Explore Business Standard
Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.
G7 Summit
Japanese LGBTQ activists and supporters on Thursday held an inaugural Pride 7 Summit in Tokyo, where they called on Group of Seven governments to promote and strengthen support and legal protections for LGBTQ people and urged Japan's government to enact an anti-discrimination law before it hosts this year's G-7 summit in May. Japan is the only G-7 country that does not recognise same-sex marriage or provide other equal rights protections for LGBTQ people. Participants at the Pride 7 Summit called on the G-7 to protect the rights of LGBTQ people and prohibit discrimination throughout society. The Pride 7 engagement group will finalise the wording of a draft communique and submit it to each G-7 nation by the end of April, said Kanae Doi, Japan director of Human Rights Watch and a P-7 organiser. P-7 was established in March to make policy proposals to step up efforts ahead of the G-7 summit, which will be held in Hiroshima. While momentum is on the rise ahead of the G-7, experts say
Top diplomats from the world's major industrialised democracies grappled with the implications of Russia's war in Ukraine, China's growing economic clout and aims on Taiwan, and Iran's crackdown on anti-government protesters as they opened two days of talks on Thursday. Meeting in the western German city of Muenster, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations were taking stock of the situation in Ukraine more than eight months since Russia invaded the country, exacerbating food and energy shortages and creating ripple effects far from Europe. While we are steadfast in our support for Ukraine, we must not forget that the impacts of Russia's aggression, interference and hostility extend across the world," British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said ahead of the meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions are plunging the world's poorest further into despair, putting global food security on the brink and pushing up energy prices", he said. "These actions only serve to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made India's position clear on the Ukraine conflict at the G7 summit where he reiterated that there must be an immediate end to the hostilities and a resolution should be reached by choosing the path of dialogue and diplomacy, said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra.Replying to a question on India's stand on Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kwatra during a press conference said, "On Russia-Ukraine, PM made India's position clear including an immediate end to hostilities; dialogue & diplomacy to resolve the situation."Foreign Secretary Kwatra also highlighted that PM Modi has spoken with the world leaders on the knockdown effect of the conflict in Eastern Europe on the food security crisis, especially on the vulnerable countries."PM also put forward knockdown effect of the conflict on food security crisis, especially on vulnerable countries," Kwatra said.Ever since the war started on February 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appealing to both Russia .
Schloss Elmau, the venue of G7 summit in Germany, has a deep Indian connection with visitors being welcomed by Lord Ganesha and a motif of elephant running through the facility. Official sources said the Indian influence on Schloss Elmau, which had hosted the annual meeting of leading democratic economies in 2015 too, is attributed to its owner Dietmar Muller, who had lived in India in his youth and was involved in charitable activities. He had also made investment in the information technology sector. A restaurant has also been named after God Ganesha, who is associated with new beginnings and revered for his ability to remember and judge. Several yoga and wellness centres in Schloss Elmau have Indian names, including Ananda spa Restaurant, Jivamukti Yoga Studio and Shantigiri spa, officials noted. They added that Muller has spoken about the reason for his deep India connection, saying the inspiration of "individual freedom is very pronounced" there. Inspired by Indian architectu