Assam floods News Updates: Nearly 57,000 people across 7 districts affected by floods – The Economic Times

UP: Lucknow illuminated ahead of PM Modi’s visit

Lucknow has been decorated with colorful lights as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the capital city of Uttar Pradesh on Monday. PM Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar after which he will leave for Nepal today where he will pay obeisance at Lord Buddha’s birthplace on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. After concluding his Neplal visit, the Prime Minister will visit Lucknow and will hold an interaction with the Cabinet Ministers of Uttar Pradesh at chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s official residence. On arrival in Nepal, PM Modi will visit Mayadevi Temple and attend a special prayer. He will be accompanied by PM Deuba. PM Modi will also be lighting a butter lamp in front of the Ashokan Pillar, and water the Bodhi tree, gifted by PM Modi during his 2014 visit.

Gold prices up from 3-month lows as dollar surge slows

Gold prices on Monday rose above the more-than-three-month low level hit in the previous session, as a weaker dollar outweighed pressure from higher U.S. Treasury yields. Spot gold was up 0.3% at $1,815.69 per ounce, as of 0057 GMT. U.S. gold futures gained 0.2% to $1,812.20. Gold fell more than 1% on Friday to its lowest since Feb. 4, and marked its fourth straight weekly decline.

Philippines’ 7-9% GDP growth target achievable, says planning minister

The Philippines’ target of 7% to 9% gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year is “doable” despite external risks, its economic planning minister said on Monday.”The bulk of the growth is going to come from domestic demand and we have to ensure a strong domestic rebound,” Economic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua told ANC news channel, days after reporting a better-than-expected 8.3% GDP growth in the first quarter.

S Korea says it will spare no effort to help North Korea amid COVID outbreak

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday the country will spare no effort to help North Korea, as the isolated nation battles a COVID-19 outbreak, and reiterated he will remain open for humanitarian aid. If North Korea responds (to our support), we will spare no medicines including COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and health personnel,” said Yoon in a speech at the plenary session of the National Assembly. Separately in the speech, Yoon also said he will discuss with U.S. President Joe Biden ways to strengthen cooperation on the global supply chain through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Biden is scheduled to visit the country this week.

President Ram Nath Kovind receives a warm welcome from Indian diaspora in Jamaica

Indian diaspora extends a warm welcome to President Ram Nath Kovind in Jamaica. President Kovind is on a state visit to Jamaica and St Vincent and the Grenadines from May 15-21, 2022. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Head of State to these countries.

Dollar starts week on strong footing on firm safe-haven bid

The dollar started the week just off a 20-year high against peers on Monday, as investors sought safety due to fears about global growth while cryptocurrency markets appeared to find some stability after last week’s turmoil. The dollar index was at 104.54, having briefly crossed the 105 level on Friday, its highest since December 2002, after six successive weeks of gains. Investors have flocked to the safe-haven currency on concerns about the U.S. Federal Reserve’s ability to dampen inflation without causing a recession, along with worries about slowing growth arising from the Ukraine crisis and the economic effects of China’s zero-COVID-19 policy. “Broad USD strength is being supported by a mounting global growth concern,” said Barclays analysts.

PM Modi to lay foundation stone for Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Nepal’s Lumbini today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the construction of a unique centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage within the Lumbini Monastic Zone during his official visit to Nepal’s Lumbini on Monday on the occasion of Vaishakha Buddha Purnima, informed the Ministry of Culture. At Lumbini, the Prime Minister will visit the sacred Mayadevi temple to offer prayers. Prime Minister will also deliver an address at a Buddha Jayanti event organized by the Lumbini Development Trust under the aegis of the Government of Nepal, said the ministry in its press release.

Cuban lawmakers pass new penal code critiqued by rights, media groups

Cuban lawmakers on Sunday approved a new penal code for the country that is being critiqued by some rights groups who say its clause on foreign funding may be used to unjustly stifle dissent and independent journalism in the wake of widespread anti-government protests last July. The government said the new code, which replaces a more than 30-year old penal law drafted under former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, is in line with the country’s new constitution approved by referendum in 2019, as well as international treaties. The president of Cuba’s Popular Supreme Court, Ruben Remigio Ferro, said the code was compatible “with international legal instruments on criminal matters, always respecting human rights,” according to a report in state-run newspaper Granma.

China reports 1,227 new COVID cases for May 15 vs 1,789 a day earlier

Mainland China reported 1,227 new coronavirus cases for May 15, of which 151 were symptomatic and 1,076 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Monday. That compares with 1,789 new cases a day earlier, consisting of 239 symptomatic and 1,550 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately. There were four new deaths, bringing the death toll to 5,213. As of May 15, mainland China had confirmed 221,955 coronavirus cases.

