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October 31, 2019
President of India Launches Endowment Fund of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Photo: The President, Ram Nath Kovind, launching the Endowment Fund of Indian Institute Technology Delhi, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 31, 2019.
New Delhi, October 31, 2019 - The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, launched the Endowment Fund of Indian Institute Technology Delhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (October 31, 2019).
The President said that endowments globally have become integral to the financial health of educational institutions over time. While we are still far from the size and importance of endowment funds of Institutions such as Harvard, Yale, or Columbia, it is the right first step in this direction. By giving through endowments, alumni are not just giving to their institution, but they are also supporting and nurturing future generations of learners.
The President said that the best way to honor a gift is to make the best use of it. In the latest QS World University ranking 2020, IIT Delhi was ranked at 182. There is a lot of scope for improvement if it aims to be one of the top institutes in the world. It needs to increase the number of faculty, particularly faculty with international experience. Additionally, it needs to upgrade its infrastructure to ensure its campus, course content, and research facilities are entirely world-class. He expressed the hope that the institute will make use of the valuable contribution from the alumni to bring changes in these areas.
The President said that throughout history, our educational institutes had been the beacons of our culture. We have a tradition of universities enriching lives and showing the way for the people in society.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Delighted to launch the endowment fund of IIT Delhi.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 31, 2019
Confident that this will act as catalyst for other institutions across the country to launch similar initiatives.
My best wishes to @IITDelhi and its alumni for taking this pioneering initiative in the country. pic.twitter.com/zaIEtRvfvV
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:39 PM | View the original post
October 30, 2019
Oscar Retrospective at 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Photo: Cinematographer Arthur Edeson, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, at the sets of CASABLANCA (1943) directed by Michael Curtiz. (TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.). Credit: Artwork from CASABLANCA used courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Image provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The 50th International Film Festival of India would have a special section celebrating some of the most outstanding films which have won the Best Film award at the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars.
The organizers have named this Section “Oscar Retrospective.”
The films to be showcased in this Section include:
- Casablanca by Michael Curtiz
- Gone With the Wind by Victor Fleming
- Ben Hur and The Best Years of our Lives by William Wyler
- All About Eve by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Lawrence of Arabia by David Lean
- The Sound of Music by Robert Wise
- The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola
- The Silence of the Lambs by Jonathan Demme
- Forrest Gump by Robert Zemeckis.
These films are some of the most popular and evergreen Hollywood classics. Cinephiles and film enthusiasts would love to watch them on the big screen at the 50th IFFI.
Mr. John Bailey, Cinematographer, and Ex. President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will chair the International Jury of 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Other jurors include French filmmaker Mr. Robin Campillo. Campillo was also a member of the Cannes International Jury 2019. Renowned Chinese filmmaker Mr. Zhang Yang and Ms. Lynne Ramsay, who is one of the leading lights of young British cinema, will be the other co-jurors. Eminent Filmmaker, Mr. Ramesh Sippy, is the Indian member in the International Jury.
The 50th International Film Festival of India will witness over 200 best films from 76 countries, 26 feature films, and 15 non-feature films in the Indian panorama section. Around 10,000 people and film lovers are expected to participate in the golden jubilee edition.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:16 PM | View the original post
October 25, 2019
Amazon Fashion Destination Denim
Photo: Caro Daur, Tamara Kalinic, Mandy Bork, and Ann-Kathrin Götze attend the Amazon Fashion Destination Denim launch event at Kuehlhaus Berlin on October 24, 2019, in Berlin, Germany. Image provided by Amazon Fashion Europe. Copyright © Andreas Rentz / 2019 Getty Images.
Photo: Tamara Kalinic attends the Amazon Fashion Destination Denim launch event at Kuehlhaus Berlin on October 24, 2019, in Berlin, Germany. Image provided by Amazon Fashion Europe. Copyright © Andreas Rentz / 2019 Getty Images.
Photo: Lorena Rae attends the Amazon Fashion Destination Denim launch event at Kuehlhaus Berlin on October 24, 2019, in Berlin, Germany. Image provided by Amazon Fashion Europe. Copyright © Andreas Rentz / 2019 Getty Images.
Berlin, October 24, 2019: Tonight, Amazon Fashion celebrated the exclusive launch party of “Destination Denim“ at Kühlhaus Berlin in Kreuzberg - its first experiential online and offline fashion event for customers. Destination Denim is a free four-day extravaganza at Kühlhaus Berlin that fuses fashion, tech, music, and culture.
After the welcome dinner, hosted by Michelin star chef Tim Raue, around 500 guests and Amazon Fashion customers were invited to enjoy an intimate gig by Liam Payne. The multi-award-winning artist captivated the audience with his energetic live show. Among the audience were numerous VIPs and fashion influencers such as Ann Kathrin Götze, Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht, Nazan Eckes, and Caro Daur. Stefanie Giesinger, Leonie Hanne, and Carmen Mercedes, aka Carmushka, rocked the latest denim styles of Amazon Fashion. International influencers such as Lorena Rae, Belen Hostalet, Eleonora Carisi, Tamara Kalinic, and Clara Berry joined the event as well. During the opening night, guests also had the chance to explore the interactive Destination Denim Event space at Kühlhaus Berlin, which will be open to a broad public from Friday (October 25, 2019) till Sunday (October 27, 2019).
