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Modi to meet Apple CEO Tim Cook in San Francisco

September 16, 2015

New Delhi, Sep 16: The showstopper of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit later this month may well be his meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook in San Francisco. This could have implications far beyond the headlines it will generate. Apple, it is believed, is looking to invest in building manufacturing capacities in India, which could come as a huge boost for Modi's 'Make in India' project.

modi621While auto companies are already here, tech companies like Google don't really manufacture. Apple, if it comes, would be really into manufacture and signal Indian manufacturing capabilities.

The Cupertino-based company's sales of i-Phones in India grew 93% in the third quarter — albeit off a lower base — faster than 87% growth in Greater China markets. Apple uses manufacturing facilities of Foxconn, which has recently promised to invest $5 billion in manufacturing facility in Maharashtra.

It's believed that Apple may consider manufacture in India for third country markets. There is also talk that Apple might consider facilities in India to refurbish its products. Refurbishing is currently not allowed under India's industrial policy. There would be a demand from Apple to change that policy. It believes its refurbished products (phones, computers, tablets, laptops) have a big market in Asia. They draw a distinction between refurbished and second-hand products and believe that Apple products, if properly refurbished, have a much longer life than, say, Samsung or other similar products.

In fact, Cook will, in a unique coincidence, be meeting the heads of two biggest Asian powers in the same week. Cook may join other top US CEOs for an exclusive meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping who will be touring the US around the same time as Modi.

As he prepares to sweep through New York and California, Modi has carefully chosen his meetings with US Inc in the same way he did last year. Time Inc, for instance, will be hosting a 100-guest dinner for Modi with chief executives from companies specializing in infrastructure and manufacturing. In 2014, Modi had promised action on land acquisition, GST and energy. This year, he will have to explain how he plans to find ways around as his government is still to deliver on two of these. Nevertheless, he will still be able to showcase a large number of reforms his government has undertaken in the past year.

J P Morgan will be doing an exclusive meet for 15 top CEOs from the financial sector with Modi while in a separate meeting, he plans to explore media and communication strategies with Rupert Murdoch of News Corp and others.

In California, Modi will be welcomed at the Tesla plant by the now iconic Elon Musk. He could ride the famous Tesla M, but then again, he might heed the caution of his own officials.

Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook will be doing a town hall meeting with Modi on September 27, which he announced on his Facebook page, and was "liked" by almost 75000 people. At the Google tent, Modi will be meeting Eric Schmidt and Sundar Pichai, though not Sergey Brin.

Apart from pushing the digital technology sector as he plans a big push to his 'Digital India' and 'Make in India' projects. While in manufacturing, India still has a way to go, it is now the new name in town in digital innovation and entrepreneurship, where government rules too are a lot more business-friendly.

The key themes that will dominate Modi's visit to the US this time are entrepreneurship and innovation. In his meetings, both in California and New York, India will seek to get a deeper sense of the opportunities it can harness, lessons to be learnt and the role governments can play in harnessing entrepreneurship. The Indian team will be looking for lessons on how to support the eco-system for disruptive digital technologies and innovations, including ways to be able to harness these for the welfare of those in the bottom of the pyramid.

A third theme running through Modi's visit this time will be renewable energy. He will not only hold a roundtable on the subject at Stanford University, but this will feature prominently in his conversation with US President Barack Obama in New York on September 28, weeks before world leaders gather in Paris for the climate change conference.

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News Network
May 29,2020

Bengaluru, May 29: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda mourned the demise of Rajya Sabha member and Managing Director of leading Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi M P Veerendra Kumar, hailing him as a great journalist and writer.

"My deepest condolences on the demise of former union Minister and Rajya sabha member Shri M.P. Veerendra Kumar. He was a great journalist and writer. May god give strength to his family & his people to bear the loss," Gowda said in his condolence message.

Veerandra Kumar, who was a member of PTIs Board of Directors, died late Thursday at a private hospital in Kozhikode in Kerala following cardiac arrest.

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Agencies
January 21,2020

New Delhi, Jan 21: With the IMF lowering India's economic growth estimate for the current fiscal to 4.8 per cent, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday claimed an attack on the world body and its chief economist Gita Gopinath by government ministers was imminent.

He also alleged that the growth figure of 4.8 per cent given by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is after some "window dressing" and he won't be surprised if it goes even lower.

"Reality check from IMF. Growth in 2019-20 will be BELOW 5 per cent at 4.8 per cent," Chidambaram said in a series of tweets.

"Even the 4.8 per cent is after some window dressing. I will not be surprised if it goes even lower," the former finance minister said.

IMF Chief Economist Gopinath was one of the first to denounce demonetisation, he noted.

"I suppose we must prepare ourselves for an attack by government ministers on the IMF and Dr Gita Gopinath," Chidambaram said.

The IMF lowered India's economic growth estimate for the current fiscal to 4.8 per cent and listed the country's much lower-than-expected GDP numbers as the single biggest drag on its global growth forecast for two years.

In October, the IMF had pegged India economic growth at 6.1 per cent for 2019.

Listing decline in rural demand growth and an overall credit sluggishness for lowering of India forecasts, Gopinath, however, had said the growth momentum should improve next year due to factors like positive impact of corporate tax rate reduction.

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News Network
June 24,2020

New Delhi, Jun 24: In a stinging attack on the Gandhi family of the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said a dynasty and its courtiers have "grand delusions" of the opposition being about itself and stated that a "rejected and ejected" family is not equal to the entire opposition.

In his tweets, Nadda said it was the time for unity and solidarity, and the "relaunch of the scion for the nth time can wait", an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi, who has been aggressive in his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of the border row with China.

Nadda said India lost thousands of square kilometres of land due to the "misadventures of one dynasty" and claimed that the Siachen glacier, where the Indian Army has a strong presence, was almost gone. No wonder India has rejected them, he said.'

The BJP president posted a news report to back his assertions about Siachen.

"One 'royal' dynasty and their 'loyal' courtiers have grand delusions of the Opposition being about one dynasty. A dynast throws tantrums and his courtiers peddle that fake narrative. The latest one relates to the Opposition asking questions to the Government," Nadda said.

Though he did not directly name the Gandhi family or any of its members, the reference was clear.

He said it was the opposition's right to ask questions and added that the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi saw healthy deliberations, with several opposition leaders giving their valuable inputs.

They also fully supported the Centre in determining the way ahead, Nadda said.

"One family was an exception. Any guesses who," he asked.

Targeting the Gandhis, the BJP president said, "One rejected and ejected dynasty is NOT equal to the entire Opposition. One dynasty's interests are not India's interests. Today, the nation is united and supportive of our armed forces. This is the time for unity and solidarity. Relaunch of 'the scion' for the nth time can wait."

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