News for '-including-india'

Asian Games to act as Paris Olympics qualifiers

Asian Games to act as Paris Olympics qualifiers

Rediff.com29 Jan 2023

The Asian Games normally serves as the Olympic qualifiers but there was some confusion after the Hangzhou Asian Games were postponed from last year to this year due to the COVID-19 situation in China.

India votes to allow Zelenskyy's virtual address at UNGA

India votes to allow Zelenskyy's virtual address at UNGA

Rediff.com17 Sep 2022

Over 100 countries, including India, voted in favour of allowing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the high-level UN General Assembly session next week through a pre-recorded statement because of his need to deal with the war following Russia's invasion.

Indonesia hands over G20 presidency to India as Bali Summit ends

Indonesia hands over G20 presidency to India as Bali Summit ends

Rediff.com16 Nov 2022

At a brief ceremony, Indonesian President Joko Widodo handed over the G20 presidency to Prime Minister Modi at the conclusion of the two-day G20 Summit in Bali.

Grim global situation casts shadow on Budget 2023

Grim global situation casts shadow on Budget 2023

Rediff.com21 Dec 2022

Ahead of the Union Budget for 2023-24, Budget makers have welcomed the global consensus view that India will remain one of the bright spots in calendar year 2023. But there is some alarm over the grim global situation and how that might impact the Centre's projections and assessments for next financial year. The big global headwinds include a deep and sustained recession in the West, including India's biggest trading partners in North America and Europe, continuing volatility in commodity markets, and renewed Covid-19 fears, as lifting of strict curbs by China could potentially lead to a massive spread again.

At UN, India votes against Russia's call for secret vote on Ukraine

At UN, India votes against Russia's call for secret vote on Ukraine

Rediff.com11 Oct 2022

Only 13 nations voted in favour of Russia's call for a secret ballot on draft resolution on Ukraine.

India abstains from UN rights panel vote on Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang

India abstains from UN rights panel vote on Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang

Rediff.com6 Oct 2022

India on Thursday abstained from voting on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council on holding a debate on the human rights situation in China's restive Xinjiang region.

China warns of countermeasures for Covid curbs on its travellers abroad

China warns of countermeasures for Covid curbs on its travellers abroad

Rediff.com3 Jan 2023

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning went on the offensive saying "we do not believe the entry restriction measures some countries have taken against China are science-based".

China logs nearly 60,000 Covid deaths in last 30 days

China logs nearly 60,000 Covid deaths in last 30 days

Rediff.com14 Jan 2023

The average age of those who died was 80.3, and 90 per cent of the fatalities were aged 65 or over, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

A stringent patent rule is latest hurdle for India-UK free trade agreement

A stringent patent rule is latest hurdle for India-UK free trade agreement

Rediff.com3 Nov 2022

Negotiations for a trade deal between India and the UK have run into fresh controversy, after the proposals under a leaked chapter of the deal on intellectual property (IP) are believed to put access to affordable, lifesaving generic medicines from India at risk. According to the draft IP chapter put out by an international trade portal bilaterals.org, the UK is seeking continuous extension of patent period and rights through small tweaks in the drug, known as evergreening. This may prevent patents from expiring, impacting cheaper drug availability and its production by Indian generic drug manufacturers.

Rishi Sunak makes it clear: 'Golden era' with China is over

Rishi Sunak makes it clear: 'Golden era' with China is over

Rediff.com29 Nov 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made a clear break with the past on UK-China relations as he declared that the "so-called golden era" of bilateral ties is over in the face of the "systemic challenge" posed by the Chinese regime to British values and interests.

India's Billionaire Club Shrinks....

India's Billionaire Club Shrinks....

Rediff.com5 Jan 2023

Among the many exits from the billionaire's club in 2022 are D Uday Kumar Reddy of Tanla Solutions (net worth down 66 per cent), Sushil Kanubhai Shah of Metropolis Healthcare (down 65.7 per cent), Vijay Shekhar Sharma of One97 Communications (down 66 per cent), and C K Birla (down 43.4 per cent).

Why Modi govt ramped up import of Russian crude, Sitharaman explains

Why Modi govt ramped up import of Russian crude, Sitharaman explains

Rediff.com8 Sep 2022

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said India has ramped up the import of crude oil from Russia at discounted prices amid sanctions on Moscow as part of the country's inflation management. "In a situation where global prices were going beyond anyone's affordability, at that stage to take a very strong political decision, I respect the prime minister for his courage on this to get it from Russia because they are ready to give it to you at discount. And how speedily did we manage to do it," she said. India ramped up its import from Russia from about 2 per cent of the total shipment of petroleum products to 12-13 per cent in a couple of months as part of inflation management, she said at a seminar organised by economic think-tank Icrier.

