&w=3840&q=100)
UN reports 613 deaths near Gaza aid points run by US-backed group
Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the rights office was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings. But she said it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
She said it was not immediately clear how many of those killings had taken place at GHF sites, and how many occurred near convoys.
Speaking to reporters at a regular briefing, Shamdasani said the figures covered the period from May 27 through June 27, and there have been further incidents since then.
She said she was basing the information on an internal situation report at the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Shamdasani said the figures, compiled through its standard vetting processes, were not likely to tell a complete picture, and we will perhaps never be able to grasp the full scale of what's happening here because of the lack of access for UN teams to the areas.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Why US U-turn on climate goals could be India's moment for clean-tech leap
India may have just been handed the clearest opening yet to emerge as a global clean-tech giant—not by virtue of a new domestic policy stroke or an international alliance but because of a stunning reversal of climate ambition by the United a stormy session in the US Senate chamber, lawmakers voted to dismantle the very foundation of America's landmark climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Once hailed as the boldest climate legislation in US history, the IRA had unlocked over $370 billion in subsidies, tax credits and incentives to power America's clean energy the new budget bill passed by the Senate—pending only House reconciliation and a presidential sign-off—those gains now stand gutted. On July 1 late evening (Washington D.C. time), the voting saw a tie, the bill passed with US vice-president J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking will now move to the House of Representatives, which may pass it as is or amend it. If amended, it returns to the Senate for another vote. If approved by the House, it then goes to the US president for signature. Republicans have a slim majority, with 220 representatives in the 435-member house. The global climate economy, into which India has been steadily integrating, is already feeling the tremors. But amidst the churn, India stands out as one of the few nations poised to retreat of the United States from its clean energy commitments has the potential to reshape global supply chains, redirect hundreds of billions of dollars in green capital and shift geopolitical influence over climate action. For India, which has been investing heavily in solar manufacturing, EVs, battery storage and green hydrogen, this unexpected vacuum in American leadership presents a strategic opportunity: to step into the role of a manufacturing base, innovation hub and investment magnet in the emerging green order. But whether India can truly seize the moment will depend on how quickly and decisively its government and industry scale of the rollback in the US is staggering. The Senate bill—officially a sweeping tax and immigration package—includes provisions that render the IRA practically toothless. It ends federal tax credits for clean energy, electric vehicles, rooftop solar, home efficiency and clean manufacturing. It terminates the commercial clean vehicle credit and the consumer EV rebate. It phases out the clean energy manufacturing production credit beginning 2031. Simultaneously, the bill extends permanent credits for coal used in steel production and delays by a decade the implementation of a fee on methane leaks from oil and gas facilities. As a final blow, it rescinds funding for environmental justice, endangered species protection and low-carbon infrastructure in underserved implications are as economic as they are environmental. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Senate bill would add $3.9 trillion to the US deficit over a decade. According to Energy Innovation, a clean energy support entity, power generation capacity will fall by 300 GW by 2035, the US economy will lose $960 billion in cumulative GDP and more than half a million jobs will warn of graver consequences still. 'If the Senate reconciliation bill passes,' says Advait Arun, senior associate for energy finance at the Center for Public Enterprise, New York, 'the GOP has all but guaranteed that Americans will face blackouts and grid failures in the coming years This bill forcibly deindustrialises the country and severely reduces our shared standard of living.'For India, that collapse of confidence in American clean-tech policy opens three big doors: the redirection of climate capital, relocation of manufacturing capacity and repositioning of leadership in multilateral green platforms. First, the capital. Over $370 billion had been unlocked by the IRA, and vast pools of private equity, pension funds and climate-focused institutional investors had coalesced around the US clean energy tax credits repealed and grid modernisation shelved, much of that capital is now seeking stable, policy-backed alternatives. India, with its green bond framework, sovereign climate finance architecture and expanding production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes, fits the bill provided it can absorb the manufacturing. India's ambitions to build a self-reliant clean-tech manufacturing base—bolstered by the Rs 24,000 crore PLI (Production Linked Incentive) for solar and batteries, the Rs 19,744 crore Green Hydrogen Mission and state-level industrial parks—now appear more globally competitive than dominance of the green manufacturing chain has long been acknowledged, but India has quietly emerged as a fast-follower, especially in areas like electric two-wheelers, distributed solar, and electrolyser manufacturing. With the US effectively sidelining itself, India is in prime position to become the supplier of choice for the Global South—and increasingly for Europe, Japan and Australia, all of whom are seeking diversified, democratic alternatives to Chinese green is here that the comparison with China becomes critical. China today controls over 80 per cent of the world's solar wafer and module production, dominates global battery supply chains and has unmatched scale in electrolyser manufacturing. Its mineral refining ecosystem for lithium, cobalt and rare earths is firms have vertically integrated—from mining to manufacturing to deployment—giving them a cost advantage that few can compete with. However, this dominance has also created geopolitical unease. Western nations worry about overdependence on a single country for critical energy components. Supply chain disruptions during Covid-19 and rising trade frictions have only intensified those by contrast, is late to the scale game but arguably better positioned to serve as a diversified, democratic alternative. It lacks China's vertical integration, but offers political alignment with the West, cost-effective labour and a fast-improving logistics and manufacturing India is not yet seen as a hegemon. It can position itself as a partner, not a replacement. Richard Black, director of policy and strategy at global energy think-tank Ember, captured this realignment well. 