India's presidencies of SCO & G20 will strengthen stability, security in the world: Putin

MOSCOW, Dec 30: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday voiced confidence that India's presidencies of the SCO and G20 will build multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries and will strengthen the stability and security in Asia and the entire world.

While India formally assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, it took over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on September 16.

In his New Year messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin noted that Russia and India marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2022 and, relying on positive traditions of friendship and mutual respect, the countries continue to develop their specially privileged strategic partnership, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Putin said the two countries carried out large-scale trade and economic projects in addition to energy, military technology and other areas of cooperation, and coordinated efforts in addressing important matters of regional and global agendas.

“I am confident that India's recently started SCO and G20 presidencies will open new opportunities for building multi-dimensional Russia-India cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of strengthening stability and security in Asia and the entire world,” he said.

India has not yet criticised the Russian attack on Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis should be resolved through dialogue.

The SCO comprising China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan is a Eurasian political, economic and security organisation. It is the world's largest regional organisation in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population, and more than 30% of global GDP.

The G20 comprises 19 countries -- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK and the US -- and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

Uzbekistan Says Deaths Of 18 Children Linked To India-Made Cough Syrup

TASHKENT, Dec 29: Uzbekistan has claimed that at least 18 children in the country have died after allegedly taking an India-manufactured cough syrup. India is set to probe the claims.

The health ministry of Uzbekistan, in a statement, said that the children who died had consumed cough syrup Doc-1 Max - manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

The laboratory tests of a batch of syrups found presence of ethylene glycol - a toxic substance in the preparation, the ministry said.

It also said the syrup was given to children at home without a doctor's prescription, either by their parents or on the advice of pharmacists, with doses that exceeded the standard dose for children.

It was found that the children, before admission to hospital treatment, took this syrup at home for 2-7 days, in doses of 2.5 to 5 ml three to four times a day, which exceeds the standard dose, the ministry said.

After the deaths of 18 children, Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups have been withdrawn from all pharmacies in the country, the statement said, adding that seven employees were dismissed because they failed to analyse the situation in a timely manner and take necessary measures.

A joint inquiry will be conducted by the teams of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO - north zone) and Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority, it is learnt.

A casualty assessment report has also been sought from Uzbekistan.

This is the second time in a year that India-manufactured cough syrups have come under the scanner.

Earlier this year, deaths of 70 children in Gambia were linked to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

Chinese Woman Suspected Of Spying On Dalai Lama Detained In Bihar's Gaya

NEW DELHI, Dec 29: A Chinese woman suspected of spying on Dalai Lama was detained by police today in Bihar's Gaya district. She is likely to be deported back to China.

Earlier today, local police had sounded a security alert as Dalai Lama is scheduled to participate in several events in the Bihar district. Sketches of the suspected Chinese spy, identified as Song Xiaolan had been released and circulated on social media with authorities requesting residents to provide information about her.

According to inputs, the suspected Chinese spy had been living in different parts of the country including Bodh Gaya for more than one year. However, there is no record in the foreign section about the stay of the Chinese woman.

Dalai Lama has this year resumed his annual tour to Bodh Gaya, which had been suspended for the last two years due to the Covid pandemic.

Security has been increased in and around the Mahabodhi Temple Complex.

The Dalai Lama addressed a gathering this morning at the 'Kaal Chakra' maidan. He is slated to give his address every day for three days till December 31.

Afghan Professor Tears Diploma Certificates In Protest Against Women University Ban

KABUL, Dec 28: A Kabul University professor tore up his diplomas on live television as he said that he does not accept education in Afghanistan if his "mother and sister can't study". The video from the TV show which has been widely shared on social media shows the professor holding up his diplomas one by one. He then goes on to tear them up one by one.

Former policy advisor to the Minister for Afghan Resettlement & Minister for Refugees Shabnam Nasimi, shared the video on Twitter saying, "Astonishing scenes as a Kabul university professor destroys his diplomas on live TV in Afghanistan."

"From today I don't need these diplomas anymore because this country is no place for an education. If my sister & my mother can't study, then I DON'T accept this education," she quoted the professor as saying.

Shabnam Nasimi currently works as executive director of Conservative Friends of Afghanistan which focuses on promoting understanding and support for Afghanistan in the United Kingdom.

Even though Taliban promised a softer rule after taking over the country in August last year following the withdrawal of US troops, they have continued to impose restrictions on women in the country.

Last week, the Taliban banned university education for women across Afghanistan, in a move widely criticised globally.

"You all are informed to immediately implement the mentioned order of suspending education of females until further notice," Minister for Higher Education Neda Mohammad Nadeem said in a letter to all government and private universities in Afghanistan.

The ban also followed numerous changes in university rules, including gender-segregated classrooms and entrances. Women were only permitted to be taught by women professors or old men.

Taiwan's Big Move Amid China Threat

TAIPEI, Dec 28: Taiwan on Tuesday announced an extension in mandatory military service from four months to one year, citing the threat from an increasingly hostile China.

Beijing considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan a part of its territory, to be taken one day, by force if necessary, and the island lives under the constant fear of a Chinese invasion.

