Headlines At a Glance – 31st Jan 2020
India-Bangladesh joint military training exercise ‘SAMPRITI-IX’ to be held in Meghalaya
The ninth edition of joint military training exercise between India-Bangladesh — SAMPRITI-IX will be conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya from February 3 to February 16. The statement released stressed that Exercise SAMPRITI is an important bilateral defence cooperation endeavor between India and Bangladesh and will be the ninth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries. The FTX curriculum is progressively planned where the participants will initially get familiar with each other’s organizational structure and tactical drills. Subsequently, joint tactical exercise will be conducted wherein the battle drills of both the armies will be practiced.
SOURCE: Business Standard
J&K journalist Yusuf Jameel wins 2019-2020 PEN Gauri Lankesh Award for democratic idealism
Senior journalist from Jammu and Kashmir Yusuf Jameel has been selected for the 2019-2020 PEN Gauri Lankesh Award for Democratic Idealism. “His work in journalism shows an exemplary commitment to professional integrity and the ideals of democracy,” reads the citation of the award. PEN South India and PEN Delhi have instituted the award “to cherish the idealism and commitment of Gauri Lankesh,” the editor-activist murdered in 2017. It carries a purse of ₹1 lakh. Mr. Jameel has been a celebrated journalist in Jammu and Kashmir who has worked in Urdu and English and in print and radio for over three and a half decades starting from early 1980s. He has worked with various publications starting from Urdu daily Aftab and later with The Telegraph, BBC, Reuters, Time and The Asian Age.
SOURCE: The Hindu
GDP growth estimates at 5% in 2019-20, set to recover to 5.5% in 2020-21: FICCI Economic Outlook Survey
The latest round of FICCI’s Economic Outlook Survey puts forth the annual median GDP growth forecast for 2019-20 at 5.0%. While the median growth forecast for agriculture and allied activities has been put at 2.6% for 2019-20; the industry and services sector are expected to grow by 3.5% and 7.2% respectively during the current year. Growth is likely to improve to 5.5% in 2020-21 as per the projections. Furthermore, a median forecast of 4.7% for GDP growth has been pegged at for the third quarter of 2019-20. The growth numbers for the third quarter are expected to be released by Central Statistical Organisation in the month of February 2020. The survey was conducted during the months of December and January 2019-20 amongst economists belonging to the industry, banking and financial services sector.
SOURCE: Business Standard
India’s gold demand fell 9% to 690.4 tonnes in 2019: World Gold Council
India’s gold demand fell nine per cent to 690.4 tonnes in 2019 from the previous calendar year as record domestic prices and economic slowdown dented retail purchase, the World Gold Council (WGC) said recently. However, in 2020, gold demand in India — the world’s second biggest consumer after China — could increase to 700-800 tonnes on hopes of increased acceptance of high price level and likely economic reforms boosting consumer confidence. The domestic gold price finished 2019 just above ₹39,000 per ten grams, almost 24 per cent higher than at the end of 2018, WGC said in its latest report.
SOURCE: Business Standard
European Parliament approves terms of the U.K.’s departure from the European Union
Members of the European Parliament approved the terms of the U.K.’s departure from the European Union today, paving the way for the country to leave the bloc on Friday. E.U. lawmakers ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by 621 votes to 49. The U.K. is due to leave the bloc, which it joined in 1973, at 23:00 GMT on Friday. A transition period running until the end of the year will now take effect, during which trade negotiations between the E.U. and the U.K. will be finalized. That timetable is viewed as ambitious by many observers of trade discussions, which can often take years to agree. During this period, the U.K. will remain within the E.U.’s economic bloc although it won’t have a say in policy.
SOURCE: CNBC
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