Virat Kohli remained unbeaten as his remarkable knock helped India guide to a five-run win over Bangladesh in the Super-12 stage of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

IND vs BAN: "I am in a happy place"- Virat Kohli's reaction after winning player of the match award

In Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir government opened an international-caliber football stadium as a present to the valley. The stadium was built in accordance with FIFA standards.

India: Jammu and Kashmir opens new stadiums to promote sports activities

'What others see as layoff, I see as time off'. This was Byju's CEO's message to sacked employees in an 'emotional' farewell note. The company plans to fire 2,500 employees in the next 6 months. Why? What went wrong for India's biggest ed-tech company? Priyanka Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Why is India's biggest ed-tech company on a firing spree?

Earlier this month, the Government of India declared a village in the Western state of Gujarat as the first village to run entirely on solar energy all the time.

WION Climate Summit: India's first fully solar-powered village 'transforming' residents' lives

India experienced extreme weather events between January and September this year which claimed 2,755 human lives and 69,000 animals across the country.&nbsp;

A latest report by India's environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment said that the "worse is happening now" with each month experiencing extreme weather days be it heatwaves, coldwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, lightning, storms, cyclones, cloudburst and snowfall in different regions in the country through various seasons.&nbsp;

According to the report titled ' The State of Extreme Weather 2022', which analyzed extreme weather events in India in its first 273 days this year, more than 400,000 houses and 1.8 million hectares of cropland was damaged by weather disasters.&nbsp;

During a webinar ahead of the international climate conference COP 27 scheduled to begin on November 7 in Egypt, CSE Director General Sunita Narain said the extreme weather disasters were the "revenge of nature" and an impact of climate change.&nbsp;

Presenting the report, its authors Rajit Sengupta and Kiran Pandey said that on 241 out of the 273 days in 2022, India experienced extreme weather events.&nbsp;

While on 159 days the country saw lightning and storms, there was heavy rainfall, floods and landslides on 157 days, heatwaves on 66 days, coldwaves on 30 days, cloudburst on 11 days and snowfall on two days.

These events also claimed several lives.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/northeast-monsoon-rains-in-southern-india-15-ndrf-teams-on-standby-in-tamil-nadu-530242">Northeast monsoon rains in southern India: 15 NDRF teams on standby in Tamil Nadu</a>

Around 1214 human lives were claimed by heavy rain, floods and landslides between June and September with north-eastern state of Assam being hit the worst with 221 deaths followed by central India's Madhya Pradesh with 112 deaths.&nbsp;

Nearly 954 people were killed due to lightning and storm between July and September with Madhya Pradesh recording maximum deaths at 164 followed by Maharashtra at 94.&nbsp;

The report said that India recorded 66 days of heatwaves which claimed 45 lives with the early onset in March until July. The western state of Rajasthan was worst hit by heatwaves which lasted 42 days followed by Maharashtra with 24 days of heatwaves and 34 deaths. Rajasthan did not record any death due to heatwave, the report said.&nbsp;

The country also experienced cold waves or cold days for 30 days with 22 days in January and eight days in February in two states and Union Territories. While Madhya Pradesh had 21 days of cold waves, it lasted for 20 days in Uttar Pradesh. No lives were claimed.&nbsp;

The 11 days of cloudburst killed 33 people in four states with maximum deaths in Himachal Pradesh at 12.&nbsp;

Two places - Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh experienced snowfall which lasted two days in the entire 273 days and claimed a total of eight lives. While one person died in Jammu and Kashmir, seven deaths were recorded in Arunachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

"While January saw cooler daytime temperatures, February remained almost half a degree colder than normal, resulting in 30 cold wave days and 12 hailstorm days. January was also abnormally wet. It was the seventh wettest since 1901 while February was drier than normal," said Kiran Pandey, Programme Director, Environment Resource Unit, CSE.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Should you retire early?&nbsp;

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The report also revealed that the months of March and April were unusually hot and led to the early onset of heatwaves with March being the warmest ever and the third driest in 121 years.&nbsp;

The experts noted that the monsoon season oscillated between dry and wet spells. It began in June with catastrophic floods in northeast India, especially Assam and Meghalaya.&nbsp;

"There was a dry spell in July and August in the northeast. However, the western part of the country suffered floods in July and flood-like conditions were caused in August in states of Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh," Pandey said.&nbsp;

Experts said that climate change is here and happening now and these extreme weather events are a result of the warming of planet. 
India will be addressing the 27th climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh on November 7 with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav leading an 18-member delegation.&nbsp;

According to the Indian government, the main agenda of the COP27 will be the failure of wealthy countries to keep the $100 billion pledge to aid the developing nations in dealing with the climate crisis to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees C.&nbsp;

The conference will be held from November 7 to 18 at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

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India experienced extreme weather events between January and September this year which claimed 2,755 human lives and 69,000 animals across the country. A latest report by India's environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment said that the "worse is happening now" with each month experiencing extreme weather days be it heatwaves, coldwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, lightning, storms, cyclones, cloudburst and snowfall in different regions in the country through various seasons.

