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<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Good morning! CEOs love talking about their wins, but what about their losses? The head of a failed supersonic plane startup detailed what went wrong, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/exosonic-ceo-explains-why-his-strategy-supersonic-airliner-failed-2024-11">and how other companies might find success</a>.In today's big story, President-elect Donald Trump is nominating the people <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-staff-cabinet-picks-list-2024-11">who will play a key role in his administration</a> and impact the business world.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Elon Musk wants to gamify "dumb" government spending, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-leaderboard-government-spending-marketing-genius-doge-donald-trump-2024-11">experts say it's a savvy marketing strategy</a>.</li><li>Tech: A healthcare startup raised $100 million on a bet it could build an AI doc-in-a-box. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-startup-forward-shutdown-carepod-adrian-aoun-2024-11">Now it's shutting down</a>.</li><li>Business: Internal documents viewed by BI show plans for Amazon's AI chatbot <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-chatbot-q-coming-to-microsoft-office-365-2024-11">launching in an unlikely spot</a>.</li></ul>But first, the nominations are rolling in.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">Trump's new team</h2><div type="image" title="Trump pointing" height="667" width="1000" msid="115302524" hostid="261" sizebytes="47760"></div>President-elect Donald Trump is quickly fleshing out his cabinet, giving a sense of what his second administration will look like.Trump's slew of picks announced in recent days share a common theme: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-cabinet-picks-so-far-loyalty-resumes-11">loyalty</a>. (You can find the running list of Trump administration staffers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-staff-cabinet-picks-list-2024-11">here</a>)With <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-house-representatives-election-win-majority-2024-11">Republicans maintaining control of the House</a> and winning the Senate, the president-elect will enter the White House this January with incredible power to shape the country to his vision.Let's break down some of Trump's recent appointments and the impact they could have on the business world:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nominates-matt-gaetz-attorney-general-2024-11">US Attorney General — Matt Gaetz</a>: A surprising pick, to say the least, the representative from Florida caused havoc within his own party when he led the push to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership last year.Gaetz was also the subject of sex-trafficking allegations that led to an investigation by the very agency he's being nominated to lead. (The Department of Justice declined to pursue charges, but he'd been facing a probe from the House Ethics Committee.) House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Wednesday that Gaetz had resigned from Congress.He's also <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-criticism-big-tech-trump-attorney-general-antitrust-2024-11">clashed with the tech industry</a>, suggesting Americans have an "obligation to use" their Second Amendment right when it comes to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/matt-gaetz-says-american-obligation-take-up-arms-big-tech-2021-5">Silicon Valley companies censoring conservatives</a>. Gaetz's appointment requires confirmation from the Senate, which is far from a shoo-in.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-trumps-secretary-state-pick-marco-rubio-means-for-china-2024-11">Secretary of State — Marco Rubio:</a> The Florida senator is an outspoken critic of China and a supporter of Taiwan. In fact, China sanctioned him twice, and his ability to travel to the country is somewhat in question.The appointment adds another wrinkle to the heightening tension between the US and China. Trump has said he wants aggressive tariffs against Chinese imports, and Rubio has raised the alarm on what he views as China's plan to harm the US economy.<div type="image" title="Fox News host Pete Hegseth at a network event in 2019" height="2555" width="3600" msid="115302517" hostid="261" sizebytes="483180"></div><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pentagon-chief-pete-hegseth-world-views-ukraine-china-2024-11">Secretary of Defense — Pete Hegseth:</a> The Army veteran and Fox News host has been outspoken about the US involvement in geopolitical conflicts. Hegseth is among the growing number of Republicans questioning the US support of Ukraine. He also said he <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-pentagon-pick-pete-hegseth-criticized-us-involvement-ukraine-aid-2024-11">doubted Russia would invade Poland</a> if it successfully took over Ukraine.When it comes to Israel, Hegseth has been a staunch supporter. He's also pushed back against calls for a cease-fire and criticized pro-Palestinian protesters.Hegseth's takes aren't limited to international affairs. He's been critical of women serving in combat roles and diversity and equity policies in the US military.Treasury secretary — TBD: Trump's pick for his top economic advisor is being closely watched considering the key role the economy played in the election. The two front runners appear to be Scott Bessent, a hedge fund executive, and Howard Lutnick, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-advisor-trump-lutnick-schwarzman-warsh-federal-reserve-2024-11">the co-chair of Trump's transition</a> team and the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald.Bessent was initially viewed as the favorite, but Lutnick is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-transition-co-chair-makes-late-play-for-treasury-secretary-f1b50c60">reportedly making a last-ditch effort</a> to be considered for the job.