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The Hindu
15 minutes ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Professor Suman Chakraborty appointed Director of IIT Kharagpur
Professor Suman Chakraborty, institute chair professor in the Mechanical Engineering department, was appointed Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur on Thursday (June 19, 2025). His appointment will end after a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post. On December 31 last year, Professor Amit Patra, Director of IIT, Benaras Hindu University, had taken additional charge as the interim Director of IIT Kharagpur until the regular incumbent took over. Professor Chakraborty is a former student of Jadavpur University in Kolkata as well as of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. Currently a J.C. Bose National Fellow, he is also a visiting lecturer at Stanford University in the United States. His illustrious career as a scientist is centred around developing several 'affordable, simple-to-execute, and innovative diagnostic solutions' related to common clinical challenges like anaemia, cancer, COVID-19, tuberculosis etc. 'I sincerely appreciate the steadfast support of our IIT family and well-wishers. I eagerly anticipate our shared journey toward cultural transformation, innovation, and excellence as we work together to position our institute among the world's leading academic institutions,' Professor Chakraborty told The Hindu. Earlier this year, he was awarded the 2026 TWAS Award in Engineering and Computer Sciences by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In his long career, Professor Chakraborty has been involved in the development of clinical diagnostic technologies like Covirap, a rapid COVID-19 detection test kit that was granted a U.S. patent for its rapid nucleic acid testing technology using DNA-RNA samples. He has also developed technologies that are currently available in the market commercially, like PrepapQR, a home test to accurately test vaginal Ph, and HemoQR, a simplified anaemia screening test.
Time of India
an hour ago
- General
- Time of India
Faridabad government school named among top 10 finalists for World's Best School 2025; check why
Chandigarh's Government Girls Senior Secondary School, NIT-5, Faridabad, has earned global recognition by being named among the top 10 finalists across different categories in the annual World's Best School Prizes . Organized in the UK, these awards highlight the significant contributions schools make to societal development. Schools from Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have been shortlisted for potential inclusion in the Best School to Work programme, an initiative aimed at helping schools attract and retain top teaching talent. The winners in all categories will be revealed in October. Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda , speaking on Thursday, described this achievement as a source of inspiration for government schools across the state. He emphasized that this success reinforces the idea that government schools are capable of excelling on global platforms. Dhanda added that the recognition of the Faridabad school would further encourage other government schools to prioritize innovation and student welfare. He noted that reforms initiated by the state government—such as the introduction of smart classrooms, STEM labs, and teacher training—will receive renewed momentum from this accomplishment. Live Events The World's Best School Prizes, founded by UK-based T4 Education after the COVID-19 pandemic, honour schools that are making transformative impacts both inside and outside their classrooms. The five prize categories include Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives. T4 Education is a global platform that unites a network of over 200,000 educators across 100+ countries, committed to advancing education worldwide. The Faridabad school has been recognized under the Supporting Healthy Lives category for its efforts in transforming the lives of at-risk girls. The school integrates nutrition programs, mental and physical health support, and education to remove social barriers and ensure that no girl is left behind. Each category has 10 finalist schools. All 50 schools are also participating in a public voting round, which opened this week, to decide the Community Choice Award winner. The final results will be announced in October, and both winners and finalists will be invited to share their insights at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi on November 15–16. There, they will present their best practices and innovative approaches to global education leaders and policymakers. [With inputs from PTI]
News18
an hour ago
- Business
- News18
'India's Savers Turn Investors': Uday Kotak Says Mutual Fund Assets Surge To 31% Of Bank Deposits
Kotak says the trend is beneficial for the economy as it "grows domestic risk capital and creates an equity culture", but he cautioned investors against "excessive exuberance". India is witnessing a shift in household savings preferences as mutual fund assets under management (AUM) have surged to nearly a third of the total bank deposits, according to the latest data shared by veteran banker Uday Kotak. In a post on social media platform X, Kotak said mutual fund AUM, driven largely by equity investments, has climbed to 31% of bank deposits as of May 2025, up from just 13% in FY15. He said it reflects structural change in financial intermediation. It also grows domestic risk capital and creates an equity culture. But let's be alert about excessive exuberance. 'India's saver turns investor. Post Covid, mutual fund AUM share, mainly equity,has doubled to 31% of bank deposits. Reflects structural change in financial intermediation. It grows domestic risk capital and creates an equity culture. But let's be alert about excessive exuberance," Kotak said in the post on X. India's saver turns investor. Post Covid, mutual fund AUM share, mainly equity,has doubled to 31% of bank deposits. Reflects structural change in financial intermediation. It grows domestic risk capital and creates an equity culture. But let's be alert about excessive exuberance. — Uday Kotak (@udaykotak) June 20, 2025 Over the past decade, mutual fund assets have steadily gained ground, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. From FY21 onwards, the AUM-to-deposit ratio began accelerating, rising from 21% in FY21 to 26% in FY24 and reaching 31% by May 2025. This is seen as a sign of growing investor participation in capital markets, supported by digital access, awareness campaigns, and a rising appetite for equity. However, he also cautioned investors and policymakers to remain vigilant against 'excessive exuberance." The rise of mutual funds, particularly systematic investment plans (SIPs), has been instrumental in channelling long-term household savings into the markets. Industry experts say this evolution could reduce India's reliance on foreign capital while strengthening financial resilience domestically. The monthly inflow into mutual funds through the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) route hit a fresh high of Rs 26,688 crore in May, according to the latest data from AMFI released on June 10. However, the net equity inflow fell 22 per cent month-on-month in May to Rs 19,013 crore from Rs 24,269 crore in April 2025. The number of contributing SIP accounts in May rose to 8.56 crore against 8.38 crore in the previous month. The monthly SIP inflows for April were at Rs 26,632 crore. The total SIP assets under management (AUM) rose to Rs 14.61 lakh crore against Rs 13.90 lakh crore in April.
Euronews
2 hours ago
- Business
- Euronews
Remote work in Europe: Which countries lead the way and why?
The UK has the highest rate of telework among 18 European countries, with employees working an average of 1.8 days a week from home. On a wider scale, this total also places the UK second out 40 nations. But, aside from the UK, how do work-from-home (WFH) rates differ across Europe and the world? And what might explain variations between countries? The Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA) shows that telework trends have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth wave of the survey, conducted between November 2024 and February 2025, covers full-time workers aged 20 to 64 who have completed tertiary education (college or university). While the global telework average stands at 1.2 days per week, WFH rates vary significantly across the 40 countries surveyed, ranging from just 0.5 days per week in South Korea to 1.9 days in Canada. Several factors underpin the UK's top ranking, according to Dr. Cevat Giray Aksoy, lead economist at the EBRD and associate professor of economics at King's College London. 'The UK scores highly on cultural individualism, which is strongly associated with comfort in autonomous work environments,' said Giray Aksoy. Aksoy noted that the UK experienced long and stringent lockdowns, accelerating the adoption of remote work infrastructure and norms. He also explained that the UK's labour market is concentrated in service sectors — such as finance, consulting, and media — where WFH can be a practical option. "Crucially, British workers have developed strong and durable preferences for hybrid work, typically wanting 2–3 WFH days per week. This is no longer a marginal benefit; it's a core expectation," he said. Aksoy warned that firms ignoring this reality may face a serious disadvantage in attracting and retaining talent — particularly when competing with employers in other English-speaking countries that have embraced flexibility. In Europe, Finland (1.7 days) and Germany (1.6 days) followed the UK in the ranking. The WFH rates are also relatively high in Portugal (1.5 days), as well as in Hungary and the Netherlands (both 1.4 days). Employees in Czechia, Italy, and Sweden work from home 1.3 days per week, which is slightly above the global average. Romania, Spain, and Austria align with the global average, each reporting 1.2 remote work days per week. Dr. Aksoy attributes the variation across European countries to a mix of structural, cultural, and economic factors. 'Among these, the most powerful predictor is individualism — a cultural trait that emphasises personal autonomy, self-reliance, and independence over collective goals or close supervision,' he said. He added that other factors also play a role. These include the severity and duration of COVID-19 lockdowns, population density, and the industrial structure of each economy. For instance, countries with a larger share of remote-friendly sectors such as IT and finance are better positioned to support hybrid models. Densely populated countries also often see higher WFH levels, in part due to longer commutes. Greece reports the lowest WFH rate in Europe at just 0.6 days per week. 'Part of the explanation lies in the structure of the Greek economy, which leans heavily on sectors like tourism, retail, and hospitality — jobs that generally require physical presence,' said Aksoy. 'But deeper cultural and institutional factors also play a role. Greece scores relatively low on individualism,' he added. He stated that digital adoption and management practices were relatively underdeveloped before the pandemic, which likely slowed the normalisation of WFH. While Finland ranks second in Europe with 1.7 remote work days per week, Norway and Denmark report significantly lower rates at just 0.9 days. Sweden, with 1.3 days, sits in between, reflecting a clear divide in remote work trends across the Nordic countries. Aksoy explained that Finland has a slightly more individualistic culture and a long-standing emphasis on work-life balance and employee autonomy compared to Denmark and Norway, which may maintain more traditional management practices. 'Finnish organisations, especially in the public sector and technology industries, were early adopters of flexible work policies — even before the pandemic,' he added. Among Europe's five largest economies, France has the lowest remote work rate, with employees averaging just 1 day per week from home. Turkey follows closely at 0.9 days, while Poland is slightly ahead with 1.1 days. Overall levels of working from home have declined globally, dropping from an average of 1.6 days per week in 2022 to 1.33 days in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, they fell far more modestly to 1.27 days. The research concludes that remote work levels have roughly stabilised since 2023. 'However, this stability doesn't mean stasis. Incremental shifts could still occur — driven by new technologies, changing demographics, or evolving labour market conditions,' Aksoy added. Europe needs to boost its growth in the face of global headwinds or risk losing its way of life, said the head of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva on Wednesday. 