Wealth of India’s 10 richest enough to fund school, higher education of every child for 25 years: Study

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

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Indian billionaires saw their combined fortunes more than double during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their count shot up by 39 per cent to 142, while the wealth of the ten richest is enough to fund school and higher education of children in the country for 25 years, a new study showed on Monday.

In its annual inequality survey released on the first day of the World Economic Forum’s online Davos Agenda summit, Oxfam India further said that an additional one per cent tax on the richest 10 per cent can provide the country with nearly 17.7 lakh extra oxygen cylinders, while a similar wealth tax on the 98 richest billionaire families would finance Ayushman Bharat, the world’s largest health insurance scheme, for more than seven years.

The COVID-19 pandemic saw a huge rush for oxygen cylinders and insurance claims during the second wave last year. On wealth inequality, Oxfam report further said that 142 Indian billionaires collectively own wealth of USD 719 billion (over Rs 53 lakh crore), while the richest 98 of them now have the same wealth as the poorest 55.5 crore people in the bottom 40 per cent (USD 657 billion or nearly Rs 49 lakh crore).

If each of the 10 richest Indian billionaires were to spend USD one million daily, it would take them 84 years to exhaust their current wealth, while an annual wealth tax applied to multi-millionaires and billionaires would raise USD 78.3 billion a year that would be enough to increase government health budget by 271 per cent or eliminate households’ out-of-pocket health budget and leave some USD 30.5 billion. Noting that COVID-19 may have begun as a health crisis but has become an economic one now, Oxfam said the wealthiest 10 per cent have amassed 45 per cent of the national wealth while the share of the bottom 50 per cent of the population is a mere 6 per cent.

It further said that the inadequate governmental expenditure on health, education and social security has gone hand-in-hand with a rise in the privatisation of health and education, thus making a full and secure COVID-19 recovery out of reach for the common citizen. The study urged the government to revisit its primary sources of revenue generation, adopting more progressive methods of taxation and assessing its structural issues that permit such wealth accumulation by the rich.

Additionally, the government should also redirect revenue towards health, education and social security, treating them as universal rights and as a means of reducing inequality, thereby avoiding the privatisation model for these sectors, Oxfam said. “We call upon the government to redistribute India’s wealth from the super-rich to generate resources for the majority by reintroducing the wealth tax and to generate revenue to invest in the education and health of future generations by imposing a temporary one per cent surcharge on the rich for health and education,” it said.

On gender inequality, Oxfam India said women accounted for 28 per cent of all job losses and lost two-thirds of their income during the pandemic. It further said India’s 2021 budget allocation for the Ministry of Women and Child Development is less than half of the total accumulated wealth of the bottom ten of India’s billionaire list and just a 2 per cent tax on individuals with an income of over 10 crore could increase the ministry’s budget by an astounding 121 per cent.

If the wealth of the first 100 billionaires is accumulated, they could fund the National Rural Livelihood Mission scheme, responsible for creating Self Help Groups for women, for the next 365 years. On health inequality, the report said a 4 per cent wealth tax on the 98 richest families in India would finance the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for more than 2 years and noted that their combined wealth is 41 per cent more than the Union Budget of India.

On education inequality, the study said a 1 per cent of tax on wealth of the 98 billionaires in India can fund the total annual expenditure of the department of school education and literacy under the Ministry of Education, while 4 per cent of tax on their wealth can take care of Mid-Day-Meal programme of the country for 17 years or Samagra Sikshya Abhiyan for 6 years. Similarly, a 4 per cent tax on the wealth of the 98 billionaires would be enough to fund the Mission POSHAN 2.0, which includes Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, and National Creche Scheme, for 10 years.

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In UP for poll campaign, Chhattisgarh CM Baghel booked for flouting COVID-19 norms

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

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The Uttar Pradesh police lodged an FIR against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday for allegedly flouting COVID-19 norms while campaigning for a Congress candidate in Noida for the assembly polls, officials said. Baghel along with some supporters was in Noida for a door-to-door campaign in support of Congress’ Pankhuri Pathak when the alleged violations took place.

