In a dynamic world where information is abundant, understanding India’s global representation is essential. This edition of “India in Global Media,” spanning to April 14 – April 20, offers an in-depth exploration of India’s portrayal through the lenses of international news outlets. Delve into this weekly compilation as we navigate the narratives that frame India’s image on the world stage.
Reuters – Indian food regulator begins enquiry into Nestle over alleged sugar use in baby foods, ET reports
- The Indian food regulator has started an enquiry into Nestle India (NEST.NS), opens new tab over the alleged use of sugar in baby food products in low-income countries, including India, by its Swiss parent, the Economic Times (ET) reported, opens new tab on Thursday.
- A Swiss investigative organisation, Public Eye, on Wednesday, released a report, opens new tab saying that Nestle (NESN.S), opens new tab, the world’s biggest packaged food company, adds sugar to its baby food products sold in low-income countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia, but not in its main markets in Europe or the UK.
- The report showed that in India, opens new tab, all of the 15 products under Nestle’s Cerelac brand — made for infants aged six months and older — contained nearly three grams of added sugar per serving, on an average. However, it added that the added sugar content was declared on the packaging of the products.
- Responding to the allegations, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) affirmed its commitment to investigating the issue thoroughly, the ET report said.
- If Nestle is found to be at fault, the regulatory body has vowed to take stringent action against the brand, the ET report added.
For detailed report click on : https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-food-regulator-begins-enquiry-into-nestle-over-alleged-sugar-use-baby-2024-04-18/
CNN – India heads to the polls in world’s biggest election
- Polls opened Friday for the first and largest phase of India’s marathon general election, kicking off a vote in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking to win a rare third consecutive term.
- About 969 million people are eligible to vote in the biggest election in human history, with polling taking place in seven phases over the next six weeks in the world’s most populous country.
- The nationwide vote is considered among the most consequential in decades as Modi’s powerful right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims for an outright majority and a mandate to widen its development and Hindu-nationalist policies established during its 10-year rule.
- Those policies have transformed India economically and culturally.
- Modi’s popularity is unparalleled for a two-term incumbent and his rallies have consistently drawn tens of thousands of supporters.
For detailed report click on : https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/18/india/india-general-election-polls-open-intl-hnk/index.html
New York Times – Modi’s Power Keeps Growing, and India Looks Sure to Give Him More
- Few doubt the popular prime minister will win a third term in voting that starts Friday. His strong hand is just what many Indians seem to want. As he campaigns across India for an election that begins on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks of his insatiable ambitions in terms of dinner-table appetite.
- Roofs over heads, water connections, cooking gas cylinders — Mr. Modi reads down the menu of what he calls the abundant “development” he has provided to India’s poor. But he’s not stopping there. “What Modi has done so far is just the appetizer,” he said at one stop, referring to himself in the third person, as he often does. “The main course is yet to come.”
- To Mr. Modi’s legions of supporters, a third term would bring more of what they find so appealing in him. He is that rare breed of strongman who keeps an ear to the ground. He is a magnetic figure and a powerful orator. He has built an image as a tireless, incorruptible worker for a country on the rise.
- Another seeming incongruity: People who speak of their own economic strife also often express faith in Mr. Modi’s running of the country’s affairs, a testament to the forceful narratives he weaves.
- Indians have more tangible reasons to back him, too. Mr. Modi relentlessly tends his broad support base through generous offerings across society: favorable deals for the business elite in a growing economy, robust welfare programs for India’s impoverished majority, and a strong dose of Hindu nationalism for those in between.
For detailed report click on : https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/world/asia/modi-india-election.html
Khaleej Times – UAE: Indian Embassy urges Dubai-bound travellers to reschedule non-essential trips
- Indian Embassy, Abu Dhabi, has issued an advisory for passengers travelling to or transiting through Dubai International Airport, which temporarily limited the number of inbound flights till 4 am on Friday.
