Akashvani , National news, All India Radio News

NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on AKASHVANI. This is SAIRA MUJTABA 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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WN-THE HEADLINES:

• President of India Droupadi Murmu arrives in Belgrade on a 3 day state visit to Serbia; Interacts with Indian diaspora.

• Bangladesh signs two financing agreements worth 858 million US dollar with World Bank to enhance climate-resilient agricultural growth, food security and improved road safety.

• Pakistan government registers fresh case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, wife in Toshakhana case.

• Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets South Korean counterpart Park Jin; Discusses nuclear threat posed by Iran, North Korea.

• British PM Rishi Sunak to meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday; Ukraine, economy and AI tops meeting agenda.

• At least seven missing in Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka after dam collapse; United Nations warns of grave and far-reaching consequences.

• India assures protesting wrestlers probe against outgoing WFI President Brij Bhushan to be completed by 15th June.

• And, in French Open Tennis, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia and Iga Swiatek of Poland enter women's singles' semifinals. 

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WN-PRESIDENT SERBIA

President Droupadi Murmu said that India is on the way to become the third largest economy of the world before the end of this decade. President Murmu was addressing the Indian diaspora and Serbian friends of Indian community at a reception in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia. The President is on a 3 day state visit to Serbia. The President also said that new infrastructure is coming up all over the country at a breathtaking pace and India is planning to be a developed state by 2047. 

Talking about women empowerment, President Murmu said early indications suggest that our gender ratio is now shifting towards the favourable.

Before the start of the program of community reception, a minute of silence was observed to remember those who lost their lives in the tragic accident at Balasore, Odisha. As President Murmu arrived in Serbia, she was received by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić at the Nikola Tesla airport today. Thereafter, President Murmu paid floral tributes to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandijeva Street.

On Thursday, the President will lay a wreath at the monument of the unknown hero at Mount Awala. A special feature of the visit is a business engagement where a 20 member business delegation is arriving separately from India to Serbia. The focus of the ongoing visit is to encourage the business communities of both the countries to explore possibilities and prospects of business opportunities.

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WN-SCINDIA- STEEL

India's Minister of Steel Jyotiraditya Scindia has said that the country's steel industry has achieved remarkable growth in the last nine years and has now become the second largest producer of crude steel in the world surpassing Japan in 2018. Addressing media in New Delhi, Mr Scindia said that the country which was known as net importers of steel till 2013-14, has now emerged as the net exporter of the steel on the basis of steel production. He said, the country's steel production capacity has also gone up from 109 million tonnes in 2013-14 to 160 million tonnes at present. He said, the government has set a target to increase steel production capacity from 160 million tonnes to 300 million tonnes by 2030.

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WN-ANURAG- WRESTLERS

India has assured protesting wrestlers that probe on charges against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be completed by the 15th of June and chargesheets will be filed. Briefing media in Delhi after a six-hour long discussion with wrestlers, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Wednesday informed, WFI elections will be held by the 30th of June. He said, WFI will have an Internal Complaints Committee headed by a woman. He said, the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere and all decisions were taken unanimously. The Minister added that all FIRs against wrestlers will be taken back and wrestlers have agreed that they will not hold any protest before the 15th of June. The wrestlers have been protesting in the national capital for over a month, demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging him of sexual harassment and misconduct.

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WN-PATNA -G20 LABOUR SUMMIT

A two day Summit of G-20 Labour engagement group will be held in Patna on 22nd and 23rd June. Around 250 delegates of G-20 member countries and guest countries will participate in the summit. Bihar state Art, Culture and Youth Department has been made a nodal agency for organizing the event. Talking to Akashvani News, Secretary of Art, Culture and Youth Department Bandana Preyashi said besides other issues the delegates would discuss women empowerment and technology. She said Bihar would showcase its exemplary steps of women empowerment like Self Help Group Jeevika and other things  to the representatives of different countries.

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WN-BANGLADESH-WORLD BANK

Bangladesh and the World Bank on Wednesday signed two financing agreements totaling USD 858 million to enhance climate-resilient agricultural growth, food security, and improve road safety. The agreement was signed by Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Government of Bangladesh Sharifa Khan and World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Abdoulaye Seck on behalf of Bangladesh and the World Bank, respectively in Dhaka. The USD 500 million Program on Agricultural and Rural Transformation for Nutrition, Entrepreneurship, and Resilience (PARTNER) will help transform the agriculture sector by promoting crop diversification, food safety, and climate resilience across agri-food systems of Bangladesh, said a World Bank release.

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WN-BANGLADESH PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for boosting cooperation between the armed forces of Bangladesh and India. She said this when Army Chief General Manoj Pande paid a courtesy call on her at her office at the Bangladesh Parliament, Jatiya Sangsad. Prime Minister’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam briefed the media after the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande. Referring to the setting up of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training, Prime Minister Hasina said the two countries could use the opportunity to have exchange of activities for mutual welfare. She recalled with gratitude the support provided by the Indian government, army and its people during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.

