THE HEADLINES:
- President Droupadi Murmu to arrive in Auckland today on a 3-day state visit to New Zealand.
- Bangladesh President appoints Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of interim government.
- External Affairs Ministry issues advisory to Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Libya.
- RBI tells banks to provide short term loans for crop and allied activities to farmers at interest rate of 7 per cent.
- Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian Woman wrestler to reach Olympics final; Assured of at least a silver medal.
- In Cricket, third and final ODI between India and hosts Sri Lanka to be played in Colombo this afternoon.
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President Droupadi Murmu will arrive in Auckland today on a 3-day state visit to New Zealand. She is visiting the Island nation at the invitation of Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro. During the visit, President Murmu will hold a bilateral meeting with Governor General Kiro and meet Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The President will also address an education conference and interact with Indian community and friends of India. The visit will provide further impetus to India-New Zealand bilateral relations.
The President is reaching New Zealand after completing her two day State visit to Fiji. She held bilateral meetings with the Fijian Leaders, interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple in Nadi.
“President Droupadi Murmu’s two-days visit to Fiji is being hailed as historic one that will further India-Fiji relations. During the visit, the President addressed the Fijian Parliament where she said that both countries must work together to voice the concerns of Global South. She hailed the contributions of Indian Diaspora to the pacific region at a community reception. A key takeaway from the visit is the handing over of the documentation allocating project site for the 100-bedded Super Specialty Cardiology hospital in Suva being built with grant in aid from India. This visit comes as India and Fiji mark 75 years of diplomatic engagement and intent to expand their multifaceted engagement to sectors like digital infrastructure and education. Sri Sai for Akashvani News, Fiji.”
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Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has dissolved the Parliament and appointed Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as the head of an interim government. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting President Shahabuddin held with the Chiefs of the three services and a 13-member delegation of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the presidential palace in Dhaka yesterday. President’s Press Secretary Mohammad Joynal Abedin told media persons late last night that other members of the interim government will be finalised after consultations with various political parties. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, that spearheaded the recent protests, had earlier said that 84-year-old Yunus has agreed to head the interim government.
Earlier, in a major reshuffle in the top level of Army, Major General Ziaul Ahsan was relieved from his post while Lt General M Saiful Islam was transferred to the Foreign Ministry. In another development, following a unanimous decision made during a meeting between Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin and the chiefs of the three services, Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was released from house arrest.
Meanwhile, incidents of violence were reported overnight in many parts of the country and the death toll due to unrest since mid-July rose to 440. At least 24 people were burnt alive in a hotel owned by a leader of the Awami League in the western Joshor district.
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India is in close and constant touch with its nationals in Bangladesh through its diplomatic missions amid unrest in the neighbouring country. In a suo-motu statement in both Houses of Parliament over the situation in Bangladesh yesterday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, New Delhi is monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities.
Dr Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha that presently, around 19 thousand Indian nationals are in Bangladesh, including 9000 students. He said a bulk of students have already returned to India last month on the advice of the High Commission in Dhaka.
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External Affairs Ministry has issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Libya. The Ministry had earlier imposed a travel ban on Indian nationals traveling to Libya on 23rd May, 2016. The decision was taken in response to assessment of the prevailing situation in Libya. Indian nationals in Libya have been advised to exercise caution, avoid inter-province travel by road and remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tripoli at the emergency phone number: 0218-94 39 92046.
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10th National Handloom Day will be celebrated in the country today. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar will confer Sant Kabir Awards and National Handloom Awards to Handloom weavers for their outstanding contribution in handloom sector in New Delhi today. Different activities will be organised across the country as a part of celebrations.
“During the function, Award Catalogue and Coffee Table Book, Parampara- Sustainability in Handloom Traditions of India will be released by the Vice President. Union Textiles Minister, Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, MPs, designers, Industry representatives, Senior Government Officials as well as more than 1000 weavers from across the country will be attending the event.
National Handloom Day seeks to honour the handloom weavers and provide motivation along with a sense of pride to the industry, by appreciating their contribution to the cultural, traditional and economic landscape of the country. Adarsh for Akashwani News, Delhi.”
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Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan will open for general public from the 16th of this month to 15th of the next month. President Droupadi Murmu will grace the opening of Amrit Udyan Summer Annuals Edition 2024 on 14th of August. For the first time, 29th of August will be exclusively reserved for sports persons to mark the National Sports Day. September 5th will be reserved for teachers on Teachers’ Day.
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In view of the continuation of the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme by the Centre, the Reserve Bank has asked banks to provide short term crop loans and short term loans for allied activities upto an overall limit of 3 lakh rupees to farmers at an interest rate of 7 percent. In a notification, the Central Bank said that the rate of interest subvention to lending institutions will be 1.5 percent for 2024-25. The RBI has said that an additional interest subvention of 3 percent should be provided to farmers who repay loans in time.
