News for 'National Foreign Trade Council'

Biden nominates ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to head World Bank

Biden nominates ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to head World Bank

Rediff.com23 Feb 2023

At the World Bank Banga will be replacing David Malpass, a former Trump treasury official, reports axios.com. Malpass had already announced that he will resign by July, months ahead of his term expired. "Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history," President Biden said in a statement. Banga, 63, currently serves as vice chairman at General Atlantic.

Covid likely came from lab leak in China: Report

Covid likely came from lab leak in China: Report

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

The new report highlights how different parts of the intelligence community have arrived at disparate judgments about the pandemic's origin.

Bibek Debroy may take over as PM's economic advisor

Bibek Debroy may take over as PM's economic advisor

Rediff.com22 Sep 2017

Debroy is expected to have a role and responsibility similar to the erstwhile chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council

'If a company can get FDI, an NGO too can get foreign funds'

'If a company can get FDI, an NGO too can get foreign funds'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2016

'The government is using the Intelligence Bureau to go after NGOs.' 'It is not only the NDA, the UPA also didn't like NGOs.' 'NGOs predominantly work with the poor. So, when you cancel an NGO, the affected are the poor, the Dalits, the tribals, the street children and the marginalised.'

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.

China listening, Jaishankar brings up territorial integrity at BRICS online meet

China listening, Jaishankar brings up territorial integrity at BRICS online meet

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

The five-nation grouping BRICS on Tuesday resolved to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, and vowed to step up joint efforts in building support for an India-backed global framework to effectively deal with the menace.

Data secure status for India is vital: Sharma on FTA

Data secure status for India is vital: Sharma on FTA

Rediff.com3 Sep 2013

India-European Union Broad-based Trade and Investment agreement came up for discussion in a meeting between Sharma and visiting Netherlands Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen in New Delhi.

War fears grow as Putin recognises 2 Ukraine regions as independent

War fears grow as Putin recognises 2 Ukraine regions as independent

Rediff.com22 Feb 2022

Putin justified his decision in a speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia.

PMO puts on hold policy to push domestic manufacturing

PMO puts on hold policy to push domestic manufacturing

Rediff.com5 Jul 2013

The government on Friday put on hold the preferential market access (PMA) policy that provided for sourcing of sensitive telecom and electronic equipments and technology from domestic manufacturers over security concerns.

Smoke Spiraling From Manipur Not Visible In Delhi?

Smoke Spiraling From Manipur Not Visible In Delhi?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2023

There is the problem of regions in the North East being theatre for power-play by nations with borders and influences converging in those parts, which in turn requires a sizable presence of the armed forces, notes Shyam G Menon.

FULL TEXT: President's address to nation on I Day eve

FULL TEXT: President's address to nation on I Day eve

Rediff.com14 Aug 2020

From India's fight against COVID-19 to China face-off, Kovind spoke on several issues during the televised address.

No definitive conclusion on Covid origin theory: White House

No definitive conclusion on Covid origin theory: White House

Rediff.com28 Feb 2023

"The intelligence community and the rest of the government are still looking at this. There's not been a definitive conclusion, so it's difficult for me to say, nor should I feel like I should have to defend press reporting about a possible preliminary indication here," National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters at a daily White House news conference.

Jaishankar holds talks with US NSA, reviews ties

Jaishankar holds talks with US NSA, reviews ties

Rediff.com28 May 2021

'Sullivan and Jaishankar welcomed the cooperation in recent weeks that resulted in deliveries of over USD 500 million in COVID-19 relief supplies from the US federal and state governments, US companies and private citizens across America for the people of India'

UN rejects Pak's appeal for intervention on J-K

UN rejects Pak's appeal for intervention on J-K

Rediff.com9 Aug 2019

Guterres referred to the Simla Agreement, which is a bilateral agreement and rejects any third-party mediation in the issue.

Conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means: BRICS

Conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means: BRICS

Rediff.com5 Sep 2020

The BRICS stressed on resolution of conflicts in a declaration issued after a virtual meeting of foreign ministers of the member nations of the grouping. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Have traders lost faith in Modi government?

