A US court has granted permission for the extradition of 2008 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India. Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, is being sought in India for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. US has allowed extradition on India’s request.

US court allows extradition of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana to India

A dust storm in the Indian capital covered the city in haze and pushed the air quality to the "poor" category on Wednesday. Hem Kaur Saroya brings you the report.

Thick layer of haze hovers over New Delhi | WION Climate Tracker

Indian Ambassador Sibi George spoke to Wion's diplomatic correspondent ahead of PM's Japan visit. PM begins his Japan visit from Friday, during which he will attend the G7 summit. Ambassador Sibi lauded the deep India Japan ties & emphasized on growing cooperation in various areas.

Indian Ambassador Sibi George speaks to Wion ahead of PM's Japan visit

A Breaking Bad-style meth manufacturing lab was busted in Greater Noida in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. As many as nine Africans were arrested and 46 kg of methamphetamine worth $23 million was seized during the raid.

46kg of Methamphetamine worth over $23 million seized in India

Indian Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu law which allows the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' in the state, as per reports. While delivering the ruling, the apex court said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals.

In addition to Jallikattu, the apex court also upheld laws passed by Karnataka and Maharashtra with regard to sports like Kambala and the bull-cart race. It is important to know Supreme Court in May 2014 held that Jallikattu was violative of the rights of the animals. However, later the State government enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-arrests-three-hypersonic-missile-scientists-on-charges-of-very-serious-treason-593499">Russia arrests three hypersonic missile scientists on charges of 'very serious treason'</a>

However the amendments were challenged before the Indian top court. On Thursday, the court upheld the constitutional validity of the State amendments and&nbsp;dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of these amendments.

The 5 judge bench comprised of Justice KM Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice CT Ravikumar. The court said that the amendments minimises the pain and suffering caused to animals.

The Constitution Bench observed that these laws cannot be construed as "colourable legislations" and that the State legislature had the legislative power to make these amendments as per Entry 17 to List II of the Seventh Schedule, as per Live Law. The court further noted that the amendments cannot be faulted as they have already received the assent of the president.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/overseas-travel-ban-on-ex-sri-lankan-prime-minister-mahinda-rajapaksa-lifted-593509">Overseas travel ban on ex-Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lifted</a>

The bench observed, "We are satisfied on materials that in Jallikettu is going in TN for last one century. Whether this as part of integral part of Tamil culture requires greater detail, which exercise judiciary cannot undertake...When legislature has declared that jallikettu is part of cultural heritage of TN state, judiciary cannot take a different view. Legislature is best suited to decide that."

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Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport that has been practiced for centuries in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is usually held during the Pongal festival, a harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu and is considered a traditional sport that reflects the cultural and historical significance of the region. The event attracts large crowds of spectators who gather to witness the spectacle

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Indian Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu law which allows the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' in the state, as per reports. While delivering the ruling, the apex court said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals.

Indian Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu law which allows the bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu' in the state, as per reports. While delivering the ruling, the apex court said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals. In addition to Jallikattu, the apex court also upheld laws passed by Karnataka and Maharashtra with regard to sports like Kambala and the bull-cart race. It is important to know Supreme Court in May 2014 held that Jallikattu was violative of the rights of the animals. However, later the State government enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017. Also Read | Russia arrests three hypersonic missile scientists on charges of 'very serious treason' However the amendments were challenged before the Indian top court. On Thursday, the court upheld the constitutional validity of the State amendments and dismissed a batch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of these amendments. The 5 judge bench comprised of Justice KM Joseph, Justice Ajay Rastogi, Justice Aniruddha Bose, Justice Hrishikesh Roy, and Justice CT Ravikumar. The court said that the amendments minimises the pain and suffering caused to animals. The Constitution Bench observed that these laws cannot be construed as "colourable legislations" and that the State legislature had the legislative power to make these amendments as per Entry 17 to List II of the Seventh Schedule, as per Live Law. The court further noted that the amendments cannot be faulted as they have already received the assent of the president. Also Read | Overseas travel ban on ex-Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa lifted The bench observed, "We are satisfied on materials that in Jallikettu is going in TN for last one century. Whether this as part of integral part of Tamil culture requires greater detail, which exercise judiciary cannot undertake...When legislature has declared that jallikettu is part of cultural heritage of TN state, judiciary cannot take a different view. Legislature is best suited to decide that." Watch | US President Joe Biden to visit Japan's Hiroshima for G7 summit × Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport that has been practiced for centuries in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is usually held during the Pongal festival, a harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu and is considered a traditional sport that reflects the cultural and historical significance of the region. The event attracts large crowds of spectators who gather to witness the spectacle WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Indian Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu law allowing bull-taming sport 'Jallikattu'

Deloitte India has fired an employee accused of running a global hacking gang, a day after the Sunday Times and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism made the expose about the illicit operations.

