Impact Writing

Today’s Current Affairs November 29

November 29, 2019

Front page

Pragya Thakur’s anti-Gandhi rant invites BJP’s wrath

Pragya Thakur’s praise for Gandhiji’s assassin Godse resulted in vociferous condemnation both inside and outside the parliament. An embarrassed BJP acted swiftly to distance itself from her, and announced that she had been dropped from the Parliamentary panel on Defence.
Good words used .. Rant, Wrath, Vociferous,

Google reveals it had warned 500 users about possible government snooping

Internet users in India were rudely shocked to hear from Google that some 500 Indians’ accounts were illegally watched by government agencies. It caused widespread disquiet and anxiety among the users.
Good words used … Snooping, Disquiet

National

Telengana transport workers allowed to resume duty

The striking transport workers who broke their strike unilaterally had to wait to be allowed to resume work. The government kept them waiting for two days before letting them in. It was an insult the demoralized employees had to swallow.

Kuwait domestic workers issue stirs the MPs

The ordeal the domestic wormer had to endure in Kuwait created a huge outcry in the public. Echoing such sentiments, MPs in both sides urged the government to intervene. The minister attributed the frequent occurrence of such cases to the Apps and Websites that facilitate hiring of maids from overseas. The wealthy Arabs recruit unsuspecting maids, only to exploit them later.
Good words used — Ordeal, Endure, Outcry, Attribute, Unsuspecting

India will make defense purchases worth Rs.28000 crores

The Defence Minister has cleared the purchase of items like surveillance aircrafts or AWACKS. AWACKS stands for Airborne Warning and Control Systems. These monitoring aircrafts alert our forces against intruding enemy aircrafts, missiles, and drones.

Gotabaya in Delhi

The new Sri Lankan president Gotbaya Rajapakshe is in India today to reassure the Indian leadership about Sri Lankan commitment to lasting friendship with its northern neighbor. Gotabaya will meet Modi during his sojourn.

Sweden exerts pressure on India to restore normalcy in J&K

With the impending visit of the Swedish King to India, Sweden has impressed upon the Indian authorities to restore normalcy in the valley at the earliest. As is well known, Sweden is a fierce champion of freedom and restrictions on the citizen of any kind is anathema to it.
Pakistan SC clears the deck for the army chief’s three-year extension
Pakistan Supreme Court has permitted conditional extension of the army chief’s tenure after the government undertook to remove the anomalies soon.

Finance

Automotive sector expects better sales in December and beyond

It has been observed that customers buy assets like cars, two-wheelers, tractors etc. when the year draws to a close. Automotive manufacturers have been registering tepid sales for almost a year. The slump in sales has caused massive job losses in the main factories as well as in those of the suppliers. So, the automotive sector is hoping against hope that December will usher in better times that could continue.
Cotton harvest may be good this year.
Copious rainfall has brightened the prospects of a good cotton harvest this year. The Cotton Advisory Board is hopeful that exports of this commodity will register a rise.

PCPIR at Dahej in fast lane
Gujarat’s Petroleum and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) at Dahej has attracted investment worth Rs.1 lakh crore. The facility located in a coastal area is spread over an area of 220 square Kilometers.

RIL set to reach a landmark

RIL’s market cap may cross Rs.10 lakh crore soon. It will be the first Indian company to do so.

Today’s Current Affairs November 28 (from Hindu and other sources)

November 28, 2019 (Sourced from Hindu, The Economist)

Front Page

New Maharashtra government shares powers with Allies

Ajit Power will be Udhav Thackeray’s Deputy Chief, and Congress to get the Speaker’s post. With relative ease, the new government under Chief Minister has dispelled doubts about a possible squabble over the top posts. Ajit Pawar, will be comfortable with his home-coming, and the Congress that was relegated to the fourth place by the voters will have its choice as the Speaker.
Good words and phrases used .. Dispel, Relegate

India’s Cartosat-3 roars into sky, but some critical gaps remain

India’s ultra high resolution (just about 250 mm) remote sensing satellite soared into the sky making ISRO and the whole country proud. The satellite can ‘see’ objects on the ground as small in size as 250 mm.

Commercial benefits of the Remote sensing programme (IRS)..

1. It has enabled India’s fishermen to increase the catch manifold as a result of which the country’s marine exports have grown ten times in the last few years.
2. India sells the pictures to customers worldwide and earns foreign exchange.
Military benefits ..
India is able to maintain a continuous vigil of the oceans that surround it in three sides. Even land-based military activities in our neighboring countries (some of them hostile) can be monitored on real-time basis.

Shortcomings of the Remote sensing programme..
In order to be able to provide wider and un-interrupted coverage of the huge ocean and land mass, India needs to have many more such satellites in orbit. Due to limitations on the number and frequency of the PSLV launches, India can’t put the requisite number of such satellites in sky. The satellites have a battery life of about five years towards the end of which they have to be maneuvered towards the ‘grave yard’ orbit where it can burn itself in course of time eliminating the risks of congesting the space. As India does not have adequate number of such satellites, the ones in space are kept operational up to ten years – double of their designed life span. By this time, the battery on board becomes too drained to allow maneuvering the craft to the ‘grave yard’ orbit. This leads to overcrowding of space and enhances risks of collision with our own satellites and that of other countries.

The second problem is about providing continuing service to our customers. If we refuse to give them the images as and when they need, they will turn to other providers, at our cost. The situation is like keeping a tea shop open intermittently. Customers do not patronize such shops.

The third weakness is about our inability to showcase our capacity in a truly commercial way, like a smart marketing outfit does. We are shy about showing off our prowess, and respond only when a customer approaches us. This lose end needs to be tied up.

