G-20 Summit Delhi September 8, 2023 Updates | PM Modi holds bilateral talks with U.S. President Joe Biden

In the bilateral talks, PM Modi and President Biden reaffirmed the importance of Quad in supporting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific. Mr. Modi also looked forward to welcoming President Biden to the next Quad leaders’ summit to be hosted by India in 2024.

PM Modi and President Biden reiterated their support for building resilient global semiconductor supply chains. They reaffirmed commitment to deepen and diversify India-U.S. major defence partnership.

Joe Biden further welcomed issuance of Letter of Request from India’s defence ministry to procure 31 drones from the U.S.

In a joint statement by India and U.S. President Biden lauded India’s G20 Presidency for further demonstrating how G20 as a forum is delivering important outcomes.

Mr. Modi, and Biden reaffirmed commitment to G20 and expressed confidence that the outcomes of the summit will advance shared goals.

The two leaders called on their governments to continue work of transforming the Indo-US strategic partnership across all dimensions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with U.S. President Joe Biden in New Delhi. A statement by the PMO said that the two leaders’ discussions include wide range of issues and it will further deepen bond between India, U.S.

Mr. Biden arrived for the G20 summit in India, where he hopes to seize on the no-shows by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, to boost Washington’s influence. He is expected to speak with other leaders on the “margins,” the White House said. President Biden was received by Union Minister V.K. Singh. Read more here.

After the bilateral meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and PM Modi, the Prime Ministed posted on X: We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden held talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.

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As stringent traffic regulations and security restrictions came into force in the New Delhi district on Friday in view of the G20 Summit, the area wore a deserted look with key landmarks also without visitors.

Delhi Police said that things went “smoothly” and “seamlessly” on the first day G20-the related security restrictions were implemented in the New Delhi area which houses the summit venue and the delegates’ hotels.

“Traffic restrictions are imposed in a very small area of New Delhi district. That small portion has been restricted to the general public while the rest of Delhi is open,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa, a day before top leaders from the G20 nations officially hold the meet.

PTI

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who arrived for his maiden Indian visit on Friday, shared his delight at meeting the students and staff at the British Council in the national capital, calling them “the world leaders of tomorrow”.

The British PM, who was received by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Choubey, will join fellow world leaders at the G20 summit.

ANI

The Delhi government has formed special teams to ensure that the city’s air quality remains at a satisfactory level during the G20 Summit, which will witness several world leaders take part, officials said on Friday.

The 11 teams formed for each district -- comprising the district magistrate concerned, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deputy commissioners and probationary IAS officers -- will take steps such as the use of water sprinklers and mechanised sweeping to check dust, a senior government officer said.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held at the newly-built international convention and exhibition centre -- Bharat Mandapam -- at Pragati Maidan on Saturday and Sunday.

PTI

PM Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden’s discussions include wide range of issues, will further deepen bond between India, U.S.: PMO.

PM Modi on Friday expressed deep appreciation to PM Hasina for Bangladesh’s support to maintain peace in northeast India, said Dr Momen Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.

Regional peace and stability was discussed between the two PMs. Election in Bangladesh was not discussed in front of the delegates. The leaders discussed several things in the closed format, added Dr Momen.

In his first bilateral meeting ahead of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held talks with his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth in New Delhi and reiterated India’s commitment to furthering the voice of the Global South.

“PM @KumarJugnauth and I had a very good meeting. This is a special year for India-Mauritius relations as we mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. We discussed cooperation in sectors like infrastructure, FinTech, culture and more. Also reiterated India’s commitment to furthering the voice of the Global South,” Mr. Modi said on X.

Mr. Jugnauth, who arrived on Thursday to a warm welcome, will attend the G20 summit on September 9-10.

PTI

U.S. President Joe Biden arrived Friday for the G20 summit in India, where he hopes to seize on the no-shows by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin to boost Washington’s influence.

Mr. Biden is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after arrival, and would speak with other leaders on the “margins,” the White House said.

