THE HEADLINES:
- India and Thailand sign six agreements in various fields including IT, maritime and MSME; Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart P. Shinawatra.
- Discussion underway in the Rajya Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
- Lok Sabha passes Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 to regulate vessels engaged in trade within Indian coastal waters.
- Supreme Court upholds Calcutta High Court order of invalidating appointment of more than 25000 teachers, citing irregularities and corruption.
- In Boxing World Cup, three Indian pugilists enter semifinals ensuring 3 more medals for the country.
- In IPL Cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad opt to field against hosts Kolkata Knight Riders.
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India and Thailand today signed six agreements for cooperation in various fields including IT, maritime, MSME, handicraft and handloom sectors. The agreements were exchanged following bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra at Bangkok this afternoon. Both sides reviewed the progress of the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discussed ways to add greater momentum to the India-Thailand bilateral partnership and exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues. Prime Minister Modi recieved ceremonial guard of honour. In his joint statement following the bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi announced the decision to elevate India-Thailand relationship to a Strategic Partnership. He underlined that Thailand has a special place in India's 'Act East' policy and Indo-Pacific vision. Mr Modi said they discussed establishing a 'strategic dialogue' between security agencies of both the nations.
Prime Minister Modi stressed that India is in full support of India ASEAN unity and ASEAN centrality. He also said that India and Thailand support an Indo-Pacific that is free, open and inclusive.
Mr Modi is on two-day visit to Thailand to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to be held tomorrow.
The theme of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit is "BIMSTEC - Prosperous, Resilient and Open." The Bangkok Vision 2030 will be adopted at the Summit, and the Report of the BIMSTEC Eminent Persons' Group will also be endorsed to chart the future direction of BIMSTEC.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude to his Thai counterpart Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for giving him a copy of the Tipitaka in Pali. He also termed it as a special gesture for him. In a social media post, Mr. Modi said that Pali is indeed a beautiful language, carrying within it the essence of Lord Buddha’s teachings.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the iStamp released by the Thai Government in his honour today, as a timeless impression and graceful symbol of both nation's shared cultural relations. In a social media post, the Prime Minister said that the stamp depicts Ramakien mural paintings that were painted during the reign of King Rama I.
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The Rajya Sabha is holding discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties, with provisions to safeguard heritage sites and promote social welfare. The legislation also aims to improve governance by enhancing transparency in property management, streamlining coordination between Waqf Boards and local authorities and protecting stakeholder’s rights.
Moving the bill, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the bill has been brought after a detailed consultation with the stakeholders as well as in the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Participating in the discussion, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain of Congress said that this bill is misleading and it has been brought with the intention of communal polarisation.
Participating in the debate, Union Minister and Leader of the House, JP Nadda hoped that the House will support UMEED- Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development.
Tiruchi Siva of DMK opposed the bill alleging that a certain community is being targeted. Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party termed this bill unconstitutional and urged the government to take it back. The Discussion is underway.
The Lok Sabha passed the Bill last night.
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News :-
Parliament has passed the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025 with the Lok Sabha approving it today. Rajya Sabha has already passed the bill. The bill seeks to provide for protection of interests in aircraft objects and to implement the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment.
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Lok Sabha has passed the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024. The Bill seeks to regulate vessels engaged in trade within Indian coastal waters. Under the Bill, coastal waters mean territorial waters of India, along with adjoining maritime zones.The bill aims to consolidate and amend the law relating to regulation of coastal shipping, promote coastal trade and encourage domestic participation.
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The Supreme Court today upheld the Calcutta High Court verdict invalidating the appointment of more than 25000 teachers and other staff in West Bengal schools. The top court said that the entire selection process is vitiated by manipulation and fraud and its credibility and legitimacy denuded.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar said the fresh selection process is to be completed in West Bengal schools within three months. The process can also have relaxations for untainted candidates.
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India is carefully examining the implications of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a statement today said that it is engaging with all stakeholders, including Indian industry and exporters, taking feedback of their assessment of the tariffs and assessing the situation. It is also studying the opportunities that may arise due to this new development in the US trade policy. The US President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order on Reciprocal Tariffs imposing additional ad-valorem duties ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent on imports from all trading partners.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal today urged domestic investors to join the startup landscape of the country. Inaugurating the second edition of Startup Mahakumbh at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Mr. Goyal expressed optimism that India will become the 4th largest economy in the world by the end of the current financial year. He further added that the country aspires to become the 3rd largest GDP globally by 2027.
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Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has urged the youth to inculcate leadership qualities and work for the development of the country. Addressing the valedictory ceremony of the Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2025 in New Delhi, Dr. Mandaviya said that the youth are the future of the country and they play an important role in the development of the nation.
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The portals of Yamunotri Dham in Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand will be opened for devotees on Akshaya Tritiya on 30th of this month. On the occasion of Yamuna Jayanti today, the priests at the temple in Kharsali, announced the date of opening of the shrine of the Dham.
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In Boxing World Cup, Manish Rathore, Hitesh and Abhinash Jamwal have entered the semifinals of their respective weight categories ensuring 3 more medals for India in the championship. While Jamwal defeated Germany's Dennis Brill in 65 Kg category by unanimous decision, Hitesh defeated Italy's Gabriele Guidi Rontani in the 70 kg weight category. Manish defeated Australia's Yusuf Chotia in the 55 kg weight category.
In the semifinals, Rathore will face Nursultan Altynbek of Kazakhstan, Hitesh takes on Makan Traoré while Jamwal will play Gianluigi Malanga of Italy.
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In IPL Cricket, Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins has won the toss and elected to field against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. KKR were 200 for 5 in 19.5 overs, when reports last came in. Hosts have made one change in their playing XI, replacing Australian pacer Spencer Johnson with Moeen Ali. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand made two changes, Kamindu Mendis is making his IPL debut replacing Abhinav Manohar and Simarjeet Singh replaces Travis Head. Both the teams struggling for form will look to break their losing streak to climb the rankings. KKR is last on the points table while SRH is at number 8.
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In Chhattisgarh, division level programs under Bastar Pandum have started from today in Dantewada district of Bastar division. It was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of Chhattisgarh Vijay Sharma.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- India and Thailand sign six agreements in various fields including IT, maritime and MSME; Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
- Discussion underway in the Rajya Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
- Lok Sabha passes Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 to regulate vessels engaged in trade within Indian coastal waters.
- Supreme Court upholds Calcutta High Court order of invalidating appointment of more than 25000 teachers, citing irregularities and corruption.
- In Boxing World Cup, three Indian pugilists enter semifinals ensuring 3 more medals for the country.
- In IPL Cricket, Kolkata Knight Riders have set a target of 201 runs before Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens.
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