No foreign chief guest for Republic Day celebrations

Morning Masala Tea
19 January, 2022

News Today:

Chinese bridge across Pangong lake expected to be completed in few monthss

A bridge being built by China across the Pangong lake in an area claimed by India is expected to be completed in a few months and will give the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) an edge in speedily moving troops between several locations. High-resolution satellite imagery of the bridge from January 16, acquired from US space technology company Maxar by NDTV, shows the bridge is eight metres wide and more than 400 metres long. HT

No foreign chief guest for Republic Day celebrations 

The Republic Day celebrations on January 26 will go ahead without any foreign leader as a chief guest, the second year in a row that India’s signature event has been affected by the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.India had invited the leaders of the five Central Asian states – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – to be chief guests at the celebrations, though no formal announcement was made in this regard by any of the countries.. HT

FM accuses congress of Devas- Antrix scam

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government for perpetrating the Devas Multimedia scam, citing the Supreme Court’s verdict, and said that while the corporate affairs ministry has initiated the liquidation process of the controversial firm, law enforcement agencies will take action against those involved in the crime. HT

Poll Promise: Rs 2000 and 800 units of electricity for blue card holders in Punjab

Shiromani Akali Dal candidate from Mohali, Parminder Singh Sohana, on Tuesday promised that if his party was voted to power in the upcoming Punjab polls, then they would provide free education to poor children and under Mata Khivi Yojana all women will be given Rs 2000 monthly. “The blue cardholder women will be given an allowance of Rs 2000 as well as 800 units of free electricity. The blue cards of people, that were cancelled by the Congress government due to personal grievances, will be reinstated,” Sohana said. Indian Express

Union Health Ministry has advised the COVID-19 patients to undergo tests for TB if cough persists

The Union Health Ministry has advised the COVID-19 patients to undergo tests for tuberculosis and other conditions if cough persists for more than two-three weeks. It also instructed the States to keep an eye on the decline in the number of COVID-19 tests. Arti Ahuja, additional secretary, Health Ministry, stated that it was important to effectively track the spread of the pandemic. Hindu

 

No Local Language News today

 

Google Trends Today

3 Navy personnel die in an explosion on INS Ranvir

Three Navy personnel were killed and 11 injured in an explosion aboard the destroyer INS Ranvir at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Tuesday. “In an unfortunate incident at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, three naval personnel succumbed to injuries caused by an explosion in an internal compartment on-board INS Ranvir,” the Navy said in a statement.

Bhagwant Mann as AAP CM’s Candidate

48-year-old Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann, and now the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) CM candidate was named the party’s chief ministerial face after more than 93 per cent of respondents voted for him in a phone line survey..

 

Compiled from Google Trends

 

Twitter Trends 

  1. Microsoft will buy Activision Blizzard for nearly $70 billion
  2. Tonga volcano: Surveillance images show catastrophic devastation
  3. ‘Nothing can tell us what will happen next’: Scientists struggle to monitor Tonga volcano after massive eruption
  4. A massive asteroid the size of the Empire State Building is about to pass Earth.

 

Compiled from Twitter

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