September 30, 2019

Which means all this silliness of putting pressure on Pakistan

Which means all this silliness of putting pressure on Pakistan to do more on Afghanistan will come to naught — why would Pakistan expose itself to a decline in influence in Afghanistan in support of an American policy that the Americans themselves don’t really believe in?Worse, the Trump review is coinciding with a second successive fresh-look perspective in the military leadership here.


But yet another round of American silliness can have a damaging effect on Pakistan — because of what it could mean for Afghanistan and what happens inside Pakistan itself.Pak-US relations are about where they should be given all that separates them and the little that they have in common. 

The problem is that it’s not. It makes sense to change some things on Afghanistan. US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP) The Americans are at it again.Here’s the thing, though: the Obama years happened. Troop surge in Afghanistan, policy review on Pakistan, alternating between threatening and bribing us to "do more”.Barack Obama may ultimately have reversed himself on withdrawing all US troops from Afghanistan, but it was long obvious that he had no real interest in the area.A circularity in a region full of circles and maddening conundrums. When the Americans are breathing down your neck, you have both reason and excuse to delay deeper readjustments.

Let’s work through it.But then in strides the American behemoth once again, knocking heads around, demanding actions, threatening and intimidating — all because it wants its (muddled) way in Afghanistan.More of the same by a US administration towards Pakistan will only increase the odds of more of the same from Pakistan on Afghanistan. In his early days, Qamar Javed Bajwa could attempt the same: a policy review, if not a reversal.That creates an incentives problem.

To really convince itself that fixing Pakistan is not the automatic and inevitable route to fixing Afghanistan, the US would have to really turn the screws on Pakistan.To fix Afghanistan, Pakistan must be fixed — and to fix Pakistan, the usual tools are to be deployed. By coming in and starting a military-led debate on Afghanistan that sounds so familiar, the Trump administration is confirming what most outside powers in Afghanistan already suspect: US policy in Afghanistan is somewhere on the spectrum between not-interested and stale.

That drift allowed other outside powers to increase their interest in Afghanistan — some with the explicit support of the US (India), some with ambivalent American support (China) and some, arguably, by the US dropping the ball (Russia).Just get them off your back and make sure you don’t get too banged up.Possibly because the US doesn’t have the influence or leverage it needs, but more likely because the debate we see in public is supplemented by one out of view:The public stuff may be all Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Afghanistan, but there’s counterterrorism cooperation, nuclear safety and security, and a link to China and India that shapes what can be done on Pakistan. The only realistic peaceful solution in Afghanistan is a negotiated settlement between the Taliban and the Afghan government. To the extent that the game be played out endlessly — US coaxing, cajoling and pretending it can change Pakistan; Pakistan playing coy; the two occasionally falling out and then sulkily sidling up to the other again — it doesn’t really matter. 

The Trump AfPak review is doubly damning because it’s back to the future after years of White House disengagement.The terms of the debate being framed in the US for Donald Trump on Pakistan are nascent but familiar: through the Afghan looking glass and a blame-cum-incentives framework.That’s why the Taliban have always insisted on primarily negotiating with the Americans.By arrangement with Dawn.It’s like it’s 2009 again.Or at least makes sure that the public talk of really turning the screws on Pakistan does not translate into actual action.But there are far too many hawks on Afghanistan here to navigate a policy review while also coming under pressure from the US to fit its stale and unworkable agenda.But indulging that temptation just as Pakistan may be growing confident enough to have an overall policy debate on militancy may be a classic American mistake.Raheel Sharif tried and failed to change our Afghan policy.But if all the US is going to do is to ensure a tenuous survival of the Afghan government, tamp down the Taliban insurgency when it threatens to get out of control, and give no more than lukewarm support to a peace process — there will be no real peace process.Let’s assume Bajwa is inclined towards an overall policy rethink — towards a militancy-free Pakistan, in all shapes and manifestations.In faraway DC and nearby Kabul, the temptation to knock Pakistan around for perceived misbehaviour is mostly irresistible. But it hasn’t worked and won’t.

That could have a chilling effect on the overall anti-militancy debate that Bajwa may want.But the only outside power that is fundamentally committed to the post-Bonn Afghan state structure and power centres is the US.But it can’t — won’t — really turn the three-dimensional printer screws Manufacturers screws on Pakistan because of the other, security-based aspects to the relationship and so the US will never reach the stage where it can disabuse itself of the belief that fixing Pakistan is the route to fixing Afghanistan.

