THE HEADLINES:
- India and Fiji exchange seven agreements including on Health, Standardization Capacity Building and also on Big Impact projects.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds talks with his Fiji counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in New Delhi; says, both countries ready to share their experience in fields of cyber security and data protection.
- Home Minister Amit Shah criticizes opposition parties for protests against Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill.
- Nine people killed in a road accident in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
- IMD issues red alert for extremely heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab today.
- And, in Vietnam, nearly 6 lakh people evacuated, airports closed, ahead of Typhoon Kajiki’s landfall.
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India and Fiji today exchanged seven agreements on Health, Standardization Capacity Building and also on Big Impact projects in New Delhi. In his press statements after delegation level talks with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a 100-bed super specialty hospital will be built in Suva, the capital of Fiji. He added that dialysis units and sea ambulances will be sent alongside setting up of Jan Aushadhi centers, which will ensure affordable and high-quality medicine.
Mr Modi further underscored that both countries are ready to share their experience in the fields of cybersecurity and data protection and agree that terrorism is a huge challenge for humanity. The Prime Minister highlighted that India and Fiji have decided to strengthen mutual cooperation in the defense and security sector and an action plan has been prepared in this regard.
Mr Modi noted that climate change is a critical threat for Fiji and in this context, both countries are working together on renewable energy. He added that both India and Fiji are together in the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Global Biofuels Alliance.
Mr Rabuka said, his delegation has been very impressed beyond expectations with what they have seen, what they have heard, and what has been brought to fruition in the signing of the various agreements today. He also said that India and Fiji stand together in promoting peace, stability, welfare and development.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be launching development projects worth over 5,400 Crore rupees in Ahmedabad today. During his two day visit to Gujarat, Mr Modi will also address a public function in Ahmedabad this evening. We have a report from our correspondent:-
The Prime Minister will inaugurate power distribution projects worth over ₹1,000 crore in Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Gandhinagar under the Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited. Implemented under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, these projects will modernize the electricity network, cut losses, reduce outages during adverse weather. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the redevelopment of slums at Ramapir No Tekro under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), alongside major road-widening works on the Sardar Patel Ring Road and new urban projects to strengthen water supply and sewerage management in Ahmedabad. Further, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of a new Stamps and Registration Building in Ahmedabad West and a State-Level Data Storage Centre in Gandhinagar. Aparna Khunt, Akashvani News, Ahmedabad.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has lashed out at opposition parties for the protests against the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill. In an interview with a news agency, Mr Shah alleged that opposition leaders are trying to form and run the government even when they are jailed. He termed the protest by the opposition parties against the bill as undemocratic.
He highlighted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself who had insisted on bringing the office of the PM under the aegis of this bill.
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BJP today hit out at the opposition parties for the protests against the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that opposition parties do not have a stand on morality and the idea of good governance.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today arrested Trinamool Congress MLA Jiban Krishna Saha from his residence in Burwan, Murshidabad district, in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the School Service Commission (SSC) teachers recruitment process in West Bengal.
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Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was given a grand welcome in his hometown Lucknow, today. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Mayor Sushma Kharkwal received him at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport. Shubhanshu participated in a victory parade organized by his school, followed by the felicitation ceremony. At his alma mater, the City Montessori School, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla encouraged students to pursue a career as an astronaut. He said the future is bright and we have a vision and a mission to land on the moon by 2040.
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In Uttar Pradesh, at least nine people, including two women and one child were killed and 45 others were injured in a late night road accident on National Highway 34 in Bulandshahr yesterday. The incident occurred near Ghatal Village when a container hit a tractor full of devotees. The devotees of Gogaji were going to Rajasthan’s Gogamedi from UP’s Kasganj. Bulandshahr SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh said that the accident happened on NH 34, on the Aligarh border, last night. Around 60-61 people were travelling in a tractor from Kasganj district to Rajasthan.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab today. According to the weather agency, heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected at isolated places over Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand till tomorrow. Speaking exclusively to Akashvani News, senior IMD scientist Dr R K Jenamani said a low pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal coast during the next 48 hours. He said, due to this a fresh rainfall is expected at places over Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Gangetic West Bengal till Wednesday.
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Normal life in Himachal Pradesh has been badly affected due to the continuous heavy monsoon rains. In the past 24 hours, Bilaspur district’s Kahu recorded the highest rainfall of 190 millimeters. The heavy rains have swollen rivers and streams across the state. A report:
In Chamba district, three devotees lost their lives during the sacred Manimahesh Yatra, the district administration has suspended the pilgrimage due to adverse conditions. Heavy rainfall has created flood-like situations in several areas of Kangra district, including Indora, Nurpur, and Fatehpur, where the administration is engaged in efforts to ensure people’s safety. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, landslides have blocked three national highways and 625 connectivity roads across the state. In Kullu district, National Highway-305 is closed, while in Mandi district, the Chandigarh-Manali NH-3 and the Mandi-Pathankot National Highway -154 are also blocked. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.
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Life has been badly affected in many districts of Rajasthan due to heavy to very heavy rains in the last four days. In view of the warning of torrential rains, holidays have been declared for schools and Anganwadi centers in 19 districts today. More from our correspondent :
In the last 24 hours, very heavy rains have been recorded in Nagaur, Churu, Jalore, Udaipur, Sirohi and heavy rains have been recorded at some places in Sikar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Dholpur and Ajmer districts. Many roads are blocked, due to which villages and towns have lost contact with the district headquarters. Low lying areas of many cities and villages are submerged. Heavy rains have caused havoc and extensive damage in both rural and urban areas. Power and water supply is disrupted in many areas. Along with the administration, NDRF and SDRF teams are engaged in relief and rescue work. With Jitendra Dwivedi’s report, Jigyasa Pandey, Akashvani News, Jaipur.
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Vietnam has shut down airports, closed schools, and begun mass evacuations as it prepares for the most powerful storm so far this year. Vietnam’s weather agency said Typhoon Kajiki, with wind speed up to 166 kilometres per hour is due to make landfall Monday afternoon. The government has ordered more than 5,86,000 people to be evacuated ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Kajiki. The government said in a statement that Kajiki would bring heavy rains, flooding and landslide and that more than 16,500 soldiers and 107,000 paramilitary personnel have been mobilised to help with the evacuation and to stand by for search and rescue.
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India bagged two gold medals on the opening day of the 30th Commonwealth weightlifting Championship in Ahemdabad, Gujrat. In the womens 44kg-48kg category Priteesmita Bhoi lifted 63kg in snatch and 87kg in clean and jerk,finishing with the total of 150kg.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, extended their initial gains and were trading around half a percent higher during afternoon trade today. The Sensex advanced 425 points, to 81 thousand 731, and Nifty rose 125 points, to 24 thousand 995, when reports last came in. On sectoral front, IT, Realty and Metal were gaining the most, while Media and Healthcare were losing.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- India and Fiji exchange seven agreements including on Health, Standardization Capacity Building and also on Big Impact projects.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds talks with his Fiji counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in New Delhi; says, both countries ready to share their experience in fields of cyber security and data protection.
- Home Minister Amit Shah criticizes opposition parties for protests against Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill.
- Nine people killed in a road accident in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.
- IMD issues red alert for extremely heavy rainfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab today.
- And, in Vietnam, nearly 6 lakh people evacuated, airports closed, ahead of Typhoon Kajiki’s landfall.
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