India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his address at the Rotary Institute 2023 event in Bengaluru, said that Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was fascinated by India's space project and also showed interest in India-made drones.

He met Oman Sultan on Friday and said that he values his "guidance for further deepening our Strategic Partnership."

In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Honoured to call on His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik of Oman as he begins his State visit. Value his guidance for further deepening of our Strategic Partnership."

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Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was fascinated by India's space project &amp; interested in Indian drones, says EAM Jaishankar <a href="https://t.co/M3kvTHdwLQ">pic.twitter.com/M3kvTHdwLQ</a>
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Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in a statement said that Sultan Haitham's visit to India establishes a major milestone that depends primarily upon historical relations and also opens the road for a fresh, positive stage in developing bilateral ties, as per Oman News Agency reports.

The Oman Foreign Minister said that the Sultan's visit underlines the strength of bilateral relations between both countries.

Badr further said that the visit also showcased a joint commitment to bolster cooperation that arises from the long-standing foundations of friendship, cultural and economic exchange and continuous interaction between the peoples of the two friendly nations, news agency ANI reported citing the Oman News Agency.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-weighs-options-to-retaliate-against-houthi-attacks-in-red-sea-report-670514">US weighs options to retaliate against Houthi attacks in Red Sea: Report</a>

The Oman Sultan arrived in India's capital city, New Delhi, on Friday (Dec 15) on a three-day visit. He was received by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, at the Delhi Airport.

India's President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet in the honour of Oman Sultan&nbsp;at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday (Dec 16).

<h2>PM Modi and Oman Sultan discuss ways to deepen cooperation</h2>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman Sultan, on Saturday (Dec 16) held a meeting in New Delhi where the two leaders discussed ways to heighten cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, and innovation.&nbsp;

They also reviewed the full range of bilateral ties.

Taking to his official X account after the meeting with the Sultan, PM Modi said, "Had an excellent meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman. Reviewing the full range of bilateral ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, innovation and more."

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Had an excellent meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman. Reviewing the full range of bilateral ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, innovation and more. <a href="https://t.co/l42DgqwkmE">pic.twitter.com/l42DgqwkmE</a>
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&nbsp;

PM Modi and Haitham bin Tariq, during the delegation-level talks, adopted a new 'India-Oman joint vision, a partnership for the future' under which both countries will work in ten different areas.

Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr said the Sultan's meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirm the presence of substantial cooperation that emphasises Oman-India's future perspectives on prioritising engagements in the fields of economy, technology, energy, trade and investment.

He said: "The move will also help achieve our joint goals of sustainable economic development that generates benefits to the two countries and the region at large."

(With inputs from agencies)

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his address at the Rotary Institute 2023 event in Bengaluru, said that Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was fascinated by India's space project and also showed interest in India-made drones.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his address at the Rotary Institute 2023 event in Bengaluru, said that Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was fascinated by India's space project and also showed interest in India-made drones. He met Oman Sultan on Friday and said that he values his "guidance for further deepening our Strategic Partnership." In a post shared on X, Jaishankar stated, "Honoured to call on His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik of Oman as he begins his State visit. Value his guidance for further deepening of our Strategic Partnership." Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was fascinated by India's space project & interested in Indian drones, says EAM Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/M3kvTHdwLQ — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 17, 2023 × Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi in a statement said that Sultan Haitham's visit to India establishes a major milestone that depends primarily upon historical relations and also opens the road for a fresh, positive stage in developing bilateral ties, as per Oman News Agency reports. The Oman Foreign Minister said that the Sultan's visit underlines the strength of bilateral relations between both countries. Badr further said that the visit also showcased a joint commitment to bolster cooperation that arises from the long-standing foundations of friendship, cultural and economic exchange and continuous interaction between the peoples of the two friendly nations, news agency ANI reported citing the Oman News Agency. Also read: US weighs options to retaliate against Houthi attacks in Red Sea: Report The Oman Sultan arrived in India's capital city, New Delhi, on Friday (Dec 15) on a three-day visit. He was received by the Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, at the Delhi Airport. India's President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet in the honour of Oman Sultan at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday (Dec 16). PM Modi and Oman Sultan discuss ways to deepen cooperation Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Oman Sultan, on Saturday (Dec 16) held a meeting in New Delhi where the two leaders discussed ways to heighten cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, and innovation. They also reviewed the full range of bilateral ties. Taking to his official X account after the meeting with the Sultan, PM Modi said, "Had an excellent meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman. Reviewing the full range of bilateral ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, innovation and more." Had an excellent meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman. Reviewing the full range of bilateral ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation in commerce, culture, defence, innovation and more. pic.twitter.com/l42DgqwkmE — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2023 × PM Modi and Haitham bin Tariq, during the delegation-level talks, adopted a new 'India-Oman joint vision, a partnership for the future' under which both countries will work in ten different areas. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr said the Sultan's meetings with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirm the presence of substantial cooperation that emphasises Oman-India's future perspectives on prioritising engagements in the fields of economy, technology, energy, trade and investment. He said: "The move will also help achieve our joint goals of sustainable economic development that generates benefits to the two countries and the region at large." (With inputs from agencies)

Oman's Sultan fascinated by India's space project, interested in India-made drones, says Jaishankar

The air quality of India's national capital New Delhi, after falling in the 'poor' category, again turned 'very poor' on Thursday (Dec 7). 
 
The air quality index (AQI) in the capital city was 289 at 10 am (local time) and reached 301 – which falls under the 'very poor' category by 11 am (local time) and further deteriorated to 315 by 3 pm (local time).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-strategic-partner-but-ones-behind-assassination-plot-should-be-held-accountable-white-house-667394">India strategic partner but ones behind assassination plot should be 'held accountable': White House</a>

On Thursday, the national capital's average AQI was 320, in comparison to 287 a day earlier. The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was 9.2 degrees Celsius which was the same as that of Wednesday's and also was the lowest temperature of the season.

<h2>Temperature to dip</h2>

According to the weather department, the temperature in New Delhi will start falling from Friday (Dec 8). The capital city's maximum temperature was 25.8 degrees Celsius, which was a notch above the normal temperature of the season, against 26.4 degrees on Wednesday. The day also remained foggy on Thursday in Delhi. 
 
The pollution level increased as foggy conditions and low wind speed obstructed ventilation. As per the Air Quality Early Warning System, the AQI is likely to remain 'very poor' on Friday (Dec 8), although slight improvement is likely to take place on Saturday (Dec 9). 
 
According to the forecast, the air quality may remain 'poor' to 'very poor' next week. As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's Decision Support System, 27 per cent of PM2.5 has been attributed to other sources, 15 per cent to transport and 5 per cent to industries which are located in and around Delhi. 
 
On Thursday, both PM2.5 and PM10 levels increased in the air. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM2.5 hovered nearly 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre at 6 pm (local time) in comparison to 110.8 a day earlier. 
 
As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the national capital is likely to receive no rain till December 11. Last week, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that Grap-3 has been lifted in the capital city but the government has been making efforts to ensure that Grap-1 and 2 are strictly implemented.

Watch:&nbsp;India to provide relief assistance of $1mn to Papua New Guinea in wake of volcanic eruption | WION

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"Due to the change in weather during the last two days, there has been a decline in pollution. The Commission for Air Quality Management has lifted the restrictions of Grap-3. The ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles and the ban on construction demolition have been lifted," said Gopal Rai. 
 
"GRAP 3 is imposed when AQI is 400, but it continued despite low AQI because fluctuations were visible in AQI after Diwali. If the wind speed slows down, AQI may increase again, hence GRAP-1 and GRAP-2 should be strictly implemented. For this, directions are being given to all the departments again," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

The air quality of India's national capital New Delhi, after falling in the 'poor' category, again turned 'very poor' on Thursday (Dec 7). The air quality index (AQI) in the capital city was 289 at 10 am (local time) and reached 301 – which falls under the 'very poor' category by 11 am (local time) and further deteriorated to 315 by 3 pm (local time).

The air quality of India's national capital New Delhi, after falling in the 'poor' category, again turned 'very poor' on Thursday (Dec 7). The air quality index (AQI) in the capital city was 289 at 10 am (local time) and reached 301 – which falls under the 'very poor' category by 11 am (local time) and further deteriorated to 315 by 3 pm (local time). Also read: India strategic partner but ones behind assassination plot should be 'held accountable': White House On Thursday, the national capital's average AQI was 320, in comparison to 287 a day earlier. The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was 9.2 degrees Celsius which was the same as that of Wednesday's and also was the lowest temperature of the season. Temperature to dip According to the weather department, the temperature in New Delhi will start falling from Friday (Dec 8). The capital city's maximum temperature was 25.8 degrees Celsius, which was a notch above the normal temperature of the season, against 26.4 degrees on Wednesday. The day also remained foggy on Thursday in Delhi. The pollution level increased as foggy conditions and low wind speed obstructed ventilation. As per the Air Quality Early Warning System, the AQI is likely to remain 'very poor' on Friday (Dec 8), although slight improvement is likely to take place on Saturday (Dec 9). According to the forecast, the air quality may remain 'poor' to 'very poor' next week. As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's Decision Support System, 27 per cent of PM2.5 has been attributed to other sources, 15 per cent to transport and 5 per cent to industries which are located in and around Delhi. On Thursday, both PM2.5 and PM10 levels increased in the air. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM2.5 hovered nearly 135.8 micrograms per cubic metre at 6 pm (local time) in comparison to 110.8 a day earlier. As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the national capital is likely to receive no rain till December 11. Last week, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that Grap-3 has been lifted in the capital city but the government has been making efforts to ensure that Grap-1 and 2 are strictly implemented. Watch: India to provide relief assistance of $1mn to Papua New Guinea in wake of volcanic eruption | WION "Due to the change in weather during the last two days, there has been a decline in pollution. The Commission for Air Quality Management has lifted the restrictions of Grap-3. The ban on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles and the ban on construction demolition have been lifted," said Gopal Rai. "GRAP 3 is imposed when AQI is 400, but it continued despite low AQI because fluctuations were visible in AQI after Diwali. If the wind speed slows down, AQI may increase again, hence GRAP-1 and GRAP-2 should be strictly implemented. For this, directions are being given to all the departments again," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

India: New Delhi's AQI turns 'very poor' again, temperature likely to fall

The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398. 
 
The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday. 
 
As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the average AQI of the national capital recorded at 6 am on Saturday remained at 398. 
 
According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded at 6 am, the air quality was recorded at 396 in RK Puram, at 465 in the IGI Airport area, at 416 in Nehru Nagar and at 350 in New Moti Bagh, with most of them being in the ‘very poor’ category.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/delhis-air-emergency-needs-a-call-for-sustained-action-beyond-temporary-fixes-658338">Delhi's air emergency needs a call for sustained action beyond temporary fixes</a>

The 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, which is recorded at 4 pm every day, remained at 405 on Friday (Nov 17). The average AQI was 419 on Thursday, 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday. 
 
An AQI falling between zero and 50 is seen as good, 51 and 100 as satisfactory, 101 and 200 as moderate, 201 and 300 as poor, 301 and 400 as very poor, 401 and 450 as severe and above 450 as severe plus.

<h2>Temperature dips in India's national capital</h2>

The national capital's temperature, meanwhile, has started to fall and was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius on Friday (Nov 17). 
 
A stern directive was issued by the National Green Tribunal to Delhi-NCR authorities to implement stringent measures to improve the air quality index. 
 
The order of NGT followed its own observations after the remedial actions did not lead to significant improvements in the air quality in various states.

Watch:&nbsp;Delhi AQI: Schools likely to remain closed beyond November 18

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The tribunal appealed to the concerned authorities to reassess their strategies. As per the instructions of the tribunal, a report regarding fresh action is expected to surface on November 20. 
 
Delhi's Air Quality Early Warning System forecasted that the air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' from November 18 to November 20. 
 
As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System, the stubble burning's contribution was PM2.5 levels on Friday (Nov 17), which was around 3.45 per cent less than the 5.85 per cent recorded on the previous day.

(With inputs from agencies)

The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398. The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday.

The air quality index (AQI) of India's capital New Delhi was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Saturday (Nov 18), as the average AQI was 398. The AQI remained in the 'severe' category for three days and showed little improvement as it reached the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday. As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the average AQI of the national capital recorded at 6 am on Saturday remained at 398. According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded at 6 am, the air quality was recorded at 396 in RK Puram, at 465 in the IGI Airport area, at 416 in Nehru Nagar and at 350 in New Moti Bagh, with most of them being in the ‘very poor’ category. Also read: Delhi's air emergency needs a call for sustained action beyond temporary fixes The 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, which is recorded at 4 pm every day, remained at 405 on Friday (Nov 17). The average AQI was 419 on Thursday, 401 on Wednesday, 397 on Tuesday, 358 on Monday and 218 on Sunday. An AQI falling between zero and 50 is seen as good, 51 and 100 as satisfactory, 101 and 200 as moderate, 201 and 300 as poor, 301 and 400 as very poor, 401 and 450 as severe and above 450 as severe plus. Temperature dips in India's national capital The national capital's temperature, meanwhile, has started to fall and was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius on Friday (Nov 17). A stern directive was issued by the National Green Tribunal to Delhi-NCR authorities to implement stringent measures to improve the air quality index. The order of NGT followed its own observations after the remedial actions did not lead to significant improvements in the air quality in various states. Watch: Delhi AQI: Schools likely to remain closed beyond November 18 The tribunal appealed to the concerned authorities to reassess their strategies. As per the instructions of the tribunal, a report regarding fresh action is expected to surface on November 20. Delhi's Air Quality Early Warning System forecasted that the air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' from November 18 to November 20. As per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s Decision Support System, the stubble burning's contribution was PM2.5 levels on Friday (Nov 17), which was around 3.45 per cent less than the 5.85 per cent recorded on the previous day. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Delhi's AQI reaches 'very poor' category after recording 'severe' category for three days

India has asked Canada to put forward a framework to prevent attacks on places of worship and also effectively address hate crimes and hate speech.

While speaking at the UN Human Rights Council Review meeting, Indian diplomat Mohammed Hussain called on Canada to strengthen measures to avert activities of groups promoting extremism.

"India recommends the following to Canada - further strengthen the domestic framework to prevent misuse of freedom of expression, for inciting violence and disallow activities of groups that are promoting extremism; effectively prevent attacks on places of worship of religious and racial minorities, strengthen legislative and other measures to address hate crimes and hate speech," said Hussain addressing the UNHRC review meeting.

He further noted the enactment of the National Housing Strategy Act, the Accessible Canada Act, and the National Strategy in Canada, which was introduced to combat human trafficking.

"India welcomes and thanks the delegation of Canada for the presentation of their national report. We note the enactment of the National Housing Strategy Act, Accessible Canada Act, and the National Strategy to combat human trafficking."

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&nbsp;

New Delhi further recommended that Ottawa take stern action to end structural discrimination against children belonging to Indigenous groups and address disparities in access to services by all children.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-police-release-cctv-footage-of-indian-origin-gangsters-killing-658206"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canadian-police-release-cctv-footage-of-indian-origin-gangsters-killing-658206">Canadian police release CCTV footage of Indian-origin gangster's killing</a>

“(India recommends Canada to) Put an end to structural discrimination against children belonging to Indigenous groups and address disparities in access to services by all children,” Hussain said.

This diplomatic move was taken amid strained ties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked a row accusing India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

<h2>Trudeau accuses India of violating Vienna Convention</h2>

Earlier, Trudeau had condemned India for violating the Vienna Convention as nearly 40 diplomats were moved out of India after New Delhi requested a 'parity' in diplomatic strength.

The Canadian PM issued a warning saying that if bigger countries can "violate international law without consequences", it will make the world "more dangerous".

(With inputs from agencies)

India has asked Canada to put forward a framework to prevent attacks on places of worship and also effectively address hate crimes and hate speech. While speaking at the UN Human Rights Council Review meeting, Indian diplomat Mohammed Hussain called on Canada to strengthen measures to avert activities of groups promoting extremism.

