A man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for knowingly exposing a sexual partner to the virus that causes AIDS. David Lee Mangum, 39, was sentenced Tuesday, the Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic reported. 

Secretary of State John Kerry bluntly challenged critics of the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran on today, calling it "fantasy, plain and simple," to think the United States failed to hold out for a better deal at the bargaining table. 

The government has accepted the resignations of filmmaker Jahnu Barua, cinematographer Santosh Sivan and actor Pallavi Joshi as members of the FTII Society.

The trio had quit earlier this month expressing their reservations on being part of the FTII Society in the wake of students' protests over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the president of the Society and chairman of its governing council.

"The information and broadcasting ministry has accepted the resignations of the three members," a senior official told PTI. The ministry had on June 9 reconstituted the FTII society for a period of three years.

However, protests in the institute began after many among its students and alumni questioning the appointment of Chauhan as its head saying that the institute should be headed by someone who has stature and vision.

The Gujarat government today upgraded the security of former judge Jyotsna Yagnik, who presided over Naroda-Patiya riot case trial, from 'Y' to 'Z' category.

Yesterday, Yagnik had complained that the government was not heeding to her demand for increased security. "Yes, we have upgraded her security to Z level," Director General of Police (CID-intelligence) Pramod Kumar told PTI.

The order was received only today, he added. Yagnik had alleged yesterday that the government had "turned deaf ear" to her request for enhanced security. "As it is said in court, 'status quo'...so there is a status quo (in my case)," said the former sessions judge, who had recently received threat calls and letters.

Yagnik, as the special court judge in August 2012, had convicted 31 persons in the Naroda-Patiya case, which relates to the killing of 97 members of minority community in Naroda-Patiya area here during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Those convicted include former Gujarat minister and BJP leader Mayaben Kodnani and VHP leader Babu Bajrangi.

According to home department officials, Yagnik has been receiving threat calls and letters for a long time and had repeatedly requested the state government to upgrade her security to 'Z' level.

The Central Bureau of Investigation today registered an FIR against the then controller of examination, Vyapam, besides 37 others in connection with alleged illegalities committed in the Madhya Pradesh Junior Food Supplies Officer and Inspector, Weights and Measurements recruitment examination, 2012.

The CBI said the FIR was registered against Pankaj Trivedi, the then controller of examinations, Vyapam, suspected to be one of the masterminds of the scam, and Nitin Mohindra, the then system analyst, besides 36 others.

The agency also registered two more preliminary inquiries in connection with the deaths of two individuals allegedly linked with the admission and appointment scam in Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board also known as Vyapam. The first PE is regarding 30-year old Ramendra Singh whose body was found hanging at his home in Gwalior in January, 2015.

Singh who was a suspected beneficiary and allegedly a proxy appearing for other candidates, according to the state police which probed the death. The police had claimed that he had committed suicide because of his failed relationship with a colleague.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad today parried questions whether he was the senior Congress leader who was claimed to have "pressed hard" External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for diplomatic passport to coal scam accused and former Minister Santosh Bagrodia.

"Has she said it?....Why should I say?" Azad told journalists at the AICC briefing when specifically asked whether he was the Congress leader Swaraj had referred to.

Besides, he said Bagrodia had himself clarified that he had sought extension of his diplomatic passport, which was to expire in six months, as he had to take his wife for medical treatment to the US.

"How can you compare this with the Lalit Modi issue and the Vyapam scam? Vyapam is the biggest scam in the world.... It shows pettiness," Azad said, adding Swaraj did not act in the case of Bagrodia but went out of the way to help former IPL boss Lalit Modi who was wanted by the Enforcement Directorate.

Azad also he said Bagrodia had insisted that no case was pending against him when he approached Swaraj with the request.

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani today met the St Stephen's College molestation victim and later asked Delhi University to ensure that the girl gets her stipend and unrestricted access to the lab, and that her research supervisor is immediately changed.

The research scholar of St Stephen's College, who has accused a college professor of molesting her, met the minister, along with the CPI-M Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, during which the minister assured her of justice.

