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December 20, 2013
I can sell tea, but won't allow anyone to sell the nation: Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, who has apparently become quite adept in the art of striking chord with his audience, once again played magic with his words in Varanasi where an unprecedented crowd gathered not only to hear him out but also to display its response through a reverberating resonance.
'Modi is the product of the invisibility of Manmohan Singh'
'People want to listen to someone who is decisive and strong. Modi has created that image. The social media, English media, have created this image and they are allergic to Rahul Gandhi, says social historian Professor Badri Narayan.
PHOTOS: Over 75 hurt in London theatre ceiling collapse
The ceiling of a packed 112-year-old theatre in the heart of London collapsed Thursday night during a popular show injuring 76 people, seven seriously, as children and adults were left shocked and bleeding amid the rubble.
Year-end Special: 10 landmark judgments of 2013
If there was a year that redefined the concept of judicial activism in India, it could well be 2013.
December 19, 2013
'My governing philosophy is closer to where Obama's is'
'The story is for the first time, Silicon Valley is mobilising locally to have a voice in American politics. The national Asian American-South Asian Diaspora with the Swadesh Chatterjees and Deepak Chopras and Vinod Khoslas, and Romesh Wadhwanis, and Arshad Zakarias and Mahinder Taks are mobilising in a way that has never happened before.' Ro Khanna, who hopes to represents Silicon Valley in the United States Congress, speaks to Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa.
'Arvind Kejriwal is in a hurry. He wants to change India'
'Anna Hazare believes we should keep outside the system and change it. We believe that luxury is no longer available to us. We have to step into the gutter to clean it.' AAP leader Mayank Gandhi discusses his party's plans in a lively interview with Rediff.com's Savera R Someshwar.
The Devyani Khobragade saga is yet to unravel
There is something more than meets the eye over the needless harassment of a Indian diplomat in New York, says Seema Guha
The year of hope: India's 'step-forward' moments in 2013
Recollecting some stories that have taken our great country a step-forward in 2013:
Year-end Special: Who is the most SHAMELESS of them all?
Here then, we present the Rediff Hall of Shame 2013, where we honour our so-called leaders for their tasteless comments and crass actions.
Devyani arrest: John Kerry calls NSA Menon, expresses regret
US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon late Wednesday night and expressed regret over the arrest and strip-search of senior Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York last week.
December 18, 2013
How our netas killed 4 birds with one shot
The passage of the historic Lokpal Bill by Rajya Sabha on Tuesday was celebrated by the entire political class but for reasons other than those stated publicly. reports
Does India deserve to be angry? Take the POLL
Take part in rediff.com's poll over the diplomatic tussle between New Delhi and Washington and make your voice heard
Why this sudden new love for Anna Hazare?
The Congress and BJP are cosying up to Anna Hazare to isolate Arvind Kejriwal, who is appearing to be more difficult and impractical than was thought earlier, and probably to regain some credibility. reports
December 17, 2013
Fuming government gives US taste of its own medicine
The Indian government is fuming. Many serving and retired diplomats are anguished. The public arrest of Indian Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade in New York has triggered an 'unprecedented' chain of events. reports
Delhi elections: How our Twitter analysis was proved right
The Delhi poll outcome closely mirrors what our Delhi Elections Twitter Impact -- in which we focused on re-tweets about topics that matter to Delhi-ites for the six days ending October 30, 2013 -- showed, that the Delhi Twitterati have overwhelmingly endorsed stuff from BJP and Aam Aadmi Party sources.
Director Imtiaz Ali on what fascinates him about India
'In Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, the winter population is only around 70 to 75 people. The residents go away to lesser cold places... Kashmir so multi-textured...
Modi, Deepika, Sachin, Tejpal: Who is the Newsmaker of the Year?
We are asking you, our dear readers, to vote for the person YOU think was the Newsmaker of the Year 2013?
Has the 'opportune time' to name Rahul Cong's PM candidate come?
The recent assembly results and the subsequent developments have proved the Congress wrong on every count, including its strategy to avoid a direct face-off between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi. Anita Katyal reports
December 16, 2013
In PHOTOS: India remembers Delhi braveheart
Street plays, rallies and candlelight vigils were staged in Delhi and several parts of the country on Monday in memory of a young woman whose savage gang rape on a moving bus in New Delhi on this day one year ago evoked a nationwide anger and outrage of the sort rarely witnessed.
1971 war: Why Nixon, Kissinger hated India, Indira Gandhi
In his powerful book, The Blood Telegram, Gary J Brass, a professor at Princeton University, has exposed how US President Richard Nixon and his National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger 'allied with the killers,' the Pakistani government in then East Pakistan, as it unleased genocide on a horrific scale. Professor Brass discusses Nixon and Kissinger's 'moral blindness,' why they hated India and then prime minister Indira Gandhi, and their plan to draw China into the conflict in an illuminating interview with Rediff.com's Arthur J Pais.
The Indian American who may represent Silicon Valley in the US Congress
'I will be one of the most impactful players in Washington from day one because of the constituency I represent, which is the greatest, most influential constituency in the country, in the world. The only majority Asian district, with a huge Chinese-American and Indian-American population in a world which is going to be dominated by the United States, China and India -- the heart of the high tech innovation economy.' Ro Khanna, whose election campaign has America buzzing, speaks to Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa.
'Since I lost my children, I can't sleep.... I keep seeing their faces'
Five months after 23 children died from eating poison-laced school lunch, the tragedy has resulted in a new school, creche, health centre, roads and electricity. The long forgotten village is finally being turned into a model village, but the grief of its loss is far from over. Archana Masih reports from Dharmasati Gandaman, Bihar.
China's 'Jade Rabbit' sends back first photos from moon
China's first moon rover has begun sending back photos, a day after the communist giant carried out the world's first lunar soft landing in nearly 40 years, making a huge advance in its ambitious space programme.
December 15, 2013
Here's why Delhi women are scared to step out on the road
Under severe attack after the December 16 gang rape, Delhi police took a slew of steps like setting up helplines and women help desks at police stations to ensure women's safety but there is no let up in the crimes against them which have actually increased during the period.
'How can we find closure if those men are still alive?'
It's been a year since their daughter, their sister, died of rape-inflicted injuries so brutal, that doctors treating her said they had never seen anything like it. A year that the family has spent scrambling to courts for justice. There will be no closure, they say till all the five men are hanged. reports.
Anna-Kejrwal spat on Lokpal out in the open
Rubbishing Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal's contention that the Lokpal bill under consideration in Parliament was weak, activist Anna Hazare has said that "if anyone feels there are shortcomings in the bill after it is passed, they should fast for it."
'Hang the men who raped my daughter'
As the Delhi gang rape trial winds to a close, the family who lost their only daughter speak of their eight-month trauma and the desperate need for capital punishment for all rapists, including the five men who brutalised the Mumbai photojournalist last week. reports
PHOTOS: Mandela laid to rest in childhood village
South Africa's first black President Nelson Mandela was on Sunday laid to rest with full state honours in his childhood village after teary-eyed friends and family members bid adieu to the anti-apartheid icon whose courage and freedom struggle turned him into a giant of history.
Thousands join Narendra Modi's Run for Unity
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi flagged off 'Run for Unity', which seeks to drum up support for his pet 'Statue of Unity' project, on the 63rd death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Sunday.
Officially, the BJP is against gay sex
Breaking its silence on the Supreme Court order banning homosexuality, the Bharatiya Janata Party has said it favours the verdict and will not support any "un-natural act".
China's Jade Rabbit leaves trace on moon
China's first lunar probe on Sunday successfully separated from the lander and left deep traces on its loose soil, hours after the communist giant carried out the world's first soft landing on the lunar surface in nearly 40 years.
No lessons learnt, Delhi still unsafe for its women
The brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old in Delhi exactly a year ago had led to massive public outcry with thousands of people pouring out on streets in rage forcing Parliament to enact a new anti-rape law, but nothing much has changed when it comes to safety of women in the national capital.
'Someone is always crying at home'
"Our tears have not dried. With each passing day her memories get more intense. Someone is always crying at home" -- these words of the father of December 16 gang rape victim describe the pain and struggle of her family to overcome the tragedy that shook India a year ago.
December 14, 2013
Kejriwal questions Cong, BJP's 'unconditional', 'constructive' support
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her BJP counterpart Rajnath Singh asking both the parties to clear their stand on promises AAP has made in its election manifesto.
December 13, 2013
IN PHOTOS: BJP stalwarts attend Raje's grand swearing-in
Vasundhara Raje, who led the Bharatiya Janata Paty to a landslide victory in the Rajasthan assembly polls, was on Friday sworn in as the chief minister for the second time, in the presence of Narendra Modi and other top party leaders.
N Korea executes Kim's uncle; calls him 'worse than a dog'
In any oppressive regime, if you challenge the supreme leader, you stop existing -- literally. This happens even if you are Jang Song Thaek, the second-most powerful person in secretive North Korea, and related to the dear leader.
PHOTOS: It's an unusual December in the Middle East
Rediff.com presents a slideshow on how people of the region are coping with the rare December snow.
Congress is in ICU, and Sonia, Rahul are not doing enough
Rahul Gandhi is no Sonia Gandhi or Indira Gandhi to revive the party but the Congress president too needs to share the blame for the current state of affairs and the party's debacle, says .
December 12, 2013
11 MPs caught in sting op for issuing letters to fake oil company
In its latest undercover investigation, codenamed Operation Falcon Claw, Cobrapost has exposed a bunch of parliamentarians willing to not only write recommendation letters but also lobby with the petroleum ministry for a foreign company to help it secure oil exploration and rigging rights in the Northeast.
Homosexuality: Rahul against SC verdict; BJP acts prissy
Amid an uproar over the Supreme Court verdict on gay rights issue, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said she was disappointed that the apex court had reversed a previous Delhi high court judgement decriminalising homosexuality and hoped Parliament would address the matter.
Rahul Gandhi's jet forced to make go-around at Delhi airport
A business jet carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was forced to make a go-around while landing recently at Delhi airport as an IAF aircraft had still not cleared the runway, airport sources said on Thursday.
'Every time I fly a MiG-21, I am closer to heaven'
Pilots pay tribute to the MiG-21 FL
VOTE: Who should be the Congress's PM candidate?
Go through the options and cast your vote in favour of the candidate who, according to you, will be capable of reversing the fortunes of the beleaguered Congress party.
The man whose death set Little India in Singapore on fire
Indian national Sakthivel Kumaravelu rarely went to Singapore's Little India during his days off but last Sunday's visit proved fatal for his first visit to area in more than two months.
Breathtaking photographs: The marvels of Mother Nature
We present a selection of some of the most striking imagery of nature from the past month.
December 11, 2013
IN PHOTOS: The magnificent Nobel awards ceremonies
Sweden held its lavish annual Nobel awards ceremony on
Uttam's Take: Vroom vroom goes Kejriwal's broom
Artist 's zany take on the Aam Aadmi Party founder's efforts.
'Mandela's legacy cuts across all confrontations'
'Mandela is part of every South African's life. I'm not just talking about black families or coloured families that might have the pride of having fought white oppression. I'm even talking about young white people who feel a tremendous pride in Mandela.
Over 20,000 Indians apply for one-way trip to Mars
Over 200,000 people, including more than 20,000 Indians, have applied for an ambitious private mission that will send four men and women on a one-way trip to Mars in 2023 to establish a permanent space colony.
After victorious Sunday, BJP now wary of AAP's spread
Says a senior BJP leader: "If the AAP had Congress or BJP-type polling agents they would have easily got three-fourth majority in Delhi, there is no question about it. It was not Kejriwal or the AAP that got the vote. People went all out with a resolve to defeat what we call 'the system'."
'Is it a crime to be born as a lesbian or gay?'
Activists are dissatisfied over the Supreme Court judgement upholding the constitutional validity of the penal provision making gay sex a punishable offence.
IAF bids adieu to MiG 21, its old workhorseThe Kalaikunda airbase on Wednesday witnessed three MiG-27 aircraft perform the Trishul Break Manoeuvre as a salute to the MiG-21 type 77 aircraft that was towed out and into the Hangar for the last time. The Kalaikunda based Operational Conversion Unit bid a final farewell to its oldest workhorse.
IN PIX: Less snow, power outages spoil the winters for Kashmiris
The cold wave conditions are likely to intensify across the Kashmir Valley as the weather is expected to remain dry for another week.
Women on watch: India sees a change, but is it enough?
The notion that women are not suited to combat duty is changing. They are excelling in security roles across the country, reports Veenu Sandhu.
Supreme Court rules gay sex is illegal
The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Delhi High court judgment decriminalise homosexual acts among consenting adults in private.
A nippy bowler, perfectionist, and the common man's maharaja
Senior journalist N Niranjan Nikam recalls his childhood friend Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the maharaja of Mysore who passed into the ages on Tuesday.
Mysore royal's sudden demise may trigger a war
Wadiyar demise could heighten pressure on family, embroiled in litigation against the government on property takeovers, says Gouri Satya
'Today's terrorist does not smoke, he does not drink, he does not gamble, he does not womanise'
'They don't communicate on the telephone. They meet. The conspiracy is discussed, the crime is planned out and then the crime happens.' Rakesh Maria, the supercop who heads Maharashtra's Anti Terrorism Squad, explains the mindset of the modern terrorist at the Times Literary Festival. A correspondent listens in.
December 10, 2013
PHOTOS: World leaders pay homage to anti-apartheid icon Mandela
Nearly 100 world leaders including President Pranab Mukherjee and US President Barack Obama came together in an unprecedented act of homage to Nelson Mandela describing him as a "giant of history".
Can Arvind Kejriwal check-mate Narendra Modi?
With his new party making a spectacular debut in the Delhi assembly elections, and the non-sectarian nature of his voter base, the question is naturally being asked: Does Arvind Kejriwal have it in him to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, no less?
How catastrophic will an Indo-Pak nuclear armageddon be?
A nuclear war between India and Pakistan would result in a global famine that could kill over two billion people -- a quarter of the world's population -- and end human civilisation, a study warned on Tuesday.
Teary-eyed, the world heads to Mandela's memorial
On the overcast morning of Tuesday, March 10, a massive stadium may not be enough to hold the hundreds of thousands of people who will turn up to pay their homage to Nelson Mandela one last time.
BJP and Congress can forget about 'AAP ka' support in Delhi
Amid continued uncertainty over government formation in Delhi, the Aam Admi Party on Tuesday maintained that it will neither take nor extend support to BJP or Congress as the new party was formed as an alternative to them.
Embarrassed Congress faces revolt within
The no-confidence notice moved by 6 Congress parliamentarians against the UPA government on the Telangana issue has found favour with 84 more Seema-Andhra leaders.
When citizens turned giant slayers
The people who helped make the AAP's remarkable Delhi victory
A K Antony's intellectual dishonesty
Antony will irretrievably sully his legacy by scuttling an operationally crucial appointment, says Ajai Shukla
When Narendra Modi defeated Sachin Tendulkar!
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the most talked about person on Facebook in India beating likes of cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and Apple iconic device iPhone 5s, the US-based social networking site said on Monday.
What Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to do, and not to do!Some Congress insiders feel mere introspection over the assembly elections drubbing is not enough for the party. Instead, its vice president should first do some soul-searching himself. Anita Katyal reports.
December 09, 2013
AAP will contest LS polls; its fight doesn't end in Delhi: Kejriwal
After an impressive debut in the Delhi assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said it was ready to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but yet undecided about the timing to take the plunge.
Modi may have gained, but there's NO wave: Experts
The results in four assembly polls in India have given the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party the necessary momentum ahead of the general elections, but there is neither an indication of a 'Narendra Modi wave' nor a guarantee of a similar performance next year, experts based in United States have said.
'I would like to see India become a developed country by 2022'
'I would like to change mindsets and break away from the stereotype; it is time for a new vision, new faces, new hope and new politics to take India forward,' says Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur, in our continuing series where Indians talk about the India they love.
No one wants Delhi CM's chair!
A day after election results threw up a hung verdict, formation of government in Delhi remained uncertain on Monday with single largest party BJP and runner up AAP refusing to stake claim, saying they do not have the numbers to provide a stable dispensation.
6 big lessons of the assembly polls
This is not the general election 'semi-final'. The element of anti-Congress sentiment is important, but not crucial. In at least three of the four states, the swing has mostly been caused by localised factors, says Mihir S Sharma
Will the broom clean up Indian politics?
What kind of impact AAP's strong debut will have on the political discourse in the country, wonders Mayank Mishra
December 08, 2013
AAP's spectacular debut: Not a 'clean' sweep, but close enough!
When the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party was allotted the 'broom' as its poll symbol just 100 days ago, there may have been ominous signs for the Congress which had ruled Delhi for 15 straight years, if one went by some historic broom lore.
Congress will be OUT in 2014, say gleeful BJP leaders
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday took a jibe at the Congress, saying its total seats in all the four states is less than what his party has won in one state.
Anti-Congress vote sets the mood for 2014 election
The verdict from the assembly elections is not the best possible result for the BJP with two states seeing neck-to-neck fights, but in view of the clear anti-Congress vote the BJP has got an edge, says .
Shivraj Chouhan wealthiest CM, Raje a close second
With assets worth more than Rs 6.27 crore, Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the richest among those set to be appointed chief ministers in the four states.
Arvind Kejriwal: The David who slayed Goliath
Dismissed as a political greenhorn, engineer-turned-civil servant Arvind Kejriwal has cemented his place in politics with a stunning political debut for his nascent AAP and emerged as a giant killer to sweep Sheila Dikshit out from not only office but also her constituency.
Harsh Vardhan: The affable doctor behind lotus bloom in Delhi
Harsh Vardhan, anointed Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial nominee less than a month before the Delhi Assembly polls after a bitter internal squabble, steadfastly united various factions to bring enthusiasm among workers to keep the party on course to regain power from Congress after 15 years.
Aam Aadmi Party celebrates, Congress licks wounds, BJP introspects
Waving brooms (the Aam Aadmi Party's election symbol) and placards, jubilant supporters of the party on Sunday converged outside its office in large numbers after its impressive performance in the Delhi assembly election.
A maharani's GRAND return to power
Vasundhara Raje, who failed five years ago on account of infighting in the Bharatiya Janata party, reinvented herself and galvanised the cadre to spearhead her party's spectacular comeback to power in Rajasthan.
Mantra behind Shivraj Singh Chouhan's hat-trick
A carefully cultivated image of family man coupled with simplicity, Shivraj Singh Chouhan led the BJP campaign presenting himself as one among the people promising further development to score an impressive hat-trick in Madhya Pradesh assembly election.
'In 2014, the Congress will just touch the three digit mark'
"Narendra Modi has passed the litmus test and the election results have proven that Rahul Gandhi has no takers," says senior Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader Suresh Kumar and former law minister of Karnataka.
BJP vs Congress BATTLE: Who will win 'semi-final' polls today?
The fate of governments in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh will be known on Sunday when counting of votes takes place in the assembly elections, considered the 'semi-finals' before the Lok Sabha elections next year.
December 07, 2013
BJP vs Congress BATTLE: Who will win 'semi-final' polls on Sunday?The fate of governments in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh will be known on Sunday when counting of votes takes place in the assembly elections, considered the 'semi-finals' before the Lok Sabha elections next year.
December 06, 2013
In PHOTOS: World weeps for its darling Madiba 
Rediff.com brings you some moving images of Nelson Mandela's supporters from Johannesburg to New York.
How newspapers bid aideu to Mandela
How newspapers around the world reported Mandela's demise
PHOTOS: After Cabinet's nod to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh on edge
Normal life was badly affected in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions as a bandh against the Union cabinet's approval of a bill for division of Andhra Pradesh began on Friday.
Voice of Mandela: 20 powerful quotes
Some of Mandela's best quotes that personify his mission to fight for equality and harmony for all.
PHOTOS: When Mandela charmed Indians
Madiba, as the late Nelson Mandela was affectionately called around the world, had a strong India connection.
'If Modi wins 185 plus seats, it will change the rules of Indian politics'
'In the early 2000s, mid-2000s, one of the big changes in India was the sense that India was finally going to make it. With all its flaws and faults, the relatively high growth rate gave you an opportunity to do other things and so forth. Right now, there is nervousness about whether India can actually make it.' The second part of political thinker Pratap Bhanu Mehta's eloquent interview to Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
Tribute: Mandela was a true follower of Gandhian ahimsa
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principle of ahimsa, especially his campaign in South Africa itself during his days as a lawyer, Mandela also preached against violence though the struggle against the apartheid regime was marked by violent incidents
PM, Obama and other world leaders pay tribute to 'inspirational' Mandela
Describing himself as one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela, United States President Barack Obama mourned the death of the South African anti-apartheid icon and said that the world was unlikely to see a leader like him again.
In PHOTOS: When Mandela left MJ, Beckham, Carla Bruni star struck
Rediff.com brings you some pictures from the public life of this legend.
Babri Masjid demolition... 'I was there'
A generation has passed and the demolition appears to be a story of a era gone by, says , who shares his experience as a witness in court in the Babri Masjid demolition case
PHOTO ALBUM: The life and times of Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, the prisoner-turned-president who reconciled South Africa after the end of apartheid, died on Thursday, December 5. Rediff.com looks at the life and times of one of world's greatest heroes.
Hero of South Africa Nelson Mandela dies at 95
Nelson Mandela, the iconic South African anti-apartheid icon who spent 27 years in prison, died early on Friday morning IST. He was 95.
December 05, 2013
Even chaiwallah can be PM; Sushma better than Modi: Digvijaya 
In unexpected comments, Congress leader Digvijay Singh, a known Narendra Modi baiter, on Thursday said the Gujarat chief minister was moving away from his "fanatic" ideology and that "even a chaiwallah (tea vendor) can become the prime minister", which were promptly welcomed by the Bharatiya Janata Party as praise for its PM candidate.
Pakistan's elite want Modi in PM's chair in 2014
, who was part of the Press Club of Mumbai delegation that recently visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, assesses what Pakistanis have to say about the prospect of Gujarat strongman emerging as prime minister of India after the 2014 general elections
Court orders fresh trial against Salman Khan in hit-&-run case
In a relief to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, a Mumbai sessions court on Thursday ordered a fresh trial in the 2002 hit-and-run case against him.
Hey smartphone user, your private calls are being 'HEARD'!
America's NSA cannot be possibly tracking only suspected terrorists in India, says
'Only nuclear power can provide clean, abundant energy'
'We need abundant affordable clean energy to help lift out of poverty the remaining part of humanity that is still living in poverty. I don't see any other viable candidate on the scene for doing that except advanced generation nuclear power,' says Dr James Hansen, a stout opponent of energy based on fossil fuels.
Rabid Rush takes on 'Marxist' Pope Francis, Catholics fume
American talk show host Rush Limbaugh has shocked the Catholic Church by accusing Pope Francis of preaching Marxism.
'India allows me to be what I want to be'
India allows me to grow, allows me to think, allows me to blossom. We can open our arms and our hearts to the whole world and adapt what is good from other cultures and allow the bad to sift through, says India's very own pop diva Usha Uthup.
Telangana turmoil: It's raining stones in Hyderabad 
The bandh called by Telangana Rashtra Samithi against a reported proposal by the Group of Ministers, appointed to chalk the road map for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, to merge two districts of with the proposed state has hit normal life in the region.
The Tejpal case: Presenting the perpetrator as the victim
What has Tehelka's greatness to do with an act of sexual assault by its editor-in-chief, asks Shivam Vij
Will 2014 elections reduce UPA to a 'lame duck' govt?
If the poll surveys pointing to a near-whitewash for the Congress in the five assembly elections are any indication, the United Progressive Alliance government it heads will find it increasingly difficult to govern, as it will now have to contend with an aggressive opposition and far more assertive allies. The situation is unlikely to improve even after the session ends as the looming 2014 Lok Sabha elections will reduce the UPA to a 'lame duck' government, feels Anita Katyal
December 04, 2013
Delhi witnesses RECORD turnout; 66% cast votes
A record 66 per cent Delhiites voted on Wednesday in the fiercely fought assembly polls, considered the litmus test for Congress ahead of the next year's Lok Sabha elections, as arch rival Bharatiya Janata Party and debutant Aam Aadmi Party made it a tight triangular contest.
2013 assembly elections: What the exit polls are saying
Exit polls on television channels on Monday predicted a clear win for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, while the polls suggest a tie between Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress with around 18 seats each and a vote share of 28 per cent in Delhi.
'Sudden cardiac arrests are not as sudden as assumed'
A study called the 'Oregon sudden unexpected death study' has found that 'sudden' cardiac arrests are not as sudden as assumed, and that symptoms are there for at least a month before. reports
Rape, murder, prostitution, hawala: The shady world of Asaram & son
The disgraced 'god man' and his son apparently didn't leave any field of criminal activity untouched, says
PHOTOS: What made Rahul wait in a queue for 30 mins?
Here's a look at some of the political bigwigs in Delhi, who cast their vote on Wednesday
Arvind Kejriwal, Hamid Ansari among first to cast votes in Delhi
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Aam Admi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were among the first few to cast their votes in the Delhi assembly election on Wednesday.
Over 60 per cent voter turnout in Delhi: Election Commission
Polling for the 70-member Delhi assembly elections began on Wednesday where the Congress is engaged in an electoral battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party, while new entrant in the fray the Aam Admi Party's possible impact is being watched keenly.
December 03, 2013
White House celebrates Guru Nanak's birth anniversary
For the fourth successive year, Guru Nanak's birth anniversary was celebrated at the White House. Scores of Sikhs from across the country attended the event and were welcomed by key Obama administration officials from the offices of public engagement and the Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships respectively.
'Modi is trying to create national legitimacy on his persona alone'
'It is the first time since Independence that there is a leader who claims to be completely self-made.... Although he is in the BJP, frankly, it is now Modi who is defining the BJP's persona than the BJP defining him as it were.' Pratap Bhanu Mehta, arguably India's finest political thinker, speaks to Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt in an eloquent interview.
PHOTOS: Deadly gunfight in Kashmir that went on all night
The nightlong fierce gunfight in north Kashmir Kupwara district ended early on Tuesday morning after the three holed up militants were killed.
'Centre trying to derail Telangana process'
The Centre is under fire for its "political move" of redrawing boundaries to form a new Rayala Telangana state. Vicky Nanjappa speaks to miffed Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud, Telangana Rashtra Samithi's K T Rama Rao and YSR Congress President Jaganmohan Reddy
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny
A round-up of off-beat stories from around the world.
20 SPECTACULAR photos of the month
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the month gone by.
December 02, 2013
Tarun Tejpal gets poachers for company, but no fan or mattress
From the two murder accused he shared his room with on his first night in police lock-up, arrested Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal had four local men, held on charges of poaching, as his cell mates on the second night.
'If the world is the body, India is its soul'
'I sense a revolution coming. There is more awareness about what is going on around us. The indifference towards the state of the country is slowly disappearing. India has a lot to offer to this world and we are the ones who can make it happen,' says actor Vivek Oberoi.
India should take a lesson from what China thinks and does
'There is still no road on the last 37 km between the McMahon Line and Menchuka in Arunachal Pradesh. Ironically, during my visit, Beijing announced the opening of a 117-km highway linking Metok, located just north of the McMahon Line. My local friends kept saying with some envy in their voices, "The Chinese are very much in advance on us".' Claude Arpi on a recent visit to the last large village before the McMahon Line that divides India and China.
December 01, 2013
PHOTOS: Train derails in New York; 4 dead, 67 hurt 
At least four people were killed and 67 others injured when a passenger train derailed in the Bronx area of New York City on Sunday.
My rendezvous with the Japanese royals
For the Japanese living in India it was like a dream come true when they took a walk in Delhi's Lodhi Gardens along with the Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Rediff.com's captures the euphoria
In PHOTOS: A cheerful Sunday with Japanese Emperor, Empress
Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko took a morning stroll at the beautiful Lodhi Gardens and interacted with schoolchildren, diplomats and a section of lay people on their historic visit to New Delhi.
PHOTOS: Anti-government protests in Thailand turn violent, 5 killed
At least five people were killed and dozens injured in clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters in Bangkok on Sunday, as Thai police fired tear gas and water cannon to prevent demonstrators from storming the Government House to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
What Shivraj Chouhan and Modi both WANT: No, not the PM's post!
If the BJP fails to retain power in Madhya Pradesh it will not only scuttle Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's political career, it will also put a question mark on the capability of Narendra Modi, says .
November 30, 2013
Modi mania or Gehlot's gifts: What will Rajasthan choose?
Massive campaigning by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi may have given the saffron party a slight edge over the ruling Congress, believes
Tarun Tejpal arrested on charges of rape
A sessions court in Goa on Saturday rejected Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal's anticipatory bail petition and sent him to14-day police remand in connection with the sexual assault case against him.
Police helicopter crashes into Scottish pub, 6 dead
At least six people are feared dead and 32 injured after a police helicopter crashed into a pub in the Scottish city of Glasgow.
Quietly, they are changing Delhi's profile
There are four million people from Bihar in the capital. explores the ecosystem that helps them survive and thrive
'BJP, AAP taking advantage of people's lack of knowledge'
Psephologists are 'scientific people' who have 'limited touch with reality', Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit tells of the dire predictions ahead of the assembly elections
November 29, 2013
'Cong did not just work for 6 months but delivered through 60 months'
"Anti-incumbency has found no room in our system. People's aspirations were met in spite of the challenges and the government eventually delivered," says Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in an exclusive interview to Rediff.com
Breather for Tejpal; won't be arrested till 10am on Saturday
Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal was arrested by the Goa police shortly after he arrived at Panaji airport on Friday in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a woman colleague by him.
EXPOSED! Indian social media's dark side
Investigative website Cobrapost on Friday alleged that IT companies are misusing social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to artificially boost politicians popularity and malign their rivals, with many firms claiming to be working for BJP and Narendra Modi.
The people are bringing us back to power: Vasundhara Raje
Rediff.com speaks to the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP in Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje.
EXCLUSIVE: 'Rahul wants to grow the Congress, did Modi build the BJP?'
Today political parties are not in a position to judge easily which castes, communities and groups are on their side due to the fluid situation where every caste wants empowerment. That makes this Rajasthan election interesting, says C P Joshi in a rare and exclusive interview to Rediff.com's .
Indian American doc saves Hollywood actor's life
In yet another historic first by an Indian American, Dr Amit N Patel, associate professor in the division of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Utah, in a procedure using a new technique of retrograde gene therapy on a human heart, has saved the life of erstwhile Hollywood actor Ernie Lively.
Photos: Take note India, China is aiming for the moon!
China on Tuesday said it will send its first-ever unmanned space probe to the Moon early next month to explore the lunar surface, a major milestone that would also be the Communist giant's maiden soft-landing on an extra-terrestrial celestial body.
'I will do all I can in my might to make Delhi safe for women'
"The citizens in Delhi know that December 4 elections are for Delhi and not the general elections. We are suffering from pro-incumbency and not anti-incumbency," says a confident Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in an interview with CNN-IBN.
November 28, 2013
A goat, a knife and a matchbox: How Lashkar trained Kasab, others
A gripping account of how Lashkar-e-Tayiba recruits trained for its fidayeen attack on Mumbai five years ago. An exclusive excerpt from The Siege: The Attack on The Taj, by Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark.
Kudankulam: The story behind the blast that killed seven
Why were bombs being made in a small village near the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, and is the blast in anyway linked to the agitation? travels to Idinthakarai to find out.
Twerking to the top! Miley beats Modi in Time's online poll
Singer Miley Cyrus has been reportedly chosen as the winner for Time magazine's online poll for the 'Person of the Year' title, booting down Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who is half as popular as the pop icon.
PHOTOS: Will shrine discovery end Buddha's birth date dispute?
The key discovery of the oldest 'Buddhist shrine' at Buddha's birthplace in Nepal will throw more light on one of the world's earliest religions, archaeologists have said.
Protests in Thailand: What's it all about? 
Rediff.com answers a few basic questions about the current turmoil in Thailand.
November 27, 2013
Images: 26/11, Those Three Days
rediff.com covered the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai from the moment they ensued. Photographs by the rediff.com team from those grim days.
Exclusive! Did 26/11 terrorists live in Mumbai before attack?
V Balachandran, the other member of the Ram Pradhan committee that probed the 26/11 terror attacks, makes some startling revelations to Rediff.com's .
Pope Francis calls for MAJOR reforms in the Catholic church
Pope Francis has outlined his vision for Church in a first big written text of his papacy released on Tuesday. The Catholic leader said he was "open to suggestions" on how his role should change.
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny
A collection of off-beat stories from around the world.
26 reasons that prove Talwars murdered Aarushi, Hemraj, says judge
Of course there is no direct evidence but the Central Bureau of Investigation has placed a "clinching wealth of circumstances" from which the guilt of Rajesh Talwar and his wife Nupur has been made out for murdering their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, judge Shyam Lal said while outlining 26 reasons for sentencing the couple to rigorous life imprisonment.
November 26, 2013
'Until the next one happens, 26/11 is forgotten'
Has Mumbai moved on? Have Mumbaikars buried the memories of the ghastly terror attacks by 10 Pakistani terrorists that killed 156 of their fellow citizens and injured several hundred others? visits two of the 26/11 sites to find out.
26/11 commando ready for a different battle 
Commando Surender Singh was injured fighting terrorists at the Taj Mahal hotel on 26/11. Now, as an Aam Aadmi Party candidate for the Delhi state elections, he says he is fighting corruption. Rediff.com's reports.
'Oh! Is it the 5th anniversary of 26/11? I don't remember'
Five years after Mumbai was bought to its knees in a hail of gunfire and grenade blasts by 10 Pakistani terrorists, the nightmare continues to haunt the survivors and families of victims of 26/11 attack, but appears to have begun fading from public memory.
Aarushi Verdict: Parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar given life imprisonment
Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were handed life terms on Tuesday for the double murder of their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.
26/11 hero: 'That night had a deep impact on me as a human being'
'Apart from that is a kind of feeling, to be very blunt: Ki tera baap ka ghar hai ki koiee bhi aake, sala, kuch bhi karke chala jayega (is it your father's house that anyone can come, do anything and go away)?... Anger with frustration. And a feeling that had we, at that point of time, had some weapon, or a grenade, perhaps then it would not have taken three days for us to end the operation. Rajvardhan, the unarmed police officer who took on the terrorists at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel on this day five years ago, speaks to Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
5 years since 26/11: The threats, worries and conspiracies
On the fifth anniversary of the gruesome November 26, 2008 attacks on Mumbai, Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa examines the threat perception to India, its preparedness and the conspiracy theories surrounding 26/11.
When death stalked Mumbai's streets
Five years after the attack, 26/11 survivors share their stories of Mumbai's night of terror
26 questions on 26/11 that were never answered
A Ganesh Nadar on the enduring mysteries swirling around the 26/11 attacks five years later.
Like Mumbai, the Jewish Chabad House moves on... cautiously
Even as it continues to remain an important centre for the Jewish community in Mumbai, Chabad House embraces the post-26/11 India with veils of secrecy and rings of security. Abhishek Mande Bhot reports.
Who are the 10 locals who helped the 26/11 terrorists?
'26/11 was a success for the LeT, but the fallout disrupted it. 'Adrian Levy, co-author of the book The Siege: The Attack on the Taj, speaks to Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt in a compelling interview.
26/11: Why this family must not mourn alone today
Today, the Ansari family in Bihar's Dhaab village will hold a fatiha, a prayer ceremony, to mourn six family members who died in the 26/11 terror attack at Mumbai's CST station.
Aarushi-Hemraj murder: Judge to pronounce sentence today
Noted dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were on Monday convicted in the sensational double murder of their 14-year-old daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, more than five years after the crime whose probe saw many twists and turns and flip flops by the prosecution.
Will Angelina Jolie beat Narendra Modi this year?
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is among Time magazine's short-listed candidates for its 'Person of the Year' title and has emerged as an early favourite among the readers in an online poll.
November 25, 2013
'There are more than 115 targets in Mumbai city'
'We are trying to harden the targets. We have so many soft targets. Hardening of even one of them in itself becomes a challenge... If you go by all the alerts that have come, including the targets tracked down by David Headley, there are more than 115 targets in Mumbai city. Even if you try to harden all those targets, every day new targets are coming up. Now you have to add all these new hotels and restaurants,' Rajvardhan, the daring police officer who fought the terrorists at the Taj Mahal hotel on 26/11, tells Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel in the second part of a three-part exclusive interview.
Talwars convicted of murdering Aarushi, HemrajThe Central Bureau of Investigation special court in Ghaziabad on Monday pronounced dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar guilty in the sensational Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case.
GUILTY or NOT: Talwars' fate in Aarushi case to be decided at 2pmThe Central Bureau of Investigation special court in Ghaziabad will on Monday pronounce the verdict in the sensational Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case.
Photos: Gay and proud, Delhi flaunts its queer side
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community on Sunday held a march in Delhi, demanding an end to the discrimination which is still being faced by them despite the decriminalisation of gay sex.
November 23, 2013
Photos: 6 killed as Cyclone 'Helen' batters coastal Andhra
At least six people were killed and crops in 1.69 lakh hectares damaged under the impact of cyclone Helen even as the depression caused by it weakened into a low pressure area over coastal Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.
November 22, 2013
The unarmed cop who took on 26/11 attackers
Rajvardhan, a daring police officer who fought the terrorists at the Taj Mahal hotel on 26/11, discusses the terror attacks and its aftermath with Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel in an exclusive interview.
'ISI recruiting Indian agent for 26/11 won't be surprising'
Counterterrorism expert Stephen Tankel says that it would not shock him to find out that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence had recruited an Indian agent for the 26/11 attacks.
Indian American Biswal takes charge as Obama's point person in S Asia
United States Secretary of State John K Kerry on Thursday afternoon formally swore in Nisha Desai Biswal as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, saying, "This is by far one of the best parts of this job, is when you get to recognise extraordinary talent and you see families and friends, colleagues, people come together to celebrate extraordinary talent and service to our country".
The unresolved puzzles of the 26/11 attacks
The mysteries around the attacks on Mumbai swirl around even after five years. The most important is whether the 10 terrorists who carried out the attacks had local support, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.
Top 8 Kennedy assassination theories
Over the years, many conspiracy theories have been woven about the Kennedy assassination. Let's take a look at some of them.
A new low in politics, hypocrisy and greed
The seamy side of Indian politics and society was very much in evidence as a sting operation showed those who had pledged to end corruption accepting cash on video, hate-mongers being publicly honoured, and a Bharatiya Janata Party state government taking suo moto action against a media personality charged with sexual harassment.