Nirmala Sitaraman quells concerns about the nose-diving economy

The Finance Minister assuaged the concerns of the members of the Rajya Sabha that the growth engine of the economy has merely slowed down, but has not entered the recession zone yet. She exuded confidence that the raft of measures taken by the government to accelerate the economy will soon show results. However, her words are cold comfort for the people facing large scale job losses, and slow-down of trade and industry.
Good words and phrases used .. Quell, Assuage, Exude, Cold comfort

Bengaluru

Soaring onion prices bring tears to the people of Bengaluru

With onion selling Rs.100 a kilo, Bengaluru consumers can only fret and fume, and wait for fresh harvest to arrive. For the foreseeable future, there is no respite in the sight. In the meanwhile, some eateries in the city have taken onion dishes off the menu.
Good words used .. Fret, Fume as verb,

Bengaluru bar owners and residents at odds with each other

In areas like Indira Nagar, Koramangala areas, the pubs serve a certain section of customers for whom spending time there has become a necessity and a life style. The pubs play loud music often late into the night, and inebriated customers sometimes cause nuisance in the nearby streets. The residents loudly clamored for the closure of these joints, and the police had no option but enforce their shutting down. However, the action started a backlash from pub-goers who feel the law prohibiting commercial activities in a residential area is archaic and out-dated for a growing and thriving city like Bengaluru. The clash of interests has brought to the fore the need for advanced planning so that adequate commercial space is available for businesses. Such problem affects almost all cities of India.
Good words used … To be at odds with, Clamour as verb, Backlash, Bring to the fore,

Flood due to Hulimavu lake’s wall breach leaves a trail of massive destruction

The areas where the Lake’s water entered are still reeling under the effects of the man-made flooding. Mud and slush has covered the streets and basement of apartments. Now, the authorities are mulling ways to prevent such mishaps in future.

National

NIA digging into the case of Keralite couple arrested in Afghanistan
A trained dentist and her Christian husband were swayed by Islamic Stat’s philosophy, and converted to Islam to fight for IS in Afghanistan. The woman was later arrested by Afghan police, and her mother in Kerala identified her from her photo procured by the National Investigating Agency (NIA). Now the Agency is delving deeper to completely uncover the mystery behind such radicalization of a Hindu woman and her Christian husband.
Good word used .. Sway as verb, Delve

Australia returns three Indian invaluable artefacts

India has gratefully acknowledged the receipt of three ancient artefacts smuggled out of the country years ago. India and Australia both are members of the UNESCO 1970 convention on the means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transport of ownership of Cultural Property. This enabled Australia to return the items without any controversy.
Good words used .. Artefact

India’s insatiable appetite for gold
India continues to be the top importer of gold in the world, both through legal channel and through smuggling. An NGO has revealed that the country received nearly 1000 tons of gold last year, a good portion of it through smuggling.
Good word used .. Insatiable

Air India to be privatized soon

The loss-making national airline Air India that has accumulated massive debt of Rs.58,000 crores might finally be sold. The airline has managed to stay afloat through periodic injection of cash by the government, but now, the time has come to finally get rid of it. Mr. Puri, Minister for Civil Aviation has disclosed that the sale process will be completed by the end of March, 2020.
Terror incidents in J&K almost down to nil, says the Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh claimed that peace and tranquility has finally returned to the valley after the government’s move to abrogate Article 370. However, opposition members described the lull as deceptive and induced by fear. They asked why the internet is still curbed, if the valley is quiet.
Good word used .. Deceptive

Delay in GST reimbursement to States riles West Bengal and Punjab

Irate MPs from West Bengal and Punjab remonstrated against the delay in refund of GST dues, especially to their states.
Good words used .. Rile, Irate, Remonstrate

Transgressions by Chinese troops exceed 1000 in the last three years

The Minister of State of Defence stated that the soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had intruded into Indian territory more than a thousand times in the last three years. Happily though, these were resolved peacefully through negotiations between the field commanders.
Good word used .. Transgression

Data breach has become commonplace admits government
Facing mounting criticism by opposition against government-initiated theft of individual data of citizens, the government conceded that such breaches do happen, but the government never engineered it.
Good words used … Commonplace, Engineer as verb

SC reserves its verdict on the J&K curb issue
The Apex Court reserved its judgment on the petition challenging the continuing curbs in the valley. The petitioner is Ghulam Navi Azad of the Congress Party. Under the eye of the army and paramilitary forces, curbs on free movement, speech, internet access continue to mire the people.
Good words used .. Mire,

Indian Consul General invokes Israel’s example as a model for solving the Pandis’s return issue

The senior Indian diplomat in New York caused quite a flutter by his indiscrete comment on the J&K issue, saying military force will succeed in facilitating return of Pandits to their ancestral homes, just the way Israel has settled its Jews in Palestine territory. It was a rash undiplomatic statement that raised many eyebrows. The Union Government has maintained a studied silence in the matter.
Good words and phrases used .. Cause a flutter, Raise eyebrow

International

Dhaka Café attack perpetrators get death sentence
In 2016, a group of radicalized students had mounted a bomb attack on an upscale Café popular with foreigners. The attack left 22 dead and scores maimed. The explosion had sullied the peaceful investment-friendly image of Bangladesh. After a fast track trial, seven of the accused have been sent to the gallows. The attack bore the hallmark of the dreaded Islamic State, and made Bangladeshis nervous and very resentful about the import of Islamic radicalism to the country.
Good words and phrases used .. Perpetrator, Hallmark, send to the gallows, Maim, Upscale

Pakistan Army Chief gets conditional 6-month extension
The Pakistan Supreme Court showed unusual courage when it said that he extension of the General’s tenure by three years granted by Prime Minister Imran Khan was technically flawed. Logically, it should have been done by the President. The government has got six months time to remove the anomalies if it wants the Army Chief to avail the full three-month extension.
Good words used .. Flaw as noun and verb, Anomaly,

Iran cracks down on those who launched the deadly protests against oil price rise

An angry Iranian government has invoked all its coercive powers to penalize those who took to the streets last week against the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol. Even Iran’s overseas journalists have borne the wrath of the authorities.
British Labour Party under Corbyn alleges the Conservative government’s plans to sell the National Halth Service (NHS) TO American companies
Corbyn, the labor leader has flayed Boris Johnson for conducting secret negotiations with American companies to sell off the NHS. Corbyn has even shown papers that clearly prove his allegation. Now, the entire Labor Party is up in arms against the Conservatives for sacrificing a prized British welfare scheme for dubious gains.

Mexican drug cartels face intense Trump ire

After reports of the killing of nine women and children by Mexican drug cartels, Trump has vowed immediate and intense American action to neutralize their threat. The cartels will officially be listed as ‘Terror organizations’ – a classification that invites harsh punitive action from U.S. authorities. Now, the government in Mexico where the gruesome killing happened will face severe American pressure to crack down the drug mafias.
Good words used .. Cartel, Ire, Mafia

Finance

Premier financial services company Karvy faces the wrath of SEBI for its unlawful activities

Flouting the laws, Karvy has used the securities and funds placed with it by individual investors for its own business gains. The investors give a general power of attorney to the brokerage houses to do transactions on their behalf and earn profits that they get. In the present case, Karvy has misused the powers of attorney given by the investors to use their funds for Karvy’s gains, not the investors’. This clearly amounts to breach of trust on the part of Karvy. SEBI has now restricted all sorts of investment activities of Karvy till the inspection of its books is complete, and its fraudulent transactions quantified. SEBI’s stringent action has sent shock waves among the stock brokers.
Good words and phrases used .. Wrath, Flout, Send shock waves

Term of the 15th Finance Commission extended
The government has extended the term of the 15th Finance Commission and has asked it to give two reports – one before the coming budget, and the second after it. The extension became necessary as some states went to election, and J&K was reorganized, making it impossible for the Commission to go there.

