India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged foreign ministers from G20 nations to find a common platform on global issues at the opening of a tense summit in New Delhi on Thursday.
India, which assumed the G20 presidency in December, has refused to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has instead called for a diplomatic solution.
It has also increased its purchases of Russian crude oil.
The gathering of foreign ministers is one of the first high-profile meetings at the forum.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Thursday, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart in attendance.
About 40 global delegates, including Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, are participating at New Delhi's special invitation.
Mr Modi called on leaders to not focus on issues that divide countries.
“As the leading economies of the world, we have a responsibility to those who are not in this room,” he said.
“The world looks upon the G20 to ease the challenges of growth, development, economic resilience, financial stability, transnational crime, corruption, terrorism and food and energy security.
“The G20 has capacity to build consensus and deliver concrete results, we should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can. We should not focus on what divides us but what unites us.”
Blinken refuses to meet Lavrov
Mr Blinken demanded that Moscow renew a deal to allow exports of Ukrainian grain.
“Russia has deliberately and systematically slowed its pace of inspections, creating a backlog of ships that could be delivering food to the world today,” he said, according to his prepared remarks.
“It is imperative the G20 speak up on behalf of extending and expanding the grain initiative to strengthen food security for the most vulnerable.”
Mr Blinken said he would refuse to see Mr Lavrov because Moscow was not serious about diplomacy to end the war.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock used the forum to address her Russian counterpart Mr Lavrov and call on him to end the war in Ukraine.
India is trying to convince Moscow and Beijing to go along with a consensus on describing Russia’s war in Ukraine, similar to the one reached last November in Bali, Indonesia.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will preside over two sessions of the summit that will focus on six important issues, including rising food and energy prices, growing debt and poor economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, experts believe the summit will be dominated by Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, which entered its second year last week, with about 300,000 people dead on both sides.
India has taken a neutral stance on the military crisis but as global leaders descend on New Delhi, the host nation is caught in an awkward situation, with the US and its western allies pushing to use the platform to denounce Moscow over the crisis.
India's ties with Russia
India has historic ties with Russia and has refused to explicitly condemn it over the Ukraine invasion amid increased trade and fuel deals with Moscow despite western sanctions against the Kremlin.
New Delhi had come up with a chair’s summary at the finance ministers' meeting last week in the southern city of Bengaluru after Russia and China blocked the passage of a joint statement that sought to condemn Moscow and use the word “war” in reference to the military conflict in the Eastern European nation.
The host nation, has tried to focus on issues such as alleviating poverty and climate finance to avoid any diplomatic crisis with either of the warring sides.
Mr Blinken, who arrived in New Delhi after stopovers in former Soviet states Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, close allies of Moscow, will hold talks with Mr Jaishankar but is not expected to meet Mr Lavrov or Mr Qin.
“I think from our perspective, it’s important that the G20 continue to call out Russia on its war of aggression,” media reports quoted a senior State Department official saying before Mr Blinken’s arrival in New Delhi.
The comments came a day after Russia accused the US and its allies of putting the “world on the brink of a disaster” due to their “destructive policies” and hoped that the G20 will be used to make “balanced consensus decisions” for the interests of all humankind.
“We intend to firmly and openly talk about the reasons and instigators of the current serious problems in world politics and the global economy,” the Russian embassy in New Delhi said late on Tuesday.
The meeting is also being watched to see how tension between Washington and Beijing ― Moscow’s close partner ― play out, including over Ukraine and the shooting down of an alleged Chinese spy balloon by the US last month.
Mr Blinken had cancelled his visit to Beijing and the two rival nations had condemned each other over the episode that triggered new tension.
He will also participate in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier foreign policy event co-organised by the Foreign Ministry and a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting later this week.
China could face consequences if it decides to start shipping weapons to Russia, the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Thursday.
“What is important and what I will convey to each of the colleagues, including my Chinese colleague here, is that, you know, the truth here is not somewhere in the middle,” Mr Hoekstra said.
“There is only one country responsible and that is Russia, and therefore all others should clearly refrain from helping out Russia militarily. That will have consequences if countries cross that line, in my opinion.”
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AL%20BOOM
%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3B%26nbsp%3BDirector%3AAssad%20Al%20Waslati%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%20style%3D%22text-align%3Ajustify%3B%22%3E%0DStarring%3A%20Omar%20Al%20Mulla%2C%20Badr%20Hakami%20and%20Rehab%20Al%20Attar%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20ADtv%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Rebel%20Moon%20-%20Part%20One%3A%20A%20Child%20of%20Fire
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
The%20Woman%20King%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gina%20Prince-Bythewood%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Thuso%20Mbedu%2C%20Sheila%20Atim%2C%20Lashana%20Lynch%2C%20John%20Boyega%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Premier League results
Saturday
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 1
Bournemouth 0 Manchester City 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Huddersfield Town 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 3
Manchester United 3 Southampton 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Cardiff City 0
West Ham United 2 Newcastle United 0
Sunday
Watford 2 Leicester City 1
Fulham 1 Chelsea 2
Everton 0 Liverpool 0
Pieces of Her
Stars: Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, David Wenham, Omari Hardwick
Director: Minkie Spiro
Rating:2/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The years Ramadan fell in May
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Guardians%20of%20the%20Galaxy%20Vol%203
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Gunn%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Pratt%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Dave%20Bautista%2C%20Vin%20Diesel%2C%20Bradley%20Cooper%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Jurassic%20Park
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
