Morning News -

THE HEADLINES:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, government is committed to make India a sporting superpower, ahead of Olympics 2036.
India becomes first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, befitting reply will be given to those who dare to hurt India.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate 285 kilometres of national highways in Telangana today.
US President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariff on all movies produced outside United States.
In IPL cricket, Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants by 37 runs in Dharamsala.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his government is committed to make India a sporting superpower ahead of Olympics 2036. In a video address to launch the ‘Khelo India Youth Games 2025’, Mr Modi said, his government has increased the sports budget by three times over the past decade and allocated 4,000 crore rupees this year. Highlighting his government’s top priority to promote sports and improve infrastructure, he said sporting events are now organised round the year, and even the National Education Policy has recognised sports by making it a part of mainstream studies.

Over 8,500 young sporting talents of girl’s and boy’s categories will fight for medals in different events. The competitions will be held at six different cities, including Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai. Three kinds of events of cycling, shooting and athletics, will be held in New Delhi.

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India has become the first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched first two genome edited rice varieties developed by ICAR institutions. Addressing the event in New Delhi, the Minister said that this research will prove to be a milestone in Prime Minister Modi’s resolution of Viksit Bharat. He said that these two varities are not only beneficial to farmers but also to the public. These varieties have been developed for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

The first rice variety named DRR Dhan 100 Kamala has been derived from Samba Mahsuri which matures 15 to 20 days earlier and yields 25 percent more production. The second variety, named Pusa DST Rice 1, is salinity and alkalinity tolerant and yield 30 percent higher production under saline conditions. Cultivation of these varieties in about 5 million hectares of the recommended area will produce 4.5 million tons of additional paddy. Speaking at the ocassion the Agriculture Minister termed the launch of these varieties as historic and said that these two varieties will reduce the cost of production and increase the yield. He said that these will be more effective to fulfil the nutritional demands of the increasing population of the country.

ICAR said that these varieties mark a major step in climate-resilient and high-yield agriculture. It added that these varieties will play a leading role in heralding the second green revolution in the country. Akshit Vedyan Akashvani News, Delhi.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that as a Defence Minister, it is his responsibility to work with the armed forces and give a befitting reply to those who cast an evil eye on India. The Defence Minister said this while addressing the Sanskriti Jagran Mahotsav in New Delhi. Mr. Singh added that as a Defence Minister, it is also his responsibility to ensure the security of the country’s borders along with the soldiers. Mr. Singh said that whatever the people of the country desire, will happen under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Defence Minister said that now the whole world recognizes India and listens to what it says at the global platform.

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The Indian Army effectively responded to firing by Pakistan military along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir last night. Defence sources said, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small‑arms fire across the Line of Control opposite the Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Rajauri, Mendhar, Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian troops responded promptly and proportionately.

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Defense Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani in New Delhi today. The Ministry of Defence, in a statement, has said that during the meeting both sides will exchange views and ideas on the current regional and international security situation and discuss ways to further deepen the bilateral defense cooperation.

India and Japan share a long-term friendship, which has further gained qualitative momentum after the elevation of this collaboration to Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014. Defence and security are important pillars of the ties between these two countries. Defense exchanges between India and Japan have gained strength in recent years due to the growing convergence on strategic matters. This will be the second meeting between the two Defence Ministers within six months after their maiden interaction in November 2024 on the sidelines of ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus at Laos.

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Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, will inaugurate 285 kilometres of national highway projects at a total cost of about six thousand crore rupees in Telangana today.

Most of the projects completed and being dedicated to the nation today in Telangana are four laning and six laning of national highways, which will increase the connectivity to neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Some of them, like 10 kms-long six-laning on Hyderabad -Bengaluru highway will provide signal-free connectivity to Samshabad international Airport. Union Minister Gadkari will reach Kagajnagar in Komarambheem Asifabad district this morning and inaugurate 17.8 km widening work between Nirmal and Khanapur and 42 km four-laning between Mancherial and Repallevada. Later in the evening, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone to several projects in and around Hyderabad before addressing a public meeting at Amberpet in Hyderabad. Lakshmi, Akashvani news, Hyderabad.

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There is immense enthusiasm among devotees for the Kedarnath pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. The shrine is witnessing a heavy rush of pilgrims. Since the temple gates opened on May 02, over 55 thousand devotees have visited Baba Kedarnath.

The number is expected to rise significantly in the coming days. To streamline crowd management, a token system for darshan has been introduced for the first time this year, ensuring that every pilgrim can have a smooth and orderly experience.

Earlier, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines were opened on April 30, while Badrinath Dham was opened to devotees yesterday.

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The 58th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) began at Milan in Italy yesterday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is leading the Indian delegation at the four-day event. The finance minister will participate in the annual meeting’s focal events like the Governors’ Business Session, Governor’s Plenary Session and as a panellist in the ADB Governors’ Seminar on ‘Cross-Border Collaboration for Future Resilience’.

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US President Donald Trump will impose 100 percent tariff on all movies produced outside the United States. Taking to Truth Social, Trump announced that he has authorised the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative to begin the procedure of imposing 100 percent tariff on all foreign-produced movies coming into the United States. US President accused other nations of luring American filmmakers and studios away from the country. He said, the Movie Industry in America is dying a very fast death as other countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States.

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Moving on to the world of sports: In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 37 runs in Dharamsala last night.

Batting first, Punjab Kings posted a commanding total of 236 for five in the stipulated twenty overs. Prabhsimran Singh who smashed a blistering 91 was the top scorer for Punjab Kings. He was also declared Player of the Match. Chasing the target of 237 runs, Lucknow Super Giants fell short and made 199 for 7 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Today, Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Delhi Capitals in Hyderabad. The match will start at 7:30 PM.

Moving on to the Khelo India Youth games, On the first day of games yesterday, some fantastic performances were witnessed in different sporting events. Maharashtra archers ranked top in three of four events. In girls category, Tejal Rajendra Salve of Maharashtra clinched the top position in the charts in the compound qualifying round at Bhagalpur. In Boy’s category, Andhra Pradesh’s Kodandapani Thaurneesh Jathya earned the top rank in the boys’ recurve qualifying round with a total of 655 points in Archery. Meanwhile, In volleyball Jammu and Kashmir overturned a 1-2 deficit to beat Uttarakhand 3-2 in boys Group A and Gujarat beat Kerala 3-0 in girls Group B.

In Kabaddi, the Haryana boys’ team opened its campaign to retain gold with a comfortable 57-30 victory over Karnataka.

In Hockey The Indian Women’s Team concluded their Australia tour with a 1-0 win over the hosts in the fifth and final match at Punth Hockey Stadium yesterday.

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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 “Staying Safe During Heatwaves” with Dr. R. K. Jenamani, Scientist, India Meteorological Department and Dr. Anupam Prakash, Professor, Department of Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College.

During the programme, listeners will have the opportunity to ask our experts questions about prevention and treatment of heat related illnesses. 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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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha today. Met Department predicted moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in Bihar, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Assam, Manipur and West Bengal till tomorrow. IMD said that hot and humid weather conditions are expected to prevail over Kerala and Mahe. Parts of East Rajasthan can witness dust storms today. According to the weather agency, hailstorm conditions are very likely over Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha and Uttarakhand today.

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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,

Pahalgam aftermath and India’s graded response continues to grab the lead on the frontpages.
The Times of India, quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, headlines “Under Modi, you will get the Pahalgam hitback you want”. The Pioneer reports, “PM briefed by IAF chief, Rajnath warns of action.”
All “India cuts Chenab water to Pakistan through Baglihar Dam,” headlines The Asian Age; “India tightens water choke-hold on Pakistan, shuts Baglihar dam gates,” says The Tribune while The Statesman reports, “Chenab flow to Pak hit as Baglihar gates shut.”
Most papers have also covered on their front page the statement of External Affairs Minister saying, “Need partners, not preachers.” Coming ahead of PM Modi’s scheduled visit to three European nations next week, The Hindu headline reads, “Seeking partners, not preachers, EAM’s swipe at EU.”
Finally, a story in The Times of India says, modern day Haryana has met its prehistoric past in Mangar, a villlage within the folds of the Aravalli hills, where the ASI unearthed a five lakh year old workshop that is possibly the oldest in North India.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, government is committed to make India a sporting superpower, ahead of Olympics 2036.
India becomes first country in the world to develop genome-edited rice varieties.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, befitting reply will be given to those who dare to hurt India.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to inaugurate 285 kilometres of national highways in Telangana today.
US President Donald Trump to impose 100 percent tariff on all movies produced outside United States.
In IPL cricket, Punjab Kings beat Lucknow Super Giants by 37 runs in Dharamsala.