New Dehli (The Hawk): Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav met&nbsp;&nbsp;H.E. Mr Francesco La Camera Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) here today. The dignitaries&nbsp;IRENA's can contribution in G-20 during India’s Presidency, and deliberated on other issues of mutual interest including strengthening engagement between IRENA and India.Given IRENA’s huge global experiences on Renewable Energy, especially on Solar Energy, the&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;stated that IRENA can play a very vital role in India’s efforts towards attainment of enhanced climate goals announced by our Hon’ble Prime Minister at COP 26.Shri Yadav emphasised that India’s Presidency of G-20 is a golden opportunity for both India and IRENA on how Renewable Energy can accelerate Industry Transition of hard to abate sectors, but without compromising the development aspirations of the&nbsp;developing&nbsp;countries and leaving no one behind.The Union Environment Minister underlined that we may also look beyond G-20 and the existing arrangements while strengthening engagement between IRENA and India.&nbsp;&nbsp;IRENA may also explore how it can also be part of CDRI and LeadIT, which are spearheaded by India.Both sides also discussed the importance of providing means of implementation including finance, technology transfer and capacity building support for achieving enhanced climate goals by the developing countries like India.&nbsp;

 Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav met  H.E. Mr Francesco La Camera Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) here today. The dignitaries IRENA's can contribution in G-20 during India’s Presidency, and deliberated on other issues of mutual interest including strengthening engagement between IRENA and India.

India’s Presidency of G-20 a golden opportunity for both India (and) & IRENA on how RE can accelerate industry transition of hard to abate sectors 

India’s Presidency of G-20 a golden opportunity for both India & IRENA on how RE can accelerate industry transition of hard to abate sectors 

Colombo: Sri Lankan protesters have vowed to continue their struggle for a complete change of the system by abolishing the presidency, as the popular uprising that ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president marked the 100th day on Sunday.The anti-government protest began on April 9 near the presidential office and has been continuing without a break.We will continue our fight till we achieve our goal for a complete change of the system," Father Jeewantha Peiris, a leading activist of the movement, said.This is a freedom struggle. We managed to send home an authoritarian President through people's power," Peiris said.Rajapaksa, 73, who fled to the Maldives on Wednesday and then landed in Singapore on Thursday, formally resigned on Friday, capping off a chaotic 72 hours in the crisis-hit nation that saw protesters storm many iconic buildings, including the President and the Prime Minister's residences here.Acting president Wickremesinghe appears to be their next target for the protesters and the campaign to oust him has already begun.On July 5, we issued an action plan. Foremost of that was removing Gotabaya and defeating Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Rajapaksa regime," he said.We press for the abolition of the presidency to make it a true realisation of our action plan," he said. We do not fear the government," the protesters chanted in chorus.After occupying the three most important administrative buildings in the capital, the protesters vacated three of them other than the presidential office. The protest had seen violence since it began mid-April.Some elements with extremist political agendas have been blamed for arson attacks on the personal properties of Sri Lankan leaders.Wickremesinghe's private house suffered an arson attack the same day when Rajapaksa fled the country.He is one of the four candidates who seek to succeed Rajapaksa in the vote in Parliament scheduled for July 20.Wickremesinghe, who is also the prime minister, on Friday pledged to maintain law and order after he was sworn in as Sri Lanka's interim president. He said that the armed forces have been given the powers and the freedom to deal with any acts of violence and sabotage. "I am one hundred per cent supportive of peaceful demonstrations. There is a difference between rioters and protesters," he had said. Wickremesinghe said the true protesters would not resort to unleashing violence. —PTI

Sri Lankan protesters have vowed to continue their struggle for a complete change of the system by abolishing the presidency, as the popular uprising that ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president marked the 100th day on Sunday.

Sri Lankan Protesters Vow To Continue Their Struggle For Complete System Change

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on Monday emphasised the importance of demand-side perspectives in the transition to clean energy of crucial sectors and the need for inclusive global clean energy transition mechanisms that go beyond the context of coal. India is set to assume the G20 presidency this year.
TERI listed agriculture, micro, small, and medium-sized companies (MSMEs), and transportation as the key sectors.
Energy transitions, which are essential to attaining sustainable development and climate goals, have recently been predominately focused on "just transitions" in the coal industry, with a strong emphasis on energy supply and mitigation components.
Since COP26, just transitions have gained steam in the conversation about climate change and will also be a top goal for the COP27 Presidency.
"Inclusive Energy Transitions: Messages for the G20 Forum," a policy brief Analysis of the three energy and carbon-intensive sectors of agriculture, MSMEs, and transport in G20 nations, produced by TERI as part of its Act4Earth SDG Charter initiative, highlights the need for the G20 forum to support consensus building and spur the push for normative shifts to bring more attention to the energy demand aspects of the three sectors.
It also draws attention to the lack of gender inclusion policies in the G20 nations' MSMEs, agricultural, and transportation sectors.
Ajay Shankar, Distinguished Fellow at TERI and former Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, commented on the urgent need to close the gaps, saying: "The G20 consume over 70% of global energy, and as India takes over the G20 Presidency at the end of the year, it would have the responsibility of shaping a consensus on not only a faster energy transition but also on it being just and inclusive, especially from a gender perspective."
According to him, the TERI report argues that the energy transition agenda for the transportation, MSMEs, and agricultural sectors must take a comprehensive approach.
The importance of including supply and demand views in energy systems was emphasised by Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director at TERI. The G20 can push for global indicator frameworks on SDGs to record and monitor energy demand-side indicators as well as gender disaggregated data. Markets on just transitions of energy systems should take energy demand into account rather than only supply.
At the COP27, the conversation about just transitions must include both adaptation and inclusive energy demand interventions. She stated that transitions must be "fair" and "inclusive."
The emphasis on energy production and mitigation, she continued, "is not consistent with the values of fairness and climate justice."
The EU and G20 nations consumed more than one-third of the world's energy (71.6 percent in 2019). The policy brief emphasises the need to concentrate on demand-side policy interventions during India's G20 Presidency through the special working group on energy transitions under the Sherpa track, despite the focus being biassed toward the supply-side.
It states that when it comes to inclusive energy transitions and bolstering the priority regions, India can take on a normative leadership position in energy demand side management domains.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on Monday emphasised the importance of demand-side perspectives in the transition to clean energy of crucial sectors and the need for inclusive global clean energy transition mechanisms that go beyond the context of coal. India is set to assume the G20 presidency this year.

