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

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

 

Stalin refutes reports about meeting UPA on May 23: DMK chief M K Stalin on Monday said there was no meeting of the UPA being convened by Sonia Gandhi on May 23, the day votes in the Lok Sabha elections will be counted.

READ: No UPA meeting on May 23: Stalin dismisses reports

Section 144 imposed in Bhatpura: Election Commission has now imposed Sec-144 (which prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in Bhatpara for undefined time-period to combat post-poll violence.

READ: EC imposes Section 144 in Bhatpura for undefined time-period

Non-BJP front in discussion:  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence in Kolkata on Monday to decide on forming a non-BJP government at the Centre in case of a hung verdict, TMC sources said.

READ: Naidu, Banerjee prepare for hung verdict, non-BJP front in discussion

Air strike controversy: Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army's Northern Command, Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh on Monday confirmed that the first surgical strike was carried out by India in September 2016.

Read: Refuting Cong claims, Army top official says 1st surgical strike was in Sept 2016

Julian Assange prosecution: The Swedish prosecutor heading an investigation into a rape allegation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange filed a request with a local court on Monday for him to be detained in absentia.

Read: Swedish prosecutor files request for Assange's arrest over rape allegation

Kumaraswamy lashes out at media: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy hit out at media organisations for "belittling" politicians on their satirical programmes, saying he was thinking of bringing a law to curb the practice.

Read: Are we cartoon characters?: K'taka CM slams media for 'belittling' politicians

Rajbhar's dismissal from UP cabinet: Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief OP Rajbhar on Monday welcomed the decision of his dismissal from Uttar Pradesh cabinet and accused the state government of not doing enough for the backward caste people.

Read: Good decision, I welcome it: Rajbhar on his dismissal from UP cabinet

AIADMK fears defeat: The exit polls have predicted a clear majority for the ruling National Democratic Alliance but its ally in Tamil Nadu is not impressed. Tamil Nadu’s chief minister E Palaniswami has called the exit polls “a lie.”

Read: 'Routed' in Tamil Nadu, Palaniswamy calls exit polls a lie

Tajikistan prison riot: Three prison guards and 29 inmates have been killed in a high-security prison in Tajikistan after convicted Islamic State militants started a riot, the Central Asian nation's Justice Ministry said on Monday.

Read: 32 including 3 guards killed in Tajikistan prison riot

Ram Madhav confident of win in West Bengal: Backed by exit poll predictions, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Monday said that his party will surprise political analysts with a performance in West Bengal similar to that of Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Read: BJP will repeat 2014 UP victory in WB; 'Mahagathbandhan' vision-less: Ram Madhav

Majority in question in Madhya Pradesh: The BJP has written a letter to Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and asked for a special session of the state assembly, claiming that the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in the state doesn’t have a majority.

Read: BJP writes letter to MP Governer, asks Kamal Nath govt to prove majority

Delayed results in Delhi: Declaration of results for the Delhi Lok Sabha seats may get delayed by around five to six hours on May 23 as more time will be spent on counting VVPATs from each of the 70 Assembly segments of the national capital, Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh has said.

Read: Results of Delhi LS poll may get delayed by 5-6 hrs: Chief Election Officer

Rajiv Gandhi convicts: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Monday said his government was committed to the release of seven Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convicts and expressed hope the state Governor will act on the cabinet recommendation for setting them free.

Read: TN govt committed to release of Rajiv case convicts: CM Palaniswami

Akhilesh-Mayawati meet: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati held a meeting at the latter’s residence in Lucknow on Monday. This comes the day after the exit polls were released.

Read: Akhilesh, Mayawati meet day after exit poll projections