News for 'US Agency for International Development'

Stuck in space, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams says...

Stuck in space, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams says...

Rediff.com11 Jul 2024

'I feel confident that, if we had to, if there was a problem with the International Space Station, we would get in (the Starliner spacecraft) and we could undock, talk to our team, and figure out the best way to come home'

India to award leases to top up strategic oil reserves amid Gulf tensions

India to award leases to top up strategic oil reserves amid Gulf tensions

Rediff.com17 Oct 2024

State-owned Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL), which operates India's strategic crude oil storage, will make awards by December to lease around 1 million tons of crude oil storage space (7.3 million barrels) at two of the country's three existing Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPRs), around a fifth of the total SPR capacity. This will enable the refilling of crude caverns even as escalating hostilities in the Gulf threaten disruptions in crude supplies, two industry sources said.

Adani, JSW, PSA looking to bag Rs 7K cr Tuticorin project

Adani, JSW, PSA looking to bag Rs 7K cr Tuticorin project

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

A Rs 7,056 crore outer harbour project by VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin is garnering interest from domestic and global majors in the sector, such as Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Singapore's PSA International, Dutch major Van Oord, JM Baxi, and JSW, among others, according to sources close to the development. The project aims to capitalise on the newfound investor interest in the region, spurred by mega investments such as the Rs 16,000 crore electric vehicle manufacturing unit by Vietnamese major VinFast, the Indian Space Research Organisation's second spaceport in Tamil Nadu's Kulasekarapattinam, and Singapore's Sembcorp's Rs 36,238 crore investment in renewable energy.

Probe commences against Sheikh Hasina, 9 others for genocide

Probe commences against Sheikh Hasina, 9 others for genocide

Rediff.com15 Aug 2024

The application accuses Hasina and others of orchestrating a violent crackdown on student protestors, resulting in widespread casualties and human rights violations.

Quad statement includes subtle warning to China over Indo-Pacific

Quad statement includes subtle warning to China over Indo-Pacific

Rediff.com22 Sep 2024

'We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures,' the declaration said.

Cyclone Dana's landfall process over after 8 hrs

Cyclone Dana's landfall process over after 8 hrs

Rediff.com25 Oct 2024

The landfall process of the severe cyclonic storm Dana was complete on Friday morning and the system took at least eight and half hours to enter the landmass, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

'Will never surrender': Trump after assassination bid

'Will never surrender': Trump after assassination bid

Rediff.com16 Sep 2024

Hours after another failed attempt on his life, former United States president Donald Trump on Monday said he will never surrender and never stop fighting for Americans.

Swiss firm to develop Jewar airport, outbids DIAL, Adani

Swiss firm to develop Jewar airport, outbids DIAL, Adani

Rediff.com29 Nov 2019

The Jewar Airport or the Noida International Greenfield Airport will be spread over 5,000 hectares when fully built at an estimated to cost Rs 29,560 crore.

Cargo meant for Pak nuclear programme held in Mumbai

Cargo meant for Pak nuclear programme held in Mumbai

Rediff.com2 Mar 2024

The customs officials, based on an intelligence input, halted a Malta-flagged merchant ship -- CMA CGM Attila -- at the port en route to Karachi on January 23 and inspected the consignment, which included a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, originally manufactured by an Italian company.

Over 300 drones sighted along Pak border in 2 yrs: Agencies

Over 300 drones sighted along Pak border in 2 yrs: Agencies

Rediff.com28 Jun 2021

Over 300 drones and unidentified flying objects have been sighted along the sensitive border with Pakistan post the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, central security agencies have said, even as they grapple to find a suitable technology to check these lethal sky-floaters.

Boycott bastions of Baramulla, Sopore see highest voter turnout in 30 yrs

Boycott bastions of Baramulla, Sopore see highest voter turnout in 30 yrs

Rediff.com2 Oct 2024

Officials said the polling went off peacefully in all segments including special polling stations along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) with no untoward incident reported from anywhere.

Ajay Banga becomes first Indian-American to head World Bank

Ajay Banga becomes first Indian-American to head World Bank

Rediff.com3 May 2023

Ajay Banga was on Wednesday appointed the next president of the World Bank, becoming the first-ever Indian-American to head the global financial institution which said it looks forward to working with him at a time when it's tackling the toughest development challenges facing developing countries. "The executive directors of the World Bank today selected Ajay Banga as president of the World Bank for a five-year term beginning June 2, 2023," the bank said in a press statement. In February, President Joe Biden announced that the US would be nominating Banga, 63, to lead the World Bank because he is "well equipped" to lead the global institution at "this critical moment in history."

