THE HEADLINES :-
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal says, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five nation visit guarantees advantages for every segment of the society; Asserts, world is looking towards India as a trusted partner.
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stresses on enhancing technology-driven security systems and improving operational security.
- Government reiterates that country has sufficient supplies of crude, petrol, diesel, natural gas, and LPG.
- Centre issues health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola affected countries; India-Africa Forum Summit postponed.
- IMD issues red alert for heat wave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha for tomorrow.
- In IPL Cricket, match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings underway in Ahmedabad.
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Union Commerce and Industry Minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal today said that the world is looking towards India as a trusted partner. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five nation visit, Mr Goyal said that the visit guarantees advantages for every segment of the society. He said that the Prime Ministers’ visit reflects that India stands strongly on the global stage. He said, 57 significant agreements were signed including the commitment of UAE to invest 75 to 100 billion dollars in India during the tour. He also hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his alleged derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that due to the negative politics of Mr Gandhi people are rejecting the Congress in elections.
Later, in a different programme Mr. Goyal said that India and the United States are working as natural partners and complement each other across sectors including technology innovation, high precision defence, digital data centres, quantum computing and medical devices. Addressing the Annual Leadership Summit of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi, Mr Goyal said the partnership between the two countries is strengthened by mutual trust and shared economic interests. The Minister said that India provides a trusted framework for global companies and combines scale, talent and market opportunity.
Highlighting the role of MSMEs in strengthening global supply chains, Mr Goyal said that the government has initiated coordinated efforts to support technology upgradation and skill development for MSMEs. The Minister said that the government is also adopting an area-based approach to industrial development through the BHAVYA scheme aimed at creating 100 new industrial parks across the country.
Mr Goyal said that country’s GDP growth forecast was upgraded from 6.4 per cent to 6.5 per cent despite challenges such as the Ukraine conflict and the West Asia crisis. He said, this reflects country’s capability, decisive leadership and growing confidence in engaging with the world as a reliable and favoured investment destination.
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Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said that India has presented a new model to the world by increasing agricultural production, strengthening food security, and bringing positive changes in the lives of millions of farmers. Expressing happiness over the conferment of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agricola Medal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome, Mr Chouhan said that this honour is a symbol of the growing prestige of new India. He said, the world looks upon India’s policies, leadership, and humanitarian vision with respect. He said that this award is a living testament to country’s hardworking farmers.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today held a high-level security review meeting in New Delhi with field officers. During the meeting, it was noted that preliminary investigations into several recent fire incidents in trains have revealed the involvement of anti-social elements. The Ministry said that such incidents has been taken up seriously and the Railway Protection Force is actively probing them.
The discussions during the security review meeting focused on strengthening intelligence gathering mechanisms from the field through an improved reporting system. Emphasis was also laid on enhancing technology-driven security systems, expanding CCTV coverage across the railway network, and improving operational security. The meeting also highlighted strengthening cyber security, upgrading camera specifications, and deploying AI-based surveillance and monitoring systems.
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The government today reassured that India has sufficient supplies of crude, petrol, diesel, natural gas, and LPG. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi, on the West Asia situation, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma said that refineries are operating at optimum capacity to meet the demand.
Ms Sharma said, steps are being taken to ensure availability across all petrol pumps. Supply of LPG for cooking purposes is stable and in the last three days, delivery of one crore 34 lakh domestic LPG cylinders has been made while the supply of commercial LPG remained one lakh 32 thousand tonnes since 1st of this month.
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mukesh Mangal said, they are continuously coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions, and maritime stakeholders to ensure the safety of seafarers and smooth maritime operations.
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The Directorate General of Health Services has issued an advisory regarding Ebola Disease for passengers arriving from or transiting through affected countries. According to the advisory, travellers who have visited high-risk countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, and are experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, unexplained bleeding and vomiting, sore throat have been urged to seek immediate medical attention. A report:
“Government has said that passengers who have had direct contact with blood or body fluids of a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient must report immediately to the Airport Health Officer or Health Desk before immigration clearance. The authorities have further stated that any traveller developing such symptoms within 21 days of arrival should promptly seek medical care and inform healthcare authorities about their travel history. Passengers have been advised to cooperate with health screening and public health measures to ensure safety and compliance with International Health Regulations. With Dipendra, Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News. Delhi.”
The Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit, which was scheduled to be held from 28th to 31st May in New Delhi, has been postponed in view of the evolving health situation in parts of Africa. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that consultations were held between India, Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission regarding the holding of the Summit and associated activities, recognizing the importance of ensuring the full participation and engagement of African leaders and stakeholders. Following these consultations, the two sides agreed that it would be advisable to convene the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date.
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President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides today visited the National Stock Exchange in Mumbai and participated in the traditional bell-ringing ceremony. Delivering the keynote address at a programme here, he reiterated that Cyprus serves as a natural gateway between India, Europe and the wider Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, combining political and economic stability with ambition, innovation and a future-focused outlook. He asserted that Cyprus is keen to encourage greater two-way investment and deepen business, investment and financial links with India, especially in sectors such as technology, shipping, energy and financial services.
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India has called for united global efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terror. Addressing the 11th Annual BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group meeting in New Delhi today, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George stressed the need to hold accountable those sheltering and supporting terrorism. He called for zero tolerance against terrorism and stronger international cooperation to tackle terror financing, radicalisation and misuse of emerging technologies by terrorist groups. He also urged making the BRICS anti-terror mechanism more resilient, inclusive and outcome-oriented.
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In Uttarakhand, five people, including two women, were killed today after a vehicle plunged into a deep gorge near Dhaila village on the Sanatorium-Ratighat bypass road in Bhawali area of Nainital district. Teams from the local police and the State Disaster Response Force recovered all the bodies from the gorge. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha for tomorrow, and it will continue this week. Similar conditions are likely to prevail over Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Coastal Andhra Pradesh. More from our correspondent:
“Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Telangana are likely to experience heat wave conditions from tomorrow till this weekend. The weather agency has also forecast hot and humid weather conditions over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha for the next two to three days. The IMD said that Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall till Sunday. The Met Department has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorms over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh till tomorrow. Meanwhile, IMD has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep, Uttarakhand, Coastal Karnataka, Konkan, Goa and the North Eastern Region for the next two days. Ishani Yadav, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Benchmark domestic equity indices ended on a negative note after a volatile trade today. The Sensex declined 135 points to close at 75 thousand 183, while the Nifty dipped marginally by four points to settle at 23 thousand and 655. The broader market on the National Stock Exchange ended mixed.
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In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans were 196 for one in 17.4 overs against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad, when reports last came in. Earlier Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to field.
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In the Malaysia Masters Super Badminton, India’s Ashmita Chaliha advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals after a 21-13, 21-16 win over Malaysia’s Goh Jin Wei in the pre-quarterfinals in Kuala Lumpur today. She will next face eighth seed Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt of Denmark.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal says, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five nation visit guarantees advantages for every segment of the society; Asserts, world is looking towards India as a trusted partner.
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stresses on enhancing technology-driven security systems and improving operational security.
- Government reiterates that country has sufficient supplies of crude, petrol, diesel, natural gas, and LPG.
- Centre issues health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola affected countries; India-Africa Forum Summit postponed.
- IMD issues red alert for heat wave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha for tomorrow.
- In IPL Cricket, match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings underway in Ahmedabad.
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