Foreign Affairs Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid arrived in New Delhi this evening an a three day official visit to India. Mr. Shahid will meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar tomorrow. Both leaders will hold discussions on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. Both Ministers will also witness the exchange of project development agreements under Indian grant assistance. Mr Shahid will deliver the 43rd Sapru House Lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi tomorrow.

The External Affairs Ministry said, Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region and occupies a special place in the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Neighbourhood First Policy. It said, Maldives Foreign Minister’s visit is in continuation of the series of high level visits from both sides and is expected to lend further momentum to the substantive bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The Chief of Defense Staff, CDS, General Anil Chauhan inaugurated LRMR Hangar & Dispersal at Naval Air Station, INS Utkrosh today in Port Blair. The twin hangar spread over 6000 sq. mt. can accommodate a combination of P8I aircraft with Dronier & Advanced Light Helicopters. Addressing the occasion, CDS said the newly added hangar facility will provide support for vital air operations in strategically important A&N Islands. It will help in strengthening the security of the Indian Oceans Region. ANC is one of the finest example of integration & jointness. He praises the efforts of tri-service personnel to work in synergy for keeping the islands safe and secure. Currently, CDS is on a two-day tour to Andaman Nicobar Islands.

India and Malaysia today reviewed the diverse pillars of the extensive bilateral defence engagement. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh met Malaysian counterpart  Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur and discussed the roadmap for the 4th Decade of India-Malaysia Defence Cooperation. Mr. Singh reached Kuala Lumpur yesterday on a three-day visit to Malaysia with a focus on further consolidating bilateral defence cooperation and Enhanced Strategic Partnership.  

India and Malaysia have a common interest in peace and prosperity of the entire region. The two countries have a robust and multifaceted relationship which has expanded into several strategic areas, including defence and security.

The third Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting began in Kevadia yesterday with the seminar on Trade and Infrastructure. The meeting will officially be inaugurated today.

The focus of the meeting is to build consensus among G20 countries on adopting proposals put forward by the Indian Presidency on global trade and investment-related issues.

More than 75 international delegates from various G20 countries are taking part in the three-day meeting at Kevadiya.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday filed his nomination for the nearing Rajya Sabha elections as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar.

Foreign Minister Jaishankar was accompanied by the Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president CR Paatil. The sitting Rajya Sabha MP arrived at the Gujarat Assembly complex and filed his nominations before Rita Mehta, the Returning Officer for Election to the Council of States.

Lakshya Sen saved four game points in the second after taking the first to claim the Canada Open Super 500 at Calgary on Sunday. The six straight points he scored to win the championship showed the mental stranglehold he held over Chinese Li Shifeng throughout the game to win 21-18, 22-20 in 50 minutes.

Adding extra acceleration onto his flat drives, pouncing on every short lift and playing some ridiculously tight shots at the net, Sen went on to win his second Super 500 title of his career after the India Open, beating the reigning All England champion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone of several infrastructure projects worth over six thousand and hundred crore rupees at Hanamkonda in Telangana. Addressing a public meeting at the Arts College Grounds, he said the government attaches importance to infrastructure development and enhanced connectivity as it immensely contributes to achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat. Stating that infrastructure development gained pace during the past nine years, Mr. Modi said many such projects are passing through Telangana. He reiterated that the central government is committed to the development of all states.

India's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, is all set to lift off from Sri Harikota on Friday. From conducting all the last-day checks to banning all the construction and major activities in the city, preparations are in full swing for D-day.

The rocket is scheduled to be launched on July 15 at 2:35 pm. If all the factors favour India's lunar mission, the Chandrayaan-3 will land on the moon on August 23. However, the landing date may change based on the sunrise on the moon. Due to any reason, if the Chandrayaan-3 landing gets delayed, then it will be scheduled for the next month in September, said S. Somanath, ISRO chief.

The 37th Hyderabad Sailing Week -2023 and Laser National Championship concluded on a grand note at Secunderabad Sailing Club last evening. Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has presented prizes to the winners under various categories of the championship. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor complimented Lt Gen J S Sidana and his team for the immaculate conduct of such a mega event. 

The Governor also complimented the organising associations, the EME Sailing Association, the Laser Class Association of India (LCAI) and Secunderabad Sailing Club for the smooth conduct of the event as also for their yeoman services in promoting the sport of sailing in the country and Hyderabad in particular. She called upon the budding sailors to bring laurels to the nation in the coming years. 

National fish farmers day is being celebrated today. Union Minister for fisheries Parshottam Rupala inaugurated the celebrations, at Mahabalipuram near Chennai, by opening an exhibition on fisheries start ups and fish cooperatives. Union Minister of State for fisheries L.Murugan and Union Minister of State Dr. Sanjeev K Balyan were present at the inauguration. State Minister of fisheries Anitha Radhakrishnan was also present at the inauguration. They interacted with the exhibitors at the venue. The Minister will virtually inaugurate fisheries projects and also virtually interact with the fisher folks at the inaugural sites today. The two-day celebrations will also have an assessment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research initiatives and discussion with fisheries departments of various states.