Page 27 - India

India urges G7 to delay ban on Russian diamonds as rules not clear: Report

India has urged the Group of Seven (G7) countries to delay an incoming ban on Russian diamonds because the rules to trace the origins of gems remain unclear, two sources aware of the matter said.

Our goal should be that India doesn't have to import technology: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said technology has become an important part of life like never before and India's goal should be that it doesn't have to import technology or depend on others for it. India has the biggest talent pool in the world and the "world is confident that India can provide low-cost, quality, sustainable and scalable solutions to global challenges," he said. Interacting with students during the grand finale of the Smart India Hackathon, he said, "Technology has become important part of our lives like never before. Our goal should be that India doesn't have to import any technology or depend on others for it." The PM lauded young innovators for their problem-solving capabilities and ingenuity in addressing complex challenges. "Today, we are at a turning point in time, where every effort of ours will strengthen the foundation of the India of the next thousand years," he said.

Negotiating trade pact with EU, UK, Sri Lanka, Peru: Commerce ministry

India is negotiating free trade agreements with the European Union (EU), the UK, Sri Lanka, and Peru, according to a year-end review statement of the commerce ministry. India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement negotiations were formally re-launched on June 17 2022. "Negotiations cover 23 policy areas/chapters. Six rounds of negotiations have been held till October 2023," the ministry said. With the UK, 13 rounds of talks have been completed and the next round will take place in January 2024. "India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) negotiations are ongoing with the 12th round of negotiations conducted from 30th October to 1st November 2023 in Colombo," it said. It added that both sides also agreed to continue discussions on matters, including apparel quotas and pharmaceutical procurement. With Peru, it said discussions on various chapters, including rules of origin, trade in goods, trade facilitation, sanitary, and phytosanitary measures were ..

SAP bullish on India as key market, talent hub, says Punit Renjen

SAP has about 15,000 employees in India focussed on fundamental research and development. Nearly 40% of the global R&D workforce is based in India

Top leaders of oppn INDIA bloc meet in Delhi, condemn suspension of MPs

A crucial meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc began in the national capital on Tuesday where top leaders were discussing the way forward, including seat-sharing, for taking on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The issue of suspension of 141 opposition MPs in both Houses of Parliament came up at the meeting with leaders cutting across party lines condemning the action against the members. "The leaders asserted that they will continue to fight against the tyranny of this government," a source said. Harping on putting up a united front, the Congress alleged that democracy is being "mercilessly murdered" and MPs who raise people's issues are suspended from the House. "In such an adverse situation, our unity is our strength," the party posted on X after the meeting began. The opposition leaders are deliberating on a blueprint for a joint campaign, seat-sharing arrangement and redrawing their strategy after the Congress suffered a setback in the recent assembly polls, where BJP

EU disappointed over India's 'right' to approach WTO's body in ICT case

The European Union (EU) has expressed disappointment over India's move to approach the WTO's appellate body in a case related to customs duties on certain information and communications technology (ICT) products, an official said. On December 8, India appealed against a ruling of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) trade dispute settlement panel, in a case filed by the European Union against New Delhi's import duties on certain ICT products including mobile phones and components, base stations, integrated circuits and optical instruments. India has stated that it is the right of countries to appeal, and called for early restoration of the non-functional appellate body of WTO so that the panel's errors can be corrected and the dispute can be resolved expeditiously. New Delhi has also rejected the EU's request to settle the dispute through arbitration. On this request, India has said that such interim arbitration agreements undermine the right of countries to appeal to a permanent .

India resisted pressure from developed nations to phase out of fossils: Min

India resisted pressure from developed countries at the climate conference in the United Arab Emirates to end the use of fossil fuels, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said India is committed to meeting the energy needs of its people and this cannot be done by "just importing oil and gas". "While India is committed to increasing its renewable energy capacity, we will have to rely on coal power until we achieve the objective of developed India," he said. The minister said India accounts for 17 per cent of the global population but its contribution to global carbon emissions is just four per cent. "Poverty eradication is a priority for many nations. So, we did not accept the pressure from developed countries (for a fossil fuel phase-out)," Yadav said. The minister said developed nations, which account for a large part of historical emissions (since the start of the industrial revolution), are required to prov

India KFC operator Devyani International enters Thailand with $129 mn deal

India's Devyani International said it will begin operating KFC outlets in Thailand after it acquired Restaurants Development Co in deal a worth $128.9 million, expected to be completed by March 2024.

Israel approves appointment of Reuven Azar as new Ambassador to India

The Israeli government on Sunday approved the appointment of Reuven Azar as the new Ambassador to India. Azar will also be serving as the non-resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Bhutan, a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. His appointment is one of the 21 new Heads of Missions cleared by the Israeli government to assume service soon. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, congratulating the new appointees, said they will "represent Israel and its citizens, strengthen its economy and strengthen international support for the State of Israel". As per information available from official sources, Azar is currently serving as the Ambassador of Israel to Romania. It is not yet known when he will take charge in New Delhi. Azar has earlier served as Head of the Israel-US-China internal task force at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, immediately after a term of three years as Deputy National Security Advisor for Foreign Policy at the National Security Council and Foreign Pol

