The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back in India with the 14th edition of the tournament set to roll on Friday.

While there is a massive buzz surrounding the cash-rich tournament among fans and cricket fraternity, IPL 2021 will witness a few tweaks amid challenging times.

From player changes to new guidelines, here are 10 things different in Indian Premier League 2021 ( IPL)

1. Length of innings

Strict guidelines have been issued to teams to finish their bowling innings in 90 minutes. Within this, there will be five minutes of strategic time-out. As a result, an innings will now last&nbsp;85 minutes. Otherwise, the match will have to be finished as per the overs bowled within this time. The move comes after many matches in previous editions were played beyond the permitted time.

2. Hour-long Super Over

It has been decided to extend the match for only an hour after the designated time ends. In the last IPL, a match ended in a tie even in the Super Over, which resulted in another Super Over. After the new regulations by the BCCI, Super Overs will have to be played within an hour of a tied match. If the winner is not decided within this hour, both teams taking part will claim one point each. The decision has been taken so that the games don't go beyond the stipulated time.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/show-must-go-on-how-will-bcci-pull-off-ipl-2021-the-second-tournament-in-the-pandemic-era-376252" hreflang="en">Show must go on: India awaits IPL 2021 amid COVID-19 pandemic worries</a>

3. Third umpire to watch short run&nbsp;

The duty of monitoring short run will now go to the third umpire. Rule 18 of the Laws of Cricket states that “a run is "short" if either, or both, batsmen fail to make good their ground -- cross the crease-- in turning for a further run. In IPL 2020, the on-field umpire mistakenly called a run by Chris Jordan short - which led to Kings XI Punjab - now Punjab Kings - losing the match by a narrow margin.

4. On-field umpire's soft signal scrapped

If an on-field umpire leaves a decision to the third umpire, he does not have to convey his own decision, known as a soft signal.&nbsp;Earlier, if the third umpire could not take a decision, the on-field umpire's decision was taken as final. That has now been scrapped. The move comes after controversy surrounding soft signal in the series between India and England, where skipper Virat Kohli had expressed his disappointment regarding the rule.

5. Who calls no-balls?

As per the updated IPL guidelines, the third umpire can overrule the no-ball decision made by the on-field umpire. The move comes to cut short human errors. Earlier, the third-umpire couldn't interfere in on-field no-ball calls.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-rabada-to-archer-key-players-set-to-miss-first-ipl-2021-match-of-their-teams-376238" hreflang="en">Key players set to miss first IPL 2021 match of their teams</a>

6. Name change

Punjab team has gone for a change of name and a refreshed brand presence. The XI is out from Kings XI Punjab, and it's now Punjab Kings. This is the first time in IPL history that the Punjab team has gone for a name change. It remains to be seen whether this will bring a change in fortune for the KL Rahul-led side.

7. Captain woes for Delhi Capitals

Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, was ruled out of IPL 2021 due&nbsp;to a shoulder injury. Rishabh Pant has been named as the skipper in Iyer's absence. Interestingly, Pant had led Delhi's Ranji Trophy team, consisting of the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Nitish Rana, Navdeep Saini,&nbsp;to the final of the tournament in 2017.

8. Change of look

Most teams have new sponsors, and therefore, change in jersey.&nbsp;&nbsp;The overall design is also different for Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings while the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajashtan Royals have gone for a fresh look. Even Chennai Super Kings added a bit of flair to their jersey by adding camouflage shoulder strips as a tribute to the Indian armed forces.

9. Injury issues

Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer is not playing, at least initially, due to injury. The English star had surgery on his finger recently. His absence is seen as weakening the bowling attack of the team. However, the speedster is expected to return in the second phase of IPL 2021.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vvs-laxman-to-wion-delhi-capitals-captaincy-will-help-rishabh-pant-reach-his-potential-376136" hreflang="en">VVS Laxman to WION: DC captaincy will help Rishabh Pant</a>

10. No home venues

IPL 2021 will be played across six venues: Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. No teams will be able to play matches at their home venue as BCCI didn't want to hand an unfair advantage to any team. While the first leg will start at Chennai and Mumbai, the tournament will shift to Bengaluru, Kolkata and New Delhi in the next phase. Ahmedabad is scheduled to host the playoffs and final of IPL 2021.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back in India with the 14th edition of the tournament set to roll on Friday. While there is a massive buzz surrounding the cash-rich tournament among fans and cricket fraternity, IPL 2021 will witness a few tweaks amid challenging times.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back in India with the 14th edition of the tournament set to roll on Friday. While there is a massive buzz surrounding the cash-rich tournament among fans and cricket fraternity, IPL 2021 will witness a few tweaks amid challenging times. From player changes to new guidelines, here are 10 things different in Indian Premier League 2021 ( IPL) 1. Length of innings Strict guidelines have been issued to teams to finish their bowling innings in 90 minutes. Within this, there will be five minutes of strategic time-out. As a result, an innings will now last 85 minutes. Otherwise, the match will have to be finished as per the overs bowled within this time. The move comes after many matches in previous editions were played beyond the permitted time. 2. Hour-long Super Over It has been decided to extend the match for only an hour after the designated time ends. In the last IPL, a match ended in a tie even in the Super Over, which resulted in another Super Over. After the new regulations by the BCCI, Super Overs will have to be played within an hour of a tied match. If the winner is not decided within this hour, both teams taking part will claim one point each. The decision has been taken so that the games don't go beyond the stipulated time. ALSO READ: Show must go on: India awaits IPL 2021 amid COVID-19 pandemic worries 3. Third umpire to watch short run The duty of monitoring short run will now go to the third umpire. Rule 18 of the Laws of Cricket states that “a run is "short" if either, or both, batsmen fail to make good their ground -- cross the crease-- in turning for a further run. In IPL 2020, the on-field umpire mistakenly called a run by Chris Jordan short - which led to Kings XI Punjab - now Punjab Kings - losing the match by a narrow margin. 4. On-field umpire's soft signal scrapped If an on-field umpire leaves a decision to the third umpire, he does not have to convey his own decision, known as a soft signal. Earlier, if the third umpire could not take a decision, the on-field umpire's decision was taken as final. That has now been scrapped. The move comes after controversy surrounding soft signal in the series between India and England, where skipper Virat Kohli had expressed his disappointment regarding the rule. 5. Who calls no-balls? As per the updated IPL guidelines, the third umpire can overrule the no-ball decision made by the on-field umpire. The move comes to cut short human errors. Earlier, the third-umpire couldn't interfere in on-field no-ball calls. ALSO READ: Key players set to miss first IPL 2021 match of their teams 6. Name change Punjab team has gone for a change of name and a refreshed brand presence. The XI is out from Kings XI Punjab, and it's now Punjab Kings. This is the first time in IPL history that the Punjab team has gone for a name change. It remains to be seen whether this will bring a change in fortune for the KL Rahul-led side. 7. Captain woes for Delhi Capitals Shreyas Iyer, the captain of the Delhi Capitals, was ruled out of IPL 2021 due to a shoulder injury. Rishabh Pant has been named as the skipper in Iyer's absence. Interestingly, Pant had led Delhi's Ranji Trophy team, consisting of the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Nitish Rana, Navdeep Saini, to the final of the tournament in 2017. 8. Change of look Most teams have new sponsors, and therefore, change in jersey. The overall design is also different for Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings while the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajashtan Royals have gone for a fresh look. Even Chennai Super Kings added a bit of flair to their jersey by adding camouflage shoulder strips as a tribute to the Indian armed forces. 9. Injury issues Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer is not playing, at least initially, due to injury. The English star had surgery on his finger recently. His absence is seen as weakening the bowling attack of the team. However, the speedster is expected to return in the second phase of IPL 2021. ALSO READ: VVS Laxman to WION: DC captaincy will help Rishabh Pant 10. No home venues IPL 2021 will be played across six venues: Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. No teams will be able to play matches at their home venue as BCCI didn't want to hand an unfair advantage to any team. While the first leg will start at Chennai and Mumbai, the tournament will shift to Bengaluru, Kolkata and New Delhi in the next phase. Ahmedabad is scheduled to host the playoffs and final of IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: What is new, what has changed, who is in, who is out? Ten things different this time

Chennai will witness on Friday the first clash of Indian Premier League 2021, the second avatar of the pandemic-era tournament in eight months, after the 2020 edition had to be postponed to November and moved to UAE.

