THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez in New Delhi today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chair 73rd plenary session of North Eastern Council in Shillong.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, United States and India are only weeks away from concluding a long-awaited trade agreement.
- IMD issues orange alert for heavy rain in Keralam and Mahe today.
- First World Yogasana Sports Championship to begin today in Ahmedabad; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the event virtually in the evening.
- In Football, India advance to the final of SAFF Women’s Championship beating Bhutan 1-nil in Goa.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with the acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez in New Delhi today. Ms Rodriguez arrived yesterday on a five day visit to India. She is accompanied by a delegation comprising the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and Finance, Science and Technology, Communication and Information, and Transportation. Ms Rodriguez had visited India in her earlier capacity as Foreign Minister in 2015 and as Vice President in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
“The discussions will involve the full spectrum of India-Venezuela relations and explore avenues for further cooperation in areas of energy security, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, health care, transportation, and renewable energy. The Venezuelan delegation will also visit several sites connected with energy, pharmaceuticals and auto sectors to gain insights into India’s technological and industrial capabilities and to explore opportunities for collaboration. India has been an important partner of Venezuela in the areas of energy and investment. Indian PSUs have made significant investment in Venezuela in the energy sector and they are keen to explore opportunities for further enhancing their presence. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Venezuela enjoy warm and friendly relations, underpinned by cooperation in the energy sector, trade, and shared commitment to the Global South. It said, the visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and deepen engagement between the two countries across diverse sectors. With Anupam Mishra, Priya Mondal, AKASHVANI News, Delhi.”
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the 73rd Plenary Session OF North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong, Meghalaya today. The Ministry of Development of North-East Region said the session will discuss and deliberate on progress made by the CM High-Level Task Forces constituted for critical sectors of regional development. During the session, presentations will be made on Tourism, Agriculture and Horticulture, Investment Promotion, and Handloom and Handicrafts. Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, Governors and Chief Ministers of all the eight Northeastern States, other Members of NEC and Senior Officers of central and state governments will be present at the meeting.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that the United States and India are only weeks away from concluding a long-awaited trade agreement. Responding to questions about his recent visit to India during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing last night, Mr. Rubio said Washington and New Delhi are nearing completion of the pact.
“Secretary Rubio repeatedly highlighted India as an important strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific, signalling growing momentum in economic ties between the world’s largest and oldest democracies. He said, his visit to India also included discussions with counterparts from the Quad, a grouping comprising India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Mr. Rubio indicated that the four countries are moving beyond dialogue towards concrete projects, including enhanced maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
Earlier, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also said that 99 per cent of work on the trade deal is done.
Meanwhile, Mr Rubio further highlighted a new initiative known as Pax Silica, involving 14 countries working together to secure supply chains linked to artificial intelligence. WITH VISHAL’S REPORT, CHIRAG JHA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Modi and one of the world’s oldest living cities, is once again set to witness a historic international event. After successfully hosting G20 meetings, Varanasi will now host the second meeting of the BRICS Culture Working Group today and tomorrow. Representatives from 11 countries including China, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia will take part in this meeting. The meeting will bring together senior diplomats, policymakers and cultural experts.
“A special exhibition of Kashi’s world-famous GI-tagged and ODOP (One District One Product) products will also be organized during the meeting. At the exhibition, six artisans will display six unique products representing Varanasi’s rich craft traditions. These products are living symbols of Kashi’s centuries-old art, craftsmanship and cultural heritage. Through the exhibition, foreign delegates will not only be introduced to the uniqueness of these products, but local artists and artisans will also get an opportunity to showcase their products to the global market. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI, AKASHVANI NEWS, LUCKNOW.”
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Keralam and Mahe today. Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and Vidarbha are likely to witness thunder squalls today, while a dust storm is expected in parts of West Rajasthan.
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India has undergone a remarkable transformation, driven by the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi in the last 12 years. During this period, the Modi government carried out many flagship initiatives for the welfare and empowerment of the poor, farmers, women and youth. AKASHVANI News brings you a special feature on the Government’s efforts over the last 12 years across key sectors. Today, we focus on the measures taken by the government towards Ease of Doing Business.
“India has undertaken sustained reforms over the past twelve years to improve its business regulatory environment and improve Ease of Doing Business. These reforms have strengthened investor confidence, promoted entrepreneurship, and enhanced India’s position as a globally competitive business destination.
