Author: Senjuti Bhattacharya

For more than a hundred years, Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in a heated dispute over the ownership of the ancient Hindu temple, Preah Vihear. This contention dates back to Cambodia’s independence in 1954 when Thailand assumed control of the temple, leading to ongoing tensions between the two nations. The disagreement extends beyond just the temple itself, with conflicts over the surrounding land exacerbating the situation, occasionally erupting into violence. Notably, a clash occurred in October 2008, and in April 2009, Thai soldiers reportedly caused damage to 66 stones of the temple by firing across the border. Moreover, in…

India is expected to witness a robust growth of 9.3% in power generation, reaching 1,900 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) by March 2025, as projected by the internal federal power ministry. This acceleration, the swiftest since at least 2011-12, is attributed to intense heatwaves and a rebound in the economy, resulting in an average annual increase of around 8% in electricity production post the pandemic slump in 2020-21. The surge in power generation is anticipated to be primarily driven by fossil fuel-fired plants, constituting over 76% of the total output for the second consecutive year. Coal-fired power output is expected to…

India’s e-commerce landscape is poised for exponential growth, with projections indicating a surge to USD 325 billion by the same year, while the digital economy is anticipated to soar to USD 800 billion. Invest India reports India as the second-largest Internet user-base globally, expected to become the third-largest online retail market by 2030, with 881 million users. By 2030, India aims to cement its status as a global e-commerce leader, buoyed by a flourishing digital economy and a rapidly expanding internet user base. Forecasts envision India as a frontrunner in online shopping, with an estimated 500 million shoppers. Presently, India’s…

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at an election rally in Greater Noida, emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrains from politics based on religion or societal divisions. Singh pointed out a past remark by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2006 about extending reservation for Muslims, which Modi referenced in a recent rally in Rajasthan. Singh defended Modi against opposition criticism, highlighting their efforts to undermine the Prime Minister’s reputation. He questioned the objections raised over the surveying of properties mentioned in the Congress manifesto, urging clarity from the Congress on their stance. Referring to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s remarks,…

Since the implementation of the free trade agreement in May 2022, there has been a significant uptick of 15% in India-UAE trade, as reported by Mr. Ahmed Aljneibi, the Director of the CEPA Council. Both countries are on track to surpass the goal of achieving US$ 100 billion in non-oil trade by 2030, a target made feasible through the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in May 2022. Speaking at a business roundtable in Jaipur, Mr. Aljneibi highlighted the remarkable growth in bilateral trade, emphasizing the pivotal role played by the CEPA in fostering this expansion. The event…

Tarun Ghulati, a Delhi-born businessman and investment expert, believes his background is what London needs to revitalize itself as the “global bank of the world” and attract the necessary investment. Running as an Independent candidate against Sadiq Khan for London Mayor’s third term, Ghulati aims to lead the city like a seasoned CEO, prioritizing profitability for all residents. In the upcoming local elections on May 2, Ghulati, aged 63, stands among 13 contestants vying for the mayoral position and seats in the London Assembly. Emphasizing London’s status as a unique global hub, Ghulati envisions enhancing its balance sheet to become…

The joint survey by Nasscom and Avasant revealed that India remains the preferred destination for global businesses seeking to enhance their digital services offerings worldwide. Over half of the companies surveyed across various sectors chose India for third-party outsourcing, particularly in industries like travel, telecom, media, entertainment, construction, and engineering. Additionally, many companies outsourced digital services work to their capability centers in India, with a significant portion opting for nearshoring operations. Key global companies such as Google, Wells Fargo, and Unilever have leveraged India’s talent pool for outsourcing various digital services. Google utilized Indian expertise for software development and IT…

Theoretical astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan gained recognition on Wednesday as she made it to Time Magazine’s 2024 list of 100 most influential people, an esteemed annual compilation featuring global leaders, industry titans, athletes, media icons, and pioneers in creative fields. In the TIME article, American astrophysicist Shep Doeleman lauds Natarajan’s propensity for innovative research, expressing personal inspiration from her work. Doeleman highlights Natarajan’s recent breakthrough, which advances the understanding of a fundamental astronomical mystery: the formation of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. Hailing from Coimbatore, Natarajan pursued her education in New Delhi before obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees…

Gopi Thotakura, an accomplished pilot, is poised to make history as the first Indian to journey to the edge of space aboard Blue Origin’s upcoming flight, NS-25. Alongside five other crew members, the Indian-American aviator will embark on this pioneering mission, although the precise dates are yet to be disclosed by Jeff Bezos’ space enterprise. Described by Blue Origin as a seasoned pilot and aviator with a lifelong passion for flight, Gopi’s credentials extend beyond commercial aviation. From mastering bush, aerobatic, and seaplanes to conquering gliders and hot air balloons, his diverse piloting experience is complemented by his role as…

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its GDP growth forecast for India in FY24 by 110 basis points to 7.8%, surpassing the National Statistical Office’s (NSO) estimate of 7.6%. Additionally, it revised the GDP growth projection for FY25 upward by 30 bps to 6.8% and maintained the forecast for FY26 at 6.5%. The IMF attributed these revisions to robust domestic demand and a growing working-age population. However, the IMF’s forecast for FY25 remains 20 bps lower than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) projection of 7%. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested that GDP growth in FY24 might exceed 8%,…