New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.Via Twitter, the billionaire philanthropist said he will isolate until he is again healthy.I'm fortunate to be vaccinated and boosted and have access to testing and great medical care, Gates wrote.The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the most influential private foundation in the world, with an endowment of about 65 billion.Bill Gates has been a vocal proponent for pandemic mitigation measures, specifically access to vaccines and medication for poorer countries. The Gates Foundation in October said it will spend 120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck's antiviral Covid-19 pill for lower-income countries—PTI

 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday he has tested positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.

Bill Gates tests Covid Positive, experiences mild symptoms

Washington:&nbsp;Seattle&nbsp;Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.Via Twitter, the billionaire philanthropist said he will isolate until he is again healthy.I'm fortunate to be vaccinated and boosted and have access to testing and great medical care, Gates wrote. The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the most influential private foundation in the world, with an endowment of about $65 billion.Bill Gates has been a vocal proponent for pandemic mitigation measures, specifically access to vaccines and medication for poorer countries. The Gates Foundation in October said it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck's antiviral COVID-19 pill for lower-income countries. —AP

Seattle Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Tuesday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms.

Bill Gates Tests Covid Positive, Experiences Mild Symptoms

Canberra: The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on Thursday announced a final price increase from July, citing that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has put "significant" pressure on global coal and gas prices. The starkest price increases will come for residents in the state of New South Wales (NSW), where electricity prices will surge by 8.2 per cent adjusted for inflation and by 5.5 per cent for those in Queensland, reports Xinhua news agency.This means that the average resident in NSW capital Sydney would be paying around A$100 ($70) more on electricity each year, adding even more pressure on residents being squeezed by a headline inflation of projected 5.5 per cent. The AER report cited a compounding of factors leading to the surge, including included both domestic production outages and extreme weather in NSW and Queensland, coupled with international conditions. "Factors contributing to increases in the draft forecasts included a reduction in thermal generation resulting from unplanned outages and higher coal and gas costs, slowing of investment in new capacity, and increasingly 'peaky' demand," said the report. "These conditions have persisted and been compounded by the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has led to significant pressure on coal and gas prices globally."The AER sets Australia's Default Market Offer (DMO), the maximum price that private energy retailers can charge consumers. Following the announcement, the peak body for energy retailers and generators the Australian Energy Council (AEC) urged consumers to shop around to soften price shocks. "An increase to the DMO is news that most of us could have done without. No one likes to see prices rise, and with the current cost of living pressures, it's important that consumers shop around for the best deal," said AEC Chief Executive Sarah McNamara. "Default offers are not the cheapest deal out there, they exist for customers who aren't shopping around for a better energy deal," she added.—IANS

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) on Thursday announced a final price increase from July, citing that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has put "significant" pressure on global coal and gas prices.

Australian power bills to soar amid global pressures

Islamabad: Criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pakistani billionaire, Mohammad Zahoor aka "Pakistani press prince of Kyiv" has called on the international community to support Kyiv, as Russian forces step up attacks on cities and nuclear facilities. However, Pakistan's relationship with the Western countries has been shaky since the visit of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to Moscow on the day Russia launched its military operations in Ukraine and the subsequent stance of Pakistan in United Nations resolutions against Russia where Pakistan abstained.Zahoor was a major figure in the Ukrainian media and steel industries and also became involved in Ukraine's media and entertainment scene as he bought Kyiv Post in 2009, the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine, which he owned for nearly a decade, gaining the title of "Pakistani press prince of Kyiv."Fluent in the region's languages and familiar with its politics, the billionaire told Arab News in an exclusive interview, he urged the world to take sides. "This is time, actually, for us not to keep quiet. We have to take sides. I am openly taking the side of Ukraine because after seeing (reports from) Western, Ukrainian and Russian media, I can see and decide who is telling the truth. This is the time actually for everyone to speak up for Ukraine otherwise every big country is going to swallow its next-door neighbor," Zahoor said in a statement. As international sanctions followed Russia's invasion, aiming to cut Moscow off from the world's financial arteries, Zahoor said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had called for the world's intervention before the violence broke out as the shelling of nuclear facilities by Russian forces pose a severe danger to the world.Calling the Russian aggression brutal, Zahoor said the war may have consequences for Russia similar to the fallout from the Soviet-Afghan war from 1979 to 1989, which drastically weakened the Russian military and economy. That defeat in Afghanistan was one of the major reasons for the dissolution of the Soviet Union. "Ukraine is going to be the next Afghanistan for Russia," he said. "I don't know how many years they are going to be in Ukraine, but once they are out, they will be broken into pieces." The Russians have reportedly captured Europe's largest nuclear power plant after attacking it overnight Friday, which started at least one fire, raising widespread concerns that a meltdown happened and that the consequences would likely be much worse than Chornobyl.On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine as Russia said that the aim of its operation is "demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine."—ANI

Criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pakistani billionaire, Mohammad Zahoor aka "Pakistani press prince of Kyiv" has called on the international community to support Kyiv, as Russian forces step up attacks on cities and nuclear facilities.