Deloitte India has fired an employee accused of running a global hacking gang, a day after the Sunday Times and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism made the expose about the illicit operations. “We are aware of the recent media reports outlining serious allegations about an individual who used to work for Deloitte India. This individual no longer works for Deloitte India,” said the company spokesperson. Reportedly, a day before, it was revealed that Aditya Jain, an associate director with the company's cyber unit was running a hacking group named WhiteInt that acted as a 'hack-for-hire' company. As per reports, he was earlier working with one of the Big Four companies. According to reports, Jain's hacking firm had information regarding several famous personalities from across the globe. Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistan minister Fawad Chaudhry, former UK chancellor Philip Hammond and Swiss President Ignazio Cassis were among the few whose confidential information was accessed by the gang. He was running the operations from a fourth-floor apartment in the Northern Indian city of Gurugram, known for housing big tech companies. Read more: India: Russian man arrested for hacking JEE Mains software to help students cheat WATCH | Deloitte employee behind global hacking gang; hack firm operate under the name 'Whitein' × Jain joined Deloitte in February earlier this year and was previously employed with one of the Big Four firms of the country, up until March 2021. Notably, EY, Deloitte, PwC and KPMG constitute the Big Four firms and have large cyber-security practices. Their business has grown exponentially during the pandemic as work from home became the trend. In the report that blew the lid on the operations, it was also revealed that several Indian hackers offered their services willingly to hack into confidential and private email accounts of the victims, after receiving intel from autocratic states, and wealthy businessmen. Read more: Optus leak: Singapore Telecommunications appoints Deloitte to assess data breach (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Deloitte India fires employee accused of running an international hacking ring

A 56-year-old man was arrested&nbsp;upon arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday (May 16) afternoon.&nbsp;He was arrested because he was smoking a beedi,&nbsp;a locally made cigarette&nbsp;in which tobacco is rolled into dried plant leaves,&nbsp;aboard an Akasa Air aircraft from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru.

The man,&nbsp;a native of Marwar junction in Rajasthan's Pali district, has been sent to the Bengaluru Central Jail. This is KIA's first arrest for smoking a beedi.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, KIA police arrested two passengers for smoking cigarettes aboard a plane. Kumar, who works in construction, told police that he is self-employed and that this was his first time flying.

A senior police official emphasised that failing to identify smoke during security frisking is a major lapse, reported Times Now.

"Cigarettes are easily detectable. The only explanation for such an incident is a failure in the frisking process," the officer stated &nbsp;as quoted by Times now.&nbsp;

In the prior two incidents, the accused were well aware of the rigorous no-smoking ban on aeroplanes yet were nevertheless found smoking. According to an investigating officer, Kumar, as a first-time traveller, claimed to be uninformed of the no-smoking regulation.

"Kumar is a laborer from Marwar. He was accompanying an elderly person who was traveling to the city for a post-death ceremony of a relative," the officer explained.

"Since I regularly travel by train and smoke inside the toilet, I thought I could do the same on the flight and decided to smoke a beedi," Kumar confessed to the police.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/dog-drives-car-drunk-driver-swaps-seats-with-pet-to-escape-cops-593445">Dog drives car | Drunk driver swaps seats with pet to escape cops</a>

The man was onboard an Akasa aeroplane (flight&nbsp;Q) bound for Bengaluru when the crew spotted him smoking inside the bathroom. The airline's duty manager, lodged a complaint against him&nbsp;with KIA police shortly after arriving at approximately 1:10 p.m.

According to a senior police officer, once detained, the accused must spend at least one week in court custody. "Smoking in midair poses a risk to everyone," the officer emphasised.

<h2>Unruly passengers on board</h2>

Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, is forbidden on flights in India, according to The Aircraft Rules of 1937. However, a number of violations have been recorded around the country in recent days.