India has asked Canada to put forward a framework to prevent attacks on places of worship and also effectively address hate crimes and hate speech. While speaking at the UN Human Rights Council Review meeting, Indian diplomat Mohammed Hussain called on Canada to strengthen measures to avert activities of groups promoting extremism. "India recommends the following to Canada - further strengthen the domestic framework to prevent misuse of freedom of expression, for inciting violence and disallow activities of groups that are promoting extremism; effectively prevent attacks on places of worship of religious and racial minorities, strengthen legislative and other measures to address hate crimes and hate speech," said Hussain addressing the UNHRC review meeting. He further noted the enactment of the National Housing Strategy Act, the Accessible Canada Act, and the National Strategy in Canada, which was introduced to combat human trafficking. "India welcomes and thanks the delegation of Canada for the presentation of their national report. We note the enactment of the National Housing Strategy Act, Accessible Canada Act, and the National Strategy to combat human trafficking." #WATCH | "India welcomes and thanks the delegation of Canada for the presentation of their national report. We note the enactment of the National Housing Strategy Act, Accessible Canada Act, and the National Strategy to combat human trafficking. In the spirit of constructive… pic.twitter.com/E8sRp1nqB7 — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023 × New Delhi further recommended that Ottawa take stern action to end structural discrimination against children belonging to Indigenous groups and address disparities in access to services by all children. Also read: Canadian police release CCTV footage of Indian-origin gangster's killing “(India recommends Canada to) Put an end to structural discrimination against children belonging to Indigenous groups and address disparities in access to services by all children,” Hussain said. This diplomatic move was taken amid strained ties after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked a row accusing India of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau accuses India of violating Vienna Convention Earlier, Trudeau had condemned India for violating the Vienna Convention as nearly 40 diplomats were moved out of India after New Delhi requested a 'parity' in diplomatic strength. The Canadian PM issued a warning saying that if bigger countries can "violate international law without consequences", it will make the world "more dangerous". (With inputs from agencies)

India asks Canada to prevent attacks on places of worship

In pics | Layer of haze shrouds Indian cities after Diwali celebrations, air quality dips

Three Indian cities made it to the world's top 10 most polluted cities on Monday. A day after Diwali celebrations national capital New Delhi, western metropolis Mumbai and eastern city of Kolkata have joined the most polluted cities in the world.

Three Indian cities made it to the world's top 10 most polluted cities on Monday. A day after Diwali celebrations national capital New Delhi, western metropolis Mumbai and eastern city of Kolkata have joined the most polluted cities in the world. On Monday, these cities witnessed unhealthy air quality after revellers let loose with firecrackers for the annual Hindu festival of light, reported Reuters. The Indian capital, New Delhi, has taken the first spot as usual. It had an AQI (air quality index) figure of 407. Since the beginning of November, Delhi has seen a poor AQI figure. The Swiss group IQAir has put the city's air in the "hazardous" category. ALSO READ | Sam Bahadur: When Indira Gandhi suspected Sam Manekshaw of 'planning a military coup' Mumbai, the financial capital of India, came in sixth with an AQI of 157. Kolkata was seventh, with an AQI of 154. AQI levels between 0 and 50 are considered good. An AQI level between 150 and 200 distresses people with asthma and lung and heart problems. Meanwhile, an AQI level of 400-500 affects healthy people. Since Sunday night, a thick layer of smog started to blanket New Delhi. The AQI reached an alarming 680 a little after midnight. ALSO READ | Jaishankar extends Diwali greetings to Rishi Sunak, gifts Lord Ganesha idol and Kohli-signed bat Although authorities ban firecrackers every year in the national capital, the implementation of these bans is often rare. Member of Rajya Sabha Saket Gokhake posted a letter on X, asking the local police for details on several cases of firecracker use. He also urged the authorities to take action against the perpetrators. The air quality deterioration in northern India ahead of the winter season is an annual affair, as cold air traps pollutants from vehicles, industry, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. After a brief spell of rain on Friday, the authorities in New Delhi delayed a previous decision to restrict the use of vehicles on roads on alternate days based on their odd or even registration numbers. The rain brought some breather from a week of toxic air. In light of the pollution concerns, the local government has announced that it will maintain the ban on all construction activities and keep schools closed until further notice. According to the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), the air quality in Delhi continues to be in the 'very poor' category. Authorities used water guns to sprinkle water near Sarai Kale Khan to mitigate air pollution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After Diwali, two more Indian cities join New Delhi among world's top 10 most polluted

Heavy pollution-fuelled smog has forced authorities in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, including the eastern city of Lahore, to close markets and schools. The government in the province announced a four-day public holiday in several districts to mitigate the impact of smog.

<h2>What is&nbsp;Punjab government’s plan?</h2>

The provincial government has announced a public holiday from November 9 to 12.&nbsp;

“The government has decided to close down markets for four days from 9 to 12 November in the major cities of Punjab because of smog on the advisory of the health department,” said Amir Mir, the information minister for Punjab.&nbsp;

According to a directive from the provincial government, schools, offices, restaurants, and businesses aside from priority services like pharmacies, hospitals and courts, would all close to limit residents’ movement outside.&nbsp;

The Pakistani province is home to more than 110 million people.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-delhi-its-not-entirely-stubble-burning-what-else-fueling-air-pollution-656447">New Delhi: It's not entirely stubble burning. What else is fueling air pollution?</a>

Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told a press conference&nbsp;on Tuesday (Nov 7) that the public holiday will take effect in Lahore, Gujranwala and Hafizabad divisions of the province.&nbsp;

Marriage halls and bakeries will also be open, said Naqvi, according to PTI news agency.&nbsp;

<h2>Situation in Lahore</h2>

The provincial capital of Lahore has been among the most polluted cities and its air quality was the worst in the world on Wednesday (Nov 8), according to Swiss group IQAir.&nbsp;

The air quality index of the Pakistani province was at a “hazardous” 432, followed by India’s capital Delhi at 302.&nbsp;

The caretaker Pakistani CM has also reportedly attributed the spread of smog in Lahore and other parts of the province to the burning of the residues of crops in the Indian state of Punjab and requested caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to take action.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-govt-to-consider-scs-remarks-over-odd-even-rule-after-latter-calls-it-mere-optics-656170">Delhi govt to consider SC’s remarks over odd-even rule, after latter calls it ‘mere optics’</a>

Kakar assured the Punjab government of taking up the smog issue with India. This comes as growing industrialisation in South Asia in recent decades has led to more pollutants from factories, construction activity and vehicles. The issue becomes severe in cooler autumn and winter months.&nbsp;

Heavy smog blanketed Lahore this week leading to low visibility and prompting residents to complain of a threat to their health. “The weather is such that everyone has a bad throat and bad eyes, and everyone's health is getting affected,” said Mohammad Salahuddin, a private guard in Lahore, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Heavy pollution-fuelled smog has forced authorities in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, including the eastern city of Lahore, to close markets and schools.

Heavy pollution-fuelled smog has forced authorities in Pakistan’s most populous province, Punjab, including the eastern city of Lahore, to close markets and schools. The government in the province announced a four-day public holiday in several districts to mitigate the impact of smog. What is Punjab government’s plan? The provincial government has announced a public holiday from November 9 to 12. “The government has decided to close down markets for four days from 9 to 12 November in the major cities of Punjab because of smog on the advisory of the health department,” said Amir Mir, the information minister for Punjab. According to a directive from the provincial government, schools, offices, restaurants, and businesses aside from priority services like pharmacies, hospitals and courts, would all close to limit residents’ movement outside. The Pakistani province is home to more than 110 million people. ALSO READ | New Delhi: It's not entirely stubble burning. What else is fueling air pollution? Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi told a press conference on Tuesday (Nov 7) that the public holiday will take effect in Lahore, Gujranwala and Hafizabad divisions of the province. Marriage halls and bakeries will also be open, said Naqvi, according to PTI news agency. Situation in Lahore The provincial capital of Lahore has been among the most polluted cities and its air quality was the worst in the world on Wednesday (Nov 8), according to Swiss group IQAir. The air quality index of the Pakistani province was at a “hazardous” 432, followed by India’s capital Delhi at 302. The caretaker Pakistani CM has also reportedly attributed the spread of smog in Lahore and other parts of the province to the burning of the residues of crops in the Indian state of Punjab and requested caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to take action. ALSO READ | Delhi govt to consider SC’s remarks over odd-even rule, after latter calls it ‘mere optics’ Kakar assured the Punjab government of taking up the smog issue with India. This comes as growing industrialisation in South Asia in recent decades has led to more pollutants from factories, construction activity and vehicles. The issue becomes severe in cooler autumn and winter months. Heavy smog blanketed Lahore this week leading to low visibility and prompting residents to complain of a threat to their health. “The weather is such that everyone has a bad throat and bad eyes, and everyone's health is getting affected,” said Mohammad Salahuddin, a private guard in Lahore, as quoted by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: Punjab govt declares four-day holiday due to pollution-fuelled smog; schools, markets closed

At least 60 people, including students, were detained in the Indian capital city of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-raging-israel-hamas-war-indias-delhi-placed-on-security-alert-646205">New Delhi</a> for organising a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, on Monday (Oct 16).&nbsp;

This comes after Israel declared war against Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise against southern Israel over a week ago.&nbsp;

The Delhi police said that they had detained around 60 people for not taking prior permission for the protest, reported news agency PTI. The demonstration was held by the CPI (ML)-backed All India Students Association (AISA) and other student organisations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly expressed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/people-of-india-stand-by-israel-pm-modi-tells-netanyahu-in-call-644906">support for Israel</a>.&nbsp;

After his previous call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the Indian PM took to X and said, “People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened at Jantar Mantar?</h2>

According to PTI, the protesters, most of them students and teachers from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, took to Jantar Mantar and started raising slogans ‘Justice for Palestine,’ and ‘Gaza we are with you.’

“We are holding a demonstration and demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and actions against Israel, for violating human rights,” said Hemant, one of the demonstrators, as quoted by the news agency.&nbsp;

Subsequently, the Delhi police rounded the protesters up in buses and took them to an undisclosed location. The AISA has since released a statement demanding their release.&nbsp;

<h2>Support for Palestine</h2>

The CPI (ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also visited the Palestine Embassy to express solidarity on behalf of the Indian people, in New Delhi, on Monday.

&nbsp;“We came here to express our solidarity on behalf of (the) Indian people. Right now, we all know whatever happened on the 7th of October but it has not stopped there. Right now what is happening in Gaza is nothing short of a very openly declared genocide,” Bhattacharya told ANI.&nbsp;

Adnan Abu al Haija, Ambassador of Palestine in New Delhi following his meeting with some leaders of the opposition, including a few Members of Parliament (MP) told ANI, “We discussed the situation in Gaza and in Palestine in general and they presented their solidarity with the Palestinian people…”&nbsp;

He added, “We hope India will play a good role in stopping the siege on our people of Gaza and putting pressure on the Israeli government for humanitarian aid to our people in Gaza…”

<h2>India’s stance on Israel-Hamas war</h2>

Since the incumbent PM took office New Delhi has moved closer to Israel despite historically backing the Palestinian cause which is partly thanks to the Netanyahu government.

However, opposition parties in New Delhi including the Indian National Congress (INC) or Congress party reiterated their support for Palestinians in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-congress-party-extends-support-for-palestinians-amid-hamas-attack-on-israel-calls-for-ceasefire-644564">recent resolution</a> passed a week ago.&nbsp;

On Thursday, (Oct 12) the Indian foreign ministry condemned the attack by Hamas&nbsp;in Israel as a "terrorist attack" and reiterated its longstanding position for an independent Palestine.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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At least 60 people, including students, were detained in the Indian capital city of New Delhi for organising a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, on Monday (Oct 16).

At least 60 people, including students, were detained in the Indian capital city of New Delhi for organising a pro-Palestinian demonstration demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and denouncing Israel’s actions in Gaza, on Monday (Oct 16). This comes after Israel declared war against Hamas after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise against southern Israel over a week ago. The Delhi police said that they had detained around 60 people for not taking prior permission for the protest, reported news agency PTI. The demonstration was held by the CPI (ML)-backed All India Students Association (AISA) and other student organisations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly expressed support for Israel. After his previous call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the Indian PM took to X and said, “People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. What happened at Jantar Mantar? According to PTI, the protesters, most of them students and teachers from Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University, took to Jantar Mantar and started raising slogans ‘Justice for Palestine,’ and ‘Gaza we are with you.’ “We are holding a demonstration and demanding diplomatic support for Palestine and actions against Israel, for violating human rights,” said Hemant, one of the demonstrators, as quoted by the news agency. Subsequently, the Delhi police rounded the protesters up in buses and took them to an undisclosed location. The AISA has since released a statement demanding their release. Support for Palestine The CPI (ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya also visited the Palestine Embassy to express solidarity on behalf of the Indian people, in New Delhi, on Monday. “We came here to express our solidarity on behalf of (the) Indian people. Right now, we all know whatever happened on the 7th of October but it has not stopped there. Right now what is happening in Gaza is nothing short of a very openly declared genocide,” Bhattacharya told ANI. Adnan Abu al Haija, Ambassador of Palestine in New Delhi following his meeting with some leaders of the opposition, including a few Members of Parliament (MP) told ANI, “We discussed the situation in Gaza and in Palestine in general and they presented their solidarity with the Palestinian people…” He added, “We hope India will play a good role in stopping the siege on our people of Gaza and putting pressure on the Israeli government for humanitarian aid to our people in Gaza…” India’s stance on Israel-Hamas war Since the incumbent PM took office New Delhi has moved closer to Israel despite historically backing the Palestinian cause which is partly thanks to the Netanyahu government. However, opposition parties in New Delhi including the Indian National Congress (INC) or Congress party reiterated their support for Palestinians in a recent resolution passed a week ago. On Thursday, (Oct 12) the Indian foreign ministry condemned the attack by Hamas in Israel as a "terrorist attack" and reiterated its longstanding position for an independent Palestine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India: Dozens detained by police for staging pro-Palestine protests without due permission

'Delhi crimes': Nithari killings and more, gruesome cases that shocked the Indian national capital

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have escalated diplomatic standoff with India once again after he claimed his government was&nbsp;probing "credible allegations" that New Delhi may have had a prominent role in the killing of a secessionist leader.&nbsp;

During an emergency session of the parliament, Trudeau said his&nbsp;government is "actively pursuing" evidence of a link between India and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a known Khalistani leader.

"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the&nbsp;House of Commons.

"The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," Trudeau said.

The Canadian PM added that his government had already taken up the matter with India.&nbsp;

"Canada has declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government. Last week at the G20 I brought them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi in no uncertain terms," Trudeau said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly informed reporters that Ottawa had expelled the Indian head of intelligence in Canada but gave no further details.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-and-canada-hit-pause-on-fta-talks-after-trudeau-visit-636506">Watch |&nbsp;India and Canada hit pause on FTA talks after Trudeau visit</a>

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<h2>Is Trudeau parroting Khalistan agenda?</h2>

Trudeau's statements seemingly parrot the line taken by Khalistani extremists who have been claiming that India was responsible for the killing of Hardeep Nijjar,&nbsp;one of the prominent secessionist faces who operated from Canada.

Last month, Khalistani radicals vandalised the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, located in Surrey, British Columbia and pasted a poster that read, “Canada investigates India’s role in June 18th&nbsp;assassination,” referring to&nbsp;Nijjar.&nbsp;

Notably, the 45-year-old Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief was shot&nbsp;dead on June 18 by two unidentified men in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada.

