The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India is organising the second edition of the CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave from 22-23 November 2023 at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan, New Delhi. WION's Siddhant Sibbal hosts a special panel discussion with the diplomatic representatives of the Nordic and Baltic nations and gets you an inside view of what's ahead in the second edition of this conclave.

Panel Discussion of the 2nd CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave

On November 17, India hosted the second ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ (VOGSS) in the virtual format. The first summit was held on 12–13 January 2023. Two summits within a year to advance the cause of developing nations and the announcement to convene another summit later to discuss issues relating to Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Global South are clearly indicative of the creation of a new institutional platform for sustaining solidarity in the developing world. This is also an indicator of India asserting its leadership of a large and important grouping. How has Indian diplomacy performed so far in this regard and how it might address this complex phenomenon in the next two years will be watched with widespread interest.

<h2>From Global South to first summit</h2>

International relations experts are quite used to depicting the world as divided into certain camps or categories. The Cold War threw up the polarization between the West and the East, terming the rest of the world as the ‘Non-aligned’. The ‘Third World’ was used in the past to club together all developing countries. The Group of 77 (G77) was a more neutral and acceptable phrase to describe countries on the path of development, which advocated both North-South and South-South cooperation.

The term ‘global South’ was first used by Carl Oglesky, a leftist American author and political activist in 1969, which gathered currency in the later decades. Through his famous 1980 report entitled ‘North-South: A Programme for Survival’, former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt invented the ‘Brandt Line’ that divided the world roughly at the latitude of 30 degrees North, placing North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia in the North and showing the southern part of the hemisphere as the South.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-raised-indias-profile-as-voice-of-global-south-imec-has-potential-finnish-envoy-to-wion-660098">Also read |&nbsp;G20 raised India's profile as voice of Global&nbsp;South, IMEC has potential: Finnish&nbsp;envoy&nbsp;to&nbsp;WION</a>

India, a leading light in both the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77, has always been perceived as an important pillar of the South. In contrast, China was neither a member of NAM nor of G77, though it worked as a partner of the latter, thus terming the grouping as ‘G77 and China’. Conscious of the reduced relevance of NAM in the post-Cold War era and disenchanted with the non-performing G77, India has created a new and innovative pathway suitable for the needs of the 21st century. The opportunity to host the G20 summit was the trigger for India to craft the new platform. It is designed to help the Global South address current geopolitical and economic challenges more effectively. While defining the Global South, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar observed, “Those who are really Global South know they are Global South.”

The first VOGSS was quite a success, once the initial question as to which countries should be invited was resolved neatly. For obvious reasons, China could not be included but this exclusion required a touch of diplomacy. Therefore, no member nations of the G20 were part of the first Global South summit. This meant excluding close partners like Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa too, but India has been in close touch with them through the medium of the G20 Troika.

The simple purpose of the January summit for India was to ascertain key concerns and needs of developing countries that could be taken up and pursued by the G20 President during its tenure from December 2022 to November 2023. The participation of 125 countries in this summit was the validation of India's decision to convene the summit. The inclusive programme and the opportunity for a sizeable number of leaders and ministers to articulate their views received considerable appreciation. The most tangible outcome was that the host obtained rich inputs that later moulded the G20 agenda.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/global-south-needs-a-reality-check-concept-is-the-same-but-the-context-is-not-552302">Also read |&nbsp;Global South needs a reality check: Concept is the same but the context is not</a>

<h2>The second summit</h2>

The second VOGSS was structured in the same pattern as the first summit. It comprised an opening and a closing session attended by the leaders, whereas eight ministerial sessions were held where participants were minister of foreign affairs (two sessions), finance, education, environment, energy, health, and commerce. The specific theme of the inaugural session was ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’, and for the concluding session, it was ‘Global South: Together for One Future.’