Indigo and Air India both reported passengers who were found smoking in restrooms in early March. A 24-year-old female passenger on a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight was detained for smoking in the restroom. The cabin crew noticed the cigarette in the garbage and doused it with water. A passenger smoking inside the lavatory of a Delhi-bound flight had been discovered by Air India personnel the day before. The cabin crew had detected smoke coming from the lavatory even before the fire alarm went off, reported Live Mint.

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A 56-year-old man was arrested upon arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday (May 16) afternoon. He was arrested because he was smoking a beedi, a locally made cigarette in which tobacco is rolled into dried plant leaves, aboard an Akasa Air aircraft from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru.

A 56-year-old man was arrested upon arrival at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday (May 16) afternoon. He was arrested because he was smoking a beedi, a locally made cigarette in which tobacco is rolled into dried plant leaves, aboard an Akasa Air aircraft from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru. The man, a native of Marwar junction in Rajasthan's Pali district, has been sent to the Bengaluru Central Jail. This is KIA's first arrest for smoking a beedi. Earlier this year, KIA police arrested two passengers for smoking cigarettes aboard a plane. Kumar, who works in construction, told police that he is self-employed and that this was his first time flying. A senior police official emphasised that failing to identify smoke during security frisking is a major lapse, reported Times Now. "Cigarettes are easily detectable. The only explanation for such an incident is a failure in the frisking process," the officer stated as quoted by Times now. In the prior two incidents, the accused were well aware of the rigorous no-smoking ban on aeroplanes yet were nevertheless found smoking. According to an investigating officer, Kumar, as a first-time traveller, claimed to be uninformed of the no-smoking regulation. "Kumar is a laborer from Marwar. He was accompanying an elderly person who was traveling to the city for a post-death ceremony of a relative," the officer explained. "Since I regularly travel by train and smoke inside the toilet, I thought I could do the same on the flight and decided to smoke a beedi," Kumar confessed to the police. ALSO READ | Dog drives car | Drunk driver swaps seats with pet to escape cops The man was onboard an Akasa aeroplane (flight Q) bound for Bengaluru when the crew spotted him smoking inside the bathroom. The airline's duty manager, lodged a complaint against him with KIA police shortly after arriving at approximately 1:10 p.m. According to a senior police officer, once detained, the accused must spend at least one week in court custody. "Smoking in midair poses a risk to everyone," the officer emphasised. Unruly passengers on board Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes, is forbidden on flights in India, according to The Aircraft Rules of 1937. However, a number of violations have been recorded around the country in recent days. Indigo and Air India both reported passengers who were found smoking in restrooms in early March. A 24-year-old female passenger on a Bengaluru-bound IndiGo flight was detained for smoking in the restroom. The cabin crew noticed the cigarette in the garbage and doused it with water. A passenger smoking inside the lavatory of a Delhi-bound flight had been discovered by Air India personnel the day before. The cabin crew had detected smoke coming from the lavatory even before the fire alarm went off, reported Live Mint. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: First-time flyer smokes 'beedi' on Akasa plane, arrested at Bengaluru airport

India is growing prominence as according to reports, Tesla has proposed to set up a factory to produce electric cars for local sale and export. This is not the first time that Tesla has tried to enter the Indian market but last year's discussion between Tesla and the Indian government hit a roadblock.

Tesla restarts India market talks, executives to visit India to diversify beyond China | WION

A 2000-kilometer-long energy corridor is on its way between UAE and India. What exactly is this project ? What are its benefits? It is a $5-billion undersea project that has been proposed by South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE). Will it strategically deter China's dreams of global expansion? These significant developments come as China tries to get closer to the West Asian region. But west Asia's ties with India definitely remain intact... Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: India- UAE undersea gas pipeline

India is facing a new threat. Some scientists view India's Kerala as a ‘global hotspot’ for the potential emergence of a new coronavirus. Another virus too emerged here in 2018, called the Nipah virus. The virus is again finding new ways to enter in the human body.

How a bat virus from India's Kerala found new ways to infect people

Indian External affairs minister S Jaishankar has responded to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's call for action against Indian refined products from Russian crude. Jaishankar advised Borrell to refer to EU Council regulations, specifically Regulation 833/2014, which Jaishankar said recognises that Russian crude undergoes substantial transformation in a third country and is no longer treated as Russian.

