Archives for 2023

NOIDA: There were only four space startups in India in 2014 and that number has increased to more than 150 in 2023, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said here Monday, noting that currently, the country’s space economy is valued at USD 8 billion and estimated to reach $40 billion by 2040.

“In 2014, the country had 350 startups but today we have more than 1.25 lakh startups and 130 unicorns. Of the 1.25 lakh startups, 6,000 are in the unicorn sector itself which has transformed the landscape of innovation in the country,” Singh said while inaugurating the S20 Conference under the aegis of G20 at Amity University.

“There were only four space startups in the country in 2014 whereas in 2023, there are more than 150 startups. Our Space economy is currently at USD 8 billion and estimated to reach USD 40 billion by 2040,” the minister added.

MADIKERI: Hundreds of women rushed to a private bank in Madikeri on Monday morning. The queue outside the bank touched nearly a kilometre long even as the women shared that they were waiting to collect the funds transferred under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. 

“We have come from Shanivarasanthe and have been waiting in line from 8 a.m.,” shared a group of women. They explained that they had received a message from the bank alerting them about the inactive bank account opened at the branch. “We opened a bank account in the bank under the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project in 2021. However, the bank account has been inactive for several months now. If we do not withdraw the Gruha Lakshmi amount now, it might be sent back,” they added. 

Further, several other women beneficiaries have linked their Aadhar cards to private bank accounts, which were opened to receive benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana during COVID-19 times.

However, as they stopped receiving the benefits during the pandemic situation, the unused accounts became inactive. “Several beneficiaries have forgotten about the accounts opened in the bank under the Jan Dhan project. Nearly 30,000 accounts were opened in our bank during the Jan Dhan scheme.

However, several accounts were inactive,” confirmed an employee of the bank. Nevertheless, as the Aadhar cards have been linked to these accounts, the Gruha Lakshmi and Anna Bhagya schemes funds have been transferred to them and hundreds gathered in front of the bank on Monday to collect the funds. “If the accounts are active, we will hand over the funds. If they are inactive, the beneficiaries have to submit an application for reactivation and only then they can utilize the funds,” he added.

MUMBAI:  On June 2, four days after the inauguration of the new Parliament building, former President Ram Nath Kovind had two visitors, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Dr P K Mishra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

That meeting apparently set the ball rolling for the much-debated scheme under the stewardship of Kovind, sources privy to the development said. It all began after the BJP’s defeat in the Karnataka polls. It really hurt the party and made it increasingly worried about the numbers in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, hence the simultaneous polls gambit.

Sources said the former President keeps a low profile but is capable of handling intricate legal matters. Besides, he is trusted by Modi. “Modi quietly asked his trusted party functionaries to prepare the ground for simultaneous polls so as to loosen the Opposition consolidation ahead of the 2024 polls,” said a source. 

On Friday the former president of india said of the ‘one nation, one poll’ panel. The names of its members were announced the following day. On Sunday, Union law ministry. But preparatory work is what the former President appeared to be doing ever since he was sounded out on June 2.

A cursory look at his social media timeline indicates how he went about preparing the ground, meeting at least 10 governors within the last three months. Retired Presidents don’t have a busy itinerary. They generally enjoy their sunset years, perhaps writing a memoir or two. In contrast, Kovind started travelling around to Raj Bhavans and hosting governors and party leaders.

Between June 9 and August 29, he met at least 10 governors/administrators, some of them more than once, besides senior party leaders and the head of the RSS (see timeline). With the government formalising the panel’s appointment, it has already begun work on firming its proposals for simultaneous elections. Its report could also be tabled during the five-day special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22.

The thinking behind the draft is that Assemblies whose tenures expire around 2025 (like Maharashtra, West Bengal and ) would be dissolved, while the tenures of states that recently went to polls, such as Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, will get a year’s extension so that elections there can be held simultaneously in the next cycle, that is in 2029.

A senior leader said holding the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together could put the Opposition bloc, INDIA, in disarray. “In West Bengal, it will be difficult for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Congress and Left parties to sew up an alliance for both the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, as each party would want to first protect its local interest. Similar problems would arise between the AAP and the Congress in Delhi, Punjab and elsewhere. The BJP hopes the regional parties that are with the Congress will squabble, giving the saffron party more elbow room,” said sources.

CHENNAI: A day after receiving a death threat regarding his ‘Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated’ remark, security has been tightened outside the residence of Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in Chennai.

Stalin had received who announced a reward of Rs 10 crore for beheading the Tamil Nadu Minister over his remarks on ‘Sanatan Dharma’.

“The same situation happened to Karunanidhi too where a saint said before that if someone chops off Karunanidhi’s head he will be rewarded one crore rupees. What Karunanidhi said was, even if you give 100 crores I can’t even comb my hair. I am following in the footsteps of Karunanidhi, and Ambedkar. Periyar, Anbazhagan and our leader (MK Stalin ) struggled to eradicate Sanadhanam (Sanatan Dharma) and that struggle will continue. 

Earlier Udyanidhi Stalin had come under severe criticism since he mentioned on Saturday that Sanatana Dharma should

“Few things cannot be opposed, they should only be abolished. We can’t oppose Dengue, mosquitoes, Malaria, or coronavirus, we have to eradicate them. In the same way, we have to eradicate Sanatana (Sanatan Dharma). Rather than merely opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated,” he had said on Saturday.

