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This year, the agenda of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, includes a critical item that is only discussed once every half a decade, a new five-year plan. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) is bound to be one of the most transformational plans since the founding of the People's Republic of China, as it departs from the emphasis on economic growth and restructuring that was characteristic of past plans to focus on the sustainability of growth and the quality of life. To this end, the 14th Five-Year Plan outlines renewed efforts to close the rural-urban income divide, promote innovation, and move faster toward low-carbon development. These objectives are reinforced by the longer-term perspective ingrained in China's Vision 2035, which lays down the path for China to become a moderately developed country by 2035 and a global leader in innovation. It also foresees domestic demand to be a main driver of future growth under the "dual circulation" development paradigm. ... » Learn More about China’s plan for inclusive future vital for region

The two sessions starting Thursday will discuss the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, which has drawn widespread attention at home and abroad since it was proposed by the top authorities in late October. According to the proposal, China is likely to become a medium-level developed country in terms of per capita GDP by 2035. As President Xi Jinping said in a statement on the proposal: "It is entirely possible for China to meet the current high-income countries' standards by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and to double the economic aggregate or per capita income by 2035." Nation on road to achieving target Economists have little doubt that China will become a high-income country, based on current standards, by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan. According to World Bank criteria, a country with per capita gross national income of $12,535 is defined as a high-income ... » Learn More about China has potential to realize 2035 goal

The world is presently grappling with the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the social, economic and political spheres. India can be counted among those nations that have been impacted severely. COVID-19 has affected all sectors. However, there are areas where countries such as India should be more worried about. One of them is education, especially education of the girl child. Around 300 million children across all age groups are reported to be out of school in India now (the number is of the period when all schools were closed) . And as and when schools finally reopen in the country, the number of children returning to class has to be closely scrutinised. The education sector faces the challenges of delivery, especially of pedagogical processes, classroom assessment frameworks, students’ support and teacher-student engagement. Also read | E-learning in India, a case of bad education Realistic assessment is key More than just the numbers, the authorities have to ... » Learn More about The blank pages in India’s online learning experience

Video Player Close BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's development has been advancing in a new historic journey since late 2017, when Chinese President Xi Jinping noted at the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress that China's economy was transitioning from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development. To forestall and defuse various kinds of risks and proactively address challenges brought by external changes, China needs to focus on taking care of its own matters and improving the quality of development, Xi has said. It is widely believed that this new vision for development, featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, benefits not only China, but the world as a whole. "China will work with other countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity," Xi said in his speech at World Economic Forum Virtual Event of the Davos Agenda in ... » Learn More about Xiplomacy: Xi on China’s pursuit of high-quality development

China should speed up the commercialization of autonomous vehicles and deploy smart transport systems using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G, Chinese internet tycoon Robin Li said on Wednesday. "Low-carbon transport, accelerated commercialization of autonomous driving and the use of tech-enabled smart transport will ease traffic congestion, provide convenient and environmentally-friendly travel options and achieve the carbon dioxide emission targets," said Li, chairman and CEO of internet search giant Baidu Inc. Li, who is also a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the government must boost policy innovation, establish a large-scale commercial promotion mechanism for autonomous driving with the participation of governments at all levels, enterprises, universities and research institutes, and encourage research and development, and innovation in the autonomous driving sector. Baidu has ... » Learn More about Baidu’s Li makes a case for using emerging tech to sustain innovation

Video Player Close BERLIN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Despite the ongoing lockdown, new COVID-19 infections in Germany were again slightly above previous week's level as the country registered 11,912 infections within one day, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Thursday. Due to rising infections and an increasing share of COVID-19 variants, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the federal states agreed on Wednesday that the lockdown would be extended until at least March 28. At the same time, gradual openings were implemented in a five-step strategy. After schools and hairdressers were opened in the beginning of March, a second step would follow next week as bookstores, flower stores and garden centers in Germany would be allowed to open with hygiene requirement and customer restrictions, the government noted. Merkel said that it was now a matter of "taking the next steps wisely." In Europe, there were many examples of a dramatic third COVID-19 wave "and this danger also exists ... » Learn More about Roundup: Germany extends lockdown amidst rising COVID-19 numbers

'We are passing through a very historical moment. The UP election next year and the Lok Sabha election of 2019 will decide the course of India.' 'Maybe the unlettered will save India again because they have inherited a different India and a different idea of India,' says eminent social scientist Achyut Yagnik. After a historic mandate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed two years in office on May 26. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters A chyut Yagnik , the honorary secretary of the Ahmedabad-based NGO, SETU, Centre for Social Knowledge and Action, is a leading social activist and political thinker. At his quiet office in Ahmedabad, he spoke to Archana Masih/ Rediff.com about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress, and his faith in the people of India. Two years into Prime Minister Modi's tenure, what are the changes you notice? There is a contest between the liberal and authoritarian idea of India. There is a controversy about these two ideas. ... » Learn More about ‘Modi thinks “I’m number 1 and up to number 10 there’s no one”‘

Email By political reporter Karen Barlow Updated July 24, 2014 18:05:04 Sorry, this video has expired Video: Professor Triggs describes conditions on Christmas Is (ABC News) Photo: The Human Rights Commission says many children are sick and in distress at the Christmas Island detention centre. (Getty Images: Scott Fisher, file photo) Related Story: High Court's full bench to hear asylum seeker challenge Related Story: Judge tell lawyers to clarify positions in asylum case Map: Christmas Island The Australian Human Rights Commission says it holds "grave concerns" for the welfare of asylum seekers, particularly mothers and children, on Christmas Island. Commission president Gillian Triggs has recounted her inspection of the centre last week as part of a national inquiry into the mandatory detention of children seeking asylum in Australia. Professor Triggs says conditions have worsened markedly since her last visit four months ... » Learn More about Asylum seekers: Many children on Christmas Island reportedly sick and distressed, wetting the bed, having flashbacks

Absence of comprehensive data protection and privacy laws will be barriers in the government's digitalisation drive, reports Sayan Ghosal/ Business Standard . Rediff.com T he government's demonetisation scheme has given a fillip to digital transactions in the traditionally cash-based economy. Amid the changing times and the plethora of conveniences associated with e-payments, experts have again highlighted the lack of a comprehensive data protection and privacy framework. The Nilson Report, a trade newsletter covering the card and mobile payment segments, estimates fraud losses incurred by banks and merchants in electronic transactions reached the equivalent of $21.8 billion in 2015. This figure is expected to grow as more and more transactions go cashless. India's recent brush with transactional fraud, involving 3.2 million debit cards, have highlighted the growing necessity of ensuring safety and security in the digital payment space. Advent of an ... » Learn More about More steps needed to make e-transactions safer

Bharat Biotech's vaccine, whose emergency use approval before finishing final stage testing had triggered a row, has shown an 81 per cent efficacy in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in an interim analysis of the advanced clinical trial, the company said on Wednesday, boosting prospects of its usage. IMAGE: A vial of Bharat Biotech Covaxin. Photograph: ANI Photo Covaxin, which was shunned by some health workers due to lack of final trial data, showed efficacy better than the company's previous guidance of around 60 per cent. In a statement, Bharat Biotech Chairman Krishna Ella said Covaxin has 'demonstrated high clinical efficacy' as also shown 'significant immunogenicity' against rapidly emerging variants. In a separate video address, he added that 'many people criticised us'. The results come as a shot in the arm for India's immunisation drive against coronavirus. The drug regulator in January had allowed Covaxin as well as the vaccine made by AstraZeneca's local ... » Learn More about Bharat Biotech finds Covaxin 81% efficient in Phase 3 trials