Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that "blood pressure" of opposition leaders has shot up after the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

"After the first phase of polls, the language of opponents has changed. Blood pressure of some has also increased. There has been a lot of 'mann ki baat', now their should be 'kaam ki baat'," Akhilesh said in an apparent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The chief minister was addressing a series of election meetings in Farrukhabad and Hardoi districts.

Exuding confidence that the SP-Congress alliance will be able to form the next government in the state, he said, "We will together win over 300 (of the 403) seats and form the government".

On demonetisation, he said the BJP-led NDA government did nothing for those who died standing in queues outside banks and ATMs in the wake of the note ban which created a lot of inconvenience for the common man.

Highlighting his government's welfare schemes, he said over 55 lakh women were getting Samajwadi pension, 18 lakh laptops were distributed, MBBS seats were doubled since independence, helpline services 108, 100, 109 were started and Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojna was launched to help the poor and needy.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said that "blood pressure" of opposition leaders has shot up after the first phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

"After the first phase of polls, the language of opponents has changed. Blood pressure of some has also increased. There has been a lot of 'mann ki baat', now their should be 'kaam ki baat'," Akhilesh said in an apparent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The chief minister was addressing a series of election meetings in Farrukhabad and Hardoi districts.

Exuding confidence that the SP-Congress alliance will be able to form the next government in the state, he said, "We will together win over 300 (of the 403) seats and form the government".

On demonetisation, he said the BJP-led NDA government did nothing for those who died standing in queues outside banks and ATMs in the wake of the note ban which created a lot of inconvenience for the common man.

Highlighting his government's welfare schemes, he said over 55 lakh women were getting Samajwadi pension, 18 lakh laptops were distributed, MBBS seats were doubled since independence, helpline services 108, 100, 109 were started and Kanya Vidya Dhan Yojna was launched to help the poor and needy.

From an ordinary party member to the Leader of AIADMK legislature party, Edappadi K Palaniswami has come a long way.

Amid the bitter turf war between AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and acting chief minister O Panneerselvam, the 63-year-old loyalist of late J Jayalalithaa was elected Leader of AIADMK legislature party to facilitate his elevation as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

"He was an unwavering loyalist of late Jayalalithaa, and chose to side with V K Sasikala after O Panneerselvam revolted against the interim general secretary," a close aide of Palaniswami said.

Born into an agriculture family, Palaniswami began his political career in AIADMK in 1974 as an ordinary party member.

A native of Nedungulam village in Salem district, he later became a local level party secretary for Siluvampalayam in Edappadi Panchayat Union in Salem.

A Science graduate, he swore allegiance to Jayalalithaa when AIADMK split into two factions, one led by her and the other by party founder M G Ramachandran's wife Janaki, after MGR's death in 1987.

In 1985, even before the demise of MGR, Palaniswami's followers say he had put up a separate party flag mast "honouring" Puratchi Thalaivi Amma across Edappadi region.

In 1990, when Jayalalithaa unified the AIADMK, he was elevated as Salem North District joint secretary.

In 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls, he won from Edappadi constituency. When AIADMK was routed in the 1996 Assembly polls, he too lost from Edapadi.

Similarly, he was defeated in the 2001, 2006 Assembly polls and the 1999 and 2004 parliamentary polls. In 1998, he went to Lok Sabha by winning the Tiruchengode Lok Sabha seat.

A grass-roots level leader, Palaniswamy's growth in the party in a career spanning over 40 years has been steady.

His clout in AIADMK saw a dramatic rise when it won 10 of 11 Assembly segments in Salem district in the 2016 polls.

Acknowledging his contributions, he was given the key portfolio of Public Works, besides Highways and Minor Ports, which he had already been holding.

Since 2011, he is Minister for Highways and Minor Ports and he was among the senior ministers who had proximity to Jayalalithaa.

He has held various party posts including propaganda secretary, organisation secretary, and disciplinary committee member.

