Month: July 2023

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith extend Australia’s lead to 221 runs in second Ashes Test before rain ends Day 3 early at Lord’s

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Australia dug out a hefty lead of 221 runs against England before drizzle prematurely ended day three of the second Ashes test at Lord’s on Friday.

Usman Khawaja fronted Australia’s dogged fight in bowler-friendly conditions with an unbeaten 58 from 123 balls.

Also Read: Australia World Cup winning captain Allan Border diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

His 60-odd partnerships with fellow opener David Warner then Marnus Labuschagne kept Australia on top. Khawaja had Steve Smith beside him on 6 when stumps was called at 130-2 in their second innings, and 25 overs left unused in the day. Time will be made up on Saturday.

The Australians, 1-0 up in the series, would be aiming for a lead of around 450 and a chance to bowl at England before tea on Saturday.

They will want to set a big target. Last summer, England chased down 378 against India at Edgbaston and 299 against New Zealand at Nottingham.

“If we bowl them out, over two days, we think we can chase them,” England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel said. “We have the courage to see how far we can take it.”

Australia will also have to bowl without Nathan Lyon, its frontline spinner who was out injured after hurting his right calf running to the ball after tea on Thursday. He came to Lord’s on crutches and had a “significant” strain, Cricket Australia said.

England squandered the gains it made on Thursday. The tone was set on the second ball of the day when captain Ben Stokes was dismissed by Mitchell Starc.

The batters slumped to 325 all out, conceding a first-innings lead to Australia of 91 runs, then the bowlers couldn’t make the inroads that the Australians could earlier in the same conditions.

Cool overcast conditions that turned gloomier after midday supplied swing and bounce to any bowlers who could find the right lengths. The Australians did so consistently and the English didn’t.

The Australians picked up where they left off on Thursday, bowling short and hostile to defensive fields. They dismissed England before the new ball became available.

England resumed on 278-4 in reply to Australia’s 416, and Stokes’ dismissal started a rout of six wickets for 47 runs in less than 90 minutes.

Running up the slope, Starc got a leading edge off Stokes that was caught well by Cameron Green at third slip. Stokes didn’t add to his 17 overnight.

Harry Brook resumed on 45. He took a hit on the helmet from Pat Cummins and proved he wasn’t concussed on the next ball when a single raised his eighth fifty in his ninth test.

But 50 from 68 balls was all Brook managed. He baseball-batted a short ball straight to Cummins at cover and gave Starc his 313th wicket, tied with Mitchell Johnson for fifth on Australia’s all-time list. After a bad start by Starc, his three wickets led Australia.

The last wickets fell in a heap after drinks. Jonny Bairstow chipped Josh Hazlewood to Cummins at mid on for 16, and Travis Head, the spin alternative to Lyon, got his eighth and ninth career test wickets.

Khawaja and Warner showed how badly England batted in the morning by enduring 24 overs while crawling to 63 runs together.

Lord’s grew quiet as the pair adapted superbly.

“There was some good bowling, pressure built, but our guys got through that,” Starc said. “They put that pressure on us but our top order have been fantastic.”

England thought it had Warner leg before for 5 by James Anderson but didn’t and burned a review.

England bowled well without enticing many edges. The only nick Khawaja conceded flew through a gap between second and fourth slip to the boundary.

Flicking and dabbing his way to become the leading run-scorer in the series, Khawaja’s 10th boundary off a Stuart Broad full toss raised his fifty, his third in four innings.

Newcomer Josh Tongue took out both openers among his first three Ashes wickets in the first innings, and he could have had them both again.

Khawaja was on 19 when he lashed Tongue through midwicket and the ball passed between Anderson’s fingers.

But Tongue got Warner when he made one nip back into his front pad. Warner got 25 from 76 balls.

Labuschagne was given out on 3, lbw to Tongue, but reviewed and overturned the ruling. On 16, he shrugged off an lbw appeal by Broad. Broad suffered for appealing too often. The review was declined but video showed the ball was hitting leg stump.

