Polling for 49 Uttar Pradesh Assembly seats, with SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav's Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency being in focus, will be held on Saturday in the sixth phase amid tight security arrangements.

Assembly segments of Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency of firebrand BJP leader Yogi Adityanath, and Mau, where jailed gangster-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari is in fray, also figure in this penultimate phase of polling that will also cover some districts bordering Nepal.

Around 1.72 crore voters, including 94.60 lakh men and 77.84 lakh women, are eligible to cast their votes in this round to decide the fate of 635 candidates.

The districts going to polls tomorrow are Mau, Gorakhpur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh and Ballia.

Azamgarh Lok Sabha constituency has 10 assembly seats, of which SP had won nine in 2012, but this time Mulayam has not addressed a single meeting in his parliamentary constituency.

The prestige of Union minister Kalraj Mishra, who represents Deoria in the Lok Sabha, too is at stake, besides that of Adityanath.

BJP is contesting 45 seats and its ally Apna Dal one.

Another BJP partner Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party is contesting 3 seats.

While BSP has fielded candidates on all 49 seats, SP is contesting 40 seats and Congress 9 seats under an alliance.

Prominent candidates in this phase include BSP turncoat Swami Prasad Maurya from Padrauna (Kushinagar), former BJP state president Surya Pratap Shahi from Pathardeva (Deoria), Shyam Bahadur Yadav (SP), son of former Governor Ram Naresh Yadav from Fulpur Pawai (Azamgarh), SP turncoats Ambika Chowhdury and Narad Rai, who are contesting on BSP ticket from Fefna (Ballia) and Ballia Sadar respectively.

Mukhtar is contesting from Mau and his son Abbas is in fray from adjoining Ghosi seat in Mau district.

In the 2012 Assembly polls, of the 49 seats, 27 were won by the SP, 9 by BSP, 7 by BJP, 4 by Congress and 2 by others.

There will be 17,926 polling booths in this phase.

The highest number of 23 candidates are contesting from Gorakhpur and the least candidates, numbering seven are in pitted for Mohammadabad Gohna seat in Mau district.

Central Para Military Forces have already reached the constituencies and carried out flag march in sensitive areas.

Indo-Nepal border with Maharajganj and Gorakhpur, and border with Bihar have been sealed.

Police patrolling has been intensified along inter district borders and barriers have been erected on highways to keep an eye on movements of vehicles.

Keeping aside weak global cues, domestic bourses recovered from initial declines and closed last trading session of the week on a flat note.

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended seven points down at 28,832, on Friday, and the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed two points lower at 8,898.

However, broader markets witnessed upward trend. BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices rose 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively.

Among the BSE sectoral indices, Telecom index closed with the biggest gain, up 1.2 per cent, while FMCG index became the top loser, down 0.4 per cent.

On Thursday, the Sensex had closed 145 points down at 28,840 and the Nifty had closed 46 points lower at 8,900.

Top gainers in the Sensex-30 pack: Gail (up 3.6 per cent), Reliance Industries (up 2.1 per cent), Sun Pharma (up 1.6 per cent), Axis Bank (up 1.5 per cent) and Hero Motocorp (up 1.5 per cent).

Top losers in the Sensex-30 pack: HDFC (down 1.9 per cent), Asian Paints (down 1 per cent), ICICI Bank (down 0.7 per cent), ITC (down 0.6 per cent), and HDFC Bank (down 0.6 per cent).

Meanwhile, the Rupee was trading 13 paise down at 66.84 against the US Dollar.

India has told Ian Grillot, the Kansas man who took bullets while trying to save Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla and his friend, Alok Madasani, that the people of India stand with him and wished him speedy recovery.

The Indian Consul-General in Houston, Anupam Ray, met Grillot, 24, and conveyed the message on behalf of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Ray met Grillot and his family in the University of Kansas Hospital and handed over the message from Sushma Swaraj.

