Between 2021 and July 2025, at least one person has died daily in India from Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) during clinical trials. A total of 1,705 deaths and 7,189 SAE cases were reported, but very few victims receive compensation as it must be directly linked to their participation in the trial.
***
Telangana's financial performance in the first four months of the current fiscal year (April to July 2025) shows widening deficits despite a marginal increase in revenues. The state recorded total receipts of ₹74,955 crore and expenditure of ₹68,823 crore. The revenue deficit ballooned to ₹12,564 crore by July, sharply deviating from the projected revenue surplus of ₹2,738 crore. Additionally, the fiscal deficit reached ₹24,669 crore against the annual projection of ₹54,009 crore, driven by higher spending on loan repayments, welfare programs, salaries, and pensions.
***
A unique “Martian clock” fact: During the Noachian epoch about 4.1–3.7 billion years ago, Mars had rivers, lakes, and possibly shallow seas, making it once habitable for microbial life—but this window of habitability closed much earlier than on Earth, likely preventing complex life from ever evolving there.
***
The IT industry in India is indeed massive—employing nearly 5.5 to 5.8 million people and contributing more than $250 billion to the country's GDP. This sector is a critical pillar of both economic growth and urban consumer spending, with employees known for high expenditure levels, often stretching their finances with a “good times will last forever” mindset.
***
The Bangladesh-based Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) is the world's largest NGO by size and reach, with millions of beneficiaries globally.
***
Geoffrey Hinton, known as the "Godfather of AI," has warned that advanced artificial intelligence could lead to a catastrophic job crisis, rendering billions unemployed by taking over routine intellectual work, with superintelligent AI (AGI) possibly arriving within 5 to 20 years, fundamentally disrupting human society and economies.
***
Despite growing tensions and a 50% US tariff on Indian goods from August 27, 2025, India remains a key technology partner for the US through its dominant IT services industry and rapidly expanding Global Capability Centres (GCCs). With around 1,700 GCCs in India in FY24 employing 1.9 million people and generating $64.6 billion in exports, India's vast pool of tech talent is considered its "rare earth" in global geopolitics, making it indispensable to global enterprises, especially US tech giants.
***
Tamil Nadu exports about 31% of its goods to the United States, making it more vulnerable to changes in US trade policies compared to the national average. While the Tamil Nadu government has introduced subsidies and support schemes, its limited capacity means that relief measures such as GST corrections, enhanced credit support, and new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) from the Union Government are crucial to protect and boost the state's export sector.
***
The U.S. government has agreed to a passive, $8.9 billion investment in Intel common stock, which adds to an existing $2.2 billion, for a total of $11.1 billion. This investment, funded by the CHIPS and Science Act, gives the government a 9.9% equity stake in the company without any board seats or governance rights. The move is intended to bolster U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.
***
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a newspaper with a print history dating back to 1868, will publish its final print edition on December 31, 2025. This move, which makes Atlanta the largest U.S. metropolitan area without a major daily printed newspaper, is driven by the growing trend of digital readership. The company will now focus its resources on its online, audio, and video content, including a new mobile app and an electronic replica edition.
***
India imports over 85% of its crude oil and more than 50% of its natural gas, making it highly dependent on external sources for its energy needs. Russia has become India’s largest supplier of crude oil since 2022, accounting for roughly 35%-40% of total crude imports in 2024-25, up from just about 2% before the Ukraine war. This heavy reliance on one geopolitical partner underscores India's energy vulnerability and the critical need for diversification of energy sources to ensure sovereignty and economic stability.
***
In the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024 for FY 2023-24, Maharashtra topped Group 1, Andhra Pradesh led Group 2, Assam ranked highest in Group 3, and Tripura took the lead in Group 4, reflecting their leadership in energy efficiency among Indian states and union territories. Five states, including Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan, demonstrated remarkable progress by improving their scores by more than 10 points. The 'front runner' category, with an index score above 60%, included Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana this year.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment