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Delhi NCR: Construction ban if ‘severe’ air quality persists Environment Minister Gopal Rai (centre) .

Construction ban if ‘severe’ air quality in Delhi NCR

  • Diesel buses coming from NCR states are banned from entering the city from Wednesday; Only CNG, electric and BS-VI compliant buses are allowed.
  • Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday that construction activities would stop within a one-kilometre radius of pollution hotspots in the city if the air quality in these areas remained “severe” for a period of time.

Wednesday was the fifth consecutive day that Delhi’s overall air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Air quality in some areas of the capital is considered “severe” and the city’s air could be “very poor” for the rest of the week.

The data showed that at 4 p.m., the average 24-hour air quality index was 364, compared to 351 the previous day. Values ​​between 0 and 50 on the AQI are considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “acceptable”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”. “..”.’.

Bus entrance

Speaking to reporters after a review meeting with various departments involved in the fight against air pollution, Rai added that the Delhi government will ban entry of diesel buses from NCR states and will allow only CNG, electric and BS VI compliant buses from Wednesday. .

“To supervise this, 18 teams consisting of six members each have been formed. Of these, four are from the transport department and two from the Delhi Traffic Police.

The minister also said that Delhi Metro has been asked to increase the frequency of trains while Delhi Transport Corporation has been directed to employ 1,000 special Paryavaran buses running on CNG by November 10.

The Public Works Department has also been directed to deploy mobile anti-smoke weapons at construction sites to reduce dust pollution. Rai said the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been directed to mix dust retardants in sprinklers for use not only in hotspot areas but across the city. Meanwhile, in a statement, the civic body said it has allocated Rs 20 lakh to each district to improve air quality management.

MCD District Funding

He added that the amount will be provided to all MCD areas to improve air quality over the next three days by increasing machinery and manpower to reduce dust pollution.

Every winter, air pollution increases in the national capital and some parts of northern India, mainly due to meteorological factors and stubble burning.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com

“Wheelhouse Lounge’s Spectacular Halloween Gala Brings Together Mumbai’s Brightest Minds, Influencers, and Glamour for a Night of Networking, Style, and Celebration”

Wheelhouse Lounge's

Mumbai, 31st October, A grand Halloween celebration at Wheelhouse Lounge, a renowned hub for social gatherings and networking, was mesmerizingly transformed into a haunted hotspot on Halloween night, hosting an exclusive event that brought together bloggers, entrepreneurs, and the stunning Miss Mumbai finalists. The event was a spectacular fusion of business, fashion, and fun, making it a memorable night for all attendees.

The Halloween soirée kicked off in style with a red carpet entrance adorned with eerie decorations and a macabre ambiance. The gathering was attended by a mix of business-savvy entrepreneurs, influential bloggers, and the dazzling Miss Mumbai finalists, creating a unique and diverse atmosphere that blended the worlds of business and fashion seamlessly.

“In an exciting one-on-one interview done by Rajveer Singh from timesnowbusiness.com, who had the pleasure of talking to the Director of the Miss Mumbai Pageant, Mrs. Soumya Singh and Some of the Prominent Bloggers like : Anagha Sonawane, Uzma Savardekar, Jyoti Rolla, Nikhil Ojha, Akash Singh, Jaya Singh, Rajdev Singh Aulakh, Prathamesh Shah, Pratibha Bhadauria, Shubham Kothari, Aniket Bangar, Riya Shah, Irfan Shaukat, Ketan Patil, Gokul Pillai and Suraj Shinde.

The profound expertise of these influential bloggers in the field of food and gastronomy along with their creative thoughts & the experience of reel creation left a lasting impression. Moreover, their boundless enthusiasm and authentic engagement during the interview transformed this Halloween event into an enchanting and indelible experience.

Throughout the evening, business discussions were interspersed with fashion and fun. Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to network with bloggers, exchanging ideas and insights. The Miss Mumbai finalists added a touch of glamour to the event, sharing their experiences and vision with the attendees.

Guests enjoyed a delightful menu specially crafted for the occasion, featuring a fusion of flavors that tantalized the taste buds. From witch’s brew cocktails to delectable finger foods, Wheelhouse Lounge ensured that the Halloween event offered both sustenance and style.