The case, lodged under the Epidemic Diseases Act, names ‘others’ also as accused besides the senior Congress leader from Chhattisgarh. The FIR was lodged against Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel and others for violating COVID-19 rules as set by the Election Commission when they were in the Sector 113 police station area today (Sunday), a police spokesperson said.

Indian Penal Code sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) have also been invoked in the case, the official added.

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Shocked by Centre’s move to reject Netaji tableau from R-day parade, Mamata writes to Modi

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

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Expressing shock over the Centre’s decision to exclude West Bengal’s tableau, which was set to highlight contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary year, from the upcoming Republic Day Parade in Delhi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to reconsider the decision. Banerjee also said that no reason was cited for the tableau’s rejection a move which would cause “pain” to the people of her state.

“I have been profoundly shocked and hurt by the decision of the Government of India to abruptly exclude the proposed tableau of the Government of West Bengal from the ensuing Republic Day Parade. It is even more baffling for us that the tableau was rejected without assigning any reasons or justifications,” Banerjee said in a two-page letter to Modi. Se pointed out that the tableau was set to commemorate Netaji and INA’s contributions to the freedom struggle, besides displaying portraits of the country’s “illustrious sons and daughters”.

“The proposed tableau was commemorating the contributions of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his INA on his 125th birth anniversary year and was carrying portraits of some of the most illustrious sons and daughters of this country — Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, Sri Aurobindo, Matangini Hazra, Nazrul, Birsa Munda and many patriots,” the CM said. Banerjee said that exclusion of the tableau “amounts to belittling and undermining the freedom fighters”.

“I may like to inform you that all the people of West Bengal are deeply pained by this attitude of the central government. It is shocking to find that the contribution of its valiant freedom fighters finds no place in the nation’s ceremony to celebrate the occasion of the Republic Day on the 75th year of our Independence,” she underlined. The CM insisted that the tableau, if included, would pay homage to all great souls in the most befitting way.

“I urge you to reconsider the decision and include the tableau of freedom fighters from West Bengal in the Republic Day parade on the 75th year of our Independence. The tableau which showcases the sacrifices and contribution of the lakh of freedom fighters will be the most befitting way to pay our respect and homage to all those great souls who fought for our freedom,” she added. The Congress has also expressed its dismay over the development, with its leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writing to the Centre on the issue.

In his letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, he said the decision was an “insult to the people of West Bengal, its cultural heritage and our great hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Every state aspires to showcase its cultural tradition and icons during Republic Day so that the public at large at the national level becomes aware of the same.” The central government has “shown its bias by denying this opportunity” to the people of West Bengal, Chowdhuy stated. Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya, when approached, said his party would never indulge in politics over patriots and icons.

“Some technical reasons might have prompted the rejection. Our government and the BJP know about the immense contributions of Netaji and look upto him as our icon and national hero. The BJP never does politics over patriots like Netaji. It is the TMC which is politicising the matter,” he added.

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Sulli Deals case: Delhi court dismisses bail plea of alleged app creator

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

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A Delhi court has dismissed the bail plea of Aumkareshwar Thakur, the alleged creator of the controversial Sulli Deals app, saying that granting him relief at this juncture will prejudice a fair investigation.

The app had triggered widespread outrage as it had put out details of more than 100 prominent Muslim women allowing users to participate in an ”auction” of those women.

The accused was arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell from Indore last week after receiving information about him from Bulli Bai app case mastermind Neeraj Bishnoi during the investigation. Metropolitan Magistrate Vasundhra Chhaunkar passed the order on Saturday after hearing arguments from the defence and the prosecution.

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WEF’s online Davos summit begins today; PM Modi, Jinping to deliver special addresses

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

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The World Economic Forum’s five-day online Davos Agenda summit will begin on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to deliver their special addresses on ‘state of the world’ on the first day itself.

Online ‘Davos Agenda’ summit would be held for the second consecutive year, originally scheduled for the physical annual meeting.