The Khalistani separatists want balkanisation of the Indian state of Punjab and have been conducting terror operations for years to pressure the government into accepting the demand but to no avail.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/another-hindu-temple-vandalised-in-canada-killed-khalistani-leaders-posters-pasted-624968">Also read |&nbsp;Another Hindu temple vandalised in Canada, killed Khalistani leader's posters pasted</a>

<h2>Ottawa may have antagonised New Delhi yet again&nbsp;</h2>

Canada openly calling out India is not expected to go&nbsp;down well with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. In recent times, New Delhi has distanced itself from Ottawa and specifically Trudeau, after the latter's refusal to act on separatist forces operating from the Canadian territory.&nbsp;

During the recent G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Trudeau was given a cold shoulder by the host nation. It was only during the final day of the summit that PM Modi held a bilateral with Trudeau. Even then, PM Modi conveyed in harsh words that the menace of separatism blooming in the Canadian mainland was hurting the Indian interests.&nbsp;

According to experts, it is rather perplexing that Trudeau has made the claims in front of the parliament when his government has failed to nip the rise of extremism in the country.&nbsp;

Multiple Hindu temples have been vandalised by Khalistani forces since the beginning of the year in Canada. Officers of the Indian High Commission have been openly targeted by the radicals and yet Trudeau's administration has done nothing to win the trust of New Delhi.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have escalated diplomatic standoff with India once again after he claimed his government was probing "credible allegations" that New Delhi may have had a prominent role in the killing of a secessionist leader.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have escalated diplomatic standoff with India once again after he claimed his government was probing "credible allegations" that New Delhi may have had a prominent role in the killing of a secessionist leader. During an emergency session of the parliament, Trudeau said his government is "actively pursuing" evidence of a link between India and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a known Khalistani leader. "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the House of Commons. "The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," Trudeau said. The Canadian PM added that his government had already taken up the matter with India. "Canada has declared its deep concerns to the top intelligence and security officials of the Indian government. Last week at the G20 I brought them personally and directly to Prime Minister Modi in no uncertain terms," Trudeau said. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly informed reporters that Ottawa had expelled the Indian head of intelligence in Canada but gave no further details. Watch | India and Canada hit pause on FTA talks after Trudeau visit × Is Trudeau parroting Khalistan agenda? Trudeau's statements seemingly parrot the line taken by Khalistani extremists who have been claiming that India was responsible for the killing of Hardeep Nijjar, one of the prominent secessionist faces who operated from Canada. Last month, Khalistani radicals vandalised the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, located in Surrey, British Columbia and pasted a poster that read, “Canada investigates India’s role in June 18th assassination,” referring to Nijjar. Notably, the 45-year-old Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) chief was shot dead on June 18 by two unidentified men in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada. The Khalistani separatists want balkanisation of the Indian state of Punjab and have been conducting terror operations for years to pressure the government into accepting the demand but to no avail. Also read | Another Hindu temple vandalised in Canada, killed Khalistani leader's posters pasted Ottawa may have antagonised New Delhi yet again Canada openly calling out India is not expected to go down well with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. In recent times, New Delhi has distanced itself from Ottawa and specifically Trudeau, after the latter's refusal to act on separatist forces operating from the Canadian territory. During the recent G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Trudeau was given a cold shoulder by the host nation. It was only during the final day of the summit that PM Modi held a bilateral with Trudeau. Even then, PM Modi conveyed in harsh words that the menace of separatism blooming in the Canadian mainland was hurting the Indian interests. According to experts, it is rather perplexing that Trudeau has made the claims in front of the parliament when his government has failed to nip the rise of extremism in the country. Multiple Hindu temples have been vandalised by Khalistani forces since the beginning of the year in Canada. Officers of the Indian High Commission have been openly targeted by the radicals and yet Trudeau's administration has done nothing to win the trust of New Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Trudeau says Canada has evidence linking India to Khalistan leader's killing

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm, rousing welcome at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi as he arrived for a central election committee (CEC) meeting after the conclusion of the successful G20 Summit under India's presidency.&nbsp;

<h2>Showered with flowers</h2>

Upon his arrival at the party headquarters, Modi, as per a PTI news agency report, was greeted by CEC members, including Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, as well as party president J P Nadda.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/factcheck-are-water-logging-claims-at-g20-venue-in-delhi-true-634906">Fact check: Are waterlogging claims at G20 venue in Delhi true?</a>

Gathered in large numbers, supporters and party workers showered the Indian Prime Minister with flower petals, and celebrated the achievements of the G20 Summit.

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Glimpses from BJP's Central Election Committee Meeting being held at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/kWQhiF9JGP">pic.twitter.com/kWQhiF9JGP</a>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Top BJP leaders welcome PM Modi on his arrival at the party headquarters in Delhi 
 
The PM is visiting the BJP headquarters for the first time after the completion of the G20 summit <a href="https://t.co/OwntmkqKDE">pic.twitter.com/OwntmkqKDE</a>
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This visit to BJP headquarters marked Modi's first appearance since the G20 Summit, which in recent days has garnered significant praise for its success under his leadership.&nbsp;

<h2>Modi's leadership and the global world</h2>

As per the PTI report, the BJP party has over the years consistently emphasised the global recognition of Modi's leadership and India's heightened standing on the international stage in its political discourse.&nbsp;

Following the success of the G20 meeting, the party is expected to further tout this recognition. This is especially true as the party prepares for a series of state assembly elections and the subsequent Lok Sabha elections that will decide whether Modi wins a third term as the Prime Minister of India.

<h2>What was the CEC meeting about?</h2>

PTI reports that the CEC meeting's primary agenda was to finalise the selection of candidates for the upcoming elections in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

During the previous CEC meeting held in August, BJP candidates for 39 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 21 seats in Chhattisgarh were named. These selections were made for constituencies where the BJP does not currently have incumbent MLAs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-hotel-standoff-when-chinese-g20-delegation-refused-to-get-their-big-bags-scanned-by-security-635479">India-China hotel standoff: When Chinese G20 delegation refused to get their big bags scanned by security</a>

This comes as, in a departure from its usual practice, national party BJP has started announcing its assembly poll candidates well before the election dates are officially announced.&nbsp;

In India, the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram will undergo assembly elections towards the end of this year — polls are scheduled for November-December. These will be the final round of state polls before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm, rousing welcome at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi as he arrived for a central election committee (CEC) meeting after the conclusion of the successful G20 Summit under India's presidency.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm, rousing welcome at the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi as he arrived for a central election committee (CEC) meeting after the conclusion of the successful G20 Summit under India's presidency. Showered with flowers Upon his arrival at the party headquarters, Modi, as per a PTI news agency report, was greeted by CEC members, including Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, as well as party president J P Nadda. Also read | Fact check: Are waterlogging claims at G20 venue in Delhi true? Gathered in large numbers, supporters and party workers showered the Indian Prime Minister with flower petals, and celebrated the achievements of the G20 Summit. Glimpses from BJP's Central Election Committee Meeting being held at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/kWQhiF9JGP — BJP (@BJP4India) September 13, 2023 × #WATCH | Top BJP leaders welcome PM Modi on his arrival at the party headquarters in Delhi The PM is visiting the BJP headquarters for the first time after the completion of the G20 summit pic.twitter.com/OwntmkqKDE — ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2023 × This visit to BJP headquarters marked Modi's first appearance since the G20 Summit, which in recent days has garnered significant praise for its success under his leadership. Modi's leadership and the global world As per the PTI report, the BJP party has over the years consistently emphasised the global recognition of Modi's leadership and India's heightened standing on the international stage in its political discourse. Following the success of the G20 meeting, the party is expected to further tout this recognition. This is especially true as the party prepares for a series of state assembly elections and the subsequent Lok Sabha elections that will decide whether Modi wins a third term as the Prime Minister of India. What was the CEC meeting about? PTI reports that the CEC meeting's primary agenda was to finalise the selection of candidates for the upcoming elections in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. During the previous CEC meeting held in August, BJP candidates for 39 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 21 seats in Chhattisgarh were named. These selections were made for constituencies where the BJP does not currently have incumbent MLAs. Also read | India-China hotel standoff: When Chinese G20 delegation refused to get their big bags scanned by security This comes as, in a departure from its usual practice, national party BJP has started announcing its assembly poll candidates well before the election dates are officially announced. In India, the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram will undergo assembly elections towards the end of this year — polls are scheduled for November-December. These will be the final round of state polls before the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. (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.

PM Modi gets a rousing welcome at BJP headquarters after successful G20 Summit

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday that India may reevaluate permitting local companies to list on overseas markets, suggesting that New Delhi may revive a plan that had been put on hold due to internal resistance and tax concerns.

Indian businesses presently are not&nbsp;permitted to list directly on international exchanges. They are the only ones who can list on foreign exchanges using tools like depository receipts.

The proposal to permit Indian companies to list directly overseas was initially made public in 2020, but it was later abandoned due to worries surrounding tax losses and criticism from a faction of the ruling party that worried less Indian regulatory scrutiny of domestic companies that list abroad.

Following bilateral discussions after the weekend’s G20 summit in New Delhi, Sitharaman spoke at a press conference alongside the British Finance Minister, Jeremy Hunt.

“We are particularly pleased to make a big step forward to make a first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies,” Reuters quoted Hunt as saying.

Before the government ruled against authorising foreign listings, Reuters reported in 2020 that the London Stock Exchange was in discussions with a number of Indian technology companies for their international stock listings.

In order to facilitate businesses’ access to international finance, India announced in July that it would let companies to list on exchanges recognised by the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), a new tax-neutral financial centre situated in Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT).

“We have mentioned earlier once that we are looking at listing, commencing with the IFSC, so once that is done, we may look at moving further (with overseas listing),” Reuters quoted Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman as saying.

She further stated that at the present stage, the ministry is looking to commence listing in the IFSC.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday that India may reevaluate permitting local companies to list on overseas markets, suggesting that New Delhi may revive a plan that had been put on hold due to internal resistance and tax concerns.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday that India may reevaluate permitting local companies to list on overseas markets, suggesting that New Delhi may revive a plan that had been put on hold due to internal resistance and tax concerns. Indian businesses presently are not permitted to list directly on international exchanges. They are the only ones who can list on foreign exchanges using tools like depository receipts. The proposal to permit Indian companies to list directly overseas was initially made public in 2020, but it was later abandoned due to worries surrounding tax losses and criticism from a faction of the ruling party that worried less Indian regulatory scrutiny of domestic companies that list abroad. Following bilateral discussions after the weekend’s G20 summit in New Delhi, Sitharaman spoke at a press conference alongside the British Finance Minister, Jeremy Hunt. “We are particularly pleased to make a big step forward to make a first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies,” Reuters quoted Hunt as saying. Before the government ruled against authorising foreign listings, Reuters reported in 2020 that the London Stock Exchange was in discussions with a number of Indian technology companies for their international stock listings. In order to facilitate businesses’ access to international finance, India announced in July that it would let companies to list on exchanges recognised by the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), a new tax-neutral financial centre situated in Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT). “We have mentioned earlier once that we are looking at listing, commencing with the IFSC, so once that is done, we may look at moving further (with overseas listing),” Reuters quoted Finance Minster Nirmala Sitharaman as saying. She further stated that at the present stage, the ministry is looking to commence listing in the IFSC. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New Delhi might reconsider permitting Indian businesses to list abroad: Nirmala Sitharaman

In pics | G20 Summit: PM Modi holds bilateral meetings with world leaders

Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov, on Sunday (September 10), speaking about the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted in the second session of Day One of the G20 Summit, said that Moscow did not expect the document to be adopted and was ready to defend itself and the wording about the Ukraine war. He also said that it is due to the countries of the global south that Russia managed to ensure the G20 agenda was not overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict.

<h2>What did Lavrov say about the declaration?</h2>

During a press conference, when asked about the consensus over the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration, Lavrov said, “When they agreed to that, perhaps it was the voice of their conscience. Speaking frankly, we didn’t expect that. We were 100 per cent ready to defend our honest wording of the text…Let me underline that we cannot isolate that paragraph (on Ukraine and Russia) from the rest of the work on the declaration.”&nbsp;

He added, “The main content of the declaration this year is all about the awakening of the Global South and the consolidation of the Global South that is truly willing for the G20 to work for its main goals.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-day-2-live-uk-pm-reaches-akshardham-temple-in-delhi-to-offer-prayers-634301">G20 Summit Day 2 LIVE: Modi denounces GDP-centric approach outdated as Delhi summit concludes</a>

This comes a day after the Delhi Declaration upon upholding “the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty” of states. While refraining from making any critical mention of Russia and mentioning <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-shares-its-own-closer-to-reality-version-of-g20-statement-634211">Ukraine around four times</a>.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Everyone wants peace’: Lavrov about the Ukraine war</h2>

Responding to a question by news agency ANI about if he thinks there can be a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian official said, “Everyone wants peace...About 18 months ago we agreed to sign a treaty about settling this conflict. We even initialled these documents.”

However, he alleged that the “Anglo-Saxons ordered (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy not to sign it because they thought they would be able to reap some confessions from us…,” as quoted by ANI.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-war-g20-leaders-call-for-upholding-territorial-integrity-sovereignty-634125">Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations</a>

“President Putin has recently said that we do not mind negotiations however any such negotiations need to consider the realities on the ground and take into account the reasons that have been accumulating for decades upon decades due to NATO's aggressive policy,” he added.&nbsp;

<h2>Russia to rejoin grain deal once its conditions are met: Lavrov</h2>

When asked about the Black Sea grain deal, the Russian foreign minister said Moscow would rejoin the agreement on the ‘same day’ after its conditions for export of its own grain and fertilisers to global markets are met.&nbsp;

“When all the necessary actions for removing obstacles for our grain and fertiliser exports are implemented, the same day we will return to the collective implementation of the Ukrainian part of the Black Sea initiative,” said Lavrov, during the press conference.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parody-of-generosity-eu-criticises-russia-over-black-sea-grain-deal-at-g20-summit-634264">‘Parody of generosity’: At G20 Summit, EU criticises Russia for pulling out of Black Sea grain deal</a>

This comes a day after the European Union reprimanded Russia during the G20 summit for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which provided a safe passage for Ukraine to export its grain and called its offer of a million tonnes of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”.&nbsp;

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Saturday, said that Russia is sticking to its demands to rejoin the grain deal and rejected the UN’s proposal that a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank could immediately apply to SWIFT to “effectively enable access” for the bank within 30 days.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
 
 
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Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov, on Sunday (September 10), speaking about the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted in the second session of Day One of the G20 Summit, said that Moscow did not expect the document to be adopted and was ready to defend itself and the wording about the Ukraine war.

Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov, on Sunday (September 10), speaking about the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration adopted in the second session of Day One of the G20 Summit, said that Moscow did not expect the document to be adopted and was ready to defend itself and the wording about the Ukraine war. He also said that it is due to the countries of the global south that Russia managed to ensure the G20 agenda was not overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict. What did Lavrov say about the declaration? During a press conference, when asked about the consensus over the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration, Lavrov said, “When they agreed to that, perhaps it was the voice of their conscience. Speaking frankly, we didn’t expect that. We were 100 per cent ready to defend our honest wording of the text…Let me underline that we cannot isolate that paragraph (on Ukraine and Russia) from the rest of the work on the declaration.” He added, “The main content of the declaration this year is all about the awakening of the Global South and the consolidation of the Global South that is truly willing for the G20 to work for its main goals.” ALSO READ | G20 Summit Day 2 LIVE: Modi denounces GDP-centric approach outdated as Delhi summit concludes This comes a day after the Delhi Declaration upon upholding “the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty” of states. While refraining from making any critical mention of Russia and mentioning Ukraine around four times. ‘Everyone wants peace’: Lavrov about the Ukraine war Responding to a question by news agency ANI about if he thinks there can be a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian official said, “Everyone wants peace...About 18 months ago we agreed to sign a treaty about settling this conflict. We even initialled these documents.” However, he alleged that the “Anglo-Saxons ordered (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy not to sign it because they thought they would be able to reap some confessions from us…,” as quoted by ANI. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations “President Putin has recently said that we do not mind negotiations however any such negotiations need to consider the realities on the ground and take into account the reasons that have been accumulating for decades upon decades due to NATO's aggressive policy,” he added. Russia to rejoin grain deal once its conditions are met: Lavrov When asked about the Black Sea grain deal, the Russian foreign minister said Moscow would rejoin the agreement on the ‘same day’ after its conditions for export of its own grain and fertilisers to global markets are met. “When all the necessary actions for removing obstacles for our grain and fertiliser exports are implemented, the same day we will return to the collective implementation of the Ukrainian part of the Black Sea initiative,” said Lavrov, during the press conference. ALSO READ | ‘Parody of generosity’: At G20 Summit, EU criticises Russia for pulling out of Black Sea grain deal This comes a day after the European Union reprimanded Russia during the G20 summit for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which provided a safe passage for Ukraine to export its grain and called its offer of a million tonnes of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Saturday, said that Russia is sticking to its demands to rejoin the grain deal and rejected the UN’s proposal that a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank could immediately apply to SWIFT to “effectively enable access” for the bank within 30 days. (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.

