EDITORS PICK : TOP STORIES
Health
BUSINESS
The men behind extraordinary brands – 1
Each brand has a story behind it. Great brands were not created by God but humans’ back-stage who never gave up trying. They were successful entrepreneurs who like anyone else wanted to make money but ended up creating brands that last beyond their life time. Let’s unveil the hidden hands behind the success or failure of mega brands. Here are some of the legendary brand builders of all times…
New EU initiative may create hell for secret and shell companies
A new EU initiative might make life miserable for corrupt individuals and companies to hide their identity behind a maze of anonymous shell companies. The new move might make it easier for investigators and the public to uncover the source and intended destination for funds stolen from the public or given and accepted as bribes for winning public contracts. Many secret companies till now being used to hide illicit funds.
Online Gaming industry in India to get a regulator soon
The government of India is planning to set up a watchdog/regulatory body to regulate the untamed skill gaming industry in India. This is expected to bring legitimacy, promote investments in the mushrooming online gaming industry, and safeguard the interests of players. Currently, over 220 million gamers spend an average of 42 minutes per day on mobile games.
Fakes don’t kill brands; they kill businesses
According to the World Health Organization, one out of every five drugs made in India is fake. Consider the impact of all this, on human health when a patient takes a medicine, assuming that it will save his life but it doesn’t.
Go-First stakes claim as the 3rd largest carrier
GO FIRST registered growth in market share from 8.2% to 9.8% in October 2021 making it the third largest carrier as per the DGCA
EDUCATION
Aviation Psychology – an emerging field
An aviation psychologist is an expert in an emerging field where psychologists specifically study behaviour, feeling, thinking, and working in the aviation industry.
English, vinglish and the trauma in the minds of students
After teaching English in a Government School for years I realize how difficult it is even for brilliant students to study English and other subjects in English medium, especially when there is no English speaking environment at home, school, or neighbourhood. Let the students decide what language they wish to learn and let them do so at their own pace and grasping ability!!
Babu factory: Why does Bihar produce so many IAS, IPS or IIT, IIM grads?
Bihar is a state difficult to understand. On one side, 80% of the population is uneducated. There are hardly any studies throughout the year due to politics, frequent strikes and absenteeism. Many parents have to sell off their property to send their sons or daughters to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore or any other such metro cities for education. Still the state manages to produce the highest numbers of IAS, IPS & IFS officers. Almost 25 percent of the 700 IAS and IPS officers in the last ten years are Biharis.
Schools: playgrounds or battlegrounds?
School children and teachers live under the shadow of the gun all over the world. Does it make any difference if the hand on the trigger is that of a terrorist or security forces personnel? Many students, teachers, schools, and universities have seen targeted attacks, bombing, burning, killing, kidnapping and torture in the last 5-10 years. Many people died, and many others missed out on education.
Higher Education in India – road ahead
India has the largest population of illiterates in the World - 37% of the global total. There is a substantial gap in the male and female literacy in our country. The literacy gap is higher in the more populous states, like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
LIFESTYLE
What makes Lord Hanuman a role-model even today?
Lord Hanuman is considered to be the greatest devotee ever born on earth. His devotion to Lord Rama was unique, exemplary, and unconditional. His character, strength, and ability are something to be admired and followed in everyday life even today.
The 1st Afghan woman to fly solo
Meet Shaesta Waiz the youngest woman to fly around the world solo in a single engine aircraft. Her journey lasted around 145 days, over 30 stops in 22 countries and 24,816 nautical miles, across five continents.
The unscrupulous world of power play and office politics
Politics or power play is a very common feature in the workplace. This is often demonstrated when employees aspire to achieve something beyond their authority and control. They attempt to live up to these aspirations by forming relationships with those who have greater power and authority than themselves.
Algorithm helps robots avoid obstacles in their path
If you’ve ever ordered a product from Amazon, chances are that a robot selected your purchase from a shelf, read the barcode and delivered it to the counter for packaging. Hopefully, it didn’t collide with a human worker on its journey or lost its way.
Why whisky & whiskey are worlds apart?
There is a world of difference between what India, the world's largest whisky drinking nation, cheers with and what connoisseurs call the American 'whiskey' spelt with an extra 'e', for starters.
ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE
CRIME
Why are police custody deaths common in India?
A total of 1,731 -- almost five people per day died in police custody in India during 2019. According to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), 1,022 deaths in police custody were reported from 2000-2016 but only 428 FIRs were filed, and just 5% policemen were finally convicted.
Leopard in the bag – the lucrative trade of leopard skin and body parts
Illegitimate trading in wildlife is an illegal offence under the wildlife protection act and if convicted it can lead to imprisoned for up to 10 years. Illegitimate trading in wildlife is an illegal offence under the wildlife protection act and if convicted it can lead to imprisoned for up to 10 years. Possessing a wildlife item; even as a part of ancestral /family inheritance without a license is a crime.
India is among Top 10 countries where online banking is most unsafe
If you are an online banking customer in India, you better watch out. India is among the Top 10 countries in the world where online banking is unsafe, prone to leakage of payment credentials and malware attacks.
How Nambi Narayanan was framed in a fake Spy Case?
24 years ago, Nambi Narayanan –a reputed space scientist was accused of selling ISRO’s rocket and satellite secrets and subjected to inhuman torture by IB and Kerala police officers. Was it part of an international conspiracy, insensitive journalism or police brutality that the scientific genius spent the prime of his life behind four walls of a jail instead of a laboratory?
Is forensic science based on fact or fiction?
