Following the news, yet again, as I've been doing from time to time. It gives a fair idea as to where we are headed, at any given point of time. And so, here I go.
(a) Crude Oil Prices Affect Indian Migration.
According to statistics, in '17, 3.9 lakh Indian workers migrated for work legally after completing
emigration clearance required(ECR) procedures - down 25% from 5.2 lakh in '16. The Ministry
of External Affairs' 2016-'17 report attributes this drop to the decline in crude oil prices and the
consequent economic slowdown in GCC countries.
(b) The American Strictures May Hurt.
Taking advantage of steeper discounts offered by Tehran, the state oil companies had shipped in
5.7 million tons(4,57,000 barrels per day) of oil from the country in the first three months of this
fiscal year. By doing so, Iran had overtaken Saudi Arabia! Iraq continues to be the top supplier!!
Almost free shipping and extended credit period on oil sales were the primary attractions. India is
now under pressure to cut imports from Iran as the US, in May, had withdrawn from the nuclear
deal of '05 with Tehran and decided to reimpose sanctions on the OPEC member.
(c) Signs of Change in Pakistan?
PM Narendra Modi had said, not very long ago, that India and Pakistan must fight to see as to
who can eradicate poverty first. Is it on this line that Shehbaz Sharif(the brother of Nawaz Sharif)
has floated an interesting thought in Wednesday's general elections in Pakistan, that if elected, his
party would take Pakistan ahead of India?
Is it wishful thinking on his part? Shehbaz Sharif has a good record in administering Punjab. If
he were to become the PM of his country and adopt the right economic reforms, he could turn
around the country's economy which, right now, is in utter shambles.
But will the Army, whose poster boy in this elections is Imran Khan and the extremist elements
allow him to win? Is there a sympathy wave on account of the incarceration of Nawaz Sharif in
jail? And where does Bilawal Bhutto and his PPP stand?
Tailpiece.
Saw the thick clouds hovering all along India's west coast, sparing the areas of southern Kerala on the CNN and the BBC weather reports of this evening. Thankfully, the badly battered districts of Kottayam and Alappuzha have been spared of another wet spell but northern Kerala is gonna have rains till Sunday, this week. We need to be on standby for the impending deluge.
(a) Crude Oil Prices Affect Indian Migration.
According to statistics, in '17, 3.9 lakh Indian workers migrated for work legally after completing
emigration clearance required(ECR) procedures - down 25% from 5.2 lakh in '16. The Ministry
of External Affairs' 2016-'17 report attributes this drop to the decline in crude oil prices and the
consequent economic slowdown in GCC countries.
(b) The American Strictures May Hurt.
Taking advantage of steeper discounts offered by Tehran, the state oil companies had shipped in
5.7 million tons(4,57,000 barrels per day) of oil from the country in the first three months of this
fiscal year. By doing so, Iran had overtaken Saudi Arabia! Iraq continues to be the top supplier!!
Almost free shipping and extended credit period on oil sales were the primary attractions. India is
now under pressure to cut imports from Iran as the US, in May, had withdrawn from the nuclear
deal of '05 with Tehran and decided to reimpose sanctions on the OPEC member.
(c) Signs of Change in Pakistan?
PM Narendra Modi had said, not very long ago, that India and Pakistan must fight to see as to
who can eradicate poverty first. Is it on this line that Shehbaz Sharif(the brother of Nawaz Sharif)
has floated an interesting thought in Wednesday's general elections in Pakistan, that if elected, his
party would take Pakistan ahead of India?
Is it wishful thinking on his part? Shehbaz Sharif has a good record in administering Punjab. If
he were to become the PM of his country and adopt the right economic reforms, he could turn
around the country's economy which, right now, is in utter shambles.
But will the Army, whose poster boy in this elections is Imran Khan and the extremist elements
allow him to win? Is there a sympathy wave on account of the incarceration of Nawaz Sharif in
jail? And where does Bilawal Bhutto and his PPP stand?
Tailpiece.
Saw the thick clouds hovering all along India's west coast, sparing the areas of southern Kerala on the CNN and the BBC weather reports of this evening. Thankfully, the badly battered districts of Kottayam and Alappuzha have been spared of another wet spell but northern Kerala is gonna have rains till Sunday, this week. We need to be on standby for the impending deluge.
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