NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. This is NABANITA ADHIKARI and with me is ADITI LOOMBA bringing glimpses of the major developments of the day from across the globe. Over the next half an hour, we shall bring you the latest from the world of politics, economy, sports, entertainment and more.

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THE HEADLINES::

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holds talks with Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger; Discusses economic and defence cooperation including Ukraine conflict.

• Mr Jaishankar hits back western countries for their criticism on India's decision to purchase oil from Russia; Says Ukraine conflict creates knock-off effect on world economy.

• Government striving hard to make India TB free by 2025, says Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

• Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructs officials to maintain adequate stocks of all essential food items amid economic crisis.

• Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand  defeats China's Wang Hao in third round in Norway Chess tournament.

• And in French Open tennis, Rafael Nadal enters into the finals after Alexander Zverev leave the match due to injury.

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JAISHANKAR

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has hit back at the unfair criticism on Indian oil purchase from Russia amid the Ukraine war that has created a knock-off effect on the world economy. While defending India's oil imports from Russia, Dr. Jaishankar stressed that it is important to understand how the Ukraine conflict is impacting the developing countries. He also questioned why only India was being questioned while Europe continues to import gas from Russia amid the Ukraine war.

Responding to a question on whether India's oil imports from Russia is not funding the ongoing Ukraine war, the Minister said, he does not want to sound argumentative.  He made these remarks at the GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum being held in Slovakia on the topic 'Taking Friendship to the Next Level : Allies in the Indo-Pacific Region'.

Speaking further on importing of Russian oil by India, Dr. Jaishankar said the packages of sanctions imposed by the European Union are imposed keeping in mind the interest of certain European nations. He said India handled the COVID-19 pandemic prudently and that the country is largely out of COVID-19 with a strong sense of economic recovery. The Minister also explained how India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only managed the economy during the pandemic but also leapfrogged in many areas, particularly in digital rebuilding.

Dr. Jaishankar is currently on a five-day visit to Slovakia and the Czech Republic to impart further momentum to bilateral relations with the two Central European countries.  During his visit to Bratislava, he will also call on Prime Minister of Slovakia Eduard Heger and will hold bilateral discussions with Ivan Korcok, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia.

During his visit to the Czech Republic, he will hold discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Lipavsky. The discussions will provide an opportunity for a comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation. The Czech Republic will be taking over the EU Presidency from 1st of next month.

In addition to meeting the political leadership of the two countries, Jaishankar will also interact with a cross-section of Indian immigrants, including Indian students in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 

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MANDAVIYA-TB

India's Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, the government is striving hard to make the country TB free by 2025. He said, a campaign is going to be launched on community support for better treatment and cure for TB patients in few days. 

While virtually interacting with media in New Delhi on Friday, Mr. Mandaviya said, there are 20 to 25 lakh TB patients across the country. He said, the government is continuously working for eradication of TB but support from society is required to make the country TB free and a healthy nation.

(SB- Mansukh Mandaviya - on TB)

The Minister said, a drive will be initiated for clearing the pendency of cataract operation which were held up due to Covid crisis and lockdown.

The Union government is implementing an ambitious National Strategic Plan with an aim to end Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.

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INDIA- SENEGAL

India and Senegal have signed three MoUs for cultural exchange, cooperation in youth matters and visa free regime for officials. The MoUs were signed after delegation level talks between Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and President of Senegal Macky Sall in the capital city of Dakar.

During the meeting, Mr. Naidu  assured Senegal of India's continued commitment to support the socio-economic development of that country through all means, bilateral, regional and international frameworks.

Complimenting Senegal for positioning itself as one of Africa's model democracies, the Vice President said that India, as the world's largest democracy appreciates Senegal's success in this regard. He added that that these shared values of democracy and secularism form the basis of warm and friendly relations between the two countries.

Mr. Naidu  expressed happiness over the fact that Indo-Senegalese trade saw a 37 percent  increase to  1.5 billion dollars during the last one year despite Covid-19 pandemic. He also called for diversifying the  trade basket, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, oil and gas, health, railways, mining, defence and  green energy.

Referring to the huge Indian import of phosphates from Senegal,  he  said that Indian companies, especially heavy earth moving equipment companies can offer their expertise in this area. The Vice President also said that India looks forward to working closely with Senegal within the the International Solar Alliance and One Sun One World One Grid initiative.

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PRESIDENT-PM PARAUNKH

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, the development of villages is his Government's priority. Many schemes have been launched for this purpose and many facilities are now reaching villages. He said this while addressing a gathering at Paraunkh village, the native village of President Ram Nath Kovind in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh.

