Urdu writer joins protest, to return prize

After writer Nayantara Sahgal and poet Ashok Vajpeyi, Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas announced that he would be returning the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy Award, which he won in 2011 for his third novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Aankh Micholi (Hide-and Seek in the Shadow of God).

Mr. Abbas’ action is in protest against the ‘growing intolerance of Hindu right-wing groups against minorities.’

ISRO eyes a global role in satellite navigation

Four of the seven IRNSS satellites are in orbit

The Indian Space Research Organisation has unveiled plans to gradually make its regional satellite navigation system global â�� akin to powerful position-telling systems such as the U.S.’ GPS and the Russian GLONASS.

ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said four of the seven Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites are in orbit and the last three spacecraft would be added in orbit by March 2016. The IRNSS would provide self-reliance in the strategically important area of position-related information, he said at a users’ conference on global navigation satellite systems on 8^th October.

Dena Bank ties up with bankbazaar.com

Dena Bank has entered into a tie-up with online financial product aggregator bankbazaar.com for capturing retail loan business through the firm’s online platform. “The tie up with bankbazaar.com for retail loans such as housing, car, used car loans and savings account will further strengthen the banks online presence and significantly support its growing retail portfolio, Dena Bank said in a statement.

ICICI launches 'mVisa' mobile payment service

Top private sector lender ICICI Bank today launched a mobile-payment solution based on ‘mVisa’, that will allow its customers pay for services using their smartphones.

The service, which can be used by customers, who have installed an app of the bank’s mobile wallet ‘Pockets’, works by scanning QR codes.

They can make electronic payments from smartphones at physical stores, accept e-commerce deliveries, pay radio taxis and utility bills among others, the bank said in a statement.

The service is based on ‘mVisa’, a new mobile payment solution from Visa, and ICICI Bank is the first to launch a mobile-app based ‘mVisa’ solution for consumers and merchants, it said.

At present, customers pay either in cash or have to swipe cards at a point of sale (POS) machine to complete a transaction.

The bank says it has had two million downloads of Pockets app and 70 per cent of them are non-ICICI Bank account holders.

Customers will have to scan a ‘mVisa’ Quick Response (QR) code at a merchant location for payment, it added.

Aircel introduces free basic internet to new subscribers

India’s leading mobile service providers Aircel introduced free basic internet for all new customers, claimed to be first of kind in India. The new product is available at Rs. 144, with 64 KBPS for 90 days free data after activation, he said, adding that video streaming, video calling and online gaming will not be available for post paid customers, the company is working out on a package, since the internet was almost free for them according to their bill plan, he said.

Stating that the company, with 7,000 cell towers, has already connected 5,000 owners to 3G serice, he said that the new product will allow the customers 24 X7 all day browsing, all day unlimited data use free of charge.

Aircel is targeting those 70 per cent of customers, who were using internet less than 10 days, which accounted for 66 MB per month, he said.

When asked about introducing 4G, the official said that work is in progress and the service will be ready before the end of this year.

A.R. Rahman announced as cultural ambassador for Seychelles

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has been named as the cultural ambassador of Seychelles for his contribution in enhancing the country’s art and culture development.

The 48-year-old music director shared the news with his fans on social media by posting an image of the certificate validating his new role.

One of the most globally popular Indian music icons, Rahman has won two Academy Awards two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe, besides national recognition in his illustrious career.

Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich wins Literature Nobel

The Nobel was awarded "for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time".

The Nobel Prize 2015 in Literature went to 67-year-old Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich.

The Nobel was awarded “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time”.

Ms. Alexievich is the 14th women Literature Laureate.

Ms. Alexievich used the skills of a journalist to create literature chronicling the great tragedies of the Soviet Union and its collapse- World War II, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the suicides that ensued from the death of Communism.

The academy's permanent secretary, Sara Danius, told that Swedish broadcaster SVT that she reached the writer just before the announcement.

Last year's literature award went to French writer Patrick Modiano.

This year's medicine prize went to scientists from Japan, the U.S. and China who discovered drugs to fight malaria and other tropical diseases. Japanese and Canadian scientists won the physics prize for discovering that tiny particles called neutrinos have mass.