Month: April 2023

Operation Kaveri | India brings back another batch of 229 people from Sudan

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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India evacuated 229 more stranded Indians in Sudan, who were brought home on Sunday under mission ‘Operation Kaveri’. The fresh batch of evacuees arrived in Bengaluru, a day after 365 people returned from the African country to Delhi.

”#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter.

#OperationKaveri

One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/5OGEh7WM7D

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023

In another tweet, he said that another Indian Airforce flight carrying 40 evacuees also landed in New Delhi.

#OperationKaveri developments.

A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India. pic.twitter.com/kDcx13a40i

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023

Also Read: Operation Kaveri | Over 50 Gujarat residents reach Ahmedabad as rescue operations from Sudan continue

As many as 125 people among the 229 evacuees hail from Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan.

From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined, he said.Rajan said 255 people from Karnataka, including 134 from Shivamogga district and 53 from Mysuru, have so far returned to the state in four batches since April 27.

As per Jaishankar, the total number of evacuees from Sudan now stands at 2,300.

Under the evacuation mission, 754 people arrived in India in two batches on Friday. The Indians were brought back from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.  India had positioned two transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force in Jeddah and the naval ship INS Sumedha at Port Sudan as part of its contingency plans to evacuate Indians.

On April 27, a batch of evacuees flew back to Mumbai from Jeddah airport on an Indian Air Force C17 Globemaster flight, carrying 246 passengers.

The first batch of 360 evacuees returned to New Delhi in a commercial plane on Wednesday. The second batch of 246 Indian evacuees arrived in Mumbai from Jeddah airport on an Indian Air Force C17 Globemaster flight on Friday.

Under ’Operation Kaveri’, India has been taking its citizens in buses from the conflict zones of Khartoum and other troubled areas to Port Sudan from where they are being taken to Jeddah in the IAF’s heavy-lift transport aircraft and the Indian Navy’s ships.

From Jeddah, the Indians are being brought back home in either commercial flights or IAF’s aircraft.

India has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, and the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been coordinating with them, besides being in touch with the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group that has reportedly left around 400 people dead.

Earlier in the week, Jaishankar had announced the launch of ‘Operation Kaveri’ to bring back stranded Indians from the war-ravaged African country.

Also Read: Operation Kaveri brings around 1,100 Indians back home from Sudan — The journey so far in pictures

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Meet the 4 changemakers, PM Modi praised in 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the work of four Indian changemakers, who have tried to promote the idea of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ with their unique ideas. The four guests had appeared in the earlier episodes of the programme. In his 100th episode, PM discussed with them about the progress they have made.

Here are those four changemakers, PM held a telephonic conversation with: 

Bijay Shanti Devi

Tongbram Bijyashanti Devi from Manipur manufactures clothes from Lotus stem fibre. Twenty- nine year old young entrepreneur founded the innovative startup, Sanajing Sana Thambal in 2018, to build a business out of lotus stem. Through the initiative, Bajyashanti is empowering women by providing them employment. She has a team of 30 women and planning to expand it to 100 women this year.  Her unique and eco-friendly idea was discussed in Mann Ki Baat earlier and has given her global recognition.

Speaking over telephone with Prime Minister Modi in the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Vijay Shanti said, “From Prime Minister’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ everyone knows about Lotus stem fibre now. I have got a market….From USA…so they want to buy in bulk in large quantities…but I want to send from this year to US also. From this year, I will export our Made in India lotus fibre products.”

The strength of our Nari Shakti and a commitment to furthering a spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’ can take India to new heights. You will feel happy to know about strong determination of Bijay Shanti Ji from Manipur. #MannKiBaat100 pic.twitter.com/XiF62JTRxA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023

Also Read: Mann ki Baat completes 100 episodes, thousands tune in to celebrate milestone

Manzoor Ahmad

Manzoor Ahmad hails from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, where he runs a manufacturing unit of pencil slates. With his unique idea, Ahmad provides employment to around 200 people of his Oukhoo village which is now known as the “pencil village of India”. PM had earlier mentioned and praised Manzoor Ahmad in the 70th episode of his monthly radio program in August 2021.

“Ever since you mentioned our Man Ki Baat in Mann ki Baat programme, sir, work has increased a lot since then sir…and…employment for others has also increased a lot in this work…I have many orders for this, now I am going to expand further in one or two months and cover two to four villages,” Ahmad said in a conversation with PM Modi.

