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The reduction in the coronary stent price by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on 13 February 2017 after a court order had been welcomed by the people. The price of life saving coronary stents was slashed by up to 85 per cent by capping them at Rs 7,260 for bare metal stents (BMS) and Rs 29,600 for drug eluting stents (DES). Earlier, the average maximum retail price (MRP) for BMS was Rs 45,000 and for DES, it was Rs 1.21 lakh. This was a big relief and exposed the loot by the companies, the health provider institutions and a section of the health professionals. Some of the patients have got real benefit of this reduction. In fact, this is not a reduction in sale price but the actual price has been brought forth by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and it has curbed excess charging.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making a keynote address at the World Government Summit in Dubai, which will see a galaxy of distinguished speakers, including French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), entertainment icon Robert De Niro, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson among others. The thought leaders will engage in inspirational and future-focused dialogues that aim to shape the future of governments and help improve the lives of citizens worldwide. While the lineup is indeed impressive, Modi can be trusted to make waves as he unveils his thoughts about the future of governments, a favourite subject of his. He never fails with words when it comes to these matters, irrespective of his track record with deeds.

Total routing of the BJP in three by-elections is Rajasthan, say the party leaders, is no indication of coming polls in Karnataka; nor will it affect the year end poll in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Irrespective of the BJP leaders misplaced optimism, it is hard to ignore a clear anti-incumbency verdict sent by Rajasthan’s voters. The verdict could have bearing on the future of individuals – Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje and Congress’s Sachin Pilot, who led the respective party campaigns in the state.

Indian economy, said to be in “nascent recovery” at present, is headed for another tough fiscal year (2018-19) both from a likely budget-fuelled inflationary surge within, and from global rate rises across booming economies, like USA, which could even lead to some outflows of foreign capital invested in developing economies.

South African presidency spokesman Bongani Ngqulunga was aghast on Tuesday at Communist Party (SACP) demands that President Jacob Zuma confirm or deny plans to sack his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa and replace him with Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. “The allegations reported in the media that President Jacob Zuma wishes to fire Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and replace him with Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma are preposterous and outrageous,” said Ngqulunga. “The allegations of ethnic mobilisation by the president are equally without merit,” he added for good measure.

There are a lot of folks – including veterans – raining on Donald Trump’s triumphal military parade plan.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, “it means what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.” – Lewis Carroll

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not Humpty Dumpty and even if we all have the brains to make out what he chose to mean with “takes me back to Ramayana serial days”, it wouldn’t be right for anyone to read his mind without him telling us, “Yes, that is right, that is what I meant.”

Maldives, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean south-west of Sri Lanka, with an area of 300 sq, kms a population of 4.5 lakh, is now in the grip of a political crisis that has international implications. Maldives has seen many political crises in the past. In November, 1988, armed mercenaries from Sri Lanka tried to capture power. Maumoon Abdulla Gayoom, who was the President of Maldives, sought India’s military assistance and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi readily responded. ‘Operation Cactus’ was launched. Paratroopers were airdropped on capital Male and the mercenaries surrendered in no time.

There is an uneasy calm in Kasganj. It was not a coincidence that this town in Uttar Pradesh witnessed an unprecedented communal riot on January 26, Republic Day. Since then its bustling markets have gone silent, remained shut. The largely Hindu-dominated trade lies crippled. But it was the large Muslim shops that were looted and burnt.

Please, please, please don’t call Taj Mahal by any other name. The ‘Taj’ is not ‘Rose’ that by any other name will still be ‘Rose’. And ‘Tej’ for ‘Taj’ is so unimaginative a suggestion that it will become a blot on the face of Earth faster than you can say ‘Tej!’ The Taj Mahal is a monument to ‘love’ from a devoted husband to a beloved wife. And it draws the breath with a ‘Wah Taj!’