NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. I am ANITA ANAND and with me is nitya franco  bringing glimpses of the major developments of the day from across the globe. Over the next half an hour, we shall bring to you the latest from the world of politics, economy, sports, entertainment and more.

HEADLINES

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Apps like UPI and E-Sanjeevani proved to be very helpful in Ease of Living for the common man.  

⦁ In his Mann ki Baat Programme on All India Radio, Mr Modi describes Waste to Wealth an important dimension of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

⦁ Economic crisis in Pakistan hits healthcare system.

⦁ Counting of votes underway in Nigeria's presidential election.

⦁ Around 60 people killed in Southern Italy Shipwreck.

⦁ Thousands protest in Portugal over cost-of-living crisis.

⦁ And, in Women's Cricket, Australia lift T20 World Cup Trophy in Cape Town.  

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PM MANN KI BAAT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Apps like E-Sanjeevani and UPI have proved to be very helpful in raising the Ease of Living of common man. In his Mann Ki Baat, programme on All India Radio on Sunday, the Prime Minister expressed pride at the power of India's UPI. He said, many countries are being drawn towards it. He said that UPI-Pay Now Link was launched between India and Singapore recently.

The Prime Minister noted that the power of Digital India is visible in every corner today. He said, different apps play a big role in taking the power of Digital India to every home. The Prime Minister hailed E Sanjeevani App for being a boon for the people during the COVID period.

He expressed happiness that the number of tele-consultantations in E-Sanjeevani App has crossed ten crores.  

Prime Minister urged the people to resolve to contribute towards Clean India and pledge to replace plastic bags with cloth bags. He said the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has changed the meaning of public participation in the country.

Mr Modi described 'Waste to Wealth' as an important dimension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He gave the example of women of a self-help group in Kendrapada district of Odisha, who make items like baskets and mobile stands from milk pouches and other plastic packing materials. This is a good source of income for them along with ensuring cleanliness.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ which were conferred recently. These awards were given away to emerging, talented artists in the field of music and performing arts.

The Prime Minister wished everyone a Happy Holi. He reminded listeners to celebrate the festival with the resolve of 'Vocal for Local'.

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HOTSPOT

In today's Hotspot Section, we bring you a Discussion on “Prime Ministers Mann Ki Baat”. In conversation are Ashok Tandan, Political Analyst and S. Rangabashiam, AIR Correspondent.

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MAHA-WOMEN 20

In Maharashtra, Chatrapati Sambhajinagar is all set to host the Women 20 (W20) in an official G -20 engagement group inception meeting starting from Monday. 'Pursuit of Gender Equality, Equity and Dignity for Women-led Development' is the theme of the meeting that will take place over a period of two days under the Indian presidency of G20. More than 150 delegates are expected from the G20 countries to attend the meeting. Union Minister for Women and Child Development  Smriti  Irani will inaugurate the meeting. Union State Minister for finance Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad will be the chief guest for the opening ceremony. Renowned performing academician and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Dr. Sandhya Purecha is chairing the meeting.

 In preparation for the international event that will see the participation of international delegates from G20 nations, guest countries and international organizations, the city has taken up major beautification and cleanliness drives over the past few weeks.

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CRYPTO-ASSETS

 In the first major ministerial engagement under G20, where finance ministers and Central Bank governors meet on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India welcomed the debate on Crypto Assets proposing regulations and a policy perspective on the use of Crypto Assets. Participating members of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors also welcomed that crypto-assets are being closely monitored and subject to robust regulation to mitigate potential risks to financial stability.

Briefing the media at the conclusion of the meeting, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that there is almost a clear understanding that anything not backed by the central bank is not currency and this is the position that India has been taking for a very long time.

Meanwhile, Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das told the media that there is now wide recognition and acceptance of the fact that Crypto-currencies or Assets are major risks to financial stability, monetary systems and cyber security. He said, during the meeting delegates took interest in the central bank digital currency pilot projects in some countries, including India.

