The Week That Was - September 6 : Bolt targets 200 record next year, retirement after 2016 Rio Games

Sexual assault case: Asaram sent to jail for 14 days

The Jodhpur court on Monday sent controversial godman Asaram Bapu, who is facing allegations of sexual assault on a minor, to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the case.

The court sent him to judicial custody since the Jodhpur police said that their investigation against the spiritual leader was complete.

Confirming the development, a senior police official said, “Asaram has been sent to judicial custody till September 15." His bail application will now come up for hearing tomorrow. While coming out of the court, the self-styled godman asked his followers “to be patient.”

Food security, Land acquisition, Pension bills passed in Parl

In a major development, Parliament passed the National Food Security bill, Land Acquisition bill and Pension bill.

Food Security Bill aims to provide cheap food grain to country’s two-thirds population.

Land Acquisition Bill aims to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken over, bring transparency to the process and details measures for rehabilitation of those displaced.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011, provides for market based returns and wide coverage based on several investment options in the pension sector with an aim to building confidence in the subscribers.

Indian author Sushmita Banerjee shot dead by militants in Afghanistan

An Indian woman author who wrote a popular memoir about her escape from the Taliban has been shot dead in Afghanistan`s Paktika province by suspected militants.

Married to an Afghan businessman, Sushmita Banerjee, 49, was killed outside her home.

The book about her dramatic escape in 1995 became a best-seller in India and was made into a Bollywood film in 2003.

Her husband and other members of the family were tied up by Taliban militants at her home. The militants dragged her out and shot her. They later dumped her body near a school.

However, no group has taken the responsibility of the attack till now.

DG Vanzara quits, slams ‘God’ Narendra Modi for exploiting Gujarat police

In a major embarrassment for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, DG Vanzara, a top IPS officer considered close to him, has resigned from service accusing the state government of having failed to protect the interest of policemen jailed for encounter deaths while implementing its "conscious policy".

The development came on a day Congress demanded Modi`s resignation in the wake of a sting operation claiming to "expose" a plan by senior BJP leaders to save his key aide Amit Shah in Tulsi Prajapati fake encounter case.

Controversial IPS officer Vanzara, who has so far rejected charges of fake encounter killings during Modi`s tenure, accused the government of failing to protect officers who fought against "Pakistan inspired terrorism".

Syria strike plan gets US Senate panel nod; Obama repeats ‘red line’ warning

Barack Obama`s proposal on Syria won the approval of a US Senate committee as he repeated that the ‘red line’ set for the use of chemical weapons, was not “made up” by him but it was set by the world.

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday passed the Syria resolution by a 10-7 vote, authorising the use of limited military force for a time limit of 60 days, extendable to one month on conditions.

The resolution is now slated for a full Senate vote next week and if approved it will be up for voting in the House of Representatives.

"I didn`t set a red line. The world set a red line," said Obama, and added, "Congress set a red line when it ratified that treaty. Congress set a red line when it indicated that in a piece of legislation entitled the `Syria Accountability Act` that some of the horrendous things that are happening on the ground there need to be answered for."

Wave of bombings, attacks in Iraq kill at least 67

A series of coordinated blasts in Baghdad on Wednesday and other violence killed at least 67 people in Iraq, the latest in a months-long surge of bloodshed that Iraqi security forces are struggling to contain.

Many of those killed were caught up in a string of car bombings that tore through the Iraqi capital early in the evening as residents were out shopping or heading to dinner.

Those blasts struck 11 different neighbourhoods and claimed more than 50 lives in a span of less than two hours.

The killing comes amid a spike in deadly violence in recent months as insurgents try to capitalise on rising sectarian and ethnic tensions.

The scale of the bloodshed has risen to levels not seen since 2008, a time when Iraq was pulling back from the brink of civil war.

The deadliest of the attacks happened when two car bombs exploded near restaurants and shops Baghdad`s northeastern suburb of Husseiniyah, a Shiite area, killing nine people and wounding 32.

11 Muslim Brotherhood members sentenced to life

Fifty-six members of Muslim Brotherhood were on Tuesday sentenced, including 11 to life imprisonment, by an Egyptian military court on charges of acts of "aggression" against the Army in Suez city last month.