AFP

The UN chief urged the G20 countries -- responsible for 85 per cent of the world’s GDP and 80 per cent of the emissions -- to demonstrate leadership in two priority areas: preventing a climate breakdown and saving the sustainable development goals.

“The climate crisis is spiralling out of control, but G20 countries are in control. Together, G20 countries are responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. Half measures will not prevent full climate breakdown,” he said.

Guterres urged the G20 leaders to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive, rebuild trust based on climate justice and advance just and equitable transition through a green economy.

He urged big emitters to make extra efforts to cut emissions and support emerging economies to achieve these.

He said developed countries should reach net zero by 2040 and the emerging economies by 2050.

PTI

The Lutyens’ Delhi wears the look of a big colourful garden with the NDMC putting up thousands of flowers of marigold, chrysanthemum, daisy, and asparagus mary on trees and flower boards on the routes marked for the movement of G20 guests.

Around 1,200 trees and important intersections have been decorated by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Sardar Patel Road, officials said.

Twenty flower boards prominently displaying the G20 logo and slogan - “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth, One Family, One Future” have also been installed at prominent locations in the city, including 11 Murti, Windsor Place, and near hotels where foreign guests are staying, such as Lalit, Imperial, Leela, Taj Mansingh, Maurya Sheretan, NDMC Vice-Chairman Satish Upadhyay said.

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday ahead of the G20 Summit.

ANI

G20 countries should show leadership by keeping the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive, rebuilding trust based on climate justice and advancing just and equitable transition through a green economy, United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres said on Friday.

At the Paris climate talks in 2015, countries agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) to avoid extreme, destructive and likely irreversible effects of climate change.

“We have no time to lose, challenges stretch as far as I can see. The climate crisis is worsening dramatically but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility and urgency,” Guterres told a press conference on the eve of the G20 Summit here.

(PTI)

A person from north Delhi’s Bhalswa Dairy area was arrested on Friday for allegedly making a hoax alert on social media on the G20 Summit, officials said.

The accused claimed on social media that an auto-rickshaw carrying guns and explosives was on its way towards the Pragati Maidan area where the G20 Summit is being held, they said.

Taking swift action, Bhalswa Dairy police team traced the accused and arrested him for spreading false information in public.

PTI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday held a bilateral meeting with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and discussed G20 priorities.

The bilateral meeting took place a day ahead of the G20 Leadership Summit beginning on Saturday here.

“FM Smt. @nsitharaman and Secretary Ms. @SecYellen discussed key #G20 priorities and bilateral cooperation between the two democracies to address pressing global economic and financial issues,” the finance ministry said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Yellen on Thursday had said Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to the needless loss of lives and stands in direct contradiction to everything the G20 stands for. “We will rally our partners to maintain our collective economic support for Ukraine as well as impose severe costs on Russia,” she had said in a post on X on Thursday.

PTI

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that it was not his place to tell India what position it should take on Russia’s war in Ukraine, in an interview to news agency ANI.

“It’s not for me to tell India what positions to take on international issues, but I know India rightly cares about the international rule of law, the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity,” Sunak said when asked about India’s stance.

Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina hold bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

China on Friday sought to deflect criticism that its objections to the proposals on Ukraine and climate issues were blocking an agreement at the G20 summit in New Delhi, saying it is participating in the discussions in an “active and constructive way.” Replying to questions on criticism by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that an agreement on Ukraine and climate issues is yet to be reached by the G20 nations due to objections raised by China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China attaches great importance to the G20.

“China attaches great importance to the G20 and has participated in the consultations and discussions on the G20 New Delhi Summit document in an active and constructive way,” Mao said here at a regular ministry briefing.

Mao reiterated that “we stand ready to work with other parties toward positive outcomes at the New Delhi Summit under the principle of consensus-building”. The two-day summit is due to begin in New Delhi on Saturday and reports say officials member countries focussed on discussions to finalise a joint statement.

