TDP, AIADMK members suspended from Lok Sabha
As many as 19 members of the AIADMK and TDP were suspended on Thursday for four days by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan for repeatedly disrupting the proceedings of the House.
As soon as the Zero Hour commenced at noon, AIADMK and TDP members trooped in the Well, raising slogans and carrying banners demanding stalling of a dam on river Cauvery and special state status to Andhra Pradesh respectively.
As the disruptions continued, the Speaker suspended 19 MPs of the two parties.
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Last respects to Ramakant Achrekar
The Indian cricketers Thursday wore black armbands on the opening day of the fourth and final Test against Australia as a mark of respect for Sachin Tendulkar's coach Ramakant Achrekar who passed away on Wednesday.
Achrekar, the celebrated coach credited for discovering Tendulkar, died Wednesday in Mumbai due to old age-related ailments. He was 87.
Achrekar competed in just one first-class match in his playing career but discovered and shaped the biggest batsman in international cricket after Sir Donald Bradman in Tendulkar.
Besides Tendulkar, he also coached some prominent players in Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Sameer Dighe and Balwinder Singh Sandhu.
Hartal in Kerala over Sabarimala row, bus services hit
Hundreds who depend on fleet of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation had been hit as the State transport undertaking had not been able to operate services on Thursday due to dawn to dusk hartal called by Sabarimala Karma Samithi and supported by BJP over the entry of two young women into the Lord Ayyappa shrine on Wedneday.
Barring stray incidents of minor violence, the hartal is by and large peaceful in Wayanad district. Hartal supporters hurled stones to a Kerala State Transport Corporation bus at Sulthan Bathery and attacked a shop at Pulpally.
Attendance was low in government offices and financial institutions. Educational institutions, business establishments, and shops, except medical shops, remained closed.
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Half centuries by Agarwal, Pujara take India to 177/2 at Tea
Some more exceptional batting effort helped India reach 177/2 at tea on the first day of the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here on Thursday.
Resuming the afternoon session from 69/1, Cheteshwar Pujara and opener Mayank Agarwal continued to play sensibly, taking their side past the 100—run mark in 30.1 overs.
Off-spinner Nathyan Lyon gave the hosts some respite after breaking a well-settled 116-run partnership between Agarwal and Pujara, dismissing the former on his individual score of 77 runs.
Kohli and Pujara were batting on 23 and 61 runs respectively at the tea break.
Earlier, the visitors opted to bat and lost the only wicket of Lokesh Rahul (9) in the morning session.
India presently lead the four-match series 2-1.
Brisbane International tennis tournament
A decade after reaching the inaugural Brisbane International quarter-finals, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is back, setting a last-eight showdown with Aussie No.1 Alex De Minaur on Thursday.
According to brisbaneinternational.com, the former world No.5 – looking to get his career back on track after a tough year of injuries – advanced 7-6(5) 6-3 over Japanese lucky loser Taro Daniel on Pat Rafter Arena.