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The recent Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2023-24 suggests signs of improvement in labour force participation rate and worker population ratio compared to past years but at the same time underlines some structural problems in employment in recent period. There had been a steep rise in unemployment rate during the pandemic but the average rate of unemployment for quite some time, even before the pandemic, was showing a rising trend.

By November 1, India's rice stock is projected to reach a record high of 30 million tons, marking the highest level in two decades. Managing such a substantial stockpile presents significant logistical challenges. To reduce this surplus, the government has implemented various measures in recent months. These include allowing states to directly procure rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), permitting the export of non-basmati white rice, and lifting the export duty on parboiled rice.

DALLAS (USA): The U.S. Presidential election on November 5 is of immense significance, as it will determine the next tenant of the White House and shape the future of the United States an also its relationship with the other countries of the world.

With clear indications that Israel is sparing Iranian oil facilities from attack, the downward pressure on oil has further increased and there is renewed talk of oil settling down around the level of $50 to the barrel. Crude has already fallen to early 70s and the demand-supply equations have not been particularly favourable to oil producers. The US presidential elections have added another layer of uncertainty and if it turns out to be another Trump presidency, there would be more American intervention to boost supplies.

The current geopolitical landscape is marked by a multifaceted web of conflicts and alliances, with US imperialism acting as a destabilizing force. The United States' interventionist foreign policy—characterized by military interventions, economic sanctions, and the promotion of regime change—has contributed to regional instabilities, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia. This imperialist approach complicates global Geo-political landscape and undermines the role of the United Nations. It also heightens tensions in a multipolar world, challenging the quest for a stable and just global order. In this context, the lessons of the Russian Revolution of 1917 are of salient importance in bringing about peace, stability, mutual respect and harmony in global and domestic affairs, particularly in India.

In September this year, average price rise hit a nine-month high of 5.5 per cent. More significantly, prices of food items crossed 9.2 per cent. A majority of Indians spend nearly half of their income on food. So, food inflation hurts the most. Among food items, vegetables in particular saw a staggering price rise with year-on-year price increases of 42.4 per cent for tomatoes, 66.2 per cent for onions, and 65.3 per cent for potatoes. These three are the most consumed vegetables, across the country. While the government and its apologist economists trotted out the usual excuses of weather disruptions, the fact remains that every year, prices of some vegetables undergo an unbearable spike that has the effect of transferring crores of rupees from already strained family budgets to the coffers of big traders and wholesalers.

With the last day of filing nominations history, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been reduced to defending itself from going against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's 'Batenge toh katenge' campaign call. The day after, the Mahayuti stood divided with the BJP unable to stick to its stance. Instead, there is "our stance is very clear. All the parties in the alliance should decide their own candidate."

It was the beginning of the last century. Transition was already in the process. The context in Russia was maturing up for the October Revolution. It was one of the greatest events in human history when workers and the oppressed started rising to throw off feudal-capitalist regime under the leadership of Vladimir Ilych Lenin. He had famously said that revolution in Russia took place in the weakest link in the chain of imperialist capitalist system. Russia was not advanced as the other capitalist countries in Europe were, and hence it was as late as in 1870 that Georgi Plekhanov founded the Emancipation of the Labour League to organize the working class towards a revolutionary struggle.

KOLKATA: West Bengal has been favourite tourist destination for Narendra Modi’s most reliable lieutenant and Chanakya of BJP, Home Minister Amit Shah. But Sunday, October 27, visit was different. He used the occasion of an official engagement to launch the election campaign though the assembly elections will be held in April/ May 2026.

LUCKNOW: After debacle in 2024 Lok Sabha poll, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has staked his prestige in crucial by-elections on November 13 for nine assembly seats in the state. In the absence of Congress, it is going to fight between UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party national President Akhilesh Yadav.