LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

Get all the latest updates on G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting here

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked for ‘contact’ with Foreign Minister Lavrov, during the second session of G20 meet they had ‘contact’, there were no talks or full fledged meeting, the Russian spokesperson Maria Zarkhova said, ANI reported.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that State has two adenovirus and 10 pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome cases. The CM reassured the citizens that there is no need to panic. "We have arranged 5,000 beds. Since children cannot wear masks they need to be kept at home. Take special care of children up to two years." she added, the ANI reported.

Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, Spain and Croatia on Thursday arrived in India to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting being held in New Delhi from March 1-2. Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, and Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman on Thursday arrived in India for the meeting. The Director General of World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also arrived for the foreign minister' meeting on Thursday. "Greetings to FM Qin Gang of China, FM @Menlu_RI of Indonesia @Kemlu_RI, FM @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia @KSAmofaEN and DG @wto @NOIweala on their arrival in India for the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. FMs of Indonesia & Saudi Arabia will also join #Raisina2023," Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted on Thursday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the national capital on Wednesday night primarily to attend a crucial meeting of G20 foreign ministers that is taking place amid a bitter rift between the West and the Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict. Besides attending the G20 meeting on Thursday, Blinken is expected to hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. 

As India ramps up efforts to build consensus on a joint communique at the G20 foreign ministers meeting, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday chose not to "prejudge" any outcome on it but noted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict will clearly be an important point of the deliberations.

9:26 PM

Lufthansa flight diverted after turbulence, 7 people hospitalised

A Lufthansa flight that experienced significant turbulence was diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport and seven people on board were taken to area hospitals, officials said. Flight 469 from Austin, Texas, had been headed to Frankfurt, Germany, but landed safely Wednesday evening at the airport in Virginia, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman Michael Cabbage said. Crews responded to the flight and took seven people to hospitals with injuries that were believed to be minor, Cabbage said, the PTI reported.

 

7:08 PM

PM Modi 'most loved leader around the world', says Italian PM Giorgia Meloni

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday showered fulsome praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as the "most loved leader around the world". She is on a state visit, seeking closer ties in the defence and economic sectors, and is being accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation, the PTI reported.

 

6:39 PM

UN dismisses submissions by Nithyananda's Kailasa at Geneva meetings

The UN human rights office Thursday said any submissions made by representatives of the so-called "United States of Kailasa (USK)", founded by Indian fugitive Nithyananda, at its public meetings in Geneva last week were "irrelevant" and will not be considered in the final outcome drafts, the PTI reported.

 

5:52 PM

Ukraine war 'make-or-break' issue for Global South, says Jaishankar

4:58 PM

Russia-India ties 'privileged strategic partnership', says Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

4:29 PM

Jaishankar meets Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on sidelines of G20 meeting

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held bilateral talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang with a focus on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The discussions took place on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. It is the first meeting between Jaishankar and Qin after the latter became the Chinese foreign minister in December.

"Met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on sidelines of #G20FMM this afternoon. Our discussions were focused on addressing current challenges to the bilateral relationship, especially peace and tranquillity in the border areas," Jaishankar tweeted.

 

2:34 PM

Delhi HC seeks ED stand on plea by Sukesh Chandrashekhar against money laundering charges

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Enforcement Directorate to state its stand on a plea by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar challenging the framing of charges against him under the anti-money laundering law in connection with a 2017 Election Commission bribery case.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma heard the counsel for the petitioner as well as the agency, and said the matter "needs further consideration" while seeking written submissions from the parties.

"Both of you file written submissions. I am not issuing notice (at this stage)," said the judge.

2:21 PM

Fully prepared to contribute to Ukraine peace process: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India was fully prepared to contribute to the peace process to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict.

"From the very beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has made it clear that this dispute can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. India is fully prepared to contribute to any peace process," Modi said after bilateral talks with visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

2:18 PM

Adani-Hindenburg: SC order a 'tight slap' on Modi government, says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party said Thursday the Supreme Court's order for setting up a committee to look into various regulatory aspects of the stock markets, including the recent Adani Group shares crash, is a "tight slap" on the Modi government.

"This has today proved that the Modi government is corrupt and useless," AAP national spokesperson Sanjay Singh said at a press conference.

1:39 PM

G20 must provide direction to world, says EAM Jaishankar

India on Thursday urged the G20 grouping to send a collective message affirming its resolve to address the complex global challenges, including that of food and energy security, amid an increasingly bitter rift between the West and the Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict.

In his remarks at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, without mentioning the Ukraine conflict, said the grouping must find common ground and provide direction to the world though there are some matters of sharp differences.

1:19 PM

Turkish President Erdogan announces govt's plan to hold elections on May 14

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his government plans to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on May 14, as the country is still recovering from two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and neighbouring Syria on February 6.

"The time is coming. This nation will do what is necessary on May 14. No credit will be given to those who empty talk," Erdogan told his party members in Parliament.

The resident had earlier said that the elections were to be held on May 14 in order to avoid the seasonal migrations of voters and the university exams in early summer.

1:07 PM

'Don't threaten the Chief Justice', heated exchanges between CJI, SCBA president

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Thursday told the senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh to not threaten him, during a hearing on the listing of the petition to convert a parcel of land which was allotted to the Supreme Court into chamber blocks for lawyers.

Singh mentioned the matter before a bench headed by CJI and comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and sought hearing on a case relating to an allotment of a parcel of land for lawyers' chambers. Singh said the matter has not been listed for six times. The CJI replied that it will be listed in ordinary course. Singh submitted that then "I have to come to your residence..."

12:44 PM

We will continue to support Ukraine because there is no alternative, says Netherlands Foreign Minister

We will continue to support Ukraine because there is no alternative for Ukraine. Only if Ukraine is successful on battlefield, it will be able to be successful at negotiation table & there is much more other than Ukrainian sovereignty at stake here, says Netherlands Foreign Minister

12:15 PM

Delhi excise policy case: ED makes arrest in money laundering investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested liquor businessman Amandeep Dhal, director of Brindco Sales Pvt Ltd, in connection with its ongoing money laundering investigation into the Delhi excise policy, officials said on Thursday.

Dhal was taken into custody on Wednesday night under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following his questioning, they said.

He is expected to be produced before a local court on Thursday where the ED will seek his custody.

11:22 AM

PM hails procurement of 70 trainer aircraft, three cadet training ships

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Security to approve the procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the IAF will strengthen the ongoing efforts to make the defence sector self-reliant while also benefiting the vibrant MSME sector.

Modi also said that the Cabinet Committee on Security's approval to sign a contract for acquisition of three Cadet Training Ships (CTS) will cater to the training requirements of the Navy and strengthen it further.