Indian farmers have traditionally used the Sun to dry vegetables and fruits. The painfully long process has led to tonnes of wastage every year. Mariam Wardak tells you how a solar-powered dehydrator could speed things up.

South Asia Diary: Solar dehydrator cuts food wastage in India

Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;has sought an additional&nbsp;credit&nbsp;line&nbsp;of $1&nbsp;billion&nbsp;from&nbsp;India&nbsp;to import essentials amid its worst economic&nbsp;crisis&nbsp;in decades, two&nbsp;sources&nbsp;said on Monday, as the&nbsp;Indian foreign minister began talks with the government of its neighbour.

The island nation is struggling to pay for essential imports of food and fuel after a 70 per cent&nbsp;drop in foreign exchange reserves since January 2020 led to a currency devaluation and efforts to seek help&nbsp;from&nbsp;global lenders.

New Delhi has indicated it would meet the request for the new&nbsp;line, to be used for importing essential items such as rice, wheat flour, pulses, sugar and medicines, said one of the&nbsp;sources&nbsp;briefed on the matter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/eam-s-jaishankar-meets-sri-lankan-finance-minister-discusses-economic-situation-466267">EAM S Jaishankar meets Sri Lankan Finance Minister; discusses economic situation</a>

"Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;has requested an additional $1&nbsp;billion&nbsp;credit&nbsp;line&nbsp;from&nbsp;India&nbsp;for imports of essentials," the second source said. "This will be on top of the $1-billion&nbsp;credit&nbsp;line&nbsp;already pledged by&nbsp;India."

Both&nbsp;sources&nbsp;declined to be identified as the discussions were confidential.

The finance and foreign ministries of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka, as well as&nbsp;India's foreign ministry, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

Sri&nbsp;Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa signed the earlier&nbsp;credit&nbsp;line&nbsp;of $1&nbsp;billion&nbsp;this month in the&nbsp;Indian capital of New Delhi to help pay for critical imports.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met Rajapaksa on Monday after arriving in the&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lankan capital of Colombo late the previous day.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-major-sri-lankan-newspapers-suspending-print-editions-as-surge-in-economic-crisis-465415">Two major Sri Lankan newspapers suspend print editions as economic crisis surges</a>

"Discussed the economic situation and&nbsp;India's supportive response," Jaishankar said on Twitter, with a photograph of the two officials next to each other.

In addition to the&nbsp;credit&nbsp;lines,&nbsp;India&nbsp;extended a $400-million currency swap and a $500-million&nbsp;credit&nbsp;line&nbsp;for fuel purchases to&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka&nbsp;earlier this year.

Sri&nbsp;Lanka's imports stalled, causing shortages of many essential items, after foreign currency reserves fell to $2.31&nbsp;billion&nbsp;by February.

The nation just off&nbsp;India's southern tip has to repay debt of about $4&nbsp;billion&nbsp;in the rest of this year, including a $1-billion&nbsp;international sovereign bond that matures in July.

Rajapaksa is set to fly to Washington, D.C. next month to start talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a rescue plan.

"India&nbsp;is also very supportive of&nbsp;Sri&nbsp;Lanka's decision to seek an IMF programme and has given their fullest support," one of the&nbsp;sources&nbsp;added.

Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka: Indian EAM Jaishankar, PM Modi to attend 3-day Bimstec summit

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Sri Lanka has sought an additional credit line of $1 billion from India to import essentials amid its worst economic crisis in decades, two sources said on Monday, as the Indian foreign minister began talks with the government of its neighbour.