PTI

The African Union looks set to become the newest member of the G20, officials said Friday, as the bloc’s bid won backing from existing members gathered for a summit in India.

G20 host and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the pan-African organisation to become a permanent member, arguing developing nations need a greater say in global decision-making.

The proposal has won backing from Washington and on Friday the European Union said it would also back the move.

“I look forward to welcoming the AU as a permanent member of the G20”, European Council president Charles Michel told reporters in New Delhi, where the two-day G20 summit begins on Saturday.

AFP

G20 Chief Coordinator Harsh Vardhan Shringla said there will be a strong emphasis on technology, linked to digital public infrastructure during the G20 India’s presidency.

He pointed out that one of the major takeaway is the central bank digital currency, through which even international media persons, who don’t have bank accounts in India will be able to get some money in their mobile wallets.

“In that context, we will have a few exhibitions at the Media Center... We have a Reserve Bank of India innovation hub which is again in the Media Center. And this innovation hub will display technologies that fintech has not yet been introduced to the public domain. These are still in the pilot stages,”Shringla said during a pre-summit press conference at the International Media Centre.

ANI

Oman Deputy Prime Minister Asaad bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said on Friday arrived in New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit set to be held under India’s Presidency on September 9-10.

Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey received Oman Deputy PM at the airport. A group of dancers performed a traditional Indian dance to welcome Oman Deputy PM.

ANI

The exclusion of Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge from President Droupadi Murmu’s G20 dinner is an attack on democracy and reflects the ruling dispensation’s thinking, party leaders said on Friday.

Though Kharge and other opposition leaders were not invited to the dinner on Saturday, Union ministers and chief ministers, including of states ruled by opposition parties, have received invites.

President Murmu will host the dinner for the visiting G20 dignitaries at the Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 Summit.

PTI

In an exclusive interview to The Hindu, AU Chairperson Azali Assoumani said, “We are confident of becoming a full member of G20 in the summit being held under Indian Presidency.”

“G20 should invest in industrialisation of Africa so that our resources are used to produce goods in the continent and our youth can find employment,” he added.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday that there had been “lots of progress” on a free trade agreement with India but that it was not yet a done deal.

“Lots of progress has been made on this one, but we’re not there yet”, Sunak told reporters in New Delhi where he is attending the annual gathering of the Group of 20 major economies. “We can’t rush it, and I won’t rush it.”

Reuters

A day before the G20 Summit begins, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed confidence that it will chart a new path in the human-centric and inclusive development.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, he said on X that it is important to emulate his mission of serving the underprivileged, the very last person in the queue, as he underlined India’s great emphasis on a human-centric way of furthering progress.

“We seek to accelerate progress of SDGs, Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future and strengthen Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century. We attach immense priority to futuristic sectors such as technological transformation and digital public infrastructure. We will also collectively work to further gender equality, women empowerment and ensure world peace,” he said.

PTI

India on Friday said there has been “very rich” and “intense” discussion during its G20 presidency on multilateral development bank reforms which are critical for climate action and achieving sustainable development goals.

Addressing a pre-Summit press briefing, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said: “We wanted the world to take lead on green development in the context of climate action and climate finance... And because both SDGs (sustainable development goals) and climate action require finance, particularly for developing and emerging markets in the Global South, it is critical that we focus on the multilateral institutions of the 21st century. -PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Friday that the debate around the country’s name that erupted on social media following the G20 Summit invitations going out in the name of the “President of Bharat” are “panic reactions” and “distraction tactics” by the government.

Mr. Gandhi also said such controversies seem to play out every time his party raises concerns of “crony capitalism”. -PTI

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived Friday to head Moscow’s G20 summit delegation in President Vladimir Putin’s absence, television broadcasts showed.

“We are working closely with all G20 countries to... combat attempts to explain the world’s humanitarian and economic problems solely through the conflict in Ukraine,” a Foreign Ministry statement said before Mr. Lavrov’s arrival. -AFP

There will be no change of guard ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 9 due to the G-20 summit, an official statement said on Friday.