'Chinese factories are still going to be producing the clean energy goods in increasing demand around the world, with Indian companies in fast pursuit; and while the US government has just decided that it won't be a customer, it's also decided not to be a competitor,' he third opportunity is diplomatic. India's credibility as a climate voice rose during its G20 presidency. Its leadership of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the newly-formed Global Biofuels Alliance shows it can knit together broad coalitions around energy and sustainability. With the US retreating, India can step up as the principal advocate for an inclusive, just energy transition—one that prioritises affordability, access and employment, not just net-zero question is whether India is ready. Some parts of the answer are encouraging. The Indian clean-tech ecosystem is no longer in its infancy. Adani Green, ReNew Power and Tata Power Solar are among the world's largest renewable asset owners. Vikram Solar and Waaree Energies have ramped up module exports. Ola Electric, Mahindra and Tata Motors are pushing EV adoption deeper into Tier 2 and Tier 3 New Energy and L&T are investing billions into green hydrogen and battery storage. Infosys, TCS and emerging players like Grid Edge are building AI-based smart grid solutions and energy management systems that can be exported to other developing India is not yet firing on all cylinders. Supply chains for critical minerals remain thin. EV penetration is still uneven. Financing for early-stage clean start-ups is sluggish compared to China or the US. Power evacuation infrastructure lags in key solar-rich states. Besides, the overall scale of capital needed to convert this opportunity is significant: industry estimates suggest India will need to mobilise Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore (roughly $30-35 billion) over the next five years to scale up manufacturing, build export zones and underwrite risk in frontier clean technologies. Much of that will need to come from global green capital—through sovereign funds, blended finance vehicles, and ESG (environmental, social and governance)-focused infrastructure is here that policy must step in. A new Green Investment Platform, combining the balance sheets of IREDA, NIIF, SBI, and REC, can act as a one-stop shop for investors looking for certainty in Indian climate infrastructure. PLI 2.0 should be rolled out to include energy software, smart grids, carbon tracking systems, and AI-based energy optimisation—areas where India has a comparative SEZs, with fast-track clearances and export corridors, can be established in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Maharashtra. And perhaps most urgently, a 'Clean Innovation Migration Visa' could invite displaced US clean-tech entrepreneurs, engineers and researchers to set up in India's innovation clusters, including Hyderabad, Pune and is not idle speculation. American stakeholders themselves acknowledge what the bill has unleashed. 'This bill gives up on the present and future of American manufacturing,' said Mike Williams of the Center for American Progress, an independent policy institute. 'It kills investments in clean industries that have been driving domestic manufacturing growth This is a gift to other nations who are furiously working towards beefing up their clean-tech capacities.'Manish Bapna of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC) added: 'This measure props up the dirty and expensive technologies of the past while strangling the clean energy investments creating millions of jobs Republicans are punishing the plentiful wind and solar power that can be quickly added to the grid.'India must remember that this opportunity, while monumental, is also fragile. The same global investors now fleeing US policy volatility are watching India's actions closely. Delay, fragmentation or over-centralisation could spook capital. Likewise, any backsliding on India's own climate targets, or politicisation of the clean energy transition, could blunt its if India can maintain focus, scale up rapidly and speak with one voice on the global stage, it stands to gain not just market share but narrative power. In the 20th century, India missed the hardware revolution and caught up only late to the telecom boom. Clean-tech could be different. It could be the first global industrial transformation that India shapes from the front—technologically, economically and US decision to gut its climate law may have dire consequences for the planet. But it has inadvertently thrown down the gauntlet. India must now decide whether it wants to lead this century's green industrial revolution or watch from the to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Denying Visas To Athletes On Political Grounds Violates Olympic Charter, May Risk Future Hosting Rights
Sources in the sports ministry said that the Olympic Charter states that every individual must have access to the practice of sport without discrimination of any kind, in line with internationally recognised human rights. Non-Discrimination Principle The Charter prohibits discrimination based on nationality, ensuring all qualified athletes can participate in international competitions, regardless of political relations between countries. Political Neutrality of Sport The Olympic Movement emphasises autonomy and independence from political interference. Denying visas on political grounds violates this principle. Impact on Future Hosting Rights International Precedent There are many precedents of IOC sanctions on India. India denied visas to athletes from Kosovo in 2018 for participation in the World Boxing Championship 2018. India denied visas to 2 athletes and one official from Pakistan for participation in the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in 2019. The International Olympic Committee, in its letter on 21.2.2019, informed that its Executive Board took the following decisions: (i) Suspend all discussions with the Indian NOC and government regarding potential applications for hosting future events and Olympic-related events in India until clear written guarantees are obtained from the Indian government to ensure the entry of all participants in events in full compliance with the rules of the Olympic Charter. (ii) Revoke the Olympic qualification status of the specific event (men's 25-metre Rapid Fire Pistol) (iii) Recommend that international federations neither award nor hold sports events in India until guarantees are obtained. There are a few international precedents as well. In the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, Malaysia denied visas to Israeli athletes. The IPC stripped Malaysia of hosting rights, reinforcing the expectation that hosts must allow entry to all qualified athletes. The event was moved to London, and the IPC reaffirmed its commitment to inclusivity and the separation of sport and politics The United Arab Emirates in 2009 denied a visa to Israeli tennis player Shahar Pe'er in the Dubai Tennis Championships. The WTA fined Dubai organisers and required future compliance. The following year, visas were granted after international pressure. India at the 2019 ISSF World Cup denied visas to Pakistani shooters post-Pulwama attack. The IOC suspended India's right to host Olympic qualifiers until assurances were given for future non-discrimination.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Inside Trump's ‘Big beautiful bill': Tax cuts for the rich, medicaid and meals cut for poor Americans
Debt burden to fall hardest on America's youth Medicaid faces historic rollback Experts warn of over 51,000 deaths and closed clinics Live Events Poor families and food aid hit hard Green energy sector braces for big cuts Students face heavier loan burden Billionaires gain as tax code tilts Republican rifts widen before final house showdown (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Donald Trump's flagship tax and spending package has scraped through the US Senate after a tense overnight session, with Vice-President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. As news reached Trump during his Florida Everglades visit, the president shrugged off doubts. 'It's a great bill,' he said. 'There is something for everyone.' But behind the scenes, some Republicans remain from the Congressional Budget Office show the bill adds about $3 trillion to national debt in a decade. Interest payments alone could surge between $600 and $700 billion a year. That means today's young Americans are likely to bear the weight through higher taxes and deep cuts to schools, housing, and roads. Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist, put it bluntly: 'They're going to have to sell this to the American people, because most people, most voters, are just becoming aware of this.'Medicaid — America's health lifeline for millions — is on the chopping block. The Senate plan carves out over $1 trillion in cuts, which could strip cover from nearly 12 million low-income people. Senator Susan Collins said, 'My vote against this bill stems primarily from the harmful impact it will have on Medicaid, affecting low-income families and rural healthcare providers like our hospitals and nursing homes.'Senator Thom Tillis asked, 'What do I tell 663,000 people in two years, three years, when President Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off of Medicaid because the funding's not there anymore?'Researchers from Yale, Harvard and Penn estimate more than 51,000 extra deaths each year could follow the cuts. Nursing home rules would be delayed by a decade, risking another 13,000 lives yearly. 'Each year, the legislation would kill 51,000 Americans,' Yale's study found. Hospitals, rural clinics and care homes could close as states slash budgets to rules force adults to work 80 hours monthly to keep food stamps unless they have a young child. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program faces a $300 billion cut. Millions of children risk losing free school meals. Veterans, homeless people and foster youth must also meet tougher rules. Many states will have to pick up the extra and solar farms face fresh penalties unless they follow strict sourcing rules from 2027. But with China dominating green supply chains, many firms say the targets are impossible. Funds for home-energy upgrades, electric vehicles and even tax breaks for bicycle commuters would vanish under Trump's bill scraps billions in support for university loans. Average borrowers could pay an extra $2,929 a year. Nurses, doctors and teachers hoping for debt relief might see their forgiveness programmes vanish, trapping them in debt for decades. Meanwhile, Trump's promise to cut taxes on Social Security payments is missing. His 'no tax on tips' pledge only applies through a narrow loophole — experts say the rich may game the wealthy, the bill locks in Trump's first-term tax breaks and adds new ones. The richest 0.1 per cent stand to pocket $296,160 a year. The bottom fifth of households? Just $160. Elon Musk slammed it on X: 'All I'm asking is that we don't bankrupt America.' Trump shot back, threatening to cut subsidies to Musk's businesses and even mused about deporting him: 'We'll take a look.'Trump now faces a narrow path in the House. Several Republicans want changes. Marlin Stutzman wrote: 'The changes the Senate made to the House passed Beautiful Bill, including unacceptable increases to the national debt and the deficit, are going to make passage in the House difficult.'Speaker Mike Johnson remains defiant. 'My objective and my responsibility is to get that bill over the line,' he said. But Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer offered a warning: 'On the Republican side, when the bill passed, there was a bit of sombreness that I don't think was expected. And that's because they knew deep in their hearts how bad this bill is for them, their states and the Republican party.'For now, Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' teeters on a knife-edge. The deadline: July 4.