'Pakistani press prince of Kyiv' urges world to stand in solidarity with Ukraine

Colombo: Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, during a meeting with representatives from the Joint Chambers on Thursday, explained that the Government was targeting USD 5 billion for repayments and USD 1 billion to bolster the country's reserves. During the meeting, Wickremesinghe elaborated that discussions with the International Monetary Fund are proceeding and was hopeful that the negotiations would end this month.He further explained that the debt restructuring has already begun, following the appointment of financial and legal advisors. Sri Lanka's Prime Minister said that any bridging finance to help in alleviating the crisis is dependent on an agreement with the IMF being reached. Commenting further, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe stated that talks were continuing with donor nations. He added that relations with Japan had broken down, and it would take a while to repair those relations and regain their confidence. In regards to the medicine shortage, the Prime Minister explained that former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, who was appointed on May 19 to coordinate the relief efforts for the island nation, was leading the international appeal for urgently needed medical supplies.Addressing the issue of food scarcity, the Prime Minister explained that securing fertilizer and compiling a food security program were being given equal priority. He explained that in the event of any excess crops, those would be provided to vulnerable groups at a concessionary rate. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sri Lanka relaxed the import restrictions on 369 items in March and April this year.Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies, has issued a gazette notification on the relaxation, the Ministry said in a press statement. Earlier, those who wanted to import any of the 369 items had to obtain an import licence, and the decision to restrict the import was taken to reduce foreign currency spending on foreign products. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation.The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a fall in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as reckless economic policies, like the government's move last year to ban chemical fertilizers in a bid to make Sri Lanka's agriculture "100 per cent organic". Due to an acute shortage of foreign exchange, Sri Lanka recently defaulted on the entirety of its foreign debt amounting to about USD 51 billion.—ANI

Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, during a meeting with representatives from the Joint Chambers on Thursday, explained that the Government was targeting USD 5 billion for repayments and USD 1 billion to bolster the country's reserves.

Sri Lanka targets USD 5 billion this year for repayments, says PM

New Delhi: The country's foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.85 billion to $601.36 billion in the week ended May 27, according to RBI data. During the reporting week, the rise in forex reserves was due to an increase in the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) and the gold reserves, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday. FCA increased by $3.61 billion to $536.99 billion in the week ended May 27.Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.Gold reserves increased by $94 million to $40.92 billion.The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by $132 million to $18.44 billion.The country's reserve position with the IMF also increased by $18 million to $5.02 billion in the reporting week, the data showed.—PTI

The country's foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.85 billion to $601.36 billion in the week ended May 27, according to RBI data.

Forex reserves up by $3.85 bn to $601.36 bn

The country's foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.85 billion to $601.36 billion in the week ended May 27, according to RBI data.



Mumbai:&nbsp;Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has regained the position of India as well as Asia's richest man, replacing Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. According to Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Mukesh Ambani's net worth has risen to $99.7 billion, while Gautam Adani's net worth stood at $98.7 billion.Mukesh Ambani is ranked the eighth richest person in the world as per the Bloomberg Billionaire index. In India as well as in Asia RIL's chairman is the richest. Mr Ambani is followed by Gautam Adani on the global billionaire list. Adani is ranked ninth in the Bloomberg Billionaire index. A surge in RIL shares has led to the increase in Mukesh Ambani's fortune. RIL shares have surged by over 16 per cent so far this year. The scrip has gained 6.79 per cent in a week. Gautam Adani had been enjoying the position of India's as well as Asia's richest person for the past few months due to the spike in share prices of Adani group companies. However, in recent weeks, the share price of Mukesh Ambani-led companies has risen sharply while there have been corrections in Adani Group companies' stocks.As per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Mukesh Ambani's net worth has increased by $9.69 billion in 2022. As per the Forbes real-time billionaires list, Mukesh Ambani has a net of $104.7 billion, which is $4.8 billion more than $99.9 billion net worth of Gautam Adani and his family. Only seven persons in the world are richer than Mukesh Ambani. Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a net fortune of $227 billion. Amazon's Jeff Bezos is the second richest man with a $149 billion net worth, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. LVMH's Bernard Arnault with $138 billion net worth is the third richest person in the world followed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with $124 billion net fortune in the fourth position and legendary investor Warren Buffett in the fifth position with a net worth of $114 billion.—PTI

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has regained the position of India as well as Asia's richest man, replacing Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani.

