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Kanpur (UP) [India], Sept. 22 : India have won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test of three-match series against New Zealand here at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium.

Winning the toss, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said, "Looks like a pretty good wicket for day one. The start has been good in West Indies, preparation has been really good. The intensity is really high. Part of the 500th Test, I couldn't even imagine I'd be captaining it. I am grateful and honoured."

Speaking about the pitch, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson said that it looks to be fairly dry.

New York [USA], Sept 22: The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has said that Beijing is supporting Pakistan in the mass killing of the Balochi people courtesy the China Pakistan Corridor Project (CPEC).

"China is Pakistan's strategic partner in the economic plundering and mass murder of Baloch civilians particularly in the coastal belt of the Makran region of Balochistan. The deep sea port of Gwadar has been sold to China for military buildup and expansion into the Arabian Sea," read a statement issued regarding the joint protest of Baloch and Sindhi activists held outside the United Nations to condemn the Pakistani atrocities and the 'ongoing military operations' in Sindh and Balochistan.

Geneva (Switzerland), Sept. 22 : United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) chairman Shaukat Ali Kashmiri on Thursday criticised Nawaz Sharif for glorifying slain Hizbul Mujahidden commander Burhan Wani as a 'young symbol' of 'Kashmiri freedom movement' and said Pakistan's Prime Minister does not understand the ground realties of Kashmir.

He said that it was wrong to call Wani as the 'symbol' of' freedom movement' as he was carrying out communal activities in a multi religious Kashmir society.

"It is undisputed that Burhan Wani was the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, all his details are available in Facebook and other social media websites. Wani also claimed that he was fighting to uphold Islam," Ali told ANI.

New York [USA], Sept. 22 : Asserting that a new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia in many countries.

"A new Cold War threatens to engulf Europe. The momentum there towards "greater union" has already reversed. Barricades and walls are going up, especially against the tide of misery flowing out of a turbulent Middle East. In many countries, intolerance has revived the ghosts of xenophobia and Islamophobia," he said in his remarks at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

New Delhi [India], Sept. 22 : The negotiations to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets came through on Wednesday, as India announced the decision to sign the mega deal with France this Friday.

French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian is arriving on September 23 to finalise the deal which will cost Euros 7.8 billion to India.

The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi today headed the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to discuss the deal which is crucial to boost the Indian Air Force.

In June, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had stated that the of the fighter jets were "on path of coming to conclusion".

New Delhi [India], Sept. 22 : Hitting out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for 'glorifying' slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani at the United Nations, India has asserted that his statement only proves Islamabad's attachment to terrorism.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that Sharif glorifying Wani in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, which is one of UN's highest forum, shows Pakistan's continued connection with terrorism.