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CNN —Concerns over Kenya’s human rights record have cast a shadow over a UN decision that gave Kenya the go ahead to lead an armed multinational force to Haiti amid brutal gang violence in the Caribbean country. For a year, the multinational force, comprising 1,000 Kenya police personnel is expected to combat criminal gangs responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings and rape in Haiti. But human rights groups argue that Kenya’s history of human rights abuses must be evaluated. On Tuesday, Amnesty International Kenya urged UN member states, human rights organizations and citizens to thoroughly examine the “human rights and humanitarian implications” of deploying an armed multinational force to Haiti. What stake does Kenya have to be able to take those chances in a terrain that is foreign and dangerous?

Persons: Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, “, ”, ” Ruto, Herman Manyora, Ruto’s, ” Manyora, Manyora Organizations: CNN, UN, Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya National Civil Society Center, Kenya Police Service, Citizen Digital, Kenyan, UNSC, United Nations General Assembly, Union, Biden, US, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, East, ”, African, Nairobi

☆ Gabon coup: US suspends aid program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —The United States is holding back assistance that might aid the government of Gabon following last month’s coup, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement released by the US State Department on Tuesday. The move is in line with steps taken by Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union, and other international partners. Army officers in Gabon seized power on Aug. 30, annulling an election minutes after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had won, which they said was not credible. A 24-month transition to elections in Gabon would be “reasonable” after last month’s coup, junta-appointed Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima was quoted as saying by French news agency AFP earlier this month. The African Union suspended Gabon’s membership following the coup.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, annulling, Ali Bongo, Bongo, Raymond Ndong Sima Organizations: Reuters, US State Department, Economic Community, Central, African Union, Army, AFP Locations: United States, Gabon, Central African States, Central

China, the world's biggest fossil fuel consumer, is among those signalling that it intends to keep using them for decades. By inserting "unabated" before fossil fuels, the pledge targeted only fuels burned without emissions-capturing technology. "We cannot use it to green-light fossil fuel expansion," the countries said in a joint statement. We can't say we want to avoid 1.5 C ... and not say anything about phasing out fossil fuels," Cox said. The Alliance of Small Island States, whose members face climate-fuelled storms and land loss to rising seas, wants a fossil fuel phase-out and an end to the $7 trillion governments spend annually on subsidising fossil fuels.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, General Antonio Guterres, Sultan Al Jaber, John Kerry, Teresa Ribera, Eamon Ryan, Ryan, Peter Cox, Cox, Fatih Birol, Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Katy Daigle, Emelia Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, United Nations General Assembly, United Arab Emirates, United, European Union, Reuters, Ireland's, American Petroleum Institute, University of Exeter, International Energy Agency, Rockefeller Foundation, Organization of, Petroleum, Small, States, United Nations, D.C, Thomson Locations: New York, New York City , New York, U.S, Dubai, China, United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, France, Kenya, Chile, Colombia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Japan, Union, Washington, Brussels

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was expected to seize on India’s geopolitical high in his speech at the United Nations on Tuesday. But circumstances have changed — quite abruptly — and India comes to the General Assembly podium with a diplomatic mess on its hands. India has long sought greater recognition at the United Nations. For decades, it has eyed a permanent seat at the Security Council, one of the world’s most prestigious high tables. The U.N. Security Council, he said, “will be compelled to provide permanent membership."