Currently, he is the party headquarters secretary and Salem Rural District party secretary.

From an ordinary party member to the Leader of AIADMK legislature party, Edappadi K Palaniswami has come a long way.

Amid the bitter turf war between AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala and acting chief minister O Panneerselvam, the 63-year-old loyalist of late J Jayalalithaa was elected Leader of AIADMK legislature party to facilitate his elevation as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

"He was an unwavering loyalist of late Jayalalithaa, and chose to side with V K Sasikala after O Panneerselvam revolted against the interim general secretary," a close aide of Palaniswami said.

Born into an agriculture family, Palaniswami began his political career in AIADMK in 1974 as an ordinary party member.

A native of Nedungulam village in Salem district, he later became a local level party secretary for Siluvampalayam in Edappadi Panchayat Union in Salem.

A Science graduate, he swore allegiance to Jayalalithaa when AIADMK split into two factions, one led by her and the other by party founder M G Ramachandran's wife Janaki, after MGR's death in 1987.

In 1985, even before the demise of MGR, Palaniswami's followers say he had put up a separate party flag mast "honouring" Puratchi Thalaivi Amma across Edappadi region.

In 1990, when Jayalalithaa unified the AIADMK, he was elevated as Salem North District joint secretary.

In 1989, 1991, 2011 and 2016 Assembly polls, he won from Edappadi constituency. When AIADMK was routed in the 1996 Assembly polls, he too lost from Edapadi.

Similarly, he was defeated in the 2001, 2006 Assembly polls and the 1999 and 2004 parliamentary polls. In 1998, he went to Lok Sabha by winning the Tiruchengode Lok Sabha seat.

A grass-roots level leader, Palaniswamy's growth in the party in a career spanning over 40 years has been steady.

His clout in AIADMK saw a dramatic rise when it won 10 of 11 Assembly segments in Salem district in the 2016 polls.

Acknowledging his contributions, he was given the key portfolio of Public Works, besides Highways and Minor Ports, which he had already been holding.

Since 2011, he is Minister for Highways and Minor Ports and he was among the senior ministers who had proximity to Jayalalithaa.

He has held various party posts including propaganda secretary, organisation secretary, and disciplinary committee member.

Currently, he is the party headquarters secretary and Salem Rural District party secretary.

Are you feeling low? Bored with your hairdo? Looking for something new? Cheer up and highlight your hair locks in funky colours!

You can go wild chalk dying your hair and colour up your life. You don't have to go for permanent dye. You can use different shades of chalks for that funky look and party the night away, and wash them off the next day.

Flaunt your hair with all the colours you want. All you require is some technique and a few chalks, water, protective gloves, towel and a flat iron.

Steps to chalk dye your hair:

Wet your hair so the colour can stick to it properly.

If you are blonde, don’t wet your hair before chalking.

Rub the chalk to your hair blocks in downward motion.

Let it air dry.

Seal the colour in with a flat iron or curling iron for a wavy look.

Apply hair spray.

Wow! You are ready for the show.

It is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to colour your party hairdo. It works well on any hair length. Be ready to spring a surprise at the party.

Avoid using dusty side walk chalks and oil-based pastel chalks. These will not serve the purpose.

Are you feeling low? Bored with your hairdo? Looking for something new? Cheer up and highlight your hair locks in funky colours!

You can go wild chalk dying your hair and colour up your life. You don't have to go for permanent dye. You can use different shades of chalks for that funky look and party the night away, and wash them off the next day.

Flaunt your hair with all the colours you want. All you require is some technique and a few chalks, water, protective gloves, towel and a flat iron.

Steps to chalk dye your hair:

Wet your hair so the colour can stick to it properly.

If you are blonde, don’t wet your hair before chalking.

Rub the chalk to your hair blocks in downward motion.

Let it air dry.

Seal the colour in with a flat iron or curling iron for a wavy look.

Apply hair spray.

Wow! You are ready for the show.

It is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to colour your party hairdo. It works well on any hair length. Be ready to spring a surprise at the party.