We have celebrated many inspiring life journeys of self-reliance through #MannKiBaat. Today, spoke to the remarkable Manzoor Ahmad Ji from Jammu and Kashmir who makes pencils which have travelled globally! #MannKiBaat100 pic.twitter.com/Kdog8lyuxx

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023

Sunil Jaglan

Sunil Jaglan, a former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind, Jaglan launched the campaign ‘Selfie with Daughter’ in June 2015. The campaign launched from a small village in Haryana about eight years ago to raise awareness about ills like female foeticide has gradually snowballed into a success. Jaglan also created a dedicated website for the initiative where people could share selfies with their daughters.

“The battle you started to bring smiles on the faces of daughters of Haryana, which the country has tried to win under your leadership…it is really a big thing for me and for the father of every daughter and for all those who love daughters,” Jaglan said hailing PM Modi for ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyaan’.

A common theme across various #MannKiBaat programmes has been mass movements aimed at societal changes. One such popular movement was ‘Selfie With Daughter.’ During #MannKiBaat100 I spoke to Sunil Ji, who was associated with it. pic.twitter.com/EMbRYfs7kW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023

Pradeep Sangwan

Pradeep Sangwan established the ‘Healing Himalayas Foundation’ to clean the trash from the Himalayas. With the campaign started nearly seven years ago, Sangwan’s team has approximately cleared 8,00,000kgs of non-biodegradable waste from foothills of Himalayas so far.

He said, ” After 2020, following the mention in Mann Ki Baat, many things have changed. Earlier, our team was able to conduct only seven to 10 cleaning drives in a year but today, but now we have been collecting five tonnes of garbage on a daily basis from different locations.”

When it comes to fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Swachh Bharat, the people of India have done exceptional work. One such effort is by Pradeep Sangwan Ji, who talks about his work which furthers cleanliness and encourages tourism. #MannKiBaat100 pic.twitter.com/6IyL7whW13

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023

PM Modi’s radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” was first aired on October 3, 2014. It is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am n the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. Through his programme, PM Modi addresses the people of the country on different issues. He has stressed on various healthcare related issues, including the programmes and measures taken to bolster the health infrastructure, capacity building and access and affordability, in India.

Also Read: Mann Ki Baat: 100th episode of PM Modi’s radio programme broadcast live in UN headquarters

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Remembering Dadasaheb Phalke — The founder of Indian cinema who died forgotten

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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‘Dekhi zamane ki yaari
Bichhde sabhi, bichhde sabhi baari baari’…

It is often said that the film industry is cruel, where one can rise to stardom overnight but can just as easily fade into obscurity. It would be difficult for one to absorb that the story of the founder of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke was similar to that of Guru Dutt’s Suresh Sinha in Kaagaz ke Phool.

But that’s the story of the man who established the Indian film industry. The man who laid the foundation of the billion-dollar industry – he died unappreciated and unremembered.

Once at an event, Prithviraj Kapoor stepped down and asked Dadasaheb Phalke to join the dignitaries on the stage, film historian Amrit Gangar recounted at the Raja Harishchandra screening held by the National Museum of Indian Cinema, Mumbai on the occasion of Phalke’s birth anniversary. While his contribution to the film industry were being detailed, no one barring Kapoor, identified the father of India cinema sitting among the audience, Gangar said.

Born to a Hindu priest in the year 1870 in today’s Nashik, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who later came to be known as Dadasaheb Phalke, had the heart of an artist. As a filmmaker, Phalke, with assistance from his wife, headed all the various aspects of filmmaking. His training began young.

At the age of 15, Palke joined the prestigious Sir JJ School of Arts for a drawing course. He also garnered knowledge about oil and watercolour painting at Kala Bhawan. It was here that he gained insight into architecture and photography, the two skills which later proved to be an asset when he turned to filmmaking.

Also Read: Harry Belafonte, thank you for a calypso childhood!

Phalke got married at around the age of 16, but he soon lost his wife and child due to the plague. Later in the 1900s, he married again to Saraswati, who went on to be his life as well as business partner for a long time.

Post a brief stint as a professional photographer, Phalke moved from Godhara to Baroda where he met the German illusionist Carl Hertz, who worked with the Lumiere Brothers, and learned the tricks of photography that he later employed in his films.

Phalke worked as a draftsman with the Archaeological Survey of India and then started a printing press in Lonavala where he worked in close collaboration with renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma.