Ray wished Grillot speedy recovery on behalf of the minister and the people of India. He also said that Sushma Swaraj has 7.3 million followers, who all conveyed their best wishes. "We will stand with you, whatever you need," Ray said.

Ray also thanked the hospital.

Earlier, the Hindu American Foundation joined Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, the Lieutenant Governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer and the Indian Consul General to discuss the February 22 shooting of Kuchibhotla, 32, who died, and his friend, Alok Madasani, who was wounded, in an apparent hate crime.

Brownback said: "The hateful actions of one man don't define the US… Kansas welcomes and supports the Indian community."

Kuchibhotla and Madasani, who were working as engineers for GPS-maker Garmin in Olathe, were shot at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe, Kansas, by Adam Purinton, 51.

A bullet hit Grillot in the hand and entered his chest when he tried to stop Purinton, who has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

On February 27, Sushma Swaraj had tweeted gratitude to Grillot. "India salutes the heroism of Ian Grillot ! Best wishes for a speedy recovery."

US President Donald Trump has condemned the killing of Kuchibhotla, while House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan has offered the condolences of the House for the "senseless" murder of Kuchibhotla.

Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, who is visiting the US, met Ryan and other senior Trump administration officials.

Ryan, in a statement after meeting Jaishankar, said: "In our meeting, I expressed the House's condolences on the death of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was senselessly murdered last week in Kansas. Our peoples must continue to stand together, and I look forward to working with Foreign Secretary Jaishankar in the years ahead."

Jaishankar also met with US National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster.

On Tuesday, US President Trump began his first address to the Congress at the Capitol Hill by condemning Kuchibhotla's death, saying the country "stands united in condemning hate and evil".

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre and the CBSE, among others, for response to a plea to include Urdu in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), meant for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses.

Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice R Banumathi also sought the responses from the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India and posted the matter for March 10.

The petition filed by Students Islamic Organisation of India, a student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said the exclusion of Urdu as one of the languages in NEET was "discriminatory, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution". 

The petitioner's counsel told the court that earlier on no request was made by any state in this regard. However, he said, now Maharashtra and Telangana have officially made a request to the central government to include Urdu as one of the languages in NEET.

The application form for NEET 2017, scheduled to be held on May 7, is already out and the last date for submission of forms was March 1. The exam will be held in seven Indian languages, apart from English. 

According to the Central Board of Secondary Education notification, the medical entrance examination will be held in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese and Bengali languages.

The petitioner pleaded that the Health and Family Welfare Ministry and the CBSE be directed to make a provision for holding the exam in Urdu as well, even for those who have already applied and opted for another language before the last date of submission of forms got over.

"The decision to exclude Urdu, the sixth most-spoken language in India, while including the seventh most-spoken Gujarati and 12th most-spoken Assamese is completely without rationale," the petitioner said.

Sevilla edged Athletic Club 1-0 and remain on the heels of Barcelona and Real Madrid in the race for the La Liga title here.

Athletic, meanwhile, suffered their ninth consecutive away loss on Thursday, squandering an opportunity to snatch seventh place from Eibar, reports Efe.

The visitors came into the match having won only once at Seville's Sanchez Pizjuan since the turn of the 21st century and facing a side that has won all but two of their home games this season.

Between them, the two teams were missing 10 starters to injury and suspension.

Sevilla started aggressively and Steven Jovetic created a pair of early chances. On the first occasion, his header went just over the crossbar. Then Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made a save on the second shot.

The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute, as Vicente Iborra pounced on the rebound after Iraizoz had saved Jovetic's penalty kick.

From that point on, however, Athletic were the better team, but their inability to finish doomed them to defeat.

The victory brings Sevilla to 55 points from 25 matches, just one less than Real Madrid — who have a game in hand — and two behind league leader Barcelona.

Athletic Club, with 38 points, are still in the fight for Europa League spots. 

Countering rival Australian captain Steve Smith's assertion that India were under pressure due to an unexpected debacle in the series-opener, home skipper Virat Kohli asserted that he and his team are relaxed.

Smith, speaking to media on the eve of the second Test, said they were just one win away from reclaiming the series and the hosts must be feeling the heat since they are trailing.

"I think they will feel under a little bit of pressure.

Obviously, going into this series, all I heard was 4-0 to them. So they're one down and need to come back. We are one win away from the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Things can happen pretty quickly here. So we might be one or two sessions away from getting that back. I'm sure they'll feel under a bit of pressure," Smith said.

When asked about Smith's views, Kohli laughed off the suggestions as "mind games."

"Me? As a team? Does it look like (under pressure). I'm pretty relaxed. I'm happy. I'm smiling. It's fine, those are his views. I think it's time we focus on our skills more than what Australia is saying or preparing like. I know these minds games in these press conferences are something they're very good at."

"We are still going to play the cricket that we have played for the last two years and see where the series ends after the fourth game."

Gold prices drifted below the Rs.30,000-mark by falling Rs.275 to Rs.29,725 per 10 grams at the bullion market on Friday on weak global trend and fall in demand from local jewellers.

Silver also dropped by a whopping Rs.1,350 to Rs.42,700 per kg on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said that a weak trend overseas and strength in the dollar against a basket of currencies on rising hopes of US rate hike this month, reduced the appeal of the precious metals.

Globally, gold fell 0.21 per cent to $1,231.40 an ounce in Singapore.

Besides, a drop in demand from local jewellers and retailers at current levels too weighed on prices, they added.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity tumbled by Rs.275 each to Rs.29,725 and Rs.29,575 per ten grams, respectively.

Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs.24,500 per piece of eight grams.

In step with gold, silver ready dropped by Rs.1,350 to Rs.42,700 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs.1,160 to Rs.42,160 per kg.

Silver coins too plummeted by Rs.1,000 to Rs.73,000 for buying and Rs.74,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

With just a day left for filing of nominations for the Mumbai mayoral poll, a senior state BJP leader on Friday said he is confident that his party and Shiv Sena will come together to govern India's richest civic body.

"I am 200 per cent sure that BJP and Shiv Sena will join hands in BMC," Maharashtra's Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said.

"A formula which is acceptable to both the parties will be worked out," he said.

Patil's remarks came ahead of a crucial meeting of the state BJP core committee later on Friday where the party is expected to decide its strategy for the mayoral poll.

The minister had recently said his party and Shiv Sena are natural allies who should put aside their differences and join hands once again to rule the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in the backdrop of the election to the civic body throwing up a fractured mandate.

Patil had also said that there was no threat to the BJP-led government in the state.

Suspense has been mounting over who will be the next Mayor of Mumbai, with the BJP and Sena eyeing the prestigious post though both the parties do not have majority of their own in the just elected House.

The elections to the 227-member BMC threw up a hung verdict, with the Sena winning 84 seats and the BJP 82.

The Congress has said it will contest the mayoral poll in BMC, which has an annual budget of over Rs 37,000 crore.

Ahead of the February 21 elections, the BJP and Shiv Sena split in BMC, which they had been ruling together for the last over two decades. However, they continue to be ruling allies at the state level and also at the Centre.

Who doesn’t love style and fashion? And, who doesn't want to dress well and look good. Dressing smart, among other things, calls for wearing smart footwear that matches with your clothes. Besides comfort, fancy footwear are designed according to the latest fashion trend.

Every one wants to stay well in trend, and the wardrobes with a good range of shoes in different colours and styles that fit perfectly around the feet.

Of course, branded foot wear are very expensive. It is not just the quality you are charged for but also the technique involved in manufacturing by big brands. Yes, they are worth buying. Your job actually starts the moment you bring them home. The care and maintenance starts right from there.

Don’t take a bargain route. Invest in good quality nice pair.

Buy a quality shoe care kit. Cheap stuff actually does not remove the scuffs. A good kit contains a soft brush, matching polish, stain remover, spray, shampoo, etc. according to the cleaning needs of the shoe you bought.

Avoid stepping in mud or dirt as much as possible.

