Evening News
===THE HEADLINES===
• President Droupadi Murmu holds delegation-level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon; Both leaders agree to strengthen partnership in several areas including trade, renewable energy, IT and skilled mobility.
• Home Minister Amit Shah says, government is deploying electronic surveillance system to safeguard the country’s borders.
• Defence Ministry inks two thousand 385 crore rupee contract with Bharat Electronics Limited to acquire Electronic Warfare and modernisation equipment for Mi-17 V5 helicopters.
• Thirty One Maoists surrender in Dantewada and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh.
• Global markets plunge amid concerns over trade war between US and China; Domestic stock market plummets around three per cent.
• And in IPL T20 Cricket, hosts Mumbai Indians opt to field against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
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President Droupadi Murmu today held delegation-level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon. In a joint media address after the meeting, President Murmu described the India-Portuguese ties as historic which are now being developed as modern and multi-dimensional partnership.
The President said, she held wide ranging and constructive talks with her Portuguese counterpart covering various areas of bilateral relations. Both the countries have agreed to strengthen partnership in several areas including trade, renewable energy, IT, start-up, innovation, skilled mobility and pharmaceuticals.
Our correspondent covering the President’s visit
“India and Portugal have agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations and increased cooperation in the areas of trade, renewable energy, IT, tourism, culture, education, pharmaceuticals and other sectors.
In a joint statement by President of India and President of Portugal after delegation level talks both the countries have agreed for mutual cooperation in trade and stronger economic relations between the two countries. POOJA P. VARDHAN, AKASHWANI NEWS, LISBON.”
President Murmu and President Rebelo de Sousa also graced the launch of postage stamps commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
President Murmu reached Lisbon this morning on the first leg of her state visit to Portugal and Slovakia.
On April 9 and 10, President Murmu will visit Slovakia at the invitation of the Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini. It will be the first visit by the President of India to Slovakia in 29 years.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the government is deploying an electronic surveillance system to safeguard the country’s borders and that technology will be used to detect and dismantle underground cross-border tunnels to thwart infiltration by terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the BSF personnel during a visit to Border Outpost ‘Vinay’ near the International Border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, Mr. Shah lauded the contribution of the force and praised the troops for performing their duties in challenging circumstances.
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Ministry of Defence has inked two thousand 385 crore rupee contract with Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru for acqisition of Electronic Warfare Suites and aircraft modification kits for Mi-17 V5 helicopters. The contract was inked in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi today. This state-of-the-art Electronic Warfare Suite will considerably enhance operational survivability of the helicopters in hostile environment. Defence Ministry said in a statement that majority of sub-assemblies and parts will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. The project will boost and encourage active participation of Indian electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs.
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A two day Chintan Shivir of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry started today in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. This conclave being represented by 15 states, will lay the foundation of future policies for the social empowerment and justice. The event is being attended by the Central Minister Virendra Kumar, MOS BL Verma, MOS Ramdas Athalwe with the CM Uttarakhand.
“Central Minister Virendra Kumar, talked about the important role of the state in implementation of central policies at the grassroot level. He said that the aim of such a conclave is to strengthen the coordination between state and center for not only better policy implementation but also to fight impeding danger like drug abuse in a collaborative manner. He also mentioned that the increase in number of participant states in the conclave is a positive sign. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.”
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A total of 31 Maoists have surrendered today in Dantewada and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh. Twenty -six Maoists have surrendered in Dantewada district. A reward of four and a half lakh rupees was declared on three of these Maoists. These Maoists surrendered before Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai.
Meanwhile, in Narayanpur district, five women Maoists have surrendered. A reward of one lakh rupees each was declared on them. The maoists who surrendered were given a check of twenty-five thousand rupees each as incentive. Apart from this, they will be given all kinds of facilities available under Naxal Rehabilitation Policy.
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The Government has decided to increase the excise duty on petrol and diesel by two rupees per litre. However, oil marketing companies have clarified that there will be no hike in retail prices of the two petroleum products. Briefing media in New Delhi, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that the hike in excise duty will not be passed on to the consumers.
According to the notification issued by the Finance Ministry, the raise in excise duty will be effective from tomorrow.
The Minister also said that prices of LPG Cylinder has been increased by 50 rupees. Mr Puri said that the price of LPG for Ujjwala beneficiaries will now be 550 rupees and for others it will be 853 rupees from tomorrow.