The essential purpose of the second summit was twofold: to apprise high-level representatives of the Global South of the deliberations and outcomes of the G20 summit hosted and presided over by India, and to ensure that momentum is sustained, with the support of developing countries, for optimal implementation of the G20 decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that the Global South priorities were fully reflected in the G20 summit outcomes. “Geographically the Global South has always existed, but it is getting a voice for the first time, and this is because of the joint efforts,” he noted adding, “We are more than 100 countries but our priorities are similar.” He was clear that the message from the Global South was that “it wants its autonomy.”

At a special media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra provided details about the issues discussed, the reactions of foreign participants, and the summit’s outcomes. He conveyed that New Delhi was well on its way to implementing various initiatives that PM Modi had announced at the January summit. In particular, Modi inaugurated the Global South Center of Excellence, to be called ‘DAKSHIN’, an acronym for Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative. It will serve as a think tank and a repository of knowledge and development initiatives that promotes greater collaboration among developing nations.

Ministerial sessions, it was disclosed, went into a deep dive on a whole gamut of India's G20 priorities ranging from Sustainable Development Goals, energy transition, climate action finance, digital transformation, debt relief, women-led development, counter-terrorism, and reform of international financial institutions as well as the UN Security Council. The mood in the conference rooms was imbued with an expression of “gratitude to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership here.” Specifically, the admission of the African Union (AU) as a member of G20 was widely lauded by the participants.

<h2>Assessment</h2>

Several observations are in order here. First, the Global South orientation of the G20 summit was fully noted at the VOGSS summit. Perhaps over 50% of the content of the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration (NDLD) is related exclusively to the needs of the Global South. Second, there was recognition that the success in securing a seat for the AU in G20 demonstrated that global groupings can be persuaded to respond to the changing global realities in an inclusive fashion, as Foreign Secretary Kwatra put it. Third, participants seemed clear that resolving global challenges required not confrontation but a mix of cooperation, consultation, and coordination.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/finnish-envoy-speaks-to-wion-on-imec-g20-india-eu-fta-more-660176/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Minister Jaishankar referred to India's conviction that “the success of our G20 Presidency is the success of the Global South.” But this mission will be truly accomplished when the implementation of G20 decisions gets underway and picks up momentum. For this, the Global South nations were urged “to keep our collective voices robust.”

For India, the next challenge, as a leader of the Global South, is to ensure maximum coordination with Brazil and South Africa as the next two presidents of G20. Through close engagement, deft diplomacy, and while respecting the sensitivities of its G20 successors, India can continue serving the cause of the Global South constructively.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

&nbsp;

On November 17, India hosted the second ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ (VOGSS) in the virtual format. The first summit was held on 12–13 January 2023. Two summits within a year to advance the cause of developing nations and the announcement to convene another summit later to discuss issues relating to Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Global South are clearly indicative of the creation of a new institutional platform for sustaining solidarity in the developing world.

