News
Change in the cryptocurrency currents: Fast-evolving ecosystem of e-cash in China and India
Bitcoin’s price tumbled last month following the news that regulators in China would ban domestic banks from dealing in cryptocurrencies. Chinese banks will not process payments made in cryptocurrencies or allow bank customers to hold bitcoin in their accounts. It also stopped Chinese banks from converting bitcoin into yuan or any other type of currency.
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A Case for Tokyo Olympics Cancellation
At the time of writing, the Tokyo Olympics are on but there is a strong case for its cancellation in view of the extraordinary situation before it is too late as lives are at stake. The ferocity of the rampaging pandemic shows no signs of ebbing out anytime soon with successive ugly waves taking away too many people world over.
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Financial Centres in parallel peril
There is a curious parallel between Hong Kong and London as financial centres potentially declining due to their recent loss of a unique position.
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China shoots itself in the foot on EU-US relations
On 19 May, the European Parliament adopted a resolution freezing “any consideration of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), as well as any discussion on ratification”. At the same time, the European Parliament suggested a strengthened European Union (EU) Foreign Investment Screening Regulation, legislation on foreign subsidies, and other measures directed against China. It also called on the EU “to increase its coordination and cooperation with the US within the framework of a Transatlantic Dialogue on China.” How did it come to this?
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India: Too strategic to fail
Since the second wave of COVID-19 engulfed India, there has been an outpouring of support from nations around the world. Help came from all directions. Rich nations including the US, UK, Germany, and Australia; developing and emerging markets like Mexico, Indonesia, and Bangladesh; and even smaller nations like Mauritius, Kuwait and Bahrain have rushed emergency supplies to India. Partner countries have responded to India’s humanitarian need with whatever they could muster, from oxygen concentrators and liquid oxygen to Remdesivir.
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India-EU Summit: Aligning Brussels and New Delhi’s propositions for the Indo-Pacific
With the announcement of a connectivity partnership based on shared commitment to sustainable development, India and the EU now have the latitude to broaden cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
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Second Wave of COVID-19 getting out of control in Nepal
Unfortunately, South Asia seems to have turned into the epicenter of the second wave of COVID-19 as most of the countries in the region, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan have been badly infected by the coronavirus. Instead of being controlled, the situation is getting more flared up as each day passes. Of late, the situation in Nepal is gradually becoming alarming as two out of five people are being tested positive.
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Modi Government: An Evaluation
As the nation reels under the impact of the monstrous second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic Prime Minister Modi has been the focus of much criticism, some justified and some unjustified, for the failure to avert it and to mitigate its adverse impact. This is understandable, to an extent, since as the tallest leader in the land he is the lightening rod for such criticism with all other stake holders in the country flying under the radar when it comes to accountability in this regard.
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Why it is important to get the China challenge right
Despite insurmountable challenges, there is no stepping back in global efforts to fight the rising threats of an authoritarian and revisionist power.
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An uphill battle: Syrian refugees in Germany want citizenship and political representation
Even though Syrian refugees have been integrated relatively faster in Germany, social integration continues to be a challenge in the labour market.
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