Iranian President Hassan Rouhani put forward a new cabinet line-up that was immediately criticised by reformists for its lack of women or young people.
The ministerial line-up, which must still be approved by the Parliament, also lacked minorities and actually increased the average age compared to Mr. Rouhani’s first term.
US Denies Bombing Iraqi Shi'ite Militia
The U.S-led coalition fighting Islamic State denied responsibility for an attack near the Syrian border, which killed dozens of members of an Iraqi Shi`ite militia.
The U.S.-led coalition, which is attacking Islamic State militants from the air in Syria and Iraq, said that the allegations were inaccurate and denied conducting air attacks in that area at the time.
Multiplex major PVR Ltd. has entered into definitive agreements with Smaaash Entertainment to sell its stake in bluO entertainment, a bowling and entertainment entity for Rs. 86 crore.
bluO is a 51:49 joint venture between PVR and Major Cineplex Group of Thailand.
The acquisition also adds six centres across five cities to Smaaash’s existing seven centres in India and one in Minneapolis, U.S.
Bharti Airtel Sells Stake in Its Tower Firm
Bharti Airtel sold 6.75 crore shares, about 3.65% stake, in its tower firm Bharti Infratel for Rs. 2,570 crore.
The company sold part of Bharti Infratel equity held through its wholly-owned subsidiary Nettle Infrastructure Investments Ltd. through a secondary share sale in the stock market.
Bharti Airtel will use the amount realised from the transaction to lower its debt.
Axis Bank Cuts Interest Rate
Within days of SBI slashing interest rate on savings bank account - Axis Bank has also slashed interest rate to 3.5 per cent on deposits of up to Rs. 50 lakh.
However, for balance above of Rs. 50 lakh, the bank has retained the rate at 4 per cent.
Axis Bank is the fourth lender to reduce the interest rate.
Real Madrid beat Manchester United to lift the European Super Cup for the fourth time and became the first team to retain the trophy since AC Milan in 1990.
The government cleared the appointment of Justice Dipak Misra, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as the next Chief Justice of India.
Justice Misra, who will be the 45th Chief Justice of India, will succeed incumbent J. S. Khehar, who retires later this month.
Justice Misra will have a tenure of nearly 14 months as the Chief Justice of India.
Ram Temple in Ayodhya
The Shia Central Waqf Board filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in which it stated that a mosque can be constructed at a place near the birth place of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
The Board stated that a mosque can be located in a Muslim dominated area at a reasonable distance from Shree Ram Lala's birth place in Ayodhya.
The Board further claimed that since Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf property, it is the only one which is entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders in the Babri Masjid-Ram Temple dispute case.
Joint Military Exercise
India and the United States of America will conduct Yudh Abhyas joint exercise between their armies in September.
The exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2017, will be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the US.
The exercise will be the 13th in the Yudh Abhyas series, which started in the year 2004 under US Army Pacific partnership programme.