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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THE HEADLINES:

India slams Canada for allowing celebration of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination; Says, space given to separatists and extremists not good for relationship with India.

President of India Droupadi Murmu urges business leaders of Serbia to take advantage of large potential for trade and investment between two nations.

India to launch Chandrayaan 3 mission by July, says ISRO chairman S Somnath.

Reserve Bank of India allows banks to issue RuPay prepaid forex cards.

Top Biden administration official hails new era of trust between India and the United States ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

About 15 killed in blast at the funeral of assassinated governor in northern Afghanistan.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke Spreads Across Swaths of United States; Flight Operations affected.

Australia were all out for 469 in their first innings against India at World Test Championship final in Oval.

And in French Open Tennis, Japan's Miya Kato and Germany's Tim Putz win mixed doubles title.

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JAISHANKAR - CANADA

India has slammed Canada over the celebration of assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During an interaction with media in New Delhi on Thursday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar said, space given to separatists, extremists and people who advocate violence in Canada, is not good for its relationship with India. He said it is not good for Canada either. The Minister said, New Delhi is unable to understand other than the requirements of vote bank politics why anybody will do this.

Responding to a media query about the fate of nearly 700 Indian students who are probably going to face deportation next week by the Canadian government, Dr Jaishankar said that it is unfair on part of the Canadian authorities to punish the students who undertook their education in good faith. He said, Foreign Ministry and Indian High Commission in Canada have taken up this issue. He said, if these students have done no wrong then the Indian government will try to press Canadian government to find the solution to this issue.

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JAISHANKAR FAMILIES

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on Thursday met displaced families from Afghanistan as part of a mega public outreach campaign Sampark Se Samarthan in New Delhi and inquired about their well-being. Dr Jaishankar also sought to know about their next decision and how the government of India can support them. Later speaking to the media, he said that the government is with the displaced families and favourable decisions will be taken for them under better conditions. The External Affairs Minister said that many people want to return and also want to keep their passports. Dr Jaishankar said that the government wants to find a better solution in this matter.

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PRESIDENT-SERBIA

President of India Droupadi Murmu has urged business leaders of Serbia to take advantage of large potential for trade and investment between two nations. Briefing joint press conference with her counterpart Aleksandar Vučić, after the conclusion delegation level talks at Belgrade, the President said that relations between India and Serbia have been unique since the days of the Non-Alignment Movement and are based on mutual trust, mutual understanding and support for each other on issues of core interest.

President Murmu also said that Serbia can be an effective gateway for Indian companies to access the border markets of Europe.

President of Serbia, Mr. Vucic promised simplification of the issue of Visa to Indians. He also explored starting direct flights between the 2 countries to promote tourism and have greater business engagement.

After the media briefing, both the Presidents addressed the high level business delegations of both the countries. President Murmu urged the business leaders to take advantage of the large potential for trade and investment between the two nations.

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KARNATAKA-ISRO

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somnath has informed that Chandrayaan 3 mission that will attempt to place Rover on the surface of the moon will be accomplished by mid July. He was addressing media persons in Bengaluru on Thursday on the sidelines of  an International Conference on spacecraft mission operations. The ISRO Chairman has said that the Orbiter, Lander, Rover and Propulsion module are undergoing tests and will be integrated with the LVM3 launch vehicle. The LVM3 rocket will be ready by this month end and assembling Chandrayaan 3 to the rocket will be done by July beginning. The launch is planned by mid July.

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PM - SAUDI ARABIA PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation on Thursday with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The leaders reviewed a number of issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on various multilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Mr Modi thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Saudi Arabia's excellent support during evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan via Jeddah in April this year. He also conveyed his best wishes for the upcoming Haj pilgrimage.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed his full support to India’s initiatives as part of its ongoing G20 Presidency and that he looks forward to his visit to India.

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AGNI PRIME

India has conducted the successful flight-test of New Generation Ballistic Missile Agni Prime off the Odisha coast. The missile was flight-tested by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday. It has a range of two thousand kilometers. The Defence Ministry said, all objectives were successfully demonstrated during the flight test and this was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three successful developmental trials of the missile, paving the way for the induction of the system into the Armed Forces. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO and the Armed Forces for the success as well as the copy-book performance of the Agni Prime.

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MARITIME EXERCISE

The first edition of India, France and UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise commenced on Wednesday in the Gulf of Oman. India's Defence Ministry said, INS Tarkash and French Ship Surcouf both with integral helicopters, French Rafale aircraft and UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft are participating in the exercise. The exercise will witness a wide spectrum of naval operations such as Surface Warfare, involving tactical firing and Drills for Missile engagements on surface targets, Helicopter Cross Deck Landing Operations, Advanced Air Defence Exercise and Boarding operations.

The maiden exercise aims to enhance trilateral cooperation between the three navies and pave way for adopting measures towards addressing traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime environment.

