CATEGORIES

New Zealand: A Truly Blessed Island Country

This Island country is one of the first countries which have recovered from the clutches of the disastrous Covid-19 outbreak – which has brought the world to an unpleasant state. Like most advanced countries in the world, the tourism sector of the country is one of the main contributors to the economy. The quick recovery of the country from the clutches of the virus implies that the country may go back to normal in near future itself.

SKODA OCTAVIA RS 245

Forty-five lakhs for a Skoda Octavia, you must be joking, right? Not really, the Octa-via RS245 is expensive, but special in its own way.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF GROWTH IN GOLD LOANS AS REDEMPTIONS SPIKED

Amidst this widespread risk aversion, only the gold lenders stood firm and kept their doors open for everyone. Even during the lockdown, when most lenders had stopped lending, gold loan companies were disbursing fresh loans through digital modes. Safety, or worries about likely defaults, is not an issue for the gold loan companies as the gold collateral (i.e. the jewellery pledged by borrowers) is held in the custody of the lenders and can be easily liquidated in the event of default.

ZERO WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FOR ENHANCED PROFITABILITY

From a business point of view definitely there are sector-specific opportunities coming up in various fields of health care, technology, online trade and e-commerce etc. For organisations existing in or related to these sectors definitely the opportunities would be easily visible. For other organisations if they have to survive the current crisis they have to spot the opportunities, develop them and encash them.

THE GREATEST WEAPON HUMANS POSSESS IS THEIR MIND POWER

There is definitely a scientific basis for which our minds released so much energy helping us to perform exceptionally well as per demand. All humans have this potential. But only few learn to ulitise the skill well. Definitely, strong genes play a significant role in developing our mind power but at the same time we can train ourselves to develop strong minds and achieve the impossible.

MANAGEMENT IS ACTION NOT JUST A BUNCH OF ACTIVITIES

We often mistake activities and movement for concrete action. When we get busy with quotidian, repetitive tasks, we also pile up a series of prosaic and not so important tasks that buries our calendar. Time Management principles are popular and we have some very interesting frameworks including that of ‘7 Habits’ by the late Stephen Covey. But, what is useful is also a mental frame which helps you guide you work life.

IMAGINE A NEW FUTURE!

Softskills is a combination of communication skills, life skills, behavioural skills, business skills and cognitive skills. Where hard skills are quantifiable skills which can be gained through technical and on-the-job training, Softskills are qualifiable much harder to define and evaluate. It accounts to 80% of your productivity. Technical skills applied alone won’t be truly effective.

A EXTRAORDINARY LAPAROSCOPIC SURGEON WITH EXCELLENCE: DR. R. PADMAKUMAR

He is a source of comfort not only to patients in Kerala, but also to patients in the GCC countries. He is the fifth person in the world and the first person in the Gulf countries and Kerala to conduct a surgery to surgically resolve the condition of diabetes under the non-obesity category. He is one of the rare doctors who has expertise in endoscopic thyroidectomy, and is the first doctor to successfully perform intestinal surgery with just two grams of haemoglobin. He is the inventor of Ileal Hybrid technology.

Covid-19: Light At The End Of The Tunnel

A couple of months ago, in the March issue, I had written about COVID-19, even as it was in the early stages, highlighting the need for a coordinated global response. That was when total worldwide cases stood below 100,000 whereas it stands at over 3.8 million now, after having caused over 265,000 deaths. The disease has moved from China to Iran, Italy, South Korea, Spain, France, US and so on, to almost every inhabited part of the world. The worldwide lockdowns necessitated by the need to contain its spread have brought trade and travel to a grinding halt.

Covid 19: Is It An Opportunity?

Adv Sherry Samuel Oommen is a practising lawyer at High Court of Kerala who specialises in tax and Corporate Laws. Presently he heads the tax and corporate law practice of Nash Capital Partners. Apart from being a qualified lawyer, he is also a chartered accountant, cost accountant and a company secretary. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate Degree and is reachable at sherryoommen@nashcp.com.

NAMIBIA: THE DRIEST COUNTRY IN AFRICA

Africa is a magic. It is an interesting land to explore. The world knows this continent as a dark continent. But, there is more this can offer. Its beauty is unexplainable. It possesses everything – from beautiful mountains and amazing forests to mindblowing deserts.

THE NEW CONNOTATION OF LITERACY-DIGITAL AWARENESS

The past two months have been that of severe dis-ruption and change. The COVID 19 spurt and the subsequent lockdowns of various degrees across the world have forced us to explore new working models and also sweat every idea we had of remote working. Plugging into office networks on remote lines, home networks, multiple devices has thrown up opportunities and challenges of its own. Our old definition of literacy was the ability to read and write in a language – the presumption being that this would give us access to education, communication, reading, general information and build our thinking capabilities. But, today, some of it have no meaning unless we are able to access an electronic equipment like a phone or a laptop or desktop and a handheld mobile phone!

