Lauren Frayer
Stories
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Environment
New Delhi's air pollution is so bad, officials are calling for a citywide lockdown
New Delhi's schools are already closed this week because of air pollution that has been about four times the safe limit.
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World
Meet the feisty, 5-foot-tall thorn in the side of India's prime minister
Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal state, is one of Narendra Modi's fiercest critics. She's especially beloved by women and the impoverished. But gaining national traction may be tough.
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Environment
India pledges net-zero emissions by 2070 — but also wants to expand coal mining
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told COP26 that India, the world's third-biggest carbon emitter, would go net-zero by 2070. But appetite for coal, which supplies 70% of India's power, remains high.
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India still counts on coal for its power. And that could be a problem
As the West moves away from coal, India still relies on it for 70% of its power. Rising energy demands & global price fluctuations have led to an acute coal shortage, threatening widespread blackouts.
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Health
India marks its 1 billionth COVID vaccination — but the fight is far from over
India is celebrating its 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccination. But only a third of its population is fully-inoculated, and export orders are backed up.
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World
A New Law In India Is Making It Harder For Interfaith Couples To Get Married
In India, new laws forbid brides or grooms from converting to their spouse's religion. The idea is to halt forced conversions. But they've led to attacks on interfaith couples.
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Asia
The U.S. Withdrawal From Afghanistan Is A Concern For India. Here's Why
India is surrounded by hostile neighbors: China, Pakistan and now Taliban-run Afghanistan. India spent 20 years pouring diplomats and money into Afghanistan. What becomes of those efforts?
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World
A 9-Year-Old's Mysterious Death Has Prompted Outrage Over Rape In India
Was it a brutal gang rape and killing? Or a terrible accident with a bungled response? Police are searching for clues — as protests erupt in India's capital.
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Health
India's Pandemic Death Toll Estimated At About 4 Million: 10 Times The Official Count
That's the number of "excess deaths" from January 2020 to June 2021, reflecting the true toll of COVID-19, say researchers in a new study. What the big disparity?
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Health
India Is The World's Biggest Vaccine Maker. Yet Only 4% Of Indians Are Vaccinated
The Serum Institute began mass-producing COVID vaccines even before approval. They've made millions of doses. But so far only about 4% of people in India are fully vaccinated. What went wrong?