Crypto currency is a digital currency in which transactions are verified and records maintained by a decentralized system using cryptography, instead of a centralized authority.  

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JITENDRA- START UP

India's Science and Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh has said, the government will promote Industry-driven Start-Ups to create wealth and jobs. The Minister said, Start-Ups will become sustainable if Industry from the very beginning identifies the product and invest matching equity with the Government. The Minister assured that funds will not be a constraint under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government to promote the Innovation Eco-System in the country.  

Mr Singh was addressing the 37th Foundation day of Department of Biotechnology at National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi on Sunday. He called for equal stake with equal partnership and responsibility by Industry to sustain the Start-Ups boom.

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ONION EXPORT

India exported onion worth 523.8 million US dollars between April and December last year. It also registered a 16.3 per cent increase in exports as compared to the year 2021 during the same period. The Commerce and Industry Ministry said that there were no restrictions or prohibitions imposed on onion export. It stated that only the export of onion seed is restricted and that too is permitted under authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

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AF- EXERCISE

An Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors on Sunday departed Air Force Station Jamnagar  to participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior at the Waddington Air Force Base in United Kingdom. The exercise is scheduled from 6th of March to 24th of  March this year.

Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore would also be participating alongside Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force. This year IAF is participating in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster and an IL-78 mid air refueller aircraft.

The exercise is aimed at providing operational exposure and share best practices amongst the participating Air Forces, thereby enhancing combat capability and forging bonds of friendship.

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PAKISTAN-HEALTHCARE

The ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan has badly hit the healthcare system where patients have been struggling for essential medicines. The lack of forex reserves in the country has affected Pakistan's capacity to import the required medicines.

As a result, local pharmaceutical manufacturers have been forced to slash their production as patients suffer in hospitals. As per Pakistan media reports, the operation theatres are left with less than two-week stock of anaesthetics needed for sensitive surgeries, including for heart, cancer and kidney.

The drug makers have blamed the financial system for the crisis in the healthcare system by claiming that commercial banks are not issuing new Letters of Credit for their imports.

Pakistan medicine manufacturing is highly import-dependent with almost 95 per cent of the drugs requiring raw materials from other nations, including India.The drug manufacturing industry has said that the cost of making drugs is constantly increasing due to rising fuel costs, transportation charges and the sharp devaluation of the Pakistani rupee.

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BANGLADESH- HASAN MAHUMAD

Bangladesh Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahumd has said that he wants all parties including the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to participate in the next general elections. General Polls are to be held in December this year or early January next year. He said that the Awami League also wants people to vote enthusiastically and elect the next government fairly.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that elections in Bangladesh will be held under the supervision of the Election Commission as it is held in all parliamentary democracies like India, Australia, Japan, UK, Germany and others. He said EC will take initiative to ensure that all political parties participate in the elections.

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NIGERIA VOTING

Vote counting is under way in Nigeria's presidential election. Turnout appeared to be high, with many young, first-time voters stepped out to cast their votes. Saturday's voting was marred by long delays at polling stations, as well as scattered reports of ballot box snatching and attacks by armed men.

Some parties have raised alarm over allegations of irregularities.

The elections are the biggest democratic exercise in Africa, with 87 million people eligible to vote.

Politics has been dominated by two parties - the ruling APC and the PDP - since the restoration of multi-party democracy 24 years ago.

But this time, there is also a strong challenge from a third-party candidate in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari - from the Labour Party's Peter Obi, who is backed by many young people.

Tens of thousands of polling stations are counting the results, which will be collated and sent to the electoral headquarters in the capital Abuja. The final result is not expected until at least Tuesday.

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BREXIT TALKS

 Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said that a new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland is not yet done but is inching towards a conclusion. He said a protocol agreement could come within days but negotiators still have a gap to close. He urged politicians from the UK, Brussels and Northern Ireland to go the extra mile.

The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Brexit talks and came into force in 2021. It sees Northern Ireland continue to follow some EU laws to get round the need for checks at the UK's border with the Republic of Ireland, and has been an ongoing source of tension.

