NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on AKASHVANI. This is RAGHU 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 invites Australian CEOs to leverage vast investment opportunities in India across various sectors; Concludes his three nation tour to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Japan.

⦁ Australia offers strong support for India's permanent membership in UN Security Council.

⦁ Third G-20 Tourism Group meeting successfully concludes in Srinagar.

⦁ Special Investigation Unit conducts raids on houses of four Pakistan-based terrorists in Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

⦁ Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says, government considering putting a ban on Imran Khan's party PTI.

⦁ Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denies plans to join NATO, acknowledges security alliance's plan to open a liaison office in the country.  

⦁ And Russia's Prime Minister signs a set of agreements with China  during a trip to Beijing.

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PM AUSTRALIA

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his three-nation tour to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia on Wednesday. On the last day of his visit to Australia, the last destination of his tour, the Prime Minister held bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. He raised India's concerns with Mr Albanese over incidents of attacks on temples and activities of pro-Khalistani elements in Australia. In a joint press statement after the meeting, the Prime Minister said, he had a discussion on the issue with his Australian counterparts in the past. Mr. Modi said Prime Minister Albanese has assured him once again that he will take strict action against such elements in the future also. 

 The Prime Minister said, India-Australia ties are based on mutual trust and confidence. He said, they had constructive discussions on strengthening strategic cooperation in mining and critical minerals.  

The Prime Minister also engaged in a dialogue with top Australian CEOs during a business roundtable in Sydney. The Prime Minister highlighted the significant economic reforms implemented by the Indian government and initiatives for ease of doing business and boosting economic growth. He urged the CEOs to establish partnerships with their Indian counterparts. Mr. Modi also invited the Australian CEOs to leverage the vast investment opportunities offered by India across various sectors including digital infrastructure, IT, fintech, semi-conductors and renewable energy among others.

Addressing media in Sydney, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, Australia offered strong support for India's permanent membership to the UN Security Council. Mr Kwatra informed that both leaders also discussed a wide range of global and regional issues including Quad, Russia-Ukraine conflict and reform of the UN Security Council.  

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HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a News Commentary on India-Australia Ties on Upswing.

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G20 TOURISM GROUP MEETING

The 3rd G-20 Tourism Group meeting concluded in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. In the three-day meet, a discussion was held on five priority points including Green Tourism, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, Digitalization and Destination management.

Speaking to Akashvani News, a delegate from Spain termed Kashmir a mesmerizing place and urged foreign tourists to keep the valley as part of their visiting itinerary to India. He said the meeting held in Srinagar was fruitful. 

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MUMBAI-DRRWG MEETING  

The second meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) was formally inaugurated in Mumbai on Wednesday. Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare addressed the delegates after the inauguration. Dr. Pawar also inaugurated a photo exhibition titled Safer Mumbai, Future Ready Mumbai - A photographic portrayal. A report:

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KARNATAKA-TIWG

Union Ministers of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel and Som Prakash inaugurated the G20 second Trade and Investment Working Group meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday under Indian Presidency. Delivering her keynote address, Anupriya Patel said that G20 is a valuable multilateral platform that reflects upon challenges that need global attention. She emphasised that WTO reforms are essential to ensure fairness and transparency in global trade. Speaking on the occasion, Som Parkash noted that in recent years, India has made significant progress in reducing bureaucratic hurdles and enhancing transparency.

He added that India offers immense opportunities across various sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure and technology. He laid emphasis on India’s investor-friendly landscape that provides a stable policy framework, protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring the availability of skilled talent. In the opening remarks, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that the second meeting after the one in Mumbai will further deliberate on WTO reforms, Global Value Chain expansion and five proposals put forth under the India Presidency.

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SHAH- SENGOL

India's Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the new Parliament building will be a symbol of a self-reliant India and a centre for fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of all Indians.

In a tweet, he said the Modi government is engaged with full devotion and dedication in empowering the poor and deprived sections of the country and the new parliament House will be a witness to its commitment to this resolution.

Mr. Shah said, the Parliament House is the centre of our faith in democracy, which reminds us of the value of freedom and its struggle and also motivates us for national service.