Wheelhouse Lounge owned by partners – Capt Presenjeet Kumar, Kaptan Malik, Surrender Verma and Sumeet Singh has consistently been a hub for fostering connections, and this Halloween event exemplified their commitment to providing a platform for professionals and enthusiasts to come together in a dynamic and creative atmosphere.

Wheelhouse Lounge spared no expense in creating an atmosphere that embraced the Halloween spirit. The venue was transformed into a ghostly wonderland, featuring chilling decorations, spine-tingling cocktails, and enchanting live entertainment. Attendees arrived in costume, showcasing their creativity and adding to the spooky atmosphere.

Latest = https://happenrecently.com/swapnil-kumar-dudhare/

During the Battle of Pegasus, Warfare repaired the Watch

  • Weaknesses in the intrusive surveillance framework are causing serious damage to India’s democratic ideals. There are several documented cases of advanced spyware being used against human rights defenders in India.
  • More than a dozen opposition leaders and journalists received an email notification from tech giant Apple informing them that their digital devices had been targeted by “state-protected attackers.” In this article, dated July 22, 2022, Anushka Jain and Krishnesh Bapat analyze the implications of Project Pegasus’ discoveries. It has been a year since Project Pegasus’ findings revealed a threat to Indian democracy. A leading digital news platform reported that the mobile phones of at least 300 Indians were hacked using Pegasus, the spyware of the Israel-based NSO Group; The ten cases were confirmed through forensic analysis conducted by Amnesty International’s Security Laboratory. The victims, important members of India’s constitutional order, included ministers, opposition leaders, journalists, judges and human rights defenders.

India has known about Pegasus since October 30, 2019, when WhatsApp confirmed that the spyware was being used to exploit vulnerabilities in its platform to target activists, academics, journalists and lawyers in India. Since then, NSO has been improving its technology, and Pegasus can now infect devices without any user action. Given the seriousness of the threat posed by these revelations and the credibility of the evidence supporting them, it is important to examine how each branch of the Indian state has responded, or failed to respond, to how to protect citizens’ privacy.

Official indifference and obfuscation

It is expected that law enforcement will provide the first response and government agencies will respond with action based on the severity of the disclosure. But on July 19, 2021, Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnau, referring to “reports dated July 18, 2021,” refused to directly address Project Pegasus’ complaints; They claim that the current legal framework prevents unauthorized surveillance.

On November 28, 2019, former Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had a similar reaction to allegations of use of Pegasus. A New York Times report dated January 31, 2022 contradicted both statements and stated that “India purchased Pegasus in 2017 as part of a $2 billion defense package.” The indifference of ministers is also reflected in professional agencies.

In response to the Project Pegasus revelations, CERT-IN, the nodal agency for India’s Computer Emergency Response Team, which deals with cybersecurity threats, has remained silent. However, WhatsApp’s 2019 statement forced CERT-In to issue notices to NSO and WhatsApp on November 26, 2019. But the agency did not provide any updates on what happened.

  • Judicial response
  • When it became clear that there was no response from the executive and legislative authorities, the victims resorted to the judiciary to demand compensation. So, on August 5, 2021, the victims went to the Supreme Court of India, where they proved that forensic analysis showed that their phones were infected with the virus.
  • We do not accept any responsibility
  • Perhaps commentators were quick to realize that the Pegasus flight represented India’s “Watergate moment.” After the Watergate scandal, the institutional response in the United States held President Richard Nixon and others accountable, with all branches of the state moving to rein in the abuse of power. But in India, the narrative certainly persists as a formal stone wall.

Law review

There is a need to review surveillance laws to prevent indiscriminate surveillance of people and organizations by the state and the private sector. The Information Technology Act 2000 and the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 give the government powers of surveillance, concentrating powers of surveillance in the hands of the executive and not providing for independent judicial or parliamentary oversight. These laws date back to a time before spyware such as Pegasus was developed, and are therefore inappropriate for the modern surveillance industry.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com

How cargo transport can be improved

How cargo transport can be improved (Indian Railways)

Heavy Load: A freight train moving near Tuticorin port.

By connecting two or three open coaches to all popular trains, ensuring their timely movement and changing fare regulations, Indian Railways will be able to load a reasonable amount of general freight with large tonnage in the coming years.

This is the latest in a three-part series on Indian Railways,(cargo) capital expenditure and freight business.

