Month: May 2023

Defence production crosses Rs 1 lakh crore mark for the first time ever

Manish Kumar

As a result of the consistent efforts of Ministry of Defence, the value of defence production in Financial Year (FY) 2022-23 has crossed the figure of Rs one lakh crore for the first time ever. The value currently stands Rs 1,06,800 crore and it will go further up once the data is received from the remaining private defence industries. The current value of defence production in FY 2022-23 is a rise of more than 12 per cent over FY 2021-22, when the figure was Rs 95,000 crore. The Government is…

Smt. Anupriya Patel to inaugurate the 2nd TIWG Meeting

Manish Kumar

The 2nd TIWG meeting, under India’s G20 Presidency, is being organized in Bengaluru from May 23rd – 25th, 2023. The meeting will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Anupriya Patel on May 24th, 2023. During this three-day meeting, over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings and international organizations will deliberate on reforming the multilateral trading system, integrating MSMEs in global trade, resilient GVCs, making trade work for growth and prosperity, and efficient logistics for trade. On May 23rd, the…

UK to ban Russian diamonds, The US and allies to roll out new sanctions against Moscow at G7

Manish Kumar

The United Kingdom announced a ban on Russian diamond imports to the country in the latest sanctions to oppose the invasion of Ukraine.  UK Prime Minister said that the UK must show “violence and coercion do not reap rewards” ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.  So far, the UK has targeted more than 1,500 individuals and entities and frozen more than £ 18 billion in assets under the sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  The United States and its other G7 allies also plan to roll out new…

Lenders accused Byju’s Alpha of hiding $500 million

Manish Kumar

Byju’s Alpha Accused of Hiding $500 Million From lenders. The allegation came out at a court hearing in Delaware, where Byju’s Alpha faces a lawsuit over who should control the company.  Byju’s Alpha faces a lawsuit over who should control the company. Lenders claim that because of a default earlier this year, they have the right to put their representative.  Earlier this year, a top manager at Byju’s Alpha admitted to transferring half a billion dollars out of the company.  Byju’s Alpha was trying to protect the money from predatory…

PM to dedicate new Parliament building to the nation on May 28

Manish Kumar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the newly constructed Parliament building to the Nation on May 28, 2023.  The new Parliament building can comfortably seat 888 members in the Lok Sabha chamber and 300 in the Rajya Sabha chamber.  In case of a joint sitting of both Houses, a total of 1,280 members can be accommodated in the Lok Sabha chamber.  The new parliament building is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, which will help the members to perform their duties in a better way.  The four-story building has been constructed at…

PM’s departure statement ahead of his visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia

Manish Kumar

I will leave for Hiroshima, Japan to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. It will be a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Kishida again after his recent visit to India for the India – Japan Summit. My presence in this G7 Summit is particularly meaningful as India holds the G20 Presidency this year. I look forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need…

Pakistan official gives Khan 24 hours to hand over riot suspects

Manish Kumar

Ex-PM Imran Khan is accused of sheltering aides and supporters wanted over attacks on the army following his arrest last week.  A Pakistani official has warned Imran had 24 hours to hand them over, and that a police operation would be launched if he did not comply.  A politician belonging to Khan’s PTI party, told the reporter that the allegation is “only going to increase the political temperature and it is very dangerous”.  Imran Khan, meanwhile, has claimed that Pakistan is heading towards an imminent disaster and it may face…

Alerts sound across Ukraine as Kyiv comes under ‘unprecedented’ air attacks

Manish Kumar

Air raid sirens have sounded across Ukraine in the early hours of this morning, with Kyiv coming under an “unprecedented” series of air attacks.  “A series of air attacks on Kyiv, unprecedented in their power, intensity and variety, continues. The ninth consecutive air attack on the capital since the beginning of May.”- officials said.  “Most of the enemy’s missiles were shot down over the sea by the Air Defence Forces,” the Ukraine military said.   Russia is effectively banning senior officials from resigning as many are “highly sceptical” about the…

India trashed US religious freedom report citing “flawed”, “motivated”, and “biased”

Manish Kumar

  India slammed the US State Department’s 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom, terming it “flawed”, “motivated”, and “biased”. The report documents the status of religious freedom in countries across the world. The report criticized the country for alleged attacks on minorities. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said such reports continue to be based on “misinformation and flawed understanding”. It mentions BJP around 28 times while detailing the alleged hate crimes and statements made by party leaders against minorities.  The annual report listed alleged attacks on religious minorities in India…

G20 countries can collaborate to achieve biofuels’ full potential

Manish Kumar

Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Pankaj Jain highlighted the role of Biofuels and the importance of G20 countries collaboration in achieving the full potential of biofuels, for a cleaner and greener tomorrow. He was addressing the Global Biofuel Alliance Seminar, organised by MoP&NG on the side lines of the 3rd Energy Transition Working Group Meeting in Mumbai on 15th May 2023. Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary (MoPNG), in his keynote address, focused on the untapped potential in biofuels and its increasing appeal from clean energy transition, wide-ranging application,…