NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. I am r s raghu and with me is Ashish p. abraham 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:

⦁ India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Eighth edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

⦁ G20 Foreign Ministers call for strong international cooperation in the field of climate change, counter terrorism and narcotics control. 

⦁ Quad Foreign Ministers to meet in New Delhi on Friday, meeting to be chaired by India’s Foreign Minister S.Jaishankar.

⦁ Protests erupt in Greece following deadly train collision.

⦁ Vietnam Parliament elects Vo Van Thuong as country's new President.

⦁ And in Cricket, India all out for 163 in their second innings of 3rd Test against Australia at Indore; Australia need 76 runs to win the match.       

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RAISINA DIALOGUE

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is the Chief Guest of the three-day Dialogue.

Speaking on the occasion, the Italian Prime Minister said, India’s leadership in G20 and the Raisina Dialogue together can send a message of cooperation and peace to the world. She said, global coordination on climate change should not be a zero-sum game and Indo-Pacific countries led by India have a strong role to play in this regard.

Ms Meloni noted that India is a key player in the Indo-Pacific and Italy is a key stakeholder in the Mediterranean. She stated that what happens in the Indo-Pacific has direct consequences for Europe.

She highlighted that Mr Modi and she have announced the scaling up of the India-Italy bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. She stressed that terrorism is a concern that needs to be faced by a wide coalition of international countries.

Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. The theme of the 2023 Edition is "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest.”

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G20 OUTCOME DOCUMENT

The G20 Foreign Ministers Meet held in New Delhi on Thursday deliberated upon current global challenges including climate change, food and energy insecurity, and global supply chain disruptions. The Chair's Summary and Outcome Document of the meeting said that the Foreign Ministers brought focus on issues like strengthening multilateralism, ambitious climate and environmental action, deepening cooperation on sustainable development, counter-terrorism, and disaster risk reduction. It said that the war in Ukraine has further adversely impacted the global economy and there was a discussion on the issue. The Foreign Ministers said it is essential to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The Outcome Document said the threat of the use of nuclear weapons is in admissible and peaceful resolution of conflicts is vital. It stressed that a more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform aimed at implementing the 2030 agenda is essential. Briefing media in New Delhi on Thursday India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the steadfast commitments of G20 Leaders to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.

G20 Foreign Ministers for the first time, discussed the topic of counter-narcotics and called for inclusive and strong international cooperation in this regard. Dr S Jaishankar said, the Foreign Ministers condemned all forms of terrorism.

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HOTSPOT

In today's Hotspot Section, we bring you a News Commentary: G20 Foreign Ministers Meet Amidst Grave Global Scenario.

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PRESIDENT -ITALIAN PM

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on India's President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. Welcoming the Italian Prime Minister on her first visit to India, the President said that she was happy to see a young and confident woman leading Italy. She noted that Ms Meloni is not only the first woman Prime Minister of Italy, but also the youngest ever Prime Minister of her country.

The President said that India and Italy enjoy excellent friendly relations. As modern and mature democracies, India and Italy are committed to achieving economic growth based on rule of law, respect for human rights, and inclusive development. She expressed confidence that this visit would re-energize India-Italy bilateral relations.

The President said that under India's presidency of the G-20 and Italy's upcoming presidency of the G-7, there is potential for India and Italy to work together in areas of mutual interest - such as healthcare, climate change and digital technology.

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BLINKEN MEET LAVROV

US State Secretary Antony Blinken on Thursday spoke briefly with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the G20 nations in New Delhi. The meeting was the first face-to-face meeting between the two Foreign Ministers since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began over a year ago. During the less-than-10-minute exchange, Blinken urged Russia to reverse its decision to suspend cooperation in the New START nuclear arms treaty and accept a US proposal for the release of US citizen Paul Whelan.

 While addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday, Lavrov said it is high time to reform the UN Security Council. He said, Russia does not feel isolated. The West is isolating itself now, he added. He further said that the West refused to include Russia's proposal on the need for an investigation of Nord Stream blasts in the G20 final declaration.

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QUAD MEETING

Quad Foreign Ministers will be hosted by India in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting will be chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. It will see the participation of Foreign Ministers of Australia and Japan, and the Secretary of State of the US. The meeting will be an opportunity for the Ministers to continue their discussions held at their last meeting in New York in September last year. The External Affairs Ministry said that they will exchange views on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and regional issues of mutual interest, guided by their vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. The Ministers will also review progress made by the Quad in pursuit of its constructive agenda and implementation of initiatives aimed at addressing contemporary priorities of the region.

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JHARKHAND-G 20

In Jharkhand, the Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Conference on Materials for Sustainable Energy was held under India’s G20 Presidency in Ranchi on Thursday. The Conference is coordinated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi. Dr Srivari Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology said that many G20 nations including India have enormous minerals and materials wealth that is required to be sustainably used for meeting our energy requirements. The G20 delegates from Indonesia and Brazil also reiterated the importance of the conference. 21 foreign delegates from 16 G20 members, invited guest countries and International organisations and 40 Indian experts participated in the Conference.

