ENGLISH MORNING NEWS 08:15 -

THE HEADLINES:

Startup Mahakumbh, showcasing the startup ecosystem of India, to begin today in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Vijaya Sankalp Sabha at Jagtial in Telangana this morning.
Enforcement Directorate summons Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today in money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board.
National Testing Agency to conduct CUET-UG exams between 15th and 31st of May as announced earlier.
Vladmir Putin wins Russian Presidential elections for record fifth term.
In Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Capitals by eight wickets to lift Women’s Premier League title.

<><><>

Startup Mahakumbh, one of the biggest events showcasing the startup ecosystem of India will begin in New Delhi today. The event will be held till Wednesday at Bharat Mandapam. The event will have sector-focused pavilions including pavilions on Artificial Intelligence, Business to Business, agritech, deeptech, climate tech, gaming, esports, fintech, incubators and accelerators. This startup event aims to connect startups with a spectrum of inventors including venture capitalists, investors and potential corporate partners. Speaking at a curtain raiser press conference in New Delhi, DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said this is the first of its kind event which is being organised at such large scale in the national capital. He said India has the third largest startup ecosystem and large number of startup ecosystems are adding to the list every day. Mr Singh further said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the event.

More than two thousand startups, thirty thousand future entrepreneurs, fifty thousand business visitors, thousands of investors and over five hundred incubators and delegations from ten countries will take part in this mega event.

Addressing a conclave organised by a media group in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the number of startups in India has gone up manifolds during the last ten years.

<><><>

In Telangana, BJP leaders have made all arrangements for Prime Minister and BJP senior leader Narendra Modi’s Vijaya Sankalp Sabha at Jagtial this morning. Mr Modi will address a public meeting at Gita Vidyalayam grounds at around 11.30 AM. BJP candidates from Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Peddapalli parliamentary constituencies will also attend the meeting. Lok Sabha member Arvind Dharmapuri and the party’s Nizamabad district president K. Dinesh Kumar reviewed the arrangements for the public meeting.

This is the third event of Mr Modi in Telangana during the past five days. He took part in a mega Road Show at Malkajgiri and addressed Vijaya Sankalp Sabha at Nagarkurnool two days ago, as part of his 5-state visit in the southern part of the country.

<><><>

In Punjab, voting for the Lok Sabha elections will be held in the seventh and last phase on 1st of June. Our correspondent reports that the total number of voters in the state are more than two crore 12 lakh 71 thousand.

This time an increase of 3 lakh 78 thousand has been recorded in the number of voters as compared to the year 2019. Among these, especially the number of women voters has been more than 2 lakh 24 thousand. Among the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state, the highest number of voters, more than 17 lakh 87 thousand is in the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency while the least number is in Sangrur, where voters are more than 15 lakh 50 thousand. Voters in the state will have to wait for the last phase of elections till June 1st but they will not have to wait long for the results. Shishu Sharma Shantal, Akashvani News, Jalandhar.

<><><>

The Election Commission has announced Para Archer and Arjuna Awardee, Sheetal Devi as its National PwD Icon. Her name was announced at an Exhibition Cricket Match between the Indian Deaf Cricket Association Team and the Delhi and District Cricket Association team in Delhi. The match was organised by the Election Commission in association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India to foster voter education and inclusivity. On the occasion, the Commission launched a dedicated Voter’s Guide for PwDs and Senior Citizen Electors.

<><><>

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). He has been asked to depose before the investigation agency at its office in the national capital today and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

This is the second case registered under the PMLA in which Mr Kejriwal has been summoned. He is already facing summons for questioning in the Delhi Excise Policy-linked money laundering case. He has skipped eight summons in this case till now terming them illegal. The Directorate had sent him the ninth notice in the Excise Policy case to appear before it on the 21st of this month.

The Enforcement Directorate in the DJB case has alleged that bribe money generated from corruption in a contract issued by this Delhi government department was passed on as election funds to the AAP. Last month, the agency raided the premises of Mr Kejriwal’s Personal Assistant Bibhav Kumar, party Rajya Sabha MP ND Gupta and others as part of this investigation.

<><><>

The National Testing Agency, NTA will conduct CUET-UG between 15th and 31st of May as announced earlier. In this period, two dates overlap with the general election dates on 20th and 25th of May. UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said in a social media post that after the last date for filling out applications on 26th March, the number of students registered for CUET-UG and their geographical distribution will be known. He said that based on this data and the election dates, the NTA will announce the date sheet for CUET-UG between 15th and 31st May.