Indian FM reminds EU of its own regulations, defends India's stance on Russian oil

US' Envoy to India Erc Garcetti is in the Indian financial capital, Mumbai where he lived the dream of millions. The American diplomat was hosted by the King of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan at his residence Mannat.

King Khan hosts US envoy Garcetti at Mannat

As a result of a partnership between the Indian and Israeli Governments, an 'India-Israel Center of Water Technology'(CoWT) is to come up at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, campus in Chennai, said the institute. India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs would be collaborating with MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, to establish this new facility. The key objective of this facility will be to ensure the implementation of Israel's best technologies for Indian requirements and to work on sustainable management solutions for the Indian water sector.

When queried about the budget allocated for this new facility and when it is expected to come up, IIT Madras representatives told WION that the facility would come up at a cost of Rs.23-30cr (approx $3-4mn) and would start in a few months.

A letter of Intent in this regard was signed in New Delhi, earlier this month by Mr Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Mr Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, in presence of Shri. S. Jaishankar and Mr Eli Cohen, Hon’ble External Affairs Ministers of India and Israel, respectively, in the presence of Prof. T. Pradeep, Institute Professor, IIT Madras.

According to Dr Lior Asaf, Water Attache, Embassy of Israel, the CoWT will work towards the mutual exchange of technology, scientific information, and literature, and hold discussions and consultations on various issues in the area with experts from both the countries to address problems in drinking water and sewerage management and to develop new areas of intervention.

Elaborating on the outcomes envisaged, Prof. T. Pradeep, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, said, “Water security of India depends on the implementation of advanced and affordable technologies as well as efficient management of the resources. There is much to learn from Israel, a leader in the area, under the guidance of AMRUT(Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Mission.”

He added that the two Governments also intend to jointly identify specific projects relating to integrated water resources management, Urban water supply and non-revenue water, water and sewage recycling, IoT solution and online monitoring, water harvesting, smart data management and AI, among other areas, with the objective of demonstrating most advanced technologies in the field.

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As a result of a partnership between the Indian and Israeli Governments, an 'India-Israel Center of Water Technology'(CoWT) is to come up at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, campus in Chennai, said the institute.

As a result of a partnership between the Indian and Israeli Governments, an 'India-Israel Center of Water Technology'(CoWT) is to come up at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, campus in Chennai, said the institute. India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs would be collaborating with MASHAV, Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, to establish this new facility. The key objective of this facility will be to ensure the implementation of Israel's best technologies for Indian requirements and to work on sustainable management solutions for the Indian water sector. When queried about the budget allocated for this new facility and when it is expected to come up, IIT Madras representatives told WION that the facility would come up at a cost of Rs.23-30cr (approx $3-4mn) and would start in a few months. A letter of Intent in this regard was signed in New Delhi, earlier this month by Mr Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and Mr Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, in presence of Shri. S. Jaishankar and Mr Eli Cohen, Hon’ble External Affairs Ministers of India and Israel, respectively, in the presence of Prof. T. Pradeep, Institute Professor, IIT Madras. According to Dr Lior Asaf, Water Attache, Embassy of Israel, the CoWT will work towards the mutual exchange of technology, scientific information, and literature, and hold discussions and consultations on various issues in the area with experts from both the countries to address problems in drinking water and sewerage management and to develop new areas of intervention. Elaborating on the outcomes envisaged, Prof. T. Pradeep, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, said, “Water security of India depends on the implementation of advanced and affordable technologies as well as efficient management of the resources. There is much to learn from Israel, a leader in the area, under the guidance of AMRUT(Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Mission.” He added that the two Governments also intend to jointly identify specific projects relating to integrated water resources management, Urban water supply and non-revenue water, water and sewage recycling, IoT solution and online monitoring, water harvesting, smart data management and AI, among other areas, with the objective of demonstrating most advanced technologies in the field. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India, Israel to share expertise and tech in water management at new facility in IIT-Madras

As temperatures soar&nbsp;across India in the month of May, the famous ski resort Gulmarg in Kashmir valley is greeting tourists with snow as a surprise. Thousands of tourists are thronging the hill station to witness the snow and enjoy the cold weather.&nbsp;They&nbsp;consider&nbsp; themselves lucky to have witnessed snow during their visit to the valley.&nbsp;

14000 feet above&nbsp;the sea level, Gulmarg's&nbsp;Apharwat is being visited by thousands of tourists every day. Wearing winter jackets and woollens in the month of May is surprising for the tourists as they witness&nbsp;heaps of snow.&nbsp;