Zee Board members point to many irregularities before departing
Subhas Chandra, the promoter of ZEE Entertainment had to sell off his shares to pay off the huge debts of his beleaguered company. In the process, he had to step down as Chairman of Zee Entertainment. The whole board is being reconstituted after this development. The outgoing directors have pointed out to a particularly suspicious transaction where in ZEE paid Rs.2000 crores to an unknown entity as advance.
Good word used .. Beleaguered

5G pricing – Government says no thinking on the matter yet
Ravishankar Prasad, Minister of Telecommunications, has revealed that the government has not yet thought about 5G spectrum pricing. It has to be pointed out here that the major Telcos like Airtel, Vodaphone, and Jio are all demanding that the government fix the price of 5G spectrum lower, so that the companies do not see their operations going further into red.
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Today’s Current Affairs November 27 (from Hindu and other sources)

November 27, 2019

Front page

Udhav Thackeray set to become Maharashtra C.M

Cobbling together a coalition with Congress and the NCP, Udhav Thackeray has finally succeeded in his ambition to head the government of the second biggest and most vibrant state of the country. A crest-fallen Fadnavis lamented that Maharashtra can never see a stable government under such a disparate coalition. The Governor had to eat humble pie when he had to invite the same Siva Sena whom he had refused to give just 48 hours more to prove its claim a few days ago.

Good words and phrases used .. Cobble, Crest-fallen, Disparate, Eat humble pie

Woman devotee stopped en route to Sabarimala shrine

An intrepid woman devotee named Bindu Ammini had to face pepper spray attack by a male devotee in the temple premises. The incident caused considerable commotion in the area, and the police had to intervene to control the situation.

Good words used .. Commotion, Intrepid

International

Pakistan Army Chief may not get any extension – Pakistan’s Supreme Court intervenes

General Javed Bajwa who was given a three-year extension of his tenure as army chief, may not get it. Imran Khan, the prime minister had issued the extension order in August, 2019, but the Supreme frowned upon the move saying the order, if any, should have emanated from the office of the President, who is the appointing authority of the army chief. The Bench said the Prime Minister couldn’t issue such an order. The matter will finally be decided by Wednesday. General Bawa is slated to retire on Friday.

Good words used .. Mired in, Frown upon, Emanate, Slate as verb

Trump’s ex-Aide Donald McGain must appear before the House panel, says the judge

President Trump mired in swirling controversy after the U.S. Congress decided to examine the Muller Investigation report had more bad news in store for him, when a Federal Judge directed the former White House aide Donald McGain to appear for hearing before House panel. President Trump is facing mounting challenges to his position for many of his past misdeeds.

Good phrases used .. Mired in

Chief Rabbi (Jewish religious priest) castigates Corbyn

The Chief Rabbi launched a bristling attack on the Labour Party leader Mr. Corbyn for his openly hostile views against the Jews and Israel. The Rabbi declared that Corbyn was unfit to become the prime minister of Britain that has a sizeable Jewish population. Britain is going to the polls on December 12.

Good words and phrases used .. Castigate Bristle,

A mellowed Lam concedes her government is deeply unpopular among the people

Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, has admitted that the long street protests by pro-democracy students have led to large-scale disenchantment with her administration. She is ruminating ways to reduce the chasm between her government and the people.

Good words used .. Mellowed, Disenchantment, Ruminate, Chasm

13 French troops perish in helicopter crash in Mali

Mali is a land-locked country in Africa that was a French colony for a long time. It is the eighth largest country of Africa, and is rich in resources. Unfortunately, the northern part of the country has been gripped by insurgency. Islamist militias have posed a serious threat to the central government’s authority there. The French military intervention to counter the militia t=menace started in 2012. At the request of the Mali government, the French forces have stayed back to bolster the government forces. This helicopter crash happened at night when it was flying on the trail of a few fighters escaping on a pick-up truck.

Finance

Mudra loans turn bad causing much headache for the RBI

The Modi government had conceived and implemented the Mudra loan scheme to allow tiny entrepreneurs to start or augment their self-help ventures. The loan amount was between Rs.50,000 to Rs.2 lakh. It was a very well-intentioned idea designed to promote entrepreneurship. Sadly, it has been found that most borrowers have defaulted in their payments leaving the lending banks to carry the load of huge NPAs. Now, the RBI has expressed its concern about such an ominous development.

Infrastructure spending by states must rise, says CRISIL

To kick-start the sluggish economy and sustain its growth momentum, the states must step up their spending on infrastructure projects, advises CRISIL. It feels infra spending by states must rise to Rs.110 lakh in the coming ten years.

Rating agencies lower India’s growth projection

India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) has lowered the growth forecast of India for the Financial year 2020 to 5.6%. It says the growth in Q2 of the current financial might decelerate to 4.7%.

UPASI seeks expeditious release of funds

The United Planters Association of India (UPASI) has asked the government to release the allocated funds to various commodity boards like the coffee board, tea board, and rubber board. It will improve the cash flow position of these organizations and will ease the difficulty faced by the planters. The tea planters of south India have to receive nearly Rs.55 crores from the central government. The delay has put the planters in difficulties. Due to climate change, unseasonal and delayed rains, plantations have seen decreasing yield which has exacerbated the problems of the planters.

Marriot Hotels to expand aggressively

Marriot Hotels plans to open 45 new hotels in India in the coming months. Rajeev Menon, President of the group says the slowdown in Indian economy is temporary and days of high growth will arrive soon.

Today’s Current Affairs November 26 (from The Hindu, The Economist etc.)