India experienced extreme weather events between January and September this year which claimed 2,755 human lives and 69,000 animals across the country. A latest report by India's environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment said that the "worse is happening now" with each month experiencing extreme weather days be it heatwaves, coldwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding, lightning, storms, cyclones, cloudburst and snowfall in different regions in the country through various seasons. According to the report titled ' The State of Extreme Weather 2022', which analyzed extreme weather events in India in its first 273 days this year, more than 400,000 houses and 1.8 million hectares of cropland was damaged by weather disasters. During a webinar ahead of the international climate conference COP 27 scheduled to begin on November 7 in Egypt, CSE Director General Sunita Narain said the extreme weather disasters were the "revenge of nature" and an impact of climate change. Presenting the report, its authors Rajit Sengupta and Kiran Pandey said that on 241 out of the 273 days in 2022, India experienced extreme weather events. While on 159 days the country saw lightning and storms, there was heavy rainfall, floods and landslides on 157 days, heatwaves on 66 days, coldwaves on 30 days, cloudburst on 11 days and snowfall on two days. These events also claimed several lives. ALSO READ | Northeast monsoon rains in southern India: 15 NDRF teams on standby in Tamil Nadu Around 1214 human lives were claimed by heavy rain, floods and landslides between June and September with north-eastern state of Assam being hit the worst with 221 deaths followed by central India's Madhya Pradesh with 112 deaths. Nearly 954 people were killed due to lightning and storm between July and September with Madhya Pradesh recording maximum deaths at 164 followed by Maharashtra at 94. The report said that India recorded 66 days of heatwaves which claimed 45 lives with the early onset in March until July. The western state of Rajasthan was worst hit by heatwaves which lasted 42 days followed by Maharashtra with 24 days of heatwaves and 34 deaths. Rajasthan did not record any death due to heatwave, the report said. The country also experienced cold waves or cold days for 30 days with 22 days in January and eight days in February in two states and Union Territories. While Madhya Pradesh had 21 days of cold waves, it lasted for 20 days in Uttar Pradesh. No lives were claimed. The 11 days of cloudburst killed 33 people in four states with maximum deaths in Himachal Pradesh at 12. Two places - Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh experienced snowfall which lasted two days in the entire 273 days and claimed a total of eight lives. While one person died in Jammu and Kashmir, seven deaths were recorded in Arunachal Pradesh. "While January saw cooler daytime temperatures, February remained almost half a degree colder than normal, resulting in 30 cold wave days and 12 hailstorm days. January was also abnormally wet. It was the seventh wettest since 1901 while February was drier than normal," said Kiran Pandey, Programme Director, Environment Resource Unit, CSE. WATCH | Gravitas: Should you retire early? × The report also revealed that the months of March and April were unusually hot and led to the early onset of heatwaves with March being the warmest ever and the third driest in 121 years. The experts noted that the monsoon season oscillated between dry and wet spells. It began in June with catastrophic floods in northeast India, especially Assam and Meghalaya. "There was a dry spell in July and August in the northeast. However, the western part of the country suffered floods in July and flood-like conditions were caused in August in states of Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh," Pandey said. Experts said that climate change is here and happening now and these extreme weather events are a result of the warming of planet. India will be addressing the 27th climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh on November 7 with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav leading an 18-member delegation. According to the Indian government, the main agenda of the COP27 will be the failure of wealthy countries to keep the $100 billion pledge to aid the developing nations in dealing with the climate crisis to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees C. The conference will be held from November 7 to 18 at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. 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 saw extreme weather disasters on 241 of 273 days of 2022, claiming 2577 lives

Deepening its scrutiny of Chinese firms in the country, India has now launched an investigation into the MG Motors accounts. Now the probe by India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs started after analysis of the company's financial statements.

India probes MG Motor over financial irregularities, scrutiny indicates suspicious transactions

After appearing in Singapore for the first time, the Omicron sub-lineage XBB of COVID-19 has found its way to the Indian public. The virus strain is known for its highly contagious nature but an expert panel has observed that Indian patients have reported mild illness and no increase in severity, even after contracting it.

After appearing in Singapore for the first time, the Omicron sub-lineage XBB of COVID-19 has found its way to the Indian public. The virus strain is known for its highly contagious nature but an expert panel has observed that Indian patients have reported mild illness and no increase in severity, even after contracting it. INSACOG, or Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics, a group of 54 laboratories across the country that monitor the different iterations of the virus made the observations. “Modest increase in the spread of XBB in Singapore has been observed. However, there has been no report of increase in severity of disease or increase in hospitalization associated with these variants," read the report. "Among the Indian patients, the disease is mild like with other Omicron sub-lineages, and no increase in severity is noted,” it added. While the severity might be low, the body said that nearly 50 per cent of te samples sequenced in the past couple of weeks tested positive for it. As reported by WION, the XBB variant was first reported in Singapore and is expected to become the next dominant strain of Covid. Health experts are hopeful that the population’s level of hybrid immunity will not lead to severe illnesses. Up until mid-October, over 60 per cent of the new cases in Singapore were attributed to the XBB variant. Read more: XBB, BA.5, BQ.1.1 & more: The 'Scrabble' COVID-19 variants taking over the world The new Omicron strains such as XBB, BA.5 and BQ.1.1are also known as "Scrabble" variants, a term coined by Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. The nickname refers to the alphabets B, Q and X that fetch a whole lot of points in the game. WATCH | Workers flee manufacturing facility in China to avoid tightening covid-19 curbs × Experts say that XBB has been found to evade vaccine-derived protections in a research. However, vaccination can keep severe symptoms at bay. In fact, as it becomes colder outside, more variants are likely to emerge. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

What are the experts saying about the highly transmissible XBB Covid variant?

Democracy is our dharma, and elections are its festival. Indeed, who here has not witnessed the beauty of the “Indian election season”.&nbsp;Politicians burst like crackers on prime-time television debates&nbsp; Streets and Newspapers are filled with colourful campaigns and party symbols. While the typical election campaign is commanded by the experienced and shrewd 'Netas' (politicians)&nbsp;with their inexperienced yet enthusiastic and young 'Karyakartas' (workers). The introduction of political consultancy firms might just shift the epicentre of Indian politics to corporate offices and IIT/IIM graduates.&nbsp;This is the corporatisation and professionalisation of democracy and elections.&nbsp;

Political Consultancy firms are organisations that assist political parties to win elections. These political consultancy firms offer various kinds of services which can include creating manifestos, promotional materials, campaign strategies, election funding policy ideas and media relations.&nbsp;

This phenomenon came to limelight in the aftermath of the 2014 elections. A key figure being Prashant Kishore, the founder of IPAC. Since then,&nbsp;such firms have played a huge role in elections in West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and others.&nbsp;

These political consultancy firms and election strategists claim to be politically uninterested, and ideologically ambiguous. Their only incentive is earning money in return for their service. You ask them, Modi or Gandhi? And they will reply, the one who pays me more. That is the corporate ethos seeping into our democratic culture.&nbsp;

So let us understand how democracy is being sabotaged&nbsp;by looking at three factors:&nbsp;money, traditional party structures and the rising influence of such firms.

The role of money has always been a controversial issue in Indian politics. The rise of political consulting firms will only make the situation worse. These professionals charge several lakhs for their services. Individual candidates can be charged up to an average&nbsp;of $30,000-$36,000 (Rs 25-30 lakhs). Whereas contracts with huge firms can go up to $18 million (Rs 150 crores). 

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) estimated that this industry racked up to $96 million (Rs 800 crores) during the 2014 elections. The exaggeration of money's role in elections due to such firms can not be overstated. 

This means that the rich and elite, especially the spawns of corporate overlords and political dynasties, can pay such political consulting firms money to make up for their lack of experience and grasp of ground realities. Whereas those from humble backgrounds without access to such services will not stand a chance. Without a heavy profit margin, there will be no incentive to back a candidate.

Moreover, corporatisation and professionalisation are destroying the traditional structure of political parties. This usually consists of the upper order and the lower grassroot workers. 

