THE HEADLINES :-
- India successfully conducts maiden flight tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to establish multi-layered air-defence capability.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, country fully prepared for its first-ever human spaceflight mission marking a new chapter in the journey of a self-reliant India.
- Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates All India Speakers' Conference in New Delhi.
- Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit; To hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.
- Heavy rains cause widespread damage to property and crops in Bihar and Rajasthan.
- In Archery, Chikitha Taniparthi clinches India's maiden individual gold medal in Compound Under 21 women's category at World Youth Championships in Canada.
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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight Tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha yesterday. IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising all indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile, Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System missiles and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon.
In a social media post, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the India Armed Forces and the Industry for successful development of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System. He stated that the unique flight-tests have established the multi-layered air-defence capability of the country and are going to strengthen area defence for important facilities against enemy aerial threats.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said that India is fully prepared for its first-ever human spaceflight mission, named Gaganyaan, and this is not just a technological achievement, but a new chapter in the journey of a self-reliant India. The Defence Minister said this while addressing the felicitation ceremony in New Delhi of Gaganyatris Group Captains Shubhanshu Shukla, Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap, who have been selected for this mission.
The Minister said that India has already marked its presence from the Moon to Mars.
Speaking on the occasion, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who recently made history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station, reflected on his journey. He credited his training in the Indian Air Force for preparing him to face challenges with confidence.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a two-day All India Speakers' Conference at the Delhi Assembly in the National Capital today. The conference marks the centenary of election of Vithalbhai Patel as India's first Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.
Speaking on the occasion, the Home Minister emphasized that, just as the country’s freedom was important, it is equally essential to ensure that the nation was run democratically after independence. He said that Vitthalbhai Patel laid the foundation for establishing democratic governance based on Indian ideas.
Addressing the gathering, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, the two-day Speakers' Conference is very useful for learning best practices.
On the occasion, the Home Minister released a commemorative stamp honouring Vitthalbhai Patel. Mr Shah also inaugurated a special exhibition showcasing rare archival records, photographs, and documents on India's first elected speaker and the evolution of India’s parliamentary institutions.
The Conference brings together Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies, as well as Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of State Legislative Councils.
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Heavy rainfall has caused widespread damages to properties and crops in Bihar and Rajasthan.
In Rajasthan, normal life has been severely disrupted following heavy downpour across several districts over the past three days. Dausa recorded extremely heavy rainfall, while Alwar, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, and Tonk witnessed heavy showers causing waterlogging in low-lying areas. More from our correspondent.
"Electricity and water supply has been disrupted in many villages. Road and rail traffic has also been affected at some places. There has been heavy damage to crops. NDRF, SDRF along with the Army has been deployed for relief and rescue work. The Met Department has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rains in Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions, Shekhawati region as well as some parts of Bikaner and Ajmer divisions today. Jitendra Dwivedi, Akashwani News, Jaipur."
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In Bihar, flash flood-like conditions are prevailing in several areas of Nalanda, Jehanabad, and Gaya districts following a rise in the water levels of various rivers, including the Falgu, Lokayeen, and Muhane.
Due to extremely heavy rainfall in neighboring Jharkhand, the Falgu and other seasonal rivers in Bihar are in spate. As a result, many low-lying areas have been affected by floods.In Nalanda, Jehanabad, and Gaya districts, sudden flooding has caused extensive damage to property. Standing crops in the fields have also suffered heavy losses. The administration has been appealing to residents of flood-affected areas to move to safer locations through the public address and continuous miking system. Dharmendra Kumar Rai's report from Patna, Jigyasa Pandey Akashvani News.
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Different parts of Jammu are also witnessing continuous heavy rainfall, leading to waterlogging, traffic snarls, and difficulties for daily commuters. The MeT department has predicted heavy rainfall at many places over plains of Jammu, Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley in the next 24 hours. Authorities have warned of possible cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, especially in the Jammu division.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall over East Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. It has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over East Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Rajasthan.
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Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister, Pralhad Joshi has said that one crore 41 lakh beneficiaries from Punjab will continue to get free food grains. In a social media post, Mr Joshi said the Centre had not removed even a single beneficiary in the state under the National Food Security Act 2013. The Minister was reacting to the allegations made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann yesterday.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Gujarat tomorrow. On the first day of his visit, Mr Modi is scheduled to inaugurate multiple development projects worth 5 thousand 400 crores rupees in Ahmedabad. On the second day of his visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate localised production of hybrid battery electrodes and flag-off Battery electric vehicle exports to 100 countries at Hansalpur in Ahmedabad.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended greetings on the occasion of Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, timeless teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji continue to illuminate lives across the world, reminding us of the values of compassion, humility and service.
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Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka arrived in New Delhi this morning on a three-day visit to India. Mr Rabuka was received by Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar at the airport. The visiting delegation includes Minister of Health and Medical Services, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and senior officials.
The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that this is Prime Minister Rabuka's first visit to India in his present capacity. The Fiji Prime Minister is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu. The visit underscores the long standing and enduring ties between India and Fiji.
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Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi has embarked on an official visit to Algeria. The visit will continue till the 28th of this month. General Dwivedi will hold high-level meetings with senior Algerian leadership.The visit aims to reinforce defence and security engagement between both the countries.
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A Ukrainian kamikaze drone was shot down near a nuclear power plant in Russia’s Kursk region today. According to Russian media reports, the downed drone triggered a small fire early this morning. Many Parts of the Kursk region had been under Ukrainian occupation for several months after Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia’s internationally recognized territory in August last year. The Russian Defence Ministry said, its air defence systems shot down 95 Ukrainian drones over Russian region during the past night.
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North Korea test-fired its newly improved air defence missiles to assess their combat capability. State media reported that North Korean President Kim Jong-un supervised the test yesterday. The Korean Central News Agency said the firing demonstrated the missiles' superior combat capability to promptly respond to aerial targets, such as attack drones or cruise missiles. The test came as South Korea and the United States have been conducting their joint military exercise called Ulchi Freedom Shield since last week.
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In Archery, India's Chikitha Taniparthi won country's first-ever Individual gold medal in the Compound Under 21 women's category at the World Youth Championships in Canada. She defeated South Korea's Yerin Park in the gold medal match yesterday. With the win, Chikitha created history by becoming the first-ever Indian female Individual Compound Junior World Champion.
In Tennis, the 145th edition of the US Open will kick off in New York tonight. In the Men’s Singles, world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy will lead the charge, alongside world number 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.
On the women’s side, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka looks to defend her 2024 title, while World Number one Iga Swiatek, 2023 champion Coco Gauff, will be looking to make her mark. The first round matches will start at 8:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara announced retirement from all forms of Indian cricket today. The thirty seven year old batsman was India's most reliable No. 3 for over a decade. Pujara has played 103 Tests and 5 ODIs for India after making his debut in 2010, scoring 7,195 test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half centuries.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- India successfully conducts maiden flight tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System to establish multi-layered air-defence capability.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, country fully prepared for its first-ever human spaceflight mission marking a new chapter in the journey of a self-reliant India.
- Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates All India Speakers' Conference in New Delhi.
- Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit; To hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.
- Heavy rains cause widespread damage to property and crops in Bihar and Rajasthan.
- In Archery, Chikitha Taniparthi clinches India's maiden individual gold medal in Compound Under 21 women's category at World Youth Championships in Canada.
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