Dr N Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR said that the theme of the G20 under India’s Presidency highlights the need for the entire world to come together and focus on sustainable energy to achieve a global future with net zero emissions. She called upon the G20 nations to join hands to research and develop technological solutions in the areas of sustainable energy storage, distribution and management.

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GADKARI-AUSTRIA

India and Austria on Thursday held discussions on strengthening their continued partnership and developmental cooperation for bringing innovations in the road transport sector in New Delhi. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Austrian Ambassador to India Katharina Wieser exchanged their views on the latest technologies and innovations in road infrastructure development and green technologies. Appreciating the quality of ropeways and cable car components manufactured in Austria, Mr Gadkari emphasised collaboration in technology transfer and manufacturing the same in India to reduce overall costs. During the meeting, deliberations also took place on other potential areas of collaboration including new technologies in highway construction, electronic toll systems, intelligent transportation systems, traffic management systems and road safety.

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GREECE- PROTEST

Demonstrators poured into the streets of Greece after a head-on collision between two trains amid anger over the country’s weak record on railway safety. Protesters clashed with police in the Greek capital Athens after a passenger train carrying more than 350 people collided with a freight train on Tuesday evening in Tempi, leaving at least 46 people dead and scores injured.

According to a 2022 report from the European Union Agency for Railways, Greece has a weak record of railway passenger safety compared with other countries in Europe. It has the highest railway fatality rate per million train kilometers from 2018 to 2020 among 28 nations on the continent.

In an extraordinary meeting, the Greek federation of rail workers decided unanimously to launch the 24-hour strike on Thursday to highlight poor working conditions and chronic understaffing.

Greek Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis said that the railway system the government inherited was not up to 21st century standards as he stepped down from his role on Wednesday.

In a televised address after visiting the crash site, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the collision was mainly due to tragic human error. He said the Transport Minister’s decision to resign was honourable, and added that the heads of Hellenic Railways Organisation and its subsidiary ERGOSE have also submitted their resignations.

Condolences poured in from across the world, while a three-day period of mourning is under way in Greece.

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VIETNAM-NEW PRESIDENT

Vietnam's National Assembly elected Vo Van Thuong as the country's new President, in a reshuffle of the country's top leadership amid an anti-graft campaign on Thursday. In an extraordinary session, lawmakers confirmed Thuong after the ruling Communist Party nominated him on Wednesday as President. Thuong's election follows the sudden resignation of his predecessor Nguyen Xuan Phuc in January, who the Party blamed for wrongdoing. In his first speech to Parliament as the new President, Thuong said that he would resolutely continue the fight against corruption. Thuong is the youngest member of the Party's Politburo, the country's top decision-making body.

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BIRLA-THAKUR-YOUTH FESTIVAL

India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has said that increasing women participation in every sector is a reflection of New India. He said, responsibility lies with the youth for bringing transformative changes in the country. He was addressing the participants of the National Youth Parliament Festival 2023 in Parliament Central Hall on Thursday. Highlighting the role of the youth in the socio-economic transformation, Mr. Birla said, the country's youth are playing a vital role in bringing transformative changes in the country and at the global stage.

On this occasion, India’s Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said, the country's women are scaling new heights in every sector. He said, in the Khelo India Youth Games, out of 25 national records, 19 were broken by the girls. He said, the country has also broken several records in various aspects.

Mr. Thakur said, in 2014, the country was in the league of fragile five economies of the world and now the country has made a place in the top five economies of the world.

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BANGLADESH- MOODY'S

The international financial rating agency Moody’s in its latest Investors Services report downgraded the outlook for the Bangladesh banking sector to negative. Bangladesh along with Australia, Korea, New Zealand and Pakistan will have a worsening state of banking operations, stated Moody’s report. The downgrade could make credit in foreign currency costlier to businesses and banks operating in Bangladesh.

Moody’s said in its report that the outlook changed to negative as asset risks increased and the liquidity situation tightened in the country.

Earlier, in December last year, Moody’s downgraded the rating of the Social Islami Bank of Bangladesh and put up the ratings of seven other banks under review for downgrade.

Financial sector experts have expressed concern over the downgrade of the banking sector. Bangladesh Bank’s former Governor Salehuddin Ahmed pointed out that the downgrade is for the entire banking sector which is a matter of concern.

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BANGLADESH-FM

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh A K Abdul Momen has said that countries of the South Asian region should tap the potential of mutual complementaries to realise the thriving possibilities of cooperation with each other. Delivering his address at the Vivekananda International Foundation in Delhi on Wednesday, Dr. Momen urged the countries of the region to enhance cooperation by setting up regional power and energy grids, ensuring equitable market access, quick transfer and assimilation of technology and employment of professionals in regional economies.

Dr. A K Abdul Momen is in Delhi participating in the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. Bangladesh is one of the seven guest countries invited to take part in its deliberations during the presidency of India.

Highlighting the fact that the South Asian region has one of the lowest levels of inter-regional trade in the world, Dr. Momen said that no country should abruptly impose tariff and non-tariff barriers to offset the prospects of trade. He also called upon countries of the region to allow free flow of investment as investment and trade go hand in hand. He further said removal of barriers on investment will promote economic prosperity for all.

