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India, European Union To Launch Trade And Technology Council

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi held talks with President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi on Monday. Both of them agreed to launch the EU-India Trade and Technology Council at their meeting.

“PM Narendra Modi held talks with EU_Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi today. They reviewed progress in the vibrant India-EU Strategic Partnership & agreed to deepen cooperation in areas of trade, climate, digital technology and people-to-people ties,” tweeted MEA spokesperson Arindam Baghchi.

A press release by the European Commission read, “This strategic coordination mechanism will allow both partners to tackle challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted technology and security, and thus deepen cooperation in these fields between the EU and India.”

According to the press release, both sides agreed that rapid changes in the geopolitical environment highlight the need for joint in-depth strategic engagement.

“The Trade and Technology Council will provide the political steer and the necessary structure to operationalise political decisions, coordinate technical work, and report to the political level to ensure implementation and follow-up in areas that are important for the sustainable progress of European and Indian economies,” read the statement.

The press release stated that the decision to set up a Trade and Technology Council will be the first for India with any of its partners and second for the European Union following the first one it has set up with the US.

Four children injured as crude bombs explode in West Bengal’s Malda

Four kids were injured when crude bombs, exploded in West Bengal’s Malda district on Sunday, as reported by ANI.

Two of them were released after preliminary treatment at the hospital and the other two boys are undergoing treatment at the Malda Medical College and Hospital.

“2 children have been discharged & 2 are still admitted to the hospital. Police team & bomb squad reached the spot. Probe on to find out the exact cause of incident,” SP Malda, Amitava Maiti told ANI.

Reacting to this incident, BJP co-incharge of West Bengal and its IT Cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted, “Mamata Banerjee should send a fact finding team of TMC representatives to Malda’s Kaliachak, to investigate how five children were injured while playing, when they mistook crude bombs for balls…Imagine the tragic state of affairs in West Bengal. It can’t be allowed to continue.”

A month earlier on 26 March, West Bengal Police recovered 40 crude bombs from Margram near Rampurhat.

And on 3 April, the police recovered crude bombs in a plastic bag near a football ground in Sikandarpur village of West Bengal’s Birbhum district.

 

TMC leader Anubrata Mandal skips CBI summons in cattle smuggling case

Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal did not appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had summoned him on Sunday for questioning in connection with a cattle smuggling case in West Bengal.

The TMC leader was also asked to appear before the CBI at 2:30 pm on Sunday in connection with the West Bengal post-poll violence case.

His lawyer wrote to the CBI, saying that since he was released from the hospital on Saturday and he will not be able to appear before the probe agency.

Earlier this month, Mondal was admitted to the SSKM Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata after he complained of breathlessness.

Pakistani boat ‘Al Haj’ apprehended by Indian Coast Guard, heroin worth Rs 280 crore seized

In a joint operation with the Anti-Terrorism Squad Gujarat, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a Pakistani boat with nine crew members on the Indian side of the Arabian Sea. The boat was carrying heroin worth approx 280 crore.

The Indian Coast Guard in a statement said that the Pakistani boat named ‘Al Haj’ was apprehended when it ventured into the Indian waters.

The statement said that the boat as well as its crew members were brought to Jakhau port in Gujarat’s Kutch district for further investigation.

“In a joint Ops with ATS #Gujarat, India Coast Guard Ships apprehended Pak Boat Al Haj with 09 crew in Indian side of Arabian sea carrying heroin worth approx 280 cr. Boat being brought to Jakhau for further investigation,” said the Indian Coast Guard.

This is the second heroin bust in a few days as on Thursday, 21 April in a joint operation with officers of Gujarat ATS, the Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized heroin from a container at the Kandla port in Kutch.

The consignment arrived at Kandla Port from Bander Abbas port, Iran. The consignment, imported in 17 containers (10,318 bags), has gross weight of 394 MT and was declared as “gypsum powder”.

So far, 205.6 kg of heroin, valued at Rs. 1439 crores in illicit market, has been recovered. The detailed examination of the consignment is still undergoing at the port.

On the basis of enquiry done so far, DRI has arrested the said importer under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985 and he has been produced before the Hon’ble Court of Special Duty Magistrate, Amritsar on 24 April. The Court has granted transit remand to enable the DRI officers to produce the importer before the jurisdictional Court at Bhuj.

Further investigation in the case is under progress.

PM Modi receives the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards Ceremony in Mumbai on Sunday. On this occasion, Prime Minister was conferred 1st Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award.

The award has been instituted in memory of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar which will be given every year exclusively to one individual for exemplary contribution towards nation building.

