News for 'Lower Ground'

Once again, jewellers may miss the glitter on Akshaya Tritiya

Once again, jewellers may miss the glitter on Akshaya Tritiya

Rediff.com11 May 2021

The gems and jewellery industry is staring at a sales washout on Akshaya Tritiya for the second consecutive year as most of the states are under lockdowns due to the raging second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to negative consumer sentiment, say industry leaders. Akshaya Tritiya, considered as an auspicious day for buying gold and jewellery, falls on May 14 this year. India is the worst-hit among all nations with the second wave of the pandemic, which has been killing more than 3,500 daily and infecting close to 4 lakhs daily for weeks. The massive caseload has nearly paralysed the medical infrastructure.

SC notice to WhatsApp over new privacy policy

SC notice to WhatsApp over new privacy policy

Rediff.com16 Feb 2021

The apex court said people value their privacy more than the value of the company which might be in trillions.

India's COVID-19 case fatality rate 'progressively falling': Govt

India's COVID-19 case fatality rate 'progressively falling': Govt

Rediff.com19 Jul 2020

From 2.82 per cent over a month earlier, India's COVID-19 case fatality rate declined to 2.72 per cent on July 10 and has further reduced to 2.49 per cent presently.

Punjab cops recovers grenades dropped by drone from Pak

Punjab cops recovers grenades dropped by drone from Pak

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

The box of hand grenades had been attached with a wooden frame and was lowered from the drone to the ground with a nylon rope, said police, adding that they recovered it on Sunday evening.

Stalin Prepares For Battle Of 2024

Stalin Prepares For Battle Of 2024

Rediff.com6 May 2022

The going is not going to be easy for the DMK and its allies in Elections 2024. Despite the seats sweepstake in the 2021 assembly polls, the vote-share difference of 5.6% (DMK's 45.38% versus AIADMK-BJP's 39.72%) is not insurmountable on a bad day, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

IPL: Buttler comes to the party as Royals rout SRH

IPL: Buttler comes to the party as Royals rout SRH

Rediff.com2 May 2021

Jos Buttler announced his return to form with belligerent maiden T20 hundred as Rajasthan Royals trounced SunRisers Hyderabad by 55 runs.

Why India may have to withdraw 2% equalisation levy on firms by 2023

Why India may have to withdraw 2% equalisation levy on firms by 2023

Rediff.com13 Jul 2021

India conceding ground to bring only top 100 digital companies like Google, Facebook, and Netflix into the global taxation pact may have revenue implications. This will mean that New Delhi will have to withdraw the contentious 2 per cent equalisation levy on e-commerce operators by 2023. This may have revenue implications for India, experts pointed out, as the equalisation levy has a much lower annual revenue threshold of Rs 2 crore (euro 0.2 million) as against euro 20 billion agreed by 130 countries at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). India, along with other developing countries, was pitching for at least euro 1 billion threshold to cover at least 5,000 global entities. India collected Rs 2,057 crore from the equalisation levy in 2020-21, an 85 per cent growth over Rs 1,136 crore in the previous fiscal.

Djokovic back with a bang!

Djokovic back with a bang!

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

It was Novak Djokovic's first match this year after his Australian Open hopes were dashed when he was deported following an 11-day saga revolving around his decision not to have a COVID-19 vaccination.

I also deserve a second chance, says banned Malik

I also deserve a second chance, says banned Malik

Rediff.com27 Apr 2020

Tainted former captain Salim Malik is ready to co-operate with the International Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board to get their clearance, which will allow him to earn a living from the game. In a video message, the former Test captain, who was banned in 2000 for life for match-fixing by the PCB on the recommendations of the Justice (Retd) Malik Qayyum judicial commission report, also apologised to the nation and his fans for his actions.

Mamata Banerjee and the Politics of Impulsiveness

Mamata Banerjee and the Politics of Impulsiveness

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

Hasty, ill-conceived steps show how isolated Mamata Banerjee had been from the national political trend. A fascinating excerpt from Sugato Hazra's Losing The Plot: Political Isolation Of West Bengal.

IndiGo places $20-bn order for CFM engines

IndiGo places $20-bn order for CFM engines

Rediff.com18 Jun 2019

With this, the biggest buyer of Airbus SE A320neo planes seems to be moving away from Pratt & Whitney engines, which have been experiencing glitches. CFM International will deliver the first engine by 2020.

