News you need to know before starting your day: 22 September 2021

Morning Masala Tea
22 September, 2021

News:

  1. Tata Motors Ltd. said it will raise the prices of its commercial vehicle range by about 2% with effect from October 1 following continuous rise in commodity prices Hindu
  2. India could impose “reciprocal measures” on the United Kingdom if London maintained the current quarantine policy that subjected Indian travellers “irrespective of vaccination status” to a quarantine period lasting 10 days Hindu
  3. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to drop as many as half of the sitting legislators to blunt anti-incumbency in the states going to polls in 2022. HT
  4. Biden called on UN member states to work together to confront common challenges such as the climate crisis and Covid-19 and underscored his commitment to multilateralism, citing the elevation of the Quad group with India, Australia and Japan to summit-level engagement and said the Indo-Pacific was among the most consequential regions in the world. HT
  5. The seventh serological survey is likely to begin this week in Delhi, when 28,000 people will be tested for exposure to Sars-CoV-2. A portion of the samples will be, for the first time, also tested to calculate the levels of neutralising antibodies that directly target the virus. HT
  6. Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai announced earlier this month that the government will release a winter action plan this year to ensure that pollution from various sources is kept in check. HT

 

Relevant Google Trends Today

  1. CIA officer on India trip reports Havana Syndrome. Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health symptoms that typically involves hearing certain sounds without any outside noise being present, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and issues with balance.
  2. September 21, 2021 is the Day of Global Ceasefire and Non- Violence to be observed throughout the world – International Peace day
  3. Marathi actress Ishwari Deshpande, 25, along with her friend Shubham Dedge, 28, has died in a car accident in Goa.
  4. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hung onto power on Monday as his main rival conceded defeat, but his Liberals fell short of his goal for a majority win. Trudeau is in power since 2015 and governing with a minority of House of Commons seats since 2019,

 

Startup
24 February, 2024

Byju’s, once heralded as a flagship in India’s edtech sector, is grappling with severe financial and operational challenges, marked by a dramatic valuation drop. The company, which sought to stabilize its operations and finances, is now raising funds at a valuation significantly lower than its peak. This development comes amid efforts to address a substantial debt burden, with Byju’s proposing a repayment plan for its $1.2 billion loan. Investor confidence appears shaken, with some stakeholders pushing for drastic changes in leadership to navigate the crisis effectively. The turmoil reflects broader sectoral pressures and raises questions about the sustainability of high-growth trajectories in the edtech industry

Energy
10 February, 2024

Australia’s energy market is witnessing significant transitions and investments aimed at bolstering renewable energy infrastructure and securing gas supplies. Key developments include a $179 million investment by the Queensland Government for community battery projects, Santos’ $5.7 billion gas pipeline project following a legal battle win, and a $206 million energy savings package for NSW households. Additionally, the Australian government has secured new gas supply deals to support the east coast market, emphasizing the role of gas in transitioning to a renewable grid.

India 2024
9 February, 2024

The latest opinion polls, including the Mood of the Nation survey by India Today, predict a comfortable victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with a projected win of 335 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections. This forecast suggests a slight decrease from the 2019 elections but still ensures a majority. The survey, involving interviews with over 149,000 respondents, reflects Modi’s enduring popularity based on his nationalist policies and economic reforms. Other polls echo these findings, although seat projections vary slightly. The opposition INDIA alliance is expected to secure a significant number of seats, yet not enough to challenge the NDA’s majority. These predictions highlight a political landscape that remains largely favorable to Modi and the BJP as the election approaches