Rajya Sabha has taken up a short short-duration discussion on the recent tragic incident of the death of students in a coaching institute in Delhi due to alleged negligence of authorities. Initiating the discussion, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP termed the incident as criminal negligence demanding a detailed investigation into this matter and fixing the responsibilities. He alleged that despite raising concerns about the building bylaws, no step was taken to clean the drainage system. Questioning the Delhi government, he said, the Delhi Jal Board’s deficit has reached to 74 thousand crore rupees and several allegations of corruption have been levelled against the Board.   He also questioned how much money was spent on the cleaning of drainage systems by the city government agencies. He said, no comment came from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on this tragic incident. Mr Trivedi asked the Delhi government to make a list of Coaching Centers that follow the norms. Derek O’Brien of TMC also expressed concern over the incident. He however questioned why the house was not allowed to discuss the issues related to the Railway accident, Manipur violence, NEET examination, floods in Assam as well as unemployment and farmer’s issues. He also raised the issue of suicide of students across the country. He said that the commodification of Education was not properly addressed in the National Education Policy. Tiruchi Siva of DMK also spoke on the issue. The discussion is underway.   Earlier, allowing short duration discussion, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the issue concerns the country’s promising youth, urban infrastructure as well as other aspects of governance. The Chairman said, the coaching has become virtually commerce and every time he reads a newspaper, the front one or two pages are of coaching centres advertisements.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has said that these are challenging times and whether it is stability, security, progress and prosperity, there is a need for trusted partners and international cooperation. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has said that these are challenging times and whether it is stability, security, progress and prosperity, there is a need for trusted partners and international cooperation. He said, the Quad is a great contemporary example of both. Briefing media in Tokyo after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Dr. Jaishankar expressed satisfaction with how deeply and systemically Quad has now been embedded in the foreign policies. He said, today’s meeting will be hugely helpful in giving direction.    The External Affairs Minister said, the leaders of the member nations have personally led the Quad’s growth. He said, an expansive agenda has been built up in the last few years. Dr. Jaishankar said, it is working from trusted telecom technology and undersea cable connectivity to humanitarian and disaster relief HADR, critical and emerging technologies, cyber and health security, climate action, infrastructure, capacity building and training, STEM education, maritime domain awareness and counter-terrorism. He said, there are 16 working groups and today the grouping agreed on more things to do.    Dr. Jaishankar said that the member nations are looking at, how to advance Quad, how to resource it better and how to coordinate more closely. He said, Quad has made some important steps today in that direction. Dr. Jaishankar said, it is not a talk shop but a platform that generates practical outcomes. He said, the HADR conversations are reflected in understandings and SOPs between the Navies. He added that the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness initiative that came out of Quad today links information fusion centres.    The External Affairs Minister said, the Open-RAN network is being deployed in Palau. A space-based climate warning system will be launched soon in Mauritius. Off-grid solar projects are happening in Indo-Pacific islands. He said, during COVID-19, Quad cooperated to deliver vaccines to countries in this region. Dr. Jaishankar said, the first cohort of Quad STEM fellowships is passing out and the second one will also cover the ASEAN. He said, the overall message is that the four countries, all democratic polities, pluralistic societies and market economies, are working together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, for a rules-based order and global good.    The External Affairs Minister said, that by itself is a powerful stabilizing factor in an uncertain and volatile world. He said, there is a strong interactive dynamic between the Quad and the respective bilateral or even trilateral relationships. Dr. Jaishankar said, progress on one front strengthens the other and thereby, enhances the value of the Quad. He said, the Grouping has also been able to engage together with some other countries in this region in furtherance of a shared agenda. The Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting was held in Tokyo today. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar along with his counterparts from Japan, the United States of America and Australia attended the meeting. In his opening remarks, Dr. Jaishankar said, these are not easy times, a major challenge is to ensure global economic growth while also de-risking it. He said, supply chains are a particular focus for resilience, just as we push for trusted and transparent digital partnerships. The External Affairs Minister said, the march of technology has also acquired extraordinary proportions, holding possibilities of the very manner in which people live, think and act. In a sense, the world is in the midst of re-globalisation. He said, it is only the collective endeavours that can prove the international system against man-made or natural disruptions.    Dr. Jaishankar said, the nations have significant additional responsibilities as well. As political democracies, pluralistic societies and market economies, there is a key question of upholding a rules-based order. He said, it is only the collaboration of Quad that can ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, stable, secure and prosperous. The External Affairs Minister said, the commitment to doing global good that the member nations have undertaken has a resonance far beyond this region. He said, it is, therefore, essential that the political understanding strengthens, economic partnerships grow, technology collaborations expand and the people-to-people comfort intensifies. Dr. Jaishankar said, the meeting should send a clear message that the Quad is here to stay, here to do and here to grow.