Avoid extreme heat exposure. Never leave them in a closed car during hot summer season.

On the beach side, never expose your fancy foot wear to salt water. Wear something made of soft rubber there.

Don’t leave your shoes in direct sunlight even if they are wet. Let them dry in air.

Always dry your shoes with a dryer or in air after using them in a cold or rainy weather. It will keep them bacteria free too.

Use a shallow depth discrete shoe cabinet to store shoes in a safe way. Just keep them clean in rows without overlapping one another.

If you follow rotation, label your foot wears to avoid any confusion or mess.

Clean your foot wears after every use with a soft brush or dry cotton cloth. If there is a layer of moisture mixed mud, remove it completely with a dry cloth. All bacteria will also get removed with the mud.

Never polish your shoes with dust or dirt on them. Polish them only after brushing it off. Give a shine after polishing without applying extra force.

Use foot bed cleaners to clean the soles.

Use deodorizing shoe spray to keep the odour away.

Never use water to clean your leather shoes. Just brush off the dust with a soft brush and polish them after every use. You may use leather cleaner, leather balm and neutral cream to give them a shine.

Avoid immersing footwear in water that have gum inside. Water damages the gum and the shoes may also become hard in water.

Wash plastic shoes by hand with soap and water.

To clean canvas sneakers, wash them with fabric shampoo and water by hand. Avoid machine wash.

Brush off the dust on your suede shoes after every use and protect them with a protective suede spray. You may use a good suede eraser to remove the stains.

If your shoes get wet due to rain or any other reason, dry them as soon as possible. Place them in a well-ventilated place for drying. Stuff in a newspaper to soak the water.

In the modern world, men are not behind women when it comes to luxurious shoe shopping. It’s because shoes catch attention. If you are a footwear lover, go for quality brands rather than local made. The difference is worth every penny. All you need to do is take good care and maintenance.

Movie: Logan

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephan Merchant and Boyd Holbrook

Genre: Action-Drama, Superhero, Sci-Fi

One has to feel for Hugh Jackman. His most iconic depiction of the famous mutant, Wolverine, was in Bryan Singer’s terrific time-travelling adventure that was X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014). Which is strange, considering Logan is the third and final part of a solo-trilogy on the adamantiun-enhanced killing machine that is the Wolverine.

However, if one looks closely at the ‘prequels’, then it’s hard to disagree. For if X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) was an unmitigated disaster (Extra penalty for wasting a brilliant character like Deadpool), its follow-up–The Wolverine (2013)–was a minor improvement at best. This brings us to the final part of the trilogy, Logan which is based on the Mark Millar’s Old Man Logan storyline.

It is 2029 and in this alternate timeline, things are very bleak indeed, not least for mutants. So while there isn't any time-travelling involved, the jump into the future takes time to get grips with, since a lot has been changed.  

Homo Superior has been wiped out (By humans or a fellow mutant? Won’t spoil the surprise) and just three remain in this dystopian world that feels unfamiliar.
Just who are the blessed trio (Or the cursed ones, if you can call it that)?

Wolverine aka Logan (Jackman) of course, who takes care of the babbling nonagenarian that is Professor X aka Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) with the help of a reformed Caliban (Stephen Merchant) somewhere in godforsaken New Mexico.

In the comic book, Logan travels across the United States with a blind hawk eye and the decision to replace him with Charles in the film is a masterstroke. And while the world associates Magneto as Charles’ opposite, Wolverine in many ways is poles apart from the quadriplegic psychic. 

For while Charles is a practicing pacifist, Wolverine has spent most of his life as a killing machine and these two share a delightful dynamic on screen in the first half which is a delight to behold.

After a woman beseeches our limo-driving mutant to save the stoic but gifted Laura (Dafne Keen), the claws come out and begins a roller-coaster ride which despite an ambiguous end-game, will tick the check boxes for most movie-goers.

