Author: Vanita Dhindwal

The Kerala government has chosen the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) as the designated agency at the state level to oversee and coordinate Green Hydrogen initiatives.  Image Source : Mercom India The Power Department has recently made a significant decision in response to a compelling proposal put forth by the Chief Executive Officer of ANERT. Recognizing the paramount importance of promoting sustainable energy solutions, the proposal emphasised the urgent need for a central agency dedicated to formulating and disseminating a comprehensive green H2 policy.  The State government intends to establish “green hydrogen hubs” in Kochi…

Pakistan, facing financial difficulties and a decrease in its foreign reserves, has decided to increase its defence spending by 15.5% in the budget for the fiscal year 2024-24. Image Source : The Hindu The budget, presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the National Assembly, aims to achieve a growth rate of 3.5% in the upcoming year. Despite the upcoming general elections and political unrest following the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan in April last year, Dar emphasised that the budget should be considered a responsible budget rather than one focused on the elections. Proposed Defence Budget The proposed…

On Thursday, S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, met with Afghan Sikh refugees in West Delhi as part of the BJP’s outreach campaign for the nine-year anniversary of the Modi government. Image Source : The Hindu He expressed support for granting multiple entry visas to those wishing to return to Afghanistan to care for their properties and gurdwaras. During his visit to Guru Arjun Dev Gurdwara in Mahavir Nagar, West Delhi, Jaishankar, accompanied by Delhi BJP leaders including Virendra Sachdeva, the state president, took the opportunity to meet with Sikh refugees and address their concerns. In a gesture of empathy,…

The Uttar Pradesh government, headed by Yogi Adityanath, has given its approval to the Transfer Policy 2024-24.    Image Source : Hindustan Times  Transfer Policy 2024-24 Under this policy, the transfer of department heads, officers, and other employees will be carried out by June 30. This decision has far-reaching effects, affecting more than 15 lakh officers and employees in the state. As per the recently implemented transfer policy, a certain percentage (10-20%) of officers and employees across all categories will be subjected to transfers. The policy’s scope encompasses employees who have been assigned to a specific district for a duration of…

Kerala, is the first state to recognize the right to internet as a fundamental entitlement. The government is striving to bridge the digital gap by guaranteeing fast broadband connectivity to every household and government institution under KFON. Image Source : Mathrubhumi The Kerala government inaugurated the Kerala Fibre Optical Network, a key initiative conceived during Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s initial tenure. Kerala, being the pioneer state in recognizing internet access as a fundamental right, aims to diminish the disparity in digital connectivity by providing fast broadband internet to every household and government establishment through KFON. Additionally, this endeavour seeks to…

The remaining OPEC+ oil-producing nations have decided to prolong the previously implemented reductions in production until end of 2024 Source : AlJazeera In an effort to address falling prices and prevent a potential oversupply, Saudi Arabia announced its decision to reduce output by one million barrels per day (bpd) starting in July. This move comes as the OPEC+ alliance, comprised of major oil-producing countries, faces challenges in stabilizing crude prices. The kingdom’s decision follows previous unsuccessful attempts by OPEC+ members to boost prices through production cuts. The OPEC+ alliance, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other…

Fresh tensions have erupted between Serbia and Kosovo as Kosovan police carried out raids in predominantly Serb-controlled areas, confiscating municipal buildings.  Image Source : Reuters Violent clashes ensued between Kosovan police, NATO-led peacekeepers, and local Serbs, causing injuries on both sides. In response, Serbia has increased the preparedness of its troops near the border and issued a stern warning against any future attacks on Serbs in Kosovo. These recent events have rekindled concerns of a potential reoccurrence of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo, which resulted in a devastating loss of lives and the displacement of over a million people. The…

On Thursday, China expressed its perspective that the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is an “open and inclusive” platform and expressed support for efforts to enlarge the group by including “like-minded partners.” Image Source: Reuters During a media briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, responded to reports suggesting that India wants an agreement on the expansion process of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) group. Mao Ning stated that she had not seen the report but emphasized that China views BRICS as open and inclusive in principle. She further mentioned that China supports…

The US debt ceiling deal is a compromise for both Republicans and Democrats. Now, President Biden and McCarthy need to persuade the more extreme groups within their parties to support the deal and avoid a situation where the government cannot pay its debts. Image Source : BBC Biden assured that the agreement is a compromise, which means that not everyone gets exactly what they want. This is a normal part of governing and making decisions. The good news for the American people is that this agreement prevents a very bad situation from happening. Image source : Federal Reserve In January,…

Pegasus spyware, notorious for targeting political and civil rights figures, has now been employed in a conflict area. Image Source : India Today The introduction of Pegasus by the NSO Group in 2011 revolutionized global intelligence and cyber warfare in the digital era, as evidenced by a recent report from independent digital rights organizations. The report unveiled substantial evidence of Pegasus being deployed as a weapon in military conflict scenarios. Notably, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, journalists, human rights advocates, a United Nations official, and members of civil society in Armenia were targeted and compromised through hacking. Among the targets were…