THE HEADLINES
- In Jammu and Kashmir, 10 people killed as heavy rains wreak havoc causing widespread flood and landslides; Situation also grim in Punjab.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to embark on official visit to Japan and China from Thursday to strengthen strategic partnership.
- Prime Minister Modi calls upon states to collectively participate to build Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Navy’s advanced frontline frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri; Calls it the success of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, demographic changes in border areas directly impact country’s security.
- In shooting, Sift Kaur Samra creates history by becoming first Indian to win an individual Gold in Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions at Asian Championships in Kazakhstan.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, at least 10 people have been killed as relentless rainfall over the past 24 hours has triggered a flood emergency across the Jammu division. Floodwaters have submerged several low-lying areas, with most rivers flowing above the danger mark. Electricity supply and Internet services in some areas of the Jammu region have reportedly been disrupted. All government offices, except emergency services, will be closed tomorrow. The Meteorological Department has predicted continued rainfall, heightening concerns of further inundation. More from our Jammu Correspondent:
“The pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was suspended as a landslide hit the route to the shrine atop Trikuta hills, leading to death of 6 person and injuries to 18 other. Rescue operations are underway near the Indraprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari where the landslide hit. At least four people lost their lives and several properties were damaged in the last 24 hours in the Doda district due to heavy rains. Reports of damage to public and private infrastructure were also received from high altitude areas of Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, Ramban and Poonch districts. The traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda National Highways was suspended, while dozens of hilly roads were blocked by landslides or flash floods. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the situation in many parts of Jammu province was “quite serious” and instructions have been issued to place additional funds at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners to cover emergency restoration work and other exigencies. N. Gulshan Raina, Akashvani, Jammu.”
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education has postponed Class 10 and 11 exams scheduled for tomorrow. The BSF has also postponed the recruitment process for the Constable (GD) Exam 2025 scheduled for tomorrow at BSF Palours Camp, Jammu
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In Punjab, also, seven districts have been put on high alert due to flooding in many villages there. The swollen Beas and Ravi rivers due to incessant rain for the last over 36 hours in many parts of state and down flow of rainy water from Himachal Pradesh have caused the flooding. Ferozepur, Fazilka, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Pathankot have been put on high alert. More from our Correspondent:
“Army, BSF and NDRF are rescuing the stranded villagers in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. Shelter homes with all the required facilities including medical teams have also been setup near the affected areas both for people and the cattles. The forced release of surplus water from Bhakhra, Ranjit Sagar Dam, Hussaniwala headworks to avoid any damage to these water reservoirs are also aggravating the flood situation in the state. Weather department has sounded Red Alert for rain in the state for today and Yellow Alert for tomorrow. Keeping in view the present situation, Chief Minister has announced holidays in all the schools in Punjab from August 27th to 30th. Rajesh Bali, Akashvani News, Jalandhar.”
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Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that heavy rainfall will continue over the Northwest, Central and Eastern parts of the country for the next 4-5 days. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha tomorrow. The IMD said, heavy rainfall will continue to prevail over entire north and northwest, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, Konkan and Goa tomorrow. Meanwhile, the weather department has also issued a red colour warning for heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over several parts of Delhi-NCR for the next few hours.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Japan and China from Thursday. During his Japan visit on 29th and 30th of this month, Prime Minister Modi will hold 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared details of PM Modi’s Japan visit, with the media in New Delhi today.
In China, the Prime Minister will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s 25th meeting of Council of Heads of State in Tianjin on 31st of August and 1st September of the next month. Secretary (West) in Ministry of External Affairs Tanmaya Lal briefed Media about Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to China.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, a new chapter is being added to India’s Make in India journey, marking an important day in the nation’s goal of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’. Mr Modi said this after inaugurating the production of hybrid battery electrodes at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Plant in Gujarat. He said, the occasion also gives a new dimension to the friendship between India and Japan.
