NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. I am RENUKA R.S. and with me is SAHIL SHARMA 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.

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THE HEADLINES:

• Two-day G20 Foreign Ministers meeting under India's presidency gets underway in New Delhi; Formal meeting to be held on Thursday.

• India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar holds series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from several countries on sidelines of the meeting.

• India calls upon G-20 Nations to adopt multilateral action for faster extradition of fugitive economic offenders and recovery of assets.

• India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy, Raisina Dialogue to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday.

• In Greece, at least 36 people killed and more than eighty others injured after two trains collided head-on in north of Athens.  

• In Cricket, Australia lead by 47 runs in first innings at Stumps against India on opening day of third Test of Border Gavaskar trophy.

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G20-FOREIGN MINISTERS

The two-day G20 Foreign Ministers meeting under India's presidency got underway in New Delhi. A gala dinner was hosted for the visiting dignitaries. The formal meeting will be held on Thursday, with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar chairing two sessions. The first session will focus on multilateralism and issues related to food and energy. The second session will focus on new and emerging threats including counter-terrorism and narcotics, global skill mapping, and focus on global talent pools. Briefing media, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra informed that 40 delegations and thirty international organisations are expected to participate in the meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Center.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the External Affairs Minister held a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from several countries on various bilateral issues and global agendas. Dr. Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov exchanged their views on bilateral cooperation and G20 issues. With his UK counterpart James Cleverly, Dr. Jaishankar reviewed the progress in the India-UK relationship since their last discussion. Sources said, the UK Foreign Secretary brought up the BBC tax issue during the meeting. He was firmly told that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations. The External Affairs Minister also met his Netherlands, Mexican, Argentinian, South African and Nigerian counterparts.

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JAISHANKAR BILATERALS:

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meet on Wednesday. He had a wide-ranging discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia this afternoon. They exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and G20 issues. The External Affairs Minister also met Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama. Dr Jaishankar emphasized India’s strong commitment to the Global South and the interests of the African Union. They noted recent developments in bilateral cooperation, especially in educational exchanges, and welcomed direct flights between the two countries. He took up the MV Heroic Idun issue and pressed for the early repatriation of crew members. Dr Jaishankar also met European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles. Their conversation focused on the G20 agenda and the Ukraine conflict. They appreciated the steady growth of India-European Union cooperation. External Affairs Minister also met his Mexico counterpart, Marcelo Ebrard. They noted the strong multilateral cooperation and discussed the G20 agenda. Their discussion focused on issues related to growth and development. They also exchanged ideas on mobility, sustainability and innovation. Dr Jaishankar said bilateral ties have progressed significantly in recent years. He welcomed the opening of the Mexican Consulate in Mumbai.

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EAM- UK MEET:

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly in New Delhi. In a tweet, he said they reviewed the progress in the India-UK relationship since the last discussion. Both leaders noted in particular the commencement of the Young Professional Scheme. Sources said, the UK Foreign Secretary brought up the BBC tax issue during the meeting. He was firmly told that all entities operating in India must comply fully with relevant laws and regulations.

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HOTSPOT

In today's Hotspot Section, we bring you a News Commentary: Discussion on G-20 Foreign Ministers' Meet.

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GURUGRAM-G 20  

India has called upon G-20 Nations to adopt multilateral action for faster extradition of fugitive economic offenders and recovery of assets both on the domestic front and abroad. Chairing the first Anti-Corruption working group meeting of G20 nations in Gurugram on Wednesday, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the problems faced by a country when its economic offenders flee from the jurisdiction. He said that the adverse impact of such incidents on a country can be seen in the effective utilisation of resources, the quality of life of the citizens, economic growth and overall governance and most disproportionately affecting the poor and most marginalised. Dr. Singh underlined that India has already put in place specialised legislation in this regard.

