Evening News

THE HEADLINES:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla onboard International Space Station; Calls his journey begining of a new era; Captain Shukla describes it collective achievement for entire nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his thoughts in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 AM tomorrow.
Government issues model rules for felling of trees on agricultural land to promote agroforestry.
India achieves 78 per cent decline in the under-five mortality rate surpassing the global reduction of 61 per cent.
At least 16 Pakistani soldiers killed and 29 people injured, in a suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan today.
And in Women’s T20 cricket, India set a target of 211 runs before hosts England at Trent Bridge in first of five match series.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today interacted with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who is onboard the International Space Station. Mr Modi said, Shubhanshu’s journey marks the auspicious beginning of a new era. Sharing his experiences with Prime Minister Modi, Captain Shukla said, he has learnt a lot during his training saying that his journey is a collective achievement for the entire country.

Captain Shukla said, India looks very grand and much bigger from space.

Captain Shukla is the second Indian astronaut, who has travelled to space, four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made the cosmic journey as part of a Soviet mission in 1984.

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The Prime Minister has said, India is a country devoted to service and humanity. He said, while the world tried to quell violence with violence for thousands of years, India introduced the power of non-violence. The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the centenary celebrations of Acharya Vidyanand Ji Maharaj in New Delhi today. He asserted that the nation placed the spirit of serving humanity above all else.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the nation must move forward by embracing both development and heritage. He also stressed to free the nation from colonial mindset.

Prime Minister Modi said, Acharya Vidyanand Muni is a modern beacon of ancient Indian tradition. He also said, Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji did not limit his life to mere spiritual practice, but made it a powerful medium for the reconstruction of society and culture.

The programme marked the formal commencement of a year-long national tribute to honour the 100th birth anniversary of Acharya Vidyanand Ji Maharaj.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 AM tomorrow. It will be the 123rd episode of the monthly radio programme.

The programme will be broadcast across the entire Akashvani and Doordarshan network, the AIR News website, and the Newsonair mobile app. It will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of AIR News, DD News, the PMO, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Akashvani will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast.

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The Government has issued model rules for the felling of trees on agricultural land in a bid to promote agroforestry. It also aims at doubling farmers’ incomes, increasing tree cover outside forests, mitigating climate change, reducing timber imports and ensure sustainable land use. The rules also support India’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement.

The Environment Ministry in a letter sent to all State Chief Secretaries said, the objective of it is to enhance the ease of doing business in agroforestry and incentivise farmers to integrate trees into their farming systems without facing undue procedural hurdles.

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said the Preamble of any constitution is its soul and it is not changeable. Addressing a book release function in New Delhi, Mr Dhankhar said, a change was effected the in Indian Constitution at a time when people were virtually enslaved during emergency. Mr Dhankhar said, addition of words Socialist, Secular and integrity in the Preamble during the Emergency signal betrayal of the mindset of the framers of the Constitution.

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India has achieved a 78 per cent decline in the under-five mortality rate, surpassing the global reduction of 61 per cent. As per the United Nations Inter-agency group for child mortality estimation 2024 report, the Neonatal Mortality Rate has also declined by 70 per cent as compared to 54 per cent globally. The Health Ministry said, with continued focus on improving vaccine coverage, India has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations.

“Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions. As a result of the continued and intensified implementation of vaccination drives, India’s percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024. India’s unwavering commitment to immunization is evident through its Universal Immunization Programme, which provides free vaccination services annually to around three crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants. Currently, India’s Universal Immunization Programme covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. . With Dipendra Kumar, Saklen Akhtar Akashvani News Delhi.”

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India has witnessed a historic surge in social protection coverage, which now covers 94 crore citizens across the nation. International Labour Organisation DG, Gilbert Houngbo has said, India’s social security coverage has increased from nearly 25 per cent in 2019 to 64 per cent in 2025.

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In Bihar, polling was peacefully concluded today for general election in six Nagar Panchayats and by-poll in 36 other municipal bodies. According to the State Election Commission an estimated 62.41 percent voter turnout was recorded.

With this election Bihar successfully conducted the process of e-Voting system using mobile based applications. State Election Commissioner Dipak Prasad told Akashvani the e-Voting has opened future avenues and revolutionary reforms in the process of voting.

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The BJP today slammed the Mamata Banerjee led TMC governmernt in West Bengal over crime against women in the state. Briefing media in New Delhi, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, the entire country is deeply saddened by the horrific incident of gangrape in a law college in Kolkata.

Mr Patra said, BJP President JP Nadda has formed a committee, which will soon visit the spot and submit its report to the National President.

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At least 16 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 29 people were injured in a suicide attack. According to police, the explosion also caused the roofs of two houses to collapse, injuring six children. The police said a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy.

Local media reported that the attack was claimed by the suicide bomber wing of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur armed group, which is affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban.

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Himachal Pradesh has been experiencing heavy monsoon rainfall over the past few days, and the spell of intense rain continues in several parts of the state today as well.

“Heavy rainfall continues across most parts of Himachal Pradesh, including the capital Shimla. Water levels in all major rivers and streams in the state have risen. So far, 17 people have lost their lives in incidents related to heavy rain, cloudbursts, and floods. Moreover property worth over rupees 300 crore has been damaged. Additionally, 37 roads are still blocked due to landslides. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in the state for the next two days. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.”

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In women’s T20 cricket, India have set a target of 211 runs before hosts England at Trent Bridge in 1st of the 5 match series. Put into bat first, India posted 210 runs losing 5 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Smriti Mandhana scored a century with 112 runs, while Harleen made 43.

In reply, hosts were, 46 for 2 in 5 overs, when reports last came in.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla onboard International Space Station; Calls his journey begining of a new era; Captain Shukla describes it collective achievement for entire nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his thoughts in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 AM tomorrow.
Government issues model rules for felling of trees on agricultural land to promote agroforestry.
India achieves 78 per cent decline in the under-five mortality rate surpassing the global reduction of 61 per cent.
At least 16 Pakistani soldiers killed and 29 people injured, in a suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan today.
And in Women’s T20 cricket, India set a target of 211 runs before hosts England at Trent Bridge in first of five match series.