PHOTO: Mars orbiter's first ever image of earth
The Indian Space Research Organisation has released the first ever image of the earth taken by the country's Mars Orbiter Spacecraft.
November 21, 2013
Modi stays away from MLAs named in Muzaffarnagar riots in Agra
In an obvious bid to continue projecting himself in a changed statesman-like mould,Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi, who arrived in Agra to address a mammoth rally on Thursday afternoon, kept his distance with two controversial BJP members of Legislative Assembly, accused of inciting communal violence in Muzaffarnagar.
The Duchess of Kolkata's Sudder Street
Violet Smith, who reminds you of novelist Barbara Cartland, is the daughter of Armenian refugees who escaped genocide during the First World War and sought refuge in India. At 92-going-on-93, she lives in a quaint hotel-cum-home that she owns in old Kolkata's Sudder Street, clinging to an era long gone.
26/11 Exclusive: How the LeT chose Kasab and who Honeybee could be
'Lashkar is full of soldiers; it is full of spies, and you never know who is retired and who isn't... Headley asked one of the army majors, who claimed to be a retired officer, from where a lot of the information was coming from and he was told the military have become particularly proud of a series of sources they have in India.' Adrian Levy, co-author of The Siege: The Attack on the Taj, tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt in an exclusive interview.
MUST SEE: National Geographic photo contest is on
We present some of the amazing photographs that are in line for the prestigious award.
If only Modi had a time-travelling car...
Unlike Marty McFly in Back to the Future, Modi lacks a time-travelling car to go back to the past so that his own future can be set right, says Bharat Bhushan
Congress groping in the dark for a catchy slogan
With its credibility at an all-time low, the Congress party is struggling to even come up with a slogan for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The party is hoping to find one post December 8 when the verdict of the five-state assembly elections is announced. Anita Katyal reports
November 20, 2013
Wanted to come to Mumbai, take part in 26/11 attack: Jundal
Alleged Laskkar-e-Tayiba operative Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, wanted to take part in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack by landing in the city along with others, according to his confession.
Women want a safer Delhi, but do politicians care?
Eleven months after the gang rape of a paramedic student in a moving bus in Delhi, cries for safe city spaces continue to be heard, with many citizens gearing up to vote for parties who have a substantial "plan of action" to address issues of women's security.
Three factors that can stall the Telangana process 
As the Centre moves to split Andhra Pradesh, the united-AP protagonists hope that President Pranab Mukherjee and the Supreme Court will intervene in the matter and the Bharatiya Janata Party will also play a role in stalling the formation of Telangana.
Moving images by a photographer who grew up on the streets
Vicky Roy ran away from home as a child and became a rag-picker. Rescued by a non-governmental organisation, he got his hands on a camera and started taking pictures. Here is a selection of his works
Hope soars: An expedition for Uttarakhand
'The Climb for a Cause' expedition to Mt Rudugaira in Gangotri glacier by Summiting4Hope, an initiative started to rehabilitate the people of Uttarakhand who lost their property and livelihood during the June 2013 floods, was the first successful expedition, post the recent flood disaster in the state. , who was part of the team, recalls the experience.
WTF news: Miss Bum Bum, 'poo' rain and more 
A collection of off-beat stories from around the world.
50,000 Indian soldiers ready to tackle China's THREAT
The government has given its final go ahead to the army for raising a corps along the China border which will include the deployment of 50,000 additional troops there at a cost of nearly Rs 65,000 crore.
November 19, 2013
5 years since 26/11 attacks, 5 mysteries about Headley
Was 26/11 conspirator David Headley working for CIA, ISI or LeT? Did he know more about the Ishrat Jahan module? Five years since the terror attacks and we are yet to find clear answers on the many mysteries regarding this man. reports
Mangal Mangal ho! What Indians will do on MARS
Sit back, and join us in our joy ride to our planetary neighbour! Bharat Mata ki Jai!
24-Hour REWIND: 10 stunning moments
Here's a collection of some of the best photos from around the world shot in the last 24 hours
I want to deal with Modi on facts: Kapil Sibal
in a free-wheeling chat with Telecom and Law Minister Kapil Sibal
November 18, 2013
Why Sonia and Co. are ignoring Kiran Reddy's defiance
Even though the Congress leadership is deeply embarrassed over Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy's unwavering opposition to the formation of Telangana, party president Sonia Gandhi is not in favour of imposing central rule in the state.
Kashmir feels the chill, Leh coldest at - 11.2 degree C
The cold wave continued unabated in Jammu and Kashmir where Leh, in Ladakh region, was recorded to be the coldest place in the state, while the night temperature in Srinagar remained below the freezing point for the seventh consecutive night, a meteorological department official said in Srinagar.
Aligning with Cong or BJP will be like cheating people: Kejriwal
In an interview, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal tells Business Standard's Manish Kumar that his party will not be a junior partner in any government that is formed in Delhi.
Exclusive! Amit Shah: I won't do anything against the principles of my party
'The Congress will get exposed more and more. My case will not stand a judicial trial. I am confident that in any case against me, the charges will not be framed. All cases against me are baseless.' BJP leader Amit Shah, in an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
Photos: All 50 on board killed as plane crashes in Russia
A passenger plane crashed at an airport in the Russian city of Kazan on Sunday, killing all 50 people on board, BBC reported.
50 crore cyber attacks in 90 days: Android phones worst hit!
The third quarter of the year -- in the months of July, August, September -- the world has witnessed 500,284,715 cyber attacks, according to a report by an Internet security firm.
November 15, 2013
PHOTOS: Muharram processions taken out amid tight security
Authorities imposed curfew-like-restrictions in parts of capital Srinagarand disallowed the main Muharram procession in Srinagar on Friday.
Greedy BJP and Modi turn a brother against a brother: Sonia
Attacking Narendra Modi and BJP for "greed of power", Sonia Gandhi on Friday said its leaders are day-dreaming of winning and busy pulling each other down but they should realise that India is "not just any other country" which can fall prey to their "selfish" motives.
Why India must remember Sardar Patel
Leaders of today can pay homage to Sardar Patel by being realists, calling a spade a spade, having sound advisors, playing to our strengths etc, says .
All you wanted to know about INS Vikramaditya
Two days before the Indian Navy's biggest acquisition ever, INS Vikramaditya is inducted in the service in Russia, here's a background note on its long, chequered journey from an abandoned decrepit Russian aircraft carrier to what the Navy says, a 'game changer' in Asia.
5 questions for NaMo
An occasional quiz to improve Narendrabhai's grasp of Indian history...
November 14, 2013
India, United Kingdom should be partners of choice: Cameron
Asserting that United Kingdom and India should be "partners of choice", British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday said the two countries have made "extraordinary progress" on trade and investment since 2010 and that the "positive momentum" should continue.
The Campa Cola controversy: Who is to blame?
Residents, civic officials and architects tell Neeta Kolhatkar what went wrong at the Campa Cola building complex in Mumbai, which has grabbed the attention of no less than the Supreme Court of India.
PHOTOS: The aftermath of one of world's worst typhoons ever
Rescue workers tried to reach towns and villages in the central Philippines on Tuesday that were cut off by the powerful typhoon. Fearing that the death toll now at 1,774 could jump sharply, as relief efforts intensified with the help of United States military.
1600 faces on STUNNING Saturn collage 
NASA has released the first-ever natural-colour portrait of Saturn, in which the planet, its seven moons and rings, and Earth, Venus and Mars, all are visible.
IN PIX: Famous paintings that cost a fortune
Take a look at some of the most valuable paintings sold in recent times.
November 13, 2013
Breather for Campa Cola residents, but struggle far from over
Over a period of a few hours, the mood swung from desperation and anger to exuberance. But there's a long way to go for residents of the seven buildings in Mumbai's Campa Cola compound. reports
PIX: BJP pins hope on this 'bhai, beta, mama' for hat-trick in MP
It's 'brand Shivraj' on which the Bharatiya Janata Party is banking to make a hat-trick in Madhya Pradesh, where discontent against sitting MLAs of the party threatens to snowball into a crisis in a number of constituencies.
Anger gives way to euphoria @ Campa Cola society
In a relief to hundreds of agitating residents of Mumbai's Campa Cola society, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed forthwith the demolition of unauthorised flats in the compound till May 31, 2014.
SC stays demolishing of illegal flats in Campa Cola society
Taking cognisance of media reports, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed demolition of unauthorised flats in Mumbai's Campa Cola society, giving relief to over 100 agitated families, who clashed with the police while the civic squad was bulldozing its way into the premises.
'404' is TOP word of 2013, Pope Francis TOP name
'404', the erroneous error message that appears on websites, has been voted as the top word of the year by the Global Language Monitor in its 14th annual global survey of the English language.
'Modi a poster boy of India's failure to punish the violent'
Two top members of a US Congress-constituted commission on religious freedom have expressed sadness over nomination of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, terming him as the "poster boy" of India's failure to punish the violent.
It can't get any more BARBARIC than this
Firing squad seems to be a 'standard' form of punishment in North Korea, and is often freely used for various offences, ranging from murder, rape, grand theft, drug smuggling, treason, piracy, cellphone use, and stealing food.
November 12, 2013
PHOTOS: Malala walks red carpet with Lady Gaga, Barbra Streisand
Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yusufzai stole the show at a star-studded awards night in New York as she was honoured in the presence of flamboyant pop icon Lady Gaga and former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
SHOCKING! Hindu deities' on Aussie beer bottles
An Australian brewery has come under fire after its alcoholic ginger beer bottles were labelled with pictures of Hindu deities Ganesh and Lakshmi.
General Singh just took a U-turn... with Courage and Conviction
Under intense attack and criticism, former Army Chief Gen V K Singh on Tuesday made a U-turn on his claim that ministers and MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir are getting payments from the army, saying no such thing happens.
'Indian architecture is far superior than any other in the world'
'This is because we are a blend of many and we take the best from each,' says , Chairman, National Commission for Minorities.
Campa Cola eviction: BMC moves in to cut water, power supply
High drama was witnessed at the Campa Cola housing colony in Mumbai on Tuesday after residents refused to move out of the compound, locking themselves in after the civic and police officials arrived for demolition as the deadline by the Supreme Court to vacate their flats came to an end.
In Photos: China faces the wrath of Typhoon Haiyan
Eight people were killed and over 1,000 students were trapped in floods after rainstorms in several areas in China triggered by Typhoon Haiyan.
'Only after coming to power will we decide who will be the chief minister'
As Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan celebrates three years in office, the BJP and Shiv Sena which hope to oust him when the state goes to the polls next year have reached a pact that they will stay silent on who the Opposition alliance's chief ministerial candidate will be, state BJP President Devendra Fadnavis reveals in an interview to Rediff.com
In PHOTOS: Meet India's wannabe Martians
While all eyes are on India's mission to Mars, there are 80,000 among us who are readying for their very own 'mission' to the Red Planet. Rediff.com catches up with a few space enthusiasts who worry little about the 'one-way trip'.
Exclusive: Why I am quitting the Trinamool Congress
'As a member of the Trinamool Congress, there is no scope for any frank and honest discussion in the TMC. The party runs on a one-person mandate. Either one has to abide by it or keep mum,' says Somen Mitra, who is on the verge of quitting the party.
WTF News! It's Weird, True and Funny
A French hand sanitiser company called Merci Handy has dispatched women to cup strangers' crotches in return for a donation to a charity that supports men's cancers.
PIX: 900-yr-old Hindu temple that nearly started a WAR
The United Nation's International Court of Justice ruled on Monday that Cambodia should have sovereignty over the disputed land around the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple bordering Thailand.
November 11, 2013
26/11: 'America sacrificed Mumbai'
'What America could figure out is that this finally was an American with an American passport operating in Pakistan who had access to Al Qaeda. Now the prime objective of that time was the capture of bin Laden. This is three years before Abbottabad, the only thing that the US intelligence agencies were thinking about was how do they decapitate him, how do they cut the head off of Al Qaeda and here was this tantalising, untrustworthy, difficult, hard to control, psychopathic individual, who was American,' Adrian Levy, co-author of the book The Siege: The Attack on the Taj, tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
'Under Rajapakse, militarisation of Sri Lanka taking place'
'The Tamils in military occupied areas are being denied the Right to Livelihood and Right to Life. How can India allow the Sri Lankan government to forget that there are over 80,000 war widows? Many of them are maimed, living in inhuman conditions and unable to earn a living. What concerns Tamils in Sri Lanka concerns the Tamils in India,' says Dr Gabriele Dietrich, a grassroot activist and a naturalised Indian citizen.
PHOTOS: Typhoon leaves Philippines in a nightmare, crashes into Vietnam
November 10, 2013
Modi gives more history lessons to PM
A day after the Prime Minister alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is changing India's history and geography, a combative Narendra Modi on Sunday hit back accusing Congress of altering the country's geography by allowing partition and history by neglecting our heroes and eulogising only the Nehru-Gandhi family.
PHOTOS: Typhoon carnage in Philippines
Nearly 10,000 people could have died in the deadliest typhoon that ravaged the central Philippines city of Tacloban, officials said on Sunday.
November 09, 2013
Padma awards shocker: Lata nominated sister, Ustad Amjad Ali his sons
The list of recommendations for this year's Padma awards shows that some people had suggested multiple candidates while others had pushed for their relatives and friends for the coveted civil honours, a Right To Information reply revealed.
PHOTOS: Over 1200 feared killed as monster typhoon hits Philippines
Over a 100 people died on Friday as Super Typhoon Haiyan battered central Philippines with winds upto 315 kmph forcing millions to take shelter.
November 08, 2013
Congress using Indian Mujahideen to stop me: Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress party and the United Progressive Alliance government of conniving with terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, suspected to have played a key role behind the serial blasts at his Patna rally last month.
The NASA hand in India's Mars mission
NASA's Deep Space Networks will help India to track the Mars orbiter's journey, and will also help to track it when it will go around Mars, reports from California.
How BJP built its base in Chhattisgarh
Polls suggest it's a tight contest and Raman Singh and the BJP are going to fight hard to win a coveted third term, facing down the usual challenge of anti-incumbency bias. reports
Why Hakimullah Mehsud's death terrifies Pakistan
Instead of the assassination strengthening Pakistan's war against the Taliban, its leadership seems scared of taking on the terrorists, notes .
Typhoon Haiyan, one of strongest storms ever, slams Philippines
The world's strongest typhoon on record has reportedly hit the Philippines' central islands with 380 kmph wind speed, leading to evacuations of millions of people to high ground and storm shelters in 20 provinces.
The dismal story of India's vote share 
The five-state assembly elections are only three days away with the first phase in Chhattisgarh scheduled for Monday. And even in this poll season, vote share continues to a debatable topic.
'Banning opinion polls a mindless, evidence-less attempt to curb free speech'
'Let us assume that opinion polls do affect voting behaviour in some way or the other. What is wrong with that? Don't political speeches affect voting behaviour? Don't editorials affect voting behaviour? Don't political advertisements affect voting behaviour? Don't manifestos affect voting behaviour? So, why not opinion polls?' asks well-known Election Analyst Dorab R Sopariwala.
Sky's the limit for the Indian Navy!
The Indian Navy is on its way to becoming a major air force, with the fleet air arm having achieved several landmarks this year, reports Ajai Shukla.
Exclusive! Who is ISI's Honey Bee in New Delhi?
The ISI's Indian mole Honey Bee helped plan the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks and there were 10 locals who provided logistical support to David Headley, Adrian Levy tells Sheela Bhatt in an exclusive interview.
INSIDE REPORT: Sun, sand and the shady drug cartels
The Goan paradise has become one of the world's most powerful drug cartels, which is being operated by Russians, Israelis and Nigerians -- in their own distinctive styles -- and is backed by local political interests. Vicky Nanjappa's special report.
November 07, 2013
Photos: 29-year-old Indian American elected to New Jersey assembly
Indian Americans have contributed to make NJ better in every aspect. I hope that the Indians and the South Asian Diaspora continue to involve themselves in public life, Raj Mukherji. reports.
PIX: US-Indian Navy joint exercise 'MALABAR 2013' begins
The four-day joint Naval exercise 'MALABAR 2013' in the Bay of Bengal between the United States and India, providing an opportunity to advance multinational maritime relationship and mutual security issues, began on Thursday.
PHOTOS: NATO's BIGGEST war games in Russia's backyard
Ignoring Russia's concerns, member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on Wednesday kick-started one of the military alliance's biggest war games in years.
'Despite the differences, we are united by the notion of India'
Today, a large number of young people have amazing ideas for this country. The youth is willing to believe that we can make it work. I am one of them, says who works for a non-profit organisation aimed at addressing voter apathy amongst India's youth.
There can't be a whackier PARTY than this!
Students in Scotland's St Andrews University took part in the annual 'foam party' in St Salvador's Quad over the weekend during the Raisin Day celebrations.
November 06, 2013
PIX: Prince Charles, wife attend 'Ganga arti' in Rishikesh
Amid chants of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles on Wednesday took part in an elaborate "Ganga Arti" for the peace of those who died in mid-June calamity in Uttarakhand.
Will judges' retirement affect the Supreme Court?
As many as 11 judges of the Supreme Court will retire by next year, marking the elevation of as many judges to the haloed benches of the apex court. But legal experts are wary about the implications of such a development on the functioning of the court and the progress of the many cases pending before it.
On IM's hit list: More Modi rallies, American tourists in Rajasthan
Indian Mujahideen's deadly trio -- Tehsin Akthar, Javed Mohammad and Ilyad Bakar -- masterminded the Bodh Gaya and Patna serial blasts. reports
Special: Meet the Castros!
Vice President Hamid Ansari's visit to Havana provided rare insights of the Castro brothers, Fidel and Raul. Rediff.com's reports.
'Modi's security adequate, Rajiv didn't have even a sub-inspector'
In the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party's demand for fool-proof security to Narendra Modi, the government on Wednesday said the BJP's prime ministerial candidate's security has already been tightened but ruled out Special Protection Group protection for him.
Will he be the next President of the United States?
It was a happy day for Democrats in New York City, where a member of their party -- Public Advocate Bill de Blasio -- was elected to the mayor's office after nearly two decades.
WTF News! It's Weird, True and Funny
In an ongoing series, we present some weird, and funny news from across the globe!
In PHOTOS: Michelle Obama's Bollywood Diwali bash
Performing a Bollywood dance number with choreographer Nakul Mahajan and paying a tribute to Oak Creek gurdwara victims, US First Lady celebrated Diwali at the White House. reports
All you need to know about India's Mars mission
Following are some interesting facts about the 1,350-kg 'Mangalyaan' mission and its launch
November 05, 2013
PHOTOS: How the historic Mars mission launch unfolded
Here's a breakdown of how the series of events unfolded at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota
'Fasting is what Irom Sharmila is meant to do in life'
'She feels that undertaking the fast is what she is meant to do in life. She believes deeply that that's her purpose, and that's what God wants her to do,' says Deepti Priya Mehrotra, the author of Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur.
WATCH LIVE! ISRO's Mars mission sets offThe Indian Space Research Organisation is on Tuesday scripting history, as its Rs 450 crore Mars Orbiter Mission takes off from Sriharikota spaceport for a 780 million-kilometre journey to the Red Planet. Look who does NOT want your opinion anymore
The Election Commission of India had recently had sought the views of the political parties on restricting publication and dissemination of opinion polls during elections. Here's a round up of what major political parties had to say about the EC's query.
'The terrorists who attacked Mumbai had professional help'
'Not only in planning and preparing for the attack, but in command and control and intelligence support they received from an LeT safe house in Karachi as the attack was unfolding. There is circumstantial evidence that retired (and possibly active duty) members of Pakistan's intelligence service and Special Forces were in some way connected with the attack,' David Kilcullen, who conceived the US army's Surge against terrorists in Iraq and the author of the new book Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerrilla, tells Rediff.com's Nikhil Lakshman.
ISRO's Mars Mission blasts off: Launch termed successful
India's ambitious Mars Orbiter Mission will send a spacecraft hurtling into space on a 400-million-kilometre journey that will last a year. The blast off is on Tuesday afternoon.
November 04, 2013
PHOTOS: ISRO upbeat about Tuesday's Mars mission launch
There is a lot of buzz at Sriharikota where the Indian Space Research Organisation prepares to launch the ambitious Rs 450 crore Mars mission called the Mangalyan.
November 03, 2013
Lights, crackers, action: World celebrates Diwali
We bring you the best images of the Festival of Lights...
November 02, 2013
Who cares about history anyway?
The fine art of the political insult is something that we, in India, have not studied as well as we could have, says
2014 -- This guy may hold the key to power
A very small number of Muslim voters could be the deciding factor in the next election, says
November 01, 2013
Modi is a Nirantar Virodhi, only gives speeches and goes: Sibal
Accusing Narendra Modi of engaging in "politics of lies", Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday challenged BJP's prime ministerial candidate to a debate as he stated that political discourse should move from individuals to issues affecting the country.
Comparing Modi's Statue of Unity with others
Rediff takes a look at some of the tallest statues and how tall they stand in comparison.
NDA edging towards 200-seat mark in LS polls: Survey
The CNN-IBN-THE WEEK pre-poll survey conducted by CSDS projects the National Democratic Alliance edging towards 200-seat mark in Lok Sabha polls. The NDA tally is projected to rise between 187 and 195 Lok Sabha seats just by gains in four states whereas United Progressive Alliance tally is projected to slip to between 134 and 142 Lok Sabha seats just by losses in four states.
October 31, 2013
Unnao treasure hunt: 'Gold won't be found unless I'm at site' 
While the Archeological Survey of India was digging out nothing but broken glass bangles and pieces of rusted iron during the excavation inside Raja Rao Ram Baksh Singh fort in Unnoa, Uttar Pradesh, seer Shobhan Sarkar on Thursday claimed that gold would be found only if he was invited to the site.
Why Congress should be worried by their lack of buzz on Twitter
With the Delhi assembly elections weeks away, we decided to dip a barometer into the social media world to gauge the political chatter. This is what we found!
Fidel 'frail', but still the revolutionary of old
Vice President Hamid Ansari discovers the iconic Fidel Castro in fine form during a rare 65-minute encounter. reports from Havana
Sonia most powerful Indian, Putin tops world list
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was ranked 21st among the world's most powerful people by Forbes magazine on Wednesday, making her the third most powerful of women leaders included in the list.
With Advani by his side, Modi fights for Sardar's 'legacy'
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying Sardar Patel belonged to the whole nation and not a particular party, and that he favoured Patel's secularism and not "vote-bank secularism" practiced by some parties.
'Everyone feels at home in Delhi. It is home to everyone'
'Delhi represents the composite culture of our country. You will find people from every state of the country here. Every language in the country is spoken here. There is more history here than any city in the country,' says writer-columnist Sadia Dehlvi.
5 interesting facts about Modi's Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity will be double the height of the Statue of Liberty in the USA and five times taller than the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The construction is estimated to cost Rs 2063 crore, and will be completed in four years.
PHOTOS: Meet the pit crew behind Modi's success
Bharatiya Janata Party's PM-in-waiting works for 18 to 20 hours and managing him is a team of top bureaucrats and officers on special duty. Here's a look at Team Modi.
Book reveals Nehru and Sardar Patel disagreed on Kashmir, China
On the eve of Sardar Patel's birth anniversary rediff.com publishes exclusive excerpts of his soon to be published book Sardar: The Saint Emperor.
October 30, 2013
Rahul ignores Modi, promises total transformation of Bundelkhand
Completely ignoring his sworn rival Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised total transformation of the extremely backward and underdeveloped Bundelkhand region in Southern Uttar Pradesh.
Andhra bus tragedy: 'We are worried. There is no clarity here'
Distraught relatives of the victims, many of whom were from Bangalore, of the bus tragedy near Hyderabad that claimed 45 lives on Wednesday gathered at bus operator Jabbar Travels office in Lakdi-Ka-Pul area of the city, seeking information about their dear ones.
If Modi can't have SPG cover, so shouldn't the Gandhis
There has been a raging debate over security cover for BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the Sunday's blasts in Patna have made this a talking point.
IN PHOTOS: Capitol Hill celebrates its first-ever Diwali
The first-ever Congressional Diwali celebration on Capitol Hill on Tuesday evening was a spectacular event by any measure, with the House of Representatives Rayburn Building lobby overflowing with over 500 members of the Indian American community, scores of United States lawmakers, administration officials and well-wishers ranging from leading American business and industry and policy wonks and think tank heads from some of Washington's premier institutions. reports
45 Volvo bus passengers perish in fire near Hyderabad
In a tragic incident, 45 passengers were burnt alive early Wednesday morning after the luxury bus they were travelling in met with an accident near Palem village in Kothakota Mandla of Mehbubnagar district.
'India is not only a country; it's more like a continent'
'We have liberals here, we have conservatives. We have wisdom here, we have silliness. We are a motley gathering of every kind of people...
Hurricane Sandy: Then to now, a year later in photosThen and now photographs of Hurricane Sandy tell a remarkable story of how New York and New Jersey's effort to rebuild the cities a year after the disaster. Eyewitness: 'There was no checking; and police said venue was unsafe for Modi'
Eyewitness Shekhar Iyer, a distinguished journalist, takes us through the eventful day at Patna's Gandhi Maidan.
October 29, 2013
BJP will decimate Congress in Rajasthan, says survey
The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to form the next government in Rajasthan, a latest pre-poll survey has said.
The great contradiction about women voters in Rajasthan
Where other Indian states cry for women representatives in assemblies and other elected bodies, Rajasthan has highest number of women legislators and sarpanchs (village heads), but the recent electoral list shows drastic decline of female voters in the desert state.
Shobhan can stop dreaming; no gold in Unnao fort
After weeks of digging, the Archaeological Survey of India has stopped hunting for gold in Raja Ram Bux Singh's fort near Daundia Kheda village, in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district.
Rahul's polarising speeches not going down well with Sonia
However, Congress strategists are not unusually perturbed over the critical barbs aimed at Rahul. They believe his aggressive posture was meant to showcase the 'real Rahul Gandhi'.
Shinde has a life beyond Patna: Khurshid on HM at music launch
Dismissing Bharatiya Janata Party criticism on the Union home minister attending a Bollywood music launch hours after serial blasts in Patna, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said Sushilkumar Shinde "has a life beyond Patna".
Why every Indian needs to visit Kashmir
Kashmir was the place I knew it would be. Delightful. Unforgettable. It is also a place all of us Indians need to experience, says after a recent visit to Srinagar.
India's great leap forward in Peru
Vice President Hamid Ansari's visit is billed as a game-changer for India's relationship with mineral-rich Peru, Latin America's fastest growing economy. reports from Lima.
MOST WANTED: Indian Mujahideen's top 15 operatives 
Who calls the shots in the Indian Mujahideen after the arrest of its key operative Yasin Bhatkal? finds out
Why the border agreement with China DOES NOT make sense
It is entirely understandable and eminently sensible that we do not fall in the American trap of joining an anti-China front. But for this to succeed there has to be quid pro quo from the Chinese. If there is indeed some in the border deal that the two nations signed, it is not in public domain, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.
Soaring love! World's tallest man finds his match
The world's tallest man, 8ft 3in Sultan Kosen, has found his soul-mate with whom he tied the knot in his native Turkey.
PM, Modi spar over Sardar Patel in Ahmedabad
In a veiled attack on Jawaharlal Nehru, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the country's destiny would have been different if Sardar Patel had become the first prime minister.
October 28, 2013
PHOTOS: Massive storm 'St Jude' wreaks havoc in Britain
At least three people were killed on Monday as St Jude, one of the worst storms to hit Britain in years, left around 2,70,000 homes without power, paralysed rail traffic and grounded some 130 flights at Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport.
Actor Akshay Kumar on his India
'To start walking on the path towards making India a better nation, we don't need to take giant strides. Small steps, taken regularly - even when it is not convenient to do so - will work just as well,' says Actor Akshay Kumar, in our special series where well-known Indians speak about their India.
WTF NEWS: It's Weird, True and Funny
A collection of off-beat stories from around the world.
October 27, 2013
In Patna, Modi calls Nitish opportunist, hypocrite, backstabber
Narendra Modi on Sunday tore into Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his home turf for snapping ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying he was an opportunist who had also left Jayprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia.
Won't call Rahul 'shehzade' if Cong ends 'dynastic' politics: Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi on Sunday said he will stop calling Rahul Gandhi as 'shehzade' (prince) if the Congress, whose leaders are "uncomfortable" with this, decides to discontinue its "dynastic rule".
October 25, 2013
The prince has no business accusing Muslims: Modi on Rahul
Jhansi ki Rani, special economic package and providing opportunities for the backward classes. These were among some of the many points raised by Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi during a rally at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
Diary: The PM gets good press at last, but in Beijing
How Li kept his promise; The press party; Why China rolled out the red carpet. , who accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his official tour of China and Russia this week, files these and other anecdotes from the visit.
India, Russia war games heat up Rajasthan's desert!
As part of their counter-terrorism war games, the armies of India and Russia on Friday deployed their attack choppers and tanks in Bikaner, Rajasthan and captured a notional terrorist strong-point in a South Sudan-like scenario.
PHOTOS: Arctic temperatures at 44,000-year high
The average summer temperatures in the Canadian Arctic over the last century are the highest in the last 44,000 years, and perhaps as long ago as 120,000 years, a new study has found.
Why India needs to send a mission to MARS
Critics of the Mars mission are asking why India should spend Rs 450 crore on this esoteric mission when there are so many other national priorities. The argument is too simplistic. Moreover, the technological experience of this mission is going to help us in more earthly applications, says .
Why netas are in a mad rush for helicopters
20-25 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are flying political heavyweights for the assembly elections in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, reports Sahil Makkar
'This verdict is a WARNING for doctors who toss around patients'
With the Supreme Court awarding a historic compensation of Rs 5.96 crore for medical negligence which led to his wife Anuradha's death, Dr Kunal Saha believes that a warning has been served for those doctors who think medical practice is a business wherein humans are treated like pawns. Indirani Roy reports
October 24, 2013
I am disappointed with Nawaz Sharif: PM on LoC firing
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday made one of his strongest statements till date on the recent, reportedly Pakistan-aided, incursion attempts by militants along the Line of Control.
Uttam's Take: Modi's cake surprise for Mallika
Here's what Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh thinks about how the 'next-prime-minister-in-waiting' would greet Mallika on her 37the birthday (errm... Sorry Mallika... we had to blurt that one out)
PHOTOS: India and Russia in COMBAT mode near Pakistan border
The Indo-Russian joint military exercise 'INDRA 2013', aimed at improving capabilities for carrying out anti-terrorist operations, is underway at Mahajan field firing range near India-Pakistan border in Thar desert of Rajasthan.
Shocking! That's how outdated views about women are
A new ad campaign from UN Women, an organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, has highlighted how bigoted and outdated views about women still are even in the domain of cyberspace.
Rahul Gandhi and the politics of Sonia's tears
In a departure from the image that Rahul has crafted for himself over the last nine years since his election from Amethi, he has twice over the last 10 months invoked his mother's tears to add a dash of emotion to give a boost to his political campaign. Saroj Nagi wonders why.
Can the Chinese be trusted this time?
Will the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, India and China signed in Beijing on Wednesday, end repeated Chinese intrusions into Indian territory? China expert explains why he is not hopeful
October 23, 2013
PHOTOS: Britain's baby Prince is welcomed into Christian faith
A bonny and chubby Prince George, a future British monarch, was on Wednesday baptised into the Christian faith with holy water from the River Jordan, at a private ceremony in London.
PIX! Rahul in Churu: BJP's hate politics might get me killed too
Accusing Bharatiya Janata Party of fanning communal flames, Rahul Gandhi, while addressing rallies in poll-bound Rajasthan on Wednesday, said the party's "politics of hatred" was damaging the country's fabric and apprehended he may also be assassinated like his grandmother and father, who had fallen victims to it.
Food and music complement India-China friendship at Beijing
Rolling out the red carpet for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chinese leadership conveyed a message of friendship, serving him some exotic Chinese dishes mixed with Bollywood and Western music.
'There is nothing in the world you cannot find in India'
'I also love the fact that there are always sensible people here, even when everything around you is collapsing, says former chief election commissioner JM Lyngdoh, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com why they love India.
Modi wants YOUR ideas for 2014 manifesto
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has called for transformation of Representative Democracy into Participatory Democracy by inviting suggestion from the across the country for his party's manifesto for the upcoming 2014 Loksabha elections.
10 STUNNING glimpses of wildlife
Presenting 10 best winning entries in the 2013 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest
Hafiz Saeed wants WAR with India; was at LoC 4 days ago: IB
In the backdrop of increasing violations along the Line of Control, Intelligence Bureau officials have said out that Pakistan's most notorious jihadi and Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Saeed has ordered an all-out war on India. reports
Can the aam Indian tell Narendra Modi from Vajpayee?
With photographs of some of India's top politicians, Rediff.com's travelled across Srinagar to test if the common man knows his leaders. Here's what he found out.
India-China sign pact to maintain peace at border
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed the border agreement to ensure that both countries do not tail each other's military teams along the LAC. reports from Beijing
October 22, 2013
SRK, Priyanka, friends no more
Now, we never said this column was only about politics, did we?
'If I could change just one thing in India, I would abolish the caste system'
'There is a human aspect to relationships in India which is missing in the West... but what really makes me sad with our country is that we don't have our best people in politics,' says politician, academician, activist Dr .
PHOTOS: Germany's 'bling bishop' and his $42 million mansion
A German Catholic bishop, under fire for his extravagant spending and for lying under oath about a first class flight he took to India last year, has appeared before Pope Francis in Rome, amid speculation whether he will be forced to resign for his big-spending lifestyle.
'Pakistan doesn't understand Aman ki Asha; it stabs us in the back'
'By pursuing this case, Captain Saurabh Kalia and the five soldiers will not come back to us, but this is the least I can do as a humble citizen of India to honour Indian soldiers,' says Dr N K Kalia on his struggle for justice for his son who was brutally tortured, killed and mutilated by the Pakistan army in the Kargil war.
WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny
A collection of off-beat stories from around the world.
Unfortunate that India calls Kashmir its integral part: Pak
Pakistan expressed disappointment over Indian leadership referring Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of the country as "unfortunate" and said the Kashmir dispute remained a "core issue" with India.
October 21, 2013
After mocking gold hunt at Unnao, Modi attempts reconciliation
Days after criticising the treasure hunt in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a U-turn and praised seer Shobhan Sarkar based on whose dream the Archaeological Survey of India is carrying out excavation in Unnao district.
He defeated the French, the Americans: Was there anyone like General Giap?
No contemporary military figure comes anywhere near General Vo Nguyen Giap in the sheer scale of achievements, says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
'I hope India will win 10 medals, including 2 golds, in the next Olympics'
'My vision for India is a clean and corruption-free country. The youth need to be actively involved in politics and policy making. It is easy to complain but tough to make a positive difference,' says former Indian hockey captain , COO, Olympic Gold Quest.
Is there any point of the PM's China visit?
If the 1993, 1996, 2005 and 2012 border agreements have been unable to check Chinese aggressiveness, how can a fifth one succeed, asks .
In PHOTOS: Australia's deadly bushfires go out of control
Australian region of New South Wales is in a state of emergency following over 56 bushfires burning across the state, of which 12 are reportedly out of control.
Inside West Bengal's murky world of child marriages
Fairs are commonplace in the festive season but in tribal West Midnapore, which falls in the erstwhile Maoist-hit Jangalmahal area, it is child marriage fairs which are drawing large crowds.
10 INCREDIBLE photos from the week gone by
Rediff.com picks top 10 photographs from events that unfolded across the world last week.
October 19, 2013
Modi's Dream India: Building India with 'good' Hindus and Muslims
In an obvious bid to cast himself in a new statesman-like mould, Gujarat Chief Minister and Bhartiya Janata Party's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi on Saturday stressed upon the need for India to rise above politics of caste and religion and to build a nation with equal participation of both Hindus and Muslims. reports.
'Is it a crime for PM to meet an industrialist?'
Rejecting Opposition's demand for the booking of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the coal scam following filing of charges against former coal secretary PC Parakh, Union Minister Manish Tewari said "there is a difference between an administrative head and the political head of the ministry".
Why Russia remains India's largest arms supplier
Low equipment price, operational durability in climatic extremes and platform familiarity are reasons for Russia's success with India as a weapons supplier, says .
Who says CBI cannot probe against PM?
The Central Bureau of Investigation stopped short of defining "competent authority" in the latest coal First Information Report, but it is not the law which is preventing it from doing so.
'Despite hiccups India and Russia have a resilient relationship'
The challenge for India and Russia is to make the relationship more broad-based and give it greater economic content, says former ambassador to Russia, Ronen Sen, who spoke exclusively to
October 18, 2013
Sadhu's dream + 1000 tonne gold = Solution to India's woes
The Archaeological Survey of India may not have imagined that an excavation exercise could turn miles around it into a tourist spot well before it would unearth 1000 tonnes of gold its experts were hoping to strike in Daundiya-Khera village of Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh.
Chinese THREAT to southern India is for real
Once a frequent landing spot for Sri Lankan smugglers who traded opium for beedis and tobacco, the Kodikkarai fishing port in Tamil Nadu is today being used for a deadlier purpose -- arms trade with Chinese help.
ASI chases sadhu's dream, digs for 1000 tonnes of goldThe Archaeological Survey of India on Friday began excavating the remains of the dilapidated fort of Unnao's erstwhile ruler Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh to verify claims made by a seer that nearly 1,000 tonnes of gold is buried there. The Chinese view: 4 elements that will shape India-China ties
'Border disputes cannot be solved by resorting to border conflicts. Only by mutual consensus, and a spirit of give-and-take, can we arrive at a long-lasting solution,' says Professor Wang Dehua, ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China next week.' Exclusive to Rediff.com
In Photos: Indians help out fellow Muslims at Mecca
Over 2,000 Indians are providing selfless services to millions Haj pilgrims from all over the world who have gathered in the holy city of Mecca, forming the largest expatriate volunteer group.
SHOCKING: '1.4 crore Indians live like slaves'
While Asia and Africa are home to the vast majority of modern slaves, no continent is free from modern slavery
PHOTOS: Berlin's spectacular festival of lights
Nights in Berlin are lit up once again. Over a million visitors are camping in the German city to witness the annual festival of lights.
