India resists limits on plastic output
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
17 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Opening India's agriculture to a free-for-all would have serious repercussions for the sector
It is not enough to say that agriculture contributes only 16 per cent to India's GDP. Nor is it sufficient to state that small farmer households earn about one lakh rupees annually. These statistics do not capture the full extent of the story. For those, particularly outside India, who are unfamiliar with the agricultural and rural heartlands of India, this data conceals a larger narrative. I say this both as a farmer and as a former finance minister: The impacts go far beyond the economy. What is at risk is social stability and what it could bring is a cultural upheaval that we are not prepared for. For instance, 250 million people are directly dependent on farming, and there are 700 million Indians who are directly or indirectly connected to farming and the rural sector. Protecting the farm sector is not just a policy. It is a survival mechanism for millions, crucial to maintaining economic, social, political and cultural stability. The argument around agricultural subsidy and tariffs often centres on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) provided to select crops. In the US and much of the EU, the terminoogy and approach vary, but the issue remains the same. If India has MSP, the US has ERP, PLC, ARC and DMC. Let me elaborate. ERP is the Effective Reference Price, analogous to the MSP. In the US, farmers receive direct payments from the government if market prices fall below this level, and it is called PLC or Price Loss Coverage. Both PLC and ARC (Agriculture Risk Coverage) cover 22 major crops, ranging from wheat and corn to soybean and cotton. These systems are not restricted to farming alone as they also extend to the dairy sector under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) programme. The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides income support via direct payments if prices fall below intervention levels, which are akin to MSPs. The crucial difference is that, while in India, the government procures crops at the MSP, in the US the government does not procure crops but instead pays farmers directly if prices fall below the minimum. Given the literacy levels, or lack thereof, and the paperwork involved with enrolling in these various EU and US policies, asking Indian farmers to transition to these systems would create another level of bureaucracy. Moreover, rolling out the US and EU models in India would take years, if not decades. The pressure on India to dismantle its farm mechanisms, whether MSP or tariffs, and open up to international market forces would be justifiable, if the US and EU were not subsidising their own agricultural sectors. The US spends about $20 billion and the EU about $50 billion on agricultural subsidies. In fact, many of these subsidies remain hidden, while the Indian MSP system is much more transparent. The focus of US subsidies is large farms, whereas Indian farm policy centres on small farmers. US policy priorities include market stabilisation, income protection, and climate adaptation, while India focuses on supporting small farmers and landholderscol, ensuring regular upliftment of the rural economy. EU subsidies are targeted more toward income support, environmental goals, climate and biodiversity targets. In the US and much of Europe, 80 per cent of subsidies go to large farms, while in India, it is the reverse with 80 per cent going to small and medium farmers. The EU, in its latest budget provisions, is trying to move away from the US approach towards the Indian model, by targeting small farmers. In fact, the EU's latest provision in its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is 387 billion euros ($451 billion) for 2021-2027, and as recently as last month, they proposed a cap of 1,00,000 euros per year per farmer, in an attempt to shift support from larger farmers to smaller ones. That translates to a cap of one crore of subsidy per farmer. For India, the real issue is that of equitable and development-centred agreements. Just as the Indian MSP is clear, transparent and focused on the Indian context, the alphabet soup of CAP, ERP, PLC, ARC and DMC is tailored to the US and EU contexts. This perspective arises not only from economics, but also from society, politics and culture. Opening the entire agriculture sector to a free-for-all, when US and EU subsidies distort the market in their favour, would create a kind of asymmetric warfare, with tumultuous consequences for Indian society. The upheaval would be massive. This stance has been clearly articulated at the highest levels. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said: 'For us, the interest of our farmers is top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen. I know I will personally have to pay a heavy price but I am prepared for it.' The writer is the former Finance Minister of Punjab
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Israel in talks to possibly resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan
Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the territory left in ruins by its 22-month offensive against Hamas. Six people familiar with the matter confirmed the talks to The Associated Press. It's unclear how far the talks have advanced, but if implemented, the plans would amount to transferring people from one war-ravaged land at risk of famine to another, and raise human rights concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to realise US President Donald Trump's vision of relocating much of Gaza's population through what Netanyahu refers to as voluntary migration. Israel has floated similar resettlement proposals with other African nations. Palestinians, rights groups, and much of the international community have rejected the proposals as a blueprint for forcible expulsion in violation of international law. For South Sudan, such a deal could help it build closer ties to Israel, now the almost unchallenged military power in the Middle East. It is also a potential inroad to Trump, who broached the idea of resettling Gaza's population in February but appears to have backed away in recent months. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment and South Sudan's foreign minister did not respond to questions about the talks. A US State Department spokesperson said it doesn't comment on private diplomatic conversations. Egypt opposes proposals to resettle Palestinians out of Gaza Joe Szlavik, the founder of a US lobbying firm working with South Sudan, said he was briefed by South Sudanese officials on the talks. He said an Israeli delegation plans to visit the country to look into the possibility of setting up camps for Palestinians there. No known date has been set for the visit. Israel did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the visit. Szlavik said Israel would likely pay for makeshift camps. Edmund Yakani, who heads a South Sudanese civil society group, said he had also spoken to South Sudanese officials about the talks. Four additional officials with knowledge of the discussions confirmed talks were taking place on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss them publicly. Two of the officials, both from Egypt, told AP they've known for months about Israel's efforts to find a country to accept Palestinians, including its contact with South Sudan. They said they've been lobbying South Sudan against taking the Palestinians. Egypt is deeply opposed to plans to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza, with which it shares a border, fearing an influx of refugees