The edition of India First covers significant global and domestic developments. At the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Delhi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the necessity of unimpeded maritime flows through the Strait of Hormuz and criticised unilateral sanctions. Concurrently, the US and Chinese Presidents held high-stakes talks in Beijing regarding trade and the West Asia crisis. Domestically, the Delhi High Court initiated criminal contempt proceedings against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other political leaders for the alleged vilification of a sitting judge in the excise policy case. In West Bengal, the state government launched a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, unauthorised toll gates, and parking facilities, while mandating the national song in schools. Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin a five-nation tour, starting with the UAE to strengthen strategic energy partnerships. Furthermore, the central government introduced stricter regulations for duty-free gold imports, including a 100 kg cap and mandatory factory inspections to monitor foreign exchange outflows.
The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the United States' Charge d'Affaires and lodged a strong protest over a strike on a vessel off the coast of Oman carrying Indian nationals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached the milestone of becoming India's longest-serving prime minister, with an unbroken tenure of 4,399 days in office, surpassing the record of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
As war clouds hover over West Asia, the global sporting community is preparing to unite for the football World Cup. In India, the state of Kerala is already gearing up for the month-and-a-half-long football fiesta, with fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming sporting festival.
As the Modi government completes 12 years in office, India Today's Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai shares his take on the five biggest achievements and failures of the NDA government.