Sri Lanka has sought an additional credit line of $1 billion from India to import essentials amid its worst economic crisis in decades, two sources said on Monday, as the Indian foreign minister began talks with the government of its neighbour. The island nation is struggling to pay for essential imports of food and fuel after a 70 per cent drop in foreign exchange reserves since January 2020 led to a currency devaluation and efforts to seek help from global lenders. New Delhi has indicated it would meet the request for the new line, to be used for importing essential items such as rice, wheat flour, pulses, sugar and medicines, said one of the sources briefed on the matter. Also read | EAM S Jaishankar meets Sri Lankan Finance Minister; discusses economic situation "Sri Lanka has requested an additional $1 billion credit line from India for imports of essentials," the second source said. "This will be on top of the $1-billion credit line already pledged by India." Both sources declined to be identified as the discussions were confidential. The finance and foreign ministries of Sri Lanka, as well as India's foreign ministry, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa signed the earlier credit line of $1 billion this month in the Indian capital of New Delhi to help pay for critical imports. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met Rajapaksa on Monday after arriving in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo late the previous day. Also read | Two major Sri Lankan newspapers suspend print editions as economic crisis surges "Discussed the economic situation and India's supportive response," Jaishankar said on Twitter, with a photograph of the two officials next to each other. In addition to the credit lines, India extended a $400-million currency swap and a $500-million credit line for fuel purchases to Sri Lanka earlier this year. Sri Lanka's imports stalled, causing shortages of many essential items, after foreign currency reserves fell to $2.31 billion by February. The nation just off India's southern tip has to repay debt of about $4 billion in the rest of this year, including a $1-billion international sovereign bond that matures in July. Rajapaksa is set to fly to Washington, D.C. next month to start talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a rescue plan. "India is also very supportive of Sri Lanka's decision to seek an IMF programme and has given their fullest support," one of the sources added. Watch | Sri Lanka: Indian EAM Jaishankar, PM Modi to attend 3-day Bimstec summit

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka seeks further $1 billion credit line from India: Report

A group of 50 volunteers from the United Kingdom have taken it upon themselves to clean the Golden Temple situated in Amritsar city by using their own money.

50 volunteers from UK reach India for cleaning the Golden Temple

Indian companies will spend an estimated $105.2 billion on information technology in 2022. This is 5.5% more than in 2021, according to a report by Gartner. The worldwide IT spending is projected at $4.5 trillion in 2022, up 5.1% from 2021.Despite the potential impacts of Covid pandemic, economic recovery is seen, with high expectations for digital market.

Indian IT sector experiencing post pandemic boom

After a halt of over two years due to covid-19 pandemic, India has resumed international flights from yesterday. The flights had been operating in an air bubble arrangement earlier with several nations the rules have also been relaxed and government has eased COVID-19 safety protocols.

After two years, India resumes international flights

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts with the people in the country and abroad in the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. It was the 87th episode of the monthly radio programme of the prime minister.

Indian PM Modi addresses 87th edition of monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'

When Covid-19 ripped through&nbsp;India&nbsp;in 2020-21, several million people are thought to have died. Desperate efforts to stem the pandemic hurt the battle against another huge killer: tuberculosis.

India&nbsp;is the home to a quarter of the world's TB infections and an estimated half a million people died of the curable lung disease in 2020 in the South Asian nation -- a third of the global toll.

Because of the pandemic, global deaths from the "silent killer" rose in 2020 for the first time in more than a decade, reversing years of progress, the World Health Organization says.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-resumes-regular-international-flights-here-are-new-guidelines-465856">India resumes regular international flights: Here are new guidelines</a>

In&nbsp;India, the number of new cases detected in 2020 actually fell by a quarter to around 1.8 million due to Covid restrictions and as the pandemic diverted resources.

Nearly two-thirds of people with TB symptoms did not seek treatment, according to a 2019-21 nationwide government survey released on World TB Day on Thursday.

Ashna Ashesh, 29, diagnosed with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis four years ago, saw how patients, many isolated and jobless because of lockdowns, struggled for support.

"They were incredibly afraid... They were reaching out for any kind of information that could be offered about how to access tests and medication," the public health professional with the Survivors Against TB collective told AFP.

"The impact has been immense... Covid has set back the fight against TB quite significantly. A recovery plan for TB is critical, both in&nbsp;India&nbsp;and globally."

India&nbsp;now faces an uphill battle to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of ending the spread of TB by 2025, five years earlier than the UN's target.

Experts and survivors are calling for intensive grassroots campaigns to find "missing" cases, more vaccine funding and support to combat malnutrition, a major trigger for TB.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/airport-operators-join-forces-to-study-sustainable-fuel-in-india-465746">Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India</a>

Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva from the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease said states need to increase services such as house-to-house visits and mass screenings.

"That's the only way now where you can eliminate TB," Sachdeva, who previously led the government's National Tuberculosis Elimination Program, told AFP.

&nbsp;Silver lining

Officially Covid has killed almost 520,000 Indians.

The pandemic -- which saw Covid replace TB as the world's deadliest infectious disease -- did however have one silver lining: increased mask-wearing.

Sachdeva estimates this might have cut TB transmission by 20 percent. Additional diagnostic machines&nbsp;procured for Covid could be redeployed for TB, he added.

