News for 'Variants of Concern'

IPO fireworks in New Year too; cos likely to garner Rs 1.5 lakh cr

IPO fireworks in New Year too; cos likely to garner Rs 1.5 lakh cr

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

Initial share sales are set to dazzle the Dalal Street in 2022 too as companies are expected to garner up to Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the New Year, continuing with the bullish momentum after 2021 turned out to be the best IPO year in two decades for the Indian market. Excessive liquidity and increased retail investor participation ensured a persistent euphoria in the Initial Public Offer (IPO) space wherein companies mopped up more than Rs 1.2 lakh crore this year even as pandemic gloom shadowed the broader economy. In 2022, the higher amount of funds through the primary market will be largely driven by the mega IPO of state-owned Life Insurance Corp (LIC).

Omicron scare: Stricter norms for travellers to India from tonight

Omicron scare: Stricter norms for travellers to India from tonight

Rediff.com30 Nov 2021

Strict norms for arriving international passengers, especially from 'at-risk' countries, will come into effect from Tuesday midnight and authorities are stepping their vigil for effective surveillance amid mounting concerns over the emergence of the coronavirus variant Omicron.

PICS: Pandemic Games end as Tokyo douses Olympic flame

PICS: Pandemic Games end as Tokyo douses Olympic flame

Rediff.com8 Aug 2021

Images for Sunday's closing ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics.

Japan sees no impact on Olympics from US travel advisory

Japan sees no impact on Olympics from US travel advisory

Rediff.com25 May 2021

Top Japanese officials said on Tuesday they did not expect a US advisory against travel to Japan amid worries about the coronavirus to affect the Tokyo Olympics - less than two months away - and that US support for the Games is unchanged.

FPIs' net investments cross Rs 51,000 cr in 2021

FPIs' net investments cross Rs 51,000 cr in 2021

Rediff.com29 Dec 2021

Waves of foreign portfolio investments worth over Rs 51,000 crore splashed into the Indian market in 2021 as overseas investors turned net buyers of domestic securities for the third straight year while excess global liquidity and other factors steered the ebb and flow of their investing ways. With the global financial system still flush with liquidity, emerging market assets, especially equities, might well remain the preferred investment avenue for many more months to come, experts opined. As the equities sizzled during most of 2021, that also saw economy slowly coming back into the recovery path, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) turned net buyers but their investment is much less compared to net inflows of Rs 1.03 lakh crore in 2020.

COVID-19 pandemic a long way from over: WHO chief

COVID-19 pandemic a long way from over: WHO chief

Rediff.com13 Apr 2021

He voiced concern that confusion, complacency and inconsistency in public health measures and their application are driving transmission and costing lives. Cautioning that the disease is not flu, he said young, healthy people have died from the coronavirus.

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Novovax Covid vaccine likely to get nod in India ahead of US

Rediff.com18 Aug 2021

Adar Poonawalla said he was hopeful that Covovax, the Novavax vaccine made by SII, will be launched around October this year for adults and for children by the first quarter of next year, depending on DCGI approvals.

Kids unlikely to get disproportionately hit by 3rd wave: Study

Kids unlikely to get disproportionately hit by 3rd wave: Study

Rediff.com17 Jun 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 sero-positivity rate among children is high and comparable to the adult population and hence, it is unlikely that any future third wave of the prevailing COVID-19 variant would disproportionately affect children aged two years and above, according to the interim findings of an ongoing study conducted in the country.

Ford India recalls 20,752 units of EcoSport

Ford India recalls 20,752 units of EcoSport

Rediff.com16 Dec 2014

The company will also check the reorienting wiring harness related to the correct deployment of side airbags in the recalled vehicles.

Vaccination, good behaviour may reduce/delay 3rd wave

Vaccination, good behaviour may reduce/delay 3rd wave

Rediff.com20 Jul 2021

'If we vaccinate quickly, it could be pushed to January, February, and the longer it can be pushed, the smaller the wave is likely to be, because by that time vaccination will scale up.'

Tata Harrier 2020: It can't get better than this!

Tata Harrier 2020: It can't get better than this!

Rediff.com16 Dec 2020

Long have I waited for a car to replace the Tata Safari feel in driving, and this updated version of the Tata Harrier is just IT, exclaims Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com.