Have traders lost faith in Modi government?

Rediff.com2 Mar 2020

CAIT has attributed its displeasure to the economic downturn, and indifferent attitude of ministers/officials towards domestic trade.

No English in CSAT: Trade unionism before entering a trade!

No English in CSAT: Trade unionism before entering a trade!

Rediff.com5 Aug 2014

Should candidates for particular positions in the government be permitted to agitate for changing the recruitment process itself? The candidates have to meet the requirements of the jobs rather than ask for their own standards to be accepted as the requirement of the jobs. Those who cannot meet those criteria should seek other jobs that match their skills, says T P Sreenivasan.

'Modi can't be seen in Xi's company'

'Modi can't be seen in Xi's company'

Rediff.com1 Apr 2022

'The MEA, hopefully, made it clear that the Indian PM can't be seen in Xi Jinping's company when China has, for all intents and purposes, annexed over 1,000 sq kms of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh, and essentially that the Wuhan spirit and the Mamallapuram spirit have turned into vinegar.'

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

There Is More To India Than Delhi Or Gujarat!

Rediff.com2 Jun 2022

The Modi government has to embrace the history of Tamil conquests in South East Asia and stop obsessing about Babar/Humayun, argues Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Customs allows e-clearance for moving laptops

Customs allows e-clearance for moving laptops

Rediff.com27 Mar 2020

The Customs clearance required for moving equipment like laptops, desktops, etc out of SEZ units was delaying things as the clearance had to be taken in person after a first level of approval online.

Modi govt reshuffles top secretaries; Ajay Bhalla to be new home secy

Modi govt reshuffles top secretaries; Ajay Bhalla to be new home secy

Rediff.com24 Jul 2019

The appointments committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleared Bhalla's appointment as OSD in the ministry with immediate effect.

Has India Changed Its Tibet Policy?

Has India Changed Its Tibet Policy?

Rediff.com18 May 2022

One priority for Delhi (for the new foreign secretary in particular) is to have an in-depth discussion with Dharamsala as soon as possible, suggests Claude Arpi.

Johnson invites PM Modi to UK for G7 summit in June

Johnson invites PM Modi to UK for G7 summit in June

Rediff.com17 Jan 2021

Johnson also reiterated his plan to visit India ahead of the G7 summit, after a scheduled visit for Republic Day this month was called off due to the coronavirus crisis.

'US didn't tell Pakistan to oust me'

'US didn't tell Pakistan to oust me'

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

'From what evidence has come up, General Bajwa somehow managed to tell the Americans that I was anti-American.' 'And so, it [the plan to oust me] wasn't imported from there. It was exported from here to there.'

Imran set to visit China ahead of Xi's India tour

Imran set to visit China ahead of Xi's India tour

Rediff.com1 Oct 2019

According to some media reports, the Modi-Xi informal summit could take place from October 11-13.

American Hegemony is On the Line

American Hegemony is On the Line

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

The ineptness of successive American presidents, from Bush the Younger to Joe Biden the Old, combined with the cluelessness that Americans demonstrate in foreign lands, contrasts with the Chinese leadership's seemingly singular focus on the accumulation of wealth and power, asserts T N Ninan.

'US Won't Pressure India On Russia'

'US Won't Pressure India On Russia'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

'Washington appears to be playing the long game, and making the argument to India that over the longer term, Russia -- sanctioned, cash-strapped, isolated by the West -- will no longer be a viable defence partner for India'

Out of the 9/11 ashes, the One World Trade Center stands tall

Out of the 9/11 ashes, the One World Trade Center stands tall

Rediff.com10 Sep 2016

Two skyscrapers were decimated the day 2,996 died, one and a half decades ago. George Joseph profiles the monument that has replaced them.

14 members of Taliban govt in UNSC's terrorism blacklist

14 members of Taliban govt in UNSC's terrorism blacklist

Rediff.com8 Sep 2021

Specially designated global terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani, who carries a reward of $10 million US bounty on his head, is the acting interior minister while his uncle -- Khalil Haqqani -- has been named as acting minister for refugees.