On November 17, India hosted the second ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ (VOGSS) in the virtual format. The first summit was held on 12–13 January 2023. Two summits within a year to advance the cause of developing nations and the announcement to convene another summit later to discuss issues relating to Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the Global South are clearly indicative of the creation of a new institutional platform for sustaining solidarity in the developing world. This is also an indicator of India asserting its leadership of a large and important grouping. How has Indian diplomacy performed so far in this regard and how it might address this complex phenomenon in the next two years will be watched with widespread interest. From Global South to first summit International relations experts are quite used to depicting the world as divided into certain camps or categories. The Cold War threw up the polarization between the West and the East, terming the rest of the world as the ‘Non-aligned’. The ‘Third World’ was used in the past to club together all developing countries. The Group of 77 (G77) was a more neutral and acceptable phrase to describe countries on the path of development, which advocated both North-South and South-South cooperation. The term ‘global South’ was first used by Carl Oglesky, a leftist American author and political activist in 1969, which gathered currency in the later decades. Through his famous 1980 report entitled ‘North-South: A Programme for Survival’, former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt invented the ‘Brandt Line’ that divided the world roughly at the latitude of 30 degrees North, placing North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia in the North and showing the southern part of the hemisphere as the South. Also read | G20 raised India's profile as voice of Global South, IMEC has potential: Finnish envoy to WION India, a leading light in both the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77, has always been perceived as an important pillar of the South. In contrast, China was neither a member of NAM nor of G77, though it worked as a partner of the latter, thus terming the grouping as ‘G77 and China’. Conscious of the reduced relevance of NAM in the post-Cold War era and disenchanted with the non-performing G77, India has created a new and innovative pathway suitable for the needs of the 21st century. The opportunity to host the G20 summit was the trigger for India to craft the new platform. It is designed to help the Global South address current geopolitical and economic challenges more effectively. While defining the Global South, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar observed, “Those who are really Global South know they are Global South.” The first VOGSS was quite a success, once the initial question as to which countries should be invited was resolved neatly. For obvious reasons, China could not be included but this exclusion required a touch of diplomacy. Therefore, no member nations of the G20 were part of the first Global South summit. This meant excluding close partners like Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa too, but India has been in close touch with them through the medium of the G20 Troika. The simple purpose of the January summit for India was to ascertain key concerns and needs of developing countries that could be taken up and pursued by the G20 President during its tenure from December 2022 to November 2023. The participation of 125 countries in this summit was the validation of India's decision to convene the summit. The inclusive programme and the opportunity for a sizeable number of leaders and ministers to articulate their views received considerable appreciation. The most tangible outcome was that the host obtained rich inputs that later moulded the G20 agenda. Also read | Global South needs a reality check: Concept is the same but the context is not The second summit The second VOGSS was structured in the same pattern as the first summit. It comprised an opening and a closing session attended by the leaders, whereas eight ministerial sessions were held where participants were minister of foreign affairs (two sessions), finance, education, environment, energy, health, and commerce. The specific theme of the inaugural session was ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’, and for the concluding session, it was ‘Global South: Together for One Future.’ The essential purpose of the second summit was twofold: to apprise high-level representatives of the Global South of the deliberations and outcomes of the G20 summit hosted and presided over by India, and to ensure that momentum is sustained, with the support of developing countries, for optimal implementation of the G20 decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined that the Global South priorities were fully reflected in the G20 summit outcomes. “Geographically the Global South has always existed, but it is getting a voice for the first time, and this is because of the joint efforts,” he noted adding, “We are more than 100 countries but our priorities are similar.” He was clear that the message from the Global South was that “it wants its autonomy.” At a special media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra provided details about the issues discussed, the reactions of foreign participants, and the summit’s outcomes. He conveyed that New Delhi was well on its way to implementing various initiatives that PM Modi had announced at the January summit. In particular, Modi inaugurated the Global South Center of Excellence, to be called ‘DAKSHIN’, an acronym for Development and Knowledge Sharing Initiative. It will serve as a think tank and a repository of knowledge and development initiatives that promotes greater collaboration among developing nations. Ministerial sessions, it was disclosed, went into a deep dive on a whole gamut of India's G20 priorities ranging from Sustainable Development Goals, energy transition, climate action finance, digital transformation, debt relief, women-led development, counter-terrorism, and reform of international financial institutions as well as the UN Security Council. The mood in the conference rooms was imbued with an expression of “gratitude to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership here.” Specifically, the admission of the African Union (AU) as a member of G20 was widely lauded by the participants. Assessment Several observations are in order here. First, the Global South orientation of the G20 summit was fully noted at the VOGSS summit. Perhaps over 50% of the content of the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration (NDLD) is related exclusively to the needs of the Global South. Second, there was recognition that the success in securing a seat for the AU in G20 demonstrated that global groupings can be persuaded to respond to the changing global realities in an inclusive fashion, as Foreign Secretary Kwatra put it. Third, participants seemed clear that resolving global challenges required not confrontation but a mix of cooperation, consultation, and coordination. Minister Jaishankar referred to India's conviction that “the success of our G20 Presidency is the success of the Global South.” But this mission will be truly accomplished when the implementation of G20 decisions gets underway and picks up momentum. For this, the Global South nations were urged “to keep our collective voices robust.” For India, the next challenge, as a leader of the Global South, is to ensure maximum coordination with Brazil and South Africa as the next two presidents of G20. Through close engagement, deft diplomacy, and while respecting the sensitivities of its G20 successors, India can continue serving the cause of the Global South constructively. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Second Global South Summit: A holistic assessment

