The increasing pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas may contribute to the increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths due to the virus, experts said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Union Health Ministry`s press conference, Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General (DG ) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) agreed that increasing pollution around the national capital and adjoining areas may lead to increase in Coronavirus cases."We have heard that the effect of the disease may increase with the increased pollution, but we are yet to understand it fully," said Dr Paul.

Answering a question, Dr Bhargava also agreed with Dr Paul and said pollution might be a contributing factor to mortality in COVID-19 infection."There have been studies from Europe and the US, where they have looked at polluted areas and have compared mortality during lockdown and correlation with pollution, and found clearly that pollution is contributing to mortality in COVID, that`s well established by studies," ICMR chief said.Air quality deteriorates in the national capital with the rise of pollutants in the atmosphere and overall Delhi`s Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the "very poor" category, said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee data on Tuesday.

Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman of Centre for Chest Surgery Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, in an earlier interaction with ANI said that people having pre-existing lung ailments are more vulnerable to catch COVID-19 infection, and therefore, they should be extra careful.Dr Vikash Maurya, Head of Respiratory medicine department at Fortis Hospital also said that with the COVID-19 crisis, pollution is going to be a big challenge this year.

"This is just the start of air pollution. Air quality has already become poor and will worse in the coming days. Its side-effect would be seen after the Diwali celebration and extreme winters. The bottom line is- we have to be cautious now as this time we have covid19 crisis too and this is going to be a very big challenge for all of us," said Dr Maurya.

According to an ICMR study, about 4 lakh deaths in India in 2017 were due to air pollution, which included 6.7 lakh deaths due to outdoor particulate matter air pollution and 4.8 lakh deaths due to household air pollution. The highest PM2.5 exposure level was in Delhi, followed by the other north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

The increasing pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas may contribute to the increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths due to the virus, experts said on Tuesday.

The increasing pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas may contribute to the increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths due to the virus, experts said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Union Health Ministry`s press conference, Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General (DG ) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) agreed that increasing pollution around the national capital and adjoining areas may lead to increase in Coronavirus cases."We have heard that the effect of the disease may increase with the increased pollution, but we are yet to understand it fully," said Dr Paul. Answering a question, Dr Bhargava also agreed with Dr Paul and said pollution might be a contributing factor to mortality in COVID-19 infection."There have been studies from Europe and the US, where they have looked at polluted areas and have compared mortality during lockdown and correlation with pollution, and found clearly that pollution is contributing to mortality in COVID, that`s well established by studies," ICMR chief said.Air quality deteriorates in the national capital with the rise of pollutants in the atmosphere and overall Delhi`s Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the "very poor" category, said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee data on Tuesday. Dr Arvind Kumar, Chairman of Centre for Chest Surgery Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, in an earlier interaction with ANI said that people having pre-existing lung ailments are more vulnerable to catch COVID-19 infection, and therefore, they should be extra careful.Dr Vikash Maurya, Head of Respiratory medicine department at Fortis Hospital also said that with the COVID-19 crisis, pollution is going to be a big challenge this year. "This is just the start of air pollution. Air quality has already become poor and will worse in the coming days. Its side-effect would be seen after the Diwali celebration and extreme winters. The bottom line is- we have to be cautious now as this time we have covid19 crisis too and this is going to be a very big challenge for all of us," said Dr Maurya. According to an ICMR study, about 4 lakh deaths in India in 2017 were due to air pollution, which included 6.7 lakh deaths due to outdoor particulate matter air pollution and 4.8 lakh deaths due to household air pollution. The highest PM2.5 exposure level was in Delhi, followed by the other north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

Increasing pollution levels may lead to increased COVID-19 cases: Experts

A study by Harvard University showed that an increase of only one microgram per cubic metre in Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 may cause an 8 per cent increase in the COVID-19 death rate.

Your Story: Air pollution may hinder India's fight against COVID-19, says study

Amid China's growing military aggression, India is signing a deal to access precision data US military satellites. WION 's Palki Sharma tells you how the US is trying to build an Asian alliance to counter China's military aggression.

Gravitas: Countering China's aggression: India and US to sign key military pact

India and US on Tuesday signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (Beca) that will enable India to gain access to extremely accurate geospatial data.

WION Dispatch: India & US sign Beca military pact

On the final day of ministerial level talks, Mike Pompeo & Mark Esper hailed ties between US & India amid the growing Chinese threat.

Mike Pompeo: US, India must focus on Chinese threat

India and US on Tuesday signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (Beca) that will enable India to gain access to extremely accurate geo-spatial data.