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, ”, Michael Kugelman, Wilson, Gandhi’s, Happymon Jacob, ” Jacob, Jaishankar, couldn’t, “, United States —, “ There’s, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, there's, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Kugelman, Robert Rae, he’s, ” Kugelman Organizations: DELHI, African Union, United Nations, “, South Asia Institute, Strategic, Defense Research, Security Council, . Security, . Security Council, —, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, White, Canadian, Associated Press, General Assembly Locations: India, African, Canadian, Vancouver, New Delhi, Ottawa, Canada, China, France, Russia, Britain, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Delhi, Washington, Australia, Japan

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

He has sought to boost Brazil's cred with each state visit and speech, one multilateral forum after another. PUSHING FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE — BRAZIL-STYLEDuring Lula’s travels, he has pushed for global governance that gives greater heft to the Global South and advocating diminishing the dollar’s dominance in trade. After the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrest, Lula said he would review Brazil's membership in the court. Some in Washington had initially hoped Lula could be helpful in advancing a shared agenda in Venezuela, Winter said. As they stood embracing, Lula remained seated while applauding a few feet away and nearly out of the camera frame.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's, Brazil —, —, Lula, Bolsonaro, ”, Oliver Stuenkel, Getulio Vargas, Ukraine’s, Vladimir Putin's, “, Brian Winter, Biden, Winter, ” Biden, Jake Sullivan, Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Cuba “, ” Lula, Nicolás Maduro, LULA, Lula isn't, Modi, Thomas Traumann, Azali Assoumani, Assoumani's, Paulo Peres, Said Peres, Eleónore Hughes, Madhani, David Biller Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, —, General, Getulio, Getulio Vargas Foundation, Global, . National, Bolsonaro, Indian, Saudi Crown, Biden, Federal University of Rio, . Security, Associated Press Locations: Brazil, United States, China, Italy, India, Argentina, Angola, Sao Paulo, — BRAZIL, Washington, Western Europe, U.S, York, Americas, New York, Ukraine, New Delhi, Cuba, Havana, Venezuela, ”, Brazilian, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro

☆ Ethiopian forces clash with al Shabaab in western Somalia, residents say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOGADISHU, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Ethiopian forces engaged in fierce clashes with al Shabaab fighters near the town of Rab Dhuure in western Somalia on Sunday morning, local residents said. At around 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) local residents heard large explosions followed by a heavy near the town of Rab Dhuure in Bakool region, around 20 km (12 miles) from the Ethiopia border. Al Shabaab claimed to have ambushed a large convoy of Ethiopian troops, who are operating in the area as part of regional efforts to wipe out the al Qaeda-affiliated group. "We heard about three huge explosions and then an exchange of heavy guns followed," said local resident Hassan Abdulle. In February Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya agreed to begin what they described as "search and destroy" operations against al Shabaab, in addition to the African Union-mandated peacekeeping force, which is expected to leave Somalia by the end of next year.

Persons: al, Rab Dhuure, Al Shabaab, Hassan Abdulle, Fatuma Ali, Abdi Sheikh, Hereward Holland, Susan Fenton Organizations: African Union, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, al Shabaab, Rab, Somalia, Bakool, Ethiopia, Al, Qaeda, Djibouti, Kenya

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — U.S.-based pharmaceuticals company Johnson & Johnson is being investigated in South Africa for allegedly charging “excessive” prices for a key tuberculosis drug, the country's antitrust regulator said Friday. It is desperately-needed by South Africa, where the infectious disease is the leading cause of death, killing more than 50,000 people in 2021. South Africa has more than 7 million people living with HIV, more than any other country in the world. The group says the contracts show J&J charged South Africa 15% more per vaccine dose than it charged the much richer European Union. Pfizer charged South Africa more than 30% more per vaccine than it charged the African Union, even as South Africa struggled to acquire doses while having more COVID-19 infections than anywhere else on the continent.

Persons: Johnson, Bedaquiline, Janssen, Norbert Ndjeka, Ndjeka, Intiative, J Organizations: —, Johnson, J's, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, South Africa's, World Health Organization, WHO, Global, J, bedaquiline, Commission, Pfizer, Health, Union, African Union, Initiative, ___ AP Locations: CAPE, South Africa, J's Belgium, Africa, Africa's, ___, africa

For more than a decade, China has courted developing countries frustrated with the West. And as it challenged the postwar order, especially with its global focus on development through trade, loans and infrastructure projects, it sent billions of much-needed dollars to poor nations. Exhibit A: the unexpected consensus India managed at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend. With help from other developing nations, India persuaded the United States and Europe to soften a statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine so the forum could focus on the concerns of poorer countries, including global debt and climate financing. India also presided over the most tangible result so far of its intensifying campaign to champion the global south: the admission of the African Union to the G20, putting it on par with the European Union.

