Evening News

THE HEADLINES:

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share insights on recent meeting with his US counterpart in Alaska; Prime Minister Modi stresses for a peaceful resolution of Ukraine conflict.
US President Donald Trump to meet his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky along with a group of European leaders in Washington tonight.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.
Lok Sabha holds special discussion on Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space sojourn; Group Captain Shukla meets Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi.
Parliament passes Indian Ports Bill to consolidate law relating to ports and facilitate ease of doing business.
Heavy rain disrupts normal life in Maharashtra with flooding in several areas of Mumbai.
And, India’s Kapil Bainsla wins gold in 10m air pistol Men’s junior event at Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today received a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to share insights on his recent meeting with the US President Donald Trump in Alaska. In a social media post, Mr Modi thanked the Russian President for sharing insights and asserted that India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. Mr Modi said that he is looking forward to the continued exchanges with President Putin in the days to come.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along with a group of European leaders at the Oval Office in Washington tonight. Ahead of the meeting, President Trump in a social media post asserted that the Ukrainian leader can end the war with Russia if he wants to. While implying that in a settlement of the war, Kyiv will have to give up claims to some areas, President Trump ruled out Ukraine’s inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, citing Russian annexation of Crimean Peninsula in 2014 under the Obama administration.

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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi. In his opening remarks during the meeting, Dr Jaishankar stressed on three mutuals, respect, sensitivity and interest to move ahead from difficult period in bilateral ties.

The talks covered economic and trade issues, pilgrimages, people to people contacts, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity and bilateral exchanges. Dr Jaishankar said, the Chinese Foreign Minister will also be discussing border issues with Special Representative and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval tomorrow. He added that this is very important because the basis for any positive momentum in the bilateral ties is the ability to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. He said, it is also essential that the de escalation process moves forward. The Chinese Foreign Minister arrived in New Delhi this afternoon on a two-day visit to India.

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The issue of Special Intensive Revision drive of electoral roll in Bihar disrupted the proceedings of both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha today. The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were disrupted twice while the Rajya Sabha witnessed one adjournment before being adjourned for the day.

When the Lok Sabha reassembled at 2 PM after the second adjournment, Speaker Om Birla congratulated astronaut and Group Captain of Indian Air Force Shubhanshu Shukla on behalf of the entire House for creating history by becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station under Axiom Mission-4.

Later, Mr Birla appealed to all the members of the House to take part in the special discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space sojourn. Amid the noisy scene, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh initiated the discussion on ‘India’s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station, focusing on the critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047’. The Minister lauded the achievements of astronaut Subhanshu Shukla during historic mission to the International Space Station. Dr Singh reiterated the government’s commitment to establish an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and send an Indian crewed mission to the Moon by 2040.

As the opposition MPs continued with their protest, the Presiding Officer adjourned the House for the day.

In the Rajya Sabha, when the House met after the first adjournment at 2 PM, Leader of opposition in the Upper House Mallikarjun Kharge raised the Special Intensive Revision issue. Reacting to it, Leader of the House JP Nadda said that from the day one of this Monsoon Session, the government has reiterated that it is ready to discuss any issue under rules, but the opposition is not cooperating and showing their irresponsible behaviour. The Opposition MPs staged a walk out from the House. After completing the business, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.

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Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. Mr Shukla returned to India yesterday after his historic visit to the International Space Station (ISS). In a social media post, Mr Modi informed that he discussed a wide range of subjects with the Indian astronaut including his experiences in space, progress in science and technology as well as India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission. During the meeting, Mr Shukla gifted the Axiom-4 mission patch to Prime Minister Modi and showed him pictures of the Earth taken from ISS.

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Parliament today passed the Indian Ports Bill 2025 with Rajya Sabha approving the Bill. The legislation seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India’s coastline.

Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the Bill is very significant because it is a reformative initiative.

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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has criticized the opposition for disrupting the proceedings of the Parliament. Talking to media outside parliament today, Mr Rijiju said, when the Election Commission does some work and if someone has any objection, then they should write to the poll panel and file an appeal.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a meeting to discuss the roadmap for Next-Generation Reforms in Delhi. In a social media post, Mr Modi said they are committed to speedy reforms across all sectors, which will boost Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business and prosperity. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari were among those who attended the meeting.

