Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://theculturetrip.com/europe/the-netherlands/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-dutch-east-india-company/
The Dutch East India Company dominated European spice trade with Asia by colonising Asian countries before the British and the French. With a large fleet of ships, the Dutch East India Company started with Indonesia and expanded in Asia. However, its dominance waned with the rise of the British Navy (and wars) and a saturated spice market because of South America.
Reading Link for the Day -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/10/opinion/sunday/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation-lets-not-find-out.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/10/opinion/sunday/are-we-living-in-a-computer-simulation-lets-not-find-out.html
NY Times
Opinion | Are We Living in a Computer Simulation? Let’s Not Find Out (Published 2019)
Experimental findings will be either boring or extremely dangerous.
News of the Day -
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-16/explainer-why-india-walks-a-tightrope-between-us-and-russia
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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-03-16/explainer-why-india-walks-a-tightrope-between-us-and-russia
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Bloomberg.com
Why India Walks a Tightrope Between US and Russia
As the Cold War split the world into two camps starting in the 1950s, newly independent India became a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement — a group of countries that officially sided neither with Washington nor with Moscow. Today, Prime Minister Narendra…
Reading Link for the Day -
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/columns/you-dont-have-right-happiness-philosophy
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/columns/you-dont-have-right-happiness-philosophy
News of the Day -
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/17/politics/war-crime-prosecutions-what-matters/index.html
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https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/17/politics/war-crime-prosecutions-what-matters/index.html
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CNN
How war crimes prosecutions work | CNN Politics
After more than a year of international outrage at Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there's an International Criminal Court arrest warrant out for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here's a very broad look at war crimes and the international justice movement.
Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/columns/you-dont-have-right-happiness-philosophy
People in wealthy countries feel that happiness is within everyone’s reach, a belief made stronger with consumer culture where companies/advertisers, academics and even international personalities pitch perfect or happiness-inducing products. Westerners have been focusing on happiness, even renowned philosopher Aristotle thought that happiness is the highest good. Western philosophers also promote utilitarianism (what is best for the greatest number of people).
However, the author cites Chinese and Indian philosophers (and Yoda from Star Wars) who feel that the primary is a goal is a worthy life and happiness is a side effect of this. Some western philosophers like Nietzsche also did not think that happiness is the most important aim.
No government guarantees happiness either (while life, liberty, education & housing can be rights of citizens), only the pursuit of happiness can be a right. However, governments are focussing on data related to happiness (satisfaction, anxiety, etc.).
Conclusion - if we focus on a life well-lived and seek things we call (instead of purchasing products or following hacks), we may end up happier.
However, the author cites Chinese and Indian philosophers (and Yoda from Star Wars) who feel that the primary is a goal is a worthy life and happiness is a side effect of this. Some western philosophers like Nietzsche also did not think that happiness is the most important aim.
No government guarantees happiness either (while life, liberty, education & housing can be rights of citizens), only the pursuit of happiness can be a right. However, governments are focussing on data related to happiness (satisfaction, anxiety, etc.).
Conclusion - if we focus on a life well-lived and seek things we call (instead of purchasing products or following hacks), we may end up happier.
News of the Day -
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/universal-basic-income-does-not-cause-inflation/articleshow/98801058.cms
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/universal-basic-income-does-not-cause-inflation/articleshow/98801058.cms
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The Economic Times
Universal Basic Income does not cause inflation
Universal basic income (UBI) is a policy that would give all citizens an unconditional, predictable income to cover their basic needs. There is widespread belief that any monetary intervention stimulates hyperinflation of the form found in 1920s Germany,…
Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://www.wired.com/story/silicon-valley-bank-europe-tech-startup/
The US regulators have stepped in to ensure that the failure of Silicon Valley Bank did not impact the depositors. However, the author cites experts who feel that there is a gradual negative impact which will come out - investments in startups, especially in Europe. Silicon Valley’s customers were tech startups who were not getting funds from traditional lenders (European banks tend to be risk averse and do not as much knowledge of the tech sector). This has also come at a bad time, when the tech sector is doing badly because of layoffs.
News of the Day -
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/this-is-how-global-banking-crisis-can-impact-india-in-different-ways/articleshow/98862476.cms
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/this-is-how-global-banking-crisis-can-impact-india-in-different-ways/articleshow/98862476.cms
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The Economic Times
This is how global banking crisis can impact India in different ways
India is seen to be relatively sheltered from the shocks of the crisis. It is unlikely to impact India's banking system or its broader macroeconomic stability, unless more banks in the US or Europe fail and the crisis gets pronounced. Yet, analysts and some…
Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/consequentialism
Consequentialism is an ethical theory in which the morality of actions is decided by the consequences of those actions (a negative activity such as lying can be considered right if it leads to a positive result).
Issues - difficult to know the consequences beforehand, certain means might not be correct (eg a relatively small number of slaves may be good for the entire world but it would be considered unacceptable)
Types of Consequentialism include Utilitarianism (focusses on what is best for the largest number of people) and Hedonism (focusses on pleasure or absence of pain).