Mukesh Ambani regains Asia’s richest man tag, surpasses Gautam Adani

Washington: A new study by the University of Bath busts the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could have important implications for sustainability policies.A founding economic principle that everyone is motivated by 'unlimited wants', stuck on a consumerist treadmill and striving to accumulate as much wealth as they can, is untrue, say the authors of a new study.The long-held economic belief that people have unlimited wants has permeated economic thinking and government policies and has shaped much of modern society, including advertising and consumerism.But belief in this principle has also had dire consequences for the health of the planet. Striving to continually increase individual wealth, and pursuing unending economic growth, has come at a heavy cost. As wealth has increased, so too has resource use and pollution.Up until now, researchers have struggled to find appropriate ways to decouple economic growth from damaging economic principles. Now though, a new study led by psychologists at the universities of Bath, Bath Spa and Exeter challenges the idea that unlimited wants are human nature, which could have important implications for the planet. Across nearly 8000 people from 33 countries spanning six continents, they surveyed how much money people wanted to achieve their 'absolutely ideal life'. In 86% of countries most people thought they could achieve this with US $10 million or less, and in some countries as little as $1 million.Whilst these figures may still sound a lot, when considered that they represent a person's ideal wealth across their whole life they are relatively moderate. Expressed differently, the wealth of the world's single richest person, at over $200 billion, is enough for more than two hundred thousand people to achieve their 'absolutely ideal lives'.The researchers collected responses about ideal wealth from individuals in countries across all inhabited continents, including countries rarely used in cross-cultural psychology such as Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Tunisia, Nicaragua, and Vietnam. People with unlimited wants were identified in every country, but they were always in the minority. They found that those with unlimited wants tended to be younger and city-dwellers, who placed more value on success, power, and independence. Unlimited wants were also more common in countries with greater acceptance of inequality and in countries that are more collectivistic: focused more on group than individual responsibilities and outcomes. For example, Indonesia, which is considered more collectivistic and accepting of inequality, had the most people with unlimited wants whilst the more individualistic and equality-concerned UK had fewer. However, there were anomalies like China, where few people had unlimited wants despite high cultural collectivism and acceptance of inequality.Lead researcher, Dr Paul Bain from the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath (UK) explained: "The ideology of unlimited wants, when portrayed as human nature, can create social pressure for people to buy more than they actually want. "Discovering that most people's ideal lives are actually quite moderate could make it socially easier for people to behave in ways that are more aligned with what makes them genuinely happy and to support stronger policies to help safeguard the planet."Co-author, Dr Renata Bongiorno of the University of Exeter and also Bath Spa University (UK), added: "The findings are a stark reminder that the majority view is not necessarily reflected in policies that allow the accumulation of excessive amounts of wealth by a small number of individuals."If most people are striving for wealth that is limited, policies that support people's more limited wants, such as a wealth tax to fund sustainability initiatives, might be more popular than is often portrayed."&nbsp;—ANI

A new study by the University of Bath busts the long-held economic belief that humans are all motivated to want more and more, which could have important implications for sustainability policies.