October 17, 2013
PHOTOS: Hyderabad salutes Army braveheart killed in Pak firing
Hundreds of people Thursday paid a tearful homage to Indian soldier Mohammed Firoz Khan, who was killed by Pakistani troops on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday.
Rewind: Best photos in the last 24 hours
We bring you an assortment of the most breathtaking photos in the last 24 hours
'If you are not in power, it is very difficult to have money'
'Young people may be good, but their knowledge is not as much you find in an old man. If you want to do successful things and take your party ahead, according to me, 25 per cent people should be old in leadership and the remaining 75 per cent should be young, so that there will be lesser mistakes and the party may prosper.' Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi on the Sena's future.
IN PHOTOS: Israel digs out Palestine's 'terror tunnel'
We present images showing a tunnel, which was recently exposed by the Israeli military, near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha outside the southern Gaza Strip.
Is India Most Racist country in the world? 
A study on global social attitudes claims that India and Jordan are the least tolerant populations in the world. On the other hand, the survey found the United States, Britain, Canada and South America among the least racist.
October 16, 2013
Congress LOSING BIG in 2014; smaller parties key to power: SurveyRegional parties currently outside the ambit of both United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance will hold the key to formation of next government at the Centre in 2014 with BJP-led alliance projected well ahead of the ruling UPA headed by Congress, an election survey has predicted.
Will be happy to see Narendrabhai as PM: Advani
Endorsing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the first time, party patriarch L K Advani on Wednesday said he would be happy to see him as the Prime Minister.
EXCLUSIVE! 'Fears of Seemandhra people are incorrect'
Science and Technology Minister S Jaipal Reddy, who represents the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh, is considered a front runner for the post of chief minister of the proposed state of Telangana. He gives his first formal interview to rediff.com's Anita Katyal.
647 villages in Odisha still marooned; DONATE!
Though flood situation in Odisha's five northen districts triggered by Cyclone Phailin and resultant rains slightly improved on Wednesday, people of 647 villages continued to be marooned, while the death toll in the twin calamities stood at 28.
PHOTOS: Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice
Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) was celebrated across the Muslim world on Wednesday with devotees offering special prayers in eidgahs and mosques and sacrificing animals.
What Sardar Patel's 'imitators' need to learn from him
Those who are so quick to claim Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's mantle but who fail to do him justice and actually diminish and distort him will learn that we must dare to be ambitious, confident and try for the best outcomes for India, says National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon
October 15, 2013
IN PHOTOS: Srinagar streets come to life on the eve of Eid
Shopping for Eid-ul-Azha which began last week peaked on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir with shoppers jamming all major markets in capital Srinagar and other towns.
In PHOTOS: Cyclone-hit Odisha slowly gets back on its feet
Relief and restoration work was stepped up on Tuesday in areas ravaged by twin calamity of Cyclone Phailin and resultant floods in Odisha, which affected over 1.2 crore people in more than 16,000 villages and claimed
Tales of despair from Odisha: 'Our children and elders are hungry'
Displaced by Cyclone 'Phailin', villagers struggling to cope with the natural calamity are irked over the delay in supply of relief material and complain that children and elders have been going hungry for the last two days.
Manohar Joshi: 'You can't take criticism to heart every time'
'There are some people whose business is to criticise (laughs). There is no specific reason. It does happen in politics that the criticism goes on.' Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi clears the air about his relationship with Uddhav Thackeray in an exclusive interview with Rediff.com's Savera R Someshwar.
Urban voter DOES matter, netaji
The conventional wisdom among political parties was while urban India makes noise, it is rural India that can make or break their chances to capture power. Not any more. Mayank Mishra reports
PHOTOS: This is what Phailin did to Ganjam
Hit hardest by Cyclone Phailin, the coastal district of Ganjam is estimated to have suffered a loss of at least Rs 3,000 crore in the nature's fury which has deprived lakhs of people of their livelihood and damaged 2.4 lakh houses.
Laluji is name of an ideology. He can't be finished, says son Tejaswi
After Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's conviction in the Rs 950-crore fodder scam case, his cricketer-turned politician son Tejaswi Yadav suddenly finds himself in the limelight. Tejaswi spoke to Business Standard's Satyavrat Mishra about his party's strategy for the 2014 general elections, his father's conviction, the relationship with his siblings and cricket.
PHOTOS: Haj, the pilgrimage of a lifetime
Tens of thousands of white-clad pilgrims, including Indians, thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia just outside Mecca, for the climax of the Hajj.
October 14, 2013
Will the rise of Priyanka eclipse Rahul Gandhi?
Although there is growing pressure from the party rank and file that Priyanka Gandhi should play a lead role in electoral politics, the leadership will be constrained from giving in to these demands as her emergence would automatically eclipse Rahul Gandhi, notes .
'We don't burn Raavan!'
O saare jag ke rakhwale
In Photos: Dancing the night away with Narendra Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been repeatedly denied a visa by the United States authorities for his suspected role in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.
PHOTOS: Temple stampedes India won't forget
At least 109 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede during Navratri festivities near a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district.
Exclusive! The Manohar Joshi interview
In a no-hold-barred conversation, Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi talks about life after Bal Thackeray, his equation with Uddhav and Raj Thackeray and of his critics in the Sena.
115 killed in Madhya Pradesh temple stampede, Cong demands CM's head
Under attack, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced a judicial probe into the stampede at a temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district as the death toll in the tragedy during Navaratri festivities mounted to 115, prompting demands for his resignation.
LATEST PIX: Now cyclone-triggered floods hit Odisha; 2.5 lakh marooned
Heavy rains in the aftermath of Cyclone Phailin triggered floods in Odisha on Monday with over 2.5 lakh people being marooned in Balasore -- one of the two worst-hit districts along with Mayurbanj -- and several rivers were in spate.
October 13, 2013
Will quit if I have lost your faith: Uddhav at Dussehra rally
Seeking to strike an emotional note at the first annual Dussehra rally of Shiv Sena after the death of its founder Bal Thackeray, party president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he was ready to quit if the cadre had no faith in him.
PHOTOS: PM, Sonia slay demons @ Ramlila Maidan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday took aim at giant effigies of ten-headed demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran before they were burnt to ashes at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.
The Indian weatherman has the last laugh
The Indian Meteorological Department on Sunday stood vindicated over its forecast that Phailin will not be a 'super cyclone' as predicted by some international agencies and said its assessment was "more or less" accurate.
Phailin aftermath: 'I promised I would open my shop, I did'
After anticipating a ferocious storm and torrential rains, locals were on Sunday relieved that cyclone Phailin' had not caused the kind of damage to life and property which they feared.
PHOTOS: Modi worships swords and guns
Bharatiya Janata Party's Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday performed 'Shastra Puja' in the presence of police and security personnel
How WE defeated cyclone Phailin and saved thousands
Massive preparedness, speedy evacuation plans and almost accurate prediction of cyclone time and path have saved the country from a natural disaster which could have taken thousands of live.
Cyclone Phailin claims 17 lives; many more in tatters
Severe cyclonic storm Phailin, which forced the evacuation of over 8 lakh people, left a trail of destruction in coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh and disrupted communication lines before weakening considerably on Sunday.
October 12, 2013
PHOTOS: Cyclone Phailin slams into Odisha, Andhra coast
Phailin, a very severe cyclonic storm, on Saturday struck the Odisha coast, bringing in its wake torrential rains and wind speeds of over 200 kmph in the state and in neighbouring north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
PHOTOS: People flee from the path of Cyclone Phailin
To escape the wrath of Cyclone Phailin, over 5 lakh people have been evacuated from coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Pix: Phailin brings back memories of 1999 cyclone in this Odisha village
As the sky turns overcast and torrential rains lash Odisha's Erasama block, Pravati Maity of Jagatsinghpur district is haunted by the painful memories of the 1999 killer cyclone.
PHOTOS: Phailin is the STRONGEST cyclone to hit India since 1999
United States experts have described Phailin as the strongest tropical cyclone to hit India in 14 years.
PHOTO: Malala's date with the Obamas 
United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have met Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai in the Oval Office of the White House and praised her remarkable courage and efforts.
FAQ: What's a cyclone; how destructive can it be?
So how are tropical cyclones formed? How destructive can they be? How are their names chosen? Find out the answers to these and other questions in our cyclone FAQ.
October 11, 2013
When Bangladesh remembered those who helped in the 1971 war
Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, journalist and writer, speaks of her experiences on being honoured by Bangladesh for helping during the 1971 liberation war.
India CAPTURED: Hanuman lends a hand to Raavan
Daily glimpses of India captured on camera.
Heart-rending photos: The ghosts of Fukushima
We bring forth some photographs of the present day Fukushima prefecture, once full of life like any other town, now just a gloomy shadow of its past -- each photo a grim reminder of the irreversible catastrophe.
'Powerful' Seemandhra has an upper hand
Seemandhra to be a surplus state; Telangana will have to depend on other regions, says B Dasarath Reddy
October 10, 2013
IN PHOTOS: Women who won the Nobel Literature Prize
Rediff.com takes a walk down the memory lane and showcases women who have won the coveted prize.
Nobel Prize for Literature: Why Winston Churchill won
Let's take a look at some lesser known facts related to the distinguished authors who have won the Nobel Prize in literature
PHOTOS: Cyclone Phailin intensifies; Andhra Pradesh, Odisha on high alert
After remaining stationary for several hours over the sea, the cyclonic storm 'Phailin' on Thursday intensified, moving slightly northwest and lay centered at about 850 km southeast of Paradip.
PHOTOS: Durga Pujo turns Kolkata into the City of Blinding Lights
Kolkata has turned into the proverbial City of Blinding Lights for Durga Pujo
What the heel! Miss Universe in trouble for shoot at Taj Mahal
The local Archeological Survey of India authorities are looking into a complaint that the party accompanying Miss Universe Olivia Culpo during her visit to Taj Mahal allegedly violated rules at the historic monument by advertising a brand of footwear during a photo session.
Who will win the Nobel Peace Prize 2013?
As the world waits with baited breath to know who will win the Nobel Peace Prize 2013 -- to be announced on Friday -- we take a look at some of the frontrunners in the race for the most prestigious honour.
Boxing superstar Mary Kom on her beloved India
I am a fan of the co-existence of different castes and creed in my beloved country...
PHOTOS: Fasting Jagan force-fed, treated in hospital
In a late night crackdown, the police on Wednesday evicted YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy from the venue of his indefinite hunger strike called to protest bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and took him into preventive custody as doctors voiced concern over his deteriorating health.
October 09, 2013
Building collapses in north Delhi: 2 killed, others trapped
A father-son duo was killed while another man was injured when a three-storey building collapsed in North Delhi's Bara Hindu Rao area on Wednesday morning.
'Modi most searched politician on Google in India'
The Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was the most searched politician, followed by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, on Google in India during March-August period of this year, the internet giant said.
'However rich or poor she may be, India has the best looking women'
'What we need to do is to improve our standard of honesty as people as a whole. We need our leaders to be true patriots. This means the country first every time.
I have never really felt 100 per cent American: Jhumpa Lahiri
Unlike her earlier books, which dealt with immigrant angst, Jhumpa Lahiri's latest novel grew out of stories she heard about the Maoist movement in India, during her childhood. finds more.
Indian history in Tokyo temple
The Renkoji Temple is a lot smaller than other grand Buddhist shrines in Japan. In front of the gate, in a very serene setting, is the bust of Netaji. reports from Tokyo.
The MOST awesome photographs in the last 48 hours
We present a collection of the best photographs clicked across the globe in the last 48 hours!
MY mother strongest: Rahul, Varun and other famous mommy's boys!
While we wait (with fear and amusement in equal parts) for the next burst of 'spontaneity' from Rahul, let's take a look at some other mommy's boys in Indian politics.
October 08, 2013
Exclusive Amit Shah Interview: People are waiting to vote for Modi
Amit Shah gave his first exclusive interview to Rediff.com's after taking charge of UP. The first of a two-part interview:
PHOTOS: Chaos on roads after part of Mumbai flyover caves in
A part of the Dindoshi flyover on the Western Express highway in Mumbai caved in last Tuesday, causing massive traffic congestion, and inconveniencing commuters. Due to repair work, the flyover has been closed for public use from 5 am on Tuesday to 5 am on Wednesday.
PICS: 15-day Keran ops over, Pak army supported infiltrators
The 15-day long Keran anti-infiltration operation has been called off, according to a top Indian Army officer.
My post is not permanent but the state is: Kiran Kumar Reddy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy in an interview with CNN-IBN said he will stay on as the chief minister and fight for a united Andhra.
A ray of Vrindavan sun lights up Kolkata's rainy Pujo
The annual festival is sure to bring light into the lives of 50-odd elderly women from Vrindavan. Thanks to an initiative by Sulabh International, these women, all hailing from Bengal, will participate in Durga Pujo after years.
Your Say: Who is the FUNKIEST leader of them all?
Go through our slide show and vote for the nattiest leader on the last slide...
Light, sound, action! How magic is made at political meetings
A political meeting can make or break political careers. explores how politicians plan and execute these meetings
Tandoor murder: SC commutes Sushil Sharma's death penalty to life term
The Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence to a life term of a former Congress leader who was found guilty of murdering his wife and trying to burn the body in a tandoor in 1995, a sensational crime that came to be known as the 'tandoor murder'.
STUNNING photos: 20 mind-blowing illusions
We present a collection of optical illusion images clicked across the world that will surely blow your mind!
Telangana protests: Andhra Pradesh faces blackout, comes to a halt
The situation in Andhra Pradesh's Seemandhra region showed no signs of improvement, as the ongoing strike by 30,000 power sector employees against the bifurcation of the state entered Day 4 on Tuesday. The failure of the southern grid seems imminent.
The Vietnamese general who tamed the US war machine
Praful Bidwai pays tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap who was a legend in his lifetime and hailed as one of the greatest military leaders of the 20th century.
October 07, 2013
Why Dr Singh may be throwing in the towel
reports on how with just one act of disowning the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Rahul Gandhi has exposed the fault-lines in the Congress party.
10 STRANGEST photos from around the world
Here are some of the weirdest photos from around the world.
In PHOTOS: Deadly typhoon slams China's coast
Two persons were killed and over a half million people evacuated as typhoon Fitow hit east China early on Monday.
PHOTOS: EYE-POPPING views of earth from space
Here's a collection of some photographs released by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency of cities and continents taken from the International Space Station in recent times.
SATIRE: Rahul Gandhi's Top Ten Avatars
Presenting the eventful life and times of the Congress vice president.
PHOTOS: Seemandhra battles with protests and power crisis
Generation and supply of electricity was severely affected in several parts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions due to ongoing strike by employees of power utilities against the division of Andhra Pradesh.
How well do people know our political leaders?
Political parties have begun to gear up for the 2014 elections, but first they have to face the electorate in five states in the assembly elections due later this year.
October 05, 2013
Congressmen face Seemandhra fury; power crisis looms
The second day of the 72-hour-long Seemandhra strike against Telangana state turned out to be more violent and tense as the police had to resort to firing in the air and use of tear gas shells and batons at many places.
Congress vs BJP vs AAP: The battle for Delhi begins
A day after the announcement of election dates, the ruling Congress, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party and the new entrants, the Aam Aadmi Party turned up the heat as they went about making allegations and counter-allegations.
Jagan fasts for united Andhra, claims Sonia paving Rahul's PM path
YSR Congress party president and Kadapa Member of Parliament Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday launched an indefinite hunger strike at his residence in Hyderabad against the Centre's decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
October 04, 2013
Modi won't be proud of these figures!
Every third child in Gujarat is underweight, says the CAG
No, Lalu Yadav won't be making soaps in jail
Officials of the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi are yet to decide on what job they should allot to Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav but there was a hint that he could be given work related to literacy campaign.
5 states go to polls from Nov 11-Dec 4; Results Dec 8
The Election Commission on Friday announced the schedule for assembly elections in five states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
'US and India are destined to be partners on the world stage'
'We have a common way of looking at the world, a common way of thinking, and a common set of values that predispose us to be partners. And our interests overlap greatly,' US Deputy Defence Secretary Dr Ashton B Carter tells in an interview.
PHOTOS: Telangana nod triggers resignations, Seemandhra on edge
The Centre's decision to create Telangana today triggered further protests in Seemandhra region and a flurry of resignations by union ministers and MPs opposed to the division of Andhra Pradesh.
The man who led to Lalu Prasad's fall
Upendranath Biswas, a minister in the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, has lent the party an honest and clean image
Can a hot headed, immature Rahul be India's PM?
Mother Sonia Gandhi may have forced her son Rahul to express regret about his recent outrageous behaviour, but it has triggered a discussion both within the party as well as among the allies on whether the Congress vice president is really ready to become the prime minister. reports
SHOCKING: Pictures of Sikh gurus at Los Angeles bar
A pub in Los Angeles's Hollywood district, which had outraged Sikhs by displaying portraits of their gurus in its bar area, has removed the pictures.
The 'hatke' contenders for the crown of Delhi 
on the men and ideals behind the 'people's party'
'Visiting India is equal to doing a world tour'
'India is a world in itself...
Pix: Dramatic car chase from White House to Capitol, driver killed
The United States Capitol, seat of the Congress, was locked down on Thursday after multiple shots were fired outside one of the office buildings, injuring one policeman and sparking massive security operation.
October 03, 2013
Fodder scam: Lalu jailed for 5 years, fined Rs 25 lakh
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has been sentenced to 5 years in jail following his conviction in the multi-crore fodder scam by the special Central Bureau of Investigation court.
1 married man ends life every 9 minutes in India!
Every nine minutes a married man commits suicide in India due to alleged misuse of section 498a of IPC against them, taking the toll to around a whopping 64,000 every year, says a report.
Modi is plotting a lotus boom in South India
While many thought that the BJP will go in for a pre-poll alliance, it now appears that the party has decided to fight the elections on its own in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra.
'India's people are its real heroes'
'We have the most fertile land in the world. The Ganga and the Brahmaputra flow through our country. Yet our people starve... This is a criminal neglect of our natural resources... People's entrepreneurial spirit, their innovations... their desire to be better is always refreshing. They have done this inspite of the government,' says legendary journalist Olga Tellis, one of India's finest reporters.
Amjad Ali Khan's tribute to Gandhi @ UN: 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'
Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons Amaan and Ayaan remembered the Mahatma through special renditions of his favourite bhajans, a portrait by a Mumbai-based artist was unveiled as the United Nations observed International Day of Non-Violence.
Encounter near Srinagar over; militant flees after injuring 8 cops
Eight policemen, including an assistant sub-inspector, were injured in the operation, which saw security forces surrounding the Ahmadnagar area on Wednesday evening on specific information about the presence of a militant commander in a house
What Indian drivers do, Kyrgyz drivers seem to do better!
In this second part of a series, Sudha Mahalingam goes deep into silk territory in Kazakhstan and says that the Ferghana Valley seems like a gift from the Gods
PHOTOS: Kolkata gears up for Durga Pujo
For the devotees of Maa Durga across the globe, the wait is almost over. But in Her 'home state' West Bengal, preparations for the most awaited 10 days of the year are progressing on a war footing.
October 02, 2013
PHOTOS: Leaders pay obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi, Shashtri
Nation on Wednesday remembered Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary with top leaders paying floral tributes at his memorial in New Delhi.
RARE PHOTOS: Remembering The Mahatma
As the country comes together to remember Father of the Nation Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on his 144th birth anniversary, we take a look at some archival photographs of the life and times of the man who made the biggest contribution in shaping India's future.
October 01, 2013
'Dr Singh has tried for dialogue and reconciliation with Pak'
Scholar-diplomat and India's foremost foreign policy analyst Professor Muchkund Dubey explains to Poornima Joshi the highs and lows of the United Progressive Alliance's 10-year tenure, the legacy that the present regime leaves behind and whether he would advice the Bharatiya Janata Party's PM candidate Narendra Modi on matters concerning diplomacy.
Terror week: Massacred for no fault of their own
The past week has seen bombings and violent strikes that have killed innocent civilians. Rediff.com recaps some of these deadly attacks.
Are these the netas behind the ordinance?
Team Rahul is chuffed up after Baba's outburst...Nitish Kumar wants a spin doctor...Diggy Raja's plans for Shivraj Chouhan...Gupshup from the Dilli Durbar.
Rahul ABOVE ALL? PM likely to withdraw ordinance
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday ahead of the Cabinet meeting when the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers is expected to be withdrawn.
'India's youth hasn't inherited the fear of its previous generation'
This generation has a lot more direction than the previous one because unlike them, the young today do not lack clarity. They dare to think different and operate with a can-do attitude and confidence. Today's youth is charting new territories not being afraid of the storm, choosing rather to ride into it and creating their own path, says MTV Roadies Host Raghu Ram.
20 INTERESTING photos of the month
Rediff.com picks 20 top photos from the month of September.
At Iraq's holy shrines, signs of a country on the road to recovery
Arwa Sultan Ali, who visited Iraq's holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, sends her impressions of the war-torn country.
September 30, 2013
Central agencies indulging in witch-hunting: Modi
Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on Congress accusing it of misusing CBI and other agencies for "witch-hunting" political rivals and asserting he would not be cowed down by such threats.
Exclusive: Fodder scam investigator speaks out
Rakesh Asthana, Superintendent of Police in the Central Bureau of Investigation in 1994 and one of the key investigators in the fodder scam, explains the case and Lalu Yadav's role in it to
Mumbai gives Narendra Modi a welcome to remember!
Thousands of people turned up at the domestic airport in Mumbai to greet Narendra Modi.
Lalu Prasad Yadav: The shrewd politician's highs and lows
Lalu Prasad Yadav took his first step into politics as a student at Patna University in its union elections. The election won 29-year-old Lalu Yadav a Janata Party ticket to the 9th Lok Sabha in 1977.
Lalu in jail: Rabri set to return; Tejaswi can 'wait'
With Lalu Prasad convicted in the multi-crore fodder scam case, the Rashtriya Janata Dal on Monday put up a brave front saying his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi is "still there to guide us".
Mr Goenka is dead, long live Vipassana!
Like thousands of Indians and non-Indians I have been touched by, and am a beneficiary, of Satya Narayan Goenka's single biggest contribution to humanity: the Vipassana brand of meditation.
P V Sindhu: If we work hard, we will be world beaters
'I dream of a corruption-free India. Corruption is a cancer that has eaten up our vitals. Imagine if every paisa meant for development went for development,' says badminton champ P V Sindhu, the first Indian woman to win a bronze medal at the World Championships.
'PM wants to give Sharif a chance, didn't complain to Obama'
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who met Nawaz Sharif in New York despite strong criticism from opposition back home, wants to "trust" the new Pakistan prime minister and give him a chance to "walk the talk" on stopping ceasefire violations and terror activities against India.
Fodder scam: Lalu Yadav GUILTY; sent to jail
In a body blow to Rashtriya Janata Dal before next year's Lok Sabha polls, its President Lalu Prasad was on Monday convicted by a special CBI court in Ranchi in the fodder scam corruption case that disqualifies him from Parliament and renders him ineligible for contesting elections for at least six years.
Just who is funding the Aam Aadmi Party?
Contesting its maiden elections, the Aam Aadmi Party is striving hard to make its presence felt in the coming assembly polls in Delhi.
How well do you know India's prime ministers? Take our quiz
We, at rediff.com, decided to quiz you on Dr Singh and other heads of state, who preceded him. Take the challenge!
The hammer just kept hitting Dr Singh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh left for the United States in a blaze of optimism. The trip ended with an unrelieved gloom, says
September 29, 2013
If not you, NDA will give us our state: Telangana rally warns Congress
The biggest ever show of strength by the supporters of Telangana state brought Hyderabad city to a grinding halt on Sunday. More than a lakh people from all across Telangana flooded Hyderabad as a befitting reply to the challenge of Telangana opponents that nobody can divide Andhra Pradesh or take away Hyderabad from the Seemandhra people.
Stop ceasefire violations, terror from Pak soil: PM tells Sharif
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday did some plain speaking with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif laying down the precondition of end to violations of ceasefire along the LoC for progress towards resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue on various issues.
Modi accuses Rahul of undermining PM's authority
In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday accused him of undermining authority of the prime minister and asked people to decide if the nation will be run based on the Constitution or whims of the "prince".
Did Sharif refer to the PM as 'village woman'?
A major controversy erupted on Sunday over Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif purportedly calling
PICS: 40 killed, 80 injured in Peshawar car blast
At least 36 people were killed and 70 injured in a car bomb blast in Peshawar on Sunday in Pakistan's
Philippines beauty Megan Young wins Miss World crown
Philippines beauty Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013 after beating 130 contestants across the globe on Saturday.
September 28, 2013
Netas on Rahul row: 'He created a scene, showed he is the boss'
After Rahul Gandhi's attack on the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today sought a meeting of United Progressive Alliance's Coordination Committee to discuss the measure threadbare.
Dr Singh's buzzwords at UN: Developing, terrorism, Pakistan
What were the words that the PM used the most in his speech at the UN?
PM's terse message to Pak at UN: Shut down terror machinery
Ahead of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent a hard-hitting message to our neighbours.
Mumbai building collapse: Death toll touches 50, many feared trapped
Rescue operations continued on Saturday on to find survivors amid the huge rubble of the five-storey residential Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation building that collapsed in Mazgaon area in Mumbai, as the death toll in the incident rose to 25.
That's how close we are, says Obama
United States President Barack Obama on Friday made a reference to the new Miss America's Indian heritage as he acknowledged the role of the community in pushing for stronger relationship between the world's two largest democracies.
Obama extends rare gesture for PM
In the rarest of the rare gesture, US President Barack Obama personally walked down to the White House portico to see off Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after a meeting with him at the Oval Office.
While Singh, Obama talk politics, wives have a cup of tea
United States First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday hosted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur over tea at the White House.
PM talks straight on Pak; has no hopes from Sharif meet
Asserting that Pakistan remains the "epicentre of terror", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that expectations have to be "toned down" over his meeting with Nawaz Sharif on Sunday.
September 27, 2013
Sharif plays good cop, bad cop with India @ UN
Even as Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif asserted that he is ready to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue, he did not lose the opportunity to rake up Islamabad's oft-stated stand on plight of Kashmiris across the border. reports
Rahul gets Congress out of the woods, leaves PM behind
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's strong public opposition to the controversial ordinance on convicted legislators has undoubtedly undermined Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's position but has also provided a much-needed face saver to the party which is already facing stinging criticism for various corruption scandals.
UDAY'S TAKE! When Rahul Gandhi finally arrived
Rediff.com's designer thinks the Gandhi Nehru scion has FINALLY arrived by taking the 'so called anti-corruption' step.
'Obama has a very, very, great respect for the prime minister'
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets President Obama at the White House on Friday, September 27, former US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, the man who set the ball rolling in transforming the United States-India relationship, tells Rediff.com's why he believes US-India ties are 'alive and healthy.'
BJP pulls out all stops for Narendra Modi's TN debut
The Bharatiya Janata Party's youth conference in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu on Thursday was a huge success. The party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi came to the southern state for the first time since being anointed to lead the party in the next general election.
Photos: 6 killed, 19 injured in Mumbai building collapse
Six persons, including three of a family, were killed and 19 injured after a five-storeyed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation residential building collapsed in Mazgaon area in Mumbai on Friday.
Digvijaya Singh speaks: 'Yes I helped Narasimha Rao on Ayodhya'
In an exclusive interview, Digvijaya Singh speaks about his role during former prime minister Narasimha Rao's regime in the back-channel talks to resolve the Bari Masjid issue and the upcoming elections.
PICS: PM's family at Sri Srinivasan's swearing-in as top US court judge
Surrounded by luminaries, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's family, and with his hand placed on the Bhagwad Gita, Srikanth Srinivasan was formally sworn in as judge for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. reports from Washington, DC.
Singh can still be King!
If the prime minister can show once more that he is capable of making difficult decisions, he could restore US-Indian ties to the earlier upward trajectory, believes Ashley Tellis.
Bhajan for Krishna Kanhaiya at a Sufi saint's shrine
stumbles on one of the hidden secrets of Delhi
Terror trail: Africa's deadly 5
A look at some of the major terror outfits operating in African continent
Why UIDAI must be dismantled NOW
Amidst leakage of files from the Prime Minister's Office and leakage of public money in scam after scam in the Congress-led government, the claim of attempting to reduce leakage in the system by using questionable plumbers like Nandan Nilekani using UIDAI does not inspire even an iota of confidence, says
September 26, 2013
What is the need for dialogue with Pak: Modi at Trichy rally
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday questioned the need for dialogue between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif when soldiers and innocent people are being killed "day and night" by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
India-US Summit Special, Edited by Ambassador Nirupama Rao
For the first time in the 43-year-old India Abroad newspaper's history, a Guest Editor was invited to edit the special magazine issue.
IN PICS: Heavy rains disrupt normalcy in Gujarat
Heavy rains pounded the Saurashtra region in Gujarat, disrupting normal life and bringing rail and road traffic to a near halt even as over 3,000 people were shifted to safer places due to overflowing of dams, authorities said on Thursday.
PIX: Terrorists behind twin fidayeen attacks in Jammu killed
In a twin terror attack, three heavily-armed militants dressed in army fatigues on Thursday stormed a police station and an army camp in Jammu region killing nine people including a Lieutenent Colonel, casting a shadow on the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
'India is where the heart is'
'Societies have cyclical times and we are in one of those... The most troubling part of India is that it doesn't provide equal opportunities for everybody to get a leg up... Somehow the opportunities are not there for everybody. They are for a select few, and so many of the 1.2 billion people are getting left behind,' says Swati Ramanathan, co-founder, Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, in a special series where various Indian tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
Retracing the Silk Route in breathtaking Kazakhstan
From the steely town of Temirtav to the cultural capital of Almaty, the Silk Route winding through Kazakhstan has a lot to offer, finds
'VHP is trying to revive Ayodhya, but there is no momentum'
Ram Bahadur Rai, editor of Hindi magazine Yathawat and an expert on the Ram Janamabhoomi movement, speaks to Gopal Krishna, how then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao had a plan to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya and what transpired in the days leading up to and post December 6 1992 in the second and final part of this interview.
SATIRE: Being Salman... Khurshid
Our funny take on External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
Why a Naidu-Modi team up is a hopeless proposition
Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu is running fast out of options and desperately needs props to avoid his party's total political annihilation, but what options is he left with, writes
The India-US love story is soaring
The medium and longer term prospects remain very positive for the India-US relationship, feels .
September 25, 2013
What could change the 2014 electoral arithmetic
With just a two to three per cent increase in its vote share from 2009, the Bharatiya Janata Party might inch closer to the magical 180 seats, says
Pakistan: 350 killed in deadly quake, search for survivors on
The death toll in the devastating earthquake that struck havoc in Pakistan's southwestern
'Elite vent their ire on Twitter, FB and think their job is done'
The middle class represents 30 per cent of our population. They are not represented in Parliament or the assemblies as they are just not bothered! They do not vote. They do not take part in any civic, social or political activity. How can they be like this, asks Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Burman, editor-political activist and head of the Tripura royal family.
PM leaves for US to meet Obama, Sharif; address UNGA
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday embarked on a visit to the United States to chart a course for "future cooperation" by expanding and deepening bilateral relations in a host of areas, including trade and investment, defence and counter-terrorism.
PHOTOS: At world's largest BEER party... CHEERS!
The 180th Oktoberfest, the largest beer festival in the world, is underway in the Bavarian capital, Munich.
'Digvijaya should be asked about his role in Ayodhya under Narasimha Rao'
Ram Bahadur Rai, a veteran journalist and editor of Hindi magazine Yathawat, shares inside information on then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao's plan to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
PHOTOS: Usagi, 2013's most powerful tropical cyclone
Usagi -- the most powerful tropical cyclone of 2013 -- swept past the Philippines and Taiwan over the weekend but saved the worst of its wrath for neighbouring Hong Kong and China.
Look who's trying to keep Lalu Yadav alive!
The United Progressive Alliance government's decision to go ahead with an ordinance allowing convicted MPs and MLAs to continue in office and contest elections is a clear move to help out beleaguered Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Kenya's 26/11 style terror siege ENDS
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that the four-day siege by Al-Shabab terrorists on a Nairobi shopping mall, which claimed 67 lives including that of three Indians, is over.
September 24, 2013
'Why I was electrified by Nina Davuluri's victory'
Amid the racist tweets and essays on how Miss America Nina Davuluri might ironically never have won a beauty pageant in India because of her colour, Sepia Mutiny blog co-founder points out the other angle that matters.
PHOTOS: High drama at Jagan's release
Amid loud slogans of 'Jai Jagan', YSR Congress party leader Jaganmohan Reddy walked out of the Chanchalguda central jail in Hyderabad on Tuesday after the Central Bureau of Investigation court issued formal orders for his release on bail.
Jagan walks out of jail, his supporters celebrate
Amid loud slogans of 'Jai Jagan', YSR Congress party leader Jaganmohan Reddy walked out of the Chanchalguda central jail in Hyderabad on Tuesday after the Central Bureau of Investigation court issued formal orders for his release on bail.
Amit Shah incited communal violence in UP: Akhilesh
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in an interview with CNN-IBN hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party saying there is ample evidence to show that BJP leaders are stoking communal divide in the state.
Kenyan forces storm under-siege mall, hunt for terrorists
The terror siege on a shopping mall in an upscale neighbourhood in Nairobi, Kenya entered its fourth day today.
NY Sikh professor wants to invite his attackers to gurdwara
Physician and Sikh activist Dr Prabhjot Singh has invited about two dozen people who attacked him, mistaking him to be a Muslim and calling him Osama bin Laden, to his home and gurdwara so that they can learn about Singh's faith.
'Even after repeated assaults, Kashmiri culture stands tall'
'To be an Indian born in Kashmir has been a fantastic thing which god gave me. Kashmir gave me the sensitivity to look at things,' says santoor artist Abhay Rustum Sopori, the ninth generation of a well-known family of artistes who follow the Shaivite Sufi tradition. He recently presented a fusion piece jointly with Zubin Mehta in Srinagar.
Is this beauty the next Mrs Putin?
Social media and Internet forums have recently been flooded with reports that Russian President Vladimir has tied the knot with former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva in a secret ceremony.
TRIPLE RIPPLE: Leaders who have rocked and ruled
Rediff.com brings you a list of leaders who have won three consecutive times or more.
Why every Indian should be PROUD of DRDO's latest missile
Observers of India's struggle to design and build defence equipment might wonder why the indigenous missile programme has been so much more successful than many other projects that the Defence Research and Development Organisation has taken up.
September 23, 2013
Jagan is out and itching for revenge!
The politics of Andhra Pradesh has seen some paradigm changes during Jagan Reddy's absence. But now that the YSR Congress chief is out on bail, he'll definitely seek revenge from his tormentors -- the ruling Congress, notes .
When Antony dithered about sacking the general
Dilli Gupshup: The return of the V K Singh saga led one Union minister to blame Defence Minister A K Antony for the mess.
PIX: Angela Merkel scores historic victory, wins third term
Riding a wave of public support, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday made a hat trick as she led her Christian Democratic Union to a "super victory" in parliamentary elections, but fell short of absolute majority.
'Who caused the riots' IS NOT the only important question
Mihir Bhat, fellow at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative who is also the director of the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, discusses with Rediff.com's about what the National Integration Council should focus on.
'Being Indian is being democratic, loving cinema and cricket'
'If diversity is our strength, it is also our shortcoming, because we live in two separate nations -- urban India and rural India. There should be some semblance between these two Indias,' feels actor Ayushmann Khurana, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
PIX: One jawan killed, another critically hurt in Srinagar attack
Militants struck in the heart of summer capital Srinagar on Monday killing one trooper of the paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force and critically wounding another.
'Forget NaMo, it's RaGa that counts'
It is premature to write the Congress' epitaph in 2014 because 10 years of incumbency have also seen some sterling performance, insists the Gandhi family confidant, says
September 22, 2013
Kenya terror strike: 2 Indians among 59 killed; 30 hostages inside mall
Two Indians were among at least 59 people killed and nearly 200 injured as Somali Islamist militants, holding at least 30 hostages at an upscale shopping mall in Nairobi, continued fierce fight with Kenyan soldiers for the second consecutive day today.
2,500 people killed in 8,473 riots in last decade: Govt stats
In an alarming trend, more than 2,500 people have been killed in incidents of communal violence in the country since 2002, out of which 107 lost their lives this year alone.
September 20, 2013
PIX: Left out in the rain, 4 ton 'ladoo' dumped into lake
The organisers of the Khairatabad Ganesh Mandap in Hyderabad were forced to dump their four ton ladoo into the Hussain Sagar Lake after it was spoilt in the heavy downpour on Wednesday.
There's NO life on Mars, hints NASA
No life on Mars? Hopes of finding alien life on Mars may have been dashed after new data from NASA's Curiosity rover revealed that the Red Planet lacks methane gas, researchers, including one of Indian origin, say.
CBI likely to probe V K Singh's 'secret intelligence unit'
The government is likely to order a Central Bureau of India inquiry into the alleged unauthorised operations and financial wrongdoings by a top secret intelligence unit set up by then Army chief Gen V K Singh.
Breaking barriers: Miss America Nina Davuluri speaks up!A victim of racial slurs and messages after being crowned Miss America over the weekend, Nina Davuluri has announced that she will use her position to celebrate diversity through cultural competency.
15 INCREDIBLE photos from around the world
There are some best photographs from around the world in the last 24 hours.
The two places all Indians must go to
The Cellular Jail and the Viper Island are two places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that should be like a pilgrimage for all Indians, says Bishnu Pada Ray, the two-time BJP MP from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in our special series where various Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
IN PIX: Animals that wore a SPACESUIT
Take a look at some of the animals that went where no human had ever gone before.
Mirwaiz: 'Potential threat to peace is not Afghanistan, it's Kashmir'
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq declares that neither force nor intimidation can silence the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, in the concluding part of his interview with Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
September 19, 2013
Will Nilekani take on Modi in Bengaluru?
The Congress has proposed the name of billionaire Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of software giant Infosys, to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru's south constituency. But will his capabilities stand to the popularity of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi? finds out
Mirwaiz: 'I personally don't see a revival of militancy in Kashmir'
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq discusses the difference between peace and normalcy and his vision for Kashmir, in an interview with Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
In PHOTOS: All the action from around the world
Check out this collection of smashing images of Buddhist monks in a protest rally, military parade at the Zocalo square in Mexico City and much more.
