Download
Mobile App

android apple
signal

January 2, 2025 2:43 PM

printer

Midday News

THE HEADLINES:

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds Maharashtra Government’s efforts to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas.
  • Movement of several trains affected due to low visibility caused by dense fog in northern region of the country.
  • India extends relief assistance of five lakh dollars to earthquake hit Vanuatu to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
  • At least 10 people killed, including two children, in Montenegro shooting spree; Another mass shooting in US leaves 11 injured outside a nightclub in New York’s Queens.
  • Sale of tickets for Republic Day Parade 2025 and Beating Retreat begins.
  • And, In Hockey India League, Surma Hockey Club to clash with UP Rudras in Rourkela.

 

<><><> 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the Maharashtra Government’s efforts to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, this will certainly boost Ease of Living and pave the way for even more progress. He congratulated the people of Gadchiroli and the surrounding areas.

 

A total of 11 Naxalites surrendered yesterday before Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Gadchiroli. Mr Fadnavis said Maharashtra will soon become free of the Naxal menace given the rise in the number of Maoists laying down their arms and the movement failing to attract recruits. He inaugurated the 32 kilometre long Gatta-Gardewada-Wangeturi road and bus services of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation on the Wangeturi-Gardewada-Gatta-Aheri route in the district.

 

<><><> 

 

The Prime Minister has said that the Open Network for Digital Commerce ONDC has contributed to empowering small businesses and revolutionising e-commerce. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, it is playing a vital role in furthering growth and prosperity.

 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said ONDC was launched in 2021 by the Modi Government with a vision to democratise e-commerce in India. He said that over the past three years, it has achieved numerous milestones and empowered businesses, especially small enterprises, by creating a level playing field for them on the network.

 

<><><> 

 

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Dr. Virendra Kumar has said that the Government is committed to working for the upliftment of Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. While chairing a meeting on the welfare of the De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic communities in New Delhi today, the Minister urged the States to collaborate with the centre to make sure that these people are not deprived of the basic amenities. He highlighted that the lack of documents of these people is a major problem as it does not allow them to get benefits from the schemes of the Central Government.

 

<><><> 

 

Akashvani News brings you glimpses of 2024 in its special Year-Ender series. Today, we take a look at the key initiatives and achievements of the Ministry of Rural Development. Our correspondent has filed this report:

 

During the financial year 2024-25, over 196 crore person-days were generated with a total central release of over seven thousand 491 crore rupees. National Mobile Monitoring Service, GIS-based plan- use of Space Technology, Aadhaar Payment Bridge System, GeoMGNREGA, and JALDOOT App are the major initiatives or key interventions in MGNREGA. The Union Cabinet had approved the extension to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Grameen) in August 2024 to construct an additional two crore rural houses during the current financial year to the financial year 2028-29 to meet the rising need for housing due to an increase in several families. As of 30th December 2024, the cumulative target of three crore 33 lakh houses has been allotted to the States and UTs, out of which three crore 22 lakh houses have been sanctioned and two crore 68 lakh houses have been completed. Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, over one lakh 62 thousand habitations as per the census 2001 have been provided connectivity since inception, out of which, 242 habitations have been provided all-weather road connectivity in the year 2024. Surveys are underway using a mobile application called the Gram Sadak Survey Appt to identify the eligible unconnected habitations and alignment under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV. ANUPAM MISHRA, AKSHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”

 

<><><> 

 

Prime Minister  Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Delhi tomorrow. He will inaugurate around 1700 newly constructed flats for the dwellers of JJ clusters and also hand over the keys to eligible beneficiaries in Ashok Vihar, in the national capital.The project is aimed at providing the residents of the JJ clusters with a better and healthier living environment equipped with proper amenities and facilities.

 

<><><> 

 

The movement of several trains is affected as dense fog has engulfed the northern region of the country, causing low visibility. According to Indian Railways, as many as 43 Delhi-bound trains have been delayed by up to five hours. These include the Padmavat Express, the Kalindi Express, the Shramshakti Express, the Mahabodhi Express, Ashram Express, the Vikramshila Express, and the Kaifiyat Express. Passengers are advised to check the latest status of the trains before arriving at the station to board them.

 

<><><> 

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense fog conditions to prevail during late-night and early-morning hours in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh today. Similar conditions are also expected to continue over Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and the North Eastern States till tomorrow.

 

Talking to the media, IMD Scientist Soma Sen Roy said that heavy rainfall or heavy snowfall as well as thunderstorm activity over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh is expected over the weekend.

 

IMD has also advised the fishermen to not venture into the Gulf of Mannar and the adjoining Comorin area, the Southwest Bay of Bengal, and the southern parts of the Southwest Arabian Sea over the next two days.

 

<><><> 

 

A massive fire broke out in Tandi village of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh last night, reducing 17 residential houses to ashes. Our correspondent reports that more than 15 families have been directly affected by the fire, resulting in losses worth crores of rupees.

