#1 FIFA World Cup 2014: Super-substitute Mario Gotze takes Germany to World Cup trophy
After 120 minutes of intense football, it was the Germans who claimed the World Cup trophy. Substitute Mario Gotze scored a stunning 113th-minute winner for Germany to give them a 1-0 lead over Argentina, which the latter could not come back from. Argentina had a glorious opportunity in the 22nd minute of the match, when Tony Kroos accidentally headed the ball towards his own goal, which was received by Gonzalo Higuain, who put the ball wide past the goal. Higuain was one-on-one with German goal-keeper Manuel Neuer, but somehow he managed to miss the target. Read more
#2 Building BRICS: Can Narendra Modi and company bank on the new system?
It's a long journey ahead, but the dream is as big as big can be. Whether Modi can achieve it depends on a billion-plus fellow Indians and our friends in BRICS nations who constitute 40% of the world's population. The US and Europe watch with certain fear and sufficient, and perhaps justified, cynicism at this 'ragtag group' which right now looks like a heap of bricks rather than the fortress that BRICS nations hope to finally build. Read more
#3 Policy Watch: Once promising, Big Retail's future in India is quite uncertain
Last week was full of news on the retail front. Carrefour decided to shut shop in India. Reliance Retail too decided to shut 100 Fresh stores in the country. After its split with Sunil Mittal, Walmart's plans are in hibernation. Suddenly, Big Retail does not appear to be very promising in India. This could be partly because of the new government's unwillingness to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the multi-brand retail segment. Or it could also be because, suddenly, big retail is coming to grips with the realisation that India is quite different from many other countries in which it has flourished. Or, maybe, it is a combination of both. Read more
#4 Narendra Modi government keen on infusing fresh blood into National Intelligence Grid
The wheels have started moving on the National Intelligence Grid (Natgrid) again. The ambitious integrated intelligence grid that was set up in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks ought to have completed three phases by now. But it is still struggling to complete the first phase. The Modi government now wants to get it on track and home minister Rajnath Singh has given instructions to infuse fresh blood into Natgrid. Both the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and National Security Advisor (NSA) AK Doval have approved the move. Read more
#5 Will BJP have last laugh over TRAI bill?
The ruling BJP is hoping to have the last laugh over the Congress' plans to corner it on the TRAI amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha. After Congress' ally NCP refused to oppose the bill, replacing the ordinance which paved the way for Nripendra Misra's appointment as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary, the BJP is counting on Sharad Pawar's stand to sap the opposition's confrontational approach on the issue. Read more
#6 Ashok Chavan faces Election Commission notice for fudging election expenses
The Election Commission (EC) has slapped a notice on former chief minister Ashok Chavan for fudging expenses in the 2009 state elections. The watchdog asked Chavan why he should not be disqualified, and granted him time till August 2, 2014. If Chavan fails to abide by the deadline, or his response turns out to be unsatisfactory, he could not only be disqualified as a member of the parliament but would also not be able to contest for the upcoming assembly elections. Read more
#7 Muted not magical, Golden Ball winner Lionel Messi misses the FIFA World Cup again
Lionel Messi walked up the steps at the Maracana. It was at the end of 120 minutes of Sunday's gripping World Cup final and the Argentine was collecting a revered golden trophy, one befitting his status as the greatest player of his generation. Still, though, Messi wore a look of anguish. The trophy he was receiving was the "Golden Ball" awarded to the World Cup's best player, scant consolation for missing out on the big prize which sat within touching distance but as far away as ever. Read more
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