Destination Denim will inspire customers to find their perfect pair of jeans through innovative experiences, live gigs from well-known international artists, giveaways, workshops, and panel talks. Customers will have the opportunity to shop Amazon Fashion’s extensive denim selection, including hero products from brands including Levi’s, Wrangler, G-Star, Replay, 7 For All Mankind, as well as exclusives from Tommy Jeans, find, and Amazon Essentials.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:48 PM | View the original post
October 17, 2019
UN proclaims International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Photo: UN Secretary-General António Guterres (on screens and at podium) addresses the opening of the general debate of the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly. 24 September 2019. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak. [File Photo]
United Nations, 17 October 2019 — The 74th UN General Assembly (UNGA) has proclaimed 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
The resolution was adopted by consensus following a presentation by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations, Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, who led the proposal and negotiations for the resolution.
The resolution was put forward by six UN Member States as chief co-sponsors, alongside Liberia were: Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, and Ukraine. Another 23 countries joined in co-sponsoring the resolution upon its adoption.
“Public access to information can enhance the protection of human rights, bring about better governance, fight corruption, and drive sustainable development,” underscored Moez Chakchouk. Moez Chakchouk is Assistant-Director General for Communication and Information for UNESCO. He was speaking during the opening of the international Open Talks global commemoration event held in Lima, Peru, on 27 September 2019.
As part of its role in the protection of the right to seek and receive information, UNESCO has been designated by the UN General Assembly as the custodian agency for global monitoring of SDG target 16.10.2.
SDG 16.10.2 tracks progress on the achievement of SDG 16 in terms of improvements in countries adopting and implementing constitutional, statutory, and policy guarantees to the public access to information. UNESCO monitoring of 42 countries during 2019 showed a need for improved record-keeping on the implementation at the national level.
Together with civil society efforts, UNESCO is now encouraging and supporting the Member States to include the 16.10.2 indicator in their monitoring of SDG progress.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:05 PM | View the original post
October 16, 2019
World Intellectual Property Filings for Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs reach Record Heights; China, India register Impressive Increases.
Photo: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
Geneva, October 16, 2019 — Asia accounted for more than two-thirds of all patent, trademark and industrial design applications in 2018, with China driving overall growth in demand for intellectual property (IP) rights. The United States of America (US) maintained its supremacy in patent applications filed in export markets.
Innovators across the globe filed 3.3 million patent applications in 2018, up 5.2% for a ninth straight yearly increase, according to WIPO’s annual World Intellectual Property Indicators (WIPI) report. Global trademark filing activity rose to 14.3 million, while that for industrial designs reached 1.3 million.
“Asia continues to outpace other regions in filing activity for patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and other intellectual property rights. And these intellectual property rights are at the center of the global economy,” said WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry. “China alone accounted for almost half of all the world’s patent filings, with India also registering impressive increases. Asia has become a global hub for innovation.”
Worldwide ‘Plant Variety’ applications grew by 8.9% to reach 20,210 applications in 2018, while data received from 92 national and regional authorities showed some 65,900 protected geographical indications (GIs) in 2018.
• Patents
China’s IP office received the highest number of patent applications in 2018. A record of 1.54 million applications that amounts to 46.4% of the global total. IP offices of the US (597,141), Japan (313,567), the Republic of Korea (209,992), and the European Patent Office (174,397) followed China’s IP office. Together, these five offices accounted for 85.3% of the world’s total.
Among the top five offices, China (+11.6%), the EPO (+4.7%), and the Republic of Korea (+2.5%) recorded growth in applications, while both Japan (-1.5%) and the US (-1.6%) saw small declines. For the US, it was the first decline in applications since 2009.
Germany (67,898), India (50,055), the Russian Federation (37,957), Canada (36,161) and Australia (29,957) also featured among the top 10 offices. All of these offices saw growth in filings, ranging from 7.5% in India to 0.3% in Germany.
• Asia is the hub of global patent filings.
Asia has strengthened its position as the region with the most significant activity in patent filings. Offices located in Asia received two-thirds (66.8%) of all applications filed worldwide in 2018 - a considerable increase from 50.8% in 2008 - primarily driven by growth in China. Offices located in North America accounted for just under one-fifth (19%) of the 2018 world total, while those in Europe accounted for only over one-tenth (10.9%). The combined share of offices located in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania was 3.3% in 2018.
US applicants filed the most significant number of patent applications beyond its borders.
In terms of filing abroad, which is an indication of a desire to expand in new markets, US residents continue to lead with 230,085 equivalent patent applications filed elsewhere in 2018. Japan (206,739), Germany (106,753), the Republic of Korea (69,459), and China (66,429) followed the US.
• Trademarks
An estimated 10.9 million trademark applications covering 14.3 million classes were filed worldwide in 2018. The number of types specified in forms grew by 15.5% in 2018, marking a ninth consecutive year of growth.
China’s IP office had the highest volume of filing activity with a class count of around 7.4 million; followed by the IP offices of the US (640,181) and Japan (512,156); the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO; 392,925) and the IP office of the Islamic Republic of Iran (384,338).
Among the top 20 offices, the most substantial increases between 2017 and 2018 were in the IP offices of Indonesia (+29.1%), China (+28.3%), India (+20.9%), the Republic of Korea (+14.5%) and the United Kingdom (+12.4%).
• Asia leads in trademark filings.
Offices located in Asia accounted for 70% of all trademark filing activity in 2018, up from 36.2% in 2008. Europe’s share declined from 38.4% in 2008 to 15.8% in 2018. North America accounted for 5.8% of the world total in 2018, while the combined share of offices located in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania was 8.4% in 2018.
There were an estimated 49.3 million active trademark registrations worldwide in 2018 - up 13.8% in 2017, with 19.6 million in China alone, followed by 2.4 million in the US, and 1.9 million in India.
• Industrial designs
An estimated 1 million industrial design applications containing 1.3 million designs were filed worldwide in 2018, representing a 5.7% year-on-year increase. China’s IP office received applications containing 708,799 designs in 2018, corresponding to 54% of the world total. EUIPO (108,174), and the IP offices of the Republic of Korea (68,054), the US (47,137), and Germany (44,460) followed China.
