News you need to know before starting your day: 16 October 2021

Morning Masala Tea
16 October, 2021

News:

  1. The number of stubble-burning events in Punjab, Haryana and the eight NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh has come down significantly this year, with a total of 1,795 such incidents reported this month as against 4,854 in the same period last year, a fall of 63 per cent, the Centre’s air quality commission said on Friday. Business Standard
  2. In a major reform initiative, the seven state-run defence companies were created after dissolving the over 200-year-old Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). The assets of the OFB including its 41 ordnance factories were transferred to the seven new firms. Business Standard
  3. The Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest executive body, will meet on Saturday to give another try to fix the schedule for long-pending organisation elections — an exercise that will have to keep in mind upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa, according to people aware of the matter. HT
  4. India’s apex drugs regulator is yet to approve Bharat Biotech’s coronavirus vaccine Covaxin for emergency use in children despite a recommendation from the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) earlier in the week, people familiar with the matter said on Friday, attributing the delay to additional technical opinion that is being sought. HT
  5. Bill Clinton will remain hospitalized overnight as he recovers from a urological infection. But a spokesman said Friday that he was doing better and was in good spirits. HT

 

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

  1. IPL के 14वें सीजन का चैम्पियन मिल गया है। 9वीं बार फाइनल में पहुंची चेन्नई सुपर किंग्स ने चौथी बार खिताब जीत लिया। चैम्पियन चेन्नई को ट्रॉफी के साथ 20 करोड़ और रनरअप कोलकाता को 12.50 करोड़ रुपए प्राइज मनी मिली। फाइनल मैच के मैन ऑफ द मैच को 5 लाख रुपए मिले। वहीं, सबसे ज्यादा विकेट लेने वाले RCB के हर्षल पटेल को पर्पल कैप के साथ 10 लाख रुपए मिले। Bhaskar
  2. सिंघु बॉर्डर पर गुरु ग्रंथ साहिब की कथित बेअदबी के मामले में बेरहमी से मार दिए गए लखबीर सिंह के मामले में निहंग नेता ज्ञानी शमशेर सिंह का कहना है कि धर्म की रक्षा बिना ताकत के नहीं हो सकती। उन्होंने दावा किया, ‘पहले भी गुरु ग्रंथ साहिब की बेअदबी के मामले सामने आए थे। हमने तब गुनहगारों को पुलिस के हवाले किया था, लेकिन पुलिस ने कुछ दिनों में उन्हें छोड़ दिया। इसलिए इस बार हमने सबक देने के लिए गुनाह के बराबर सजा दी, ताकि दोबारा कोई ऐसा करने की हिम्मत भी न करे, और फिर भी दोबारा ऐसा हुआ तो हम उसे फिर ऐसा ही ‘प्रसाद’ देंगे।’।Bhaskar

  3. छत्तीसगढ़ के जशपुर जिले में एक तेज रफ्तार कार ने धार्मिक जुलूस में शामिल लोगों को कुचल दिया। जशपुर के पत्थलगांव में करीब 150 लोग जुलूस की शक्ल में दुर्गा विसर्जन के लिए जा रहे थे। कार की टक्कर से एक व्यक्ति की मौके पर ही मौत हो गई, जबकि 26 लोग घायल हो गए। घायलों में 4 की हालत गंभीर है। कार में गांजा भरा हुआ था और तस्कर इसे ओडिशा से मध्य प्रदेश के सिंगरौली ले जा रहे थे । Bhaskar

 

Relevant Google Trends Today

  1. Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who is undergoing treatment at All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi, is stable and recovering, news agency ANI quoted a hospital official as saying on Friday. The 89-year-old former prime minister was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday evening after he complained of weakness, fever and uneasiness.
  2. A total of 6,452 female candidates have aced the IIT entrance test (JEE advanced 2021) out of 41,862 candidates who appeared. JEE advanced 2021 results were announced on Friday, October 15.
  3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday remembered former President APJ Abdul Kalam on his 90th birth anniversary. PM Modi wrote a tweet in Hindi in which he called Kalam, “a source of inspiration for countrymen”.

 

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