G20 must broaden its discussion on the energy transition: TERI

New Delhi (The Hawk): According to Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, India's G20 presidency will be a fantastic opportunity to forge an agreement on creating an open, connected, safe, and useful internet for all people.
Pichai said it is tremendously meaningful to be honoured in this way "by the country that shaped me" after receiving the Padma Bhushan, India's highest civilian honour, from Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's ambassador to the US, in San Francisco.
"I am a product of India. It travels with me everywhere. I was lucky to have parents who made significant sacrifices so that I could have opportunities to pursue my interests and to grow up in a family that valued education and information "Late on Friday, Pichai stated in a blog entry.
He said that the "Digital India" initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undoubtedly accelerated progress, and added, "I'm glad that Google continues to invest in India, working in partnership with governments, businesses, and communities across two transformative decades."
Google recently announced that it would invest $10 billion in India's digital future, working to make internet access more accessible and affordable, developing products for the country's particular needs, assisting businesses of all sizes with their digital transformation, and using artificial intelligence to address significant societal issues.
According to Pichai, "We're also investing heavily in digital skilling and have taught over 55,000 teachers in conjunction with the government and local organisations, as well as over 1 million women through our WomenWill Entrepreneurship Program."
Along with this, the tech giant funded over 100,000 Google Career Certificates in association with Tata Strive and the Nasscom Foundation.
"Using a recent development in machine learning, we added 24 new languages to Google Translate earlier this year. There are eight of them that are indigenous to India "Pichai remarked.
(Inputs from Agencies)

According to Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, India's G20 presidency will be a fantastic opportunity to forge an agreement on creating an open, connected, safe, and useful internet for all people.

Sundar Pichai: India's G20 Presidency will improve the global economy and open Internet

New Delhi: In its ongoing presidency of the G20, India will focus on foundational literacy and numeracy. The Ministry of Education, which will lead the Education Working Group (EdWG), plans to hold four such meetings during the event followed by a conclave of education ministers of participating countries between January and June 2023, according to a G20 agenda document.
"Ensuring foundational literacy and numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning, making tech-enabled learning more inclusive, qualitative, and collaborative at every level, building capacities, promoting life-long learning in the context of the 'Future of Work', strengthening research and promoting innovation through richer collaboration, are the underlying themes and priority areas that have been finalised for discussion in the EdWG meetings during G20 Presidency," it said, as reported by a leading media outlet.
The deliberation also aims to discuss leading practices across G20 countries adopted to resolve some of the most pressing problems with respect to demographic trends such as -- silver economy, multi-generational workforce, environmental (green economy) and technological (Web 4.0, Industry 3.0).
Some of the meetings will be held in Jodhpur in a hybrid mode while one of the main seminars will be organised in Bhubaneshwar.
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy is a child's ability to read basic texts and solve basic mathematics problems. It is also one of the major themes of India's National Education Policy 2020.
Even though access to schools has grown globally in the last few decades, the present state of foundation learning around the world has not translated into actual learning. It is projected that in 2030 about 43 per cent of children in lower-level income countries will still be learning poor, which means that so many children in these countries will not be able to either read or understand the simple text by age 10, reported a leading media outlet.
"The working group will hold two webinars -- mega trends shaping the future of work; and foundational skills, lifelong learning in the context of future work -- as a precursor to the main seminar. Knowledge papers will be prepared based on the discussions in these webinars," the agenda document stated.
The deliberations over the four meetings will focus on gaining outcomes such as sharing of strategies and measures required to "strengthen human and institutional capacity" for the delivery of "future skills" through skilling, reskilling, upskilling and promoting life-long learning.
"One of key deliverables from the meeting includes outlining a consensual roadmap for G20 nations to enable human-centric, intergenerational, and anticipatory policy response," the document said.
It also aims to achieve sharing of flexible pathways to lifelong-learning that lead to creation of a "future ready" workforce that is gainfully employed, reported News18.
Along with basics, social and emotional skills and well-being lay a strong foundation for further learning and development.
Those who fail to attain basic competencies in foundational literacy and numeracy find it difficult to catch up in higher classes and fall behind creating vital learning gaps and leading to increased chances of children dropping out of the school system altogether.
Thus, there is a need to redesign approaches to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy just like India is doing guided by its National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. —IANS

In its ongoing presidency of the G20, India will focus on foundational literacy and numeracy. 