Director James Mangold (Girl, Interrupted and Walk the Line) has learnt his lesson from the visually-stunning but lacking depth film that was The Wolverine. There are plenty of grisly-action sequences which to the casual viewer, may be too much to stomach, but feel justified considering the overall theme of the film.

If the first half has the excellent Jackman-Stewart combo as a highlight, the second sees the lithe but deadly Laura step up and hold her own as the action is amped up, and it is her connection to Wolverine that stands out. For while his healing factor is greatly diminished, his uncanny ability to win over fellow hard-cases stands out and gives Logan a depth which is lacking in many movies of the superhero

The only flaw in Logan is the lack of a menacing villain, and while Pierce (Boyd Holbrook) and his gang of Reavers do their best to wreak havoc with their genetically enhanced appendages, they never once look like they can overcome a past-his-prime Wolverine. So, Jackman gets to say a befitting farewell to an iconic character that he will forever be associated with, in a movie that justifies all the hype and gives the Wolverine the film he deserves.

Logan is dark, gritty and very much R-rated and while it does feel a little stretched in bits in its two hour plus run-time, it would be akin to nitpicking if we stressed on those minor blemishes rather than focusing on the larger picture which is highly evocative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the election Utsav (festival) is an opportunity to free the state from misrule of the SP, BSP and Congress.

“Elections in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has turned into a 'Utsav' of freeing the state from misrule of Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress,” Modi said while addressing a rally at Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh).

“The UP elections are about giving opportunities to the state's youth, ensuring safety of people and all round progress of the poor,” Modi said.

Modi attacked the SP and the BSP leaders for misuse of tax payers’ money and making false promises.

“When Mulayam Singh ji was the chief minister of UP, he promised opening up of two new bridges, but why is it that they aren't made yet,” Modi asked.

“BSP leader took away stones for building statues but later when questioned, the leader shied away and said it came from Rajasthan,” he said.

According to Modi, “UP has the power to take the country forward,” but the state “government never paid attention to development works and brass industry in UP have been shut”.

“From lodging FIRs to jobs, from pension schemes to ration card, termite of corruption has badly gripped Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

The prime minister also highlighted tourism scope in the state, saying, "Uttar Pradesh has so much scope of tourism”.

“The Vindhyachal region being close to Kashi can draw people from around the country,” he added. 

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said a strong deterrent is needed against those who want to adversely affect India's progress and security in view of the ever changing geo-political situation in the region.

He also honoured a helicopter unit for its meritorious works, including its stellar role in confining terrorists to a restricted area during the last year's terror attack on Pathankot Air Force Station.

"India is a responsible and emerging power in a multipolar, multilateral world. The ever changing socio- economic and geo-political scenario in our region of influence demands a strong deterrent against those with nefarious designs to affect the progress, prosperity and security of our nation," Mukherjee said.

Apart from providing deterrence against inimical entities, both external and internal, the armed forces have been at the forefront of providing succour to the citizens during natural calamities, he said.

"The operations by the Indian Air Force during floods in Uttarakhand, Kashmir Valley and Tamil Nadu deserve a special mention and will always be remembered by the entire nation.

"The relentless and selfless operations showcase the fortitude and determination of its gallant air warriors," Mukherjee said.

He was speaking after awarding the President's 'Standard' to 125 Helicopter Squadron and 'Colours' to Mechanical Training Institute at the Tambaram air base, one of the oldest establishments of the Indian Air Force, near here.

The awards of Standard and Colours are given to a unit for its meritorious service.

The 125 Helicopter Squadron (Gladiators) since its formation in November 1983 has enhanced its operational capability over the years and earned accolades for its valour and strike capabilities when deployed internally as well as abroad.

When deployed under the United Nations flag in Sierra Leone, the Gladiators were instrumental in securing the release of 232 captured Indian Army personnel.

In January 2016, the Squadron played a stellar role in confining the terrorists to a restricted area during the Pathankot terror attack, thereby reducing casualties, the President said.

The Mechanical Training Institute at Air Force Station Tambaram is the oldest technical training institute of the force.

