One woman was injured in a firing incident in the Indian capital city of Delhi's Saket court, on Friday (April 21), as per media reports. The woman identified as&nbsp;M Radha who is in her 40s sustained two bullet injuries one in her arm and the other on her abdomen. Initial reports suggest that four&nbsp;rounds were fired on the court premises while the injured woman&nbsp;was reportedly&nbsp;rushed to the&nbsp;Max Hospital in South Delhi's&nbsp;Saket.&nbsp; 
 
The victim who was earlier said to be in critical condition is now 'stable', as per a local media report citing officials.&nbsp;A senior police&nbsp;official told PTI, that the woman&nbsp;was with her lawyer&nbsp;when a person shot her. According to reports, the accused was dressed as a lawyer and managed to flee.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/air-india-pilot-invites-female-guest-into-cockpit-indias-aviation-regulator-launches-investigation-584715">Air India pilot invites female guest into cockpit; India's aviation regulator launches investigation</a>

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary, said that the incident occurred at 10:30 am (local time). "The accused has been identified. He had lodged a case under IPC section 420 (cheating) against the victim and advocate Rajendra Jha," said Chowdhary, as per PTI. Eyewitness accounts also suggest that the accused fired four to five rounds before escaping through the court's canteen's&nbsp;back entry.&nbsp; 
 
Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users.&nbsp;Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Delhi: A woman has been injured in an incident of firing at Saket court. Four rounds were fired. Police on the spot. 
 
(Warning: Disturbing visuals) 
Visuals confirmed by police. <a href="https://t.co/vdaUBqZxmp">pic.twitter.com/vdaUBqZxmp</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1649283267571621888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, the DCP has since assured that the situation at the court is normal. "There was no law and order issue. The situation is normal at the court," said&nbsp;Chowdhary, adding that they have formed teams to arrest the accused.&nbsp;

The media report citing sources also said that the&nbsp;accused was an advocate who was earlier suspended by the Saket court bar association. Meanwhile, The president of the district court's&nbsp;bar association,&nbsp;Vinod Sharma condemned&nbsp;the incident and said that no person should take the law into his hand, and people in the legal profession should especially ensure that.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-chair-high-level-meet-review-situation-with-indians-stuck-in-sudan-584723">PM Modi to chair high-level meet, review situation with Indians stuck in Sudan</a>

He also confirmed that the membership of the lawyer who has been accused was&nbsp;by the Saket court bar association. However, the identity of the assailant was not immediately clear.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This comes after two gunmen dressed as lawyers opened fire in Delhi's Rohini court, last year, on September 24. They were later killed in police firing. Additionally, in April 2022, the&nbsp;argument between two advocates and their client, in Rohini court&nbsp;was followed by&nbsp;another incident of a gun firing.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

One woman was injured in a firing incident in the Indian capital city of Delhi's Saket court, on Friday (April 21), as per media reports. The woman identified as M Radha who is in her 40s sustained two bullet injuries one in her arm and the other on her abdomen.

One woman was injured in a firing incident in the Indian capital city of Delhi's Saket court, on Friday (April 21), as per media reports. The woman identified as M Radha who is in her 40s sustained two bullet injuries one in her arm and the other on her abdomen. Initial reports suggest that four rounds were fired on the court premises while the injured woman was reportedly rushed to the Max Hospital in South Delhi's Saket. The victim who was earlier said to be in critical condition is now 'stable', as per a local media report citing officials. A senior police official told PTI, that the woman was with her lawyer when a person shot her. According to reports, the accused was dressed as a lawyer and managed to flee. ALSO READ | Air India pilot invites female guest into cockpit; India's aviation regulator launches investigation The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chandan Chowdhary, said that the incident occurred at 10:30 am (local time). "The accused has been identified. He had lodged a case under IPC section 420 (cheating) against the victim and advocate Rajendra Jha," said Chowdhary, as per PTI. Eyewitness accounts also suggest that the accused fired four to five rounds before escaping through the court's canteen's back entry. Content warning: The visuals may be disturbing to some users. Viewer discretion is advised. WION is not responsible for the content of the video. Delhi: A woman has been injured in an incident of firing at Saket court. Four rounds were fired. Police on the spot. (Warning: Disturbing visuals) Visuals confirmed by police. pic.twitter.com/vdaUBqZxmp — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2023 × However, the DCP has since assured that the situation at the court is normal. "There was no law and order issue. The situation is normal at the court," said Chowdhary, adding that they have formed teams to arrest the accused. The media report citing sources also said that the accused was an advocate who was earlier suspended by the Saket court bar association. Meanwhile, The president of the district court's bar association, Vinod Sharma condemned the incident and said that no person should take the law into his hand, and people in the legal profession should especially ensure that. ALSO READ | PM Modi to chair high-level meet, review situation with Indians stuck in Sudan He also confirmed that the membership of the lawyer who has been accused was by the Saket court bar association. However, the identity of the assailant was not immediately clear. This comes after two gunmen dressed as lawyers opened fire in Delhi's Rohini court, last year, on September 24. They were later killed in police firing. Additionally, in April 2022, the argument between two advocates and their client, in Rohini court was followed by another incident of a gun firing. (With inputs from agencies) 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: Woman injured after being shot at in Delhi's Saket court

In a move aimed at strengthening regional co-operation, India, Iran and Armenia have formed a trilateral grouping. The first trilateral political consultation between the ministries of foreign affairs of the three countries was held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan on Thursday.

The delegations were led by Mnatsakan Safaryan, the deputy foreign minister of Armenia, Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, the assistant of the foreign minister of Iran, and JP Singh, the joint secretary of the ministry of external affairs of India according to Armenia's foreign ministry.&nbsp;

"During the meeting, the sides particularly discussed economic issues and regional communication channels, outlined the prospects of deepening cultural and people to people contacts as well as trilateral cooperation in various fields," read a readout from the Armenian foreign ministry.&nbsp;

The three countries have decided to "continue consultations" in the format, the readout explained. The trilateral meeting discussed the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a freight corridor connecting India, Iran, and Russia, aimed at reducing costs and time in the movement of goods from Mumbai to Moscow. The INSTC agreement was signed by Russia, Iran, and India in 2002 and has since expanded.&nbsp;

Bilateral relations between the three countries have been robust, with high-level engagement in recent months. Both Armenian foreign and defence ministers have visited India, with the Armenian foreign minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, visiting India in March 2023, the Minister of Defence Suren Papikyan visiting in April 2022, and EAM Jaishankar visiting the country in October 2021.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-g20-presidency-weaving-inclusive-growth-583617">WATCH |&nbsp;India's G20 Presidency: Weaving inclusive growth</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-g20-presidency-weaving-inclusive-growth-583617/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

India and Iran also have historic ties, with the two countries sharing a common cultural heritage. The Chabahar port in Iran has been key to connectivity between the two sides. India has provided equipment worth $25 million to aid in the development of the port, including six mobile harbour cranes.

The port has the potential to serve as a gateway for India to access Central Asia and Afghanistan, while also providing Iran with an alternative trade route to the Persian Gulf. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to travel to India in July to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full-fledged member of the grouping.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-chair-sco-environment-emergencies-ministers-meet-this-week-583510">ALSO READ |&nbsp;India to chair SCO environment, emergencies ministers meet this week</a>

Iran and Armenia, which share a border, also have robust ties. Last year, Iran opened a consulate in Armenia's Kapan. The two countries have also been working together to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Armenia serving as a transit route for Iran to access the Eurasian Economic Union. The trilateral grouping between India, Iran, and Armenia is expected to pave the way for greater cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, and transportation.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

In a move aimed at strengthening regional co-operation, India, Iran and Armenia have formed a trilateral grouping. The first trilateral political consultation between the ministries of foreign affairs of the three countries was held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan on Thursday.

In a move aimed at strengthening regional co-operation, India, Iran and Armenia have formed a trilateral grouping. The first trilateral political consultation between the ministries of foreign affairs of the three countries was held in the Armenian capital, Yerevan on Thursday. The delegations were led by Mnatsakan Safaryan, the deputy foreign minister of Armenia, Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, the assistant of the foreign minister of Iran, and JP Singh, the joint secretary of the ministry of external affairs of India according to Armenia's foreign ministry. "During the meeting, the sides particularly discussed economic issues and regional communication channels, outlined the prospects of deepening cultural and people to people contacts as well as trilateral cooperation in various fields," read a readout from the Armenian foreign ministry. The three countries have decided to "continue consultations" in the format, the readout explained. The trilateral meeting discussed the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a freight corridor connecting India, Iran, and Russia, aimed at reducing costs and time in the movement of goods from Mumbai to Moscow. The INSTC agreement was signed by Russia, Iran, and India in 2002 and has since expanded. Bilateral relations between the three countries have been robust, with high-level engagement in recent months. Both Armenian foreign and defence ministers have visited India, with the Armenian foreign minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, visiting India in March 2023, the Minister of Defence Suren Papikyan visiting in April 2022, and EAM Jaishankar visiting the country in October 2021. WATCH | India's G20 Presidency: Weaving inclusive growth × India and Iran also have historic ties, with the two countries sharing a common cultural heritage. The Chabahar port in Iran has been key to connectivity between the two sides. India has provided equipment worth $25 million to aid in the development of the port, including six mobile harbour cranes. The port has the potential to serve as a gateway for India to access Central Asia and Afghanistan, while also providing Iran with an alternative trade route to the Persian Gulf. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to travel to India in July to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full-fledged member of the grouping. ALSO READ | India to chair SCO environment, emergencies ministers meet this week Iran and Armenia, which share a border, also have robust ties. Last year, Iran opened a consulate in Armenia's Kapan. The two countries have also been working together to enhance trade and economic cooperation with Armenia serving as a transit route for Iran to access the Eurasian Economic Union. The trilateral grouping between India, Iran, and Armenia is expected to pave the way for greater cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, investment, energy, and transportation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India, Iran and Armenia form trilateral grouping to deepen ties and co-operation

The US is providing assistance to India to counter its adversary China on the border areas and also develop defence industrial base, a top American commander has said, adding that Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.

The US is providing assistance to India to counter its adversary China on the border areas and also develop defence industrial base, a top American commander has said, adding that Washington and New Delhi faced the same security challenge from Beijing in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. The statements were made by Admiral John Christopher Aquilino, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command during a hearing on Indo-Pacific National Security Challenges conducted by the House Armed Services Committee. “We value our partnership with India, and we've been increasing it and doing a lot more, over time. They have the same security challenge, primary security challenger that we do, and it's real on their northern border. Two skirmishes now in over the past nine or 10 months on that border, as they continue to get pressurised by the PRC for border gains," said Aquilino. The US admiral was responding to a question from Indian- American Congressman Ro Khanna who said the relationship between India and China had soured with the latter treating other countries as 'junior' partners. “I would like you to reflect on the importance of the relationship – postcolonialism India and China had a relationship to emerge as the Asian voice. But that relationship now has really soured with a concern that there should not be a hegemon in Asia and that China is treating other countries as junior partners,” said Khanna. WATCH | India-China border standoff: What comes next | Troops pulled back from a major flashpoint × Aquilino answered that US and India were on the same page when it came to the China threat. "We also have the desire to operate together, based on the world's largest democracy. We have common values, and we also have people-to-people ties for a number of years. I met with General (Anil) Chauhan, my counterpart, at the Raisina Dialogue not long ago. I've been to India five times now in the past two years." Want to be India's partner of choice Responding to another question from Congressman Patrick Ryan, the admiral noted that the US had assisted India in the form of supplying cold weather gear and other capabilities that they might need to defend the border areas. "Additionally, we’re expanding our cooperation in the form of production as India tries to work to develop its own industrial base. So, C-130 critical components made in India, helicopter critical frameworks made in India. That is expanding the partnership and moving them towards self-sufficiency and increased partnership with the United States,” added Aquilino. Meanwhile, Jedidiah P Royal, principal deputy assistant secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security during the hearing added that Washington wanted to be India's preferred partner of choice. “We want to make sure that the US defence industrial base is in the best position possible to be India’s partner of choice moving forward." “We’re already delivering offers under the context of the ISAT arrangement. This is a real moment of convergence for the United States and India and we’re looking to take full advantage of it, going forward.” Washington aids India to avoid Chinese incursion Aquilino's statement comes nearly a month after US media reported that Washington provided crucial military intelligence to New Delhi last year to thwart the Chinese threat. The reports claimed that the US government, for the first time, provided real-time insights to their Indian counterparts. The details helped India neutralise the incursion attempts by the PLA troops in Northeastern India's Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang Sector. ALSO READ | Did US share military intelligence with India to thwart Chinese threat? White House responds "India was able to repel a Chinese military incursion in contested border territory in the high Himalayas late last year due to unprecedented intelligence-sharing with the US military," read the report. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India, US facing same security threat from China, says top US Indo-Pacific commander

As was long predicted, India is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country by the end of June, according to the United Nations' new 'State of World Population' report.

As was long predicted, India is set to overtake China as the world's most populous country by the end of June, according to the United Nations' new 'State of World Population' report. The seismic shift means that India's population will hit 1.4286 billion, compared to China's 1.4257 billion by the middle of this year. Occupying only 2.4 per cent of the world's land mass, India is now home to nearly a fifth of humanity (we surpassed 8 billion number in November 2022). As India attains the 'world's biggest population' title, a few simple questions beg for answers. What does it mean to have such a population? Is it good or bad? Are we doomed or is this the beginning of something special? The questions might be simple but the answer certainly is not straightforward - one that can be painted with only black or white hues. Though the connotations of world's most populous nation are often perceived as negative, it also brings with itself a set of remarkable opportunities. The opportunities India is yet to compile its own population data as it has not conducted a census since 2011. The one supposed to happen in 2021 was delayed due to the Covid pandemic and the government does not seem particularly enthused to get the census campaign back on track. However, according to a Time Magazine report, nearly half the population of India (650 million people) is below the age of 25 - meaning the country won't be hitting its peak until 2065. Adults aged 65 and older comprise only seven per cent of population compared with 14 per cent in China and 18 per cent in the US. The share of Indians who are 65 and older is likely to remain under 20 per cent until 2063 and will not approach 30 per cent until 2100, under the UN’s medium variant projections. Considering that the younger population errs on the side of caution and only procreates one or two children per couple, the population will only stabilise after the said year. Until then, India and its mostly young populace could help put the country's economic future into overdrive. The economy can be boosted up to levels hitherto unseen. WATCH | WION Fineprint | India the world's most populous country? × It is a generation brought up on high-speed internet and facilities that were a far cry in the past decades when population expansion was deemed as the end of civilisation. India can create industries and provide services in new fields, all the while sustaining a healthy growth rate. Even in a post-pandemic world, India is one of the few bright spots economically, generating growth rates much higher than nations across the globe. Numerous reports have predicted India and China to lead the economic growth story in the coming decades. India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already taking financial decisions that it may not have taken earlier. It is trading with Russia to buy oil without the use of the US dollar, it has created its own nexus of power in the Indio-pacific by playing a key part in militarising the Quad grouping. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of India's population is the ability it imparts to its leaders to put their foot down and get their way in major political, financial and geopolitical decisions. However, having the biggest share of the population should automatically bolster India's claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC). The challenges It is not to say that increase in population will not come with its own set of challenges. To unlock the true potential of India's young population to drive the economic chariot, the country's government will have to massively focus on addressing core problems like healthcare, education, infrastructure and food availability. The division of resources will be a major headache and the problem could be exacerbated by climate change. Then, there is a lack of employment. only five per cent of the workforce currently comes under the formally skilled bracket. Schools, and universities will have to step up majorly so that new avenues of employment are generated for the youth. If India's overwhelming majority of youth sits without a job, it will be a wastage of resources and human capital. Something India can ill-afford to do. ALSO READ | India to surpass China to become most populous country: UN population estimate Does India need to panic? India need not take China's stance in decreasing the population numbers. China took evasive measures such as imposing the one-child rule that led to steep decline in numbers, forcing the government to take a 180 on the issue. Increasing the education levels ought to suffice as aware people are much more likely to limit the number of offspring they want. Moreover, the total fertility rate is already going down and in the coming years, it may automatically offset the numbers. The National Family Health 5 Survey (2019-21) found that India attained a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.0 for the first time, less than the replacement level of 2.1, falling from 2.2 in NFHS 4 (2015-16). Countries like Japan and Italy have been witnessing an alarming drop in population levels which has caused serious concerns. Thus, trying to solve a problem that does not really exist for India would be a huge blunder. Instead, the government should perceive the large population as human capital and work to use them efficiently. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained | India set to become world's most populous nation. What does it mean?

In order to bolster coastal security, the Indian Coast Guard is conducting exercise 'Sagar Kavach' along the 590 km coast of Kerala and Mahe in Southern India. Being carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, the exercise involves civil and defence entities.

