President Droupadi Murmu who is on a two-day visit to Fiji, was conferred the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest honour of Fiji by the President of Fiji. President Murmu addressed the Fijian Parliament where she recalled the 75 years diplomatic association between the countries.   President Droupadi Murmu was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the Fiji Military Force upon her arrival in Suva. A traditional welcome ceremony was also organised in her honour in the presence of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. President Murmu held a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Williame Katonivere, in State House where she was honoured with the Companion of the Order of Fiji. President Murmu later addressed the Fijian Parliament where she thanked the Fijian Government for their support for Aditya L1 Mission and recalled India’s support to Fiji during Covid-19 crisis through the Vaccine Maitri initiative. She also emphasised the importance of Global South voicing the concerns of developing nations for Climate justice.

Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra today said that under the Ease of Doing Business initiatives the Centre is providing several help to Companies for incorporation and exit. Replying to a question in Lok Sabha the Union Minister said during the time of incorporation of companies the process takes place now one to two days instead of earlier 15 to 16 days.   Mr. Malhotra said the necessary permission regarding PAN and TAN allocation, EPFO, ESIC and account opening is completed nowadays in one or two days under the Ease of Doing Business under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. He said for the exit or strike-off option for the companies the process is disposed within 80 days in comparison to earlier 2 to 3 years. The Minister said those who opt for exit are also exempted from filing of financial information and Annual Return for the current year.

The Centre today said that Non Performing Assets (NPA) on disbursement of loan under PM MUDRA scheme is very less in the country. Replying to supplementaries during the Question Hours in Lok Sabha Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that so far overall NPA on disbursement is 2.10 percent of total loan given to the beneficiaries under MUDRA scheme.   The Minister informed that as per MUDRA portal the NPA was 43 thousand 40 crore rupees against the 76.29 lakh accounts opened under the scheme in the country as on March this year.   She said besides the PSUs and Private banks, Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies and Small Finance Banks disburse MUDRA loans in the country and their NPAs on disbursement of loans have come down.

The search for people missing in the recent cloudburst incidents in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh continues for the fifth day today. Search operations in these disaster affected areas had resumed this morning. During the search operation today, two more bodies were recovered from Dogri near Sunni in Shimla district. According to Superintendent of Police Shimla Sanjeev Gandhi, both the bodies have not been identified. Our correspondent reports, about 40 people are still missing in cloudburst incidents at different places in the state. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said that the search operation is going on at a fast pace and the rescue teams at the spot had inspected 40 percent of the debris till yesterday. He said that the help of 8 LNT machines is being taken in the search operation.   In Kullu district, the Kullu-Manali National Highway, which was closed near Raison and Cloth due to rising water level of Beas River, was opened for vehicular movement last evening. District Deputy Commissioner Torul S. Ravish said that 15 local people have been evacuated safely from Malana. She said that the maximum damage due to this disaster has occurred in Samej and Bagi Pul villages. The Deputy Commissioner said that now 11 people are missing in the district and the rescue operation is going on.   At the same time, due to floods in Changut and Udgaus drains of Tingrath and Karpat in Mayad valley of Lahaul Spiti district, the bridge has been washed away. Due to which the village in the valley has lost contact with other places. Crops have also been damaged due to this disaster. There is also information about two vehicles being swept away at the spot due to flooding in the Chicham drain of the district late in the evening. According to preliminary reports, there is no news of loss of life or property. SDM Kaza Amarinder Singh said that revenue and police teams have reached the spot and the work of restoration of the road is in progress to rescue the stranded vehicles. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert of heavy rain in the state for the next four days.

President Droupadi Murmu has left on a three-nation visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor-Leste. President Murmu will visit Fiji on the first leg of the visit from today till 7th August. External Affairs Ministry said the visit will give further impetus to the historic ties between the two countries. During this vsiit, President Murmu will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji President Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. President Murmu is scheduled to address the Fijian Parliament and interact with the Indian diaspora there. India has been a strong development partner of Fiji.   President Murmu will visit New Zealand on 8th and 9th August on the second leg of her tour. She will hold a bilateral meeting with Governor General Cindy Kiro and meet Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. President Murmu will also address an International Education Conference in Wellington and address teh Indian diaspora in Auckland.   On the last leg of the tour, President Murmu will visit Timor-Leste on 10th August and hold a bilateral meeting with President José Ramos-Horta. Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala “Xanana” Gusmão will call on President Murmu.

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East after Iran and the groups it supports vowed revenge for the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Israel killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday, a move it said was a response to deadly rocket fire last week on the annexed Golan Heights. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in the Iranian capital, while Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur died in a strike in Lebanon in quick succession last month. The killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders are the latest of several major incidents that have inflamed regional tensions during the Gaza war which has drawn in Iran-backed groups in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. This escalation has prompted India and several other countries to tread with caution in the region. Indian nationals in Israel have been asked to stay vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols following the escalating tension in the region. The advisory for the Indian citizens in Israel comes a day after the Indian Embassy in Beirut strongly advised Indian nationals against travelling to Lebanon till further notice. It also advised them to leave Lebanon. Air India yesterday also suspended its flights to and from Israel's Tel Aviv with immediate effect till August 8. US President Joe Biden said late Thursday he was "very concerned" about rising tensions in the region, adding that the killing of Haniyeh had "not helped" the situation. Sources close to Hezbollah said that Iranian officials met in Tehran on Wednesday with representatives of the so-called "axis of resistance", a loose alliance of Tehran-backed groups hostile to Israel, to discuss their next steps. "Two scenarios were discussed: a simultaneous response from Iran and its allies or a staggered response from each party," said the source who had been briefed on the meeting, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Israel, which said Shukr's assassination was a response to deadly rocket fire last week on the annexed Golan Heights, warned its adversaries they would "pay a very high price" for any "aggression". "Israel is at a very high level of preparation for any scenario, both defensive and offensive," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said tourism has the potential to drive the Indian economy to become the third largest in the world. Addressing the gathering at the inaugural ceremony of the 7th Edition of the International Hospitality Expo 2024 in Greater Noida, Mr. Shekhawat emphasized that tourism in India holds numerous opportunities. He highlighted that Agriculture and Tourism are the two key sectors in the country that can serve anything and everything that people desire. Mr Shekhawat further said that the tourism sector could significantly contribute to making India a developed nation by 2047.   Asserting that tourism is poised to become the largest economic generator in the country, Mr Shekhawat noted that the government is working on developing new destinations across the country. He further urged everyone to collaborate in making tourism one of the leading drivers of economic growth.   The seventh edition of the International Hospitality Expo has partnered with Vietnam for masterclasses, featuring Vietnamese chefs Pham Van Dong and Nguyen Van Thong, alongside Indian chefs Nand Lal and Gautam Chaudhry this year.

