India is organising its first global Buddhist summit. The event saw many major Buddhist figures of contemporary times participating in the same. WION spoke to the head master of south Korea's Buddhist society, Ponyum Sunim, Who is also the chairman, founder and guiding dharma master of the Jungto society.

S. Korea's Ven. Pomnyun Sunim speaks to WION

<p>Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams.&nbsp;The Jamtara fraud involves a group of scammers who pose as representatives of legitimate companies. Often they fake being employees with banks or insurance firms.</p>

<p>Under this guise, they trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing their personal and financial information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, and credit card details. The scammers then use this information to carry out fraudulent transactions, such as making unauthorised purchases or transferring money out of the victim's accounts.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jfks-nephew-robert-kennedy-jr-announces-2024-presidential-bid-at-campaign-launch-event-584213">JFK's nephew Robert Kennedy Jr announces 2024 presidential bid at campaign launch event</a></p>

<p>The Jamtara fraudsters often use tactics such as social engineering, where they build rapport with the victim and convince them to trust them. In recent years, the Jamtara-styled fraudsters have become operational in other parts of India as well. It has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies in India, and there have been several efforts to crack down on these scammers and dismantle their operations.</p>

<p>In the latest, the Delhi Police arrested six people from Jamtara for conning over 2,500 individuals in India of Rs 1 crore via customer care centres. The accused people would publish their cellphone numbers as customer service numbers for the majority of the banks. People looking for customer service information for banks or online retailers would often then come across the provided fake numbers and become a victim of cyber fraud.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-intense-burst-of-light-in-skies-over-kyiv-triggers-panic-in-conflict-ridden-ukraine-584226">Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv triggers panic in conflict-ridden Ukraine</a></p>

<p>According to police, the accused reportedly employed mirroring software to gain access to the victims' registered cell phones in order to steal money.</p>

<p>The suspects impersonated customer service personnel for many reputable banks and online retailers. Authorities claimed to have found 12,500 pre-activated SIM cards that had been given to scammers in Jamtara from West Bengal's Murshidabad city for over a year.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-becomes-home-to-nearly-a-fifth-of-humanity-wion-pulse-584198/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>According to DCP (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh, the issue came to light when a complainant from Dubai travelled to Delhi to see his daughter. He used Google to look for the customer service number to update his daughter's bank passbook.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“His location was shared with the accused and the net banking page was opened. The accused forwarded the call to a person posing as a senior executive and remotely got access to the mobile phone and made two transactions of Rs 9,50,000 and Rs 50,000 from the account. A case of cheating was lodged and investigation was taken up," reported Indian Express quoting DCP Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It was found that the accused used the call forwarding method and kept changing Google web page customer phone numbers to hide their locations. The phone numbers and IMEI were analysed and it has been noticed that these persons were carrying out cyber fraud in an organised and professional manner on a pan India basis,” the DCP added.</p>

<p>On April 11, a raid was carried out in the Jamtara village of Nawadih as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. Six persons were detained, and 25 mobile phones with fraudulent SIM cards and incriminating data were recovered.</p>

<p>“During the call, the accused would pose as a customer care official. They would get a sharing or mirroring application installed in the victim’s device with the prefix coinciding with the bank name such as SBI ANYDESK, and once they got the application installed, they would siphon off the money,” he said. “A fraudster would keep three to four smart mobile phones and choose a remote place in Nawadih village…where police access is difficult,” added the DCP.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><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></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams.

Jamtara city in the Indian state of Jharkhand has recently gained notoriety for being a hub of organised cybercrime activities, particularly in the form of phishing scams. The Jamtara fraud involves a group of scammers who pose as representatives of legitimate companies. Often they fake being employees with banks or insurance firms. Under this guise, they trick unsuspecting individuals into revealing their personal and financial information, such as bank account numbers, passwords, and credit card details. The scammers then use this information to carry out fraudulent transactions, such as making unauthorised purchases or transferring money out of the victim's accounts. Also Read | JFK's nephew Robert Kennedy Jr announces 2024 presidential bid at campaign launch event The Jamtara fraudsters often use tactics such as social engineering, where they build rapport with the victim and convince them to trust them. In recent years, the Jamtara-styled fraudsters have become operational in other parts of India as well. It has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies in India, and there have been several efforts to crack down on these scammers and dismantle their operations. In the latest, the Delhi Police arrested six people from Jamtara for conning over 2,500 individuals in India of Rs 1 crore via customer care centres. The accused people would publish their cellphone numbers as customer service numbers for the majority of the banks. People looking for customer service information for banks or online retailers would often then come across the provided fake numbers and become a victim of cyber fraud. Also Read | Mysterious flash of light over Kyiv triggers panic in conflict-ridden Ukraine According to police, the accused reportedly employed mirroring software to gain access to the victims' registered cell phones in order to steal money. The suspects impersonated customer service personnel for many reputable banks and online retailers. Authorities claimed to have found 12,500 pre-activated SIM cards that had been given to scammers in Jamtara from West Bengal's Murshidabad city for over a year. Watch | India becomes home to nearly a fifth of humanity × According to DCP (Outer North) Ravi Kumar Singh, the issue came to light when a complainant from Dubai travelled to Delhi to see his daughter. He used Google to look for the customer service number to update his daughter's bank passbook. “His location was shared with the accused and the net banking page was opened. The accused forwarded the call to a person posing as a senior executive and remotely got access to the mobile phone and made two transactions of Rs 9,50,000 and Rs 50,000 from the account. A case of cheating was lodged and investigation was taken up," reported Indian Express quoting DCP Singh. “It was found that the accused used the call forwarding method and kept changing Google web page customer phone numbers to hide their locations. The phone numbers and IMEI were analysed and it has been noticed that these persons were carrying out cyber fraud in an organised and professional manner on a pan India basis,” the DCP added. On April 11, a raid was carried out in the Jamtara village of Nawadih as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. Six persons were detained, and 25 mobile phones with fraudulent SIM cards and incriminating data were recovered. “During the call, the accused would pose as a customer care official. They would get a sharing or mirroring application installed in the victim’s device with the prefix coinciding with the bank name such as SBI ANYDESK, and once they got the application installed, they would siphon off the money,” he said. “A fraudster would keep three to four smart mobile phones and choose a remote place in Nawadih village…where police access is difficult,” added the DCP. 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.