In this article, we will analyze the bulk and general cargo transportation of Indian Railways (IR). In 2018-19, before the Covid-19 pandemic, IR transported 62 million tonnes of general cargo, including 45 metric tonnes of general cargo, 12 metric tonnes of domestic containers and 5 metric tonnes of parcels, with a combined total of Rs 8,247 crore. The average profit per ton is INR 1,339 for goods and INR 3,384 for parcels. However, the total freight tonnage is lower than what a study by the Indian Railway Economic and Technical Services (RITES) in 2008 predicted over the next 10 years: between 194 and 292 tons depending on the effort.

Necessity of abandoning parcel ships

The current IR strategy for general cargo transportation is two-pronged: parcels are transported by passenger trains or special heavy parcel vessels (VPH). However, these methods appear to be becoming a problem as loads of charter parcel trucks and full parcel ships have decreased by 15% and 8% respectively.

One of the reasons for the decline of the parcel industry is the rise in shipping rates. Analysis of 15 origin-destination pairs shows that premium (P) and Rajdhani (R) fares, after including first- and last-mile costs, are higher than truck fares, that is, excluding freight to destinations in the Northeast. Other factors include inadequate terminals, inconsistent demand, as well as excessive criminal penalties, unreliable transit times, complex booking and delivery mechanisms, and self-imposed environmental restrictions. VPH parcel trains have proven to be counterproductive and should be abandoned. A properly covered dolly (technically a heavy-duty air brake dolly (BCNHL)) carries 700% more payload and 45% more mass. Even if we cut the P scale rate in half, the resulting revenue would be 3.5 times the amount of VPH.

Insufficient containers

Another big hope for IR is the expected push for general cargo transportation by private container ship operators (CTOs) through container shipping. However, after 15 years of privatization, domestic containerized goods account for only 1% of IR goods and 0.3% of the total national transportation. High shipping rates are one reason for the inefficiency. The problem may also lie in the risks associated with the development of the market, as it will inevitably lead to losses over time. Moreover, maintaining a growing market is also difficult because predatory pricing by other major technology managers can weaken the market.

The way forward

General loads are divided into three types: high-time-sensitive (HTSG), medium-time-sensitive (MTSG), and non-time-sensitive (LTSG).

HTSG goods are essentially valuable or perishable goods that need to continue to be transported by passenger ships. Connecting two or three cars to all popular trains would easily double the parcel capacity, and these parcel cars could carry five times more revenue than sleeping cars and about twice as much air-conditioned cars.

MTSG and LTSG loads are rate sensitive and must be transported at IR freight rates, which are lower than truck rates. Even after adding first and last mile costs, freight forwarders still have a cost advantage. But the problem is that the ship must be fully loaded. Freight companies should be allowed to reserve individual cars capable of running trains on schedule even when the train is not fully loaded. Ensuring timely movement will certainly attract shipping companies to international relations. Managing these freight trains does not require a change in policy, just a change in thinking. It is necessary to change the customs tariff regulations by adding any freight charges (FAK) for rolling stock to the tariff table. Return of the cart should be encouraged.

To encourage volumetric loading, speed can also be regulated by increasing the plate speed based on the quantity loaded. Finally, IR should incentivize freight aggregators by changing the current policies of freight forwarders. In the longer term, new types of locomotives will also be needed to improve loads and speeds, which IR and the rolling stock industry are fully capable of designing and delivering. Opportunities have been missed in the past. But now, with more coordinated efforts, IR will be able to transport a significant amount of general cargo tonnage in the coming years. Sudhanshu Mani is Vande Bharat Project Leader and Independent Railway Consultant, M. Ravibabu is a founding member of Anekdhara, a public policy portal.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com

Climate finance review: the case of red ink circles

Climate finance Review

Climate finance plays an important role in maintaining developing countries’ confidence in future climate change negotiations. Issues related to climate finance are likely to be the focus of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) meeting (30 November – 12 December) in Dubai, in the context of Climate Change 2023: Synthesis report provides important input for global scientists’ assessments at COP The report indicates that the current temperature rise of 1.1 degrees Celsius is responsible for recurring dangerous weather conditions, which will be included in the global assessment.