The inaugural match of the cricketing extravaganza will see the clash between reigning champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Last year's final was held on November 10th in Dubai.

For the Indian players who are national team members, it's been relentless cricket since then. From Dubai, they went straight to Australia for a full-fledged tour. After returning from Australia, they hosted a gruelling series against&nbsp;England. The last game was on March 28th.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vvs-laxman-to-wion-ipl-biggest-game-changer-for-indian-cricket-376128" hreflang="en">VVS Laxman to WION: IPL biggest game-changer for Indian cricket</a>

After that, they went into their respective IPL team camps. First to the bio-secure bubbles, then training, and now, back to action. In short, the pandemic has not stopped the play for them.

But COVID-19 is very much in the minds of cricketers and organisers alike. Several players, some coaches and officials have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past months. There are going to be restrictions on attendance, and calls have been made to relocate matches.

One of the venues is in Mumbai, which is facing one of the worst spikes of Covid cases.

IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-ms-dhoni-to-imran-tahir-five-oldest-players-in-ipl-2021-375933" hreflang="en">From MS Dhoni to Imran Tahir: Five oldest players in IPL 2021</a>

Matches in Mumbai are scheduled from April 10 to 25, at Wankhede stadium. Some local residents have already written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking for a change of location in view of the spike. Though spectators are not allowed, there are concerns about large number of people gathering to see the cricketers passing by in their buses.&nbsp;

There are also worries that the tournament could turn into a super-spreader event.

But the show, it appears, will go on. IPL 2021 will be held in six cities - Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, and Kolkata. The final will be played at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium Ahmedabad on May 30th. &nbsp;

And the Board of Control for Cricket in India is leaving no stones unturned to pull it off.

“COVID-19 cases are increasing, so BCCI has taken all precautions for IPL," assured BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-rabada-to-archer-key-players-set-to-miss-first-ipl-2021-match-of-their-teams-376238" hreflang="en">Key players set to miss first IPL 2021 match of their teams</a>

"Only six venues have been kept for the tournament, bio-bubble has been created, members of the squad have also been increased. The tournament will go on without any audience,” he added.

The Indian cricketing body has ruled out shifting IPL from Mumbai. But it has put in place a number of restrictions and precautionary measures.

Besides the decision to have no spectators, BCCI will ensure that the squads, support staff and other stakeholders are in bio-bubbles till the tournament finishes. There will be 'bio-bubble enforcers' and Covid tests on a regular basis for all involved in the event.

Check-in counters specifically for the IPL squads and support staff have been requested at airports of the hosting cities. &nbsp;

Bio-bubble integrity officers will make it mandatory for players and staff to wear masks before leaving hotel rooms. They will have to wear masks in order to use the common areas of the hotels. It will be ensured that they wear masks before leaving the grounds.

A few players and officials have already tested positive for the dreaded virus.&nbsp;This includes former India wicketkeeper Kiran More&nbsp;and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams.

In spite of the odds, BCCI is hoping to repeat the feat it pulled off in the UAE last year.&nbsp;

It's indeed all fingers crossed, for bringing to you what was known as the father of all entertainment.

Chennai will witness on Friday the first clash of Indian Premier League 2021, the second avatar of the pandemic-era tournament in eight months, after the 2020 edition had to be postponed to November and moved to UAE.

Chennai will witness on Friday the first clash of Indian Premier League 2021, the second avatar of the pandemic-era tournament in eight months, after the 2020 edition had to be postponed to November and moved to UAE. The inaugural match of the cricketing extravaganza will see the clash between reigning champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Last year's final was held on November 10th in Dubai. For the Indian players who are national team members, it's been relentless cricket since then. From Dubai, they went straight to Australia for a full-fledged tour. After returning from Australia, they hosted a gruelling series against England. The last game was on March 28th. ALSO READ: VVS Laxman to WION: IPL biggest game-changer for Indian cricket After that, they went into their respective IPL team camps. First to the bio-secure bubbles, then training, and now, back to action. In short, the pandemic has not stopped the play for them. But COVID-19 is very much in the minds of cricketers and organisers alike. Several players, some coaches and officials have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past months. There are going to be restrictions on attendance, and calls have been made to relocate matches. One of the venues is in Mumbai, which is facing one of the worst spikes of Covid cases. IN PICS | From MS Dhoni to Imran Tahir: Five oldest players in IPL 2021 Matches in Mumbai are scheduled from April 10 to 25, at Wankhede stadium. Some local residents have already written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking for a change of location in view of the spike. Though spectators are not allowed, there are concerns about large number of people gathering to see the cricketers passing by in their buses. There are also worries that the tournament could turn into a super-spreader event. But the show, it appears, will go on. IPL 2021 will be held in six cities - Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, New Delhi, and Kolkata. The final will be played at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium Ahmedabad on May 30th. And the Board of Control for Cricket in India is leaving no stones unturned to pull it off. “COVID-19 cases are increasing, so BCCI has taken all precautions for IPL," assured BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla ALSO READ: Key players set to miss first IPL 2021 match of their teams "Only six venues have been kept for the tournament, bio-bubble has been created, members of the squad have also been increased. The tournament will go on without any audience,” he added. The Indian cricketing body has ruled out shifting IPL from Mumbai. But it has put in place a number of restrictions and precautionary measures. Besides the decision to have no spectators, BCCI will ensure that the squads, support staff and other stakeholders are in bio-bubbles till the tournament finishes. There will be 'bio-bubble enforcers' and Covid tests on a regular basis for all involved in the event. Check-in counters specifically for the IPL squads and support staff have been requested at airports of the hosting cities. Bio-bubble integrity officers will make it mandatory for players and staff to wear masks before leaving hotel rooms. They will have to wear masks in order to use the common areas of the hotels. It will be ensured that they wear masks before leaving the grounds. A few players and officials have already tested positive for the dreaded virus. This includes former India wicketkeeper Kiran More and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams. In spite of the odds, BCCI is hoping to repeat the feat it pulled off in the UAE last year. It's indeed all fingers crossed, for bringing to you what was known as the father of all entertainment.

Show must go on: How will BCCI pull off IPL 2021, the second tournament in the pandemic era?

India witnessed the highest number of real-time online transactions in 2020, trumping China and United States. Take a look at global scores and predictions in this video to find out more.

India trumps China, US with record digital transactions in 2020

&nbsp;

Uzbekistan, one of the&nbsp;fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green.&nbsp;In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India.

Reforms initiated&nbsp;by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev seek to improve the investment climate, exports, foreign trade, and macroeconomic stability.

Here is a look at the growth, reforms, challenges and future of the nation’s economy:

REFORM PROCESS

The country liberalised its foreign exchange market, simplified visa processes and moved to a flat income tax rate of 12%. It also reduced cost of doing business, opened branches of some foreign universities of Korea, Russia, the US and India. In 2017 alone, 18 free economic zones, 77 small industrial zones and10 technology parks were established.

Products under export ban were reduced, mandatory sale of foreign currency earnings was abolished, customs duty slashed, export contract procedures simplified, and additional conditions for the export of fruits and vegetables were created, according to the embassy document.

A law on combating corruption was adopted, and steps were initiated to curb the shadow economy.

Digital technologies were introduced, with 211 state services rendered through a single portal. Since January 1, scores of licenses and permits were abolished, and registration time and permission documents were reduced or simplified. Non-cash payments went up.

An anti-corruption Agency was set up in mid-2020. From 2017 to the end of 2020, 17 regulations were adopted to fight corruption. From 2021, an annual rating system will evaluate the personal responsibility of regional and government leaders in the fight against corruption and the shadow economy.

A National Project Management Agency was created to ensure consistency in economic reforms process and to introduce modern information management systems. A Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade was formed for implementing investment policy and attracting foreign investment, among other things.

Administrative reforms, improved accessibility of public services and development of public-private partnerships were also introduced.

Important documents were adopted on sustainable development, transition to a green economy, environmental protection and agriculture Development.