When Labuschagne finally fell, on 30 to Anderson, it was soft. He slapped the widest ball he faced straight to Brook at backward point.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Australia World Cup winning captain Allan Border diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Former Australia captain Allan Border has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and has said it will be a ‘miracle’ if he lives to 80.

Border, the first player to score 11,000 runs in tests and captained Australia to an improbable one-day international World Cup victory in 1987, said Friday he received the diagnosis in 2016 but chose to hide it from the public.

“I’m a pretty private person and I didn’t want people to feel sorry for me sort of thing,” the 68-year-old told News Corp. “Whether people care you don’t know. But I know there’ll come a day when people will notice.”

Also Read: This is what Australian vice-captain Steve Smith thinks about his bowling

Parkinson’s is an incurable disease that causes progressive brain damage, with common symptoms of loss of muscle control, tremors, muscle rigidity and slowness of movement.

“I get the feeling I’m a hell of a lot better off than most,” Border said. “At the moment I’m not scared, not about the immediate future anyway.

“I’m 68. If I make 80, that’ll be a miracle. I’ve got a doctor friend and I said if I make 80, that’ll be a miracle, and he said, ‘That will be a miracle.’

“No way am I going to get another 100, that’s for sure. I’ll just slip slowly into the west.”

After his debut in 1978, the left-hander batter scored 27 centuries in 156 tests. He took over the captaincy from Kim Hughes in the summer of 1984-85 and is regarded as reviving Australia’s on-field fortunes with a World Cup victory in India in 1987 and leading an unfancied Australian team to an Ashes series victory in England two years later.

Border retired in 1994 with a 50.56 batting average placing him among the enduring greats of the sport.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

US Supreme Court ruling kills President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan on federal student loan debts

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

The Supreme Court just finished issuing its biggest decisions of the term, killing President Joe Biden’s $400 billion plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts, ending affirmative action in higher education and issuing a major decision that impacts gay rights. The decisions over the past week cap off a term that began in October in which the justices also considered big issues involving voting rights and religion.

The court will next meet in the fall to resume hearing cases. Here are a number of things to know about the Supreme Court’s most recent term:

The court has a solid six-justice conservative majority but ultimately issued some decisions in which the most conservative position did not win. That surprised some court watchers.

Also Read: ‘War in Iraq’: President Joe Biden is back with another gaffe

In four major cases, conservative and liberal justices joined to reject the most aggressive legal arguments advanced by conservative state elected officials and advocacy groups. Those included decisions on voting, a Native American child welfare law and a Biden administration immigration policy.

On voting rights, for example, the justices rejected a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. Instead, they ruled in favor of Black voters in Alabama in a congressional redistricting case. The state, where more than one in four voters is Black, will now have to redraw its congressional districts in a way that gives Black voters more power. The decision was 5-4 with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the court’s three liberals.

Separately, while the justices just last year overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to ban abortion, the court in April rejected a conservative-led effort to get a drug used in the most common method of abortion pulled from the market. The justices allowed the drug, mifepristone, to stay on the market for now while a lawsuit proceeds.

While there were surprises among the justices’ rulings, conservatives still won big. On affirmative action, they achieved a long-desired victory. While the court had narrowly upheld race-conscious college admissions programs in the past 20 years, including as recently as 2016, a conservative wing of the court strengthened by three appointees of former President Donald Trump struck down the practice 6-3.

Similarly, on student loans, the court split 6-3 along ideological lines to kill a signature Biden administration program. Other major rulings where the conservatives won included a 5-4 ruling that sharply limited the federal government’s authority to police water pollution.

Chief Justice John Roberts led the court’s biggest rulings, writing the majority opinions on student loans, affirmative action and voting cases from North Carolina and Alabama. Last year, the five conservatives to Roberts’ right formed majorities to sometimes act more aggressively than the chief justice wanted, including overturning Roe v. Wade without his vote. Roberts’ more narrow position in the case would have instead cut back on abortion rights.

As chief, Roberts gets to decide who writes the majority opinion in cases where he’s in agreement. This time, he assigned those major opinions to himself, ensuring that his hand was steering the court.

The court’s newest justice also wound up being its most vocal. Jackson began her first term on the court in October, and it was clear early on that she would be an active participant in arguments. Over the course of the term’s 59 arguments, she spoke some 78,800 words, far more than the next most voluble justice, according to research by Adam Feldman and Jake Truscott.

Like her colleagues, Jackson wrote about a half a dozen majority opinions this term. Her first came in a dispute between states over unclaimed money while her most significant may have been a 7-2 ruling in which the court declined to broadly limit the right to sue government workers. She also authored a number of dissents, including one in the affirmative action in which Jackson, the court’s first Black woman, accused her colleagues in the majority of “let-them-eat-cake obliviousness.”

Since joining the court in 2017 Justice Neil Gorsuch has emerged as a champion of Native rights, sometimes breaking with fellow conservatives on Native issues. In 2020, for example, he was the author of a 5-4 decision in which the court ruled that a large chunk of eastern Oklahoma remains an American Indian reservation.

This term, he wrote passionately in two Native rights cases. He dissented from a ruling against the Navajo Nation in a dispute involving water from the drought-stricken Colorado River. And while he was in the majority in the court’s case involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, he nonetheless wrote separately. The opinion ran 34 pages. Gorsuch wrote 38.

High-profile issues weren’t the only reason the Supreme Court was in the news this term. A series of stories questioned the ethical practices of the justices, most notably of Justice Clarence Thomas but also Justice Samuel Alito. Investigative news site ProPublica detailed in a series of stores lavish trips and other gifts provided to Thomas by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

Both Thomas and Alito strenuously denied they had done anything wrong. But the stories led to calls from Democrats in Congress in particular for reforms and more transparency. Republicans made clear they oppose the effort. In May, Roberts said without offering specifics that there is more the court can do to “adhere to the highest standards” of ethical conduct.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Watch: Neeraj Chopra hurls javelin to a distance of 87.66m to win second straight Diamond League title in Lausanne

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched the prestigious Diamond League title for the second consecutive time by throwing his spear to 87.66m on Friday but the coveted 90m mark eluded the star Indian javelin thrower yet again.

Coming back from a one-month injury lay-off, Chopra’s title-winning performance at the Lausanne leg in challenging conditions was below his own top-10 efforts but he still stamped his authority in the prestigious One-day meet. The 25-year-old Chopra, who had skipped three top events due to a muscle strain he sustained last month, had won the season-opening Diamond League in Doha on May 5 with his fourth career-best throw of 88.67m.

Neeraj Chopra Win Lausanne Diamond League with brilliant 87.66m throw

Good series of 83.52 , 85.04, 87.66 and 84.15 by Olympic Champion

Second win for neeraj at this year DL , he leads JT ranking after 2 meeting @afiindia pic.twitter.com/9UTJ0ebgCz

— Sports India (@SportsIndia3) June 30, 2023

Chopra, who usually produces his best in early rounds, had to wait till his fifth attempt to lead the field. He was at the second spot till the end of the fourth round. “I was feeling a bit nervous coming back from an injury. It was a bit cold here tonight. I am still far from my best, but I feel it is getting better,” Chopra said after his win.

It was a cloudy day with the temperature during the men’s javelin throw event recording 17 degree celsius and humidity at 78 percent. “I am relieved it is coming together well for me. A win is a win and I will take that happily.” Chopra began with a foul and then had 83.52m and 85.04m throws. He had another foul in the fourth round before coming up with his title-winning throw of 87.66m next. His sixth and last throw was 84.15m. Germany’s Julian Weber was second with a best throw of 87.03m, while Tokyo Olympics silver medallist and season-leader Jakub Vadlejch (SB: 89.51m) of the Czech Republic was third with an 86.13m effort.

Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who has been struggling for form, was fifth with a best throw of 82.23m. Chopra had won the Lausanne leg in August last year also for his maiden Diamond League title. A month later, he became the first Indian Diamond League champion after winning the 2022 grand finale in Zurich.

The Indian superstar, who has a personal best of 89.94m, cemented his top spot in the Diamond League standings with 16 points, followed by Vadlejch (13 points) and Weber (12 points). Following the Lausanne event, men’s javelin throw will also be a part of the roster in the Monaco and Zurich legs on July 21 and August 31 respectively before the Diamond League grand finale in Eugene, USA, on September 16-17.

On May 29, Chopra had issued a statement, informing about his injury. He pulled out of the FBK Games on June 4 at Hengelo (the Netherlands), Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 13 and Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czech Republic on June 27. All the three meets were World Athletics Continental Tour gold events. But he did not miss any Diamond League competition as the subsequent legs in Rabat, Rome, Paris and Oslo did not have men’s javelin events on the roster. In the men’s long jump, India’s Murali Sreeshankar finished fifth with a below-par jump of 7.88m which he achieved in the third round.

The 24-year-old Sreeshankar, who had clinched the third spot in the Paris leg on June 9 for his maiden Diamond League podium finish, had produced a career-best 8.41m during the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar earlier this month. LaQuan Nairn of Bahamas, who beat Sreeshankar for the gold in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, took the top spot with a third round jump of 8.11m.

Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece was second with 8.07m effort while Yuki Hashioka of Japan was third with a jump of 7.98m.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

TVS Motor applies brakes on $300 mn-$350 mn EV fund raise; to revisit deal in 2024

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

TVS Motor Company has shelved plans to raise funds for its carved-out electric mobility business amid an uncertain sectoral environment and plans to pursue the proposed capital mop up next year, multiple industry sources with knowledge of the matter told Moneycontrol.

On June 8, 2022, Moneycontrol was the first to report that the South-based 2-wheeler major had kick-started a process to induct private equity investors and raise around $300 mn to $350 mn to facilitate capacity expansion and new launches for its EV arm, TVS Electric Mobility.

“The government’s move to slash the subsidies for electric 2-wheelers under the FAME (Faster Adoption of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India) 2 scheme has impacted the segment and was a factor in re-thinking the timing of this fund raise. TVS Motor Company wants to wait for the dust to settle in the sector, when the men are separated from the boys and return to the table at a more opportune time,” said one of the persons above.

Also Read: This analyst explains why she recommends buy calls on TVS Motor and JK Cement

A second person told Moneycontrol: ” There is no real hurry to raise funds as the EV arm can get support from the parent. Plus, TVS Electric Mobility has a cushion and potential access to additional liquidity with the group’s NBFC arm TVS Credit sealing a funding round recently.”

Earlier this month, TVS Credit Services raised Rs 480 crore from Premji Invest via a combination of primary and secondary investments.

A third person confirmed that the fund raise plans of TVS Electric Mobility had been put on hold. ” The decision has been communicated to potential suitors/investors and as of now, this is a 2024 transaction.”

On February 15, 2023, The Economic Times reported that Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Goldman Sachs and Carlyle are in active discussions with TVS Motor Co to invest $300-350 million in the latter’s electric vehicle (EV) arm at a potential $3-3.5 billion valuation.

All the three persons above spoke to Moneycontrol on the condition of anonymity.

Moneycontrol has sent reminders but an email query sent to TVS Motor was left unanswered at the time of publishing this article.

Fund raise deals are also getting delayed in the four-wheeler segment. In May, The Economic Times reported that Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra had paused plans to sell stakes in their respective EV units over valuation mismatches.

After the government announced a reduction in the subsidy on electric two-wheelers, the segment has seen prices surging from June 1. According to a report on News18.com, the registration of e-scooters has dropped to the lowest in 16 months in June 2023, as per Vahan data. The rivals of TVS Electric Mobility have also been in capital raise mode since last year. On September 5, 2022, Moneycontrol had reported that Hero MotoCorp-backed Ather Energy is gearing up for its biggest ever fundraising round as it looks to mop up as much as $200 million to $250 million.

The TVS Mantra

The share price of TVS Motor Company has risen by nearly 19 percent in the last three months and the firm struck an optimistic note in its Annual Report for 2022-23.

“The EV industry will continue to grow rapidly as the consumer interest is buttressed with active policy support from the Central and State Governments through PLI, FAME II and State-specific support policies,” the firm stated in its Annual Report for 2022-23.

