The much-fancied electric buses will hit the city roads in six months, with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation inking a deal with Hyderabad-based Goldstone to initially run 40 buses.

Goldstone emerged as the lowest bidder in the Request For Proposal (RFP) that the BMTC had called in December.

The terms of the RFP stated that the successful bidder should deploy 150 electric buses. The BMTC would pay the company on expenses per kilometre for each bus, besides employing a conductor.

The company would bear all operational expenses, maintenance and infrastructure for charging the vehicles.

Corporation relieved

The BMTC described the outsourcing as "good" as it gets the best of services without having to agonise over the functional aspects of the service.

"Well pay Rs 37.50 to the operator for each kilometre for a bus," said BMTC managing director V Ponnuraj.

"Well also pay an additional Rs 17 for power and deploying a conductor. In total, expenses for a kilometre for a bus would be about Rs 55," he added.

Ponnuraj said the BMTC has got a better deal compared to two other transport corporations. The BMTC has plans to introduce the buses on the Outer Ring Road routes where Vajra buses currently earn Rs 62 on an average or the airport route that collects slightly more.

As it struggles to operate the Volvo buses, whose costs touched Rs 70 per kilometre following skyrocketing diesel prices, outsourcing the electric buses seemed prudent.

The corporation will pay the power bill, which is cheaper than diesel, as the onus of running the service right from maintenance to charging infrastructure will be on the private company.

"Weve asked for 35-seater buses with facilities similar to the Volvo. The details will be finalised in the coming weeks," said a senior BMTC official.

Ponnuraj also said the remaining 110 buses will be deployed depending on assistance from the Centre. "Well decide on subsidising the remaining buses in the next few days," he said.

Plant in Bidar

Under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme, the Centre will give Rs 1 crore subsidy to BMTC, which will turn it over to Goldstone. The company has recently entered a joint venture with Chinas electric vehicles major BYD to set up a manufacturing plant in Bidar.

The exorbitant price tag on each vehicle was another major factor that nudged the BMTC towards outsourcing the service. "Buses fitting our requirements cost Rs 2.6 to Rs 2.8 crore," an official pointed out. "We cant afford such an investment."

DH News Service

With the Union Finance Minister Arun Jailtley ruling out the Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, TDP supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed two of his ministers to quit the Union Cabinet. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary will submit their resignations on Thursday morning.

However, the TDP will remain in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the time being pending a political decision by the party. The TDP also expects the two ministers in the AP cabinet belonging to the BJP to follow suit.

Even as Naidu refrained from making an announcement about quitting the NDA, during a vote of thanks motion in the Assembly on Wednesday, the press conference by Jaitley in New Delhi, saying mere sentiment cannot fetch funds, proved to be the last straw.

Naidu held a series of meetings with Cabinet ministers and with MPs in New Delhi.

Addressing the media late in the night at the AP interim secretariat, Naidu said Jaitleys press conference is ample proof that the Centre is decided about Andhra Pradeshs fate.

"Although I thought that it will be a courtesy to inform PM Narendra Modi, I could not contact him over phone, our officials informed our decision to the PMO," Naidu said.

A debilitating accident had left Virali Modi physically disabled for life in 2006. But even as she endured this with dignity, Viralis admirable resolve to live suffered a shattering blow: "I was molested three times by policemen in railway stations, in 2008, 2011 and 2013," recollects Virali, who later hit back with a nationwide campaign for safe ramps for wheel-chaired women.

Thanks to her untiring efforts, five cities in South India now have ramps for the disabled to climb without being inappropriately touched by another person. Last year, the Kerala and Tamil Nadu state governments responded by introducing ramps to help the physically challenged board trains.

Chennai, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur have adopted a model of portable ramps that help a person on a wheelchair to be pushed into a train. For wheelchaired women, this makes a huge difference. "While boarding the train, we will have to be lifted up and placed inside the train by an unfamiliar hand. The ramps help to be less dependent on others," Virali explains.

Railway stations in Bengaluru are yet to be equipped this way. But she wants to change that. "I am talking to the railway officials to get this facility to Bengaluru. I expect a result by the end of this year," she says. A prize-winner at the Miss Wheelchair contest, Virali had recovered remarkably from the 2006 accident. Her turnaround has been such an inspiration for many that Viralis motivational speeches across the country have huge fans.

