QUIRKY WORLD... Minister’s UFO posting sparks fury

INDIA: With many worrying about the threat of tough measures in the new government’s first budget next week, a Facebook post suggesting the finance minister might be pondering less earthly matters quickly roused anger.

Arun Jaitley, a key confidante of Narendra Modi, the prime minister, published a message celebrating “World UFO Day” on his page, which is one of the main forums in which he publishes official information.

“This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the existence of UFO’s and with that intelligent beings from outer space,” said the Facebook post, which was followed by Jaitley’s name and included a depiction of a flying saucer in a wheat field.