‘Focus on equity for long-term funding’ The on-going crisis in IL&FS has made Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider tightening the norms of asset-liability management (ALM) of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs). The RBI observed that those entities were relying heavily on short-term funds for lending to long-term projects. “I …

As new data comes in, we would look into changing our policies, says RBI Governor It is important that the fiscal deficit target is maintained, says RBI Governor Urjit Patel, in an interaction with the media. Edited excerpts: Is there a risk to fiscal deficit in an election year as …

‘The agencies seem to have gone by names of IL&FS’ shareholders, overlooking the cash flow situation’ The role of credit rating agencies has come under the scanner in the wake of the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) imbroglio. IL&FS and its subsidiaries were rated AAA for their commercial …

Changes policy stance to ‘calibrated tightening’ to indicate that rates can only rise or stay stable hereon in this cycle Contrary to market expectation, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to hold the key policy rate at 6.5% in the fourth bimonthly policy …

Blackwater founder is pushing for privatisation of the U.S. war in Afghanistan A new crop of senior American officials in Afghanistan has raced to contain a dual crisis on the battlefield and in a potentially explosive election dispute. But it is a different U.S. figure — the mercenary executive Erik …

Analysts say China will be forced to dig in for a prolonged multi-front battle with the U.S. U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence’s accusations in a stinging speech on Thursday, warning of a tougher approach towards Beijing may have been familiar to China’s leaders. But until now such remarks were delivered in …

‘Separate ministry for Himalayan States’ A separate ministry should be created at the Centre to resolve the common issues of the Himalayan States as the problems of this region are different from those faced in the plains, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Dev Vrat said on Friday.PTI Source :  https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/hp-governor-advocates-separate-ministry-for-himalayan-states/article25140172.ece

A conglomerate of major civil society and students’ organisations in Mizoram has said that the Bru families who declined the rehabilitation package within the deadline of September 30 should not be allowed to return from refugee camps in Tripura. Only 45 of the 5,407 Bru families comprising 32,867 individuals returned …

‘Report on likely implementation is false’ The Home Ministry said on Friday that no decision has been taken to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Tripura, after a similar exercise was carried out in Assam to identify illegal immigrants. In a statement, the Home Ministry said a delegation …

“Rape in war has been a crime for centuries. But it was a crime in the shadows. The two laureates have both shone a light on it,” Dan Smith, Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told Reuters. Dr. Mukwege, a past winner of the United Nations Human …

GJM team claims Centre’s nod The Centre has agreed for a tripartite meeting to discuss various political issues concerning the Gurkhas, including the demand for a separate State of Gorkhaland, Kalimpong legislator Sarita Rai said on Friday. The Home Ministry spokesperson did not comment. Large-scale violence was reported in Darjeeling …

Confirms Canine Distemper Virus killed Gir animals The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was responsible for lion deaths in the Gir forest of Gujarat and recommended that the remaining lions be vaccinated to prevent further outbreaks. This goes against recommendations by …

‘Vaccines supplied conform to recommended standards’ Rubbishing rumours being spread asking parents not to give polio drops to children up to 5 years as some virus has been found in them, the Union Health Ministry has cautioned the public not to give credence to them. A release issued by the …

Refugees say they won’t return home till safety is ensured The 235 Rohingya refugees staying at the Kalindi Kunj camp are worried about their future after the government deported seven of them on Friday. The Supreme Court had on Thursday refused to stay their deportation. Most of refugees in the …

Russian President, Prime Minister Modi interact with young talent from the two countries Interaction between young people of India and Russia, especially schoolchildren, would perhaps be the “most important addition” to the “unprecedented level” of bilateral ties and serve as a basis for a long-term cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin …

Policy doesn’t go down well with markets; rupee takes a hit Ahead of the festival season, consumers have been spared the burden of another increase in their EMIs (equated monthly instalments), thanks to the Reserve Bank of India holding its key rate unchanged at 6.5% in its policy review announced …

Survey conducted in 2011 still holds good: Centre The Centre on Friday dismissed the need for conducting a fresh study on the backwater effect of the Polavaram dam on Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The Union government made its position clear in the litigation when it submitted before a Bench led …

U.S. says sanctions waiver will be given only on transaction-by-transaction basis India and Russia on Friday concluded the contract for five S-400 ‘Triumf’ missile systems, one of the biggest defence deals in recent times, after the annual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The announcement …

In view of the desire expressed in certain quarters [in Bombay] that the All-India Conference of the moderate party ought to be postponed for about a week or so owing to the prevalence of the epidemic of fever in Bombay, a representative of the Associated Press interviewed Mr. N.M. Samarth, …

Reuter learns that some delay may be expected in carrying out completely the terms of the Bulgarian armistice, owing to congestion of railways and roadways due to the presence of a demoralised Bulgar army. There is no confirmation from any quarter of the enemy reports regarding Austro-German military movements in …