Mr. Modi said, this success is motivating all states across India and a healthy competition has emerged among states regarding reforms and investment, benefiting the entire nation. The Prime Minister urged the states to come up with pro-development policies and reforms with enhanced ease of doing business facilities to attract global investors. Mr. Modi said, India has the strength of democracy, the advantage of demography, and a large pool of skilled workforce.
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Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commissioned two of the Indian Navy’s advanced frontline frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam this afternoon. It is the first time that two major surface combatants from two of the prestigious Shipyards of India are commissioned at the same time, emphasising India’s accelerating naval modernisation and its ability to deliver sophisticated warships from multiple shipyards.
Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Minister said, the commissioning of these two ships showcases the success of the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of the Central government.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that demographic changes in border areas directly impact the security of the country and its borders. Mr Shah was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day Vibrant Villages Programme workshop in New Delhi today. He said, the vibrant villages programme was started to stop migration from border villages and achieve 100 per cent saturation. Mr Shah said, the Programme is boosting employment by promoting infrastructure, preservation and promotion of culture and tourism in border villages.
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Government has imposed stock limits on wheat to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation. The stock limit for the traders and wholesalers has been reduced to two thousand metric tonnes from three thousand metric tonnes in the revised stock limit. The stock limit for the retailers will be eight metric tonnes. The Ministry has asked all wheat stocking entities to declare and update the stock position on every Friday on the wheat stock portal.
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Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka visited the head office of the Unique Identification Authority of India in New Delhi today. During the visit, Mr. Rabuka was briefed about Aadhaar and DigiLocker initiatives by the senior officials of the UIDAI.
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Protesters in Israel took to the streets today calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza and the return of hostages being held there. Ahead of a security cabinet meeting, the protesters blocked roads in Tel Aviv, waving Israeli flags and holding up pictures of the hostages. As per reports, the agitators gathered near a US embassy branch in the city, as well as outside the houses of various ministers across the country.
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Indian Olympian Sift Kaur Samra today created history by clinching the individual gold medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, today. Sift scored 459.2 to take the top spot. She was followed by Yujie Yang of China (458.8) and Japan’s Misaki Nobata (448.2). Ashi Chouksey, the other Indian in the individual eight-shooter final, finished seventh with a score of 402.8.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices today ended one per cent down each amid a broad-based sell off across most sectors barring FMCG, ahead of mid-week holiday. A report:-
“The Sensex lost 849 points, to close at 80 thousand and 787. Similarly, Nifty dipped 256 points, to settle at 24 thousand 712. The broader market indices at the Bombay Stock Exchange ended on a negative note. In the Forex market, the rupee today depreciated by 10 paise to close at 87 rupees and 68 paise against the US dollar amid weakness in domestic equities. Rajesh Laikh For AKASHVANI News.”
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Maharashtra is gearing up to celebrate its biggest state festival, Ganeshotsav, beginning tomorrow on Ganesh Chaturthi. Cities and towns across the state are abuzz with last-minute preparations, as pandals, markets, and homes come alive with festive energy. In Mumbai, major Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals have completed elaborate decorations and final touches to the idols of Lord Ganesha. The grand unveiling of these idols is expected to draw lakhs of devotees over the next ten days. Residents, too, are preparing to welcome Ganpati Bappa into their homes.
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President Droupadi Murmu has greeted citizens on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi. In her message, President Murmu said that this festival is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm. The President urged people to celebrate the festival while conserving the country’s environment, and contribute towards building a cleaner, greener and more prosperous nation.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- In Jammu and Kashmir, 10 people killed as heavy rains wreak havoc causing widespread flood and landslides; Situation also grim in Punjab.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to embark on official visit to Japan and China from Thursday to strengthen strategic partnership.
- Prime Minister Modi calls upon states to collectively participate to build Viksit Bharat by 2047.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Navy’s advanced frontline frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri; Calls it the success of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, demographic changes in border areas directly impact country’s security.
- In shooting, Sift Kaur Samra creates history by becoming first Indian to win an individual Gold in Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions at Asian Championships in Kazakhstan.
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