Among the top 20 offices, the following five offices reported double-digit growth in design counts: the UK (+42.4%), the Russian Federation (+21%), Italy (+16.6%), India (+13.6%) and China (+12.7%).
• Asia sees the highest design activity.
Offices located in Asia accounted for more than two-thirds (69.7%) of all designs in applications filed worldwide in 2018, followed by Europe (23%) and North America (4.1%). The combined share of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania was 3.2% in 2018.
Designs related to furnishings accounted for 10.5% of global filing activity, followed by those related to clothing (8.3%) and packages and containers (7.7%).
• Plant varieties
China’s relevant office received 5,760 plant variety applications in 2018, up 29% from 2017. It now accounts for over a quarter of the plant variety applications filed worldwide. The Community Plant Variety Office of the European Union (CPVO; 3,554), and relevant offices of the US (1,609), Ukraine (1,575), and Japan (880) followed China. Among the top five offices, China and Ukraine (+17.1%) saw double-digit growth in filings 2018; CPVO (+3.9%) and the US (+3.3%) reported similar growth rates. Japan (-13.6%) saw a sharp drop in filings.
• Geographical indications
In 2018, there were around 65,900 GIs in force worldwide. GIs are signs used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Germany (15,566) reported the most significant number of GIs in force, followed by China (7,247), Hungary (6,683), and the Czech Republic (6,285).
GIs in force relating to “wines and spirits” accounted for around 51.1% of the 2018 world total, followed by agricultural products and foodstuffs (29.9%) and handicrafts (2.7%).
• Publishing industry
Revenue generated by the trade and the educational sectors of the publishing industry of 14 countries amounted to USD 42.5 billion. The US (USD 23.3 billion) reported the most substantial net revenue, followed by Germany (USD 6.1 billion), the UK (USD 5.4 billion), and France (USD 3 billion).
Online sales channels generated more than half of all trade sector revenue in the UK (51.5%). The US (41.6%), Brazil (25.5%), and Sweden (23.5%) also saw large proportions of their total trade sector revenue generated by online sales channels. However, brick and mortar outlets continue to produce the highest share of total trade sector revenue for all the reported countries, except in Slovenia, the UK, and the US.
The US sold 2.6 billion copies of published titles covering the trade and educational sectors in 2018. The UK (652 million), France (419 million), and Turkey (400 million) followed the US.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information, and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 192 member states in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society’s evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it offers free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is an alumnus of the WIPO Academy.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:39 PM | View the original post
October 15, 2019
Tissot Gentleman — Permanent Elegance
Tissot is dedicating its new ‘Gentleman’ to the elegant man of today. Sophisticated yet understated, made of steel, it is available in six versions. This 40 mm-diameter model shows Tissot’s devotion to excellent artistry in its watchmaking.
• Versatility
According to Tissot, ‘Gentleman’ is a multi-purpose watch, both ergonomic and elegant, in any circumstance. It is equally suitable for wearing in a business environment, where conventional dress codes apply, as at the weekend, when it adapts easily to leisure activities. As part of the life of a modern, active man, the Tissot Gentleman becomes the perfect companion for every day, every occasion and every style.
• Features
- Steel case, burnished details
- Diameter 40 mm, Thickness 10.64 mm
- Sapphire glass
- Water-resistant 100 m (10 atm)
- Steel crown with embossed T
- Mechanical self-winding movement
- Powermatic 80 caliber with silicon balance spring
- Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Engraved rotor and “Waves of Time” decoration
- Power reserve of 80 hours
- Applique hour markers, beveled, buffed to a satin finish with white Super-LumiNova
- Dauphine hands, faceted and filled with white Super-LumiNova
- The date aperture, in applique
- Steel strap with three links, buffed to a satin finish or in calfskin
- Foldover steel clasp with safety push-buttons
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:03 PM | View the original post
October 14, 2019
UNESCO announces Winners of the 2019 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation
Photos: Flora Fountain, Mumbai, India. Flora Fountain has received ‘Honorable Mention’ at the 2019 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
PENANG, MALAYSIA, 14 October 2019 - The renewal of the historic Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts, Hong Kong, has received the Award of Excellence in this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
Sixteen projects from five countries - Australia, Bhutan, China, India, and New Zealand - have been recognized by the international Jury of conservation experts in this year’s awards. The Jury met in August to review 57 entries from 14 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Jury praised the Award of Excellence winner, Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts, stating:
“The transformation of the former Central Police Station into a world-class center for heritage and arts has created a vibrant new civic space in the heart of the city’s central business district.”
Other Awardees include:
Award of Distinction
- Keyuan Garden, Suzhou, China
- Vikram Sarabhai Library, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India
- Nelson School of Music, Nelson, New Zealand
Award of Merit
- Tseto Goenpa, Paro, Bhutan
- Guyue Bridge, Chi’an Town, Zhejiang, China
- Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue, Mumbai, India
- Our Lady of Glory Church, Mumbai, India
- Lyttelton Timeball Station, Christchurch, New Zealand
Honorable Mention
- The 5s Classroom, Preshil The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School, Kew, Australia
- Westpac Long Gallery, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
- Liddell Bros. Packing Plant, Wuhan, China
- Flora Fountain, Mumbai, India
New Design in Heritage Contexts
- Joan Sutherland Theatre Passageway and Lift, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
- Dry Pit Latrine in Jiaxian Ancient Jujube Garden, Nihegou Village, Shaanxi, China
- The Mills, Hong Kong SAR, China
The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation program recognizes private individuals and organizations for successfully restoring and conserving structures and buildings of heritage value in the region. By recognizing private efforts to restore and adapt historic properties, the Awards aim to encourage other property owners to undertake conservation projects within their communities, either independently or by seeking public-private partnerships.
