Akashvani , National news, All India Radio News

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses anguish over train accident in Balasore, Odisha; says stringent action will be taken against those responsible for the mishap. 

• Mr Modi visits train crash site and takes stock of situation; also interacts with injured in Balasore hospital.

• Death toll rises to 288 and over 1000 injured.

• Condolence messages pouring in from across the country and abroad.

• Government bans 14 fixed-dose medicines for posing possible health risks.

• Indian American Ajay Banga assumes charge as World Bank President.

• And, in Hockey Pro League, India beat Britain 4-2 on penalty shootout in London.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the train mishap site at Bahanaga in Balasore district of Odisha this afternoon and took stock of the situation. Mr Modi held a review meeting with senior Railway officials. He also visited Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore and interacted with the injured. He was accompanied by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Mr. Modi interacted with Odisha's Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallik.

Prime Minister Modi expressed anguish over the incident. Saying that directions have been given to probe the cause of the accident from every angle, Mr Modi said those responsible for the mishap will be dealt with stringently. The Prime Minister praised the Odisha government and common people for lending a helping hand which resulted in speedy rescue operations.

The Prime Minister said the need of the hour is to restore normal train services on the track.

Mr Modi also spoke to the Cabinet Secretary and the Health Minister from the mishap site and directed them to provide all help to the injured and their families.  

Before visiting the accident site, Mr. Modi chaired a high level meeting in New Delhi to review the situation. The aspects relating to rescue, relief and medical attention to those affected were discussed in the meeting. Home Minister Amit Shah, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and NDRF Chief S.N. Pradhan were among those who attended the meeting.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took stock of the situation this morning at the accident site. He visited Balasore District Hospital to supervise the treatment of injured persons.

The death toll in the train accident has risen to 288, and around 1000 are feared critically injured.  Meanwhile, several special and express trains are being cancelled following the accident.

Odisha and Tamil Nadu governments announced a one-day State mourning today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of each deceased. He said each injured will be given 50 thousand rupees.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also announced an ex-gratia for the accident victims. He said ten lakh rupees will be given to the next of kin of each killed, two lakh rupees each to the grievously injured and 50 thousand rupees each for minor injuries.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has announced an ex-gratia of five lakh rupees each to the families of the deceased and 50 thousand rupees each to the injured.

Condolences are pouring in from State Chief Ministers and political leaders on the train crash. Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh and Haryana are among those who have condoled the incident. Leaders of parties, including the BJP, AIADMK, Congress and TMC, conveyed their condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. 

World leaders have also offered condolences on the tragedy. They include Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen and US Envoy to India Eric Garcetti.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin today held a discussion with his cabinet colleagues and a team of higher officials who are camping in Odisha to coordinate relief measures for the accident victims and the stranded passengers. More than ninety beds have been kept ready at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai for the injured.  Meanwhile, a special train carrying the families of the passengers of the ill-fated train left Chennai for Odisha this evening.

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The Government has banned 14 Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) Drugs as they have been found to lack therapeutic justification and may pose risks to health. A government notification said it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of the fixed dose medicines in larger public interest. An Expert Committee recommended that there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in these FDCs which may involve risk to human beings.

FDC drugs contain a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a single form. They are usually manufactured in a fixed ratio and distributed. The 14 FDCs include combinations such as Nimesulide Paracetamol dispersible tablets, Amoxicillin Bromhexine and Pholcodine Promethazine. The drugs are used for treating cough, common infections, fever and body ache.    

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Indian American Ajay Banga has taken over as the President of the World Bank. 63 year-old Banga has become the first-ever Indian-American to head the World Bank. He replaces David Malpass, who announced his decision to step down in February.

On the 3rd of last month, the Executive Directors of the World Bank selected Banga as the 14th President of the World Bank for a five-year term. In February, President Joe Biden had announced that the US would nominate Banga to lead the World Bank.

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On the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi Government, Akashvani News brings you a series of special stories on the initiatives taken by the government. Today, we take a look at how PM SVANidhi scheme provides affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods adversely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

"Vendors can avail a working capital loan of up to Rs. 10,000 from PM SVANidhi scheme, which is repayable in monthly installments in the tenure of one year. On timely or early repayment of the loan, an interest subsidy @ 7% per annum will be credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer on quarterly basis. Manish Pal, a vendor from Ahmedabad said, that he had taken a loan of Rs. 10000 and started to sell street food.

