THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds efforts of individuals towards nature conservation, solving local problems and other social causes; Also compliments record breaking performances by emerging athletes in National sports events in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani.
- CBSE deploys team of cybersecurity experts to secure OnMark portal for evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets.
- BJP wins three out of four Municipal Corporations in Himachal Pradesh Civic body polls.
- Over 45 people killed in a blast at a building storing explosives in Namhkam town of Myanmar.
- India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinch Men’s Doubles title of Singapore Open Badminton tournament.
- In IPL Cricket, high-voltage Summit Clash between Gujarat Titans and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru underway in Ahmedabad.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded several citizens for their outstanding contributions towards nature conservation, solving local problems and other social causes, highlighting their inspiring initiatives and achievements. Addressing the nation in his monthly programme Mann Ki Baat on Akashvani, Mr. Modi spoke about Saji Valasheril of Keralam, who runs a free-swimming club that has helped more than fifteen thousand people learn swimming.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the efforts of Akash Gupta from Basti in Uttar Pradesh, who, along with his friends, launched a campaign to clean the Manorama River, helping restore its cleanliness and promoting environmental awareness in the community. Mr. Modi further shared the story of Balkrishna Aiya, a retired teacher from Goa, who worked to address water scarcity by contributing to the laying of water pipelines. He also praised educator Girija Amma of Tamil Nadu for her contribution to the welfare of soldiers.
Highlighting India’s sporting achievements, Mr. Modi applauded record breaking performances by emerging athletes at the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition held in Jharkhand’s Ranchi.
During the programme, Mr Modi also interacted with sprinters Gurinder Veer Singh and Animesh Kujur who broke national records in the 100 metre race.
Mr Modi also reflected on the government’s continuous efforts to preserve the country’s priceless cultural heritage. He also referred to his recent visit to the Netherlands, where during a special ceremony ancient copper plates from the Chola period were returned to India.
The Prime Minister praised conservation efforts under the Namami Gange initiative, citing the successful rescue of a Gangetic dolphin trapped in a canal in Uttar Pradesh with the help of India’s first Ganga dolphin rescue ambulance.
Expressing concern over the prevailing heatwave conditions, the Prime Minister urged people to follow official advisories and take precautions to stay safe. He also encouraged the consumption of traditional summer beverages.
Referring to mangoes, a favourite summer fruit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the efforts of farmers, saying Indian mangoes are now reaching global markets from villages across the country.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold discussions with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi tomorrow. The entire gamut of relations between Myanmar and India, including security and connectivity, will come up for discussions during the talks.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on the visiting dignitary in Delhi this evening.
The Myanmar President arrived at Gaya in Bihar yesterday on a five day visit to India.
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Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal, today announced a series of initiatives to strengthen urban sanitation and power infrastructure in Tripura. Addressing a joint press conference in Agartala with Tripura Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath, the Union Minister said financial assistance will be provided to upgrade waste management systems in the state.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister participated in a mega event in Agartala to mark the sixth anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme. On the occasion, the Union Minister distributed loan cheques and QR-coded credit cards to street vendors to promote digital transactions and economic self-reliance.
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has said an expert team of cyber security professionals from various government agencies and Indian Institutes of Technology has been deployed to secure the OnMark portal, which is its On-Screen Marking (OSM) system utilised for evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets. In a social media post, the board said, it is closely monitoring vulnerabilities in the portal of its service provider that were recently flagged in the public domain. It said, vulnerabilities have been identified and contained and a thorough review is being carried out to rule out any other exploitable weaknesses.
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Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General N S Raja Subramani today said the Armed Forces have consistently demonstrated professionalism and operational decisiveness in safeguarding the nation’s interests. He said, they remain committed to protecting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. General Subramani was addressing the media after assuming charge as the country’s new CDS.
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Admiral Krishna Swaminathan today assumed charge as the 27th Chief of the Naval Staff. He succeeds Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. Addressing the media on the occasion, Admiral Swaminathan said, the Indian Navy remains vigilant in safeguarding the nation’s interests and is actively deployed in a regional security environment that continues to be challenging, complex, unpredictable and uncertain.
