17.04.2017
THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for taking a long jump towards building a new India by 2022; Reaffirms his commitment to development.
- Mr. Modi to inaugurate a series of projects in Gujarat today.
- Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari arriving in New Delhi on a five day visit to India; Delegation level talks tomorrow.
- The United States says, it is working with its allies and China on range of options on North Korea.
- Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins a referendum to expand Presidential powers till 2029.
- Indian Meteorological Department issues a heat wave alert over the northern and western regions.
- In IPL, Rising Pune Supergiants beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 27 runs in Bengaluru.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for taking a long jump towards building a new India by 2022. The Prime Minister, in his address to BJP national executives in Bhubaneshwar last evening, called for making India a happy and prosperous nation and a leading country in the world by 2022 for which he said the pace of progress needs to be quickened.
Reaffirming his commitment to development, Mr. Modi stressed on a pro-people proactive good governance, a P2-G2, agenda for the BJP and its governments. During his address he rejected the EVM row as another unsustainable product of the opposition parties.
Mr. Modi also insisted on socio-economic transformation dominating the national discourse. The Prime minister said, Jan dhan, van dhan, jal dhan will be the foundation of a new India.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari briefed the media on the Prime Minister’s address and said Mr. Modi has laid down his vision for a new India, and exhorted the party to work towards that end.
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Surat on a two-day visit to Gujarat. On his arrival, he proceeded for a 12 kilometre long road show from the Airport to the Circuit House. A large number of bike riders had joined the road show along with thousands of people on both sides of the road.
Our correspondent reports that the Prime Minister will inaugurate today a series of projects including a Multi Super Speciality Hospital and Research Centre in Surat and a diamond polishing unit at the Hira Bourse Special Economic Zone at Icchapur.
"Mr. Modi will also visit Silvassa town in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, where he will address a gathering apart from inaugurating a few projects. In Saurashtra, Prime Minister will inaugurate phase-1 of the ambitious Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation project for Botad and surrounding districts and he will also lay foundation stone for the phase-2. Under the project divided in four phases, the Gujarat government plans to fill 115 dams of Saurashtra region with overflowing water of the Sardar Sarovar Dam across river Narmada through a web of pipeline networks. VASUNDHRA, AIR NEWS, DELHI.
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President Pranab Mukherjee will embark on a one day visit to Patna today to participate in ongoing centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha. President Mukherjee will attend the felicitation ceremony to honour freedom fighters across the country. AIR Corespondent reports that freedom fighters from different parts of the country have come to Patna to participate in this memorable event.
"About three thousand freedom fighters of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Telegana, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra ,Haryana and other states will be felicitated today.The state government will honour those freedom fighters at their residences who will not attend this function due to health or other reasons. Women freedom fighters will also be felicitated.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Governor Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will grace the occasion. Representatives of different political parties including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi have also been invited to felicitate freedom fighters. WITH K K LAL, LALIMA ANEJA DANG, AIR NEWS."
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Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari is arriving in New Delhi today on a five day visit to India. This will be Bhandari's first foreign trip after assuming office in October 2015, following the promulgation of the new Constitution in Nepal. A high-level delegation comprising several ministers and MPs will be accompanying her.
In a press briefing yesterday, Joint secretary in the External Affairs ministry Mr Sudhakar Dalela informed that Mrs Bhandari will have delegation level talks tomorrow. He said, During the visit, President of Nepal will meet with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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In Kerala, the counting of votes polled in the April 12 Malappuram Lok Sabha by-poll is underway amidst tight security. According to the Election Commission data, 70.41 per cent out of 13.12 lakh voters had exercised their franchise, marking a slight dip in the 71.41 per cent polled in the 2014 general election in the minority dominated constituency. Official sources said, initial trends will be known by 9 AM and the final results were expected before noon.
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In Madhya Pradesh, Union Ministers Venkaiah Naidu and Piyush Goyal will attend the MOU signing ceremony for the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project in Bhopal today. Our Bhopal correspondent reports that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will also be present on this occasion.
"The state government is signing MOUs with three developers for the Ultra Mega Solar Power Project, to be built in Gurh of Rewa district. The government has set a deadline of October 2018 to complete the 750 megawatt project. It is claimed that the Gurh solar power plant will produce the cheapest solar power in the country. 24 per cent of power produced here will be given for Delhi Metro. SHARIQ NOOR, AIR NEWS,BHOPAL."
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The India Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave alert over Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana for the next 2 to 3 days. The department has also issued a thunderstorm warning over Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya. The IMD said, the heat wave is the result of an anti-cyclone over Pakistan and western Rajasthan, the impact of which is being felt across the northern plains.
Delhiites today woke up to a hot morning in the national capital though the humidity level stayed at a moderate level. The MeT Department has forecast a clear sky and the maximum temperature will hover around 41 degrees Celsius.
The mercury has gone up in Haryana and Chandigarh. Our correspondent reports that normal life has been affected due to temperatures that still above normal.