Meanwhile, in order to discourage distress sale by farmers and to encourage them to store their produce in warehouses, the benefit of interest subvention under Kisan Credit Card scheme will be available to small and marginal farmers for a further period of up to six months post the harvest of the crop.
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The government has appointed C S Setty as Chairman of State Bank of India for a period of three years. Mr Setty, currently senior most MD of the bank, will replace the incumbent chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara on August 28.
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US Vice-President Kamala Harris has been formally nominated by the Democratic party as its Presidential candidate. Harris has become the first Indian-American to win the nomination from a major political party. After her nomination, Harris elected the Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her Vice-Presidential candidate. Harris’ nomination became official after a five-day round of online balloting by Democratic National Convention delegates ending Monday night. The party, in a statement said, 99 per cent of delegates had cast their ballots for Harris.
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In Paris Olympics today, Indian women’s wrestling will have its biggest day when Vinesh Phogat participates in the 50 kg freestyle final, hoping to win a historic maiden gold medal for the country. Vinesh created history by becoming the first Indian Woman Wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics with a convincing 5-0 win over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in Paris yesterday. With this win in the semifinal, Vinesh guaranteed herself at least a silver medal. She will take on Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt of US on Mat B at the Champ-de-Mars Arena at 9.45 p.m. Indian time.
“The 33rd Olympiad in Paris will begin the day with the Marathon Race Walk Mixed Relay where you have to look out for India’s Priyanka and Suraj Panwar, Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar in Golf, Sarvesh Kushare in High Jump and Jyothi Yarraji the first woman to represent the India at the Olympics in 100m hurdles will all be living their Olympic dream. Today is a crucial day in Table Tennis as India take on Germany in the women’s quarter-finals.In Weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu is a great Indian prospect in the Women’s 49kg
The athlete to watch at the Stade de France is army man Avinash Sable in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final.In the Women’s 50kg class Final, Vinesh Phogat is carrying India’s hearts and hopes in wrestling in the French capital of Paris. Savio de Noronha at the 33rd Olympiad.”
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In Hockey, the Indian Men’s team lost to Germany in Semifinal 2-3 yesterday. The dream of Harmanpreet Singh and Company to enter the final of the Olympics after 44 years was shattered as world champion Germany proved to be too powerful. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored for India, while Gonzalo Peillat, Christopher Ruhr and Marco Miltkau were the scorers for Germany.
India will now take on Spain in the bronze medal match tomorrow, while Germany will be up against Netherlands in the final.
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In Olympics, US sprinter Noah Lyles has secured a historic victory in the men’s 100 meters by an incredibly close finish. Lyles clocked in at 9.784 seconds at the finish line edging out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just .005 seconds.
All sprinters in the race broke the 10-second barrier.
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In Cricket, third and final One Day International between India and hosts Sri Lanka will be played today at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match will start at 2:30 PM IST.
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At the Attari Joint Check Post near Amritsar a teaser and brochure displaying the patriotic highest tricolor flag was released and dedicated to the 78th Independence Day. It has been captured by a renowned nature artist and heritage promoter Harpreet Sandhu and compiled as a teaser. The motive is to promote the attractive memorial in Attari.
“The teaser depicting India’s tallest national flag was released by BSF Deputy Commandant Devender Pal Singh during an event held at Attari Joint Check Post. This teaser beautifully highlights the ideal form of a patriotic structure, in which the highest flagpole of 418 feet, the tricolor flag standing on a four feet base, which makes it a major attractive monument on the Attari border. This national flag weighing about 200 kg is 130 feet long and 80 feet wide, is a 18 feet higher than the flagpole of Pakistan across the border. Shishu Sharma Shantal, Akashvani News, Jalandhar.”
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
- As Bangladesh prepares for interim government “India monitors a neighbour at war with itself” states The Pioneer. While Hindustan Times writes “Uncertainty on quick asylum puts Hasina’s UK travel plans in doubt.”
- The Economic Times refers to the Government proposing relief with Indexation benefit likely to be made a reality again.
- “In a first, discoms to give 7.5 lakh rupees for loss of life and 5 lakh rupees for injured” as Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission notifies compensation scheme for electrical accidents, cites The Asian Age.
- “New Haj policy mandates young companions for 65 plus pilgrims’ writes The Times of India.
- “From e-commerce deliveries to traffic management, Gurugram takes the aerial route” notes The Hindu.
- And finally, “From Jantar Mantar to Paris podium, Vinesh Phogat reaches historic final today that no Indian woman wrestler has ever reached, cites The Indian Express.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- President Droupadi Murmu to arrive in Auckland today on a 3-day state visit to New Zealand.
- Bangladesh President appoints Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus as head of interim government.
- External Affairs Ministry issues advisory to Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Libya.
- RBI tells banks to provide short term loans for crop and allied activities to farmers at interest rate of 7 per cent.
- Vinesh Phogat becomes first Indian Woman wrestler to reach Olympics final; Assured of at least a silver medal.
- In Cricket, third and final ODI between India and hosts Sri Lanka to be played in Colombo this afternoon.
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