LIVE: You won't face troubles your parents did: PM Modi to Kashmir youth

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3:53 PM

Depositors of Lucknow coop bank to get money from DICGC on Apr 27

The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) will be making payments to the eligible depositors of Lucknow-based Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank on April 27, according to a notice.

Depositors of Beed-based Dwarakadas Mantri Nagari Sahakari Bank will get payments on June 6. DICGC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI, provides an insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh on bank deposits.

Depositors of the two banks, submitting valid documents, as mentioned above, will be paid by credit to the alternate bank account specified by depositors, or on their consent, to their Aadhaar linked bank accounts, said a DICGC notice.

In the fiscal ended March 2022, the corporation had settled main claims of eight cooperative banks, including nearly Rs 136 crores of 32,221 depositors of Goa-based The Madgaum Urban Co-op Bank, Rs 374 crores of 38,325 depositors of Maharashtra-based Karnala Nagri Sahakari Bank, and Rs 330 crore of 39,032 deposits of Maharashtra-based Karad Janata Sahakari Bank.

Initially, under the provisions of Section 16(1) of the DICGC Act, the insurance cover was limited to Rs 1,500 only per depositor. It was gradually increased to Rs 1 lakh with effect from May 1, 1993 onwards. The insurance cover was later increased to Rs 5 lakh with effect from February 4 onwards.

3:52 PM

Mumbai startup offers superior propulsion systems; plans fuel stations in space

Scientists at a Mumbai-based start-up are working on technologies to offer efficient propulsion systems and re-fuelling satellites in outer space to extend their lifespan.

Manastu Space, a five-year-old start-up launched by two IIT-Bombay alumni Tushar Jadhav and Ashtesh Kumar, has come up with a propulsion system for satellites that utilises affordable, green fuel as opposed to the conventional propellant, which is carcinogenic.

The current fuel hydrazine is toxic and carcinogenic. We have developed a propellant using hydrogen peroxide, which is easily available and put some proprietary additives to improve its performance, Jadhav, the chief executive officer of Manastu Space, told PTI.

Our fuel is as safe as common salt in terms of toxicity and 50 per cent more efficient, he said, adding, the propulsion systems developed by the firm were 20 per cent more agile than those currently in use.

Satellites use on-board thrusters to stay in orbit, dodge space debris and subsequently move to the graveyard orbit, also referred to as a junk orbit or disposal orbit, once their lifespan is over.

Compared to some electric propulsion systems, we are more agile. We generate more thrust. It is like comparing a moped with a Mercedes. We can quickly change direction and gain speed to avoid space debris, Jadhav said.

He said the start-up also has plans to set up fuel stations in space to offer re-fuelling of satellites in outer space.

 

3:43 PM

Death toll in Shanghai Covid outbreak reaches 87

Amid an ongoing outbreak, total of 87 Covid-19 deaths have been reported in Shanghai, of which the average age was around 81, the municipal health commission said on Sunday.

Among the deceased, the oldest was 101-years-old, Xinhua news agency quoted the commission as saying.

All of those who passed away had serious underlying health conditions such as malignant tumours, coronary heart disease and hypertension.

The direct causes of their deaths are basic diseases, the commission noted.

It also said that Shanghai will set up more medical teams especially for severe cases to reduce the death rate, aiming to help senior citizens who are vulnerable to Covid-19 due to their low immunity.

The city had 157 Covid patients in severe condition and 18 in critical condition receiving treatment in designated hospitals.

In the last 24 hours, Shanghai reported 1,401 confirmed locally transmitted Covid-19 cases and 19,657 local asymptomatic carriers.

3:25 PM

Sri Lanka to appoint advisors on debt restructuring in next 20 days

Sri Lanka will appoint advisors to help with its debt restructuring in the next 20 days, Finance Minister Ali Sabry has said.

The Minister told local media that restructuring the country's unsustainable external debt is a major condition to obtain financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), reports Xinhua news agency.

Sabry said that the discussions he started with IMF officials in Washington would end on Sunday, and that there are a lot more discussions to be held ahead.

Meanwhile, IMF's mission chief for Sri Lanka Masahiro Nozaki welcomed the planned negotiations with creditors.

"The IMF team welcomed the authorities' plan to engage in a collaborative dialogue with their creditors," he said.

3:21 PM

Russia's Putin, Pak PM Sharif exchange letters, seek to boost ties: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have quietly exchanged letters expressing desire to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, a media report said on Sunday.

The letters were exchanged after the election of Shehbaz as prime minister early this month but both the sides kept development away from the media glare in what seemed to be a move aimed at avoiding any public attention, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Citing a senior Foreign Office official, the paper said that Putin wrote to Sharif, congratulating him on his election.

He also expressed desire to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

In his reply, Shehbaz expressed similar sentiments on bilateral ties between the two countries as well as cooperation on Afghanistan, it stated.

The exchange of letters between the two leaders took place as former prime minister Imran Khan is adamant that he was ousted from power through an alleged US-backed vote of no-confidence since Americans did not like his Russian policy.

Washington has strongly refuted Khan's claims.

 

3:19 PM

Gujarat Biotech Varsity researchers developing technologies to make carbon-free fuel

Researchers at Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU) are developing technologies to produce carbon-free fuel which can eventually reduce carbon emissions and contribute towards a green environment, according to officials.

With the vision of making a "green process concept", the research group is working on "whole-cell bio-catalysis" (WCB) for the synthesis of green fuels and biopolymers. The team claimed that the process is not only low-cost but also easily scalable on industrial size.

The university has been established in partnership with University of Edinburgh (UoE), United Kingdom, by the Department of Science and Technology, Gujarat.

The progress of industrialisation and exponential growth in global usage of petroleum-based hydrocarbons has elevated the global carbon footprint. The researchers of the newly established institute are working towards reducing carbon emissions.

The research has been published in several reputed peer-reviewed journals including Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining (Biofpr) and Chemical Engineering Technology besides a book titled "Whole-Cell Biocatalysis: Next-generation Workhouse for Green Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, and Biofuels".

"Carbon burden (is) a major concern currently threatening future human sustenance and creating green technology with carbon-free alternative fuels is the only way out... and WCB is a promising platform to achieve this mission," Sudheer Pamidimarri, associate professor, GBU, told PTI.

 

2:11 PM

Palli becomes India's first 'carbon neutral panchayat'

The nondescript hamlet of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Samba on Sunday became the country's first 'carbon neutral panchayat' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500 KV solar plant, installed in a record time of nearly three weeks. The prime minister said that Palli has shown the way to the country by becoming carbon neutral. "People of Palli have helped in the project. They have also provided food to people engaged in the project," he said.

1:08 PM

It is a matter of great pride that when democracy has reached the grassroot level in J&K: PM Modi

12:16 PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Palli Panchayat in Samba district

12:03 PM

BJP leaders Swapan Dasgupta, Roopa Ganguly retire from Rajya Sabha

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Swapan Dasgupta and Roopa Ganguly on Sunday completed their terms as Rajya Sabha MPs. Both were nominated members of the Rajya Sabha. They took to Twitter to express their gratitude and shared their experiences as MPs of the Upper House.

 

Gupta tweeted: "Today I complete my term as an MP in Rajya Sabha. The past six years has been a voyage of discovery. I moved from a ringside view of public life to being in the ring itself. I rediscovered Bengal, made new friends and some enemies. I look forward to future challenges in a rising India."

11:32 AM

In Vedas & Indian mathematics counting goes beyond billion and trillion: PM Modi

Now scientists are discussing 'Theory of Everything' where everything in the universe can be assimilated. On one side we invented zero while we also explored the idea of infinity. In Vedas & Indian mathematics counting goes beyond billion and trillion: PM Modi during Mann Ki Baat

 

11:28 AM

India has been the biggest contributor in the field of mathematics: PM Modi

India has been the biggest contributor in the field of mathematics with discovery like 0 and its importance: PM Modi

11:24 AM

Let's pledge to conserve water: PM Modi

History students must be aware that even during the Indus, Harappa Civilisation, people were very conscious about water conservation. So, today, we have to again begin our efforts towards the same: PM

11:21 AM

75 Amrit Sarovar in most districts across nation: PM Modi

We will make 75 Amrit Sarovar in most districts across the nation: PM Modi

11:13 AM

PM urges the nation to experiment with cashless day-out

Sharing experiences of people who tried cashless day-out, PM Modi said that people can use UPI more and strengthen the digital economy of the country.