THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Ghana's capital Accra on the first leg of his five-nation tour.
- Prime Minister Modi to receive Ghana's highest state honour tonight.
- Pentagon halts weapons shipment to Ukraine citing concerns over low US stockpiles.
- Iranian President approves law suspending cooperation with IAEA.
- IMD says active monsoon conditions likely to continue over Northwest, Central and East India over next six days.
- Annual Amarnath Yatra set to begin tomorrow amid tight security.
- In Cricket, India make steady start against Hosts Engalnd in second test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Edgbaston.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ghana's capital Accra this evening on the first leg of his five-nation tour. During his visit to the West African Nation, the Prime Minister is set to receive Ghana’s highest state honour, the Companion of the Order of the Star at the state banquet tonight. Mr Modi will address the Parliament of Ghana tomorrow.
We now go live to our correspondent Alok Rai in Accra for the latest updates on Prime Minister Modi’s Ghana visit.
In an exclusive interaction with Akashvani, the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, Manish Gupta, pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is focused on deepening economic and strategic cooperation with special attention to sectors like agriculture, digital infrastructure, defense, and healthcare.
Meanwhile, in a groundbreaking step towards food self-sufficiency, Ghana has launched a climate-resilient wheat initiative in collaboration with India’s Arima Farms and CSIR-Crops Research Institute. With wheat imports crossing 400 million dollars annually, this project aims to cut dependency and boost local farming. Arima Farms MD, Saalai Manikam highlighted that South-South cooperation is driving agricultural innovation.
Besides Ghana, the Prime Minister will also visit Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.
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The Pentagon has paused certain weapons deliveries to Ukraine, citing concerns about low US stockpiles. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, the move follows a global review of US military aid, stressing America’s interests come first. Since February 2022, the US has provided over 66 billion dollars in military support to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has requested a meeting with the US embassy’s deputy chief, warning that aid delays embolden Russia.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is one of the most drastic steps Iran has made in its standoff with international powers on its nuclear activities.
Iranian state media reported that the legislation which occurred after the military clashes last month with Israel and the United States has come into effect officially. The suspension comes after Iran's Parliament approved the legislation with the bill receiving 221 votes in support in the 290-seat house. Iranian officials have accused the IAEA of remaining silent throughout the military campaign stoking Iran's tensions with the UN nuclear agency over access and transparency.
Meanwhile, Iran has begun work on one of its key nuclear facilities, Fordo nuclear plant, days after last month's US airstrikes, with satellite images from Maxar Technologies showing a new access road and the deployment of construction equipment at the uranium enrichment facility.
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Pakistani forces, including the Frontier Corps and police, launched a violent assault on peaceful protesters in Kech district of Balochistan last night. The demonstrators, mainly local traders and labourers, were protesting the closure of the Abdohi border since March this year. Pakistani security forces stormed the camp at night, opened indiscriminate fire on sleeping protesters and arrested at least 14 of them. Human rights groups condemned the crackdown and the prolonged border closure, calling it economic exploitation.
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Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said, one lakh crore rupees will be provided to employees and employers over the next four years through the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme. The Minister was talking to media in New Delhi today.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the government is determined to dismantle every drug cartel and protect the youth. He congratulated the Narcotics Control Bureau and all agencies on busting a global drug cartel. Mr. Shah said the probe set a stellar example of multi-agency coordination, resulting in eight arrests and seizures of five consignments while triggering crackdowns in the US and Australia against the ring that operates across four continents and over 10 nations. He said the country’s agencies are constantly monitoring sophisticated modes like crypto payments and anonymous drop shippers used by these gangs.
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Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today urged party leaders and workers to raise mass awareness about the people-centric policies and initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led government, which have significantly transformed people's lives over the past 11 years. Mr. Singh was addressing the BJP State Working Committee meeting at Gyan Bhawan in Patna. He highlighted India’s remarkable growth in the defence sector.
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Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that 66.91 kilometers long four lane greenfield Bandikui spur in Rajasthan has been successfully completed with a cost of over two thousand crore rupees. In a social media post, Mr. Gadkari highlighted that the new spur is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Jaipur.
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Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today termed Northeast region as the gateway to East and Southeast Asia for India. Mr Shringla was addressing the panel discussion on Artificial intelligence and North East India in New Delhi. Hailing Artificial Intelligence as a transformative tool for the Northeastern states Mr Shringla said that AI helps in strengthening the governance of the region.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said active monsoon conditions are likely to continue over many parts of Northwest, Central and East India during next 6 to 7 days. Light to moderate rainfall is likely at most places over Northwest India during the next seven days accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds speed. Meanwhile, the Weather agency has issued a yellow alert in Maharashtra for Mumbai and Palghar districts and an orange alert for the adjoining districts of Thane, Raigad, and Ratnagiri till tomorrow. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been recorded at isolated places over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha and South Interior Karnataka.
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Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil today inaugurated a Unified Inundation Forecasting System C-FLOOD in New Delhi. This is a web-based platform that provides two-days advance inundation forecasts up to village level.
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The annual 38-day-long pilgrimage to the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji will formally commence tomorrow from twin routes of Pahalgamand Baltal in Ganderbal district of Kashmir amid tight security. The Holy Cave is known for the ice stalagmite that forms within, resembling a Shivlinga and is situated at an altitude of 12,756 feet in the Himalayas in the Kashmir region.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of devotees from Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu earlier this morning. Lakhs of devotees from across the country are expected to pay obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year, elaborate security measures have been implemented to ensure the safe and peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage.
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The benchmark domestic equity indices today pared early gains and ended with modest losses amid mixed global cues.
"The 30-share index at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, dropped 288 points to close at 83 thousand 410. The National Stock Exchange Nifty-50, declined 88 points to settle at 25 thousand 453.
In the Forex market, the rupee today depreciated by 17 paise to close at 85 rupees and 70 paise against the US dollar.
In the Indian Bullion Market, 24 Karat Gold was trading at 97,660 rupees per 10 grams, a short while ago. Lalima Aneja Dang for Akashvani News."
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In Cricket, India have made a steady start against Hosts England in the second test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Edgbaston in Birmingham. On day one, the Visitors were 211 for 4 a short while ago. Earlier, England led by skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl. Team India has made significant changes to their playing XI. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested, paving the way for pacer Akash Deep to make his debut. All-rounders Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy have also been brought in, replacing Shardul Thakur and Sai Sudharsan. Meanwhile, England has announced an unchanged XI for the second Test.
In the first Test of the five match series, England defeated India by five-wickets to lead 1- nil at Headingley in Leeds.
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Wimbledon 2025 opened with seismic upsets as five top-10 seeds, including Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen and US Open winner Coco Gauff, crashed out in soaring 33°C heat. Zheng fell to Czech Katerina Siniakova, while Gauff and Jessica Pegula suffered surprise defeats.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Ghana's capital Accra on first leg of his five-nation tour.
- Prime Minister Modi to receive Ghana's highest state honour tonight.
- Pentagon halts weapons shipment to Ukraine citing concerns over low US stockpiles.
- Iranian President approves law suspending cooperation with IAEA.
- IMD says active monsoon conditions likely to continue over Northwest, Central and East India over next six days.
- Annual Amarnath Yatra set to begin tomorrow amid tight security.
- In Cricket, India make steady start against Hosts Engalnd in second test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Edgbaston.
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