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According to a new analysis, <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> contributed $1.28 billion in <keyword id="20000757" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-finance" source="keywords">climate finance</keyword> through <keyword id="20401772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="multilateral-development-banks" source="keywords">multilateral development banks</keyword> (MDBs) in 2022, surpassing the contributions of many developed countries. The study, conducted by the UK-based think tank ODI and the <keyword id="23038658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zurich-Climate-Resilience-Alliance" source="Orion">Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance</keyword>, comes amid a renewed push by some developed countries to broaden the donor base for climate finance to include developing countries like China and <keyword id="50996" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saudi-Arabia" source="Orion">Saudi Arabia</keyword>. The report reveals that only 12 developed countries provided their fair share of international climate finance in 2022. These countries are -- Norway, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium and Finland. Researchers noted that the significant gap in climate finance is largely due to the United States failing to contribute its fair share. Australia, Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom also performed relatively poorly in this regard. The analysis has identified the top 30 non-Annex II countries that provided substantial climate finance to developing countries in 2022 through multilateral contributions to development banks and climate funds. This group includes former economies in transition like Poland and Russia, countries that have achieved high-income status since 1992, such as Chile, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, and middle-income countries with large populations, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines and Pakistan. India provided $1.287 billion in climate finance to other developing countries through MDBs in 2022, a sum larger than what was contributed by some developed countries like Greece ($0.23 billion), Portugal ($0.23 billion), Ireland ($0.3 billion) and New Zealand ($0.27 billion). China provided $ 2.52 billion in climate finance through MDBs in 2022, Brazil gave $ 1.135 billion, South Korea gave $1.13 billion and Argentina gave $1.01 billion. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (<keyword id="21931277" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNFCCC" source="keywords">UNFCCC</keyword>), adopted in 1992, high-income, industrialised countries (referred to as Annex-II countries) are responsible for providing finance and technology to help developing countries combat and adapt to climate change. These countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and European Union (EU) member states, such as Germany, France and the UK, have historically benefitted from industrialisation and contributed the most to greenhouse gas emissions. At COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, these developed countries pledged to jointly provide $100 billion each year by 2020 to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. However, this target has not been fully met, leading to a significant finance gap. This shortfall has eroded trust and hindered climate action in developing countries. In May, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (<keyword id="19916574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="OECD" source="keywords">OECD</keyword>) claimed that developed countries had met the long-standing $ 100 billion-a-year promise by providing nearly $ 116 billion in climate finance to developing countries in 2022, with nearly 70 % of the money given in the form of loans. The ODI researchers pointed out that many developed countries, despite performing well in terms of climate-finance contributions, would make "markedly less progress towards meeting their fair share if the finance provided was accounted for on grant-equivalence terms" -- in other words, if it reflected their real fiscal effort. The report calls for the inclusion of a "burden-sharing mechanism" in the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to provide clarity on each country's obligations and hold countries accountable. The NCQG refers to the new, larger amount that developed nations must mobilise annually, starting 2025, to support climate action in developing countries. Countries are expected to finalise the NCQG at this year's UN climate conference -- <keyword id="20082972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COP29" source="keywords">COP29</keyword> -- in Baku, Azerbaijan in November. The current $100 billion annual climate-finance goal is a collective commitment by developed countries. Its collective nature has meant that individual developed countries are not accountable for specific sums of money, potentially reducing the overall amount of climate finance provided due to the lack of individual scrutiny. The inclusion of a burden-sharing arrangement among developed countries could potentially strengthen the NCQG by fostering greater accountability and trust among parties, according to the ODI researchers. Many developing countries, including India, have recently advocated for such an arrangement to enhance accountability among developed countries.

