10 JUNE 2018 SUNDAY

• India and China sign two agreements on Brahmaputra water data sharing and non basmati rice export; set trade target of 100 billion US dollars by 2020.

• भारत और चीन ने ब्रह्मपुत्र नदी जल प्रवाह के आंकड़ों के आदान-प्रदान और गैर बासमती चावल के निर्यात के बारे में दो समझौतों पर हस्ताक्षर किए। 2020 तक आपसी व्यापार एक खरब डॉलर करने का लक्ष्य।

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, SCO, summit began at the Chinese city of Qingdao this morning. Heads of SCO member countries are now having a restricted meeting. All eyes are on the plenary(a meeting at which all the members of a group or an org. are present) session which is about to start a short while from now, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to define the course of the SCO. Our correspondent covering the SCO summit reports, the Prime minister has a packed schedule at the summit.

"Regional security cooperation has been a priority of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) since its inception(begin)in June 2001. With the entry of India and Pakistan last year, the SCO has seen growing space for security cooperation. Therefore, strengthening regional security cooperation is a top agenda of the SCO summit. In his address at the summit, Prime Minister Modi, is likely to articulate India's position on dealing with major challenges facing the world including ways to tackle terrorism, and boosting trade and investment in the region. India will also pitch for evolving effective ways to deal with the growing challenge of terrorism and enhancing security cooperation among SCO countries.

Later in the day, Mr Modi will have bi-lateral meetings with the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Yesterday, India and China signed two bilateral agreements following the meeting between the Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit. The agreements include continuing to share Brahmaputra water data during the flood season and exporting non-Basmati rice to China.

Talking to reporters in Qingdao, Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said, the two countries have set a trade target of 100 billion dollars by 2020. He said, during the hour long meeting between Mr Modi and Mr Xi, both countries agreed on several initiatives to take forward the spirit of the Wuhan Informal Summit.

"The Chinese side conveyed that they accepted Prime Minister's invitation to president Xi Jinping to have a similar informal summit in India in 2019. President Xi Jinping also suggested to Prime Minister that the two countries set a new trade target of 100 billion US dollars in 2020."

The Prime Minister also held bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Mr Modi reached Qingdao yesterday on a two-day visit to take part in the SCO summit.

• US President Donald Trump withdraws endorsement of G7 joint statement.

• अमरीकी राष्ट्रपति डॉनल्ड ट्रंप जी-7 संयुक्त वक्तव्य से पीछे हटे।

US President Donald Trump withdrew his endorsement(decision)of a joint statement at the end of a G7 summit in Canada today in a row over trade. In a tweet, Trump accused the summit chairman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of dishonesty and making false statements at his news conference. The US President who is on his way to Singapore for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also reiterated(repeat)warnings that his administration was mulling tariffs on automobiles flooding the US market.

Trump's remarks came after Mr Trudeau in a press conference said, Canada will move forward with retaliatory(is a action that is harmful to someone who has done something to harm you) measures on the 1st of next month against the US decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, the European Union and Mexico. Earlier, all the G7 nations agreed on the importance of a rules-based trading system.

• In Women's Cricket, India to take on Bangladesh in the final  of Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament today. 

• एशिया कप ट्वेंटी-20 क्रिकेट टूर्नामेंट के फाइनल में आज भारत का सामना बांग्लादेश से।

India will take on Bangladesh in the summit clash of the Women's Asia Cup Twenty20 tournament at Kuala Lumpur. While, India have won the title six times, Bangladesh will be making their maiden appearance in the final.

• And In French Open Tennis, Rafael Nadal to meet seventh seed Dominic Thiem in the summit clash.   

• फ्रेंच ओपन टेनिस टूर्नामेंट में आज राफेल नडाल और डोमिनिक थिएम की खिताबी भिड़ंत।

At the French Open Tennis in Paris, the spotlight today will be on the men's singles final to be played between Spain's Rafael Nadal and Austrian Dominic Thiem. Nadal is eying his 11th Singles Title at Roland Garros, while Thiem is seeking his maiden Grand Slam singles Crown.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for increasing connectivity in Shangahai Cooperation Organisation region; says India welcomes connectivity projects which are inclusive, sustainable and also respect territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries.

• प्रधानमंत्री ने शंघाई सहयोग संगठन देशों के बीच संपर्क बढ़ाने का आह्वान किया। कहा- भारत उन सभी सम्‍पर्क परियोजनाओं का स्‍वागत करता है जो समावेशी टिकाऊ और कारगर हों तथा क्षेत्रीय अखंडता और देशों की संप्रभुता के सम्‍मान पर आधारित हों।

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has called for increasing connectivity in the Shangahai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) region.  Addressing the plenary(a meeting at which all the members of a group or an org. are present) session of SCO summit in the Chinese city of Qingdao today, the Prime Minister said, India welcomes connectivity projects which are inclusive, sustainable and efficient and which also respect territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries. He said, a stage has been reached where physical and digital connectivity is changing the definition of geography. Mr. Modi, said,  therefore,  connectivity with India's neighbourhood and in the SCO region is India's priority.  He said, India's commitment to connectivity projects is reflected in its involvement in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), development of Chabahar port and Ashgabat agreement.

