OPINION

Having unveiled its ambition of emerging as the top Artificial Intelligence (AI) superpower by 2030, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken rapid strides in digitising every conceivable sphere of its activity, so much so even its dictatorial form of governance.

Forming the economic backbone of the country, India also has a network of National Highways connecting all the major cities and state capitals. As of March 2019, India had about 132,500 kilometres (82,300 mi) of national highways and expressways, plus another 176,166 kilometres (109,464 mi) of state highways, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

There are several highs in the market now. Globally liquidity is at a record high and consequently FPI flows are at record highs. Supporting the capital flows, Q2 corporate earnings also are at record highs and early results suggest the continuation of this trend in Q3 too. Reflecting sharp rebound in economic activity, GST collections (Rs 1.15 lakh crore in December 2020) are at record highs.

In its 2020 list, four of India's physical markets that have found mention are Heera Panna in Mumbai, Kidderpore in Kolkata and Palika Bazaar and Tank Road in Delhi alongwith Snapdeal featuring in the online markets list. Aizawl's Millennium Center was also mentioned in the last list of notorious markets, but now it has been replaced by Palika Bazaar.

After several accusations surfaced against Parler, alleging that it had contributed in provoking the storming of the US Capitol, the network was delisted by several companies including Apple and Google. Amazon announced that it had banned the platform from using Amazon Web Services, for its failure to restrict hate speech and inciting content.

The facts that as many as four protesters lost their lives and an officer of the Capitol Police force succumbed to injuries inflicted by the mob, speak of the seriousness of an event that seemed to the world outside as an unprecedented physical attack on the Parliament of the oldest democracy by a politically driven mob of Republican followers pushed to a height of frenzy by their Presidential nominee himself.

EGW Capital, which currently trades on BitLux OTC exchange, is proposing to conduct its own US $100 million IEO and partly sponsor the IEO's of the companies worldwide. The IEO was delayed due to the pandemic but is slated for 2021.

On December 31, 2020, at 11 p.m. UK time and 12 p.m. Brussels time, -- four years, 27 weeks and two days after a referendum that split the UK almost down the middle in 2016 -- the curtains on the Brexit saga, finally came down, as the UK left the embrace of the European Union (EU) in a departure that was notably low key.

With India being part of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent member from January 1, 2021, and UN 75 years of celebration (2020) hangover rolling over to next year, the debate on UNSC reforms continues, with no worthwhile progress, despite high pitch for reforms made by many countries including India.

The various causes and frictions for the ebb in the Indo-UK ties are varied, but now it seems that the UK under its Global Britain campaign/strategy is trying to give India its due place in the relationship.