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☆ New research finds that fully remote workers are less productive than their in-office counterparts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A new study looks at the productivity of remote workers versus those in-office. It showed that productivity dropped by 18% among a group of workers randomly assigned to WFH. More employers are pushing for workers to return to the office in a hybrid role or full-time. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Meanwhile, JPMorgan kickstarted a trend across Wall Street to instill a back-to-office mandate for its managing directors.

Persons: Michael Bloomberg Organizations: Service, National Bureau of Economic Research, Workers, McKinsey, Pew Research, NYC, Bloomberg, JPMorgan Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chennai

☆ Oil prices are up 20% and energy stocks are rebounding
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Energy stocks are making a comeback after being left for dead earlier this year. Energy stocks faltered in the beginning of the year, defying investors’ expectations for last year’s boom to accelerate on a lack of global supply. That drop in energy stocks came despite OPEC+ producers, the cartel of oil producing countries plus Russia, announcing several output cuts in a bid to bump up crude prices. US WTI crude oil prices have gained 22% since June 11, while global benchmark Brent is up by 19%. Jobs report will likely be strongMarkets and economists are expecting another solid jobs report on Friday, reports my colleague Alicia Wallace.

Persons: That’s, what’s, ”, Rebecca Babin, Chevron, Derek Amey, Jobs, Alicia Wallace, Daniel Zhao, Refinitiv, Read, Here’s what’s, Danielle Wiener, Bronner, We’ve, ” Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN — Energy, Energy, OPEC, Brent, Federal Reserve, CIBC Private Wealth, titans, Shell, Reuters, Glassdoor, USA Rice Federation Locations: New York, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China

☆ India rice export ban, explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But for importers and loyal consumers of Indian-grown non-basmati varieties, the ban has been disruptive, including in the United States. Internationally, the ban is causing an upheaval in the market and could especially impact places that rely on Indian rice exports. “So we’re looking to have a really healthy, robust US rice crop.”The United States primarily imports specialty and fragrant rice, he said, like arborio rice used to make risotto; jasmine rice; basmati rice and other varieties. “We are completely dependent on non-basmati rice,” said Kiran Kumar Pola, director of Deccan Foods, an importer and distributor of non-basmati Indian rice that operates out of Arizona. “We at India Bazaar understand the concerns raised in light of the recent ban on Indian Non-Basmati Raw Rice,” the post reads.

Persons: We’ve, USA Rice, what’s, “, ”, Tanner Ehmke, Anupam Nath, Ehmke, Joseph Glauber, it’s, Glauber, El Niño, “ There’s, Peter Bachmann, Charles Hart, ” Rice, Rory Doyle, Kiran Kumar Pola, Sona Masoori, Kerala Matta, Rice Organizations: New, New York CNN, ” USA Rice Federation, ”, International Food Policy Research, International Food Policy Research Institute, USA Rice Federation, BMI, Bloomberg, Deccan Foods, Facebook Locations: New York, United States, USA, India, CoBank, Asia, ” India, Guwahati, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, West Africa, Pakistan, South Asia, California, Pace , Mississippi, Arizona, Kerala, South India, Pola, Dallas

CHENNAI, India, July 26 (Reuters) - A Foxconn (2317.TW) subsidiary is in talks with India's Tamil Nadu state to invest up to $200 million to build a new plant for electronic components in the southern region, two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters on Wednesday. Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, and a spokesperson for Tamil Nadu's industries department declined to comment. Foxconn already has a sprawling campus near Chennai city in Tamil Nadu where it assembles Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhones. Foxconn is also in talks with western Gujarat state as it eyes entry into India's semiconductor sector. Last week, Karnataka state government in south India said it held talks with FII, which had committed to invest $1.07 billion for a new plant.

Persons: Brand Cheng, Foxconn, Young Liu, Praveen, Sarah Wu, Aditya Kalra, Richard Chang Organizations: Reuters, Foxconn Industrial, Tamil, FII, Thomson Locations: CHENNAI, India, Tamil, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bengaluru, Taipei

☆ This international stock picker is outpacing peers with differentiated, long-term bets
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In 2019, it launched its International Fund. Today, the investor manages the Diamond Hill International Fund (DHIAX) , rated five stars by Morningstar. Mohanraj expects that's because of the fund's emphasis on differentiated bets. The Diamond Hill fund, which is benchmarked against the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, has roughly $65 million in assets, a 1.150% expense ratio, and . "And it's that idea of a highly curated portfolio, of what I want to own in international, that's the mindset."