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RBI-ADDITIONAL MEASURES

In order to expand payment options for Indians travelling abroad, India's central bank has decided to allow issuance of RuPay Prepaid Forex cards by banks in the country for use at ATMs, PoS machines and online merchants overseas. Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikant Das announced some additional measures after informing decisions of Monetary Policy Committee on Thursday. Shaktikant Das informed that the scope and reach of e-Rupi vouchers are proposed to expand by permitting non bank prepaid payment instruments issuers to issue e- Rupi vouchers. It will enable to issue e- Rupi vouchers on behalf of individuals and simplify the process. He said that RBI has decided to issue guidelines on Default Loss Guarantee arrangements in Digital Lending to further promote responsible innovation and prudent risk management. The regulatory framework for Digital Lending was issued in August and September 2022. He said that the guidelines will further facilitate orderly development of the digital lending ecosystem and enhance credit penetration in the economy.

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HOTSPOT

In today's hotspot section, we bring you a news commentary on India-Suriname Relations.

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DUBAI-WORLD-AI

 The World-AI Show, one of the most anticipated global events in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), commenced on Wednesday in Dubai.The show attracted leading experts, industry giants, and tech enthusiasts from around the world.The show provided a platform for showcasing groundbreaking innovations and exploring the immense potential of AI to transform various sectors. The event, held at the Emirates Towers at Jumeirah, is attended by renowned AI researchers,innovators, companies, and industry leaders. Among the handful of Indians who showcased the AI technologies was Aliriza Group, who bootstrapped with Mudra loans. One of the major highlights of the WorldAI Show was the unveiling of cutting-edge AI technologies and solutions by prominent companies.

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PM MODI-US VISIT

 US President Joe Biden's top official for the Indo-Pacific region, Kurt Campbell has said that the degree of trust and confidence developed between India and the US was not present a decade ago. Speaking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States from 21 to 24 of this month, Mr. Campbell said that this visit will consecrate the India-US relationship as the most important bilateral relationship for the US on the global stage. He added that the visit will open up more avenues for both investment and people-to-people linkages. He said that the world is recognising the critical role that India is playing on the global stage and it is not just strategic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Prime Minister to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time during his upcoming official state visit to the United States.

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AFGHANISTAN-BLAST

In Afghanistan, at least 15 people were killed and 50 injured  in a blast during a funeral service for an acting provincial governor at Nabawi mosque in Faizabad on Thursday. According to Tolo News. Provincial governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi was assassinated by a suicide bomber on 6th June when a suicide bomber drove a car filled with explosives into his vehicle. Ahmadi's driver was also killed and six others were injured in that attack. Islamic State claimed responsibility for Ahmadi's killing. Former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai condemned the calling it an act of terrorism and expressed sympathy for the affected families. He said that the attack is against human and Islamic standards.

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BANGLADESH-INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL

 A team of six Yoga practitioners from Bangladesh will take part in the International Yoga Festival 2023 in Kathmandu, Nepal between 8 and 10 June 2023. They are attending the second Mt. Everest International Yoga Championship and the third South Asian Yoga Sports Championship in Kathmandu. Eight countries of South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives are participating in these two international yoga sports competitions. The International Yoga Championship has been organised by Nepal Yoga & Nature Cure Association.

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US-CANADA-SMOKE

In US, millions are breathing hazardous air as smoke from Canadian wildfires cross borders. The thick haze has also affected flight operations. The air quality index, a US Environmental Protection Agency metric for air pollution, exceeded a staggering 400 at times in Syracuse, New York City and Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. A level of 50 or under is considered good and anything over 300 is considered hazardous. Canadian officials asked other countries for additional help fighting more than 400 blazes nationwide that already have displaced over one lakh 20 thousand people. Massive tongues of unhealthy air extended as far as North Carolina and Indiana, affecting millions of people. A report:

"Due to the hazardous air quality, even healthy people have been advised to curtail outdoor physical activity. Smoke from Canadian wildfires poured into the US East Coast and Midwest, covering the capitals of both nations in an unhealthy haze, holding up flights at major airports, postponing Major League Baseball games and prompting people to fish out pandemic-era face masks. Schools across the U.S. East Coast have canceled outdoor activities. Reduced visibility from the haze forced the Federal Aviation Administration to slow air traffic into the New York City area and Philadelphia from elsewhere on the East Coast and upper Midwest, with flight delays averaging about a half hour. The US National Weather Service issued air quality alerts for virtually the entire Atlantic seaboard. Health officials from Vermont to South Carolina and as far west as Ohio and Kansas warned residents that spending time outdoors could cause respiratory problems due to high levels of fine particulates in the atmosphere. Poor air quality is likely to persist into the weekend, with a developing storm system expected to shift the smoke westward across the Great Lakes and deeper south through the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic region. This Manoj Singh Rana for World News."