Not Everyone Wants To Become A 'Billionaire', Good News For Planet: Study

New Delhi :&nbsp;The soul of Peter Brook's work as a director, actor and writer was in his productions noted for what he called "colour-rich", as opposed to "colour-blind", casting. In his view, when the audience sits bored, listening to a recital of words with no emotion, the actor has failed.Brook once said: "People have entrusted themselves to you for two hours or more and you have to give them a respect that derives from confidence in what you are doing. At the end of an evening, you may have encouraged what is crude, violent or destructive in them. Or you can help them. By that I mean that an audience can be touched, entranced or -- best of all -- moved to a silence that vibrates round the theatre." And this, literally, brought the roof down on the opening night of William Shakespeare's 'Timon of Athens' at the once-dilapidated Bouffes du Nord theatre in Paris that he helped restore. The applause shook the building."There were various problems on the opening night. It was a big success but the applause brought down some of the ceiling. People had bits of plaster on their heads," Brook said in an interview to Chris Wiegand, Stage Editor of 'The Guardian' newspaper in 2016. How did the turnaround happen?"I wanted that Elizabethan feeling where if you come to the theatre, you mix with all people -- not just the rich. We had people sitting on the ground from the start. Actors were in close contact with the audience, reacting immediately with them. The acting space was much further forward than it had been when it was a proscenium theatre. So we had this proximity with the audience but there was also this great, vast space reaching to the back wall -- that was important to depict Timon after his exile." Brook explained."We put in steps coming up from the pit, so actors could make spectacular entrances. We used cubes and boxes, very rough things. The designer wanted to find how we could make clothes that were free of associations, yet true to the actors. The Bouffes is now surrounded by Indian shops and restaurants but at that time there was nothing Indian in the area."So our designer went to the African market nearby and got all sorts of fine clothes and made simple new shapes with them. These were definitely not modern dresses, but simple clothes, to which you have no immediate connections -- such as to Elizabethan or Victorian times -- in your mind. We continue to use that approach today."The theatre's fine acoustics enabled you to feel as if you were playing in a courtyard in the open air, yet the space also had an intimacy that made it possible for the actors to play as if they were in a film. That was the double nature of the Bouffes, and what Timon -- and any Shakespeare play -- demands."You mustn't make it cosy and intimate at the expense of its heroic, epic qualities and you mustn't make it epic and heroic at the expense of the fact that, moment by moment, it's all about real people and real feelings," Brook said.In a 2017 interview with British art critic Michael Billingron, Brook spoke about how important it is to "swim against the tide and achieve whatever we can in our chosen field. Fate dictated that mine was that of theatre and, within that, I have a responsibility to be as positive and creative as I can. To give way to despair is the ultimate cop-out."Not surprisingly, after his productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the Bouffes du Nord, his base for more than 30 years was in African villages where his actors improvised performances, and on stages both grand and in modes that his globetrotting ensemble visited refined the way theatre is looked at.Brook's landmark achievements include a nine-hour version of the 'Mahabharata', putting Shakespeare on trapezes, and directing the likes of Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud and Paul Scofield at the RSC.'The Mahabharata', in fact, was staged in a French quarry in 1985 and 'The New York Times', noting its "overwhelming critical acclaim", said it "did nothing less than attempt to transform the Hindu myth into universalised art, accessible to any culture".Many post-colonial scholars, however, have challenged this claim to universalism, accusing the play of Orientalism. Author Gautam Dasgupta wrote: "Brook's Mahabharata falls short of essential Indianness of the epic by staging predominantly its major incidents and failing to adequately emphasise its coterminous philosophical precepts."Brook returned to the epic in 2016 with 'Battlefield', staged with his long-time collaborator Marie-Helene Estienne.Brook also directed musicals, the anti-Vietnam war protest play 'US', and co-created with British author Ted Hughes 'Orghast', an experimental play based on the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus, a Titan and god of fire."I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space, whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged," Brook wrote in 'The Empty Space' (1968), which many directors and actors consider their Bible.For instance, Brook's 1970 version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' for the RSC, influenced by both a Jerome Robbins ballet and the Peking Circus, was performed in a white cube of a set and boasted trapezes, stilts and a forest of steel wire.Often referred to as "our greatest living theatre director", Brook won multiple Tony and Emmy Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Japanese Praemium Imperiale and the Prix Italia. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2021 "for his valuable contributions towards art".Born in London on March 21, 1925, at age seven he acted out a four-hour version of 'Hamlet' on his own for his parents. After attending Magdalen College, Oxford, he was soon at the Royal Opera House, directing Richard Strauss's opera 'Salome' with designs by Salvador Dalí. He directed Laurence Olivier as Titus Andronicus in Stratford for the RSC in 1955 and when Peter Hall became its artistic director in 1958, he asked Brook to assist him there.Brook's RSC productions included a 1962 staging of 'King Lear', a play he considered "the supreme achievement of the world's theatre" that starred Paul Scofield.Several of his shows received Broadway transfers, including the avant garde 'Marat/Sade', which won the Tony award for best play in 1964. The concept was that the Marquis de Sade was putting on a drama about the French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat, acted out by the inmates of a mental asylum.In 1970, Brook moved to Paris, where he set up his International Centre for Theatre Research. The company visited Africa, where his actors gave performances that "didn't use anything that corresponded to the theatre of the time -- we wanted to play to audiences who were not conditioned by anything. We wouldn't, even experimentally, do a play with a text or a theme or a name."'The Man Who', which premiered in Paris in 1993, was inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks's book 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat', which revisited the disorders of Sacks's patients.Brook's own neurological research led to 'The Valley of Astonishment', about synaesthesia, co-created with Estienne, and performed at the Young Vic in London with Kathryn Hunter among the cast.Brook married the actor Natasha Parry in 1951 and they had two children, Irina (now a director) and Simon (now a producer). Parry died in 2015."We have lost a beacon.... He didn't just believe in the profound humanity and transformative power of theatre and Shakespeare, he put it into action. He was a true and rare practitioner and his legacy must live on in those of us who humbly follow in his eternal summer," Michelle Terry, artistic director of Shakespeare's Globe, said of Brook's passing.----- IANS

The soul of Peter Brook's work as a director, actor and writer was in his productions noted for what he called "colour-rich", as opposed to "colour-blind", casting. In his view, when the audience sits bored, listening to a recital of words with no emotion, the actor has failed.

