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☆ India’s UPI: How e-payments have taken over, from sari shops to street food stalls
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Amy Gunia | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“Digital payments are likely to enhance India’s growth by eliminating frictions, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs,” Eswar Prasad, an economics professor at Cornell University, told CNN. Covid-19 further boosted the adoption of digital transactions, as people tried to protect themselves from the virus. In 2023, the number of UPI transactions topped 100 billion. Azeez, a 34-year-old rickshaw driver in Old Delhi, told CNN that he’s too scared of losing money to use e-payments. Sania Farooqui/CNNConvenience aside, India’s digital public infrastructure has helped it achieve an 80% financial inclusion rate.

Persons: Brij Kishore, ”, Agarwal, tuk, India’s, Narendra Modi, Eswar Prasad, Old Delhi Sania Farooqui, Ramesh Kumar's, Sania Farooqui, Ramesh Kumar, he’s, Azeez, Prasad, Kapil Sharma, “ Organizations: Hong Kong / New Delhi CNN, ”, Unified, “, frictions, Cornell University, CNN, “ UPI, India, National Payments Corporation of India, UPI, Sarojini, Finance, Eiffel Locations: Hong Kong / New Delhi, Chandni, India’s Old Delhi, Delhi, India, Old Delhi, Sarojini, Covid

The Chesapeake 1000 – the largest crane on the East Coast – is needed in the Patapsco River where a 984-foot cargo vessel slammed into the bridge Tuesday. Live updates: The latest on the Baltimore bridge collapseIn addition to the crane, three heavy lift vessels are expected to start arriving Friday, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN. This appraisal is critical in determining how small to cut the bridge pieces so cranes can lift them, he said. In addition to the human toll, the destruction of the Key Bridge and closure of the Port of Baltimore could lead to widespread economic fallout. In this NTSB handout, an investigator examines the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the cargo vessel Dali on March 27 in Baltimore.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Pete Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Julia Nikhinson, ” Moore, Shannon Gilreath, Moore, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Buttigieg, “, Jennifer Homendy, Homendy, Marcel Muise, Dali, Peter Knudson, CNN’s Justin Lear, Andy Rose, Sarah Dewberry, Chris Isidore, David Goldman, Greg Wallace, Elise Hammond, Tori B, Powell, Sania Farooqui, Chris Boyette Organizations: CNN, Maryland Gov, Authorities, US Coast Guard, National Transportation Safety, Army Corps, Maryland Department of Labor, National Transportation, NTSB, India’s Ministry, External Affairs Locations: Patapsco, Baltimore, Maryland, Port, Port of Baltimore, America, New York, New Jersey, Vedika Sud

New Delhi CNN —India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned a US State Department official after the department called for a fair legal process for opposition leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal following his arrest last week. “We take strong objection to the remarks of the Spokesperson of the US State Department about certain legal proceedings in India,” the Ministry said in a statement Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday summoned Gloria Berbena, the State Department Minister-Counselor for Public Diplomacy, according to a diplomatic officer with knowledge of the matter. At a briefing later on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller declined to discuss “private diplomatic conversations” when asked about Berbena’s summoning, but stood by the department’s previous comments. India’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress, has also accused the BJP of using the tax department to “cripple” their finances.

Persons: Arvind Kejriwal, Gloria Berbena, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Kejriwal, Modi, Narendra Modi’s, Kejriwal’s, ” Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN — India’s, External Affairs, US State Department, Affairs, State Department, Public Diplomacy, State, Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Congress, Human Rights, Amnesty, India Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, India

CNN —British singer Ed Sheeran wowed the stage in Mumbai with Diljit Dosanjh over the weekend as the pair sang a rendition of the Indian artist’s hit track “Lover” in Punjabi, a duet that promptly lit up India’s social media. Both artists posted videos of their performances on Instagram, with huge cheers from the crowd as Sheeran invited his singing partner onto the stage. “Got to bring out @diljitdosanjh tonight in Mumbai and sing in Punjabi for the first time. I’ve had such an incredible time in India, more to come!” Sheeran wrote in a post. Fans and Indian celebrities on social media praised Dosanjh for getting Sheeran to sing in an Indian language.

Persons: Ed Sheeran, Dosanjh, Sheeran, “, I’ve, ” Sheeran, Singer, Diljit, ”, Varun Dhawan, Sahil Bulla, ” Dosanjh, “ Hass Hass, Sia Organizations: CNN, Spotify Locations: British, Mumbai, India, London, Australia, Punjab, Pakistan

☆ Pigeon suspected of spying for China released in India after PETA intervention, group says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Heather Chen | Sania Farooqui | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A pigeon suspected of spying for China and held for eight months was released by Indian officials this week after intervention from animal rights organization PETA, the group said in a statement. “After learning that a pigeon was held at the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals (BSDPHA) in Parel as case property for an astonishing eight months, PETA India sprang into action to secure the bird’s freedom from captivity,” PETA said. The animal’s ordeal began in May last year, when it was captured near a port in Mumbai. There was a message written on the pigeon’s wings in words that appeared to be Chinese, PETA added. B. Kulkarni, Chief Medical Superintendent of the BSDPHA,” PETA said.

Persons: Dinshaw, ”, Mumbai’s, Narendra Modi, B, Kulkarni, Bombay SPCA, Hvaldimir Organizations: CNN, Indian, PETA, Hospital for Animals, ” PETA, ” CNN, Bombay Society for Locations: China, Parel, PETA India, Mumbai, Bombay, Russian

Workers walk in front of the site of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, India, while it is under construction on December 29, 2023. Anushree Fadnavis/ReutersIndian engineering group Larsen and Toubro is constructing the temple within a 70-acre (28 hectares) complex, with the construction expected to cost about 15 billion rupees ($180 million). The government has not provided funds for its establishment and donations of about 30 billion rupees ($361 million) have been collected for the complex. Three sculptors carved murals of Lord Ram, one of which was picked by a panel to reside inside the sanctum sanctorum. The black stone sculpture weighs between 150 – 200 kgs (440 lbs) and depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy.

Persons: Anushree Fadnavis, Larsen, Toubro, Lord Ram Locations: Ayodhya, India, Indian

☆ India tunnel collapse: Rescuers in Uttarakhand dig past halfway mark in efforts to reach workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Sania Farooqui | Manveena Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Rescuers in India drilled past the halfway mark on Wednesday in efforts to reach workers trapped in a partially collapsed tunnel in the Himalayas. Forty-one labourers became trapped in India’s northern Uttarakhand state after part of the passageway to the tunnel’s entrance gave way on November 12, sparking a frantic rescue mission. People stand near the entrance to the site of the collapsed tunnel in northern India on Friday. Rahul Grover/APA high-powered drilling machine is airlifted in to assist in the tunnel rescue. A second pipeline was put in place on Tuesday to deliver more food to the workers.

Persons: Rahul Grover, Neeraj Khairlanji, Narendra Modi’s Char Organizations: CNN, Rescuers, Authorities, India’s, Management Authority, Indian Locations: India, India’s, Uttarakhand, Narendra Modi’s Char Dham, China

CNN —A search and rescue operation has been launched for more than 100 missing people in India’s northeast after flash floods ripped through the Himalayan state of Sikkim Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and washing away roads and bridges, according to the state government. Known as the rooftop of the world, the ecologically-sensitive Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides and flooding is not unusual in Sikkim. High water levels in the Teesta river in Sikkim, India, on October 4. Rising water levels of the Teesta river in Sikkim, India, after flash flooding indundated the region. About 2,000 people were evacuated after the flash floods in Sikkim.

Persons: Prem Singh Tamang, Narendra Modi, ” Organizations: CNN, Indian Army, of, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, ” ISRO, state’s Disaster Management Authority, Sikkim’s Department of Science, Technology, . Indian Army, India Meteorological Department, Indian, Indian Institute of Technology Locations: India’s, Sikkim, Lhonak, Sikkim’s, India, of Sikkim, Lhonak Lake, Pakyong, Gangtok, Pakistan, Peru, China, Government, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Uttarakhand

CNN —Five people have died and 23 Indian Army personnel are missing in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim after a cloudburst led to flash floods. The flooding happened in the Teesta River in Lachen valley, Sikkim, due to a “sudden cloudburst” over Lhonak Lake in the northern part of the state, the Indian Army said in a statement. Flood waters inundate buildings along the Teesta river in Sikkim, India, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. Indian Army/APFive bodies have been recovered, according to a statement by the government of Sikkim. At least three bridges have collapsed and about 420 people from two districts have been moved to relief camps, according to the government of Sikkim.