  • This amount is insufficient given the challenges facing developing countries in transitioning to a low-carbon development path capable of adapting to climate change. Providing financing to developing countries is an implementation of the basic principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and corresponding capabilities.

Full climate finance estimates

Developed countries are obligated to provide financial resources to developing countries. Under Article 9 of the Paris Agreement on climate change, developed countries are also required to provide information in their biennial update reports (BURs) on the financial resources they have provided, as well as the expected level of public financing to be made available. To developing countries. 

  • The Paris Agreement builds on the decisive efforts of all parties set out in their nationally determined contributions, which include the mitigation efforts each party will undertake over the next five years. All NDCs combined provide the probability of exceeding the 1.5°C target temperature. Considering the needs of countries of the Global South as expressed in their Nationally Determined Contributions, the amount identified for the first time is close to US$6 trillion by 2030. For India, the third Biennial Update Report stated that the need for its financial needs arises from its Nationally Determined Contributions for Adaptation and mitigation. . In the period 2015-2030, this amounts to US$206 billion and US$834 billion, respectively.

Most of the financing needed to transition from conventional systems to cleaner, low-carbon energy systems will not be financed through the financing mechanisms set out in the agreement. United Nations framework on climate change. Moreover, India reiterated its call for a just transition at COP27 as “3.6 million people across 159 districts in India participate in the fossil fuel economy through direct or indirect jobs related to coal mining, coal and the power sector.” They will need to be supported with appropriate economic and livelihood opportunities.

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The strong political will, remarkable urgency and enlightened self-interest of Global North elites were clearly demonstrated in the collapse of global public interest (well. global financial regulation) in 2009-2010, when G20 governments responded quickly to the global crisis. The global financial crisis, mobilizing $1.1 trillion within a few weeks to support the International Monetary Fund and multilateral development banks to rescue the global financial system. Unfortunately, these elements are missing when it comes to transferring the climate finance needed from developed to developing countries to protect another global commons: the atmosphere.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com 

Apple warns of cyber attack: The opposition is pressuring the government

Apple warns of cyber Attack to opposition leaders

Several politicians and journalists said they had received warnings from the tech giant that their devices were being targeted by “state-sponsored attackers”; Government Promises investigation, calls curious claims ‘vague’.

  • More than a dozen opposition leaders and journalists received an email notice from US tech giant Apple on Monday evening, informing them that their digital devices had been “compromised by hackers of the targeted state sponsor”. The Union government on Tuesday said it would conduct an investigation into the concerns, even as Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnau termed the spying allegations made by the opposition as “vague”.
  • Prominent opposition leaders who posted screenshots of these messages on social media include Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Congress . MPs Shashi Tharoor and K.C. Venugopal. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi told reporters that his office workers also received the notice. Gandhi alleged that the “intrusion” took place when the opposition leaders “groped” industrialist Gautam Adani. Ms Moitra made similar accusations later in the day, saying on X (formerly Twitter) that the episode was a “desperate distraction” from reporting on alleged corrupt dealings related to the Adani Group.

warning

“Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone linked to your Apple ID,” the warning read.

“These attackers may target you personally because of who you are or what you do… If your device is compromised by a state-sponsored attacker, they could remotely access sensitive data, communications, or even your camera and microphone.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com

Gold demand loses  its appeal at the  peak  of the holiday  season  when  prices  rebound  

 Gold prices near record highs could dampen demand in India during the peak  festive  season and lead to the lowest  buying  volumes in three years, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Tuesday.  

 Gold prices near record highs could dampen demand in India during the peak  festive  season and lead to the lowest  buying  volumes in three years, the World Gold Council (WGC) said on Tuesday. 

  India is the  world’s second-biggest  gold  consumer  and  reduced gold  purchases could limit  global  price increases. Lower gold import  demand  could also help  reduce India’s  trade deficit and support the rupee.

  Somasundaram PR, regional general manager of WGC’s India operations, said higher  prices in the December quarter,  traditionally  the highest sales of the year, could  reduce buying.  Gold demand in India  typically surges  towards the end of the year,  coinciding  with the traditional wedding season and major  festivals,  including Diwali and Dusherra, when  buying  gold  is considered auspicious. 

  Domestic  gold prices jumped this week to  Rs  61,396  per 10 grams,  close to  the all-time high of  Rs  61,845  reached  earlier this year. Last year, prices in the December quarter were nearly 20% lower than this year.