Conducted and coordinated by the Coast Guard, the exercise has the active participation of the Indian Navy, Coastal Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, Department of Ports, and Department of Fisheries amongst others.&nbsp;

As part of the exercise, participating units are divided into two teams - Red and Blue. The Red team is required to make attempts to infiltrate into the coastal areas from the seas, whereas the Blue team is meant to maintain coastal surveillance, intercept, and neutralise the infiltration attempts. The exercise is meant to ensure greater coordination and understanding between the central and state forces.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/thanks-air-force-and-forest-dept-forest-blaze-put-out-after-week-long-efforts-200-hectares-lost-583985">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Thanks Air Force and forest dept, forest blaze put out after week-long efforts; 200 hectares lost</a>

Fishermen also play a crucial role in coastal security and during the exercise, they are advised to intimate the Indian Coast Guard about any unknown or suspicious vessels that are operating in the region.&nbsp;

In Mary 2022, during the previous iteration of the exercise, all attack attempts done as part of the exercise were successfully neutralised by the Blue Force. Such exercises with the coordination of various stakeholders gain importance given the rising threat of narco-terrorism, infiltration via sea, and the need to protect vital installations and assets along the coastline.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-service-before-self-75-years-of-the-indian-army-552157">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Wideangle | 'Service Before Self: 75 Years of the Indian Army'</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-wideangle-service-before-self-75-years-of-the-indian-army-552157/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In Kerala, the coastal city of Kochi is home to the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command. Kochi also houses the Government-run shipbuilding facility Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which has constructed and continues to carry out work on India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

In order to bolster coastal security, the Indian Coast Guard is conducting exercise 'Sagar Kavach' along the 590 km coast of Kerala and Mahe in Southern India. Being carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, the exercise involves civil and defence entities.

In order to bolster coastal security, the Indian Coast Guard is conducting exercise 'Sagar Kavach' along the 590 km coast of Kerala and Mahe in Southern India. Being carried out on Tuesday and Wednesday, the exercise involves civil and defence entities. Conducted and coordinated by the Coast Guard, the exercise has the active participation of the Indian Navy, Coastal Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, Department of Ports, and Department of Fisheries amongst others. As part of the exercise, participating units are divided into two teams - Red and Blue. The Red team is required to make attempts to infiltrate into the coastal areas from the seas, whereas the Blue team is meant to maintain coastal surveillance, intercept, and neutralise the infiltration attempts. The exercise is meant to ensure greater coordination and understanding between the central and state forces. ALSO READ | Thanks Air Force and forest dept, forest blaze put out after week-long efforts; 200 hectares lost Fishermen also play a crucial role in coastal security and during the exercise, they are advised to intimate the Indian Coast Guard about any unknown or suspicious vessels that are operating in the region. In Mary 2022, during the previous iteration of the exercise, all attack attempts done as part of the exercise were successfully neutralised by the Blue Force. Such exercises with the coordination of various stakeholders gain importance given the rising threat of narco-terrorism, infiltration via sea, and the need to protect vital installations and assets along the coastline. WATCH | WION Wideangle | 'Service Before Self: 75 Years of the Indian Army' × In Kerala, the coastal city of Kochi is home to the headquarters of the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command. Kochi also houses the Government-run shipbuilding facility Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), which has constructed and continues to carry out work on India's indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' underway along Kerala coastline

Apple's CEO Tim Cook is in India ahead of the opening of the company's first store in Mumbai. Cook met India Inc leaders ahead of the store launch.

Apple CEO Tim Cook visits India for new store opening

The Golden Temple, which is one of the holiest sites for Sikhs in India, has become the stage for a&nbsp;controversy. A girl, one of the many devotees visiting the holy shrine, was purportedly denied entry into the Harminder Sahib Gurudwara, popularly known as Golden Temple, which is located in Amritsar, a city in the North&nbsp;Indian state of Punjab. A video of the alleged incident is going viral on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook alike.

In the video's initial moments, the girl could be heard talking to a man, complaining about being denied entry into the Golden Temple, allegedly because of a tricolour she had painted on her face. She blames a guard at the holy shrine for this.&nbsp;

Take a look at the video:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a> not India 
 
Location : Golden Temple, Punjab 
 
Incident: A girl refused entry to temple 
 
Reason: Girl had Indian Flag painted on her face <a href="https://t.co/L6ucqoXCUY">pic.twitter.com/L6ucqoXCUY</a>
— Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) <a href="https://twitter.com/AshwiniSahaya/status/1647832532875091970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The video then progresses to the unidentified man walking up to the holy shrine's guard and questioning him about his alleged behaviour. In the video, the guard could be heard saying that the girl was stopped because of the flag she had on her face.&nbsp;

After this, the guard when asked, "India nhi hai ye" (this isn't India?) says "Nhi, Punjab hai ye" (No this is Punjab).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-times-when-pulwama-terror-attack-became-a-flashpoint-in-indian-politics-583788">Explained: Times when Pulwama terror attack became a flashpoint in Indian politics</a>

Following this statement, things seem to get heated up, and the two men can be heard arguing. At one point, the guard even tries to snatch the phone out of the hands of the girl recording this video.

Responding to the video, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the organisation that looks after the upkeep of Sikh places of worship in India, apologised for the misbehaviour of the temple official. They also said that the flag painted on the girl's face wasn't the Indian tricolour as it was missing the Ashok Chakra&nbsp;and that it could've been a political flag.

Here's a video of SGPC responding to the controversy:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ਸਚਖੰਡ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਚਾਰੇ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ, ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ, ਪਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਮਰਯਾਦਾ ਦਾ ਪਾਲਣ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ: ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਹਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਮੀ, ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ। <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SGPCPresident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SGPCPresident</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarjinderSinghDhami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarjinderSinghDhami</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sikhs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sikhs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/IXfLUfuzc1">pic.twitter.com/IXfLUfuzc1</a>
— Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@SGPCAmritsar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SGPCAmritsar/status/1648019122280894465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-apex-court-heard-arguments-on-same-sex-marriage-legalisation-heres-what-happened-583745">India’s apex court heard arguments on same-sex marriage legalisation. Here’s what happened</a>

"This is a Sikh shrine. Every religious place has its own decorum...We welcome everyone...We apologise if an official misbehaved...The flag on her face was not our national flag as it didn't have Ashoka Chakra. It could have been a political flag," said SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal.&nbsp;

A Delhi-based advocate&nbsp;has&nbsp;reportedly filed a complaint under various clauses of the IPC for "Anti National Comments" by the temple guard. As per a Tweet made by him, he is also seeking action against SGPC officers "who supports Anti National acts."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/vineetJindal19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vineetJindal19</a> filed complaint upon Anti National Comments by official at Harminder Sahib Gurudawara,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Amritsar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Amritsar</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/DGPPunjabPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DGPPunjabPolice</a> seeking lodging of FIR u/s 153A,153B,504,505,120B of IPC. Also seeking action against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SGPC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SGPC</a> officers who supports Anti National acts. <a href="https://t.co/lUe2vrOGnb">pic.twitter.com/lUe2vrOGnb</a>
— Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) <a href="https://twitter.com/vineetJindal19/status/1648153421390954496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The alleged incident has triggered mixed reactions from netizens online. While many reacted angrily to the claim that entry was denied for supporting the Indian tricolour on one's face, others say that every holy shrine has its rules and dress code.

Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Golden Temple, which is one of the holiest sites for Sikhs in India, has become the stage for a controversy. A girl, one of the many devotees visiting the holy shrine, was purportedly denied entry into the Harminder Sahib Gurudwara, popularly known as Golden Temple, which is located in Amritsar, a city in the North Indian state of Punjab.

The Golden Temple, which is one of the holiest sites for Sikhs in India, has become the stage for a controversy. A girl, one of the many devotees visiting the holy shrine, was purportedly denied entry into the Harminder Sahib Gurudwara, popularly known as Golden Temple, which is located in Amritsar, a city in the North Indian state of Punjab. A video of the alleged incident is going viral on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook alike. In the video's initial moments, the girl could be heard talking to a man, complaining about being denied entry into the Golden Temple, allegedly because of a tricolour she had painted on her face. She blames a guard at the holy shrine for this. Take a look at the video: It's #Punjab not India Location : Golden Temple, Punjab Incident: A girl refused entry to temple Reason: Girl had Indian Flag painted on her face pic.twitter.com/L6ucqoXCUY — Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) April 17, 2023 × The video then progresses to the unidentified man walking up to the holy shrine's guard and questioning him about his alleged behaviour. In the video, the guard could be heard saying that the girl was stopped because of the flag she had on her face. After this, the guard when asked, "India nhi hai ye" (this isn't India?) says "Nhi, Punjab hai ye" (No this is Punjab). Also read | Explained: Times when Pulwama terror attack became a flashpoint in Indian politics Following this statement, things seem to get heated up, and the two men can be heard arguing. At one point, the guard even tries to snatch the phone out of the hands of the girl recording this video. Responding to the video, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the organisation that looks after the upkeep of Sikh places of worship in India, apologised for the misbehaviour of the temple official. They also said that the flag painted on the girl's face wasn't the Indian tricolour as it was missing the Ashok Chakra and that it could've been a political flag. Here's a video of SGPC responding to the controversy: ਸਚਖੰਡ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਚਾਰੇ ਦਰਵਾਜ਼ੇ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ, ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੋਕਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ, ਪਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਦੀ ਮਰਯਾਦਾ ਦਾ ਪਾਲਣ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ: ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਹਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਾਮੀ, ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ। #SGPCPresident #HarjinderSinghDhami #Sikhs #Delhi pic.twitter.com/IXfLUfuzc1 — Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (@SGPCAmritsar) April 17, 2023 × Also read | India’s apex court heard arguments on same-sex marriage legalisation. Here’s what happened "This is a Sikh shrine. Every religious place has its own decorum...We welcome everyone...We apologise if an official misbehaved...The flag on her face was not our national flag as it didn't have Ashoka Chakra. It could have been a political flag," said SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal. A Delhi-based advocate has reportedly filed a complaint under various clauses of the IPC for "Anti National Comments" by the temple guard. As per a Tweet made by him, he is also seeking action against SGPC officers "who supports Anti National acts." @vineetJindal19 filed complaint upon Anti National Comments by official at Harminder Sahib Gurudawara,#Amritsar with @DGPPunjabPolice seeking lodging of FIR u/s 153A,153B,504,505,120B of IPC. Also seeking action against #SGPC officers who supports Anti National acts. pic.twitter.com/lUe2vrOGnb — Adv.Vineet Jindal (@vineetJindal19) April 18, 2023 × The alleged incident has triggered mixed reactions from netizens online. While many reacted angrily to the claim that entry was denied for supporting the Indian tricolour on one's face, others say that every holy shrine has its rules and dress code. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Girl allegedly stopped from entering Golden Temple over tricolour face paint. Watch viral video here

The Indian Supreme Court, on Tuesday (April 18) heard arguments on a batch of 15 pleas which have sought the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country. This comes a day after the Indian government reiterated its opposition to the motion calling the petitions an “urban elitist concept far removed from social ethos of the country”. &nbsp;

The five-judge bench&nbsp;

The five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud also comprised Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha. During the hearing, the CJI said there is no such thing as an “absolute” concept of biological man and woman adding that “it’s not just a question of what your genitals are.”

The CJI has called the marriage issue one of “seminal importance”. The apex court on November 25 last year had sought the Centre’s response to separate pleas moved by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities concerned to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-hearing-on-same-sex-marriage-live-indias-apex-court-to-hear-arguements-today-583596">Supreme Court hearing on same-sex marriage&nbsp;| India's apex court to hear arguments today</a>

However, the CJI had earlier said that the mandatory 30-day notice of a couple’s intention to marry under the previously mentioned act is “unconstitutional”. He stated, “Even in a heterosexual marriage, that you have to give notice and have people object to whether there should be a marriage or not is unconstitutional.”

Petitioners’ argument&nbsp;

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi who presented the arguments from the petitioners said that those in same-sex relationships should also have equal rights similar to their heterosexual brethren.&nbsp;

Subsequently, referring to the 2018 ruling which struck down section 377 and decriminalised homosexuality, Rohtagi argued that the LGBTQ should also have the right to dignity and to the institution of marriage and family which is available to others.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-sc-directs-petitions-seeking-same-sex-marriage-legalisation-to-constitutional-bench-571529">Indian SC directs petitions seeking same-sex marriage legalisation to constitutional bench</a>

He has also sought the provisions under the Special Marriage Act to read marriage between “spouse” instead of “man and woman”. Additionally, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, also arguing for the petitioners said that it is not only “a question of dignity but a bouquet of rights that LGBTQ people are being denied…like life insurance or medical insurance.”&nbsp;

This comes as the CJI asked the lawyers to steer clear of the personal laws as the court would focus on if the right can be conferred under The Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954 as they have ‘broadly understood matter’.&nbsp;

The Indian government’s stance

Prior to the hearing, the government, on Monday, said that a court order recognising same-sex marriages would be virtually rewriting an entire branch of law. It has also argued how the court must refrain from passing such “omnibus orders”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, reiterates its stance that the judiciary has no authority on the matter.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/urban-elite-concept-indian-govt-opposes-same-sex-marriage-as-sc-to-begin-hearing-583259">‘Urban elite concept’: Indian govt opposes same-sex marriage as SC to begin hearing</a>

“This would be better if gone into by the parliament. The parliament has eminent parliamentarians. Parliamentary committees are not acting in the way we see parliament function. Committees have all parties as members,” said Mehta.&nbsp;

The CJI’s remarks about the notion of a biological woman or man not being absolute were also in response to Mehta’s statement when he said, “Societal acceptance of any relationship is never dependent on either the legislation or judgement. The legislative intent of the legislature throughout has been a relationship between a biological man and a biological female.”

The next hearing

The apex court will continue to hear petitioners on Wednesday and Thursday while the Indian government will present their arguments next week.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Indian Supreme Court, on Tuesday (April 18) heard arguments on a batch of 15 pleas which have sought the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country. This comes a day after the Indian government reiterated its opposition to the motion calling the petitions an “urban elitist concept far removed from social ethos of the country”.

The Indian Supreme Court, on Tuesday (April 18) heard arguments on a batch of 15 pleas which have sought the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the country. This comes a day after the Indian government reiterated its opposition to the motion calling the petitions an “urban elitist concept far removed from social ethos of the country”. The five-judge bench The five-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud also comprised Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha. During the hearing, the CJI said there is no such thing as an “absolute” concept of biological man and woman adding that “it’s not just a question of what your genitals are.” The CJI has called the marriage issue one of “seminal importance”. The apex court on November 25 last year had sought the Centre’s response to separate pleas moved by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities concerned to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act. ALSO READ | Supreme Court hearing on same-sex marriage | India's apex court to hear arguments today However, the CJI had earlier said that the mandatory 30-day notice of a couple’s intention to marry under the previously mentioned act is “unconstitutional”. He stated, “Even in a heterosexual marriage, that you have to give notice and have people object to whether there should be a marriage or not is unconstitutional.” Petitioners’ argument Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi who presented the arguments from the petitioners said that those in same-sex relationships should also have equal rights similar to their heterosexual brethren. Subsequently, referring to the 2018 ruling which struck down section 377 and decriminalised homosexuality, Rohtagi argued that the LGBTQ should also have the right to dignity and to the institution of marriage and family which is available to others. ALSO READ | Indian SC directs petitions seeking same-sex marriage legalisation to constitutional bench He has also sought the provisions under the Special Marriage Act to read marriage between “spouse” instead of “man and woman”. Additionally, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, also arguing for the petitioners said that it is not only “a question of dignity but a bouquet of rights that LGBTQ people are being denied…like life insurance or medical insurance.” This comes as the CJI asked the lawyers to steer clear of the personal laws as the court would focus on if the right can be conferred under The Special Marriage Act (SMA), 1954 as they have ‘broadly understood matter’. The Indian government’s stance Prior to the hearing, the government, on Monday, said that a court order recognising same-sex marriages would be virtually rewriting an entire branch of law. It has also argued how the court must refrain from passing such “omnibus orders”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, reiterates its stance that the judiciary has no authority on the matter. ALSO READ | ‘Urban elite concept’: Indian govt opposes same-sex marriage as SC to begin hearing “This would be better if gone into by the parliament. The parliament has eminent parliamentarians. Parliamentary committees are not acting in the way we see parliament function. Committees have all parties as members,” said Mehta. The CJI’s remarks about the notion of a biological woman or man not being absolute were also in response to Mehta’s statement when he said, “Societal acceptance of any relationship is never dependent on either the legislation or judgement. The legislative intent of the legislature throughout has been a relationship between a biological man and a biological female.” The next hearing The apex court will continue to hear petitioners on Wednesday and Thursday while the Indian government will present their arguments next week. 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’s apex court heard arguments on same-sex marriage legalisation. Here’s what happened

With the government announcing the opening of registration for the Annual Amarnath Yatra, the preparations and arrangements for the pilgrimage have started in both the districts of Ganderbal and Anantnag of Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) announced earlier that this year the pilgrimage would be for 62 days instead of 45 days. The Amarnath Yatra would start from July 1. The SASB has introduced Aadhaar authentication-based registration for pilgrims this year. The registration can be done at over 500 bank branches across India.&nbsp;

“Hassle-free pilgrimage is the top priority of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers,” said Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
He added, “Telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of Pilgrimage. All the stakeholder departments are working in coordination to ensure facilities for lodging, power, water, security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra,”&nbsp;

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has also said that there will be a live telecast of morning and evening aarti (prayers) for devotees across the globe. Shri Amarnath Yatra’s App has been made available on the Google Play store to get real-time information about the Yatra, and weather and for availing of several services online.