Organizations: Group, African Union, European Union Locations: China, ”, India, New Delhi, United States, Europe, Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. The summit declaration avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but highlighted the human suffering the conflict had caused and called on all states not to use force to grab territory. A failure to agree on a summit declaration would have signalled that the G20 was split, perhaps irrevocably, between the West on one side and China and Russia on the other, analysts said. Diplomats have said negotiators from India, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa drove the consensus in the summit document. Despite the lack of concrete progress, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India's chief G20 coordinator, said the meeting did take the group forward.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Ursula von der Leyen, Evelyn Hockstein, Michael Froman, Svetlana Lukash, Lukash, Patryk Kugiel, ” Kugiel, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, India's, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Vardhan, ”, Michel Rose, Aftab Ahmed, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Indian, European, REUTERS, Diplomats, African Union, India, Foreign Relations, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Russian G20, Polish Institute of International Affairs, Xinhua, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, Russia, York, U.S, China, Beijing, Russian, Warsaw, Delhi, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Germany, Britain

☆ Key takeaways from the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sanjeev Miglani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO-A man walks past a model of the G20 logo outside a metro station ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 4, 2023. The entry of the AU would provide greater voice to the Global South within the G20 where the G7 countries have long played a dominant role. The deliberations of the G20 were being closely watched ahead of the COP28 U.N climate summit in the United Arab Emirates later this year. Modi's image has been on G20 billboards across the capital and in the vast and swanky new conference venue. To his supporters the successful outcome of the summit showed India's big moment had arrived.

Persons: Anushree, Joe Biden, Biden, MODI, Narendra Modi, Sanjeev Miglani, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, World Bank, Union, Diplomats, Host, European Union, U.S, Washington, United Arab, AS, Indian, India, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, UKRAINE, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Beijing, SAUDI, United States, East, South Asia, Europe, United Arab Emirates

CNN —Russia on Sunday deemed the G20 Summit in India’s capital New Delhi an “unconditional success,” a day after the meeting’s final declaration stopped short of explicitly condemning its invasion of Ukraine. “At the same time, the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands ahead of the G20 summit. Earlier this month, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russia would block the final declaration of the G20 summit unless it reflects Moscow’s position on Ukraine and other crises. The summit had some high-profile absentees, with both Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin staying away.

Persons: ”, Sergei Lavrov, Narendra Modi, Oleg Nikolenko, “, Antony Blinken, Ukraine “, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Ludovic Marin, Lavrov, ‘, ” Lavrov, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Russian, ” Diplomats, Indian, Ukraine’s Foreign, Facebook, Meanwhile U.S, India's, Summit, Moscow State Institute of International Relations Locations: Russia, India’s, New Delhi, Ukraine, India, United States, Ukrainian, Meanwhile, Russian, AFP, Brazil, South Africa, Union

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Raj Ghat memorial with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and other G20 leaders, Sept. 10, 2023, in New Delhi. "Everything was reflected in a balanced form," Svetlana Lukash, the Russian G20 sherpa, or government negotiator, was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax. "All members of the G20 have agreed to act as one in the interests of peace, security and conflict resolution around the world." The summit also admitted the African Union which includes 55 member states, as a permanent member of the G20. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands dead, displaced millions and sown economic turmoil across the world.

