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Recurrent lesson in Russian history is that the top guy in the Kremlin is toast if he loses a war or a high stakes geopolitical gamble. In 1962, Nikita Khrushchev, Cuban missile crisis gamble against JFK backfired and he was booted out from the Politburo by his fellow oligarchs two years later. Tsar Nicholas's armies were gutted by the Germans at the battle of Tannenberg in 1915 and his generals forced him to abdicate the imperial crown in February 1917.

The communist parties of the world, mainly the communist parties of the western countries including the United States, the Britain, France and Germany are facing difficult choices after Russian President Putin’s official declaration of attack against the Ukraine on February 24. Earlier, the western parties, especially of USA have been exposing the NATO and US machinations in Ukraine and found some justification in the Russia’s advance actions near the border.

Making one of the worst fears come true, Brent crude, the benchmark oil price, has hit an intimidating $110 a barrel as the Russian invasion of Ukraine is showing no signs of a possible resolution. This is the highest price for oil in more than seven years, which by itself should send shockwaves across the world. What is more alarming, however, is that attempts to arrest the price increase through coordinated action by the key players striving for energy stability in the world are not producing the desired results.

Tucked away in the scenic yet underdeveloped Konkan region lies Mahad, a small town that is 175 km to south of Mumbai. This obscure place is home to one of India’s internationally acclaimed physicians and an authority on scorpion and snake stings, Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar. He was decorated this year with Padma Sri for his path breaking work.

Indian agriculture suffers from the lack of modern thinking and techniques and it reflects in the engagement of a high number of people whose combined productivity is lower than any other industry. Nevertheless, this sector plays an important role in both employment and GDP where its contribution is about 40% and 20% respectively. While the government has launched various schemes both for greater mechanization and modern techniques in farming, the situation doesn’t seem to improve. And, it’s vitally linked to the Indian economy and the employment scenario.

The NCP’s Nawab Malik continues to remain Maharashtra’s Minority Affairs Minister just like the BJP’s Minority Affairs Minister at the Centre Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. The difference is Nawab is in the custody of a central government enforcement agency, while the Naqvi can move about freely, reinforcing the belief that the only good Muslim in the India of Narendra Modi is the Naqvi-sort, not the Nawab kind.

Kanpur: Five Players - Including four from Tamil Nadu -GM Gukesh D ; GM Iniyan P, GM Aravindh Chithambaram IM Pranav V and Arjun Erigaisi of Telangana all with 6.5 points- each shared the lead at the end of the eighth round the MPL 58th Senior National Chess Championship at Ganges Club, here today.

Aamby Valley, Maharashtra: Spotlight will be on Vani Kapoor, back after a good run in the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, and Amandeep Drall, who is soon going for the Ladies European Tour in the fourth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour which tees off at the par 72 Aamby Valley Green Golf Course here from Wednesday.

New Delhi: Veteran halfback Sushila Chanu on Tuesday asserted that India is fully prepared for the Women’s Hockey World Cup in Spain and Netherlands scheduled to begin from 1 July.

Thiruvananthapuram: Long Jumper M Sreeshankar held his nerve at crucial moments to produce his third best jump ever, 8.17m, to record a dramatic victory as six athletes crossed the qualifying standards for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in the inaugural AFI National Open Jumps Competition here on Tuesday.