Dr. Momen stressed upon the growing friendship between Bangladesh and India over the last few years. Speaking about high level visits between the two countries, he said that during the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India last year, both countries signed several MoUs and inaugurated projects like the water sharing agreement on Kushiara river, opening of the first unit of the Maitree Super Thermal Power plant at Rampal, Railway bridge on Rupsha river and scholarships handed over to the family members of Indian forces who lost their lives during the liberation war of Bangladesh.

Reiterating Bangladesh policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism, Dr. Momen said that his country will never allow its soil to be used for such activities.

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SC-HINDENBURG COMMITTEE

India’s Supreme Court set up an expert committee on Thursday on the issue arising from the Hindenburg Research report on Adani Group companies. The committee will consist of six-members, headed by former apex court judge Justice AM Sapre.

The Supreme Court said the committee shall submit its report in a sealed cover before the court in two months.

The Apex Court directed the Market regulator SEBI to ensure that all information is provided to the committee.

The Supreme Court also directed the SEBI to investigate whether there has been a violation of Section 19 of SEBI rules and whether there was any manipulation of stock prices.

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UAE - WORLD BANK

President of the United Arab Emirates' Gender Balance Council (GBC), Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, commended the UAE’s success in providing women with equal opportunities. She also emphasised that the UAE’s progress in women’s empowerment aligns with the leadership’s vision of making the UAE the best nation in the world by 2070.

As per the Annual World Bank report, the UAE scored 82.5 out of 100 possible points across 35 sub-indicators divided into eight major areas that include Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. The UAE GBC has worked with various federal entities to introduce and reform over 20 laws concerning employee benefits, equal access to credit, political participation, personal status, the judiciary, wages, freedom of movement, marriage, entrepreneurship, assets, and pensions. These reforms are aimed at increasing women's economic participation and protecting their rights.

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CHINA-BELARUS UKRAINE

The leaders of China and Belarus have expressed their interest in a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko issued a statement after talks in Beijing. Mr Lukashenko said his country fully supports Beijing's plan for ending the war in Ukraine. China announced a plan for peace talks last week, calling for the respect of national sovereignty.

The visit also comes days after China sent its top diplomat Wang Yi to meet Mr Putin. The 12-point document urges respect for the sovereignty of all countries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he agreed with some parts of it and said it was a sign of China's willingness to engage. Beijing has so far not publicly responded to Mr Zelensky's call for a summit.

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IND-AUS TEST

In Cricket, India were all out for 163 in their second innings against Australia at the end of day two of the third Test of the Border Gavaskar trophy at Indore. They took a lead of 75 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara scored the highest 59 runs.

For the visitors, Nathan Lyon scalped 8 wickets. Australia need 76 runs to win the match.

Earlier, Australia were all out for 197 runs. Khawaja contributed most of the 60 runs for hosts, Ravindra Jadeja took 4 wickets while R. Ashwin and Umesh Yadav took 3 wickets.

India were all out for 109 runs in their first innings yesterday.

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

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WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

Domestic share markets on Thursday closed with losses of more than half a percent. The index of the top 30 companies on the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sensex, ended below the 59,000 mark. The Nifty, which is the index of the top 50 companies on the National Stock Exchange, settled below the 17,350 level. Both stocks fell amid negative cues from global share markets.  A report from the business desk:

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FINLAND-NATO MEMBERSHIP

The Finish parliament on Wednesday approved legislation allowing the country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 184 members of parliament voted in favor, with seven against and one abstention. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto will sign the legislation as soon as possible, he said.

In May 2022, the Finnish parliament accepted an application to join NATO with a majority of 188 to eight. So far, 28 NATO member countries have ratified Finnish membership, with Türkiye and Hungary still pending. The Finnish parliament wanted to finalize the domestic vote before the upcoming parliamentary elections.

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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 Straits Times reports, China to reshuffle Cabinet at upcoming annual parliament session, restructure party and state organs.

⦁ The Globe and Mail reports, Indigenous community accuses Imperial Oil, Alberta government of covering up industrial leak.

⦁ The Washington Post writes, In Greece, deep problems with rail network preceded deadly collision.

⦁ The Japan Times reports, After years of sluggish growth, wage hikes finally gaining steam in Japan.

⦁ The New York Times writes, Finland on Cusp of Joining NATO, but maybe Not With Sweden.

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REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Eighth edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

⦁ G20 Foreign Ministers call for strong international cooperation in the field of climate change, counter terrorism and narcotics control. 

⦁ Quad Foreign Ministers to meet in New Delhi on Friday, meeting to be chaired by India’s Foreign Minister S.Jaishankar.

⦁ Protests erupt in Greece following deadly train collision.

⦁ Vietnam Parliament elects Vo Van Thuong as country's new President.

⦁ And in Cricket, India all out for 163 in their second innings of 3rd Test against Australia at Indore; Australia need 76 runs to win the match.       

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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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