Local units are usually responsible for campaigning, rallies and execution of plans. The local cadres have constantly provided India with her most diverse and charismatic leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

They are a symbol of her representative democracy. However, today, the corporate machinery is replacing them and hence most local units view such firms as hostile.

A third problematic factor is the emergence of a strong lobby of political strategists who carry immense and unchecked influence. They influence government policies and&nbsp;have insight into what is going on in high-level meetings. They have essentially monopolised the connection between parties and people. 

They have the power to make or break elections and yet they lack any accountability or transparency. Party leaders and CM candidates have merely been reduced to the ‘face’ of the party, while allegations have emerged that the true authority rests with the election strategists.&nbsp;

Contrary to their claims of being uninterested in power, reports have emerged that various political consultancy firms are supposedly the ones deciding who is allowed to contest in elections.&nbsp;The supposedly uninterested assistants have become&nbsp;key figures in political parties' internal conflicts.&nbsp;

Though the prospect of using technology, data and recruiting firms to understand and change the political climate of India might sound exciting, the reliance on such firms will not have a healthy impact on Indian democracy. 

Such firms are like steroids; they may give a strong boost in the short run but will prove to be detrimental in the long term. The need of the hour is regulation and oversight. 

Though the law limits the amount of money that can be used by candidates during elections, the effectiveness and enforcement of such laws remain to be seen.The Election Commission needs to take&nbsp;cognisance of this pernicious trend and come up with possible solutions for the same.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Democracy is our dharma, and elections are its festival. Indeed, who here has not witnessed the beauty of the “Indian election season”. Politicians burst like crackers on prime-time television debates Streets and Newspapers are filled with colourful campaigns and party symbols.

Democracy is our dharma, and elections are its festival. Indeed, who here has not witnessed the beauty of the “Indian election season”. Politicians burst like crackers on prime-time television debates Streets and Newspapers are filled with colourful campaigns and party symbols. While the typical election campaign is commanded by the experienced and shrewd 'Netas' (politicians) with their inexperienced yet enthusiastic and young 'Karyakartas' (workers). The introduction of political consultancy firms might just shift the epicentre of Indian politics to corporate offices and IIT/IIM graduates. This is the corporatisation and professionalisation of democracy and elections. Political Consultancy firms are organisations that assist political parties to win elections. These political consultancy firms offer various kinds of services which can include creating manifestos, promotional materials, campaign strategies, election funding policy ideas and media relations. This phenomenon came to limelight in the aftermath of the 2014 elections. A key figure being Prashant Kishore, the founder of IPAC. Since then, such firms have played a huge role in elections in West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab and others. These political consultancy firms and election strategists claim to be politically uninterested, and ideologically ambiguous. Their only incentive is earning money in return for their service. You ask them, Modi or Gandhi? And they will reply, the one who pays me more. That is the corporate ethos seeping into our democratic culture. So let us understand how democracy is being sabotaged by looking at three factors: money, traditional party structures and the rising influence of such firms. The role of money has always been a controversial issue in Indian politics. The rise of political consulting firms will only make the situation worse. These professionals charge several lakhs for their services. Individual candidates can be charged up to an average of $30,000-$36,000 (Rs 25-30 lakhs). Whereas contracts with huge firms can go up to $18 million (Rs 150 crores). Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) estimated that this industry racked up to $96 million (Rs 800 crores) during the 2014 elections. The exaggeration of money's role in elections due to such firms can not be overstated. This means that the rich and elite, especially the spawns of corporate overlords and political dynasties, can pay such political consulting firms money to make up for their lack of experience and grasp of ground realities. Whereas those from humble backgrounds without access to such services will not stand a chance. Without a heavy profit margin, there will be no incentive to back a candidate. Moreover, corporatisation and professionalisation are destroying the traditional structure of political parties. This usually consists of the upper order and the lower grassroot workers. Local units are usually responsible for campaigning, rallies and execution of plans. The local cadres have constantly provided India with her most diverse and charismatic leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. They are a symbol of her representative democracy. However, today, the corporate machinery is replacing them and hence most local units view such firms as hostile. A third problematic factor is the emergence of a strong lobby of political strategists who carry immense and unchecked influence. They influence government policies and have insight into what is going on in high-level meetings. They have essentially monopolised the connection between parties and people. They have the power to make or break elections and yet they lack any accountability or transparency. Party leaders and CM candidates have merely been reduced to the ‘face’ of the party, while allegations have emerged that the true authority rests with the election strategists. Contrary to their claims of being uninterested in power, reports have emerged that various political consultancy firms are supposedly the ones deciding who is allowed to contest in elections. The supposedly uninterested assistants have become key figures in political parties' internal conflicts. Though the prospect of using technology, data and recruiting firms to understand and change the political climate of India might sound exciting, the reliance on such firms will not have a healthy impact on Indian democracy. Such firms are like steroids; they may give a strong boost in the short run but will prove to be detrimental in the long term. The need of the hour is regulation and oversight. Though the law limits the amount of money that can be used by candidates during elections, the effectiveness and enforcement of such laws remain to be seen.The Election Commission needs to take cognisance of this pernicious trend and come up with possible solutions for the same. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Rise of political consultancy firms revolutionising or undermining democracy?

Dr Jamshed J Irani, also known as the Steel Man of India, passed away at the age of 86 in Jamshedpur Monday night.

'Steel man of India' Jamshed Irani dies at 86

At least 134 people were killed and over 100 injured after a hanging bridge collapse in the western state of Gujarat. According to authorities over 500 people were celebrating a festival near the bridge at the time of the incident.

India: CCTV footage captures the moment Gujarat bridge collapsed

India's No.2 telecom carrier by subscribers Bharti Airtel reported a bigger-than-expected increase in second-quarter revenue on Monday, helped by 4G subscriber additions and higher revenue per user.

The company's consolidated revenue from operations rose nearly 22 per cent&nbsp;year-over-year to 345.27 billion Indian rupees ($4.17 billion) in the three months that ended September 30.

Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of 339.21 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

Airtel, as the company is popularly called, said revenue from its India mobile services, which has 328 million subscribers, rose nearly 25 per cent&nbsp;to 189.58 billion rupees.

Its 4G data customers increased by five&nbsp;million from the previous quarter to 210 million in the latest quarter.

Airtel's average revenue per user (ARPU), a key performance indicator for telecom firms, was 190 rupees, clocking a 3.8 per cent&nbsp;sequential rise and a roughly 24 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year increase.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-government-pressing-mobile-manufacturers-to-release-5g-updates-524464">Read more:&nbsp;Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates</a>

Earlier this month, market leader Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of conglomerate Reliance Industries said its ARPU rose just under one per cent&nbsp;sequentially to 177.2 rupees in the quarter.

Airtel's net profit for the September quarter climbed to 21.45 billion rupees from 11.34 billion rupees a year ago, but missed analysts' estimates of 24.67 billion rupees. Its expenses surged by 16.7 per cent&nbsp;in the quarter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-business-news-watch-out-for-5g-scams-in-india-526329">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Business News | Watch out for 5G scams in India</a>

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The New Delhi-based company said mobile data consumption surged by 19.6 per cent, with consumption per mobile data customer at 20.3 GB per month.

Analysts expect telecom firms to announce tariff hikes by the end of fiscal 2023, having spent billions of dollars in the country's recent 5G auction. Airtel spent 430.84 billion rupees and launched its 5G services earlier this month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-regulator-greenlits-govts-proposal-to-convert-vodafone-ideas-192-billion-dues-to-equity-527206">Read more:&nbsp;Indian regulator greenlights govt proposal to convert Vodafone Idea's $1.92 billion dues into equity</a>

ARPU needs to be at 200 rupees and ultimately at 300 rupees for a financially healthy business model, Airtel said last November, when it raised tariffs. The stock hit a record high of 833.80 rupees earlier in the day and has risen nearly 22 per cent&nbsp;this year through Monday's close.

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India's No.2 telecom carrier by subscribers Bharti Airtel reported a bigger-than-expected increase in second-quarter revenue on Monday, helped by 4G subscriber additions and higher revenue per user.

India's No.2 telecom carrier by subscribers Bharti Airtel reported a bigger-than-expected increase in second-quarter revenue on Monday, helped by 4G subscriber additions and higher revenue per user. The company's consolidated revenue from operations rose nearly 22 per cent year-over-year to 345.27 billion Indian rupees ($4.17 billion) in the three months that ended September 30. Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of 339.21 billion rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Airtel, as the company is popularly called, said revenue from its India mobile services, which has 328 million subscribers, rose nearly 25 per cent to 189.58 billion rupees. Its 4G data customers increased by five million from the previous quarter to 210 million in the latest quarter. Airtel's average revenue per user (ARPU), a key performance indicator for telecom firms, was 190 rupees, clocking a 3.8 per cent sequential rise and a roughly 24 per cent year-on-year increase. Read more: Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates Earlier this month, market leader Reliance Jio, the telecom arm of conglomerate Reliance Industries said its ARPU rose just under one per cent sequentially to 177.2 rupees in the quarter. Airtel's net profit for the September quarter climbed to 21.45 billion rupees from 11.34 billion rupees a year ago, but missed analysts' estimates of 24.67 billion rupees. Its expenses surged by 16.7 per cent in the quarter. WATCH | WION Business News | Watch out for 5G scams in India × The New Delhi-based company said mobile data consumption surged by 19.6 per cent, with consumption per mobile data customer at 20.3 GB per month. Analysts expect telecom firms to announce tariff hikes by the end of fiscal 2023, having spent billions of dollars in the country's recent 5G auction. Airtel spent 430.84 billion rupees and launched its 5G services earlier this month. Read more: Indian regulator greenlights govt proposal to convert Vodafone Idea's $1.92 billion dues into equity ARPU needs to be at 200 rupees and ultimately at 300 rupees for a financially healthy business model, Airtel said last November, when it raised tariffs. The stock hit a record high of 833.80 rupees earlier in the day and has risen nearly 22 per cent this year through Monday's close. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India's second largest telco Bharti Airtel posts strong Q2 numbers as users increase

There is good news for the saffron farmers in the Kashmir Valley this year. It's a bumper harvest of saffron in the valley which has brought happiness among the saffron growers of Kashmir. Farmers say that the production is double pf what it was last year.&nbsp;

Thousands of families are associated with saffron farming in the Kashmir region. They&nbsp;are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields.

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Kashmir has more than 3700 hectares of land under the cultivation of saffron. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. However, the spice is now being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"As compared to last year, the production this year is twice of what it was the previous year. Adequate rain at the proper time helped&nbsp;and that's why we had the best production. This is much better than the previous year. The GI tag is good for us, and will benefit us. It makes sure the purest Kashmiri saffron is sold in the market,'' said Farhad, a saffron farmer.&nbsp;

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The tourists visiting the valley are stopping at the saffron farms to see how it is grown. A lot of tourists are buying saffron from the farms as well.

''With the grace of God, the crop is much better this year than what we had hoped for. We have been harvesting for days and you can see this farm was harvested yesterday and today. There is so much to be picked as well. This whole place is dependent on saffron as we grow most of the saffron from the Kashmir region," said Nasir Hamid, another saffron farmer.&nbsp;

"GI tagging is beneficial for us, but we have seen a lot of non-Kashmiri products being sold across India on Kashmir name and that needs to be stopped. Although GI tagging has not reached ground level farmers. The tourists visit our farms, and they see with their own eyes how we grow saffron. This also makes sure they believe the authenticity of the saffron from here. The world's best saffron is grown in the Kashmir valley and demand for it has been good," he added.&nbsp;

The tourists are appreciative of the farmers growing saffron in the valley. It is a unique experience for them to see the saffron farms.

''It is a unique experience, we come from Pune&nbsp;and don't get to see all this. Saffron is expensive and seeing its farming was a great experience. Kashmiri saffron is the best and is known all over the world. It provides great fragrance and taste to dishes," said Vikrant, a tourist.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/two-migrant-laborers-shot-dead-in-shopian-in-south-kashmir-526413">Two migrant laborers shot dead in Shopian in south Kashmir</a>

Saffron is used on numerous occasions in India. The use of saffron in&nbsp;puja and making sweets for festivals is considered&nbsp;auspicious.&nbsp;

''We have come to see saffron farming as we use it in so many things, while making sweets, and during Puja. It is considered very auspicious. I am seeing the saffron flower for the first time. All sweets like shrikhand are made with it," said Preeti, another tourist.&nbsp;

The saffron farmers have been demanding that the rates of saffron should be revised. With everything becoming expensive in the market and the process involved in growing and processing the saffron becoming costlier as well, the saffron farmers say the rates need to be increased for them to sustain.&nbsp;

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There is good news for the saffron farmers in the Kashmir Valley this year. It's a bumper harvest of saffron in the valley which has brought happiness among the saffron growers of Kashmir.

