April 13, 2026
108 articles published on this date
Oxfam Report: IMF's Tax Advice to India More Regressive Than Guidance to Wealthy Nations
Oxfam International released a report analysing 1,049 tax-related recommendations issued by the IMF to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024 The report found...
India's Middle Class Vulnerability: Beyond Poverty Lines to Economic Security
A World Bank policy paper argues that India's welfare analysis must shift from simply counting people below a poverty line to measuring how far people are...
Panel on SC Status for Dalit Converts Receives Third Extension
The Commission of Inquiry chaired by former Chief Justice of India Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, set up to examine whether Scheduled Caste (SC) status and...
India-Iran Diplomatic Contact on Hormuz Ship Passage: Energy Diplomacy in Crisis
Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that India and Iran are in active diplomatic contact regarding the safe passage of ships through the...
IMD Predicts Below-Normal 2026 Monsoon Amid El Niño Risk: Implications for Indian Agriculture
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the 2026 southwest monsoon will be 'below normal,' with rainfall forecast at 92% of the Long Period...
El Niño Years Linked to Poor Indian Monsoon in 7 Out of 10 Occurrences Since 1980
Historical analysis of El Niño years since 1980 shows that approximately 70% of El Niño years coincided with deficient or below-normal Indian summer monsoon...
Kongsberg Maritime to Supply 18 Kamewa Waterjet Systems for Indian Navy's Next Generation Missile Vessels
Norwegian company Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjet propulsion systems for the Indian Navy's Next Generation...
Chandrayaan-3's Vikram Hop Reveals Subsurface Structure Near Lunar South Pole
A new study using data from Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander hop experiment has revealed information about the near-surface layered structure ('surficial...
India's Ethanol Blending Strategy: Energy Security, Food Security, and the West Asia Crisis Test
With elevated oil prices triggered by the West Asia conflict and growing uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz transit, India's ethanol blending programme has...
IMF, World Bank, IEA Coordination on Energy Crisis: Emergency Reserves, Export Controls, and Global Economic Governance
The International Energy Agency (IEA), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank Group jointly formed a coordination group to manage the global...
Punjab's Anti-Sacrilege Law: Life Imprisonment for Desecration of Guru Granth Sahib
The Punjab State Assembly passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, providing life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25...
Russia's Offer to Store Iran's Enriched Uranium: Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Diplomacy, and Geopolitics
The Kremlin publicly repeated Russia's offer to take custody of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of any future peace settlement between...
Opposition's Challenge to Women's Reservation Linkage with Delimitation
Opposition leaders across parties united to challenge the Modi government's approach to implementing the Women's Reservation Act (Nari Shakti Vandan...
Delimitation and Southern States: Why Seat Expansion May Be Less Damaging Than Resistance
Analysis of the government's proposed delimitation formula suggests that southern states may actually gain more from participating constructively in the...
Food and Fuel Costs Push March Retail Inflation to 3.4%: RBI Rate Path in Focus
India's retail (CPI) inflation rose to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February, driven by food and fuel price pressures Food inflation climbed to 3.87%...
Supreme Court Issues Notice on PIL Seeking MSP Hike Based on Actual Cultivation Cost
The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and states on a PIL demanding MSP for farmers that at minimum covers C2 (comprehensive cost of...
India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership: Defence, Nuclear, and Emerging Technology Cooperation
India and France conducted comprehensive Foreign Office Consultations in Paris, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and France's Secretary-General...
India's Global Ammonia Tender: Securing Fertiliser Production Amid West Asia Supply Disruption
India is planning a global tender for ammonia, a critical feedstock for urea and other nitrogen-based fertilisers, to secure supplies for domestic...
Sonia Gandhi: Delimitation Must Follow Census, OBC Sub-Quota Essential for Women's Reservation
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi articulated the Congress party's formal position ahead of the April 16–18, 2026 special Parliament...
GE Signs Contract with IAF to Establish In-Country Engine Repair Facility for Tejas Fleet
GE Aerospace formally signed a contract with the Indian Air Force on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level repair and overhaul facility for...
El Niño and Below-Normal Monsoon 2026: Climate Science, Risk Assessment, and Policy Response
IMD's official forecast warns of below-normal rainfall at 92% of the Long Period Average (LPA) for the 2026 South West Monsoon (June–September), with a 35%...
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Japan Trains 1,000 Indian Engineers as Second TBM Assembly Begins
Japan's JARTS (Japan Railway Technical Service) has trained 1,000 Indian engineers for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project — India's first...
Two Tankers with Iranian Crude Anchor Off Indian Ports: Felicity off Sikka, Jaya near Paradip
Two crude oil tankers carrying Iranian crude anchored off key Indian port locations, marking India's first Iranian oil imports in seven years. The Felicity...
Consumer Price Inflation at 3.4% in March: Early Signals of West Asia War's Economic Impact
India's consumer price inflation rose to 3.4% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February — marking an inflection after months of moderation, with early signs of...
India Calls for 'Unimpeded Freedom of Navigation' Through Hormuz as US Blockade Begins
India's government stated it was 'monitoring developments' relating to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and called for 'unimpeded freedom of...
Women's Reservation Act: Special Parliament Session to Operationalise One-Third Seats for Women
Prime Minister Narendra Modi convened a special three-day session of Parliament beginning April 16, 2026, to introduce amendments enabling implementation of...
Indian Railways Expedites 827 km Projects to Strengthen Rajasthan's Border Connectivity
Indian Railways is expediting three strategic rail corridors totalling 827 km in Rajasthan's border districts, aimed at improving connectivity to areas near...
IMD Forecasts Below-Normal Southwest Monsoon for 2026 at 92% of Long Period Average
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the 2026 southwest monsoon (June–September) is likely to be 'below normal,' with seasonal...
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab): India's Access to a Landmark Cancer Immunotherapy Drug
Pembrolizumab (brand name Keytruda), a first-in-class cancer immunotherapy drug made by US pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme), has become a...
US Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports: Strategy, Legality, and Global Energy Stakes
The United States announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports starting April 13, 2026, after peace talks between the two countries collapsed over the...
Collapse of US-Iran Peace Talks: Nuclear Red Lines, Negotiation Dynamics, and Regional Consequences
After 21 hours of talks in Islamabad, brokered by Pakistan, the US and Iran failed to reach a ceasefire or peace agreement — the latest and most intensive...
IT Rules Amendments and the Shift Toward Direct Content Regulation in India
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) circulated a draft amendment to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and...
Haryana Farmers Protest Mandatory Biometric Verification for Mandi Crop Sales
Haryana farmers staged protests — including sit-ins under the Samyukt Kisan Morcha banner — against new state government rules requiring Aadhaar-based...
US Naval Blockade on Iranian Ports: Strait of Hormuz, International Law, and Global Oil Trade
The United States military commenced a naval blockade targeting vessels entering or departing Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman...
India's Quantum Computing Race: Building Hardware in Hyderabad
Researchers and institutions in Hyderabad are actively competing to build India's first functional quantum computer, part of a broader national race...
Southwest Monsoon 2026 Forecast: Below Normal to Deficient Rainfall and Regional Consequences
IMD's April 2026 forecast classifies the upcoming southwest monsoon as 'below normal or deficient,' with projected rainfall at 92% of the Long Period...
India Deepens Sri Lanka Maritime Presence to Counter China in Indian Ocean
India is strengthening its maritime and logistics presence in Sri Lanka, with an emphasis on countering China's expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean...
India's Tejas Engine Overhaul Depot: IAF-GE Aerospace Agreement Boosts Indigenous Defence Sustainment
The Indian Air Force and GE Aerospace signed a formal agreement on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level overhaul facility for F404-IN20...
Congress Three-Line Whip for Special Parliament Session on Women's Reservation
Congress issued a three-line whip requiring all its Lok Sabha members to be present during the special three-day parliamentary session (April 16–18, 2026)...
India's FTA Strategy and the India-US Trade Framework: Leveraging Trade Agreements Amid Global Turmoil
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India's portfolio of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with developed economies will help sustain export growth...
Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells: Kerala University Breakthrough
Researchers at Kerala University have developed a high-efficiency perovskite solar cell that replaces toxic lead with a combination of tin and rare earth...
IMD's Below-Normal Monsoon Forecast for 2026: El Niño, Agriculture, and Food Security Implications
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released its first long-range forecast for the 2026 South West Monsoon (SWM), predicting below-normal rainfall at...
Silicon Valley's AI Job Panic: When Automation Replaces Employment at Scale
More and more companies in Silicon Valley and beyond are explicitly citing AI and automation as the reason for job cuts, with approximately 47.9% of Q1 2026...
Aravalli Protection: Supreme Court's Expert Panel and the Conservation vs. Mining Conflict
The Supreme Court constituted a 10-member High Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) in March 2026 to redefine the Aravalli hills — a decision that followed the...
Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March 2026: Food and Fuel Drive the Uptick
India's retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 3.40% in March 2026 from 3.21% in February, according to data released by the...
H5N1 Bird Flu Confirmed in Kottayam: Kerala's Recurring Avian Influenza Challenge
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has been confirmed in Ward 16 of Udayanapuram grama panchayat in Vaikom taluk, Kottayam district, Kerala, as...
Government Signals 21% Ethanol Blending Target to Cut Oil Import Dependency Amid West Asia Crisis
With West Asia tensions disrupting global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, the Indian government has signalled it is considering raising the...
US Naval Blockade of Iran's Ports Begins; UKMTO Issues Maritime Restrictions Advisory
The United States naval blockade of Iranian ports officially commenced on April 13, 2026, with UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) issuing a...
IMF Chief Warns Global Monetary System Unprepared for AI-Driven Cyber Threats
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued a stark warning that the global monetary system lacks adequate defences against rapidly escalating...
India's Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March 2026 on LPG Hike and Food Prices
India's headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to 3.40% year-on-year in March 2026, up from 3.21% in February — a 13-month high The uptick was...
Iranian Crude Returns to India After Seven Years as Tankers Dock at Sikka and Paradip
Two supertankers carrying Iranian crude oil arrived at Indian ports, marking the first such deliveries in nearly seven years — since May 2019 when US...
India's Exporters Face Double Trouble as Hormuz Blockade Disrupts Trade and Shipping
Indian exporters expressed acute concern about a 'double trouble' scenario as the US naval blockade of Iranian ports disrupted both the key shipping route...
EU Weighs Classifying ChatGPT as Major Platform Under Digital Services Act
The European Commission is assessing whether to designate OpenAI's ChatGPT as a 'Very Large Online Search Engine' (VLOSE) under the EU's Digital Services...
GE Aerospace-IAF Depot-Level Maintenance Facility for F404-IN20 Engines Powering Tejas
GE Aerospace signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) on April 13, 2026 to establish an in-country depot-level maintenance facility for F404-IN20...
IMD Forecasts Below-Normal 2026 Monsoon as El Niño Conditions Loom Post-June
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the 2026 southwest monsoon (June–September) to be 'below normal,' with seasonal rainfall at...
South Korea–Poland Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Defence Cooperation and Shifting European Security Architecture
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk elevated bilateral ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' with defence...
Iran's Rial Collapses to Record Low as US Blockade Deepens Economic Crisis
Iran's rial has collapsed to approximately 1.58 million per US dollar — a record low — as the US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect Tehran introduced...
Government Extends EV Subsidies and Pushes Clean Fuels Amid Strait of Hormuz Energy Crisis
Amid the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis — the most severe disruption to global energy flows since the 1970s — the Indian government extended EV subsidies and...
India-Iran 'Common Fate' in West Asia: Envoy Signals Cooperation on Hormuz
Iranian Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, stated that India and Iran share a 'common fate' in the West Asia region On the status of the Strait of...
INS Taragiri Commissioned: Kirloskar Brothers' Contribution Highlights Naval Indigenisation Drive
Kirloskar Brothers Limited, a major Indian engineering conglomerate, contributed key pumping systems to INS Taragiri (F41), India's fourth Project 17A...
GE Aerospace to Set Up F404 Engine Maintenance Facility for IAF's Tejas Fleet in India
GE Aerospace has signed a contract with the Indian Air Force to help establish an engine maintenance facility within India for the F404-IN20 engines that...
PM Calls for Dialogue and Cooperation to Amend Women's Reservation Act
The Prime Minister called for cross-party dialogue and cooperation to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Act) to enable its...
Nominated Member as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman: Harivansh's Historic Return
The government reached out to opposition parties to build consensus for the return of Harivansh Narayan Singh as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. If...
PM E-DRIVE Scheme's Electric Truck Target Has Nil Achievement Despite ₹500 Crore Outlay
A Parliamentary Standing Committee (332nd Report, March 2026) flagged 'nil physical achievement and no expenditure' under the PM E-DRIVE scheme's electric...
