The big news: RSS ideologue among President’s nominees to Rajya Sabha, and nine other top stories
Other headlines: India’s trade deficit widened to five-year high in June, and a US grand jury indicted 12 Russians in 2016 election hacking case.
A look at the headline right now:
- President nominates four to Rajya Sabha including ex-BJP MP Ram Shakal, dancer Sonal Mansingh: The other two are sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra and RSS ideologue and author Rakesh Sinha.
- India’s trade deficit widens to five-year record high in June: The numbers were mainly influenced by an increase in oil prices and the weakening of the rupee.
- 12 Russians indicted for 2016 US election hack ahead of Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin meet: This is the latest development in an ongoing investigation into Russia’s alleged meddling in the US presidential election.
- Rs 2,000 crore diamond money laundering scam unearthed, four arrested: In a recent raid, diamonds worth Rs 1.2 crore were being declared worth Rs 156 crore.
- Amit Shah said construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will start before 2019 polls, claims BJP leader: The Supreme Court is currently hearing the decades-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.
- Disaster management trainer’s credentials were fake, say Tamil Nadu police after safety drill death: The National Disaster Management Authority refuted reports that the instructor was associated with it.
- Kolkata court summons Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over his ‘Hindu Pakistan’ comment: Advocate Sumeet Chowdhury had filed a case against him, saying the comment hurt religious sentiments and had insulted the constitution.
- At least 128 killed in suicide bomb attacks during election rally in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan: The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack
- Former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif and daughter Maryam Nawaz arrested, taken to Rawalpindi jail: They were allowed to meet Sharif’s mother at the Lahore airport before being taken into custody.
- India invites Donald Trump to be guest at 2019 Republic Day, US has not yet responded, says report: Trump attends the parade, he will be the second US president after Barack Obama to do so.