Page 80 - India

European development bank chief takes reform agenda to G20 talks in India

The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), of which India is a shareholder, will arrive in India on Sunday for a G20 finance summit with the reform agenda for multilateral development banks (MDBs) high on the list of priorities. Odile Renaud-Basso, the first woman head of an MDB as EBRD president, will begin her four-day visit in Gandhinagar for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors gathering. From Gujarat, she is scheduled for a high-level roundtable with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi to discuss opportunities for the Indian private sector in EBRD countries of operations in Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Turkey and Eastern Europe. The key discussion which is relevant for us is everything related to the MDB reform agenda, which is very prominent in the G20 discussion now, said Renaud-Basso during a pre-visit interview. India has a very important role to play as the president of the G20 at a t

India selects naval variant of Rafale jets to equip navy: Dassault Aviation

The Indian government announced the selection of the naval variant of Rafale jets to equip the Indian Navy with the latest-generation fighter, Dassault Aviation, French aerospace major and maker of the aircraft, said on Saturday. The defence ministry had on Thursday approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France. There was no mention of the procurement of Rafale jets in a document released following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. "The Indian Government announced the selection of the Navy Rafale to equip the Indian Navy with a latest-generation fighter," Dassault Aviation said in a statement. It said the decision came after a "successful trial campaign held in India, during which the Navy Rafale demonstrated that it fully met the Indian Navy's operational requirements and was perfectly suited to the specificities of its aircraft carrier". "The Indian Navy's 26 Rafale will eventually join the 36 Rafale already in .

India to set up technical office of DRDO at its embassy in France

India and France are ready to explore more ambitious projects to develop the Indian submarine fleet and its performance, according to joint statement

India, France to discuss plastic pollution issue with other nations

India and France on Friday said they will constructively engage other like-minded countries to strengthen the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution. After talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron here, the two countries made a joint commitment to eliminate single-use plastic products pollution, including a ban on single-use plastic products which have low utility and high littering potential. Noting that plastic product pollution due to littered and mismanaged plastic waste is a global environmental issue that must be urgently addressed, India and France said it has adverse impacts on ecosystems in general and marine ecosystems in particular. Single-use plastic products are defined by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) as "an umbrella term for different types of products that are typically used once before being thrown away or recycled", which include food packaging, bottles, straws, containers,

Back to the new-old: West wind, East wind, or the warnings of a storm?

India has been well and truly bitten by the big-country bug, and is committed once more to import substitution-on-crutches, writes T N Ninan

Australia, Brazil to grow pigeon peas for Indian market to meet demand

Officials said that the IPGA will promote pigeon pea farming in Queensland with the help of the Australian trade body Pulse Australia

India working to bring world together through Ayush sector: Sonowal

India is working to bring the world together through the promotion of the Ayush sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday. Sonowal was addressing a function after inaugurating an Ayush facility at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near here. In the last nine years, Ayush has gained accessibility and credibility in the world and people are increasingly accepting it as a method to make their lives better, the minister said. Speaking about the Ayush centre at the GMCH, Sonowal said the centre is dedicated to the people of Goa and will be the first such facility in the country. He appealed to the state government to disseminate information, education and communication about Ayush (Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homeopathy) in the state. The state government should set up camps in villages and increase public participation, the minister said. Sonowal claimed that Ayush never got the attention it

LIVE: India's role in new global order is changing rapidly, says PM Modi

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ICC Board Meet: India gets maximum share from revenue distribution

The BCCI reaffirmed its status as the financial powerhouse of world cricket as the ICC unanimously passed the revenue distribution model at its all-powerful board meeting in Durban on Thursday. In another important development, the ICC has put a cap on overseas cricketers plying their trade for teams in various leagues, keeping it to four players per playing XI in new events. This is primarily meant for T20 leagues starting in every nook and corner, which is posing a threat to the international version of the game. While the ICC media release didn't state the quantum of revenue that the BCCI will generate from the new distribution model, it is expected that the Indian board will annually earn USD 230 million from the USD 600 million pot for the next four years. It is around 38.4 percent approximately and at least six times more than England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who are set to receive approximately USD 41 million at 6.89 percent and Cricket Australia (CA) who will get 37.53

MEA terms Europe's resolution on human rights in India 'unacceptable'

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India, with particular reference to the recent clashes in Manipur, a move rejected by India as "unacceptable" and a reflection of "colonial mindset". The Parliament in Strasbourg, France, called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence and to "protect all religious minorities". Responding to media queries on the development, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that "such interference in India's internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset". "We have seen that the European parliament held a discussion on developments in Manipur and adopted a so-called Urgency resolution," he said. He said that the Indian authorities at all levels, including the judiciary, are seized of the situation in Manipur and are taking steps to maintain peace and harmony and law and order. "The European parliament would be well

