The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry of India has recommended the environmental release of genetically modified mustard which, according to experts, paves the way for its commercial cultivation.

The move comes amid opposition from green groups which say commercial cultivation of GM mustard could have an adverse impact on human health and food security.

At a meeting on October 18, the GEAC, the country’s regulator for genetically modified organisms, recommended the “environmental release of mustard hybrid DMH-11 for its seed production and testing as per existing ICAR guidelines and other extant rules/regulations before commercial release”.

The transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University. &nbsp;The government has so far approved (in 2002) only one GM crop, Bt cotton, for commercial cultivation.

Those supporting commercial cultivation of GM crops say its benefits include greater food security due to increased yields, reduced costs for food production, reduced need for pesticides and resistance to pests and disease. &nbsp;

Kavitha Kuruganti, the founder of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, said: “The claim that GM mustard will increase yield is not supported by the data submitted by the crop developers to the regulator.”&nbsp;

Asked if the recommendation for “environmental release” means a go-ahead of commercial cultivation, she said: “It has been approved for commercial release. They (the GEAC) are saying any test needed can be conducted after the environmental release.”&nbsp;

Kuruganti, who is a member of the Coalition for GM-free India, said Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav had earlier voiced his views against GM crops. &nbsp;

“It is the regulator which has given a green signal. The minister should not approve it,” she said. &nbsp;

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Coalition for a GM-Free India said: “This compromises biosafety in serious and objectionable ways, and we ask the government not to move forward in allowing this dangerous herbicide tolerant food crop in India.”&nbsp;

The coalition had recently written to Yadav that “GM mustard uses the pretext of creating hybrid technology in a plant like mustard but in effect is a herbicide tolerant crop. The entire biosafety assessment of GM mustard so far has not taken this fact into account”. &nbsp;

“Also ignored in the regulatory tests is the fact that a deadly herbicide like glufosinate will be used along with this GMO (there is adequate evidence of adverse impacts of this herbicide on health and environment for this to have raised warning bells for our regulators; this includes the emergence of ‘superweeds’)."

“This showcases a very serious deficiency in our regulatory regime,” the letter dated October 20 read.

GM mustard is a herbicide tolerant and toxic hybrid that will dramatically increase the presence of toxic chemicals in our food and soil and hence, impact health, said Rohin Kynar, Senior Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India.

“There also seem to be serious lapses on the safety assessment protocols adopted for GM mustard as highlighted by GM-free groups — there was no place for environmental risk assessment when the GM mustard application was processed,” he said.

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The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry of India has recommended the environmental release of genetically modified mustard which, according to experts, paves the way for its commercial cultivation.

The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Union environment ministry of India has recommended the environmental release of genetically modified mustard which, according to experts, paves the way for its commercial cultivation. The move comes amid opposition from green groups which say commercial cultivation of GM mustard could have an adverse impact on human health and food security. At a meeting on October 18, the GEAC, the country’s regulator for genetically modified organisms, recommended the “environmental release of mustard hybrid DMH-11 for its seed production and testing as per existing ICAR guidelines and other extant rules/regulations before commercial release”. The transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at Delhi University. The government has so far approved (in 2002) only one GM crop, Bt cotton, for commercial cultivation. Those supporting commercial cultivation of GM crops say its benefits include greater food security due to increased yields, reduced costs for food production, reduced need for pesticides and resistance to pests and disease. Kavitha Kuruganti, the founder of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, said: “The claim that GM mustard will increase yield is not supported by the data submitted by the crop developers to the regulator.” Asked if the recommendation for “environmental release” means a go-ahead of commercial cultivation, she said: “It has been approved for commercial release. They (the GEAC) are saying any test needed can be conducted after the environmental release.” Kuruganti, who is a member of the Coalition for GM-free India, said Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav had earlier voiced his views against GM crops. “It is the regulator which has given a green signal. The minister should not approve it,” she said. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Coalition for a GM-Free India said: “This compromises biosafety in serious and objectionable ways, and we ask the government not to move forward in allowing this dangerous herbicide tolerant food crop in India.” The coalition had recently written to Yadav that “GM mustard uses the pretext of creating hybrid technology in a plant like mustard but in effect is a herbicide tolerant crop. The entire biosafety assessment of GM mustard so far has not taken this fact into account”. “Also ignored in the regulatory tests is the fact that a deadly herbicide like glufosinate will be used along with this GMO (there is adequate evidence of adverse impacts of this herbicide on health and environment for this to have raised warning bells for our regulators; this includes the emergence of ‘superweeds’)." “This showcases a very serious deficiency in our regulatory regime,” the letter dated October 20 read. GM mustard is a herbicide tolerant and toxic hybrid that will dramatically increase the presence of toxic chemicals in our food and soil and hence, impact health, said Rohin Kynar, Senior Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India. “There also seem to be serious lapses on the safety assessment protocols adopted for GM mustard as highlighted by GM-free groups — there was no place for environmental risk assessment when the GM mustard application was processed,” he 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 ×

India’s biotech regulator recommends environmental release of GM mustard

The Indian antitrust body decided on Tuesday that Alphabet Inc.'s Google shouldn't prevent app developers in India from utilising third-party billing or payment processing services. It also fined the American company $113 million for anti-competitive behaviour, just days after slapping it with a similar penalty.

The selling of in-app digital products is a crucial way for developers to monetise their work, according to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which claimed Google used its "dominant position" to coerce app developers to utilise its in-app payment system.&nbsp;

The CCI's action is Google's most recent setback in one of its target markets, where it was also fined $162 million on Thursday for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its Android operating system and instructed to modify its strategy.

A Google spokesperson said, "By keeping costs low, our model has powered India's digital transformation and expanded access for hundreds of millions of Indians".

"We remain committed to our users and developers and are reviewing the decision to evaluate the next steps."

The 199-page CCI judgement stated that Google also had to implement 8 corrective measures or operational changes within three months, including not prohibiting "app developers from using any third-party billing/payment processing services, either for in-app transactions or for purchasing apps."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-warns-russia-against-using-nukes-says-would-be-incredibly-serious-mistake-528412">Biden warns Russia against using nukes, says would be 'incredibly serious mistake'</a>

The CCI stated that Google should make sure to maintain complete transparency when dealing with app developers and providing information about service prices.&nbsp;

For Indian startups and smaller businesses who have long protested Google's policy of requiring app developers to utilise its own payment system, the order would be a huge relief.&nbsp;

2020 saw the beginning of the Google payment ecosystem inquiry following the filing of an antitrust lawsuit against the company. On the complainant's request, the watchdog maintained his anonymity.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The Indian antitrust body decided on Tuesday that Alphabet Inc.'s Google shouldn't prevent app developers in India from utilising third-party billing or payment processing services.

The Indian antitrust body decided on Tuesday that Alphabet Inc.'s Google shouldn't prevent app developers in India from utilising third-party billing or payment processing services. It also fined the American company $113 million for anti-competitive behaviour, just days after slapping it with a similar penalty. The selling of in-app digital products is a crucial way for developers to monetise their work, according to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which claimed Google used its "dominant position" to coerce app developers to utilise its in-app payment system. The CCI's action is Google's most recent setback in one of its target markets, where it was also fined $162 million on Thursday for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour in relation to its Android operating system and instructed to modify its strategy. A Google spokesperson said, "By keeping costs low, our model has powered India's digital transformation and expanded access for hundreds of millions of Indians". "We remain committed to our users and developers and are reviewing the decision to evaluate the next steps." The 199-page CCI judgement stated that Google also had to implement 8 corrective measures or operational changes within three months, including not prohibiting "app developers from using any third-party billing/payment processing services, either for in-app transactions or for purchasing apps." Also Read: Biden warns Russia against using nukes, says would be 'incredibly serious mistake' The CCI stated that Google should make sure to maintain complete transparency when dealing with app developers and providing information about service prices. For Indian startups and smaller businesses who have long protested Google's policy of requiring app developers to utilise its own payment system, the order would be a huge relief. 2020 saw the beginning of the Google payment ecosystem inquiry following the filing of an antitrust lawsuit against the company. On the complainant's request, the watchdog maintained his anonymity. (with inputs from agencies)

India slaps $162 mn fine on Google, orders it to allow third-party payments

The T20 World Cup is well and truly underway in Australia. India won the toss against Pakistan and decided to field first in an attempt to even the score after suffering a thrashing last year in Dubai.

Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made it to the Australian shores and the playing XI after doubts surrounding&nbsp;his match fitness, in the lead up to the marquee tournament. When quizzed if his body was fit and that he will bowl in the match, Hardik said we needed to put the topic to rest&nbsp;

"The body is fine, I think we should put that topic about my body on rest, you will see me bowling," said Pandya in the interview.&nbsp;

Pandya made his T20I debut in Australia in 2016 and thus it was a full circle of life for him to come back and play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).&nbsp;

"I made my T20 debut in Australia and from there the journey has continued. It's good to be back here. It's a sporting country and you can't get a better place to play a sport and enjoy," said Pandya.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-rohit-sharma-to-surpass-ms-dhoni-to-achieve-elite-record-during-india-pakistan-clash-527708">Read more:&nbsp;T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma to surpass MS Dhoni to achieve elite record during India-Pakistan clash</a>

The all-rounder signed off saying it was an evenly-matched&nbsp;contest and that whomever played well will come out on top.&nbsp;

"We all are aware we are playing international cricket. It's not just about Pakistan's bowlers - any team you play will have quality bowlers. We've&nbsp;spoken how good they [Pak batters] are. At the end of the day, the bowlers will bowl and the batters will bat. Whoever does well will win."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/should-make-for-a-mcg-pitch-curator-on-nature-of-surface-for-india-pakistan-t20-wc-clash-527703">Read more:&nbsp;'Should make for a...' - MCG pitch curator on nature of surface for India-Pakistan T20 WC clash</a>

India winning the toss and fielding first could be a bad omen for Pakistan as out of the last six T20Is played between the two countries, four have been won by the chasing team.&nbsp;

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The T20 World Cup is well and truly underway in Australia. India won the toss against Pakistan and decided to field first in an attempt to even the score after suffering a thrashing last year in Dubai.

The T20 World Cup is well and truly underway in Australia. India won the toss against Pakistan and decided to field first in an attempt to even the score after suffering a thrashing last year in Dubai. Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya has made it to the Australian shores and the playing XI after doubts surrounding his match fitness, in the lead up to the marquee tournament. When quizzed if his body was fit and that he will bowl in the match, Hardik said we needed to put the topic to rest "The body is fine, I think we should put that topic about my body on rest, you will see me bowling," said Pandya in the interview. Pandya made his T20I debut in Australia in 2016 and thus it was a full circle of life for him to come back and play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). "I made my T20 debut in Australia and from there the journey has continued. It's good to be back here. It's a sporting country and you can't get a better place to play a sport and enjoy," said Pandya. Read more: T20 World Cup: Rohit Sharma to surpass MS Dhoni to achieve elite record during India-Pakistan clash The all-rounder signed off saying it was an evenly-matched contest and that whomever played well will come out on top. "We all are aware we are playing international cricket. It's not just about Pakistan's bowlers - any team you play will have quality bowlers. We've spoken how good they [Pak batters] are. At the end of the day, the bowlers will bowl and the batters will bat. Whoever does well will win." Read more: 'Should make for a...' - MCG pitch curator on nature of surface for India-Pakistan T20 WC clash India winning the toss and fielding first could be a bad omen for Pakistan as out of the last six T20Is played between the two countries, four have been won by the chasing team. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We should put this topic to rest,' says Hardik Pandya ahead of the India-Pak clash

At least 15 people have been killed and 40 others injured following a bus accident in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Reports suggest that the passenger bus was headed for Uttar Pradesh when it collided with a stationary truck between 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm (local time) on Friday.&nbsp;

According to officials, the bus was headed to UP’s Gorakhpur from Hyderabad in the&nbsp;state of Telangana when it collided with a stationary trailer truck on the national highway (NH) 30. They also indicated that at least 12 people were killed on the spot and two others succumbed while they were being taken to the hospital.&nbsp;

The district’s superintendent of police (SP) said, “Of the 40 injured 25 have been admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa (MP) where one person succumbed to his injuries. The death toll has increased to 15.” Reportedly a majority of the passengers of the bus were labourers who were on their way home to celebrate the festival of Diwali.&nbsp;

Speaking about the accident, Rewa's collector Manoj Pushp&nbsp;said, “It seems that the truck had an accident and when the driver applied brakes, the bus behind it rammed into it. Rescue operations were carried out and the injured have been sent to hospital.”

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to his counterpart in UP, Yogi Adityanath and informed him about the accident. According to reports, the MP state government said that they will bear the treatment cost&nbsp;of those injured.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the UP CM has announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the families of those who passed away and Rs 50,000 for those injured. President Droupadi Murmu in a statement also expressed sadness over the incident, and offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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At least 15 people have been killed and 40 others injured following a bus accident in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Reports suggest that the passenger bus was headed for Uttar Pradesh when it collided with a stationary truck between 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm (local time) on Friday.

