- A + A (May 18): Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani are profiting from a surge in global commodity prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, burnishing their fossil-fuel credentials even as Asia’s richest men publicly push their pivots toward greener energy. With coal prices skyrocketing to a record, Adani’s conglomerate is expanding a controversial mine in Australia to meet demand. Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd is snapping up distressed crude-oil cargoes at discounts to feed its refining complex, the biggest in the world. Reliance even deferred a scheduled maintenance of the facility to help churn out more diesel and gasoline, whose margins have shot up to touch a three-year high. The two Indian tycoons are stepping in at a time when many developed countries are scrambling for alternative sources of fuels as they try to back away from Russian supplies. This month, the Group of Seven most-industrialized nations pledged to ban imports of Russian oil. The … [Read more...] about Asia’s two richest men reap windfall from surging oil, coal
Green revolution
Disney+ releases new trailer for Marvel’s ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’
(CNN) Disney+ has released a new trailer for Marvel's "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law." The new series stars Tatiana Maslany as She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman-oriented legal cases. The show's executive producer Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel, welcomed Maslany to The Walt Disney Company's 2022 Upfront presentation in New York on Tuesday, where he announced an Aug. 17 launch date and debuted the new trailer. "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" follows Walters as she "navigates the complicated life of a single, 30-something attorney who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk." The series will have nine episodes and stars Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong. The cast also includes Ginger Gonzaga, Josh Segarra, Jameela Jamil, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Read More The show will … [Read more...] about Disney+ releases new trailer for Marvel’s ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’
Proclaimed senators vow to fulfill campaign promises, call for unity
“Magic 12” in the May 2022 senatorial polls. INQUIRER graphics MANILA, Philippines — Twelve newly-elected senators – a mix of neophytes, returning, and reelectionists – would be entering the Senate halls by June 30. Their vows were to fulfill their campaign promises as they call on the people to band together following one of the country’s most polarizing elections in recent history. All twelve winning senatorial bets were present at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The senators-elect were joined by their families as commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) raised their hands, marking their win in the senatorial race official. Fulfilling campaign promises, pushing advocacy The first one proclaimed was returning senator Jinggoy Estrada who placed 12th in the elections after garnering over 15.1 million votes. He said he would fulfill his campaign promise of restoring lost jobs to Filipinos. “Asahan ninyo, sa loob ng anim na taon, … [Read more...] about Proclaimed senators vow to fulfill campaign promises, call for unity
India will need around 1 lakh drone pilots in the future: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Representative image. Drone manufacturing and services will create a multitude of jobs and is touted to be an over Rs 30,000-crore industry, Ministry of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said on May 10. Addressing the “Experience Studio on Drones” event organised by the government think tank Niti Aayog, Scindia said, "The potential is huge in the drone industry. On the manufacturing side, we are looking at Rs 5,000 crore investments and creation of 10,000 jobs. On the services side, we are looking at creating a Rs 30,000-crore industry." In the coming years, the country would need nearly a lakh drone pilots, the minister said. "Today a drone pilot can be trained without requiring any college degrees. They just need to (be) 12th class pass. They can be into a job within two-three months, and get Rs 30,000 per month salary," he added. Moneycontrol recently wrote about four transgender community members who were the first to be appointed as Directorate General of Civil … [Read more...] about India will need around 1 lakh drone pilots in the future: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Parliamentary panel terms drone ‘misuse’ a significant threat, asks MHA to create anti-drone tech
Representative image. While claiming that “drone technology poses a significant threat to governments…”, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to create a pool of anti-drone technology and let all States and Union Territories access it. The committee also sought and received information from several States, including West Bengal and Punjab, regarding the steps taken to deal with drone attacks. These recommendations and inquiries are part of the committee's 237th report on Police — Training, Modernisation and Reforms, released in February 2022. They come at a time when the Indian government has been trying to give the sector a boost through its Drone Rules – 2021, and the more recent PLI Scheme for Drones . In addition, there has also been a growing impetus for the use of drones in varied industries, including agriculture and health (medicine delivery). “The Committee... recommends that the MHA may take up with concerned … [Read more...] about Parliamentary panel terms drone ‘misuse’ a significant threat, asks MHA to create anti-drone tech
For four from trans community, drone pilot jobs give the wind beneath their wings
Maya Sree operating a drone Maya Sree, who goes by only one name, left her hometown in 2018, when she decided to live her life as a transwoman. Her parents did not accept her the way she was, or the jobs that she had taken up earlier to support herself. “But when my parents came to know that I was working for Dhaksha in Anna University campus, I received a call from my family, and they spoke to me, and told me that they were very proud of me. Personally, it’s not just a job for me but a new life,” Maya Sree, a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-certified drone pilot of the Chennai-based Dhaksha Unmanned Systems (DUMS) told Moneycontrol. Maya Sree, along with course mates Pragya, Sai and Rahmatullah, are the first from the transgender community in India to be appointed as drone pilots. They underwent intensive training before being absorbed by the company which operates drones with applications in surveillance, agriculture and defence. For them, this job at DUMS gives … [Read more...] about For four from trans community, drone pilot jobs give the wind beneath their wings
No One at the Ukrainian Fashion Brand Thought Russia Would Really Invade, But They’re Glad They Planned for It Anyway
For one small Ukrainian company, conflict has become a key mile marker. Fashion editors Kate Zubarieva, 33, and Asya Varetsa, 31, conceived of the idea for their fashion label, Sleeper , during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity--a five-day clash between protesters and the Ukrainian government in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, which eventually led to the ousting of the country's president, Viktor Yanukovych. Then, in February 2022, after Russia invaded the country , the Ukrainian company rapidly laid down manufacturing roots in another country. As Russia began planning a military offensive against Ukraine in December 2021, the Sleeper team began to prepare for the worst, and the founders knew they had to make a series of tough decisions. In about two to three weeks, the apparel company helped relocate 30 employees abroad and 40 to more western regions of Ukraine. It also transitioned its production to Turkey. "We knew we had a good amount of savings to sustain the … [Read more...] about No One at the Ukrainian Fashion Brand Thought Russia Would Really Invade, But They’re Glad They Planned for It Anyway
Finland, Sweden hand in applications to join NATO
AFP Brussels, Belgium ● Wed, May 18, 2022 2022-05-18 14:45 0 53ea05b5fe2e13733519dbf4e30e859a 2 Europe finland,Sweden,NATO,Russia,war,Ukraine,military Free Finland and Sweden on Wednesday handed in their bids to join the US-led alliance NATO, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine up-ended decades of military non-alignment. "The applications you have made today are an historic step. Allies will now consider the next steps on your path to NATO," NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said, after receiving the bids from the Finnish and Swedish ambassadors at the alliance's headquarters. The membership push could represent the most significant expansion of NATO in decades, doubling its border with Russia, and President Vladimir Putin has warned it may trigger a response from Moscow. But the applications face resistance from NATO member Turkey, which has threatened to block them over accusations the Nordic neighbours act as safe havens for armed groups opposed to … [Read more...] about Finland, Sweden hand in applications to join NATO