There is good news for the saffron farmers in the Kashmir Valley this year. It's a bumper harvest of saffron in the valley which has brought happiness among the saffron growers of Kashmir. Farmers say that the production is double pf what it was last year. Thousands of families are associated with saffron farming in the Kashmir region. They are busy plucking the saffron flowers from the fields. Kashmir has more than 3700 hectares of land under the cultivation of saffron. The Pampore area in Pulwama is the main hub for growing saffron. However, the spice is now being cultivated across different districts of Kashmir valley as well. "As compared to last year, the production this year is twice of what it was the previous year. Adequate rain at the proper time helped and that's why we had the best production. This is much better than the previous year. The GI tag is good for us, and will benefit us. It makes sure the purest Kashmiri saffron is sold in the market,'' said Farhad, a saffron farmer. The tourists visiting the valley are stopping at the saffron farms to see how it is grown. A lot of tourists are buying saffron from the farms as well. ''With the grace of God, the crop is much better this year than what we had hoped for. We have been harvesting for days and you can see this farm was harvested yesterday and today. There is so much to be picked as well. This whole place is dependent on saffron as we grow most of the saffron from the Kashmir region," said Nasir Hamid, another saffron farmer. "GI tagging is beneficial for us, but we have seen a lot of non-Kashmiri products being sold across India on Kashmir name and that needs to be stopped. Although GI tagging has not reached ground level farmers. The tourists visit our farms, and they see with their own eyes how we grow saffron. This also makes sure they believe the authenticity of the saffron from here. The world's best saffron is grown in the Kashmir valley and demand for it has been good," he added. The tourists are appreciative of the farmers growing saffron in the valley. It is a unique experience for them to see the saffron farms. ''It is a unique experience, we come from Pune and don't get to see all this. Saffron is expensive and seeing its farming was a great experience. Kashmiri saffron is the best and is known all over the world. It provides great fragrance and taste to dishes," said Vikrant, a tourist. ALSO WATCH: Two migrant laborers shot dead in Shopian in south Kashmir Saffron is used on numerous occasions in India. The use of saffron in puja and making sweets for festivals is considered auspicious. ''We have come to see saffron farming as we use it in so many things, while making sweets, and during Puja. It is considered very auspicious. I am seeing the saffron flower for the first time. All sweets like shrikhand are made with it," said Preeti, another tourist. The saffron farmers have been demanding that the rates of saffron should be revised. With everything becoming expensive in the market and the process involved in growing and processing the saffron becoming costlier as well, the saffron farmers say the rates need to be increased for them to sustain. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bumper saffron harvest in Kashmir region. Farmers happy with abundant production

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-Chyi will be in Delhi next week to take part in the annual India-Taiwan deputy economic minister-level meeting.

The meeting hasn't happened in person for the last two years because of the Covid crisis. It alternates between the two sides; meaning one year it is held in New Delhi while the following year, it takes place in&nbsp;Taipei and has&nbsp;been happening for the last 14 years.

Minister Chen&nbsp;leads a delegation of Taiwanese investors, including IT companies. He will also address the India-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Summit organised by the industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &amp; Industry (FICCI) in the national capital.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taiwan-expects-greater-china-pressure-528867">Also watch:&nbsp;'Taiwan expects greater China pressure'</a>

The visit comes in the backdrop of Taiwan aiming to set up a semiconductor manufacturing hub in India while focusing on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Delhi.

Minister Chen's visit comes as the US-led "Chip 4" alliance is being emphasised by Taipei to ensure supply chain resilience when it comes to semiconductors. Taiwan, along with the United States, South Korea and Japan are members of the grouping.&nbsp;

While Taiwan is seen as a superpower in terms of semiconductor manufacturing, India is keen to roll out the red carpet for global investors to set up manufacturing facilities in the country under the 'SemiconIndia' programme.

The total outlay of the programme is $9 billion (Rs 76,000 crore) for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-is-a-major-partner-for-us-says-israel-envoy-naor-gilon-527189">Read more:&nbsp;India is a major partner for us, says Israel envoy Naor Gilon</a>

Earlier this year, tensions grew between China and Taiwan following a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. What followed were days of military blockade of the island by Beijing as the world remained on tenterhooks.&nbsp;

While the tensions since then have abated, worries over fresh tension remain as Chinese leadership has been calling for "reunification" of the self-ruled island which it sees as a "breakaway province".&nbsp;

Only 13 countries in the world recognize Taiwan as a country but Taipei has continued to engage diplomatically with over 50 nations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmiri-politicians-brief-eu-parliamentarians-over-developments-in-the-union-territory-528454">Read more:&nbsp;Kashmiri politicians brief EU parliamentarians over developments in the union territory</a>

While New Delhi does not recognise Taiwan as a country, it was in 1995 that India-Taipei Association was established that marked the beginning of ties. The association, which is the main Indian diplomatic presence in the island, aims to facilitate businesses, people to people exchange and is authorised to provide all consular and passport services.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-Chyi will be in Delhi next week to take part in the annual India-Taiwan deputy economic minister-level meeting.

Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-Chyi will be in Delhi next week to take part in the annual India-Taiwan deputy economic minister-level meeting. The meeting hasn't happened in person for the last two years because of the Covid crisis. It alternates between the two sides; meaning one year it is held in New Delhi while the following year, it takes place in Taipei and has been happening for the last 14 years. Minister Chen leads a delegation of Taiwanese investors, including IT companies. He will also address the India-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Summit organised by the industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in the national capital. Also watch: 'Taiwan expects greater China pressure' The visit comes in the backdrop of Taiwan aiming to set up a semiconductor manufacturing hub in India while focusing on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Delhi. Minister Chen's visit comes as the US-led "Chip 4" alliance is being emphasised by Taipei to ensure supply chain resilience when it comes to semiconductors. Taiwan, along with the United States, South Korea and Japan are members of the grouping. While Taiwan is seen as a superpower in terms of semiconductor manufacturing, India is keen to roll out the red carpet for global investors to set up manufacturing facilities in the country under the 'SemiconIndia' programme. The total outlay of the programme is $9 billion (Rs 76,000 crore) for the development of semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem. Read more: India is a major partner for us, says Israel envoy Naor Gilon Earlier this year, tensions grew between China and Taiwan following a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. What followed were days of military blockade of the island by Beijing as the world remained on tenterhooks. While the tensions since then have abated, worries over fresh tension remain as Chinese leadership has been calling for "reunification" of the self-ruled island which it sees as a "breakaway province". Only 13 countries in the world recognize Taiwan as a country but Taipei has continued to engage diplomatically with over 50 nations. Read more: Kashmiri politicians brief EU parliamentarians over developments in the union territory While New Delhi does not recognise Taiwan as a country, it was in 1995 that India-Taipei Association was established that marked the beginning of ties. The association, which is the main Indian diplomatic presence in the island, aims to facilitate businesses, people to people exchange and is authorised to provide all consular and passport services. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Taiwan's deputy economic minister travels to India next week

India has launched a $2.67 Billion plane project in Gujarat. What’s the project all about? What does India aim to achieve with it? Let’s get to the point

Airbus’ C-295 will be made in India

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Egypt on October 15-16. Earlier in September India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Egypt. The India-Egypt relations have been gaining momentum, particularly in the last one year. Back-to-back high-level&nbsp;visits from India indicate Egypt regaining an important position in India’s foreign policy. 