Disappointed over govt policies on FDI, divestment in Budget 2021: BMS

Disappointed over govt policies on FDI, divestment in Budget 2021: BMS

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

RSS-aligned Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on Monday expressed disappointment over the government's budget proposals with regard to divestment and foreign direct investment, especially in the insurance sector. The BMS, however, lauded the government for its current efforts on the massive vaccination programme, a special scheme for tea workers in West Bengal and Assam, labour oriented push on infrastructure projects in construction sector and development of five major fishing harbours viz. Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, and Petuaghat as hubs for economic activities etc. On other Budget proposals, it said in a statement that "mixing the beautiful concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat with FDI and disinvestment in the Union Budget is disappointing for the employees".

Think tanks help the nation's intellectual churn

Think tanks help the nation's intellectual churn

Rediff.com19 Aug 2014

I still believe that it is a good thing that think tanks are mushrooming in Delhi. They provide a platform for discussion, even if they shed more heat than light. With Parliament almost incapable of serious debate, informed discussion and civilised discourse, where does this nation get its intellectual churn, asks Mohan Guruswamy.

India raises withdrawal of students' visas with US

India raises withdrawal of students' visas with US

Rediff.com8 Jul 2020

It is understood that India's border row with China figured in the talks between Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale though there was no mention of it in the press statements issued by the two sides.

Malabar Exercise: Samudramanthan Message to China?

Malabar Exercise: Samudramanthan Message to China?

Rediff.com26 Aug 2021

Although the Malabar is a routine exercise which has been carried out for several years now, security experts attach a lot of traction to it in view of China's assertive behaviour in the South China Sea, observes Rup Narayan Das.

Modi to embark on 3-day US visit today

Modi to embark on 3-day US visit today

Rediff.com22 Sep 2021

The main elements of the programme are bilateral meetings with the US leadership, participation in the Quad Leaders' Summit, address at the UN General Assembly and business interactions.

World seeing 'explosion' in power seizures by force: UN chief to world leaders

World seeing 'explosion' in power seizures by force: UN chief to world leaders

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

The world is seeing an "explosion" in seizures of power by force and military coups are back, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday, lamenting that geopolitical divisions are undermining international cooperation as he called for strengthening global governance and re-igniting multilateralism.

Can Modi 2.0 improve the economy?

Can Modi 2.0 improve the economy?

Rediff.com13 Jun 2019

Change will have to begin with Mr Modi, who by all accounts has shown little active interest in macro-economic issues, preferring instead to focus on the effective implementation of projects and programmes, points out T N Ninan.

US introduces Russia benchmarks into India relations

US introduces Russia benchmarks into India relations

Rediff.com12 Apr 2022

The pressure on India to take a hostile attitude towards Russia and China was not subtle, but it was guarded, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan after Monday's 2+2 ministerial meeting in Washington, DC.

Modi meets French Prez Macron, both leaders may discuss Ukraine crisis

Modi meets French Prez Macron, both leaders may discuss Ukraine crisis

Rediff.com5 May 2022

Macron held a tete-a-tete with Modi before the delegation-level talks at the Elysee Palace - the official residence of the French president.

India lifts temporary ban on supply of hydroxychloroquine

India lifts temporary ban on supply of hydroxychloroquine

Rediff.com7 Apr 2020

India on Tuesday temporarily licensed the export of paracetamol and anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine in appropriate quantities to some countries, which have been particularly badly affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

After 1962 China war stock markets fell 16%, gold 30%

After 1962 China war stock markets fell 16%, gold 30%

Rediff.com18 Jun 2020

The government was also faced with problems on its balance of payments. It took steps to conserve declining foreign exchange reserves, and began to regulate the production, supply and distribution of gold. It banned forward trading in the yellow metal in November 1962, and introduced gold bonds as well, reveals the RBI's annual report for the year ending June 1963.