Songs about takeaway food

The free food grain for poor scheme PM-GKAY should not be extended beyond September as it could strain government finances, the Expenditure Department has said. The Department also said the high food security cover has already "created a serious fiscal situation" and is not needed in non-pandemic times. In March, the government extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) scheme for another six months i.e., till September 2022. The government has spent approximately ₹2.60 lakh crore till March and another ₹80,000 crore will be spent till September 2022, taking the total expenditure under PM-GKAY to nearly ₹3.40 lakh crore. The scheme covers nearly 80 crore beneficiaries. In its monthly report, the Department cited the adverse financial position of the Centre and said that recent decisions on continuation of PMGKAY, a huge increase in fertiliser subsidy burden (both urea and non-urea), re-introduction of subsidy on cooking gas, reduction of excise duty on … [Read more...] about Extending free food grain for poor scheme beyond September not advisable on fiscal ground: Expenditure Department

The head of the United Nations warned on June 24 that the world faces “catastrophe” because of the growing shortage of food around the globe. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the war in Ukraine has added to the disruptions caused by climate change, the coronavirus pandemic and inequality to produce an “unprecedented global hunger crisis” already affecting hundreds of millions of people. “There is a real risk that multiple famines will be declared in 2022,” he said in a video message to officials from dozens of rich and developing countries gathered in Berlin. “And 2023 could be even worse.” Mr. Guterres noted that harvests across Asia, Africa and the Americas will take a hit as farmers around the world struggle to cope with rising fertilizer and energy prices. “This year's food access issues could become next year's global food shortage,” he said. “No country will be immune to the social and economic repercussions of such a catastrophe.” Mr. Guterres said UN negotiators … [Read more...] about United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warns of ‘catastrophe’ from global food shortage

PETALING JAYA: The government should consider implementing the stockpile policy and restructure various ministries to better address supply shortages, says Rafizi Ramli (pic). The PKR deputy president said the stockpile policy, which has proven to be successful during the 1970s food crisis, empowers the government to purchase and store food supplies and basic necessities including petrol and diesel, in bulk. "The stored items then can be injected into the market when there is a supply disruption that causes a sharp price increase. "The stockpile can help to reduce the impact of supply shortages similar to what we are experiencing recently, and allow the government to control the increase of price for food items and basic necessities," he said in a statement. Rafizi said the government can build up the stockpile using various fiscal instruments such as hedging and purchasing future contracts. The government, Rafizi said would also need to establish an independent "National … [Read more...] about Govt urged to implement stockpile policy to address food crisis

A fifth of food-related greenhouse gas emissions come from transporting it across the planet, as scientists say we should eat local. Researchers in Australia say transporting food around the world causes three gigatons of gasses to be emitted every year, and 6 six percent of all greenhouse gas emissions are food emissions linked to transport. The amount of food emissions linked to trucks, ships, trains, and planes is seven times higher than previously believed. It also far exceeds the transport emissions of other commodities - for example, transport accounts for only 7 percent of industry and utilities emissions. Food transport emissions are almost half as high as direct emissions from road vehicles. Fruit and vegetables make up a third of food transport emissions because they need twice the amount of emissions to transport than to produce. The researchers say their findings mean people must make it a priority to eat locally-grown produce. For the new study, the team … [Read more...] about Fifth of food-related greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation: Scientists

Online food delivery platform Zomato Ltd. on Friday said it will acquire Blink Commerce Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as Grofers) for ₹4,447.48 crore in a share-swap deal as part of its strategy of investing in quick commerce business. The company's board at a meeting held on Friday has approved the acquisition of up to 33,018 equity shares of Blink Commerce Pvt. Ltd. from its shareholders for a total purchase consideration of ₹4,447.48 crore at a price of ₹13.45 lakh per equity share, Zomato said in a regulatory filing. Blink Commerce Pvt. Ltd. (BCPL) runs the online quick commerce service under the Blinkit brand. It was formerly known as Grofers. This transaction will be carried out through issuance and allotment of up to 62.85 crore fully paid-up equity shares of Zomato, having face value of ₹1 each at a price of ₹70.76 per equity share on a preferential basis, it added. The company already holds 1 equity share and 3,248 preference shares presently in BCPL, the filing said. … [Read more...] about Food delivery platform Zomato to acquire Blinkit in ₹4,447-cr. deal

