VIJIGISHU '24

Tuesday, 16 July 2024

INR | EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA : Weekly Updates

The largest Russian bank reports that transfers of Rupee and Ruble between India and Russia have doubled in 2024.


Russia's largest state-controlled bank, Sberbank, which handles the majority of payments for Indian exports to Russia, reported that despite sanctions by the United States and the European Union, transfers between India and Russia have increased in national currencies (rupee-rouble) since last year.


Economists and Indian businessmen operating in Russia anticipate that the surge may increase following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last week.


They caution, however, that in the absence of the Indian rupee, Chinese companies and the yuan would continue to benefit from the "vacuum" created by the departure of Western companies.



read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-and-russia-have-doubled-rupee-rouble-payments-in-2024-says-largest-russian-bank/article68407397.ece/amp/


What's behind Modi's hug with Putin: Is India staking on Trump to win in November?
 


A bear hug is practically a given when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets any male international leader. 


However, the embrace he shared last week in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked strong public criticism from both Washington and Kiev.


US officials denounced Modi's visit to Russia in a series of statements spread over several days. This was Modi's first visit to Russia since Putin declared full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022.




read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/7/16/behind-modis-putin-hug-is-india-betting-on-trump-winning-in-november


India expresses its displeasure for President Zelensky's criticism of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia to Ukraine. 


India has expressed its displeasure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Moscow, when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin, to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine. 


As per a report published by the news agency PTI, India conveyed its disapproval to the Ukrainian mission located in New Delhi.



read more: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/india-conveys-displeasure-to-ukraine-after-president-zelenskyys-criticism-of-pm-modis-russia-visit-437275-2024-07-16&ved=2ahUKEwjioc2i-KuHAxWXdfUHHarQHq0Q0PADKAB6BAgnEAE&usg=AOvVaw0tOCr5mFihsLoi8SshvgTE



Poland is thinking of intercepting Russian missiles en route to Ukraine. 


Following a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on the margins of the NATO summit on Friday, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that Poland is evaluating a Ukrainian proposal to intercept Russian rockets that are headed towards Ukrainian cities or into Polish territory. 


According to Sikorski, some missiles fired from the St. Petersburg area crosses the Polish border into Belarusian territory, then enter Polish airspace for a brief period of time (about 40 seconds) before striking targets within Ukraine.



read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/07/13/europe/poland-russian-missiles-ukraine-intl-latam


MEPs demand that Hungary's EU voting rights be revoked in light of Orbán's "peace missions."


The European Parliament urged that Hungary's prime minister be removed from office following his trips to China and Russia. 


On July 1st, Hungary replaced Belgium as the rotating EU presidency of the Council. 


Since then, Orbán has gone on self-proclaimed "peace missions" to Beijing, Moscow, Kiev, and Washington and falsely claimed to be speaking for the EU without being granted permission to do so.



read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/letter-63-meps-call-to-strip-hungary-eu-voting-rights-after-viktor-orban-peace-missions/


Drone strike against Putin's forces within Russia following the expulsion of boats from the Crimean port.


Local governors reported on Tuesday that overnight, attacks by the Ukrainians caused a fire at an electrical device business and injured at least six people in Russian districts bordering Ukraine. 


The fire, which was put out by morning and left no casualties in the Kursk area of Russia, was started by a drone strike on a factory in the town of Korenevo.



read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-war-putin-drones-crimea-latest-news-b2580371.html


Floods in Afghanistan are to blame for dozens of deaths while powerful storms devastate the east of the nation. 


According to officials and relief workers, flash floods, strong winds, and heavy rain brought on by a series of storms have wreaked havoc in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 40 people and causing extensive damage. 


The region surrounding Nangarhar province's capital, Jalalabad, has been the most severely affected.



read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/afghanistan-floods-2024-deaths-severe-weather-climate-change/


Kazakhstan's tourism industry is booming because of a new visa-free entry policy that applies to 100 countries, including the UK, the USA, and the UAE. 


Kazakhstan is a popular tourist destination around the world since it accepts visitors without a visa from 100 countries. 


Kazakhstan, a large country in Central Asia, is full of many cities that provide interesting experiences, fascinating histories, and breathtaking scenery. 


Now that IndiGo is providing flights to Almaty and a number of other towns in Kazakhstan, visiting this fascinating place is easier than before.



read more: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/kazakhstan-is-surging-in-the-tourism-industry-with-new-visa-free-entry-policy-for-100-countries-including-uk-usa-and-uae/


Rather than the "Great Game," Kazakhstan pursues "great gain."


As questioned by Asia Times, Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan's deputy foreign minister, last week in Astana about the country's "multi-vector" foreign policy—a phrase that is frequently used in scholarly contexts. 


According to Vassilenko, Kazakhstan has been able to safeguard and advance its interests as a nation because its diplomatic outreach has been astute and adaptable as opposed to naive, confrontational, and ideological. He expressed this without displaying any signs of arrogance.



read more: https://asiatimes.com/2024/07/kazakhstan-seeks-great-gain-not-the-great-game/


In Osh, Kyrgyzstan, a state of emergency was declared following fatal flooding and mudslides.


A state of emergency has been proclaimed by the authorities in Osh, a city in southern Kyrgyzstan, following the deaths of at least four people on July 14 due to mudslides and flooding brought on by torrential rains.



read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rferl.org/amp/state-of-emergency-kyrgyzstan-osh-deadly-flooding-mudslides/33036835.html


News Bits collected by [Region Head]: 

Poulina Banerjee (BA IR 3rd year)

Drafted by: 

Gauri Upreti (BA IR 2nd year)

Angel Chindalia (MA IR 2nd year)

Published by: Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)



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