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Showing posts from October 7, 2020

India-Russia strategic partnership: Constant factor in volatile world

Economic times October 04, 2020 It has been a strategic partnership that has grown in strength with every passing year. Built on the rich legacy and preparation for future the India-Russia strategic partnership is truly strategic in nature with a strong component of Make in India and joint ventures. In the words of one of the senior politicians of India Indo-Soviet and India-Russia partnership has the only constant factor in an otherwise volatile world – a time-tested partnership that in many senses has weathered many a geo-political storm through the decades. The year 2020 celebrates the 20th anniversary of the formal signing of Declaration of Strategic Partnership. On 3rd October, 2000, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Vladimir Putin signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and India. Over the subsequent years, annual summits between the leaders have strengthened this partnership to ever greater heights and not a single annu

Home Ministry's meeting notice on 'Gorkhaland' pushing separate statehood movement warmth upward in Darjeeling hills

The Economic Times October 05, 2020 Adding a few more degrees to almost half century old separate 'Gorkhaland' statehood demand movement warmth in Darjeeling hills in Bengal, Union Home Ministry has convened a meeting with single objective- 'To discuss the issues related to Gorkhaland.' According to the notice, the 7th October meeting in Delhi will take place under chairmanship of G. Kishan Reddy, MOS, Ministry of Home Affairs. The Home Secretary of West Bengal has been invited to attend the meeting. While reacting strongly on this, AICC member and Congress MLA Shankar Malakar said, " BJP wants to reignite separatist movement in Bengal. The notice clarifies BJP's intention to give hill people a false hope of Gorkhaland statehood by splitting Bengal. But we will oppose any attempt to divide Bengal." Top Left Front leader of Darjeeling district J. Sarkar said, "BJP always shows sudden spurt of activity on hill issues before every election. By using the

FPIs pull out Rs 3,419 crore in September

 Business Line October 04,2020 Oversees investors have become cautious ahead of the presidential electionin the US Snapping their three-month buying spree, overseas investors turned net sellers in Indian markets in September due to uncertainty ahead of the US presidential polls and surging coronavirus cases. Foreign investors withdrew ₹3,419 crore on net basis from Indian markets in September, according to depositories data. A net of ₹7,783 crore was withdrawn from equities while the debt segment saw inflows of ₹4,364 crore. Foreign portfolio investors (FPI) adopted a cautious stance ahead of the US presidential election and renewed fears due to rising Covid-19 cases, among others, experts said. FPIs had been net buyers in Indian markets in the three straight months to August. They had invested ₹46,532 crore in August, ₹3,301 crore in July and ₹24,053 crore in June on net basis. Profit booking “FPIs have turned cautious ahead of the US presidential election. Also, renewed fears of re-e

Nagorno-Karabakh | Battle for the black mountains

 The Hindu October 04,2020 The story of Nagorno-Karabakh, the landlocked, mountainous territory that has been at the centre of the clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, has been that of imperial conquests, ethnic violence, civil strife and mass uprisings. Once a part of the Armenian Kingdom, Nagorno-Karabakh (literal meaning, mountainous black garden) has seen all empires — the Romans, the Persians, the Ottomans, the Russians and the Soviets — that came to Transcaucasia establishing their rule over itself. When empires retreated or collapsed, Nagorno-Karabakh, located between the southern part of the Lesser Caucasus range and the eastern edge of the Armenian Highlands, and largely populated by ethnic Armenians, was left within the borders of Azerbaijan, igniting a protracted conflict that’s still raging. The roots of today’s conflict go back to the time when Transcaucasia (or South Caucasus) was part of the Russian Empire. Tsarist Russia took over the region in the early 19th century

Bitcoin’s rising correlation with stocks debunks haven narrative

 The Economic Times    October 03, 2020 Stocks were jolted Friday following news President Donald Trump tested positive for coronavirus. But in a move counter to the often-touted narrative that the dominant cryptocurrency acts as a haven, Bitcoin also retreated. That’s because the correlation between Bitcoin and the benchmark S&P 500 stock index remains positive, meaning that its price movements are consistent with those in equity markets. In addition, Bitcoin’s 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading clocks in at 45, while the equity index’s is at 51. That suggests the cryptocurrency’s decline has been more severe than the overall stock market drop. The S&P 500 has lost 6% since its September high, while Bitcoin’s down about 15% since its mid-August peak. “We need more clarity on the election cycle and additional stimulus to help get things moving again in equities -- and also in Bitcoin,” said Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of CoinShares. “Bitcoin has stayed ran

Chinese conglomerate Jingye expresses interest to takeover Tata Steel UK Assets

 Economic Times October 03, 2020 Chinese steelmaker, Jingye has expressed an interest in taking over Tata Steel NSE -1.67 %'s UK operations, said a leading UK-based televison channel on Saturday. Sky News has learnt that Jingye Group told Tata's parent company and the government that it is keen to explore a takeover of Britain's largest steel producer. "Banking sources said this weekend that Jingye's interest was at a tentative stage, and insisted that there was not a formal sale process for Tata Steel UK's operations," said the report by SkyNews. Jingye Group took control of British Steel after it was placed in compulsory liquidation, with debts of £880 million in May 2019. Earlier in September, the same news agency reported that the British government had planned to rope in investment bankers to come up with a rescue plan for Tata Steel The Indian parent had earlier indicated that the company will be unable to fund the losses in the UK operations. During

Foreign Secretary and Army chief head to Myanmar in bid to deepen ties

The Indian Express October 04, 2020  Ahead of polls in Myanmar early November, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Army chief General MM Naravane are headed to the country for a high-level meeting focussed on politico-security issues of concern. They are expected to hold meetings with their counterparts on Monday. On the agenda is early conclusion of the Extradition Treaty, Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Civil and Commercial matters and Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, growing aerial and maritime security cooperation, economic development projects in the Rakhine state to enable the return of Rohingya, development of border region on both sides. While Shringla has only visited Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic, New Delhi’s decision to send the Foreign Secretary and the Army chief together is a signal to Myanmar’s leadership on India’s two-pronged engagement with the power centres in the civilian and military establishment. Top sources told The Sunday Exp

Forex reserves fall $3 billion from record high to $542 billion

 The Indian Express  October 04, 2020 After touching a lifetime high in the previous week, the country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $3.017 billion to $542.021 billion in the week ended September 25, RBI data showed on Friday. In the week ended September 18, the reserves had increased by $3.378 billion to a record $545.038 billion. During the reporting week, the decline in the forex kitty was mainly due to a fall in foreign currency assets (FCAs), a major component of the overall reserves. FCAs decreased by $1.523 billion to $499.941 billion, the central bank data showed Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. Gold reserves were down by $1.441 billion in the reporting week to $35.999 billion, the RBI data showed. The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dipped by $10 million to $1.472 billion. with p

We need to come out of the wheat-paddy cycle… country faces loss worth Rs 36,000 cr every year’

The Indian Express October 04, 2020 As farmers intensify their stir against the three agriculture laws, the BJP has formed an eight-member panel to reach out to the protesters. Former Punjab minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, who hails from Fazilka, is the chairman of this committee. In an interview to The Indian Express, Jyani talks about why we need to come out of the wheat-paddy cycle and why a change in agriculture is needed. Farmers are protesting against farm laws while BJP leaders are asserting that these laws are for the good of the farmers. Why has the BJP not been able to tell them benefits of the laws and what is the need for implementing these laws? Farmers are our own. They have been misguided by Congress-led state government. In Punjab, they are being given full support by the state government and hence they are not understanding the real benefits. This panel has been formed to become a bridge between farmers and Union Government. However, I want to tell you that it is high tim