A look at the headlines right now:

  1. Navjot Singh Sidhu forms Aawaaz-e-Punjab party along with Pargat Singh, Bains brothers: His wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu, a BJP lawmaker, said she will resign after her term is over if the party decides to continue its alliance with the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in the state.
  2. All India Trinamool Congress granted national party status, confirms Election Commission: Party Vice President Mukul Roy had earlier said that he had received an unofficial confirmation on the same from the monitoring body.
  3. Supreme Court cannot 'rewrite personal laws' or decide on validity of triple talaq, says Muslim board: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board said in an affidavit that Islam permitted the practice as 'the husband is in a better position to make a decision'.
  4. At least 10 killed, dozens injured in night market explosion in Davao city, Philippines: A spokesperson for the police said they believed the blast was caused by a bomb, and fire trucks and ambulances are at the location.
  5. Vietnam a 'central pillar' of India's Act East Policy, government says as Narendra Modi begins visit: Senior External Affairs Ministry official Preeti Saran said the prime minister’s trip to the country aims to strengthen bilateral ties in defence and trade.
  6. President Islam Karimov has died, confirms Uzbekistan government: The news came after much speculation over his health, with local media reports saying there were strong indications that the 78-year-old had died last week.
  7. Srinagar administration bans five news channels for airing shows 'inciting violence': The order said their programmes promoted 'enmity against the sovereignty of the state', but channel authorities said it violated the Cable TV Network Act.
  8. Ex-revenue minister Eknath Khadse will soon return to state Cabinet, says Maharashtra BJP president: Following Raosaheb Danve’s comments, the former minister who had resigned in June said he was ‘pained by having to fight’ against members of his own party.
  9. Rajasthan and Puducherry ratify GST Bill amid protests by Opposition parties: While six MLAs had to be forced out of the northern state Assembly, four AIADMK members staged a walkout from the House of the Union Territory.
  10. AAP files six petitions in SC against High Court ruling on Delhi's Union Territory status: The party also withdrew its civil suit in the matter after the top court asked it to file an appeal against the HC order, instead of pursuing the case further.