THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts aerial survey of landslide hit regions of Wayanad in Kerala.
- President Droupadi Murmu holds bilateral discussions with President and Prime Minister of Timor Leste; The two countries exchange three MoUs on mutual co-operation.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says India is committed to deepen ties with Maldives for benefit of the region; meets President Mohamed Muizzu.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asks Banks to focus on Core Banking, mobilise deposits and lending funds.
- In Brazil, all the 61 people on board killed in a plane crash in Sao Paulo.
- And, in Paris Olympics, Reetika Hooda to face Bernadett Nagy of Hungary in her opening bout in women’s freestyle 76 kg wrestling today.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the landslide hit regions of Wayanad in Kerala this morning. He was accompanied by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Minister of State for Tourism, Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi.
Later, Prime Minister Modi, reached Chooralmala, one of the areas badly hit by the massive landslide on the 30th of last month.
The Army has built a 190 ft Bailey Bridge at Chooralmala across river Iruvanipuzha, which facilitates faster movement of heavy earth moving equipment and army personnel to the landslide hit areas. The Prime Minister interacted with the army personnel and will those involved in the rescue and relief works.
From Chooralmala, he will proceed to the MIMS Hospital and a relief camp at the St Joseph School at Meppady and interact with the survivors.
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President Droupadi Murmu was accorded the Grand Collar of Order of Timor Leste, the highest civil award by President José Ramos Horta at the Presidential Palace in Dili. President Murmu held meetings with President Horta and Prime Minister Gusmão on bilateral cooperation. Our reporter covering the President’s visit has filed this report.
Addressing the press after the bilateral discussion with her counterpart, President Droupadi Murmu said that India and Timor Leste share a deep bond of friendship and shared commitment to democracy. President Murmu said that both the countries are exploring the possibility of Timor Leste joining the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. On the other hand, President Horta hailed India’s democratic ethos and called for assistance in IT digital infrastructure, medical and pharmaceutical sectors and Capacity building. President Murmu also held a bilateral discussion with Prime Minister Kay Rala sanana Gusmão where in MoUs were exchanged on co-operation between Prasar Bharati and Radio Televisaun Timor Leste (RTTL), visa waiver for official and diplomatic passport holders and cooperation on cultural exchange program. Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu received a 21-gun salute and inspected the guard of honour. She also paid floral tributes to the portrait of Former President of India Late Shri VV Giri on his birth anniversary at Timor Plaza Hotel. Sri Sai for Akashvani News, Timor Leste.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said India is committed to deepen ties with Maldives for the benefit of people of both coutries and the region. Dr Jaishankar, who is on a three-day official visit to Maldives, said this on X after meeting the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Dr Jaishankar also met the Island nation’s Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon. They discussed defence and security cooperation, joint initiatives for maritime security and shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the region. The External Affairs Minister also met Economic Development and Trade Minister, Minister of Finance and Governor of the Maldives Monetary Authority.
Later, Dr Jaishankar inaugurated Water and Sanitation Projects in 28 Islands of Maldives virtually.
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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be on a two day official visit to Nepal from tomorrow. The External Affairs Ministry said the Foreign Secretary’s visit continues the tradition of regular high level exchanges between the two countries. The visit reflects the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal under its Neighborhood First policy.
Our correspondent reports that India and Nepal share an age-old civilizational, cultural and people-to-people connect. Bilateral cooperation between the two countries has further strengthened in recent years with continued momentum in high level exchanges and major infrastructure and connectivity projects in Nepal having been completed and new ones undertaken with Government of India’s assistance. The Foreign Secretary’s visit will be an opportunity to further advance India-Nepal bilateral ties.
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The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 scheme. The Cabinet also gave its nod to the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin during Financial Year 2024-25 to 2028-29. Briefing media last night, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that three crore new houses will be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Mr Vaishnaw said, of them two crore houses will be built in rural areas while one crore will be constructed in urban areas. He said the budgetary provision on the scheme will be of 3 lakh 60 thousand crore rupees.
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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved eight projects of Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of 24 thousand 657 crore rupees. The projects cover 14 districts in Seven States. The States are Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana and West Bengal. Aspirational districts and tribal areas will get a major push of development through these projects.
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India’s defence export soared by 78 percent in the first quarter of 2024-25 as compared to the same period of the last fiscal year. According to the Defence Ministry, defence export increased to 6,915 crore rupees in the first quarter of 2024-25, compared to 3,865 crore rupees in the same quarter of the previous year.
