THE HEADLINES::
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, India will continue to buy oil from Russia; Stresses, decision to be guided solely by national interest.
- Central team visits Reasi and Udhampur districts in Jammu and Kashmir to assess damage caused by heavy rains and landslides.
- US President Donald Trump says, India and United States have a special relationship and there is nothing to worry about ties between the two countries.
- Ten-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival to culminate today with immersion of Lord Ganesha’s idols.
- India to take on China in Super Four stage match of Men’s Asia Cup Hockey tournament at Rajgir in Bihar.
- In US Open Tennis, Defending Champion Aryna Sabalenka to take on Amanda Anisimova in Women’s Singles final in New York tonight.
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that India will continue purchasing Russian oil, stressing that decisions will be guided solely by national interest. In an interview to a TV channel, Ms Sitharaman said, whether it is Russian oil or anything else, the government will take a call based on what suits the needs of the country in terms of rates and logistics.
Ms Sitharaman reiterated that the contribution of crude oil to India’s import bill is the highest. She said, the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime will improve consumption by citizens and it will not impact capital expenditure. The Minister said, 99 per cent of all the goods and services are now either in the zero, five or 18 per cent bracket.
The Minister informed, government is working on measures to support exporters who are impacted by the 50 per cent US tariffs. She said, the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat was not only about producing everything in the country, but also about self-respect in the face of uncertain global trade policies.
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On this Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Next Generation of GST reforms. The Prime Minister’s vision of creating a more efficient and citizen friendly economy was realised as the GST Council on the 3rd of September simplified the indirect tax system into a two-tier structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent from a four-tier structure of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. The GST reforms have been carried out with a focus on the common man and will come into effect from 22nd of this month. Our correspondent today takes a look at the reforms undertaken for automobile sector.
“Under the new system, small cars and entry-level motorcycles will become significantly cheaper; easing the financial burden on the poor and middle-class. GST on Small cars and two-wheelers below 350cc has been reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent. Commercial vehicles like buses, trucks, three-wheelers and all auto parts will also go down to 18 percent. Electric vehicles remain at the lowest slab of 5 percent, while luxury vehicles will now attract a 40 percent GST. The clearer classification of vehicles and auto parts will cut down disputes, improve compliance, and support growth in automotive manufacturing and exports. The reforms will also have a cascading effect, leading to cheaper movement of agri-goods, cement, steel, and e-commerce deliveries. Thus, reducing inflationary pressures by lowering transport and export costs. DG, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Rajesh Menon hailed the new GST set-up as a major reform initiative from the automobile sector’s perspective. He added that this will stimulate demand and boost consumption.
The GST reforms will stimulate demand in both domestic and export segments and strengthen India’s position as one of the world’s largest automobile markets and manufacturing hub. With Aman Yadav, Adarsh for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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US President Donald Trump has said, India and the United States have a special relationship and there’s nothing to worry about the ties between the two countries. President Trump was talking to media persons in Washington last night. Mr Trump, however, said, he is disappointed that India will be buying oil from Russia. He was responding to a media query on whether he is ready to reset relations with India.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon visit the flood-affected states to review the situation. Officials sources informed this. Several parts of the Northern India including, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh have been recently affected by incessant rainfall, swollen rivers, triggering landslides and flash floods in hilly regions.
Meanwhile, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team visited Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi and Udhampur districts yesterday to assess the damage caused by recent heavy rains and landslides. The Central Team suggested strengthening community-based disaster preparedness and prioritising the restoration of critical infrastructure. The team was led by Colonel Kirti Pratap Singh, Joint Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority. The team inspected several affected sites including agricultural fields to review crop loss and interacted with farmers to understand their concerns.
The Indian Air Force helicopters delivered nearly six tonnes of relief material for the people of flood-hit Dammote panchayat in Udhampur district yesterday.
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Subsiding rains in Punjab and the upper hilly regions, have eased the threat of further water inflows into state rivers leading to flood. As of now, floods have impacted over one thousand nine hundred villages across 22 districts, affecting three lakh and eighty four thousand people.
“Thousands of acres of land comprising crops have been inundated. Two inter- ministerial central teams have started assessing the damage done to the state. Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) Chairman, Manoj Tripathi has assured that there is no danger of extra water outflow from the Bhakra Dam, so there is no need to worry anymore. Meanwhile, relief and rescue operations are going on on large scale. District administrations are also instructing people not to fall or spread rumours rather call given helpline numbers to inform or clarify the facts. Rajesh Bali, Akashvani News, Jalandhar.”
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Heavy monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh have severely disrupted normal life in recent days. However, since yesterday, the intensity of rainfall has reduced, providing some relief across the state and allowing disaster relief operations to pick up pace. Our correspondent reports that the preliminary assessment of damage to public property has been pegged at around 3,800 crore rupees.
