Page 40 - India

Area-based targets for biodiversity conservation not acceptable: India

Area-based targets for biodiversity conservation are a one-size-fits-all approach that is not acceptable, India has said at the UN biodiversity talks in Canada's Montreal. It has also said essential support to vulnerable sectors, such as agriculture, cannot be described as subsidies and targeted for elimination. The second part of the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) started on December 7, with 196 parties coming together in the hope of finalising negotiations for a new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) -- a new set of goals and targets that will guide global action on nature through 2030. One of the contentious components of the GBF to be negotiated is the "30x30" conservation target. It calls for 30 per cent of the earth's land and sea to be conserved through the establishment of protected areas and other area-based conservation measures. Delivering the national statement at COP15 on Friday, Union Environment Minister ...

Reform will propel fundamentals of India's performance: N Chandrasekaran

Reform will be a key pillar that will propel fundamentals of India's performance in the coming decades, which have a major growth opportunity for the country, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said on Friday. While the country can look forward to becoming a USD 25-30 trillion economy in its 100th year of Independence, it is also crucial to spread the gains of the future to everyone, including informal workers, agricultural labourers and women, he said while addressing the annual convention of industry body FICCI. Chandrasekaran noted that the government has taken several reforms before and after the pandemic which has set a strong foundation for a renewed vision for India in 2047. "Looking for the next few decades, India presents a major growth opportunity. At the same time, it is important to remember the scope of reforms India has undertaken in the last few years," he said. Pre-pandemic, the government introduced GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), inflation targeting ..

Marshall launches Generation III of Home line Bluetooth speakers in India

The Generation III Home line-up comprises Marshall Acton, Stanmore, and Woburn. These speakers are priced at Rs 31,999, Rs 41,999, and Rs 59,999, respectively

US Senator wants 'robust discussion' with India on religious freedom

A Republican US Senator has urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold a robust discussion with India on the issue of religious freedom of minorities. Senator James Lankford sent a letter to Blinken after the State Department in its annual release of Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List, and Entities of Particular Concern designations did not follow the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's recommendations, specific to India, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. In its report early this year, the USCIRF had urged the Department of State to designate India as a country of particular concern on religious freedom issues. The Biden administration did not agree with the recommendations of the USCIRF. Lankford is asking for the State Department's legally required explanation to Congress on its designations, a media release said. India was not formally designated despite overt and repeated severe violations of religious freedom. India is an important secu

India in danger of becoming Hindu nationalist State: US Congressman

India is facing the danger of becoming a Hindu nationalist State, an outgoing Democratic Congressman known for his anti-India tirade said on Thursday. Describing himself as a lifelong human rights advocate Congressman Andy Levin (62) in his last speech on the floor of the US House of Representatives said the US has had more success in human rights, although the situation was dire in many parts of the world. I have been a vocal advocate for human rights in places like India, which is in the danger of becoming a Hindu nationalist State rather than a secular democracy, the world's largest democracy, alleged Levin, who represented the ninth Congressional District from Michigan. In the next Congress, it will be represented by Lisa McClain of the Republican Party. I am a lover of Hinduism, a lover of Jainism, Buddhism and other religions that were born in India, but we need to protect the rights of all people there. Whether they're Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Jains, Levi

G20 under India can make progress in debt relief, crypto: Gita Gopinath

Throwing light on the recent crypto meltdown, she said it was clear that internationally agreed standards of regulations had become necessary

India, Kazakhstan start joint military drill in Meghalaya

The armies of India and Kazakhstan on Thursday began a fortnight-long joint exercise in Meghalaya, a senior defence officer said here. The sixth edition of 'Kazind-22', a joint training exercise aimed at enhancing the level of defence cooperation and fostering bilateral relations between the two nations, started at Umroi, 25 km from Shillong, and will conclude on December 28, he said. "This joint exercise will enable the two armies to train, plan and execute a series of combined tactical drills for neutralising likely threats that may be encountered during UN peacekeeping operations," the Army officer told PTI. The two countries instituted a joint annual training exercise in 2016 as 'Exercise Prabal Dostyk', which was later upgraded to a company-level exercise and renamed 'Exercise Kazind' in 2018. The Kazakh soldiers were drawn from their South-based Regional Command while the 11 Gorkha Rifles will be participating in the exercise representing the Indian Army, the officer said. A

Former all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar quits as Nepal men's team head coach

Former India all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar on Thursday stepped down as Nepal team head coach after a four-month stint, the country's cricket board announced. The 59-year-old Prabhakar, who took 96 wickets and scored 1600 runs from 39 Tests between 1984 and 1995, was appointed to the post in August. He had also played in 130 ODIs, taking 157 wickets from them. "Mr. Manoj Prabhakar has stepped down from his position of Nepal Men's National Cricket Team's Head Coach with immediate effect on 15th December 2022," Cricket Association of Nepal announced on its official Twitter handle. "CAN has accepted his resignation and wish him the best for his future." Prabhakar was at the helm of affairs for the Nepal men's team in only five T20Is and seven ODIs, including four matches in the World Cup Super League 2. Under him, Nepal had a successful tour of Kenya, winning a five-match T20I series 3-2 and then sweeping the ODIs 3-0. Nepal also won a home ODI series against UAE 2-1 last month.

India eyes record rapeseed crop as high prices prompt farmers to plant more

Higher rapeseed production could help India, the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils, cut expensive overseas purchases of cooking oils that cost the country a record $18.9 billion in the fiscal

India may split planned mega refinery into several refineries: Reports

Delays in acquiring a 15,000-acre land parcel have almost stalled the project, initially planned for 2025, and boosted costs by 36% to $60 billion, as per estimates made in 2019

Acer launches new 16-inch OLED laptop 'Swift Edge' in India: Details here

'Swift Edge' laptop is available at a starting price of Rs 1,24,999 on the company's official e-store and Amazon

No speedy resolution in sight as Indian biz await South African visas

Indian citizens, especially business leaders, who have been complaining for the past few years about long delays in securing visas for South Africa, may have to wait longer as the government had admitted that its full visa waiting list would only be cleared by the end of June 2024. While Indian missions grant tourist and business e-visas to South Africans within a week, there is no reciprocal facility for Indian citizens at South African missions in India. But there is some hope that businesses and academia might be prioritised after a decision, which centralised all visa issues exclusively to the Home Affairs head office in Pretoria, was revoked recently. The current backlog across all visa categories is 56,543. The department envisages to have cleared the current backlog by June 2024 for all categories of visas, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi said last week in response to a question from an opposition MP. The average response time varies for different visa categories,

French spirits major Pernod Ricard appoints Paul-Robert Bouhier as India MD

French spirits major Pernod Ricard on Wednesday announced the appointment of Paul-Robert Bouhier as its new Managing Director for India. Robert takes the reins from Thibault Cuny, who stepped down in October 2022 due to health issues. His appointment as Pernod Ricard India Managing Director is with effect from January 1, 2023, a company statement said. In his new role, he will report to Philippe Guettat, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia, and will be a member of the Pernod Ricard Asia Executive Committee, it added. "Paul-Robert will be responsible for continuing to transform and accelerate Pernod Ricard India's business strategy, developing organization and people and finding new opportunities for sustainable and profitable business growth," it said. Most recently, Robert was serving as Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Southern Europe since 2020. Pernod Ricard owns brands, including Chivas, Beefeater, Havana Club, Royal Salute, The Glenlivet and Absolut. Besides, it owns to

India among top 3 nations where IoT malwares originated in 2022: Microsoft

India is among top three countries, after China and US, where most of the malware infections for the internet of things (IoT) devices originated this year, IT company Microsoft said on Wednesday. Analysing 2022 threat data across different countries, Microsoft researchers found the largest share of IoT malware, 38 per cent of the total, originating from China's large network footprint. Infected servers in the United States put the country in the second place, with 18 per cent of observed malware distribution, the Microsoft Cyber Signals Report said. "Microsoft researchers found that India is amongst the top 3 countries originating IoT malware infection in 2022. Therefore, the cyberthreat landscape is real and security is the need of the hour," the report said. As per data shared in the report, India accounts for 10 per cent of IoT malware infections. The researchers observed IoT malware threats across traditional IT equipment, operational technology (OT) controllers and IoT device

Indonesian diplomats laud India's rich culture at G20 Working Group meeting

Indonesian diplomats Endy Kami Immanuel Ginting (Consul Protocol & Consular, Indonesia) and Dian Hayati Syamsuwir Kibe (Officer Economic, Indonesia) who were part of the first meeting of Development Working Group (DWG) under India's G20 presidency lauded art and culture by Indian artists exhibited in Mumbai.Describing India's rich culture, Endy said, "My experience is very good. India offers very natural hospitality for all foreigners here. I have seen some handicraft goods -- which are very good, introducing Maharashtra's rich culture and the relationship between Indonesia and India."The Indonesian Consul Protocol & Consular said he is here to attend the DWG meeting of G20, which India hosted this year after Indonesia hosted it last year.Speaking about India's G20 presidency, Endy said "I think it's very nice, Indian tradition is very nice, very rich and I am sure this is not only in Maharashtra but in many other states, and cities -- they have their own culture which is .

US Senator Grassley opposes Garcetti's nomination as envoy to India

Influential American Senator Chuck Grassley has opposed the nomination of Eric Garcetti as the US envoy to India because of "serious allegations" of sexual harassment by one of his staffers and urged his senatorial colleagues to do the same. Grassley's remarks on the Senate floor on Tuesday comes amidst the White House intensifying its efforts to have Garcetti confirmed as the US Ambassador to India, a strategic position that has remained vacant for nearly two years now. With India being the current chair of G-20 resulting in a lot of diplomatic activities between the two countries, the Biden administration wants to have its envoy in New Delhi as soon as possible. Garcetti, who served as the 42nd mayor of Los Angeles from July 2013 until December 2022, is a close aide of President Joe Biden. I would like to express my strong opposition to the nomination of Eric Garcetti to be ambassador to India. I'm compelled to vote against Garcetti due to the serious allegations about sexual ...

Apple rolls out iOS 16.2 with 5G network support for iPhones: Details here

Besides 5G connectivity, the iOS 16.2 update includes several new and improved features including Freeform app, end-to-end iCloud encryption, Apple Music Sing, and more

India and UK look to fast-track free trade agreement negotiations

Sixth round of negotiations begins in New Delhi after a four-month hiatus

Luxury cars: India's wealthy splurging on personalising wheels of fortune

The minimum waiting period for owning a prized set of wheels has stretched to 18 months, and buyers are loosening their purse strings further to get these rides customised to reflect their personality

Centre looks to close Chabahar port negotiations by end of FY23

With the international framework broadly agreed on, talks pick up the pace