Organizations: CNN, Indian Army, Army Locations: Sikkim, Lachen, India

New Delhi CNN —The bulldozers and government officials arrived just before dawn, tearing down the row of shanties as its bewildered residents watched inconsolably nearby. CNN has reached out to the New Delhi and federal governments but is yet to receive a response. Rhea Mogul/CNN“I can’t explain how distraught everyone was as they bulldozed the homes,” Savita said. The demolitions are being done with extreme cruelty.”Savita helps her children with homework at a temporary home in Delhi. Modi sees India as a confident and modern superpower, a voice for the voiceless seizing the 21st century.

Persons: ”, Joe Biden, France’s Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Rhea Mogul, Narendra Modi, Harsh Mander, Jayanti Devi, Savita, ” Savita, “, ” Mander, Modi, ” Modi, …, ’, ” Devi Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, ”, British, CNN, Policy Research, Survey, India, ASI, CNN Homeless, Workers, Indian National Congress, Commonwealth Games, Global, “ Locations: New Delhi, “, Devi, Pragati, Rhea, India, Delhi, Mander, Ukraine, United States

Ruined rice crops in India's Haryana state. More than three billion people worldwide rely on rice as a staple food and India contributed to about 40% of global rice exports. India's rice stock is piling up as a result of the ban. Vijay Bedi/CNNAt one of New Delhi’s largest rice trading hubs, there are fears among traders that the export ban will cause catastrophic consequences. “The export ban has left traders with huge amounts of stock,” said rice trader Roopkaran Singh.

Persons: India CNN — Satish Kumar, “ I’ve, ”, Kumar, Vijay Bedi, Niño, ” Kumar, ” Satish Kumar, Ukraine —, ” Arif Husain, Pierre, Olivier Gourinchas, ” Husain, “, CNN Surjit Singh, Harayana, …, El Niño, Roopkaran Singh, Husain Organizations: India CNN, CNN, United Nations Food, Agriculture Organization, India wasn’t, United Nations, Food Programme, ” Workers, Thai Rice, Association, India’s Ministry of Agriculture, Monetary Fund, Farmers, Reuters, Meteorological Organization Locations: Harayana, India, India’s Haryana, “, India's Haryana, Ukraine, Global South, United States, Russia, Rice, New Delhi, CNN Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, El, India’s, West Africa

Violence erupted in the northern state of Harayana state on Monday after a right-wing Hindu organization led a religious procession in the Muslim dominated region of Nuh. However, opposition politicians and activists have called the attack a “hate crime” that targeted India’s Muslim minority population. Increase in hate crimesThe latest communal violence come against a broader rise in hate crimes against minority groups. Last month, the BJP chief minister of the state of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, blamed Muslims for the soaring prices of tomatoes. Some cities named after historic Muslim figures have also been renamed to reflect India’s Hindu history.

Persons: Parveen Kumar, Narendra, Modi, Yogi, Asgar Ali, Mohammed, Ali, haven’t, Police haven’t, Asaduddin, ”, Jairam Ramesh, ” Asim Ali, Deepankar Basu, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Barack Obama, “ Hussain Obama ”, Obama, Adityanath, Donald Trump’s, Rana Ayyub Organizations: New Delhi CNN, Extra, Hindustan Times, Haryana Police, CNN, ” Police, Police, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Dal, NDTV Locations: New Delhi, India, Harayana, Nuh, Gurgaon, Gurugram’s, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Haryana, Nuh Chowk, Gurugram, Hindustan, Delhi, Manipur, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, today’s India

CNN —A mysterious cylinder that washed ashore in Western Australia is debris from an Indian space launch, authorities in both countries have said, ending a flurry of speculation over the object’s origin. The cylinder was part of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had previously launched, Sudheer Kumar, a director at ISRO, told CNN. The Australian Space Agency had previously tweeted on Monday that it had concluded its investigation into the object, and had reached the same conclusion. The Australian Space Agency said Monday that if any further suspected debris is found, it should be reported to local authorities. The debris remains in storage and the Australian Space Agency is working with ISRO, who will provide further confirmation to determine next steps, including considering obligations under the United Nations space treaties,” the Australian space agency added.

