THE HEADLINES:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Somnath Swabhiman Parv and key spiritual events linked with it in Gujarat today.
Viksit Bharat Young Leaders_ Dialogue opens in New Delhi; Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says the platform reflects the government_s commitment to actively engage young minds in nation-building.
World Book Fair begins in the National capital; Over one thousand publishers representing 35 countries taking part in the nine day event.
World leaders condemn Iran_s violent crackdown on protesters as nationwide demonstrations continue to flare up.
And in Women_s Premier League cricket, UP Warriorz to lock horns with Gujarat Giants in Navi Mumbai this afternoon.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Gujarat this evening on a three days visit. During his visit, the Prime Minister will attend several events, including the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.
The four-day Somnath Swabhiman Parv, celebrating the enduring spirit of the Somnath Temple, began on Thursday at the coastal town of Veraval in Gir Somnath district. This Parv marks one thousand years since Mahmud of Ghazni_s invasion of the Somnath Temple in the year 1026 and 75 years since its post-independence restoration in 1951. Our correspondent reports that the holy town of Prabhas Patan is all set to welcome Prime Minister Modi on this historic occasion. More from our correspondent:
“The holy town of Prabhas Patan is draped in a divine atmosphere as it prepares to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Lakhs of devotees from across the state and the country have reached Somnath to witness the historic celebrations. The town also witnessed a grand Palki Yatra led by prominent sadhus and saints yesterday. Upon his arrival this evening, the Prime Minister will participate in the ongoing 72-hour continuous Omkar Mantra chanting, a spiritual exercise involving thousands of Rishikumars. Later, he will witness a spectacular mega drone show by 3000 drones at the temple premises, which will narrate the saga of the temple_s repeated resurrection. The state government has ensured elaborate arrangements, including grand lighting and enhanced facilities for the pilgrims. This ‘Swabhiman Parv’ serves as a reminder of the countless sacrifices made to defend the temple, ensuring its glory continues to inspire the cultural consciousness of future generations. With Rajesh Bhajgotar from Somnath, Aparna Khunt, Akashvani News, Ahmedabad.”
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The ongoing Somnath Swabhiman Parv at the first Jyotirlinga in Gujarat, is not just a spiritual gathering but a celebration of India_s ancient scientific wisdom.
The observance has been conceived not as a remembrance of destruction, but as a tribute to resilience, faith and civilisational self-respect.
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Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today said that the pivotal role of country’s youth is essential in shaping the nation_s future. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders_ Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi today, Mr Mandaviya said, the dialogue encourages the young leaders to contribute solutions in areas such as technology, entrepreneurship, governance, sustainability, and social development.
The Minister said, dialogue is a process to identify talent and creativity of youth for building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Highlighting the importance of the young leaders_ dialogue, Mr Mandaviya said that the platform reflects the government_s commitment to actively engage young minds in nation-building.
Speaking on this occasion, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval urged the youth to develop decision-making ability to become a leader of developed India in the future. He underlined that the greatest strength of a leader is making the right decisions.
The three-day event, which commenced yesterday, will conclude on the 12th of this month.
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In a social media post today, Mr Modi expressed his eagerness to engage with the nations youth at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue.
The Prime Minister said, the country’s youth power, driven by remarkable enthusiasm and unparalleled zeal, remains firmly committed to the nation_s growth and progress.
The Prime Minister will participate in the concluding session of the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 on Monday, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in New Delhi. During the programme, the Prime Minister will interact with three thousand youth from across the country, including international delegates. The Prime Minister will also release the essay compilation for Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026 at the event, featuring selected essays by youth on country’s developmental goals and long-term nation-building vision.
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Home Minister Amit Shah has stressed that self-reliance is pivotal for the nation to emerge as a global powerhouse. He was addressing the national convention of the Maheshwari community in Jodhpur today. Mr. Shah highlighted that the use of indigenous products will make the country self-sufficient and self-reliant. He also emphasized the importance of promoting native language. He said that youth should learn and speak other languages as well, but must never forget their mother tongue.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also attended the event held at the Marwar International Centre.
