THE HEADLINES:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi today.
- India and Sri Lanka discuss oil pipeline link between the two countries.
- India and US to resume negotiations on Bilateral Trade Agreement in Washington DC this evening.
- Iran rejects second round of talks with US even as President Trump says American negotiators are heading to Pakistan.
- Election Commission releases figures of voters for first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal.
- In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs in New Chandigarh.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi today, focusing on boosting strategic and economic ties between the two countries. More from our correspondent:
The two leaders will discuss key sectors, including shipbuilding, trade, investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and other critical and emerging technologies. The leaders will also explore ways to enhance people-to-people connections and deepen cultural exchanges; additionally, they will discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Modi will also host a lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. During his visit, President Lee Jae Myung will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions on further strengthening bilateral cooperation. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with the South Korean President yesterday and appreciated his commitment to expanding ties across various sectors. He expressed confidence that the ongoing visit will further reinforce the Special Strategic Partnership between the two nations. President Lee arrived in New Delhi yesterday on a three-day visit to India. He was received by Union Minister Harsh Malhotra. The President is accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials, and business leaders. This marks his first visit to India. With Aman Yadav, Dilnashi Arzoo, for Akashvani News, Delhi
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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 that some proposals that were 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.
Mr Misri said, the two leaders also had productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted bilateral ties, housing projects and fishermen issues between the two neighbours. During his meeting with Mr Dissanayake, Mr Radhakrishnan laid emphasis on India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and developmental bilateral cooperation. A report;
After an impactful first day of high level strategy yesterday, the visit of Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan today moves on to grassroots connect as he is scheduled to travel to Nuwara Eliya today. Signalling New Delhi’s continued commitment to their welfare and long-term socio-economic advancement, Mr. Radhakrishnan will engage directly with THE members of the Indian-Origin Tamil community at the Indian Housing project sites. This commitment was also evident in yesterday’s announcements, including the extension of the OCI scheme to the sixth generation and the simplification of application processes that will greatly benefit plantation Tamils who came without Indian documents to Srilanka. The message is clear, India’s partnership with Sri Lanka is being strengthened not just through policy, but also through direct engagement with people on the ground. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqi, AKASHVANI NEWS/Colombo.
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India and United States will resume trade negotiations on the first phase of their proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement today. The talks will held from 20th to 22nd April 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. More from our correspondent:
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. The talks assume significance as both countries reassess the contours of the proposed pact following changes in the US tariff regime. After the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Washington introduced a temporary 10 per cent tariff on imports from all the countries for 150 days beginning February 24. As the tariff landscape has changed in the US, both sides may like to relook at the framework of the agreement, the text of which was released on February 7. Further, the two unilateral investigations launched by the US Trade Representative (USTR) may also figure in the three-day deliberations. India has strongly rejected allegations made by the US Trade Representative in those two investigations under its Section 301 of trade law and has requested to terminate the probes as the initiation notice has failed to provide cogent rationale to substantiate the claims. AKHILA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.
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Iran has denied agreeing to a second round of peace talks with the United States, directly contradicting President Donald Trump, who said American negotiators would arrive in Pakistan tonight for negotiations. 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. A report :
United States President Trump, accused Iran of a serious violation of the ceasefire, but struck a cautiously optimistic tone about the possibility of an eventual deal. He warned, however, that an agreement would come one way or another – reiterating that the US stands ready to respond forcefully if Tehran does not comply. American forces meanwhile continue enforcing the naval blockade.
Iranian authorities have linked the Lebanon situation directly to their broader talks with the US, and Tehran noted that their missile and drone launchers are being replenished at a faster rate than before the conflict began – a pointed signal to Washington ahead of any future negotiations. this is Vinod Kumar for Akashvani News from Dubai.
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The Election Commission has released figures of voters for the first phase of the assembly election in West Bengal. According to official figures, till date, 3 crore 60 lakh 77 thousand 171 electors are eligible to cast their votes in this phase. Of these, 1 crore 84 lakh 99 thousand 496 are male voters, 1 crore 75 lakh 77 thousand 210 are female voters, and 465 are third-gender electors. These figures will be revised once tribunals submit the final list of eligible voters.
