A look at the headlines right now:-

  1. Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications announces merger with Aircel, days after Jio launch: The joint venture worth Rs 35,000 crore is the largest-ever consolidation deal in the telecom sector in India.
  2. This is a fight in SP government, not within the family, says Akhilesh Yadav: The chief minister had stripped his uncle Shivpal Yadav of key ministerial posts after he was made the state's party head on Tuesday.
  3. Human rights violations happening in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan, India tells UN Council: India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ajit Kumar also said the neighbouring country was deploying militants across the border. 
  4. India offers $1 billion as Narendra Modi meets Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani: The leaders also decided to implement the trilateral agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran to use Iran's Chahbahar port.
  5. IMD shifts from earlier predictions of surplus rain, says India could record below average rainfall: The new forecast, based on the absence of the La Nina weather pattern, has triggered fears of agricultural losses.
  6. Bayer to acquire Monsanto for $66 billion in largest ever acquisition by a German firm: The deal includes a fee of $2 billion in case the acquisition does not get regulatory approval. It is expected to close by the end of 2017.
  7. Matters like funding for Kashmiri separatists are Centre's ‘exclusive domain’, says Supreme Court: Rejecting a plea questioning government aid for these leaders, the top court also criticised the use of the word 'separatists' to describe Hurriyat leaders.
  8. BJP attacks Nitish Kumar for not arresting absconding sharpshooter Mohammad Kaif: Kaif was seen in a video with former Bihar MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who is out on bail after he was sent to prison in connection with a murder in 2005.
  9. Five more die from complications caused by chikungunya in Delhi, toll rises to 10: The Centre asked local administration for a detailed assessment of the deaths related to the vector-borne disease.
  10. Rivers of blood run down Dhaka's streets as heavy downpour coincides with Bakr-Eid: Citizens criticised the two city corporations for failing to keep its drainage systems functional and not cleaning the sacrificial waste.