drskmukherjee

Retail inflation for farm and rural workers increased to 6.60 per cent and 6.82 per cent, respectively, in July mainly due to higher prices of certain food items. Many factual data came to light during the debates in the winter session of parliament 2022. Like unemployment data, facts on rural inflation also stood exposed. Prof Manoj Kumar Jha, an RJD MP rightly said in the House that "the data has no meaning for the poor when the ruling dispensation is not at all concerned as to why there are less and less roti, sabzi in their plates and thinner dal everyday in their bowl".  In June retail inflation for farm and rural workers stood at 6.43 per cent and 6.76 per cent respectively. "Point-to-point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers) and CPI-RL (Consumer Price Index-Rural Labourers) stood at 6.60 per cent and 6.82 per cent in July, 2022 compared to 6.43 per cent & 6.76 per cent respectively in June, 2022 and 3.92 per cen

Unemployment Rate Still Rising Continuously The unemployment rate is rising in India. It was high in November, at 8 per cent. After the lockdown shocks, the unemployment rate has hovered in the 6 to 8 per cent range. The 8 per cent unemployment rate of November was therefore at the higher end of this range. Earlier, in October too, the unemployment rate was close to the higher end of the range. The month had ended with an unemployment rate of 7.8 per cent. Now in December 2022, the unemployment rate threatens to breach this upper end of the range observed since the lockdowns. The unemployment rate was over 8 per cent in all three weeks that ended in December. The first week that ended on December 4 recorded an unemployment rate of 8.4 per cent. In the second week the rate shot up rather sharply to 9.5 per cent. In the third week, the rate scaled back a bit. But it was still significantly elevated at 8.9 per cent. The four-week moving average of the weekly unemployment rate reveals a tr

Coronation Complete! Lionel Messi Claims His Crown as Argentina Rejoices Lionel Messi and Argentina are champions of the football world, beating 2018 victors France in a penalty shootout. Argentina's "MESSIah" scored twice in one of the most exciting World Cup finals in history and then another in a shootout as Argentina beat France 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw to claim a third World Cup title despite Kylian Mbappé scoring the first hat trick in a final in 56 years. Kylian Mbappé's hat trick for France and his furious comeback fell short as it wasn’t enough to deny Lionel Messi his destiny. In one of the greatest finals in World Cup history and just the third to be decided on penalties after extra time, Messi and Mbappe delivered a back-and-forth duel for the ages. The score was 2-2 at full-time, 3-3 after extra time, before finally being decided in Argentina’s favour 4-2 in the shootout. Just days before his 24th birthday, French prodigy Mbappe scored just the s

Messi Squad Could Win The World Cup Both are well organized teams. If Argentina are the favourites of people, France have the greatest player of all time. But France squad have been battling a mystery virus that is believed to have affected five players so far.          Central defenders Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konate, and winger Kingsley Coman were forced to miss training on Friday because of the illness. Before that, midfielder Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano were ruled out of the semi-final.  Players, staff and sources close to the French squad have spoken of a range of symptoms including fever, stomach pain and headaches. It has been in news that all 24 members of France squad took to the field at the start of their last team training session before the final as Captain Hugo Lloris preferred to focus on the match.  My take is we know what Messi represents in the history of our sport but this is a match between France and Argentina. Incumbent France 2018 winner of the final wi

Croatia Finish Third at World Cup after Mislav Orsic’s Winner Goal against Morocco Croatia beat Morocco 2-1 in the World Cup third-place playoff. Mislav Orsic’s strike just before half-time was enough to settle the contest after two goals inside the first nine minutes set the tone for a pulsating encounter, Morocco’s Achraf Dari canceling out Josko Gvardiol’s opener. A bronze medal may have served as nothing more than consolation but Croatia and Morocco looked eager to make amends after losing to Argentina and France respectively in the semis. Foremost among those, perhaps, was the 37-year-old Luka Modric, surely playing his final World Cup game. The Real Madrid midfielder indicated afterwards that he would not hang up his international boots just yet, playing on at least until next summer’s Nations League finals in the Netherlands. There were signs of nerves from Morocco early on with the goalkeeper Bono nearly scything a clearance into his own goal in the third minute. Croatia starte

Absence of a killer touch that cost Morocco France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the final: Mbappe v Messi, Amrabat’s tackle and a rare fast start!!!! France withstood an impressive Morocco display to set up a World Cup final with Argentina on Sunday that pits Kylian Mbappe against his Paris Saint-Germain FC team-mate Lionel Messi. Theo Hernandez, who came into the France side in the first game when his brother Lucas suffered a tournament-ending knee injury, scored the opening goal after just five minutes, acrobatically steering the ball past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Morocco had plenty of possession but failed to draw level and one of France’s substitutes, Randal Kolo Muani, made it 2-0 with 11 minutes of normal time left after excellent play by Mbappe. This France team are one step from greatness. And so, Qatar’s World Cup has the kind of final that will have Qatar Sports Investments, owners of Paris Saint-Germain FC since 2011, as well as a global audience, drooling. Neymar may have go

Argentina Heads to its Sixth World Cup Final….. Messi scored once (34 min) and Julian Álvarez added two more (39 and 69 min respectively) as Argentina dominated a veteran Croatia team in the semi final match played at Qatar's Lusail Stadium. Only three other nations (Uruguay, Croatia and Netherlands) have advanced to as many World Cup finals as Argentina, which reached its sixth by beating Croatia, 3-0, in a romp that conferred upon Lionel Messi an ultimate, glorious chance for immortality. Messi's inaugural goal through a thunderous penalty and a sublime assist sends Argentina deservedly through to the World Cup Final. Gabriel Batistuta had 10 goals at the World Cup, but Messi has already surpassed him with 11. Lionel Messi, the crowning glory inspired his team with his penalty goal against Croatia in the semi final.  Initially the Croatia midfielders were in maximum possession of the ball in the Argentina half. Argentina have been fairly underwhelming till Messi got Argentina

Morocco Beat Portugal 1-0 to be in the Final Four of Semis: The first African or Arab nation to ever reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. As the first half progressed, they opened up and created the best chances of the half, with Youssef En-Nesyri missing two good chances before opening the scoring just before half-time after a goalkeeping mistake from Diogo Costa. The second half was an exercise of defense against attack, for the large majority. They were put under the cosh by Portugal at different periods but defended for their lives, gave up few opportunities and carried a threat on the counter-attack. The Portuguese struggled to open the up and Morocco had chances to finish the game off on the break, which they didn't take. That set up a tense finale but they pulled through thanks to Bono's superb save from Félix and Pepe's miss right at the death. This is just the third time that Portugal have reached the quarter-final stage but they'll feel they've missed a

Croatia Brazil draw 1-1, but Beats Brazil on 4-2 penalties to Reach World Cup Semi-Finals Croatia dumped Brazil out of the World Cup with a victory on penalties after an entertaining 1-1 draw on Friday. Neymar scored a stunner, but Croatia went on to knock out five-time champions Brazil on penalties to reach the last four. Croatia will face Argentina in the semi-finals. Brazil have had their last dance. This felt more like a slow waltz to the brink for almost two hours but a tense, enervating quarter-final erupted thrillingly in extra-time. It finished with Neymar sinking to the floor in tears, the majority of a partisan crowd stunned into near-silence, and Croatia’s entire squad giddily giving chase to their man for any penalty shootout occasion. Dominik Livakovic had saved three of Japan’s spot-kicks in the previous round; as soon as he repelled Rodrygo’s effort the writing was on the wall and it was another stunning tournament victory for a team that does not understand the meaning

A day for Bono the Keeper of Morocco in last-16 shootout win over Spain. Morocco caused a seismic upset by knocking out Spain on penalties 3-0, after the game had finished goalless after 120 minutes. Not one opponent has beaten Bounou – who has “Bono” on his shirt. Morocco conceded a single goal, and they scored that themselves. Even when it went to penalties, there was no way past.  Morocco's plan comes off to perfection. Morocco knew exactly what they were going to do against a favoured Spain side at Education City Stadium in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. Stood strong in defense, as they had done in the tournament up till now (conceding only one goal in the group stages, an own goal against Canada), and looked to hit the Spaniards on the break when they had the chance... And if those breaks led to nothing they'd regrouped to absolutely ensure Spain couldn't break through. And if the match had to go to extra-time, well so be it. And if it had to go to penalties, w

Japan Vs Croatia 1-3 Penalties: FIFA WC '22 Yes Croatia beat Japan 3-1 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead then Ivan Perisic equalized for Croatia, and with neither side able to score again they went to penalties, Dominik Livakovic’s three saves making him the hero. Farewell Samurai Blue. Japan have enriched the World Cup with stunning comebacks against old champions, indefatigable spirit and a passionate desire to upset the football hierarchy, but the formidable weight of history proved too great in Qatar. Their own, and Croatia’s. History repeated itself in this last‑16 tie as Croatia prevailed in a penalty shootout after extra time. As they do. Six of their past seven knockout games at major tournaments have lasted 120 minutes, with the exception of defeat against France in the 2018 World Cup final, and the smallest country left in the competition are defying the odds yet again. Japan exited agonizingly short of a first

France Won 3-1 Against Poland: World Cup 2022, last 16. France will play England in the Quarter-Final. Olivier Giroud became France’s all-time leading goalscorer and Kylian Mbappe scored two screamers as France cruised into the quarters. Mbappé watched Giroud break a 13-year record and then Mbappé himself performed the same feat twice. This turned into a fine night’s work for France, who finished in complete control and could feel that their attack was clicking at the perfect moment.  Yes, much of that came from Mbappé, whose second half performance was among the best individual displays of this tournament. It was Giroud who applied the first blow and, were it not for Mbappé, his feat would dominate every appraisal. In truth it deserves to. Perhaps few would have expected the 36-year-old Giroud, whose contributions have often been maligned, to be the player overtaking Thierry Henry, one time famous French footballer who had set a high water mark by scoring his 51st and final goal for F

The Netherlands Topped Group A and Argentina Group C. Messi Netted his Ninth Goal in FIFA WCs!!!! The Netherlands topped Group A of the tournament which included hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal. The Oranje began their FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign in style as they defeated Senegal 2-0. Rising star Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen found the back of the net as the Dutch rounded off a comfortable win. Next, the Louis van Gaal-coached side faced Ecuador. Gakpo was again the goal-scorer for the Oranje but Ecuador captain Enner Valencia fired in an equalizer as the match finished in a 1-1 stalemate. Gakpo scored a goal for the third game in succession in the Netherlands' final group game against Qatar. His goal was followed by a goal from midfielder Frankie de Jong. The hosts could not breach the Dutch defense and the match finished 2-0 in the Netherlands' favour. With two wins and a draw, the Netherlands finished at the top of Group A. And with the Netherlands finishing at the top of Gr

W hat a chaos!!   Rather a series of chaos, I dare say. Brazil Lost 0-1 to Cameroon and Switzerland Won 3-2 against Serbia; Still Advanced to the World Cup Knockout Round!! Brazil advances despite losing to Cameroon. Its two earlier victories were sufficient for it to win the group because of a better goal difference than Switzerland, which earned the group’s second qualifying place by beating Serbia. Cameroon’s victory was not enough for it to advance, and Serbia was eliminated. Another upset – Ghana vs Uruguay: Uruguay knocked out despite 2-0 win over Ghana, South Korea qualifies to the last 16 after South Korea stunned Portugal 2-1. Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored twice as Uruguay beat Ghana 2-0  on Friday but it was not enough to keep them in the World Cup after South Korea pipped them to the Group H runners-up spot with victory over Portugal. As of now After a fortnight of hectic action and chaotic outcomes Brazil, Portugal and defending champions France were the only side to h