IMD issues heavy rain warning for Coastal Karnataka, thunderstorms likely in next 48 hours
Despite rains, temperature in Coastal Karnataka likely to go up by 4 degrees till Thursday
Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a thunderstorm warning for coastal parts of Karnataka and a 'watch' warning for southern Karnataka for the upcoming days of the week. The warnings come as the monsoon season begins in the region.
According to the IMD's daily bulletin, rain or thundershowers are expected to occur at many places over Coastal Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka, and isolated places over North Interior Karnataka until Thursday. The IMD has also predicted thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds at isolated places, with wind speeds reaching 30 to 40 kmph over the interior parts of Karnataka. Additionally, isolated thunderstorms are likely to occur over coastal Karnataka within the next 48 hours.
The IMD has noted that maximum temperatures in Interior Karnataka are expected to be above normal by four to five degrees Celsius at isolated places, while coastal Karnataka may experience temperatures above normal by three to four degrees Celsius until Thursday.
The IMD has also issued a fisheries warning, stating that squally weather with wind speeds reaching 40 to 45 kmph and gusting up to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over the Karnataka coast until Wednesday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea during this period.
For Bengaluru city, the IMD has forecasted a generally cloudy sky for the next two days, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers expected. Strong surface winds are also anticipated at times, with maximum and minimum temperatures predicted to be around 28 and 21 degrees Celsius respectively.
At the same time, due to heavy rainfall warnings from the IMD, schools in parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, including Thirupathur and Thiruvannamalai, have been closed.
As a result of the showers, around 10 Chennai-bound flights have been diverted to Bengaluru, Karnataka, due to the adverse weather conditions, wrote Hindustan Times quoting a report by Times Now. The report also mentions that international flights have been affected as a result of being diverted to Bengaluru including those from Doha, Abu Dhabi, London, Sharjah, Colombo, Singapore, Muscat and Dubai.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