- “Due to disruption caused by unprecedented weather conditions in the UAE earlier this week, Dubai International Airport has temporarily limited the number of inbound flights,” the advisory issued by the embassy said.
- Urging Indian passengers to reschedule non-essential travel, the embassy noted: “Inbound Indian passengers travelling to or transiting through Dubai International Airport are advised to reschedule non-essential travel till operations normalise.”
- To assist Indian nationals at the Dubai airport, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has operationalised emergency helpline numbers, which have been functional since Wednesday. The 24×7 helpline numbers are: +971501205172, +971569950590, +971507347676, and +971585754213.
For detailed report click on : https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-indian-embassy-urges-dubai-bound-travellers-to-reschedule-non-essential-trips
BBC – India’s ancient tradition that aligns mind, body and spirit – and where to experience it
- Ayurveda originated in India more than 3,000 years ago, and the southern state of Kerala is at the heart of this ancient medicine system’s renaissance.
- Derived from the Sanskrit words “ayur” (life) and “veda” (science or knowledge), Ayurveda translates to “knowledge of life” and originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. It is based on the ideology that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, spirit and environment, and places great emphasis on preventive strategies rather than curative ones.
- The ancient system of medicine is centred on the idea of universal interconnectedness between prakriti (the body’s constitution) and doshas (life forces). Varied combinations of the five elements — aakash (sky), jal (water), prithvi (earth), agni (fire) and vayu (air) – create the three doshas.
For detailed report click on : https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240417-ayurveda-indias-ancient-tradition-that-aligns-mind-body-and-spirit
Reuters – Indian crew member from MSC Aries seized by Iran returns home
- An Indian woman who was a crew member on the MSC Aries container vessel seized by Iran on April 13 has returned to the country, India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
- The ministry said that its mission in Tehran is in touch with 16 other Indian crew members still aboard the vessel which was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz.
- “The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India,” the ministry said in a statement.
- The vessel was seized days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1.
- Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian this week seeking the release of the Indian crew members.
For detailed report click on : https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indian-crew-member-msc-aries-seized-by-iran-returns-home-2024-04-18/
CNN – Can India become an economic superpower? Here’s what the data says
- Indians have started casting their votes in an election that’s expected to hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi another five years in office to steer the country’s rapid economic expansion.
- Under his leadership, India is poised to become a 21st-century economic powerhouse, offering a real alternative to China for investors and consumer brands hunting for growth and manufacturers looking to reduce risks in their supply chains.
- While ties between Beijing and the West are becoming increasingly frayed, India enjoys healthy relations with most major economies and is aggressively wooing large companies to set up factories in the country.
For detailed report click on : https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/16/economy/india-election-modi-economic-performance-intl-hnk-dg/index.html
Gulf News – India’s election officials climb hills, ford rivers to reach voters
- India was preparing on Thursday for the world’s largest general election, as polling officers clambered up hills, travelled deep into areas riven by violent insurgencies and crossed rivers to reach millions of voters across the sprawling nation.
- The first vote in the seven-phase election will be cast on Friday, with results set for June 4, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks set to win a historic third term in the face of a straggling opposition challenge.
For detailed report click on : https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/indias-election-officials-climb-hills-ford-rivers-to-reach-voters-1.102225971
Reuters – Russia squeezes Mideast, OPEC shares in India’s oil market to historic lows
- Russia became the top oil supplier to India during the fiscal year 2023/24 for a second year in a row, squeezing the market share of Middle Eastern and OPEC producers to historic lows, ship tracking data from industry sources showed.
- New Delhi has been gorging on Russian oil sold at a discount after Western nations shunned purchases and imposed sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. As a result Russia is now the top supplier to the world’s third-largest oil importer.
For detailed report click on: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/russia-squeezes-mideast-opec-shares-indias-oil-market-historic-lows-2024-04-19/
(The Report is curated by Dr Vinay Nalwa)
