Russia’s propaganda that West is forcing Ukraine into another Holodomor holds no water

 

Source- Indiatoday The Russian media argues that agricultural exports to Europe could lead to famine in Ukraine. That’s not true.

The Russian media are spreading information that the West, in particular Great Britain, is forcing Ukrainian authorities to create a food shortage, possibly another Holodomor, and blaming Russia for it.

Holodomor refers to the starvation of millions of Ukrainians in 1932-33 as a result of Soviet policy.

They say that Ukraine is planning to export to England the remains of agricultural products stored in the state reserve. The Russian media argue that agricultural exports to Europe could lead to famine in Ukraine.

That’s not true; nor is the assertion that the export of agricultural products to Europe will lead to famine. Russia's military actions in Ukraine, however, could. As for the export of agricultural products, these are from last year's harvest, which, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, was in excess and thus planned to be exported until August. The same opinion was expressed by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Mykola Solsky. According to him, there are 20 million tonnes of last year's crop.

This means money for farmers which they use for sowing, rent and other needs. Even a partial resumption of exports is extremely important since it ensures the flow of funds for the sowing campaign: the purchase of diesel fuel, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products and for the payment of wages.

A US official has said the Russians damaged at least six granaries in Ukraine. These are deliberate actions of the Russian Federation because the granaries do not pose a threat to them. We are talking about food security not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world. According to the US State Department, the Russian Navy is blocking more than 90 civilian ships in the Black Sea region that were supposed to transport grain and other food. Russia has already bombed at least three civilian ships carrying goods from Black Sea ports around the world, including one chartered by an agricultural company. As a result, this may negatively affect the food sector in Europe itself because about 30 per cent of the world’s wheat exports fall in the Black Sea region, besides 20 per cent of corn and 75 per cent of vegetable oil.

According to Human Rights Watch, the food crisis has already worsened in the Middle East and North Africa due to Russian aggression in Ukraine. In particular, Lebanon receives 80 per cent of its wheat from Ukraine, Egypt buys wheat as well as large volumes of vegetable oil, Libya imports more than 40 per cent of wheat from Ukraine, Yemen at least 27 per cent. In addition, northwestern Syrian authorities provide the region with wheat and flour purchased through Turkey, which also imports 90 per cent of its wheat from Ukraine.

Due to the blocking of seaports, Ukraine began to export grain to the EU by rail. Traders have already made the first deliveries of Ukrainian corn to the EU countries. That is, Ukraine is making every effort to prevent a food crisis not only within the country, but also ensures supplies to other countries whose well-being depends on Ukrainian agricultural products. Therefore, complications of the situation are possible only as a result of military actions and aggression of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine.

(The writer is a former Ukrainian diplomat-turned-journalist based out of Warsaw, Poland)

Google CEO Sundar Pichai reveals the name of school he went to in Chennai

 

Source:- Indiatoday- When Pichai was appointed as the CEO of Alphabet Inc, several  educational institutions claimed that Pichai was one of their own.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Google CEO Sundar Pichai has finally cleared the air about the school he went to
• It was reported that in the same week he became the Google CEO, there were nearly 350 edits made to the Wikipedia page.
• Pichai he completed his school education at Vana Vani in Chennai.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has finally cleared the air about the school he went to. When Pichai was appointed as the CEO of Alphabet Inc, several educational institutions claimed that Pichai was one of their own. It was reported that in the same week he became the Google CEO, there were nearly 350 edits made to the Wikipedia page in the same week he became the Google CEO. Pichai is not only the CEO of a big tech company, he is also counted amongst the 100 most influential people in the world.

During an interview at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Pichai was asked about his school. He was shown the list of schools that appeared on his Wikipedia page by the interviewer. To which, Pichai said that two of the names that appeared on Wikipedia were correct and added that he completed his school education at Vana Vani in Chennai. The school is located inside the campus of IIT Madras.

Pichai also revealed that there was a rumour about him that he was homeschooled. The report even made it to his Wikipedia page, but he clarified that the news wasn’t true. Pichai’s Wikipedia page now shows the correct information related to his school in India.

As far as Pichai’s higher education is concerned, Pichai got into the coveted IIT Kharagpur and earned his B Tech in metallurgical engineering. Post that, he headed to Stanford University to do his MS in materials science and engineering and then an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2004, Pichai led the product management for a suite of Google's client software products, including Google Chrome. He was largely responsible for Google Drive, Chrome OS and others at Google. In 2013, Android was another major thing that was developed under his leadership. It was previously managed by Andy Rubin. However, his first stint was not with Google. He previously worked in engineering and product management at Applied Materials and in management consulting at McKinsey & Company.

