SUNDAY SPECIAL | Initials hurdle hits PAN-Aadhaar link

Since a person’s identity is authenticated biometrically, Aadhaar can allow initials in the name. On the other hand, PAN is based on an old system that will not accept initials even if they are entered. A large number of people, especially in south India, are not being able to link the two because of the name mismatch, officials of the Income Tax Department told The Hindu. The officials have no solution to the problem from their end.

Rahul Gandhi likely to contest from south too

The Congress units of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have strongly urged Mr. Gandhi to contest from their States, but he has not taken a decision yet, multiple sources said.

Stop writing love letters to Pakistan, Congress tells PM

The Congress on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using anti-Pakistan rhetoric merely to drum up support for his politics domestically, even as he dealt with Islamabad in a surreptitious manner. Citing an unpublicised letter from Mr. Modi to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Pakistan’s National Day, the Congress said Mr. Modi should stop writing “love letters”.

Congress, NCP announce seat-sharing pact in Maharashtra

The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with the support of 57 splinter groups, announced the launch of the United Progressive Grand Alliance for the Lok Sabha election. The Congress has decided to contest 26 seats and NCP the remaining 22.

Anti-IS campaign ends after 5 years of fighting

The fall of Baghouz brings to a close a nearly five-year global campaign against the Islamic State that raged in two countries, spanned two U.S. presidencies and saw a U.S.-led coalition unleash more than 1,00,000 strikes.

CRICKET | IPL 12: Harbhajan, Tahir send Royal Challengers into a tizzy

The hapless Royal Challengers Bangalore, bundled out for 70, was at the receiving end on this occasion. And Chennai Super Kings, in this first match of the IPL, was home by seven wickets in its fortress.

SCIENCE | IIT Guwahati’s bone graft aids extensive bone formation

A scaffold made of silk–bone cement composite doped with silicon and zinc metal ions has been found to regenerate new bone tissue in rabbits in three months. The newly formed bone forms a seamless joint with the existing bone and has blood vessels inside it

DESPATCH FROM LONDON | To tell the ‘real story’ of the East End women

“The museum will recognise and celebrate the women of the East End who have shaped history, telling the story of how they have been instrumental in changing society. It will analyse the social, political and domestic experience from the Victorian period to the present day.”

The Hindu Explains | What are the powers and duties of Lokpal?

The Lokpal has jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.

Magazine | Varanasi, by design: Vishwanath Dham and the politics of change

The proposed development provides multiple amenities for pilgrims such as Yatra Seva Kendras, guesthouses, hospice, library, and museum. It pays attention to public toilets and provides for a good number of them at places where pilgrims throng. There are covered escalators to enable elderly pilgrims to climb the 26.5 m level difference (about eight floors height) between the river and temple.