News for 'Center for Development'

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

A Serendipitous Civil Service Career

Rediff.com22 Dec 2022

Every twist and turn in KMC's civil service career is attributed to serendipity, an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident. He plays down his capabilities, which took him to the top of the civil service as the Cabinet Secretary or his misfortune in losing a daughter in her prime and suggests that his career was indeed serendipitous, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Reports of coal crisis baseless: Sitharaman

Reports of coal crisis baseless: Sitharaman

Rediff.com13 Oct 2021

Amid reports of the ongoing coal shortage in the country, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed that there is no shortage and termed these as "absolutely baseless", saying India is a power surplus country. Sitharaman said that Power Minister R K Singh went on record just two days ago when he said absolutely baseless information is floating around that there is probably shortage of coal, shortage of other inventories which will lead to a sudden gap in the supply demand situation in the energy consumption. "Absolute baseless! There is no shortage of anything. In fact, if I recall the minister's statement, every power producing installation has the next four days' stock absolutely available within their own premises and the supply chain has not broken at all," Sitharaman said at Harvard Kennedy School on Tuesday.

New test can predict your level of immunity against COVID-19

New test can predict your level of immunity against COVID-19

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

Easy access to this kind of test could help people determine what kind of precautions they should take against COVID-19 infection, such as getting an additional booster shot, the researchers said.

India: Vishwaguru Or In Amritkaal?

India: Vishwaguru Or In Amritkaal?

Rediff.com2 May 2023

Happily, it does not require the world to hold a mirror up for us. We can look at ourselves and understand easily if we choose to be honest about where we find ourselves three quarters of a century after Independence, asserts Aakar Patel.

Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen among investors for US' first T20 league

Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen among investors for US' first T20 league

Rediff.com20 May 2022

In a significant push to popularise cricket in the US, a $120 million funding has been secured from prominent Indian-American business leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, to launch the first professional T20 league in the US. Major League Cricket (MLC), the first professional Twenty20 Cricket League in the US, announced Thursday that it has completed an initial close of a $44 million Series A and A1 Fundraising Round led by a group of America's leading business leaders. It said that with an additional commitment of $76 million in further fundraising over the next 12 months in place, MLC plans to deploy more than $120 million to launch the country's first-ever professional T20 league.

This 'Super Sniffer' squad to protect India's cheetahs

This 'Super Sniffer' squad to protect India's cheetahs

Rediff.com28 Sep 2022

During the training, the dogs will be trained to detect tiger and leopard skins, bones, elephant tusks and other body parts, bear bile, Red Sanders, and several other illegal wildlife products.

10 smart tips for innovators and app developers

10 smart tips for innovators and app developers

Rediff.com17 Jan 2015

Internet-based systemic wisdom connects machines and people, and will drive next-gen enterprises, said Huawei's Yatish Nagavalli.

Vikram-S opens new doors for India's space programme

Vikram-S opens new doors for India's space programme

Rediff.com18 Nov 2022

The 6-metre tall launch vehicle Vikram-S is named after Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the country's space programme and lifted off at 11.30 am.

Students going abroad: PM nudges pvt firms to expand medical education

Students going abroad: PM nudges pvt firms to expand medical education

Rediff.com26 Feb 2022

His remarks assume significance at a time when a large number of Indian students, many of them studying medicine, have been stuck in Ukraine following the Russian attack on that country.

US hopes India would 'reconsider' its decision to ban wheat exports

US hopes India would 'reconsider' its decision to ban wheat exports

Rediff.com17 May 2022

The US hopes India will "reconsider" its decision to ban wheat exports, with Washington "encouraging" countries not to restrict exports as that will exacerbate food shortages, amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine. India, the world's second-biggest wheat producer, has banned wheat exports in a bid to check high domestic prices amid concerns of wheat output being hit by scorching heat waves. The decision would help control retail prices of wheat and wheat flour, which have risen by an average 14-20 per cent in the last one year, besides meeting the foodgrain requirement of neighbouring and vulnerable countries.

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes given 11-year jail for duping investors

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes given 11-year jail for duping investors

Rediff.com19 Nov 2022

She was found guilty in January of duping investors and lying about the technology after a three-month trial.

Ideal time for Covid booster is 6 months after 2nd dose: Covaxin maker

Ideal time for Covid booster is 6 months after 2nd dose: Covaxin maker

Rediff.com10 Nov 2021

Bharat Biotech is also looking at nasal vaccine as a booster dose as its scaling up capacity is very easy when compared with Covaxin, he added.

Deepika Is Louis Vuitton's Newest Star

Deepika Is Louis Vuitton's Newest Star

Rediff.com13 May 2022

A glimpse of the movie star at Louis Vuitton's 2023 Cruise show in San Diego, California.

Meet Ajit Pai, the man at the center of the US net neutrality debate

Meet Ajit Pai, the man at the center of the US net neutrality debate

Rediff.com23 Nov 2017

The chief of America's Federal Communications Commission is not a fan of net neutrality. So what's his vision of communications and digital policy in these times?

Modi meets Bill Gates; discusses climate change

Modi meets Bill Gates; discusses climate change

Rediff.com2 Nov 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on the sidelines of the climate summit here and discussed ways to further sustainable development, steps to mitigate climate change and vaccine research. The meeting between Modi and the American business magnate, whose foundation is focusing on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, took place after the former launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations. Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the work being done by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Adani group is 'deeply overleveraged', warns CreditSights

Adani group is 'deeply overleveraged', warns CreditSights

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Richest Indian Gautam Adani's ports-to-power-to-cement conglomerate is "deeply overleveraged" with the group predominantly using debt to invest aggressively across existing as well as new businesses, CreditSights, a Fitch Group unit, said on Tuesday. In a report titled 'Adani Group: Deeply Overleveraged', CreditSights said, "In the worst-case scenario, overly ambitious debt-funded growth plans could eventually spiral into a massive debt trap, and possibly culminate into a distressed situation or default of one or more group companies." Starting out as a commodities trader in the late 1980s, the Adani group has diversified from mines, ports and power plants into airports, data centers and defence.

People misunderstand my views on dynastic politics: Modi

People misunderstand my views on dynastic politics: Modi

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

"I am not talking about any political party or individual. I see that the people who fit my definition of pariwarvad are angry with me. These dynasts are uniting against me across the country. They are angry why the youth in the country are taking Modi seriously," he said.

'We are sitting on a time bomb'

'We are sitting on a time bomb'

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

'An earthquake of a slightly higher magnitude in the Western Himalayan region is going to be catastrophic -- not just because of the fragility of the region but because of how densely we have occupied it.'

New York nurse first to get Covid vaccine in US

New York nurse first to get Covid vaccine in US

Rediff.com14 Dec 2020

The news comes as the United States approaches 300,000 deaths from COVID-19.

Taiwan thanks India for support amid China tensions

Taiwan thanks India for support amid China tensions

Rediff.com14 Aug 2022

Taiwan on Sunday expressed gratitude to India and several other countries for their calls for exercising restrain and avoiding unilateral actions to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait in the face of China's belligerent military posturing following United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.

Prachanda takes oath as Nepal's new PM for third time

Prachanda takes oath as Nepal's new PM for third time

Rediff.com26 Dec 2022

Prachanda took the oath of office and secrecy from President Bhandari at an official ceremony at Shital Niwas.

Adani ropes in TotalEnergies for its $50 bn green hydrogen venture

Adani ropes in TotalEnergies for its $50 bn green hydrogen venture

Rediff.com14 Jun 2022

TotalEnergies will acquire 25 per cent shareholding in Adani New Industries Ltd -- the firm that houses Adani Group's new energy business -- for an undisclosed amount, the two firms said in separate statements. "TotalEnergies has entered into an agreement with (Adani Group's flagship) Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) to acquire a 25 per cent interest in ANIL," the French energy giant said.

Adani plans to be India's most profitable cement manufacturer

Adani plans to be India's most profitable cement manufacturer

Rediff.com19 Sep 2022

Days after completing a $6.5 billion acquisition of Ambuja Cements and ACC, billionaire Gautam Adani said his group has planned to double cement manufacturing capacity and become the most profitable manufacturer in the country. He saw a multifold rise in cement demand in India on the back of record-breaking economic growth and the government's infrastructure creation push, which will give significant margin expansion. In a speech made at an event to mark the completion of the acquisition on September 17, the Adani Group founder and chairman said the ports-to-energy conglomerate has in a single stroke become the second largest cement manufacturer in the country.

3 Covid waves likely to hit China in the coming months

3 Covid waves likely to hit China in the coming months

Rediff.com21 Dec 2022

It is certain that the Chinese government was 'under-prepared' as it decided to end its zero-COVID policy abruptly after people held protests across the country, The Hong Kong Post reported.

Border peace not whole story of ties: Chinese envoy

Border peace not whole story of ties: Chinese envoy

Rediff.com24 Sep 2021

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong has said peace and tranquility in the border areas with India is important but it is not the "whole story" of the bilateral relations and that the current status of the ties is obviously not in the fundamental interest of either side, remarks that came amid the Ladakh military standoff.

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

'Wherever in the world there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,' President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament.

