In pics: Researchers rediscover rare ‘lipstick plant’ in Arunachal Pradesh after a century

A top US general has said that China's military infrastructure build-up near Ladakh is "alarming". India and the US are now planning high altitude drills to keep China in check. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: India, US plan high altitude drills to counter China

South Asian nations are facing three big challenges - debt, inflation and shrinking forex. Will more countries go the Sri Lanka way? What must India do? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Economic crisis brewing in India's backyard

Al-Qaeda threatened to attack India as revenge for the comments made against Prophet Muhammad. The same Muslim nations who criticised the comments are silent on Al-Qaeda's threats. Palki Sharma calls out their hypocrisy.

Gravitas: Al-Qaeda threatens India, Muslim nations silent

India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Daily covid cases in India have crossed the 5,000 mark and reported 7,240 cases in one day.

India records nearly 40% jump in daily covid-19 cases

India's biggest dairy group&nbsp;Amul&nbsp;has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity.

Amul&nbsp;made its appeal in a letter, dated May 28, that was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office ahead of a July 1 ban on straws packaged with small packs of juices and dairy products, a market estimated by an industry body to be worth 790 million dollars.&nbsp;Amul&nbsp;sells billions of small dairy cartons with plastic straws attached every year.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coca-cola-and-pepsico-ranked-as-worlds-leading-plastic-polluters-449536">Coca-Cola and PepsiCo ranked as world's leading plastic polluters</a>

The decision has spooked&nbsp;Amul&nbsp;and global drinks majors including PepsiCo Inc and Coca-Cola, especially after the government declined to change its stance and asked companies to switch to alternative straws.

In its letter, signed by Managing Director R S&nbsp;Sodhi, the 8 billion dollars Amul&nbsp;group said the straws help promote milk consumption, and called for the ban - part of Modi's drive to stamp out polluting, single-use plastic - to be postponed for a year.

A delay would "provide huge relief and benefit" to 100 million dairy farmers who "safeguard our food security in terms of milk and milk products", Sodhi wrote.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Top 10 plastic polluters in the world

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A source familiar with the government's thinking has previously told that the straws were a "low-utility product" which should be replaced with paper straws or packs with re-designed spouts instead.

Sodhi declined to comment on his letter, but said&nbsp;Amul&nbsp;may have to sell packs without straws once the ban kicks in from July 1.

Priced between 5 rupees and 30 rupees (7- 40 US cents), small beverage packs containing juice and milk products are hugely popular in India and part of a much bigger market for such beverages.

Based in Modi's home state of Gujarat in western India,&nbsp;Amul&nbsp;is also popular for its plastic pouches containing milk, its cheese and chocolates.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/single-use-plastic-bags-banned-in-uae-capital-abu-dhabi-from-june-468928">Single-use plastic bags banned in UAE capital Abu Dhabi from June</a> &nbsp;

Pepsi's Tropicana juice, as well as Coca-Cola's Maaza and Parle Agro's Frooti mango drinks, are also among top-selling beverages. Industry estimates show six&nbsp;billion of such packs are sold each year in India.

Praveen Aggarwal of Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons, which represents drinks majors, said companies were considering importing paper straws from China, Indonesia and other nations in light of the upcoming ban.

"There will be disruption", he said.

A person with direct knowledge of the matter said Parle has also written a letter to the Indian government, saying there was not enough local production of alternative straws, and imported paper and biodegradable variants were around 250 per cent more expensive.

Parle Agro's Chief Executive Schauna Chauhan said the company had started importing paper straws for now but it was unsustainable. "The economics just does not match up for a 10 rupee product", she said.

Pepsi and Coca-Cola declined to comment.

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India's biggest dairy group Amul has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity.

India's biggest dairy group Amul has written to the government urging it to delay a planned ban on tiny plastic straws, saying the move will have a "negative impact" on farmers and milk consumption in the world's biggest producer of the commodity. Amul made its appeal in a letter, dated May 28, that was sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office ahead of a July 1 ban on straws packaged with small packs of juices and dairy products, a market estimated by an industry body to be worth 790 million dollars. Amul sells billions of small dairy cartons with plastic straws attached every year. Also read | Coca-Cola and PepsiCo ranked as world's leading plastic polluters The decision has spooked Amul and global drinks majors including PepsiCo Inc and Coca-Cola, especially after the government declined to change its stance and asked companies to switch to alternative straws. In its letter, signed by Managing Director R S Sodhi, the 8 billion dollars Amul group said the straws help promote milk consumption, and called for the ban - part of Modi's drive to stamp out polluting, single-use plastic - to be postponed for a year. A delay would "provide huge relief and benefit" to 100 million dairy farmers who "safeguard our food security in terms of milk and milk products", Sodhi wrote. Watch | Gravitas: Top 10 plastic polluters in the world A source familiar with the government's thinking has previously told that the straws were a "low-utility product" which should be replaced with paper straws or packs with re-designed spouts instead. Sodhi declined to comment on his letter, but said Amul may have to sell packs without straws once the ban kicks in from July 1. Priced between 5 rupees and 30 rupees (7- 40 US cents), small beverage packs containing juice and milk products are hugely popular in India and part of a much bigger market for such beverages. Based in Modi's home state of Gujarat in western India, Amul is also popular for its plastic pouches containing milk, its cheese and chocolates. Also read | Single-use plastic bags banned in UAE capital Abu Dhabi from June Pepsi's Tropicana juice, as well as Coca-Cola's Maaza and Parle Agro's Frooti mango drinks, are also among top-selling beverages. Industry estimates show six billion of such packs are sold each year in India. Praveen Aggarwal of Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons, which represents drinks majors, said companies were considering importing paper straws from China, Indonesia and other nations in light of the upcoming ban. "There will be disruption", he said. A person with direct knowledge of the matter said Parle has also written a letter to the Indian government, saying there was not enough local production of alternative straws, and imported paper and biodegradable variants were around 250 per cent more expensive. Parle Agro's Chief Executive Schauna Chauhan said the company had started importing paper straws for now but it was unsustainable. "The economics just does not match up for a 10 rupee product", she said. Pepsi and Coca-Cola declined to comment. 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 Amul urges PM Modi to delay plastic straw ban, cites impact on dairy farmers

Iran Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in India for 3 day visit. He will also travel to Mumbai, Hyderabad and scheduled to meet S. Jaishankar.

Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian begins 3 day India visit

Terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda's affiliate AQIS has threatened suicide attacks in India to fight for honour of Prophet. Indian security forces are on high alert.

Al-Qaeda threatens attacks in India; Indian security forces on high alert

Prophet remark controversy: Al-Qaeda affiliate AQIS threatens suicide attacks in India

After being ranked at the bottom of the Environment Performance Index (EPI), India has rebutted the findings of the analysis saying its indicators are "extrapolated" and based on "unfounded assumptions".

In a statement issued on Wednesday, India's Environment Ministry said the country does not accept the EPI analysis as "some of these indicators used for assessing performance are extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods."

The EPI is an analysis by researchers of Yale and Columbia University which provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.

India ranked at the bottom with a total score of 18.9, while Denmark was the top scorer as the world’s most sustainable country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-one-dead-eight-injured-as-car-ploughs-into-crowd-in-berlin-486187" hreflang="en">Germany: One dead, eight injured as car drives into a crowd in Berlin</a>

Rejecting the findings, the environment ministry, said that India has already achieved the target of 40 percent of installed electricity capacity from non- fossil fuel-based sources.

"No indicator talks about the renewable energy, energy efficiency and process optimization. The selection of indicators is biased and incomplete," the ministry said.

Noting that the EPI has a new indicator in the Climate Policy objective which is 'Projected GHG Emissions levels in 2050', the Indian ministry said that "it is computed based on average rate of change in emission of the last 10 years instead of modelling that takes into account a longer time period, extent of renewable energy capacity and use, additional carbon sinks, energy efficiency etc. of respective countries."

It said that both forests and wetlands of the country are crucial carbon sinks which have not been factored in while computing the projected GHG emissions trajectory up to 2050 given by EPI 2022.

"Historical data on the lowest emission trajectory has been ignored in the above computation. The weight of indictors in which the country was performing well has been reduced and reasons for change in assignment of weights has not been explained in the report," India said.

The ministry said that the principle of equity is given very low weightage in the form of the indicators like GHG emission per capita and GHG emission intensity trend.

The CBDR-RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities) principle is also barely reflected in the composition of the index, India said.

"The indicators on water quality, water use efficiency, waste generation per capita which are closely linked to sustainable consumption and production are not included in the Index," the ministry said. 
Pointing out the flaws in the analysis, India said that the Index emphasizes the extent of Protected Areas rather than the quality of protection that they afford.

"Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Protected areas and eco-sensitive regions is not factored into the computation of Biodiversity Indices.

"Again, the index computes extent of ecosystems but not their condition or productivity. Efforts must be made to include metrics that truly capture ecosystem productivity such that regulatory, provisioning as well as cultural services provided by various ecosystems like forests, wetlands, croplands are assessed and reflected in performance," it said.

It also pointed out that indicators like agro-biodiversity, soil health, food loss and waste are not included even though they are important for developing countries with large agrarian populations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cash-strapped-pakistan-announces-austerity-measures-as-soaring-energy-cost-inflation-bites-hard-486161">Pak announces austerity measures as soaring energy cost, inflation bites hard</a>

"India is party to Paris Agreement and has given a goal of NET ZERO by 2070 and hence comparing it to countries with projected 2050 emissions level in 2050 equal to or below zero receiving the maximum score is against the principle of Equity as enshrined in CBDR-RC," the ministry said.

Using 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national scale of how close the countries are to established environmental policy targets.

The United States placed at the 20th spot of the 22 wealthy democracies in the global west and 43rd overall.

The lowest scores went to India (18.9), Myanmar (19.4), Vietnam (20.1), Bangladesh (23.1) and Pakistan (24.6).

Most low-scoring countries are those that have prioritized economic growth over sustainability, or those that are struggling with civil unrest and other crises. India, with increasingly dangerous air quality and rapidly rising greenhouse gas emissions, falls to the bottom of rankings for the first time, the report read. 
China is placed 161st, with an overall EPI score of 28.4.

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After being ranked at the bottom of the Environment Performance Index (EPI), India has rebutted the findings of the analysis saying its indicators are "extrapolated" and based on "unfounded assumptions".

