THE HEADLINES:
- President Droupadi Murmu to hold delegation level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Jammu on a 3-day visit to J&K to review security situation and preparations for Amarnath Yatra.
- Three-day meeting of RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee begins today in Mumbai to decide key interest rates.
- IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi and red alert for Gujarat as scorching heat grips several states.
- World Health Day being observed today across the globe to raise health awareness.
- Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil bags Gold medal in Men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at ISSF World Cup 2025 in Brazil.
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President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Lisbon early this morning on the first leg of her state visit to Portugal and Slovakia. President Murmu will hold delegation level talks with her Portugal counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. She will also meet Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and the Speaker of Parliament, Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco. The Mayor of Lisbon will also host a special event in her honour. President will also meet members of Indian community in Portugal and she is likely to meet some Indian researchers from various universities and academic institutions.
“The visit of President is Coming at a time when India and Portugal are celebrating 50 years of re establishment of diplomatic ties. President will meet and hold delegation level talks with President and Prime Minister of Portugal. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations President will also launch commemorative stamp showcasing the artistic and cultural heritage that unites India and Portugal. Pooja P. Vardhan, Akashwani News, Lisbon.”
From April 9 to 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 has assured BJP MLAs and senior party leaders that terror-related situation in the Jammu region will be brought under control soon. He reiterated Central Government’s stand on Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir that it will be restored at an appropriate time. Mr Shah held two hour-long meeting with all 28 BJP MLAs at party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar in the presence of Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh. Mr Shah arrived in Jammu yesterday evening on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review the security situation, interact with security personnel and inaugurate and lay foundation stone of multi-crore projects virtually in the Union Territory and check on the progress of development work.
“The Home Minister will be chairing two crucial and separate security review meetings. One of the meeting will be the Unified Headquarters in which Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, top brass of Home Ministry, Army, paramilitary forces, J&K Police, Intelligence agencies and civil administration will be present. The Unified Headquarters will review security situation in J&K with special reference to the Jammu region where infiltration attempts and movement of terrorists in upper reaches of Kathua, Udhampur and other districts has become a cause of concern. Besides security, other arrangements to be made for the Annual Amarnath Yatra will also be discussed. This is N. Gulshan Raina, For Akashvani News, Jammu.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that in the past ten years the Government had taken several efforts to strengthen infrastructure to connect all the four corners of the country. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Pamban vertical lift sea bridge in Rameshwaram and laid foundation for 8300 Crore rupees worth rail and road projects in Tamil Nadu. Addressing a public meeting in Rameshwaram yesterday, he said that the development of Tamil Nadu contributes to the development of the Nation.
Underlining that infrastructure development in Tamil Nadu is a priority for his Government Mr Modi highlighted that over the past decade, Tamil Nadu’s railway budget has increased more than sevenfold. Mr. Modi described the importance of the ancient Tamil culture and language.
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The second phase of First Edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 will begin in New Delhi today. The four-day conference will facilitate deliberations on significant strategic, operational, and administrative issues among the top Naval Commanders. Phase I of the conference was held at Karwar in Karnataka Saturday. The Conference is the Apex level biannual event which is playing a pivotal role in emphasising India’s role as a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), bolstering Indian Navy’s contribution to regional peace, security, and stability.
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Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organising a two-day Chintan Shivir 2025 from today at Dehradun in Uttarakhand. The focus of the Chintan Shivir is to advance the Ministry’s mission of building a just and inclusive society by addressing barriers to social, educational, and economic empowerment. The Conference will be chaired by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar. It will bring together domain experts and stakeholders from across the country to undertake a comprehensive assessment of key social justice and welfare initiatives.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow alert for Delhi and red alert for Gujarat as scorching heatwave conditions have gripped several states. IMD has issued yellow alert for heatwave conditions the two days for the national capital. A red alert has been issued for Gujarat for today, while an orange alert has been issued from April 8 to 10, with Saurashtra and Kutch regions facing severe heat wave conditions. We spoke to senior scientist at IMD R.K. Jenamani.
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World Health Day will be observed across the globe today to raise health awareness. The day is celebrated annually and each year it draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The date of 7th April marks the anniversary of the founding of World Health Organisation 1948. This year the theme for World Health Day is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”.
people have access to quality and affordable healthcare services and move towards building a healthier nation. In this line, the government is running various schemes including Ayushman Bharat, National TB Elimination Programme, and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, over 55 crore beneficiaries are covered with health insurance of 5 lakh rupees per family annually. So far 40 crore Ayushman Cards are issued under the scheme to the beneficiaries. Besides, to provide comprehensive primary health care to the people, 1 lakh 76 thousand Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operating in the country. The country’s advancements in public health, especially in maternal and child care, reflect a strong commitment to equitable and inclusive healthcare. Saklen Akhtar, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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A 3-day meeting of Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will begin in Mumbai today to decide the key benchmark interest rates or repo rates. The meeting will be the first monetary policy meeting for the financial year 2025-26, which will determine the outcome of the key lending rates for the central bank, scheduled to 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. Economists and market analysts will closely monitor the committee’s decisions, particularly regarding any changes to the repo rate, which currently stands at 6.25 percent. The MPC’s stance will provide insights into the RBI’s approach to balancing economic growth and inflation control in the upcoming fiscal year. Bhavana, Akashwani News, Mumbai.”