Issues - difficult to know the consequences beforehand, certain means might not be correct (eg a relatively small number of slaves may be good for the entire world but it would be considered unacceptable)
Types of Consequentialism include Utilitarianism (focusses on what is best for the largest number of people) and Hedonism (focusses on pleasure or absence of pain).
Reading Link for the Day -
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160926-what-would-happen-if-the-world-suddenly-went-vegetarian
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160926-what-would-happen-if-the-world-suddenly-went-vegetarian
Bbc
What would happen if the world suddenly went vegetarian?
Eliminating meat from our diets would bring a bounty of benefits to both our own health and the planet’s – but it could also harm millions of people. Rachel Nuwer investigates.
News of the Day -
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/explainer-what-are-e-fuels-and-can-they-help-make-cars-co2-free/articleshow/98903529.cms
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/explainer-what-are-e-fuels-and-can-they-help-make-cars-co2-free/articleshow/98903529.cms
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The Economic Times
What are e-fuels, and can they help make cars CO2-free?
E-fuels, like e-kerosene, e-methane, or e-methanol, are made by synthesizing captured CO2 emissions and hydrogen produced using renewable or CO2-free electricity.
Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160926-what-would-happen-if-the-world-suddenly-went-vegetarian
The author explores the impact if everyone in the world became vegetarian, which are:
1. Greenhouse gas emission would be reduced drastically, reducing climate change
2. Pastureland (grassland for livestock) can be repurposed for forests, increasing carbon capture and further reducing climate change
3. Pastureland could also easily be used for agriculture, reducing global hunger (however, this would take time and planning and can lead to short-term hunger or flack of food, especially in developing countries)
4. People will become healthier and reduce medical bills. However, this has to be carefully done to ensure that people get all the nutrients that they are currently getting from meat.
5. Many people would be out of jobs and need to be transitioned into new careers, otherwise it can lead to unemployment and social disruption (negative)
6. Cultural impact, where meat is traditionally eaten in certain events - weddings, religious occasions (negative)
Conclusion - we should reduce meat intake gradually, otherwise it can be catastrophic for millions of people (poverty, food shortage, lack of nutrients and cultural impact).
1. Greenhouse gas emission would be reduced drastically, reducing climate change
2. Pastureland (grassland for livestock) can be repurposed for forests, increasing carbon capture and further reducing climate change
3. Pastureland could also easily be used for agriculture, reducing global hunger (however, this would take time and planning and can lead to short-term hunger or flack of food, especially in developing countries)
4. People will become healthier and reduce medical bills. However, this has to be carefully done to ensure that people get all the nutrients that they are currently getting from meat.
5. Many people would be out of jobs and need to be transitioned into new careers, otherwise it can lead to unemployment and social disruption (negative)
6. Cultural impact, where meat is traditionally eaten in certain events - weddings, religious occasions (negative)
Conclusion - we should reduce meat intake gradually, otherwise it can be catastrophic for millions of people (poverty, food shortage, lack of nutrients and cultural impact).
News of the Day -
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/asteroid-ryugu-ingredients-of-life-8513984/
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https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/asteroid-ryugu-ingredients-of-life-8513984/
Check out https://mockat.com/news/ for 5 Curated News Articles everyday
The Indian Express
Asteroid discovery suggests ingredients for life on Earth came from space
Scientists have pondered about the conditions necessary for life to arise after Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago. The new findings fit well with the hypothesis that bodies like comets, asteroids and meteorites brought compounds that helped pave the…
Reading Link for the Day -
https://scroll.in/article/1042756/whats-the-difference-between-freebies-for-the-poor-and-business-incentives-for-the-rich
https://scroll.in/article/1042756/whats-the-difference-between-freebies-for-the-poor-and-business-incentives-for-the-rich
Scroll.in
What’s the difference between ‘freebies’ for the poor and ‘business incentives’ for the rich?
The real question is is whether a policy is good or bad for development outcomes and fulfilment of human rights.
News of the Day -
https://www.livemint.com/news/world/what-tiktok-ceo-was-asked-in-first-his-appearance-before-us-congress-10-points-11679626205623.html
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https://www.livemint.com/news/world/what-tiktok-ceo-was-asked-in-first-his-appearance-before-us-congress-10-points-11679626205623.html
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mint
What TikTok CEO was asked in his first appearance before US Congress? 10 points
The testimony comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration are exploring how to force TitTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its shares of the unit or block it in the US.
Mockat CAT Prep
Reading Link for the Day - https://hbr.org/2018/04/the-best-flu-prevention-might-be-behavioral-economics
Flu vaccines are important to reduce the disease and save lives. One of the major reasons for people not getting their flu vaccines is because their doctors do not recommend it.
The author recommends nudging the doctors (asking doctors to accept/cancel the flu vaccine as they log into every patient’s chart). People can also be automatically enrolled for vaccination (with the option to cancel) instead of asking them to schedule it themselves. It was found that merely prompting people to write down a date of vaccination also increased the rate of vaccination.
The author recommends nudging the doctors (asking doctors to accept/cancel the flu vaccine as they log into every patient’s chart). People can also be automatically enrolled for vaccination (with the option to cancel) instead of asking them to schedule it themselves. It was found that merely prompting people to write down a date of vaccination also increased the rate of vaccination.