Page 36 - G20 Summit

Delhi authorities brace up for flood, waterlogging ahead of G20 Summit

A contingency plan has been put in place to deal with waterlogging at the G20 venue and other strategic locations to fend off against rain during the two-day event in the city next month, officials said on Thursday. The plan involves having a battery of tractor-mounted heavy duty 50 horsepower pumps deployed to clear the excess water, mechanical road sweeping (MRS) vehicles, also mounted with heavy water jetting machines to clear mud and silt off road sides, and a 'super sucker' to clear clogged drains and sewer lines, they said. The machines will be deployed round-the-clock in two shifts of 12 hours each and will be monitored by a sanitary inspector, a helper, and a probationer IAS and DANICS officer. The supervision of these vehicles and personnel has been entrusted to the SDMs of the respective areas, officials said. A tunnel leading to Ring Road at Pragati Maidan, the main Summit site, was submerged in water after heavy rain in the city last month, forcing the LG to come up wit

G20 delegates in Varanasi laud Chandrayaan-3's soft-landing on Moon

A group of G20 delegates who have gathered here for the fourth meeting of the Culture Working Group on Thursday lauded Chandrayaan-3's soft-landing on the Moon. The deliberations for the fourth CWG of the G20 began on Thursday in the holy town where prayers were also offered in temples and at ghats earlier for the mission's success. The welcome address was delivered by Union Culture Secretary Govind Mohan. India scripted history on Wednesday to become the fourth country after the US, China and the erstwhile Soviet Union to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon, sparking celebrations across the country and on social media. "G20 delegates lauded the monumental moment of Chandrayaan-3's soft-landing on the Moon, during the welcome address by the Union Culture Secretary, at the fourth Culture Working Group Meeting of the G20 in Varanasi," a senior official said. The delegates applauded as Mohan spoke about India's feat in its third Moon mission. In an epic moment for India as it

World sees optimism, confidence, opportunity in Indian economy: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is seen as a combination of openness, opportunities and options as the world sees optimism and confidence in the Indian economy. In a video message at the G20 Trade and Investment Minister's meeting here, the prime minister said that during the last nine years, India has become the fifth largest global economy and it has increased its competitiveness and enhanced transparency. "Today we see global optimism and confidence in the Indian economy. India is seen as a combination of openness, opportunities and options," he said. India has expanded digitisation and promoted innovation and it has moved away from red tape to red carpet and liberalised FDI flows, he said. "Above all we have brought policy stability," he said, adding, "we are committed to make India the third largest global economy in the next few years." He further said that the global uncertainties have tested the world economy and as members of the G20, it is the ...

MCD identifies 18 more roads in Delhi for cleaning ahead of G20 Summit

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has added 18 more roads to the list of prominent streets identified for cleaning and upkeep ahead of the G20 Summit, officials said on Wednesday. A special drive was started by the civic body on August 16 for cleaning and upkeep of 26 prominent roads in the city in view of the G20 Summit meeting here next month. With this addition, the civic body will now take up the upkeep of a total of 44 roads. The summit is slated to take place from September 9 to 10 at the recently inaugurated state-of-the-art convention complex at Pragati Maidan. The MCD has "accelerated its efforts to enhance the look and feel of the city", a senior official had earlier said. The nodal officers, along with their teams, will deploy mechanical road-sweeping machines and multi-purpose vehicles for the cleanliness work, upkeep of roads and dust mitigation. The Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg, Sachivalaya Road, Purana Quila Road, Lodhi Road, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, S

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Hope African Union gets support from Brics for G20 membership: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hoped that India's proposal to accord permanent membership of the G20 to the African Union will be supported by all the BRICS nations. In his address at the BRICS ((Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit in Johannesburg, Modi said India is according "highest priority" to the issues of countries of the Global South under its G20 presidency. India is hosting the G20 summit on September 9 and 10. All the BRICS nations are permanent members of the G20. "We have also proposed to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I am sure all the BRICS partners are also together in the G20 and all will support our proposal," Modi said. The African Union (AU) is an influential organisation consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent. In June, Modi wrote to the leaders of the G20 countries pitching for giving the African Union full membership of the grouping at its upcoming summit in New ...

450 Delhi police quick response teams part of security arrangements for G20

Elaborate security arrangements will be put in place across Delhi for the G20 Summit with the deployment of more than 450 quick response teams of police as well as disaster management units at the summit venue, designated hotels and routes to be taken by dignitaries, officials said on Wednesday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena is leading the charge of tackling emergency situations during the summit to be held at Pragati Maidan on September 8-10, a Raj Niwas official said. The Delhi Police has made elaborate security plans with the deployment of more than 450 quick response teams and PCR vans, over 50 ambulances and fire-fighting machinery in and around the airport, 23 designated hotels, Pragati Maidan, Rajghat and along the routes to be taken by the dignitaries and delegates, they said. A total of seven disaster management teams will remain stationed at strategic locations including four hotels, Pragati Maidan, Rajghat and IARI-PUSA. The security arrangements will be further .

Ahead of G20 Summit in national capital, police holds carcade rehearsal

The Delhi Police on Wednesday held a carcade rehearsal from various points to Pragati Maidan ahead of the G20 summit scheduled in the national capital next month. The police had asked commuters to plan their journey accordingly as they said certain roads would remain affected till 11 am on Wednesday. "Due to carcade rehearsal and special traffic arrangements, some congestion is expected on Salimgarh Bypass, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Bhairon Marg, Mathura Road, C-Hexagon, Sardar Patel Marg and Gurgaon Road till 11 AM. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly," the traffic police wrote on microblogging site X. All private and government offices in the city will remain closed on September 8-10, while banks and commercial establishments, including markets, in the New Delhi district will be shut during these three days. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had approved a proposal in this regard in view of the G20 Summit.