It wasn’t until 1911 that Phalke turned to filmmaking. Alice Guy-Blache’s The Life of Christ left a lasting impression on him. He was determined to bring the Indian deities on screen. And thus began his year-long pursuit of knowledge and material required for filmmaking in India and Europe.

In the process, Phalke devoted hours to watching films. This excessive eye strain coupled with sleep deprivation led him to get cataracts and eventual eyesight loss, but he was not a man to be deterred.

The earliest of Phalke’s work was a short film called Growth of a Pea Plant, which helped him get finances for his film. In 1913, he release Raja Harishchandra, which is today credited as the first feature film of India. Following the success of his films, businessmen approached Phalke for partnerships. And thus came into being the Hindustan Cinema Film Company. Phalke resisted the intervention from the financers with regard to his films and left the studio multiple times.

Towards the end of his career, his films no longer recreated the success of his earlier films. After making 95 feature films, with emerging competition from talkies, Phalke knew it was time to retire. He eventually died in 1944, unappreciated and forgotten.

Also Read: Online ‘micro’ movie festival coming up to help aspiring filmmakers

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

MI vs RR Highlights: SKY, Tim David specials lead Mumbai Indians to emphatic victory in 1000th IPL game

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Live Score, IPL 2023 MI vs RR Latest Score: Mumbai Indians (MI) take on the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wankhede Stadium in what promises to be a blockbuster clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday evening.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Pakistan President Alvi returns another bill seeking amendments to anti-corruption laws to Parliament

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned a bill to the parliament about changes in the anti-corruption laws with observation that a similar previous amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court and was still sub-judice.

The bill called the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed earlier this month by the parliament and it was sent to President Alvi for his endorsement to become an act.

The bill not only empowers the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief to transfer corruption cases involving allegations of less than Rs500 million to the relevant agency, authority or department but also to close down pending inquiries and investigations.

“The president sent back the bill to Parliament under Article 75 (president’s assent to bills) of the Constitution,” the President’s Office said in a tweet.

Also Read: India asserts J&K is ‘integral, inalienable’ part of country, slams Pakistan at UN

It added that the President stated that previous amendments to the NAB law were already under hearing in the Supreme Court and any more changes in the accountability laws “without reviewing the effects of a pending matter should be reviewed once again”.

The government last year passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 to restrict the NAB’s role in corruption cases of over Rs500 million and taking away the president’s authority to appoint accountability court judges. The law also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau’s prosecutor general to three years.

Alvi had refused to sign the bill and it became a law after the joint session of the Parliament on June 10 last year approved it. However, former premier Imran Khan challenged it in the Supreme Court where it is still pending adjudication.

Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party allege that the ruling alliance is tweaking the anti-corruption laws to wriggle out of several graft cases but the government rejects the argument by saying that it is reducing the unnecessary intrusion of NAB powers that hamper business and investment.

Also Read: India, Russia to explore possibility of accepting RuPay and Mir cards

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to hand over patrol vessel, landing craft to Maldives as India’s gift

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India’s “gift” during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3.

The defence ministry said this on Sunday, noting that Singh’s visit to the Maldives will be an “important landmark” in building “strong bonds” of friendship between the two countries.

The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years.

India’s decision to provide the military platforms to the Maldives came amid China’s persistent efforts to expand its overall influence in the region.

During his visit, Singh is scheduled to call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Defence Minister Mariya Didi.

“In tune with India’s commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will gift one fast patrol vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

Singh is also set to take stock of the implementation of various India-assisted projects in the Maldives and will interact with the Indian diaspora.

Also Read: Mann Ki Baat: 100th episode of PM Modi’s radio programme broadcast live in UN headquarters

“India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters,” the ministry said.

“India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) along with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy as well as Maldives’ ‘India First’ policy seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean region,” it added.

On Singh’s talks with the Maldivian defence and foreign ministers, it said the entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed.

The Maldives is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s Neighbourhood First policy.

In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), billed as the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation.

Under the project, a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect Maldivian capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane visited the Maldives last month and held talks with his Maldivian counterpart, Major General Abdulla Shamaal.

Also Read: Arunachal on ‘Road to Progress’: How Centre’s ‘Act East’ policy gave boost to infra | Exclusive

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

India, Russia to explore possibility of accepting RuPay and Mir cards

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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To enable hassle-free payments amid sanctions imposed by the West on Moscow, India and Russia will explore the possibility of accepting RuPay and Mir cards in each other’s country. The mutual acceptance of RuPay (India) and Mir cards (Russia) will help Indian and Russian citizens to make hassle-free payments in Indian rupees and Russian ruble in their respective countries, sources said.

