In May 1879, King Leopold II of Belgium launched an ambitious plan to plunder Africa’s resources, by cracking open the continent, its elephants – if only he could train them.  So he commissioned the charismatic Irish adventurer Frederick Carter to ship four tamed Asian elephants from India to the East African coast, where they were marched inland towards Congo. The ultimate aim was to establish a training school for African elephants.  The steamship Chinsura sailed from Bombay to Zanzibar, carrying four tamed Asian elephants bound for Tanzania. Travelling overland more than 600 miles from Dar-es-Salaam to Lake Tanganyika, the expedition Carter … Continue reading Tapestry of greed and disregard for life

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy Final New Zealand 251-7 off 50ov, Ravindra 37 off 39, 4 fours, 1 six, Mitchell 63 off 101, 3 fours, Bracewell 53 off 40, 3 fours, 2 sixes, Yadav 2-40, Chakravarthy 2-45, Shami 1-74, Jadeja 1-30. India 254-6 off 49 ov, Rohit Sharma 76 off 83, 7 fours, 3 sixes, Iyer 48 off 62, 2 fours, 2 sixes, Rahul 34 not out off 33, 1 four, 1 six, Bracewell 2-28, Santner 2-46, Jamieson 1-24, Ravindra 1-47. India won by 4 wickets  India, dominant throughout the tournament, made an aggressive start in pursuit of 252, but they … Continue reading India beat New Zealand to win the Champions Trophy

The real threat to liberal democracy isn’t just autocrats – but a lack of effective action by so-called progressives. After decades of zooming on consumption and too many fights focused solely on distribution, the US needs to get back to building and inventing with innovative ideas. “This is the story of chosen scarcities, of  America, in the twenty-first century, and for that matter, of the UK and much of Europe” Ezra Klein, journalist with the New York Times, and Derek Thompson, who works for The Atlantic, claims. The chief ingredient of America’s economic engine – government support for innovation – is … Continue reading Politics driven by scarcity, lives defined by unaffordability, public institutions lacking big ideas

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy New Zealand 362-6 (50 ov) Ravindra 108 off 101, 13 fours, 1 six, Williamson 102 off 94, 1o fours, 2 sixes, Mitchell 49 off 37, 4 fours, 1 six, Phillips 49 no off 27, 6 fours, 1 six, Ngidi 3-72, Rabada 2-70. South Africa  312-9 (50 ov)  Bavuma 56 off 71, 4 fours, 1 six, van der Dussen 69 off 66, 4 fours, 2 sixes, Miller 100 off 67, 10 fours, 4 sixes, Santner 3-43, Henry 2-43, Bracewell 1-53, Phillips 2-27, Ravindra 1-20. New Zealand won by 50 runs. New Zealand beat South Africa and into the Champions … Continue reading New Zealand beat South Africa to reach Champions Trophy final

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy Australia. 264ao (49.3ov) Smith 73 off 96, 4 fours, 1 six, Carey 61 off 57,  8 fours, 1 six, Head 39 off 33, 5 fours, 2 sixes, Shami 3-48, Chakravarthy 2-49, Jadeja 2-40, Pandya 1-40, Patel 1-43. India 267-6 off 48.1ov Kohli 84 off 98, 5 fours, Iyer 45 off 62, 3 fours, Rahul 42 off 34, 2 fours, 2 sixes, Pandya 28 off 24, 1 four, 3 sixes, Zampa 2-60, Ellis 2-49,  Connolly 1-37, Dwarshuis 1-39 India won by 4 wickets India held their nerve to reach the Champions Trophy final with a four-wicket win over Australia … Continue reading India reaches Champions Trophy Finals