 

In the devastating fire incident in Tandi village of Kullu district last evening, 17 houses were destroyed. Additionally, six cowsheds and a deity’s storehouse were also gutted in the fire. Firefighters and residents had to work hard to control the blaze, but the houses made of wood were reduced to rubble in no time. The affected families are struggling to cope with the cold weather amidst the ongoing cold wave in the state. Meanwhile, the district administration has provided immediate relief to the affected families by distributing blankets and other necessary items, The cause of the fire is being investigated. Prabha Sharma, Akashvani News, Shimla.”

 

<><><> 

 

India has extended relief assistance of five lakh dollars to earthquake hit Vanuatu to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck near Vanuatu’s coast in the South Pacific Ocean on the 17th of last month causing major destruction and loss of life. India extended its deep condolences to the Government and the people of Vanuatu for the damage and destruction caused by this unprecedented disaster and conveyed its readiness to extend all possible support and assistance in this time of difficulty. As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation FIPIC, India has firmly stood by Vanuatu during times of difficulty and devastation caused by natural disasters.

 

<><><> 

 

India has completed the fencing of over nine kilometres of its border with Myanmar and work on the road along the fence is in progress.  The fencing has been done at Moreh in Manipur.  The Union Home Ministry stated this in a report published recently. The construction of around 21  km of fence and road was awarded to Border Road Organisation in February last year for which the work is in progress. The country shares a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar which passes through  Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.  The Ministry added that out of the 1,643 km border, the demarcation of the 1,472 kilometre border has been completed. Construction work on two pilot projects of a Hybrid surveillance system in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur is in progress.

 

<><><> 

 

In the US, at least 11 people were injured in a mass shooting outside a nightclub in New York’s Queens on Wednesday night. The shooting reportedly took place around 11:20 pm near the Amazura nightclub in Jamaica. For  details, we have a desk report:

 

“This incident is part of a disturbing series of attacks in the US within the last 24 hours.           Details are still awaited, as the investigation continues to unfold in the third attack on the US. Earlier, a man in a pickup truck deliberately drove into a crowd in New Orleans’ French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35 others. Authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Shamsuddin Bahar Jabbar, was killed in a shootout with police after exiting the vehicle armed with an assault rifle. In another incident, at least one person was killed and seven others injured when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas yesterday. Anuja Kumar, News desk, Delhi.”

 

<><><> 

 

In Bangladesh, a Chattogram court today rejected the bail plea of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, during a hearing held under tight security. The spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote and a former priest of ISKCON, Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested on sedition charges on the 25th of November, from Dhaka Airport. He has been in jail since the 26th of November.

 

<><><> 

 

Delhi Police has busted a gang involved in the illegal immigration of Bangladeshi citizens. Two Bangladeshi citizens and two Indian facilitators have been arrested. Addressing a press conference, Joint CP South Delhi, Sanjay Kumar Jain informed that 12 Bangladeshis have been deported in the last one month. He said, the Bangladeshi nationals took the route from Durgapur, in Bangladesh to reach Baghmara, Meghalaya in India. Mr Jain said, the arrested individuals created fake documents through a fraudulent website, enabling the Bangladeshi nationals to stay in the country illegally.

 

<><><> 

 

In Montenegro, a gunman killed at least 10 people, including two children, during a shooting spree near the southern city of Cetinje yesterday. The attack began around 5:30 PM local time in Bajice village and spanned multiple locations. Among the victims were two children aged 10 and 13. 

 

Police launched an hours-long manhunt, which ended when the 45-year-old suspect shot himself in the head after being surrounded. 

 

The government has declared three days of national mourning starting today. 

 

<><><> 

 

In Bihar, newly appointed Governor Arif  Mohammad Khan today took the oath of office and secrecy as the 42nd Governor of the State. Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice K. Vinod Chandran administered the oath of office in a function organised at Rajbhavan in Patna. 

 

<><><> 

 

The sale of tickets for Republic Day Parade 2025 and Beating Retreat has commenced today. The Defence Ministry said, the tickets can be purchased from the counters opened at Sena Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Jantar Mantar, Pragati Maidan and Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on production of Original Photo ID Card. 

 

<><><> 

 

In Hockey India League 2024-25, the Surma Hockey Club will face UP Rudras today at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The match is set to kick off at 8.15 pm.

 

<><><> 

 

THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauds Maharashtra Government’s efforts to ensure all-round development in remote and Maoist-affected areas.
  • Movement of several trains affected due to low visibility caused by dense fog in northern region of the country.
  • India extends relief assistance of five lakh dollars to earthquake hit Vanuatu to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
  • At least 10 people killed, including two children, in Montenegro shooting spree; Another mass shooting in US leaves 11 injured outside a nightclub in New York’s Queens.
  • Sale of tickets for Republic Day Parade 2025 and Beating Retreat begins.
  • And, In Hockey India League, Surma Hockey Club to clash with UP Rudras in Rourkela.

 

<><><>