The two countries discussed and agreed to explore the opportunity of allowing acceptance of these cards in a recent high level Internal Governmental Commission meeting on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).

The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Russia Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. They agreed to explore the possibility of interaction of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of National Payment Corporation of India and the Faster Payments System (FPS) of the Bank of Russia.

Also Read: Getting UPI customers to move to credit card will be easy, says HDFC Bank

Besides, both agreed to look at adopting the Russian financial messaging system, Services Bureau of Financial Messaging System of the Bank of Russia, for cross border payments.

Currently, overseas payments from India and vice versa are through the SWIFT network. At the given point when sanctions are imposed, sources said, it would not be feasible for India to opt for other than SWIFT network.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong launched the cross-border connectivity between UPI and PayNow.

Linkage of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Singapore’s PayNow now allows people in the two countries to undertake faster and cost-efficient digital transfers.

It will also help the Indian diaspora in Singapore, especially migrant workers and students, through instantaneous and low-cost transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice versa.

The PayNow-UPI linkage is the world’s first real-time payment systems linkage to use a scalable cloud-based infrastructure that can accommodate future increases in the volume of remittance traffic.

To begin with, the State Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Indian Bank and ICICI Bank will facilitate both inward and outward remittances while Axis Bank and DBS India will facilitate inward remittances.

The UPI was launched in 2016, and since then it has emerged as the most popular and preferred payment mode pioneering person-to-person and person-to-merchant transactions, accounting for 75 per cent of the total digital payments.

The volume of UPI transactions has increased manifold from 0.45 crore in January 2017 to 804 crore in January 2023. The value of UPI transactions has increased from just Rs 1,700 crore to Rs 12.98 lakh crore during the same period.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.

It has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It facilitates payments through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), UPI, Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC Fastag) and Bharat BillPay.

With inputs from agencies. 

Also Read: One billion UPI transactions per day is the near-term goal: NPCI Chief

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Arunachal on ‘Road to Progress’: How Centre’s ‘Act East’ policy gave boost to infra | Exclusive

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Centre’s emphasis on ‘Act East’ policy has led to major infrastructure development in the strategically and politically important Arunachal Pradesh in the past 10 years.

CNN-News18 travelled to Arunachal Pradesh to see the ground reality. In 2010, when this journalist tried to reach Arunachal via Bhalukpong, the plan had to be changed owing to bad roads. This time, the plan was to cover Tawang and West Kameng districts via road.

Here’s what happened next:

Around 6.20 am, the plane landed at Guwahati. Via Tezpur, News18 reached Bhalukpong around 11.30 am. The inner line permit was checked and the team moved forward.

There were fears of bad roads. There is a local story about a soldier, who started for his wedding a week in advance, but missed it owing to bad roads and landslide, which is often cited as an example. However, this didn’t seem to be the case anymore. News18 spotted good roads with speed-breakers and ‘Go Slow’ signs.

Also Read: Assam, Arunachal sign MoU to resolve 7-decade-old border dispute

We reached Sessa, the Army transit point, within a short period.

The Border Roads Organisation’s mammoth efforts, with focus on ‘Nation First’ and road development, were visible.

The attention being paid to infrastructure development in the North-East is evident from the construction of roads, tunnels, caverns and underground ammunition stores along the LAC in the eastern sector.

NECHIPHU TUNNEL: THE FIRST DESTINATION

The Nechiphu Tunnel, at an altitude of 5,700 feet, is a unique 500-metre-long D-shaped, single tube, double lane tunnel on the Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) Road in West Kameng district.

The tunnel, which can accommodate two-way traffic and will be equipped with modern lighting and safety facilities, is key for the military and civilians. It has been conceived to bypass extreme foggy conditions prevailing around Nechiphu Pass, which has been causing a hindrance to general traffic and military convoys for many decades. The tunnel will be provided with a state-of-the-art electro-mechanical system, including firefighting devices, auto illumination system and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) controlled monitoring systems. It will also accommodate raised footpaths on both sides for safer pedestrian movement and will have ducts for power cables, optical fibre cables and utility lines to strengthen the civic infrastructure.

Task Commanding force chief Col Ravi Tiwari gave News18 a glimpse of the all-weather tunnel built using advanced technology. “Huge emphasis has been given to infrastructure and Nechiphu Tunnel is an example. We have worked in harsh weather to build it. There were challenges due to two landslides in the past, but our josh remained high.”

The tunnel offers a smooth passage to Sela pass and also to Tawang.

As Arunachal Pradesh chants the development mantra, News18 continues its journey in the state for more milestones.

Also Read: Arunachal Pradesh: Army officers learning Tibetology to better connect with local population in border areas

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Mann Ki Baat: 100th episode of PM Modi’s radio programme broadcast live in UN headquarters

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In a “historic moment”, the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters here in the early hours of Sunday. The 100th episode of Modi’s monthly radio address was aired at 1:30 am (local time) Sunday in New York. It was aired in the UN’s Trusteeship Council Chamber.

“Just started. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ at the Trusteeship Council, UN Headquarters New York,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj tweeted.

Just started. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ at Trusteeship Council, UN Headquarters New York

1:30am EST#MannKiBaat100 pic.twitter.com/zZ7ylf33KA

— Ruchira Kamboj (@ruchirakamboj) April 30, 2023

Ahead of the broadcast, the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said, “Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modi’s ”Mann Ki Baat” is set to go live on April 30th in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ!”

“#MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in India’s developmental journey,” the Permanent Mission said.

“As #MannKiBaat goes global with a live broadcast at UN Headquarters, let’s take a moment to appreciate the impact it has had in promoting inclusivity and public participation,” the Mission said in another tweet, accompanied by a special video on the radio programme.

Also Read: Mann Ki Baat — here’s how it became the ideal platform to discuss key healthcare issues and solutions in India

The 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was also live-streamed at the Indian diplomatic missions in several countries across the globe. The events were attended by Indian community members and embassy officials.

The events were also organised by the Indian missions in the UK, China, South Africa, Chile, Morocco, Mexico, Congo, Iraq and Indonesia among others.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also attended a special event New Jersey, organised by the Indian-community where the 100th episode of the radio programme was broadcast.

Joining diaspora and friends of India in New Jersey, USA for #MannKiBaat100 https://t.co/dZNBiCrmHf

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023

Jaishankar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ is the story of a changing India – a ‘New India – and is a connection between India and the world.

“In many ways, the story of Mann Ki Baat is the story of the last nine years, is the story of changing India. It is the emergence of a ‘New India’, it is the connection between India and the world – that this is today a different India, a more aware India, in many ways, I would say a more aspirational India which is connecting to the world,” he added.

India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Consul General of India in New York Randhir Jaiswal, Indian-American Senator Kevin Thomas, Indian-American Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and Edison Mayor Sam Joshi as well as other prominent members of the Indian-American community were among the guests present for the special live broadcast.

In London, a live broadcast of the ‘Mann ki Baat’ was organised at the Indian High Commission. Union Minister for Science Dr Jitendra Singh, who is on a tour of the UK, joined the event along with the community members and officials of the Indian mission.

”A new milestone for the #MannKiBaat series. Indian diaspora joined us @EoIBeijing for the live telecast of PM Modi’s 100th Mann Ki Baat,” the Indian Embassy in China said in a tweet.

‘Mann Ki Baat’ has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in India’s developmental journey, it added.

In Russia, the 100th episode of Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ was watched at the Embassy of India in Moscow with enthusiastic participation of members of the Indian diaspora, including students.

“A live telecast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi was organised at the Embassy premises. Over 30 members of Indian diaspora in Kyiv joined the telecast,” the Embassy of India in Kyiv, Ukraine tweeted.

The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh organised a special screening of the programme which was attended by Indian students and community members in Dhaka.

The Embassy of India in Myanmar also shared pictures of live broadcast on Twitter saying, “India in Myanmar (Embassy of India, Yangon), friends of India and members of the Indian community came together today and live telecasted the screening of the 100th episode of Prime Minister’s radio show “Mann ki Baat.”

“Mann ki Baat celebrated the spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspirational life journeys of Indian men and women,” it added.

The monthly programme which was first aired on October 3, 2014 is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am on the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. In the programme, Prime Minister Modi addresses the people of the country on different issues.

“‘Mann ki Baat’ has become a festival that celebrates the positivity of India and its people…This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you,” he said. he said on completing 100 episodes on Sunday.

Also Read: Mann ki Baat completes 100 episodes, thousands tune in to celebrate milestone

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

CSK vs PBKS Highlights: Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings in last-ball thriller

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will host the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday afternoon as both teams look to recover from their respective losses in the previous game. CSK suffered a crushing defeat to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on Thursday and they will be edging to get back to winning ways upon returning to their home turf in Chepauk.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow