Author: admin_fijitimes
Mumbai, Feb 25 (IANS) Geeta Batra, an Indian economist, has been named as the new Director at the Independent Evaluation Office of the World Bank’s Global Environment Facility (GEF), making her the first-ever woman from a developing country to hold the coveted post. Batra, 57, is currently the Chief Evaluator & Deputy Director for Evaluation at the GEF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO), affiliated to the World Bank. Her name was unanimously recommended for the coveted position at the 66th GEF Council Meeting held in Washington on February 9 and was announced last week. “My top priorities will be to deliver…
Mumbai, Feb 27 (IANS) The late ghazal singer, Pankaj Udhas, who passed away after his battle with cancer, was given a state funeral in Mumbai on Tuesday. The band and troops gave him a hero’s farewell. His mortal remains were wrapped in tricolour at his residence, 6A, Hill Side in Mumbai. The visuals show the band and troops giving a farewell to the ghazal legend. His mortal remains were brought to his residence by an ambulance from the Breach Candy hospital. The videos showed a portrait of Pankaj Udhas kept in the garden area of his house. His family members,…
New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) X owner Elon Musk on Wednesday continued his tirade against Google, saying its artificial intelligence (AI) model Gemini is super racist and even “sexist”. The billionaire responded to a follower who said that Google Gemini replied to his prompt that “white people should absolutely acknowledge their white privilege”. “Google Gemini is super racist and sexist,” said the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. Another follower commented to Musk’s post that “Gemini holds Asians to similar standards as Whites when it comes to privilege”. “This just shows more and more how Gemini is programmed with the exact same…
Chennai, Feb 28 (IANS) India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should grow in the region of 6.7-6.9 per cent during the third quarter (Q3) of FY24, said a top economist with the State Bank of India (SBI). In his latest report Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor said, “Factoring the slight decline in economic activity in Q3 FY24, we estimate that the GDP should grow in the range of 6.7-6.9 per cent with a gross value added (GVA) growth of 6.6 per cent.” The SBI Composite Leading Indicator (CLI) Index (a basket of 41 leading indicators which includes parameters…
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime is noteworthy for giving full attention to both security and economic development and in particular for building the defence capacity of India to deal with the adversary on land and sea, ensuring at the same time that the air power is blended suitably on these two fronts – apart from the independent capability that the Air Force had of delivering blows to the enemy behind the battle lines. The military build-up on the LAC is strengthened by our troops being prepared to engage the adversary also in a mountain warfare with suitable air…
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Samsung on Friday launched its new fitness tracker — Galaxy Fit3, in India, which comes with advanced health-monitoring technology. Priced at Rs 4,999, the Galaxy Fit3 comes available in three colours — Grey, Silver, and Pink Gold, to purchase on the company’s official website as well as in leading online and offline retail stores. “As our newest fitness tracker, the Galaxy Fit3 underscores our commitment to providing accessible resources that encourage everyday wellness and inspire everyone to work on their best self,” Aditya Babbar, Senior Director, MX Business, Samsung India, said in a statement. The…
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) There has been a strong impetus for high-tech electronic manufacturing in India and the country will power tech giant Apple’s growth over the next decade, industry analysts said on Friday. Apple’s revenue in India rose nearly 42 per cent (on-year) last year to $8.7 billion, according to foreign brokerage Morgan Stanley. The iPhone shipments grew about 39 per cent to 9.2 million units last year. Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group at market intelligence firm CMR, told IANS that the country is adding more upstream capabilities to the electronics ecosystem. “Apple has been a prime…
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) India dedicated funds have now seen the 49th straight week of inflows, Elara Securities said in a report. The inflows include $712 million this week after $766 million in the previous week. Largecap funds continued to see the biggest portion of this flows ($631 million). Some revival is also seen in smallcap funds where a total $280 million has come in the past nine months. India flows continue to be strongest from US investors ($215 million), followed by Ireland ($177 million) and Japan ($124 million) investors, the report said. Countries where both domestic and foreign…
Mumbai, Feb 21 (IANS) The legendary radio host Ameen Sayani – who ruled the airwaves and lorded over the hearts of millions of “Behno aur Bhaiyon” in the Indian subcontinent and neighbouring countries – fell silent forever following a cardiac arrest at the age of 91. Ameen Sayani is survived by his son Rajil and several grandchildren. Sayani suffered a heart attack late on Tuesday and was rushed to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Nana Chowk where he breathed his last. “His mortal remains shall be kept for people to pay their last respects at Famous Studios, Mahalaxmi…
Hong Kong, Feb 22 (IANS) China is one of the most expensive places in the world to raise a child in relative terms, a new report said, with the disproportionate impact on women driving the country’s precipitously low fertility rate as it grapples with a demographic crisis. The study by the China-based YuWa Population Research Institute found that the average nationwide cost of raising a child from birth to age 17 was about $74,800 – rising to more than $94,500 to support a child through a bachelor’s degree, CNN reported. The cost of raising a child to age 18 in…