November 26, 2019

Front page

Supreme Court will deliver Maharashtra judgment today

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court will deliver its judgment today that, hopefully, would break the impasse in Maharashtra. The country awaits, with baited breath, to hear the judgment.
** According to the latest news, Ajit Pawar the renegade NCP MLA who triggered the crisis by siding with the BJP and becoming the Deputy Chief Minister, has resigned from his job, and returned to NCP. With the writing in the wall becoming clearer, Fadnavis, the Chief Minister, has resigned from the post, thus paving the way for the Congrees-NCP-Shiva Sena to stake claim for the government. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had ordered a floor test in the Assembly in 24 hours.
Good words and phrases used .. Writing on the wall, Pave, Renegade, Impasse
J & K’s detained political leaders refuse to sign any bond to be released from confinement
The top political leaders of J&K have turned down an offer to be freed from their internment by surrendering their unfettered political rights.
Good words used .. Internment, Unfettered

Assam turtles help to resuscitate the dying Assamese Gamuchha

Assamese take pride in their heritage Gamosha – a hand-woven thin towel used as a covering of the upper body. Assam’s iconic turtles are on the verge of extinction. Yet, the same endangered species will now help to inject life to the dying heritage of the Gamosa, another Assamese identity. A volunteer group of women have hit a novel idea. They have asked the weaver to weave the image of the turtle on their Gamosas. Happily for the women activists, the people have shown enthusiastic response to this novel experiment.

National

Eco Impact study of K. C Valley – IISC exudes optimism

Koramangala –Chhallaghatta Valley (KC Valley) is a unique irrigation project that will serve twin objectives. It will solve the problem of disposal of Bengaluru’s sewage , and secondly, it will rejuvenate the minor irrigation network in the nearby areas. The irrigation canals will get a new lease of life bringing smiles to the farmers. Now, a group of scientists from the IISC, IITs, and National Environmental Research Institute (NEERI) have joined hands to study the environmental impact of this new and innovative project.
52-day strike of Telegana transport employees called off
The strike of the Telengana State Transport Corporation has been called off by the Joint Action Committee (JAC). The strike had greatly inconvenienced the travelling public, who have heaved a sigh of relief on seeing the buses back on the streets.
Good words and phrases used … Heave a sigh of relief

Food sold in market have alarming quality concerns

A survey conducted by the Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) finds that 3.7% of food samples collected and tested are unsafe and 15.8% unsuitable for human consumption. Interestingly, Bihar and Goa come out with the cleanest record in the survey.
Closed Nokia plant in Chennai set to re-open
Soon, the closed Nokia factory complex will hum with activity with thousands of workers in the shop floor. The new owner, Salcomp, will make recharge cables for Smart phones including the Apple XR model. Nearly 70% of the products will be exported to China. India’s electronics goods export might double to reach 3.2 billion dollars this year.

ISRO launches super-sensitive Cartosat-3

ISRO successfully launched its Polar Satellite Lunch Vehicle rocket (PSLV-C47) into the Sun Synchronous Orbit from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The payload also had 13 other nano-satellites from the U.S. The Cartosat-3 has ultra sensitive imaging capability.

International

Poll results in Hong Kong deepens China’s conundrum

The resounding victory of the pro-democracy candidates has rattled the Chinese authorities who find themselves in a quandary about the ways to contain the surge without dangerously diluting China’s hold on the territory. Muddying the water further, The U.S. Congress has passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, 2019. This may not be binding on President Trump, but it certainly has irked President Xi. This Act will ring in the ears of the Chinese President for years.
Good words and phrases used .. Rattle, In a quandary, Muddy the water, Irk, Ring in the ears of someone

Gotabaya says Sri Lanka will never do anything inimical to India’s strategic interests

The new president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapakshe has allayed Indian fears about his country siding with China to the detriment of India. Such an affirmation hopefully will put to rest India’s unease with the new power set-up in the island nation. He is scheduled to visit India in November 29 to be followed by Modi’s reciprocal visit n March, ’20.
Good words used .. Inimical, Allay, Detriment, Put to rest

Doctors express concern on Assange’s failing health in prison

Julian Assange, who leaked sensitive American documents, is presently incarcerated in the U.K. He is battling multiple health issues, and may not recover unless taken out for specialized medical treatment. A group of 80 British doctors has aired an appeal to the government urging a reprieve for Assange on humanitarian grounds.
Good words used .. Incarcerated, Air as verb, Reprieve

China’s repression of the Uighur Muslims in Xinxiang province

Interred inside high prison walls, and guarded by sentries of Chinese army, hundreds and thousands of Uighur ethnic Muslims are being pushed through a gruesome re-training program that will mainstream them to main-land China’s cultural ways. In the process, every Islamic identity of the jailed Uighurs is being compulsorily erased from their minds and brain. The inmates’ ethnic names are being changed, their holy book, the Quran, is being rubbished, mosques being demolished, and pork, abhorred by Islam is being fed to them – all at gun point. They are being re-skilled in modern trades that could help them do jobs in China’s industrial economy. The Uighurs have no recourse for remedy, as they bemoan their fate in the government administered camps. Quite embarrassingly for the authorities, a voluminous 800-page document has been smuggled out cotaining horrific details of the life and training the inmates have to endure in Chinese hands. The leaked document has created a worldwide wave of resentment against the Chinese for such egregious onslaught on universal human rights.
Good words and phrases used … Inter, Sentry, Endure, Recourse, Gruesome, Rubbish, Abhor, Bemoan, Egregious, Onslaught

U.S. resumes anti-IS campaign in Syria in league with the Kurdish fighters

In what appears to be a volte-face on the part of President Trump has asked the military to resume the campaign to root out the remnants of the vanquished IS terror machine. Quite paradoxically, President Trump has sought the active participation of the Kurdish fighters in the U.S.-led crack down on the IS pockets. Just weeks ago, he abandoned the Kurds to their fate in the face of the marching Turkish army. Kurds have historically been the military allies of the U.S. This shows how whimsical Trump can become even when taking major policy decisions.
Good words and phrases used .. Volte-face, League, Remnant, Vanquish, Whimsical, Paradoxically

Finance

Global trade picks up pace leading to Sensex surge

As China and the U.S. inched closer to a deal signaling an end to the acrimonious atmosphere of the past, global trade that remained tepid in the past is likely to regain some strength in the coming days. Taking cue from this, the indices of the stock exchanges in Hong Kong, Sanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul, all headed up. In Mumbai, Sensex too surged lifting the spirits of the traders. Among the gainers were HDFC, Bharti Airtel, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra, and Reliance Industries. In another good news, Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) INTO India has also increased.

