More than 20 opposition parties on Tuesday formed an alliance called “India” to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in parliamentary elections next year.
Opposition parties form ‘India’ alliance to challenge BJP
The alliance claimed BJP was assaulting the character of the republic and pledged to “safeguard the idea of India as enshrined in the Constitution”.
Mr Modi and BJP criticised the alliance members as corrupt opportunists who defamed India globally and were now trying to save their existence and families.
G-20’s ‘intense’ talks fail to break deadlock over debt relief
Finance chiefs from an assembly of the world’s biggest advanced and emerging economies failed to reach a consensus over a framework for restructuring the debt of distressed poorer nations.
Representatives of the Group of 20 nations had “very intense discussions on global debt vulnerabilities” in Gandhinagar, India, according to Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
She said at a press conference wrapping up the negotiations on Tuesday that the debt issue remains a “priority” area for the G-20 this year, with leaders scheduled to gather at a September summit.
16 killed by suspected electrocution in north Indian state
At least 16 people were killed and six others injured in a case of suspected electrocution in Uttarakhand on Wednesday, government officials said.
The incident happened at a sewage treatment plant in the Himalayan state that was part of a flagship programme by the Central government to conserve the river Ganga.
The deceased include a police officer and three personnel from the Home Guard, officials said, adding that the latter were suspected to have died as they attempted to rescue the police officer.
A magisterial inquiry has been launched into the incident.
Heavy rains may actually be helping the Taj Mahal
Rising floodwaters from the Yamuna river reached the compound walls of the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on July 18 following a period of heavy rain.
The monument’s visitor viewing area has been flooded and the white marble exterior may suffer some damage, but the high water level will likely raise the moisture content of the structure’s wooden foundation, increasing its life span, said Mr Raj Kumar Patel, superintendent archaeologist for the Archaeological Survey of India. The Taj Mahal is supported in part by a base of deodar wood, which becomes stronger when it absorbs water.
135 million people moved out of poverty in five years
Nearly 135 million people moved out of multidimensional poverty on the yardstick of health, education and the overall standard of living over the past five years in India, according to a report released on Monday by the government think-tank NITI Aayog.
Improvements in nutrition, years of schooling, sanitation and cooking fuel played a significant role in bringing down poverty across the country.
Government approval pending for semiconductor plant in Gujarat
Vedanta is awaiting government approval for incentives under a modified semiconductor production plan to begin construction of a plant in Gujarat, for which it has tapped technology and equity partners.
The metals-to-oil conglomerate has engaged more than 100 global suppliers and ancillary industries which will form a key part of the semiconductor and display ecosystem, said Mr Akarsh Hebbar, global managing director at Vedanta Semiconductors and Display.
Vedanta group chairman Anil Agarwal had said last week that the company will enter the market for the manufacturing of chips and displays this year, days after its joint-venture partner, Taiwan’s Foxconn, pulled out of a US$19.5 billion ($26 billion) chipmaking project.
Court says Google cannot remove Disney app
A court on Tuesday said Google cannot remove Disney’s streaming service from its app store in India and should receive a lower 4 per cent fee for in-app purchases – a significant challenge to its payments business model.
Disney’s lawsuit is the latest and most high-profile challenge to Google’s policy of imposing a “service fee” of 11-26 per cent on in-app payments in India.
It was introduced after an antitrust directive ruled against Google’s earlier 15-30 per cent fee and forced Google to allow third-party payments.
Companies have argued that Google’s new service fee system is just a cloaked version of its earlier system.
Tata to build new electric vehicle battery plant in UK
Tata announced on Wednesday that it has chosen to build an electric vehicle battery plant in the United Kingdom.
Tata reportedly had been choosing between a site in Somerset in south-west England and one in Spain to supply a new range of electric Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
Adani hits back at short seller’s ‘malicious’ allegations
Billionaire Gautam Adani extolled growth prospects for India and his business empire, slamming a damaging short seller attack against his embattled conglomerate earlier this year.
In a speech to shareholders at the annual general meeting of flagship firm Adani Enterprises on Tuesday, he hit back at Hindenburg Research’s “malicious” allegations of corporate fraud and stock manipulation, which he labelled as “false narratives” that “various vested interests tried to exploit”.
The tycoon rattled off expansion targets across his ports, energy and infrastructure businesses and sent a clear message to shareholders: ignore the criticism.
Vistara prepares to merge staff into Air India
Vistara and Air India will merge their manpower as India’s industrial Tata family combines the two carriers to rebuild its aviation empire and take on market leader IndiGo.
Vistara, now co-owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will be folded into Air India under a deal announced in November, giving the Tatas more heft to go up against dominant budget carrier IndiGo. Singapore Air will receive a 25.1 per cent stake in the combined entity in exchange for its interest in Vistara and a US$250 million investment.
Delhi court grants interim bail to wrestler Sushil Kumar
A Delhi court on Wednesday granted one week’s interim bail on health grounds to Olympian Sushil Kumar, who has been accused of beating to death former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar.
Kumar’s interim bail application cited a torn ligament and upcoming surgery on July 26. He has been in judicial custody since June 2, 2021.
The court also asked Kumar to furnish a personal bond of Rs1 lakh ($1,612) with two sureties of equal amount.
