Elections

Business

I-Day: US lawmakers to attend PM Modi’s Aug 15 address at the Red Fort

August 8, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of Independence Day on August 15, a bipartisan group of leading US lawmakers will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the national capital. The US Congressional delegation will be led by Indian-American Congressman […]

Business

The cycle of politics: Ex-Pak PM Imran arrested, barred from polls for 5 years

August 5, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: In Pakistan’s cycle of vendetta politics, everybody knew it was coming. Even former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was aware of it —for, he had done exactly the same unto his predecessor, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, pushing him into jail and then forcing him into self-exile in London, from […]

Business

Pakistan, again: PM Shehbaz Sharif to dissolve Parliament on August 9

August 4, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif will dissolve the National Assembly, the Lower House of the bicameral Parliament, on August 9, and seek fresh elections, the media reported on Friday. Next Wednesday, he will send formal advice to the President for the dissolution of the National Assembly. On Thursday, […]

Business

Economy: India to be the world’s 3rd largest by FY28, says SBI Ecowrap

July 28, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: India is likely to emerge as the world’s third-largest economy by 2027-28 and at least two of its states—Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh– would break the USD 500 billion mark, the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department’s report, SBI Ecowrap, said. At its current rate of growth, the South Asian […]

Business

Pakistan: Now, even its Army chief wants to “throw away the begging bowl!”

July 25, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Two things that ‘distinguish’ Pakistan from other countries is that it never ceases to surprise others and that it has a vicarious sense of humor. Even the worst socio-political and economic crises have not changed Pakistan a bit. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif was the first to admit in […]

Business

Roving Periscope: Why do most Chinese Americans view China negatively?

July 25, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: During the Indian Prime Minister’s visits overseas, a large number of Indian migrants line up to greet them. The trend multiplied during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign tours since 2014 and his mega shows have become very popular among Indian immigrants across the world. But when undemocratic leaders from China […]

Business

Pakistan: FM Dar, as interim PM, may keep the seat hot for his mentor-relative—Nawaz

July 24, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: In outdated feudal societies of South Asia, including parts of India and Pakistan, The Family remains the fulcrum of happenings at all levels–even in diverse areas like politics, films, business, and other professions. No wonder that Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is being viewed as the next caretaker Prime Minister […]

Business

INR: Sri Lanka may allow the usage of Indian currency for local transactions

July 22, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: A week after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe hinted at it, his Finance Minister Ali Sabry reiterated on Saturday that the island nation is considering the possibility of allowing the usage of the Indian currency for local transactions, just like the dollar, euro, and yen to facilitate Indian tourists and […]

Defence

Pakistan: Nawaz returning, PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to ‘hand over’ power next month

July 14, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: Stating that his coalition government ‘sacrificed politics to protect the state,’ Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, has promised to hand over power to the “caretaker set-up” once the current term of the National Assembly ends in August, the media reported on Friday. His statement came […]

Business

Roving Periscope: With a fresh IMF breather, cash-strapped Pakistan is relieved for now

July 13, 2023 Vinayak Barot

Virendra Pandit New Delhi: After months of severe cash crunch, supply crisis, and political uncertainties, Pakistan, where general elections to the National Assembly are due in October 2023, got a breather from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which transferred a USD 1.2 billion bailout, the media reported on Thursday. A day after the global […]