The big news: US stands with India on terrorism, says Sushma Swaraj, and nine other top stories
The Centre raised the minimum wage for skilled workers ahead of Friday's strike, and India and US signed a defence pact during Manohar Parrikar’s visit there.
A look at the headlines right now:
- India-US agree Pakistan needs to fast-track action to catch Pathankot attackers, says Sushma Swaraj: After talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry, the minister said both countries felt that Pakistan needed to ‘dismantle safe havens’ for terrorists groups.
- Centre hikes minimum wage for semi-skilled workers to Rs 350 per day: However, trade and labour unions have refused to call off their all-India strike on September 2.
- India, US sign pact on sharing military technology and boosting defence trade, talk tough on terror: The deal was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his American counterpart Ashton Carter during Parrikar's ongoing trip to the Western nation.
- 12-year-old boy dies on father's shoulders after allegedly being denied treatment in Kanpur hospital: The state government ordered an inquiry after Sunil Kumar also accused the hospital of not providing him a stretcher to take his son to the children's ward.
- Industry stakeholders settle on 18% for GST rate, say April deadline is a challenge: They said the rate will facilitate ideal tax buoyancy without increasing inflation and demanded that penal provisions be relaxed for the first two years.
- Stanford rape case convict to be released after serving three months of a six-month sentence: Protestors have reiterated their call for the removal of judge Aaron Persky in the case for the ‘overly lenient’ term given to the rapist, Brock Turner.
- Delhi High Court issues notice to government on WhatsApp’s decision to share user data with Facebook: A plea filed in the court said the new privacy policy ‘compromised the rights’ of people using the app.
- EC censures AIADMK for making poll promises with no explanation on methods to finance them: The Election Commission also asked the Opposition party, DMK, to be more ‘circumspect’ about its manifesto promises.
- Apple Inc ordered to pay €13 billion in tax to Ireland: The European Commission said the world's richest company illegally gained from a selective tax treatment in the EU country.
- England captain Wayne Rooney announces retirement from international football after 2018 World Cup: The Manchester United player’s announcement came after manager Sam Allardyce said he would retain Rooney as team captain.