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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: June 7, 2026

Shaili Singh wins gold as India bag four medals in Taipei meet

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NEW DELHI: Indian athletes delivered a strong collective performance at the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026, finishing the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet with four medals across track and field events over the weekend.

Long jumper Shaili Singh emerged as one of the standout performers, clinching the women’s long jump title with a best effort of 6.24m at Banqiao Stadium in Chinese Taipei. She edged past Vietnam’s Tran Thi Loan, who recorded 6.23m, while Australia’s Zoe Chester secured third place with 6.13m, according to olympics.com.

Shaili, who had earlier registered a season-best of 6.58m at the Federation Cup, continues to be one of India’s most promising jumpers. Her personal best of 6.76m, set in 2023, remains the Indian U20 national record. The senior national record of 6.83m is held by Anju Bobby George.

India’s most dominant performance of the meet came in the women’s 4x100m relay, where the quartet of SS Sneha, Rio Olympian Srabani Nanda, Sudeshna Shivankar and Tamanna stormed to gold. The team clocked 44.07 seconds, equalling the meet record, and finished ahead of Thailand, which recorded 44.68 seconds.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Tejas Shirse added another medal to India’s tally, securing silver in a tightly contested final. Shirse finished just 0.01 seconds behind Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yuan-kai, clocking 13.58 seconds, while Malaysia’s Mohamad Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif took bronze.

Shirse had earlier recorded a season-best of 13.43 seconds at the Indian Open Athletics Series in Chennai, while his personal best of 13.41 seconds stands as the Indian national record in the event.

India’s final medal of the competition came on Sunday through sprinter Animesh Kujur, who claimed silver in the men’s 200m. He finished in 20.47 seconds behind Thailand’s Puripol Boonson, who won gold in 20.03 seconds, with Ge Wuyanming taking bronze.

Kujur holds the Indian national record in the 200m at 20.32 seconds, set at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025.

CM Majhi vows world-class education as Odisha launches 204 model schools

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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to transforming primary education in the state, saying every child should have access to a world-class learning environment irrespective of their background.

Speaking after laying the foundation stones for 204 Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools across Odisha, the CM said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader vision to strengthen foundational education and create modern learning spaces for young students.

In a post on X, Majhi said the state government has earmarked substantial funds in the first phase of the Godabarish Mishra Model Primary School Scheme for the development of 2,200 schools across Odisha.

The latest round of foundation-laying ceremonies marks a significant step towards achieving that target.

The CM noted that the programme had earlier been launched at Banpur, where foundation stones were laid for 118 schools under the scheme. With the addition of 204 schools, the government is accelerating efforts to improve educational infrastructure and learning outcomes at the primary level.

Describing the initiative as more than just a government project, Majhi said it represents the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream shaped by his own childhood experiences as a student from a tribal family.

He said the scheme reflects a commitment to ensuring that future generations have access to quality education and opportunities that were often unavailable to many children in the past.

“It is not an idea conceived in an air-conditioned room, but a firm resolve to bring meaningful change to the education sector,” Majhi said.

Majhi recalled that during his tenure as the Opposition Chief Whip, he had repeatedly written to the then state government and raised the issue in the Assembly, advocating for comprehensive improvements in primary education. However, he said those proposals did not receive adequate attention at the time.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Odisha for placing their trust in him, Majhi said implementing the scheme has become one of his key priorities as CM. He also credited the blessings of Lord Jagannath for enabling the government to take forward the ambitious initiative.

The CM emphasized that the government’s primary objective is to ensure that every child receives quality education in a conducive environment and that future generations do not face the educational challenges and limitations experienced by many students in earlier years.

India, Indonesia review strategic ties, deepen cooperation across key sectors

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NEW DELHI: India and Indonesia reviewed the full spectrum of their bilateral relationship and explored ways to further strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors during the 8th India–Indonesia Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) held in New Delhi on Sunday.

The meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono under the framework of the India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two ministers discussed avenues for enhancing collaboration in political, defence and security, maritime affairs, trade and investment, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, digital technologies, energy, connectivity, space, education, consular matters, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

During the discussions, the ministers noted that engagements between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the former’s State Visit to India in January 2025, had provided renewed impetus to bilateral ties.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to closer cooperation and coordination in regional and multilateral forums, the External Affairs Ministry said in a press release.

Jaishankar and Sugiono further discussed advancing multilateral coordination and deepening ties between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Welcoming the upward trajectory of bilateral relations, the ministers agreed to continue efforts to strengthen cooperation across established as well as emerging areas of partnership. They also agreed to convene the next Joint Commission Meeting at a mutually convenient date in the near future.

