Taking another step to implement Goods & Services Tax Bill on time, July 1, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday tabled the Central Goods & Services Tax Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha.

“The Central Goods & Services Tax Bill, 2017 tabled in Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley,” reports stated.

Sources had said that the government will table Central Goods and Service Tax (C-GST), Integrated Goods and Service Tax (I-GST), Union Territories- Goods and Service Tax (UT-GST) on Monday.

In order to implement the GST from July 1, the Union government is planning to complete the legislative work in the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley last week had said the GST Council has cleared all the major hurdles for the GST Bill.

A US woman under a court order to stay away from the White House area was arrested for the third time in a week after she scaled a fence at the nearby US Treasury, a media report said on Monday.

The Secret Service officers arrested the woman after an alarm was sounded about 2.15 am on Sunday. The woman had successfully scaled the fence at the Treasury's southeast corner, at 15th Street, a block east of the White House, the NBC News reported.

The woman was charged with unlawful entry and contempt of court, said the Secret Service, which confirmed that she was the same woman who was arrested on Tuesday night after she was left dangling on the inside of a fence at the White House when her shoelaces got tangled up in the fence.

Court records identified that woman as Marci Anderson Wahl of Everett, Washington. Wahl pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor unlawful entry on Wednesday and was ordered to stay away from the area around the White House.

But on Friday, Wahl was arrested a second time, this time on the north side of Lafayette Square, also a block from the White House. She again pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court, this time to contempt of court, for allegedly defying the order to steer clear of the White House complex, the NBC News reported.

The arrest on Sunday morning came just a few hours after she was released in that case. In all three cases, the Secret Service said, she was carrying nothing threatening.

No court date was immediately available in connection with her third arrest. Wahl faces a status hearing April 27 in connection with her first two arrests.
 

 Actress Scarlett Johansson feels "icky" talking personally about the gender pay gap in Hollywood.

The Ghost in the Shell star is one of the highest grossing actresses in the industry, reports femalefirst.co.uk

"There's something icky about me having that conversation unless it applies to a greater whole," Johansson told The Observer newspaper.

Johansson is known for her work in films like Captain America: Civil War, Lucy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Avengers, Iron Man 2 and Chef.
 

The Supreme Court on Monday said the unique identification number – Aadhaar card – cannot be made mandatory for availing benefits under social welfare schemes.

This was stated by a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

Senor counsel Shyam Divan had challenged a spare of orders issued by the government making Aadhaar mandatory to access benefits under various schemes. 

The Supreme Court on Monday said the unique identification number – Aadhaar card – cannot be made mandatory for availing benefits under social welfare schemes.

This was stated by a bench of Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.

Senor counsel Shyam Divan had challenged a spare of orders issued by the government making Aadhaar mandatory to access benefits under various schemes. 

Rapper Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian enjoyed a date night at a posh restaurant here.

The couple wined and dined for over three hours and spent some quality time inside a private room, reported E! Online.

Kardashian donned an off-the-shoulder beige sweater and a pair of snakeskin-patterned stiletto boots, while her husband opted for a casual look in a white hooded sweatshirt paired with a long black trench coat.

"Kim and Kanye were seated in a private room with several other tables, but the room was reserved just for the two of them," a source said, before adding, "they sat on the same side of the table and talked very quietly."

Rapper Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian enjoyed a date night at a posh restaurant here.

The couple wined and dined for over three hours and spent some quality time inside a private room, reported E! Online.

Kardashian donned an off-the-shoulder beige sweater and a pair of snakeskin-patterned stiletto boots, while her husband opted for a casual look in a white hooded sweatshirt paired with a long black trench coat.

"Kim and Kanye were seated in a private room with several other tables, but the room was reserved just for the two of them," a source said, before adding, "they sat on the same side of the table and talked very quietly."

US-backed Syrian rebels have taken control of a key airbase held by the Islamic State group near its stronghold Raqqa.

According to BBC, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Talal Sello, on Sunday said they had seized Tabqa airport from militants.

It comes as the Kurdish-led fighters advance on Raqqa, IS's self-declared capital.

Earlier the IS warned the nearby Tabqa dam could collapse, sparking panic. However, the dam appears intact.

The US-led coalition fighting the jihadists denied targeting the facility with airstrikes, leaving it dangerously vulnerable to failure.