In the first such sentencing since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi on July 3, the Suez military court sentenced 11 Islamists to 25 years in jail, while 45 others were given five years. Eight others were acquitted.

The Islamists were accused of assaulting army troops, burning military vehicles, throwing Molotov cocktails and attacking churches in Suez governorate following the August 14 military crackdown on pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza.

Mandela`s return home from hospital indicates progress: Zuma

Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela remains critical but he is responding to treatment at home, South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday, days after the 95-year-old statesman was discharged after nearly three months in a hospital.

"We feel very good... That he could leave hospital which indicates the progress he has made," Zuma told editors at a breakfast briefing in Pretoria.

"You have heard that Tata Madiba (Mandela`s clan name) left hospital for his home...He remains critical but stable, responding to treatment," he said.

It is the first time that Zuma has commented on the status of former democracy hero since he was discharged from hospital at the weekend.

Raghuram Rajan replaces D Subbarao as RBI Governor

On September 4, internationally renowned economist Raghuram Rajan took over as RBI Governor replacing D Subbarao on his completing five years in Mint Road.

50-year-old Rajan, a former chief economist with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who was economic advisor to the finance ministry, said he had no magic wand to face the economic challenges before the country but would deal with them one at a time.

"We will do it one step at a time. Make sure that it progresses everyday," said the new RBI governor.

Parliament passes key Pension Bill after about 10-year delay

After a delay of nearly a decade, Parliament on Friday passed a key economic reforms legislation, the Pension Bill that aims to create a regulator for the sector and allows at least 26 percent FDI.

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill, 2011, was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 115 MPs voting in favour and 25 against including members form Left parties and TMC. The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on September 4.

The bill provides subscribers a wide choice to invest their funds including for assured returns by opting for Government Bonds as well as in other funds depending on their capacity to take risk, a provision that came from opponents of the legislation.

Microsoft to buy Nokia handset business for $7.2 bn

Two years after hitching its fate to Microsoft`s Windows Phone software, Nokia collapsed into the arms of the US software giant on Tuesday, agreeing to sell its main handset business for 5.44 billion euros.

Nokia, which will continue to make networking equipment and hold patents, was once the world`s dominant handset maker but was long since overtaken by Apple and Samsung in the highly competitive market for more powerful smartphones.

Nokia`s Canadian boss Stephen Elop, who ran Microsoft`s business software division before jumping to Nokia in 2010, will return to the US firm as head of its mobile devices business - a Trojan horse, according to disgruntled Finnish media.

Kareena Kapoor Khan flaunts a baby bump!

Kareena Kapoor Khan tied the nuptial knot with her long time beau Saif Ali Khan last year. And the two actors, who are professionals to the core, have been busy with their respective shooting schedules.

Interestingly, the actress was spotted with a baby bump recently. And wait, before you think the actress is expecting here’s some news for you.

Bebo aka Mrs Khan sported a baby bump for her film ‘Gori Tere Pyaar Mein’ alongside her ‘Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu’ co-star Imran Khan.

The actress wore a pink anarkali styled salwar suit and was seen carrying a fake baby bump that made her look heavily pregnant.

‘Gori Tere Pyaar Mein’ is being directed by Punit Malhotra and is slated to release this November.

Katrina Kaif breaks silence on her ‘bikini’ vacation

Despite making all possible attempts to keep their Spanish vacation hush-hush, Katrina Kaif and her alleged beau failed to keep their private moments under wraps as images of the two holidaying in the European country surfaced.

Nonetheless, the picture that raised a million eyebrows saw Katrina in a bikini alongside her ‘Ranjneeti’ co-star Ranbir Kapoor at a Spanish beach. Images of the two went viral, subsequently irking the British-Indian beauty.

Katrina issued a press statement expressing her angst against the media over the leaked private pictures and since then has kept safe distance from the paparazzi. However, the actress has now broken her silence on the ‘bikini’ hullabaloo.

The actress said that as an actor she is prepared for interviews, press conference, and meet media on the red carpet or at a movie set. But she does hope that she is left alone in her downtime. The trip to Spain was her private space.