Mumbai -- a megapolis of 20 million people and a TB hotspot -- has rolled out a programme with young survivors such as Seema Kunchikorve, who was diagnosed with TB five years ago at 20, to keep current patients on track with medications.

"The treatment has a lot of (side) effects which patients can't take," Kunchikorve told AFP during a TB awareness play staged at a school in&nbsp;India's biggest slum Dharavi.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-trains-specially-abled-kashmiri-youths-in-skiing-465732">&nbsp;Indian Army trains specially-abled Kashmiri youths in skiing</a>

Vijay Chavan, who treats patients with drug-resistant TB at a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) clinic in Mumbai, said the Covid battle had shown the way to fight the older pandemic.

At the clinic, which treats children as young as five, patients spend hours undergoing check-ups beside brightly coloured wallpapers featuring famous comic characters, before collecting a large tray of pills for their treatments.

"If there is a political will for TB, just like Covid, it definitely will give us good results," he told AFP.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Why Wang Yi came to India

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-wang-yi-came-to-india-465562/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

When Covid-19 ripped through India in 2020-21, several million people are thought to have died. Desperate efforts to stem the pandemic hurt the battle against another huge killer: tuberculosis.

When Covid-19 ripped through India in 2020-21, several million people are thought to have died. Desperate efforts to stem the pandemic hurt the battle against another huge killer: tuberculosis. India is the home to a quarter of the world's TB infections and an estimated half a million people died of the curable lung disease in 2020 in the South Asian nation -- a third of the global toll. Because of the pandemic, global deaths from the "silent killer" rose in 2020 for the first time in more than a decade, reversing years of progress, the World Health Organization says. Also read | India resumes regular international flights: Here are new guidelines In India, the number of new cases detected in 2020 actually fell by a quarter to around 1.8 million due to Covid restrictions and as the pandemic diverted resources. Nearly two-thirds of people with TB symptoms did not seek treatment, according to a 2019-21 nationwide government survey released on World TB Day on Thursday. Ashna Ashesh, 29, diagnosed with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis four years ago, saw how patients, many isolated and jobless because of lockdowns, struggled for support. "They were incredibly afraid... They were reaching out for any kind of information that could be offered about how to access tests and medication," the public health professional with the Survivors Against TB collective told AFP. "The impact has been immense... Covid has set back the fight against TB quite significantly. A recovery plan for TB is critical, both in India and globally." India now faces an uphill battle to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of ending the spread of TB by 2025, five years earlier than the UN's target. Experts and survivors are calling for intensive grassroots campaigns to find "missing" cases, more vaccine funding and support to combat malnutrition, a major trigger for TB. Also read | Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva from the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease said states need to increase services such as house-to-house visits and mass screenings. "That's the only way now where you can eliminate TB," Sachdeva, who previously led the government's National Tuberculosis Elimination Program, told AFP. Silver lining Officially Covid has killed almost 520,000 Indians. The pandemic -- which saw Covid replace TB as the world's deadliest infectious disease -- did however have one silver lining: increased mask-wearing. Sachdeva estimates this might have cut TB transmission by 20 percent. Additional diagnostic machines procured for Covid could be redeployed for TB, he added. Mumbai -- a megapolis of 20 million people and a TB hotspot -- has rolled out a programme with young survivors such as Seema Kunchikorve, who was diagnosed with TB five years ago at 20, to keep current patients on track with medications. "The treatment has a lot of (side) effects which patients can't take," Kunchikorve told AFP during a TB awareness play staged at a school in India's biggest slum Dharavi. Also read | Indian Army trains specially-abled Kashmiri youths in skiing Vijay Chavan, who treats patients with drug-resistant TB at a Doctors Without Borders (MSF) clinic in Mumbai, said the Covid battle had shown the way to fight the older pandemic. At the clinic, which treats children as young as five, patients spend hours undergoing check-ups beside brightly coloured wallpapers featuring famous comic characters, before collecting a large tray of pills for their treatments. "If there is a political will for TB, just like Covid, it definitely will give us good results," he told AFP. Watch | Gravitas: Why Wang Yi came to India

After Covid, India tries to get on top of tuberculosis

Meet one of the leaders who is redefining ties between India and Maldives. Maldivian defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi speaks to WION exclusively.