Several measures were introduced to to limit the vulnerability of the civil service to political pressure.

Some businesses have been given tax vacations due to Covid pandemic and expenditures have been reduced.

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

The share of industry in the economy has risen to nearly 30% of GDP in 2019, up from 23.3% in 2014, while that of agriculture was down from 33.3% in 2014 to 28.2% in 2020. These two industries have accounted for between 54% and 57% of total GDP.

Manufacturing sector's share in industrial production has not changed dramatically in the last 10 years.

The devaluation of currency is a risk to&nbsp;macroeconomic stability. There was almost two-fold devaluation in 2017 (from almost 4,000 soums per dollar to 8,000 soums) with high devaluation rates continuing in subsequent years - 28% in 2018, 9.5% in 2019 and 13.4% in 2020.

The value of gross investment in 2018 rose to 30.6% of GDP (against the 21.4% average in 2010-17), 37.1% in 2019 and 34.8% in 2020.&nbsp; But the level of monetisation (the ratio of broad money to GDP) of the economy remained significantly below the world average for the developing world (from 50% to 100%), which made it difficult for the national banking sector to credit investment projects. As a result, foreign lending became the main source of financing, which led to a rapid growth of external debt.

In 2011-2016, investment was at 21-23% to GDP, and external debt grew at 7.5%-14.6% to GDP. The investment boom of 2017-2020 led to a rapid growth of external debt up to 46% of GDP due to increased external borrowing for construction and other capital-intensive industries.

Insufficiently thought-out liberalisation has changed the ratio between exports and imports. While in 2011-2016 the foreign trade balance was active (estimated at &nbsp;+1.6% of GDP), in the last four years it has become deficit, at minus 10-12% of GDP in 2018-2020.

NEED FOR CHANGE

A review of economic reforms is needed. The new economic model should focus on domestic sources of development, resource saving, solving social problems including the fight against poverty and the shadow economy, and reducing the burden on natural capital.

In 2016-2019, the nation's industry grew 107.2% on average, with cumulative growth of 124.3%, but the pandemic in 2020 led to drop in production in industry and manufacturing.

The new industrial policy should aim &nbsp;at processing of raw materials, digitalising industries and enterprises, introducing less energy-intensive "green technologies", and forming technological platforms for the development of basic industries. Estimates say digital systems will improve productivity by 20% at existing facilities, and increase output of finished products by 5-10%.&nbsp;This will enable growth of sustainable employment in industrial production.

The investment policy will contribute to positive technological shifts with a growing share of medium and high-tech industries.

FARM SECTOR: GROWTH AND REFORM

Uzbekistan’s gross agricultural output grew by almost 7.2% in 2016-2020, with attention paid to multi-purpose farms. These farms are exempt from payment of the single tax for five years on all types of activities not related to crop growing.

Uzbekistan has second place globally in production of apricots and carrots, and third in production of quinces and &nbsp;cherries. It is the fifth largest exporter of apricots and fourth largest in persimmons and raw silk.

In 2019, an agriculture development strategy was approved. It seeks to ensure food security; create a favorable agribusiness climate and value chains; and reduce the role of the state and increasing investment attractiveness.

State regulation of flour prices, which had been in place since 1994, was stopped in Uzbekistan. The sale of flour at market prices ensures effective allocation of resources and competition in the markets, taking into account the interests of both producers and consumers.

Beginning with the 2020 harvest, the state grain order will be reduced by 25%, and beginning with the 2021&nbsp;harvest, the practice of the state establishing grain procurement prices and state purchases will be completely abolished.

Starting with the 2020 harvest, the practice of setting purchase prices for raw cotton is also abolished.&nbsp; Mechanization of the industry, which replaces manual labor, is also being actively pursued in cotton growing.

Since September 2020, subletting agricultural land for the purpose of growing agricultural products was introduced.

A GREEN ECONOMY

Uzbekistan is an active participant in the implementation of climate-change related accords including Paris Agreement 2015 and Aral Sea agreements. It has adopted documents for environmental protection, transition to a green economy, solid waste management &nbsp;and biodiversity conservation.

Uzbekistan is also making efforts to increase the forest area. Between 2010 and 2018, forest-covered areas increased from 6.63% to 7.26%. More and more land plots are transferred to the category of lands of the state forest fund as lands potentially suitable for forestry.

Uzbekistan, one of the fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green. In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India.

Uzbekistan, one of the fast-growing countries in the world, is reforming its economy to make it sustainable and green. In the past decade, its GDP growth rate exceeded that of the group of leading CIS countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) and several countries of the Central Asian region (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), according to a document shared by the nation’s embassy to India. Reforms initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev seek to improve the investment climate, exports, foreign trade, and macroeconomic stability. Here is a look at the growth, reforms, challenges and future of the nation’s economy: REFORM PROCESS The country liberalised its foreign exchange market, simplified visa processes and moved to a flat income tax rate of 12%. It also reduced cost of doing business, opened branches of some foreign universities of Korea, Russia, the US and India. In 2017 alone, 18 free economic zones, 77 small industrial zones and10 technology parks were established. Products under export ban were reduced, mandatory sale of foreign currency earnings was abolished, customs duty slashed, export contract procedures simplified, and additional conditions for the export of fruits and vegetables were created, according to the embassy document. A law on combating corruption was adopted, and steps were initiated to curb the shadow economy. Digital technologies were introduced, with 211 state services rendered through a single portal. Since January 1, scores of licenses and permits were abolished, and registration time and permission documents were reduced or simplified. Non-cash payments went up. An anti-corruption Agency was set up in mid-2020. From 2017 to the end of 2020, 17 regulations were adopted to fight corruption. From 2021, an annual rating system will evaluate the personal responsibility of regional and government leaders in the fight against corruption and the shadow economy. A National Project Management Agency was created to ensure consistency in economic reforms process and to introduce modern information management systems. A Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade was formed for implementing investment policy and attracting foreign investment, among other things. Administrative reforms, improved accessibility of public services and development of public-private partnerships were also introduced. Important documents were adopted on sustainable development, transition to a green economy, environmental protection and agriculture Development. Several measures were introduced to to limit the vulnerability of the civil service to political pressure. Some businesses have been given tax vacations due to Covid pandemic and expenditures have been reduced. STATE OF THE ECONOMY The share of industry in the economy has risen to nearly 30% of GDP in 2019, up from 23.3% in 2014, while that of agriculture was down from 33.3% in 2014 to 28.2% in 2020. These two industries have accounted for between 54% and 57% of total GDP. Manufacturing sector's share in industrial production has not changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The devaluation of currency is a risk to macroeconomic stability. There was almost two-fold devaluation in 2017 (from almost 4,000 soums per dollar to 8,000 soums) with high devaluation rates continuing in subsequent years - 28% in 2018, 9.5% in 2019 and 13.4% in 2020. The value of gross investment in 2018 rose to 30.6% of GDP (against the 21.4% average in 2010-17), 37.1% in 2019 and 34.8% in 2020. But the level of monetisation (the ratio of broad money to GDP) of the economy remained significantly below the world average for the developing world (from 50% to 100%), which made it difficult for the national banking sector to credit investment projects. As a result, foreign lending became the main source of financing, which led to a rapid growth of external debt. In 2011-2016, investment was at 21-23% to GDP, and external debt grew at 7.5%-14.6% to GDP. The investment boom of 2017-2020 led to a rapid growth of external debt up to 46% of GDP due to increased external borrowing for construction and other capital-intensive industries. Insufficiently thought-out liberalisation has changed the ratio between exports and imports. While in 2011-2016 the foreign trade balance was active (estimated at +1.6% of GDP), in the last four years it has become deficit, at minus 10-12% of GDP in 2018-2020. NEED FOR CHANGE A review of economic reforms is needed. The new economic model should focus on domestic sources of development, resource saving, solving social problems including the fight against poverty and the shadow economy, and reducing the burden on natural capital. In 2016-2019, the nation's industry grew 107.2% on average, with cumulative growth of 124.3%, but the pandemic in 2020 led to drop in production in industry and manufacturing. The new industrial policy should aim at processing of raw materials, digitalising industries and enterprises, introducing less energy-intensive "green technologies", and forming technological platforms for the development of basic industries. Estimates say digital systems will improve productivity by 20% at existing facilities, and increase output of finished products by 5-10%. This will enable growth of sustainable employment in industrial production. The investment policy will contribute to positive technological shifts with a growing share of medium and high-tech industries. FARM SECTOR: GROWTH AND REFORM Uzbekistan’s gross agricultural output grew by almost 7.2% in 2016-2020, with attention paid to multi-purpose farms. These farms are exempt from payment of the single tax for five years on all types of activities not related to crop growing. Uzbekistan has second place globally in production of apricots and carrots, and third in production of quinces and cherries. It is the fifth largest exporter of apricots and fourth largest in persimmons and raw silk. In 2019, an agriculture development strategy was approved. It seeks to ensure food security; create a favorable agribusiness climate and value chains; and reduce the role of the state and increasing investment attractiveness. State regulation of flour prices, which had been in place since 1994, was stopped in Uzbekistan. The sale of flour at market prices ensures effective allocation of resources and competition in the markets, taking into account the interests of both producers and consumers. Beginning with the 2020 harvest, the state grain order will be reduced by 25%, and beginning with the 2021 harvest, the practice of the state establishing grain procurement prices and state purchases will be completely abolished. Starting with the 2020 harvest, the practice of setting purchase prices for raw cotton is also abolished. Mechanization of the industry, which replaces manual labor, is also being actively pursued in cotton growing. Since September 2020, subletting agricultural land for the purpose of growing agricultural products was introduced. A GREEN ECONOMY Uzbekistan is an active participant in the implementation of climate-change related accords including Paris Agreement 2015 and Aral Sea agreements. It has adopted documents for environmental protection, transition to a green economy, solid waste management and biodiversity conservation. Uzbekistan is also making efforts to increase the forest area. Between 2010 and 2018, forest-covered areas increased from 6.63% to 7.26%. More and more land plots are transferred to the category of lands of the state forest fund as lands potentially suitable for forestry.