28 Indian students deported from US this year: Centre tells Lok Sabha

Twenty-eight Indian students were deported from the US to India this year, the government said in Lok Sabha on Friday. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said the government has regularly expressed its concerns to the authorities in the US regarding such instances. "According to information available with the ministry, 28 Indian students were deported from the US to India in 2023," he said replying to a question. "The government has regularly expressed our concerns to the US authorities regarding such instances and requested them to ensure fairness with regard to entry of Indian students who hold valid student visas," Muraleedharan said. To a separate question, he said New Delhi is aware that some Indian nationals including students are facing deportation from Canada for allegedly submitting fraudulent letters of admission to Canadian academic institutions. "It was found that many of these students were sent by unscrupulous agents in India. The ministry has tak

Who is Lalit Jha, the mastermind behind Parliament security breach

Lalit Jha, the alleged mastermind behind the Parliament smoke incident, was arrested after surrendering to the police. Watch the video to know more about the accused behind the security breach that sh

After recording all-time high, global coal demand to decline by 2026: IEA

After reaching an all-time high this year, global coal demand is expected to decline by 2026 due to a major expansion of renewables, according to the latest edition of the International Energy Agency's (IEA) annual coal market report. This is the first time that the report has predicted a drop in global coal consumption. Around 40 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions stem from coal, while oil and gas contribute to the remaining percentage. The report says global demand for coal rose by 1.4 per cent in 2023, mainly due to rising energy demand in emerging and developing economies, including India (8 per cent) and China (5 per cent). Consumption is on course to decline in most advanced economies in 2023, including in the European Union and the United States (around 20 per cent each), it said. Both the US and the EU rely more on oil and natural gas. For instance, oil and natural gas accounted for 36 per cent and 33 per cent of the total energy production in the US in 2022. The

India votes in favour of UNGA resolution on immediate ceasefire in Gaza

India voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution demanding immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a shift in New Delhi's stance about two months after it abstained on a text that had called for truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict. "India has voted in favour of the resolution just adopted by the General Assembly, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said after the vote on Tuesday. "We welcome the fact that the international community has been able to find a common ground to address the multiple challenges facing the region right now," she said. The 193-member UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the draft resolution Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations' at an emergency special session, with 153 nations voting in favour, 10 against and 23 abstentions. The resolution was adopted amid a round of applause in the General Assembly hall. Those voting against included Austria, Israel and the US while Germany, Hungary,

India votes in favour of UNGA draft resolution demanding ceasefire in Gaza

India voted in favour of a draft resolution in the UN General Assembly that demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as the unconditional release of all hostages. The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the draft resolution, introduced by Egypt, at an Emergency Special Session here Tuesday. The resolution was adopted with 153 votes in favour, while 23 nations abstained and 10 voted against the text. The resolution, sponsored among others by Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Palestine, demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians." It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access. The resolution however did not name Hamas and the US proposed an amendment to the draft ...

Israel-Hamas war latest updates: UN votes for Israel Gaza ceasefire, India supports

More than two months after Hamas attacked southern Israel, death and destruction have devastated the region between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

22 years since Parliament terror attack: Here's what happened

December 13, 2023 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Indian Parliament attack carried out by Pakistan-based extremist groups that claimed the lives of nine individuals.

Capability, innovation hub mkt to nearly double to $117 bn by 2027: Report

The market size of capability and innovation hubs in India is expected to nearly double to USD 117 billion by 2027 from USD 65 billion valued at present, according to a report. Units engaged in oursourced work of overseas clients are referred as CIHs (capabilities and innovation hubs). The domestic CIH market is on course to increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 16 per cent till 2027 and reach USD 117 billion from USD 65 billion now, consultancy firm BCG said in its report. India leads CIH ecosystem globally with around 1,600 centres, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Poland, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rica, Romania, Morocco and the Czech Republic. The report said that CIHs are poised to play a more integral role in the growth of enterprises as they expand their portfolio of services to include front-end customer business facing operations and capabilities in upcoming technologies. Meanwhile, the report has projected the annual growth of global CIH spends at 10 p

No plan to expand laptop, personal computer import curbs: India tells WTO

India said that industry experts were consulted prior to the notification issued on August 3, and a transition period of three months was provided till October 31

India has a unique vantage position on how AI could play out: UN Tech Envoy

India's successful experience of building digital public infrastructure at scale has a unique vantage position on how Artificial Intelligence could play out in the Global South, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology Amandeep Singh Gill has said. India's experience in tackling the potential risks and challenges would also be of global interest, and would be watched carefully, Gill told PTI in an interview here. As a large developing country, with a successful experience of building digital public infrastructure at scale, by laying out a foundation of digital identity, digital payment mechanisms and then starting to build data flow, data management platforms on top of that -- India has a unique vantage position on how AI could play out in the Global South, he said. Gill said India can take the leadership in championing responsible applications of AI for development, for leap-frogging many of the challenges that developing countries face, including financial inclusion, last-mile .

'India planning to move from WPI to PPI in future like most G20 nations'

India is planning to move from the Wholesale Price Index to Producer Price Index (PPI) in future as most of the G20 countries follow this practice, an official said. The official said that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) is examining the working group report on the roadmap for introducing the PPI and their recommendations are awaited. "It is with Statistical Commission, so we will wait for the panel recommendation," the official, who did not wish to be named, said. When asked about the future plan on this, the government official said: "Initially, we will probably go with both (WPI and PPI) and after a few years, we may phase out WPI, because we are one of the few countries among G20 which still have WPI. All other including China use PPI". The PPI has been discussed for the past several year. A working group was set up a few years back to determine the methodology and data requirements to move ahead. In 2019, the government constituted a working group for revision of th