''I came with a wish to witness the snow. I had heard winters are cold but in the month of May I didn't expect this much cold. I had come 42 years ago with my parents, and I am feeling so lucky to visit again with my wife and kids. I urge all people to come and see this paradise on earth,'' said Jesus Sahu, a tourist.&nbsp;

There has been drastic change in weather in the month of May, with higher reaches of the Kashmir valley witnessing&nbsp;fresh spell of snowfall recently. The temperatures are recorded below normal still in the Union Territory, making it extremely pleasant for the tourists coming to the Kashmir region. It has also translated into more earnings for the locals. The hoteliers, traders and craftsmen in the valley have had a great start to the year 2023. &nbsp;

Tourists coming to the Kashmir valley are praising the natural beauty as well as the local people.&nbsp;

''My experience is that you don't&nbsp;need a therapist if you visit Kashmir. It's so calm and peaceful and beyond your imagination. We watched it in movies but in reality it is even better, and we loved it a lot. The people are very friendly and helpful. I so wanted to see the snow and I am happy that we got to see the snow,"&nbsp;said Supan Sahu, another&nbsp;tourist.

Gulmarg&nbsp;broke all the previous records of tourist arrivals in the last winters. All the hotels and guest houses at the hill station were completely booked all through the winter season.

Skiers not only from India but from across the world had come to ski in the mountains of Gulmarg. Various winter festivals were arranged for tourists coming to Gulmarg. And tourists arriving in Gulmarg even now are all praises for the beautiful visuals they are experiencing.&nbsp;

''Kashmir is a paradise on earth. This place takes away all your mental stress, whatever stress we had is completely gone. It's so peaceful here. The valley is beautiful, and people are good. This&nbsp;visit made me very happy,'' said Shreya Chakraborty, a tourist.

The meteorological department has predicted more rains and snow towards the end of this month.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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As temperatures soar across India in the month of May, the famous ski resort Gulmarg in Kashmir valley is greeting tourists with snow as a surprise. Thousands of tourists are thronging the hill station to witness the snow and enjoy the cold weather.

As temperatures soar across India in the month of May, the famous ski resort Gulmarg in Kashmir valley is greeting tourists with snow as a surprise. Thousands of tourists are thronging the hill station to witness the snow and enjoy the cold weather. They consider themselves lucky to have witnessed snow during their visit to the valley. 14000 feet above the sea level, Gulmarg's Apharwat is being visited by thousands of tourists every day. Wearing winter jackets and woollens in the month of May is surprising for the tourists as they witness heaps of snow. ''I came with a wish to witness the snow. I had heard winters are cold but in the month of May I didn't expect this much cold. I had come 42 years ago with my parents, and I am feeling so lucky to visit again with my wife and kids. I urge all people to come and see this paradise on earth,'' said Jesus Sahu, a tourist. There has been drastic change in weather in the month of May, with higher reaches of the Kashmir valley witnessing fresh spell of snowfall recently. The temperatures are recorded below normal still in the Union Territory, making it extremely pleasant for the tourists coming to the Kashmir region. It has also translated into more earnings for the locals. The hoteliers, traders and craftsmen in the valley have had a great start to the year 2023. Tourists coming to the Kashmir valley are praising the natural beauty as well as the local people. ''My experience is that you don't need a therapist if you visit Kashmir. It's so calm and peaceful and beyond your imagination. We watched it in movies but in reality it is even better, and we loved it a lot. The people are very friendly and helpful. I so wanted to see the snow and I am happy that we got to see the snow," said Supan Sahu, another tourist. Gulmarg broke all the previous records of tourist arrivals in the last winters. All the hotels and guest houses at the hill station were completely booked all through the winter season. Skiers not only from India but from across the world had come to ski in the mountains of Gulmarg. Various winter festivals were arranged for tourists coming to Gulmarg. And tourists arriving in Gulmarg even now are all praises for the beautiful visuals they are experiencing. ''Kashmir is a paradise on earth. This place takes away all your mental stress, whatever stress we had is completely gone. It's so peaceful here. The valley is beautiful, and people are good. This visit made me very happy,'' said Shreya Chakraborty, a tourist. The meteorological department has predicted more rains and snow towards the end of this month. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Ski resort Gulmarg in Kashmir surprises tourists with snow in May

India's monsoon rains, the lifeblood of the country's economy, are likely to be delayed. Massive heat wave in parts of the country. Mohammed Saleh brings you the report.

