The ongoing spread of bluetongue virus among European farm animals may have started when a cow was inseminated with infected bull semen stored from an earlier outbreak

A 72-year-old retired tehsildar allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday morning by shooting four bullets in his head with his licensed revolver at his bungalow near Manor, Palghar district. The deceased has been identified as Pandrinath Sankhe.

According to the Manor police, Pandrinath lived with his wife in Maswan and was found in a pool of blood in the bedroom around 6 am. At the time of the incident, his wife Poonam and the watchman at the property were in the house. When they heard the shots, they rushed to the bedroom and found Pandrinath motionless on the floor and the revolver next to him, said a source, adding that the police have concluded four bullets were fired based on the four empty cartridges that were found and based on the others saying they heard four shots.

He allegedly shot himself with. Pics/Hanif Patel

The deceased's neighbours and relatives who stay nearby, too, heard the firing and immediately called the police. A team reached the spot and rushed the body to the local hospital, where doctors declared him dead before admission. Senior inspector Siddhawa Jaydhaviyi said, "Inquiry has revealed a single entry wound and four bullets in the head. The deceased's relatives have questioned why and how a suicidal person would fire four times. We have sent the body for a detailed autopsy to JJ Hospital and will investigate accordingly. As of now, we have registered an accidental death report."

Also Read: Mumbai: 8-year-old drowns in water tank in Nalasopara

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In the two days of staged photographs, there is not one photo of Modi hugging Xi, his trademark personalised diplomacy of forcibly embracing other leaders. Pic/AP

One of the better things during the Karnataka Assembly election, no matter who emerges the single largest party tomorrow, was Congress president Rahul Gandhi's press conference in Bangalore. You may not have seen it on TV. It is on YouTube, however. Rahul again comes across in a light different to the whispers about him during the past two decades, proving how it was all the doing of a well-oiled BJP machine. My favourite part was Rahul's take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Wuhan in central China for an "informal" summit with President Xi Jinping.

Here's what he said:
"I expected the PM to go to China as the leader of our country [and] speak to them about Doklam... He didn't say a word. [He] had a conversation with the Chinese President with no agenda. Are you telling me there's no agenda? There is an agenda, it's called Doklam; there is an agenda, it's called the Maldives; there is an agenda, it's called Nepal... The agenda is that we're surrounded on all sides; it's pretty clear. But you guys don't like to raise that, I don't know why.

"Our foreign policy has been completely decimated. And it's because the PM views foreign policy as an individual exercise. He's of the impression that he can go have a conversation with the president of China, or he can go have a conversation with the president of Nepal, and everything will magically happen.

"The PM needs to carry his own people with him. Are there any conversations going on with the finance minister, with the defence minister about this type of strategy? No. It's a one-man show."

Briefly: China tried to seize the Doklam plateau in Bhutan last year but after a 73-day standoff against our troops, it backed down. It has reportedly since built an infrastructure leading to Doklam. In the Maldives, China is displacing India: President Abdulla Gameen last year welcomed three Chinese warships, and last month hosted the Pakistan army chief. In Nepal, despite Modi's visit this weekend to promote Janakpur, Sita's birthplace, as a religious tourism spot, the Nepalese have drifted from us after India's five-month blockade in 2015 - we were pushing for greater political inclusion of the Madhesis. Modi is a villain for the Nepalese, as evident on social media.

China has seized advantage of India's pathetic neighbourhood behaviour, and, as Rahul said, has India surrounded. No wonder many think Modi went to beg Xi to keep relations calm in the run-up to the 2019 parliamentary election. That Modi's governance is election-oriented is no secret. Will the Chinese will play ball? When the two-day "informal" summit ended, the Indian side issued a statement and reportedly urged the Chinese to issue their own. Compare the two and you see a difference: while India mentioned a strategic direction to our respective armies to avoid tension on the Line of Actual Control, China only said the armies would follow past protocols. Joint statements are never easy, but individual statements are a piece of cake.

Modi had to supplicate himself because he cannot afford to go into the 2019 election after a showdown with China. Even a short skirmish will humiliate India. Unlike tension on the Line of Control with Pakistan, which benefits Modi since it can be dovetailed into communal rhetoric, tension with China gives Modi no benefit. Modi cannot help but humour China.

The Chinese were amenable to being humoured since they have now what they wanted in Doklam. China nowadays also wants to be seen as a responsible global power: hence it has nudged North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un into meeting his South Korean counterpart and, next month, with Donald Trump. China has also reached out to Japan, with whom relations are more complicated than with India.

Mainly, it was because Modi agreed to humiliate the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader who has lived in India since 1959. India prohibited its ministers from attending a Dalai Lama function (ironically, to thank India) and asked him to shift it from Delhi to his base in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. It was an insult; worse, he privately expressed the fear that he might be expelled.

