Latest news with #G20
News24
14 minutes ago
- Business
- News24
Global leaders zero in on whistleblowers at G20 corruption talks
The 2nd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under the South African Presidency convened in Brasilia from June 9 to 12, 2025, uniting delegates to address critical issues in preventing and combating corruption. Co-Chaired by South Africa and Brazil, the meeting aimed to reinforce the Working Group's priorities to strengthen the public sector by promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, increasing the efficiency of asset recovery measures, enhancing participation from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia, and improving whistleblower protection mechanisms. The South African Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Vusi Mavimbela, delivered the opening remarks during the inaugural session. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the fight against corruption and stressed South Africa's dedication to advancing collective goals, stating, 'Through our G20 Presidency theme, 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', we reaffirm our commitment to advancing collective efforts toward inclusive global economic growth and sustainable development.' Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller General, H.E. Mr. Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. H.E. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The Group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the necessity for evidence-based methodologies, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP informed that it is establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organized crime, co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the European Union focused on justice and security. The G20 ACWG and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The 2nd G20 ACWG l Meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the Presidency's theme of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. The Working Group acknowledged that there remains considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs toward the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combating corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As South Africa and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘We understand, our expectation is more': Iranian diplomat on India's stand
NEW DELHI: Iran expects India to condemn 'aggression by Israel' to uphold the principle of sovereignty of countries and international law and to prevent similar actions in other parts of the world, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Friday. Emergency personnel work at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Haifa, Israel, June 20. (REUTERS) Against the backdrop of reports that the US is making an outreach to Pakistan for support for possible American strikes on Iran, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, deputy chief of mission at the Iranian embassy, told reporters that Pakistan should stand with Iran in the face of Israel's aggression. 'We believe every country, including India, should condemn this aggression, not because of Iran or because of this conflict, but because it will open the way for other countries who [want] to attack a neighbour on some baseless allegations,' Hosseini said. 'If you don't condemn it, you are giving them an incentive.' Also Read: Iran eases airspace restrictions for 3 Indian charter flights India's actions should be in keeping with its role as the voice of the Global South at key forums such as the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). 'Our expectation is this voice [will take this issue] not as a matter of bilateral relations with Iran and Israel, but to condemn this aggression, so that international law is respected and everybody knows that if there is any aggression, there will be punishment,' Hosseini said. Iran's deputy chief of mission to India Mohammad Javad Hosseini addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Friday (PTI) India has sought to take a balanced position on the Iran-Israel conflict because of its close relations with both countries. The Indian government has urged both sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy and insisted a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. India also disassociated itself from a recent SCO statement that condemned Israel's military strikes on Iran. Also Read: The prospect of a wider war | HT Editorial Asked if Iran is disappointed with India's stance, Hosseini replied: 'No, we can say that it is not a matter of disappointment, that we understand. But our expectation is more.' Hosseini said Iran appreciated India's stance of having good relations with Iran and Israel, especially in the context of the SCO statement. 'We have told them it isn't a matter of the Iran-Israel conflict, it's a matter of aggression against a sovereign country, it's a matter of blatant violation of international law, which should be condemned no matter who prepared this plan,' he said. He responded to questions about the US seeking Pakistan's support for possible American strikes on Iran, especially after a meeting this week between US President Donald Trump and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir, by saying that he hoped Islamabad will stand with Tehran. 'I hope Pakistan won't go for that and will stand with Iran against Israeli aggression,' he said. 'We are in contact with Pakistani officials, they know our stance and they understand us well,' Hosseini said. 'And we hope the decision which is going to be made at the end will be to stand with Iran, to stand with the truth and condemn the aggressors [and] not to give some incentive to the aggressors.' The US, Hosseini said, is engaged in a 'psychological war' against Iran, which is prepared for all scenarios. 'It is a conflict between Iran and Israel, and it's better for a third party not to enter it. If it enters, it would definitely become more complicated and it will have very bad consequences for that third party,' he said.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
SA's iconic protea flower relocates as climate warms
Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma poses for a photograph next to one of the Protea flower species growing at his fam in Cullinan, east of Pretoria on June 3, 2025. Thuynsma is experimenting with different seed varieties to find out which ones can thrive in drier, hotter conditions. His farm has become a testing ground for the future of the species, as climate zones shift northward. On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. "They're all different," the 55-year-old farmer said of the assorted blooms from the diverse Proteaceae family that has more than 350 species in South Africa, from firework-like "pincushion" varieties to delicate "blushing brides". He picked out a majestic pink and white crown, nearly the size of his head, that has taken four years to reach its impressive size. "The King Proteas are very slow to grow," Thuynsma said. The largest of the proteas, the King Protea, is South Africa's national flower. It has lent its name to the national cricket team and countless brands. It features on the currency and is the logo for South Africa's presidency this year of the G20 group of leading economies, which convenes a summit in November. It is also the country's largest flower export with more than 10 million stems sent abroad last year, worth close to 275 million rand ($15 million), according to the Cape Flora industry organisation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Its status offers the King Protea some protection but almost half of South Africa's other protea species face extinction because of pressures on their native habitats in the mountains of the Cape, according to South Africa's National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). These include habitat loss to agriculture, the proliferation of invasive alien species and "changes to natural fire cycles", SANBI said in a 2021 report. Icon Protea flower grower Nico Thuynsma poses for a photograph inside a greenhouse at his fam in Cullinan, east of Pretoria on June 3, 2025. Thuynsma is experimenting with different seed varieties to find out which ones can thrive in drier, hotter conditions. His farm has become a testing ground for the future of the species, as climate zones shift northward. On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa. Image: Phill Magakoe / AFP "People come to South Africa to see proteas," Nigel Barker, a professor in plant sciences at the University of Pretoria, told AFP. "It's the plant equivalent of the elephant or the lion." Most proteas are endemic or semi-endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom biome of "fynbos" ("fine bush") that stretches across the southern tip of South Africa and is one of the world's richest flora biodiversity hotspots. But climate projections predict "hotter, drier conditions", Barker said. "We'll be looking at a completely different vegetation type in the future, semi-desert almost in some places." "Many species, because they're so range-restricted, will probably go extinct under those scenarios," he said. "The only solution we have is to cultivate them artificially... in greenhouses or farms where you control irrigation," Barker said. An example is Thuynsma's farm in the grasslands of the north, where he began planting proteas three decades ago. Here, winters are dry and frosty, and the summers rainy -- conditions very different to those in the far south where the proteas are at home. Gel for irrigation Through trial and error, Thuynsma has been able to cultivate close to 200 protea varieties, including some long forgotten and abandoned by farmers in their original habitats. In his latest experiment, he has planted 36 varieties with just two litres (four pints) of saturated gel for irrigation. "I hope to unlock the power of some of these varieties," Thuynsma said. "They come from the Western Cape out of very harsh conditions, so they do have it in them." "I learn from them, I learn with them. And, hopefully, in the future I can advise my nursery public -- and even estates -- how to plant this lovely fynbos without irrigation," he said. "I don't think I have a solution for climate change," he joked, crouched over a small seedling in freshly turned soil. "But I do have a solution: to plant proteas." A few metres (yards) away, in a warm nursery, thousands of protea sprouts awaited their turn in the soil. "I love them, I protect them, I collect them," Thuynsma said. "The protea is part of South Africa's DNA." AFP
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
QS 2026 rankings: Reputation of Indian graduates among employers, faculty citations boost Indian HEIs
In the QS 2026 edition, 54 Indian institutions were listed, a significant increase from 46 in 2025 and 45 in 2024. This represents a substantial 390% increase from just 11 ranked universities in 2014, positioning India as the fastest-growing higher education system among G20 countries. India is now the fourth most represented nation globally, trailing only the United States (192), the United Kingdom (90), and Mainland China (72). The inclusion of eight new Indian universities in the 2026 edition, more than any other country, further underscores a broader institutional momentum within the nation's higher education sector. While the total number of ranked institutions has increased, number of Indian universities in the global top 500 in 2026 dropped marginally from 12 in 2025 to 11 in 2026. India demonstrated unique strengths in areas such as Employer Reputation and Citations per Faculty, where its average scores surpass those of several established higher education systems like the U.K. and U.S. Despite these strengths, India lags significantly in attracting international students, a critical component of global competitiveness. QS Ranking methodology QS 2026 ranking framework assesses universities across five broad lenses: Research and Discovery (50%), Employability and Outcomes (20%), Learning Experience (10%), Global Engagement (15%), and Sustainability (5%). Academic Reputation and Citations per Faculty constitute the indicators of Research and