There’s more. It’s 2017 and the Americans may be about to screw it up for us — again, though perhaps in a new way. The Afghan debate is one half of the overall militancy debate here.In faraway DC and nearby Kabul, the temptation to knock Pakistan around for perceived misbehaviour is mostly irresistible

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September 28, 2019

The regrade the price spread between jet and gasoil

Jet has two uses — the first as aviation turbine fuel and the second for heating purposes.Jet fuel cracks have shed about 9 per cent in the last one week, and are currently about 7 per cent weaker than this time last year, Refinitiv Eikon data showed. Given the strong passenger statistics it may be more apt to say ‘kerosene’ demand is weak, leading to the stock surplus,” said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of energy consultancy Trifecta. 


They were at USD 13.Airlines in the Asia/Pacific region posted a demand increase of 7.The price for crude oil, a refinery’s most important and costly feedstock, on Wednesday, pushed up by ongoing supply cuts from producer cartel OPEC and US sanctions against Iran and Venezuela. 

Airlines in the Asia/Pacific region posted a demand increase of 7.1 per cent in January, compared to the same month last year.45 a barrel on Tuesday.1 per cent in January, compared to the same month last year, while domestic passenger demand grew about 12 per cent in India and 14 per cent in China, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a March report.Despite strong demand growth from the Asian aviation sector, the margins lacked the usual boost from seasonal heating demand this year due to a warmer winter, market watchers said. Singapore: Asian refining margins for jet fuel dropped for a second straight session on Wednesday to their lowest levels in more than eight months, as crude prices firmed and demand for the distillate fuel remained weak. I have often seen traders play the regrade suppressing jet China three-dimensional printer screws Suppliers prices further,” Vijayakar added.

Jet fuel cracks have shed about 9 pc in the last 1 week, and are currently about 7 pc weaker than this time last year..Seasonal refinery turnarounds in the region, however, is expected to keep a lid on supplies in the near term and upcoming summer travelling demand would likely offer some support to the aviation fuel in the next couple of months, trade sources said."Jet fuel demand per se is weak.Refining margins for jet fuel, which also determine the profitability of closely-related heating kerosene, plunged to USD 13.

The regrade, the price spread between jet and gasoil, for April stood at a discount of 38 cents a barrel on Wednesday..Meanwhile, cash differentials for jet fuel cargoes in Singapore were at a discount of 25 cents a barrel to Singapore quotes on Tuesday amid lacklustre buying interests in the physical market. The second use does not seem to be holding its end of the bargain.19 a barrel over Dubai crude during Asian trading hours, their lowest since June last year

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September 25, 2019

The apprehension of hundreds of crores

It is a carefully researched and scholarly work that also has a guide like quality as it simplifies a very widely and frequently discussed subject — the issue of black money. It is an irrefutably factual and cold analysis of what led to the Modi demonetisation and its economic consequences. What does this indicate? 


One cannot claim any accretion of support due to demonetisation.Demonetisation and Black Money, by C. So what was the hullabaloo about?That demonetisation exacted a huge economic cost is without doubt. He also specialises in the Chinese economy. The Act had the side-effect of prohibiting nearly all US exports and most imports, greatly disrupting the US economy. 

Its utility and relevance will be undiminished even after the after effects of demonetisation recede from our memories. But greatness lies in admitting mistakes and learning from them. If the argument is that demonetisation stemmed the loss of support to the Modi government, we have yet to see any empirical validation of it.. But, instead of wisdom, there is much vaingloriousness in the PM’s style of decision-making that crimps discussion and examination of alternatives. But, most commentators and opinion makers have read in the results of the UP elections that there is popular support for demonetisation. Its vote share declined somewhat to 39. This may or may not be so.124)This as much a book about an event as it is about economic and monetary policy and the institutional framework they operate in.

The writer, a policy analyst studying economic and security issues, held senior positions in government and industry. But, Reddy gets back his cold tenor when he sums up: "The story of demonetisation and its a ftermath, in the first two months after the event has been one of unremitting pain and China foaming barrel screws Suppliers hardship inflicted on the people who could not escape its impact. This means this much good, bad and fake money was successfully exchanged.The PM made out that demonetisation was going to mean the extinguishing of "black money” and all that wouldn’t be returned to banks would be its bonus. He exclaimed in public: "How could I have been so stupid?” Leaders are not immune to stupidity or else they would not be human. Demonetisation and Black Money By C. The pashm then began flowing to Ludhiana and helped it to become the great centre for the manufacture of woolens it still is. There is not even the slightest sign of remorse or that he has learned anything. 