Speaking on the occasion, Sugiono said he looked forward to Modi’s upcoming visit to Jakarta, describing it as an important opportunity to further deepen cooperation and deliver tangible benefits for the people of both countries.

Indonesia remains a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy, and the India–Indonesia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, rooted in deep civilisational linkages, continues to expand across diverse sectors of mutual interest.

Odisha Vigilance arrests ITDA engineer in DA case

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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Vigilance has arrested Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer, Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Baliguda in Kandhamal district, in a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case after extensive searches allegedly revealed assets far exceeding his known sources of income.

According to Vigilance officials, searches conducted on Saturday unearthed more than Rs 2 crore in cash stashed in bank lockers, along with multiple immovable and movable assets. The searches were carried out by a team comprising two Additional Superintendents of Police, five DSPs, six Inspectors, and other supporting staff on the strength of search warrants issued by the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar.

Assets detected so far include cash worth Rs 2.04 crore, five multi-storey buildings, including four in Bhubaneswar, with a combined built-up area of about 17,850 square feet, 13 plots, including seven in Bhubaneswar, around 500 grams of gold, bank deposits worth about Rs 45 lakh, and other assets.

In a post on X, Odisha Vigilance said Behera joined government service in 1999 as a Junior Engineer with a monthly salary of Rs 6,000.

Odisha Vigilance said verification of deposits and investments was carried out by its Finance Wing, while measurement and assessment of the immovable properties were undertaken by the Vigilance Technical Wing.

The searches led to the detection of the assets and the subsequent arrest of the accused.

In a separate case, Odisha Vigilance apprehended Dharma Niranjan Chaudhury, a staffer of TPCODL in Cuttack, while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a farmer.

According to Vigilance, the accused had allegedly demanded the money for facilitating the replacement of a damaged electric pole from the farmer’s agricultural land. Officials further alleged that he had earlier received Rs 8,000 through a UPI transaction from the complainant.

Following the trap, Cuttack Vigilance Police Station Case No. 22 dated June 5, 2026, was registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018. Investigation into the matter is in progress.

Jharkhand exports first commercial mango consignment to UK

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NEW DELHI: In a major boost to agricultural exports from Jharkhand, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry flagged off the state’s first commercial consignment of fresh mangoes to the UK at a ceremony held in Kolkata.

The consignment consists of 1.5 metric tonnes of fresh Amrapali mangoes sourced from Beura Farmer Producer Company Ltd., an all-women Farmer Producer Company (FPC) based in Bano Block of Simdega district. The shipment is being exported by M/s JGB Agrofresh Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, to London in the UK, according to an official statement.

The export follows an Export-Oriented Capacity Building Programme conducted by APEDA on May 5, 2026, for Farmer-Producer Companies (FPCs), Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), and progressive farmers of Simdega district. The programme focused on export requirements, quality standards, and market opportunities.

As part of the initiative, APEDA facilitated a linkage between Beura Farmer Producer Company Ltd. and M/s JGB Agrofresh Pvt. Ltd. for procurement of export-quality mangoes from the district. The current shipment is the outcome of that effort.

The initiative has enabled the women-led FPC to directly participate in the export value chain while providing market access to its member farmers. Farmers associated with the FPC received higher returns for their produce compared to prevailing domestic market prices.

Officials said the initiative is expected to encourage farmer groups in the region to adopt quality production practices, improve post-harvest management, and comply with international standards, thereby enhancing export readiness.

Jharkhand’s favourable agro-climatic conditions support horticultural cultivation, and the Amrapali variety grown in the state is widely recognised for its quality and market acceptance. With the latest consignment, Jharkhand has joined the list of Indian states exporting fresh fruits to international markets.

APEDA promotes exports of agricultural and processed food products through market development initiatives, capacity-building programmes, quality improvement measures, traceability systems, and export promotion activities. The authority also supports the participation of farmer collectives, including women-led and tribal producer organisations, in agricultural exports.

The export of the first commercial consignment of fresh mangoes from Jharkhand marks an important step towards integrating farmer-producer organisations from the state with global markets while expanding opportunities for local growers.

CM praises Sambalpur Football Academy, announces expansion of sports infrastructure

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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the Sambalpur Football Academy during his tour of Sambalpur on Saturday and lauded the academy’s infrastructure development and modernization.

The CM described it as an institution with a distinct identity on the state’s sporting map.

During the visit, the CM said the academy would be strengthened with the development of three FIFA-standard football grounds of international standards and two state-of-the-art football grounds at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

In a post on X, Majhi said the state government has also made comprehensive arrangements to provide high-quality residential training and quality education at nearby educational institutions for 30 talented players under the age of 14 selected through the grassroots-level CM Cup competition.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to sports development, the CM said the initiative would help nurture young football talent by providing them with advanced training facilities and educational support.

