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The signing of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geo-spatial cooperation at the 2+2 meeting of the United States and Indian defence and foreign ministers in New Delhi must have been a moment of deep satisfaction for the US establishment and the Pentagon. What began as a project to enlist India as a strategic ally of the United States three decades ago has reached fruition with the signing of the last of the so-called foundational agreements on October 27, 2020.

Lausanne, Switzerland: With the travel constraints governed by the regulations in place in Germany, Belgium and China due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), on request of the travelling teams involved, has decided to postpone the following FIH Hockey Pro League matches:

Great Britain vs Germany (initallyplanned on 14 and 15 November,
China vs Belgium (initially planned on 23 and 24 January)

Chennai: After a nine-month break, the MRF MMSC fmsci Indian National Car Racing Championship 2020 resumes in a bio-bubble at the MMRT circuit here on Saturday and behind closed doors.

Panchkula: Akshay Sharma fired a six-under-66, a second straight bogey-free round, in Chandigarh, to increase his overnight lead to three shots at 14-under-130 at the TATA Steel PGTI Players Championship today.

When India attained independence, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first to envision civil services as the ‘steel frame’ of Independent India. Despite reservations of several colleagues, his resolve to retain the cadre was strong. While speaking to the first batch of civil servants at the Metcalf House, Delhi, Patel pithily articulated the future role of civil servants. In his address on April 21, 1947, Patel said.

In India, political philosophy and theory are not popular. So issues like the rationale of the State or the irreducible status of the individual on moral and existential grounds have never been debated as they should be.

Despite aggressive moves by Donald Trump and the GOP to divide working people with messages of hate and fear, election night delivered a number of victories that consolidated and expanded the progressive wave that started with the 2018 midterm elections. It is being led by Black women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups who are rebuking ideologies and rhetoric pushed by the far-right.

From America to India, the basic character of the ultra-right-wing politics is one and the same. From the rooftop they preach democracy. In the heart of heart, they nourish absolute contempt for democracy and its fundamental values. The presidential election scenario in the US provide umpteen instances of their disregard to the people’s mandate. Donald Trump, who has become the unchallenged voice of the global right is now eager to jeopardize the electoral process in US.

The spectre of unemployment is stalking the country. After the pandemic broke out and the hasty lockdown, millions lost their jobs in industry, small businesses, service sector and, above all, in informal sector.

The Indian economy will fare badly this financial year is a given. That it could quickly turn around is also not a surprise either. But then, sustaining an incipient recovery would be the biggest challenge. And this would basically be a financial sector marvel.