Oil Tankers Divert Away from Strait of Hormuz as US Blockade Looms
Shipping industry sources reported that oil tankers were actively rerouting away from the Strait of Hormuz after the US announced a naval blockade of...
IMF Warns of Global Slowdown from Middle East War as 'Negative Supply Shock'
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described the Middle East war's economic impact as a 'classic negative supply shock,' warning of slower global...
Indian Railways Sanctions 100 Projects Worth ₹1.53 Lakh Crore in FY 2025-26: Largest Single-Year Expansion
Indian Railways has sanctioned 100 major projects in FY 2025-26 with a total investment of ₹1.53 lakh crore, covering over 6,000 km of new and upgraded rail...
Oil Prices Surge Past $100 per Barrel as US Naval Blockade of Iran Takes Shape
Global crude oil prices surged more than 7% to cross $100 per barrel after the US announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports following the failure of peace...
India Received Highest Number of Regressive IMF Tax Recommendations: Oxfam Report
A new report by Oxfam International, drawing on analysis of IMF tax advice to 125 countries between 2022 and 2024, found that India received the highest...
IAF and GE Aerospace to Build Indigenously Owned Depot for Tejas Engine Repair and Overhaul
GE Aerospace signed a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to help establish an in-country depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility...
Activists and Civil Society Slam 'Opaque' Process of Women's Reservation Bill Amendments
A group of prominent academics, activists, and retired civil servants issued a statement criticising the government's secretive and non-consultative...
Supreme Court Issues Notice to Centre and CACP on Plea Seeking MSP Linked to Cost of Cultivation
A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Union Government and other respondents...
Opposition Calls All-Party Meeting on April 15 to Discuss Women's Reservation Implementation
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced that opposition parties will convene their own all-party meeting on April 15, 2026, to discuss the...
Philippines Accuses China of Poisoning Disputed Waters Near Second Thomas Shoal with Cyanide
The Philippines' National Security Council (NSC) accused Chinese fishermen of pouring cyanide into waters around Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the...
UK Refuses to Join US Hormuz Blockade, Insists on Full Reopening
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain will not support the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, stating 'we are not supporting the blockade'...
India Rolls Out New BIS Security Standards for Digital Payments to Drive Global Adoption
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced comprehensive new security norms for India's digital payments ecosystem, covering biometric...
India's Crude Imports: Diversification Cushions Hormuz Blockade Impact
India has cut its dependence on crude oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz to just 30% of total imports, down from over 50% earlier in 2026 India now sources...
Centre vs Tamil Nadu: The Paddy and Wheat Bonus Dispute and Its Federal Implications
The Centre's Department of Expenditure sent a January 9, 2026 letter to all Chief Secretaries, advising states to 'review' their bonus policies above MSP...
France and UK to Lead Multinational Mission to Restore Navigation in Strait of Hormuz: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom would jointly lead a 'peaceful, multinational mission' to restore freedom of...
IMD and Skymet Predict Below-Normal 2026 Monsoon: How Accurate Are India's Forecasters?
Both the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and private forecaster Skymet have independently predicted a below-normal monsoon for 2026, with IMD...
Parliament Set to Amend Women's Reservation Act for 2029 Implementation
Addressing a women's conference, the Prime Minister confirmed that Parliament will amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to enable its implementation...
India's Palm Oil Imports Fall 19% in March to Three-Month Low on High Global Prices
India's palm oil imports declined nearly 19% month-on-month in March 2026 to approximately 689,462 tonnes — the lowest in three months — as high global...
Rupee Weakens 56 Paise Amid Strait of Hormuz Uncertainty
The Indian rupee depreciated 56 paise to settle at 93.39 against the US dollar on April 13, 2026 Forex analysts attributed the fall to uncertainties over...
World Bank Chief Warns of 800 Million Job Deficit in Developing Economies
World Bank President Ajay Banga warned that developing economies will face a deficit of 800 million jobs in the next 10–15 years At current trajectories...
Congress Raises Questions on Delimitation and Women's Reservation Implementation Sequence
A Congress MP questioned the government's plan for the Women's Reservation Bill, arguing that the constitutionally correct sequence must be: Census first...
Supreme Court Seeks Government Response on MSP Below Weighted Average Production Cost
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government and states on a PIL seeking directions to fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at no less than the...