According to the government, no one below the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years, and no woman with more than six weeks' pregnancy shall be allowed to take the pilgrimage.&nbsp;

SASB held a meeting which was chaired by the Lt Governor and attended by the members and officials, reviewed various aspects of Amarnath Yatra-2023, including registration, provision of helicopter services, service providers, camps, langars and insurance cover for Yatris.

The Lt Governor also directed the officials to ensure high levels of cleanliness and to take necessary interventions for sanitation and waste management during the Yatra.&nbsp; 
 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

With the government announcing the opening of registration for the Annual Amarnath Yatra, the preparations and arrangements for the pilgrimage have started in both the districts of Ganderbal and Anantnag of Kashmir Valley.

With the government announcing the opening of registration for the Annual Amarnath Yatra, the preparations and arrangements for the pilgrimage have started in both the districts of Ganderbal and Anantnag of Kashmir Valley. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) announced earlier that this year the pilgrimage would be for 62 days instead of 45 days. The Amarnath Yatra would start from July 1. The SASB has introduced Aadhaar authentication-based registration for pilgrims this year. The registration can be done at over 500 bank branches across India. “Hassle-free pilgrimage is the top priority of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji. The administration will provide best-in-class healthcare and other essential facilities to all the visiting devotees and service providers,” said Manoj Sinha, Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He added, “Telecom services will be made operational prior to the commencement of Pilgrimage. All the stakeholder departments are working in coordination to ensure facilities for lodging, power, water, security and other arrangements for the smooth conduct of Yatra,” The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has also said that there will be a live telecast of morning and evening aarti (prayers) for devotees across the globe. Shri Amarnath Yatra’s App has been made available on the Google Play store to get real-time information about the Yatra, and weather and for availing of several services online. According to the government, no one below the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years, and no woman with more than six weeks' pregnancy shall be allowed to take the pilgrimage. SASB held a meeting which was chaired by the Lt Governor and attended by the members and officials, reviewed various aspects of Amarnath Yatra-2023, including registration, provision of helicopter services, service providers, camps, langars and insurance cover for Yatris. The Lt Governor also directed the officials to ensure high levels of cleanliness and to take necessary interventions for sanitation and waste management during the Yatra. 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.

Amarnath Yatra preparations start, registrations begin across India

So far, the mustard fields of Kashmir Valley were only seen in film shoots, social networking sites and people taking selfies, but now the Valley is headed for a ‘Yellow Revolution’. 
 
The Jammu and Kashmir government has said, according to an estimate, mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore ($98 million) will be produced this year only in the Kashmir Valley and the Union Territory will move towards self-sufficiency in the production.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/road-rage-in-kashmir-traffic-police-counsel-stunt-bikers-their-parents-after-huge-spike-in-accidents-582460">Road rage in Kashmir: Traffic police counsel stunt bikers, their parents after huge spike in accidents</a>

The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha said that “Kashmir division is witnessing ‘Yellow Revolution’ with oilseed crops registering significant growth. There will be additional opportunities for oil extraction and value addition and therefore more entrepreneurial opportunities for people.”

The Lt. Governor Sinha highlighted the efforts of the UT Government to realize the true growth potential of Jammu Kashmir and lauded the efforts of progressive farming and improving agricultural productivity and encouraging the adoption of new agriculture techniques.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-iaf-chopper-forest-department-get-closer-to-dousing-forest-fire-583265">Tamil Nadu: IAF chopper, forest department get closer to dousing forest fire</a>

He also said the Jammu and Kashmir administration with citizens’ participation is steering the change in the socio-economic landscape of the Union Territory. The collective effort is to create a more progressive, growth-oriented and aspirational society and lay a strong foundation for the journey of the next 25 years. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

So far, the mustard fields of Kashmir Valley were only seen in film shoots, social networking sites and people taking selfies, but now the Valley is headed for a ‘Yellow Revolution’.

So far, the mustard fields of Kashmir Valley were only seen in film shoots, social networking sites and people taking selfies, but now the Valley is headed for a ‘Yellow Revolution’. The Jammu and Kashmir government has said, according to an estimate, mustard oil worth Rs 800 crore ($98 million) will be produced this year only in the Kashmir Valley and the Union Territory will move towards self-sufficiency in the production. ALSO READ | Road rage in Kashmir: Traffic police counsel stunt bikers, their parents after huge spike in accidents The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha said that “Kashmir division is witnessing ‘Yellow Revolution’ with oilseed crops registering significant growth. There will be additional opportunities for oil extraction and value addition and therefore more entrepreneurial opportunities for people.” The Lt. Governor Sinha highlighted the efforts of the UT Government to realize the true growth potential of Jammu Kashmir and lauded the efforts of progressive farming and improving agricultural productivity and encouraging the adoption of new agriculture techniques. ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu: IAF chopper, forest department get closer to dousing forest fire He also said the Jammu and Kashmir administration with citizens’ participation is steering the change in the socio-economic landscape of the Union Territory. The collective effort is to create a more progressive, growth-oriented and aspirational society and lay a strong foundation for the journey of the next 25 years. 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: Kashmir to produce mustard oil worth $98 million this year, says government

As many as 11 people died, and at least 50 were taken to hospital due to heat stroke during an award ceremony organised by the state&nbsp;government in India’s western Maharashtra state. Thousands of people attended the event.

"11 people have died from heatstroke during Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony in Navi Mumbai's Kharghar," Maharashtra CMO said in a statement on late Sunday night.

People who suffered from heatstroke were rushed to Tata Hospital in Kharghar for medical aid, ANI news agency reported.

The award ceremony was held in Navi Mumbai on Sunday afternoon, where the daytime temperature was recorded at a maximum of 38 degrees Celsius.

India's Home Minister Amit Shah, state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the ceremony, where social activist Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was felicitated.

According to reports, the ceremony was held at an open ground, where no roof was available.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
पद्म श्री डॉ आप्पासाहेब धर्माधिकारी जी 30वर्षांपासून आदिवासी वस्त्यांमध्ये तसेच अनेक भागात आरोग्य, स्वच्छता, व्यसनमुक्ती यासाठी अतुलनीय कार्य करत आहेत. 
 
मानवसेवेसाठी आपले संपूर्ण आयुष्य समर्पित करणाऱ्या या समाजसेवकाला आज 'महाराष्ट्र भूषण-2022' पुरस्कार देण्याचा बहुमान मला मिळाला. <a href="https://t.co/4EEBhGMZu2">pic.twitter.com/4EEBhGMZu2</a>
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1647562867582070785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde went to the hospital where people were undergoing treatment. He announced Rs 500,000 ($6,100 approx.) compensation for the families of the deceased and also ensured proper treatment for those who are getting treated.

“This is a case of sunstroke. Some 50 people were admitted to the hospital, of which 24 are still there while the rest have been discharged after primary treatment," Shinde told reporters while coming out from the hospital.

In a tweet, Fadnavis said that the state government will bear the cost of treatment of those who suffered heat-related illness.

"It is very unfortunate and painful that some members participating in the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony this morning died due to heatstroke... We share the grief of their families," Fadnavis tweeted in Marathi.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a heat wave warning for states like West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh over the next four to five days.

It also said that Punjab and Haryana states are likely to be hit by heat waves in isolated pockets on April 16 and April 17.

"Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated/some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar during next five days and over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal &amp; Sikkim during next three days," IMD said in its latest weather bulletin.&nbsp;

The weather agency said heatwave conditions have been prevailing in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal for the last fi vedays, coastal Andhra Pradesh for the last three days, and Bihar for the last two days.

A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature at a station is at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas, and 30 degrees in mountainous areas.

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

As many as 11 people died, and at least 50 were taken to hospital due to heat stroke during an award ceremony organised by the state government in India’s western Maharashtra state.

As many as 11 people died, and at least 50 were taken to hospital due to heat stroke during an award ceremony organised by the state government in India’s western Maharashtra state. Thousands of people attended the event. "11 people have died from heatstroke during Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony in Navi Mumbai's Kharghar," Maharashtra CMO said in a statement on late Sunday night. People who suffered from heatstroke were rushed to Tata Hospital in Kharghar for medical aid, ANI news agency reported. The award ceremony was held in Navi Mumbai on Sunday afternoon, where the daytime temperature was recorded at a maximum of 38 degrees Celsius. India's Home Minister Amit Shah, state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the ceremony, where social activist Appasaheb Dharmadhikari was felicitated. According to reports, the ceremony was held at an open ground, where no roof was available. पद्म श्री डॉ आप्पासाहेब धर्माधिकारी जी 30वर्षांपासून आदिवासी वस्त्यांमध्ये तसेच अनेक भागात आरोग्य, स्वच्छता, व्यसनमुक्ती यासाठी अतुलनीय कार्य करत आहेत. मानवसेवेसाठी आपले संपूर्ण आयुष्य समर्पित करणाऱ्या या समाजसेवकाला आज 'महाराष्ट्र भूषण-2022' पुरस्कार देण्याचा बहुमान मला मिळाला. pic.twitter.com/4EEBhGMZu2 — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 16, 2023 × Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde went to the hospital where people were undergoing treatment. He announced Rs 500,000 ($6,100 approx.) compensation for the families of the deceased and also ensured proper treatment for those who are getting treated. “This is a case of sunstroke. Some 50 people were admitted to the hospital, of which 24 are still there while the rest have been discharged after primary treatment," Shinde told reporters while coming out from the hospital. In a tweet, Fadnavis said that the state government will bear the cost of treatment of those who suffered heat-related illness. "It is very unfortunate and painful that some members participating in the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony this morning died due to heatstroke... We share the grief of their families," Fadnavis tweeted in Marathi. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a heat wave warning for states like West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh over the next four to five days. It also said that Punjab and Haryana states are likely to be hit by heat waves in isolated pockets on April 16 and April 17. "Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated/some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar during next five days and over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next three days," IMD said in its latest weather bulletin. The weather agency said heatwave conditions have been prevailing in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal for the last fi vedays, coastal Andhra Pradesh for the last three days, and Bihar for the last two days. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature at a station is at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas, and 30 degrees in mountainous areas. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

11 die of heat stroke during government award ceremony in India's Maharashtra

The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo. However, they could not decide on a deadline to achieve said goals.&nbsp;

The 36-page communique&nbsp;

After two days of discussions between the environment and energy ministers of the bloc, they released a 36-page statement outlining some of their commitments ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima set to take place next month.&nbsp;

“Recognizing the current global energy crisis and economic disruptions, we reaffirm our commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest,” said the statement.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-germany-to-end-its-decades-old-nuclear-power-era-what-now-582839">Explained | Germany to end its decades-old nuclear power era. What now?</a> 
 
The countries have also pledged to contribute to “expanding renewable energy globally” and reaffirmed their commitment to “achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035.”&nbsp;

This includes phasing out domestic “unabated” coal power generation – plants that do not capture emissions and prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere and also encouraged other countries to follow suit.&nbsp;

However, the G7 ministers have not given a deadline for phasing out coal-fired power plants, which has been a long-standing issue as many countries including Japan still heavily rely on this method for generating power. Tokyo relies on coal for nearly one-third of its power generation.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/g7-climate-talks-meet-seeks-to-reconcile-worlds-heavy-reliance-on-fossil-fuels-582882">G7 Climate Talks: Meet seeks to reconcile world's heavy reliance on fossil fuels</a>

The G7 nations which include countries like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States,&nbsp;account for some 40 per cent of the world’s economic activity and are also responsible for nearly a quarter of global carbon emissions. The countries are also committed to ending plastic pollution and reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040.&nbsp;

Investment in critical minerals

The G7 nations also acknowledged the importance of critical minerals for the transition to clean energy and reaffirmed the “need to prevent economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains, monopolisation, lack of diversification of existing suppliers of critical minerals.”

In this context, they have also decided to boost the development of new mines and supply chains for critical minerals in a “responsible manner that promotes transparency and traceability” to keep up with demand. It added, “Currently $13 billion fiscal support that can be used for domestic and foreign projects is prepared across the G7 countries.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/himalayas-have-lost-glacier-mass-equal-to-weight-of-570-million-elephants-study-579733">Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study</a>

Indian&nbsp;environment&nbsp;minister's address

Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav also addressed the plenary session of the G7 ministers’ meeting in Japan and spoke about how economic development is the first defence against climate change. He also took to Twitter and wrote, “The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations.” 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Addressed the Plenary Session at G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment. 
 
IPCC AR 6 Report reemphasises development is our first defence against climate change. 
 
The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations. <a href="https://t.co/GAoSXn9o4W">pic.twitter.com/GAoSXn9o4W</a>
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) <a href="https://twitter.com/byadavbjp/status/1647072591084146689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo.

The Group of Seven (G7) rich nations’ energy and environment ministers, on Sunday (April 16) vowed to ramp up efforts and work toward cleaner and renewable energy while also phasing out power plants using coal, in a statement, following discussions in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo. However, they could not decide on a deadline to achieve said goals. The 36-page communique After two days of discussions between the environment and energy ministers of the bloc, they released a 36-page statement outlining some of their commitments ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima set to take place next month. “Recognizing the current global energy crisis and economic disruptions, we reaffirm our commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest,” said the statement. ALSO READ | Explained | Germany to end its decades-old nuclear power era. What now? The countries have also pledged to contribute to “expanding renewable energy globally” and reaffirmed their commitment to “achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonised power sector by 2035.” This includes phasing out domestic “unabated” coal power generation – plants that do not capture emissions and prevent them from escaping into the atmosphere and also encouraged other countries to follow suit. However, the G7 ministers have not given a deadline for phasing out coal-fired power plants, which has been a long-standing issue as many countries including Japan still heavily rely on this method for generating power. Tokyo relies on coal for nearly one-third of its power generation. ALSO WATCH | G7 Climate Talks: Meet seeks to reconcile world's heavy reliance on fossil fuels The G7 nations which include countries like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, account for some 40 per cent of the world’s economic activity and are also responsible for nearly a quarter of global carbon emissions. The countries are also committed to ending plastic pollution and reducing additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040. Investment in critical minerals The G7 nations also acknowledged the importance of critical minerals for the transition to clean energy and reaffirmed the “need to prevent economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains, monopolisation, lack of diversification of existing suppliers of critical minerals.” In this context, they have also decided to boost the development of new mines and supply chains for critical minerals in a “responsible manner that promotes transparency and traceability” to keep up with demand. It added, “Currently $13 billion fiscal support that can be used for domestic and foreign projects is prepared across the G7 countries.” ALSO READ | Himalayas have lost glacier mass equal to weight of 570 million elephants: Study Indian environment minister's address Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav also addressed the plenary session of the G7 ministers’ meeting in Japan and spoke about how economic development is the first defence against climate change. He also took to Twitter and wrote, “The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations.” Addressed the Plenary Session at G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment. IPCC AR 6 Report reemphasises development is our first defence against climate change. The global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 needs enhanced emission descaling by developed nations. pic.twitter.com/GAoSXn9o4W — Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) April 15, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies) 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.

G7 vows to work towards cleaner, renewable energy with no deadline

Explosions and gunfire were heard around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, on Saturday (April 15) as clashes were reported between the military led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, shared several media reports and eyewitness accounts.&nbsp;

Hours later, in a statement, the RSF claimed that they had taken “full control” of the presidential palace and key areas. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Sudan has asked Indians in the country to “stay indoors”.&nbsp;

Warning to all Indians in Sudan&nbsp;

The Embassy of India in Khartoum, in a statement, in light of recent clashes and firings to take “utmost precautions, stay indoors, and stop venturing outside with immediate effect”. It added, “Please also stay calm and wait for updates.”&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NOTICE TO ALL INDIANS 
 
IN VIEW OF REPORTED FIRINGS AND CLASHES, ALL INDIANS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE UTMOST PRECAUTIONS, STAY INDOORS AND STOP VENTURING OUTSIDE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PLEASE ALSO STAY CALM AND WAIT FOR UPDATES.
— India in Sudan (@EoI_Khartoum) <a href="https://twitter.com/EoI_Khartoum/status/1647161816919969793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Clashes and claims

The fighting comes after tensions escalated between the generals for months and years of political unrest after the October 2021 military coup. 
 
