Table of Contents
Hitting where it hurts
- Trump administration – once again – tightened the screws on the country’s immigration system
- It stopped issuing temporary or B-1 business visas relating to occupations normally classified as falling under the H-1B speciality or skilled visa category.
- Directly impact Indian companies contracting with American firms for on-site work
- Raising the minimum salaries payable to those applying for H-1B visas and to stop the issuance of such visas entirely until December 31, 2020.
- Analysts predict that Mr. Trump’s June 22, 2020 ban on new H-1B visa issuance could impact up to 219,000 workers, who would be unable to take up potential jobs in the U.S.
- Technology and innovation via the trade in services remain a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership and highly-skilled Indian professionals working in the U.S. help bridge the skill gap there, imparting a technological and competitive edge.
- U.S. joblessness spiked to an unprecedented 14.7% in April 2020.
- While it has dropped off since then, the country has entered the final phases of electoral campaigning, which has seen sharp attacks by Democratic challenger Joe Biden on Mr. Trump’s alleged failure to mitigate the economic crisis.
- It would be wise for Indian IT firms and others seeking to send their employees to the U.S. for short-term work to assume that regardless of who wins the election, it will be a long time, if ever, before they can hope to return to business as usual.
A leader for difficult times
- Relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of India are rooted in history, mutual trust and bilateral cooperation that has withstood the test of time.
- Our two nations have shared trade and cultural links dating back to the third millennium BCE.
- These historic bonds were further reinforced during HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first state visit to New Delhi in February 2019.
- With Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency, we are at the cusp of another transformation in our strategic cooperation, one that will reap benefits for the global community.
- Mutual respect and continued international cooperation are values at the heart of the Saudi G20 presidency.
- COVID-19 pandemic – has plunged the global economy into one of the worst recessions in decades, exacerbating existing gaps.
- As major global economies, the G20 member countries have a responsibility to lead collective action for a coordinated global response to the ongoing crisis.
- Not only has Saudi Arabia been ranked the top reformed and top improver among 190 countries by the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2020 report, it is also the most improved country in the world for doing business, having implemented a record number of reforms.
- Empowering people with a focus on youth and women, and tackling inequalities
- Safeguarding the planet by fostering collective efforts to protect our natural resources and putting sustainability at the heart of the agenda
- Finally, shaping new frontiers by adopting long-term and bold strategies to share the benefits of innovation and technological advancement to build a resilient future for the world.
- The Private Sector Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation (EMPOWER), a forum constituted by G20, is developing an action plan to identify key focus areas and conduct global research to advocate for the advancement of women in leadership positions in the private sector.
- Deploying artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes and the education system.
- G20 finance ministers and central bank governors agreeing to the historic Debt Suspension Service Initiative for the world’s poorest countries.
- This benefitted 46 countries, providing an estimated $14 billion of immediate liquidity relief by the bilateral official creditor in 2020.
- The G20 is also working with international organisations to complement these efforts, including multilateral development banks, who are planning to commit $75 billion for DSSI-eligible countries between April-December 2020, part of their $230 billion commitment for emerging and low-income countries as a response to the pandemic.
- Together, G20 countries have contributed over $21 billion to support health systems and the hunt for a vaccine and injected an unprecedented $11 trillion to safeguard the global economy.
- India is carrying out ambitious reforms to modernise the country.
- As leading economies, Saudi Arabia and India can leave a mark on the global community through synergies and contribute to the roadmap for a prosperous future for all.
Centre’s Bureau?
- The Maharashtra government’s decision to withdraw the “general consent” given to the CBI to investigate cases in the state is disquieting.
- Maharashtra is not the first state to flag this distrust of the federal agency: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have done the same in recent times.
- On each such occasion, the state government had hinted that it suspected the agency of acting at the behest of the Centre.
- The CBI has, in the past, been called a “caged parrot” that sings the Centre’s tune.
- There is a formidable body of evidence to establish that through much of the last three decades and even now, when an investigation is not being monitored by the court, the agency has served as pretty much its master’s voice.
- The current confrontation strengthens the perception that states in opposition see the Centre as weaponising the agency to keep the heat on Opposition-led governments.
- When the Centre and the state play tug-of-war with the investigation, it diminishes the credibility and authority of the CBI.
- The Supreme Court’s terms on the director’s appointment — by including the Opposition in the selection panel and fixing terms — has brought some reform but much more needs to be done.
- In the end, it is up to the parrot to decide what kind of a cage it has been put in — and whose tune it should sing.
The 4Gotten Generation
- Many of you are so busy with your phones, watching videos, playing video games, chatting with your friends, commenting on social media, or just scrolling through the feeds of beautiful celebrities, reading an article falls way down on the priority list.
- You are wasting your life on your phone.
- Yes, you are the first young generation in India’s history that has access to smartphones and cheap data, and you are spending hours on it, every day.
- Five hours is one-third of your productive waking hours, or one-third of your life.
- Like cigarettes or other drugs, this phone addiction is eating away a part of your life.
- Imagine saving three hours a day from your phone, and spending it on anything – fitness, learning a skill, studying more, a more intense job search, opening a business.
- Imagine if you did this consistently, where it would take you.
- Our brain has two areas – cognitive and emotional.
- A good mind is where both work well.
- When you watch junk, the cognitive brain disengages and is used less.
- You soon lack the ability to think, reason or argue something logically.
- You can no longer see different points of view, process multiple scenarios, evaluate pros and cons or make the right decisions.
- You function with your emotional brain alone as your cognitive brain is numb.
- The constant anger on social media, the polarisation, the intense fandom and intense hate for celebrities or politicians, the popularity of certain screaming TV anchors all point to a generation where the emotional brain is in control, and the reasoning mind is not engaged.
- People who work only with an emotional brain don’t do well in life.
- Success in life comes from setting goals, staying motivated and working hard towards your goals.
- However, watching a screen makes us lazy.
- Deep down, a fear of failure sets in as you’re not sure if you can put in the work anymore.
- Stop complaining. Start creating. Create a better life for yourself, and create a better person.
- Unlike hard drugs, 4G phones are legal. Kids can keep one in their pocket.
- The super important, urgent priority is to make our economy grow again.
- China is five times richer than us.
- Should we focus on that? Or should we outrage over harmless ads that show an inter-religious couple? Should you focus on your career, or should you waste your time on never ending historical Hindu-Muslim issues? You want to build a good life or solve Bollywood conspiracies?
- Be the generation that 4Ges India ahead. Don’t end up as the 4Gotten generation.
NEWS
- Bihar needs Nitish-led NDA govt. for development: Modi
- Pakistan to stay on FATF grey list till 2021
- House panel mulls action against Amazon
- Oli move on Nepal map hints at softer stand
- Prime Minister sends Dussehra greetings using old map without Indian territory
- Govt. slaps stock limits on onion
- With onion prices crossing ₹100 per kg in several cities, the Centre imposed stock limits on wholesalers and retailers until the year-end to prevent hoarding.
- Sharp rise in Punjab farm fires during kharif season
- Work on new Parliament to start in Dec.
- Construction likely to becompleted by October 2022
- Parts of Bengaluru flooded after 3 days of heavy rain
- Police unearth major organ transplant racket in Kerala
- The Kerala police have stumbled upon an organ transplant racket that supplied kidneys and liver tissue from living donors to affluent patients for sizeable sums of money.
- A mistake to have left Quad, says Australia
- Australia should not have walked out of the Quad, and subsequently the Malabar exercises with India, but was “delighted” at New Delhi’s decision to invite it to participate in this year’s naval exercises in November, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said.
- 30 vaccine programmes under way in India: scientist
- Four vaccines are in clinical trials, says Gagandeep Kang
- China’s Xi sends warning to ‘invaders’
- China may not recognise U.K.-issued HK passports
- U.K., Japan ink post-Brexit trade deal
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