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The 53rd edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 opened today in the National Capital. The nine-day book fair brings together over one thousand publishers from more than 35 countries. The event was inaugurated by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
During his address, Mr Pradhan said, books are carriers of knowledge that bridge generations, preserve the memories of civilizations, and give direction to the society. He hailed the New Delhi World Book Fair as the biggest public celebration of the country’s reading culture.
The theme of the New Delhi World Book Fair this year is Indian Military History: Valour and Wisdom @ 75.
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World leaders have condemned Iran_s violent crackdown on protesters as nationwide demonstrations continue to flare up across the country. In a joint statement, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada and the European Union lauded the bravery displayed by the citizens of Iran, and urged the regime to stop using lethal force and respect the right to peaceful protest. Protests have spread across several regions, prompting heavy deployment of security forces. Iran has also imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, with connectivity reduced to about one percent.
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Iran’s near-total internet blackout continued on Saturday as the country’s supreme leader warned of a harsher crackdown on a growing wave of protests that have swept the nation. In his first public address since demonstrations began on 28th December, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would not back down, accusing protesters of acting on behalf of foreign powers and blaming US president Donald Trump for the unrest driven by Iran’s economic crisis. More from our Dubai correspondent:
“Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, has become an increasingly visible opposition figure during the latest wave of nationwide protests, urging Iranians to continue demonstrating and calling on the armed forces to protect the public while positioning himself as a potential steward of a democratic transition. His recent statements emphasize regime change, support for a secular government, and appeals for international backing, including calls for urgent US intervention as unrest intensifies across Iran.
The demonstrations that began on 28 December have evolved from what authorities initially dismissed as isolated incidents into a sustained challenge to the clerical establishment, with protesters increasingly invoking calls for fundamental political change rather than limited reforms. VINOD KUMAR, AKASHVANI NEWS, DUBIA.”
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Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, will be on a two-day visit to India from the 12th of this month. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, during the Gujarat leg of his visit, Mr Merz will pay homage at Sabarmati Ashram and later participate in the International Kite Festival, reflecting the cultural ties between the two countries. Mr Merz will also hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Mahatma Mandir.
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The government has refuted an article published by newspaper ‘The Economic Times’ which claimed that food business licensing and regulatory approvals have stalled due to issues within the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau has clarified that FSSAI is fully functional, and food safety regulation and licensing processes across the country are continuing without any disruption.
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Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant has said that lawyers should adopt modern technologies as the use of these technologies is rapidly increasing in the judiciary due to the changing nature of crimes. The Chief Justice was addressing judicial officers and lawyers at a felicitation ceremony organized by the Hansi Bar Association at the local judicial complex yesterday.
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World Hindi Day is being observed today. The day is commemorated every year with the objective to promote use of Hindi language abroad. It aims to encourage the use of Hindi on international platforms, including diplomacy, education and cultural exchange. On this day in 2006, the First World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur with the aim to promote the language worldwide and since then, every year 10th January is being observed as the World Hindi Day. The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Missions abroad also observe the day annually.
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In cricket, UP Warriorz is set to lock horns with Gujarat Giants today at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai in the Women_s Premier League. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 PM.
Yesterday, in the opening match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Defending Champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in Navi Mumbai. The fourth season of Women_s Premier League is being played across two venues, the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
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In Badminton, India’s campaign at the Malaysia Open Super 1000 ended today. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu bowed out of the tournament after losing the semi-final match against China_s Wang Zhi Yi, 16-21, 15-21 in Kuala Lumpur.
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India Meteorological Department, IMD has issued an orange color warning predicting dense to very dense fog over Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal today. The IMD has also predicted dense fog over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and parts of North East till the 13th of this month.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate in Somnath Swabhiman Parv and key spiritual events linked with it in Gujarat today.
Viksit Bharat Young Leaders_ Dialogue opens in New Delhi; Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says the platform reflects the government_s commitment to actively engage young minds in nation-building.
World Book Fair begins in the National capital; Over one thousand publishers representing 35 countries taking part in the nine day event.
World leaders condemn Iran_s violent crackdown on protesters as nationwide demonstrations continue to flare up.
And in Women_s Premier League cricket, UP Warriorz to lock horns with Gujarat Giants in Navi Mumbai this afternoon.
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