5 yearsGovt to spend Rs 3.5 lakh crore on mega water scheme in Jal Jeevan Mission

NATIONAL NEWS

The 68th Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Guwahati

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that the Article 371, which provides special provisions for North Eastern states, will not be tampered with.
• Mr. Shah announced that the NEC will earmark one- third of its funds for priority areas in North East. He said that not a single infiltration would be allowed in the region. He said that port connectivity with Bangladesh will boost GDP of the country.

5 yearsGovt to spend Rs 3.5 lakh crore on mega water scheme in Jal Jeevan Mission

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Rs 3.5 lakh crore will be spent in the next five years under the newly formed Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide piped water ('Har Ghar Jal') to all rural households by 2024.
• He said the move was aimed at fulfilling legendary socialist late Ram Manohar Lohia's dream of providing water, and toilets, to mitigate the hardships faced by women.

OBITUARY

Eminent lawyer and former minister Ram Jethmalani, passes away at 95

• Ram Jethmalani, one of India's well-known lawyers and a former union minister, died this morning at his home in Delhi. He was 95.
• A six-time Rajya Sabha member, Ram Jethmalani served as a Union Minister in the United Front and the BJP-led NDA governments. In 2016, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha on RJD ticket.

Actor, Kathak Dancer Veeru Krishnan Passes Away,

• Actor and Kathak dancer Veeru Krishnan passed away in Mumbai. He was best known for his work in films like Raja Hindustani, Dulhe Raja, Akele Hum Akele Tum among others.

SPORTS

Kenya's Brigid Kosgei runs fastest-ever women's half-marathon

• Kenya's Brigid Kosgei ran the fastest half-marathon ever by a woman, winning the Great North Run in a time of one hour, four minutes and 28 seconds.
• Her time was 23 seconds quicker than the world record set in 2017 by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei but the course in the northeast of England is not eligible for records.
• Kosgei, who won this year's London Marathon, led a Kenyan sweep of the top four places, with Magdalyne Masai second (1:07.36) and Linet Masai third (1:07:44).

Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev to win US Open men's final

• Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title in thrilling fashion by winning the US Open final, outlasting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to seize his fourth crown in New York.
• Nadal, who was in his fifth US Open championship match and 27^th Grand Slam final, is the first man to claim five major titles after turning 30.

Bianca Andreescu Clinched US Open Women’s Singles Title

• Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu stunned Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 to grab the US Open 2019 women’s singles title. The 19-year-old Andreescu becomes the first Canadian singles player to win a Grand Slam event. With the victory, Andreescu also jumps into the top 10 in the WTA rankings.
• The 19-year-old teen is also the first woman to win the trophy at Flushing Meadows in her tournament debut in the Open era. Meanwhile, Serena Williams has lost each of her last four Grand Slam finals, all with a chance to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

Charles Leclerc wins Italian Grand Prix after Sebastian Vettel ‘nightmare’

• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended a nine-year drought at the Italian Grand Prix with a masterful drive but the victory has further exposed his teammate Sebastian Vettel.
• A week after winning his first Grand Prix in emotional scenes in Belgium following the death of F2 driver Anthoine Hubert, Leclerc claimed back-to-back victories in Monza.