Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Biden-Modi meeting on September 8

Chinese president Xi Jinping unlikely to visit India for G20 summit

Biden-Modi meeting on September 8

US president Joe Biden will travel to India next week to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with prime minister Narendra Modi on September 8, the White House has announced.

India, president of the G20, will host global leaders for the summit scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10 in New Delhi.

During the summit, Biden will “commend” Modi for his leadership of the G20, the White House said.

G20 partners will discuss a range of joint efforts to tackle global issues, including the clean energy transition and combatting climate change.

They will also discuss ways to mitigate the economic and social impacts of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, and increase the capacity of multilateral development banks, including the World Bank, to better fight poverty.

The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. The members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, more than 75 per cent of the global trade and about two-thirds of the world population.

But Chinese president Xi Jinping is going to skip the summit and premier Li Qiang is set to represent China at the conclave, people familiar with the development said on Saturday (2).

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already conveyed to Modi his decision to not attend the summit in-person as he has to focus on the "special military operation" in Ukraine.

(PTI)

More For You

London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

iStock

London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

Kumail Jaffer

Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

Keep ReadingShow less