5 held so far for attack on foreign students of Guj University over namaaz

5 held so far for attack on foreign students of Guj University over namaaz

Rediff.com18 Mar 2024

The university has also directed security agencies to deploy ex-Army personnel to strengthen the security of its hostel blocks, the official said.

Protect our CPEC workers from terror attacks, China tells Pak

Protect our CPEC workers from terror attacks, China tells Pak

Rediff.com16 May 2024

Pakistan's deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is in China on a four-day visit, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the fifth round of the foreign minister-level China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.

How The US Helps India Counter The China Threat

How The US Helps India Counter The China Threat

Rediff.com4 Nov 2024

Reports (not denied by India) that the USA had 'for the first time provided real-time details to their Indian counterparts on the Chinese positions and force strength in advance of a PLA incursion' into Tawang at the LAC in December 2022, helping India thwart China's expansionist designs, show how operationally effective the USA-India friendship has become on the ground. A engaging excerpt from Sreeram Chaulia's must-read new book, Friends: India's Closest Strategic Partners.

How to save lives in rain-scripted landslides

How to save lives in rain-scripted landslides

Rediff.com2 Aug 2024

An accurate early warning system that correlates rainfall and the potential for landslides. That is the imperative, say experts as rains create havoc in hills across India and the toll mounts in Kerala's Wayanad slopes where landslides buried entire homesteads and possibly hundreds of people.

Excise policy: ED questions another Delhi minister

Excise policy: ED questions another Delhi minister

Rediff.com30 Mar 2024

The Enforcement Directorate questioned Delhi minister Kailash Gahlot for about five hours on Saturday and recorded his statement in connection with a money-laundering investigation linked to the Aam Aadmi Party government's now-scrapped excise policy, officials said.

4 offshore crypto exchanges join queue for nod to restart India ops

4 offshore crypto exchanges join queue for nod to restart India ops

Rediff.com21 Jun 2024

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-India), the national agency responsible for analysing suspicious financial transactions, has received requests from four more offshore crypto exchanges to operate in India again, said a senior government official familiar with the matter. In the beginning of 2024, India had banned nine crypto exchanges - Binance, Kucoin, Huobi, Kraken, Gate.io, Bitstamp, MEXC Global, Bittrex, and Bitfenix - for non-compliance with anti-laundering law in the country.

BCCI complies with national anti-doping agency

BCCI complies with national anti-doping agency

Rediff.com9 Aug 2019

The BCCI had been vehemently opposed to signing up with NADA, claiming that it is an autonomous body, not a National Sports Federation and does not rely on government funding.

US Senate Panel Set To Needle China

US Senate Panel Set To Needle China

Rediff.com21 Jun 2023

A powerful senatorial committee on Wednesday is set to consider a bipartisan resolution to recognise Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India, pushing back against China's military aggression to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.

India Needs A National Security Strategy

India Needs A National Security Strategy

Rediff.com4 Oct 2024

The National Security Strategy document should flag all major issues concerning security strategy and provide guidelines to concerned departments to work out suitable action plans. Since the global and regional geopolitical canvas is dynamic, the NSS document should be deliberated at length before formulation and should be reviewed periodically, recommends Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

Bharti dials up UK telecom play with $4 bn stake in BT

Bharti dials up UK telecom play with $4 bn stake in BT

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, has decided to buy 24.5 per cent equity in BT Group - a move that will make the Indian conglomerate the biggest shareholder in the UK's second-largest telecom company both in terms of market value and subscriber count. The shares are being purchased from billionaire Patrick Drahi's Altice UK through a combination of cash and debt .

India to launch 7 Singapore satellites from Sriharikota on July 30

India to launch 7 Singapore satellites from Sriharikota on July 30

Rediff.com24 Jul 2023

Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the government of Singapore.

Grilled for 5 hrs, here's what Delhi minister told ED

Grilled for 5 hrs, here's what Delhi minister told ED

Rediff.com30 Mar 2024

Gahlot says he has no knowledge of Nair living in his official accommodation, AAP's Goa activities

Cargo ship with 15 Indians hijacked off Somalia

Cargo ship with 15 Indians hijacked off Somalia

Rediff.com5 Jan 2024

Indian Navy's mission deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in the Arabian Sea involving the hijacking on board a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, a Navy spokesperson said.