What is 'Jamtara' fraud in Indian state of Jharkhand? Cybercrooks con 2,500 more

Startup ecosystem faces funding crunch in 2023. Startups funding in the US market dropped by around half to $32.5 billion in the first quarter, while in China it fell 60% to $5.6 billion. The problem is not limited to the US and China. A report by CB Insights indicates severe worries for Indian startups as well.

Startup crisis in India impacts growth

In an apparent bid to delay the elections in Punjab, Pakistan's defence ministry in a report to the supreme court says that India's spy agency R&AW plans to exploit fault lines of the country. Islamabad also fears more attacks by the Pakistan Taliban. The claim is seen as an excuse to delay the elections in the Punjab province, as they fear the growing popularity of Imran Khan.

'India can attack us': Pak terrified, cites 'Indian threat' in report to SC

Islamabad fears an all-out war with India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi today (April 20). The summit is being organized by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with its grantee body International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).

Indian PM Modi to inaugurate first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa form one of the world’s most important economic blocs. As per UN data, the BRICS grouping represents more than one-quarter of global GDP; and 42% of the world’s population. Significantly, the BRICS have seen their economic influence increase over the past decades, as drivers of global growth, trade and investment. South Africa's BRICS Sherpa, Anil Sooklal, spoke to our principal diplomatic correspondent on India's role. He also spoke about the conflicts in Asia and Africa.

India's role in BRICS: Grouping represents over one-quarter of global GDP & 42% of world population

Pakistan raises bogey of all-out war with India

<p>Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster? This is the same approach that ISRO has followed for readying its most-reliable rocket for the PSLV-C55 mission that has been scheduled for launch on Saturday, April 22.</p>

<p>In its 57<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;flight, the PSLV will be carrying two satellites from Singapore. TeLEOS-2, an all-weather, day-night imaging satellite that is meant for use by the Singapore Government and Lumelite-4, a satellite built by academia from Singapore are to be placed in orbit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Assembling and integrating a launch vehicle is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires&nbsp; significant manpower. Depending on the size of the rocket, the integration procedure could take anywhere between a week to three months.</p>

<p>For instance, ISRO's newest rocket SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is designed for quick assembly and integration, it can be done within a week. However, the larger rockets such as PSLV and GSLV would need anywhere between 30 to 60 days to be assembled and integrated, by hundreds of personnel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Generally, ISRO assembles the PSLV rocket at the launchpad, with the support of a Mobile Service Tower. This meant that the launchpad would remain occupied for the entire duration of the rocket's assembly and integration.</p>

<p>When launchpads are occupied for so long and the assembly of rockets can be done only at the launchpad, fewer launches are carried out. This means loss of time and money(the potential revenue that can be earned by performing more commercial launches).&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the latest launch, WION has learnt that ISRO operationalized a new PSLV Integration Facility(PIF), where the first and second stage of the four-stage PSLV rocket can be integrated and kept ready. This means that half the rocket is ready, even before it can be taken to the launchpad.</p>

<p>Therefore, only the third and fourth stage and satellites have to be integrated at the launchpad and it would significantly reduce the time period that the launchpad is occupied. Owing to the PIF, PSLV first and second stages can be kept ready and as and when required, ISRO would be able to increase the frequency of launch of&nbsp; its smaller vehicles like SSLV and PSLV.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster?

Instead of performing the entire process of assembling and integrating a spacefaring rocket at a single facility, what if you could split up the work among two facilities and do it faster? This is the same approach that ISRO has followed for readying its most-reliable rocket for the PSLV-C55 mission that has been scheduled for launch on Saturday, April 22. In its 57th flight, the PSLV will be carrying two satellites from Singapore. TeLEOS-2, an all-weather, day-night imaging satellite that is meant for use by the Singapore Government and Lumelite-4, a satellite built by academia from Singapore are to be placed in orbit. Assembling and integrating a launch vehicle is a tedious and time-consuming process that requires significant manpower. Depending on the size of the rocket, the integration procedure could take anywhere between a week to three months. For instance, ISRO's newest rocket SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) is designed for quick assembly and integration, it can be done within a week. However, the larger rockets such as PSLV and GSLV would need anywhere between 30 to 60 days to be assembled and integrated, by hundreds of personnel. Generally, ISRO assembles the PSLV rocket at the launchpad, with the support of a Mobile Service Tower. This meant that the launchpad would remain occupied for the entire duration of the rocket's assembly and integration. When launchpads are occupied for so long and the assembly of rockets can be done only at the launchpad, fewer launches are carried out. This means loss of time and money(the potential revenue that can be earned by performing more commercial launches). For the latest launch, WION has learnt that ISRO operationalized a new PSLV Integration Facility(PIF), where the first and second stage of the four-stage PSLV rocket can be integrated and kept ready. This means that half the rocket is ready, even before it can be taken to the launchpad. Therefore, only the third and fourth stage and satellites have to be integrated at the launchpad and it would significantly reduce the time period that the launchpad is occupied. Owing to the PIF, PSLV first and second stages can be kept ready and as and when required, ISRO would be able to increase the frequency of launch of its smaller vehicles like SSLV and PSLV. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: ISRO can now assemble and launch PSLV rockets faster. Here's how

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

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

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines | China's supersonic drone: Will it be spying on India and Taiwan?

<p>Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital.</p>

<p>In an interview, he told PTI that a team is being formed to identify plant species that have a high mortality rate after transplantation and to determine the impact of the soil type and other factors on the relocated trees in an effort to increase their survival rate.</p>

<p>The green cover of Delhi has increased from 21.88 to 23.06 per cent of its geographic area, according to the most recent India State of Forest Report.</p>

<p>Rai noted, however, that the government is preparing other methods, including urban farming, to increase the amount of greenery.</p>

<p>"The forest department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are going to launch a pilot project to provide plants and pots free of cost to people at their doorsteps," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are conducting a ward-wise survey, asking people what type of plants they want. A survey is underway in one ward in my assembly constituency (Babarpur in northeast Delhi)," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Delhi, there are roughly 10,000 residences per ward.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;India records 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, highest in around 8 months</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-records-12591-new-covid-cases-in-a-day-highest-in-around-8-months-584414/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/data-lab-making-sense-of-indias-forest-cover-change-both-gains-and-losses-579663">Data Lab: Making sense of India's forest cover change, both gains and losses</a></p>

<p>Accordingly, more plans to give people in other places plants and pots would be set up, Rai said, adding "if the project is successful, we will be able to create an alternative green belt."</p>

<p>Small plants are simpler to maintain and use fewer resources than larger ones, say specialists on biodiversity. According to them, this makes smaller plants a more sustainable option for boosting the amount of greenery in particular places.</p>

<p>The environment minister for Delhi claimed that some species have very low survival rates and that some soil types are not suitable for transplanting trees.</p>

<p>Only 33.33 per cent of the 16,461 trees that were transplanted in Delhi over the previous three years have survived, according to data that the forest department submitted to the Delhi High Court in May of last year.</p>

<p>Due to the Delhi government's tree transplantation policy, the affected agencies are required to relocate at least 80 per cent&nbsp;of the trees impacted by their development activities. After a year after transplantation, the benchmark tree survival rate is 80 per cent.</p>

<p>As noted by Rai, the Delhi government has successfully reduced air pollution to a significant degree and is currently focusing on a smaller scale, "trying to ascertain which sources are contributing to air pollution under what conditions."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital.

Gopal Rai, the environment minister, announced on Wednesday (April 19), that the Delhi government planned to offer free saplings and pots to residents' doorsteps in order to increase the amount of greenery in the capital. In an interview, he told PTI that a team is being formed to identify plant species that have a high mortality rate after transplantation and to determine the impact of the soil type and other factors on the relocated trees in an effort to increase their survival rate. The green cover of Delhi has increased from 21.88 to 23.06 per cent of its geographic area, according to the most recent India State of Forest Report. Rai noted, however, that the government is preparing other methods, including urban farming, to increase the amount of greenery. "The forest department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are going to launch a pilot project to provide plants and pots free of cost to people at their doorsteps," he said. "We are conducting a ward-wise survey, asking people what type of plants they want. A survey is underway in one ward in my assembly constituency (Babarpur in northeast Delhi)," he added. In Delhi, there are roughly 10,000 residences per ward. ALSO WATCH | India records 12,591 new Covid cases in a day, highest in around 8 months ALSO READ | Data Lab: Making sense of India's forest cover change, both gains and losses Accordingly, more plans to give people in other places plants and pots would be set up, Rai said, adding "if the project is successful, we will be able to create an alternative green belt." Small plants are simpler to maintain and use fewer resources than larger ones, say specialists on biodiversity. According to them, this makes smaller plants a more sustainable option for boosting the amount of greenery in particular places. The environment minister for Delhi claimed that some species have very low survival rates and that some soil types are not suitable for transplanting trees. Only 33.33 per cent of the 16,461 trees that were transplanted in Delhi over the previous three years have survived, according to data that the forest department submitted to the Delhi High Court in May of last year. Due to the Delhi government's tree transplantation policy, the affected agencies are required to relocate at least 80 per cent of the trees impacted by their development activities. After a year after transplantation, the benchmark tree survival rate is 80 per cent. As noted by Rai, the Delhi government has successfully reduced air pollution to a significant degree and is currently focusing on a smaller scale, "trying to ascertain which sources are contributing to air pollution under what conditions." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Delhi government to offer free plants at doorstep in bid to promote greenery. Details here

India is hosting the two-day Global Buddhist Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the summit in New Delhi. Delegates, monks and scholars from 30 nations are participating in this global summit.

India hosts two-day Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi

Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend SCO meet in Goa, India. The meeting will take place on May 2023. SCO focuses on cooperation with international and regional organizations. SCO has 8 member states, 4 observer states, and 6 'dialogue partners'.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto to attend SCO meeting in Goa, India

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi. This summit marks the significance and importance of India in Buddhism. Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama is also likely to attend the summit. Delegates from about 30 countries will participate in the event.

Global Buddhist Summit begins in New Delhi, Dalai Lama likely to attend

<p>India is set to bring world-class education to Africa by establishing campuses of its prestigious educational institutions across the continent. Talks are currently underway between India and Tanzania for the establishment of the first foreign campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the East African country. It is expected that the campus will start its classes by the end of this year.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rbi-allows-india-and-tanzania-to-use-national-currencies-for-trading-572740">RBI allows India and Tanzania to use national currencies for trading</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the overseas campus of India’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) inaugurated in Jinja, Uganda last week by India's foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar.</p>

<p>Jaishankar highlighted the high demand for forensic science courses from students in Africa under various scholarships provided by the Government of India. He noted that one of the reasons for establishing the NFSU campus in Uganda was the high acceptance of the university among students from Africa.</p>

<p>"The National Forensic Sciences University is an institution of national importance and is the world’s first university dedicated exclusively to forensic sciences. It was established in Ahmedabad in Gujarat under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister," said Jaishankar, emphasising the importance of the NFSU as an institution.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;How education became a fundamental right in India</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india75-how-education-became-a-fundamental-right-506317/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The NFSU campus in Uganda is partnering with the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces, and will offer courses in forensic sciences, behavioral sciences, cyber security, digital forensics, and allied sciences while also promoting research in these areas. This marks the first time that a government university of India has opened a campus outside of the country.</p>

<p>Discussions for the campus have been ongoing between the NFSU and Ugandan authorities for some time, and the issue gained momentum when the President of Uganda wrote to the Indian Prime Minister Modi in August 2022. The Prime Minister immediately directed the concerned ministries to support NFSU on this proposal, paving the way for the inauguration of the transit campus in Jinja.</p>

<p>India has been a destination for higher studies for African students in the past, and the establishment of foreign campuses for top Indian universities/public technical institutes in Africa is expected to further strengthen educational ties between the two sides. The country remains among the top five destinations for African students traveling abroad for higher education.</p>

<p>The establishment of the NFSU campus in Uganda marks a significant milestone in India's efforts to support educational capacities in Africa. The campus will immediately start its classes, while a permanent campus is established in Jinja soon under an MoU signed between the two countries. The NFSU currently has nine campuses in India, spread across Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, Tripura, Bhopal, Pune, Guwahati, Manipur, and Dharwad.</p>

<p>India's efforts to bring world-class education to Africa are expected to have a far-reaching impact on the continent. With the expected establishment of the IIT campus in Tanzania and the NFSU campus in Uganda, India is helping to ensure that Africa has access to the best education opportunities and facilities available, paving the way for a brighter future for students across the continent.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><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></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


India is set to bring world-class education to Africa by establishing campuses of its prestigious educational institutions across the continent. Talks are currently underway between India and Tanzania for the establishment of the first foreign campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the East African country.

India is set to bring world-class education to Africa by establishing campuses of its prestigious educational institutions across the continent. Talks are currently underway between India and Tanzania for the establishment of the first foreign campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the East African country. It is expected that the campus will start its classes by the end of this year. ALSO READ | RBI allows India and Tanzania to use national currencies for trading Meanwhile, the overseas campus of India’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) inaugurated in Jinja, Uganda last week by India's foreign minister, Dr S Jaishankar. Jaishankar highlighted the high demand for forensic science courses from students in Africa under various scholarships provided by the Government of India. He noted that one of the reasons for establishing the NFSU campus in Uganda was the high acceptance of the university among students from Africa. "The National Forensic Sciences University is an institution of national importance and is the world’s first university dedicated exclusively to forensic sciences. It was established in Ahmedabad in Gujarat under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister," said Jaishankar, emphasising the importance of the NFSU as an institution. ALSO WATCH | How education became a fundamental right in India × The NFSU campus in Uganda is partnering with the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces, and will offer courses in forensic sciences, behavioral sciences, cyber security, digital forensics, and allied sciences while also promoting research in these areas. This marks the first time that a government university of India has opened a campus outside of the country. Discussions for the campus have been ongoing between the NFSU and Ugandan authorities for some time, and the issue gained momentum when the President of Uganda wrote to the Indian Prime Minister Modi in August 2022. The Prime Minister immediately directed the concerned ministries to support NFSU on this proposal, paving the way for the inauguration of the transit campus in Jinja. India has been a destination for higher studies for African students in the past, and the establishment of foreign campuses for top Indian universities/public technical institutes in Africa is expected to further strengthen educational ties between the two sides. The country remains among the top five destinations for African students traveling abroad for higher education. The establishment of the NFSU campus in Uganda marks a significant milestone in India's efforts to support educational capacities in Africa. The campus will immediately start its classes, while a permanent campus is established in Jinja soon under an MoU signed between the two countries. The NFSU currently has nine campuses in India, spread across Gujarat, Delhi, Goa, Tripura, Bhopal, Pune, Guwahati, Manipur, and Dharwad. India's efforts to bring world-class education to Africa are expected to have a far-reaching impact on the continent. With the expected establishment of the IIT campus in Tanzania and the NFSU campus in Uganda, India is helping to ensure that Africa has access to the best education opportunities and facilities available, paving the way for a brighter future for students across the continent. 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 education diplomacy in Africa gives top forensic institute to Uganda, IIT in Tanzania soon

Russia continues to enjoy strong oil trade with India and China despite the sanctions imposed by the West for its war in Ukraine. A Reuters report shows that both countries have bought a vast majority of Russian oil in April at prices above the western price cap of 60 dollars per barrel.

India, China buy Russian oil above West's cap

Sudan Ambassador to India has spoke to WION on the current situation in his country. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal on the situation of Indian nationals, he said he has met officials of Minister of External Affairs &" discussed these topics, these issues ....and we have some ideas and plans to make their return back to their home possible using coming days". He explained that the "unfortunate events" in his country started on April 15 when rebel Forces attacked the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Exclusive: Sudan Ambassador to India speaks to WION about the current situation in his country

Tech giant Apple has opened its first retail store in India. The store, located in Mumbai, marks a significant milestone for the company's expansion into the Indian market.

Tim Cook opens India's first retail Apple store in Mumbai

<p>Launching on April 20, the 'Safe Kerala' project will use artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to identify violations of traffic laws and impose fines in the souther Indian state of Kerala.&nbsp;To track down violations of the law, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department has installed up 726 AI cameras.</p>

<p>The violations that the AI camera will pick up on first are riding a two-wheeler without a helmet, riding with more than two passengers, using a phone while driving, and speeding through traffic lights.</p>

<p>In order to detect legal offences through cameras as part of the "Safe Kerala" project, the Motor Vehicle Department has opted to implement the "Fully Automated Traffic Enforcement System," claiming that roadside policing makes life difficult for the general public.</p>

<p>The AI cameras are solar-powered, and 4G LTE SIM is used to send data. The visual processing unit in the camera box will examine every vehicle. The control room of the Motor Vehicles Department will receive photos of the vehicles that violated traffic laws as well as the driver. A system is in place to gather six months' worth of infraction footage. According to the Motor Vehicles Department, up to 30,000 penalty notifications may be delivered in a single day.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/shab-e-qadr-prayers-held-in-srinagars-jamia-masjid-thousands-in-attendance-584072">Shab-E-Qadr prayers held in Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, thousands in attendance</a></p>

<p>Traffic violations will be checked and examined by motor vehicle inspectors before warnings are issued.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Kerala needs to take road safety more seriously?</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The reasons for the rise in road accidents in Kerala are poor adherence to safety regulations and improper infrastructure development. According to statistics, two-wheelers are the most dangerous on Kerala's roads, and two-wheeler riders suffer the most injuries, reported india Today.&nbsp;</div>

<p>Kerala reported 13,334 two-wheeler accidents in 2022. These mishaps resulted in 1,288 fatalities. In 10,154 two-wheeler accidents in 2021, 1,069 persons lost their lives.</p>

<p>4,317 people died and 34,638 were injured in a total of 43 910 traffic accidents in the state in 2022, according to government figures.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Schools in parts of India disrupted due to heatwave</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/schools-in-parts-of-india-disrupted-due-to-heatwave-584127/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>A total of 33,296 accidents resulted in 3,429 fatalities in 2021. 10,280 people suffered minor injuries compared to 26,495 serious injuries.</p>

<p>The district of Ernakulam in Kerala had the most accidents, 4,047 in total.</p>

<p>According to officials, people do not follow the regulations of the road, and carelessness (such as drunk driving or driver negligence) leads to accidents.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Launching on April 20, the 'Safe Kerala' project will use artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to identify violations of traffic laws and impose fines in the souther Indian state of Kerala.

Launching on April 20, the 'Safe Kerala' project will use artificial intelligence (AI) cameras to identify violations of traffic laws and impose fines in the souther Indian state of Kerala. To track down violations of the law, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department has installed up 726 AI cameras. The violations that the AI camera will pick up on first are riding a two-wheeler without a helmet, riding with more than two passengers, using a phone while driving, and speeding through traffic lights. In order to detect legal offences through cameras as part of the "Safe Kerala" project, the Motor Vehicle Department has opted to implement the "Fully Automated Traffic Enforcement System," claiming that roadside policing makes life difficult for the general public. The AI cameras are solar-powered, and 4G LTE SIM is used to send data. The visual processing unit in the camera box will examine every vehicle. The control room of the Motor Vehicles Department will receive photos of the vehicles that violated traffic laws as well as the driver. A system is in place to gather six months' worth of infraction footage. According to the Motor Vehicles Department, up to 30,000 penalty notifications may be delivered in a single day. ALSO READ | Shab-E-Qadr prayers held in Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, thousands in attendance Traffic violations will be checked and examined by motor vehicle inspectors before warnings are issued. Why Kerala needs to take road safety more seriously? The reasons for the rise in road accidents in Kerala are poor adherence to safety regulations and improper infrastructure development. According to statistics, two-wheelers are the most dangerous on Kerala's roads, and two-wheeler riders suffer the most injuries, reported india Today. Kerala reported 13,334 two-wheeler accidents in 2022. These mishaps resulted in 1,288 fatalities. In 10,154 two-wheeler accidents in 2021, 1,069 persons lost their lives. 4,317 people died and 34,638 were injured in a total of 43 910 traffic accidents in the state in 2022, according to government figures. ALSO WATCH | Schools in parts of India disrupted due to heatwave A total of 33,296 accidents resulted in 3,429 fatalities in 2021. 10,280 people suffered minor injuries compared to 26,495 serious injuries. The district of Ernakulam in Kerala had the most accidents, 4,047 in total. According to officials, people do not follow the regulations of the road, and carelessness (such as drunk driving or driver negligence) leads to accidents. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

India: Kerala to install 726 AI cameras to monitor roads, catch traffic offenders. Details here

Indian Supreme Court is hearing final arguments this week in a historic group of petitions to legalize same-sex marriage. The hearings are being livestreamed online in what the court calls the public interest.

Indian Supreme Court hears final arguments on same-sex union this week

<p>Surpassing China, India has now become the most populous country in the world, mid-year estimates from a newly released United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report on Wednesday (April 19) suggests. The data showed that India now has more (2.9 million more) population than China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The data comes after the UN's World Population Prospects 2022 had projected India to surpass China as the world's most populous country in the mid of 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest data by the UNFPA's "The State of World Population Report, 2023" stated that India's population is&nbsp;1.4286 billion while China's stood at 1.4257 billion. The report is titled - "8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN agency defines 'Total Population' as the estimated size of the national population at mid-year.&nbsp;The UNFPA report underlined that in India, 25 per cent of the population constitutes children aged 0-14, whereas 18 per cent are those aged 10-19 years. The report further mentioned that 26 per cent belong to the 10-24 age group and about 68 per cent are in the 15-64 age category, while those above 65 are just 7 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The world population is at 8 billion.<br />
<br />
Are there too many people? Too few?<br />
<br />
These are the wrong questions.<br />
<br />
See how becoming <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/8BillionStrong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#8BillionStrong</a> opens humanity to infinite possibilities and why <a href="https://twitter.com/UNFPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNFPA</a> is making a case for rights and choices: <a href="https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK">https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GlobalGoals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GlobalGoals</a> <a href="https://t.co/PlGvV39mAg">pic.twitter.com/PlGvV39mAg</a></p>
— UNFPA (@UNFPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNFPA/status/1648537152932790275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">⚠️ We must safeguard the right to sexual and reproductive health in a world that’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/8BillionStrong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#8BillionStrong</a>.<br />
<br />
Let <a href="https://twitter.com/UNFPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNFPA</a> show you why advancing gender equality is the best tool for managing population change: <a href="https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK">https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandUp4HumanRights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandUp4HumanRights</a> <a href="https://t.co/veUI1pWwhs">pic.twitter.com/veUI1pWwhs</a></p>
— UNFPA (@UNFPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNFPA/status/1648627564494176256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As quoted by news agencies, Andrea Wojnar, the representative for UNFPA India, said in a statement: "The Indian survey findings suggest that population anxieties have seeped into large portions of the general public."&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, "Yet, population numbers should not trigger anxiety or create alarm. Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Status of women in the country</strong></h2>

<p>The report also highlighted the issues of women's decreased right to bodily autonomy. According to the SWOP report, 44 per cent of partnered women and girls in 68 reporting countries do not have the right to make informed decisions about their bodies on matters of sex, contraception and seeking health care. Close to 257 million women worldwide have an unmet need for safe, reliable contraception.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director at Population Foundation of India, said in a statement: "So many women lack control over their bodies, including the right to have children - to decide when they want to have them and how many."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UNFPA has recommended that governments must create policies with "gender equality and rights at their heart, such as parental leave programmes, child tax credits, policies that promote gender equality in the workplace, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Surpassing China, India has now become the most populous country in the world, mid-year estimates from a newly released United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report on Wednesday (April 19) suggests.

Surpassing China, India has now become the most populous country in the world, mid-year estimates from a newly released United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report on Wednesday (April 19) suggests. The data showed that India now has more (2.9 million more) population than China. The data comes after the UN's World Population Prospects 2022 had projected India to surpass China as the world's most populous country in the mid of 2023. The latest data by the UNFPA's "The State of World Population Report, 2023" stated that India's population is 1.4286 billion while China's stood at 1.4257 billion. The report is titled - "8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices". The UN agency defines 'Total Population' as the estimated size of the national population at mid-year. The UNFPA report underlined that in India, 25 per cent of the population constitutes children aged 0-14, whereas 18 per cent are those aged 10-19 years. The report further mentioned that 26 per cent belong to the 10-24 age group and about 68 per cent are in the 15-64 age category, while those above 65 are just 7 per cent. The world population is at 8 billion. Are there too many people? Too few? These are the wrong questions. See how becoming #8BillionStrong opens humanity to infinite possibilities and why @UNFPA is making a case for rights and choices: https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK#GlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/PlGvV39mAg — UNFPA (@UNFPA) April 19, 2023 × ⚠️ We must safeguard the right to sexual and reproductive health in a world that’s #8BillionStrong. Let @UNFPA show you why advancing gender equality is the best tool for managing population change: https://t.co/YCtXGZuPJK#StandUp4HumanRights pic.twitter.com/veUI1pWwhs — UNFPA (@UNFPA) April 19, 2023 × As quoted by news agencies, Andrea Wojnar, the representative for UNFPA India, said in a statement: "The Indian survey findings suggest that population anxieties have seeped into large portions of the general public." She added, "Yet, population numbers should not trigger anxiety or create alarm. Instead, they should be seen as a symbol of progress, development, and aspirations if individual rights and choices are being upheld." Status of women in the country The report also highlighted the issues of women's decreased right to bodily autonomy. According to the SWOP report, 44 per cent of partnered women and girls in 68 reporting countries do not have the right to make informed decisions about their bodies on matters of sex, contraception and seeking health care. Close to 257 million women worldwide have an unmet need for safe, reliable contraception. Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director at Population Foundation of India, said in a statement: "So many women lack control over their bodies, including the right to have children - to decide when they want to have them and how many." The UNFPA has recommended that governments must create policies with "gender equality and rights at their heart, such as parental leave programmes, child tax credits, policies that promote gender equality in the workplace, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights." (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 surpasses China to become most populous country: UN population estimate

<p>Muslims across the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan and the people from Jammu and Kashmir are commemorating the holy month too. The huge number of devotees praying across various mosques in the Kashmir valley is witness to the increased devotion among people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shab-e-Qadr or Laylat-al-Qadr or the Night of Power falls between the nights of 26-27 of Ramadan and is considered as one of the holiest nights in Islam. According to Islam, The Holy Quran was first sent down from heaven during this night and the first verse of the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was after a gap of three years, prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid of Srinagar during the Shab-e-Qadr. Thousands of people from across various districts of Kashmir Valley converged at the Jamia Masjid to offer Taraweeh Prayers and pray till the wee hours of morning.</p>

<p>Jamia Masjid had been closed on most of the important occasions of the Islamic Calendar. This year the authorities allowed the devotees to pray during the Shab-e-Qadr. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had tweeted along with a video during the Shab-e-Qadr.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coastal-security-exercise-sagar-kavach-underway-along-kerala-coastline-584051">Coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' underway along Kerala coastline</a></p>

<p>'''Shab-e-Qadr' prayers are going on smoothly in all the Mosques in Srinagar. The clip below is from Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta,'' said Jammu and Kashmir Police.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH | Heatwave alert for several Indian states&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/heatwave-alert-for-several-indian-states-584008/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The political leaders of the regional parties had criticised governments move of shutting the mosque during important occasions of Islamic calendar earlier. Former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti had time and again criticised the government over shutting the mosque during important Islamic occasions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>''We are constantly treated to claims of normalcy in J&amp;K and yet the administration betrays its own claims when it resorts to locking up one of our holiest mosques thus denying people the chance to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan,'' was tweeted by Omar Abdullah last Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Jamia Masjid Srinagar holds an extremely important place with regard to the religious as well as political centre of Kashmir valley.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Muslims across the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan and the people from Jammu and Kashmir are commemorating the holy month too. The huge number of devotees praying across various mosques in the Kashmir valley is witness to the increased devotion among people.