The influential stage visionary who made 'Mahabharata' a global epic

Vijay GargThe latest United Nations report on food security shows that the problem of hunger in the world is getting worse. All over the world, 2.3 billion people are facing difficulties in getting food. This figure is for 2021, which also includes the deadly effects of the Corona crisis. After the Russo-Ukraine war that started this year, due to the increase in the prices of food grains, petroleum products and fertilizers, the whole world is facing the frightening after that.The situation can be guessed automatically. Ironically, all the efforts made in the last decade to eradicate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition all over the world seem to be floundering. A recently published report of the United Nations has expressed concern that the goals set to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition by 2030 are now difficult to meet. It is noteworthy that out of the countries affected by the food crisis in the world, twelve countries are from Africa, one is the Caribbean country.One and two from Asia are Afghanistan and Yemen. Armed struggle, debt burden, unemployment and poverty are at the root of this hunger, while misgovernance also has a big role to play. Undoubtedly, first the Corona epidemic and then the Ukraine crisis has only increased this menace. This is the reason that about three billion people of the world have become unable to collect the necessary dose for a healthy person. This crisis puts a question mark on the model of so-called modern development which promotes one-sided development while boasting about the revolution of science and technology in the world.is giving. On the one hand, prosperity and prosperity are waving, and on the other hand, the darkness of poverty is deepening in the lives of billions of people. In such a situation, it is natural to ask why the governments of different countries do not make sincere efforts to remove economic discrepancies. Why is there not an effective strategy to overcome this crisis, due to which the crisis of hunger and malnutrition is present in a formidable form. Its hallmark is that about three billion people in the world do not have the necessary food for a healthy life. However, due to the ongoing crisis Inflation during the Corona crisis has a big role in increasing it, but at its core is also the power of the authorities. It is difficult to say how much infection was stopped by the drastic measures implemented to prevent corona infection, but it definitely increased the swamp of poverty. The question arises that why various global organizations and experts in these matters do not prepare a far-reaching strategy to eradicate poverty and hunger. This is the reason that the strategies designed to deal with this crisis are not proving effective on the practical ground. of arrangement Holes and corruption are irrigating this crisis. It is a well-known fact that nature has made arrangements to feed every person, but the unjust distribution of resources has given rise to poverty and hunger. First colonialism, then imperialism and finally the global economy, built on the interests of developed countries, has continuously widened the gap between rich and poor. The expansion of poverty in India and abroad in the Corona crisis and the increase in the number of billionaires is the truth of this unjust system. It is important that the available natural resources A war should be waged against food insecurity and hunger by planning. How ironic that there is food insecurity and starvation on the earth and rich countries are looking for life on other planets. It is the responsibility of affluent countries to ensure that every person in poverty-stricken countries can get food to live. The heat of the fire arising out of poverty and anarchy in any country of the world is felt all over the world. In such a situation, the world fraternity needs to cooperate in the fight against poverty and hunger. —The Hawk Features

The latest United Nations report on food security shows that the problem of hunger in the world is getting worse. All over the world, 2.3 billion people are facing difficulties in getting food. 

Starvation Strike

New Delhi: After discussing The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 amid disruptions, the Rajya Sabha is set to pass it on Tuesday.External Affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar moved the bill on July 19, as passed by Lok Sabha to be taken into consideration. As members of the BJP continued to participate in discussion on the bill amid sloganeering from opposition members on Monday, the Chair announced that the minister's statement on the bill and its consideration and passing will take place on Tuesday.Dola Sen and Hardwar Dubey will lay the fifth, sixth and seventh Reports of the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit.Dr Sumer Singh Solanki and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa will lay the 15th report of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (2022-2023) on 'Role of autonomous bodies, Public Enterprises, educational Institutions including Central Universities, Engineering Colleges, IIMs, IITs, Medical Institutes including AIIMS in socioeconomic development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with special reference to implementation of reservation policy in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)'.G.V.L. Narasimha and Dr Amar Patnaik to will lay the 46th report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance on 'Strengthening Credit Flows to the MSME Sector'.—IANS

After discussing The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 amid disruptions, the Rajya Sabha is set to pass it on Tuesday.