Awarded projects reflect a clear understanding and application of various criteria, such as the articulation of the spirit of place, technical achievement, appropriate use or adaption, and the project’s contribution to the surrounding environment as well as the local community’s cultural and historical continuity.
The 2019 Awards Ceremony saw 150 past winners, jury members, contributors, and friends of the Awards gather to recognize this year’s Award Winners.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:25 PM | View the original post
October 13, 2019
"G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance" Launched to Counter Growing Tensions
Photos: The G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance launch event in Yokohama, Japan. 11 October 2019.
Yokohama, Japan, 11 October 2019 - Fifteen of the world’s leading city networks and technology governance organizations announced today a new partnership. The “G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance” will create global norms and policy standards for the use of connected devices in public spaces. It is the most significant and most ambitious undertaking to advance the responsible and ethical use of smart city technologies on a global level.
Smart city technologies can help decrease traffic congestion, combat crime, improve resilience during natural disasters, and reduce greenhouse emissions. Without proper governance, these technologies pose a significant risk, notably to privacy and security. The Global Smart Cities Alliance will develop, pilot, and collectively implement new global policy standards. It would ensure the safe and ethical use of data collected in public places.
“Our cities stand at a crossroads. Rapid urbanization threatens to paralyze local economies and undermine the quality of life,” said Jeff Merritt, Head of IoT, Robotics, and Smart Cities at the World Economic Forum. “Smart city technologies offer huge promise, but they can be a Pandora’s box. Today’s announcement is a critical first step to accelerate global best practices, mitigate risks, and foster greater openness and public trust regarding the collection of data in public spaces.”
Established in June 2019 in conjunction with the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, the Alliance comprises fifteen of the world’s leading city networks and technology governance organizations. The partners represent more than 200,000 cities and local governments, leading companies, start-ups, research institutions, and civil society organizations. The World Economic Forum serves as the secretariat.
“The advancement of smart cities and communities is critical to realizing Japan’s vision for Society 5.0. It is also essential to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. These challenges include climate change and inclusive economic growth,” said Koichi Akaishi, Vice Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation for the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan. “The Government of Japan is proud to have championed this initiative as part of our G20 presidency. We hope that cities will pledge support for the Alliance and participate in its activities to cooperate and form shared global principles in the future.”
Working together with municipal, regional, and national governments, private-sector partners, and city residents, the Global Smart Cities Alliance, has committed to co-design and roll out a first-of-its-kind global policy framework on smart city technologies in advance of the 2020 G20 Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The first policy design workshops with city leaders will take place in conjunction with the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in November.
• The Global Smart Cities Alliance’s founding set of institutional partners include:
- The presidents and host nations of the Group of 20 (G20) in 2019 and 2020;
- Japan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
- The Smart City Mission of India;
- Cities for All;
- Cities Today Institute;
- Commonwealth Local Government Forum;
- Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Network;
- Connected Places Catapult;
- Digital Future Society;
- ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability;
- International Telecommunication Union;
- Open and Agile Smart Cities;
- Smart City Expo World Congress;
- United Cities and Local Governments;
- What Works Cities;
- World Economic Forum; and
- World Enabled.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:16 PM | View the original post
October 12, 2019
TAG Heuer introduces two new Aquaracer models featuring Emerald Green Dials
Photo: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Gents Green Dial.
Photo: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Ladies Green Dial.
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland — The Swiss watchmaker, TAG Heuer, has created two green-dialed Aquaracer models that offer sporty functionality on any terrain. Their everyday versatility distinguishes these stylish timepieces for men and women.
The 43 mm Aquaracer (Gents) has a stunning green dial that creates an eye-catching light display with its sunray effect. The design of the horizontal lines that run across the dial resembles the wooden docks where sailers moor their sailboats.
Both watches are crafted from stainless steel and presented on stainless-steel bracelets. At the heart of the 43 mm (Gents) model is the Calibre 5 Automatic movement, while the quartz movement powers the 32 mm (Ladies) model.
These new additions to TAG Heuer’s historic Aquaracer collection are Elegant, sophisticated, and bold. With their comfortable bracelets and timeless designs, the precise and reliable Aquaracer models are prepared to accompany watch aficionados wherever their experiences take them.
• TAG Heuer Aquaracer Gents Green Dial
- Movement: Calibre 5 automatic
- Display: Date, hour, minute and seconds
- Case: Diameter 43 mm, stainless-steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel in stainless steel, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, screw-down crown, water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar)
- Dial: Green sunray brushed dial, rhodium-plated indexes, and hands with white SuperLuminova
- Strap: Stainless-steel bracelet with diving extension, stainless-steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
• TAG Heuer Aquaracer Ladies Green Dial
- Movement: Quartz
- Display: Date, hour, minute and seconds
- Case: Diameter 32 mm, stainless-steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel in stainless steel, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, screw-down crown, water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar)
- Dial: Green sunray brushed dial, 11 indexes with diamonds, rhodium-plated hands with white SuperLuminova
- Strap: Stainless-steel bracelet with diving extension, stainless-steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:08 PM | View the original post
October 11, 2019
The Prime Minister of India and the President of the People's Republic of China visit "Krishna's Butter Ball" in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Photo: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, at “Krishna’s Butter Ball” in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on October 11, 2019.
Photo: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, at “Krishna’s Butter Ball” in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on October 11, 2019.
Photo: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, at “Arjuna’s Penance” in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on October 11, 2019.