Under President Xi Jinping, China's sabre-rattling has intensified in recent years, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine deepened worries in Taiwan that Beijing might move similarly to annex the island.

China's "intimidation and threats against Taiwan are getting more obvious", President Tsai Ing-wen told a press conference.

"No one wants war... but my fellow countrymen, peace will not fall from the sky."

"The current four-month military service is not enough to meet the fast and ever-changing situation," she added.

"We have decided to restore the one-year military service from 2024."

The extended requirement will apply to men born after January 1, 2005, Tsai said.

Mandatory service used to be deeply unpopular in Taiwan -- once a brutal military dictatorship that has since morphed into a progressive democracy.

Its previous government had reduced compulsory military service from one year to four months with the aim of creating a mainly volunteer force.

But recent polling showed more than three-quarters of the Taiwanese public now believes that is too short.

The military has also struggled to recruit and retain full-time personnel because of low financial incentives.

Tsai described the extension as "an extremely difficult decision... to ensure the democratic way of life for our future generations".

The prospect of a Chinese invasion has increasingly worried Western nations and many of China's neighbours.

Xi, China's most authoritarian leader in decades, has made clear that what he calls the "reunification" of Taiwan cannot be passed on to future generations.

Taiwan and China split at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, and Tsai has said becoming a part of China is not acceptable to the people of the island.

Taiwan is a mountainous island and would present a formidable challenge to an invading force, but it is massively outgunned with 89,000 ground forces compared with China's one million, according to a Pentagon estimate released last month.

Beijing also has a huge advantage in military equipment.

Taiwan has stepped up reservist training and increased its purchases of warplanes and anti-ship missiles to bolster its defences. But experts have said that is not enough.

The military service announcement on Tuesday came two days after Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, which were held in response to what Beijing described as "provocations" and "collusion" between Washington and Taipei.

World Economy Is Headed For A Recession In 2023, Says Researcher

MUNVIE (Indiana), Dec 26: The world faces a recession in 2023 higher borrowing costs aimed at tackling inflation cause a number of economies to contract, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

The global economy surpassed $100 trillion for the first time in 2022 but will stall in 2023 as policy makers continue their fight against soaring prices, the British consultancy said in its annual World Economic League Table.

"It's likely that the world economy will face recession next year as a result of the rises in interest rates in response to higher inflation," said Kay Daniel Neufeld, director and head of Forecasting at CEBR.

The report added that, "The battle against inflation is not won yet. We expect central bankers to stick to their guns in 2023 despite the economic costs. The cost of bringing inflation down to more comfortable levels is a poorer growth outlook for a number of years to come."

The findings are more pessimistic than the latest forecast from the International Monetary Fund. That institution warned in October that more than a third of the world economy will contract and there is a 25% chance of global GDP growing by less than 2% in 2023, which it defines as a global recession.

Even so, by 2037, world gross domestic product will have doubled as developing economies catch up with the richer ones. The shifting balance of power will see the East Asia and Pacific region account for over a third of global output by 2037, while Europe's share shrinks to less than a fifth.

The CEBR takes its base data from the IMF's World Economic Outlook and uses an internal model to forecast growth, inflation and exchange rates.

China is now not set to overtake the US as the world's largest economy until 2036 at the earliest - six years later than expected. That reflects China's zero Covid policy and rising trade tensions with the west slow, which have slowed its expansion.

CEBR had originally expected the switch in 2028, which it pushed back to 2030 in last year's league table. It now thinks the cross-over point will not happen until 2036 and may come even later if Beijing tries to take control of Taiwan and faces retaliatory trade sanctions.

"The consequences of economic warfare between China and the West would be several times more severe than what we have seen following Russia's attack on Ukraine. There would almost certainly be quite a sharp world recession and a resurgence of inflation," CEBR said.

"But the damage to China would be many times greater and this could well torpedo any attempt to lead the world economy."

It also predicted that:

India will become the third $10 trillion economy in 2035 and the world's third largest by 2032

The UK will remain the world's sixth largest economy, and France seventh, over the next 15 years but Britain is no longer set to grow faster than European peers due to "an absence of growth oriented policies and the lack of a clear vision of its role outside of the European Union."

Emerging economies with natural resources will get a "substantial boost" as fossil fuels play an important part in the switch to renewable energy

The global economy is a long way from the $80,000 per capita GDP level at which carbon emissions decouple from growth, which means further policy interventions are needed to hit the target of limiting global warming to just 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Taliban Bans University Education For Afghan Girls

KABUL, Dec 20: The Taliban authorities on Tuesday ordered an indefinite ban on university education for Afghan girls, the ministry of higher education said in a letter issued to all government and private universities.

"You all are informed to implement the mentioned order of suspending education of females until further notice," said the letter signed by Minister for Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem.

The spokesman for the ministry, Ziaullah Hashimi, who tweeted the letter, confirmed the order in a text message to an agency.

The ban on higher education comes less than three months after thousands of girls and women sat university entrance exams across the country, with many aspiring to choose engineering and medicine as future careers.

After the takeover of the country by the hardline Islamists in August last year, universities were forced to implement new rules including gender segregated classrooms and entrances, while women were only permitted to be taught by women professors or old men.

Most teenage girls across the country have already been banned from secondary school education, severely limiting university intake.