Continued support will ensure a smooth lift-off for the industry volumes, it added. “Like in ICE (internal combustion engine) two-wheelers, India will emerge as a major hub for EV two-wheeler exports in addition to the large domestic market,” TVS Motor noted.

Outlining its efforts in the EV space, TVS Motor said the company will deliver the “power of choice” as it enhances its offerings to provide relevant options to new consumer cohorts. “In doing so, expand the portfolio to new variants within iQUBE and introduce new brands,” it added.

This week, TVS Motor Company, which makes the battery powered scooter iQube, announced a strategic partnership with food delivery platform Zomato, as the former looks to deploy 10,000 electric scooters over the next 2 years.

Over and above the incorporation of the electric mobility subsidiary, the following are some of the other investments by TVS Motor Company in the fast-growing EV segment:

– It acquired a majority stake in GO AG, Switzerland, and its subsidiary, EGO Movement. EGO Movement is a Swiss technology company, with a strong presence across Europe and a portfolio of e-bikes, e-cargo bikes and e-scooters.

– It acquired a majority stake in Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG), a market-leading e-mobility solutions provider in Europe, and the largest pure-play e-bike manufacturer in Switzerland with around 20 percent market share.

– Via its Singapore subsidiary, the firm has picked up a 1) 70 percent stake in EBCO UK, a British e-bike manufacturer, and 2) 100 percent stake in Alexand’Ro Edouard’O Passion Vélo Sàrl which is engaged in the sale of e-bikes and its accessories.

– It has also increased its stake in Ultraviolette Automotive Private Ltd (UV) to 34 percent in FY22. UV is a start-up engaged in developing electric 2W (mainly motorcycles) for the domestic market.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

International Joke Day: 10 jokes to share with friends and family

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Unleash the laughter and bond with your loved ones as the International Joke Day arrives on July 1. The day, as the name suggests, aims to encourage people to laugh, share jokes and and forge stronger connections.

The day provides a perfect opportunity to recognise the importance of humour and laughter in our life. It reminds us how laughter can help us fight daily stressors to be physically and mentally healthy.

Many researchers have claimed that humour helps people in maintaining their psychological and physical well-being. To make the day a special one, we have prepared a list of hilarious jokes to share with your friends and family:

– Police arrested two kids yesterday, one was drinking battery acid, the other was eating fireworks. They charged one – and let the other one off.

– A sandwich walks into a bar and orders a beer, and the bartender says “Sorry, we don’t serve food here.”

– What lights up a soccer stadium? A soccer match.

– Why was the man waiting near the signal with bread and butter in his hand? Because he heard there was going to be a traffic jam.

– I said to the Gym instructor “Can you teach me to do the splits?” He said, “How flexible are you?” I said, “I can’t make Tuesdays.”

– Why are elevator jokes so good? They work on many levels!

– What do you call a fly without wings? A walk.

– Why did the scarecrow win an award? It was outstanding in the field.

– How do you stay warm in any room? Hang out in the corner, it’s always 90 degrees.

– What is a tornado’s favourite game to play? Twister.

From chocolate in pani-puri to stir-fried stones, foods that shocked us this week:

Every restaurant, eatery or roadside food stall wants to keep something exclusive on their menu that prompts customers to form a beeline. This desire to stand out often leads to some bizarre culinary experiments that leave us puzzled. From turning a savoury dish into a dessert to using chocolate in foods where it is not meant, we have seen it all.

This week too, several weird food videos caught our attention and we have compiled some of the most viral ones for you.

Stir-fried stones

A street food is going viral in China because of one ingredient you wouldn’t want on your plate – stones. Yes, the dish is nothing but a handful of pebbles “stir-fried” with some herbs and spices. How do you eat it? Well, you don’t. Diners have to lick the stones and spit them out to get the flavour of the dish. According to CNN, the street food originated in the eastern Chinese province of Hubei.

