THE HEADLINES:
- Free Trade Agreement between India and four nation European bloc ‘EFTA’ to come into effect from 1st October says, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects of Uttarakhand government, worth 1271 crore rupees in Rudrapur.
- Rail manufacturing unit at Kazipet to commence operation by next year, says Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- IMD forecasts extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala and coastal Karnataka till tomorrow and in South-West Rajasthan today.
- And in Badminton, India enter quarterfinals beating United Arab Emirates at Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in Indonesia.
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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, today said the Free Trade Agreement between India and the four-nation European bloc ‘European Free Trade Association’ (EFTA) will be implemented from 1st October. Addressing the session, organised by ASSOCHAM on Creating Global Impact Towards Viksit Bharat, Mr Goyal said that all the four countries have ratified the Free Trade Agreement and lodged their documents with the repository in Norway.
India and EFTA had signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on 10th March last year. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The bloc has committed an investment of 100 billion dollars of which 50 billion dollars will be invested within 10 years after the implementation of the agreement and another 50 billion dollars in the next five years. It will facilitate the creation of one million direct jobs in India. The Minister reiterated that India will enter into international trade agreements only if they serve the country’s interests.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah today inaugurated and laid foundation stone of various developmental works of the Uttarakhand government worth 1,271 crore rupees in Rudrapur. Mr Shah interacted with investors and entrepreneurs from across the country at the Uttarakhand Investment Festival – 2025 organised at Rudrapur in Uttarakhand. Addressing the people on the occasion, the Union Minister said that the country cannot develop unless small states like Uttarakhand progress.
Mr Shah appreciating the Chief Minister of the state Pushkar Singh Dhami said that he has established a balance between industrial development and environment. The Union Minister also said that Mr Dhami has chalked out the overall development of Uttarakhand with transparency in policies, speed in implementation and foresight in vision. Mr Shah said that today with the investment of one lakh crore rupees in Uttarakhand, more than 81 thousand jobs have been created.
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The Government has convened an all-party meeting tomorrow ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament beginning on Monday. During the meeting, the government will seek cooperation from all political parties to ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses of Parliament. The Monsoon Session which will be held from the 21st of this month, will continue till 21st of August. During the session, there will be a total of 21 sittings of both Houses. Talking to media, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that government is ready to discuss important issues to be raised in Parliament.
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The BJP today hit out at the Opposition saying that ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, there are visible conflicts and divisions within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Replying to a question, BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told media in New Delhi that Aam Aadmi Party has already announced that it is no longer in the opposition alliance. He urged the opposition to use the forthcoming session of Parliament positively, effectively, and constructively.
Mr Trivedi also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his social media post in connection with a money laundering case in which Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against his brother- in-law Robert Vadra. He questioned Mr Gandhi whether he has made these remarks in his personal capacity or as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), a constitutional position.
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The Election Commission has said that 95.92 percent electors have been covered in the draft Electoral Roll as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The Commission added that with just Six more days still to go for filling up of the Enumeration Forms, the Commission is making all possible efforts to ensure that the remaining nearly 32 lakh electors are added to the draft Electoral Roll. A concerted effort by the entire electoral machinery along with yet another round of visits by the BLOs has also been started to establish contact with the remaining electors. The Poll Body added that over 7 crore 15 lakh enumeration forms have been collected in Bihar so far under SIR initiative.
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Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a 360-degree transformation in women’s empowerment has been witnessed in the last 11 years. He added that women getting participation so far at unexplored fields like admission in Sainik Schools and the National Defence Academy. Addressing a conference in Patna on the theme of “Bihar’s Development through Women’s Participation,” Union Minister of State for personnel, public grievances and pensions Mr. Singh said that the Prime Minister has moved beyond women’s participation to resolve for women-led development.
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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. In a social media post, Mr. Adityanath described his meeting as delightful. He said that Mr. Modi is the world’s most popular Prime Minister. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for his guidance. Earlier, Mr. Adityanath also met Bhartiya Janata Party president Jagat Prakash Nadda in the national capital today.
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Railways Minister Aswini Vaishnaw today said the Rail Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet in Telangana will commence manufacturing by next year. After reviewing the progress of the unit, along with Union Coal Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, the minister said the civil works will be completed by the end of this year and Rail Engines, Coaches, Wagons and Metro rail coaches can be manufactured at the unit in phased manner, positioning it as one of the largest railway manufacturing units in the country.
The Minister underscored that the Kazipet unit will play a crucial role in strengthening India’s rail infrastructure and driving the country’s economic progress. Stating that all rail projects in Telangana are progressing at a good pace, he credited Prime Minister Modi for realizing the long- cherished dream of setting up a coach factory in Kazipet.
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Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw along with Union Coal Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy flagged off a new express train to Jodhpur at Kachiguda railway station this evening. The train serves the passengers by travelling though Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Mr Vaishnaw appreciated the efforts made by Parliament members from these states for fulfilling the long pending demand of the people to have a direct train facility from Hyderabad to Jodhpur. He also assured that a direct train to Ahmedabad from Hyderabad will also be taken up soon after the ongoing works are completed.
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At least 27 bodies have been recovered after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Halong Bay today. According to state media, 12 people have been rescued so far, while search and rescue efforts are underway for 14 people who are still missing. The vessel was reportedly carrying 53 people, including 48 tourists and five crew members. The nationalities of those on board have not yet been reported. The capsize happened near the Dau Go Cave, one of the largest in the bay.
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US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack today said that Israel and Syria have agreed to a ceasefire after Israel launched air strikes on the country which it claimed were aimed at protecting an Arab religious minority Druze community. Clashes between pro-government forces and the Druze have killed scores of people since the fall of Syria’s longtime ruler, Bashar al-Assad.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala and Coastal Karnatka till tomorrow. According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue over Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during the next 7 days. Extremely heavy rainfall is also expected over Southwest Rajasthan today.
“The weather agency has forecast heavy rainfall over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during the next 3 to 4 days. Similar conditions will also be present over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till the 24th of this month. Over Western part of the nation, these conditions will continue over Konkan, Goa and Madhya Maharashtra during the next 6 days. Light to moderate rainfall with ground lightning is expected over Bihar tomorrow. The IMD has also predicted partly cloudy sky and very light rain over Delhi-NCR tomorrow. Adarsh for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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India secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships with a dominant 110-83 victory over United Arab Emirates in their Group D clash today at Solo in Indonesia.This win follows India’s impressive opening-day triumph over Sri Lanka yesterday.
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In Women’s Cricket, India were 120 for 6 in 24.3 overs against England in the rain-curtailed second ODI at Lord’s in London, when reports last came in. The match has been reduced to 29 overs a side due to delayed-start. Earlier, England won the toss and elected to bowl first.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- Free Trade Agreement between India and four nation European bloc ‘EFTA’ to come into effect from 1st October says, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects of Uttarakhand government, worth 1271 crore rupees in Rudrapur.
- Rail manufacturing unit at Kazipet to commence operation by next year, says Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- IMD forecasts extremely heavy rainfall in Kerala and coastal Karnataka till tomorrow and in South-West Rajasthan today.
- And in Badminton, India enter quarterfinals beating United Arab Emirates at Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in Indonesia.
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