The Prime Minister appealed to people to contribute in building and maintaining the Amrit sarovars. He also asked them to adopt natural farming in maximum numbers. The Prime Minister said, the collective effort of everyone will turn the dream of Atmnirbhar India into a reality. He said, our villages have the most potential and labour force and the highest dedication. That is why empowerment of villages of India is one of the top priorities of our Government, Mr.Modi added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also visited Paraunkh this afternoon. The President is on a four-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from today and on the first day of his tour he visited his native village.

The Prime Minister along with the President attended 'Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar programme' organised in Paraunkh under the series of Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Speaking on the occasion Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the soul of the country resides in villages and the village lives in our soul. 

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HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a discussion on Indian team in Kabul to oversee humanitarian operations. In conversation are Rakesh Sood, Former Diplomat and Sanjay Jha, Journalist.

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SRILANKA-FOOD CRISIS

In Srilanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to take measures to maintain adequate stocks of all essential food items in order to ensure that there is no shortage of goods in the country.

Local media reports that President Rajapaksa instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority to take legal action against those who take advantage of the prevailing situation and trade at unfair prices. The Srilankan President pointed out that this could prevent the organized efforts of some businessmen to increase prices by pretending to have a shortage of goods.

According to President's Media Division, Mr. Gotabaya made these remarks during a discussion held at the President's House in Colombo, on Thursday on finding expeditious solutions to the challenges related to trade, commerce and food security. On other hand, the Mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake has warned that Colombo City will run out of food by September this year. She said the Colombo Municipal Council will start cultivating essential food crops in 600 acres of land within the city shortly.

Ms. Senanayake told a media briefing that council is planning to start up an agriculture project to grow crops, while city dwellers will be encouraged to grow essential food crops in their home gardens.

She further said, arrangements have been made to open soup kitchens within the city and to provide cash vouchers worth of Three thousands Srilankan rupees for the low-income earners. The Mayor also said, many of those who earn a daily income in the city have lost their livelihood due to the economic crisis.

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PAKISTAN- PETROL PRICE HIKE

In Pakistan, the federal government has increased the prices of Petrol and Diesel by 30 rupees per litre, just a week after making a similar increase. The new prices came into effect from Friday. After the latest round of hikes, petrol price in Pakistan gone up to 209.86 rupees and diesel to 204.15 rupees. The decision annonced by Pakistan's Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Thursday.

The decision came just hours after the Pakistan's National Electric Power Regulatory Authority approved a massive increase of 7.91 rupees per unit in the power tariff. Local media reports that with the new hike in the power tariff, the price is to move upwards from 16.91 rupee to 24.82 rupee per unit.

However, opposition leaders hit out at the federal government for taking prices of petroleum products to a new high.

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BANGLADESH-IPEF

The United States has briefed Dhaka on the newly launched 13-country initiative Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). In a joint statement issued after the 2nd High Level Economic Consultation between the US and Bangladesh held in Washington on Thursday, Bangladesh welcomed additional information on the supply chain resilience, and de-carbonisation pillars of the IPEF. The statement said that both the countries shared a common vision of a free, open,inclusive, peaceful, and secured Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all.

Dhaka has also sought US assistance in exploring its marine resources and further developing the blue economy to ensure environmental protection and economic prosperity.

Earlier, during a program in Dhaka, US Ambassador Peter Haas had said that the US started consulting with the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh about the IPEF in March by sharing information in the bilateral dialogues, reports the official news agency BSS. The US envoy said there would be opportunities for other countries to join IPEF and hoped that Bangladesh would follow  IPEF closely.

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BIDEN-ARM BAN

United States President Joe Biden has said that the US should ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines to tackle the carnage of gun violence. The US President spoke after a string of mass shootings in the country.

In a speech to the nation from the White House, Mr Biden said, too many everyday places in America had become killing fields.

The US President said, there is need to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines. He Further said, if Congress cannot outlaw such weapons, it should seek to raise the age to buy them from 18 to 21.

Mr. Biden also called for expanding federal background checks and nationwide red flag laws, which allow law enforcement to remove weapons from anyone deemed dangerous.

The latest mass shooting on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, leaving four dead, follows a massacre of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, as well as an apparently racially-motivated attack at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, leaving 10 people dead.

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UKRAINE-RUSSIA CONFLICT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces currently occupy roughly one-fifth of Ukraine. Mr Zelensky in an address to lawmakers in Luxembourg on Thursday said that as of Friday, about 20 per cent of our territory is under the control of Russia. He added that Russian forces control some 48,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory.