Persons: Krishna Mohanraj, Sanford C, Bernstein, that's, Mohanraj, Morningstar, DHIAX, What's, Dino, they've, Mario, V, Prem Watsa who's, Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's Organizations: Diamond Hill Capital Management, Diamond Hill, International Fund, i2 Technologies, Sanford, Dino Polska SA, Polska, Dino Polska, Nintendo, Mario Bros, Office, Fairfax Financial Locations: Diamond, South India, U.S, Warsaw, Poland, Japanese, Fairfax, Canadian, Canada, Berkshire

☆ ‘Never Have I Ever’ comes to an end. Its stars reflect on what made the show so special
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

For one, she wasn’t the only South Asian person there. For another, she and her fellow South Asian castmates Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Poorna Jagannathan were the leads of the show. “From that day forward, every day that I was on set until the last day we wrapped up season four, that realization hit me every single day,” Moorjani said in a Zoom call. And as the beloved show comes to an end, its stars are reflecting back on its legacy. That she is the lead of the show is in itself significant for South Asian representation.

Persons: Richa Moorjani, ”, Poorna Jagannathan, Devi, Kamala, ” Moorjani, Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher, she’s, ” Ramakrishnan, “, There’s Nirmala, Ranjita, Megan Suri, That’s, it’s, Jagannathan, ” “, subtler, Nalini, Mohan, ” Jagannathan, I’ve, you’re, “ It’s, Kaling’s Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Princeton, Variety Locations: United States, Devi, Indian, Hollywood, Sherman Oaks , California, American, India

Rescue workers gather around damaged carriages during search for survivors at the accident site on Saturday. With the rail routes still blocked, family members of deceased passengers are having to find their way by other means to the crash site, to help identify the dead. India’s extensive rail network, one of the largest in the world, was built more than 160 years ago under British colonial rule. Decaying infrastructure is often cited as a cause for traffic delays and numerous train accidents in India. An ambitious National Rail Plan, announced in 2021, envisages that all major cities in north, west and south India should be connected by high-speed rail.

Persons: –, Ashwini Vaishnaw, ”, Dibyangshu Sarkar, Jaya Varma Sinha, ” Sinha, Mansukh Mandaviya, Mandaviya, Naveen Patnaik, Patnaik, “, Narenda Modi, Narendra Modi, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Fumio Kishida, Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, Modi, Modi’s, Albright Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Howrah, Bangalore . Rescue, Getty, Jaya, India’s Health, Sunday, Odisha’s, Public Relations Department, Indian, Rapid, Force, British, United Nations, National Crime Records, Group, Rail Plan, Bharat Locations: New Delhi, London, Hong Kong, Balasore, Odisha, Indian, Kolkata, Chennai, Bazar, Bangalore, AFP, Tamil Nadu, Russian, India, Jammu, Kashmir

CNN —One of the worst train accidents in India’s history is raising questions over the safety of the country’s massive and outdated rail network, as the government invests in its modernization. India’s extensive rail network, one of the largest in the world, was built more than 160 years ago under British colonial rule. Decaying infrastructure is often cited as a cause for traffic delays and numerous train accidents in India. India has seen several similar deadly incidents involving train accidents in recent decades. The same year, Modi announced huge investments in India’s railway system aimed at improving safety and connectivity.

Persons: Rafiq Maqbool, Odisha, Narendra Modi, Modi’s, Albright, Modi, ” Mamata Banerjee Organizations: CNN, AP Authorities, Howrah, National Crime Records, Group, Indian, Rail Plan, India, Bharat Locations: Odisha, Shalimar, Chennai, Yesvantpur, India, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jammu, Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh

Two passenger trains and a goods train collided in an accident in the city of Balasore in Odisha state, according to a video statement by state chief secretary Pradeep Jena. Press Trust of India/APA view of a damaged compartment, following the deadly train collision in Balasore, India June 2, 2023. The train travels through India’s east coast, between West Bengal’s capital Kolkata to the South Indian city of Chennai. “Distressed by the train accident in Odisha. The following November, at least 39 people died and 50 others were seriously injured in a train derailment in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Persons: Pradeep Jena, “, ”, Mamata Banerjee, Narendra Modi Organizations: CNN, News18, ”, Jena, Twitter, Press Trust of, Indian, Local, AP India’s, Railways, Communications, Electronics, Information Technology, National Crime Records Locations: India, Balasore, Odisha, Balarore, Press Trust of India, Shalimar, Chennai Coromandel, West Bengal, India’s, West Bengal’s, Kolkata, Indian, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh

☆ Factbox: Amazon to Walmart, investors in India boost Modi ahead of vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMAZONAmazon Web Services said it planned to invest $13 billion in India by 2030 to build its cloud infrastructure and create thousands of jobs. APPLE (AAPL.O)The U.S. tech giant launched its first company-owned store in Mumbai last month and then another in New Delhi. CISCO SYSTEMS (CSCO.O)The U.S. networking equipment maker will begin manufacturing from India as it looks to diversify its global supply chain. It has set a target of $1 billion in production and exports from India over the next few years. WALMART (WMT.N)The retail giant's CEO met Modi this month and reiterated that the company planned exports from India worth $10 billion a year by 2027.