'I don't want Europe to become the United States of America, but I want the productivity and functionality of Europe to go up,' she told Euronews. 'In Europe we enjoy being a lifestyle superpower. Unless we become more productive we may lose this advantage,' she added. Georgieva was speaking ahead of the publication of a new IMF statement on Thursday, which offers economic suggestions to eurozone nations. One key message is that Europe must speed up progress on the single market, which ensures the free movement of goods, services, capital and people between single market nations. 'There are no tariffs within Europe, but it doesn't mean there are no barriers in Europe, regulatory and otherwise,' Georgieva told Euronews. The IMF estimates that barriers to free movement in the single market are equivalent to a 44% tariff on goods and a 110% tariff on services. Georgieva noted that in the US, what is produced in one state is split 30-70, meaning 30% is consumed in that state and 70% is sent to other states. In Europe, on the other hand, 70% of production is consumed domestically while 30% is sent abroad. This is a set-up that limits growth by keeping markets smaller and less competitive. 'If Europe completes the single market, over 10 years, it would boost GDP by 3%,' said Georgieva. Means to advance progress on this front include lowering regulatory fragmentation, supporting labour mobility, facilitating cross-border banking mergers, integrating the energy market, and making progress on the capital markets union (CMU) — said the IMF. The CMU aims to allow investment and savings to flow seamlessly across member states. This would make it easier for businesses in one EU state to source funding from another EU state, supporting firms to grow and create jobs. In terms of deepening capital markets, the IMF's statement added that the EU should 'increase institutional investors' familitary with venture capital as an asset class and address remaining undue restrictions on their ability to invest in it'. Looking ahead, the IMF expects eurozone growth at a moderate 0.8% in 2025, picking up to 1.2% in 2026. Trade and geopolitical tensions are expected to dampen sentiment and weigh on investment and consumption. With regards to interest rates, the IMF argued that 'a monetary policy stance close to neutral is justified' as headline inflation nears the ECB's 2% target. When balancing spending pressures with fiscal sustainability, the IMF recommended that countries with strong public finances support countries with less room for manoeuvre. 'It is crucial that care be taken in implementing the EU fiscal rules to ensure that countries with low fiscal risks that intend to increase spending to boost potential growth and enhance resilience should not be constrained from doing so by the rules,' said Thursday's statement.
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Hollywood icon Whoopi Goldberg announces huge partnership with Netball Australia
American actress Whoopi Goldberg and Super Netball might seem an unlikely pairing. But social media videos and two excited executives have brought the entertainment icon and Australian sports league together in a three-year broadcast deal. All Women's Sports Network, co-founded by Goldberg in 2024, took an interest in the sport after two of its heavyweights noticed Super Netball on their social feeds. AWSN reaches 900 million households worldwide. Former NFL player Tony Parrish and George Chung, the San Francisco 49ers' former martial arts coach who co-founded AWSN, reached out to Netball Australia (NA) with an interest to know more. Talks progressed and Friday's partnership is now expected to introduce the league to over 65 new countries. Super Netball balls and merchandise have been express posted to the United States, while Goldberg has shared her excitement about the partnership online. 'I am so proud to be thanking you for joining us on AWSN,' she said, addressing the league in a video statement. 'I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you.' Riding the coat tails of an increasing global appetite for women's sport, NA chief executive Stacey West said the deal will be a powerful tool for exposure. 'Super Netball is no longer a game that fans seek out, it's something they cannot miss,' West said. 'This breakthrough deal puts netball on screens across the globe and cements our place at the forefront of women's sport.' It hasn't been all smooth sailing for the governing body in recent years. The sport hit financial troubles during the COVID-19 pandemic, making headlines for a $4 million debt before protracted pay talks with players led to Kelly Ryan's resignation as NA boss in late 2023. But the Super Netball league audience has grown in the past few years. West has highlighted how the 2024 season resulted in record ratings on Kayo and Foxtel, and an average audience of 57,000 per match. AWSN viewers will have access to 41 Super Netball matches, including finals, through to 2027 under the partnership. 'AWSN shares our vision of taking women's sport to new heights,' West said. 'Together, we're creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before.'
