THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides in New Delhi today.
- First International Big Cat Alliance Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi on June 1 postponed.
- Railways urges passengers to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity or individual on railway premises on helpline number 139.
- Calcutta High Court orders setting up Special Team of CBI to probe hushing up charges in RG Kar rape-murder case.
- Pulwama terror attack mastermind Hamza Burhan killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, Washington is ready to sell as much energy as India is willing to buy.
- In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in Ahmedabad.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides in New Delhi today. He was received by Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta at the Delhi Airport. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, senior officials and business leaders. This is the first visit of President Christodoulides to India in his current capacity. A report:
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of Cyprus will hold discussions on further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. The areas include trade, investment, technology, education, culture, mobility, defence and security, Artificial Intelligence, FinTech, innovation and research. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance including cooperation in multilateral fora. Several agreements will be signed and exchanged after the talks. Mr Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary. The President of Cyprus will meet President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan today evening. The visit of the President of Cyprus is taking place within a year of the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Cyprus in June last year, which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades. This visit also assumes added significance in view of Cyprus’ ongoing Presidency of the Council of the European Union. India and Cyprus share close and time-tested partnership. The two countries will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in February next year. ANUPAM MISHRA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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Prime Minister Modi chaired the meeting of the Council of Ministers yesterday in New Delhi. In a social media post Mr Modi said that the meeting involved exchange of perspectives and best practices relating to boosting Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business and how to further reforms in order to realise the shared dream of a Viksit Bharat.
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The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, which was scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 1st of June, has been postponed to a later date. The Summit focuses on the conservation of seven Big Cat species which are Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma and their ecosystems. A report:
“The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit was being organized in conjunction with the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit as several African countries host big cats and are important partners in global efforts towards conservation, ecological sustainability and biodiversity protection. Following the decision taken in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Union and the African Union Commission to convene the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date, it was decided that, in order to ensure broad and active participation from all Range countries, including African countries, the First IBCA Summit too will be convened at a later date. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said that the new dates for the Summit will be announced in due course following consultations with participating countries and stakeholders. The Ministry added that India remains firmly committed to working with all partners to advance the shared objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Samarth Singh for Akashvani News Delhi.”
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Amid recent incidents targeting railway infrastructure and train operations, Railway Ministry has urged passengers to remain alert during travel and immediately report any suspicious activity or individuals on railway premises through helpline number 139. The appeal came after a high-level security review meeting chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi yesterday. Ministers of State for Railways V. Somanna and Ravneet Singh Bittu, along with senior Railway Board officials and field officers from across the country, attended the meeting. We have a report:
“According to Ministry of Railways, initial investigations into several recent incidents, including some fire-related cases, have pointed towards the involvement of anti-social elements. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is actively probing these incidents. Officials noted during the meeting that timely and proactive action by railway authorities in several instances helped prevent larger mishaps. The Railways said it is intensifying the use of modern technology tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones and CCTV systems to strengthen the safety of passengers, trains, stations and the wider rail network. The initiative is being carried out in mission mode with a focus on improving intelligence gathering at the beat level of the RPF. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said intelligence gathering from the field is being strengthened using modern technology tools. Meanwhile, the advisory from the Ministry is crucial amid rising rush in trains due to vacation season. And so, it is important for passengers to remain alert and vigilant while travelling. KAUMUDEE PAREEKH, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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The Calcutta High Court has ordered setting up a three-member special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI to probe the developments from the time the RG Kar Medical College’s trainee doctor had dinner on the ill-fated night of August 2024 to her cremation. We have more from our Correspondent:
”The three-member SIT will be led by the Central Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Director for the Eastern Zone. The Court has asked the team to file its report by June 25. A division bench of Justices Shampa Sarkar and Tirthankar Ghosh directed the CBI to retrace events from the victim’s dinner on 9th August 2024, through to her cremation. The agency has also been given freedom to investigate all related aspects. The Court’s decision follows repeated concerns from the victim’s family, alleging tampering of evidence and suppression of facts. The bench emphasized that the SIT must examine every detail to ensure a comprehensive investigation.The crime, which shocked the nation in 2024, saw civic volunteer Sanjay Roy sentenced to life imprisonment. But widespread protests by doctors and civil society have kept the demand for justice alive.’SANDIPON DASGUPTA, AKASHVANI NEWS, KOLKATA.”
