PM Modi Arrives in Laos to Attend East Asia Summit, Strengthen Ties With ASEAN Countries

Yogi Govt Declares Public Holiday on Friday in UP For Navami

Twelve tourists were rescued by lifeguards after an unregistered joyride boat capsized off Baga beach in Goa on Thursday.

The boat had no permission to conduct water sports activities, a tourism department official said.

The rescued tourists were from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Around 2.50 pm, the boat overturned due to rough waters some 100 metres off the beach, said an official of Drishti Marine, a lifesaving agency appointed by the state government.

A life guard of the agency noticed the accident and raised alarm. Other lifesavers posted on Baga and Calangute beaches rushed to assist in the rescue mission with jet skis, the official said.

A major drug racket has been bused in New Delhi after cocaine worth Rs 2,000 crore was seized by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The law enforcement agencies have seized around 200 kgs of drugs.

Delhi Police Special Cell displayed live raid of drugs worth Rs 2,000 crores to the court. The recovery has been made in front of the court. The raid is underway in Delhi's Ramesh Nagar.

Eight policemen were suspended on Thursday on charges of negligence in the wake of a video turning up online showing a woman falling into the 'argha' at Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The woman purportedly fell into the argha during 'sparsh darshan,' which involves devotees touching the shivling in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

According to police, on Monday after the saptarishi aarti, a sudden surge of visitors was witnessed, and the woman slipped and fell.

The act was caught on camera and uploaded online.

Police in a statement said four sub-inspectors, one male constable, and three female constables posted at the sanctum sanctorum were negligent in their duties and allowed crowding.

To enhance connectivity in Jharkhand, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the daily Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express through video conferencing on Thursday, a press statement from the Railway Ministry said.

According to the ministry, this new train service will connect Sahibganj to Howrah, covering a distance of 350 km in just seven hours at an affordable fare of Rs 125, providing considerable relief to the residents of Jharkhand.

"Currently, travellers spend Rs 700 to Rs 800 to journey from Sahibganj to Howrah by road. The introduction of this train service will not only simplify travel but also enhance business opportunities and employment in the region," the ministry said.

 Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Thursday said that the CPI(M) veteran and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had once in the past invited him to join the party, but he had declined.

Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, addressing an event here said: "Let him (Vijayan) deny it if he can. I said to him that I cannot join the party as I do not like politics. That was what I told all political leaders." However, due to certain incidents on August 2, 2014, he was forced to enter politics, Gopi said. He did not elaborate on the incidents.

A whopping 84 per cent of newly elected MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir are crorepatis, a 9 per cent increase from 2014, with average declared assets of Rs 11.43 crore, according to data compiled by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The average declared assets of MLAs have more than doubled from Rs 4.56 crore a decade ago, the data showed.

Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP leader Devender Rana are among the richest MLAs with assets worth over Rs 100 crore.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alerts for eight districts in Kerala, forecasting the possibility of isolated heavy rain in those areas on Thursday.

According to the weather office, the three southern districts--Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta--and the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod are expected to receive heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms.

The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday decided to request the Union government to increase the income limit to qualify for 'non-creamy layer' to Rs 15 lakh per year from the current Rs 8 lakh.

The decision came ahead of the assembly elections which are expected to be held next month.

A non-creamy layer certificate, which means the family income of a person is below the prescribed limit, is needed to avail of reservation benefits in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

A draft ordinance to accord a constitutional status to the Maharashtra State Scheduled Caste Commission was also approved in the cabinet meeting, said a statement from the office of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

A junior doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital here on Thursday alleged that he found blood-stained surgical gloves in sealed boxes while treating a patient.

"The use of such gloves could cause infection," he stated. The junior doctor asserted that he discovered these gloves while treating a patient suffering from an infectious disease at the trauma care centre of the hospital. 

PM Modi announces doubling of scholarships at Nalanda University and new grants for ASEAN students in Indian agricultural universities.

 PM Modi announces celebrating 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, allocates USD 5 mn for joint initiatives.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India-ASEAN friendship was very important at a time when parts of the world were facing conflicts and tensions.

Addressing the 21st India-ASEAN Summit here, Modi also said he had announced the Act East Policy 10 years ago and in the past decade it had given new energy, direction and momentum to the historic ties between India and ASEAN nations.

"In the past decade, India-ASEAN trade has doubled and now stands at more than USD 130 billion," he said.

The Prime Minister said he believed that the 21st century, also called the Asian century, is the century of India and ASEAN nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday witnessed a "captivating performance" of the Laotian adaptation of the Ramayan that reflects the shared heritage and age-old civilisation connection between India and Laos.

Modi is in the Laotian capital to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits.

After his arrival here, the prime minister witnessed an episode of Lao Ramayan - called Phalak Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram - performed by the prestigious Royal Theatre of Luang Prabang.

