THE HEADLINES:
India and Italy agree to further develop India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor for deepening economic relations.
Government prohibits the use of cosmetic as injection by consumers, professionals and aesthetic clinics.
Centre issues health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola affected countries.
West Bengal government directs Vande Mataram compulsory as prayer song in all madrasas.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay led Cabinet in Tamil Nadu expanded to 32, including four women ministers.
And in IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans to take on Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad this evening.
<><><>
India and Italy have agreed to further develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to strengthen trade, investment and supply-chain resilience. In a joint statement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), recognising its transformational potential in reshaping and promoting global trade, connectivity and prosperity. Appreciating the preliminary discussions around the project, they encouraged the first IMEC Ministerial meeting to take concrete steps for advancing this initiative in 2026.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described IMEC as a major connectivity and economic corridor linking Europe, the Middle East and India with the potential to strengthen trade, investment and supply-chain resilience. Ms Meloni said strengthening interconnectivity between the regions remains an important priority and added that both countries strongly support the development of the corridor. The two Prime Ministers also reaffirmed that innovation, science and technology are core drivers of the India-Italy partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Italy is renowned worldwide for design and precision, and India’s identity is that of a powerhouse of scale, talent, and affordable innovation.
<><><>
The government has said that no cosmetic product is permitted to be used as an injection by consumers, professionals and aesthetic clinics. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has said that Cosmetics are only intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on the human body. It said that the manufacture and import of cosmetics for sale and distribution are regulated under the provisions of the Cosmetics Rules, 2020. CDSCO said the use of prohibited ingredients in cosmetic products, misleading claims on the label, use of cosmetics for treatment and the application of cosmetics through injection attract violations of the Act and Rules.
<><><>
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 have been urged to seek immediate medical attention. It has also warned 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.
<><><>
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has said that India has undertaken one of the world’s largest screening and early detection efforts to eliminate tuberculosis under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. Mr. Nadda said this while addressing a event on Ministerial Perspectives on Lung Health Screening during the 79th Session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The Minister further informed that India has significantly scaled up modern diagnostics to detect TB and other lung diseases. Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping healthcare systems, Union Health Minister Mr Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that while AI presents immense opportunities for advancing healthcare delivery, it must be shaped by sound regulation, rigorous research and ethical oversight.
<><><>
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the Government aims to make the Indian automobile industry number one in the world. Addressing the AMCHAM’s Annual Leadership Summit in New Delhi, the Minister highlighted that the country’s automobile industry is the third largest in the world, surpassing Japan. He said that the USA holds the first position having the size of 79 lakh crore, second is China with 49 lakh crore and now India has secured the third position at 22 lakh crore. Mr Gadkari said that India’s annual automobile industry growth is at 30 to 40 percent.
The Minister added that the Government is also working on alternative fuel and biofuel, ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, LNG, electric and hydrogen.
<><><>
In an effort to decongest examination centres for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination-2026, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has introduced three new examination centres at Bhubaneswar, Kanpur, and Meerut. With the addition of these centres, the total number of centres for the Preliminary Examination has increased from 80 to 83. According to UPSC, nearly 23 thousand candidates have applied to these new centres, easing the rush at the adjoining centres for Civil Services Examination.
<><><>
The West Bengal government has made the singing of Vande Mataram mandatory during morning assembly prayers in all madrassas across the state with immediate effect. The order has been issued by the Directorate of Madrasah Education. According to the notification, the directive will apply to government model madrassas, government-aided madrassas, recognised unaided madrassas, as well as approved Shishu Shiksha Kendras and Madhyamik Shiksha Kendras functioning under the Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department. A report:-
The move aims to bring uniformity in assembly practices across all educational institutions under the department. The order has been circulated to district magistrates, district inspectors of schools and the West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education for implementation.
The development comes nearly a week after the state government made the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in all state-run and aided schools. Heads of institutions were directed to ensure that all students participate in the national song before the commencement of classes.
