#host

5 stories

Politics

hostconferenceanantapur

Anantapur to host conference on drought, natural farming on June 17

Anantapur District Collector O. Anand. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Accion Fraterna-Ecology Centre in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, will hold a one-day conference and exhibition on “Drought, Climate Change and Experiences of Natural Farming Farmers” on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), marking the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.Speaking to reporters here on Monday (June 15, 2026), AF Ecology Centre Director Y.V. Malla Reddy said the programme would be held at the Integrated RDT High School, Y-Junction, Kadiri Road, from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 500 participants are expected.Dr. Malla Reddy said Anantapur district had long faced recurring droughts, land degradation, and climate variability. “The conference aims to bring together farmers, scientists, government officials, voluntary organisations, and development practitioners to discuss sustainable solutions and share successful experiences in natural farming and climate-resilient agriculture,” he said.A special exhibition will showcase natural farming models, watershed development work, farm technologies, machinery, and other sustainable practices that help farmers conserve resources and improve livelihoods.District Collector O. Anand will visit the exhibition and address the gathering. Conservator of Forests R. Yasoda Bai, Territorial DFO T. Chakrapani, and Social Forestry DFO Guru Prabhakar will also take part.Dr. Malla Reddy called for collective action to tackle drought, desertification, and climate change through sustainable farming systems and community participation. He invited farmers, researchers, and civil society groups to attend. Published - June 15, 2026 01:54 pm IST

The HinduJun 15

Read

Politics

2updates

indiasinauguratehost

CM to inaugurate SHG-run solar plants during women’s week celebrations: Seethakka

India’s reservoirs can host about 102 gigawatt (GW) of floating solar capacity, according to the first comprehensive national assessment of the technology’s potential by the NISE. | Photo Credit: AFP India’s reservoirs can host about 102 gigawatt (GW) of floating solar capacity, according to the first comprehensive national assessment of the technology’s potential by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institute of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The report titled ‘Solar PV Potential of India (Floating Solar)’ frames panels on water as a way around one of the most intractable obstacles in the solar sector — land.The 121-page assessment, however, contains no calculation of what it would cost to realise this potential in India. Its only cost reference is a 2021 benchmark from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which the report cites to note that floating plants typically cost about 25% more upfront than ground-mounted ones, owing to floats, anchoring and waterproofing.“We are in discussions with the Finance Ministry to promote floating solar and agri-photovoltaics,” Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, MNRE said at a press conference on Wednesday (June 10, 2026) to launch the report. Agri-photovoltaics refer to farm beds that are sheltered by structures on which solar panels are mounted.Acquiring landGround-mounted solar systems, which dominate India’s roughly 100 GW of installed solar capacity, require three to four times more area per megawatt than the panels themselves occupy. Land acquisition, which is costly, slow and prone to conflict with agriculture and habitation, has historically and continues to be a chokepoint as India pursues 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030. Floating solar is “land neutral”, the report underlines.NISE arrived at its estimate by passing India’s inland water bodies through six geospatial filters: lakes and reservoirs larger than 10 hectares, water present for at least 11 months a year, depths between 3 and 30 metres, solar irradiance above 4.5 kWh/m²/day, and proximity within 10 km of both roads and substations.Demonstrated on Odisha’s Hirakud reservoir, the filters whittled 499 sq. km. of water down to 99.5 sq. km. of usable surface. Applied nationwide, they yielded 1,946 sq. km. of feasible area, with a self-imposed cap of 20% of any reservoir’s surface, translating to 102.18 GW. Maharashtra (16.28 GW), Madhya Pradesh (14.89 GW), Karnataka (13.69 GW), Odisha (12.81 GW) and Telangana (10.72 GW) account for the bulk.Flagship solar parkIndia’s flagship is the Omkareshwar floating solar park on the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district — at 278 MW, the country’s largest, with plans to scale to 600 MW. Yet NISE’s own field observations there recorded loosening float joints, misaligned platforms and uneven buoyancy, alongside reports from developers of electric cables breaking.Globally, floating solar reached about 9.6 GW by 2024, nearly 90% of it in Asia. China leads, with installations such as a 120 MW plant on a fish farm in Poyang Lake; Singapore’s 1 MW Tengeh reservoir testbed has supplied much of the field’s performance data; and the Netherlands accounts for roughly three-fourths of Europe’s capacity, built largely on quarry lakes. Published - June 10, 2026 09:55 pm IST

The HinduJun 10

Read

Economy

25updates

trumptightensdonald

Donald Trump warns Iran to ‘better get smart soon’, says he is ‘no more Mr. Nice Guy’