<><><>

Russian President Vladimir Putin has clinched a historic fifth term, securing a landslide victory in the presidential polls. He hailed his preordained electoral victory as a sign of the country’s trust and hope in him. Mr Putin claimed another six-year term by getting 87 per cent of the vote. Election officials said, other candidates languished below five per cent. Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second and newcomer Vladislav Davankov third.

This victory has solidified Mr. Putin’s position as Russia’s longest-serving leader, surpassing Josef Stalin. Mr Putin told supporters in a victory speech in Moscow that he would prioritise resolving tasks associated with what he called Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and would strengthen the Russian military.

<><><>

North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles into the sea today for the first time in two months, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul for a conference hosted by President Yoon Suk Yeol on advancing democracy. South Korea’s military said, several short-range missiles flew about 300 km after being fired this morning from Pyongyang, the North’s capital, landing off the east coast.

<><><>

Following a 40-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata is set to bring 35 apprehended pirates to India. Navy officials said, the INS Kolkata has taken 35 sea pirates into its custody and is being brought to India along with the 17 crew members rescued after the major operation. During the operation, the Indian Navy forced the pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members from the distressed merchant vessel MV Ruen on Saturday. The merchant vessel is also being brought to India.

<><><>

Third meeting of the India-Maldives High-Level Core Group was held in Male yesterday, where the two sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian services to people of Maldives. In an official release, the Ministry of External Affairs said, both sides continued their discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation.

<><><>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the first-ever Formula-4 car show, which was held on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, will further help showcase the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. In a social media post, Mr Modi said, India offers great opportunities for motorsports to thrive and Srinagar is right on top of the places where it can happen. The first-ever Formula 4 car show was held on the banks of Dal Lake yesterday.

<><><>

In the the Final of the Women’s Premier League Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi last night. Chasing a target of 114 runs set by Delhi Capitals, Bangalore scored 115 for 2 in 19.3 overs. For Bangalore, Ellyse Perry was the highest scorer with 35 runs.

Earlier, deciding to bat first, Delhi Capitals were all out for 113 runs in 18.3 overs. For Delhi Capitals, Shafali Verma was the top scorer with 44 runs. Sophie Molineux was declared Player of the Match.

<><><>

Entire city of Mathura is smeared in colours as celebrations for the 10-day Braj Ki Holi began with Barsana’s famous Laddu Mar Holi yesterday. After the Laddu Maar Holi in Barsana village, the celebrations are scheduled to shift to Lathmar Holi today, where men from neighbouring towns, especially Mathura, will visit Barsana to participate in this unique celebration. The women of Barsana playfully hit them with sticks. As the name suggests, the Braj Ki Holi traditions take a cue from Lord Krishna and Radha’s life, and the celebrations at Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Gokul are dedicated to Krishna Kanhaniya, who spent his childhood in these regions.

Holi will be celebrated across the country on 25th of this month.

<><><>

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued orange alert in parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. It said that isolated hailstorm, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds will appear over parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand today. Light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning will also fall over parts Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and North-East India during the next two days.

<><><>

TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE:

“EC uploads more data on bonds till November 2023” is the lead headline in The Hindustan Times.
With India calling for discussion on scope of e-transmission moratorium at WTO general council, “India wants digitised goods tariffs to be kept outside WTO moratorium”, writes The Hindu Businessline.
With Rural sales growth continuing to outpace urban, “smaller towns the next pit stop for Carmakers” states The Business Standard.
The Statesman, takes notes of the operation in the Arabian Sea, “Navy’s 40hrs operation led to surrender of 35 pirates, rescue of 17 crew members”.
And finally, with more women participating in voting than ever before,The Times of India, has an inspiring story under the caption, “Every vote counts: How women are gaining bargaining power in politics.

<><><>

THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

Startup Mahakumbh, showcasing the startup ecosystem of India, to begin today in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Vijaya Sankalp Sabha at Jagtial in Telangana this morning.
Enforcement Directorate summons Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today in money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in Delhi Jal Board.
National Testing Agency to conduct CUET-UG exams between 15th and 31st of May as announced earlier.
Vladmir Putin wins Russian Presidential elections for record fifth term.
In Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Delhi Capitals by eight wickets to lift Women’s Premier League title.

<><><>