Following the meeting, the minister issued directives to the Delhi University, to aid and support the girl. "The minister has already intervened in the issue and has conveyed to the university that till the time the ICC completes its probe, it should ensure that the girl gets her stipend and has unrestricted access to the laboratory and that her research supervisor is immediately changed," Karat told PTI.

"We took up the case with her and she said that she will categorically uphold the law against sexual harassment and will definitely take action to bring relief to the girl," she said.

The victim had approached police last month, alleging that she was molested by Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's chemistry department. She had also accused college principal Valson Thampu of "shielding" the teacher when the matter was reported to him. She had also made public a set of recordings which she claimed to have made during her meetings with the principal over the issue.

Just in: In its latest diktat, the home ministry has barred the media from meeting officials other than spokesperson.

Details awaited.

Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei said that it is buying the Financial Times from UK publishing group Pearson PLC for $1.29 billion. Pearson earlier Thursday had confirmed it was in advanced talks on the possible sale of the London-based FT Group, which includes the Financial Times newspaper, but the potential buyer was not disclosed. Nikkei announced the agreement in an e-mail to subscribers.

One more Delhi police constable filed a criminal defamation case in a court against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his 'thulla' remark, a slang to refer to policemen. The complaint was filed by a constable, posted at Lajpat Nagar police station, who claimed that he was very much mentally disturbed and felt very insulted and defamed by Kejriwal's remark. 

External Affairs ministry on the Lalit Modi issue: Revoked passport of Lalit Modi against whom complaint under Sec16 (3) of FEMA Act, 1999 was filed by ED was restored on direction of the Delhi HC in Aug 2014, says EAM Sushma Swaraj's written reply in Rajya Sabha on Lalit-gate.

Why Shashi Tharoor is right on Britain's colonial debt to India, but he made two minor errors. Read Minhaz Merchant's column

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on the PM's praise for him: I am very touched and grateful, is se zyaada kya bolun? He was kind enough to say this, bade dil se baat kii."



Cong's Ghulam Nabi Azad: "How does that matter? PM praised us too in J&K. We don't have a personal fight with the PM. If a BJP leader does good work tomorrow even we will praise them."


What PM Modi said while addressing Parliamentarians: "Shashi-ji is an orator who says the right thing at the right place... sometimes, such things become a turning point.

"At a debate at Oxford University, Mr Tharoor said that Britain owes reparations to former colonies - "Britain's rise for 200 years was financed by its depredations in India," he said. That sentiment is "in the heart of every Indian," said the PM today in an address to parliamentarians.


"What our Shashi-ji said at the Oxford debate reflects expressiveness of an Indian citizen. It reflects the power of expressiveness of what we feel, it shows what we leave at the right place."

PM Modi at the 'Speaker Research Initiative' programme at the Parliament House Annexe with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and union minister Venkiah Naidu.   

"The cooperation of Yakub with the investigating agencies after he was picked up informally in Kathmandu and his role in persuading some other members of the family to come out of Pakistan and surrender Constitute, in my view, a strong mitigating circumstance to be taken into consideration while considering whether the death penalty should be implemented," B Raman had written in August 2007. With possibly days left for Yakub Memon's hanging, Rediff.com secured permission from Mr Raman's brother to publish the article. Read it here

National carrier Air India is under "tremendous" financial stress and needs to ensure that its team works in a more "cohesive" manner, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said today.


"Financially, if you look at Air India, it is under tremendous stress. Historically, it has got a legacy and we need to outgrow it," he said.


Air India, which is in the red, has a debt burden of around Rs 40,000 crore and is surviving on a bailout package approved in 2012. Noting that are plus and minus points, Raju said, "in certain ways, it has to still pull up its socks".


"I, for one, wish them well. We would wish and are trying to make their team more cohesive because ultimately it is the team that delivers. Unfortunately for us...Indians are excellent in thought and very difficult to work as a team," the minister said at an event.

The Delhi High Court extends former Congress leader Sushil Kumar Sharma's parole for four weeks. Sharma is serving life term for killing his wife Naina Sahni in 1995, in what is know as the tandoor murder.