Babri forgotten? UP turns into war-zone for communal politics
Mulayam is clearly all set to play up the Muslim card. So what if that involves handing over an opportunity to exploit Hindutva to sworn rival BJP, says Sharat Pradhan
Do ordinary Indians know their national leaders?
With photographs of some of India's top political leaders, A Ganesh Nadar travelled to the interiors of Tamil Nadu to see if the common man could identify their netas.
September 18, 2013
PHOTOS: The Ganpati immersion party in Hyderabad 
A massive immersion procession in Hyderabad was badly disrupted with very heavy rains lashing the city on Wednesday evening.
'The unprotected class of workers is the real India'
The real contributors of labour, of skill and even technological input, all come from this (96 per cent) category and I love them. No communal riots, least of caste-ism in these communities.
Readers' PHOTOS: The many avatars of Lord Ganesha
Readers' PHOTOS: Dazzling Ganeshas from Baroda to Jammu
Rs 1951.07 crore mystery money in Congress coffers! 
Crores received by the Congress between 2005 and 2009 are unaccounted for, the BJP follows suit. reports
RED ALERT: The truth behind one-way ticket to Mars 
The plan to set up a human colony on Mars is a crude joke on unsuspecting and ignorant space enthusiasts, says .
Will US, India build THIS Gen Next missile together?
United States Deputy Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter, who arrived in India on a two-day visit on Monday, has masterminded a proposal that could dramatically boost US-India defence relations.
'The unprotected class of workers is the real India'The real contributors of labour, of skill and even technological input, all come from this (96 per cent) category and I love them. No communal riots, least of caste-ism in these communities.
PHOTOS: Ganpati Bappa morya, see you next year, chants Mumbai
Rediff.com captures the spirit on the final day of the Ganesha festival in Mumbai.
Would dusky beauty Nina Davuluri ever be crowned Miss India?
Nina Davuluri's choice as Miss America shows how hollow Indians' concept of beauty is and how our beauty pageants don't reflect the country's diversity, says
September 17, 2013
Candid photos: Gorgeous Miss America Nina like you've never seen before
Rediff.com brings you some candid pictures of Miss America Nina Davuluri.
PHOTOS: Your dream is my dream, Rahul tells the poor
At the rally in election-bound Rajasthan the Gandhi scion stressed on the collective dream for a prosperous nation, reports
Check out! How Modi REACTED to Mallika's birthday greeting
By now the world and its cousin have seen Mallika Sherawat's birthday greeting to Narendra Modi. So how did the BJP's prime minister-in-waiting react to it?
How Yasin Bhatkal boosted ATS' probe of Mumbai train blasts
In a breather for the Maharashtra ATS, arrested Yasin Bhatkal has confirmed to his interrogators that Gujaratis travelling in first class compartments of Mumbai locals were the target of 2006 train bombings as the IM wanted to avenge the 2002 Gujarat riots. reports.
Readers' PHOTOS: Dazzling Ganeshas from across India
Readers' PHOTOS: Beautiful Ganeshas from Mumbai to Secunderabad
PHOTOS: Narendra Modi's new best friends in BJP
Modi has been away from national politics for a long time and needs to have eyes and ears in the city of rumours and true lies
'We have lost the connect with our heritage'
'We have to go back to our heritage. We were good people. We saw the subtle, we were spiritual. Only that will rescue us from this endless corruption, these rapes, robberies, and the abyss we have fallen into,' says IIT-Professor Kiran Seth, the founder of SPICMACAY that has exposed young people to the magic of Indian classical music, dance and culture for three-and-a-half decades.
Modi being PM would be destabilising: Amitav Ghosh
After Amartya Sen, yet another noted intellectual has come out strongly against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Acclaimed author and Padma Shri awardee Amitav Ghosh has said that for him Modi remains someone culpable for the Gujarat riots of 2002 and for someone like him to become prime minister would be deeply destabilising for India. In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN's Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, he also said that the politics of Hindu nationalism is destroying Hindu religion.
PHOTOS: $800 mn effort on to save shipwrecked Concordia
For the first time ever an operation to salvage a cruise ship as enormous as the Costa Concordia was put in motion on Monday off the coast of Italy, near the island of Giglio.
Wow! Beautiful photos from around the world
From an iPad being used during preparations to fire a homemade mortar in Syria to an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man using a magnifying glass to check a citrus fruit for blemishes in Jerusalem; check out our package of stunning images captured by ace Reuters photogs
September 16, 2013
Sachin and SRK to counter Shivraj?
Dilli Gupshup
10 things you did not know about Miss America Nina Davuluri
The new Miss America is somebody many "relate to", as she herself said after being crowned. Here's why. And a few other interesting facts you did not know about the Indian-American beauty queen.
Photos: At least 13 dead in US Navy Yard shooting
Three gunmen on Monday went on the rampage in the high-security Washington Navy Yard located a short distance from the White House, killing at least thirteen persons and injuring several more in an audacious mass shooting.
Hopefully, Obama will appreciate the fierce urgency of now!
explains how the world could possibly resolve the Syrian crisis, and also protect oppressed peoples all over.
Poonia could be Cong's answer to BJP's Rathore in Rajasthan
With celebrities and sportspersons being roped in by parties for the upcoming elections, it looks like Rajasthan is back to playing the caste card, reports .
Miss America's relatives in Andhra celebrate her win
Eighty-nine-year old Koteshwaramma Choudhary broke down as news reached her that her granddaughter, 24-year-old Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2014.
PHOTOS: Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, New York style
Hundreds of devotees danced to devotional music and beating of drums and playing of nagaswaram as Lord Ganesh's idol was taken in a procession in Flushing in northern Queens, a suburb of New York City.
India sometimes looks like a bad trip, BUT...
The thing that looks terribly outdated, though, is the balance of power between those who govern and those whom they govern, says Mitali Saran
Divide and campaign: BJP's only strategy?
More than any other party, the BJP can figure out exactly what is likely to infuriate and mobilise their core voter, says Mihir S Sharma
'India badly needs a modern Gandhi today'
Today the common man is not angry because of the corruption in the country, he is angry because he is a victim of corruption, says filmmaker Prakash Jha, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com why they love India
Readers' PHOTOS: Beautiful Ganeshas from Bandra to Bhilai
Readers' PHOTOS: Beautiful Ganeshas from Thane to UAE
Indian-origin beauty wins Miss America crown!
Indian American Nina Davuluri has been crowned Miss America.
IN PHOTOS: If we can have a day out, why can't THEY?
Rediff.com presents some amazing photographs of animals across the globe having a fun day out -- the luckier ones were able to hitch a ride, while some not-so-big-ones had to settle with just a pose for a snap on a toy bike! And there were others who chose to hit the highway, themselves! So sit back and enjoy the joyride.
PHOTOS: Grandest Ganpatis: Sweet, shiny and spectacular
Mumbai is immersed in a festive fervour as its most favourite deity -- Lord Ganesha -- is back. The celebrations are as big as ever, undeterred by the slipping rupee or the economic slowdown in hope that the 'sukhakarta-dukhaharta' will take care of it all.
September 15, 2013
MODI MANIA: 10 candid moments from the Rewari rally
Here are some pictures that capture the upbeat mood at Rewari on one of its most happening Sunday.
Modi's elevation a winning decision, Advani will back him: Jaitley
Hailing as a "winning decision" Narendra Modi's elevation as Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate for 2014 Lok Sabha polls, party leader Arun Jaitley on Sunday expressed confidence that sulking L K Advani will "eventually support" the move.
Problem not at our borders, but in Delhi, Modi tells ex-servicemen
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who was on Friday named the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 national elections, addressed a massive rally in Rewari, Haryana on Sunday afternoon, his first after he named the party's prime ministerial candidate.
Agni-V, India's most advanced N-capable ballistic missile, launched
India on Sunday conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-V long-range ballistic missile, which has a strike range of more than 5000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.
September 14, 2013
Readers' Ganpati PHOTOS: From Nasik to Hyderabad
Readers' Ganpati PHOTOS: From Nasik to Hyderabad
People's POWER: How the world chooses its FUTURE
As the world readies to mark the International Day of Democracy on September 15, we present a collection of photographs, each defining individual stories, symbolising individual struggles.
September 13, 2013
HUMOUR: What REALLY happened at Modi's coronation
What really transpired at Friday's press conference where the BJP declared NaMo as its Pradhan Mantri-to-be? give you the inside story. DISCLAIMER: Satire Ahead.
Modi's meteoric rise from RSS pracharak to BJP PM nominee
Narendra Modi's anointment as BJP's prime ministerial nominee catapults to the national scene the Hindutva poster boy who is seen by his critics as a "polarising" and "divisive" figure after the 2002 Gujarat riots.
30 things you should know about Narendra Modi
compiles a list of things, both unknown and known, about the latest challenger to the New Delhi throne.
Men who were HANGED for what they did
Rediff.com takes a look at some cases from the recent past where the courts awarded the capital punishment for horrific crimes that fall under the rarest of rare category.
Our daughter has finally got justice: Delhi braveheart's familyParents of the 23-year-old gang-rape victim on Friday expressed happiness over a court ordering the four convicts to the gallows for the brutal attack, saying their daughter has finally got justice.
Delhi rapists will be HANGED
The four convicts in the December 16 gang rape-cum-murder case were on Friday awarded death penalty by a Delhi court which said the gravity of the offence cannot be tolerated.
Readers' Ganpati PHOTOS: From Yash Raj to Santa Clara
Readers' PHOTOS: Ganpati from Andheri to Jalgaon
Target: Ajit Singh's vote-bank. Result: Muzaffarnagar riots
As general elections approach Uttar Pradesh may see more communal incidents as political parties make an all-out play for votes, says .
'Nobody gives up in India. Or on India'
'India stands out in the world because of its ability to absorb, survive, bounce back and stay together despite daunting odds.
EXPOSED: America's murky underground market for kids
Reuters recently uncovered the disturbing process of 're-homing' of adopted children rampant in the United States of America, putting to immense risk the lives and future of countless children brought to the US from several countries around the globe. Rediff.com brings forth defining photographs of these defenseless children.
IN PHOTOS: A dictator and a family man
Rediff.com shares some of the lighter moments of the North Korean autocrat.
Delhi gang rape: Will convicts get death sentence today?The fate of four convicts in the December 16 gang rape and murder case will be known on Friday with a Delhi court set to pronounce the much-awaited order on whether their offence falls in the "rarest of rare" category warranting death sentence.
It's official: Narendra Modi is BJP's PM candidateThe Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday formally declared Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the party's prime ministerial candidate after hectic parleys by senior leaders to convince L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi to give up their opposition to him.
September 12, 2013
Exclusive! Warned home ministry about tensions in UP: Rahman Khan
While officials of the National Investigation Agency are finding it hard to extract any information from Yasin Bhatkal, the wily chief of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, his aide Asaddulah Akthar is singing like a canary.
BJP picks Friday 'mahurat' to name Narendra Modi for PM
The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to announce on Friday that Narendra Modi will be its candidate for prime minister, according to sources, despite strong opposition from party patriarch LK Advani.
REVEALED: The mystery behind India's missing girls
Promotion of sex-selection abortions as a population control strategy, crafted in the United States and then exported worldwide, has resulted in millions of missing girls in India, China and elsewhere, a Congressional human rights panel has been told.
You will hang me even if I don't speak: Yasin Bhatkal
The arrest of Indian Mujahideen chief Yasin Bhatkal may have been a shot in the arm for investigating agencies, but they are finding that he is a tough nut to crack, says .
PHOTOS: All-powerful Syrian rebels loaded with America's big guns
The Central Investigation Agency has begun delivering weapons to Syrian rebels as part of the United States plan to strengthen the opposition armed groups against the Bashar al-Assad regime, even as the Obama administration began talks with Russia to find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis, a media report said on Thursday.
Don't miss! Top news in DRAMATIC photographs
We present news from across the globe through some stunning pictures in the last 48 hours.
Why China is probing Indian limits on the border
What could be the reason for the Chinese to all of a sudden churn up the placid waters? Perhaps the reading on the banner is: no hobnobbing with ASEAN countries. But upping the ante along the borders has its own demerits for the Chinese. It serves to push India closer to the US thus strengthening the latter's Asian pivot, says Brigadier (retd) S K Chatterji.
Readers' choice: The best Ganpati photos from across the world
Here are some of the best Ganesh photographs sent by our readers.
'No other country fascinates me more than India'
'I am so proud to be born in this country. The emotions that run through the veins of the population keep me alive. I have been to so many countries but nowhere have I come across souls more passionate than Indians, says Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com why they love India.
September 11, 2013
Life on MARS? India will find the answer soon
India's Mars Orbiter Mission, which will look for scope of life on the red planet, will be a reality in either October or November as the Indian Space Research Organisation unveiled the mission on Wednesday.
86 days later, bells toll at Kedarnath temple once again
The tolling of bells may have brought alive the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath on Wednesday, but heaps of broken doors and razed walls just a few meters away are a tell-tale sign of the massive devastation suffered in the June calamity.
FATWA FACTORY: Now photography is un-Islamic
After blood donation, firecrackers and even starlet Veena Malik, India's very own fatwa factory, Darul Uloom in Deoband has issued a new decree that terms "photography as unlawful and a sin".
View: Only murderers deserve to be hanged, not gang rapists
Let not our current anger against gang rapes undermine centuries of wisdom. Because, in doing so, we may just be putting our women at greater risk, says Amberish K Diwanji
We are as GUILTY as the rapists
Let's light the candles but, first, let us stop and look around to see who we can help, says
In Photos: The Day the World Changed
New York and the United States paused for a moment, or more, to observe the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
We will not FORGIVE, we will not FORGET
Some telling images that prove Indian women are in no mood to forgive or forget.
Swami Vivekanand to Osama: Remembering the THREE 9/11s
The world remembers Osama bin Laden's 9/11. But it ought to pay heed to the previous two 9/11s, associated with the messages of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, say
BJP leaders queue up to promote 'rock star' Modi
Amid near certainty that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be named the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate soon, subtle jockeying has started within the party on who will get what once the BJP forms a government after the 2014 elections.
Readers' PHOTOS: Ganpati from Malad to Netherlands
Readers' PHOTOS: Ganpati from Malad to Netherlands
NASA's stunning Instagram photos: A sneak peek into the universe
Using Instagram, NASA posted some out-of-the-world images. Here's a look.
Death or lifer for Delhi rapists? Court to decide on Friday
A fast-track court in New Delhi on Tuesday pronounced all the remaining four accused guilty for the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012.
September 10, 2013
Hey, that is Sonakshi's dad!
Shatrughan Sinha's rather substantial ego took a knocking recently when a group of students didn't know who he was.
PHOTOS: Maharashtra's netas bring Ganpati home
The top leaders of Maharashtra are celebrating Ganeshotsav
Modi teaches ABC... of Congress @ Jaipur
Right from teaching ABC to comparing Marwaris with Gujratis, Modi did all to bill the connect in Jaipur, reports
Providing food to poor is NOT wastage of money: Rahul
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked critics of the Food Security Bill which was passed by Parliament last week, saying money spent on providing meals to the poor cannot be called "wastage" of financial resources.
Modi?? Only Rahul epitomises India: Pilot
Rahul Gandhi will lead Congress from the front in the Lok Sabha as well as the assembly polls this year, Union Minister Sachin Pilot said, skirting the question whether he would be projected as Prime Ministerial candidate to take on Narendra Modi.
17 surgeries in 13 mths: Who'll fight for this 11-yr-old rape victim?
Rape accused and self-proclaimed 'godman' Asaram Bapu has been arrested and booked under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, for allegedly sexually abusing a minor
Delhi gang rape: The 5 men found guilty and charges they faceLess than nine months after the December 16 brutal gang rape incident, a fast track Delhi court on Tuesday held all the five accused, including a man who died during the trial, guilty of rape and cold blooded murder of a "defenceless" 23-year-old girl that can fetch them death.
PHOTOS: Why Obama won't BOMB Syria for now
United States President Barack Obama has said the military strike against Syria can be put on hold if the Bashar al-Assad regime agrees to turns over the chemical weapons to the international community.
Readers' PHOTOS: Ganpati from Girgaum to Germany
The first of the series of readers' photos on Ganeshotsav 2013.
Polarisation or development? Narendra Modi's big dilemma
After a SWOT analysis of the UPA, examines how its prime challenger squares off. 'In the public space Modi enjoys many advantages the BJP doesn't. At same time, there are many advantages to the BJP which Modi doesn't enjoy.'
REWIND: Stunning PHOTOS of the week
Here's a collection of some of the best photos from around the world shot in the week gone by
Delhi gang rape: All 4 accused found GUILTY
A fast track court is likely to pronounce on Monday its verdict in the December 16 gang-rape case, in which four adult accused were tried for brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in New Delhi.
'India has given me the wild tiger and my work with it'
'The most special part of India for me is where there is genuine peace
September 09, 2013
Mumbai's richest, biggest and famous Ganpatis
One of the biggest festivals in the country, Ganeshotsav attracts visitors from across the country to see the offerings of some of the most creative and famous Ganesh pandals. We bring you the richest, biggest and famous Ganesh pandals from Mumbai.
Wounded and battered, they wait to be released in the wild
Three female leopards, aged 5-7 years are waiting in a 10x10 cage to be released after recovering from back injuries which they sustained after falling in a dry well in Rahuri, Ahmednagar district. They were brought to the Manikdoh Leopard Rehabilitation Center, about 90 kms from Pune after being rescued by a team of Maharashtra's forest officials and the experts at the MLRC. reports.
September 08, 2013
Is America planning 3-day BOMBING blitz on Syria?
The Pentagon is gearing up for a three-day attack on Syria, with a heavy barrage of missile strikes followed by more attacks on targets that were missed to destroy in the opening salvos, a leading United States newspaper reported on Sunday.
Music, beauty, history: It is here, it is here
, who attended Zubin Mehta's mesmerizing concert at the picturesque Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar, describes those enigmatic moments when harmony returned to the heaven on earth, Kashmir.
September 07, 2013
Music, malice and a maestro's love for Kashmir
, who is in Srinagar for the Zubin Mehta concert, gets a feel of the emotions at play on ground zero
Why Sibal said SORRY in Rajya Sabha
The Opposition on Saturday forced Law Minister Kapil Sibal to apologise in Rajya Sabha for failing to get a Constitution Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, alleging that he "misled" the Upper House while getting it passed in "haste".
Supreme Court vs Parliament in criminal stand-off
Even as Parliament passed a bill late on Friday that maintains the right of lawmakers in jail to contest polls, the Supreme Court has asked the Centre to enforce its order for the immediate disqualification of sitting MPs, MLAs and MLCs who have been convicted for an offence attracting a sentence of two years or more.
Srinagar locks down for today's twin concerts
Tight security has been thrown around Srinagar for Saturday's concert by music maestro Zubin Mehta.
September 06, 2013
Coalgate solved! How the files disappeared
's tongue-in-cheek take on the on-going Coalgate scam.
Photos: Mumbai's BIGGEST Ganpati, Lalbaugcha Raja, unveiledThe idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, or the 'King of Lalbaug', was unveiled on Thursday night.
Go G20! World leaders get the party on in Russia
Rediff.com brings for you some behind-the-scenes moments from the G-20 summit
WHAT is happening at the China border, BJP asks PM
The government on Friday said it has nothing to conceal on the issue of Chinese incursion, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party accused it of a "weak response".
Prasoon Joshi: 'The threshold of our patience has been reached'
'Let us acknowledge this and let us lead that change. Even as we change, let us not forget to love the complexity of our country and revel in its multiculturalism. Let us not forget that we've always given space for the smallest voices and the tiniest murmurs and make space for disagreements,' says writer-poet-ad guru Prasoon Joshi.
Damn you, Russia... It's about saving Syrians: US
The United States has said that it has given up trying to work with the United Nations Security Council on Syria, holding Russia responsible for preventing the world body from protecting security of Syrian people.
How NSA blew up your online privacy
The National Security Agency of the United States has cracked the encryption designed to provide online privacy using supercomputers, multiple media outlets in the US and Britain have reported.
September 05, 2013
I don't dream of being PM; have to serve Guj till 2017: Modi
Downplaying his Prime Ministerial aspirations, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he never dreams of holding the top post as he is bound to respect the mandate given to him by the people of his state till 2017.
Delhi rape: Defence lawyers blame Braveheart, her friend, and govt
As the country awaits justice for the horrific gang rape and murder of the Delhi Braveheart, meets the lawyers of the accused. They either blame the girl, or her friend, or both. One of the lawyers who was associated with the case even claims there was no rape, and that the girl is alive.
India puts up 'Death Trap' at border, Pak sees RED
The three-tier border fencing along the Line of Control has turned into a 'death trap' for infiltrating militants, leading to desperation among militant ranks and repeated firings on Indian posts from across the border, the army has said.
PHOTOS: The weird, crazy things people do!
A collection of odd photos from around the world in recent days.
Space race: China races ahead, India limps
The Indian government must support ISRO so that it is able to achieve its goal of becoming self-sufficient in all segments of the space business. The highly successful PSLV programme is a testimony to its capabilities. Now it needs to demonstrate the same with GSLV. Nothing should waver it from this goal. Not even competition with China, says
This magnificent warship to join Navy fleet in November 
The long-delayed aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov is planned to be handed over to the Indian navy around mid-November in Russia where it has achieved significant milestones such as night operations of fighter aircraft during its ongoing sea trials there.
PHOTOS: Unreal images that will BLOW your mind
Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2013, the world's premier photography competition dedicated to the world of action and adventure sports, announced the top 50 finalists, at a grand ceremony in Hong Kong, will travel across the globe in a unique and stand-alone photo exhibition.
September 04, 2013
Militant threat to Zubin Mehta concert in Srinagar 
Unfazed by opposition from separatists and threats from little-known militant groups, preparations are on in full swing for the 'Ehsaas-e-Kashmir' Feel of Kashmir) music concert featuring world renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta in Srinagar on Saturday.
'The story of India is an incredible story'
I can't survive a week without speaking in Hindi. I start feeling claustrophobic. I start feeling that I need air...
US man, who held 3 women captive for 10 yrs, found dead in cell
Ariel Castro, jailed for kidnapping and repeatedly raping three women he held captive in his home for 10 years, has been found dead in his prison cell
History repeats: 16 Indian fishermen languish in Iran jail
The families of the poor fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were arrested while fishing in Iranian waters for their Saudi Arabian employers, are running on faith and compensation from the state government, reports
Al Qaeda nerds in Pakistan working on drone killers
Pakistan-based Al Qaeda engineers are making several efforts including developing a laser warning system and shoulder-fired missiles to counter American drones, according to a report.
Teachers' Day: 'She showed me how to live my life'
A teacher pays tribute to a 'very special student' - the Delhi Braveheart
Greeting a walrus... Things Vladimir Putin does
The Russian president is no stranger to bizarre photocalls as he is previously been photographed going horse-riding with his shirt off, sedating Siberian tigers and polar bears, and guiding cranes to new migration routes in a microlight.
Tragically disunited: Inside a Syrian refugee camp 
With 2 million refugees fleeing Syria, half of which are children, the civil war-torn country has seen a nine-fold increase in that number in the last 12 months, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And this is with no sign of the outflow ending soon.
Syria: US gears up for a dangerous intervention
An attack on the Assad regime is unlikely to bring relief to Syria's oppressed and vulnerable population or end the civil war. It will spread the area of violence and increase the stream of refugees in a region wracked by conflict, violence and instability affecting the Gulf countries as much as West Asia, says
What India needs is leadership, not rage, Mr Prime Minister
Both Dr Singh and the Congress party are culpable for India's aimless drift. This crippling, self-destructive impasse of vacuous leadership cannot be allowed to persist for even a day longer. India demands and deserves better leadership, says
September 03, 2013
PM can't expect us to be his cheerleaders: BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the United Progressive Alliance's wrong policies, wrong methods, wrong implementation and corruption are the reasons behind the economic crisis that has engulfed the country.
PM finds nothing fishy about missing coal files
Facing all-round attack, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said all efforts are being made to locate the untraceable files related to coal block allocations and CBI will be asked to investigate if these efforts do not fructify.
Parineeti Chopra: 'India has the perfect balance'
'Most countries are either very modern and detached from their families and their culture, and they are only having fun in life, or they are very family-oriented. I think India has the perfect balance of both, which is amazing,' says actor Parineeti Chopra.
The Karachi Project: 'We had enough nitrate to carry out 100 blasts'
This was the motto of the Karachi project - a covert programme conceptualized by the Inter Services Intelligence in 2003 and kicked off by Indian Mujahideen terrorist Yasin Bhatkal five years later.
The shoddy way India looks at Afghanistan
New Delhi has consigned to itself the role of the underdog, says Ajai Shukla
7 SHOCKING laws that haunt women in Saudi Arabia 
Rediff.com takes a look at some shocking Sharia laws that prevent Saudi women from doing everyday things.
The best PHOTOS of the month: August
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the month gone by.
September 02, 2013
Revealed: Asaram Bapu's Congress backer...
Asaram Bapu had some powerful backers within the Congress... Why Kumari Selja's phone hasn't stopped ringing... Gossip from the Dilli Durbar
IAF's C-17 Globemaster III promises to be a 'game changer'
Air Chief Marshal Browne said he was proud to accept "into our inventory one of the most modern and versatile airlift platforms."
A parivar split over mandir and Modi
Realpolitik is at work in the Bharatiya Janata Party, says Aditi Phadnis
9 months on, protests continue every day over Delhi gang rape
A small group of protestors in Delhi have kept up their fight for justice in the Delhi gang rape case. tells their story
PHOTOS: Stunning airpower display @ Moscow
The MAKS International Aviation and Space Salon, the only place where one could see aircraft and weapons system prototypes as well as experimental systems which cannot be shown abroad due to some or other reasons, concluded in Moscow on Sunday.
Want a house on the Red Planet? Get in line!
As the deadline for registration nears, over 8,000 Indians have so far signed up for a one-way trip to Mars to settle down on the red planet, as the 'Mars One' project is planning to establish a colony there in the next 10 years.
Tests prove Asaram Bapu is NOT impotent
Jodhpur Police Commissioner Biju George Joseph said, "A potency test was conducted on him, which confirmed that he was strong enough to commit the crime of sexual assault and rape on the 16-year-old girl."
C-17 Globemaster III joins Indian Air Force
Bolstering the Indian Air Force's capability to swiftly transport combat troops and equipment such as tanks to the front, Defence Minister A K Antony will on Monday formally induct its biggest 70-tonne C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft into service at the Hindon Air Base near New Delhi.
September 01, 2013
Asaram questioned for 4 hours, remanded to 1-day custody
Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu was on Sunday quizzed by police in Jodhpur after being flown from Indore where he was arrested after midnight amid high drama for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram.
Post 9/11, Bhatkal wanted to fight NATO forces in Afghanistan Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal wanted to fight North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in Afghanistan as an 18-year-old when the US launched its campaign against Taliban following the 9/11 attacks, investigators have said.
Barack Obama asks Congress to OK strike on Syria
In a surprise move, United States President Barack Obama has sought congressional approval for limited military intervention in Syria to win more support for his plan to punish the Bashar al-Assad regime for its alleged use of chemical weapons.
August 31, 2013
'I know she would have wanted her murderers dead'
A teacher pays tribute to a 'very special student' - the Delhi Braveheart -- even as the juvenile is convicted for her rape and murder and begins a three-year term in a correctional facility.
DON'T MISS: Pope poses for a 'selfie', first ever in papal history
Pope Francis obligingly posed for a "selfie" with a group of youngsters visiting the Vatican.
14,000 Syrians killed in chemical attacks, US weighs strike
Indicating that an attack on Syria is imminent, United States President Barack Obama has declared that the America had an obligation to punish Damascus for allegedly using chemical weapons and said a possible military strike would be limited "with no boots on the ground".
Cops find Asaram Bapu fit to face grilling
Hot on the trail of Asaram Bapu, the Jodhpur Police has said that the self-styled godman, who is currently at Indore ashram, is medically fit for interrogation and is set to question him soon in connection with the sexual assault case.
Delhi gang rape: Juvenile found GUILTY; victim's kin feel cheated
The first verdict in the December 16 gang rape and murder of a paramedic student is likely to be pronounced today by the Juvenile Justice Board which had concluded the inquiry against a minor, one of the five accused in the case that had sparked national outrage.
August 30, 2013
7 days when Manmohan was NOT silent
Obviously, there could be more days when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke from his heart. Here's our pick
Call polls; can't have a silent PM, paralysed govt: BJP to Prez
Bharatiya Janata Party veteran Lal Krishna Advani on Friday said the only way to end the present situation of uncertainty in the country and tackle the economic crisis effectively is to hold Lok Sabha elections in 2013.
Exclusive: 'It is important we don't have a blind, single-minded, approach to Pakistan'
'I don't think it is right to think that the US has unmanageable concerns about India's economy. India can't say we want and we will not give. India has to find a right balance between give and take. I think we have to negotiate like good, solid, businessmen.' External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on India, the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Manmohan goes guns blazing in Parliament
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday made a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Rajya Sabha, accusing them of hurting investors' sentiment by repeatedly disrupting Parliament, triggering a war of words.
Who will replace Yasin Bhatkal as India's Most Wanted?
After the setback of their arrest of their chief Yasin Bhatkal, top Indian Mujahideen operatives are now looking for his replacement.
'No athlete can underestimate the prayers of a billion people'
India has celebrated with great vigour the achievement of each and every athlete, as much as its cricket team, says Olympic bronze medalist Gagan Narang, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
PIX: Police ends Jagan's fast in jail; shifts him to hospital
Police on late on Thursday night broke the five-day-old indefinite hunger strike of YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, at the Chanchalguda jail in Hyderabad and got him shifted to a government hospital.
PHOTOS: When it rained poison
Rediff.com takes a look at previous times chemical weapons were used.
Why Pakistan may have jettisoned Yasin Bhatkal
It seems that like in the late 1980s, Pakistan feels that its support to the IM is giving diminishing returns and they have decided to jettison them. It is not unlikely that an American nudge and pressure to do this has been a significant factor in all these happenings, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
Bhatkal's journey: From engineer to India's most wanted terroristBranded as the face of modern day terrorism, Zarar Ahmed Siddibaba alias Yasin Bhatkal of the banned Indian Mujahideen arrested on Wednesday night gained cult status in the homegrown terror network after the 2008 Delhi serial blasts.
August 29, 2013
PIX: Mumbai's Govindas reach stunning heights for dahi handis
The festival of 'dahi handi' was celebrated across the metropolis and neighbouring Thane district amid fervour that underscores indomitable spirit of an average Mumbaikar shrugging off the drudgery associated with daily life.
PHOTOS: India is HUNTING for these Indian Mujahideen terrorists
Let's introduce you to some of the most wanted terrorists in India
Who is Yasin Bhatkal? Nobody knows for sure
A largely behind-the-scene operative, Yasin Bhatkal is today on the watch list of the Interpol with a red corner alert issued against him.
The TOMATINA album: World's biggest food fight, now at a price
Rediff.com brings you the best pictures from the biggest food fight in the world.
'There is no religion such as the Hindu religion' 
'I cannot call myself a Hindu nationalist or nationalist Hindu...' 'Raj Dharm is where fundamentally Modi has gone wrong...'
IN PHOTOS: Janmashtami fervour grips India
Devotees, chanting 'Hare Krishna Hare Rama', thronged decked-up temples as Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across the country.
These are India's most controversial godmen
Rediff.com takes a look at some godmen who have attracted controversy in recent times.
PHOTOS: Mumbai from the upper deck of a BEST bus
Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh describes how the scene from his window on one of Mumbai's fast-disappearing double-decker buses changes as he travels from suburban Kurla to Bandra Terminus -- route no 310.
NASA's Spitzer telescope @ 10: Gems from the universe!
NASA's infrared eye on the universe -- the Spitzer Space Telescope -- has marked its tenth year in space and it is still going strong.
PIX: Thousand commemorate 50th anniv of March on Washington
US President Obama in his address to thousands who gathered on the Washington Mall paid tribute to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and to the millions who stood by his side during the civil rights fight of the 1960s.
August 28, 2013
India finally knows what to do with its hazardous T-72 tanks
Seeking to address the issue of bursting barrels of Army tanks due to ammunition, the government is planning to replace them with canons of T-90 tanks in collaboration with Russia.
PHOTOS: Mumbai gang rape accused taken to crime scene
The five accused arrested in connection with the gang rape of 23-year-old photojournalist were on Wednesday taken to Shakti Mills compound in Mumbai to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the crime.
PHOTOS: 11 killed in Baroda twin building collapse
At least 11 people were killed when two three-storey buildings built 11 years back collapsed in Madhavnagar locality of Atladara area in Vadodara in the wee hours on Wednesday and about 40 people were feared to be stuck under the debris.
General V K Singh marching towards the BJP?
Will the former army chief pledge his allegiance to the BJP in the 2014 election?
What India's secularists can learn from south-east Asia
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale on how India can learn from the way many Muslim-majority countries in south-east Asia have protected their Hindu and Buddhist heritage.
Sunny Deol all set for politics?
Another Punjab da Puttar may become a neta soon... Why Sonia's illness caused heartburn...Gossip from the Dilli Durbar.
This GIANT wildfire, seen from space, rages 10 days on
For over 10 days now, 3,700 firefighters have been battling the massive wildfire near California's Yosemite National Park. The Rim Fire has scorched 134,000 acres, an area approximately the size of Chicago.
PHOTOS: Inside world's largest scooter festival
Rediff.com takes its readers on a tour of the world's largest scooter festival
'The most lovable attribute of India is our resilience'
'Our democracy is in form. Our judicial institution is broadly fine. Our parliamentary system is by and large working fine... The only segment I am deeply concerned with are the tribals. They are kept out of the development processes, says Arun Jaitley, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com why they love India.
Sonia Gandhi is back in the driver's seat
In early 2004, when the Congress had been routed in north Indian states, and even Congressmen were prophesying a two-digit tally for the party in the general elections, Sonia determinedly hit the road and stitched up alliances. Now, once again, she is displaying a similar resoluteness in circumstances that are even more trying, as evidenced by her piloting of the Food Security Bill, says Neerja Chowdhury
India scanned 18 Facebook users daily this year
Facebook complied with about 50 per cent of those requests.
August 27, 2013
Why Digvijaya Singh is upset with Rahul Gandhi
The growing clamour in the Congress to project Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia as the party's chief ministerial candidate in the year-end assembly election in Madhya Pradesh has upset high-profile All India Congress Committee general secretary Digvijaya Singh, reports .
189 of the 236 coal scam documents 'unavailable'!The central government has admitted before the Supreme Court that 189 out of the 236 documents sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing coal block allocation scam, is "not-available".
Ajay Devgn: Today's youth is aggressive because it's concerned about India
Today, people fight for the rights of someone they don't know. They participate in protests to react to something they feel is not right, says actor , in our special series where well-known Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
'Hang the men who raped my daughter, monsters who raped Mumbai girl'
As the Delhi gang rape trial winds to a close, the family who lost their only daughter speak of their eight-month trauma and the desperate need for capital punishment for all rapists, including the five men who brutalised the Mumbai photojournalist last week. reports
Sea-borne terror threat to Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Security has been beefed up at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of credible intelligence that the high-profile place is under the radar of Pakistan-based terror groups.
The speech that changed a nation
Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 'I have a Dream' speech is one of the greatest speeches of the 20th Century.
Digvijaya Singh: I have the best of relations with BJP and RSS leaders
'There are dark sheep all over. But can we have any other form of governance other than democracy?'... 'There cannot be two sets of rules -- one for the common man and one for the privileged political person.' Digvijaya Singh in a candid interaction with Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
PM is Modi's main election agent: Arun Shourie
In an interview to CNN-IBN, Shourie said the country needs a decisive leader and Narendra Modi is a decisive leader.
INCREDIBLE photos from around the world
INCREDIBLE photos from around the world
'Rape is rape whether carried out by a migrant or local'
India can work with the existing rape laws, but what is important is timely implementation, emphasise experts.
August 26, 2013
7 FACTS about the ambitious Food Bill
Even as frenzied debate continues over the Food Security Bill ordinance in Parliament, here are 7 facts that you must know about the legislation.
SC: Why are rapes happening again and again?
The huge spurt in rape incidents across the country, including the Mumbai photo-journalist gang rape, has drawn strong concerns from the Supreme Court which said that the situation is "going from bad to worse".
A 'foolproof' plan to secure Lord Ganesh
In view of strong intelligence inputs of possible terror strikes, Mumbai police have drawn a "foolproof" security plan to maintain a hawk-eyed vigil for the widely celebrated Ganesh festival in Mumbai next month.
Rashmi Bansal: I grew up believing that India Can!
India can launch a rocket into space, grow its own food and make its own dams. That's something to be proud of, and I certainly am.
Onion, onion pe likha hai, khane wale ka naam...
Rising onion prices make want to make you cry. Uttam Ghosh is determined to make you smile instead.
Living with leopards in Incredible India
Vidya Athreya's tracking of a leopard's stunning journey through Maharashtra shattered set notions about wild animals and is being made into a film starring Urmila Matondkar. Sumit Bhattacharya meets the pioneering wildlife scientist.
Want a one-way ticket to Mars?
Come 2023, and four people will blast off on a 200-day journey to Mars to establish a human colony on that planet. Indulekha Aravind talks to some Indians who have lined up for the unprecedented adventure
Anybody bothered about defending India?
Ajai Shukla on the titanic mis-spending of lakhs of crores by the Indian defence forces
August 25, 2013
VHP's much-hyped Ayodhya yatra a non-starter
The poor turnout of volunteers made it evident that the 'parikrama' had failed to evoke interest among the local population, reports
August 24, 2013
Mumbai: Rape not end of life, want to start work, says survivor
"Rape is not the end of life. I want strictest punishment for all the accused and want to join duty as early as possible".
Mumbai gang rape: Let's BOO at these silent leaders
Let's find out who are these prominent leaders, and BOO at their silence over the Mumbai gang rape incident. Don't forget to register your anger by clicking on the 'BOO' icon at the bottom of every slide.
August 23, 2013
'It's time to stop the fantasy about Mumbai remaining a safe city'
Over 200 journalists, photographers and journalism students came together at Hutatma Chowk in south Mumbai to protest the gang-rape.
