Seoul or tokyo which is better

By Ayesha JhunjhunwalaAs the worst-hit countries including Italy and the UK limp past their infection peaks governments worldwide face difficult decisions about how to relax lockdowns. Some are already experiencing a second wave of infections which indicates that start-stop lockdowns might be a reality for months to come, possibly longer. This means preparing for a future in which containment and treatment are balanced with limited economic activity.Information and communications technology (ICT) can help us adapt to this new reality but tapping its full potential will require focus, collaboration, sustained investment, and safeguards. The basic pillars of any virus response include detection, containment, and treatment; the first two are where ICT can have the greatest impact. Available data and artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be harnessed to harvest and process large volumes of information to allow for hyper-local interventions. Leveraging technology to improve detection and … [Read more...] about ICT infrastructure could help navigate a post-Covid world

MUMBAI: Equity benchmarks finished in the green for the third session on the trot on Friday as investors scooped up FMCG, finance and banking stocks despite negative overseas cues and rising COVID-19 cases. Investors wagered on India further relaxing lockdown norms next week, though they were also cautious ahead of release of Q4 GDP data, analysts said. After a gap-down opening, the 30-share On similar lines, the During the holiday-shortened week, the sensex rallied 1,751.51 points or 5.71 per cent, while the Nifty spurted 541.05 points or 5.98 per cent. ONGC was the top gainer in the sensex pack on Friday, jumping 5.52 per cent, followed by Bajaj Auto, ITC, Sun Pharma, Nestle India, L&T, Hero MotoCorp and Maruti. On the other hand, Infosys, Axis Bank, Bharti Airtel, TCS and Titan were among the laggards, shedding up to 2.25 per cent. Besides stock-specific action, heavy foreign fund inflows lent buying confidence to domestic investors, analysts said. On a net basis, foreign … [Read more...] about Markets march higher for third day; post weekly gains

By DK Agarwal In a welcome step, our regulators have moved towards creating a global hub for currency derivatives, which will help add vibrancy to Indian financial markets. This was a long-awaited step, aimed at re-shoring the USD-INR derivatives trades from the offshore markets, notably London and Singapore. The prime objective is to curb off-shore rupee volatility. Usually during evening sessions, once liquidity hits the market in New York, global factors drive the offshore rupee and sometimes they also end up impacting the domestic unit severely when the onshore market opens. Indian financial markets open far behind Tokyo, and in between any major trigger that surfaces can trigger abrupt changes in the dollar-rupee pair when the OTC and exchange opens. The launch of INR-USD futures and options contracts that will trade is sync with global standards will give a big boost in terms of volumes from FPIs, banks as well as NRIs. What is notable here is that it will help a lot of SME … [Read more...] about What would it take for India to bring back offshore rupee derivative trade

In Delhi (perhaps more than showier Mumbai) celebs are low profile. Anyone who enters a restaurant with commandos in tow is usually a punk. Three years ago I was at the Delhi Club House when I noticed Smriti Irani sitting quietly with her husband at a side table. The restaurant knew who she was but recognised her desire for anonymity. Twenty minutes later Rahul Gandhi walked in to the same restaurant with a friend. The restaurant was full so he stood by the door and waited his turn. (Obviously Rahul never books. Everyone in Delhi has a story about seeing Rahul queue up at Town Hall or some such crowded place.) … [Read more...] about Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: No, you’re not imagining it