Avoid using dusty side walk chalks and oil-based pastel chalks. These will not serve the purpose.

It's curtains down for the biggest suspense in Tamil Nadu politics. There has been an intense drama over who will be the next chief minister of the state and the two strong contenders were O Paneerselvam and VK Sasikala.

Sasikala's political aspirations and dream to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu came to an abrupt end on Tuesday with the Supreme Court convicting her in a disproportionate assets case.

A division bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy directed Sasikala and the others to immediately surrender before the trial court and ordered them to serve the remaining portion of their jail term.

She was accused of having wealth of Rs.64 crore more than declared sources of income during 1991 to 1996 when J Jayalalithaa was the chief minister.

The judgment bars her from holding a public office and contesting elections for at least next six years and the verdict comes at a time when she is locked in a fierce battle with O Panneerselvam for the chief ministership of Tamil Nadu.

The 61-year-old, a shadow of Jayalalithaa for over three decades, was always considered a power centre and backroom player.

Also known as 'Chinamma', Sasikala emerged as the party's numero uno when she was elected AIADMK general secretary on December 31, following Amma's death.

But it has been a roller coaster ride for her in politics as her detractors in the party had in 1996 accused her of being responsible for Jayalalithaa's disastrous election defeat during that year.

Sasikala accompanied Jayalalithaa to prison when the latter was arrested in a disproportionate assets case. She suffered a blow when she was expelled for anti-party activities five years ago by Jayalalithaa. However, her position was restored within a few months' time.

Amma's demise on December 5 was seen as a personal loss for her close aide Sasikala who resided with her at the latter's house, Veda Nilayam in Poes Garden, even choosing to stay away from her husband.

Sasikala's presence by Jayalalithaa's side when she was hospitalised on September 22 also raised some controversies, including allegations that access to the ailing leader was not being allowed even to the late chief minister's kin.

An aspiring small-time entrepreneur offering video coverage services and allied products like video cassettes in the early 1980s, Sasikala got acquainted with Jayalalithaa in 1982 along with her husband M Natarajan through the then IAS officer VS Chandraleka.

It was Sasikala who had video-graphed the function of Jayalalithaa while she was organising a party conference in Cuddalore in 1982.

Since then, Sasikala remained a wall of support for Jayalalithaa through thick and thin over the next three decades.

The Delhi government on Tuesday released a report of its performance in the past two years with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying AAP's manifesto was being followed as "Bible".

The report – "2 Years of People's Governance" – talks about Aam Aadmi Party government's achievements in various sectors such as Health, Water, Electricity, Environment, Transport, Public Work Department, Urban Development and Social Welfare.

"On February 14, 2015, when we took oath to serve the people of Delhi, we had made it clear that our goal will be to honestly and tirelessly work for public welfare with complete dedication in a transparent manner," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a message to the people of Delhi.

"We regularly remind ourselves that our 70-point manifesto, on the basis of which we had sought mandate from the voters, is our Bible and promises made during elections have to be fulfilled," he added.

He said given the unique nature of existing laws and the constitutional scheme of things, governance in Delhi has its own set of challenges.

"…but on this occasion I am resisting the temptation of offering any excuse for hurdles being created by the powers that be in the way of smooth governance in Delhi," he said.

He also invited "constructive criticism" and feedback on how the government should serve the people of Delhi better.

With a private member's bill being introduced in the US Congress that seeks to fix the minimum salary of H1-B visa holders at $130,000, India's Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna has said this visa category has actually been crucial in making American companies globally competitive.

"You know, this H1-B scheme has been crucial in making US companies competitive globally, in increasing their client base, in increasing their innovations," Sarna said in an interview to CNN on Monday. 

"And it is the Indian tech industry which has been actually creating jobs here. There are reports, analyses by very respected houses which say that over 400,000 jobs have been directly and indirectly supported in the US," he said. 

