Month: August 2023

Indian government calls a Special Session of Parliament between September 18-22

Manish Kumar

Government Calls Parliament “Special Session”.  Government sources have said the agenda is likely to include Amrit Kaal celebrations and India as a ‘developed nation’, and there is no hint of any important bill.  India’s Parliamentary affairs minister has posted on X (formerly Twitter) announcing the special session of parliament.    It may convey the Indian government’s message to the Supreme Court of India that it was open to conducting elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.  Government sources have, though, also said the agenda is likely to include…

‘Adani family’s partners used ‘opaque’ funds to invest in its stocks’: Adani Group Rejects Allegations

Manish Kumar

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said that Millions of dollars were invested in some publicly traded stocks of Adani Group via “opaque” Mauritius funds.   The OCCRP report has alleged insider trading via two foreign investors.  The Adani Group today rejected what it called “recycled allegations” of hidden foreign investors.  The claims were based on closed cases from a decade ago when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) probed allegations of over-invoicing and transfer of funds abroad.  “The timing of these news reports is suspicious, mischievous, and…

Luis Rubiales: Prosecutors open inquiries into whether Spanish FA boss’s World Cup kiss was sexual harassment

Manish Kumar

Prosecutors have opened inquiries into the kiss by Spanish FA boss Luis Rubiales, whose mother has gone on hunger strike over the treatment of her son.  Spanish player Jenni Hermoso has said that at “no moment” did she consent to the kiss from Mr. Rubiales, who has been suspended by FIFA.  Hermoso has said that in “no moment” did she consent to the kiss.  Luis Rubiales has remained defiant in the face of mounting criticism, saying he’s the subject of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists”.  Rubiales’ mother ‘on hunger…

South Africa building fire: At least 73 killed in blaze in Johannesburg

Manish Kumar

At least 73 people have been killed in a fire in a multi-story building in South Africa’s biggest city, authorities have said.  The building in the central business district has been described as an “informal settlement” where homeless people had moved in looking for accommodation.  “Over 20 years in the service, I’ve never come across something like this,” the fire officer said.   Firefighters evacuated occupants after arriving at the scene, a search and recovery operation is underway.  Abandoned and rundown buildings are common in the area and are often…

Joe Biden approved aid to Taiwan under the Foreign Military Financing program

Manish Kumar

Biden approves military aid to Taiwan under a program normally used for sovereign states  The Programme is called Foreign Military Financing or FMF, normally used for sovereign states, according to a notification sent to Congress.  “FMF will be used to strengthen Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities through joint and combined defense capability and enhanced maritime domain awareness and maritime security capability,”- the notification says.  Beijing claims the democratically governed island as its own territory and warns against any forms of “official exchanges” between Washington and Taipei.  Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims and…

Visa, Mastercard gear up to increase credit-card fees: Report

Manish Kumar

According to sources familiar with the situation and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, the fee rise will begin in October and April. Online purchases will mostly have these increased fees.  Visa and Mastercard plan to increase fees for retailers accepting credit and debit cards, potentially costing over $500 million annually.  With the increases, merchants could pay more than $500 million in additional fees each year, according to merchant-consulting company CMSPI.  US merchants shelled out a record $160.7 billion on so-called swipe fees last year, up 16.7% from 2021,…

I.N.D.I.A bloc’s third meeting to begin in Mumbai, seat-sharing on agenda

Manish Kumar

The discussion among the partner leaders in the bloc would center on the battle plan for the next general elections and a seat-sharing formula,   Logo, Coordination, and Campaign On Agenda during the two-day meeting.  Ahead of their third round of discussions, several leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc exuded confidence that they would prove to be a formidable opponent for the government.    As many as 63 representatives from 28 political parties will attend the meeting at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Mumbai.  Several chief ministers and senior leaders including…

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip the summit of G20 leaders in India next week: Sources

Manish Kumar

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in India next week, according to sources familiar with the matter. Premier Li Qiang is expected to represent Beijing at the Sept. 9-10 meeting in New Delhi. Xi last met Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia last November. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already announced that he will not be travelling to New Delhi and will send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead. Anticipation of a meeting between Xi and Biden has been…

Aadhaar Used as Weapon to Exclude Citizens from Their Guaranteed Rights-Jairam Ramesh slams Centre

Manish Kumar

Congress slammed the PM Modi-led BJP government at the Centre for mandating payments for the MGNREGA via the Aadhaar-based payments system.  Jairam Ramesh targets Centre  Congress said that the government is trying to delay the inevitable with its continued ‘experiments with technology’.   Govt must stop weaponizing Aadhaar and technology to deny the most vulnerable citizens their social welfare benefits.  Congress demands Modi govt to stop weaponizing Aadhaar  Congress slammed the PM Modi-led BJP government at the Centre for mandating payments for the MGNREGA via the Aadhaar-based payments system. Congress said…

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) Surpasses Employment Generation Target

Manish Kumar

The Central Government’s innovative employment incentive scheme, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), has exceeded its initial employment generation goals, showcasing its success in fostering job creation and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched effectively from October 1, 2020, the ABRY was designed to stimulate the creation of new job opportunities by extending financial support to employers of establishments registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). This scheme aimed to incentivize employment of unemployed individuals, including those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, by covering both the…