India collects proof from WhatsApp and Facebook servers in the U.S. India got help from WhatsApp and Facebook servers in the U.S. to secure conviction in a 2018 Khalistani terror case. Security agencies have been asked to focus on cases involving Khalistani elements as India seeks to restrict the movement …
Read More »Monthly Archives: July 2019
First-timers brought to the fore in Lok Sabha
Biggest change is in the fact that parliamentary responsibilities and positions in parties are being delegated to new MPs The 17th Lok Sabha may not have topped the figure of the previous one for first-term MPs, with 313 in 2014 compared to the 267 now, but in terms of prominence …
Read More »India, Pak. officials to meet at Wagah for talks on Kartarpur
Will discuss modalities to bridge the gaps in corridor project Indian and Pakistani officials will meet at the Attari-Wagah border on Sunday to discuss issues, including ways to bridge gaps related to the Kartarpur Corridor that is to be made operational by November, ahead of the commemoration of the 550th …
Read More »Railways cannot be privatised, says Goyal
‘But it will invite investments for new technology’ There is “no question” of privatisation of the Indian Railways, but the Railway Ministry will invite investments for new technology, lines and projects in the national interest, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha in response to the debate on …
Read More »Chinese men unfurl banner near LAC
At the time, ISRO was grappling with the task of indigenously executing the cryogenic stage for its GSLV Mk-II rocket. Any thought of sending a moon lander was a distant dream of low priority. Equipping the LTTF and making it look and feel like being on the moon was the …
Read More »ISRO’s lunar touchdown has dry run on soil fetched from Tamil Nadu
Chandrayaan-2’s lander and rover were tested on a simulated surface Newly designed cars are tested for road-worthiness on terrain where they would be driven, while new aircraft are test-flown in the skies. But where on earth did the Chandrayaan-2 mission’s lander and rover, which will head for the moon on …
Read More »SC tells Speaker to defer call on Karnataka MLAs
Court orders status quo, schedules hearing for Tuesday The Supreme Court on Friday pressed the pause button in the legal battle for power in Karnataka, asking Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar to refrain from deciding on the disqualification or resignation of 10 rebel Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs for the time …
Read More »Civil Disobedience.
In reference to Mr. Gandhi’s fresh resolve to renew the Satyagraha campaign, Sir Narayan Chandravarkar, ex-Judge, Bombay High Court, and a Moderate Leader, through the medium of the press, makes a strong and earnest appeal to Mr. Gandhi [from Bombay, on July 11] to desist from starting the campaign. He …
Read More »Forecasts with aid of computer
A fresh weather map of India will be prepared every six hours with the help of a modern electronic computer to be installed in the Meteorological Office in Delhi. An agreement for the acquisition of the computer was signed to-day [July 11] between Dr. P. K. Koteswaram, Director-General of Observatories, …
Read More »Why access to officials is so important for reporters
Every bit of information, whether crucial or trivial, is a piece of a large puzzle The Finance Ministry has decided not to let journalists, even those with Press Information Bureau (PIB) accredited cards, enter its premises without prior appointment. The Ministry has benevolently arranged an “air-conditioned waiting room” for reporters …
Read More »Picking out plastic
Recycling is integral to addressing the problems posed by plastic packaging material The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has put 52 producers, brand owners and importers, including big online retailers such as Amazon and Flipkart, and companies such as Patanjali Ayurved and Britannia, on notice, for failing to take responsibility …
Read More »Tread with caution
The consolidated codes on labour laws need a thorough vetting and discussion in Parliament As part of its commitment to simplify and consolidate labour rules and laws under four codes, the Union Cabinet has cleared the Occupational, Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, a week after it approved the Code …
Read More »Majoritarian here, secular there
Modi has been able to bring about a paradigmatic shift to India’s foreign policy in one regard Some argue that Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has brought dynamism to India’s foreign policy, evident by his frequent visits abroad. However, no theory in foreign policy research suggests that the higher the …
Read More »Jobless growth becomes more systemic
Earlier confined largely to the organised sector, it has now spread to other areas, as revealed by the latest survey results The findings of the latest employment survey, called the Periodic Labour Force Survey (2017-18), are a cause for concern as the scenario is still far from anything that would …
Read More »A welcome debate on electoral reforms
A number of practical and constructive proposals were raised by Opposition parties in Parliament last week On July 3, a short-duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on electoral reforms attracted my attention. It was initiated by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien, with the backing of as many as 14 …
Read More »Can India make the transition to electric vehicles?
India has taken some baby steps but more needs to be done to improve demand and supply Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an additional income tax exemption of Rs. 1.5 lakh for purchasers of electric vehicles in Budget 2019-2020. She also said that the GST rate on electric vehicles would …
Read More »Leak found in nuclear Soviet sub
Small leak found in Soviet nuclear sub A small radiation leak from a Soviet nuclear submarine that sank 30 years ago has been found, Norwegian researchers said on Thursday, but it poses no risk to people or fish. The institute said that findings were around 100 Becquerel (Bq) per litre …
Read More »Greek find called earliest sign of our species out of Africa
Greek find resets human migration clock A 2,10,000-year-old skull (image shows computer-generated model) discovered in a cave in Greece has been identified as the earliest modern human remains found outside Africa, putting the clock back on mankind’s arrival in Europe by more than 1,50,000 years. The remains are 16,000 years …
Read More »France passes legislation taxing digital giants
Move may lead to dispute with U.S. France on Thursday became the first major economy to impose a tax on digital giants, with its Parliament passing the legislation in defiance of a probe ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump that could trigger reprisal tariffs The new law aims at plugging …
Read More »Language no barrier: Mumbai team set on popularising regional films
Every week, volunteers collect information from theatres that play movies with subtitles and share the list with fans of cinema through Twitter Four Mumbaikars have come together on Twitter to start Mumbai Subtitles Database. On their Twitter handle, they draw up a list of theatres screening regional movies with subtitles …
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