Biden proposes over $25 bn spend in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

Biden proposes over $25 bn spend in Indo-Pacific to out-compete China

Rediff.com10 Mar 2023

This includes over $15 billion of proposed investment in the infrastructure sector in the Indo-Pacific and $9 billion for shoring up American defence in the region.

Are Russia, Ukraine On Brink Of Nuclear Conflict?

Are Russia, Ukraine On Brink Of Nuclear Conflict?

Rediff.com2 Sep 2024

With the fight now having been taken to the seizure of nuclear plants, it is one more warning to Europe that this prolonged war could end up with disastrous consequences, observes Rashme Sehgal

Govt allocates Rs 928 cr to CBI, down by Rs 40 cr from FY 2024

Govt allocates Rs 928 cr to CBI, down by Rs 40 cr from FY 2024

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

The agency had received Rs 946.51 crore to manage its affairs in the Budget Estimates for 2023-24, which was later increased to Rs 968.86 crore in the Revised Estimates.

COVID-19 vaccine development at early stage in India: Experts

COVID-19 vaccine development at early stage in India: Experts

Rediff.com23 May 2020

The Indian government and private firms have stepped up efforts to develop a vaccine to halt the spread of COVID-19 which has claimed over 3,700 lives with more than 1,25,000 cases in the country.

'India Must Not Give Sheikh Hasina Asylum'

'India Must Not Give Sheikh Hasina Asylum'

Rediff.com5 Aug 2024

'At this moment you cannot give her asylum because if you do, then you are directing public anger against India.'

How To Start A Business: 14 Tips

How To Start A Business: 14 Tips

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

Business success often involves a combination of planning, implementation, and continuous learning, says rediffGURU Harsh Bharwani.

Tata Hitachi reaps rich harvest, from field to factory

Tata Hitachi reaps rich harvest, from field to factory

Rediff.com5 Jul 2024

It was the summer of 2006 (May 18). Writers' Building, then the state secretariat, was buzzing with journalists. The event marked the start of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's second term as chief minister. And in style, it got off with West Bengal bagging the small car plant, Nano.

Extradite 26/11 kingpin Hafiz Saeed, India asks Pak

Extradite 26/11 kingpin Hafiz Saeed, India asks Pak

Rediff.com29 Dec 2023

External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the request for extraditing Saeed along with certain documents was recently sent to Islamabad.

PM briefed on internal security situation at DGPs meet

PM briefed on internal security situation at DGPs meet

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

Modi joined the conference virtually and reviewed the action points of the previous conference, an official statement said, adding discussions were held to improve the overall security scenario with more people-friendly initiatives, it said.

Serum develops meningitis vaccine

Serum develops meningitis vaccine

Rediff.com7 Jul 2005

Budget 2024: Over Rs 2 lakh cr allocated to home ministry

Budget 2024: Over Rs 2 lakh cr allocated to home ministry

Rediff.com1 Feb 2024

The interim budget 2024-25 on Thursday allocated Rs 202868.70 crore to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the highest share of funds going to the paramilitary forces like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Industrial Secular Force (CISF), showing priority on internal security and border guarding.

Gold, silver import surges 210% from UAE in 2023-24

Gold, silver import surges 210% from UAE in 2023-24

Rediff.com17 Jun 2024

India's gold and silver imports from its free trade agreement (FTA) partner UAE have skyrocketed 210 per cent to $10.7 billion in 2023-24 and there is a need to potentially revise the concessional customs duty rates under the pact to mitigate the arbitrage driving this surge, a report said on Monday. Economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said this sharp rise in gold and silver imports is primarily driven by import duty concessions granted by India to the UAE under the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Adani plans an international airport at Mundra

Adani plans an international airport at Mundra

Rediff.com3 Oct 2017

The conglomerate, which has received environmental clearance for the project, plans to invest around Rs 1,500 crore in it.

Putin's North Korea Gamble

Putin's North Korea Gamble

Rediff.com26 Jun 2024

Russia's unprecedented rapprochement with North Korea has raised concerns about the re-emergence of a Russia-China-North Korea alliance which could increase the probability of conflict on the Korean Peninsula, explains Dr Rajaram Panda.

India-Taiwan-US Unite To Counter China's Cyber Threats

India-Taiwan-US Unite To Counter China's Cyber Threats

Rediff.com21 Dec 2023

Three countries share a common interest in warding off cyber attacks from various agencies PLA is developing and training in China.