THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in New Delhi today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch fast track immigration system at seven airports today.
- Stricter curbs under GRAP-4 reimposed in Delhi-NCR as air quality deteriorates.
- Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire and hostage release agreement to end Gaza war.
- US lifts sanctions on three Indian companies including Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
- Grand cultural extravaganza ‘Sanskriti ka Mahakumbh’ to begin today at Kumbh mela in Prayagraj.
- And, both Indian men’s and women’s teams advance to quarterfinals of Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi.
[]><><><[]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in New Delhi today. Mr Shanmugaratnam will also hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. President Murmu will also host a banquet in his honor.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held meeting with the visiting dignitary in New Delhi yesterday. The two leaders discussed cooperation in semiconductors, industrial parks, skilling, digitalisation and trade development.
President Tharman is on a five-day visit to India. This is his first visit to India as the President of Singapore.
Historic ties between the two countries date back to 1965, when India was among the first countries to recognize Singapore’s independence.
During his visit to Singapore last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi elevated the relationship between the two nations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
As India and Singapore celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the meetings and discussions during this visit are expected to further strengthen the bilateral relations and explore new avenues of collaboration.With Diwakar’s report, Chirag Jha, Akashvani News, Delhi.
[]><><><[]
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the ‘Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme’ at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, bengaluru, Hyderabad, kochi and Ahmedabad airports today. This will provide world-class immigration facilities to travellers, making international travel seamless and secure.
According to the Home Ministry, applicants are required to complete online registration by filling in their details and uploading the required documents on the portal ftittp.mha.gov.in to enrol in this programme. Registered travellers will need to scan their airline boarding pass at the e-gate, followed by scanning their passport. At both the arrival and departure points, the passenger’s biometrics will be authenticated at the e-gates. Once this authentication is successful, the e-gate will automatically open, and immigration clearance will be deemed as granted.
The Home Minister launched the Fast Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Program in June last year from Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
[]><><><[]
The Government’s flagship initiative Startup India has completed nine years today. The scheme is intended to catalyse the startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
Over the past nine years, the Startup India initiative has played a pivotal role in shaping a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. With more than one lakh 59 thousand startups, India has firmly established itself as the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. It has created over 16 lakh direct jobs across various sectors. The Startup India initiative has launched various flagship schemes to provide comprehensive support to startups across different stages of their journey. These schemes aim to address critical areas such as funding, market access, and credit guarantees, ensuring the growth and sustainability of startups. With Dipendra Kumar, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Akashvani News Delhi.
[]><><><[]
A grand cultural extravaganza ‘Sanskriti ka Mahakumbh’ will begin today at the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela in Pyayagraj. The event will showcase the rich tapestry of Indian culture through a series of captivating performances by renowned artists. The main stage, the Ganga Pandal, will host performances by renowned artists from across the country, including a special presentation by Shankar Mahadevan on the opening day. Cultural programmes will also begin at the Yamuna and Saraswati Pandal today, while the Triveni Pandal will host a blend of cultural melodies starting January 21.
[]><><><[]
Special attention is being given to healthcare in the Mahakumbh 2025 which is underway in Prayagraj. A remarkable highlight of the Maha Kumbh’s healthcare efforts is the Netra Kumbh (Eye Fair), an initiative aimed at combating vision impairment.
The event’s ambitious target includes conducting five lakh OPDs, distributing three lakh eyeglasses, with a daily goal of 10 thousand consultations. Covering 10 acres, the Netra Kumbh boasts 11 hangars, where pilgrims undergo systematic eye examinations. Talking to Akashvani News, Organising Committee Member of Netra Kumbh, Dr Ranjan Bajpai said, a team of 40 eye specialists and 100 optometrists are conducting eye checkups at the Netra Kumbh.
This year, the goal is the Guinness Book of World Records. For those inspired to give back, the Netra Kumbh offers an eye donation camp. With Anand Kumar, Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News, Mahakumbh Nagar, Prayagraj.
[]><><><[]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Akashvani on the 19th January. It will be the 118th episode of the monthly radio programme.
People can submit their ideas and suggestions for the programme through the toll free number 1800-11-7800. People can also share their input online via the Narendra Modi App or the MyGov Open Forum. Suggestions for the upcoming episode will be accepted till the 17th of this month.