  Somasundaram said in  the December quarter, demand is expected to be lower than last  year’s  276.3  mt.  

 “Currently, price is  an important influencing factor.  If  prices come down significantly before  Diwali, the  whole  situation could change,” he said. Diwali will be celebrated in mid-November. 

  India’s  gold consumption in the July-September quarter rose 10% to 210.2  tonnes on improved investment  and  jewelry  demand  due to a correction in  domestic  prices, he  claimed.  

Source www.indianexpress.com

 From January to September, gold demand  decreased  by 3.3% to 481.2  tons due to  stagnant  demand in the first  half of the year.  

 In 2023, demand could fall to around 700  tonnes, a three-year low,  from 774.1  tonnes  a year  ago. Rising  gold prices have  prompted  some  sellers  to sell  old  jewelry  and coins,  according  to  WGC data, causing  scrap  metal stocks to rise  37% from  last  year  to 91.6  tonnes  in the first nine  months of  the  year. 

  Somasundaram said the  trend  will  continue in the December quarter if prices remain  at  current  levels. 

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

World Bank: Conflict in  West  Asia  could  cause a “double 2011 shock” in  global commodity  markets  

 The World Bank  emphasized  that if  conflict escalates, policymakers in developing countries will need to take steps to manage  the potential for  a  rise  in  overall  inflation. 

  Conflict  in West Asia,  combined with disruption from Russia’s  invasion of Ukraine, has  had a  limited impact on commodity  prices,  but could  cause a “double shock”  to commodity  markets, as disruption in energy  markets  could  further increase  food insecurity,  according to  the World  Bank. »  said in its latest Commodity  Market Outlook report.  

 Noting that  India’s  ban on  non-basmati rice  exports “has shaken  global markets since  mid-July”,  the World Bank said developing countries should avoid trade restrictions such as  bans.  export  of  food  products  and  fertilizers.  

  Businesses  should avoid trade restrictions such as  bans on food and  fertilizer exports.  

  “The increase in  oil prices, if  prolonged, will certainly lead to an increase in  food prices. If a severe  oil  shock  occurs,  it  will increase  food price  inflation, which is  already  high  in many developing countries.  By  the end of 2022, more than 700 million  people, equivalent to nearly 1/10  of the  world’s population, will fall into malnutrition. The latest  escalation of the  conflict  will further increase  food insecurity, not  just in  the region but also  worldwide.  

 The World Bank  emphasized  that if  conflict escalates, policymakers in developing countries will need to take steps to manage  the potential for  a  rise  in  overall  inflation. 

 “Given the  growing  risk of  food insecurity, governments should avoid trade restrictions such as  bans on food and  fertilizer exports.  Such measures often  increase  price volatility and  worsen  food insecurity. They should also refrain from introducing price controls and  subsidies  to  cope with rising  food and oil prices. A better option is to improve  the  social safety  net,  diversify food  sources  and increase  the  efficiency  of  food production and  trading.  In the  long  term, all countries can  increase  energy security by accelerating the transition to renewable energy  sources, which  will mitigate the  impact  of  oil  shocks,” the report said.  said.  

 Noting  India’s  ban on non-basmati rice  exports,  the World Bank said rice prices will remain high in  2024, as long as  India maintains export  restrictions. He  also said that even  if fertilizer  demand  recovers, India’s subsidy reduction  in  the second half of the season  (early  October) could further impact demand. 

  “India  bans  non-basmati rice  exports  in response to  rising  domestic prices (due to  floods  in northern India) and  concerns about the potential impact  of  El Niño  in  key rice growing areas .  These measures have  shaken  global markets since mid-July. Rice prices in August and September 2023 reached  their  highest  level  since the 2007/08 food price crisis,”  the report  said. India accounts for nearly  40%  of  global  rice exports.  The World Bank said oil  prices are expected to average $90 a barrel this  quarter,  before falling to $81 a barrel next year as global economic growth  slows. “General  commodity prices are  expected  to fall 4.1% next year.  Agricultural commodity prices  are expected to decline next year  due to increased supply. Base metal prices  are also  expected  to  decline  5% in 2024. Commodity prices are expected to  stabilize  in 2025,” the report said. However, the outlook for commodity prices  will quickly  darken  if the conflict  escalates. Laying out  three risk scenarios based on historical experience since the 1970s, the World Bank said  that  in  the “minor  disruption” scenario,  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by  between  500,000  and  2 million barrels per  day, roughly  equivalent to the reduction  observed  during the Libyan civil  war. war.  war in 2011 and  oil  prices will  initially increase to  between 93 and 102 USD/barrel.  

