Despite drop in inflation, RBI unlikely to cut interest rates
Retail inflation in India dropped to a three-year low of 5.52% in October, according to government data released on Wednesday. Retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index or changes in the price level of a basket of good and services purchased by households, dropped to 5.52% from 6.46% in September. The drop in inflation has been credited to a fall in food prices thanks to increased rainfall in the final stages of a patchy monsoon, besides a reduction in global crude oil rates that has resulted in regular diesel and petrol price cuts since August. Despite providing some succor to the consumer, the Reserve Bank of India is unlikely to reduce interest rates. In another positive development, India's industrial production in September grew by 2.5%, as compared to 0.4% in August.
Europe space mission lands probe on comet
The European Space Agency on Wednesday achieved a historic breakthrough in its decade-long mission to examine up close the remains of the birth our solar system, by landing a probe on a comet. Scientists from the ESA achieved a first in space exploration by landing a probe on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. The probe, named Philae, touched down on the comet's surface after a seven-hour descent from spacecraft Rosetta. "Comets come from the formation of Earth's 4.6-billion-year-old solar system and scientists believe they may have brought much of the water in Earth's oceans," said Reuters. According to scientists, data collected from this comet will paint a more vivid picture of how planets and life are created.
BJP wins trust vote in Maharashtra assembly amid controversy
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday won the confidence motion in the Maharashtra assembly via voice vote, leading to loud protests by Congress and Shiv Sena legislators who said the speaker should have allowed a division of votes. A voice vote is a method used by legislatures, in which a vote is taken on a motion by responding verbally. However, with no division of votes taking place, the BJP managed to avoid seen taking any help from the Nationalist Congress Party, paving the way for government formation. The trust vote tested the BJP's numbers in the assembly, where it was just short of a majority. The protest turned ugly when protesting legislators physically stopped Governor C Vidyasagar Rao at the entrance of the assembly, resulting in an injury to his hand.
Police arrest doctor behind 13 deaths in Chhattisgrah sterilisation camp
Police arrested RK Gupta, the doctor allegedly behind the series botched operations at a sterilisation camp organised by the Chhattisgarh government in Bilaspur district that killed 13 women and left over 50 in critical condition. Gupta had been on the run since the first deaths were reported on Monday. A First Information Report was lodged against him on Tuesday. The surgeon had performed laparoscopic sterilisation operations on 83 women within the span of five hours on Saturday under unsafe conditions. In an embarrassment to the Chhattisgrah government, it was found that state health minister Amar Agarwal had honoured Gupta on Republic Day for conducting a record 50,000 surgeries in his career.
Anand holds Carlsen in Game 4 of World Chess Championship
Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen played out a draw with his challenger Vishwanathan Anand on Wedensday during the fourth game of the World Chess Championship in Sochi, Russia. The series currently stands at two games to one in favour of Carlsen.
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Retail inflation in India dropped to a three-year low of 5.52% in October, according to government data released on Wednesday. Retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index or changes in the price level of a basket of good and services purchased by households, dropped to 5.52% from 6.46% in September. The drop in inflation has been credited to a fall in food prices thanks to increased rainfall in the final stages of a patchy monsoon, besides a reduction in global crude oil rates that has resulted in regular diesel and petrol price cuts since August. Despite providing some succor to the consumer, the Reserve Bank of India is unlikely to reduce interest rates. In another positive development, India's industrial production in September grew by 2.5%, as compared to 0.4% in August.
Europe space mission lands probe on comet
The European Space Agency on Wednesday achieved a historic breakthrough in its decade-long mission to examine up close the remains of the birth our solar system, by landing a probe on a comet. Scientists from the ESA achieved a first in space exploration by landing a probe on the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. The probe, named Philae, touched down on the comet's surface after a seven-hour descent from spacecraft Rosetta. "Comets come from the formation of Earth's 4.6-billion-year-old solar system and scientists believe they may have brought much of the water in Earth's oceans," said Reuters. According to scientists, data collected from this comet will paint a more vivid picture of how planets and life are created.
BJP wins trust vote in Maharashtra assembly amid controversy
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday won the confidence motion in the Maharashtra assembly via voice vote, leading to loud protests by Congress and Shiv Sena legislators who said the speaker should have allowed a division of votes. A voice vote is a method used by legislatures, in which a vote is taken on a motion by responding verbally. However, with no division of votes taking place, the BJP managed to avoid seen taking any help from the Nationalist Congress Party, paving the way for government formation. The trust vote tested the BJP's numbers in the assembly, where it was just short of a majority. The protest turned ugly when protesting legislators physically stopped Governor C Vidyasagar Rao at the entrance of the assembly, resulting in an injury to his hand.
Police arrest doctor behind 13 deaths in Chhattisgrah sterilisation camp
Police arrested RK Gupta, the doctor allegedly behind the series botched operations at a sterilisation camp organised by the Chhattisgarh government in Bilaspur district that killed 13 women and left over 50 in critical condition. Gupta had been on the run since the first deaths were reported on Monday. A First Information Report was lodged against him on Tuesday. The surgeon had performed laparoscopic sterilisation operations on 83 women within the span of five hours on Saturday under unsafe conditions. In an embarrassment to the Chhattisgrah government, it was found that state health minister Amar Agarwal had honoured Gupta on Republic Day for conducting a record 50,000 surgeries in his career.
Anand holds Carlsen in Game 4 of World Chess Championship
Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen played out a draw with his challenger Vishwanathan Anand on Wedensday during the fourth game of the World Chess Championship in Sochi, Russia. The series currently stands at two games to one in favour of Carlsen.
