Jammu and Kashmir is fast becoming one of the most favourite destinations of biker groups from across India and the world. Hundreds of bike rallies have been organised by the various departments and groups across the Kashmir valley in the last few months. And for the first time, an international bikers' rally was organised in Srinagar. The rally was flagged off by the tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

A group of 20 bikers from Bahrain, Oman and Germany are on an expedition trip to the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The bikers started the journey from Ladakh exploring the roads via Leh, Kargil and later Sonamarg in Kashmir region. They went to South Kashmir's Pahalgam as well. The rally was flagged off in Srinagar by secretary of tourism&nbsp;Sarmad Hafeez.&nbsp;

The bikers called Kashmir Valley the "paradise on earth" and said it was one of the best challenging terrains for these bikers.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/liz-truss-faces-potential-tory-rebellion-after-tax-cuts-criticism-report-525091">Liz Truss faces potential Tory rebellion after tax cuts criticism - Report</a>

''Our group has done so many trips. When we were thinking about doing something different, it came to our mind to do Kashmir. Whenever we say Kashmir, we say why and the media portrays&nbsp;it as dangerous, but we wanted to explore it ourselves and honestly we don't regret it at all. The whole group loved it. We loved the landscape, great food and good people. You can't imagine how people helped us. We were given free food and snacks by locals in villages. Our friends from Oman are interested and they will be visiting Kashmir soon as well. Bahrain Bikers was started in 2012 and we have almost 130 members and in this trip we have only 18 of us travelling because everyone couldn't make it. We do a lot of social work as well,'' said Mehdi Hassan, Captain, Bahrain Bikers Group.&nbsp;

The group comprised 20 bikers, including two women, the other bikers were mostly from the Gulf and one was from Germany. The bikers took a ride on the road facing Dal Lake.

''We have come from Bahrain to India. To Leh and Kashmir, I cannot even say anything about Kashmir, it's in our hearts, we have loved Kashmir since our childhood. We never came before but always heard about it. It is for real a paradise on earth. We went to the mountains&nbsp;and saw four seasons in a single day. We recommend and request people from across the world to come to Kashmir. They are lovely people and have amazing food. Kashmir is the best and Kashmir is heaven,'' said Abdul Jasim, a biker from&nbsp;Bahrain.&nbsp;

The bikers expressed joy over the hospitality and welcome they received from people in Srinagar. The female bikers found the place safe and extremely challenging with regard to terrain.&nbsp;

''I have been riding with these bikers for a very long time and it's been amazing. When they said they are going to Kashmir, I said I am signing up as well. It's been fantastic. Even though I am Indian, I will go and promote it. I have seen stunning visuals of the place. I am a part of the group of Biker brothers, and it's been quite safe, and they take care of us very well. Dr Aziz has put together this whole event. He had a crew behind us. We were safe and biker brothers are extremely protective of the lady bikers, so we did not have a problem,'' said Priya Shankar, an Indian biker settled in Bahrain.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-says-want-talks-with-india-but-remains-silent-on-terrorism-525119">Pak PM Sharif says 'want talks with India', but remains silent on terrorism</a>

Secretary of tourism termed the biking expedition of Bahrain Bikers as a positive sign for Kashmir tourism He said the expedition would open gates for many other such activities as Kashmir has much to offer in adventure tourism.

He also expressed his gratitude to Bahrain Bikers and KCCI for organizing the expedition.

''We have a biker's group from Bahrain, these are international tourists, they have come all the way from the Gulf. There is a biker from Germany, there is a lady biker from Oman and I think it's wonderful that our place is opening up. I think Kashmir has a tremendous potential in biking due to its terrain, climate and places and I am sure it can become the best biking destinations in the world,'' said Hafeez.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Jammu and Kashmir is fast becoming one of the most favourite destinations of biker groups from across India and the world. Hundreds of bike rallies have been organised by the various departments and groups across the Kashmir valley in the last few months.

Jammu and Kashmir is fast becoming one of the most favourite destinations of biker groups from across India and the world. Hundreds of bike rallies have been organised by the various departments and groups across the Kashmir valley in the last few months. And for the first time, an international bikers' rally was organised in Srinagar. The rally was flagged off by the tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir. A group of 20 bikers from Bahrain, Oman and Germany are on an expedition trip to the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The bikers started the journey from Ladakh exploring the roads via Leh, Kargil and later Sonamarg in Kashmir region. They went to South Kashmir's Pahalgam as well. The rally was flagged off in Srinagar by secretary of tourism Sarmad Hafeez. The bikers called Kashmir Valley the "paradise on earth" and said it was one of the best challenging terrains for these bikers. Also read | Liz Truss faces potential Tory rebellion after tax cuts criticism - Report ''Our group has done so many trips. When we were thinking about doing something different, it came to our mind to do Kashmir. Whenever we say Kashmir, we say why and the media portrays it as dangerous, but we wanted to explore it ourselves and honestly we don't regret it at all. The whole group loved it. We loved the landscape, great food and good people. You can't imagine how people helped us. We were given free food and snacks by locals in villages. Our friends from Oman are interested and they will be visiting Kashmir soon as well. Bahrain Bikers was started in 2012 and we have almost 130 members and in this trip we have only 18 of us travelling because everyone couldn't make it. We do a lot of social work as well,'' said Mehdi Hassan, Captain, Bahrain Bikers Group. The group comprised 20 bikers, including two women, the other bikers were mostly from the Gulf and one was from Germany. The bikers took a ride on the road facing Dal Lake. ''We have come from Bahrain to India. To Leh and Kashmir, I cannot even say anything about Kashmir, it's in our hearts, we have loved Kashmir since our childhood. We never came before but always heard about it. It is for real a paradise on earth. We went to the mountains and saw four seasons in a single day. We recommend and request people from across the world to come to Kashmir. They are lovely people and have amazing food. Kashmir is the best and Kashmir is heaven,'' said Abdul Jasim, a biker from Bahrain. The bikers expressed joy over the hospitality and welcome they received from people in Srinagar. The female bikers found the place safe and extremely challenging with regard to terrain. ''I have been riding with these bikers for a very long time and it's been amazing. When they said they are going to Kashmir, I said I am signing up as well. It's been fantastic. Even though I am Indian, I will go and promote it. I have seen stunning visuals of the place. I am a part of the group of Biker brothers, and it's been quite safe, and they take care of us very well. Dr Aziz has put together this whole event. He had a crew behind us. We were safe and biker brothers are extremely protective of the lady bikers, so we did not have a problem,'' said Priya Shankar, an Indian biker settled in Bahrain. Also read | Pak PM Sharif says 'want talks with India', but remains silent on terrorism Secretary of tourism termed the biking expedition of Bahrain Bikers as a positive sign for Kashmir tourism He said the expedition would open gates for many other such activities as Kashmir has much to offer in adventure tourism. He also expressed his gratitude to Bahrain Bikers and KCCI for organizing the expedition. ''We have a biker's group from Bahrain, these are international tourists, they have come all the way from the Gulf. There is a biker from Germany, there is a lady biker from Oman and I think it's wonderful that our place is opening up. I think Kashmir has a tremendous potential in biking due to its terrain, climate and places and I am sure it can become the best biking destinations in the world,'' said Hafeez.

India: Kashmir hosts its first-ever international bikers’ expedition

5G network has launched in India but you’re not able to access it. Well, for that you must find out whether your phone is 5G ready or just 5G compatible.

Is your phone 5G ready?

5G has finally been rolled out in India. It claims to offer super-fast speeds, but not all Indians can use the next-gen technology just yet. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint | 5G in India: All important questions answered

The Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala is well-known among devotees for two reasons - it is the only Lake temple in Kerala and that its Lake is guarded by a 'vegetarian' mugger crocodile.

The Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala is well-known among devotees for two reasons - it is the only Lake temple in Kerala and that its Lake is guarded by a 'vegetarian' mugger crocodile. It is believed that the crocodile has been living in the temple pond for nearly 75 years. The temple caretakers fed the croc their holy offerings twice a day and this sight attracted devotees from far and wide. 'Babiya' was found dead in the temple lake on Sunday night. Folklore has it that a single crocodile has been guarding the temple lake for several years and 'Babiya' is the third in that lineage. It is said that a new crocodile appears in the lake, shortly after the demise of the one guarding the temple. According to those at the temple, this unexplained phenomenon happens despite the fact that there are no crocodiles in any of the nearby lakes or rivers. Devotees at the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swamy #temple in #kerala #india ,paying last respects to ‘Babiya’, the #vegetarian #crocodile that is said to have been guarding the temple lake for 75+yrs.. the mugger Croc was fed holy offerings from the puja, twice a day.. gentle giant! pic.twitter.com/TLVgBIQG0t — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 10, 2022 × Legend has it that the crocodile guards the cave that the Lord Vishnu(the presiding deity at the temple) had vanished into, thousands of years ago. The Lake temple or Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in northern Kerala's Kasaragod district is known as the 'moolasthanam' or original source of the Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, at the southern end of Kerala. Also read | Fish feel 'pain, stress and anxiety': Organisation introduces proposal for their 'humane slaughter' According to reports, temple priests used to take holy dips in the temple lake where the croc resided and yet were never harmed by the mugger. It is also believed that the crocodile only survived off the vegetarian holy offering and the offerings fed by devotees, and did not harm or consume the fish in the lake. This earned the Crocodile the moniker of 'God's Own Crocodile' and 'Vegetarian Crocodile'. In recent years, pictures of the croc having entered the temple premises had gone viral on social media. Despite having entered the temple numerous times, there has never been an instance of the croc having harmed anyone there. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kerala: 'Vegetarian' crocodile that lived in temple pond dies, hundreds pay homage

A head-on collision of two speeding buses at the Pamban bridge (in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu) left nearly ten people injured. The incident is said to have occurred when a private bus rammed into a government bus, that was travelling from the opposite direction.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNGovt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNGovt</a> bus &amp;a pvt bus were involved in a head-on collision on the Pamban bridge, that connects Mandapam (mainland) with Rameswaram island.. 
 
Video shows mangled front portion of both buses..one of them is dangerously close to bridge railings.. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/accident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#accident</a> 👇 (1/2) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BusAccident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BusAccident</a> <a href="https://t.co/18V1A5seul">pic.twitter.com/18V1A5seul</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1580034835455672321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Pamban bridge is the crucial, lone road link between Mandapam on the mainland and the Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu. The bridge that spans nearly 2.5 kms is built over the Bay of Bengal.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is the most fortunate outcome for a tragedy like this! Let's remember that this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/accident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#accident</a> occurred on a narrow 2km-long bridge that's build over the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bayofbengal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bayofbengal</a> 
 
thank goodness for the strong railings that bore the brunt of super-heavy impact... Else, needless to say! <a href="https://t.co/e6UjrHusQT">https://t.co/e6UjrHusQT</a> <a href="https://t.co/l9tUCzyAc3">pic.twitter.com/l9tUCzyAc3</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1580140183168507905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</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>

Videos of the incident show that the private bus had finally collided with the bridge railings and came to a halt dangerously close at the very edge. Onlookers, fishermen, and fire and rescue personnel who had reached the spot ensured that the passengers were taken to safety. Rescue teams were deployed to clear the accident site and ease the flow of traffic on the narrow bridge. Authorities are also probing the incident and have registered a case.

A head-on collision of two speeding buses at the Pamban bridge (in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu) left nearly ten people injured. The incident is said to have occurred when a private bus rammed into a government bus, that was travelling from the opposite direction.

A head-on collision of two speeding buses at the Pamban bridge (in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu) left nearly ten people injured. The incident is said to have occurred when a private bus rammed into a government bus, that was travelling from the opposite direction. A #TNGovt bus &a pvt bus were involved in a head-on collision on the Pamban bridge, that connects Mandapam (mainland) with Rameswaram island.. Video shows mangled front portion of both buses..one of them is dangerously close to bridge railings.. #accident 👇 (1/2) #BusAccident pic.twitter.com/18V1A5seul — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 12, 2022 × The Pamban bridge is the crucial, lone road link between Mandapam on the mainland and the Rameswaram island in Tamil Nadu. The bridge that spans nearly 2.5 kms is built over the Bay of Bengal. This is the most fortunate outcome for a tragedy like this! Let's remember that this #accident occurred on a narrow 2km-long bridge that's build over the #bayofbengal thank goodness for the strong railings that bore the brunt of super-heavy impact... Else, needless to say! https://t.co/e6UjrHusQT pic.twitter.com/l9tUCzyAc3 — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) October 12, 2022 × Videos of the incident show that the private bus had finally collided with the bridge railings and came to a halt dangerously close at the very edge. Onlookers, fishermen, and fire and rescue personnel who had reached the spot ensured that the passengers were taken to safety. Rescue teams were deployed to clear the accident site and ease the flow of traffic on the narrow bridge. Authorities are also probing the incident and have registered a case.

India: Bus escapes fatal fall into sea, hits bridge railings in Tamil Nadu

France wants to be India's "best partner" in boosting its defence manufacturing. Why? What’s in it for France? What’s the need to be in India’s good books? Let’s get to the point.

Why France wants to be India’s “best defence partner”

A MiG 29K fighter jet of the Indian Navy recently crashed over the sea coast in Goa, as it experienced a technical malfunction, ANI reported.&nbsp;

As per reports, the actual reason that led the aircraft to crash is still unknown. &nbsp;However, as per some reports, the jet experienced a malfunction in the mid-flight which led to the pilot ejecting himself during that time. According to the Indian Navy, the pilot was rescued and currently is in stable condition.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A MiG 29K fighter aircraft crashed over sea on a routine sortie off Goa coast after it developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. Pilot ejected safely &amp; was recovered in a swift search &amp; rescue operation. Pilot is reported to be in a stable condition: Indian Navy <a href="https://t.co/CDyC1wBUHI">pic.twitter.com/CDyC1wBUHI</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1580075819229028353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Indian Navy in its statement said, " the twin-engine MiG-29K crashed over the sea after it developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered in a swift search &amp; rescue operation. He is reported to be in stable condition," &nbsp;ANI reported.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A MiG 29K on a routine sortie over sea off Goa developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. The pilot ejected safely &amp; has been recovered in a swift SAR ops. 
Pilot reported to be in stable condition. 
BoI ordered to investigate the cause of the incident.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) <a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1580074541488820224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</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>

A Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been ordered to investigate today's aircraft crash. It has been&nbsp;claimed the&nbsp;MiG 29K does not have the best track record.&nbsp;In 2020, an Indian Navy pilot,&nbsp;Nishant Singh was killed following the crash of his&nbsp;MiG-29K in the Arabian Sea. Additionally,&nbsp;February 2020 and November 2019&nbsp;also witnessed two&nbsp;MiG-29 crashes, say reports.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The aircraft is an&nbsp;all-weather, carrier-based, air-dominant fighter with a maximum speed of at least 2000 kmph, it can&nbsp;also&nbsp;pull up to eight&nbsp;times the force of gravity and reach an altitude of over&nbsp;65,000 feet.&nbsp;The MiG 29K was also used to display in the Indian Air Force day celebrations on October 8.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

 
&nbsp;

A MiG 29K fighter jet of the Indian Navy recently crashed over the sea coast in Goa, as it experienced a technical malfunction, ANI reported. As per reports, the actual reason that led the aircraft to crash is still unknown.

A MiG 29K fighter jet of the Indian Navy recently crashed over the sea coast in Goa, as it experienced a technical malfunction, ANI reported. As per reports, the actual reason that led the aircraft to crash is still unknown. However, as per some reports, the jet experienced a malfunction in the mid-flight which led to the pilot ejecting himself during that time. According to the Indian Navy, the pilot was rescued and currently is in stable condition. A MiG 29K fighter aircraft crashed over sea on a routine sortie off Goa coast after it developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. Pilot ejected safely & was recovered in a swift search & rescue operation. Pilot is reported to be in a stable condition: Indian Navy pic.twitter.com/CDyC1wBUHI — ANI (@ANI) October 12, 2022 × The Indian Navy in its statement said, " the twin-engine MiG-29K crashed over the sea after it developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered in a swift search & rescue operation. He is reported to be in stable condition," ANI reported. A MiG 29K on a routine sortie over sea off Goa developed a technical malfunction while returning to base. The pilot ejected safely & has been recovered in a swift SAR ops. Pilot reported to be in stable condition. BoI ordered to investigate the cause of the incident. — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) October 12, 2022 × A Board of Inquiry (BOI) has been ordered to investigate today's aircraft crash. It has been claimed the MiG 29K does not have the best track record. In 2020, an Indian Navy pilot, Nishant Singh was killed following the crash of his MiG-29K in the Arabian Sea. Additionally, February 2020 and November 2019 also witnessed two MiG-29 crashes, say reports. The aircraft is an all-weather, carrier-based, air-dominant fighter with a maximum speed of at least 2000 kmph, it can also pull up to eight times the force of gravity and reach an altitude of over 65,000 feet. The MiG 29K was also used to display in the Indian Air Force day celebrations on October 8. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian Navy's fighter jet MiG 29K crashes in Goa due to an unknown 'technical malfunction' 

The Indian megastar and arguably the most influential Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan turns 80. We have known him as the angry young man, a legend, an icon and behind all these successes has been innumerable rejections.

Stars may come and go, but Amitabh Bachchan stays forever

In the last three days, parts of northern and western India witnessed heavy rainfall which happened to destroy the key summer crops, the heavy rainfall added to the farmer's woes in India.

WION Climate Tracker | Heavy rain recorded in parts of India, summer-sown crops damaged

Snapchat is planning to introduce a set of parental controls for its users in India. This comes a few weeks after the parental controls were launched in the United States.

Tech Talk| Social media and teen safety: Snapchat rolls out parental controls in India

India maintains a healthy dialogue with Russia and will look at what is offered following an announced ownership revamp to the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, said Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Indian Petroleum minister: Will weigh what Russia has to offer on Sakhalin-1 ownership revamp

As Russia launched its most widespread air strikes since the start of the Ukraine war, India said that it is "deeply concerned" about the escalation of the conflict, including targeting of infrastructure and civilian deaths.

'Deeply concerned', says India as Russia missile strikes on Ukraine

An Indian company based in New Delhi manufactures fluffy toys and pillows out of cigarette stubs. The company also uses cigarette stubs to make recycled papers.

Indian company recycles cigarette stubs into fluffy toys

India has voted against Russia's demand for a secret ballot on a draft resolution to condemn Moscow's annexation of four regions in Ukraine.&nbsp;On Monday (October 10), the 193-UNGA members took up a&nbsp;motion by Albania to draft a resolution condemning Russia for its illegal annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine to be taken by vote.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-russian-strikes-kill-14-in-ukraine-over-84-missiles-were-launched-524252">Also read |&nbsp;LIVE | Russian strikes kill 14 in Ukraine | Kyiv calls Russia a 'terrorist state'</a>

India's EAM Jaishankar during a joint press conference on Sunday refused to disclose India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, he said that India has never supported the idea of 'war.'

Russia in UNGA demanded a secret ballot. Amongst the present members, 107 members voted against Russia's demand for a secret ballot including India. 13 nations voted in favor of Russia's demand, while the remaining &nbsp;39 members abstained. Russia and China were amongst the countries that did not vote.

Watch |&nbsp;UN publicly reject Russia’s demand for secret ballot on draft resolution on Ukraine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/un-publicly-reject-russias-demand-for-secret-ballot-on-draft-resolution-on-ukraine-524265/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After getting its demand rejected, Russia sought reconsideration of the decision in motion by Albania. However, the UNGA did not reconsider the motion with 100 nations including India voting against the 'reconsideration.' 16 countries voted in favor and 34 abstained.&nbsp;

Russia's permanent membership of the UNGA said that the UN membership has become a witness to fraud in which the UNGA president played a key role. Vassily Nebenzia said, "We were not given the floor to make a point of order (the indicator light at our seat is still on), our statement was distorted, and now UN member states are being robbed of their right to express their opinion freely." He continued, "This is an unprecedented manipulation undermining the authority of the general assembly and the United Nations as a whole. Of course, in such circumstances we opted to not take part in the vote," PTI reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/eam-jaishankar-refuses-to-disclose-indias-upcoming-un-vote-on-russia-523959">Also read |&nbsp;EAM Jaishankar refuses to disclose India's upcoming UN vote on Russia</a>

Following the meeting, Ukraine denounced Russia as a 'terrorist state.' UN's ambassador to the UN &nbsp;said, "Russia has proven once again that this is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways." He further added, "Unfortunately, you can hardly call for a stable and sane peace as long as an unstable and insane dictatorship exists in your vicinity," AFP reported.&nbsp;

However, India till now has not yet condemned the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month. Will it come to an end?&nbsp;

(With inputs from agenices) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India has voted against Russia's demand for a secret ballot on a draft resolution to condemn Moscow's annexation of four regions in Ukraine. On Monday (October 10), the 193-UNGA members took up a motion by Albania to draft a resolution condemning Russia for its illegal annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine to be taken by vote.

India has voted against Russia's demand for a secret ballot on a draft resolution to condemn Moscow's annexation of four regions in Ukraine. On Monday (October 10), the 193-UNGA members took up a motion by Albania to draft a resolution condemning Russia for its illegal annexation of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions in Ukraine to be taken by vote. Also read | LIVE | Russian strikes kill 14 in Ukraine | Kyiv calls Russia a 'terrorist state' India's EAM Jaishankar during a joint press conference on Sunday refused to disclose India's stand on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, he said that India has never supported the idea of 'war.' Russia in UNGA demanded a secret ballot. Amongst the present members, 107 members voted against Russia's demand for a secret ballot including India. 13 nations voted in favor of Russia's demand, while the remaining 39 members abstained. Russia and China were amongst the countries that did not vote. Watch | UN publicly reject Russia’s demand for secret ballot on draft resolution on Ukraine After getting its demand rejected, Russia sought reconsideration of the decision in motion by Albania. However, the UNGA did not reconsider the motion with 100 nations including India voting against the 'reconsideration.' 16 countries voted in favor and 34 abstained. Russia's permanent membership of the UNGA said that the UN membership has become a witness to fraud in which the UNGA president played a key role. Vassily Nebenzia said, "We were not given the floor to make a point of order (the indicator light at our seat is still on), our statement was distorted, and now UN member states are being robbed of their right to express their opinion freely." He continued, "This is an unprecedented manipulation undermining the authority of the general assembly and the United Nations as a whole. Of course, in such circumstances we opted to not take part in the vote," PTI reported. Also read | EAM Jaishankar refuses to disclose India's upcoming UN vote on Russia Following the meeting, Ukraine denounced Russia as a 'terrorist state.' UN's ambassador to the UN said, "Russia has proven once again that this is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways." He further added, "Unfortunately, you can hardly call for a stable and sane peace as long as an unstable and insane dictatorship exists in your vicinity," AFP reported. However, India till now has not yet condemned the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine enters its seventh month. Will it come to an end? (With inputs from agenices) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India votes to reject Russia's demand for secret ballot on Ukraine at UN

India has said it maintains healthy ties with Russia and will weigh in on what is offered following an announced ownership revamp to the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, said Indian Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

WION Dispatch | India will weigh what Russia has to offer on Sakhalin-1 ownership revamp

India has slammed Germany for its 'unwarranted advice' on Kashmir. In a sharply worded statement, it called German call for UN role in J&K an 'injustice to terror victims'. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: India slams Germany's 'unwarranted remarks' on Kashmir

Indian space sector start-ups would soon launch their own rockets, satellites, and satellite constellations, said Dr.Jitendra Singh, India's Minister of State, Science &amp; Technology, Space. Speaking at the&nbsp;India Space Conclave, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Indian Space Association, ISpA, the minister touched upon the impact of recently unveiled space-sector reforms in the country and how it led to the mushrooming of start-ups.&nbsp;

Referring to the reforms that were rolled out from 2020 June onwards, he said "Space reforms have unleashed the innovative potential of start-ups and within a short span of time, from a couple of Space Start-ups around three-four years back, today we have 102 start-ups working in cutting-edge areas of space debris management., nano-satellite, launch vehicle, ground systems, research, etc". The Minister added, with the integration of R&amp;D, Academia, and Industry with equal stake, it is safe to say that a Space Revolution led by ISRO along with the Private Sector and Start-ups is on the horizon.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-russian-strikes-kill-14-in-ukraine-over-84-missiles-were-launched-524252" hreflang="en">Ukraine war LIVE | Russian strikes on Ukraine could amount to war crimes: UN</a>

On some of the major initiatives by the private sector and commercial space activities being carried out, he said that&nbsp;five PSLVs (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles) are being produced by a partnership between Indian private firm L&amp;T and state-run Defence and Aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. In addition to this, UK-based telecom firm OneWeb is all set to launch its satellites through the Indian Space Research Organization and its commercial arm NSIL (New Space India Limited).&nbsp;

In view of recent global conflicts,&nbsp;Dr Jitendra Singh said that the dual-use nature of space technology is&nbsp;emerging as an important multi-faceted enabler that provides unprecedented reach.&nbsp;He added that many nations are today focusing on developing their military space capabilities to ensure its safe, secure, and friendly use along with deterrence capability to deny it to adversaries, when necessary.&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" hreflang="en">Japan reopens for tourists after two-and-a-half years of Covid-19 restrictions</a>

The Minister elaborated that India too has resolved to leverage the strengths of this emerging dimension of (Space)warfare and in fact, the Indian government is undertaking strong and decisive steps towards ensuring Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in the Space Sector. This is being done to ensure that India's private industrial capability and capacity are effectively energised and channelized to develop cutting-edge solutions which would give the country a decisive edge over our others in times to come, he said.&nbsp;

He also unveiled a sector report titled” Developing the space ecosystem in India: focusing on inclusive growth” along with Chairman ISpA, Jayant D Patil, Chairman, ISRO, S. Somnath.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Indian space sector start-ups would soon launch their own rockets, satellites, and satellite constellations, said Dr.Jitendra Singh, India's Minister of State, Science & Technology, Space.

Indian space sector start-ups would soon launch their own rockets, satellites, and satellite constellations, said Dr.Jitendra Singh, India's Minister of State, Science & Technology, Space. Speaking at the India Space Conclave, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Indian Space Association, ISpA, the minister touched upon the impact of recently unveiled space-sector reforms in the country and how it led to the mushrooming of start-ups. Referring to the reforms that were rolled out from 2020 June onwards, he said "Space reforms have unleashed the innovative potential of start-ups and within a short span of time, from a couple of Space Start-ups around three-four years back, today we have 102 start-ups working in cutting-edge areas of space debris management., nano-satellite, launch vehicle, ground systems, research, etc". The Minister added, with the integration of R&D, Academia, and Industry with equal stake, it is safe to say that a Space Revolution led by ISRO along with the Private Sector and Start-ups is on the horizon. Also read | Ukraine war LIVE | Russian strikes on Ukraine could amount to war crimes: UN On some of the major initiatives by the private sector and commercial space activities being carried out, he said that five PSLVs (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles) are being produced by a partnership between Indian private firm L&T and state-run Defence and Aerospace firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. In addition to this, UK-based telecom firm OneWeb is all set to launch its satellites through the Indian Space Research Organization and its commercial arm NSIL (New Space India Limited). In view of recent global conflicts, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the dual-use nature of space technology is emerging as an important multi-faceted enabler that provides unprecedented reach. He added that many nations are today focusing on developing their military space capabilities to ensure its safe, secure, and friendly use along with deterrence capability to deny it to adversaries, when necessary. Also read | Japan reopens for tourists after two-and-a-half years of Covid-19 restrictions The Minister elaborated that India too has resolved to leverage the strengths of this emerging dimension of (Space)warfare and in fact, the Indian government is undertaking strong and decisive steps towards ensuring Atma Nirbharta (self-reliance) in the Space Sector. This is being done to ensure that India's private industrial capability and capacity are effectively energised and channelized to develop cutting-edge solutions which would give the country a decisive edge over our others in times to come, he said. He also unveiled a sector report titled” Developing the space ecosystem in India: focusing on inclusive growth” along with Chairman ISpA, Jayant D Patil, Chairman, ISRO, S. Somnath.

