THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa; Two countries elevate ties to strategic partnership level.
- Prime Minister Modi conferred upon Ethiopia’s highest award – The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.
- Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Bill introduced in Lok Sabha to guarantee 125 days of wage employment annually for rural families.
- Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificate not to be given fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi from tomorrow.
- Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to begin today in New Delhi.
- In men’s cricket, fourth T20 International between India and South Africa to be played in Lucknow this evening.
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India and Ethiopia have elevated their historical ties to a strategic partnership, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa. The two leaders discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interest. During the delegation-level talks, Prime Minister Modi said elevating India and Ethiopia relations to a strategic partnership will provide new energy, new momentum and new depth to our ties.
The two countries also signed eight MoUs or agreements, including upgrading ties to ‘Strategic Partnership’, customs cooperation, establishing data center at the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, UN Peacekeeping training cooperation, debt restructuring under G20, more ICCR scholarships and AI short courses for Ethiopians.
Prime Minister Modi was conferred with Ethiopia’s highest award ‘The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’ by his Ethiopian counterpart. The award was conferred upon Prime Minister Modi in a special ceremony hosted at the Addis International Convention Centre for his exceptional contribution towards strengthening India-Ethiopia partnership and for his visionary leadership as a global statesman.
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the award to all those – Indians and Ethiopians – who have nurtured the bilateral ties for ages and conveyed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the 1.4 billion Indians on being bestowed with this honour.
Prime Minister Modi thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and for strengthening the global fight against terrorism. Now, let’s go LIVE to our Correspondent for details…
The Prime Minister will today address the Ethiopian Parliament.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Oman this evening on the last leg of his three-nation tour after concluding his visit to Jordan and Ethopia. Mr Modi is visiting Oman at the invitation of the Head of State of the Sultanate of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. Prime Minister Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation. India and Oman are likely to sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during Mr Modi’s two-day visit.
Speaking exclusively to Akashvani News, Indian Ambassador to Oman, GV Srinivas said that both the friendly nations are doing their best to make the most of this agreement and some other MoUs which have been in the waiting. He said he is extremely hopeful that CEPA would be concluded.
He said the agreement is synergizing the vision of Prime Minister Modi of making India a developed nation by 2047. Our correspondent covering the Prime Minister’s visit to Oman has filed this report:
As India and Oman are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations and centuries old personal relations, both the nations have achieved many new heights in various strategic fields. Prime Minister, Mr. Modi’s 2018 visit to Oman has given highest ever political direction to their relationship. The contribution of Indian expatriates is also tremendous here. They are in almost every field including in Oman government contributing to Oman’s success and making the bonds between both the friendly nations stronger. This is Rajesh Bali for Akashvani News from Oman.
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President Droupadi Murmu will visit Vellore in Tamil Nadu today. She will perform darshan and aarti at Sri Puram Golden Temple. The President will inaugurate a meditation pavilion and plant a tree at the temple complex. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr L Murugan will welcome the President in Vellore. The visit is part of her week-long tour of southern states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, from the 16th to the 22nd of December.
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The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, introduced in Lok Sabha has proposed a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment annually for rural families. Presenting the Bill, Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chauhan said the government remains committed to the welfare of the poor and the holistic development of villages, in line with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant and developed rural communities.
“This landmark legislation aims to establish a future-ready, convergence driven,saturation-oriented rural development architecture. It will support the accelerated pace of rural development in accordance with the vision of Viksit Bharat, and empower the rural households through increased employment opportunities. The Bill provides for institutionalising convergence of all relevant schemes through a unified planning process anchored in Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans. The Bill also has provisions to facilitate availability of farm labour during peak agricultural seasons. Under the Bill, wage rates will be notified by the Central Government and until such notification, the existing MGNREGA wage rates will continue to apply. The legislation also provides for unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within 15 days.With Anand Kumar, Suparna Saikia Akashvani News, Delhi”
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The Delhi Government has taken strong measures to tackle the issue of air pollution in the national capital. Addressing a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that vehicles without proper Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate will not be provided fuel at petrol pumps from tomorrow. The minister further announced that there will be complete ban on trucks bringing construction material in Delhi from tomorrow.
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The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will begin in New Delhi today. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization and Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, the 3-day event will bring together policymakers, scientists, practitioners, Indigenous knowledge holders and civil society leaders from across the world to advance a shared vision of balanced, inclusive and sustainable health systems. The theme for the Summit is “Restoring balance: The science and practice of health and well-being.”
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Jammu and Kashmir is all set to host its first-ever International Indian Style Wrestling (Dangal) and Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir Title 2025 at the iconic Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, today. The mega sporting event will witness participation of more than 100 International and National Dangal stars who will compete for the Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir Title 2025.
The championship will bring together professional wrestlers from India, Iran, and several other countries, making it one of the biggest wrestling events ever organized in the Union Territory. The event intends to revive and showcase the region’s rich Dangal heritage while providing a global platform for the athletes. The newly introduced Rustam-e-Jammu Kashmir title is open to the wrestlers above 85 kg, with the champion set to receive Rs. 50 thousand along with the traditional Gurj (Gadda) and Patta. The mega sporting event, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, aims to promote unity, strength, fitness, and cultural pride through the traditional sport of wrestling. The event begins at 12 noon, with free entry for spectators. This is N. Gulshan Raina For Akashvani News from Jammu.
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In Men’s Cricket, fourth T20 International between India and South Africa will be played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, in Lucknow today. The match will begin at 7 PM. India is leading the five match series 2-1 and will look to seal the series and take a 3-1 lead against the Proteas. The fifth and final match is scheduled at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. Meanwhile, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel was ruled out of the remaining two matches of the series due to illness.
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The Indian movie ‘Homebound’, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan has been shortlisted for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. Homebound is among 15 films that have become ‘eligible’ for ‘final’ nominations in the International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2026. The 98th Academy Awards will be held on 15th of March, next year.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- Papers have widely noticed the curbs imposed in the national capital in view of the worsening pollution apart from widely noticing Lok Sabha introducing the G RAM G Bill, replacing MGNREGA.
- ‘Just BS-6 vehicles can enter Delhi if Grap 3,4 in effect’ writes Hindustan Times while The Indian Express headlines, ‘From tomorrow, non-BS VI cars from outside can’t enter Delhi.’
- ‘Uproar in Lok Sabha as Centre introduces G RAM G Bill,’ informs Hindustan Times.
- The Hindu informs, ‘Nightclub fire: Luthra brothers deported from Thailand, Goa police get two day transit remand.’
- And finally, for all literature fans there’s an exclusive story in The Indian Express on Jane Austen. The paper writes that though dead for 200 years, shes’s having a career many living authors would die for. ‘Behind Jane Austen’s enduring popularity: Craft, Commerce, Common sense.’
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali in Addis Ababa; Two countries elevate ties to strategic partnership level.
- Prime Minister Modi conferred upon Ethiopia’s highest award – The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.
- Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Bill introduced in Lok Sabha to guarantee 125 days of wage employment annually for rural families.
- Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificate not to be given fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi from tomorrow.
- Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine to begin today in New Delhi.
- In men’s cricket, fourth T20 International between India and South Africa to be played in Lucknow this evening.
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