THE HEADLINES ::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Washington, D.C to hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump; India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership high on agenda.
- S. President Trump holds phone calls with his Russian and Ukranian counterparts to discuss Ukraine War.
- Income-Tax Bill, 2025 to be introduced in Lok Sabha today.
- World Radio Day being observed today with the theme of Radio and Climate Change.
- In National Games, Sachin Yadav of Uttar Pradesh breaks 10 year old meet record in Men’s Javelin throw; Gujarat’s Kosambia secures gold in Aerobic Gymnastics.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Washington, D.C., in the wee hours today after his successful visit to France. He will hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump as part of the second leg of his two-nation tour. India’s Ambassador to the U.S. Vinay Mohan Kwatra and other officials welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the airport. Members of the Indian community braved the harsh winters and gathered outside the Blair House to welcome Mr. Modi.
In a social media post after reaching Washington DC this morning, the Prime Minister said, he is looking forward to meeting President Trump and building upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. He added that both nations will keep working closely for the benefit of their people and for a better future of our planet. The Prime Minister also met the newly appointed US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard this morning.
“In Washington DC, Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Trump in both the restricted and delegation level formats. Mr Modi is also scheduled to interact with senior U.S. administration figures, business leaders and members of the Indian community. Mr Modi has been invited to visit the U.S. within barely three weeks of the new administration taking office. This shows the importance of the India-U.S. partnership. The visit will be a valuable opportunity to engage the new administration on all areas of mutual interest. There has been a very close rapport between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump dating back to Mr Trump’s first term. There is a convergence of interests between the two countries in a number of areas including trade, investment, technology, defense cooperation, counter terrorism, security of the Indo-Pacific and people-to-people relations. With Diwaker, Anupam Mishra, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
Earlier, during their bilateral talks in Paris, Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their strong commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership. The two leaders reviewed cooperation in the strategic areas of Defence, Civil Nuclear Energy and Space.
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In another development, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine on phone calls with both the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a social media post yesterday, Mr. Trump said that he and President Putin had agreed to instruct their respective teams to begin negotiations immediately. He also mentioned that he would initiate the process by reaching out to President Zelensky to inform him of their conversation.
The Ukrainian President’s office confirmed that Mr.Trump and President Zelensky spoke by phone for approximately an hour. On the other hand, the Kremlin stated that President Putin and Mr. Trump had agreed to meet in person, with the Russian President extending an invitation for Mr. Trump to visit Moscow.
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Meanwhile, Tulsi Gabbard has been confirmed as America’s new Director of National Intelligence under the Trump administration. Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s pick got the much awaited final Senate vote yesterday on her nomination to oversee and coordinate the work of America’s different intelligence agencies.
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The Income-Tax Bill, 2025 is scheduled to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill, which is aimed at consolidating and amending the law relating to income-tax, has been listed in the business of the House. In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced to bring a new Income Tax Bill. She had also announced that individuals earning up to 12 lakh rupees annually will pay no income tax.
The Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is also scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today, which is the last day of first part of the Budget Session of Parliament.
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Today is World Radio Day. Every year on 13th February, World Radio Day is observed to raise awareness among the people about the importance of radio and to encourage access to information through radio. It is also a day to remember the unique power of radio which touches lives and brings people together from every corner of the globe. This year the theme of the World Radio Day is – Radio and Climate Change.
In his message on World Radio Day, Chairman of Prasar Bharati Navneet Kumar Sehgal said, through dissemination of news and information, radio has an important role in cultural and economic development of the nation. He said, with the motto of Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya, Akashvani which is the biggest radio network in the world, is reaching the people of the country.
Greeting listeners, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati Gaurav Dwivedi said, on one hand, Akashvani has been a carrier of India’s rich culture and traditions and on the other, it has connected people at large with the journey of scientific progress in India. He said, there is hardly an aspect of daily life that has been left untouched by Akashvani.
Conveying her greetings on the World Radio Day, Director General of Akashvani Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur said, since nearly nine decades Akashvani is reaching the listeners with information, education and entertainment.