“In Himachal Pradesh, another body has been recovered from the landslide-affected area of Akhara Bazaar in Kullu, where five people are still missing. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, four national highways, 1,087 other connectivity roads, 2,838 electricity transformers, and 509 drinking water supply schemes remain disrupted in the state. The Meteorological Department has predicted that the monsoon is likely to weaken in the state starting today. Ritesh Kapoor, Akashvani News, Shimla.”
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With improvement in weather conditions and road repairs in Uttarakhand, the Chardham Yatra and registration process have resumed from today. However, the pilgrimage to Gangotri and Yamunotri remains suspended due to recent heavy rainfall that damaged roads in the area, making travel unsafe for pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red colour warning for heavy rainfall over East Rajasthan and Gujarat till tomorrow.
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The ten-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival will culminate today with the immersion of Lord Ganesh’s idols across the country on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi. Devotees will bid farewell to the deity amid grand processions, music, and prayers, while authorities have arranged elaborate security and eco-friendly measures for the immersions.
In Maharashtra, around 6,500 Sarvajanik idols and nearly one crore 75 lakh household Ganpatis will be immersed in Mumbai at 65 natural water bodies and 205 specially created artificial ponds. The city administration, along with Mumbai Police, has made elaborate arrangements for security, traffic management, cleanliness, and eco-friendly immersions.
In Telangana, elaborate security arrangements are in place in Hyderabad for the Shobha Yatra, the grand procession marking the conclusion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
“Devotees in Hyderabad are all set to say – goodbye Ganesha in a grand manner. Over 50 thousand Ganesh idols of various hues, colours and sizes will be brought in Shobha Yatra for immersion today. The procession of the biggest Ganesh idol of Khairatabad, 69 ft-tall Vishwashanti Mahashakti Ganapati, will be taken out in a couple of hours this morning. The Main Ganesh Shobha Yatra will start later this morning from Balapur and reaches Hussain Sagar after passing through the old city and central parts of Hyderabad while the tributary Yatras from all sides of the city will merge with it. Lakhs of devotees are expected to join the Shoba Yatra, which will mark the end of the 11-day Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. About 130 permanent cranes and 250 mobile cranes have been put in place at Hussain Sagar for the immersion, which will continue till tomorrow. Lakshmi, Akashvani news, Hyderabad.
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On to Sports Now,
India will take on China in Super Four stage match of Men’s Asia Cup Hockey at Rajgir in Bihar this evening. This match will be played at 7:30 PM. With one win and one draw, Indian team is at the top of the Super Four stage points table accumulating four points. The Indian team has remained unbeaten throughout the tournament so far and is a strong contender for the Asia Cup title this time.
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In the US Open Tennis, Defending Champion Aryna Sabalenka will take on eight seed American Amanda Anisimova in Women’s Singles final in New York later tonight. Top seed Belarusian player Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula of United States in the semi-final. In the other last four clash, America’s Anisimova defeated Naomi Osaka of Japan.
In the Men’s Singles, the last four clash between Italian world number one and defending champion Jannik Sinner and Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime is underway. Earlier, second seed Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz reached the final defeating seventh seed Serbian Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final.
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In Chess, World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju was held to a draw by 14-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus in the second-round encounter of the Open Section at the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 at Samarkand in Uzbekistan. However, top seeded R. Praggnanandhaa scored a win in the Round 2, defeating Ivan Zenlyanskiii of Russia who is playing under the FIDE flag. Meanwhile, in the women’s section, defending champion Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated Eline Roebers of the Netherlands.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- All papers headline the story of US President declaring in a social media post that America had lost India and Russia to China. We’ve lost India and Russia to deepest darkest China: Trump is the headline in the Times of india.
- GST reforms expected to lower inflation, create room for rate cut is the lead in the Business Standard and the Financial Express headlines E-commerce majors… eye festive jackpot… after GST boost.
- Most papers have on their front pages with pictures the overflowing of rivers in the country even as the Yamuna continues to flow above the 207 meter mark for the 3rd day in Delhi.
- And Finally a story in the Asian Age says that Madhav Gopal Kamath, a Delhi boy created history at the world youth scrabble championship by becoming the first Indian to win the tournament.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, India will continue to buy oil from Russia; Stresses, decision to be guided solely by national interest.
- Central team visits Reasi and Udhampur districts in Jammu and Kashmir to assess damage caused by heavy rains and landslides.
- US President Donald Trump says, India and United States have a special relationship and there is nothing to worry about ties between the two countries.
- Ten-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival to culminate today with immersion of Lord Ganesha’s idols.
- India to take on China in Super Four stage match of Men’s Asia Cup Hockey tournament at Rajgir in Bihar.
- In US Open Tennis, Defending Champion Aryna Sabalenka to take on Amanda Anisimova in Women’s Singles final in New York tonight.
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