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BLINKEN-SYRIA

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday announced nearly 150 million dollar aid for areas in Syria and Iraq that were liberated from the Islamic State extremist group. Blinken made the announcement at a ministerial conference hosted by Saudi Arabia on combating the Islamic State. He said the 150 million US dollars pledge is part of new funding amounting to more than 600 million US dollars. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS includes more than 80 countries and continues to coordinate action against the terrorist group that once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq.

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FRANCE STABBING

In France, a Syrian national wounded four young children and two adults in a knife attack in a park in the Annecy town on Thursday. According to the police, some of the victims were in critical condition. The victims include children as young as 22 months and three years old. A police spokesman said the attacker was a 31-year-old Syrian asylum seeker who carried Swedish identity documents and a Swedish driving license.

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WTC FINAL-CRICKET

In cricket, India were 151 for the loss of 5 wickets in their first innings against Australia in the World Test Championship final at the Oval in England when the stumps were drawn for day 2. Coming to bat after Australia amassed a huge first innings total of 469 runs, India lost wickets at regular intervals with both the openers - Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill returning to pavilion within 30 runs.

Earlier, Australia were all out for 469 in their first innings after resuming the day's play from the overnight score of 327 for 3. Indian bowlers struck at regular intervals today and scalped the remaining seven wickets by spilling just 142 runs.

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TENNIS

In French Open Tennis, Japanese tennis player Miyu Kato and German tennis player Tim Putz defeated Canadian Bianca Vanessa Andreescu & New Zealand Michael Venus 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 to win the mixed doubles title. In the Men's doubles semifinal, American tennis star Austin Krajicek & Croation Ivan Dodig defeated Spanish player Marcel Granollers & Argentine tennis player Horacio Zeballos 6-3, 7-6 to enter the final. In another semifinal, pair of Joran Vliegen & Sander Gille of Belgian defeated Andreas Mies of Germany & Matwé Middelkoop of Netherlands 6-4, 7-5. Dodig and Krajicek will now meet Vliegen & Gille in the men's doubles finals on June 10.

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WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

Key domestic indices snapped a four-day winning streak to close with losses of around half a percent today. A report from the business desk- 

" The Sensex sank 294 points, or 0.47 per cent, to finish at 62,849 and the Nifty slipped 92 points, or 0.49 per cent, to end at 18,634. In the forex market, the rupee close at 82 rupees and 57 paise against the US dollar.Gold prices, at Multi Commodity Exchange for August contracts, were trading at around 59,506 rupees per 10 gram. On the other hand, silver was trading at 72,450 rupees per kilogram for July Contracts when reports last came in. And. Oil rose as worries over demand weakness and a global economic slowdown were offset by Saudi Arabia's pledged production cut and a potential pause to U.S. interest rate hikes. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 77 dollars and 40 cents a barrel. Arjun Chowdhury, For AKASHVANI News. 

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

·  The Wall Street Journal reports, Canada Wildfires Rage as Blazes Get Bigger Across the World.

·  The Guardian writes, Sudan fighting escalates after breakdown in ceasefire talks.

·  Le Monde reports, French pension reform opponents withdraw doomed repeal bill.

·  The Japan Times reports, U.S. takes aim at China over Latin America trade tactics and fentanyl role.

·  Washington Post reports, USAID cuts food aid supporting millions of Ethiopians amid charges of massive government theft.

·  South China Morning Post writes, Zelensky visits area flooded by destroyed dam, praises rescue efforts.

·  The Globe and Mail writes, Supporters of Hassan Diab urge Canada to reject France’s latest extradition request.

·  The Financial Times reports, Eurozone economy shrinks for two quarters in a row.

·  The Straits Times reports, World warming at record 0.2 deg C per decade, scientists warn.

·  The Business Recorder writes, Pakistan has to satisfy IMF on three counts including budget ‘consistent with programme objectives’.

·  Daily Star reports,  Bangladesh avoids being 'red-listed' by Saudi Arabia over Haj visa deadline.

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REPEAT HEADLINES

·  India slams Canada for allowing celebration of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination; Says, space given to separatists and extremists not good for relationship with India.

·  President of India Droupadi Murmu urges business leaders of Serbia to take advantage of large potential for trade and investment between two nations.

·  India to launch Chandrayaan 3 mission by July, says ISRO chairman S Somnath.

·  Reserve Bank of India allows banks to issue RuPay prepaid forex cards.

·  Top Biden administration official hails new era of trust between India and the United States ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

·  About 15 killed in blast at the funeral of assassinated governor in northern Afghanistan.

·  Canadian Wildfire Smoke Spreads Across Swaths of United States; Flight Operations affected.

·  Australia were all out for 469 in their first innings against India at World Test Championship final in Oval.

·  And in French Open Tennis, Japan's Miya Kato and Germany's Tim Putz win mixed doubles title.

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

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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