"PM @narendramodi witnessed a captivating performance of the Lao Ramayana, known as Phalak Phalam or Phra Lak Phra Ram. This unique rendition of the Ramayan reflects the deep cultural ties and shared heritage between India and Lao PDR," the prime minister's office said in a post on X.

According to phralakphralam.com, the Lao Ramayan differs from the original Indian version. It had reached Laos late, around the 16th century, brought by Buddhist missions.

PM Modi SAID, “India-ASEAN are a peaceful nation, that respects each other's national unity & sovereignty and is committed to a bright future for youth”.

 At the 21st ASEAN- India Summit in  Vientiane, Lao, PM Narendra Modi said, "...We are peace-loving countries, respect each other's national integrity and sovereignty and we are committed to the bright future of our youth. I believe that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN countries. Today, when there is a situation of conflict and tension in many parts of the world, the friendship, cooperation, dialogue and cooperation of India and ASEAN are very important..."

At the 21st ASEAN-India Summit in Vientiane, Lao, PM Narendra Modi said

, "I had announced India's Act-East policy. In the last decade, this policy has given new energy, direction and momentum to the historic relations between India and ASEAN countries. Giving prominence to ASEAN, in 1991 we launched the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. This complements the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Last year maritime exercises for regional security and stability were started. In the last 10 years, our trade with the ASEAN region has almost doubled to over 130 billion dollars. Today, India has direct flight connectivity with 7 ASEAN countries and soon direct flights will start with Brunei as well. We have opened new consulates in Timor Leste. Singapore was the first country in the ASEAN region with which we established fintech connectivity and now this is being replicated in other countries as well."

At the 21st ASEAN- India Summit in  Vientiane, Lao, PM Narendra Modi says, "Today, India has direct flight connectivity with seven ASEAN countries and soon direct flights will start with Brunei as well. We have opened a new embassy in Timor-Leste... People-centric approach is the basis of our development partnership. More than 300 ASEAN students have benefited from scholarships in Nalanda University. Network of Universities has been launched. Efforts have been made to preserve shared heritage and heritage in Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia. Whether it is the Covid pandemic or natural disaster, we have helped each other. Science and Technology Fund, Digital Fund and Green Fund have been established for cooperation in various fields and India has contributed more than 30 million dollars in these."

At the 21st ASEAN- India Summit in  Vientiane, Lao, PM Narendra Modi says, "...We are peace-loving countries, respect each other's national integrity and sovereignty and we are committed to the bright future of our youth. I believe that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN countries. Today, when there is a situation of conflict and tension in many parts of the world, the friendship, cooperation, dialogue and cooperation of India and ASEAN are very important..."

Met respected monks and spiritual leaders in Lao PDR, who were happy to see the honour being given to Pali by the Indian people. 

I am grateful to them for their blessings.
 

PM Modi interacts with the Indian diaspora from Laos, and receives blessings from Buddhist monks.
 

Farmers practising natural farming in Himachal Pradesh will receive a grant of Rs 33,000 for buying a cow, along with a subsidy of Rs 8,000 for paving the cowshed floor, ATMA official said on Thursday.

"Farmers doing natural farming in the state will be given a grant of Rs 33,000 for buying a local cow besides a subsidy of Rs 8,000 for paving the floor of the cowshed," said Neha Bhardwaj, Assistant Technical Manager of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), during an event at Manjhiar village.

An awareness and mass sensitisation camp on natural farming was organised in Manjhiar, where Bhardwaj said that chemical fertilisers and poisonous pesticides should not be used in natural farming.

Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province Maryam Nawaz has called for “climate diplomacy” with India to mitigate the impact of smog in both the countries.

Punjab province in Pakistan and Punjab state along with many other areas in northwest India face massive air pollution during smog months from October to February every year. Lahore and New Delhi regularly feature in the list of most polluted cities in the world during this season when farmers resort to burning crop residue ahead of preparation for the winter crop.

“Both Indian and Pakistani Punjab should undertake joint efforts to combat smog. Stubble burning in Indian Punjab is impacting here because of air direction. There should be a climate diplomacy with India to address the smog issue,” Maryam said on Wednesday at the climate change leadership internship programme.

Six people were injured after a bag containing firecrackers accidentally caught fire and exploded during a religious procession here on Thursday, police said.The incident took place in the Prahlad Nagar area, police said, adding that due to the intensity of the explosion, the windows of nearby houses, shops and cars got damaged.

Some persons placed small stones on a railway track here on Thursday morning, police said, adding that the train, however, crossed the spot safely. Government Railway Police (GRP) Station in-charge Pawan Kumar said when the MEMU train going from Saharanpur to Moradabad reached Garhmalpur crossing, the loco pilot and other staff could hear sounds of stones being crushed on the track.

Truecaller Android Premium users in India can now validate their identity through UPI-based verification, enhancing trust and authenticity in digital communication   Truecaller launches blue tick verification for all Premium users in India. The new Verified Badge service allows users to verify their identity through the government-backed Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to confirm their correct names.

