News you need to know before starting your day: 23 September 2021

Morning Masala Tea
23 September, 2021

News:

  1. Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health alongside climate change, the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday as it released its new air quality guidelines for the first time since its last global update in 2005. Business Standard
  2. The Supreme Court on Wed­nesday allowed wom­en to take the National Defence Acad­e­my (NDA) entrance exam in Novem­ber this year and not wait till May 2022 as requested by the government. Business Standard
  3. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended the payment of ₹50,000 each ex gratia to next of kin of those who died due to COVID Hindu
  4. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against a Nagpur-based coaching centre and others for offering to arrange admissions in top government medical colleges by adopting fraudulent means Hindu
  5. Uttar Pradesh recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of influential Hindu seer Narendra Giri on Wednesday night, hours after he was laid to rest in Prayagraj and a post-mortem report suggested that the holy man may have died by asphyxiation. HT
  6. India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have drawn up an “aggressive and ambitious” time frame aiming to conclude a comprehensive trade negotiation by December 2021 and hope to sign a formal free trade agreement in the early part of 2022 to achieve over $115 billion bilateral trade in five years. HT

 

Relevant Google Trends Today

  1. World Rose Day, celebrated on September 22, is a ray of hope for cancer patients all around the world
  2. Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) share price touched a 52-week high of Rs 355.40, gaining 39 percent intraday on September 22 after the company signed a merger deal with Sony Pictures India.

 

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