The change of guard ceremony is a military tradition that is held every week to enable a fresh group of the President’s Bodyguards to take charge.

-PTI

Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed is accompanying her mother during her trip to India to attend the G-20 summit, officials of the neighbouring country said.

The appearance of Ms. Wazed at a second high-profile international event after a trip with Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin to Indonesia earlier this week to attend the Asean summit where her candidature for a WHO post was announced to a global audience, has also sparked speculation that she may in time be given a larger political role in the ruling Awami League.

Ms. Hasina will be inaugurating a rail link with Tripura and the second unit of the Rampal power plant along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, virtually from Delhi at functions on the sideline of the G-20 meet.

-PTI

She will also sign several agreements including a deal which will facilitate a Rupee-Taka card for citizens of both countries to pay in local currency instead of in dollars while travelling to the other.

India’s Sherpa Amitabh Kant said he cannot speak about the declaration or outcomes like the African Union membership proposal made by PM Modi until the leaders have decided on them.

“G20 is an economic forum discussing growth and development. In Bali last year, issues of conflict that impact development like food, fuel and fertilisers were discussed and this year it has been a discussion, too. But the leaders will have to take the final decision,” he told the media at the pre-G20 briefing.

-Suhasini Haidar

Taking a dig at the government for not inviting Opposition leaders to the G-20, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said it shows that the current leadership doesn’t value the leaders of 60% of India’s population and the people should think about it.

Congress Party chief and the leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has not been invited to the G20 gala dinner being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, media reports said.

-PTI

“The priorities set by finance ministers and governors were on how to strengthen multilateral development banks, and also how to manage debt vulnerabilities of developing countries,” said Ajay Seth, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

-Suhasini Haidar

Addressing the media, India’s G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant says: “We have lived up to the Prime Minister’s vision of being decisive, ambitious and action-oriented during the G-20 presidency.” He cites growth issues, climate action and climate finance, SDGs and debt financing.

“Indias G-20 presidency has had highest participation of African countries and the Global South,” said Mr. Kant.

“The New Delhi declaration is almost ready. Only once it is agreed to by the Leaders at the Summit will we discuss it’s details.”

-Suhasini Haidar

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived on Friday to attend the G20 Summit. He is accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty.

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey received Mr. Sunak and his wife at the airport.

It is Mr. Sunak’s first visit to India as Prime Minister since he assumed office in October last year.

-ANI

The African Union (AU), a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of Africa, is ​set to join the G-20​ as negotiators agreed on clearing its membership. It is considered the top grouping representing the voice of Africa. It has been working towards ensuring the progress and economic growth of African nations and was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

African governments and the AU had for a number of years pushed for G-20 membership but only adopted a formal consensus to do the same in February this year at the AU Summit. The move was prompted by a proposal submitted by Senegalese President Macky Sall, who championed the cause through his Chairmanship of the body, emphasising that the AU’s entry into the G-20 was long overdue considering Africa’s economic and demographic weight.

In July this year, ​Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the leaders of the G-20​, pitching to give the AU full membership of the grouping at the Delhi Summit. The proposal was formally included in the draft leaders’ declaration at the third G-20 Sherpas’ meeting that took place in Karnataka’s Hampi from July 13 to 16.

The inclusion of the 55 African countries that represent a significant part of the developing world is important as the G-20 is seen as a more egalitarian version of the G-7, one that includes leaders of developing economies. While the AU represents 18% of the world’s population and 20% of global land area, its global trade volumes remain low at just 3% of the world’s trade. The G-20 membership is expected to bring economic integration for Africa.

Besides, while the continent holds a good 30% of the world’s mineral resources and 45% of its renewable energy potential, it also faces interconnect challenges of high vulnerability climate change; food and energy insecurity; public-health emergencies; and conflict.

Inclusion into the G-20 should also address AU’s global financing needs and support its Agenda 2063 for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Currently, Africa’s sustainable-development needs are estimated at $1.3 trillion on an annual basis until 2030.

-Diksha Munjal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was looking forward to his meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on Friday evening.

“The meetings will give an opportunity to review India’s bilateral ties with these nations and further strengthen developmental cooperation,” Modi said on X.

The meetings are scheduled to be held at the prime minister’s official Lok Kalyan Marg residence ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit starting Saturday.

-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday changed his display picture on microblogging website X to that of the Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 summit.

The picture shows a brightly-lit Bharat Mandapam with a Nataraja statue installed there.

Modi changed his profile picture from that of the tricolour to his own while doing “namaste”.

- PTI

Attacking the government on the first day of the G-20 summit, citing the more than three-year delay in conducting the census, the Congress on September 8 called it “unprecedented failure” which has led to an estimated 14 crore people being excluded from their food entitlements. The party also accused the government of “suppressing” data that it finds “inconvenient”.

“Nearly, every other G20 country has managed to conduct the Census, despite COVID-19, including other developing countries like Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa. The Modi government is so inept and incompetent that it has been unable to carry out India’s most important statistical exercise that has been conducted on schedule since 1951. This is an unprecedented failure in the history of our nation,” party’s general secretary (organisation) Jairam Ramesh said in a statement here.

Read more here...

China is willing to work with all parties and push for a positive outcome at the G20 summit in New Delhi, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Friday.

Mao Ning, ministry spokesperson, made the remarks after a media report said that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blamed China for delaying an agreement on various issues, including Ukraine.

-Reuters

It is difficult to predict if leaders of the G20 grouping will reach consensus on a declaration at the end of this weekend’s summit in New Delhi, European Council President Charles Michel said.

Mr. Michel said the European Union wanted the Group of 20 major economies to focus on global challenges to food and energy security.

Among issues expected to figure in the G20 talks are Russia’s blockade of the passage of grain shipments from Ukraine through the Black Sea, which affects food security in many nations.

Mr. Michel did not foresee the summit solving all “major” global problems, he said, but added that the EU wanted the bloc to hasten efforts on goals for sustainable development, and send a message on climate issues and poverty reduction.

- Reuters

Heads of State and other world leaders attending the G20 Summit here will be served grand meals on bespoke silverware bearing intricately engraved motifs inspired from the cultural heritage of India, a Jaipur-based metalware firm has said.

About 15,000 silverware crafted by 200 artisans have been made on the occasion of the G20 Summit.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be travelling to New Delhi on Friday afternoon to attend President Droupadi Murmu’s dinner invitation on the occasion of the G20 meeting, officials said.

During her visit to the national capital, Banerjee will meet leaders of different political parties, besides attending the official engagements, they said.

The president will host the dinner on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 summit of world leaders.

- PTI

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Ahead of the G20 summit, security forces have been deployed near north Delhi’s Majnu ka Tilla area in anticipation of a protest by some Tibetans on Friday, police officials said.

Majnu ka Tilla is a Tibetan settlement.

“We have barricaded a certain part of Majnu ka Tilla. Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed to maintain law and order,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi told PTI.

The step has been taken in anticipation of a protest by Tibetans, the officials said.

- PTI

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she will work at the G-20 summit in India to build support to increase lending resources for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to help member countries deal with multiple global challenges, including new IMF quota resources.

Read more here...

• September 8: PM will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of Mauritius, Bangladesh and the United States at Lok Kalyan Marg.
• September 9: In addition to the G-20 meetings, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with U.K., Japan, Germany and Italy.
• September 10: PM Modi will hold a working lunch meeting with President Macron of France. He will do a pull-aside meeting with Canada and bilateral meetings with Comoros, Türkiye, UAE, South Korea, EU/EC, Brazil and Nigeria.

- Nistula Hebbar

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed confidence that India, all set to host the leaders’ summit during its G20 presidency, will do “everything possible” to ensure that existing geopolitical divides are overcome and the crucial gathering of world leaders concludes with “possible results.” Mr. Guterres will arrive in Delhi on Friday to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9 and 10.

