LIVE: Maldives President Muizzu to meet PM Modi today, says India aware of fiscal situation

Ahead of his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu stressed that Delhi was “fully aware” of the fiscal situation of the island nation and would always be ready to “ease the burden” as one of Malé’s largest development partners. Muizzu also said that the Maldives considers New Delhi a “valued partner and friend” and that cooperation “will always be a priority”. Relations between the two countries have suffered several setbacks since Muizzu came to power last November on the back of an “India Out” election campaign.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Rs 14,700 crore has been allocated for railway development in Madhya Pradesh. “Rs 14,700 crore has been allocated for railway development in MP. At present, five Vande Bharat trains are running in Madhya Pradesh. In the last 10 years, 222 kilometers of new railway lines, 1,200 kilometers of multi-lane and 707 kilometers of gauge conversion projects have been completed in MP,” Vaishnaw said in his virtual speech at the event. The Railways Minister on Sunday virtually halted a train service connecting Jaura to Kailaras in Morena district of MP after the route was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge.

A massive explosion outside the airport in Pakistan’s Karachi killed two Chinese workers and injured at least eight on Sunday, officials from both countries said. A Chinese embassy statement said a convoy carrying Chinese personnel of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited was attacked around 11 p.m., killing two Chinese and injuring another. There were also reportedly Pakistani victims.