Dutch PM Apologises For 250 Years Of Slavery, "Crime Against Humanity"

THE HAGUE, Dec 19, Netherlands: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday officially apologised for 250 years of the Netherlands' involvement in slavery, calling it a "crime against humanity".

The apology comes almost 150 years after the end of slavery in the European country's overseas colonies, which included Suriname and islands like Curacao and Aruba in the Caribbean and Indonesia in the East.

"Today on behalf of the Dutch government, I apologise for the past actions of the Dutch state," Rutte said in a speech in The Hague.

"We, living in the here and now, can only recognise and condemn slavery in the clearest terms as a crime against humanity," he said.

Dutch ministers have travelled to seven former colonies in South America and the Caribbean for the event.

Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch finance minister and deputy prime minister, said on an official visit to Suriname last week that a "process" would begin leading up to "another incredibly important moment on July 1 next year".

Descendants of Dutch slavery will then celebrate 150 years of liberation from slavery in an annual celebration called "Keti Koti" (Breaking the Chains) in Surinamese.

But the plan has caused controversy, with groups and some of the affected countries criticising the move as rushed, and saying the lack of consultation by the Netherlands smacked of a colonial attitude.

But Rutte in his speech on Monday said that choosing the right moment was a "complicated matter".

"There is not one right time for everyone, not one right word for everyone, not one right place for everyone," he said.

The Dutch funded their "Golden Age" of empire and culture in the 16th and 17th centuries by shipping around 600,000 Africans as part of the slave trade, mostly to South America and the Caribbean.

At the height of its colonial empire, the United Provinces known today as the Netherlands possessed colonies like Suriname, the Caribbean island of Curacao, South Africa and Indonesia, where the Dutch East India Company was based in the 17th century.

In recent years, the Netherlands has been grappling with the fact that its Rembrandt and Vermeer-filled museums and historic towns were largely built on the back of that brutality.

Spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States, it has also raised questions about racism in Dutch society.

Pressure has been growing at home with the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht formally apologising for the slave trade.

Rutte had long resisted, previously saying the period of slavery was too far back and that an apology would ignite tensions in a country where the far right remains strong.

He has now changed tack, but that has not pleased everyone.

Sint Maarten's Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs told Dutch media on Saturday the island would not accept a Dutch apology if made on Monday.

"Let me be clear that we won't accept an apology until our advisory committee has discussed it and we as a country discussed it," she said.

The fact that another Dutch minister sent to Suriname, Franc Weerwind, is himself of Surinamese descent sparked criticism from the slavery restitution group there on the grounds that he is a "descendant of enslaved people".

On Monday, Dutch cabinet ministers would be in Suriname, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curacao, Saba and St. Eustatius to "discuss the cabinet response and its significance on location with those present" after the Rutte speaks, the government said.

Slavery was formally abolished in Suriname and other Dutch-held lands on July 1, 1863, but the practice only really ended in 1873 after a 10-year "transition" period.

Slavery commemoration groups say any apology should come on the 150th anniversary of that date, in 2023, instead of the "arbitrary" date of December 19 this year.

Modi Tells Putin Dialogue, Diplomacy Only Way Forward On Ukraine War

NEW DELHI, Dec 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called upon Russian President Vladimir Putin, and reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy as "the only way forward" in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the government said. The two leaders spoke over a phone call.

Meanwhile, the Russian side, in its statement, said, "At the request of Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin gave fundamental assessments of Russia's line on the Ukrainian direction".

Following up on their meeting in Samarkand on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, the two leaders also reviewed several aspects of the bilateral relationship, including energy cooperation, trade and investments, defence and security cooperation, and other key areas, the PM's office said.

The Prime Minister also briefed President Putin on India's ongoing Presidency of the G-20, highlighting its key priorities.

"He also looked forward to both countries working together during India's Chairship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation," the media release from the PM's office said.

The leaders agreed to remain in regular touch with each other.

Modi had earlier in his message to Russia, in an attempt to de-escalate tensions, said that "today's era is not of war", earning wide praise from the West which saw it as a "public rebuke" to Russia. The PM's anti-war message also found a mention in a declaration by leaders of the G20 summit gathered in Indonesia's Bali last month.

Russia had, however, accused the West of cherry-picking from India's stand, while staying mum on things that put them in a spot -- like India's massive increase in crude oil imports from Russia against repeated appeals by the West, and also Ukraine.

Russia's Ambassador to India Denis Alipov had said the remarks have been consistent with India's position on the issue.

"The West uses only those quotes that suit them while ignoring other parts," he had said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had last week said that India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have become the "voice of the world", especially of the developing countries, in pushing for an end to the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy as soon as possible.

He also said that India is among the countries with whom all sides are sharing their views.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had last week in an interview hit out at India over imports of cheap Russian oil, referring to it as being ''morally inappropriate.''

''The opportunity for India to buy Russian oil at a cheap price comes from the fact that Ukrainians are suffering from Russian aggression and dying every day,'' he had said.

When asked about his views on Jaishankar pointing to Europe on oil imports from Russia, saying 'what India imports is a fraction of what the European nations import', he called it "completely wrong.