The Ambassador pointed out that Indian tech companies have invested $2 billion in a four-year period and have paid $20 billion in taxes. 

"Out of every 100 H1-B visas have resulted in support to 183 jobs in the US," he said. 

"So, it is again a win-win situation and this is very important because, you know, the US companies… nine out of the 15 top tech companies in India are American companies." 

Sarna said this relationship was a symbiotic one and has the "potential of becoming much stronger for both countries". 

Asked if he was trying to send across a message to new US President Donald Trump, he said: "I think this is information which needs to be out there." 

Silicon Valley Democrat Zoe Lofgren introduced the bill which pegs the minimum pay requirement for short-term work visas at $130,000 as against the current minimum of $60,000. And it suggests bar on jobs to the spouses of such visa holders.

Around 70 per cent of the H1-B visas issued by the US goes to Indians.

The British government has officially rejected a petition calling for US President Donald Trump's state visit to the UK to be cancelled.

Nearly two million people signed the petition on the official Parliament website, with the number still rising.

In a written response, the Foreign Office said that it did not agree with the request and would extend "the full courtesy of a state visit" to the controversial US President, the Independent reported on Tuesday.

The government's statement said that it "recognises the strong views expressed by the many signatories of this petition, but does not support this petition."

The statement added that the invitation, which Prime Minister Theresa May extended to President Trump during her visit to Washington in January, "reflects the importance of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom".

However, the petition will still be debated by MPs in Westminster Hall.

Downing Street on Monday refused to rule out moving the state visit to Birmingham in the hope of avoiding protests. House of Commons Leader David Lidington had earlier said discussions about the visit's many "variables" were "still ongoing".

Activists from the Stop Trump coalition, which includes MPs from several parties, trade unions and campaigners have pledged to hold the largest anti-racism demonstration in British history no matter where the state visit is held. 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for the state visit to be cancelled until Trump's "Muslim ban" policy was lifted, while House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said he will bar Trump from addressing the House.

The rejected petition's text said that Trump "should not be invited to make an official state visit because it would cause embarrassment to Her Majesty the Queen".

It continued: "Donald Trump's well documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him from being received by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prince of Wales. Therefore, during the term of his presidency Donald Trump should not be invited to the United Kingdom for an official State Visit".

The Prime Minister invited Trump to come to Britain while on her visit to Washington DC in January. She was the first world leader to officially meet Trump after his inauguration.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said the "America First" call of US President Donald Trump is not a concern for India or the Make in India programme.

Asked if Trump's America First would come in the way of Make in India and stop US firms from participating in the programme, Parrikar said: "You should have put this question to Boeing, they are there at the exhibition… Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc."

"What I will say is what I want… I want you to Make in India. If someone wants to shift production to some other place, it is his choice. I am not concerned," Parrikar said at a press conference on the sidelines of "Aero India 2017".

He also said that he has so far just heard of it, and there is no official communication from the US government.

"As far as we are concerned, there is so far no issue, there is no letter. I am only hearing about it," he said.

Explaining it further, the minister said: "An OEM (original equipment manufacturer) helping a strategic partner will need their government's approval. If they are proposing something, their government will give them in-principle approval, so that they can quote."

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that Boeing is already manufacturing beams in Nagpur, and the HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) is making doors for Airbus.

"Aviation manufacturing is going to a lot of countries, so it is better to ask the companies what their stand is," Raju said.

Parrikar supplemented it by saying: "India is already part of a global supply chain."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother has been killed in Malaysia, a government source said on Tuesday, sparking speculation over whether North Korea was behind a high-profile assassination.

Kim Jong-nam was assassinated on Monday in Malaysia, Yonhap news agency quoted the source as saying, without revealing any further details.

South Korea's cable TV broadcaster TV Chosun reported that Kim was killed at an airport in Malaysia after being attacked by two unidentified women with "poisoned needles". 

The suspects fled the scene and Malaysian police suspected North Korea was behind the killing. Repeated calls to South Korea's spy agency seeking comment went unanswered.

The assassination came as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been trying to consolidate his grip on power that he inherited upon the death of his father and long-time leader Kim Jong-il in 2011 amid growing international pressure over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Kim Jong-nam — the eldest son of late leader Kim Jong-il — had voiced opposition to his father's power succession to Kim Jong-un. He was born from his father's non-marital relationship with Sung Hae-rim, a South Korean-born actress who died in Moscow.

Kim Jong-nam had lived abroad for years after apparently falling out of favour with his father for attempting to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001.

Kim's case would mark the most high-profile death under the Kim Jong-un regime since the execution of Jang Song-thaek in December 2013, the once-powerful uncle of the current leader.

“We depend more on God,” said Tsering, 53, in Losar, a very far off village near 15,000 feet high Kunzum Pass in Spiti valley of tribal Lahaul Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh

Tsering, a local priest, echoes the common feeling of tribal folks in Spiti along the Indo-Tibetan border, which lacks in government systems with their monitoring seemingly non-existent.

For this, the Spiti folks have to blame harsh weather (temperature dips to sub zero in winters), tough but fragile terrain, the distance of over 400 kilometres from the state capital, Shimla and above all, their ‘political insignificance’ in terms of voter strength.

Of over 22,000 voters in Lahaul Spiti, Spiti not even houses half of them. The cold desert of Spiti lags far behind in keeping pace with times in development, mainly in education, health care, road and telephone network. That’s why the youngsters no more prefer to live in Spiti and there is continuous exodus from the area.

The negative decadal growth rate of population -5.10% of Lahaul Spiti district as a whole from 2001 to 2011 census corroborates the phenomenon.

The tribal district has Lahaul and Spiti valleys which are separated by Kunzum Pass. In winter months, the Lahaul and Spiti valleys are cut off from each other due to snow on the Pass. Lahaul is, however, cut off from rest of the world for about six months in a year for snowfall on 13, 050 feet high Rohtang Pass.

Locals in Spiti allege that the entire focus of government is in Lahaul valley for it is landlocked in winters.

“Spiti is understood to be connected by roads through the year, but the roads are seldom through, so the hardships are even more. Our hospitals are ill-equipped for emergency services and higher education facilities are nil. So what do we do? We have to traverse 350 kilometres to Shimla in medical emergency. Going to Kaza hospital involves more hassle as it lacks in facility,” said Angmo, 68 year old woman, from Tabo.

The tele-medicine project in Kaza, which has recently won accolades at national level, has, however, made some difference to the lives of locals around Kaza in health care over last two years.

The vacancies in all government departments in this distant belt continue for long for want of a specific transfer policy. A person posted in the tribal belt has to wait for years long to come out of the area for want of a substitute.

“This demoralises the government machinery. The officials here have a lackadaisical approach. If the link road to my village is broken due to harsh weather, it would remain so for months long. Same with electricity, phone lines,” rued Tenzin, 62, a shopkeeper in Kaza.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday said that neither the party nor the central government has any role to play in the Tamil Nadu political situation, and termed the opposition's allegations as "baseless".

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and senior BJP functionary Ram Madhav denied that the BJP or the Centre had any role in the Tamil Nadu situation.

"We have no role to play in Tamil Nadu. The BJP has no interests there," Naidu said.

Party General Secretary Ram Madhav reiterated the same thing.

"To say that the BJP or the government of India has a hand in it (Tamil Nadu political situation) is totally false and baseless," Madhav said.

The opposition has been accusing the central government of interfering in the politics of Tamil Nadu by not letting Governor C Vidyasagar Rao take a concrete decision in the matter.

Madhav said it was not proper to raise fingers on the Governor's conduct who would take a decision only after thoroughly considering the matter at hand.

Pakistani police on Tuesday arrested 30 suspects and registered FIR against four unidentified terrorists in connection with a suicide attack outside Punjab assembly here in which 13 people, including six security officials, were killed.

