Page 18 - New Delhi

MICE leaders to hold meet to develop India as hub for hosting conferences

Senior leaders and CEOs from the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry will hold a roundtable here on November 30 to deliberate on strategies for developing India as a global hub for hosting large-scale international conferences and exhibitions. The industry roundtable by the Ministry of Tourism will be held at the Bharat Mandapam here. "During India's G20 Presidency, more than 200 meetings have been organised in 56 cities across the country. It has generated unprecedented interest at national and international level. It has showcased India's robust MICE infrastructure and cultural and natural heritage to the world. The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to take this momentum forward and firmly establish India as a global leader in MICE," the ministry of Tourism said in a statement. At the roundtable, the ministry will elaborate on its key initiatives aimed at promoting India as a premier MICE destination. Central to these efforts is the national .

Persistent challenges: Afghan Embassy announces permanent closure in Delhi

Afghanistan Embassy on Friday announced its permanent closure, citing "persistent challenges from the Indian government", even as heads of its Mumbai and Hyderabad missions claimed to have assumed the leadership of the embassy here. The developments come after the Afghanistan Embassy had announced on September 30 that it is ceasing its operations from October 1. The mission had then cited a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan's interests and reduction in personnel and resources. In a statement issued on Friday, the embassy said it regrets announcing the permanent closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, effective from November 23, "owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government". "This decision follows the embassy's earlier cessation of operations on 30th September 2023, a move made in the hope that the Indian government's stance would evolve favourably for the normal continuation of the Embassy of the Islam

Afghanistan embassy announces closure in New Delhi, issues statement

Despite "limitations in resources and power", the Afghan embassy said it has worked "tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul"

Who is in charge of my 'air'?

Controlling air pollution calls for negotiations that cover airsheds, as air is mobile and beyond artificial legal jurisdictions

Delhi may face severe water shortage over Jal Board fund crisis: Atishi

Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Tuesday said there could be a severe water crisis in the national capital since funds have not been released to the DJB. She requested LG V K Saxena to intervene in the matter. The minister alleged that despite written directions from her, who also holds the finance portfolio, funds were not released to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). "There could be a severe water crisis in the national capital. There are no funds to carry out routine work and paying salaries. The contractors have refused to carry out work. This could lead to a severe water crisis in Delhi, overflowing sewers and dirty water," she said. She also claimed that funds were not released by the Finance Department on the directions of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. There was no immediate reaction from the chief secretary's office or the Finance Department.

Delhi notifies premium bus aggregator scheme to encourage public transport

Electric premium buses will be exempt from licence fees

Our cities are choking

Revitalising urban air is crucial to ensure a healthier future for city dwellers

G20 virtual summit on November 22 will remain a stocktaking exercise

This will be the first time leaders from the G20 nations will gather twice during the year to assess the progress made since the main meeting

Major fire in East Delhi's building, woman dead, 25 people rescued

A 40-year-old woman died in a major fire at a building in East Delhi's Shakarpur on Tuesday while 26 people were rescued, officials said here. They said the fire started in its parking area in the early hours of the day and engulfed the entire structure. A woman died in the fire while 26 people, along with two pets, were rescued by the Delhi Fire Service, the officials said, adding that some people jumped off the windows to save themselves. All of them were rushed to a hospital, they said. "We got a fire call at about 1.05 am... We immediately pressed three fire engines to service. Later, five more fire engines were rushed to the spot. The matter was informed to the police immediately," an official of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said.

Heavy traffic on Delhi's roads ahead of Diwali, long queues at ISBT

Earlier, in anticipation of the traffic congestion during the Diwali and Dhanteras celebrations, the Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory for several parts of the national capital

LIVE: Palestinians flee north Gaza as Israel opens window for safe passage

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here

Uneven solution

Car rationing only partially addresses the pollution crisis

BAN vs SL Highlights, World Cup 2023: Win keeps Bangladesh in hunt for CT

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Highlights, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Shakib (82) and Najmul Shanto (90) helped Bangladesh chase down 280 and win the match to keep Champions Trophy qualification hopes alive

India most important country for US, says Ambassador Eric Garcetti

India is the most important country for the US and their relationship is the most defining relationship of the century, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said on Thursday. Garcetti made the remarks at The Energy Transition Dialogues hosted by Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet ( GEAPP) in New Delhi. "I used to say it in private but now I can say it in public, when the (US) President asked me consider this post (of Ambassador to India) he said India is the most important country in the world for me. I don't know if any American president has ever said that... President Joe Biden he actually did mean it..." the Ambassador said. Garcetti further said he believes the US India-relationship is the most defining relationship of this century. On the G20 summit organised under India's presidency in September, he said it was the best ever in the history. "The relationship is not just US plus India. It is an exponential relationship. Look at how we attended our best ever G20 in

India, Finland hold 12th Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi

The meeting also focused on multilateral cooperation, including the Arctic and reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

Raahgiri Day 2023: All you need to know about Delhi's traffic advisory

Raahgiri is derived from two words i.e. Raah means "path," and Giri is taken from "Gandhigiri," a version of nonviolent resistance practised by Mahatma Gandhi

Cricket World Cup 2023 AUS vs NED Playing 11, toss result, streaming detail

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australia vs Netherlands Playing 11: Marcus Stoinis was rested due to a niggle and Cameron Green replaced him in Australian playing 11. The Netherlands were unchanged

IMD Weather Update, 18 Oct: Delhi NCR experiences a dip in temperature

The temperature in Delhi NCR and different parts of the country has lowered in the last few days. The people in Delhi and adjoining places are experiencing relatively colder nights

India to host Brics international competition conference in Delhi this week

India will host the eighth BRICS International Competition Conference in the national capital this week and more than 600 delegates are expected to participate in the event. Briefing reporters here, Competition Commission of India (CCI) Chairperson Ravneet Kaur on Tuesday said the conference will have three plenary and four breakout sessions. The primary objective of the conference is to foster cooperation and share the learnings. More than 600 delegates are expected to participate in the conference, Kaur said. She also said the competition landscape has evolved with the digital economy and big tech companies.

'India Art Fair 2023 was the largest; next year's will be even bigger'

India Art Fair, one of the country's most prominent annual art events, will return to New Delhi in February 2024. The post-pandemic 2023 edition of the fair was the largest to date