THE HEADLINES:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hold delegation level talks in New Delhi; Both sides sign four MoUs to boost bilateral relationship.
Leaders of political parties making last ditch efforts to woo voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Fifteen people killed in a road accident at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir; President and Prime Minister express grief.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval holds a series of bilateral talks with Saudi’s leadership in Riyadh to strengthen energy security amid the West Asia crisis.
Iran denies second round of negotiations with the United States; Cites unrealistic demands by Washington.
And, in IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans to face Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad this evening.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation level talks with President of South Korea Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi today. During the meeting, India and South Korea signed four MOUs in various fields including cooperation in the field of sports and cultural and creative industries.
Addressing a joint press briefing, Mr Modi said that democratic values, market economy and respect for rule of law is in the DNA of both the countries.
He added that both the countries share a common outlook with regard to the Indo-Pacific. Mr Modi highlighted that in the last ten years, the relation between both the countries has been comprehensive and dynamic.
He further stated that with the visit of President Lee, the trusted partnership between the two nations will convert into a futuristic partnership.
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As two days remain for the end of campaigning for the first phase of assembly election in West Bengal, prominent leaders of various political parties are making last ditch efforts to woo the voters. A report from our correspondent:
“BJP leader and Union Minister JP Nadda will join a public meeting at Kotulpur in Bankura. Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Bandopadhyay joined a public meeting at Ranibandh in Bankura. BJP leader Rajnath Singh addressed public meeting in Birbhum and BJP president Nitin Nabin is expected to join a road show in Purba Medinipur. Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address public rally in Khardaha in North 24 Parganas. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would address public rallies in Coochbehar and Siliguri today. Kalyan Laha, Akashvani News Kolkata.”
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In Tamil Nadu, Telugu Desam Party leader and Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister and TDP leader Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu campaigned at Coimbatore for the NDA alliance. Mr. Naidu said that the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be strengthened so that the state and the nation go hand in hand. In a public meeting at Kanyakumari today. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep condolences for the victims of the fire accident at Virudhunagar. He is on a whirlwind campaign at various places in the State. Campaigning at Kanyakumari, he said that every single state and their language is equally important for the country. He criticised the AIADMK for aligning with the NDA. BJP leader Annamalai, while campaigning, said that none of the DMK alliance partners have appreciated the DMK Chief for anything. More from our correspondent:
“As there is just one more day left for the campaigning to end, all the parties are taking last-minute efforts to reach the voters all over the State. There is no stone unturned to bring out issues, allegations and achievements. Curtains will be drawn tomorrow evening for all kinds of canvassing. Today, parties are focusing on door-to-door campaigning, holding roadshows and rallies including public meetings. Electoral authorities are involved in the second randomisation all over the State. Joy,Akashvani News, Chennai.”
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today said that the opposition will face the consequences for blocking the Women’s Reservation Bill. Speaking to the media, Mr. Rijiju strongly criticised the Congress and its allies following the Lok Sabha negating the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill. He said, women of the country are very angry, and out of fear, opposition parties are now offering justifications.
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President Droupadi Murmu has said that infrastructure is the foundation upon which modern nations are built. She said that robust infrastructure reduces logistics costs, boosts trade, attracts investment and enhances productivity. Highlighting the importance of railways and highways, the President said, these mode of transport open immense opportunities for socio-economic development of remote regions of the nation. She said, these are not merely systems of transport but instruments of economic expansion, social inclusion and national integration. The President made these remarks while interacting with the Probationary Officers of the Indian Railways and Assistant Executive Engineers of the Central Engineering Service (Roads) at Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, 15 people were killed and several others injured after a bus met with an accident in Udhampur district. Officials said the incident occurred near Jalo village on the Rajnagar-Udhampur road. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief at the loss of lives in the bus accident in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir. In a social media post, they also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Prime Minister Modi also announced an ex gratia of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund which would be given to the next of kin of each of those who lost their lives in the tragic mishap. The injured would be given 50 thousand rupees. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh has expressed his deep anguish and grief at the tragic accident. Police, SDRF and Health Department are providing every possible assistance to the affected people. The exact circumstances leading to the accident are yet to be ascertained, and an investigation is underway.
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In Tamil Nadu, the death toll in yesterday’s blast at the firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district reached 25. The incident happened when the labourers were handling the explosive chemicals. Twelve people were wounded in the second blast while clearing the debris last night. Out of the fatalities, 22 were women, and 3 were men, including 18 from Servaikaranpatti. Meanwhile, an inquiry commission has been set up under the Chairmanship of IAS Govinda Rao. District Collector of Virudhunagar Subaputra and the Superintendent of Police Sreenatha are also part of the inquiry commission.
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Iran has denied agreeing to a second round of peace talks with the United States. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said that the government has no plans regarding a new round of talks after the United States seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran rejection came hours after US President Donald Trump announced that he is sending his team to Islamabad for possible talks with Iran. Iran’s official news agency IRNA cited Washington’s excessive demands, unrealistic expectations, constant shifts in stance, repeated contradictions and the ongoing naval blockade as reasons for the refusal, describing the blockade as a breach of ceasefire conditions. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has also closed the Strait of Hormuz, requiring commercial ships to obtain explicit permission and follow Guard-approved routes, warning that vessels approaching without clearance could be targeted.
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National Security Advisor Ajit Doval holds a series of high-level meetings with senior Saudi leadership aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, and deepening energy cooperation amid the West Asia conflict. The visit highlights the steadily expanding strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
In a statement, the Embassy of India in Riyadh said that discussions covered a broad spectrum of issues, including bilateral cooperation, regional security concerns, and other matters of mutual interest. During the visit, Mr. Doval met several prominent Saudi leaders, including Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban.
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India and the United States will resume trade negotiations on the first phase of their proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement today. The talks will be held from April 20 till to 22 in Washington DC. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Darpan Jain is leading the Indian delegation. Officers from Customs and External Affairs Ministry are also part of the Indian team. The 3-day talks are aimed at recalibrating the framework amid shifting global tariff dynamics. The meeting will mark the first face-to-face engagement between the two sides in nearly four months, during which discussions continued virtually.
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Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake discussed the proposed link between India and the island nation through an oil pipeline. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in Colombo the proposals discussed between the two countries, include, the project related to the energy hub in Trincomalee and the proposal to link India and Sri Lanka through an oil pipeline.
Meanwhile, the Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on a two day visit of Sri Lanka arrived in Nuwara Eliya this morning. During his visit, the Vice President toured houses built under the Indian Housing Project, a flagship initiative aimed at improving living conditions for the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” tonight at 09.30 PM, we will bring an insightful discussion on World Earth Day: Solar for a Sustainable Future with Dr. Mohammad Rihan, Directorate General, National Institute of Solar Energy. During the programme, listeners can ask questions on the subject. To participate, simply dial the telephone numbers 011-23310481, 011-23717117.
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In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans will face Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today. The match will start at 7:30 PM. Earlier, Punjab Kings secured a 54-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in Chandigarh last night.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hold delegation level talks in New Delhi; Both sides sign four MoUs to boost bilateral relationship.
Leaders of political parties making last ditch efforts to woo voters in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
Fifteen people killed in a road accident at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir; President and Prime Minister expresses grief.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval holds a series of bilateral talks with Saudi’s leadership in Riyadh to strengthen energy security amid the West Asia crisis.
Iran denies second round of negotiations with United States; Cites unrealistic demands by Washington.
And, in IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans to face Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad this evening.
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