Monsoon rains delayed, heatwave scorches India | WION Climate Tracker

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi in India the country's Taliban-led foreign Ministry has ordered changed in leadership as its Embassy in the Indian capital. Speaking exclusively on this issue to WION the Afghan envoy said that the Embassy is still run by diplomats appointed by the former republic of Afghanistan and they firmly reject the Taliban.

Afghan Embassy in Delhi rejects report of Taliban appointing new head

While most countries across the globe have entered a slow recession, the Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.7 per cent in the calendar year 2024, emerging as one of the few bright spots, a new UN report has revealed.&nbsp;

The World Economic Situation and Prospects&nbsp;as of mid-2023&nbsp;report released on Tuesday said India's economy is expected to expand by 5.8 per cent in 2023 and 6.7 per cent in 2024.&nbsp;

It, however, added that&nbsp;higher interest rates and weaker external demand will continue to weigh on investment and exports in 2023.&nbsp;

The report noted that while most central banks in the region hiked interest rates in early 2023 to tackle inflation and stabilise exchange rates, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) applied the brakes after six consecutive hikes, accounting for a cumulative&nbsp;increase of 250 basis points since May last year.&nbsp;

"We have kept the policy rate unchanged, this decision was taken based on our assessment of the macroeconomic and financial conditions with reference to information available," said RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das at the time.&nbsp;

The growth projection for India is in line with the estimate made in&nbsp;World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report launched earlier this year.&nbsp;The January report said&nbsp;India's GDP is projected to grow to 5.8 per cent in 2023.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rbi-applies-brakes-on-repo-rate-hike-keeps-it-unchanged-at-65-579686">ALSO READ |&nbsp;RBI applies brakes on repo rate hike, keeps it unchanged at 6.5%</a>

<h2>India is the bright spot</h2>

Hamid Rashid, chief of the&nbsp;Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, commenting on the findings of the report said India remained a 'bright' spot on the horizon.&nbsp;

“India remains a bright spot. Our projection for India hasn't changed since January and we see many positives, including the inflation has come down significantly. We are pretty confident with our forecast right now for the year,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-cars-to-homes-spending-in-india-booms-as-countries-battle-rising-inflation-526322">WATCH |&nbsp;From cars to homes, spending in India booms as other countries battle rising inflation</a>

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<h2>Inflation rate based on WPI</h2>

Rashid may have been referring to the release of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) which fell to a new&nbsp;three-year low of&nbsp;(-) 0.92 per cent in April. According to data released by the&nbsp;Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday, this is the first instance after July 2020 that the inflation rate based on WPI has slipped into negative territory.&nbsp;

"Decline in the rate of inflation in April 2023 is primarily contributed by fall in prices of basic metals, food products, mineral oils, textiles, non-food articles, chemical &amp; chemical products, rubber &amp; plastic products and paper &amp; paper products," the government noted.&nbsp;

According to the UN report, inflation in India is expected to decelerate to 5.5 per cent in 2023 as global commodity prices moderate.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-wpi-falls-into-negative-for-first-time-since-july-2020-govt-cites-high-base-effect-as-the-reason-592827">ALSO READ |&nbsp;India: WPI falls into negative for first time since July 2020, govt cites high base effect as the reason</a>

While India grows rapidly,&nbsp;the world economy is expected to lag, despite a slight uptick from previous gloomy predictions.&nbsp;

"The world economy is now projected to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2023 (+0.4 percentage points from the January forecast) and 2.5 per cent in 2024 (-0.2 percentage points), a slight uptick in the global growth forecast for 2023," read the report.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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While most countries across the globe have entered a slow recession, the Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.7 per cent in the calendar year 2024, emerging as one of the few bright spots, a new UN report has revealed.

