India on December 13 beat Sri Lanka by 141 runs in their must-win second game at Mohali.
Rohit Sharma smashed his third double hundred in one-day internationals to fire India to a mammoth 392 for four.
Such was the pace of Rohit’s unbeaten 153-ball 208-run innings that after completing his 100 off 115 balls, he blasted his next 100 off just 36 balls.
China marks 80th anniversary of Nanjing massacre
Police pay a silent tribute during a memorial ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, on the national memorial day in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on December 13, 2017.
Sirens blared and thousands of doves were released as Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a sombre ceremony in Nanjing marking 80 years since the wartime massacre in the city by Japanese troops. Several thousand black-clad soldiers, civil servants and students with white flowers pinned to their jackets braved chilly temperatures at a monument to a dark World War II chapter that still divides the two countries.
But while vowing never to forget the "great catastrophe" wrought by "Japanese militarism" in a speech to the mourners, a top Chinese official also stressed the need for the two rivals to move forward. "China and Japan are close neighbours, neighbours who can't move away," said Yu Zhengsheng, a former member of China's top Communist leadership who now chairs a parliamentary body. China and Japan should build on their "long, rich history" of links to deepen "friendship", Mr. Yu said, avoiding reference to bitter disputes over the massacre.
According to China, 300,000 civilians and soldiers were killed in a frenzy of murder, torture, rape, arson and looting in the six weeks after invading Japanese troops seized Nanjing, then the capital city, on December 13, 1937.
Duterte wins extra year of martial law powers
A soldier carries a weapon confiscated during a pro-Islamic State group siege in Marawi, southern Philippines, at the army Headquarters in Manila.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte won martial law powers across the southern third of the country for one more year on Wednesday to combat Islamic militants and leftist rebels, as Congress brushed aside fears of a looming dictatorship. Duterte's request to extend the martial law in the Mindanao region until December 31 next year and detain rebellion suspects there without charge was approved by 240 votes to 27 at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. Asked by reporters later on Wednesday if he would extend the martial law to the whole country, Mr. Duterte said “all options are on the table.”
Pope on Guadalupe feast
Pope Francis at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.
Pope Francis on Tuesday urged Latin American and Caribbean Catholics to celebrate and defend their diversity. He said the face of the Catholic Church was indigenous, mestizo and black. The Pope celebrated a special Mass to celebrate the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the dark-skinned virgin who appeared to an Indian peasant in the 1500s and is particularly important to Latin American Catholics, the Argentine pope included. In his homily, Pope Francis said indigenous peoples, women, peasants, migrants and the unemployed often aren’t treated with the dignity they deserve. He urged the region’s faithful to not only cultivate their diverse cultures but “valiantly defend them” against homogenisation.
OIC summit
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, left and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, right, pose with other leaders of Islamic nations during a photo-op prior to the opening session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's extraordinary summit in Istanbul.
The Istanbul gathering of heads of state and top officials from the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) could offer the Muslim world's strongest response yet to U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Daswanth’s lawyer withdraws from case
Members of a women organisation try to attack Daswanth — accused in the rape and murder of a minor — when police brought him to be produced at the sessions court near Chennai on Wednesday.
The trial of the case pertaining to the rape and murder of a 7-year-old girl in Mugalivakkam in Chennai took a curious turn on Wednesday, with lawyer R. Vijayakumar, who appeared for the accused, withdrew his vakalat. When this development was informed to accused Daswanth, he pleaded that the Mahila Court, Chengalpattu could go ahead with the trial as he has made a confession. However, Judge P.Velmurugan instructed the police to obtain a petition from the accused to avail legal assistance through Legal Aid Services.
Modi, Mahmohan greet each other
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh greet each other at an event marking the 16th anniversary of Parliament attack, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh greet each other at an event marking the 16th anniversary of Parliament attack, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Days after a war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh following the former's suggestion that Dr. Singh and others held a “secret meeting” with Pakistani officials at suspended Congres leader's residence to ''influence'' the outcome of the Gujarat elections', the two leaders greeted each other and shook hands on Wednesday at an event in the national capital to pay homage to the victims of the 2001 Parliament attack. Mr. Singh had said he sincerely hoped that Mr. Modi will apologise to the nation for his remarks.
Washington Sundar debuts
Washington Sundar warms up at the PCA stadium during 2nd ODI match between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali on Wednesday, December 13 2017.
Washington Sundar, the 18-year-old Tamil Nadu all-rounder, was given his India cap before the start of the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Mohali. Washington is a stylish left-handed batsman who bowls off-spin. What's the story behind his colourful name? Read on.
China marks 80th anniversary of Nanjing Massacre
Protesters burn images of the Rising Sun Flag featuring a portrait of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the Chinese characters "Shameful", on the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, in Hong Kong, China
China marked the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre on Wednesday with a call to work with Japan for peace, but President Xi Jinping kept a low profile and left the public remarks to another senior official. China and Japan have long sparred over their painful history. China consistently reminds its people of the 1937 massacre in which it says Japanese troops killed 300,000 people in its then capital.
Remembering Parliament attack
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP veteran L.K. Advani pay homage to guards who laid their lives on the 16th anniversary of Parliament attack.
In 2001, this day, five terrorists attacked the Parliament House when the Winter Session was underway. Dehi police and Parliament security forces foiled the attack and saved every parliamentarian. Like every year, this year too the MPs paid tributes to the guards who were martyred. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani were ministers during the then NDA government.
Democrat Doug Jones defeats Republican Roy Moore in Alabama
U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore greets supporters during an election-night watch party at the RSA activity center in Montgomery, Alabama
Democrat Doug Jones won the election to the U.S. Senate from Alabama. The state’s former U.S. attorney beat Roy Moore, the Republican candidate and a former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court whose campaign was upended by allegations of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls.
Rain brings cheer to Erode
Tourists started visiting Kodiveri Dam at Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, Tamil Nadu.
Tourists flock to Kodiveri Dam as it overflows following heavy rains.
Published at 8.30 am
Smog in Utah, U.S.
A man stops to take a picture of the Utah State Capitol (L) and buildings that are shrouded in smog in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Sometimes during the winter, temperature inversions form in the Salt Lake Valley when the upper air temperature is warmer than the air on the valley floor, forming a lid, trapping polluted air.
