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The BJP is getting poll ready, going by the aggressive statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party chief Amit Shah. Also the media advertisements indicate a “Modi shining” mood, ahead of the 2019 polls. Shah, known for his micro-management, has already started working at the constituency level identifying weak states. But new coalitions are taking shape, and by 2019, there will be changed political equations.

The day is Monday, June 25, 2018. Sunrise was at 5.24 am and sunset at 7.22 pm in New Delhi. Daylight for 13 hours and 57 minutes, time enough to make headlines. And making off to a flying start was BJP’s Karnal MP Ashwani Chopra. In a rant-moment he described popular Himachali singer-dancer Sapna Chaudhary a ‘Thumke Wali’ because she said she will campaign for the Congress.

The central bankers’ central bank, the Basel-based Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has sounded the bugle of manifest vulnerabilities in the global financial system in particular and the world economy in general even as the near-term prospects remain ‘bright’.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One step forward, two steps backward. That seems to be the pattern governing Kerala’s relations with the Modi-led Central Government.

Cyber risk has emerged as a key threat to financial stability around the world. The recent trend of attacks on financial institutions indicates that aggregate losses for the financial sector across a variety of scenarios may be ranging from 10 to 30 per cent of the net income.

The constant downward journey this year of Indian Rupee compared to major world currencies — fully or partially convertible — should be a major cause of concern. On January 1, this year, the spot inter-bank market saw the US Dollar opening at $1 = Rs 63.8027. In just six months’ time the value of the Indian currency dropped by almost eight per cent to Rs. 68.80 for a US$. According to international currency market forecast, the Rupee to US$ exchange rate is likely expand further to $1=Rs72.78 by November, this year. That would mean almost 14 per cent loss in 11 months. The Indian currency is weakening steadily. The future outlook, obviously, does not look rosy despite the impressive economic growth rate projection. The rupee is the second-biggest loser in the BRICS group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Russian ruble is the only currency that has lost more value than the rupee, this year.

Vietnam and Cuba, two countries that often receive a lot of flak in the mainstream corporate press (especially when it comes to conversations around human rights and political liberties) have been inching down the road toward LGBTQ equality lately.

It takes two finance ministers, original Arun Jaitley, convalescing after surgery, and “interim” minister Piyush Goyal (who is digging deeper and taking total command), rivalling each other to tell us that the economy is growing nicely, fiscal targets would be met and the crisis in banking system is getting disentangled. The reality is otherwise.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s warning that petrol and diesel prices in the country have to stay high as long as Indians don’t pay their taxes smacks of arrogance and his tone is that of a British viceroy sermonising to the natives about the virtues of honesty and loyalty to the Crown.

Jammu and Kashmir has been placed under Governor’s rule for a record 8th time last week. On March 25, 1977, for the first time, Governor’s rule was imposed on the state after the Congress withdrew support to Sheikh Abdulla’s National Conference government which came to power following accord with Indira Gandhi in 1975; Abdulla returned to power after polls. Governor’s rule lasted for 105 days after which Sheikh returned to power. The longest period J&K was put under governor’s rule—three years—was on January 19, 1990. The rule started after Farooq Abdullah resigned over appointment of Jagmohan as governor, during spike in militancy. National Conference was returned to power after 1996 polls.