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Over fifty countries have contacted the White House to begin trade talks after US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping new tariffs. Top Trump administration officials defended these tariffs, even though they caused US stocks to lose nearly 6 trillion Dollars in value last week.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a news channel that more than 50 nations have started negotiations with the US since last Wednesday’s announcement, putting Trump “in a position of power”. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te proposed zero tariffs as the foundation for trade discussions, pledging to remove trade barriers and promising increased US investments by Taiwanese companies. US stocks fell nearly 10 per cent in the two days following Trump’s announcement of a more aggressive global tariff regime than expected by analysts and investors.
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Asian stock markets opened in a bloodbath today. The carnage came as US President Donald Trump defended his tariffs, saying any adjustment in the stock market will be temporary. Speaking about the falling markets, he said, the medicine can be necessary at times.
In early trade today, Japan’s Nikkei index plunged more than 7 per cent, as the fallout from Trump’s bombshell announcement last week continued to unnerve investors. South Korea’s Kospi was off 4.8 percent.
Australian blue-chip stocks, a benchmark index of the country’s largest 200 listed companies, also sank 6 per cent after trading opened today. The Taiwan stock index also plunged 9.8 per cent at the open.
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Former world champion Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at the ISSF World Cup 2025 Buenos Aires yesterday. Local hero Marcelo Julian Gutierrez took bronze with 230.1. This was Rudrankksh Patil’s second individual gold medal at an ISSF World Cup. He had also clinched the 10metre air rifle title at the 2023 Cairo edition.
Meanwhile, Arjun Babuta, who finished fourth at the Paris 2024 Olympics, missed out on a podium spot in Buenos Aires again despite making the final.
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In IPL T20 Cricket, Gujarat Titans defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in Hyderabad last night. Chasing a victory target of 153 runs, Gujarat Titans made 153 runs for the loss of three wickets in 16.4 overs. Skipper Shubman Gill unbeaten 61 was the top scorer for Gujarat Titans. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mohammed Shami scalped two wickets, while Pat Cummins took a wicket.
Today, Mumbai Indians will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” at 9.30 PM tonight, we will bring an insightful discussion on Community-Led Water Conservation Campaign with G. Asok Kumar, Former DG National Mission for Clean Ganga.
During the program listeners will have the opportunity to ask our expert questions about how to harvest rainwater, how to conserve water in day to day life and steps being taken by the government towards water conservation.
To participate, simply dial the telephone numbers 011 – 23421050 and 011 – 23314444, 9:30 PM onwards tonight.
Alternatively, you can also send your queries via WhatsApp to the number 9289094044 or post your questions on X with the hashtag AskAir.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- “Prime Minister unveils 1st ‘vertical lift’ sea bridge, 8300 crore rupee projects in Tamil Nadu”, leads The Asian Age.
- Hindustan Times, quoting BJP National President JP Nadda, writes, “BJP stuck to ideology even in power”.
- “Internal panel to review all regulations, says SEBI Chief”, states Financial Express.
- On the US tariffs, Hindu Business Line says, “Commerce Minister to brainstorm with exporters”.
- “A divine moment etched in light: Ayodhya celebrates Ram Navami with Surya Tilak”, reports The Pioneer.
- “Meghalaya’s Ryndia-Eri silk textile accorded GI tag”, reports The Statesman.
- “Chinese Airfield plan in Bangladesh district close to Chickens Neck area raises Indian concerns”, reports The Economic Times.
- “Delhi University kickstart initiative to revive spirit of civic duty, 16 other universities on board”, informs The Times of India.
- And finally,”Mandaviya leads 4000 plus cyclist in Rajkot for ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle'” reports The Statesman.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- President Droupadi Murmu to hold delegation level talks with her Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Lisbon today.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Jammu on a 3-day visit to J&K to review security situation and preparations for Amarnath Yatra.
- Three-day meeting of RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee begins today in Mumbai to decide key interest rates.
- IMD issues yellow alert for Delhi and red alert for Gujarat as scorching heat grips several states.
- World Health Day being observed today across the globe to raise health awareness.
- Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil bags Gold medal in Men’s 10m air rifle shooting event at ISSF World Cup 2025 in Brazil.
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