THE HEADLINES:
• India launches Operation Brahma to provide large scale aid to Earthquake hit Myanmar; First tranche of relief material reaches Yangon; Death toll rises to over 1600.
• President Draupadi Murmu urges adoption of eco-friendly lifestyle to protect and enrich the environment.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his thoughts in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Akashvani tomorrow.
• India and US reach understanding on next steps of multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement.
• Met Department forecasts 4 to 6 degree celsius rise in maximum temperatures in northwest India from tomorrow; Odisha reeling under severe heatwave.
• And in Table Tennis, Manav Thakkar becomes first Indian to qualify for semi-finals of WTT Star Contender event in Chennai.
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India launched Operation Brahma in the early hours today to provide assistance to Myanmar, the earthquake hit neighbouring country. Briefing media in New Delhi this afternoon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal informed that the first aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material reached Yangon this morning.
The first C130 sent to Naypyitaw has reached this evening. The NDRF team was received by the Indian Ambassador. External Affairs Ministry said India is the first to bring rescue personnel in the capital. The airport is still not fully functional after the earthquake.
The NDRF team will proceed to Mandalay early morning tomorrow. Addressing media at the special briefing, DIG NDRF Mohsen Shahidi said the next 24-48 hours will be very crucial. He said they look forward to a very active involvement on ground.
Commodore Raghu Nair, Indian Navy said they have four ships prepared for HADR operations. Two ships INS Savitri and INS Satpura have sailed and will reach Yangon on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the death toll has crossed 1,600 following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake Myanmar yesterday. The country’s military-led government said in a statement that 1,644 people have now been found dead, while the number of injured has risen to 3,408, with 139 still missing. It said the numbers could rise further as detailed figures are still being collected. Most of the fatalities are in Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, which was closest to the earthquake’s epicentre. A Red Cross official said that more than 90 people are believed to be trapped in the rubble of an apartment block in Mandalay.
In Thailand’s capital, Bangkok which was also hit by earthquake, ten people have been found dead, and 101 are still missing. Hundreds are believed to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
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President Droupadi Murmu has emphasised for adopting a lifestyle which is conscious and sensitive towards environment so that it is not only protected but also made more vibrant. The President stated this while inaugurating a National Conference on Environment -2025 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. The two day event has been organised by National Green Tribunal. The President added that environmental protection and its promotion will be possible only through continuous activism based on awareness and collective efforts of all.
Speaking on the occasion Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav said that India is focusing on ramping up innovations in low carbon technology.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Akashvani at 11 AM tomorrow. It will be the 120th episode of the monthly radio programme. The programme will be broadcast on the entire network of Akashvani and Doordarshan, the AIR News website, and the NewsOnAir mobile app.
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India-US Trade Talks which were underway in New Delhi concluded today. Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement that both sides have come to an understanding on the next steps towards a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement, with the goal to finalize its first tranche by end of this year. Representatives of India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative held talks since Wednesday. During the discussions the two sides also had a productive exchange of views on deepening bilateral cooperation in priority areas including increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and deepening supply chain integration in a mutually beneficial manner.
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The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Nagpur on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa and start of Marathi New Year tomorrow.
“On the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa and the beginning of Marathi New Year Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay floral tributes at the memorials of Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s founding fathers Dr. Keshav Hedgewar and Golwalkar Guruji . This will be the first visit by a sitting Prime Minister to the Sangh headquarters in Reshimbag area of Nagpur. Prime Minister will pay homage to the central memorial of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Deekshbhoomi stupa. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre at Hingana Road and address a public meeting. Dhananjay Wankhede, Akashvani News, Nagpur.”
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Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to Bihar from today. After reaching Patna this evening, Mr. Shah is holding a meeting with party leaders including Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs , MLCs and other elected representatives at the party state headquarters. After that he will hold a meeting with the State Core Committee of the BJP. Tomorrow, Mr. Shah will hold a meeting with NDA leaders at Patna.