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>Silicon Valley investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marc-andreessen-ben-horowitz-react-trump-win-crypto-founders-2024-11">celebrate Trump's win as 'a boot off the throat</a>.'</li><li>Why SoftBank bet $500 million on OpenAI. SoftBank's Vision Funds CFO <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-openai-investment-explained-vision-fund-cfo-2024-11">told BI why it went all-in on the startup</a>.</li><li>Amazon is shuttering Freevee and some insiders fear <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-shuttering-freevee-some-insiders-speculate-potential-entertainment-layoffs-2024-11">layoffs could be coming in the tech giant's entertainment arm</a>.</li><li>Mark Zuckerberg just released his own NSFW version of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-t-pain-get-low-rap-song-2024-11">'Get Low' in a tribute to his wife</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="A photo illustration comprising a black-and-white photo of Elon Musk's profile over a leaderboard with dollar signs that decrease down the board." height="1500" width="2000" msid="115302527" hostid="261" sizebytes="121084"></div><ol><li>Loving the leaderboard: Elon Musk wants to gamify "dumb" government spending. Donald Trump tapped Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a commission aimed at slimming government waste. Musk has <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-leaderboard-government-spending-marketing-genius-doge-donald-trump-2024-11">teased a public leaderboard to track government spending</a>, which, if implemented, could keep the public engaged. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-doge-government-efficiency-what-us-spends-2024-11">BI took a look at what the US actually spends money on</a>.</li><li>Inflation stays in line with expectations. October's consumer price index <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-october-cpi-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-interest-rates-2024-11">rose 2.6% compared to the same time last year</a>, representing a slight uptick from September's 2.4% report. Despite inflation heating up, the probability of the Fed making a 25-basis-point cut next month increased to about 80% after the report's release.</li><li>Polymarket's CEO was the subject of an FBI raid. Shayne Coplan, the 26-year-old boss of the betting market platform that successfully predicted Trump's win, reportedly had his phone and electronic devices <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-raid-polymarket-ceo-shayne-coplan-nyc-2024-election-2024-11">confiscated by federal agents Wednesday morning</a>. Bloomberg reported the raid was tied to an investigation into the company accepting trades from users in the US, which is not permitted. A Polymarket spokesperson said it was an act of "political retribution" by the Biden administration.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Forwards CEO Adrian Aoun with the Carepod" height="1500" width="2000" msid="115302521" hostid="261" sizebytes="394842"></div><ol><li>Inside Forward's failed attempt to revolutionize the doctor's office. The healthcare startup Forward went all-in on its AI doc-in-a-box: "If Elon has the self-driving car, well, this is the autonomous doctor's office," its CEO said in 2023. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-startup-forward-shutdown-carepod-adrian-aoun-2024-11">But after raising $650 million in funding, it's going dark</a>.</li><li>What some Tesla employees think about Musk's new government job. Some are celebrating stock gains, with the company's share price soaring nearly 33% year to date, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-trump-stock-gains-internal-reaction-2024-11">while others worry Musk will lose focus</a>. "There's this feeling that no one fully knows where anyone else stands," one manager told BI.</li><li>A new stage in the US-China tech cold war. The focus of the AI race is moving from chip dominance to rare earths, the raw materials they're made of. Right now, China has the upper hand; <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rare-earths-tech-war-explainer-chips-ai-china-us-2024-11">here's how it's tried to outmaneuver the US</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="The O's of the Hollywood sign walking away with film equipment" height="1457" width="1943" msid="115302520" hostid="261" sizebytes="350770"></div><ol><li>Hollywood's leaving. The film industry is ditching Los Angeles for up-and-coming entertainment hubs like Atlanta and smaller cities alike. Some have been preparing for an LA exodus for years, but the pandemic ushering in remote work <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hollywood-leaving-los-angeles-remote-work-tv-movies-money-streaming-2024-11">helped provide the final push</a>.</li><li>Too many videos, not enough mentors. Nobody knows how to do their jobs anymore because their companies aren't teaching them. Training is an easy place for companies to cut costs, but it comes back to hurt them in the long run. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-training-broken-gen-z-mentorship-companies-employees-managers-2024-11">Those who do invest often put their money toward the wrong fixes</a>.</li><li>Exclusive: Amazon's chatbot Q enters enemy territory. Internal documents obtained by BI show the cloud giant is looking to launch a Q add-in for a rival suite: Microsoft Office 365. Amazon hopes the integration could expand Q's user base by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-ai-chatbot-q-coming-to-microsoft-office-365-2024-11">piggybacking on Office's popularity</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Disney, Brookfield and other companies report earnings.</li><li>EU reveals Q3 GDP growth figures.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London.

