Ganderbal Feb 10: Eighteen-year-old boy from central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has brought laurels to the Union Territory by entering the ‘India Book of Records’ for tech innovation.
Aquib Ahmad Shah of Safapora has made the ‘seat belt ignition’ for cars that will ensure the safety of the people, particularly the drivers, thereby minimising the loss of precious human lives due to accidents.
Aquib, a 12th-class student of Government Higher Secondary School, is the first youth of Kashmir whose name has entered the ‘India Book of Records’ in the ‘Innovation and Technology’ category.
“Since childhood, I used to open up toys and other electronic devices at home, for which my parents used to scold me. However, this habit yielded positive results after the Manak Awards competition by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, was announced where I won the Inspire Award for four consecutive years,” Aquib told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Recently, Aquib applied for the innovation conclave at IIT Kanpur, where his idea was selected. He attended the recently-held ‘Innovation Hunt’ held at Sri Pratap College and also sent an innovative idea for review to the University of Kashmir’s Incubation Centre.
Meanwhile, SSP Ganderbal Nikhil Borkar who was accompanied by DySP Hqrs Gh Hassan felicitated the Aquib at DPO Ganderbal.
Aquib “is an inspiration for his fellow students in the area,” the SSP said.
He said police appreciated and felicitated the young boy with an aim to promote the local talent and encourage the positive and constructive activities of youth in the area.
The SSP appreciated the young innovator and assured full support for his future endeavours—(KNO)
Ghaziabad: Forest department officials capture the leopard in a cage after it entered the premises of Ghaziabad District Court, in Ghaziabad, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
Ghaziabad: Forest department officials capture the leopard in a cage after it entered the premises of Ghaziabad District Court, in Ghaziabad, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
Ghaziabad: The leopard in a room after entering the premises of Ghaziabad District Court, in Ghaziabad, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
Ghaziabad: The leopard which entered the premises of Ghaziabad District Court, in Ghaziabad, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
Ghaziabad: Heavy police force as forest department officials try to tranquilise the leopard which entered the premises of Ghaziabad District Court, in Ghaziabad, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)
London: The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, is interested in buying Premier League giants Manchester United, according to a media report.
He values the club below the Glazer family’s 6 billion pound price and there is recognition UEFA may have to agree to a regulation change as the country’s ruler already owns French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), The Guardian reported
The emir purchased PSG in 2011 through Qatar Sports Investment. Current UEFA rules do not allow clubs with the same owners to face each other in one of its competitions, so a Qatar-owned United and Qatar-owned PSG would not be allowed to compete in a Champions League tie should such a fixture arise, The Guardian reported.
While the purchase of United is being explored, it is understood those driving the Qatar interest are conscious of the UEFA rules and a solution is being sought. This could include trying to persuade UEFA to consider the possibility of adjusting or changing its regulations.
The Glazer family put United up for sale in November last year, announcing it is “commencing a process to explore strategic alternatives”, potentially bringing an end to its 17-year ownership of the club.
The Raine Group, which oversaw the sale of Chelsea, has been appointed as the exclusive financial advisor, and it believed 6 billion pound is wanted for the 20-time champions of England. However, the emir believes 4.5 billion pound is a more realistic price, The Guardian reported.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire regarded as being one of Britain’s richest people, confirmed his company, Ineos, was in the running to buy United last month. Radcliffe, 70, was born in Failsworth in Greater Manchester, and is a lifelong United supporter.
The EU’s energy war with Russia has entered a new phase — and there are signs that the Kremlin is starting to feel the pain.
As of Sunday, it is illegal to import petroleum products — those refined from crude oil, such as diesel, gasoline and naphtha — from Russia into the EU. That comes hot on the heels of the EU’s December ban on Russian seaborne crude oil.
Both measures are also linked to price caps imposed by the G7 club of rich democracies aimed at driving down the price that Russia gets for its oil and refined products without disrupting global energy markets.
Those actions appear to have bitten into the Kremlin’s budget in a way other economic penalties levied in retaliation for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have not.
The Kremlin’s tax income from oil and gas in January was among its lowest monthly totals since the depths of COVID in 2020, according to Janis Kluge, senior associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
Kluge noted that while Russia’s 2023 budget anticipates 9 trillion rubles (€120 billion) in fossil fuel income, in January it earned only 425 billion rubles from oil and gas taxes, around half compared to the same month last year.
It’s only one month’s figures and the income does fluctuate, but Kluge called it “a bad start.”
Russia’s gas sales to Europe have also collapsed — in part as a result of Moscow’s own energy blackmail — with its share of imports declining from around 40 percent throughout 2021 to 13 percent for November 2022, according to the latest confirmed European Commission monthly figure.