Uzbekistan is taking efforts to make its economy sustainable and green

Dismissing Chinese claims on appointing&nbsp;the next Dalai Lama, the president of the Tibetan Government in Exile has said it is&nbsp;Tibetans who have "copyright" over his reincarnation, and Beijing plans to have a "duplicate" copy.&nbsp;

Lobsang Sangay,&nbsp;Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan Government in Exile), said,&nbsp;"Communist party of China has zero credibility, as far as reincarnation is concerned. Communist party believes in atheism. They say religion is poison, why do they want to interfere in our internal affairs?"

Responding to a question from WION at an event,&nbsp;Sangay, the political successor to Dalai Lama, explained, "for almost 1000 years, we the Tibetans have selected our own reincarnate lamas, including the Dalai Lamas. So we have the patent and copyright over the reincarnation. So we are the original and Chinese will have duplicate. Original original hota hai, duplicate, duplicate."

China, possibly keen to increase its influence on Tibetan Buddhism, has said that it will appoint the next Dalai Lama, the 15th in the line of succession. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th one and had to leave Tibet in 1959 after the region was occupied by China.&nbsp;

Asked if China could do a repetition of Galwan or Doklam border clashes with India, he said,&nbsp;&nbsp;"Very likely, 60 years ago after they occupied Tibet, they said, once we occupy Tibet as the palm, they will come after five&nbsp;fingers, right? What you saw in Doklam, is one of the five fingers. What you saw in Galwan is one of the five fingers, these kinds of incursions will continue. Ultimately, Chinese government policy is expansionist. These kinds of incidents will keep happening."

The 2020 Galwan incident saw the death of 20 Indian soldiers at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh due to aggressive Chinese actions. In the Doklam incident of&nbsp;2017, China tried to occupy Bhutanese territory, which was stopped by Indian forces.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Dismissing Chinese claims on appointing the next Dalai Lama, the president of the Tibetan Government in Exile has said it is Tibetans who have "copyright" over his reincarnation, and Beijing plans to have a "duplicate" copy.

Dismissing Chinese claims on appointing the next Dalai Lama, the president of the Tibetan Government in Exile has said it is Tibetans who have "copyright" over his reincarnation, and Beijing plans to have a "duplicate" copy. Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan Government in Exile), said, "Communist party of China has zero credibility, as far as reincarnation is concerned. Communist party believes in atheism. They say religion is poison, why do they want to interfere in our internal affairs?" Responding to a question from WION at an event, Sangay, the political successor to Dalai Lama, explained, "for almost 1000 years, we the Tibetans have selected our own reincarnate lamas, including the Dalai Lamas. So we have the patent and copyright over the reincarnation. So we are the original and Chinese will have duplicate. Original original hota hai, duplicate, duplicate." China, possibly keen to increase its influence on Tibetan Buddhism, has said that it will appoint the next Dalai Lama, the 15th in the line of succession. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th one and had to leave Tibet in 1959 after the region was occupied by China. Asked if China could do a repetition of Galwan or Doklam border clashes with India, he said, "Very likely, 60 years ago after they occupied Tibet, they said, once we occupy Tibet as the palm, they will come after five fingers, right? What you saw in Doklam, is one of the five fingers. What you saw in Galwan is one of the five fingers, these kinds of incursions will continue. Ultimately, Chinese government policy is expansionist. These kinds of incidents will keep happening." The 2020 Galwan incident saw the death of 20 Indian soldiers at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh due to aggressive Chinese actions. In the Doklam incident of 2017, China tried to occupy Bhutanese territory, which was stopped by Indian forces.

We have copyright over Dalai Lama reincarnation: Tibetan govt-in-exile prez

Dialogue is the only way forward for India and Pakistan, Pakistani Foreign Minister&nbsp;Shah Mahmood Qureshi&nbsp;told WION in an exclusive interview, while appreciating that&nbsp;India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar didn't mention anything negative about Pakistan in his address to the recently concluded Heart of Asia conference.

Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan would take two steps if India takes one towards peace, while taking note of recent mutual overtures like the exchange of letters between the prime ministers of the two countries and the neighours' decision to strictly observe ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC).

Watch |&nbsp;

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''Pakistan has never shied away from talks, we believe that dialogue is the only way forward. There are two nuclear powers, who cannot indulge in the stupidity of war, this would be equivalent to suicide,'' he said.&nbsp;

"So when there’s no other solution, no military solution, then what's the way forward except dialogue? For dialogue, if India can consider for an enabling environment, then Pakistan has earlier said that if India takes one step, Pakistan will take two."&nbsp;

"If India wants to move forward with Pakistan, now they would have to create a conducive environment and for that take some steps to create an enabling environment," the minister added.

There was wide expectation that Jaishankar and Qureshi would have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of Heart of Asia conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on peace in Afghanistan. But it did not happen.&nbsp;

Asked about this, Qureshi said,&nbsp;"We haven't met, have had no talk and no pull-aside meeting happened that you [media] were watching closely. I didn’t receive any request from him, neither did we [request] and moreover, we didn't have any schedule of meeting either."&nbsp;

''He was busy on his programme and I was also engaged with my prior schedule - so we couldn't met bilaterally. "

He expressed happiness about the ceasefire agreement.&nbsp;"I am happy that we have come to the understanding of 2003 ceasefire agreement on LoC, which is a welcome move and Kashmiris also express happiness."

He mentioned Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's&nbsp;reply to Indian Prime Narendra Modi's letter on Pakistan National Day.&nbsp;"PM Modi also wrote to Imran Khan and [sent] wishes to Pakistani PM and Pakistani citizens on its National day and PM Imran Khan also wrote to PM Modi.''

In his letter, Khan thanked Modi and he has said that Pakistan's longstanding wish has been that it wants better relations with every of its neighbour and live with peace, Qureshi noted.&nbsp;

The need is to resolve all outstanding issues, he said.

On Jaishankar not bringing up Pakistan-related issues during his speech at Heart of Asia, Qureshi said:&nbsp; "I was listening carefully. He didn't point&nbsp;or mention anything negative about Pakistan, which they usually did in the past...PM Modi's letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and India not slamming or blaming Pakistan&nbsp;on Heart of Asia summit, I would consider it a positive move."