In a blatant disregard for the law and environment, a group of people were found to be burning food and snacks, along with its packaging which included aluminium foil and metal, on the road leading to the Puducherry harbour in Thengaithittu, on Friday evening. In the process, a mangrove was damaged almost completely. A school teacher observed few people giving away packaged food to passers-by, and burning some of it in a nearby space on the roadside in an area which has mangroves.Expired food The teacher alleged that the people belonging to a food manufacturing company said that they had burnt food in the same area earlier as well, and that the food they were burning was expired. She called up the Mudaliarpet police station, which sent two police personnel to take them away. She has filed a written complaint with the police station, she said. Meanwhile, a team from the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee inspected the site and found traces of food, including cereal, and … [Read more...] about Group sets expired food on fire, mangrove damaged

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will visit Germany for the G7 summit, said on Saturday that he will exchange views with the leaders of the bloc and its partners on issues such as energy, food security, counter-terrorism, environment and democracy. The PM will visit Schloss Elmau, a luxury hotel in a Bavarian mountain valley, in southern Germany on June 26 and 27 for the summit of the G7, a grouping of the world’s seven rich democracies. This year, the summit is being hosted by Germany in its capacity as the chair of G7. “In an effort to strengthen international collaboration on important global issues impacting humanity, Germany has also invited other democracies such as Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the G7 Summit,” Modi said in a statement ahead of his visit. “During the sessions of the Summit, I will be exchanging views with the G7 counties, G7 partner countries and guest International Organisations on topical issues such as environment, energy, climate, … [Read more...] about G7 Summit: PM to Visit Germany. Food Security, Counter-terrorism Among Other Issues on Agenda

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has accused Russia of "weaponising hunger" and using food security as a "callous tool of war" with its blockade of Ukrainian grain. Ukraine has been described as the "bread basket of Europe" and was one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. But the Russian invasion and Moscow's sea mining to prevent access to the southern ports, including Odessa, has halted much of the flow and jeopardised world food supplies. Speaking at a press conference alongside Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara, Ms Truss warned of "devastating consequences" unless “urgent action is taken within the next month ahead of the new harvest”. Accusing Vladimir Putin of "weaponising hunger" with the blockade, she added: "He is using food security as a callous tool of war. “He has blocked Ukrainian ports, and is stopping 20 million tonnes of grain being exported across the globe, holding the world to ransom.” Local government … [Read more...] about Putin ‘weaponising hunger’ as western officials warn global food crisis could last years

Pfizer announced Saturday that tweaking its COVID-19 vaccine to better target the omicron variant is safe and works — just days before regulators debate whether to offer Americans updated booster shots this fall. The vaccines currently used in the U.S. still offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death -- especially if people have gotten a booster dose. But those vaccines target the original coronavirus strain and their effectiveness against any infection dropped markedly when the super-contagious omicron mutant emerged. Now with omicron’s even more transmissible relatives spreading widely, the Food and Drug Administration is considering ordering a recipe change for the vaccines made by both Pfizer and rival Moderna in hopes that modified boosters could better protect against another COVID-19 surge expected this fall and winter. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech studied two different ways of updating their shots -- targeting just omicron, or a … [Read more...] about Pfizer says tweaked COVID-19 shots boost omicron protection

PUTRAJAYA: The decision not to float the price of chicken was made based on feedback from the public, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The Prime Minister said that there was no "U-turn" made on the issue as the government would continue to prioritise the interest of the Malaysian people. "After listening to the views of the people, we decided to accept their input and decisions. "It is not an issue of U-turn or anything, that is not important," he told reporters at Putrajaya's Recreation Day 2022 here on Saturday (June 25). ALSO READ: Govt in discussion with poultry industry players to set new chicken ceiling price He was asked to respond to Opposition lawmakers who claimed that the government was not consistent in its policies when it decided to make a "U-turn" only three days after announcing that the ceiling price for chicken would be removed. The current ceiling price for standard chicken, which was set at RM8.90 per kg in Peninsular Malaysia, was initially … [Read more...] about Chicken price: We listened to the people, says PM