Akashvani , National news, All India Radio News

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.

⦁India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express train will boost tourism and enhance connectivity in Northeast region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Assam's first Vande Bharat Express in Guwahati via video conferencing on Monday. The train will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri and reduce travel time to 5 hours and 30 minutes. The Prime Minister also inaugurated a newly constructed Diesel Electric Multiple Unit and Mainline Electric Multiple Unit shed at Lumding in Assam. He dedicated 182 Route kilometres of newly electrified sections which will open the doors for trains running on electric traction to enter Meghalaya. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi expressed his delight at the accomplishment of major development projects in the Northeast. He elaborated that the Northeast is getting its first Vande Bharat Express and this is the third Vande Bharat Express which connects West Bengal.

PM ON RAIL CONNECTIVITY

Mr. Modi further added, approximately 425 kilometres of railway tracks in Assam and Meghalaya have been electrified. Mr Modi emphasised the significance of the Vande Bharat Express, which will strengthen the historic ties between Assam and West Bengal. He also stressed that the impact of Vande Bharat Express on tourism will not only benefit Assam and West Bengal but also Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. eflecting on the achievements of the NDA government during its nine years in office, Mr Modi highlighted the significant progress made towards building a new India. He cited the newly inaugurated Parliament House as a symbol connecting India's thousand-year-old democratic history with its prosperous future.The Prime Minister emphasised that the welfare of the poor has been a top priority for his Government, exemplified by initiatives such as providing housing, toilets, tap water connections, electricity, gas pipelines, and the development of infrastructure including roads, railways, airways, waterways, ports, and mobile connectivity. He emphasized that infrastructure development plays a crucial role in improving lives, creating employment opportunities, and fostering overall development. He said, infrastructure development is a true manifestation of social justice and secularism.

During his speech, the Prime Minister announced that all capital cities of the Northeast will soon be connected through a broad gauge network, and investments of one lakh crore rupees are being made for these projects.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Monday met Minister of State Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the united Kingdom Tariq Ahmad in New Delhi. They discussed a broad range of issues, from Free Trade Agreement and South Asia to Indo-Pacific and G20. Dr Jaishankar emphasized the obligation to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic missions and prevent the misuse of democratic freedoms.

Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan will be on a four-day visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia from Tuesday.

During his two-day visit to Brunei, he will engage with Indian diaspora members in the country. It is estimated that over 14 thousand Indians have made Brunei their home. The Minister will witness cultural performances organised by Indian Associations in Brunei as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

This will be the first visit of the Minister to Brunei and also the first Ministerial visit from India to the country since October 2019.

In Malaysia, Mr Muraleedharan will hold a bilateral meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Datuk Mohamad bin Alamin. He will also meet the Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia V. Sivakumar.

The Minister will take part in the inauguration of the first-ever Persons of Indian Origin PIO Day -Malaysia Aprawasi Diwas and will launch the PIO International Festival to be held from the 2nd to the 4th of June. He will address the Indian community and diaspora at the Pravasiya Bharatiya Utsav.

With 2.75 million PIOs, Malaysia is home to the second-largest PIO population in the world. Mr Muraleedharan will deliver a key-note address at an International Conference titled India-ASEAN Dynamics in the Emerging Indo-Pacific Order: Pathways to Cooperation beyond the Third Decade, organized by the High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with the Centre for ASEAN Regionalism University Malaya and Asia Europe Institute. He will also interact with leaders of Indian community associations and leading business associations in India and Malaysia. This is the first Ministerial visit to Malaysia after the formation of a new Government in Malaysia in November last year.

India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is on a three-day visit to Singapore, met Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday. They had discussions on strengthening the existing cooperation between India and Singapore and deepening engagements in skill development as well as technical and vocational education. Mr Pradhan said, the emerging future is a world of unlimited opportunities. He and Mr Wong agreed to work together for mutual benefit, create opportunities for lifelong learning, build a future-ready workforce and also make knowledge and skill development a key pillar of the India-Singapore strategic partnership.

Mr Pradhan also met the Trade and Industry Minister of Singapore Gan Kim Yong. They had conversations on strengthening the skill development and vocational training linkages through all mechanisms for creating a seamless architecture for skilling and lifelong learning. Building on the outcomes of the G20 Future of Work workshop in Bhubaneswar, they also discussed ways in which India can leverage the expertise and knowledge of Singapore for addressing common challenges and transforming the Indian skills ecosystem. Mr Pradhan said, he had the opportunity to have a greater overview of the best practices and models being followed in Singapore for training of workforce. Mr Pradhan and Mr Yong agreed to advance mutual priorities in skilling, create new opportunities for lifelong learning and collaborate together for the benefit of our countries as well as other emerging economies.