Photos: Shocked and outraged, Mumbai raises its voice against rape
Several Mumbaikars took to the streets on Friday to protest the horrific gang-rape of a photojournalist in an abandoned mill compound the day before
Mumbai Police cracks photojournalist's gang rape case, 1 held
Acting swiftly, Mumbai Police on Friday cracked the gang rape case of a young photojournalist, arresting one of the accused within 24 hours of the incident and identifying four others, including two criminals, for whom a massive manhunt has been launched.
Summer break keeps US lawmakers from meeting Hazare
Not a single lawmaker met the anti-corruption crusader during his visit to Capitol Hill, reports
Deadly communal potion is brewing in UP
Sharat Pradhan assesses the ongoing political match-fixing in Uttar Pradesh to bring Ayodhya back on the centre stage -- for votes
Why Pakistan wants to blow apart LoC ceasefire
Until Nawaz Sharif walks the talk on peace with India, he can never be considered a credible partner in the normalisation process. Indian meanwhile must respond and react appropriately and proportionately to any and every provocation from Pakistan. Equally important, India needs to disabuse the West of any notions of playing a mediatory role on the issue of Kashmir, says Sushant Sareen
How Modi poses threat as well as opportunity for Cong
Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt analyses the Congress's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
August 22, 2013
Manmohan seeks wisdom at Raisina Hills
Faced with one crisis after another, the beleaguered ruling alliance desperately needs a seasoned politician like Pranab Mukherjee to bail it out, says Anita Katyal
Dec 16 rape case: 'The accused satisfied their lust... brutally!'
The accused in December 16 gangrape case were on the road in pursuance of a plan and targeted the victims, including the girl, in their "quest for sexual satisfaction and loot", committing a crime which was "grotesque to say the least", the prosecution told the court on Thursday.
Modi following Hitler's tactics to grab power: Digvijaya
Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh, who has been unsparing in his criticism of Narendra Modi, on Thursday compared him to Adolf Hitler saying he was following the disgraced dictator in many ways to grab power.
'We still have time for each other in India'
Our beloved country although evolving still, retains a precious simplicity. We still have time to visit one another without having to make appointments, says Neil Nongkynrih, founder of the famous Shillong Chamber Choir, as we continue our special series where 66 Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
Anna Hazare interview: PM made promises, his govt cheated me
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's trip to the United States and participation in the India Independence Day Parade, was "to meet NRIs and connect with like-minded people in the United States and get their support -- wake them up -- for the next anti-corruption agitation in India."
Musharraf indictment puts Pakistan military on defensive
Tuesday's indictment of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf for conspiracy to murder former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto demonstrates that the Pakistani judiciary is increasingly willing to challenge the authority of the powerful Pakistani army, says Lisa Curtis
Photos: It is a WAR out there in Egypt
More than a month after the unceremonious ouster of President Morsi, Egypt continues to burn with rage and throb with grief. We bring you some of the most poignant images from Egypt's season of discontent...
PHOTOS: Whistleblower Manning's home for next 35 years
Bradley Manning will be incarcerated at Fort Leavenworth, the US military's most famous prison.
These 16 nations have been a total failure!
Even though India improved upon its ranking (79 out of 178) compared to 2012 -- climbing two spots -- the country is still not out of the woods in the danger list owing to starkly uneven economic development and widespread poverty.
August 21, 2013
PIX: 'Around 650 killed in chemical bombing near Damascus'
Syria has vehemently denied the use of chemical weapons in an attack on the eastern suburbs of Damascus, which the opposition Syrian National Coalition claimed killed 650 people.
Ravinder Singh: New India is making its presence felt!
Author Ravinder Singh, of I Too Had a Love Story fame, loves the fact that India is a unique blend of the old and the new!
PHOTOS: Meet the cute little Sunny Obama
Sunny, who was born in Michigan in June 2012, is a Portuguese water dog just like Bo and works great for the Obamas because of allergies in their family.
Meet 'bhai jaan' Modi & other big brothers of Indian politics
Rediff.com takes a look at how politicians celebrated Raksha Bandhan across India.
Why US-made howitzers will cost India 90% more
In August, the Pentagon re-notified the United States Congress of sale of howitzers to India for up to $885 million. A 2010 notification had stated a maximum cost of $647 million
This Indian indigenous aircraft carrier SCARES China
Describing the launch of India's indigenous aircraft carrier and Japan's biggest warship since World War II as a threat to China, a report in the state-run media on Tuesday alleged some countries are backing New Delhi to balance Beijing's power. The launch of India's INS Vikrant and Japan's helicopter carrier serve as a warning for China, said an article on the state-run Global Times' website.
BJP's top 10 prime ministerial candidates. CAST YOUR VOTE!
Arun Jaitley said the BJP has 10 potential prime ministerial candidates - and all along one thought there was only one! So who are the 10? Here's a quick checklist.
INCREDIBLE photos from around the world
Here's a collection of some of the best photos from around the globe.
August 20, 2013
RIP Mumbai's playgrounds, who needs you anyway?
Playgrounds encourage scams like IPL spot-fixing and betting. Instead, we should ensure that everyone plays video games inside their own homes, suggests , tongue firmly in cheek
'You cannot kill an idea!'
A meeting protesting the mysterious murder of Dr Narendra Dabholkar was held in Mumbai. reports.
'I still send my dead sister text messages'
In a Delhi home, two brothers miss a special sister on Raksha Bandhan.
Ahmed Patel: The common men and women keep India going
'I salute the spirit of the common men and women of India. They are very accommodative. They see beyond politics and strife; they are religious and reasonable, says Congress leader Ahmed Patel in an exclusive feature, celebrating our special series where 66 Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
This one's for keeps: The FIRST official royal baby portrait
Take a look at the adorable Prince George in his first official family photograph.
Just another day in paradise
finds hope for the ordinary Indian in an unlikely place -- a Delhi slum.
Congress to push for Sonia's pet Food Bill in Lok Sabha today
The Food Security Bill is likely to be a game-changer for the Congress ahead of five assembly polls this year-end.
LoC killings: The ceasefire is alive, not well
The sharp increase in firing between Indian and Pakistani posts on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir raises the question: is the decade-old ceasefire of 2003 dead? If one side or both are staging cross-border raids and fire is being exchanged daily, it might seem that the ceasefire has irretrievably broken down, even if New Delhi and Islamabad have not acknowledged that, says
SCREEN TEST: What do YOU think is happening here?
Take a good look at the picture and come up with an incredible line on what you think this image is all about.
4 Indian cities among Top 20 headed for DISASTER!
Researchers seem to have found out which cities across the globe face the highest risk from coastal flooding.
August 19, 2013
PHOTOS: Egypt on edge, 36 killed in prison break bid
The Muslim Brotherhood struggling for its existence in Egypt accused security forces of carrying out "cold-blooded" murder after at least 36 Islamists were killed while they tried to escape from a prison convoy.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: India's 7 great strengths
'Spirituality, without which India would have become like the Balkan States a long time ago,' says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, continuing our Independence Day special series where 66 well-known Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
Dilli Gupshup: What was Modi thinking?
All the Gupshup from Dilli...
The loss of Sindhurakshak and its repercussions on security
India lost its frontline submarine on Wednesday in a blaze. This comes at a time when India is planning to phase out older class of submarines by next year. For the next few years then, the edge enjoyed by the Indian Navy in underwater capabilities with respect to Pakistan stands significantly reduced, says .
'The melting pot that is India'
The India Day Parade in New York drew the masses, but where was the young second-generation? reports from the parade
Carrying out 50 blasts was child's play for them: Cops
explains why Syed Abdul Karim Tunda, who, the security experts have described as a walking encyclopedia of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's pan-India operations, is a prize catch for the investigating agencies.
In PHOTOS: The majestic Serengeti lion
How close to a lion would you dare to go? Right up to their face could be the answer if you have the technology up your sleeve.
A month after midday meal tragedy, no one goes to school anymore
A month after the midday meal tragedy, parents are not ready to send children to school. 'How can we forget their deaths? It may be easy for others, but not for us.'
August 18, 2013
Watch it, Pakistan! You're making a BIG mistake: Army
Sending a strong message to Pakistan over repeated ceasefire violations and BAT attacks, the Indian Army has warned it was making a "serious mistake" and said a befitting reply would be given with "full force" at the time and place of its choice.
BJP activates Mission 272+
To make 'Mission 272+' for Lok Sabha polls a success, BJP's top leadership has asked its state units to strengthen the organisation from the booth-level, and reach out to prospective voters from all segments and age-groups.
Karim Tunda sings in Delhi Police custody
From an expert bomb maker to a small time shopkeeper selling perfumes near Muridkee in Pakistan, Abdul Karim Tunda has claimed that top Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander and Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi calls the shots in the terror outfit.
Kalam could have been an IAF pilot, but...
For former President A P J Abdul Kalam, becoming a fighter pilot was a "dearest dream" but he failed to realise it by a whisker as he bagged the ninth position when only eight slots were available in the Indian Air Force.
In PHOTOS: Omar Abdullah, the cricketer
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah showed his cricketing skills as he played the game with the locals of Brenwar, a remote village in Budgam district, where he was "grounded" due to bad weather.
Pakistan is planning more LoC attacks!
Amid heightened tension along the Line of Control, which has witnessed a spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the Indian Army has said that it has inputs about Pakistan trying to engineer more Border Action Team attacks along the borderline.
August 16, 2013
Hope sinks amidst Sindhurakshak's mangled remains
Facing tough conditions, Indian Navy divers on Friday extricated badly charred bodies of four personnel from submarine Sindhurakshak as hopes of finding survivors receded with naval authorities voicing worst fears that others on board could have been incinerated too.
Nehru let US spy jets use Indian air base for China ops
India allowed the United States to use one of its air bases for refuelling the American Central Intelligence Agency's U-2 spy planes to target Chinese territories after its defeat in the 1962 war, says a declassified official document.
Photos: Turbulent Cairo is headed for bloody Saturday
Egypt braced for more confrontations on Friday after the defiant Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide 'millions march of anger' to protest against a brutal security crackdown on supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi.
SHOCKING stats on India's criminal lawmakers
A study conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that since 2004, just 12 per cent candidates with a clean record have won as opposed to 23 per cent with serious criminal charges.
Beware of the dirty bomb!
The threat of a nuclear terror strike is very real and lurking nearby, says
Friday morning blues: Heavy rains flood Delhi, traffic hit
Heavy rains lashed New Delhi on Friday morning, triggering major traffic snarls due to water logging in various places.
ARRESTING images: CLOSEUPS unlike anything you have seen!
The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2013 series, the world's premier photography competition dedicated to the world of action and adventure sports, has recently come up with their top 250 entries in 10 categories. The top 50 finalists, after being unveiled in August end at a grand ceremony in Hong Kong, will travel across the globe in a unique and stand-alone photo exhibition.
'Gujarat throws many interesting surprises at you'
What is it about India that tugs at the chords of our hearts?
'Rahul is not a chest-thumping, self-proclaimed hero'
In this interview to , Pilot tries hard to defend his party, government and his leader Rahul Gandhi while talking about Modi.
August 15, 2013
IN PHOTOS: The joyous fervour of Independence Day
Despite raging politics and gloom over tragedies, India marked its 67th Independence Day with enthusiasm. Rediff.com presents photographs from across the country, and wishes each one of you, a very Happy Independence Day!
Modi tears into PM's I-Day speech; says India restless for change
Asserting that the nation is "restless" for a change, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, challenging him for a public debate on pressing issues while accusing him of taking a 'weak' stance on Pakistan.
I-Day PHOTOS: Sectarian ideologies need to stopped, says PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said "narrow and sectarian ideologies" would weaken democracy and their growth needs to be prevented, in remarks seen as a veiled attack on Narendra Modi's style of politics ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Independence Day musings: Tumultuous year ahead
While we concentrate on the long-term through building military strength we cannot afford to ignore the instant and immediate. It is well within Indian capability to deal with this threat but for that we need clear thinking and resolute action -- not 'Gandhigiri', says Colonel (retd) .
August 14, 2013
'A small spark can cause an explosion on a submarine'
Admiral Arun Prakash, who was the chief of naval staff from 2004 to 2006 and is today a leading strategic expert, feels that one should patiently wait for the Navy to finish the inquiry into the explosion and fire aboard the INSSindhurakshak before jumping to any conclusion. "For the media to speculate on unsubstantiated rumours is not correct," he tells on the telephone from Goa, where he has been living post-retirement.
How well do you know India? Take our I-Day quiz
Sixty-seven years of Independence, but how much of India and its history do we really know? Take our quiz and find out!
India,66: 'India is being built by its people'
What is it about India that tugs at the chords of our hearts? What makes this often beautiful, often frustrating, country the best country in the world for us? Why does it deserve to be celebrated and constantly nurtured? This Independence Day, well-known Indians tell Rediff.com what they love most about India.
In PHOTOS: INS Sindhurakshak in its FULL GLORY
India lost its frontline submarine on Wednesday in a blaze. Rediff.com presents some magnificent archival images of the vessel.
PHOTOS: 10 worst submarine mishaps this century
A look at some of the incidents involving submarines around the world in recent times
STUNNING photos: Check out these EXTREME playgrounds
The Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2013 series, the world's premier photography competition (http://www.redbullillume.com/gallery/final-images-2013/finalists-2013-top-250.html) dedicated to the world of action and adventure sports, has recently come up with their top 250 entries in 10 categories. The top 50 finalists, after being unveiled in August end at a grand ceremony in Hong Kong, will travel across the globe in a unique and stand-alone photo exhibition.
In photos: Navy submarine sinks after blasts; 18 feared dead
In one of the worst disasters to have struck the Indian Navy, a series of explosions rocked its submarine INS Sindhurakshak at the dockyard here around midnight, sinking it partially in the shallow sea, in which 18 personnel including three officers are feared killed.
August 13, 2013
Why the Poonch attack must not go unpunished
It is India that has emboldened Pakistan in its belief that it can literally get away with murder. We have ourselves to blame for it. The danger is, since its transgressions go unpunished, Pakistan has been trying to push the boundaries of Indian patience even further, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.
China's take on INS Vikrant and the missile to counter it!
Acknowledging that India has taken a lead over China in launching an indigenously built aircraft carrier, state media in Beijing on Tuesday said INS Vikrant would not lead to Sino-Indian arms race nor it would "create any waves" for cooperation between the two countries.
Chinese hospital ship drops anchor in Mumbai
A Chinese Navy hospital ship arrived in Mumbai on a visit, which saw the first ever interaction between medical services of the Chinese and the Indian Navy
'Telangana must not become a prisoner of provincialism, xenophobia, strife'
'Violence will come when you start getting into the business of what are you doing about Hyderabad, what are you doing about protecting the investments of those who are non-Telangana in the greater Hyderabad region,' warns thinker Harsh Sethi.
This mafia boss is going to jail for ever!
-year-old 'organized criminal' James 'Whitey' Bulger is probably breathing easy on the prospect of not having to face the lethal injection, but instead spend the rest of his life behind bars.
SATIRE: So what's Advani up to these days?
A look at what the Bharatiya Janata Party veteran has been up to these days.
8th attack in 3 days on Indian posts; Pak calls for UN probe
Pakistani Rangers opened firing from their Ashraf Post directly targeting Indian post at Narayanpur in Ramgarh sector in the Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, at 7 am. Firing stopped after 15 minutes.
'Vasco da Gama needs to be tried for crimes against humanity'
'Vasco da Gama himself indulged in some of the most heinous crimes. On October 1, 1502, he mercilessly ordered the killing of 700 innocent Malabar pilgrims. Half the pilgrims were women and children,' says historian J B P More.
25 fantastic photography experiments
In the second part of a series, we present the top 24 entries in the 'New Creativity' category, images that reveal a unique angle, take a look at these images which have NOT been digitally altered.
The rebirth of iconic INS Vikrant 
Good navies keep their battleships alive. India's first aircraft carrier will be reborn as its first indigenously built carrier, reports
August 12, 2013
I know my limitations, but don't exploit situation: Omar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN, alleges that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to capitalise on the Kishtwar violence for electoral gains. He rejects any role of his Home Minister Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, who was forced to resign, in the Kishtwar violence, while coming down heavily on BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi.
Kishtwar is the face of anti-national 'secularism'
Kishtwar is the face of secularism that Srinagar wears. The secularism which the Indian government follows is self defeating, feels BJP MP Tarun Vijay.
Cong's master plan: Stall Telangana formation till polls
Keeping the Lok Sabha polls in mind, the Congress has chalked out a strategy in which all regions in Andhra Pradesh will remain happy, reports Vicky Nanjappa.
PHOTOS: INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, launched
India will launch its first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Monday, making an entry into a select club of countries capable of designing and building a carrier of this size and capability.
PHOTO ALBUM: When Afghan kids met 'Captain America'
A story of friendship in the middle of the Afghanistan war.
Has Telangana shattered Sardar's vision of India?
'The man who decided that a multi-lingual Hyderabad should remain would not have been surprised that Telangana and Seemandhra could not live together as a united state.'
The best ACTION photos from across the world 
Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2013, the world's premier photography competition dedicated to the world of action and adventure sports, has recently come up with their top 250 entries in ten categories.
August 11, 2013
Modi stitches up a wider political alliance at Hyderabad
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's speech at Hyderabad had the usual Congress-bashing rhetoric, but also had elements of reaching out to allies in his own and other parties, writes .
PICS: Modi speaks in Telugu at Hyderabad, wows crowds
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the election campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Andhra Pradesh by starting his speech in Telugu, much to the amusement of the crowd. , who witnessed the event, reports.
'TRS will not settle for a Telangana without Hyderabad'
The man the Congress wants the most says in this chat with rediff.com's that it is up to the people to decide who to give credit for Telangana. The TRS has fought for this cause all along and it is not up to any party to take credit for the movement, but wait for the people to decide.
August 10, 2013
Photos: India to buy in-demand Howitzers for $885 mn!
The US has decided to sell India 145 state-of-the-art 155mm towed Howitzers to India worth about USD 885 million to improve the security of "an important partner" for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia.
August 09, 2013
Avoiding war with beer and rasgullahs
Indian and Chinese troops had a face-off in Sikkim earlier this week which, however, ended in a friendly exchange of beer and rasgullas.
Inside Hafiz Saeed's plans to storm New Delhi
The Intelligence Bureau has issued an alert about a possible terror attack being planned by Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed on the Red Fort in national capital New Delhi.
Hugs and prayers mark Eid around the world
The holy fasting month of Ramazan came to an end on Friday, with Muslims celebrating the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr across the world.
Eid Mubarak, India!
Rediff.com presents a collection of pictures of festivities from across India, as we wish our readers Eid Mubarak!
Why August 9 is a defining moment in India's history
Today is the 71st anniversary of the Quit India Movement, which Mahatma Gandhi called the biggest struggle of his life.
August 08, 2013
PHOTOS: Kashmir Valley comes alive on the eve of Eid
Eid shopping and festivities took over Kashmir Valley on Thursday as the fasting month of Ramadan is closing and paving the way for Eid-ul-fitr which will be celebrated on Friday.
Drug trade/smuggling finances Pakistan's anti-India regiment
A regiment of 30,000 fighters for the Pakistan army in India depends largely on the money that is generated through skin trade and drug smuggling, a report of the military intelligence bureau has said. reports.
India's growing influence in the new international order
Policy expert Richard Fontaine speaks to about the implications of Global Swing States like India in the context of the global order.
Media management: Rahul Gandhi style 
Rahul Gandhi's style of media management is baffling many. He first instructed everyone in the Congress to seek prior clearance from two lowly functionaries R V Ramani and Deepak Amin before speaking to the media.
Pakistan still sees India as an adversary!
The Pakistan Air Force must prepare for a "two-front" situation because of its involvement in anti-terror operations and its historic adversarial role with neighbour India, its chief has said.
PHOTOS: Guinness on their mind, New Yorkers strip down
More than 800 people dared to bare in New York's Times Square earlier this week to break the Guinness World Record of 'world's largest gathering of people in their underwear'.
What Rahul baba said and what he meant
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi popped up on the political scene nearly 10 years ago, and since then, he has been doing exactly that -- popping up every now or then and making statements which are taken up for mass amusement by everyone but the Congress.
In PHOTOS: The eccentric art of 'yarn bombing' 
Rediff.com takes a look at some of the best artworks of eccentric crocheter Olek.
August 07, 2013
PM's visit will not make a difference to the US-Indian ties
The United States-India relationship stands at a serious inflection point. The two sides need to start thinking seriously about bringing it back on track, notes .
Photos: Army chief's final farewell to brave martyrs
Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh was on Wednesday briefed about the security situation in the wake of the killing of five Indian jawans along the Line of Control in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.
IN PHOTOS: Vivid colours of our environment
We present a selection of the most striking imagery related to the environment from across the globe in the past month.
PIX: Curiosity's 1st birthday on Mars, celebrations on earth
NASA's Curiosity rover has completed one year on Mars. The car-sized robotic rover successfully landed on Mars on August 6, 2012, and has achieved its main goal of revealing ancient Mars could have supported life.
August 06, 2013
US Hindu lawmaker's stand on gays sparks controversy
Tulsi Gabbard's stand on gays, her dress sense, irks Hindu group, reports .
'The enemy understands the language of power'
'The magnitude of the incidents shows that it is not done on the instruction of junior officers on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control, but is well planned and coordinated at the top level,' says Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar (retd).
'India is dominated by the West'
'India may be independent politically and it may even become an economic power like Japan, but it remains and will still remain part of the global capitalist economy and system, dominated and controlled by the West,' says historian J B P More.
Does Antony have the guts to take on IAF?
Vapid banalities like 'We will provide our brave jawans with the best equipment in the world' encourage IAF buying sprees such as the Rafale and the Pilatus. Ajai Shukla reports
The AMAZING winners of Nat Geo photo contest
We present the winning photographs of the prestigious competition.
August 05, 2013
US army chief: Growing ties with India not to contain China
United States Chief of Army Staff General Raymond T Odierno, who recently returned from India, has denied that growing military ties and joint exercises between Washington and New Delhi were an attempt by the US to co-opt India to 'triangulate' or 'contain' China, reports .
This is Akhilesh Yadav's way of running UP
Is perpetuating corruption and communalising politics, the Akhilesh Way, asks .
Photos: Protestors vent Telangana ire on Gandhi family statues
Congress leaders from Rayalseema and Andhra regions may have decided to continue in the ruling state government despite the decision to carve out Telangana, but most of the opponents of the movement have directed their anger at the Gandhi family.
PHOTOS: Pak preacher's TV show has baby as giveaway
A Statement on Aamir Liaquat Hussain's website exhorts poor families to hand over babies to the preacher so they can be given away on his show.
SATIRE: Our very expressive prime minister
Our honourable prime minister has often been blamed for not being expressive. Well, our research has a different story to reveal. From an ardent gamer (mostly on others' devices) to being an expert palmist, Dr Manmohan Singh is definitely a man of vibrant colours. Don't agree? Here's the proof:
The spectacular PHOTOS of the month
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the month gone by.
Will the worst-performing Parliament clear 116 pending bills?
On several parameters, the performance of the current Parliament has been worse than that of previous ones. These include the number of sittings, percentage of time lost, passing of bills and discussion of budgets, says
August 02, 2013
This man deserved his 1,000-year punishmentAriel Castro's scraggly beard, innocuous spectacles and subtle demeanour could mislead most around him with conviction. But that conviction belies the horrible sins that he committed over a decade.
Why 'secularism' is not an Indian concept
The concept of secularism was imported into India by the British. It was a strategic tool to suppress and deny India's quest for independence by repeatedly asking the Indian National Congress that was predominantly Hindu, to address the concerns of the minorities, says
10 HOT reasons why Berlusconi is a very lucky man
Some of the many femme fatales the former Italian prime minister 'dated'
Is Congress pushing for mega year-end elections?
Voices in the Congress pressing for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections this year-end are getting louder, reports Anita Katyal.
Can Mamata risk aligning with pro-Modi business lobbies
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who was in Mumbai to woo captains of the industry is faced with a unique challenge. With significant Muslim votes backing her, she can't be seen aligning with Narendra Modi but at the same time does not want to partner with the Congress. Renu Mittal reports
August 01, 2013
Shobhaa De faces Tweet fury in Mumbai
On Thursday, Shiv Sena activists staged protests outside her house in South Mumbai.
Battlelines drawn! It's Rahul Gandhi vs Congress
Rahul Gandhi is desperate for change, but the Congress unfortunately does not feel the need to oblige.
Do voters like Narendra Modi?
Nitish Kumar expected to benefit handsomely after taking a hardline position against Narendra Modi. Opinion polls tell a different story, with the JD-U losing seats while the BJP gains from the break-up. Is this because voters like Narendra Modi, wonders .
How Andhra Pradesh division will change fortunes of political parties
The division of Andhra Pradesh will see not just a change in the geographical profile of the state but will also totally alter the political landscape across the regions and re-write the fortunes of all major parties.
PIX: Add colour to life with world's messiest festivals
Take a look at some of the world's festivals that need you to let your hair down and simply have good time
July 31, 2013
'Telangana decision is unjust to people of Seema-Andhra'
Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao terms Congress party's decision to divide Andhra Pradesh as painful
We've come a long way, baby
Jeopardy! Champion of Champions Vijay Balse reflects on how far the Indian-American community has come since his days as a grad student nearly 30 years ago.
'Businessmen MPs from Andhra spreading fears over Telangana'
Madhu Yashki Goud, senior Congress Member of Parliament from Telangana, who has been instrumental in the decision making on Tuesday, says these misconceptions are being spread by uncouth MPs from Rayalseema and Andhra.
10 things you must know about Telangana
Some interesting facts about our newest state...
IAF's Rs 3,780 crore aircraft deal was FIXED?
At least 12 benchmarks were changed between March and October 2009, including some relating to pilot safety, to reportedly allow PC-7 Mark II, fielded by Swiss company Pilatus, to qualify and win an IAF order worth Rs 3,780 crore for 75 basic trainer aircraft.
Shashi Tharoor: Politics and the Middle Class
'My message to young middle class Indians who actually have principles and ideals is this: When you think about the future of India, think also of getting involved in politics.' Shashi Tharoor explains why the middle class needs to get involved in politics.
'I was there, 44 years ago, when the Telangana agitation started'
was a student when the Telangana agitation began, with Osmania University as its epicentre. With the new state finally set to become a reality, he looks back on the lost years
Stunning PHOTOS from across the globe
Here's a collection of some of the best photos shot by Reuters lensmen in the last few days
Why the formation of Telangana is Congress's 'great gamble'
The Congress knew that Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh are lost for a long time as Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's leadership is taking deep roots. It also knew that if the next government is formed by the NDA then Telangana will definitely be created depriving them any credit. This pushed the Congress to finally endorse the new state. But the huge risk behind the decision and the uncertainties that go with it are making Congress nervous, says .
Telangana demand met, Congress eyes merger with TRS
The Congress believes the Telangana Rashtra Samithi will decide in favour of a merger as the decision on statehood has deprived the regional party of its chief electoral plank and an issue that defined its identity. reports
July 30, 2013
Telangana bytes: 'A decision too late'
Even as the Congress claimed credit for the decision to form Telangana state, other parties on Tuesday gave mixed reactions with Bharatiya Janata Party claiming it would have formed the state during NDA rule but for opposition from a key ally while the Left cautioned that this may spur more such demands.
4 ISSUES Telangana state will need to solve first
The Telangana statehood dream may just have turned real, but it still has a long way to go in terms of finding its footing as a state.
PIX: Telangana erupts in jubilation, remembers its martyrs
The announcement of creation of a separate state of Telangana was welcomed with jubilant celebration on Tuesday.
Telangana state is still 6 months away!
Creation of the new Telangana state will take close to six months that involve a number of steps, including adoption of state Re-organisation bill by Parliament by a simple majority.
Telangana's long journey from dream to reality
Following is a brief history of Andhra Pradesh and chronology of the movement for Telangana state:
India's vote lab set to cook up a chaotic 2014
The Times Now-C Voter-India TV poll claims that no single pre-poll formation looks in a position to form the government and will have to work very hard to get the support of key allies.
The burglars Hollywood learns from, or is it the other way round?
They are the dogs of the Balkan wars, and now they carry out robberies that are the stuff of heist blockbusters. They wear florid shirts to work (that is robbery, of course), they break out of high-security jails and they hide super expensive rings in jars of face cream. Meet the Pink Panthers, who are believed to be behind the sensational and daring daylight robbery in Cannes, France, on Sunday.
Has Bangalore become racist?
And just who is accusing Bangalore of being racist? It's Bangaloreans themselves and the Bangalore media. We are all so quick to bash each other up, and to accuse our citizenry and police of being discriminatory, says .
Ramzan Photos: The Feast after the Fast
Rediff.com takes a look at Ramzan feasting and some lip-smacking special delicacies from around the world.
REWIND:Stunning PHOTOS of the week
REWIND:Stunning PHOTOS of the week
UPA finally grants Telangana; Hyderabad common capital
Brushing aside opposition after dithering for nearly four years, the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance coalition on Tuesday unanimously endorsed creation of a separate Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh.
July 29, 2013
Cong hopes to realise Telangana before 2014 Lok Sabha polls
Senior Congress party leaders though continue to be divided on the formation of Telangana state, political expediency finally won the day, reports
'The US has no clear answer for the future of Afghanistan'
At a conference on the future of Afghanistan, tough-talking former Indian diplomat Kanwal Sibal tears into Washington's policies and Pakistan's betrayal of trust. reports
'Cong may announce Telangana state, but delay its formation'
Profesor Kodandaram, chairman of the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, says that they still do not have faith in the Congress as they feel that the formation of the new state will be delayed.
Images: The Pope at the Beach
Argentina and Brazil are traditional rivals and there was a time when their antagonism was being compared to India-Pakistan relations. They have overcome to a great extent their history of hostility. That an Argentinean Pope was so warmly embraced in Brazil shows that his great office does transcend such divides, notes , India's former ambassador to Brazil.
Can we have closure on the 2002 Gujarat riots?
Since 2002 however, a section of media, political parties and NGOs have kept up a barrage of propaganda to keep memories of these riots alive and created a sense of 'victimhood' amongst the minorities. The constant dinning of this propaganda has deepened the cleavages between majority and minority and also prompted a fear psychosis amongst the minority, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
Mid-day meal SHOCKERS: Food for students tested on stray dogs
Cooks have bolted and teachers refuse to taste the food. The mid-day meal scheme faces a crisis
Modi more popular than Rahul, preferred choice as PM: Poll
Tired of hearing about Narendra Modi in the news? Well, if the results of a new poll are to be believed, you may well be hearing more on the Gujarat strongman in future.
Modi interview: Don't insult common man's tool social media
In an exclusive interview with Asian News International, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has revealed the importance of social media in creating awareness among voters in the country.
July 28, 2013
PIX: 15 hurt in grenade blast in Guwahati; ULFA hand suspected
At least fifteen persons, including several police personnel, were injured when suspected militants belonging to the anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom detonated a grenade blast near a police check-point in busy Paltan Bazar locality in the heart of Guwahati city at around 8 pm.
PHOTOS: Farah wins with a swagger on a 'Super Saturday'
Mo Farah, roared home by a cacophony of ear-splitting noise that almost matched his double Olympic London triumph, led another 'Super Saturday' for Britain as memories were reignited in a party atmosphere at the Anniversary Games.
July 27, 2013
PHOTOS: 75 killed as deadly clashes erupt in Cairo
At least 75 supporters of deposed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi were killed on Saturday and hundreds injured when Egyptian security forces opened fire on protesters demanding his reinstatement in Cairo, according to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Both Modi, Rahul unacceptable as PM, says Hazare
Social activist Anna Hazare said that both Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi are "unacceptable" as prime ministerial candidates.
Why Congress finally said YES to Telangana
Carving out Rayalseema is aimed at reducing the clout and weightage of Jagan Mohan Reddy, who commands strong support in the region.
July 26, 2013
Re 1 to Rs 12 meals: These politicians should EAT their words!
If you lived in India, you would think these Congress leaders live in some city called 'Bohemia'. For, Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar has a hearty meal for Rs 12, and Rasheed Masood lives just fine on Rs 5.
'Regret saying Amartya Sen should be stripped of Bharat Ratna'
Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member of Parliament Chandan Mitra has expressed his regret for having demanded that Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen be stripped of his Bharat Ratna.
Uddhav asks Amartya Sen not to poke his nose in politics
Shiv Sena deprecated Bharatiaya Janata Party Member of Parliament Chandan Mitra's demand for stripping Nobel laureate Amartya Sen of Bharat Ratna over his comments on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi but advised the seasoned economist "not to poke his nose" into politics.
PIX: 1 million meet Pope Francis at Rio's Copacabana beach
Take a look at images from Pope Francis' first foreign trip as pontiff.
Obama hails contributions of US Muslims at White House Iftar
United States President Barack Obama has praised Muslim-Americans for their contributions in helping build the country, saying Islam has contributed to the character of America.
The Stalinisation of the BJP
Yashwant Sinha's worry is actually not about the discourse being marred by the spurious communalism-secularism debate, it is in actuality, a fear of the BJP being devoured by Narendra Modi and consequently leaving mortals like Sinha lost in oblivion, says
Wah Taj! Celebs @ the monument of love
For years, the Taj Mahal has mesmerised the world with its beauty.
Modi is NOT the only popular CM, after all!
The results of CNN-IBN and The Hindu poll conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies projects the Bharatiya Janata Party to be single-largest party in Uttar Pradesh; a neck and neck tie between the BJP and the Congress in Rajasthan and a likely clean sweep for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, if elections were to be held today.
July 25, 2013
Dilli Gupshup: Guess who is out seeking revenge?
All the gossip from the power corridors of New Delhi
Photos: 77 killed as train derails in Spain, snaps in two 
A high-speed passenger train derailed in north-western Spain, killing at least 77 people and injuring more than 100, reports BBC.
10 stunning PHOTOS from around the world
Here's a collection of some of the best photos shot around the world in recent days
Decision on BJP's PM candidate only by consensus: Rajnath
Asserting that there is "no race" for prime ministership in his party, Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh has said that the decision in this regard would be taken by the central parliamentary board -- the highest decision making body of the party.
What may happen if India voted TODAY!
Here are the results of the CNN-IBN and The Hindu poll conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.
Years later, Joe Biden talks beyond India jokes
There was a time when Joseph Biden used to crack one joke after another about Indians immigrants in the United States. Today, the US vice president realises how defining the Indo-US partnership is for the century ahead. reports
July 24, 2013
All hail, George Alexander Louis!
Prince William and Duchess Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have named their newborn baby George Alexander Louis.
New York summer, Bollywood and an Indian American
, a Bollywood lover who has lived in New York for over 30 years, narrates how he overcame his summer woes to watch Nikhil Advani's gangster flick D-Day in a theatre across the Hudson river in New Jersey.
Sulking BJP stalwarts may spoil Narendra Modi's PM party
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's appointment as the Bharatiya Janata Party's Campaign Committee chief and the chain of events triggered by this announcement indicate that despite the recent patch-up efforts initiated by the party's ideological mentor, the Rahstriya Swayamsevak Sangh, all is not well in the saffron outfit.
PICS: Rain fury continues for day 2 in Mumbai; more predicted
Rains continued to wreak havoc in Mumbai for the second consecutive day, prompting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to advise people to stay at home and asking schools to shut as a precautionary measure.
Salman faces 10-yr-jail term in hit-and-run case
A Mumbai court on Wednesday framed charges against actor Salman Khan for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection to an 11-year-old hit-and-run case.
PHOTOS: Get down and dirty @ this mud fest
If you wanted a reason to get down and dirty, this is the place to do it!
How 6 young women rekindled HOPE in Uttarakhand
Six young women dynamos of the Art of Living Foundation risked their own lives to bring about an awe-inspiring transformation in the scattered lives of several ill-fated women reeling in shock and grief ever since tragedy struck.
Ram temple, English-bashing: BJP taking us back to 1998!
The Great Minds of the BJP have deduced that the only answer is to return the political conversation to 1998, says
PHOTOS: William and Kate show their prince to the world
Prince William and Kate Middleton today gave the world the first glimpse of the baby destined to be Britain's King one day as they posed with their newborn son while leaving the St Mary's Hospital.
July 23, 2013
10 people who PAID for expressing their opinions
Here, then, we recap some of the many, many times our sensitive selves were shaken by those who thought, mistakenly, that Freedom of Expression actually existed in India.
PHOTOS: Heavy rains lash Mumbai; hit rail, road traffic
Mumbai once again witnessed heavy rains on Tuesday, resulting in heavy traffic jams in many parts of the city. Train services have also been affected by the consistent rainfall. The rains have been lashing the city since early Tuesday morning.
PHOTOS: How the British press heralded the royal birth
The world's press that had camped outside St Mary's Hospital in London's Paddington for days in anticipation finally announced that Prince William's wife Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby boy.
Food for thought in a mid-day meal tragedy
The tragedy involving the death of children in a Bihar school should reinforce recent efforts to improve the programme, notes .
Decoding Congress's social media plunge
So Congress has taken the plunge into the world of social networking. Though late in the game the party has realised the need to reach out to an estimated 8 crore people who use online networking, to aggressively counter the BJP campaign against it on corruption and propagate the UPA government's achievements. Anita Katyal reports.
Congress goes social: Who will talk to aam aadmi, Mr Rahul?
Rahul's two-day workshop on media spokespersons left more questions unanswered and left a large number of those who had come from all over the country unsatisfied with what was being said and what they were supposed to do.
What India's Strike Corps will do on Himalayas
While the new Strike Corps is being raised, equipped and trained, the government must make vigorous efforts to speed up the completion of infrastructure projects. Otherwise, the army will have a new Strike Corps and not be able to launch it effectively, says Gurmeet Kanwal
Survey: Nitish likely to hold on in Bihar, Mamata to win again
A poll conducted by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies shows Mamata Banerjee will win in Bengal and Nitish Kumar is likely to hold on in Bihar despite the split with BJP, if elections were to be held today
PHOTOS: Different strokes of President Pranab
Some moments from President Pranab Mukherjee's first year in office
World greets William-Kate for prince's birth
Congratulatory messages poured in as Prince William's wife Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby boy, with the whole of Britain and the Royal family ecstatic at the arrival of the country's future King.
It's a baby boy for Kate-William! Britain jubilant
The royal couple's first child, who under new laws to succession will remain third in line to the throne, was born with the Duke of Cambridge present beside Kate as she delivered the baby.
July 22, 2013
What will Barack Obama be in future?
