Expressing deep anguish over the loss of lives in the recent communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar in UP, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced `2 lakhs each for the next of kin of those killed and `50,0

Out-of-favour players Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir were on Tuesday handed a lifeline for staging a comeback to the national team as they were included in the India A squad for two four-day games against visiting West Indies A next month.

“This is my advice. If you want to succeed at doubles, find a partner from the Czech Republic.” Leander Paes’ quip during the presentation ceremony of the US Open was more than just flattery aimed at his partner Radek Stepanek with whom the Indian veteran won his 14th career slam on Sunday.

The equity markets posted the biggest single-day gain since May 2009, while the rupee extended its recovery, closing at 63.84 against the dollar Tuesday, up 140 paise (biggest in two weeks), as easing Syria tensions and improved industrial production data from China lifted investor sentiments.

Senior Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry said here on Tuesday that the violence in Muzaffarnagar was a replica of the “Gujarat model”. He accused the Akhilesh Yadav government of conniving with the BJP in their strategy to capture power through “the politics over deadbodies”.

In-form opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan on Tuesday asserted that the players “were getting ready” for the crucial tour of South Africa in November.

BJP MLA Som Sangeet was booked on Tuesday for uploading a fake video on Facebook that incited communal tensions in Muzaffarnagar district and nearby areas of western Uttar Pradesh.

The CBI told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it has been facing difficulty in functioning as an autonomous investigative agency due to obstacles routinely put up by the bureaucracy.

With the RSS throwing its weight behind Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and asking the BJP leadership to decide on the timing of the announcement of Mr Modi as the party’s PM candidate, the BJP parliamentary board is likely to meet later this week on the issue.

“It is the fourth day today and my father-in-law who is highly diabetic has been forced to remain without his insulin injection. I have been pleading with the cops and officials to please ensure medical aid for him or, at least, get him shifted to a hospital but no one is listening,” said Sukriti Singh, a young homemaker who lives with her in-laws in the Civil Lines area in Muzaffarnagar.