India has resolved to leverage strengths of space warfare, says minister Jitendra Singh

India is yet again witnessing heavy rainfall in several parts of southern and northern regions over the past few days.&nbsp;

In northern region, Uttar Pradesh has been experiencing heavy rainfall for a few days now, with waterlogging and traffic. Many schools and institutions have declared their closure&nbsp;for the same reason.&nbsp;

As per officials, nearly 13 people have died in separate rain incidents in UP and Uttrakhand.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-heavy-rains-leave-bengaluru-waterlogged-boats-deployed-in-worst-hit-areas-513172">Also readc |&nbsp;In pics - Heavy rains leave Bengaluru waterlogged, boats deployed in worst-hit areas</a>

The national capital, Delhi, on the other hand, recorded 121.7 mm of rainfall in the first week of October marking it to be the second highest in 16 years.&nbsp;

In the south, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted Bengaluru to experience heavy rainfall in the coming days. the weather department in its bulletin stated that it has issued a yellow alert in Bengaluru. The IMD further stated that 20 districts will experience thunderstorms in the coming two days.&nbsp;

As per the weather department, there is an upright cyclonic storm circulation in the northern part of Tamil Nadu along with its neighbouring areas to West Madhya Pradesh. It is anticipated that the heavy rainfall will continue for another four or five days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/human-induced-climate-change-made-summer-drought-at-least-20-times-more-likely-study-finds-523077">Also read |&nbsp;Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds</a>

Schools and other institutions have also been closed in Tamil Nadu, following the IMD's prediction.&nbsp;

A yellow alert has been issued for today (October 11) in Telangana.&nbsp;

In the east, light or moderate rainfall or heavy rainfall and thunderstorm have been predicted to be over Sikkim, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya til Wednesday (October 11).&nbsp;

Several parts of Odisha and Bihar are also expected to witness light to moderate rainfall till Wednesday (October 12).

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India is yet again witnessing heavy rainfall in several parts of southern and northern regions over the past few days. In northern region, Uttar Pradesh has been experiencing heavy rainfall for a few days now, with waterlogging and traffic.

India is yet again witnessing heavy rainfall in several parts of southern and northern regions over the past few days. In northern region, Uttar Pradesh has been experiencing heavy rainfall for a few days now, with waterlogging and traffic. Many schools and institutions have declared their closure for the same reason. As per officials, nearly 13 people have died in separate rain incidents in UP and Uttrakhand. Also readc | In pics - Heavy rains leave Bengaluru waterlogged, boats deployed in worst-hit areas The national capital, Delhi, on the other hand, recorded 121.7 mm of rainfall in the first week of October marking it to be the second highest in 16 years. In the south, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted Bengaluru to experience heavy rainfall in the coming days. the weather department in its bulletin stated that it has issued a yellow alert in Bengaluru. The IMD further stated that 20 districts will experience thunderstorms in the coming two days. As per the weather department, there is an upright cyclonic storm circulation in the northern part of Tamil Nadu along with its neighbouring areas to West Madhya Pradesh. It is anticipated that the heavy rainfall will continue for another four or five days. Also read | Human-induced climate change made summer drought ‘at least 20 times’ more likely, study finds Schools and other institutions have also been closed in Tamil Nadu, following the IMD's prediction. A yellow alert has been issued for today (October 11) in Telangana. In the east, light or moderate rainfall or heavy rainfall and thunderstorm have been predicted to be over Sikkim, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Meghalaya til Wednesday (October 11). Several parts of Odisha and Bihar are also expected to witness light to moderate rainfall till Wednesday (October 12). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Heavy rain lashes parts of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, IMD issues alert 

What has caused India’s meteoric rise in Defence exports? What are all other countries looking to procure from India’s military arsenal? – let’s take a look

How India’s Defence Exports grew by 334% | What the world wants from India’s military arsenal

Asserting that no nation has ordered India to stop purchasing oil from Russia, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri stated on Friday that the Indian government has a moral obligation to provide energy to its citizens and will continue to purchase oil from wherever it is necessary.

The conflict between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-war-in-ukraine-would-not-have-happened-if-donald-trump-was-still-in-power-says-jair-bolsonaro-523466">Russia and Ukraine</a> has had a significant effect on the global energy system, upsetting trends in supply and demand and shattering long-standing trade ties.

It has caused energy prices to rise for a large number of consumers and enterprises globally, harming homes, businesses, and the economies of various countries.

Since April, India's imports of crude oil from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-world-must-act-now-to-stop-russia-nuclear-threat-says-zelensky-523472">Russia</a> have increased more than 50 times; today, they account for 10% of all petroleum imported from outside.

Prior to the Ukraine war, only 0.2% of India's total oil imports came from Russia.

Following Russia's invasion on Ukraine, the Western nations are gradually reducing their energy purchases from Russia.

Puri told a group of Indian reporters that India will purchase oil from wherever it is necessary for the simple reason that such a subject cannot be brought to India's consumer population. He also added that the government has a moral obligation to provide its citizens with energy.

In response to a question, he stated that no one had instructed India to stop purchasing oil from Russia.

After their private discussion, US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm remarked, "If you are clear about your philosophy, which means you believe in energy security and energy affordability, you will buy from wherever you have to purchase energy from sources."

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">India: Centre gives approval for creation of a weapon system branch for IAF officers, says Air Chief Marshal</a>

Puri "broached the notion" of an India-US Green Corridor at their encounter, and his US colleague responded favourably.

He claimed that India's determination to switch to green, clean, and sustainable energy will be hindered by the turmoil in the energy markets.

The two nations would now examine the more general features of this enormous Green Energy Corridor.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

<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>

Asserting that no nation has ordered India to stop purchasing oil from Russia, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri stated on Friday that the Indian government has a moral obligation to provide energy to its citizens and will continue to purchase oil from wherever it is necessary.

Asserting that no nation has ordered India to stop purchasing oil from Russia, Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri stated on Friday that the Indian government has a moral obligation to provide energy to its citizens and will continue to purchase oil from wherever it is necessary. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has had a significant effect on the global energy system, upsetting trends in supply and demand and shattering long-standing trade ties. It has caused energy prices to rise for a large number of consumers and enterprises globally, harming homes, businesses, and the economies of various countries. Since April, India's imports of crude oil from Russia have increased more than 50 times; today, they account for 10% of all petroleum imported from outside. Prior to the Ukraine war, only 0.2% of India's total oil imports came from Russia. Following Russia's invasion on Ukraine, the Western nations are gradually reducing their energy purchases from Russia. Puri told a group of Indian reporters that India will purchase oil from wherever it is necessary for the simple reason that such a subject cannot be brought to India's consumer population. He also added that the government has a moral obligation to provide its citizens with energy. In response to a question, he stated that no one had instructed India to stop purchasing oil from Russia. After their private discussion, US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm remarked, "If you are clear about your philosophy, which means you believe in energy security and energy affordability, you will buy from wherever you have to purchase energy from sources." Also read | India: Centre gives approval for creation of a weapon system branch for IAF officers, says Air Chief Marshal Puri "broached the notion" of an India-US Green Corridor at their encounter, and his US colleague responded favourably. He claimed that India's determination to switch to green, clean, and sustainable energy will be hindered by the turmoil in the energy markets. The two nations would now examine the more general features of this enormous Green Energy Corridor. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'No one has told us not to buy oil from Russia,' says Indian minister Hardeep Singh Puri

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishnakar on Monday declined to disclose India's stand on the upcoming draft resolution against Russia in the UN General Assembly.

EAM Jaishankar refuses to disclose India's stance on UN vote against Russia

The world is still reeling (and will continue to) with the coronavirus pandemic and its after-effects. The&nbsp;unprecedented crisis that has started to become the new normal.&nbsp;

Since its first outbreak&nbsp;in late 2019, COVID-19 has killed millions of people and left millions of others grieving the loss of their loved ones. &nbsp;

Humans have a tendency of moving on quickly in a really fast-paced lifestyle, but sometimes we don't understand to what extent some tragedy has affected us.&nbsp;

Covid has impacted our sanity beyond our understanding, but it's extremely important to identify it and address it before it's too late or starts influencing our day-to-day life or how we behave.&nbsp;

First of all, it is completely normal&nbsp;that people are distressed in the context of the Covid fears and perceived threats.&nbsp;

Unarguably, there will be fear, anxiety and stress. We might see ourselves crying or getting emotional more often even while watching movies and even while reading already-read stories or novels.&nbsp;

For a normal person, it is certainly difficult to understand what's behind the emotional outbursts, why emotions are getting triggered even for the smallest of things.&nbsp;

Sometimes we don't realise that maybe childhood trauma is behind the distress and agony we are facing at the age of 30 and 40. Instead of blaming everything on the pandemic, let's open up and stop being in denial.&nbsp;

How is that possible?&nbsp;

Maybe by taking baby steps. The government of India has taken an initiative at a national level for mental health issues and awareness, which is extremely important and quite encouraging.&nbsp;

While presenting the Union Budget for the year 2022-2023, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a National Tele Mental Health Programme, in view of 'long Covid', the phenomenon of coronavirus-related ailments remaining in patients long after they recover.&nbsp;

The government also informed about rolling out of an open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem.

Sitharaman said the programme will be launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and also care services.&nbsp;

It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, consent framework and universal access to health facilities.&nbsp;

It's a huge step keeping the current situation and the uncertain future in mind — a step to normalise mental health awareness and an attempt to address the stigma around it.&nbsp;

When such steps are taken by governments at a national level, they will certainly bring about changes in the longer run, opening up a common platform for dialogue over the importance of mental health.

<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0255683#:~:text=Studies%20have%20revealed%20that%20high,15%5D%20to%20name%20a%20few.">Research</a> published in the journal Plos One has revealed that high distress and anxiety due to coronavirus has resulted in poor psychological well-being. There is a visible increase in suicidal tendencies, exasperated pre-existing mental health conditions.&nbsp;

The research published in August 2021 has stated that stress and anxiety severely affect family relationships and social dynamics. There is also an increase in reported cases of domestic violence and abuse of alcohol.&nbsp;

Another <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468668/">study</a> published in SAGE Journal highlighted how the issue can be tackled. The conclusion part of the study "Mental health implications of COVID-19 pandemic and its response in India", which was published in September 2020 highlighted ways to tackle Covid's impact on mental health.&nbsp;

It stated that keeping a positive approach, developing vulnerable-group-specific need-based interventions with proper risk communication strategies can provide a robust system in the country.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government brought up the issue of mental health while presenting the annual budget, a window has definitely opened to establish a healthy conversation.&nbsp;

What we can do in the future is to normalise it further, understand our health. Give priority to mental sanity. Tell our children why it is important. Also, keep a check of our surroundings, provide information to those who need it.&nbsp;

The rare mention of mental health in the budget has been hailed by the experts. Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers (India), said the government's intent of focusing on setting up 23-mental health centres will be beneficial in general and more specifically for long Covid patients.&nbsp;

Dr NK Pandey, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, said the cases of depression and anxiety disorders witnessed an increase of about 25 per cent globally, and by 35 per cent in India alone.&nbsp;

"It is encouraging to note the government's attention to addressing the challenge of rising mental health issues in India and proposed to launch a National Tele Mental Health Programme.&nbsp;

"The budget, inculcating the fact that focusing on mental and emotional wellness is the need of the hour, itself talks about how progressive we are becoming in our approach as a nation, Pandey said.&nbsp;

The world is still reeling (and will continue to) with the coronavirus pandemic and its after-effects. The unprecedented crisis that has started to become the new normal.

The world is still reeling (and will continue to) with the coronavirus pandemic and its after-effects. The unprecedented crisis that has started to become the new normal. Since its first outbreak in late 2019, COVID-19 has killed millions of people and left millions of others grieving the loss of their loved ones. Humans have a tendency of moving on quickly in a really fast-paced lifestyle, but sometimes we don't understand to what extent some tragedy has affected us. Covid has impacted our sanity beyond our understanding, but it's extremely important to identify it and address it before it's too late or starts influencing our day-to-day life or how we behave. First of all, it is completely normal that people are distressed in the context of the Covid fears and perceived threats. Unarguably, there will be fear, anxiety and stress. We might see ourselves crying or getting emotional more often even while watching movies and even while reading already-read stories or novels. For a normal person, it is certainly difficult to understand what's behind the emotional outbursts, why emotions are getting triggered even for the smallest of things. Sometimes we don't realise that maybe childhood trauma is behind the distress and agony we are facing at the age of 30 and 40. Instead of blaming everything on the pandemic, let's open up and stop being in denial. How is that possible? Maybe by taking baby steps. The government of India has taken an initiative at a national level for mental health issues and awareness, which is extremely important and quite encouraging. While presenting the Union Budget for the year 2022-2023, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a National Tele Mental Health Programme, in view of 'long Covid', the phenomenon of coronavirus-related ailments remaining in patients long after they recover. The government also informed about rolling out of an open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem. Sitharaman said the programme will be launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and also care services. It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, consent framework and universal access to health facilities. It's a huge step keeping the current situation and the uncertain future in mind — a step to normalise mental health awareness and an attempt to address the stigma around it. When such steps are taken by governments at a national level, they will certainly bring about changes in the longer run, opening up a common platform for dialogue over the importance of mental health. Research published in the journal Plos One has revealed that high distress and anxiety due to coronavirus has resulted in poor psychological well-being. There is a visible increase in suicidal tendencies, exasperated pre-existing mental health conditions. The research published in August 2021 has stated that stress and anxiety severely affect family relationships and social dynamics. There is also an increase in reported cases of domestic violence and abuse of alcohol. Another study published in SAGE Journal highlighted how the issue can be tackled. The conclusion part of the study "Mental health implications of COVID-19 pandemic and its response in India", which was published in September 2020 highlighted ways to tackle Covid's impact on mental health. It stated that keeping a positive approach, developing vulnerable-group-specific need-based interventions with proper risk communication strategies can provide a robust system in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government brought up the issue of mental health while presenting the annual budget, a window has definitely opened to establish a healthy conversation. What we can do in the future is to normalise it further, understand our health. Give priority to mental sanity. Tell our children why it is important. Also, keep a check of our surroundings, provide information to those who need it. The rare mention of mental health in the budget has been hailed by the experts. Dr Girdhar Gyani, Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers (India), said the government's intent of focusing on setting up 23-mental health centres will be beneficial in general and more specifically for long Covid patients. Dr NK Pandey, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, said the cases of depression and anxiety disorders witnessed an increase of about 25 per cent globally, and by 35 per cent in India alone. "It is encouraging to note the government's attention to addressing the challenge of rising mental health issues in India and proposed to launch a National Tele Mental Health Programme. "The budget, inculcating the fact that focusing on mental and emotional wellness is the need of the hour, itself talks about how progressive we are becoming in our approach as a nation, Pandey said.

How India took a huge step forward by announcing mental health initiatives in its budget

During a joint press conference, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishnakar on Monday (October 10) declined to disclose India's stand on the upcoming draft resolution against Russia in the UN General Assembly.&nbsp;

He said, "As a matter of prudence and policy, we don't predict our votes in advance." He continues, "We have been very clearly against the conflict in Ukraine," PTI reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-conflict-live-updates-three-loud-blasts-rock-kyiv-report-523917">Also read |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates | Zelensky says people 'dead and wounded' from strikes across Ukraine</a>

Jaishankar further added, " We believe that this conflict does not serve the interests of anybody neither the participants nor indeed of the international community. And as a country of the Global South, we have been seeing first-hand how much it has impacted low-income countries, the challenges that they are facing in terms of fuel and food and fertilisers."

The foreign minister said he agreed with what the Indian Prime Minister said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit: that this is not the time for a war as it will affect everyone.

India till now hasn't condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has requested to solve the conflict through the matter of diplomacy and dialogue.&nbsp;Earlier this month, a draught resolution was presented to the UNSC to call for an immediate end to the violence while also stressing finding a resolution.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-reconnected-to-grid-a-day-after-line-was-cut-523869">Also read |&nbsp;Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reconnected to grid a day after line was cut</a>

The diplomats said that the UN General Assembly is yet to decide on a draft resolution on Tuesday or Wednesday.&nbsp;

Russia-Ukraine has entered its seventh month. Till now the war has claimed the lives of thousands of people, forcing million to flee.&nbsp;

Several foreign countries have sent military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and collectively showed their disagreement against Russia bypassing sanctions. Russia being the target has still not reversed its actions.&nbsp;

(WIth inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

During a joint press conference, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishnakar on Monday (October 10) declined to disclose India's stand on the upcoming draft resolution against Russia in the UN General Assembly.

During a joint press conference, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishnakar on Monday (October 10) declined to disclose India's stand on the upcoming draft resolution against Russia in the UN General Assembly. He said, "As a matter of prudence and policy, we don't predict our votes in advance." He continues, "We have been very clearly against the conflict in Ukraine," PTI reported. Also read | Russia-Ukraine conflict live updates | Zelensky says people 'dead and wounded' from strikes across Ukraine Jaishankar further added, " We believe that this conflict does not serve the interests of anybody neither the participants nor indeed of the international community. And as a country of the Global South, we have been seeing first-hand how much it has impacted low-income countries, the challenges that they are facing in terms of fuel and food and fertilisers." The foreign minister said he agreed with what the Indian Prime Minister said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit: that this is not the time for a war as it will affect everyone. India till now hasn't condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine but has requested to solve the conflict through the matter of diplomacy and dialogue. Earlier this month, a draught resolution was presented to the UNSC to call for an immediate end to the violence while also stressing finding a resolution. Also read | Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reconnected to grid a day after line was cut The diplomats said that the UN General Assembly is yet to decide on a draft resolution on Tuesday or Wednesday. Russia-Ukraine has entered its seventh month. Till now the war has claimed the lives of thousands of people, forcing million to flee. Several foreign countries have sent military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and collectively showed their disagreement against Russia bypassing sanctions. Russia being the target has still not reversed its actions. (WIth inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

EAM Jaishankar refuses to disclose India's upcoming UN vote on Russia

India has a $1.2 Trillion master plan to grab factories from China. It is called 'Gati Shakti' or the 'strength of speed'. The aim is to attract multi-national corporations & enhance India's image as a manufacturing hub. How? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas Plus: India's $1.2 trillion plan to grab factories from China

india

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