International partnerships to accelerate development of 'Third Mumbai': CM Fadnavis

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Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is set to undergo a major transformation into a world-class urban hub, with international strategic partnerships giving a major push to the development of ‘Third Mumbai’ (Mumbai 3.0).Highlighting a report by NITI Aayog that projects the MMR to become a $1.5 trillion economy, he affirmed the state’s commitment to planned, sustainable, and global-standard urban development through inter…

BJP youth wing intensifies statewide stir over Kerala PSC recruitment row

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Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) youth wing, the Yuva Morcha, on Friday intensified its statewide agitation over alleged irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), stepping up pressure on the V.D. Satheesan-led government over pending recruitments and its handling of allegations surrounding the state’s premier recruitment agency. Inaugurating a Yuva Morcha march to the Secretariat, former State BJP President K. Surendran accused the state gov…

NITI Aayog’s new index to help foreign firms pick right state to invest in India

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) NITI Aayog’s new Investment Friendliness Index provides a comparison of India’s states and Union Territories in the quality of infrastructure, business climate, regulation, institutions and skills, which is expected to help foreign companies to choose a specific location where they can invest based on the available facilities, a report said.An article in India Narrative, written from the perspective of Turkish companies, observes that investors do not have to enter an…

V-P Radhakrishnan to begin 2-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands tomorrow

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will undertake a two-day visit to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands starting Saturday and take part in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyaan’ and other events, an official said. On the first day of his visit, the Vice President will visit the Cellular Jail National Memorial at Sri Vijay Puram, where he will pay tributes at the Martyrs’ Column, offer respects at the Swatantrata Jyoti, and visit Veer Savarkar’s Cell, said the official in a statement…

India's forex reserves surge by $10.512 billion to $692.866 billion: RBI

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Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s foreign exchange reserves surged by $10.512 billion to $692.866 billion for the week ended July 31, extending their upward trend, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday.The latest surge follows a forex gain of $6.118 billion for the week ended July 24.The value of gold reserves increased by $1.685 billion to $104.743 billion during the week ended July 31, the RBI said. For the same period, foreign currency assets, a major component of…

Private event, India does not endorse remarks made at forum: MEA on Sheikh Hasina media interaction

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Reiterating its earlier stance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the Indian government had no involvement in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent virtual media interaction and that it does not endorse any remarks made at the event, particularly those concerning the duly constituted government in Dhaka. Addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the programme held in New Delhi …

With Punjab elections around corner, Akali Dal chief Badal calls on PM Modi

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Chandigarh, Aug 7 (IANS) With Punjab elections around the corner, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi over law and order situation in the state. Speculations are rife over a pre-poll alliance between both parties, once a two-decade-old coalition partner.An Akali leader said discussion between PM Modi and Badal was centered around Punjab with Badal raising law and order situation.”Even PM heard all our concerns,” re…

Head wins Allan Border Medal for second consecutive year, Starc named Test Player of the Year

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Brisbane, Aug 7 (IANS) Australia’s dynamic left-handed opener Travis Head has won the prestigious Allan Border Medal for a second consecutive year following an outstanding 2025/26 international season.At a Cricket Australia awards function held on Friday, Head took the top honour after scoring 1,437 runs across 30 matches in all three formats. His dominant season featured a match-winning 123 off 83 balls in the Ashes series opener in Perth and a high score of 170 in the Adelaide Test.Head edged …

AI, quantum tech to drive next phase of India's fintech growth: Minister

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India has substantially advanced financial inclusion through initiatives such as the Jan Dhan Yojana and must now move decisively towards financial empowerment, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Friday, asserting that artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, cybersecurity and blockchain will drive the next phase of the country’s financial technology growth.Addressing the 3rd India International FinTe…

Gujarat handloom artisan recalls PM Modi's 'request' for organic cotton products

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New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) As India observes ‘National Handloom Day’ on Friday, Gujarat’s Chaman Siju recalled having an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a textile exhibition in the state, where the latter asked him to create “organic cotton products that could be gifted to world leaders”.A day after PM Modi’s ‘Get Ready With Me’ Instagram reel, Modi Story, a popular social media handle on X, posted that Thursday’s reel “wasn’t the first time he found a unique way to celebrate I…