The Chinese gave us time but they did not give Modi a hug. In the two days of staged photographs, there is not one photo of Modi hugging Xi, his trademark personalised diplomacy of forcibly embracing other leaders. Rahul Gandhi is right: Modi has decimated India's foreign policy. It's too bad that this and other aspects of his press conference were ignored by the TV media. But then, after Gujarat, Karnataka has been good practice for him. Modi's obsession with the 2019 election means that governance will suffer, so Rahul will get more occasions to show the public his mettle.

Aditya Sinha's next book, The Spy Chronicles: RAW, ISI and the Illusion of Peace, co-written with a former RAW chief and a former ISI chief, is out next week. He tweets @autumnshade Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com

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Daniel Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo topped the timesheets by a dominant margin ahead of teammate Max Verstappen, as Red Bull marked themselves out as contenders for victory on the opening day of Singapore Grand Prix practice.

Ricciardo put in a dazzling one minute 40.852 second lap under the floodlights, setting a new record around the Marina Bay street circuit after having already lowered the earlier benchmark with the fastest time in the opening session.

His effort was a massive 0.556 seconds quicker than Verstappen's best. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton meanwhile, chasing a hat-trick of wins this weekend, was third fastest after having been fourth in the opening session.

His title rival Sebastian Vettel, second in the evening, was inconspicuous at night with only the 11th fastest time.

Singapore's tight twists are expected to play to Ferrari and Red Bull's strengths and Vettel briefly lit up the timing screens. Valtteri Bottas, who agreed a one-year contract extension with Mercedes, ended the day fourth-fastest.

Ananya Panday and The Vamps' guitarist James McVey are coming together to raise awareness about social media bullying. The live session will be hosted on May 8 on Instagram.

The actor says, "Social media bullying is an evil that people face every day on the numerous platforms that they use in their daily lives. I'm glad that James McVey and I will be fighting this evil together in our own small way."

Ananya further said, "The world is going through a tough time and it is even more important to be kind to everyone and spread positivity." The session is being put together by the actor's initiative, So Positive, which aims to negate the spread of social media bullying.

McVey added, "During this difficult time, we find ourselves using social media more than ever. Regardless of where you live or your background, it's important to remember that you are never alone. Millions of others are going through the same traumatic experience and I believe together we further the conversation and join the fight to end bullying. I'm looking forward to speaking with Ananya on 'So Positive' to learn more about her experiences."

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In a first of its kind international venture, youth icons Ananya Panday and international songwriter and guitarist from The Vamps band - James McVey - are all set to come together on the former’s ‘So Positive’ platform to raise awareness about social media bullying. The live session will be hosted on 8th May 2020 at 7 pm.

James McVey, the lead guitarist, and songwriter of the internationally renowned British band The Vamps, is known globally for spreading social media positivity. The coming together of the two, Panday and McVey, marks a collaboration that goes beyond the confines of language and geography to attain more awareness on the issue. The statistics are proof of how teenagers and children are the most affected in this digital era. The number of platforms accessible to the population across the world are increasing with every passing day. This collaboration would be extremely insightful in terms of shedding light on this issue and help individuals dealing with social media bullying.

Sharing his experience James McVey said, “During this difficult time we find ourselves using social media more than ever. When I was at the receiving end of bullying I felt isolated and alone. Regardless of where you live or your background, it’s important to remember that you are never alone. Millions of others are going through the same traumatic experience and I believe together we further the conversation and join the fight to end bullying. I’m looking forward to speaking with Ananya on ‘So Positive’ to learn more about her experiences.”

Ananya Panday shares, "Social media bullying is an evil that people face every day on the numerous platforms that they use in their daily lives. I’m glad that James McVey and I will be fighting this evil together in our own small way. The world is going through a difficult time, currently and it is even more important than ever to be kind to everyone around and spread positivity. So Positive has been creating awareness through different ways and our aim continues to be to negate the spread of social media bullying by spreading positivity all across. I’m really looking forward to this insightful exchange with James”.

So Positive is a cause taken up by Ananya which is backed with substantial data, research, and behavioural statistics. The initiative aims at creating and spreading awareness about social media bullying. Its prime focus is to make people aware of the fact that this issue exists and stays very prevalent in society. Also, the steps that can be taken by the recipients of this destructive criticism in order to deal with this.

ALSO READ: Ananya Panday says Vijay Deverakonda is humble and grounded despite being a huge star

Rapper Pitbull has dropped his latest song, "I believe that we will win". Proceeds from the song will be donated to coronavirus relief efforts across the globe.

He has released the song along with a lyric video showcasing the song's inspiring message, reports etonline.com. "You know what spreads faster than any virus? Fear/And when it comes to fear, you can either forget everything and run, or you can face everything and rise," Pitbull raps in the track.

"Let me tell you what I believe/ I believe we will face everything and rise." Pitbull had asked healthcare workers, parents and more to be a part of his new music video, which is yet to drop, last week.

"We believe that we can overcome. We are calling all students, medical workers, first responders, parents, grandparents, everyone from all over the world to be a part of Pitbull's video anthem. Proceeds will be going to various charities around that world," read a notice asking fans to submit videos of themselves dancing to the song.

Pitbull has been encouraging fans to maintain hope amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Let's show the world, how powerful it is when we come together to fight for one cause - that's called life," he had posted on Instagram on March 28.

