Author: Atiya Memon

In the enchanting city of Marrakech, Morocco, leaders and policymakers from around the world recently convened for a significant gathering—the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) annual meeting. This year’s meeting, held against the backdrop of a global economy still grappling with the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, carried added weight as discussions revolved around strategies for recovery and stability. Among the countries under the spotlight was India, a nation with unique challenges and opportunities in these trying times. Earlier in the year, the IMF had lowered India’s projection from 6.1 per cent to 5.9 per cent for FY24 and from 6.8…

The Israel-Palestine conflict has been a longstanding and deeply rooted dispute with far-reaching consequences, not only for the people living in the region but also for the global market. While the conflict primarily revolves around territorial and political issues, its repercussions have had a significant impact on various aspects of the global economy. As of 9 October, equity benchmarks Nifty 50 and Sensex have both dropped by a per cent each. Nifty 50 opened at 19,539.45 against the previous close of 19,653.50. It fluctuated throughout the day and finally closed at 19,512.35, down 141 points or 0.72 per cent. As…

In the ever-volatile landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one aspect that has garnered significant attention in recent years is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system. Coined a technological marvel, this Dome has played a pivotal role in protecting Israeli life and property against counterattacks by the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas. What is the Iron Dome? The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has witnessed numerous flare-ups over the years; while Israel tried to extend their hold into Palestinian territory, the latter held on tighter to both retain and reclaim their ancestral land. With millions of dollars in funding and support from the US, Israel…

In a world fraught with conflict and uncertainty, Narges Mohammadi emerged as a beacon of hope and a tireless advocate for peace and human rights. Although her contributions to pursuing a more just and peaceful society have not gone unnoticed, they have often landed her in trouble with the powers that be. Mohammadi has been convicted five times, imprisoned thirteen times, and is now serving a sentence of 31 years and 154 lashes in jail. On this historic day, although she receives the laurel behind bars, we celebrate Narges Mohammadi’s well-deserved recognition as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.…

Despite the fact that Russian oil is trading well above the G7 cap of $60 per barrel, India continues to lap it up. It has now become the top buyer of seaborne Russian oil and argues that it will continue to do so; i.e., buy the cheapest oil to prioritize energy security.  The G7 Oil Cap In December 2022, a group of 7 countries settled on the maximum price per barrel of Russian crude oil: $60. The agreement was such that buyers could pay more to obtain it, but they would lose certain essential services. This would enable Russian oil…

With the severe recession storming the diamond industry, India has witnessed a decline in exports to major hubs like the United States and China. To combat this, Surat, the Diamond City of India, will host a two-day visit for twelve diamond manufacturers and merchants from the United States. Why the recession? The plunging fall in the price of rough diamonds can be attributed to two important reasons. To begin with, the Russia-Ukraine war has placed severe sanctions and trading regulations in major import hubs of the West, such as the US, with Russian-originating products and services. The US is the…

The decades-old standoff between the separatist state of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and the Azerbaijani militia ended earlier this week, with the latter coming out on top. Following the Azerbaijani victory, the president of the self-declared state, Samvel Shahramanyan, signed a decree to dissolve all institutions from January 1, 2024. A mass exodus of ethnic Armenians followed, with almost the entire population of Karabakh fleeing to Armenia, causing a United Nations Mission to arrive in the area for the first time in 30 years. The conflict Although Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan’s borders, it established itself as a separate state in 1994 after…

In a roadshow organised for the Global Investors Summit in London, UK,  Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held meetings with various industrialists and investors. By the third day, i.e., the 27th of September, he had already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 9,000 crore. In a statement given on the same day, CM Dhami expressed that they had made more than 27 policies, and if investment were to come to Uttarakhand, “the youth will get employment and there will be growth.”  The roadshow Attended by more than 250 delegates from the fields of education, health, manufacturing, IT, etc.,…