 In a “medium disruption”  scenario – roughly  equivalent to the  2003  Iraq  War –  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by 3  to 5 million barrels per day, which could  cause  oil prices to  rise between $109 and $121 per carton.  In a  “major  disruption”  scenario – comparable  to the  1973  Arab oil embargo  –  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by 6  to 8 million barrels per day, which could  push  prices  up by 140 million barrels per day.  to  157 USD/barrel. .  

  So far, the impact of the conflict  on global commodity markets  has  been  limited,  with  overall oil prices  up around 6%  since the start of the conflict and prices of agricultural commodities, most  metals types  and other  raw materials remained virtually unchanged. However,  the report said the outlook for commodity prices would  quickly  darken  if  conflict  intensifies.  

  World Bank: Conflict in  West  Asia  could  cause a “double shock” in  global commodity  markets 

  World  Bank: Conflict in  West  Asia  could  cause a “double shock” in  global commodity  markets  

 The World Bank  emphasized  that if  conflict escalates, policymakers in developing countries will need to take steps to manage  the potential for  a  rise  in  overall  inflation.  

“Given the  growing  risk of  food insecurity, governments should avoid trade restrictions such as  bans on food and  fertilizer exports.  Such measures often  increase  price volatility and  worsen  food insecurity. They should also refrain from introducing price controls and  subsidies  to  cope with rising  food and oil prices. A better option is to improve  the  social safety  net,  diversify food  sources  and increase  the  efficiency  of  food production and  trading.  In the  long  term, all countries can  increase  energy security by accelerating the transition to renewable energy  sources, which  will mitigate the  impact  of  oil  shocks,” the report said.  said.  Noting  India’s  ban on non-basmati rice  exports,  the World Bank said rice prices will remain high in  2024, as long as  India maintains export  restrictions. He  also said that even  if fertilizer  demand  recovers, India’s subsidy reduction  in  the second half of the season  (early  October) could further impact demand. 

  “India  bans  non-basmati rice  exports  in response to  rising  domestic prices (due to  floods  in northern India) and  concerns about the potential impact  of  El Niño  in  key rice growing areas .  These measures have  shaken  global markets since mid-July. Rice prices in August and September 2023 reached  their  highest  level  since the 2007/08 food price crisis,”  the report  said. India accounts for nearly  40%  of  global  rice exports. 

  The World Bank said oil  prices are expected to average $90 a barrel this quarter before falling to $81 a barrel next year as global economic growth  slows. “General  commodity prices are  expected  to fall 4.1% next year.  Agricultural commodity prices  are expected to decline next year  due to increased supply. Base metal prices  are also  predicted  to  fall  5%  by  2024. Commodity prices are expected to  stabilize by  2025,” the report said. However, the outlook for commodity prices  will quickly  darken  if the conflict  escalates. Laying out  three risk scenarios based on historical experience since the 1970s, the World Bank said  that  in  the “minor  disruption” scenario,  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by  between  500,000  and  2 million barrels per  day, roughly  equivalent to the reduction  observed  during the Libyan civil  war. war.  war in 2011 and  oil  prices will  initially increase to  between 93 and 102 USD/barrel.  

 In a “medium disruption”  scenario – roughly  equivalent to the  2003  Iraq  War –  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by 3  to 5 million barrels per day, which could  cause  oil prices to  rise between $109 and $121 per carton.  In a  “major  disruption”  scenario – comparable  to the  1973  Arab oil embargo  –  global oil  supplies  would  fall  by 6  to 8 million barrels per day, which could  push  prices  up by 140 million barrels per day.  to  157 USD/barrel. 

1.

 Cricket World Cup: Jasprit  Bumrah,  Mohammed Shami add  names  to elite list of  fast  twins 

 2.

 Bengaluru: After missing  several  deadlines,  adaptive signals  powered  by  Japanese technology will go live by the end of December.  