While most countries across the globe have entered a slow recession, the Indian economy is expected to grow by 6.7 per cent in the calendar year 2024, emerging as one of the few bright spots, a new UN report has revealed. The World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2023 report released on Tuesday said India's economy is expected to expand by 5.8 per cent in 2023 and 6.7 per cent in 2024. It, however, added that higher interest rates and weaker external demand will continue to weigh on investment and exports in 2023. The report noted that while most central banks in the region hiked interest rates in early 2023 to tackle inflation and stabilise exchange rates, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) applied the brakes after six consecutive hikes, accounting for a cumulative increase of 250 basis points since May last year. "We have kept the policy rate unchanged, this decision was taken based on our assessment of the macroeconomic and financial conditions with reference to information available," said RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das at the time. The growth projection for India is in line with the estimate made in World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 report launched earlier this year. The January report said India's GDP is projected to grow to 5.8 per cent in 2023. ALSO READ | RBI applies brakes on repo rate hike, keeps it unchanged at 6.5% India is the bright spot Hamid Rashid, chief of the Global Economic Monitoring Branch, Economic Analysis and Policy Division, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, commenting on the findings of the report said India remained a 'bright' spot on the horizon. “India remains a bright spot. Our projection for India hasn't changed since January and we see many positives, including the inflation has come down significantly. We are pretty confident with our forecast right now for the year,” he was quoted as saying by PTI. WATCH | From cars to homes, spending in India booms as other countries battle rising inflation × Inflation rate based on WPI Rashid may have been referring to the release of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) which fell to a new three-year low of (-) 0.92 per cent in April. According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday, this is the first instance after July 2020 that the inflation rate based on WPI has slipped into negative territory. "Decline in the rate of inflation in April 2023 is primarily contributed by fall in prices of basic metals, food products, mineral oils, textiles, non-food articles, chemical & chemical products, rubber & plastic products and paper & paper products," the government noted. According to the UN report, inflation in India is expected to decelerate to 5.5 per cent in 2023 as global commodity prices moderate. ALSO READ | India: WPI falls into negative for first time since July 2020, govt cites high base effect as the reason While India grows rapidly, the world economy is expected to lag, despite a slight uptick from previous gloomy predictions. "The world economy is now projected to grow by 2.3 per cent in 2023 (+0.4 percentage points from the January forecast) and 2.5 per cent in 2024 (-0.2 percentage points), a slight uptick in the global growth forecast for 2023," read the report. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India to grow 6.7% in 2024, remain one of the few 'bright spots': UN report

The much-touted India UK free trade deal (FTA) is in the eye of a storm called 'Angel's Share' of whiskey. The trade deal negotiations have resulted in a tug-of-war between Indian whiskey makers and their UK counterparts. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Indian whiskey VS British whiskey

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - India to help Greece reclaim artefacts from UK, Florida professor breaks record for living underwater for the longest time, Boris Johnson buys stunning $4.7 million mansion after complaining about 'low salary' as UK PM, Ukraine President Zelensky meets UK PM Rishi Sunak.

India to help Greece reclaim artefacts from UK | Zelensky meets UK PM Rishi Sunak

Kashmir Valley used to be the preferred location for Hindi film industries decades before the insurgency, but now that the government's tourism department is striving to revive film tourism in the valley, more than 300 new locations have been discovered for filming.

G20 Meet 2023: Upcoming meet in Srinagar to revive tourism and employment | India

Bengaluru, India's tech hub and innovation capital will get a new government when the congress party swears in its new chief minister for Karnataka. The South Indian city is important for the Indian economy but the city has its share of challenges.

India's Silicon Valley: New government, old challenges

What is the scope for this technology in India and what's the way forward and ahead WION correspondent Sidharth MP spoke with Professor B. Ravindran, who is the head of the Centre for responsible AI, about how artificial intelligence is a significant game-changing technology that is having an impact on all spheres of our lives.

India: CeRAI to focus on fundamental and applies research in AI

Decades before the insurgency, Kashmir valley used to be Hindi film industry's favourite destination to shoot movies. Now with the government tourism department is working for the revival of film tourism in the valley, more than 300 new destinations have been identified to shoot films.

Revival of filmmakers' once favourite destination Jammu & Kashmir for film tourism

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that strong winds blasted over Delhi on Tuesday morning (May 16),&nbsp;producing dust, impacting air quality, and lowering visibility to 1,000 metres. Meteorologists blame the dusty conditions on a combination of extreme temperatures in northwest India over the last five days, dry land owing to a lack of rain, and strong winds that have lasted since midnight.