On Wednesday, a day before Womens Day, Virali was at her inspiring best addressing Christ University students. She said, "Women are considered warriors only on Womens Day. But every day should be a day of courage."

One never stops learning while flying a fighter aircraft since every take-off and landing brings in a new experience, feels Indias first woman fighter pilot Avani Chaturvedi.

In a brief interview to DH on the eve of International Womens Day, Avani said her unit (21 Squadron) didnt distinguish between male and female combat pilots as both were allotted similar tasks and the same workload every week.

More than a fortnight ago, Avani created history as she became the first Indian woman to fly a fighter aircraft solo when she took off in a MiG-21 Bison at Jamnagar air base. The 30-minute sortie broke a glass ceiling.

Before Avani and two of her batchmates Bhawna Kanth and Mohana Singh became the IAFs first three women fighter pilots, at least one previous IAF Chief and a Vice Chief rejected the idea of women entering the male-dominated sphere of combat flying.

There were two arguments against the fairer sex. First, women were not strong enough to fly a mean machine and secondly, if they get married and became pregnant, the money invested on them for training (nearly Rs 15 crore) would not be recovered.

Policy change

In December 2015, the defence ministry changed its policy to allow women in combat flying on an experimental basis for five years. Within a year, the trio was selected.

While introducing a new A+ category in the retainer fee structure for its top players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has relegated former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and senior off-spinner R Ashwin from the top-paying category.

The BCCI on Wednesday released a new annual contracts for the 2017-18 season with a retainer structure now featuring four categories - Grade A+, Grade A, Grade B and Grade C - compared to three in the previous years.

The total annual salary for the contracted players thus comes to Rs 98 crore besides Rs 4.7 crore that will go towards payment of 19 women players spread over three categories. Including the amount to be paid towards domestic players across different categories, it is estimated that the BCCI will end up parting away approximately Rs 400 crore as players annual salary. The domestic match fee structure too witnesses a whopping hike of over 200% in each category.

The A+ category of the central contracts features only five players, including skipper Virat Kohli. Others in the Rs 7 crore bracket are Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, pacemen Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Dhoni and Ashwin have been included in the A category along with Ravindra Jadeja, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Wridhhiman Saha. These seven players would be eligible for a contract of Rs 5 crore each.

It has, however, been learnt that Dhoni was part of the committee that drafted the structure and he was party to him being bracketed in the A category.

While paceman Mohammed Shamis name has been withheld on allegations of domestic violence and adultery by his wife, veteran Yuvraj Singh and young Rishabh Pant have been omitted from the last list even as Suresh Raina makes a comeback.

The B category (Rs 3 crore) features K L Rahul, Umesh Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Karthik while Grade C (Rs 1 crore) will have Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Karun Nair, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Jayant Yadav.

The Congress today said that the TDPs decision to pull out of the NDA government at the Centre was "too little, too late" as it "has done nothing" to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh in the past four years.

This is too little and too late. The TDP has been an ally of the BJP for four years now and has done nothing to protect the interests of Andhra Pradesh," senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh and former union minister M M Pallam Raju said.

His remarks came soon after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu, in a late night press conference, announced that his partys two central ministers -- Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Science and Technology Y S Chowdary -- would resign from the government tomorrow.

Raju said the TDP has "abandoned" the interests of the state and that this is political posturing in view of the prevailing public mood.

Another Congress leader, when asked if the TDP pull-out of the NDA could create any potential of understanding with the Congress, said there was no such possibility.

For all these years the Congress has been struggling to secure what is rightfully the due of the state and the TDP has "sacrificed" the states interests and is now indulging in political posturing. "Pulling out ministers from the government means nothing," the party leader said.

Commenting on the development, CPI leader D Raja said, "This clearly shows cracks have appeared in NDA...It needs to be seen what Naidu does after this."

Political parties in Andhra Pradesh have been demanding special category status for the state after Telangana was carved out of it in 2014.

Naidus announcement came barely hours after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press conference in New Delhi this evening that funds equivalent to what a special category state receives would be extended to Andhra Pradesh, but drew a line saying politics cannot increase the quantum of money.

We have now come out of the NDA. Party-to-party (TDP-BJP ties) issue will be decided later, Naidu added, hinting that their alliance may continue in the future.