into its own territory. The AP previously reported on similar talks initiated by Israel and the US with Sudan and Somalia, countries that are also grappling with war and hunger, and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland. The status of those discussions is not known. Cash-strapped South Sudan needs any 'ally' Szlavik, who's been hired by South Sudan to improve its relations with the United States, said the US is aware of the discussions with Israel but is not directly involved. South Sudan wants the Trump administration to lift a travel ban on the country and remove sanctions from some South Sudanese elites, said Szlavik. It has already accepted eight individuals swept up in the administration's mass deportations, in what may have been an effort to curry favour. The Trump administration has pressured a number of countries to help facilitate deportations. Cash-strapped South Sudan needs any ally, financial gain and diplomatic security it can get, said Peter Martell, a journalist and author of a book about the country, First Raise a Flag. Israel's Mossad spy agency provided aid to the South Sudanese during their decades-long civil war against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum ahead of independence in 2011, according to the book. The State Department, asked if there was any quid pro quo with South Sudan, said decisions on the issuing of visas are made in a way that prioritises upholding the highest standards for US national security, public safety, and the enforcement of our immigration laws. From one hunger-stricken conflict zone to another Many Palestinians might want to leave Gaza, at least temporarily, to escape the war and a hunger crisis bordering on famine. But they have roundly rejected any permanent resettlement from what they see as an integral part of their national homeland. They fear that Israel will never allow them to return, and that a mass departure would allow it to annex Gaza and reestablish Jewish settlements there, as called for by far-right ministers in the Israeli government. Still, even those Palestinians who want to leave are unlikely to take their chances in South Sudan, among the world's most unstable and conflict-ridden countries. South Sudan has struggled to recover from a civil war that broke out after independence, and which killed nearly 400,000 people and plunged pockets of the country into famine. The oil-rich country is plagued by corruption and relies on international aid to help feed its 11 million people a challenge that has only grown since the Trump administration made sweeping cuts to foreign assistance. A peace deal reached seven years ago has been fragile and incomplete, and the threat of war returned when the main opposition leader was placed under house arrest this year. Palestinians in particular could find themselves unwelcome. The long war for independence from Sudan pitted the mostly Christian and animist south against the predominantly Arab and Muslim north. Yakani, of the civil society group, said South Sudanese would need to know who is coming and how long they plan to stay, or there could be hostilities due to the historical issues with Muslims and Arabs. South Sudan should not become a dumping ground for people, he said. And it should not accept to take people as negotiating chips to improve relations.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
19 minutes ago
- First Post
FirstUp: EU leaders to hold virtual meeting with Zelenskyy and Trump and other top news
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in a virtual meeting today with US President Donald Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and several European Union leaders. Officials from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, as well as the EU and Nato, will speak with Zelenskyy first before he joins a separate call with Trump and Vance It is a packed day with several important events lined up. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will hold virtual talks between EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two will speak first before he joins US President Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance. The third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) will take place in New Delhi. CTUs-SKM, a joint platform of ten Central Trade Unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, plan to stage a nationwide protest today against Trump's tariff warnings and the India-UK CETA. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A court is set to deliver its verdict for J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura, who faces sexual assault charges during a celebration dinner. Let's take a look at the events: EU leaders' virtual meetings with Trump and Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to join a virtual meeting today with US President Donald Trump, US Vice President JD Vance and several European Union leaders. According to The Guardian, representatives from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, along with the EU and Nato, will first hold discussions with Zelenskyy before he joins a separate call with Trump and Vance. Representatives from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, along with the EU and Nato, will first hold discussions with Zelenskyy. Reuters/File Photo Germany has said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz will host the talks, which will also include EU presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, as well as Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions come amid rising concern among European leaders about being left out of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska this Friday. India, Singapore to hold 3rd ministerial roundtable The third round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) will take place in New Delhi today, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday. From India, the meeting will be attended by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Singapore will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo and others. Notably, the ISMR serves as a platform to set new goals for cooperation between India and Singapore. Its first meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2022, followed by the second in Singapore in August 2024. The two countries share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trade unions, farmers to hold nationwide protest CTUs-SKM, a joint platform of ten Central Trade Unions and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, is set to hold a nationwide protest today against US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and the India-UK CETA. In a statement, the group condemned Trump's recent warning to impose 25 per cent tariffs on India and his call for a punitive tax on the oil trade deal with Russia. They said India should reject the tariff threats and uphold its right to trade with all countries, including Russia. They also demanded an immediate review and changes to the India-UK CETA, and called for all talks on a US-India trade agreement to be stopped to avoid what they described as corporate exploitation. Japanese actor Kenshin Kamimura to receive verdict in sexual assault case J-pop singer Kenshin Kamimura is expected to receive the verdict in his sexual assault case today. The 25-year-old, formerly part of the boy band ONE N' ONLY, is accused of assaulting a local female interpreter during a celebration dinner in March at a Hong Kong restaurant following a fan meeting. Kenshin Kamimura at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong. Reuters/File Photo In Hong Kong, the offence of indecent assault can lead to a prison term of up to 10 years. With inputs from agencies