At least 15 people have been killed and 40 others injured following a bus accident in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Reports suggest that the passenger bus was headed for Uttar Pradesh when it collided with a stationary truck between 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm (local time) on Friday. According to officials, the bus was headed to UP’s Gorakhpur from Hyderabad in the state of Telangana when it collided with a stationary trailer truck on the national highway (NH) 30. They also indicated that at least 12 people were killed on the spot and two others succumbed while they were being taken to the hospital. The district’s superintendent of police (SP) said, “Of the 40 injured 25 have been admitted to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa (MP) where one person succumbed to his injuries. The death toll has increased to 15.” Reportedly a majority of the passengers of the bus were labourers who were on their way home to celebrate the festival of Diwali. Speaking about the accident, Rewa's collector Manoj Pushp said, “It seems that the truck had an accident and when the driver applied brakes, the bus behind it rammed into it. Rescue operations were carried out and the injured have been sent to hospital.” Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke to his counterpart in UP, Yogi Adityanath and informed him about the accident. According to reports, the MP state government said that they will bear the treatment cost of those injured. On the other hand, the UP CM has announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the families of those who passed away and Rs 50,000 for those injured. President Droupadi Murmu in a statement also expressed sadness over the incident, and offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. (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: At least 15 killed, 40 injured as bus crashes into truck on highway in Madhya Pradesh

With less than 12 hours to go for the maiden commercial launch and multi-satellite launch by India's heaviest rocket, ISRO chairman Dr. Somanath, termed it a “historic event”. He said that the Indian space agency was happy to have 36 OneWeb satellites on board the LVM3 rocket, ready for deployment in orbit.&nbsp;

The wee-hour launch that is to take place at 12:07 am on Sunday, will take place from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch is meant to place 36 satellites of UK-based OneWeb, in Low Earth Orbit, around 601 kms above the earth's surface.&nbsp;

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Here's the much-awaited integration <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#video</a> of the heaviest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rocket</a> designed &amp; built in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> - GSLV Mk3/LVM3 
This beast will be launched tomo 00:07 in its maiden commercial mission &amp; orbiting 36 satellites of <a href="https://twitter.com/OneWeb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OneWeb</a> 
 
This'll mark foray of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> into global medium-lift market🚀 <a href="https://t.co/IvMpAgQvTQ">pic.twitter.com/IvMpAgQvTQ</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1583653045253963777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This mission is dubbed as 'LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1' and 'M2' refers to the fact that this is the second operational launch of India's heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM 3 or GSLV Mk3). The suffix of OneWeb India-1 signifies that the launch is being facilitated for the customer company, UK-based OneWeb. The number '1' is meant to denote that this is the first of two launches that ISRO will be carrying out for OneWeb, as part of a launch contract.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/24-hr-countdown-for-gslv-mk3-first-ever-commercial-flight-527424">24-hour countdown for GSLV Mk3's first-ever commercial flight to begin Saturday</a>

"It's truly a red-letter day for India, NSIL (commercial arm of ISRO) and OneWeb. As we embark upon the 14th launch of OneWeb, which will inject 36 new satellites into orbit, this becomes a very special moment for all of us. I am very glad that today, we are lifting off one of the most important missions from India, on the GSLV Mk3 rocket" said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises. 
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"Today we're going to witness historic LVM3-OneWeb mission, 1st-ever commercial launch of LVM3 &amp; 36sats to be orbited" S.Somanath, Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISRO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISRO</a> 
 
"Truly a red-letter day for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> ,NSIL <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/OneWeb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OneWeb</a> ;14th launch of OneWeb, a spl moment" Sunil Bharti Mittal,Bharti Enterprise <a href="https://t.co/WwbvDENRp2">pic.twitter.com/WwbvDENRp2</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1583674931102949376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses and communities. The firm is implementing a constellation of Low Earth orbit satellites, which will be arranged in 12 orbital planes with 49 satellites in each plane, this constellation will have a total of 648 satellites. India's Bharti Enterprises serves as a major shareholder and investor in OneWeb. This is OneWeb's 14th launch overall and first-ever launch with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and its commercial arm NSIL.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/land-acquisition-complete-for-indias-2nd-spaceport-work-may-begin-soon-says-former-isro-director-526400">Land acquisition complete for India's 2nd spaceport, work may begin soon, says former ISRO Director</a>

The duration of the mission, from lift-off till separation of the first satellite will be a little over 19 minutes. This launch will mark the entry of the Indian GSLV Mk3 rocket into the global medium-lift commercial launch services arena, which has largely been a duopoly of American and European firms.&nbsp;

The GSLV Mk3 rocket is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-on motors (burns solid fuel), a core-stage liquid booster (burns a combination of liquid fuels) and a cryogenic upper stage (burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen). GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of its predecessor, the GSLV Mk II. 
&nbsp;

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"This launch'll open up the big commercial launch service market, for LVM3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rocket</a> .Many operators world over are looking at establishing LEO constellations for global comms..This effort by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSIL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSIL</a> will enhance India's market share in global <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> economy" Radhakrishnan, CMD, NSIL <a href="https://t.co/ccPvc6Arx9">pic.twitter.com/ccPvc6Arx9</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1583694334611726336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

D.Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director, NSIL, referred to this launch as a significant milestone for NSIL. He added that it would open up the big global commercial launch service market for this rocket, as many operators world-over were looking to build Low Earth Orbit constellations for meeting global communications needs. He said that this effort of NSIL would go a long way in Enhancing India's share in the global space economy.

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With less than 12 hours to go for the maiden commercial launch and multi-satellite launch by India's heaviest rocket, ISRO chairman Dr. Somanath, termed it a “historic event”.

With less than 12 hours to go for the maiden commercial launch and multi-satellite launch by India's heaviest rocket, ISRO chairman Dr. Somanath, termed it a “historic event”. He said that the Indian space agency was happy to have 36 OneWeb satellites on board the LVM3 rocket, ready for deployment in orbit. The wee-hour launch that is to take place at 12:07 am on Sunday, will take place from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch is meant to place 36 satellites of UK-based OneWeb, in Low Earth Orbit, around 601 kms above the earth's surface. Here's the much-awaited integration #video of the heaviest #rocket designed & built in #India - GSLV Mk3/LVM3 This beast will be launched tomo 00:07 in its maiden commercial mission & orbiting 36 satellites of @OneWeb This'll mark foray of #isro into global medium-lift market🚀 pic.twitter.com/IvMpAgQvTQ — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 22, 2022 × This mission is dubbed as 'LVM3 M2/OneWeb India-1' and 'M2' refers to the fact that this is the second operational launch of India's heaviest rocket Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM 3 or GSLV Mk3). The suffix of OneWeb India-1 signifies that the launch is being facilitated for the customer company, UK-based OneWeb. The number '1' is meant to denote that this is the first of two launches that ISRO will be carrying out for OneWeb, as part of a launch contract. ALSO READ: 24-hour countdown for GSLV Mk3's first-ever commercial flight to begin Saturday "It's truly a red-letter day for India, NSIL (commercial arm of ISRO) and OneWeb. As we embark upon the 14th launch of OneWeb, which will inject 36 new satellites into orbit, this becomes a very special moment for all of us. I am very glad that today, we are lifting off one of the most important missions from India, on the GSLV Mk3 rocket" said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises. "Today we're going to witness historic LVM3-OneWeb mission, 1st-ever commercial launch of LVM3 & 36sats to be orbited" S.Somanath, Chairman #ISRO "Truly a red-letter day for #India ,NSIL @isro & @OneWeb ;14th launch of OneWeb, a spl moment" Sunil Bharti Mittal,Bharti Enterprise pic.twitter.com/WwbvDENRp2 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 22, 2022 × OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses and communities. The firm is implementing a constellation of Low Earth orbit satellites, which will be arranged in 12 orbital planes with 49 satellites in each plane, this constellation will have a total of 648 satellites. India's Bharti Enterprises serves as a major shareholder and investor in OneWeb. This is OneWeb's 14th launch overall and first-ever launch with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and its commercial arm NSIL. ALSO READ: Land acquisition complete for India's 2nd spaceport, work may begin soon, says former ISRO Director The duration of the mission, from lift-off till separation of the first satellite will be a little over 19 minutes. This launch will mark the entry of the Indian GSLV Mk3 rocket into the global medium-lift commercial launch services arena, which has largely been a duopoly of American and European firms. The GSLV Mk3 rocket is a three-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-on motors (burns solid fuel), a core-stage liquid booster (burns a combination of liquid fuels) and a cryogenic upper stage (burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen). GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of its predecessor, the GSLV Mk II. "This launch'll open up the big commercial launch service market, for LVM3 #rocket .Many operators world over are looking at establishing LEO constellations for global comms..This effort by #NSIL will enhance India's market share in global #space economy" Radhakrishnan, CMD, NSIL pic.twitter.com/ccPvc6Arx9 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 22, 2022 × D.Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director, NSIL, referred to this launch as a significant milestone for NSIL. He added that it would open up the big global commercial launch service market for this rocket, as many operators world-over were looking to build Low Earth Orbit constellations for meeting global communications needs. He said that this effort of NSIL would go a long way in Enhancing India's share in the global space economy. 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.

‘Historic event’: ISRO chairman Somanath ahead of 'LVM3 M2 OneWeb India-1' mission

The 24-hour countdown for the first-ever commercial launch of India's heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk3 is set to commence at 00:07 hrs on Saturday. The launch will be carried out from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on Sunday, 23rd October at 12:07 am.&nbsp;

The wee-hour launch is meant to place 36 satellites of UK-based OneWeb, in Low Earth Orbit, around 601kms above the earth's surface.&nbsp;

During the countdown, the rocket's systems and satellite health will be monitored. Liquid and cryogenic fuels that power the second and third stage of the rocket respectively would also be filled during the final hours of the countdown.&nbsp;

OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses and communities. The firm is implementing a constellation of Low Earth orbit satellites, which will be arranged in 12 orbital planes with 49 satellites in each plane; this constellation will have a total of 648 satellites.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sorrowful-incident-says-minister-on-at-sea-incident-involving-indian-navy-at-ind-sl-boundary-527407">'Sorrowful incident' says minister on at-sea incident involving Indian Navy at Ind-SL boundary</a>

India's Bharti Enterprises serves as a major shareholder and investor in OneWeb. This is OneWeb's 14th launch overall and first-ever launch with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and its commercial arm NSIL.

The duration of the mission, from lift-off till separation of the first satellite will be a little over 19 minutes. This launch will mark the entry of the Indian GSLV Mk3 rocket into the global medium-lift commercial launch services arena, which has largely been a duopoly of American and European firms.&nbsp;

The GSLV Mk3 rocket is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-on motors (burns solid fuel), a core-stage liquid booster (burns a combination of liquid fuels) and a cryogenic upper stage (burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen). GSLV Mk III is designed to carry a 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of its predecessor, the GSLV Mk II.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isro-designates-sankarasubramanian-as-principal-scientist-for-aditya-l1-mission-527103">ISRO designates Sankarasubramanian as Principal Scientist for Aditya-L1 mission</a> &nbsp;

Thus far, ISRO has purely relied on its PSLV rocket (that can carry up to 1.75 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit), to do commercial launches. The addition of the GSLV MK3 to this list would mean that India can make a greater impact in the International market and thereby earn revenue from launching heavier customer satellites.

ISRO will be carrying out a similar launch of the GSLV Mk3 in early 2023, to place in orbit another batch of OneWeb satellites.&nbsp;

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The 24-hour countdown for the first-ever commercial launch of India's heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk3 is set to commence at 00:07 hrs on Saturday. The launch will be carried out from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on Sunday, 23rd October at 12:07 am.

The 24-hour countdown for the first-ever commercial launch of India's heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk3 is set to commence at 00:07 hrs on Saturday. The launch will be carried out from India's spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota on Sunday, 23rd October at 12:07 am. The wee-hour launch is meant to place 36 satellites of UK-based OneWeb, in Low Earth Orbit, around 601kms above the earth's surface. During the countdown, the rocket's systems and satellite health will be monitored. Liquid and cryogenic fuels that power the second and third stage of the rocket respectively would also be filled during the final hours of the countdown. OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments, businesses and communities. The firm is implementing a constellation of Low Earth orbit satellites, which will be arranged in 12 orbital planes with 49 satellites in each plane; this constellation will have a total of 648 satellites. ALSO READ: 'Sorrowful incident' says minister on at-sea incident involving Indian Navy at Ind-SL boundary India's Bharti Enterprises serves as a major shareholder and investor in OneWeb. This is OneWeb's 14th launch overall and first-ever launch with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and its commercial arm NSIL. The duration of the mission, from lift-off till separation of the first satellite will be a little over 19 minutes. This launch will mark the entry of the Indian GSLV Mk3 rocket into the global medium-lift commercial launch services arena, which has largely been a duopoly of American and European firms. The GSLV Mk3 rocket is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-on motors (burns solid fuel), a core-stage liquid booster (burns a combination of liquid fuels) and a cryogenic upper stage (burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen). GSLV Mk III is designed to carry a 4-ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of its predecessor, the GSLV Mk II. ALSO READ: ISRO designates Sankarasubramanian as Principal Scientist for Aditya-L1 mission Thus far, ISRO has purely relied on its PSLV rocket (that can carry up to 1.75 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit), to do commercial launches. The addition of the GSLV MK3 to this list would mean that India can make a greater impact in the International market and thereby earn revenue from launching heavier customer satellites. ISRO will be carrying out a similar launch of the GSLV Mk3 in early 2023, to place in orbit another batch of OneWeb satellites. 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.

24-hour countdown for GSLV Mk3's first-ever commercial flight to begin Saturday

Elected representatives from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have expressed sorrow over an incident involving the Indian Navy and an Indian fishing boat, near the India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary. According to the Navy, the Naval vessel had fired warning shots (as per standard operation procedures) with the intention of stopping it, as a suspicious boat near the Palk Bay area, didn't stop despite warnings. It is notable that the Palk Bay region is a porous strip of sea that is widely used for trafficking and the illegal influx of refugees.&nbsp;

Anitha Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister said that it was a "sorrowful incident", where the Indian Navy had fired upon Indian fishermen (from Tamil Nadu), who were out fishing at sea. He added that the victim of the firing sustained pellet wounds in the abdomen and thigh. "The victim(fisherman) is undergoing treatment at the Madurai Government hospital, and he is conscious, will be given full medical treatment".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-politics-live-updates-johnson-sunak-and-mordaunt-lead-race-for-new-pm-527380">UK Politics LIVE: Johnson, Sunak and Mordaunt lead race for new PM</a>

The Minister added that the said fishing boat had set sail on October 15th&nbsp;from the Karaikal port in Tamil Nadu, with 10 crew onboard. When queried about the boat not having stopped despite warnings to do so, he said that he would have to get the complete details on the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Had the Sri Lankan Navy fired (at our fishermen), we would've taken this up with the Indian Government. The Indian Navy has shot its own country's fishermen!" (in Tamil) tweeted Venkatesan, a member of India's Lower House of Parliament, elected from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He added that this incident was condemnable and demanded action against those responsible for it.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-vaccine-maker-sii-forced-to-destroy-100-million-doses-of-expired-covid-vaccine-527386" hreflang="en">India: SII forced to destroy 100 million doses of expired Covid vaccine</a>

In a statement, the Indian Navy said that the incident had occurred during the early hours of Friday and&nbsp;"one of the crew onboard the suspicious boat is reported to have sustained an injury. The injured person was administered first aid by the ship and evacuated by an Indian Navy Chetak helicopter to INS Parundu (Naval base)."&nbsp;

It was also added that the injured person had been shifted to the Government hospital in Tamil Nadu for further medical management and his condition is stable.&nbsp;An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident, said the Navy.&nbsp;

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Elected representatives from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have expressed sorrow over an incident involving the Indian Navy and an Indian fishing boat, near the India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary.

Elected representatives from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have expressed sorrow over an incident involving the Indian Navy and an Indian fishing boat, near the India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary. According to the Navy, the Naval vessel had fired warning shots (as per standard operation procedures) with the intention of stopping it, as a suspicious boat near the Palk Bay area, didn't stop despite warnings. It is notable that the Palk Bay region is a porous strip of sea that is widely used for trafficking and the illegal influx of refugees. Anitha Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister said that it was a "sorrowful incident", where the Indian Navy had fired upon Indian fishermen (from Tamil Nadu), who were out fishing at sea. He added that the victim of the firing sustained pellet wounds in the abdomen and thigh. "The victim(fisherman) is undergoing treatment at the Madurai Government hospital, and he is conscious, will be given full medical treatment". Also read | UK Politics LIVE: Johnson, Sunak and Mordaunt lead race for new PM The Minister added that the said fishing boat had set sail on October 15th from the Karaikal port in Tamil Nadu, with 10 crew onboard. When queried about the boat not having stopped despite warnings to do so, he said that he would have to get the complete details on the same. "Had the Sri Lankan Navy fired (at our fishermen), we would've taken this up with the Indian Government. The Indian Navy has shot its own country's fishermen!" (in Tamil) tweeted Venkatesan, a member of India's Lower House of Parliament, elected from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He added that this incident was condemnable and demanded action against those responsible for it. Also read | India: SII forced to destroy 100 million doses of expired Covid vaccine In a statement, the Indian Navy said that the incident had occurred during the early hours of Friday and "one of the crew onboard the suspicious boat is reported to have sustained an injury. The injured person was administered first aid by the ship and evacuated by an Indian Navy Chetak helicopter to INS Parundu (Naval base)." It was also added that the injured person had been shifted to the Government hospital in Tamil Nadu for further medical management and his condition is stable. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident, said the Navy.