It's a big day in Indian cricket even if it has seen many good days over the last decade. The wait for a global title has been long on Sunday Rohit Sharma and his team have the chance to add more Sheen to an unprecedented campaign when they take on record five-time world champions Australia in the World Cup final.

ODI WC Final: Australia enter the final on the back of eight straight wins

ODI WC final: Fans react to the upcoming India vs Australia match

Indian fans are desperate for the team to win a third ODI World Cup trophy and our sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo caught up with some of them outside the Narendra Modi Stadium take a listen.

ODI WC: India face Australia in the World Cup final today at Ahmedabad

Even as the new Maldives government has called for the "withdrawal" of Indian military personnel from the country, both New Delhi and Malé have agreed to "discuss workable solutions" on the presence of Indian military assets as they "serve the interests of the people of Maldives", sources have said.

The development comes after a meeting between Indian minister Kiren Rijiju and the new Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in the capital Male on Saturday (Nov 18). The Indian earth sciences minister, a legislator from Arunachal Pradesh, was in the Indian Ocean Island country to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony of the new President on Friday (Nov 17).

A readout from the Maldives government on the meeting said, "While discussing the matter with Minister Kiren Rijiju, President Dr Muizzu also acknowledged the significant role of the two helicopters in providing numerous emergency medical evacuations."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maldives-president-muizzu-formally-asks-india-to-withdraw-troops-660178">Maldives President Muizzu formally asks India to withdraw troops</a>

He appreciated their role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking. Indian military assets like helicopters and Dornier aircraft gifted to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) are seen as central to medical evacuation, to monitor and combat drug trafficking in the country. They have also contributed significantly in areas like humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and combating illegal maritime activities in Maldives.

Over the past five years, Indian personnel have executed more than 500 medical evacuations, saving 523 Maldivian lives. This year alone witnessed 131 evacuations, with 140 and 109 evacuations conducted in the preceding two years.

Moreover, more than 450 multifaceted missions have been carried out to safeguard the maritime security of the Maldives, with 122 missions in the last year, and 152 and 124 missions undertaken in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179">At least 50 killed in Israeli airstrikes on al-Fakhoora school in Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp</a>

Incidentally, earlier on Saturday (Nov 18), Indian Coast Guard on deputation in Maldives, along with MNDF Central Area Command were involved in a medical evacuation of a 36-year-old female in critical condition from Th. Atoll Hospital to the Male City on an India-gifted MNDF Dornier Aircraft.

During the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested the Government of India to "withdraw" its "military personnel" from the Maldives.

According to the official readout, President Muizzu reiterated the democratic mandate he received in the September Presidential Election, stating, "The Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to make the request to India, and [he] expressed the hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives."

President Muizzu had made this his key election issue, even as his supporters have been seen behind the "India Out campaign" which the previous government had strongly come out against.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-clashes-in-myanmar-displaces-26000-people-659986">UN: Clashes in Myanmar displaces 26,000 people</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-clashes-in-myanmar-displaces-26000-people-659986/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Indian military personnel are stationed in the Maldives to operate military platforms. However, it is crucial to note that these platforms are under the complete command and control of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), something pointed by the previous Maldives government.&nbsp;

Important to note, that during the oath-taking ceremony of the previous Maldives President in 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was himself present.