Dialogue is the only way forward for India and Pakistan, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told WION in an exclusive interview, while appreciating that India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar didn't mention anything negative about Pakistan in his address to the recently concluded Heart of Asia conference.

Dialogue is the only way forward for India and Pakistan, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told WION in an exclusive interview, while appreciating that India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar didn't mention anything negative about Pakistan in his address to the recently concluded Heart of Asia conference. Qureshi reiterated that Pakistan would take two steps if India takes one towards peace, while taking note of recent mutual overtures like the exchange of letters between the prime ministers of the two countries and the neighours' decision to strictly observe ceasefire along Line of Control (LoC). Watch | ''Pakistan has never shied away from talks, we believe that dialogue is the only way forward. There are two nuclear powers, who cannot indulge in the stupidity of war, this would be equivalent to suicide,'' he said. "So when there’s no other solution, no military solution, then what's the way forward except dialogue? For dialogue, if India can consider for an enabling environment, then Pakistan has earlier said that if India takes one step, Pakistan will take two." "If India wants to move forward with Pakistan, now they would have to create a conducive environment and for that take some steps to create an enabling environment," the minister added. There was wide expectation that Jaishankar and Qureshi would have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of Heart of Asia conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on peace in Afghanistan. But it did not happen. Asked about this, Qureshi said, "We haven't met, have had no talk and no pull-aside meeting happened that you [media] were watching closely. I didn’t receive any request from him, neither did we [request] and moreover, we didn't have any schedule of meeting either." ''He was busy on his programme and I was also engaged with my prior schedule - so we couldn't met bilaterally. " He expressed happiness about the ceasefire agreement. "I am happy that we have come to the understanding of 2003 ceasefire agreement on LoC, which is a welcome move and Kashmiris also express happiness." He mentioned Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's reply to Indian Prime Narendra Modi's letter on Pakistan National Day. "PM Modi also wrote to Imran Khan and [sent] wishes to Pakistani PM and Pakistani citizens on its National day and PM Imran Khan also wrote to PM Modi.'' In his letter, Khan thanked Modi and he has said that Pakistan's longstanding wish has been that it wants better relations with every of its neighbour and live with peace, Qureshi noted. The need is to resolve all outstanding issues, he said. On Jaishankar not bringing up Pakistan-related issues during his speech at Heart of Asia, Qureshi said: "I was listening carefully. He didn't point or mention anything negative about Pakistan, which they usually did in the past...PM Modi's letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and India not slamming or blaming Pakistan on Heart of Asia summit, I would consider it a positive move."

WION Exclusive: Dialogue with India only way forward, says Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi 

Iran is rich in oil. It is at loggerheads with Arab nations and Israel. It is under scrutiny for its nuclear programme. Western nations had signed a deal,&nbsp;Trump walked out of it. Biden wants to re-enter it. But as Washington drags its feet, China has swooped in. &nbsp;

China has inked a 25-year agreement with Iran. It's a $400 billion deal. It could be a gamechanger.

And China's plan is not limited to Iran. The Chinese foreign minister is touring West Asia. He has many stops.&nbsp;What is China planning to do in the region? What does it mean for US&nbsp;efforts to revive the nuclear deal? What does the investment mean for Iran?

And what about India - which has invested millions of dollars in the Chabahar project?

Let's start with the agreement.&nbsp;It was signed on Saturday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Tehran. He met with all key stakeholders including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

This is a sweeping agreement.&nbsp;Beijing and Tehran have not shared the details yet. Reports say it is broadly based on an 18-page draft that had leaked last year.&nbsp;We reported this last year too. 
China will invest 400 billion dollars in Iran. This will be spread out over the next 25 years.&nbsp;Where is the money going? Banking, telecommunications, ports, railways, healthcare and information technology.

China will invest across sectors. What does it get in return? Oil.&nbsp;A lot of oil.. &nbsp; 
Iran is the world's fourth largest oil producer. It holds 10 per cent of the world's proven oil reserves.&nbsp;Reports say China will receive a "regular and heavily discounted" supply of Iranian oil. It's a win-win for both sides. &nbsp;

Remember, both China and Iran face sanctions from America. So they've signed this deal. And it goes beyond economy. This is a strategic pact. &nbsp;

Last year's draft had indicated a military relationship between Iran and China.&nbsp;It had called for "deepening military cooperation"&nbsp;This included&nbsp;joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development, and&nbsp;intelligence sharing.

So, going by the words of the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, this is a "complete roadmap".&nbsp;It details how Iran's relationship with China could evolve in the next 25 years. The agreement itself&nbsp;is worth 400 billion dollars. It brings Iran into China's Belt and Road Initiative. China is in it for the long haul.&nbsp;

Consider&nbsp;what the Chinese foreign minister said.

"Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation. They will be permanent and strategic. Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called China "a&nbsp;friend for the hard times".

Both sides are already working together on various fronts.&nbsp;One is oil: China imports more than 300,000 barrels of Iranian oil every day. With this agreement, China will import more.&nbsp; The second area is technology.

Earlier, Swedish company Ericsson was building Iran's 5G&nbsp;network. It had to exit because of sanctions.

Guess who entered? Chinese tech giant Huawei. It has replaced western companies in Iran. It is apparently shipping American-made computer equipment to Iran. It is said to be running a local franchise. And it is developing Iran's 5G network.&nbsp;The cooperation is set to expand.

How does the US see this? President Joe Biden was asked this question.&nbsp;Biden says he is concerned about Iran getting close to China. The question is: what does he plan to do about it?

China is making inroads into West Asia. Before landing in Tehran, the Chinese foreign minister had already visited Saudi Arabia and Turkey.&nbsp;After Iran, he visited the UAE and Oman.

Coming back to iran, the deal with Iran has come as yet another reminder of China's great game in West Asia. It may be a newcomer to the region. But it has increasingly widened its footprint. And in some aspects,&nbsp;outflanked Western influence.&nbsp;Because the Chinese outreach has been arguably subtle and careful. For a change, Beijing is not trying to gain control through its army. It is creating a culture of economic inter-dependence. 
In 2008, West Asia received only 1% of the money China had invested globally. Today Chinese money is flowing all over the region, from Saudi Arabia to Iran. From the UAE to Turkey, and from Palestine to Israel. Chinese companies have increasingly filled the economic vaccum left by the West in recent years.&nbsp; 
They have invested in refineries, ports, airports, hotels, offices and business campuses. How could this change the geopolitical dynamics of West Asia?&nbsp;And challenge Western influence in the region?

In 2016, China published the 'Arab policy paper', its first political strategy document for West Asia.&nbsp; 
A blueprint to slowly unfurl its tentacles in the region. This paper helped sync Chinese interests with West Asia's development strategy. Beijing wanted oil, natural gas and influence. Arab countries were looking to modernise and diversify their economies.

The result was this:&nbsp;By 2017,&nbsp;China had become the largest investor in West Asia, outmanoeuvring the United States. And the biggest importer of crude oil, with half of its oil coming through West Asia.

In 2016, China's Sinopec and&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's Aramco agreed to jointly build a refinery worth 10 billion dollars.

And in Kuwait, Sinopec was involved in the construction of the largest refinery in West Asia. Several joint infrastructure projects were also launched under the Belt and Road Initiative. Like the Khalifa port in UAE,&nbsp;the Hunutlu thermal power plant in Turkey,&nbsp;the Jizan port in Saudi Arabia,&nbsp;the Attarat oil power plant in Jordan,&nbsp;port Said in Egypt&nbsp;and the Duqm port in Oman along the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The pandemic further provided China a chance to strengthen its foothold in West Asia. Chinese vaccines have been flowing into Arab countries. In February, China promised to provide vaccine aid to Palestine, and on Sunday, China and the UAE agreed to expedite production of affordable Sinopharm vaccines.

But Chinese interest is not just limited to the Arab world or Islamic countries.

Today, Chinese money is increasingly visible even in Israel. In the tech sector, 463 deals worth 19.4 billion dollars have been struck between Tel Aviv and Beijing,&nbsp;and eight deals worth 5.9 billion dollars in the infrastructure sector.