"We have arrested 30 suspects in connection with the Lahore's Mall Road blast so far. Investigation is underway and we will reach the mastermind of this attack," Punjab Government spokesman Zaeem Hussain Qadri told reporters here, as the country mourned the victims of the Taliban-claimed attack.

Thirteen people were killed and over 70 others injured in the suicide blast which had targeted police officials.

Lahore Traffic Police chief Capt (R) Ahmed Mobeen and Senior Superintendent Police Zahid Gondal were among the six security officials killed in the attack.

The Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of the outlawed Tehreek-i- Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group had claimed responsibility for a blast on March 27 last year at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore that left 75 people dead, mostly Christians who were celebrating Easter.

Official funerals were held on Tuesday for the security officials in different districts of Punjab province.

The bombing is said to be the first suicide attack in Lahore in which two senior police officers lost their lives.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Governor Rafique Rajwana and senior police and military officers offered funeral prayers to the slain security officials.

According to the FIR, four suspected terrorists reached outside the Punjab Assembly building on the Mall Road where a protest demonstration of chemists was underway.

"Police tried to stop a suspected terrorist, aged between 17 and 20, to reach near the police officers who were busy negotiating with the leaders of chemists to end protest when he blew himself up. His other accomplices, however, managed to escape," the FIR said.

Punjab police spokesman Niyab Haider said a joint team of police and intelligence agencies are investigating the blast on different aspects.

Inspector General Police Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera said the terrorists' target was police personnel.

"The protest of chemists provided an opportunity to terrorists to target the police officers," he said.

DIG Mobeen earlier had survived an attempt to his life during his posting in Balochistan.

On February 7, the National Counter Terrorism Authority had issued a threat alert saying a terrorist group had planned an attack in Lahore.

"After this threat alert we had provided extra security to the Governor s House, Punjab Assembly and Lahore High Court building located on the Mall," Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said.

He said the Lahore blast could be a conspiracy to stop the Pakistan Super League final at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5.

In a major development to the graft case involving Rajendra Kumar, former principal secretary of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday gave sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for prosecution of Kumar.

The CBI had earlier approached the Home Ministry, seeking sanction to prosecute Kumar, who was arrested by it earlier this year on corruption charges.

The CBI is leant to have claimed that they have sufficient material evidence to chargesheet Kumar and others. Among them are reportedly audio recordings that the CBI claims to have seized from Kumar’s computer during raids last year.

Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer, along with eight others and his front company – Endeavour Systems Private Ltd ESPL) – were charged by the CBI for allegedly running a 'systematic' information technology-related corruption scandal worth Rs.57 crore for nearly nine years from 2007 to 2015 in which he and his accomplices received a bribe of Rs.3.3 crore.

Kumar was charged with cheating, criminal conspiracy, forgery and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI claimed that due to corruption by Kumar and his associates, the government exchequer suffered a loss of Rs.12 crore.

About 709,400 people have been affected by severe drought in Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said on Tuesday.

The towns of Gampaha, Monaragala, Kalutara and Trincomalee are among the worst affected areas, Xinhua news agency cited the DMC as saying.

The drought has resulted in farmers suffering without adequate water and some villages not even having drinking water.

The World Food Programme (WFP) earlier said Sri Lanka was preparing for serious difficulties this year in terms of food and nutrition insecurity until the main harvest in March/April 2018.

The expected failure of the main harvest season in March/April 2017 could be the worst agricultural season in the last 40 years.

The Ministry of Disaster Management and the External Resources Department of the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs have requested drought-related support from WFP, in particular cash for work/food assistance for asset creation.

WFP is deciding on response options while awaiting the government's formal request for assistance to the international community.

The report submitted to a sub-cabinet ministers meeting on January 3 was pivotal in alerting government and other stakeholders to the severity of the drought.

WFP and the government will lead a joint emergency assessment this month to assess the impact of the drought on household food security and livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Department of Meteorology said rain was expected in some parts of Sri Lanka this week.