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Fourteen people have died and 102 others, including 22 army personnel, were missing after the cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in North <keyword id="48118" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sikkim" source="Orion">Sikkim</keyword> triggered a flash flood in the <keyword id="763269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="teesta-river" source="Orion">Teesta river</keyword> basin, officials said on Thursday. So far, 2,011 people have been rescued, while the calamity that happened on Wednesday affected 22,034 people, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin. The state government has set up 26 relief camps in the four affected districts, it said. A total of 1,025 people are taking shelter in the eight relief camps in <keyword id="83680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gangtok" source="Orion">Gangtok</keyword> district, while the number of inmates at the 18 other relief camps was not available immediately. The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by the cloudburst in Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, caused accumulation of huge quantity of water, which turned towards Chungthang dam destroying the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate, flooding towns and villages. The flood destroyed 11 bridges in the state, with eight bridges getting washed away in Mangan district alone. Two bridges were destroyed in Namchi and one in Gangtok. Water pipelines, sewage lines and 277 houses, both kuchcha and concrete, have been destroyed in the four affected districts. Chungthang town bore the maximum brunt of the flood with 80 per cent of it getting severely affected. The NH-10, considered the lifeline of the state, sustained extensive damage at several places. Seven people died in Pakyong district, four people died in Mangan and three persons lost their lives in Gangtok, according to the SSDMA. Among the 102 missing persons, 59 are from Pakyong, including the army personnel. Twenty-two are missing in Gangtok, 16 in Mangan and five people are missing in Namchi. A total of 26 people sustained injuries, the SSDMA said. Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was helping the state in the rescued operations in Chungthang and Mangan, where four critical bridges have been severely damaged. "More than 200 people have been moved to safer areas by the BRO in spite of continuous heavy rainfall and extremely bad weather," he said. "Search and rescue operations for the missing army personnel are still on," he added. About 10,000 people have been affected by the calamity in the Mangan district, while 6,895 people were affected in Pakyong, 2,579 in Namchi and 2,570 people in Gangtok.

Sikkim flash flood: Toll rises to 14, 102 people missing

Today's planet-saving green transition would not be possible without the help of Lithium-ion batteries, the heart of almost every <keyword id="381751" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="electric-vehicle" source="Orion">electric vehicle</keyword> you'll find on the streets. From <keyword id="107096" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tesla" source="Orion">Tesla</keyword> to Ola, most major <keyword id="186291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ev" source="Orion">EV</keyword> manufacturers use these cells to power their vehicles. And for good reason too; no other battery type offers the energy, performance and cost efficiency of a lithium-ion. However, even while rooted in essentially a good thing, the race to be the top EV manufacturer is creating trouble in our <keyword id="49089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword> paradise. To make <keyword id="632767" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lithium" source="Orion">lithium</keyword>-ion batteries, you require — you guessed it — lithium. This element isn't nearly abundant enough to ensure a frictionless EV transition, leading to vehicle manufacturers scrambling to get their hands on whatever mines can supply the "white gold". Unfortunately for the <keyword id="74610" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="tibetan-plateau" source="Orion">Tibetan Plateau</keyword>, which hosts 85% of <keyword id="1334" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="china" source="Orion">China</keyword>'s total lithium reserves, this spells disaster. Spanning over a large area that includes <keyword id="26604" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ladakh" source="Orion">Ladakh</keyword>, Spiti, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in India, some parts of China and most of Tibet, the Tibetan Plateau's pristine landscapes harbour fragile ecology. And the actions of China are proving increasingly dangerous for this region, new research has found. Being the world's biggest EV market, China requires a steady supply of lithium to keep the gears rolling. Unfortunately, this has led to exploitation of the Tibetan Plateau's reserves, leading to Chinese miners polluting the local environment with "quick, cheap and dirty" methods of extracting and processing the material, the report reads. About 3.6 million tons of China's lithium reserves are found in hard rock deposits in Tibet and adjacent provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai. Environmentally unsafe <keyword id="6355267" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mining" source="Orion">mining</keyword> techniques are destroying the region's ecology, especially in biodiverse areas particularly vulnerable to climate change. The study also mentions an incident where mining activity reportedly killed thousands of fish and ruined grasslands that the Tibetan herders were dependent on. Further, Tibetan locals are rarely ever informed that their hill pastures are being sold away or worked upon, leading to exacerbated tensions between Tibetans and China, and a worsening of rights violations. The report outlined that international EV firms are also indirectly adding to the crisis. Pressure from massive EV carmakers such as Tesla and BYD for a steady flow of lithium ensures that the region's treacherous mining escapes continue in full, unabated swing. As the demand for faster and better EVs continues to spike, so will the mining operations and the toll on Tibet. With China's growing tensions with western importers, a rush for self-reliance could further exacerbate this burden on the region — something that needs to be checked immediately.