Sounds of explosions and gunfire were heard across the Sudanese capital amid clashes between the country’s army and the paramilitary RSF. Witnesses reported “confrontations” and loud explosions and gunfire near a base held by the RSF in south Khartoum, said a report by AFP, whose reporters heard gunfire near Khartoum airport as well in north Khartoum.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sudan-power-struggle-within-military-as-army-attacks-paramilitary-rsf-582761">Sudan: Power struggle within military as Army attacks Paramilitary RSF</a>

Subsequently, the RSF, which is headed by former militia leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, in a statement said that the army had entered their camps in south Khartoum and laid siege to paramilitary forces there.&nbsp;

“The Rapid Support Forces were surprised Saturday with a large force from the army entering camps in Soba in Khartoum and laying siege to paramilitaries there,” reported AFP. It added that the army had “launched a sweeping attack with all kinds of heavy and light weapons.”&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Sudanese army said that the paramilitaries attacked “several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan,” spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah told AFP. He added, “Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country.” 
 
The clashes came as tensions between the military and RSF escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of deal with political parties to revive the democratic transition.

RSF claims to have seized the presidential palace and other key sites

Hours after the clashes broke out, the RSF claimed that they had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief, Khartoum international airport, as well as airports in the northern city of Merowe and El-Obeid in the west. According to a Reuters journalist, cannons and armoured vehicles were deployed in the streets, and the sound of heavy weapons fire was heard near the headquarters of both the army and RSF.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-army-paramilitaries-clash-live-updates-rsf-claims-to-have-taken-full-control-of-khartoum-presidential-palace-582742">Sudan army, paramilitaries clash LIVE updates: Paramilitaries claim to have entered presidential palace in apparent coup attempt</a>

Escalating tensions&nbsp;

This comes after days of tensions between the army and the RSF which had sparked fears of a confrontation that would undermine long-running efforts to return Sudan to civilian rule after years of power struggles and military coups.

On Thursday, the army said that some of the recent movements in Merowe by the RSF were illegal and took place without coordination.&nbsp;

However, the paramilitaries said that the actions by the leadership of the armed forces and “some officers” were an attack on its forces with the intention of creating instability. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that there has been a heavy exchange of gunfire in Merowe, on Saturday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Explosions and gunfire were heard around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, on Saturday (April 15) as clashes were reported between the military led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, shared several media reports and eyewitness accounts.

Explosions and gunfire were heard around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, on Saturday (April 15) as clashes were reported between the military led by army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary, shared several media reports and eyewitness accounts. Hours later, in a statement, the RSF claimed that they had taken “full control” of the presidential palace and key areas. Meanwhile, the Indian embassy in Sudan has asked Indians in the country to “stay indoors”. Warning to all Indians in Sudan The Embassy of India in Khartoum, in a statement, in light of recent clashes and firings to take “utmost precautions, stay indoors, and stop venturing outside with immediate effect”. It added, “Please also stay calm and wait for updates.” NOTICE TO ALL INDIANS IN VIEW OF REPORTED FIRINGS AND CLASHES, ALL INDIANS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE UTMOST PRECAUTIONS, STAY INDOORS AND STOP VENTURING OUTSIDE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. PLEASE ALSO STAY CALM AND WAIT FOR UPDATES. — India in Sudan (@EoI_Khartoum) April 15, 2023 × Clashes and claims The fighting comes after tensions escalated between the generals for months and years of political unrest after the October 2021 military coup. Sounds of explosions and gunfire were heard across the Sudanese capital amid clashes between the country’s army and the paramilitary RSF. Witnesses reported “confrontations” and loud explosions and gunfire near a base held by the RSF in south Khartoum, said a report by AFP, whose reporters heard gunfire near Khartoum airport as well in north Khartoum. ALSO WATCH | Sudan: Power struggle within military as Army attacks Paramilitary RSF Subsequently, the RSF, which is headed by former militia leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, in a statement said that the army had entered their camps in south Khartoum and laid siege to paramilitary forces there. “The Rapid Support Forces were surprised Saturday with a large force from the army entering camps in Soba in Khartoum and laying siege to paramilitaries there,” reported AFP. It added that the army had “launched a sweeping attack with all kinds of heavy and light weapons.” Meanwhile, the Sudanese army said that the paramilitaries attacked “several army camps in Khartoum and elsewhere around Sudan,” spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah told AFP. He added, “Clashes are ongoing and the army is carrying out its duty to safeguard the country.” The clashes came as tensions between the military and RSF escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of deal with political parties to revive the democratic transition. RSF claims to have seized the presidential palace and other key sites Hours after the clashes broke out, the RSF claimed that they had taken control of the presidential palace, the residence of the army chief, Khartoum international airport, as well as airports in the northern city of Merowe and El-Obeid in the west. According to a Reuters journalist, cannons and armoured vehicles were deployed in the streets, and the sound of heavy weapons fire was heard near the headquarters of both the army and RSF. ALSO READ | Sudan army, paramilitaries clash LIVE updates: Paramilitaries claim to have entered presidential palace in apparent coup attempt Escalating tensions This comes after days of tensions between the army and the RSF which had sparked fears of a confrontation that would undermine long-running efforts to return Sudan to civilian rule after years of power struggles and military coups. On Thursday, the army said that some of the recent movements in Merowe by the RSF were illegal and took place without coordination. However, the paramilitaries said that the actions by the leadership of the armed forces and “some officers” were an attack on its forces with the intention of creating instability. Eyewitnesses told Reuters that there has been a heavy exchange of gunfire in Merowe, on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies) 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.

Indians in Sudan asked to ‘stay indoors’ amid clashes between paramilitary, army

Chinese scientists said that they were able to conduct a “landmark experiment” by allowing an artificial intelligence (AI) machine to take full control of a satellite temporarily in near-Earth orbit to test its behaviour in space.

Qimingxing 1, a small Earth observation satellite, was controlled by the AI for 24 hours, and it functioned without any human order, assignment or intervention, a paper published in the journal Geomatics and Information Science of Wuhan University stated.

Notably, the AI spotted a few places on Earth and ordered the satellite to “take a closer look”.

One of the targeted areas was the&nbsp;Patna city in India&nbsp;housing the Bihar Regiment – the Indian Army unit that clashed with Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley in 2020.

The other targeted area was Osaka, one of Japan’s busiest ports, which occasionally hosts US Navy vessels operating in the Pacific.

The scientists, however, did not explain why the AI machine made the satellite to specifically look for these two locations.

<h2>From Zojila to Atal: Inside India's longest tunnels | Inside South Asia</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/from-zojila-to-atal-inside-indias-longest-tunnels-inside-south-asia-582679/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The research team, led by Wang Mi from the university’s State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, claimed that the aim of the experiment was to see what the AI would do of its own accord, reports South China Morning Post.

“This approach breaks the existing rules in mission planning,” said Wang and his colleagues in their paper published on April 3.

The research team was surprised by how AI could manage to order the satellite&nbsp;in space which has always been operated based on specific orders or assignments.

Usually, satellites are given assignments during unexpected events, such as war or an earthquake, to make long-term observations of particular targets.

Though AI has been prominently used in space programmes, such as image recognition, drawing flight paths and collision avoidance, this is the first that it was given control of a satellite, resulting in a waste of time and resources, the team noted.

“The satellites are expensive with a limited lifespan. It is urgent to make the most out of their value with new orbital applications,” the researchers said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Chinese scientists said that they were able to conduct a “landmark experiment” by allowing an artificial intelligence (AI) machine to take full control of a satellite temporarily in near-Earth orbit to test its behaviour in space.

Chinese scientists said that they were able to conduct a “landmark experiment” by allowing an artificial intelligence (AI) machine to take full control of a satellite temporarily in near-Earth orbit to test its behaviour in space. Qimingxing 1, a small Earth observation satellite, was controlled by the AI for 24 hours, and it functioned without any human order, assignment or intervention, a paper published in the journal Geomatics and Information Science of Wuhan University stated. Notably, the AI spotted a few places on Earth and ordered the satellite to “take a closer look”. One of the targeted areas was the Patna city in India housing the Bihar Regiment – the Indian Army unit that clashed with Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley in 2020. The other targeted area was Osaka, one of Japan’s busiest ports, which occasionally hosts US Navy vessels operating in the Pacific. The scientists, however, did not explain why the AI machine made the satellite to specifically look for these two locations. From Zojila to Atal: Inside India's longest tunnels | Inside South Asia The research team, led by Wang Mi from the university’s State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, claimed that the aim of the experiment was to see what the AI would do of its own accord, reports South China Morning Post. “This approach breaks the existing rules in mission planning,” said Wang and his colleagues in their paper published on April 3. The research team was surprised by how AI could manage to order the satellite in space which has always been operated based on specific orders or assignments. Usually, satellites are given assignments during unexpected events, such as war or an earthquake, to make long-term observations of particular targets. Though AI has been prominently used in space programmes, such as image recognition, drawing flight paths and collision avoidance, this is the first that it was given control of a satellite, resulting in a waste of time and resources, the team noted. “The satellites are expensive with a limited lifespan. It is urgent to make the most out of their value with new orbital applications,” the researchers said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Chinese scientists let AI control satellite, it takes ‘closer look’ at specific spots in India, Japan

More than 11,000 new Covid cases were reported across India in the past 24 hours—the highest ever in the last 236 days.

According to the data shared by the health ministry, 11,109 new coronavirus infections were recorded, pushing the active cases to 49,622. Moreover, the death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 more fatalities. On Thursday, the nation had recorded 10,158 fresh coronavirus infections.

Three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each from Chhattisgarh and Punjab and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh besides nine reconciled by Kerala, the data said.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.01 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 4.29 per cent.

The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,97,269)

The ministry said the active cases now comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.70 per cent.

Notably, India is not the only country reporting resurgence&nbsp;in Covid infections. This trend is being witnessed across Asia.&nbsp;Indonesia’s daily caseload is near a four-month high and Vietnam is ramping up virus prevention measures. Whereas,&nbsp;Singapore’s infections almost doubled in the final week of March to the highest this year.

This fresh wave is being attributed to a mix of XBB subvariants — a highly transmissible Omicron strain that, so far, isn’t causing widespread severe illness.

However, experts believe that the fresh bout of cases is only temporary as the outbreak is reaching its endemic stage.

It is expected that the infections will peak for the next 10 to 12 days, and then subside,

In an endemic stage, an infection is restricted to a particular region whereas in pandemic,&nbsp;the infection spreads to a bigger area or even worldwide.

Experts claimed that the XBB.1.16 subvariant of Omicron is not a cause for worry and asserted that vaccines are effective against it.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,16,586 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. 
 
According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

More than 11,000 new Covid cases were reported across India in the past 24 hours—the highest ever in the last 236 days. According to the data shared by the health ministry, 11,109 new coronavirus infections were recorded, pushing the active cases to 49,622.

More than 11,000 new Covid cases were reported across India in the past 24 hours—the highest ever in the last 236 days. According to the data shared by the health ministry, 11,109 new coronavirus infections were recorded, pushing the active cases to 49,622. Moreover, the death toll climbed to 5,31,064 with 29 more fatalities. On Thursday, the nation had recorded 10,158 fresh coronavirus infections. Three deaths each were reported from Delhi and Rajasthan, two each from Chhattisgarh and Punjab and one each from Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh besides nine reconciled by Kerala, the data said. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.01 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was pegged at 4.29 per cent. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,97,269) The ministry said the active cases now comprise 0.11 per cent of the total infections and the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.70 per cent. Notably, India is not the only country reporting resurgence in Covid infections. This trend is being witnessed across Asia. Indonesia’s daily caseload is near a four-month high and Vietnam is ramping up virus prevention measures. Whereas, Singapore’s infections almost doubled in the final week of March to the highest this year. This fresh wave is being attributed to a mix of XBB subvariants — a highly transmissible Omicron strain that, so far, isn’t causing widespread severe illness. However, experts believe that the fresh bout of cases is only temporary as the outbreak is reaching its endemic stage. It is expected that the infections will peak for the next 10 to 12 days, and then subside, In an endemic stage, an infection is restricted to a particular region whereas in pandemic, the infection spreads to a bigger area or even worldwide. Experts claimed that the XBB.1.16 subvariant of Omicron is not a cause for worry and asserted that vaccines are effective against it. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,42,16,586 and the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent. According to the ministry's website, 220.66 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country under the nationwide vaccination drive. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India records 11,109 new coronavirus infections, highest in 236 days

India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16.

Hospitals are carrying out mock drills and mask mandates have been re-imposed in some states over concerns about the increase in coronavirus cases.

The new variant was first detected in January in India and is said to be more transmissible compared to previous ones.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-expert-issues-warning-over-xbb116-variant-as-nation-records-7830-new-cases-581560">COVID-19: Expert issues warning over XBB1.16 variant as India records 7,830 new cases in 24 hours</a>

But the hospitals are not overwhelmed with patients of coronavirus yet, as mild symptoms are being reported by most of them.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called variant XBB.1.16 as “one to watch” and stated that the variant had a dominant strain in India due to its multiplication in the last few months.

The variant is strongly present in the national capital where more than 1,000 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday and the positivity rate was 26 per cent.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) stated that there has been an increase in Covid cases because of people's complacent behaviour, which includes lax use of masks to cover faces in public spaces.

“Many people lowered their guard against coronavirus, and the low rate of testing could be the driving force behind the surge,” the association said. “Rising cases reflect that Covid has not gone, it is still around, and so we need to take precautions,” it added.

In the wake of the surge in Covid cases, the Serum Institute of India said that the manufacturing of Covishield – which is the vaccine for coronavirus – is being restarted to ensure that people get additional boosters.

WATCH | Active Covid cases in India cross 7,000 mark | WION Exclusive

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/active-covid-cases-in-india-cross-7000-mark-wion-exclusive-574702/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Around 6 to 7 million doses of Covishield, which was developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca in the United Kingdom, will be produced by the Serum Institute of India to build up the country’s stocks.

A mock drill was implemented by the health ministry in hospitals to check on the arrangements made for treating and testing Covid patients.

During Covid's second wave, which hit the country in March 2021, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. A shortage of medicines, beds and oxygen was faced nationwide, resulting in a huge death toll.&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</section>
</main>

&nbsp;

India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16.

India has accelerated the production of Covid booster jabs in the wake of the sudden surge in cases, reportedly due to a new variant of Omicron, called XBB.1.16. Hospitals are carrying out mock drills and mask mandates have been re-imposed in some states over concerns about the increase in coronavirus cases. The new variant was first detected in January in India and is said to be more transmissible compared to previous ones. ALSO READ | COVID-19: Expert issues warning over XBB1.16 variant as India records 7,830 new cases in 24 hours But the hospitals are not overwhelmed with patients of coronavirus yet, as mild symptoms are being reported by most of them. The World Health Organization (WHO) called variant XBB.1.16 as “one to watch” and stated that the variant had a dominant strain in India due to its multiplication in the last few months. The variant is strongly present in the national capital where more than 1,000 fresh cases were reported on Wednesday and the positivity rate was 26 per cent. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) stated that there has been an increase in Covid cases because of people's complacent behaviour, which includes lax use of masks to cover faces in public spaces. “Many people lowered their guard against coronavirus, and the low rate of testing could be the driving force behind the surge,” the association said. “Rising cases reflect that Covid has not gone, it is still around, and so we need to take precautions,” it added. In the wake of the surge in Covid cases, the Serum Institute of India said that the manufacturing of Covishield – which is the vaccine for coronavirus – is being restarted to ensure that people get additional boosters. WATCH | Active Covid cases in India cross 7,000 mark | WION Exclusive Around 6 to 7 million doses of Covishield, which was developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca in the United Kingdom, will be produced by the Serum Institute of India to build up the country’s stocks. A mock drill was implemented by the health ministry in hospitals to check on the arrangements made for treating and testing Covid patients. During Covid's second wave, which hit the country in March 2021, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. A shortage of medicines, beds and oxygen was faced nationwide, resulting in a huge death toll. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India accelerates production of Covid vaccine booster shots as daily cases cross 10k

In an emotional reunion, a Sarus crane was seen jumping around the cage of the zoo located in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh when a 30-year-old man, who had earlier nursed the bird and treated his injuries, came to visit.