Raised in 1935, the institute has undergone changes in locations as well as in nomenclature over the years and was rechristened as Mechanical Training Institute in 1980.

The unit imparts fundamental technical training in aircraft maintenance and servicing to the young recruits in mechanical aviation trades.

The tradesmen are the backbone of the maintenance arm of the IAF, ensuring its operational capability and effectiveness.

 NASA said its MAVEN spacecraft performed a previously unscheduled manoeuvre this week to avoid a collision next week with Mars' moon Phobos.

This is the first collision avoidance manoeuvre that the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft has performed at Mars to steer clear of Phobos, NASA said on Thursday.

The MAVEN spacecraft has been orbiting Mars for just over two years, studying the Red Planet's upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind. 

On Tuesday the spacecraft carried out a rocket motor burn that boosted its velocity by 0.4 metres per second (less than one mile per hour). 

Although a small correction, it was enough that MAVEN would miss the lumpy, crater-filled moon by about 2.5 minutes, the US space agency added.

The orbits of both MAVEN and Phobos are known well enough that this timing difference ensures that they will not collide.

MAVEN, with an elliptical orbit around Mars, has an orbit that crosses those of other spacecraft and the moon Phobos many times over the course of a year. 

When the orbits cross, the objects have the possibility of colliding if they arrive at that intersection at the same time. 

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, sounded the alert regarding the possibility of MAVEN's collision with Phobos on March 6.

Given Phobos' size (modelled for simplicity as a 30-kilometre sphere), they had a high probability of colliding if no action were taken. 

"Kudos to the JPL navigation and tracking teams for watching out for possible collisions every day of the year, and to the MAVEN spacecraft team for carrying out the manoeuvre flawlessly," said MAVEN Principal Investigator Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado in Boulder.
 

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Friday told the Delhi High Court that the UGC notification setting a limit of eight students per professor for M Phil and PhD courses, was binding on all varsities in the country.

"The said notification is binding and is mandatory in nature and is to be followed by all the Universities (Central, State and Deemed Universities) including JNU," Justice V Rao was informed.

The court was also told that it was obligatory for JNU to apply the notification.

"It is not the discretion of any university to apply or reject the notification," Centre's standing counsel Monika Arora, appearing for JNU, said.

She further said there were over 40 universities and all of them have adopted it.

JNU students have been protesting the UGC notification since February 9 and allegedly blockading the administrative block of the varsity.

Senior advocate Arvind Nigam, appearing for the students, said he did not doubt the validity of the University Grants Commission's (UGC) notification and was only challenging the procedure of JNU in adopting it.

Taking note of this, the judge said it means the students are not challenging the May 5, 2016 notification of UGC, which allegedly "threatens to put their future in jeopardy as they would not be able to find a supervisor".

Nigam agreed and said, "I am only questioning procedure of adoption by JNU."

However, the counsel for UGC raised objection over the maintainability of the petitions.

The petitioners have contended that the notification not only affected the existing students, but would also result in fewer admissions in the current academic session, "thereby violating constitutionally mandated reservation norms".

JNU, in its affidavit, has stated that the adoption of the notification was in "accordance with the provisions of the JNU Act, Statutes and Policies".

"Due process has been followed in adoption of the Regulation through its statutory bodies. It is reiterated that New Admission Policy 2016 is in accordance with the reservation policy of the Government of India and therefore any apprehension in this regard are misplaced. Existing JNU students will not be affected by the New Admission policy," the affidavit stated.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on March 7.

Spanish football breathed a sigh of relief after a CT scan on Fernando Torres revealed the Atletico Madrid striker suffered no traumatic brain injuries in a sickening on-field clash.

Torres, 32, was hit from behind by Deportivo's Alex Bergantinos in a clash of heads five minutes from time and hit the ground hard as he appeared to have already lost consciousness.

"A cranial and cervical CT scan carried out on Fernando Torres has ruled out that the Rojiblanco striker has suffered any alterations or traumatic injuries," Atletico said in a statement.

