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Cooperation in space technology and boosting presence in the critical Asia-Pacific theatre for commerce and security are the compelling reasons for New Delhi to reach out to the small island countries in the Pacific Ocean rim.

At long last, India has initiated multi-pronged moves to boost its trade and investment relations with the Central Asian Republics taking into account the emerging importance of these countries in the geopolitics of the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the five CAR countries in July this year, has built the foundation of this new thrust which is expected to give a big push to the energy security of India. Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has opened a new chapter in India’s relationship with the CARs when immense possibilities have opened up in the oil and gas sector of the region following the conclusion of the nuclear deal between Iran and the big powers.

The outcome of Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls, held last Monday, is a double-whammy for Beijing and a cause for New Delhi heaving a sigh of relief. Mahinda Rajapaksa who had ruled Sri Lanka as president with an iron hand for nine years, had lost the election to Maithripala Sirisena in presidential elections held in January this year. This time as the candidate of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) he made a bid to come back as prime minister.

Mid-year fiscal 2016, the economy hardly looks like regaining vibrant growth, which has more to do with policy failures and delayed actions, so much so that doubts arise for Government's growth target of achieving at least 8 per cent, higher than the globally projected 7.4 to 7.5 per cent. Yet, our policy makers are not wanting in sketching out robust high growth scenarios, which may be more relevant for future years.

Is the Modi government not paying enough attention to the ex servicemen by delaying the implementation of the One Rank One Pension? A vocal war veteran community has successfully mobilised public support for their demand. The movement has not only sustained itself but is growing from strength to strength. What began as a murmur has grown into an agitation, which has now peaked with three ex servicemen sitting in a fast unto death in Jantar Mantar while their colleagues are demanding the implementation of the OROP.

KOLKATA: With scheduled State Assembly elections only nine months away, the present political situation in West Bengal could not be more confusing.

The announcement by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday on the hefty development package for Bihar in the heat of the campaign for the assembly elections, might have given some boost to the morale of BJP cadres, but it may not finally bring enough dividends for the BJP led alliance in the crucial poll in October this year. Nitish Kumar has already won the battle of the Bihari minds against the Prime Minister and he will very well take the credit for forcing the PM to make the announcement which the Centre has been dillydallying for the last few months. Nitish Kumar is taking full advantage of the Prime Minister’s remarks made at the earlier meeting against him for his DNA which has angered the common Biharis.

Is the BJP becoming Congress-II, or even worse, in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana? Perhaps yes but with the difference that while the Congress’s central leadership has belatedly been able to ostensibly impose peace on the quarreling leaders of its faction-ridden three state units, the infighting in the saffron party in Punjab and Himachal has not only escalated but the wedge between it and its ruling Punjab ally Akali Dal has also been widening. In Haryana dissenting voices have also been emerging against the party’s ruling leadership.

Hogging headlines with bad days ahead for India’s exports owing to Chinese yuan devaluation. Marked the media coverage. Obsessed with simple economic theory, Indian media triggered threat on its exports, which was already dwindling since past few months. Initially, there was a jerk in stock market. But, within three days stock market bounced back with a spur. BSE Sensex soared by 518 points, to 28,067 on August 14, which reflected that the investors were unperturbed by the devaluation.

BHOPAL: It was an Independence Day gift by the voters of urban bodies for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and BJP. Elections were held in ten local bodies and out of them, BJP captured eight, while only one was won by the Congress and other by an independent candidate.