Quad leaders’ Summit in Tokyo: a review
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi early morning on Wednesday after participating in the Quad Leaders’ Summit as part of his two-day tour in Japan and immediately held a Cabinet meeting. At this week’s meetings of Quad, Japan and Australia were represented by their new PMs, Fumio Kishida of Japan and Anthony Albanese of Australia. Japan and India looked for confirmation that Australia is serious about engaging with Asia. The US reviewed its expectations of what Australia, under a Labor government, is prepared to contribute to both the Quad and AUKUS...[By Philip Mudartha]
Ukraine war: The role of the Orthodox churches
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) is the primary church in Russia. Legally known as the Moscow Patriarchate, it is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Christian churches. It has 194 dioceses inside Russia. The title of primate of the ROC is the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’. The ROC, and hence its primate, officially ranks fifth in the Eastern Orthodoxy Hierarchy. The four ancient patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem of the Greek Orthodox Church rank higher in that order. Patriarch Kirill is the primate of ROC since 2009 and has continued his predecessor’s...[By Philip Mudartha]
Disinvestment: LIC’s mega IPO
The wait is finally over for the investors who were eagerly waiting for India’s biggest public issue, the Life Insurance Company (LIC) initial public offering (IPO). It hits primary markets on Wednesday, 4th May 2022. Government of India (GoI) is offering for sale 3.5% of its equity stake, totaling 22.1crore shares of face value of Rs 10. The (GoI) has fixed the LIC IPO price band at Rs902 to Rs949 per equity share...[By Philip Mudartha]
Putin’s Unjust War on co-religionists in Ukraine
n his speech declaring war on Ukraine, Putin said the goal of his “special military operation” was the demilitarization and de-Nazification of Ukraine and ridding it of drug addicts. He also said that it his moral and spiritual duty to protect the Russian speaking “brothers” in Ukraine from the genocide inflicted by the neo-Nazi Ukrainian government in Kyiv...[By Philip Mudartha]
Are we a secular nation? Our dilemma
The so-called hijab row is brewing in Karnataka for several weeks now. In late December last year, six female students of Udupi Government Junior College were denied entry into their classrooms for wearing the hijab. Hijab is headscarf worn by many Muslim women and girls in public places. The college said that Hijab went against its dress code. The girls protested and stood their ground. They approached the school authorities, district commissioner, and education department officials. Their grievances were not heard with empathy...[By Philip Mudartha]
Budget 2022-23: A perspective
The FY23 budget estimates an expenditure of Rupees 39,44,909 crore. Of which, largest share of Rupees 9,40,651crore is the interest burden on its outstanding debt. Unfazed, the GoI aims to borrow more by a whopping Rupees 16,61,196 crore during the year. The outstanding debt and other liabilities of the GoI on 31st March 2023 will be Rupees 1,52,17,910 crore..[By Philip Mudartha]
The four shortcomings of Modi Government
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, the January 15th attacked the BJP central government with an online Twitter poll. He asked his followers to vote on what they think are its biggest shortcomings. Rahul Gandhi posed the question "What has been the biggest shortcoming of the BJP government?" and listed below it four options to vote for. The four options were ’unemployment’, ’tax extortion’, ’inflation’, and ’atmosphere of hatred’...[By Philip Mudartha]
The Gen-Z and Crypto mania in India
There is no official data but estimates are that there are about 20 million crypto investors in India, with total crypto holdings of around Rs. 40,000 crores. Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, is trading at around $60,000. Its price has more than doubled since the start of this year because hordes of new local investors have flocked to trade. There are several crypto-exchanges which offer the trading services just like the stock-broking...[By Philip Mudartha]
PM Modi repeals his three farm laws
Unpredictable that he is, Prime Minister Modi surprised the nation when he announced hat his government will repeal the farm laws in the Winter Session of Parliament. What were the farm laws that have been repealed? The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 which is aimed at allowing trade in agricultural produce outside the existing APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) mandis...[By Philip Mudartha]
Mangaluru: My tour of North Eastern State of Sikkim, paradise of heaven on earth to beat Covid-blues
In order to be free from the confinement induced by Covid-19 lockdowns, I and my wife Regina availed the services of India’s premier Mumbai-based international tour operator – Veena World to visit Sikkim – Darjeeing – Gangtok – Lachung (8-day tour). It was a great stress-buster for us and also 20+ tourist group after 20 months since Janata Curfew announced in India on March 24, 2020...[By John V Tauro]
The vaccination milestone and economic recovery
n Thursday, Oct 21st, India marked the one billion mark of total COVID-19 vaccination jabs. The most populous nation China had reached this milestone earlier in June 2021 but they had begun several months earlier. India began its vaccination program only in March 2021. “India scripts history," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter, "We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of (1.3 billion) Indians."...[By Philip Mudartha]
Tata Sons Acquire Air India
Tata Sons has won the bid to acquire national carrier Air India. The salt-to-software conglomerate placed a winning bid of ? 18,000 crore to re-acquire the airline more than half a century after it ceded control to the government. Apart from 100% ownership of Air India and its budget airline Air India Express, the winning bid also includes a 50 % stake in ground-handling company Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited...[By Philip Mudartha]
Monthi Festh: A Flashback, Transition and The Current Scenario
The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, popularly known as the ‘Monthi Festh’ on 8 September has been the one which we eagerly look forward and involve in it with heart and mind right from our primary school days, probably next only to the Christmas. Every parish had its own unique way for its preparation as well as celebration-the ‘Nine Days Novena’ which has been devoutly observed and participated with church full to its capacity than any other occasion which was a little more than a formality for the children...[By P. Archibald Furtado]
Covid-19 Pandemic has not dampened globetrotter John V Tauro who toured Ladak, flashpoint of India & China
Although international flights from India are on hold till end of August 2021; the inland tourism is booming across the country especially to north eastern countries where monsoon has set idealistic atmosphere for family tours. Nevertheless, the persons on a move like John and his wife Regina cannot be confined to home for a long time [Travelogue by John V Tauro]..
Dr. P. Gururaj Bhat: The Historian Who Brought to Life Tulunadu History and Culture
It is said, Historians neglected and in a way resident Barkurians unaware of the rich heritage of Barkur. Especially after the fall of Vijaya Nagara Empire and more so thereafter during Keladi Kings, the place lost its prominence…. Once the capital of Alupa Kings with a royal fort with a palace near Shimhasana Gudde, the seat of political power in Coastal Karnataka or Governorate of Vijaya Nagara rulers with a more larger and planned fort and palace near today’s NJC, a prosperous commercial sea port, an all seasons natural harbour, then the gate way to the West..[By Archibald Furtado]
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