India-Maldives partnership: WION speaks to Maldivian defence minister Mariya Didi

Regular international flights resumed from Sunday (March 27) with airports and airlines getting ready for normal overseas operations, after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus of over two years.&nbsp;

The airline industry has been making a comeback after it was impacted immensely due to the Covid.&nbsp;

The government has revised the COVID-19 guidelines for international flight operations.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-two-years-india-to-resume-regular-international-flights-from-march-27-465832">After two years, India to resume regular international flights from March 27</a>

Here are the rules: &nbsp;

Cabin crew members will no longer be needed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits.&nbsp;

Authorities have said that airlines will no longer be needed to keep three seats vacant for medical emergencies.&nbsp;

Wherever needed, security personnel at airports are allowed to resume pat-down searches of passengers.&nbsp;

They also said that Airlines may carry a few additional PPE protective gears, sanitiser and N-95 masks, to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air.&nbsp;

Wearing face masks and following basic restrictions for coronavirus (COVID-19) such as wearing of maks, using sanitiser, etc still mandatory at airports and on flights.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/airport-operators-join-forces-to-study-sustainable-fuel-in-india-465746">Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India</a>

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The pat-down search conducted by the security personnel at the airport is re-introduced. Though wearing masks at the airport or aircraft should still be continued. (3/3)
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Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of IGIA, expects to connect to over 60 international destinations after the resumption of regular overseas flights.&nbsp;

While mentioning the resumption of regular international flights, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on March 8, had said that with this step, I am confident the sector will reach new heights".&nbsp;

On November 26 last year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had announced the resumption of scheduled international passenger flights from December 15, 2021.&nbsp;

However, a few days later, the decision was revoked following a surge in coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Regular international flights resumed from Sunday (March 27) with airports and airlines getting ready for normal overseas operations, after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus of over two years.

Regular international flights resumed from Sunday (March 27) with airports and airlines getting ready for normal overseas operations, after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus of over two years. The airline industry has been making a comeback after it was impacted immensely due to the Covid. The government has revised the COVID-19 guidelines for international flight operations. ALSO READ | After two years, India to resume regular international flights from March 27 Here are the rules: Cabin crew members will no longer be needed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. Authorities have said that airlines will no longer be needed to keep three seats vacant for medical emergencies. Wherever needed, security personnel at airports are allowed to resume pat-down searches of passengers. They also said that Airlines may carry a few additional PPE protective gears, sanitiser and N-95 masks, to handle any respiratory infections related to cases on air. Wearing face masks and following basic restrictions for coronavirus (COVID-19) such as wearing of maks, using sanitiser, etc still mandatory at airports and on flights. ALSO READ | Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India The pat-down search conducted by the security personnel at the airport is re-introduced. Though wearing masks at the airport or aircraft should still be continued. (3/3) — Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) March 26, 2022 × Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of IGIA, expects to connect to over 60 international destinations after the resumption of regular overseas flights. While mentioning the resumption of regular international flights, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, on March 8, had said that with this step, I am confident the sector will reach new heights". On November 26 last year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had announced the resumption of scheduled international passenger flights from December 15, 2021. However, a few days later, the decision was revoked following a surge in coronavirus cases due to the Omicron variant. (With inputs from agencies)

India resumes regular international flights: Here are new guidelines

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to visit India, a visit that comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The visit will be the first high-level meeting since the Ukraine invasion.

Ukraine-Russia crisis: Russian foreign minister Lavrov likely to visit India

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is on a 2-day visit to neighbouring country Maldives. Jaishankar is going to visit Sri Lanka next.

India-Maldives sign peering agreement: S Jaishankar & Ibrahim Solih to unveil project in Addu

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an order which stated that the country is all set to resume regular international flights from Sunday (March 26) after almost a gap of two years.&nbsp;

The country had suspended international flights since March 2020, due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. But all international flights will now operate at 100 per cent capacity, the aviation ministry has said.&nbsp;

In a tweet, the Airports Authority of India noted: "In consideration of the decreasing cases of the #Covid19 virus &amp; successful vaccination drive @MoCA_GoI has decided to resume the International Scheduled Air Operations from 27th March 2022."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/airport-operators-join-forces-to-study-sustainable-fuel-in-india-465746">Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India</a>

The order said that Scheduled Foreign Carriers have applied for approval of their international schedule. The Summer Schedule 2022 is effective from March 27&nbsp;till October 29 this year.&nbsp;

Important to note that a total of 60 foreign airlines of 40 countries including Mauritius, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, Iraq and others have been given the approval to operate 1783 frequencies to/from India during Summer Schedule 2022.&nbsp;

A few new airlines which include India Salam Air, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Qantas and American airline, are to begin airline operations with India.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-trains-specially-abled-kashmiri-youths-in-skiing-465732">Indian Army trains specially-abled Kashmiri youths in skiing</a>

Just like other countries, India had suspended regular international flights because of the Covid situation, which caused massive losses to the airline industry globally.&nbsp;

Although, Covid cases have seen a rising trend in some countries like China. India has widened its vaccination programme and has witnessed a drop in cases after the third wave in January, which was driven by Omicron.&nbsp;

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In consideration of the decreasing cases of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid19?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid19</a> virus &amp; successful vaccination drive <a href="https://twitter.com/MoCA_GoI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoCA_GoI</a> has decided to resume the International Scheduled Air Operations from 27th March 2022. It has revised its existing COVID guidelines concerned with international operations(1/3)
— Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) <a href="https://twitter.com/AAI_Official/status/1507568632066314240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an order which stated that the country is all set to resume regular international flights from Sunday (March 26) after almost a gap of two years.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued an order which stated that the country is all set to resume regular international flights from Sunday (March 26) after almost a gap of two years. The country had suspended international flights since March 2020, due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. But all international flights will now operate at 100 per cent capacity, the aviation ministry has said. In a tweet, the Airports Authority of India noted: "In consideration of the decreasing cases of the #Covid19 virus & successful vaccination drive @MoCA_GoI has decided to resume the International Scheduled Air Operations from 27th March 2022." ALSO READ | Airport operators join forces to study sustainable fuel in India The order said that Scheduled Foreign Carriers have applied for approval of their international schedule. The Summer Schedule 2022 is effective from March 27 till October 29 this year. Important to note that a total of 60 foreign airlines of 40 countries including Mauritius, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, Iraq and others have been given the approval to operate 1783 frequencies to/from India during Summer Schedule 2022. A few new airlines which include India Salam Air, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Qantas and American airline, are to begin airline operations with India. ALSO READ | Indian Army trains specially-abled Kashmiri youths in skiing Just like other countries, India had suspended regular international flights because of the Covid situation, which caused massive losses to the airline industry globally. Although, Covid cases have seen a rising trend in some countries like China. India has widened its vaccination programme and has witnessed a drop in cases after the third wave in January, which was driven by Omicron. In consideration of the decreasing cases of the #Covid19 virus & successful vaccination drive @MoCA_GoI has decided to resume the International Scheduled Air Operations from 27th March 2022. It has revised its existing COVID guidelines concerned with international operations(1/3) — Airports Authority of India (@AAI_Official) March 26, 2022 ×

After two years, India to resume regular international flights from March 27

India's steel minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh on Sunday (March 27) said that the country is leaning toward continuing to import coking coal from Russia amid the Ukraine crisis.&nbsp;

In a press conference in New Delhi, Singh as quoted by Reuters said, "We are moving in the direction of importing coking coal from Russia."&nbsp;

The minister further said that India plans to double imports of Russian coking coal, which is a key ingredient in making steel. He also said that the country had imported 4.5 million tonnes, although he did not tell the exact time and period of import. &nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-diamond-city-gets-the-countrys-first-steel-roaddetails-here-465937">India's diamond city gets the country's first 'steel road'. Details here</a>

In an apparent reference to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister said that "smooth supplies" from Russia of coking coal have been affected. Although, he neither gave any specifics nor revealed details.&nbsp;

Soon after Russia ordered special "military operations" in Ukraine on February 24, Western countries slapped Russia with multiple sanctions, leaving the country's economy reeling and in global isolation.&nbsp;

The conflict, which is escalating with the passing of each day, has impacted the world economies immensely. , India, a major buyer of Russian goods from commodities to weapons, has abstained from several key United Nations votes condemning the invasion.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-german-states-outlaw-the-display-of-russias-z-war-symbol-465969">Two German states outlaw the display of Russia's 'Z' war symbol</a>

It has been understood that Russia, typically India's sixth-largest supplier of coking and thermal coal, could start offering more competitive prices to Chinese and Indian buyers as European and other customers spurn Russia because of sanctions.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Ukraine: Poland must send warplanes amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine

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(With inputs from agencies)

India's steel minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh on Sunday (March 27) said that the country is leaning toward continuing to import coking coal from Russia amid the Ukraine crisis.

