In the News

India:

India to grow at 7.5% in 2016: IMF

Indian economy is expected to grow faster than other major emerging economies, IMF said on Tuesday, projecting a growth rate of 7.5% for India in 2016 as against China’s 6.3%. India’s growth is expected to strengthen from 7.3% this year and last year to 7.5% next year. On the other hand, growth in China is expected to decline to 6.8% this year and 6.3% in 2016.

HDFC, Canara Bank, cut lending rates; home, auto loans to be cheaper

Country’s largest mortgage lenders, including Canara Bank and StanChart, cut their base rates by up to 0.25%, a move that will make home, auto and other loans cheaper. The effective home loan rate for new customers will be 9.65%, while for women borrowers, it will be 9.60%. This reduction is effective from Oct 5, 2015.

Modi-Merkel to fast track business deals

18 MOUs were signed and the leaders also committed to resume talks on India-EU free trade pact. Merkel also pledged Euro 1 billion for solar energy – India and Germany on Monday gave a major boost to their bilateral ties, particularly in the economic field by inking 18 MOUs, including one for setting up a fast-track system for German companies in India.

Germany returns 10^th century Durga idol

Germany on Monday returned to India, a 10^th century Durga idol that had gone missing from a temple in Kashmir in 1990’s and later found in that country. The idol was handed over by Angelo Merkel to PM Modi three years after it was spotted in a museum in Stuttgart.

INS Kochi commissioned

INS Kochi, the 25^th warship built by Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd was commissioned into the Indian Navy by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The ship matches with the best in the world. A major achievement for make in India plans.

World:

ISIS destroys more history

Islamic State has blown up the 2000-year-old Arch of Triumph, an ‘icon of Palmyra’ in the ancient city of Palmyra, stepping up its campaign of destruction at the world heritage site in Syria.

Facebook to deliver Satellite internet to Africa

European satellite operator Eutelsat Communication and social giant Facebook have announced that they are working jointly to deliver Satellite broadband Internet to connectivity-hungry sub-Saharan Africa.

PIO couple donates $100m to NY University

In what is possibly the single largest philanthropic donation by Indian-American community, Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon have announced a $100 million gift to New York University’s School of Engineering. Chandrika is Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi’s sister and a Grammy nominated singer.

Trio share Nobel medicine for beating parasites

Three scientists from Japan, China and Ireland whose discoveries led to the development of potent new drugs against parasitic diseases including Malaria and Elephantiasis won the Nobel Prize for medicine. Irish-born William Campbell, 85, Japan’s Satoshi Omura, 80 and China’s Youyou Tu, 85, were the winners.

Japanese, Canadian scientists win Nobel in Physics

Takaaki Kajita, 56 of Japan and Arthur McDonald, 72 of Canada won the Nobel prize in Physics for neutrino work. They discovered that elusive subatomic particles neutrinos have mass.

 

Viewpoint:

Indo-Pak Talk?

Indian government is in no mood or hurry to get talking with Pakistan. India would not rush into any fresh talks unless its concerns about terrorism are addressed upfront and its sensitivities about Hurriyat being unwelcome in the bilateral engagement are appreciated.

Educated and young Pakistanis think and behave differently and appreciate India’s development, progress and economic growth. In this atmosphere, we can build a narrative that Pakistan is in the grip of the army and the political system is flawed and nothing moves without the nod of the army.

They should also made to feel, India is a friend that can make the aspirational and progressive class in Pakistan get what it deserves, true democracy and economic progress not with guns, but with culture and modern technology.

A stable Pakistan will be conducive to the development of the region and the SAARC countries around. Sooner Pakistan realizes this, the better it is for the whole region and Indo-Pak relations.

India was prepared to use special forces during face-off in Chumar

A year after Indian and Chinese soldiers were caught in a tense border stand-off in Ladakh’s Chumar sector, it has emerged that the Indian Army was prepared to use its special forces and had moved its toughest fighting men close to the incursion site, signaling a hardened posture along the Line of Control.

Books:

1000 Kilograms of Goa

A few days ago the courier guy delivered the book -1000 Kilograms of Goa written by a debutant writer Rohan Govenkar from Goa.

The title and the cover of the book are catchy and attractive. The book tells an incredible story with twists and turns. The narration is simple, racy and readable. In a way it is a top-notch thriller. The author uses his knowledge of inner Goa to weave a treasure hunt. It’s an absorbing story of young friends.

For me, the minute Rohan typed the first words and sentences, and completed the manuscript it was bound to hit the bulls-eye. The book is for people who want to find a new meaning of Goa with foreigners, tourists, fashion, casinos, drugs and booze. In this materialistic world, where loyalty, humanity and sincerity seem old-fashioned is very much visible.

It’s a tale of tragic romance, betrayal and genuine emotions well presented. Rohan Govenkar has made a good debut and I would recommend this book.

Quote:

‘In an age when technology is rapidly changing, it is crucial to be updated, relevant and be in sync with the latest.’

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Picture Post:

Manjunath temple at Kadri, Mangalore, India

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