US Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday spoke on the first day of the conference, reaffirming Trump's commitment to achieving "lasting" peace in the Middle East.

Trump welcomed the Israeli premier to the White House in February.
 

State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC) on Monday signed an agreement to supply over 1 million tonnes (MT) of petroleum products annually to Nepal for the next five years, Chairman B Ashok said.

"The supply agreement signed today is for the period April 2017 to March 2022 and will meet the full requirements, demand and quantities of all the major oil products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel and LPG," Ashok told reporters here.

IOC will supply Euro-IV grade petrol and diesel to Nepal from next month.

While presently the fuel is sent by trucks, a pipeline will be laid from Patna-Motihari-Amlekganj for supply of fuel in future. According to IOC officials, the pipeline will get fuel from IOC's Barauni refinery in Bihar as well as Haldia refinery in West Bengal.

"Every 5 years, we renew fuel supply agreement with Nepal. Today (Monday), IOC and Nepal Oil Corporation signed agreement for supplying fuels for the next 5 years," Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at the MoU signing event.

The new MoU, he said, is "much better" than the previous ones as "it keeps the interests of both the nations".

He however did not elaborate.

"We feel it is the responsibility of India to help Nepal meet its energy requirements, especially after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal in 2014 where in his address to Nepal parliament took responsibility of the Raxaul-Amlekhganj petroleum product pipeline," he said.

Pradhan said work on the pipeline should begin in 2017-18.

"Nepal wants to take that pipeline little forward to near Kathmandu which is about 70 kms more and has sought technical help from IOC, though the expenses will be incurred by Nepal," he said.

Pradhan said a high level official committee has been formed to look into preparing feasibility of the pipeline as well as another LPG pipeline from Motihari to Nepal's Amlekhganj.

India has been a traditional supplier of fuel to Nepal, which receives its entire demand of about 200,000 kilolitres of fuel every month by road from IOC.

Sunil Grover has penned a heartfelt note on Twitter, saying he wants to surrender himself to "good work and good people" following his fall out with Kapil Sharma.

Sunil, 39, thanked his fans for their immense support which has given him strength even in these hard times.

"My thanks and gratitude for all the love. I am non-existent without the love. My public identity is just because of the love that you shower. I embrace it. It fills my heart and leaves no place for hate.

"I just want to surrender myself to good work, good people and acknowledge my intentions genuinely," he wrote.

The duo involved in a tussle while travelling together in a flight. It was reported that Kapil even abused Sunil and hit him with a shoe.

However, in the post Sunil did not mention Kapil, 35, or their altercation directly but said, "Yes, I'm feeling a little lost at the moment and nervous too. Don't know what the future holds for me."

Sunil, who plays the popular characters of Dr Mashoor Gulati and Rinku Bhabhi on "The Kapil Sharma Show", earlier tweeted to Kapil that "Thanks for making me realise it was your show and you have power to throw out anybody, anytime." 

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday on a four-day official visit.

Rawat will be conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army by Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday, defence officials said here.

It is a custom and tradition between the Indian and Nepali armies to confer this honour on each other's chiefs to signify close and special military-to-military ties.

General Rawat will also discuss bilateral military ties and other aspects of cooperation during his meeting with Nepali Army chief General Rajendra Chhetri. 

Rawat is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand and will visit Pokhara, where India's biggest pension camp is located, and travel to Muktinath where Nepal Army runs a high-altitude military warfare training centre.

Other highlights of his visit will be issues related to purchasing military hardware and software for the Nepal Army. 

Nepal makes almost all military and defence purchases from India, including helicopters.

Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday on a four-day official visit.

Rawat will be conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army by Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday, defence officials said here.

It is a custom and tradition between the Indian and Nepali armies to confer this honour on each other's chiefs to signify close and special military-to-military ties.

General Rawat will also discuss bilateral military ties and other aspects of cooperation during his meeting with Nepali Army chief General Rajendra Chhetri. 

Rawat is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand and will visit Pokhara, where India's biggest pension camp is located, and travel to Muktinath where Nepal Army runs a high-altitude military warfare training centre.

Other highlights of his visit will be issues related to purchasing military hardware and software for the Nepal Army. 

Nepal makes almost all military and defence purchases from India, including helicopters.

Late king of pop Michael Jacksons children Paris and Prince Jackson have got matching yin and yang (Chinese symbol) tattoos on their ankles to prove their close bond.

Paris and Prince inked the symbol, which in Chinese philosophy means balance, because they share the "same thoughts", reports dailymail.co.uk.

Paris shared a photograph of the body art on Instagram.

"‘Yin' the passive female principle of the universe, characterised as female and sustaining and associated with structure, night, the moon, fluidity, calmness, the earth, darkness, cold, death, and ascends energy," she wrote alongside the image.

"‘yang' the active male principle of the universe, characterised as male and creative and associated with function, the sky and sun, speed, expression, heaven, heat, light, birth, and descends energy," she added.

Paris went on to add that the siblings share same thoughts.

"Sometimes I feel like my big brother and I always think the same thoughts, he just doesn't have a filter and always vocalises them though total opposites, like my ‘gooko' and I, the inseparable yin and yang work together finding and causing balance within each other," she wrote.