Critical Minerals

Critical Minerals: The New Oil of the 21st Century?

Critical minerals are not literally the new oil, but they may play a comparable role in defining the balance of power. The race has already begun, and India’s preparedness will determine whether it merely secures access to the resources of the new century or helps shape the industrial order that emerges from them.

Trade Pivot Weakens Pakistan’s Grip on Afghanistan, as Others Move in

Afghanistan has sought to limit or reduce its structural vulnerability by moving trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port and Central Asian corridors. Kabul is realigning Afghanistan’s external economic geography by looking towards Iran, Central Asia, China and India.

India's Sugar Economy and Ethanol Politics: The Demand-Supply Imbalance Threatens to Mar Festival Season

The current rise in Indian sugar prices is the result of several factors rather than ethanol alone. Lower-than-expected production—from an initial estimate of 343 LMT to about 306 LMT—is central to the supply concern. Weather damage, disease, festival demand, global prices and market speculation have added to the pressure.

Can Iran's Chabahar Help Turkiye and India do Business?

Chabahar will not transform Türkiye–India relations. It can, however, show whether two countries with serious political disagreements are capable of making one difficult commercial route work.

More on Economy, Trade and Development

Pakistan FM leaves for TWO-day China visit

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday left for a two-day visit to China to attend the second round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue

China enhances troop deployment near India-Nepal-China trijunction

China has increased its troop deployment near Lipulekh, the place that became a trigger for strained relations between New Delhi and Kathmandu. Lipulekh is tri-junction between India, Nepal and China situated atop the Kalapani Valley in Uttarakhand

Nepal Airlines gives official send-off to the pilots of its Chinese aircraft

Nepal Airlines has said goodbye to the four pilots hired to fly its Chinese-made Y12e and MA60 after grounding the aircraft permanently since mid-July as they were a drain on resources

'China has designed a strategy to intrude into Indian banking sector'

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has strongly criticized ICICI Bank for allowing Peoples Bank of China to invest in the bank despite strong sentiments prevailing in the country against China and its anti-India policies

Chinese central bank investment in ICICI Bank raises eyebrows

After the disclosure of a holding in HDFC, the Chinese central bank Peoples Bank of China has now acquired an equity stake in ICICI Bank

India should resist aligning with the US on China

Even though New Delhi and Washington have become closer strategic partners, especially in the past two decades, India has never openly aligned with the United States on China, despite US pressure to do so, writes Frank Islam for South Asia Monitor

China deploys high altitude artillery guns in Tibet

China has deployed high altitude artillery guns in Tibet amid the ongoing border tension with India in eastern Ladakh

Tibetan Parliament postpones session till 2021

The 10th session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile scheduled to take place from September 16-24 has been postponed until March 2021, it was announced on Monday

China funds study on Nepal youth joining Indian Army's Gorkha regiment

China has given 12.7 lakh Nepalese rupees to a Kathmandu-based NGO to carry out a study on what motivates Gorkha community members to join the Indian Army

China enhances Pakistan's firepower with armed drones

China is helping Pakistan to boost its firepower by selling it state-of-the-art defence items, including armed drones, even as it is engaged with India at the borders in eastern Ladakh

'Positive vibes' from China for review of PPAs with IPPs with Pakistan

In another positive development,  Chinese authorities have also indicated to Pakistan’s top notches that they would also review the power purchase agreements (PPAs) of the independent power producers (IPPs) installed under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) umbrella keeping in view the rising circular debt and other power sector financial woes adversely impacting the country's economy, a senior top official at Power Division told The News

Pakistan to improve CPEC visibility

The Pakistan government has decided to improve visibility of the flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), days before foreign minister’s visit to Beijing where he will discuss new priorities of the country

Pakistan enhances security of CPEC

Pakistan Army has said that security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been further enhanced. On Thursday, Major General Babar Iftikhar, director general of army's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, said all formations deployed for the security of CPEC have been further equipped and become more active, reports Xinhua news agency

Tibetan-Chinese man arrested in Delhi suspected of working for Chinese intelligence

Nabbed in a crackdown on a multi-billion hawala racket operating in Delhi-NCR, Luo Sang, alias Charlie Peng, is suspected to be an agent of the Chinese intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS)

Pakistan awarding illegal gold, uranium mining contracts to China in Gilgit-Baltistan

Pakistan, in violation of international laws and defiance of its own Constitution, has given a free hand to Chinese mining companies to plunder natural resources in the occupied Gilgit Baltistan (GB) area