Lithium mine overexploitation to create more electric vehicles is destroying the Tibetan Plateau

<ul><li>The UN ‘Oscar for the Best Policy’ was awarded to the northeastern Indian state of <keyword id="48118" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sikkim">Sikkim</keyword>.</li><li>This makes Sikkim the 1st fully <keyword id="1194427" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="organic-state">organic state</keyword> in the world with its sustainable agricultural policies that are inclusive and comprehensive of all socioeconomic aspects. </li><li>Pawan Kumar Chamling, the state’s Chief Minister, propagated ‘building an organic world together’.</li></ul>It’s not news that the north-eastern state of Sikkim is a leader in sustainable policies. But, the state’s efforts were <a href="http://www.fao.org/agroecology/slideshow/news-article/en/c/1157015/">finally recognised</a> by the <keyword id="6355833" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-nations">United Nations</keyword> (UN) garnering the award for having the world’s best food policies or what’s called the ‘Oscar for the Best Policy’. The world has its first fully organic state - and it’s in India. In actuality, Sikkim was already fully organic when 2015 rolled in having started its journey to being sustainable back in 2003. According to Maria Helena Semedo, Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Deputy Director, Sikkim’s policies have benefited over 66,000 family farmers. Rather than focusing on food security in isolation, the state’s food policies take socio-economic aspects like tourism, consumption, markets and development into its fold to form a comprehensive and inclusive approach toward agriculture. Sikkim’s organic world Unlike most regions that turn to sustainability and being organic as a solution once their natural capital in jeopardy, Sikkim’s organic policy came into being because of its treacherous terrain that makes normal farming methods obsolete. Going organic was an opportunity utilise land that was currently lying unused. Now Sikkim is home to bio-villages that employ effective microorganisms (EM) technology for compost and bio-pesticides. The agricultural fields use vermiculture hatcheries and compost-cum-urine pits for manure production. Even the seeds they use are organic, rather than the hybrids that are used in other parts of the country. With the ‘Seed Village Scheme’, Sikkim ensures that it has locally adapted high-quality seeds. And, in order to ensure that those seeds yield the maximum output, the state conducts regular soil health assessments. The transformation didn’t happen overnight. And the most important aspect of its success is probably the invention programme that was implemented to raise awareness about organic farming practices among farmers. That being said, it’s easier said than done. When Sikkim started on its journey to becoming an organic state in 2003, chemical lobbyists and opposition parties didn’t make it easy. Chamling asserted that it was through strong political commitment and hard work that Sikkim is where it is now. In fact, Sikkim’s story is a model example of sustainability that is currently being emulated in other northeastern states of the country and Kerala, who recently faced extensively floods as a result of unsustainable development amplified by climate change. Sikkim beat out 51 nominations from 25 countries from all over the world at the event organised by the FAO and the World Future Council (WFC). The state’s Chief Minister, Pawan Kumar Chamling, even stated, “Let us build an organic world together,” when accepting the award. (Image source: IANS)