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G20-UAE MINISTER:

The first meeting of the G20 Steering Committee was chaired virtually by UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the participation of numerous Ministers and officials of the country. The meeting focused on the UAE's G20 Summit priorities for 2023, following the Indian G20 Presidency's invitation to participate as a guest country. During the virtual meeting, the Minister emphasised the importance of cooperation and coordination among Steering Committee members to strengthen the UAE's G20 participation and efforts to highlight the country's contributions regionally and internationally. Sheikh Abdullah praised the strong and historical relations that unite the UAE and India and commended efforts by the Indian side to host the G20 Summit. The Minister noted that the Indian G20 Presidency reflects the country’s leadership in hosting major global events to promote international cooperation and achieve Sustainable Development Goals worldwide. He stated that through their participation in the G20 process, the UAE looks forward to working alongside other countries in efforts to address pressing global challenges. He added that to encourage prosperity and development for all, this is a crucial investment.

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PM WEBINAR:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that well planned cities are going to be the need of the hour in the fast-paced environment of India in the 21st century. He was sharing his remarks at a post-Budget webinar on Urban Planning, Development and Sanitation on Wednesday. He said, urban planning will determine the fate of the country's cities in Amritkal. He emphasized that the development of new cities and the modernization of services in the existing cities are the two main aspects of urban development.

Mr. Modi reiterated that poor planning of cities and lack of proper implementation can create huge challenges in the development journey of India. He stressed the need to work in a very focused way in areas of spatial planning, transport planning, and urban infrastructure. The Prime Minister said that transport planning is an important pillar of the development of cities and the mobility of the cities should be uninterrupted. The Prime Minister noted that thousands of tonnes of municipal waste including battery waste, electrical waste, automobile waste, tires and waste used for making compost are generated in the country every day.

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RAISINA DIALOGUE:

The 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be held from 2nd to 4th March in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Dialogue on 2nd of next month. Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni will join the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. The theme of the 2023 Edition of Dialogue  is "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest. The Raisina Dialogue 2023 will witness participation of representatives from over 100 countries including Ministers, Military Commanders, Captains of the Industry, Technology Leaders, Scholars on Strategic Affairs, Experts from leading Think Tanks and Youth. This year’s edition assumes special significance coming against the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency. The Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. It is organized by Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation. During the past eight years, the Raisina Dialogue has consistently grown in stature and profile to establish itself as one of the leading global conferences on international affairs.

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PIYUSH-GROWTH

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that sustainability and inclusive growth are going to be the defining features of the country's growth story in the coming years. He said, India innovate and transition together to make the planet safer and greener.

The Minister was addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry India-Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave in New Delhi. Mr. Goyal said that technology, finance and sustainable lifestyles are going to play an important role in ensuring sustainable growth. He pointed out that sustainability and respect for nature came traditionally and naturally to India. He said, India-United Kingdom and India-European Union partnership are two significant elements in the global effort to make the world a better place to live in. He urged all business leaders to focus on sustainability.

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INDIA-AUSTRALIA MEETING

India and Australia held discussions to take their partnership in the education sector forward in the areas of the school, higher and vocational education. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan informed that two Australian universities will soon establish campuses in the GIFT CITY of Gujarat after the high-level meeting with his Australian counterpart Jason Clare. Remarking on education as the natural mother for all transformation and partnerships, Mr Pradhan said that both countries are deepening their ties through two-way mobility to fulfil 21st-century aspirations.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Clare expressed confidence that educational MoUs signed between both countries will pave the way for setting up a mechanism for mutual recognition of professionalism.

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GREECE TRAIN COLLISION:

In  Greece, at least 36 people were killed and more than eighty others injured after two trains collided head-on in north of Athens Tuesday night. The accident took place when a passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki crashed head-on with the other freight train, causing the front carriages to burst into flames. The collision was so strong that the first four carriages of the passenger train had derailed, while the first two carriages were almost completely destroyed. A fire brigade official said, the death toll was expected to rise further. He said, Sixty-six of those injured were hospitalised and six of them in intensive care.