Discovery, whereas Employer Reputation and Employment Outcomes i.e. employability of the graduates are the indicators for Employability and Outcomes. Learning Experience reflects the overall learning environment and support provided to students. Global Engagement captures the internationalisation efforts of higher education institutions, including their global outlook in terms of foreign students, staff, and research collaborations. Sustainability was introduced in 2024, which provides insight into institutions' commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, including the impact of academic research on Sustainable Development Goals. Top performers in 2026 A total of three institutions ranked among the top 200, which include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras. About 10 institutions ranked among the top 500, which include nine centrally funded institutions and one state government institution, Anna University IIT Delhi achieved its best-ever showing at a joint 123rd position globally, marking a consistent climb from 150th in 2025 and 197th in 2024. This steady rise is attributed to strong scores in key indicators, including Employer Reputation (50th globally), Citations per Faculty (86th), Academic Reputation (142nd), and Sustainability (172nd). While IIT Bombay experienced a slight slip to 129th this year from its all-time best rank of 118 in 2025. IIT Madras recorded one of the most dramatic improvements, leaping 47 places to reach the 180th spot, marking its first entry into the global top 200. Other institutions demonstrating strong performance include IIT Kharagpur (215), IISc Bangalore (219), and IIT Kanpur (222). Non-IITs in top 500 include Delhi University (328) and Anna University (465). Break-up of the institutions ranked in 2026 Central government-funded institutions, particularly the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), consistently serve as the primary drivers of India's performance in the QS top 500 rankings, with the lion's share of 12 out of 13. However, share of private institutions is substantial, with about 40% in 2026. Not only that, seven out of eight new entrants in 2026 are the private ones. The increasing number of private institutions not only participating but also significantly improving their positions in the QS rankings points to a fundamental and dynamic shift in India's higher education landscape. Comparative Strengths of Indian Institutions India demonstrated a commendable performance in Employer Reputation, with an average score of 24.9, ahead of China (23.7), Finland (23.1), and France (21.5). This suggests that Indian graduates are highly regarded by employers. India also exhibited a strong showing in research impact. Its average Citations per Faculty score of 43.7 places it ahead of Germany (41.6), the U.K. (39.2), the U.S. (38.1), and Ireland (36.8). This highlights the increasing quality and recognition of research originating from Indian institutions. Areas of relative weaknesses A substantial 78% of Indian universities experienced a decline with regard to International Students Ratio, and no Indian institution ranks within the global top 500 for attracting international students. India faces a structural challenge with regard to Faculty-Student Ratio, with only O. P. Jindal Global University, being an outlier in the global top 350. The U.K., with an average score of 26.7, also lags behind top performers like Norway (73.7), Switzerland (63.8), and Sweden (61.8), suggesting that resource allocation for teaching staff remains a challenge for many nations. India is showing promising performance in sustainability, outperforming China and Brazil in Knowledge Exchange, Environmental Sustainability, and Environmental Research. However, it lags behind South Africa in overall sustainability impact. Conclusion An analysis of Indian institutions' performance in the QS World University Rankings in the last three years reveals significant growth in their global engagement, marked by a substantial increase in the number of ranked institutions and notable improvements in key performance indicators, particularly in research and employer reputation. The evolving landscape, characterised by the continued dominance of central institutions and the dynamic emergence of private players, underscores a diversifying and maturing higher education ecosystem. However, in order to improve its global standing, it has to enhance internationalisation initiatives to attract more foreign students, while continuing to leverage its existing strengths in research output, impact, and employer reputation. (Dr. O R S Rao is the Chancellor of the ICFAI University, Sikkim.)
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Strengthening the global fight against corruption: G20 ACWG meets in Brazil
Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller-General, His Excellency Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the ACWG Ministerial Meeting to be held in Mpumalanga in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event — co-hosted by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) — was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the need for evidence-based methodologies. The UNDP announced that it was establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event — co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the EU focused on justice and security — was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organised crime. The G20 ACWG and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combatting the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The second G20 ACWG meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the SA presidency's theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability'. The ACWG acknowledged that there remained considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs towards the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 ACWG seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combatting corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As SA and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place.