Obama, or his image-makers, are veering towards building his legacy as an African-American hero, who not only captured power, but also fought relentlessly for the downtrodden. That will enable him to escape the criticism that he did not end racism as President and to fight racism and racial discrimination till the end of his life, says T P Sreenivasan
PHOTOS: Twin earthquakes hit China, 75 killed
At least 75 people were killed and 412 others injured when two powerful earthquakes on Monday jolted a remote mountainous province in northwestern China near Tibet, causing extensive devastation and triggering landslides.
WB panchayat polls: Six killed, 18 injured in violence
Six persons, including a woman, were killed and 18 were injured in violence and CRPF firing in the fourth phase of the West Bengal panchayat elections on Monday. Polling in four districts saw a voter turnout of 25 per cent.
Global warming 5 mn years ago raised sea levels by 20m: Study
Global warming five million years ago may have caused parts of Antarctica's large ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise by approximately 20 metres, a new study has claimed.
The Royal Baby: 7 FUN FACTS you didn't know!
Prince William's wife Kate Middleton has been admitted to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital.
Saviours in the Valley of Death
Pilots and crew of the Indian Air Force fought a valiant battle against Nature to save thousands of lives in Uttrakhand's treacherous valleys, scripting India's greatest rescue operation. reports from the IAF station in Barrackore.
PHOTOS: Stunning views of the world from SPACE
Wondering how earth looks from space? Click HERE
July 21, 2013
Rajnath Singh virtually anoints Modi as BJP's PM candidate
Ruling himself out of the prime ministerial race, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Sunday virtually anointed Narendra Modi as its man to the top job if the party comes to power after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Should Modi be marketing his administrative model?
Observers say Modi's speed, skill and scale mission has been supported by a well-oiled state machinery. reports
President Mukherjee's proactive one year in office
He has been an active President but Pranab Mukherjee still remains a copybook Head of State who would go by the Constitution and not venture beyond.
July 20, 2013
PHOTOS: Delhi is so NOT monsoon ready
Heavy rain lashed national capital New Delhi on Saturday, causing massive traffic jams due to waterlogging as vehicles had to negotiate flooded streets which exposed the civic bodies' lack of preparedness.
Disabled man triggers blast at Beijing airport
A disabled man on Saturday triggered an explosion at the Beijing International Airport.
July 19, 2013
Story of a bar dancer: 'This place kills love'
Bar dancers share their story of struggle. With the Supreme Court striking down the Maharashtra government's ban on bar dancers, will their lives change for the better?
Nitish Kumar, please note: How Jaya runs her noon meal scheme
Tamil Nadu's decades-old noon meal scheme is a resounding success because it puts health and nutrition in the forefront of its effort, reports after visiting three schools in Tirunelveli district
New PHOTOS of Boston bomber's last stand
A Massachusetts state police photographer has released never-before-seen photos of Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev just before he was taken into custody.
'If Cong declares Telangana, it will rule Telangana'
K T Rama Rao, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader and son of party chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, and Dr Prithviraj, Telangana Students Joint Action Committee chief, explain to Rediff.com what the immediate changes would be in the event of Telangana being declared as a separate state.
How India is learning from China
When it came to national security issues, China never hesitated to take a quick decision regardless of the material costs. Nor were the superiority in military strength of the adversary a consideration, Srikanth Kondapalli points out.
From California to Cairo: The SUMMER collection
The hot summer days are back. And as the sun shines bright people step out of their homes to cool off at the beach, take a dip in a pool or simply relax in parks. Rediff.com brings you some the best images from across the northern hemisphere this summer of 2013.
Corbett has GOT TO put its focus back on tigers
In this third and final part of the three-par series, Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava finds out that wildlife management has taken a backseat, as Corbett pulls in droves of tourists
It's just a matter of time for Telangana to become a reality
It will be interesting to watch whether the Telangana Rashtra Samithi which has said in the past that it would merge with the Congress, if the demand for a separate state is conceded, will actually do it. If that Congress manages it, it would make up to some extent, for the inordinate delay in making the decision, says Girish Nikam
China will overthrow US as world superpower. HERE'S WHY!
The Great Recession of 2008 hit United States hard and its impact seems to have a domino effect of sorts. Since 2008, perceptions about the economic balance of power in the world have been shifting.
July 18, 2013
He lost his only job... because the telegram died
The heart-wrenching story of a man who sent telegrams for a living for over half a century
Parts of Himalayan region face risk of MAJOR quakes
Parts of the Indian Himalayan region face the risk of major earthquakes in the future, according to a study conducted by the National Geophysical Research Institute.
'Even CJI's post won't alter Justice Sathasivam's humility'
As Justice P Sathasivam is all set to be sworn in as the next Chief Justice of India on Friday, speaks to the judge's colleagues and friends in Chennai, the city where he began his legal career.
PHOTO ALBUM: The life and times of MandelaMandela was revered among most of the country's 53 million people as the architect of the 1994 transition to multi-racial democracy after three centuries of white domination.
Besides tiger deaths, Corbett plagued by land sharks, politics
Powerful lobbies are waging a turf war in Corbett, and tigers could be the collateral damage
PHOTOS: A Ramzan evening at Jama Masjid
Rediff.com captures the mood at Delhi's Jama Masjid during the holy moth of Ramzan.
This is NOT what you think it is!
Stunning PHOTOS of a unique process in China called sand washing, which intends to move a reported 30 million tons of silt downstream in the Yellow River.
July 17, 2013
Mid-day meal horror: 'My son is better illiterate than dead'
Inconsolable families of the 22 children, who died after they were fed a meal in school, blame greedy teachers and officials for the disaster, reports
'Pakistan is laughing at our weaknesses'
Amar Bhushan, former special secretary with the Research and Analysis Wing, says that the country's leadership is to be blamed for Pakistan media lapping up the IB-CBI tussle and an officer's latest revelations on 'India's role in 26/11 attacks'
A judge's journey from a village to heading the Supreme Court
Justice P Sathasivam, who will take over as the Chief Justice of India on Friday, started his academic life in a Tamil medium school. Coming from a family of farmers, his rise to the top judicial job in the country has been inspiring, reports A Ganesh Nadar from the judge's village
'Modi was never told about Rs 5 entry fee for his event'
Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Kishan Reddy, the rally organiser, says that the event was not a rally but a youth conclave and the entry fee was not compulsory
Bihar: Insecticide in mid-day meal killed 22 school kids
A preliminary probe by doctors and Saran district officials into the death of 21school children in Bihar has revealed that consumption of Organophosphorus used in pesticides or contaminated mustard oil used to prepare the potato-soyabean is the cause of death.
Tiger deaths at Corbett: Dark twist to a bright tale
Three tigers die in a week under mysterious circumstances; total 32 deaths in two-and-a-half years; all in the forests of Corbett, a showpiece of tiger conservation. Who is targeting the tiger? Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava investigates
Childhood album: The prince and princess diaries
Rediff.com brings you some of the most adorable childhood moments of children born in royal families across the globe.
PHOTOS: The Adventures of Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is known for his penchant for adventurous stunts, dived to the bottom of the Baltic Sea aboard a submersible to explore the wreck of a ship that sank in 1869, for his latest adventurous stunt.
July 16, 2013
When Rahul Gandhi gets ANGRY...
Why is Amit Shah becoming Modi's star player? Who is the most powerful man at Shastri Bhavan? Why is Kapil Sibal waiting for Independence Day? All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
I'm more Hindu than BJP, RSS people, insists Digvijaya
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who has often been accused of playing to the gallery on minority issues, on Tuesday accused Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party of spreading "blatant lies" and painting him as "anti Hindu".
PICS: The final few hours of the telegram
The 163-year-long service drew to a close. Abhishek Mande was there to record the final hours at Mumbai's Central Telegraph Office
PHOTOS: Ever seen such giant sinkholes?
We present images from around the world of giant holes caused by heavy rains, earthquakes and mining.
Food Security: Will it help Cong tide over its other crises?
With hardly anything positive to flaunt before the electorate while seeking a third consecutive term at the Centre, Sonia Gandhi's Congress is desperately hoping that the food security law will help it win the support of the people much like the national rural employment guarantee or the right to information acts or the farm loan waivers had done for it in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, says Saroj Negi
PHOTOS: 10 amazing moments from San Fermin
Bullfights and the notorious bull runs, eight in all, are the highlight of a nine-day street festival.
Why the BJP CAN'T succumb to 'minority appeasement'
Try as hard as the BJP might to whitewash or sugar-coat its Muslim-centric gestures, one cannot deny that they smack of appeasement. There is a real danger in this misguided approach. The BJP may end up looking like a poor B team of the Congress with disastrous results. In the real world people prefer originals not imitations, says Vivek Gumaste.
PHOTOS: A day after the Telegram died
A day after telegram service was shut down, employees are left wondering what to do next.
July 15, 2013
Modi draws blood, triggers fresh war of words
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's barbs at Congress "wearing the burqa" of secularism triggered a fresh war of words with the party hitting back at him while senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha was worried that the "spurious" communal-secular debate would only help the ruling party.
Rahul as PM: Congress keeps everyone guessing
Declaration of Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate cannot be ruled out, Congress hinted on Monday in the backdrop of conflicting statements from party leaders, including Digvijay Singh.
Photos: The tragicomedy of Mumbai's LAST telegram
The last telegraphic message to be sent from Mumbai's Central Telegraph Office was not a personal message, neither was it a patriotic one.
Modi CHALLENGES Congress: Let's have a debate on development
Reiterating his determination to wipe out the Congress, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday challenged the United Progressive Alliance to a direct debate on its performance at the Centre compared that of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Diary of a terribly good looking fugitive!
Dear Diary, I am so bored. I've paced around the vegetable patch so Dear Diary, I'm so bored. I've paced around the vegetable patch so often, it's starting to put me off my food. I can hardly bear to watch my own threats to the United States on loop anymore -- and that's saying something. Things have fallen into a rut. Frankly, if I watch Debbie Does Dallas one more time, I may never be able to get it up again.
Without Sathya Sai, Puttaparthi is no Tirupati or Shirdi
The town of Puttaparthi struggles to find its feet two years after Sai Baba died. From despondent property agents and handicraft sellers to hotel owners and drivers, all are hoping for better days ahead, says
July 14, 2013
Last telegrams go out for loved ones
Thousands of people, many of them first timers, turned up at telegraph centres which had almost been forgotten in recent years to send a message to their loved ones during the last week of the 160-year-old telegram service.
'Modi a self-proclaimed hero; he is no Vajpayee'
Calling Narendra Modi a "chest-thumping, self-proclaimed hero", Union Minister Sachin Pilot has said that it is not possible for the Gujarat leader to be like former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
'Telegrams gave us our bread and identity'
Memories of an era gone by are all that remains for telegraphists, considered the backbone of the historic 163-year-old telegram service, which bids its final adieu.
R I P, dear telegram
The 163-year old telegram service in the country -- the harbinger of good and bad news for generations of Indians -- is dead.
July 13, 2013
Congress to push for Lok Sabha polls in Jan-Feb 2014?
The frenetic activity currently being witnessed in the Congress combined with the United Progressive Alliance government's move to postpone the monsoon session of Parliament till end-August has once again fuelled speculation about the possibility of an early election, says .
Modi is UNSTABLE, frustrated: Parties on his 'puppy' remark
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi continued to be slammed for his 'Hindu nationalist' and 'puppy' remarks, with several political parties, including Congress and Janata Dal-United, saying his comments are dangerous and that he was a "frustrated" person.
Don't divide this Great Nation: Digvijaya to Modi
Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Saturday assailed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's remarks and asked him not to "divide the nation" on the basis of religion.
PHOTOS: Martyr's Day marked by shutdown, protests in Srinagar
Authorities imposed restrictions in certain areas of Srinagar on Saturday to scuttle a protest march called by separatists to coincide with Martyr's Day
July 12, 2013
Modi says he had done 'absolutely right thing' in 2002
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said that he had done "absolutely right thing" in 2002 when the state was hit by riots and that an SIT set up by the Supreme Court had given him a "thoroughly clean chit".
In PHOTOS: Mumbai slows down as rains hit road, rail traffic
Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra for the second consecutive day on Friday, disrupting normal life.
THANK GOD for the UPA!
Thank God for the United Progressive Alliance. Without its comic blundering, hiss-worthy arrogance and world-class smugness, we would really be gloomy. A parade of errors and puzzling decisions keeps us angered and entertained -- but most importantly, distracted. Or we would notice our economy's problems are less to do with this or any conceivable government, and more a set of principles and circumstances that aren't being questioned and addressed.
IN PHOTOS: World immersed in holy Ramzan fervour
Muslims across the globe are observing Ramzan -- the month-long celebration of self-purification, restraint, sacrifice and forgiveness. Rediff.com present photographs of Ramzan festivities from across the world.
July 11, 2013
Divya-Ilavarasan's tragic love story
Ilavarasan's tragic end was the result of the most flammable mixture in India -- caste and politics. Ganesh Nadar reports
PHOTOS: Major fire destroys part of JK secretariat
A major fire broke out in the annexe of the Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, in Srinagar on Thursday.
Delhi rape: Court reserves verdict on 'most brutal' juvenile
A Juvenile Justice Board is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday against the juvenile accused for his alleged involvement in the December 16 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student.
PHOTOS: Rajasthan forts, Mt Fuji on the World Heritage List
Rediff.com takes a look at the new entrants on the World Heritage List.
DON'T MISS! Top photographs in the last 48 hours
We present a collection of the most stunning photographs clicked across the globe in the last 48 hours.
July 10, 2013
PHOTOS: Thousands turn up for Puri Rath Yatra
Amid high alert and tight security in the wake of serial blasts at Bodh Gaya, the world famous annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath celebrated on Wednesday with fanfare, religious fervour and a spirit of camaraderie.
In PHOTOS: Obama surprises young chefs at 'state dinner'
United States President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the kids' 'state dinner' at the White House on Tuesday, an event thrown by First Lady Michelle to welcome the winners of the second annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge.
Can our parties answer these 4 QUESTIONS?
Should parties provide clearer answers to queries about their financials? Sreenivasan Jain examines
In PHOTOS: Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
Over 1.5 lakh people comprising the entire entourage of Rath yatra and devotees
The world is a corrupt place: Survey
More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the last two years, according to The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 survey
PHOTOS: Toronto underwater after highest rainfall in history
A massive thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Toronto, cutting power to 3,00,000 in the city, shutting down subways, and leaving about 1,400 passengers stranded for hours on a commuter train.
'Our counter-terrorism effort is still work-in-progress'
Colonel (retd) R Hariharan offers his take on the recent blasts at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.
July 09, 2013
Why Lalu Yadav delayed crucial support to Soren government
While Hemant Soren enlisted the support of small parties and independent MLAs, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief kept the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader waiting till the apex court gave its verdict in the fodder scam case. reports
BJP slams Centre, Bihar for not preventing Bodh Gaya blasts
Lambasting the Centre and Bihar government for failing to prevent the serial blasts in
How Osama got a speeding ticket, fooled US with cowboy hat!
Pakistan's powerful military and its intelligence establishment have been hauled up by a panel that probed the presence of Osama bin Laden in the country saying the former Al Qaeda chief was able to stay on its soil since mid-2002 due to "collective failure, culpable negligence and gross incompetence".
Chinese troops vandalise Indian posts in Ladakh
In another incursion, Chinese troops intruded into the Chumar sector in Ladakh -- the same area which had sparked off tensions in April -- and smashed some bunkers besides cutting wires of cameras installed at the border post.
The Bhagwat-Advani deal over Narendra Modi
Double impact in Bihar... Ajay Maken and the Tweety Bird... Kissa Kursi ka... Mein Azad Hoon... All this and more in this week's Dilli Gupshup...
Mahabodhi: What kind of savages attack a symbol of peace?
looks back on a memorable visit to the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, the holiest pilgrimage centre for Buddhists.
Stop 'Mandalising' the military
While there is a powerful social justice argument for reservations in education and employment for the marginalised scheduled casts/tribes and other backward classes, pro rata in the military has no such rationale, says
IN PHOTOS: Our grand, untamed environment
We present a selection of the most striking imagery related to the environment from the past month.
PHOTOS: Bulls hit the streets in Spain, everyone's on the run
Thousands of daredevils put their bravery to test as they poured into medieval lanes of northern Spain's Pampolna city, dodging raging bulls. Rediff.com brings you the latest action from the annual San Fermin bull fighting festival.
The Congress' big Telangana dilemma
explains why the Congress party is virtually in a Catch-22 situation in politically significant Andhra Pradesh over the sensitive Telangana issue.
July 08, 2013
IN PHOTOS: 51 killed, 435 injured in fresh Egypt clashes
Deadly street violence erupted on Monday between supporters of Egypt's deposed President Mohammed Morsi and soldiers outside the army headquarters in Cairo, killing at least 51 people and injuring over 400 as the standoff escalated between the military-backed new interim government and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Post U'khand disaster, respect the vulnerability of the region
The Himalayas have seen unchecked construction activity, illegal mining, unscientific road building and hydropower projects built next to each other. Are we going to learn from this? Asks Sunita Narain
Will reservations for Muslims make our democracy more vibrant?
A recent study shows a higher minority representation in assemblies has a correlation with progress for all on key social indicators, says Rupa Subramanya
The most wanted Indian Mujahideen terroristsInitial investigations into the Bodh Gaya blasts of Sunday are pointing the finger of suspicion on the Indian Mujahideen
REWIND: Stunning PHOTOS of the week
A collection of some of the best photos from around the world shot in the week gone by
In PHOTOS: The haunting memories of 9/11
We bring you images from the under construction 9/11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center site in New York. The museum is scheduled to be opened to the public in the spring of 2014.
July 07, 2013
Cowardly attack a matter of great sadness: Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the terror attack on Mahabodhi temple in Bihar's Bodh Gaya district.
VIDEOS: Multiple blasts hit peaceful Bodh Gaya
Five minor blasts hit Bodh Gaya Temple within a span of 30 minutes on Sunday morning.
July 06, 2013
BJP will teach a lesson to Nitish Kumar, says Modi
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a 'virtual' election campaign in Bihar making a veiled attack against his bete noire Nitish Kumar saying those who 'betrayed' BJP will be defeated by people of the state.
At Ayodhya temple, Amit Shah prays for BJP rule in India
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's envoy and Bhartiya Janata Party's new Uttar Pradesh incharge Amit Shah on Saturday sought to invoke the Gods at the Ram temple in Ayodhya for insuring his party's victory at the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Dramatic photos: Clashes grip Egypt as Islamists split
At least 30 people were killed and hundreds injured across Egypt during violent clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed President Mohammed Morsi, even as an Islamist coalition-led by Muslim Brotherhood vowed more protests in his support across the country.
July 05, 2013
Akshay Kumar. DOMA. And falafels.
glances at the week gone by in New York
Modi number 1, Advani head of the family: Rajnath
Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh has reiterated no senior party leader had been sidelined to favour Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Uttarakhand: 'More than 4,000 deaths are expected'
National Disaster Management Authority Vice Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy talks to Sheela Bhatt about the scale and magnitude of the disaster that struck Uttarakhand
How Pranesh Pillai became Javed Sheikh, and met Ishrat Jahan
'The very police who are supposed to protect us, gun down our children as if they were from an enemy country,' Gopinatha Pillai, father of Javed Ghulam Sheikh who was killed in the Ishrat Jahan case, tells A Ganesh Nadar
Charge-sheet paints chilling picture of Ishrat Jahan encounter
According to the CBI charge-sheet in the encounter case, which leaves out some important questions, five Gujarat cops fired 70 rounds on the four persons they branded as terrorists. Sheela Bhatt presents a summary of the CBI charge-sheet of the "extra-judicial" killings that are haunting the Gujarat government.
IN PHOTOS: Fireworks, parades and protests mark US I-Day
We present stunning images from across the United States of America which celebrated its 237th Independence Day on Thursday.
Antony meets Chinese premier and defence minister
Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and held talks with his counterpart on a host of bilateral issues, including a new mechanism to boost security along the borders, in the backdrop of Chinese incursions in Ladakh region.
In PHOTOS: Lady Liberty is back! 
Statue of Liberty, a veritable symbol of America, was reopened to the public for the first time since superstorm Sandy hit the island last year.
PHOTOS: Barack Obama, the COOLEST president
A look at some of Obama's coolest moments.
The CBI story: How Ishrat Jahan and others were KILLED
Gujarat Crime Branch officials had fired 70 rounds using their automatic and semi-automatic weapons at Ishrat Jahan and three others during the alleged fake encounter nine years ago.
July 04, 2013
China WARNS India: 'Don't provoke us'
Hours before the arrival of Defence Minister A K Antony in Beijing for high-level talks, a hawkish Chinese General on Thursday warned India against provoking "new trouble" by increasing its military deployment at the border.
Missing will be presumed dead by July 15: U'khand CM
Pegging the number of pilgrims missing after the recent natural calamity in Uttarakhand at more than 3,000, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Thursday said if they don't surface till July 15 they will be presumed dead.
Adly Mansour exits courtroom to take over Egypt's reins
Justice Adly Mahmoud Mansour, head of Egypt's Constitutional Court, was on Thursday sworn in as interim leader of the troubled nation, hours after the powerful army removed Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
PHOTOS: INS Vikramaditya sets out for final sea trials
Russia has sent out aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for final sea trial in the White Sea before delivering it to India in early December.
Kashmir deal will make Pak a normal state: Riedel
Resolution of the Kashmir issue would go a long way towards reducing Pakistan's preoccupation with India, says CIA veteran Bruce Riedel.
Photos: Tahrir Square throbs with prayers, protests
Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has become synonymous with protests, has witnessed passionate demonstrations and some fireworks, literally, in the last few days.
PIX: Groove to the music, Obama shows you how
A compilation of recent and archive images of United States President Barack Obama dancing.
PHOTOS: 10 stunning sights beyond Earth
Rediff.com brings for its readers some of the best images of the outer world provided by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Pix: Egypt army ousts President Morsi, placed under detention
Egypt's powerful military on Wednesday night ousted country's first democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi, suspended the Islamist-backed constitution and unveiled a roadmap to meet people's aspirations after the 48-hour army deadline for him expired.
July 03, 2013
Congress forced to look for partners across statesThe Congress party's decsion to cut its losses and accept the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's hand of friendship shows its dire need for partners, says
ANALYSIS: Short-term reprieve for Modi in Ishrat Jahan case
BJP leaders in Gujarat feel that though Narendra Modi and the party will fight the allegations politically, there is no denying that the legal fight will have some political price attached to it. reports
PICS: Absence of roads affecting relief supplies in U'khand
Each time the sound of a flying chopper, carrying relief material, is heard in the ravaged
PHOTOS: Egypt on verge of second bloody revolution
The situation on the streets of Cairo is turning bloodier by the day.
PHOTOS: 15 striking moments caught on camera
A collection of some of the best moments from around the world in the last few days
U'khand: Govt promoting tourism but not assessing its impact
The ministry of tourism is less concerned about the impact of the floods on life and property, but is more focused on promoting tourism, says Swathi Seshadri. Anupam Chakravartty reports
July 02, 2013
Could Rahul lose Amethi if SP went back on its word?
In spite of its not-so-cordial relationship, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress could join forces to counter Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if he contests the next Lok Sabha election from Lucknow or Varanasi. reports
Why the UID project poses a danger to our sovereignty
and his UID/Aadhaar project appear quite complicit in unconstitutional act of surrendering the country's interest in favour of a global system led by ungovernable and undemocratic business enterprises not by democratic legislatures, says Gopal Krishna
Rahul Gandhi, the tough spymaster
Senior Congress leaders have realised their work is being monitored by secretary-level functionaries who report to Rahul Gandhi.
'India should prepare for a large earthquake in Uttarakhand'
'The difficulty of coordinating the response in Uttarakhand suggests that the country is ill-equipped to deal with a large earthquake in a mountainous area. The effects would be many times worse,' warns Dave Petley, expert on landslides
Ajit Jogi: 'We can create sympathy wave over Naxal attack'
In this exclusive interview, Ajit Jogi talks to rediff.com's about the impact of the Maoist attack, the looming assembly elections and his own role in state affairs.
PHOTOS: Smashing FUN @ Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world.
More than 11,000 missing in Uttarakhand after floods, says UN
A total of 1,350 people have been evacuated from Badrinath while over 3,500 remain untraced in flood-hit Uttarakhand, claimed the National Disaster Management Authority even as a United Nations agency estimated that the number of missing could be over 11,000.
In PHOTOS: India's answer to America's GPS system 
In a landmark journey into a new era of space application, India successfully launched its first dedicated navigation satellite using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, which blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
PHOTOS: Amarnath yatra amidst Uttarakhand fears
The annual Amarnath Yatra is on amid tight security, with pilgrims from both Baltal and Pahalgam base camps starting their journey for the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
It takes time to respond to calamity of this nature: Bahuguna
In an interview with CNN-IBN, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna claims to have full confidence of his party amidst demands for his resignation for failing to respond to the calamity in Uttarakhand.
July 01, 2013
PIX: 3 militants, policeman killed in gunfight in Kashmir
Life in the Kashmir valley was affected on Monday by a protest shutdown against the killing of two youth in firing allegedly by the army on Sunday.
PHOTOS: IAF's C-17 makes maiden trip to Andaman
Indian Air Force's latest acquisition, the C-17 Globemaster-III made its maiden flight to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on June 30.
REWIND: Check out the BEST MOMENTS from last week
A collection of some of the top moments from last week.
In PHOTOS: 'Biggest protest in Egypt history' turns violent
At least five people were killed and scores injured when millions took to the streets across Egypt demanding the resignation of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, with media outlets describing it as the largest demonstration seen in the history of the most populous Arab country.
U'khand disaster: 680 people still stranded; 3,000 missing
Over 200 pilgrims and locals were rescued on Monday from flood-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand where another 680 were still stranded even as Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna announced that a statutory body will be set up to oversee relief and rehabilitation work.
U'khand: Preparedness to tackle devastation was almost nil
The catastrophe in Uttarakhand may have been unprecedented, but it is not as if the state government wasn't unaware of the looming threat. Government reports had warned of the unchecked dangers of urbanisation, and from power projects, notes .
'Govt shouldn't have allowed pilgrims in Kedarnath, Badrinath'
Having returned from a visit to the flood-hit areas in Uttarakhand, the state's former chief minister B C Khanduri tells that Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state in the light of restrictions made earlier by the home ministry on VIP movements in the affected areas, was a 'totally childish activity'
25,000 soldiers guard Pakistan's nuclear stockpile
Pakistan has raised a 25,000-strong special force and put in place extensive measures to protect and manage its strategic assets, including its nuclear arsenal, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said.
June 30, 2013
Mumbai IAF hero's final journey
After a solemn, calming funeral service, Wing Commander Darryl Castelino, who perished in a rescue mission in Uttarakhand last week, was laid to rest in Mumbai. reports
We will never know the exact number of dead: Uttarakhand CM
The exact number of people dead or washed away may never be known, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said today as estimates of casualties in the worst natural disaster in the state run from several hundreds to several thousands.
Madurai gives a hero's farewell to braveheart IAF pilot
Indian Air Force Flight Lieutenant K Praveen, who perished in a rescue mission in Uttarakhand last week, was given a tearful farewell in his hometown Madurai. captures the sombre moments
June 29, 2013
Uttarakhand speaker pegs death toll at 10,000; Shinde says 900
Two weeks after flashfloods and landslides ravaged Uttarakhand, there were conflicting figures of death toll with state Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal claiming on Saturday that it may cross 10,000 while the official figure is under 1,000.
Uttarakhand disaster tales: The good, bad and greedy
While the armed forces won hearts, the Uttarakhand government and civil administration drew flak for the poor disaster management. gives an eyewitness account of the rescue effort.
Tough terrain, rough weather, mishaps can't stop them
Sitting amidst Indian Air Force helicopter pilots -- less than 36 hours after they had lost five of their buddies in the Mi-17 crash -- provided an object lesson in putting duty before self. Grieving they certainly were over the loss of close friends and colleagues, but the sorrow was channelised in doing the job at hand with renewed zeal and dedication, says
June 28, 2013
Weeks later, sun shines in Uttarakhand; rescue ops gather pace
With the weather improving, the rescue operations in Uttarakhand picked up pace on Friday, with 17 choppers being flown to evacuate people still stranded at various locations.
South Africans stay up all night; sing and pray for Mandela
South Africans have been holding an all-night prayer vigil for anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, outside his former home in Soweto.
Agenda for Modi: Make India the new China
Rediff.com had asked its readers to set an agenda for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to achieve his dream job of becoming India's prime minister.
Satellite imagery REVEALS Uttarakhand's real story
Satellite imagery from the Indian Space Research Organisation shows that heavy and unplanned construction work in Uttarakhand was a leading cause for the devastation which claimed thousands of lives in the hill state. reports.
3,000 still missing in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand 
More than 3,000 people are reportedly missing from various parts of flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, according to a tentative list prepared by the state government
In PHOTOS: Meet the world's first talking robot-astronaut
In a world first, Japan is set to send a talking robot-astronaut to the International Space Station to conduct the first conversation between a human and a robot in outer space.
Netagiri reduces Uttarakhand relief into a farce
It seems that the government is deliberately playing down the role the armed forces have played in the relief of operations. Why is the state government reluctant to do so? Why is it also not ready to accept help from other states, asks Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.
June 27, 2013
Uttarakhand catastrophe: The horror, and the new gods
Each yatri had to tell more than his and her story. Heaven it was once which has turned into a burial ground for the living. With all the advancements in technology, all that glib talk of disaster management, the towering Indian conquering the world with his brilliance and high-end acumen, the fact is we failed our people in crisis. Ultimately the armed forces had to be deployed, who emerged as the new gods. Tarun Vijay returns from Gauri Kund with this grim account
U'khand disaster: Mass cremation on; Badrinath rescue halted
Amid fears of epidemic outbreak, the mass cremation process in Kedarnath, worst-hit in the Uttarakhand flash floods, was expedited, even as air operations to evacuate stranded people from Badrinath was Thursday halted with the weather packing up.
PIX: A rail route that connects Jammu and Kashmir
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday flagged off the first train connecting Banihal in Jammu region with Qazigund in the Kashmir Valley.
This is NO country for young men
As political leaders go, Goa's Chief Minister, the 57-year-old Manohar Parrikar, is an unusual specimen of the species. He might be the only Indian Institute of Technology graduate among India's chief ministers past or present, is a former classmate of Nandan Nilekani's, and is the sort of well-mannered host you can expect to observe social niceties.
Meet Z-Machines, the robo-rockers!
Z-Machines, an all robot amazing band, made its live debut in a popular Tokyo club this Monday in front of an eager audience of curious onlookers.
'Modi has peaked; his popularity is on the wane'
Congress general secretary Ajay Maken talks to rediff.com's about the road ahead for the Congress and the UPA government.
Beware! India faces cyber THREATS from 20 nations
With India becoming the second-biggest victim of cyber-attacks after the United States, the government wants to install a foolproof security cover; but it could invade the privacy of Indians, says
Sextremists: There's no stopping these TOPLESS girls!
In the short five years since it came into being, feminist outfit FEMEN has become a force to reckon with thanks to their jaw-dropping mode of protest. The Ukrainian group has taken a stand against a number of issues by taking to the streets and taking off their tops.
Valley of flowers has been washed away!
Floods have washed away two villages that cared for the upkeep of the precincts around the World Heritage Site. Will its residents get a chance to rebuild their lives? reports
Forecasters played poker while Uttarakhand drowned
The devastation in Uttarakhand is a classic example of the callous manner in which the Central Water Commission, the nodal agency tasked with flood forecast in the country, operates, says
June 26, 2013
Monica Lewinsky's lingerie, letters from Clinton go on sale
Personal items, including a negligee, once owned by White House intern Monica Lewinsky and obtained during a federal investigation into her affair with former United States President Bill Clinton are being auctioned off by the Nate D Sanders auction house.
U'khand chopper crash: Cockpit voice recorder found, 20 dead
The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the ill-fated Mi-17 helicopter were on Wednesday recovered near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand a day after it crashed during rescue mission, even as IAF chief NAK Browne ruled out possibility of any of the 20 men on board surviving.
At the top of the world, it's getting kinda crowded!
Conquering Mount Everest has become easier with modern technology and Sherpas ready to 'help' climbers. This annual throng has devalued the sport, says Amrita Singh
PHOTOS: 15 candid moments caught on camera
A collection of some of the best moments captured on lens around the world in the last couple of days.
When disaster strikes: Govts may fail, but not our military
The military's earthquake relief operations in Gujarat, Kashmir and Sikkim, and rescue work during the Ladakh flash floods highlight that it is the only effective disaster response force in the country, says
June 25, 2013
IAF helicopter crash: 'Why are the Gods so angry?'
"Why are the Gods so angry that they are even killing the saviours who are rescuing the sea of humanity in Uttarakhand," an IAF squadron leader blurted, when he got the news of the helicopter crash.
Will Uttarakhand CM be sacked?
What was Team Rahul's big mistake? Why are Brahmins dominating the All India Congress Committee? Why can't Food Minister KV Thomas visit Rome... All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
IAF chopper crashes in U'khand; all 19 onboard killed
Nineteen army men, including personnel from Indian Tibetan Border Police, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force and Indian Army were killed on Tuesday when a sophisticated IAF helicopter crashed in bad weather near Gaurikund in Uttarakhand during rescue operations.
PHOTOS: PM, Sonia visit jawans injured in Hyderpora strike
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi Tuesday visited the Army base hospital at Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar to inquire about the condition of jawans injured in the Hyderpora attack.
Mass cremation delayed, 1,000 rescued, 7,000 still stranded
Mass cremation of bodies of hundreds of people killed in floods and landslides in
'Modi's cowboy politics will not work in all states'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan talks to rediff.com's about the current political situation, Narendra Modi's projection by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the future plans of the Congress and the UPA
PHOTOS: India's 11 DEADLIEST disasters
A look at some of the most tragic disasters in India in recent decades.
Indian netas fudge taxes, Pak MPs simply don't pay them
A total of 138 members of Pakistan's new national assembly, including four federal ministers, have either paid no income tax in 2012 or do not figure in official records of taxpayers, according to a media report.
In PHOTOS: South Africa prays for 'beloved' Madiba
Former South African President Nelson Mandela remains in a critical condition in hospital.
June 24, 2013
Srinagar: 8 jawans killed in Hizb strike ahead of PM's visit
Eight army soldiers were killed and 8 others wounded in a militant strike on the Srinagar Muzaffarabad road Monday afternoon.
Rescue ops in Uttarakhand personal, not a duty, say jawans
"Yeh kaam hamare ghar ka hai, duty ka nahin (The rescue work we are doing is personal work for us and not just a part of official duty)," an Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawan, who hails from Kumaon region, said.
PHOTOS: Supermoon lights up night sky around the world
We present a set of pictures from around the world to show how the amazing 'super moon' enthralled the world last night.
PIX: Bad weather, fresh landslides hamper U'khand rescue ops
Bad weather returned to Uttarakhand on Monday with fresh spell of rains and landslips in the higher reaches of Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts grounding rescue operations by choppers in the state where 10,000 survivors are waiting to be evacuated.
Readers' agenda for Modi: 'Don't speak of Ram Mandir'
We present the second part of the suggestions from our readers to Narendra Modi. More will follow in the days to come.
'Uttarakhand disaster a message of destruction from above'
Increasing tourism for recreational purpose and ruthless commercialism are to be blamed for the destruction caused in Kedarnath, believes Vageeshling Maharaj, chief purohit of Kedarnath dham.
Pix: Daredevil walks tightrope 1,500 feet above Grand Canyon
Nik Wallenda, the king of high wire, made history once again by walking across the Grand Canyon on Sunday.
IN PIX: The world is not enough
With the world population exceeding 7 billion, people all over the world are jostling for space. Go through these images from across the globe and see how overcrowded it can get.
Stunning photos: Afghan girls fly high on skates
Rediff.com takes a look at the story of how the skateboard has helped break the long-standing social barriers and bridged the Afghan-Western divide. These captivating pictures tell the tale
IN PHOTOS: How protests have changed Turkey's FACE
We bring forth combination photos illustrating incidents relating to the recent unrest in Turkey.
June 23, 2013
5,000 feared killed in Uttarakhand; 19,000 still stranded
Kedarnath Valley, the temple town which was the epicentre of the Uttarakhand rain fury, was on Sunday cleared of all stranded pilgrims, as rescuers battled rains to evacuate 3,000 more people in the disaster in which the death toll is likely to cross 5,000.
June 22, 2013
PHOTOS: IAF deploys the 'Big Boys' in Uttarakhand
With warning of rainfall in the next two days in flood-hit Uttarakhand, Indian Air Force has pressed into service C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, which are customised for covert special operations and are capable of landing at makeshift and short runways, to evacuate stranded people from the state.
Uttarakhand: Families turning restless, helplines flooded
Carrying photographs, people in Dehradun are running from one hospital to other in desperation to get some news about their relatives and friends as their patience ran thin due to passage of almost a week since the tragedy struck in Uttarakhand.
40,000 await help as rain threat looms in the hills
Many pilgrims have already died of hunger and many are searching for the dead bodies of their kin in the jungles over Gaurikund, Bhairavchatti, Junglechatti and Garurchatti, said several pilgrims, who somehow managed to reach Sonprayag from Kedarnath on foot.
'Time to repent for turning Uttarakhand into honeymoon spot'
In a twist to people's understanding of Uttarakhand's monsoon mayhem, Dwarka peeth Shankaracharya Swami Shree Swaroopananda Saraswati has blamed the sex-food-fun oriented consumerism propagated by tour operators in the land otherwise known as "dev bhoomi" for the plight of thousands of pilgrims.
In Photos: Militants gun down two policemen in Srinagar
Militants shot at and killed two policemen in the busy business hub of Hari Singh High Street in the heart of Srinagar on Saturday.
India Abroad Person of the Year 2012, a milestone
US Congressman Ami Bera, right, and USAID Administrator Raj Shah, left, at the India Abroad Person of the Year Awards 2012 at The Pierre in New York City.
The Flight Cadet who never gave up
Adapting to disability is perhaps one of the greatest triumphs of human evolution. Flight Cadet Herojit Rajkumar Singh is a living example of it, notes M P Anil Kumar.
June 21, 2013
How government neglect caused the Himalayan tsunami
reveal how government actions and neglect created such massive disaster from a natural phenomenon in Uttarakhand.