Some of Trump's key cabinet picks provide clues to how his administration will approach the business world

New Delhi: The <keyword id="19938513" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Department-of-Consumer-Affairs" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Department of Consumer Affairs" meta.hostid="268" meta.entityid="Department of Consumer Affairs">Department of Consumer Affairs</keyword> has constituted a committee of experts to recommend a robust framework for a <keyword id="22964001" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Repairability-Index" source="keywords">Repairability Index</keyword> aimed at empowering consumers and promoting <keyword id="20128078" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-practices" source="keywords">sustainable practices</keyword> within the tech industry. The committee, chaired by Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) Additional Secretary Bharat Khera, will develop the Repairability Index to provide consumers with greater transparency on repair information for their products and foster a more sustainable technology industry. The National Workshop on the Right to Repair in the <keyword id="20881182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mobile-and-electronics" source="keywords">Mobile and Electronics</keyword> Sector, convened on August 29, brought together industry stakeholders to establish a consensus on the framework for evaluating components for the Repairability Index, fostering longevity in product design and democratising access to repair information and spare parts. "The framework on Repairability Index aimed to provide consumers with essential information about product repairability besides seamless access to spare parts will enable informed purchasing decisions," the DoCA said in a statement. The committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and industry stakeholders, is expected to submit a comprehensive report on the Repairability Index framework by November 15. The key components of the proposed Repair Ecosystem include comprehensive repair information, accessible spare parts, affordable tools, modular product design and ensuring the economic feasibility of repairs for consumers. "By standardising the assessment of repairability, the index will create an ecosystem where consumers can easily compare products and choose options that align with the ethos of mindful consumption and sustainability," the DoCA statement said.