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Hamza Burhan, believed to be one of the masterminds behind the 2019 Pulwama terror attack that claimed the lives of over 40 CRPF personnel, was killed yesterday when unknown gunmen opened fire on him in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). We have a report:
“Burhan Hamza alias Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Doctor, a commander of the Al Badr terror group, was designated as a terrorist by India in April 2022 for his involvement in a series of terror acts in Jammu and Kashmir. He had been living undercover as a teacher in PoJK following the Pulwama attack. According to local police, Burhan, a principal of a private college in Gojra, Muzaffarabad, was targeted when he came out of his college Thursday morning. The attackers fired multiple shots at close range and he sustained three bullets to the head. Hamza Burhan, born in 1999, hailed from Pulwama, in Jammu and Kashmir. He went to Pakistan on valid documents, where he joined the Al Badr terror group. According to the Union Home Ministry, he was an active terrorist and commander of Al Badr. Since going to Pakistan, he had been motivating youth to join Al Badr and funding the outfit’s terror activities. CHIRAG JHA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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Punjab Police has arrested a Pathankot resident for spying for Pakistan based handlers by installing internet linked CCTV camera on the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway-44. Pathankot SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon told Akashvani News that as per the preliminary investigation, the accused Baljit Singh, installed a CCTV camera near a bridge on the National Highway-44 to allegedly keep an eye on the movement of the army and paramilitary forces.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the US is ready to sell as much energy as India is willing to buy. He said this while responding to a question about India being affected by high energy prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Minister said this in the interaction with reporters in Miami, as he embarked on the trip to Sweden and India. He also described India as a great partner and said his visit is important as it would give him an opportunity to meet with ministers from the Quad nations.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red colour warning for heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha for today.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, temperature is breaking all records as the entire state is reeling under heat wave. On the fifth consecutive day, Banda district in state recorded the highest temperature in the country of 47.6 degree Celsius. More from our Correspondent:
“Torture of Temperature continues in state where mercury is touching new heights every passing day. Bundelkhand is worst hit area where temperature has gone beyond 45 degree Celsius in most parts. 47.6 degree in Banda was 4 degrees above normal which paralyzed life in the city. Prayagraj was not far behind with temperature reaching 46.6 degrees, 5 degree above normal. Varanasi recorded 45.6 degree Celsius. state capital Lucknow also experienced the hottest day of this season with mercury rising to 43.6 degree, 5 notches above normal. People are having sleepless nights also because of mercury reaching 30 degrees in night. Met department has warned about severe heat wave in some parts of state. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI, AKASHVANI NEWS, LUCKNOW.”
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In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans defeated Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night. With this, CSK were officially eliminated from this season of IPL after finishing the league stage with just 12 points. Chasing a target of 230 runs set by Gujarat Titans, CSK were bundled out for just 140 runs in 13.4 overs. Shivam Dube was the top scorer with 47 runs. For Gujarat Titans, Mohammed Siraj, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada each took 3 wickets. Siraj was adjudged Player of the Match.
Today, Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, in Hyderabad at 7.30 PM.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,
- “Explore alternative energy sources, PM tells Govt. amid west asia crisis,” headlines the Indian Express, while the Hindustan Times headlines, “Reforms, delivery, West Asia in focus as PM meets ministers,” and the Statesman headlines, “PM Modi chairs high level governance review meeting amid global concerns.”
- The Asian Age headlines, “First coalition govt. in Tamil Nadu in 74 years, 23 join cabinet,” while the Times of India says “Vijay expands Tamil Nadu cabinet with 7 dalit ministers: Congress back in govt. after 59 years.”
- Almost all newspapers carry the story of the India Africa Delhi summit being postponed due to the Ebola crisis. The Tribune headlines, “Ebola scare delays India Africa summit.”
- Most papers cover the story of Hamza Burhan, a key figure linked to the 2019 Pulwama attack which killed 40 CRPF Jawans being shot at in POK.
- The Hindu in it’s editorial titled “Caste Away” writes that people must have the option to state they are casteless in the census. The paper adds that the Supreme Court was not wrong to dismiss a petition that sought to stall the caste census, which is part of the ongoing Census 2027. The chief justice of India remarked that any govt. of the day must know how many people are backward and how many need welfare.
- Finally, the Statesman on it’s front page says ” Ahead of Nautapa, plains simmer but some respite around May 29th.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold talks with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides in New Delhi today.
- First International Big Cat Alliance Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi on June 1 postponed.
- Railways urges passengers to remain alert and immediately report any suspicious activity or individual on railway premises on helpline number 139.
- Calcutta High Court orders setting up Special Team of CBI to probe hushing up charges in RG Kar rape-murder case.
- Pulwama terror attack mastermind Hamza Burhan killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, Washington is ready to sell as much energy as India is willing to buy.
- In IPL Cricket, Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in Ahmedabad.
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For details of these stories and more, log on to our website www.newsonair.gov.in and News On Air App.
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