  So far, the impact of the conflict  on global commodity markets  has  been  limited,  with  overall oil prices  up around 6%  since the start of the conflict and prices of agricultural commodities, most  metals types  and other  raw materials remained virtually unchanged. However,  the report said the outlook for commodity prices would  quickly  darken  if  conflict  intensifies.  

  Noting Russia’s orientation  of  exports from EU and G7 countries to China, India and  Turkey,  the World Bank said  a  price  ceiling for  Russian crude  to be introduced at the end of 2022 is likely increasingly inapplicable due to recent increases in  oil  prices  in  the  Urals,  and  the  Price Cap  has not  caused  significant supply disruptions, with  Russian oil production and  export volumes  remaining relatively  stable. “This  cap  does  not  create  significant supply disruptions, with  Russian oil production and  export volumes  remaining relatively  stable, partly  reflecting the  orientation  of Russian exports from  the  EU and G7 countries to China, India and  Turkey.  There  is growing  uncertainty  about  the discount at which Russian oil trades, as  Ural  benchmark  prices  are  unclear  and  European brokers’  shipping cost estimates  become more uncertain as their market share  increased,” he  said. 

Source www.indianexpress.com

  Looking  ahead, policymakers  must  remain  vigilant,  with some  commodities – notably gold – raising warnings  about the outlook. “Gold prices have  increased  about 8% since the  start  of the conflict. Gold prices have a  special  relationship  with  geopolitical concerns: they rise in  times  of conflict and  instability, which  often  signals  an erosion of investor

confidence,”  he  said, adding that in the event of  more widespread conflict in the Middle East, gold prices  will  likely  rise  from already high levels as investors  turn  to safe-haven assets.  

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Narayan Murthy : Putting the dea of ​​the “70-hours workweek” into practice.

Narayan Murthy : Putting the dea of ​​the “70-hours workweek

Working harder does not necessarily lead to higher productivity.

  • Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy recently said that young Indians should work 70 hours a week. The comment received support from some and criticism from others. He said this in the first episode of the video series published by 3one4 Capital entitled “The Record”.
  • Assuming a six-day work week, Murthy’s comments mean Indians would have to work 11.5 hours a day. How many hours does an average Indian youth work today? According to the India Time Use Survey 2019, a person aged 15-29 years spends more than 7.2 hours a day on work and related activities in rural areas and 8.5 hours a day in urban areas. A state-level comparison of time spent working in urban areas, indicating that the number is higher in rural areas, is shown in Map 1. Urban Uttarakhand comes out on top, with the state’s youth working an average of 9.6 hours per day. Which is about two hours less than Mr. Murthy had expected.

Assuming that if people worked 5 days, they would have to work 14 hours a day, one point to consider is whether working longer hours would lead to increased productivity. Mr. Murthy raised this point in a series of videos. “India’s labor productivity is among the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our labor productivity, we will not be able to compete with countries that have made tremendous progress,” he said. To emphasize this point, he cited the examples of Germany and Japan. “You know, that’s exactly what the Germans and Japanese did after World War II… It guarantees that every German must work overtime for a certain number of years.

Chart 2 shows a comparison of annual hours worked per worker and labor productivity in India, Germany, and Japan. The graph shows the average annual working hours per worker for Germans and Japanese. Japan reached its peak after the war, at between 2,200 and 2,400 hours a day. year. – About 8.3-9 hours per day in a five-day work week with no days off. This is still two and a half hours less than Mr. Murthy had expected.

More importantly, as labor productivity increased in Germany and Japan, two countries that were relatively more industrialized even before World War II, the average number of hours worked fell dramatically to about 1,400.1,600 hours per year in 2020 (from 5.3 to 6 hours per day). ) day). As shown in Chart 2. Labor productivity is measured in GDP per hour worked. Average annual working hours in India remained above 2,000 hours from 1970 to 2020, while labor productivity increased slightly from $2 per hour to $9 over the same period. So the question is: Is it better to increase working hours or increase productivity through technology? This is because longer working hours mean less time for exercise and entertainment. As shown in Chart 3, compared to Germany and Japan, Indians spend less time on sports and other leisure activities. Indians spend more time sleeping and doing household chores than the other two countries.