Earlier on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded an apology from the Congress and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) regarding the comments on ‘Sanatan Dharma made by DMK leader  Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Flagging off the BJP’s ‘Parivartan Sankalp Yatra’ from Ramdevara in Jaisalmer, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Congress ally DMK is insulting Sanatan Dharma. They say that Sanatan Dharma should be abolished. Allies of the INDIA coalition have kept silent on this. Why is Gehlot ji silent, and Sonia ji silent? Congress and INDIA should apologize.”

Unfazed by attacks from various leaders, Tamil Nadu Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday said that as he has included all religions and not just Hindus.

VISAKHAPATNAM: A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg has brought attention to an alarming discovery regarding the toxicity of single-use takeaway cups made of paper. The study, titled ‘Single-use takeaway cups of paper are as toxic to aquatic midge larvae as plastic cups’, was published in the esteemed journal Environmental Pollution, shedding light on the potential harm that substances found in paper cups can inflict on delicate aquatic creatures, particularly midge larvae.

Traditionally, paper cups have been considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to their plastic counterparts. However, this study reveals a hidden danger. The research found that the substances present in paper cups, such as dyes, coatings, and other chemicals, can have detrimental effects on aquatic midge larvae, which play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems. In the study, the researchers’ specimen included Chironomous riparius, a midge larva that is considered to be a crucial part of the aquatic food chain, serving as a food source for various organisms.

“We cannot afford only to replace one material, which is plastic cups, with another, which is paper-based products, but rather must reduce consumption and use of single-use products overall,” the study concluded.

The researchers discovered that paper used in food packaging is coated with bioplastics like polylactide (PLA) to resist water and fats. The PLA doesn’t break down effectively in the environment, especially in water

BENGALURU:  In a shocking incident, a 41-year-old man, who questioned a youth for eve-teasing his minor daughter, was stabbed to death at Shantinagar in Ashoknagar police limits on Saturday night.

The police have arrested the accused, Zaheed (22), who works at an electrical shop, for murder. 
The deceased, Anwar Hussain, was a goods vehicle driver. Both the victim and the accused were living near Nanjappa Circle in Shantinagar.

The police said Hussain’s 15-year-old daughter was being harassed by Zaheed, who was allegedly following her when she went to school and pestering her to fall in love with him. This was reportedly happening for the last 3-4 months and the girl had informed her father, who had warned Zaheed on a few occasions to stay away from his daughter.

However, Zaheed did not mend his ways and continued to harass the girl. Even on Saturday, he allegedly teased the girl, who went home and complained to her father.

“Around 9 pm, Hussain went to Zaheed’s house and complained against him to his parents and brother. This led to a heated argument between Hussain and Zaheed’s family members. Zaheed brought a knife and stabbed Hussain’s neck before fleeing the scene. Hussain was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to injuries after a few hours,” the police said.

The Ashoknagar police, who registered a murder case, gathered information about Zaheed’s whereabouts and managed to arrest him on Sunday afternoon. The police are questioning Zaheed and he will be produced before the court on Monday.

BENGALURU: ISRO scientist N Valarmathi who did the countdown for a number of missions including the Chandrayaan-3 died in Chennai on September 2 following cardiac arrest, an official said here on Monday.

Valarmathi died at a Chennai hospital, the ISRO official added. Chandrayaan 3 is said to be her last countdown assignment.

Many fondly recalled her resonating countdown from the Mission Control Centre at ISRO’s Sriharikota spaceport during many launches.

Dr P V Venkitakrishnan, former ISRO Director said, ” The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of ISRO from Sriharikotta.

“Chandrayaan 3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams,” he said in a post on X.

In his social media post, Chandrasekhar expressed grief over Valarmathi’s demise.

“Saddened to hear about the passing of N Valarmathi ji, the voice behind many @isro launch countdowns, including Chandrayaan 3,” the Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Electronics & Technology, said. “My condolences to her family and friends. Om Shanti,” he added.

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden has said that he is looking forward to his trip to India this week but is disappointed that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will not attend the G20 summit in New Delhi.

Biden will travel to India on September 7 to participate in the G20 Summit and will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8 on the sidelines of the historic meeting, the White House announced on Friday.

Ahead of his trip, reporters asked Biden on Sunday whether he was looking forward to his visits to India and Vietnam.

“”Yes, I am,” Biden replied.

He expressed his disappointment over President Xi of China not attending the summit in New Delhi.

“I am disappointed, but I am going to get to see him,” Biden said in response to a question.

Biden, along with more than two dozen world leaders, is scheduled to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi that is being hosted by Prime Minister Modi.

According to recent media reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi are not likely to attend the summit.

India is awaiting a written confirmation from China on President Xi’s participation in the G20 Leaders Summit, Muktesh Pardeshi, Special Secretary for G20, said on Friday.

“We have seen some reports in the newspapers. But, we go by written confirmation. And we have not seen (a written confirmation). Unless we see that I am not in a position to say either way,” Pardeshi told PTI when asked about reports of Xi skipping the G20 meeting and deputing Prime Minister Li Qiang for the event.

Premier Li is likely to travel to India after attending the East Asia summit in Jakarta.

In 2021, Chinese President Xi did not travel to Italy to participate in the G20 summit due to China’s COVID-19 restrictions.

Pardeshi said the participation of world leaders in summits such as the G20 is usually conveyed through a diplomatic note.

“I think that is awaited. We have received most of the other confirmations,” he said on Xi’s participation.

US President Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among the G20 leaders who have already confirmed their participation in the summit.

Modi will hand over the baton of the G20 Presidency to Brazilian President Lula on September 10.

Brazil will formally assume the G20 Presidency on December 1 The G20 member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).