But it’s oil that matters most to Kremlin coffers.
On Friday, EU countries struck a deal on two price caps which will come into full force later this year following a 55-day transition period. A cap of $100 will apply to “premium” oil products, including diesel, gasoline and kerosene. A cap of $45 will be enforced on “discount” products, such as fuel oil, naphtha and heating oil.
The EU ban and the G7 price caps are meant to work in tandem. While the EU bans Russian oil, cutting off a vital market, the price caps ensure that insurance and shipping firms based in the EU and other G7 countries aren’t completely blocked from facilitating the global trade in Russian oil. They still can, but it must be under the price caps. This way — so the theory goes — Russia’s fossil fuel revenue will take a hit without disrupting the global oil market in a way that could endanger supply and drive up the price for everyone.
Squeezing the Kremlin
Russia is selling more crude to China and India to make up for the lost trade with the EU | iStock
So far, EU leaders think, it’s working.
Buyers in China and India and other countries are hoovering up more Russian crude, making up for the lost trade with Europe. But knowing that Russia has few alternative markets, buyers have been able to drive down the price. “The discounts that Russia has to give, that its partners can demand, are strong and are here to stay,” said one senior European Commission official. Russian Urals crude is trading at around $50 per barrel, around $30 below the benchmark Brent crude price.
“I think in general the EU and the G7 can be quite happy with how things have unfolded with regards to the oil embargo and the price cap up to now,” said Kluge. “There has been no turbulence on global oil markets and at the same time Russia’s revenues have gone down considerably. The key reason here is that the price which Russia receives for its crude has gone down.”
The question is whether the EU can keep up the economic pressure on Russia without harming itself in the process.
So far, at least as far as oil is concerned, it’s been plain sailing. Oil markets have proved remarkably flexible since the EU’s crude ban in December, with export flows simply shifting: Asia now takes more Russian crude — often at a discount — while other producers in the Middle East and the U.S. step in to supply Europe.
So far, it is looking likely that a similar “reshuffle” of global trade will take place with oil products like diesel, said Claudio Galimberti, senior vice president of analysis at Rystad Energy.
The nature of the oil product sanctions means that there’s nothing to stop Russian crude from being exported to a third country, refined, and then re-exported to the EU, meaning that India and other countries are becoming more important oil product suppliers to the West.
China and India, as well as others in the Middle East and North Africa, also look likely to snap up Russian oil products that are no longer going straight into Europe, freeing up their own refining capacity to produce yet more product that they can sell into Europe and elsewhere.
“There is a reshuffle of product the same way there was a reshuffle of crude,” Galimberti said.
There could still be problems, however. “Europe is not going to import Russian diesel, so it needs to come from somewhere else,” Galimberti said, pointing to two major refineries in the Middle East — Kuwait’s Al-Zour and Saudi Arabia’s Jazan — upon which European supply will now be increasingly dependent.
“If you had a blip in one of these refineries you could see a price response in Europe,” said Galimberti. But for now, after a glut of imports in advance of Sunday’s ban, “inventories of distillates are full,” he added.
“Europe is in good shape.”
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( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )
The U.K. has entered the international race to create a central bank-backed digital currency, with work to start on a “Britcoin.”
The Treasury and Bank of England said last week it is “likely” a digital pound will be needed in future for everyday payments.
“As the world around us and the way we pay for things becomes more digitalized, the case for a digital pound in the future continues to grow,” said Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey in a statement.
The BoE’s decision to enter the race comes as other central banks, like the ECB and the People’s Bank of China, plow ahead with their own plans for public digital currencies.
A joint consultation, which runs until June 7, paves the way for more detailed work on the exact design and puts the BoE on a similar trajectory to the ECB — which is considering bringing forward a digital euro.
But there are big questions over the use case for these digital banknotes, and how they would work in practice.
The House of Lords described the project last year as a “solution looking for a problem” and some BoE officials, like Andrew Hauser, have previously voiced concerns about the implications for monetary policy.
“A narrow digital currency that largely cannibalized banknote demand, for example, might have little or no impact. By contrast, a broad digital currency with many attractive payments features could materially increase the demand for central bank liabilities,” Hauser said in June last year.
Huw Van Steenis, who advised former BoE governor Mark Carney on his Future of Finance review in 2018, told POLITICO there were still more questions than answers related to the viability of a digital pound.
“Money is too important to be left [just] to central bankers as the big decisions are political and economic, not just technical,” he said, adding that most early pilots, such as those undertaken by the Nigerian and Bahamian central banks, and even that of China itself, were struggling to gain adoption.
Central bankers have been motivated to act on fears that Big Tech challengers could constrain universal public access to digital cash and with it the sovereignty and dominance of public money.
While ordinary people can already make online payments, those are done privately through banks or payments companies. The idea of a central bank digital currency is to create a digital version of cash that would operate as a public good that comes directly from the central bank.
U.K. citizens would be able to stash Britcoins in online wallets, but there would be initial limits to avoid pulling money out of banks | Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images
U.K. citizens would be able to stash Britcoins in online wallets, but there would be initial limits to avoid pulling money out of banks — amid fears that could threaten the stability of the financial system.
A digital pound would also not be totally anonymous to avoid fueling money laundering but users would be able to choose their private settings like for online ad-tracking on social media — and the government would not have access to private payment data. The data would, however, be available to police authorities.
Still, a decision on whether to go-ahead with a digital pound won’t take place until the middle of the decade.
Izabella Kaminska contributed reporting.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )
Anantnag, Jan 27: Congress leader and Member Parliament Rahul Gandhi Friday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of a big security lapse at Jawahar Tunnel stating that police were missing to control the crowd that had come to his reception.
“When we crossed from Navyug Tunnel at Qazigund, there was a huge crowd for my reception. But there was not a single police man to manage or control the crowd. My security guards advised me not to go ahead,” Rahul said addressing a press conference at Khanabal, Anantnag, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “It is very difficult for me to go against what my security guards advise me.”
He said that he was hopeful that security arrangements would be elaborate for his future programs that includes his culmination rally at Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office in Srinagar where he is supposed to unfurl the tri-colour on January 30 and address a mega rally.
He said Yatra will continue and will conclude in Srinagar as per Schedule. Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader Jai Ram Ramesh said that Rahul was supposed to walk 16 kms today but he could walk only 4 kms due to breach of security. He said that administration must ensure proper security for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the days ahead, especially when it reaches Srinagar.
He said due to the wrong policies of BJP and RSS, India as a nation is falling apart and the Yatra is an effort to bring the folks together. Ramesh said that BJY has nothing to do with the election politics as of now. “We keep on stating that there are two ways: one that of BJP and RSS and another that of Congress which is the Gandhian way.”
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders have also alleged security lapse in Banihal and Qazigund during Bharat Jodo Yatra on Friday.
J&K UT administration failed to provide security to Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. Security lapses indicate unfair & unprepared attitude of UT administration,” tweets Rajani Patil, Congress incharge J&K and Ladakh.
“The sudden withdrawal of security personnel from the D-area has caused a serious security breach at the #BharatJodoYatra at Banihal, Kashmir.
Who ordered this? The authorities responsible must answer for this lapse & take appropriate steps to prevent such incidents in future,” tweeted another congress leader K C Venugopal.
“J&K UT Administration failed to provide security to #BharatJodoYatra led by Shri @RahulGandhi Security lapses indicate unfair & unprepared attitude of UT administration,” J&K congress tweeted.
Notably, the Yatra resumed after two days from Banihal, the home town of JKPCC president where hundreds of people were present to welcome Congress leaders. He was joined by former CM of J&K and NC Vice Omar Abdullah in Banihal.
Omar while reacting to the security lapse said that he witnessed that outer layer of security vanished suddenly.
“I’m witness to this. The outer ring of the cordon which was maintained by J&K police simply vanished within minutes of @RahulGandhi starting to walk. We had just crossed into Kashmir from Jammu & were looking forward to the 11 KM walk but unfortunately it had to be cancelled,” he tweeted.
Rahul was welcomed by several party leaders including former JKPCC president G A Mir at the entrance of the tunnel from Qazigund side along with hundreds of workers.
He was joined by PDP leaders and workers led by PDP spokesperson Suhail Bhukhari as well.
POLICE DENIES SECURITY LAPSE: Jammu and Kashmir police said there was no security lapse at all in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
In a statement, issued to the KNO, a police spokesman said police was not consulted before taking any decision on discontinuing the Yatra after conducting 1 Km Yatra by the organisers.
Police also said only authorised persons as identified by organisers & frisked crowd was allowed inside towards the route of Yatra.
“Organisers & managers of BJY did not intimate about large gathering from Banihal joining the Yatra, which thronged near the starting point?,” it said. It further said full security arrangements were in place including 15 Coys of CAPFs and 10 Coys of JKP, comprising ROPs and QRTs, route domination, lateral deployment and SFs were deployed for high-ridge and other deployments.
“JKP was not consulted before taking any decision on discontinuation of Yatra after conducting 1 km Yatra by organizers. Rest of the Yatra continued peacefully. There was no security lapse at all. We will provide fool-proof security,” the police said—(KNO)
