Business

17 Mar 2021; MEMO: Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, reaffirmed his country's willingness to resume the Renaissance Dam negotiations with Sudan and Egypt at any time under the auspices of the African Union (AU) only.

On Tuesday, Al-Jazeera TV reported Mufti as saying that Ethiopia had not received any official proposal from the quartet.

16 Mar 2021; MEMO: Turkey plans to welcome British holidaymakers this summer without requiring evidence of vaccination, Minister of Tourism Mehmet Ersoy said on Monday. "Turkey is looking forward to welcoming British tourists with open arms," said the minister.

According to CNN Turk, the Turkish authorities will also re-evaluate whether visitors must produce evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departure after April 15.

16 Mar 2021; MEMO: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has "volunteered" to invest over $12 million in Israel.

In an interview with the Israeli army radio, Netanyahu said Abu Dhabi's crown prince told him that he "wants to be a partner in projects which could enhance Israel's economy after the coronavirus [pandemic]."

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI) India recorded its highest daily tally of coronavirus cases this year with 28,903 new infections, taking the total COVID-19 tally to 1,14,38,734, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll increased to 1,59,044 with 188 new fatalities, the highest in around two months, the data updated at 8 am showed.

16 Mar 2021; MEMO: Remittances from Egyptians working abroad increased by 10.5 per cent in 2020, despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said yesterday.

Transfers rose from $26.8 billion in 2019 to $29.6 billion in 2020, the central bank said in a statement. The fourth quarter of 2020 saw an increase of 7.6 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier, it added.

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Bank strike continued for day-two on Tuesday, led by nine unions of public sector banks (PSBs) in the country, opposing government's policy to privatise the lenders.

Customers will be inconvenienced to get services such as cash withdrawals, deposits, cheque clearances, remittance services. Government transactions related to treasury as well as business transactions will also be impacted.

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, had given a strike call for March 15 and 16.

Jaipur, Mar 15 (PTI) The Rajasthan government gives priority to the agriculture sector and a new agriculture budget will be introduced in the state from next year to fulfill the dreams of farmers, Agriculture Minister Lal Chand Kataria said on Monday.

Efforts are being made to provide all facilities to the farmers online through innovations. Also, the department is working to provide agricultural equipment on rent, Kataria said.

New Delhi, Mar 16 (PTI) Taking a dig at the government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that selling public sector banks to "cronies" will compromise the country's financial security.

He also accused the government of "privatising profit" and "nationalising loss".

Kanpur: Banks on strike. Transactions on hold. Customers maintain patience. Today remains the second day of the banking strike in support of the employee's various demands including privatisation of the banks.

During the strike on the first day when the branch of Bank of India at Birhana Road opened, the employees and union office bearers reached there and started raising slogans. As a result, the bank was closed.

Jabalpur, Mar 15 (PTI) Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday said the farmers' stir against the Centre's agri marketing laws would go on till December and future course of action would be decided then if the laws are not repealed.

Speaking at a rally in Sihora, some 45 kilometres from the district headquarters, Tikait said the MSP mechanism was irrevocable and farmers would not sell their produce below it.