The Great Ancient Voyage: How Ancient Port Near Pondicherry Discovered By Real Count Of Monte Cristo?

By Kavita Murugappa in Chennai

He was a French astronomer who arrived in the coastal city in 1768 to witness a rare celestial event of Venus passing directly between the sun and the earth.

The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss, which won America’s national book award for biography in 2013, tells the story of  Thomas Alexandre Dumas, father of the famous French novelist. Thomas Alexandre was born of a French nobleman and his Haitian slave in Haiti, then called Saint Domingue and a French colony.

Modi Govt's Plan To Uncover The 'Big Urbanisation Strategy': Will 'Realty Lobby' Makes A Difference Or Not?

By Kishore Jindal in Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce the implementation details for three major initiatives today. He will release implementation guidelines for three projects — 100 Smart Cities, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 500 cities and Housing-For-All by 2022 in urban areas.

These three projects have been in the work for some time now and the implementation guidelines are going to be the single largest investment by this government.

Prespective: Uncle Lalit, Aunty Sushma, Vasundara Ma'asi

A unique concept is developing - converting professional relationships into `family' ties, nowadays, Indians are creating conflict of interest at all levels of society.

From Donald Trump to Richard Branson, from Vijay Mallya to Lalit Modi, buccaneering, system-gaming, high living billionaires are the stuff of urban legend. The righteous scream for Lalit's head and secret admiration combusts with shrill jealous moralism that Lalit is brazenly rich, boasts about his many connections and is seen partying with Paris Hilton and Naomi Campbell.

'Firoz Merchant', A Businessman In Dubai: Why He Is Rescuing Thousands Of Debtors From UAE Prisons?

By Mohd Ahsanuddin Haseeb
Principal Gulf Editor in Dubai, UAE

Softly-spoken Indian businessman Firoz Merchant is a self-made millionaire, ranked number 30 on the recent '50 Richest Indians List', with a wealth estimated at around $440m. This is a far cry from having to leave school at the age of 11 because his parents could not afford the fees and living in a cramped Mumbai bedroom with his eight siblings.

Fast forward to Dubai and he now owns a gold retail conglomerate that is one of the biggest names in the industry and, in the midst of a challenging retail sector, has just announced multi-million-dollar expansion plans, is set to create 2,000 new jobs and is aiming to enter the hospitality sector.

Investing In India: Lots Of Optimism, No ‘Short-Term Fixes’

India has a growing population of educated young professionals, rich natural resources and close contact with the world leading nations. Experts and observers from around the world discussed how the nation can fulfill its enormous potential and evolve into a global economic power.

Optimism has grown in some circles since the new government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power last May. Indeed, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently forecast that India’s economy will accelerate from 7.4% GDP in fiscal year 2014-2015 to 8%-8.5% in 2015-2016.

Achhe Din For Real Estate: Upbeat Investment Climate, Rate Cuts To Boost Property Market By March 2016

Global rating agency Fitch said the likely upturn in the country's investment climate and reduction in interest rates will improve the property market by the end of March 2016 and provide relief to the debt-ridden developers.

"The property development sector (will) be a key beneficiary of reductions in housing loan interest rates by several domestic banks in April 2015," the agency said, adding that they would also boost credit growth.

Misplaced Priorities, The Burden Of Expectations And Social Challenges Mark Modi's Second Year As PM

Last year, India saw an overwhelming victory for the BJP and Narendra Modi, who nearly single-handedly ran the high-pitched parliamentary election campaign. Mr. Modi was sworn in on 26 May last year, as the 15th Prime Minister of India, in a high-profile event, the type of which has now become trademark of everything that the leader does.

A year down the line, "report cards" are flying thick and fast, often with vastly differing assessments.

Social Discrimination: How Bias Against Muslim Flat Seekers Came To Be Entrenched In Mumbai City?

In Indian cities which was a symbol of democratic and secular culture, now becoming a hub of social discriminiation. Mumbai witnessed a row of incidents, first the refusal of job being a muslim and now, denial of flat to a muslim girl. 

Public relations professional Misbah Quadri, 25, uncovered Mumbai’s worst-kept secret of two decades when she approached the National Human Rights Commission this week with a complaint that she had been forced to vacate a legitimately leased apartment because she is Muslim. It certainly isn’t the first case of its kind in the place that is usually touted as India’s most cosmopolitan metropolis.

Focus: Bengaluru Is The King Of India’s Real Estate Market

 In a recent survey, the hi-fi city of India - Bengaluru tops the chart by becoming the most favourite place to live and invest in real estate followed by Hyderabad and Gurgaon.

In 2009, at least five cities were ahead of Bengaluru—India’s technology heartland—on the list of the country’s top real estate markets. Not anymore.

A survey by property data company, PropEquity, has found that the southern Indian city is now the country’s leading real estate destination, beating Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Noida and Chennai, which were ahead of it six years ago.

Dingy Slums To Swanky Hifi, Mumbai 'Windows' Tells A Lot

PHOTO FEATURE: A great story of Mumbai 'Window' lives from a dingy single room in crumbling slums to some of the most expensive residences in world, Mumbai’s real-estate market has it all.

And, income willing, the Indian financial capital’s 21 million inhabitants can take their pick, with monthly rents ranging between Rs300 ($5) and Rs1.2 lakh ($2,000).

Since last year, INNLIVE photographer Danish Siddiqui has been chronicling what Mumbai’s houses look from the outside—alongside estimating how much rent their residents typically pay.

Special Report: Massive Merger In India’s largest Branded Clothing Company - Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail

Amid India’s e-commerce boom, the country’s largest branded apparel company—a decidedly brick-and-mortar entity—has just been born out of a merger.

Indian billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the $40 billion (Rs2.4 lakh crore) Aditya Birla Group, has decided to bring all his garment businesses under one company, which together adds up to annual sales of over Rs5,000 crore ($785 million).

Real Equity Returns: Get Rich Without Real Estate Funds

It’s a myth that real estate guarantees pots of money. If you’re young, here’s why equity funds may suit you better.

There’s an abiding belief among Indians that the only investment that can make you rich is real estate. Such is the allure of getting rich through property that many people in their twenties and thirties want to take on a large home loan and sign up for their first apartment as soon as they receive their first pay cheque.

But if you’re in your twenties or thirties, it makes more sense to invest in equity or balanced mutual funds instead. Not convinced? Here’s why.

Exclusive: The Bursting Of Indo-China’s Real Estate Bubble!

The party’s over in China’s urban real estate markets, but Chinese policy makers are trying in vain to revive the sector through financial deregulation and monetary easing.

A significant part of China’s recent recovery and boom after the Global Financial Crisis was driven by construction and real estate.

As the economy slowed down, it was obvious that these sectors would also decelerate. But the slowdown in real estate has been much sharper, and now threatens a new front that could further add to the economic dilemmas facing the Chinese government.

At This Point, Real Estate Is Not An 'Investment' Anymore!

The real estate sector is up the creek without a paddle. Builder inventories in metros like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi (NCR) and Vijayawada are at new highs as few people are buying. 

Not surprisingly, builders are trying all tricks in the book (and some more) to get you to commit resources to buying their expensive wares. From 10:80:10 schemes to others that merely want you to plonk a few lakhs to "book" your "dream home" (why call four walls a “dream home”, one wonders), builders are trying to sweeten their offers.

Point Of Concern: Why Real Estate Ponzi Schemes Continues Despite New Real Estate Bill In India?

The major question is why the real estate ponzi schemes are making waves in investors despite the new regulatory bill introduced. Why government is not making any efforts to curb these schemes?

On 7 April 2015, the Union cabinet cleared the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill. The Bill essentially mandates that every state needs to set up a Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), to protect consumer interests.

Real Estate Blues: What If The 'Builder' Disappears? The Biggest Risk Of Investing In 'Real Estate'!

In real estate we doesn't know how the situation becomes worst? Or when the economy plunges and investors goes in dark? When somebody dupes or when the fraud happens? We doesn't know. But how to combat the situation. INNLIVE takes you to get informed on preventive measures, techniques and more related information.

Earthquake Have Pushed Nepal’s Economy Back 20-Years!

Over the last days, Nepal has been rattled by its worst earthquakes since 1934. More than 3,000 people have lost their lives, and villages, roads, highways and ancient buildings have been devastated. The total economic losses from the damage could be between $1 billion and $10 billion, according to the US Geological Survey’s best estimate.

In all, the destruction could push the economy of Nepal—already one of the world’s poorest countries—back by a decade or more, significantly hurting the small Himalayan nation’s efforts to move from a “Least Developed Country” to a “Developing Country” by 2022.

Exclusive Interview: Meet Gulf's Elite Business Baron, Philantropist And Most Admired Personality 'Meera Kaul'

Wherever you work, for somebody or your own thing, your self-respect is your biggest business,” says Meera Kaul, successful serial entrepreneur, investor and the founder of The Meera Kaul Foundation.

Dr.Shelly Ahmed met Kaul at the headquarters of Optimus in Dubai, one of her success stories in the region. And looking at the confident 41-year-old US citizen, who is very proud of her Indian descent, you could hardly recognise the girl who once “didn’t assert herself because of the fear of refusal,” when her father didn’t allow her to participate in a theatre workshop.

The Way You Travel Can Decide The Way You Invest Too

Deciding Where to Travel (Deciding where to invest): Think of how you travelled in school or college trips. Full of energy and excitement, you would pack up in buses, huddle up in dormitories and wouldn’t mind going for a few adventurous treks also.

As you got married, had kids, your travel preferences changed towards more family-friendly, or may be luxury holidays at times.

Analysis: Kerala Politics - Emerging Political Realignment

The UDF needs an urgent re-working of its strategies with regard to the state’s economic development, entrepreneurship development and bettering of public perception about minority appeasement. 

An emergency cabinet reshuffling to save the disintegration of the UDF and further shrinking of its vote base is needed. The Congress should strongly assert its position regarding economy, finance, education and industrial development including taxation policy.