'Sorrowful incident' says minister on at-sea incident involving Indian Navy at Ind-SL boundary

Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has termed India as a "major partner" even as he hoped for an early prime ministerial visit post the elections.

Israel will witness elections on November 11 to elect the members of parliament, Knesset. The poll results will be declared on November 9.

Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Gilon said, "India is a major partner for us, a very close friend and an ally. We do a lot together and I believe, since we do a lot together, a visit from a PM is a missing element in the relationship".

Ahead of the national elections in the west Asian country, Israeli missions globally and in Delhi participated in the polls. Many Israeli diplomats, including ambassador Gilon, his wife and daughter voted at the embassy on Thursday. More than 4,500 diplomats and their families from around 100 Israeli missions across voted to elect Knesset MPs.

The November elections take place after a political deadlock that lasted for four terms beginning in April 2019. But that hasn't stopped the bilateral or multilateral ties progressing, with I2U2 or west Asian quad between India, US, Israel and UAE due to take place meeting and announcing a slew of projects on food security, and renewable energy.

&nbsp;

WION: If you can brief us about the elections in Israel, how big is the process?

Naor Gilon: We are a country of about 10 million people eligible to vote, citizens above the age of 18, and permanent residents about 6.7 million people. We are voting (at the Israel embassy) about 10 days before the general elections, so that our ballots can be counted along with the general population on the 1st of November when they vote. For the ministry of foreign affairs, we have over 100 representations and ballots, every embassy and consulate have a ballot. This includes 3 in India, one here in Delhi and 2 in Bangalore and Mumbai. In general, abroad, not all Israeli citizens are allowed to vote, Israeli citizens who are representatives of the govt, spouses, and children up to a certain age.

&nbsp;

WION: What are the measures that have been put in place for voting in Israel embassies across the world, and have you voted?

Naor Gilon: Yes, of course, I have voted, my wife has voted and my daughter for the first time in life, because she turned 18 a few months ago. We all voted this morning. Same measures across the world, you get the ballot box, you get the list of entitled people, you get authorization, and each person has to get their own authorisation, even though we know the people, you must bring the identity card. We live together, we know each other but the law requires you to do that, and that is it. Immediately after the elections, all the ballots will be sent by diplomatic post back to Israel. We are voting here abroad in double envelopes so that nobody is voting twice.

&nbsp;

WION: Israel saw political instability and now the democratic processes, but democracy is a link between India and Israel. Your view on the shared value and political system?

Naor Gilon: I don't like to speak about instability, especially political instability in Israel. I would like to speak about a very vibrant democracy. It is so vibrant that we have voted five times in the last three years already. The system is like that and when the public is split into two groups, either one group or another, the difference between them is relatively small. I think the main similarity between India and Israel in the political system is that we are both very heterogeneous societies. 20 per cent or more of the voters are Muslim Israelis or Arab Israelis you can call, they vote, some of them vote for general parties, and they have their own party. We have ministers from the minority group, and the last coalition, of the party was a Muslim party. You have Muslims, Christians, orthodox, no orthodox, newcomers, and immigrants, so it's a very heterogeneous group, very much like India.

&nbsp;

WION: India and Israel are celebrating 30 years of ties, so once the new govt takes charge, what are we looking forward to? Can we expect a Prime Ministerial visit from Israel to India?

Naor Gilon: The wish for a visit, the need for a visit is even stronger there but first of all we need to have a government. This is a process that might take 6-7 weeks in Israel, once we have a govt, we have a Prime Minister. Hopefully it will happen, we have stability and not re-election. We will put very high on the agenda, the need to visit India. India is a major partner for us, a very close friend and ally. We do a lot together and I believe, since we do a lot together, a visit from a PM is a missing element in the relationship. Not everything depends on that, it's part of the issue, especially now when we are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations, 75 years of Independence of India and Israel will celebrate 75 years of Independence because we were established a few months apart. I think there is a need since the relationship is so good, and I hope the next PM will accept that and do it relatively early in the term.

&nbsp;

WION: I2U2 is a group that has taken off, what is the update in terms of the initiative, especially on the agriculture front? 

Naor Gilon: Last time a semi-hybrid summit took place was when the US was visiting Israel and PM Modi also joined virtually. They announced 2 major projects, one in the clean energy field building a very big project, and another in agriculture, farms, and food security, these are projects for cooperation in a big way between the 4 countries. In New York, during the general assembly, another meeting of Sherpas of the group discussed the ongoing projects, implementation, and potential projects that the group can take up. Big projects, involving the 4 countries, companies have something in infrastructure that helps the countries and the world become a better place.

Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has termed India as a "major partner" even as he hoped for an early prime ministerial visit post the elections. Israel will witness elections on November 11 to elect the members of parliament, Knesset.

Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon has termed India as a "major partner" even as he hoped for an early prime ministerial visit post the elections. Israel will witness elections on November 11 to elect the members of parliament, Knesset. The poll results will be declared on November 9. Speaking to WION’s diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Gilon said, "India is a major partner for us, a very close friend and an ally. We do a lot together and I believe, since we do a lot together, a visit from a PM is a missing element in the relationship". Ahead of the national elections in the west Asian country, Israeli missions globally and in Delhi participated in the polls. Many Israeli diplomats, including ambassador Gilon, his wife and daughter voted at the embassy on Thursday. More than 4,500 diplomats and their families from around 100 Israeli missions across voted to elect Knesset MPs. The November elections take place after a political deadlock that lasted for four terms beginning in April 2019. But that hasn't stopped the bilateral or multilateral ties progressing, with I2U2 or west Asian quad between India, US, Israel and UAE due to take place meeting and announcing a slew of projects on food security, and renewable energy. WION: If you can brief us about the elections in Israel, how big is the process? Naor Gilon: We are a country of about 10 million people eligible to vote, citizens above the age of 18, and permanent residents about 6.7 million people. We are voting (at the Israel embassy) about 10 days before the general elections, so that our ballots can be counted along with the general population on the 1st of November when they vote. For the ministry of foreign affairs, we have over 100 representations and ballots, every embassy and consulate have a ballot. This includes 3 in India, one here in Delhi and 2 in Bangalore and Mumbai. In general, abroad, not all Israeli citizens are allowed to vote, Israeli citizens who are representatives of the govt, spouses, and children up to a certain age. WION: What are the measures that have been put in place for voting in Israel embassies across the world, and have you voted? Naor Gilon: Yes, of course, I have voted, my wife has voted and my daughter for the first time in life, because she turned 18 a few months ago. We all voted this morning. Same measures across the world, you get the ballot box, you get the list of entitled people, you get authorization, and each person has to get their own authorisation, even though we know the people, you must bring the identity card. We live together, we know each other but the law requires you to do that, and that is it. Immediately after the elections, all the ballots will be sent by diplomatic post back to Israel. We are voting here abroad in double envelopes so that nobody is voting twice. WION: Israel saw political instability and now the democratic processes, but democracy is a link between India and Israel. Your view on the shared value and political system? Naor Gilon: I don't like to speak about instability, especially political instability in Israel. I would like to speak about a very vibrant democracy. It is so vibrant that we have voted five times in the last three years already. The system is like that and when the public is split into two groups, either one group or another, the difference between them is relatively small. I think the main similarity between India and Israel in the political system is that we are both very heterogeneous societies. 20 per cent or more of the voters are Muslim Israelis or Arab Israelis you can call, they vote, some of them vote for general parties, and they have their own party. We have ministers from the minority group, and the last coalition, of the party was a Muslim party. You have Muslims, Christians, orthodox, no orthodox, newcomers, and immigrants, so it's a very heterogeneous group, very much like India. WION: India and Israel are celebrating 30 years of ties, so once the new govt takes charge, what are we looking forward to? Can we expect a Prime Ministerial visit from Israel to India? Naor Gilon: The wish for a visit, the need for a visit is even stronger there but first of all we need to have a government. This is a process that might take 6-7 weeks in Israel, once we have a govt, we have a Prime Minister. Hopefully it will happen, we have stability and not re-election. We will put very high on the agenda, the need to visit India. India is a major partner for us, a very close friend and ally. We do a lot together and I believe, since we do a lot together, a visit from a PM is a missing element in the relationship. Not everything depends on that, it's part of the issue, especially now when we are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations, 75 years of Independence of India and Israel will celebrate 75 years of Independence because we were established a few months apart. I think there is a need since the relationship is so good, and I hope the next PM will accept that and do it relatively early in the term. WION: I2U2 is a group that has taken off, what is the update in terms of the initiative, especially on the agriculture front? Naor Gilon: Last time a semi-hybrid summit took place was when the US was visiting Israel and PM Modi also joined virtually. They announced 2 major projects, one in the clean energy field building a very big project, and another in agriculture, farms, and food security, these are projects for cooperation in a big way between the 4 countries. In New York, during the general assembly, another meeting of Sherpas of the group discussed the ongoing projects, implementation, and potential projects that the group can take up. Big projects, involving the 4 countries, companies have something in infrastructure that helps the countries and the world become a better place.

India is a major partner for us, says Israel envoy Naor Gilon

A ranking of the most generous individuals in India has revealed that India's top donor Shiv Nadar and family have donated more than Rs.3cr ($363K) every day, and their annual donation amounts to 1,161cr for the year 2022. Shiv Nadar is an Indian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist; he is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of HCL technologies.&nbsp;

According to the 'EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022' released on Thursday, the donations of India's top wealthy individuals (who donated over Rs.5cr) was measured by the value of their cash or cash equivalents from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-united-states-natural-partners-in-space-exploration-says-us-official-526472">India, United States natural partners in space exploration, says US official</a>

Commenting on the launch, Anas Rahman Junaid, MD and Chief Researcher, Hurun India, said, “EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List aims at chronicling the Indian philanthropy landscape and so far, the transformation is encouraging. For instance, over the last 5 years, number of donors who have given more than Rs.100 crore have grown from 2 to 15, and over Rs.50 crore have grown from 5 to 20. Considering wealth creation potential of India and assuming that the billionaires keep up with philanthropy, I expect these numbers to at least double over the next 5 years.”

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
India’s top <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Philanthropist?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Philanthropist</a> #2022 is from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> 
 
List: 
 
Shiva Nadar&amp; family donated Rs1161cr <a href="https://twitter.com/hcltech?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hcltech</a> 
 
Azim Premji&amp; family donated Rs484cr<a href="https://twitter.com/Wipro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wipro</a> 
 
Mukesh <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ambani?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ambani</a> &amp; family donated Rs411cr <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RelianceIndustries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RelianceIndustries</a> 
 
Data as per <a href="https://twitter.com/HurunReportInd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HurunReportInd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/donor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#donor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/rich?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rich</a> <a href="https://t.co/MrdPmdrvuh">pic.twitter.com/MrdPmdrvuh</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1583039808741740545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The report also points out, Contributions towards philanthropy have fallen in FY22 basically due to the huge base effect of pandemic spending and an exceptional contribution of Rs.7,807 crore last year by Azim Premji to his two philanthropic trusts. The individuals featuring the Top 10 of the Philanthropy list in 2022 cumulatively donated Rs.3,378cr in FY22, as against a combined donation of Rs.12,785 crore in 2021.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/viral-video-monkey-shows-up-at-funeral-of-human-companion-seen-nudging-him-526925">Viral Video: Monkey shows up at funeral of 'human companion', seen nudging him</a> 
 
Shiv Nadar and family who topped the list and contributed majorly towards Education, Arts and&nbsp;Culture are followed by Azim Premji and family who donated Rs.484cr. According to the report, The Azim Premji Foundation India Private Limited is perhaps one of the largest endowments in the world valued at US$21bn. The primary goal of the Foundation is to contribute to a society that is “a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society” as envisaged in the Constitution of India.

Mukesh Ambani and family of Reliance industries were third on the list, with a contribution of Rs.411cr. the report says that, he channelizes charitable activities through Reliance foundation with focus on education and healthcare. It adds, Reliance produced 1,000 tonnes of oxygen every day during the second wave of COVID and provided it free for over 1 lakh patients. Besides, it set up 2,000 beds hospital for COVID care. Over 8.5 crore free meals were distributed to frontline workers and vulnerable communities.

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A ranking of the most generous individuals in India has revealed that India's top donor Shiv Nadar and family have donated more than Rs.3cr ($363K) every day, and their annual donation amounts to 1,161cr for the year 2022.