"It is completely wrong to explain the purchase of oil from Russia by the argument that Europeans are doing the same. I think it is morally inappropriate because you are buying cheap oil not because of Europeans but because of us, of our suffering, of our tragedy, and because of the war that Russia launched against Ukraine," he had said.

PM's phone conversation with President Putin comes a week after it was reported that Modi is unlikely to travel to Russia for the annual India-Russia summit this year.

With the last annual summit held in India in December last year - which saw Russian President Vladimir Putin travel to India for a six-hour visit - it was Russia's turn this year to host the meeting.

But now in its 11th month of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has not proposed a summit and no dates have been announced as the year draws to a close.

Philippines Expresses 'Great Concern' On Chinese Vessels In Disputed Waters

MANILA, Dec 14: The Philippines' defence chief today said the reported presence of dozens of Chinese vessels in disputed waters in the South China Sea was an "unacceptable" action that violates the country's sovereignty.

"The president's order to the department is clear - we will not give up a single square inch of Philippine territory," Jose Faustino, the officer-in-charge at the Department of National Defense said in a statement.

He added there was "great concern" over the "reported swarming of Chinese vessels in Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea." Manila refers to the part of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea.

Faustino's remarks follow a report last week in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in which a Philippine military commander confirmed the presence of Chinese vessels believed to be manned by militias in the reef and shoal since early this year.

"Our lines remain open to dialogue," Faustino said. "However, we maintain that activities which violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, and undermine the peace and stability of the region, are unacceptable."

The Philippines had won a landmark arbitration case in 2016, which invalidated Beijing's expansive claims in the South China Sea where about $3 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes annually.

The ruling, which China refused to recognise, states that the Philippines has sovereign rights to exploit energy reserves inside its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone, where both Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal are located.

Iroquois is 127 nautical miles from the Philippine island of Palawan in the disputed waters, which U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris visited last month to reiterate Washington's defence commitments to Manila and its support for the 2016 arbitration ruling.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese embassy in Manila. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will go to Beijing next month for a state visit.

Agreement Will Have To Be Reached To End Ukraine War: Putin

MOSCOW, Dec 9: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that ultimately an agreement would need to be struck to end fighting in Ukraine, nine months after the Kremlin launched its "special military operation" there.

"Trust, of course, is almost at zero... but ultimately, in the end, an agreement will have to be reached," Putin told a summit of regional leaders in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

"I have said many times that we are ready for these agreements, and we are open (to them)," he added.

Putin comments came in response to remarks from former German chancellor Angela Merkel about the Minsk agreements, negotiated with Paris and Berlin to end fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Merkel told Die Zeit newspaper that the 2014 accords were an "attempt to give Ukraine time" and that Kyiv had used it "to become stronger".

Putin in Bishkek said he was "disappointed" by Merkel's comments, adding he "always assumed that the government of Germany was acting honestly".

"After such statements, the question becomes: how can we agree? And is there anyone to agree with? What are the guarantees?" Putin said.

Inclusive Growth, Multilateralism, Tourism Highlights Of Day 3 G20 Sherpa Meeting

By Deepak Arora

UDAIPUR, Dec 6: Substantive conversations on key global issues of inclusive growth, multilateralism, and women-led development, as well as 3Fs (Food, Fuel, and Fertilizer), tourism, and culture, were the highlights of the third day of the first Sherpa Meeting of India’s G20 Presidency, being held in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Today marked the conclusion of all five substantive sessions of the Sherpa meeting in Udaipur.

Initiating the discussions, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, provided an overview of India’s G20 priorities on the above subjects, across six different Working Groups on Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Employment, Anti-Corruption, Tourism, and Culture, as well as ways to strengthen cooperative efforts therein.

He emphasized the need for transformational efforts in agriculture, trade, employment, and combating corruption and economic crimes.

During discussions on the global impediments to economic growth, delegates underscored the importance of attaining resilient growth through long-term solutions and meaningful partnerships.

Amitabh Kant expressed appreciation for the support extended by the delegations on the wide range of priorities set out by India.

This was followed by Session 4 which focused on the need for multilateral reforms and building institutions that are better able to capture the needs and ambitions and reflect the priorities of all regions and countries across the globe, and address the challenges of the day. Issues pertaining to addressing disruptions and promoting security of food, fuel, and fertilizer supplies were deliberated upon.

Strengthening and enhancing the mandate and resources of Multilateral Development Banks, reforming the WTO, the importance of Green Hydrogen in achieving green energy transition including for hard-to-abate sectors, and reformed multilateralism for greater peace and harmony, were some of the major areas of discussion.

Given the contemporary global socio-economic and geopolitical concerns, it was highlighted that the discussion is timely, and of great significance.

Session 5 discussions centered around Women-led Development, and the need to have women at the forefront of development.

The interventions in the session drew attention to critical priorities such as reducing gender gaps, enhancing the capacity of women through education and skilling, promoting women in leadership roles, and boosting female labour force participation.

Leveraging the tourism sector to accelerate progress towards SDG achievement, and protection, promotion, and preservation of culture, as also restitution of cultural properties, were the other areas covered in the session.

With this, the five substantive Sessions held over two days of the Sherpa Meeting came to a conclusion.