The third edition of Gandhisagar Forest Retreat & Festival is set to begin from October 14, offering a mix of nature, adventure and culture to travellers in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.The festival, aimed at turning Gandhisagar into a premier tourism destination, seeks to attract global adventurers while also boosting local employment and regional growth, they said.

The Karnataka High Court has acquitted three people, including a Pakistani national, from charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to a 2012 terror conspiracy allegedly plotted inside Bengaluru Central Prison. The court found a procedural flaw in the prosecution sanction granted by the state government, leading to the acquittals.

Three people were killed when a motorcycle rammed into a truck parked on a road in Uttar Pradesh's Chitrakoot district, police said on Thursday.The incident occurred at 11 pm on Wednesday when the speeding motorcycle coming from Sitapur village in Karvi area rammed into the stationary truck near Bedi culvert, Karvi Station House Officer Upendra Singh said.

BJP president JP Nadda visited the Ramakrishna Mission's headquarters Belur Math in Howrah on Thursday morning.Nadda, the Union health minister, arrived on a day-long tour to Kolkata around 11 am.Accompanied by state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari, he went to Belur Math on the auspicious occasion of Maha Saptami.

The Kerala assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to roll back its decision to approve the proposal for 'one nation, one election' recommended by the Ramnath Kovind panel, saying that it was "undemocratic and unconstitutional".

There has not been a single corruption charge in the last 10 years against the Modi government which ended policy paralysis and transformed India from one of the "Fragile Five" economies to a "bright spot", Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday.Addressing the annual session of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Shah said by 2047, due to the "remarkable" initiatives taken by the Modi government, India will emerge as one of the most developed countries in the world.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India and the 19th East Asia Summit. This year marks a decade of India's Act East Policy.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be leaving for Mumbai on Thursday afternoon to pay tributes to business tycoon Ratan Tata, who died due to prolonged illness.  According to official sources, Naidu will depart to Mumbai by a special aircraft and will return here this evening.

As protests continue in Kolkata following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the food and beverage industry in the eastern metropolis has seen a significant slump in sales, with several restaurant owners claiming they registered a 15-20 per cent drop in revenue over the past month.

Self-styled godman Surajpal alias 'Bhole Baba' on Thursday appeared before a judicial commission here probing the July 2 stampede at his congregation in Hathras which had claimed 121 lives. Surajpal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, is not mentioned as an accused in the FIR that was lodged after the stampede at Fulrai village in Sikandra Rao area of Hathras district. He is slated to record his statement before the commission.

A man has been sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment by a court here for raping a 14-year-old girl here in 2016. Special Judge (POCSO) Vinay Kumar Singh on Wednesday also imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on the convict Manoj Sharma, Additional District Government counsel Vijay Narayan Singh said on Thursday.

Benchmark equity indices climbed in early trade on Thursday amid a firm trend in global equities and buying in banking stocks. Market participants will closely watch Q2 earnings season, starting with Tata Consultancy Services which is set to report its results later in the day, traders said.

Gonda (UP):  Few coaches of a goods train got detached on the Gonda-Budhwal railway line here after stray cattle hit the engine, officials said on Thursday.

The coaches were joined in around half an hour, they said.

The incident took place on Wednesday between Maijapur and Colonelganj railway stations, they added.

The train engine's hose pipe got unlocked due to the minor collision with the cattle, leaving behind some coaches, Girish Kumar Singh, regional manager of Railways, said.

The guard coach was in the coaches left behind and the driver stopped the train in emergency situation, Singh said.

Sardor Rustambaev on Wednesday in Panjim. The meeting explored potential cooperation in tourism and economic opportunities between Goa and Uzbekistan.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from different parts of Manipur over the last three days, police said on Thursday.In an operation at Champhai hill in Imphal East district on Wednesday, security forces seized an M-16 rifle and a .22 rifle, two SLRs, one country-made Sten gun, two carbines, eight country-made 9 mm pistols, thirty magazines and 12 two-inch mortars, they said.

A 51-year-old woman from Jodhpur died of Congo fever on Wednesday at an Ahmedabad hospital. The medical and health department in Rajasthan has issued necessary guidelines for the prevention and protection of the disease across the state, officials said. The woman's sample was found positive in the investigation conducted at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. She was receiving treatment at at NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad.

Agitating junior doctors, nine representatives of whom are sitting on a fast-unto-death demonstration for over 100 hours, termed the Wednesday night talks with senior officials of the West Bengal government "the most disappointing meeting so far". After coming out of the meeting, which lasted for over two hours, post-midnight, the protesting doctors alleged that they received nothing concrete from the state except "verbal assurances" since the government refused to issue written directives on their demands to ensure a "thorough clean-up" of the state healthcare system and step up their safety and security within medical college campuses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed confidence that his visit to Lao PDR to attend the ASEAN-India and East Asia summits will further deepen engagement with ASEAN countries. In his departure statement, Modi noted that India is marking a decade of Act East policy this year.