Persons: Sudheer Kumar, ” Organizations: CNN, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, Australian Space Agency, United, Police Locations: Western Australia, Perth, United Nations, India, Australian

CNN —A graphic video emerged on social media Wednesday from Manipur amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the northeastern Indian state. The video, which is going viral on social media, depicts an incident from May 4, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) showing two women being forced to walk naked through a crowd of fully clothed men. The distressing video, that has been seen by CNN, shows the terrified victims surrounded by a mob of men, many brandishing long canes or sticks as weapons. Among other things, tribal status would enable the Meitei to buy land and provide more opportunities for government jobs. “After taking a Suo-moto cognisance of the incident immediately after the video surfaced, the Manipur Police swung to action and made the first arrest this morning.

Persons: Narendra Modi, ” Modi, Biju Boro, ”, Mallikarjun Kharge, Modi, –, Biren Singh Organizations: CNN, Indigenous Tribal, ’, Indian, ”, Getty, Modi Govt, BJP, State, Manipur Police, Twitter Locations: Manipur, Indian, Guwahati, reconvening, Phainom, Kangpokpi district, Imphal, Kuki, India’s, Modi, India, Thoubal District

New Delhi CNN —From butter chicken to paneer makhani, Indian cuisine is unthinkable without the ubiquitous tomato. Asha, a homemaker in the capital who asked to be referred to only by her first name, told CNN the increase has hit her seven-member family hard. Some of McDonald’s (MCD) restaurants across the country have temporarily stopped serving tomatoes on their burgers, citing quality issues and shortages of supply. Of the tomatoes that were harvested, over 90% were infected by seed-born viruses, Gadve told CNN, which further exacerbated the supply shortage. Devinder Sharma, an India-based agriculture policy expert, told CNN the current shortage was also caused in part by farmers throwing away their tomatoes because no one was buying them.

Persons: Asha, “, Raghav Chadha, ” Chadha, Jocelyn Boiteau, Boiteau, Sriram Gadve, ”, Gadve, Devinder Sharma, Sharma, ” Gadve Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Department of Consumer Affairs, CNN, Connaught, Restaurants, Aam Aadmi Party, Twitter, Tata, Cornell Institute for Agriculture, Nutrition, University of Cambridge, Vegetable Growers Association Locations: New Delhi, India, Asia, heatwaves, India’s

The surge in deaths this months follows a warning from the country’s meteorological department about potential heat-related casualties. Temperatures in northern and eastern India have reached 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, AFP reported. A local health official acknowledged heat may have been a factor in the deaths of 25 people on June 16. Later, the Chief Medical Officer of Ballia, Dr. Jayant Kumar, said the spike in deaths was due to “various other ailments,” including old age. Not a single district hospital has been built in the last six years.

Persons: Diwakar Singh, Singh, Ballia, Jayant Kumar, ” Kumar, N Tiwari, “, ” Akhilesh Yadav, ”, Mansukh Mandaviya Organizations: CNN, AFP, BBC, heatwave, Express, India’s Locations: Uttar Pradesh, Ballia, India

New Delhi CNN —Eleven people have been shot dead and 14 injured in a fresh outbreak of ethnic violence that has gripped the northeast Indian state of Manipur. The current unrest has seen some of the worst violence in recent years and has sparked criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs Manipur. If they are given this status, other ethnic groups – many of whom are Christian – say they fear they will not have a fair chance for jobs and other benefits. People wait at a temporary shelter in a military camp on May 7, after being evacuated by the Indian army, as they flee ethnic violence that has hit the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. Arun Sankar/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Metei community dominates positions within the state government, and have been privy to more economic and infrastructural advancement than the other ethnic groups.