This year marks 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt. The ties between the two-civilizational states, once sharing common objectives of anti-colonialism and non-alignment during the Nehru-Nasser era, went through a lull after Egypt reconciled with Israel in 1978 and India drifted towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE to secure energy supplies. However, the current geopolitical landscape is once again pushing India and Egypt closer. With Abraham Accords resetting the Arab world’s ties with Israel, India can now pursue its engagements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region without concerns of balancing. The realignment between India and Egypt signifies continuity as well as a reset.

The Continuity Factor

Continuity implies that India and Egypt have always allied to promote and protect interests of the developing countries or the Global South. In the initial years of their establishing the diplomatic relations, both the countries were in the forefront of advocating anti-colonialism which was concomitant to the global order taking shape in the 1950s and 1960s with a number of countries in Asia and Africa becoming independent from European colonialism. 

In the present context as well, both the countries have been cooperating on common global challenges. During the deadly second wave that India faced in April-May 2021, Egypt sent 30 tonnes of medical supplies to India which included 300 oxygen cylinders, 50 oxygen concentrators and 8,000 vials of Remdesivir. For its part, India supplied Egypt with COVID-19 vaccines under Vaccine Diplomacy. 

Similarly, climate change is a major challenge for the world on which India and Egypt are cooperating. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, during a phone call with India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, appreciated India’s role in addressing the issue of climate change. Shoukry also highlighted Egypt’s interest in coordinating with India on various climate issues. Further, during Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Egypt, both the countries agreed to explore Egypt’s upcoming presidency of the 27th Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27), which will be held at Sharm El-Sheikh from 6 to 18 November, is an opportunity for India and Egypt to strengthen their cooperation in this area. 

The Reset Factor

While building upon the continuity in cooperating on the global challenges, India and Egypt are taking steps to expand their engagements in areas such as defence and trade and investments.

Defence cooperation

Defence is rapidly emerging as a major area of cooperation between India and Egypt. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt in September could be considered as a landmark event since both the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost defence cooperation and enhance joint military exercises. 

Egypt has shown interest in buying India’s indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Besides, Egypt is also keen on exploring the possibilities for joint defence production with India. In October 2021, the Indian Air Force and Egyptian Air Force held the first-ever Joint Tactical Air Exercise Desert Warrior. India’s Air Chief Marshal visited Cairo towards the end of 2021 while Egypt’s Air Force Chief Mahmoud Foaad Abd El-Gawad visited India earlier this year. 

Besides, India hosted India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) on the sidelines of Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18. Egypt being one of the participants in the IADD further enhances the defence engagements between India and Egypt as well as India and Africa. 

Trade and Investments

India and Egypt are looking to expand their cooperation in trade and investments as well. Egypt has been one of India’s largest trading partners in Africa. India-Egypt trade was $7.26 billion in financial year 2021-2022 while India’s investments in Egypt are more than $3.15 billion. Dr. Jaishankar commented on India-Egypt trade ties quoting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi who said that a trade turnover of $7.26 billion was not enough that it is imperative to find ways to increase bilateral trade. A number of Indian companies are increasingly seeing Egypt as a favourable investment destination and exploring opportunities of business. 

Apart from boosting bilateral ties, India and Egypt are also engaging at multilateral level. India, as the president and host of the G20 Summit in 2023, has invited Egypt as a guest for this meeting. Egypt became a member of the BRICS Bank in 2021. Egypt is also a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). 

Stronger ties with Egypt complement India’s growing engagements with the Arab countries. Egypt’s unique geographical location facilitates its combining of multiple identities – Arab, Mediterranean and African country – implies India would gain in strategic and economic terms from greater engagements with Egypt. The upswing in India-Egypt relations indicates a promising partnership on which both should look to build upon.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Egypt on October 15-16. Earlier in September India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Egypt. The India-Egypt relations have been gaining momentum, particularly in the last one year.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Egypt on October 15-16. Earlier in September India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Egypt. The India-Egypt relations have been gaining momentum, particularly in the last one year. Back-to-back high-level visits from India indicate Egypt regaining an important position in India’s foreign policy. This year marks 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Egypt. The ties between the two-civilizational states, once sharing common objectives of anti-colonialism and non-alignment during the Nehru-Nasser era, went through a lull after Egypt reconciled with Israel in 1978 and India drifted towards Saudi Arabia and the UAE to secure energy supplies. However, the current geopolitical landscape is once again pushing India and Egypt closer. With Abraham Accords resetting the Arab world’s ties with Israel, India can now pursue its engagements in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region without concerns of balancing. The realignment between India and Egypt signifies continuity as well as a reset. The Continuity Factor Continuity implies that India and Egypt have always allied to promote and protect interests of the developing countries or the Global South. In the initial years of their establishing the diplomatic relations, both the countries were in the forefront of advocating anti-colonialism which was concomitant to the global order taking shape in the 1950s and 1960s with a number of countries in Asia and Africa becoming independent from European colonialism. In the present context as well, both the countries have been cooperating on common global challenges. During the deadly second wave that India faced in April-May 2021, Egypt sent 30 tonnes of medical supplies to India which included 300 oxygen cylinders, 50 oxygen concentrators and 8,000 vials of Remdesivir. For its part, India supplied Egypt with COVID-19 vaccines under Vaccine Diplomacy. Similarly, climate change is a major challenge for the world on which India and Egypt are cooperating. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, during a phone call with India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, appreciated India’s role in addressing the issue of climate change. Shoukry also highlighted Egypt’s interest in coordinating with India on various climate issues. Further, during Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Egypt, both the countries agreed to explore Egypt’s upcoming presidency of the 27th Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP27), which will be held at Sharm El-Sheikh from 6 to 18 November, is an opportunity for India and Egypt to strengthen their cooperation in this area. The Reset Factor While building upon the continuity in cooperating on the global challenges, India and Egypt are taking steps to expand their engagements in areas such as defence and trade and investments. Defence cooperation Defence is rapidly emerging as a major area of cooperation between India and Egypt. India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt in September could be considered as a landmark event since both the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost defence cooperation and enhance joint military exercises. Egypt has shown interest in buying India’s indigenously manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Besides, Egypt is also keen on exploring the possibilities for joint defence production with India. In October 2021, the Indian Air Force and Egyptian Air Force held the first-ever Joint Tactical Air Exercise Desert Warrior. India’s Air Chief Marshal visited Cairo towards the end of 2021 while Egypt’s Air Force Chief Mahmoud Foaad Abd El-Gawad visited India earlier this year. Besides, India hosted India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) on the sidelines of Defence Expo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18. Egypt being one of the participants in the IADD further enhances the defence engagements between India and Egypt as well as India and Africa. Trade and Investments India and Egypt are looking to expand their cooperation in trade and investments as well. Egypt has been one of India’s largest trading partners in Africa. India-Egypt trade was $7.26 billion in financial year 2021-2022 while India’s investments in Egypt are more than $3.15 billion. Dr. Jaishankar commented on India-Egypt trade ties quoting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi who said that a trade turnover of $7.26 billion was not enough that it is imperative to find ways to increase bilateral trade. A number of Indian companies are increasingly seeing Egypt as a favourable investment destination and exploring opportunities of business. Apart from boosting bilateral ties, India and Egypt are also engaging at multilateral level. India, as the president and host of the G20 Summit in 2023, has invited Egypt as a guest for this meeting. Egypt became a member of the BRICS Bank in 2021. Egypt is also a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Stronger ties with Egypt complement India’s growing engagements with the Arab countries. Egypt’s unique geographical location facilitates its combining of multiple identities – Arab, Mediterranean and African country – implies India would gain in strategic and economic terms from greater engagements with Egypt. The upswing in India-Egypt relations indicates a promising partnership on which both should look to build upon. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Realignment in India-Egypt Relations