"The dam has not been structurally damaged to our knowledge and the coalition seeks to preserve the integrity of the dam as a vital resource to the people of Syria," a spokesperson told the BBC.

The Tabqa airbase was seized by IS militants in 2014 from the Syrian army and the jihadists then carried out a mass execution of captured soldiers.

Its capture by rebels was part of an offensive aimed at taking control of the dam — the largest in Syria — as well as Tabqa town, on the way to Raqqa.

Earlier on Sunday, there were conflicting reports about damage to the dam — about 40km (25 miles) upstream of the Raqqa on the Euphrates river — with civilians reportedly fleeing to higher ground.

Although the IS warned the dam could burst, the militant group later reportedly sent cars around Raqqa with loudspeakers, telling people it was intact and they had no need to evacuate.

Aside from being strategically important and providing electricity to the region, the dam complex is believed to be used as an IS headquarters where leaders plot attacks outside Syria, according to the Pentagon.

The UN recently warned that damage to it could lead to massive-scale flooding.

There were similar concerns last year for a dam outside Mosul, an IS stronghold in northern Iraq.

If the Mosul dam burst, floodwaters could kill 1.47 million Iraqis living along the River Tigris, the US embassy said. However, the dam has so far remained in operation.

US warplanes are supporting the Iraqi army's mission to retake Mosul from the IS.

US-backed Syrian rebels have taken control of a key airbase held by the Islamic State group near its stronghold Raqqa.

According to BBC, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Talal Sello, on Sunday said they had seized Tabqa airport from militants.

It comes as the Kurdish-led fighters advance on Raqqa, IS's self-declared capital.

Earlier the IS warned the nearby Tabqa dam could collapse, sparking panic. However, the dam appears intact.

The US-led coalition fighting the jihadists denied targeting the facility with airstrikes, leaving it dangerously vulnerable to failure.

"The dam has not been structurally damaged to our knowledge and the coalition seeks to preserve the integrity of the dam as a vital resource to the people of Syria," a spokesperson told the BBC.

The Tabqa airbase was seized by IS militants in 2014 from the Syrian army and the jihadists then carried out a mass execution of captured soldiers.

Its capture by rebels was part of an offensive aimed at taking control of the dam — the largest in Syria — as well as Tabqa town, on the way to Raqqa.

Earlier on Sunday, there were conflicting reports about damage to the dam — about 40km (25 miles) upstream of the Raqqa on the Euphrates river — with civilians reportedly fleeing to higher ground.

Although the IS warned the dam could burst, the militant group later reportedly sent cars around Raqqa with loudspeakers, telling people it was intact and they had no need to evacuate.

Aside from being strategically important and providing electricity to the region, the dam complex is believed to be used as an IS headquarters where leaders plot attacks outside Syria, according to the Pentagon.

The UN recently warned that damage to it could lead to massive-scale flooding.

There were similar concerns last year for a dam outside Mosul, an IS stronghold in northern Iraq.

If the Mosul dam burst, floodwaters could kill 1.47 million Iraqis living along the River Tigris, the US embassy said. However, the dam has so far remained in operation.

US warplanes are supporting the Iraqi army's mission to retake Mosul from the IS.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused permission to a woman to abort her 27-week-old foetus showing signs of severe physical abnormalities.

A bench of Justices S A Bobdey and L Nageshwara Rao referred to the report of the medical board, which has examined the woman, and said that as per the opinion of the doctors the baby may be "born alive" if the mother is allowed to abort at this stage.

The apex court also observed that as per the doctors' opinion the physical condition of the woman is normal and there is no risk to her health.

"As regard to the foetus, the report states that, if the pregnancy is terminated in the 27th week, there is a possibility that the baby may be born alive," the bench observed.

"We don't consider it appropriate to direct the petitioner (woman) to terminate the foetus," the apex court said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the bench that as per the report of the medical board of the Mumbai-based K E M Hospital, the foetus has severe physical abnormalities but the doctors have not advised termination as she is in her 27th week of pregnancy.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks even if there is a fatal risk to the mother and the foetus.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused permission to a woman to abort her 27-week-old foetus showing signs of severe physical abnormalities.

A bench of Justices S A Bobdey and L Nageshwara Rao referred to the report of the medical board, which has examined the woman, and said that as per the opinion of the doctors the baby may be "born alive" if the mother is allowed to abort at this stage.

The apex court also observed that as per the doctors' opinion the physical condition of the woman is normal and there is no risk to her health.

