THE HEADLINES:
- India and South Korea to increase bilateral trade to 50 billion dollars by 2030; Launch Digital Bridge to deepen partnerships in AI, semiconductors, and IT.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, new opportunities for cooperation to open for both sides in various sectors.
- Top political leaders give final push to sway voters as high-voltage campaign in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal concludes tomorrow.
- India and United States begin fresh round of trade talks in Washington.
- Railways to operate over 18 thousand Summer Special Train Trips nationwide over next three months.
- And, in IPL Cricket, match between Hosts Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians underway in Ahmedabad.
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India and South Korea today outlined an ambitious roadmap to significantly deepen economic ties, announcing a shared goal to increase the bilateral trade to 50 billion dollars by 2030. The two countries also signed four MoUs for cooperation in the fields of Sports, Cultural and Creative Industries, Small and Medium Enterprises and for establishment of Industrial Cooperation Committee. Both sides exchanged Joint Declaration on resuming the negotiations to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and the Framework for India-Korea Digital Bridge.
The agreements were signed and exchanged following delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi.
In a joint press statement after the talks, Prime Minister Modi bilateral trade between the two countries has reached 27 billion dollars.
Prime Minister Modi said, new opportunities for cooperation will open for India and South Korea in various sectors.
Mr. Modi asserted, the Digital Bridge is being launched to further deepen the partnerships between the two countries in Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and Information Technology (IT).
Mr Modi said, India and South Korea, through their shared efforts, will continue to contribute towards a peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
Speaking on the occasion, President of South Korea said, India has emerged as a leader in the Global South. He said, in the era of uncertainty, both the countries can be the most ideal partners for comprehensive cooperation to promote mutual growth and innovation.
Later, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs P Kumaran briefed the media in New Delhi on the key outcomes of the talks between Prime Minister Modi and the visiting President of South Korea. He said, the two leaders reviewed the overall progress in the India-Korea Special Strategic Partnership and emphasised enhancing economic cooperation.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the opening session of India-Korea Business Forum in New Delhi today. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goyal said, both nations have agreed to upgrade their Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
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Top political leaders are giving a final push to sway voters as high-voltage campaign for single phase polling in Tamil Nadu and the first phase of voting in West Bengal concludes tomorrow. Voting in the two states is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
In West Bengal, 152 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the first phase. Our Kolkata correspondent reports that senior leaders of several political parties held back-to-back rallies and road shows today.
“All parties are leaving no stone unturned in order to woo the voters in the state. Today, BJP president Nitin Nabin joined road show in Digha. Rajnath Singh campaigned in Birbhum district. BJP leader JP Nadda campaigned in Bankura and Purulia districts. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed public rally in Garbeta. BJP pointed towards the women safety issues in West Bengal and unemployment in the state. Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Telangana minister Mohammad Azharuddin are also busy in public meetings in different parts of state. State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended public rally at Khardaha of North 24 Parganas and strongly criticised BJP over the women reservation bill. Congress also attacked BJP over the women reservation issue. Left has pointed towards the alleged understanding between BJP and Trinamool Congress. With kalyan laha’s report from Kolkata. With Kalyan Laha’s report from Kolkata, Aprajitha Nair, Akashvani News.
In our ongoing series on constituency profiles, today, we take a closer look at the Indus Assembly seat in Bankura district of West Bengal which is going to polls in the first phase.
“Indus assembly seat is reserved for Schedule Caste. In this election, a total of 8 candidates including 4 independents are in the fray. BJP fielded Nirmal Kumar Dhara again in this seat while Trinamool Congress candidate is Shyamali Roy Bagdi. CPIM candidate is Jharna Mallik while Congress fielded Mou Mandal Samanta. Total electors in Indus assembly as on the last date of nomination are more than two lakh and forty five thousand. In Indus constituency the fight is expected between Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress. BJP is attacking the ruling Trinamool Congress on the issues of corruption, unemployment and mismanagement. Trinamool Congress is referring to the deletion of names under the SIR and the party is blaming the BJP for this. Kalyan Laha, Akashvani News, Kolkata.”
In Tamil Nadu, voting will take place in all 234 constituencies.