The current President Muizzu is seen as supportive of China. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi's special envoy, Shen Yiqin, who came to the country to attend the oath-taking ceremony, he told her that his tenure "marks a new chapter in the shared historic friendship between the two countries"

Even as the new Maldives government has called for the "withdrawal" of Indian military personnel from the country, both New Delhi and Malé have agreed to "discuss workable solutions" on the presence of Indian military assets as they "serve the interests of the people of Maldives", sources have said.

Even as the new Maldives government has called for the "withdrawal" of Indian military personnel from the country, both New Delhi and Malé have agreed to "discuss workable solutions" on the presence of Indian military assets as they "serve the interests of the people of Maldives", sources have said. The development comes after a meeting between Indian minister Kiren Rijiju and the new Maldives President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in the capital Male on Saturday (Nov 18). The Indian earth sciences minister, a legislator from Arunachal Pradesh, was in the Indian Ocean Island country to represent India at the oath-taking ceremony of the new President on Friday (Nov 17). A readout from the Maldives government on the meeting said, "While discussing the matter with Minister Kiren Rijiju, President Dr Muizzu also acknowledged the significant role of the two helicopters in providing numerous emergency medical evacuations." Also Read | Maldives President Muizzu formally asks India to withdraw troops He appreciated their role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking. Indian military assets like helicopters and Dornier aircraft gifted to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) are seen as central to medical evacuation, to monitor and combat drug trafficking in the country. They have also contributed significantly in areas like humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and combating illegal maritime activities in Maldives. Over the past five years, Indian personnel have executed more than 500 medical evacuations, saving 523 Maldivian lives. This year alone witnessed 131 evacuations, with 140 and 109 evacuations conducted in the preceding two years. Moreover, more than 450 multifaceted missions have been carried out to safeguard the maritime security of the Maldives, with 122 missions in the last year, and 152 and 124 missions undertaken in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Also Read | At least 50 killed in Israeli airstrikes on al-Fakhoora school in Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp Incidentally, earlier on Saturday (Nov 18), Indian Coast Guard on deputation in Maldives, along with MNDF Central Area Command were involved in a medical evacuation of a 36-year-old female in critical condition from Th. Atoll Hospital to the Male City on an India-gifted MNDF Dornier Aircraft. During the meeting, President Muizzu had formally requested the Government of India to "withdraw" its "military personnel" from the Maldives. According to the official readout, President Muizzu reiterated the democratic mandate he received in the September Presidential Election, stating, "The Maldivian people had given him a strong mandate to make the request to India, and [he] expressed the hope that India will honour the democratic will of the people of the Maldives." President Muizzu had made this his key election issue, even as his supporters have been seen behind the "India Out campaign" which the previous government had strongly come out against. Watch | UN: Clashes in Myanmar displaces 26,000 people × Indian military personnel are stationed in the Maldives to operate military platforms. However, it is crucial to note that these platforms are under the complete command and control of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), something pointed by the previous Maldives government. Important to note, that during the oath-taking ceremony of the previous Maldives President in 2018, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was himself present. The current President Muizzu is seen as supportive of China. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi's special envoy, Shen Yiqin, who came to the country to attend the oath-taking ceremony, he told her that his tenure "marks a new chapter in the shared historic friendship between the two countries"