Padma Bhushan for Indian vaccine makers

Padma Bhushan for Indian vaccine makers

Rediff.com25 Jan 2022

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella along with Alphabet Inc and its subsidiary Google CEO Sundararajan Pichai are also among those from trade and industry who have been awarded the Padma Bhushan for their distinguished services.

10 HOT careers for IT grads

10 HOT careers for IT grads

Rediff.com15 Apr 2021

Engineering graduates specialising in artificial intelligence and machine learning can earn up to 24 lakh a year, says Saran Balasundaram, founder and CEO, HanDigital, a talent consulting firm.

Competitiveness Index: India 43rd; Switzerland No 1

Competitiveness Index: India 43rd; Switzerland No 1

Rediff.com17 Jun 2021

India maintained 43rd rank on an annual World Competitiveness Index compiled by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) that examined the impact of COVID-19 on economies around the world this year. The 64-nation list was led by Switzerland, while Sweden has moved up to the second position (from sixth last year), Denmark has lost one place to rank third, the Netherlands has retained its fourth place and Singapore has slipped to the fifth place (from first in 2020). At eighth, Taiwan reached the top-10 for the first time since the ranking began 33 years ago (moving up from 11th last year).

Trump returns to White House, removes mask for photo-op

Trump returns to White House, removes mask for photo-op

Rediff.com6 Oct 2020

In a mass email to his supporters after his arrival at the White House, Trump asked them not to be afraid of COVID-19. "I'm telling you: Don't be afraid of COVID. Don't let it dominate your life! This is the greatest country in the world and under the Trump Administration, we have developed some really great drugs and knowledge. WE WILL BEAT THIS, TOGETHER!" he said.

Chinese incursions into India strategically planned: Study

Chinese incursions into India strategically planned: Study

Rediff.com11 Nov 2022

In the 15-year dataset, the researchers noted an average of 7.8 incursions per year even though the Indian government's estimates are much higher.

Long Covid can negatively impact overall quality of life, says study

Long Covid can negatively impact overall quality of life, says study

Rediff.com26 Oct 2021

According to a new Mount Sinai study, patients experiencing post-acute COVID syndrome (also known as 'long COVID') may have symptoms for at least 12 months after initial COVID-19 infection, significantly and negatively impacting their cognition, ability to work, participation in physical activity, interaction with others, and overall quality of life.

Omicron study: Sputnik V and Light booster effective

Omicron study: Sputnik V and Light booster effective

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and its one-shot version Sputnik Light booster demonstrates high virus-neutralising activity (VNA) against the highly-contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19, providing a strong defence against severe disease and hospitalisation, according to a study.

Roger Penrose, 2 others share Physics Nobel for black hole research

Roger Penrose, 2 others share Physics Nobel for black hole research

Rediff.com6 Oct 2020

The Nobel Assembly on Tuesday said in a tweet, 'The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics with one half to Roger Penrose and the other half jointly to Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez.'

Iranian foreign minister raises anti-Prophet remarks during talks

Iranian foreign minister raises anti-Prophet remarks during talks

Rediff.com9 Jun 2022

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his visiting Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday against the backdrop of widespread anger in West Asia over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed made by two former Bharatiya Janata Party spokespersons.

India-US coalition begin clinical trials for coronavirus

India-US coalition begin clinical trials for coronavirus

Rediff.com17 Mar 2020

The trial began at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle as the first participant received the investigational vaccine.

IT companies may not follow HCL Tech on freshers' salary

IT companies may not follow HCL Tech on freshers' salary

Rediff.com2 May 2022

It has taken a pandemic to move the needle on the salary packages for greenhorn engineers hired by the Indian IT services sector. The country's third-largest IT services player, HCL Technologies, has decided to boost the entry-level packages from Rs 3-3.6 lakh to Rs 4.25 lakh for FY23, in a bid to attract fresh talent and keep them for longer to counter the impact of rising attrition. This new package would also be applicable to those freshers who joined the firm in FY22.

Sack TN Guv for instigating communal hatred: DMK to Prez

Sack TN Guv for instigating communal hatred: DMK to Prez

Rediff.com9 Nov 2022

The DMK and its allies submitted a list of pending assembly bills with the Raj Bhavan.

Tejashwi Yadav returns as the kingmaker in Bihar

Tejashwi Yadav returns as the kingmaker in Bihar

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

After a dream debut seven years ago when he was sworn in as deputy chief minister after being elected MLA for the first time was followed by a slump in his political fortunes, Tejashwi Yadav has finally come back to center-stage as the kingmaker and deputy to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

China's Olympic Games app has security flaws?

China's Olympic Games app has security flaws?

Rediff.com19 Jan 2022

Winter Games in Beijing has glaring security problems that could expose sensitive data to interception, according to a report