P.V. Sindhu , the first Indian lady to reach India Open semifinals.

Sindhu became the first Indian lady to reach the semifinals of the $200,000 India Open badminton championship defeating Japan’s Yui Hashimoto.

Yui Hashimoto defeated India’s Saina Nehwal in Quarter Finals.

India to host sixth IBSA Summit

India is hosting the sixth IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Summit in New Delhi on June 6.

The Summit in New Delhi will commemorate the 10th anniversary of establishment of IBSA. It also assumes special importance as being the last Summit in the Second cycle of IBSA Summit.

Israel Army not to use white phosphorous

Israel’s army said Thursday that it would soon halt its use of white phosphorus shells after years of international criticism for using the incendiary munitions in crowded Palestinian areas.

The army said in a statement that it would replace white phosphorus shells with ones based entirely on gas.

Israel was internationally condemned of its use during a military operation against Gaza in 2008-2009.

Israel launched a 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008 in response to rocket fire from the Islamist Hamas-run territory. The war killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, and it sparked widespread international criticism of Israel for using disproportionate force.

International law prohibits the use of white phosphorous shells in heavily populated civilian areas, but allows them in open spaces to be used as cover for troops. A Human Rights Watch report claimed Israel committed war crimes in its use of air-burst white phosphorus artillery shells

Shyamal Kumar Sen Panel begins probe into chit fund scam

A five-man commission headed by the former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice, Shyamal Kumar Sen, on Friday began probing the Saradha Group chit fund scam. The panel will submit its report within six months.

Sarabjit critical after attack in Lahore jail

Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit was attacked by Pak inmates in Lohore’s Kot Lakhpat jail. He sustained serious head injuries and his condition is said to be critical.

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad has sent two officials to Lahore to provide him consular access prison officials that he was being threatened by some inmates ever since India executed Afzal Guru for the attack on Indian Parliament in 2001

Anil Goswami has been appointed Union Home Secretary

Anil Goswami, Jammu and Kashmir cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as the Home Secretary.

Mr. Goswami will take over from R.K. Singh, who retires on June 30 after a two-year term as Home Secretary.

Mr. Goswami would soon start functioning as Officer-on-Special Duty in the Ministry to acquaint himself with all aspects of its working.

Mr. Goswami will have a fixed two-year term and will be at the helm of affairs when general elections are held in 2014.

Finance Ministry suggests alternative formula for gas pricing

The Finance Ministry has rejected the natural gas pricing formula suggested by the Rangarajan Committee and has instead suggested an alternative formula based on wellhead prices charged by suppliers in the region (Oman, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Malaysia) for long-term contracts.

Prices calculated by finance ministry as per the alternative formula may be lower than the Rangarajan Committee figure. Wellhead prices do not take into account transportation costs — a significant price escalator in the case of Liquified Natural Gas. The ministry has made this suggestion in a note for the consideration of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) while deciding the road map for gas pricing.