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VISTARA FLIGHTS-MUMBAI COLOMBO

Vistara Airlines has resumed daily flights between Mumbai and Colombo. In a statement issued by Bandaranayake airport on Tuesday, it was announced that the airline would operate between Bandaranayake Airport in Colombo and Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport in Mumbai. The flight took off on Wednesday afternoon from Colombo. The resumption of this route follows a hiatus of nearly three years, as the airline had to suspend these direct flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The flight service will give the passengers looking to travel between the two cities more options. Vistara airlines is operating as a joint venture between Tata sons and Singapore Airlines since January 2015.

Connectivity between the two countries has been the focus with the resumption of Jaffna-Chennai flights in December 2022. A passenger ferry service is also to start operations soon between Kankesanthurai in Jaffna and Karaikal.

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CHINA-IYM

Top diplomats from a dozen foreign missions in China, experts from Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), China and World Food Programme (WFP), China and nutrition experts have lauded India’s initiative to declare the year 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets (IYM)’. At a millet roundtable event organised by the Indian Embassy in Beijing on Tuesday, the experts shared the heritage associated with millet grains, especially in Asian and African countries and their relevance in the current scenario including their economic, environmental and nutritional benefits.

India’s Ambassador to China, Pradeep Rawat launched a bilingual recipe book “Let’s Millet” during the event and spoke about the significance of these resilient crops and how they are of great value in the face of the climate crisis and food security issues. On the occasion, an original song, “let’s begin with millets” was performed by iStrings, a fusion band consisting of the Indian diaspora and friends of India, to a great response from the audience.

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CHINA-TAIWAN:

Taiwan's defence ministry has said that it had spotted 19 J-10 Chinese fighter planes in its air defence zone in the past 24 hours. Taiwan's forces monitored the situation, including sending up its own air force planes. Meanwhile, China has said its activities in the area are justified as it seeks to defend its territorial integrity and to warn the United States against "colluding" with Taiwan, despite the anger this causes in Taipei. The Taiwanese government has repeatedly offered talks with China, but says the island will defend itself if attacked and that only the Taiwanese people can decide their own future.

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GUWAHATI B2B-SCO

In a bid to promote traditional medicines at the Global Level, Assam government will host the first B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine under Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday in Guwahati. Addressing the media, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal said, more than 150 delegates from 13 member countries will attend the four-day-long Conference and others will participate virtually.

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IND-AUS TEST  

In Cricket, Australia were 156 for 4 in their first innings against India on day One of the third Test of the Border Gavaskar trophy at Indore when stumps were drawn on Wednesday evening. The visitors are leading by 47 runs as India were all out for 109 runs in 33.2 overs in their first innings. Australian spinners trio C Alex Carey, B M Kuhnemann and B Lyon ripped through India's fragile batting lineup. The Hosts had won the toss and opted to bat first but the move backfired as the hosts lost seven wickets in the opening session.

India have retained the trophy, winning the first two Tests of the four-match series.

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FPR -Now let us take a look at the major developments around the world, as reported in the Foreign Press.

• The Washington Post writes, Greece train collision kills at least 36; station master arrested.

• The Financial Times reports, France mounts battle for nuclear energy in Europe.

• The Straits Times reports, Economic recovery to be high on agenda as China’s annual parliamentary session meets.

• The Japan Times reports, New U.S. committee on China warns of 'existential struggle' in first hearing.

• South China Morning Post says, As Covid-19 wanes, seasonal influenza cases are surging in China.

• The Globe and Mail reports, Chinese donors who funded Trudeau Foundation wanted statue of Mao in Montreal.

• The New York Times writes, Blinken Finds Receptive Leaders in Central Asia, Where Russia Seeks Aid.

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A QUICK LOOK AT THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

• Two-day G20 Foreign Ministers meeting under India's presidency gets underway in New Delhi; Formal meeting to be held on Thursday.

• India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar holds series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from several countries on sidelines of the meeting.

• India calls upon G-20 Nations to adopt multilateral action for faster extradition of fugitive economic offenders and recovery of assets.

• India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy, Raisina Dialogue to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday.

• In Greece, at least 36 people killed and more than eighty others injured after two trains collided head-on in north of Athens.  

• In Cricket, Australia lead by 47 runs in first innings at Stumps against India on opening day of third Test of Border Gavaskar trophy.

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