Foundational Literacy To Remain India's Focus At Its G20 Presidency

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Ukraine crisis can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
In a joint statement after bilateral talks with his visiting Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, Modi said that "India has made it clear from the beginning that Ukraine dispute can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy".
On her part, Meloni expressed hope that India having the G20 Presidency can play a central role in facilitating a negotiating process for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. "Keeping the multilateral community together is important and we hope the Indian presidency can do it even more," Meloni, who is on her first visit to India, said. "Prime Minister Modi knows he can rely on us, on our cooperation for the G20 summit, to further enhance our relationship. I believe there is a lot we can do together.:
Speaking on the bilateral relations between the two nations, Modi welcomed Italy's active participation in the Indo-Pacific region.
"It is a matter of happiness that Italy has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative," Modi said. "We wanted to further boost this relation and this is the reason why we have decided to turn our partnership into a strategic partnership because we have very solid relationship," Meloni said in the joint statement.
Modi said that the nations would be setting up a 'Start Up Bridge' between India and Italy. "We welcome this. There is one more sector wherein both the countries are beginning a new chapter, that is defence cooperation," he informed. "In the defence manufacturing sector in India, opportunities for co-production and co-development are arising which can be beneficial for both the countries. We have also decided to conduct regular joint exercise and training courses. "In the fight against terrorism and separatism, India and Italy are walking shoulder-to-shoulder. We have held detailed discussion to further strengthen this cooperation.
"This year India and Italy are celebrating the 75th anniversary of bilateral relationship. India will further strengthen its relationship with Italy in the fields of renewable energy, hydrogen, IT, telecom, semiconductors and space," Modi added.
Earlier, Modi welcomed Meloni, saying that the people of Italy voted for her and she became the first woman and youngest Prime Minister of Italy. "I congratulate her on behalf of Indians for this historic achievement," he said.
—IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Ukraine crisis can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

Ukraine Crisis Can Be Resolved Only Through Dialogue, Diplomacy: Modi

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Third Culture Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency concluded today in Hampi Karnataka. The discussions at the 3rd Culture Working Group meeting under India’s G20 presidency came to a close on July 11, 2023.The final session of the 3rd CWG concluded with updates and development towards the upcoming G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting in Varanasi, scheduled to be organised on August 26, 2023.  The CWG, under India’s G20 presidency, strives to position culture at the heart of policymaking. The 3rd CWG focused on attaining a consensus on the recommendations deliberated in the previous two CWG meetings, which were organised at Khajuraho &amp; Bhubaneswar respectively.  G20 delegates also participated in a Yoga session at the Hazara Rama Temple today in Hampi, Karnataka.      Yesterday, as part of the cultural immersion experience, a tree plantation activity took place at the historic Queens' Bath in Hampi. The delegates were also given a guided tour of the Royal Enclosure, enabling them to appreciate the rich heritage and architectural marvels of the region. Following the tour, delegates proceeded to the Yeduru Basavanna complex, situated opposite the Virupaksha Temple. At this picturesque location, a captivating cultural performance by troupes of Gurus Radha and Raja Reddy choreographed by Smt Kausalya Reddy was organised. They performed four distinct dance styles from South India, namely, Bharatnayam from Tamil Nadu, Mohiniyattam from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh and Odissi from Odisha. The spell binding performance in the backdrop of monuments left the delegates mesmerized.      Earlier, on 10th July the inaugural session of the third G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting was organised in Hampi, Karnataka. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs &amp; Coal and Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi addressed the session.  Addressing the participants, he said “We have progressed from identifying and deliberating the four priorities to seeking consensus on the action-oriented recommendations that would be a significant step in placing culture at the heart of policymaking.” The 4 priority areas are: Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property; Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future; Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy; and Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Protection and Promotion of Culture.  Later in the evening of 10thJuly, delegates were taken on excursion to heritage sites like the Vijaya Vittala Temple, the Royal Enclosure, and the Yeduru Basavanna complex of the Hampi Group of Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Delegates were also being taken on a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River.    The delegates enjoyed a percussion recital by Vikku Vinayakram, a renowned musician who has made the ghatam an important part of our classical music traditions and taken it to the world stage through fusion music programmes with world musicians. The 30-minute interactive presentation was integrated with Bharatnatyam dancers striking sculpturesque poses against the backdrop of the ruins of the Vijaya Vithala temple complex, bringing alive the glory of the Vijayanagar empire.

The Third Culture Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency concluded today in Hampi Karnataka

The  Third Culture Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency concludes at Hampi , Karnataka

New Delhi: To celebrate India's G20 presidency, the government will issue two commemorative coins: a Rs 100 and a Rs 75 piece.
The Ashoka Lion Capital and the words "Satyamev Jayate" in Devnagari will be featured on the obverse of the commemorative Rs 100 coin, as announced in a gazette notification on July 24.
In addition, the word "Bharat" will be written in Devnagari script to the left of it, while the term "India" will be written in English to the right.—Inputs from Agencies

To celebrate India's G20 presidency, the government will issue two commemorative coins: a Rs 100 and a Rs 75 piece.

Govt to release two commemorative coins to mark India's G20 presidency

Washington: National Security Advisor of US, Jake Sullivan convened the national security and senior G20 representatives of the Quint (an informal decision-making group consisting of the United States and France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Union) at the White House to discuss the ensuing G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, according to a White House release. The participants discussed their unified support for the G20 and India’s G20 Presidency, as well as their commitment to ensuring strong outcomes in New Delhi, including demonstrating the G20’s role as the premier forum for economic cooperation, driving an affirmative and ambitious agenda for developing and emerging countries, and making progress on evolving the multilateral development banks to be more responsive to shared global challenges, the official release informed. The G20 Summit is slated to take place on September 9-10 at the recently-inaugurated state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam convention centre at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Many heads of state and diplomats including US President Joe Biden, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to be attending the G20 Leaders' Summit. The 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in Delhi, under India's presidency will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. Sullivan also convened the Quint national security advisors of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom at the White House on Thursday.  Noting that it is also Ukraine’s Independence Day, participants reiterated their enduring commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression for as long as it takes, and to aiding it in its reconstruction. The national security advisors stressed that Russia’s sovereign assets in their nations’ jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine, and examined further ways to hold Russia accountable for the destruction it has brought in its illegal war.  The national security advisors also reaffirmed the importance of putting Niger back on a path to constitutional order, and support for the Economic Community of West African states’ leadership role in resolving this crisis. They discussed a range of other strategic issues, including an exchange of views on the Indo-Pacific region and the Middle East, the release said. —ANI

