THE HEADLINES::
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi today.
- Ayushman Bharat Scheme to be rolled out in West Bengal from July; Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries to be included.
- Maharashtra SIT files charge sheet against four accused in Nashik TCS Sexual Assault and religious conversion case.
- US President Donald Trump says Iran deal including reopening of Strait of Hormuz largely negotiated.
- IMD forecasts severe heat wave conditions in some parts of northern, central and eastern India including Delhi today.
- In Athletics, Gurindervir Singh wins men’s 100 metre Gold with new national record at Federation Cup in Ranchi.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Hyderabad House in New Delhi today. They will discuss a wide range of issues related to regional and global peace and security. Secretary Rubio arrived in India yesterday on a four-day visit to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
“The QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meet will be held on the 26th of this month. External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in the Meet. In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, they will exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas, review progress on ongoing Quad initiatives, and reflect on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other international issues of mutual concern. With Suparna Saikia, Priya Mondal, Akashvani News, Delhi. “
Secretary Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday and briefed him on the sustained progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties. He shared US perspective on various regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi asserted that India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good. The Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. Secretary Rubio called India a vital partner to the United States.
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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Executive Vice President , Global Public Policy and Corporate Strategy at Boeing Company, Jeff Shockey in New Delhi yesterday. In a social media post, Mr Goyal said that during the meeting both sides discussed measures on advancing India-US cooperation in aviation and aerospace manufacturing. He added that the meeting also followed discussions focused on developing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul opportunities, skilling, supply chains, innovation and growing India’s role as a trusted global manufacturing and engineering hub.
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The Ayushman Bharat scheme will start in West Bengal from July this year. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced this in Kolkata after a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister JP Nadda yesterday. The existing beneficiaries under the state health scheme, Swasthya Sathi, will be incorporated into the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The Memorandum of Understanding in connection with the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Mandir will be signed in June in New Delhi.
Mr. Adhikari said that a proposal has been sent to the Centre regarding an increase in the number of PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras in West Bengal from the existing 117 to 469.
The Chief Minister also said that proposals for new medical colleges in Alipurduar, Kalimpong, and South Dinajpur districts, as well as a new AIIMS for North Bengal, have also been sent to the central government.
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In Maharashtra, a 1,500-page charge sheet has been filed by the state Special Investigation Team before a court in Nashik in connection with the alleged sexual assault and attempted religious conversion case linked to a TCS facility in the city. According to SIT Chief Sandeep Mitke, the charge sheet was filed yesterday against four accused, Matin Patel, Nida Khan, Danish Shaikh and Tausif Attar. He said, additional charge sheets related to seven to eight persons connected to offences are expected to be filed within the next three to four days.
Police said, the first case in connection with the matter was registered at the Deolali Camp Police Station on 25th March. Officials further stated that two cases have been registered against Nida Khan, while six to nine cases each have been registered against the other accused.
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Health and Family Welfare Minister, JP Nadda has said that along with healthcare infrastructure, training of health experts and medical professionals is equally important. He made these remarks while addressing the 23rd Convocation Ceremony of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences in New Delhi yesterday. Mr Nadda emphasized that doctors serve as the software of the healthcare system, while infrastructure and other facilities function as the hardware for the nation.
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The government has published Draft Rules under the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, 2025, for wider public consultation. The Rural Development Ministry said that any person, stakeholder, organisation or institution may submit objections or suggestions on the draft Rules for consideration by the 21st of next month. Our correspondent has the details:
“The Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act replaces the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005. The new Act aims to enhance the statutory employment guarantee from 100 days to 125 days in a financial year. The Ministry said that the draft Rules, including Transitional Provisions Rules, National Level Steering Committee Rules, Central Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Council Rules, Administrative Expenses Rules, Grievance Redressal Rules, have been placed in the public domain for consultation. The new Act places strong emphasis on timely, transparent, and accountable wage payments. The Act also provides for an unemployment allowance if work is not provided within the stipulated time. The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 was notified on the 11th of this month for commencement across all the States and Union Territories with effect from 1st July, this year. Akshit Vedyan, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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US President Donald Trump said that a deal with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been largely negotiated after calls with Israel and other allies in the region. Announcing progress on his Truth Social platform, Trump said final aspects and details of the deal are being discussed and will be announced shortly. President Trump said he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, along with Israel.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier told state television that the US and Iranian positions had been converging in the last week, but warned it did not mean agreements would be reached on key issues and accused the Americans of contradictory statements.