"In the early hours, the wind was blowing at 30-35 kmph. It will rain during the day, allowing the dust to settle,"&nbsp;according to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, who spoke to PTI.&nbsp;

"Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," said V K Soni, the head of the IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre, who spoke to PTI.&nbsp;

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VIDEO | Strong winds swept across Delhi on Tuesday morning, raising dust and affecting air quality as well as reducing visibility. <a href="https://t.co/U9NIhbpmaV">pic.twitter.com/U9NIhbpmaV</a>
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Maximum temperatures in Delhi have risen beyond 40 degrees Celsius in the last four days, exacerbating the scorching weather. According to the IMD, a partly overcast sky and light showers in the evening may give limited relief. The high temperature is expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius by Sunday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-1200-children-die-every-year-due-to-air-pollution-in-europe-says-report-585648">More than 1,200 children die every year due to air pollution in Europe, says report</a>

<h2>Crucial conference on source apportionment study held in Delhi</h2>

The Delhi government said on Monday that a roundtable discussion was convened to review the findings of a real-time source apportionment research on air pollution and to devise a strategy to enhance air quality in the city and the National Capital Region.

On Monday, representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, The Energy and Resources Institute, and NCR states attended the "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" at the Delhi Secretariat.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Air pollution can affect Covid-19 vaccine efficacy: Study

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“We shared the data collected during the source apportionment study over the past six months with the participants, sought their suggestions and prepared a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” Rai said.

"The ultimate goal is to devise policies at local and regional levels to enhance the air quality in Delhi," he said.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/trending/10-countries-with-worst-air-quality-1682427749866">10 countries with worst air quality</a>

Real-time source apportionment (RTSA) studies assist in identifying variables responsible for an increase in air pollution at any location, such as cars, dust, biomass burning, and industrial emissions, so that appropriate preventative actions can be implemented.

Rai stated that orders have been issued to establish mobile air quality monitoring vans in 13 Delhi air pollution hotspots to determine the contribution of various pollution sources in real time.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that strong winds blasted over Delhi on Tuesday morning (May 16), producing dust, impacting air quality, and lowering visibility to 1,000 metres.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that strong winds blasted over Delhi on Tuesday morning (May 16), producing dust, impacting air quality, and lowering visibility to 1,000 metres. Meteorologists blame the dusty conditions on a combination of extreme temperatures in northwest India over the last five days, dry land owing to a lack of rain, and strong winds that have lasted since midnight. "In the early hours, the wind was blowing at 30-35 kmph. It will rain during the day, allowing the dust to settle," according to Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the IMD's regional forecasting centre, who spoke to PTI. "Dust concentration has gone up multiple times. The PM10 concentration rose from 140 micrograms per cubic metre at 4 am to 775 micrograms per cubic metre at 8 am. It is mainly because of strong gusty winds prevailing over the area. Dust will settle down soon," said V K Soni, the head of the IMD's Environment Monitoring and Research Centre, who spoke to PTI. VIDEO | Strong winds swept across Delhi on Tuesday morning, raising dust and affecting air quality as well as reducing visibility. pic.twitter.com/U9NIhbpmaV — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 16, 2023 × Maximum temperatures in Delhi have risen beyond 40 degrees Celsius in the last four days, exacerbating the scorching weather. According to the IMD, a partly overcast sky and light showers in the evening may give limited relief. The high temperature is expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius by Sunday. ALSO READ | More than 1,200 children die every year due to air pollution in Europe, says report Crucial conference on source apportionment study held in Delhi The Delhi government said on Monday that a roundtable discussion was convened to review the findings of a real-time source apportionment research on air pollution and to devise a strategy to enhance air quality in the city and the National Capital Region. On Monday, representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, The Energy and Resources Institute, and NCR states attended the "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" at the Delhi Secretariat. ALSO WATCH | Air pollution can affect Covid-19 vaccine efficacy: Study “We shared the data collected during the source apportionment study over the past six months with the participants, sought their suggestions and prepared a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” Rai said. "The ultimate goal is to devise policies at local and regional levels to enhance the air quality in Delhi," he said. ALSO READ | 10 countries with worst air quality Real-time source apportionment (RTSA) studies assist in identifying variables responsible for an increase in air pollution at any location, such as cars, dust, biomass burning, and industrial emissions, so that appropriate preventative actions can be implemented. Rai stated that orders have been issued to establish mobile air quality monitoring vans in 13 Delhi air pollution hotspots to determine the contribution of various pollution sources in real time. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Delhi air quality: Dust winds increase pollution levels, cut visibility

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