India provided more climate finance in 2022 than many rich nations, noted recent report

Union Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Saturday morning chaired a <keyword id="20255269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-budget-meeting" source="keywords">pre-budget meeting</keyword> with Finance Ministers of all States and Union Territories. The Pre-Budget Meeting is organised by the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs with Finance Ministers of all the States and Union Territories (with Legislature) to take suggestions for the upcoming <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>. Ministers of State along with other stakeholders are participating in the meeting and visuals showed Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, and finance minister of Rajasthan Diya Kumari at the Bharat Mandapam venue before the meeting commenced this morning. The Union Finance Ministry had begun consultations on the budget a few days ago with different stakeholders of economy. Sitharaman has met economists, finance and capital market experts and industry bodies. Sitharaman chaired the first pre-budget consultations with leading economists on June 19. The meeting was attended by Union minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the finance secretary, secretaries of the departments of economic affairs, revenue, financial services and corporate affairs and the chief economic adviser. Meanwhile, Sitharaman will also chair the 53rd <keyword id="19922145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Goods-and-Services-Tax" source="keywords">Goods and Services Tax</keyword> (GST) Council Meeting scheduled in the second half of the day. This is the first meeting of the <keyword id="19994390" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="GST Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="GST Council">GST council</keyword> after the formation of the new government. State finance ministers will also be present at the 53rd meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council. As is the norm, the GST Council gets together to discuss issues pertaining to the GST regime, such as tax rates, modifications to policies, and administrative challenges. The Council is a key player in shaping India's indirect tax system, making sure that it facilitates company and citizen tax relief while also being in line with the country's economic objectives. The information on the agenda of Council meeting is not yet in public domain. However, the decisions and recommendations arising from the 53rd GST Council meeting will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and the general public, as they have the potential to influence taxation, trade, and overall dynamics. Goods and Services Tax was introduced in the country with effect from July 1, 2017, and states were assured compensation for loss of any revenue arising on account of the implementation of GST as per the provisions of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 for five years. Meanwhile, preparation has commenced for the Union budget 2024-25, the first for the third term of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led <keyword id="22141478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Democratic-Alliance-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Democratic Alliance government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Democratic Alliance government">National Democratic Alliance government</keyword>.

Union Finance Minister Sitharaman chairs pre-budget meeting with finance ministers of states, UTs; GST Council to meet later today

Every year, nearly 6,500 <keyword id="20068743" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="adolescent-girls" source="keywords">adolescent girls</keyword> in <keyword id="19897710" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Asia" source="keywords">South Asia</keyword> die giving birth. Most of them are minors <keyword id="19895006" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="WHO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="WHO" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="WHO">who</keyword> have limited power over their reproductive health or lives, according to a joint analysis done by <keyword id="20018080" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNICEF" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNICEF" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNICEF">UNICEF</keyword>, WHO and <keyword id="20802066" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNFPA" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="UNFPA" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="UNFPA">UNFPA</keyword>. South Asia accounts for 290 million <keyword id="22387193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="child-brides" source="keywords">child brides</keyword> - nearly half of the world's burden. In three countries in South Asia, they are also four times more likely to be out of school than their unmarried peers, as per the analysis done by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), <keyword id="19902256" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organisation" source="keywords">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO) and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). At the two-day regional dialogue on adolescent pregnancy in South Asia, which concluded on Friday, the <keyword id="20679678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SAARC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SAARC" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SAARC">SAARC</keyword> countries, UNICEF South Asia, UNFPA and WHO called for increased commitment to critical services for over 2.2 million adolescent girls that give birth yearly in South Asia, a joint press release issued by the agencies said. "I appreciate the role of governments, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society for the improvements made by the SAARC region over the years in reducing <keyword id="22387194" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="teenage-pregnancy" source="keywords">teenage pregnancy</keyword>," said Ambassador Golam Sarwar, the Secretary General of SAARC. "But the region still has a long way to go. I call upon everyone to resolutely address the root causes including child marriage, access to adolescent health education, and removing social stigma in managing the teenage population of the SAARC region," he said. Every year, nearly 6,500 adolescent girls die in childbirth in South Asia, according to the analysis by UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA. Most of them are child brides who have limited or negligible power and autonomy over their reproductive health or lives. When young girls give birth, their lives can be at risk as they are not yet physically ready to give birth. Thousands more girls are forced to drop out of school, face stigma, rejection, violence, unemployment as well as lifelong social challenges. Forty-nine per cent of young girls in South Asia are not in education, employment or training - the highest in the world, the press release said. "We must do better for adolescent girls, particularly those who are married, pregnant or parents. In addition to hurdles to learn, get good healthcare and eat nutritious food, they are denied the opportunity to build skills and start businesses -- everything they need as parents to thrive and fulfil their potential," said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. "We must work together and invest in opportunities to unleash the promise of more than 170 million adolescent girls in South Asia. Doing so would be transformative for this region," he said. Government and UN officials, adolescent girls, as well as civil society representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have participated in the dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to providing better services to support pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers. This includes opportunities to learn, set up their businesses, and earn a living. The event held in Kathmandu over July 11-12 was jointly organised by SAARC, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA and was inaugurated by the Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Golam Sarwar. Adolescent mothers have a much higher risk of dying from maternal causes, compared to women in their 20s and 30s. "It is high time that we reverse this trend. The unique physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and sexual development during adolescence necessitates special attention in national and international policies. Effective strategies to tackle adolescent pregnancy require cross-sectoral collaboration and equitable access to a variety of services," said Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.

Over 6,500 adolescent girls die giving birth every year across South Asia, says a recent study

A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

<ul class="summary-list"><li>China's Xi Jinping is in South Africa this week for the BRICS summit.</li><li>China and Russia want to expand the group and challenge the West.</li></ul>At this week's BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, the future of the world's leading non-Western economies is at stake. Russia and China are seeking to remake the alliance, which promotes economic cooperation between members, into a power bloc to challenge the dominance of the US and the dollar. Addressing the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-brics-summit-russia-putin-dollar-local-currency-trade-sanctions-2023-8?_gl=1*1nwhwg2*_ga*MTY3MjQwODQzNi4xNjczMjU1NDUy*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5Mjc3OTU0Ny42NjMuMC4xNjkyNzc5NTQ4LjU5LjAuMA&amp;r=US&amp;IR=T">BRICS summit</a> by video link Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin took swipes at the West, and said the summit represented the "global majority.""This is the essence of the future-oriented strategic course of our association, a course that meets the aspirations of the main part of the world community, the so-called global majority," said Putin, who couldn't attend in person because he is wanted for war crimes. Russia and China have ambitions for the group that extend beyond its initial purpose to promote mutual prosperity, say analysts."China and Russia in particular hope to leverage the group's combined economic weight to counterbalance US and more broadly Western influence in global politics," Graeme Thompson, an analyst with the Eurasia Group, told Insider. <h2>Creating a power bloc to challenge the US</h2>The BRICS are the leading non-Western economies in the world, with the group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.Together, they make up around 40% of the world's population, around $27.7 trillion of the global economy, and are seen to represent the so-called "Global South" of southern hemisphere nations. <div type="image" title="Xi, BRICS summit" height="682" width="910" msid="102984584" hostid="261" sizebytes="34538"></div>China's President, Xi Jinping is attending the summit in person in only the second trip abroad he has made since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, showing the importance of the summit for his global ambitions. As the richest country in the group, China has considerable influence. "Xi Jinping is not trying to out-compete America in the existing liberal international order dominated by the US. His long-term goal is to change the world order into a Sino-centric one," Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London, told CNN. To topple the ascendancy of the Western-dominated G7, China and Russia are backing the expansion of the BRICS alliance to include other non-Western economies.Applicants seeking entry include countries hostile to the West, including Iran, as well as those traditionally aligned with the West, such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.<h2>Taking on the dollar</h2>There are also proposals on the table to create a BRICS currency to challenge the global dominance of the dollar.In his speech, Putin touted de-dollarization and renewed his call to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-russia-putin-trade-local-national-currencies-yuan-ruble-sco-2023-7" rel="">increase the use of local currencies for trade. </a>"The objective, irreversible process of de-dollarization of our economic ties is gaining momentum," Putin said, per a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-says-brics-works-global-majority-2023-08-22/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Reuters translation</a><a href="http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/72085" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">.</a> He said that the summit participants would discuss in detail all the issues and mechanisms related to local currency trade.Countries globally are calling for backup currencies for trade and transactions after sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine led to <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/dedollarization-currencies-elon-musk-ray-dalio-chamath-palihapitiya-2023-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">some world leaders and business figures</a> sounding a warning over the power of the US. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-russia-putin-trade-local-national-currencies-yuan-ruble-sco-2023-7" rel=""></a>But analysts say concrete plans to create an alternative currency for trade between members remain some distance away."Beijing is especially keen to position itself as a leader of the Global South, including by expanding the BRICS' membership to include more fast-growing emerging market countries," explained Thompson. Xi unexpectedly had to pull out of delivering a major speech at the summit Tuesday, and his remarks, read out by a Chinese official, were an attack on Western dominance of international institutions. The US is "obsessed with maintaining hegemony, [and] has gone out of its way to cripple the emerging markets and developing countries," said China's minister of commerce, Wang Wentao. "Whoever develops first becomes their target of containment. Whoever is catching up becomes its target of obstruction."<h2>Opposition grows to anti-US plans </h2><div type="image" title="Lula/BRICS" height="512" width="683" msid="102984586" hostid="261" sizebytes="39536"></div>But other nations in the group remain wary of China and Russia, and deep divisions exist between members. India has engaged in military skirmishes with China over a border dispute in the Himalayas in recent years, and has joined a major defense pact with Western nations aimed at countering growing Chinese influence in the Pacific region.Brazil is also opposed to the bloc being transformed into a global anti-Western alliance under China's influence."We do not want to be a counterpoint to the G7, G20 or the United States," Brazil's president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday. "We just want to organise ourselves."Neither India nor Brazil are likely willing to damage relations with the US, an important international ally. None of the BRICS nations has condemned Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and winning the support of the "global south" remains Putin's key diplomatic aim as he seeks to break Russia's international isolation over Ukraine.Yet the war has spiked grain and energy prices, badly impacting countries in the region, and increasing wariness of Russia. China and Russia may have ambitious plans for the BRICS group, but realizing them still appears some distance away. "All three countries value their foreign policy independence and retain close political and economic ties with the West," remarked Thompson of India, Brazil, and South Africa.