Photo: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, exchanging gifts with the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, in Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu on October 12, 2019.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:55 PM | View the original post
October 10, 2019
Tbilisi, Georgia, named World Book Capital 2021
Photo: Tbilisi (Georgia) old town area. Image credit: Jelger.
Paris, France, 07 October 2019 — At the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has named Tbilisi (Georgia) World Book Capital for the year 2021.
Around the slogan, “Ok. So your next book is…?” the program focuses on the use of modern technologies as powerful tools for promoting reading among the youth.
Several meaningful, large-scale, and sustainable activities comprise the program. Amongst the events and activities, there will be libraries and a book festival for children, a state-of-the-art digital project for transforming books into games, and the rebuilding of the first Georgian publishing house.
Specially designed for children, youngsters, and readers who have limited access to books, the activity program will be driven by innovation. The city’s principal objective is to popularize reading and increase accessibility to books for all social levels.
The year of celebrations will start on 23 April 2021, on the World Book and Copyright Day.
Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year. As the twenty-first city to bear the title since 2001, Tbilisi follows Kuala Lumpur (2020) and Sharjah (2019). Past winners include Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Anvers (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Erevan (2012), Bangkok (2013), Port Harcourt (2014), Incheon (2015), Wroclaw (2016), Conakry (2017) and Athens (2018).
The Advisory Committee for nominating the World Book Capital city is made up of representatives of the International Publisher’s Association (IPA), the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), and UNESCO.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:44 PM | View the original post
Chef Heena Patel will present Recipes from La Cocina's Cookbook at the National Press Club, Washington DC.
Photo: Heena Patel, an alumna of San Francisco’s acclaimed incubator kitchen “La Cocina” to host multi-course dinner at the Fourth Estate restaurant, National Press Club, Washington DC, October 23. Incubator kitchen’s recently published book, “ We Are La Cocina: Recipes in Pursuit of the American Dream,” includes Patel’s recipes.
Washington, DC, October 8, 2019 — The National Press Club will welcome chef Heena Patel, one of the many success stories to emerge from San Francisco’s acclaimed small-business incubator La Cocina, at a multi-course dinner celebrating Indian food from the Gujarat region at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 23.
Incubator kitchen’s recently published book, “We Are La Cocina: Recipes in Pursuit of the American Dream,” includes Patel’s recipes. The cookbook contains 75 recipes from more than 40 of La Cocina’s successful alumni.
Heena initially hoped to develop a mobile food and catering business. However, La Cocina, a small business, food-industry incubator established in the 1990s in San Francisco’s Mission District, helped Patel start her business. La Cocina assists primarily immigrant women to build self-sufficient enterprises.
Heena will guide diners through the intricacies of the Gujarati food of western India, the “Thali” or arranged foods full of tastes. Scroll to the bottom to see the full menu.
Heena’s recipes are also on daily display at her successful restaurant in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
The multi-course dinner is for the National Press Club members. However, non-members, single as well as couples, are also allowed. Non-members would have to buy tickets. A ticket includes a copy of the “We are La Cocina” cookbook.
The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. with passed hors d’oeuvres (Appetizers). Each course will be paired with appropriately matched drinks.
• Menu
- Hors d’oeuvres, Appetizers
- Handvo Opo, a wedge of squash lentil cake
- Cocktail onion samosas, a crisp pastry with spiced onion
- Kanjiwada, tapioca fritters
- Soup
- Gujarati Dal with Vada, Lentil soup with moong dal fritter
- Salad
- Arugula, radicchio, roasted corn, pistachio, crispy garbanzo beans, tamarind ginger vinaigrette
- Mini Thali served family-style:
- Batata nu saag, dry potato curry
- Haldhar Puri, fried turmeric flatbread
- Coconut moilee, cod in fragrant coconut milk
- Smoky roasted eggplant, tomatoes, turmeric
- Basmati rice, garlic, onion and mustard seeds
- Parathas
- Chile pickle
- Caper Raita, Greek yogurt, black pepper, sea salt
- Mango chutney
- Dessert
- Pista Kulfi with caramelized pineapple and mango served with rose lassi.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor is a member of the National Press Club.
- UPDATE from NPC -
• Journalist Aarti Tikoo Discusses Situation in Kashmir at National Press Club.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2019 — On Thursday, October 24th, an Indian American Organization hosted award-winning journalist Aarti Tikoo, Assistant Senior Editor, Times of India (New Delhi), at the National Press Club, Bloomberg Room, for a discussion entitled “Locked Down or Liberated? The Story of Kashmir”.
Tikoo had reported on and from the region for nearly two decades, most recently from inside the Kashmir Valley since August 5th, when the government repealed Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.
• Ms. Tikoo was invited to Capitol Hill this week as a witness at a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on ‘Human Rights in South Asia’ where she provided eye-witness testimony about the situation in Kashmir to Members of Congress.
With over 18 years of experience in conflict-reporting and analysis, she has broken some of the biggest news stories and exclusive interviews on Kashmir. In addition to her reporting credentials, Tikoo has a strong background in foreign and security policy combined with on-the-ground knowledge.
Proficient in print, online, multi-media, and social media technologies, she writes on a wide range of issues concerning politics, economics, violence, and international relations.
