Can Article 35A of the Constitution be struck down? If yes, should it be? These questions — raised in a petition filed in the Supreme Court by a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation, “We the Citizens” — have already attracted widespread attention. The case, there’s little doubt, is freighted with political meaning. …
Read More »Monthly Archives: August 2018
Venice Film Festival courts controversy
Global superstars Lady Gaga, Ryan Gosling and Vanessa Redgrave descend on Venice this week as the annual film festival kicks off on Wednesday to controversy over the inclusion of Netflix productions and there being just one female director in competition. Some 21 features will be locking horns for the prized …
Read More »Hong Kong’s elderly cardboard collectors stare at uncertainty
Beijing no longer wants the country to be a global trash can and has already started phasing out import of solid waste Her fingers are bent from 20 years of collecting cardboard from Hong Kong’s streets, but Au Fung-lan says she has no desire to give up the gruelling work. …
Read More »Scotland varsity to hand out gender ID badges
One of Scotland’s leading universities is set to hand out pronoun badges to freshers so they know whether to refer to each other as “he”, “she” or “they”. The move by the Edinburgh University is intended to avoid any potential “misgendering” of non-binary or transgender students, who may display the …
Read More »Even a discarded contact lens can pollute waterways
It might seem harmless at first: a thread of dental floss tossed in the toilet, a contact lens swirling down the drain of the bathroom sink. But even the tiniest items can contaminate waterways. The small fragments of plastic contact lenses are believed to be contributing to the growing problem …
Read More »‘Worst may be over for rupee against dollar’
The rupee has suffered significant losses this year but the worst seems to be over and the domestic currency is expected to be in the range of 67-68 against the U.S. dollar by December, according to an economist with HDFC Bank. The rupee ended below the 70-mark against the U.S. …
Read More »TransportHub to foray into West Asia, Africa
TransportHub (TH), an online platform that provides technology ecosystem and a whole gamut of IoT and analytics solutions to transport and logistics businesses, has chalked out plans to foray into West Asia and Africa. “We have initiated talks with entities in Dubai and South Africa to expand our footprint in …
Read More »‘Set up high-value textile-making units’
The textile industry can tap opportunities emerging globally in high-value manufacturing by converting fibre into fibre assemblies, according to Prasad Potluri, professor of robotics and textile composites and director of research at Northwest Composites Centre, University of Manchester. Mr. Potluri, who were here recently, told The Hindu that high-value manufacturing …
Read More »PSU banks plan closure of 70 overseas offices in FY18
Public sector banks are in the process of closing or rationalising about 70 overseas operations as part of capital conservation exercise. Unviable foreign operations are being shut while multiple branches in same cities or nearby places are being rationalised with a view to achieving efficiency, sources said. As part of …
Read More »‘Tech giants must reinvest in infra, jobs’
Global technology giants should reinvest part of their profits for development of infrastructure and job creation in revenue generating countries such as India, Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Speaking at the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Argentina, the Minister said the largest and most …
Read More »Mnangagwa sworn in as President
Emmerson Mnangagwa was officially sworn in as President of Zimbabwe on Sunday after winning a bitterly-contested election which was the country’s first since the ousting of strongman Robert Mugabe. Mr. Mnangagwa, whose victory in the July 30 polls was challenged by the main Opposition, pledged to “protect and promote the …
Read More »‘China has to resolutely respond to U.S.’
China has launched a long campaign to win the trade war with the U.S., which is targeting Beijing’s transition to a digitally advanced economy. A hard hitting commentary in the People’s Daily made it plain that the trade war would be a marathon and not a sprint. “The Trump administration …
Read More »War hero, Senator, crusader, patriot
John S. McCain, the proud naval aviator who climbed from the depths of despair as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to the pinnacles of power as a Republican Congressman and Senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was …
Read More »Maurya sworn in as new U’khand governor
Baby Rani Maurya was on Sunday sworn in as the new Governor of Uttarakhand. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to Ms. Maurya by the acting Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court Rajiv Sharma at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan here. Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/maurya-sworn-in-as-new-ukhand-governor/article24788320.ece
Read More »Gandhi to the rescue in 1924 floods
Nearly a century ago when floods ravaged Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi had termed the misery of the people as “unimaginable” and stepped in to raise over Rs. 6,000 to help them, records show. If the present rain fury has claimed over 290 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people, the massive …
Read More »Cong. slams DNA Technology Bill
The Narendra Modi government is suffering from the “big brother syndrome”, the Congress on Sunday said, criticising the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Bill, 2018, that allows law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples and create “DNA profiles” and special data banks for forensic-criminal investigations. The Bill was introduced by …
Read More »Indian choppers to remain in Male
The two Indian military helicopters, gifted to the Maldives, are likely to stay back along with a 48-member crew and support staff for at least the next few months as talks between the two countries on their continued deployment in the island nation were “positive”, diplomatic and military sources said …
Read More »New copters to enable tech transfer
The Defence Ministry is shortly expected to release project-specific implementation guidelines for the 111 naval utility helicopters to be procured under the Strategic Partnership (SP) model. However, foreign companies say there is still some clarity required on crucial legal, liability and technology transfer issues. “There are two important issues that …
Read More »India Inc. reaches out to help Kerala
Corporate India has been making large contributions to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), and finding other ways to help too. The biggest donor so far is the Adani Foundation, with Rs. 25 crore for immediate relief, and another Rs. 25 crore committed for rehabilitation and resettlement. AF …
Read More »The entire country stands with Kerala, says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared that the whole country was supportive of Kerala as it faced its worst floods in 90 years. He said this in his monthly radio broadcast, Mann ki Baat. The State government has been demanding more Central assistance as it faces the daunting task …
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