INSTC is a 7200 kilometre multimode transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.  The Ashgabat agreement is a transport agreement among several Gulf and Central Asian countries which aims at creating a transit corridor to spur trade and investment.

Mr Modi also coined a new acronym, SECURE.

"S" से मेरा मतलब है Security of our citizens. "E" से मेरा मतलब है Economic development for all, "C" से Connecting region,"U" से United our people,"R" से Respect for sovereignty and integrity, "E" से Enviornment protection. मैं मानता हूं कि इन दिशाओं में सार्थक सहयोग से ही हमारा SCO मायनों में सेफ एंड कनेक्टिंग आर्गनाइजेशन बन सकेगी।

Mr. Modi said, India would like to extend all cooperation to the SCO as the bloc gives India immense opportunities to enhance friendship with resource rich Central Asian nations.

The Prime Minister said, only six percent of foreign tourists in India are from SCO countries, which he said can be doubled easily by increasing awareness about the shared cultures.

"भारत में विदेशी यात्रियों का केवल 6 परसेंट एससीओ देशों से आता है, इसको आसानी से दोगुना किया जा सकता है। हमारा साझा और सम्‍पन्‍न सांस्‍कृतिक विरासत के बारे में जागरूकता एससीओ देशों और भारत के बीच पर्यटन को बढावा दे सकती है। अत: हमें एक एससीओ फूड फेस्टिवल और साझा बुद्धिस्‍ट हेरीटेज की प्रदर्शनी का भारत में आयोजन करेंगे।"

The Prime Minister also suggested that SCO members should set some goals and form a small committee to prepare a roadmap to achieve them by the block's 25th summit.

Our correspondent covering the summit reports that, in total 22 documents were signed by member countries.

"The 18th SCO summit concluded with the adoption of the Qingdao declaration  to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism. Also the countries were unanimous to prevent  radicalization of youth and prevention of narcotics. India made its debut at the SCO after it became a full time member at Astana in Kazakhstan last year. Before the summit, Prime minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed blueprint for bolstering bilateral ties.  Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated its commitment to tackle terrorism and extremism and  said SCO is our shared hope and shared future."

Later, Prime Minister met Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov before leaving for Delhi.

• US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reach Singapore ahead of the historic summit on Tuesday.

• अमरीकी राष्‍ट्रपति डॉनल्‍ड ट्रंप और उत्‍तर कोरिया के नेता किम जोंग उन मंगलवार को होने वाली ऐतिहासिक शिखर बैठक के लिए सिंगापुर पहुंचे।

US President Donald Trump reached Singapore this evening, two days ahead of a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two leaders are set to meet on Sentosa island on Tuesday. Mr Trump landed at Paya Lebar Airbase after cutting short his time at the G7 summit in Canada. He was received by Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

In a tweet, Mr Trump reiterated his optimism that the summit with the North Korean leader will be a success.

The meeting between Mr Kim and Mr Trump will mark a turnaround of relations between the two leaders after a long-running exchange of furious threats and insults.

The North Korean leader has also reached Singapore for the summit with US President. Mr. Kim met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong . He  told Mr Lee that the entire world is focusing on the historic summit between North Korea and the US. He thanked Prime Minister Lee for the preparations for the summit.

• In French Open Tennis, Men's Singles title clash underway between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.

• फ्रेंच ओपन टेनिस टूर्नामेंट के पुरूष सिंगल्‍स फाइनल में राफेल नडाल और डोमिनिक थिएम के बीच मुकाबला जारी।

In French Open Tennis, Men's Singles final is underway between world number one Rafael Nadal and Austrian Dominic Thiem in Paris.

Nadal won the first two sets 6-4, 6-3, when reports last came in.The World number one is eying a record-extending 11th Roland Garros title, while seventh seed Thiem will be looking to win his first major trophy.

In the semi-finals, Nadal, a 16-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, had defeated Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, with Thiem beating unseeded Italian Marco Cecchinato.

• In Women's Cricket, Bangladesh lifts Asia Cup Twenty-20 trophy defeating India by three wickets in Kuala Lumpur. 

• महिला क्रिकेट में क्‍वालालम्‍पुर में बांग्‍लादेश ने भारत को तीन विकेट से हराकर ट्वेंटी-ट्वेंटी एशिया कप ट्रॉफी जीती।

The Women's Cricket team of Bangladesh today lifted the Asia Cup Twenty-20 trophy for the first time. In the nerve-racking final at Kuala Lumpur, they defeated six-time winners and defending champions India by 3 wickets on the final ball of the game, scoring 113.

Opting to bowl, Bangladesh first restricted India to 112 for 9, courtesy a superb performance from the bowlers, led by Rumana Ahmed and Khadija Kubra. They bagged two wickets each. Indian Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur made 56.
Rumana was adjudged player of the match, while Harmanpreet was named player of the tournament.

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Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, India has tremendous(Extremely large in amount) potential in Sports, be it football or any other Game. Talking to Media persons at Diplomatic Football Tournament in New Delhi today, Mr Rathore said, India has not played in FIFA World Cup but Indian team has potential and if it is linked to opportunities, India will start playing in FIFA. The Minister said, schools should not focus only on the marks obtained by their students but also focus on what sports facilities they provide.