Xi and Putin are seeking to expand the alliance of BRICS nations to challenge the global dominance of the US and the dollar

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cuts at Vox Media nearly destroyed <a href="https://www.theicegarden.com/">The Ice Garden</a>, a pivotal source for women's hockey coverage.</li><li>A partnership with outlets <a href="https://www.theixsports.com/">The IX</a> and <a href="https://www.thenexthoops.com/">The Next</a> pumped The Ice Garden with "literal lifeblood."</li></ul>Few outlets report on the world of women's professional hockey as consistently and scrupulously as <a href="https://www.theicegarden.com/">The Ice Garden</a>.So when <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vox-media-talks-raise-200-million-sales-acquisitions-digital-2023-1">Vox Media</a> axed funding for the former SB Nation website, alongside countless of its National Hockey League and Major League Soccer counterparts, it wasn't merely a "huge crisis" for site managing editor Mike Murphy and his staff; the move posed an existential threat to the growth of the sport itself."It was this grim reality of 'We're gonna lose this,'" Murphy told Insider. "I felt devastated for my creators and my writers, and I didn't know what to say and do."It was a day filled with honestly panic attacks and tears," he added.<div type="image" title="Minnesota Whitecaps goalie Amanda Leveille looks on as the Toronto Six celebrate winning the 2023 Isobel Cup." height="1667" width="2500" msid="99128624" hostid="261" sizebytes="158342"></div>But in the ensuing days, the "unbelievable embrace from this community we serve and love" came in response. They had raised $16,600 to keep the newsroom going, reinforcing that "more than enough people care" about their work and that it was worth preserving.All Murphy had to figure out was how.Enter Howard Megdal, the founder and editor of two of the most influential women's sports media entities — <a href="https://www.theixsports.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The IX</a> and <a href="https://www.thenexthoops.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Next</a>."I know you're going through a lot right now, but when you have a moment, give me a call," Megdal recalls telling Murphy. "I want to talk to you about why this is an opportunity."Megdal already had "a proven audience of people who care about women's sports." And he knows "that the people who care about women's soccer are often going to be the people who care about women's basketball, women's tennis" and other women's sports — like hockey."It's been the basic fundamental premise of The IX," Megdal told Insider.So he was prepared "to help [Murphy] make The Ice Garden be sustainable and wanted whatever role I could play in being part of that solution."<div type="image" title="From left: The Next's Jackie Powell, Howard Megdal, and Jacqueline LeBlanc report from the 2022 WNBA Finals." height="3024" width="4032" msid="99128626" hostid="261" sizebytes="698972"></div>So the two entities drafted a partnership: The Ice Garden's stable of writers will produce the existing "Hockey Friday" section in The IX newsletter each week, "delivering a macro look at the world of women's hockey," Megdal explains. (The section's current writer, Eleni Demestihas, is departing to start her own women's hockey agency: <a href="https://twitter.com/HecateSports">Hecate Sports Group</a>.)"It's a natural alliance," Murphy said. "This is gonna help us in a big way — not just grow our platform, but honestly, speaking frankly, it's literal lifeblood pumped into covering all my staff's costs."Megdal characterized the arrangement as "the type of paying gig that allows The Ice Garden to be put in a position financially to meet or exceed, right from the jump, what Vox was doing for them." And what Vox was doing for them, per Murphy, was a budget of "$850 a month to run an entire team of content."The partnership will resemble the one forged between <a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-sports-news-breakers-the-next-equalizer-soccer-join-forces-2022-12">The IX, </a><a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-sports-news-breakers-the-next-equalizer-soccer-join-forces-2022-12">The Next, </a><a href="https://www.insider.com/womens-sports-news-breakers-the-next-equalizer-soccer-join-forces-2022-12">and Equalizer Soccer</a> late last year — complete with a forthcoming mutual subscription agreement — and further consolidates women's pro sports news coverage.<div type="image" title="A record crowd attends the Women's Euro 2022 final between England and Germany at London's Wembley Stadium." height="1667" width="2500" msid="99128627" hostid="261" sizebytes="1175064"></div>"There are relatively few number of places where you can get [this coverage] consistently," Megdal explained. "... Making sure you have people boots on the ground, people who are covering this everyday matters."To me, this is a mission," he added. "Hockey is not my first sport or my second sport, but women's sports coverage is what gets me out of bed every day."And The Ice Garden matters in that cause like few other places."

