A look at the headlines right now:

  1. SP’s parliamentary board to meet as Mulayam Singh Yadav looks to resolve UP crisis: His brother and state party chief Shivpal Yadav said he wanted his ministry posts back, while his son and CM Akhilesh Yadav simply went about his business.
  2. US signs $ 38-billion defence aid agreement with Israel: According to the renewed contract, the Jewish state can no longer spend the money internally, but only on American military industries.
  3. Kashmiri activist says he was stopped from travelling to Geneva for a UN human rights meet: Khurram Pervez was detained at Delhi airport ‘on the IB’s orders’ and eventually denied permission to travel despite holding a visa, he said.
  4. 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.
  5. 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. 
  6. 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.
  7. 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 Chabahar port.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.