Expressing confidence in the academy’s future, Majhi said the combination of modern sports infrastructure and proper training would enable the Sambalpur Football Academy to bring greater recognition and success to Odisha in the years ahead.

The CM’s visit underscored the state’s continued focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and creating opportunities for young athletes to excel at higher levels of competition.

Odisha launches AI Careers for Women programme to equip students with future-ready skills

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BHUBANESWAR: The Higher Education Department of Odisha has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Edunet Foundation to launch the AI Careers for Women (AICW) programme aimed at empowering girl students with industry-relevant skills in emerging technologies.

Announcing the initiative, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said the programme will focus on equipping women students with future-ready skills such as generative AI, machine learning, data science, and cyber security, free of cost.

Under the initiative, RD University, Bhubaneswar, will serve as the central hub, with the programme adopting a Hub-and-Spoke model to extend training opportunities to students across the state, the minister said in a post on X.

Suraj also said the programme is aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020 and aims to train 1,000 students during the current academic year, with plans to scale up the number to 5,000 students by 2028.

He said the government is committed to building a technology-driven and women-led workforce that can contribute significantly to the state’s development and the evolving digital economy.

Highlighting the importance of preparing young women for emerging opportunities, Suraj said the initiative would help girl students acquire skills in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and other advanced technologies, enabling them to emerge as innovators, leaders, and contributors in the digital era.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department Aravind Agrawal also underscored the need to equip girl students with industry-relevant and future-ready skills to enhance their employability and participation in the technology sector.

The AI Careers for Women programme is expected to strengthen Odisha’s efforts to promote digital education and create greater opportunities for women in technology-driven fields.

India, Nepal review bilateral ties, launch new initiatives during Foreign Minister-level talks

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NEW DELHI: Nepal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, who arrived in India on an official visit on June 5 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, held bilateral talks with the Indian minister in New Delhi on Saturday.

The two ministers reviewed the full spectrum of India-Nepal bilateral relations, covering development cooperation, connectivity, trade and transit, energy, and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

During the discussions, the ministers expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in bilateral cooperation across diverse sectors, the External Affairs Ministry said in a press release.

They welcomed recent initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation in innovation and startups, digital and financial technology, and training and capacity building.

Both sides agreed to intensify efforts to strengthen the multifaceted India-Nepal partnership further and take bilateral relations to new heights.

The ministers also welcomed the completion of internal processes for the entry into force of the India-Nepal Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement in Criminal Matters.

The agreement is expected to benefit the people of both countries by providing an institutional legal framework to enhance the effectiveness of investigation, prosecution, and judicial proceedings relating to cross-border crimes.

Following the bilateral talks, Jaishankar handed over to Foreign Minister Khanal 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage sector projects completed under India’s post-2015 Earthquake Reconstruction Assistance to Nepal.

The two ministers jointly launched the Peer-to-Peer linkage between India’s Unified Payments Interface and Nepal’s National Payments Interface to facilitate cross-border personal remittances between the two countries.

They also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Digital India Bhashini and Kathmandu University for co-creating a National Digital Infrastructure for a “Voice First” Language Translation platform.

The discussions were held in a warm, friendly, and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the unique and special ties between India and Nepal.

During the visit, Khanal also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The visit marked the first engagement at the level of foreign minister between the two countries since the new government assumed office in Nepal in March 2026.

PM chairs Economic Advisory Council meeting, reviews long-term development priorities

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a meeting of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, during which members discussed a broad range of issues related to India’s economic transformation and long-term development agenda.

According to an official statement, the meeting focused on key aspects of the country’s growth trajectory, with discussions covering priorities aimed at sustaining economic progress and strengthening India’s development framework in the years ahead.

The PM noted that the deliberations included a wide spectrum of topics linked to India’s economic future and long-term policy objectives. Participants also shared views on accelerating the pace of reforms and enhancing governance mechanisms that contribute to improved quality of life and a more business-friendly environment.

Emphasising the government’s commitment to reforms, Modi highlighted the importance of advancing initiatives that promote both “Ease of Living” for citizens and “Ease of Doing Business” for enterprises. The discussions explored ways to further strengthen these objectives while supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Following the meeting, the PM shared details on social media, stating that the council deliberated on issues concerning India’s economic transformation and long-term development priorities, while also exchanging perspectives on giving greater momentum to the reform process.

The Economic Advisory Council to the PM serves as an independent body that provides economic and policy inputs to the government on matters related to growth, development, and macroeconomic strategy. The latest meeting comes as India continues to pursue reforms aimed at boosting investment, improving competitiveness, and achieving its long-term development goals.