‘We didn’t expect that…’: Russia’s Lavrov about G20 Leaders’ declaration

During the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the European Union reprimanded Russia, on Saturday (September 9) for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which provided a safe passage for Ukraine to export its grain and called its offer of a million tonnes of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”. Separately, Russia said it was sticking to its conditions to return to the grain deal which it quit back in July.

<h2>‘Parody of generosity’</h2>

During the talks in New Delhi, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the United Nations-Turkey brokered deal, which allowed the delivery of Ukrainian grain to vulnerable countries was 30 times more in volume than what Russia has offered to Africa.&nbsp;

“And what cynicism...you did not accept this,” Michel said in comments directed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who is representing Moscow at the summit.

“Not only have you decided to pull out of this agreement on the Black Sea, but at the same time you are attacking the port infrastructure,” said the European Council president.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-war-g20-leaders-call-for-upholding-territorial-integrity-sovereignty-634125">Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

“To add insult to injury, Russia is offering 1 million tons of grain to African countries in a parody of generosity,” said Michel, adding, “What cynicism and contempt for African countries.”&nbsp;

Meanwhile, G20 leaders in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration called for the “full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilisers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine.”&nbsp;

Adding that it is “necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa.”&nbsp;

<h2>Russia rejects UN bank proposal</h2>

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Saturday, said that Russia is sticking to its demands to rejoin the grain deal and rejected the UN’s proposal that a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank could immediately apply to SWIFT to “effectively enable access” for the bank within 30 days.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-russia-formally-backs-out-of-black-sea-grain-deal-what-happens-now-616637">Explained | Russia formally backs out of Black Sea grain deal. What happens now?</a>

“All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable,” said Peskov. “Therefore Russia maintains its responsible, clear and consistent position, which has been repeatedly voiced by the president,” he added.&nbsp;

The statement comes months after Russia backed out of the Black Sea grain deal saying Western sanctions are hindering its grain and fertiliser exports.&nbsp;

While the exports are not directly sanctioned by the West, it is sanctions against port access, insurance, logistics and payments, including the removal of agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank from SWIFT, which Moscow says is affecting its export.&nbsp;

“The agreements say that SWIFT should be open to Rosselkhozbank, and not to its subsidiary. That is, we are talking about the need to return to the basics, to the agreements that were in place originally and which we were promised would be fulfilled,” said Peskov.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
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During the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the European Union reprimanded Russia, on Saturday (September 9) for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which provided a safe passage for Ukraine to export its grain and called its offer of a million tonnes of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”.

During the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the European Union reprimanded Russia, on Saturday (September 9) for pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which provided a safe passage for Ukraine to export its grain and called its offer of a million tonnes of grain to African countries a “parody of generosity”. Separately, Russia said it was sticking to its conditions to return to the grain deal which it quit back in July. ‘Parody of generosity’ During the talks in New Delhi, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that the United Nations-Turkey brokered deal, which allowed the delivery of Ukrainian grain to vulnerable countries was 30 times more in volume than what Russia has offered to Africa. “And what cynicism...you did not accept this,” Michel said in comments directed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who is representing Moscow at the summit. “Not only have you decided to pull out of this agreement on the Black Sea, but at the same time you are attacking the port infrastructure,” said the European Council president. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations “To add insult to injury, Russia is offering 1 million tons of grain to African countries in a parody of generosity,” said Michel, adding, “What cynicism and contempt for African countries.” Meanwhile, G20 leaders in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration called for the “full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilisers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine.” Adding that it is “necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa.” Russia rejects UN bank proposal Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on Saturday, said that Russia is sticking to its demands to rejoin the grain deal and rejected the UN’s proposal that a Luxembourg-based subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank could immediately apply to SWIFT to “effectively enable access” for the bank within 30 days. ALSO READ | Explained | Russia formally backs out of Black Sea grain deal. What happens now? “All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable,” said Peskov. “Therefore Russia maintains its responsible, clear and consistent position, which has been repeatedly voiced by the president,” he added. The statement comes months after Russia backed out of the Black Sea grain deal saying Western sanctions are hindering its grain and fertiliser exports. While the exports are not directly sanctioned by the West, it is sanctions against port access, insurance, logistics and payments, including the removal of agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank from SWIFT, which Moscow says is affecting its export. “The agreements say that SWIFT should be open to Rosselkhozbank, and not to its subsidiary. That is, we are talking about the need to return to the basics, to the agreements that were in place originally and which we were promised would be fulfilled,” said Peskov. (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.

‘Parody of generosity’: At G20 Summit, EU criticises Russia for pulling out of Black Sea grain deal

The G-20 leaders on Saturday decided on swift implementation of the reporting framework for crypto assets, saying a significant number of member nations want information exchange on such non-financial assets to start by 2027.

The Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) or template is being developed to make sure that such non-financial assets are not used by tax evaders to conceal their unaccounted wealth.

"We call for the swift implementation of the CryptoAsset Reporting Framework ("CARF") and amendments to the CRS. We ask the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes to identify an appropriate and coordinated timeline to commence exchanges by relevant jurisdictions," said the G20 Leaders' declaration, which was adopted by consensus.&nbsp;

The leaders of 20 developing and developed nations have reaffirmed the commitment to continue cooperation towards a globally fair, sustainable and modern international tax system appropriate to the needs of the 21st century.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ukraine-war-g20-leaders-call-for-upholding-territorial-integrity-sovereignty-634125">Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations</a>

"We remain committed to the swift implementation of the two-pillar international tax package. Significant progress has been made on Pillar One including the delivery of a text of a Multilateral Convention (MLC), and work on Amount B (framework for simplified and streamlined application of the arm's length principle to in-country baseline marketing and distribution activities) as well as the completion of the work on the development of the Subject to Tax Rule (STTR) under Pillar Two," the declaration said.

Briefing reporters after the summit, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 countries have made substantial progress on the two-pillar solution.

"Work has happened on exchange of information on immovable property transactions between countries. There is a launch of the pilot programme of the South Asia academy for tax and financial crime investigation in collaboration with the OECD," Ms Sitharaman said.

Under the global tax deal, about 140 countries, including India, have agreed to an overhaul of global tax norms to ensure that multinationals pay taxes wherever they operate and at a minimum of 15 per cent rate. However, some vexed issues still need to be ironed out before its implementation.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-pm-modi-holds-bilateral-talks-with-uk-pm-rishi-sunak-634224">G20 Summit: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with UK PM Rishi Sunak</a>

The G20 countries called on the OECD to develop an inclusive framework to swiftly resolve the few pending issues relating to the MLC (multilateral convention) with a view to preparing the MLC for signature in the second half of 2023 and completing the work on Amount B by the end of 2023.

"We welcome the steps taken by various countries to implement the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules as a common approach. We recognise the need for coordinated efforts towards capacity building to implement the two-pillar international tax package effectively and, in particular, welcome a plan for additional support and technical assistance for developing countries," the declaration said.

The G20 countries also took note of the OECD report on 'Enhancing International Tax Transparency on Real Estate' and the 'Global Forum Report on Facilitating the Use of Tax-Treaty-Exchanged Information for Non-Tax Purposes'.

The OECD has suggested automatic exchange with regard to information on real estate assets among countries and the setting up of digitalised ownership registers accessible to designated relevant government agencies on a real-time basis amid concerns over investments in foreign real estate being used to "shelter undeclared assets".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delhi-g20-modi-biden-mbs-launch-inter-continent-economic-corridor-to-outfox-chinas-bri-634176">G20 Delhi summit: Why India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is a 'real big deal'</a>

The report noted that there has been a significant increase in foreign-owned real estate assets over the past decade, and a lot of funds have been shifted from financial assets to buying foreign real assets.

The Global Forum report also called for countries to adopt a 'whole-of-government' approach to address the challenge of illicit financial flows through the sharing of information from tax authorities to non-tax agencies, like financial intelligence units, anti-corruption agencies, customs authorities and public prosecutors. 
 
India had been pressing for expanding the scope of common reporting standard (CRS) at the G20 to include non-financial assets like real estate properties, under the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) among OECD countries.&nbsp; 
 
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The G-20 leaders on Saturday decided on swift implementation of the reporting framework for crypto assets, saying a significant number of member nations want information exchange on such non-financial assets to start by 2027.

The G-20 leaders on Saturday decided on swift implementation of the reporting framework for crypto assets, saying a significant number of member nations want information exchange on such non-financial assets to start by 2027. The Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) or template is being developed to make sure that such non-financial assets are not used by tax evaders to conceal their unaccounted wealth. "We call for the swift implementation of the CryptoAsset Reporting Framework ("CARF") and amendments to the CRS. We ask the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes to identify an appropriate and coordinated timeline to commence exchanges by relevant jurisdictions," said the G20 Leaders' declaration, which was adopted by consensus. The leaders of 20 developing and developed nations have reaffirmed the commitment to continue cooperation towards a globally fair, sustainable and modern international tax system appropriate to the needs of the 21st century. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: G20 leaders call for upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty of nations "We remain committed to the swift implementation of the two-pillar international tax package. Significant progress has been made on Pillar One including the delivery of a text of a Multilateral Convention (MLC), and work on Amount B (framework for simplified and streamlined application of the arm's length principle to in-country baseline marketing and distribution activities) as well as the completion of the work on the development of the Subject to Tax Rule (STTR) under Pillar Two," the declaration said. Briefing reporters after the summit, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 countries have made substantial progress on the two-pillar solution. "Work has happened on exchange of information on immovable property transactions between countries. There is a launch of the pilot programme of the South Asia academy for tax and financial crime investigation in collaboration with the OECD," Ms Sitharaman said. Under the global tax deal, about 140 countries, including India, have agreed to an overhaul of global tax norms to ensure that multinationals pay taxes wherever they operate and at a minimum of 15 per cent rate. However, some vexed issues still need to be ironed out before its implementation. ALSO READ | G20 Summit: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with UK PM Rishi Sunak The G20 countries called on the OECD to develop an inclusive framework to swiftly resolve the few pending issues relating to the MLC (multilateral convention) with a view to preparing the MLC for signature in the second half of 2023 and completing the work on Amount B by the end of 2023. "We welcome the steps taken by various countries to implement the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules as a common approach. We recognise the need for coordinated efforts towards capacity building to implement the two-pillar international tax package effectively and, in particular, welcome a plan for additional support and technical assistance for developing countries," the declaration said. The G20 countries also took note of the OECD report on 'Enhancing International Tax Transparency on Real Estate' and the 'Global Forum Report on Facilitating the Use of Tax-Treaty-Exchanged Information for Non-Tax Purposes'. The OECD has suggested automatic exchange with regard to information on real estate assets among countries and the setting up of digitalised ownership registers accessible to designated relevant government agencies on a real-time basis amid concerns over investments in foreign real estate being used to "shelter undeclared assets". ALSO READ | G20 Delhi summit: Why India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor is a 'real big deal' The report noted that there has been a significant increase in foreign-owned real estate assets over the past decade, and a lot of funds have been shifted from financial assets to buying foreign real assets. The Global Forum report also called for countries to adopt a 'whole-of-government' approach to address the challenge of illicit financial flows through the sharing of information from tax authorities to non-tax agencies, like financial intelligence units, anti-corruption agencies, customs authorities and public prosecutors. India had been pressing for expanding the scope of common reporting standard (CRS) at the G20 to include non-financial assets like real estate properties, under the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) among OECD countries. 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.

G20 Summit: Leaders decide on swift implementation of crypto reporting framework

During the G20 leaders’ summit in India, US President Joe Biden will concentrate on reforming the World Bank and pressing other multilateral development banks to increase investment for infrastructure and climate change projects, the White House announced on Tuesday.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was quoted by reporters as saying, “That's one of our main focuses heading into the G20: delivering on an agenda fundamentally reshaping and scaling up the multilateral development banks, especially the World Bank.”

The World Bank, established as World War II came to an end in order to combat poverty, is now being promoted as a counterbalance to China’s international financing.&nbsp;

With new funding and balance sheet regulations, the bank’s lending authority has been strengthened, with new CEO Ajay Banga pushing for more funds towards alleviating hunger and climate change.

In a supplemental budget request submitted to Congress in late August, the White House requested an additional $3.3 billion to “materially expand development and infrastructure financing” through the World Bank in order to provide nations with a “credible alternative to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) coercive and unsustainable lending and infrastructure projects.”

“We know that these institutions are some of the most effective tools that we have for mobilising transparent, high-quality investment into developing countries,” Sullivan was quoted as saying.

“And that’s why the United States is championing a major effort that is currently underway to involve these institutions so that they are up to the challenges of today and tomorrow,” he added.

According to Sullivan, Biden will also urge the G20 nations to grant low- and middle-income countries real debt relief.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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During the G20 leaders’ summit in India, US President Joe Biden will concentrate on reforming the World Bank and pressing other multilateral development banks to increase investment for infrastructure and climate change projects, the White House announced on Tuesday.

During the G20 leaders’ summit in India, US President Joe Biden will concentrate on reforming the World Bank and pressing other multilateral development banks to increase investment for infrastructure and climate change projects, the White House announced on Tuesday. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was quoted by reporters as saying, “That's one of our main focuses heading into the G20: delivering on an agenda fundamentally reshaping and scaling up the multilateral development banks, especially the World Bank.” The World Bank, established as World War II came to an end in order to combat poverty, is now being promoted as a counterbalance to China’s international financing. With new funding and balance sheet regulations, the bank’s lending authority has been strengthened, with new CEO Ajay Banga pushing for more funds towards alleviating hunger and climate change. In a supplemental budget request submitted to Congress in late August, the White House requested an additional $3.3 billion to “materially expand development and infrastructure financing” through the World Bank in order to provide nations with a “credible alternative to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) coercive and unsustainable lending and infrastructure projects.” “We know that these institutions are some of the most effective tools that we have for mobilising transparent, high-quality investment into developing countries,” Sullivan was quoted as saying. “And that’s why the United States is championing a major effort that is currently underway to involve these institutions so that they are up to the challenges of today and tomorrow,” he added. According to Sullivan, Biden will also urge the G20 nations to grant low- and middle-income countries real debt relief. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Biden to push for World Bank reform at G20 Summit in New Delhi: Report

In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. As anticipation builds, the international community eagerly awaits confirmation from leaders, understanding that attendance dynamics are shaped by geopolitics and domestic priorities.

Delving into the annals of G20 Summit history reveals a remarkable consistency – since 2010, there hasn’t been a single instance where all member countries attended at the head of state/head of government (HOS/HOG) or leaders level. This pattern underscores the complexity of factors influencing leaders’ decisions to attend these pivotal gatherings.

