Police in southern India said they have arrested a man who has admitted to running a popular pro-ISIS group Twitter account, but added that he appears to have no direct links to the militant group. Mehdi Masroor Biswas, a 24-year-old engineer, was being questioned by authorities, Bangalore's top police official, M.N. Reddy, told reporters on Saturday . He said police have no evidence so far that shows that Biswas had any direct links to militants of the Islamic State or any other radical Muslim extremist group.

"He appears to have been only majorly active in the virtual world," Reddy said.

How can India be BFFs with both Russia and the United States?
...
New Delhi and Moscow maintained strong ties during the cold war, united in part by suspicions of the West. More recently relations experienced some rough patches, especially when Russia decided to sell attack helicopters to Pakistan, India's cross-border rival. Russia was also miffed when India opted to buy some defense hardware from the US and France.

But at a July summit of the emerging-economy BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - Modi assured Putin that their two countries' bonds were as strong as ever. Any Indian child asked to name his country's "best friend" would answer "Russia," he [Modi] said, "because Russia has been with India in times of crisis."

By comparison, US-India relations have been more of a roller-coaster, even over the past decade and despite a high-profile re-launching of ties under President Bush that included the lifting of a three-decade moratorium on civilian nuclear deals with India.

...
The tension over Ukraine intruded on the choreographed visit when it emerged that the Russian-backed leader of Crimea had travelled as part of Putin's delegation.

"We highly appreciate the friendship, trust and mutual understanding with Indian partners," said Putin, who chiefly touched on bilateral issues in his statement to journalists. No questions were allowed.

VISION

The two leaders presided over the signing of a "vision" document setting out a roadmap for cooperation in the sphere of nuclear power. Putin said Russia could eventually supply India with 20 nuclear reactors.

In the event, Rosatom said that it would supply 12 nuclear energy reactors for India over 20 years.

A 1,000-megawatt reactor is operating at the Russian-built Kudankulam power station in Tamil Nadu, with a second due on-stream in 2015.

Indian officials said a total of six reactors will be built at Kudankulam. A further six will follow at a site to be determined.

Other strategic deals covered oil supply, infrastructure and an increase in direct diamond sales to India by Russian state monopoly Alrosa (ALRS.MM).

On defence, the two sides will seek to move ahead with long-delayed projects to develop a joint fifth-generation fighter jet and a multi-role transport aircraft, in addition to the chopper deal.

A spokesman for India's foreign minister said he was not officially aware of the visit by Crimean leader Sergey Aksyonov, who is subject to Western sanctions.

But Gul Kripalani, a Mumbai businessman who met the Crimean leader at a New Delhi hotel, told Reuters the talks were unofficial and Aksyonov had travelled to India as part of Putin's delegation.

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