The bird was found by Mohammad Arif, who is a farmer by profession, a year ago in his field. Arif had said that he was hoping that the bird would fly back into the wild after it is healthy.

However, the bird continued to stay with Arif and developed a special bond with him. The bird and man's heart-warming bond attracted a lot of media attention.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sarus-crane-that-made-headlines-in-india-last-year-taken-to-sanctuary-575270">Sarus crane, saved by man in India, taken to wildlife sanctuary</a>

Last month, the bird was confiscated by the forest department officials under Indian law, according to which it is illegal for people to give shelter to Sarus cranes or even feed the bird.

The bird was initially kept in a wildlife sanctuary and was later shifted to Kanpur City's zoo, where it lives inside a cage.

Again, an emotional video surfaced online wherein the two friends can be seen meeting each other after months at the Kanpur Bird Sanctuary.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Mohammad Arif went to see the Sarus he saved in Kanpur zoo. Separated for nearly a month from him this is how Sarus reacted on seeing him.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MohammadArif?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MohammadArif</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sarus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sarus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UP</a> <a href="https://t.co/SrpZ8V5k9h">pic.twitter.com/SrpZ8V5k9h</a>
— Nitesh Bhatt 🇮🇳 (@Sujanian17) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sujanian17/status/1646019548569817088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In the viral video, Arif is seen standing outside the cage in which the Sarus crane is living. The bird is seen jumping with joy inside the enclosure after seeing Arif.

The crane can be seen spreading his wings and trying to find a way to get out of the enclosure to meet his human friend.

In August 2022, Arif found the Sarus crane in an unconscious state, badly injured and bleeding. The bird stayed at Arif's home and followed him everywhere, videos of which went viral on social media.

Political party Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also came to meet Arif on March 6 and shared a picture with the Sarus crane on Twitter.

WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: London Zoo begins its annual headcount of animals

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-london-zoo-begins-its-annual-headcount-of-animals-549461/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After the bird was taken away, a complaint was filed by the forest department and Arif was booked under the Wildlife Act of 1972 (amended). Defending his act, Arif said that he “did not deserve a legal notice for rescuing the bird.”

"I didn’t chain the bird. It lived with me. What’s my fault? The forest department notice says there is a case lodged against me. I treated the Sarus bird and wanted it to go back to the jungle. It became my friend and did not leave,” Arif said.&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</section>
</main>

In an emotional reunion, a Sarus crane was seen jumping around the cage of the zoo located in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh when a 30-year-old man, who had earlier nursed the bird and treated his injuries, came to visit.

In an emotional reunion, a Sarus crane was seen jumping around the cage of the zoo located in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh when a 30-year-old man, who had earlier nursed the bird and treated his injuries, came to visit. The bird was found by Mohammad Arif, who is a farmer by profession, a year ago in his field. Arif had said that he was hoping that the bird would fly back into the wild after it is healthy. However, the bird continued to stay with Arif and developed a special bond with him. The bird and man's heart-warming bond attracted a lot of media attention. ALSO READ | Sarus crane, saved by man in India, taken to wildlife sanctuary Last month, the bird was confiscated by the forest department officials under Indian law, according to which it is illegal for people to give shelter to Sarus cranes or even feed the bird. The bird was initially kept in a wildlife sanctuary and was later shifted to Kanpur City's zoo, where it lives inside a cage. Again, an emotional video surfaced online wherein the two friends can be seen meeting each other after months at the Kanpur Bird Sanctuary. Mohammad Arif went to see the Sarus he saved in Kanpur zoo. Separated for nearly a month from him this is how Sarus reacted on seeing him.#MohammadArif #Sarus #UP pic.twitter.com/SrpZ8V5k9h — Nitesh Bhatt 🇮🇳 (@Sujanian17) April 12, 2023 × In the viral video, Arif is seen standing outside the cage in which the Sarus crane is living. The bird is seen jumping with joy inside the enclosure after seeing Arif. The crane can be seen spreading his wings and trying to find a way to get out of the enclosure to meet his human friend. In August 2022, Arif found the Sarus crane in an unconscious state, badly injured and bleeding. The bird stayed at Arif's home and followed him everywhere, videos of which went viral on social media. Political party Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also came to meet Arif on March 6 and shared a picture with the Sarus crane on Twitter. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: London Zoo begins its annual headcount of animals After the bird was taken away, a complaint was filed by the forest department and Arif was booked under the Wildlife Act of 1972 (amended). Defending his act, Arif said that he “did not deserve a legal notice for rescuing the bird.” "I didn’t chain the bird. It lived with me. What’s my fault? The forest department notice says there is a case lodged against me. I treated the Sarus bird and wanted it to go back to the jungle. It became my friend and did not leave,” Arif said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | Sarus crane jumps inside cage after seeing his human friend

The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar is underway in Mumbai. The two-day meet, which began on Wednesday, was one of the key outcomes of the Delhi Declaration of the first India Central Asia summit held in January last year. The participants of the meeting include India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Special invitees include Iran and the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP).

One of the key issues being discussed at the meeting is the development of the Shahid Behesti Terminal (SBT) and the usage of the Chabahar port by the Central Asian countries. The expectations of the participating countries are also being discussed at the meeting.

The Chabahar port is strategically located in the southeastern Iranian city of Chabahar (Persian for 'four springs') and has emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region. India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in May 2016 to establish the International Transport and Transit Corridor (Chabahar Agreement). India is participating in the development of the first phase of the Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, in cooperation with Iran.

India has committed a total grant assistance of $85 million and a credit facility of $150 million for the development of the SBT. As part of its commitment towards infrastructure development of the SBT, India has supplied six mobile harbour cranes (two 140 tonnes and four 100 tonnes capacity) and other equipment worth $25 million.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/central-asian-countries-to-get-stake-in-chabahar-port-says-kyrgyz-republic-envoy-isaev-exclusive-452350">WATCH |&nbsp;Central Asian Countries to get stake in Chabahar port, says Kyrgyz Republic Envoy Isaev | Exclusive</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/central-asian-countries-to-get-stake-in-chabahar-port-says-kyrgyz-republic-envoy-isaev-exclusive-452350/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Since taking over the operations of the Chabahar Port in December 2018, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) through its wholly owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), has handled 215 vessels, 16,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), and four million tonnes of bulk and general cargo as per the latest data given to the Indian parliament.

The Chabahar Port has provided much-needed sea access to the landlocked countries of the region, including Afghanistan, and has become a more economical and stable route for landlocked countries of the region to reach India and the global market. To date, a total of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses have been trans-shipped from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port.

The port has also facilitated the supply of humanitarian assistance, especially, during the COVID-19 pandemic. India has utilised the Chabahar port to ship 75,000 MTs of wheat as humanitarian food assistance to Afghanistan in 2020. In 2021, India supplied 40,000 litres of environment-friendly pesticides to Iran to fight the locust menace.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-back-usage-of-india-built-chabahar-port-say-ready-to-provide-facilities-541441">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Taliban back usage of India-built Chabahar port, say ‘ready to provide facilities</a>

The India Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar meeting is expected to further strengthen India's connectivity focus with the Central Asian countries and Iran. The development of the Chabahar port and its usage by the participating countries is expected to increase economic and trade opportunities for the region.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar is underway in Mumbai. The two-day meet, which began on Wednesday, was one of the key outcomes of the Delhi Declaration of the first India Central Asia summit held in January last year.

The first meeting of the India-Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar is underway in Mumbai. The two-day meet, which began on Wednesday, was one of the key outcomes of the Delhi Declaration of the first India Central Asia summit held in January last year. The participants of the meeting include India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Special invitees include Iran and the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP). One of the key issues being discussed at the meeting is the development of the Shahid Behesti Terminal (SBT) and the usage of the Chabahar port by the Central Asian countries. The expectations of the participating countries are also being discussed at the meeting. The Chabahar port is strategically located in the southeastern Iranian city of Chabahar (Persian for 'four springs') and has emerged as a commercial transit hub for the region. India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in May 2016 to establish the International Transport and Transit Corridor (Chabahar Agreement). India is participating in the development of the first phase of the Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, in cooperation with Iran. India has committed a total grant assistance of $85 million and a credit facility of $150 million for the development of the SBT. As part of its commitment towards infrastructure development of the SBT, India has supplied six mobile harbour cranes (two 140 tonnes and four 100 tonnes capacity) and other equipment worth $25 million. WATCH | Central Asian Countries to get stake in Chabahar port, says Kyrgyz Republic Envoy Isaev | Exclusive × Since taking over the operations of the Chabahar Port in December 2018, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) through its wholly owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), has handled 215 vessels, 16,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), and four million tonnes of bulk and general cargo as per the latest data given to the Indian parliament. The Chabahar Port has provided much-needed sea access to the landlocked countries of the region, including Afghanistan, and has become a more economical and stable route for landlocked countries of the region to reach India and the global market. To date, a total of 2.5 million tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses have been trans-shipped from India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar Port. The port has also facilitated the supply of humanitarian assistance, especially, during the COVID-19 pandemic. India has utilised the Chabahar port to ship 75,000 MTs of wheat as humanitarian food assistance to Afghanistan in 2020. In 2021, India supplied 40,000 litres of environment-friendly pesticides to Iran to fight the locust menace. ALSO READ | Taliban back usage of India-built Chabahar port, say ‘ready to provide facilities The India Central Asia Joint Working Group on Chabahar meeting is expected to further strengthen India's connectivity focus with the Central Asian countries and Iran. The development of the Chabahar port and its usage by the participating countries is expected to increase economic and trade opportunities for the region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India hosts first meeting on Chabahar Port development with Central Asian nations

United States President Joe Biden landed in Northern Ireland for his four-day visit, where he will show his support for the country's peace and will also attend events which will celebrate his Irish roots. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday slightly decreased its global growth projection for 2023-24 from 6.1 per cent to 5.9 per cent, however, it praised the Indian economy. Meanwhile, Twitter's Elon Musk announced the final date for removing legacy Blue checks from verified Twitter accounts.

Click on the headline to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-lands-in-northern-ireland-to-mark-25-years-of-good-friday-agreement-581514">Joe Biden lands in Northern Ireland, to mark 25 years of Good Friday Agreement&nbsp;</a>

<img alt="Biden" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d8158e1a-5fa9-4884-8484-02ba0f5a9be5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-04-12T082933.027.png" />

United States President Joe Biden has reached Northern Ireland, starting his four-day visit to the island, where he will extend his support for the country's peace and will celebrate his Irish roots.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-says-india-very-strong-economy-and-bright-spot-in-the-global-economy-581526">IMF says India 'very strong economy' and one of bright spots globally</a>

 
<img alt="IMF" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf294893-fb78-4bae-91ca-1e14cd88c6ee" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/344767-india-2.jpg" />

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (April 11) slightly lowered its global growth projection for 2023-24 to 5.9 per cent from 6.1 per cent earlier, but the financial agency has praised the Indian economy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-military-targets-school-children-performing-dances-in-saigaing-up-to-100-feared-dead-581524">Myanmar military targets 'school children performing dances' in Sagaing; up to 100 feared dead</a>

 
<img alt="Myanmar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="026fcafa-cc83-4e18-beeb-f14e2abbb414" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-04-12T102345.800.png" />&nbsp;&nbsp;

Many dozens of people, including children, are reported to be dead in central Myanmar following the military's airstrikes on Tuesday. The number of dead cited by a local pro-democracy group and media go as high as 100. Myanmar's military has reportedly confirmed the airstrikes without commenting on the number of people killed in its offensive against its own people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/420-elon-musk-sets-final-date-for-removing-twitter-legacy-blue-checks-581500">'4/20': Elon Musk sets final date for removing Twitter legacy Blue checks</a>

 
<img alt="Musk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c0e96b51-ec85-401c-921d-f14aa59ab9e0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-04-12T102357.380.png" />

Twitter owner Elon Musk early Wednesday (April 12) set a final date for removing legacy Blue checks from Twitter accounts verified under the social media giant's previous regime. "Final date for removing legacy Blue checks is 4/20," Musk tweeted.

Pentagon leaks: Will turn every rock to find source of leak, says US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin 
&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pentagon-leaks-will-turn-every-rock-to-find-source-of-leak-says-us-defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-581534/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

United States President Joe Biden landed in Northern Ireland for his four-day visit, where he will show his support for the country's peace and will also attend events which will celebrate his Irish roots.

United States President Joe Biden landed in Northern Ireland for his four-day visit, where he will show his support for the country's peace and will also attend events which will celebrate his Irish roots. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday slightly decreased its global growth projection for 2023-24 from 6.1 per cent to 5.9 per cent, however, it praised the Indian economy. Meanwhile, Twitter's Elon Musk announced the final date for removing legacy Blue checks from verified Twitter accounts. Click on the headline to read more: Joe Biden lands in Northern Ireland, to mark 25 years of Good Friday Agreement United States President Joe Biden has reached Northern Ireland, starting his four-day visit to the island, where he will extend his support for the country's peace and will celebrate his Irish roots. IMF says India 'very strong economy' and one of bright spots globally The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday (April 11) slightly lowered its global growth projection for 2023-24 to 5.9 per cent from 6.1 per cent earlier, but the financial agency has praised the Indian economy. Myanmar military targets 'school children performing dances' in Sagaing; up to 100 feared dead Many dozens of people, including children, are reported to be dead in central Myanmar following the military's airstrikes on Tuesday. The number of dead cited by a local pro-democracy group and media go as high as 100. Myanmar's military has reportedly confirmed the airstrikes without commenting on the number of people killed in its offensive against its own people. '4/20': Elon Musk sets final date for removing Twitter legacy Blue checks Twitter owner Elon Musk early Wednesday (April 12) set a final date for removing legacy Blue checks from Twitter accounts verified under the social media giant's previous regime. "Final date for removing legacy Blue checks is 4/20," Musk tweeted. Pentagon leaks: Will turn every rock to find source of leak, says US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

Morning Brief: Joe Biden reaches Northern Ireland, IMF says India's economy 'very strong', & more

Ina Krisnamurthi, Indonesia's Ambassador to India, has expressed confidence in India's ability to steer the G20 towards more concrete outcomes. Speaking with WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibbal, she said she was "hopeful that India will be able and capable in maneuvering global dynamics and to more concrete deliverables..".&nbsp;

Indonesia was the previous chair of the mega economic grouping and handed over the Presidency during last year's G20 Summit in Bali.

The ambassador also praised India's efforts in hosting a diverse range of guests and commended the country for its efforts so far. India has already hosted G20 finance and foreign ministers' meetings and will be hosting the G20 Summit in September. This is India's first time as the chair of the G20 since the grouping started meeting at summit level in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see the presidency of the G20 grouping?

Ambassador Krisnamurthi: I think, first and foremost, I would like to commend and congratulate India so far. Hosting such an extensive and variety of guests coming to India is not easy. So logistically it is unbelievably successful for India to host such extensive meetings. Secondly, on whatever happens in the meeting rooms, I believe G20 is still a prime economic forum for everyone to have it as an avenue of dialogue and discussion. Because if there is no G20, maybe the room for discussion or dialogue will be small.

Watch | Indonesia's envoy Ina H Krisnamurthi speaks to WION on India's G20 presidency

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indonesias-envoy-ina-h-krisnamurthi-speaks-to-wion-on-the-indias-g20-presidency-581785/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

WION: When Indonesia was the president of the grouping last year, the geopolitical crisis, the conflict had a shadow on it. This time around as well we are witnessing that especially after no joint statements after the foreign and finance ministers meeting. How do you see the divide between 18 countries and the two countries, who are of course not keen on the presence of the Bali paras in the joint declaration now?

Ambassador Krisnamurthi: Yeah, I think we need not focus so much on the pessimism of past meetings during the four months because we need to look at G20 or any diplomatic engagement as a process. It's not a one-off process. So we need to see what is going to happen until the summit and we are so hopeful that India will be able and capable in manoeuvring these global dynamics to more concrete deliverables.

WION: How did Indonesia bridge the divide between Russia and Ukraine during its presidency of the G 20?

Ambassador Krisnamurthi: We bridge the division by giving the room for dialogue and deliberation and I think so far that is what India has done, to give room for deliberation, which means many bilateral rooms are there, logistically, but time is also given to those who want to exchange views outside the G20 format. So I think there is a room of optimism, room of hope to achieve something concrete in G20 India.

WION: India will be hosting many meetings including in Jammu and Kashmir. Will you be attending the meeting in Jammu and Kashmir?

Ambassador Krisnamurthi: For Indonesia, well, the ambassador is a representative of the capital. We are instructed by the capital. But for Jammu Kashmir meetings, we have not received any instruction. So we will wait until the instruction is there.

