News for 'Value Access'

Airports Authority may procure two counter-drone systems

Airports Authority may procure two counter-drone systems

Rediff.com14 Nov 2021

The The Airports Authority of India is likely to procure two counter-drone systems worth Rs 9.9 crore in 2022-23, according to an official document.

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

The A-W Of Desi Guests At the White House Dinner

Rediff.com24 Jun 2023

The dinner Jill Biden and her husband US President Joe Biden hosted for Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, June 22, at the White House brought together, Indians and Americans from so many firmaments.

Tech intensity will help businesses improve productivity: Nadella

Tech intensity will help businesses improve productivity: Nadella

Rediff.com11 Jan 2022

Businesses of various scales can improve productivity and affordability of their products and services by building tech intensity, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said. Nadella noted that organisations globally are undergoing digital transformation amid the COVID pandemic, and that trends like hybrid work, hyperconnected business and multi-cloud environments require "a boundaryless digital ecosystem where trust between different parties needs to be established in real-time". "Digital technology is a powerful deflationary force in an inflationary economy. Businesses - small and large - can improve their productivity as well as the affordability of their products and services by building tech intensity," he said.

Reliance buys British battery firm for 100 mn

Reliance buys British battery firm for 100 mn

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday announced the buyout of British battery maker Faradion Ltd for an enterprise value of 100 million, as the oil-to-retail conglomerate continued with the acquisition of end-to-end technology for its multi-billion-dollar clean energy portfolio. Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a unit of the nation's most valuable company, signed definitive agreements to acquire 100 per cent shareholding in Faradion for an enterprise value of 100 million and will invest an additional 25 million as growth capital to accelerate the commercial roll-out, the company said in a statement. Based out of Sheffield and Oxford in the UK and with its patented sodium-ion battery technology, Faradion is one of the leading global battery technology companies.

What stops Indians from using condoms?

What stops Indians from using condoms?

Rediff.com31 May 2021

A lot of women feel that the onus of using the condom lies with their partner and often lack the confidence to ask their partners to use a condom.

Govt issues LoI to Tatas for sale of Air India

Govt issues LoI to Tatas for sale of Air India

Rediff.com11 Oct 2021

The government on Monday issued a letter of intent (LoI) confirming the sale of its 100 per cent stake in loss-making Air India to Tata Group for Rs 18,000 crore, a senior official said. Last week, the government had accepted an offer by Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding company of salt-to-software conglomerate, to pay Rs 2,700 crore in cash and takeover Rs 15,300 crore of the airline's debt. Subsequent to that, an LoI has now been issued to Tata confirming the government's willingness to sell its 100 per cent stake in the airline.

Future Retail shuts Big Bazaar as RIL plans takeover

Future Retail shuts Big Bazaar as RIL plans takeover

Rediff.com28 Feb 2022

Future Retail has shut most of its Big Bazaar stores since February 25 (Friday) and its website is also down as it missed lease payments to Reliance Industries (RIL). RIL will open most of the 200 Future Retail stores as Reliance stores in the next week and it is in the process of taking stock, re-branding, and transferring 30,000 Future Retail and Future Lifestyle employees on to the rolls of its manpower and staffing firm Reliance SMSL, according to a source. The first tranche of stores are set to be opened as early as in the next two days.

Can Modi Halt The Brutal Ukraine War?

Can Modi Halt The Brutal Ukraine War?

Rediff.com2 Nov 2022

India has maintained communication with both Russia and Ukraine. It is time Narendra Modi steps up on the world stage and plays the role of peacemaker, suggests military historian Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).

Taking on Google, FB, Apple: CCI seeks more teeth to tackle Big Tech

Taking on Google, FB, Apple: CCI seeks more teeth to tackle Big Tech

Rediff.com31 May 2022

Ashok Kumar Gupta, chairman of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has never minced words while talking about the giant technology companies, referring to them on multiple occasions as "centres for entrenched and unchecked dominance". The anti-trust regulator has, in fact, been cracking down on big technology companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and others, after they were hauled up by regulators and lawmakers in Europe and Australia. However, in several instances, existing regulations have prevented the CCI from going all out against these companies for anti-competitive activities.

Sabeer 'Hotmail' Bhatia's next: social video platform to upskill, find jobs

Sabeer 'Hotmail' Bhatia's next: social video platform to upskill, find jobs

Rediff.com17 Nov 2021

Silicon-Valley based serial techpreneur and Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia has launched a purpose-driven social video messaging platform, ShowReel, that aims to enable employment and upskilling opportunities for job seekers globally.

Will India finally join world's largest trade bloc?

Will India finally join world's largest trade bloc?

Rediff.com15 Nov 2020

Countries that have signed the RCEP agreement can start negotiations with India for joining the pact once New Delhi submits a written request stating its intention for the same, according to a declaration. On November 4 last year, India walked out of mega free trade agreement RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) as negotiations failed to address New Delhi's outstanding issues and concerns. The remaining 15 member countries have signed RCEP agreement and have stated that the pact would remain open to India.

Lumbini as backdrop for Modi-Deuba meet, India-Nepal sign 6 MoUs

Lumbini as backdrop for Modi-Deuba meet, India-Nepal sign 6 MoUs

Rediff.com16 May 2022

Modi and Deuba discussed ways to strengthen ongoing cooperation and develop new areas in the multifaceted bilateral partnership.

'I am the most raided person in India'

'I am the most raided person in India'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2020

'If there is anyone who is a victim of vendetta politics, it is me.'

ITC adopting disruptive business models as part of strategy reset

ITC adopting disruptive business models as part of strategy reset

Rediff.com11 Aug 2021

ITC has extensively reset its strategy and will explore opportunities to craft disruptive business models to set up structural drivers helmed by digital and sustainability for its next horizon of growth and make the company future-ready, chairman Sanjiv Puri said on Wednesday. The company is pursuing an accelerated journey to build a dynamic utureTech' enterprise by investing in cutting-edge digital technologies to shape a new paradigm of competitiveness, create innovative business models and tap newer opportunities, he said while addressing shareholders at ITC's virtual annual general meeting. As part of the next horizon vision, the company is "proactively exploring inorganic opportunities" even as it has shrunk "business segments that were incongruent to our growth aspirations, such as the Lifestyle Retailing Business" while the existing growth platforms comprising megabrands will be scaled up and fortified.

Intel is now 'inside' Jio Platforms

Intel is now 'inside' Jio Platforms

Rediff.com3 Jul 2020

Intel Capital is the 12th company to join the list of marquee firms who have recently invested in Jio Platforms, taking the total investment amount to Rs 1,17,588.45 crore.

Twitter deletes Kangana's tweets over rule violations

Twitter deletes Kangana's tweets over rule violations

Rediff.com4 Feb 2021

The actor has been criticising protesting farmers over their agitations against the Centre's three farm laws.

Restaurant to jewellery, brands make a beeline for metaverse

Restaurant to jewellery, brands make a beeline for metaverse

Rediff.com21 Jun 2022

'We're seeing major Bollywood celebrities, fashion icons, and even movie studios all wanting to build Metaverse experiences'

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

The US on Thursday raised concerns over India's Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill and draft non-personal data governance framework, claiming these could potentially threaten innovation and economic growth. In its latest 'Special 301' Report, the US Trade Representative (USTR) kept India on the priority watch list, maintaining the country remains one of the world's most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP). In December 2021, a joint parliamentary committee released a report recommending changes to the PDP Bill, 2019, that could undermine important IP protections in India.

The looming winter of discontent that awaits India

The looming winter of discontent that awaits India

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

The dreary, cold months from December to February may prove to be the undoing of many a nation as they grapple with sky-high fuel prices - a result of the Ukraine conflict and the pandemic. Many - Europe, South Korea, Japan, and China - will still pull through on the strength of their wealth or because of strong storage infrastructure. But India will have its back to the wall. Signs of liquefied natural gas (LNG) rates hitting new records this winter are already evident.