World’s hardest dish? Stir-fried stones are China’s latest street food fad🧐

pic.twitter.com/6fe72XfGO5

— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) June 25, 2023

AK47 soda

Another video which went viral this week is of a street vendor from Gujarat, India, who has a unique style of preparing soda. The vendor doesn’t just serve the soda but offers a wholesome experience to customers. He adds different ingredients to build up fizz and keep the customers entertained.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Siddharth Shah (@sidshahofficial)

Sev puri dosa

In this video, the vendor first prepares sev-puri, a popular Indian snack made with chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, papdi, and some sauces, before beginning to make the south Indian dish, dosa. While the two are eaten separately, the vendor chose to combine them and come up with the “sev puri dosa”.

Chocolate pani puri

Pani-puri or gol-gappa is one of the most-loved street foods. It is a lip-smacking treat consisting of small puris filled with tangy water and mashed potatoes and chickpeas. But in this video, the vendor tweaks the classic food. He adds chocolate, ice cream, strawberry sauce, and everything that doesn’t go with gol-gappas.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by bhukkkadbawa | Food Blogger (@bhukkkadbawa)

Hajmola chai

From green and black to ginger and chamomile, tea comes in different flavours and colours. But a vendor in Varanasi, India’s Uttar Pradesh, seems to have come up with a new version – hajmola chai. Hajmola is a digestive pill that is loaded with spices and herbs and has a strong flavour, which many of us wouldn’t really like in our tea.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by yash shivhare (@shiv_yash_bhukkadofagra)

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Why National Doctors’ Day is celebrated on July 1 — History, theme and significance

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Every year on July 1, National Doctor’s Day is celebrated to honor and acknowledge the contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals to society’s health and well-being. This day also serves as a platform to raise awareness about the crucial role doctors play and their selfless dedication. Despite their invaluable efforts in improving community health, doctors often don’t receive the level of appreciation they deserve.

The date of observance of National Doctors’ Day may vary across different countries worldwide. In the United States, National Doctors’ Day is observed on March 30.

History

The Indian Government officially declared National Doctor’s Day date as July 1 in 1991. The decision was made in order to celebrate the birth anniversary Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a renowned physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. He had played a pivotal role in the development of India’s healthcare system. Born on July 1, 1882, Dr Roy dedicated his life towards improving the country’s fragile public health system. It can be said that National Doctors’ Day celebrates Dr Roy’s invaluable service and his professionalism towards the society.

By commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the government has provided a platform to all the stakeholders to discuss the aim of enhancing healthcare services.

Theme

The theme for National Doctor’s Day 2023 is “Celebrating Resilience and Healing Hands”. This theme applauds the medical professionals that worked hard through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Significance

The significance of National Doctor’s Day cannot be understated. The day essentially serves as a platform to promote a healthier nation.

By expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the medical fraternity for their tireless efforts and commitment to saving lives, we are doing the noble act of highlighting the dedication of doctors to serving humanity.

On this day, meaningful activities and events are held which include medical conferences, workshops, seminars, free health check-up camps, and felicitation ceremonies.

These activities help in promoting the importance of healthcare. This is vital for a country like India, which has an overburdened healthcare system.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Jet fuel gets costlier as OMCs increase ATF prices after four months of cut — Check new rates here

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Oil marketing companies (OMCs) increased aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices by an average of Rs 1476/KL on July 1. This comes after four consecutive months of rate cuts.

From today, jet fuel in Delhi will cost Rs 90,779.88/KL, up from Rs 89,303.09/ KL last month. ATF price in Kolkata has seen a sharp uptick reaching Rs Rs 99,793.45/KL from Rs 95,963.95/KL earlier. In Mumbai and Chennai, jet has been priced at Rs 84,854.74/KL and Rs 94,530.51/KL, respectively.

The hike in jet fuel prices comes at a time when air fares have been skyrocketing. Whether or not the move will lead to a further increase in air ticket prices remains to be seen.

However, earlier on June 14, the Indian government had claimed that flight ticket prices on some routes have dropped as much as 56 percent in recent days.

Sources had told CNBC-TV18 that the decline in airfares came against the backdrop of the recent interventions and meetings held by the government. They said the government was monitoring and holding daily meetings on the issue.