Spectrum auction to be completed by the financial year-end

Eager to mop up revenue, the government has decided to complete spectrum auction by the financial year end. However, it is not clear why the Department of Telecom has not yet referred the minimum tariff issue to TRAI yet.
GST collection so far reaches a meager Rs.3.26 lakh crores
Although just four months are left of this fiscal, GST collection at Rs.3.26 lakh crore has managed to reach the half yearly mark of the targeted figure. This has dampened the spirit of the Finance Ministry struggling to mop up revenue to contain the Fiscal deficit within specified limit.
Good words used .. Mop up, Dampen
Subhas Chandra, the media mogul of the news and entertainment industry loses control of his ZEE group
Unbridled growth of debt has finally taken its toll on Subhas Chandra who finds himself ejected out of the Chairman’s post of the company. Like many other beleaguered corporate who have come to breaking point due to spiraling debt burden, Zee has seen the pain of credit growth. By selling away his own shares, Subhas Chandra has just managed to save his face, although he has lost much of his sheen as an astute entrepreneur. R. Gopalan, former Finance Scretary will replace Subhas Chandra as the Chairman of the group.
Good words and phrases used .. Unbridled, Take the toll of, Beleaguered, Sheen

Micro-finance sector registers impressive growth

Bulking the trend of a creeping economic slow-down, microfinance sector has grown by a healthy 47.85%. Tamil Nadu has come out in top as the state where maximum amount of such loans has been availed.
Good words and phrases used .. Bulk the trend

Editorial and opinion

Formidable task for India to consolidate its gains in primary level schooling

Stepping into the age of 10 marks a watershed in a child’s life. It is at this stage that their mind opens up to the world around. They begin to grasp simple ideas and begin to think of things outside their homes. To let the mind open up to this exciting arena, the child has to be able to read and understand very simple texts. This link of the age of 10 and the ability to read and understand simple texts like stories is a crucial benchmark to asses if the child is growing up.
Sadly, more than half of such ten-year-olds in low and middle income countries fail to reach this threshold. Malnutrition, and lack of access to schools are the two main underlying causes. The consequences for such children in their later life are very bad, as they fail to pick up skills to do simple arithmetic, and assimilate basic ideas needed for a very low-rung job.
The consequences for the economy are also equally devastating. A farmer who can’t read and understand the instructions on a pesticide bottle, or a diary man who fails to apply arithmetic to compare his sales proceeds with his expenses on rearing his stock are surely a drag on the economy.
This is termed as ‘learning poverty’ that is so pervasive in many of the underdeveloped world today. Fighting ‘learning poverty’ therefore is a crying need for governments and NGOs today.
The world has, no doubt, fought and pushed back this malaise, but the progress has not been encouraging. Between 2000 and 2017, the incidence of ‘learning poverty’ has gone down by a meager 10%. Ideally, this figure should have been 100%, meaning that all 10-year-olds today would have been free of ‘learning poverty’. If we do not move fast to address this problem, by 2030, nearly 43% of the children will not have the ability to read and understand simple texts.
Many countries have done good work though. Kenya, and Vietnam are two such countries who have made impressive strides to eradicate ‘learning poverty’. Kenya has brought in technology, trained and motivated teachers, and has distributed one free book to each child. As a result, the number of grade two students, who can read, has increased threefold.
India has also made remarkable progress in this regard. The Right to Education initiative has brought many more young children to school. However, the quality of primary school education has been far from satisfactory. For getting the best results, schools have to adequately staffed by trained and motivated teachers. Class rooms must look lively. Regular monitoring of progress of each child has to be monitored. Schools must be secured against trespassers and stray cattle and dogs etc. Toilet facilities should also form a part of the school infrastructure. Technology has to be used to teach and record the performance of students.
The above improvements are not so expensive that India can’t bear it. What is needed is far greater commitment by the authorities to bring about the desired changes.
The ten-year-olds of 2030 will be born next year, i.e, 2020. So, this is the opportune time for the government to pull up its socks and move energetically to free the future generation Indians of the scourge of ‘learning hunger’.
We have to remember that India has committed itself to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4). So, let’s galvanize ourselves to reach the targets.
Good words used .. Mark a watershed, Opportune, Galvanize
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Today’s Current Affairs November 25 (from The Hindu, The Economist, TIME)

November 25, 2019
(News gathered from The Hindu, The Economist, TIME)

Front page

Supreme Court wants to see the two letters Fadnavis and Governor exchanged

Deliberating over the Maharashtra issue, the Apex Court has asked the Solicitor General to produce the two letters Fadnavis and the Governor exchanged. Now, it has emerged that 46 NCP MLAs have asserted their allegiance to Sharad Pawar, taking the wind out of BJP’s sail.
Despite this, Fadnavis has exuded confidence that his party BJP will have no difficulty in proving its majority in the floor of the Assembly.
Good words and phrases used .. To take wind out of one’s sail, Exude

Halimavu Lake breach leaves 800 homes inundated

When a part of the bund of the Hulimavu Lake gave way late Sunday afternoon, water gushed out to sweep away cars, motorcycles etc. Inmates of 800 homes had to be evacuated to safer places.
Good words and phrases used .. Give way, Gush out

National

Interlinking of Ken-Betwa rivers
The Center is actively persuading the state governments of U.P and M.P to move ahead with the interlinking project that is slated to cost Rs.18,000 crorres. For years, the two states have wrangled over the matter causing long delay. Environmental issues have also created hurdles for the project. When completed, it would facilitate 3.64 lakh hectors of the parched Bundelkhand area that straddles both the states.
Good words and phrases used … Slate as verb, Wrangle, Parched, Straddle

Sabrimala still off limits for women devotees of all age groups ..

The state government has demurred to provide police protection to women devotees trying to venture inside the shrine. On their way, the women pilgrims have to brave the physical threats from devout male devotees.
Good words and phrases used .. Demur, Brave as verb, Devout

Ayodhya dispute heading for a quiet closure

Prime minister Modi has expressed his satisfaction at the way the Muslims and Hindus have desisted from acrimonious behavior after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Babri demolition matter came out. In another related development, Mr. Rizvi, Chief of the Minorities Panel has expressed his view that going for a review would do more harm than good for the Muslims. Both sides should bury the hatchet, accept the verdict gracefully, and move on.
Good words and phrases used .. Bury the hatchet

Merger of Assam Rifles with ITBP may not be a good idea

The Assam Rifles is a very old para-military force with its long heritage and traditions. It was created way back in 1836 by the British colonial administration. It comes under the army, so its administrative control remains with the Defence Ministry. On the other hand, ITBP is a much younger force crated in the aftermath of the Chinese invasion in 1962. It is a central armed police force coming under the Home Ministry. The present proposal to merge the two and bring the new entity under the Home Ministry has created great unease in the Assam Rifles, who clearly are averse to losing their unique identity.
Good words used .. Averse to

International ..