Paralympics: Rubina Francis places 7th in 10m Air Pistol final

Paralympics: Rubina Francis places 7th in 10m Air Pistol final

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

The Indian markswoman started off well and went on to finish with 560 points, which was enough to earn her place in the final.

'If you don't double vaccinate and don't mask, Omicron is going to come for you'

'If you don't double vaccinate and don't mask, Omicron is going to come for you'

Rediff.com7 Jan 2022

'We know, from our experience of this virus, that there's something known as long COVID-19, where you have this persistent fatigue and some people have lost their neurological acuteness and they are not as sharp as they used to be.'

'Perform or get shipped out', minister warns ONGC, OIL

'Perform or get shipped out', minister warns ONGC, OIL

Rediff.com29 Jun 2021

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday put state-owned ONGC and OIL on notice saying oil and gas reserves they hold need to be monetised through joint ventures with domain experts or the government will take them away and auction them. Speaking at BNEF Summit, he said state-owned firms cannot indefinitely sit on resources when the nation is a net importer of oil and gas. Despite India bidding out acreages to private and other companies since the 1990s, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) hold a "sizeable number of acreage for years," he said.

Ranji: Dhull 3rd Indian to hit two tons on debut; Pujara saves Saurashtra

Ranji: Dhull 3rd Indian to hit two tons on debut; Pujara saves Saurashtra

Rediff.com20 Feb 2022

A round up of the fourth and final day's action of the Ranji Trophy matches on Sunday.

Axar, Shardul join Hardik on injury list, out of Asia Cup

Axar, Shardul join Hardik on injury list, out of Asia Cup

Rediff.com20 Sep 2018

Deepak Chahar has replaced Pandya in the squad, Ravindra Jadeja will come in for Axar, while Siddharth Kaul will be flown in as reinforcement for Shardul, the BCCI confirmed on Thursday.

How to build a world-class ventilator in 90 days, at one-third the cost

How to build a world-class ventilator in 90 days, at one-third the cost

Rediff.com20 Apr 2021

The start-up mentors debated if they could drive the price further down, but feared an even lower price would raise doubts about its quality, as was the case with the Tata Nano, reports Amrita Singh.

'BJP wants to make Assam into a Kashmir'

'BJP wants to make Assam into a Kashmir'

Rediff.com16 Dec 2019

'Assam is not a dumping ground for Bangladeshi Hindu refugees,' says Assamese actor Ravi Sharma who joined the BJP in August and quit the party on December 10 in protest against the Citizenship Act.

LS sits till 11.58 pm to conclude debate on railways

LS sits till 11.58 pm to conclude debate on railways

Rediff.com12 Jul 2019

Nearly a 100 members participated in the debate which began Thursday afternoon and concluded at 11.58 pm.

Airlines may not benefit much from airfare hike. Here's why

Airlines may not benefit much from airfare hike. Here's why

Rediff.com13 Feb 2021

'The recent price hike would only be beneficial if the airlines continue to operate at 80 per cent airline capacity. An increase towards 90 or 100 per cent airline capacity would again add pressure to the fares as demand remains muted. Also, we are in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year which is a seasonally weaker quarter,' says an analyst.

How The Boy From Khandra Became A Man In Tokyo

How The Boy From Khandra Became A Man In Tokyo

Rediff.com1 Feb 2022

Neeraj ran in fast, did the crossover. The javelin flew out of his hands and he did not look towards the sector. He just knew he had bettered the first attempt. The moment the javelin left his hand, he knew he had done it.

Kobe Bryant crash: Investigators requests public's help

Kobe Bryant crash: Investigators requests public's help

Rediff.com28 Jan 2020

Investigators call for civilian photos of weather in Kobe Bryant helicopter wreck

IPL: Bookies employed cleaner to do 'pitch-siding' at Kotla

IPL: Bookies employed cleaner to do 'pitch-siding' at Kotla

Rediff.com5 May 2021

The IPL, which was indefinitely suspended on Tuesday, had bookies plugging an accredited cleaner at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla ground for doing 'pitch-siding' which helps ball-to-ball betting.

Explained: How soft-landing of Vikram will take place

Explained: How soft-landing of Vikram will take place

Rediff.com6 Sep 2019

'Vikram' with rover 'Pragyaan' housed inside is scheduled for a powered-descent between 1 am and 2 am on September 7, followed by its touchdown between 1.30 am and 2.30 am.

No penal/compound interest to be levied during loan moratorium: SC

No penal/compound interest to be levied during loan moratorium: SC

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with the government and RBI's loan moratorium policy, and declined to extend the six-month loan moratorium period.