While there are differing opinions on Murthy’s proposal, it is worth asking whether India has sufficient statistical tools to accurately measure labor productivity, when 89% of the workforce is actively engaged in informal work compared to only 4.2% in Germany and about 4.2%. % In Germany. . 8% in Japan (Chart 4). In light of these vast differences in the nature of the workforce between the three countries, is this a viable comparison?

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com

The IIT team found that carbon ‘flowers’ excel at converting light into heat

The IIT team found that carbon ‘flowers’

One of two carbon nanoflowers observed The IIT team found that carbon ‘flowers’ under a microscope. Ananya Shah and Chandramouli Subramaniam. Researchers at IIT Bombay have created molecules that absorb three frequencies of sunlight and convert it into heat with 87% efficiency. These particles can be deposited on surfaces to heat homes and disinfect surfaces in hospitals. The researchers have applied for a patent.

  • To assemble “blacker than black” carbon nanostructures, Ananya Sah and C. Subramaniam with white substance. In Professor Subramaniam’s lab at the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT ) Bombay, Dr. Sah heated a special form of silicon dust called DFNS (for dendritic nanosilica) in a furnace. Once heated, it introduces acetylene gas into the chamber. The white powder turns black, which is a sign of carbon deposition in the DFNS. 
  • She (IIT ) then collected the black powder and treated it with a harsh chemical to dissolve the DFNS, leaving the carbon particles behind.
  • The structure of silicone particles – which range in size from 50 to 1,200 nanometers – resembles dots arranged around a sphere. After removing the silicone filling, small carbon balls remain, the surface of which is pierced in a cone shape. In fact, these particles are spherical nanostructures made up of carbon cones.
  • Unprecedented effectiveness
  • When Dr. Sah and Professor Subramaniam (IIT) examined some of these spheres under a microscope, they were struck by the appearance of the particles: like little plush, made entirely of carbon. They call this material carbon nanoflowers. In a paper published in September in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, a team led by Professor Subramaniam claimed that these nanoflowers can absorb sunlight at multiple frequencies and convert it into heat with unprecedented efficiency.

The magazine notes that nanoflowers also do not dissipate heat generated in the environment easily, making the material a good candidate for heating other materials, such as water, using solar energy.

Vivek Pulshettiwar, a professor of chemistry at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai and leader of the team that invented DFNS in 2010, told this author that the research findings highlight molecules with “excellent social utility.”

  • Two different technologies
  • According to Professor Pulchettiwar, this is not the first time such carbon nanomaterials have been manufactured. In 2018, his team reported identical structures called “wrinkled caged carbon nanotubes.”
  • But he added that he and Prof. Subramaniam’s work differs in the techniques used to deposit carbon onto the DFNS model (although this does not affect the properties of the product).
  • Teacher. Pulshettiwar’s group used formaldehyde-phenol polymerization chemistry while Professor Subramaniam’s group used chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In CVD, volatile compounds such as acetylene are used to deposit a thin layer of carbon on a silicon dust sample.
  • No risks have been found so far
  • “Because this material can be applied to many different surfaces, it can heat surfaces that use sunlight. If you use cladding with this material to heat your home, you will be doing so in an environmentally friendly way while also reducing your carbon footprint,” Dr. Kanakia adds. According to a press release issued by the institute, Professor Subramaniam’s team discovered that nanoflowers can be applied to paper, metal and fired clay. Professor Subramaniam also said the nanosheets pose no inhalation risk: “Once applied, the adhesion is almost as good as paint on a wall.” When testing the stability of the paint, they found that its lifespan was at least 8 years. Professor Pulchettiwar agreed and added that further testing could determine whether the coating could degrade more quickly with increased temperature or sunlight.

Effective heating solution

According to Dr. Kanakia, who studied electrical engineering at IIT Bombay, it is remarkable that a professor who starts with a fundamental discovery actually wants to go beyond writing an academic paper and find an application that can be used in the real world. “We need more researchers like this in our education system.”

Teacher. Subramaniam is currently building a startup that will be incubated by IIT Bombay. Their first goal is to increase production of this coating, which they will then sell to companies looking for efficient heating solutions. Researchers are also studying other physical and chemical properties and potential applications of nanoflowers. “Thanks to its unique structural and morphological properties, we believe it has many unexplored applications,” Dr. Sah said.

For more information visit at https://happenrecently.com/zepto/?amp=1

Source: www.thehindu.com