'Mucor is very scary'

'Mucor is very scary'

Rediff.com2 Jun 2021

'Mucor is an environmental fungus, and it's much more prevalent in hot and humid areas.' 'The amount of fungus in the air is much higher in India than some other parts of the world.'

Third-gen Hyundai i20 is a leap forward for Korean carmaker

Third-gen Hyundai i20 is a leap forward for Korean carmaker

Rediff.com1 Dec 2020

The latest Hyundai i20 is an exciting car, given the overall drive experience, transmission, ride quality and tech. And while it may not be as low cost as a Maruti or come with the "heavy German steel-feel" of the Volkswagen, it does carve out a niche for itself at pole position with a combination of technology, styling, drive and ride comfort, and low cost of ownership, says Pavan Lall.

2nd COVID wave poses downside risks to India's economic growth: S&P

2nd COVID wave poses downside risks to India's economic growth: S&P

Rediff.com28 Apr 2021

S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday said the second wave of COVID infections poses downside risks to India's GDP and heightens the possibility of business disruptions. The second wave brings in uncertainty and a drawn-out COVID outbreak will impede India's recovery, it said.

World Athletics puts the brakes on Nike's shoes

World Athletics puts the brakes on Nike's shoes

Rediff.com31 Jan 2020

The sport's governing body (WA) said that with immediate effect and for elite competition only, road shoes must have soles no thicker than 40mm and not contain more than one rigid, embedded plate.

Roadblocks in the path of Maruti Suzuki

Roadblocks in the path of Maruti Suzuki

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

Among the key concerns of the Street is market share losses in growth segments, led by higher competitive pressures.

WHO reminds Serum Institute of COVAX commitments

WHO reminds Serum Institute of COVAX commitments

Rediff.com18 May 2021

COVAX, 'the global COVID vaccine equity scheme', has so far delivered 65 million doses to 124 countries and economies but it is dependent on countries and manufacturers honouring their commitments.

Fully charged up over Ola's electric scooter

Fully charged up over Ola's electric scooter

Rediff.com1 Dec 2021

It takes a while to get used to the constant and instant supply of power that is the case with EVs, and handling the S1 Pro when it takes a corner or makes a turn can be tricky, says Pavan Lall.

US approves Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine

US approves Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine

Rediff.com28 Feb 2021

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which works with one dose instead of two, got approval on Saturday, the third vaccine cleared in the country after emergency use authorisation (EUA) was given to two-dose shots from Pfizer and Moderna in December last year.

Govt bans 118 Chinese mobile apps, including PUBG

Govt bans 118 Chinese mobile apps, including PUBG

Rediff.com2 Sep 2020

The banned apps include Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Tencent Watchlist, FaceU, WeChat Reading and Tencent Weiyun, besides PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite, according to an official statement.

When the State controls vaccination...

When the State controls vaccination...

Rediff.com7 Jan 2022

More vaccination would have been done in India if the State had not had complete control of all vaccination, notes Ajay Shah.

Karnataka withdraws night curfew order within 24 hrs

Karnataka withdraws night curfew order within 24 hrs

Rediff.com24 Dec 2020

The decision to impose night curfew for nine days from 11 pm to 5 am starting from Thursday was taken on Wednesday in line with the Centre's advice, amid concerns over a new COVID-19 variant spreading in the United Kingdom.

Bengal shuts schools, colleges; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

Bengal shuts schools, colleges; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

Rediff.com2 Jan 2022

Local trains will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity till 7 pm, while all shopping malls and markets will be allowed to remain open till 10 pm but with half their capacities, he said.

Is This The Future Of Dating?

Is This The Future Of Dating?

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

Over 51% per cent of users feel they will probably continue virtual dating even after they will be able to meet up safely.

India's consumption story moving fast once again

India's consumption story moving fast once again

Rediff.com1 Jul 2021

Sanjiv Mehta, chairman of the country's largest consumer goods company, HUL, believes that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic between April and June this year has been a mere pause in India's consumption story, and that it will not change the country's overall growth trajectory. India is poised for growth, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Mehta told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting on Tuesday. The signs of recovery are becoming evident with many states lifting lockdown restrictions in recent weeks.