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The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z earphones come with a magnetic stripe on the earbuds that pause music when attached.

The recent violence in Jammu and Kashmir has brought pellet guns and rubber bullets into focus. Rubber bullets are blunt-nosed with a muzzle velocity

A survey of over 2,000 nurses by New Zealand Nurses' Organization researchers Dr Jill Clendon and Dr Leonie Walker has revealed that workplace bullying is very common.

In a fresh bid to empower its over 300 million users, the micro-blogging website Twitter on Wednesday made it easier for them to report cyberbullying.

The OECD welcomes Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s announcement at COP21 that Australia intends to ratify the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period, which sets mitigation targets and reporting requirements for 2013-2020.

The tetchy leader needs to understand that people never forget abuse of hierarchical power

The Director of Cultural Partnerships at King's College London reflects on the growing appetite among artists and arts organisations for evidence about the impact and value of what they do  

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big reforms are needed to tackle substantial problems well beyond the cost 

Investor blames peso mayhem on ‘massive speculative attack’ and local over-reaction

Prices rebound from March lows after miner Kazatomprom slashes production

Váradi echoes Ryanair’s O’Leary in upbeat outlook as low-cost airline restarts flights from Luton on Friday

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They costarred with this comedic national treasure in the fun 2009 romcom The Proposal, and eleven years later, they made sure to wish her a happy birthday in the funniest way possible. 

The actress, 57, told her 191,000 Twitter followers she was shocked at the 'nastiness' of comments directed at her after she revealed daughter Maia, 23, had been privately educated.

Gran-of-two Elaine Armstrong, 53, said she took the pictures of the bull on the Isle of Mull to highlight just how damaging dumping rubbish can be to the environment and wildlife

The bull had escaped from a nearby farm and briefly hid out in a gents toilets on the Shetland Islands in Scotland before deciding to make a break for it.

MasterChef judges Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan have slammed Sydney's lockout laws - which were brought in to quell alcohol-fuelled violence in the city back in 2014.

On Friday, the 27-year-old budding chef praised viewers in general and insisted the majority were supportive - but said the negative comments of others stung.

Monty Koludrovic is hitting back after viewers slammed his guest appearance on last Wednesday's episode of Masterchef.  

Rashida Ellis, 38, from Atlanta, Georgia, took to Twitter on Tuesday to post a snapshot of her three-year-old dog Big Poppa looking sad.

The Barefoot Kuata Island resort in Fiji offers an 'awakening shark dive' with bull sharks. MailOnline Travel's Sadie Whitelocks tried out the 45-minute experience and lived to tell the tale.

Conditions in East Renfrewshire, just south of Glasgow, were so bad that ITV's Scotland correspondent Peter Smith struggled to speak through the snow and the rain. The clip has since gone viral.

Gordon Jackson QC, 71, Scotland's most senior QC, was filmed on an Edinburgh-Glasgow train discussing the high-profile sexual assault case.

The three teams occupying the Premier League's bottom three places have been warned that relegation could be imposed on them if they continue to obstruct plans to resume the season.

OLIVER HOLT: And so, after all the years of taking, when the nation was plunged into a crisis and football's rainy day came, Premier League's billionaire owners had a simple message for us.

Chelsea took a giant step towards the Premier League title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Manchester United. Eden Hazard's 38th minute strike proved decisive as the Blues held on.

A nine-year-old boy who was bullied for his dwarfism has been invited on a whirlwind trip to the US after his story made international headlines. 

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: A male Borneo pygmy elephant was found dead in a river in Malaysia last week, and medics have confirmed the animal died after being shot 70 times at close range.

The TV host was inundated with complaints from British and American viewers alike after laughing and stifling giggles while presenting a segment about the young royal.

Coming to its embattled rival's defence, just days after it entered voluntary administration, Qantas called the move 'ridiculous' and 'extraordinary'.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott will enjoy a memorable send-off when a lavish farewell dinner is held in his honour next week.

Khun Nam, 57, required first aid for an inch-long cut to her face after being charged by a bull that had broken out of the ring and into the crowd during a fight in southern Thailand on Monday.

Red Bull racing chief Helmut Marko has revealed his unusual plan to arrange a 'Corona Camp' in a bid to ensure that the Formula One season is not blighted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) says the media needs to be less elitist, following the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president-elect. The prime minister said his message on economic growth had resonated.

Piers Morgan tweeted Her Majesty's statement, saying: 'BREAKING: Harry/Meghan have successfully bullied the Queen into letting them have their cake & eat it.'

The Duke of Sussex wants his 93-year-old grandmother, father and brother to let him and his wife keep their royal titles while living in Canada while grabbing 'financial independence'.

ISIS (left) has released propaganda videos threatening to invade Rome and Pope Francis is considered a specific target. But the pontiff (pictured right) says he's 'not afraid'.

The Belgian Shepherd was killed as police stormed a flat in Paris, France, on November 18 - three days after ISIS extremists had murdered 130 people in the city.