WORD ON THE STREET

  Concerns have been expressed by the United States and 13 other countries on a joint study by the World Health Organization and China on the origins of Covid-19. The United States joined a group of 13 nations, including Japan, in a statement criticising the World Health Organization's (WHO) long-awaited study on Covid-19's roots. The WHO team was "significantly delayed and lacked access to full, initial data and samples," according to the community of 14 countries. In a statement, the US, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, and Israel said they "absolutely" backed the WHO's attempts to stop the pandemic, including figuring out how it "started and spread." "It is critical that we express our common concerns that the international expert report on the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been substantially delayed and lacks access to full, original data and samples," they said. The declaration was also signed by Jap

  Mundra Solar's request for an acceptance extension was deferred at the SEZ Board meeting, but Wockhardt's was authorised. After the zone's DC submits a comprehensive report, the BoA will reconsider the Adani Ports SEZ unit's appeal. Mundra Solar, an SEZ unit that manufactures solar cells and modules in Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ) at Mundra, Gujarat, has had its request for an extension of approval deferred by the Board of Approval for SEZs, which has asked the zone's Development Commissioner (DC) to prepare a detailed report based on Revenue Department observations. According to the minutes of the BoA meeting held on March 18, pharmaceutical giant Wockhardt obtained a one-year extension of approval for its unit at Wockhardt Infrastructure Growth SEZ in Aurangabad, which it had demanded. “Wockhardt's approval was simple because it had already invested money in the project and was just waiting for regulatory approval,” a person familiar with the situation told B

  The 25 Indian crew members onboard Ever Given are in 'good health,' according to the company, which also expresses appreciation to all those involved in the refloating operation. The ship is owned by a Japanese company, run by a Taiwanese shipper, and is currently stranded in Egypt under Panamanian flag. The Indian crew aboard the super ship Ever Given, which ran aground in the Suez Canal and was successfully refloated, is in "good health," according to the German firm that operates the vessel. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) released a statement expressing its sincere appreciation to all those participating in the emergency response who worked diligently to free the vessel. "The vessel is now manned by a crew of 25 Indian nationals. They are safe and sound, and have been working together with all parties involved to get the ship back on the water. Their tireless professionalism and hard work are highly admired "In a tweet, the company said. "BS

  When asked about being dropped from T20Is, Shikhar Dhawan has a brilliant answer . India vs. England: After the match, former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar asked Dhawan how he felt about being dropped in T20Is, to which the India opening batsman replied with a gem. Shikhar Dhawan has proved that he is already one of India's best opening batsmen with two half-centuries in three innings. Dhawan was dropped from India's Test team later in 2018, but he remains a power to be reckoned with in limited-overs forms. Dhawan is only 23 runs away from reaching 6000 runs for India in ODIs, and he has created one of India's best opening pairs of all time with Rohit Sharma. Dhawan and Rohit are second only to Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly's pair in terms of most runs by an Indian pair. In the T20Is, however, Dhawan's position has been questioned. Virat Kohli said before the start of the England T20Is that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will open for India, but Dhawan ended up

  The Suez Canal Blockade has caused shipping prices to spike, and oil and gas tankers have been diverted. Shipping prices for oil product tankers have nearly doubled this week as a result of the Suez Canal blockage, and many vessels have been redirected away from the crucial waterway as a large container ship sits wedged between both banks. The Ever Provided, which is 400 metres long, has been trapped in the canal since Tuesday, and attempts are underway to free it, though the operation could take weeks due to the bad weather. The cessation of traffic across the narrow channel connecting Europe and Asia has compounded difficulties for shipping lines already suffering congestion and delays in providing retail products to customers.  If the canal remains closed for weeks, analysts foresee a greater upward effect on smaller tankers and oil products such as naphtha and fuel oil shipments from Europe to Asia. "The Mediterranean and Black Sea supply about 20% of Asia's naphtha thro