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The Election Commission has announced the deployment of 2,193 Quick Response Teams across 152 constituencies for the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections to be held on 23rd April. These teams will act swiftly to address any incidents of unrest. Special emphasis has been placed on districts identified as sensitive, particularly those prone to disturbances and areas along the state’s border.
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The campaigning has reached its peak for first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal as only two days have been left for canvassing. Star campaigners of different parties are trying hard to attract the voters in support of their candidates. Voting in North Bengal sharing Bhutan Border will be held on 23rd April in first phase. Ahead of the polling, Bhutan has announced temporary closure of key international borders at Phuentsholing (Jaigaon), Samtse, and Lhamoizingkha from today evening.
The closure will be in effect from 5 PM on 20nd April till 6 PM on 23rd April. Travelers and daily commuters are advised to avoid cross-border movement and routes leading to these gates during this period.
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In our series of constituency profile, today we take a look at Erode District of Tamil Nadu, which enjoys a unique climate conducive for agriculture and industry. The district has eight Assembly constituencies and a total electorate of 17 lakh 40 thousand 222 voters. Our correspondent has filed this report:
Erode district has Erode East, Erode West, Modakkurichi, Perundurai, Bhavani, Anthiyur, Gobichettipalayam and Bhavani Sagar constituencies. It is a tri cornered contest in Gobichettipalayam where K.A.Sengottaiyan is contesting. He was the former Minister and once a senior leader of the AIADMK. After being expelled from the party he joined TVK and became the Chief Coordinator of the high level administrative committee of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam. The 78 year old politician was elected to the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly from Sathyamangalam constituency in Erode district. Later from 1977 to 2025 he was elected from Gobichettipalayam. He served as a Minister in the Jayalalithaa Cabinet and also as the leader of the House He strived hard to unite the AIADMK after late Chief Minister Jayalaithaas death but was removed from the party on September 2025. This is the first time that he is contestesting out of AIADMK party. The constituency has 2 lakh 37 thousand and 581 votes. Nallasivam of the DMK and V.B.Prabhu of AIADMK are contesting from here for the first time. JOY AKSAHVANI REPORTING, CHENNAI
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In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 54-run in New Chandigarh last night.
Today, Gujarat Titans will face Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will start at 7:30 PM.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heat wave conditions over Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for today. According to IMD, Gangetic West Bengal, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe will experience hot and humid weather conditions for the next two to three days.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” tonight at 09.30 PM, we 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.
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- All the dailies report the looming uncertainty over peace talks between the US and Iran. Hindustan Times headline reads “Trump says new talks, But confusion persists; Iran’s news agency says Tehran will skip meet.”
- In a related story on India tackling the crisis, Indian Express writes “Armed forces eye biogas and solar energy to cut fuel use amid West Asia crisis.”
- Moving a step closer to reduce India’s dependence on imported chip packaging technology “India’s first advanced 3D glass chip unit launched in Odisha” writes Hindustan Times.
- “India-US kick off first in-person trade talks in four months” says The Tribune.
- In a significant shift towards alternative fuel adoption “Over 39,000 consumers give up LPG for PNG; 4.85 lakh new connections added” cites The Statesman.
- Indian Express notes the change in CBSE third language rule. Under the headline “Schools grapple with change: French, German make way for Sanskrit and regional languages” from class 6 beginning new session.
- Times of India editorial comments “India and Korea can give new direction to multilateralism amid mounting challenges”. Stating South Korea’s startegic partnership with India in key areas like trade, technology, defence and shipbuilding in advancing India being Atmanirbhar is great, as Seoul is a global leader in these fields.
- Signalling the beginning of a major transformation aimed at delivering a world class passenger experience “Air India unveils first retrofitted Boeing 787 Dreamliner” notes The Pioneer.
- And Finally, Indian Express reports Bangladesh High Commission’s first ever 4-day Handloom heritage expo turned out to be a huge success, with 300 sarees selling off the shelves in just one day.
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi today.
- India and Sri Lanka discuss oil pipeline link between the two countries.
- India and US to resume negotiations on Bilateral Trade Agreement in Washington DC this evening.
- Iran rejects second round of talks with US even as President Trump says American negotiators are heading to Pakistan.
- Election Commission releases figures of voters for first phase of assembly elections in West Bengal.
- In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs in New Chandigarh.
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