India, Maldives to discuss 'solutions' for Indian military assets presence

ODI WC Final: India vs Australia

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday (Nov 18) formally requested India to withdraw troops from his country, fulfilling an election pledge on his first day in office.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday (Nov 18) formally requested India to withdraw troops from his country, fulfilling an election pledge on his first day in office. In a meeting with India's Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju, President Muizzu asked New Delhi to recall its military personnel to operate three gifted aircraft patrolling the maritime territory. "The President formally made the request when he met the Minister of Earth Sciences of India Kiren Rijiju, at the President’s Office earlier today," a statement from Muizzu's office said. The statement did not mention the timeline or the number of personnel to be withdrawn. Privileged to call on President H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Conveyed greetings from Hon’ble PM @NarendraModi and reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthen the substantive bilateral cooperation and robust people-to-people ties. pic.twitter.com/nFa95QD9ES — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 18, 2023 × Rijiju, who attended Muizzu's inaugural ceremony on Friday, said in a post on X, "Privileged to call on President H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. Conveyed greetings from Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to further strengthen the substantive bilateral cooperation and robust people-to-people ties." Muizzu acknowledges contribution of Indian troops According to sources, Muizzu (during his meeting with Rijiju) acknowledged the contribution of Indian military helicopters and aircraft for the medical evacuation of Maldivian citizens and appreciated their role in monitoring and combating drug trafficking. The sources added that Male and New Delhi would discuss workable solutions for continued cooperation through the use of these platforms as this serves the interests of the people of Maldives. Muizzu has said repeatedly that his country will not have the presence of military personnel of another country. "When it comes to our security, I will draw a red line. The Maldives will respect the red lines of other countries too," the president said on Saturday. Earlier this week, Muizzu told the news agency AFP that his intention was not to upend the regional balance by replacing the Indian military with Chinese troops. In October, he said that he would work to return Indian military personnel "as soon as possible", but also emphasised his commitment to stronger investment ties with both India and China to foster growth. (With inputs from agencies)

Maldives President Muizzu formally asks India to withdraw troops

ODI WC final: 'Unfinished business' for India

Two-times champion India will play against Australia in ODI WC final

ODI World Cup final will be held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad

In a big boost to India's ambitions to be a tech manufacturing hub, the Narendra Modi government has allowed 27 companies to manufacture tech hardware in the country. This decision, taken under a 2 billion dollar incentive scheme, will help companies like Dell, HP and Foxconn.

Government allows 27 companies to manufacture hardware in India

In India, the high court has ruled a law providing 75% reservation in private sector jobs enacted by the state of Haryana as unconstitutional. The court passed the verdict in response to petitions filed by several industrial bodies in the state. The detailed judgment has not yet been released.

Haryana High Court rules the quota law 'unconstitutional'

Tightening the reins on personal loans and credit cards, India’s central banks’ stricter rules are poised to reshape borrowing costs and challenge lenders. Concerns over the rapid growth in these segments led the RBI to instruct banks to set aside more capital. This decision follows repeated warnings from RBI governor Shaktikanta Das about the escalating risks associated with certain personal loans.

India’s central bank tightens rules on personal loans & credit cards

The air quality remains very poor at 405 in India's capital Delhi. This is according to the forecasting body under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. In many parts of Delhi NCR, the AQI which had decreased because of the rain has now spiked to dangerous levels after Diwali.

Delhi AQI: Schools likely to remain closed beyond November 18

Did you know the gown Sushmita Sen wore for Miss India pageant wasn't a designer piece, but sewn by a Delhi tailor? Find out more such rare facts about Aarya3 actor.

Know your star: Sushmita Sen

The 2023 Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia is just a day away. The two Rivals are all set to lock horns at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad. Sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo is at the venue and he spoke to WION's Esha Hanspal about the preparations for the big clash.

ODI WC final match between India and Australia will take place on Sunday

After Katrina Kaif and Rashmika Mandanna, a deepfake of actor Kajol has also surfaced on social media. Let's take a look at how deepfakes have taken over showbiz.

Indian Celebs vs Deepfakes

In another stepping stone for the Indian Space Research Organisation, it will now be collaborating with its US counterpart NASA to map the world every 12 days in the first-ever satellite developed by the two in collaboration named NISAR.

ISRO to launch NISAR in 2024

It's a race against time in India's Northern State of Uttarakhand where a rescue mission is underway that has been suspended for a while. Efforts have intensified to save 40 workers trapped deep inside a collapsed Highway tunnel for seven long days.

Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Drilling machine brought in from New Delhi to speed up rescue

Finland's Ambassador to India&nbsp;Kimmo Lähdevirta told WION that G20 under India's presidency has raised India's profile as the voice of the Global&nbsp;South. The envoy also exuded confidence in the potential that the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) holds. In a conversation with WION's Heena Sharma, the envoy also spoke at length about the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, Finland's bilateral cooperation with India, the IMEC project, and, the unique framework called DESI (Digitalisation, Education, Sustainability and Innovation partnership).&nbsp;

Here's the full interview:&nbsp;

WION: India and Finland have traditionally historical ties. Next year in 2024, the countries will be completing 75 years of diplomatic relations. How do you look at it?&nbsp;

Finland's Ambassador: It's indeed an important milestone and I think we, as you said, have been enjoying a very good relationship. In the last few years it has become wider and deeper in many respects that we have, For example, we have partnerships in digitalisation, sustainability, regarding innovations, startups, and all kinds of things like that. Especially in the field of digitalization, Finland has a lot to offer to India because we have very advanced companies such as Nokia, who are developing solutions. Also here in India for 6G... already applying 5G here in India. We also have new interests in new areas such as quantum computing and atmospheric sciences, AI. To put things in order and make it more understandable we have also developed a new concept. We call it DESI. Coming from Digitalisation, Education, Environment, Sustainability, and Innovation. With this concept, we are trying to make the portfolio more visible and more understandable what we are doing together. Next week, we will have a visit of the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Mr. Tavio, attending the 2nd CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave. He will also have bilateral meetings, and also, will then launch DESI, here in India. It was launched in Finland this September.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-countries-request-for-war-crimes-investigation-in-palestinian-territories-660085">Five countries request for war crimes investigation in Palestinian territories</a>

WION: How do you look at India, as a collective voice for Global South and African countries?&nbsp;

Finland's Ambassador: India succeeded very well in hosting the G20, including the summit. It was really a worthwhile effort and also raised India's profile as a spokesperson for the Global South. I would congratulate India. Also, of course the membership of AU, which was also supported by the European Union, is an important indicator of the relevance of the African countries. I think that will also shape the agenda in the years to come.

WION: India and EU are vying to take forward the FTA negotiations. What is the current status and if agreed upon how it will benefit India and Finland?&nbsp;

Finland's Ambassador: India and EU are strategic partners and we have many areas of cooperation and many mutual interests so starting from that point of view I think it is very important that we would also have an FTA, an Investment protection agreement, and an agreement on geographical indications. So all these free agreements would be important for mutual benefits. I think always, the negotiations for agreements need to reach a compromise that is really mutually beneficial. So that is the starting point. I think the EU wants to have ambitious agreements that would go beyond the existing multinational rules and for example our commitments at the WTO. So modern agreements will then be on important areas like market access government procurement and also digital trade.

We certainly had hoped that the negotiations could have been completed or could be completed by the end of this year. But as time goes by, it becomes more and more difficult to reach that goal. And there are still negotiations coming up in December I think. But if a breakthrough is not achieved, let's say by early next year, then I think the elections both in India and the EU will cause a delay in the negotiation process.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colorado-judge-rules-trump-can-stay-on-presidential-primary-ballot-despite-capitol-attack-incitement-660063">Colorado Judge rules Trump can stay on Presidential primary ballot despite Capitol attack incitement</a>

WION:&nbsp;The Israel war going on in the West Asian region has raised concerns about the viability of the IMEC project. How do you see it?&nbsp;

Finland's Ambassador: The project is a long-term project and it certainly has good logic behind it. So, I am still confident that the project has a lot of promise. But obviously, there has to be a resolution to the present conflict in the Middle East to enable the project to go forward. But in the long term, I am still very confident that it will have good potential.

Finland's Ambassador to India Kimmo Lähdevirta told WION that G20 under India's presidency has raised India's profile as the voice of the Global South. The envoy also exuded confidence in the potential that the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) holds.