Previously, Tikoo worked with other major national publications in India and has written opinion pieces in various national and international newspapers. She holds two Masters degrees in Political Science and English from the University of Jammu, as well as a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. During her time in New York, she worked briefly at Columbia University, the United Nations, and the BBC.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:44 PM | View the original post
October 9, 2019
World Economic Forum publishes Global Competitiveness Report 2019
Photo: Impressions at the Annual Meeting 2019 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, 19 January 2019. Image provided by & Copyright © World Economic Forum / Mattias Nutt. [File Photo]
Geneva, Switzerland, 9 October 2019 - Ten years on from the global financial crisis, the global economy remains locked in a cycle of low or flat productivity growth despite the injection of more than $10 trillion by central banks. While these unprecedented measures were successful in averting a deeper recession, they are not enough to catalyze the allocation of resources towards productivity-enhancing investments in the private and public sectors. The Global Competitiveness Report 2019, published today, points to the path forward.
The Report, launched in 1979, provides an annual assessment of the drivers of productivity and long-term economic growth. The World Economic Forum prepares the Report on the bases of the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), which maps the competitiveness landscape of 141 economies through 103 indicators organized into 12 pillars. These pillars are Institutions; Infrastructure; ICT adoption; Macroeconomic stability; Health; Skills; Product market; Labour market; Financial system; Market size; Business dynamism; and Innovation capability. For each indicator, the index uses a scale from 0 to 100, and the final score shows how close an economy is to the ideal state or “frontier” of competitiveness.
With a score of 84.8 (+1.3), Singapore is the world’s most competitive economy in 2019. The United States remains the most competitive large economy in the world, coming in at a second place. Hong Kong SAR (3rd), Netherlands (4th), and Switzerland (5th) round up the top five. The average across the 141 economies covered is 61 points, almost 40 points to the frontier. This global competitiveness gap is of even more concern as the global economy faces the prospect of a downturn. The changing geopolitical context and rising trade tensions are fuelling uncertainty and could precipitate a slowdown. However, some of this year’s better performers in the GCI appear to be benefiting from the trade feud through trade diversion, including Singapore (1st) and Viet Nam (67th), the most improved country in this year’s index.
The report documents emerging areas of promising policies, reforms, and incentives to build more sustainable and inclusive economies. The Report recommends a transition to a greener economy and suggests four critical areas of action: engage in openness and international collaboration, update carbon taxes and subsidies, create incentives for R&D, and implement green public procurement.
The Report also recommends: increase equality of opportunity, encourage fair competition, update tax systems, modernize social protection measures, and foster competitiveness-enhancing investments.
The United States (2nd overall) is the leader in Europe and North America. The United States remains an innovation powerhouse, ranking 1st on the Business dynamism pillar and 2nd on Innovation capability. The Netherlands (4th), Switzerland (5th), Germany (7th), Sweden (8th), the United Kingdom (9th), and Denmark (10th) follow the USA. Among other large economies in the region, Canada is 14th, France 15th, Spain 23rd, and Italy 30th. The most improved country is Croatia (63rd).
In South Asia, India, in 68th position, loses ground in the rankings despite a relatively stable score, mostly due to faster improvements of several countries previously ranked lower. Sri Lanka (84th), Bangladesh (105th), Nepal (108th), and Pakistan (110th) follow India.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:05 PM | View the original post
October 8, 2019
93 Countries in Competition for the 2019 International Feature Film Oscar.
Photo: Indian actress Alia Bhatt at the Press Conference for the film ‘Gully Boy’ presented at the 69th Berlinale film festival on February 9, 2019, in Berlin, Germany. Image provided by Berlinale. “Gully Boy,” directed by Zoya Akhtar, is India’s entry for 2019 International Feature Film Oscar. [File Photo]
Photo: Christian Bale, Oscar nominee, and wife Sibi Blazic arrive on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA, on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Image provided by & Copyright © Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S. [File Photo]
Photo: Dionne Lea Williams (left) and Keith David before “The Princess and the Frog” presentation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Marc Davis Celebration of Animation, on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Image provided by & Copyright © Troy Harvey / A.M.P.A.S. [File Photo]
LOS ANGELES, CA, October 08, 2019 — Ninety-three countries have submitted films for consideration in the International Feature Film category for the 92nd Academy Awards. The Academy defines an international feature film as a feature-length motion picture (more than 40 minutes) produced outside the United States with a predominantly non-English dialogue track. Ghana, Nigeria, and Uzbekistan are first-time entrants.
Earlier this year, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to rename the Foreign Language Film category to International Feature Film and expand the shortlist from nine to 10 films.
