Asia

India bans exports of wheat, citing threat to food security

Editorial Bureau May 14, 2022

NEW DELHI — India has banned exports of wheat effective immediately, citing a risk to its food security, partly due to the war in Ukraine. A notice in the government gazette by the Directorate of Foreign Trade, dated Friday, said a spike in global prices for wheat was threatening the food

Finance

India’s central bank raises interest rate to tame inflation

Editorial Bureau May 5, 2022

NEW DELHI — India’s central bank on Wednesday raised its key interest rate to 4.4% from 4% to try to contain fast-rising inflation. Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said after an unscheduled meeting of the bank’s monetary policy committee that the central bank would maintain an “accommodative” stance to help support the economy […]

Asia

India’s Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr amid community violence

Editorial Bureau May 3, 2022

SRINAGAR, India — Muslims across India marked Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday by offering prayers outside mosques, even as the celebrations this year came in the backdrop of a series of recent attacks against the community during the month of Ramadan. “We will not have the same kind of festivity” this time, said Mohammad Habeeb ur […]

Asia

Heat wave sparks blackouts, questions on India’s coal usage

Editorial Bureau May 3, 2022

NEW DELHI — An unusually early and brutal heat wave is scorching parts of India, with acute power shortages affecting millions as demand for electricity surges to record levels. Supplies of coal at many thermal power plants are running perilously low, spawning daily power outages in several states. The shortages are sparking scrutiny of India’s […]

Asia Europe

Germany, India sign $10.5B green development deal

Editorial Bureau May 3, 2022

BERLIN — Germany and India signed a series of bilateral agreements Monday focused on sustainable development that will see the South Asian nation receive 10 billion euros ($10.5 billion) in aid by 2030 to boost the use of clean energy. The accords were signed during a visit to Berlin by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. […]

Business

India seizes $725 million China’s Xiaomi over remittances

Editorial Bureau May 1, 2022

NEW DELHI — Indian authorities on Saturday seized $725 million from Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi, accusing it of breaking the country’s foreign exchange laws by making illegal remittances abroad, officials said. The Enforcement Directorate, India’s financial investigation agency, tweeted that it had seized the amount from Xiaomi’s local unit. The move comes after an

Asia

Heat wave scorches India’s wheat crop, snags export plans

Editorial Bureau April 30, 2022

NEW DELHI — An unusually early, record-shattering heat wave in India has reduced wheat yields, raising questions about how the country will balance its domestic needs with ambitions to increase exports and make up for shortfalls due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Gigantic landfills in India’s capital New Delhi have caught fire in recent weeks. […]

Asia

Indian capital engulfed in smoke after landfill catches fire

Editorial Bureau April 28, 2022

NEW DELHI — Acrid smoke hung over New Delhi for a second day on Wednesday after a massive landfill caught fire during a scorching heat wave, forcing informal waste workers to endure hazardous conditions. The landfill in northern Delhi’s Bhalswa is taller than a 17-story building and covers an area bigger than 50 football fields. […]

Asia UK

Johnson heads to India to meet Modi, escape ‘partygate’ flak

Editorial Bureau April 22, 2022

LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is trying to set aside his political troubles and focus on economic ties and the war in Ukraine during a long-delayed official trip to India. Johnson is due to visit the western state of Gujarat and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on the two-day trip […]

Asia

India’s northwest reels under unusual early heat wave

Editorial Bureau April 12, 2022

NEW DELHI — An unusually early heat wave brought more extreme temperatures Monday to a large swath of India’s northwest, raising concerns that such weather conditions could become typical. The India Meteorological Department forecast that the temperature in New Delhi would reach 41.8 degrees Celsius (107.2 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday, nearly eight degrees above normal.