"According to Met department the temperature to cross 40 degrees this week and heatwave continue to prevail till the weekend.As in Punjab and Haryana the procurement of wheat is in full swing, the farmers are happy, they are not facing any difficulty in drying up their crops and they are getting full support price without any cut due to dampness. ASHWANI KUMAR SHARMA, AIR NEWS, CHANDIGARH."
In Odisha heavy rain accompanied by strong wind, thunder squalls and lightning, lashed many parts of Odisha including the capital Bhubaneswar last evening. A report:
Heavy rain with thunder squalls occurred in several places including Bhubaneswar, Khurda, Cuttack, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts. There is no report of casualty or injury and loss of properties. Most parts of interior and Western Odisha witnessed blistering heat and Bolangir town recording highest temperature of 44 degree Celsius. Met department predicts under the influence of Cyclonic Storm, Maarutha, which lay centred over east central Bay of Bengal, may trigger rains or thundershowers in the state. SN PATTNAIK, AIR NEWS, BHUBANESWAR.
Mumbai too is reeling under heat wave condition as a few regions have recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. More from our correspondent:
"The reason behind heatwave is said to be the upper air anticyclone over Gujarat region which is bringing in warm and dry north easterly winds. In Mumbai, temperature is continuing to play see-saw. V.K Rajeev, director of IMD’s Mumbai regional centre said though the day temperature is soaring but night temperature is still on the lower side and so there are chances that Mumbai may escape the scorching heat. On Sunday , the maximum temperature recorded in Santacruz was 33.6 degrees and in Colaba it was around 34.8 degrees Celsius. SONALI GHADYALPATIL, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI."
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The United States says, it is working with its allies and China on a range of options on North Korea. In an interview, the US top Security Adviser Lieutenant General HR McMaster said, tensions are mounting over North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. He said, there is consensus with China that this kind of a situation could not be continued. The comments came after a failed missile test was launched by North Korea and a massive military parade.
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Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has won a referendum to expand Presidential powers, which could keep him in office until 2029. With 99.45 percent of the ballots counted, the "Yes" campaign had won 51.37 percent the and "No" campaign 48.63 percent. The head of the Electoral Board said, official tallies would be released within the next 12 days. Meanwhile, the main opposition the Republican People's Party said the legitimacy of the referendum is open to question and demanded a recount of 60% of the votes.
Under the changes, after the next elections due in 2019, the Prime minister and Cabinet will be abolished, and Ministers will be directly appointed by the President and accountable to him.
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In Iraq, the Islamic State group has attacked Government troops with some type of gas in western Mosul. The spokesman for the Joint Operation Command in Iraq, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said that the Daesh terrorist gangs tried to block the advance of forces by using shells filled with toxic chemical material. He said, six soldiers suffered breathing problems from the attack.
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Rising Pune Supergiants beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 27 runs in an IPL encouner in Bengaluru last night. Batting first, Rising Pune Supergiants scored 161 for 8. In reply, Royal Challengers were restricted to 134 for 9 in their 20 overs. Pune now have four points from five games while RCB remained on two points after their fourth defeat in five games.
Today, In the IPL encounters, Delhi Daredevils will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at 4 PM while Sunrisers Hyderabad will clash with Kings XI Punjab at 8 PM.
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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:
- The Prime Minister's address at the BJP National Executive Meeting in Bhubaneshwar yesterday, occupies the front pages of newspapers. "Social Justice must also reach Muslims, but through Dialogue, not Conflict, says PM", is the headline in The Indian Express. "Modi reaches out to Muslim women and 'backward classes', opposes Triple Talaq", reports The Times of India.
- The All India Muslim Personal Law Board sending out a warning on Triple Talaq, is covered by The Hindu. Muslim men who misuse triple talaq without valid reason - will be subjected to social boycott, so that such cases do not arise in future. The AIMPLB, however, asserted its full constitutional right to implement Muslim Personal Law in the country.
- "Army Chief Bipin Rawat briefs NSA on J&K unrest and the 'human shield' row", headlines The Asian Age. The Army chief met NSA Ajit Doval on Sunday for 30 minutes and apprised him of the situation in the Kashmir valley, caught is a fresh spiral of violence.
- Meanwhile, Mail Today reports that according to military intelligence officials who heard the 'chatter' between ISI operatives and the terrorist leadership operating in the valley, the stone pelting protesters that recently attacked polling stations in Kashmir - were no 'flash mobs' - but part of a coordinated attack planned by Pakistan's ISI.
- "Hyderabad women triggers hijack alert at airport's", writes DNA. Security at international airports in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai were put on maximum alert to levels seen during Republic Day and Independence Day, after a Hyderabad-based women sent an e-mail to the Mumbai police saying she had overheard six people discussing a simultaneous hijacking of planes.
- After a scare of rice and sugar being made of plastic surfaced on social networking platforms, the Delhi food department had collected over 20 samples from various outlets in Delhi - to have them examined in laboratories.
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