Thousands protest crime against women, 'Mamata's misdeeds'
Thousands of people, including poets, athletes, actors, painters and students, took to the city's streets on Friday to voice their protest against rising incidents of crime against women in West Bengal.
'Muslims have equal rights; they are not a separate block'
In a veiled attack on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi days after the Janata Dal-United split from the National Democratic Alliance, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday asserted that the country needs a leader who can unite and not a "divisive" figure.
'My wife and daughter were swept away in floods'
Running from hotels to army camps to escape the landslides and flash floods, surviving the Himalayan tragedy was nothing short of a miracle for Diksha who lived on only one meal for four days.
40 bodies found in Haridwar, toll in deadly floods 207
Forty bodies of flood victims were recovered from Haridwar on Friday, taking the toll in the rain fury to 190 as operations to rescue over 9,000 stranded in Kedarnath and Badrinath were stepped up with the deployment of 40 helicopters.
Uttarakhand: 'Silt has reached ceiling fans in homes'
A Rediff.com correspondent spells out the trail of destruction in Uttarakhand as it tries to come to terms with the catastrophic monsoons.
U'khand: Death toll crosses 550; 50,000 still stranded
The death toll in flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand crossed 550 as rescuers intensified efforts on Friday to evacuate 50,000 people still stranded in different inaccessible parts of the hill state.
It was a disaster waiting to happen, and it DID!
Even as the jury is still out on whether the destruction in the state is man-made or caused by nature's fury, there's sufficient evidence to suggest that warnings were loud and clear much before the disaster struck.
June 20, 2013
LATEST PIX: Army bravehearts rescue thousands in U'khand
The Indian Army has launched one of the biggest human rescue operations in Uttarakhand. On Thursday it mobilised troops for rescue and relief efforts, as it simultaneously reached out to over 8,000 people on all four different axes, viz, Rishikesh-Uttarkashi-Harsil-Gangotri axis; Rudraprayag -Kedarnath axis, Joshimath-Badrinath axis and Dharchhula -Tawaghat axis in Pithoragarh district, a statement said.
PHOTOS: Yamuna flows into streets of East Delhi 
Low-lying areas along the Yamuna remained submerged for the second consecutive day though the water level in the river started receding on Thursday.
Uttarakhand tragedy: 'We prayed and waited for our fate'
For those who came face to face with the wrath of nature in Uttarakhand, memories of the traumatic ordeal would never leave their minds.
'Flood relief may soon be too COSTLY for India'
Mihir Bhatt, founder of the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, a community-based, action research and advocacy organisation engaged in disaster risk management, tells Vicky Nanjappa that India needs to start learning from its flood experiences and innovating for future responses.
Readers' agenda for Modi: 'Prove to Muslims you are secular'
We present the first part of the suggestions from our readers to Narendra Modi. More will follow in the days to come.
Kedarnath evacuated; 50,000 still stranded in Uttarakhand
Rescue operations are in full swing in Uttarakhand where the death toll in the rain and floods has gone up to 150 as thousands of pilgrims still remained stranded.
PHOTOS: Army plays saviour in rain-ravaged Uttarakhand
In one of their largest relief and rescue operations in the last several decades, defence forces have deployed over 8,500 personnel and around 20 aircraft in rain-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand.
June 19, 2013
Cong's Nitish pill might cure its Mulayam fever
Apart from opening up the possibility of a tie-up for the 2014 general election, the crucial Congress support to Nitish Kumar's trust vote also has other advantages, notes .
Uttarakhand havoc is a man-made disaster!
Expansion of hydel projects, roads and tourism is making the Himalaya in Uttarakhand crumble. Jyotsna Singh reports
PIX: Yamuna water rising to unprecedented level, 1 drowns
Low-lying areas along the Yamuna were on Wednesday flooded as water level in the river inched closer to breaking the 207.49 metres mark, the highest in recorded history, prompting the authorities to evacuate over 5,000 people even as a man drowned in the river.
Shobha @ rain-hit Uttarakhand: 'I am hungry and alone...'
Former Karnataka power minister Shobha Karandlage has been stuck in her car since the last three days. She is trapped around 30 kilometres away from the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand.
PHOTOS: Hundreds at nature's mercy @ Lord's abode
The monsoon that hit North India early is continuing to wreak havoc in Uttarakhand.
STUNNING PHOTOS: Military might at the Paris Air Show
The 50th International Paris Air Show, which began on Monday at the Le Bourget exhibition centre, will culminate on June 23 and will bring together all the aviation industry's players across the globe to showcase the latest technological innovations. More than 2100 exhibitors from 45 countries are showcasing their flying wonders in the 192,000 square metres of exhibition space.
PHOTOS: Massive devastation at Uttarakhand
The famous Kedarnath shrine and the surrounding valley have been severely damaged and submerged in mud and slush after unprecedented flash floods hit the area and other parts of Uttarakhand.
Dilli Gupshup: Will Jayalalithaa fill NDA's vacuum?
Will Jayalalithaa fill the vacuum created after Nitish Kumar's exit from BJP-led NDA? Why the UPA government's Cabinet reshuffle ended with a whimper... Why the food security bill was stalled at the last moment... All this and more in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
June 18, 2013
Why Obama, Putin look so glum
Russian President Vladimir Putin and United States President Barack Obama on Monday held face-to-face talks on Syria on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Lough Erne, Britain.
Flood fury: Army deployed for rescue efforts
As large parts of the nation reel under incessant rains and floods, leading to breakdown of communications, the army is helping in disaster management efforts.
Photos: Death toll in North India monsoon fury rises to 130
Rains continued to lash most parts of north India on Tuesday, affecting normal life in the region.
DON'T MISS! BEST PHOTOS in the last 48 hours
Defining photographs clicked across the globe in the last 48 hours.
IN PHOTOS: When Kashmiri Pandits returned to the Valley
Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits kept their annual date with the Khir Bhawani festival at north Kashmir's Tullamulla temple, about 30 kms from summer capital Srinagar, on Monday.
June 17, 2013
Pix: 50 dead as landslides, floods wreak havoc in north India
Monsoon woes gripped several parts of north India today as heavy rains wreaked havoc in the hill states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, leaving over 50 people dead and hundreds stranded, while several parts in Haryana were flooded after water level of Yamuna rose alarmingly.
BJP to 'expose' Nitish; will play CDs of him praising Modi
Embittered by Janata Dal-United snapping ties with the National Democratic Alliance, Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to expose the "duplicity" of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by playing CDs of his speeches before people in which he "consistently praised" Narendra Modi since the 2002 riots.
IN PHOTOS: When Pope blessed Harley riders
Pope Francis blessed thousands of Harley Davidson riders in the Vatican city during the four day celebration marking the American bike manufacturer's 110th anniversary.
Meet the new ministers in Union Council
Eight new faces were inducted in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers on Monday, with Sisram Ola and Oscar Fernandes making a re-entry after a gap of four years.
Monsoon mayhem: Delhi airport, world's second best, submerged
Heavy rains lashed New Delhi for the second day in a row causing water-logging and subsequent traffic chaos in various parts of the city.
BJP betrayed Atal, Advani; left us with no option: Nitish
A day after Janata Dal-United snapped ties with the National Democratic Alliance, a combative Nitish Kumar on Monday rejected Bharatiya Janata Party's charge of betrayal and squarely blamed it for the break-up of the 17-year-old alliance, saying his party was left with "no other way" in the "new era" within BJP.
Why we cannot write off L K Advani yet
At much personal cost, Advani is wise enough now to understand that BJP is not capable of winning 272 seats in the Lok Sabha on its own. He knows that most top leaders in the party as well as regional satraps are uneasy about an uncompromising, dictatorial leader like Modi dousing their future aspirations. He feels he still may be a compromise candidate acceptable to most allies, says
June 16, 2013
JD-U-BJP break-up: 'Divorce between 2 mismatching partners'
The 17-year-old alliance between Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United and the Bharatiya Janaya Party is over. Here is how political parties reacted to the break up.
Photos: Heavy rains hit train services, make Mumbai crawl
Heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai and the adjoining Thane district, causing water-logging in the city and the suburbs and hitting suburban train services on the central line as the tracks were flooded.
It's official! Nitish splits with BJP, trust vote on Wednesday
The 17-year-old alliance between the Janata Dal-United and the Bharatiya Janata Party will come to an end on Sunday. An announcement to this effect will be made following a crucial meeting of the JD-U at 12.30 pm.
June 15, 2013
Which avatar of Modi would India like to see?
From someone who broke minority assertiveness in Gujarat to someone who eschews caste and creed for national pride -- this is how Narendra Modi bids to win over India, says Gyan Varma
June 14, 2013
'I hope Bihar doesn't pay a price for BJP-JD-U split'
In an interview with the , Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley says that the Third front is a failed idea
IN PIX: Iran votes to elect Ahmadinejad's successor
Iran on Friday began voting to elect its next president. The first round in the eleventh election for the president was held on Friday.
Top 20 dramatic PHOTOS shot this week
Rediff.com brings for you a collection of some of the best photos shot around the world this week
Chalo Assembly hits Hyderabad; do or die for AP CM, TRS
Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad on Friday resembled a fortress with 10,000 policemen from the state and 2000 Central paramilitary force personnel deployed in view of the 'Chalo Assembly' protest called by pro-Telangana parties that began this morning.
Photos: The many LOVELY 'friends' of Casanova Putin
When Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila Putina announced on national television that they were divorcing after 30 years together, many Russians thought it was an elaborately staged hoax.
Pakistan's only WAR-READY female fighter pilot
Every day, Ayesha Farooq, a 26-year-old woman, dons her olive green scarf to cover her hair and puts on a combat helmet to cover her hair -- for she is the first female war-ready fighter pilot in the all-male Pakistani air force.
June 13, 2013
Modi is 'Bhasmasur', has consumed his mentor Advani: Ramesh
Taking a dig at developments in the Bharatiya Janata Party, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh described Narendra Modi as 'Bhasmasur', a mythological character known for trying to destroy his creator, and said the Gujarat Chief Minister has "consumed" his mentor L K Advani.
PHOTOS: Himalayan airfares can't deter the Kashmir tourist
The steep hike in airfares is making Kashmir out of bounds for most travellers, leading many business-owners to fear that the tourists may be forced to look for another holiday destination, says Mukhtar Shah.
PIX: Inside the wonder called Luminarium
British artist Alan Parkinson poses in his inflatable sculpture called Luminarium before its opening on the ground of the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva
June 12, 2013
Row in Australia over PM Gillard's 'small breasts' menu
An Australian opposition leader has sparked a controversy by using "grossly sexist and offensive" words to describe Prime Minister Julia Gillard's body at a party fundraiser menu. The menu offered up "Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail -- Small Breasts, Huge Thighs and a Big Red Box".
PIX: Raj Thackeray's warrant cancelled in exam violence case
A Mumbai court on Wednesday cancelled the warrant issued against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray after he appeared in a case registered against him for violence during Railway Recruitment Board examinations at a college in suburban Bandra in October 2008.
IN PHOTOS: Indian Air Force greets the 'Hulk'The Indian Air Force Wednesday flew its first heavy-lift strategic transport aircraft Boeing C-17 Globemaster III to home, becoming the newest operator of the leading airlifter.
Modi and Advani: The two faces of BJP's Hindutva
The differences between the two leaders underscore a major transition point in the political evolution of the saffron party
RSS is the real WINNER in Modi-Advani tussle
Rarely have the fortunes of a political party been so inversely related to the future of a few of its key leaders, says
PIX: What bodyguards do when they have nothing to do
Rediff.com presents some interesting photographs of bodyguards idling around as their bosses attend the Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly.
Most violent nations: India in the same league as Pakistan
A report compiled by Sydney-based think tank Institute of Economics and Peace has said that the world became less peaceful over the last one year, with a sharp rise in the number of homicides.
REWIND: Best images in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best pictures from around the globe in the last 24 hours.
No jeans, mobile phones for Brahmin girls: BJP MP
'We are under attack from Western culture, our culture doesn't teach us to wear jeans,' says Bharatiya Janata Party MP Raghunandan Sharma.
June 11, 2013
UPA to bring ordinance to implement Food Security Bill
Most Congress leaders felt the government should introduce an ordinance so that the party can get the credit for the legislation that will provide food security to millions in the country.
PICS: Mahim building collapse death toll rises to 10
The death toll in the building collapse at central Mumbai has mounted to 10 as three more bodies were recovered from the debris on Tuesday the evening, a civic official said.
Advani-BJP tiff resolved as RSS intervenes
Bharatiya Janata Party Tuesday reached a truce with sulking patriarch L K Advani who agreed not to press for his resignation from key party posts after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh intervened to end the two-day crisis triggered by his opposition to Narendra Modi's elevation.
Minorities won't be happy with Modi's elevation: Patnaik
In an interview to CNN-IBN, Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal Chief Naveen Patnaik reiterated his stand that the Third Front would be an alternative to the BJP and the Congress in 2014.
PHOTOS: Chinese return to space, this time for 15 days
China on Tuesday successfully launched its fifth and longest manned space mission with three astronauts, including a woman, on board 'Shenzhou-10' as part of the Communist giant's efforts to build a permanent space lab of its own by 2020
Rise and unwilling fall of Indian politics' 'Bhishma Pitamah'
The BJP was leveraging Hindu religious leaders who'd banded under the Vishwa Hindu Parishad for building a Ram temple at the site of a masjid, notes .
RSS wants Advani to be respected; there's no pressure: BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh on Tuesday denied reports that the party was under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh over the crisis triggered by the resignation of senior leader L K Advani from all party positions.
This 'clean' auto plans to go from Bengaluru to London
Its creator, Naveen Rabelli aims to complete the journey in 90 days
Can the Congress 'tame' Modi?
What were BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley hiding? Why does the Madhya Pradesh chief minister need a mediator?What is Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's latest gaffe? All this and more in this week's Dilli Gupshup...
Children of Syria: Childhood lost in violence and conflict
Stirring images that tell a story of the children of conflict.
June 10, 2013
Mahim building collapse: 3 dead, several still trapped
Several people are feared trapped under the debris when a portion of a five-storey building collapsed in Mahim in central Mumbai on Monday evening
Difficult to stay in ventilator-supported NDA: JD-U
Janata Dal-United on Monday gave first indications of parting ways with the National Democratic Alliance, saying it is "difficult" to remain in the alliance which is on "ventilator support" in the wake of resignation of L K Advani from top BJP posts and anointment of Narendra Modi as party's campaign committee chief for next Lok Sabha polls.
BJP: The party with differences
Narendra Modi takes centre stage, but not a PM candidate yet, says Business Standard.
Warning to BJP chief: Modi chops off hands that promote him
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Monday cautioned BJP President Rajnath Singh against the Gujarat Chief Minister, saying Narendra Modi has always "chopped off" the hands, which promoted him.
INSIDE STORY: Modi's game plan for the top post in 2014
speaks to BJP insiders and those privy to Modi's thinking to piece together the Gujarat's strongman plan/journey that aims for the biggest prize in Indian politics.
Manic Monday: Torrential rains cripple Mumbai; traffic hit
Torrential rains continued to lash Mumbai and coastal parts of Maharashtra for the second consecutive day on Monday, disrupting normal life in the region.
June 08, 2013
The Modi storm has left the Congress VERY nervous
Although the ruling Congress realises that it cannot hope for a repeat of its 2009 performance, it hopes that differences within BJP and NDA over naming Narendra Modi as the PM candidate may work in its favour, notes .
PIX: Five dead as gunman goes on rampage in California
At least six people were killed as a gunman went on a rampage in Southern California, before being shot down by the police at a college library, some three miles away from where United States President Barack Obama was attending a fundraiser.
June 07, 2013
Is opposition to Modi reason for Advani skipping BJP meet?
Bharatiya Janata Party patriarch L K Advani's absence in Panaji on Friday cast a shadow on the national executive meeting beginning on Saturday raising doubts whether the party would go ahead with its plans to announce Narendra Modi as head of the campaign committee for the Lok Sabha elections.
In PHOTOS: A peek into the isolated lives of North Koreans
Rediff.com brings you photographs of daily life from inside the world's most militarised country.
Top 15 DRAMATIC photos shot this week
Rediff.com takes a look at the most dramatic moments from around the globe this week
Beneath the deceptive calm, despair, anger brew in Kashmir
For the Kashmiri people, the gun remains India's main face, and coercion or deception by New Delhi dominates their consciousness, says Praful Bidwai after a recent visit to the valley.
June 06, 2013
Professor uses nanotechnology to build affordable water filter
Professor T Pradeep talks about the nano material he and his associates have fabricated and how it can be used in an affordable water filter in an interview with Rediff.com's .
'Terrorists have nothing to hope for in their life'
Meet Professor V S Subrahmanian, who has made predicting acts of terrorism his business.
ICONIC PHOTOS: Woman in Red ignites Turkey
The image of the "woman in red" has become the leitmotif for female protesters during the ongoing violent anti-government demonstrations in Turkey's capital Ankara and in Istanbul.
90pc of nurses use cellphones while assisting surgeries: Study
Around 90 per cent of nurses and 50 per cent of operation theatre technicians employed in various Delhi hospitals use their mobile phones while assisting surgeries, apart from 10 per cent of doctors who check SMSes during the procedure, a study has claimed.
The most POWERFUL photos over the past year: Part III
Rediff.com brings you some of the award-winning pictures from bestselling Reuters Our World Now collector's series. This is the final part of the series
No hot pants on this bus! Cover up, says Beijing police
As complaints of sexual harassment of women in public transport increased in Beijing, the Beijing Police has warned women against wearing "minimal clothing" like mini skirts or hot pants while travelling in buses and subways.
June 05, 2013
Election victories boost Modi's PM dreams
As Narendra Modi continues his ascendancy with impressive victories in the by-elections, Congress insiders are disturbed that party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi failed to understand the ground reality, reports Anita Katyal.
In Photos: 'Lion of Punjab' scripts history as Pak PM
Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif was on Wednesday formally elected Pakistan's prime minister by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, setting the stage for an unprecedented third term as premier.
Reshuffle blues: Will Shukla go and Bansal return?
The disquiet over Kapil Sibal... Modi's rise rattles the UPA... Nitin Gadkari is missed... All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup
What is the crisis in Turkey all about?
So, what caused the situation to take a turn for the worse, why have the people of Turkey turned against the government? We answer a few of these questions.
The most POWERFUL photos over the past year: Part II
Rediff.com brings you some of the award-winning pictures from bestselling Reuters Our World Now collector's series.
June 04, 2013
BJP's Goa meet to focus on national security
National security and corruption will be the BJP's poll plank for the coming Lok Sabha election, reveals Sheela Bhatt.
NDA will WIN over 300 seats in 2014 polls: BJP
Calling the United Progressive Alliance a "minority government" and ruling out the possibility of a Third Front government, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday claimed that the National Democratic Alliance would come to power after the 2014 elections.
'Nitish Kumar is a one-man-show, isn't Gujarat also so?'
'We had become buffoons with Lalu. If you were a Bihari you were seen as a buffoon -- that has changed. Now there's a pride in being Bihari.' Archana Masih reports on the changes in Bihar.
FLASHBACK: When tanks rolled down Tiananmen Square
Thousands of Chinese are on Tuesday observing the 24th anniversary of the bloody military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.
Why RTI verdict is BAD NEWS for India's politicians
A full bench of the Central Information Commission on Monday passed a historic judgment, stating that political parties would under the ambit of the Right to Information Act). While the CIC verdict was made about a case connected to the Communist Party of India, fresh complaints may be filed against all other parties before the CIC to secure a similar verdict and put them under the ambit of the RTI.
The most wanted desi jihadis and Naxals
The National Investigation Agency is tracking down terrorists hiding in Uttar Pradesh and Naxals in Andhra Pradesh.
China's first lady steals the show in Latin America
China's new first lady Peng Liyuan continued with her charm offensive demonstrating her musical talent during a recent visit to Latin America along with her husband President Xi Jinping.
Away from home, troops fall for extra-marital affairs?
Denial of leave to army personnel, including officers and soldiers, may tempt them to have extra-marital affairs and in extreme cases, they may also resort to misbehaviour and flirting, an army study has said.
Go topless this summer in New York!
Earlier this year in February, the New York Police Department decided to go soft on city dwellers looking to soak up the sun.
IMAGES: Worst flood in 70 years inundates central Europe
We bring forth images from various European countries, including Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Poland, which are experiencing reportedly the worst flooding in the last 70 years.
PHOTOS: Israeli women soldiers in the line of fire
A look at some of the beautiful women serving in the Israeli combat forces
'Spirituality and religiosity complement each other'
Sunanda Leelaram has dedicated her life to teach Vedanta, a body of knowledge that expounds the technique of life and living. Rediff.com's Arthur J Pais speaks to Sunandaji, who is currently is on a multi-city North American tour.
June 03, 2013
Pakistan has 10 more nukes than India!
India has added roughly 10 nuclear warheads for a total of 90 to 110 in 2012; Pakistan has increased its warheads by about 10 to between 100 and 120; and China now has 250 against 240 in 2012, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in its annual report.
The most POWERFUL photos over the past year
The most POWERFUL photos over the past year
Why Indians won't trust Henry Kissinger
How does India take to the mellowed Dr Kissinger? India's elites may have dropped their earlier allergy toward him, but they are on guard still, feels Ambassador .
Netizens beware! China could be snooping around
China is the "most active source" of national and industrial cyber espionage in the world, a report by US-based telecom major Verizon alleged.
June 01, 2013
PIX: Two Hizbul commanders gunned down in encounter
Two top militant commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were gunned down by security forces in a fierce gun battle that lasted over 24 hours and ended Saturday evening in south Kashmir's Shopian district.
Photos: Second wave of tornadoes slams Oklahoma, 9 killed
At least nine people were killed and over 100 others injured after a series of deadly tornadoes hit Oklahoma City, days after the region was battered by a monster storm that claimed 24 lives.
May 31, 2013
Why are politicians baying for Srinivasan's blood?
Arvind Kejriwal accused Robert Vadra of participating in questionable land deals. Those were just allegations, but so are the crimes supposedly committed by Gurunath Meiyappan. But one is a businessman's son-in-law and the other is a politician's son-in-law. And so, predictably, they were treated differently by the politicians, says T V R Shenoy.
Chhattisgarh massacre: Shocking details emerge!
Gruesome details are slowly emerging about the infamous Chhattisgarh massacre.
Citizens and police unite for Surat's 'third eye'
Surat's businessmen and citizens collect funds to help the police build a state-of-the-art surveillance system that will provide real-time video coverage of the city. reports.
Dr Singh's BIGGEST regret and his take on IPL scandal
Rejecting reports about a rift between him and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday asserted that there was no truth in them as the two worked together almost on all issues.
DRAMATIC pix: Topless protests, France's 1st gay marriage...
Rediff.com takes a look at the most dramatic events that unfolded across the globe in the last 24 hours.
Pakistan, Nigeria are Christian KILLING fields: Report
The killing of Christians is reportedly on the rise in Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria and Egypt according to a human rights group, with the Vatican claiming that 1,00,000 Christians are being killed each year.
'The Maoists had to show something to the people'
'This was long expected because Mahendra Karma was on the Maoists's hit list... I don't think the Maoists cared as much about the consequences as they cared about the fact that they had to get rid of Mahendra Karma. Whatever else they do or don't do now, they can say they have revenged Salwa Judum.' Sociologist Nandini Sundar on the Maoist massacre and its aftermath.
May 30, 2013
How the government suppresses dissent
The mother of intolerance is the Union home ministry, run by ultra-conservative bureaucrats who are inclined to take a hard line on matters ranging from fighting insurgencies to putting citizens under surveillance to outlawing dissident groups, says Praful Bidwai.
Major blow! Congress stalwart Keshav Rao joins TRS
Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh Keshav Rao resigned from his party on Thursday and joined the K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Hyderabad.
IN PHOTOS: The mesmerising Mount Everest through ages
As the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the first successful expedition to the peak of Mount Everest, and countless stories attached to it, we present some scintillating images of the Big Daddy clicked through the ages.
'1984 riots a genocide launched by some Congress leaders'
Over 100 members of the Sikh community held a protest in front of a federal court on Wednesday to protest the alleged role of Congress leaders in the 1984 riots.
May 29, 2013
PM, Abe script next level of Indo-Japan strategy
Rediff.com's , who is travelling with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan, reports from the significant bilateral meeting with Japanese Premier Shizo Abe in Tokyo.
'The tribal cause is a mask to further the Naxal agenda'
'We need a two-track approach -- one that deals with the leadership of the Naxals, who wish to overthrow the Indian State and the other, which focuses on the concerns of the people they pretend/claim to serve. There is clearly a need to recognise tribal populations as victims -- first of State apathy and discrimination and then of the Naxal agenda.' We again highlight Union Minister 's Sardar Patel memorial lecture.
Young mountaineer wants to get involved in Himalayan cleanup
On the 60th anniversary of the conquest of Mt Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Krushnaa Patil, one of the youngest mountaineers to scale not only Everest but most of the other major peaks in the world, tells she now wants to get involved with the cleanup of the mountains.
For Everest @ 60, Giripremi leads double assault on peaks
To mark the 60th anniversary of the conquest of Mt Everest, Pune's Giripremi led simultaneous climbs on the world's tallest peak as well as the Mt Lhotse, the world's fourth tallest. Ashish Mane, who climbed Lhotse as part of the expedition and who scaled Everest last year, speaks to about the experience
PICS: The 'cool' quotient this Indian summer
Temperatures across the plains in north India on Tuesday hovered over 43 degrees Celsius at several places with the region getting little relief from the summer sun which continues to beat down with all its intensity.
May 28, 2013
Maoists are no longer motivated by ideologies: Jairam
In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN's Deputy Editor Sagarika Ghose, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said that there was nothing ideological about Maoists anymore, as they were extortionists and criminals.
Manmohan Singh's love affair with Japan
On the eve of his talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh minced no words while expressing his intense love for the Asian giant, reports , who is accompanying the PM to Japan and Thailand.
Photos: This flag is BIGGER than 3 football fields!
A tiny Romanian village has entered the record books for unfurling the largest flag ever made.
Hooked and high, Punjab snorts in a chemical cloud
From traditional heroin and cocaine to over-the-counter medicines, drugs hang heavy over Punjab's future with 70 per cent of youth believed to be affected by the problem. travels across the state to find out how the government is tackling the menace.
How to tackle the growing menace of Naxalism
The Maoist insurgency is a blatantly illegal and no-holds-barred war against the Indian State, against the idea and existence of Indian democracy, and that includes the poor tribals and farmers for whose cause the Maoists claim to fight. It is not only ignorant but also extremely dangerous to romanticise the Naxal cause, says
REWIND: Best images in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best pictures from around the globe in the last 24 hours.
May 27, 2013
People of India have fondness for people of Japan: PM
Manmohan Singh's visit will have a special focus on giving boost to cooperation in defence, economic and energy, reports rediff.com's who is travelling with the prime minister.
Re-assessing Nehru: 'Naive' or realist?
Colonel (retd) Anil Athale take a critical look at Jawaharlal Nehru's foreign and defence policy contributions and failures.
The Maoists are looking to overthrow the Indian State by 2050
The power of the left-wing extremist groups is immense and they can, in one sense, if they want to, bring many sectors of the Indian economy to its knees, warns former home secretary GK Pillai
Centre-state squabble must end to counter Maoist threat
Fancy solutions by armchair experts are of no use to thousands of valiant CRPF jawans and local police who are fighting lone battles, says retired IPS officer
'We are over-reacting to Saudi Arabia's Nitaqat crisis'
'The problems faced by migrants remain the same for the last 20, 30 years -- salaries not being paid properly, exploitation by agents, etc. This is the biggest problem and not what the Saudi government implements now,' migration expert Dr Irudaya Rajan tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warier.
The 'world' wants to buy this China-Pak fighter jet
As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrapped up his "impressive" visit to Pakistan to firm up their economic and military ties, a Pakistan official said "numerous countries" are interested in obtaining JF-17 Thunder fighter jet jointly developed by both the countries.
IN PHOTOS: Playing catch-up with a TORNADO
We bring forth recent and archival Reuters images of these bravehearts, aka the storm chasers!
15 STUNNING photos from the week that was!
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe since the last week.
May 26, 2013
'This could be the Maoists' final push'
A day after Maoists gunned down the founder of anti-Maoist militia Salwa Judum, Mahendra Karma, spoke with Rahul Pandita, author of 'Hello, Bastar: The Untold Story of India's Maoist Movement', for his insights into what he terms as the ageing Maoist leadership's "one final push to their war against the State in their lifetime."
Will not bow down before Naxalism: PM Singh
Asserting that the country will never bow down before Naxalism, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said government will pursue the perpetrators of the crime with urgency and is committed to bringing them to justice.
May 25, 2013
It's eat, sleep and no work for Sanjay Dutt in Yerwada jail
The high rise walls of Yerwada central jail in Pune maintain a stony silence but curious passers-by in this suburban area have been taking a momentary pause to look at the imposing gates behind which Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has started his 42-month sentence.
May 24, 2013
Breathe in for a calm life, breathe out for happiness
Chennai-based Indian School of Breathing founder Dr Sukanya explains how breathing and meditation are key to a happy and longer life.
How Indian media helped defuse crisis with China
By sensitising the entire nation of this unprovoked incursion and the resultant mood of anger among Indians, the media had set into motion rapid official and diplomatic developments not only in New Delhi but also in Beijing, writes Air Marshal (retd) Bhushan Gokhale.
Photos: Why the War on Terror needs these killer 'birds'
We present some recent and archival Reuters images of unmanned drone being developed across the globe.
10 STUNNING photographs from across the planet
We present some of the best photographs clicked in the recent past across the world.
May 23, 2013
'We took a U-turn under Nitish Kumar'
What is Change really like in Bihar? Once seen as India's basket-case, what is its turnaround story like? Archana Masih reports from India's other most talked about state.
The 3 idiots of Indian cricket or the 3 scapegoats?
This mess is not limited to Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, but has spread to include other, more famous and better connected, both cricketers and non-cricketers. If so, we may never unearth all the facts. But in all seriousness we have to ask if match-fixing in cricket truly deserves this level of attention, asks T V R Shenoy.
Why won't the Gandhis do it?
Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's inflexibility has left the Congress searching for a new leader. But not in the way you think.
Mumbai's local trains kill over 2000 people every year!
Train accidents on suburban Mumbai local routes has claimed 23,473 lives in the past 11 years, information sought under the Right to Information Act has revealed.
Kudankulam: The judgment and beyond
Regardless of the wisdom contained in the Supreme Court judgment, we need to go beyond it, commission the plant after making sure, through an international inspection, that it is safe, create a fool-proof disaster management system and make a pledge that India will progressively move towards elimination of nuclear power within a time frame, says
IMPRESSIONS: When Sonia Gandhi chided Dilliwalas
, who attended the United Progressive Alliance's fourth anniversary event on Wednesday, shares some gupshup picked up from 7, Race Course Road.
Akhilesh's Band, Baaja, Baraat idea for Maya's parks
Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati's dream projects, including memorials and parks in the name of Dalit icons in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, would now witness marriages and cultural events with the Akhilesh Yadav government deciding to use the space for public purposes.
12-year-old Sathwik spells Chimborazo right to win Bee
Sathwik Karnik, an Indian-origin boy from Massachusetts has won this year's National Geographic Bee contest after gruelling rounds testing his geographic knowledge about lions in Botswana, mountain ranges in Asia and port cities in England.
15 DRAMATIC moments captured on lens
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the last few days.
17 ways to take on an aggressive China
India needs an integrated policy to deal with China. breaks it into 17 steps.
Sonia Gandhi 9th most POWERFUL woman in the world: Forbes
United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and India-origin PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi figure among the top 10 in the global list of most powerful women, in the league of leaders like Angela Merkel, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Lashkar terrorist killed in Srinagar encounter
Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist Hilal Moulvi alias Khalid was gunned down in an encounter on Thursday morning in the in the heart of Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar.
May 22, 2013
PIX: 'Soldier beheaded' in suspected terror attack in London
In a suspected terror attack, a person believed to be British soldier was Wednesday beheaded in London by two men, who were shot and wounded by the police.
Supersonic BrahMos tested from INS Tarkash
India on Wednesday successfully test fired the 290-km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Navy's latest guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the coast of Goa.
UPA-II all about scams, corruption: BJPThe Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday sought to paint a dismal picture of United Progressive Alliance-II holding it responsible for the economic gloom and failure to give the country leadership while accusing it of diminishing the role of the prime minister.
Police turf war MESSES up IPL spot fixing probe
Delhi and Mumbai Police have been at logger heads in the past. But the ongoing tussle between the two police forces in connection with the spot fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League has made a mess of the investigation.
Spot Fixing: BIG names being kept under wraps?
More and more dirt is likely to spill out in the spot fixing scandal in the days ahead. But are some key players being protected by the police because of political pressure? Renu Mittal reports
The mystery of Delhi's missing girls
Reuters photographer Mansi Thapliyal spent time with the families of young girls who have gone missing in India's capital New Delhi, photographing them with their missing daughter's belongings. Between January 1 and May 8, 2013, 725 children in Delhi were reported missing and are untraced, according to data from India's Zonal Integrated Police Network website.
15 DRAMATIC moments captured on lens
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the last few days.
May 21, 2013
UPA does not deserve another term: Opinion poll
An opinion poll survey conducted by CNN-IBN shows that people are dissatisfied with the present UPA government and majority believe the UPA-II government does not deserve another term to rule.
When UPA almost announced free mobiles for poor...
After nine years in power, the United Progressive Alliance faces the question of credibility, says
PHOTOS: The real villains of Jalna
The struggle for water in the drought-hit Jalna district of Maharashtra through eyes of rediff.com's .
UP: 199 monumental scamsters and 1 question mark
Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta indicted 199 government officials, including two ministers, in the Rs 1,410 cr memorial scam. However, the omission of then chief minister Mayawati from the list has raised eyebrows. reports
PHOTOS: They defy DEATH, with style!
We present recent and archive Reuters images of daredevils performing out-of-the-world stunts.
Tornado ravages Oklahoma; 20 kids among 90 killed
At least 51 people, including 20 children, were killed when a massive tornado struck an area outside the American city of Oklahoma on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Staggering '83 pc Indians see China as major security threat'
A staggering 83 per cent of Indians view China as a major security threat, even as 63 per cent would like relation with the neighbouring country to be strengthened, an opinion poll has claimed.
May 20, 2013
UPA set for debacle in LS polls, NDA to gain: Survey
A countrywide survey done ABP News and Nielsen spells doom for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance.If Lok Sabha polls were held right now, says the survey, the UPA will win only 136 of the 543 seats in the Lower House.
World is big enough to fit both our dreams: PM to Li
Taking stock of "lessons learnt" from the recent stand-off in Ladakh after a Chinese incursion there, India and China on Monday decided on further measures for maintaining peace and tranquility along their border.
Incursion shows that Chinese think our leadership is weak
The effect of India being perceived as a nation with a weak leadership on countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and a host of others in south and southeast Asia, or the terror establishment across the border and their sleeper cells on our soil, can be profound, points out Brigadier Sapan Kumar Chatterji (retd)
Photos: Delhi sizzles at 46 degrees C, hottest day of season
Delhiites on Sunday reeled under heat wave conditions with the mercury soaring to over 46 degrees Celsius in some parts of the capital, which recorded the hottest day of the season so far.
Ties will suffer if no peace on border: Dr Singh to China PM
In a firm message to China, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday night voiced India's serious concern over the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and told his counterpart Li Keqiang that in the absence of peace and tranquility along the border, bilateral ties will suffer as the two leaders held hour-long cordial but candid talks.
PHOTOS: Indian Army terminates insurgents on US soil
Highlights of the Indo-US military exercise codenamed Yudh Abhyas 2013
May 19, 2013
IN PHOTOS: Chinese premier's three-day India visit begins
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in New Delhi on a three-day state visit. He was received by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed and senior ministry officials including Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai.
Oppn acting against the interests of poor, says Rahul
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has criticised the Opposition parties for stalling the Food Security Bill in Parliament, and asserted the United Progressive Alliance government was determined to enact the legislation for the benefit of people.
May 18, 2013
Li's visit: Will China give up its border bhaigiri?
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visit to India, starting on Sunday, to break new ground amid recent border stand-off, could also focus on the need for settlement of border dispute besides boosting trade, Chinese analysts said in Beijing
24 HOURS: JLo's moves, Obama in pre-school and MORE
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the last 24 hours.
May 17, 2013
FAQs on cricket betting: Absence of action tells the real tale
As another murky saga of betting in cricket surfaces, raises some frequently asked questions on the subject and provides answers.
Sanjay Dutt restless in tiny 'anda cell meant for terrorists'
Actor Sanjay Dutt is feeling 'suffocated' in his egg-shaped high-security anda cell, which is generally used to house terror suspects and hardcore criminals, at the Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai.
27 years later, Li Keqiang returns to India as Chinese premier
It's the fond memories of the Taj Mahal and the hospitality of Indians that bring Li Keqiang back to India, this time as the premier of the world's most populous nation.
Yudh Abhyas: Indian Army goes hunting in the US
Highlights of the ongoing Indo-US military exercise codenamed Yudh Abhyas 2013
All decks cleared for Srinivasan's bid to a top US court
The US Senate judiciary committee's unanimous approval to Srikanth 'Sri' Srinivasan's nomination has ensured his confirmation by Senate to be a slam dunk; and seat on influential DC Appeals Court could be catalyst toward the Indian American judge's Supreme Court nomination, reports Aziz Haniffa.
24 HOURS: Chidambaram's new avatar and MORE
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the last 24 hours.
May 16, 2013
24 HOURS: 10 STUNNING moments from around the world
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the last 24 hours.
Sanjay Dutt enters jail with Gita, Ramayan
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt on Thursday surrendered before a designated TADA court in south Mumbai to serve a three-and-a-half year sentence in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.
PHOTOS: Indian Army's Yudh Abhyas @Fort Bragg
Yudh Abhyas, the annual bilateral soldier training between India and the United States, is on at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina.
Why Afghan President's India visit is well-timed
Hamid Karzai's visit also comes amidst a number of diplomatic developments in and around New Delhi
May 15, 2013
'Supreme Court wants CBI to be politically-neutral'
'The court would like to make the CBI politically neutral so that they behave as professionals and they are not influenced by somebody in power,' constitutional expert Anil Divan tells
PICS: Indian, US troops hold 'Yudh Abhyas' at Fort Bragg
Can Indian and American troops join hands to carry out a successful peacekeeping mission in a third country to rescue innocent civilians, whose lives are threatened either by their own regime or armed opposition?