King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni has arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a three day visit to India. He was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh upon arrival. The King will have bilateral meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning following which he will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will call on the King. President Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary in the evening. The visit marks the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia. This visit by the King of Cambodia is taking place after almost six decades, with the last being that of the current King’s father in 1963. Our correspondent reports India and Cambodia enjoy warm and friendly relations marked by civilisational, cultural and economic linkages and deep-rooted people-to-people ties.

The Indian Space Reserach Organisation (ISRO) on Monday launched its next-generation navigational satellite - NVS-1 successfully. The satellite was launched onboard Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) at 10.42 AM from Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.  The primary objective of this mission is to deploy the NVS-1 navigation satellite, which weighs approximately 2,232 kilograms. This satellite belongs to the second generation of satellites envisioned for the Navigation with Indian Constellation series. India will join three other nations in setting up not only a constellation series but also on the operationalisation of the rubidium clock made indigenously. ISRO scientists have proved yet another difficult experiment by this successful mission. The orbit raising manoeuvres will be used for taking the satellite to the destined level in two days. The datas from the satellite will be used for individual and strategic purposes. The Chairman, ISRO, Somnath was jubilant in announcing the launch of Chandrayaan - 3 in July this year. ISRO looks forward to sending some more GSLV, PSLV missions and also projects with NASA. Directors in ISRO said that though there were initial hiccups in launch of GSLV missions, the Government had encouraged and lent full support to the scientists in carrying forward GSLV missions.

The President will be on a three-day visit to Paramaribo, Suriname at the invitation of the President of Suriname Chandrikapersad Santokhi. She will be the Chief Guest of the celebrations organized on the 5th of June in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname. President Murmu will hold bilateral talks with President Santokhi. She will also visit places of historical and cultural importance and interact with the members of the Indian community and diaspora.

On the second leg of her visit, the President will visit Serbia from the 7th to the 9th at the invitation of President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić.

During the visit, President Murmu will have a bilateral meeting with President Vučić and meet Prime Minister Ms Ana Brnabić and Speaker of the National Assembly Vladimir Orlic. She will address a business event and interact with the Indian community and friends of India.

The Ministry of External Affairs said, the President’s visit to Suriname marks her first State Visit since assuming the office of the President last year. It said, the visit of the President to Suriname following closely the visit of President Santokhi to India in January this year will provide further impetus to the ongoing momentum in bilateral relations.

The Ministry said, President’s State Visit to Serbia is the first-ever visit by a Head of State from either side and reflects India’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic, cultural and people-to-people ties.

Nepal has decided to allow India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Limited to develop a second hydropower project in the country. At present SJVN is developing a 900-MW Arun -III hydroelectric project, a run-of-river located on the Arun River in Eastern Nepal, scheduled to be completed in 2024. An official statement said a meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda approved the draft project development agreement to be signed with India's state-owned SJVN to develop the 669-megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower project in eastern Nepal.The development comes days before Prime Minister Prachanda's visit to India starting Wednesday.

Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has launched a trade mission to India, aimed at exploring investment opportunities and fostering economic cooperation between the two nations. The mission, organised by the Sharjah Exports Development Centre (SEDC), is scheduled to take place from the 29th of May to the 2nd of June 2023. Led by Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the SCCI, the high-profile delegation comprises officials such as Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Second Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, SCCI, Ahmed Mohamed Obaid Al Naboodah, Board Member, SCCI, and Abdulaziz Mohammed Shattaf, Assistant Director-General of the Communication and Business Sector at the Chamber. The delegation also includes prominent manufacturers and traders from Sharjah. During the trade mission, the delegation will visit Mumbai and New Delhi, where they will establish business forums and hold meetings with Indian business communities. The primary objectives are to identify investment opportunities, encourage bilateral partnerships, and promote Sharjah as an attractive investment destination. The delegation will emphasise the incentives and facilities available to foreign companies looking to establish businesses in Sharjah. Furthermore, the SCCI delegation will actively encourage Indian businesses to invest in sectors aligned with Sharjah's economic vision, thereby supporting the Emirate's pursuit of sustainable development across various industries.

In Turkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has won presidential election, extending his rule to a third decade. Erdogan defeated opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu in runoff vote on Sunday. With 99.43 per cent of the votes counted, preliminary official results announced by Turkiye’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) showed Erdogan winning with 52.14 per cent of the votes. Kilicdaroglu received 47.86 per cent. The result is expected to be confirmed in the coming days. The vote seals Erdogan’s place in history as he extends his 20 year rule for a further five years.

Japan has put its ballistic missile defences on alert, vowing to shoot down any projectile that threatened its territory. In a statement, Japan's Defence Ministry said,  they will take destructive measures against ballistic and other missiles that are confirmed to land in their territory. The statement came on Monday after North Korea notified it of a satellite launch between the 31st of May and the 11th of June. Japan expects North Korea to fire the rocket carrying its satellite over the southwest island chain as it did in 2016. North Korea said, it has completed its first military spy satellite and leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for the launch.

Baloch political activists organised protests in Germany to observe May 28 as Black Day against the Pakistani nuclear tests. The Baloch National Movement staged a protest and rally in Gottingen City on Sunday. On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out a nuclear test at Chaghai, Balochistan which led to severe aftermath effects in the region. Radiation affected people causing several chronic diseases. Children are born with disabilities and other serious diseases such as cancer and other skin diseases are more prevalent in Balochistan.  

India's Minister of State for Defence  Ajay Bhatt has said that  J&K Union Territory has witnessed tremendous development during the last nine years of the Modi Government.  Addressing a press conference in Jammu, the Minister said the successful conduct of the G20 Summit in Kashmir Valley has sent a message to the entire world that things have changed for the better in J&K during the last nine years of the Modi Government. Mr. Bhatt said that  J&K is witnessing very high tourist footfall. He said there is peace and calm,  and no atmosphere of fear is in Kashmir Valley. THe MoS Defence said that J&K is now progressing along with other parts of the country. He further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has made strides and has become the 5th largest economy.

The third Startup20 Engagement Group meeting under India's G20 presidency will be held in Goa on the 3rd and 4th of next month. Briefing media in New Delhi on Monday, Startup20 India Chair and Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission Dr. Chintan Vaishnav said, the focal point of the meeting will be to build consensus on the Draft Policy Communique, which the Startup20 recently published asking the public for feedback. He said, the meeting will feature a startup showcase, talks as part of the Startup20x series, cultural experiences and discussions on the implementation and benefits of the ideas outlined in the document. Dr Vaishnav informed that dignitaries from State, Central, and international levels are expected to be present at the meeting. The third Startup20 Engagement Group meeting will bring together international delegates and experienced members of the Indian Startup Ecosystem, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. The event will offer various stimulating sessions, including presentations by taskforces on the final policy communiqué, closed group country huddles, closed-door HoD meetings etc. These sessions will provide a platform for engaging in discussions, fostering collaboration and advancing initiatives that will shape the future of startups and entrepreneurship across G20 nations.

Senior Advisor in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade DPIIT Rupa Dutta also informed the media about the meeting.

Under India's G20 presidency, Startup20 serves as a prime opportunity to foster collaboration, exchange ideas and shape the future of startups and entrepreneurship on a global scale.  

Key domestic indices today logged gains of over half a per cent. The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange finished near the 62,850 level while the Nifty at the National Stock Exchange settled close to the 18,600 mark. Both indices rose amid mixed cues from global share markets. A report from the business desk-

The Sensex climbed 345 points or 0.55 per cent to finish at 62,846. The Nifty appreciated 99 points or 0.54 per cent to end at 18,599. Asian Stocks ended mixed. Japan's Nikkei-225 climbed one per cent, South Korea's Kospi rose 0.2 per cent while China's Shanghai Composite index appreciated 0.3 per cent. On the other hand, Hong Kong's Hang Seng declined by one per cent while Singapore's Straits Times index fell 0.4 per cent. European Markets were also trading in mixed and in a narrow range in intra-day trade. Oil prices were steady after US leaders reached a tentative debt ceiling deal, possibly averting a default in the world's largest economy and oil consumer, but concerns about further interest rate hikes capped gains. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 76 dollars and 56 cents a barrel.

Back Home, Gold prices, at Multi Commodity Exchange for June contracts, were trading at around 59,558  rupees per 10 gram. On the other hand, silver was trading at 71,227 rupees per kilogram for July Contracts. And In the forex market, the rupee closed at 82 rupees and 63 paise against the US dollar. Lalima Aneja Dang for World News, AKASHVANI

In IPL Cricket, chasing a victory target of 215 runs set by defending champions Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings were 4  for no loss in 0.3 overs in the final match at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, when the play was stopped due to wet outfield.  Gujarat Titans scored 214 runs for 4 wickets in stipulated 20 overs. Earlier Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl.

Due to persistent rain in Ahmedabad last night, the final match was postponed to be played today. This is the first time in IPL history that a summit clash was moved to a reserve day. If MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings manage to win the final, it will be their fifth IPL title. Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, will look to successfully defend their title.

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

⦁India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express train will boost tourism and enhance connectivity in Northeast region.