My Scribles

Home advantage helps Arsenal, Bilbao reach Champions League: http://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/arsenal-athletic-bilbao-qualify-for-champions-league-group-stage/article6358975.ece

The INS Arihant, country's first made-at-home nuclear submarine is being built in top secret conditions at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. The 6,000-tonne vessel, the first of a class of three nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines with a displacement of 6,000 tonnes. She is designed to carry four nuclear-tipped submarine-launched ballistic missiles called the K-4 which have a range of 3,500 kilometres or a dozen Bo 5 missiles which can strike targets about 700 kilometres away. The heart of the Arihant is its nuclear reactor, an Indian designed-and-built 83MW pressurized WATER reactor. The Arihant still faces its biggest trial - the test launch of a ballistic missile while submerged. It is only once that happens that the Arihant will be battle-worthy. When the submarine is declared fighting-fit, India will become one of only six countries in the world with the knowledge of designing, engineering and operating a nuclear submarine. Nuclear submarines are the ultimate...

Some of India's biggest companies are pouring billions of dollars into manufacturing guns, SHIPS and tanks for the country's military, buoyed by the new government's commitment to upgrade its armed forces using domestic factories. India, the world's largest arms importer, will spend $250 billion in the next decade on kit, analysts estimate, to upgrade its Soviet-era military and narrow the gap with China, which spends $120 billion a year on defence. Under the last government, procurement delays and a spate of operational accidents - especially dogging the navy - raised uncomfortable questions over whether India's armed forces are capable of defending its sea lanes and borders. Even before his landslide election victory in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to assert India's military prowess and MEET the security challenge posed by a rising China and long-running tensions with Pakistan. Within weeks of becoming prime minister, he boosted defence...

It seems like Xiaomi has been achieving significant SALES figures with each passing week. A look at the Mi 3 specs and price, and it’s not hard to see why. Xiaomi has been using its flash sale strategy in India, which may help maintain the hype and achieve large numbers, but this could get really annoying for customers and serve as a hurdle in building brand loyalty. In fact, grabbing a unit of Xiaomi on Flipkart is being compared to BOOKING a tatkal ticket on the IRCTC site, and most us know what that means. As expected, the Xiaomi Mi 3′s fifth batch was sold out even before one could snap their fingers. The company doesn’t use any kind of advertising and relies on its social media channels to reveal the launch dates and other information. Xiaomi devices have got popular by mere word of mouth that spreads through people and social channels. So we decided to check what people have to say. What could be a better place than Twitter to vent out one’s frustrations and enthusiasm. Fr...

Chelsea Last Season: 3rd Manager: Jose Mourinho Opening Fixture: Burnley Transfer Activity: Chelsea have done their business early in the transfer market this summer, brining in four quality players before the end of July. Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona) was the first of those, signing prior to the start of the World Cup to replace club legend Frank Lampard who left for New York City (although eventually went on to sign for title rivals Man City on loan). Fabregas’ international teammate Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid) was then brought in too, along with his club-mate Filipe Luis. Finally, Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) was brought back to the club after two seasons away and although he may not possess the pace and power of before, how Blues fans are glad to see him back! There have been several other high-profile departures from the club this summer including Ashley Cole, Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku, Samuel Eto’o and David Luiz, for who Paris Saint-Germain paid £50million… yes, £50million. ...

BURNELY Last Season: 2nd (Championship) Manager: Sean Dyche Opening Fixture: Chelsea (h) Transfer Activity: Despite the obvious riches which come with promotion to the Premier League, Burnley have spent MODESTLY this summer on British players exclusively, with Lukas Jutkiewicz (Middlesbrough) being the most expensive of which at just over £2million. Marvin Sordell (Bolton) has joined the club too, with Sean Dyche having worked with the player previously at Watford. Michael Kightly (Stoke) returns permanently after a successful loan spell at Turf Moor last season, whilst Steven Reid (West Brom), Matt Gilks (Blackpool) and Matthew Taylor (West Ham) will add invaluable experience to the Premier League new-boys. Crucially, the Clarets have lost no key players from their promotion-winning campaign, but notable departures include Joseph Mills, Junior Stanislas, Chris Baird, Brian STOCK and Keith Treacy. Possible Starting XI: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee; Arfield, Jones, ...

For nine torturous years the absence of a TROPHY eluded Arsene Wenger. That burden was lifted when Wenger celebrated in May after clinching the FA Cup. It was a joyful moment, but still tinged with what-ifs. Arsenal spent longer than any side at the top of the Premier League but still ended up in their familiar fourth place after struggling against their title rivals. A Champions League spot for a 17th successive year was a minimum achievement - how Manchester United would take such predictable consistency now - but still Arsenal are without a Premier League title since 2004. For nine torturous years the absence of a trophy eluded Arsene Wenger but that burden was lifted when Arsenal lifted the FA Cup in May. (Getty Images) "The only thing we need to improve is our away record against the so-called bigger teams," said Aaron Ramsey, whose intelligence and influence in midfield was a defining dynamic of last season. "If we had MANAGED to nick the odd point or win in th...

The Tata-Singapore Airlines alliance on Monday unveiled the brand name for its venture in India. The new airline has been christened 'Vistara', 'Vistara' is likely to start operations from October this year subject to approvals from the aviation regulator DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) The joint venture is 49 per cent-owned by SINGAPORE Airlines and 51 per cent held by Tata Group. It plans to operate 87 flights a week during its first year of operation and nearly double that number during its second year. 'Vistara' initially plans to operate domestic flights, but will eventually expand to international full-service flights. The airline, which will have an initial combined INVESTMENT of $100 million or Rs. 600 crore ($1=Rs. 60) from the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, marks the third foreign direct INVESTMENT(FDI) in the aviation sector since the government declared last year international airlines could buy as much as 49 per cent of local ...

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. 'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.' 'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. 'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked. 'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly. 'I'll make you a deal. Let ...

Arsenal prepared for the Premier League season by COLLECTINGthe Community Shield with a 3-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, picking up where the team left off at the FA Cup final by adding another piece of silverware at Wembley. Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey, who both scored in the FA Cup triumph that ended Arsenal's nine-year trophy drought in May, also netted against City with well-taken first-half strikes. A makeshift City were a shadow of the team that won the Premier League for the second time in three years in May. And Olivier Giroud added to City's discomfort by scoring with a dipping strike on the hour in the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season between the Premier League and FA Cup champions.

US President Barack Obama announced on Thursday night that he had authorised the Pentagon to launch targeted airstrikes if needed to protect Americans from Islamic militants in northern Iraq and help Iraqi security forces protect civilians under siege, threatening to revive US military involvement in the country's long sectarian war. In a televised late-night statement from the White House, Obama also said that American military forces had already carried out airdrops of humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of Iraqi religious minorities desperately in need of food and water. "Today America is coming to help," he declared. US President Barack Obama authorises airstrikes in Iraq The announcements marked the deepest American engagement in Iraq since US troops withdrew in late 2011 after nearly a decade of war. The announcements reflected the deepest American engagement in Iraq since US troops withdrew in late 2011 after nearly a decade of war. Obama said the humanitarian...

Ratan Tata may be suffering from delusion: Amit Mitra: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ratan-tata-may-be-suffering-from-delusion-says-west-bengal-finance-minister-amit-mitra/article6291637.ece

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni shot down and consequently prevented the current manager of the touring party in England Sunil Dev from exploring a settlement with the managing director of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Paul Downton on the Anderson-Jadeja row. This has been gathered from a source close to an effort to mediate on the matter. The issue led to egg being splattered on India's face in the form of the International Cricket Council's judicial commissioner Gordon Lewis flatly rejecting the Indian side's charge that the England fast bowler James Anderson committed a serious Level 3 offence under the world body's code of conduct. MS Dhoni said no to settling Jadeja issue with ECB Dhoni shot down and consequently prevented the current manager of the touring party in England from exploring a settlement with the managing director of the ECB Paul Downton on the Anderson-Jadeja row. (Getty Images) It was reliably learned that, earlier, the chairma...

മലയാളി താരം സഞ്ജു വി സാംസണ്‍ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ടീമില്‍ ഇടംനേടി. ഇംഗ്ലണ്ടിനെതിരായ ഏകദിന പരമ്പരയ്ക്കുള്ള ടീമിലാണ് സഞ്ജു ഇടം നേടിയത്. റോബിന്‍ ഉത്തപ്പയേയും യുവരാജ് സിംഗിനേയും പരിഗണിച്ചില്ല. ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ക്രിക്കറ്റ് ടീമില്‍ ഇടം നേടുന്ന മൂന്നാമത്തെ മലയാളി താരമാണ് സഞ്ജു വി സാംസണ്‍. ടിനു യോഹന്നാനും ശ്രീശാന്തുമാണ് മുമ്പ് ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ടീമിലെത്തിയ മലയാളി താരങ്ങള്‍. ഓസ്‌ട്രേലിയയില്‍ നടന്ന ചതുഷ്കോണ മത്സരത്തില്‍ ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്ക് വേണ്ടി സഞ്ജു മികച്ച പ്രകടനം കാഴ്ചവെച്ചിരുന്നു. ഏഴ് മത്സരങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് 244 റണ്‍സ് നേടി ടൂര്‍ണമെന്‍റിലെ ടോപ് സ്കോററായിരുന്നു സഞ്ജു. അണ്ടര്‍19, ഇന്ത്യ എ ടീമിലും മികച്ച പ്രകടനം കാഴ്ചവെച്ച സഞ്ജു ഐ പി എല്ലില്‍ രാജസ്ഥാന്‍ റോയല്‍സ് താരമാണ്

Egypt Plans to Dig New Suez Canal Costing $4 Billion http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/egypt-plans-to-dig-new-suez-canal-costing-4-billion-571140

Punitive sanctions and the calling into question of a key arms control treaty with Washington have ratcheted up pressure on Russia, leaving President Vladimir Putin few palatable options to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, analysts say. Putin might have thought he could get away with keeping the conflict simmering with a divided Europe wary of imposing tough sanctions that could plunge its own economy back into recession. But the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over territory held by pro-Russian rebels last month, with the loss of all 298 people on board, including 193 Dutch nationals, forced the European Union into action. For the first time, the sanctions imposed by Brussels and Washington last week apply to entire sectors, impeding access to Western capital markets and technology needed to develop new oil and gas fields, as well as an arms sales ban. Many analysts believe that the measures will gradually impact the Russian economy, already teetering on the brink of ...

The old debate on whether India has an appetite for more domestic airlines has again got a lease of life after GM Siddeshwara, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, told the Lok Sabha that during the last three-four years, six companies applied for scheduled and regional scheduled operator permits. Of these, four – AirAsia (India), Quickjet Cargo Airlines, Ligare Aviation and LEPL Projects (Air Costa) — have been given air operator permits after they completed the process for starting new airlines. AirAsia (India) and Air Costa have already started operations. Technically speaking, getting an air operator’s permit is the second and final step in starting an airline in India. A new start-up airline first has to approach the Ministry of Civil Aviation and seek a no-objection certificate (NOC). At this stage, the Ministry seeks clearances from various Government agencies, including the Home Ministry, which checks the background of individuals that the airline wants to induct o...