In The Headlines: Huge anti-militancy operation in Kashmir 

Helicopters and drones circled the air and more than 4,000 troops on Thursday fanned out across south Kashmir's Shopian district in a massive operation to flush out militants holed up inside homes. The operation targeting militants who have been hiding in the area and striking against security forces began in early hours of the morning with security forces, comprising army, police and CRPF, marching into more than a dozen villages in the district, army sources said. There have been no casualties so far.

General Rawat, who had personally monitored the strikes, on Thursday was quoted as saying, "We don't talk about future plans beforehand; we share details after execution.” General Rawat's deputy, Vice Chief of Army Staff Sarath Chand, had already said on Wednesday that the perpetrators would "face consequences". "I do not want to say what we will do. Instead of speaking, we will focus on our action at a time and place of our choosing," he had told reporters .

India rises to 100th spot in FIFA rankings

The Indian football team has jumped up a place to be ranked 100th for the first time ever in over two decades in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday. For the first time in 21 years and only the sixth time after Independence, the national football team has found a place in top-100 of FIFA rankings. This is India's best-ever FIFA ranking since April 1996 when they were also ranked 100. India's highest FIFA Ranking till date has been 94, achieved in February 1996. "As long as we keep heading up the ladder, I am happy. It points out that we are heading in the right direction. There are major matches ahead and we cannot take things lightly. There's no place for complacency," said national coach Stephen Constantine.

Britain's Prince Philip to retire from royal duties

Britain's Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, will retire from royal duties this year, the Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday. The palace said the queen would continue to carry out her full programme of engagements. The Duke of Edinburgh, who turns 96 on June 10, is the longest serving consort in British history. He conducted 219 royal engagements last year.

Justice Karnan declines medical examination

Justice CS Karnan on Thursday declined to undergo medical examination ordered by the Supreme Court. A four-member medical team from a government hospital in Kolkata reached Justice Karnan’s home in New Town in Kolkata on Thursday morning but he declined examination, stating that he is “quite normal and has a stable mind”. Justice Karnan also gave the team of doctors a written note where he said he had declined medical treatment. The note said, “I declined to avail medical treatment since I am quite normal and have a stable mind.”

Pak to take up students' issue with India

Pakistan says it would take up with India the issue of about 50 students being sent back following the beheading of two Indian soldiers and criticised New Delhi for being "a silent spectator". Delhi-based NGO Routes2Roots had invited the Pakistani students as part of their student Exchange for Change Programme. They were sent back on Wednesday after the government advised the NGO against hosting them, saying the time was not "appropriate" for such exchanges after the beheading of Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh and BSF Head Constable Prem Sagar by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) on May 1.

We can counter BJP very well in Odisha: Patnaik

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Thursday, his party was strong enough to counter the BJP in the state and hinted at an early reshuffle in the three-year-old ministry. "I can assure you that we will counter it (BJP) very well. We are a very strong party," Patnaik told reporters replying to a question on BJP president Amit Shah's plan to start his Odisha programme from the chief minister's home district of Ganjam. Patnaik said senior BJD leaders, including ministers, are prepared to work for the people at the grassroots level.

Theresa May urged not to rush into attack on Syria

Opposition leaders have appealed to Theresa May not to rush to attack Bashar al-Assad’s forces in Syria if she wins the election, after it was revealed, the government is considering holding a swift vote on military action this summer. May could have a large majority if she gains Tory MPs at the election, making it more difficult for her own backbench rebels, Labour and other parties to stop her pushing through a vote for military action. The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said it was deeply worrying that May “would back military intervention against Assad in Syria outside of a wider diplomatic strategy and without UN backing”.