THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg; India and Sweden decide to elevate their bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership.
- Prime Minister Modi invites Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India under Make in India, National Green Hydrogen Mission and National Critical Mineral Mission initiatives.
- Congress leader VD Satheesan to be sworn-in as Chief Minister of Keralam today.
- Southwest Monsoon likely to hit Keralam coast on 26th of this month, six days ahead of its normal date.
- In IPL Cricket, Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets in Delhi.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg last night. Prime Minsiter Modi was awarded Sweden’s highest honour, the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross,’ in recognition of his exceptional contributions to bilateral ties and his visionary leadership. The award is the highest distinction that can be given to a Head of Government. This is Prime Minister Modi’s 31st international honour.
During the delegation-level talks, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Sweden relations and agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership, marking a major milestone in the relationship. The two leaders also agreed to identify new opportunities in the spirit of the India-EU Strategic Partnership and recently concluded the India-EU FTA for the benefit of their peoples.
We have more details on this from our Correspondent in Sweden covering the Prime Minister’s visit:
“Central to the visit was the adoption of a Joint Action Plan (2026-2030), which aims to double bilateral economic exchange within five years.Under the theme “India-Sweden: Stronger Together – towards 2047,” both nations committed to holding a Bilateral Trade and Investment Summit in India in 2027.
In the realms of technology and climate action, the visit secured significant agreements to co-create solutions for the 21st century. Both nations launched the Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and agreed to establish a virtual India-Sweden Joint Science and Technology Centre (ISJSTC) focusing on AI, 6G, quantum computing, and life sciences. Furthermore, the Sweden-India Technology and AI Corridor (SITAC) will be strengthened to connect the two nations’ startup ecosystems. On the climate front, the leaders announced the third phase of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), specifically expanding cooperation in green steel and low-carbon industrial transformation.
Defence and security cooperation have transitioned from a traditional buyer-seller model to a long-term industrial partnership, with Swedish companies actively investing in India’s defence production corridors. The Prime Minister specifically thanked Sweden for its support following the Pahalgam terror attack, reaffirming a joint commitment to global stability.
Finally, the visit celebrated a shared intellectual legacy and broader regional cooperation. To commemorate the centenary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s historic visit to Sweden, both countries initiated the “Tagore-Sweden Lecture Series” and exchanged unique gifts, including replicas of Tagore’s handwritten epigrams found in Swedish archives. The presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the visit’s importance to the India-EU partnership, with a renewed push for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement-described as the “Mother of all deals”-to unlock new opportunities for innovators and investors alike. Sakshi Singh, Akashvani News, Gothenburg, Sweden”
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Prime Minister Modi has invited Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India under initiatives such as Make In India, National Green Hydrogen Mission and National Critical Mineral Mission. During an interaction with select Swedish CEOs in Gothenburg, Mr Modi made a strong pitch to Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India in manufacturing, green hydrogen mission, clean energy and other sectors. The discussions also focused on strengthening cooperation in resilient supply chains, green transition, sustainable mobility, life sciences and digital technologies. Highlighting India’s rapid economic transformation, Mr Modi mentioned about strong domestic demand, digital public infrastructure, manufacturing expansion and next-generation infrastructure development in India.
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The Ministry of External Affairs has said that business leaders and CEOs who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sweden expressed strong interest in India and appreciated the country’s transformation driven by sustained economic reforms over the past several years. Addressing reporters after the European Round Table Industry meeting, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said that CEOs and senior industry leaders highlighted the significant changes they have witnessed in India in recent years.
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In the fourth leg of his visit, the Prime Minister will reach Norway today for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit and bilateral engagements. This will mark the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Norway in 43 years. Mr Modi will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Mr Modi will also address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian Prime Minister. The visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in India-Norway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them.
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Congress leader VD Satheesan will be sworn-in as Chief Minister of Keralam today. Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer him oath of office and secrecy at a function in Thiruvananthapuram this morning. The Chief minister-designate unveiled a 21-member UDF cabinet last evening, ahead of today’s swearing-in ceremony.
The Congress led UDF Ministry is being sworn in today in Keralam after a gap of ten years. The Chief Minister and 20 other ministers will take oath at a function organised at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.Sixteen members of the new ministry, including Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, are becoming ministers for the first time. UDF workers in large numbers have been arriving in the state capital since yesterday afternoon to witness the swearing-in ceremony. Senior leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and BJP State President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, are expected to attend the ceremony. Smithy M Palluruthy Akashvani News, Thiruvananthapuram.
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Raipur last evening on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh. During his visit to the state, Mr Shah will participate in several programmes in Raipur and Bastar.
On the first day of his visit to Chhattisgarh , Union Home Minister Amit Shah will flag off new vehicles under the emergency response service Dial-112 in Raipur this morning. Later, he will travel to Bastar and inaugurate a Public Convenience Centre at Netanar village in the district. The centre is aimed at providing easier access to government and digital services for people living in remote areas. Thereafter, Mr. Shah will reach Jagdalpur and pay tribute to martyrs at Amar Vatika. In the afternoon, he will interact at Badal Academy in Jagdalpur with families of martyrs, security personnel, people affected by Naxal violence, and representatives of various local communities. In the evening, he will also attend the ‘Bastar Ke Sang’ folk cultural programme. This is Mr. Shah’s first visit to the state after Chhattisgarh was declared Naxal-free. Vikalp Shukla, Akashvani News, Raipur.
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The trail of the NEET paper leak case has now reportedly extended from Latur to Nanded in Maharashtra. A parent has been accused of purchasing the leaked question paper for five lakh rupees for his daughter. A CBI team questioned the individual yesterday and has summoned him to appear before the agency’s Pune office tomorrow for further investigation.
Meanwhile, in the same case, the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court has remanded Pune-based accused Manisha Mandhare to 14 days of CBI custody. According to the agency, Mandhare was a key conspirator in the leak of the NEET Biology examination paper.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the Southwest Monsoon is likely to set in over Keralam on 26th of this month, six days ahead of its normal date of 1st of June. Our correspondent reports that conditions are favorable for the southwest monsoon to advance into more parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Islands, and Andaman Sea over the next two to three days.
IMD said, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe are likely to experience heavy rainfall today. The met department said that Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are also likely to witness similar conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over West Uttar Pradesh today. Heat wave conditions are very likely at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and Vidarbha today. According to IMD, a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by three to five degrees Celsius is expected over many parts of Northwest India during the next three to four days. AMAN YADAV, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.
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In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” today, we will bring you an insightful discussion on the ongoing Phase I of Census 2027: the Houselisting and Housing Census. V A Warade, Deputy Registrar General in the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, will be in our studio to answer listeners’ queries.
To participate, simply dial 011-23314444 from 9:30 PM onwards tonight.
Alternatively, you can send your queries via WhatsApp to 9289094044 or post your questions on X using the hashtag #AskAir.
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In IPL Cricket, Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals by five wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi last night. Chasing a target of 194 runs set by Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals scored 197 for 5 in 19.2 overs. KL Rahul was the top scorer with 56 runs. For Delhi Capitals, Mitchell Starc took 4 wickets for whcih he was adjudged Player of the Match.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- ”Sweden confers its highest honour on PM Narendra Modi”, The Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross is Prime Minister Modi’s 31st international award is the top headline in The Pioneer while The Asian age headlines ”Trade to chips: India inks 14 Netherlands pacts, lifts ties”, Modi, Jetten hold talks, adopt strategic partnership roadmap.
- The Statesman mentions,”Metro to run extra train trips to encourage use of public transport”, this capacity expansion aims to ensure uninterrupted service and efficient passenger management.
- ”UAE Nuclear-plant attacked by drone, testing Iran truce”, writes The Hindustan Times, while The Times of India states, ”Drone attack sparks fire at UAE nuclear plant”.
- In an editorial titled ‘Diversification gains’, The Hindu commends India’s export performance in April 2026, underscoring the attempts by the government and industry to diversify in times of crisis.
- And finally, The Indian Express writes,”HPV Vaccination sees uptick : 1100 girls recieve the shot”, the figure reflects a slow but steadily accelerating start to one of the country’s most important public health drives in recent years in preventing Cervical cancer.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg; India and Sweden decide to elevate their bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership.
- Prime Minister Modi invites Swedish companies to enhance their presence in India under Make in India, National Green Hydrogen Mission and National Critical Mineral Mission initiatives.
- Congress leader VD Satheesan to be sworn-in as Chief Minister of Keralam today.
- Southwest Monsoon likely to hit Keralam coast on 26th of this month, six days ahead of its normal date.
- In IPL Cricket, Delhi Capitals beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets in Delhi.
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