After being ranked at the bottom of the Environment Performance Index (EPI), India has rebutted the findings of the analysis saying its indicators are "extrapolated" and based on "unfounded assumptions". In a statement issued on Wednesday, India's Environment Ministry said the country does not accept the EPI analysis as "some of these indicators used for assessing performance are extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods." The EPI is an analysis by researchers of Yale and Columbia University which provides a data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world. India ranked at the bottom with a total score of 18.9, while Denmark was the top scorer as the world’s most sustainable country. Also read | Germany: One dead, eight injured as car drives into a crowd in Berlin Rejecting the findings, the environment ministry, said that India has already achieved the target of 40 percent of installed electricity capacity from non- fossil fuel-based sources. "No indicator talks about the renewable energy, energy efficiency and process optimization. The selection of indicators is biased and incomplete," the ministry said. Noting that the EPI has a new indicator in the Climate Policy objective which is 'Projected GHG Emissions levels in 2050', the Indian ministry said that "it is computed based on average rate of change in emission of the last 10 years instead of modelling that takes into account a longer time period, extent of renewable energy capacity and use, additional carbon sinks, energy efficiency etc. of respective countries." It said that both forests and wetlands of the country are crucial carbon sinks which have not been factored in while computing the projected GHG emissions trajectory up to 2050 given by EPI 2022. "Historical data on the lowest emission trajectory has been ignored in the above computation. The weight of indictors in which the country was performing well has been reduced and reasons for change in assignment of weights has not been explained in the report," India said. The ministry said that the principle of equity is given very low weightage in the form of the indicators like GHG emission per capita and GHG emission intensity trend. The CBDR-RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities) principle is also barely reflected in the composition of the index, India said. "The indicators on water quality, water use efficiency, waste generation per capita which are closely linked to sustainable consumption and production are not included in the Index," the ministry said. Pointing out the flaws in the analysis, India said that the Index emphasizes the extent of Protected Areas rather than the quality of protection that they afford. "Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Protected areas and eco-sensitive regions is not factored into the computation of Biodiversity Indices. "Again, the index computes extent of ecosystems but not their condition or productivity. Efforts must be made to include metrics that truly capture ecosystem productivity such that regulatory, provisioning as well as cultural services provided by various ecosystems like forests, wetlands, croplands are assessed and reflected in performance," it said. It also pointed out that indicators like agro-biodiversity, soil health, food loss and waste are not included even though they are important for developing countries with large agrarian populations. Also read | Pak announces austerity measures as soaring energy cost, inflation bites hard "India is party to Paris Agreement and has given a goal of NET ZERO by 2070 and hence comparing it to countries with projected 2050 emissions level in 2050 equal to or below zero receiving the maximum score is against the principle of Equity as enshrined in CBDR-RC," the ministry said. Using 40 performance indicators across 11 issue categories, the EPI ranks 180 countries on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national scale of how close the countries are to established environmental policy targets. The United States placed at the 20th spot of the 22 wealthy democracies in the global west and 43rd overall. The lowest scores went to India (18.9), Myanmar (19.4), Vietnam (20.1), Bangladesh (23.1) and Pakistan (24.6). Most low-scoring countries are those that have prioritized economic growth over sustainability, or those that are struggling with civil unrest and other crises. India, with increasingly dangerous air quality and rapidly rising greenhouse gas emissions, falls to the bottom of rankings for the first time, the report read. China is placed 161st, with an overall EPI score of 28.4. 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 rebuts Environment Performance Index 2022 findings, says indicators are 'extrapolated'

Turkiye has eased all entry requirements for visitors, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday (June 6). The country&nbsp;expects to receive a large number of Indian travellers this year, as reported by PTI.&nbsp;

As per the statement given by the authorities, earlier Indian citizens were required to provide either an RT-PCR test report or a vaccination certificate. However, Indian travellers no longer have to give proof of vaccine, negative RT-PCR test results or proof of recovering from the sickness.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-behind-turkeys-syria-incursion-threats-485142#high-tension-485135">What is behind Turkey’s Syria incursion threats?</a>

Turkiye’s tourism industry generated about $25 billion in revenue in the year 2021, up 103 per cent since the onset of the pandemic and the number is expected to be higher this year.&nbsp;

As per the statement, the country welcomed 52 million tourists in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and generated a revenue of $34.5 billion in tourism earnings.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Inflation in Turkiye hits highest level since 1998

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Last year, as per the tourism authority, the country was announced as one of the top destinations for Free Independent Travelers (FTI) and Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Events (MICE) travellers from around the world with more than 30 million international visitors. &nbsp;Amongst these, 50,000 were Indian travellers, this was regarded as a significant number with consideration of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/countries-that-have-changed-their-names-as-turkey-becomes-turkiye-484695">Countries that have changed their names as Turkey becomes ‘Türkiye’</a>

Turkiye has high expectations to welcome a higher number of Indian travellers than before, with both Turkish and Indigo airlines restarting their direct international flights from India.&nbsp;

The country expects its visitors' graph to match the levels of 2019 by the end of 2022, as the demand for international demand is rising and people are willing to travel internationally and explore new countries and destinations.&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

Turkiye has eased all entry requirements for visitors, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday (June 6). The country expects to receive a large number of Indian travellers this year, as reported by PTI.

Turkiye has eased all entry requirements for visitors, Turkiye Tourism Board said on Monday (June 6). The country expects to receive a large number of Indian travellers this year, as reported by PTI. As per the statement given by the authorities, earlier Indian citizens were required to provide either an RT-PCR test report or a vaccination certificate. However, Indian travellers no longer have to give proof of vaccine, negative RT-PCR test results or proof of recovering from the sickness. Also read | What is behind Turkey’s Syria incursion threats? Turkiye’s tourism industry generated about $25 billion in revenue in the year 2021, up 103 per cent since the onset of the pandemic and the number is expected to be higher this year. As per the statement, the country welcomed 52 million tourists in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 and generated a revenue of $34.5 billion in tourism earnings. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Inflation in Turkiye hits highest level since 1998 Last year, as per the tourism authority, the country was announced as one of the top destinations for Free Independent Travelers (FTI) and Meeting, Incentive Travel, Conferences and Events (MICE) travellers from around the world with more than 30 million international visitors. Amongst these, 50,000 were Indian travellers, this was regarded as a significant number with consideration of the pandemic. Also read | Countries that have changed their names as Turkey becomes ‘Türkiye’ Turkiye has high expectations to welcome a higher number of Indian travellers than before, with both Turkish and Indigo airlines restarting their direct international flights from India. The country expects its visitors' graph to match the levels of 2019 by the end of 2022, as the demand for international demand is rising and people are willing to travel internationally and explore new countries and destinations. 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. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkiye eases COVID-19 restrictions for Indian tourists

The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI.

