NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on AKASHVANI. This is RENUKA 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 arrives in Papua New Guinea to a grand welcome; To jointly host FIPIC Summit with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on Monday.

⦁ Prime Minister Modi virtually addresses 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva; Says, India is committed to make every effort to build a healthier world.

⦁ Third meeting of G-20 Working Group on Tourism to begin in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

⦁ Union Minister of State V Muralidharan reaffirms India’s firm resolve in shouldering regional and global responsibilities during the  times of crisis.

⦁ In Archery, India finish second in medal tally with 3 medals in compound section in World Cup Stage 2 at Sanghai.

⦁ In Italian Open Tennis, Elena Rybakina clinches women's singles title; Holger Rune faces Daniil Medvedev in Men's Singles final.

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PM JAPAN

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Papua New Guinea on Sunday on the second leg of his three-nation visit. He was received by Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape. He received Guard of Honor on his arrival at Port Moresby. Mr Modi will jointly host the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation jointly with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on Monday. The forum was launched during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Fiji in November 2014. The FIPIC includes India and fourteen Pacific Island Countries. These are Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Niue, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Palau, Nauru and Solomon Islands. Prime Minister Modi will have bilateral engagements in Papua New Guinea, including meetings with Governor-General Bob Dadae and Prime Minister James Marape. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Papua New Guinea. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi held talks with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak in Hiroshima, Japan. They reviewed India UK Strategic Partnership and took stock of progress in India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas, such as trade and investment, science and technology, higher education, and people-to-people relationship. Mr Modi also held fruitful talks with Brazilian President Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. In a tweet, Mr Modi said India and Brazil will keep working together to deepen trade ties. They discussed diversifying cooperation in sectors like agriculture and defence.  The Prime Minister attended a Working Session on 'Toward a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous World' at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. In his opening remarks at the session, Mr Modi said, the situation in Ukraine is an issue of humanity and human values. He said, India has always been of the opinion that any tension, any dispute should be resolved peacefully, through dialogue.  At the QUAD Summit, Prime Minister Modi highlighted how India’s approach to demand-driven development cooperation with the region was contributing to these efforts. He emphasised the importance of consolidating Quad’s constructive agenda and delivering tangible outcomes for the region. Mr Modi also invited Quad leaders to India for the next Quad Summit in 2024. In a tweet, he said it has been a fruitful visit to Japan. He said that he met several world leaders during the G7 Summit and discussed a variety of issues with them. He also expressed gratitude to his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida, the Government and the people of Japan for their warmth.

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HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a  discussion on the outcomes of  G-7 Summit and Quad leaders' meeting in Hiroshima. In conversation are Ashok Sajjanhar, Former Diplomat and  Rajesh Laikh, Akashvani Correspondent.

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PM-HEALTH ASSEMBLY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that in a future full of challenges, India is committed to making every effort to build a healthier world. In his virtual remarks for the 76th World Health Assembly being held at Geneva, Mr Modi said, India's ancient scriptures teach us to view the world as one family. He said, during it's G20 presidency, India are working with the theme of One Earth One Family One Future. The Prime Minister said, India's vision for good health is One Earth One Health. He expressed happiness that the WHO's first global centre for traditional medicine is being established in India. Mr Modi said, he is also glad that the world is recognizing the importance of millets through the International Year of Millets. The Prime Minister said, during the Covid-19 crisis, India showed its commitment to international cooperation. He said, India shipped almost 300 million doses to over 100 countries and many of these countries were from the Global South. Mr Modi said, in the last few years, India has worked on the availability, accessibility and affordability of healthcare. Be it the world's biggest health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat or the massive ramping of health infra or the right to provide sanitation and drinking water to millions of families. On the occasion, The Prime Minister congratulated WHO on completing the historic milestone of serving the world for 75 years. He expressed confidence that WHO would be setting goals for the next 25 years when it reaches 100 years of service.