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Soyuz - ISS

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station on a mission to bring three crew members back to earth. The unmanned Soyuz blasted off on Friday from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. About 48 hours later, it docked at the ISS.

It is replacing the original return vehicle that was found to have a coolant leak from a capsule last December. The discovery forced US space agency NASA and Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos to postpone their plan to send the crew back to earth on the vehicle. It is expected to bring home U.S. astronaut Frank Rubio and Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin and Sergei Prokopyev in September. The vehicle with the leakage will be separated from the ISS in March to come back to earth without any crew. NASA says that the leakage did not pose any risks to the seven astronauts at the ISS.

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EXPLOSION-BALOCHISTAN

At least four people were killed and 12 wounded in an explosion inside the Rakhni market in Balochistan's Barkhan on Sunday morning. The injured persons were moved to a nearby hospital while security forces cordoned off the area for investigation. The nature of the explosion has not been determined yet. The condition of the injured persons is said to be critical. The incident came a day after two policemen were killed and two were injured in a remote-controlled blast in Balochistan's Khuzdar district.

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US -STORM

In the United States, nearly 85,000 households and businesses were without power in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, as storms continued to pummel parts of California, bringing snow to higher elevations. The California Department of Transportation said, Interstate five, the largest highway leading north out of the city, remained closed at the steep grade known as the Grapevine due to heavy snow. While several more southern points of the freeway in and around Los Angeles were closed due to flooding.

In Northern California, San Francisco was expected to experience record cold temperatures and the National Weather Service warned residents of the state capital of Sacramento to avoid travel from Sunday through Wednesday as rain and snow started up again after a reprieve on Saturday.

The agency said that extreme impacts from heavy snow & winds will lead to impossible driving conditions and likely widespread road closures.

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PORTUGAL PROTEST

In Portugal, thousands of people took to capital Lisbon's streets to demand better living conditions. Portugal is struggling with a cost-of-living crisis due to inflation. House prices in Portugal rose 18.7% in 2022, the biggest increase in three decades, and rents have also increased significantly in part due to a speculative property bubble.

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ITALY- SHIPWRECK

Around 60 people were killed while more than 80 people survived when a boat carrying migrants crashed against rocks near the coast of southern Italy on Sunday. The shipwreck took place near the coastal town of Crotone in the Calabria region. The boat was carrying more than 100 people.  The Italian authorities have mounted a large search-and-rescue operation on land and at sea. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed deep sorrow for the deadly incident, and vowed to stop irregular sea migration to prevent more deaths at sea. She blamed the deaths on traffickers.

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WOMEN CRICKET - AUSTRALIA WIN

In Women's Cricket,  Australia have lifted the ICC T20 World Cup Trophy for the sixth time.  In the Final match on Sunday, they defeated South Africa by 19 runs at Newlands, Cricket Ground in Cape Town.  Chasing a victory target of 157 runs, the hosts  could make only 137 runs for the loss of six wickets in stipulated 20 overs. Laura Wolvaardt scored 61 runs for South Africa.  Earlier, winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Australia posted 156 for 6 in their alloted 20 overs. Beth Mooneyc top-scored with unbeaten 74 runs for Australia.

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 REPEAT HEADLINES:

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, Apps like UPI and E-Sanjeevani proved to be very helpful in Ease of Living for the common man.  

⦁ In his Mann ki Baat Programme on All India Radio, Mr Modi describes Waste to Wealth an important dimension of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

⦁ Economic crisis in Pakistan hits healthcare system.

⦁ Counting of votes underway in Nigeria's presidential election.

⦁ Around 60 people killed in Southern Italy Shipwreck.

⦁ Thousands protest in Portugal over cost-of-living crisis.

⦁ And, in Women's Cricket, Australia lift T20 World Cup Trophy in Cape Town.  

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And now, before we end, let us listen to Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajanVaishnav Jan, by artists from japan.

AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS BULLETIN. WE'LL BE BACK AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW WITH THE NEXT EDITION OF WORLD NEWS.

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