"When the intended purpose (of joining the Union Cabinet) has not been served, there is no point in continuing. For me the sole agenda is to safeguard the interests of the state, he said.

Veteran actor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said the shooting of the next instalment in the "Terminator" franchise will start in June.

The 70-year-old actor said he is looking forward to reprising his role of cyborg T-800 in the Tim Miller-directed film, which also sees Linda Hamilton return as Sarah Connor.

"We are starting to shoot Terminator 6 in June to the middle of October, so I am in that," Schwarzenegger told fan site TheArnoldFans.com.

"I am looking forward to coming back as the T-800 model. Its gonna be great with Tim Miller as the director and Jim Cameron is kind of supervising the whole thing," he added.

The movie, which will be produced by Cameron, is scheduled to be released on July 26 next year.

Fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahims aide Farooq Takla, wanted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was arrested here today by the CBI after he arrived from Dubai, the agencys spokesperson said.

Mustak Mohammad Miya alias Farooq Takla, was at the immigration office of the Indira Gandhi International Airport when a CBI team arrested him as an Interpol Red Corner notice had been issued against him.

He was arrested at the Delhi airport and will be produced before a designated court later today, the CBI spokesperson said.

According to the officials, in the know of developments, central intelligence agencies were working in securing arrests or deportations of close aides of Dawood, who has been designated by the US authorities as a global terrorist and faces sanctions in the United Nations.

Their faces and bodies may bear the ugly scars of acid attack, but their determination to overcome the stigma and have a dignified existence has not been dented.

Several women acid attack survivors tried to spread this message as they walked the ramp at a fashion show here yesterday to sensitise people to stop such crimes and launch a campaign against the illegal sale of acid.

Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor and a TV host who speaks for the rights of women who have gone through a similar ordeal, said her scars are a reminder of the narrow- minded approach of the society, but her grit and determination to live keeps motivating her every day.

"As an acid attack survivor, it was and it is a challenge to start everything from zero. Its difficult to concentrate on anything when a part of your body is still burning from inside," said Agarwal, who was a guest at the fashion show held at the Vivianna Mall on the eve of the Womens Day.

Nevertheless, she felt there was hope to create a safer society that gives equal opportunities to everyone.

"We are proud to be women and no one can rob us of that title, which stands for love and peace," she said.

A man had hurled acid on Agarwal in 2005 when she was 15 years old after she spurned his advances.

Later, she launched a campaign against acid attacks and to curb the illegal sale of acid.

Some of the other acid attack survivors also narrated the sufferings that they underwent, but all of them expressed their resolve to fight for justice and create a safer society for women.

An official of the mall said the objective of the event was to create awareness about the safety of women and create pathways for them towards success.

The mall was also open to creating job opportunities for the acid attack survivors, the official said.

Serena Williams is through taking baby steps on the comeback trail after the birth of her daughter Alexis Olympia in September.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles winner is ramping up her return this week by playing in Indian Wells, her first WTA Tour event since she won the 2017 Australian Open.

After a couple of exhibitions and a Davis Cup doubles match, Williams is eager to hit with the big guns as she opens her campaign on Thursday night against Zarina Diyas.

"Im ready to just jump in and get started and see what happens," the 36-year-old American told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. "Obviously Im going to have a few hiccups, I would imagine, and Im ready for that."

Earlier this week she played one tiebreaker in an exhibition tournament in New York. In February she played a doubles rubber for the US Fed Cup team and took part in another exhibition in Abu Dhabi in late December.

Indian Wells features a star-studded womens field in a tournament that looks wide open.

Many of the players on Wednesday said they welcomed Serenas return.

"We are all going to look to see how she is playing," said reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza.

"She is one of the best players so it is good that she is back, especially after being a mom. It is great."

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko said Serenas contribution to womens tennis cannot be overstated.

"She is an amazing athlete," said sixth seed Latvian Ostapenko. "She is a very special and what she has done for womens tennis is huge."

But Czech fifth seed Karolina Pliskova said it is going to take more than one WTA event for Serena to get back in championship form.

"Obviously it is tough to get back even for a champion like her," Pliskova said Wednesday. "I dont have that experience with having a baby, but I think it changes the body and the mindset a lot.

"We will see in the first round. For sure she is going to be a little bit nervous. I dont know what kind of shape she is in and if she was practising or not practising.

"She can play good tennis again but I dont know if it is going to be at this tournament maybe it will take her a while."

The first clues to Williams form will be displayed in Thursdays night game against Diyas, Serenas first match in Indian Wells will be Thursday night against Diyas, the 24-year-old world number 53 from Kazakhstan.

Serena boycotted this event, with her sister Venus, for 14 years after she was booed in 2001 final. She returned in 2015 bu to pull out before her semi-final against Simona Halep with a knee problem.

Times have changed for the most successful female player of the Open era. If you asked her 10 years ago if she envisioned herself playing after the age of 30, Serena would have replied no.

But that was before she started collecting Grand Slam titles like others collect antique furniture or vinyl records.

"Theres nobodys rule that says you have to retire at 30," she told The Wall Street Journal.

"All the best players in the world now are well into their 30s, so you know, technology is better at enabling athletes to play a longer life."

BJPs two ministers in the Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers state cabinet have resigned this morning while TDP ministers yet to resign from the union cabinet.

Yesterday,with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jailtley ruling out the Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, TDP supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed two of his ministers to quit the Union Cabinet. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary will submit their resignations on Thursday morning.

However, the TDP will remain in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the time being pending a political decision by the party. The TDP also expects the two ministers in the AP cabinet belonging to the BJP to follow suit.

Even as Naidu refrained from making an announcement about quitting the NDA, during a vote of thanks motion in the Assembly on Wednesday, the press conference by Jaitley in New Delhi, saying mere sentiment cannot fetch funds, proved to be the last straw.

Naidu held a series of meetings with Cabinet ministers and with MPs in New Delhi.

Addressing the media late in the night at the AP interim secretariat, Naidu said Jaitleys press conference is ample proof that the Centre is decided about Andhra Pradeshs fate.

"Although I thought that it will be a courtesy to inform PM Narendra Modi, I could not contact him over phone, our officials informed our decision to the PMO," Naidu said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said several women had left an "indelible mark in the history of mankind" through their "exemplary deeds" and paid tribute to the late Kunwar Bai, the mascot of his flagship Clean India mission.

In a series of posts on Twitter, the prime minister also urged people to write about women who had inspired them and use the hashtag #SheInspiresMe.

Through their exemplary deeds, several women have left an indelible mark in the history of humankind. They continue to inspire generations. I urge you to write about some women who inspire you. #SheInspiresMe, Modi tweeted on International Womens Day.

Lauding Kunwar Bai, who passed away at the age of 106 earlier this year, the prime minister said she sold her goats, reportedly her only asset, to build two toilets at her home in Chhattisgarhs Kotabharri village.

Her contribution towards a Swachh Bharat (Clean India) cannot be forgotten, he said and added that he was deeply inspired by her noble gesture.

I will always cherish the time when I had the opportunity to seek Kunwar Bais blessings during one of my visits to Chhattisgarh. Kunwar Bai lives on in the hearts and minds of all those who are passionate towards fulfilling Bapus dream of a clean India. #SheInspiresMe, Modi added.

The prime minister also shared photographs and a video clip of him felicitating Kunwar Bai during a programme in the state two years ago.

With Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruling out the Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, TDP supremo and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has directed two of his ministers to quit the Union Cabinet.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister for Science and Technology Sujana Chowdary will submit their resignations on Thursday morning.

However, the TDP will remain in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the time being pending a political decision by the party.

The TDP also expects the two ministers in the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet belonging to the BJP to follow suit.

Even as Naidu refrained from making an announcement about quitting the NDA, during a vote of thanks motion in the Assembly on Wednesday, the press conference by Jaitley in New Delhi, saying mere sentiment cannot fetch funds, proved to be the last straw.

Naidu held a series of meetings with Cabinet ministers and with MPs in New Delhi.

Addressing the media late in the night at the Andhra Pradesh interim secretariat, Naidu said Jaitleys press conference is ample proof that the Centre is decided about Andhra Pradeshs fate.

"Although I thought that it will be a courtesy to inform PM Narendra Modi, I could not contact him over phone, our officials informed our decision to the PMO," Naidu said.

A 17-year-old girl has been killed in a shooting at dismissal time today at an Alabama high school and another 17-year-old male student has been injured, authorities said.

