Thursday, 31 August 2023

Two ex-Proud Boys leaders get some of longest sentences in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

Two former leaders of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group have been sentenced to more than a decade each in prison for spearheading an attack on the U.S. Capitol to try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after...

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West Virginia college files for bankruptcy a month after announcing intentions to close

A small, private university in West Virginia has declared bankruptcy

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Kansas officials are no longer required to change trans people’s birth certificates, judge says

A federal judge says Kansas officials are no longer required to change transgender people’s birth certificates so the documents reflect their gender identities

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Mississippi candidate for attorney general says the state isn't doing enough to protect workers

A candidate for Mississippi attorney general says that elected officials must play a more aggressive role in protecting labor rights

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US regulators might change how they classify marijuana. Here's what that would mean

When it emerged this week that U.S. health regulators are suggesting that the federal government loosen restrictions on marijuana, the news lit up the world of weed

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Owners of Scranton Times-Tribune, 3 other Pennsylvania dailies sell to publishing giant

A Pennsylvania media conglomerate has sold its four daily newspapers, including The Times-Tribune of Scranton, to publishing powerhouse MediaNews Group, ending nearly 130 years of local ownership

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A judge has blocked, for now, a Texas law drag show performers fear will shut them down

A federal judge has blocked a new Texas law that drag artists fear will be used to shut them down or put them in jail

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Chief Economic Adviser's Prediction On India's GDP Growth, Fiscal Deficit

Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday said the economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal notwithstanding deficient rains in August.

India recorded economic growth of 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2023-24 against 13.1 per cent in the year-ago period.

India's economy in Q1 grew at the fastest pace in a year, on the shoulders of a boost in capital expenditure both at central and state levels, along with stronger consumption demand, especially in rural areas, and improved performance in the services sector, he said.

"There is momentum in economic activity in general and it is not driven by price-related distortions. Therefore our projections still are very comfortably placed at 6.5 per cent for the current financial year," he said.

Risk is evenly distributed to around 6.5 per cent growth projection for FY2023-24, he said while briefing media following the release of first quarter GDP numbers.

Rising crude prices may warrant attention and prolonged geopolitical uncertainty and likely tighter financial conditions with continued monetary tightening can pose challenges to growth, he added.

With regard to price situation, Mr Nageswaran said food inflation is likely to subside with the arrival of fresh stock in the market and government pre-emptive measures.

Tomato prices are likely to decline with the arrival of fresh stocks by early September while enhanced imports of tur dal are expected to moderate pulse inflation, he said.

However, he said, August rain has been deficient and both the government and the Reserve Bank will be watching the food price developments.

During the first quarter, inflation stood at 4.6 per cent, lower than many developed and emerging economies.

"Food inflation was dominated by specific commodities. So, I think there is no real cause for concern that inflation would spike out of control and both the government and the Reserve Bank are taking measures in their respective domain to ensure that there is adequate supply and availability and that any price increase is moderated," he said.

With regard to fiscal deficit, Mr Nageswaran said there is no threat to the 5.9 per cent fiscal deficit announced in the Budget despite the expected shortfall with respect to disinvestment.

To finance the fiscal deficit in 2023-24, the net market borrowings from dated securities are estimated at Rs 11.8 lakh crore. The balance financing is expected to come from small savings and other sources. The gross market borrowings are estimated at Rs 15.4 lakh crore.

In Budget Estimates 2023-24, the Finance Minister had that the total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at Rs 27.2 lakh crore and Rs 45 lakh crore respectively. Moreover, the net tax receipts are estimated at Rs 23.3 lakh crore.

Continuing the path of fiscal consolidation, the government intends to bring the fiscal deficit below 4.5 per cent of GDP by 2025-26.

Talking about drivers of growth, Mr Nageswaran said investment and consumer momentum will underpin solid growth prospects over the upcoming year.

The private sector capital formation, supported by the government's capex push, is underway, and that is a big plus for economic growth, employment and income gains for households, he said.

He further said that the new investment projects announced by the private sector have been highest in Q1 of FY2023-24 in 14 years.

The Union government's single-minded focus on capital expenditure over the years has crowded in the private sector and it has rubbed off on state governments too..

Expansion of public digital platforms and path-breaking measures such as PM Gati Shakti, the National Logistics Policy, and the Production-Linked Incentive schemes would boost manufacturing output, he said.

A slowdown in the global economy and trade may moderate export growth, but it may be overall better for India, he added..

With regard to consumption, he said, the rural demand for FMCGs has increased especially for high-value goods. The same trend is evident for small towns, contributing to growth, he added.

The CEA said that in spite of the global slowdown, the services sector exports have shown a remarkable performance and both manufacturing and services sectors are expanding and income growth is evident in the recovery in rural demand.

The residential real estate sector will underpin growth in the construction material sector, he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Wednesday, 30 August 2023

USA rolls past Jordan 110-62. Now Round 2 of Basketball World Cup awaits

Another game, another blowout for the U.S. at the Basketball World Cup

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Man who fatally shot South Carolina college student entering wrong home was justified, police say

Police say a resident who fatally shot a University of South Carolina student who tried to enter the wrong home on his off-campus street last weekend was justified in his actions

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California prison on generator power after wildfires knock out electricity and fill cells with smoke

A Northern California prison was on generator power for a second week and inmates were issued masks to cope with unhealthy air after wildfires knocked out electricity and choked the remote region with smoke

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Sex abuse charges dismissed for ex-Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, as judge rules 93-year-old is not fit for trial

Sex abuse charges dismissed for ex-Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, as judge rules 93-year-old is not fit for trial

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Abortion anecdote from DeSantis at GOP debate is more complex than he made it sound

During last week's Republican presidential debate, Florida Gov_ Ron DeSantis dodged a question about a federal abortion ban by telling a story about a woman he knew who he claimed survived despite “multiple abortion attempts.”

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