☆ Coffee-powered Bopanna becomes oldest Masters champion at Indian Wells
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 19 (Reuters) - Coffee connoisseur Rohan Bopanna credited the special Indian blends he consumes on Tour for his success after the 43-year-old became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion by winning the men's doubles title on Saturday. "It's the Indian coffee that I keep having when travelling. Some days I tell Matt I maybe just practised 20 minutes, but I'd rather rest the body and be ready for our matches," Bopanna said. Really happy with that." Indian doubles great Mahesh Bhupathi hailed former playing partner Bopanna's longevity and ability to peak late in his career.

☆ Factbox: Why is Cyclone Freddy a record-breaking storm?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Nellie Peyton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HIGHEST CYCLONE ENERGYFreddy holds the record for most accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a measure based on a storm's wind strength over its lifetime, of any storm in the southern hemisphere and possibly worldwide. Freddy has generated about as much accumulated cyclone energy as an average full North Atlantic hurricane season, according to the World Meteorological Organization. By last week it was in second place for the most accumulated cyclone energy of any storm since 1980, with the record held by Hurricane and Typhoon Ioke in 2006. RECORD LENGTHFreddy may have broken the record for longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Freddy had seven separate cycles of rapid intensification, according to satellite estimates, said the World Meteorological Organization.

☆ Indians erupt in celebration after two films win at Oscars
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Indians had won Oscars previously, but no Indian film had won an Academy Award before Sunday night in Los Angles. "The popularity of 'Naatu Naatu' is global. They have brought India to the world stage," singer Prudhvi Chandra, one of the singers of "Naatu Naatu," told the India Today news channel. In the film, made in the South Indian language of Telugu, and directed by S.S. Rajamouli, "Naatu Naatu" begins when the two leads, played by Ram Charan and N.T. When a young British man aims racist insults at the leads, they decide to educate him using the song "Naatu Naatu."

☆ Fact Check-Video showing Tamil celebration in Waterloo, Canada, does not involve UK government officials and staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It does not involve officials or staff from Britain’s defence ministry or the UK Prime Minister’s office. Rather, the video shows a celebration among officials in the Canadian province of Ontario. The earliest version of the clip Reuters found was in a Facebook group named Tamil Culture Waterloo Region. The caption says it shows a Tamil Thai Pongal celebration involving “region of Waterloo politicians, regional chair city mayors, councilors and police chief and staff” (here). The video shows celebrations taking place in the Canadian city of Waterloo, with no British government officials or staff attending.

The government plans to raise 160 billion rupees through green bonds for the current fiscal ending March 31, with the first tranche of 80 billion rupees scheduled for auction on Wednesday. "The expectation of a green premium is in line with 'greenium' that issuers have got globally," said one of the two sources. "Green bonds should command a premium because of the mandates to invest in these securities. The RBI will auction 40 billion rupees each of five-year and 10-year green bonds. "It will be advisable to appoint an external auditor with an oversight by CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) for utilisation of green bond proceeds."

☆ What to know about 'Naatu Naatu,' the song that beat out Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga at Golden Globes
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

“Naatu Naatu,” a song from the hit Telugu-language film “RRR,” was the unexpected and historic winner for best original song at the Golden Globes Tuesday, beating out Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. Majumdar said she was surprised but thrilled “Naatu Naatu” took home the award. “Earlier, that was seen as a feature that was strange about Indian cinema. Keeravani accepts the Best Original Song award for "Naatu Naatu" from "RRR" during the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday. “When I envisioned the ‘Naatu Naatu’ song,” Rajamouli told Variety.

☆ Hair oiling, cups of tea and mom's beauty secrets: Welcome to South Asian Gen Z’s ‘auntie’ era
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Sakshi Venkatraman | Sakshi Venkatraman Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

Before Kaaviya Sambasivam left for elementary school each morning, her mother performed a ritual that generations of South Asian women had done before. South Asian women, fueled in part by lockdown forcing them to go home to their moms, have become a receptive TikTok community. Uniquely South Asian routines that once relegated them to the social outskirts now find an audience of thousands online. Other South Asian women say they can relate too. She remembers the days when the Facebook group Subtle Curry Traits was the only cultural touchstone for South Asian diaspora kids.

[1/2] Police officers are deployed as fishermen protest near the entrance of the proposed Vizhinjam Port in the southern state of Kerala, India, November 9, 2022. "We won't let them in," a protestor was seen screaming at police officers near the port entrance site. The Adani Group has said the project was in full compliance with all laws and that many studies in recent years have rejected allegations linking the project to shoreline erosion. The Kerala state government says erosion has occurred due to natural disasters. A previous attempt by Adani in October to move trucks out of the port also failed.

☆ McDonald's India franchisee Westlife beats Q2 profit view on strong demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, Nov 9 - Westlife Foodworld Ltd (WEST.NS), which owns the franchise for McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) in west and south India, reported a bigger-than-expected second-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by rising demand. Analysts on average had expected a profit of 246.6 million rupees, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Sales surged 33% to 5.7 billion rupees, its highest ever quarterly sales, and the company achieved more than 67.5 million rupees in average annualized sales per store. Westlife, which is on track to open 35-40 stores in 2023, saw a 52% rise in royalties to 261.9 million rupees. Rival Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd (JUBI.NS), which runs the Domino's Pizza (DPZ.N) chain in India, reported 10% rise in second-quarter profit on Tuesday.

☆ World’s best spicy foods: 20 dishes to try
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

When it comes to the world’s best spicy dishes, we have some of the world’s hottest peppers to thank, along with incredible layers of flavor and a long, spice-loving human history. Peppers – a headliner for heat – are rated on the Scoville Heat Units scale, which measures capsaicin and other active components of chile peppers. And it’s the perky red pepper of the same name that brings the spiciness to this complex, layered and delicious dish. “The peperoncino (red chile pepper) is what makes this sauce ‘angry’ (arrabbiata) or spicy,” Chris MacLean of Italy-based Open Tuesday Wines said via email. FomaA/Adobe StockThe fiery Ethiopian spice blend called berbere – aromatic with chile peppers, basil, cardamom, garlic and ginger – is instrumental to the flavor chorus that’s doro wat, Ethiopia’s much-loved spicy chicken stew.

Persons: ”, Saurav Dutt, “ Ginger, chiles, ” Hunter, Dutt, Nigeria Ata, Kwoklyn Wan, “, It’s, pattarasiri, Piri, piri, it’s, Mao’s, Mao Zedong’s, shao rou, Cook, Suzie Lee, Brent Hofacker, Mark Harvey, podcaster, Ayam, betutu, Todd Taulman, serrano, jalapeño, Phaal Curry, Penne all’arrabbiata, ’, Chris MacLean of, MacLean, ’ ”, marati, Doro wat, doro, you’re, Mapo, vindaloo, Julian Gonzalez, ” Gonzalez Organizations: CNN, Adobe, chiles, BBC, “, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wines, Sawmill Locations: Sichuan, Nigeria, West, China, British, Chongqing, Thailand, Isaan, Laos, Mozambique, Angola, Portuguese, Piri, chiles, Namibia, South Africa, Beijing, Jamaica, Spanish Town, Montego Bay, Boston Bay, Ayam betutu, Indonesia, Bali, Lombok, Buffalo, United States, American, Alaska, Maine, Buffalo , New York, cayenne, Worcestershire, Mexico, Mexican, Sinaloa, Bangkok, rendang, Malaysia, West Sumatra, Indonesia’s, Brunei, Philippines, South Korea, Birmingham, England, Bangladesh, Bangladeshi, Italy, Chris MacLean of Italy, Rome’s Lazio, India, South India, India’s, Tamil, Ethiopia, Goa, United Kingdom, Mafé, Senegal Senegalese, Mali, Gambia, Albuquerque , New Mexico, In Texas

☆ India bans Islamic group PFI, accuses it of terrorism
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Krishna N. Das | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A man walks past the old office of Popular Front of India (PFI) Islamic group, in New Delhi, India, September 28, 2022. REUTERS/Anushree FadnavisSummary Bans imposed on PFI, eight affiliates for five yearsGovernment says PFI involved in 'terrorism'PFI dissolves itself - statementPFI student wing CFI decries 'vendetta'NEW DELHI, Sept 28 (Reuters) - India declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) Islamic group and its affiliates unlawful on Wednesday, accusing them of involvement in terrorism and banning them for five years, after authorities detained more than 100 PFI members this month. The PFI's now-banned student wing, the Campus Front of India (CFI), called the government action a political vendetta and propaganda. The government said in a notification it had banned the PFI and affiliates CFI, Rehab India Foundation, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala. The PFI came together in late 2006 and was launched formally the next year with the merger of three organisations based in south India.

☆ The Kohinoor diamond was obtained by the British Empire. Some argue it should be returned to India.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-12 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week, online users are calling for the British government to surrender artifacts obtained by the British Empire, including the Kohinoor diamond — one of the most famous diamonds in the world. Conversations about the diamond — also spelled Koh-i-noor — which is part of the British crown jewels, have been trending on social media amid coverage of the queen’s death, with users posting their opinions about the empire — and memes about stealing the diamond back. “The actual histories of British imperialism tell a much different story, one of horrific violence, dispossession, prejudice and significant economic exploitation,” she said. Maharaja Duleep Singh, the son and successor of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, held on to the diamond until the British annexed Punjab in 1849. (The Royal India Company was the royally chartered company formed to exploit trade with East and Southeast Asia and India.)

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