S/B- Manish Pal, Vendor

The PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi scheme is fully funded by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The scheme opens up new opportunities to vendor sector to move up the economic ladder. Bharat Devmani, Akashvani News, Ahmedabad."

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In Manipur, peace committees comprising ministers and MLAs have reached the violence-affected areas to restore normalcy there.

Meanwhile, women have staged protests at several places of valley districts condemning the action of Assam Rifles personnel which blocked the entry gate of the Sugnu police station yesterday.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Manipur Police department have released press statements stating that the incident occurred due to the misunderstanding between the forces. The Assam Rifles and Manipur police are working together to restore normalcy in the State.

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A senior delegation of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) met Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi today. The delegation submitted a representation on various issues pertaining to functioning of gurudwaras and other SGPC matters, including bringing all gurdwaras under the management of the SGPC Board. The delegation felt that this will streamline the management of gurudwaras. The Home Minister assured the leaders of support and cooperation in these matters.

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US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow on a two-day visit to India. German Federal Minister of Defence is also arriving on a four-day visit to India beginning Monday. 

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will meet his US counterpart on Monday while talks with the German Federal Minister of Defence will take place on Tuesday. A host of bilateral defence cooperation issues with focus on industrial cooperation are likely to be discussed during the two meetings. Apart from his meeting with Raksha Mantri,  the German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius is likely to meet a few defence start-ups during an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence in New Delhi.

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Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met with UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the ‘Friends of BRICS’ meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The two ministers discussed the strategic relations and cooperation between India and the UAE, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The ministers also discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between India and the UAE in areas such as energy, investment and technology. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation in Afghanistan and the Ukraine crisis.

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Heat wave conditions are likely to continue over Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim during the next five days. India Meteorological Department has forecast rise in maximum temperatures by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius over plains of Northwest India during next five days. It said temperatures will rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over Central India during the next two days. Yesterday, maximum temperatures were in the range of 40 to 43 degrees over many parts of East India and adjoining East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathawada, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Maximum temperatures were above normal by 4 to 6 degrees over many parts of east Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim and Northeast India.

Meanwhile, weatherman has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds over Rajasthan during next three days. Light to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm is  likely over Kerala, Lakshadweep, Karnataka and some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh during next five days.

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India beat Great Britain 4-2 after a penalty shootout in the FIH Pro League in London today.

The shootout triumph, courtesy misses from Britain’s Rupert Shipperly and Phil Roper, handed India the bonus point after an exhilarating 4-4 draw. Abhishek Upadhyay, Lalit Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh and Manpreet shot a goal each in shootout.

India sustained early pressure and pulled ahead with Harmanpreet Singh’s drag flick from a short corner.

Mandeep Singh’s and Sukhjeet Singh's shot in the second quarter led India into half-time. Both goals were crafted by midfielder Hardik Singh.

India sits second with 24 points after 11 games while Britain has 26 from 10.

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The Third Khelo India University games concluded in Varanasi this evening. The closing ceremony was attended among others by Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath.

Speaking at the ceremony, Anurag Singh Thakur said that the biggest platform for the selection of talented players in the country has come out of the Khelo India campaign.Our correspondent reports that Homage was paid at the ceremony to the people who lost their lives in the Balasore train accident.

Meanwhile, Panjab University regained that champions crown on the final day. At least 11 new Games records were created over 12 competition days.

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In Thailand Open Badminton, Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen lost in the semi finals to K. Vitidsarn of Thailand 21-17, 17-21, 13-21 in Bangkok.

In another semi final, C Y Lee of Hong Kong beat French player T Popov  21-14, 21-16. 

In Women's Singles Chinese B.J. He and South Korean S.Y. An reached  the finals.

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AND NOW BEFORE WE END THE BULLETIN,

THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses anguish over train accident in Balasore, Odisha; says stringent action will be taken against those responsible for the mishap. 

• Mr Modi visits train crash site and takes stock of situation; also interacts with injured in Balasore hospital.

• Death toll rises to 288 and over 1000 injured.

• Condolence messages pouring in from across the country and abroad.

• Government bans 14 fixed-dose medicines for posing possible health risks.

• Indian American Ajay Banga assumes charge as World Bank President.

• And, in Hockey Pro League, India beat Britain 4-2 on penalty shootout in London.

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THAT IS ALL IN THE NEWS AT NINE

GOOD NIGHT.

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