A special aircraft transported 100 tons of gold from the UK to India for the RBI, marking a significant repatriation event.

• The gold, stored at the Bank of England, was moved to India by the RBI, with the operation kept low-profile due to the sensitivity.
• The legality of the operation was emphasized, clarifying that it was not an illicit activity.

RBI's gold reserves total 822 tons, with previous storage in the UK and Switzerland for historical and practical reasons.

• Gold provides financial stability to central banks, which globally hold 17% of all mined gold.
• India's gold was stored abroad due to an economic crisis in the 1990s and the common practice of safekeeping in London.

Storing gold in London offers liquidity for countries, but domestic storage saves fees and enhances sovereignty.

• The Bank of England and the Federal Reserve in New York are key gold storage and market locations due to their liquidity options.
• India decides to bring gold back to reduce costs and as a symbolic move of economic resilience and emotional value.

India's repatriation of gold reflects its strong economy and foreign reserves, negating the need to sell or pledge gold.

• The transferred gold will be stored in RBI’s vaults in Mumbai and Nagpur.
• The move signifies confidence in the Indian economy, with substantial foreign reserves supporting continued imports.

News coverage from Africa includes South African elections, climate change, and regional innovations.

• Updates from Durban, South Africa, with a focus on the upcoming elections and the potential for political shifts.
• The news report aims to bring attention to Africa as an increasingly significant part of the global conversation.