07 November 2014
National:
Indians suffering from vacation deprivation
Indians are the
fourth most vacation deprived nation globally with 67% polled saying that they
took only 15 days of leave in a year. Mumbai took the least vacations while
Delhiites took the maximum holidays in a 5 city survey by Expedia. About 40% of
Indians cannot plan vacations in advance due to work. Indians rank fourth
globally after Thailand (43%), Singapore & South Korea (42%) in
vacation-deprivation. Indians also ranked second globally in cancelling holiday
plans due to work (74%) after Thailand (77%). Globally, 15% feel guilty about
taking their vacation days. Indians rank 4 at 20% while Japanese top the list
at 26%. Within India, Mumbai residents took the least number of vacations with
97% saying they felt deprived of time off from work followed by Pune (88%),
Bangalore (86%), Hyderabad (85%) and Delhi (83%). The survey interviewed 7855
people over 18 years of age.
Navy Vessel sinks off Visakhapatnam
A Torpedo Recovery
Vessel, TRV-72 of Indian Navy has sunk off the Visakhapatnam coast during a
naval exercise killing one sailor while three others went missing. The Navy
said that there were 28 personnel on board. The incident occurred at about 35
nautical miles south of Visakhapatnam. Twenty-four out of the 28 personnel on
board have been rescued by Indian naval ships. TRV-72 was deployed for a
routine torpedo recovery mission. TRV-72 was built at Goa Shipyard and was
commissioned into the Indian navy on 23 February 1983.
Hyderabad to have H-TRIMS to tackle traffic problems
Hyderabad has found
a smart solution for its well known traffic problems with the Hyderabad Traffic
Integrated Management System coming into being. The Bengalore based Bharat
Electronics Limited, BEL has conceptualised and indigenously developed H-TRIMS
project, the first of its kind intelligent signalling system in the country.
Comprising intelligent timers and vehicle detectors, the integrated traffic
management system will primarily work on solar power. The intelligent signals
have been placed at 221 out of 227 junctions in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The
H-TRIMS is aimed at providing commuter-friendly traffic atmosphere and a state
of the art multi-purpose technology for the police, as a shot in their arm.
International:
Indian-origin UK Cabinet minister Sajid Javid tops influential
Asian list
Britain’s first
Indian-origin cabinet minister Sajid Javid has topped a list of the most
influential Asians in the country. Javid, the UK secretary of state for
culture, media and sport, topped the ‘Power 101 Britain’s Most Influential
Asians 2015′ list released. Born to an Indian father and Pakistani mother,
Javid dedicated the honour to his parents. Others in the top five included
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, down to second position from the top
spot in 2013, Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz at the third, Indian steel
tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and Hinduja brothers at the fourth and fifth positions
respectively. NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul and son Angad, chairman and CEO
of Caparo Group of Industries, curry king Lord Gulam Noon and Deutsche Bank’s
Indian-origin CEO Anshu Jain also find their place in the Power 101.
Libya parliament rejects SC decision declaring it as
unconstitutional
The political chaos
in Libya has further deepened. The country’s democratically elected and internationally
recognized parliament has rejected the Libyan Supreme Court decision to declare
it unconstitutional. It has alleged that the ruling was taken under the threat
of arms. The House of Representatives rejected the verdict and said it was
taken under the threat of arms. It said it is still functioning and so is the
government elected on June 25. Libya’s apex court had declared that the newly
elected parliament working from Tobruk was unconstitutional since it not
operating from Tripoli or Benghazi. Both these cities are under the control of
Islamist led militia. The decision was hailed by celebratory gunfire in
Tripoli.
The man who shot Osama
A decorated ex-Navy
SEAL Robert O’Neill has been unmasked as the man who pumped three shots to the
head of elusive al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden during a top-secret 2011 raid on
his hideout in Pakistan. Mr. O’Neill (38) is the SEAL Team Six member who fired
the three shots to the head of the al-Qaeda leader during the raid. Tom
O’Neill, the father of the Navy SEAL Rob, told that he was not worried about
the potential threat posed by Rob revealing his identity as the member of Team
Six who shot the Al Qaeda founder. The veteran, who served 16 years in the US
military, was decorated 52 times.
Business & Economy:
Modified scheme for DBT for LPG to be launched in country from
Jan 1st
The modified direct
cash subsidy transfer for LPG consumers will be launched in 54 districts from
15th November 2014 and all over the country from 1st of January 2015. Oil
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed preparedness for the launch of the scheme
in four of the 54 districts. Under the scheme, LPG consumers will get cash
subsidy in their bank accounts so that they can buy a cooking gas cylinder at
the market price. All LPG consumers who join the modified Direct Benefit
Transfer Scheme, DBTL scheme can receive the LPG cash subsidy either by linking
their Aadhaar number to the LPG and bank database as the primary option. Else,
they will get the subsidy directly into their accounts without linking it with
Aadhaar as a secondary option.
Indian economy to grow 5.4% this year
Paris-based think
tank Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD has projected
5.4 percent growth for the Indian economy this year as global recovery
continues at a moderate pace. Earlier in September, it had projected 5.7 per
cent growth rate for India. According to the advanced G20 release of the OECD's
latest Economic Outlook, growth will strengthen in India as investment picks
up, from a 5.4 per cent rate in 2014 to 6.4 per cent in 2015 and 6.6 per cent
in 2016.
Sports:
Messi equals Raul’s record
Barcelona forward
Lionel Messi equalled Real Madrid legend Raul as the top goalscorer in the
history of the Champions League on 71 goals after scoring twice against Ajax.
The Argentine leapfrogged Cristiano Ronaldo in his 90th appearance in the
competition. The top scorers: Messi (71 goals, 90
games); Raul (71, 142); Ronaldo (70, 107); van Nistelrooy (56, 73); Henry (50,
112).
