Britain's Starmer Lauds PM Modi's Leadership On Key Global Challenges

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership on key global challenges as both leaders spoke over the phone following Friday's results of the UK general elections which handed the Labour Party a landslide victory.

New Delhi, July 6: Newly-elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership on key global challenges as both leaders spoke over the phone following Friday's results of the UK general elections which handed the Labour Party a landslide victory.

"The Prime Minister said he looked forward to further deepening the strong and respectful relationship between both countries, and welcomed Prime Minister Modi's leadership on key global challenges, such as climate change and economic growth," the British PM's office said in a statement after the call.

It also mentioned that the two leaders discussed the importance of the living bridge between the UK and India, the 2030 roadmap, and agreed that there was a wide range of areas across defence and security, critical and emerging technology, and climate change for the two countries to deepen cooperation on.

"Discussing the Free Trade Agreement, the Prime Minister said he stood ready to conclude a deal that worked for both sides," Starmer's office stated.

As both leaders agreed to work towards the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), PM Modi also extended an invitation to Keir Starmer for an early visit to India.

PM Modi congratulated Starmer on his and the Labour Party's "remarkable victory" in the general elections.

"Pleased to speak with Keir Starmer. Congratulated him on being elected as the Prime Minister of the UK. We remain committed to deepening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and robust India-UK economic ties for the progress and prosperity of our peoples and global good," PM Modi posted on X after the call.

Both leaders recalled the historic relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UK.

"Appreciating the positive contributions of the Indian community in the social, economic, and political development of the UK. The two sides agreed to continue to promote close people-to-people ties. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch," the Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement.

(IANS)

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PM Performs Darshan At Poharadevi Temple, Inaugurates Banjara Virasat Museum

by Utkalika Mohanty

Washim, Oct 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday performed Darshan at Jagdamba Mata Temple, Poharadevi.

He paid tribute at Samadhis of Sant Sevalal Maharaj and Sant Ramrao Maharaj in Washim.

The PM inaugurated the five floor Banjara Virasat Museum, celebrating the rich heritage of the Banjara community. Poharadevi is one of the important and well-known pilgrimages of Maharashtra.

The Prime Minister arrived at the Nanded airport on Saturday morning, where he was welcomed by BJP leader Ashok Chavan. The PM is on a one-day visit to Maharashtra.

From Nanded, he flew to Poharadevi in a helicopter.

After Washim, he will travel to Thane and Mumbai to inaugurate a host of infrastructure projects.

Thereafter, at a public function he will launch several initiatives related to the agricultural and animal husbandry sector worth around Rs 23,300 crore.

In line with his commitment to empower farmers, the Prime Minister will disburse the 18th instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi worth about Rs 20,000 crore to around 9.4 crore farmers.

With the 18th instalment release, the total funds released to farmers under PM-KISAN will be around Rs 3.45 lakh crore.

The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation more than 7,500 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), worth over Rs 1,920 crore.

The major projects include custom hiring centres, primary processing units, warehouses, sorting and grading units, cold storage projects, post-harvest management projects among others.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation 9,200 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with a combined turnover of around Rs 1,300 crore.

He will also launch the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and indigenous sex-sorted semen technology. This initiative aims to increase availability of sex sorted semen at affordable prices to farmers and reduce the cost by around Rs 200 per dose.

Unified Genomic Chip, GAUCHIP for indigenous cattle and MAHISHCHIP for buffaloes, have been developed along with genotyping services. With the implementation of genomic selection, young high-quality bulls can be identified at an early age.

Further, he will dedicate five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 MW across Maharashtra under Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana – 2.0. During the programme, he will also honour beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

--IANS

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Gold Prices Soar Amid Heightened Tension In Middle East

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

New Delhi, Oct 5: Gold prices continue to rise amid heightened tension in the Middle East, as the precious metal saw a definitive surge this week. The Iran-Israel conflict has kept buyers position intact even after prices were overbought.

Gold prices experienced a minor increase Saturday as the cost of 24 carat gold was Rs 7,785.3 per gram in the morning trade, reflecting an increase of Rs 120. The cost of 22 carat gold was Rs 7,138.3 per gm, an increase of Rs 110 from Friday.

According to Narinder Wadhwa, Managing Director at SKI Capital Services Ltd, in times of geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East, gold often serves as a safe haven, while crude oil prices react sharply to concerns over supply disruptions.

“The uncertainty fuels a flight to safety in gold and drives energy markets to speculate on potential oil shortages, making both commodities a barometer of global risk sentiment,” said Wadhwa.

Trade analysts anticipate that continued easing of interest rates will keep gold buyers interested.

However, gold prices dropped by 0.2 per cent to $2,649.69 per ounce globally, as US job growth increased in September as the unemployment rate slipped to 4.1 per cent. US markets closed higher on Friday after a stronger-than-expected jobs data.

According to analysts if geopolitical conditions turn further unfavourable over the weekend, gold prices could further accelerate.

Amid the volatility in global markets, including in India, market watchers have advised investors to stay calm as the situation is likely to improve soon.

Stock investors are monitoring the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The pessimism on the market is expected to continue in the near term amid rising crude prices and fund flows to cheaper markets like China.

(IANS)

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Bengal’s Jaynagar Turns Into Virtual Battlefield Over Alleged Rape, Murder Of Minor Girl

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Kolkata, Oct 5: Jaynagar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal has turned into a virtual battlefield since Saturday morning due to violent protests by local people over the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl Friday night.

The body of the minor girl was recovered from a canal after Friday midnight and since Saturday morning the local people started protesting in front of the Jaynagar Police station accusing the cops of ignoring the early intimation from the victim’s parents about their daughter being missing since Friday evening.

The victim’s parents alleged that their daughter, a resident of Kipakhali area under Kultali Police station, Friday afternoon, went to a private tutorial home under Jaynagar Police Station to attend classes.

However, as she did not return home till Friday evening, her parents brought the matter to the notice of the police.

The victim’s parents alleged that the cops at the police station did not take their intimation seriously and had they done their job immediately, such a ghastly tragedy could have been averted.

They also alleged that the police started the investigation only after the body of the victim was recovered from the canal after midnight.

The victim’s parents also claimed that the body of their daughter had multiple injury marks.

The police claimed that a local youth had been arrested based on CCTV footage, where he was spotted with the victim.

Since Saturday morning, hundreds of local people started protesting near Jaynagar Police Station accusing police of negligence and ignoring the early intimation by the victim’s parents about their missing daughter.

As time passed the protests became violent and the people attacked the police station.

A local police camp was ransacked and set on fire. The police had to resort to massive lathicharge to dispel the mob.

Additional police forces rushed to the area to bring the situation under control. At the time the report was filed, reports of frequent clashes between the cops and protesters were surfacing and the entire area around Jaynagar Police Station was under the grip of acute tension.

A senior district police official confirmed that one arrest had been made in connection with the alleged rape and murder and investigation was on to find out whether others were involved in the crime.