The government has introduced a scheme for providing financial assistance for transport and marketing of agriculture products with a view to boosting export of farm commodities to certain countries in Europe and North America. 

Under the Transport and Marketing Assistance scheme, the government would reimburse a certain portion of freight charges and provide assistance for marketing of agricultural produce.

The commerce ministry said in a statement that the scheme would be applicable for a period as specified from time to time. Presently, it would be available for exports effected from March 1 this year to March 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday to launch various development projects.

In Kalaburagi, PM Modi will launch development projects in various sectors including energy, health and education. In a major boost to the healthcare sector in Karnataka, PM Modi will dedicate the ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Bengaluru to the nation. He will also launch the Super Specialty Block of KIMS, Hubballi to ensure quality and affordable healthcare for the people in Karnataka.

Modi will lay the foundation stone of the resitement of BPCL Depot Raichur to Kalaburagi the ‘Women’s Hostel for students from North Eastern Region at Bangalore University. He is also scheduled to inaugurate the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Terminal in Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat at Kalaburagi.

At Kancheepuram, PM Modi will unveil multiple projects in roadways, railways and energy sectors to further strengthen the roadway and railway infrastructure in the state. The project will also pave way for better, faster and cheaper transportation for people in Tamil Nadu.

India has given proof to the United States about the use of F-16 fighters and AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile by Pakistan during its unsuccessful aerial raid targeting Indian military installations on 27th of last month. 

Official sources said, India is confident that Washington is carrying out a thorough investigation into use of the US-manufactured fighter as well as the missile onboard it in the offensive operation against India. 

As part of the purchasing agreement, the US had put restrictions and reportedly barred Pakistan from using the F-16s against any third country. 

State-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman G. Satheesh Reddy is the joint winner of the 2019 Missile Systems Award given by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the US, said the Virginia-based aerospace technical society on Sunday.

"Reddy was selected for his over three decades of national contributions to indigenous design, development and deployment of diversified strategic and tactical missile systems, guided weapons, advanced avionics and navigation technologies in India," said the society in a statement.

Reddy, 55, is also the Defence Secretary and Director-General of DRDO's aerospace arm Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) here. Reddy contributed to the Agni-5, the 5,000km range surface-to-surface, long-range strategic missile.

The other winner of the missile award, Rondell J Wilson is the retired principal engineering fellow of Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona.

"Wilson was selected for his technical leadership and innovation that has advanced the performance and capability of the world's premier missile defense systems," said the statement.

American television icon and heartthrob Luke Perry of Beverly Hills, 90210 fame has passed away at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke. The actor breathed his last on Monday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California.

As per his rep, his children Sophie and Jack, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, fiance Wendy Madison Bauer, sister Amy Coder, brother Tom Perry, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett among close family and friends were present with him at the time of his death.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says 35 thousand crore rupees have been released to be disbursed under the One-Rank One-Pension(OROP) for the defence personnel. 

Speaking at a programme in Dehradun yesterday, the Minister announced that three hospitals of 200 beds will be built for defence personnel. Mrs Sitharaman also honoured the wives of martyrs.

Railway Minister Piyush Goel has appreciated the Integrated Coach Factory, ICF in Chennai for developing modern coaches.

He laid the foundation stone for the new rail line between Dharmapuri and Morappur in northwestern Tamil Nadu at a function in Dharmapuri yesterday. 

Mr Goel also flagged off the extended Antyodaya Express rail services from Chennai Tambaram to Nagercoil, which has been plying up to Tirunelveli so far. He also inaugurated the Chennai-Kollam Express today.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will  today inaugurate the project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) on India-Bangladesh border in Dhubri District of Assam. 

Border Security Force, BSF is responsible for safeguarding of over four thousand kilometer long International Border with Bangladesh. At various places, it is not possible to erect Border Fence due to the geographical barriers.

The 61 kilometer of Border area in Dhubri District, where River Brahmaputra enters into Bangladesh is consisting of vast char lands and innumerable river channels thus making border guarding in this area, a daunting task especially during rainy season. To overcome this problem, in the year 2017, Ministry of Home Affairs decided to go for technological solution besides the physical presence of manpower of BSF. 

In January 2018, Information and Technology Wing of BSF undertook the project BOLD-QIT under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system  and completed it in record time with the technical support of various manufacturers and suppliers. 

The implementation of this project will not only help BSF to curb all types of cross border crimes but also provide respite to the troops from round the clock human surveillance. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially suspended the country's participation in a key Cold War-era nuclear arms-control treaty with the United States. 

In a statement, Kremlin said that Mr. Putin signed a decree regarding the suspension of Russia's participation in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces, INF treaty between the USSR and the US in 1987. It said that the move was taken following a violation of the United States of its obligations under the treaty.

Moscow and Washington have accused one another of breaching the INF treaty. Meanwhile, NATO has said that US allies fully support its withdrawal from the pact, insisting that Russia's ground-launched cruise missile systems violate the treaty. 

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a two nation visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica yesterday. The 8-day tour aims at strengthening bilateral ties with the two Latin American countries. 

Mr Naidu will hold discussions with Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez. The visiting leader will interact with the business community and see a presentation on business and investment opportunities in Paraguay. 

He will then leave for Costa Rica. The Vice President will call on President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado Quesada and also participate in high level delegation talks with him.