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MURALIDHARAN DUBAI

Union Minister of State V Muralidharan has reaffirmed India’s firm resolve in shouldering regional and global responsibilities during the  times of crisis. He was delivering a keynote address  as the Guest of Honour, at an international conference in Dubai. In his address, Mr. Muralidharan  acknowledged the unprecedented challenges faced in recent years, including the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical conflicts. He said, these events have not only disrupted established economic, political, and social systems but have also exposed existing gaps in global frameworks. The Minister said, no nation or individual, regardless of wealth, geography, or age, has been untouched by these disruptions. In this context he stressed the need on regional cooperation as a beacon of hope and resilience. Mr. Muralidhran  said,  India's remarkable economic growth, driven by a thriving technology, startups, and innovation ecosystem, positions the nation as a leader in forging strong global partnerships.The Minister underscored the significance of India's G20 Presidency, which revolves around the theme of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" - One Earth, One Family, One Future. This theme reflects India's commitment to unity, inclusivity, and decisive action for the betterment of humanity. Emphasising the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and UAE , the Minister said, this agreement stands as a testament to the commitment to fostering stronger economic ties and capitalizing on collaborative potential. He also commended the I2U2 group, comprising India, Israel, UAE, and the United States, for establishing a resilient partnership driven by economic pragmatism, multilateral cooperation, and strategic autonomy. The event, jointly hosted by IIM Rohtak and the Academy for Global Business Advancement has brought together renowned dignitaries and delegates from various countries.

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BANGLADESH-HC

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has said that India and Bangladesh have immense scope to cooperate in the exchange of knowledge, sharing of best practices, and in the research and development initiatives related to millets. Speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition on ‘Food Security and Importance of Millets’ organised by the High Commission of India in Dhaka on Sunday, High Commissioner Verma highlighted the important role of millets in ensuring food security, popularising nutritional diet, promoting sustainable agriculture, and securing financial empowerment of farmers. The three day long exhibition is being organised as part of the events to celebrate the International Year of Millets 2023.

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MAHA-ECSWG MEETING

The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting under India's G20 Presidency began in Mumbai on Sunday. Our correspondent reports that the meeting is a critical step in fostering the efforts of the G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations towards a sustainable and resilient future.Ocean 20 Dialogue, a side event in the ECSWG meeting is currently underway. The deliberations are aimed at working towards well-being of oceans, addressing the need to make conscious efforts towards reversing damage to them and protecting our marine resources. Delegates are discussing on various aspects of Blue Economy. Earlier, Governor of Maharashtra Ramesh Bais, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde along with G20 delegates took part in a mega beach clean-up campaign at the Juhu Beach.

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SRINAGAR G-20

In the Kashmir velley ,the city of Srinagar,  is all set to host 3rd tourism working group meeting of G20 members starting from Monday. The meeting will continue till 24 th May. This is  the first such international event taking place   after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, through his monthly ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ Radio programme, has called upon the citizens of the Union Territory for their active support and contribution in the successful conduct of the three-day G-20 mega event  at Shere-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). Mr Sinha said  G-20 meeting will certainly inspire the people of Jammu Kashmir and infuse new enthusiasm, new confidence in the society to build future of Union Territory.  Meanwhile the Border Security Force (BSF)   tightened security along the International Border.  The special water wing of BSF has increased their patrolling  along the Chenab River.  Security has also been beefed up  in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.

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RBI- 2K NOTES CLARIFICATION

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said that people can exchange ten notes of two thousand rupees at a time from the bank without obtaining any requisition slip. RBI further clarified, the people will also not be required to submit their identity proof at the time of exchange for upto a limit of twenty thousand rupees.  RBI has said members of the public may deposit two thousand rupees banknotes into their bank accounts or exchange them into banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch by 30th September this year. The two thousand rupees notes, however, will continue to be legal tender. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India had decided to withdraw two thousand rupees denomination bank notes from circulation.

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J&K-e-BUSES

In Jammu and Kashmir, one hundred e-buses will begin operations in Jammu in August this year under the Smart Urban e-Mobility Project of Jammu Smart City Limited. Our Jammu Correspondent reports that the work on the project is in full swing and the Tata Motors has been asked to start delivery of the vehicles from mid-June so that other formalities like registration of vehicles with the RTO and issuance of permits are completed within the month of July in order to pave the way for operation of the vehicles from August. Worth to mention, this is for the first time in the Union Territory that fully air-conditioned e-buses are going to be operated under the Gross Cost Contract model, which has already been adopted in different metro cities of the country with a high success rate and satisfactory performance.