 Rajya Sabha to pass WMD bill

New Delhi:&nbsp;The Centre will table 'The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022' on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha even as the opposition is likely to protest against the suspension of 19 members.On Tuesday, 19 opposition Members were suspended from the Rajya Sabha for a week for disrupting the House proceedings. The 19 members include seven from the Trinamool Congress, six from the DMK, three from TRS, two from CPI-M and one from CPI. Deputy Chairman Harivansh had said that the Members were suspended for showing utter disregard to the House and the authority of the Chair.Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will move the Bill 'The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022' as passed by the Lok Sabha to be taken into consideration. The Bill seeks to extend the application of domestic laws to research stations set up by India in the Antarctic region. India has two active research stations in the Antarctic -- Maitri and Bharti -- where scientists are involved in research. Under the provisions of the Bill, private tours and expeditions to Antarctica would be prohibited without a permit or the written authorisation by a Member country.The Upper House also is expected to pass 'The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022'. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar moved the Bill on July 19 as passed by the Lok Sabha to be taken into consideration. On Monday, as members of the BJP continued to participate in discussion on the Bill amid sloganeering from the opposition benches, the Chair announced that the minister's statement on the Bill and its consideration and passing will take place on next day. However, it could not be taken up on Tuesday due to the opposition protests.Union Home Minister Amit Shah will move the motion to elect two Members for the Committee on Official Language in an existing vacancy and another that will arise on August 1, due to the retirement of Dr. Subhash Chandra from the membership of the Rajya Sabha.Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations contained in the 23rd report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development on Demands for Grants (2022-23) pertaining to the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi and Muzibulla Khan will lay statements of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy.Ministers will lay papers related to their respective ministries.—IANS

The Centre will table 'The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022' on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha even as the opposition is likely to protest against the suspension of 19 members.

 Govt to table The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 in RS

Along with the youth, Consortium for Tobacco Free Karnataka, Anti-Tobacco Forum, National Law School of India University, and others have also urged the Prime Minister to pass the COTPA amendment bill 2020 drafted by the Union Health Ministry. In their letters, the youth stressed that to contain tobacco use and prevent youth from addiction, COTPA has to be amended to make it stronger and more comprehensive. They requested the Prime Minister to increase the legal age for tobacco use from existing 18 to 21 years, ban the provision for Designated Smoking Areas at airports, hotels and bars, completely ban the direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco, and levy hefty penalties for smoking in public places and to make the public places 100 per cent smoke-free. "We find that COTPA is being violated blatantly. As per the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, children even before attaining 10 years of age are getting addicted to tobacco. Children and youths are lured into tobacco through illegal advertisements. We have to ban all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertisement by amending COTPA", said S.J. Chander, convenor of Consortium for Tobacco Free Karnataka, a coalition working on tobacco control in the state. "Youth are getting lured by direct advertisements and indirect promotion of tobacco. They are the main target of the tobacco companies as once they get addicted it is difficult to get out of this vicious cycle. We request the Prime Minister to increase the legal age for smoking to 21 years, when youth realize that tobacco is not good for their health," said Eshaan S, one of the youth who wrote a letter to PM Modi. --IANS

"Youth are getting lured by direct advertisements and indirect promotion of tobacco. They are the main target of the tobacco companies as once they get addicted it is difficult to get out of this vicious cycle. We request the Prime Minister to increase the legal age for smoking to 21 years, when youth realize that tobacco is not good for their health," said Eshaan S, one of the youth who wrote a letter to PM Modi.

Save youth from tobacco, amend COTPA: PM Modi

More than 1,000 youth from Bengaluru have written to PM Modi requesting him to pass the COTPA (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act) Amendment Bill 2020 in the ongoing Monsoon Session.


Save youth from tobacco, amend COTPA: Bangaluru youth urge PM Modi

New Delhi:&nbsp;Amid continuous disruption since the first day of the ongoing Monsoon Session, the Centre will on Thursday move 'The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022' for consideration and passing in the Rajya Sabha. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will move the bill. He will also make a statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations/observations contained in the report of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Demands for Grants (2022-23) pertaining to the Department of Science and Technology. Meanwhile, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy to move the motion to elect, in the manner as directed by the Chairman, one member for the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology. Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations/observations contained in the report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on Demands for Grants (2022-23). Minister Ajay Bhatt will make statement regarding the status of implementation of recommendations/observations contained in the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on the 'Development of Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir'. Opposition parties are however, likely to continue their protest demanding the revocation of suspension of their members and discussion on price rise and other issues. Twenty opposition members have been suspended for disrupting the House proceedings and utter disregard to the Chair.—IANS