Katrina has firmly put forth her opinion even if the paparazzi choose to disagree.

Ranbir Kapoor admits Katrina Kaif is special to him

Ranbir Kapoor’s relationship with Katrina Kaif has been under huge speculation. The two good looking actors, who have worked in ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ and ‘Rajneeti’, have often been spotted together but have refrained from talking about their equation in public.

The ‘Barfi!’ star and Kat have categorically dodged questions about their relationship status, especially after pictures of their Spanish vacation were leaked. However, during an interview to a leading daily, Ranbir admitted that Katrina was indeed a special person in his life.

On being quizzed about the people for whom he would give away his life, junior RK mentioned his parents, his dear friend Ayan Mukerji, Rohit Dhawan, Aisha Divetri (his school friend) and Katrina Kaif. And while naming Katrina, he emphasised that she is a special person in his life.

Nonetheless, Ranbir refused to speak any further regarding his relationship with the British girl.

Even Katrina recently said that she would appreciate if people respect her need for privacy.

IBL: Saina-led Hyderabad Hotshots defeat Awadhe Warriors 3-1 to win title

Saina Nehwal once again inspired players of her team as Hyderabad Hotshots defeated Awadhe Warriors 3-1 in the final of the Indian Badminton League at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Mumbai.

Ajay Jayaram, one of the pillars for Hyderabad in the tournament, made a spectacular comeback in his men’s singles match against Guru Sai Dutt to help his team win the best-of-five tie.

Ajay Jayaram was the favourite ahead of the match but Guru Sai Dutt stunned everybody by winning the first game and then dominating for the most part of the second, before Jayaram bounced back to win the second game. Guru was leading 16-12 in the second game and Jayaram found it difficult to find his rhythm, but one he did, it was he who dominated in the 10-21, 21-17, 11-7 win.

Earlier in the day, Saina Nehwal once again thrashed PV Sindhu, icon player of Awadhe Warriors 21-15, 21-7, for the second time in the tournament.

Real Madrid sign Bale for world record fee

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur for a record-breaking €100 million.

The Wales international succeeds new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as the game`s most expensive player after penning a six-year contract with the Liga giants. Bale, who will be officially unveiled as a Madrid player at a press conference at 13:00CET on Monday, first came to prominence as a 16-year-old with Southampton before joining Tottenham in 2007.

The then full-back initially struggled at White Hart Lane but he flourished after being converted into a winger, winning the PFA Players` Player of the Year in 2010-11.

Bale collected the same prize last year, after scoring 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions.

Roger Federer crashes out to Tommy Robredo in US Open stunner

Roger Federer suffered a stunning upset in the fourth round of the US Open, the 17-time Grand Slam champion falling to Spanish 19th seed Tommy Robredo 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4 in a last-16 match.

Federer`s failure, on the heels of a shock second-round Wimbledon exit, thwarted a potential quarter-final match with 12-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, in what would have been their first meeting on the New York hardcourts.

"The way I played," Federer said, "I couldn`t have beaten Rafa."

Robredo, who had lost his 10 prior matches against the Swiss star, suffered seven prior fourth-round US Open defeats and matched his best Grand Slam performance by finally breaking through.

Bolt targets 200 record next year, retirement after 2016 Rio Games

Usain Bolt has made breaking his 200metres world record the target for 2014 and reiterated his plan to retire after the 2016 Rio Games having achieved the unthinkable hat-trick of Olympic sprint doubles.

"As long as I stay injury free next season you`ll see me attempting a few times to try to break some records," Bolt told reporters in Brussels ahead of Friday`s season finale Diamond League event where he will race the 100m in a rematch with American Justin Gatlin who he beat into second place in last month`s world championship final.

"It`s definitely on my mind.

"The 100 meters is going to be the hardest to actually get because it`s a lot more technical. It`s going to be hard to get, but I think the 200 is there to really try to go faster because I`ve learnt to master the art of running the turn," he said.

The Jamaican became the most successful athlete in world championship history last month after another clean sweep of the 100/200m and 4x100m relay, and wants to underline his superstar status by winning a third 100 and 200 meter double at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where a third relay gold would be the icing on the cake.