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday announced a new policy requiring most foreign nationals applying for green cards to complete the process from outside the country instead of adjusting status within the US.US President Donald Trump's administration announced new rules for immigrants seeking green cards(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Continuing its crackdown on immigrants in the US, President Donald Trump's administration on Friday (local time) announced a new policy for foreigners applying for permanent residency in the country.According to a Bloomberg report, those seeking permanent residency in Washington will be required to return to their home countries to seek green cards.Trump administration ramps up crackdown on immigrantsIn a statement, Zach Kahler, a spokesman for US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said, "From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a green card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances." Kahler added, "This policy allows our immigration system to function as the law intended instead of incentivizing loopholes."CBS News, citing officials, said they plan to end the option for many immigrants seeking a green card to complete the process without leaving the country. Under the new approach, most of these immigrants would instead have to return to their home countries and apply for an immigrant visa abroad at a US consulate.What does the document say?The memo, which was issued by USCIS on Friday, aims to strictly limit when the agency can allow immigrants to receive a green card via the "adjustment of status" process. According to reports, this route allows eligible immigrants already in the US to apply for permanent residency without having to leave the country and apply at a US consulate abroad.In a memo outlining the change, USCIS employees who decide applications for permanent residency were told that some exceptions could be made. The memo directed them to “consider and weigh all the relevant evidence in the record, taking into account the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the alien is suitable for permanent residence.”Additionally, it also directs federal agency officers to view adjustment of status as an "extraordinary" form of relief and an act of "administrative grace," citing federal law to argue that most green card applicants should complete the process overseas. Further, officers have now been told to see adjustment of status as a rare and special benefit, not a normal option. Officers are now instructed to view choosing adjustment of status over applying at a US consulate abroad as a negative factor in a person’s case.While the policy does not clearly state all the exceptions, the memo says that some groups, such as those on "dual intent" visas like H-1Bs for high-skilled workers, as well as refugees and asylees, will likely be allowed to apply for a green card in the country via adjustment of status.Trump's policy change could impact thousandsAccording to immigration law experts, the announcement of a new policy could impact hundreds of thousands of people a year and potentially reduce legal immigration further amid a sweeping government crackdown.The Trump administration has introduced a series of restrictions affecting everyone from asylum seekers to students and highly skilled workers.The new rules broadly affect foreigners who entered the US on temporary non-immigrant visas, such as students, H-1B or L visa workers, and visitors. Washington grants about one million green cards annually, but nearly half are for foreign relatives sponsored by US citizens, and those cases are typically already handled outside the country.Trump administration's stance on immigrantsThe developments come at a time when citizens of at least 39 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, are barred or restricted from entering Washington under a proclamation signed by the US President on national security grounds, commo

LiveMintMay 22

Read

general

3updates

indiasingaporeindias

India to host Asian Weightlifting Championships after 44 years

3 min readNew DelhiMay 17, 2026 05:21 AM IST On the import side too, the war has led to new import partners. Energy exporters such as Oman, Peru and Nigeria broke into India’s top 20 import sources. (Reuters)India’s trade flows have begun shifting amid the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz since March, as traders have begun finding alternate routes to export goods amid disruption in trade with countries in the West Asia region, an analysis of data shared by the Commerce and Industry Ministry showed. The most notable shift in trade routes was seen in the two transshipment hubs that India has free trade agreements (FTA) with – UAE and Singapore. Replacing UAE, Singapore became India’s second largest export market in April, registering a five-fold jump compared to February.The Strait of Hormuz was closed on March 2. While exports to Singapore surged by 180% in April to $3.20 billion compared to $1.14 billion a year ago, exports to UAE slipped by 36% to $2.18 billion last month compared to $3.43 billion a year ago. Exports from Singapore have been rising month-on-month too since February amid the disruption in trade with UAE. On the import side too, the West Asia war has led to new import partners. Energy exporters such as Oman, Peru and Nigeria broke into India’s top 20 import sources. Shipment from Oman alone more than tripled to $1.48 billion in April compared to $429.58 million. These changes come as traditional sources of energy are facing restrictions. Imports from Qatar in March slipped by 47% to $537.34 million compared to $1.03 billion during March last year. However, imports from Saudi Arabia recovered sharply in April to $3.85 billion compared to $2.06 billion in March. The war in West Asia has led to a sharp jump in global energy prices, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Gulf nations’ energy infrastructure adversely impacting supplies. For India, in addition to a widening of the import bill and a cloudy outlook for exports, the conflict has directly impacted the rupee, which has fallen to multiple record lows against the US dollar on its way to tumbling 5.2% since the end of February. To ward off further pressure on the currency, the government has been taking austerity measures to ease the strain on the use of foreign currency and reduce fuel consumption. In addition to a hike in the import duty on precious metals, oil marketing companies on Friday increased the pump price of petrol and diesel for the first time in four years.Story continues below this ad The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is a critical maritime choke point that accounted for about a fifth of global oil flows before the West Asia war began on February 28. Since then, vessel movements through the strait have been effectively halted, leading to an unprecedented global energy supply crisis. According to the latest assessment by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), West Asian oil producers Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain collectively shut in 10.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil production in April, up from 8.9 million bpd in March. The EIA has also revised upwards — by 19%— the estimated West Asia oil production shut-in for March from its earlier estimate of 7.5 million bpd. The estimated shut-in in April is a little over 10% of the global liquid fuels consumption. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, specializing in economic policy and financial regulations. With over five years of experience in business journalism, he provides critical coverage of the frameworks that govern India's commercial landscape. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s reporting concentrates on the intersection of government policy and market operations. His core beats include: Trade & Commerce: Analysis of India's import-export trends, trade agreements, and commercial policies. Banking & Finance: Covering regulatory changes and policy decisi

