NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on AKASHVANI. This is Abhijeet Loreng bringing glimpses of the major developments of the day from across the globe. Over the next half an hour, we shall bring to you the latest from the world of politics, economy, sports, entertainment and more.

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THE HEADLINES:

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches development projects worth over 5 thousand crore rupees in Rajasthan.

⦁ Pakistani court indicts Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Toshakhana corruption case;  Also grants his 8-day physical remand to National Accountability Bureau in Al-Qadir Trust case.

⦁ New Delhi planning to undertake another evacuation flight in near future for stranded Indians in conflict-hit Sudan region

⦁ ASEAN leaders call for immediate end to all forms of violence and use of force in Myanmar.

⦁ Deep Depression forms over southeast Bay of Bengal; likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday morning.

⦁ At World Boxing Championships, Indian boxers Deepak Bhoria, Mohammed Hussamuddin and Nishant Dev enter semifinals in Tashkent;  Ensured three medals for the first time ever.

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PM-RAJASTHAN VISIT

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth over five thousand 500 crore rupees at Nathdwara in Rajasthan on Wednesday. These include four national highways and three rail projects. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for redevelopment of Udaipur railway station, Gauge conversion project. Mr Modi dedicated three national highway projects to the nation, including 114 km long six lane Udaipur to Shamlaji section of NH-48, 110 km long widening and strengthening of Bar-Bilara-Jodhpur Section of NH-25 and two lane with paved shoulder section of NH 58E. Addressing the programme,Mr Modi said that these projects will take connectivity of Rajasthan to new heights.

Mr Modi said the Government of India believes in the mantra of development of the country through the development of States. He said modern infrastructure does not only mean rail and road, but it also connects cities and villages by reducing distance between them. It promotes heritage as well as accelerates development.

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PAKISTAN-PROTEST  

A Pakistani court has indicted former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Toshakhana corruption case, who was arrested by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad high court premises on Tuesday. In August last year, the coalition government ed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had filed a case against Mr Khan, claiming that he didn’t disclose information on gifts presented to Toshakhana and the proceeds from the illegal sale of some the gifts. The court also granted 8-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

Violent protests against Mr Khan's arrest have intensified in several cities in Pakistan including Quetta, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore. At least five people were killed and dozens were injured in violence that has aggravated instability in Pakistan as it grapples with a severe economic crisis.  Imran Khan's supporters attacked and burned the official residence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad as well as that of a top regional commander in Lahore. Protesters also smashed the main gate of the Pakistan Army’s headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Many countries have issued travel advisories for their citizens and diplomatic staff, citing political unrest in Pakistan. The US Embassy has announced a travel alert for its citizens in Pakistan. The Canadian government asked its citizens and diplomatic staff to exercise a high degree of caution in Pakistan due to the unpredictable security situation.    

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HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a News Commentary on Discussion on Unrest in Pakistan and its Implications.

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SUDAN - EVACUATION

India is planning to undertake another evacuation flight in near future for stranded Indians in conflict-hit Sudan region. Indian Embassy in Sudan in a series of tweets said that it would release a short notice for evacuation. Hence, staging forward to Port Sudan would facilitate in easy access to evacuation flight. It requested all Indians in Sudan, who are willing for evacuation, to reach Port Sudan by tomorrow.  The Embassy said, it operated the last flight to India from port Sudan on 4th of this month.

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PM-ISRAEL FM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Foreign Minister of Israel Eli Cohen in New Delhi on Tuesday. Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet, they discussed ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation in priority areas of agriculture, water, innovation and people-to-people ties. Mr Cohen had also said in a tweet earlier, that they discussed strengthening the strategic relations between the countries, expanding the Abraham Accords, and promoting a free trade agreement that will boost Israel's economy. He said India is a world power, the fifth largest economy and the most populous country in the world.

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PM- US VISIT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to the United States of America next month following an invitation from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. During the visit, Mr. Modi will attend a state dinner on 22nd June. The visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and US  as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors. The leaders will have the opportunity to review strong bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest including technology, trade, industry, education, research, clean energy, defense, security, healthcare, and deepening people-to-people connections.

