News you need to know before starting your day: 13 October 2021

Morning Masala Tea
13 October, 2021

News:

  1. India’s economy, which contracted by 7.3 per cent due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is expected to grow by 9.5 per cent in 2021 and 8.5 per cent in 2022, according to the latest projections released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday. Indian Express
  2. Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Tuesday reviewed the coal supply and power generation scenario as the government looks at ways to defuse the energy crisis being faced by several states. Indian Express
  3. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations in New Delhi in connection with its terror funding probe into the Mundra Adani port drug haul case. Indian Express
  4. The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday allowed airlines to operate 100 per cent of their scheduled capacity October 18 onwards, removing a key restriction imposed when domestic flight operations resumed in May 2020 after a two-month lockdown. However, restrictions on fare bands continues to be in place. Indian Express
  5. “I have been growing Ganja (cannabis sativa and cannabis indica) along the banks of Balimela reservoir for the past several years. Not just me, several people in my village do it. Though I keep on hearing that there could be police raids, I have not seen any police in last several years,” said the tribal farmer in Badapadar grampanchayat. They certainly haven’t come this year. If caught, he could be jailed for up to 10 years and fined up to 1 lakh under Section 20 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act that was enacted in 1985 replacing the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930. HT

 

Hindi News: ( so that you don’t miss out )

  1. दिल्ली में प्रदूषण का स्तर एक बार फिर बढ़ना शुरू हो गया है। इस पर लगाम लगाने के लिए 18 अक्टूबर से रेड लाइन ऑन गाड़ी ऑफ अभियान शुरू किया जा रहा है। दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविंद केजरीवाल ने मंगलवार को लोगों से अपील की है कि वे रेड लाइट पर गाड़ियों को बंद करके और सप्ताह में कम से कम एक बार गाड़ियों का उपयोग न करके प्रदूषण कम करने में मदद करें। Bhaskar
  2. इजराइल के एक खोजी पत्रकार ने सनसनीखेज दावा किया है। इजराइली जर्नलिस्ट योस्सी मेलमैन ने कहा कि अगर पाकिस्तान के परमाणु वैज्ञानिक डॉ. अब्दुल कदीर खान के गलत मंसूबों का पहले ही पता चल गया होता तो मोसाद उन्हें मार चुकी होती।Bhaskar

  3. पूरे देश में पेट्रोल और डीजल के बाद पाइप्ड नेचुरल गैस (PNG) की कीमतों में भी 2 रुपए का इजाफा हुआ है। मंगलवार को एक बार फिर इंद्रप्रस्थ गैस लिमिटेड (IGL) ने कई शहरों में कीमतों में बढ़ोतरी की घोषणा की। यह 10 दिन में दूसरी बार है जब पीएनजी गैस महंगी हुई है। IGL के मुताबिक घरेलू PNG के दाम 2 रुपए प्रति SCM बढ़ाए गए हैं। नए दाम 13 अक्टूबर से प्रभावी होंगे। Bhaskar
  4. दुनिया के दो सबसे बड़े रईस कारोबारियों- एलन मस्क और जेफ बेजोस के बीच ट्विटर पर अलग तरह की खींच-तान चल रही है। टेस्ला के को-फाउंडर मस्क और अमेजन के फाउंडर बेजोस पिछले कुछ समय से इस सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफॉर्म पर एक-दूसरे को निशाना बनाते नजर आ रहे हैं। Bhaskar

 

Relevant Google Trends Today

  1. TN local body election results: The nine districts of Tamil Nadu that went to the polls in two phases are Chengalpattu, Tenkasi, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Villupuram, Tiruppatur, Tirunelveli, and Kallakuruchi.
  2. In a setback to the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand ahead of the Assembly polls, state minister Yashpal Arya on Monday quit the party and joined the Congress along with his MLA son Sanjeev Arya.
  3. The online booking for Mandala-Makaravilakku at the famous Sabarimala shrine in Kerala has started. The booking started from Monday, reported Dinamalar and other local publications.
  4. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech had completed Phase-2 and Phase-3 trials of Covaxin on children below 18 years of age in September and submitted the trial data to the Drugs and Comptroller General of India (DCGI) at the start of this month.“After detailed deliberation, the committee recommended for grant of market authorization of the vaccine for the age group of 2 to 18 years for restricted use in emergency situation,” the subject expert panel said in a statement.

 

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