UNJHA: Away from the world's gaze, she was leading a quiet life as a retired school teacher. But when the spotlight turned to her, Jashodaben Modi, officially accepted by chief minister Narendra Modi, was nowhere to be seen.

LUCKNOW: Not perturbed by the controversy over his remarks on the Indian Army, SP leader Azam Khan on Thursday called BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi 'a big dog'. Referring to Modi's earlier statement that he felt as sad about the post-Godhra massacre as he would if his car were to drive over a puppy. Azam said, "Agar hum chhote kutte hain, to woh bade kutte hain." (If we are puppies, he is a big dog.)

PANAJI: Tehelka founder editor Tarun Tejpal on Wednesday filed a bail application before the Supreme Court.

 CHENNAI: The Election Commission will have to source more electronic voting machines (EVM) for TN as there are 845 candidates in the fray, a record for parliamentary elections in the state.

PATNA: Two CRPF jawans were killed and seven others injured in Munger as sporadic incidents of violence threatened to mar polling in the six constituencies that reported 53% turnout in the first phase of parliamentary election in the state on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Chief minister J Jayalalithaa and her aide N Sasikalaa did not appear before the economic offences court hearing the income tax cases against them on Thursday, saying they moved the Supreme Court and the Madras high court against the proceedings.

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that Russian gas supplies to Europe could be disrupted if Moscow cuts the flow to Ukraine over unpaid bills, drawing a US accusation that it is using energy "as a tool of coercion".

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama's embattled health and human services secretary is resigning as the White House seeks to move past the election-year political damage inflicted by the rocky rollout of Obama's signature healthcare law.

KOLKATA: Injuries have always come at the wrong time for Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary, who has repeatedly missed out on the action after being in the mix for a India berth. The former Bengal skipper missed the entire 2013-14 domestic season due to a knee injury. Tiwary, who was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils at the IPL players' auctions in February, will be turning out for the franchise for the second time, having played for them in the first two editions of the T20 event before switching allegiance to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010 in a swap deal. The stylish right-hander spoke to TOI about his injury-related heart-breaks and the upcoming IPL-7. Excerpts:

KINGSTON: Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell was banned for 18 months by a Jamaican anti-doping disciplinary panel on Thursday after he tested positive for a banned substance last year.