Harmless threat
Much has been made of the fact that India could face severe dumping from south east and east Asian exporters. The free fall in these currencies has made their exports extremely cheap, so the argument goes. Consequently, they will be in a position to undercut Indian producers.
ADB isn't Moody's
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has let itself be influenced by Moody's rating and has virtually condemned the Indian economy to an uncertain future on that basis. It is unfortunate that the international community has largely been influenced by fears of political instability in India.
Mining sector poised to scale new heights
India being the home of a very ancient civilization, has a rich heritage of mining and metallurgy dating back to the pre-Harrapan period (4000-2000 BC). India was the only source of diamond for the world for over 3000 years and has a heritage of world's oldest zinc technology besides extensive and deep workings of copper-lead-zinc etc.
The swing from Rangarajan to Jalan
There is a certain longing for a return to the high industrial growth rates of 11.8% reached in 1995-96 and 9.4% in the previous year. The 6.6% growth of 1996-97 is considered unsatisfactory. Industrial production has risen by 6.1% in April-November this year. There is disappointment with the lingering recession in industry.
The civilian way of disarming the chief
The appointment of the three-star Adjutant General (AG) is crucial in a peacetime army. In the British and American armies he is a four-star general. He's responsible for the morale, welfare, discipline, human rights and ceremonial functions of the army and supports field commanders in exercising their command responsibility over these motivational battle-winning assets.
Divine duel in Havana
It's so magical a moment that even Gabriel Garcia Marquez is there, with his reporter's notepad. Two patriarchs in their autumnal splendour, die-hard apostles of two clashing faiths, both John Paul II and Fidel Castro are engaged in the most defining transcendental missions of this century.