Ahead of G20 summit, bloc poured $1.4 trn into fossil fuels in 2022: Study

G20 countries allocated a staggering USD 1.4 trillion of public funds to support fossil fuels in 2022, aiming to counter the impact of their soaring prices due to the Ukraine war and strengthen energy reserves, a new study has said. The study by independent think tank International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and partners comes as G20 leaders prepare for their summit meeting scheduled for September 9-10 in New Delhi. India, the current G20 president, has made good progress, the study says,highlighting the cut in the fossil fuel subsidies by 76 percent from 2014 to 2022 while boosting support for clean energy. This puts India in a strong position to lead on this issue, the study says. The astonishing sum of USD 1.4 trillion includes fossil fuel subsidies (USD 1 trillion), state-owned enterprise investments (USD 322 billion), and money lent by public financial institutions (USD 50 billion), according to the study. This total is more than double what was seen before t

BS Policy & Politics: Food-driven retail inflation may cool only in Sept

Cereals, pulses and milk were other food items to push up the rate of price rise in July, prompting the government to take more measures to tame prices

India to get $25 mn from G20 Pandemic Fund to support animal health system

India will receive USD 25 million from the G20 Pandemic Fund for strengthening animal health system of the country. The fund that was established under Indonesia's G20 Presidency is targeted at low-to middle-income countries to finance efforts like surveillance, research, and better access to vaccines, among others measures. According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the G20 Pandemic Fund has approved India's USD 25-million proposal for strengthening animal health security in the country for pandemic preparedness and response. The major interventions to be taken under the proposal include: strengthening and integrating disease surveillance and early warning system; upgrading and expanding the laboratory network; improving the inter-operable data systems and building capacity for data analytics for risk analysis and risk communication, the ministry said in a statement. The other interventions include strengthening health security for transboundary animal

Ahead of G20 summit, Delhi police conduct mock drill to review arrangements

Multiple teams of traffic police personnel were deployed at different junctions and barricades were erected at diversion points and junctions as part of the exercise

G20 ministers agree on treating cyber security as a global problem

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said there was a consensus during the G20 Digital Economy Ministers' Meeting that cyber security is an international problem that requires collaboration and steps for building trust and respect for other economies. The minister, who holds the Electronics, IT, Communications and Railways portfolios, said there was absolute consensus in the G20 meeting on the concept and application of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), cyber security and skilling in handling digital technology. Elaborating on the discussions on cyber security, he said some "very good principles" were achieved in terms of cyber security. "It was clearly agreed and understood by everybody that cyber security or information security or digital security, whatever we call it, different countries call it with different names...this is something which is an international problem and we must collaborate," Vaishnaw said in a press briefing here. He further said, "We must take ste

People favour stable govt because it boosts economy: MoS Khuba at G20 event

Union Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba on Saturday said the Indian economy is growing because of the stable government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Khuba was addressing the valedictory session of 'India MedTech Expo 2023' here as part of the G20 Health Ministers' Conference, which is set to conclude during the day. "The Indian economy currently stands at USD 3.3 trillion and it will achieve the target of USD 5 trillion in the next four years. When India will be celebrating 100 years of Independence, the size of the Indian economy is expected to remain between USD 32 to 42 tillion. In that, the contribution of the health sector will be significant," said the minister. "Apart from having a young workforce, India currently has a stable government and people want to see a similar stable government in the future. Investors always favour a stable government. People of India have now understood that the economy will grow if we have .

We would welcome any country…: US State Dept on Russia-Ukraine conflict

US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the US looks forward to discussing the issues of security cooperation and climate and energy challenges with India

G20 summit in Delhi: Check out the preparations, guest list, date, and more

India is hosting the G20 summit this year, and the meeting will take place on September 9-10, 2023. Check out the preparations and guest list for the G20 Summit 2023

Pandemic taught us nobody is safe until everyone is safe: MoS Pawar

Union minister Dr Bharati Pawar said here on Thursday that the COVID-19 pandemic taught people that no one is safe until everyone is safe. The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare also said that India's G20 Presidency has revolved around the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world is one family. She was addressing the G20 Deputies' Meeting that commenced here on Thursday ahead of the G20 Health Ministers' Meeting starting Friday. "India's G20 Presidency has revolved around the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world is one family. Nowhere is this more important than in the field of global health as the pandemic taught us that no one is safe until everyone is safe," an official release quoted her saying in her inaugural address. Dr V K Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, was also present at the meeting that is underway at the Mahatma Mandir convention centre in Gandhinagar as part of India's G20 presidency. Union minister Pawar underlined the crucial

Summit on traditional medicine to be held alongside G20 health meet in Guj

A global summit on traditional medicine organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) will focus on the role of age-old medical practices in addressing health challenges and driving progress in sustainable development, and will be held alongside the August 17 to 19 health ministerial meeting of G20 in Gandhinagar, officials said on Wednesday. The first-of-its kind summit, which will take place on August 17-18 in the Gujarat capital, has been co-hosted by the Union Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). A government-funded event on medical travel will also be held as part of the three-day meeting of G20 health ministers in Gandhinagar, said the officials. India currently holds the presidency of the G20, or Group of Twenty, an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. "An event planned under the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (based in Gujarat's Jamnagar) will be the first-of-its-kind and .

G20 Health Ministers meeting to start from August 17 in Gandhinagar

Delegates from 19 member countries, 10 invited states, and 22 international organisations will be participating in the meeting in Gujarat

Fully booked, hotels turn to curated menu and security for G20 meet

Five-star hotels across New Delhi are all booked out for the upcoming Leaders' Summit to be held from 9-10 September