Latest news with #ItRunsWhileISleep
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Business as Usual: India buys 2 mn bpd Russian oil in August
India's purchase of Russian oil has risen to 2 million barrels per day in August, as refiners continue to prioritise economic considerations in their sourcing decisions. Independence Day 2025 Op Sindoor to water cutoff: PM Modi slams Pak in I-Day speech GST reforms by Diwali to cut daily-use taxes: PM Modi Terrorism, tech, more: PM's I-Day speech highlights As much as 38 per cent out of an estimated 5.2 million barrels per day of crude oil imported in the first half of August came from Russia, according to global real-time data and analytics provider Kpler. Imports from Russia at 2 million bpd were up from 1.6 million bpd in July. The increase in Russian flow was at the cost of purchases from Iraq, which declined to 730,000 bpd in August from 907 bpd in July, and Saudi Arabia which fell to 526,000 bpd from 700,000 bpd last month. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'It Runs While I Sleep' – The AI Side Hustle Sweeping United Kingdom TApp Read Now Undo The US was the fifth largest supplier at 264,000 bpd, according to Kpler. "Russian crude imports into India have so far remained resilient in August, even after the Trump administration's tariff announcement in late July 2025," said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst (Refining & Modeling) at Kpler. "But the stability we're seeing now is mostly a result of timing - August cargoes were locked in back in June and early July, well before any policy shifts." Live Events What's showing up in the data today reflects decisions made weeks ago, he said, adding any real adjustment in flows - whether due to tariffs, payment issues, or shipping friction - will only start becoming visible from late September through October arrivals. He noted that there's been no government directive to cut Russian volumes. "So from a policy standpoint, it's business as usual". Arvinder Singh Sahney, chairman of Indian Oil Corporation - India's largest oil firm - too said the government has not given any instruction to go slow on purchases from Moscow in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's decision to slap an additional 25 per cent tariff on US imports from India -- raising the overall duty to 50 per cent -- as a penalty for the country's continued imports of Russian oil. "Neither we are being told to buy nor told not to buy," he said. "We are not making extra effort to either increase or decrease the share of Russian crude." Russian oil accounted for about 22 per cent of the crude processed by IOC in April-June and the volumes are expected to remain the same in the near future, he said. Separately, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) Director (Finance) Vetsa Ramakrishna Gupta on an investor call said imports from Russia had declined last month from 34 per cent of overall imports in June quarter, as discounts on it had narrowed to USD 1.5 per barrel. "As long as there is no new sanction on Russian oil, our procurement strategy will be 30-35 per cent of Russian crude for the remaining year," he had said. India, the world's third-largest oil consumer and importer, had swiftly substituted market-priced oil with discounted Russian crude following Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian oil, which accounted for less than 0.2 per cent of India's imports before the war, now makes up 35-40 per cent of the country's crude intake. The discounts however have narrowed from a high of USD 40 per barrel to just USD 1.5 last month. Discounts this month have risen to over USD 2 per barrel. Ritolia said Indian refiners are watching the situation closely. "There's growing interest in sourcing more barrels from the US, West Africa, and Latin America, not necessarily because they are walking away from Russian supply, but to hedge against possible disruptions. It's a shift in mindset - from margin maximization to energy security and logistical risk management." He however hastened to add that buying more cargoes from elsewhere in the world does not mean Indian refiners are replacing Russian barrels. "Crude buying is a continuous, complex process-driven by refinery configuration, grade compatibility, and economics. Indian refiners still need to source 60-65 per cent of their crude from non-Russian suppliers, and that mix hasn't suddenly changed. What we're seeing is added flexibility, not a deliberate pivot. Until there's a clear policy change or sustained shift in trade economics, Russian flows remain part of India's crude basket and talk of replacement is premature." Sahney said at no time was import of crude oil from Russia sanctioned and so India continued to purchase keeping in mind economic considerations. "Such purchases will continue unless sanctions are imposed," he said. "We have not got any instruction (from the government) to either increase or decrease purchase. We are doing business as usual." About talk of refiners being asked to increase purchases from the US in a bid to placate Trump, IOC Chairman said, "Neither are we being told to buy more nor are we told to buy less from US or any other destination. Economic considerations dictate our actions."
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
AI And 'Avyakt'
Every age and civilisation has redefined Creativity, but today, this Creativity is being subjected to unprecedented scrutiny and viewed through a different prism, that of AI. From celebration to caution and everything in between, it is discussed, debated, and dissected daily. Let's explore this. Is AI Truly Artificial? When we emphasise on 'Artificial Intelligence', are we being condescending or judgmental here? After all, it's rooted in human-produced data, our words, our images, our histories, our decisions distilled into material. It feels transformative because it recombines the familiar with unprecedented speed and some polish. Next, let's distinguish between 'intelligent and Intelligence'. An intelligent person applies knowledge, reasoning, and experience to address specific situations within a defined context. Intelligence, however, is understood not merely as an individual faculty but as an expression of a deeper, infinite universal principle - the cosmic Intelligence. What sets human Creativity apart is our ability to make irrational leaps - the instinctive break of pattern. This is something AI will find hard to replicate. Philip Larkin, the poet and librarian, once observed that our best manuscripts are blank notebooks, because they contain infinite potential. AI can fill pages in seconds. Humans, by contrast, stare at blankness for hours, days, and at one point in time, leap. That leap - illogical, instinctive, disobedient - is where Creativity thrives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'It Runs While I Sleep' – The AI Side Hustle Sweeping United Kingdom TApp Read Now Undo Ask AI for a poem about life's journey, and the likely output would be: "The path is the destination; enjoy the journey." Predictable and could be sharpened with a better prompt. Instead, i, as a poetic mind, would write: "Raaste chahte hain main safar par niklu, par jab manzil mujh mein hi rehte ho to kaisa safar? Mujhe theher kar sunna hai apna aasman." - Paths call me to travel, but when the destination is within me, where is the journey? I want to stand still and listen to my own sky. This is not syntax, or word soup - it is a voice shaped by my lived experience, my cultural context, and born of my seeking. AI can refine what is known, but it cannot reach into the 'avyakt' - the unexpressed. That which is yet unsaid - the instinct to wander where there are no paths, to hear what has not been heard. The most beautiful song has yet to be written, the most luminous smile still to be smiled, the highest flight still to be taken. Like i wrote, "Main kabhi batlata nahi andhere se darta hoon maa, ...main kabhi jatlata nahi teri parwah karta hoon maa", it resonated as it touched on what was felt but not expressed in this manner. Creativity is not a tidy arrangement; it is rupture - the break of pattern, defying the odds. AI cannot rupture itself. It is bounded by what it has been fed. Humans, uniquely, can disobey even their own logic. That disobedience - the ability to surprise not only the world but ourselves - is the heartbeat of imagination. AI sharpens rather than diminishes human Creativity. As machines master the obvious and tidy the familiar, they leave us free to explore what lies beyond pattern: the ambiguous, the unformed, the unspoken. Here lies our task - to dwell in that space, to hear what has not been heard, to imagine what has no precedent. AI mirrors Intelligence as a vast collective, but imagination remains singular. Its role is to enlarge the canvas; ours is to paint. True Creativity will live wherever data ends and daring begins. Authored by: Prasoon Joshi Bhagavad Gita: Verse 44 Explained - The Impact of Upholding or Neglecting Family Traditions
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin: Savi faces custody battle
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin continues to grip viewers with its high-voltage drama and emotional twists. In a shocking but impactful turn of events, Neil has married Savi — a development fans may have anticipated, though not under such tense and heartbreaking circumstances. The recent storyline took a dramatic leap when Srichand's deceit was exposed, leading to a dangerous confrontation where he took Sai hostage. Neil reached the scene in time and managed to rescue her but was tragically shot in the process. Following the chaos, he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors revealed he had suffered partial memory loss — recalling only his wife and children. To aid in Neil's recovery, Savi was asked to pretend to be his wife. Though hesitant at first, she eventually agreed for the sake of his well-being. Now, Savi and the children are temporarily living with the Pradhans. While Neil remains unaware of the full truth, he feels a strong connection with Savi, and their bond appears to be growing deeper with time. Recently, Savi's suspension from duty was revoked. Although the Pradhan family initially objected to her rejoining the force, Neil stood firmly by her side, offering his support and encouraging her to return to work. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'It Runs While I Sleep' – The AI Side Hustle Sweeping Australia TApp Read Now Undo Meanwhile, a new challenge has emerged. The Thakkars are secretly plotting to take custody of Sai and Kian. In the upcoming episode, Savi receives a shocking legal notice, discovering that Bhagyashree has filed for custody of the children. As she reads through the documents, her thoughts spiral — just the day before, Sai narrowly escaped a severe allergic reaction, and now the notice includes veiled suggestions of negligence. The timing raises alarm bells for Savi, who begins to suspect that the incident and the custody notice might not be coincidental. A chilling thought crosses her mind — could someone from within the household be secretly leaking information to Bhagyashree? With suspicion weighing heavily on her, Savi resolves to uncover the truth. As she gets ready to leave for duty, her determination is palpable. Just then, Neil calls out to her, stopping her in her tracks. Noticing her distracted state, he asks if everything is alright, sensing that something is deeply troubling her.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Most markets extend gains as China-US talks head into second day
AI generated image showing a rising stock market graph against blurred US and Chinese flags, symbolizing positive trade talk outcomes. Stocks mostly rose Tuesday as the latest round of China-US trade talks moved into a second day, with one of Donald Trump 's top advisers saying he expected "a big, strong handshake". There is optimism the negotiations -- which come after the US president spoke to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last week -- will bring some much-needed calm to markets and ease tensions between the economic superpowers. This week's meeting in London will look to smooth relations after Trump accused Beijing of violating an agreement made at a meeting of top officials last month in Geneva that ended with the two sides slashing tit-for-tat tariffs. The key issues on the agenda at the talks are expected to be exports of rare earth minerals used in a wide range of things including smartphones and electric vehicle batteries. "In Geneva, we had agreed to lower tariffs on them, and they had agreed to release the magnets and rare earths that we need throughout the economy," Trump's top economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, told CNBC on Monday. But even though Beijing was releasing some supplies, "it was going a lot slower than some companies believed was optimal", he added. Still, he said he expected "a big, strong handshake" at the end of the talks. "Our expectation is that after the handshake, any export controls from the US will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume," Hassett added. He also said the Trump administration might be willing to ease some recent curbs on tech exports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'It Runs While I Sleep' – The AI Side Hustle Sweeping Australia TApp Read Now Undo The president told reporters at the White House: "We are doing well with China. China's not easy. "I'm only getting good reports." After a strong start, Asian markets stuttered in the afternoon, though it was not immediately clear what had prompted the step back. Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei, Mumbai, Bangkok and Jakarta rose but Hong Kong and Shanghai pared their initial rallies as investors grew nervous ahead of the resumption of the talks. Singapore and Manila also slipped. London and Paris opened higher but Frankfurt was slightly lower. "The bulls will layer into risk on any rhetoric that publicly keeps the two sides at the table," said Pepperstone's Chris Weston. "And with the meeting spilling over to a second day, the idea of some sort of loose agreement is enough to underpin the grind higher in US equity and risk exposures more broadly." Investors are also awaiting key US inflation data this week, which could impact the Federal Reserve's monetary policy amid warnings Trump's tariffs will refuel inflation strengthening the argument to keep interest rates on hold. However, it also faces pressure from the president to cut rates, with bank officials due to make a decision at their meeting next week. While recent jobs data has eased concerns about the US economy, analysts remain cautious. "Tariffs are likely to remain a feature of US trade policy under President Trump," said Matthias Scheiber and John Hockers at Allspring Global Investments. "A strong US consumer base was helping buoy the global economy and avoid a global recession." However, they also warned: "The current global trade war coupled with big spending cuts by the US government and possibly higher US inflation could derail US consumer spending to the point that the global economy contracts for multiple quarters." - Key figures at around 0715 GMT - Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.3 percent at 38,211.51 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.2 percent at 24,142.25 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,384.82 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 8,858.21 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1397 from $1.1420 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3497 from $1.3552 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 144.58 yen 144.60 yen Euro/pound: UP 84.43 from 84.27 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.2 percent at $65.41 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $67.20 per barrel New York - Dow: FLAT at 42,761.76 (close)
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Axiom-4 Mission: From weather risks to ISRO's spending, all you need to know before Shubhanshu Shukla reaches ISS
As SpaceX prepares to launch the Ax-4 mission on June 11, weather and safety remain top priorities for all partners involved, Axiom Space , SpaceX, and NASA. At a briefing on Monday, June 9, a Launch Weather Officer Jimmy Taeger with the US Space Force, explained that Central Florida's weather is being affected by a high-pressure system from the southeast. This system is expected to move north, changing the wind patterns and possibly causing isolated showers. Taeger said the weather risk for Tuesday, June 10, had gone down slightly, but it might go up again for Wednesday. 'For June 11, there's about a 20% chance of weather rules being broken. For the backup day, June 12, it's a bit higher, around 25%,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'It Runs While I Sleep' – The AI Side Hustle Sweeping United Kingdom TApp Read Now Undo Wind conditions are expected to get better mid-week, but passing showers could still be a problem during the launch window. 'Even though winds are improving, the one thing we're watching closely is the chance of showers,' he added. Live Events Axiom and SpaceX have confirmed they are targeting an 8 am Eastern Time (5:30 pm IST) launch on June 11. What technical issues did SpaceX face? SpaceX also had to deal with some technical problems found during pre-launch checks. SpaceX's Vice President William Gerstenmaier of Build and Flight Reliability, said a liquid oxygen leak was discovered during a test of the Falcon-9 rocket. This leak had not been spotted earlier after the rocket's last mission for Starlink. To fix the issue, engineers installed a system to prevent the leak from affecting the mission. 'We discovered the booster hadn't been fully repaired. We're now installing a purge to handle the leak,' he explained. There was also a problem with the thrust vector control system on one of the engines, which has now been fixed. All repairs are expected to be completed by the evening before launch. Gerstenmaier added that a recent full-scale launch day simulation, known as a 'dry dress rehearsal', went smoothly. What's new with the Dragon capsule? This mission will be the first flight for the new version of the Dragon spacecraft. Gerstenmaier said the capsule has received several updates, including better food processing and storage, improved propulsion components, and a redesigned system for securing the crew's stairs. 'This isn't just the same old Dragon,' he said. 'We've made improvements to keep it flying safely.' A busy year for SpaceX The Ax-4 launch will also be the second flight for the Falcon-9 booster being used. Gerstenmaier said, 'I can't think of a better way for this capsule to enter the fleet than by flying this international crew.' So far in 2025, SpaceX has already launched three Dragon missions, two of which carried crew, within just 38 days. He added, 'While we were doing those, our teams were also preparing for Axiom-4.' The Department of Space has invested approximately Rs 413 crore in the Ax-4 mission, which will send Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station, marking him as the first Indian to reach the ISS.
