Month: August 2023

PM replies to Motion of No Confidence in Lok Sabha

Manish Kumar

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of No Confidence in Lok Sabha today. Addressing the House, the Prime Minister said that he has come to express immense gratitude towards each and every citizen of India for repeatedly showing their trust in the government. He recalled commenting that it is not a floor test for the government but for those who introduced it in the house in 2018 when the opposition brought a no-confidence motion. “When we went to polls in 2019, the people had declared no…

Serious irregularities in Ayushman Bharat scheme in Madhya Pradesh: 403 “dead” patients got over ₹ 1.1 crore

Manish Kumar

CAG report has highlighted issues including beneficiary validation errors, shortcomings in claim handling, lapses by State Health Authorities, and more.  The CAG in its pan-India audit has found serious irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Madhya Pradesh.  Over ₹1.1 crore was paid to about 403 patients who were declared ‘dead’ in the database.  Around 8,000 patients were shown to be hospitalized at multiple hospitals.  The audit stated that 25 hospitals had submitted claims for 81 patients twice for various surgical treatments.  The audit names 24 state hospitals, including a…

Russia is racing against India, sends Spacecraft to Moon; weeks After Chandrayaan-3 Launch

Manish Kumar

Russia launched its first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years on Friday, a mission designed to give fresh impetus to its space sector.  The launch of the Luna-25 probe is Moscow’s first lunar mission since 1976 when the USSR was a pioneer in the conquest of space.  The spacecraft is due to reach lunar orbit in five days.  Russia Sends Spacecraft to Moon, Weeks After Chandrayaan-3 Launch.  Putin has pledged to continue Russia’s space programme despite sanctions, pointing to the USSR’s sending of the first man into space…

Apple is likely to launch the upcoming iPhone 15 series

Manish Kumar

One of the most important days in the tech calendar for any given year is the day when Apple unveils and launches its iPhone. No matter which side of the aisle you’re on–whether you’re a diehard Apple fan or an Android fanatic, Apple’s launch event is something that all tech enthusiasts keep an eye on. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has an excellent track record in finding the most genuine leaks about all things Apple now believes that the launch of the upcoming iPhones will take place on September 12. Gurman…

36 Dead, People Jump into Ocean to Escape Hawaii Wildfire; ‘apocalypse’ hits Maui Island resort city

Manish Kumar

Wildfires ripped across Maui Island  Airport remains open as thousands evacuated  Efforts hampered by power outages, cell phone disruption  White House orders ‘all available Federal assets’ to help  More than 11,000 travelers were evacuated from Maui, Ed Sniffen of the Hawaii Department of Transportation said. Though at least 16 roads were closed, the Maui airport was operating fully and airlines were dropping fares and offering waivers to get people off the island, Sniffen had said earlier in the day. Panicked evacuees posted images on social media showing clouds of smoke…

Centre Vs SC again: Centre’s Bill Drops Chief Justice from Poll Officers’ Selection Process

Manish Kumar

The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Services and Term of Office) Bill, 2023, tabled in Rajya Sabha today.  The bill excludes the Chief Justice of India from the process to appoint the country’s top election officers.  The Bill appears to dilute the Supreme Court’s March 2023 judgment.   The fresh Bill sets up another confrontation between the Supreme Court and the Centre.  From judges’ appointments to controversial laws such as the Delhi Services Act, the Centre, and the Supreme Court have been locked in a…

WeWork shares were near zero after the bankruptcy warning; it would not affect the India division

Manish Kumar

WeWork shares approached zero after it warned it could go bankrupt.  WeWork’s woes did not abate in subsequent years, It finally managed to go public in 2021 at a much-reduced valuation, but it has never turned a profit.  Shares of the company closed 38.5% lower at 12 cents on Wednesday.  The company’s business model involves taking long-term leases and renting out spaces for the short term.   It expanded rapidly over the years, but the global coronavirus pandemic made shared office space less appealing.  WeWork said it was planning to…

‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up of 21 new Greenfield Airports

Manish Kumar

The expansion of airports including the upgradation of infrastructures/ facilities at airports, is a continuous process, which is undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) or the concerned Airport Operators depending upon operational requirements, traffic, demand, commercial feasibility etc. AAI and other Airport Operators have embarked upon a Capex Plan for more than Rs. 98,000 crore including around Rs.25,000 crore by AAI during 2019-24 for development/ upgradation/ modernisation of various brownfield airports and developing Greenfield Airports to meet the growing demands. AAI has undertaken development/ expansion of Port Blair…

After attacking Ukraine’s wheat exports, Russia faces its own shipping challenge

Manish Kumar

Russian turning to “shadow fleet” to move its grain, sources say  Major global grain traders reduce activity in Russia  Russia aiming to export volumes of wheat near record highs  Russian-operated fleet of grain ships well below needs  Russia’s lack of ships and Western grain traders’ shrinking appetite for business with Moscow are adding to the rising costs of moving Russian wheat, at a time when the war in Ukraine has spilled perilously close to vital Black Sea supply routes. President Vladimir Putin promised to replace Ukrainian grain with Russian shipments…

Jayesh Ranjan to inaugurate “Aadhyasri – National Conference on Women Entrepreneurship”

Manish Kumar

Hyderabad, August 09, 2023…..Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, I & C and IT, Govt of Telangana, to inaugurate “Aadhyasri – National Conference on Women Entrepreneurship” on Thursday at Hotel ITC Kakatiya.  The day-long conference is organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in association with The Government of Telangana and WE-Hub.  The theme of the conference is Beat the Odds – challenges to opportunities.  The conference aims to provide a comprehensive platform to discuss and deliberate on challenges; promote women’s entrepreneurship, guide budding and aspirant entrepreneurs especially working…