Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, who had tested positive for coronavirus, passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi. The National flag will be flown half mast today in all Government offices in Delhi due to the demise of Angadi.
 
President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief over his demise. In a tweet, President Ram Nath Kovind said, an amiable leader Suresh Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that he is deeply shocked by the sudden demise of Suresh Angadi.
 
Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. Mr Modi said, he was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum.

Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and BJP President JP Nadda have also expressed grief over the passing away of Suresh Angadi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with fitness influencers and citizens during a nation-wide online Fit India Dialogue today. The Dialogue is being organized to celebrate the first anniversary of the Fit India Movement.

The online interaction will see participants sharing anecdotes and tips of their own fitness journey while drawing out guidance from the Prime Minister on his thoughts about fitness and good health.
 
Among those who will participate range from Virat Kohli to Milind Soman to Rujuta Diwekar in addition to other fitness influencers. Envisioned by Prime Minister as a People's Movement, the Fit India Dialogue is yet another endeavour to involve citizens of the country to draw out a plan to make India a Fit nation.
 
All India Radio, Delhi in coordination with News Services Division will broadcast live this programme. It can be heard on FM Gold, Indraprastha and AIR LIVENEWS 24X7 youtube channels from 12 noon.

Parliament has passed the three labour code Bills for the welfare and protection of the workers. Rajya Sabha gave its nod to these bills today while the Lok Sabha had already passed it yesterday.
 
The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, seeks to amend the laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in an establishment. The second bill, The Industrial Relations Code 2020, aims at amending the laws relating to Trade Unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishment or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes. The third bill, The Code on Social Security, 2020 seeks to amend the laws relating to social security of the employees in the country.
 
 Replying to a discussion on the bill, Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar said that these historic bills will have far-reaching effects on the interests of the workers by creating a time bound grievance resolution mechanism. He said, several provisions have been included in the bills to provide a safe environment to the workers and robust social security mechanism. He said, the government is committed for the welfare of the workers and in the last six years several steps have been taken in this direction. He clarified that the government has not taken away the rights of labourers to protest. He said, 14 days of prior notice period for strike has been put there to find an amicable solution of the issues to be raised by the labourers. He added that several provisions have been made for the welfare of the migrant workers.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today said India is home to the largest number of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the world with population in the range of 3000 animals in Assam, West Bengal and UP.

In his message on the occasion of World Rhino Day, Prakash Javadekar said Environment Ministry has launched a National Conservation Strategy for Indian One-Horned Rhino.

He added that the conservation initiatives for rhino has also enriched the grassland management which help in reducing the negative impacts of climate change through carbon sequestration.

The National Rhino Conservation Strategy for India was launched last year to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros.

This is a first of its kind for the species in India which aims to work for the conservation of the species under five objectives.

In tennis, world number one Novak Djokovic won a record 36th Masters title by beating Diego Schwartzman in the Italian Open at Rome last night.

The Serb, playing in his first tournament since being disqualified from this month's US Open, won 7-5, 6-3 in the final to ensure he goes into next week's French Open on a high.

Djokovic, drew level with Rafael Nadal last month on the all-time list of Masters winners with his Western and Southern Open title, but is now clear. The French Open starts on Sunday, with Nadal seeking a record-extending 13th men's singles title in Paris.

Djokovic has also passed childhood idol Pete Sampras for the second-most weeks at No. 1 with 287 - trailing only Roger Federer’s 310 weeks in the top spot.

Earlier, top-seeded Simona Halep of Romania won her first Italian Open title when defending champion Czech Karolína Pliskova retired midway through the final with an injury. Halep was leading 6-0, 2-1 when Czech player Pliskova stopped playing after just 31 minutes.

In his address to the Maldivian Parliament, People’s Majlis, during his State Visit to the Maldives in June 2019, PM Narendra Modi had announced India’s commitment to start a ferry service connecting India and the Maldives.

In less than 15 months' time, First Cargo Ship set sail to the island nation from the Indian Port of Tuticorin.

The maiden voyage was launched in an e-flag off ceremony jointly by MOS (Independent Charge) Ministry of Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives Aishath Nahula. Speaking on the occasion, Mandaviya noted that this service is another milestone in the comprehensive bilateral relations between India and Maldives. He mentioned that this direct cargo service will further cement the close ties between India and Maldives by enhancing people-to-people contact and boosting bilateral trade.

An MoU between the Ministry of Shipping in India and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives to commence the Cargo Ferry service was signed during PM’s visit to the Maldives last year in June, PM had opted the Maldives for his First state visit in his second term as the Prime Minister of India.

India has been ranked at the 116th position in the latest edition of the World Bank’s annual Human Capital Index that benchmarks key components of human capital across countries.

However, India’s score increased to 0.49 from 0.44 in 2018, as per the Human Capital Index report released by the World Bank on Wednesday.

The 2020 Human Capital Index update includes health and education data for 174 countries — covering 98 per cent of the world’s population — up to March 2020, providing a pre-pandemic baseline on the health and education of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries.

The analysis shows that pre-pandemic, most countries had made steady progress in building human capital of children, with the biggest strides made in low-income countries.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label. He said, clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in coastal areas and India’s many beaches are among the best in the world. Speaking on the eve of ‘International Coastal Clean-Up Day’ celebrated across 100 countries since 1986, Mr Javadekar said, for the first time, eight beaches of India have been recommended for the Blue Flag certification. Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’ based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads–environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. 

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. In a video message, Mr Javadekar also announced India’s own eco-label ‘Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services’ (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project. The eight beaches recommended under the BEAMS are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Viraat, the decommissioned aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, will begin its last journey today from Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard to Alang in Gujarat, where it will be dismantled.

The vessel had served the Indian Navy for 30 years before being decommissioned in 2017. There were attempts to convert 'Viraat' into a museum or a restaurant, but none of the plans materialised. The aircraft carrier will be towed by the high capacity tugs owned by Shree Ram Group, the company that has won the bid to dismantle the ship. The journey will be completed in two days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (mega bridge) to the nation through video-conference today. He will also inaugurate 12 rail projects related to passenger facilities to benefit  the people of Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also be present on this occasion.

The 1.9 km long Kosi mega bridge  has been completed at a total cost of 516 crore rupees. With the construction of the bridge the rail distance between Nirmali and Saraigarh would come down from the present 298 kms to 22 kms.

The project was completed during the COVID-pandemic where the migrant labour also participated. The dedication of this project will fulfil the 86 year old dream and the long wait of the people of the region. During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934, the rail link was washed away and thereafter due to the meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this rail link for a long period.

The bridge has connected Mitihila and  Kosi region.This  bridge is  of strategic importance along Indo - Nepal border. It would also make it easy for long distance travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai for the people of the region.