Hong Kong local election results disappoint the hard-core China supporters

In 17 out of 18 local councils, the pro-democracy candidates have trounced their pro-Chinese rivals. These councils do not wield much power, as they oversee local transport services, garbage collection etc. However, the election results clearly show in which direction the wind blows in Hong Kong now. More importantly, local councils elect 117 out of the 1200 members body that elects the head administrator of Hong Kong. This victory will ensure that no China sympathizer gets included in the 117 group. The results have demonstrated that the people of Hong Kong resent Chinese attempts to creep into the local government.
Good words and phrases used .. Trounce, Wield, Wind blowing in certain election, Creep into

Boris Johnson unveils impressive pre-election manifesto

Britain is going to polls on December 12 to elect a new government that would decide the way Britain will /will not exit the EU. Boris Johnson heads a minority Conservative government, and has suffered parliamentary rebuffs in his attempt to rush his Brexit plans. In the coming election, he hopes to win a convincing majority, so that he could confidently set Britain on a course to leave the EU, with or without a deal. The people can then forget the imbroglio that had bedeviled Britain for so long, and ready themselves for rejoicing during the Christmas of 2019. In his manifesto, he has promised massive tax cuts amounting to 23.4 billion pounds, and a sharp increase in public spending.
Good words and phrases used .. Unveil, Rebuff, Imbroglio, Rebuff, Bedevil

Netanyahu faces trial by fire on his way to the coming general elections

Political uncertainties stare Israel in its face, as the results of the last election threw up a miserably splintered verdict. Benjamin Netanyahu faces police action for his involvement in corrupt and fraudulent practices, but he is only leader who has any chance of steering the Likud Party to power. Netanyahu has brazened out the charges against him and resisted calls to gracefully withdraw and face the law. However, he remains unfazed. The chances of his win depend upon his party standing behind him solidly. If the party wavers, he is doomed.
Good words and phrases used .. Stare someone in one’s face, Splintered, Brazen out, Unfazed, Waver

Pakistan needs to re-imagine itself for its long term survival

A panel from the United Kingdom has expressed the view that Pakistan must shed its image as a country that fosters terrorists and uses violence as a tool of statecraft. Such a negative image impedes its effort to re-build itself. By proactively moving to re-brand itself, it can join the mainstream international political system.
Good words used .. Foster, Impede, Statecraft

Editorial and opinion ..

The elusive justice for the un-organized labor

In India, just 7% of the total labor force work in the organized sector enjoying the benefits and job security. A whopping 93% of the labor force work in the organized sector. This large but neglected army of labor contributes to 60% of the country’s GDP. They do not get fair wages, and have no job security, nor any welfare benefit. This egregious injustice has continued for ages, and has pushed large sections of the laborers to perennial deprivation.
With much fanfare, the Code on Wages Act, 2019 was passed by the parliament with not much scrutiny. It merged four different laws relating to labor such as their recruitment, wages, retrenchment and trade union rights. It was expected that the new legislation will ensure a fair wage for the workers in the un-organized sector. The Supreme Court has clarified the ambiguity around minimum wage by clarifying that wages paid should meet the needs for their food, shelter, medical expenses, and a small saving for the old age. The government is now framing rules for the implementation of the Code on Wages Act, 2019. Sadly though, the rules seem to bring no succor to the workers who live with ‘starvation wage’ – a pittance that enables them to buy just enough food to stave off hunger. Over-supply of labor enables the employers to force the workers to accept such wage, and the exploitative practice continues.
The Wages Act pegs the minimum wage at Rs.178 a day. The reality presents a far more dismal picture. During the recent NSO surveys done to assess household consumption, it was found that the amount spent per family per day is Rs 83 in rural areas, and Rs.134 in urban centers. From this, one can conclude how low wages ravage the unorganized workers live in villages and towns.
More disturbingly, the rules of the Wages Act empower employers to reduce wages for low productivity, damages and losses, and for advance taken earlier. Thus, the hapless lone worker, with no bargaining power, remains at the mercy of the employer. If they dare to demand the legally binding minimum wages, their wage can be cut citing rules. It’s a threat that bends the worker to the point of submission. Sadly, no inspection mechanism is in place to intervene in favor of the aggrieved worker.
Two states, however, have done some good work in this regard. Delhi has fixed the minimum wage at Rs.14,800, and Kerala at Rs.600 a day.
Some argue that in the present period of economic slow-down, increasing the minimum wage or strictly ensuring its payment might aggravate the economic woes, but, if we allow the malaise to continue, we would be perpetuating poverty and its attendant ills like impoverishment, disease, and stunted growth.
Good words and phrases used .. Whopping, Egregious, Perennial, Deprivation, Fanfare, Succor, Pittance, Stave off, Exploitative, Peg as verb, Dismal, Ravage, Malaise, Hapless, Impoverishment
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Today’s Current Affairs (from The Hindu, The Economist etc.)

Today’s Current Affairs November 24 (from The Hindu, The Economist and other sources)

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The news items have been sourced from The Hindu, with additional inputs from The Economist, Washington Post, TIME etc

Today’s news November 24, 2019

Front page …

Fadnavis swearing in as Maharastra chief minister leaves the Sena-NCP-Congress fuming.

A surreptitious maneuver by wily Ajit Pawar enabled the BJP leader Fadnavis to prevail upon the Governor to swear him in as the chief minister. Ajit Pawar, out-witted his uncle, Sharad Pawar, in the midnight drama, managed to be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister.

The early-dawn developments was a virtual coup that clearly rattled the octogenarian NCP patriarch, Insiders say, he had some inkling about such defiance by his protégé Ajit, and a handful of other MLAs.

The coming together of NCP, Congress, and the Shiva Sena had seemed an ideologically incongruous combination from the very start. After the hurried swearing in ceremony, the three aggrieved parties have knocked the Supreme Court’s door for an urgent hearing.

According to the latest news, the Supreme Court has asked the BJP to produce two letters, the one that showed Fadnavis had the backing of NCP MLAs, and the Governor’s letter inviting BJP to form the government.

Related news .. A decision of this kind can be taken by the Union government after a formal cabinet meeting. The decision, when formally communicated to the President, enables him to issue the notification revoking President’s rule in the state. In situations of extreme urgency when the nation’s interest is in grave peril, the Prime Minister can bypass this process using Clause 12 of the Rules of Business, and send his recommendations to the Rastrapati Bhawan. In this instance, the PM did just this.