A ceasefire in Iran was agreed on April 8, and since then Washington and Tehran have engaged in talks over a long-term peace deal.
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In the United States, a person who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint was shot dead by Secret Service officers after they returned fire. The Secret Service said in a preliminary statement posted on X that the suspect, near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing. Officers responded by opening fire, injuring the suspect, who was later declared dead at a hospital. The suspect was identified as a 21-year-old man, according to a law enforcement official. A bystander was also injured in the incident. US President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident. This was the third gunfire-related security incident near the President in the past month.
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President Droupadi Murmu will present Padma Awards for the year 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony tomorrow. On this occasion, we bring 16 programmes as part of our series, ‘People’s Padma on Akashvani’.
In these episodes, you would get an insight into the work and life of Padma awardees. These episodes would be broadcast today and tomorrow on 100.1 Akashvani Gold. It can also be heard on News On Air App and NEWS ON AIR OFFICIAL Youtube channel. Stay tuned to Akashvani today and tomorrow from 9:10 AM onwards.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe heat wave conditions today in parts of Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, East Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh, and Vidarbha. Similar weather conditions are also likely in places over Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, West Madhya Pradesh and West Uttar Pradesh.
The weather agency also predicted heavy rainfall today in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
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In Meghalaya, a vibrant Musical Evening was held last evening at the State Convention Hall in Shillong to mark 90 years of Akashvani’s service to the nation as a public broadcaster. Jointly organised by Akashvani Shillong and Akashvani North Eastern Services, the Musical Evening featured dynamic performances by leading artists and bands of Meghalaya.
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Gurindervir Singh has clinched the gold medal in the men’s 100m event at the 2026 Athletics Federation Cup in Ranchi, with a new national record timing of 10.09 seconds. He improved his previous personal best of 10.17 seconds and comfortably surpassed the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 10.16 seconds. Animesh Kujur secured the silver medal with a timing of 10.20 seconds, while Pranav Pramod took bronze clocking 10.29 seconds.
In the men’s 400m event, Vishal TK won the gold medal with a new national record of 44.98 seconds, becoming the first Indian athlete to break the 45-second barrier in the event.
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In IPL Cricket, riding on an unbeaten 101 runs by skipper Shreyas Iyer, Punjab Kings defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 7 wickets at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow last night. Chasing a target of 197 runs set by Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings scored 200 for 3 in 18 overs.
LOOK AT TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,
- The visit of US Secretary of state Marco Rubio and his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been prominently covered by most of newspapers. “PM backs peace push with renewed push to repair ties, in meeting with Rubio” is a frontpage headline in Hindustan Times while The Tribune writes “India flags energy crisis; state secretary touts US oil, extends Trump’s invite to Modi to visit White House.”
- Another headline in Hindustan Times says “Headway in Iran-US talks raises truce hopes.”
- Quoting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, a Sunday Pioneer headline says “India to be biggest weapon exporter in 25-30 years adding the government wants private sector share in Defence production to rise to fifty percent.”
- The Hindu reports on new law Viksit Bharat G Ram G replacing the 20 year old MGNREGA set to come into effect from first of July with draft rules open for feedback till third week of June under the headline “Big, poor states to get higher funds under government’s new rural jobs scheme.”
- Hindustan Times editorial writes how Sikkim showcases a thoughtful vision of development while respecting tradition and an exemplary social harmony to its education sector opening the doors to the future.
- “More red, white and Blues for green card applicants” states The Economic Times as the new policy for US immigration may force permanent residency seekers to return home for paperwork.
- “Centre tells Delhi Gymkhana to return land for ‘strengthening’ defence infrastructure” reports The Sunday Express and other dailes.
- And Finally, The Sunday Times reports that “Only 6 states now have fertility rate above replacement level.The paper referring to the latest Sample Registration Report 2024.
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi today.
- Ayushman Bharat Scheme to be rolled out in West Bengal from July; Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries to be included.
- Maharashtra SIT files charge sheet against four accused in Nashik TCS Sexual Assault and religious conversion case.
- US President Donald Trump says Iran deal including reopening of Strait of Hormuz largely negotiated.
- IMD forecasts severe heat wave conditions in some parts of northern, central and eastern India including Delhi today.
- In Athletics, Gurindervir Singh wins men’s 100 metre Gold with new national record at Federation Cup in Ranchi.