“As Tamilnadu is nearing the polling day, a rush of political waves is sweeping through the districts and Chennai , the State Capital. Chief Minister of Andhra Chandrababu Naidu campaigned at Coimbatore today. Leaders from INDI Alliance from other States are visiting Tamilnadu to seek support for the candidates. Over 900 star campaigners could be seen on the roads and streets for campaigning. Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal is campaigning in Chennai this evening. Actor politician Kamalhasan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Udhayanidhi Stalin are campaigning today. The heroes and heroines of the festival of democracy are the voters. They will exercise their franchise in two days. Joy, Akashvani News, Chennai.”
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The Government today said that domestic LPG supply is stable across the country and no dry-outs have been reported at distributorships, amid disruptions triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis. Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma stated this while addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in New Delhi.
Director of Ports and Shipping Ministry Mandeep Singh Randhawa informed that Indian flagged crude tanker, Desh Garima safely crossed the strait of Hormuz on the 18th of this month.
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Uncertainty prevailed over the second round of peace talks between the US and Iran at Islamabad in Pakistan today, amid exhibitory brinkmanship by both sides. A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday. Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei in a weekly press briefing in Tehran said that his country is yet to decide whether to attend the next round of talks with the US or not.
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India and the United States have begun a fresh round of trade negotiations in Washington aiming at giving a final shape to the much-awaited trade deal between the two countries. A delegation of Indian officials are taking part in the three-day talks in the US capital which will continue till Wednesday. The delegation is led by India’s chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, an Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, along with representatives from the Customs Department and the External Affairs Ministry. The discussions mark the next step in negotiations on the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement, building on earlier rounds aimed at finalising an interim arrangement between the two countries.
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The Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma today rejected a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal seeking her recusal from hearing matters related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy case. Pronouncing the decision, Justice Sharma said that while the easier path would have been to recuse without hearing the application, she chose to decide the issue on the merits in the interest of institutional integrity. Addressing the allegations raised by Mr. Kejriwal, the judge said there was no material to substantiate claims of bias.
The development comes amid ongoing proceedings in the High Court on a criminal revision petition filed by the CBI. In its petition, the CBI has challenged a trial court order discharging all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the corruption case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, 21 people were killed and 29 others were injured after a passenger bus rolled down a hill in Udhampur district.
The President, Vice President and Prime Minister have expressed grief at the loss of lives in the bus accident.
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A fire incident took place in the vicinity of the HRRL refinery at Balotra in Rajasthan today. Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled inauguration program of the Crude Distillation Unit at the refinery has been postponed.
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Indian Railways will operate 18 thousand 2 hundred 62 summer special train trips across the country over the next three months to meet the expected surge in passenger demand. The Ministry of Railways said the steps have been taken to ensure smooth and comfortable travel for people during the peak summer season. According to the ministry, a total of 9 hundred 8 summer special trains have been approved for the period between 15th of April and 15th of July which will make these trips.
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In IPL Cricket, Mumbai Indians were 177 for five in 19 overs against Hosts Gujarat Titans in a league stage match at Ahmedabad when reports last came in. Earlier, Gujarat Titans won the toss and opted to bowl.
Last night Punjab Kings secured a 54-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in Chandigarh last night.
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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has introduced OmegaBall in India through a pioneering initiative, marking the sport’s first-ever entry into the country. OmegaBall is a fast-paced and innovative variation of football played by three teams on a circular field with three goals, where each team simultaneously attacks two goals while defending one. The sport is gaining international traction across the US, Brazil and parts of Europe and emerging as a modern alternative to traditional football formats.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
- India and South Korea to increase bilateral trade to 50 billion dollars by 2030; Launch Digital Bridge to deepen partnerships in AI, semiconductors, and IT.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, new opportunities for cooperation to open for both sides in various sectors.
- Top political leaders give final push to sway voters as high-voltage campaign in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal concludes tomorrow.
- India and United States begin fresh round of trade talks in Washington.
- Railways to operate over 18 thousand Summer Special Train Trips nationwide over next three months.
- And, in IPL Cricket, match between Hosts Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians underway in Ahmedabad.
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