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INDIA-CANADA

India and Canada have agreed to explore enhanced cooperation through measures such as coordinated investment promotion, information exchange and mutual support in near future through a Memorandum of Understanding. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal along with his Canadian counterpart Mary Ng co-chaired the sixth India-Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment on 8th May in Ottawa. The Ministers reviewed the progress achieved in the India-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations in the seven rounds of negotiations so far. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goyal said India is a safer place to live in. Ms Mary Ng expressed Canada's support for India as G20 Chair and the priorities pursued by India in the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group. She indicated that she is looking forward to participating in the upcoming G-20 Trade and Investment Ministerial meeting in India scheduled to take place in August.

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TRUMP-CONVICTION  

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been for the first time found liable for sexual abuse against magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll. After a civil trial that lasted two weeks and under three hours of deliberation, the jury found Mr Trump not liable for rape but liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The jury ordered him to pay Ms Carroll five million dollar in compensatory damages. During the trial, she testified that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in Manhattan in either 1995 or 1996. The trial started on April 25 and Trump was not present for the entire time.

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BANGLADESH-NATIONAL DIALOGUE

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders have called for an immediate end to all forms of violence and the use of force in Myanmar. Expressing deep concern about the ongoing violence in Myanmar, the ASEAN leaders in a statement issued during the summit meeting in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, urged to create a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues. The ASEAN expressed its support to the 8 May statement of the President of Indonesia Joko Widodo as the Chair of ASEAN in response to the recent attack on a convoy of the AHA Center and the ASEAN Monitoring Team in Myanmar. Condemning the attack, it stressed that perpetrators must be held accountable. The ASEAN leaders extended support for continued engagements with all stakeholders in Myanmar.It sought to encourage progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. The five-point consensus reached between ASEAN and Myanmar military government Chief Min Aung Hlaing in April 2021 called for an end to all violence.

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NEPAL

In Nepal, Police arrested former home minister of Nepal and Nepali Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand in connection with the fake Bhutanese refugee scam.

A team of Kathmandu Police Circle arrested Khand from his residence in Mainjubahal for his alleged involvement in the scam where many Nepalis were swindled out of millions of rupees in return for sending them to the United States as Bhutanese refugees. The police also arrested Khand’s personal aide Narendra KC in connection with the scam.

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SRI LANKA-IMF

In a virtual meeting of creditor nations, co-chaired by Japan, France, and India, Sri Lanka received positive responses from 26 countries and 19 creditors, regarding the coordination of loan restructuring efforts. The discussions centered around conforming to the debt rollover ceilings set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure debt sustainability for Sri Lanka in the future. The Paris Club, known for its expertise in restructuring debt for defaulted nations, has been actively involved in the process, with India formally joining the group of Western lenders. Sri Lanka, which has faced monetary instability and forex shortages, accumulated a significant amount of international sovereign bonds and Chinese budget support loans over the past decade. As per reports, Sri Lankan government external debt stood at over 36 billion dollars by the end of 2022, with an additional 1.647 billion dollars in sovereign guaranteed debt in state enterprises. With recent borrowings during periods of monetary instability, Sri Lanka's total external debt reached 41.47 billion dollars. The involvement of multiple stakeholders in Sri Lanka's loan restructuring process is expected to contribute to a comprehensive and coordinated relief plan within the limits prescribed by the IMF's debt analysis.

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OVER ALL ELECTIONS

Around 66 percent voter turnout was recorded in the Karnataka assembly polls on Wednesday. The Election Commission has  said  many  voters were seen to be in queue at 6 PM  in different parts of the state  and the final figure may go up.  The voting was largely peaceful  in all 224 assembly constituiences and no repoll has been indicated in any of the polling stations in the state so far.  

Bypolls were also held on Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, Jharsuguda assembly seat in Odisha, Chhanbey and Suar Assembly seats in UP.  

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PM - INTENATIONAL MUSEUM EXPO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a first of its kind, comprehensive three-day International Museum Expo-2023 on 18th of this month at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. This initiative has been undertaken to commemorate and celebrate the 47th International Museum Day, as part of the second phase of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Expo aims at facilitating a holistic conversation and showcases the diverse cultural heritage exhibited by various museums across the country.

This was informed by Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy in a press conference in New Delhi. He said, several museum experts, curators and professionals from foreign countries are also expected to participate in the expo to exchange ideas and insights and promote cross-cultural learning and understanding in Museum management.  The Minister said that Cultural Ministers of state governments and other officials will also attend the event.