Persons: JNIMS, Deben, Arun Sankar, Narendra Modi, Modi, Amit Shah’s, Christian Organizations: New, New Delhi CNN, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Raj Medicity Hospital, CNN, Getty, Indian, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Union, Indian National Congress Locations: New Delhi, Manipur, state’s, Imphal, Indian, Arun, Myanmar, Kashmir, India, Kuki

Rescue workers gather around damaged carriages during search for survivors at the accident site on Saturday. With the rail routes still blocked, family members of deceased passengers are having to find their way by other means to the crash site, to help identify the dead. India’s extensive rail network, one of the largest in the world, was built more than 160 years ago under British colonial rule. Decaying infrastructure is often cited as a cause for traffic delays and numerous train accidents in India. An ambitious National Rail Plan, announced in 2021, envisages that all major cities in north, west and south India should be connected by high-speed rail.

Persons: –, Ashwini Vaishnaw, ”, Dibyangshu Sarkar, Jaya Varma Sinha, ” Sinha, Mansukh Mandaviya, Mandaviya, Naveen Patnaik, Patnaik, “, Narenda Modi, Narendra Modi, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Fumio Kishida, Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, Modi, Modi’s, Albright Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Howrah, Bangalore . Rescue, Getty, Jaya, India’s Health, Sunday, Odisha’s, Public Relations Department, Indian, Rapid, Force, British, United Nations, National Crime Records, Group, Rail Plan, Bharat Locations: New Delhi, London, Hong Kong, Balasore, Odisha, Indian, Kolkata, Chennai, Bazar, Bangalore, AFP, Tamil Nadu, Russian, India, Jammu, Kashmir

Kumar, like others in his position, knows all too well the frustrations that can build when work is scarce. “Since childhood, we’ve been facing this competition,” said Sarang Agrawal, 28, who is studying for the Indian civil service entrance test. There’s competition everywhere.”Sarang Agrawal (center) is studying in the hope of becoming a civil servant. Vijay Bedi/CNNNo social life, no love life … and no plan BLike Kumar and Kumari, Agrawal knows all about competition. He is among the more than 1 million people who apply each year for a position in the Indian civil service.

☆ Shein partners with Reliance in major India comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shein is plotting a major comeback in India, nearly three years after it was booted out of the country. The fast fashion giant is partnering with the retail arm of Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries, a Shein spokesperson confirmed Friday. “We can confirm Shein’s partnership with Reliance Retail and have no additional comment at this time,” a Shein spokesperson said. A powerful partnerIts new partnership with Reliance Retail, which bills itself as the country’s largest retailer, could be a game-changer. Shein has said it doesn’t have any suppliers in the Xinjiang region, and it has zero tolerance for forced labor.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Shein, Mukesh Ambani’s, Shein, Bain, “, Sania Farooqui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Industries, Wall Street, Financial Times, Reliance, Reliance Retail, Burberry, Apple, US Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Hong Kong, India, Zara, China, Singapore, ”, Washington, Xinjiang, New Delhi

☆ Manipur: Over 50 dead, hundreds hospitalized by ethnic violence in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Sania Farooqui | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New Delhi CNN —Ethnic violence in the Indian state of Manipur has left at least 55 people dead, according to hospitals in the city of Imphal. A further 260 people have been hospitalized since violence broke out between members of the Kuki and Meitei ethnic groups earlier this week, hospital officials told CNN on Sunday. A vehicle set on fire during an outbreak of ethnic violence in Imphal, the capital of India's Manipur state, on May 4. Scheduled tribes are among the most socio-economically disadvantaged groups in India and have historically been denied access to education and job opportunities. If the Meitei community are given scheduled tribe status, other tribal groups say they fear they will not have a fair chance for jobs and other benefits.

We’ve dedicated (our lives) to our country.”Wrestlers perform exercise drills at the protest site in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on April 28, 2023. Vijay Bedi/CNNIn January, India’s sport ministry said it would investigate the sexual harassment allegations, but three months on, the wrestlers say the government hasn’t moved swiftly enough. Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik told CNN that back in January the wrestlers’ allegations were met with apathy, adding there was no transparency with the governing body’s initial investigation. Support for wrestlers growsBy midday on Friday, the protest site swells with supporters, young and old. India’s legal system is notoriously slow, especially when it comes to allegations of sexual harassment owing to a large backlog of allegations.

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