Birmingham Interim Police Chief Orlando Wilson said at a news conference that authorities are seeking to determine whether the shooting shortly before 3:30 p.m at Huffman High School was accidental or if a gun since recovered by investigators was intentionally discharged.

School officials said the shooting prompted a brief lockdown at the school in Alabamas largest city but that students were released and authorities have determined that the shooting did not come from "someone from the outside came into the school."

He declined to say who fired the gun or to identify what type of firearm it was.

A police official, Sgt. Bryan Shelton, had told local media earlier that it appeared to be an "accidental shooting."

But Wilson said the circumstances were under investigation and authorities were seeking any witnesses or surveillance video to determine what had happened.

"Right now we have a lot of unanswered questions," Wilson told reporters. "This should not happen in schools." He added, "We are asking questions from the staff, the students, anyone who was in that area."

The Birmingham City School system said in a statement that the shooting prompted a brief lockdown.

"Two students were involved in a shooting during dismissal," the school system statement said. "The school was placed on brief lockdown and police were called." It added that police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the deceased student would have turned 18 in about 30 days and was a senior "who had aspirations and dreams to be a nurse." "We are not just talking about some person, talking about losing a part of our future. Our hearts are heavy. I think its really important we find a way to mourn with this family," Woodfin said at the news conference.

Twenty-five years after serial blasts rocked Mumbai, an accused, who was a close aide of chief conspirator and terror kingpin Dawood Ibrahim, has been nabbed by Indian security agencies.

The accused has been identified as Farooq Takla.

Takla (57) would be produced before a special court set up under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) court.

On March 12 , 1993, a series of blasts rocsked Mumbai. More than 250 people were killed, 713 injured and property to the tune of Rs 26 crore was damaged.

According to an Interpol notice, Taklas birth name is Yasin Mansoor Mohamed Farooq. He was born on February 17 , 1961, in Mumbai.

Takla faces charges of criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means and several others.

The Chinese dragon and Indian elephant must not fight but dance with each other, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi today as he called on the two nations to shed mental inhibitions, manage differences and meet each other halfway to enhance bilateral ties.

Wangs remarks came during his annual press conference on the sidelines of the parliamentary session.

Asked how China views relations with India this year after turbulence in ties in 2017 due to a number of issues including the Dokalam standoff, Wang said, "Despite some tests and difficulties, the China-India relationship continues to grow".

Bilateral ties were affected by a number of issues last year, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China blocking efforts at the UN to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist as well as Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam. The standoff ended on August 28 after the Chinese military stopped road building close to the strategic Chicken Neck corridor in an area claimed by Bhutan.

Wang, however, said the two countries must shed mental inhibitions, manage differences and meet each other halfway.

"China is upholding its rights and legitimate interests and taking care to preserve the relationship with India," he said.

"Chinese and Indian leaders have developed a strategic vision for the future of our relations. The Chinese dragon and Indian elephant must not fight each other but dance with each other," he said.

"If China and India are united, one plus one will become eleven instead of two," he said.

Speaking for the first time on bilateral ties this year, Wang said the international situation is experiencing its biggest change in a century and China and India must do everything to emphasise this and support each other and avoid mutual suspicion and attrition.

He said mutual trust is the most precious commodity in the China-India relations.

"With political trust, not even the Himalayas can stop us from friendly exchanges," he said.

"A shared understanding far outstrip our differences. Our common interests far outweigh our frictions. China is willing and ready to inherit and take forward our traditional friendship and be a friend and partner of Indian people.

"I hope the two sides will be free from mental inhibitions and meet each other halfway. Let us replace suspicion with trust, manage differences with dialogue and build a future with cooperation," he said.

Wang reacted strongly to a question whether the Indo-Pacific strategy being furthered by India, the US, Japan and Australia will affect Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

He said there was "no shortage of headline-grabbing ideas" but they were "like the foam on the sea" that "gets attention but will soon dissipate".

Contrary to claims made by some academics and media outlets that the strategy is aimed at containing China, the four countries have made it clear that it targets no one, Wang said.

"I hope they mean what they say," he said.

"Let us not forget the BRI has received the support of over 100 countries. Nowadays stroking a new Cold War is out of sync with the times and inciting confrontation will find no market," he said.

Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinpings ambitious project, the BRI focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe.

The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which India opposed as it goes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

A daytime curfew was relaxed on Thursday in the troubled Sri Lankan district of Kandy where three people were killed in anti-Muslim riots, but schools remained closed as beefed-up security forces patrolled the streets.