The Forum has been hosting its annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos for 50 years, but it could not take place in 2021 due to the pandemic and has been deferred till early summer for this year as well.

The week-long digital summit will begin with a special address by Jinping on Monday, followed by two virtual sessions — the first on COVID-19 and the second on technology cooperation in the fourth industrial revolution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver his special address on Monday evening, which would be followed by the address of United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio are scheduled to deliver their respective special addresses on Tuesday, when special sessions would also be held on global social contract and challenges of vaccine equity, which would be attended by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Serum Institute of India chief Adar Poonawalla, among others.

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will deliver a special address. Besides, there would be sessions on energy transition, scaling up climate innovation and Latin America outlook.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are scheduled to deliver their special addresses on Thursday, when special sessions would be held on ESG (environmental, social and governance) metrics for a sustainable future; the next frontier for knowledge and action; and restoring trust in global trade and supply chains.

On the last day, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will deliver their special addresses.

Besides, there would be special sessions on the global economy, building future preparedness and accelerating a nature-positive economy. The listed speakers for these sessions include US Treasury Secretary Janet L Yellen, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

The WEF has said ‘Davos Agenda 2022’ will be the first global platform for key world leaders to share their visions for 2022 and it is being convened on the theme of ‘The State of the World’. Heads of state and government will join CEOs and other leaders for the virtual dialogue on critical collective challenges and how to address them, while this dialogue will be a springboard to the Annual Meeting in Davos, scheduled for early summer.

Geneva-based WEF, which describes itself as an international organisation for public-private cooperation, said radically different pandemic experiences have exacerbated global divisions, while vaccine inequities, combined with new strains, have also slowed international economic recovery. However, COVID-19 is only one of the critical global challenges which may become unmanageable unless world leaders prioritize proactive collaboration and therefore the Davos Agenda will focus on driving concerted action among key global stakeholders, it added.

–With agency inputs

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Cricket: Australia romp to victory against England in fifth test

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

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Australia underlined their utter Ashes supremacy by crushing England’s hopes of a consolation victory and winning the day-night fifth test by 146 runs with two days to spare in Hobart on Sunday to seal a 4-0 series triumph.

Brittle English batting has been commonplace in the 11 years since the tourists last won a test on Australian soil and the collapse under the Bellerive Oval lights was remarkable only in that it came with victory a possibility.

In the ascendancy for the first time in the series when they were 68 without loss chasing 271 towards the end of the second session, England lost 10 wickets for 78 runs in little more than an hour and a half to crumble to 124 all out.

Australia’s pace bowling was of the same high quality as it had been throughout the five matches, but some of the shots offered by the batsmen indicated that England had given up on any hope of even extending the contest into a fourth day.

Thumping victories in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne had secured the urn for Australia before the turn of the year and only by batting out the final day did England secure a draw in Sydney.

Australia captain Pat Cummins was quick to offer thanks to Joe Root and his squad for touring despite the health protocols in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but naturally his main thoughts were for his own side.

“It’s incredible,” captain Pat Cummins told reporters. “Everything’s gone to plan, there’s just so many positives to take out of it and for this team to be part of Ashes history, it’s just been phenomenal.”

One of the few highlights of the series for the tourists has been the bowling of paceman Mark Wood and his career best 6-37 helped dismiss the hosts for 155 early in the second session to set England up for a shot at victory.

DECENT START

Rory Burns and Zak Crawley made a decent start to the chase with England’s highest opening partnership of the series but the match soon reverted to a more familiar script.

Cameron Green (3-21) began the rout when he dismissed Burns for 26 to bring up tea, returning after the break to remove Dawid Malan for 10 in similar style with the batsman chopping on.

Crawley had made 36 when he became the 22-year-old all- rounder’s third victim, and England were in serious strife when Ben Stokes holed out for five to Nathan Lyon at deep square leg off Mitchell Starc.

Root got his side over the hundred mark but fell for 11 when a Scott Boland delivery skidded low along the surface and into his off stump, leaving the England captain destined to head home still without a test century in Australia.

Boland, playing only his third test, took 3-18 and Cummins 3-42 as they shared the last five wickets, leaving veteran England seamer Stuart Broad unbeaten on one in what is likely to be his last test match in Australia.

“It hurts, it was a poor display with the bat today,” said Root, who said he would like to continue as England captain.

“It felt like we had a real opportunity to go and win this test match and there were some very poor dismissals in there after a very promising start.

“Disappointing to be beaten as heavily as that when we felt very much in the game.”

Australian batsman Travis Head was named Man of the Series for his 357 runs, despite missing the Sydney match after contracting COVID-19.

His two centuries, including 101 in the first innings of the fifth test, was one more than the whole England team managed on the tour.

“At this level, you’ve got to bang out performances and we’ve not managed to do that at all on this trip,” Root added.

“As a batting group, far too many times we’ve been bowled out for less than 200 and you’re never going to win test matches if you don’t get runs on the board.”

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Lata Mangeshkar’s condition improving: Maharashtra health minister

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

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The health condition of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who remains admitted in the ICU of a hospital in Mumbai, is improving, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said here on Sunday.

The 92-year-old singer tested positive for coronavirus with mild symptoms and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai last week.

“Lata Mangeshkar’s condition is improving. I spoke to authorities of the Breach Candy Hospital who updated me about her health. I told them that the spokesperson of the hospital should provide updates on the singer’s condition as people are eager to know about her health,” Tope told reporters in Jalna.

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After discussing with her family members, the Breach Candy Hospital can update about the health of the veteran singer, Tope said. Earlier in the day, associate professor, Dr Pratit Samdani from the Breach Candy Hospital.

Get Here Omicron News Latest Updates

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Mandaviya launches stamp to mark 1 year of Covid vaccination drive, says 70% adults fully vaccinated

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

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Seventy per cent of India’s adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 93 per cent received the first jab, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya while launching a postage stamp on indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin to mark one year of the inoculation drive. This is a proud moment for Indians and the entire world is amazed by the country’s Covid inoculation drive, he said at the commemorative postage stamp release event.

Addressing the programme through a video link, Mandaviya said some people tried to sow confusion over the vaccination drive but Prime Minister Narendra Modi was determined and he kept encouraging and motivating the scientists and companies. “India has been able to achieve the milestone of administering over 156 crore doses despite such a huge population and diversity.”

Get Here Omicron News Latest Updates:

“On the occasion of completion of one year of the Covid vaccination drive, a postage stamp has been released on the vaccine indigenously developed jointly by the ICMR and Bharat Biotech, realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s dream of self-reliant India,” Mandaviya said.

He also congratulated all scientists on the occasion. “Our prime minister encouraged scientists to carry out research and develop an indigenous Covid vaccine and held discussions with vaccine manufacturing companies and offered them support.

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“There was no dearth of manpower or brainpower. What was needed was the ability to identify the potential in the country for coming up with vaccines,” he said. The government and the private sector worked in tandem on vaccine research and in nine months a Covid vaccine was indigenously developed while the process of granting authorisations to jabs was also simplified, the minister said.

“A certain section of people attempted to sow confusion over the vaccination drive but the prime minister was determined and he kept on encouraging and motivating the scientists and companies. Thus, the vaccine manufacturing and the inoculation drive progressed at a steady pace,” the minister stated. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2. The next phase of the COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. Vaccination of all people aged over 45 from April 1. The government then decided to expand the ambit of the inoculation drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1. COVID-19 vaccination for those in the age group of 15-18 years began on January 3 this year.

India started administering the precaution dose of Covid vaccine to healthcare and frontline workers, which include polling personnel deployed in the five poll-bound states, and comorbid people aged 60 and above from January 10 in a bid to stymie the coronavirus spread driven by its Omicron variant. With the administration of more than 66 lakh vaccine doses in a day, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 156.76 crore, according to provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday.

More than 43.19 lakh precaution doses of the vaccine have been administered. Also, 3,38,50,912 first doses have been given to beneficiaries in the 15-18 years age group. Covid vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark on October 21 last year. The cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 150-crore mark on January 7.

