Modi to visit Gujarat, Germany implements widely criticised border curbs… Today’s top news headlines – Firstpost

Monday, September 16th promises to be a busy day.

Let’s take a closer look at the world news that hit the front pages on the first day of this week:

Germany to introduce border controls at all land borders

Germany announced last week that it would extend temporary border controls to all land borders for six months from September 16, 2024. The controls affect the Schengen area, where people normally move freely, and are intended to tackle illegal migration.

Berlin also unveiled proposals to strengthen enforcement of EU asylum rules, including detaining asylum seekers while authorities assess whether Germany bears responsibility for their cases.

Police will use tools such as the Eurodac fingerprint database to help with the process. However, the government has rejected opposition calls for asylum claims to be automatically rejected at the border, citing incompatibility with EU law.

Previously, stricter controls were only implemented along the southern and eastern borders, but will now be extended to the borders with Belgium, Denmark, France and the Netherlands. The controls are expected to remain in place until at least March 2025, although they could be extended or adjusted depending on the situation.

PM Modi’s Gujarat Programme

Today, September 16, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have a packed schedule during his visit to Gujarat. His day will begin at 9:45 AM in Gandhinagar where he will meet the beneficiaries of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana scheme aimed at providing solar energy to households. He will then inaugurate the 4th Global Renewable Energy Investor’s Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST) at Mahatma Mandir.

At around 1:45 pm, Modi will inaugurate the Ahmedabad Metro project and drive from Section 1 to GIFT City. Later in the day, at 3:30 pm, he will lay the foundation stone for several development projects in Ahmedabad, worth over Rs 8,000 crore. These projects include key railway upgrades such as quadrupling the Samakhiali-Gandhidham and Gandhidham-Adipur lines, and improvements to roads and viaducts over the city.

Modi will also inaugurate renewable energy projects, including a 30 MW solar power system and a 35 MW solar energy storage project in Kutch, and the construction of 220 kV substations in Morbi and Rajkot.

The Prime Minister will launch Single Window IT System (SWITS), streamlining financial services at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). He will also approve and inaugurate over 30,000 houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), handing over ready-made houses to beneficiaries.

Finally, Modi will inaugurate India’s first Vande Metro, connecting Bhuj with Ahmedabad, and several new Vande Bharat trains on important routes like Nagpur-Secunderabad, Pune-Kolhapur, Agra Cantt-Banaras and others, including the country’s first 20-coach Vande Bharat train from Varanasi to Delhi.

iOS 18 will be available for all compatible Apple devices

Apple has revealed a detailed look at the new and improved features coming to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, both of which are set to be released today. The company has published extensive documents — 22 pages for iOS 18 and 20 pages for iPadOS 18 — outlining around 250 updates.

The update includes new features focused on AI-powered functionality, privacy improvements, and cross-device integration. Users with compatible iPhones, iPads, and iPods will be able to download and install the update.

Hearing on 115 charges against Manchester City

A hearing will begin today into 115 charges against British football club Manchester City relating to alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations.

The charges, brought against the reigning English champions in February 2023, focus on breaches relating to sponsorship income and financial disclosure.

The club is also accused of failing to fully cooperate with the league’s investigation into the allegations, which could have serious consequences for their standing in English football. An independent commission will oversee the investigation.

The case, which has been under investigation since 2022, concerns alleged breaches relating to sponsorship revenue, player contracts and financial fair play rules.

US court to hear complaints over potential TikTok ban in the US

A U.S. federal appeals court will on Monday hear arguments in TikTok’s appeal of a U.S. law that orders the sale or potential ban of the app over national security concerns.

TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, and a group of its users will argue in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that the law violates their free speech rights and unfairly targets the platform.

The legislation, passed earlier this year, requires TikTok’s U.S. operations to be separated from Chinese ownership or face a ban. TikTok says divesting is “technologically, commercially and legally impracticable.” The case could have broader implications for Congress’s ability to regulate foreign tech companies.

Mexican Independence Day

Today we celebrate Mexican Independence Day, commemorating the beginning of the fight for independence from Spain, which began on September 16, 1810. The event commemorates “El Grito de Dolores,” the historic call to arms delivered by Miguel Hidalgo, the Roman Catholic priest who instigated the rebellion.

Throughout Mexico, the day is celebrated with fireworks, parades, music and traditional food, while political and military leaders give speeches paying tribute to the nation’s history and progress.

The festivities begin on the evening of September 15, when the Mexican president rings the bell of the National Palace, symbolizing Hidalgo’s call for independence. The festivities continue throughout September 16, with vibrant cultural exhibitions and commemorations of the heroes of the Mexican War of Independence.

Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi

Muslims around the world today celebrate Eid-e-Milad-Un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad. This day is considered particularly sacred in the Islamic calendar and is celebrated with various traditions.

Sunni and Shiite communities celebrate it in slightly different ways, but it usually involves prayer meetings, sermons, poetry recitations, and reflections on the Prophet’s teachings. The holiday is an opportunity for Muslims to focus on unity, compassion, and charitable acts, often involving processions and the decoration of mosques.

While some communities may celebrate it with great ceremony, others turn to personal reflection and study of the Prophet’s life. It is also a public holiday in several Muslim-majority countries.

With information from the agency