Muslims across the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan and the people from Jammu and Kashmir are commemorating the holy month too. The huge number of devotees praying across various mosques in the Kashmir valley is witness to the increased devotion among people. Shab-e-Qadr or Laylat-al-Qadr or the Night of Power falls between the nights of 26-27 of Ramadan and is considered as one of the holiest nights in Islam. According to Islam, The Holy Quran was first sent down from heaven during this night and the first verse of the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad. It was after a gap of three years, prayers were allowed in Jamia Masjid of Srinagar during the Shab-e-Qadr. Thousands of people from across various districts of Kashmir Valley converged at the Jamia Masjid to offer Taraweeh Prayers and pray till the wee hours of morning. Jamia Masjid had been closed on most of the important occasions of the Islamic Calendar. This year the authorities allowed the devotees to pray during the Shab-e-Qadr. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had tweeted along with a video during the Shab-e-Qadr. ALSO READ | Coastal security exercise 'Sagar Kavach' underway along Kerala coastline '''Shab-e-Qadr' prayers are going on smoothly in all the Mosques in Srinagar. The clip below is from Jamia Masjid, Nowhatta,'' said Jammu and Kashmir Police. ALSO WATCH | Heatwave alert for several Indian states The political leaders of the regional parties had criticised governments move of shutting the mosque during important occasions of Islamic calendar earlier. Former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti had time and again criticised the government over shutting the mosque during important Islamic occasions. ''We are constantly treated to claims of normalcy in J&K and yet the administration betrays its own claims when it resorts to locking up one of our holiest mosques thus denying people the chance to offer prayers on the last Friday of Ramzan,'' was tweeted by Omar Abdullah last Friday. Jamia Masjid Srinagar holds an extremely important place with regard to the religious as well as political centre of Kashmir valley. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Shab-E-Qadr prayers held in Srinagar's Jamia Masjid, thousands  in attendance

<p>Russia's oil trade with India and China is going strong amid the Ukraine war and economic sanctions by the West.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India and China have bought the vast majority of Russian oil in April at prices above the price cap of $60 per barrel imposed by the West, a Reuters report said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest media reports suggest that Urals Oil -- a reference oil brand of Russia used for exports -- cargoes loaded in the first half of April were mostly heading to India's and China's ports.</p>

<p>According to a Reuters report, India accounted for more than 70 percent of the seaborne supplies of Urals Oil till mid-April, while China accounted for about 20 percent.</p>

<p>Media reports indicate that India and China -- both countries share strong bilateral relations with Russia -- have not agreed to abide by the price cap. However, the West had hoped that the threat of sanctions might deter traders from helping those countries buy oil above the price cap.</p>

<p>In December 2022, the group of seven (G7) nations and Australia agreed on a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in a bid to cut Russia's oil revenues. But opponents of the price cap say that the measure is too soft to force Moscow to backtrack on its activities in Ukraine.</p>

<p>A G7 source told Reuters that the price cap would remain unchanged for now, despite pressure from some European Union countries, such as Poland, to lower the cap to increase pressure on Moscow.</p>

<p>"We recognize that as markets evolve there will be fluctuations of the discounts that Russia receives relative to global market prices. But the prices Russia receives for its oil remain well below those earned by other producers, which reflects the effects of the global sanctions regime,"&nbsp;the official told Reuters on a condition of anonymity.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, lower freight rates and smaller discounts for Urals Oil against global benchmarks nudged its daily price back above the price cap&nbsp;in early April.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russia has been under a series of economic sanctions since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The sanctions by the West aim to cut off Moscow from the global financial and trade system.&nbsp;</p>


Russia's oil trade with India and China is going strong amid the Ukraine war and economic sanctions by the West. India and China have bought the vast majority of Russian oil in April at prices above the price cap of $60 per barrel imposed by the West, a Reuters report said.

Russia's oil trade with India and China is going strong amid the Ukraine war and economic sanctions by the West. India and China have bought the vast majority of Russian oil in April at prices above the price cap of $60 per barrel imposed by the West, a Reuters report said. The latest media reports suggest that Urals Oil -- a reference oil brand of Russia used for exports -- cargoes loaded in the first half of April were mostly heading to India's and China's ports. According to a Reuters report, India accounted for more than 70 percent of the seaborne supplies of Urals Oil till mid-April, while China accounted for about 20 percent. Media reports indicate that India and China -- both countries share strong bilateral relations with Russia -- have not agreed to abide by the price cap. However, the West had hoped that the threat of sanctions might deter traders from helping those countries buy oil above the price cap. In December 2022, the group of seven (G7) nations and Australia agreed on a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne crude oil in a bid to cut Russia's oil revenues. But opponents of the price cap say that the measure is too soft to force Moscow to backtrack on its activities in Ukraine. A G7 source told Reuters that the price cap would remain unchanged for now, despite pressure from some European Union countries, such as Poland, to lower the cap to increase pressure on Moscow. "We recognize that as markets evolve there will be fluctuations of the discounts that Russia receives relative to global market prices. But the prices Russia receives for its oil remain well below those earned by other producers, which reflects the effects of the global sanctions regime," the official told Reuters on a condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, lower freight rates and smaller discounts for Urals Oil against global benchmarks nudged its daily price back above the price cap in early April. Russia has been under a series of economic sanctions since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The sanctions by the West aim to cut off Moscow from the global financial and trade system.

Russia's oil exports remain strong, India and China top buyers in April: Report

india

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