Rishi Sunak works Tory voters with Namaste, Salaam, Khem Cho, Kidda...

Rishi Sunak works Tory voters with Namaste, Salaam, Khem Cho, Kidda...

Rediff.com23 Aug 2022

Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India.

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.

Oz 'deeply disappointed' on Taliban's interim cabinet

Oz 'deeply disappointed' on Taliban's interim cabinet

Rediff.com10 Sep 2021

Australian foreign minister Marise Payne and defence minister Peter Dutton will visit India from September 10 to 12 to take part in the dialogue with their Indian counterparts.

In talks with India over 'expedited approval' of Covid vaccine: Pfizer

In talks with India over 'expedited approval' of Covid vaccine: Pfizer

Rediff.com3 May 2021

Earlier in April, Pfizer said that it had offered a not-for-profit price for its vaccine for the government immunisation programme in India and it remains committed to continuing engagement with the government to make the vaccine available in India.

'Brilliant businesses were not built on money, but on great ideas'

'Brilliant businesses were not built on money, but on great ideas'

Rediff.com6 Feb 2023

'People will say a lot of things -- ignore the noise.'

DHFL acquisition: Piramal Group pays Rs 34,250 cr to creditors

DHFL acquisition: Piramal Group pays Rs 34,250 cr to creditors

Rediff.com30 Sep 2021

Piramal Enterprises (PEL) on Wednesday said it has completed the acquisition of Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL) by paying Rs 34,250 crore to creditors of the housing finance company. The company said the creditors of DHFL, including fixed deposit (FD) holders, would recover an aggregate amount of Rs 38,000 crore from the resolution process of DHFL. The amount comprises approximately Rs 34,250 crore to be paid by Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Ltd (PCHFL) as a combination of cash and NCDs, and an amount of approximately Rs 3,800 crore which is the entitlement of creditors as per the resolution plan from the cash balance available with DHFL, the company said.

Salman Rushdie was stabbed by NJ resident, police probing motive

Salman Rushdie was stabbed by NJ resident, police probing motive

Rediff.com13 Aug 2022

Salman Rushdie, the Mumbai-born controversial author who faced Islamist death threats for years after writing The Satanic Verses, was "still undergoing surgery", several hours after being stabbed by a 24-year-old New Jersey resident at an event in western New York State on Friday.

India's could see fastest rollout of 5G services globally

India's could see fastest rollout of 5G services globally

Rediff.com20 Sep 2022

The country's two top telcos, Reliance Jio and Airtel, are working overnight to undertake one of the fastest global roll-outs of 5G services in any country just a month down the line. India might be late in the game (already 70 countries have some kind of 5G and there are 698 million 5G subscribers across the world), but it's moving at breakneck speed. In his speech at the Reliance Industries AGM, Mukesh Ambani unveiled his plan to roll out the fastest 5G network in the world, starting from four metros in October but hitting every town taluka and tehsil - there are some 5,600 of them - in the country in 18 months.

Shrina Kurani Is Running For Congress

Shrina Kurani Is Running For Congress

Rediff.com18 Mar 2022

Indian-American engineer-entrepreneur Shrina Kurani challenges a 30-year Republican veteran in a US Congressional race in a district that is predominantly white.

Onboarding of e-commerce giants crucial to ensure success of ONDC

Onboarding of e-commerce giants crucial to ensure success of ONDC

Rediff.com15 Sep 2022

When Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was conceived last December, the idea was to reduce the dominance of e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. It was also to bring in a level-playing field for small merchants in India's fragmented but fast-growing $1-trillion retail market. However, those goals have changed now as large e-commerce players such as Flipkart, Amazon and Ecom Express are in various levels of talks with the ONDC team. They want to form partnerships like integrating with the network as well as providing their expertise to build it, according to the industry sources.

'We have to do everything to avoid a super spreader event'

'We have to do everything to avoid a super spreader event'

Rediff.com1 Jan 2022

'Health will continue to be at the centre of the government's attention as it underpins economic recovery and our collective well being.'