On the second day of the Paris Olympics, ace Indian Shooter Manu Bhaker opened medals tally for India with a bronze in the Women’s 10-meter air pistol event yesterday. With this feat, Manu became the first Indian woman ever to win an Olympic medal in Shooting competition. Moreover, Indian shooters Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta qualified for the finals in the women’s 10-meter air rifle and the men’s 10-meter air rifle events, respectively. In Badminton women’s singles, India’s PV Sindhu kicked off her campaign with an easy win against Fathimath Nabaaha Abdul Razzaq of Maldives 21-9, 21-6 in only 29 minutes at the Porte de La Chapelle Arena.   In the women’s Boxing 50-kilogram event, Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen defeated Germany’s Maxi Carina Kloetzer by unanimous decision in the round of 32 boxing match at the Arena Paris Nord. Nikhat Zareen, who was making her Olympic debut, struggled in the opening round but bounced back to win the fight 5-0. In Rowing, India’s Balraj Panwar stormed into the men’s single sculls quarter-final. Competing at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, the Indian rower clocked 7:12.41 to finish second in the repechage 2 race behind Monaco’s Quentin Antognelli at 7:10.00.   In Table-Tennis, India’s top-ranked woman paddler Sreeja Akula qualified for the round of 32 with a commanding 4-0 win over Sweden’s Christina Kallberg.   On the other hand, India’s tennis campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics ended yesterday after both Sumit Nagal and the pair of Rohan Bopanna and N Sriram Balaji lost their respective opening round matches at the Roland Garros Stadium.

North Korea has deployed military helicopters to bring thousands of people stranded in a flood-hit zone to safety. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday that leader Kim Jong Un  “personally guided” a military rescue – comprising 10 helicopters and naval lifeboats – shaking the hands of the pilots “one by one”. However, Kim also reprimanded officials for their failure to prepare and respond to the recent torrential rains despite previous orders to enhance the country’s measures against natural disasters, the state media outlet said. Last week, North Korea conducted a crisis response meeting to discuss strategies to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on agriculture. North Korea  has been enduring record-breaking downpours. On one day in July, Kaesong City experienced an unprecedented 463mm (18.2 inches) of rain. South Korea’s meteorological administration said it was the highest volume of rainfall recorded in the North in 29 years. Natural disasters tend to have a greater impact on the isolated and impoverished North due to its weak infrastructure, while deforestation has left the country vulnerable to flooding. It has been working to try to prevent floods. The release of water from a dam near the border recently raised concern in Seoul. South Korea’s Ministry of Environment said in early July that North Korea had likely discharged water from the Hwanggang Dam near the inter-Korean border without prior notification, something they have not done in recent years. Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years. Pyongyang unilaterally cut off all official military and political communication links with Seoul in 2020 and blew up a disused inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border.

Both the House of Parliament will resume their discussions on the Union Budget 2024-25 today. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the Budget on the 23rd of July. It has drawn a range of reactions from both ruling and opposition members.

