Amrit Lal Meena, the Coal Secretary, opens the India Pavilion during the World Mining Congress 2023

Shri Amrit Lal Meena, the Secretary of the Ministry of Coal, inaugurated the India pavilion at the World Mining Congress (WMC) 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. The pavilion features NLC India Ltd (NLCIL), Coal India Limited (CIL), and NMDC, highlighting India's technological expertise in the mining and energy sectors, as well as its dedication to sustainable development practices.

During the event, Shri Amrit Lal Meena and other Ministry of Coal officials were warmly welcomed by NLC India Ltd. (NLCIL) and other participating Indian PSUs at their exhibition pavilion. The gathering in Brisbane has brought together global industry leaders, experts, and organizations to exchange knowledge and advancements in the mining and power generation field. The visit of the Coal Secretary and other officials was a significant occasion for NLC India Ltd. (NLCIL), as it provided an opportunity for insightful discussions on the future of coal mining, power generation, and their impact on the energy sector. The India stall at the pavilion showcased innovative technologies, sustainable mining and power generation practices, and the country's commitment to environmental conservation.

‘Tearless’ onions to hit supermarket shelves

as saying in a statement.

According to the statement, the tearless variety contains fewer natural chemicals and enzymes, also known as volatile compounds, that can cause tears and irritation.

Australian flu vax uptake falls in winter amid cost-of-living pressures

campaigns warning of a possible blow to the health system from a spike in influenza, Covid-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases.

Canberra, July 10 (IANS)

Australian supermarket giant Woolworths on Monday announced that the country's first batch of "tearless" onions will hit the shelves in stores across New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory from Wednesday until September.

"The unique onion variety is exactly as the name implies, an onion that's less likely to make you cry when you cut it," Xinhua news agency quoted Woolworths

In addition, these compounds continue to reduce after they are harvested, compared to regular onions where these compounds increase over time, which means that they become more tearless over time.

Woolworths noted that the tearless onions were developed over decades using natural methods, including crossbreeding existing onion varieties, and they taste less pungent yet slightly sweeter than regular brown onions.

Elderly man hospitalised after crocodile attack

Canberra, July 13 (IANS) Influenza vaccine uptake in Australia has dropped in the current winter months as a result of fatigue from the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, experts warned on Thursday.

According to the latest data from the Australian Immunization Register, 8.5 million Australians -- or about 32 per cent of the population -- had received a 2023 flu vaccine as of July 9, reports Xinhua news agency.

It marks a fall from 10.4 million at the same time in 2022. The fall came despite public

There had been 116,473 confirmed flu cases in Australia as of June 25 in 2023. Sian Goodson, chair of the South Australian (SA) branch of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said that the number of cases will grow rapidly without higher vaccination rates.

"The virus itself, less immunity naturally and less uptake in vaccines -- all of those things combined together can make a pretty bad flu season," she was quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday.

"Unless the vaccine rate improves, we could be in for quite a large number of flu cases this year."

Rod Pearce, chair of the Immunization Coalition, attributed the drop in vaccines to the cost and to people being less likely to stay up to date with their inoculations following the coronavirus pandemic.

Greg Scarlett, Pharmacy Guild SA vice-president, said the rising cost-of-living pressures made some people feel hard to afford flu vaccines, with a family of four charged up to around A$100 ($68). "It's a significant expense for a family to commit to, to get everybody vaccinated," Scarlett said.

In May, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the federal budget with a strong focus on cost-ofliving relief as inflation remains the "primary economic challenge" for the country.

Canberra, July 11 (IANS) An elderly man has been hospitalised in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) after being attacked by a crocodile.

The 67-year-old was swimming at Wangi Falls, a popular spot in the Litchfield National Park south of Darwin, on Monday when he was mauled by a saltwater crocodile estimated to be 2 meters long, reports Xinhua news agency. He was given first aid at the scene by Taneka Starr, an off- duty police officer, and a nurse before being rushed to the nearby Batchelor medical centre to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries to his arm and back. He was later transferred to the Royal Darwin Hospital.

On Tuesday, Dean McAdam, head of Northern Australian Parks at the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security, said access to Wangi Falls will be closed until authorities could guarantee the public's safety. It is the fourth crocodile attack reported in the NT in 2023, none of which have been fatal. More than 160 crocodiles have been removed from waterways across the NT, including one measuring 3.4 meters from Wangi Falls in January.