India has bought 12 advanced sub-hunting planes to beef up its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. India is looking to boost its military in response to a growing Chinese presence in the region, particularly under the waters of the Indian Ocean. New Delhi is seeking out billions of dollars in foreign military hardware, including subs, ships, planes, and armored vehicles. India’s navy is considering adding to its fleet of P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, as the country shifts its military posture toward its southern approaches out of concern about Chinese naval activity. India’s Naval Chief Adm. Sunil Lanba told India Strategic magazine that aerial-surveillance capability was an important part of navy operations, and the country’s Defense Ministry has said the P-8I is able to provide “a punitive response and maintaining a watch over India’s immediate and extended areas of interest.” New … [Read more...] about With an eye on China, India is looking to buy more US-made advanced sub-hunting planes
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India reverses a controversial policy of playing the national anthem in movie theatres
India has reversed its policy requiring that the national anthem be played at theaters before a movie starts. India established the rule in 2016. Existing laws call for jail time for those who disrupt any performance of the anthem. China and the Philippines have similar laws. India has reversed its policy requiring that the national anthem be played at theaters before a movie starts. The Supreme court ordered the termination of the policy on Tuesday in response to a request from government officials to reconsider the ruling, the BBC reported. India had enacted the nationwide cinema policy in 2016, expanding on its national anthem laws which have existed since 1971. The older laws, which are still in place, require a three-year jail term for those who “prevent the singing” or cause disturbances during the anthem. Additionally, the law also requires the Indian flag to be displayed and for all … [Read more...] about India reverses a controversial policy of playing the national anthem in movie theatres
India’s economy faces ominous 2018
You'd think the Indian economy had returned to rosy health. It seems to have recovered from two enormous disruptions -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision just over a year ago to withdraw 86% of the currency in circulation, and the poorly-planned rollout in the middle of 2017 of a new goods-and-services tax. Exports are no longer declining, as they had for several quarters; indeed, for the last month that data is available, they rose 30%. The Purchasing Managers' Index expanded the fastest it has in five years. At least one international ratings agency has upgraded India's credit rating. Most importantly, growth sped up last quarter for the first time since early 2016. There's every reason to think it'll bounce back towards the 7-7.5% range shortly.Nothing is ever straightforward in India, however. Just as growth appears to be no longer a pressing problem, another familiar threat has reappeared: India's macroeconomic numbers don't look so stable.The last few years have been … [Read more...] about India’s economy faces ominous 2018
Rural women in India open homes to Airbnb guests
MUMBAI: Mobile apps that help women in the Indian countryside and tiny villages in Japan to open their homes to visitors from across the world are generating incomes, revitalising remote communities and helping to curb migration to cities. A women's organisation in the western Indian state of Gujarat has tied up with Airbnb, the short-term home rental service, to train rural women to be hosts and list their homes on its site.A year in, the number of women earning from home sharing has doubled, according to the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), which has about 2 million members, mostly in villages."At first, we weren't sure how the women would fare and if people would respond to homestays in these areas," said Reema Nanavaty, a director at SEWA."But once they began getting guests, the women invested in upgrading their homes and started using Google Translate to communicate with guests. It has become a significant source of income for them," she told the Thomson Reuters … [Read more...] about Rural women in India open homes to Airbnb guests
Future belongs to Asians, predicts India’s Jeev
Asia is ready to take on the world and the future will see a lot of golfers from the continent winning major championships, said Jeev Milkha Singh. The Indian golfer, the son of the legendary Milkha Singh, the amiable, self-deprecatory athlete who used to call a spade a spade, gave the prescient warning just like South African legend Gary Player, who made a bold prediction that Chinese would dominate the game very soon.Jeev is one of a kind. They don't come often these days. In this age when relationships are made for a reason and would not even last a season, he was here in Bangkok to meet and celebrate the New Year with his friends from Bishop Cotton School in India."We thought we can catch up with lot of Cottoners for old times sake. It is good to see all my school friends doing very well in Thailand. My school gave us good values and got us ready to face the world," he said.The man with 22 wins worldwide said the future of Asian golf is very bright."Asia is the only region that is … [Read more...] about Future belongs to Asians, predicts India’s Jeev