Rounding up the fruitful deliberations of the past three days, India’s G20 Sherpa highlighted focal areas of discussion and stressed the need to reinforce collective action of the G20 nations. The overarching theme of India’s Presidency — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth. One Family. One Future - resonated throughout the proceedings.

After the substantive sessions, a tour of the renowned Crafts village, Shilpgram, was conducted for the G20 Sherpas and the delegations. Guests were captivated by its architecture, and the diversity of Rajasthani arts and crafts that was showcased. The delegations were also treated to an illuminous and colourful musical treat at the historic Manek Chowk, Udaipur, in the evening.

Putin Slipped On Stairs At Home, Led To 'Involuntary Defecation': Report

NEW YORK, Dec 4: Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly suffered a fall at his official Moscow residence this week, causing him to "involuntarily defecate," New York Post reported quoting a Telegram channel with apparent links with his security team.

The report added that Putin, 70, reportedly fell down five steps before landing on his tailbone.

The impact caused the Russian President to "involuntarily defecate" due to "cancer affecting his stomach and bowels," the Telegram channel said.

During a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel last month, Putin's hands appeared to shake and turn purple, UK-based Express reported.

The UK-based outlet further said the Russian leader was seen moving his legs uncomfortably.

The incidents are another addition to growing speculation surrounding Putin's declining health. A former British spy said the 70-year-old President is "seriously ill", and it is an "element of what is happening in Ukraine."

An oligarch with close ties with the Russian leader claimed that "Putin is very ill with blood cancer."

It's not the first time reports of Putin being ill have surfaced. In 2014, President Putin's spokesman ridiculed US media reports that the leader was suffering from cancer and said the journalists should "shut their trap."

Putin has said he has no regrets about launching Russia's "special military operation" against Ukraine that began nearly 10 months ago.

India Takes Over G-20 Presidency, Modi Calls For 'Mindset Shift'

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: As India takes over the G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for a "shift in fundamental mindset to benefit humanity as a whole."

India's year-long G20 presidency will be "inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented", Modi said, adding that it will encourage an honest conversation on mitigating risks posed by weapons of mass destruction and enhancing global security.

India today began its G20 presidency with a focus on counter-terrorism and "unity" in tackling global challenges, such as economic slowdown and climate crisis.

The government also seeks to build consensus on debt sustainability and creating disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure. India's G20 plans also include a special focus on startups and bridging the digital divide.

India will host as many as 200 meetings across the country over the next one year, with the first one being held in Udaipur later this week. The G20 Summit will be organised in New Delhi in September 2023.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the G20 platform seeks to forge common ground on key issues among prominent countries. "Our endeavor as the G20 chair is to make that consensus more relevant through wider consultation," he said.

Starting today, 100 monuments across the country, including UNESCO world heritage sites, will be lit up highlighting the G20 logo for a week.

Indian Prime Minister unveiled the logo and the theme for India's G20 presidency last month. The logo depicts a lotus flower and a globe, while the theme for India's G20 presidency is -"One Earth, One Family, One Future" - which highlights its commitment to 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (world is one family).

India was handed over the presidency of the influential bloc at the closing ceremony of the previous G20 summit in Bali that was hosted by Indonesia on November 15 and 16.

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. The group comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union.

The member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

India’s agenda during its G20 Presidency will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive

By Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Today, India commences its G20 Presidency.

The previous 17 Presidencies of the G20 delivered significant results — for ensuring macro-economic stability, rationalising international taxation, relieving debt-burden on countries, among many other outcomes. We will benefit from these achievements, and build further upon them.

However, as India assumes this important mantle, I ask myself — can the G20 go further still? Can we catalyse a fundamental mindset shift, to benefit humanity as a whole?

I believe we can.

Our mindsets are shaped by our circumstances. Through all of history, humanity lived in scarcity. We fought for limited resources, because our survival depended on denying them to others. Confrontation and competition — between ideas, ideologies and identities — became the norm.

Unfortunately, we remain trapped in the same zero-sum mindset even today. We see it when countries fight over territory or resources. We see it when supplies of essential goods are weaponised. We see it when vaccines are hoarded by a few, even as billions remain vulnerable.

Some may argue that confrontation and greed are just human nature. I disagree. If humans were inherently selfish, what would explain the lasting appeal of so many spiritual traditions that advocate the fundamental one-ness of us all?

One such tradition, popular in India, sees all living beings, and even inanimate things, as composed of the same five basic elements — the panch tatva of earth, water, fire, air and space. Harmony among these elements — within us and between us — is essential for our physical, social and environmental well-being.

India’s G20 Presidency will work to promote this universal sense of one-ness. Hence our theme — “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

This is not just a slogan. It takes into account recent changes in human circumstances, which we have collectively failed to appreciate.

Today, we have the means to produce enough to meet the basic needs of all people in the world.

Today, we do not need to fight for our survival — our era need not be one of war. Indeed, it must not be one!

Today, the greatest challenges we face — climate change, terrorism, and pandemics — can be solved not by fighting each other, but only by acting together.

Fortunately, today’s technology also gives us the means to address problems on a humanity-wide scale. The massive virtual worlds that we inhabit today demonstrate the scalability of digital technologies.