After Vox Media cuts created 'huge crisis' at SB Nation, a new alliance is now further consolidating women's pro sports coverage

The Centre has blocked over 100 websites involved in facilitating organised illegal investments related to economic crimes and task-based part-time job frauds. According to an official statement, these websites were being operated by overseas actors and targets were mostly retired employees, women and unemployed youth looking for part time jobs. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), a wing of the Union Home Ministry, through its vertical National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU) had last week identified and recommended that these websites be blocked. Following this, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), invoking its power under the Information Technology Act, 2000, has blocked these websites, the statement said. These websites, which facilitated task-based organised illegal investment related to economic crimes, were learnt to be operated by overseas actors and were using digital advertisement, chat messengers and mule and rented accounts. The proceeds from the large scale economic frauds were seen to be laundered out of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> using card network, crypto currency, overseas ATM withdrawals and international Fintech companies, the statement said. The I4C is an initiative of the Home Ministry to deal with cyber crimes in the country in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. <keyword id="6366773" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="citizens" source="Orion">Citizens</keyword> have been advised to promptly report phone numbers and social media handles used by such fraudsters to the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), the statement said. It said several complaints have been received through 1930 helpline and the NCRP and these offences were posing significant threat to the citizens and also involved data security concerns. These frauds, typically, involve a number of steps that include targeted digital advertisements launched on platforms like Google and Meta using key words like "Ghar baithe job" (Do jobs sitting at home), "Ghar baithe kamai kaise karen" (How to earn by sitting at home) etc. in multiple languages from overseas advertisers. Upon clicking the advertisement, an agent using WhatsApp or Telegram starts conversation with the potential victim, who convinces him or her to perform some tasks like video likes and subscribe, maps rating, etc. Upon completion of task, the victim is given some commission, initially and is asked to invest more to get more returns against given task. After gaining confidence, when victim deposits larger sum, deposits are frozen and thus the victim is duped. As precautionary measure, it is advised to exercise due diligence before investing in any such very high commission paying online schemes sponsored over internet. If an unknown person contacts anyone over WhatsApp or Telegram, refrain from performing financial transactions without verification, the statement said Verify the name of receiver mentioned in UPI App. If receiver is any random person, it may be a mule account and scheme may be fraudulent.Similarly, check the source from where initial commission is received, it said. Citizens should refrain from doing transactions with unknown accounts, as these could be involved in money laundering and even terror financing and lead to blocking of accounts by police and other legal action, the statement said. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-november-2023/slidelist/105775116.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/webstories/top-selling-cars-in-india-in-november-2023/slidelist/105775116.cms" target="_blank">WagonR to Creta – Top selling cars in India in November</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-announced-new-flagship-smartphone-oneplus-12-with-up-to-24gb-ram/articleshow/105756057.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oneplus-announced-new-flagship-smartphone-oneplus-12-with-up-to-24gb-ram/articleshow/105756057.cms" target="_blank">OnePlus 12 debuts with bigger battery, up to 24GB RAM and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/ola-electric-and-tvs-motor-leading-electric-two-wheeler-sales-in-nov-2023-month/articleshow/105719702.cms">Electric two-wheeler sales rise in Nov as Ola Electric scales a new high</a>