A ranking of the most generous individuals in India has revealed that India's top donor Shiv Nadar and family have donated more than Rs.3cr ($363K) every day, and their annual donation amounts to 1,161cr for the year 2022. Shiv Nadar is an Indian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist; he is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of HCL technologies. According to the 'EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022' released on Thursday, the donations of India's top wealthy individuals (who donated over Rs.5cr) was measured by the value of their cash or cash equivalents from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. ALSO READ: India, United States natural partners in space exploration, says US official Commenting on the launch, Anas Rahman Junaid, MD and Chief Researcher, Hurun India, said, “EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List aims at chronicling the Indian philanthropy landscape and so far, the transformation is encouraging. For instance, over the last 5 years, number of donors who have given more than Rs.100 crore have grown from 2 to 15, and over Rs.50 crore have grown from 5 to 20. Considering wealth creation potential of India and assuming that the billionaires keep up with philanthropy, I expect these numbers to at least double over the next 5 years.” India’s top #Philanthropist #2022 is from #TamilNadu List: Shiva Nadar& family donated Rs1161cr @hcltech Azim Premji& family donated Rs484cr@Wipro Mukesh #ambani & family donated Rs411cr #RelianceIndustries Data as per @HurunReportInd #india #donor #indian #rich pic.twitter.com/MrdPmdrvuh — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 20, 2022 × The report also points out, Contributions towards philanthropy have fallen in FY22 basically due to the huge base effect of pandemic spending and an exceptional contribution of Rs.7,807 crore last year by Azim Premji to his two philanthropic trusts. The individuals featuring the Top 10 of the Philanthropy list in 2022 cumulatively donated Rs.3,378cr in FY22, as against a combined donation of Rs.12,785 crore in 2021. ALSO READ: Viral Video: Monkey shows up at funeral of 'human companion', seen nudging him Shiv Nadar and family who topped the list and contributed majorly towards Education, Arts and Culture are followed by Azim Premji and family who donated Rs.484cr. According to the report, The Azim Premji Foundation India Private Limited is perhaps one of the largest endowments in the world valued at US$21bn. The primary goal of the Foundation is to contribute to a society that is “a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society” as envisaged in the Constitution of India. Mukesh Ambani and family of Reliance industries were third on the list, with a contribution of Rs.411cr. the report says that, he channelizes charitable activities through Reliance foundation with focus on education and healthcare. It adds, Reliance produced 1,000 tonnes of oxygen every day during the second wave of COVID and provided it free for over 1 lakh patients. Besides, it set up 2,000 beds hospital for COVID care. Over 8.5 crore free meals were distributed to frontline workers and vulnerable communities. 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 top Philanthropist of 2022 donated $363K per day; Hurun India List released

Jatin Mehta, a diamond and jewellery tycoon, is reportedly taking his fight to a London court in the UK to undo a worldwide freeze on his assets after bank fraud allegations. According to sources, Mehta has been accused of swindling at least 15 money lenders in India out of more than $1 billion which led to a freezing order earlier this year in May.&nbsp;

In a court filing last week Mehta’s lawyers alleged that the Indian unit of Standard Chartered and liquidation firm Grant Thornton have indulged in a “sleight of hand” to get the order from courts earlier this year and it is completely unjustified. The lead lawyer, Andrew Hunter, argued that Mehta is “as much the victim&nbsp;of what occurred as the consortium of banks,” said a report by Bloomberg. &nbsp;

In 2013, the diamond tycoon was accused of falsely defaulting more than $1 billion in loans to two companies, Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery Ltd. and Forever Precious Diamonds &amp; Jewellery Ltd. also owned by him which left 15 banks unpaid, said the report citing the court filings by lawyers for Grant Thornton.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nirav-modi-does-possess-means-to-flee-uk-says-judge-during-diamond-merchants-bail-plea-hearing-226319">Nirav Modi does possess means to flee UK, says judge during diamond merchant's bail plea hearing</a>

Furthermore, Mehta allegedly also laundered the cash through several firms across the world which was then used to fund the expansion of his laboratory-grown diamond business. According to court filings, Grant Thornton is also acting as a liquidator for the companies which Mehta allegedly used to launder the money and will return any amount recovered to the Indian lenders.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Mehta has denied all allegations against him and said that his success in pioneering the business of lab-grown diamonds had threatened the already established diamond industry. The lab-grown diamonds in this case refer to a larger diamond developed from pieces of other diamonds after being exposed to extreme heat and pressure.&nbsp;

Furthermore, his lawyers have argued that the industry backed by Standard Chartered and the bank and Grant Thornton have launched this attack on him as a part of a “scheme” to unfairly sue him in the UK which would benefit them, the report indicated.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-home-secretary-suella-braverman-steps-down-over-accidental-national-security-breach-526884">UK’s home secretary Suella Braverman steps down over ‘accidental’ national security breach</a>

However, the lawyer for Grant Thornton has reportedly accused Mehta of making up issues where there are not any. Meanwhile, the spokespeople for both companies have declined to comment on the story. The court is set to give its ruling in the coming weeks, said the report.&nbsp;

Mehta’s case was one of the most high-profile bank fraud cases in India’s diamond industry. A series of fraud allegations have reportedly left an $8 billion hole in the country’s banking system, said the report. The diamond industry in India is responsible for cutting and polishing at least 90% of the world’s supply.&nbsp;

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Jatin Mehta, a diamond and jewellery tycoon, is reportedly taking his fight to a London court in the UK to undo a worldwide freeze on his assets after bank fraud allegations.

Jatin Mehta, a diamond and jewellery tycoon, is reportedly taking his fight to a London court in the UK to undo a worldwide freeze on his assets after bank fraud allegations. According to sources, Mehta has been accused of swindling at least 15 money lenders in India out of more than $1 billion which led to a freezing order earlier this year in May. In a court filing last week Mehta’s lawyers alleged that the Indian unit of Standard Chartered and liquidation firm Grant Thornton have indulged in a “sleight of hand” to get the order from courts earlier this year and it is completely unjustified. The lead lawyer, Andrew Hunter, argued that Mehta is “as much the victim of what occurred as the consortium of banks,” said a report by Bloomberg. In 2013, the diamond tycoon was accused of falsely defaulting more than $1 billion in loans to two companies, Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery Ltd. and Forever Precious Diamonds & Jewellery Ltd. also owned by him which left 15 banks unpaid, said the report citing the court filings by lawyers for Grant Thornton. ALSO READ: Nirav Modi does possess means to flee UK, says judge during diamond merchant's bail plea hearing Furthermore, Mehta allegedly also laundered the cash through several firms across the world which was then used to fund the expansion of his laboratory-grown diamond business. According to court filings, Grant Thornton is also acting as a liquidator for the companies which Mehta allegedly used to launder the money and will return any amount recovered to the Indian lenders. On the other hand, Mehta has denied all allegations against him and said that his success in pioneering the business of lab-grown diamonds had threatened the already established diamond industry. The lab-grown diamonds in this case refer to a larger diamond developed from pieces of other diamonds after being exposed to extreme heat and pressure. Furthermore, his lawyers have argued that the industry backed by Standard Chartered and the bank and Grant Thornton have launched this attack on him as a part of a “scheme” to unfairly sue him in the UK which would benefit them, the report indicated. ALSO READ: UK’s home secretary Suella Braverman steps down over ‘accidental’ national security breach However, the lawyer for Grant Thornton has reportedly accused Mehta of making up issues where there are not any. Meanwhile, the spokespeople for both companies have declined to comment on the story. The court is set to give its ruling in the coming weeks, said the report. Mehta’s case was one of the most high-profile bank fraud cases in India’s diamond industry. A series of fraud allegations have reportedly left an $8 billion hole in the country’s banking system, said the report. The diamond industry in India is responsible for cutting and polishing at least 90% of the world’s supply. 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.

Report: Diamond tycoon Jatin Mehta moves UK court to unfreeze assets worldwide after fraud charges

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to begin his three-day official visit to India in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, on Tuesday (October 18). This will be the UN chief’s first visit since the commencement of his second term in January 2022, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement.&nbsp;

During his visit, he will also meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the launch of LiFE initiative in the state of Gujarat as well as hold bilateral discussions with external affairs minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar.&nbsp;

The statement also indicated that Guterres will begin his visit by paying tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai that took place in the year 2008. Subsequently, he will also give a public address at IIT Mumbai on the topic, “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-chief-praises-indian-vaccine-making-capacity-calls-it-an-asset-359994">UN chief praises Indian vaccine making capacity, calls it an asset</a>

The UN chief will also meet EAM S Jaishankar for bilateral discussions on the “issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through India’s upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism,” said the MEA. Notably, this is Guterres’ second visit to New Delhi, as he visited during his first term in October 2018.&nbsp;

On October 20, Guterres will visit the poll-bound Indian state of Gujarat in Ekta Nagar, Kevadiya where he will join PM Modi for the launch of the mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo and tagline. Subsequently, the UN secretary-general&nbsp;is also expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity while in Kevadiya.&nbsp;

According to the statement, Guterres will also visit development projects in the area including, India’s first solar-powered village in Gujarat’s Modhera. He will also be visiting the Sun Temple located in the village. This visit also comes ahead of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee meetings which India is set to host in Delhi and Mumbai, later this month.&nbsp;

What is the LiFE initiative?

In 2021, India’s signature initiative called Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) was first launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow. PM Modi had called upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive the initiative as an international mass movement towards, “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/life-to-net-zero-emissions-key-takeaways-from-pm-modis-historic-cop26-speech-426012">'LIFE' to 'net zero emissions: Key takeaways from PM Modi's historic COP26 speech</a>

The initiative will also showcase climate action and the early achievement of Sustainable Development Goals while the central idea reflects India’s ethos for Mother Nature, said the MEA statement. The aim is to mobilise one billion citizens to become “Pro-Planet people” (3P).&nbsp;

Even if one billion people from the eight people billion in the world are able to adopt daily environment-friendly behaviours, global emissions could be cut down by at least 20% indicated the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).&nbsp;

Earlier this year, in June, when it was first announced PM Modi had said, “In our daily life choices, let us pick the most sustainable options…India stands ready to support any effort for a better environment and to further global wellness. Our track record speaks for itself.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to begin his three-day official visit to India in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, on Tuesday (October 18).

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to begin his three-day official visit to India in the country’s financial capital, Mumbai, on Tuesday (October 18). This will be the UN chief’s first visit since the commencement of his second term in January 2022, said India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement. During his visit, he will also meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the launch of LiFE initiative in the state of Gujarat as well as hold bilateral discussions with external affairs minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar. The statement also indicated that Guterres will begin his visit by paying tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai that took place in the year 2008. Subsequently, he will also give a public address at IIT Mumbai on the topic, “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation”. ALSO READ: UN chief praises Indian vaccine making capacity, calls it an asset The UN chief will also meet EAM S Jaishankar for bilateral discussions on the “issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through India’s upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism,” said the MEA. Notably, this is Guterres’ second visit to New Delhi, as he visited during his first term in October 2018. On October 20, Guterres will visit the poll-bound Indian state of Gujarat in Ekta Nagar, Kevadiya where he will join PM Modi for the launch of the mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo and tagline. Subsequently, the UN secretary-general is also expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity while in Kevadiya. According to the statement, Guterres will also visit development projects in the area including, India’s first solar-powered village in Gujarat’s Modhera. He will also be visiting the Sun Temple located in the village. This visit also comes ahead of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee meetings which India is set to host in Delhi and Mumbai, later this month. What is the LiFE initiative? In 2021, India’s signature initiative called Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) was first launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP26 in Glasgow. PM Modi had called upon the global community of individuals and institutions to drive the initiative as an international mass movement towards, “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment. ALSO READ: 'LIFE' to 'net zero emissions: Key takeaways from PM Modi's historic COP26 speech The initiative will also showcase climate action and the early achievement of Sustainable Development Goals while the central idea reflects India’s ethos for Mother Nature, said the MEA statement. The aim is to mobilise one billion citizens to become “Pro-Planet people” (3P). Even if one billion people from the eight people billion in the world are able to adopt daily environment-friendly behaviours, global emissions could be cut down by at least 20% indicated the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Earlier this year, in June, when it was first announced PM Modi had said, “In our daily life choices, let us pick the most sustainable options…India stands ready to support any effort for a better environment and to further global wellness. Our track record speaks for itself.” (With inputs from agencies)

India: UN chief Antonio Guterres to meet PM Modi, foreign minister Jaishankar during official visit

After a gap of 25 years, India is hosting an Interpol meeting. The 90th edition of the Interpol General Assembly meeting is currently being held in the nation's capital, New Delhi.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, speaking at the meeting which is being attended by 195 countries, the Indian Prime Minister in his speech said that India is a case study for the world in upholding diversity and democracy.

"In upholding diversity and democracy, India is a case study for the world. Over the last 99 years, Interpol has connected police organizations globally in 195 countries. This is despite differences in the legal framework."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/two-non-local-labourers-killed-in-south-kashmir-attack-police-arrests-two-let-terrorists-526356" hreflang="en">Two non-local labourers killed in South Kashmir attack, police arrests two LeT terrorists</a>

Calling attention to the fact that 2023 marks the 100th year anniversary of the organisation, Modi said "The Interpol is approaching a historic milestone."&nbsp;

"Terrorism has developed a new form of online radicalism and digital fraud. All countries are working on developing strategies to address this form of terrorism," he said&nbsp;adding&nbsp;that "This is a call for universal cooperation to make the world a better place. India is one of the top contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Operations. From climate targets to COVID vaccines, India has shown the willingness to take the lead in any crisis."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-six-people-including-two-pilots-die-in-a-helicoper-crash-in-kedarnath-526359" hreflang="en">India: Six people, including two pilots die in a helicoper crash in Kedarnath</a>

As per ANI, he also lauded the global police forces stating that they are the frontline responders during any crisis in the world.

The four-day event is being held from October 18-21 in New Delhi. 195 member countries are participating in the gathering of Ministers, police and intelligence chiefs of countries and heads of national central bureaus, and senior police officers are attending the event.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After a gap of 25 years, India is hosting an Interpol meeting. The 90th edition of the Interpol General Assembly meeting is currently being held in the nation's capital, New Delhi.

After a gap of 25 years, India is hosting an Interpol meeting. The 90th edition of the Interpol General Assembly meeting is currently being held in the nation's capital, New Delhi. On Tuesday, speaking at the meeting which is being attended by 195 countries, the Indian Prime Minister in his speech said that India is a case study for the world in upholding diversity and democracy. "In upholding diversity and democracy, India is a case study for the world. Over the last 99 years, Interpol has connected police organizations globally in 195 countries. This is despite differences in the legal framework." Also read | Two non-local labourers killed in South Kashmir attack, police arrests two LeT terrorists Calling attention to the fact that 2023 marks the 100th year anniversary of the organisation, Modi said "The Interpol is approaching a historic milestone." "Terrorism has developed a new form of online radicalism and digital fraud. All countries are working on developing strategies to address this form of terrorism," he said adding that "This is a call for universal cooperation to make the world a better place. India is one of the top contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Operations. From climate targets to COVID vaccines, India has shown the willingness to take the lead in any crisis." Also read | India: Six people, including two pilots die in a helicoper crash in Kedarnath As per ANI, he also lauded the global police forces stating that they are the frontline responders during any crisis in the world. The four-day event is being held from October 18-21 in New Delhi. 195 member countries are participating in the gathering of Ministers, police and intelligence chiefs of countries and heads of national central bureaus, and senior police officers are attending the event. (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.

Safe, secure world is shared responsibility; India a leader 'in upholding diversity and democracy': PM Modi 

On Monday, India’s Union Law and Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju, indicated that President Draupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). The decision will take effect from November 9 and Justice Chandrachud will take over as the 50th CJI.&nbsp;

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In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon'ble President appoints Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 9th November, 22.
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) <a href="https://twitter.com/KirenRijiju/status/1581996371628134400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

This comes upon the recommendation of the outgoing incumbent, CJI Uday Umesh Lalit on October 11, said reports. According to media reports, Dr Chandrachud will formally take the oath on November 9 and his tenure as the CJI will be till November 10, 2024. It is the longest term a CJI has served in the recent past, said Live Law.&nbsp;

Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud graduated with his LLB from Delhi University and went on to study at Harvard after earning the Inlaks Scholarship from where he earned his Masters in Law (LLM) and Doctorate in Juridical Sciences at Harvard (SJD). According to media reports, his father, Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud was the 16th CJI and the longest-serving CJI in Indian history having served more than seven years from 1978 to 1985.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

On Monday, India’s Union Law and Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju, indicated that President Draupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).