Finland's Ambassador to India Kimmo Lähdevirta told WION that G20 under India's presidency has raised India's profile as the voice of the Global South. The envoy also exuded confidence in the potential that the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) holds. In a conversation with WION's Heena Sharma, the envoy also spoke at length about the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, Finland's bilateral cooperation with India, the IMEC project, and, the unique framework called DESI (Digitalisation, Education, Sustainability and Innovation partnership). Here's the full interview: WION: India and Finland have traditionally historical ties. Next year in 2024, the countries will be completing 75 years of diplomatic relations. How do you look at it? Finland's Ambassador: It's indeed an important milestone and I think we, as you said, have been enjoying a very good relationship. In the last few years it has become wider and deeper in many respects that we have, For example, we have partnerships in digitalisation, sustainability, regarding innovations, startups, and all kinds of things like that. Especially in the field of digitalization, Finland has a lot to offer to India because we have very advanced companies such as Nokia, who are developing solutions. Also here in India for 6G... already applying 5G here in India. We also have new interests in new areas such as quantum computing and atmospheric sciences, AI. To put things in order and make it more understandable we have also developed a new concept. We call it DESI. Coming from Digitalisation, Education, Environment, Sustainability, and Innovation. With this concept, we are trying to make the portfolio more visible and more understandable what we are doing together. Next week, we will have a visit of the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Mr. Tavio, attending the 2nd CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave. He will also have bilateral meetings, and also, will then launch DESI, here in India. It was launched in Finland this September. Also Read | Five countries request for war crimes investigation in Palestinian territories WION: How do you look at India, as a collective voice for Global South and African countries? Finland's Ambassador: India succeeded very well in hosting the G20, including the summit. It was really a worthwhile effort and also raised India's profile as a spokesperson for the Global South. I would congratulate India. Also, of course the membership of AU, which was also supported by the European Union, is an important indicator of the relevance of the African countries. I think that will also shape the agenda in the years to come. WION: India and EU are vying to take forward the FTA negotiations. What is the current status and if agreed upon how it will benefit India and Finland? Finland's Ambassador: India and EU are strategic partners and we have many areas of cooperation and many mutual interests so starting from that point of view I think it is very important that we would also have an FTA, an Investment protection agreement, and an agreement on geographical indications. So all these free agreements would be important for mutual benefits. I think always, the negotiations for agreements need to reach a compromise that is really mutually beneficial. So that is the starting point. I think the EU wants to have ambitious agreements that would go beyond the existing multinational rules and for example our commitments at the WTO. So modern agreements will then be on important areas like market access government procurement and also digital trade. We certainly had hoped that the negotiations could have been completed or could be completed by the end of this year. But as time goes by, it becomes more and more difficult to reach that goal. And there are still negotiations coming up in December I think. But if a breakthrough is not achieved, let's say by early next year, then I think the elections both in India and the EU will cause a delay in the negotiation process. Also Read | Colorado Judge rules Trump can stay on Presidential primary ballot despite Capitol attack incitement WION: The Israel war going on in the West Asian region has raised concerns about the viability of the IMEC project. How do you see it? Finland's Ambassador: The project is a long-term project and it certainly has good logic behind it. So, I am still confident that the project has a lot of promise. But obviously, there has to be a resolution to the present conflict in the Middle East to enable the project to go forward. But in the long term, I am still very confident that it will have good potential.

G20 raised India's profile as voice of Global South, IMEC has potential: Finnish envoy to WION

37 of the 40 most polluted cities are in South Asia. PM2.5 levels in Delhi, Kathmandu, Lahore, and Dhaka are up to 20 times higher than levels the WHO calls 'healthy'. What are the reasons for this, and what are the solutions? Experts track it down to a spurt in economic activity and industrialization that is tripping over itself. The World Bank has called for a coordinated approach among South Asian nations to defeat the malaise and the very real threat it poses.

South Asia's air pollution woes

Australian cricket legend Michael Bevan is a two-time World Cup winner and he knows a thing or two about delivering in big games. Bevan is in India for the Legends Premier League and WION's Senior correspondent Sidharth MP caught up with him in Chennai to look ahead to the World Cup final between India and Australia on Sunday.

Two-time World Cup winner Michael Bevan picks India as favourites

india

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news