THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein in Amman; Emphasizes their common approach to counter terrorism.
- Indian economy growing at 8.2 percent against 3.2 percent global growth, Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- NIA files chargesheet against 7 accused in Pahalgam terror attack case.
- India’s Unemployment rate declines to 4.7 percent in November, lowest since April.
- Vijay Diwas being celebrated today, commemorating India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
- In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India to take on Malaysia in Dubai this morning.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein in Amman yesterday, underlining the close partnership between the two nations as they prepare to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Modi commended Jordan’s resolute stand against terrorism, extremism and radicalisation, emphasising that India and Jordan share a common approach to countering terrorism. The Prime Minister praised King Abdullah II’s leadership in promoting moderation, recalling their first interaction on the sidelines of the United Nations in 2015.
We have more from our West Asia Correspondent:
“With India being Jordan’s third-largest trading partner and bilateral trade valued at two-point-eight billion dollars, Prime Minister Modi proposed an ambitious target of increasing bilateral trade to five billion dollars over the next five years.
Prime Minister Modi called for collaboration between Jordan’s digital payment system and India’s Unified Payments Interface. Jordan remains an important supplier of fertilizers to India, particularly phosphates, and companies from both nations are in discussions for further investment in Jordan to meet India’s growing demand of phosphatic fertilizers.
The leaders also shared perspectives on regional developments and global issues, reiterating the importance of restoring peace and stability in the region. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s support for efforts to achieve durable peace in the area. Five memoranda of understanding were finalized during the visit, which include culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora. Vinod Kumar, aKASHVANI nEWS, AMMAN.”
PM Modi will attend Jordan – India Business forum on the second day of his visit today.
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On the second leg of his visit to the three nations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia this evening for a two day visit. We have a report:
“This will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Ethiopia, but second to the African continent in this month. PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate on entire gamut of issues of bilateral Importance in Addis Ababa, which is also the headquarters of the African Union. The Visit reaffirms the shared commitment of both countries, as partners in the Global South, to strengthening friendship and expanding bilateral cooperation. Investments from India, agriculture, mining, digital public infrastructure, Solar Alliance and cybersecurity are expected to be among the key areas on the agenda for discussions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament. Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Akashvani News, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’
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India and Ethiopia share a long history of partnership in the sector of education, skilling, and capacity building. India has been offering scholarship and training opportunities to Ethiopian students and professionals through various scholarships. Talking to Akashvani News, Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai said, many Presidents or Vice Presidents, which are equivalent to vice chancellors or registrars of Indian universities in Ethiopia, have studied in India under ICCR and other government-sponsored scholarship schemes.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said, India is becoming the fastest growing major economy with the 8.2 per cent growth rate as against the 3.2 per cent of the global growth. She said, every global institution is raising their growth outlook for the country in the current fiscal. The Finance Minister said this in the Lok Sabha during her reply to the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26 yesterday.
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India’s Unemployment Rate, declined to 4.7 percent in November this year, at its lowest level since April, for individuals aged 15 years and above. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation monthly labour force and unemployment data, rural unemployment eased to a new low of 3.9 percent, while urban unemployment fell to 6.5 percent, matching the lowest reading recorded earlier this year.
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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in special NIA court in Jammu yesterday. The agency said in a statement that it has chargesheeted seven accused in the case, including the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliate, The Resistance Front (TRF), as a terrorist organisation. The NIA stated that the attack involved religion-based targeted killings carried out by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists and resulted in the deaths of 25 tourists and one local civilian. The NIA has said in the chargesheet that Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed and TRF head Habibullah Malik, also known as Sajid Jatt, were involved in planning and executing the April 22nd attack.
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President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a seven day visit to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana today. In Karnataka, the President will inaugurate the 1066th Jayanthi celebrations of Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi Mahaswamiji at Malavalli today. President will be in Tamil Nadu tomorrow, where she will perform darshan and aarti at the Golden Temple, Vellore.
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President Droupadi Murmu did not give her assent to the West Bengal University Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which had proposed to make Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the Chancellor of all state universities. As per the existing system, the Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose is the Chancellor of all state universities.
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The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 which was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday has been referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) for further scrutiny.
The bill aims to empower the Universities and other higher educational institutions to achieve excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation.
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The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha yesterday. The bill is aimed at the development of nuclear energy and ionising radiation for nuclear power generation for the welfare of the countrymen.
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The Draft electoral rolls under the first phase of Special Intensive Revision SIR will be published in West Bengal today. Before the draft voters list get published, the Commission appointed special roll observers, who are scrutinizing the work in many Assembly Constituencies in the state.
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In UN Security Council, India sharply criticised Pakistan’s domestic political situation, flagging Islamabad for jailing former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and allowing its armed forces to engineer a constitutional coup through the new 27th amendment. The amendment grants lifetime immunity to its Chief of Defence Forces, Asim Munir. Referring to Pakistan’s democratic crisis during the UNSC open debate on Leadership for Peace yesterday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni said, Islamabad has a unique way of respecting the will of its people.
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The nation is celebrating Vijay Diwas today to commemorate India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war. Every year on this day, the nation remembers the ultimate sacrifice of the bravehearts whose stories inspire every Indian, and remain a source of national pride. It was on this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AA Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, had surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces.
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Bangladesh is celebrating Victory Day today, marking the most historic and cherished day for the nation. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh achieved independence after a nine-month-long War of Liberation, ending Pakistani occupation.
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A layer of dense fog blanketed Delhi, causing disruption to flight and train services in the National Capital. The fog accompanied by cold winds made the early hours quite chilly for residents. Several flights are delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi due to fog. Passengers have been requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Several trains are also running late at New Delhi railway station. According to the IMD, Delhi recorded 11 degrees Celsius temperature at 6 AM today.
“Delhi-NCR woke up to a thick blanket of smog today, causing disruption to flight and train services in the National Capital. While the air quality has shown slight improvement, it remains in the very poor category, down from the earlier severe level. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded at 381 as of 7 AM today. Several flights have been delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport as visibility across the city reduced due to smog. Passengers have been requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information. Several trains are also running late at New Delhi Railway Station. According to weather agency, Delhi recorded 11 degrees Celsius temperature in morning hours today. PALLAVI PARMAR, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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The India Meteorological Department has forecast dense to very dense fog conditions over Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh today. The IMD said that isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh will experience dense fog conditions during the early hours till tomorrow. Similar conditions are likely to prevail over Northeast India for the next three to four days.
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In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India will take on Malaysia in their third group-stage match at the Sevens Stadium, Dubai today. The match will begin at 10:30 AM, Indian Time. A total of eight Asian teams are competing across two groups. India has been placed in Group A along with hosts UAE, Pakistan and Malaysia. Top 2 teams from both the groups will qualify for the semi-finals. The final match will be played on Sunday.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- “Prime Minister Modi arrives in Jordan to boost ties with Arab nation” leads The Statesman.
- “‘Modi’s grave’ slogan at Congress rally triggers storm in Parliament” states The Tribune.
- “In generational change, Nitin Nabin becomes BJP working president” informs The Hindu.
- “Government says G RAM-G to rural employment guarantee scheme” reports The Pioneer.
- “‘Gracias Delhi’: Messi wraps up his 3-day India trip with visit to Capital” notes Hindustan Times.
- And finally, “Delhi AQI hits 498; skyline disappears into grey haze” says Financial Express. While The Times of India quotes the Supreme Court as saying “Rich people’s lifestyle reason for pollution”.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds delegation-level talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein in Amman; Emphasizes their common approach to counter terrorism.
- Indian economy growing at 8.2 percent against 3.2 percent global growth, Says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- NIA files chargesheet against 7 accused in Pahalgam terror attack case.
- India’s Unemployment rate declines to 4.7 percent in November, lowest since April.
- Vijay Diwas being celebrated today, commemorating India’s victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.
- In Under-19 Asia Cup Cricket, India to take on Malaysia in Dubai this morning.
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