Ajay Mathur, who is director general bureau of energy efficiency, replaces RK Pachauri as TERI Chief.

Teri's internal probe has found Pachauri guilty of misuse of authority.

Just in: RK Pachauri sacked as TERI chief, just two days after he was reinstated.


Pachauri, accused of sexual harassment by an employee working under him in Teri, took back charge as director-general of the environmental NGO two days ago, even as the police investigation in the matter continue and cases are being tried in the court.

Pachauri took over active role as the head of the institution after he secured an order from a local court permitting him to physically attend all offices of Teri except two the head office and the one in Gurgaon. He had previously secured another order from the industrial tribunal staying the implementation of the Internal Complaints Committee, which had found him guilty of misconduct and misuse of his authority.

Just in: Many feared dead after tourist bus with 60 people on board falls into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh.

Asking protesting FTII students to resume classes and not block academic activities, the government today said it is willing to continue discussions with them to end the stalemate.


"I think it is in the interest of the students that if they have a viewpoint, which they have, they must not block the classes for it. They must allow the classes to go on. And a group of students is always welcome to continue discussions with us," Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said.


He said that the ministry's priority is to resolve the ongoing agitation at FTII, where students have boycotted classes protesting the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the institute's governing council.


"They are students and our intention is to strengthen the FTII, administratively, academically, infrastructurally," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event organised by Prasar Bharati on the occassion of Indian Broadcasting Day.

"The standing ovation in Cannes was a rare moment where I felt patriotic. I realised that the audience was not clapping for an individual but for the team that came from India with such a beautiful film." Masaan's leading man Vicky Kaushal takes us through its making. Read more

British publisher Pearson has decided to sell the Financial Times to a global, digital news company after owning the newspaper for nearly 60 years, a person familiar with the deal said on Thursday.



Pearson later confirmed that it was in advanced discussions regarding a potential disposal of the title but declined to provide further details, says Reuters.


Pearson, which has become the world's leader in educational publishing, believes the time is right to focus fully on its education strategy and no longer on the media sector, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.


Previous reports from other news organisations have suggested the title could fetch around 1 billion pounds, however analysts believe that is optimistic.


Reports have suggested potential buyers include Bloomberg, German newspaper publisher Axel Springer (SPRGn.DE) and Thomson Reuters

PM Modi addresses MPs in the Lok Sabha as part of the 'Speaker Research Initiative' programme at the Parliament House Annexe.  The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day, and every session since the monsoon session of Parliament session began on Tuesday has been a washout.


PM Modi says that the right words at the right occasion create an impact and acknowledging Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's much-touted Oxford debate, says the speech has gone viral.


Much-needed balm for a wounded Tharoor after the sharp rebuke he received from Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who pulled up the former Union minister over the leak of his views against party's stalling tactics in Parliament in the media.

"Gandhi, who generally does not get angry, literally blasted Tharoor," sources said,  adding that the party chief was in no mood to listen to any explanation from him.

You always do this, it's become a habit with you," an angry Sonia Gandhi reportedly said to Tharoor. 

Her anger was directed at him over the fact that his opposition to disruption tactics at a strategy meeting made its way to the media.

Last look at Kolkata's Victoria Memorial before major makeover. Here you go

Former Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar granted bail by Delhi court in fake degree case.


Tomar had sought bail on the ground that as the probe in the matter was over, he could not be kept in jail. "Investigation is complete. I cannot be kept in jail. I am a Delhi resident and I will not run away from here," senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, who was appearing for Tomar, said last week.


Delhi Police, opposed the bail plea, with Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava contending that he might tamper with the evidence in the case if released.


"It is a serious case and is at a crucial stage of investigation. He might tamper with evidence if he is granted bail," Shrivastava said.


The court had on July 6 extended by 14 days the judicial custody of Tomar after Delhi Police informed it that the probe in the case was in progress.