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West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi today expressed concern over security vulnerabilities along the India-Bangladesh border, saying that unfenced stretches of the border pose a threat to national security. The Governor was speaking to the media at Bagdogra before attending an event in Siliguri. He also stressed the need to strengthen security along the strategically important Chicken Neck Corridor that connects the Northeast with the rest of the country.
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In Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won three out of the four municipal corporations in the civic body elections. The counting of votes was held today, while polling took place on the 17th of this month. More from our correspondent:
“The Bharatiya Janata Party has secured a major victory in Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Elections, winning Dharamshala, Solan, and Mandi. The Congress party has won the Palampur Municipal Corporation. In Dharamshala, the BJP won 11 of 17 wards, while Congress secured 5. In Solan, BJP won 10 wards and Congress 6. In Mandi, BJP dominated with 12 of 14 wards, while Congress won one. In Palampur, Congress secured a clear majority with 11 of 15 wards, while BJP won 4. Counting of votes for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections has also been completed. Though held without party symbols, both BJP and Congress have claimed victories of their supported candidates. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.”
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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan today said that political leadership is one of the most demanding fields of public life and stressed that constructive criticism must remain fair and balanced.
The Vice President made these remarks while inaugurating the 140th Foundation Day celebrations of the Deepika Malayalam daily and presenting the Deepika Excellence Awards at Kottayam in Keralam. He emphasised that journalism should highlight stories of hope, innovation, compassion and scientific progress, noting that such constructive reporting strengthens public confidence and inspires youth towards nation-building.
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Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh today said India has transformed from a technology follower to a technology leader over the past 12 years. Speaking in a podcast with Doordarshan News, Dr Singh said the country is playing an increasingly important role in the development of frontier technologies and helping shape the future of global innovation.
On Artificial Intelligence, the Minister said India is adopting a balanced approach by combining human expertise with AI-driven systems to enhance efficiency and innovation. Dr. Singh also noted that India’s space economy, currently valued at around nine billion US dollars, is expected to grow substantially in the coming years.
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In Himachal Pradesh, eight people lost their lives after their vehicle fell into a deep gorge in the Chamba district. The accident occurred on the Bairagarh-Sach Pass-Killar road in the remote Churah subdivision. The deceased include seven tourists from Chhattisgarh and the driver of the vehicle.
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In Myanmar, more than 45 people were killed in a blast at a building in the northeastern part of the country that was reportedly storing explosives used for mining. According to local media reports, around 70 others were injured in the explosion, which occurred around noon in the village of Kaungtup in Namhkam township. Rescue operation is underway.
The area, located about 3 km south of the Chinese border, is controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed group engaged in conflict with Myanmar’s central government.
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In France, a total of 219 people have been injured and over 780 people have been arrested due to clashes between football fans and police across the country following the victory of Paris Saint-Germain against Arsenal in the Champions League final held at Budapest in Hungary. The Interior Minister said security forces are responding firmly to control the situation.
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In Badminton, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the Men’s Doubles title in Singapore Open today. The duo defeated Indonesian combination of Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Fajar Alfian 18-21, 21-17, 21-16 in the final to win their first title in two years. The Indian pair had won the Thailand Open in May 2024.
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has congratulated the Indian Men’s Doubles pair on winning the Singapore Open title.
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In IPL Cricket, the high-voltage Summit Clash between Gujarat Titans and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru is underway at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Put in to bat, Gujarat Titans were 143 for 7 in 18.4 overs when reports last came in. Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and opted to field.
Both teams are aiming for their second IPL title. Gujarat won their maiden crown in 2022, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are looking to successfully defend the trophy they won last season.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall over Gujarat, Keralam, Mahe, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Odisha, South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Puducherry, Karaikal and West Madhya Pradesh tomorrow. The Met Department has predicted thunderstorms and lightning over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Rajasthan during the next two days.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds efforts of individuals towards nature conservation, solving local problems and other social causes; Also compliments record breaking performances by emerging athletes in National sports events in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani.
- CBSE deploys team of cybersecurity experts to secure OnMark portal for evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets.
- BJP wins three out of four Municipal Corporations in Himachal Pradesh Civic body polls.
- Over 45 people killed in a blast at a building storing explosives in Namhkam town of Myanmar.
- India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinch Men’s Doubles title of Singapore Open Badminton tournament.
- In IPL Cricket, high-voltage Summit Clash between Gujarat Titans and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru underway in Ahmedabad.
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