Cement and Tin Tell Stories of What's Up in Kashmir

Cement and Tin Tell Stories of What's Up in Kashmir

Rediff.com4 Aug 2021

The transformative improvement promised in Jammu-Kashmir remains largely a mirage, observes David Devadas on the second anniversary of the Constitutional changes in the former state.

Ind-Pak players inspire UK cricket club to go vegan

Ind-Pak players inspire UK cricket club to go vegan

Rediff.com18 Aug 2019

Early Cricket Club chairman Gary Shacklady, himself a vegan, realised that many of the meals, especially at away grounds, were inaccessible to many of the players. This included the team's Hindu and Muslim players, who do not eat beef and pork for religious reasons.

Coronavirus fears see drop in domestic flight bookings

Coronavirus fears see drop in domestic flight bookings

Rediff.com10 Mar 2020

Executives of Indian airlines said that the drop is primarily for flights to major metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, which are the prime revenue generators on the domestic front.

US Democrats to step up bid to impeach Trump

US Democrats to step up bid to impeach Trump

Rediff.com11 Jan 2021

The move to impeach Trump gained momentum on Sunday with the House Democrats announcing to introduce the article of impeachment against the outgoing Republican president on Monday.

Ashwin is always an attacking option for a captain: Rohit

Ashwin is always an attacking option for a captain: Rohit

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

'Over the years he's proved himself with the red ball and even in white ball he doesn't have a bad record. The way he has come back and bowled in Dubai and then two games here. It shows the quality that he has.'

'This is not growth; this is de-growth'

'This is not growth; this is de-growth'

Rediff.com15 Jan 2021

'It will be only in fiscal year 2023 when the size of the Indian economy will be bigger than what it was in 2020, you will see demand and employment rising.'

GST collection crosses Rs 1-trn mark for the fourth month in a row in Feb

GST collection crosses Rs 1-trn mark for the fourth month in a row in Feb

Rediff.com2 Mar 2020

The mop-up could have been much higher, but tax on imports fell 2 per cent y-o-y.

Kerala rains: Toll rises to 22, Centre offers assistance

Kerala rains: Toll rises to 22, Centre offers assistance

Rediff.com18 Oct 2021

22 bodies, 13 from Kottayam district and 9 from Idukki were recovered from various rain-hit areas while National Disaster Response Force teams continued their rescue operations.

Airlines seek govt help to pay salary

Airlines seek govt help to pay salary

Rediff.com25 Mar 2020

Chief executive officers of airlines have asked the government to bear 50 per cent of three months' salaries of employees.

Assam conundrum: Even if BJP returns, Sonowal may not

Assam conundrum: Even if BJP returns, Sonowal may not

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

While Himanta Biswa Sarma scotched rumours that he would be the king this time, political sources in Guwahati maintained that he, and not Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, had a bigger say in choosing candidates, reports Radhika Ramaseshan.

Lessons for foreign firms from SoftBank Energy's exit

Lessons for foreign firms from SoftBank Energy's exit

Rediff.com27 May 2021

Energy's exit is a cautionary tale for several foreign investors in India as close to 16 Gw of solar and wind power projects languish without any power purchase agreement, 24 Gw without transmission connectivity and around 2 Gw unilaterally cancelled by project developers.

How the Navy saved 125 from a raging sea

How the Navy saved 125 from a raging sea

Rediff.com28 May 2021

With 40 officers and 260 men, INS Kochi sailed into the eye of a cyclonic storm and rescued 125 men who had jumped into the sea from a sinking barge. It was one of the Indian Navy's greatest rescue operations.

The Poverty Puzzle

The Poverty Puzzle

Rediff.com7 Nov 2019

There's no silver bullet to get rid of poverty, says Alok Sheel.

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Self-use Covid-19 testing kits to be available at stores for Rs 250

Rediff.com21 May 2021

Pune's Mylab Discovery Solutions' CoviSelf, which gives results in 15 minutes, gets ICMR nod

TN govt battles claims of under-counting Covid-19 deaths

TN govt battles claims of under-counting Covid-19 deaths

Rediff.com11 Jun 2020

The Tamil Nadu government has been transparent in reporting COVID-19 deaths and no one can hide the information, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Thursday, rejecting claims of under-reporting of fatalities. He also asserted there was no community transmission of coronavirus in the state, which has reported 1,500 plus fresh cases for four successive days till Wednesday with the tally crossing the 36,000 mark.