Govt to move 'The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022' in RS

Washington: In a historic move to end dependency on China when it comes to semiconductors, manufacturing and other technologies, the US Senate has passed a $280 industrial policy bill.The measure passed 64 to 33, with 17 Republicans voting in favour, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.The legislation will now go to the House, where it is expected to pass with some Republican support.US President Joe Biden, who has backed the package for more than a year, could sign it into law as early as this week, the report mentioned."The Senate passed a historic bill that will lower costs and create jobs. As Americans are worried about the state of the economy and the cost of living, the CHIPS bill is one answer: it will accelerate the manufacturing of semiconductors in America, lowering prices on everything from cars to dishwashers," Biden said in a statement.The CHIPS bill, short for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act, would provide $52 billion in subsidies and additional tax credits to companies that manufacture chips in the US.It would also add $200 billion for scientific research, especially into artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, quantum computing and other new-age technologies.Many senators, including Republicans, saw the legislation as a critical step to strengthen America's semiconductor manufacturing abilities as the nation has become perilously reliant on foreign countries - especially an increasingly vulnerable Taiwan - for advanced chips.The bill will now head to the House, where lawmakers hope to pass it and send it to the White House for the President's signature before Congress leaves town."This is going to go down as one of the major bipartisan achievements of this Congress, along with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the recent gun safety law," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY."The American people deserve to see more examples like this, of both sides coming together to do very, very big things that will leave a lasting impact on our country,a he added.The Biden administration said that enhancing the chip industry at home will also help ease supply chain disruptions. —IANS

In a historic move to end dependency on China when it comes to semiconductors, manufacturing and other technologies, the US Senate has passed a $280 industrial policy bill.

 US Senate passes historic $280 bn bill to cut chip dependency on China

Washington: The US House of Representatives passed a bill to ban assault weapons with a narrow 217-213 vote, the first vote of its kind in 18 years amid the increase in gun violence across the country.The legislation passed on Friday night would prohibit the sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, reports Xinhua news agency.But it would allow the possession of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of enactment and the sale or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon lawfully possessed on the date of enactment following a background check, among other things."There are more guns than people in this country -- more mass shootings than days in the year," Congressman David Cicilline, a major sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. "This is a uniquely American problem."President Joe Biden hailed the House vote, saying: "The majority of the American people agree with this common-sense action."He urged the Senate to "move quickly to get this bill to my desk".However, the bill has little chance of progressing in the Senate due to clear opposition from the Republicans.Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines have been frequently used in the violence that plagues the country.Of all mass shooting incidents between 2009 and 2018, assault weapons accounted for 25 per cent of deaths and 76 per cent of non-fatal injuries, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, an American non-profit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence.Currently, only seven states and Washington, D.C. have banned assault weapons.Gun violence has claimed more than 25,500 lives across the US so far this year, according to the latest data from Gun Violence Archive.—IANS

 The US House of Representatives passed a bill to ban assault weapons with a narrow 217-213 vote, the first vote of its kind in 18 years amid the increase in gun violence across the country.

 US House passes bill to ban assault weapons after 18 yrs

New Delhi (The Hawk):&nbsp;Parliament today passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which aims at having India’s own national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment as also the dependent and associated ecosystem. After the Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 22nd July, it was cleared by Rajya Sabha today after it was moved by Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh.Speaking about the Bill, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science &amp; Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the bill is in pursuant to India’s accession to Antarctic Treaty, the Protocol on Environment Protection (Madrid Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty and to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the main aim of the Bill is also to ensure de-militarization of the region along with getting it rid of mining or illegal activities. It also aims that there should not be any nuclear test / explosion in the region.Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the Bill provides a harmonious policy and regulatory framework for India’s Antarctic activities through well-established legal mechanisms and will help in efficient and elective operations of Indian Antarctic Programme. It will also facilitate India’s interest and pro-active involvement in the management of growing Antarctic tourism and sustainable development of fisheries resources in Antarctic waters. It will also help in increased international visibility, credibility of India in Polar governance leading to international collaboration and cooperation in scientific and logistics fields.Dr Jitendra Singh also elaborated that the continuing and growing presence of Indian scientists in Antarctica in the research stations with concurrent commitment to Antarctic studies and protection of fragile Antarctic ecosystem warrants adoption of domestic legislation on Antarctica consistent with its obligations as a member of Antarctic Treaty System. The enforcement of such laws will confer Jurisdiction on the courts of India to deal with any dispute or crimes committed in parts of Antarctica. Legislation of such a kind will bind the citizens to the policies of the Antarctic treaty system. This will also be useful in building credibility and enhancing the status of the Country globally.The Bill also proposed to set-up the Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which shall be the apex decision making authority and shall facilitate programmes and activities permitted under the Bill. It shall provide a stable, transparent and accountable process for the sponsorship and supervision of Antarctic research and expeditions; ensure the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment; and shall ensure compliance by Indian citizens engaged in the Antarctic programs and activities with relevant rules and internationally agreed standards. Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the Chairperson of the IAA and the IAA will have official members from the concerned India Ministries and decisions will be by consensus.India today has two operational research stations in Antarctica named Maitri (Commissioned in 1989) and Bharati (Commissioned in 2012). India has successfully launched 40 annual scientific expeditions to Antarctica till date. With Himadri station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Arctic, India now belongs to the elite group of nations that have multiple research stations within the Polar Regions.The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was signed at Canberra on the 20th day of May, 1980, inter alia, for the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment and, in particular, for the preservation and conservation of marine living resources in Antarctica. India ratified the Convention on 17th June, 1985 and is a member of the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources under that Convention. The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed at Madrid on 4th October, 1991, inter alia, to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system and for the development of a comprehensive regime for the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems. India signed the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty on 14th January, 1998. Antarctica lies south of 60 ñ South Latitude, which is a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science and should not become the scene or object of any international discord.