The court had also allowed the police to take specimen signature of Tomar in the presence of a magistrate so as to match the samples with the new documents recovered from different universities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

BJP Ravishankar Prasad says, "Suna hai woh (Sonia Gandhi) apne saansad ko bahut kass kay daanti hai jo uncalled for agitation par sawaal uthaate hain. I have heard that she has roundly scolded her MP who questioned the uncalled agitation of the party in the Parliament." 


This refers to reports yesterday about how Congress president Sonia Gandhi pulled up former Union minister Shashi Tharoor over the leak of his views against partys stalling tactics in Parliament in the media.

Gandhi, who generally does not get angry, literally blasted Tharoor, sources said,  adding that the party chief was in no mood to listen to any explanation from him.

You always do this, its become a habit with you, an angry Sonia Gandhi reportedly said to Tharoor. 

Her anger was directed at him over the fact that his opposition to disruption tactics at a strategy meeting made its way to the media.

The Supreme Court modifies its July 7, 2014 order and allows state governments (with certain conditions) to exercise power of remission to release life convicts.


The SC says that cases in which life term has been considered without specifying that convict has to serve for life will not be released under remission. Remission cannot be considered in cases where it is clearly stated that a life convict has to serve in jail for a specified period.  


This order will apply where no application for commutation is preferred or considered suo motu by a state govt.


Remission can be exercised  where investigation was not conducted by any central probe agency like CBI. Power of remission can be exercised where life sentence is under IPC and not for the offences of rape and murder.


The SC makes it clear that this order will not apply to Rajiv Gandhi assassination case which is being heard at present.

A day after JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ruffled feathers with his 'snake-sandalwood' remark in the poll-bound state, Congress today said leaders of the secular alliance should avoid making statements that hurt sentiments of any of its partner.


"Rahiman dhaaga prem ka, mat toro chatkaay, toote to phir na jure, jure gaanth par jaay (The thin thread of love should not be broken as even if it is rejoined later, there will be knot)," Bihar Congress President Ashok Choudhary said using a popular couplet of legendary poet Rahim.


"Alliance is a sensitive issue hence everybody shall be cautious that any of his/her statement do not hurt ego of partner parties leaders," Choudhary told PTI while reacting on the controversy triggered by Kumar likening himself to "chandan" (sandalwood), which remains unaffected despite "snakes" wrapping themselves around it.


"The fight (Bihar poll) is a bigger one. Such things create confusion among workers of partner parties at the grassroot level," he said. The chief minister's remark in response to a question had yesterday created a flutter in Bihar as it was seen directed against his ally RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

Swati Maliwal, whose appointment as DCW Chief by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was struck down by the Lieutenant Governor, today claimed that her office had been locked down but hours later it was found open though her name plate was removed.


Maliwal, whose appointment triggered a fresh confrontation between LG Najeeb Jung and the AAP government, also claimed that all files had been taken away from her office.


"Why my office has been locked and why my name plate and that of other members removed from the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) office... I will work for the cause of women and will make DCW the strongest in the world," the 30-year-old activist said this morning.


Later, her office at Vikas Sadan in ITO locality was found open but her name plate was removed.


When asked about the office being open contrary to her claims, she said her staff had gone to the office in the morning and found it locked.


"It could have been opened later may be due to media pressure or any other reason. But it was locked in the morning. Since we were told we cannot sign any files, in a way the Commission closed down," she told PTI. Asked why she had not gone to the DCW office, "I am not a DCW poster girl who will only work if she gets the top post, I will continue to work the way I have been working."

There seems to be a winner in the fresh battle between Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Delhi government.


AAP deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has announced that he will send the file of DCW chief Swati Maliwal to the LG for approval.

Jung has cancelled the appointment of Maliwal, the wife of an AAP leader, as the new chief of the Delhi Commission for Women.


His office has said that the appointment of Maliwal is "in breach of rules and procedures" and "had no legal sanctity".


Jung also said that the "constitutionally valid and consistent definition of 'Government' is the Lieutenant Governor."