Forensic science must be stripped of the ‘undeserving aura’, that it has assumed for the simple reason that hitherto no one has challenged it
TRAVEL
10 sacred Bahai temples around the world
The Bahai faith was founded by Bahá’u’lláh over 150 years ago. Bahai houses of worship or temples, are also called Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in Arabic meaning “The Dawning Place of the Mention of God.” People from all religions are welcome to meditate without any formal sermons and rituals.
The biggest palaces in the world!!
According to Guinness book of World Records, Forbidden City, the world's largest palace in Beijing China has 980 buildings and 9,999 rooms
Indians are the highest spending globetrotters
Shopping is the main preoccupation for Indians abroad. Indians just love shopping. Nearly half the people from India travel only to for shopping overseas. Almost 73% buy branded duty-free goods. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Indians spend over $5.52 billion while traveling abroad. Part of the reason behind it is that the credit cards issued by Indian banks are valid internationally.
Indians largest tourist group by nationality in Sri Lanka
Interestingly, this has been a gradual shift in the source markets for the country’s tourism sector, with arrivals from the traditional source markets of Western Europe declining as a percentage of total arrivals and Asian countries increasing their market share, led by China and India.
Urban tourists going rural
"Rural tourism is one aspect of experiential tourism as it gives people a chance to do something on a holiday - be it farming, petting animals, eating fresh fruits and vegetables or just running around in farms and villages," Pinheiro said, adding that Grassroutes operates in three Maharashtra villages.
ENTERTAINMENT
Fantico introduces a list of Bollywood collectables
Fantico is a digital licensed collectables platform, curating assets in the fields of cinema, sports, art, music and other collectables
Sooryavanshi- the widest overseas released film
‘Sooryavanshi’ directed by Rohit Shetty is creating a record as the film with the widest overseas release- ahead of its launch globally
Neelesh Misra to spoof governance in ‘Ramrajya’
Writer and lyricist Neelesh Misra's new “introspective” TV show “Ramrajya” will “raise a lot of uncomfortable but necessary prospects” of good governance.
TV: The New Guardian
It is estimated that 75 per cent of everything on TV, both programming and commercials, is created by approximately 100 large corporations whose only intention is to maximize their profits for their shareholders in whatever ways are legal.
Air Badminton – A New Outdoor Game
Air Badminton is designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and ability to play badminton on hard, grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds, and beaches around the world. The project has been going on for the past five years to develop a new outdoor shuttlecock with increased durability, stability and wind resistance to allow people to play badminton outdoors.
REAL ESTATE
Selling property online: Impact of internet on Real Estate Marketing
On the surface, selling and buying real estate seems novel and even logical. What works against it is the manner in which the real estate market actually functions in India.
The top 3 cities for property investment
MMR, Bengaluru and Pune are currently the top three markets for buying homes for end-use and investment.
Be a smart property buyer with a pre-approved home loan
The best ‘be prepared’ move on this front is to become pre-approved for a home loan. Doing so means that this tricky and time-consuming aspect of home purchase has already been dealt with, and that one can enter the market focused squarely on the best options. Getting pre-approved also puts you in the strongest possible place when it comes to negotiating the best deal.
Schools are pushing sale of property in Pune
Pune has more hospitals, clinics and healthcare facilities per square kilometer than most other cities in Maharashtra. A cursory study of pricing trends indicates that residential properties which are near to good secondary schools appreciate better than others.
More women in India today wish to own their homes not just live in...
More Indian women are now determined to own their homes rather than just live in them. Women are the decision-makers. The final decision on a home purchase is taken by women for 80% of all purchases.
CORPORATE DOSSIER
Boeing Named ‘Eco-Company of the Year’ by Air Transport World
Leading industry publication cites fuel-efficient airplanes, ‘collaborative, creative, innovative’ environmental strategy
“Advantek ethos: Green Earth and clear Blue Sky”
Advantek Fuel Systems Private Limited created a big splash in the Indian mobility market by introducing clean, eco-friendly, Composite CNG Cylinders for the first time in India. These cylinders are not only 70% lighter than the Type - I steel cylinders currently being used in India but also provide more storage capacity on-board to cover 800- 1000 KM per fill.
Renault announces new initiatives for the specially-abled
India is one of the key top 10 global markets for Group Renault and the brand has some of the most popular global products in its portfolio, led by KWID which is one of the top cars for the group globally.
Matrimony.com announces the rebranding to Weddingbazaar.com
Matrimony.com has announced the creation of a new brand identity - WeddingBazaar.com, India’s largest wedding marketplace
Caterpillar celebrates 50 years of manufacturing in India
Caterpillar is one of the largest exporters of construction and mining equipment and remains focused on providing world-class products and after-market service solutions to its customers in India and around the world.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
New Micro-needle Roller for Skin Rejuvenation
The DermRoller has even been reported to significantly improve hair loss in men and women by provoking the body to stimulate hair growth. Users with thinning hair have experienced thicker hair growth with regular use.
Dabur launches Vatika Protect ‘Germ Protection shampoo’
Dabur India Ltd announced the expansion of its Vatika portfolio with the launch of ‘Vatika Germ Protection shampoo’, which helps to protect against Germs and Coronavirus.
Lay’s introduces ‘wafer style’, the thinnest chip
Lay’s, India’s favourite chip brand, is introducing a new flat cut chip and its thinnest range of chips ever - Lay’s Wafer Style.
Turtle car care products to keep cars clean & healthy
Turtle Wax car care products ensure a clean, shiny, healthy, and long endurance of the car during harsh winter conditions.
Peter England: new wedding range for men
Peter England, menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, has launched ‘Honestly Made’ for its latest wedding range