The world has its first fully organic state - and it’s in India

<ul><li><keyword id="43998" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Ambassador">US Ambassador</keyword> Alice G Wells has backed India on its issues with China along the border that have escalated in the past one month. </li><li>The constant aggression shown by the Chinese military “has to be resisted,” she remarked in conversation with Rish Verma, the former US Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017.</li><li>“It’s a reminder of what’s at stake,” she said.</li></ul>In the backdrop of the India-China skirmish along the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> (LAC), US Ambassador Alice G Wells has come out in support of India. “If you look to the <keyword id="430735" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-China-Sea">South China Sea</keyword>, there’s a method to Chinese operations,” she said in a discussion with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr75GztKpic">Rish Verma</a>, the former US Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017. “It is the constant aggression, and the constant attempt to shift the norms — shift what is the status quo — that has to be resisted, whether it’s in the South China Sea… or whether it’s in India’s own backyard, both on land and on the Indian ocean,” she added. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75838836" title="China reportedly triples its boats in India’s Pangong Tso Lake as tensions continue to rise" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Wells, who is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, remarked that the problem is all the more acute in light of China’s efforts to “evade responsibility and spread misinformation.” The tensions between India and China along the LAC have been escalating over the past month, with reports of Chinese troops tripling their surveillance and the Indian Army setting up new construction. “I think for anyone who was under any illusion about Chinese aggression was only rhetorical needs to speak to India where India, on a weekly, monthly and on a daily regular basis has to experience the pinpricks of the Chinese military,” said Wells. Temporary face-offs between the two sides aren’t uncommon, but the intensification of reinforcements seems like a cause of concern with the entire country currently under lockdown. “It’s a reminder of what’s at stake — building and sustaining a world order that respects sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as the rules of international trade,” she added. China puts the blame on India In a statement released on May 19, <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tensions-escalate-along-lac-in-sikkim-as-china-accuses-india-of-trespass/article31629997.ece">China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs</a> claimed, “the Indian Army has crossed the line across the western section of the Sino-India borders and the Sikkim section to enter Chinese territory.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Army are yet to address the recent issues but officially, there have been two alterations along the India-China border. The first was on May 5, near the Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh. The second occurred on May 9 at Naka La in northern Sikkim. In both cases, the confrontation resulted in aggressive behaviour on either side with injuries sustained by troops of both armies. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75818433" title="Amidst a pandemic, both China and India have reportedly deployed troops in Ladakh as tensions flare up along the border" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> The point of contention seems to be India’s construction of roads and upgradation of infrastructure along the bordering areas. The Border Roads Organisation’s (BRO) project involves completing the construction of 61 strategic roads by 2022, including a 250-kilometre stretch along the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Ladakh. “Temporary and short duration face-offs between border guarding troops do occur along the LAC due to the differing perceptions of the alignment of boundaries, which are not resolved,” Army Chief Gen Manoj Naravane said last week in a statement. “Development of infrastructure capabilities along our Northern borders is on track,” he added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/china-triples-its-boats-in-indias-pangong-tso-lake-as-tensions-continue-to-rise/articleshow/75838836.cms">China reportedly triples its boats in India’s Pangong Tso Lake as tensions continue to rise</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/amidst-covid19-pandemic-china-and-india-deploy-troops-in-ladakh-border/articleshow/75818433.cms">Amidst a pandemic, both China and India have reportedly deployed troops in Ladakh as tensions flare up along the border</a>

US Ambassador backs India on rising tensions at China border— 'it's a reminder of what’s at stake'

Gangtok, Dec 22 () Sikkim IFFCO Organics Ltd (SIIFCO) on Sunday laid the foundation stone for its organic food processing unit in the state which will be built at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
 Sikkim IFFCO Organics is a joint venture (JV) between IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative) and the Sikkim government. 
 The foundation stone for the plant, located in Rangpo, East Sikkim, was laid by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. The manufacturing would start from December 2020, fertiliser major IFFCO said in a statement.
 Union Agriculture Minister Narender Singh Tomar was also present on the occasion. 
 The JV has been formed to promote and market the organic produce of India, especially from Sikkim and other North Eastern states of the country. 
 The major commercial crops in which Sikkim IFFCO will operate are ginger, turmeric, large cardamom and buckwheat. 
 "The initial cost of the project is Rs 50 crore. The manufacturing would kick start from December 2020," the statement said. 
 All Sikkim IFFCO products will be certified 100 per cent organic. 
 Tamang said Sikkim is the first state of India to go 100 per cent organic, committing itself to attain sustainable agriculture and to promote the Green Himalayan Economy. 
 He said the JV is a step in the direction of a safer food supply chain and environment protection. 
 Tamang said the joint venture would ensure that the state of Sikkim fulfils the mission of doubling farmers' income.
 The chief minister urged farmers to establish the gold standard of organic farming. 
 He complemented IFFCO and Sikkim government's initiative to strengthen organic agriculture in the country. 
 This will help in boosting the economy of North Eastern states, he said.
 IFFCO MD U S Awasthi said food processing ensures value addition to the crops, which further ensures farmers make most profit out of their produce. 
 Sikkim IIFCO will be capable of promoting these certified organic products worldwide and enhancing the 100 per cent organic image of Sikkim state globally. 
 He emphasised that IFFCO has made efforts to retain soil fertility and ecological health by introducing organic fertilizers also.
 Sikkim IFFCO has already signed two MoUs -- one with Blossoms Biodynamics, USA for utilizing their marketing and distribution in the North American markets and other with Centar Dr Rudolfa Steinera, Croatia for marketing its products in Croatia and the European Union. MJH RVK

