India's Modi invites protesting farmers for talks on farm bills
By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited protesting farmers for talks to address growers’ concerns about three new agricultural laws that seek to deregulate the country’s vast farm sector.Slideshow Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping out on main highways on the outskirts of New Delhi for more than two months in a bid to force the government to withdraw the new laws they say benefit private buyers at their expense.Defending the laws passed by his government in September, Modi said: “The laws give farmers the freedom to directly sell produce...…By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited protesting farmers for talks to address growers’ concerns about three new agricultural laws that seek to deregulate the country’s vast farm sector.Slideshow Tens of thousands of farmers have been camping out on main highways on the outskirts of New Delhi for more than two months in a bid to force the government to withdraw the new laws they say benefit private buyers at their expense.Defending the laws passed by his government in September, Modi said: “The laws give farmers the freedom to directly sell produce...WW…
Indian farmers to scale up protests as Rihanna weighs in
By KANDELA, India (Reuters) - Indian farmers’ leaders on Wednesday outlined plans to scale up months of protests against agricultural reforms, as their cause gained high-profile supporters in the West.Demanding the repeal of three new farm laws that they say will hurt them to the benefit of large corporations, tens of thousands of farmers have been camped on the outskirts of Delhi since late 2020.Their generally peaceful protest was marred by violence last week, when some demonstrators drove a procession of tractors into the heart of the capital and clashed with police.Police have since...…By KANDELA, India (Reuters) - Indian farmers’ leaders on Wednesday outlined plans to scale up months of protests against agricultural reforms, as their cause gained high-profile supporters in the West.Demanding the repeal of three new farm laws that they say will hurt them to the benefit of large corporations, tens of thousands of farmers have been camped on the outskirts of Delhi since late 2020.Their generally peaceful protest was marred by violence last week, when some demonstrators drove a procession of tractors into the heart of the capital and clashed with police.Police have since...WW…
Indian government offers to suspend farm reforms; farmers may call off protests
By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off.The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers.Angry farmers, who say that will make India’s traditional wholesale markets irrelevant and leave them at the mercy of big retailers and food processors, have camped out on major highways outside New Delhi for more than two months.Agriculture &...…By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off.The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers.Angry farmers, who say that will make India’s traditional wholesale markets irrelevant and leave them at the mercy of big retailers and food processors, have camped out on major highways outside New Delhi for more than two months.Agriculture &...WW…
Indian government offers to suspend farm reforms; farmers may call off protests
By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off.The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers.Angry farmers, who say that will make India’s traditional wholesale markets irrelevant and leave them at the mercy of big retailers and food processors, have camped out on major highways outside New Delhi for more than two months.Agriculture &...…By NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off.The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers.Angry farmers, who say that will make India’s traditional wholesale markets irrelevant and leave them at the mercy of big retailers and food processors, have camped out on major highways outside New Delhi for more than two months.Agriculture &...WW…
'Go for it,' says first person vaccinated in India's massive COVID-19 campaign
By , NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hospital cleaning worker Manish Kumar became the first person in India to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of the world’s largest immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic under control.Kumar received his shot at Delhi’s premier All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of 3,006 vaccination centres established around the country.“The vaccine will give me strength and motivation to serve my hospital which has been at the forefront of taking care of coronavirus patients,” Kumar said. “Since I’m...…By , NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hospital cleaning worker Manish Kumar became the first person in India to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of the world’s largest immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic under control.Kumar received his shot at Delhi’s premier All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of 3,006 vaccination centres established around the country.“The vaccine will give me strength and motivation to serve my hospital which has been at the forefront of taking care of coronavirus patients,” Kumar said. “Since I’m...WW…
Indian government, protesting farmers make no headway in talks, to reconvene Tuesday
By , NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A ninth round of talks between the Indian government and protesting farmers over three new contentious farm laws made no headway on Friday, but a government minister and union leaders said they would resume discussions on Tuesday.Slideshow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has said that the laws introduced in September will unshackle farmers from the obligation of selling produce only at regulated wholesale markets. But the farmers say the bills are designed to benefit private buyers.“Today’s talks with farmers unions were inconclusive, and we will hold...…By , NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A ninth round of talks between the Indian government and protesting farmers over three new contentious farm laws made no headway on Friday, but a government minister and union leaders said they would resume discussions on Tuesday.Slideshow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has said that the laws introduced in September will unshackle farmers from the obligation of selling produce only at regulated wholesale markets. But the farmers say the bills are designed to benefit private buyers.“Today’s talks with farmers unions were inconclusive, and we will hold...WW…
