Congress hits out at Modi govt’s ‘Digital India Week’ campaign
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Digital India campaign, Congress today took a dig at the government, saying it has “successfully renamed” yet another UPA venture and credited Rajiv Gandhi with turning India into an IT superpower.The party said, it also hopes that the new programme is successfully implemented and doesn’t meet the same fate as the “renamed ‘Make in India’ scheme did”.
“The foundation for ‘Digital India’ was laid by Prime Minister the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi by unleashing the Information Technology (IT) potential of the country that has made India an IT superpower today.”

Lalit Modi names BJP's Sudhanshu Mittal, launches anti-graft NGO
Former IPL chief Lalit Modi on Thursday morning asked BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal to reveal his relationship with Hawala racketeer Vivek Nagpal. On Thursday, Modi continued his belligerent attack and this time he aimed at BJP leader Sudhanshu Mittal.

Modi also announced on Twitter that he was launching a global NGO to take on corrupt officials and business people in India. Modi, who has been termed a 'fugitive' by the Congress party and is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged financial impropriety, tweeted: "All who want a CORRUPTION FREE India That is free of Vested interests & DIRTY Politics, CORRUPT Officers, BLACKMAILING ED/IT officers, Business people who suck our national resources, put there interest before others (sic) Join me in this fight. In next few days I am launching a Global NGO to take these people on." He announced the email of his non-profit NGO -- corruptpoliticiansinindia@gmail.com -- and asked people to indicate in their CV if they wanted to join part time or full time.

Markets flat, Nifty at 8,450
The domestic markets opened marginally higher today. The S&P Sensex was testing 28,000 level in morning trades. The NSE's barometer Nifty was testing its crucial psychological level of 8,450 level. Among the BSE sectoral indices, BSE FMCG index was up 0.55 per cent, BSE Healthcare index gained 0.53 per cent, while the BSE bankex was quoting flat at 9.20 am.

Monsoon was good last month but may may fall short for the season
Total rainfall during last month was 16% more than normal, helping the agri sector to prepare the ground for crop planting. It has also filled up reservoirs to a much higher level than average.However, rainfall has declined in the past week and the season's rainfall surplus has dropped from a peak of 28%. Monsoon rains may fall short in next three months with July and August seeing about 10% below average.

Over 4,000 resident doctors go on indefinite strike in Maharashtra
Patients in government medical colleges in Maharashtra are set for a harrowing time after around 4,500 resident doctors, attached to 18 such institutions in the state, went on an indefinite strike on Thursday in support of their demands.

Telecom department against regulation of OTT services, except local voice calls
A telecom department report on net neutrality has recommended against regulating any over the top services or apps, but called for "regulatory oversight" on those offering local voice calls similar to mobile operators. A six-member internal committee of the department of telecommunications (DoT) in its report also suggested a new law incorporating principles of net neutrality to replace the Indian Telegraph Act.

Finance ministry asks taxpayers to e-file I-T returns early
The tax department has made fully operational its e-filing website for taxpayers to file their I-T returns for assessment year 2015-16 and the finance ministry has asked taxpayers to file their I-T returns for 2015-16 early to avoid the rush towards the last date of August 31.

Parliament panel wants doubling of pay for MPs
A parliamentary panel has recommended doubling the salary of law makers and also increasing pension of former MPs by almost 75%. The joint committee, which has submitted its recommendations to the government, has also proposed an automatic pay revision mechanism for parliamentarians like that of pay commission for government employees.

Swaraj Kaushal, Vasundhara Raje have been family friends, says  Lalit Modi’s father
KK Modi, chairman of Godfrey Phillips and father of Lalit Modi has said that Swaraj Kaushal and Vasundhara Raje have been friends of the Modi family for decades. On Lalit Modi his father told a newspaper: "We talk once in a while and that too on business. Lalit is an adult. He has not sought my advice on anything. Then why should I give unsolicited advice."

UK Food Standards Agency finds made in India Maggi safe to eat
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has found the Maggi brand of instant noodles imported from India safe to eat, after it conducted tests on samples as a precaution following a ban on the Nestle product in India.Nestle informed the FSA that the only variety of Maggi Noodles imported into the UK from India was the 'masala flavour'.

Rajasthan khap circulates diktat against mobile on WhatsApp
In an  order that is s being circulated on WhatsApp, a khap panchayat in a Rajasthan village has banned unmarried girls from using mobile phones, saying they might get trapped in uneasy situations if they did.
The order came from the Choudhary Jaatiye Panchayat in Kanana, a village in Barmer district, some 390km from Jaipur. It does not apply to boys.

Supreme Court orders compensation of Rs. 1.8 Crore to Chennai girl in medical negligence case
The Supreme Court has ordered one of the largest compensations so far in the country in a case of medical negligence - Rs. 1.8 crore. The Tamil Nadu government has to pay the sum to a 18-year-old girl who lost her vision at birth due to medical negligence at a government-run hospital.The girl, who is now 18 years old, was born prematurely at the government hospital in Chennai's Egmore. But she was discharged from the hospital without a retinopathy test, a must for preemies.By the time the family discovered the lapse, the girl had lost her vision.

Deadline for declaring black money till September 30
The Finance Ministry has extended the deadline for declaring undisclosed foreign income or black money till September 30. However, assets declared within the 'compliance window' will invite a 30 per cent tax and a penalty of the same amount which can be paid by December 31. The new black money law would come into force from April 1, 2016. Under it the penalty would be much higher at 90 per cent, in addition to a 30 per cent tax on undisclosed foreign assets, while such persons would also face criminal prosecution with a jail term of up to ten years.

Wimbledon Centre Court evacuated after restaurant fire
Wimbledon's Centre Court was evacuated after the close of play on Wednesday as firemen and police responded to a fire in one of the stadium's plush restaurants. London Fire Brigade said they had been called to the historic tennis venue, but did not give details, while London's Metropolitan Police said they were also on hand, and that the incident was "not suspicious". The All England Club confirmed that the evacuation of mainly staff and media was due to a fire.

To accommodate minister Kiren Rijiju, Air India offloaded a child and two others
An Air India flight was delayed for about an hour and three passengers, including a child, were offloaded, for union minister Kiren Rijiju. The incident took place on June 24, on a flight from Leh to Delhi.When Rijiju arrived, the airline allegedly removed three passengers to make place for him and his personal assistant.Rijuju claimed the flight was not delayed, as it had been advanced due to technical reasons.

Robot Kills worker at Volkswagen factory In Germany
A robot has killed a contractor at one of Volkswagen's production plants in Germany. The 22-year-old was part of a team that was setting up the stationary robot when it grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate. Initial conclusions indicate that human error was to blame, rather than a problem with the robot, which can be programmed to perform various tasks in the assembly process.