India to hold key state elections beginning Nov. 11
India will hold five state elections in November and December, authorities said on Friday, kicking off a contest that is expected to boost the profile of Hindu nationalist opposition leader Narendra Modi ahead of a general election next year. Full Article
Exclusive: AgustaWestland invokes arbitration over chopper deal
NEW DELHI - AgustaWestland has invoked arbitration over a scandal-tainted deal to sell helicopters to the government, according to a statement on Friday from the unit of Italy's Finmeccanica .
Modi, Kejriwal become latest game characters
Politicians are becoming the Super Mario Brothers equivalent for Indian gamers as 2014 election fever starts to settle over the country. Software developers have been developing all kinds of new games and apps in recent years as Indians increasingly shift to smartphones of companies such as Samsung, Apple, Micromax and Karbonn. Not surprisingly, politics has crept into the mix, writes Aditya Kalra. Article
Chiranjeevi, Raju quit over Telangana decision
Pallam Raju, minister for human resources and development, and K. Chiranjeevi, a former film star who is minister of state for tourism, resigned on Friday over a cabinet decision to create Telangana, the latest bout of infighting that threatens to weaken the ruling Congress party in the run-up to elections. Full Article
Five killed in Egypt Brotherhood protests
Five people were killed in clashes on Friday as supporters of deposed President Mohamed Mursi took to the streets of Cairo and other cities to demand the end of army-backed rule. Full Article
Icahn caves on Dell, will not seek share rights
Carl Icahn, who ended his months-long campaign against Michael Dell's planned buyout of Dell Inc last month, on Friday signaled his final retreat from the struggling personal computer maker. Full Article
Williams beats Wozniacki to reach China semis
Serena Williams brushed aside former world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals of the China Open on Friday. Full Article | Nadal on brink of reclaiming top spot
Latest Headlines
Economic Pulse
Retail loans for festive season to be announced soon: Rajan
Reserve Bank of India chief, Raghuram Rajan, said the govt was in talks with the bank to decide the contours of a package for retail investors for the festive season, which would be announced soon. Article | Related
Terrano might just be the ace up Nissan’s sleeve
I could have said the Terrano — Nissan’s compact SUV — is a glorified and beautified Renault Duster, but Nissan isn’t silly to invest money and effort to market a product already in the market. The Terrano gets the distinctive front grille treatment of a Nissan SUV. When you walk around to the rear, you will see that the tail lamps extend into the hatch, a departure from the now familiar look of the Duster. Full Article
Rajan panel proposals not a cure for disparity among states
The report of a committee headed by Raghuram Rajan on backward states has drawn attention to development disparities among states in India. The committee’s recommendations, even if efficiently implemented, are not likely to show results soon. Present-day disparities are rooted in history. Full Article
Wedding photographers beat economic gloom
Rising costs and a slowing economy haven’t darkened the mood of wedding photographers in India. More couples are now willing to spend thousands on albums, pre-wedding shoots and videos, allowing photographers to take a bigger slice of the $30 billion weddings business. Blog
IT Sector
What’s next after Satyam? We ask Tech Mahindra’s CEO Gurnani
Tech Mahindra’s CEO CP Gurnani discusses his plans for the company’s future after completing the merger of Satyam Computer Services. Tech Mahindra is the No. 5 Indian IT services provider that aims to double revenues by 2015. It has more than 500 clients and is spread in 46 countries. Video
India’s Oscar fight: Batra offers an apology, and some advice
Ritesh Batra, director of the “The Lunchbox,” apologized to the Film Federation of India after accusing it of corruption because it did not pick his movie as India’s contender for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2013 Academy Awards. Batra said his intention was to participate in the debate over the selection process for the country’s Oscars entry. Full Article
Special Coverage
Tracking the Rupee
The rupee has entered a period of relative calm after slumping to record lows recently. However, economic uncertainty and rising current account deficit still present a challenge for policymakers. Full Coverage
A Girl's Very Best Friend
Necklace worth $55 million on sale
For someone with $55 million to spare on an egg-sized diamond, the world's most expensive necklace is on sale this month at a jewellery show in Singapore, reflecting Asia's growing appetite for precious gems and expensive baubles. Full Article
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