Former Indian Captain Virat Kohli has claimed a breach of his privacy after a video of his hotel room emerged on a social media platform.

Former Indian Captain Virat Kohli claims breach of privacy after hotel room filmed

India can certainly boast about&nbsp;having lower divorce rates in the world despite having the second largest population in the world after China. As per statistics, the divorce rate in India is lower than 1%. That is, out of 1000, only 13 marriages in India end up in divorce. 

This low rate of divorce may be attributed to society pressure and arranged marriages beside&nbsp;other factors. Divorce often puts the spouse, mostly men to bear financial burden on account of alimony.&nbsp;The term alimony refers to the financial assistance&nbsp;and monetary support&nbsp;provided by one spouse to another after a marriage&nbsp;ends in divorce. Thus, divorce insurance can provide the much-needed financial relief.

Divorce insurance is relatively a new concept and Safeguard Guaranty Corp, a North Carolina Insurance Company pioneered this idea in 2010. 

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-supreme-court-bans-two-finger-test-for-rape-sexual-assault-calls-it-patriarchal-sexist-529825">India: Supreme Court bans 'two-finger' test for rape &amp; sexual assault; calls it patriarchal &amp; sexist</a>

Safeguard`s divorce insurance policy is captioned “Wedlock.” This insurance which can be purchased in units, costs US$ 15.99 per unit with a coverage of $ 1250 per unit. Further, the Safeguard company provides an extra coverage of $ 250 per unit every year to the policy holder if the policy remains in force. The claim process is simple. Upon happening of the insured event, i.e., divorce, the policyholder needs to send the proof of divorce and the insurance company pays the lump sum value of the policy which the policy holder can utilize for divorce related expenses. However, there is a waiting period of 48 months to prevent moral hazard.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-disneyland-closes-due-to-covid-preventive-efforts-prevents-visitors-from-leaving-529821">China</a>, on the other hand pioneered the&nbsp;idea of “Marriage insurance.”

A Chinese insurer, namely, China Taiping Insurance Holdings developed a novel insurance product in 2016 captioned “Marriage Insurance.” This product can be opted by unmarried couple by paying a premium of US$ 90 for a maturity pay out of approx. US$ 1,600. This is subject to the condition that the couple is unmarried,&nbsp;and they are also required to submit non-marriage certification before the policy comes into force. Further, the applicant must tie the nuptial knot within three to ten years with his/her partner after the Marriage insurance policy comes into force.

Egypt is perhaps the only country in the world which is in the process of formulating a law on divorce insurance. The Financial Regulatory Authority has already prepared a preliminary study of the new unified insurance draft bill which is pending for approval from the Parliament. The bill states that a divorce insurance policy will be issued, under which women will be given twenty-five thousand Egyptian pounds&nbsp;if divorce takes place. The need for such legislation in Egypt is perhaps due to its high divorce rate. As per the study by the Egyptian Cabinet`s Information and Decision Support center, the divorce rate in Egypt is 40%.

India too needs divorce insurance to provide financial relief to the spouses on the happening of divorce. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) may formulate suitable regulations for divorce insurance taking into consideration the moral hazards that may be associated with such insurance. This would come as panacea to spouses for divorced related financial burden.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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India can certainly boast about having lower divorce rates in the world despite having the second largest population in the world after China. As per statistics, the divorce rate in India is lower than 1%.

India can certainly boast about having lower divorce rates in the world despite having the second largest population in the world after China. As per statistics, the divorce rate in India is lower than 1%. That is, out of 1000, only 13 marriages in India end up in divorce. This low rate of divorce may be attributed to society pressure and arranged marriages beside other factors. Divorce often puts the spouse, mostly men to bear financial burden on account of alimony. The term alimony refers to the financial assistance and monetary support provided by one spouse to another after a marriage ends in divorce. Thus, divorce insurance can provide the much-needed financial relief. Divorce insurance is relatively a new concept and Safeguard Guaranty Corp, a North Carolina Insurance Company pioneered this idea in 2010. Also read | India: Supreme Court bans 'two-finger' test for rape & sexual assault; calls it patriarchal & sexist Safeguard`s divorce insurance policy is captioned “Wedlock.” This insurance which can be purchased in units, costs US$ 15.99 per unit with a coverage of $ 1250 per unit. Further, the Safeguard company provides an extra coverage of $ 250 per unit every year to the policy holder if the policy remains in force. The claim process is simple. Upon happening of the insured event, i.e., divorce, the policyholder needs to send the proof of divorce and the insurance company pays the lump sum value of the policy which the policy holder can utilize for divorce related expenses. However, there is a waiting period of 48 months to prevent moral hazard. China, on the other hand pioneered the idea of “Marriage insurance.” A Chinese insurer, namely, China Taiping Insurance Holdings developed a novel insurance product in 2016 captioned “Marriage Insurance.” This product can be opted by unmarried couple by paying a premium of US$ 90 for a maturity pay out of approx. US$ 1,600. This is subject to the condition that the couple is unmarried, and they are also required to submit non-marriage certification before the policy comes into force. Further, the applicant must tie the nuptial knot within three to ten years with his/her partner after the Marriage insurance policy comes into force. Egypt is perhaps the only country in the world which is in the process of formulating a law on divorce insurance. The Financial Regulatory Authority has already prepared a preliminary study of the new unified insurance draft bill which is pending for approval from the Parliament. The bill states that a divorce insurance policy will be issued, under which women will be given twenty-five thousand Egyptian pounds if divorce takes place. The need for such legislation in Egypt is perhaps due to its high divorce rate. As per the study by the Egyptian Cabinet`s Information and Decision Support center, the divorce rate in Egypt is 40%. India too needs divorce insurance to provide financial relief to the spouses on the happening of divorce. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) may formulate suitable regulations for divorce insurance taking into consideration the moral hazards that may be associated with such insurance. This would come as panacea to spouses for divorced related financial burden. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Divorce insurance: What is it and why India needs it too?