National Security Advisor of US, Jake Sullivan convened the national security and senior G20

US NSA Sullivan, Quint Nations Assure Unified Support For India’s G20 Presidency

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that India has assumed the G20 presidency at a time when the country matters the most to the world.  “The fact is, India has assumed the G20 presidency at a moment when India is mattering more and more to the world. It is mattering more to the world partly because of our economic achievements as we have now become the number five economy,” the minister said while interacting with students of Hindu College at Delhi University.  “We are today recognised as essential to the global workplace, to the global talent pool. It matters because we also today have demonstrated a capability. We have demonstrated a capability of helping other countries. Therefore India’s presidency of the G20 has expectations and responsibilities which are very exceptional,” he added.  The Union Minister went on to said that “we have changed the world’s thinking about solar energy through the International Solar Alliance”.  “Today we are trying to change the world’s food habits through the International Year of Millets. We have created a collective way of responding to disasters through a coalition of disaster response.  “So the whole perception today of India is not just a happening place where these big leaps of technology are made, it is also a place, a country, which is today seen as responsible, which is seen as innovative, which is seen as actually driving global progress.  “So I am very confident that when one day you will all look back, you will all remember 2023 as a big year for India, as a year when our G20 presidency put us on a different place in the map of the world,” Jaishankar added.  On Chandrayaan-3, the External Affairs Minister said: “At the BRICS summit, we were physically present there but we were mentally in Bengaluru because all the while, the thoughts in prime minister’s mind, in ours as well, was Chandrayaan. But that evening, there was only one topic of conversation, that topic of conversation was the Chandrayaan landing.  “The greatest satisfaction for me that day was this sense from all the leaders that India has done it.”  During an interactive session, when asked about India’s membership of the UN Security Council, Jaishankar said: “The present UN architecture was formed in the 1940s. There were 50 member countries of the UN back then, and now there are more than 200 countries.  “So there will be changes. The world’s largest country in terms of population and the fifth-largest economy cannot be kept out of this and if it is kept out, there will be questions raised on the credibility of the UN.  “History is on our side, and the UN will change. Forces who are blocking it (India’s bid to seek membership of UNSC) will keep trying but eventually it will happen.”
—IANS

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that India has assumed the G20 presidency at a time when the country matters the most to the world. “The fact is, India has assumed the G20 presidency at a moment when India is mattering more and more to the world. It is mattering more to the world partly because of our economic achievements as we have now become the number five economy,”

India assumed G20 presidency at a time when country matters most to the world: Jaishankar

New Delhi (The Hawk): Forest fires have become more widespread and intense over the past few decades, causing significant damage to critical global carbon sink regions like Canada's boreal forests and Brazil's Amazonian rainforests. A new study by the University of Marlyland found that forest fires now result in 3 million more hectares of tree cover loss per year compared to 2001, accounting for over a quarter of all tree cover loss over the past 20 years. This alarming increase in fire frequency, intensity, and geographical spread has led to concerns about the impact on ecosystems and the potential for human activities. Climate change has led to a surge in fire activity, with extreme heat waves five times more frequent than 150 years ago. This dehydration of landscapes creates an ideal environment for larger forest fires, resulting in increased emissions and intensifying the impact of climate change. The dehydration of landscapes also contributes to the deforestation caused by climate change. The India Story India has responded to the increasing number of global forest fires by enhancing its forest fire monitoring systems. With 25% of India's forests highly vulnerable to fires, only about 3% of tree cover loss is due to forest fires. The Forest Survey of India has developed the Van Agni Geo-portal to provide a user-friendly interactive viewing of forest fire-related data for continuous monitoring and tracking of large fires in near real-time. The portal will serve as a single point source for information related to forest fires in India. Forest fire management will soon be under the purview of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), ensuring efficient real-time management of forest fires. Besides technological and regulatory upgradation the authorities are adopting collective action tools to effectively improve forest fire management tactics. Joint Forest Management (JFM) has been used to involve local communities in the prevention and management of forest fires. JFM committees have been set - up at the village level across the country to escalate protection and conservation activities. Currently there are 36,165 JFM committees throughout the country, covering an area of more than 10.24 million hectares.  Community-based fire management practices are gaining popularity in various regions of India, including Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka. These practices involve community involvement and capacity building through awareness programs, street plays, door-to-door campaigns, fire control rooms, and watch towers. The forest department experienced a decrease in alerts by over 5% within a year, and the burnt area from forest fires decreased by over 58%. In the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the restoration of forest fire-impacted areas has been well-managed, with soil-safe degraded plantation removal practices and efficient bundling of plantation species and adult trees. This has significantly increased biodiversity density within 12-18 months. India is preparing to tackle forest fire management in light of the harsh weather conditions and weather events. Respecting India's traditional forest fire control and its effectiveness, India is constantly promoting and embracing its traditional expertise, resulting in a reduction in forest fires and losses. India encourages community-based forest fire management, relying on the strength of the local community to respond to forest fires as soon as possible. Inclusion of modern technology, such as a fire alert system, GPS tracked forest fire management and restoration etc., to assist field managers in managing preventive action and post-fire management decision making, which further reduces fore events and associated losses. Importance of the G20 Keeping the looming danger of forest fire-based impact on climate change in mind, the India presidency at the G20 summit this year launched the 'Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap (GIR) and Gandhinagar Information Platform (GIP)' for strengthening the G20 Global Land Initiative. The roadmap aims to enhance mutual collaboration among participating countries to accelerate ecological/ ecosystem restoration of the Forest fire-impacted areas and mining-affected areas.  This is an unique effort initiated by the Indian presidency. G20 members have an innate understanding that to solve the climate crises largescale collective action efforts will have to be undertaken and shared effectively across the global landscape to make the sustainability transition a possibility. The imperative nature of the GIP-GIR initiative is that it will strategically look at active implementation of sustainable forestry practices coupled with community involvement and indigenous knowledge sharing &amp; techniques. This will not only help strengthen sustainability based cooperative relations between different countries, but will also help improve the critical flow of knowledge that can help scale up crucial restoration-based activities.