“Rise in airfares has been mostly seen on select routes that were earlier being serviced by Go First. A meeting with the airlines was held on June 5, 2023, where airlines were strictly advised to self-regulate fares on certain select routes that have seen considerable surge pricing of late. A mechanism for ensuring reasonable pricing within the high RBDs (Reservation Booking Designator) will be devised by airlines,” government sources had then said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

World Bank’s $1.5 bn funding to India will foster private sector investments in renewable energy: Auguste Tano Kouame

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

In a major boost to India’s zero carbon mission, the World Bank sanctioned a $1.5 billion loan to finance the country’s development of low-carbon energy. The Bank said that the financing is aimed at helping India scale up renewable energy, developing green hydrogen and stimulating climate finance for low-carbon energy investments.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank Director for India, stated that India demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, and the approved loan programme is designed to assist the nation in realising this ambitious target.

“India is very committed to achieving net-zero by 2070. This programme that we approved for $1.5 billion called Low Carbon Development Policy Operation is to support India’s transition to its net-zero goals,” Kouame said.

One of the main pillars of the World Bank’s financing initiative is to bolster the advancement of green hydrogen in India. The programme will actively support the Indian government’s efforts in encouraging the adoption of green hydrogen, which can be utilised in various sectors such as transportation, industry, and power generation, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Recognising the crucial role of renewable energy in India’s decarbonisation journey, the World Bank’s financing will also focus on boosting the demand and supply of clean energy sources. By incentivising the development and deployment of renewable energy projects, the programme aims to enhance the capacity and affordability of sustainable energy solutions across the country.

Also Read: India’s hydrogen market to surge: Morgan Stanley projects $19 billion opportunity by 2030

To accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, the World Bank’s loan programme will facilitate the establishment of a carbon market in India. This market mechanism will enable the trading of carbon credits and foster private sector investments in renewable energy projects.

The enthusiasm surrounding green hydrogen is not limited to India alone. Many countries worldwide are recognising its potential as a key enabler of decarbonisation and are actively exploring its development. Additionally, the COP27 summit also provided a comprehensive framework for countries to collaborate and advance green hydrogen technologies as part of their climate mitigation strategies.

Watch video for entire conversation.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Crude oil prices climb but posts fourth quarterly loss

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Oil prices settled higher on Friday but posted their fourth straight quarterly loss as investors worried that sluggish global economic activity could crimp fuel demand.

Benchmark Brent crude futures for August delivery which expires on Friday, settled up 56 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $74.90. In the three months to the end of June, the contract finished down 6 percent.

US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) settled up 78 cents, or 1.1 percent at $70.64 a barrel. It posted its second straight quarterly drop, down about 6.5 percent in the latest three months.

Prices have been under pressure from rising interest rates in key economies and a slower than expected recovery in Chinese manufacturing and consumption.

Signs of strengthening US economic activity and sharp declines in US oil inventories last week offered some support.

For the day, crude was bolstered by a US Commerce Department report showing annual inflation rising last month at its slowest pace in two years.

Signs of moderating inflation “could hold the Federal Reserve off rising interest rates again,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York.

The market was also supported by upward revisions in demand for crude oil and refined products in the United States.

Demand for crude and petroleum products fell slightly to 20.446 million bpd in April but remained seasonally strong, EIA data showed.

Prices also drew support from Saudi Arabia’s plans to cut output by a further 1 million barrels per day in July in addition to a broader OPEC+ deal to limit supply into 2024.

“Despite the announcements of two fresh rounds of cuts from OPEC+/Saudi Arabia, crude prices have largely remained below $80 a barrel as the market has been driven less by fundamentals and more by macroeconomic concerns,” HSBC analysts said in a note.

“We think this will continue to be the case for part of the summer, although the deep deficit of around 2.3 million barrels forecast for the second half of 2023 should help to spur some upwards price momentum,” they added.

ALSO READ: India’s core sector growth slows down to 4.3% in May

A Reuters survey of 37 economists and analysts showed oil prices will struggle for traction this year as global economic headwinds linger.

US energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a ninth week in a row for the first time since July 2020, energy services firm Baker Hughes said on Friday.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow