Monthly Archives: July 2019

EU launches probe into Amazon over data use

Says it gets undue edge over rivals The European Union’s powerful antitrust authority launched an in-depth investigation into Amazon on Wednesday, amid suspicions the U.S.-based internet behemoth misuses merchant data hosted on its website. The formal investigation opens a new chapter in the European Union’s campaign to address the dominance …

Read More »

Breakthrough technique to eradicate mosquitoes

Uses 2 population control methods — radiation and bacteria A breakthrough technique harnessing two methods to target disease-carrying mosquitoes was able to effectively eradicate buzzing biters in two test sites in China, according to research published on Thursday. The mosquitoes targeted are a type that is particularly difficult to control …

Read More »

15th Finance panel term extended till Nov. 30

To ensure funding needs of Defence The Union Cabinet has approved expanding the terms of reference of the Fifteenth Finance Commission to address the funding requirements for defence and internal security as also extending its term to November 30, 2019. “The Union Cabinet has approved the proposed amendment to enable …

Read More »

Cabinet okays amendments to bankruptcy code

Stress on time-bound resolution, financial creditors’ voting The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, placing a greater emphasis on more time-bound resolution and laying down voting rules of the financial creditors. “The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal to carry out seven amendments to …

Read More »

RBI reserves: panel for transfer in tranches

Jalan committee report expected within the next fortnight; consensus on decision unlikely The Bimal Jalan Committee on treatment of Reserve Bank of India’s reserves is likely to recommend a transfer of a specified quantum of RBI reserves to the government over two or three tranches over the next few years, …

Read More »

No phones, inter-caste marriages for Thakor girls

Stipulates stringent fines if parents do not follow the directives, says education is more important In a regressive step, Gujarat’s Thakor community unanimously passed a fiat directing parents to discourage their daughters from having mobile phones and inter-caste marriages. If found with phones, the parents can be fined up to …

Read More »

AIIMS, JIPMER will also come under NEET

Cabinet nod for National Medical Commission Bill The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, proposed to be introduced in the current session of Parliament, proposes to replace the Medical Council of India with the National Medical Commission to over see medical education in the country. Under the Bill, the National Medical …

Read More »

‘Samjhauta blast case lacked proof’

Shah defends not filing appeal Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday defended the decision not to file an appeal against the acquittals in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, stating that the chargesheets filed under the UPA regime did not have any substantial proof. Replying to a debate in …

Read More »

‘Open to improving Fasal Bima Yojana’

Agriculture Minister tells Lok Sabha Promising to create a new breed of “smart farmers by introducing smart farming”, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday told the Lok Sabha that the government was open to improving its welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for crop insurance. …

Read More »

Green light for 3 railway projects

Rail lines to boost rail connectivity in U.P., Assam The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved three new railway projects, with a combined investment of over Rs. 6,000 crore, giving a boost to rail connectivity in Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The three projects — an 81.17 km new …

Read More »

Judiciary should revisit conventional wisdom: CJI

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday said great institutions like the judiciary should be on their guard against the “wicked and the vile,” who work in their dark recesses to weaken them in a deceptive manner. The Chief Justice was speaking at the inauguration of the state-of-the-art Additional …

Read More »