Forest fires have become more widespread and intense over the past few decades

Forest Fires: Curating A Response Through India's G20 Presidency

New Delhi: The New Delhi G20 summit, scheduled to be held between September 9 and 10, is just around the corner and is being highlighted as one of the key achievements of the government in positioning India as the voice of the Global South.  After two days of intense deliberations, the G20 Summit will culminate with a New Delhi Declaration, which is expected to outline the main agenda items namely climate change and climate finance, the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in poverty alleviation, advancement on sustainable development goals, technological transformation and digital public infrastructure and most significantly the socio-economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.  India has positioned itself as the voice of the Global South -- a reference to the developing or least developed nations -- and it has used the platform of G20 presidency to champion the cause of such nations.  During the Voice of Global South summit, which took place in January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the “world is in a state of crisis” and told the leaders of developing countries “your voice is India’s voice” and “your priorities are India’s priorities”.  “India has always shared its developmental experience with our brothers of the Global South. As India begins its G20 Presidency this year, it is natural that our aim is to amplify the Voice of the Global South,” he had added.  With the theme for India's G20 presidency being 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', or 'One Earth, One Family, One Future', a phrase, which originates from the ancient Sanskrit text Hitopadesha, the government has consistently used it to establish its foreign policy.  India aims to make maximum use of the diplomatic opportunity which it has got as president of the G20 and therefore almost all the countries have confirmed their presence for the forthcoming G20 summit.  The G20 grouping consists of nations which contribute to around 80 per cent of the global GDP and more than 70 per cent of international trade.  The G20 Summit will see the presence of around 25 world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, British PM Rishi Sunak, French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.  According to sources, except for Russian president Vladimir Putin, almost all G20 leaders have confirmed their presence for the New Delhi G20 summit.  On August 28, Putin in a telephonic conversation with prime minister Narendra Modi, had conveyed his inability to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi and informed that Russia would be represented by his foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.  US president Joe Biden in fact is arriving on September 7 on a four-day bilateral visit, during which he will also attend the G20 summit.  Chinese President Xi Jinping’s presence in the multilateral event is yet to be confirmed. On August 11, when asked about it, the External Affairs Ministry’s Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that the government has invited all participants and looked forward to their participation.  Mexico’s delegation may also not be led by its President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and its Minister for Economy Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez is likely to represent the country in the summit.  Here is the complete list of G20 member states invited to the summit:  Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese; Argentina President Alberto Fernandez; President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa; President of France Emmanuel Macron; Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida; Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni; US President Joe Biden; President of Indonesia Joko Widodo; Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau; President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva; Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman; Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz; President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak; President of China Xi Jinping; President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol; and President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.  The multilateral event will also see participation from Charles Michel, President of the European Council.  In addition to this, India has also invited leaders from nine nations who are not a part of the G20 Cohort. These are Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Spain President Pedro Sanchez, President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sayyid Asad Bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman and personal representative of the Head of State Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
—IANS

The New Delhi G20 summit, scheduled to be held between September 9 and 10, is just around the corner and is being highlighted as one of the key achievements of the government in positioning India as the voice of the Global South.

India to position itself as the 'Voice of Global South' at G20 Summit

Sambalpur (The Hawk): IIM Sambalpur, one of the premium B-schools in the nation, hosted a special thought-provoking lecture on the G20 Presidency under the G20 University Connect Program, propelled by the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister. The purpose of this initiative is to nurture global awareness and cultivate the leadership potential of B-school students on matters of worldwide significance since they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Spearheaded by RIS (Research and Innovation System), the G20 University Connect lecture series has already made a significant impact by involving 65 Universities across diverse States and Union Territories, actively engaging numerous students in the process. The event began with an official video, introducing the overarching theme of India's G20 Presidency for 2023. Followed by the Special Lecture, by the keynote speaker, Former Ambassador J.K. Tripathi, IFS (Retd.) Diplomat, the Government of India, elaborated on the importance of the G20 Presidency. He said that through this platform India can show the way to the world in various sectors, like we are the pioneers of the digital economy. Less than 50 countries in the world can have access to a digital economy or digital payment system. Furthermore, we can share our experience in solar power, clean energy and experience in startups. Mr Tripathi further said that as part of the G20 Summit, there have been a number of meetings on trade practices and supply lines, supply chain which have given a very sound implementation of such issues. Not only that, India has also suggested at various levels that there has to be a change in the practices rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which has to directly and especially assist the emerging market and developing countries as well as developing economies. The former Ambassador also threw light on the brief history of the G20 and said that it is the only international organization that includes members of the G7, BRICS, and other important international bodies, allowing it to serve as a bridge between affluent and developing nations. Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, emphasized the significance of the event. Prof. Jaiswal informed that according to the IMF report, India has become the fifth-largest economy in terms of GDP and is currently the fastest-growing economy in the world. He said, as per the report, if the growth trend continues over the next few years, India will become one of the top three GDP countries globally, along with the US and China. Prof Jaiswal elaborated that as per the report, female participation in higher education in India is below 15%. And if it improves by about another 20 points, India will become the third-largest GDP. Therefore, if we further strengthen the diversity index and make ourselves among the top 40 the way we have done the innovation index, the Indian economy will surpass the US economy. Prof. Jaiswal proudly shared that IIM Sambalpur has already taken the initiative in terms of improving its gender diversity. With 60% gender females percentage in the recent MBA batch, the institute has achieved the highest female ratio among the top schools in India. The event concluded with the Q&amp;A session, moderated by Mr Ali Syed, RIS, followed by a vote of thanks by Prof. Padmavathy Dhillon, Faculty IIM Sambalpur. The event served as a platform for interactive discussion on the G20 Presidency and its broader implications in terms of education, research, and other diverse perspectives on a global level.  It is to be recalled that the initiative has been collaborative research between the Research and Innovation System for Developing Countries and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

