Russia-India Business Forum targets expansion of IT sector



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The 'Russia-India Business Forum: Strategic Partnership for Development and Growth', as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, targeted the most prominent sector of India - the IT sector and plans to push bilateral trade to USD 50 billion this year.

Rajiv Singh Thakur, additional secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, said at the Forum, "Current state of the Indian economy is performing well achieving 6-7 per cent. Indian economy is robust because of measures taken by the govt. In terms of investment, the latest data shows 85 billion FDI goes into the country. India has been a digital leader since millions of IT professionals are serving. This IT boom can be taken higher by Russia and India. Collaboration and cooperation between India and Russia are much needed, especially in the technical part given mobile payment success. We can learn from each other and take it forward."

The forum discussion started on March 29 and will continue till March 30, Thursday. The purpose of the meeting is to strengthen Indian-Russian business ties and support the entry of Russian companies into the Indian market.

The main focus of the forum is IT, cybersecurity, technological sovereignty, smart cities, transport and logistics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, with the focal point of the forum on 'Technological Alliances in the Greater Eurasia'.

"We consider India not as a market, but strategic partner...If we combine your human potential, your economy is growing and our potential in making tech sovereignty and creating new technologies -- together we may be leaders in new tech setup," said Valentin Makarov, Russoft Association.
The trade target for 2025 was earlier fixed at USD 30 billion. But the figure was surpassed in 2022 due to India's oil imports from Russia, and there are expectations that the figure will touch USD 50 billion in 2023.

Sergey Cheryomin, Russian minister, head of the department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow and chairman of the Board, Business Council for Cooperation with India, said, "We have a huge platform for cooperation. We have the same appreciation and understanding of political as well as economic bilateral relationships. A few years ago, we imagined a turnover of USD 25 billion with India. I am happy USD 30 billion turnovers and this year will have USD 50 billion turnovers. Banks are happy. We have a huge reserve in Indian local currency, which can be used. Indian investment is USD 5-6 billion in oil and gas."

Cheryomin further stated that Indian companies can have access to Russian banks.

The minister also stressed that banks in both countries should promote more trade in Rupee and Ruble.

"Our banks should be more active in establishing a relationship with each other and we've to promote trades in rupees and rubles as it creates a more stable platform for our companies," he said.

The RBI had last year put in place an additional arrangement for invoicing, payment, and settlement of exports/imports in Indian currency. This mechanism will help in internationalising the Indian currency in the long run. A currency can be termed "international" if it is widely accepted worldwide as a medium of exchange.

At a time when Russia is facing sanctions, its tech companies can offer solutions to India and Indian companies. Together the two countries can chart an independent path unaffected by external factors, participants at the opening session of the Russia India Business Forum said here on Wednesday.

"Today, it all depends on financial systems. They (the West) find it convenient to trade in Euro or Dollars, these trade rules were written by the West. We have to rewrite such rules. We can talk of Digital Rouble, Digital Rupee and we should have collaborations on our terms," said Aleksandr Babakov, deputy chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

"We are close in the financial system field. India, Russia and China are forming multipolar systems. Some people may say it is convenient to trade in Dollars and Euro, but it was written by West countries. Now Russia, India and China will rewrite the financial system. We will have more active collaboration on our terms. In this multipolar system, micro-regionalism is developed. This model can develop a secure and safe partnership," he added.

Meanwhile, Tigran Sargsyan, deputy chairman of the Board, of Eurasian Development Bank, rued the fact that there has not been "satisfactory progress" during the last five years over the international North-South Corridor that Russia and India should have pursued faster. "We started parallel trade discussions with China and India. With China, we have an agreement. With India, the process started 20 years ago but there is no agreement and the question is still being discussed," he said.

Inna Svyatenko, chairman of the Committee on Social Policy, Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, said: "Moscow has developed its own platform that is not dependent on any foreign collaboration. It would be great to share digital solutions as we have in Moscow, with India."

Skannd Tyagi, Founder, chief executive officer, of Starshot Ventures, spoke about how Indian IT companies can benefit from Russia's expertise in cyber securities, while Sergey Cheryomin said, "When Russia is under severe sanctions by the USA and EU, we have to find out how to deliver good and one of the solutions is the North-South Corridor. India and Russia work on building better ties in this sector." (ANI)

   

Blind astrologer Baba Bhanga's words are going to be true!



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When Iran and Israel face the Gaza issue, everyone is worried! Everyone's question - what is going to happen? Which way is the world? Is the world on the same path as the blind astrologer Baba Bhanga had expressed his apprehension about? World War III! Or a terrible 2024!

It has been 27 years since the woman who was skilled in astronomy left the illusion of the world. But for more than 3000 years from now, she has predicted what will happen in the world in any year. The world has already realized that all her words are not completely false. The most recent is the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic was also mentioned in the prophecy of Baba Bhanga.

And her statement about 2024 was that it will be a year shrouded in terrible blackness. Those fears include terrorist attacks across Europe, a global economic crisis and the use of biological weapons. She even calculated that there would be an assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This Bulgarian astrologer died in 1996. She was called the Nostradamus of the Balkans. In those days of astrology, Baba gave a list of what would happen on Earth by leap years until the year 5079. In the years since her death, some events have matched her calculations, and many have begun to believe them to be true. Her calculations showed 2024 as a black year. In this situation, many people are looking forward to see whether any predictions of Baba Bhanga will come to fruition. It is being published so far as a result of those words.

I have already talked about the Covid-19 pandemic. But another burning memory in this list is the 9/11 terrorist attack in the United States. Baba Bhanga predicted this possible attack in 1989. Said birds made of steel will come and crush America's pride. That came true. Four planes came and broke the pride of the skyscraper and took away 3000 fresh lives. Baba Bhanga meant the airplane by the steel bird.

In 1966, Baba Bhanga was a prediction of the covid-19 pandemic. She warned that Corona will spread among all of us. The Daily Star quoted a 73-year-old woman named Neshka Stefanova Robeva. She said before her death, Baba Bhanga told her the words. Then she did not even understand the meaning of this word?

It is said that Baba Bhanga also told the year of her death correctly. She said she would die on August 11, 1996 at the age of 85. Her words are also claimed to be true. She died of breast cancer that year.

The world has not forgotten about the tsunami of 2004 even today. The tsunami that washed away Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries. Before the day of the tsunami, did anyone know that something like this was going to happen! No, but Baba Bhanga said that a huge wave will come and wash away the localities, towns and ports beyond the sea coast. Everything will sink under the water. It happened so. She said, everything will melt like ice cream.

The Kursk submarine disaster of 2000 was also mentioned in the prophecy of Baba Bhanga. She said Kursk would be submerged in water. And the world will cry. 118 people died in the Kursk accident. Divers were able to reach Kursk after eight days and it was known to be submerged in 350 feet of water.

The assassination of the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, was also on the list of predictions of this Bulgarian astrologer. This murder happened in 1984. Which in 1969, the Baba Bhanga predicted. She said, her clothes will destroy her. Amidst the smoke and flames I see orange-yellow clothing. On October 31, 1994, the day Indira Gandhi was assassinated, she was wearing a saffron colored saree.

This female astrologer also knew the news of the rise of two US presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. She said, a black man is going to be the 44th president of the United States. But her other words were not true. Baba Bhanga said that would be the last black president of the United States because Barack Obama was re-elected for the 45th term as president. She predicted the 45th, when the United States would be in crisis. But that coincided with Donald Trump. Many prefer to compare the issue with the events on Capitol Hill in 2020.

During her 50 years of practicing astrology, Baba Bhanga had other predictions that came true. Among them was the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986, the assassination of Princess Diana in 1997.

But there were some predictions that didn't quite match up. Like 2023 natural birth will end, earth will change its rotation path; solar storm will happen none of these things happened. She also said that Europe would cease to exist by 2017, which did not materialize. However, those who believe in astronomy try to match the words with Britain's exit from the European Union in 2023.

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Israeli attack in Gaza: death toll exceeds 34,000



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Another 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours in the Palestinian-besieged Gaza. With this, the number of people killed in the Israeli barbaric attack in Palestine reached 34 thousand. Another 63 people were injured in the last 24 hours.

This information was revealed in a live update of Al-Jazeera news media on Saturday (April 20).

According to the report, Iran attacked Israel in response to the attack on the Iranian consulate. In response, Israel launched an attack on Isfahan, a city discussed for Iran's nuclear project. This incident has created a very volcanic situation in the Middle East and around the world.

In such circumstances, the death toll in Gaza reached 34,000.

According to Al-Jazeera citing the Ministry of Health of Gaza, at least 34 thousand 12 people have been killed in the Israeli attack in Gaza since October 7 last year. Meanwhile, 76 thousand 833 people were injured. The death toll in Israel has reached 1,139 since the October 7 attack by Hamas. There are also dozens of Israeli citizens imprisoned in Gaza. 

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Lok Sabha elections are starting today in India



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Voting for the 18th Lok Sabha elections in India, the world's largest democracy, begins today on Friday. In seven phases, about 97 crore voters of the country will vote and elect their preferred representatives in different parts of the country. In the first phase, polling will be held today in a total of 102 constituencies in 21 states and union territories of the country. Among them are three centers in West Bengal. The constituencies are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri.

Voting will start from 7 am on Friday (April 19) and will continue till 6 pm. Besides the central forces, the Election Commission has also trusted the state police for election security.

The main battle in the election is going to be between the ruling BJP-led NDA alliance and the Indian National Congress-led 'India' alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party, the main party of the ruling NDA alliance, is moving ahead with the target of 370 seats. And their target for alliance is 400 seats.

The Election Commission of India has completed all preparations for the polls on Friday. In the first phase, polling will be held in 102 constituencies on April 19. Security has been beefed up across the country ahead of polling.

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New sanctions on Iran



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The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on Iran's drone program in response to retaliatory strikes against Israel.

The ban was announced simultaneously on Thursday (April 18) by two countries known to be close allies of the Jewish state.

According to the report of the British media BBC, the United States Ministry of Finance said in a statement that sanctions have been imposed on 16 individuals and 2 companies associated with the production of UAVs (drones) in Iran. They are associated with Iran's production of Shahed drones. The drone was used in the April 13 attack.

The UK is also imposing sanctions on a number of military-linked companies, individuals and institutions linked to Iran's development of drones and ballistic missiles.

Iran launched an expected and unexpected attack on Israel on Saturday night. On April 13, the attack was carried out in revenge for the killing of some senior army officers in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1, the capital of Syria.

Iran used more than three hundred drones and missiles in this major attack. Israel claimed to have destroyed most of them in the air. The United States, United Kingdom, France and Jordan helped Israel to prevent this attack.

Israel has announced a counter attack on Iran in response to this attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has the right to defend itself.

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