News At A Glance: 23 June 2007

1) Atlantis Returns: Putting all the anxious moments into rest, space shuttle Atlantis returned to earth. All the seven members including India-born astronaut Sunita Williams are reported safe and healthy.

2) Patil's Nomination: UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil filed her nomination at Sansad Bhawan today. Leaders like Sonia Gandhi, PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ajit Singh and Ramvilas Paswan.

3) Kalam's No: President APJ Abdul Kalam did not get into a political controversy and refused to contest the Presidential elections again. He expressed deep hurt and pain over the ways UPA ministers criticized him over the past few days. Although he was the people's President, political parties wanted a rubber stamp to play in their hands.

4) Pratibha in Controversy: A widow in Mumbai alleged that Presidential nominee Pratibha Patil's brother killed her husband in 2005 and Pratibha has been trying to shield him. She demanded a speedy and impartial CBI probe into the case.

5) Pratibha, Loan Defaulter?: A Mumbai Central District Co-operative Bank (Mumbai Bank) issued a notice to a Jalgaon sugar factory floated by Pratibha Patil for default of a loan to the tune of Rs 17.70 crore. That created a fresh controversy in the political circle.

6) Heavy Rain in Andhra Pradesh: At least 45 people were killed when heavy rain lashed several parts of Andhra Pradesh. The rain was caused by a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal.

7) ICC on WC Blunder: The ICC took strong exception on the role played by the match officials during the World Cup Cricket 2007 and punished 5 match officials for the blunder. It decided not to appoint Steve Bucknor, Aleem Dar, Rudi Koertzen, Billy Bowden and ICC match referee Jeff Crowe in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa in September.

8) Ship Sinking: The cargo ship - MV DenDen has sunk off the Mangalore coast. Around 21 people from the crew have been rescued, while 2 crew members have lost their lives. One is still missing.