Startup India initiative, launched in 2016, is nurturing innovation, promoting entrepreneurship and enabling investment-driven growth. Due to the efforts of the government, the number of Startups has gone upto two lakh 23 thousand in March this year from just around five hundred in 2016. The Income Tax Department launched the new e-filing portal, in June 2021 to provide greater taxpayer convenience and a modern, seamless experience. GST was introduced in 2017 and it replaced a fragmented and complex indirect tax regime that burdened businesses and consumers alike. GST reforms announced in September last year provided an additional boost to Ease of Doing Business. Talking to AKASHVANI News a Chartered Accountant, Manoj Baser of Thane in Maharashtra said that the reforms brought by the government in direct and indirect taxes has brought economic stability.
To address procedural hurdles and simplify MSME registration, the Government introduced Udyam Registration Portal. The MSME registrations on the Portal has increased from ten thousand in October 2020 to over eight lakh 31 thousand till date.
To digitise and make public procurement more streamlined and inclusive, Government e-marketplace GeM was introduced in 2016. It is connecting women entrepreneurs, startups, MSEs, self-help groups and Divyangjans to mainstream procurement. It has achieved a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value of over 18 lakh crore rupees. Speaking to AKASHVANI News, a seller in GeM and CMD in company Kamini Gupta said, the process in GeM is simple and transparent.
India’s Ease of Doing Business framework today reflects the combined strength of digital infrastructure, policy reforms, and trust-based governance. With Dipendra, Anupam Mishra, AKASHVANI News, Delhi.”
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The inaugural edition of the World Yogasana Sports Championship is set to kick off this evening at TransStadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, marking a historic milestone on the global sporting roadmap. Prime Minister Modi will virtually join the mega event in the evening to share his best wishes, as yoga enthusiasts and athletes from across the globe gather for the competition.
“The five-day event will witness participation from over 400 participants from 60 countries, including the United States. Organised under the aegis of World Yogasana and hosted by Yogasana Bharat, this milestone event aims to pave the way for the inclusion of Yoga in multi-sport events globally while spreading awareness about yoga and wellness globally. Competitors will participate in seven official Yogasana categories, including artistic and rhythmic yoga divisions, where participants will be assessed on strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and precision under global standardised judging criteria. Aparna Khunt, AKASHVANI News, Ahmedabad.”
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A total of 21 people lost their lives after a fire broke out at a guest house in the Malviya Nagar area of New Delhi yesterday. Delhi Police said the deceased include 9 Indian nationals and 12 foreign nationals.
The police said a case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
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In another fire incident, in Bihar three people lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries. The incident took place after a massive fire broke out at a private hospital, located under the jurisdiction of the Brahampura police station in Muzaffarpur last night. Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen confirmed the deaths and stated that a number of patients remain in critical condition.
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In football, hosts India have booked their place in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship after defeating Bhutan 1-nil in the semifinal at Margao in Goa yesterday. Sanfida Nongrum scored the match-winning goal in the 58th minute to help India move into their first SAFF Women’s Championship final in six years.
Five-time champions India will now face defending champions Bangladesh in the title clash on Saturday at 6:30 PM.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- The headlines in all the dailies are full with the tragic news of one of the deadliest fires in Delhi in recent years. Hindustan Times writes “Safety gaps spark another tragedy as 21 die in blaze that swept through the five storey hotel located in a narrow lane crowded locality in South Delhi.”
- An editorial in The Hindu writes on “How India scaled its start up industry from 2016 to 2025.” The start-up India scheme has truly come of age due to a supportive policy environment, robust startup growth and a positive investment climate.
- “Cabinet backs ordinance to ease tax rules for foreign investors in some securities” states The Times of India.
- The Economic Times comes up with a story on domestic travel demand remains strong despite rising fuel costs and airfares and fewer flights under the headline “Summer travel plans take no break.”
- And Finally, The Tribune writes about a memorable moment, when the Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama was presented with the Grammy award won by his audio book ‘Meditations: the reflections of his Holiness’.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with acting President of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez in New Delhi today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chair 73rd plenary session of North Eastern Council in Shillong.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, United States and India are only weeks away from concluding a long-awaited trade agreement.
- IMD issues orange alert for heavy rain in Keralam and Mahe today.
- First World Yogasana Sports Championship to begin today in Ahmedabad; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the event virtually in the evening.
- In Football, India advance to the final of SAFF Women’s Championship beating Bhutan 1-nil in Goa.
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