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Ram Singh Buddh, a resident of Gajraula in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh, is also known as the Radio Man. His Mann Ki Baat Radio Museum is also registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also mentioned him in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program. Here is a report…
“One thousand two hundred fifty-seven unique radio sets are preserved in Ram Singh Buddh’s Mann Ki Baat Radio Museum in Gajraula, Amroha, while the total number of radio sets is more than fourteen hundred. The smallest 3-inch and the largest 1.5-meter radio is present in the museum. These include radio models from the year 1920 to the present ones. Ram Singh Buddh says that he has a hobby of collecting antique radios and other items for years, but taking inspiration from the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat program, he created this museum of radio sets. He believes that radio is a powerful medium to convey one’s message to the common people.
Ram Singh Bauddh says that he has collected these radios by traveling across the country, and the purpose of creating this radio museum is to acquaint the coming generation with the unique history of radio. Om Awasthi, Akashvani News, Lucknow.”
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Now News from the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
To ensure a smooth travel of devotees in the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, shuttle buses will now be available along with e-rickshaws and auto rickshaws to reach Sangam without hassle. This decision was taken earlier in a meeting held by the Police Commissioner with police officers and other senior officials.
“With the new traffic arrangement in Mahakumbh, devotees will have more convenient options to reach Sangam and people will not have to walk great distances. Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Madand (रविद्र मादंड) said that this decision was introduced keeping in mind the convenience of the devotees who earlier had to walk a lot from the parking lots to Sangam. These vehicles will provide easy transportation of devotees to GT Jawahar.
The District Magistrate informed that from today, all offices and establishments in the city will be open. Traffic arrangements are being introduced to maintain a seamless commute. Meanwhile, in anticipation of a huge number of devotees coming on Friday and the weekend, the administration has also prepared a special traffic plan. Regarding the CBSE and ICSE board examinations starting from Friday, Mr Madand said that the traffic system will be specially monitored for convenience of the candidates. He appealed to the students to depart early for the examination center and use their personal two-wheelers to avoid traffic. With Abhishek Kapil, Adarsh for Akashvani News, Prayagraj.”
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In the ongoing 38th National Games in Uttarakhand, Sachin Yadav of Uttar Pradesh made history by breaking a 10-year-old meet record. He claimed the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw with 84.39 meters. Meanwhile, Gujarat’s Kosambia secured the gold medal in the Aerobic Gymnastics event. This is Kosambia’s third medal in the tournament, having already clinched a silver in the Group Aerobic Gymnastics category and a bronze in the Trio Gymnastics event.
“In athletics, Haryana’s Pooja stunned everyone in the women’s high jump event by clearing 1.84 meters, breaking Swapna Barman’s National Games record (1.83m). This stellar performance also secured her a spot in the Asian Athletics Championships. Gujarat’s Ruchit Mori delivered a brilliant performance in the men’s 400m hurdles, clocking 50.97 seconds to win the gold. Tamil Nadu’s Vithya Ramraj clinched gold in the women’s 400m hurdles, but her hopes of a second gold in the 4x400m mixed relay were dashed when her teammate dropped the baton. The men’s 5000m race saw a record-breaking performance from Sawan Barwal of Himachal Pradesh, who completed the race in 13:45.93 seconds, setting a new meet record and qualifying for the Asian Championships. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Dehradun.”
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light rainfall and snowfall accompanied with thunderstorms over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya till tomorrow, and heavy rainfall in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh today. IMD said that light rainfall is also likely over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim till tomorrow.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES,
- PM Modi lands in Washington for key 2-day US trip after adopting a roadmap for cooperation in AI with the French President. “India, France to develop modern nuclear reactors” writes the e-edition of The Pioneer.
- An easier version of Income Tax bill set to be tabled today bringing in the concept of ‘Tax Year’. A headline in The Times of India states “I-T Bill seeks to simplify tax laws, but no major overhaul.”
- “As China dims, India begins to shine in attracting several luxury global brands expanding their footprint in the country” writes The Economic Times.
- And Finally, The Indian Express reports on a study citing “Silent revolution: Drop in unschooled mothers from 47 percent to 29 percent in eight years.”
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN–
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Washington, D.C to hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump; India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership high on agenda.
- S. President Trump holds phone calls with his Russian and Ukranian counterparts to discuss Ukraine War.
- Income-Tax Bill, 2025 to be introduced in Lok Sabha today.
- World Radio Day being observed today with the theme of Radio and Climate Change.
- In National Games, Sachin Yadav of Uttar Pradesh breaks 10 year old meet record in Men’s Javelin throw; Gujarat’s Kosambia secures gold in Aerobic Gymnastics.
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