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December 16, 2025 2:00 PM

Midday News

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THE HEADLINES :

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jordan King Abdullah II jointly address India-Jordan Business Forum at Amman; Outline ambitious plans to transform economic cooperation between the two nations.

 

  • India and Jordan ink multiple MOUs across key sectors.

 

  • Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduces Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha to boost rural jobs and infrastructure.

 

  • Election Commission publishes draft Electoral Rolls in West Bengal; More than 58 lakh names deleted due to absence, relocation, death or duplication.

 

  • Thirteen people dead and more than 70 injured in multiple bus collision on Yamuna Expressway in Mathura due to dense fog this morning.

 

  • India and UAE reaffirm commitment to India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and strengthen cooperation for Global South.

 

  • In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India close the inning with 408 for 7 against Malaysia in the third group stage match in Dubai.

 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King Abdullah II of Jordan jointly addressed the India-Jordan business forum in Amman today, with both leaders outlining ambitious plans to transform economic cooperation between the two nations. The forum was attended by leading business dignitaries from both sides, with participation from high-level business delegations in sectors such as fertilizers and textiles, as well as new areas of cooperation including renewable energy, information technology and the health sector.

 

King Abdullah described the forum as an opportunity to discuss partnerships and joint investments in vital sectors. In his address, the king highlighted that under the great leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has witnessed great growth and both the nations will work together to take the economic partnership to further heights.

 

 

The king emphasized that Jordan offers competitive advantages across key sectors.

 

 

He invited Indian businesses to leverage Jordan’s location to build integrated logistical and processing hubs through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor routes to enable Indian and Jordanian agricultural and industrial exports.

 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi has said that India-Jordan relations are of a different nature, where historical trust and future economic opportunities come together.

 

The Prime Minister noted that India is the third-largest trading partner of Jordan and stressed the importance of building long-term relationships beyond mere numbers.

 

Several memoranda of understanding are set to be signed between Indian and Jordanian trade bodies during the forum.

 

The Prime Minister has left for Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, in the second leg of his three nation tour.

 

He will be holding wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali on all aspects of India – Ethiopia bilateral ties. This will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Ethiopia where he will also address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

 

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The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill will replace the twenty-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA). Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moved the Bill to establish a modern statutory framework aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. Mr Chouhan said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several welfare schemes are being implemented for the upliftment of the poor.

 

He said, during the UPA government, an amount of two lakh 13 thousand crore rupees was spent on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), while the Modi government has spent over eight lakh 53 thousand crore rupees on the scheme and has made sustained efforts to further strengthen it. We have More from our correspondent;

 

 

It represents a major upgrade over MGNREGA, fixing structural weaknesses while enhancing employment, transparency, planning, and accountability. This will also strengthen the rural economy through productive asset creation, higher incomes, and better resilience. With stronger social protection, better connectivity, deeper digital access and more diverse rural livelihoods, the old framework no longer matched today’s rural economy. The new Bill aims to create both employment and durable rural infrastructure through four priority verticals. These are water security through water-related works, Core-rural infrastructure, Livelihood- related infrastructure and Special works to mitigate extreme weather events. The new bill aims to provide labourers with higher guaranteed workdays, better wages, stronger protections and more transparent implementation mechanisms. With Dipendra Kumar, Abhishek Mukhopdhyay, Akashvani, New Delhi.

 

During the introduction of the Bill, Various members of the opposition parties including the Congress, DMK and TMC opposed the introduction of the bill. The opposition  members also tropped into the well and raised slogans demanding withdrawal of the Bill. Due to the ruckus, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2:00 PM. 

 

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today introduced the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill amends the Insurance Act 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956 and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. As the Bill was introduced in the House, opposition parties including DMK and TMC opposed introduction of the Bill.   

 

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The Rajya Sabha paid homage to the brave hearts, who made supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation on 54th Vijay Divas today. The day marks victory of India against Pakistan in 1971. When the House assembled at 11:00 AM, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishanan saluted the valour and determination of India’s courageous Armed forces, who led the nation to a historic victory.

 

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The Draft voters list in connection with the SIR process in West Bengal has been published today. Total 7 crore 66 lakhs 37 thousand 529 voters in West Bengal were covered under the first phase of SIR. Among this 7 crore 8 lakhs 16 thousand 616 voters Enumeration Forms have been digitised. 92.4 percent enumeration forms have been digitised.

 

In this SIR process more than 58 lakhs names have been deleted as absent, shifted, dead and duplicate voters. 31 lakhs 38 thousand 374 voters have not been mapped with the voters list of 2002 and they will be called for the hearing which has started from today and will continue till 7th February 2026.

 

Those whose names have not been found in the draft voters rolls can fill Form 6 and submit to the concerned BLO or through voters.eci.gov.in or ECINET app. The draft list can be accessed at voters.eci.gov.in website, ECINET app, Election Commission and CEO West Bengal website, BDO, SDO, DM or local government office and district website also. The final electoral rolls will be published in West Bengal on 14th February 2026.

 

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And News just inLuthra brothers Gaurav and Saurabh, owners of the nightclub in Goa where a fire killed 25 people last week, have been brought to Delhi. They have just arrived at the Delhi airport. The two were detained by Thai authorities in Phuket following an intervention by the Embassy of India in Bangkok.

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Param Vir Dirgha at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of Vijay Diwas today. The Gallery has the portraits of all 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on display. It aims to educate visitors about our national heroes who displayed dauntless resolve and unconquerable spirit in defending our nation. It is also an initiative to honour the memory of our bravehearts who have laid down their lives in the service of the motherland.

 

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In Uttar Pradesh, 13 people died and more than 70 other people got injured in multiple bus collision in Mathura early this morning. Accident occurred on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura’s Baldev area when this collision caused a massive fire in the vehicles. The crash, attributed to dense fog, prompted immediate response from local police and district administration for rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed grief over the loss of lives due to a mishap on the Yamuna Expressway. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each deceased.

 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased. He announced financial assistance of 2 lakhs rupees to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees to the injured.

 

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India and the United Arab Emirates-UAE have reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and work for the Global South. This statement was made during the meeting of External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both leaders co-chaired the 16th India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting and the 5th round of the India-UAE Strategic Dialogue yesterday in Abu Dhabi. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the meetings provided an opportunity to undertake a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of bilateral relations. These included trade, investment, energy, connectivity, defence, security, development partnership, technology, health, culture, education and people-to-people ties.

 

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In Under-19 Cricket, India clash against Malaysia in their third group-stage match of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 at The Sevens Stadium, Dubai today. Malaysia won the toss and opted to bowl. India closed the innings with 408 for 7.  Ayush Mhatre led India will look to continue their winning streak after registering victory over Pakistan in the second match, beating them by 90 runs in Dubai on Sunday. 

 

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jordan King Abdullah II jointly address India-Jordan Business Forum at Amman; Outline ambitious plans to transform economic cooperation between the two nations.

 

  • India and Jordan ink multiple MOUs across key sectors.

 

  • Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduces Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha to boost rural jobs and infrastructure.

 

  • Election Commission publishes draft Electoral Rolls in West Bengal; More than 58 lakh names deleted due to absence, relocation, death or duplication.

 

  • Thirteen people dead and more than 70 injured in multiple bus collision on Yamuna Expressway in Mathura due to dense fog this morning.

 

  • India and UAE reaffirm commitment to India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and strengthen cooperation for Global South.

 

  • In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India close the inning with 408 for 7 against Malaysia in the third group stage match in Dubai.