IIM Sambalpur, one of the premium B-schools in the nation, hosted a special thought-provoking lecture on the G20 Presidency

IIM Sambalpur Hosts Special Lecture On G20 Presidency

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science &amp; Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 has sparked global aspirations in Indian students. Dr Jitendra Singh said, this is all the more evident that after the opening up of the Space sector by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in June 2020, the number of Space Startups sky-rocketed from merely 04 to 150 Startups and most of them being led by science students, researchers and entrepreneurs. Dr Jitendra Singh was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Science 20 (S20) Conference under the aegis of G20 on the topic “Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development”, at Amity University, Noida. Dr Jitendra Singh said, Startups are centres of novel innovations and essential for the growth of the nation and driven by the ideas of the Prime Minister Modi, Startup India, Standup India and Make in India will help transform India to even stronger economic power and contribute towards adding 1 trillion USD to our GDP each year. “They generate jobs leading to a stronger and healthier economy. Start-ups encourage a pragmatic approach at the academic establishments further leading to large scale employment generation. It motivates students or researchers to put their ideas into practice by collaborating with the start-up, which more importantly help to develop means of economic expansion. India now stands 3rd in terms of Startup ecosystem with almost 110 Unicorns,” he said, encouraging the universities to promote students’ tie-ups with the emerging Startups. Dr Jitendra Singh said that there were just around 350 Startups before 2014, but after PM Modi gave the clarion call from the ramparts of the Red Fort in his Independence Day address and rolled out special Startup scheme in 2016, there has been a quantum jump with over 1.25 lakh Startups now and more than 110 Unicorns. Similarly, he added that in the Biotech sector, from 50 odd Startups in 2014, we now have 6,000 Biotech Startups. Dr Jitendra Singh said, “It is the hard work and determination of scientists, researchers and scholars that India is now ranked amongst top 3 nations in terms of publications and 9th in terms of Patents. India’s Global Innovation index has also seen significant improvement in the past years moving up the ladder from 81st position to 40th position,” he added. “The Government of India has focussed on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in research and innovation to realise the global endeavours of India making the country Aatmanirbhar through Make in India and Make for the World philosophy. The Government is actively working towards deepening the reach of public-private partnerships to create timebound world-class infrastructure and attract private sector and institutional capital in infrastructure,” he said. Dr Jitendra Singh said, India is now the world's fifth-largest economy and is counted among the top countries globally in the field of scientific research and even positioning itself among the top five nations in the field of space exploration. “India has recently created history by becoming the first country to land on the south polar region of the lunar surface. With the launch of Aditya -1 which is the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun, India’s ambitious space exploration programme has left a clear message that we are one of the most scientifically advanced nations in the field of Space Science and Technology,” he said. Dr Jitendra Singh said that the country has witnessed an exponential growth in Science and Technology during the last decade. He said, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our progressive government is focusing on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Referring to the upcoming G20 Summit in New Delhi later this week, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s G20 Presidency under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the year 2022-2023 has aimed to be inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented and decisive. “This G20 Presidency also heralds for India the start of ‘Amritkaal,’ a 25-year period commencing from the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence leading up to the centenary of its Independence,” he said. Stating that science has been the driving force behind economic expansion and human progress, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the objective of S20 is to leverage scientific, technological, and intellectual interactions between nations, regions, and societies in order to address common problems and forge strong international alliances. “With the disruptive changes happening all around the world, innovative science and technology needs to be encouraged to revolutionise lives and livelihoods in a world where 8 billion people are continually striving for a better life,” he said. Dr Jitendra Singh lauded that the S20 Conference delves upon another important initiative of PM Modi, which is Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR). "It is creating an enabling environment for the sharing of ideas and resources within the knowledge ecosystem through collaborating with communities by identifying their needs and problems and develop scientific and technological solutions,” he said. The S&amp;T Minister said that as a nation committed to democracy and multilateralism, India's presidency has set a significant milestone seeking practical global solutions for the benefit of all. “The theme of India’s G20 Presidency embodies the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ or ‘the world is one family,’ which is inspired from the Maha Upanishad, an old Sanskrit scripture. The S20 theme has truly and fundamentally highlighted the importance of all life and their interdependence on Earth and across the universe,” he said. The S20 Conference covers the topics - Clean Energy for Greener Future, Universal Holistic Health, Science for Society &amp; Culture, and Role of Media in Science and Culture.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel

Successful Launch Of Chandrayaan-3 Has Sparked Global Aspirations In Indian Students: Dr Jitendra

New Delhi: With G20 dinner invites being sent out in the name of 'President of Bharat', Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said while there is no constitutional objection to calling India 'Bharat', he hopes the government will not be so "foolish" to completely dispense with 'India' which has "incalculable brand value". The Congress MP also claimed it was Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah who had objected to the name 'India' since it implied that "our country was the successor state to the British Raj and Pakistan a seceding state". Invitations for a G20 dinner have been sent out by President Droupadi Murmu describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', triggering a massive furore with the opposition alleging that the Modi government is planning to drop India and stay with just Bharat as the country's name. In a post on X, Tharoor said 'Bharat' is one of the country's two official names. "While there is no constitutional objection to calling India 'Bharat', which is one of the country's two official names, I hope the government will not be so foolish as to completely dispense with 'India', which has incalculable brand value built up over centuries," the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. "We should continue to use both words rather than relinquish our claim to a name redolent of history, a name that is recognised around the world," he said. In another post, Tharoor said, "While the subject is live, let's recall that it was Jinnah who objected to the name 'India' since it implied that our country was the successor state to the British Raj and Pakistan a seceding state. As with CAA, the BJP govt keeps supporting Jinnah's view!" The G20 Summit will be held in the national capital from September 9 to 10 under India's presidency and several heads of state from across the world, including US President Joe Biden, are set to attend the event.&nbsp;
—PTI

