National

Bilateral Investment Treaties Must Align with National Interests: Sitharaman

Published

1 year ago

February 16, 2025

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized on Sunday that bilateral investment treaties (BITs) must prioritize national interests regarding regulatory powers and act as a reference point for arbitrators in dispute resolution. She highlighted that the complexities surrounding BITs are unique to sovereign nations and should therefore be negotiated independently, not bundled within Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The finance minister made these remarks during the launch of the inaugural Post Graduate Certificate Course on International Commercial & Investment Treaty Arbitration in New Delhi.

She pointed out that arbitrators frequently overlook judicial rulings from host countries, which necessitates that investment treaties not only enhance regulatory authority for nations but also offer clear direction to arbitrators. “I firmly believe that moving forward, the structure of investment treaties should reflect national interests concerning regulatory powers and provide robust guidance to arbitrators in conflict resolution, taking into account the interests and situations of the nations involved,” said Sitharaman.

Her comments are particularly pertinent as India engages in negotiations for BITs with the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the European Union (EU). During her speech, she referenced UNCTAD reports indicating there have been 1,368 documented investment treaty cases.

“Alarmingly, nearly 70% of these cases are directed at developing nations, often based on outdated treaties, presenting a significant concern for these countries. Such treaties enable investors to exploit opportunities and gain unfair advantages,” the minister noted.

Sitharaman also mentioned the trend where financially powerful parties acquire cases from arbitration participants, dragging disputes out for extended periods—an undertaking too costly for sovereign states to sustain across various jurisdictions. “Ultimately, the party with deeper pockets often prevails in these cases. While this isn’t universally applicable, numerous anecdotal accounts from developing nations corroborate this pattern,” she added.

She further explained how corporations have leveraged Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms through investment treaties to contest government policies, environmental regulations, and laws designed for public welfare.

National

Two Workers Die After Electric Shock in Telangana

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

Telangana: Two workers died after suffering an electric shock while carrying an iron stand in Telangana. The incident happened near an Indian Oil petrol bunk in Mancherial district.

The deceased have been identified as Salla Lakshminarayana and Chandnagari Nagaraju from Velganur village.

According to reports, three labourers were carrying a tall iron stand near the petrol bunk. During this time, the iron stand accidentally touched an overhead electric wire.

Electricity passed through the iron stand and caused a severe shock. Lakshminarayana and Nagaraju suffered serious burns and died on the spot.

The third person who was with them escaped without any injuries.

Police have registered a case and started an investigation.

National

22-Year-Old Woman Killed After Truck Runs Over Her in Jaipur

Published

5 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

Jaipur: A 22-year-old woman died after a truck ran over her in Jaipur, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Liga Jimo, a native of Nagaland. She had been living in a rented house in Malviya Nagar for the past two years. She was working at a beauty parlour in the area.

The incident took place on Monday night. Liga Jimo was travelling to Malviya Nagar on a bike taxi.

According to police, the bike lost control near Gopalpura Pulia. As a result, the woman fell onto the road.

At the same time, a truck carrying gas cylinders came from behind and ran over her. She died on the spot due to the impact.

Police shifted the body to the mortuary for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is underway

National

Husband Revives Wife After Doctors Declare Her Dead

Published

2 days ago

March 9, 2026

Namma Kudla

Mangaluru: A woman who was declared dead by doctors survived after her husband performed CPR for 35 minutes. The inspiring story of Komal Jamwal was shared on the Instagram page of Humans of Bombay and has gone viral.

The incident happened in March 2012 when Komal was 33 years old. She suddenly developed severe leg weakness and collapsed. Doctors at a hospital in Jammu later diagnosed her with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare condition that affects the nerves.

During treatment, she suffered repeated cardiac arrests and doctors declared her dead. However, her husband refused to give up and performed CPR for 35 minutes until her heart started beating again.

She was later treated in Ludhiana and slowly recovered. Now 14 years later, the 47-year-old woman can walk again and says she is grateful to her husband and family for saving her life.