News Alert: India & US ink deal to share geospatial data

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India would be the major driver of global energy demand in the years to come, but will hold down carbon emissions even as its power consumption soars.

"India is set to nearly double its energy consumption over the long term," Modi said in the inaugural address at the conference India Energy Forum by CERAWeek.

India has implemented a series of reforms in recent years, including setting up a gas trading exchange and granting marketing freedom to producers, to boost its local output.

Modi said even international agencies that project a contraction in global energy demand to continue for next few years expect Indian demand to rise.

"Our energy sector will be growth-centric, industry friendly and environment conscious. We are well on track to meet the commitment we made to the global community," he said.

"India's Energy Plan aims to ensure energy justice. That too while fully following our global commitments for sustainable growth. This means more energy to improve the lives of Indians. But, with a smaller carbon foot-print."

India is set to raise its annual refining capacity from 250 million tonnes to 400 million tonnes by 2025, while Indian airlines are projected to double their fleet size to 1200 by 2024, Modi said.

To cut its carbon emissions India aims to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from the current 6.2% and lift its renewable energy generation to 175 gigawatts by 2022 and to 450 gigawatts by 2030. 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India would be the major driver of global energy demand in the years to come, but will hold down carbon emissions even as its power consumption soars.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India would be the major driver of global energy demand in the years to come, but will hold down carbon emissions even as its power consumption soars. "India is set to nearly double its energy consumption over the long term," Modi said in the inaugural address at the conference India Energy Forum by CERAWeek. India has implemented a series of reforms in recent years, including setting up a gas trading exchange and granting marketing freedom to producers, to boost its local output. Modi said even international agencies that project a contraction in global energy demand to continue for next few years expect Indian demand to rise. "Our energy sector will be growth-centric, industry friendly and environment conscious. We are well on track to meet the commitment we made to the global community," he said. "India's Energy Plan aims to ensure energy justice. That too while fully following our global commitments for sustainable growth. This means more energy to improve the lives of Indians. But, with a smaller carbon foot-print." India is set to raise its annual refining capacity from 250 million tonnes to 400 million tonnes by 2025, while Indian airlines are projected to double their fleet size to 1200 by 2024, Modi said. To cut its carbon emissions India aims to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from the current 6.2% and lift its renewable energy generation to 175 gigawatts by 2022 and to 450 gigawatts by 2030.

India to drive global energy demand while cutting emissions, Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that people need to show patience while celebrating festivals at a time when the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is raging across the country.

Remember soldiers guarding our borders, light a diya for them: PM Modi

'Mann ki Baat': 'People need to show patience while celebrating festivals' | PM Modi

'Look at India. It's filthy. The air is filthy' said Donald Trump in the final Presidential Debate 2020. WION's Palki Sharma asks: Should the world's 'biggest climate change denier' be talking about India?

Gravitas: North Korea warns against 'Coronavirus dust storm' from China

Gravitas: Should Trump be preaching India?

Myanmar's Ambassador to India Moe Kyaw Aung has said that his country won't allow any insurgents to use its territory against India. Speaking exclusively to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Myanmar envoy Moe Kyaw Aung said, "Myanmar maintains good neighborliness and you know, we will never allow our territory to be used by insurgents against other neighbouring countries and we will never support them". He recalled how last year, Myanmar handed over 22 insurgents to India after a security operation.

Myanmar envoy to Delhi: Myanmar won't allow insurgents to use its territory against India

The Durga pooja festival is being celebrated across India but this year the situation is different due to the coronavirus pandemic. Watch report.

Navratri 2020: One of the most popular festivals in India in times of COVID-19

India will be hosting the third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 27 October 2020 in New Delhi. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper will be visiting India on 26-27 October 2020 to participate in the Dialogue. From the Indian side, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will lead the delegations from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, respectively.

Your Story: India-US 2+2 Talks: US warns Sri Lanka's growing closeness with China

Myanmar's Ambassador to India Moe Kyaw Aung has said that his country won't allow any insurgents to use its territory against India. Speaking exclusively to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Myanmar envoy Moe Kyaw Aung said, "Myanmar maintains good neighborliness and you know, we will never allow our territory to be used by insurgents against other neighbouring countries and we will never support them".

WION Dispatch: WION exclusive conversation with Myanmar Envoy to India

October 22 is an important but seldom discussed day in Indian history. It was on this day in 1947 when the first attack on Independent India took place. WION's Palki Sharma tells you the story of the 1947 tribal invasion of Kashmir.