Sikkim IFFCO lays foundation stone for organic food processing unit

The devastating <keyword id="21208239" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon-season" source="keywords">monsoon season</keyword> of 2024 has inflicted profound tragedy across <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword>, marked by a series of catastrophic events. In <keyword id="19896018" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Kerala" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Kerala">Kerala</keyword>, relentless rains triggered deadly <keyword id="19964849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="landslides" source="keywords">landslides</keyword>, leaving scores feared dead and hundreds trapped under debris. These are scenarios that have become alarmingly common this year due to the torrential rainfall and improper disaster-abating infrastructure in our country. <h2>Monsoon mayhem across India</h2>Since the onset of the monsoon in June, nearly 150 people have lost their lives in various rain-related incidents across India. The situation has been particularly dire in states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala. <ul><li>Gujarat: The state has reported 65 deaths due to heavy rainfall, the highest so far this season. Many of these lives were lost due to widespread flooding, landslides and other rain-related incidents.</li><li>Himachal Pradesh: With 56 fatalities, the state has faced severe flooding and landslides, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and necessitating massive <keyword id="20501159" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rescue-operations" source="keywords">rescue operations</keyword>.</li><li>Delhi: The capital experienced its heaviest June rainfall in 88 years, resulting in six deaths and significant disruptions, including the closure of a terminal at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.</li><li>Maharashtra: Recent heavy rains have claimed six lives and injured 12 after triggering a landslide that trapped many in Lavasa. The downpours also inundated many houses in low-lying parts of the state.</li><li>Kerala: Landslides triggered by incessant rains around 2 AM on Tuesday trapped hundreds and resulted in 54 deaths so far, with rescue operations ongoing. The landslides have hit many areas, including Mundakkai, Attamal, Chooralmala and Kunhone.</li></ul> The Indian government, along with state authorities, has been actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. In Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced financial aid for affected families and coordinated with the National Disaster Response Force and other agencies for evacuation and relief efforts. In Delhi, the government, assisted by the army, managed rescue operations and worked to restore essential services disrupted by the flooding of the <keyword id="20334716" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yamuna-river" source="keywords">Yamuna River</keyword>. 200 soldiers have also been deployed to Kerala to assist the landslide-trapped. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112127108" title="IMD issues Red alert for Wayanad, neighbouring districts" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2><keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">Climate change</keyword> and increased vulnerability</h2>Forecasters and scientists have been warning that such events are only set to turn more frequent and deadly in the coming years, thanks to climate change. Rising temperatures have the ability to lead to more intense monsoon rains, increasing the likelihood of <keyword id="19912527" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="floods" source="keywords">floods</keyword> and landslides. Further, increased soil saturation and flooding can also undermine the stability of railway tracks, leading to higher risks of derailments during such periods of intense rain. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112125756" title="Wayanad landslides: NDRF teams, Army choppers, Ministers rush to Wayanad" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon season in 2023 saw around 170 <keyword id="21330823" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rain-related-deaths" source="keywords">rain-related deaths</keyword> by the end of July, as per media reports. This year, the toll has already surpassed this figure, indicating the growing severity of weather events attributed to climate change. <h2>Increased budget for disaster management</h2>However, there is good news in the fact that the Government is taking notice. In response to the increasing frequency of such <keyword id="21172782" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="disasters" source="keywords">disasters</keyword>, the Union Budget 2024-25 has made substantial allocations towards disaster prevention and management, even earmarking special relief funds for several states grappling with regular disasters, such as Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim for flood management, landslide and related projects. As per the Ministry of Finance, through the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and other sources, government will provide financial support for projects with estimated cost of Rs 11,500 crore such as the Kosi-Mechi intra-state link and 20 other ongoing and new schemes including barrages, river pollution abatement and irrigation projects. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112128671" title="Kerala landslides: Toll climbs to 45, rescue ops underway" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>With the monsoon season still in progress, the government and disaster management agencies remain on high alert. Continuous efforts are being made to improve infrastructure resilience and enhance early warning systems to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters. However, the ongoing challenges posed by climate change necessitate sustained and comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure.