Leaders of Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) met Home Minister Rajnath Singh today in the middle of an ugly confrontation with the Delhi Police and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

Chris Pratt starrer "Jurassic World" has become the third highest grossing movie at the worldwide box-office of all time following "The Avengers" and 1997 epic "Titanic".


"Jurassic World" has garnered USD 1.522 billion at the global box office and is expected to add more income before it leaves theaters. The movie comes right after James Cameron's monstrous hit, "Titanic", which became the second highest grossing movie with USD 2.186 billion. Meanwhile, "Avatar" is still the highest grossing movie of all time with USD 2.788 billion.

A mother has refused to apologise for putting her son who has Down's syndrome into a washing machine.

Courtney Stewart, 21, posted the photograph on Facebook showing an adult's hand holding the washing machine door shut with the toddler inside. Stewart said that the boy "loves the washing machine and we took a picture and it was a laugh."

She said that the boy, who is just two, and is small for his age, climbed into the machine of his own accord, and criticised those who reported her to police, calling it "absolutely ridiculous'.

"He is clearly laughing in the pictures. So I don't understand why somebody took that picture as -- well, I don't know what they took it as."What did they think I was doing to him? Taking him for a spin?


"He's got a bit of a washing obsession. Anyone who knows him would know he's got a washing obsession.


"I don't know who reported it. I don't really know why they would do that. I think it's absolutely ridiculous."


Stewart took down the photo from Facebook after she was reported to the police.


However, neighbours reported the incident to the police as they were concerned about the child's safety.  -- The Telegraph


The picture Courtney Stewart posted on Facebook.

Why is Gajendra Chauhan still chairman of FTII? Girish Shahane writes that the BJP doesn't care if its appointees are perceived as C-listers for it repudiates the very system that assigned these individuals that position.
Read

Expressing disappointment with the one-year rule of the Narendra Modi government, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today voiced concern over ground realities remaining unchanged despite BJP securing the mandate on the plank of "Acche Din" (the good days).


Significantly, the long-time NDA ally has turned a critical lens to BJP's work at an hour when the Centre was under attack from the opposition both within and outside the Parliament over a host of issues.


"Even 50 years are not enough to clean up the mess created by the previous (UPA) government. But a lot has to be done in the next five years to fulfil the aspirations of people. You (the BJP) had promised 'Acche Din' to people and thus cannot cheat them now," Thackeray said in an interview in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.


He said that even though governments have changed at the Centre and in Maharashtra, nothing much has changed on "ground". "Every morning when we open a newspaper, we read the same news that once bored us... The thought which comes to our mind is that we used to read the same news before. Be it farmers' suicide, protests of the unemployed people, crimes against women," he said.


Asked to comment on Pakistani flags being raised in Kashmir, Thackeray said, "Haven't seen it happen in a long time." In his reply to another query, Thackeray questioned the change the BJP has brought about after allying with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.

At least two soldiers were  injured in a gunfight with infiltrating militants near the  Line of Control in Tangdhar sector of Kashmir, Army officials said.


"Two jawans have sustained minor injuries in the ongoing operation in Karnah so far.The exchange of fire with the terrorists was going on till reports last came in," the officials said.


The Army had last evening launched a counter-infiltration  operation near the LoC after noticing suspicious movement. "There was a brief exchange of fire last night which  resumed this morning," the officials said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on the Parliament logjam: "What stand? Congress has not kept a stand yet for it to be telecast. If rules have been made, they should be followed. Saying "they did it in the past, so we will do it" doesn't make sense. But I believe Parliament will be fruitful; I am sure. Everyone is mature and smart, I am sure a consensus will be reached."


The deadlock in Parliament is likely to continue with Congress today rallying other opposition parties on "no resignation, no discussion" strategy over Lalit Modi and Vyapam controversies.


Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge today met NCP's Tariq Anwar, JMM's Vijay Hansdak and AAP's Bhagwant Mann just ahead of the House assembling for the day.


Parliament has witnessed a washout since the Monsoon session began on July 21 with Congress-led opposition aggressively pressing for ouster of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, as also Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, rejecting the government's offer for a debate.