Meanwhile, the move also comes amid efforts by the Union government to strengthen provisions related to respect for national symbols. The Centre has proposed amendments to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, including making obstruction to the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. Anuja Kumar, For Akashvani News.
<><><>
The repoll in the Falta Assembly constituency is going on peacefully in West Bengal Peaceful voting is being conducted in the Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas District in West Bengal today. Total 60.43% voting has been recorded till 1pm. After the withdrawal of TMC candidate Jahangir Khan from the contest the main fight is among BJP, Congress and CPIM.
<><><>
In Tamil Nadu, the Joseph Vijay-led Government expanded its ministry today, paving the way for a coalition Cabinet in the State. Twenty-three new ministers, including two members from the Congress party, were inducted into the Cabinet. With the latest expansion, the Cabinet strength has risen to 32, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The Congress has now returned to the State Cabinet after nearly six decades, with the national party being represented in the Tamil Nadu ministry for the first time since 1967. The newly-expanded Cabinet also includes four women ministers. More From our correspondent:-
The ten-day-old Government led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has been supported by the Congress, VCK,CPI, CPM, IUML and a part of the AIADMK MLAs. Earlier today, the newly inducted Congress Ministers, accompanied by senior Congress leaders of the State, visited the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur to pay their respects on his memorial day today. The AIADMK faction supporting the Government was not present at the Cabinet expansion event today at Lok Bhavan. Joy, Chennai.
<><><>
The first session of the newly constituted Keralam Assembly commenced in Thiruvananthapuram today. Pro-tem Speaker G. Sudhakaran administered the oath to the newly elected members. The election for the Speaker’s post will be held tomorrow. The ruling UDF has nominated Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as its candidate for the post. The BJP, which has three members in the Assembly, is expected to field B. B. Gopakumar as its candidate, while the opposition LDF is yet to announce its decision on the election.
<><><>
In Jharkhand, 25 CPI (Maoist) insurgents and two members of the extremist outfit JJMP surrendered before the state police at the headquarters in Dhurwa, Ranchi today. The surrendered ultras also laid down a large cache of arms and ammunition, including an LMG, INSAS and SLR rifles, a pistol, magazines and nearly three thousand live cartridges. Police said eight of the surrendered Maoists carried a combined bounty of 33 lakh rupees, and a total of 426 criminal cases were registered against them. Director General of Police Tadasa Mishra said the state government will ensure rehabilitation of the surrendered insurgents and address their demands under the surrender policy.
<><><>
India has called out Pakistan’s long-tainted record of genocidal at the United Nations Security Council. Speaking at the Annual UNSC Open Debate on ‘Protection of civilians in armed conflict’ yesterday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni said that Pakistan’s inhuman conduct reflects its attempts over decades to externalise internal failures through acts of violence within and beyond its border.
<><><>
In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad this evening. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM. Gujarat Titans have already secured a place in the Playoffs, while Chennai Super Kings will be looking to strengthen their chances for the fourth spot in the points table. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders kept their Playoff hopes alive with a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last night.
<><><>
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red colour warning for Heat Wave to Severe Heat Wave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha till tomorrow. An orange colour warning for Heat wave conditions has been issued over Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh. Heat wave conditions are also expected over Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttarakhand today.
<><><>
Benchmark domestic equity indices traded on a subdued note in the afternoon session today. The Sensex dropped 66 points to 75 thousand 251, while the Nifty added 16 points to 23 thousand 675, when reports last came in. In the broader market at the National Stock Exchange, Midcap 100 index was up about 0.2 per cent, while the Smallcap 100 index gained 0.7 per cent, a short while ago.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
India and Italy agree to further develop India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor for deepening economic relations.
Government prohibits the use of cosmetic as injection by consumers, professionals and aesthetic clinics.
Centre issues health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola affected countries.
West Bengal government directs Vande Mataram compulsory as prayer song in all madrasas.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay led Cabinet in Tamil Nadu expanded to 32, including four women ministers.
And in IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans to take on Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad this evening.
<><><>