With G20 dinner invites being sent out in the name of 'President of Bharat', Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said while there is no constitutional

It was Jinnah who objected to the name 'India': Tharoor hits out at BJP amid G20 invite row

New Delhi: While praising Narendra Modi's leadership over the past year and noting that India's presidency of the bloc came at a time when the world is facing innumerable challenges, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that India is the "right country" at the "right time" to hold the G20 presidency.
Sunak, the first British prime minister of Indian descent, told PTI in an exclusive interview just days before the G20 meeting in Delhi on September 9-10 that the relationship between the United Kingdom and India will define the future of both countries much more than it defines the present.
India is the ideal candidate to preside over the G20 at this moment due to the country's size, diversity, and outstanding achievements. It's great to see India taking such a prominent role on the international stage, and I applaud Prime Minister Modi for his leadership over the past year. The Prime Minister's Office emailed back answers to PTI's questions.
Through India's G20 Presidency, "we will also work closely with them to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, from stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change," Sunak said.
At the G20 summit, world leaders like the British prime minister, PM Modi, US vice president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron, German chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida will discuss a wide range of topics, including the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.
As he put it, "India is definitely home to the biggest global geopolitical events of the year!," including the G20 meetings and the Cricket World Cup. "2023 is a huge year for India," he added.
Conservative Party leader and 43-year-old politician Michael Gove warned that allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack a sovereign neighbour with impunity would have "terrible consequences" for the entire globe. Gove was referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"As two of the world's leading democracies, we are who we are because of our people. Because of this illegal and unjustified Russian invasion, the United Kingdom is committed to helping the Ukrainian government protect itself.
"Ukraine has the right to choose its own future as a free and democratic nation. There will be catastrophic repercussions for everyone if Putin is permitted to invade a sovereign neighbour. According to the British prime minister, the Ukrainians are the ones who want peace the most, but Putin is the one who can stop the war "tomorrow" by withdrawing his soldiers.
"Until he does, we will help the vulnerable in Ukraine and around the world deal with the terrible consequences of Putin's war, including the spike in the global price of food and energy caused by his manipulation of markets and attacks on grain supplies," he said.
Sunak's remarks come as India struggles to get support for a common statement in the G20's final resolution about the Ukraine situation.
India has had a hard time getting Russia and China to stick to their word on the two paragraphs of last year's Bali declaration that dealt with the situation in Ukraine.
It is "at a time when the world is facing multiple challenges," according to Sunak, that "India has taken on the Presidency of the G20."
He continued, "In the past twelve months we have witnessed the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, military coups in Niger and Gabon, and the ongoing repression of human rights in Afghanistan and elsewhere."
Sunak expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of seeing Prime Minister Modi and discussing the ways in which joint efforts by India and the United Kingdom have helped to address global issues.
The "huge role" that the UK and India have to play in tackling these global concerns would be discussed during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi this week.
Sunak added, "We will have to wait and see what the summit outcomes will be." in reference to the potential results of the G20 summit. The United Kingdom is willing to help India host a productive summit. Sunak explored several facets of the cultural and interpersonal connections between India and the United Kingdom in this in-depth conversation.
The "Living Bridge" between the two countries, he said, which includes the 1.6 million strong Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom and links "our people across culture, education, food, sport, and more," is what makes the United Kingdom's relationship with India "truly unique." More than the present, the connection between the United Kingdom and India will determine the course of both countries' futures, he said.
Two years ago, we agreed to the '2030 Roadmap,' a historic pledge to bring our nations, economies, and people closer together. This was in recognition of the many ties that bind us and the many ways in which our interests are aligned. At the summit between Prime Minister Modi and then British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a 10-year road map was created to strengthen relations between the two countries in a variety of important areas, including commerce and economics, defence and security, climate change, and people-to-people linkages.
After a successful bilateral virtual summit in May 2021, relations between India and the United Kingdom were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
"We have already achieved so much under this roadmap," Sunak said, "including the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, new visa routes for young professionals, and billions in new investment deals." These deals include British companies like Tesco, Deliveroo, and Revolut establishing or expanding their presence in India, creating thousands of new jobs.
The UK Navy, Army, and Air Force have conducted joint drills with their Indian counterparts, he said, enhancing "our ability to work together to tackle shared threats." Sunak claims that there has been substantial development in the fields of science and technology on both sides.
Together, the United Kingdom and India are "science and technology superpowers" that are "pushing the boundaries of innovation for global good," as he put it.
Together, he said, "we delivered a Covid-19 vaccine," noting that the vaccine was the result of years of study at Oxford University, funding from the United Kingdom's government, creation by AstraZeneca, and mass production by India's Serum Institute.
He went on to say that the United Kingdom and India were already cooperating to meet the problems of the future.
Sunak also discussed the Indo-Pacific engagement and cooperation of the British and Indian economies.
Within the next decade, India is expected to rise to the position of third largest economy worldwide. That's why India's a vital ally in this part of the world and beyond," he explained.
The British prime minister has stated, "I absolutely see more for the UK and India to do together in the Indo-Pacific, building on the impressive cooperation that has already taken place across trade, defence, and security under the 2030 Roadmap."
Sunak also discussed Britain's foreign policy agenda for 2021, which places a premium on the Indo-Pacific region.
"That's something we have confirmed this year when we published a refreshed version of the policy – our commitment to the Indo-Pacific isn’t going anywhere, just as this region isn't going anywhere," he said.—Inputs from Agencies

While praising Narendra Modi's leadership over the past year and noting that India's presidency of the bloc came at a time when the world is facing innumerable challenges, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that India is the "right country" at the "right time" to hold the G20 presidency.