In a press briefing of the three parties held at 12.30pm, Sharad Pawar confidently claimed that BJP can’t garner enough support in the Assembly to win the trust vote.

In a party meeting held later at 4.30pm the same day, as many as 49 out of 54 NCP MLAs presented themselves to assert their loyalty to Sharad Pawar.

Massive data leak roils KEA

Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) has fallen prey to hackers who have stolen the personal details of lakhs of students. The KEA, exasperated by this malicious attack, has approached the police to nab the culprits.

Bengaluru news ..

Cubbon Park to get a face-lift under the Smart City initiative..

The iconic Cubbon Park, home to myriad species of plants and trees, will get a huge make-over under the Smart City initiative. Plans are afoot to develop a lotus pond, erect a walkway, and rejuvenate the Park. Such renovation will resuscitate the colonial era park facing slow death.

Decongesting the Outer Ring Road (ORR)

Bengaluru’s worsening traffic snarls invite a lot of hostile attention both from inside India and abroad. To alleviate the suffering of the commuters, efforts are on to decongest the ORR by building six-lane roads from end to end. A group of officials visited the spots that have become choke points for traffic. They now mull solutions to remove the bottlenecks.

Karnataka matters ..

Rows of empty houses at Nava Talamari stand testimony to bad planning that caused a humungous waste of money

In the aftermath of the calamitous floods in 2009, the government swiftly built numerous low-cost dwelling units in Nava Talamari for those whose houses were swept away. Sadly, the location of the new settlements was badly chosen. The distant location of these settlements made the houses unattractive for occupation. Few have moved in so far. When asked, the targeted beneficiaries say that they live off their cattle. The clustered houses are unsuitable for animal husbandry, and so they are disinclined to occupy them. With no claimants, the houses languish presenting a sight of dereliction and waste.

Government bestowed undeserving favours on JSW, says High Court

The Karnataka High Court has expressed its displeasure at the way the state government bent backwards to accommodate the unjustified and illegal mining activities of JSW. It seems the company flouted the relevant mining regulations with impunity, as the government chose to look the other way. The flagrant violation of law favored the company at the cost of environment and the state exchequer.

National

Speeding car veers off a fly over killing one woman and injuring four

In a gruesome road accident in Hyderabad, a car speeding at 120 kmph collided against the side railings of the highway and tumbled to the ground below. A woman passenger was killed, and four others on board the car sustained grievous injuries. The mangled remains of the car now lie on the spot reminding the passers- by about the perils of reckless driving.

Patients with rare diseases wait long for succor await Union Health Ministry’s nod..

Patients afflicted by rare diseases like Lysosomal Storage Disorder represented by their society LSDSS, and the Organization of Rare Diseases of India(ORDI) have moved the Union Health Ministry for help, but the latter’s reaction has been lukewarm. The case has drawn public sympathy, because most of the patients are children.

Activists protest the current trend of democratic regression ..

A large procession of activists, intellectuals and concerned citizens marched towards the parliament to air their consternation about the erosion of democratic institutions under the BJP rule. Most participants expressed their dismay at the highhanded way the government has tried to stifle the ongoing JNU protests over fee hike.

International

Hong Kong braces for District Council polls amid simmering public anger

Hong Kong has been rocked by spiraling student protests for the last few months. In the coming election 4.1 million voters will elect 452 representatives for the District Councils. The bustling city has seen disruptions of unprecedented scale as angry students have taken on the police with whatever weapon they could lay their hands on. In a recent attack, a police man’s leg was hit by an arrow apparently shot by a protester. A peaceful end of the elections will not lead to lasting peace in the city, as the chasm between the two sides has widened considerably.

CPEC is a white elephant, sys a top U.S. diplomat

Alice Wells, the top American diplomat for South and Central Asia has stated that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project(CPEC) being undertaken by China will prove to be a dead investment for the cash-strapped country trying somehow to stay afloat with fresh borrowings. According to her, CPEC will provide very less job opportunities for Pakistan’s young men and women, and servicing the Chinese debt will be a daunting task for the government.

The Pakistan government, however, has denied the allegation.

Lula emerges from the jail, roaring and blustering

The ex-president of Brazil, Lula, who has been released from jail has defiantly declared that he will never give up his left-leaning social welfare policies. If elected, he will strive to reverse the rightwing politics of the present president Bolsonaro, who has proved to be divisive, anti-poor politician.

Greta Thunberg, the climate activist, will guest-audit BBC 4 radio programme

The Swedish teenager, who shot to fame after her strident UN speech on climate change, will guest-audit BBC 4 radio broadcasts.

Finance

Rating Agencies methods will be scrutinized

Nirmala Sitaraman, while delivering the G.Ramachandran Memorial Lecture, has called into question the veracity of the ratings given by rating agencies. She recalled how IL&FS collapsed under the load of its own financial irregularities despite having been given the highest rating by the Agencies.

India Inc, still in ‘wait and watch’ mode..

The large corporate houses of India, who have no shortage of capital, are not starting new ventures, nor expanding their existing plants. The pervasive atmosphere of gloom, and policy uncertainties of the union government seem to be curbing their urge to increase their capital expenditure (Capex). The cut in income tax rates announced by the Finance Minister has failed to induce the corporate houses to move aggressively towards capacity expansion. This has proved to be a worrisome development for the government.

Tea Industry experiencing painful transformation ..

Tea has been one of India’s major foreign exchange earners. Indians drink tea in great quantities, which is why the domestic demand for tea continues to grow year after year. Tea gardens in the north east and south of the country provide employment to thousands of workers. However, tea industry having its roots in the colonial era, has more than its share of woes. Tea gardens have become un-remunerative due to falling yield. Tea companies have abandoned their gardens and fled leaving the workers to fend for themselves. No doubt, tea yield increases and falls cyclically. The owners know it, and have learned to wait out the bad times. Tea garden workers live in shanty dwellings around the gardens and depend upon the employer for all their needs. Sadly, their children do not study and don’t pick up skills for non-tea estate jobs. This heavy dependence on the tea gardens for a living creates many problems.

The large tea companies have slowly gone out of business due to their inflexibility of management practices, and their inability to cut costs. Worryingly for them, smaller tea gardens with much less overhead have emerged and flourished. But, these smaller units are more prone to distress when market fluctuates and harvest plummets. So, they are not the ideal employers the workers look forward to.

Labour costs have gone up, and the selling prices of tea in auctions have not kept pace. This creates more unforeseen probes for the tea producers, both big and small. Despite being the preferred beverage, per capital tea consumption of tea in India stands at just786 grams per year – one of the lowest in the world.