Kerala landslide adds to tally of over 180 rain-related deaths since June

Indian and Chinese troops appeared heading for a long haul as their tense standoff in the disputed areas of <keyword id="1358217" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pangong-Tso">Pangong Tso</keyword> and <keyword id="9241086" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Galwan-Valley">Galwan Valley</keyword> along the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> in eastern <keyword id="26604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ladakh">Ladakh</keyword> showed no signs of abating even as efforts to de-escalate the tension through talks continued. In the midst of the flare-ups, the <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword> on Sunday categorically rejected reports that Indian patrol teams were detained by Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh in the last few days, but did not provide any details of the current situation in the region. "There has been no detention of Indian soldiers at the borders. We categorically deny this. It only hurts national interests when media outlets publish unsubstantiated news," the Army said in a statement. People familiar with the situation in the region said the two sides were engaged in trying to resolve the dispute, but there was no indication of a positive outcome yet as both the armies continued to bolster their positions in disputed areas of Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley and Demchok. The Chinese side has particularly strengthened its presence in the Galwan Valley, erecting around 100 tents in the last two weeks and bringing in heavy equipment for construction of bunkers. The Indian side has conveyed its strong objection to China pitching tents and bringing in heavy equipment during the meetings between local commanders of the two armies last week. There have been reports of multiple incidents of transgressions by Chinese troops in several areas in Eastern Ladakh and soldiers from the two sides were involved in scuffles on at least two occasions, sources said. The sources said the Indian Army has also been increasing its strength in both Pangong Tso lake, Galwan Valley and Demchok. The Indian troops are also resorting to "aggressive patrolling" in several sensitive areas including Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldi, they said. The situation in Eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. India on Thursday said the Chinese military was hindering normal patrolling by its troops and asserted that India has always taken a very responsible approach towards border management. At a media briefing, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava also strongly refuted China's contention that the tension was triggered due to trespassing by Indian forces on the Chinese side. India's response came two days after China accused the Indian Army of trespassing into its territory, claiming that it was an "attempt to unilaterally change the status" of the LAC in Sikkim and Ladakh. On May 5, the Indian and <keyword id="47942" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chinese-army">Chinese army</keyword> personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries. The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. China has been critical of India's reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, and has particularly criticised New Delhi for making Ladakh a union territory. China lays claim over several parts of Ladakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first informal summit in April 2018 in the Chinese city of Wuhan, months after the Doklam standoff. In the summit, the two leaders decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications so that they can build trust and understanding. Modi and Xi held their second informal summit in Mamallapuram near Chennai in October last year with a focus on further broadening bilateral ties. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/raymond-layoffs-salary-cuts-and-complaints-of-pending-severance-pay/articleshow/75945502.cms">Raymond lays off hundreds of employees⁠— some of them say they haven’t received the promised severance pay</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/itc-to-acquire-spices-maker-sunrise-foods-for-estimated-1800-2000-crore/articleshow/75961823.cms">ITC to acquire spices maker Sunrise Foods for estimated ₹1,800-2,000 crore</a>

Standoff continues at India-China border with no indication of 'positive outcome'