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In Chhattisgarh, at least 17 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district of Bastar division today. Two jawans of District Reserve Guard were injured in this encounter. In a social media post, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a massive cache of automatic weapons was recovered in another strike against Naxals.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of Chhattisgarh Vijay Sharma has said, so far one hundred and thirty-three Maoists have been killed in various encounters in the eighty-five days of this year.
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In Jharkhand, in a big success against Naxalites,CRPF and police personnel have arrested Murari Bhuinya, area commander of banned extremist organization JJMP, from Katia forest area of Latehar district. More details are awaited.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, security forces today extended the ongoing search operation to new areas after the body of the fourth policeman and two slain terrorists were recovered from the scene of a gunfight in a remote forested area in Kathua district. Our Correspondent reports, the body of head constable Jagbir Singh was retrieved from Ghati Juthana forest in Rajbagh and was shifted to Jammu where a wreath laying ceremony was held near police headquarters Gulshan Ground. The bodies of two Pakistani terrorists, believed to be affiliated with proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit, were also recovered along with war-like stores.
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The CBI court today pronounced its verdict after 28 years in the much talked bitumen scam case in Ranchi. The court of CBI’s special judge P.K. Sharma sentenced five convicts including former state minister Mohammad Ilyas Hussain for three years of imprisonment each. The court has also imposed a fine of 32 lakh each rupees. Seven other accused in this case were acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence.
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Four people have been killed and 21 injured in a Russian drones attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The region’s head, Serhiy Lysak, said that a restaurant complex and several residential buildings were ablaze after the attack late last night. Local media reported that overnight, air sirens were heard in several other Ukrainian regions, including the capital, Kyiv.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said three Ukrainian drones were either intercepted or shot down over the western Belgorod region. Moscow has also repeatedly blamed Ukraine for attacking Russia’s energy sector.
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India Meteorological Department has forecast the rise of 4 to 6 degree celcius in the maximum temperatures in northwest India from tomorrow till Wednesday. Odisha is facing extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures likely to go up by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next two days. Across the state, the rising mercury continues to impose utter discomfort. A yellow warning has been issued for six districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir, and Kalahandi for the next two days.
“Met department has forecast heat wave conditions at isolated pockets of interior Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha tomorrow. It said there is an increased likelihood of heat illness symptoms in people who are either exposed to sun for a prolonged period or doing heavy work. There is a high health concern for vulnerable people like infants, elderly, and people with chronic diseases. People have been advised to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration. Hot and humid weather conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated pockets in Assam, and Tripura till Monday. Meanwhile, hailstorm activity associated with thunderstorm is very likely over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka on the 1st and 2nd of April. With Suparna Saikia, Aman Yadav Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Table tennis player Manav Thakkar made history by becoming the first Indian to reach the semi-finals of a WTT Star Contender event this evening. Competing in Chennai, Thakkar secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over South Korea’s Lim Jonghoon, an Olympic and World medalist.
Earlier, he defeated Germany’s Andre Bertelsmeier 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian table tennis, highlighting Thakkar’s resilience and skill on the international stage.
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In the Indian Premier League, Gujarat Titans were at 179 runs for 4 wickets in 18 overs against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, when reports last came in. Earlier, Mumbai Indians won the toss, opted to bowl first.
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Odisha Dibas Samaroh will be organised at Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium in New Delhi on 1st April. The theme of this day is Art, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. Addressing the media, Principal Resident Commissioner of Government of Odisha, New Delhi Vishal Gagan said that the event will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.
• India launches Operation Brahma to provide large scale aid to Earthquake hit Myanmar; First tranche of relief material reaches Yangon; Death toll rises to over 1600.
• President Draupadi Murmu urges adoption of eco-friendly lifestyle to protect and enrich the environment.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi to share his thoughts in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Akashvani tomorrow.
• India and US reach understanding on next steps of multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement.
• Met Department forecasts 4 to 6 degree celsius rise in maximum temperatures in northwest India from tomorrow; Odisha reeling under severe heatwave.
• And in Table Tennis, Manav Thakkar becomes first Indian to qualify for semi-finals of WTT Star Contender event in Chennai.
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