Europe adopts resolution on human rights in India, referring to Manipur

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India, with particular reference to the recent clashes in Manipur. The Parliament in Strasbourg, France, called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence and to "protect all religious minorities". On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said EU parliamentarians concerned are being reached out and it has been made clear to them that it is a matter "absolutely" internal to India. Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes, especially between Kuki and Meitei communities for close to two months. "This is a matter totally internal to India," Kwatra said, replying to a question on the matter at a press conference in New Delhi. "We made a reach-out to the concerned EU parliamentarians. But we made it very clear that this is a matter absolutely internal to India," he added. The resolution entitled 'India, the situation in Manipur' was initiated by

India-China trade witnesses first signs of slowdown in years: Report

The India-China trade, which in recent years rose sharply despite bilateral tensions over the border dispute, showed the first signs of a slowdown in years falling by 0.9 per cent in the first half of this year. This came as China's overall foreign trade declined by about five per cent as its economy struggled to recover from COVID blues. China's exports to India in the first half of this year totalled USD 56.53 billion compared to USD 57.51 billion last year registering a decline of 0.9 per cent, according to the data released by Chinese customs on Thursday. India's exports to China during the same period totalled USD 9.49 billion compared to USD 9.57 billion last year. The trade deficit in the first half of 2023 too declined significantly to USD 47.04 compared to USD 67.08 billion last year. Last year was a bumper year for India-China trade as it touched an all-time high of USD 135.98 billion despite the continued chill in the bilateral ties over the military standoff in eastern

OPEC upbeat over 2024 global oil demand outlook despite headwinds

The report also showed OPEC's oil production rose by 91,000 bpd to 28.19 million bpd in June, led by Iran and Iraq, despite output cuts pledged by OPEC+

India has shown it's possible for harmony to exist amid diversity: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India as the world's largest democracy has demonstrated that it is possible for harmony to exist amid diversity and underscored the natural expectation of adjustments in the international system and institutions to give the country its rightful place. Modi told French newspaper Les Echos in an interview that India's young and skilled workforce is steeped in openness and democratic values, and is eager to embrace technology and adapt to the changing world. "When many countries in the world are ageing and their populations are shrinking, India's young and skilled workforce will be an asset for the world over the decades to come. As the world's largest democracy with unparalleled social and economic diversity, our success will demonstrate that democracy delivers. That it is possible for harmony to exist amidst diversity," he said. The progress of one-sixth of humanity will give the world a more prosperous and sustainable future, he said replyi

Tesla in talks with India to set up factory with 500,000 annual capacity

India was keen for Tesla to manufacture vehicles locally, but the company said it wanted to export its cars first so that it could test the strength of demand

'Integrating renewable energy in power system crucial to meet climate goal'

Integrating more renewable energy in the power system is crucial for India to meet climate goals, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) said. In its latest report, IEEFA has also suggested various measures to ramp up the share of clean energy in the country's power system. To cut emissions, India needs to increase renewable energy integration/absorption, the report said. "While India has been adding renewable energy capacity at a fast pace to meet its emissions intensity reduction target for 2030, the country needs to ramp up the share of clean energy in its power system. Integrating more renewable energy in the power system is crucial for India to meet climate goals," it noted. For India to meet growing electricity demand while addressing climate concerns, increased integration of clean energy, including variable renewable energy, is essential, IEEFA Energy Analyst and the report's author Charith Konda said. While raising non-fossil fuel power installe

India mulls banning exports of most rice varieties as local prices surge

The government is discussing a plan to ban exports of all non-Basmati rice, according to people familiar with the matter

Haven't seen peaceful coexistence like India: Muslim World League chief

Muslim World League secretary general Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa on Wednesday said the diversity of thought in India has impressed him a lot and asserted that he has not experienced anywhere else the kind of peaceful coexistence he has witnessed in the country. Addressing a gathering at the Vivekananda International Foundation here, Al-Issa also stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue to combat misconceptions and said there is a need to protect and guide the next generation right from early childhood in order to prevent a clash of civilisations. Al-Issa, who is on a visit to India, has met President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking in Arabic, he said Indian philosophy has been instrumental in the progress of humankind. "The diversity of thought in India has impressed me a lot.... The world can benefit from India's wisdom," Al-Issa said. Talking about promoting peaceful coexistence globally, he said there is a need to celebrate difference

Gujarat holds talk with Foxconn for its semiconductor plant: Official

Foxconn this week exited its project with Vedanta, which was also planned for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, citing issues such as slow progress

GST Council was unanimous in its decision, says revenue secretary

The government's decision, announced late on Tuesday, created an uproar in the $1.5 billion industry, with shares of casino operator Delta Corp & other online gaming firms plunging in Wednesday trade