Washington: NASA is grappling with an impending congestion at the International Space Station (ISS) due to recent delays and technical issues involving SpaceX and Boeing, as the space agency works to restore smooth traffic flow to and from the orbiting laboratory, New York Times reported. NASA officials indicated on Friday that the next month is likely to see increased traffic at the ISS. This comes after a period of operational challenges that had temporarily stalled the agency's ability to transport astronauts. However, NASA officials have framed the situation positively, describing the expected congestion as a sign of progress. Ken Bowersox, associate administrator of NASA's space operations mission directorate, remarked during a news conference, "We have never had so many vehicles and so many options. It complicates our lives, but in a really good way." This optimism comes despite a series of recent setbacks that have tested NASA's capacity to manage space station operations effectively. The ISS has seen unusual activity recently, including propulsion issues with a new Boeing spacecraft and an emergency sheltering of astronauts due to debris from a defunct Russian satellite. Additionally, technical problems with spacesuits led to the cancellation of several spacewalks, and SpaceX faced a rocket failure that delayed its ability to transport astronauts. One of the most pressing issues involves Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which is currently docked at the ISS with two NASA astronauts on board. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on an extended mission due to technical problems with Starliner's propulsion system, are expected to return to Earth soon. Their mission was originally scheduled to be shorter, but engineers have needed additional time to resolve issues with the spacecraft's propulsion system, which had malfunctioned during its approach for docking in June, according to New York Times. The plan moving forward is to prioritise the return of the Starliner spacecraft to free up one of the two docking ports at the ISS. Dana Weigel, the programme manager for the ISS at NASA, explained, "I've got to take off a vehicle. And so our plan is undock Starliner first to free up a port." The next SpaceX Crew Dragon mission, Crew-9, is set to launch no earlier than August 18. This mission, which will carry four astronauts for a six-month stay at the space station, will be the ninth such mission for SpaceX. Following Crew-9's arrival, another Crew Dragon currently docked at the ISS will return four of the station's current occupants to Earth, completing their six-month mission. Before the Crew-9 launch, NASA and Boeing officials are focused on resolving issues with Starliner. Recent assessments revealed that the spacecraft's propulsion system experienced overheating issues, which affected Teflon seals and constrained propellant flow. Tests showed that the buildup of heat in the thrusters caused these seals to bulge, impacting performance. Additionally, degradation in the helium system's seals, caused by exposure to propellant vapour, was discovered in a test version of the Starliner service module. The challenges with Starliner are part of a broader set of issues for Boeing, which has faced scrutiny over the spacecraft's performance. Despite these setbacks, NASA and Boeing officials have assured that there is no danger to the astronauts on board. The ongoing analysis aims to ensure that future missions will be free of such problems. Steve Stich, programme manager of NASA's commercial crew programme, and Mark Nappi, who leads the Starliner efforts at Boeing, reported progress in understanding the spacecraft's propulsion problems. They are hopeful that the technical fixes will address the issues effectively. In addition to the Starliner challenges, SpaceX encountered its own problems. On July 11, during a routine launch of Starlink satellites, the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket suffered a liquid oxygen leak, resulting in the satellites being deployed into the wrong orbit. This incident marked the first failure of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2016, breaking a streak of over 300 successful flights. SpaceX has since identified the issue as related to a pressure sensor line used for liquid oxygen. The company is working on a short-term fix, which involves removing the problematic line and sensor. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX permission to resume Falcon 9 launches after concluding that the failure did not pose a public safety risk. The next Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for Saturday at 12:21 a.m. Eastern Time from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. NASA is coordinating closely with SpaceX to ensure that the design fixes for the rocket will ensure the safety of astronauts on future Crew Dragon missions. The agency's efforts are focused on addressing any technical issues to avoid further delays in astronaut transport. As for Starliner, the spacecraft faces a critical test this weekend. Its thrusters will undergo a brief firing test to evaluate their performance and check if helium leaks have worsened. A successful test will lead to a final review by NASA before approving Starliner's return to Earth, New York Times reported.

Washington: Former US president Donald Trump was indeed hit by an assassin's bullet or a fragment of one, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Friday, putting to rest questions over the nature of the Republican candidate's wounding at a campaign rally this month. "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject's rifle," the FBI said in a statement. Trump's right ear was covered in blood on July 13 after he was injured during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI deemed the assault -- in which a gunman fired eight bullets from outside the event's security perimeter -- an assassination attempt. But FBI chief Christopher Wray told US lawmakers on Wednesday that there was some doubt as to "whether or not it's a bullet or shrapnel that, you know, that hit his ear." Following the new statement from the FBI -- which Trump has long alleged is part of a "deep state" conspiring against him -- the Republican posted on his Truth Social platform: "I assume that's the best apology that we'll get from Director Wray, but it is fully accepted!" Earlier Friday, he posted a letter from his former White House doctor saying the wound was almost certainly due to a bullet. "There is absolutely no evidence that it was anything other than a bullet," wrote Ronny Jackson, now a Republican congressman from Texas, on Truth Social. Two rally attendees were seriously wounded in the attack, and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was shot dead, according to officials. The gunman was killed by a US Secret Service sniper. Since the shooting, Trump has made the attack a key part of his campaign pitch, telling a crowd in Michigan that he "took a bullet for democracy." At the Republican National Convention where he was anointed the party's nominee for president, Trump said he had "God on my side" as he described the attack. And at Trump rallies, many of the former president's supporters have taken to wearing bandages on their right ears, a reference to the attack. On Thursday, Trump had also denied Wray's comments and accused him of political partisanship. "It was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel," he said. A New York Times investigation published Friday said "a detailed analysis of bullet trajectories, footage, photos and audio... strongly suggests Mr Trump was grazed by the first of eight bullets fired by the gunman." Trump's campaign has not released any medical reports or statements from his current physician, instead quoting Jackson -- a former White House physician who is a staunch political ally of the ex-president.

Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mansukh Mandaviya today said that the new internship scheme introduced in the recently presented Union Budget will facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for over 4 crore youth over 5 years. Talking to the media, the Minister said that experience acquired from internships at top companies will enhance skills and improve the employability of the youth.   Under the Internship Scheme announced at the Union Budget this year, the government will provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in 500 top companies in 5 years. During the 12-month internship period, 5 thousand rupees per month along with a one-time assistance of 6 thousand rupees will be provided to each intern.

Dr. Seema Yoganna stands as a beacon of excellence in the medical and educational communities. As the Director of Suyog Hospital and Vice Chairman of the Suyog Group of Institutions, she has carved out a significant presence in her field. Born to Dr. S. P. Yoganna, a renowned cardiologist and chairman of the 400-bed multi-speciality Suyog Hospital, and Smt. Sudha Yoganna, she was destined for greatness. Her marriage to Dr. R. Rajendra Prasad, an esteemed Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon and CEO of the Suyog Group of Institutions, further solidifies the formidable medical and academic legacy she upholds. Dr. Seema’s contributions to oral pathology and medical education are noteworthy. In 2023, her leadership and dedication were recognized when she was awarded the IIB Karnataka Top Influential Women Leadership Award for Best Educational Institution, along with the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Engineering Memorial Excellence Award. These accolades are a testament to her pioneering efforts in transforming health care education and management. Her innovative approach has been instrumental in shaping the healthcare workforce of tomorrow, ensuring that future medical professionals are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the industry. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Seema also manages the Suyog College of Nursing and Suyog Institute of Allied Health Sciences, overseeing the training of around 350 students. Her role in these institutions highlights her commitment to fostering a new generation of healthcare providers. Recently, her contributions were further acknowledged when she received the Rabindra Ratna Puraskar 2024 Award by the Veyil Foundation. Dr. Seema Yoganna’s journey is a testament to her remarkable leadership, dedication, and the enduring legacy of medical excellence she continues to uphold.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi today. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Viksit Bharat@2047,” with a central focus on making India a developed nation. The meeting will discuss the approach paper for the Vision Document on Viksit Bharat. NITI Aayog said the Governing Council meeting aims to foster participative governance and collaboration between the Centre and State Governments, enhancing the quality of life for both rural and urban populations. The Prime Minister is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog. Other attendees will include Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of States and Union Territories, Union Ministers as Ex-officio Members and Special Invitees, and the Vice Chairman and Members of NITI Aayog.   Speaking to reporters last evening, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, he has come to Delhi to attend the NITI Aayog meeting.   Talking to the media after arriving in Delhi to take part in the meeting, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, he will present the demands and issues of Goa before the NITI Aayog.

After witnessing incessant spells of rainfall, Mumbai has received relief as the rainfall and weather in the city are coming back to normalcy today. The day-to-day life in the city is back on track. Hence, today all the schools and colleges in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation area are running as usual. BMC has urged the parents not to trust any rumours about the closure of educational institutes without the official information and to keep in touch with the administrations of schools and colleges.   Meanwhile, rains continue to lash various parts of the state of Maharashtra. Districts including Pune, Ratnagiri, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, and Latur are witnessing flood-like situations due to heavy spells of rain. Pune and surrounding areas have been largely affected by heavy rainfall, leading to disruptions in traffic on the national highway. In Satara, the Koyna dam area has been experiencing continuous rainfall. The District Collector has ordered the closure of all the tourist places in Mahabaleshwar. The Warna and Koyna rivers in Sangli have entered farmlands, disturbing day-to-day lives. Plain areas in Kolhapur city are witnessing a rise in water level due to the increased water in the Panchganga River. Jagbudi river in Ratnagiri continues to flow above the danger mark. In Nandurbar, incessant rains have affected railway service on the Surat-Bhusawal route.

Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the government is continuously increasing Minimum Support Price (MSP) on food grains for the welfare of farmers. Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha on a question related to providing a legal guarantee of MSP, Mr. Chouhan said, MSP on Bajara was 1,250 rupees in 2013 which was increased to 2,625 rupees. Likewise, MSP increased on corn to 2,225 rupees from 1,310 rupees. He said, MSP on wheat increased to 2,275 rupees from 1,400 rupees and MSP on Tur to 7,550 from 4,500 rupees. The Minister said, the government is committed to the welfare of farmers and it is providing more than 1 lakh 68 thousand crore rupees subsidy on fertilizers. He said the government is also providing more than 7 thousand crore rupees every year to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. The Minister said, the committee on minimum support price (MSP) are deliberating on the various issues with the stakeholders and the government will take steps when the Committee will give its recommendations. He asserted that the government is committed to doubling the income of farmers. He said that when Congress was in power it refused to accept the recommendations of Swaminathan Report.     When the Minister was replying, heated arguments were witnessed between the Opposition and Treasury benches members. Congress MPs tried to raise the issue of a legal guarantee of MSP. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar objected to the conduct of Congress MP Randeep Surjewala and warned him of action. However, opposition MPs continued to create a noisy scene. Mr. Dhankhar said, when the House is taking up the issue of farmers, such disruption is not appropriate. He repeatedly urged the members for order in the house but they continued with their sloganeering. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, the disruption is being done as per the pre-planned strategy. The Agriculture Minister alleged that the opposition is playing politics in the name of farmers.   Not satisfied with the Minister’s reply, opposition members from Congress, TMC, SP, DMK and others staged a walkout from the house. Later talking to the media outside parliament, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala criticized the government.