THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with Emir, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait today.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allocates portfolios to his Council of Ministers; Retains Home Ministry; Eknath Shinde gets Urban Development; Finance goes to Ajit Pawar.
- India’s forest cover increases by 1,445 square kilometres, says India State of Forest Report 2023.
- India condemns attack on Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany.
- India to host ISSF Junior Shooting World Cup for first time in 2025.
- And in ICC Women’s Cricket Championship, first ODI of three-match series between India and West Indies to be played in Vadodara this afternoon.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with Kuwaiti leadership in Kuwait city today. Mr Modi will be accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Bayan Palace following which he will be holding separate meetings with the Emir of Kuwait and the crown Prince of Kuwait. Prime Minister Modi will also hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister of Kuwait. Mr Modi arrived in Kuwait on a two-day visit to the West Asian nation, marking the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
Yesterday, Mr Modi addressed a massive gathering of Indian diaspora at a special event in Kuwait City. He lauded the hard work, achievement and contribution of the Indian community to the development of Kuwait and fostering India-Kuwait ties.
Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh Mela events to be held next month.
Mr Modi outlined India’s approach as a ‘Vishwabandhu’ (a friend to the world) and elaborated upon the country’s rapid progress and transformation, especially in the fields of technology, infrastructure and sustainability. He said, India has the potential to become the world’s skill capital and to achieve this, India is aligning its skill development programmes with global needs.
Prime Minster Modi also interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers during his visit to a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait. The labour camp has a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals hailing from different states of India. During the interaction, Prime Minister enquired about the well-being of Indian workers and discussed various welfare schemes initiated by the Indian government over the past 10 years. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said, Mr Modi’s visit to the labour camp symbolises the importance Prime Minister attaches to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. In the last few years, the government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as E-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad.
Prime Minster Modi also met 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, who now resides in Kuwait and had served in Kuwait, UK, Iraq, China, Argentina, and Cambodia before retiring about four decades ago.
Prime Minister also attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup as the chief guest at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has allocated portfolios to his Council of Ministers. The Chief Minister has retained crucial Home Ministry. He will also hold energy, law and judiciary, general administration, information and publicity and departments not allocated to any other minister. Shiv Sena leader and deputy CM Eknath Shinde got the portfolios of Urban Development, Housing, and Public Works (Public Enterprises). NCP leader and deputy CM Ajit Pawar got the important Finance and Planning Ministry, along with State Excise. Maharastra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule became the state revenue minister. BJP’s Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil was assigned the portfolio of Water Resources (Godavari and Krishna Valley Development Corporation, while NCP’s Hasan Mushrif got the Medical Education Ministry. BJP’s Chandrakant Patil was assigned the Higher and Technical Education Ministry as well as Parliamentary Affairs, while Girish Mahajan was assigned the responsibility of Water Resources (Vidarbha, Tapi, Konkan Development Corporation) as well as Disaster Management.
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In Punjab, a multi-story building collapsed in Mohali, near Chandigarh, last evening. State Police Chief Gaurav Yadav said that NDRF, and the Army along with police is trying to search and rescue those expected to be buried under the debris. Medical teams are on the spot and all surrounding hospitals have been alerted. Official sources said that a woman from Theog in Himachal Pradesh, who was rescued by the NDRF in a critical condition, succumbed to her injuries. Quoting Army sources Our Jalandhar Correspondent reports that as per preliminary information, 15 people are feared trapped under the debris.
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Several decisions have been taken related to Goods and Service tax – GST in the The 55th meeting of the GST Council held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan yesterday. The meeting was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It was attended by the Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, State Finance Ministers and officials of the Ministry of Finance.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Ms. Sitharaman said, the GST Council has decided rate cut on fortified rice kernels to 5 percent and recommends amendment to definition of pre-packaged and labelled items. She said, the GST Council has decided to reduce or exempt tax rates on many items. Ms. Sitharaman said that Gene-therapy has been exempted from GST.