Sharing a poster on social media, Defence spokesperson A. Bharat Bhushan Babu said this leap underscores the government’s firm commitment to setting a new benchmark in self-reliance and innovation in the defence sector.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stressed on the need for banks to focus on ‘core banking’. She said this while addressing the media after holding a meeting with the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India in New Delhi today. She asked banks to prioritise their vital business which is mobilising deposits and lending funds.
RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, who was also present in the meeting said that banks are free to decide rates of interest as he informed that interest rates on deposits and lending are deregulated.
The Finance Minister noted the Banking Regulations amendments which the government is bringing in was long awaited. She mentioned that the amendments include important realignments related to the cooperative banking sector. The Minister emphasised that the introduction of nomination provisions is a customer-friendly step. She said….
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Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav has virtually launched the second phase of the Bi-annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis elimination in New Delhi today. Addressing on the occassion, Mr Jadhav said that preventive measures such as avoiding mosquito bites and consuming anti-filarial medicines are crucial to stop the transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis, which affects populations across 20 states and union territories in India. He added that this disease not only impacts health and well-being but also leads to lifelong disability.
Mr. Jadhav asserted that to ensure success in the upcoming Mass Drug Administration rounds 90 percent of all eligible populations must consume these medicines.
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‘World Lion Day’ is being celebrated today. In Gujarat, the state level celebration of World Lion Day will be organised at Sasan Gir in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The grand celebration of World Lion Day is being organised across 11 districts of Saurashtra, involving over 21 lakh citizens from more than 11,000 educational institutions.
The event aims to raise awareness about the conservation of the Asiatic lions, which are found only in Gujarat.
The official release said the lion population has increased significantly from 284 in 1990 to over 674 in 2020, thanks to various conservation efforts.
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On the occasion of World Lion Day today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended all individuals involved in lion conservation and protection work. In a social media post, the Prime Minister highlighted that India is home to a large Lion population in Gir in Gujarat. He noted that over the years, the number of lions has increased significantly, which is a positive development.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the Kathua Police today released the sketches of four terrorists who have been reportedly seen in several parts of the district. Our Correspondent reports that the police are offering a cash reward of five lakh rupees on each terrorist for actionable information. The terrorists whose sketches have been made public were last seen in dhoks of Malhar, Bani and Seojdhar in the higher reaches of the Kathua district. A police spokesperson said, anyone with credible information of the terrorists will also be suitably rewarded and the identity of the informers will be kept strictly confidential.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the Police nabbed a drug peddler and recovered a huge consignment of heroin-like substance from his possession yesterday. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the Jammu Police nabbed drug peddler on the basis of reliable information and recovered heroin-like substance weighing around 33 kg. A case has been registered against the culprit and an investigation has started. Prima facie it appears that the accused obtained the consignment from border areas of Akhnoor sector and was taking it to Punjab. Further investigation is underway.
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The India Meteorological Department has forecast very heavy rainfall over Northern parts of the country till tomorrow. The IMD said that very heavy rainfall is expected over Himachal Pradesh today and over Uttarakhand and East Rajasthan till tomorrow. The weather department added that scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall is very likely over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Konkan & Goa, Gujarat Region during the week.
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In Brazil, 61 people have been killed in a plane crash in Sao Paulo. The ill fated plane was flying from Cascavel in Paraná to Sao Paulo city when it came down in the town of Vinhedo.
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At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian Wrestler Reetika Hooda will begin her campaign in the women’s freestyle 76kg event. She will face Bernadett Nagy of Hungary in her opening round at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
In Golf, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar, who did not have the best of outings yesterday, will feature in the final round of the women’s event today.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts aerial survey of landslide hit regions of Wayanad in Kerala.
- President Droupadi Murmu holds bilateral discussions with President and Prime Minister of Timor Leste; The two countries exchange three MoUs on mutual co-operation.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says India is committed to deepen ties with Maldives for benefit of the region; meets President Mohamed Muizzu.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asks Banks to focus on Core Banking, mobilise deposits and lending funds.
- In Brazil, all the 61 people on board killed in a plane crash in Sao Paulo.
- And, in Paris Olympics, Reetika Hooda to face Bernadett Nagy of Hungary in her opening bout in women’s freestyle 76 kg wrestling today.
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