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Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) will be held from 1st May to 4th may in Mumbai. Talking to media in New Delhi today, Mr. Vaishnaw said that a very strong creator economy is forming in the country because Digital India has brought digital technologies to every corner of the nation.
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Haryana School Education Board, Bhiwani has decided to implement the three-language formula in class 9th and 10th in all affiliated government and non-government schools. This decision will be applicable in class 9th from the academic session 2025-26 and in class 10th from 2026-27.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said a lot of changes are being carried out in the party at organisational level. Addressing a programme in Patna, the Congress leader accepted that earlier some mistakes were committed in Bihar but now the party will take along all sections of the society. Earlier, Mr. Gandhi attended the Padyatra at Begusarai, organised by his party.
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Global markets today plunged amid concerns over trade war between US and China while domestic stock market plummeted around three per cent.
“Global markets plunged today, deepening a global stocks rout triggered by US President Donald Trump’s trade war and China’s forceful response to unexpectedly high tariffs. Germany’s Dax opened lower at 9 per cent, while London’s FTSE was down about 5 per cent. European markets were, on the whole, faring better than Asian markets in early trade. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index closed 7.9 per cent lower. Meanwhile, the 30-share index at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, tumbled 2,227 points to close at 73,138. The National Stock Exchange Nifty-50 plummeted 743 points to settle at 22,162. In the Forex market, the rupee today depreciated by 61 paise to close at 85 rupees and 84 paise against the US dollar.
ARJUN CHAUDHURI FOR AKASHVANI NEWS.”
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and exchanged perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Sub-continent, Europe, West Asia and the Caribbean. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said they agreed on the importance of the early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today started its 3-day bi-monthly monetary policy review meeting to decide the key benchmark interest rates or repo rates. The decision of the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by Governor Sanjay Malhotra will be announced on Wednesday. This meeting marks the first MPC session of the new fiscal year and comes shortly after the Union Budget 2025, which emphasized boosting consumption through income tax slab changes.
In February, the MPC slashed the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 per cent. It was the first reduction since May 2020 and the first revision after two-and-a-half years.
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A tri-services all women Circumnavigation Sailing Expedition, “Samudra Pradakshina” from Mumbai to Seychelles and back was flagged off today by Lt Gen AK Ramesh, Commandant, College of Military Engineering from the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Colaba in Mumbai.
The expedition, featuring an all-women 12-member crew from the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, embarked on a challenging 55-day voyage covering 4,000 nautical miles from Mumbai to Seychelles and back aboard the IASV Triveni.
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In IPL T20 Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were at 215 runs for 5 wickets in 19.4 overs against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai when reports last came in. Earlier, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first.
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In Tennis, India’s Yuki Bhambri, along with his Australian partner Alexei Popyrin, lost to Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany and Alex de Minaur of Australia 7-5, 5-7, 5-10 in Men’s Doubles pre-quarterfinals of Monte-Carlo Masters in France this afternoon.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” at 9.30 tonight, we will bring an insightful discussion on Community-Led Water Conservation Campaign with G. Asok Kumar, Former DG National Mission for Clean Ganga.
To participate, simply dial the telephone numbers 011 – 23421050 and 011 – 23314444, from 9:30 PM onwards tonight.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
• President Droupadi Murmu holds delegation level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon; Both leaders agree to strengthen partnership in several areas including trade, renewable energy, IT and skilled mobility.
• Home Minister Amit Shah says, government is deploying electronic surveillance system to safeguard the country’s borders.
• Defence Ministry inks two thousand 385 crore rupee contract with Bharat Electronics Limited to acquire Electronic Warfare and modernisation equipment for Mi-17 V5 helicopters.
• Thirty One Maoists surrender in Dantewada and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh.
• Global markets plunge amid concerns over trade war between US and China; Domestic stock market plummets around three per cent.
• Home Minister Amit Shah says, government is deploying electronic surveillance system to safeguard the country’s borders.
• Defence Ministry inks two thousand 385 crore rupee contract with Bharat Electronics Limited to acquire Electronic Warfare and modernisation equipment for Mi-17 V5 helicopters.
• Thirty One Maoists surrender in Dantewada and Narayanpur districts of Chhattisgarh.
• Global markets plunge amid concerns over trade war between US and China; Domestic stock market plummets around three per cent.
• And in IPL T20 Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangaluru set a target of 222 runs before hosts Mumbai Indians.