1. Maratha Quota Stir: CM Ready for Talks; Protesters Call Off Bandh
The Maratha Kranti Morcha called off the bandh declared in Mumbai, on Wednesday, 25 July, saying that they wanted Mumbaikars to return home safely. However, the protests continued to be staged in the neighbouring Thane.
Sections of the Maratha community had declared a bandh in Mumbai and its adjoining districts to demand reservations in education and government jobs.
Two police vehicles were reportedly set ablaze in Navi Mumbai’s Kalamboli. Dozens of private vehicles were also vandalised. In the couple of days of disturbance, two protesters killed themselves and one constable lost his life.
(Read the full story here)
2. Pakistan Elections: IS-Claimed Blast Kills 31 People in Quetta
Amid the ongoing voting for Pakistan general elections, a blast rocked Quetta, killing 31 and injuring dozens of others. Three principal parties – Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI; Shehbaz Sharif's PML-N; and Pakistan People's Party or PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari – are locked in a three-cornered battle.
This election will mark the only second-ever democratic handover of power in Pakistan, without military rule in between. The results are expected on 27 July.
The country will also see simultaneous elections to the four provincial Assemblies in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
(Get the live updates here)
3. Ghatkopar Building Collapse: One Year on, Residents Still Homeless
On 25 July 2017, fear and panic gripped the residents of Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area as a four-storey building came crashing down, killing 17 people. One year on, The Quint spoke to the residents of the ‘Siddhi Sai’ building who are still mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Sunil Shitap, a Shiv Sena worker, who was booked as the main culprit in the incident, is still in jail. His plea for bail has been rejected already. Shitap has been charged with culpable homicide after investigators found that he carried out unauthorised renovation work on the ground floor apartments of the building. Shitap had allegedly removed most of the load-bearing internal walls of a portion of the building that caused the building to collapse.
Till the residents manage to secure a developer who will rebuild their project, temporary residential arrangements are their only option.
(Watch the full video here)
4. Asia Cup 2018 Schedule Out; Dravid Says He Would Pick Sachin to Bat for His Life
Defending champions India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup on 19 September in Dubai, the ICC announced on Tuesday. India will open their campaign against a Qualifier a day before on 18 September.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are the confirmed participants while the remaining two spots are up for grabs and will see UAE, Singapore, Oman, Nepal, Malaysia and Hong Kong fight for them.
Tracking back to the old team, former Indian Captain Rahul Dravid, in a recent interview, that he would pick the great Sachin Tendulkar to bat for his life.
The best guy I’ve played with was Sachin Tendulkar. In terms of quality and class. So I’d pick Sachin, at his best.Rahul Dravid
5. Modi vs Rahul in Lok Sabha a Tie. Now for the Super Over in 2019
The opening game of the Electoral India Cup of 2019 was played in the no-trust vote in Parliament. And the result? In my reckoning, a draw, which sets us up nicely for the penalty shootout that could continue up to May next year.
Rahul Gandhi, the main striker of the underdog team, finally added the one weapon that was missing from his arsenal, namely the ability to create the big political photo-op and dominate the narrative.
(Watch the full video here)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)