The 2019 submissions, listed in alphabetical order by country, are:
- Albania, “The Delegation,” Bujar Alimani, director;
- Algeria, “Papicha,” Mounia Meddour, director;
- Argentina, “Heroic Losers,” Sebastián Borensztein, director;
- Armenia, “Lengthy Night,” Edgar Baghdasaryan, director;
- Australia, “Buoyancy,” Rodd Rathjen, director;
- Austria, “Joy,” Sudabeh Mortezai, director;
- Bangladesh, “Alpha,” Nasiruddin Yousuff, director;
- Belarus, “Debut,” Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, director;
- Belgium, “Our Mothers,” César Díaz, director;
- Bolivia, “I Miss You,” Rodrigo Bellott, director;
- Bosnia and Herzegovina, “The Son,” Ines Tanovic, director;
- Brazil, “Invisible Life,” Karim Aïnouz, director;
- Bulgaria, “Ága,” Milko Lazarov, director;
- Cambodia, “In the Life of Music,” Caylee So, Sok Visal, directors;
- Canada, “Antigone,” Sophie Deraspe, director;
- Chile, “Spider,” Andrés Wood, director;
- China, “Ne Zha,” Yu Yang, director;
- Colombia, “Monos,” Alejandro Landes, director;
- Costa Rica, “The Awakening of the Ants,” Antonella Sudasassi Furniss, director;
- Croatia, “Mali,” Antonio Nuic, director;
- Cuba, “A Translator,” Rodrigo Barriuso, Sebastián Barriuso, directors;
- The Czech Republic, “The Painted Bird,” Václav Marhoul, director;
- Denmark, “Queen of Hearts,” May el-Toukhy, director;
- The Dominican Republic, “The Projectionist,” José María Cabral, director;
- Ecuador, “The Longest Night,” Gabriela Calvache, director;
- Egypt, “Poisonous Roses,” Ahmed Fawzi Saleh, director;
- Estonia, “Truth and Justice,” Tanel Toom, director;
- Ethiopia, “Running against the Wind,” Jan Philipp Weyl, director;
- Finland, “Stupid Young Heart,” Selma Vilhunen, director;
- France, “Les Misérables,” Ladj Ly, director;
- Georgia, “Shindisi,” Dimitri Tsintsadze, director;
- Germany, “System Crasher,” Nora Fingscheidt, director;
- Ghana, “Azali,” Kwabena Gyansah, director;
- Greece, “When Tomatoes Met Wagner,” Marianna Economou, director;
- Honduras, “Blood, Passion, and Coffee,” Carlos Membreño, director;
- Hong Kong, “The White Storm 2 Drug Lords,” Herman Yau, director;
- Hungary, “Those Who Remained,” Barnabás Tóth, director;
- Iceland, “A White, White Day,” Hlynur Pálmason, director;
- India, “Gully Boy,” Zoya Akhtar, director;
- Indonesia, “Memories of My Body,” Garin Nugroho, director;
- Iran, “Finding Farideh,” Azadeh Moussavi, Kourosh Ataee, directors;
- Ireland, “Gaza,” Garry Keane, Andrew McConnell, directors;
- Israel, “Incitement,” Yaron Zilberman, director;
- Italy, “The Traitor,” Marco Bellocchio, director;
- Japan, “Weathering with You,” Makoto Shinkai, director;
- Kazakhstan, “Kazakh Khanate. The Golden Throne,” Rustem Abdrashov, director;
- Kenya, “Subira,” Ravneet Singh (Sippy) Chadha, director;
- Kosovo, “Zana,” Antoneta Kastrati, director;
- Kyrgyzstan, “Aurora,” Bekzat Pirmatov, director;
- Latvia, “The Mover,” Davis Simanis, director;
- Lebanon, “1982,” Oualid Mouaness, director;
- Lithuania, “Bridges of Time,” Audrius Stonys, Kristine Briede, directors;
- Luxembourg, “Tel Aviv on Fire,” Sameh Zoabi, director;
- Malaysia, “M for Malaysia,” Dian Lee, Ineza Roussille, directors;
- Mexico, “The Chambermaid,” Lila Avilés, director;
- Mongolia, “The Steed,” Erdenebileg Ganbold, director;
- Montenegro, “Neverending Past,” Andro Martinović, director;
- Morocco, “Adam,” Maryam Touzani, director;
- Nepal, “Bulbul,” Binod Paudel, director;
- The Netherlands, “Instinct,” Halina Reijn, director;
- Nigeria, “Lionheart,” Genevieve Nnaji, director;
- North Macedonia, “Honeyland,” Ljubo Stefanov, Tamara Kotevska, directors;
- Norway, “Out Stealing Horses,” Hans Petter Moland, director;
- Pakistan, “Laal Kabootar,” Kamal Khan, director;
- Palestine, “It Must Be Heaven,” Elia Suleiman, director;
- Panama, “Everybody Changes,” Arturo Montenegro, director;
- Peru, “Retablo,” Alvaro Delgado Aparicio, director;
- The Philippines, “Verdict,” Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, director;
- Poland, “Corpus Christi,” Jan Komasa, director;
- Portugal, “The Domain,” Tiago Guedes, director;
- Romania, “The Whistlers,” Corneliu Porumboiu, director;
- Russia, “Beanpole,” Kantemir Balagov, director;
- Saudi Arabia, “The Perfect Candidate,” Haifaa Al Mansour, director;
- Senegal, “Atlantics,” Mati Diop, director;
- Serbia, “King Petar the First,” Petar Ristovski, director;
- Singapore, “A Land Imagined,” Yeo Siew Hua, director;
- Slovakia, “Let There Be Light,” Marko Skop, director;
- Slovenia, “History of Love,” Sonja Prosenc, director;
- South Africa, “Knuckle City,” Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, director;
- South Korea, “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho, director;
- Spain, “Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodóvar, director;
- Sweden, “And Then We Danced,” Levan Akin, director;
- Switzerland, “Wolkenbruch’s Wondrous Journey into the Arms of a Shiksa,” Michael Steiner, director;
- Taiwan, “Dear Ex,” Mag Hsu, Chih-Yen Hsu, directors;
- Thailand, “Krasue: Inhuman Kiss,” Sitisiri Mongkolsiri, director;
- Tunisia, “Dear Son,” Mohamed Ben Attia, director;
- Turkey, “Commitment Asli,” Semih Kaplanoglu, director;
- Ukraine, “Homeward,” Nariman Aliev, director;
- The United Kingdom, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind,” Chiwetel Ejiofor, director;
- Uruguay, “The Moneychanger,” Federico Veiroj, director;
- Uzbekistan, “Hot Bread,” Umid Khamdamov, director;
- Venezuela, “Being Impossible,” Patricia Ortega, director;
- Vietnam, “Furie,” Le Van Kiet, director.
The Academy will announce the shortlist of 10 films on Monday, December 16, 2019. It would announce the nominations for the 92nd Oscars on Monday, January 13, 2020.
The 92nd Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 9,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers, and executives working in film. It celebrates and recognizes excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:11 PM | View the original post
October 5, 2019
UNESCO names Mexican Actress of Indigenous Origin, Yalitza Aparicio, as its Goodwill Ambassador
Photo: UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Yalitza Aparicio. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO / Christelle ALIX.