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D-Street week ahead: Q3 earnings, COVID-19, global cues likely to impact market

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

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Quarterly results will be in in focus on Dalal Street this week as the earnings season picks up the pace. Besides, the first IPO of 2022 will be tracked closely, after a blockbuster 2021 that saw a majority of the 63 public issues enjoy robust investor interest. Updates on the new variants of COVID-19 will also be on investors’ radar.

Last week, headline indices Sensex and Nifty50 clocked their fourth weekly gains in a row, led by gains across sectors, especially in metal and PSU banking stocks. The Nifty Bank gained 1.7 percent, following its best week since May 2021.

A total of 40 Nifty50 stocks finished the week in the green.

All eyes on India Inc earnings

With factory output and inflation data now behind, the focus will now shift entirely to corporate earnings. The market will begin the week by reacting to the quarterly performances of HCL Technologies and HDFC Bank, and brace for a slew of blue-chip results including Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj Finance, SBI Life and ICICI Bank.

Expectations around the Union Budget will also be in the spotlight during the week.

“The market has made remarkable progress in the last one month and inching closer to a record high. We have mixed indications from the global markets; we believe earnings would dictate the market trend ahead,” said Ajit Mishra, VP Research at Religare Broking.

“On the index front, a move above 18,350 would pave the way for a new record high while 17,950-17,700 levels would act as support in case of profit taking. We recommend maintaining focus on sectors/themes that are playing out well and using intermediate correction to create long positions,” he said.

Mishra believes metal, IT, realty and pharma spaces may outshine the market during the week, though participation may remain broad-based.

Technical outlook

The Nifty50 has taken out the resistance level of 17,950 decisively, and appears to be targeting its all-time high (18,604), according to Yesha Shah, Head of Equity Research, Samco Securities. She advises traders to maintain a bullish bias on the market.

“Minor dips cannot be ruled out going ahead and dips around immediate support levels can be used as buying opportunities. Immediate support for the Nifty is now placed around 17,700,” Shah added.

Here are the key factors and events that are likely to influence Dalal Street in the week starting January 17:

DOMESTIC CUES

Earnings

Jan 17: UltraTech and Tatva Chintan

Jan 18: Bajaj Finance, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Just Dial, L&T Technologies and Tata Elxsi

Jan 19: Bajaj Auto, JSW Energy, L&T Infotech, Rallis, Tata Communications and ICICI Lombard General Insurance

Jan 20: Asian Paints, HUL, Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Holdings, Biocon, Concor,
Cyient, Havells, Mphasis, Bank of Maharashtra, Persistent Systems and VST Industries

Jan 21: Reliance Industries, HDFC Life, SBI Life, CSB Bank, JSW Steel, L&T Finance Holdings, Tanla, Polycab and PVR

Jan 22: ICICI Bank and Yes Bank

IPO

The IPO of AGS Transact Technologies, an omni-channel payment solution company, will hit the Street on January 19. The public offer is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of equity worth Rs 680 crore.

FII flow

Foreign fund flows will remain in focus. Last week, foreign institutional investors net sold Indian equities worth Rs 1,345.5 crore ($182.2 million), according to provisional exchange data.

In the previous week, they had made net purchases of Rs 3,202.1 crore ($430.5 million).

Corporate action

GLOBAL CUES

United States

Jan 19: US housing data

Jan 20: US jobs data, home sales data, crude stockpiles data

Europe

Jan 18: UK unemployment data

Jan 19: UK inflation data

Asia

Jan 17: China GDP, industrial production, retail sales data

Jan 18: Japan rate decision

Jan 21: Japan inflation, BoJ minutes, Hong Hong business confidence data

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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

Djokovic set to leave Australia after losing court appeal

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

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Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic boarded a plane to leave Australia on Sunday after the Federal Court upheld a government decision to cancel his visa on the grounds that his decision not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 posed a risk to the country.