Housing one-sixth of humanity, and with its immense diversity of languages, religions, customs and beliefs, India is a microcosm of the world.

With the oldest-known traditions of collective decision-making, India contributes to the foundational DNA of democracy. As the mother of democracy, India’s national consensus is forged not by diktat, but by blending millions of free voices into one harmonious melody.

Today, India is the fastest growing large economy. Our citizen-centric governance model takes care of even our most marginalised citizens, while nurturing the creative genius of our talented youth.

We have tried to make national development not an exercise in top-down governance, but rather a citizen-led “people’s movement”.

We have leveraged technology to create digital public goods that are open, inclusive and interoperable. These have delivered revolutionary progress in fields as varied as social protection, financial inclusion, and electronic payments.

For all these reasons, India’s experiences can provide insights for possible global solutions.

During our G20 Presidency, we shall present India’s experiences, learnings and models as possible templates for others, particularly the developing world.

Our G20 priorities will be shaped in consultation with not just our G20 partners, but also our fellow-travellers in the Global South, whose voice often goes unheard.

Our priorities will focus on healing our “One Earth”, creating harmony within our “One Family” and giving hope for our “One Future”.

For healing our planet, we will encourage sustainable and environment-friendly lifestyles, based on India’s tradition of trusteeship towards nature.

For promoting harmony within the human family, we will seek to depoliticise the global supply of food, fertilisers and medical products, so that geopolitical tensions do not lead to humanitarian crises. As in our own families, those whose needs are the greatest must always be our first concern.

For imbuing hope in our future generations, we will encourage an honest conversation among the most powerful countries — on mitigating risks posed by weapons of mass destruction and enhancing global security.

India’s G20 agenda will be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive.

Let us join together to make India’s G20 Presidency a presidency of healing, harmony and hope.

Let us work together to shape a new paradigm — of human-centric globalisation.

@ The writer is the prime minister of India

Expect Russia to be part of all processes, says India on G20 presidency

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: India said on Thursday it expects Russia to be part of all the processes of G20 as it assumed the presidency of the grouping against the backdrop of persisting differences among its members over the Ukraine war.

“Russia is a member of the G20 and hence we would expect them to be participating in these processes,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a weekly media briefing while responding to questions about the divisions within the G20 over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Bagchi noted that the G20 works on the important principle of consensus, and India’s efforts as president of the grouping of the world’s 20 largest economies will be aimed at building consensus. This was the stance taken by India at the G20 Summit in Bali last month and this approach will continue, he said.

“I would not be able to say anything further except to say that the grouping needs to speak with one voice, particularly on important issues affecting the world. We will certainly focus on issues that are affecting the developing world, the Global South, such as food, fuel and fertilisers,” he said.

India, which began its year-long G20 presidency on Thursday, and Indonesia, the previous president, played a key role in finalising a joint communique at the Bali summit amid deep divisions between Russia and the West. German ambassador Philipp Ackermann said on Wednesday that coping with the fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will be one of the “most difficult issues” for India’s G20 presidency.

“The decisive moment will be September [2023] when the [G20] summit comes together. But as it stands now, I think dealing with Russia will be one of the most difficult issues in this [G20] presidency,” Ackermann told reporters.

Bagchi pointed out that the world order has changed and structures and institutions of the past need to change to tackle contemporary challenges. India’s part in the G20 reflects these changes and the world cannot work with the structures of the past to address the challenges of today, he said.

Responding to a separate question on a media report that sanctions-hit Russia has sent India a list of more than 500 products it requires, including parts for cars, aircraft and trains and raw materials, Bagchi said: “We have regular engagement with Russia on how to sustain and expand trade. This has been going on for many years. From time to time, both countries indicate areas of interest or priority that they may be looking at.”

He added, “I would urge that nothing more should be read into this.”

The Indian government has not joined the West in openly criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it has sharply increased purchases of Russian crude and fertilisers in recent months. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting in September that today’s era is “not of war”.

‘Didn’t give veto power’: Delhi stings Beijing on protest over India-US exercise

NEW DELHI, Dec 1: India on Thursday rejected China’s opposition to an India-US joint military exercise being held near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and said New Delhi does not give a veto to any third country on such matters.

China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday opposed the holding of the latest edition of the India-US exercise “Yudh Abhyas” at Auli in Uttarakhand, 100km from the LAC and said the drills violate border management agreements signed by China and India in 1993 and 1996.

“Let me emphasise that the exercises that are going on with the US in Auli have nothing to do with the 1993 and 1996 agreements,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a weekly media briefing in response to questions on the position taken by China.

In a tacit reference to China’s actions in Ladakh sector of the LAC where Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff since May 2020, Bagchi added, “But since these [exercises] were raised and we are talking about them and it was raised by the Chinese side, let me emphasise that the Chinese side needs to reflect and think about its own breach of these agreements of 1993 and 1996.”

The Indian side has accused China’s People’s Liberation Army of violating several border management agreements and protocols by massing troops along the LAC and building infrastructure in disputed regions.

Twenty Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops were killed at Galwan Valley in June 2020, taking relations to their lowest point in six decades.

Though the two sides have withdrawn frontline troops from Pangong Lake, Gogra and Hot Springs, they have been unable to disengage at crucial friction points such as Demchok and Depsang despite more than two dozen rounds of diplomatic and military talks.

Bagchi declined to comment on a new Pentagon report that said China warned US officials not to interfere in Beijing’s relations with New Delhi amid the LAC standoff and reiterated that India does not give a veto to anyone on the relationship with the US.

India, Bagchi pointed out, expects the diplomatic and military talks with China to have objectives and lead to results. “What we want from our side is very clear – we have said there should be disengagement and de-escalation,” he said.

The annual Yudh Abhyas exercise, currently in its 18th edition, aims to enhance interoperability and sharing of expertise between the Indian and US armies for peacekeeping and disaster relief operations. The nearly two-week exercise began last month.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, while responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist at a media briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, said the India-US military exercise “close to the LAC at the China-India border violates the spirit of the agreements between China and India in 1993 and 1996”. Zhao added, “It does not serve the mutual trust between China and India.”

China Covid Lockdowns Shut Delivery Workers Out Of Their Homes

BEIJING, Dec 1: Overworked, underpaid and thoroughly fed up, Wang's troubles deepened even further when authorities abruptly locked down the delivery driver's Beijing apartment block earlier this month.

Officials in the Chinese capital have doubled down on the country's hallmark zero-Covid policy in recent weeks, one of an array of cities to impose sweeping shutdowns, mass testing and teleworking mandates as caseloads have hit all-time highs.

Wang is not alone in feeling frustrated.

The ruling Communist Party's uncompromising zero-Covid strategy -- now in force for about three years -- has stoked anger and resentment, with widespread and sometimes violent protests kicking off across China's major cities.

Pandemic fatigue has been on the rise for some time, as a recent lightening of virus curbs has coincided with record infection tallies, prompting a patchwork of onerous restrictions in multiple major cities.

China is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid strategy, but maintaining relatively low numbers of cases and deaths has constrained its economic recovery, disrupted supply chains and hammered employment.

Demand for deliveries has soared under the tightening curbs as millions of housebound urbanites have turned to an army of low-paid couriers -- mostly migrants from other provinces -- to supply takeaway lunches and grocery orders.

But this time the restrictions have crept deep into places where drivers live, shutting many inside without pay and forcing others to choose between having a place to sleep and earning enough money to survive.

Wang, who scoots back and forth across a wealthy financial district delivering food orders for internet giant Meituan, said his housing compound was cordoned off on November 7 after two Covid cases were discovered.

Desperate not to lose his income -- about 250 yuan ($34) a day -- the 20-year-old broke lockdown rules by vaulting a fence to make his shifts, sneaking back in under cover of darkness.

"I have no choice. If I don't make money, I can't pay rent," said the native of the industrial northern province of Shanxi.

"Lots of delivery guys don't have anywhere to live at the moment," he told AFP outside a deserted office block on a cold winter afternoon last week.

"I'm really dissatisfied with the Chinese government, because other countries aren't strict about Covid any more," he said.

"We're going to such great lengths... and I don't feel it's necessary, because nobody is dying from it."

The news agency withheld Wang's full name to protect him from potential repercussions for breaking lockdown and criticising the state.

When a shutdown loomed over Gu Qiang's housing compound last week, the Meituan driver chose to sleep in his car.

"Spending 30 yuan to keep the engine running all night is still cheaper than getting a hotel," the gruff northeast China native said.

"Some of my friends are living outside -- they dare not go home."

Several couriers interviewed by a news agency described heavier workloads in recent weeks as lockdowns have left their companies short of labour.

While some said they were happy to take on money-spinning extra orders, most said they had endured longer working hours, extra stress and more negative interactions with customers.

They also said they had not received any additional support from Meituan or the companies to which delivery services have been outsourced.

Authorities last year launched an investigation into food delivery platforms following claims of exploitative labour practices including algorithms that effectively forced couriers to drive dangerously to meet tight delivery times.

But the company told the state-run China Daily newspaper last week that it had paid for hotel rooms for some stranded workers and welcomed calls for help from couriers in similar situations.

Meghan Markle In Tears As Prince Harry Talks About Family In New Docuseries

NEW YORK, Dec 1: Netflix aired the long-awaited emotionally charged trailer of the docuseries, "Harry & Meghan." The six-part docuseries shed light on the couple's love story and their lives in the royal family.

The trailer was released on Netflix's Twitter account along with the caption, "Harry & Meghan. A Netflix Global Event. Coming soon, only on Netflix." The trailer has accumulated more than 1 million views on Twitter. The couple is asked in the trailer, "Why did you want to make this documentary?" followed by a series of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex photos both in public and private moments.

In the 1 minute 12 second teaser, Prince Harry is heard saying, "No one sees what's happening behind closed doors, I had to do everything I could to protect my family." Further in the video, Meghan can be heard saying, "When the stakes are this high doesn't it make more sense to hear our story from us?"

In one of the shots, Prince Harry is shown with his head tilted back as his wife appears to wipe away her tears with both hands.

Omid Scobie, a close friend and biographer of the couple, tweeted that the series would be aired on December 8, adding it will share "the other side of their love story and the challenges they faced".