Over 100 websites blocked for facilitating organised illegal investments

US President <keyword id="99719" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="joe-biden" source="Orion">Joe Biden</keyword> on Sunday departed from Delhi to <keyword id="13486" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vietnam" source="Orion">Vietnam</keyword> after concluding the <keyword id="42982" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="G20-Summit" source="Orion">G20 summit</keyword>. <keyword id="60973" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="biden" source="Orion">Biden</keyword> had arrived on the evening of September 8 to attend the G20 Summit in the national capital. He held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> on the same day, where both the nations agreed to co-operate in the sectors like telecom, space, renewable energy, defence and education. Biden along with Modi also announced the launch of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/g20-biofuel-alliance-can-generate-opportunities-worth-500-bn-in-next-3-yrs-member-nations/articleshow/103548504.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Global Biofuels Alliance</a> on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on Saturday. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organisations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including both G20 members and non-member countries. India, Brazil and the US are the founding members of the alliance. Apart from this, Biden was also present during the announcement of the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. The first-of-its-kind economic corridor will be a historic initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany, and the US. The summit has been attended by more than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organisations. The theme of this year's G20 Summit, which is taking place under India's presidency, is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," or "One Earth · One Family · One Future," - which is drawn from the ancient Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad. Essentially, the theme affirms the value of all life-human, animal, plant, and microorganism-and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe.

