1. Analysis: why the PDP-BJP alliance ended
The end of the BJP-People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in Jammu and Kashmir has two dates attached to it. For detractors of the alliance within the BJP, it began with the inception of the alliance (many preferred the BJP’s former ally, the National Conference, over the PDP), for others, it was when Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayyed passed away in early 2016, taking away the political heft that anchored the alliance, a teflon coating that deflected the criticism from such politically contradictory and inorganic alliance.
2. PDP-BJP coalition was an 'unholy' alliance: J&K Congress
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday said the PDP-BJP coalition was destined to break as it was an "unholy" alliance. "This was an unholy alliance and it was expected to break from day one. They had betrayed the people of the state and supporters of the respective parties. They sought votes on opposing agendas," its president G.A. Mir said.
3. Waiting to hear from CM on meeting he promised, say Delhi bureaucrats
A day after the seeming thaw in relations between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s government and the bureaucracy hit a dead end, officers said they were waiting to be a part of a meeting to address security concerns expressed by them.
4. Air India stake sale put on back-burner
Air India's privatisation has been put on the back-burner, according to a senior government source. "Now is not the right time to privatise the carrier. We received no bids. We will look at improving effeciencies by bringing private people," the source told The Hindu .
5. U.S., South Korea agree to suspend joint military exercise
The United States and South Korea have agreed to suspend a joint military exercise scheduled for August, South Korean and U.S. officials said on Monday, following President Donald Trump's pledge to end “war games” after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week.
6. Legendary mimicry artiste Nerella Venumadhav passes away
Noted mimicry artiste Nerella Venumadhav died here after a brief illness at his home in Mattewada in Warangal city. He was 85 and is survived by wife, two daughters, and two sons. Venumadhav served as MLC in 1971 in undivided Andhra Pradesh. He rose to international fame after his enthralling performance at the United Nations. He was conferred scores of awards, including the Padma Shri in 2001.
7. Google to train 8,000 Indian journalists on fact checking
To guard journalists from falling prey to false news stories, Google India on Tuesday said it will provide training to 8,000 journalists in English and six other Indian languages in the next one year. For this, the Google News Initiative India Training Network will select 200 journalists from cities across India who will hone their skills in verification and training during five-day train-the-trainer boot camps that will be organised for English and six other Indian languages.
8. Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez gets first red card of FIFA World Cup
Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez was the first player to be sent off in the tournament when he was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball in the World Cup Group H match against Japan on Tuesday.
9. Samson, Shami and Rayudu told about Yo Yo test only after team selection
The Yo Yo and Dexa tests have become the order of the day for India’s international cricketers. The Yo Yo consists of speed and recovery assessments conducted around plastic cones over specific distances and with variations, and the Dexa tests ascertain bone health.
10. British government links controversy over MoU with Indian student visa row
The British government has drawn a direct link between the exclusion of Indian students from a relaxation of visa rules - that were extended to 10 other countries, including China and the Maldives - and India’s decision to pull out of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the return of illegal migrants.