The unanimous ruling by a three-judge bench dealt a final blow to Djokovic’s hopes of chasing a record 21st Grand Slam win at the Australian Open, after a rollercoaster ride.

The Serbian player boarded an Emirates flight bound from Melbourne to Dubai on Sunday evening just hours after the ruling, a Reuters witness said. The flight was due to take off at 10:30 p.m. (1130 GMT)

The flight capped a journey that began when Djokovic, the world’s top men’s player, was first detained by immigration authorities on Jan. 6, ordered released by a court on Jan. 10 and then detained on Saturday again.

Djokovic said after the ruling he was extremely disappointed as it meant he could not take part in the tournament, which starts on Monday.

“I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he said in a statement, and wished the tournament well.

Djokovic, 34, had appealed against Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s use of discretionary powers to cancel his visa. The minister had said Djokovic could be a threat to public order because his presence would encourage anti-vaccination sentiment amidst Australia’s worst outbreak of the virus.

Chief Justice James Allsop said the court ruling was based on the lawfulness and legality of the minister’s decision in the context of the three grounds of appeal Djokovic’s legal team lodged.

“It is no part of the function of the court to decide upon the merits or wisdom of the decision,” Allsop said, adding that the three judges were unanimous in their ruling. Full reasoning behind the ruling would be released in coming days, he said.

It was not immediately clear when Djokovic would leave the country.

‘KEEP BORDERS STRONG’

The player’s visa saga has dominated headlines around the world and fuelled a debate over the rights of people who opt to remain unvaccinated as governments take measures to protect their people from the two-year coronavirus pandemic.

The controversy became a political touchstone for Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he prepares for an election due by May. His government has faced criticism for its handling of Djokovic’s visa application.

Morrison welcomed the court’s ruling, saying the decision will help “keep our borders strong and keep Australians safe.”

“It’s now time to get on with the Australian Open and get back to enjoying tennis over the summer,” he said in a statement.

Djokovic had been granted a visa to enter Australia, with a COVID-19 infection on Dec. 16 providing the basis for a medical exemption from Australia’s requirements that all visitors be vaccinated. The exemption was organised through Tennis Australia.

That exemption prompted widespread anger in Australia, which has undergone some the world’s toughest COVID-19 lockdowns and where more than 90% of adults are vaccinated. The government said recent infection alone did not meet its standards for an exemption.

WEEPING FANS

But the player also had some support, especially in his native Serbia and from Serbians living in Australia.

Serbian prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Sunday, “I think that the court decision is scandalous, I am disappointed, I think it demonstrated how the rule of law is functioning or better to say not functioning in some other countries.”

In Melbourne, around 70 Djokovic fans, including young children, sang folk songs and chanted in the Federal Court plaza while they waited for the court’s ruling.

They gathered around a loudspeaker to hear the judge reading out the decision, but it took several minutes after the court adjourned before they worked out that Djokovic had lost. Two women were weeping, while others started up chants for a short while before the crowd dispersed.

“What they did today is everything except justice,” said Natasha Marjnovic, 44, a Djokovic supporter who was wiping away tears. “They killed a beautiful sportsman and his career and for all of us who love tennis.”

In Serbia, people have vented their anger at the treatment of their sporting hero. President Aleksandar Vucic on Friday criticised Australia’s government for what he called the “harassing and bullying (of) … the best tennis player ever.”

Vucic said on Sunday he had spoken to the player after the court decision. “I told him we cannot wait to see him,” he told reporters. “I told him he is always welcome in Serbia.”

The men’s tennis governing body ATP said “today’s decision to uphold Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa cancellation marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events”.

It added in a statement that decisions of legal authorities regarding public health must be respected.

Tennis Australia said it respected the decision.

On the tennis circuit, fellow players had become impatient for the media circus around Djokovic to end as it had become an unwelcome distraction, casting uncertainty over the draw for the tournament.

But several voiced sympathy for Djokovic following his legal defeat.

“There was a political agenda at play here with the elections coming up which couldn’t be more obvious,” Vasek Pospisil, a Canadian tennis player, said on Twitter.

“This is not his fault.”

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

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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