Former prime minister of Portugal, António Costa, has been elected as the President of the European Council in a historic moment for both Portugal and the EU. Costa, who is known for his pragmatic leadership style and commitment to social justice, became the first Portuguese leader to hold this position. The decision to appoint him was made during a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, demonstrating a willingness to consider unconventional options and highlighting Portugal's growing influence in the EU.
Ahead of the upcoming legislative council polls in Maharashtra, Sena UBT leader Sushma Andhare has accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction of distributing money to voters in Jalgaon. The CM's party has denied the allegations as baseless. Meanwhile, the Congress has threatened to protest over milk procurement prices and has demanded loan waivers for farmers, hinting at their agenda for the upcoming state legislature session.
After the announcement by the Personnel Ministry, it has been confirmed that Vikram Misri will succeed Vinay Mohan Kwatra as India's new Foreign Secretary, his term starting on July 15th, 2024. Misri, a 1989 batch of Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as Deputy National Security Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat and has a distinguished career serving as an Indian envoy in China, Myanmar, and Spain. He also has the unique experience of serving as Private Secretary to three Indian Prime Ministers. Subscribe now to receive daily updates on this exciting development.
As heavy rainfall submerges the city of Delhi, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav is seen struggling to reach his car in a viral video. Yadav blames the New Delhi Municipal Council for not cleaning the drains in anticipation of monsoon, leading to a flooded Lodhi Estate area. The MP also points out the inconvenience faced by high-profile residents such as NITI Aayog members and ministers due to the unpreparedness of authorities.
The BJP government in Odisha has kept its word by throwing open all four entrance gates of Puri's Jagannath Temple for devotees, as promised in their election manifesto. CM Mohan Charan Majhi and his council of ministers ensured the opening of the gates after performing the 'Mangal Aarti' rituals. This move has been welcomed by the devotees who have been expressing strong resentment over the issue for a long time. The government has also assured to address other issues related to the temple's management.
President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, following the inauguration of the 18th Lok Sabha. After the address, the President left the Parliament with an official carrying the Sengol as a symbol of the transfer of power from the British to Indians. The Sengol was originally handed to India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, during the inauguration of the new Parliament building last year. The prime minister had introduced his Council of Ministers in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the election of the speaker.
In the second day of the new Lok Sabha session, 281 Members, including all 80 MPs from Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, take oath as MPs. Dimple Yadav, fourth-term Lok Sabha Member and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, arrives at the Parliament House in a joyful mood to be sworn-in as an MP. Yesterday, only 262 Members, including PM Modi and his Council of Ministers, were sworn-in as MPs. Ahead of taking oath, Akhilesh Yadav takes a dig at Yogi Adityanath-led state government and brings up the contentious issue of EVM malfunctions.
In a show of protest against the ruling coalition government, members of the opposition held up copies of the Constitution of India during the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers in the 18th Lok Sabha. The NDA holds a majority with 293 seats, while the BJP has 240 seats, just shy of the 272 majority mark. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of attacking the Constitution, while MPs showcased India's linguistic diversity by taking their oaths in various languages. The Parliament session has been adjourned for the day and will reconvene tomorrow.
The 53rd GST Council Meeting, held in New Delhi, has generated significant anticipation for potential revisions to the current tax system. Stakeholders are hoping for a simplification of the current multiple tax rates and the inclusion of petrol and diesel under GST. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking on behalf of the CGST, reassures taxpayers of the government's efforts to make GST compliance easier. Additionally, she announces the appointment of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary as the Chairman of the GoM for Rate Rationalisation.
In honor of the 10th edition of International Day of Yoga (IDY) in 2024, NV Raghuram, esteemed yoga teacher to astronaut Rakesh Sharma and founder of Yoga Bharati, shared the powerful influence of yoga on Sharma's successful mission in space. A conference on 'Yoga for Space', organized by the Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN) and Svyasa University, explored the potential of yoga in diverse environments and its impact on society. Both the Director of CCRYN, Dr Raghavendra Rao, and Pro-Chancellor of S-Vyasa University, Dr BR Ramakrishnan, emphasized the integration of ancient wisdom and contemporary science, as well as the inclusivity and diversity of the IDY journey. IDY 2024 is set to be celebrated in Srinagar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the way, adding to the event's impressive track record of four Guinness Book of World Records within the last decade.