THE HEADLINES:
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to arrive in New Delhi this afternoon on a five day visit to India; To be the Chief Guest at inaugural session of 10th Raisina Dialogue-2025, beginning in New Delhi tomorrow.
- Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw says India will soon be ready for Hyperloop transportation as tests conducted so far have yielded promising results.
- Space-X Crew 10 mission astronauts enter International Space Station after successful docking, to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
- Atleast 12 Pakistani soldiers killed in a Baloch liberation army attack in Noshki, Balochistan.
- Prasar Bharati honoured with Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award 2024 for promoting and broadcasting hockey events across the nation.
- Renowned Odia poet Ramakanta Rath passes away at 91 in Bhubaneswar.
<><><>
Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon will arrive in New Delhi this afternoon on a five day visit to India. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers, senior officials, businesses, media and members of the Indian diaspora community.
External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Raisina Dialogue 2025 with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in New Delhi tomorrow. The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue is being held from tomorrow till 19th March. Mr Modi will also hold talks with his New Zealand counterpart, covering various aspects of India-New Zealand relations. Mr Luxon will attend the inaugural session of the 10th Raisina Dialogue-2025 as the Chief Guest and deliver the Keynote Address. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapti Bhawan.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to tune in to his podcast interview with Lex Fridman to be broadcast today. In a social media post, Mr Modi said he had a fascinating conversation with Mr Fridman, who hosts the Lex Fridman Podcast. The coversation covered diverse topics including Mr Modi’s childhood, the years in the Himalayas and the journey in public life.
<><><>
Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the 410-meter-long Hyperloop test tube at IIT Chennai is the longest Hyperloop test facility in Asia and will soon become the world’s longest. The minister shared this information while posting a video on social media of a live demonstration he witnessed during his visit to the Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras Discovery Campus yesterday. He expressed confidence that India will soon be ready for Hyperloop transportation, as the technology, which is currently under development, has yielded promising results in the tests conducted so far.
<><><>
NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov were welcomed by the Expedition 72 crew, including NASA astronauts Indian-American Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Don Petitt, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner in the International Space Station today. We have a report:
“The SpaceX Dragon crew entered the International Space Station shortly after opening the hatches between the space station and the spacecraft at 11:05 AM, Indian Time. After which, they were welcomed by the Expedition 72 crew, including NASA astronaut Indian-American Sunita Williams. Earlier, the Dragon spacecraft, which launched from Texas on Friday, reached the ISS at 9:35 AM, Indian Time.
With this mission, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are just one step away from earth as they will soon travel back to home, after been stranded in the orbit for nine months. Wilmore and Williams originally planned a one-week mission when they launched aboard Boeing’s first astronaut flight.
If weather permits, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station not earlier than Wednesday and splash down off Florida’s coast. CHIRAG JHA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
<><><>
The 14th meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism will be held in New Delhi on 19th and 20th of March. India and Malaysia will co-chair the two-day meeting. Delegations from the 10 ASEAN nations including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand and eight dialogue partners from Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, the USA, and Russia, along with Timor Leste and the ASEAN Secretariat, will participate in the meeting.
<><><>
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya took part in the “Fit India – Sundays on Cycle” campaign at Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad this morning. Addressing the event, Dr. Mandaviya said that cycling can help in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve of ‘Viksit Bharat’. The Minister also said that Cycling can be an effective way to combat obesity and it can also create awareness among people to stay fit.
The ‘Fit India – Sundays on Cycle’ event is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) and Mera Yuva Bharat.
<><><>
Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath, one of the most renowned modernist poets in Odia literature, passed away early this morning at Bhubaneswar at the age of 91. His passing has cast a deep shadow of mourning over the literary world, marking the end of an era in Odia literature. A 1957-batch IAS officer, Ramakanta Rath also worked as Chief Secretary of Odisha and also held several key positions in the Union Government. He also served as President of Sahitya Akademy of India from 1998 to 2003. President Droupadi Murmu has expressed grief at the demise of eminent Odia poet Ramakanta Rath. In her message, President Murmu said Ramakant Rath was a prominent figure in the Indian literary world. The President said the eminent poet has enriched pan-Indian literature with his unforgettable contribution to Odia literature. Chief Minister of Odisha, Mohan Charan Majhi, has deeply condoled the death of Ramakanta Rath saying he had given a new identity to Odia literature, both nationally and internationally. Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Jual Oram and many other dignitaries have deeply condoled the death of Ramakanta Rath. More from our correspondent:
The history of modern Odia literature can never be written without Padma Bhushan Ramakanta Rath. His poetic expressions are rich with symbolic annotations, often carrying a spiritual essence. His poetic works, celebrated for their depth and insight, include iconic poem ‘Sri Radha’ among many others. His works have been translated into English and several Indian languages. Considered as father of modern Odia literature, Ramakanta Rath received numerous accolades, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977, the Bishuva Samman in 1990, the Saraswati Samman in 1992, and India’s third-highest civilian honor, the Padma Bhushan, in 2006. The last rites of Ramakanta Rath will be carried out tomorrow at SwargaDwar in Puri with full state honours. Prakash Dash, Akashvani, Bhubaneswar.
<><><>
Nominations for the Padma Awards-2026 to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day next year have started. The last date for nominations for Padma Awards is 31st July. The nominations and recommendations for Padma Awards will only be received online on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.
<><><>
Music legend and Oscar winner A. R. Rahman was admitted to a hospital in Chennai late last night. The 58-year-old musician suffered from dehydration. Hospital sources said that he has been discharged following treatment.
<><><>
Prasar Bharati has been honoured with the Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award for Invaluable Contribution 2024, at the Hockey India 7th Annual Awards 2024 in New Delhi. The award marks Prasar Bharti’s tireless efforts in promoting and broadcasting hockey across the nation. At the function, Hockey India also felicitated the members of the victorious 1975 World Cup squad, with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award along with a cash prize of 50 lakh rupees.
Among the top honours, Savita Punia and Harmanpreet Singh were recognised as the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2024 in the Women’s and Men’s categories.
In a statement Prashar Bharati Chairman Navneet Sehgal said the goal of Prashar Bharati is to make hockey reach every part of the country.
<><><>
The Begumpet Railway station in Hyderabad will be an all-women railway station soon and formal inauguration will be soon after the modernisation are completed. Union Coal Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy has announced this when he inspected the ongoing modernisation works yesterday. More from our correspondent:
Two-phase redevelopment works are underway at the Begumpet Railway station, which is in the heart of Hyderabad city, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways. By now, about 90 per cent redevelopment works are completed in the first phase while the second phase of works at a cost of over 12 crore rupees will be taken up with focus on the local culture and heritage. The operations of the Begumpet railway station are fully managed by women officials of the South-Central Railway (SCR) and will be formally declared soon. Over 20 women officials currently manage the station’s day-to-day operations, making it a unique model of inclusion and leadership. The Begumpet station, soon to be officially declared an all-women-operated station, is also expected to see an increase in train stoppages and passenger footfall as part of its ongoing upgradation. Lakshmi, Akashvani news, Hyderabad.
<><><>
The renowned Maa Purnagiri Fair has commenced with great enthusiasm in Tanakpur, Champawat district of Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the fair yesterday, reaffirming the government’s commitment to its year-round operation and the development of permanent infrastructure.
To enhance crowd and disaster management, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a smart control room and a CCTV surveillance system in Thooligad. Additionally, a multipurpose administrative building will be constructed in Selagad, providing an integrated workspace for the fair magistrate, fair officials, police, and medical staff. In a move to improve amenities for pilgrims, he also announced the Purnagiri Pumping Drinking Water Project in Ladigad and the Thooligad-Babligad Pumping Project. Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the state government’s continuous efforts to develop Maa Purnagiri Dham into a major spiritual and tourism hub. Under the Manaskhand Temple Mala Mission, significant temples in Kumaon will undergo beautification and road expansion. Furthermore, plans for constructing a ropeway at Purnagiri are in progress, ensuring a more convenient and seamless pilgrimage experience. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.
<><><>
At least 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed and over 26 injured after a bus carrying Frontier Constabulary soldiers came under heavy gunfire in the Rakshani Mill area on the N-40 highway in Noshki, Balochistan province. Following the attack, emergency measures were enforced in hospitals, and ambulances were seen moving in and out of the FC headquarters.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the army convoy and claimed that at least 90 military personnel have been killed so far. Pakistani authorities have not yet responded to the BLA’s latest claims.
<><><>
In Yemen, the Houthi rebel-run Health Ministry today said that the death toll from US strikes on Yemen’s capital Sanaa has risen to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said that another 101 people were wounded in the overnight strikes. This marks the biggest military operation by the US in West Asia after Donald Trump took charge as the President.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to arrive in New Delhi this afternoon on a five day visit to India; To be the Chief Guest at inaugural session of 10th Raisina Dialogue-2025, beginning in New Delhi tomorrow.
- Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw says India will soon be ready for Hyperloop transportation as tests conducted so far have yielded promising results.
- Space-X Crew 10 mission astronauts enter International Space Station after successful docking, to bring back stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
- Atleast 12 Pakistani soldiers killed in a Baloch liberation army attack in Noshki, Balochistan.
- Prasar Bharati honoured with Hockey India Jaman Lal Sharma Award 2024 for promoting and broadcasting hockey events across the nation.
- Renowned Odia poet Ramakanta Rath passes away at 91 in Bhubaneswar.
<><><>