WION: And finally, my question is on the bilateral aspect of the relationship. How is the bilateral relationship going forward? We have seen a lot of ideas including connectivity between Ache and Andaman, how do you see that?

Ambassador Krisnamurthi: So, the bilateral engagements are, I think, increasing. Last year we've had more than five ministers level meetings. This year already in April, we have had three ministers. So, I think we are in a good good way, forward in terms of improving our relationship politically and economically.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Ina Krisnamurthi, Indonesia's Ambassador to India, has expressed confidence in India's ability to steer the G20 towards more concrete outcomes. Speaking with WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibbal, she said she was "hopeful that India will be able and capable in maneuvering global dynamics and to more concrete deliverables.

Ina Krisnamurthi, Indonesia's Ambassador to India, has expressed confidence in India's ability to steer the G20 towards more concrete outcomes. Speaking with WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibbal, she said she was "hopeful that India will be able and capable in maneuvering global dynamics and to more concrete deliverables..". Indonesia was the previous chair of the mega economic grouping and handed over the Presidency during last year's G20 Summit in Bali. The ambassador also praised India's efforts in hosting a diverse range of guests and commended the country for its efforts so far. India has already hosted G20 finance and foreign ministers' meetings and will be hosting the G20 Summit in September. This is India's first time as the chair of the G20 since the grouping started meeting at summit level in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008. WION: How do you see the presidency of the G20 grouping? Ambassador Krisnamurthi: I think, first and foremost, I would like to commend and congratulate India so far. Hosting such an extensive and variety of guests coming to India is not easy. So logistically it is unbelievably successful for India to host such extensive meetings. Secondly, on whatever happens in the meeting rooms, I believe G20 is still a prime economic forum for everyone to have it as an avenue of dialogue and discussion. Because if there is no G20, maybe the room for discussion or dialogue will be small. Watch | Indonesia's envoy Ina H Krisnamurthi speaks to WION on India's G20 presidency × WION: When Indonesia was the president of the grouping last year, the geopolitical crisis, the conflict had a shadow on it. This time around as well we are witnessing that especially after no joint statements after the foreign and finance ministers meeting. How do you see the divide between 18 countries and the two countries, who are of course not keen on the presence of the Bali paras in the joint declaration now? Ambassador Krisnamurthi: Yeah, I think we need not focus so much on the pessimism of past meetings during the four months because we need to look at G20 or any diplomatic engagement as a process. It's not a one-off process. So we need to see what is going to happen until the summit and we are so hopeful that India will be able and capable in manoeuvring these global dynamics to more concrete deliverables. WION: How did Indonesia bridge the divide between Russia and Ukraine during its presidency of the G 20? Ambassador Krisnamurthi: We bridge the division by giving the room for dialogue and deliberation and I think so far that is what India has done, to give room for deliberation, which means many bilateral rooms are there, logistically, but time is also given to those who want to exchange views outside the G20 format. So I think there is a room of optimism, room of hope to achieve something concrete in G20 India. WION: India will be hosting many meetings including in Jammu and Kashmir. Will you be attending the meeting in Jammu and Kashmir? Ambassador Krisnamurthi: For Indonesia, well, the ambassador is a representative of the capital. We are instructed by the capital. But for Jammu Kashmir meetings, we have not received any instruction. So we will wait until the instruction is there. WION: And finally, my question is on the bilateral aspect of the relationship. How is the bilateral relationship going forward? We have seen a lot of ideas including connectivity between Ache and Andaman, how do you see that? Ambassador Krisnamurthi: So, the bilateral engagements are, I think, increasing. Last year we've had more than five ministers level meetings. This year already in April, we have had three ministers. So, I think we are in a good good way, forward in terms of improving our relationship politically and economically. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Indonesian ambassador optimistic about concrete outcomes during Indian presidency of G20

India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market.&nbsp;

The PLI scheme has been one of the brightest working ideas to have come out of the NDA administration in India. Sitharaman pointed out that the scheme covers 13 manufacturing sectors, including semiconductors, which are bringing global value chains into India.

"By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand," said Sitharaman.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-strongly-condems-the-western-perception-of-india-581266">WATCH |&nbsp;Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Western perception of India</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-strongly-condems-the-western-perception-of-india-581266/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h2>Smartphone exports from India</h2>

The finance minister cited the example of how mobile-phone manufacturing in India in 2014 (the year when the Narendra Modi government came to power) stood at abysmally lower levels. However, through the clever use of the PLI scheme, India has grown to become one of the world's biggest exporters of smartphones.&nbsp;

Notably, the data showed that India's mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion in the first two months of 2023 alone. The numbers were driven mainly by Apple and Samsung — the two smartphone giants. Cumulatively, the total smartphone export stood at over $9 billion since April last year.&nbsp;

India’s mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion (over Rs 16,500 crore) in the first two months of 2023, driven mainly by Apple and Samsung, taking the total export value to over $9 billion since April 2022.&nbsp;

Apart from smartphones, the PLI scheme has been launched for pharmaceutical, automobile,&nbsp;textile, food products, solar modules,&nbsp;telecom and networking products, advanced chemistry cell batteries, white goods, and speciality steel amongst others.&nbsp;

Sitharaman is currently&nbsp;on a weeklong trip to the US to attend International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings. She alongside India's central bank governor&nbsp; Shaktikanta&nbsp;Das will co-chair the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-arrives-in-us-for-week-long-visit-will-attend-spring-meetings-of-world-bank-imf-581040">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Indian FM Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for week-long visit; will attend Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF</a>

The earlier&nbsp;FMCBG meeting was held in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru in February and centred around the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Reflecting on the meeting, Sitharaman said, “It&nbsp;is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues.”

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market.

India is eyeing to present itself as an alternative to China in the global supply chains, according to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, USA, Sitharaman said India was planning to take on China through the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the growth of its domestic consumer market. The PLI scheme has been one of the brightest working ideas to have come out of the NDA administration in India. Sitharaman pointed out that the scheme covers 13 manufacturing sectors, including semiconductors, which are bringing global value chains into India. "By doing that, we hope to have production of many of these large, bulk-manufactured goods which can go from India to meet both international and local demand," said Sitharaman. WATCH | Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman STRONGLY CONDEMNS the Western perception of India × Smartphone exports from India The finance minister cited the example of how mobile-phone manufacturing in India in 2014 (the year when the Narendra Modi government came to power) stood at abysmally lower levels. However, through the clever use of the PLI scheme, India has grown to become one of the world's biggest exporters of smartphones. Notably, the data showed that India's mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion in the first two months of 2023 alone. The numbers were driven mainly by Apple and Samsung — the two smartphone giants. Cumulatively, the total smartphone export stood at over $9 billion since April last year. India’s mobile phone exports crossed $2 billion (over Rs 16,500 crore) in the first two months of 2023, driven mainly by Apple and Samsung, taking the total export value to over $9 billion since April 2022. Apart from smartphones, the PLI scheme has been launched for pharmaceutical, automobile, textile, food products, solar modules, telecom and networking products, advanced chemistry cell batteries, white goods, and speciality steel amongst others. Sitharaman is currently on a weeklong trip to the US to attend International Monetary Fund and World Bank's spring meetings. She alongside India's central bank governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. ALSO READ | Indian FM Nirmala Sitharaman arrives in US for week-long visit; will attend Spring Meetings of World Bank, IMF The earlier FMCBG meeting was held in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru in February and centred around the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Reflecting on the meeting, Sitharaman said, “It is a great opportunity for India to prove and to work towards bringing all countries together on substantive issues.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India aims to take China’s place in global supply chain through PLI scheme: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

A school in India's national capital Delhi was evacuated on Wednesday (April 12) for a security check after the school administration received a bomb threat in its email and promptly alerted the police and authorities.

The bomb disposal squad reached ‘The Indian School’ which is located in South Delhi’s Sadiq Nagar and checked the premises thoroughly after the evacuation, only to conclude that the threat&nbsp;“appears to be a hoax”.&nbsp;

DCP Chandan Chaudhary said that BDS, BDT, and SWAT teams conducted thorough checking of the school premises after evacuating it.&nbsp;“At 10:50 am, the school received a bomb threat via e-mail. We evacuated all the students. We deployed BDT and BDS teams. We informed the Special Cell and Special Branch. We have done a visual search with the SWAT team,” she said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | SWAT team arrives at the school in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar where an email regarding a bomb threat was received. <a href="https://t.co/qtJ3x9VlDs">pic.twitter.com/qtJ3x9VlDs</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1646070869985464320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

According to&nbsp;the police, after the school authorities received the email,&nbsp;the school administration immediately called the police and contacted the parents to pick up their children. 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar received an bomb threat via email. As a precautionary measure, the school has been vacated. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad informed: Delhi police 
 
More details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/p6DKKeSXsl">pic.twitter.com/p6DKKeSXsl</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1646044695385067521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-government-school-teachers-to-be-stationed-at-airport-on-covid-duty-546801">Delhi government school teachers to be stationed at airport on Covid duty</a>

In a message to the parents, the administration stated, “On account of some unexpected security reasons, we are having to close school early. Kindly arrange to pick up your ward as per details...Front Gate…self pickup…Back gate van users. School will resume as usual tomorrow.”

The police said that the school was evacuated as a precautionary measure. The video from outside the gate of the school showed a huge crowd of parents eagerly waiting for the children.

"We received a message from the school asking us to bring our children home," said one of the parents.

WATCH |&nbsp;India: Sanskrit and Lithuanian words adorn the school wall in Delhi

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-sanskrit-and-lithuanian-words-adorn-the-school-wall-in-delhi-576319/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In November 2022, a similar email was received by the school. The police said that the students were then evacuated from the school premises and the threat was later found to be a hoax.

“This is not the first time the school admin received a bomb threat. Last year in November, the admin received a similar email from an unknown sender. That was a hoax email. Our teams are at the spot with Bomb Disposal Sqaud and dog squad,” said DCP (South) Chandan Chowdhary, speaking on the bomb threat. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>. 
 
&nbsp;

<main>
<section>
WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</section>
</main>

A school in India's national capital Delhi was evacuated on Wednesday (April 12) for a security check after the school administration received a bomb threat in its email and promptly alerted the police and authorities.

A school in India's national capital Delhi was evacuated on Wednesday (April 12) for a security check after the school administration received a bomb threat in its email and promptly alerted the police and authorities. The bomb disposal squad reached ‘The Indian School’ which is located in South Delhi’s Sadiq Nagar and checked the premises thoroughly after the evacuation, only to conclude that the threat “appears to be a hoax”. DCP Chandan Chaudhary said that BDS, BDT, and SWAT teams conducted thorough checking of the school premises after evacuating it. “At 10:50 am, the school received a bomb threat via e-mail. We evacuated all the students. We deployed BDT and BDS teams. We informed the Special Cell and Special Branch. We have done a visual search with the SWAT team,” she said. #WATCH | SWAT team arrives at the school in Delhi's Sadiq Nagar where an email regarding a bomb threat was received. pic.twitter.com/qtJ3x9VlDs — ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2023 × According to the police, after the school authorities received the email, the school administration immediately called the police and contacted the parents to pick up their children. The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar received an bomb threat via email. As a precautionary measure, the school has been vacated. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad informed: Delhi police More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/p6DKKeSXsl — ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2023 × ALSO READ | Delhi government school teachers to be stationed at airport on Covid duty In a message to the parents, the administration stated, “On account of some unexpected security reasons, we are having to close school early. Kindly arrange to pick up your ward as per details...Front Gate…self pickup…Back gate van users. School will resume as usual tomorrow.” The police said that the school was evacuated as a precautionary measure. The video from outside the gate of the school showed a huge crowd of parents eagerly waiting for the children. "We received a message from the school asking us to bring our children home," said one of the parents. WATCH | India: Sanskrit and Lithuanian words adorn the school wall in Delhi In November 2022, a similar email was received by the school. The police said that the students were then evacuated from the school premises and the threat was later found to be a hoax. “This is not the first time the school admin received a bomb threat. Last year in November, the admin received a similar email from an unknown sender. That was a hoax email. Our teams are at the spot with Bomb Disposal Sqaud and dog squad,” said DCP (South) Chandan Chowdhary, speaking on the bomb threat. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: School in Delhi receives bomb threat on e-mail, evacuated; turns out hoax

Apple is preparing to open its first retail store in India next week in a move that is being seen as symbolic of the importance the tech giant attaches to world's fastest growing smartphone market. Apple will open its first official store in Mumbai on April 18 and then in Delhi on April 20.

At present, the company sells its product in the country through exclusive Apple Premium Reseller (APR) stores along with large chains like Reliance Digital, Croma, etc and e-commerce websites.

"Today Apple announced it will open its doors to customers at two new retail locations in India: Apple BKC in Mumbai on April 18, and Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20," the company said.

Watch | IDC: Apple PC shipments fall over 40% YOY

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/idc-apple-pc-shipments-fall-over-40-yoy-581256/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The barricade for Apple Saket in Delhi was revealed this morning and features a unique design that takes inspiration from Delhi's many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the city's storied past, Apple said.

In celebration of the first Apple store opening in India, Apple BKC announced a special Today at Apple series "Mumbai Rising" running from opening day through the summer.

"Bringing visitors, local artists, and creatives together, these sessions will offer hands-on activities with Apple's products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai," it said.

As per Cybertmedia Research (CMR) quoted by PTI, Apple has a market share of 4 per cent with year-on-year increase of 17 per cent in 2022.

CMR, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, Prabhu Ram said offline retail is a critical touchpoint in India, especially for a majority of Indian consumers who love to touch, feel and explore the products, before making their device purchase considerations.

"For Apple, the Apple BKC and Apple Saket flagship stores are pivotal to turbocharge Apple's future growth in a strategic market. Apple's retail stores globally set a standard in terms of consumer experience, staff knowledge and expertise, and the service standards, beyond products," Ram said.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Apple is preparing to open its first retail store in India next week in a move that is being seen as symbolic of the importance the tech giant attaches to world's fastest growing smartphone market.

Apple is preparing to open its first retail store in India next week in a move that is being seen as symbolic of the importance the tech giant attaches to world's fastest growing smartphone market. Apple will open its first official store in Mumbai on April 18 and then in Delhi on April 20. At present, the company sells its product in the country through exclusive Apple Premium Reseller (APR) stores along with large chains like Reliance Digital, Croma, etc and e-commerce websites. "Today Apple announced it will open its doors to customers at two new retail locations in India: Apple BKC in Mumbai on April 18, and Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20," the company said. Watch | IDC: Apple PC shipments fall over 40% YOY × The barricade for Apple Saket in Delhi was revealed this morning and features a unique design that takes inspiration from Delhi's many gates, each signifying a new chapter to the city's storied past, Apple said. In celebration of the first Apple store opening in India, Apple BKC announced a special Today at Apple series "Mumbai Rising" running from opening day through the summer. "Bringing visitors, local artists, and creatives together, these sessions will offer hands-on activities with Apple's products and services that celebrate the local community and culture in Mumbai," it said. As per Cybertmedia Research (CMR) quoted by PTI, Apple has a market share of 4 per cent with year-on-year increase of 17 per cent in 2022. CMR, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, Prabhu Ram said offline retail is a critical touchpoint in India, especially for a majority of Indian consumers who love to touch, feel and explore the products, before making their device purchase considerations. "For Apple, the Apple BKC and Apple Saket flagship stores are pivotal to turbocharge Apple's future growth in a strategic market. Apple's retail stores globally set a standard in terms of consumer experience, staff knowledge and expertise, and the service standards, beyond products," Ram said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Apple prepares to open first official store in India next week

The High Court in the Indian city of Calcutta, in a recent ruling, said a man can file a divorce petition if forced to separate from his parents by his wife. This comes after the two-judge bench said that a son living with his parents is “absolutely normal in Indian culture and ethos,” reported Times of India.&nbsp;

The division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar of the High Court of Calcutta, as per media reports, allowed the filing of an appeal based on mental cruelty if he was forced to stay away from his parents for no genuine reason.&nbsp;

The over-a-decade-old case involved Prashant Kumar Mandal and his wife Jharna who filed for a divorce in 2009, eight years after the couple got married and&nbsp;it was granted by the West Midnapore family court. However, Jharna went on to file an appeal with the High Court challenging the cruel grounds of her divorce decree.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/runaway-bride-with-a-bang-woman-fires-gun-at-own-wedding-on-the-run-fearing-arrest-580937">Runaway bride with a bang: Woman fires gun at own wedding, on the run fearing arrest</a>

Additionally, Jharna reportedly had publicly insulted Prashant, calling him “unemployed” and a “coward”, which is what the family court had based their decision on. As per media reports, at the time Prashant was teaching part-time schools as well as conducting private tuitions. However, his income was not sufficient to support the family and asked Jharna who was earning Rs. 1,400 ($17.05) per month to help out, reported the TOI.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-police-officer-places-order-on-e-com-firm-his-details-get-leaked-to-scammers-581276">India: Police officer places order on e-com firm, his details get leaked to scammers</a>

The verdict was announced on March 31, earlier this year, during which the bench also noted that the “Indian culture nurtures the concept of a pious obligation of the son to maintain his parents. If a wife attempts to deviate the son from society’s normal practice and normal custom, she must have some justifiable reason for that.”