According to media reports, Russian forces have been intensifying attacks on the city of Severodonetsk in the eastern Donbas region.

BBC reports that Britain's Defence Ministry also said that Russia has taken control of most of the city. The Ministry said, Ukrainian forces control the main road into Sievierodonetsk, with Russia making steady local gains, enabled by a heavy concentration of artillery.

However, according to media reports, the Ukrainian forces began a retreat on Wednesday from Severodonetsk, the last Ukrainian holdout in the Luhansk oblast, one of two states that make up the Donbas region.

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IRAN-COVID

In Iran, Health Ministry on Thursday said that the country has marked its first day after more than two years without a single COVID-19 death. The Iranian Health Ministry and Medical Education announced that no patient died from the COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

The Ministry reported 175 new cases over the past day, bringing Iran's number of confirmed cases during the pandemic to more than 72,30,000. Iran's officially registered death toll stands at 1,41,318. Iran has been battling the deadliest outbreak of COVID-19.

At its peak in the pandemic, in August 2021, Iran registered more than 50,000 new cases a day. That same month also marked the highest daily number of fatalities, 709 deaths a day.

Earlier this year, in February, authorities said, the aggressive Omicron variant was dominant in Iran and urged hospitals to prepare for a new wave of infections and hospitalizations.

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BUSINESS

And, now a report from the business world.

The Sensex lost 49 points, to end at 55,769 while the Nifty slipped 43 points, to 16,584.

At global stock markets, Asian shares logged gains. Japan's NIKKEI-225 climbed 1.3 percent, South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.4 percent and Singapore’s Straits Times ended 0.2 percent up. Trade did not take place in China’s Shanghai Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index. European shares traded mixed in intra-day trade.

Brent crude prices witnessed modest losses. The crude prices slipped after OPEC decided to increase production targets by slightly more than planned, although tight global supply and rising demand as China eases COVID restrictions limited the decline. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at around 117 dollars and 30 cents per barrel.

And In the forex market, the rupee depreciated marginally by two paise against the US dollar. The rupee closed at 77 rupees and 63 paise against the US currency. Arjun Chaudhary for World News, All India Radio.

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CHESS

Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand continued his winning campaign in the Norway Chess tournament as he defeated China's Wang Hao in the third round to remain on top of the standings. Anand pulled off a stunning win against World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen on Monday, followed by three straight wins over former world champion Veselin Topalov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Hao.

After the regular classical match concluded in a tie after 39 moves, the 52-year-old Anand won the Armageddon (sudden death game) on Friday.

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SHOOTING

Indian shooter Anjum Moudgil clinched a silver in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions as India moved up to third spot in the medal tally at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday. Anjum went do12-16 in the gold medal match to Denmark’s Rikke Maeng Ibsen. It is Anjum’s second individual World Cup silver in the event.

The Men’s 3P trio of Swapnil, Deepak Kumar and Goldie Gurjar also won a silver in the team competition.

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FRENCH OPEN 

In French Open Tennis tournament, Rafael Nadal reached the final after opponent Germany's Alexander Zverev retired hurt in the Men's Singles semifinals. King of Clay fifth seed Nadal reached the summit clash after third seed Alexander Zverev was forced to retire in the second set following ankle injury. At the time of the mishap, Zverev was trailing Nadal 7-6, 6-6. Nadal will now face the winner of Casper Ruud versus Marin Cilic in the second semifinals.

Earlier, Nadal had beaten World Number One Novak Djokovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 to enter the semi-finals on Wednesday. Nadal has won French Open maximum number of 13 times and has only lost thrice in the tournament. Nadal also won the Australian Open this year. 

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REPEAT HEADLINES

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar holds talks with Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger; Discusses economic and defence cooperation including Ukraine conflict.

• Mr Jaishankar hits back western countries for their criticism on India's decision to purchase oil from Russia; Says Ukraine conflict creates knock-off effect on world economy.

• Government striving hard to make India TB free by 2025, says Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

• Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructs officials to maintain adequate stocks of all essential food items amid economic crisis.

• Indian Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand  defeats China's Wang Hao in third round in Norway Chess tournament.

• And in French Open tennis, Rafael Nadal enters into the finals after Alexander Zverev leave the match due to injury. 

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And now, before we end, let us listen to Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan Vaishnav Jan, by artists from SLOVAKIA.

AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS BULLETIN. WE'LL BE BACK AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW WITH THE NEXT EDITION OF WORLD NEWS.

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