Army Chief Manoj Pande said that the cooperation and collaboration between the armies of the two countries was progressing well. He said there was a potential to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in technical and other fields. Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande was on a two day official visit to Bangladesh between June 5-6 on the invitation of his counterpart General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed.

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WN-PAKISTAN-KHAN

The Pakistan government has registered a new FIR against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Toshakhana gift case. However, he was granted a bail in the case by the Lahore High Court. The Pakistan government registered a case of fraud and forgery against Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and their close aides accusing them of preparing and submitting fake and forged receipts related to Toshakhana gifts. The Toshakhana is a department under the Pakistan government and stores precious gifts given to the head of the country, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries.  Imran Khan and his associates are accused of submitting forged receipts of the Toshakhana gifts including the rare Graff wristwatch gifted by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the former premier. The new FIR has been registered after Islamabad's leading watch dealer Muhammad Shafiq said in a written affidavit that he had not sold the Rolex watch and that the PTI leaders had faked his shop's name and forged receipts for their political purposes in the Toshakhana scandal. Imran Khan is facing over 100 cases in Pakistan including the Toshakhana case and Al-Qadir Trust case.

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WN-INDIA- SL DEFENCE

The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka organized the India Sri Lanka Defence seminar cum exhibition at the Taj Samudra hotel in Colombo. The event, held with the objective of fostering a stable and peaceful Indian Ocean region, aligned perfectly with India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region or SAGAR. Sri Lanka's state minister for defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, inaugurated the exhibition, marking a significant moment for bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

The primary focus of the seminar was to identify potential areas of cooperation for economic revival, while simultaneously bolstering the capacity building efforts of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. The event attracted a diverse range of attendees, including government officials, defense industry experts, and military personnel.

One of the highlights of the seminar was a comprehensive exhibition showcasing the cutting-edge capabilities and capacities in defence equipment manufacturing. The exhibition provided an invaluable opportunity for all stakeholders to gain firsthand experience with various state-of-the-art defence equipment on display. A report:

 [ WN India Srilanka ]

"The India-Sri Lanka Defence Seminar and Exhibition was a landmark event, fostering greater cooperation and collaboration between the two nations, ultimately contributing to regional peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. With Sri Lankan Armed Forces utilising Indian defense equipment, such as the Indra Radar, Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels, L 70 Guns, Dornier Aircraft, and Army training simulators, the event gives a shot in the arm for indigenous defence manufacturing. The seminar served as a platform for interaction and exchange of ideas among the stakeholders. Ahmed Mueen Farooqui, for World News"

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WN-HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a commentary US Defence secretary's visit to India.

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WN-AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency has urged international organisations to resume work on 32 small and large environmental projects in the country. The agency's director, Hafiz Aziz Rahman, said that the international community should not politicise environmental issues and resume the suspended works. Various projects in the field of an environmental improvement costing nearly 824 million US dollars have been lying unattended in Afghanistan. The National Environmental Protection Agency observed that several concerns, including deforestation, drought, flooding, and climate change, have contributed to environmental problems in the country. The environmental protection agency of AfghanistaN also called on the people and companies to fight against plastic pollution and reduce their production and use.

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WN-ISRAEL-KOREA

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen discussed security challenges including nuclear threats with his South Korean counterpart Park Jin. The two leaders also discussed measures to address North Korean and Iranian threats. Cohen began his diplomatic visit to the South Korean capital Seoul, on Wednesday. The two envoys shared common interests of South Korea and Israel, particularly in the fight against a nuclear North Korea and Iran that is trying to make weapons of mass destruction. According to an official statement, they also discussed measures to address the threats to Seoul, Jerusalem and the free world. Cohen warned that the world must learn from the bad experience with North Korea and stop Iran's nuclear program now. He said that Israel will not allow Iran to become a second North Korea.

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WN-SUNAK-BIDEN

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be holding a key bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden on Thursday. Sunak, who began his two-day trip to Washington with a message that post-Brexit Britain remains an essential American ally, is likely to discuss issues including Ukraine, economic and defence cooperation. America and Britain are the two biggest military donors to Ukraine. The recent dam collapse in Russian controlled region in Southern Ukraine has added urgency to the meeting between the two leaders. Apart from Ukraine, Sunak will push for closer economic ties between the US and UK during the meeting with Biden.

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WN-RUSSIA-UKRAINE

Russia's TASS news agency has said that at least seven people are missing after waters from the destroyed Nova Kakhovka dam flooded nearby areas. The development was confirmed by Vladimir Leontiev, mayor of the city of Nova Kakhovka.  While around 42,000 people were at risk from flooding, the United Nations aid chief has warned of grave and far-reaching consequences. Over 2,000 people have been evacuated from Nova Kakhovka and Kherson region. Over two thousand houses have been flooded. President Volodymyr Zelensky said 80 towns and villages may be flooded after the destruction of the dam. Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for the dam collapse. There are concerns about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - Europe's largest - which uses reservoir water for cooling. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the situation there is said to be under control and there is no immediate nuclear safety risk for the plant.

