EFFORTS ARE ON TO REMOVE AFSPA TOTALLY FROM NORTH-EAST: MODI IN ASSAM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said efforts are on to remove AFSPA completely from the northeast region. Addressing a 'Peace, Unity and Development' rally in Diphu in Assam, he said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act could be withdrawn from various parts of the region as the law and order situation has improved in the last eight years.

The previous governments in Assam in the last three decades had extended it again and again as there was no improvement in the law and order situation, Modi said.  "Due to the proper control of the situation in the last eight years, the AFSPA has been removed from most parts of the state. We are trying to withdraw it from the remaining parts too.

"The Act is applicable in some areas of Nagaland and Manipur, and we are working speedily to revoke it completely," he said.

The government has entered into peace agreements in Assam's Karbi Anglong and in Tripura, while efforts are on to ensure permanent peace and speedy development in the entire region, he said.

"I want to especially thank Chief Minister of Assam (Himanta Biswa Sarma) along with his counterparts from the northeastern states as their efforts are helping the region emerge as a strong economic power," PM Modi said. The recent boundary agreement between Meghalaya and Assam will encourage the others to resolve the issues and help them march forward, he said.

NO MAJOR COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN LAST 7-8 YRS: MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI TO EU TEAM

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday told a visiting European Union delegation that there has been “no major incident of communal violence in the past seven-eight years” under the Narendra Modi government.

The six-member EU delegation, led by EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore and Ambassador of the European Union to India Ugo Astuto. met Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in New Delhi and raised concerns of discrimination against minorities in the country.

“The delegation met me and I apprised them of the socioeconomic and educational empowerment for all communities with dignity, without any discrimination. They did raise concerns about the letter written by the bureaucrats (to the Prime Minister), and about communal violence against minorities. But I have clarified to them that there has been no major incident of communal violence in the past seven-eight years. There have been some isolated incidents, and in these the Modi government has taken strong and effective action against the perpetrators, without consideration of religion, caste or community,’’ said Naqvi.

Naqvi also told the delegation that several incidents, which are criminal in nature, have been given a “communal hue” to defame the Prime Minister, and the country, by certain sections as “part of their conspiracy’’.

INDIA TO LAUNCH OPEN E-COMMERCE NETWORK TO TAKE ON AMAZON, WALMART

India is set to launch an open network for digital commerce (ONDC) as the government tries to end the dominance of U.S. companies Amazon.com and Walmart in the fast-growing e-commerce market, a government document showed.

The launch of the platform comes after India's antitrust body on Thursday raided domestic sellers of Amazon and some of Walmart's Flipkart following accusations of competition law violations.

Indian retailers, key supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have long contended that Amazon and Flipkart's platforms benefit a few big sellers, via predatory pricing, though the companies say they comply with all Indian laws.

The government's so-called ONDC platform will allow buyers and sellers to connect and transact with each other online, no matter what other application they use. It will be soft-launched today.

The government document said that two large multinational players controlled more than half of the country's e-commerce trade, limiting access to the market, giving preferential treatment to some sellers and squeezing supplier margins. It did not name the companies.

DELHI'S HOTTEST APRIL DAY IN 12 YEARS, GURGAON ABOVE 45 DEGREES

Amid a punishing heatwave building up in northwest India, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees, the highest in April in 12 years. Neighbouring Gurgaon crossed 45 degrees, the highest ever temperature in April.

A heat wave warning has been announced for Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, UP and Odisha.

"Rise by about 2 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next three days and fall by about 2 degrees Celsius thereafter," the Indian Metereological Department said.

Northwest India has been recording higher than normal temperatures since March last week, with weather experts attributing it to the absence of active western disturbances over north India and any major system over south India.