The national capital has been experiencing severe heatwaves in recent days. On Saturday (June 4), Delhi saw searing summer heat, with the temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius. Mungeshpur saw a temperature reaching 47.1 degrees Celsius, while Pitampura recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/northern-india-experiences-heatwave-as-temperature-rises-485653">&nbsp;Yellow alert issued as Northern India continues to blaze under heatwave, rising temperature</a>

RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD said, “Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from June 4 in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of MP, Rajasthan. Temp varying b/w 44°-47°. Shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as heat spells are very severe.”

Watch |&nbsp;Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change'

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The hottest temperature recorded in Ganganagar, Rajasthan and Hisar, Haryana recorded 47.5 and 46.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

The senior scientist further added that heavy rainfall is expected in east India and warnings for the same has been issued for Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. However, the monsoon has nowhere started in the North.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-is-fourth-worst-hit-when-it-comes-to-climate-change-induced-migration-report-485604">India is fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration: Report</a>

The weather agency tweeted expecting no substantial changes in maximum temperatures in most regions of Northwest India for the next few days but it's hopeful for a drop in the temperature in Central India after two days.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next 4-5 days. 
No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Central India during next 2 days and fall by 2-3°C thereafter.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1533343532710531072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 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>

(with inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI.

The India Meteorological Department has issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi and other neighbouring locations for severe heatwave conditions with temperatures ranging from 44 to 47 degrees Celsius, reported by ANI. The national capital has been experiencing severe heatwaves in recent days. On Saturday (June 4), Delhi saw searing summer heat, with the temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius. Mungeshpur saw a temperature reaching 47.1 degrees Celsius, while Pitampura recorded 46.5 degrees Celsius. Also read | Yellow alert issued as Northern India continues to blaze under heatwave, rising temperature RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at IMD said, “Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from June 4 in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of MP, Rajasthan. Temp varying b/w 44°-47°. Shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as heat spells are very severe.” Watch | Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change' The hottest temperature recorded in Ganganagar, Rajasthan and Hisar, Haryana recorded 47.5 and 46.8 degrees Celsius respectively. The senior scientist further added that heavy rainfall is expected in east India and warnings for the same has been issued for Meghalaya, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. However, the monsoon has nowhere started in the North. Also read | India is fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration: Report The weather agency tweeted expecting no substantial changes in maximum temperatures in most regions of Northwest India for the next few days but it's hopeful for a drop in the temperature in Central India after two days. No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India during next 4-5 days. No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Central India during next 2 days and fall by 2-3°C thereafter. — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 5, 2022 × (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.

IMD issues ‘orange alert’ in Delhi, north east warned for heavy rainfall

India's palm oil exports in May were its highest in seven months and up 15 per cent&nbsp;on April as the country overcame curbs&nbsp;on Indonesian exports by sourcing more of the commodity from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, five industry officials said. 
 
Higher purchases by India, the world's biggest importer of vegetable oil, could support Malaysian palm oil prices, which are trading near a record high.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/edible-oil-prices-may-rise-further-in-india-due-to-indonesias-palm-oil-export-ban-473118">Also read |&nbsp;Edible oil prices may rise further in India due to Indonesia's palm oil export ban</a>

India imported 660,000 tonnes of palm oil in May, up from 572,508 tonnes in April, according to the average estimate from five dealers. 
 
Indian imports from Indonesia fell in May, but refiners managed to buy more from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of Sunvin Group, a vegetable oil brokerage and consultancy.

Watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Economic fall out of Russia-Ukraine war: Indonesia bans palm oil exports

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Indonesia, the world's biggest producer and exporter of palm oil, on April 28 halted exports of the product to control soaring prices at home. Jakarta allowed exports to resume from May 23 but put in place policies to safeguard domestic supplies. 
 
The Solvent Extractors' Association of India, a trade body based in Mumbai, is likely to publish May's import figure in mid-June. 
 
India's soyoil imports in May rose to 352,614 tonnes from 315,853 tonnes in April, said a senior government official, who declined to be named.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-290000-tonne-shipments-get-trapped-indonesian-palm-oil-export-ban-to-hit-india-badly-474737">Also Read |&nbsp;As 290,000-tonne shipments get trapped, Indonesian palm oil export ban to hit India badly</a> 
 
The country's soyoil imports could rise sharply in coming months, because New Delhi has allowed duty free imports of 2 million tonnes of the commodity, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. 
 
Sunflower oil imports jumped to 123,970 tonnes in May from 67,788 tonnes a month earlier, the government official said. 
 
India buys soyoil mainly from Argentina and Brazil and sunflower oil from Ukraine and Russia. 
 
"As sunoil shipments from Ukraine have stopped, India is trying to import more from Russia," the dealer said.

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India's palm oil exports in May were its highest in seven months and up 15 per cent on April as the country overcame curbs on Indonesian exports by sourcing more of the commodity from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, five industry officials said.