From the Festival of Chhath Puja in Delhi to a memorial altar for crowd crush victims in Seoul, here are some impactful images from around the world on 31 October, 2022.

World in Pictures: Festival of Chhath Puja in Delhi; Memorial altar for crowd crush victims in Seoul

Indian PM Narendra Modi addressed 94th edition of 'Mann ki Baat'. He talked about how solar energy is transforming the lives of our nation's poor and middle classes.

94th edition of Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modi talks about solar energy in India

After facing a crackdown from authorities, Xiaomi ends the financial services business in India. Mi Pay allowed users to make UPI transactions.

Xiaomi ends financial services business in India; Mi Pay allowed users to make UPI transactions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called Indian PM Narendra Modi a 'True Patriot' as he lauded India's foreign policy for being neutral amid the Ukraine war.

Putin calls Indian PM Modi a 'True Patriot' and lauds India's foreign policy

The United Nations security council's counter-terrorism committee meeting in India has now concluded. The second and the final day of the summit was held in Delhi.

India warns against growing threat of terror

It is Day 2 of the United Nations Security Council's anti-terror committee meeting in India. Counter-terror committee head Ruchira Kamboj spoke to WION. She said, India made strong statement by highlighting terror issue.

'India made strong statement by highlighting terror issue,' says Ruchira Kamboj

Indian IT minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Saturday (October 29) stated that the recent amendments to IT rules will require social media firms to show more due diligence in ensuring&nbsp;that no illegal content or false information is posted on their platforms.&nbsp;

A day earlier, the Indian Union government stated that it will set up three-member Grievance Appealte Committees (GACs) to address complaints&nbsp;against decisions of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook on hosting contentious content.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New amended IT rules are next step to realizing our govts duty to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DigitalNagriks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DigitalNagriks</a> of Open, Safe&amp;Trusted, Accountable Internet 
 
Also marks a new partnership btwn Govt and Intermediaries in making n keeping our Internet safe &amp; trusted for all Indians.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaTechade?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaTechade</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OSTA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OSTA</a> <a href="https://t.co/COQhGOHv5D">pic.twitter.com/COQhGOHv5D</a>
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rajeev_GoI/status/1586028436904345600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/counter-terrorism-one-of-indias-top-priorities-during-ongoing-unsc-tenure-jaishankar-529332">Also read |&nbsp;World must find ways to stop misuse of emerging technologies by terror groups: Jaishankar</a>

Chandrashekhar said the move was necessitated as the government gets lakhs of messages from citizens stating grievances were not responded to by social media firms despite complaints, PTI reported.&nbsp; 
 
During the briefing, he requested social media companies to cooperate with the government to protect the interests of its 'digital netizens'. 
 
Our government wants to work on a partnership model with all big and small foreign and Indian companies on the internet with the objective of a safe and trusted internet for all its citizens, Chandrasekhar added.&nbsp;

The minister sent a strong warning to firms whether operating in foreign that they cannot conflict with Indian citizens' constitutional rights when those platforms are used in India.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chinese-smartphone-maker-xiaomi-shuts-financial-services-business-in-india-529273">Also read |&nbsp;Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi shuts financial services business in India</a>

Further adding he stated that the platforms will be required to remove any "misinformation," or "unlawful content" within 72 hours.&nbsp;

The minister said, "We will start with 1-2 GACs...Government is not interested in playing role of ombudsman. It is a responsibility we are taking reluctantly, because the grievance mechanism is not functioning properly."

The minister said that the intention is not to target any firm or platform but to make the internet a safe place.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Indian IT minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Saturday (October 29) stated that the recent amendments to IT rules will require social media firms to show more due diligence in ensuring that no illegal content or false information is posted on their platforms.

Indian IT minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Saturday (October 29) stated that the recent amendments to IT rules will require social media firms to show more due diligence in ensuring that no illegal content or false information is posted on their platforms. A day earlier, the Indian Union government stated that it will set up three-member Grievance Appealte Committees (GACs) to address complaints against decisions of social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook on hosting contentious content. New amended IT rules are next step to realizing our govts duty to #DigitalNagriks of Open, Safe&Trusted, Accountable Internet Also marks a new partnership btwn Govt and Intermediaries in making n keeping our Internet safe & trusted for all Indians.#IndiaTechade #OSTA pic.twitter.com/COQhGOHv5D — Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@Rajeev_GoI) October 28, 2022 × Also read | World must find ways to stop misuse of emerging technologies by terror groups: Jaishankar Chandrashekhar said the move was necessitated as the government gets lakhs of messages from citizens stating grievances were not responded to by social media firms despite complaints, PTI reported. During the briefing, he requested social media companies to cooperate with the government to protect the interests of its 'digital netizens'. Our government wants to work on a partnership model with all big and small foreign and Indian companies on the internet with the objective of a safe and trusted internet for all its citizens, Chandrasekhar added. The minister sent a strong warning to firms whether operating in foreign that they cannot conflict with Indian citizens' constitutional rights when those platforms are used in India. Also read | Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi shuts financial services business in India Further adding he stated that the platforms will be required to remove any "misinformation," or "unlawful content" within 72 hours. The minister said, "We will start with 1-2 GACs...Government is not interested in playing role of ombudsman. It is a responsibility we are taking reluctantly, because the grievance mechanism is not functioning properly." The minister said that the intention is not to target any firm or platform but to make the internet a safe place. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian govt amends IT rules, warns social media firms against 'unlawful' content, misinformation

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