Nirav Modi scam blows up to deadly Florida school shooting: Top stories of the day

Nirav Modi, the billionaire jeweller at the centre of a Rs 11,400 crore fraud at the Punjab National Bank, will not be spared, the government said. A 19-year-old man opened fire at a school in Flordia, unleashing one of the deadliest school shootings in US history. These stories made news on Thursday. Here is more about them.

Govt says won’t spare anyone in Nirav Modi scam

The noose tightened on Nirav Modi, the billionaire jeweller at the centre of a Rs 11,400 crore fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB), with the government saying that it won’t spare anyone for the scam and investigators searching his properties. PNB said it has the capability to recover after uncovering the staggering fraud. The loan fraud--the largest ever in Indian history-- has sent PNB’s shares tumbling about 20% this week.

Nirav Modi scam sparks Congress, BJP fight

The Congress alleged that the Narendra Modi government turned a blind eye and allowed Nirav Modi to slip out of the country. “Who is Nirav Modi? The new #ModiScam?” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. The Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the criticism and objected to Surjewala pointing a finger at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by describing the jeweller as “Chhota Modi”. Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “The BJP takes strong offence to the kind of language being used by describing someone like that. It is derogatory, scandalous and demeaning.”

US teenager charged with 17 murder counts in school attack

An orphaned 19-year-old with a troubled past and his own assault rifle was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder after being questioned for the deadliest school shooting in the US in five years. Nikolas Cruz walked into the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland shortly before classes ended and opened fire on students and teachers, authorities said. He killed 17 people.

China protests Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh

China protested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as its territory, saying it will make “stern representations “ with the Indian government. “The Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and is firmly opposed to the Indian leader’s visit to the disputed area,” said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry. Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday and praised the state’s people for their patriotism.

Cyril Ramaphosa elected as South Africa’s new president

Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as South Africa’s new president by ruling party legislators after the resignation of Jacob Zuma, who fell because of his alleged corrupt links with the Indian-origin Gupta business family. “I will try very hard not to disappoint the people of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said in his speech to parliament after it elected him. He said the issue of corruption is on “our radar screen.”

Supporters for president elect Cyril Ramaphosa, portrait on cloth, sing and dance outside parliament in Cape Town. Ramaphosa on Thursday was elected as South Africa's new president. (AP)

2 Indian Air Force pilots die in microlight aircraft crash in Assam

Two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after a microlight aircraft they were flying crashed in Majuli district in Assam. Wing Commanders Jai Paul James and T Vats had taken off from Jorhat air force station around noon on a routine border sortie when their aircraft crashed at Sumoimari, an isolated location on the world’s largest river island, Majuli.

Rs 6,500 to help a rape victim is shocking: Supreme Court tells Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court described as “total insensitiveness” Rs 6,000-6,500 Madhya Pradesh gives to rape victims in the state as help. “According to you (Madhya Pradesh) and your affidavit, on an average, you are paying Rs 6,000 to a rape victim. Are you doing a charity? How can you do so. ... You value a rape at Rs 6,500?” the court asked the state government.

Tamil Nadu and Karnataka await Supreme Court verdict on Cauvery

Tamil Nadu and Karnataka increased security along their common border a day before the Supreme Court gives its decision on how the states should share waters of the Cauvery river. The Cauvery, which originates in Karnataka and flows into Tamil Nadu, has been the source of a dispute as farmers in both states depend on the river.

Woman poses as man, marries two women for dowry in Uttarakhand

A woman dressed up as a man for four years, duped two women into marrying her and harassed one of them for dowry, police in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani said. Sweety Sen, a resident of Dhampur in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnore, allegedly enticed women on Facebook.