GADGETS

Honor X10

SHASHI THAROOR: THE IDEAL PARLIAMENTARIAN

As a Member of Parliament, Tharoor has converted his unorthodox entry into politics and diplomatic skills inherited from his UN days, into a potent asset. In a country notorious for long-winded bureaucratic bottlenecks and red tape-ism that often reduces development projects to crawl, Tharoor has displayed an irreverential approach to the system and the rules of conformity it demands.

COVID-19: THE CROWNED DOOM

Dr. Binoy John MD DM (CARDIOLOGY) FCSI FACC FESC FSCAI FAPSIC Senior consultant interventional cardiologist & specialist in heart failure & advanced cardiac diseases, Chennai Visiting Consultant: Dr Rela Institute & Medical Centre, Chennai Credence Hospital, Trivandrum

VIZAG LEAK: THAT AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY

What have we learned from the infamous Bhopal Gas Tragedy – the gas leak which claimed the lives of as many as 3,787 innocent people in a city situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh? The repetition of similar incidents proves that the country has not learned anything from that tragedy.

COMBATING CHALLENGING TIMES AND MOVING FORWARD

By Jiz P Kottukappally Chief Executive Officer Yescalator Management and Financial Consultants

BEING EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT IN BUSINESS

Dolly Neena is founder of Your Wing, a training company born out of a noble cause and spirit. She holds a decade long experience being a passionate mentor and entrepreneur.

Force Majeure - What It Means In The Wake Of The Covid 19 Pandemic?

I must admit that ever since the lockdown was announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 24 March 2020, I have received various queries on whether the “lockdown” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic would qualify as a “Force Majeure”. In this article, I intend to pen down some of my views on the interpretation of the term “Force Majeure”. As a matter of caution, please note that these views are entirely personal and should not be construed as a legal opinion.

Natural Ways To Fight Aging Skin

Aging is inevitable. It is natural. Still, it is a nightmare for many. Most hate the signs it leaves on their skin. Some spend hours doing makeup to hide these signs.

This lockdown, unlock the Real You!

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.” - Helen Keller.

THE MECHANICS OF WORKING FROM HOME

The recent COV-ID-19 situation has forced companies to reorient their work plans, and shift the work landscape to home. Professionals today, login from the confines of their homes, work to their organisational goals largely using online access, instruments like mobile or a laptop, and try to bring in productivity working from a place, which most of them have not associated with work – Home!

SHRI Narendra Modi: The Ethnarch of East

India is at present at a crucial juncture. Not any time in its nearest history, the country has come to this point. The coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China, is what that bothers the country – and the world – at this moment. As its proper solution is nowhere near, the ray of hope is still unclear.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza - Petrol

When the Brezza came out in 2016, that diesel engine was one of the main reasons to buy it. It was available only as a diesel and people were happy with it, but how times have changed.

Fr. Joy Koothur The Lovable Touch of Kindness

“Your value lies in not who you are, but in what you give to others.” This is the easiest way to describe the story of Father Joy Koothur in simple words. He is a true man of kindness. Let’s read an interview done by Sheeja Nair with this legend.

Factors that can improve Intelligence Quotient

The IQ of an individual is multi-factorial, and is determined by a multitude of factors. Nature and nurture work together in determining human intelligence. Human IQ is characterised by a high level of heritability. However, various modifiable environmental factors, like education, premature birth, nutrition, pollution, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illnesses and diseases, can have an influence on an individual’s IQ by reinforcing or weakening genetic susceptibility.

Cuba: The True Red Fort

Health care is an important sector. The present coronavirus crisis shows clearly how much relevance this sector has. ‘Health is wealth’ is not an irrelevant slogan. It really has a serious message. Brilliant is those who invest in health. Cuba is one such visionary. Its prime focus areas are education and health. Now, the world benefits from the policy of this true red fort. At this moment, many countries across the world enjoy the support of doctors from this Caribbean country. These doctors remain as strong pillars of support for these countries in their fight against the dangerous virus outbreak. These countries owe Cuba for the successful defence they have put forth against the virus outbreak.

Can “minimum wages” become counter productive?

Higher minimum wages are becoming the norm in many countries, including India. Even as a minimum wage policy aims to ensure a certain minimum standard of living, it also gives rise to unintended consequences that may undermine its objective. There is considerable evidence that the wage gains from minimum wage increases are offset, at least for some workers, by fewer available jobs in the market.

Truth About Covid 19 Coronavirus

There is no specific medicines available for coronavirus infection. Symptomatic treatment, maintain cleanliness, improve immunity, maintain hydration etc are what is being done now. Effective isolation of the infected patient should be done. All treatment should be done in a well equipped tertiary care centre and all responsible authorities should be informed.

Coronavirus: A Wakeup Call For The Global Economy

The Chinese economy looks set for a contraction in the March quarter as activity in the manufacturing sector was reported at a record low in February. The Indian economy is already going through challenging times as the recent Q3 GDP data suggests the growth slowdown continues with a turnaround still elusive. The picture for the global economy is also bleak with talk of a recession in the US economy gaining ground.