The Tea Board of India has an unenviable task in hand – how to enable the tea growers to bring about structural changes in the industry, so that tea industry continues to flourish.

Why government hesitated to hold back the spending survey data…

The National Statistical Organization (NSO) conducted a survey in 2017-18 in all-India basis to asses Household Expenditure. The data that the survey produced showed an alarming dip in household expenditure. Such decrease is quite unsettling for everyone in the government and among the public. It created unease in the government, who decided not to publish it. However, the media got hold of a copy and made it public. When asked, the government stated that the data collection process was flawed in certain ways, so the findings had to be withdrawn.

There has been considerable criticism in some sections of the media about the government’s tendency to conceal inconvenient data. Such criticism may or may not be correct, but when we find that agencies like the IMF, The World Bank have expressed doubts about the authenticity of Indian government’s economic data, it makes the citizens uncomfortable.

For some time, the Chinese used to fudge their growth figures, but when they found that manipulating data did them more harm than good, they mended their ways. Now, analysts treat China’s published economic data with more seriousness. India must take a cue from the Chinese in this regard.

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Today’s Current Affairs November 23 (from The Hindu & The Economist)

Today’s Current Affairs November 23 (from The Hindu & The Economist)
23/11/2019

Current Affairs November 23, 2019 [from The Hindu, The Economist and other sources]

Front page ..

Udhav Thackeray to head Maharashtra
Udhab Thackeray will cobble together the necessary numbers with the help of NCP and Congress. The development came after days of back-door parleys among the top leaders of the three parties.

**As per the latest news, Fadnavis has been sworn in as the Chief Minister. Ajit Pawar of NCP will be the Deputy C.M. The government will thus be in the hands of the BJP.

Niti Ayog warns 5 trillion GDP might prove elusive

With economy slowing down continuously for the last eight quarters, alarm bells about India reaching the 5 trillion GDP goal is receding. Voices of concern have been heard from multiple sources, such as Mr. Rangarajan, former Economic Advisor to the UPA government and the NITI Ayog chairman Amitav Kant, who have joined many other agencies to express similar sentiments.

Supreme Court asks Union Government and the UIDAI to clear the air about Aadhar data safety..
On a petition filed by a few retired army officers alleging that Aadhar Data of citizens are finding their way to private agencies for commercial use, the Supreme Court has asked the former to file a response.

Bengaluru news ..

Purple Line commuters jostle for space in Green Line trains..

ith passenger numbers in the Majestic Interchange soaring to one lakh level, BMRCL authorities now face loud clamor from commuters for early introduction of 6-coach trains in the Purple Line to ease congestion.

Bengaluru shines as India’s top city in the Global Inclusive Prosperity Index..

With the rank of 83, Bengaluru has surged ahead of Delhi (101) and Mumbi (107) in the PICSA ranking. A total of 113 cities were surveyed for the Prosperity and Inclusion City Seal Index (PICSA) award. Zurich topped the list.

BWSSB to build wet wells around the Varthur Lake ..

To stop polluted water from the surrounding habitations seeping into the lake, BWSSB will dig wet wells around it. The wet well will be a sump located in a low-lying area, from which the accumulated sewage will be pumped to a STP for processing. The location of the sump in the low-lying position will prevent sewage seeping against the gradient to enter the Varthur Lake.

National ..

Universities must pay for their ranking process..

The Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has asked the universities in the state to pay processing fees, if they want to be rated. Government universities will need to pay Rs.1.25 lakh, and private ones Rs.2.5 lakh. A body of ex-Vice Chancellors has, however opposed this proposal as unnecessary and a duplication of exercise.

Kalburgi airport now can handle commercial flights ..

Kalburgi’s Greenfield airport will see its first commercial flight when Star Air’s plane will take off for Bengaluru. This will boost regional connectivity.

Resue and Relief team in Karanataka .. The State will have a contingent of nearly 200 personnel trained along the lines of NDRF. They will be strategically deployed in four different locations in the state.

Kerals snakebite death in school ..

The Principal and the head master of the school where a girl died after a snakebite have been suspended on grounds of negligence.

Kerala might have a Sabrimala Development Authority..

The State government is mulling the creation of Sabrimala Development Authority for bringing about better management of the pilgrimage town.

Shivangi soars to the skies , thanks to Indian Navy..

Shivangi is a girl from the rural hinterland of Bihar. Her father is a school teacher and mother, a housewife. From such modest beginning, she rose progressively to do her graduation and post-graduation in Mechanical Engineering. She cleared the tough SSB interview and joined the Navy where she has completed her training as a pilot. Now, she has got her ‘wings’ to become Sub Lieutenant Shivangi. She brims with confidence and ambition.

Nobel Laureate Ramakrishnan to give lecture in Chennai..

The winner of 2009 Nobel in Chemistry, and the current president of the Royal Society will be the chief speaker in the 2020 TNQ Distinguished Lectures.

BHU students call off 15-day sit-in

After a lot of deliberations, the agitating students have agreed to end their sit-in. However, it is unclear whether they are reconciled to Dr. Firoz Khan teaching them Sanskrit and Hindu practices.

International

Stalled Afghan peace talks and the prospect of peace

Nearly two and half months after President Trump abruptly cancelled peace talks, pessimism still fills the air in Kabul. In a recent statement Nancy Jackson, the Deputy Assistant Secretay in charge of Afghanistan has said that a political statement may not end the cycle of violence that has plagued the country for decades. She also praised India’s effort in the reconstruction of infrastructures in the country.

Sri Lanka will have snap elections

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided to hold snap elections in March to elect a prime minister, a position his elder brother Mahinda holds now.

Trump claims he interceded in Hong Kong matter to prevent a blood bath

President Trump has claimed that he successfully persuaded President Xi not to order a military crackdown on the protesting students. With spiraling violence, it is unclear how long Beijing will hold back on the issue.

Finance ..

RBI appoints three-member advisory panel for DHFL

As DHFL makes its turtuous journey through the insolvency process, the Administrator would need guidance at every step. RBI has appointed a 3-member panel to advise the Administrator.

SEBI may permit reclassification of promoters..

Companies like Yes Bank, Zee Entertainment, Mindtree have seen the drastic reduction in the share holdings of their promoter directors in recent months. However, the promoters continue to remain as directors as the Article and Memorandum of Association of the companies specified so. This is clearly an unsustainable situation. SEBI will soon bring in legislation to re-classify the departing promoter directors as just public share holders with no special rights.

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