"As regard to the foetus, the report states that, if the pregnancy is terminated in the 27th week, there is a possibility that the baby may be born alive," the bench observed.

"We don't consider it appropriate to direct the petitioner (woman) to terminate the foetus," the apex court said.

Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the bench that as per the report of the medical board of the Mumbai-based K E M Hospital, the foetus has severe physical abnormalities but the doctors have not advised termination as she is in her 27th week of pregnancy.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks even if there is a fatal risk to the mother and the foetus.

India were all out for 332 in their first innings at lunch in reply to Australia's total of 300 on the third day of the fourth and final Test against Australia here on Monday.

Brief Score:

Australia 1st innings: 300

India 1st innings: 332 all out in 118.1 overs (Lokesh Rahul 60, Cheteshwar Pujara 57, Ravindra Jadeja 63; Nathan Lyon 5/92, Pat Cummins 3/94).

India were all out for 332 in their first innings at lunch in reply to Australia's total of 300 on the third day of the fourth and final Test against Australia here on Monday.

Brief Score:

Australia 1st innings: 300

India 1st innings: 332 all out in 118.1 overs (Lokesh Rahul 60, Cheteshwar Pujara 57, Ravindra Jadeja 63; Nathan Lyon 5/92, Pat Cummins 3/94).

Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been juggling work between the US and India, says it is easy to get lost in work, but she makes it a point to take out some time for her friends and family.

She says she finds a balance in her personal and professional life "by living a double life". 

"Let's be honest, it's tough to always maintain a balance but you've got to do what you feel is important," Priyanka had told in an email interview. 

She added: "I work very hard but when I need to create time for myself, my family or friends for example, I will make the time. I understand my priorities and so does my team so when I need to do something that's important to me I will. I also make an effort to be connected… it's easy to get lost in work."

For Priyanka, it all started at the age of 17 when she was crowned Miss World. She soon stepped into the world of Bollywood in 2003 with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. Projects like Don, Fashion, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi!, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani are milestones in her career graph. 

She was at the peak of her career when she explored the world of music with singles like In my city and Exotic, and then walked into the US television space as FBI agent Alex Parrish in Quantico, which airs in India on Star World and Star World HD. She will soon make her Hollywood debut with Baywatch. 

The actress says it is important to "have people in your life who show you the mirror". 

"My family, friends and team have always been that for me and I wouldn't want it any other way. I've always been open to feedback… I don't claim to know everything and it's important to have an objective perspective or a view point that different from yours. I have a select set of people whose honesty and opinions I trust," said the actress.

Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been juggling work between the US and India, says it is easy to get lost in work, but she makes it a point to take out some time for her friends and family.

She says she finds a balance in her personal and professional life "by living a double life". 

"Let's be honest, it's tough to always maintain a balance but you've got to do what you feel is important," Priyanka had told in an email interview. 

She added: "I work very hard but when I need to create time for myself, my family or friends for example, I will make the time. I understand my priorities and so does my team so when I need to do something that's important to me I will. I also make an effort to be connected… it's easy to get lost in work."

For Priyanka, it all started at the age of 17 when she was crowned Miss World. She soon stepped into the world of Bollywood in 2003 with The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. Projects like Don, Fashion, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi!, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani are milestones in her career graph. 

She was at the peak of her career when she explored the world of music with singles like In my city and Exotic, and then walked into the US television space as FBI agent Alex Parrish in Quantico, which airs in India on Star World and Star World HD. She will soon make her Hollywood debut with Baywatch. 

The actress says it is important to "have people in your life who show you the mirror". 

"My family, friends and team have always been that for me and I wouldn't want it any other way. I've always been open to feedback… I don't claim to know everything and it's important to have an objective perspective or a view point that different from yours. I have a select set of people whose honesty and opinions I trust," said the actress.

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale on Monday jolted southwest China's Yangbi County.

The epicentre of the quake was located in the county's Ajia and Puping villages, where some houses were reportedly damaged, said Wang Caixun, a publicity official of Yangbi County in Yunnan Province.

Fire fighters and medical teams are heading to the villages, Wang said.

The epicentre was monitored at a depth of about 12 kilometres, China Earthquake Networks Centre said.

Four tremors measuring 3 to 4.7 on the Richter scale hit the same region before and after the quake, the centre said.

There were no reports of any casualties, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.