Trump Vows to Eliminate Iranian Vessels Challenging US Naval Blockade of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump announced that the US Navy would immediately eliminate any Iranian fast-attack vessels approaching the naval blockade enforced...
World Bank Approves $225 Million for Rajasthan Highway Modernisation: Upgrading 800 km of Corridors
The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved a $225 million loan on April 10, 2026 for the Rajasthan Highway Modernization Project (RHMP) The...
Sonia Gandhi Criticises Delimitation Exercise as 'Assault on Constitution'
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi described the proposed delimitation exercise to increase Lok Sabha seats as an 'assault on the...
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Shows Steady Decline, Scientists Warn of Collapse Risk
A new study published in Science Advances (2026) reveals that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) has been weakening consistently over...
Urban Heat Inequality in Delhi: Green Cover, Concrete, and Climate Justice
A study by Artha Global surveyed 2,368 households across all 70 of Delhi's assembly constituencies, combining primary survey data with high-resolution...
Dual Threats to India's Rural Economy: Below-Normal Monsoon Forecast and Rising Input Costs
A recent economic report has flagged a dual threat to India's rural economy in 2026: the southwest monsoon is projected at 94% of the Long Period Average...
India's Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% in March 2026: Below RBI Target but Pressure Building
India's Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation edged up to 3.4% in March 2026, from 3.21% in February, according to official data released by the...
India's March Retail Inflation Rises to 3.4% as Middle East War Disrupts Global Trade
India's retail inflation (CPI-based) ticked up to 3.4% in March 2026, from 3.21% in February — still below the RBI's 4% medium-term target Consumer Food...
Centre-Tamil Nadu Dispute Over Paddy Bonus Advisory Exposes Federal Tensions on Agricultural Policy
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of creating 'false narratives' over a January 9, 2026 advisory...
BJP's Strategic Communication on Women's Reservation: Fielding Only Women in TV Debates
Ahead of the special Parliament session (April 16–18, 2026) to discuss amendments to the Women's Reservation Act, the BJP announced it would field only...
Rajya Sabha to Elect Deputy Chairman on April 17; NDA to Renominate Harivansh
The Rajya Sabha was scheduled to elect its Deputy Chairman on April 17, 2026, after the post fell vacant when Harivansh Narayan Singh's tenure as a Rajya...
US-Iran Peace Talks Collapse in Pakistan; Blockade Dims Hormuz Reopening Prospects
Marathon peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, concluded without a deal on April 12, 2026 US Vice President JD Vance...
Southwest Monsoon 2026 to Be 8% Below Long Period Average: IMD Forecast and Economic Risks
IMD's April 2026 long-range forecast places the southwest monsoon at 92% of the Long Period Average — 8 percentage points below the normal threshold. The...
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 107 Years of a Turning Point in India's Freedom Struggle
April 13, 1919 marks the 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar, Punjab, when British Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered troops...
West Bengal Electoral Roll Deletions: SIR Exercise and the Right to Vote
Approximately 91 lakh voters were removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls following the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise...
Supreme Court Seeks Government's Response on Plea Linking MSP to Actual Cost of Cultivation
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Union Government and other respondents, including the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), on a plea...
IMD Forecasts Below-Normal Monsoon for 2026: El Niño Threatens Kharif Agriculture
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released its first long-range forecast on April 13, 2026, predicting below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall for...
Why the Iran War's Energy Shock Has Not Yet Spread to Food Prices
Despite Brent crude oil crossing $100 per barrel following the 2026 Iran war and US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, global food prices have not spiked...
US Announces Strait of Hormuz Blockade: Ships to Non-Iranian Ports Allowed Transit
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on April 13, 2026, that it would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz while still allowing ships traveling between...
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Wildlife Study Documents 18 Species Using Animal Underpasses
A joint study by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), titled 'Landscapes Reconnected,' documented 18...
US Blockade of Strait of Hormuz: Oil Surges Past $100 as Iran Conflict Escalates
President Donald Trump announced on April 12, 2026 that the US Navy would begin blockading the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of marathon peace...
US-Iran Peace Talk Failure: Markets, Rupee, and Oil Brace for Prolonged Headwinds
The failure of US-Iran peace negotiations has sent shockwaves through financial markets, with stocks, currency, and energy markets all expected to take...