US President Biden departs for Vietnam after attending G20 Summit

The number of undernourished people in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has declined in the last 15 years to 224.3 million in 2019-2021, according to a UN report, which also said that there are more obese adults and anaemic women in the <keyword id="6354507" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="world" source="Orion">world</keyword>'s second most populous country. The <keyword id="5004571" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="state-of-food-security-and-nutrition" source="Orion">State of Food Security and Nutrition</keyword> in the World 2022 report, issued on Wednesday by UN agencies <keyword id="397960" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="food-and-agriculture-organisation" source="Orion">Food and Agriculture Organisation</keyword> (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, <keyword id="49053" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-food-programme" source="Orion">World Food Programme</keyword> (WFP) and the <keyword id="6356311" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="world-health-organisation" source="Orion">World Health Organisation</keyword> (WHO), said that the number of people affected by hunger globally rose to as many as 828 million in 2021, an increase of about 46 million since 2020 and 150 million since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report said that in India, the number of undernourished people declined to 224.3 million in 2019 21 from 247.8 million in 2004-06. It said that the number of children under 5 years of age who are stunted declined to 36.1 million in 2020 from 52.3 million in 2012, the number of children under five years of age who are overweight declined to 2.2 million in 2020 from three million in 2012. However, the number of obese adults in India, which has a population of over 1.38 billion, grew to 34.3 million in 2016 from 25.2 million in 2012 and the number of women aged 15 to 49 years affected by anaemia also grew to 187.3 million in 2019 from 171.5 million in 2012. The report added that the number of children up to 5 months of age exclusively breastfed touched 14 million in 2020 from 11.2 million in 2012. In percentage terms, the prevalence of undernourishment in the total population in India stood at 21.6 per cent in 2004-06 and declined to 16.3 per cent in 2019-21, the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 years of age declined to 30.9 per cent in 2020 from 41.7 per cent in 2012 and the prevalence of overweight children under five years of age was 1.9 per cent in 2020 from 2.4 per cent in 2012. The prevalence of obesity in India's adult population increased to 3.9 per cent in 2016 from 3.1 per cent in 2012 and anaemic women aged 15 to 49 years declined marginally from 53.2 per cent in 2012 to 53 per cent in 2019. The report also noted that in India, people who were unable to afford a healthy diet touched 973.3 million in 2020 or nearly 70.5 per cent, up from 948.6 million in 2019 (69.4 per cent). In 2017, about a billion people were unable to afford a healthy diet in India and this number has declined to 966.6 million in 2018. The report noted that subsidies to consumers provided in Lower- Income Countries and Middle-Income Countries most often take the form of in-kind or cash transfers under the social protection programmes. India and Indonesia, for example, provide substantial subsidies to final consumers under the Targeted Public Distribution System for grains in India, and the food assistance programme (BPNT) based on electronic vouchers for rice, in Indonesia, it said. The most prominent example of a (Lower-middle-income countries) LMIC is India, where the food and agricultural policy has historically focused on protecting consumers by ensuring affordable food prices, through export restrictions (on wheat, non-basmati rice, and milk, among others) and through marketing regulations around pricing and public procurement, public food stockholding and distribution of a vast range of agricultural commodities, it said. As such, farmers have constantly faced price disincentives in aggregate terms (negative NRPs). Input subsidies and expenditure on general services such as in R&amp;D and infrastructure have been widely used as a means of compensating them for the price disincentives generated by trade and market measures, and for boosting production and self-sufficiency in the country, it added. The report noted that after remaining relatively unchanged since 2015, the proportion of people affected by hunger jumped in 2020 and continued to rise in 2021, to 9.8 per cent of the world population. This compares with 8 per cent in 2019 and 9.3 per cent in 2020. World hunger rose in 2021, with around 2.3 billion people facing moderate or severe difficulty obtaining enough to eat -- and that was before the Ukraine war, which has sparked increases in the cost of grain, fertiliser and energy, according to the report. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World paints a grim picture, based on 2021 data, saying the statistics should dispel any lingering doubts that the world is moving backwards in its efforts to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms , it explained. It warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine, is disrupting supply chains and further affecting prices of grain, fertiliser and energy resulting in more price increases in the first half of 2022. At the same time, they said, more frequent and extreme climate events are also disrupting supply chains, especially in low-income countries. Ukraine and Russia together produced almost a third of the world's wheat and barley and half of its sunflower oil, while Russia and its ally Belarus are the world's No. 2 and 3 producers of potash, a key ingredient of fertiliser. Nearly 924 million people (11.7 per cent of the global population) faced food insecurity at severe levels, an increase of 207 million in two years. The gender gap in food insecurity continued to rise in 2021 --- 31.9 per cent of women in the world were moderately or severely food insecure, compared to 27.6 per cent of men --- a gap of more than 4 percentage points, compared with 3 percentage points in 2020. Almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020, up 112 million from 2019, reflecting the effects of inflation in consumer food prices stemming from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to contain it. An estimated 45 million children under the age of five were suffering from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition, which increases children's risk of death by up to 12 times. Furthermore, 149 million children under the age of five had stunted growth and development due to a chronic lack of essential nutrients in their diets, while 39 million were overweight. This report repeatedly highlights the intensification of these major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition: conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks, combined with growing inequalities, the heads of the five UN agencies wrote in this year's Foreword. The issue at stake is not whether adversities will continue to occur or not, but how we must take bolder action to build resilience against future shocks, it added. (By Yoshita Singh <keyword id="6355833" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="united-nations" source="Orion">United Nations</keyword>) SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/golden-girl-p-t-usha-becomes-the-eighth-keralite-to-be-honoured-with-a-rajya-sabha-nomination/articleshow/92716060.cms">Golden girl P.T. Usha becomes the eighth Keralite to be honoured with a Rajya Sabha nomination</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbis-moves-to-boost-forex-inflows-could-have-an-impact-on-domestic-borrowing-rates/articleshow/92715761.cms">RBI's moves to boost forex inflows could have an impact on domestic borrowing rates</a>

India has fewer undernourished people now but obesity and anaemia are on the rise

<ul><li>73% of skilled aspirers and 59% of home-based <keyword id="53533" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="entrepreneurs" source="Orion">entrepreneurs</keyword> express a strong readiness to pay for <keyword id="6418027" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skill-development" source="Orion">skill development</keyword>. </li><li>The gap between skill demand and the willingness to invest in acquiring those skills presents a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop solutions </li><li>Governments and <keyword id="8182685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nonprofit-organisations" source="Orion">nonprofit organisations</keyword> hold the potential to address the employability-skilling gap for around 130 million individuals through <keyword id="871433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skill-enhancement" source="Orion">skill enhancement</keyword> endeavours. </li></ul>Almost 50% of young workers in India show a strong willingness to learn new skills for improved job opportunities. This enthusiasm is observed within distinct segments, including moderately high-skilled blue/grey-collar workers under 30 (skilled aspirers), those engaged in low to semi-skilled jobs (tenacious strivers), and females under 30 pursuing or desiring to initiate home-based businesses (home-based entrepreneurs), reveal the findings of report titled ‘The Next Frontiers: Skilling and Employability Solutions for the Next Half Billion', by Omidyar Network India (ONI), an impact-focused investment firm. The report delves into the prospect within the Indian market to provide skill development and employment opportunities for a substantial segment of unskilled, <keyword id="18583019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="low-skilled" source="Orion">low-skilled</keyword>, and moderately-skilled workers. The research partnership for this project was with Redseer. The launch event occurred on Tuesday and was graced by Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, along with Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Executive Officer of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Adding 100 million workers to the workforce can boost GDP by 20%" comment="subhead" text="Adding 100 million workers to the workforce can boost GDP by 20%">Adding 100 million workers to the workforce can boost GDP by 20%</cmsannotation> The report highlights prospects for entrepreneurs, government bodies, and nonprofit organisations to create solutions or encourage technology-driven skill development and job opportunities. It studies 580 million Indian workers needing skill enhancement and employment aid and pinpoints specific groups with a strong desire to upskill and invest in those abilities, potentially positively impacting 230 million individuals. The findings reveal that adding 100 million workers to the workforce can boost GDP by 20%, steering India's economy towards a $4 trillion mark. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Huge prospects for entrepreneurs in skill development" comment="subhead" text="Huge prospects for entrepreneurs in skill development">Huge prospects for entrepreneurs in skill development</cmsannotation> The report emphasises a substantial opportunity for entrepreneurs in the form of a market consisting of 100 million young workers seeking skilling solutions. Among these segments displaying eagerness to acquire new skills, a significant portion also exhibit a high willingness to invest financially. Specifically, 73% of skilled aspirers and 59% of home-based entrepreneurs express a strong readiness to pay for skill development that promises better employment prospects, stability, and growth opportunities. Among the skilled aspirers, 45% of men show keen interest in entrepreneurship, while 33% of women are more inclined towards advancing in their current roles. These segments represent untapped potential that could significantly enhance employability and positively impact a substantial part of India's workforce. The gap between skill demand and the willingness to invest in acquiring those skills presents an estimated opportunity for entrepreneurs to develop solutions valued at approximately $1.5 billion to $2billion (₹12,570 crore to ₹16,760 crore). Notably, the key areas for skill development where entrepreneurs can contribute include fundamental business management skills, digital marketing, communication, and advanced vocational skills. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Government and nonprofit entities can help bridge the skills gap" comment="subhead" text="Government and nonprofit entities can help bridge the skills gap">Government and nonprofit entities can help bridge the skills gap</cmsannotation> Governments and nonprofit organisations hold the potential to address the employability-skilling gap for around 130 million individuals through skill enhancement endeavours. The report highlights that although certain segments exhibit a strong willingness to acquire new skills, their readiness to invest financially in learning opportunities remains relatively low. As a result, these segments are excluded from the pool targeted by entrepreneurs and profit-driven initiatives. To cater to such populations, the government and nonprofit entities can bridge the disparity between the desire to acquire skills and the readiness to invest. This can be achieved through initiatives like subsidised skill development programs, bolstering apprenticeship initiatives, and providing capital support programs. Moreover, policy reforms in areas such as paid childcare and parental leave can significantly contribute to the inclusion and retention of workers within the employability spectrum, particularly among women seeking to enter or continue in the workforce.

India shows eagerness to upskill as it aims at a $4 trillion economy

The National Alliance of Women s Organisation

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