However much American leaders may praise India as the World’s “largest” democracy, a 2006 diplomatic cable leaked by Wikileaks reveals that they were under no illusions about the state of governance in India. The then US ambassador to India felt that the emergence of a separate ‘corruption economy’ and ‘corruption elite’ and that the Congress […]
After Idea Cellular, it is the turn of the country’s biggest Internet Service Provider BSNL to slash 3G data rates in an effort to test demand. The state-owned company has unveiled three new 3G data plans that are cheaper than any other on offer right now, except for the unlimited @750 offer from its partner […]
Japan has completely removed import duties on 87% of the items traded between the country and India thanks to last week’s trade agreement, commerce secretary Rahul Khullar said. Malyasia, with which too India inked trade pacts last week, will allow freer import of India’s basmati rice, mangoes, eggs, trucks, motorcycles and cotton garments from now […]
Gurgaon-based Canaan Partners, known for its early stage investments into tech and related sectors, has pumped in $4.4 million (Rs 20 crore) into Loylty Rewardz, a “loyalty and relationship management company.” Established in 2006, Loyltly helps “conceptualize, develop and operate loyalty programs — such as discounts, rewards, contests etc.. “Loylty Rewardz helps brands achieve successful […]
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari tried to extract financial concessions from the US in exchange for talking with India, according to a US diplomatic cable dating to February last year and leaked by Wikileaks. When the US pressed him to hold talks with India, Zardari said his personal position has to be shored up through […]
Vodafone has become the first operator to crack the whip on telemarketers under India’s tough new anti-spamming laws. According to India’s telecom regulator, the TRAI, the Indian operation of the UK-based service provider became the first to deposit fine money collected to violators of the code that became effective this month. “Vodafone penalized the first […]
Even as rumors fly of a meeting between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Taliban leaders during the former’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month, a Wikileaks cable has revealed that the Saudis were initially against such a meeting. The cable, dating back to February last year and sent from the Islamabad embassy of the United […]
The Centre for Science and Environment, headed by one of India’s most vocal environmental activist Sunita Narain, has raised alarm at the increasing rate of destruction of India’s forests for industrial purposes. Responding to an ‘open letter’ by industry leaders, the CSE pointed out that despite the projected image of increasing protection for the environment […]
Former Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan, who has a reputation as one of the least corrupt politicians in the country, had warned the US government against the Pakistani government’s exaggeration of the terror threat and “stage management” of attacks to fleece money from it. In a meeting with a delegation of the US Congress Representatives led […]
The latest foreign trade figures for India holds both good news and bad news. The good news is that the export-growth that has been the most significant aspect of the numbers since January this year has held up in September too. The bad news is that despite that, the higher price of oil is creating […]