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IRANI- HAJ FIRST BATCH

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Smirti Irani along with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi will see off the first batch of Haj pilgrims at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi in few hours. The flight carrying 381 Haj Pilgrims, will be the first flight from Delhi. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and members of Delhi state Haj Committee will also join the Ministers. Over 22 thousand Haj pilgrims will depart in several batches from Delhi. One lakh 40 thousand pilgrims have been selected across the country to perform Haj this year through the Random Digital Selection process.

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YOGA MAHOTSAV

The Yoga Mahotsav will be held at 6 AM on 27th of this month at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad to mark the 25 days countdown to the International Yoga Day. India's Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy informed this at a press conference in Hyderabad on Sunday. He said Central Ministers including Information a and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur will be taking part in it. Calling upon people to take part in the event in a big way, he asked them to celebrate Yoga at every family and every village this time for their health and wellbeing. He said public representatives and officials and employees of government and non government organisations beside Yoga Organisations will take part in the Yoga Mahotsav.

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INS FLEET IN SAUDI ARABIA

The INS TARKASH, the flagship frigate of the Indian Western Naval Fleet, along with the INS SUBHADRA, an offshore patrol vessel, has arrived at Port Al-Jubail, marking a significant milestone in the growing defense cooperation between India and   Saudi Arabia. The visit of these ships signifies the beginning of the harbor phase of the second edition of the naval exercise between the two nations, known as 'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023.' This year, the naval exercise also includes the participation of a maritime patrol aircraft. The inaugural edition of the exercise was successfully conducted in 2021.'AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2023,' which commenced on Sunday, encompasses a series of exercises conducted on land and at sea by the two friendly navies. Upon their arrival at Jubail port, the Indian ships received a warm welcome from officials of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Border Guards, and the Indian Embassy, highlighting the cordial relations between the two countries.

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ARCHERY

In Archery, India finished second in the medal tally with 3 medals in the compound section in the World Cup Stage 2 at Sanghai on Sunday. India bagged all three medals in the compound section, with Prathamesh Jawkar winning the individual gold and Avneet Kaur bagging bronze. Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam bagged the mixed team gold. However, in the recurve event, Indian archers returned empty-handed.  India finished second behind Korea with two gold and one bronze medal.

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ITALIAN OPEN-TENNIS

In Italian Open Tennis, the Men's singles final match between Danish player Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev of Russia is underway in Rome. Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan won the women's singles title defeating Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 1-0. This is Rybakina's second title of the year.

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FPR

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

⦁ The Wall Street Journal reports, Zelensky, in Hiroshima, Appeals to Biden, Other G-7 Leaders for More Military Support.

⦁ The Guardian writes, Sudan’s warring factions sign agreement for seven-day ceasefire.

⦁ Washington Post reports, Brazil indicts ex-officials over Amazon murder of journalist and colleague.

⦁ The Japan Times reports, NATO revisits Cold War past with first major defense plans in decades.

⦁ South China Morning Post writes, Yong An Park town house seller made 47 per cent windfall over 15 years as buyers pile into Singapore property.

⦁ Khabarhub writes, Maoist Center denies financial irregularities in PLA cantonments.

⦁ The Globe and Mail writes,Greece votes in first election since end of international bailout spending controls.

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REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Papua New Guinea to a grand welcome; To jointly host FIPIC Summit with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on Monday.

⦁ Prime Minister Modi virtually addresses 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva; Says, India is committed to make every effort to build a healthier world.

⦁ Third meeting of G-20 Working Group on Tourism to begin in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

⦁ Union Minister of State V Muralidharan reaffirms India’s firm resolve in shouldering regional and global responsibilities during the  times of crisis.

⦁ In Archery, India finish second in medal tally with 3 medals in compound section in World Cup Stage 2 at Sanghai.

⦁ In Italian Open Tennis, Elena Rybakina clinches women's singles title; Holger Rune faces Daniil Medvedev in Men's Singles final.

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

And With That, We End This Bulletin. We'Ll Be Back At The Same Tomorrow With The Next Edition Of World News.

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