Environment ministry advises states to reduce reliance on single-use plastic

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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As the industry awaits clarity on the government’s proposed single-use plastic ban, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has issued an advisory to states and government departments on the issue.

The advisory has specified modalities for the phase-out process of single use plastic, sources said. According to the advisory, the MoEF has defined single-use plastic “as disposable plastics (use-and-throw items) that are commonly used for packaging and include items intended to be used only once, before they are thrown away or recycled. Common SUP items are carry bags, food packaging, bottles, straws, containers, cups and cutlery”.

Government advisory

The advisory says that while individual states and union territories have issued specific regulations on the use of single-use plastic in the past, “the following suggestions are to be added to the existing orders and/or to any new regulations as an advisory.”

For instance, in June 2018, Maharashtra started penalising all those found using single-use plastic and disposable items. The notification banned manufacture, use, sale, distribution and storage of plastic materials such as bags, spoons, plates and other disposable items.

Sustainability goals

The ministry urges states and union territories to curb production of all plastic carry bags, with or without handles, irrespective of thickness and size. Production of plastic cutlery including plates, plastic cups/glass, straws and stirrers should be curbed in respective states. Production and use of thermocol or any other cutlery/decorative item made from styrofoam should also be curtailed.

To achieve sustainability goals faster, states should encourage organisations to find alternatives to single use plastic, the ministry stated in its advisory. Institutions should be declared free from
single-use plastic. Use of items such as artificial flowers, flags and banners should be discouraged.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

ED files PMLA case in Maharashtra Cooperative bank scam case; books Ajit Pawar, others

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Enforcement Directorate has filed a money laundering case against NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar and others in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case, officials said on Tuesday.

They said an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to a police FIR, has been registered by the central agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The case is based on a Mumbai Police FIR which had named Ajit Pawar, a former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, and 70 former functionaries of the cooperative bank.

The registration of the case comes at a time when assembly polls are due in the state next month.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Amitabh Bachchan named Dada Sahab Phalke winner

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was on Tuesday named this year’s Dada Sahab Phalke winner, Indian cinema’s highest honour for an artiste.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar confirmed the news in a Twitter post.

“The legend Amitabh Bachchan who entertained and inspired for 2 generations has been selected unanimously for #DadaSahabPhalke award.

The entire country and international community is happy. My heartiest Congratulations to him. @narendramodi @SrBachchan,” Javadekar tweeted.

The 76-year-old screen icon, who rose to stardom with his ‘Angry Young Man’ persona capturing the anger of the young generation in the 1970s with films such as “Zanjeer”, “Deewar” and “Sholay”, continues to be a force to reckon with in Indian cinema.

In a career spanning five decades, Bachchan has given memorable performances film after film and is a four-time National Film Award winner.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Government may keep borrowing target unchanged

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Even though the pace of tax collection growth remains subdued, the central government would maintain its borrowing plan for the second half of this fiscal year, reports Sapna Das.

The government is likely to sell Rs 2.68 lakh crore of bonds in the six months beginning October 1. The full-year borrowing plan stands at Rs 7.1 lakh crore. The borrowing calendar is to be announced on September 30.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cognizant CEO Exclusive: Speculation around lay-offs is noise, will hire in India

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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“Growth will end a lot of evils in any company”. These words by Cognizant’s Global CEO Brian Humphries summarize Cognizant’s journey since he took over the IT giant in April this year.

With two cuts in guidance for CY19, Cognizant which was once the poster boy of the IT services industry has had a tough year, to say the least. However, Humphries is unfazed and yet very aware of the tall task ahead of him.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18 in his first interview after taking over in April this year, Humphries admitted that the company has not been performing to its potential but he expressed confidence in the vision that he has set for the company since he came on board. He seeks to invest in the company’s brand, skills, technology and clients to fuel growth.