India is "right country" at "right time" to hold G20 presidency:UK PM Rishi Sunak

New Delhi: Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth received a rousing welcome as he arrived at the New Delhi Airport on Thursday for the G20 Summit that will be held here in the national capital from September 9-10. He was recieved at the Airport by Shripad Naik Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping. As he came out of the Delhi airport he was accorded with a traditional folk dance performance.
India has close, longstanding relations with Mauritius, owing to historic, demographic and cultural reasons. A key reason for the special ties is the fact that Indian origin people comprise nearly 70% of the island’s population. India has traditionally been the ‘first responder’ for Mauritius in times of crisis, including during the recent Covid-19 and Wakashio oil-spill crises. India was the first country to supply Covid-19 vaccines to Mauritius. Meanwhile, New Delhi is geared up to host the G20 Leader’s Summit in the national capital at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam on September 9-10. This is the first time that the G20 Summit is taking place under India’s presidency. The event will be graced by many global leaders and delegates. Extensive preparations and arrangements have been made for the summit, with the intention of showcasing both India’s soft power as well as modern face. Formed in 1999, the G20 was formed to maintain global financial stability by incorporating middle-income countries. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country.The 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. A G20 Leaders’ declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the G20 Summit, stating Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings. The next G20 presidency is going to be taken over by Brazil in 2024, followed by South Africa in 2025.
—ANI

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth received a rousing welcome as he arrived at the New Delhi Airport on Thursday for the G20 Summit

Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth arrives in Delhi for G20 Summit

New Delhi [India]: Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Armida Alisjahbana said that her expectations in the context of geopolitical situations are very high as India is hosting the G20 summit this year. “The expectation (from India) is very high, especially in the geopolitical context which is not easy, but because G20 is the 20th largest economy in the world and not to mention also the largest number of population globally,” Alisjahbana said.&nbsp;
She further said, “Expectation is very high, especially on the G20 leadership and commitment on the most pressing development issue and challenges of our time, the one, which is climate change.” UNESCAP’s Executive secretary also expressed hope that the leadership will take initiatives on climate change and energy transition. India is hosting the G20 Leader’s Summit in the national capital at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam on September 9-10. This is the first time that the G20 Summit is taking place under India’s presidency. The event will be attended by many global leaders and delegates. Extensive preparations and arrangements have been made for the summit, with the intention of showcasing both India’s soft power as well as modern face. The G20 was formed in 1999 to maintain global financial stability by incorporating middle-income countries. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country. The 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi will be a culmination of all the G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. A G20 Leaders’ declaration will be adopted at the conclusion of the G20 Summit, stating Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings. The next G20 presidency is going to be taken over by Brazil in 2024, followed by South Africa in 2025.
—ANI

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Armida Alisjahbana said that her expectations

"Expectations are high..."; says UNESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana on India hosting G20

New Delhi: India on Friday played down the absence of Chinese president Xi Jinping from the G20 summit and apprehensions on the Ukraine conflict derailing talks, by saying that its presidency of the grouping has managed to bring all nations on board and this would be on display during the summit over the next two days. 
Addressing the pre-G20 summit press conference, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said that China is a multilateral player and in a multilateral discussion, the issues are different from bilateral issues.
"China brings its own perspective on issues of growth and development. However in such events, there has be a consensus and everybody has to be on board, since every nation has a veto power. We have managed to bring everybody on board. We have worked with every single country and brought them on board, which you will see during the course of the summit," Kant said while responding to questions relating to Xi's absence in any way undermining the significance of the event.&nbsp;
On a question of Ukraine conflict derailing the G20 summit, the Sherpa said: "G20 is a forum for discussing issues of growth and development. However, the last time in Bali (G20 summit), it was felt that war and conflict impact economy and growth so it was discussed. Here too, it may be discussed, but the leaders will have to take a call on the agenda. Once the leaders discuss it, I can talk about it."&nbsp;
—IANS

India on Friday played down the absence of Chinese president Xi Jinping from the G20 summit and apprehensions on the Ukraine conflict derailing talks

India plays down Chinese Prez Xi's absence from G20 summit

New Delhi: The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, expressed optimism on Friday that the results of the G20 Summit would help achieve their goals of speeding up sustainable development, bolstering multilateral cooperation, and building consensus around inclusive economic policies to tackle the world's biggest problems.
While discussing India's recent purchase of 31 drones and their cooperative development of jet engines, Modi and Biden agreed to "deepen and diversify" the bilateral major defence collaboration during their nearly 50-minute conversation.
The two heads of state talked about how to "reshape" multilateral development banks and discussed methods to work together on crucial and emerging technologies like 6G and AI.—Inputs from Agencies

 The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, expressed optimism on Friday that the results of the G20 Summit would help achieve their goals of speeding up sustainable development, bolstering multilateral cooperation, and building consensus around inclusive economic policies to tackle the world's biggest problems.

The Hawk

Tag : Presidency

India’s Presidency of G-20 a golden opportunity for both India & IRENA on how RE can accelerate industry transition of hard to abate sectors

Sunil Aswal

Tag : Presidency

India’s Presidency of G-20 a golden opportunity for both India & IRENA on how RE can accelerate industry transition of hard to abate sectors

Sunil Aswal

More about Presidency