In the meeting today, it was decided to press ahead with the strategy. Soon afterwards, Question Hour in the Lok Sabha was washed out for the second consecutive day as opposition continued its protest over Lalit Modi controversy.

Chetan Bhagat's new book Making India Awesome will release on Independence Day. 

PM Modi offers floral tributes to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his birth anniversary at Parliament House. With the PM are Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and Parliamentary Affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu.

A BJP member's remarks against Robert Vadra intensifies opposition protest and leads to adjournment of Lok Sabha for the day.


On Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra attacked the BJP as disruptions over the Lalit Modi controversy forced adjournments in Parliament.


"Parliament begins and so do their petty diversion political tactics... People of India are not fooled. Regret to see India Led by such so called leaders !!" Vadra posted on Facebook.

The rejection by the Supreme Court of a curative petition by Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, the only one sentenced to death for involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, marks the exhaustion of his last judicial remedy.


However, hanging him will be cruel and inhuman, for more than one reason. With the masterminds Dawood Ibrahim and 'Tiger' Memon, Yakub's brother, remaining out of the reach of the Indian authorities, it will only give the impression that the lone man available among the many brains behind the ghastly act of terrorism is being singled out. Read more

The radical nature of judicial intervention along with the sweeping nature of orders against governments gives rise to the irresistible inference that public interest litigation was the Supreme Court's way of atonement for its genuflection before government during the Emergency. Read more

@bhogleharsha No surprise at all in Indian team for Sri Lanka. That is a good sign.

In the Lok Sabha: Government rebuts Rahul's attack on PM. Says, "Let Rahul answer for Congress scams." LS adjourned for the day.


Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm.

1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, who was sentenced to death on Tuesday for his involvement in the blasts that killed 257 people, has now approached the Supreme Court to stop his execution.


Memon's contention is that a death warrant by the trial court which sentenced him is illegal. Yakub's lawyer told the Supreme Court, that the warrant issued by a trial court did not follow procedures and guidelines.


Citing another case, the lawyer said that in that instance, the Supreme Court had said that such warrants cannot be issued unless the convict has exhausted all legal options.


Yakub's petition now says he was given the death sentence by the trial court even before he could exhaust his last legal remedy - a curative petition. The Supreme Court had rejected the petition on Tuesday.

Indian-American Bobby Jindal's presidential campaign seems to be gaining ground in the crucial primary state of Iowa, as a latest internal survey has put the Louisiana Governor to fourth place among 16 Republican aspirants.


Jindal (44) draws eight per cent support from likely GOP caucus-goers in Iowa, according to a survey conducted this week by his campaign, the Politico reported.


However, he still trails Scott Walker, who has a commanding lead with 23 per cent support in the poll, as well as Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, who polled at 13 and 9 per cent, respectively, it said, referring to the internal survey.


Ever since announcing his presidential campaign about a month ago, Jindal has spent a significant amount of time campaigning in Iowa; which would hold first of the major primaries in February.

Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray today took a dig at its ally and said that ground realities have remained unchanged despite BJP coming to power at the Centre, promising 'Acche Din'.


"Even 50 years are not enough to clean up the mess created by the erstwhile government. But a lot has to be done in the next five years to fulfill the aspirations of people. You (the BJP) had promised 'Acche Din' to people and thus cannot cheat them now," Thackeray said in an interview in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.


To a question, Thackeray said that even though the governments have changed at the Centre and in the state, nothing much has changed on "ground".

The All-India Senior Selection Committee met earlier today, to pick the Indian team for the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.The team is as follows: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Harbhajan Singh, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Varun Aaron.

Rajya Sabha still in session. In the Lok Sabha Congress MPs including Rahul Gandhi wear black armbands despite Speaker Sumitra Majhajan's warning. This is the second day they have worn black arm bands in protest against the government's refusal to sack Sushma, Vasundhara and Chouhan. Arun Jaitley will lead the defence in the RS.

7 minutes is all it takes for Lok Sabha to be adjourned on the third day of the monsoon session of Parliament. Congress gives adjournment notice in the house on the Lalit Modi issue.