"Our player, who is stable, conscious and oriented, had to be removed by ambulance after being stabilised according to the usual protocol, before entering the Model Hospital of La Coruna, where he will spend the night in observation."

Players from both sides immediately called for medical attention when Torres hit the ground.

Distressed Atletico defender Jose Maria Gimenez was seen crying, whilst Deportivo fans gave the former Spanish international a standing ovation as he was carried from the field.

"We are all scared," Atletico left-back Filipe Luis told BeIN Sports.

"The news we have received until now is good. The most important thing is that Fernando is ok."

Atletico's Sime Vrsaljko and captain Gabi have also been praised for reacting quickly to ensure Torres didn't swallow his tongue whilst unconscious.

The visitors had to play out seven minutes of stoppage time with 10 men as they had already made all three substitutions.

Former West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel was making his bow as Deportivo coach after only being hired on Wednesday.

And the hosts made the perfect start when Florin Andone capitalised on a poor goal kick from Jan Oblak to run through and slot past the Slovenian.

Atletico responded after half-time and equalised in stunning fashion 22 minutes from time when Antoine Griezmann thrashed home a shot from fully 30 yards.

A civilian was killed and a CRPF jawan injured when militants hurled a grenade at security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police said.

The grenade was hurled at the security forces deployed on law and order duty at Murran chowk in the district, 31 km from here, a police official said.

He said the blast resulted in the death of a civilian identified as Mohammad Ayoub Wani and injuries to a CRPF jawan Constable Daljit Kiran.

Security forces have been put on a alert and a manhunt has been launched for the militants, he added.

Rafael Nadal booked his semi-final spot at the Mexico Open by battling past Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets, while top seed Novak Djokovic suffered another stunning exit in a shaky start to 2017.

The world No. 2 Djokovic crashed out of the ATP Tour event Thursday night after a 7-6 (11/9), 7-5 upset loss to sixth seeded Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first ever ATP Tour meeting between the two.

Djokovic, who was back in action this week for the first time since his shock second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, looked rusty in the one hour, 47 minute quarter-final match.

The 21-year-old Kyrgios overpowered the Serb with 25 aces, winning 81 percent of his first-serve points.

Djokovic fell in the Aussie Open to Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin, then didn't play again until this week. He managed only one win, against Slovakia's Martin Klizan, before losing to Kyrgios, who will meet big-serving American Sam Querrey for a place in the final.

Nadal bounced back from a break down in both sets to defeat Nishioka 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

The second-seeded Spaniard, a two-time winner in Acapulco, hammered five aces and won 81 percent of his first-serve points in the battle between the two lefthanders.

"He is so quick," Nadal said. "I felt I needed to choose the right shots to do the damage. I was trying to hit the winner too early sometimes and too late other times, so it was tough to get my rhythm."

World No. 6 Nadal also kept his Acapulco unbeaten streak alive, having won 13 straight matches, and moved to 26-0 in sets in the ATP Tour event.

Nadal advanced to a semi-final meeting with Marin Cilic.

Nadal has won three of four career meetings with the Croatian.

"I am excited about playing this match," Nadal said. "He is one of the best players in the world."

The 30-year-old Nadal clinched Thursday's victory in the ninth game of the second set with an overhead smash at the net after Nishioka's return landed well short.

Nadal easily won the opening set tiebreaker by taking the first five points and then two out of the next four. He closed out the first set with a blistering cross-court forehand that froze Nishioka in his tracks.

Nishioka was his own worst enemy at times as the 21-year-old qualifier had no aces, made four double faults and won just 50 percent of his second-serve points.

In the eighth game of the first set, Nishioka was up 40-15 and, despite having three challenges on the board, he failed to challenge a Nadal forehand that was ruled in but appeared to have sailed wide.

Third-seeded Cilic reached the semi-finals without hitting a ball as American Steve Johnson withdrew.

Johnson pulled out of his scheduled quarter-final on the hard courts with a right ankle injury he said he sustained in his victory over Ernesto Escobedo on Wednesday.