The Prime Minister started by saying that though he does not have too deep a knowledge of music but by cultural appreciation, it is felt that sangeet is both a ‘sadhna’ and an emotion.  He continued and said “the one that expresses the unexpressed is word. One that fills the expressed with energy and consciousness is ‘naad’. And the one that fills conscious with emotions and feelings and takes it to the extreme of creation and sensitivity is ‘sangeet’.

Prime Minister said that he is generally not very comfortable with receiving awards but when the Mangeshkar Family calls with an award that carries the name of an elder sister like Lata Didi, then it becomes a symbol of her affection and love. “It is not simply possible for me to say no to this. I dedicate this award to all the countrymen. As Lata Didi belonged to people, this award given to me in her name also belongs to people”, the Prime Minister said.

 

TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s Twitter Account Hacked, Posts About NFT Sneakers

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra’s Twitter account was hacked by a phishing attack on Friday. The TMC leader’s account was posting about NFT sneakers and her bio was changed to ‘DIGITAL ALCHEMIST’.

Her hacked profile bio read ‘DIGITAL ALCHEMIST – Marketing for Nike – Building the future of NFT sneakers/collectibles, created by creators.’ The tweets posted on her account were about NFT sneakers and collectables.

After her account was restored on Sunday, she took a dig at the trolls and tweeted, “My account has been restored. The trolls can have a job again.”

Earlier this April, the Twitter accounts of University Grants Commission (UGC) India, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Uttar Pradesh Government and Punjab Congress were also hacked.

BJP Registers Landslide Victory In Guwahati Municipal Polls, Wins In 58 Wards Out Of 60

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) recorded a landslide victory in the Guwahati Municipal polls. The alliance won 58 out of the total 60 seats, with the BJP winning 52 wards while the AGP securing six. The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won one seat each. Meanwhile, Congress, the state’s second-largest party, failed to even open its account.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Guwahati for the massive victory.

“Thank you Guwahati! The people of this lovely city have given a resounding mandate to @BJP4Assam to build on the agenda of development. They have also blessed the hardwork of the state government under CM @himantabiswa. My gratitude to every BJP Karyakarta for the hardwork,” tweeted PM Modi.

 

Do not travel to Pakistan for higher education: UGC, AICTE urge Indian students

The University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have advised students not to go to Pakistan for higher studies.

A joint notification issued by the UGC and the AICTE said that any student who pursues a degree from Pakistan will not be eligible for seeking employment or any higher studies in India.

“All concerned are advised not to travel to Pakistan for pursuing Higher Education, Any Indian national/Overseas Citizen of India who intends to take admission in any degree college/educational institution of Pakistan shall not be eligible for seeking employment or higher studies in India on the basis of such educational qualifications (in any subject) acquired in Pakistan,” read the joint notification by UGC and AICTE.

The notice, however, makes an exception for Pakistani migrants who have been granted Indian citizenship after they obtain Security Clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs.

“However, migrants and their children who have acquired higher education degree in Pakistan and have been awarded citizenship by India would be eligible for seeking employment in India after obtaining Security Clearance from M.H.A,” the notification read.

Digital transactions worth Rs 20,000 crore taking place in India every day, says PM Modi

In his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that BHIM UPI has rapidly become a part of our economy and habits. Modi said even in small towns and in most villages people are transacting through UPI itself.

Modi encouraged citizens of India to undertake a ‘Cashless Day Out’ experiment to see how digital payments are being adopted across the nation.

Modi said that last March UPI transactions reached around Rs 10 lakh crores.

“At present, transactions worth about 20 thousand crore rupees are taking place in our country every day. Last March, UPI transactions reached around Rs 10 lakh crores,” said Modi.

Talking about the water conservation PM said that 75 Amrit Sarovars will be built in every district of the nation.

“During the Amrit Mahotsav, 75 Amrit Sarovars will be built in every district of the country. You can imagine how big the campaign is. The day is not far when there will be 75 Amrit Sarovars in your own city,” said Modi.

 

Mamata Banerjee appoints Ripun Bora as president of its Assam unit

The TMC on Saturday appointed former Assam Congress President Ripun Bora as the party’s Assam unit president.

“Hon’ble Chairperson Smt. Mamata Banerjee envisions vast change for the furtherance and advancement of Assam and its people with All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) at the forefront.The Hon’ble Chairperson is pleased to appoint Shri Ripun Bora (Ex-MP, Rajya Sabha & former Minister, Govt. of Assam) as the State President of AITC Assam unit with immediate effect,” TMC said in a press release.

Ripun Bora on 18 April, joined the All India Trinamool Congress in Kolkata becoming the latest leader to leave the Congress in Assam.

“I have been associated with INC since 1976, right from my student life and during this long period I served the party at different capacity with party and constitutional posts, but today with heavy heart, I tender my resignation,” Bora wrote in his resignation letter.