Yesterday, it was a complete washout for both houses. The opposition aggressively pressed for the ouster of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and also Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The government has said that Swaraj was willing to make a statement in Parliament but the Opposition's stand is that she should first step down and then explain her stand.

Seven Indian companies, including Reliance Industries and Tata Motors, are among the world's 500 largest companies, according to a list compiled by Fortune that has been topped by retail giant Walmart.


The Indian companies on the 2015 Fortune Global 500 list are Indian Oil ranked 119 on the list with revenues of about USD 74 billion, Reliance Industries (158) with revenues of USD 62 billion, Tata Motors with revenues of USD 42 billion (254), State Bank of India with revenues of USD 42 billion (260), Bharat Petroleum with revenues of USD 40 billion (280), Hindustan Petroleum with revenues of USD 35 billion and Oil and Natural Gas with with revenues of USD 26 billion (449).

A heartwarming story after all the political news.


Nazi Concentration Camp survivor Branko Lustig, one of the producer's of Schindler's List, has presented his Academy Award to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.


The 83-year-old, who worked with Steven Spielberg on the 1993 film, handed over the Oscar to officials in Jerusalem last evening, reported Entertainment Weekly.


"I'm very honoured, I feel this is a good (place) for the Oscar... I'm not parting with it, I am leaving it to the nation, for generations to come... All Yad Vashem's visitors will see it; at my home there is only my wife and my daughter," he said.


Lustig, who survived the notorious Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen camps, also owns an Oscar for his work as a producer on "Gladiator".


The Croatian filmmaker told memorial bosses to look after his trophy, adding, "They must look after it and not clean it too vigorously because it is a Hollywood Oscar and the gold is very thin." Spielberg's film, about Holocaust hero Oskar Schindler, picked up seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Music and Original Score.

The White House is in the "final stages" of a plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, spokesman Josh Earnest said today. President Barack Obama made the closure of the controversial offshore prison a priority when he took office in 2009, but the plan has faced numerous setbacks, including Congress blocking the transfer of detainees to US prisons. 

A British woman has been killed whilst bungee jumping in Spain.Kleyo De Abreu, 23, from London, died at around 3pm yesterday (2am Thursday NZ time) in Lanjaron, Granada, according to Spanish police. 

Three astronauts aboard a Soyuz spacecraft successfully launched towards the International Space Station today after a two-month delay caused by a Russian rocket failure. 

Thousands of anti-austerity protesters gathered in Athens today night as lawmakers prepared to vote on a second batch of reforms that must pass if Greece is to unlock a huge international bailout. 

A former tabloid editor who also served as British Prime Minister David Cameron's communications chief has been ordered to pay 150,000 pounds (USD 234,000) toward the costs of his trial for phone hacking at the now-defunct News of the World. Prosecutors had asked for Andy Coulson to pay 750,000 pounds.

According to UNICEF, 30 million women worldwide are likely to endure female genital mutilation within the next eight years. And a new report suggests that the problem is widespread in the UK. 

As Japan prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, one of its largest corporations has given a long-awaited apology for wartime atrocities.

The administration is "in the final stages of drafting a plan to safely and responsibly close the prison at Guantanamo Bay,' White House spokesman Josh Earnest tells reporters at briefing.

Israeli soldiers were stunned when they found the Hamas tunnel leading from Gaza toward an Israeli kibbutz.

A small plane that was dropping candy on an event below crashed, killing two men. Twenty-two-year-old Brad Lefevre and 64-year-old Chad Burton were killed in the crash Tuesday.

The man accused of slaying nine black church members in Charleston will be indicted on a federal hate crime charge today, according to an official close to the case. 

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Khobragade's plea for dual citizenship for kids denied
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Washout in Parliament's monsoon session over Lalitgate, Vyapam
Wines, Mills & Boon and more: Is this what Teesta did with charity funds?
In latest tiff, Delhi Lt Governor cancels another AAP appointment
'Can you have Sunny Leone songs playing during Ganpati?'