COVID DASHBOARD – INDIA

As of 0800 IST / April 29

from mohfw.gov.in ,

New Cases on Thursday 4,377

Active Cases 17,801 (+821)

Total Deaths (Deaths Yesterday) 5,23,753 (4)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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RUSSIA PLANS FAKE INDEPENDENCE VOTES IN SEIZED UKRAINE AREAS: US

The US accused Russia on Thursday of planning to stage fake independence votes to justify its conquest of territory in Ukraine, as Russian forces stepped up the major offensive in the east. Responding to repeated Ukrainian pleas to Western leaders for supplies of heavier weaponry and equipment, US President Joe Biden asked Congress on Thursday for $33 billion to support Kyiv, including over $20 billion for weapons and ammunition and other military aid. The package, also entailing $8.5 billion in economic assistance and $3 billion in humanitarian and food security aid, are part of US efforts to isolate and punish Russia for its invasion.

Speaking at the White House, Biden said his administration was also seeking new ways to punish the wealthy tycoons who surround President Putin. The president said he was sending Congress legislation that would make it easier to seize their yachts, airplanes and other assets. The proceeds would be used to help Ukraine. “The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen,” Biden said. “Every day, the Ukrainians pay a price. . . with their lives. ”

The US mission to the OSCE security body, meanwhile, said the Kremlin might attempt “sham referenda” in southern and eastern areas it had captured since the February 24 invasion, using “a well-worn playbook that steals from history’s darkest chapters”.

RUSSIA WARNS WEST: DON’T TEST OUR PATIENCE

Russia on Thursday warned the West that there would be a tough military response to any further attack on Russian territory, accusing the US and its key allies of undermining European security by openly inciting Ukraine to assault Russia.

Russia has in recent days reported what it says are a series of attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russian regions.

Russia has taken umbrage at statements from Britain that it is legitimate for Ukraine to target Russian logistics. “In the West, they are openly calling on Kyiv to attack Russia including with the use of weapons received from Nato countries,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “I don’t advise you to test our patience further.”

EUROPE STRUGGLES FOR CLARITY ON RUSSIA’S ROUBLES-FOR-GAS SCHEME

The European Commission on Thursday warned buyers of Russian gas they could breach sanctions if they converted gas payments into roubles, as officials struggled to clarify the EU’s stance on Moscow’s payments scheme, which has sowed confusion in the bloc. Russian gas giant Gazprom cut supplies to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday after they refused to pay for gas in roubles. The escalation follows a decree issued by President Putin last month requiring that countries Moscow deems “unfriendly” must pay for gas in roubles under a new payment scheme.

Under the mechanism, buyers are obliged to deposit euros or dollars into an account at Gazprombank, which has then to convert them into roubles, place the proceeds in another account owned by the foreign buyer and transfer the payment in Russian currency to Gazprom.

EU energy ministers will meet on Monday to discuss the situation, which has left members divided over whether sanctions would be broken if they used Russia’s mechanism.

THE REST

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MAYAWATI TELLS AKHILESH SHE DREAMS OF BECOMING PM, NOT PRESIDENT

BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday junked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's remark suggesting that the BP could make her the country's President, signalling that she would prefer to become the prime minister someday to realise her goals for the downtrodden.

Reacting to Yadav's dig at her on Wednesday, she said: "I can only dream of becoming the chief minister of UP and prime minister of the country in the days to come but can never dream of becoming the president. I have not spent my life in comfort and have struggled to work on the path shown by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram to ensure that their followers and the downtrodden stand on their feet. All know that this work can be done not by becoming the president but by becoming the CM of UP and PM of the country.”

If Dalits, Adivasis, backwards, Muslims and the poor from the upper castes join forces with the BSP, then not only can they make its leader the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh again but also the prime minister in the time to come, she added.

in order to clear the path (for Akhilesh Yadav) to become the CM of UP, which is not possible," Mayawati said.