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WN-FUR REV. FRENCH OPEN

In French Open Women's Singles quarterfinals,  Iga Swiatek of Poland defeated American Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2 to enter semifinals. Earlier in another quarterfinal match, Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia defeated Jabeur of Tunisia 3-6, 7-6, 5, 6-1 to enter the semifinals. Swiatek will now face Maia in the semifinal on Thursday while Czech tennis star Karolina Muchova will take on Belarusian Aryna Sabnalenka in another semifinal clash.

In the men's singles, the quarterfinal match between Holger Rune of Denmark and Casper Ruud of Norway will take place later tonight.

In the mixed doubles semifinals, Japanese tennis player Miyu Kato and German tennis player Tim Putz defeated Dutch tennis star Matwé Middelkoop and Indonesian Aldila Sutjiadi 7-5, 6-0 to enter the finals. In the finals on Thursday, Kato and Putz will take on Canadian Bianca Vanessa Andreescu & New Zealand Michael Venus who entered the final after defeating Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski & American Nathaniel Lammons 7-6, 7-6 in the semifinals.

In the women's doubles quarterfinal match, Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei & Wang Xiyu of China overcame Russians Liudmila Dmitriyevna Samsonova & Veronika Eduardovna Kudermetova to enter semis while American Taylor Townsend and Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez defeated Taiwanese pair of Chan Hao-ching and Latisha Chan in another quarterfinal match to enter semis.

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WN-WTC FINAL-INDIA-AUS

In cricket, Australia made 327 runs for the loss of three wickets in 85 overs in their first innings against India on the first day of the World Test Championship at the Oval in England on Wednesday. While Australia lost three wickets before tea, Travis head and Steve Smith held their nerves to take their team to a strong total on day 1. Head scored an unbeatean century and was playing at 146 while Smith was playing at 95 when the stumps was drawn.  Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl first.

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WN-WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

Key domestic indices in India closed at a six-month high on Wednesday amid mixed cues from global share markets. A report from the business desk-

[WN BUSINESS CAPSULE] 

"The Sensex rose 350 points or 0.56 percent to finish at 63,143. The Nifty also appreciated 127 points or 0.7 percent to end at 18,726. Most Asian stocks were mixed as the markets predicting worsening economic conditions in the region against the prospect of a pause in the Federal Reserve’s rate hike cycle this month. China’s Shanghai Composite was up despite of data showing the country’s trade surplus hit its lowest level since April 2022, driven by a sharp drop in exports. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.8 percent and China's Shanghai Composite index surged 0.08 percent. On the other hand, Japan's Nikkei-225 declined 1.9 percent while Singapore's Straits Times index was 0.3 percent down. South Korea's Kospi traded flat. European Markets were positive in intra-day trade Oil prices rose after the previous session's losses, as demand concerns owing to slow global economic growth were offset by fears of tighter global supply following Saudi Arabia's pledge to deepen output cuts. Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, will make production cuts of 1 million barrels per day starting from next month, as part of a broader output-limiting OPEC deal due to flagging oil prices and a looming supply crunch. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 77 dollars and four cents a barrel. Back Home, Gold prices, at Multi Commodity Exchange for August contracts, were trading at around 59,843 rupees per 10 gram. On the other hand, silver was trading at 72,000  rupees per kilogram for July Contracts when reports last came in. And. In the forex market, the rupee appreciated six paise to close at 82 rupees and 54 paise against the US dollar. Gouran Dhawan Lal for World News, AKASHVANI."

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WN-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, Cocaine Trade and Gang Violence Strike Hard in Once-Peaceful Ecuador.

• The Guardian writes, Rishi Sunak’s White House jolly can’t mask the fact that Brexit Britain is a fading power.

• Le Monde reports, Macron observes slowdown of pension reform protests from Normandy it also reported, Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie launches US presidency bid.

• The Japan Times reports, France pushes back against proposal for NATO office in Japan.

• Washington Post reports, Pope Francis to have intestinal surgery, Vatican says.

• South China Morning Post writes, Apple’s AirDrop in focus as China moves to restrict Wi-fi, Bluetooth file-sharing over ‘national security’ concerns it also reported Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for greater efforts to fight desertification after climate change leads to spike in dust clouds.

• The Globe and Mail writes, Bank of Canada raises key interest rate to 4.75 percent, restarting its hike campaign.

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A QUICK LOOK AT THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

• President of India Droupadi Murmu arrives in Belgrade on a 3 day state visit to Serbia; Interacts with Indian diaspora.

• Bangladesh signs two financing agreements worth 858 million US dollar with World Bank to enhance climate-resilient agricultural growth, food security and improved road safety.

• Pakistan government registers fresh case against former Prime Minister Imran Khan, wife in Toshakhana case.

• Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets South Korean counterpart Park Jin; Discusses nuclear threat posed by Iran, North Korea.

• British PM Rishi Sunak to meet US President Joe Biden on Thursday; Ukraine, economy and AI tops meeting agenda.

• At least seven missing in Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka after dam collapse; United Nations warns of grave and far-reaching consequences.

• India assures protesting wrestlers probe against outgoing WFI President Brij Bhushan to be completed by 15th June.

• And, in French Open Tennis, Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia and Iga Swiatek of Poland enter women's singles' semifinals. 

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