Gravitas: The story of the 1947 tribal invasion of Kashmir

Underlining that India has been more of a "rule taker" than a "rule maker" at the UN, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the country needs to fix its domestic issues, including that of the economy, and have "moral authority" if it wants to be a rules contributor to the world.

The former Union minister said he has always argued that India's international credibility is often a reflection of its domestic postures and the success at home is the best guarantee that "we will be respected and effective abroad".

"Now we have unfortunately been going through a few very bad years domestically in terms of crumbling social cohesion, the eruption and uncontrollable spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the border troubles with China, the economic collapse after demonetisation, unemployment figures worst recorded in the history in these years, everything is wrong," he said at a session of the 7th national forum of the Public Affairs Forum of India.

Tharoor said India must use its capacity to demand constructive changes in global governance.

"India has to be what it was trying to be before the last five years or so which was a sort of an example to the developing world -- the world's first development power," the former UN under secretary general said.

Tharoor hoped that India would contribute to initiatives to catalyse a new consensus for the world.

"But before it does so, we really have to fix our internal situation first so that we can face the world with greater credibility and with renewed admiration that we used to enjoy till very recently," he said.

Asked about reforms at the UN and whether they were linked with monetary contributions by member states, Tharoor said, "I don't think cheque book alone is important."

India is a state that has contributed generously and was among the leading donors to UN's democracy fund, initiatives on ideas, decolonisation, racism, apartheid, and also also contributed in kind through peacekeeping, Tharoor said.

"India has nothing to be ashamed of, we have very much been in the forefront of international efforts at the UN to do a lot of good work and to contribute in terms of leadership. Yet, we have been more of a 'rule taker' than a 'rule maker' and these rules have been made by the big powerful countries and we haven't been counted amongst them," he said.

"Which is why we need both economic growth and prosperity on the one hand, which has gone down the tubes in the last few years, and we also need moral authority if we want to be a rule contributor," Tharoor said.

That moral authority comes from the successful management of our own challenges including the great challenges of religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity in India which the country had been managing very well till recently, he said.

It also involves managing some of the contradictions in the neighbourhood and being magnanimous to neighbours rather than being hostile to them, Tharoor said, claiming that India had slipped on that count recently.

Tharoor said it was important for India to come across to the rest of the world as an example of a thriving and harmonious society.

"If we can get our act together and lead our country in the direction that we have traditionally aspired to -- that has been hailed as a success in the past, we will once again be in a position to set an example whether on the Security Council or off it," he said.

If India does this and also prospers economically, people from other countries will state that they cannot imagine a Security Council without India "rather than us demanding it as we are doing it now", Tharoor said.&nbsp;

Underlining that India has been more of a "rule taker" than a "rule maker" at the UN, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the country needs to fix its domestic issues, including that of the economy, and have "moral authority" if it wants to be a rules contributor to the world.

Underlining that India has been more of a "rule taker" than a "rule maker" at the UN, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the country needs to fix its domestic issues, including that of the economy, and have "moral authority" if it wants to be a rules contributor to the world. The former Union minister said he has always argued that India's international credibility is often a reflection of its domestic postures and the success at home is the best guarantee that "we will be respected and effective abroad". "Now we have unfortunately been going through a few very bad years domestically in terms of crumbling social cohesion, the eruption and uncontrollable spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the border troubles with China, the economic collapse after demonetisation, unemployment figures worst recorded in the history in these years, everything is wrong," he said at a session of the 7th national forum of the Public Affairs Forum of India. Tharoor said India must use its capacity to demand constructive changes in global governance. "India has to be what it was trying to be before the last five years or so which was a sort of an example to the developing world -- the world's first development power," the former UN under secretary general said. Tharoor hoped that India would contribute to initiatives to catalyse a new consensus for the world. "But before it does so, we really have to fix our internal situation first so that we can face the world with greater credibility and with renewed admiration that we used to enjoy till very recently," he said. Asked about reforms at the UN and whether they were linked with monetary contributions by member states, Tharoor said, "I don't think cheque book alone is important." India is a state that has contributed generously and was among the leading donors to UN's democracy fund, initiatives on ideas, decolonisation, racism, apartheid, and also also contributed in kind through peacekeeping, Tharoor said. "India has nothing to be ashamed of, we have very much been in the forefront of international efforts at the UN to do a lot of good work and to contribute in terms of leadership. Yet, we have been more of a 'rule taker' than a 'rule maker' and these rules have been made by the big powerful countries and we haven't been counted amongst them," he said. "Which is why we need both economic growth and prosperity on the one hand, which has gone down the tubes in the last few years, and we also need moral authority if we want to be a rule contributor," Tharoor said. That moral authority comes from the successful management of our own challenges including the great challenges of religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity in India which the country had been managing very well till recently, he said. It also involves managing some of the contradictions in the neighbourhood and being magnanimous to neighbours rather than being hostile to them, Tharoor said, claiming that India had slipped on that count recently. Tharoor said it was important for India to come across to the rest of the world as an example of a thriving and harmonious society. "If we can get our act together and lead our country in the direction that we have traditionally aspired to -- that has been hailed as a success in the past, we will once again be in a position to set an example whether on the Security Council or off it," he said. If India does this and also prospers economically, people from other countries will state that they cannot imagine a Security Council without India "rather than us demanding it as we are doing it now", Tharoor said.

India needs to fix domestic issues, economy to face world with more credibility: Shashi Tharoor

More than 150 days have passed. China hasn't withdrawn its troops from its border with India. The PLA has spoken of peace and provoked war. It is doing the same in the case of Taiwan. WION's Palki Sharma tells you why Taiwan doesn't rule out a possible Chinese invasion.

Gravitas: Taiwan extends a hand of friendship to India

India and US will hold their third edition of 2+2 ministerial dialogue on October 27 in New Delhi, India.

Third India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue to be hosted by India on Oct 27

After twitter showed paths of Leh & Jammu-Kashmir to be in the People's Republic of China, the Indian govt has pulled up social media platform twitter for disrespecting the sovereignty & integrity of the country.

News Alert: Indian govt warns twitter, 'Don't disrespect sovereignty of India'

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son.

The state-backed Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society officially opened its doors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu last month, providing 30 trans women each with an individual home, a cow and a shared business venture.

"I begged on the trains for five years. Life was difficult, everyone looked at us in a strange way," Bhoomika, who goes by one name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/supreme-court-seeks-centres-reply-on-pil-for-equal-protection-of-law-to-transgenders-in-sexual-offences-334757" hreflang="en">Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on PIL for equal protection of law to transgenders in sexual offences</a>

"We are still treated the same outside the dairy farm but inside I am able to lead a normal life, a life of dignity. I feel I belong," the 28-year-old said from the farm in Manthithoppu village, about 100km south of Madurai city.

The 1.5-acre farm, which sells 180 litres of milk a day, was the brainchild of local official Sandeep Nanduri, who tapped multiple state departments for housing, jobs, training and cash to realise the 17.5 million-rupee ($237,621) project.

It is rare for India's estimated 2 million trans population to find stable homes or incomes, with many forced to beg, dance at weddings or sell sex in the face of widespread discrimination that makes it hard to access education and jobs. [nL8N2FQ38I]

Since India's Supreme Court gave trans people "third gender" recognition in 2014, a growing number of companies have actively hired trans people and adopted more inclusive policies, such as unisex toilets.

Trans people have also received charity and local government funding to start businesses such as take-out biryani rice joints or tattoo parlours, according to local media.

But Nanduri had greater ambitions.

"In the last couple of years, we have helped some trans people with loans to set up small shops but the idea this time was to empower the community ... not just financially, but to make them entrepreneurs," he said.

"They face social exclusion so we kept the farm close to their residential space," said Nanduri, the administrative head of Thoothukudi district.

DIGNITY

Nanduri was spurred into action by a well-known trans activist Grace Banu who had been lobbying local officials for six years - without success - to provide housing for trans women in the port city of Thoothukudi, where she grew up.

Unlike most trans women in India, Banu earned an engineering degree and now works as a mobile app developer in Chennai, and is a leader in the trans community.

"Housing is our biggest problem. If we rent homes, the owners treat us poorly and if we speak up, they ask us to vacate the house with no notice," said Banu.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/transgender-mans-dream-of-joining-us-military-thwarted-for-now-334902" hreflang="en">Transgender man's dream of joining US military thwarted for now</a>

In just over a year, Nanduri arranged loans for the women to buy cows and enlisted government agencies that taught them how to farm and built cattle sheds on the site, along with neat rows of green and turquoise, one-room homes.

"He was the first person to treat us with respect... he put in all the effort to meet our demand," said Banu.

"That is why we named our housing colony after him. We call it Sandeep Nagar," she said. The term nagar is often used to denote a town in India.

The women are paid by the litre and earn about 8,000 rupees ($109) each per month supplying milk to Tamil Nadu's biggest milk producers' union Aavin, which buys from about 170 farms in Thoothukudi.

"They are doing well compared to other dairies as they work as a community ... they are attached emotionally and live together as a family," said Santha Kumar, manager with Aavin's procurement department.

"The fat content is 4.1%, better than the average fat content of 3.9% fat that we get, which means the cattle is being fed well and the quality of milk is good."

Bhoomika is confident the farm will continue to flourish, with plans afoot to add more cows and members.

When a local villager offered to buy her cow, she refused.

"This business has given us dignity," she said. "We have been trusted with this work and we don't want to break that."

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son.

As head of India's first dairy farm run by transgender women, Bhoomika has finally found security, having spent years as a beggar after fleeing parents who taunted their sari-wearing son. The state-backed Transgenders' Milk Producers' Cooperative Society officially opened its doors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu last month, providing 30 trans women each with an individual home, a cow and a shared business venture. "I begged on the trains for five years. Life was difficult, everyone looked at us in a strange way," Bhoomika, who goes by one name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. Also read: Supreme Court seeks Centre's reply on PIL for equal protection of law to transgenders in sexual offences "We are still treated the same outside the dairy farm but inside I am able to lead a normal life, a life of dignity. I feel I belong," the 28-year-old said from the farm in Manthithoppu village, about 100km south of Madurai city. The 1.5-acre farm, which sells 180 litres of milk a day, was the brainchild of local official Sandeep Nanduri, who tapped multiple state departments for housing, jobs, training and cash to realise the 17.5 million-rupee ($237,621) project. It is rare for India's estimated 2 million trans population to find stable homes or incomes, with many forced to beg, dance at weddings or sell sex in the face of widespread discrimination that makes it hard to access education and jobs. [nL8N2FQ38I] Since India's Supreme Court gave trans people "third gender" recognition in 2014, a growing number of companies have actively hired trans people and adopted more inclusive policies, such as unisex toilets. Trans people have also received charity and local government funding to start businesses such as take-out biryani rice joints or tattoo parlours, according to local media. But Nanduri had greater ambitions. "In the last couple of years, we have helped some trans people with loans to set up small shops but the idea this time was to empower the community ... not just financially, but to make them entrepreneurs," he said. "They face social exclusion so we kept the farm close to their residential space," said Nanduri, the administrative head of Thoothukudi district. DIGNITY Nanduri was spurred into action by a well-known trans activist Grace Banu who had been lobbying local officials for six years - without success - to provide housing for trans women in the port city of Thoothukudi, where she grew up. Unlike most trans women in India, Banu earned an engineering degree and now works as a mobile app developer in Chennai, and is a leader in the trans community. "Housing is our biggest problem. If we rent homes, the owners treat us poorly and if we speak up, they ask us to vacate the house with no notice," said Banu. Also read: Transgender man's dream of joining US military thwarted for now In just over a year, Nanduri arranged loans for the women to buy cows and enlisted government agencies that taught them how to farm and built cattle sheds on the site, along with neat rows of green and turquoise, one-room homes. "He was the first person to treat us with respect... he put in all the effort to meet our demand," said Banu. "That is why we named our housing colony after him. We call it Sandeep Nagar," she said. The term nagar is often used to denote a town in India. The women are paid by the litre and earn about 8,000 rupees ($109) each per month supplying milk to Tamil Nadu's biggest milk producers' union Aavin, which buys from about 170 farms in Thoothukudi. "They are doing well compared to other dairies as they work as a community ... they are attached emotionally and live together as a family," said Santha Kumar, manager with Aavin's procurement department. "The fat content is 4.1%, better than the average fat content of 3.9% fat that we get, which means the cattle is being fed well and the quality of milk is good." Bhoomika is confident the farm will continue to flourish, with plans afoot to add more cows and members. When a local villager offered to buy her cow, she refused. "This business has given us dignity," she said. "We have been trusted with this work and we don't want to break that."

'I feel I belong': India's first trans-run dairy farm brings jobs and respect

The Chinese soldier who walked across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Demchok sector on October 18 has been returned. Both India and China have confirmed while both sides are preparing to hold another round of senior military commander talks likely later this week.

WION Dispatch: India hands over Chinese soldier who crossed LAC

In the US, major insurance companies have doubled their profits amid the pandemic. While Insurers in India are facing the charge of denying payments. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Coronavirus and Health insurance: The business of pandemic

The detained Chinese soldier has been handed over to the China's PLA (People's Liberation Army). Soldier has been identified as Wang Ya Long, was reportedly handed over last night the the Chushul-Moldo meeting point.

Sources: Chinese soldier detained from Indian territory on Monday, handed over to PLA

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