The BSE Sensex tanked 245 points yesterday on the back of a slew of worries, including the possibility of drought. The benchmark index fell to a nearly eight-month low of 26,523.09, amid other concerns like US Fed rate hike, and the RBI's stance on economic recovery. The rupee also fell by 33 paise, tumbling to a four-week low of 64.08 against the dollar.

The 'Surya Namaskar' has been dropped from 'asanas' that will be performed across the country on June 21 as part of observing the 'International Day of Yoga'. The Union government's decision came after the All India Muslim Personal Board launched a nationwide campaign against making 'Surya Namaskar' compulsory in educational institutions as well, terming it as a practice specific to a religion.

Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who had emphatically endorsed Narendra Modi's bid for prime ministership, on Monday evening formally 'broke up' with him through a caustically penned letter and threatened to see him in court.

Jethmalani's reason for ending the relationship was Modi's silence over the issue of Chief Vigilance Commissioner's appointment. In a letter written on 6 June Jethmalani had expressed reservations against appointment of KV Chowdary as the CVC. The government went ahead and appointed Chowdary on Monday. Jethmalani in his letter said he would now see Modi in court. The last line of the letter read, "My diminishing respect for you ends now".

Reacting to centre's decision not to grant sanction to prosecute four Intelligence Bureau officials in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, Congress called NDA's decision bizarre. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the entire world knows that "Ishrat Jahan and three others were killed in a fake encounter", he said NDA's reluctance to let CBI try the IB officials meant that the ruling alliance had "something to hide".

Link between MoS in UPA2 Preneet Kaur's HSBC Geneva account and trusts and companies have surfaced. These entities also allegedly own properties in London and Dubai. In a case of multi-lateral co-operation, Indian tax authorities received the names of these trusts from French authorities and then details of linked companies and properties from authorities in British Virgin Islands.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has ordered quality testing for 32 brands of noodles, pasta and macaroni. The seven companies owning these brands include Nestle, ITC and GlaxoSmithkline. The brands include Top Ramen, Wai Wai, Yummy and Foodles. FSSAI has also ordered that all instant food products lacking product approval and being sold in an 'unauthorised and illegal' manner be recalled.

Pakistan yesterday ignored India's objections to hold legislative assembly elections in Gilgit-Baltistan region and went ahead with the polls. Counting was already reported to be underway for 24 seats in the strategically significant region.

This is the second time Pakistan was holding polls in Gilgit-Baltistan after the devolution of power in 2009 that changed the region's name and established a local assembly. India had said last week that the regions were an integral part of its territory and this was an attempt by Pakistan to "camouflage its forcible and illegal occupation" of the area.

The tropical weather depression Ashobaa has turned into a severe cyclonic storm, the weather department has said. Warnings have been issued to fishermen. The cyclone is expected to change rainfall patterns, causing heavy rainfall in some coastal and mainland areas, including Goa, Maharasthra, Gujarat and Karnataka in the next 36 hours.

In a move that is all set to escalate hostilities between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejrial and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, the latter has ignored an officer chosen by the CM and appointed another as chief of the capital's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB). MK Meena, a Joint Commissioner in the Delhi Police, was selected above Kejriwal's choice SS Yadav.

Following the appointment, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted, "What is the conspiracy behind creating a new designation of Jt Commissioner and appointing your favorite officer?" He also tweeted, "This is the same officer who had tried to implicate me by falsely reporting farmer's suicide in Jantar Mantar as murder."

Aam Admi Party(AAP) leader Sanjay Singh broke the news earlier today that Delhi Police has arrested Tomar without any notice or prior information. AAP sources said Tomar was at his camp office in his constituency Tri Nagar this morning when the police reached there and asked him to accompany them for questioning. Details of further developments are awaited.

The Delhi High Court is hearing a petition against Tomar for submitting a fake law degree in his election affidavit.