Government set to introduce Repairability Index for mobile, electronics products

The just-announced <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword> will be available only for those who are currently subscribers of the New Pension Scheme (NPS), including retirees. The new scheme guarantees employees 50% of their average basic pay over the last 12 months before retirement, as a pension for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years against a market returns linked payout under the NPS. According to the scheme approved by the Union Cabinet, the pension will be proportionate for a lesser service period of up to a minimum of 10 years. Also, assured pension of Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after a minimum of 10 years of service will be provided. The scheme has been brought out to address the concerns of government employees over NPS, which came into effect from January 1, 2004. Under the <keyword id="3246232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Old-Pension-Scheme" source="Orion">old pension scheme</keyword> (OPS), effective before January 2004, employees got 50 % of their last drawn basic pay as pension. Unlike the old pension scheme, UPS is contributory in nature, wherein employees will be required to contribute 10% of their basic salary and dearness allowance while the employer's contribution (the central government) will be 18.5%. Under the NPS, the employer contribution is 14%, and the employee contribution is 10%. However, the eventual payout depends on the market returns on that corpus, mostly invested in government debt. Employees, under the OPS, were not required to make any contribution. They, however, contributed to the General Provident Fund (GPF). The accumulated amount, along with interest, was paid to the employee at the time of retirement. As the NPS was less attractive than the OPS, several non-BJP-ruled states decided to go back to the old pension scheme, which offered a DA-linked benefit. This prompted the Centre to constitute a committee in April 2023, under former Finance Secretary and now Cabinet Secretary-designate TV Somanathan to suggest improvement in the NPS architecture. Fulfilling the long pending demands of government employees ahead of assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Cabinet on August 24 approved the UPS, which will provide assured pension to 23 lakh eligible central government employees. Those opting for the UPS will not be able to switch back. The UPS will put an additional burden of Rs 6,250 crore on the exchequer per year. The expenditure will vary every year according to variations in the number of employees. In addition, there will be an arrear of Rs 800 crore that has to be paid under the National Pension System (NPS) to employees retiring before March 31, 2025. If these retirees opt for UPS, they will receive arrears. "UPS is being implemented by the Central Government, benefitting 23 lakh central government employees," Information &amp; Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on X on Sunday. If states also adopt the UPS architecture, a total of over 90 lakh government employees, who are presently on NPS, would be benefitted, he added. On Sunday, Maharashtra, where assembly elections are due later in the year, became the first state to announce the adoption of the UPS for its employees. RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) said though the government has attempted to overcome the shortcomings of the NPS, there are still some issues compared to OPS. BMS will decide its future course of action only after a detailed study of the UPS after it is notified. All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) said it is nothing but an extension of the existing NPS. The trade union expressed apprehensions that UPS will have a lot of aberrations once implemented. AITUC reiterated that it will continue to fight for the restoration of the non-contributory OPS. ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said assured pensions will add to the government's committed expenditure in the future while reducing the uncertainty for employees. "This will have to be built into the fiscal consolidation roadmap going ahead," Nayar added. The UPS reflects a thoughtful approach to long-term social security, addressing concerns about the adequacy and sustainability of pension benefits in a rapidly changing economic landscape, said Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas &amp; Co Partner Dorothy Thomas. "This move signals the government's commitment to providing robust support for its workforce, enhancing financial stability for millions of government employees across the country," Thomas said.

Over 23 lakh govt employees under NPS get option to choose unified pension scheme