Reiterating his offer to mediate on the border dispute between India and China, US President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> has said that he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is not in a "good mood" over the "big conflict" between the two countries. Interacting with journalists in the Oval Office of the <keyword id="6356037" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="white-house">White House</keyword> on Thursday, Trump said a "big conflict" was going on between India and China. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="76037792" title="Donald Trump offers to mediate the ‘raging’ border dispute between India and China" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> "They like me in India. I think they like me in India more than the media likes me in this country. And, I like Modi. I like your prime minister a lot. He is a great gentleman," he said. "They have a big conflict ...India and China. Two countries with 1.4 billion people (each). Two countries with very powerful militaries. India is not happy and probably China is not happy," the president said when asked if he was worried about the border situation between India and China. "I can tell you; I did speak to Prime Minister Modi. He is not in a good mood about what is going on with China," Trump said. A day earlier, the president offered to mediate between India and China. Trump on Wednesday said in a tweet that he was "ready, willing and able to mediate" between the two countries. Responding to a question on his tweet, Trump reiterated his offer, saying if called for help, "I would do that (mediate). If they thought it would help" about "mediate or arbitrate, I would do that," he said. India on Wednesday said it was engaged with China to peacefully resolve the border row, in a carefully crafted reaction to Trump's offer to arbitrate between the two Asian giants to settle their decades-old dispute. "We are engaged with the Chinese side to peacefully resolve it," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson <keyword id="916281" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anurag-Srivastava">Anurag Srivastava</keyword> said, replying to a volley of questions at an online media briefing. "The two sides have established mechanisms both at military and diplomatic levels to resolve situations which may arise in border areas peacefully through dialogue and continue to remain engaged through these channels," he said. While the Chinese Foreign Ministry is yet to react to Trump's tweet which appears to have caught Beijing by surprise, an op-ed in the state-run Global Times said both countries did not need such help from the US president. "The latest dispute can be solved bilaterally by China and India. The two countries should keep alert on the US, which exploits every chance to create waves that jeopardise regional peace and order," it said. Trump's unexpected offer came on a day when China took an apparently conciliatory tone by saying that the situation at the border with India is "overall stable and controllable." In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday that both China and India have proper mechanisms and communication channels to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultations. Trump previously offered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, a proposal that was rejected by New Delhi. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after around 250 Chinese and Indian soldiers were engaged in a violent face-off on the evening of May 5 which spilled over to the next day before the two sides agreed to "disengage" following a meeting at the level of local commanders. Over 100 Indian and Chinese soldiers were injured in the violence. The incident in Pangong Tso was followed by a similar incident in North Sikkim on May 9. On May 5, the Indian and the Chinese army personnel clashed with iron rods, sticks, and even resorted to stone-pelting in the Pangong Tso lake area in which soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engaged in a face-off near Naku La Pass in the Sikkim sector on May 9. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries. The troops of India and China were engaged in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/india-china-border-dispute-beijing-sends-more-troops/articleshow/76060995.cms">China is reportedly adding troops on the Ladakh border⁠ and India is matching up to it</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/donald-trump-offers-to-mediate-india-china-border-dispute/articleshow/76037792.cms">Donald Trump offers to mediate the ‘raging’ border dispute between India and China</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/locust-swarms-are-turning-into-a-diplomatic-issue-between-india-and-pakistan/articleshow/76083482.cms">Locust swarms are turning into a diplomatic issue between India and Pakistan</a>

Trump feels that Modi is not in a 'good mood' over 'big conflict' with China

<ul><li>India’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) believes that India’s progress to address <keyword id="6361617" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change">climate change</keyword> has been “commendable”. </li><li>The progress is largely concentrated in eight states and two union territories, most of which are located in southern India. </li><li>Among the front-runners leading the charge to achieve Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh are the only north Indian state and union territory perform above average. </li></ul>India’s Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) believes that India’s progress to address climate change has been “commendable”. However, despite the country’s score improving from 57 in 2018 to 60 in 2019 — the progress is largely concentrated in eight states and two union territories, most of which are located in southern India. “India’s progress in adopting, implementing, and monitoring sustainable development goals (SDGs) stands noteworthy,” said the <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601251">Economic Survey 2020</a>. Among the front-runners leading the charge to achieve Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh are the only north Indian state and union territory perform above average. The other states are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, <keyword id="37102" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Andhra-Pradesh">Andhra Pradesh</keyword>, <keyword id="68884" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword>, Karnataka, Goa, and Puducherry with Sikkim as another outlier in the east. <div type="image" title="image1" msid="73805219" hostid="261"></div>

 India’s current strategies to focus “on clean and efficient energy system, enhanced energy efficiency, resilient urban infrastructure, safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network, planned afforestation,” may be working — but it’s difficult to deny the disparity. Here’s what India has to deliver Under the NDC, India has promised to reduce its emissions to 33-35% below 2005 levels by 2030. It also has to ensure that 40% of its electric power capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources and that it increases its forest cover. “India is among a few countries in the world where, despite ongoing developmental efforts, forest and tree cover are increasing considerably,” notes the Survey. This year, tree cover has reached 80.73 million hectares, accounting for 24.56% of India’s geographical area. However, the annual change in forest cover isn’t the same for everyone. States like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya have seen a drop in forest cover in the two years since 2017. The survey states that India has achieved 83 GW out of the targeted 175 GW Renewable Energy through one of the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programs. Yet, it has been unable to solve the crisis of stubble burning — on the primary reasons behind the increase in pollution levels. India’s CEA also claims that the Swachh Bharat Mission has come out as a winner in overall environment improvement. All the urban areas are open defecation free and the waste processing increased from 18% to 60%. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/budget-2020-and-kv-subramanian-economic-survey-has-signals-for-banks/articleshow/73801122.cms?src=hp_ts">Economic Survey 2020 has signs for what banks can expect from Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech</a>

Only 8 states in the country have made meaningful progress to fight climate change

New Delhi, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> has become the third <keyword id="10720275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="topmost-country">topmost country</keyword> in the world in terms of the number of <keyword id="8904563" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</keyword> doses administered, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. Only the <keyword id="6356955" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states">United States</keyword> and the <keyword id="6361754" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-kingdom">United Kingdom</keyword> remain ahead of India. The ministry said 12 states in India have vaccinated more than 2 lakh beneficiaries each. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 6,73,542 of all vaccinated beneficiaries. Till February 7, 8 am, a total of 57.75 lakh beneficiaries have received the vaccine under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination exercise. The cumulative vaccination coverage includes 53,04,546 healthcare workers and 4,70,776 frontline workers, the ministry said. In a span of 24 hours, 3,58,473 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 8,875 sessions. Also, a total 1,15,178 sessions have been conducted so far. "There has been a sustained increase in the number of beneficiaries being vaccinated every day," the ministry said. "In another significant development, the country has reported less than 80 daily deaths in the last 24 hours, lowest in nine months," it said. The country's total COVID-19 active case is 1.48 lakh which consists of 1.37 per cent of India's total infections. India's cumulative recoveries surged to 1.05 crore. A total of 12,059 new daily cases have been recorded in a span of 24 hours whereas 11,805 patients have recovered and discharged during the same period. The ministry said 81.07 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 6 states and UTs. Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 6,178 newly recovered cases. A total of 1,739 people recovered in Maharashtra in a span of 24 hours followed by 503 in Tamil Nadu. The ministry said 84.83 per cent of the daily new cases are from 6 States and UTs. Kerala reports the highest daily new cases at 5,942. It is followed by Maharashtra with 2,768, while Karnataka reported 531 new cases. A total of 78 fatalities have been recorded in a span of 24 hours. Five states and UTs account for 69.23 per cent of the daily deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (25). Kerala follows with 16 daily deaths and Punjab reported 5 casualties, the ministry said. Seventeen states and UTs have not reported any deaths in a span of 24 hours. These include Haryana, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Jharkhand, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Lakshadweep, Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh (UT), Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heres-why-you-arent-being-able-to-apply-for-brookfield-reit-ipo-through-zerodha-groww-angel-broking-and-other-stockbroking-apps/articleshow/80686457.cms">Here's why you aren't being able to apply for Brookfield REIT IPO through Zerodha, Groww and other stockbroking apps</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/analysts-explain-why-indigo-paints-shares-fell-with-a-thud-just-like-burger-king-and-mrs-bectors-and-what-to-do-with-it-now/articleshow/80704864.cms">Indigo Paints joins the league of Burger King and Bector's — frenzied IPOs that fizzled out</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-india-stack-that-bill-gates-and-sundar-pichai-so-love-is-set-to-get-much-bigger-thanks-to-the-indian-governments-new-blockchain-strategy/articleshow/80718403.cms">The India stack that Bill Gates and Sundar Pichai so love is set to get much bigger – thanks to the Indian government’s new blockchain strategy</a>

After US and UK, India becomes topmost country with maximum number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, says Union Health Minister

<ul><li>China has not just expanded but doubled the number of military facilities along its shared border with India, according to a report by Stratfor. </li><li>Security and military analyst Sim Tack estimates that at least 13 new military positions have appeared since the 2017 Dokhlam standoff. </li><li>After fresh tensions sparked in May, China initiated the construction of four new heliports. </li></ul>Over the last four months, experts, politicians, the Indian Army, and others have often reiterated that the situation along the <keyword id="49399" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Line-of-Actual-Control">Line of Actual Control</keyword> (LAC) between India and China is unlike any other face off in the past. That may well be true with China changing tactics and doubling down on building military infrastructure along the border. Not only has this increased the number of friction points between two of the largest countries in the world, but it has also forced New Delhi to rethink its take on the issue of national security, according to security and military analyst Sim Tack’s report in <a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/military-drive-spells-out-chinas-intent-along-indian-border">Stratfor.</a> After fresh tensions sparked in May, China initiated the construction of four heliports. But, this is only the latest tranche of its military infrastructure. China’s military posturing has been the works for a while India’s Asian neighbor has been doubling down on the number of air bases, air defence positions, and heliports on its side of the shared border since the 2017 Dokhlam standoff. Tack <a href="https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/military-drive-spells-out-chinas-intent-along-indian-border">estimates </a>that China has started building up at least 13 new military positions after the clash. According to the Stratfor report, China’s developments ‘long term developments’ indicated its future intent to ram up ‘Chinese assertive military posturing in border disputes with India’ — not unlike what it’s already doing in the South China Sea. “China’s strategy aims to confront India with an insurmountable challenge in territorial disputes by leaning on broad support capabilities that provide Beijing with a tremendous ability to mobilise forces into disputed border areas,” said the report. Even though the latest skirmishes are near Ladakh, the tensions along the India-China border are likely to drive future expansion of Indian military infrastructure. Especially in other regions like Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh as well. “By forcing India to respond in kind, China’s aggressive strategy is leading to a greater concentration of military assets in heavily disputed areas along the border that could raise the risk of potential escalations and sustained conflict,” warned the report. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/latest-updates-on-india-china-border-issue/articleshow/78162853.cms">India-China border dispute was discussed for 14 hours at the sixth Corps Commander-level meeting</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/yes-bank-ceo-prashant-kumar-clarifies-that-the-forensic-investigation-isnt-restricted-to-the-top-10-defaulters/articleshow/78255868.cms">EXCLUSIVE: YES Bank CEO Prashant Kumar clarifies that the forensic investigation isn't restricted to the top 10 defaulters</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/dailyhunt-to-launch-family-of-bharat-apps-claiming-it-can-push-a-new-mobile-app-every-three-days/articleshow/78250283.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Dailyhunt is curating an entire family of 'Bharat' apps — claims it can push a new mobile app every three days</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rajya-sabha-passes-banking-amendment-bill-2020/articleshow/78251384.cms">Rajya Sabha passes Banking Amendment Bill 2020 bringing cooperative banks under RBI's umbrella</a>

China is reportedly expanding and upgrading a large number of military facilities along the border with India

New Delhi, Feb 21 () India's organic food market is growing at 17 per cent annually and has the potential to grow at a faster pace on rising demand for health and wellness food products across the world, Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said on Friday.Badal and Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Smriti Irani jointly inaugurated an organic food festival for women entrepreneurs at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium here. The festival with a theme ''Unleasing India's Organic Market Potential'' has been organised by both the ministries with CII as the industry partner.More than 180 women entrepreneurs, self-help groups (SHGs) and co-operatives are taking part in this three-day exhibition organised in the national capital during February 21-23.Addressing the event, Badal said the two ministries have come together to give women entrepreneurs in the organic sector "wings to fly and reach the sky". She said this festival would be organised six times a year across India, and the plan is to make it an international exhibition in the near future. She said the entire world is looking towards organic and wellness food, which is required for both physical and mental health."In organic and health foods, India is a power house," Badal said, adding that there are many parts of India which are naturally organic such as Sikkim, hilly states and tribal belts.This organic festival provides a platform to women entrepreneurs to connect with consumers as well as retailers, Badal said."The organic sector in India is growing by almost 17 per cent every year... In times to come, the trend is going to grow much faster," the minister said.Earlier this month, Badal had said the organic food market will touch Rs 75,000 crore in the next five years. Badal said food processing, value addition and organic food would be instrumental in the government's target to double farmers' income."Under the able leadership of Minister of Food Processing, we celebrate the entrepreneurial potential of over 180 women in this segment of organic food under the aegis of this festival," said Irani, who is also the Textile Minister.The government has ensured that women entrepreneurs get Mudra loans to start their venture, Irani said.She said foreign direct investment (FDI) in the food processing sector has increased substantially under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The government is providing sustainable environment not only to farmers but also to entrepreneurs by engaging them with latest technology in food processing, the WCD minister said.Irani stressed on providing access to latest food processing technology available globally to entrepreneurs, especially women.Apart from women entrepreneurs, the minister suggested that Divyang citizens should be part of this organic food festival from next year. Tribal produce and nutritious food supported by Poshan Abhiyan should also be included. Food Processing Secretary Pushpa Subrahmanyam highlighted that India is ranked number one in organic producers and ninth in area under cultivation for organic products.The country produced around 1.7 million tonnes of certified organic products in 2017-18. It exported organic products worth USD 515 million in the same year.To boost organic products and women entrepreneurship, the two ministries had signed a memorandum of understanding last year to help them get connect with government's financial schemes.The overall effort is targeted towards strengthening organic branding for India by enhancing direct linkage of local producers with buyers as well as boosting processing potential of organic output.During the festival, training programmes will be organised for women entrepreneurs in the area of packaging, storage, marketing, innovations on renewable energy, food safety regulations and organic certifications. MJH MJH ANSANSANS

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