Photo: Presentation of the Certificate of Goodwill Ambassador to Yalitza Aparicio by the UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Image provided by & Copyright © UNESCO / Christelle ALIX.
Paris France, 04 October 2019 — The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has named Mexican actress Yalitza Aparicio as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples.
Born in Tlaxiaco, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Ms. Aparicio is committed to the fight against racism and for the rights of women and indigenous peoples. She was chosen to play in Alfonso Cuarón’s film Roma while studying to be a teacher. Her performance in the movie, for which she had to learn the Mixtec language of her father’s family, won her an Oscar nomination for best actress. It made her the first indigenous Mexican woman to be so recognized by the US Academy Awards. TIME magazine (USA) listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.
Ms. Aparicio is one of the faces of the 2019 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. She has lent her support to the United Nations campaign, “I say no to racism!”.
She has used her celebrity to promote respect and dignity. Ms. Aparicio has thus contributed to the work of the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights. She also works for children’s education, helping raise funds for schools in the city of her birth.
Ms. Aparicio will contribute to UNESCO’s work to ensure the integration of indigenous peoples everywhere and the realization of their rights. She would be helping to safeguard indigenous cultural heritage, the inclusion of indigenous knowledge in environmental management, the preservation of biodiversity, adaptation to climate change, and equal access to education for indigenous peoples.
UNESCO Goodwill ambassadors are personalities who place their reputation at the service of the Organization’s campaigns. They commit to raising public awareness of the Organization’s mission for two years.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:51 PM | View the original post
October 3, 2019
US-India Trade "Surging" Amid Torrid Times, Global Leaders Tell World Economic Forum's India Economic Summit 2019
Photo: Sania Mirza, Sportsperson and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for South Asia, India; Cultural Leader, speaking during the Session “Opening Plenary” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development, and Textiles, India, speaking during the Session “Inspiring LeadHers, Aspiring Outcomes” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Sarah Zhang Jiachen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Guangzhishu, speaking during the Session “India’s Tech Leap” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Devina Gupta, Anchor, BBC World News, India, speaking during the Session “India’s Tech Leap” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Pritika Mehta, Global Shaper, Chandigarh Hub, India, speaking during the Session “India’s Tech Leap” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Hindol Sengupta, Editor-at-Large, Fortune India; Young Global Leader, speaking during the Session “Depopularizing Populism” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Editor, and Deputy Resident Editor, The Hindu, India, speaking during the Session “The Infrastructure Enigma” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Vani Kola, Founder, and Managing Director, Kalaari Capital, India, speaking during the Session “Bigger, Faster, Better?” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 03 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Amishi Parasrampuria, Global Shaper, Mumbai Hub, India, speaking during the Session “Maxing Out Consumption” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 04 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Suvir Saran, Chef, and Author, India; Cultural Leader, speaking during the Session “Connecting Cultures” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 04 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
Photo: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, speaking during the Session “An Insight, An Idea with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar” at the India Economic Summit 2019 in New Delhi, India. 04 October 2019. Image provided by & copyright © World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell.
New Delhi, India, 03 October 2019 - Leaders from the world’s two largest and oldest democracies played down talk of “torrid times” over trade at the opening day of the 2019 India Economic Summit in Delhi. Instead, they noted that relations between the two nations are robust and on the up.
“The torrid times in our relations could also be a torrid love affair,” declared Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Railways of India, at the summit. “Relations between the Indian government and the US government, at our level and the people-to-people level, are better than ever before.”
Goyal noted that trade between India and the US is robust and growing. It is happening amid rising trade tensions between China and the United States and the ripple effect of that on the global economy.
Goyal said, in the last year, imports from the US to India have grown 30%, while exports from India to the US have increased by 20%.
Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce of the United States, responded to the criticism that no trade deal resulted from a meeting in September between India and the US. Ross said he saw no reason why we could not reach one soon.
“Neither government said there would a trade deal in five minutes,” he noted. “I think that was just speculation. We do think there is no fundamental reason why there can’t be one pretty quickly.” “Now that the election is over, and Prime Minister Modi has a strong position in the parliament, it should be a lot easier to take decisive action,” he said.
The relationship between India and the US has the potential to be one of the greatest of the 21st century, but global leaders speaking at the summit acknowledged there would be challenges ahead. India has an important role to play in the geopolitics of the region, and that positioning will inevitably lead to a sensitive question as to how to develop its relationship with China.
“India will have to decide for themselves their relationship with China in a larger context. India and China are trading partners, they are neighbors, and they have a huge population,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal. Mittal is Chairman of Bharti Enterprises. “India will take this advice carefully, but a decision will have to be taken critically by India,” he said. “My view is they should be in play.”
With US companies being encouraged to shift manufacturing outside China, there is an opportunity for a fundamental recasting of global supply chains. Indian industry is ready to take on the challenge to increase its competitiveness, said Vikram Kirloskar. Kirloskar is President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Vice-Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
“Over the last 20 years, we have become part of the global supply chain. To a large extent, a lot of the automotive components we are exporting are fairly competitive now,” said Kirloskar. “I think we are ready to increase capacity more, and we need the domestic market to increase as well as exports. For us, regional cooperation is also crucial.”
The World Economic Forum’s 33rd India Economic Summit is taking place in New Delhi from 3-4 October under the theme “Innovating for India: Strengthening South Asia, Impacting the World.” The two-day meeting will convene more than 800 leaders from the government, the private sector, academia, and civil society. The aim is to accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies throughout South Asia and make the most of the region’s distinctive demographic dividends.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:25 PM | View the original post