India natural ally of G7: Modi

India natural ally of G7: Modi

Rediff.com13 Jun 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is a natural ally for the G7 countries in defending the shared values from a host of threats stemming from authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation and economic coercion.

The Great Indian Cash Obsession

The Great Indian Cash Obsession

Rediff.com29 Dec 2021

Five years after demonetisation, which sought to curb black money and reduce cash circulation in the economy, 70 per cent of respondents said they paid a large component of the total payment towards a real estate transaction in cash. About 16 per cent said they paid over half the amount in cash, observes Shyamal Majumdar.

Will 5G turn the tables for India's telecom companies?

Will 5G turn the tables for India's telecom companies?

Rediff.com30 Mar 2022

Consumers can expect a 5G launch in the country soon. Telecom companies (telcos) say if auctions take place on time - the target is July - they would be able to offer some services in a few cities by the end of this year and a full roll-out from 2023. But the question is: will 5G turn the tables for telcos financially? Will average revenue per user (ARPU) improve? Will mobile consumers upgrade to 5G quickly and pay more? Will the expanded functions that 5G enables drum up sufficient revenues? In simple terms, will telcos make more money?

Twitter blocks 97% of accounts, posts flagged by IT ministry

Twitter blocks 97% of accounts, posts flagged by IT ministry

Rediff.com12 Feb 2021

On February 4, Twitter was asked to take down 1,178 accounts with links to Pakistan and Khalistan supporters that were spreading misinformation and provocative content related to farmers' protest.

Digital payments rising sharply but cash remains the king: RBI

Digital payments rising sharply but cash remains the king: RBI

Rediff.com25 Feb 2020

With NEFT, which drives the retail payments value, operationalised on a 24x7x365 basis, the country's payment systems landscape is headed for substantial growth.

FDI key to India's dream to be a $5 trn economy: Deloitte CEO

FDI key to India's dream to be a $5 trn economy: Deloitte CEO

Rediff.com20 Sep 2021

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is critically important for India to become a $5 trillion economy, Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen said while noting that over two-fifths of the 1,200 business leaders surveyed in the US, UK, Japan and Singapore are planning additional or first-time investments in India. Referring to the survey, he said India continues to be "one of the most attractive" FDI destinations. "Despite the COVID-19 destruction, inflows hit a record high last year. "Business leaders, whom Deloitte surveyed, are preparing to make additional and first-time investments in India," Renjen said.

8 Tips To Make Your Wedding Memorable

8 Tips To Make Your Wedding Memorable

Rediff.com13 Jul 2022

Right from the outfit to the dcor and theme, even food and activities can be customised to create a unique experience.

Constitution balances freedom of speech with curbs: CJI

Constitution balances freedom of speech with curbs: CJI

Rediff.com26 Nov 2020

Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on Thursday said that nothing is conferred as right of freedom of speech in 'absolute and untrammelled terms' and the framers of the Constitution have struck a resilient balance between liberty and the rights and conditions on which the states can deny it.

Will the entry of PEs into banks lead to better governance?

Will the entry of PEs into banks lead to better governance?

Rediff.com24 Mar 2022

Private equity (PE) is set to play a bigger role in banks. Of 21 recommendations accepted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) out of 31 made by its Internal Working Group (IWG), its stance on non-promoter holdings in private banks is seen with excitement, though it doesn't refer to PEs explicitly. On non-promoter holdings in these banks, the RBI said this will be capped at 10 per cent of the paid-up voting equity share capital in the case "of natural persons and non-financial institutions and entities"; and "at 15 per cent for all categories of financial institutions, entities, supranational institutions, public sector undertaking, or the government." While this is a modification of the IWG's stance for the non-promoter holding in banks at up to 15 per cent, it does open up a huge window for PEs, all the same. This is because, while the RBI has remained silent on the eligibility of industrial houses for bank licences, fresh high-quality capital in large amounts can only come from PEs.

When does investing in gold make sense?

When does investing in gold make sense?

Rediff.com7 May 2019

People who have no access to or do not trust the financial system are the only ones for whom investing in gold makes sense, says Naval Goel.