Latest news with #FM
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
FM Sitharaman highlights India's reforms, investment opportunities in FFD4 Summit in Spain
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman , currently on an official visit to Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, delivered a strong pitch for mobilising private capital for sustainable development at the International Business Forum Leadership Summit titled "From FFD4 Outcome to Implementation: Unlocking the Potential of Private Capital for Sustainable Development" in Seville, Spain. Addressing global leaders and investors, Sitharaman highlighted that while private investment has shown encouraging growth in recent years, thanks to a rise in innovative financial instruments and traditional sources, much more needs to be done. In a social media post, the minister said, "Private capital mobilisation remains significantly below what is required, with low and middle-income countries receiving a disproportionately small share. This underscores the urgent need for targeted efforts to overcome investment barriers and better align financial flows with development priorities." Highlighting India's own journey, Sitharaman stressed the importance of addressing perceived investment risks in emerging markets . India, she noted, has taken significant steps to overcome these challenges. Sitharaman stated, "India has addressed this challenge by establishing independent regulators, implementing transparent bidding processes, standardising contracts, and improving the ease of doing business . These reforms have significantly enhanced investor confidence and reduced transaction costs." Live Events The Finance Minister also highlighted the role of strong domestic financial systems. India has focused on strengthening its banking sector and deepening capital markets to support large-scale financing in infrastructure and industry. She said India's regulatory frameworks now better balance investor protection with innovation and flexibility, creating an enabling environment for long-term investment. FM added, "Our regulatory frameworks have evolved with market needs - balancing investor protection with innovation and flexibility - creating a more conducive environment for long-term investment." One of the standout examples presented by Sitharaman was India's transformation in the renewable energy sector. From just 2.8 GW of solar energy installed in 2014, India has expanded its capacity to over 110 GW. This success, she said, "was enabled by clear national targets, streamlined procurement, and government-backed risk mitigation. This model attracted institutional investors, including pension and sovereign wealth funds." On the sidelines of the FFD4 Summit, Sitharaman also held bilateral meetings with various global leaders. She met Shane Reti, New Zealand's Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Universities, Statistics, and Pacific Peoples. Both ministers discussed cooperation in defence, education, technology, and agriculture. The two leaders reaffirmed the shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties between India and New Zealand. Sitharaman also spoke about India's growing International Financial Services Centre at GIFT City and highlighted investment opportunities in banking, bullion exchange, capital markets, the FinTech ecosystem, insurance, and reinsurance. She also noted the importance of educational ties, with many Indian students pursuing higher education in New Zealand. The Finance Minister also held talks with Reem Alabali-Radovan, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. Sitharaman congratulated her on her new role and discussed cooperation under the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership. The discussions included collaboration in areas such as green energy, urban mobility, sustainable urban development, and ecological livelihoods. Minister Alabali-Radovan expressed interest in deepening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation with India. Sitharaman is leading an Indian delegation from the Department of Economic Affairs during this official trip from June 30 to July 5. Her itinerary includes a visit to Lisbon, Portugal, where she will hold a bilateral meeting with the Portuguese Finance Minister and interact with the Indian diaspora and investors. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she will address the 10th Annual Meeting of the New Development Bank (NDB) as India's Governor and also participate in the BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting. She is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with her counterparts from Brazil, China, Indonesia, and Russia. (ANI)
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
FM upbeat on India's GDP growth
New Delhi: India will continue to be the fastest-growing economy at the current rate of growth, or even better, and with the monsoon being good, agriculture will definitely come up with a more positive number, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. The GDP growth accelerated to a robust 7.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024-25, as result of which the growth rate for the full financial year works out to 6.5 per cent on the back of a strong performance of the agriculture, construction, and services sectors, according to latest RBI data. In a series of posts on X social media platform, taken out from media interviews, the Finance Minister said this growth rate will continue, and may even become better with good monsoon around. The FM began an official visit to Spain, Portugal and Brazil from Monday to July 5 (Saturday).The Finance Ministry said: 'She is leading the Indian delegation from the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance.' She further said that deepening of our markets is actually showing and 'the retailers are benefitting, ordinary citizens are benefitting'. 'Our systems are transparent. They are digitised and can be accessed from home. Individuals are able to do it on their own rather than depend on others to help them out. These are signs of a very good dynamic economy,' FM Sitharamanemphasised. According to her, it is clear from the policy that labour-intensive units will be given support.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
$20 Bn Wiped Out! Israel Counts Losses After War Against Iran, ‘BEGS' U.S. For Damages
Iran FM REJECTS Nuclear Talks, Warns Trump & Netanyahu | 'Not Lebanon…Won't Tolerate Ceasefire' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly denied that any agreement exists to resume nuclear talks with the United States. Araghchi emphasized that no promises have been made, and there is no subject under formal negotiation. He criticized the idea of returning to talks without a clear framework, blaming both the U.S. and Israel for previously dismantling diplomatic channels. Araghchi stated that Iran's diplomacy is undergoing a strategic shift in response to the realities of war. Meanwhile, he issued a sharp warning to Israel, declaring that Iran's response will mirror Tel Aviv's actions. He made it clear that the ceasefire will only hold if Israel exercises restraint, and any renewed aggression will be met with immediate retaliation. Iran, he said, is not Lebanon and will not step back out of fear. Araghchi reinforced that Tehran does not seek to prolong the war—but any one-sided truce will be rejected.#araghchi #iranfm #IranNuclear #IranNPT #NuclearThreat #IranSanctions #IranCrisis #NuclearDiplomacy 2.0K views | 1 hour ago
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
PM discusses regional issues with Sudanese counterpart, Cypriot FM
QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Prime Minister of Sudan Dr Kamil Idris on Thursday. During the call, they discussed bilateral cooperation and the means to enhance them, in addition to the latest developments in the region. The call also dealt with issues of joint interest. The Sudanese prime minister expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian missile attack on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, considering it a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter. The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus Constantinos Kombos. The two sides discussed relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them, as well as the latest developments in the region, in addition to several issues of common interest. The Cypriot FM expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attack on Al-Udeid Air Base, describing it as a blatant violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty and its airspace, as well as a breach of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter. The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Qatar will continue to deal with all developments wisely, within the framework of its full commitment to the principle of good neighbourliness and enhancing security and stability in the region. He stressed the need for concerted regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomatic means.
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Nash the Slash was a pioneering LGBTQ performer. A new book and film shed light on the enigmatic Toronto rocker
His face was wrapped entirely in bandages, and he dressed in a custom tuxedo, top hat and sunglasses. He played electric violin, mandolin, synthesizers and even a glockenspiel, experimenting with tape loops on an analogue reel-to-reel tape recorder. And he used effects pedals to manipulate sounds in a way no one in Canada had done before. He called himself Nash the Slash and he was a true one-man band, a unique blend of compositional skills and performance chops. And a new book and upcoming documentary aim to shine a light on this mysterious artist and his singularly strange career. Born Jeff Plewman in 1948, Nash was a middle-class Toronto kid who never quite fit in. Trained as a violinist, he eventually saw the nascent punk movement of the '70s as a venue to utilize his rigid training and express himself in a way that the world of classical music would never allow. Nash needed to kill Jeff to become the man, and artist, he wanted to be. His performance career started in 1975, when he played original music to soundtrack silent art-house films at the infamous Original 99 Cent Roxy Theatre on Danforth Avenue. Living behind the projection booth, he was like a modern-day Phantom of the Opera; after the theatre closed at night, he'd toil on his music and make as much noise as he wanted into the morning. He played in a few bands early on, most famously the prog-rock trio FM. Their first album, 'Black Noise,' was released in 1978, but before their song 'Phasors on Stun' became a minor hit, Nash left the band, seeking autonomy and control (though he would rejoin FM at various times in later years). Nash the Slash performs live in his gangster guise. Bandaging his face for the first time in 1979, Nash never looked back. His live shows became sensations — multimedia spectacles that included his inventive playing, film projections and fire breathing. On occasion, he'd even set his violin alight. Ever the innovator, he designed his 1981 EP 'Decomposing' to be playable at any speed. To listen to his records now is to miss half the story; Nash was a true performance artist who came alive in front of an audience. Catching a Nash gig in 1980, synth-rock star Gary Numan (of 'Cars' fame) tapped him to open his upcoming European tour. That gig led to support slots for artists as varied as Iggy Pop, Devo and the Who. Nash's reputation in the U.K. and Europe soared, but back at home, he never cracked the mainstream, despite getting radio play on CFNY in Toronto, self-producing several videos and making regular appearances on Citytv's 'The New Music.' His highest-charting album in Canada, 1984's 'American Band-ages,' peaked at No. 79. Promoting 'American Band-ages,' Nash opened for Toronto band Spoons and appeared in the video for their top 40 hit 'Tell No Lies.' These efforts introduced Nash to a younger audience, even if that exposure never amounted to much in the way of record sales. The crowd response to Nash, Spoons keyboardist Rob Preuss told the Star, '(was) always great because he really was a true showman. He was like Liberace, but with a violin instead of a piano, and with bandages instead of sequins.' Nash managed his own career, did his own marketing and publicity and ran his own label, Cut-Throat Records. In 1997, he wrote a book about his experiences in the record industry, which is just now getting published: the manuscript for 'Cut-Throat: How to Survive the Music Business — and Survive' (Skill) was discovered by the makers of the upcoming documentary, 'Nash the Slash Rises Again.' The book also contains new interviews with admirers such as Numan, Steve Hillage (of Gong) and Bill Nelson (of Be-Bop Deluxe). In addition to electric violin, Nash the Slash played mandolin, synthesizers and glockenspiel. In retrospect, it seems appropriate that an artist who never failed to surprise would come out publicly on stage in 1998 at a concert during Pride Toronto. Why did he hide for more 20 years? Toronto was a different place in the '70s and early '80s, rife with homophobia: in 1974 four lesbians were thrown out of the Brunswick House pub and later arrested for playfully singing a song; dozens of men were arrested and beaten by police in the bathhouse raids in 1981 (partly inspiring the first Pride parade); and gay patrons were regularly pelted with eggs in front of the St. Charles Tavern. This open antagonism toward the LGBTQ community helps explain why a queer artist might want to strive for anonymity by masking himself completely. 'Only about 20 people knew who he really was,' said Colin Brunton, writer and executive producer of 'Nash the Slash Rises Again,' adding that Nash loved the sense of 'great mystique' it created. Nash the Slash staged a surprise motorcade down Yonge Street in 1984 to promote the release of 'American Band-ages.' According to Trevor Norris, executor of Nash's estate, the artist 'felt two feet taller and 10 years younger' when he had the bandages and costume on. He could alter the getup and a whole new character would be born: gangster, motorcycle cop, invisible man. Nash could be whoever he wanted to be, hidden behind the mask. An early pioneer of electronic and industrial music, he often imbued his work with darkness and anger. But to hear Brunton and Norris tell it, Nash was also a devoted friend. 'He was a genuinely really good and kind person,' Brunton said, 'with a wicked sense of humour,' which is obvious in his campy covers of songs like Jan and Dean's 'Deadman's Curve' and Bo Diddley's 'Who Do You Love?' Nash the Slash plays the harmonica at the Corktown Pub in February 2000. Declaring that he was 'hanging up his bandages' in 2012, Nash died two years later, without much notice in the music press. Still, his custom-built skull-shaped mandolin is on display in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and the National Music Centre in Calgary houses one of his costumes. 'I'm very pleased to have shared my creative endeavors with so many people around the world,' Nash wrote on his website, announcing his retirement. 'I hope I've left a few breadcrumbs in the forest, to inspire others to find their own path.'
