World Organisations – Pacts and Summits
India to hold ‘offsite’ on Andaman as it prepares for G20 presidency
- As India is about to take over the G20 presidency formally, the Union government plans to fly diplomats from all missions of G20 countries, invitees and United Nations agencies to a resort on the Andaman Island for a special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the G20 Secretariat.
- The “offsite” for 30 to 40 diplomats will take place at Taj Exotica hotel on Havelock Island from November 25 to 27.
- At the event the G20 ‘Sherpa’ Amitabh Kant, ‘Sous Sherpa’ Abhay Thakur, and G20 National Coordinator and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla will give the diplomats a preview of India’s plans for the next year of its presidency.
- India has already announced that in a departure from the previous G20s, which stick to a single venue for most events, it hopes to hold the 200 or so G20 official meetings in about 50 locations, including all the States and Union Territories across India.
- Another key decision was to hold the G20 summit in September, rather than November, given the levels of pollution in Delhi due to crop burning at the later time.
About G20
- The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum of major developed and developing economies comprising 19 countries and the European Union (EU).
- Formation – 26 September 1999.
- Chairman – Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia
- First Meeting in Cologne, Germany
- G20 Countries – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
Books and Author
New Books on Siddha Medicine launched
- The book release ceremony of ‘Sugam Tarum Siddha Maruthuvam’ (சுகம் தரும் சித்த மருத்துவம்), a collection of Siddha Medicine articles published in Dinamani by Government Siddha Doctor Cho.Thillaivanan, ‘Noi Nadi Siddha Maruthuvam Nadi’ (நோய் நாடி சித்த மருத்துவம் நாடி) and ‘Ver Paru Thazhai Paru’ (வேர் பாரு தழை பாரு) was held at Devaneya Pavanar District Library Hall in Anna Salai in Chennai.
- The English translation of the book ‘Odalam Vanga’, written by Minister M.Subramanian called “Come Let’s Run” which is about the 125 marathons he ran will also be released.
- For the first time in Tamil Nadu, the government is cultivating 200 acres of herbal plants in Dindigul. The farmers of these areas have been trained on the method of cultivation.
- An office has been built for Siddha Medical University at a cost of Rs.2 crore.
- The university will be set up on 25 acres at Madhavaram Dairy in Chennai.
- Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has approved the establishment of Siddha Hospitals at 100 places in Tamil Nadu and on these lines Siddha Medical College and Siddha Hospital with 50 beds each will be established at Namakkal and Palani.
Note
- Siddhargal” or Siddhars were the premier scholars of this system in ancient times. Siddhars, mainly hailing from Tamil Nadu laid the foundation for Siddha system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha medicine.
Appointments – Who is who?
New Governor of West Bengal
- Former bureaucrat CV Ananda Bose has been appointed as the new Governor of West Bengal.
- Mr Bose is the recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship. He is also the first ever Fellow of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, which trains top civil service officers.
Note
- Mr Bose is the recipient of the Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowship. He is also the first ever Fellow of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie, which trains top civil service officers.