It was only in 2015 that Pichai was selected as the Google CEO. He succeeded Larry Page, who had co-founded Google along with Sergey Brin. In 2019, Pichai became the CEO of Alphabet Inc, which is Google’s sister company.

Alia Bhatt fondly remembers Rishi Kapoor on death anniversary

 Alia Bhatt fondly remembers Rishi Kapoor on death anniversary

Via IndiaToday-We are all missing Rishi Kapoor on his second death anniversary today, April 30. Alia Bhatt also shared an emotional post for the late actor.

Two years ago, Rishi Kapoor left a huge void in our hearts as he left the world. On April 30, 2020, the legendary breathed his last, but he continues to live in our hearts. Today, on his 2nd death anniversary, his son Ranbir Kapoor's wife, Alia Bhatt shared a priceless throwback picture on Instagram. Alia remembered her late father-in-law with a sweet note as well.

ALIA BHATT REMEMBERS RISHI KAPOOR

Earlier today, Neetu Kapoor had posted an emotional post for Rishi Kapoor. On the legendary actor’s death anniversary, Alia Bhatt also remembered him. She shared an unseen monochrome picture of herself posing with hubby Ranbir Kapoor and in-laws Rishi and Neetu Kapoor. All of them are seen smiling as they pose for the lens. Alia has also written a note. It read, “Always And, forever (sic).” She also added a heart emoji to it.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt got married on April 14 in presence of their families and close friends. The wedding ceremony took place at Ranbir's house - Vastu. Pictures and videos from the event instantly went viral on social media.

RISHI KAPOOR’S DEATH

Rishi Kapoor died on April 30, 2020. He was 67. The actor was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 following which he and Neetu Kapoor jetted off to the Big Apple for his treatment. His friends and colleagues from the industry often visited him in New York during that time. Rishi Kapoor returned to India after his treatment in September 2019.

Samsung Galaxy M53 5G first impressions: Brings sensible upgrades

 Samsung Galaxy M53 5G first impressions: Brings sensible upgrades
The Galaxy M53 5G brings minor yet significant improvements over the predecessor Galaxy M52 5G, which was unveiled last year. I used the phone for some time and here's the first impression. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Samsung Galaxy M53 5G is the first phone in the series to bring a 108-megapixel quad camera setup. 
• It doesn't include a charger in the box. 
• Samsung Galaxy M53 5G starts at an introductory price of Rs 23,999, going up to Rs 25,999.
• Improved cameras
• Performance
• Design and build
• First impressions

The Samsung Galaxy M series is becoming what the J series was once upon a time. Adding phones after phones with specifications that matter and all of it at an aggressive price point. With the Galaxy M series, the South Korean smartphone manufacturer is clearly aiming to offer more options to consumers. This is the strategy that Realme and Redmi have been following for the last several years. The latest addition to the Galaxy M series is the Galaxy M53 5G, launched in India last week for an introductory price of Rs 23,999, going up to Rs 25,999.

It is evident that with the Galaxy M series, Samsung is clearly aiming to take on the likes of the OnePlus' Nord series, Redmi’s Note series, and Realme’s number series. Over the last few months, Samsung has offered several impressive phones under the Galaxy M series, and the new M53 5G gets added to the list.

I spent some time using the Galaxy M53 5G and here's what I think about it.

The Galaxy M53 5G brings minor yet significant improvements over the predecessor Galaxy M52 5G, which was unveiled last year. One of the major improvements comes in the camera department. For the very first time, a Galaxy M series phone gets a 108-megapixel sensor at the back coupled with an 8-megapixel sensor and 2-megapixel macro and depth. On the front, there’s a 32-megapixel selfie shooter similar to its predecessor.

As for initial impressions, the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G clicks fairly detailed pictures in daylight. Even the depth sensor does a pretty good job. The macro, however, struggles to click a detailed photo. So, that’s kind of a disappointment.

Selfies look good and don't require editing before sharing them on social media. But, as an iPhone user and being accustomed to the kind of original-looking photos it clicks, I didn’t like the front camera performance much. But, since most mobile users like to apply filters to their photos, the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G saves that extra time that goes into editing photos before sharing them on Instagram or Snapchat. Check out the camera samples below.

Another major change comes in the performance section. The Galaxy M53 5G is powered by MediaTek 900 SoC, which also powers the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. As for the initial impressions, the Samsung phone offers smooth performance, and switching between apps doesn’t feel sluggish at all. I am yet to test how the phone performs in heavy usage. It comes paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable through a microSD card. The icing on the cake is Google’s Android 12 software out of the box with One UI 4.1 on top. Good to see, the phone doesn’t come with bloatware like most phones from other brands at the price segment.

It packs a 5000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging support. Unfortunately, this Samsung phone also doesn’t come with an adapter in the box. The retail box only includes a USB Type C charging cable, the manual, and the phone. As a company-wide policy, Samsung doesn’t offer a charger or even earphones with its phones anymore because it “wants to minimise the impact its products have on the environment”.

The design, I feel, could have been better. It looks more like a slimmer and flatter version of the younger sibling Samsung Galaxy M33 5G. Four sensors sit inside a square camera module at the back coupled with a LED flash at the bottom of the setup. On the front, there’s the punch hole camera with slim bezels on three sides and a slightly thicker chin there.

It is impressive to see how well Samsung has managed to balance the overall weight of the phone. Though the form factor is slightly wide, the phone feels extremely light despite packing a big battery inside.

Due to the bigger screen and wide form factor, it can be slightly uncomfortable for people with small hands to use the phone all day long. It includes a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-O or punch hole display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which gets quite bright even under Delhi's scorching sun.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G offers sensible upgrades over the predecessor. Significant upgrades come in the camera and performance department, while most other departments get minor tweaks that optimize the overall performance and user experience. I will have more details to share on the battery performance, cameras, and overall performance in the full review next week.

Indian economy will take 15 years to overcome Covid losses, says RBI report. Here are the key takeaways.

Indian economy will take 15 years to overcome Covid losses, says RBI report. Here are the key takeaways.
Via- Indiatodaynews, 

The RBI Report on Currency and Finance (RCF) released on Friday states that it will take the Indian economy 15 years to make up for the losses incurred due to the pandemic. 
INDIAN ECONOMY HIT HARD BY THE PANDEMIC

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday released the Report on Currency and Finance (RCF) for the year 2021-22. The report stated that it will take the Indian economy 15 years to make up for the losses incurred due to the pandemic.

The latest RBI report paints a grim picture of the Indian economy. The theme of the report is ‘Revive and Reconstruct’ in the context of nurturing a durable recovery post-Covid and raising trend growth in the medium-term.

According to RBI, the country now needs to focus on seven wheels of economic progress - aggregate demand, aggregate supply, institutions, intermediaries and markets, macroeconomic stability and policy coordination, productivity and technological progress, structural changes and sustainability.

Also Read | Indian businesses hurt with Russia seen as war zone

The report states that for the country to hop on to a strong and sustainable growth path, price stability is a necessary precondition.

Reducing general government debt to below 66 per cent of GDP over the next five years is important to secure India’s medium-term growth prospects.

NEED OF THE HOUR: PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESSES

The report puts emphasis on providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses.

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das, in the foreword to the report wrote, "It was not sufficient to just stabilise the economy and return it to its pre-first wave path.” The task at hand, according to Das, was to create a virtuous cycle of greater opportunity for entrepreneurs, businesses, and the fiscal authority.

For the country to get the economy back on track, a feasible range for medium-term steady state GDP growth works out to 6.5 8.5 per cent, which is consistent with the blueprint of reforms.

"Taking the actual growth rate of 6.6 percent for 2020-21, 8.9 percent for 2021-22 and assuming growth rate of 7.2 percent for 2022-23, and 7.5 percent beyond that, India is expected to overcome Covid-19 losses in 2034-35," the report stated.

While the RBI expects the Indian economy to grow at 6.3 per cent in FY24, the International Monetary Fund's latest World Economic Outlook report pegged India's growth rate for FY24 at 6.9 per cent.

Data analysis shows that the output losses, in monetary terms, stood at Rs 19.1 lakh crore for FY21, Rs 17.1 lakh crore for FY22 and Rs 16.4 lakh crore for FY23.

India's real GDP in FY22 is estimated to be Rs 147.54 lakh crore.

STRUCTURAL CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO PUSH ECONOMY BACK ON GROWTH PATH

According to the Central Bank's staff, timely rebalancing of monetary and fiscal policies will likely be the first step in the recovery of the economic journey.

Suggested structural reforms include enhancing access to litigation free low- cost land; raising the quality of labour through public expenditure on education and health and the Skill India Mission; scaling up R&D activities with an emphasis on innovation and technology; creating an enabling environment for start-ups and unicorns; rationalisation of subsidies that promote inefficiencies; and encouraging urban agglomerations by improving the housing and physical infrastructure.

Industrial revolution 4.0 and the committed transition to a net-zero emission target warrant a policy ecosystem that facilitates provision of adequate access to risk capital and a globally competitive environment for doing business.

India’s ongoing and future free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations may focus on transfer of technology and better trade terms for high-quality imports from partner countries.