Parliament today passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, which aims at having India’s own national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment as also the dependent and associated ecosystem.

Parliament Passes Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 Aimed At Having India’s Own National Measures For Protecting Antarctic Environment

London:&nbsp;Households across the UK have been warned they could face an annual energy bill in excess of 3,600 pounds ($4,401) this winter.Energy consultant Cornwall Insight said a regular gas and electricity bill in England, Wales and Scotland could reach 3,615 pounds in the new year, which is hundreds of pounds more than previous predictions, reports dpa news agency.In May, the British government announced an energy costs support package. worth 400 pounds per household. in response to predictions that bills would rise to 2,800 pounds for the average household in October. Last month, Cornwall Insight predicted that annual energy bills would typically rise to 3,244 pounds from October and 3,363 pounds from January 2023, but circumstances have changed significantly since then.The company told the BBC on Tuesday that such a bill is now likely to rise to 3,358 pounds from October and 3,615 pounds from January 2023.Cornwall Insight's principal consultant, Craig Lowrey, said surging gas prices and concerns about Russian supply had prompted the increase."However, while the rise in forecasts for October and January is a pressing concern, it is not only the level - but the duration - of the rises that makes these new forecasts so devastating," he told the BBC."Given the current level of the wholesale price, this level of household energy bills currently shows little sign of abating into 2024."Lowrey joined other experts in saying government support will "only scratch the surface" for households.Charity National Energy Action last month predicted that, should the average bill reach 3,250 pounds per year, 8.2 million UK households will be in fuel poverty, or one in three.—IANS

Households across the UK have been warned they could face an annual energy bill in excess of 3,600 pounds ($4,401) this winter. Energy consultant Cornwall Insight said a regular gas and electricity bill in England, Wales and Scotland could reach 3,615 pounds in the new year, which is hundreds of pounds more than previous predictions.

Energy bills in UK forecast to hit $4,401 amid cost-of-living crisis

Households across the UK have been warned they could face an annual energy bill in excess of 3,600 pounds ($4,401) this winter.
Energy consultant Cornwall Insight said a regular gas and electricity bill in England, Wales and Scotland could reach 3,615 pounds in the new year, which is hundreds of pounds more than previous predictions.

Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh): He became a 'billionaire'- even if it was only for a few hours. Bihari Lal (45) a daily wage labourer who works at a brick kiln unit in Rajasthan, withdrew Rs 100 from his Jan Dhan account in Bank of India from a Jan Seva Kendra in his village. Minutes later, he received an SMS that showed a balance of Rs 2,700 crore in his account. He was at his native place in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj district as the brick kiln unit was shut due to the monsoon. Bihari Lal went to the bank mitra who checked the account and confirmed the amount in his account. "I then asked him to check my account again, after which he checked it thrice. Even when I could not believe it, he took out the bank statement and gave it to me. I saw Rs 2,700 crore lying in my account," said Bihari Lal while talking to the media. However, his happiness was short lived because when he reached the branch to check his account, he was told that the balance was just Rs 126. Later, the bank's lead district manager Abhishek Sinha told reporters that the account was investigated and it had only Rs 126. "It could apparently be a banking error. The account of Bihar Lal has been seized for a while and the matter has been brought to the knowledge of senior bank officials," he said. Bihari Lal works as a labourer at a brick kiln in Rajasthan and earns Rs 600 to 800 per day. --IANS

Bihari Lal (45) a daily wage labourer who works at a brick kiln unit in Rajasthan, withdrew Rs 100 from his Jan Dhan account in Bank of India from a Jan Seva Kendra in his village. Minutes later, he received an SMS that showed a balance of Rs 2,700 crore in his account.

Daily wage earner becomes 'billionaire' for few hours

New Delhi:&nbsp;The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to convert the National Rail and Transportation University, a deemed-to-be-university, into Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, an autonomous central university. The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, which also seeks to expand the scope of the University from beyond the railways to cover the entire transport sector to support the ambitious growth and modernisation in the field, was passed by a voice vote after a brief discussion. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan responded to the debate.—PTI

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill that seeks to convert the National Rail and Transportation University, a deemed-to-be-university, into Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, an autonomous central university

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Bill Gates tests Covid Positive, experiences mild symptoms

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