The variability in attendance becomes even more striking when examining specific instances of countries being represented below the leadership level. On six occasions, a single leader from a country was absent (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), while on five occasions, two leaders chose not to attend (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-biden-xi-erdogan-among-25-world-leaders-to-be-present-at-delhi-high-table-630030">G20 Summit: Biden, Xi, Erdogan among 25+ world leaders to be present at Delhi high table</a>

The 2021 Rome Summit stands out as an anomaly, with a record-breaking six leaders skipping the G20 meeting. This occurred even as the world was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when leaders faced critical domestic challenges.&nbsp;

In contrast, the 2022 Bali Summit saw three leaders absent, overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict. Notably, this summit marked the first time the traditional “leaders’ family photo” was absent, as Western leaders hesitated to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Examining individual country data reveals a spectrum of commitment to G20 Summit attendance. Nations such as Canada, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the European Union have consistently upheld leadership-level attendance, underscoring their dedication to the global stage.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-will-not-attend-g20-in-india-but-set-to-visit-china-for-belt-and-road-forum-630307">Putin will not attend G20 in India but set to visit China for Belt and Road forum</a>

In contrast, some nations have experienced sporadic attendance. Mexico, for instance, has been represented by a minister since 2018 instead of its president.&nbsp;

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Russia each have had two instances of lower-level representation, while China, France, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa have experienced a single such occurrence. A notable exception is Saudi Arabia, which attended G20 summits below the leadership level on nine occasions, including one instance featuring a Minister of State without portfolio in 2017.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t attended a G20 summit in person since the 2019 Osaka summit. He was notably absent from the Italy (2021) and Indonesia (2022) summits and is set to skip the upcoming India (2023) summit. Just like last year, Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Lavrov this year.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-hope-xi-jinping-attends-g20-summit-says-biden-631067">&nbsp;I hope Xi Jinping attends G20 Summit in New Delhi, says Biden</a>

The G20 Summit, elevated to the leaders’ level in 2008, has continued to evolve as a pivotal diplomatic forum. With two summits held in 2009 and 2010, the rotation, after India extends to Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the United States in 2026.&nbsp;

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In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.

In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. As anticipation builds, the international community eagerly awaits confirmation from leaders, understanding that attendance dynamics are shaped by geopolitics and domestic priorities. Delving into the annals of G20 Summit history reveals a remarkable consistency – since 2010, there hasn’t been a single instance where all member countries attended at the head of state/head of government (HOS/HOG) or leaders level. This pattern underscores the complexity of factors influencing leaders’ decisions to attend these pivotal gatherings. The variability in attendance becomes even more striking when examining specific instances of countries being represented below the leadership level. On six occasions, a single leader from a country was absent (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), while on five occasions, two leaders chose not to attend (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019). ALSO READ | G20 Summit: Biden, Xi, Erdogan among 25+ world leaders to be present at Delhi high table The 2021 Rome Summit stands out as an anomaly, with a record-breaking six leaders skipping the G20 meeting. This occurred even as the world was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when leaders faced critical domestic challenges. In contrast, the 2022 Bali Summit saw three leaders absent, overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict. Notably, this summit marked the first time the traditional “leaders’ family photo” was absent, as Western leaders hesitated to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Examining individual country data reveals a spectrum of commitment to G20 Summit attendance. Nations such as Canada, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the European Union have consistently upheld leadership-level attendance, underscoring their dedication to the global stage. ALSO READ | Putin will not attend G20 in India but set to visit China for Belt and Road forum In contrast, some nations have experienced sporadic attendance. Mexico, for instance, has been represented by a minister since 2018 instead of its president. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Russia each have had two instances of lower-level representation, while China, France, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa have experienced a single such occurrence. A notable exception is Saudi Arabia, which attended G20 summits below the leadership level on nine occasions, including one instance featuring a Minister of State without portfolio in 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t attended a G20 summit in person since the 2019 Osaka summit. He was notably absent from the Italy (2021) and Indonesia (2022) summits and is set to skip the upcoming India (2023) summit. Just like last year, Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Lavrov this year. ALSO READ | I hope Xi Jinping attends G20 Summit in New Delhi, says Biden The G20 Summit, elevated to the leaders’ level in 2008, has continued to evolve as a pivotal diplomatic forum. With two summits held in 2009 and 2010, the rotation, after India extends to Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the United States in 2026. 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.

G20 summit in Delhi: Trends show gaps in leaders’ attendance each year

Days after releasing a contentious map showing India's Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of its sovereign territory, China has justified the move by saying India should refrain from 'over-interpreting' the exercise.

Days after releasing a contentious map showing India's Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of its sovereign territory, China has justified the move by saying India should refrain from 'over-interpreting' the exercise. “On August 28, the ministry of natural resources of China released the 2023 edition of the standard map. It is a routine practice in China’s exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law. We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue,” Wang Wenbin, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying when asked about India’s protest. Notably, New Delhi outrightly rejected the map, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishnkar pointing out that it wasn't the first time China had come out with a similar move. "It's an old habit of theirs. These (territories) are very much part of India. This government is very clear what our territories are. Making absurd claims doesn't make others territories yours," the minister was quoted as saying by NDTV. The release of the map came a few days after PM Modi's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Johannesburg during the BRICS summit. With Xi expected to visit India for the G20 summit next week, the release of the map is expected to increase tension between the two parties. Watch | New China map show whole of Arunachal Pradesh as part of China China releases map Over the weekend, Beijing released its official 'standard map' wherein apart from Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, it showed Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea as part of the Chinese territory. The Chinese government's mouthpiece Global Times took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share the 'distorted' map, claiming it has been "compiled based on the drawing method of the national boundaries of China and various countries in the world." "The 2023 edition of China's standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources," read the post. Also read | Explained: China releases distorted 'standard' map. What exactly is the controversy? Beijing considers Arunachal Pradesh a part of its sovereign borders and calls the state “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet". It disputes the legality of the McMahon Line which was agreed upon at the Simla Convention of 1914 between Tibet and British India. Meanwhile, the dispute of Aksai Chin can be traced back to the British imperialists who failed to clearly demarcate the border between India and China. Currently, the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where the two countries have been locked in a tussle for over two years now, separates Indian areas of Jammu & Kashmir from Aksai Chin. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China asks India to not 'over-interpret' latest 'distorted' map release

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world.

Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420.&nbsp;

The number 420 is a Section that specifies criminal penalties for acts of cheating in the Indian Penal Code, the official criminal code of the world's largest democracy, created by the British imperialists in 1860.&nbsp;

Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code could become Section 316 of proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new lawbook that could come to define the criminal code in the world's largest democracy.

Section 420; 355 other provisions as well as the Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act are set to be a matter of past.

The objective of what could soon be India's erstwhile justice system codes, was to "punish, not deliver justice", Amit Shah, the Minister for Home Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet said while introducing the three bills in parliament that will replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act.&nbsp;

My colleague C. Krishnasai details in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explained-indian-govt-proposes-revamp-of-colonial-era-laws-heres-what-will-change-624710">this explainer</a> what all will change once these proposed changes are enacted as laws by the Indian parliament.

Read more, in The Capitals this week.&nbsp;

<h2>Quito, Ecuador</h2>

In Ecuador, sandwiched between Colombia and Peru on South American continent, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was slayed by an assailant in broad daylight ahead of elections on August 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The killing of Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and drug crime that have beset Ecuador, reflected a crisis-ridden&nbsp;security situation in much of South America.&nbsp;

Villavicencio had claimed to have received multiple death threats from Mexico-based&nbsp;Sinaloa Cartel, an organised crime group that operates in Ecuador.

<h2>Washington DC, United States of America</h2>

From Washington this week came a remarkable assertion of security guarantee to Philippines, if the islands located more than 4,000 miles away across the Pacific is faced by an armed aggression from Beijing.

While all eyes have been on Taipei for its central role in the US-China confrontation for&nbsp;semiconductor dominance, Manila, albeit unthinkably, could very well emerge as Beijing-Washington flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific.

The US State Department condemned China's aggression against the Philippines in what Beijing calls&nbsp;South China Sea but Manila asserts as West Philippine Sea.

"The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the US statement warned China.

<h2>Wellington, New Zealand</h2>

For decades, Wellington was known for its "independent foreign policy", a foreign policy preposition popularised by New Delhi during the decades after cessation of Cold War. This week, a significant shift was marked in Wellington's defence posturing.

The country&nbsp;released a roadmap for the future of defence and national security this week.&nbsp;

The new doctrines mark a major shift in New Zealand's foreign policy and suggest the government's intent to join AUKUS, an Anglophone tripartite alliance between Australia, the US and the UK.

New Zealand is going to embrace "Pillar Two" of the AUKUS pact: "AUKUS Pillar Two may present an opportunity for New Zealand to cooperate with close security partners on emerging technologies," the government document reads. 
 
That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

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Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world. Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals all over the world. Within and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi, the capital of the world's largest democracy, often, the dishonest characterisation of an individual has a number: 420. The number 420 is a Section that specifies criminal penalties for acts of cheating in the Indian Penal Code, the official criminal code of the world's largest democracy, created by the British imperialists in 1860. Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code could become Section 316 of proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the new lawbook that could come to define the criminal code in the world's largest democracy. Section 420; 355 other provisions as well as the Criminal Procedure Code and Indian Evidence Act are set to be a matter of past. The objective of what could soon be India's erstwhile justice system codes, was to "punish, not deliver justice", Amit Shah, the Minister for Home Affairs in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet said while introducing the three bills in parliament that will replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act. My colleague C. Krishnasai details in this explainer what all will change once these proposed changes are enacted as laws by the Indian parliament. Read more, in The Capitals this week. Quito, Ecuador In Ecuador, sandwiched between Colombia and Peru on South American continent, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was slayed by an assailant in broad daylight ahead of elections on August 20. The killing of Villavicencio, a vocal critic of corruption and drug crime that have beset Ecuador, reflected a crisis-ridden security situation in much of South America. Villavicencio had claimed to have received multiple death threats from Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel, an organised crime group that operates in Ecuador. Washington DC, United States of America From Washington this week came a remarkable assertion of security guarantee to Philippines, if the islands located more than 4,000 miles away across the Pacific is faced by an armed aggression from Beijing. While all eyes have been on Taipei for its central role in the US-China confrontation for semiconductor dominance, Manila, albeit unthinkably, could very well emerge as Beijing-Washington flashpoint in the Indo-Pacific. The US State Department condemned China's aggression against the Philippines in what Beijing calls South China Sea but Manila asserts as West Philippine Sea. "The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the US statement warned China. Wellington, New Zealand For decades, Wellington was known for its "independent foreign policy", a foreign policy preposition popularised by New Delhi during the decades after cessation of Cold War. This week, a significant shift was marked in Wellington's defence posturing. The country released a roadmap for the future of defence and national security this week. The new doctrines mark a major shift in New Zealand's foreign policy and suggest the government's intent to join AUKUS, an Anglophone tripartite alliance between Australia, the US and the UK. New Zealand is going to embrace "Pillar Two" of the AUKUS pact: "AUKUS Pillar Two may present an opportunity for New Zealand to cooperate with close security partners on emerging technologies," the government document reads. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. 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.

The Capitals: New Delhi's bid to truly own its books of law

A couple of days after India blocked Chinese automaker BYD's $1 billion bid to set up an electric vehicle (EV) factory in the country, Beijing's top diplomat has urged New Delhi to rethink the decision, adding that the two countries were not 'threats' to each other.

A couple of days after India blocked Chinese automaker BYD's $1 billion bid to set up an electric vehicle (EV) factory in the country, Beijing's top diplomat has urged New Delhi to rethink the decision, adding that the two countries were not 'threats' to each other. Wang Yi, whose position within the Communist party ranks above that of a foreign minister, met India's National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and called for policies to “enhance strategic mutual trust” and “focus on consensus and cooperation”, according to a readout released by the Chinese foreign ministry. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a gathering of BRICS members in Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday (July 24). BRICS is a grouping of emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "Whether China and India support or exhaust each other will directly affect the two countries' respective development processes and the global landscape," Wang reportedly told Doval, according to Chinese mouthpiece Global Times. Watch | India's EV market races to catch up | India's EV infrastructure: Roadblock for buyers × The top diplomat added that Beijing was not looking to follow the old world order of 'seeking hegemony'. "China will never tread the old path of seeking hegemony taken by some countries. It is willing to work together with a vast number of developing countries, including India, to support multilateralism and democratisation of international relations," Wang emphasised. "Wang Yi said that China and India should adhere to the strategic judgment that the two countries are not threats to each other but opportunities for each other's development," the publication noted. The Chinese leader added that both countries should put "relations back onto a track of healthy and stable development at an early date". What happened with BYD? Notably, last week, India rejected the Chinese EV giant's proposal to build EVs as well as electric batteries in the lucrative Indian market, in partnership with an Indian company Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd., citing 'security concerns'. “Security concerns with respect to Chinese investments in India were flagged during the deliberations,” an Indian official was quoted as saying by Economic Times. Another official cited ‘existing guidelines’ to claim that such Chinese investments were not possible. Also read | India trashes Chinese EV maker BYD’s proposal to set up $1 billion plant Currently, BYD has plans to sell at least 15,000 units if EVs in the Indian market in 2023. Despite the rejection, the company plans to expand its distribution network in India and upgrade manufacturing capacity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We are not threats...': After India dumps BYD’s factory plans, Beijing urges New Delhi to rethink

In a shocking revelation, the prosecution for the New Year's Day hit-and-run case in Delhi told the court that the four accused had agreed to drag the victim under their car where she was stuck. The 20-year-old woman was dragged to death. The prosecution called it a "horrific incident". The court heard the arguments on the framing of charges.

Additional Sessions Judge Neeraj Gaur on Monday (July 17) reserved the order on framing of charges against Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj Mittal and Mithun, all of the&nbsp;accused&nbsp;who were sitting in the car.

The Delhi Police has&nbsp;levelled charges under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) against the four accused.

Chargesheet was also filed by the police against three others - Ashutosh Bhardwaj, Ankush and Deepak Khanna. The chargesheet was filed under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), 212 (harbouring offender) and 182 (false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person) of the IPC.

The court on Monday noted that the arguments on framing of charges were complete. The court posted the matter for pronouncing its order on framing of charges against the seven accused for July 27.&nbsp;

Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said the four accused (in the car) had "agreed upon to do such an act to drag the victim, who was stuck beneath the car, and dragged the vehicle for 13 km, which caused the victim's death".

"For such an act, they are liable to be tried under IPC Sections 302 and 120B," he added.

Shrivastava underlined that the "horrific incident" was probed from multiple perspectives.

JP Singh, the lawyer&nbsp;for the four accused, however, sought the discharge of his clients on various grounds.

"Because there is no evidence or witness that shows that there was any knowledge with the accused persons with regard to the fact that the deceased was under the driving vehicle except the disclosure statement of the accused persons, there is no CCTV footage that shows that the accused looked under the vehicle, the screenshot which the prosecution has placed on record does not have the details...," he said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-issues-takedown-notices-to-15-websites-for-selling-e-cigarettes-617015">India issues takedown notices to 15 websites for selling e-cigarettes&nbsp;</a>

Police arrested Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal in the case on January 2.

Co-accused Ashutosh Bhardwaj and Ankush were subsequently given bail by a metropolitan magistrate's court.

The Delhi Police filed an 800-page chargesheet against the seven accused on April 1 and the case was subsequently committed to a sessions court.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In a shocking revelation, the prosecution for the New Year's Day hit-and-run case in Delhi told the court that the four accused had agreed to drag the victim under their car where she was stuck.

In a shocking revelation, the prosecution for the New Year's Day hit-and-run case in Delhi told the court that the four accused had agreed to drag the victim under their car where she was stuck. The 20-year-old woman was dragged to death. The prosecution called it a "horrific incident". The court heard the arguments on the framing of charges. Additional Sessions Judge Neeraj Gaur on Monday (July 17) reserved the order on framing of charges against Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj Mittal and Mithun, all of the accused who were sitting in the car. The Delhi Police has levelled charges under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) against the four accused. Chargesheet was also filed by the police against three others - Ashutosh Bhardwaj, Ankush and Deepak Khanna. The chargesheet was filed under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender), 212 (harbouring offender) and 182 (false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person) of the IPC. The court on Monday noted that the arguments on framing of charges were complete. The court posted the matter for pronouncing its order on framing of charges against the seven accused for July 27. Special Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava said the four accused (in the car) had "agreed upon to do such an act to drag the victim, who was stuck beneath the car, and dragged the vehicle for 13 km, which caused the victim's death". "For such an act, they are liable to be tried under IPC Sections 302 and 120B," he added. Shrivastava underlined that the "horrific incident" was probed from multiple perspectives. JP Singh, the lawyer for the four accused, however, sought the discharge of his clients on various grounds. "Because there is no evidence or witness that shows that there was any knowledge with the accused persons with regard to the fact that the deceased was under the driving vehicle except the disclosure statement of the accused persons, there is no CCTV footage that shows that the accused looked under the vehicle, the screenshot which the prosecution has placed on record does not have the details...," he said. Also Read | India issues takedown notices to 15 websites for selling e-cigarettes Police arrested Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal in the case on January 2. Co-accused Ashutosh Bhardwaj and Ankush were subsequently given bail by a metropolitan magistrate's court. The Delhi Police filed an 800-page chargesheet against the seven accused on April 1 and the case was subsequently committed to a sessions court. (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. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Delhi hit-and-run: Accused 'agreed' among themselves to drag girl under car for 13 km

Three children drowned while swimming through the flood waters in India’s capital New Delhi on Friday.

The kids, aged between 10 and 13, had jumped into a ditch filled with water in Northeast Delhi's Mukundpur area for a bath around 3 pm. They were identified as Piyush (13), Nikhil (10), and Ashish (13)— all residents of H-block, Jahangirpuri, police said.

A police constable spotted them and immediately jumped into the water to save them. However, despite his efforts, the children died.

According to fire officials, a fire tender was rushed to the spot after information about the incident was received at 2:25 pm.

Notably, these are the first deaths to be reported in the Delhi floods.

<h2>More rains expected</h2>

Meanwhile, the Met officials have issued a 'yellow' alert for July 15, saying that the city would likely witness another heavy spell of rain which may aggravate the flood situation.

On Friday morning, the regional met tweeted, "Light intensity rain/drizzle would occur over and adjoining areas of Delhi (Jafarpur, Nazafgarh, Dwarka, Palam, IGI Airport, Ayanagar, Deramandi), NCR (Gurugram) Gohana, Sonipat (Haryana) Moradabad, Bahajoi, Sahaswan, Etah, Tundla, Firozabad, Shikohabad (UP) during next two hours."

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena inspected ITO, one of the busiest traffic areas in Delhi that have been shut as floodwaters from Yamuna river flowed into central Delhi after a drain regulator broke down.

Five of the 32 gates of the ITO barrage through which water flows into the Yamuna are shut, causing slow drainage from flooded areas.

Army and disaster response force personnel, along with the Delhi administration, have been trying to unclog the five gates without success so far.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/yamuna-flood-water-reaches-indias-supreme-court-despite-receding-water-level-615363">Yamuna flood water reaches India's Supreme Court; water receding slowly</a>

<h2>Water receding in Yamuna</h2>

In the latest update, the Central Water Commission said that the water level in Yamuna has receded and now it down to 208.17 metres at 6 pm (local time) on Friday. At 12 pm, the water level was at around 208.32 metres.

Also read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/extreme-flood-alert-in-indian-capital-as-river-yamuna-breaches-critical-20846-million-mark-614927">Water level stable in Delhi's Yamuna river for past 3 hours after constant rise; schools, colleges shut</a>

Anticipating rains that could increase the water level of Yamuna river, the Delhi officials evacuated as many as 23,692 people from the adjacent areas, ANI news agency reported quoting a Delhi government official.

The Delhi government said that 21,092 people are currently residing in tents and shelters.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Three children drowned while swimming through the flood waters in India’s capital New Delhi on Friday. The kids, aged between 10 and 13, had jumped into a ditch filled with water in Northeast Delhi's Mukundpur area for a bath around 3 pm.

Three children drowned while swimming through the flood waters in India’s capital New Delhi on Friday. The kids, aged between 10 and 13, had jumped into a ditch filled with water in Northeast Delhi's Mukundpur area for a bath around 3 pm. They were identified as Piyush (13), Nikhil (10), and Ashish (13)— all residents of H-block, Jahangirpuri, police said. A police constable spotted them and immediately jumped into the water to save them. However, despite his efforts, the children died. According to fire officials, a fire tender was rushed to the spot after information about the incident was received at 2:25 pm. Notably, these are the first deaths to be reported in the Delhi floods. More rains expected Meanwhile, the Met officials have issued a 'yellow' alert for July 15, saying that the city would likely witness another heavy spell of rain which may aggravate the flood situation. On Friday morning, the regional met tweeted, "Light intensity rain/drizzle would occur over and adjoining areas of Delhi (Jafarpur, Nazafgarh, Dwarka, Palam, IGI Airport, Ayanagar, Deramandi), NCR (Gurugram) Gohana, Sonipat (Haryana) Moradabad, Bahajoi, Sahaswan, Etah, Tundla, Firozabad, Shikohabad (UP) during next two hours." Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena inspected ITO, one of the busiest traffic areas in Delhi that have been shut as floodwaters from Yamuna river flowed into central Delhi after a drain regulator broke down. Five of the 32 gates of the ITO barrage through which water flows into the Yamuna are shut, causing slow drainage from flooded areas. Army and disaster response force personnel, along with the Delhi administration, have been trying to unclog the five gates without success so far. Also read | Yamuna flood water reaches India's Supreme Court; water receding slowly Water receding in Yamuna In the latest update, the Central Water Commission said that the water level in Yamuna has receded and now it down to 208.17 metres at 6 pm (local time) on Friday. At 12 pm, the water level was at around 208.32 metres. Also read | Water level stable in Delhi's Yamuna river for past 3 hours after constant rise; schools, colleges shut Anticipating rains that could increase the water level of Yamuna river, the Delhi officials evacuated as many as 23,692 people from the adjacent areas, ANI news agency reported quoting a Delhi government official. The Delhi government said that 21,092 people are currently residing in tents and shelters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Three kids drown while swimming in New Delhi flood waters

The water level of river Yamuna in India's national capital New Delhi has been stable&nbsp;for the last three hours after it rose continuously for the past four days. At 1 pm and 2 pm local time on Thursday, the water level stood at 208.62 metres.

Earlier, India's Central Water Commission estimated that the level of River Yamuna can reach up to 208.75 metres&nbsp;between 3-5 pm on Thursday in the national capital New Delhi. At 7 am on Thursday, the river swelled up to 208.46 metres as an 'extreme flood alert' was issued in the capital city and flood water entered Delhi's ITO area.&nbsp;

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Central government to intervene and ensure that the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage of Haryana is slowed which is leading to the Yamuna flooding.

Meanwhile, thousands of people who were staying in low-lying areas of the capital were shifted to safe places as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;

<h2>Yamuna water level crosses danger mark&nbsp;</h2>

After the capital city received heavy rain for several consecutive days, Yamuna's water level breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres. Since then, the water level has risen rapidly. However, as the intensity of the rain gradually weakened, Kejriwal on Monday&nbsp;stated that the city was facing no immediate flood threat.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yamuna?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yamuna</a> flood update 
 
Yamuna water level may touch 208.75 meters between 3-5pm on Thursday, according to latest Central Water Commission forecast 
 
At 7am it was flowing at 208.46 meter 
 
Extreme flood alert has been issued<a href="https://twitter.com/htTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@htTweets</a> <a href="https://t.co/k805pvZXjX">pic.twitter.com/k805pvZXjX</a>
— Alok K N Mishra HT (@AlokKNMishra) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlokKNMishra/status/1679315296455372800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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But by 1 pm on Wednesday, the water level breached and reached an all-time high of 207.49 metres and the level went beyond the 208-metre mark on Thursday morning.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/water-level-in-yamuna-breaks-45-year-record-reaches-its-highest-ever-mark-poses-threat-of-floods-in-delhi-614713">Flood alert in India's capital Delhi as water level in Yamuna river breaks 45-year record</a>

The primary reason for the Yamuna flooding is believed to be the extreme rainfall that the capital received in a very short span of time. The Central Water Commission's official said that water which was released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana reached Delhi in less time, in comparison to other occasions. This could have happened because of siltation and encroachment. Experts stated that the water passes through a constricted space which may have led to an increase in the speed of the water. The experts stated that if the city had received the same amount of rainfall over an expanse of a few days, it would not have led to such extreme situations.&nbsp;

<h2>Various areas affected by flooding</h2>

All the low-lying areas near Yamuna were affected as the flood water of the river entered the ring road on Wednesday. The river water had flooded Boat Club, Monastery Market, Neeli Chhatri Temple, Yamuna Bazar, Neem Karoli Gaushala, Vishwakarma colony, and the stretch between Majnu ka Tila and Wazirabad till Wednesday evening.

Parts of Mayur Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, Badarpur, Jamia Nagar, and Shaheen Bagh also stand at the risk of facing a flood-like situation if the water level continues to rise. Kashmiri Gate and ITO were also flooded because of the rise in the water level of Yamuna.&nbsp;

The Garhi Mandu village, which is located near Signature Bridge in Wazirabad, was also submerged by the flood water.

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VIDEO | Water from overflowing Yamuna inundates Nigam Bodh Ghat road in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/4uKFqTCVR3">pic.twitter.com/4uKFqTCVR3</a>
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An advisory was issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday for some of the cremation grounds which are located near the Yamuna river considering the rising water level after incessant rainfall.

WATCH |&nbsp;Delhi rains: Who is responsible for people's suffering? 5 shocking videos of the tragedy

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MCD said that the Nigam Bodh Ghat is also at risk of flooding. The water&nbsp;can&nbsp;enter&nbsp;its campus and&nbsp;disrupt cremation activities, the MCD said and&nbsp;appealed to people&nbsp;not to use the cremation ground. The civic body has asked people to go to nearby cremation grounds instead.

“There is a possibility of water entering into the Nigam Bodh Ghat hampering the cremation-related activities. Therefore, the general public is advised to take the dead bodies of their near and dear to the nearby cremation grounds i.e. Panchkuyian Road, Sat Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, Green Park, Dakshinpuri or preferably near their colony,” MCD stated.

<h2>Yamuna Bank Metro closed, water treatment plants shut&nbsp;</h2>

Informing the people about the latest developments, Delhi CM Kejriwal tweeted, "Due to rising water level in Yamuna, Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants have been closed. Due to this, there will be water problem&nbsp;in some areas of Delhi. As soon as the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to resume them as soon as possible."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the entry and exit of passengers at the Yamuna Bank Metro Station was temporarily closed because of the rising water levels of the Yamuna river.

"Entry and exit at Yamuna Bank Metro Station has been temporarily closed due to the rising water levels of the Yamuna River. However, interchange facility is still available and services on Blue Line are running normally. Kindly plan your journey accordingly," tweeted the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). It added that approach road leading to the Yamuna Bank station is also currently inaccessible.

"Due to the escalating water levels of the Yamuna River, the approach road leading to Yamuna Bank Metro Station is currently inaccessible. Kindly plan your journey accordingly and consider alternate routes. However, interchange facility is available," the DMRC stated in another tweet.

Speaking about the measures taken by the government so far, Delhi CM Kejriwal said.

<h2>Schools, colleges shut</h2>

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority, DDMA, has decided to shut down all schools, colleges and universities in in the national capital till July 16 in the wake of floods. The offices functioning in Delhi have been advised to function from home.&nbsp;

Except all government offices providing essential services, all other government offices will run on work from home till Sunday and private offices are also advised to work-from-home till Sunday, DDMA's order stated.&nbsp;

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The water level of river Yamuna in India's national capital New Delhi has been stable for the last three hours after it rose continuously for the past four days.

The water level of river Yamuna in India's national capital New Delhi has been stable for the last three hours after it rose continuously for the past four days. At 1 pm and 2 pm local time on Thursday, the water level stood at 208.62 metres. Earlier, India's Central Water Commission estimated that the level of River Yamuna can reach up to 208.75 metres between 3-5 pm on Thursday in the national capital New Delhi. At 7 am on Thursday, the river swelled up to 208.46 metres as an 'extreme flood alert' was issued in the capital city and flood water entered Delhi's ITO area. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Central government to intervene and ensure that the release of water from the Hathnikund barrage of Haryana is slowed which is leading to the Yamuna flooding. Meanwhile, thousands of people who were staying in low-lying areas of the capital were shifted to safe places as a precautionary measure. Yamuna water level crosses danger mark After the capital city received heavy rain for several consecutive days, Yamuna's water level breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres. Since then, the water level has risen rapidly. However, as the intensity of the rain gradually weakened, Kejriwal on Monday stated that the city was facing no immediate flood threat. #Yamuna flood update Yamuna water level may touch 208.75 meters between 3-5pm on Thursday, according to latest Central Water Commission forecast At 7am it was flowing at 208.46 meter Extreme flood alert has been issued@htTweets pic.twitter.com/k805pvZXjX — Alok K N Mishra HT (@AlokKNMishra) July 13, 2023 × But by 1 pm on Wednesday, the water level breached and reached an all-time high of 207.49 metres and the level went beyond the 208-metre mark on Thursday morning. ALSO READ | Flood alert in India's capital Delhi as water level in Yamuna river breaks 45-year record The primary reason for the Yamuna flooding is believed to be the extreme rainfall that the capital received in a very short span of time. The Central Water Commission's official said that water which was released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana reached Delhi in less time, in comparison to other occasions. This could have happened because of siltation and encroachment. Experts stated that the water passes through a constricted space which may have led to an increase in the speed of the water. The experts stated that if the city had received the same amount of rainfall over an expanse of a few days, it would not have led to such extreme situations. Various areas affected by flooding All the low-lying areas near Yamuna were affected as the flood water of the river entered the ring road on Wednesday. The river water had flooded Boat Club, Monastery Market, Neeli Chhatri Temple, Yamuna Bazar, Neem Karoli Gaushala, Vishwakarma colony, and the stretch between Majnu ka Tila and Wazirabad till Wednesday evening. Parts of Mayur Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, Badarpur, Jamia Nagar, and Shaheen Bagh also stand at the risk of facing a flood-like situation if the water level continues to rise. Kashmiri Gate and ITO were also flooded because of the rise in the water level of Yamuna. The Garhi Mandu village, which is located near Signature Bridge in Wazirabad, was also submerged by the flood water. VIDEO | Water from overflowing Yamuna inundates Nigam Bodh Ghat road in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/4uKFqTCVR3 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 13, 2023 × An advisory was issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday for some of the cremation grounds which are located near the Yamuna river considering the rising water level after incessant rainfall. WATCH | Delhi rains: Who is responsible for people's suffering? 5 shocking videos of the tragedy MCD said that the Nigam Bodh Ghat is also at risk of flooding. The water can enter its campus and disrupt cremation activities, the MCD said and appealed to people not to use the cremation ground. The civic body has asked people to go to nearby cremation grounds instead. “There is a possibility of water entering into the Nigam Bodh Ghat hampering the cremation-related activities. Therefore, the general public is advised to take the dead bodies of their near and dear to the nearby cremation grounds i.e. Panchkuyian Road, Sat Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, Green Park, Dakshinpuri or preferably near their colony,” MCD stated. Yamuna Bank Metro closed, water treatment plants shut Informing the people about the latest developments, Delhi CM Kejriwal tweeted, "Due to rising water level in Yamuna, Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants have been closed. Due to this, there will be water problem in some areas of Delhi. As soon as the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to resume them as soon as possible." Meanwhile, the entry and exit of passengers at the Yamuna Bank Metro Station was temporarily closed because of the rising water levels of the Yamuna river. "Entry and exit at Yamuna Bank Metro Station has been temporarily closed due to the rising water levels of the Yamuna River. However, interchange facility is still available and services on Blue Line are running normally. Kindly plan your journey accordingly," tweeted the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). It added that approach road leading to the Yamuna Bank station is also currently inaccessible. "Due to the escalating water levels of the Yamuna River, the approach road leading to Yamuna Bank Metro Station is currently inaccessible. Kindly plan your journey accordingly and consider alternate routes. However, interchange facility is available," the DMRC stated in another tweet. Speaking about the measures taken by the government so far, Delhi CM Kejriwal said. Schools, colleges shut The Delhi Disaster Management Authority, DDMA, has decided to shut down all schools, colleges and universities in in the national capital till July 16 in the wake of floods. The offices functioning in Delhi have been advised to function from home. Except all government offices providing essential services, all other government offices will run on work from home till Sunday and private offices are also advised to work-from-home till Sunday, DDMA's order stated. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Water level stable in Delhi's Yamuna river for past 3 hours after constant rise; schools, colleges shut

Delhi received the highest rainfall in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, with 153 mm of downpour recorded.&nbsp;Heavy to extremely heavy rain has been predicted by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD)&nbsp;for Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Delhi Minister Atishi, while carrying out an inspection of various&nbsp;areas in the city after the rainfall, said, "Yesterday, it rained 20 per cent of what it rains in two months in Delhi. The record of 40 years was surpassed. The drainage system in the city is according to rainfall patterns of previous years. So, we are preparing to enhance our capacity."

The Sunday off of all government employees was cancelled by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, as they were instructed to remain on the ground and inspect the problem. The mayors and ministers were asked to carry out an inspection of their respective areas.

In a tweet,&nbsp;Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, said,&nbsp;"15% of the total monsoon season's rainfall occurred within just 12 hours. People faced a lot of trouble due to waterlogging. Today, all the ministers and the mayor of Delhi will inspect the problem areas. Instructions have been given to the officials of all departments to cancel their Sunday holiday and be present on the ground."

<h2>Rainfall record on Saturday</h2>

On Saturday, the residential and commercial areas of Delhi were left in mayhem&nbsp;after heavy monsoon rains lashed India's national capital leading to overflowing drains, inundated roads, paralysed traffic and massive waterlogging. 
 
The primary weather station of the capital city, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a 126.1 mm downpour between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. 
 
As per Delhi government officials, more than 100 mm of rainfall was received by the city in a single day which amounted to 15 per cent of the total rainfall that the city gets in every monsoon season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-road-caves-in-during-mumbai-rains-taking-down-vehicles-with-it-612186">Road caves in during Mumbai rains, several vehicles stuck after falling in pit</a>

The officials stated that so much amount of water cannot be drained while the rain is still going on, adding that water will clear rapidly&nbsp;once the rain stops. As the rain continued in the morning, water gushed into the storerooms of the most famous shopping destination of the national capital, Connaught Place, and the Minto Bridge underpass was closed to traffic because of waterlogging.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Moderate to heavy rain to continue in Delhi today 
 
Delhi's Safdarjung observatory recorded 153mm of rain at 0830 hours today, the highest since 25th July 1982: India Meteorological Department <a href="https://t.co/Mz9kIB8geX">pic.twitter.com/Mz9kIB8geX</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1677890032747814913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Pedestrians and motorists faced a hard time navigating through waterlogged roads, footpaths and flyovers, while traders tried to stop the rainwater from flooding their shops in several areas.

<h2>Yellow alert in national capital</h2>

This was the first heavy rainfall that the city received in this&nbsp;season of monsoon. On Saturday, an "orange" alert was sounded and a "yellow" alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday.

"Yesterday's intensity of rain will continue in the mountains. The intensity will lower in the plains, still, there are predictions of rainfall. Delhi-NCR is likely to receive heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, however for the next four to five days it will rain but the intensity will remain low. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours," said&nbsp;Charan Singh, Head Regional Meteorological Centre, Delhi. 
 
It stated that 56 calls were made to the traffic department to complain about waterlogging, six calls regarding fallen trees and five others were related to potholes.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Severe waterlogging near Gurugram's Sector-51 due to heavy rainfall in the city. <a href="https://t.co/IbpTl9KveV">pic.twitter.com/IbpTl9KveV</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1677893762507505665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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People also reported heavy waterlogging in the Tilak Bridge underpass. The traffic police confirmed that there was waterlogging in the Pandav Nagar underpass, Purana Quila Road, Dwarka Link Road, NH-48 near Shiv Murti, Rohtak Road, Vikas Marg, under the AIIMS flyover, under the Moolchand flyover, Mother Teresa Crescent-Sardar Patel Marg and under Tilak Bridge among other places. 
 
A trader at Connaught Place, Amit Gupta, said that every year the tall claims of Delhi being a smart city are exposed in monsoon when shops are flooded and losses are faced by the traders.

WATCH |&nbsp;Spanish city of Zaragoza submerged by heavy rainfall &amp; flash floods

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New Delhi Traders' Association president Atul Bhargava said, "This was the first spell of heavy rain and many shopkeepers are trying to save their goods. The same scene was witnessed during monsoon before the COVID-19 pandemic.” 
 
Talking to Twitter, the Delhi Traffic Police informed, "Traffic is affected on Aurobindo Marg in the carriageway from IIT towards PTS Malviya Nagar and vice-versa due to waterlogging. Kindly avoid the stretch. Traffic is affected on Rohtak road in the carriageway from Tikri Border towards Mundka due to waterlogging. Traffic is affected on Ring road in the carriageway from Rajouri Garden towards Punjabi Bagh due to waterlogging near Bharat Darshan park.”&nbsp;

<h2>Northern India submerges in monsoon mayhem</h2>

The IMD stated that&nbsp;a western disturbance is prevailing over northern India which has resulted in an intense spell of rain. Waterlogging resulted in&nbsp;traffic jams in various parts of the national capital.

From the last 48 hours, the monsoon rains&nbsp; have resulted in the death&nbsp;at least 12 people in various cities and towns of northern India. India's weather department, the&nbsp;India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains in the upcoming days.

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Delhi received the highest rainfall in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, with 153 mm of downpour recorded. Heavy to extremely heavy rain has been predicted by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) for Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

Delhi received the highest rainfall in a single day in July since 1982 in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, with 153 mm of downpour recorded. Heavy to extremely heavy rain has been predicted by the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) for Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. Delhi Minister Atishi, while carrying out an inspection of various areas in the city after the rainfall, said, "Yesterday, it rained 20 per cent of what it rains in two months in Delhi. The record of 40 years was surpassed. The drainage system in the city is according to rainfall patterns of previous years. So, we are preparing to enhance our capacity." The Sunday off of all government employees was cancelled by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, as they were instructed to remain on the ground and inspect the problem. The mayors and ministers were asked to carry out an inspection of their respective areas. In a tweet, Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, said, "15% of the total monsoon season's rainfall occurred within just 12 hours. People faced a lot of trouble due to waterlogging. Today, all the ministers and the mayor of Delhi will inspect the problem areas. Instructions have been given to the officials of all departments to cancel their Sunday holiday and be present on the ground." Rainfall record on Saturday On Saturday, the residential and commercial areas of Delhi were left in mayhem after heavy monsoon rains lashed India's national capital leading to overflowing drains, inundated roads, paralysed traffic and massive waterlogging. The primary weather station of the capital city, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a 126.1 mm downpour between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. As per Delhi government officials, more than 100 mm of rainfall was received by the city in a single day which amounted to 15 per cent of the total rainfall that the city gets in every monsoon season. ALSO READ | Road caves in during Mumbai rains, several vehicles stuck after falling in pit The officials stated that so much amount of water cannot be drained while the rain is still going on, adding that water will clear rapidly once the rain stops. As the rain continued in the morning, water gushed into the storerooms of the most famous shopping destination of the national capital, Connaught Place, and the Minto Bridge underpass was closed to traffic because of waterlogging. #WATCH | Moderate to heavy rain to continue in Delhi today Delhi's Safdarjung observatory recorded 153mm of rain at 0830 hours today, the highest since 25th July 1982: India Meteorological Department pic.twitter.com/Mz9kIB8geX — ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2023 × Pedestrians and motorists faced a hard time navigating through waterlogged roads, footpaths and flyovers, while traders tried to stop the rainwater from flooding their shops in several areas. Yellow alert in national capital This was the first heavy rainfall that the city received in this season of monsoon. On Saturday, an "orange" alert was sounded and a "yellow" alert was issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday. "Yesterday's intensity of rain will continue in the mountains. The intensity will lower in the plains, still, there are predictions of rainfall. Delhi-NCR is likely to receive heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, however for the next four to five days it will rain but the intensity will remain low. Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours," said Charan Singh, Head Regional Meteorological Centre, Delhi. It stated that 56 calls were made to the traffic department to complain about waterlogging, six calls regarding fallen trees and five others were related to potholes. #WATCH | Severe waterlogging near Gurugram's Sector-51 due to heavy rainfall in the city. pic.twitter.com/IbpTl9KveV — ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2023 × People also reported heavy waterlogging in the Tilak Bridge underpass. The traffic police confirmed that there was waterlogging in the Pandav Nagar underpass, Purana Quila Road, Dwarka Link Road, NH-48 near Shiv Murti, Rohtak Road, Vikas Marg, under the AIIMS flyover, under the Moolchand flyover, Mother Teresa Crescent-Sardar Patel Marg and under Tilak Bridge among other places. A trader at Connaught Place, Amit Gupta, said that every year the tall claims of Delhi being a smart city are exposed in monsoon when shops are flooded and losses are faced by the traders. WATCH | Spanish city of Zaragoza submerged by heavy rainfall & flash floods New Delhi Traders' Association president Atul Bhargava said, "This was the first spell of heavy rain and many shopkeepers are trying to save their goods. The same scene was witnessed during monsoon before the COVID-19 pandemic.” Talking to Twitter, the Delhi Traffic Police informed, "Traffic is affected on Aurobindo Marg in the carriageway from IIT towards PTS Malviya Nagar and vice-versa due to waterlogging. Kindly avoid the stretch. Traffic is affected on Rohtak road in the carriageway from Tikri Border towards Mundka due to waterlogging. Traffic is affected on Ring road in the carriageway from Rajouri Garden towards Punjabi Bagh due to waterlogging near Bharat Darshan park.” Northern India submerges in monsoon mayhem The IMD stated that a western disturbance is prevailing over northern India which has resulted in an intense spell of rain. Waterlogging resulted in traffic jams in various parts of the national capital. From the last 48 hours, the monsoon rains have resulted in the death at least 12 people in various cities and towns of northern India. India's weather department, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains in the upcoming days. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Delhi receives heaviest July rainfall in over 40 years, IMD issues 'yellow' alert

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has derecognised South Delhi’s Deer Park&nbsp;as a ‘mini-zoo’ in the national capital of India and its deer will be shifted out, stated the officials familiar with the matter. &nbsp;However, the park will remain open for the public to visit.&nbsp;

The authorities will classify the Deer Park, &nbsp;which is located in New Delhi's Hauz Khas and is officially called "AN Jha Deer Park", as a protected forest and it will fall under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is a land-owning agency.

A DDA official stated that authorities decided to derecognise the park at a recent CZA meeting in the wake of overcrowding of deer in the enclosure.&nbsp;

On June 8, the Central Zoo Authority informed DDA about the change in the status of the park and added that deer will be transferred to the Rajasthan and Delhi forest departments in a 70:30 ratio.

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“...the spotted deer population, as estimated might have increased to say 600 and the same shall be transferred in ratio (70:30) to the Rajasthan forest department and the forest department of NCT of Delhi respectively. Both the organizations have agreed to the same,” said the letter, which referred to a CZA meeting held on January 30 this year.

The meeting was attended by CZA member secretary Sanjay Shukla, DDA principal commissioner Rajeev Kumar Tiwari, CZA’s evaluation and monitoring officer Devender Kumar and Delhi chief wildlife warden Suneesh Buxy. The technical committee of the CZA approved the proposal in its meeting held on April 19, 2023.

<h2>Park had only six deer in the 1960s</h2>

The DDA official stated that the park was set up in the 1960s with only six deer and over the decades, their population multiplied. In the last decade, the population of deer is estimated to have increased from 200 to 600.&nbsp;

“The issues that led to this decision include the rapid growth of population, inbreeding, possibility of spread of disease and the lack of trained manpower to maintain this mini-zoo. Now, after the order has been issued by the CZA, the Rajasthan and Delhi forest department shall take further action for the translocation of the deer. Deer park is a protected forest area and after shifting of deer, it shall be maintained that way too,” the official stated.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Bizarre footage emerges from Canada

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An official of the Delhi forest department said that an assessment is being carried out by them at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary after which it was decided how many deer will be shifted there. “We are yet to decide what will be done with the deer. At Asola, we will assess which pockets will be suitable for the deer and how many can be accommodated there," he added.&nbsp;

The park, which is spread over an area of 25.95 hectares, is also home to small animals like ducks and rabbits. For years, there have been plans to shift the deer from the park. The CZA, in March this year, tried to shift them to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, however, the plan was halted after the Delhi forest department emphasised that the broken boundary needs to be repaired first.

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The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has derecognised South Delhi’s Deer Park as a ‘mini-zoo’ in the national capital of India and its deer will be shifted out, stated the officials familiar with the matter.

The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has derecognised South Delhi’s Deer Park as a ‘mini-zoo’ in the national capital of India and its deer will be shifted out, stated the officials familiar with the matter. However, the park will remain open for the public to visit. The authorities will classify the Deer Park, which is located in New Delhi's Hauz Khas and is officially called "AN Jha Deer Park", as a protected forest and it will fall under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is a land-owning agency. A DDA official stated that authorities decided to derecognise the park at a recent CZA meeting in the wake of overcrowding of deer in the enclosure. On June 8, the Central Zoo Authority informed DDA about the change in the status of the park and added that deer will be transferred to the Rajasthan and Delhi forest departments in a 70:30 ratio. ALSO READ | Deer captured munching on a snake, video goes viral “...the spotted deer population, as estimated might have increased to say 600 and the same shall be transferred in ratio (70:30) to the Rajasthan forest department and the forest department of NCT of Delhi respectively. Both the organizations have agreed to the same,” said the letter, which referred to a CZA meeting held on January 30 this year. The meeting was attended by CZA member secretary Sanjay Shukla, DDA principal commissioner Rajeev Kumar Tiwari, CZA’s evaluation and monitoring officer Devender Kumar and Delhi chief wildlife warden Suneesh Buxy. The technical committee of the CZA approved the proposal in its meeting held on April 19, 2023. Park had only six deer in the 1960s The DDA official stated that the park was set up in the 1960s with only six deer and over the decades, their population multiplied. In the last decade, the population of deer is estimated to have increased from 200 to 600. “The issues that led to this decision include the rapid growth of population, inbreeding, possibility of spread of disease and the lack of trained manpower to maintain this mini-zoo. Now, after the order has been issued by the CZA, the Rajasthan and Delhi forest department shall take further action for the translocation of the deer. Deer park is a protected forest area and after shifting of deer, it shall be maintained that way too,” the official stated. WATCH | Gravitas: Bizarre footage emerges from Canada An official of the Delhi forest department said that an assessment is being carried out by them at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary after which it was decided how many deer will be shifted there. “We are yet to decide what will be done with the deer. At Asola, we will assess which pockets will be suitable for the deer and how many can be accommodated there," he added. The park, which is spread over an area of 25.95 hectares, is also home to small animals like ducks and rabbits. For years, there have been plans to shift the deer from the park. The CZA, in March this year, tried to shift them to the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, however, the plan was halted after the Delhi forest department emphasised that the broken boundary needs to be repaired first. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After 55 years, Delhi's famous Deer Park will not have 'deer' anymore. Here's why

The ongoing wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar in the capital city of New Delhi may have taken a political turn. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) - a farmers' organisation that was at the forefront of the anti-farm law protests last year, has announced it will be holding nationwide demonstrations to show solidarity with the grapplers.

The ongoing wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar in the capital city of New Delhi may have taken a political turn. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) - a farmers' organisation that was at the forefront of the anti-farm law protests last year, has announced it will be holding nationwide demonstrations to show solidarity with the grapplers. A statement released by SKM stated that several big leaders from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site and extend support to the protesting wrestlers. On Sunday, hundreds of farmers and khap leaders reached the venue and reminded the capital of the 13-month-long farmer's protest. The Indian wrestlers have been sitting at Jantar Mantar for the last few weeks, protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his resignation. WATCH | Scuffle between Delhi Police and wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar × After news of the farmers' organisation taking an active interest in the protest made the news, police beefed up security around the venue. Meanwhile, Singh released a 25-minute video urging farmer leaders to not make a 'mistake' but wait for the outcome of the probe into the allegations of sexual harassment made by the wrestlers. "Chacha-Taau (uncles), I am not saying that you should not come to Delhi. You can come to Delhi, and do whatever you want," Singh can be heard saying in the video. "Believe me, if daughters of your village are into wrestling, then ask them when no one is around if the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh depict what Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is. After that, you can do whatever you want," he added. "It should not happen that when the probe report is out after one month, two months or three months, you have to repent." ALSO READ | Wrestlers hold candle march to protest against WFI, Brijbhushan Singh Why the protests? Notably, it was in April that prominent wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogar and Sakshi Malik amongst others returned to the protest site claiming that no progress had been made after their earlier protest. They claimed that six women wrestlers and a minor had filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Connaught Place Police Station but the Delhi police did not register any FIR. It was only after the Supreme Court intervened that two FIRs were filed by the Delhi police. The wrestlers have made it clear that they won't suspend the protest until they get justice and Brij Bhushan is removed as the WFI chief and put behind bars. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

As farmers join wrestlers protest, WFI chief says do not make 'mistake'

In a recent update, the Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday (April 28) said that an aircraft carrying nearly 400 more evacuees from the conflict-hit Sudan has landed in New Delhi. This came hours after the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs from Kerala, V Muraleedharan said that the 10th batch of evacuees from Sudan have reached Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah by the Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash.&nbsp;

Nearly 400 evacuees via C-17 aircraft

“Another C-17 flight carrying 392 passengers reaches New Delhi,” said Jaishankar, on Twitter, announcing the arrival of the third batch of Indians from Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah, where India has set up a transit camp for the evacuees from Sudan.&nbsp; 
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a> update. 
 
Another C-17 flight carrying 392 passengers reaches New Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/SCYUj3GCgz">pic.twitter.com/SCYUj3GCgz</a>
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1651904997712359426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The first batch of 360 evacuees was&nbsp;brought to the national capital in a commercial plane on Wednesday. While the second batch of 264 Indians arrived in the Indian city of&nbsp;Mumbai in a C-17 Globemaster aircraft the next day. So far, 998 evacuees have been brought to India, reported news agency&nbsp;PTI citing official data.&nbsp;

326 evacuees reached Jeddah by INS Tarkash

The announcement by the EAM came hours after Muraleedharan said, “Tenth batch of 326 Indian evacuees from Sudan reached Jeddah by INS TARKASH,” adding, “Happy to receive them. They will be sent back to India soon.”

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Tenth batch of 326 Indian evacuees from Sudan reached Jeddah by INS TARKASH. 
 
Happy to receive them. They will be sent back to India soon.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OperationKaveri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OperationKaveri</a> <a href="https://t.co/4mzx6PrVVz">pic.twitter.com/4mzx6PrVVz</a>
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MOS_MEA/status/1651843679563251712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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This was also followed by&nbsp;the announcement of&nbsp;an Indian Navy Ship carrying 278 evacuees arriving in Jeddah late Tuesday, marking the first successful segment carried under Operation Kaveri.&nbsp;

Operation Kaveri

Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan. This comes after the fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), broke out over a week earlier. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Operation Kaveri’, named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan.&nbsp;

In line with this operation, India has been taking its citizens in buses from the Sudanese capital city of Khartoum and other conflict zones in the country to Port Sudan. Subsequently, the evacuees were taken to Jeddah via Indian Air Force’s transport aircraft and Indian Navy’s ships.&nbsp;

New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah, Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). So far, over 400 people have been killed and more than 3,700 were injured amid the ongoing conflict between the two warring factions in Sudan.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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In a recent update, the Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday (April 28) said that an aircraft carrying nearly 400 more evacuees from the conflict-hit Sudan has landed in New Delhi.

In a recent update, the Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Friday (April 28) said that an aircraft carrying nearly 400 more evacuees from the conflict-hit Sudan has landed in New Delhi. This came hours after the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs from Kerala, V Muraleedharan said that the 10th batch of evacuees from Sudan have reached Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah by the Indian Navy’s INS Tarkash. Nearly 400 evacuees via C-17 aircraft “Another C-17 flight carrying 392 passengers reaches New Delhi,” said Jaishankar, on Twitter, announcing the arrival of the third batch of Indians from Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah, where India has set up a transit camp for the evacuees from Sudan. #OperationKaveri update. Another C-17 flight carrying 392 passengers reaches New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/SCYUj3GCgz — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 28, 2023 × The first batch of 360 evacuees was brought to the national capital in a commercial plane on Wednesday. While the second batch of 264 Indians arrived in the Indian city of Mumbai in a C-17 Globemaster aircraft the next day. So far, 998 evacuees have been brought to India, reported news agency PTI citing official data. 326 evacuees reached Jeddah by INS Tarkash The announcement by the EAM came hours after Muraleedharan said, “Tenth batch of 326 Indian evacuees from Sudan reached Jeddah by INS TARKASH,” adding, “Happy to receive them. They will be sent back to India soon.” Tenth batch of 326 Indian evacuees from Sudan reached Jeddah by INS TARKASH. Happy to receive them. They will be sent back to India soon.#OperationKaveri pic.twitter.com/4mzx6PrVVz — V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) April 28, 2023 × This was also followed by the announcement of an Indian Navy Ship carrying 278 evacuees arriving in Jeddah late Tuesday, marking the first successful segment carried under Operation Kaveri. Operation Kaveri Operation Kaveri aims to bring back Indian citizens who are stuck in conflict-ridden Sudan. This comes after the fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), broke out over a week earlier. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched ‘Operation Kaveri’, named after one of the major rivers from South India, to evacuate Indians stuck in Sudan. In line with this operation, India has been taking its citizens in buses from the Sudanese capital city of Khartoum and other conflict zones in the country to Port Sudan. Subsequently, the evacuees were taken to Jeddah via Indian Air Force’s transport aircraft and Indian Navy’s ships. New Delhi has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah, Port Sudan, while the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). So far, over 400 people have been killed and more than 3,700 were injured amid the ongoing conflict between the two warring factions in Sudan. (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.

Operation Kaveri: Indian Army aircraft with 392 evacuees reaches New Delhi from conflict-hit Sudan

Compensation plea for Bhopal gas tragedy rejected by SC; four decades later wait for fair redressal continues

An Indian student travelling on&nbsp;an American Airlines flight from New York, United States to New Delhi allegedly urinated on a fellow passenger mid-air while he was intoxicated. The incident occurred on Saturday (March 4), an official told ANI on Sunday. The accused was later identified as 21-year-old Arya Vohra and has since been banned by the airlines. He was detained by the Delhi Police upon arrival who assured “strongest possible action” against him and have since registered a case.&nbsp;

What happened?

The incident took place on American Airlines’ flight AA292 travelling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport which landed safely at 9:50 pm (late Saturday), said a statement by American Airlines, reported ANI.&nbsp;

It added, “Upon aircraft arrival, the purser informed that the passenger was heavily intoxicated, and was not adhering to crew instructions on board. He was repeatedly arguing with the operating crew, was not willing to be seated and continuously endangering the safety of crew and aircraft and after disturbing the safety of fellow passengers, finally urinated on pax seated on 15G.”&nbsp;

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Student allegedly urinates on a fellow passenger on JFR-DeL American Airlines flight on March 4 
 
Upon aircraft arrival, Purser informed that pax was heavily intoxicated. He urinated on pax seated on 15G,” American Airlines said in a complaint.
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1632245352941371394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The airline company has since imposed a ban on the accused from flying on any of its flights in the future, reported ANI, while the fellow passenger who was allegedly urinated on is said to be a US citizen. Prior to landing at the Delhi airport, the American Airlines pilot contacted the ATC informing them about an unruly passenger on board and sought security personnel.

Detention and aftermath

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel took him out of the aircraft and said that the passenger misbehaved with the CISF personnel too, an airport official told ANI. A complaint was also registered with the Delhi Police who said that Vohra was a student in the US and a resident of the Defence Colony&nbsp;in the capital city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-india-pee-gate-who-is-shankar-mishra-the-man-accused-of-allegedly-urinating-on-elderly-co-passenger-550506">Air India 'pee-gate': Who is Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly co-passenger</a>

Speaking about the complaint filed by the American Airlines, Devesh Kumar Mahla, DCP, IGI Airport told ANI, “They stated that he did not behave properly and created a nuisance and also urinated on the co-passenger. On the basis of the complaint we are contemplating action under IPC and Civil Aviation Act.” He added that they will take the “strongest action possible” against him to deter other flyers from such behaviour in the future.&nbsp;

“A case has been registered in the matter. We will do our best in this case. The accused Arya Vohra has been released,” the police official told ANI. According to the DCP, the airline has submitted a written complaint while the victim has not come forward, however, action will be taken on the basis of the statement by American Airlines.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-have-you-heard-of-peegate-550852">Gravitas: Have you heard of “Peegate”?</a>

“We have got a report from the concerned airline. They seem to have handled the situation professionally and taken all appropriate action,” an official from the Indian aviation regulatory body told ANI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) has also sought a detailed report of the incident from the airline.&nbsp;

This comes months after a passenger travelling from New York to New Delhi on an Air India flight allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger who was in her 70s. The man later identified as Shankar Mishra was also said to be inebriated when the incident took place in November&nbsp;last year. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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An Indian student travelling on an American Airlines flight from New York, United States to New Delhi allegedly urinated on a fellow passenger mid-air while he was intoxicated.

An Indian student travelling on an American Airlines flight from New York, United States to New Delhi allegedly urinated on a fellow passenger mid-air while he was intoxicated. The incident occurred on Saturday (March 4), an official told ANI on Sunday. The accused was later identified as 21-year-old Arya Vohra and has since been banned by the airlines. He was detained by the Delhi Police upon arrival who assured “strongest possible action” against him and have since registered a case. What happened? The incident took place on American Airlines’ flight AA292 travelling from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport which landed safely at 9:50 pm (late Saturday), said a statement by American Airlines, reported ANI. It added, “Upon aircraft arrival, the purser informed that the passenger was heavily intoxicated, and was not adhering to crew instructions on board. He was repeatedly arguing with the operating crew, was not willing to be seated and continuously endangering the safety of crew and aircraft and after disturbing the safety of fellow passengers, finally urinated on pax seated on 15G.” Student allegedly urinates on a fellow passenger on JFR-DeL American Airlines flight on March 4 Upon aircraft arrival, Purser informed that pax was heavily intoxicated. He urinated on pax seated on 15G,” American Airlines said in a complaint. — ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2023 × The airline company has since imposed a ban on the accused from flying on any of its flights in the future, reported ANI, while the fellow passenger who was allegedly urinated on is said to be a US citizen. Prior to landing at the Delhi airport, the American Airlines pilot contacted the ATC informing them about an unruly passenger on board and sought security personnel. Detention and aftermath The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel took him out of the aircraft and said that the passenger misbehaved with the CISF personnel too, an airport official told ANI. A complaint was also registered with the Delhi Police who said that Vohra was a student in the US and a resident of the Defence Colony in the capital city. ALSO READ | Air India 'pee-gate': Who is Shankar Mishra, the man accused of urinating on an elderly co-passenger Speaking about the complaint filed by the American Airlines, Devesh Kumar Mahla, DCP, IGI Airport told ANI, “They stated that he did not behave properly and created a nuisance and also urinated on the co-passenger. On the basis of the complaint we are contemplating action under IPC and Civil Aviation Act.” He added that they will take the “strongest action possible” against him to deter other flyers from such behaviour in the future. “A case has been registered in the matter. We will do our best in this case. The accused Arya Vohra has been released,” the police official told ANI. According to the DCP, the airline has submitted a written complaint while the victim has not come forward, however, action will be taken on the basis of the statement by American Airlines. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: Have you heard of “Peegate”? “We have got a report from the concerned airline. They seem to have handled the situation professionally and taken all appropriate action,” an official from the Indian aviation regulatory body told ANI. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) has also sought a detailed report of the incident from the airline. This comes months after a passenger travelling from New York to New Delhi on an Air India flight allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger who was in her 70s. The man later identified as Shankar Mishra was also said to be inebriated when the incident took place in November last year. (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.

American Airlines bans unruly, inebriated Indian student for urinating on co-passenger: Report

Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Australia in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi&nbsp;from February 17. After gaining a 1-0 lead in the Nagpur series opener, India will be eager to strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final and consolidating their overall lead. Ahead of the match, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed a&nbsp;press conference and was asked to comment on the lack of left-arm pacers in the Indian camp.&nbsp;

At present, India have only Jaydev Unadkat in the&nbsp;Test squad who is a left-arm seamer. However, he has also been released for the ongoing Ranji Trophy final&nbsp;between Saurashtra and Bengal at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Apart from Unadkat, India have tried the likes of T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh but the latter is the only left-arm speedster who has earned a considerable run in recent times. Dravid spoke at length about left-arm pacers and said, "A left arm fast bowler brings a lot of variation. You forgot the name of Zaheer Khan. But selectors and management definitely watch out for these talents. Arshdeep Singh played well in the recent ODIs, he also played Ranji Trophy, where he picked 4-5 wickets. He's young, he's developing."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-wont-be-able-to-do-anything-afridi-reacts-to-bccis-refusal-to-send-india-to-pakistan-for-asia-cup-562564">'ICC won’t be able to do anything': Afridi reacts to BCCI's refusal to send India to Pakistan for Asia Cup</a>

'Only being a left-handed pacer will not help you get into the side'

Dravid further mentioned, "There are other guys who are performing. But only being a left-handed pacer will not help you get into the side, you need to perform as well. We do look at it, we know the importance but if you're only a left-hand fast bowler then you cannot be considered. Be it Zaheer Khan or Ashish Nehra they didn't get a chance just because they were left-hand fast bowler but since they were good."

Just then, Dravid was interrupted by a journalist who mentioned about Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Afridi and&nbsp;how these left-arm seamers have done well against India. To this, the head coach came up with a hilarious reply. "Agar 6 foot 4 inch bowler hain aapke paas toh aap batado&nbsp;(If you know a fast bowler who is 6 foot 4 inch, let us know). You took the names of Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Afridi, but in India, we rarely find someone as tall as 6 foot 5 inches who bowls left hand fast," Dravid added.

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Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Australia in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from February 17. After gaining a 1-0 lead in the Nagpur series opener, India will be eager to strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final and consolidating their overall lead.

Rohit Sharma-led India will take on Australia in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi from February 17. After gaining a 1-0 lead in the Nagpur series opener, India will be eager to strengthen their chances of reaching the WTC final and consolidating their overall lead. Ahead of the match, head coach Rahul Dravid addressed a press conference and was asked to comment on the lack of left-arm pacers in the Indian camp. At present, India have only Jaydev Unadkat in the Test squad who is a left-arm seamer. However, he has also been released for the ongoing Ranji Trophy final between Saurashtra and Bengal at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Apart from Unadkat, India have tried the likes of T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed and Arshdeep Singh but the latter is the only left-arm speedster who has earned a considerable run in recent times. Dravid spoke at length about left-arm pacers and said, "A left arm fast bowler brings a lot of variation. You forgot the name of Zaheer Khan. But selectors and management definitely watch out for these talents. Arshdeep Singh played well in the recent ODIs, he also played Ranji Trophy, where he picked 4-5 wickets. He's young, he's developing." Also Read: 'ICC won’t be able to do anything': Afridi reacts to BCCI's refusal to send India to Pakistan for Asia Cup 'Only being a left-handed pacer will not help you get into the side' Dravid further mentioned, "There are other guys who are performing. But only being a left-handed pacer will not help you get into the side, you need to perform as well. We do look at it, we know the importance but if you're only a left-hand fast bowler then you cannot be considered. Be it Zaheer Khan or Ashish Nehra they didn't get a chance just because they were left-hand fast bowler but since they were good." Just then, Dravid was interrupted by a journalist who mentioned about Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Afridi and how these left-arm seamers have done well against India. To this, the head coach came up with a hilarious reply. "Agar 6 foot 4 inch bowler hain aapke paas toh aap batado (If you know a fast bowler who is 6 foot 4 inch, let us know). You took the names of Mitchell Starc and Shaheen Afridi, but in India, we rarely find someone as tall as 6 foot 5 inches who bowls left hand fast," Dravid added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

IND vs AUS, 2nd Test: Rahul Dravid shares epic response to reporter's question on Starc and Shaheen

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