Persons: Joe Biden, India Narendra Modi, Kenny Holston, Jake Sullivan, White, Biden, Russia's Lavrov, Li, Svetlana Lukash, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Fumio Kishida, Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, Sergei Lavrov, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Krishn Kaushik, Sanjeev Miglani, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, White, Russian G20, House, British, Russian, European Union, Thomson Locations: India, New Delhi, Vietnam, DELHI, Russia, U.S, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, Germany, Britain, Brazil, South Africa

But most concurred it was a foreign policy triumph for Modi as he pushes to increase India’s influence on the world stage. “India’s statement embodies the voice of the emerging Global South” said Derek Grossman, an analyst focused on the Indo-Pacific at the RAND Corporation. “It’s emerging as a successful case study of Western and non-Western powers and the Global South working together to pursue shared goals,” he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping skipped the G20 summit this year. Heading into the summit, Modi had argued that the developing countries should have more say, noting that they are disproportionately impacted by many crises including climate change, food shortages and rising energy prices.

Persons: —, Narendra Modi, Rishi Sunak, Olaf Scholz, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, ”, Amitabh Kant, Modi, “, Derek Grossman, Michael Kugelman, Wilson, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergey Lavrov, India's, ” Lavrov, Michael Schuman, ” Schuman, ” Kugelman, Krutika Pathi, Adam Schreck, Joanna Kozlowska Organizations: DELHI, British, United, Russia, RAND Corporation, Beijing, ”, Union, South Asia Institute, Global, Russian, Atlantic, European Union, “, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russia, China, Moscow, United Nations, India, New Delhi, Brazil, South Africa, Beijing, London

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Leaders' Declaration had been adopted on the first day of the weekend G20 summit in New Delhi. "On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the declaration had "very strong language about Russia's illegal war in Ukraine". The declaration also called for the implementation of the Black Sea initiative for the safe flow of grain, food and fertiliser from Ukraine and Russia. Despite the compromise over the Leaders' Declaration, the summit had been expected to be dominated by the West and its allies.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Evan Vucci, Germany's Scholz, Modi, Olaf Scholz, Rishi Sunak, Sergei Lavrov, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's, Biden, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Scholz, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's Fumio, Jon, Manoj Kumar, Katya Golubkova, Krishn Kaushik, Mayank Bhardwaj, Michel Rose, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Sanjeev Miglani, Jacqueline Wong, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: Indian, REUTERS Acquire, British, Foreign, INDIA, India's sherpa, Bharat, African Union, West, United Arab, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Ukraine, Russia, DELHI, Ukrainian, Moscow, CHINA, China, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Saudi, U.S, Delhi, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab Emirates

☆ Factbox: What is the G20 and what are the key issues for the 2023 summit?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of the venue for the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Amit Dave/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 9 (Reuters) - Leaders of the world's biggest economies begin a two-day G20 summit on Saturday in India's capital of New Delhi. It includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. SUMMIT THEMEIndia's G20 theme derives from the Sanskrit phrase "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" which translates to "The World is One Family". Compiled by Aftab Ahmed and Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Amit Dave, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, India, European Union, African Union, Moscow, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, India's, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United States, Ukraine

The G20 logo is shown ahead of G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The African Union was made a permanent member of the G20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the bloc's summit in New Delhi on Saturday. The African Union, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union - the only regional bloc with a full membership. "Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family. Reuters earlier cited the draft declaration admitting the African Union as a permanent member.

Persons: Anushree, Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali Assoumani, Chris Thomas, Jacqueline Wong, Kim Coghill Organizations: G20, REUTERS, African, Indian, European Union, Union, Twitter, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, African Union, Ukraine

☆ G20 Declaration Omits Criticism of Russia, Notes Ukrainians’ ‘Suffering’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Katie Rogers | More About Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The declaration also underscored the potential of digital technologies to increase inclusion in global economies. The president joined other leaders in announcing a project to create a rail and shipping corridor linking India to the Middle East and, eventually, Europe. It was a promise of new technological and trade pathways, they said, in a part of the world where deeper economic cooperation was overdue. The project lacked key details, including a time frame or budget. Even so, it represented much softer than usual rhetoric about Russia from Mr. Biden and other Western leaders, who have spent the better part of two years spending billions on arming Ukraine and burning untold domestic political capital building support for the war.