Now, by inking a 25-year agreement with Iran, Beijing has made it amply clear&nbsp;that it is not trying to replicate Western strategy in West Asia.

Instead,&nbsp;it is putting forward a narrative of neutral engagement with all countries. It is trying to build a multi-polar order based on economic partnerships. Not only could this shape West Asia's political dynamics based on how China envisions it,&nbsp;but it could significantly erode the influence of American and European powers.

West Asia is the final frontier for global powers.&nbsp;If you have a foothold in West Asia, you have arrived on the international scene.

There are two reasons for this. One: oil. 
30% of the world's crude output comes from here.&nbsp;West Asia is the world's gas station. It is where countries go when they need a top-up. They have waged wars over a sniff of petroleum. Which brings us to the second reason:&nbsp;Power plays. 
West Asia is the land of proxy wars. Domestic groups are inevitably backed by regional powers. And these regional powers are backed by superpowers.&nbsp;Yemen is probably the biggest example.

So for countries with global ambitions, West Asia is a geopolitical board game. Which brings us to India and China.

Both countries have global ambitions. The Iran deal is China's bugle call.&nbsp;It has officially entered the arena.

But what does it mean for India? Where does the deal leave India and its strategic interests? 
Look at where India stands right now. It has maintained excellent ties with the region. The cornerstone of this relationship is neutrality.

India is not party to the West Asian cold war. For India, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are key partners.&nbsp;And for a region that has been invaded, colonised and subjected to years of foreign interference.&nbsp;Neutrality is a welcome change.

But in 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs made an important clarification.&nbsp;India's neutrality in West Asia must not be confused with passivity.&nbsp;As a developing economy, India's biggest concern is oil.

Before American sanctions,&nbsp;Iran supplied 10% of India's oil needs. In 2019, the trade was halted. Donald Trump brought the hammer down on Iran. India had no option but to comply. But Trump is not president anymore.&nbsp;His successor is a more conventional politician.&nbsp;Joe Biden helped seal the Iran nuclear deal in 2015.&nbsp;And he intends to save it at all cost.&nbsp;If Biden lifts the sanctions on Iran,&nbsp;the oil trade will resume.&nbsp;But he's unlikely to do it.&nbsp;Biden wants Iran to comply with the agreement first.&nbsp;Tehran says, remove the sanctions,&nbsp; and then we'll see.

So the sanctions aren't disappearing overnight.&nbsp;Plus there's an election around the corner in Iran.&nbsp;The hardliners are eyeing the presidency.&nbsp;If they win, chances are, the deal will be abandoned.&nbsp;Which brings us back to China. Like most Chinese partners,&nbsp;Iran needs Beijing's cheque book. Not its brotherhood.&nbsp;The moderates in Iran are desperate to revive the economy. It's the only way they are going to win the elections.&nbsp;And China is willing to pay.&nbsp;

Iran and China are not natural partners.&nbsp;What unites them is their hatred for the Americans.&nbsp;Not exactly what you call shared interests.&nbsp;It's a fragile partnership.

And India should be mindful of this.&nbsp;New Delhi can utilise this thaw in US-Iran relations. It is the perfect opportunity to double down. But before that, the Chabahar port must be completed.

The port is india's trump card in Iran.&nbsp;The shipping minister says full-scale operations will start by May.&nbsp;India is developing two terminals in exchange for a decade of operational rights.&nbsp;Chabahar is India's route to Central Asia.&nbsp;It bypasses the hassle of dealing with Pakistan.&nbsp;Last year,&nbsp;&nbsp;the port was used to send 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.

When locusts invaded Iran, India dispatched 25 tonnes of pesticide. Again via the Chabahar port. 
This is all part of India's Central Asia outreach.&nbsp;A region sandwiched between China and West Asia...

A robust Indian presence here will be key to stemming China's rise.&nbsp;

Here's the first thing you need to know about Central Asia.&nbsp;The land is criss-crossed by pipelines.&nbsp;It is a major transit zone.&nbsp;A link between oil producers and oil consumers.&nbsp;The international north-south transport corridor aims to build on this. India, Iran, Russia and 10 Central Asian nations are part of the project.&nbsp;The vision is a 7,200 kilometre long network of roads, rail and waterways.&nbsp;All indications are that the great game is back.

But this is the 21st century edition.&nbsp;There are new players and India is one of them.&nbsp;

Central Asia isn't uncharted territory for India.&nbsp;Since the 3rd century, trade has been common.&nbsp;Both regions were key stops in the Silk Route.&nbsp;Not just goods, even Buddhism spread across the Hindu Kush.

The peoples of Central Asia and India were always friends. They just need to rekindle their relations.&nbsp;But time is of the essence.&nbsp;Central Asia is key to China's Belt and Road Initiative.&nbsp;Its leaders are enthusiastic about it. Not because of the economic prospects but the scope of corruption. On the ground - anti-China sentiments are brewing.

If Central Asia mobilises against China,&nbsp;it could block Beijing's road to West Asia.

Iran is rich in oil. It is at loggerheads with Arab nations and Israel. It is under scrutiny for its nuclear programme. Western nations had signed a deal, Trump walked out of it.

Iran is rich in oil. It is at loggerheads with Arab nations and Israel. It is under scrutiny for its nuclear programme. Western nations had signed a deal, Trump walked out of it. Biden wants to re-enter it. But as Washington drags its feet, China has swooped in. China has inked a 25-year agreement with Iran. It's a $400 billion deal. It could be a gamechanger. And China's plan is not limited to Iran. The Chinese foreign minister is touring West Asia. He has many stops. What is China planning to do in the region? What does it mean for US efforts to revive the nuclear deal? What does the investment mean for Iran? And what about India - which has invested millions of dollars in the Chabahar project? Let's start with the agreement. It was signed on Saturday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Tehran. He met with all key stakeholders including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. This is a sweeping agreement. Beijing and Tehran have not shared the details yet. Reports say it is broadly based on an 18-page draft that had leaked last year. We reported this last year too. China will invest 400 billion dollars in Iran. This will be spread out over the next 25 years. Where is the money going? Banking, telecommunications, ports, railways, healthcare and information technology. China will invest across sectors. What does it get in return? Oil. A lot of oil.. Iran is the world's fourth largest oil producer. It holds 10 per cent of the world's proven oil reserves. Reports say China will receive a "regular and heavily discounted" supply of Iranian oil. It's a win-win for both sides. Remember, both China and Iran face sanctions from America. So they've signed this deal. And it goes beyond economy. This is a strategic pact. Last year's draft had indicated a military relationship between Iran and China. It had called for "deepening military cooperation" This included joint training and exercises, joint research and weapons development, and intelligence sharing. So, going by the words of the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, this is a "complete roadmap". It details how Iran's relationship with China could evolve in the next 25 years. The agreement itself is worth 400 billion dollars. It brings Iran into China's Belt and Road Initiative. China is in it for the long haul. Consider what the Chinese foreign minister said. "Our relations with Iran will not be affected by the current situation. They will be permanent and strategic. Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called China "a friend for the hard times". Both sides are already working together on various fronts. One is oil: China imports more than 300,000 barrels of Iranian oil every day. With this agreement, China will import more. The second area is technology. Earlier, Swedish company Ericsson was building Iran's 5G network. It had to exit because of sanctions. Guess who entered? Chinese tech giant Huawei. It has replaced western companies in Iran. It is apparently shipping American-made computer equipment to Iran. It is said to be running a local franchise. And it is developing Iran's 5G network. The cooperation is set to expand. How does the US see this? President Joe Biden was asked this question. Biden says he is concerned about Iran getting close to China. The question is: what does he plan to do about it? China is making inroads into West Asia. Before landing in Tehran, the Chinese foreign minister had already visited Saudi Arabia and Turkey. After Iran, he visited the UAE and Oman. Coming back to iran, the deal with Iran has come as yet another reminder of China's great game in West Asia. It may be a newcomer to the region. But it has increasingly widened its footprint. And in some aspects, outflanked Western influence. Because the Chinese outreach has been arguably subtle and careful. For a change, Beijing is not trying to gain control through its army. It is creating a culture of economic inter-dependence. In 2008, West Asia received only 1% of the money China had invested globally. Today Chinese money is flowing all over the region, from Saudi Arabia to Iran. From the UAE to Turkey, and from Palestine to Israel. Chinese companies have increasingly filled the economic vaccum left by the West in recent years. They have invested in refineries, ports, airports, hotels, offices and business campuses. How could this change the geopolitical dynamics of West Asia? And challenge Western influence in the region? In 2016, China published the 'Arab policy paper', its first political strategy document for West Asia. A blueprint to slowly unfurl its tentacles in the region. This paper helped sync Chinese interests with West Asia's development strategy. Beijing wanted oil, natural gas and influence. Arab countries were looking to modernise and diversify their economies. The result was this: By 2017, China had become the largest investor in West Asia, outmanoeuvring the United States. And the biggest importer of crude oil, with half of its oil coming through West Asia. In 2016, China's Sinopec and Saudi Arabia's Aramco agreed to jointly build a refinery worth 10 billion dollars. And in Kuwait, Sinopec was involved in the construction of the largest refinery in West Asia. Several joint infrastructure projects were also launched under the Belt and Road Initiative. Like the Khalifa port in UAE, the Hunutlu thermal power plant in Turkey, the Jizan port in Saudi Arabia, the Attarat oil power plant in Jordan, port Said in Egypt and the Duqm port in Oman along the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The pandemic further provided China a chance to strengthen its foothold in West Asia. Chinese vaccines have been flowing into Arab countries. In February, China promised to provide vaccine aid to Palestine, and on Sunday, China and the UAE agreed to expedite production of affordable Sinopharm vaccines. But Chinese interest is not just limited to the Arab world or Islamic countries. Today, Chinese money is increasingly visible even in Israel. In the tech sector, 463 deals worth 19.4 billion dollars have been struck between Tel Aviv and Beijing, and eight deals worth 5.9 billion dollars in the infrastructure sector. Now, by inking a 25-year agreement with Iran, Beijing has made it amply clear that it is not trying to replicate Western strategy in West Asia. Instead, it is putting forward a narrative of neutral engagement with all countries. It is trying to build a multi-polar order based on economic partnerships. Not only could this shape West Asia's political dynamics based on how China envisions it, but it could significantly erode the influence of American and European powers. West Asia is the final frontier for global powers. If you have a foothold in West Asia, you have arrived on the international scene. There are two reasons for this. One: oil. 30% of the world's crude output comes from here. West Asia is the world's gas station. It is where countries go when they need a top-up. They have waged wars over a sniff of petroleum. Which brings us to the second reason: Power plays. West Asia is the land of proxy wars. Domestic groups are inevitably backed by regional powers. And these regional powers are backed by superpowers. Yemen is probably the biggest example. So for countries with global ambitions, West Asia is a geopolitical board game. Which brings us to India and China. Both countries have global ambitions. The Iran deal is China's bugle call. It has officially entered the arena. But what does it mean for India? Where does the deal leave India and its strategic interests? Look at where India stands right now. It has maintained excellent ties with the region. The cornerstone of this relationship is neutrality. India is not party to the West Asian cold war. For India, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are key partners. And for a region that has been invaded, colonised and subjected to years of foreign interference. Neutrality is a welcome change. But in 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs made an important clarification. India's neutrality in West Asia must not be confused with passivity. As a developing economy, India's biggest concern is oil. Before American sanctions, Iran supplied 10% of India's oil needs. In 2019, the trade was halted. Donald Trump brought the hammer down on Iran. India had no option but to comply. But Trump is not president anymore. His successor is a more conventional politician. Joe Biden helped seal the Iran nuclear deal in 2015. And he intends to save it at all cost. If Biden lifts the sanctions on Iran, the oil trade will resume. But he's unlikely to do it. Biden wants Iran to comply with the agreement first. Tehran says, remove the sanctions, and then we'll see. So the sanctions aren't disappearing overnight. Plus there's an election around the corner in Iran. The hardliners are eyeing the presidency. If they win, chances are, the deal will be abandoned. Which brings us back to China. Like most Chinese partners, Iran needs Beijing's cheque book. Not its brotherhood. The moderates in Iran are desperate to revive the economy. It's the only way they are going to win the elections. And China is willing to pay. Iran and China are not natural partners. What unites them is their hatred for the Americans. Not exactly what you call shared interests. It's a fragile partnership. And India should be mindful of this. New Delhi can utilise this thaw in US-Iran relations. It is the perfect opportunity to double down. But before that, the Chabahar port must be completed. The port is india's trump card in Iran. The shipping minister says full-scale operations will start by May. India is developing two terminals in exchange for a decade of operational rights. Chabahar is India's route to Central Asia. It bypasses the hassle of dealing with Pakistan. Last year, the port was used to send 75,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. When locusts invaded Iran, India dispatched 25 tonnes of pesticide. Again via the Chabahar port. This is all part of India's Central Asia outreach. A region sandwiched between China and West Asia... A robust Indian presence here will be key to stemming China's rise. Here's the first thing you need to know about Central Asia. The land is criss-crossed by pipelines. It is a major transit zone. A link between oil producers and oil consumers. The international north-south transport corridor aims to build on this. India, Iran, Russia and 10 Central Asian nations are part of the project. The vision is a 7,200 kilometre long network of roads, rail and waterways. All indications are that the great game is back. But this is the 21st century edition. There are new players and India is one of them. Central Asia isn't uncharted territory for India. Since the 3rd century, trade has been common. Both regions were key stops in the Silk Route. Not just goods, even Buddhism spread across the Hindu Kush. The peoples of Central Asia and India were always friends. They just need to rekindle their relations. But time is of the essence. Central Asia is key to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Its leaders are enthusiastic about it. Not because of the economic prospects but the scope of corruption. On the ground - anti-China sentiments are brewing. If Central Asia mobilises against China, it could block Beijing's road to West Asia.

What is the real story behind China's $400 billion deal with Iran?

With hardly a week to go for polling day on April 6th&nbsp;in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, WION caught up with actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)&nbsp;candidate for Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. Her background in cinema has made her&nbsp;a household name, and after more than a decade in politics, she is now making her poll debut as a BJP candidate for the assembly. Later this week, Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to campaign for her.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WION: How is the response to BJP’s campaign in Thousand Lights constituency ?

Khushbu Sundar: There’s a very good response for our campaign, women want me to win and they’re confident that I’ll solve their issues as a woman. Their love towards me is evident from the way they have gathered in large numbers. They (opposition) said BJP would never make it, but now there’s a clear wave of change in people’s minds.&nbsp;

WION: Are minority votes in Tamil Nadu a major challenge?&nbsp;

Khushbu Sundar: The BJP won the largest mandate of 303 parliamentary seats in 2019, and this was not possible without minorities voting for us. As far as the women in minority communities are concerned, they say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is akin to an elder brother and a source of strength for them. The opposition parties are indulging in fake propaganda.&nbsp;

WION: As a woman leader, how do you see the recent misogynistic comments by opposition leaders?

Khushbu Sundar: On the one hand, the opposition claims that they will help women and keep them safe, but now they themselves are saying deplorable things about women. How can such people enable a same environment for women?&nbsp;

WION: The DMK (whose candidate you are taking on) says this seat is their stronghold. Do you foresee a blockbuster on your electoral debut ?

Khushbu Sundar: We are sure of the people being with us. We must recall that DMK President MK Stalin who contested here, jumped to Kolathur constituency 10 years back. He had done so based on doubts of losing here. Our ally AIADMK has won here many times, DMK themselves are claiming that this seat is their stronghold. The finest example of this is MK Stalin, who left for another seat.&nbsp;

WION: There are allegations that actors will forget their constituencies and people after elections. How do you respond ?&nbsp;

Khushbu Sundar: I have seen that these comments have come from a dynast, who is looking at things through his perspective. They are the ones who promise development, safety, roads, employment, water supply and end up neglecting their constituencies. They better brush up their history lessons and recollect Tamil Nadu’s political history where all tall leaders Karunanidhi, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa have had a cinema industry background.&nbsp;

With hardly a week to go for polling day on April 6th in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, WION caught up with actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai.

With hardly a week to go for polling day on April 6th in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, WION caught up with actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. Her background in cinema has made her a household name, and after more than a decade in politics, she is now making her poll debut as a BJP candidate for the assembly. Later this week, Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to campaign for her. WION: How is the response to BJP’s campaign in Thousand Lights constituency ? Khushbu Sundar: There’s a very good response for our campaign, women want me to win and they’re confident that I’ll solve their issues as a woman. Their love towards me is evident from the way they have gathered in large numbers. They (opposition) said BJP would never make it, but now there’s a clear wave of change in people’s minds. WION: Are minority votes in Tamil Nadu a major challenge? Khushbu Sundar: The BJP won the largest mandate of 303 parliamentary seats in 2019, and this was not possible without minorities voting for us. As far as the women in minority communities are concerned, they say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is akin to an elder brother and a source of strength for them. The opposition parties are indulging in fake propaganda. WION: As a woman leader, how do you see the recent misogynistic comments by opposition leaders? Khushbu Sundar: On the one hand, the opposition claims that they will help women and keep them safe, but now they themselves are saying deplorable things about women. How can such people enable a same environment for women? WION: The DMK (whose candidate you are taking on) says this seat is their stronghold. Do you foresee a blockbuster on your electoral debut ? Khushbu Sundar: We are sure of the people being with us. We must recall that DMK President MK Stalin who contested here, jumped to Kolathur constituency 10 years back. He had done so based on doubts of losing here. Our ally AIADMK has won here many times, DMK themselves are claiming that this seat is their stronghold. The finest example of this is MK Stalin, who left for another seat. WION: There are allegations that actors will forget their constituencies and people after elections. How do you respond ? Khushbu Sundar: I have seen that these comments have come from a dynast, who is looking at things through his perspective. They are the ones who promise development, safety, roads, employment, water supply and end up neglecting their constituencies. They better brush up their history lessons and recollect Tamil Nadu’s political history where all tall leaders Karunanidhi, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa have had a cinema industry background.

Tamil Nadu polls: BJP’s Khushbu Sundar confident of victory, dismisses criticism of her cinema background

Hindus are positively influencing various important areas of Bangladesh including politics, economy and culture. Although there is a religious minority, they are in harmony with Muslims.

Hindus positively influence Bangladesh's important areas

Bangladesh declared its independence on March 26, 1971. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a decisive win for India. What was the role of the Indian Navy? Why was Mukti Bahini formed? Five decades later, we bring you the untold stories on WION Wideangle

WION Wideangle: Bangladesh liberation war: Untold stories

Bangladesh's Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen has expressed his delight that 'PM of the Biggest Democracy' is taking part in the country's 50th Independence anniversary celebration. Speaking exclusively to our Diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Momen said, 'Our relationship with India was rock solid.'

Delighted that PM of biggest Democracy joining our independence celebration: Bangladesh FM

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir is a Mujti jodhas, or Mukti Bahini war veteran, in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh government awarded him the title of Bir Protik for his bravery in the war and India honoured him its fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2021.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he remembered how Pakistan establishment mistreated people of then East Pakistan, and thought that Bangalis cannot fight.

Zahir, who played a key role in the posthumous honouring of Indian soldiers who fought in Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan, also described how he carried dead bodies of Indian soldiers during the war.

He said he collected every information he could on Pakistani forces, “put all information in my boot, with a lot of efforts... I walked to India and handed over (information) to Indian authorities. They spoke to me and got all information. When they won, they told me it was a great victory.”

“I honour Indian soldiers and hold them in high esteem,” he said.

“I have felt the urge to write about battlefield stories based on Indian Army. I have carried Indian soldiers' dead bodies in my hands. Blood of Indian soldiers is and will continue flowing in our rivers. Our history is tied to bloodshed We must honour the bloodshed.”

He noted&nbsp;that Indian army is the only one that went to a different country&nbsp;"and helped us, but not one case of rape, murder or loot.”

“Look at Pakistan, our women were murdered, raped by them.”

Remembering the days under Pakistani rule, Zahar said, “Our language was taken away and Urdu became the language. They took away our budget and democratic rights. We were under the martial law. They started the genocide. Why did Pakistan conduct a genocide? They thought Bengalis cannot fight.”

“You will be surprised, Pakistanis addressed us as "Naukar" (servant). But we were not servants. That is when we fought, India helped us in that,” he said.

Reminiscing about how he spent his time after independence, he said, “After the killing of Mujibur Rahman, pro-Pakistan elements came back to power, freedom fighters were killed and put in jail. I was in a bad shape and I devoted myself to writing and teaching.”

When Sheikh Hasina was elected to power, he said, “I got hope from this government. Five years back, Hasina invited a few of us authors and writers for a lunch in her house.”

It was at this time that Zahir mooted the idea of honouring Indian soldiers. “She asked for some opinions on developing Bangladesh. I told her a little injustice has been made. I told her you have honoured the Mukti Bahini but you have not honoured an important part of Mukti Bahini- the Indian soldiers.”

"She asked me to write it down on paper", Zahir remembered, adding that the prime minister gave approval in three days and put in charge of the project.

Hasinia, he noted, had personally delivered the first awards to families of Indian martyrs of the Bangladesh war, at a ceremony in New Delhi.

“She was very pleased. It was an emotional programme. I visited so many martyr families in order to write about them. No country has honoured the soldiers of another nation. Americans or British were not honoured by French or Germans. Every nation should follow this trend,” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir is a Mujti jodhas, or Mukti Bahini war veteran, in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh government awarded him the title of Bir Protik for his bravery in the war and India honoured him its fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2021.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Quazi Sazzad Ali Zahir is a Mujti jodhas, or Mukti Bahini war veteran, in the Bangladesh Liberation War. Bangladesh government awarded him the title of Bir Protik for his bravery in the war and India honoured him its fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2021. Speaking to WION Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he remembered how Pakistan establishment mistreated people of then East Pakistan, and thought that Bangalis cannot fight. Zahir, who played a key role in the posthumous honouring of Indian soldiers who fought in Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan, also described how he carried dead bodies of Indian soldiers during the war. He said he collected every information he could on Pakistani forces, “put all information in my boot, with a lot of efforts... I walked to India and handed over (information) to Indian authorities. They spoke to me and got all information. When they won, they told me it was a great victory.” “I honour Indian soldiers and hold them in high esteem,” he said. “I have felt the urge to write about battlefield stories based on Indian Army. I have carried Indian soldiers' dead bodies in my hands. Blood of Indian soldiers is and will continue flowing in our rivers. Our history is tied to bloodshed We must honour the bloodshed.” He noted that Indian army is the only one that went to a different country "and helped us, but not one case of rape, murder or loot.” “Look at Pakistan, our women were murdered, raped by them.” Remembering the days under Pakistani rule, Zahar said, “Our language was taken away and Urdu became the language. They took away our budget and democratic rights. We were under the martial law. They started the genocide. Why did Pakistan conduct a genocide? They thought Bengalis cannot fight.” “You will be surprised, Pakistanis addressed us as "Naukar" (servant). But we were not servants. That is when we fought, India helped us in that,” he said. Reminiscing about how he spent his time after independence, he said, “After the killing of Mujibur Rahman, pro-Pakistan elements came back to power, freedom fighters were killed and put in jail. I was in a bad shape and I devoted myself to writing and teaching.” When Sheikh Hasina was elected to power, he said, “I got hope from this government. Five years back, Hasina invited a few of us authors and writers for a lunch in her house.” It was at this time that Zahir mooted the idea of honouring Indian soldiers. “She asked for some opinions on developing Bangladesh. I told her a little injustice has been made. I told her you have honoured the Mukti Bahini but you have not honoured an important part of Mukti Bahini- the Indian soldiers.” "She asked me to write it down on paper", Zahir remembered, adding that the prime minister gave approval in three days and put in charge of the project. Hasinia, he noted, had personally delivered the first awards to families of Indian martyrs of the Bangladesh war, at a ceremony in New Delhi. “She was very pleased. It was an emotional programme. I visited so many martyr families in order to write about them. No country has honoured the soldiers of another nation. Americans or British were not honoured by French or Germans. Every nation should follow this trend,” he said.

Pakistanis addressed us as servants: A Bangladesh war veteran remembers

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