More than 200 homes, businesses and vehicles were set ablaze during three days of violence sparked by the death of a man from the mainly Buddhist Sinhalese majority at the hands of a Muslim mob last week.

The unrest began in the central district on Monday and escalated the following day when a Muslim man was found dead in a burned building.

A 24-hour curfew was imposed on Wednesday afternoon after a hand grenade exploded in the hands of an attacker, killing him and wounding 11 others, officials said.

But following a calm night, authorities decided to ease the curfew six hours earlier than planned, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said.

The Kandy region, 115 km (72 miles) east of the capital Colombo, is popular with tourists as well as Buddhist pilgrims.

Holidaymakers have been urged to avoid the hill resort but no foreigners have been reported involved in the unrest.

The government responded to the riots by ordering a nationwide state of emergency, giving security forces and police special powers to arrest and detain suspects.

Internet access was restricted in Kandy and social media websites blocked in a bid to prevent the spread of anti-Muslim hate speech.

President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday toured Kandy, where rioters had defied curfews and clashed with police who used tear gas to disperse them.

"I have ordered that the full force of the law be used against troublemakers," he said.

Military officials said more reinforcements were sent to the area on Wednesday night to assist police.

The United Nations has condemned the violence and urged Colombo "to ensure that appropriate measures are swiftly taken to restore normalcy in affected areas".

Sinhalese Buddhists are the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up 75% of its 21 million people. Muslims make up 10% of the population.

Parliament on Tuesday issued an apology to the Muslim minority for the latest violence targeting them in the Indian Ocean island.

Mobs also set fire to Muslim-owned businesses and attacked a mosque in the east of the country last week.

Last November, riots in the south of the island left one man dead and homes and vehicles damaged.

In June 2014 riots between Buddhists and Muslims left four dead.

Roger Federer, who regained the world Number One ranking last month, is on a quest to make history in the California desert by winning an unprecedented sixth Indian Wells title.

The 36-year-old Swiss marvel continues to defy the ageing process, claiming his 20th Grand Slam title and sixth Australian Open crown in January.

He has enjoyed a perfect start to 2018 by winning both events he has competed in and taking his career singles title tally to 97.

"He shows there is no limit," said third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday.

"He keeps on proving it every year on the tour."

Federer opens the defence of his Indian Wells title by playing a second-round match against either American Ryan Harrison or Federico Delbonis of Argentina.

He also won this tournament three straight years beginning in 2004, and in 2012 as well as last year.

Federer comes into the elite event as the oldest ATP Number One in history. In the Open era, only American Jimmy Connors has won more titles than Federer, with 109.

Federer has played two tournaments this year and won both -- the other being the Rotterdam Open.

"For me to stand right here as world Number One in San Jose is very, very special for me," Federer said at a charity event in San Jose, California on Monday.

Federer is not alone in his hunt for a sixth Indian Wells crown when the mens draw kicks off today.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, who is making his first return to the Tour since the Australian Open, is also a five-time Indian Wells champion and would like nothing more than to announce his return from an elbow injury by going all the way.

Both players are in opposite halves of the draw so they would not meet each other until the final.

Djokovic won Indian Wells in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Djokovic, who is seeded 10th, has a bye and will face the winner of the first-round match between two qualifiers in his opener.

He is in the same half of the draw as Argentinas Juan Martin del Potro, who is fresh off a win in the Mexican Open in Acapulco last weekend.

Del Potro, who made the Indian Wells final in 2013, said Wednesday he is healthier than he has been in years and full of confidence from his Mexico success.

Del Potro defeated the hard-serving Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4 in the final to claim his first title of 2018 and post his seventh-straight career victory over Anderson.

The 29-year-old del Potro recorded his 21st career ATP title but this is one of his biggest in years and the earliest he has hoisted a trophy since the 2014 season.

"I had a lot of tough opponents during Acapulco," said del Potro. "I got a lot of confidence."

His tough draw in Acapulco should serve him well this week.

If del Potro gets through his opening second-round match as expected, he will likely face Spaniard David Ferrer, whom he also had to beat in Acapulco. Besides Djokovic, that quarter of the draw includes Japans Kei Nishikori, second-seeded Marin Cilic and American favourite John Isner.