India's palm oil exports in May were its highest in seven months and up 15 per cent on April as the country overcame curbs on Indonesian exports by sourcing more of the commodity from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, five industry officials said. Higher purchases by India, the world's biggest importer of vegetable oil, could support Malaysian palm oil prices, which are trading near a record high. Also read | Edible oil prices may rise further in India due to Indonesia's palm oil export ban India imported 660,000 tonnes of palm oil in May, up from 572,508 tonnes in April, according to the average estimate from five dealers. Indian imports from Indonesia fell in May, but refiners managed to buy more from Malaysia, Thailand and Papua New Guinea, said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of Sunvin Group, a vegetable oil brokerage and consultancy. Watch | Economic fall out of Russia-Ukraine war: Indonesia bans palm oil exports Indonesia, the world's biggest producer and exporter of palm oil, on April 28 halted exports of the product to control soaring prices at home. Jakarta allowed exports to resume from May 23 but put in place policies to safeguard domestic supplies. The Solvent Extractors' Association of India, a trade body based in Mumbai, is likely to publish May's import figure in mid-June. India's soyoil imports in May rose to 352,614 tonnes from 315,853 tonnes in April, said a senior government official, who declined to be named. Also Read | As 290,000-tonne shipments get trapped, Indonesian palm oil export ban to hit India badly The country's soyoil imports could rise sharply in coming months, because New Delhi has allowed duty free imports of 2 million tonnes of the commodity, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. Sunflower oil imports jumped to 123,970 tonnes in May from 67,788 tonnes a month earlier, the government official said. India buys soyoil mainly from Argentina and Brazil and sunflower oil from Ukraine and Russia. "As sunoil shipments from Ukraine have stopped, India is trying to import more from Russia," the dealer said. 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 May palm oil imports surge to 7-month high despite Indonesia's ban-dealers

A comment on Prophet Muhammad by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson on live television has resulted in a diplomatic row between India and Gulf nations. The Gulf nations accused Nupur Sharma of making derogatory comments about prophet Muhammad during a television debate. Sharma was suspended by the BJP following the uproar and Delhi media head for the BJP – Naveen Kumar Jindal – was also expelled by the party for his comments on social media. The comments were criticised by the governments of Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Afghanistan and Pakistan as they called the comments ‘insulting’ and asked for an explanation from India.

Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to express his views and said that comments like these shows how “India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-threatens-to-withdraw-twitter-takeover-bid-485636">Elon Musk threatens to withdraw Twitter takeover bid</a>

Kuwait’s foreign ministry has called the Indian ambassador, Sibi George, to ask for an explanation and they also expressed “categorical rejection and condemnation of the insulting statements”, according to a report on The Guardian.

A similar tone was taken by Qatar as they said that the Indian government is creating “a cycle of violence and hate” and asked for an apology for the comments made by Nupur Sharma. Lolwah al-Khater, Qatar’s assistant foreign minister also said that islamophobia is rising in India, AFP reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-us-now-britain-to-send-multiple-launch-rocket-systems-to-ukraine-485401" hreflang="en">After US, now Britain to send multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine</a>

Oman’s grand mufti, Ahmad bin Hamad al-Khalili, also condemned the comments and said criticised “the insolent and obscene rudeness of the official spokesman for the ruling extremist party in India against the messenger of Islam”. The Indian ambassador will be meeting with him very soon, The Guardian further reported.

The BJP was quick to distance themselves from the controversy and said that the comments about Prophet Mohammad “do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the government of India”.

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A comment on Prophet Muhammad by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson on live television has resulted in a diplomatic row between India and Gulf nations. The Gulf nations accused Nupur Sharma of making derogatory comments about prophet Muhammad during a television debate.

A comment on Prophet Muhammad by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson on live television has resulted in a diplomatic row between India and Gulf nations. The Gulf nations accused Nupur Sharma of making derogatory comments about prophet Muhammad during a television debate. Sharma was suspended by the BJP following the uproar and Delhi media head for the BJP – Naveen Kumar Jindal – was also expelled by the party for his comments on social media. The comments were criticised by the governments of Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Afghanistan and Pakistan as they called the comments ‘insulting’ and asked for an explanation from India. Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to express his views and said that comments like these shows how “India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms and persecuting Muslims”. Also read | Elon Musk threatens to withdraw Twitter takeover bid Kuwait’s foreign ministry has called the Indian ambassador, Sibi George, to ask for an explanation and they also expressed “categorical rejection and condemnation of the insulting statements”, according to a report on The Guardian. A similar tone was taken by Qatar as they said that the Indian government is creating “a cycle of violence and hate” and asked for an apology for the comments made by Nupur Sharma. Lolwah al-Khater, Qatar’s assistant foreign minister also said that islamophobia is rising in India, AFP reported. Also read | After US, now Britain to send multiple-launch rocket systems to Ukraine Oman’s grand mufti, Ahmad bin Hamad al-Khalili, also condemned the comments and said criticised “the insolent and obscene rudeness of the official spokesman for the ruling extremist party in India against the messenger of Islam”. The Indian ambassador will be meeting with him very soon, The Guardian further reported. The BJP was quick to distance themselves from the controversy and said that the comments about Prophet Mohammad “do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the government of India”. 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.

Remarks over Prophet Muhammad result in diplomatic row between India and Gulf countries

After a few days of rainfall and relief, the sweltering heat is back for North Indians. The country's Met Department has predicted a heat wave in the Northwest, Central and East India that will last for two to three days

No respite for India's Northern belt as temperatures rise

A recent report published by the World Weather Attribution group says that the extreme summer in South Asia is just a trailer for what is yet to come. Heat waves can get more frequent in India

South Asia is among most affected by Heat Stress | Scientists warn of frequent heat waves

Norovirus has been detected in India’s state of Kerala. The virus has been found in two lower primary school students in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, media reports said. More samples have been collected and sent for examination, the health department officials said.&nbsp;The students seem to have got the virus from contaminated food from the mid-day meals, which was distributed at the schools as per prima facie. A meeting of officials has been convened by Education Minister V Sivankutty to discuss the steps that should be taken to make the mid-day meals safe. &nbsp;&nbsp;

What is norovirus? &nbsp;

Norovirus is a virus, which is similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus. It infects people across different age groups. The outbreaks of this disease generally occur on cruise ships, dormitories, nursing homes and other closed spaces.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-india-reports-4270-new-cases-daily-positivity-rate-more-than-1-after-a-month-485207" hreflang="en">COVID-19: India reports 4,270 new cases, daily positivity rate more than 1% after a month</a>

Norovirus is resistant to several disinfectants. It can also survive hand sanitisers. Not just this, norovirus can also survive in temperature up to 60°C. So, only steaming food or chlorinating the water will not kill the virus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Diagnosis of this disease is generally done by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. &nbsp;&nbsp;

What are the symptoms? &nbsp;

The symptoms of norovirus are vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. The symptoms usually show up one or two days after exposure to this virus. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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This virus makes the patients feel nauseous and suffer from fever, abdominal pain, headaches and body aches. In extreme cases, dehydration could happen due to loss of fluids. &nbsp;

The disease caused by the norovirus is self-limiting and lasts only two or three days normally. &nbsp;

Is it contagious? &nbsp;&nbsp;

Yes, it is highly contagious. Norovirus can be transmitted through contaminated water, food and surfaces. The primary route of infection is oral-faecal. As the virus has several strains, a person can get infected multiple times. &nbsp;&nbsp;

How can we fight norovirus? &nbsp;

After using the lavatory, wash hands with soap repeatedly. During outbreaks, disinfect the surfaces with a solution of hypochlorite at 5,000 parts per million. In extreme cases, patients should be administered rehydration fluids regularly. &nbsp;

Are any vaccines available? &nbsp;

No, there are no vaccines available for this disease. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Norovirus has been detected in India’s state of Kerala. The virus has been found in two lower primary school students in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, media reports said.

Norovirus has been detected in India’s state of Kerala. The virus has been found in two lower primary school students in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, media reports said. More samples have been collected and sent for examination, the health department officials said. The students seem to have got the virus from contaminated food from the mid-day meals, which was distributed at the schools as per prima facie. A meeting of officials has been convened by Education Minister V Sivankutty to discuss the steps that should be taken to make the mid-day meals safe. What is norovirus? Norovirus is a virus, which is similar to the diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus. It infects people across different age groups. The outbreaks of this disease generally occur on cruise ships, dormitories, nursing homes and other closed spaces. Also Read: COVID-19: India reports 4,270 new cases, daily positivity rate more than 1% after a month Norovirus is resistant to several disinfectants. It can also survive hand sanitisers. Not just this, norovirus can also survive in temperature up to 60°C. So, only steaming food or chlorinating the water will not kill the virus. Diagnosis of this disease is generally done by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of norovirus are vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. The symptoms usually show up one or two days after exposure to this virus. Watch WION's live TV here: This virus makes the patients feel nauseous and suffer from fever, abdominal pain, headaches and body aches. In extreme cases, dehydration could happen due to loss of fluids. The disease caused by the norovirus is self-limiting and lasts only two or three days normally. Is it contagious? Yes, it is highly contagious. Norovirus can be transmitted through contaminated water, food and surfaces. The primary route of infection is oral-faecal. As the virus has several strains, a person can get infected multiple times. How can we fight norovirus? After using the lavatory, wash hands with soap repeatedly. During outbreaks, disinfect the surfaces with a solution of hypochlorite at 5,000 parts per million. In extreme cases, patients should be administered rehydration fluids regularly. Are any vaccines available? No, there are no vaccines available for this disease. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Explainer: What is norovirus detected in Indian state of Kerala? Read details here

India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. 4,518 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours. 9 COVID-related fatalities were also reported in a day.

India witnesses rise in COVID-19 cases: 4,518 new cases recorded in last 24 hours

Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in northern India, especially in states like New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;A yellow alert has been issued for the national capital, as parts of Delhi, are expected to reach minimum temperature settling at 26.3 degrees Celsius, a little lower than the season’s average.&nbsp;A heat wave is declared when the highest temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and it’s at least 4.5 degrees above the average temperature.&nbsp;If the temperature exceeds 47 degrees Celsius, a severe heatwave is declared.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-global-warming-increase-killer-heatwaves-will-get-more-frequent-report-481799">Global warming made killer heatwaves in India, Pakistan 30 times more likely: Report</a>

The maximum temperature is expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius, and the humidity was recorded at 25 per cent at 8:30 am. The heatwave is gripped sections of Delhi with temperatures reaching 45 degrees.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change'

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The maximum temperature in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was recorded&nbsp;at 46.8 degrees Celsius and 46.7 degrees Celsius respectively.&nbsp;

On Sunday (June 5), hot weather was recorded in Haryana and Punjab with maximum temperatures hanging above the normal in most of the areas.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india/heatwave-reduced-indias-wheat-crop-yield-by-10-to-30-this-year-report-481613">Heatwave reduced India's wheat crop yield by 10 to 30% this year: Report</a>

As per the weather department, Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states reached a high temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

Over the next coming four-five days,&nbsp;as per the weather department, the maximum temperatures in most parts of northwest India will not fluctuate significantly. It claimed that over the next two days, there will be no substantial changes in temperatures over central India and that the mercury is expected to drop probably by two to three degrees.&nbsp;

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Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in northern India, especially in states like New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in northern India, especially in states like New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and isolated areas of Himachal Pradesh. A yellow alert has been issued for the national capital, as parts of Delhi, are expected to reach minimum temperature settling at 26.3 degrees Celsius, a little lower than the season’s average. A heat wave is declared when the highest temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and it’s at least 4.5 degrees above the average temperature. If the temperature exceeds 47 degrees Celsius, a severe heatwave is declared. Also read | Global warming made killer heatwaves in India, Pakistan 30 times more likely: Report The maximum temperature is expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius, and the humidity was recorded at 25 per cent at 8:30 am. The heatwave is gripped sections of Delhi with temperatures reaching 45 degrees. Watch | Alarming report on South Asia Heatwave: 'Extreme weather due to climate change' The maximum temperature in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan was recorded at 46.8 degrees Celsius and 46.7 degrees Celsius respectively. On Sunday (June 5), hot weather was recorded in Haryana and Punjab with maximum temperatures hanging above the normal in most of the areas. Also read | Heatwave reduced India's wheat crop yield by 10 to 30% this year: Report As per the weather department, Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states reached a high temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius. Over the next coming four-five days, as per the weather department, the maximum temperatures in most parts of northwest India will not fluctuate significantly. It claimed that over the next two days, there will be no substantial changes in temperatures over central India and that the mercury is expected to drop probably by two to three degrees. 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.

Yellow alert issued as Northern India continues to blaze under heatwave, rising temperature

India said that it respects all religions as it calls the OIC statement 'Unwarranted' amid the ongoing row over remarks on Prophet Muhammad.

India reacts to condemnation by the OIC amid a row over remarks on Prophet

India is the fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration, with more than three&nbsp;million people forced to leave their homes in 2020-2021, the latest report said.&nbsp;

According to the 'State of India's Environment-2022' report, maximum migrations took place in China with more than five million people driven out of their homes due to weather-related disasters. 
Following China, the Philippines and Bangladesh recorded over four million climate change-induced displacements, the report said.&nbsp;

The report found that climate was a bigger problem compared to conflicts and violence as the number of people displaced due to the former was much higher than the latter.&nbsp;

It said that more than 40 million people were forced to migrate across the globe in 2020, out of which 30.7 million migrated due to climatic events like floods, droughts, storms, cyclones, landslides, extreme temperatures and other such events while 9.8 million people were displaced due to conflicts and violence.&nbsp;

Floods and storms in the regions of East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia triggered the most disaster-related displacements, the report said.&nbsp;

In a startling revelation, the report said that nearly 143 million people, which is a little more than the population of India's state of Maharashtra, could be moving within their own countries in the next 30 years because of adverse climate impacts.&nbsp;

It said that 44 million additional people will be forced to migrate due to droughts in 2059, compared with the 2000–2015 period.

Scientists said that by 2020, new internal displacements took place across 42 countries due to conflict and violence and 144 countries due to disasters.&nbsp;

"Human migration and mobility are age-old phenomena, but their triggers are fast changing due to deteriorating environment and ecosystems. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw large-scale displacements triggered by climate and weather events in 2020 and 2021," the report said.&nbsp;

While coastal states of India are seeing a rapid increase in floods and cyclones brought on by the impacts of climate change, interior regions see slower effects such as droughts.&nbsp;

As a whole, the country is at severe risk to climate change, says the Indian government’s Climate Vulnerability Index in 2019-20.

The growing threat of climate change impacts also increases the instances of displacement and migration, making people more vulnerable to trafficking, the report said.&nbsp;

India's states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are seeing frequent extreme weather events as well as high numbers of trafficking cases, the report said.&nbsp;

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India is the fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration, with more than three million people forced to leave their homes in 2020-2021, the latest report said.

India is the fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration, with more than three million people forced to leave their homes in 2020-2021, the latest report said. According to the 'State of India's Environment-2022' report, maximum migrations took place in China with more than five million people driven out of their homes due to weather-related disasters. Following China, the Philippines and Bangladesh recorded over four million climate change-induced displacements, the report said. The report found that climate was a bigger problem compared to conflicts and violence as the number of people displaced due to the former was much higher than the latter. It said that more than 40 million people were forced to migrate across the globe in 2020, out of which 30.7 million migrated due to climatic events like floods, droughts, storms, cyclones, landslides, extreme temperatures and other such events while 9.8 million people were displaced due to conflicts and violence. Floods and storms in the regions of East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia triggered the most disaster-related displacements, the report said. In a startling revelation, the report said that nearly 143 million people, which is a little more than the population of India's state of Maharashtra, could be moving within their own countries in the next 30 years because of adverse climate impacts. It said that 44 million additional people will be forced to migrate due to droughts in 2059, compared with the 2000–2015 period. Scientists said that by 2020, new internal displacements took place across 42 countries due to conflict and violence and 144 countries due to disasters. "Human migration and mobility are age-old phenomena, but their triggers are fast changing due to deteriorating environment and ecosystems. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw large-scale displacements triggered by climate and weather events in 2020 and 2021," the report said. While coastal states of India are seeing a rapid increase in floods and cyclones brought on by the impacts of climate change, interior regions see slower effects such as droughts. As a whole, the country is at severe risk to climate change, says the Indian government’s Climate Vulnerability Index in 2019-20. The growing threat of climate change impacts also increases the instances of displacement and migration, making people more vulnerable to trafficking, the report said. India's states of Bihar, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are seeing frequent extreme weather events as well as high numbers of trafficking cases, the report said. 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 is fourth worst-hit when it comes to climate change-induced migration: Report

Row over remarks on Prophet Muhammad: India calls OIC statement 'Unwarranted'

India reported 4,270 covid cases bringing the Covid tally to 4,31,76,817. The daily positivity rate also saw a rise of more than 1 per cent after 34 days, as per the data released by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday. While the active cases increased by 1,636 cases in 24 hours.&nbsp;

According to the ministry, the daily positivity rate was 1.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 0.84 per cent. .&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/corbevax-becomes-first-vaccine-in-india-to-get-dcgi-approval-for-heterologous-covid-19-booster-shot-485081">Corbevax becomes first vaccine in India to get DCGI approval for heterologous COVID-19 booster shot</a>

The data updated by the ministry on Sunday (June 5), the number of active cases increased to 24,052 cases and 15 new fatalities were reported, increasing the death toll to 5,24,692.

The 15 new fatalities include 13 from Kerala and one each from central Madhya Pradesh and western Maharashtra states.&nbsp;

So far, the country has reported 5,24,692 deaths with 1,47,865 in Maharashtra, 69,786 in Kerala, 40,107 in Karnataka, 26,212 in Delhi, 23,520 in Uttar Pradesh, 38,025 in Tamil Nadu and 21,204 in West Bengal.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Mumbai: How covid-19 changed lives of Dabbawalas

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The total number of persons who have recovered from the virus has increased to 4,26,28,073 with 1.22 per cent fatality rate.&nbsp;

The total number of doses given in the country as part of the Covid vaccination programme has surpassed 19.4 billion&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-indian-govt-suspects-possibility-of-localised-spread-of-infection-writes-to-five-states-484937">Covid-19: Indian govt suspects possibility of localised spread of infection, writes to five States&nbsp;</a>

Comorbidities were responsible for more than 70 per cent of the death, as per the government.

The Union Health Ministry on its official website said, “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research.” It further added that the data is being verified and reconciled state wise.

(With inputs from agencies)

India reported 4,270 covid cases bringing the Covid tally to 4,31,76,817. The daily positivity rate also saw a rise of more than 1 per cent after 34 days, as per the data released by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday.

India reported 4,270 covid cases bringing the Covid tally to 4,31,76,817. The daily positivity rate also saw a rise of more than 1 per cent after 34 days, as per the data released by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday. While the active cases increased by 1,636 cases in 24 hours. According to the ministry, the daily positivity rate was 1.03 per cent and the weekly positivity rate was 0.84 per cent. . Also read | Corbevax becomes first vaccine in India to get DCGI approval for heterologous COVID-19 booster shot The data updated by the ministry on Sunday (June 5), the number of active cases increased to 24,052 cases and 15 new fatalities were reported, increasing the death toll to 5,24,692. The 15 new fatalities include 13 from Kerala and one each from central Madhya Pradesh and western Maharashtra states. So far, the country has reported 5,24,692 deaths with 1,47,865 in Maharashtra, 69,786 in Kerala, 40,107 in Karnataka, 26,212 in Delhi, 23,520 in Uttar Pradesh, 38,025 in Tamil Nadu and 21,204 in West Bengal. Watch | Mumbai: How covid-19 changed lives of Dabbawalas The total number of persons who have recovered from the virus has increased to 4,26,28,073 with 1.22 per cent fatality rate. The total number of doses given in the country as part of the Covid vaccination programme has surpassed 19.4 billion Also read | Covid-19: Indian govt suspects possibility of localised spread of infection, writes to five States Comorbidities were responsible for more than 70 per cent of the death, as per the government. The Union Health Ministry on its official website said, “Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research.” It further added that the data is being verified and reconciled state wise. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19: India reports 4,270 new cases, daily positivity rate more than 1% after a month

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said that India have taken a number of steps in the last eight years to enable environmental protection in one way or the other. On the occasion of the 50th World Environment Day, Modi took part in an event organised by Isha Foundation and during his address, the Indian PM pointed out that the government has also been working for soil conservation. &nbsp;

"The country has worked relentlessly to keep the soil alive. To save the soil, we have focused on five main things. All the policies introduced by the Centre over the last eight years have enabled environmental protection in some way," he said during the event.

"Be it Swachh Bharat Mission or programs related to waste to wealth, construction of modern sewage treatment plants in cities under AMRUT mission, or campaign to get rid of single use plastic or Ganga cleanliness campaign under Namami Gange, India's efforts to protect the environment. The efforts have been multifaceted."

"Earlier, the farmers of our country lacked information about what type of soil his is, what is the deficiency in his soil, how much is there," the PM said. "To overcome this problem, a huge campaign was launched to give soil health cards to the farmers in the country," he added.

The prime minister also outlined the government’s efforts and schemes for water conservation.

"In March this year itself, a campaign to conserve 13 big rivers has also started in the country," he added. "In this, along with reducing pollution in the water, work is also being done to plant forests on the banks of rivers," Modi explained.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said that India have taken a number of steps in the last eight years to enable environmental protection in one way or the other.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said that India have taken a number of steps in the last eight years to enable environmental protection in one way or the other. On the occasion of the 50th World Environment Day, Modi took part in an event organised by Isha Foundation and during his address, the Indian PM pointed out that the government has also been working for soil conservation. "The country has worked relentlessly to keep the soil alive. To save the soil, we have focused on five main things. All the policies introduced by the Centre over the last eight years have enabled environmental protection in some way," he said during the event. "Be it Swachh Bharat Mission or programs related to waste to wealth, construction of modern sewage treatment plants in cities under AMRUT mission, or campaign to get rid of single use plastic or Ganga cleanliness campaign under Namami Gange, India's efforts to protect the environment. The efforts have been multifaceted." "Earlier, the farmers of our country lacked information about what type of soil his is, what is the deficiency in his soil, how much is there," the PM said. "To overcome this problem, a huge campaign was launched to give soil health cards to the farmers in the country," he added. The prime minister also outlined the government’s efforts and schemes for water conservation. "In March this year itself, a campaign to conserve 13 big rivers has also started in the country," he added. "In this, along with reducing pollution in the water, work is also being done to plant forests on the banks of rivers," Modi explained.

World Environment Day: India has worked relentlessly to keep the soil alive, says PM Narendra Modi

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