It added, “The wife wanted the husband to get separated from his family. It is not common practice for a son in India to get separated from his parents at the instance of the wife,” as per TOI. Therefore, the bench opined that the desire to have a separate residence with her husband and away from her in-laws was not based on “justifiable reasons” and “amounts to cruelty”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virtual-news-presenter-generated-using-artificial-intelligence-for-kuwaiti-media-outlet-581243">Virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence for Kuwaiti media outlet</a>

They also went on to call her supposed persistent effort to separate the man from his family “torturous”. “Normally no husband would tolerate such acts of wife, and no son would like to be separated from his parents and other family members,” the bench opined, as per the TOI.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

The High Court in the Indian city of Calcutta, in a recent ruling, said a man can file a divorce petition if forced to separate from his parents by his wife. This comes after the two-judge bench said that a son living with his parents is “absolutely normal in Indian culture and ethos,” reported Times of India.

The High Court in the Indian city of Calcutta, in a recent ruling, said a man can file a divorce petition if forced to separate from his parents by his wife. This comes after the two-judge bench said that a son living with his parents is “absolutely normal in Indian culture and ethos,” reported Times of India. The division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar of the High Court of Calcutta, as per media reports, allowed the filing of an appeal based on mental cruelty if he was forced to stay away from his parents for no genuine reason. The over-a-decade-old case involved Prashant Kumar Mandal and his wife Jharna who filed for a divorce in 2009, eight years after the couple got married and it was granted by the West Midnapore family court. However, Jharna went on to file an appeal with the High Court challenging the cruel grounds of her divorce decree. ALSO READ | Runaway bride with a bang: Woman fires gun at own wedding, on the run fearing arrest Additionally, Jharna reportedly had publicly insulted Prashant, calling him “unemployed” and a “coward”, which is what the family court had based their decision on. As per media reports, at the time Prashant was teaching part-time schools as well as conducting private tuitions. However, his income was not sufficient to support the family and asked Jharna who was earning Rs. 1,400 ($17.05) per month to help out, reported the TOI. ALSO READ | India: Police officer places order on e-com firm, his details get leaked to scammers The verdict was announced on March 31, earlier this year, during which the bench also noted that the “Indian culture nurtures the concept of a pious obligation of the son to maintain his parents. If a wife attempts to deviate the son from society’s normal practice and normal custom, she must have some justifiable reason for that.” It added, “The wife wanted the husband to get separated from his family. It is not common practice for a son in India to get separated from his parents at the instance of the wife,” as per TOI. Therefore, the bench opined that the desire to have a separate residence with her husband and away from her in-laws was not based on “justifiable reasons” and “amounts to cruelty”. ALSO READ | Virtual news presenter generated using artificial intelligence for Kuwaiti media outlet They also went on to call her supposed persistent effort to separate the man from his family “torturous”. “Normally no husband would tolerate such acts of wife, and no son would like to be separated from his parents and other family members,” the bench opined, as per the TOI. 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.

Forcing husband to leave parents is mental cruelty, ground for divorce: Indian court

India is gearing up to conduct the first trial run of the underwater metro train in Kolkata. Under West Bengal's Hooghly River, tunnels have been constructed for the trial.

Two tunnels have been constructed between the East-West Metro Corridor, which connects Sector V in Salt Lake to Howrah Maidan, beneath the Hooghly.

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) had scheduled a Sunday trial run on one part of this route, however, the officials abruptly postponed it.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-flagged-off-mumbai-metro-new-line-inaugurates-projects-worth-rs38800-cr-554122">PM Modi inaugurates two new Mumbai Metro Lines, projects in Maharashtra</a>

The corporation stated that they will soon conduct the trial run. In the trial run, a metro train having two to six coaches will travel the 4.8 km-long stretches between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan.

In 1984, the first metro in the nation was also inaugurated in Kolkata city. The metro started running in New Delhi in 2002, much later than in Kolkata.

The metro train will run at a speed of 80km/h in the tunnels carved out from the Hooghly riverbed. It will take less than a minute to cover the passage beneath the river.

The 16 km long rail route has underground sections spread over 10.8 km length. The part of the river, which is downstream, is also included.

The metro train will be 13 metres beneath the Hooghly River’s bed and the Howrah metro station will be 33 deep, making it the deepest station in the country. The tunnel will have exists for emergencies like earthquakes.

Approximately, 157 crores have been spent per kilometre to construct an underwater tunnel inside the Hooghly River.

According to the report, the commercial service's commencement will depend on the success of the trials. The KMRC had earlier stated that India's first underwater metro service, called the East-West Metro Corridor project, is likely to get completed by December 2023.

KMRC General Manager Civil Shailesh Kumar said, “The ongoing underwater tunnel project is likely to be completed by December 2023. Some rehabilitation works are in process and other issues are delaying the completion of the underwater metro project.”

The East-West corridor of Kolkata Metro is 15 kilometres long and stretches from Howrah to Salt Lake City Stadium.

WATCH | India: Metro lines a game changer for Mumbai traffic

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-metro-lines-a-game-changer-for-mumbai-traffic-574762/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Along the metro route from Salt Lake Sector 5 to Salt Lake Stadium, the metro stations will be present at Karunamayee, Central Park, City Centre and Bengal Chemical.

Esplanade station, which falls in the Kolkata Metro’s North-South line, will be linked by the railway stations in Sealdah and Howarah under the project.

The underwater metro of India has been compared to the Eurostar, which connects Paris and London.

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India is gearing up to conduct the first trial run of the underwater metro train in Kolkata. Under West Bengal's Hooghly River, tunnels have been constructed for the trial.

India is gearing up to conduct the first trial run of the underwater metro train in Kolkata. Under West Bengal's Hooghly River, tunnels have been constructed for the trial. Two tunnels have been constructed between the East-West Metro Corridor, which connects Sector V in Salt Lake to Howrah Maidan, beneath the Hooghly. The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) had scheduled a Sunday trial run on one part of this route, however, the officials abruptly postponed it. ALSO READ | PM Modi inaugurates two new Mumbai Metro Lines, projects in Maharashtra The corporation stated that they will soon conduct the trial run. In the trial run, a metro train having two to six coaches will travel the 4.8 km-long stretches between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan. In 1984, the first metro in the nation was also inaugurated in Kolkata city. The metro started running in New Delhi in 2002, much later than in Kolkata. The metro train will run at a speed of 80km/h in the tunnels carved out from the Hooghly riverbed. It will take less than a minute to cover the passage beneath the river. The 16 km long rail route has underground sections spread over 10.8 km length. The part of the river, which is downstream, is also included. The metro train will be 13 metres beneath the Hooghly River’s bed and the Howrah metro station will be 33 deep, making it the deepest station in the country. The tunnel will have exists for emergencies like earthquakes. Approximately, 157 crores have been spent per kilometre to construct an underwater tunnel inside the Hooghly River. According to the report, the commercial service's commencement will depend on the success of the trials. The KMRC had earlier stated that India's first underwater metro service, called the East-West Metro Corridor project, is likely to get completed by December 2023. KMRC General Manager Civil Shailesh Kumar said, “The ongoing underwater tunnel project is likely to be completed by December 2023. Some rehabilitation works are in process and other issues are delaying the completion of the underwater metro project.” The East-West corridor of Kolkata Metro is 15 kilometres long and stretches from Howrah to Salt Lake City Stadium. WATCH | India: Metro lines a game changer for Mumbai traffic Along the metro route from Salt Lake Sector 5 to Salt Lake Stadium, the metro stations will be present at Karunamayee, Central Park, City Centre and Bengal Chemical. Esplanade station, which falls in the Kolkata Metro’s North-South line, will be linked by the railway stations in Sealdah and Howarah under the project. The underwater metro of India has been compared to the Eurostar, which connects Paris and London. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India to soon conduct trial run of its first underwater metro

Adani Power Limited (APL) said that it has started supplying electricity to Bangladesh as it announced the commissioning of its first of the two 800 MW thermal power generation units in the eastern Jharkhand district of India.&nbsp;

The unit at Godda region is presently supplying 748MW of power to the neighbouring country as part of a wider agreement to provide 1,496MW net capacity power. &nbsp;

The second 800MW thermal plant is expected to be commissioned soon, as it has been delayed due to pandemic and non-completion of the transmission infrastructure in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had entered into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL’s wholly-owned subsidiary&nbsp;Adani&nbsp;Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) in November 2017 to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda.&nbsp;

On Sunday, APL, India’s largest power producer, in a statement said that the electricity supplied from Godda will significantly improve the situation in Bangladesh as it will replace expensive power generated from liquid fuel, bringing down the average cost of power purchased.&nbsp;

Bangladesh is undergoing an electricity crunch and depends mostly on gas and diesel-fired electricity with high tariffs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Godda Power Plant is composed of two units of the latest technology available in the world, which is “Ultra Super Critical Technology" equipped with latest techniques for controlling emissions and consumption of coal and water, the company claims.&nbsp;

In order to reduce emission and adhere to the lasts environment norms, the company said it has installed Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). &nbsp;

The plant is going to be one its kind in India and in Bangladesh, operating on the latest environment emission norms, the company said.&nbsp;

Adani Power CEO SB Khyalia in a press release said that the power supply would make the industries and ecosystem more competitive in Bangladesh. &nbsp;

Khyalia said it is the first power plant in the country that started its operations from Day 1 with 100 per cent flue gas desulphurisation, selective catalytic reduction and zero-water discharge. &nbsp;

"The Godda power plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladesh's&nbsp;long-standing relationship," Khyalia said.

Adani&nbsp;Power has an installed thermal power capacity of 13,610 MW spread across seven power plants in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, apart from a 40 MW solar power plant in Gujarat.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Adani Power Limited (APL) said that it has started supplying electricity to Bangladesh as it announced the commissioning of its first of the two 800 MW thermal power generation units in the eastern Jharkhand district of India.

Adani Power Limited (APL) said that it has started supplying electricity to Bangladesh as it announced the commissioning of its first of the two 800 MW thermal power generation units in the eastern Jharkhand district of India. The unit at Godda region is presently supplying 748MW of power to the neighbouring country as part of a wider agreement to provide 1,496MW net capacity power. The second 800MW thermal plant is expected to be commissioned soon, as it has been delayed due to pandemic and non-completion of the transmission infrastructure in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had entered into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with APL’s wholly-owned subsidiary Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) in November 2017 to procure 1,496 MW net capacity power from 2X800 MW ultra-supercritical power project at Godda. On Sunday, APL, India’s largest power producer, in a statement said that the electricity supplied from Godda will significantly improve the situation in Bangladesh as it will replace expensive power generated from liquid fuel, bringing down the average cost of power purchased. Bangladesh is undergoing an electricity crunch and depends mostly on gas and diesel-fired electricity with high tariffs. The Godda Power Plant is composed of two units of the latest technology available in the world, which is “Ultra Super Critical Technology" equipped with latest techniques for controlling emissions and consumption of coal and water, the company claims. In order to reduce emission and adhere to the lasts environment norms, the company said it has installed Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). The plant is going to be one its kind in India and in Bangladesh, operating on the latest environment emission norms, the company said. Adani Power CEO SB Khyalia in a press release said that the power supply would make the industries and ecosystem more competitive in Bangladesh. Khyalia said it is the first power plant in the country that started its operations from Day 1 with 100 per cent flue gas desulphurisation, selective catalytic reduction and zero-water discharge. "The Godda power plant is a strategic asset in the India-Bangladesh's long-standing relationship," Khyalia said. Adani Power has an installed thermal power capacity of 13,610 MW spread across seven power plants in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, apart from a 40 MW solar power plant in Gujarat. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India’s Adani Group starts supplying electricity to Bangladesh 

Twitter owner Elon Musk started following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. In the list of 195 people Musk follows, PM Modi's name appeared on Monday.

The screenshot of the list shared on the microblogging platform soon gained traction. Around 134.3 million people follow Musk, which makes him the most followed person on Twitter.

<img alt="screenshot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="079e92ae-381d-4eac-9aef-e3775358d28e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-04-10T174215.103.png" />

The feat was achieved by him in late March as he surpassed former US President Barack Obama.

With more than 87.7 million followers, PM Modi is one of the most followed political leaders on Twitter. The news about the update in the list of Musk's followers was shared on Twitter by "Elon Alerts", which constantly monitors the activity of the account owned by the Tesla chief.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Elon Musk is now following Narendra Modi (<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>)
— ELON ALERTS (@elon_alerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/elon_alerts/status/1645299269195247618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The recent development sparked a new debate on Twitter as some users hoped that this was a sign of the arrival of Tesla in India.

"What made Elon Musk to follow Narendra Modi of India? Can we expect a factory there $TSLA. Let's see," quizzed one user while reacting to the news.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What made Elon Musk to follow Narendra Modi of India⁉️ 
 
Can we expect a factory there <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24TSLA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$TSLA</a> 
 
Let’s see <a href="https://t.co/3SRwS2FuJH">https://t.co/3SRwS2FuJH</a> <a href="https://t.co/QXTSQhLfa2">pic.twitter.com/QXTSQhLfa2</a>
— Technosmith (@itechnosmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/itechnosmith/status/1645323647614066688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Previously, Musk had stated that electric cars will not be manufactured by Tesla in India unless it is permitted to first sell and service them locally.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/matt-taibbi-and-elon-musk-split-what-is-the-substack-twitter-rivalry-580584">Matt Taibbi and Elon Musk split. What is the Substack-Twitter rivalry?</a>

Indian Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, on the other hand, had stated that the government will only allow Tesla to sell cars in India if it is manufacturing electric vehicles in the country.

Few users stated that efforts are being made by PM Modi to make India a better country.

"Thanks Elon Musk! As our PM Modiji is taking efforts to make our country better, prosperous, progressive &amp; improve people' lives, Elon Musk is also striving for making world sane, wokism free, assuring good society &amp; better future life for today's children. Wish both best wishes!" commented a user.

WATCH | Elon Musk loses world's richest crown after Tesla shares fall 50% | World Business News | WION

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/elon-musk-loses-worlds-richest-crown-after-tesla-shares-fall-50-world-business-news-wion-579672/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As per a report published by the Guinness World Records Twitter has 450 million monthly active users approximately, which reflects that 30 per cent of total Twitter users are following Musk.

In October 2022, Musk took charge of Twitter. At that time, he had around 110 million users. In five months, the following increased to 133 million.

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Twitter owner Elon Musk started following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. In the list of 195 people Musk follows, PM Modi's name appeared on Monday.

Twitter owner Elon Musk started following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. In the list of 195 people Musk follows, PM Modi's name appeared on Monday. The screenshot of the list shared on the microblogging platform soon gained traction. Around 134.3 million people follow Musk, which makes him the most followed person on Twitter. The feat was achieved by him in late March as he surpassed former US President Barack Obama. With more than 87.7 million followers, PM Modi is one of the most followed political leaders on Twitter. The news about the update in the list of Musk's followers was shared on Twitter by "Elon Alerts", which constantly monitors the activity of the account owned by the Tesla chief. Elon Musk is now following Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) — ELON ALERTS (@elon_alerts) April 10, 2023 × The recent development sparked a new debate on Twitter as some users hoped that this was a sign of the arrival of Tesla in India. "What made Elon Musk to follow Narendra Modi of India? Can we expect a factory there $TSLA. Let's see," quizzed one user while reacting to the news. What made Elon Musk to follow Narendra Modi of India⁉️ Can we expect a factory there $TSLA Let’s see https://t.co/3SRwS2FuJH pic.twitter.com/QXTSQhLfa2 — Technosmith (@itechnosmith) April 10, 2023 × Previously, Musk had stated that electric cars will not be manufactured by Tesla in India unless it is permitted to first sell and service them locally. ALSO READ | Matt Taibbi and Elon Musk split. What is the Substack-Twitter rivalry? Indian Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, on the other hand, had stated that the government will only allow Tesla to sell cars in India if it is manufacturing electric vehicles in the country. Few users stated that efforts are being made by PM Modi to make India a better country. "Thanks Elon Musk! As our PM Modiji is taking efforts to make our country better, prosperous, progressive & improve people' lives, Elon Musk is also striving for making world sane, wokism free, assuring good society & better future life for today's children. Wish both best wishes!" commented a user. WATCH | Elon Musk loses world's richest crown after Tesla shares fall 50% | World Business News | WION As per a report published by the Guinness World Records Twitter has 450 million monthly active users approximately, which reflects that 30 per cent of total Twitter users are following Musk. In October 2022, Musk took charge of Twitter. At that time, he had around 110 million users. In five months, the following increased to 133 million. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Elon Musk starts following Narendra Modi on Twitter, users wonder if Tesla's India days lie ahead

India's digital public infrastructure, one of the biggest success stories of the country, has got a thumbs up from the International Monetary Fund.

