A look at the headlines right now:

  1. At least 18 dead, dozens injured in explosion at NTPC plant in Rae Bareli: The toll is likely to rise as several workers are feared trapped inside the unit.
  2. Rahul Gandhi says Arun Jaitley living in a dream, minister replies ‘ease of corruption’ has ended: The Congress vice president said the people of India knew the reality of ease of doing business in the country.  
  3. Set up special courts to expedite cases in which MPs, MLAs are accused, SC tells Centre: The Election Commission has told the top court that it supports banning convicted legislators from ever standing for polls.  
  4. Six dead, schools remain shut as rain continues to lash parts of Tamil Nadu: Water had entered people’s houses in Krishna Nagar and Lakshmipuram at Mudichur.  
  5. Rajasthan Patrika won’t write about government till ordinance shielding public servants is repealed: The newspaper said the ‘black law’ made journalists vulnerable to action by the Vasundhara Raje administration.  
  6. Nirmala Sitharaman raises concerns about ‘extra-regional nations’ in Indian Ocean: India’s defence minister said these countries used ‘some pretext or the other’ to maintain a military presence in the region.  
  7. Terror activities being carried out in Kerala in the guise of ‘love jihad’, claims law minister: Ravi Shankar Prasad called for a ban on the Popular Front of India, which a report said carried out mass proselytisation in the state.  
  8. Naac grades Delhi’s JNU A++, its highest accreditation: Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said the high ranking was a result of a ‘collective effort of the JNU community’.  
  9. Hamas hands over control of Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt to the Palestinian Authority: A spokesperson said neither group had set any conditions for the handover of five administrative crossings. 
  10. Pakistan woman arrested for allegedly spiking lassi with rat poison, killing 13 family members: Asia Bibi, who has denied the charge, was taken into custody along with two accomplices.