“I’m confident that India will do everything possible to make sure that the geopolitical divides that exist are overcome and that the G20 can conclude with possible results,” Mr. Guterres said in Jakarta where he is participating in the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit.

- PTI

The 120-chef team at the Taj Palace in New Delhi is preparing around 500 dishes for the G-20 summit scheduled to take place in the national capital this weekend.

“We have been planning the dishes and testing them daily over the last three months. We are hoping to cover the whole country’s culinary landscape through our special menu,” says Chef Surendra Negi from Taj Palace, New Delhi.

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The Delhi government’s Department of Food Safety has deployed its officers to ensure that G20 dignitaries and delegates are served hygienically cooked food during their stay at the city hotels, officials said.

A senior officer of the department said on Thursday that 18 food safety officers have been collecting samples of raw food items being used at 19 five-star hotels in New Delhi and the Aerocity area, where the foreign guests will stay.

“We do routine checking and sampling but in view of the G20 summit, we have deputed 18 food safety officers and are conducting laboratory tests on the samples being collected from the hotels since Monday,” the officer said.

The food safety officers are also ensuring kitchen and staff hygiene, including cleaning of utensils. Before serving, the cooked food will also be closely monitored and sampled for quality tests with the help of police, the officials said.

The food safety officers will inspect the cooking facilities and lifting of raw food items at different hotels. The raw food material will be used for cooking after the lab reports come within 24 hours, the officer said.

No food item will be provided and cooked in the kitchens without conducting a lab test, he added.

- PTI

G-20 leaders will witness a unique musical extravaganza at the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu when 78 artists from across the country perform on some of the rarest of rare Indian instruments like ‘Surbahar’, ‘Jaltarang’, and ‘Rudra Veena’.

The dinner programme will be held on September 9 at the ‘Bharat Mandapam’, the venue of the G-20 leaders summit.

Read more here...

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Stringent traffic regulations were put in place in the New Delhi district on Friday morning while online delivery services, except for medicines, have been barred in the area where the G20 summit venue and hotels for delegates are located, officials said.

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The African Union (AU) is set to join the G-20 as negotiators agreed on clearing its membership, according to sources privy to the discussions at the Sherpa meeting at a resort on the outskirts of Delhi.

This will mean the 55-member AU will join the European Union as the only two regional bodies in the G-20. While it still unclear whether the G-20 will be renamed as the “G-21” after the induction of the AU, Indian officials said the announcement would help “leave a lasting imprint” of the work the Indian Presidency has done.

Read more here...

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U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will urge his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the upcoming G20 summit to “call out” Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and use its clout to help end the war, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Mr. Sunak will travel to New Delhi to attend the G20 summit this weekend, in his first official trip to India since taking office last October.

Mr. Sunak and Mr. Modi are expected to hold bilateral talks on the margins of the G20 event and will discuss progress in the trade deal the two countries are trying to negotiate, the report said.

Reuters reported earlier on Thursday that Mr. Sunak will use the opportunity to discuss progress towards circumventing Russia’s Black Sea grain blockade with G20 leaders.

- Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday left for India to participate in the historic G20 Summit in New Delhi to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr. Biden will follow the COVID-19 guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during his visit to India for the G20 Summit, the White House has said.

First Lady Jill Biden, 72, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. President Biden, 80, was tested for the virus on Monday and Tuesday following his wife’s positive test, but his results were negative.

According to the White House, Biden would arrive in New Delhi on Friday evening, with a refuelling stop at Ramstein, Germany. He is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Friday itself.

- PTI

Spain’s caretaker prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, will miss the G20 summit in New Delhi after testing positive for COVID-19, the government said on Thursday.

Economy Minister Nadia Calvino and Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares will represent Spain at the summit that is set to begin on Sept. 9, the government said in a statement.

- Reuters