Isro’s geostationary satellite launch vehicle (GSLV-D6) lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport at 4.52pm on Thursday carrying communication satellite GSAT-6. At 5.10 pm the satellite was placed in its designated orbit. This was the ninth flight of the GSLV and the third development flight using a cryogenic engine. The metallic payload fairing of GSLV-D6 has a diameter of 3.4m. The overall length of GSLV-D6 is 49.1 m with a lift-off mass of 416 tonnes. One of the advanced features of GSAT-6 satellite is its S-Band antenna of 6 meter diameter.

Another Pakistani terrorist captured alive
A Pakistani terrorist has been caught alive by the army and the police after a long encounter in North Kashmir. The terrorist has been identified as 22-year-old Sajjad Ahmed, who belongs to Muzaffargarh in southwest Pakistan. Security forces are questioning the terrorist, who entered India through the Uri sector, along with three more persons.
The group was intercepted in Uri, but they managed to escape. They were spotted again last evening and three were killed during a 20-hour long encounter in Baramulla district. The captured terrorist is being questioned in a forest area and is likely to be brought to Srinagar. This is the second such capture after Mohammad Naveed was caught earlier this month after an attack on a paramilitary convoy in Udhampur.

Court orders probe into police action in Ahmedabad
The Gujarat High Court has issued notice to the Ahmedabad police chief, asking him to probe alleged police excesses during Tuesday's protest by the Patel community over reservation. The court has given him two weeks to finish his probe. Eleven columns of the army have been deployed in Ahmedabad and three other cities - Surat, Rajkot and Mehasana - to help restore law and order. No major violence has been reported since last night.

Solution to one rank one pension issue soon
Ex-servicemen on protest for 74 days now at Delhi's Jantar Mantar say they are confident of a breakthrough in negotiations with the government and hope today's round of talks will see a date of implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP finalised. If the government gives them a date, the veterans could call off their protest, which escalated into a hunger-strike by several protestors after the Prime Minister failed to announce OROP in his Independence Day speech on August 15.

PMO refuses to disclose Subhas Chandra Bose files
The Prime Minister's Office has admitted that it has files related to Subhas Chandra Bose but told the central information commission that it cannot declassify files related to Bose as it will adversely affect relations with foreign countries. During the hearing before the CIC yesterday, the PMO did not give any specifics but submitted that they cannot be declassified keeping in mind the relations with foreign countries. It  cited section 8(1)(a) which allows the government to withhold information, disclosure of which would affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence.

India, Bangladesh resort to onion imports as supply dips
Onion prices in Bangladesh have nearly doubled in the past month due to a shortage in top supplier India, forcing the neighbours to turn to imports from countries such as Egypt, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh said on Wednesday it had sought 450 tonnes and could buy more. Also, India will examine bids on Thursday for a tender to import 10,000 tonnes of the staple integral to South Asian dishes like bhaji, biryani and fish curry. India, Bangladesh resort to onion imports as supply dips

Hindalco seeks shareholders' nod to raise up to Rs 6,000 crore
Aluminium maker Hindalco Industries seeks its shareholders' approval to raise up to Rs 6,000 crore through issuance of non convertible debentures (NCDs) on private placement basis."Consent is sought to offer or invite subscription to non convertible debentures up to an amount not exceeding Rs 6,000 crore on private placement basis from time to time until September 15, 2016," Hindalco said in a BSE filing.

Sensex closes 516 points up; Nifty a tad below 7,950
 Making up for last session's losses, the S&P BSE Sensex surged 516.53 points, or 2.01 per cent, to settle the day at 26,231.19. The 50-share Nifty barometer climbed 157.1 points, or 2.02 per cent, to close the day at 7948.95. The investors' sentiment was lifted by upbeat global equity markets which sparked a wave of bargain-hunting ahead of the expiry of derivative contracts at the end of the session.

Now, Haryana Jats to launch agitation for reservation
Backing the Patel community’s demand for reservation in Gujarat, Jats in Haryana on Thursday threatened to launch an agitation in the state to press for their demand of OBC quota.“Jats in Haryana will launch an agitation next month. It will be peaceful,” All India Jat Aarkshan Sangarsh Samiti Haryana president Hawa Singh Sangwan said.

UP Assembly passes Dalit Land Amendment Bill
Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill that seeks to relax the provisions restricting SCs and STs to sell their land to non-Dalits. The Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, 2015, will ease the present law which says, the District Magistrate cannot give permission for sale of a piece of land if its area is less than 1.26 hectare or after selling a portion of the land the original land becomes less than 1.26 acre. Calling the Bill anti-SC and ST, Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya (BSP) alleged that it aims at doing away with the provisions that protect these communities and feared that it would push them to become landless labourers.

Google brings new exhibits from Indian museums online
One can now see the latest exhibits from Kolkata's Victoria Memorial Hall, Dastkari Haat Samiti and Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute among others, online as part of Google's Cultural Institute. Launched in 2012 in India with the National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi as initial partners, the  Google Cultural Institute now has 18 partners.

Madras HC rejects petition seeking relief on CSK's two-year suspension
Madras High Court on Thursday rejected the petition of the suspended India Cements Ltd - owners of Chennai Super Kings - seeking interim relief on the two-year suspension imposed by the Supreme Court appointed Justice Lodha Committee. The court has requested the parties concerned (BCCI and India Cements) to file a counter affidavit and deferred the case to September 23. IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings had moved the Madras High Court last week challenging the order of Justice Lodha Committee suspending it from IPL over the betting scam involving its top official Gurunath Meiyappan. In its petition, city-based Indian Cements Ltd (ICL), owner of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), also sought a stay on the committee's last month order.