Briefing media in New Delhi on Wednesday, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will install a historic golden sceptre called Sengol near the Lok Sabha Speaker's seat while dedicating the newly constructed Parliament building to the nation on Sunday. This scepter was used on 14th August 1947 by the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when the transfer of power took place from the British to the Indians. Sengol is a Tamil word which means full of wealth and this scepter  symbolises virtual and ethical rule. Sengol measuring five feet is a masterpiece of Indian art with rich workmanship from top to bottom. It has been brought from a museum in Allahabad.

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MANDAVIYA-WHO

India's Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya underlined the country's efforts to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector globally and promote digital health innovations for universal health coverage and improved healthcare service delivery at the grassroots level.

Delivering a keynote address at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the significance of the "Heal by India" and "Heal in India" programs, which aim to enhance global healthcare services.

He said that the Heal by India initiative seeks to bolster the mobility of health professionals from India to various parts of the world, aligning with the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family).

The minister informed the Heal in India initiative aims to provide integrated and comprehensive treatment solutions within India, ensuring accessibility to world-class and affordable healthcare services.

Dr Mandaviya stressed that India is home to the world’s oldest medical system called Ayurveda and since its unique strengths have come to the fore, demands for AYUSH treatments including Yoga, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy have increased globally.

The Minister also highlighted the country's G20 Presidency agenda, prioritizing health emergencies, prevention, preparedness, and response, with a focus on One Health and Anti-Microbial Resistance.

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GOYAL-CII

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday stated that the country is now being viewed as a bright spot by the world, having emerged from past challenges.

Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry Annual Session 2023 in New Delhi, Mr Goyal highlighted the country's focus on innovation, quality and talent as catalysts for unlimited growth. He mentioned that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is emerging as a global leader of developing countries, attracting interest from various nations for fast-tracking free trade agreements.

The Minister also praised the transformative journey of the Indian economy in the last nine years, marked by structural reforms and remarkable achievements, including low inflation, strong foreign exchange reserves, and consistent economic growth. He stressed expanding international outreach, bringing innovation and technology from across the world to grab the opportunities available for growth.

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J&K-RAIDS

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of J&K Police on Wednesday conducted raids on the houses of four Pakistan-based terrorists in various areas of the Kishtwar district. Our Jammu Correspondent reports that the raids were carried out in Padder, Keshwan and Thakrai areas of the district after search warrants were obtained from a special NIA court in Jammu in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Earlier on the 18th of May, teams of the SIU raided the houses of five terrorists, who are currently operating from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, besides three suspected individuals in the district. SSP Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal said the evidence found in the searches would be used to indict the targets’ role in engaging in anti-national activities and perpetuating acts of terrorism.

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KARNATAKA-ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO will launch GSLV-F12 Navigation satellite on the 29th of May from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. This is a return-to-flight mission carrying the next-generation NavIC satellite that will replace the IRNSS-1G satellite launched in 2016. NavIC is a constellation of seven satellites offering the standard position service for civilian users and restricted service for strategic users. Three satellites of the constellation are placed in the geostationary orbit and four satellites in the inclined geosynchronous orbit. The ground network consists of a  control centre, range and integrity monitoring stations and two-way ranging stations. NavIC signals covering 1500 kms around India are designed to provide user position accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 50 nanoseconds.

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PAKISTAN-DEFENCE MINISTER

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said that the government is considering imposing a ban on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the incidents that took place on the 9th of May.

Speaking to media persons in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said, a decision has not been taken yet, but a review is surely underway. He called the vandalism of military installations across Pakistan as coordinated attacks planned by PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Protests had erupted across Pakistan after Imran Khan's arrest in Islamabad on the 9th of May.

Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday ordered to release immediately Asad Umar, the secretary general of PTI, and a close aide of Imran Khan. The court ruled that his arrest was in violation of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO). He was arrested on the 10th of May, a day after nationwide demonstrations. Umar was brought into custody from the IHC grounds under the MPO.

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PAK- HOUSE ARREST

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jamshed Cheema and his wife Musarrat Cheema have been put under house arrest for 15 days. This comes amid Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistani government’s crackdoagainst the Imran Khan-led party. The PTI leaders have been put under house arrest under Maintenance of Public Order.

Earlier on Tuesday, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is also PTI Vice Chairman was rearrested minutes after being released from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. Party leader Musarrat Jamshed Cheema was also rearrested immediately after her release.

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NEPAL-BHUTANESE REFUGEE SCAM

Nepal Police investigation report on the Bhutanese refugee scam recommends the prosecution of 33 individuals including senior political leaders of different political parties accused in the scam.

The police recommended the attorney's office to implicate those involved in the scam on three types of charges fraud, organised crime and treason both police and District Attorney Office Kathmandu confirmed.

Of the accused, 16 including former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and former home minister Bal Krishna Khand have been arrested while 17 are on the run. They were involved in collecting millions of rupees from hundreds of people by promising to send them to the US as Bhutanese refugees. Kathmandu District Court has extended the judicial custody of all 16 accused in the Bhutanese refugees' scam by two more days.

The police have determined the total amount involved in the offence at around 270 million rupees.

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NEPAL-VICE PREZ

Vice President of Nepal Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has congratulated Hari Budhamagar, who climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest with artificial legs beyond the knee and record climber Kami Rita Sherpa, who set a new world record by climbing Mount Everest for the 28th time.

Hari Budha Magar, an army veteran from Nepal, has made history by becoming the first above-the-knee double amputee to successfully climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. This remarkable achievement of Hari, who lost his legs in Afghanistan thirteen years ago, serves as proof that disabilities should not be seen as barriers to achieving great things.  

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JAPAN-NATO

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday the country had no plans to become a NATO member but acknowledged the security alliance's plan to open a liaison office in Japan.

Kishida's comments came after Japan's ambassador to the US Koji Tomita, earlier this month said Tokyo and NATO were working towards opening an office - the first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region.

After Kishida's statement not ruling out the possibility of opening a NATO office, China reacted sternly. Beijing said Asia-Pacific does not welcome NATO's plan.

Japan hosted the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima over the weekend, where the leaders of rich democracies agreed to “de-risk, not decouple” economic engagement with China and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

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RUSSIA-CHINA

Russia's Prime Minister signed a set of agreements with China on Wednesday during a trip to Beijing, describing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

The memorandums of understanding signed included an agreement to deepen investment cooperation in trade services, a pact on export of agricultural products to China, and another on sports cooperation. Russia's energy shipments to China are projected to rise 40% this year.

Xi told Mishustin that China and Russia should find ways to upgrade the level of economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The secretary of Russia's Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev said deepening of ties with China is a strategic course for Moscow.

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BAHRAIN-PARLIAMENT

In a significant step, Bahrain's parliament has voted to eliminate a law that granted rapists exemption from punishment if they married their victims. The decision has been hailed by women's rights activists, who tirelessly campaigned against this legislation for several years. The unanimous vote to remove Article 353 from Bahrain's penal code was carried out by the Shoura Council, the upper house of parliament. This article had previously allowed perpetrators of rape or sexual assault to evade legal consequences by marrying their victims.

Bahrain joins a growing list of countries in the Middle East and North Africa region that have either abolished or amended their penal codes to prevent rapists from evading prosecution through marriage. Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia took similar strides in 2017, rescinding comparable laws within their respective nations. The move is anticipated to have a far-reaching impact on societal norms and the advancement of women's rights in the region.

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WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

The key domestic indices today ended with marginal losses. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange closed below 61,800 points while the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange settled below 18,300 level. Both indices fell amid negative cues from global share markets. A report from the business desk-  

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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, China draws Russia closer while pushing Ukraine peace plan.

⦁ Washington Post reports, Germany conducts raids against climate activists, alleging criminality.

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REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi invites Australian CEOs to leverage vast investment opportunities in India across various sectors; Concludes his three nation tour to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Japan.

⦁ Australia offers strong support for India's permanent membership in UN Security Council.

⦁ Third G-20 Tourism Group meeting successfully concludes in Srinagar.

⦁ Special Investigation Unit conducts raids on houses of four Pakistan-based terrorists in Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

⦁ Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says, government considering putting a ban on Imran Khan's party PTI.

⦁ Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denies plans to join NATO, acknowledges security alliance's plan to open a liaison office in the country.  

⦁ And Russia's Prime Minister signs a set of agreements with China  during a trip to Beijing.

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

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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