[]><><><[]
Amid the deteriorating air quality in National Capital Delhi, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to impose all actions under the Graded Response Action Plans (GRAP) 3 and 4 in Delhi-NCR. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data, Delhi registered an average Air Quality Index (AQI) above the 350 mark at 7 AM.
With the implementation of actions under GRAP 3 and GRAP 4, non-essential construction work, road construction activities, stone crusher operations, and mining activities have been banned across the entire National Capital Region. The restrictions have also been imposed on plying of BS -3 petrol and BS – 4 four wheelers diesel vehicles in Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. Besides this, GRAP 3 and GRAP 4 also mandate that the Delhi government and state governments in the NCR conduct classes in hybrid mode for children up to class 11. The concerned agencies, including state Pollution Control Boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have been directed to implement these measures promptly and strictly. Pallavi Parmar, Akashvani News, Delhi
[]><><><[]
Light rainfall lashed parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region, causing a significant drop in temperatures and improving visibility across the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that parts of the city will continue to experience rainy conditions until this afternoon. Talking exclusively to Akashvani, IMD senior scientist Dr RK Jenamani said that an active western disturbance is impacting North India including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi-NCR.
[]><><><[]
Snowfall is likely to occur in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand today. According to the Meteorological Department, areas situated at altitudes above 2,500 meters in the state are expected to experience snowfall.
[]><><><[]
Congress has released its fourth list of five candidates for the upcoming Delhi legislative Assembly Elections. The party has fielded Surender Kumar from the Bawana seat, and Rahul Dhanak has been nominated for Karol Bagh.
[]><><><[]
Israel and Hamas have agreed on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal after meetings with Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. The deal is set to begin on Sunday and will last for 42 days. Announcing the agreement in Doha yesterday, Prime Minister al-Thani said it will lead to the release of Israeli captives and a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The three-phase plan has not been published, but sources say, 33 of the hostages held by Hamas will reportedly be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails over the first six weeks of the ceasefire.
[]><><><[]
The US has lifted sanctions on three Indian entities, including Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The other two companies are Indian Rare Earths and Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Center. The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) stated that the sanctions, which were imposed during the Cold War era, have been removed to enhance US foreign policy goals. It mentioned that this decision will support shared energy security needs and joint efforts in science and technology between India and the US.
Simultaneously, the US has added 11 Chinese companies to the Entity List due to activities deemed contrary to US national security and foreign policy interests. The Entity List is a US government compilation of foreign individuals, companies, and organizations considered a national security concern.
[]><><><[]
In Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers defeated UP Rudras at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela last night.
[]><><><[]
In the Kho Kho World Cup 2025, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams showcased exceptional performances to advance to the quarterfinals at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi yesterday. The Indian men’s team secured a commanding 70 70 38 victory against Peru. Aniket Pote was awarded Best Player, while Ramji Kashyap won the Best Attacker title. Reflecting on the win, Aniket said their strategies have been clear since the first match, and the team is fully focused on winning the World Cup trophy.
[]><><><[]
TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
⦁ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the commissioning ceremony of three naval warships dominates front page headlines. The Hindustan Times quotes Mr Modi as saying “We stand for growth , not expansionism”.
⦁ The Times of India in a front page story reports “Government picks 1.5 acre site next to Pranab memorial for Manmohan Singh”.
⦁ Facebook parent company Meta’s apology for its CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments on the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 is widely noticed in the press. The Hindu states “After summons from panel, Meta apologises for Zuckerberg’s remark”.
⦁ And finally, in what some would call quibbling over semantics, the Hindustan Times in a front page story reports “‘Overweight’ out of India’s guidelines, is replaced by ‘Obesity'”.
[]><><><[]
HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:-
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in New Delhi today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch fast track immigration system at seven airports today.
- Stricter curbs under GRAP-4 reimposed in Delhi-NCR as air quality deteriorates.
- Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire and hostage release agreement to end Gaza war.
- US lifts sanctions on three Indian companies including Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
- Grand cultural extravaganza ‘Sanskriti ka Mahakumbh’ to begin today at Kumbh mela in Prayagraj.
- And, both Indian men’s and women’s teams advance to quarterfinals of Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi.
[]><><><[]