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IMD-CYCLONE

The deep depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal has moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kilometres per hour during the past six hours and lies centered at  the same region, about 520 km southwest of Port Blair.  The India Meteorological Department said that  it is very likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm over the same region by tonight. Then continuing to move north-northwestwards, it will gradually intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday morning and very severe cyclonic storm by  mid-night over southeast and adjoining central Bay of Bengal. It is likely to recurve gradually, move north-northeastwards from Friday  morning. The The Met Department  added that it is likely to weaken slightly from Saturday evening and cross southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar  around forenoon of  Sunday with maximum sustained wind speed of 110 to 120 kilometres per hour gusting to 130 kilometres per hour.

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WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

The key domestic indices today logged marginal gains. The BSE Sensex closed above 61,900 points while the NSE Nifty settled above 18,300 level. Both indices rose even as negative cues from global share markets. A report from the business desk-  

The Sensex rose 179 points to finish at 61,940. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange added 49 points to end at 18,315. In global stocks markets, the Asian market logged losses. Singapore's Straits Times index ended flat. China's Shanghai Composite index declined 1.2 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng and South Korea's Kospi indices, both fell half a percent each. Japan's Nikkei-225 which slipped 0.4 percent. European Markets were also down marginally in intra-day trade. Oil prices fell around one percent ending a three-day rally as an unexpected rise in U.S. oil inventories sparked demand concerns. Investors also awaited inflation data for cues on U.S. interest rates. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 77 dollars and 20 cents per barrel. Back Home, Gold prices, at Multi Commodity Exchange for June contracts, was trading at around 61,590 rupees per 10 gram. On the other hand, silver was trading flat at 78,020 rupees per kilogram for July Contracts when reports last came in. And... In the Forex market, the rupee closed at 82 rupees against the US dollar. Anubha Rohatgi for World News,

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IPL TARGET

In IPL Cricket, chasing a target of 168 runs set by Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals were 100 for 5 in 16.3 overs at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, when reports last came in. Opting to bat first, Chennai Super Kings scored 167 for 8 wickets in stipulated 20 overs.

Last night, Mumbai Indians defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 wickets at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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BOXING

Indian boxers have ensured three medals at the World Boxing Championships for the first time as they advanced to the semifinals in Tashkent on Wednesday. India created history when Deepak Bhoria in 51kg, Mohammed Hussamuddin in 57kg and Nishant Dev in 71kg emerged victorious in their respective quarterfinal bouts. Tis for the first time Indian men’s boxers will bring home three medals from a World Championships. In the first quarter-final Deepak defeated Diushebaev Nurzhigit of Kyrgyzstan by a 5-0 unanimous decision to storm into the semis. Two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Hussamundin fought hard for a 4-3 split decision win in a close fight against J Diaz Ibanez of Bulgaria. In the other game of the day, Nishant Dev defeated Jorge Cuellar Of Cuba by a 5-0 unanimous decision. All three boxers will be playing their semifinal games on Friday.

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FPR

Now let us take a look at the major developments around the world, as reported in the Foreign Press.

⦁ Washington Post writes, Inflation eased again in April, but prices are still rising fast.

⦁ The Japan Times reports, Banking crisis concerns loom over G7 finance ministers meeting.

⦁ The Wall Streeet Journal reports, Congressman George Santos Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges.

⦁ The Wall Streeet Journal ,Trump Loss in Sexual-Abuse Case Casts Another Legal Cloud Over 2024 Bid.

⦁ The Guardian reports, Militants in Gaza fire at least 60 rockets into Israel in response to airstrikes.

⦁ The Globe and Mail writes, Thousands of foreign-trained nurses can now practise in Canada as provinces change licensing rules.

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REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches development projects worth over 5 thousand crore rupees in Rajasthan.

⦁ Pakistani court indicts Former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Toshakhana corruption case;  Also grants his 8-day physical remand to National Accountability Bureau in Al-Qadir Trust case.

⦁ New Delhi planning to undertake another evacuation flight in near future for stranded Indians in conflict-hit Sudan region

⦁ ASEAN leaders call for immediate end to all forms of violence and use of force in Myanmar.

⦁ Deep Depression forms over southeast Bay of Bengal; likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Thursday morning.

⦁ At World Boxing Championships, Indian boxers Deepak Bhoria, Mohammed Hussamuddin and Nishant Dev enter semifinals in Tashkent;  Ensured three medals for the first time ever.

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And now, before we end, let us listen to Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajanVaishnav Jan,

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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