While praising India's digital public infrastructure, a recent paper by the IMF noted that the country's digital journey has "lessons for other countries embarking on their own digital transformation."

India's digital public infrastructure, which includes the Aadhar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) -- in other words, digital payments -- and Digilocker (an online storage platform), collectively come under the 'India Stack'.

Together they enable online, paperless, cashless, and privacy-respecting digital access to a variety of public and private services, the paper noted.

The IMF paper, titled 'Stacking up the benefits: lessons from India's digital journey', argued that India's digital infrastructure helped the people during the pandemic.

"India was able to quickly provide support to an impressive share of poor households during the pandemic. In the first months of the pandemic about 87 per cent of poor households received at least one benefit," the paper said.

Thanks to the robust digital infrastructure across India, the Indian government could save an estimated 1.1 per cent of the GDP in expenditure up to March 2021.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-china-to-account-of-half-of-global-growth-in-2023-as-imf-chief-warns-of-sharp-slowdown-579969">India, China to account for half of global growth in 2023, as IMF chief warns of ‘sharp slowdown’</a>

The paper particularly noted how the government pushed for financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan scheme, which provided low-cost zero-balance accounts to millions of poor Indians by linking their accounts to Aadhar.

Under this initiative, 462.5 million bank accounts were opened in both urban and rural areas, as of August 2022.

In addition, 'India Stack' has digitised and simplified Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, which has lowered costs. Banks that use e-KYC lowered their cost of compliance from $12 to 6 cents, the IMF paper said.

And it is not just the banking and finance sector that has benefited from India's digital transformation.

India's digital infrastructure helped overcome logistical challenges during the Covid-19 vaccination process.

"Using a digital backbone allowed India to scale its vaccine delivery quickly and overcome challenges such as large-scale internal migration. The technology underlying CoWIN has been deployed in Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Jamaica to help facilitate their vaccination programmes," the paper noted.

A large part of India's digital infrastructure is centred around digital payments via UPI.

As UPI is interoperable, which means it can be used across multiple platforms, even private players like PhonePe, Google and PayTm have integrated their payment systems with it.

WATCH | IMF Chief: World to grow at 3% for 5 years

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/imf-chief-world-to-grow-at-3-for-5-years-580048/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Digital payments now account for 68 per cent of all payment transactions by volume. Roughly 4.5 million individuals and companies have benefited from easier access to financial services through UPI, the paper noted.

Digitalisation has also supported the formalisation of the Indian economy, where a large section of the population works in the informal sector, the paper added.

<main>
<section>
You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>
</section>
</main>

India's digital public infrastructure, one of the biggest success stories of the country, has got a thumbs up from the International Monetary Fund. While praising India's digital public infrastructure, a recent paper by the IMF noted that the country's digital journey has "lessons for other countries embarking on their own digital transformation.

India's digital public infrastructure, one of the biggest success stories of the country, has got a thumbs up from the International Monetary Fund. While praising India's digital public infrastructure, a recent paper by the IMF noted that the country's digital journey has "lessons for other countries embarking on their own digital transformation." India's digital public infrastructure, which includes the Aadhar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) -- in other words, digital payments -- and Digilocker (an online storage platform), collectively come under the 'India Stack'. Together they enable online, paperless, cashless, and privacy-respecting digital access to a variety of public and private services, the paper noted. The IMF paper, titled 'Stacking up the benefits: lessons from India's digital journey', argued that India's digital infrastructure helped the people during the pandemic. "India was able to quickly provide support to an impressive share of poor households during the pandemic. In the first months of the pandemic about 87 per cent of poor households received at least one benefit," the paper said. Thanks to the robust digital infrastructure across India, the Indian government could save an estimated 1.1 per cent of the GDP in expenditure up to March 2021. ALSO READ | India, China to account for half of global growth in 2023, as IMF chief warns of ‘sharp slowdown’ The paper particularly noted how the government pushed for financial inclusion through the Jan Dhan scheme, which provided low-cost zero-balance accounts to millions of poor Indians by linking their accounts to Aadhar. Under this initiative, 462.5 million bank accounts were opened in both urban and rural areas, as of August 2022. In addition, 'India Stack' has digitised and simplified Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, which has lowered costs. Banks that use e-KYC lowered their cost of compliance from $12 to 6 cents, the IMF paper said. And it is not just the banking and finance sector that has benefited from India's digital transformation. India's digital infrastructure helped overcome logistical challenges during the Covid-19 vaccination process. "Using a digital backbone allowed India to scale its vaccine delivery quickly and overcome challenges such as large-scale internal migration. The technology underlying CoWIN has been deployed in Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Jamaica to help facilitate their vaccination programmes," the paper noted. A large part of India's digital infrastructure is centred around digital payments via UPI. As UPI is interoperable, which means it can be used across multiple platforms, even private players like PhonePe, Google and PayTm have integrated their payment systems with it. WATCH | IMF Chief: World to grow at 3% for 5 years Digital payments now account for 68 per cent of all payment transactions by volume. Roughly 4.5 million individuals and companies have benefited from easier access to financial services through UPI, the paper noted. Digitalisation has also supported the formalisation of the Indian economy, where a large section of the population works in the informal sector, the paper added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

IMF paper hails India's public digital infrastructure

The summer season is around and so is the mango season. To ensure that consumers are able to buy mangoes, even the costly varieties, a seller in the western Indian city of Pune has come up with a&nbsp;novel scheme. The trader is offering&nbsp;Alphonso mangoes on Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) so that people can buy the fruit without burning a big hole in their pockets.

The mango seller named&nbsp;Gaurav Sanas has launched the scheme at his&nbsp;Gurukripa Traders and Fruit Products shop in Pune.&nbsp;Explaining the rationale behind the decision,&nbsp;Sanas said it was done so as to bring back customers after the three-year pandemic.&nbsp;

"After Covid, it was seen that people were losing interest in Alphonso due to its high price. So we started this scheme of offering to sell mangoes on EMI in order to bring back the customers. They can get it on EMI through credit cards and debit cards," Sanas was quoted as saying by ANI.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-german-pilot-project-combines-solar-power-and-fruit-growing-499298">WATCH |&nbsp;WION Climate Tracker | German pilot project combines solar power and fruit growing</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-german-pilot-project-combines-solar-power-and-fruit-growing-499298/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Sanas claimed that his outlet is the first in the country to have explored the EMI option to sell mangoes. He added that if ACs and refrigerators can be brought using EMI, why not fruits?&nbsp;

"We thought if refrigerators, ACs and other appliances can be bought on EMI, why not mangoes? Everyone then can afford mangoes as well," he added.

To be eligible for the scheme, a consumer should have a&nbsp;credit card and buy mangoes worth Rs 5,000 at least. After the mangoes are purchased, the amount will be converted into EMIs of three, six or 12 months - whatever the consumer deems feasible.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-eating-apples-instead-of-potato-chips-linked-to-positive-psychological-well-being-reveals-study-519051">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Eating fruits instead of potato chips linked to positive psychological well-being, reveals study</a>

Sanas added that the price of mangoes at his shop ranged anywhere between Rs 600-1300 per dozen. Notably, four customers have already availed the EMI facility to buy the mangoes.&nbsp;

Alphonso mangoes also known as Hapus originated in India and are widely regarded as the top variety for their succulent taste and texture. Their high demand leads to an increase in price leaving many people no choice but to pass on the opportunity to devour their taste.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The summer season is around and so is the mango season. To ensure that consumers are able to buy mangoes, even the costly varieties, a seller in the western Indian city of Pune has come up with a novel scheme.

The summer season is around and so is the mango season. To ensure that consumers are able to buy mangoes, even the costly varieties, a seller in the western Indian city of Pune has come up with a novel scheme. The trader is offering Alphonso mangoes on Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) so that people can buy the fruit without burning a big hole in their pockets. The mango seller named Gaurav Sanas has launched the scheme at his Gurukripa Traders and Fruit Products shop in Pune. Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Sanas said it was done so as to bring back customers after the three-year pandemic. "After Covid, it was seen that people were losing interest in Alphonso due to its high price. So we started this scheme of offering to sell mangoes on EMI in order to bring back the customers. They can get it on EMI through credit cards and debit cards," Sanas was quoted as saying by ANI. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker | German pilot project combines solar power and fruit growing × Sanas claimed that his outlet is the first in the country to have explored the EMI option to sell mangoes. He added that if ACs and refrigerators can be brought using EMI, why not fruits? "We thought if refrigerators, ACs and other appliances can be bought on EMI, why not mangoes? Everyone then can afford mangoes as well," he added. To be eligible for the scheme, a consumer should have a credit card and buy mangoes worth Rs 5,000 at least. After the mangoes are purchased, the amount will be converted into EMIs of three, six or 12 months - whatever the consumer deems feasible. ALSO READ | Eating fruits instead of potato chips linked to positive psychological well-being, reveals study Sanas added that the price of mangoes at his shop ranged anywhere between Rs 600-1300 per dozen. Notably, four customers have already availed the EMI facility to buy the mangoes. Alphonso mangoes also known as Hapus originated in India and are widely regarded as the top variety for their succulent taste and texture. Their high demand leads to an increase in price leaving many people no choice but to pass on the opportunity to devour their taste. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Convenience economy at best: Indian fruit seller is selling Alphonso mangoes on EMI

India has undertaken several significant highway projects to connect major cities across the country. In an interview, speaking exclusively to WION’s Vikram Chandra, India's&nbsp;Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday (April 8), spoke about how “development of infrastructure is the most important priority,” for the country. &nbsp;

The transport minister also said that by his estimate, India’s highways infrastructure will match that of the United States by the end of next year, “both qualitatively and quantitatively”. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given “highest priority” to developing “world-class infrastructure,” Gadkari told WION.&nbsp;

“We have created six world records this year. We have the net highest road network in the world, and the way in which we are developing the road infrastructure, we are using the best technology and material,”&nbsp;he added.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/exclusive-union-minister-nitin-gadkari-talks-on-indias-road-construction-580288">Exclusive: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari talks on India's road construction</a>

The transport minister also spoke about the steps being taken by the government to protect the environment while building good road infrastructure. “We have used at least 20 lakh (two million) tonnes of municipal solid waste for Delhi ring road, and for Ahmedabad expressway,” referring to the two previous projects in the Indian cities.&nbsp;

Not only do “we want to protect the ecology and environment” but “at the same time we want to develop a good road infrastructure,” said the transport minister. We also don’t have any “financial crunch” as “apart from government funds, we are also raising money from the market,” Gadkari told WION.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-mumbai-expressway-everything-you-need-to-know-about-one-of-indias-largest-infrastructure-projects-555162">Delhi-Mumbai expressway: Everything you need to know about one of India’s largest infrastructure projects</a>

This was in reference to the major projects which are said to be worth tens of billions of dollars in India’s northern Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern states like Assam.&nbsp;

The transport minister also told WION that the construction of these highways is taking place at the pace of 38 kilometres per day, as of last year adding that “this year also we will try to maintain that.”&nbsp;

Subsequently, Gadkari told WION that despite “the impact of rains and Covid&nbsp;this year (on construction), we will still have a good record construction and (also) try to increase it.”&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India has undertaken several significant highway projects to connect major cities across the country. In an interview, speaking exclusively to WION’s Vikram Chandra, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday (April 8), spoke about how “development of infrastructure is the most important priority,” for the country.

India has undertaken several significant highway projects to connect major cities across the country. In an interview, speaking exclusively to WION’s Vikram Chandra, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday (April 8), spoke about how “development of infrastructure is the most important priority,” for the country. The transport minister also said that by his estimate, India’s highways infrastructure will match that of the United States by the end of next year, “both qualitatively and quantitatively”. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given “highest priority” to developing “world-class infrastructure,” Gadkari told WION. “We have created six world records this year. We have the net highest road network in the world, and the way in which we are developing the road infrastructure, we are using the best technology and material,” he added. ALSO WATCH | Exclusive: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari talks on India's road construction The transport minister also spoke about the steps being taken by the government to protect the environment while building good road infrastructure. “We have used at least 20 lakh (two million) tonnes of municipal solid waste for Delhi ring road, and for Ahmedabad expressway,” referring to the two previous projects in the Indian cities. Not only do “we want to protect the ecology and environment” but “at the same time we want to develop a good road infrastructure,” said the transport minister. We also don’t have any “financial crunch” as “apart from government funds, we are also raising money from the market,” Gadkari told WION. ALSO READ | Delhi-Mumbai expressway: Everything you need to know about one of India’s largest infrastructure projects This was in reference to the major projects which are said to be worth tens of billions of dollars in India’s northern Union Territory Jammu and Kashmir and north-eastern states like Assam. The transport minister also told WION that the construction of these highways is taking place at the pace of 38 kilometres per day, as of last year adding that “this year also we will try to maintain that.” Subsequently, Gadkari told WION that despite “the impact of rains and Covid this year (on construction), we will still have a good record construction and (also) try to increase it.” 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.

‘By 2024-end, India’s highways will match US in quality & quantity’: Nitin Gadkari to WION

India is all set to spend Rs 2.71 lakh crores ($33 billion) on defence equipment in Financial Year 2023. 99 per cent of this equipment will be sourced from Indian industries.

India is all set to spend Rs 2.71 lakh crores ($33 billion) on defence equipment in Financial Year 2023. 99 per cent of this equipment will be sourced from Indian industries. Much to the US and Russia’s dismay, India’s defence imports are shrinking year-on-year and it's because of the emergence of the Indian defence industry. India chooses indigenous defence equipment over Imports: India will procure weapons for the Indian Armed Forces worth Rs 70,500 crores ($8.7bn) and they will all be made in India. 1) Indian Navy proposals constitute more than Rs 56,000 crore ($6.84bn) which largely includes the locally-made BrahMos missiles, Shakti Electronic Warfare (EW) systems and maritime utility helicopters 2) Long Range Stand-Off Weapon for the Indian Air Force gets the nod; To be integrated on SU-30 MKI aircraft155mm/52 Caliber ATAGS, along with High Mobility & Gun Towing Vehicles, to be procured for Indian Army 3) Indian Coast Guard to get Advance Light Helicopters MK-III from HAL India drops defence imports: India’s defence imports declined by 11 per cent between 2013-17 and 2018-22 and this decline was linked to a complex procurement process, efforts to diversify arms suppliers and attempts to replace imports with local designs. India’s domestic procurement climbed to 68 per cent in FY22. WATCH | Rise of the Indian Defence Industry | Exports cross ₹130 Billion, imports down 11% × World seeks arms from India India’s defence exports are set to touch Rs 17,000 crore ($2.1bn) in FY23. India bagged an export order worth $155 million for 155-mm artillery guns and another deal for supplying Teevra 40-mm guns to the Indonesian Navy. Armenia signed a $250 million contract for India’s Pinaka missiles. 1) India will soon finalise a Brahmos deal with Indonesia and a follow on deal with the Philippines over and above the $ 375 million Brahmos deal signed last year. 2) India is supplying air-to-air missile launchers and sub-systems to MBDA France for Rafale fighter jets 3) India also exports bulletproof jackets, ballistic helmets, snow boots, and night vision devices used by soldiers in Europe, West Asia, Africa and ASEAN nations. India supplies the world We are witnessing India’s emergence as a defence-manufacturing hub as it supplies equipment and ammunition to the world: 1) India is making aero-structures for American Defence giant Boeing's AH-64 Apache helicopters 2) Airbus Defence And Space recently signed a Rs 21,935 crore ($2.7bn) deal to build C-295 medium-lift transport aircraft at Vadodara. 3) Another American defence giant Lockheed Martin has tied up with India to make wing sets for the F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft. 4) Indian Army recently handed over 159 indigenously developed vehicles & equipment for UN Peacekeeping mission at UNISFA, Abyei. India presently exports defence supplies to over 80 countries. India’s next target is achieving defence manufacturing worth Rs 1,75,000 crore ($21.4bn), including defence exports of Rs 35,000 crore ($4.3Bn) by 2024-25. We can safely say that this is the emergence of the Indian Defence Industry – and world powers are taking note. (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:

The rise of Indian defence industry: Exports cross $1.6 billion, imports down 11%

india-0

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news

india 0