The announcement coincides with Harry's elder brother William's first trip to the United States as Prince of Wales and another race row within the family back home.

William -the heir to the throne - has been forced to part ways with one of his godmothers after she used racially charged language to a black British woman at a palace reception on Tuesday.

Harry and Meghan, a mixed-race former television actress, cited racism in the royal household as one of the reasons for their acrimonious departure almost three years ago.

Royal insiders described William's visit to Boston to present his annual climate change awards to innovators on Friday as his "Superbowl moment".

But Scobie tweeted that "if tomorrow is Prince William's Super Bowl, then here's your Halftime Show" as he shared the trailer.

"With commentary from friends, family, and historians discussing the state of the British Commonwealth today (and the Royal Family's relationship with the press), the Netflix series aims to 'paint a picture of our world and how we treat each other," he added.

The family will be braced for more revelations from the docuseries and Harry's autobiography "Spare", which is due out in January.

Spanish PM, US Embassy Targeted in Wave of Letter Bombs

MADRID, Dec 1: Spanish police were investigating Thursday a series of letter bombs sent to targets including the prime minister and the US embassy, similar to one which went off at the Ukrainian embassy, hurting a staff member.

The interior ministry revealed that an envelope with "pyrotechnic material" had arrived at Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's official residence on November 24. It was destroyed in a controlled explosion.

Spain's High court meanwhile announced it had broadened an initial investigation over the Ukraine embassy letter bomb to cover the all the other incidents.

Both announcements came a day after the security officer at Ukraine's embassy in Madrid suffered a light injury to one hand while opening a letter bomb addressed to the Ukrainian ambassador, an incident that prompted Kyiv to boost security at its embassies worldwide.

That letter, like the others discovered, arrived by regular mail.

Later in the evening, a second "suspicious postal shipment" was intercepted at the headquarters of military equipment firm Instalaza in the northeastern city of Zaragoza, the interior ministry said.

Instalaza makes the grenade launchers that Spain donates to Ukraine.

Then on Thursday morning letter bombs arrived and at the defence ministry; and at an air base in Torrejon de Ardoz, just outside Madrid, from where weapons donated by Spain are sent to Ukraine.

"The characteristics of the envelopes, as well as their content, are similar in the five cases," Spain's Secretary of State of Security, Rafael Perez, told journalists.

"There are signs that indicate that the letters came from Spanish territory, but I insist we must be prudent...we are at the beginning of the investigation."

A few hours after he spoke the interior ministry said another letter "with similar characteristics as the others" had been intercepted at the US embassy in Madrid.

Ukraine's ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, appeared to blame Russia for the letter bomb at its embassy.

"We are well aware of the terrorist methods of the aggressor country," he said during an interview late Wednesday with Spanish public television.

"Russia's methods and attacks require us to be ready for any kind of incident, provocation or attack," he added.

But in a statement Thursday, Russia's embassy in Spain said: "Any threat or terrorist act, especially those that target a diplomatic mission, is to be totally condemned."

The letter to the defence ministry was addressed to Defence Minister Margarita Robles. The one sent to the air base was meant for a European Union satellite centre located there.

That centre supports the bloc's foreign and security policy by gathering information from satellite imagery, according to its website.

After scanning the envelope that arrived at the air base by X-ray, security officers determined it contained "a mechanism", the ministry statement said. Police were still analysing the envelope.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ordered the strengthening of security at all of their embassies, the country's foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday after the letter bomb went off at the embassy in Madrid.

Spain's interior minister said it had ordered increased security measures at all embassies and consulates in the country, as well as "other sites that require special protection".

Security had already been boosted in February after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to sending arms to help Ukraine, Spain is training Ukrainian troops as part of a European Union programme and providing humanitarian aid.

Will Speak To Russia's Putin In 'Coming Days': France's Macron

WASHINGTON, Dec 1: French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, expressing hope that negotiations over ending the war in Ukraine were "still possible."

On an official trip to Washington, Macron said he planned to talk with his Russian counterpart "in the coming days."

"I want first to have this state visit and have in-depth discussion with President Biden and our teams together," the French president told ABC's "Good Morning America" show that aired shortly before Macron was welcomed at the White House by President Joe Biden.

Macron has engaged multiple times with Putin, who has become a pariah to the West for launching an invasion of neighbor Ukraine in February that has cost thousands of lives.

"My conviction and my pragmatic approach is to say, I have to engage with the existing leaders and the one in charge of the country," Macron said.

"Because if we do believe in national sovereignty, we can not decide to say that a precondition is regime change to start negotiating."

The French president expressed optimism over Ukraine's progress in resisting Moscow but cautioned that a long and difficult war lay ahead.

"Ukraine is clearly having a very positive counteroffensive, (but) saying they are winning the war is probably too early."

He stressed a "sustainable" peace that ends the conflict could still be hammered out.

"I think it's still possible" to return to negotiations, he told ABC.

As to whether Putin could be a faithful and reliable participant in peace negotiations, Macron suggested the verdict was still out.

"If I had the answer, I would be around the negotiating table with him," he said.

But he made clear he believed "a good peace is not a peace that will be imposed on the Ukrainians by others."