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The portal under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana has gone live. The scheme will provide incentive of up to 15 thousand rupees in two instalments to newly employed youth and upto three thousand rupees per month per new employee to employers for creation of new job opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced this scheme during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort this year. Employers can visit www.pmvbry.epfindia.gov.in or www.pmvbry.labour.gov.in and complete one-time registration process.

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India’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.2 per cent in July this year down from 5.6 per cent in June, for individuals aged 15 years and above. According to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation monthly labour force and unemployment data, the unemployment rate for female was at 5.1 per cent while for male stood at 5.3 per cent.

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National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Vice Presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan will file his nomination on Wednesday. An introductory meeting with floor leaders of NDA was held in New Delhi this evening following the arrival of Mr. Radhakrishnan in the National Capital. Briefing media in New Delhi after the meeting, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, all NDA leaders will participate in the nomination filing process.

The Vice Presidential Election will be held on the 9th of next month.

Earlier in the day, Mr C P Radhakrishnan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

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Heavy rain has disrupted normal life across Maharashtra, with flooding in several areas of Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reviewed flood-like situation across the state and called for coordinated rescue and relief efforts. Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has announced a holiday tomorrow, for all government, private and municipal schools and colleges in the city in view of the red alert for extremely heavy rainfall.

“In Mumbai, heavy downpour since three consecutive days has led to widespread waterlogging and disruption of traffic in several areas across the city. Schools and colleges were closed in the afternoon. Suburban trains ran with delays, while metro services remained unaffected. The BMC has kept all pumping stations active to reduce waterlogging. In Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Palghar, heavy rains have led to waterlogging and flooding in several low-lying areas. Power supply was affected in parts of Sangameshwar in Ratnagiri due to the downpour. Rising water levels have also led to the opening of several dam gates across the state. In Nanded, flooding was reported in the Mukhed area after the release of water from Vishnupuri dam. The Army and NDRF teams carried out rescue operations. SWEETY JAIN, AKASHWANI NEWS, MUMBAI”

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall over Coastal Karnataka, Konkan, Goa, Gujarat, central Maharashtra and North Interior Karnataka for tomorrow. The IMD has also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Mahe, South Interior Karnataka, Telangana and Vidarbha region tomorrow.

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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” tonight, we will bring a discussion on Safety from Vector Borne Diseases. Professor Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Puneet Misra will be in our studios to answer the queries of listeners. To participate, Listeners can dial the telephone numbers 011 – 23717117 and 011 – 23314444, from 9:30 PM onwards tonight.

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Benchmark domestic equity indices today ended with gains of around one per cent. Sensex rose 676 points to close at 81 thousand 274. Similarly, Nifty gained 246 points to settle at 24 thousand 877.

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Kapil Bainsla won India’s first gold at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Bainsla from Palwal in Haryana defeated Uzbekistan’s Ilkhombek Obidjonov by 0.6 points in the 10m air pistol men junior final. India’s Jonathan Gavin Antony secured bronze. Kapil and Jonathan also joined Vijay Tomar to win the silver in the team event.

In seniors Men’s final team event, India claimed silver with Anmol Jain, Aditya Malra, and Saurabh Chaudhary. India thus ended day one with a gold and two silvers and a bronze.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share insights on recent meeting with US counterpart in Alaska; Prime Minister Modi stresses for a peaceful resolution of Ukraine conflict.
US President Donald Trump to meet Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky along with a group of European leaders in Washington tonight.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar holds talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi.
Lok Sabha holds special discussion on Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space sojourn; Group Captain Shukla meets Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi.
Parliament passes Indian Ports Bill to consolidate law relating to ports and facilitate ease of doing business.
Heavy rain disrupts normal life in Maharashtra with flooding in several areas of Mumbai.
And, India’s Kapil Bainsla wins gold in 10m air pistol Men’s junior event at Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan.