Page 48 - India

India to add $5 bn aircraft carrier to counter China's naval presence

The new carrier, which can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water - a measure of size for ships, will be flying the French Rafale jets

India's position on Gaza crisis 'remarkable' from day one: Israeli envoy

Israeli defence forces have completely destroyed Hamas's infrastructure in northern Gaza except the underground tunnels and the focus at the end of the current pause in fighting will be to clean up the southern part of the strip, Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said on Tuesday. In an interaction with a group of journalists, the envoy also described India's position on the Gaza crisis as "remarkable" from the day one and especially mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong denunciation of Hamas's unprecedented terror attack on Israeli cities on October 7. Gilon said Israel banning Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terror group around 15 years after the Mumbai terror attack was a "gesture", asserting that both sides have been expanding anti-terror cooperation in the last few years. The Israeli ambassador said he was hopeful that India will designate Hamas as a terrorist entity and that his government has already provided New Delhi all the required information against the group. Days after the

'China slows, India grows': S&P pegs 7% GDP growth for India by 2026

India's GDP growth rate will rise to 7 per cent by 2026 compared to 4.6 per cent for China, S&P Global Ratings said on Tuesday. In a report titled 'China Slows India Grows', S&P said it expects Asia-Pacific's growth engine to shift from China to South and Southeast Asia. We project China's GDP growth to slow to 4.6 per cent in 2024 (2023: 5.4 per cent), edge up to 4.8 per cent in 2025, and return to 4.6 per cent in 2026. We see India reaching 7.0 per cent in 2026; Vietnam, 6.8 per cent (4.9 per cent); Philippines, 6.4 per cent (5.4 per cent); and Indonesia remaining steady at 5 per cent, S&P said. The US-based rating agency on Monday projected India's GDP to expand at 6.4 per cent in the current fiscal year and in the next. For 2025 it projected growth rate to rise to 6.9 per cent, followed by 7 per cent in 2026. S&P said with Asia-Pacific's central banks likely to keep interest rates high, the region's borrowers will see costlier debt servicing. Concurrently, a ...

Assets of those named by UNSC for terror funding to be frozen within 24 hrs

Financial sanctions against entities named by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for their links to terrorism and terror financing should be imposed "without delay" and within 24 hours under the UAPA and a law against use of weapons of mass destruction, the government has directed regulatory and probe agencies. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the federal agency tasked to detect money laundering and black money in the country's economic channels, has been made the nodal agency for identifying, notifying and initiating legal action against such entities under section 12A of The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005, also known as the WMD Act. India, as per official records, enacted the law as per its commitment to the country specific efforts under UNSC resolution 1718 (2006) and 2231 (2015), and their successor resolutions, as mandated under section 2 of United Nations (Security Council) Act, 1947. The ...

India's subsidies may cost the govt Rs 50,000 cr more than its FY24 Budget

The subsidy outgo for FY24 was planned at Rs 4.03 trillion, but it could rise up to Rs 4.53 trillion

Sembcorp Industries to acquire 428 MW wind assets in India, China

Sembcorp Industries on Monday announced that it has signed two separate agreements to acquire 428 MW of wind power assets in China and India for 200 million Singaporean dollar (about Rs 1,247 crore). The Singaporean energy company, backed by state-owned investor Temasek Holdings Pte, will acquire 228 MW of operational wind power assets of Leap Green Energy Pvt Ltd for 70 million Singaporean dollar and 200 MW of Qinzhou Yuanneng for 130 million Singaporean dollar, the firm said in a statement. Sembcorp has been operating in India for more than 12 years, with a presence across 18 states. With this acquisition, the company now has a balanced portfolio of 3.7 GW of renewable assets, comprising 2.25 GW of wind and 1.45 GW of solar assets. Last year, it announced the acquisition of Vector Green to add 583 MW of renewable assets in India. "Sembcorp's wholly-owned subsidiary, Sembcorp Energy (Shanghai) Holding Co Ltd has signed an agreement with Envision Energy Co Ltd to acquire 100 per cen

India faces queries from WTO on PMGKAY extension and rice export ban

Countries, including the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand, are seeking clarity on the expiry dates of India's export restrictions and duties

Vishwaguru in search of disciples

In trying to please everyone, India is seen as neither fish nor fowl. India must rethink whether it can claim leadership of Global South by supporting a perspective not very different from the West

Drug manufacturers in India benefit from Big Pharma interest beyond China

China has for nearly 20 years been the preferred location for a range of pharmaceutical research and manufacturing services due to the low cost and speed offered by contract drugmakers there

Indian exporters cautiously watching respiratory illness in China

Expressing concern over the current influenza situation in China, domestic exporters on Sunday said that they are cautiously watching the situation as any spread of the disease may again hurt global supply chains and impact world trade. They said that the present situation is not alarming but if the illness spreads to other parts of the globe, it will have an impact on world trade as China is a hub of global manufacturing and exports. The government on November 24 stated that India is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in China and it is monitoring the outbreak of H9N2 and clusters of respiratory illness in children in that country. There is a low risk to India from the avian influenza, H9N2, cases reported in China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness, the Union health ministry has said. Some media reports indicated a clustering of cases of respiratory illness in children in northern China for which the World Health ...

India's space economy set to reach $40 bn by 2040, says Jitendra Singh

India's space economy is poised to reach USD 40 billion by 2040, and scientists will also enjoy a better working environment, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said here. The Minister of State for Science and Technology & Atomic Energy and Space (Independent Charge) said that some foreign agencies like the AKD have predicted that this figure could even go up to USD 100 billion by 2040. "At present, our space economy is not very impressive, as we have just about USD 8 million. But we are moving in quantum jumps, and in the foreign satellite launch alone, we have earned about EUR 230240 million for launching European satellites and about USD 170-180 million for launching American satellites," Singh said. He was speaking to PTI after inaugurating the 60th-anniversary celebrations of ISRO's rocket launch here on Saturday. Singh said that with the establishment of the National Research Foundation, Anu Sandhan, a better model of similar foundations existing in US, a significant industry ...

Why Afghanistan has permanently shut its embassy in India

In a significant diplomatic development, the Embassy of Afghanistan in New Delhi announced the cessation of its operations, effective from 23rd November, 2023. Watch the video to know why Afghanistan

Qatar accepts India's appeal against death sentence to ex Navy officers

A Qatar court on Friday accepted the appeal filed by the Indian government against the death sentence given to eight former Indian Navy personnel last month. Watch the video to learn more.

India to assume chairmanship of global sugar industry body ISO for 2024

India will assume the chairmanship of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO), an apex body for sugar and related products, for 2024, the government said on Friday. India is the largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar in the world. "In its 63rd council meeting, ISO, headquartered in London, has announced India to be the chair of the organisation for 2024. This is a huge achievement for the country to lead the global sugar sector and is a reflection of growing stature of the country in this domain," the food ministry said in a statement. While attending the ISO Council Meeting, Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra sought support and cooperation from all member countries during its period of chairmanship of ISO in 2024. The focus would be on bringing together all member countries to adopt more sustainable practices in sugarcane cultivation, sugar and ethanol production and better utilisation of by-products, he said. "With about 15 per cent share in global sugar ...

Traders offer sanctioned Iranian crude to India as Chinese purchases peak

India turning into a magnet for sanctioned oil after its refiners started buying Russian oil last year at deep discounts

US stopped plot to kill Khalistan leader Pannun, warned India

The United States “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil and “issued a warning to India’s government over concerns

Vivo PMLA case: Delhi Court extends judicial custody of accused till Dec 7

he four accused are -- Lava International MD Hari Om Rai, Chinese national Guangwen alias Andrew Kuang, Chartered Accountants Nitin Garg and Rajan Malik

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the target of 'assassination bid' in the US

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen, is the founder of an organisation called Sikhs for Justice. The organisation advocates for Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs

India, Asean launch 5-day millets fest to raise awareness, create market

India and ASEAN Wednesday launched a five-day Millets Festival here in the Indonesian capital, a move aimed at raising awareness and creating a market for millets and millets-based products among the 10-member bloc. The Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) participated in the ASEAN-India Summit and East Asia Summit on September 7. During the ASEAN-India summit, one of the joint statements adopted was about food security," India's Ambassador to ASEAN Jayant Khobragade said. "In two months we are having the Millet festival which also covers food security. That is how effectively our comprehensive strategic partnership is working, he said. Describing Millets as one of the important elements for ensuring food security, he said this was very well in the overall framework of the ASEAN-India relationship. There is a lot of interest. For this millet festival, we have representation not only from Indian farmers and industrialists but also from ASEAN member states, he added. Khobragade also ...

India absent from voting on resolution to build better world through sports

India did not participate in voting on a UN General Assembly resolution on building a peaceful and better world through sport and recognising the role of sports in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism as well as promoting human rights. The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted the draft resolution Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal' tabled by France on Tuesday. The resolution has been traditionally adopted by consensus but this year, Russia called for a recorded vote on the text for it to be adopted. Of the 193 UN member states, 120 voted in the UNGA on the resolution, which received 118 votes in favour and none against, with Russia and Syria abstaining. India was among the 73 nations that were absent from voting on the resolution. The resolution recognised the contribution of sports in creating an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations, its role to prevent and counter terrorism and violent ..