News in Brief
Russia resumes oil exports to North Korea
BLOOMBERG – Russia resumed oil exports to North Korea for the first time in two years last December, U.N. data has revealed, as the two countries continue what Pyongyang has called a new “heyday” in bilateral relations.
The U.N. data also shows that China supplied North Korea 35,399 barrels of refined oil in the first two months of this year, bringing all of North Korea’s known oil imports this year to 99,474 barrels.
RBI likely to tighten norms for unsecured lending portfolios
BUSINESS STANDARD – The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is looking to tighten scrutiny on the unsecured lending portfolios of banks amid the growing risk of potential defaults, four banking sources said.
Unsecured loans “mostly personal loans and credit cards “do not carry any collateral and therefore pose a higher risk of default. These loans, however, are a big contributor to margins as they entail higher interest rates.
Germany attractive for renewables investment
REUTERS – Germany has overtaken China to become the second most attractive country in the world for renewables investment due to its efforts to speed up power market reform and move away from fossil fuels, research showed on Tuesday.
In an annual ranking of the top 40 renewable energy markets worldwide by consultancy EY, the United States was ranked first, with Germany climbing one place to second position for the first time in a decade.