Persons: ” Jake Sullivan, Oleg Nikolenko, ” Mr, Biden, Xi Jinping, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, Facebook, Bank, African Union, Mr Locations: India, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China

New Delhi CNN —The African Union is to join the the Group of 20 (G20) as a permanent member, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday as he inaugurated a leaders’ summit in New Delhi for the world’s wealthiest nations. In his opening speech, Modi invited the chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, to take his seat at as a permanent member of the grouping as other leaders applauded and looked on. “Today, as the president of G20, India calls upon the world to come together to transform the global trust deficit into one of trust and reliance,” Modi said during his opening remarks. Modi has previously spoken of his intention to include the African Union in the grouping. One of the first things we did during our G20 Presidency was to hold the Voice of the Global South summit, which had enthusiastic participation from Africa.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali, ” Modi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, African Union, “, East, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, European, Press Trust of Locations: New Delhi, Ukraine, India, North, West, European Union, African, Press Trust of India, Africa

☆ G20 welcomes African Union as permanent member at Delhi leaders' summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Flags of participating countries are pictured inside the International media center at the venue of the G20 leaders' summit, days ahead of its commencement in New Delhi on September 7, 2023. Money Sharma | Afp | Getty ImagesNEW DELHI — The African Union became the second regional grouping to be admitted to the Group of 20 leading industrialized and developing nations as a full permanent member, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Saturday at the start of the two-day G20 leaders' summit in Delhi. The widely-anticipated move underscores India's wide-ranging agenda to elevate the global multilateral forum's focus on the Global South in its presidency of the G20 this year. The 55-member bloc of African nations joins the European Union as only the second regional organization to become a permanent member of the G20. "It is in the spirit of together with all that India proposed permanent membership for the African Union in the G20."

Persons: Money Sharma, Narendra Modi, Modi, Azali Assoumani, Lula da Silva, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Germany's, Olaf Scholz, Fumio Kishida, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergey Lavrov, China Premier Li Qiang Organizations: International, Afp, Getty, African Union, Indian, European Union, International Monetary Fund, Global, U.S, Canadian, Saudi Arabia's Crown, Russian, China Premier Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, India, China, —, Japan, Ukraine

☆ Factbox-What Is the G20 and What Are the Key Issues for the 2023 Summit?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Leaders of the world's biggest economies begin a two-day G20 summit on Saturday in India's capital of New Delhi. It includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The G20 is discussing a plan for the African Union to join. A draft circulated among members on Friday left blank a paragraph on the geopolitical situation, suggesting that differences remained unresolved. SUMMIT THEMEIndia's G20 theme derives from the Sanskrit phrase "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" which translates to "The World is One Family".

Persons: Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Reuters, India, European Union, African Union, Moscow Locations: India's, New Delhi, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United States, Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this year’s host, has pledged not to let Ukraine overshadow the needs of the mostly developing nations in the so-called “ Global South,” but many of those issues are closely affected by the war. Russia's attack on Ukraine and China's growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region have added friction, pitting some of the most powerful G20 countries directly against each other diplomatically, Lesser said. About half of the G20 countries are found in the Global South — depending on how one defines it — and Modi hopes to add the African Union as a bloc member. In preparation, he held a virtual “Voice of the Global South” summit in January and in working groups has targeted issues critical to developing nations, including alternative fuels like hydrogen, resource efficiency, developing a common framework for digital public infrastructure and food security. “While a yearlong presidency cannot solve all the problems of the Global South, India has managed to set the ball rolling on some of these issues, and individual G20 countries can carry forward the work,” she said.

Persons: — It’s, Narendra Modi, ”, Nazia Hussain, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Modi, Joe Biden's, Justin Trudeau, Zelenskyy, “ I’m, Ian Lesser, Lesser, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Xi, —, ” Hussain, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Biden, Putin, Hussain Organizations: DELHI, Group, Indian, Global, Singapore's, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, European Union, White, German Marshall Fund, United Arab, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Union, . National, World Bank, International Monetary Fund Locations: Ukraine, “ New Delhi, Russia, China, Bali, India, Brussels, U.S, Canada, Britain, Japan, Germany, Asia, Pacific, Brazil, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Beijing, BRICS, Moscow

☆ Analysis: India is hosting G20 as the world is in crisis but for Modi it's also a chance to shine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will be absent from the gathering, with Beijing giving no reason for the surprise miss – a move widely seen as a snub to India. Nevertheless, analysts say the gathering affords Modi a unique chance to shine on the world stage and flex India’s geopolitical muscle. India can act as a bridge,” said Kajari Kamal, associate professor at the Takshashila Institution in India. “For a long time, India was perceived as a nation of over 1 billion hungry stomachs,” Modi said in an interview with the Press Trust of India on Sunday. “It’s giving a great boost to infrastructure domestically, and to the world, it’s showcasing India’s culture and its rich heritage,” she added.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Modi’s statecraft, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Mikhail Svetlov, ”, Kajari Kamal, ’, ” Modi, “, Kamal, It’s, Putin, Biden, Akhil Ramesh, Xi, Putin –, Michael Kugelman, it’s, Ramesh Organizations: CNN, Indian, Beijing, Kremlin, East, Takshashila, Press Trust of India, Pacific Forum, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, Ukraine, White, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Union, Pacific Locations: New Delhi, Ukraine, China, Russia, India, Russian, Moscow, Osaka, Japan, South, “, Australia, United States, Britain, East, Honolulu, Washington, Kremlin Moscow, Delhi

☆ Modi, Biden pledge to deepen India-U.S. partnership as world leaders descend on Delhi for G20 summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Indian artist Jagjot Singh Rubal gives final touches to an oil painting of U.S. President Joe Biden, at his workshop in Amritsar on September 5, 2023, ahead of the two-day G20 summit in New Delhi. The pair's absence has sparked fears that a communique binding member states may not be issued at the end of a G20 leaders' summit — undercutting India's clout and diminishing his domestic messaging. At a pre-summit press conference Friday, India's G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said the final declaration "is almost ready." In their joint statement after their Friday bilateral meeting, Biden and Modi "reaffirmed their commitment to the G20." Despite recently traveling to South Africa for a BRICS meeting, Xi has rarely traveled abroad.

Persons: Jagjot Singh Rubal, Joe Biden, Narinder Nanu, Narendra Modi, Biden, Bangladesh —, Modi, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Sergey Lavrov, China Premier Li Qiang, Xi, India's, Amitabh Kant, Kant, snubbing Modi, Taiwan — Organizations: Afp, Getty, Indian, U.S, International Monetary Fund, African Union, Global, China Premier Locations: Amritsar, New Delhi, Narinder, Delhi, Washington, Australia, India, Japan, U.S, Mauritius, Bangladesh, China, —, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, South Africa, Beijing —, Zambia, Venezuela, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ G20 set to grant membership to African Union - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Carien Du Plessis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man walks past a model of the G20 logo outside a metro station ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 4, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG/NEW DELHI, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The Group of 20, comprising the world's richest and most powerful countries, will grant membership to the African Union, sources said on Thursday. The South African official, who did not want to be named before the decision was made public, however said that there was still a possibility that someone might veto the resolution. South African presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: "We wouldn't comment now until the official announcement or post the summit." Countries including Germany, Brazil, South Africa and Canada have also voiced support for African Union membership.

Persons: Anushree, Narendra Modi, Modi, Vincent Magwenya, Carien du, Clarence Fernandez, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, African Union, African, European Union, AU, Reuters, South, Indian, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Rights JOHANNESBURG, DELHI, African Union, South Africa, Brazil, Delhi, Germany, Canada, Carien du Plessis, Johannesburg, Akanksha, Bengaluru

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