India's steel minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh on Sunday (March 27) said that the country is leaning toward continuing to import coking coal from Russia amid the Ukraine crisis. In a press conference in New Delhi, Singh as quoted by Reuters said, "We are moving in the direction of importing coking coal from Russia." The minister further said that India plans to double imports of Russian coking coal, which is a key ingredient in making steel. He also said that the country had imported 4.5 million tonnes, although he did not tell the exact time and period of import. ALSO READ | India's diamond city gets the country's first 'steel road'. Details here In an apparent reference to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the minister said that "smooth supplies" from Russia of coking coal have been affected. Although, he neither gave any specifics nor revealed details. Soon after Russia ordered special "military operations" in Ukraine on February 24, Western countries slapped Russia with multiple sanctions, leaving the country's economy reeling and in global isolation. The conflict, which is escalating with the passing of each day, has impacted the world economies immensely. , India, a major buyer of Russian goods from commodities to weapons, has abstained from several key United Nations votes condemning the invasion. ALSO READ | Two German states outlaw the display of Russia's 'Z' war symbol It has been understood that Russia, typically India's sixth-largest supplier of coking and thermal coal, could start offering more competitive prices to Chinese and Indian buyers as European and other customers spurn Russia because of sanctions. WATCH | Ukraine: Poland must send warplanes amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine × (With inputs from agencies)

Is India leaning toward continued import of Russian coking coal?

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) informed that on Sunday (March 27), the country has successfully carried out the test firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile air defence system.&nbsp;

The test-fire was carried out off the coast of Odisha's Balasore, which is an eastern Indian state.&nbsp;

DRDO said that the missile was test-fired at 10.30 am (local time) validating long-range parameters.&nbsp;

DRDO said in a tweet: "MRSAM-Army missile system flight tested from ITR Balasore, Odisha at around 1030 hours intercepting a high-speed aerial target at long range."&nbsp;

"The system is part of the Indian Army. In the test, the missile secured a direct hit at the target at a very far off distance,"&nbsp;DRDO officials said.&nbsp;

The MRSAM system provides point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats including fighter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, guided and unguided munitions, sub-sonic &amp; supersonic cruise missiles etc.&nbsp;

It is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 kilometres in severe saturation scenarios. The missile is powered by an indigenously developed rocket motor and control system for achieving high manoeuvrability during the terminal phase.&nbsp;

The firing unit comprises of Missiles, Combat Management System (CMS), Mobile Launcher Systems (MLS), Advanced Long Range Radar, Mobile Power System (MPS), Radar Power System (RPS), Reloader Vehicle (RV) and Field Service Vehicle (FSV).&nbsp;

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MRSAM-Army missile system flight tested from ITR Balasore at around 1030 Hrs intercepting a high speed aerial target at long range. The target was destroyed by the missile in a direct hit.<a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefenceMinIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpokespersonMoD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adgpi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ra5yfHaHo1">pic.twitter.com/Ra5yfHaHo1</a>
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1507976736813637637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) informed that on Sunday (March 27), the country has successfully carried out the test firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile air defence system.

India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) informed that on Sunday (March 27), the country has successfully carried out the test firing of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile air defence system. The test-fire was carried out off the coast of Odisha's Balasore, which is an eastern Indian state. DRDO said that the missile was test-fired at 10.30 am (local time) validating long-range parameters. DRDO said in a tweet: "MRSAM-Army missile system flight tested from ITR Balasore, Odisha at around 1030 hours intercepting a high-speed aerial target at long range." "The system is part of the Indian Army. In the test, the missile secured a direct hit at the target at a very far off distance," DRDO officials said. The MRSAM system provides point and area air defence for ground assets against a wide range of threats including fighter aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, guided and unguided munitions, sub-sonic & supersonic cruise missiles etc. It is capable of engaging multiple targets at ranges up to 70 kilometres in severe saturation scenarios. The missile is powered by an indigenously developed rocket motor and control system for achieving high manoeuvrability during the terminal phase. The firing unit comprises of Missiles, Combat Management System (CMS), Mobile Launcher Systems (MLS), Advanced Long Range Radar, Mobile Power System (MPS), Radar Power System (RPS), Reloader Vehicle (RV) and Field Service Vehicle (FSV). MRSAM-Army missile system flight tested from ITR Balasore at around 1030 Hrs intercepting a high speed aerial target at long range. The target was destroyed by the missile in a direct hit.@PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD @adgpi pic.twitter.com/Ra5yfHaHo1 — DRDO (@DRDO_India) March 27, 2022 ×

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