Indian ExpressMay 17

Read

Politics

6updates

groupshindudiplomacy

SRM and The Hindu to host Future Career Conversations in Chennai on May 5

A woman decorates a floor as people gather to offer prayers inside the Bhojshala complex following the Madhya Pradesh High Court verdict declaring the site a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) in Dhar. | Photo Credit: PTI Hindu groups performed worship at the Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar on Saturday (May 16, 2026) with several Hindu devotees thronging the historical site, a day after the High Court declared it a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and a Sanskrit learning centre.Members of the Hindu Front for Justice, which represented the Hindu side in the High Court, Bhoj Utsav Samiti, as well as several locals, performed Aarti at the Bhojshala complex even as the situation remained peaceful in Dhar town and nearby areas amid heavy security arrangements. Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) acknowledged the High Court’s verdict and issued directions for its implementation. In a May 16 order, the ASI said the Hindu community “shall have unrestricted access to the Bhojshala Complex in connection with the ancient practice of learning and worship of Goddess Saraswati”.The order also said the time of entry for visitors and devotees, and permissible activities related to learning and worship would be determined by the superintending archaeologist of the ASI, Bhopal, in consultation with the Dhar district administration, while ensuring the conservation and protection of the monument under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. “The Bhojshala Complex shall continue to be a protected monument under the AMASR Act, 1958. This order shall be in supersession of all previous orders issued in this regard,” said the order issued by A.M.V. Subramanyam, Director, Monument 1, ASI.While Hindu groups and leaders have termed the High Court’s verdict “historic and the result of a 700-year struggle”, Muslim representatives termed it “one-sided” and said they would challenge it in the Supreme Court. ‘Will move Supreme Court’Abdul Samad, president of the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society, which represented the Muslim side in the court, said, “The court’s decision is completely one-sided. We will approach the Supreme Court regarding this matter. In fact, the Hindu side has already reached the Supreme Court [with a caveat] before us, which itself clearly shows that they also had doubts about the judgment and about the intent of the High Court.”Mr. Samad also raised questions about Hindu community members performing worship at the site and said the High Court had asked the government to make arrangements for the same. “Nowhere in that order, not even remotely, is it written [in the verdict] that the ASI or the Hindu side is permitted to conduct daily worship at the site. The ASI is acting in direct contravention of the established rules. It is also not stated that the offering of namaz should be discontinued and start daily worship,” he told reporters. A caveat has been filed in the Supreme Court by a petitioner from the Hindu side, urging that no order be passed on any appeal against the High Court’s verdict without hearing its side. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Indore (Rural), Manoj Kumar Singh, said the deployment of more than 1,200 personnel would stay in place for the next few days and that the administration and the police would assess the ground situation. “There has been no incident or confrontation between the two sides so far. We have held discussions with representatives of both sides and are keeping a strict vigil,” he said. In a long-awaited verdict on May 15, a Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Indore declared the long-disputed site of the Bhojshala complex and Kamal Maula Mosque as a Bhojshala with a temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) and a centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar Dynasty.While dismissing the claims of the Muslim side, the court also quashed a 2003 o

The HinduMay 16

Read

You’ve read everything. Check back for new stories.