On Monday, India’s Union Law and Justice Minister, Kiren Rijiju, indicated that President Draupadi Murmu has appointed Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). The decision will take effect from November 9 and Justice Chandrachud will take over as the 50th CJI. In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon'ble President appoints Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 9th November, 22. — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) October 17, 2022 × This comes upon the recommendation of the outgoing incumbent, CJI Uday Umesh Lalit on October 11, said reports. According to media reports, Dr Chandrachud will formally take the oath on November 9 and his tenure as the CJI will be till November 10, 2024. It is the longest term a CJI has served in the recent past, said Live Law. Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud graduated with his LLB from Delhi University and went on to study at Harvard after earning the Inlaks Scholarship from where he earned his Masters in Law (LLM) and Doctorate in Juridical Sciences at Harvard (SJD). According to media reports, his father, Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud was the 16th CJI and the longest-serving CJI in Indian history having served more than seven years from 1978 to 1985. (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.

President appoints Justice DY Chandrachud as the new Chief Justice of India

India's state-run Oil &amp; Gas explorer and producer 'Bharat Petroleum' aims to convert 7,000 of its conventional retail outlets into energy stations providing multiple fuelling options. In the medium to long term, this will also include the facility to charge electric vehicles (EVs).

The Fortune Global 500 company plans to provide EV charging stations of CCS-2 standard at its fuel pumps at periodic intervals on all major national highways connecting major cities and economic centres in the country.

As part of this initiative, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has already set up 25 kilowatts, EV fast-charging corridors in the southern part of India.

The first phase comprised the Chennai-Trichy-Madurai route in Tamil Nadu and the second phase is implemented on the highway connecting Bangalore-Chennai and Bangalore-Mysore-Coorg route.&nbsp;

Speaking at the launch of the EV Fast-Charging Corridors, PS Ravi, executive director in-charge (retail), BPCL said, “The growth of Indian electric vehicle market has been significant over the years and the launch of our EV fast-charging corridors on the Bangalore-Chennai Highway and Bangalore-Mysore-Coorg Highway is aligned with India’s EV dream of transitioning to cleaner alternatives."

"Our leading edge in providing “superior” solution and experiences will serve our EV customers along the two new corridors and will provide a 'Pure for Sure' experience in this exciting journey of electric mobility," added Ravi.&nbsp;

The fast chargers follow the CCS-2 protocol and are strategically located at nine of its fuel stations with an approximate distance of 100 km on both sides of the aforementioned routes.

According to the company, the 25 kW fast charger will enable customers to charge their EVs in about 30 minutes and thereby gain a travel range of up to 125 km. The fast charger can be self-operated without any manual assistance. However, support staff help will be available, if and when needed.

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India's state-run Oil & Gas explorer and producer 'Bharat Petroleum' aims to convert 7,000 of its conventional retail outlets into energy stations providing multiple fuelling options.

India's state-run Oil & Gas explorer and producer 'Bharat Petroleum' aims to convert 7,000 of its conventional retail outlets into energy stations providing multiple fuelling options. In the medium to long term, this will also include the facility to charge electric vehicles (EVs). The Fortune Global 500 company plans to provide EV charging stations of CCS-2 standard at its fuel pumps at periodic intervals on all major national highways connecting major cities and economic centres in the country. As part of this initiative, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has already set up 25 kilowatts, EV fast-charging corridors in the southern part of India. The first phase comprised the Chennai-Trichy-Madurai route in Tamil Nadu and the second phase is implemented on the highway connecting Bangalore-Chennai and Bangalore-Mysore-Coorg route. Speaking at the launch of the EV Fast-Charging Corridors, PS Ravi, executive director in-charge (retail), BPCL said, “The growth of Indian electric vehicle market has been significant over the years and the launch of our EV fast-charging corridors on the Bangalore-Chennai Highway and Bangalore-Mysore-Coorg Highway is aligned with India’s EV dream of transitioning to cleaner alternatives." "Our leading edge in providing “superior” solution and experiences will serve our EV customers along the two new corridors and will provide a 'Pure for Sure' experience in this exciting journey of electric mobility," added Ravi. The fast chargers follow the CCS-2 protocol and are strategically located at nine of its fuel stations with an approximate distance of 100 km on both sides of the aforementioned routes. According to the company, the 25 kW fast charger will enable customers to charge their EVs in about 30 minutes and thereby gain a travel range of up to 125 km. The fast charger can be self-operated without any manual assistance. However, support staff help will be available, if and when needed. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: State-run 'Bharat Petroleum' aims to offer EV charging at 7000 fuel stations across country

The Dornier-228 Maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy made history by performing a night landing at the country's only airstrip in the Lakshadweep archipelago, on the western seaboard.

The Dornier-228 Maritime patrol aircraft of the Indian Navy made history by performing a night landing at the country's only airstrip in the Lakshadweep archipelago, on the western seaboard. Located nearly 460 kilometres west of Kerala's Kochi city, the Agatti atoll houses the lone airstrip available in the union territory of Lakshadweep. While the airstrip there, operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was inaugurated in April 1988 for the operation of Dornier-228, the operations were extended to the ATR-72 aircraft in September 2010. However, owing to the short runway length and limited airfield services available, both civil and military aircraft operated only during daylight hours. The successful night trials paves way for future operations of DO-228 aircraft from this airfield by night & will boost @indiannavy's efforts towards round the clock #maritime surveillance & support to the islands.(2/2)@DefenceMinIndia@indiannavy@SpokespersonMoD@prafulkpatel pic.twitter.com/inTobHjuWw — PRO Defence Kochi (@DefencePROkochi) October 14, 2022 × Under the aegis of the Indian Navy, the Southern Naval Command (the lone training command of the Indian Navy) took the initiative to overcome this limitation and worked with AAI and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The maiden night landing was successfully carried out on October 13. As part of the trials, multiple approaches and landings were carried out from both sides of the runway to validate the suitability of operations. Read more: ISRO to launch 36 'OneWeb' satellites in maiden commercial flight of GSLV Mk III on Oct. 23 The successful night trials would enable future night operations of the Navy's Dornier-228 aircraft and boost the Navy's efforts towards round-the-clock maritime surveillance and support to the islands. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Navy's Dornier patrol aircraft makes maiden night landing at Lakshadweep archipelago

Terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit in the Choudary Gund area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday. The deceased Kashmiri Pandit has been identified as Pooran Krishan Bhat, son of Tarak Nath Bhat.&nbsp;

Terrorists shot Bhat when he was present in the lawn of his house.&nbsp;He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.&nbsp;

“Terrorists fired upon a civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on way to orchard in Chowdary Gund Shopian. He was immediately shifted to hospital where he succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progress,” said Vijay Kumar, ADGP, Kashmir Police.&nbsp;

Pooran Krishan Bhat (42) is survived by his wife Sweety and two children.&nbsp;

“Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished," tweeted Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha.

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Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished.
— Office of LG J&amp;K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfLGJandK/status/1581211978856812544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The area has been cordoned off by security forces and a search for the attackers has been started. Jammu and Kashmir Police DIG Sujit Kumar visited the terror incident spot.

"The unfortunate incident has happened here.&nbsp; The terror group 'Kashmir freedom fighters' has taken responsibility for the attack. We are investigating the matter and have launched massive manhunt to nab the terrorists," said DIG Kumar.&nbsp;

"As per eyewitness, one terrorist was seen attacking the Kashmiri Pandit Pooran Kishan Bhat but there is a possibility that there could be some more terrorists involved in the attack," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-armys-assault-dog-zoom-succumbs-to-his-injuries-525095">Read more:&nbsp;Indian Army’s assault dog 'Zoom' succumbs to gunshot injuries sustained in terror operation</a>

On being asked about the security lapse, DIG admitted that the terrorists managed to attack despite a security guard in place and an army camp nearby. The DIG added that they would look at all the angles and take action if any dereliction of duty was found.

Many condemned the attack, including the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Nasir ul lslam.

''The killing of Kashmiri Pandit is deplorable. Such acts cannot be accepted and will disturb the peace and harmony of Kashmir. The killing of any innocent human is killing all humanity. I stand behind the family of the deceased and express my sympathy with them,' said Mufti Nasir ul lslam.&nbsp;

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Terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit in the Choudary Gund area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday. The deceased Kashmiri Pandit has been identified as Pooran Krishan Bhat, son of Tarak Nath Bhat.

Terrorists shot dead a Kashmiri Pandit in the Choudary Gund area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday. The deceased Kashmiri Pandit has been identified as Pooran Krishan Bhat, son of Tarak Nath Bhat. Terrorists shot Bhat when he was present in the lawn of his house. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to the injuries. “Terrorists fired upon a civilian (minority) Shri Puran Krishan Bhat while he was on way to orchard in Chowdary Gund Shopian. He was immediately shifted to hospital where he succumbed. Area cordoned off. Search in progress,” said Vijay Kumar, ADGP, Kashmir Police. Pooran Krishan Bhat (42) is survived by his wife Sweety and two children. “Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished," tweeted Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha. Attack on Puran Krishan Bhat by terrorists in Shopian is a dastardly act of cowardice. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. I assure the people that the perpetrators and those aiding and abetting terrorists will be severely punished. — Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) October 15, 2022 × The area has been cordoned off by security forces and a search for the attackers has been started. Jammu and Kashmir Police DIG Sujit Kumar visited the terror incident spot. "The unfortunate incident has happened here. The terror group 'Kashmir freedom fighters' has taken responsibility for the attack. We are investigating the matter and have launched massive manhunt to nab the terrorists," said DIG Kumar. "As per eyewitness, one terrorist was seen attacking the Kashmiri Pandit Pooran Kishan Bhat but there is a possibility that there could be some more terrorists involved in the attack," he added. Read more: Indian Army’s assault dog 'Zoom' succumbs to gunshot injuries sustained in terror operation On being asked about the security lapse, DIG admitted that the terrorists managed to attack despite a security guard in place and an army camp nearby. The DIG added that they would look at all the angles and take action if any dereliction of duty was found. Many condemned the attack, including the Grand Mufti of Kashmir, Mufti Nasir ul lslam. ''The killing of Kashmiri Pandit is deplorable. Such acts cannot be accepted and will disturb the peace and harmony of Kashmir. The killing of any innocent human is killing all humanity. I stand behind the family of the deceased and express my sympathy with them,' said Mufti Nasir ul lslam. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Another Kashmiri Pandit shot dead by terrorists in South Kashmir

A court in India's Varanasi&nbsp;has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that&nbsp;was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises.

PTI reports&nbsp;that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-mosque-case-verdict-indian-court-admits-hindu-womens-plea-seeking-right-to-worship-515355">Gyanvapi Mosque case verdict: Indian court admits&nbsp;Hindu petitioners' plea seeking right to worship</a>

The plea cited the Supreme Court of India's directive to keep the 'shivling' safe, so that no tampering could be done and sought scientific investigation and carbon dating of the idol.

The 'shivling' was discovered in&nbsp;the 'wazookhana,' a tiny pond used by Muslim worshipers to perform ablutions before namaz,&nbsp;during court-ordered search and videography&nbsp;of the mosque premises.

The mosque committee opposed carbon dating while four of the five Hindu parties supported it. The mosque committee argued that the Supreme Court had directed the Varanasi district magistrate to keep the object secure and that it would not be appropriate to have it inspected in these circumstances.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gyanvapi-row-indian-court-defers-hearing-on-carbon-dating-of-shivling-next-hearing-on-october-11-523291">Gyanvapi row: Indian court defers order on carbon dating of 'shivling' structure</a>

Talking to reporters, the Hindu side's lawyer, Madan Mohan Yadav, disclosed that they will now approach the High Court.

"The judge has rejected our demand of seeking carbon dating. We are waiting for the order copy. The option of going to the High Court is available to us and we will place our point before higher court," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A court in India's Varanasi has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. PTI reports that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners.

A court in India's Varanasi has rejected the plea for carbon dating of the 'shivling' that was found inside the Gyanvapi mosque premises. PTI reports that the presiding District Judge A K Vishvesha turned down the plea after hearing both sides: the mosque committee and Hindu petitioners. Also read | Gyanvapi Mosque case verdict: Indian court admits Hindu petitioners' plea seeking right to worship The plea cited the Supreme Court of India's directive to keep the 'shivling' safe, so that no tampering could be done and sought scientific investigation and carbon dating of the idol. The 'shivling' was discovered in the 'wazookhana,' a tiny pond used by Muslim worshipers to perform ablutions before namaz, during court-ordered search and videography of the mosque premises. The mosque committee opposed carbon dating while four of the five Hindu parties supported it. The mosque committee argued that the Supreme Court had directed the Varanasi district magistrate to keep the object secure and that it would not be appropriate to have it inspected in these circumstances. Also read | Gyanvapi row: Indian court defers order on carbon dating of 'shivling' structure Talking to reporters, the Hindu side's lawyer, Madan Mohan Yadav, disclosed that they will now approach the High Court. "The judge has rejected our demand of seeking carbon dating. We are waiting for the order copy. The option of going to the High Court is available to us and we will place our point before higher court," he said. (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: Varanasi court rejects plea for carbon dating of 'shivling' found at Gyanvapi mosque

A video of an official from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh which is reeling from floods is making rounds on social media and has drawn criticism from many. The official in question is the state’s Ambedkar Nagar District Magistrate (DM), Samuel Paul, who is heard saying that the government is not running a door-to-door service like Zomato, while addressing flood-hit locals.&nbsp;

The DM in the clip is referring to India’s restaurant aggregator and food delivery company Zomato which provides door-to-door service. “If you need, you will be provided with chlorine tablets, and a doctor will come to see when one falls sick, this is the reason why flood posts (baadh chowki) are established. We are not running any Zomato service, the government is not running Zomato.”

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You will stay at home and expect us to deliver there? The government is not running Zomato service: UP's Ambedkar Nagar District Magistrate Samuel Paul M. 
 
Video via <a href="https://twitter.com/sengarlive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sengarlive</a><a href="https://t.co/YccvDwQX5a">pic.twitter.com/YccvDwQX5a</a>
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&nbsp;

Earlier this week in a high-level meeting the state’s chief minister &nbsp;Yogi Adityanath, ordered to keep the District Control Room operational 24×7 under the Joint Magistrate level officers for relief and rehabilitation work in all the districts affected by heavy rains and floods, the media reported. In the past few days, the state has witnessed heavy rains across several regions and reportedly flood water started to enter people’s homes.&nbsp;

The CM also instructed officials in multiple districts including Ambedkar Nagar to stay alert for the possibility of floods. “Immediate help should be provided to the common people in the flood-affected areas. There should be no delay in the distribution of relief packets. There should be adequate arrangements for lighting etc. in relief camps,” said the UP CM in a statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

 
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A video of an official from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh which is reeling from floods is making rounds on social media and has drawn criticism from many. The official in question is the state’s Ambedkar Nagar District Magistrate (DM), Samuel Paul, who is heard saying that the government is not running a door-to-door service like Zomato, while addressing flood-hit locals.

