Author: News Desk

The Indian government has provided a welcome reprieve for stalled highway projects grappling with delays due to the unavailability of fly ash, a crucial construction material. In a proactive move, the government has mandated all thermal power plants located within 300 kilometres of these highway projects to offer fly ash, an essential input, free of charge and with immediate effect. Failed Environmental Mandate Numerous highway projects spanning thousands of kilometres across the nation have experienced delays due to the inability to access fly ash, as an environmental ministry directive intended to employ fly ash in highway projects situated near coal-based…

Following Blackstone, Gautam Adani, Kalanithi Maran, and the Ambanis, a fresh contender has emerged as a potential buyer for Disney’s India business. Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), the global entertainment unit of Japan’s Sony Group, has initiated preliminary talks with Walt Disney Co. about a potential acquisition of its India business. As per available reports, the company is looking at it as a contingency plan in case its ongoing merger agreement with Zee faces more delays or doesn’t materialise since it has been in the works for almost two years. The Zee-Sony merger had received National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approval without…

The Chief Executive Officer of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a “terrific” meeting to discuss Google’s ongoing commitment to India. Taking to social media platform X, Mr Pichai wrote, “Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the terrific meeting today to discuss Google’s ongoing commitment to India, and how we are expanding our operations, leveraging AI, and increasing our partnerships.” PM Modi and Pichai held a virtual meeting on Monday. According to ANI’s report, PM Modi and Mr Pichai discussed Google’s plan to participate in expanding the electronics manufacturing ecosystem in India. The Prime Minister appreciated Google’s partnership with HP to…

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, has long been known for its complex financial network, which extends globally to channel support from charities and sympathetic nations. Utilizing unconventional methods, including moving cash through Gaza tunnels and harnessing the power of cryptocurrencies, Hamas has consistently found ways to bypass international sanctions. A closer examination of these practices reveals the extent of their financial operations, as reported by experts and officials. Challenges Amid Escalating Conflict In recent times, Hamas, the governing body of the Gaza Strip, has faced mounting challenges in accessing financial resources. The group’s violent activities have led to the loss of hundreds of…

Space-tech startup AgniKul Cosmos has raised $26.7 million in its Series B funding round from Celesta Capital, Rocketship.vc, Artha Venture Fund, Artha Select Fund, and Mayfield India. The round also saw participation from investors such as Pi Ventures and Speciale Invest also participated in the round. The startup plans to utilize the capital to scale its existing technology towards commercialization, as well as invest in key facilities such as mobile launchpads and other test rigs. “Our focus is shifting from singular rocket launches to a strategic approach aimed at scaling. We’re considering how to scale not just for one or a few rocket launches, but for the…

ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) Chairman, S Somanath, recently shared exciting developments regarding the establishment of a second launchpad in Kulasekharapatnam, located in the southern Thoothukudi district. The ambitious project, receiving immense support from the Tamil Nadu government, is expected to be operational within approximately two years. The Tamil Nadu Government’s Pivotal Role The Tamil Nadu government has played a pivotal role in the realisation of this project, having sanctioned 2,000 acres of land in the coastal district. This new launchpad will cater to private rockets, significantly reducing the fuel consumption compared to launching them from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. S…

The first ship has finally docked at Vizhinjam Port, marking a significant milestone in its construction. The completion of the initial phase of Vizhinjam Port construction is set to take place in May 2024, propelling it into the league of international seaports. This development will have far-reaching consequences, not only for the state of Kerala but also for India as a whole. Vizhinjam Port’s Economic Significance The economic benefits are immense. The removal of a substantial percentage of cargo from Kerala’s various ports to Vizhinjam Port will result in the transit of goods via road, rail, and sea to different…

Artificial Intelligence is taking a lion’s share from our daily life. Brilliant brains are inventing and exploring all the possibilities to bring out the innovations in the AI segment. But do they always stay relevant? During the time electronic machines were invented, it was said to be cloned with a notion of helping human beings in terms of hard-core physical labour. But in this day and age, humans are fairly scared of getting replaced with AI. In particular, the extinction of many jobs is currently a looming fear-factor. Besides, a new viral video has brought back all these arguments back…

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is currently assessing approximately 440 proposals, valued at over Rs 1,000 crore, for funding through the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme. Launched on October 1, 2022, the TTDF aims to foster rural-specific communication applications and drive technology ownership, indigenous manufacturing, and the creation of intellectual property in the field of telecom products and solutions. Stringent Evaluation Criteria The evaluation process focuses on several critical parameters, including the technical viability of proposed solutions, market size, and their impact on the target consumer segment. Additionally, the evaluation considers factors such as potential for import substitution, originality,…

In a recent development, the Indian government has issued directives to YouTube to add disclaimers to channels suspected of spreading ‘fake’ news. This decision is part of a broader effort to combat online misinformation in the lead-up to the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The move has garnered attention following previous controversy surrounding the government’s plan to establish a fact-checking unit, which raised concerns about potential censorship. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Takes Action The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken the lead in addressing the issue of online misinformation. In a memorandum sent to various…