'Severity, deaths not higher, but more transmissible'

'Severity, deaths not higher, but more transmissible'

Rediff.com2 Apr 2021

'People are just putting the mask below their nose.' 'They are only protecting the mouth, but not the nose.' 'People need to understand that it is the nose which has to be protected.'

Won't allow exams unless sure of 'no Covid fatality': SC to AP

Won't allow exams unless sure of 'no Covid fatality': SC to AP

Rediff.com24 Jun 2021

A special bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari, which posed tough questions to the Andhra Pradesh government on its decision to hold Class 12 board examinations, asked the standing counsel for the state Mahfooz A Nazki to place before the court the "snapshot of the file" giving reasons to hold the test.

India bans all UK flights till Dec 31 fearing new Covid strain

India bans all UK flights till Dec 31 fearing new Covid strain

Rediff.com21 Dec 2020

A number of countries like Canada, Turkey, Belgium, Italy and Israel have banned flights from the UK as the British government warned that the potent new strain of the virus was "out of control" and imposed a stringent new stay-at-home lockdown from Sunday.

Olympic sponsor Toyota pulls out TV ads for Games

Olympic sponsor Toyota pulls out TV ads for Games

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

Organisers warn participants against eating out over COVID-19 risks.

Left with just 5 days of Covid vaccine stock: Punjab CM

Left with just 5 days of Covid vaccine stock: Punjab CM

Rediff.com10 Apr 2021

Singh stressed that if Punjab was able to meet its target of administering two lakh shots a day, then its current supplies will last only three days.

'Vaccine Must Go To Older People First'

'Vaccine Must Go To Older People First'

Rediff.com9 Nov 2021

'At the current time, we should be vaccinating all those who are potentially going to get more severe illness, before we start vaccinating very young individuals.'

Portugal's government under fire over Champions League final

Portugal's government under fire over Champions League final

Rediff.com31 May 2021

In the days leading up to final between Chelsea and Manchester City, big crowds of English fans, who were largely maskless and did not socially distance, took over Porto's streets

After a decade in Opposition, 2021 sees DMK's return to power in Tamil Nadu

After a decade in Opposition, 2021 sees DMK's return to power in Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com23 Dec 2021

After a gap of 10 years, the DMK snatched the reins of power from arch rival AIADMK, with its president M K Stalin leading the party to a stellar performance and in the process, helming the state as chief minister for the first time.

18 states have reported 5,424 cases of black fungus; highest in Guj, Maha

18 states have reported 5,424 cases of black fungus; highest in Guj, Maha

Rediff.com24 May 2021

Gujarat reported 2,165 cases, Maharashtra 1,188, Uttar Pradesh 663, Madhya Pradesh 590, Haryana 339 and Andhra Pradesh 248 cases.

Nokia X5: Premium design, budget price

Nokia X5: Premium design, budget price

Rediff.com19 Jul 2018

If we consider the design, the Nokia X5 topples all its competitors at this price range but the hardware specs are a concern.

Why China Is Worried About Hong Kong

Why China Is Worried About Hong Kong

Rediff.com7 Apr 2022

'Although Hong Kong weathered many a storm and displayed a remarkable resilience to bounce back, the developments in the territory have raised question marks with regard to its future stability and prosperity.' A revealing excerpt from Rup Narayan Das's Hong Kong Conundrum: Pangs of Transition.

'It is common for any virus to mutate'

'It is common for any virus to mutate'

Rediff.com22 Dec 2020

'There is no data to show this virus is more deadlier.'

'There was no one like Bishan paaji'

'There was no one like Bishan paaji'

Rediff.com23 Nov 2021

'I have seen Bishan paaji get worked up when he felt the game was losing its character because of some individual.'

Do we need to take multiple vaccine doses before 2024?

Do we need to take multiple vaccine doses before 2024?

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

With the virus mutating, can vaccines be assumed safe and effective in the long run?

Covid will be reduced to an endemic in future: Experts

Covid will be reduced to an endemic in future: Experts

Rediff.com3 Jul 2021

"Zero is an unlikely figure. The virus is mutating and it is difficult to predict it's future behaviour,