A video of an official from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh which is reeling from floods is making rounds on social media and has drawn criticism from many. The official in question is the state’s Ambedkar Nagar District Magistrate (DM), Samuel Paul, who is heard saying that the government is not running a door-to-door service like Zomato, while addressing flood-hit locals. The DM in the clip is referring to India’s restaurant aggregator and food delivery company Zomato which provides door-to-door service. “If you need, you will be provided with chlorine tablets, and a doctor will come to see when one falls sick, this is the reason why flood posts (baadh chowki) are established. We are not running any Zomato service, the government is not running Zomato.” You will stay at home and expect us to deliver there? The government is not running Zomato service: UP's Ambedkar Nagar District Magistrate Samuel Paul M. Video via @sengarlivepic.twitter.com/YccvDwQX5a — Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) October 13, 2022 × Earlier this week in a high-level meeting the state’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath, ordered to keep the District Control Room operational 24×7 under the Joint Magistrate level officers for relief and rehabilitation work in all the districts affected by heavy rains and floods, the media reported. In the past few days, the state has witnessed heavy rains across several regions and reportedly flood water started to enter people’s homes. The CM also instructed officials in multiple districts including Ambedkar Nagar to stay alert for the possibility of floods. “Immediate help should be provided to the common people in the flood-affected areas. There should be no delay in the distribution of relief packets. There should be adequate arrangements for lighting etc. in relief camps,” said the UP CM in a statement. (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.

WATCH: ‘Govt is not running Zomato, says district official to flood-hit locals in India, draws criticism

On Wednesday, the top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official during a press briefing described India’s implementation of a direct cash transfer scheme and other similar social welfare programmes as a “logistical marvel” given the sheer size of the country.&nbsp;

These remarks were made by IMF’s Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, Paolo Mauro, who was responding to a question on the direct cash transfer programme, successfully implemented by the Indian government.&nbsp;

“From India, there is a lot to learn. There is a lot to learn from some other examples around the world. We have examples from pretty much every continent and every level of income. If I look at the case of India, it is actually quite impressive” said Mauro, according to media reports.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/no-more-funding-from-india-to-sri-lanka-as-imf-talks-progress-sources-516652">No more funding from India to Sri Lanka as IMF talks progress: Sources</a>

He added, “In fact, just because of the sheer size of the country, it is a logistical marvel how these programmes that seek to help people who are at low-income levels reach literally hundreds of millions of people.” The IMF official was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (WBG).

According to sources, he also noted that there are several programmes specifically for women and other additional programmes that target farmers and the elderly. He added, “Perhaps the interesting part is that in these examples, there is a lot of technological innovation,” and highlighted the use of a unique identification system, the Aadhaar, in making the cash transfer scheme a success in India.&nbsp;

“But in other countries, also, there is greater use of sending money through mobile banking to people who actually do not have a whole lot of money, but they have a cell phone”, noted the IMF official.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imf-cuts-2023-global-growth-to-27-india-set-to-be-one-of-fastest-growing-economies-524489">IMF cuts 2023 global growth to 2.7%, India set to be one of fastest-growing economies</a>

He added, “So being somewhat innovative in identifying people, in processing their applications for transfers through digital means, deploying funds through, again, mobile banking. This is something that countries can learn from each other. We also try here to be a little bit of a convening place where people can compare these types of experiences.”

On the other hand, Vitor Gaspar, IMF’s Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, said that they are collaborating with India in this context, as it is “as one of the most inspiring examples of the application of technology to solve very complicated issues of targeting support to the people who need it most.”&nbsp;

According to reports, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) transfers benefits and subsidies of various social welfare schemes are directly credited to the beneficiary's bank account periodically, bypassing the need for an intermediary body. More than Rs 24.8 lakh crore have been transferred through DBT since 2013, indicated the government data. Additionally, over 90 lakh DBT payments are processed daily, said media reports, citing government data.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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On Wednesday, the top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official during a press briefing described India’s implementation of a direct cash transfer scheme and other similar social welfare programmes as a “logistical marvel” given the sheer size of the country.

On Wednesday, the top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official during a press briefing described India’s implementation of a direct cash transfer scheme and other similar social welfare programmes as a “logistical marvel” given the sheer size of the country. These remarks were made by IMF’s Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, Paolo Mauro, who was responding to a question on the direct cash transfer programme, successfully implemented by the Indian government. “From India, there is a lot to learn. There is a lot to learn from some other examples around the world. We have examples from pretty much every continent and every level of income. If I look at the case of India, it is actually quite impressive” said Mauro, according to media reports. ALSO READ: No more funding from India to Sri Lanka as IMF talks progress: Sources He added, “In fact, just because of the sheer size of the country, it is a logistical marvel how these programmes that seek to help people who are at low-income levels reach literally hundreds of millions of people.” The IMF official was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group (WBG). According to sources, he also noted that there are several programmes specifically for women and other additional programmes that target farmers and the elderly. He added, “Perhaps the interesting part is that in these examples, there is a lot of technological innovation,” and highlighted the use of a unique identification system, the Aadhaar, in making the cash transfer scheme a success in India. “But in other countries, also, there is greater use of sending money through mobile banking to people who actually do not have a whole lot of money, but they have a cell phone”, noted the IMF official. ALSO READ: IMF cuts 2023 global growth to 2.7%, India set to be one of fastest-growing economies He added, “So being somewhat innovative in identifying people, in processing their applications for transfers through digital means, deploying funds through, again, mobile banking. This is something that countries can learn from each other. We also try here to be a little bit of a convening place where people can compare these types of experiences.” On the other hand, Vitor Gaspar, IMF’s Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department, said that they are collaborating with India in this context, as it is “as one of the most inspiring examples of the application of technology to solve very complicated issues of targeting support to the people who need it most.” According to reports, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) transfers benefits and subsidies of various social welfare schemes are directly credited to the beneficiary's bank account periodically, bypassing the need for an intermediary body. More than Rs 24.8 lakh crore have been transferred through DBT since 2013, indicated the government data. Additionally, over 90 lakh DBT payments are processed daily, said media reports, citing government data. (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.

‘A lot to learn’ from India: IMF praises direct cash transfer and other government schemes

A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam,&nbsp;in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned&nbsp;extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam,&nbsp;were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual. It is also suspected by the cops that one of the victim's mortal remains were cannibalised by the accused. &nbsp;

In&nbsp;the last week of September, police in Kerala's Kochi city received a complaint regarding a woman going missing. The complaint was filed by the kin of Padmam, a 52-year-old woman who sold lottery tickets in the city. Padmam had reportedly gone missing on September 26th.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Investigation revealed that Padmam had been in touch with Muhammad Shafi alias Rasheed, who was running an eatery. Shafi is said to have had a criminal record and was already facing serious charges of rape, attempted murder and theft among others. Based on CCTV evidence and call records, police came to know how Shafi got in touch with Padmam and lured her by offering her easy money and took&nbsp;her with him in a car.&nbsp;

Finally, police were led to a house in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. This was the residence of Bhagwal Singh and his wife Laila. The duo was in financial trouble and Shafi had exploited their vulnerability. He is said to have won over their confidence and impressed upon them about 'human sacrifice' would end their troubles and bring prosperity. It was here that the trio carried out the gruesome murder (details of which are known, but are purposely being withheld in this report due to their excessive gory nature) of Padmam in late September.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-breathtaking-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2022-524779">In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022</a>

Further, the cops are also said to have understood that Roslin, another lottery vendor who went missing around June, had also suffered the same fate at the hands of the trio, around June 6th. Like Padmam, Roslin also made ends meet by selling lottery ticket in Kochi and is believed to have fallen prey to Shafi's approach and offer for easy money.&nbsp;

The mortal remains suspected to be of the two victims were exhumed from the residence of Bhagwal Singh and Laila, on Tuesday. The three accused were remanded to judicial custody till October 26th&nbsp;by a court in Kochi. The police are expected to seek their custody in the coming days.&nbsp;

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A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam, were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual.

A police probe that was initiated to trace a missing woman, Padmam, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has turned extremely gory and murky. After having arrested three accused in the case, the police have learnt that two middle-aged women, Roslin and Padmam, were lured into a trap on the pretext of earning easy money and then killed brutally as part of 'human sacrifice' ritual. It is also suspected by the cops that one of the victim's mortal remains were cannibalised by the accused. In the last week of September, police in Kerala's Kochi city received a complaint regarding a woman going missing. The complaint was filed by the kin of Padmam, a 52-year-old woman who sold lottery tickets in the city. Padmam had reportedly gone missing on September 26th. Investigation revealed that Padmam had been in touch with Muhammad Shafi alias Rasheed, who was running an eatery. Shafi is said to have had a criminal record and was already facing serious charges of rape, attempted murder and theft among others. Based on CCTV evidence and call records, police came to know how Shafi got in touch with Padmam and lured her by offering her easy money and took her with him in a car. Finally, police were led to a house in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. This was the residence of Bhagwal Singh and his wife Laila. The duo was in financial trouble and Shafi had exploited their vulnerability. He is said to have won over their confidence and impressed upon them about 'human sacrifice' would end their troubles and bring prosperity. It was here that the trio carried out the gruesome murder (details of which are known, but are purposely being withheld in this report due to their excessive gory nature) of Padmam in late September. Also Read: In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022 Further, the cops are also said to have understood that Roslin, another lottery vendor who went missing around June, had also suffered the same fate at the hands of the trio, around June 6th. Like Padmam, Roslin also made ends meet by selling lottery ticket in Kochi and is believed to have fallen prey to Shafi's approach and offer for easy money. The mortal remains suspected to be of the two victims were exhumed from the residence of Bhagwal Singh and Laila, on Tuesday. The three accused were remanded to judicial custody till October 26th by a court in Kochi. The police are expected to seek their custody in the coming days.

India: Kerala 'human sacrifice' case gets gory, cannibalism angle being probed

Slender Loris are small nocturnal mammals that largely spend their lives on trees. Native to southern India and Sri Lanka, the mammal is an endangered animal as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

It feeds on pests that are harmful to agricultural crops, and hence plays a crucial role as a predator. The species performs a wide range of ecological roles in the terrestrial ecosystem.&nbsp;

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India's 1st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SlenderLorris?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SlenderLorris</a> Sanctuary, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kadavur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kadavur</a> to have 11,806 hectares of land (in 7 blocks) in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karur</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dindigul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dindigul</a> dist of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> u/S 26(A)(1)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 
 
SlenderLoris is an Endangered, nocturnal species tht lives on trees, feeds on pests <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNGovt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNGovt</a> <a href="https://t.co/tn8MhOP6we">pic.twitter.com/tn8MhOP6we</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1580186085484679168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On Wednesday, the southern Tamil Nadu state government notified the country's first-ever sanctuary dedicated to this arboreal animal.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forest, has notified 11,806 hectares of forest areas in Karur and Dindigul districts, in the southern Indian state as the country's first Slender Loris Sanctuary.

According to the Tamil Nadu government,&nbsp;Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, which spans 7 blocks in Karur and Dindigul districts, has notified under Section 26(A) (1) (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.&nbsp;

In recent months, the Tamil Nadu government had also announced to notify India's first Dugong Conservation reserve in the Palk Bay, the narrow strip of sea that connects India's Tamil Nadu and the Indian Ocean littoral nation Sri Lanka. In addition to this, bird sanctuaries, elephant reserves etc. have also been notified during the last year and a half.

Slender Loris are small nocturnal mammals that largely spend their lives on trees. Native to southern India and Sri Lanka, the mammal is an endangered animal as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Slender Loris are small nocturnal mammals that largely spend their lives on trees. Native to southern India and Sri Lanka, the mammal is an endangered animal as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It feeds on pests that are harmful to agricultural crops, and hence plays a crucial role as a predator. The species performs a wide range of ecological roles in the terrestrial ecosystem. India's 1st #SlenderLorris Sanctuary, #kadavur to have 11,806 hectares of land (in 7 blocks) in #Karur & #Dindigul dist of #TamilNadu u/S 26(A)(1)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 SlenderLoris is an Endangered, nocturnal species tht lives on trees, feeds on pests #TNGovt pic.twitter.com/tn8MhOP6we — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 12, 2022 × On Wednesday, the southern Tamil Nadu state government notified the country's first-ever sanctuary dedicated to this arboreal animal. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forest, has notified 11,806 hectares of forest areas in Karur and Dindigul districts, in the southern Indian state as the country's first Slender Loris Sanctuary. According to the Tamil Nadu government, Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary, which spans 7 blocks in Karur and Dindigul districts, has notified under Section 26(A) (1) (b) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In recent months, the Tamil Nadu government had also announced to notify India's first Dugong Conservation reserve in the Palk Bay, the narrow strip of sea that connects India's Tamil Nadu and the Indian Ocean littoral nation Sri Lanka. In addition to this, bird sanctuaries, elephant reserves etc. have also been notified during the last year and a half.

India's first Slender Loris sanctuary to come up in this state

With only a few days left for the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the security officials have intensified crackdown on unscrupulous elements and turned Beijing into a virtual fortress.&nbsp;In other news, a&nbsp;report indicates&nbsp;that Intel’s divisions like sales and marketing could see cuts, affecting at least 20% of the staff.

Click on the headlines to read more:

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-intensifies-security-ahead-of-20th-ccp-congress-arrests-over-14-million-criminals-524783">China intensifies security ahead of 20th CCP congress, arrests over 1.4 million ‘criminals’</a>
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This year’s CCP meeting, which is scheduled to take place on October 16, is significant for China, as President Xi Jinping is all set to be elected for an unprecedented third five-year term—a feat only achieved by modern China’s founder Mao Zedong.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/report-intel-plans-to-layoff-thousands-in-workforce-amid-pc-market-slowdown-524809">Report: Intel plans to layoff thousands in workforce amid PC market slowdown</a>
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According to a Bloomberg report, published earlier today, Intel Corp is planning a major reduction in workforce to cope with the slowdown in the personal computer market. The layoffs may be announced within this month around the time of its third-quarter earnings report on October 27, claimed the report citing people with knowledge on the matter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-commission-recommends-candidate-status-for-bosnia-and-herzegovina-524848">EU Commission recommends candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina</a>
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The European Commission said on Wednesday that it has recommended granting European Union candidate member status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The news came amid controversies relating to the governance in the nation, but the EU has said that the membership depends on future reforms.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leak-detected-in-polish-part-of-druzhba-pipeline-between-russia-and-germany-524684">Leak in Russia-Europe Druzhba pipeline, looks like ‘accident’, says Polish operator</a>
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A leak has been detected on Tuesday evening by Polish pipeline operator PERN in one line of the Druzhba pipeline, which carries oil from Russia to Europe, the operator said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-nord-stream-leaks-result-of-international-terrorism-524829">Putin says Nord Stream leaks result of 'international terrorism'</a>
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On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said that "international terrorism" was to blame for leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia and Europe, which would be advantageous to the United States, Poland, and Ukraine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-liberal-leader-wang-yang-seen-as-top-contender-to-be-next-premier-524792">China: 'Liberal' leader Wang Yang seen as top contender to be next premier</a>
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The man currently seen as a leading contender to become China's next premier, Wang Yang, had a liberal tendency when he was the Chinese Communist Party leader of economic powerhouse Guangdong province, but it has been less apparent since Xi Jinping entered office.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-humanoid-robot-ai-da-addresses-house-of-lords-in-uk-524802">Watch: Humanoid robot 'Ai-Da' addresses House of Lords in UK</a>
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On Tuesday, a distinguished speaker addressed the UK Parliament. Ai-Da, a humanoid robot, spoke before the House of Lords about whether artificial intelligence (AI) threatens the creative sector. According to a Daily Mail article, the robot encountered a technical issue and had to be restarted after dozing off.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-reclaims-five-settlements-in-russia-annexed-kherson-region-524839">Ukraine reclaims five settlements in Russia-annexed Kherson region</a>
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Ukraine has claimed that its forces recaptured five settlements in the southern annexed Kherson region during the ongoing counteroffensive against the Russian forces.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-orders-pharma-firm-to-stop-production-after-gambia-infant-deaths-524787">India orders pharma firm to stop production after Gambia infant deaths</a>
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Anil Vij, the minister of health for Haryana, announced on Wednesday that the state has decided to "completely stop" Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sonipat from producing any further drugs.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-alaskas-fat-bear-week-contest-emerges-from-voting-scandal-announces-the-winner-524766">US: Alaska’s Fat Bear Week contest emerges from voting scandal, announces the winner</a>
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A contest held by the Katmai National Park to determine the fattest bear in southern Alaska, during Fat Bear Week was rocked by a scandal when over the weekend organisers saw voting irregularities during the online ballot.&nbsp;

With only a few days left for the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the security officials have intensified crackdown on unscrupulous elements and turned Beijing into a virtual fortress.