India farmers intensify protests as deadlock over new laws continue
By , MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Indian farmers on Sunday intensified their protests against three new agricultural laws aimed at overhauling food grain procurement and pricing rules by allowing private companies direct access to the vast agrarian sector.Angry farmers staged demonstrations near New Delhi after rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances that the laws would double farmers’ income.Six rounds of talks between government officials and farmer union leaders have failed to resolve the challenge faced by Modi’s government.“Hundreds of farmers will...…By , MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Indian farmers on Sunday intensified their protests against three new agricultural laws aimed at overhauling food grain procurement and pricing rules by allowing private companies direct access to the vast agrarian sector.Angry farmers staged demonstrations near New Delhi after rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances that the laws would double farmers’ income.Six rounds of talks between government officials and farmer union leaders have failed to resolve the challenge faced by Modi’s government.“Hundreds of farmers will...WW…
Nearly one in three children have dangerous amounts of lead in bloodstream: study
United States NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Nearly one in three children around the world have high levels of lead in their bloodstream, according to a new study, as widespread lead pollution puts millions of young people at risk of irreversible mental and physical damage. Some 800 million children had lead levels of 5 micrograms per decilitre or higher in their bloodstream, the study carried out by United Nations agency UNICEF and environmental group Pure Earth showed, levels considered high enough to impair the development of brains, nervous systems and vital organs such as heart and lungs. The...…United States NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Nearly one in three children around the world have high levels of lead in their bloodstream, according to a new study, as widespread lead pollution puts millions of young people at risk of irreversible mental and physical damage. Some 800 million children had lead levels of 5 micrograms per decilitre or higher in their bloodstream, the study carried out by United Nations agency UNICEF and environmental group Pure Earth showed, levels considered high enough to impair the development of brains, nervous systems and vital organs such as heart and lungs. The...WW…

Locusts invade satellite city of India's capital
United States NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Desert locusts on Saturday invaded Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s capital New Delhi, prompting authorities to ask people to keep their windows shut and bang utensils to ward off the fast-spreading swarms. Delhi’s international airport, which borders Gurugram - home to some of the world’s top corporations, has asked pilots to take extra precautions during takeoff and landing due to the locusts, Reuters partner ANI reported. Gurugram has never faced a locust attack before. Previous infestations have been mainly confined to some villages in the...…United States NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Desert locusts on Saturday invaded Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s capital New Delhi, prompting authorities to ask people to keep their windows shut and bang utensils to ward off the fast-spreading swarms. Delhi’s international airport, which borders Gurugram - home to some of the world’s top corporations, has asked pilots to take extra precautions during takeoff and landing due to the locusts, Reuters partner ANI reported. Gurugram has never faced a locust attack before. Previous infestations have been mainly confined to some villages in the...WW…

Locusts invade satellite city of India's capital
United Kingdom NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Desert locusts on Saturday invaded Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s capital New Delhi, prompting authorities to ask people to keep their windows shut and bang utensils to ward off the fast-spreading swarms. Delhi’s international airport, which borders Gurugram - home to some of the world’s top corporations, has asked pilots to take extra precautions during takeoff and landing due to the locusts, Reuters partner ANI reported. Gurugram has never faced a locust attack before. Previous infestations have been mainly confined to some villages in the...…United Kingdom NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Desert locusts on Saturday invaded Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s capital New Delhi, prompting authorities to ask people to keep their windows shut and bang utensils to ward off the fast-spreading swarms. Delhi’s international airport, which borders Gurugram - home to some of the world’s top corporations, has asked pilots to take extra precautions during takeoff and landing due to the locusts, Reuters partner ANI reported. Gurugram has never faced a locust attack before. Previous infestations have been mainly confined to some villages in the...WW…
India's farmers gather record wheat crop, but cannot move it
United States GHARAUNDA, India (Reuters) - Late last month, Sukrampal had to beg and borrow farmhands from nearby villages to gather his part of the country’s largest-ever wheat harvest in Haryana state near New Delhi. Now the 50-year-old Indian farmer has a bigger problem: how to sell his crops when the three wholesale grain markets serving growers in his hometown of Gharaunda, near the heart of what is known as India’s breadbasket, are operating with a skeleton staff. The country-wide lockdown, introduced in late March to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, has led to a labour...…United States GHARAUNDA, India (Reuters) - Late last month, Sukrampal had to beg and borrow farmhands from nearby villages to gather his part of the country’s largest-ever wheat harvest in Haryana state near New Delhi. Now the 50-year-old Indian farmer has a bigger problem: how to sell his crops when the three wholesale grain markets serving growers in his hometown of Gharaunda, near the heart of what is known as India’s breadbasket, are operating with a skeleton staff. The country-wide lockdown, introduced in late March to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, has led to a labour...WW…
