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Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn resigns following diesel emission scandal

Martin Winterkorn_Volkswagen_Wire

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The Chief Executive Officer of car maker Volkswagen, Martin Winterkorn has announced his resignation following the scandal around emissions from the company's diesel vehicles.

Volkswagen issued a statement wherein Winterkorn was quoted as having said, "shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group."

The next CEO for the company will be decided on 25 September at the supervisory board meeting. Matthias Muller, Porsche AG CEO and Rupert Stadler, Audi Chairman and CEO are possible contenders for the post.

Sourav Ganguly appointed new CAB President

While the speculations regarding the next Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president continue to steal the spotlight, it has now been learnt that former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has been selected for the top job.

According to a report in India Today, Ganguly has uninanimously been chosen as the new CAB president. The report also suggests that Jagmohan Dalmiya's son Avishek Dalmiya will also be inducted into the association as an CAB official.

#ModiInNY: PM's second US visit is big on Silicon Valley

Modi in NY/wire/pti

Photo:PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in New York early on Thursday on a five-day US visit, his second already. The PM will be addressing world leaders at a UN peacekeeping summit and meeting President Obama.

Modi will also be visiting the Silicon Valley. Tech giants Apple, Facebook and Google, who want to multiply their consumption in India, will be meeting with the prime minister.

Apple CEO Tim Cook will visit Modi's hotel in San Jose, before the our tech-savvy PM joins Mark Zuckerberg for a "townhall" broadcast live from Facebook headquarters.

Uttar Pradesh: Sahai Commission names BJP and SP in Muzaffarnagar riots, report submitted to Governor

sahai commission/wire/Sakib Ali/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Photo:Sakib Ali/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

The Justice (retired) Vishnu Sahai Commission, which was set up for an enquiry into the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, has indicted local party workers of the ruling Samajwadi Party and the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) for their role in the carnage. At least 60 people were killed and over 50,0000 rendered homeless in the riots.

The one-man commission had been set up under the 'Commission of Enquiry Act 1952' on 9 September, 2013, in the aftermath of the violence.

The Commission has also blamed the senior police and administrative officials posted in the district for lapses that led to the riots.

Second tragedy strikes Haj, 717 people killed, 850 injured in stampede outside Mecca

Photo tweeted by @juliamacfarlane

Photo tweeted by @juliamacfarlane

A second tragedy has struck Mecca within a span of two weeks. At least 717 people were killed and close to 850 were injured in a stampede outside Mecca during Haj.

The tragedy happened even as Muslims worldwide are celebrating the holy day of Eid al-Adha. An estimated 2 million pilgrims traveled to Mecca for the celebration.

Just two weeks ago, over a hundred people were killed in Mecca when a construction crane fell inside the crowded Grand Mosque.

Flipkart owners are India's newest billionaires

flipkart bansals/wire/file

File Photo

Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, the co-founders and owners of Flipkart are officially India's newest billionaires. The two, owners of India's largest e-retailer, are each reported to have a network of $1.3 billion according to Forbes India's latest rich list. They are officially the first Indian billionaires to have made their fortune of e-retail. The Bansals were ranked at number 86 on the list. While Mukesh Ambani continued to top the list his net worth dipped value decreased by $4.7 billion to $18.9 billion.

'Normal Barbie' now introduces period accessory

The Lammily doll, dubbed the 'Normal Barbie', a doll with cellulite and stretch marks, will now come with a Period Party extension kit. The kit is being marketed as a "fun way to explain the menstrual cycle to kids". Its creator, Nickolay Lamm says they hope to start a conversation about menstruation and the stigmas attached to it. The kit will come with an educational pamphlet explaining what to expect from menstruation as well as doll underwear, 19 coloured pads and a calendar and stickers to track periods.

'The Martian' screened on board the ISS

The Martian, Ridley Scott's new science fiction flick, was screened for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Kjell Lindgren and Scott Kelly, two of the space station's occupants tweeted pictures of themselves watching the movie aboard the station. The movie which is about an astronaut stranded on Mars after a mission to the red planet goes wrong. Matt Damon plays the stranded astronaut. Incidentally, Scott Kelly, who's the station's operations branch chief is on a 12-month-mission to gather data on how we're able to survive long periods of time in space. The data will help in preparing for potential missions to Mars.

Syed Akbaruddin to take over as India's permanent representative at the UN

akrabuddin/wire/Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

The affable former MEA spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin, is set to rise further in the diplomatic world. He will soon be India's permanent representative in the United Nations, New York. This is a big step up from Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, the position he currently holds.

Akbaruddin is highly regarded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has made the MEA a media friendly body, keeping alive the information stream on the country's foreign policy through regular press briefings.

Akbaruddin will replace Asoke Mukherji. But before taking over, he has the big task of delivering the India-Africa summit in October.

25 Dalit students prevented from offering puja during Chaturthi

A case has been registered by the police under the Scheduled Caste and Tribe (Atrocities Prevention) Act, 1973, following a complaint that Dalit students were prevented from offering prayers to Lord Ganesha during Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in a government-run school in Kendrapara district, Odisha.

Around 25 Dalit children studying in the Andara upper primary school under Pattamundai police station limits were allegedly not allowed to break coconuts and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha while upper caste students were allowed to do so during the celebrations on Thursday.

School in Toronto raises money to sponsor Syrian refugees

syrian refugee/wire/Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Everyday, across the world, many of us are reading about the Syrian refugee crisis and most of us feel sympathy for their struggle. While our contribution to the issue might end with sympathy, Toronto's Dewson Street Junior Public School is giving us lessons in being helpful global citizens.

Social studies teachers of the Toronto school are changing lesson plans for Class 6 to educate their young students about the refugee crisis and how Canada and the world are dealing with refugees.

The large-hearted parent body of Dewson has also decided to sponsor a refugee from Syria and have committed to dealing with all the paperwork that comes along with it as well as raise the required $30,000.