This entails wisdom. I have described it elsewhere as a singular act of vandalism.7 per cent in 2017.C.The decision by the government to strip 86 per cent of the currency in circulation of its status as legal tender, followed by restrictions on withdrawals from banks and then the general shortage of cash, deeply hurt people at different levels and in different dimensions. Kennedy, agreed to the disastrous invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs Crisis. It has everything one could or should want to know about demonetisation in general and the impact of how it was implemented by the Modi government. Rammanohar Reddy, is an irrefutably factual and cold analysis of demonetisation and its impact. He went public and acknowledged responsibility. It had very few Rs 2,000 or Rs 500 notes rolling out of its security presses, and no additional small value notes to pick up the slack somewhat. The apparent unpreparedness and haste in rolling out the GST is indicative of this. The Embargo Act of 1807 was passed by the United States Congress in protest against British and French interference in US shipping.” (P. In 2014, the BJP had a 42 per cent vote share. Rammanohar Reddy Orient BlackSwan, Rs 295; 272 pagesHistory is replete with instances when acting out of pique or haste inflicts huge costs on a nation. Kennedy realised he was taken in and was the one responsible. JFK had assembled the brightest men in America to be part of his cabinet, advisors and aides. File photo of people standing in line to exchange demonetised notes. Neither was borne out. The only time when some emotion creeps in is in chapter nine on Distress and Despair where Reddy juxtaposes anecdotal newspaper reports on individual and collective distress. It just proves that new money too turns as easily into black money as the old money and nothing has changed. Ladakh never recovered from the loss of revenue. Yet, they led him into a disaster. Clearly, the government was unprepared.2L crores in high denomination notes Rs 13.8L crores have come back into the system. The book is extremely clinical in its diagnosis and conclusions. He marches merrily on. Even the most ardent Modi admirers admit to that. That they may have borne it stoically does not mean that their suffering was any less. 

The resultant cashlessness has cost the national economy hugely, and devastated the livelihoods of tens of millions. When you abruptly withdraw high denomination currency notes equal to 86 per cent of the value or Rs 14. In 1961 the newly elected US President, the brilliantly educated John F.2L crore, one would expect proper arrangements would have been made to replace what was now excluded. It was over the usual reasons — caste equations and local politics being the main focus.” Closer home, the great Ladakh king, Senge Namgyal (1620-70), imposed a punitive tax on the pashm wool trade between Tibet and Kashmir, which largely went by the shortest route through Ladakh, in response to a slight by the ruler of Kashmir. There is not even the slightest sign that Narendra Modi has realised the massive screw-up his demonetisation policy has turned out to be. Out of the Rs 14. It is to the writer’s credit that he does not let any biases creep in — the EPW after all does have a certain editorial political slant — and keeps the focus tightly on the subject. Rammanohar Reddy, a former editor of the respected Economics and Political Weekly, popularly referred to as EPW, wrote his book Demonetisation and Black Money before the UP elections. 

The apprehension of hundreds of crores in new pink Rs 2,000s from all across the country by the police as well as the I-T authorities within weeks of outlawing the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes is enough proof of that. Even if not educated in the conventional sense, seeking many options from a deep examination of the issue by the knowledgeable is a quality essential for successful leadership. He once said at dinner with them that not since Thomas Jefferson dined alone had the White House seen so much brilliance, intelligence and wit. It’s a book every student and practitioner of economics and public policy must read. The UP election was not fought over demonetisation. Even the citations are mostly from official documentation

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September 19, 2019

The ability to swap out filters

The brand is famous for offering a range of audio products across varied prices with the sole aim of providing audiophile-grade products without any compromises to the masses. These earbuds also come with magnets that allow you to keep them secure when hanging around your neck. The earphones come with a host of silicone tips and Comply memory foam tips in the box and it’s best you try on a range of tips to give you the snug, sealed fit.There are dust and protection certification thrown in here as well with the T20 Wireless rated at IP64.As the name suggests, the RHA T20 Wireless is a Bluetooth version of the audiophile-grade RHA T20i wired earphones. 


There’s the bass filter, the treble filter and a reference/neutral filter. This feature is pretty common with wired earphones, but extremely rare with Bluetooth earphones and we are glad that RHA has added this highly welcome feature. The bass or treble can be improved upon depending on the genre you’re listening to. Like the rest of the earphones, this unit is built of premium materials and boasts a multifunctional button that is in charge of playback, answering calls and your voice assistant. However, in a bid not to isolate any section of its fans; RHA has also added a wired functionality here.We now take a look at the RHA T20 wireless earphones and break down the reasons why they should be your next pair of audiophile-grade earphones. 

The ability to swap out filters, the option to go from Bluetooth earphones to wired earphones, and the extraordinary sound quality all combine to be a tech enthusiast and an audiophile’s wet dream. With that being said, it’s best to keep it protected as there are open posts such as the USB-C charging port which can cause you some issues if some water accidentally gets in it. With the earbuds finished in matte black with silver accents, there is a fair sense of understated appeal that shows off the premium design of the RHA T20 Wireless. Attaching them to the earpiece is a cakewalk and are easily hot-swappable.Comfort level is a top priority when it comes to earphones and the T20 Wireless are no exception. 

The in-line remote also features volume rockers that apart from adjusting the volume can also control shuffling between tracks. It has to be said that these magnets are not the strongest and they come undone pretty easily. These are the small features that go unnoticed but are highly appreciable.The audio quality here is absolutely extraordinary and there is a crisp, clear playback that’s devoid of any bit of tininess or jarring treble even when the volume is set to its highest. The T20 Wireless being audiophile-grade speakers aren’t fitted with the common, run-of-the-mill dynamic drivers; instead, RHA uses DualCoil driver that’s paired with a voice coil as well as a custom diaphragm that provides a balance to the bass, trebles and mids. These audiophile-grade earphones are priced steeply; but once witnessed they will seem like a bargain buy. Earlier this year, we tested the RHA TrueConnect true wireless earphones and they exceeded all our expectations. The treble filter did its job as advertised screw barrel of injection moulding machines Suppliers and it managed to make the vocals and acoustics shine by offering a very defined audio performance.Another neat feature of these earphones that’s seldom mentioned is that while getting a call, the neckband vibrates. On the cable, there is an in-line remote control and microphone unit that reaches up to the right earbud.The T20 Wireless comes with the incredible sound witnessed on the wired version in a convenient cord-free format. With this filter screwed on, you experience a booming, animated, rich and deep bass that doesn’t drown out the mids and treble.The battery life is rated at 12 hours of continuous playback and in our testing, we found this to be about accurate.. Unlike some of the completion out there, the housing of the earbuds here is a bit bulky as they appear to be custom-built to house the dual-drivers. In all our experience, we have rarely found this option where the earphones vibrate while getting a call to alert us. Yes! You read that right! The earpieces can be unscrewed from the cabling and attached to a wired cable that’s a part of the packaging. The newly launched earphones packs in all the best qualities of its predecessor such as above-average audio quality, interchangeable tuning filters and more all in a cord-free format. This filter was definitely our favourite of the lot. The T20 Wireless is the next step in the evolution of the T20i wired earphones and those are widely considered as one of the best audiophile-grade earphones in recent history. An advantage these earphones have over its rivals is in the form of the custom filters and these help in enhancing the audio quality to an extraordinary degree. If you have been saving your cash for a good pair of wireless earphones that offer audiophile-grade audio quality, then look no further than the T20 Wireless as this is where all the best audio performance is at. The T20 Wireless packs in so many features and then some more. It comes in one colour — matte Black and has a rubber-like exterior that encases the neckband while the black cables reach the earbuds.As far as codec support goes, it does offer aptX for those using Android devices; unfortunately, there’s no AAC support here.Design, BuildWhen it comes to the design of these earphones, the RHA T20 Wireless looks similar to every other neckband-style earphones available in the market. Call quality was good through the earpieces; however, when outdoors, the person on the other end couldn’t hear us all that well and on more than one occasion we received a handful of complaints about us being inaudible. With this being said, during our testing period, the T20 Wireless was paired mostly with an iPhone XS Max and it still managed to offer excellent audio performance. Hot on the heels of the awesome TrueConnect, RHA has recently introduced the T20 Wireless earphones in the Indian market. Rating: Glasgow-based RHA has grown by leaps and bounds since the few short years of its existence. Better to be safe than sorry with this pricey option.VerdictThe RHA T20 Wireless is priced extremely competitively at Rs 19,999 and though some of you may baulk at the price is too high for a set of wireless earphones, you have to understand that these are no ordinary Bluetooth earphones. While this isn’t the most water-resistant; you can safely use it in the gym or if you are caught in a light shower, it should manage to hold up to the elements of nature. The RHA T20 Wireless sets itself apart from competitors by offering detachable earbuds. By choosing your ideal ear tips, you can block out ambient sounds as well as enhance the bass impact to a bit with a tighter seal. The bass output here witnessed isn’t overpowering and the vocals are smooth. This will appease the traditionalists who feel that wired earphones have a substantially better audio quality.The biggest design change of the T20 Wireless is undoubtedly the wireless functionality. While connected with the wired cable, you can use the T20 as a pair of old-school earphones.The neckband is constructed from a soft, flexible material that features a power/pairing button on one side along with a USB Type-C port for charging the earphones.While the reference filters are great and you get a balanced tone throughout and you get the sound as the artist intended; our favourite was the bass filter that absolutely transforms the T20 Wireless experience. These filters come as a part of the packaging and are colour coded. Interestingly, RHA has also thrown in a pouch that can be used to store your earphones when not in use.PerformanceWhile RHA does well in the design and build department, it is in the audio performance where it actually flexes its muscles and outshines most Bluetooth wireless earphones. This feature is rarely found on earphones and it is actually quite a big deal. Out of the box, the T20 Wireless are attached with the neutral filter; but depending on your mood of the hour or the genre you listen to often, you can screw on whichever filter you want.Another chief feature of the RHA T20 Wireless is that it comes with a variety of tuning filters

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September 06, 2019

West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading down

Brent Crude, the international benchmark, fell 0.Marketmen said the fall in crude oil futures was mostly due to trimming of positions by traders in tandem with a weak trend overseas.05 per cent to USD 56.19 per cent to trade at USD 63.2 per cent, to Rs 3,908 per barrel with a business volume of 19,992 lots. New Delhi: Crude oil futures fell 0.75..2 per cent, to Rs 3,908 per barrel.


Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate crude oil was trading down 0. extruder replacement partss Manufacturers Marketmen said the fall in crude oil futures was mostly due to trimming of positions by traders in tandem with a weak trend overseas.On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for delivery in July contracts shed Rs 8, or 0.2 per cent to Rs 3,908 per barrel on Thursday after participants reduced positions amid a weak trend in global markets.On the Multi Commodity Exchange, crude oil for delivery in July contracts shed Rs 8, or 0.78 a barrel

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September 03, 2019

The March Brent contract was down

The March Brent contract was down $1. While experts warned that not all sanctions may be lifted immediately once the agreement on its nuclear programme came into effect, any additional oil would add to a glut that has pushed prices into a deep slump since mid-2014.Brent and US crude oil were on track to close lower for a third consecutive week, down roughly 20 per cent from their 2016 highs.


The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could issue its report on Iran’s compliance with an agreement to curb its nuclear programme during a Friday meeting in Vienna, potentially triggering the lifting of Western sanctions.Others were more concerned about the impact of new exports from Iran. Earlier on Friday, it fell to $29.Still, influential US bank Goldman Sachs on Friday maintained its $40 price forecast for US crude for the first half of 2016.The February Brent contract, which expired on Thursday, closed higher for the first time this year at $31.15 at $29.73 a barrel.53 GMT, after posting the first significant gains for 2016 in the previous session.43, the lowest since February 2004.US crude futures were 5 per cent lower at $29.” Commerzbank cut its 2016 forecast for oil prices, changing its year-end expectation for Brent to $50 per barrel, down from a previous forecast of $63.

The key theme for 2016 will be real fundamental adjustments that can rebalance markets to create the birth of a new bull market, which we still see happening in late 2016,” Goldman said in a report. "That means a drop toward $25 is quite possible, but not much lower than that.Brent crude futures plunged more than 4 per cent to near 12-year lows on Friday as the market braced for increased Iranian oil exports, with the lifting of international sanctions possible China injection molding screw head and rings Suppliers within days Brent crude futures plunged more than 4 per cent to near 12-year lows on Friday as the market braced for increased Iranian oil exports, with the lifting of international sanctions possible within days. The contract earlier hit $29.

In the very short term, another price drop cannot be excluded in particular after sanctions against Iran are being lifted,” Commerzbank analyst Cars-ten Fritch told Reuters Global Oil Forum.39, the lowest since November 2003..03 per barrel.64 per barrel at 10

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