London: Universities and student groups on Tuesday urgently lobbied British Prime Minister <keyword id="19906889" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rishi-Sunak" source="keywords">Rishi Sunak</keyword> to safeguard the country's <keyword id="21659184" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="post-study-visa" source="keywords">post-study visa</keyword> offer, which has been dominated by Indians to gain work experience for around two years at the end of their university degree. Amid reports that Sunak is considering either restricting or ending the <keyword id="20616105" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Graduate-Route" source="keywords">Graduate Route</keyword> to curtail soaring migration statistics ahead of a general election, a group of nearly 30 university vice-chancellors and the <keyword id="21760521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-indian-students-and-alumni-association" source="keywords">National Indian Students and Alumni Association</keyword> (NISAU) UK have issued detailed letters of appeal to 10 Downing Street. They list a series of factors in favour of keeping the Graduate visa scheme unchanged, including the benefits that international students bring to the UK economy in a competitive global higher education marketplace. "Modelling by consultancy London Economics shows that a single cohort has a net economic benefit of GBP 37 billion to the UK economy; as well as through the soft power that Britain's international graduates generate for the country over time, including through furthering ties of trade and diplomacy," reads the NISAU UK letter addressed to Sunak. "Indeed, 70 per cent of <keyword id="19971660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-students" source="keywords">Indian students</keyword> have told us that the ability to gain meaningful work experience is a critical element in their decision to choose between competing international destinations, of which the UK is one... the Graduate Route allows the opportunity to gain this work experience for a temporary period. It is non-extendable and does not count towards permanent settlement. This means that neither students nor Graduate visa holders should be considered 'immigrants' in the context of the long-term picture of migration," it notes. Their appeal comes a week after the influential <keyword id="20609895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Migration-Advisory-Committee" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Migration Advisory Committee" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Migration Advisory Committee">Migration Advisory Committee</keyword> (MAC) advised the government to let the scheme continue as it found no abuse of this post-study work offer. It also confirmed that Indians topped its tally, accounting for 89,200 visas between 2021 and 2023, or 42 per cent of the overall grants, and were likely to be "most affected by any restriction on the Graduate Route". In their letter to Sunak, universities in the north of England — from Sunderland to Sheffield, Leeds to Lancaster, Liverpool to Teesside, Bradford to Huddersfield, and York to Newcastle — said they will all be harmed by the removal or reduction of this visa as it is an "intrinsic part of the educational offer that has made the UK so attractive to brilliant students from all around the world". "The Graduate Visa Route is regarded by students in key markets like India as an integral part of their educational experience. The MAC review made clear that the removal of this route would make the UK less attractive and thus would cause considerable financial detriment to universities around the country," reads their joint letter. "International student tuition fee income has long cross-subsidised underfunded research and has increasingly become critical to cross-subsidise the teaching of UK undergraduate students because of the frozen tuition fee. Universities cannot continue to absorb the costs of teaching UK undergraduates without some form of alternative funding source," they caution. On top of their visa fees, international students who find work and start businesses contribute billions of pounds in income tax, national insurance and VAT annually. The university chiefs point out that they are also usually net contributors to the National Health Service (NHS) through the NHS surcharge. The Russell Group of the UK's leading universities issued its appeal over the weekend, with CEO Tim Bradshaw warning that there has already been a 10 per cent decline in international applications for post-graduate courses starting this September in the wake of the clampdown on students being able to bring dependant family members. "A further restriction on international students would not only be unnecessary — as numbers are already falling — but also damaging, resulting in less spending in local communities, fewer opportunities for domestic students and less UK research," he noted in a letter to Sunak. Members of his own Cabinet are believed to be opposed to any changes to the Graduate scheme, but the British Prime Minister is having to balance pressures from the right of the governing Conservatives who are single-minded in their demands to curb all forms of legal as well as illegal migration levels ahead of an election later this year.

Universities, student groups lobby PM Sunak to keep UK's post-study visa scheme unchanged

New Delhi, The government on Wednesday announced hiking the <keyword id="20069652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sugarcane" source="keywords">sugarcane</keyword> <keyword id="20544473" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="frp" source="keywords">FRP</keyword> by Rs 25 to Rs 340 per quintal for the 2024-25 season starting October. Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) is the minimum price that mills have to pay to sugarcane growers. The decision to increase the FRP of sugarcane was taken at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword>. The Rs 25 per quintal hike is the highest by the Modi government and the move comes ahead of the general elections. Sugarcane is grown mainly in Maharashtra, <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, and Karnataka. "Keeping in view interest of sugarcane farmers (GannaKisan), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2024-25 (October - September) at Rs 340 per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10.25 per cent," I&amp;B Minister <keyword id="19895497" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="anurag-thakur" source="keywords">Anurag Thakur</keyword> said at a media briefing. The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with state governments and other stakeholders.

Cabinet approves hike in sugarcane FRP by ₹25 to ₹340 per quintal for 2024-25 season

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Foreign Office chiefs were grilled in parliament about the evacuation of animals from Afghanistan, which whistleblowers said the PM intervened in.</li><li>Senior officials struggled under questioning to explain the chain of command for the evacuation.</li></ul>Senior officials in the UK's foreign office are dodging questions to avoid calling Prime Minister <keyword id="11911533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson" source="Orion">Boris Johnson</keyword> a liar, a senior MP has said. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-officials-may-have-lied-over-afghan-pet-evacuation-whistleblower-2022-3">In a Monday hearing by the Foreign Affairs Committee</a>, MPs quizzed Sir Philip Barton, the top civil servant in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Nigel Casey, the prime minister's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, on who had ultimately authorised the evacuation from Afghanistan of staff with the animal-rescue charity <keyword id="13432025" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nowzad" source="Orion">Nowzad</keyword>.Several whistleblower testimonies have suggested that the prime minister personally intervened in the evacuation.<keyword id="13293121" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chris-bryant" source="Orion">Chris Bryant</keyword>, a Labour MP and member of the committee, told Insider the hearing had been "a disaster.""It seems it was a lottery as to whether government decisions were actually decisions or not. And I'm left with the feeling that they think and maybe even know that the decision was taken by Johnson but they daren't call their boss a liar," he said.During the session, Conservative committee chair <keyword id="13043537" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-tugendhat" source="Orion">Tom Tugendhat</keyword> said the attitude of the senior officials "makes it very hard for this committee to hold the Government to account."Speaking to Insider after the session, a member of the committee expressed their frustration at the lack of clarity as to who had actually authorised the evacuation of Nowzad staff. They characterised the response of the officials as "bizarre."<div type="image" title="Pen Farthing, founder of British charity Nowzad, an animal shelter, stands in front of a cage on the outskirts of Kabul." height="1342" width="1790" msid="90362585" hostid="261"></div>During the Monday hearing, Barton and Casey repeatedly pointed to an <a href="https://twitter.com/bwallacemp/status/1430327318434754568">August 24 tweet</a> by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as evidence that a decision had been made to evacuate Nowzad animals and staff.Casey said the decision was referred to the national security advisor, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, who works in the Cabinet Office as an advisor to the Prime Minister. But it was unclear on what authority Lovegrove may have responded to the referral.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uk-officials-may-have-lied-over-afghan-pet-evacuation-whistleblower-2022-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">New whistleblower testimony published Monday</a> said Barton and Casey may have "intentionally lied" to Parliament about Johnson's involvement in the decision. Josie Stewart, the whistleblower, said it was "widespread knowledge" that the decision to help Nowzad staff had come from Johnson. Downing Street denies Johnson's involvement, and the officials said they did not know who had ultimately made the decision. Barton told MPs on Monday that Lovegrove's role had led to a mistaken assumption by FCDO officials that the decision had been made by Johnson."This was an assumption he made based on the fact that it had come from the national security advisor, which was understandable given the many voices in the media at the time, claiming that the prime minister had made the decision," Barton said."It is sometimes the case that where things are communicated by the centre of government they are ascribed to the Prime Minister," he added. He was unable to provide another example where this had happened.Casey suggested he may have deleted the emails that were interpreted by others as demonstrating Johnson's involvement, saying that "your inbox gums up" otherwise.Casey also argued that he had been CC'd into emails, suggesting this was distinct from them having been sent directly to him.

Boris Johnson's officials are dodging questions because 'they daren't call their boss a liar,' senior MP says

In a bid to contain <keyword id="2928960" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="price-rise-of-onions">price rise of onions</keyword>, the Indian Government extended the ban on holding its stock beyond permissible limit by one year. 
 The <keyword id="120170" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cabinet-Committee-on-Economic-Affairs">Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</keyword> (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the decision, which empowers states to impose stock limits on traders for holding onion and ban hoarding beyond the set limit. 
 
"The CCEA today approved the stock holding limit order on onion by another year. This will enable state governments take effective de-hoarding measures under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955," sources told news agency PTI. 
 
The direction comes in wake of rising prices of onions in wholesale and retail markets. The prices are increasing due to sluggish supply of good quality onions. 
 
Also, to curb spike in onion prices in upcoming days due to supply shortage, the government has already increased the minimum export price of the commodity to $425 per tonne and is also planning to import some quantities of onions to boost domestic availability, reported PTI. 
 
Apart from onions, pulses, edible oils, oilseeds, rice and paddy also come under the ambit of stock holding limits order. 
 
As per the data provided by the Government, India's onion production is estimated to have declined to 189.23 lakh tonnes in the 2014-15 crop year, as against 194 lakh tonnes in the previous year. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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