With only a few days left for the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the security officials have intensified crackdown on unscrupulous elements and turned Beijing into a virtual fortress. In other news, a report indicates that Intel’s divisions like sales and marketing could see cuts, affecting at least 20% of the staff. Click on the headlines to read more: China intensifies security ahead of 20th CCP congress, arrests over 1.4 million ‘criminals’ This year’s CCP meeting, which is scheduled to take place on October 16, is significant for China, as President Xi Jinping is all set to be elected for an unprecedented third five-year term—a feat only achieved by modern China’s founder Mao Zedong. Report: Intel plans to layoff thousands in workforce amid PC market slowdown According to a Bloomberg report, published earlier today, Intel Corp is planning a major reduction in workforce to cope with the slowdown in the personal computer market. The layoffs may be announced within this month around the time of its third-quarter earnings report on October 27, claimed the report citing people with knowledge on the matter. EU Commission recommends candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina The European Commission said on Wednesday that it has recommended granting European Union candidate member status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The news came amid controversies relating to the governance in the nation, but the EU has said that the membership depends on future reforms. Leak in Russia-Europe Druzhba pipeline, looks like ‘accident’, says Polish operator A leak has been detected on Tuesday evening by Polish pipeline operator PERN in one line of the Druzhba pipeline, which carries oil from Russia to Europe, the operator said on Wednesday. Putin says Nord Stream leaks result of 'international terrorism' On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin said that "international terrorism" was to blame for leaks on the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia and Europe, which would be advantageous to the United States, Poland, and Ukraine. China: 'Liberal' leader Wang Yang seen as top contender to be next premier The man currently seen as a leading contender to become China's next premier, Wang Yang, had a liberal tendency when he was the Chinese Communist Party leader of economic powerhouse Guangdong province, but it has been less apparent since Xi Jinping entered office. Watch: Humanoid robot 'Ai-Da' addresses House of Lords in UK On Tuesday, a distinguished speaker addressed the UK Parliament. Ai-Da, a humanoid robot, spoke before the House of Lords about whether artificial intelligence (AI) threatens the creative sector. According to a Daily Mail article, the robot encountered a technical issue and had to be restarted after dozing off. Ukraine reclaims five settlements in Russia-annexed Kherson region Ukraine has claimed that its forces recaptured five settlements in the southern annexed Kherson region during the ongoing counteroffensive against the Russian forces. India orders pharma firm to stop production after Gambia infant deaths Anil Vij, the minister of health for Haryana, announced on Wednesday that the state has decided to "completely stop" Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sonipat from producing any further drugs. US: Alaska’s Fat Bear Week contest emerges from voting scandal, announces the winner A contest held by the Katmai National Park to determine the fattest bear in southern Alaska, during Fat Bear Week was rocked by a scandal when over the weekend organisers saw voting irregularities during the online ballot.

Top 10 world news: China arrests 1.4 mn 'criminals' ahead of Congress, Intel to lay off thousands, & more

Anil Vij, the minister of health for Haryana, announced on Wednesday that the state has decided to "completely stop" Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sonipat from producing any further drugs.

The government has also issued a notice to the company after at least “12 flaws were found in the production of medicines during the joint inspection conducted by the drugs department teams of the Centre and state government”.

The development follows a World Health Organization (WHO) caution about four cough syrups produced by the firm following child fatalities in The Gambia.&nbsp;

Following the WHO notice, the Haryana government had already sent samples of the four cough syrups made by the pharmaceutical business to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), located in Kolkata.

“The report is awaited and further action shall be taken accordingly. But, in the joint inspection conducted by the teams of the central and state drugs department, 12 flaws were found. Thus, we have decided that the total production of this pharmaceutical company should be stopped. A notice has been issued to the company,” Vij said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-breathtaking-images-from-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2022-524779">In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022</a>

On October 6, Haryana demanded a probe into claims that the company's Sonipat factory was producing tainted cough syrups.&nbsp;

The samples were taken, and they were forwarded to Kolkata for additional analysis.&nbsp;

The Drugs Controller General of India, India's drug enforcement agency, has also opened an investigation.

(with inputs from agencies)

<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=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

Anil Vij, the minister of health for Haryana, announced on Wednesday that the state has decided to "completely stop" Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sonipat from producing any further drugs.

Anil Vij, the minister of health for Haryana, announced on Wednesday that the state has decided to "completely stop" Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited of Sonipat from producing any further drugs. The government has also issued a notice to the company after at least “12 flaws were found in the production of medicines during the joint inspection conducted by the drugs department teams of the Centre and state government”. The development follows a World Health Organization (WHO) caution about four cough syrups produced by the firm following child fatalities in The Gambia. Following the WHO notice, the Haryana government had already sent samples of the four cough syrups made by the pharmaceutical business to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), located in Kolkata. “The report is awaited and further action shall be taken accordingly. But, in the joint inspection conducted by the teams of the central and state drugs department, 12 flaws were found. Thus, we have decided that the total production of this pharmaceutical company should be stopped. A notice has been issued to the company,” Vij said. Also Read: In pics: Breathtaking images from wildlife photographer of the year 2022 On October 6, Haryana demanded a probe into claims that the company's Sonipat factory was producing tainted cough syrups. The samples were taken, and they were forwarded to Kolkata for additional analysis. The Drugs Controller General of India, India's drug enforcement agency, has also opened an investigation. (with inputs from agencies)

India orders pharma firm to stop production after Gambia infant deaths

Amid worries that many of their models aren't prepared for the recently established high-speed service, India's government will pressure Apple, Samsung, and other mobile phone manufacturers to prioritise releasing software upgrades to enable 5G in the nation.&nbsp;

With great enthusiasm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi debuted 5G services on October 1. Leading telecom provider Reliance Jio said that it will provide the service in four locations and competitor Bharti Airtel in eight. Both businesses declared that the service will be increased in 2019.&nbsp;

However, according to three industry insiders and the website of Airtel, Apple's iPhone models, including the most recent iPhone 14, and many of Samsung's top smartphones, do not have software compatible with enabling 5G in India.

Top bureaucrats from India's telecoms and IT departments are worried about this and will preside over a meeting for early 5G adoption on Wednesday. According to a government document seen by Reuters, they have invited smartphone executives from international companies Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as domestic telecom operators Reliance, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, to attend.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/japan-reopens-for-tourists-after-two-and-a-half-years-of-covid-19-restrictions-524437">Japan reopens for tourists after two-and-a-half years of Covid restrictions</a>

The announcement for the closed-door meeting indicated that the agenda included having discussions "to prioritise" and releasing software upgrades for supporting the high-speed network.&nbsp;

According to India, the rollout of 5G in the second-largest mobile market in the world, after China, would give users access to high-speed internet while also having positive socioeconomic effects on industries like agriculture and health.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Amid worries that many of their models aren't prepared for the recently established high-speed service, India's government will pressure Apple, Samsung, and other mobile phone manufacturers to prioritise releasing software upgrades to enable 5G in the nation.

Amid worries that many of their models aren't prepared for the recently established high-speed service, India's government will pressure Apple, Samsung, and other mobile phone manufacturers to prioritise releasing software upgrades to enable 5G in the nation. With great enthusiasm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi debuted 5G services on October 1. Leading telecom provider Reliance Jio said that it will provide the service in four locations and competitor Bharti Airtel in eight. Both businesses declared that the service will be increased in 2019. However, according to three industry insiders and the website of Airtel, Apple's iPhone models, including the most recent iPhone 14, and many of Samsung's top smartphones, do not have software compatible with enabling 5G in India. Top bureaucrats from India's telecoms and IT departments are worried about this and will preside over a meeting for early 5G adoption on Wednesday. According to a government document seen by Reuters, they have invited smartphone executives from international companies Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, as well as domestic telecom operators Reliance, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, to attend. Also Read: Japan reopens for tourists after two-and-a-half years of Covid restrictions The announcement for the closed-door meeting indicated that the agenda included having discussions "to prioritise" and releasing software upgrades for supporting the high-speed network. According to India, the rollout of 5G in the second-largest mobile market in the world, after China, would give users access to high-speed internet while also having positive socioeconomic effects on industries like agriculture and health. (with inputs from agencies)

Indian government pressing mobile manufacturers to release 5G updates

On Monday, a three-storey building collapsed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after heavy rains lashed the city of Kanpur. The northern state has been experiencing incessant rains for the past few days which has led to the closure of schools and offices due to waterlogging. However, there were no injuries reported as the building was unoccupied at the time.&nbsp;

The incident took place in the city’s Yateem Khana Road in Kanpur. Reportedly, the nearby CCTV footage shows several vehicles passing by the building. “The building collapsed due to incessant rains. It was very old. No one was living in the house. Thankfully, the driver of the car that was trapped in the rubble also narrowly escaped” said an eyewitness to ANI.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-heavy-rain-lashes-parts-in-uttar-pradesh-and-tamil-nadu-imd-issues-alert-524321">India: Heavy rain lashes parts of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, IMD issues alert</a>&nbsp;

Following the incident, the city police arrived at the scene, said the media report. This comes amid heavy rains that have lashed parts of the state with people living in low-lying areas facing flood-like situations. Rain/Thunderstorms are “very likely” in several parts of the state today (October 11) and tomorrow (October 12), said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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On Monday, a three-storey building collapsed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after heavy rains lashed the city of Kanpur. The northern state has been experiencing incessant rains for the past few days which has led to the closure of schools and offices due to waterlogging.

On Monday, a three-storey building collapsed in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh after heavy rains lashed the city of Kanpur. The northern state has been experiencing incessant rains for the past few days which has led to the closure of schools and offices due to waterlogging. However, there were no injuries reported as the building was unoccupied at the time. The incident took place in the city’s Yateem Khana Road in Kanpur. Reportedly, the nearby CCTV footage shows several vehicles passing by the building. “The building collapsed due to incessant rains. It was very old. No one was living in the house. Thankfully, the driver of the car that was trapped in the rubble also narrowly escaped” said an eyewitness to ANI. ALSO READ: India: Heavy rain lashes parts of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, IMD issues alert Following the incident, the city police arrived at the scene, said the media report. This comes amid heavy rains that have lashed parts of the state with people living in low-lying areas facing flood-like situations. Rain/Thunderstorms are “very likely” in several parts of the state today (October 11) and tomorrow (October 12), said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). (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.

Three-storey building collapses in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh following heavy rains

China has been placed first in self-reliant defence production, while India has been ranked fourth among 12 countries in the Indo-Pacific, according to a study of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent research institute on global security.

Japan is second, South Korea is in third place, and Pakistan is at eighth place, according to the study, which measures self-reliance until 2020.

"China dominates the ranking, reaching a self-reliance score more than two and a half times higher than Japan’s," the study said.

The ranking was published after assessing the defence production of 12 countries, they are: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

They did not include Vietnam in the final ranking due to lack of data.

The study is based on three indicators.

<ul>
	<li>Arms procurement:&nbsp;Imports, licensed and domestic production as a proportion of the government’s total procurement of major conventional arms</li>
	<li>Arms industry:&nbsp;The research highlights the five largest arms companies in each country&nbsp;where data is available, and ranks&nbsp;them by sales of arms and military services in 2020 to both domestic and export customers</li>
	<li>Uncrewed maritime vehicles, the sea equivalent of drones: covering both uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), meant to provide a qualitative understanding of how countries are engaging domestic research institutes and firms to produce such cutting-edge systems.</li>
</ul>

The research argues that despite trying to cut imports, India continues to remain dependent on foreign nations for arms needs. From 2016 to 20, it ranked as the second largest importer.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officials-hold-first-in-person-meet-with-taliban-months-after-zawahiris-killing-report-523689">US officials hold first in-person meet with Taliban since Zawahiri’s killing</a>

"India’s domestic arms companies provide only 16 per cent of its total procurement. However, the significant arms sales of local firms and the high level of licensed production push India to fourth position in the list. This should be put in perspective against the fact that India is the second largest military spender in the region, after China."

SIPRI deliberately chose Indo-Pacific&nbsp;as it sees the region as a “maritime theatre”, saying that most of its flashpoints involve navies.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE: 

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China has been placed first in self-reliant defence production, while India has been ranked fourth among 12 countries in the Indo-Pacific, according to a study of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent research institute on global security.

China has been placed first in self-reliant defence production, while India has been ranked fourth among 12 countries in the Indo-Pacific, according to a study of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent research institute on global security. Japan is second, South Korea is in third place, and Pakistan is at eighth place, according to the study, which measures self-reliance until 2020. "China dominates the ranking, reaching a self-reliance score more than two and a half times higher than Japan’s," the study said. The ranking was published after assessing the defence production of 12 countries, they are: Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. They did not include Vietnam in the final ranking due to lack of data. The study is based on three indicators. Arms procurement: Imports, licensed and domestic production as a proportion of the government’s total procurement of major conventional arms Arms industry: The research highlights the five largest arms companies in each country where data is available, and ranks them by sales of arms and military services in 2020 to both domestic and export customers Uncrewed maritime vehicles, the sea equivalent of drones: covering both uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) and uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), meant to provide a qualitative understanding of how countries are engaging domestic research institutes and firms to produce such cutting-edge systems. The research argues that despite trying to cut imports, India continues to remain dependent on foreign nations for arms needs. From 2016 to 20, it ranked as the second largest importer. Also read | US officials hold first in-person meet with Taliban since Zawahiri’s killing "India’s domestic arms companies provide only 16 per cent of its total procurement. However, the significant arms sales of local firms and the high level of licensed production push India to fourth position in the list. This should be put in perspective against the fact that India is the second largest military spender in the region, after China." SIPRI deliberately chose Indo-Pacific as it sees the region as a “maritime theatre”, saying that most of its flashpoints involve navies. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China more self-reliant in defence production, outranks India by massive margin, says study

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a concept note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and indicated that it will also later start a pilot launch of the e-rupee for specific cases. The concept note was released with the aim to create awareness about this type of currency in general and the planned features of the Digital Rupee or e-rupee.&nbsp;

“The purpose behind the issue of this concept note is to create awareness about CBDCs in general and the planned features of the Digital Rupee (e₹), in particular. It explains the objectives, choices, benefits, and risks of issuing a CBDC in India. The Note also seeks to explain Reserve Bank’s approach towards the introduction of the CBDC,” said the RBI in a statement.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the central bank has broadly defined CBDC as the legal tender, issued by the central bank in a digital form. They indicated that it is akin to sovereign paper but in a different form, exchangeable at par with existing currency and will be accepted as a medium of payment, legal tender and store of value. These CBDCs will also appear as a liability on a central bank’s balance sheet, the RBI said.&nbsp;

They added, “The e-rupee will provide an additional option to the currently available forms of money. It is substantially not different from banknotes, but being digital it is likely to be easier, faster and cheaper. It also has all the transactional benefits of other forms of digital money.”&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rupee-hits-record-low-of-82-against-us-dollar-as-opec-plan-production-cut-523305">Rupee hits record low of 82 against US dollar after OPEC+ production cut plan</a>

As and when the scope of such pilot launches expands, the RBI will continue to convey its specific features and benefits every now and then, said the central bank. In the Union Budget for 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman previously said the RBI will roll out a digital currency equivalent to the rupee in the current financial year.&nbsp;

RBI added, “CBDC, being a sovereign currency, holds unique advantages of central bank money viz. trust, safety, liquidity, settlement finality and integrity.” The RBI also believes that the Digital Rupee system will bolster India’s digital economy and make monetary and payment systems more efficient while contributing to financial inclusion.&nbsp;

According to the statement, the RBI has also said that the use of the offline feature in CBDC would help those in remote locations and make it available for more people while also benefiting at times when electric power or a mobile network are unavailable.&nbsp;

Many countries like China, Ghana, Jamaica, and including countries in Europe have also recently launched their digital currencies. In 2019, Sand Dollar, a digital currency minted in the Bahamas was the first CBDC launched in the world.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a concept note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and indicated that it will also later start a pilot launch of the e-rupee for specific cases.

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a concept note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and indicated that it will also later start a pilot launch of the e-rupee for specific cases. The concept note was released with the aim to create awareness about this type of currency in general and the planned features of the Digital Rupee or e-rupee. “The purpose behind the issue of this concept note is to create awareness about CBDCs in general and the planned features of the Digital Rupee (e₹), in particular. It explains the objectives, choices, benefits, and risks of issuing a CBDC in India. The Note also seeks to explain Reserve Bank’s approach towards the introduction of the CBDC,” said the RBI in a statement. Furthermore, the central bank has broadly defined CBDC as the legal tender, issued by the central bank in a digital form. They indicated that it is akin to sovereign paper but in a different form, exchangeable at par with existing currency and will be accepted as a medium of payment, legal tender and store of value. These CBDCs will also appear as a liability on a central bank’s balance sheet, the RBI said. They added, “The e-rupee will provide an additional option to the currently available forms of money. It is substantially not different from banknotes, but being digital it is likely to be easier, faster and cheaper. It also has all the transactional benefits of other forms of digital money.” ALSO READ: Rupee hits record low of 82 against US dollar after OPEC+ production cut plan As and when the scope of such pilot launches expands, the RBI will continue to convey its specific features and benefits every now and then, said the central bank. In the Union Budget for 2022-23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman previously said the RBI will roll out a digital currency equivalent to the rupee in the current financial year. RBI added, “CBDC, being a sovereign currency, holds unique advantages of central bank money viz. trust, safety, liquidity, settlement finality and integrity.” The RBI also believes that the Digital Rupee system will bolster India’s digital economy and make monetary and payment systems more efficient while contributing to financial inclusion. According to the statement, the RBI has also said that the use of the offline feature in CBDC would help those in remote locations and make it available for more people while also benefiting at times when electric power or a mobile network are unavailable. Many countries like China, Ghana, Jamaica, and including countries in Europe have also recently launched their digital currencies. In 2019, Sand Dollar, a digital currency minted in the Bahamas was the first CBDC launched in the world. (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: RBI to pilot launch e-rupee for specific cases, releases concept note

In a first, Kashmiri victims of cross-border terrorism addressed United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) event which has been welcomed by India. Tasleema and Shuaib highlighted the plight of the terror victims, especially Kashmiri women. Addressing the sideline event, Tasleema said, "I have witnessed many close family members being brutally murdered by terrorists" highlighting, "we remain unacknowledged..."

Both Tasleema and Shuaib have worked and documented the plight of many terrorism victims at the grassroots level. Shuaib explained, "Like my family, the valley has witnessed thousands of innocent lives being lost at the hands of terrorism in three decades....It is more challenging for a women victim to speak about exploitation". Shuaib's father was killed by terrorists.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moodys-downgrades-pakistans-economic-outlook-to-negative-gives-c-rating-after-seven-years-523585">Moody's downgrades Pakistan's economic outlook to negative, gives 'C rating' after seven years</a>

He said, "The families&nbsp;of victims of cross border terrorism continue to live in fear and threat. I have a strong faith in the international community, role to address these challenges."&nbsp;He also showed a film highlighting the plight of victims.

Meanwhile, welcoming the development, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in response to a question at a daily presser said, "We talk about terrorism in this way very dispassionately, I think directly listening to the victims makes a difference and it is a good step that the council can hear them directly, the victims of terrorism", adding, "I can't express what impact it will have right now, but it is important that a human face is given to the victims of terrorism, and they are not just numbers or figures." 
&nbsp;

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In a first, Kashmiri victims of cross-border terrorism addressed United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) event which has been welcomed by India. Tasleema and Shuaib highlighted the plight of the terror victims, especially Kashmiri women.

In a first, Kashmiri victims of cross-border terrorism addressed United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) event which has been welcomed by India. Tasleema and Shuaib highlighted the plight of the terror victims, especially Kashmiri women. Addressing the sideline event, Tasleema said, "I have witnessed many close family members being brutally murdered by terrorists" highlighting, "we remain unacknowledged..." Both Tasleema and Shuaib have worked and documented the plight of many terrorism victims at the grassroots level. Shuaib explained, "Like my family, the valley has witnessed thousands of innocent lives being lost at the hands of terrorism in three decades....It is more challenging for a women victim to speak about exploitation". Shuaib's father was killed by terrorists. Also Read: Moody's downgrades Pakistan's economic outlook to negative, gives 'C rating' after seven years He said, "The families of victims of cross border terrorism continue to live in fear and threat. I have a strong faith in the international community, role to address these challenges." He also showed a film highlighting the plight of victims. Meanwhile, welcoming the development, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in response to a question at a daily presser said, "We talk about terrorism in this way very dispassionately, I think directly listening to the victims makes a difference and it is a good step that the council can hear them directly, the victims of terrorism", adding, "I can't express what impact it will have right now, but it is important that a human face is given to the victims of terrorism, and they are not just numbers or figures."

Kashmiri terror victims address UNHRC event, highlight plight; India welcomes move

The Indian Air Force celebrated&nbsp;its 90th anniversary on Saturday. On the occasion, a new indigenously made camouflage combat uniform of the IAF has been unveiled.&nbsp;The new battle fatigues are similar to the ones which were introduced for the Indian army on the occasion of the 74th Army Day this year.

As per Times Now, the new battle fatigues carry a digitally pixelated design and not the organic patterns that were used earlier.

The digital pattern of the new uniform is all-terrain friendly. It gives the personnel the freedom and the flexibility to seamlessly move from deserts to mountainous lands, to woodlands etc.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-centre-gives-approval-for-creation-of-a-weapon-system-branch-for-iaf-officers-says-air-chief-marshal-523513" hreflang="en">India: Centre gives approval for creation of a weapon system branch for IAF officers, says Air Chief Marshal</a>

Besides the new pattern, the uniform will have a different, more breathable, lightweight fabric and design that will increase the comfort and efficiency of personnel.

As per reports, ergonomic fitting is a feature that allows both male and female ground duty personnel to maximise their operational capability.

The all-terrain, all-weather uniform can be mass-produced which will also help manufacturers cut production costs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/indian-air-force-day-2022-major-announcements-made-during-90th-anniversary-celebrations-523532">Indian Air Force Day 2022: Major announcements made during 90th anniversary celebrations</a>

PTI reports that a senior IAF officer who was wearing the new combat uniform during the anniversary celebrations in Chandigarh, said that the new pattern is called a "disruptive pattern" and it is a terrain pattern.

"If you are undertaking an operation in hilly areas, in desert or in jungle, this pattern merges with the terrain so that we remain camouflaged while undertaking our military operations. This is a very light cloth and moreover, boots are also light," he said adding that the uniform is indigenously made.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Indian Air Force celebrated its 90th anniversary on Saturday. On the occasion, a new indigenously made camouflage combat uniform of the IAF has been unveiled.

The Indian Air Force celebrated its 90th anniversary on Saturday. On the occasion, a new indigenously made camouflage combat uniform of the IAF has been unveiled. The new battle fatigues are similar to the ones which were introduced for the Indian army on the occasion of the 74th Army Day this year. As per Times Now, the new battle fatigues carry a digitally pixelated design and not the organic patterns that were used earlier. The digital pattern of the new uniform is all-terrain friendly. It gives the personnel the freedom and the flexibility to seamlessly move from deserts to mountainous lands, to woodlands etc. Also read | India: Centre gives approval for creation of a weapon system branch for IAF officers, says Air Chief Marshal Besides the new pattern, the uniform will have a different, more breathable, lightweight fabric and design that will increase the comfort and efficiency of personnel. As per reports, ergonomic fitting is a feature that allows both male and female ground duty personnel to maximise their operational capability. The all-terrain, all-weather uniform can be mass-produced which will also help manufacturers cut production costs. Also read | Indian Air Force Day 2022: Major announcements made during 90th anniversary celebrations PTI reports that a senior IAF officer who was wearing the new combat uniform during the anniversary celebrations in Chandigarh, said that the new pattern is called a "disruptive pattern" and it is a terrain pattern. "If you are undertaking an operation in hilly areas, in desert or in jungle, this pattern merges with the terrain so that we remain camouflaged while undertaking our military operations. This is a very light cloth and moreover, boots are also light," he said adding that the uniform is indigenously made. (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.

Indian Air Force unveils new combat uniform during its 90th anniversary celebrations

A joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy has led to the seizure of 200 kilogrammes of Afghanistani heroin worth USD 1.45 million or Rs 1,200 crore&nbsp;from an Iranian vessel.

Talking to the press, NCB's Deputy Director General (operations) Sanjay Kumar Singh said that the agencies have also arrested six Iranian nationals and that the boat and the seized drugs were brought to Mattancherry wharf.&nbsp;

"The NCB has now seized the vessel and 200 kg of heroin. The six Iranian crew members have also been arrested under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985," he said.

Watch |&nbsp;WION Dispatch: India raises objection to US envoy's visit to PoK

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As per PTI, Singh reported that the investigation is still on and that the heroin was in 200 packets with markings and packing unique to Afghanistan and Pakistan-based drug cartels.

The crew tried to escape by jumping into the sea, said&nbsp;Singh. They also tried to dump the consignment.

Some drug packets reportedly carried 'Scorpion' seal markings, while others had 'dragon' markings. The drugs were packed in seven-layer waterproof packing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-drugs-worth-12-billion-seized-from-two-cities-former-pilot-among-six-arrested-523308" hreflang="en">India: Drugs worth $1.2 billion seized from two cities, former pilot among six arrested</a>

"Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized drug was sourced from Afghanistan and was transported to Pakistan. This consignment was then loaded into the now-seized vessel off the Pakistan coast in a mid-sea exchange," NCB said in its statement.

The vessel set sail to Indian waters for further delivery to a Sri Lankan vessel. While efforts are being made to identify&nbsp;and intercept the Sri Lankan vessel, it is yet to be traced.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-delhi-raises-alarming-issue-with-islamabad-on-death-of-six-indian-prisoners-in-pakistan-in-nine-months-523400" hreflang="en">New Delhi raises ‘alarming’ issue of six Indian prisoners’ death in Pakistan within nine months</a>

As per the NCB trafficking of Afghan heroin into India via the Arabian Sea and Indian ocean has increased over the past years.

"The southern route for trafficking of heroin from Afghanistan i.e., from Afghanistan to Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan and then onwards to various countries in the Indian Ocean Region, including India, has gained prominence over the last few years."

(With inputs from agencies)

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A joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy has led to the seizure of 200 kilogrammes of Afghanistani heroin worth USD 1.45 million or Rs 1,200 crore from an Iranian vessel.

A joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Indian Navy has led to the seizure of 200 kilogrammes of Afghanistani heroin worth USD 1.45 million or Rs 1,200 crore from an Iranian vessel. Talking to the press, NCB's Deputy Director General (operations) Sanjay Kumar Singh said that the agencies have also arrested six Iranian nationals and that the boat and the seized drugs were brought to Mattancherry wharf. "The NCB has now seized the vessel and 200 kg of heroin. The six Iranian crew members have also been arrested under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985," he said. Watch | WION Dispatch: India raises objection to US envoy's visit to PoK As per PTI, Singh reported that the investigation is still on and that the heroin was in 200 packets with markings and packing unique to Afghanistan and Pakistan-based drug cartels. The crew tried to escape by jumping into the sea, said Singh. They also tried to dump the consignment. Some drug packets reportedly carried 'Scorpion' seal markings, while others had 'dragon' markings. The drugs were packed in seven-layer waterproof packing. Also read | India: Drugs worth $1.2 billion seized from two cities, former pilot among six arrested "Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized drug was sourced from Afghanistan and was transported to Pakistan. This consignment was then loaded into the now-seized vessel off the Pakistan coast in a mid-sea exchange," NCB said in its statement. The vessel set sail to Indian waters for further delivery to a Sri Lankan vessel. While efforts are being made to identify and intercept the Sri Lankan vessel, it is yet to be traced. Also read | New Delhi raises ‘alarming’ issue of six Indian prisoners’ death in Pakistan within nine months As per the NCB trafficking of Afghan heroin into India via the Arabian Sea and Indian ocean has increased over the past years. "The southern route for trafficking of heroin from Afghanistan i.e., from Afghanistan to Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan and then onwards to various countries in the Indian Ocean Region, including India, has gained prominence over the last few years." (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.

200kg heroin en route to India from Afghanistan via Pakistan seized by NCB

Indian Air Force Day 2022: Major announcements made during 90th anniversary celebrations

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