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Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023’ (ISFR 2023) at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun yesterday. According to the latest assessment, the total forest and tree cover in India stands at 8 lakh 27 thousand 357 square kilometres, representing 25.17 percent of the country’s total geographical area. Of this, 7 lakh 15 thousand 343 square kilometres is classified as forest cover, while 1 lakh 12 thousand 14 square kilometre is tree cover. Mr Yadav expressed satisfaction over the increase in the country’s forest and tree cover, which has grown by 1,445 square kilometre since the 2021 assessment.
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Under the Animal Exchange Program between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, a pair of Gir lions has been brought to Bhopal from Junagadh’s Sakkarbagh Zoo in Gujarat. Both these lions have been kept in Van Vihar National Park in the capital city Bhopal. Efforts were being made to bring lions from Junagadh’s Gir National Park to Madhya Pradesh for the last 16 years. More from our correspondent:
In exchange for the lions of Gujarat, 2 tigers have been sent to the Sakkarbagh Zoo from the Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal’s Deputy Director Sunil Sinha informed the media that the lions will be kept in isolation for 21 days. After this, tourists will be able to see them. The age of both the lions is between 3 to 4 years. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, while welcoming the Gir lions on the land of Madhya Pradesh, said that now the lion population will increase in Madhya Pradesh and new doors of tourism and employment will open. Sanjeev Sharma, Akashvani News, Bhopal.
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India has condemned the horrific attack in Magdeburg, Germany, that has reportedly killed five people and injured over 200. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement described the incident as a horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market.
Seven Indian nationals were also injured in Magdeburg Christmas market attack. Sources said three have been discharged from the hospital. The Indian Mission in Germany is in touch with all those injured in the attack.
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India continues to make its mark on the global sporting map!. More from our correspondent:
For the first time, the country will host the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup in 2025. This will be the third high-profile ISSF event in India, following the Senior World Cup in Bhopal and the ISSF World Cup Final earlier this year.
And now, from the shooting range to the cricket pitch, the Women in Blue are ready to dazzle! The Indian Women’s cricket team will take on the West Indies today in the first ODI of the ICC Championship series in Vadodara. The match will begin at 1:30 PM IST. After clinching a 2-1 victory in the T20 International series, India is aiming to keep their winning streak alive. As cricket creates waves, Indian squash is set for an electrifying finale. In the Western India Slam, it’s an all-Indian showdown in the women’s singles final as Anahat Singh, fresh from her Asian Games success, takes on top-seeded Akanksha Salunkhe. The final begins at 2:45 PM IST in Mumbai. WITH MAYUR JAIN’S REPORT VISHNU PS, Akashvani News, Delhi.
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NEWSPAPER’S HEADLINE:
- The top story in dailies refers the outcome of the 55th meeting of the GST Council. “GST council rejigs rates, defers call on insurance”, headlines Hindustan Times.
- The Permanent Mission of India to the UN organised a special event – Meditation for Global Peace and Harmony – to mark the first World Meditation Day, at UN headquarters, reports The Tribune.
- The Asian Age quotes Prime Minister Narendra Modi as saying, “Make meditation part of life”.
- According to the External Affairs Ministry, nearly 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities were reported in Bangladesh till 8 December, writes The Statesman.
- Three streams of Ganga have been unified to enhance bathing facilities for Mahakumbh, reports The Pioneer.
- And finally, the latest biennial State of Forest report brings some good news. India’s total forest and tree cover has grown by an area equivalent to Delhi, to now cover 25.17% of the country, reports Hindustan Times.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with Emir, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait today.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allocates portfolios to his Council of Ministers; Retains Home Ministry; Eknath Shinde gets Urban Development; Finance goes to Ajit Pawar.
- India’s forest cover increases by 1,445 square kilometres, says India State of Forest Report 2023.
- India condemns attack on Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany.
- India to host ISSF Junior Shooting World Cup for first time in 2025.
- And in ICC Women’s Cricket Championship, first ODI of three-match series between India and West Indies to be played in Vadodara this afternoon.
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