THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending 17th edition of BRICS Summit at Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro; Asserts, BRICS remains a powerful force for economic cooperation and global good.
- Several issues including Global Governance Reforms, Climate Change, and Artificial Intelligence in focus at the summit.
- Election Commission eases voter registration rules in Bihar; Allows submission of enumeration forms without any documents.
- Israel sends team to Qatar for talks with Hamas on ceasefire-hostage deal.
- India’s Sakshi Chaudhary clinches gold medal in women’s 54kg category at World Boxing Cup at Astana in Kazakhstan.
- And in Cricket, India two wickets away from winning second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Birmingham.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the 17th edition of BRICS summit at the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The two-day summit, which is witnessing the participation of several world leaders, began this evening.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed Prime Minister Modi on his arrival at the summit. Later in a social media post, Mr Modi said, he is grateful to President Lula for hosting this year’s BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Mr Modi said, BRICS remains a powerful force for economic cooperation and global good."
BRICS comprises, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Over the years, the grouping has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, and the UAE.
We now go over live to our correspondent Sudhindra, who is covering the BRICS Summit in Rio De Janeiro.
Prime Minister Modi is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. After attending the Summit, Mr Modi will head for a bilateral visit to Brasilia, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on deepening strategic ties between the two nations across several key sectors, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people to people ties.
Prime Minister Modi reached the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro this morning on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour after concluding his successful visit to Argentina where he held a productive meeting with President Javier Milei yesterday. Prior to his visit to Argentina, Prime Minister Modi had also completed productive visits to Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Ghana. Following his engagements in Brazil, Mr Modi will head to Namibia, the final destination of his five-nation tour.
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Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has emphasized the vital role of cooperative societies in driving the country's economic development. Mr. Shah was speaking after inaugurating various development works of Amul and the National Dairy Development Board at Anand in Gujarat, on the occasion of completion of four years of the Ministry of Cooperation today.
On the occasion, Mr Shah also paid tribute to eminent thinker and educationist Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his birth anniversary today.
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Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today inaugurated the state-of-the-art Phenome India ‘National Biobank’ at the CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in New Delhi. The Ministry of Science and Technology, in a statement, said the Biobank will serve as the backbone of a nationwide cohort study, collecting comprehensive genomic, lifestyle, and clinical data from 10 thousand individuals across the country.
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In Bihar, amid the controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, the Election Commission of India in a big relief has eased the voter registration rules in the state, saying that those without any documents can still submit enumeration forms online or offline. The SIR drive is being conducted in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
This facility comes at a time when complaints were received from various parts of the state that many voters lack the 11 types of documents specified by the commission to be submitted along with enumeration forms. The last date of submission of enumeration forms is 26th of this month.
"Ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Special Intensive Revision drive is being conducted in full swing in the state. Besides BLOs and other election machinery, members of the women self help group known as Jeevika Didis , Anganwadi Workers, Vikas Mitra and other volunteers have been roped in the door to door mega drive of electoral roll purification. The Election Commission has also provided an online facility to voters to upload enumeration forms directly. Awareness drives are also underway in the state through various mediums and methods. Dharmendra Kumar Rai, Akashvani News, Patna."
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Himachal Pradesh remains in the grip of intense monsoon rain. Several incidents of Cloudburst have been reported in Mandi and Chamba districts severely disrupting normal life. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rainfall and potential flash floods across 10 districts over the next 24 hours. In view of the forecast, authorities have urged residents to stay alert and take necessary precautions.
"According to the State Disaster Management Authority, in the 16 days since June 20, the state has witnessed 14 incidents of cloudbursts and 8 cases of flash floods due to intense monsoon activity. So far, 78 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, 121 have been injured, and 37 are still missing. Mandi district has been the worst affected by natural disasters. Relief and rehabilitation efforts are underway on a war footing. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre in Shimla has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Kangra, Mandi, and Sirmaur districts over the next 24 hours. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla."
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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today conducted an aerial survey of the areas affected by heavy rains in Uttarkashi district and took stock of the situation. Following the survey, the Chief Minister stated that relief operations are being carried out on a war footing.
"Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an aerial inspection today to assess the damage caused by heavy rainfall and landslides near the Silai Band area on the Yamunotri route. During the survey, he also observed damage caused to roads, bridges, agricultural land and residential areas. The Chief Minister said that the relief and rescue operations would be reviewed again after assessing the actual situation of the affected areas. He appreciated the efforts of NDRF, SDRF and the district administration engaged in the relief and rescue operations. He directed the officials to ensure adequate shelter, food, medical assistance and other essential supplies for displaced families. Santosh Thapliyal, Akashvani News, Dehradun."
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The IMD has issued a red alert for Palghar district and Pune ghat area in Maharashtra. Orange alerts have been issued for Thane, Ratnagiri, Raigad, ghats of Nashik, ghats of Satara, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli districts, while a yellow alert issued for several districts, including Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department today said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Northwest, West coast and Northeast India during next 6 to 7 days.
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In Odisha, lakhs of devotees from across the globe gathered in the holy city of Puri this evening to witness the sacred ‘Suna Besha’ ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. The sibling deities were magnificently adorned with gold ornaments while seated on their respective chariots at the Lions’ Gate of the 12th-century Shri Jagannath Temple. This grand ritual follows their return journey from the Sri Gundicha Temple, marking the end of their nine-day annual sojourn, known as the Bahuda Yatra.
"On the auspicious occasion of Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi, Lord Jagannath, along with Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, are adorned in the magnificent Suna Besha or the golden attire this evening and offering darshan to devotees atop their three chariots at the Singhadwar in Puri. The 'Suna Besha', one of the most significant events of the Rath Yatra, is a rare and mesmerising sight. It has transformed the Bada Danda, the Grand Road, in Puri into a sea of about 15 lakh devotees, all eager to witness the deities adorned in resplendent gold ornaments. As per the rituals, the deities will be offered Adhara Pana, a delicious drink, on their chariotstomorrow. Prakash Dash, Akashvani, Bhubaneswar."
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The Ashoora-e-Muharram was observed with due reverence and solemnity in different parts of country today. The day marked the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions, who laid down their lives in Karbala for upholding truth, righteousness and justice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post recalled the sacrifices made by Hazrat Imam Hussain.
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Israel has sent a negotiating team to Qatar today for talks with the Palestinian armed group Hamas on a ceasefire-hostage deal. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office in a statement today said that after assessing the situation, Israel accepted the invitation for close talks. It said Israel agreed to continued negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza based on the Qatari proposal.
The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release, in five stages, of 10 Israeli living hostages, and the handover of 18 hostage bodies, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
On Friday, Hamas said in a statement that it has delivered a positive response to mediators over a Gaza ceasefire proposal.
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In Boxing, Two-time youth world champion Sakshi Chaudhary clinched India's first gold medal in the women’s 54kg category at the second World Boxing Cup in Kazakhstan's Astana today. She defeated USA’s Yoseline Perez with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision in the final.
Meanwhile, three other Indian boxers settled for silver medal in the tournament, including Meenakshi in the women’s 48kg category, Pooja Rani in women’s 80kg event, Jugnoo in Men’s 85kg category.
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In Cricket, India is two wickets away from registering a historic win in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston in Birmingham and levelling the five-match series 1-1. On Day 5, the Hosts were 242 for eight in their second innings and were trailing by 366 runs when reports last came in. Earlier in the day, the start of the play was delayed due to rain and a wet outfield.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending 17th edition of BRICS Summit at Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro; Asserts, BRICS remains a powerful force for economic cooperation and global good.
- Several issues including Global Governance Reforms, Climate Change, and Artificial Intelligence in focus at the summit.
- Election Commission eases voter registration rules in Bihar; Allows submission of enumeration forms without any documents.
- Israel sends team to Qatar for talks with Hamas on ceasefire-hostage deal.
- India’s Sakshi Chaudhary clinches gold medal in women’s 54kg category at World Boxing Cup at Astana in Kazakhstan.
- And in Cricket, India two wickets away from winning second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Birmingham.
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