Brief Summary
This news bulletin covers key events, starting with the signing of a free trade agreement between India and the UK, which aims to boost economic cooperation and create jobs. Other highlights include the unveiling of India's national cooperative policy, weather alerts for heavy rainfall in several states, border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, and updates from the world of sports, including badminton and cricket.
- India and the UK signed a free trade agreement to reduce tariffs and boost job creation.
- India's national cooperative policy 2025 was unveiled to strengthen cooperatives.
- Red alerts were issued for heavy rainfall in multiple states.
- Deadly border clashes occurred between Thailand and Cambodia.
- Indian athletes made headlines in badminton and cricket.
News Headlines
The broadcast begins with headlines including rain alerts for Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Maharashtra. Deadly clashes have erupted in a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in at least 12 deaths. In badminton, India's Unati Hooda has upset P.V. Sindhu at the China Open in Shanghai. In cricket, India scored 358 in the first innings against England in the fourth test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester.
India-UK Free Trade Agreement
India and the United Kingdom have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) at Chequers, which is expected to foster shared prosperity across various sectors, including trade and defence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the agreement marks a historic day in the bilateral relations between the two countries and will benefit the youth, farmers, and MSME sectors in India. UK Prime Minister stated that the FTA is the biggest and most economically significant trade deal that the UK has made since leaving the EU, bringing huge benefits to both countries, including nearly £6 billion in investment and export wins, creating over 2,200 jobs for British workers.
Bilateral Meetings and Agreements
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the media on the bilateral meetings between the two prime ministers, highlighting that the landmark agreement will significantly increase trade, investment, and economic cooperation by lowering tariffs in key sectors. The agreement will also strengthen innovation and technology collaboration. Both sides have agreed to negotiate a double contribution convention to facilitate professionals and service providers, reducing the cost of doing business in both countries. Business leaders from both countries expressed satisfaction with the conclusion of the FTA. In addition to the FTA, both leaders adopted the India-UK Vision 2035 document to guide the relationship for the next 10 years and welcomed the adoption of the Defence Industrial Roadmap, which will open up opportunities for joint collaboration in the defence industries. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Central Bureau of Investigation of India and the UK National Crime Agency, and both leaders expressed happiness at the increasing collaboration in new and emerging technologies, particularly telecom, AI, and critical minerals. Discussions on counterterrorism were also held, with India sharing its concerns with the UK.
Prime Minister's Visit to Maldives
The Prime Minister is set to travel to Malta. During the India visit of Maldives President Dr. Muhammad Muizzu, both countries decided to initiate discussions on a free trade agreement. The High Commissioner of India to Maldives, G. Balasubramanian, announced that both countries have signed terms of reference for the free trade agreement, marking a significant step from the vision document that identified FTA as one of the deliverables between the two countries.
National Cooperative Policy 2025
Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah unveiled the National Cooperative Policy 2025 in New Delhi. Mr. Shah stated that the policy will play a significant role in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 and aims to realise the vision of prosperity through cooperation by creating a road map at the grassroots level. The objective of the policy is to make cooperative institutions inclusive, manage them professionally, prepare them for the future, and create large-scale employment and livelihood opportunities, especially in rural India. This policy entails the establishment of two lakh new multi-purpose PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), dairy, and fishery cooperative societies covering all the panchayats in the country in five years. A 48-member national-level committee, headed by former minister Suresh Prabhu, prepared the new national cooperative policy.
Parliament Proceedings
Both houses of parliament were adjourned for the day following opposition's uproar over various issues. Earlier in the Lok Sabha, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey tabled the reports of the standing committee on communications and information technology. Janardan Mishra BJP also tabled the reports of the standing committee on rural development. Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved the readjustment of representation of scheduled tribes in assembly constituencies of the state of Goa bill 2024 for consideration and passing in Rajya Sabha. The upper house bid farewell to the six retiring members representing Tamil Nadu who have completed their tenure. Deputy Chairman Harivansh administered the oath to newly nominated member Ujjwal Nikam.
Maoist Surrenders in Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, 66 Maoists have surrendered before the police in different districts of Bastar division. A reward of more than ₹2 crore was declared on these Maoists. 25 Maoists surrendered in Bijapur, 15 in Dantewada, 13 in Kanker, eight in Narayanpur, and five in Sukma district. All the surrendered Maoists have been provided an incentive amount of ₹50,000 each under the rehabilitation policy of the state government, along with other facilities. Inspector General of Police of Bastar Range, Sundarraj P., stated that more than 1,500 Maoists have surrendered in the Bastar division during the last 18 months.
Weather Alerts
The IMD (India Meteorological Department) has issued a red alert over Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Maharashtra for tomorrow due to extremely heavy rainfall. Heavy to very heavy rainfall will continue over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, and Jharkhand until the 28th of this month. These conditions will also prevail over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Konkan, and Goa until the end of this month. The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall in Mumbai for today and tomorrow, as well as for neighbouring districts including Thane and Raigad for today. A yellow alert has been sounded for Palghar district for today and tomorrow. A red alert for very heavy rainfall has been issued for Raigad and Ratnagiri districts for tomorrow. Central Maharashtra, including parts of Marathwada, is likely to experience moderate rainfall, while Vidarbha is under a yellow alert indicating isolated heavy showers. Mumbai has been experiencing intermittent rain since early morning, and civic authorities have been asked to remain on high alert.
Accidents and International Clashes
In Himachal Pradesh, eight people were killed and 21 injured after a state transport bus fell into a gorge near Tarangala in Mandi district. A total of 29 passengers were on board the bus, which was en route from Sar Kaga to Dulgapur. The government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. At least 12 people have been killed and several others injured after clashes erupted between Thailand and Cambodia in a dramatic escalation of the long-running border row between the two neighbours. Both countries have blamed each other for starting the fight. Cambodia reportedly fired rockets into Thailand, prompting Thai F-16 air strikes. Most casualties, including an 8-year-old boy, occurred during a rocket attack in Thailand's Sisaket province. Both sides exchanged gunfire, each claiming the other had fired the first shot.
Sports News
In badminton, India's Unnati Hooda pulled off the biggest win of her career, upsetting two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu in the China Open Super 1000 round 16 in Changzhou. In men's doubles, the Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the quarterfinals with a straight-game win over Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin. However, in men's singles, H.S. Prannoy made an exit in the second round. In cricket, host England were 115 for no loss in their first innings against India on day two in the fourth test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester. Earlier, India were all out for 358 runs in their first innings. Sai Sudharsan, with 61 runs, was the top scorer, followed by Yashasvi Jaiswal with 58 and Rishabh Pant with 54 runs. For the hosts, Ben Stokes claimed the highest five wickets.
Cultural Event with the President
A group of artists called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The group of 29 artists from Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal were staying at Rashtrapati Bhavan since the 14th of this month and took part in the second edition of Kala Utsav 2024. President Murmu witnessed the art exhibition and appreciated their contributions to India's important traditional art forms.
News Headlines Recap
The bulletin concludes with a recap of the main headlines, including the India-UK free trade agreement, the unveiling of the national cooperative policy, weather alerts for heavy rainfall, border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, and updates from badminton and cricket.