Republic Day 2023: Here is govt's proposal for 3 specific tableaux themes

Republic Day 2023: Here is govt's proposal for 3 specific tableaux themes

Rediff.com13 Sep 2022

The government, which is celebrating 75 years of India's Independence, has proposed that India@75 tableaux include India's freedom struggle, its achievements, actions and resolves over the past seven decades.

Ganesha Begins Journey To Australia

Ganesha Begins Journey To Australia

Rediff.com14 Jun 2022

Sculptors Manohar Bagwe and Sadanand Bagwe, who also create the famous Lalbaug Cha Raja Ganesha, have created a 21 feet high Ganesha for this year's Ganesh Utsav in Adelaide.

Some countries may see another Covid wave due to XBB subvariant: WHO

Some countries may see another Covid wave due to XBB subvariant: WHO

Rediff.com20 Oct 2022

"As of now, there is no data from any country to suggest these new subvariants are more clinically severe," Chief scientist at WHO clarified.

Gandhiji Visits Beijing. Does Xi Know?

Gandhiji Visits Beijing. Does Xi Know?

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

'Mahatma Gandhi's principle of non-violence was all-encompassing -- human against human, human against animal and more importantly human against nature.'

India abstains on Russian resolution against Ukraine at UNSC

India abstains on Russian resolution against Ukraine at UNSC

Rediff.com3 Nov 2022

India has abstained on yet another resolution involving Ukraine, this time a motion sponsored by Russia at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that sought to establish a commission to investigate claims by Moscow that the United States and Ukraine are carrying out 'military biological activities' in laboratories in Ukraine in violation of the biological weapons convention.

Reliance Jio eyes 100 mn homes through its 5G fixed wireless access

Reliance Jio eyes 100 mn homes through its 5G fixed wireless access

Rediff.com30 Aug 2022

Reliance Jio's aggressive target to reach 100 million households through the launch of the 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) could make it one of the world's largest players in this space. But this also marks a change from its earlier strategy of offering fibre-to-the home (FTTH) broadband to households. Despite its best efforts, in two years Jio has been able to connect only 7 million households with FTTH, as permission for right of way for the last mile became a major impediment and the process of laying ducts for the roll-out was slow and cumbersome.

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

e-Rupee: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2022

The RBI refuses to classify a cryptocurrency as an asset since it doesn't have future cash flow and its value is always fluctuating because of speculation. There is also no consumer protection, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay, and hence the e-rupee trial run.

China terms crackdown in Xinjiang as 'counter terrorism'

China terms crackdown in Xinjiang as 'counter terrorism'

Rediff.com8 Oct 2022

China on Saturday maintained silence on India's abstention at the voting at the UNHRC on the human rights situation in Xinjiang

India-Japan Trade: The Abe Effect

India-Japan Trade: The Abe Effect

Rediff.com21 Jul 2022

During Abe's tenure, Japan had announced support for a number of major projects. These included the bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, besides allocations for a freight corridor between Mumbai and New Delhi.

How to get India's 400m 2G users to upgrade to 4G or 5G

How to get India's 400m 2G users to upgrade to 4G or 5G

Rediff.com22 Oct 2022

With India rolling out 5G services, can telcos get the sizeable 350-400 million 2G customers to upgrade to 4G, or even better -- but very improbably -- straight to 5G?

'This is the year to pick and choose sectors and companies carefully'

'This is the year to pick and choose sectors and companies carefully'

Rediff.com20 Oct 2022

'2022 has not been -- and will not be -- the kind of 2021 bull market, which lifted all boats.'

SOVA Android phone malware targets banking customers

SOVA Android phone malware targets banking customers

Rediff.com15 Sep 2022

A new mobile banking 'Trojan' virus -- SOVA -- which can stealthily encrypt an Android phone for ransom and is hard to uninstall is targeting Indian customers, the country's federal cyber security agency said in its latest advisory.

In August, markets log 3rd highest monthly FPI inflows since Covid outbreak

In August, markets log 3rd highest monthly FPI inflows since Covid outbreak

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

In August, domestic equity markets garnered one of the highest foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, despite the US Federal Reserve standing firm on unwinding its stimulus measures to control inflation. FPIs pumped in over Rs 51,000 crore ($6.4 billion) in August, the most since December 2020 and the third-highest tally since March 2020-the month the Covid-19 pandemic roiled global markets. This was the second consecutive month of positive foreign flows. In the preceding nine months, FPIs had yanked out over $32 billion or Rs 2.2 trillion.

FTA: UK, India not working towards Diwali deadline

FTA: UK, India not working towards Diwali deadline

Rediff.com14 Oct 2022

The free trade agreement (FTA) talks with India are no longer working towards a Diwali deadline though negotiations are progressing well, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch has said as New Delhi expressed confidence on Friday of an "early date" for a mutually beneficial deal. "There are ongoing negotiations as we know on the FTA. There is interest on both sides to see if we can work towards a deal, an FTA, that is beneficial to both the countries at an early date," external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters in New Delhi. It came as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his UK counterpart, James Cleverly, and referenced the Roadmap 2030 bilateral agreement signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former UK PM Boris Johnson in May last year, with no specific reference to the FTA.

'Data protection bill veered away from core issues'

'Data protection bill veered away from core issues'

Rediff.com16 Aug 2022

'There were two options before the government -- create a complex, cumbersome law, which will cause a tremendous amount of compliance challenges for startups or say let's go back and do a clean slate, where we do a framework of laws and policies'

Queen Elizabeth II admired richness, diversity of India

Queen Elizabeth II admired richness, diversity of India

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, who died aged 96 on Thursday, was the first British monarch to accede to the throne after India's Independence from colonial rule in 1952 and admired the 'richness and diversity' of India where she made three State Visits over the course of her reign -- in 1961, 1983 and 1997.

India's warmth and hospitality touched Queen Elizabeth II

India's warmth and hospitality touched Queen Elizabeth II

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

Queen Elizabeth II made 3 State visits to India -- in 1961, 1983 and 1997.

'Absolute hypocrisy': Activists on PM's pledge to protect free speech at G7

'Absolute hypocrisy': Activists on PM's pledge to protect free speech at G7

Rediff.com28 Jun 2022

'On the international platform, the prime minister is talking about freedom of speech and he should be ashamed of it'

India, The Electoral Autocracy

India, The Electoral Autocracy

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

'The most important priority for the next 25 years should be to strengthen our democracy so that it is supportive of social harmony, and to not just respect but to take pride in the diversity of Indian society in terms of the variety of languages, religion and religious practices and social norms,' explains Nitin Desai.

Ukrainian FM urges India to ask Russia to stop war

Ukrainian FM urges India to ask Russia to stop war

Rediff.com6 Mar 2022

During a televised address, Kuleba accused Russia of violating the ceasefire agreements and urged it to stop shooting to allow civilians, including foreign students, to evacuate.

India abstains from UN vote condemning Russia's annexations

India abstains from UN vote condemning Russia's annexations

Rediff.com13 Oct 2022

The 193-member general assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn Russia's "illegal so-called referendums in regions within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine and the attempted illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, following the organisation of the above-mentioned referendums".

Russia's Supply of S-400 Missiles Moving 'Smoothly'

Russia's Supply of S-400 Missiles Moving 'Smoothly'

Rediff.com4 Sep 2022

Russia has almost completed the delivery of major components of the second regiment of the weapon systems.

Britain's new King believes in Yoga, Ayurveda

Britain's new King believes in Yoga, Ayurveda

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

King Charles III, Britain's new monarch who ascended to the throne on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, has a strong connection with India and its age-old traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda.

Govt committed to 6.4% fiscal deficit target for 2022-23

Govt committed to 6.4% fiscal deficit target for 2022-23

Rediff.com4 Jul 2022

India's macroeconomic fundamentals are strong to deal with global challenges and the central government is committed to sticking to the fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP for the current fiscal, official sources said on Monday. The government is taking steps to deal with the spiralling crude oil prices in the international market, the sources said. India meets nearly 85 per cent of its oil demand through imports and a weaker rupee makes imports costlier.

Can Modi Change India's Freebie Culture?

Can Modi Change India's Freebie Culture?

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Blame the voter, who invariably chooses the promise of hand-outs today in preference to a vague promise of, say, better schools tomorrow. Getting the Supreme Court to issue an edict, or Parliament to pass a law, is no solution, observes T N Ninan.

Scientists believe Covid nearing its end, but also advise caution

Scientists believe Covid nearing its end, but also advise caution

Rediff.com23 Sep 2022

The pandemic will be over but Covid will be here to stay, the scientists said as Covid numbers begin to ebb in several parts of the world, including India.

With Queen's death, Twitterati wants Kohinoor's return to India

With Queen's death, Twitterati wants Kohinoor's return to India

Rediff.com9 Sep 2022

Some Twitter users were serious in their demand for the return of the Kohinoor diamond, while others had a humorous take on the issue.

India needs time to move away from Russia: US

India needs time to move away from Russia: US

Rediff.com18 Aug 2022

It is going to be a long-term proposition for India -- which has a decades-old relationship with Moscow -- to reorient its foreign policy away from Russia, the US has said, insisting that re-aligning one's approach is not like flipping a light switch.