In Bangladesh, quota protesters have announced a countrywide non-cooperation movement from tomorrow in protest against the recent killings and to press their nine-point demand. They will also stage demonstrations across the country today. Two coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement announced their fresh program on their various social media platforms yesterday.   The coordinators of the Students Movement against Discrimination also called upon the countrymen to make the all-out non-cooperation movement a success being organised at roads and lanes, and wards.   After nearly two weeks, violence again erupted yesterday at various places across the country in which two people lost their lives and many got injured. Clashes took place between protesters and personnel of law enforcement agencies and party workers of the ruling Awami League in Dhaka, Sylhet, Khulna, Chittagong and Noakhali.   Meanwhile, Journalists have been given a 48-hour ultimatum demanding justice for the murders of journalists who were killed while covering the quota reform movement last month. During a human chain held yesterday afternoon in the capital, speakers made this demand under the banner of ‘Demand for Media Workers’ Safety.’   Last evening, ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said at a press conference in Dhaka that the law enforcement agencies have been instructed not to harass or detain the students.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India is a food surplus country and engaged in providing solutions for global food security and global nutrition security. He said, the government is strengthening the agriculture sector with reforms and measures aimed at improving the lives of farmers. Addressing the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists in New Delhi today, Mr Modi said, agriculture is the center of government’s economic policy. He said, India is the largest producer of Millets, milk, pulses and spices.   The Prime Minister said, India is promoting chemical-free natural farming. He said, in the Union Budget 2024-25, there is a big focus on sustainable agriculture. Mr Modi said, the government has provided one thousand 900 new climate-resilient varieties of crops in the last ten years. He said, India is using digital technology in the agriculture sector and under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, funds are transferred in the bank accounts of ten crore farmers by one click.   Prime Minister Modi pointed to a robust system of agriculture research and education in India. Mr Modi informed that there are more than 500 colleges for agriculture education and more than 700 Krishi Vigyan Kendras are providing information about new technology to the farmers. He informed that in the last ten years, ninety lakh hectares of land were brought under micro irrigation. The Prime Minister also touched upon a huge campaign for the digitisation of land where farmers will be given a digital identification number for their land, and promotion of drones in farming where drone didis are trained to operate drones. Mr Modi further added that these steps will not only benefit the farmers of India but also strengthen global food security.   AIR correspondent reports that around one thousand delegates from around 75 countries are taking part in the International Conference of Agricultural Economists. The theme for this year’s conference is – Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. The conference aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) in New Delhi tomorrow. He will also address the gathering on the occasion.   The triennial conference began today and will conclude on 7th of this month. The ICAE, organised by the International Association of Agricultural Economists, is being held in India after 65 years.   The theme for this year’s conference is, Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems. It aims to tackle the pressing need for sustainable agriculture in the face of global challenges such as climate change, natural resource degradation, rising production costs and conflicts. The conference will highlight India’s proactive approach to global agricultural challenges and showcase the nation’s advancements in agricultural research and policy.   The ICAE 2024 will serve as a platform for young researchers and leading professionals to present their work and network with global peers. It aims to strengthen partnerships between research institutes and universities, influence policymaking on both national and global scales, and showcase India’s agricultural progress, including advancements in digital agriculture and sustainable agri-food systems. The conference will witness participation of around one thousand delegates from around 75 countries.

A massive search operation is underway in Wayanad, where a major landslide last Tuesday caused heavy damage to life and property. Army personnel, police and rescue workers have fanned out in the affected areas, in search of bodies amongst the rubble and debris spread over  large tracts of altered landscape. Bodies are being traced and  extricated out of the rubble,  amidst  several layers of displaced soil and rock, boulders,  and uprooted trees. The search teams are  assisted by sniffer dogs of the army and the  police.   Meanwhile the death toll in the tragedy has crossed the 300 mark. Latest reports said 308 persons have lost their lives in the tragedy. Over 7000 persons have been accommodated in 91 relief camps in the district.   In Kerala, the Army said it has found four persons alive at Padavettikunnu area in the landslide hit  Wayanad district. The survivors include a woman and a girl. The girl has an injury on her leg. The Army said their evacuation by air is being coordinated.

The Telangana state Cabinet has approved the ‘job calendar’ for issuing job recruitment notifications this year to fill vacancies in government departments. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will release the job calendar in the Legislative Assembly later today. Issuing a job calendar every year on the lines of the UPSC was one of the major poll promises made by the Congress during the Assembly elections last year. This will help students know in advance when job notifications will be issued and keep track of the exam dates, completion of the recruitment process and the number of vacancies.