On the company’s growth outlook Humphries said, “I think the fundamentals of the business remain very strong. It is clear that we haven’t been performing to our potential so that has really been my focus since I have joined. I spend all my time internally with our associates, all our time with customers and really trying to drive our strong values. So I am confident that the market is strong and we will be able to accelerate growth into the future.”

Humphries believes that as the company taps into demand potential as it grows its capabilities in newer technologies and skillsets. This he believes will help the company regain lost ground and bounce backfiring on all its growth cylinders.

The Cognizant CEO also abolished the big concern around Cognizant’s restructuring. Reports have suggested that Cognizant may undergo wide-scale lay-offs across its offices. Humphries said, that a lot of the reports are noise and clarified that with the company growing and investing in technology, they will continue to hire more people.

He said, “I think a lot of this is noise that you see popping up in the media in the absence of other headlines… As we accelerate our growth we will actually hire more people, so, on the contrary, I am expecting to increase headcounts in India and indeed internationally.”

However, Humphries clarified that the headcount will now be reshaped, which means the skills that are needed for the new jobs will be focused on newer technology like artificial intelligence, machine learning, internet of things, etc. In the comprehensive interview, Humphries clarified on many areas including the SEC probe and the outlook on regulatory & macro-economic issues.

The Cognizant CEO also opened up about slowdown fears in the US economy. He said that the North American market contributed to three-fourth of Cognizant’s revenue and it was looking in robust shape. He added, “I think the shift to digital will drive further growth opportunities. At this moment we are actually investing in sales headcount, both in North America as well as internationally. So we have approved up to 500 headcount additions with a view to getting that market opportunity and indeed with a view to accelerating our growth rate.”

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

I-T dept attaches Rs 230-crore ‘benami’ assets of Mayawati’s ex-secy

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The income tax department has attached “benami” assets worth Rs 230 crore of retired IAS officer Net Ram who also served as secretary to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, official sources said on Tuesday.

They said a total of 19 immovable properties spread across Delhi, Noida, Kolkata and Mumbai have been attached by the department.

A provisional order of the attachment against Net Ram has been issued by the Delhi investigation unit of the department under section 24(3) of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988, they said.

The attached properties are both commercial and residential.

The officer, who served in top positions during BSP supremo Mayawati’s chief ministership, was first raided by the tax department in March this year.

It had seized cash worth over Rs 1.64 crore, Mont Blanc pens valued at Rs 50 lakh and four luxury SUVs after these searches and had claimed to have recovered documents related to ‘benami’ assets of the officer worth Rs 300 crore.

The Delhi unit of the department subsequently took over the case to probe under the anti-benami transaction law that had been lying inoperative since 1988 and was enforced from November, 2016 by the Modi government.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

6.3 magnitude earthquake shakes north India

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A 6.3 magnitude earthquake with its epicentre near Indo-Pak border shook northern states, including the Delhi-NCR region, on Tuesday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said.

There was no immediate report of any loss of life or property due to the quake which occurred at 4.33 pm along the Jammu and Kashmir region, officials said.

“The epicentre was near the India-Pakistan border. The closest big city to the epicentre is Rawalpindi (in Pakistan’s Punjab province),” said J L Gautam, head of operations at the NCS.

People rushed out of their homes and offices in panic in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
“I was preparing for my semester examination when I suddenly felt my chair and table shaking. I immediately ran outside,” said a 15-year-old student who resides on the 11th floor of a building in Zirakpur in Punjab on the outskirts of Chandigarh.

Tremors were also felt in Shimla, Mandi, Kangra, Una and other parts of Himachal Pradesh.

However, there was considerable damage in Mirpur in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A woman was killed and around 50 people were injured there after a building collapsed due to the quake. Parts of a mosque also caved in.

TV channels showed heavily damaged roads in Mirpur, with many vehicles overturned and falling into gaping cracks.

The tremors were felt in several Pakistani cities including Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Kohat, Charsadda, Sialkot and Abbottabad.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow