News for 'US Agency for International Development'

L&T likely to win the contract to build Navi Mumbai airport

L&T likely to win the contract to build Navi Mumbai airport

Rediff.com10 Jun 2019

The airport, which will now be built to handle 20 million passengers, will likely start operations by mid-2020. However, rating agency CRISIL in its report in May-end had said operations are expected to start in 2023.

'If the Taliban see my father, they could harm him'

'If the Taliban see my father, they could harm him'

Rediff.com17 Sep 2021

For Afghans in India, including medical tourists from the war-torn country as well as migrants and refugees staying here much longer, the safety of friends and families is the biggest concern - particularly for those linked to the now collapsed government or who have had work ties with the US.

Aryan Khan's bail plea to be heard on Oct 13

Aryan Khan's bail plea to be heard on Oct 13

Rediff.com11 Oct 2021

Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3. He is currently in judicial custody and lodged at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai.

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

India's tryst with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck

Rediff.com17 May 2022

India's jugalbandhi with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck, neither achieving adequate renewable generation nor ensuring sufficient coal-fired power in the quest to become a $5-trillion economy. Six months have elapsed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious climate agenda for India at COP26 at Glasgow. The net zero emissions target by 2070 is a distant one, but there are nearer-term plans to meet 50 per cent of energy demand with renewables by 2030 by increasing capacity to 450 Gw. A cursory look at the balance sheet of India's climate progress since November reveals ponderous progress towards meeting the renewables target even as the country is scrambling to expand coal-fired generation in the face of a power crisis.

Afghanistan can't be terror haven: China warns Taliban

Afghanistan can't be terror haven: China warns Taliban

Rediff.com17 Aug 2021

The remarks by China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, came during an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan on Monday after the sudden and rapid takeover of the Afghanistan government by the Taliban insurgents.

Why are electric two-wheelers in India catching fire?

Why are electric two-wheelers in India catching fire?

Rediff.com12 May 2022

Nearly a decade ago, the first fully electric vehicle (EV) caught fire on the road in the US. It was a model from Tesla, the world's most admired EV maker. A metal fragment punctured the underbelly of the vehicle, penetrating its battery pack, leading to a fire. Indian lawmakers and automakers have had nine years to study the incident (in fact, three Tesla Model Ss caught fire in two months in 2013) but seem to have learnt little.

How complex is the process of getting approval for a vaccine?

How complex is the process of getting approval for a vaccine?

Rediff.com30 Sep 2020

Vaccine development is a long process to ensure safety and efficacy through different stages and involves regulatory supervision every step of the way. Ruchika Chitravanshi takes you through this carefully drawn journey of vaccine development.

President accepts Ashok Lavasa's resignation as EC

President accepts Ashok Lavasa's resignation as EC

Rediff.com19 Aug 2020

'...the President is pleased to accept the resignation tendered by Shri Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner with effect from the 31st August, 2020,' the notification said.

Surging prices threaten to spoil India's coming-of-age gas party

Surging prices threaten to spoil India's coming-of-age gas party

Rediff.com17 Dec 2021

Around 15 years ago, when Reliance Industries (RIL) struck natural gas in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin off the east coast, the government made plans to supply that fuel cheaply to scores of generators that sprang up in India triggered by the discovery. Most of the plants, which account for 6 per cent of India's total generation capacity, operate sparsely after the KG-D6 area first failed to meet production targets, and then finally shut shop. Affordable domestic gas was why those thermal plants came up and the rate of the fuel today is why those generators hardly operate. Record liquefied natural gas (LNG) rates may yet again unravel India's ambitions to expand use of gas in industries, households and vehicles. Rates, while volatile, may stay strong this decade as developed nations with higher purchasing power embrace gas as the transition fuel.

'Nothing new about cyclones in May'

'Nothing new about cyclones in May'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2021

'It is the most prone month for the development of cyclones in the pre-monsoon period.'

Illegal snooping not possible in India: IT minister in Lok Sabha

Illegal snooping not possible in India: IT minister in Lok Sabha

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

More than 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including of two serving ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders and one sitting judge besides scores of business persons and activists in India could have been targeted for hacking through an Israeli spyware sold only to government agencies, an international media consortium reported on Sunday.

12 suggestions to solve India's COVID-19 economic woes

12 suggestions to solve India's COVID-19 economic woes

Rediff.com6 May 2020

'A total overall of the existing way of working by abolishing taxes and allowing citizens to help themselves without any government bottlenecks and impediments,' observes Rahul Mishra.

US Wants To Be Friends With Taliban?

US Wants To Be Friends With Taliban?

Rediff.com4 Feb 2022

Regional States will be worried that the US's nascent engagement with the Taliban behind the fig leaf of humanitarian aid enables the return of US intelligence personnel to Afghanistan, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Global leaks: Why ED can't probe these 'culprits'

Global leaks: Why ED can't probe these 'culprits'

Rediff.com19 Nov 2019

This is because no prosecution complaint has been filed in any of these cases under the Black Money Act.

WhatsAppgate: Foreign lobbies involved, believes govt

WhatsAppgate: Foreign lobbies involved, believes govt

Rediff.com4 Nov 2019

Home ministry sources say there are fears that international lobbies might have been involved in spying, to create a narrative around Indian governance as well as the economy.

Global vaccine supply hit due to Covid surge in India:

Global vaccine supply hit due to Covid surge in India:

Rediff.com28 May 2021

The 'terrible' surge of the coronavirus cases in India has severely impacted COVAX's vaccine supply in the second quarter of this year to the extent that there will be a shortfall of 190 million doses by the end of June, according to a joint statement by the WHO, UNICEF, GAVI and CEPI.

COVID-19 effect on healthcare may kill 6,000 kids daily: UNICEF

COVID-19 effect on healthcare may kill 6,000 kids daily: UNICEF

Rediff.com14 May 2020

As the coronavirus outbreak enters its fifth month, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) requested $1.6 billion to support its humanitarian response for children impacted by the pandemic. The health crisis is 'quickly becoming a child rights crisis. And without urgent action, a further 6,000 under-fives could die each day', it said.

Kamathipura: From shanty locality to prized real estate

Kamathipura: From shanty locality to prized real estate

Rediff.com17 Apr 2022

After years of living with his family in a poky 110 sq. ft. 'house', textile worker Sambhaji Surve dreams of moving into a home four times the size once the Maharashtra government starts its ambitious redevelopment of the 39-acre Kamathipura shanty town in south-central Mumbai. Sharing his dream are about 8,000 other families hoping for a better life when the redevelopment project, part of the government's effort to redevelop old settlements and make life more livable for some residents, gets underway. The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party aims to redevelop BDD Chawl and Dharavi but for Surve all the matters is Kamathipura where he arrived in the 1970s from Nasik to work in a textile mill. Kamathipura was originally built 150 years ago following construction of a causeway to connect the seven islands of Mumbai. From the British Raj to post-independence, it became infamous for slums and brothels.

COVID-19: India declines UN's integrated supply chain assistance

COVID-19: India declines UN's integrated supply chain assistance

Rediff.com28 Apr 2021

India has declined assistance offered by the United Nations of its integrated supply chain for COVID19-related material, saying the country has a "robust system" to deal with the required logistics, a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

India eyes loans from China-led Asian Investment Bank

India eyes loans from China-led Asian Investment Bank

Rediff.com31 Mar 2016

India, the bank's second biggest shareholder after China, is looking to borrow from the AIIB.

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to speak at MIT and Harvard

Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to speak at MIT and Harvard

Rediff.com29 Sep 2014

Indian mathematician and founder of Super 30, Anand Kumar, has been invited by the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University to speak on his globally acclaimed effort to mentor students from the underprivileged sections for admission to the prestigious IITs.

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

How Modi, Rahul used Twitter during 2019 poll campaign

Rediff.com10 Sep 2021

While both politicians tweeted about a slew of issues, they focused less on developmental issues related to the rural poor -- with Modi devoting a mere three per cent and Gandhi five per cent of his tweets to development, Abhijit Mazumdar, an assistant professor at Park University in Missouri said.

ISRO plans to launch 32 space missions, including Chandrayaan-2 in 2019

ISRO plans to launch 32 space missions, including Chandrayaan-2 in 2019

Rediff.com3 Jan 2019

The ISRO had earlier said Chandrayaan-2 will be launched in a window from January-February 16, 2019.Sources said it is expected by the middle of next month but no date has been finalised.

ED files chargesheet against Zakir Naik

ED files chargesheet against Zakir Naik

Rediff.com2 May 2019

The agency filed the prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act before a special court in Mumbai and said Naik's "inflammatory speeches and lectures have inspired and incited a number of Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts."

5% cancer cases in India last yr linked to drinking: Study

5% cancer cases in India last yr linked to drinking: Study

Rediff.com15 Jul 2021

Globally, the researchers found that more than 7,40,000 or four per cent of new cancer cases in 2020 may be attributed to alcohol drinking.

How Kharge Can Change Indian Politics

How Kharge Can Change Indian Politics

Rediff.com28 Oct 2022

A new Congress leader may make an electoral impact by his very presence. Congress voters who had moved away from the party, after being influenced by the BJP's 'family rule' campaign, can now return with a certain moral satisfaction, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

COVID-19: How Mumbai has been done in by poor planning

COVID-19: How Mumbai has been done in by poor planning

Rediff.com21 May 2020

Urban planners and real estate experts say bad town planning in Mumbai and rising deaths during the ongoing pandemic are a "sad reality". Dev Chatterjee and Raghavendra Kamath report.

INX media case: CBI looks for money trail in 5 countries

INX media case: CBI looks for money trail in 5 countries

Rediff.com23 Aug 2019

The letter rogatory, a judicial request for information from an Indian court to a court abroad, was sent recently to the United Kingdom, Singapore, Mauritius, Bermuda and Switzerland, they said.

Xi nudged Modi on dialogue with Pakistan, says China

Xi nudged Modi on dialogue with Pakistan, says China

Rediff.com17 Oct 2019

At a press briefing on Xi's recent visit to India and Nepal, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "Both India and Pakistan are friendly neighbours of China, and the Chinese side hopes that the two countries can properly manage and control differences and improve their relations."

NIA busts Pak-sponsored Al Qaeda module, arrests 9 men

NIA busts Pak-sponsored Al Qaeda module, arrests 9 men

Rediff.com19 Sep 2020

The module was also planning to carry out targeted killings in India and was in the advanced stage of procuring arms, including automatic rifles and pistols, ammunition and explosives to carry out the attacks, he said.

Australia to hold BBL in middle of India Test series

Australia to hold BBL in middle of India Test series

Rediff.com15 Jul 2020

The 10th season of the Big Bash League (BBL) will coincide with the much-anticipated India's tour of Australia, the host board announced on Wednesday unveiling a 61-match schedule for the country's premier T20 event.

Rahul, Prashant Kishor, 2 ministers among Pegasus 'targets'

Rahul, Prashant Kishor, 2 ministers among Pegasus 'targets'

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prahlad Singh Patel, as also former election commissioner Ashok Lavasa and poll strategist Prashant Kishor were among those whose phone numbers were listed as potential targets for hacking through an Israeli spyware sold only to the government agencies, an international media consortium reported on Monday.

3 Chinese astronauts enter space station after successful docking op

3 Chinese astronauts enter space station after successful docking op

Rediff.com18 Jun 2021

Three Chinese astronauts on Thursday entered the country's new space station after their spaceship successfully docked with it, just over seven hours after the launch from the Gobi Desert, in a major milestone for the Communist giant's space exploration plans and its bid to become a leading space power.

Tokyo Olympics athletes won't have to isolate for 14 days on arrival

Tokyo Olympics athletes won't have to isolate for 14 days on arrival

Rediff.com12 Nov 2020

Athletes arriving in Tokyo for next year's Olympic Games, postponed from 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be exempt from the 14-day isolation period Japan has imposed on anyone arriving from overseas to help stop the virus spreading.

India planning to have own space station: ISRO chief

India planning to have own space station: ISRO chief

Rediff.com13 Jun 2019

The weight of the space station is likely to be 20 tonnes.

26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed gets 10-year jail term

26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed gets 10-year jail term

Rediff.com19 Nov 2020

Saeed-led JuD is the front organisation for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba which is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

Cairn going all out to make Indian govt pay $1.2 bn arbitration award

Cairn going all out to make Indian govt pay $1.2 bn arbitration award

Rediff.com28 Mar 2021

UK's Cairn Energy Plc plans to bring lawsuits in the US and other countries to pierce the corporate veil between the Indian government and its owned companies such as in oil and gas, shipping, airline and banking sectors, to seize their overseas assets to recover $1.2 billion ordered by an international arbitration tribunal. The firm has moved courts in the US, UK, Canada, France, Singapore, the Netherlands and three other countries to register the December 2020 arbitration tribunal ruling that overturned the Indian government's Rs 10,247 crore demand in back taxes and ordered New Delhi to return $1.2 billion in value of shares it had sold, dividends seized and tax refunds withheld to recover the tax demand. With the government so far refusing to honour the arbitration award and instead choosing to challenge it, Cairn is looking to enforce it by seizing overseas Indian assets, Dennis Hranitzky, head of the sovereign litigation practice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, a law firm representing the company, told PTI.

Visionary Budget or worse than Pranab Mukherjee's?

Visionary Budget or worse than Pranab Mukherjee's?

Rediff.com3 Mar 2021

The sad truth is that the debt-to-GDP ratio will shoot up close to 90 per cent in the coming year, and the fiscal deficit glide path does not promise to reduce it substantially any time soon, predicts Mihir S Sharma.

BEWARE! Fraud Journals On The Rise

BEWARE! Fraud Journals On The Rise

Rediff.com27 Nov 2021

Cloned journals have become more rampant in the post-pandemic world.

SC to set up probe panel on Pegasus, order next week

SC to set up probe panel on Pegasus, order next week

Rediff.com23 Sep 2021

The observation assumes significance as the Centre had earlier offered to set up an expert panel on its own to look into the grievances of alleged snooping on phones.