Tokyo shares open higher after US gains

Tokyo shares opened higher on Monday after Wall Street rebounded, backed by gains among high-tech stocks. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 1.23 percent, or 325.72 points, to 26,753.37 at the open, while the broader Topix index rose 1.03 percent, or 19.13 points, to 1,883.33. Wall Street stocks rallied on Friday, finally managing to score gains at the end of a week beset by worries over inflation, the Ukraine war and the global economic outlook.

North Korea reports 8 deaths as Kim laments virus response

North Korea on Monday reported 8 new deaths and 392,920 more people with fevers amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak as leader Kim Jong Un blasted officials over delays in medicine deliveries and ordered his military to get involved in the pandemic response in the country’s capital, Pyongyang. The North’s emergency anti-virus headquarters said more than 1.2 million people fell ill amid a rapid spread of fever since late April and about 564,860 are currently under quarantine. The eight new deaths reported in the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Sunday brought its death toll to 50. State media didn’t specify how many of the fever cases and deaths were confirmed as COVID-19 cases. Experts say North Korea likely lacks testing supplies and equipment to confirm coronavirus infections in large numbers and is mostly relying on isolating people with symptoms at shelters.

Independent probe points to Israeli fire in journalist death

As Israel and the Palestinians wrangle over the investigation into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, several independent groups have launched their own probes. One open-source research team said its initial findings lent support to Palestinian witnesses who said she was killed by Israeli fire.The outcome of these investigations could help shape international opinion over who is responsible for Abu Akleh’s death, particularly if an official Israeli military probe drags on. Israel and the Palestinians are locked in a war of narratives that already has put Israel on the defensive.

Blinken discusses global food insecurity stemming from Ukraine war with French counterpart

Ahead of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting (TTC), US State Secretary Antony Blinken on Sunday met with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris-Saclay, France where both the leaders highlighted the need to ‘confront’ global food insecurity stemming from the war in Ukraine. They also discussed efforts for mutual return to full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal. “The two discussed issues of importance in the bilateral relationship, especially the urgent need to confront global food insecurity exacerbated by Russia’s unjust and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” a US State Department press release said.

Somali lawmakers proceed to final third round to elect new president

Somalia is proceeding to the third and final round of voting for the election of the nation’s tenth president after the previous two rounds of voting by lawmakers failed to elect a new president. Four presidential candidates, including Puntland State President, Said Deni, incumbent President Mohamed Farmajo, former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire contested in the second round of voting after the first round ended without any candidate garnering two-thirds of the votes cast, or 219 votes required to win the polls on Sunday. The joint committee organizing the exercise said Former President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who garnered 110 votes and incumbent President Mohamed Farmajo who secured 83 votes will now proceed to the third and final round of voting.

Mundka fire: Building owner sent to 2-day police custody

The owner of the building in outer Delhi’s Mundka where a massive fire claimed 27 lives has been sent to two-day police custody for further investigation into the fire mishap. Building owner, identified as Manish Lakra was arrested on Sunday morning. Lakra, who was absconding after the incident, was nabbed after the police conducted multiple raids in Delhi and Haryana.

JP Nadda to interact with 14 Heads of Missions today

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Monday will interact with a group of Head of Missions to India. Head of Missions from 14 countries will participate in an interaction with Nadda at 4 pm at BJP Headquarters 6A, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Margin Delhi tomorrow, according to an official statement issued by the party. This interaction is a part of the series of programme “Know BJP” initiative launched by the party’s national president.

PM Modi leads slew of ambitious water projects to conserve water, secure future

Recognizing the urgency of water conservation along with a goal to provide tap water connections in all rural households in India, the national government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a slew of ambitious water projects. One of the key global issues is Global Warming and all the countries are struggling to cope with this challenging situation. India, just like any other country, is not immune to its effects. Although India has 18 per cent of the world’s population, it only possesses 4 per cent of the world’s renewable water resources, reported Saudi Gazette.

Assam floods: Nearly 57,000 people across 7 districts affected

Around 57,000 people across seven districts of Assam have been affected by the current spell of flood in the northeastern state, according to an official statement. The data also shows that nearly 222 villages under 15 revenue circles are affected in this wave of flood and around 10321.44 hectares of cultivated land has submerged under flood waters. Three people including a child died during this natural calamity in Assam. Apart from human beings, the flood has also affected 1,434 animals and a total of 202 houses have been damaged so far.