News Digest: A smart, speedy recap of the day\'s headlines

Mumbai: Have you missed any news today? Here are the top national, international headlines of the day.

Kejriwal v/s BJP: The Delhi BJP on Saturday accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of playing politics over the "serious" matter of security and making false allegations against it for "cheap popularity", after he claimed that there was threat to this life from the saffron party.

Read: Kejriwal playing politics on serious matter of security, for cheap popularity: BJP

PM receives defamation notice: TMC leader and nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday sent a defamation notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the alleged derogatory remarks made against him at a public rally on May 15 in Diamond Harbour.

Read: Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee sends defamation notice to PM

 

Chandrababu Naidu’s effort for federal front:  TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu Saturday met leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party here, continuing his efforts to put together a coalition to form the next government at the Centre. He reached the Uttar Pradesh capital in the evening after meetings in New Delhi with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, CPI leaders G Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav.

Read: After Rahul, AP CM meets Akhilesh, Mayawati in coalition-building effort

CEC critices Lavasa's dissent: Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora issues statement on EC Ashok Lavasa's purported letter to him, says, 'an unsavory and avoidable controversy reported in sections of media today about internal functioning of ECI in respect of handling of Model Code of Conduct.'

Read: 'Difference in views, should be': CEC slams row over Lavasa dissent

Haasan's Hindu religion remark: Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan who drew flak from all political quarters and Hindu groups for his remarks on Nathuram Godse, on Saturday once again stoked a possible controversy by saying that the word "Hindu" is of foreign origin and not native to India.

Read: Kamal Haasan says 'Hindu' not native to India; given by Mughals, endorsed by British

Deve Gowda extends support to Congress: HD Deve Gowda, the former prime minister, and chief of Janata Dal (Secular) on Saturday reiterated his support to the Congress party in the ongoing general elections.

Read: Deve Gowda reiterates support to Cong in K’taka, says 'We are with them'

Siddaramaiah on Sadhvi Pragya's Godse remark: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday termed Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur a "terrorist" for calling Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse a "true patriot".

Read: Pragya Thakur is a terrorist: Siddaramaiah on 'Godse is Patriot' row

China-Iran holds bilateral talks: Mohammad Javad Zarif met Friday with Wang Yi, whose country has been a major customer for Iranian oil, at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse.

Read: Amid US pressure; China-Iran foreign ministers meet to discuss security

Another state in US bans abortion: Renewed efforts to roll back Roe v. Wade, the landmark US Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide in 1973, have been emboldened by two judicial appointments by President Donald Trump that have given conservatives a solid majority on the court.

Read: Missouri follows Alabama; passes law that would ban abortion after 8 weeks

Sri Lanka Easter bombing: Sri Lankan Police said Friday they have arrested a school principal and a teacher for their alleged links to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) blamed by the government for the deadly Easter Sunday bombings which killed nearly 260 people.

Read: Sri Lanka school principal, teacher arrested for link to Easter terror attack

Sitaram Yechury on Lok Sabha election results: CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury refuted claims of helping the BJP get a foothold in Bengal and asserted that the Left will come out with "surprising results" in the Lok Sabha polls.

Read: Will perform like Messi scoring goal dribbling past his opponents: Yechury

Opposition’s reaction to first-ever press conference of PM Modi: Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden press conference, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the presser seemed "like last episode of 'Mann ki Baat' aired on TV instead of radio".

Read: Oppn on PM's presser: 'Like last episode of 'Mann ki Baat',' says SP prez