'DEDICATE MY LAST YEARS TO HEALTH': RATAN TATA

Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and PM Narendra Modi yesterday inaugurated seven state-of-the-Art-Cancer-Centres and laid foundation stone for seven new Cancer centres in Assam. At the event, Ratan Tata, 84, made a rare speech, saying that he dedicates his "last years to health"

"Today is a very important day in the history of Assam," Tata said. "It is a day that raises Assam in the standards of healthcare and treatment of cancer," Tata added. "None of this have been taken place if this would not have been possible by efforts of the our Chief Minister and Honorable Prime Minister," Tata said.

SHAH FAESAL REINSTATED IN IAS: ‘IDEALISM LET ME DOWN’

After resigning from the bureaucracy in January 2019, Kashmiri IAS officer Shah Faesal claimed it was “a small act of defiance” and there were several “provocations” that led to the decision. Faesal’s resignation was never accepted by the government and on Thursday Union Home Ministry officials confirmed that he had been reinstated in the civil services.

Earlier in the day, the IAS officer dropped hints of his return to the bureaucracy, tweeting, “While chasing a chimera, I lost almost everything that I had built over the years. Job. Friends. Reputation. Public goodwill. But I never lost hope. My idealism had let me down.”

Faesal, who is from Sogam in North Kashmir, rose to prominence in 2010 after becoming the first Kashmiri to top the civil services exam. A trained doctor, he was allotted the J&K cadre and went on to serve the former state in various capacities, including in the education and power development departments.

In March 2019, as he launched his political party, Faesal highlighted the example of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and said, “History is witness to the fact that whenever a new idea or a new revolution materialises, it is first dismissed.” He claimed his party would provide “new politics” to a region that had witnessed “betrayals” for 70 years.

With J&K’s special status repealed by the Union government in August 2019 — and amid a crackdown on communications, movement, and the region’s political leadership — Faesal continued to voice concerns about the “unprecedented curbs” on the lives of the people of J&K.

After a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir in June 2021, he tweeted, “Prime Minister’s initiative has raised lot of expectations across Jammu and Kashmir. Everyone I spoke to from Kashmir told me that something good is happening after a long time. May the duri end soon.”

LABOUR MINISTRY SURVEY SHOWS RISING EMPLOYMENT TREND IN ORGANISED SECTOR

As many as 3.14 crore workers were employed in nine industries in the December quarter of 2021, indicating a rising trend in employment in the organised sector, according to a Labour Bureau survey. In the September quarter of 2021, the number of workers stood at around 3.1 crore.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment yesterday released the report of the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) for October-December 2021 period.

The manufacturing sector continues to be the largest employer accounting for 39 per cent of the estimated total number of workers in the October-December quarter of 2021. It is followed by the education sector, which accounts for 22 per cent of the employment.

Besides manufacturing and education, the other sectors surveyed are construction, trade, transport, health, accommodation and restaurants, IT/BPOs and financial services.

These nine sectors accounted for about 85 per cent of the total employment in the 6th Economic Census.

5,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS COMING TO MUMBAI SOON

Tata Power, a leading electric-vehicle charging infrastructure provider, has collaborated with the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), Maharashtra, to install up to 5,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across its member developer properties in Mumbai.

Tata Power will provide a comprehensive EV charging solution across member developers of NAREDCO. This will include installation, maintenance, and upgrade of the chargers as and when required. EV owners across NAREDCO’s member developers’ properties will have access to 24×7 vehicle charging, monitoring, and e-payments facilities through Tata Power’s EZ Charge mobile app.

These chargers will be made available as public/ semi-public charging stations based on the nature of the premises. This will give commuters easy access to the chargers, thereby encouraging them to use electric vehicles.

According to a city-level analysis conducted by World Resource Institute, India, the total EV charging energy demand in the city is expected to be 550 MWh by 2025. This anticipated demand would imply the need to set up at least 21,096 charging points across Mumbai by 2025.

IN A FIRST, INDIGO USES INDIAN NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO LAND AIRCRAFT

An IndiGo-operated ATR 72-600 aircraft landed at Kishangarh airport Thursday, using an approach process guided by India’s own satellite-based augmentation system named GAGAN, or GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation. With this trial landing at the small airport near Ajmer in Rajasthan, India joined a small group comprising the US, Japan and Europe with its own satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS).

The test flight that landed at Kishangarh is a part of the approval process with aviation safety regulator DGCA, which includes training of pilots, validation of approach and simulator sessions. The flight was performed with a DGCA team on board and after the approval, the procedure will be available for usage of commercial flights.

The SBAS is a navigation system, which builds on the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GLONASS), and adds to the accuracy and integrity of these navigation tools. For aircraft operators, both civilian and military, it means that pilots can land aircraft at smaller airports and airstrips using navigation guidance without expensive instrument-based landing systems being installed on the ground.

AJAY DEVGN SAYS 'HINDI IS OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE', TWITTERATI TROLLS HIM

Actor Ajay Devgn stoked a language war over his remark 'Hindi was, is and will always be our national language'. The 53-year-old actor came under fire from Twitterati some of whom have objected to his tweet in response to Kannada actor Kiccha who said Hindi could not be considered a national language.

When asked about Yash-starrer KFG-2 being called a pan-India film, Sudeep had said “Hindi is no more a national language.” Devgn retorted to the comment made by the Kannada star.

"Kiccha Sudeep, my brother, according to you, if Hindi is not our national language then why do you release your native language [mother tongue] films by dubbing them in Hindi? Hindi was, is and always will be our mother tongue and national language. Jan Gan Man."Ajay’s tweet translated in English read.

Later #HindiIsNotNationalLanguage started trending online and Twitter was flooded with memes, though the two stars cooled down later, showing mutual respect.

IPL MATCH 41: DELHI CAPITALS BEAT KKR IN A LOW SCORING MATCH

Delhi Capitals made rough weather of an easy chase due to a middle-order collapse before recording a comfortable four-wicket victory over a lacklustre Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium last evening, keeping their IPL play-off qualification hopes alive. Chasing an easy target of 147, DC were 84 for five and 113 for six at various stages of the innings before Rovman Powell (33 not out ) once again displayed his big-hitting prowess to get DC past the target with an over to spare.

The hero of the win was certainly Kuldeep Yadav, with a game-changing 4 for 14 when KKR batted.

Defending a total of 146 wasn't easy but Umesh Yadav (3/24) did try his best. Delhi eventually got there with an over and 4 wickets to spare.

While DC with 4 wins from 8 matches are currently placed sixth, KKR are 8th with 3 wins from 9.

INDICATORS

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US$-Rs. 76.37 GBP-Rs. 95.36, Euro-Rs. 80.30, UAE Dhm-Rs.20.79, Can$-Rs. 59.54, Aus$- Rs. 54.24

GBP 0.80 /US$, Euro 0.95 /US$, Jap.Yen 130.36 /US$, Aus$ 1.40 /US$, Sing 1.38 /US$, Bang Taka 84.89 /US$, Can$ 1.28 /US$, Mal Ring 4.35 /US$,

Pak Re 185.22 /US$, Phil Peso 52.26 /US$, Russian Rouble 72.98 /US$, NZ$ 1.53 /US$, Thai Baht 34.41 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 30.04 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 39,867

Dollar Index 103.44 Brent Crude 107.65 BDI 2,403

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,904 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 5,237 / 4,800, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 68,800

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, even if religion vanished. - Francis Bacon

OFF TRACK

Wife told her Husband who was unwell: " Please consult a veterinary doctor this time if you want to be fine.

Hubby: Why is that ??

Wife: Every morning you get up early like a cock; Run to the office in a hurry like a horse; Work the whole day like a donkey; Get information from here and there like a Fox and prepare reports, Dance on your boss's orders like a monkey; Come home and bark on the family like a dog; And then eat and sleep like a buffalo. Now tell me which normal doctor can treat you!!!!