Ladakh standoff revived India's distrust of China
India should make it clear that relations in the economic and other fields cannot improve without satisfactory progress in the border talks, feels senior analyst
'Nobody is snatching away the lions from Gujarat'
'Some fear that Gujarat's tourism potential will be lost. That's wrong. Gujarat has such wonderful places. And they have developed such a wonderful system of tourism for the Asiatic lion. That will continue.' Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel discusses the April 15 Supreme Court order -- where a pride or two of lions will move from the Gir forest in Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, with Dr Asad R Rahmani, director, Bombay Natural History Society.
X-47B, the new silent killer over water
The United States Navy has for the first time launched an unmanned aircraft the size of a fighter jet from a warship in the Atlantic Ocean, as it wades deeper into America's drone programme amid growing concerns over the legality of its escalating surveillance and lethal strikes.
'Hindus, Muslims, Christians voted for Modi in Gujarat'
Ever since the Sivagiri Mutt in Kerala invited Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest of the Sree Narayana Dharma Meemamsa Parishad, Kerala politics has taken a new direction.
10 DRAMATIC moments captured on lens
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the past 48 hours.
May 14, 2013
Sanjay Dutt won't be given more time to surrender: SC
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant more time to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to surrender to undergo remaining three-and-a-half-year jail term in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
Guj govt withholds decision on Kodnani's death penalty
Under attack from right wing forces, Gujarat government on Tuesday kept on hold its decision to seek death penalty for former minister Maya Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi and eight others in the 2002 Naroda Patiya riots case.
'Politicians are never punished; they are above the law'
'What I have been going through for the last 17 years is much more than what I suffered in those 42 days. I am dying every single moment of my life for the last 17 years,' the Suryanelli rape case victim tells Shobha Warrier.
May 13, 2013
The 4 Congressmen eyeing Bansal's Chandigarh seat
Former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat is up for grabs. And there are quite a few in the reckoning. reports
China intrusion: Government is misleading people!
India by withdrawing its troops from Depsang Plains of Ladakh de-facto has conceded this territory to China. It needs certain special talents to interpret an ignominious defeat as a diplomatic victory, says Ravindra Narayan Ravi
No rift at the top, Dr Singh to remain PM till 2014: Cong
Rejecting as a "malicious campaign" media reports suggesting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may be replaced by his party soon, the Congress on Monday night said there is "no doubt" that he will continue till 2014.
Why Dr Manmohan Singh won't go in a hurry
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's Rajya Sabha term is ending next month. There is virtually no doubt that Manmohan would get re-nominated from Assam but a section of the Congress is said to be "hoping against hope" that he opts out.
'Jayalalithaa will not win a single Lok Sabha seat'
'...If the power situation does not improve in Tamil Nadu. The Congress will not allow the plant to start.' As the Supreme Court clears the decks for commissioning the controversial Koodankulam nuclear plant, A Ganesh Nadar checks the mood in the villages, the epi-centre of the protests.
When Siddaramaiah sought writers' blessings
In a state where religious sentiment and superstition is common among politicians, Karnataka's new Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah began his tenure by meeting writers. Vicky Nanjappa finds out why.
PIX: World's Rhinos could soon be gone, gone forever
A recent report warns that the world's rhinos could vanish in the next two decades if rampant poaching isn't curbed.
Nawaz victory a new opportunity for Ind-Pak ties
Nawaz Sharif's re-election ppens new chances to transform Indo-Pak economic ties, and with this, the rest of the relationship, says
Vindictive politics is not my cup of tea: Siddaramaiah
In an interview with rediff.com's , Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says that the state will see a lot of change. "I am here to do my work and put the state back on track," he says.
Atheist Siddaramaiah and God's changing role in politics
Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah's 'atheism'is not a new trend in Indian politics, points out Archis Mohan.
Modi's US video blitz: India has lost trust in UPA govt
Asserting that he has given a new meaning to "development" during his 12-year rule in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi has said that the greatest challenge facing India is restoring the trust of the people.
Was the Chinese intrusion really a PLA strike against Xi?
Could some frustrated Chinese generals have decided to teach India a lesson to sink Xi Jinping's world dream, asks Claude Arpi.
The PMO, the coal scam, the missing sentence and the CBI
Did the principal secretary to the prime minister authorise the controversial meeting a joint secretary at the PMO had at the CBI headquarters to discuss the coal scam report, asks T V R Shenoy.
Dr Singh was once a King, but...
Into his 10 year, Manmohan Singh is struggling to retrieve his legacy -- thanks to bad luck, a bad situation and at least two very bad calls, says
May 12, 2013
Nawaz Sharif set for third term as Pak PM
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party took an unassailable lead over its rivals in landmark general elections that witnessed a huge turnout despite Taliban threats and bomb attacks.
May 11, 2013
Resignation is the ONLY option for PM: BJP
Sharpening its attack in the wake of resignations of two Union ministers on charges of impropriety, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to do an honest introspection and step down as it is the "only option" for him.
Pakistanis vote in historic polls, 24 killed in violence
Defying Taliban death threats and violence that claimed 24 lives, millions of Pakistanis on Saturday voted in a landmark general election that marked the first democratic transition in the country's 66-year history.
As scams pile up, PM's Teflon coating wears off
There will be even less Teflon left if the court asks the joint secretary concerned in the Prime Minister's Office to testify who instructed him to vet the CBI's report to the court, says
Don't miss:Interesting videos this weekDon't miss:Interesting videos this week
May 10, 2013
Siddaramaiah to be new chief minister of Karnataka
Although the Congress claims that it was a unanimous decision, there were at least 30 legislators who were not in favour of Siddaramaiah.
Sanjay Dutt will go to jail on May 15; SC rejects plea
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected actor Sanjay Dutt's plea, seeking review of the judgment upholding his conviction under the Arms Act and sentencing him to five years in jail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
Who will be Karnataka's next chief minister?
Even as the Congress Legislature Party is set to meet on Friday afternoon to elect the new Karnataka chief minister, at the moment, it appears that it would be a closely contested battle between Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjuna Kharge.
Rahman has no problem with Vande Mataram, but this MP does
'This is not the first time I have refused to stand for this particular song and this will not be the last time,' Lok Sabha MP Shafiqur Rahman Barq tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar. 'I have no problems with Jana Gana Mana.'
DON'T MISS! The week's MOST DRAMATIC photographs
We present some of the most dramatic photographs clicked across the globe in the past week.
INFOGRAPHIC: How the BJP lost KarnatakaThis graphic divined from the Karnataka election results by rediff's Data Journalism team shows how the Congress won the election. Which planet do you live on?
'We had been talking for two hours about India and America and we stopped and looked at each other. "The issues are the same," said my hyper-successful and patriotic NRI friend, his hidden Indian self somewhere wanting to empathise. Yes, I agreed, only the planets that we inhabit seem different, notes B S Prakash.
Why is sulking Gadkari not talking to Rajnath?
A little over three months after taking charge as president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajnath Singh has managed to annoy his predecessor, Nitin Gadkari, by not standing by the former party chief in his fight against corruption allegations.
May 09, 2013
'India, China may sometimes hold hands or race each other'
Before embarking on a two-day visit to China on May 9, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid interacted with members of the Chinese media and fielded questions about India's trade ties with the Communist nation and the recent stand-off in Ladakh
Pakistan poll promises: Peace, not posturing with India
Pakistan's major political parties have pledged to work for better relations with India and to resolve outstanding issues like the Kashmir dispute through dialogue while pushing economic ties.
For Ajit Jogi, it's no less than a thrill to walk again
After being bound to a wheelchair for nearly nine years, Ajit Jogi took his first steps this week with the help of bionic supporters. talks to the former Chhattisgarh chief minister about his new pair of 'e-legs'.
This is how we preserve the birthplace of a great writer
The man who wrote two of the 20th century's greatest novels, Animal Farm and 1984, was born in Motihari. But few come to the sleepy Bihar town seeking George Orwell.
'Indian Special Forces are tied up in bureaucratic hierarchy'
Special Forces are a vital element of national power, possessing enormous freedom of action and should be fruitfully employed to successfully meet future challenges, say Lieutenant General P C Katoch and journalist Saikat Dutta.
Why is Mumbai abandoning its civic hospitals?
By deserting public hospitals we are dismantling our public health-care system, says Dr Sanjay Nagral.
Why Sonia can't get PM to sack his ministers
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has come across tough resistance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the issue of sacking tainted ministers in his Cabinet. For now, Dr Singh is having it his way, but voices of dissent are growing louder. reports.
Pakistan Polls: The men who MATTER
We bring you a brief profile of candidates from several political parties who are in the fray in the upcoming election.
May 08, 2013
'Is there any comparison between Modi and Rahul Gandhi?'
'You need, in a national leader, some broad qualities like tolerance, like humanism. You need a neutral attitude to religion. No way can Modi match these qualities. His mind is communal,' Madhusudan Mistry, the Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, tells Rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt in an exclusive interview.
Congress smiles won't last forever. Here's why
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leaders may be rejoicing over the impressive victory the party scored in Karnataka, but the celebrations could well be short-lived as the UPA government's credibility stands at an all-time low. reports
Karnataka verdict: WHO said WHAT
Here are some reactions post counting of votes in Karnataka
Koodankulam: 'It takes time to make a plant operational'
'We are restricting the media because of the difficulties we are facing with the media. The public have been visiting the plant regularly,' says R S Sundar, site director at the controversial Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project in Tamil Nadu. 'The public is knowledgeable. They ask as many questions as journalists. We have faced tough questions from them, clarified their doubts and convinced them.'
In Photos: Congress storms BJP's bastion in Karnataka
The Congress is racing towards the finishing line in Karnataka's electoral race, with victories and leads in 120 seats in the 224-member assembly.
Karnataka polls: Meet the WINNERS and LOSERS
Karnaka Janata Party's Shobha Karandlage, who is considered close to B S Yeddyurappa, has lost in Rajajinagar despite a massive election campaign.
K'taka: Cong gets majority, BJP suffers HUMILIATING defeat
The Bharatiya Janata Party was on Wednesday decimated in the Karnataka assembly elections with Congress set to form a government, may be on its own, wresting power after a gap of seven years.
May 07, 2013
Shah Rukh SHOULD be allowed in Wankhede: Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday stated that actor Shahrukh Khan should be allowed entry in the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
Karnataka's BIG DAY: What the parties are looking for
Wednesday's keenly-watched counting to the Karnataka assembly election will have varying significances for different political parties, reports .
Scar of Depsang: The message China deliveredThe Chinese return to their previous position is a lesson that we will have to learn if we want to live as a proud and powerful nation. A weak and meek government is neither respected by its electorate nor by the neighbours whom it wants to befriend, says
'Pak soil shouldn't be used for any design against India'Former prime minister of Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League-(N) Nawaz Sharif, in an interview to CNN-IBN, talks of the importance to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully while promising to reactivate back channel negotiations between India and Pakistan.
Railway scandal: Will Narain Rao Manjunath reveal all?
profiles Narain Rao Manjunath, one of the key accused in the Railways bribery scandal.
AZAN: The EXPLOSIVE new jihadi magazine
Jihadis in Afghanistan and Pakistan have come up with another explosive terror journal that attacks Pakistan government for turning its back on 'traditional enemy' India among other things, points out.
Meet the Indian-Americans 'champions of change'
The 'Champions of Change' programme was created as an opportunity for the White house to feature groups of Americans, individuals, businesses and organisations, who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.
Why India deserves a better Food Security Bill
'Any meaningful food security programme should aim at gradually reducing the number of hungry dependent on government support,' says . 'This is only possible if the government had looked at the entire issue in a sincere manner. I don't think at any stage the government was honest in its approach. It had simply worked and reworked the Food Security Bill keeping the 2014 election in mind.'
PHOTOS: Barack Obama defeated... in golf politics
US President Barack Obama lost a golf match while playing with two Republican senators, Saxby Chambliss and Bob Corker.
IN PIX: Americans simply love their GUNS!
What explains the America's attachment to guns?
Why India's top law officer is under attack
'On April 30, the Supreme Court spoke on the need to further insulate the CBI from political interference. Come May 8, perhaps their Lordships could also extend protection to the law officers too -- simultaneously sending out the message that the Attorney General is much more than a professional doing his duty to the ministry of the day, that he owes a higher duty as an officer of the court,' says T V R Shenoy.
Why the govt should promote the right kind of porn
A ban on porn will be unenforceable and a waste of resources, warns
CBI has never been autonomous: Arun Bhagat
Arun Bhagat, former Central Bureau of Investigation additional director and Intelligence Bureau retiree tells that the CBI has never been autonomous, thanks to government interference in cases involving important personalities
May 06, 2013
China acts coy on troop withdrawal from Ladakh
Tacitly acknowledging the withdrawal of its troops from Depsang Valley in Ladakh, China on Monday said the "stand-off incident" with India has been resolved through "fruitful consultations," keeping the larger interests of bilateral relations in mind.
PMO, Ashwani tweaked coal-gate report: CBI
Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha on Monday admitted before the Supreme Court that certain changes were made in the coalgate draft report on suggestions given by Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General G E Vanahvati and the officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.
US panel wants Modi included on lookout list besides visa banKatrina Lantos Swett, chair, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, tells Rediff.com's that the USCIRF will be uncompromising about denying Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi entry into the US.
Exclusive! 'An honest Minister keeps Railways honest'
'The Railway Board -- and every official in the ministry -- functions according to the whims and fancies of the Railway Minister,' former railways minister Dinesh Trivedi tells Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar in an exclusive interview. 'It is the system that needs to be changed. It has to go from a one person-oriented ministry to an organisation-oriented ministry. The system should be transparent.'
Why should the people of Bengal suffer lung cancer?
Mamata Banerjee has announced a Rs 500 crore relief package to assuage those who lost their money to the Saradha chit fund. As West Bengal is dancing on the edge of bankruptcy, this money will be raised from taxes on tobacco. Having already seen their savings go up in smoke the people of West Bengal must now puff away whatever is left, says T V R Shenoy.
Pawan Kumar Bansal's fall from grace
Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal may have been quick to deny any role in Railway Board bribery scandal and ask for a thorough CBI probe. But his image as an honest man, whose integrity could not be challenged, has been demolished. reports
The Chinese can be driven out in minutes, but...
The Chinese intrusion into Indian territory in Ladakh seemed to be a trial balloon for dealing with troublesome Indian positions
Congress set to emerge winner in Karnataka: Exit polls
The Congress is likely to emerge winner in the Karnataka assembly elections while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could end up a distant loser, exit polls and predictions by television channels claimed.
May 05, 2013
Pawan Bansal, Ashwani Kumar to stay for now
The United Progressive Alliance on Sunday decided not to oblige the opposition by asking for the resignation of Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, whose nephew was arrested in a bribery case, as also Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who is in the eye of a storm over the coal-gate controversy.
K'taka records 69 pc voter turnout as polling ends
An estimated 69 per cent of the about 4.36 crore electorate voted in the largely peaceful assembly polls in Karnataka on Sunday amid projections that the beleaguered ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was on a sticky wicket against a resurgent Congress.
May 04, 2013
Exclusive! Rahul Gandhi's corporate work culture
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi is using modern management techniques, which he picked up during his stint as a strategy consultant abroad, to revamp his party. But the moot question is: will they work? reports
Bansal's stay in Cabinet hangs in balance
Railway Minister P K Bansal's continuance in the Union Cabinet hung in balance on Saturday night as the Congress and the government received a fresh battering in the wake of the arrest of his nephew on the charge of accepting bribe to fix plum position in the Railway Board.
May 03, 2013
Karnataka: Why YOU must vote on May 5
Vote right and vote responsibly. Make your vote count for a better Bangalore, says in this special column for Rediff.com
Sarabjit Singh cremated with full state honours
The mortal remains of Sarabjit Singh, who died after being brutally assaulted by fellow inmates in a Lahore jail, were consigned to flames in his native village in Bikhiwind on Friday afternoon with state honours.
PICS: NASA probe captures MONSTER hurricane on Saturn
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's Cassini spacecraft has provided scientists the first close-up, visible-light views of a behemoth hurricane swirling around Saturn's north pole.
Why is Rahul ignoring the Congress 'war-room'?
The Congress is desperate for good news from Karnataka. Why is Modi campaign in Karnataka followed closely? Why is S M Krishna sulking? All this and more in this week's Dilli Gupshup.
India-China stand-off: Sun Tzu in action'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting' said the famed ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. That seems to be the ploy behind the Chinese intrusion in Ladakh, says Colonel (retd)
'The BJP must project Modi if it wants to win power'
Baba Ramdev spoke to in Rajkot, Gujarat, where he recently held a one-day yoga camp, which was attended by nearly 50,000 women and men.
May 02, 2013
'We had no clue about threat to Sarabjit life'
Pakistan Punjab Province caretaker Chief Minister Najam Sethi rejected any conspiracy behind Sarabjit's death in an interview to CNN-IBN's Karan Thapar after Sarabjit Singh's death.
Modi in Mangalore: We need a Congress-free India
From flattening Rahul Gandhi to ridiculing UPA's 'weak foreign policy', the charismatic Narendra Modi did not disappoint BJP supporters while addressing his much-anticipated rally at Mangalore.
Border intrusion: 'China will not ignore provocations'
Criticising the Indian media and opposition parties for "creating trouble" for Sino-India ties, an official daily in Beijing on Thursday blamed New Delhi for "maintaining silence and ambiguity" over "provocative" reports of intrusion by Chinese troops into Despang valley in Ladakh.
Pakistan backstabbed India, says Sarabjit's sister
The sister of Sarabjit Singh, the death row prisoner who died on Thursday, accused Pakistan of backstabbing India and said she would fight for 'other Sarabjits' languishing in Pakistani jails.
'It's a cold blooded murder; truth must come out'
India on Thursday demanded justice from Pakistan after the death of Sarabjit Singh in a 'barbaric' attack in a Lahore jail with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying it was "'particularly regrettable" it did not heed pleas to take a humanitarian view of the prisoner's case.
Avoid short dresses, holding hands in public in India: ADB
Indians are conservative, curious and women here are expected to dress modestly to avoid sexual harassment. This is the advice given out by the Asian Development Bank to all its delegates visiting India for the annual meeting beginning in Greater Noida on Thursday.
Our government failed us: Sarabjit's sister
'The worst has happened to us. My brother could have returned to India, but our government did not take effective and strong initiatives.' Sarabjit Singh's sister tells Rediff.com's Onkar Singh.
April 30, 2013
MASSIVE breach of trust: SC on CBI's coal report sharing
The Supreme Court, which is hearing Central Burea of Investigation director's affidavit in the coal scam on Tuesday, observed that a massive breach of trust has taken place in sharing of information with the executive, which has shaken the entire process.
Karnataka polls: 681 crorepatis, 220 criminals
Here are some numbers that help put the Karnataka assembly elections in perspective
IN PHOTOS: 600 Chinese join rush to live in MARS
Over 600 Chinese have applied to join an ambitious Dutch aerospace project that plans to send humans on a one-way trip to Mars for permanent settlement.
Sajjan Kumar ACQUITTED in anti-Sikh riots case
Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was on Tuesday acquitted of all charges by a Delhi court in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which he and five others were accused.
PICS: STUNNING winners of 2013 World Photography Awards
Rediff.com presents the winning photographs. Feast your eyes!
April 29, 2013
Is the Trinamool Congress warming up to the BJP?
While the Trinamool may be wary of a pre-poll alliance with the saffron party, it could support the NDA from the outside if the alliance can muster the numbers in the next general elections, says
Why Karnataka makes Manmohan 'unhappy'
Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday charged that "bad governance" and "corruption" had slackened state's progress and a sense of insecurity was prevalent among the minorities.
Arrogant VIP culture has no buyers abroad, Mr Azam Khan!
Some sort of VIP culture exists everywhere. India's, however, is unique in its pervasiveness and its arrogance. And, while unique, it isn't really something that can be exported.
Sulking Krishna adds to Congress cup of woes in Karnataka
The Congress has been hit by rebellion and a three way split in Karnataka.
PHOTOS: When animals cross the road
We present a selection of Reuters images of animals crossing the road, clicked worldwide.
Oppn can't attack PM for BOTH coal-gate and 2G scam
If the PM had just chosen to behave as if there wasn't anything wrong about existing systems, he wouldn't have been in such trouble today, says
April 28, 2013
VIDEO: Send Sarabjit to India for treatment, says wifeSarabjit Singh, currently in coma in a hospital in Lahore following a brutal assault, should be sent to India for better treatment, his wife on Sunday said in an emotional appeal to Pakistani authorities. PM using law minister as a shield on coal-gate: BJP
Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the coal block issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday announced its plan for a two-day agitation in all state capitals from May 4 against the government's "abominable attempt" to "cover up the massive corruption".
April 27, 2013
President honours India's bravest soldiers
defence personnel were awarded the Shaurya Charkra for their acts of bravery, including Captain A Rahul Ramesh and Naik Krishna Kumar who were given the honour posthumously.
In Shikaripura, voters love 'serial weeper' Yeddyurappa
Many well wishers of Yeddyurappa are still hopeful that he will go back to the BJP fold, says Vicky Nanjappa
Coal-gate: The CBI-government nexus SHAMES the nationBut it's nice to see the CBI telling the truth overtly and exposing the government that it serves covertly, says .
April 26, 2013
Sonia takes on the 'China problem'
She has advised External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to meet ex-Congressman K Natwar Singh, who is an acknowledged hand at diplomacy.
BJP may lose its hold over Republic of Bellary
In Bellary, the election campaigns are mellow and the flamboyance is missing, reports
BJP wants PM, law minister's heads to roll in coal-gate
With CBI admitting that it had shared its status report on coal block allocation scam with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh alleging that he was using the law ministry to save himself from the probe in the case.
The riches to rags story of Bellary
reports on the sharp economic differences that prevail in Bellary despite its riches and resources
Shettar likely to pull off 5th win, but with lower margin
A win on his home turf Hubli has become a matter of both survival and prestige for Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar as he is going the whole hog for a fifth victory from Hubli-Dharwad constituency.
Both law minister and PMO saw coal scam report: CBI admits
Setting off a political bombshell, Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha on Friday submitted before the Supreme Court that the agency's status report on coal allocation scam was "shared" with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar "as desired by him" and that senior officials of PMO and Coal ministry had also seen it.
The women behind Karnataka's vote seekers
As candidates in the May 5 Karnataka assembly polls leave no stone unturned to woo the voters, their spouses are doing their bit to ensure that their better halves taste success.
SHOCKING PHOTOS: The FILTHY Maha Kumbh 'after party'
On the eve of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's lecture on the so-called success of the Maha Kumbh Mela to a gathering at Harvard, visits the Sangam at Allahabad to photograph the disturbing aftermath of the mela. Along with Bharat Lal Seth, he suggests a presentation for the CM.
Pre-poll survey: Cong likely to DEMOLISH BJP in K'taka
The pre-poll conducted by CSDS for CNN-IBN shows that the Congress party is set to improve its position in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will likely suffer major losses.
April 25, 2013
No evidence that Modi incited rioters, says SIT
The lawyer of the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team, which has given a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2002 post-Godhra riots case after investigating complaint filed by Zakia Jafri, on Thursday said that "Modi has never said that go and kill people".
Despite Ladakh standoff, Khurshid to visit China on May 9
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will go ahead with his visit to China on May 9 notwithstanding the ongoing standoff between Indian troops and Chinese forces which intruded deep inside Depsang Valley in Ladakh ten days back.
Army wants to transfer top generals amid China border row
As a tense stand-off continues on the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh, where a Chinese patrol has apparently established a camp eight km inside India, the ministry of defence is confronted with a difficult decision -- an inexplicable army proposal to shift top generals, which would see key hotspots being placed under new commanders, unfamiliar with the situation.
'Nitish Kumar is a darling of the national middle class'
'His image may have gone down a little because he is talking about poverty and underdeveloped states. That is not the way to sell yourself nationally,' Bihar's best known economist and social scientist Dr Shaibal Gupta tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih.
TOP PIX: Kick to anti-Mush lawyer, Obama's wink, more
We present some of the best photographs from across the world clicked in the last 48 hours.
April 24, 2013
In Photos: 100 killed in Bangladesh building collapse
In Photos: 80 killed in Bangladesh building collapse
Nobody can challenge H D Kumaraswamy here!
travels to Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy's constituency, Ramnagar to assess the mood of the voters there
Why Mamatadi must own up Saradha responsibility
Insensitive utterances like 'Whatever lost is lost' (as Mamata Banerjee was heard telling the media) or 'The government did not ask these people to put their money in Saradha' (as stated by one of Banerjee's cabinet ministers) will not go down well with the people of Bengal, warns Indrani Roy.
PHOTOS: Kids who grew up to become Boston bombers
We present Reuters images relating to the early life of the two Boston Marathon bombings suspects, including images from their former hometown and schools.
'Modi may help BJP win, but he is bad for the party'
In the final part, Prof Shiva Visvanathan talks some more about Modi's chances of becoming PM, the professor's stay in Gujarat and how he was finally ousted from there.
April 23, 2013
Here's what YOU must know about Karnataka election!
gives a lowdown on the Karnataka assembly election
IM's loose leadership moves between Pakistan and Gulf
'When one speaks to Indian intelligence officials, they will tell you "We actually have a better understanding of Pakistani groups than we have of our own indigenous networks".'
Tribute: The violin falls silent
It was five years ago that I spent an evening with Lalgudi Jayaraman, but the music still rings in my ears and the images are still fresh in my memory, writes
Lashkar's Saeed may run for political office in Pakistan
'Many in Pakistan were thinking about taking Saeed from the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and making him the pole around which they would bring in and demilitarise militants and turn them into a political entity in Pakistan.'
Coal-gate: BJP says PM must GO; Sonia says NO WAY!
Intensifying its attack on the government over the coal block allocation scam, Bharatiya Janata Party demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sacking of Law Minister Ashwani Kumar.
Indian Army matches China man-for-man on the border!
If China's White Paper figures are authentic, the Indian Army, with 1.2 million soldiers, is 50 per cent larger than the PLAA.Ajai Shukla reports
Army tells brigades to plug holes on China border
Chinese may adopt similar tactics to test the nerves of the Indian establishment, reports RS Chauhan
'Nitish Kumar is Bihar's main trigger of change'
In Gujarat, the system is such that even if Narendra Modi is not there, the growth will continue. But in a place like Bihar it is different, it will still matter who is the CEO of the state,' says social scientist-economist Dr Shaibal Gupta.
PIX: Life will never be the same in quake-hit Sichuan
We present defining Reuters images from the aftermath of a 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit a remote, mostly rural and mountainous area in Sichuan province, China on Saturday.
April 22, 2013
Ready to quit, but will that stop rape: Delhi Police chief
Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar on Monday ruled out his resignation in the wake of alleged police insensitivity in dealing with the child rape case but promised exemplary action against policemen found lax in handling it.
BJP, Congress divvy up Mangalore on religious lines
The coastal city of Mangalore is turning into a major battleground between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress for the forthcoming state election.
Second part of Budget session begins on a stormy note
Even as the government prepared the ground for a fruitful session by reaching out to main opposition BJP on the Land Acquisition Bill, new disclosures in the media might play a spoiler for it.
'In the long run, Modi can be dangerous for India'
Professor Shiv Visvanathan talks of the dangers of celebrating of reign of Narendra Modi and why the Gujarat chief minister may be as bad bet as prime minister.
Sonia, Manmohan among top five most influential Asians
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and All India Congress Committee Vice President Rahul Gandhi have been named among top 5 in the world's 100 most influential list of Asians topped by China's new President Xi Jinping.
'One hardly finds a rich person going to the gallows'
In India, the death penalty, as it is used now, is discriminatory. It's arbitrary and capricious nature renders it unconstitutional, says Justice A P Shah
April 21, 2013
Manmohan and co set for another Opposition whack!
Even as the government prepared the ground for a fruitful session by reaching out to main opposition BJP on the Land Acquisition Bill, new disclosures in the media might play a spoiler for it.
Mukesh Ambani gets 'Z' category security
The home ministry has tasked country's lead anti-Naxal operations force Central Reserve Police Force to take the responsibility with immediate effect after the proposal to this effect was cleared by the office of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
China quake toll rises; 195 dead, over 10,000 injured
Rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing
'Congress is the biggest communal party in India'
BJP president Rajnath Singh talks on issues like Modi as PM, ties with JD-U and Congress's tainted secular creditials.
Protests continue over 5-yr-old's rape; PM makes an appeal
Protesters on Sunday gathered outside Police Headquarters and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the second day to express solidarity with the five-year-old girl who was raped by her neighbour and demanded the resignation of Commissioner Neeraj Kumar
April 20, 2013
As BJP sharpens its knife, PM goes to Pranab for help
The long meeting between President Pranab and the PM comes amid a heightened threat perception that the UPA government may not be able to complete its term, says
Child rape: Protests rock Delhi, accused held in Bihar
Child rape: Protests rock Delhi, accused arrested in Bihar
In PHOTOS: Major earthquake hits China, 161 killed
At least 72 people were killed and hundreds of others injured on Saturday, when a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked southwest China's Sichuan province causing massive destruction.
PICS: Jubilant Bostonians celebrate after suspect's arrest
Hundreds of Northeastern University students gather in Hemenway Street to celebrate the capture of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Boston.
Watch:The best videos of the weekWatch:The best videos of the week PIX: How drama unfolded during 2nd Boston bomber's arrest
The second Chechen-origin suspect believed to have been responsible for the Boston marathon terror attack is now in custody, Boston police said on Saturday.
April 19, 2013
'Sunil will not even harm an ant'
Akhil Tripathi, father of the missing student who was wrongly identified as a suspect, tells Rediff.com's
Shettar all set for a cakewalk in Hubli-Dharwad
Hubli-Dharwad Central, from where Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is contesting, is definitely a constituency to watch out for in the upcoming Karnataka assembly election.
6-year-old girl makes Akhilesh crack the whip
After a year-long complacence, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has at last started cracking the whip on those whose acts of omission or commission were giving a bad name to his government.
K'taka poll: This Cong MLA owns 19 cars, but can't drive
profiles Congress MLA Priya Krishna, whose passion for cars is not deterred by the fact that he cannot drive.
1 Boston bombing suspect shot dead, suspect # 2 on the run
Police are hunting in Watertown, 10-km from Boston, for someone they believe is the white-hatted "suspect number two" in the Marathon bombings, after a police officer was shot dead last night on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus.
'If it hadn't been for Godhra, Modi would be history'
Modi believes that if he is at the helm of affairs in the Bharatiya Janata Party and the party gets 190 seats, he will have a reasonable chance of becoming prime minister, feels Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.
Chidambaram, Aamir Khan on Time's most influential list
Finance Minister P Chidambaram and actor Aamir Khan have been named by Time magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world in its annual list of global achievers that also includes teenaged Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai and US President Barack Obama.
Musharraf arrested, grilled at his farmhouse 'sub jail'
The arrest came a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered the arrest of Musharraf for not cooperating with police officials investigating a case registered against him for detaining dozens of judges, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, during the 2007 emergency.
PHOTOS: Are these the Boston marathon bombers?
In the video footage from surveillance cameras along the route of the marathon, the two men are seen walking together on the sidewalks in the direction of the finish line.
Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi: It's a battle of ideas
Poverty in the Indian context can never be wiped through direct state intervention. Kalavati is a classical example of this. The only way of eradicating it is by encouraging personal initiatives. Jasuben is a classical example of this, says
Can social media impact LS polls? Govt doesn't think so!
A study shows that Facebook and Twitter could have an influence in at least 160 Lok Sabha seats triggering a debate but two senior Union ministers -- Manish Tewari (information and broadcasting) and Kapil Sibal (information technology and telecom) -- disagree.
April 18, 2013
'We will find you', Obama tells Boston marathon bombers
United States President Barack Obama on Thursday condoled the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings here in an emotional inter-faith service, vowing to find those responsible for this "senseless" act as he stressed that a "bomb cannot beat us" and the nation will "finish the race."
PHOTOS: Sporadic violence as Thane grinds to standstill
A bandh called by major political parties in Thane against ongoing demolition of illegal structures without providing alternate accommodation to the occupants was observed on Thursday with some persons damaging at least 12 buses in the wee hours, police said.
Pune bakery blast convict gets DEATH sentence
Mirza Himayat Baig, the lone convicted accused in the German Bakery blast case, was on Thursday sentenced to death by a Pune sessions court.
PHOTOS: Deadly devastation at Texas factory
Scenes of destruction at the fertizer plant in Waco, Texas that blew up late Wednesday night
High drama follows Pak court order to arrest MusharrafSoon after the court order, Musharraf's security team quickly rushed him out of the courtroom to his black SUV without being stopped.
Bandh begins in Thane on violent note; 12 buses damaged
Parties, including Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena, gave call to the dawn-to-dusk shutdown against the razing of illegal buildings by Thane Municipal Corporation while demanding that alternate accommodation be provided to residents who will be displaced in the drive.
Retired telecom staffer owned bike used in Bengaluru blast
K S Sankaranarayanan was shocked when police knocked his door and told him that the bike had been used in the blast.
Heartwarming: Catholic priest donates kidney to Muslim man
They were strangers who met on a bus. They believe God brought them together. reports on an incredible story of kindness and giving from Kerala.
K'taka: Kumaraswamy, wife richest couple in poll fray
Janata Dal-Secular Karnataka unit President and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his wife Anita, contesting the May 5 Assembly elections, have together declared assets worth Rs 123 crore.
Many feared dead in Texas fertilizer plant blast, 200 hurt
The West Fertilizer Plant is located about 30 km north of Waco, which is observing the 20th anniversary of the deadly confrontation between federal authorities and heavily armed locals. About 76 people were killed in that operation.
April 17, 2013
VIDEO: NCP leader's son arrested for running over girlSenior Nationalist Congress Party leader Abdul Qadeer Maulana's 17-year-old son has been arrested in Aurangabad, Mahrashtra, a day after the SUV car he was driving hit two minor girls and their uncle, killing the younger girl on the spot, police said on Wednesday. PIX: Vehicles in flames, chaos at Bangalore blast site
A loud bang and the next moment three cars went up in flames and a bike blown to smithereens, recounted witnesses to a terror strike outside the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Bangalore buzzing with activity ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls.
In PHOTOS: London halts for Margaret Thatcher's funeral
Margaret Thatcher's funeral procession brought London to a standstill on Wednesday morning as military personnel and members of the public lined the streets amid a light drizzle to pay their respects to the 'Iron Lady'.
Entering God's darbar: Inside the Golden Temple
A journey to the Sri Harmandir Sahib, also called the Golden Temple, in Amritsar can evoke purity and peace in even the faithless, writes
Pressure cooker bombs used in Boston blasts
The Boston bombs were lethal devices consisting of metal, nails and ball bearings crammed into pressure cookers, it has emerged.
Gandhiji among leaders most admired by CEOs globally
Mahatma Gandhi figures among the top three most admired leaders of the world, said a global survey of CEOs conducted by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
SC gives Sanjay Dutt four more weeks to surrender
In a relief to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, the Supreme Court on Wednesday granted four weeks time to the actor to surrender to undergo remaining three-and-a-half- year jail term for illegally possessing firearms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
Rediff Ballot: 76 pc pick Modi as next PM, 5 pc for Rahul
Rediff.com drew up a list of probable candidates who could occupy the PM's post. Over the past seven days, 64,275 readers cast their votes (figures as on 11 am on Monday, April 15) and here's their verdict .
April 16, 2013
PIX: Major earthquake rocks Iran, Pak; tremors in N India
A major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the richter scale rocked the Iran-Pakistan border on Tuesday, tremors of which were experienced in North India, including New Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat.
Boston blasts: 'It felt like a huge cannon'
A 78-year-old veteran American runner, knocked down by the huge impact of the two bombs that hit the Boston Marathon, has become an Internet sensation after he managed to get up and finish the race.
PIX: CM aspirant Siddaramiah needs to win big at Varuna
tries to gauge the sentiments at politically significant Varuna constituency in southern Karnataka, from where Congress leader Siddharamaiah hopes to win big to bolster his chief ministerial prospects.
Why the BJP is winning the war on social media
The high-voltage outbursts of netizens over #Feku (Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi) versus #Pappu (Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi) is not the real issue. It's how parties are using social media to get their message across, says BJP cyber cell chief .
Has Modi underestimated Dr Singh?
Is Chiranjeevi the tourism ministry's secret weapon? Why is Vijay Mallya upset with Veerappa Moily? What in-house problem is the railway minister grappling with? All this, and more, in this week's Dilli Gupshup...
Inside Nitish Kumar's Janata Darbar
A young girl wants to correct her father's name in her school certificate; a man wants his three year unpaid rent from a government doctor, an athlete wants an archery set... Scenes from Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Darbar, recorded by Rediff.com's .
Advani is the tallest leader in BJP: Shivraj Singh Chauhan
The debate on prime ministerial candidate is futile and leaders should talk about this only before the Parliamentary board, says Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN.
PHOTOS: A painful, tragic end to Boston Marathon
Some photos from the spot where the twin blasts went off
Why the Boston Marathon became a target
A list of facts about the Boston Marathon
Major US cities on alert after Boston blasts
Several mega cities in the US, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, have been put on alert after two explosions in Boston.
PIX: Twin blasts at Boston Marathon; 3 dead, over 140 hurt
The two blasts occurred within seconds at a sidewalk along the route of the Boston Marathon, where thousands of people had lined up to cheer on the marathoners.
April 15, 2013
Jaipur: Accident victim cries for help, ignored by allIn a shocking case of public apathy, a man clutching on to his son lay on the road crying for help inside a tunnel next to the bodies of his wife and infant daughter with nobody stopping by for around 40 minutes after a speeding truck hit his motorcycle. Parrikar says NO to Playboy club in Goa
Bowing to pressure from within the Bharatiya Janata Party against the United States-based Playboy club's move to open its facility in the coastal state, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the application would not be considered by his government on "technical grounds".
Sanjay Dutt moves SC, seeks more time to surrender
Actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been sentenced to five years in jail for illegal possession of weapons in a case linked to the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking more time to surrender.
Gujarat's lions will go to Madhya Pradesh
A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad has given six months time to the wildlife authorities concerned for trans-locating the lions.
Mamata promises to learn from mistakes
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that her government might have committed '2 or 3' mistakes in the past two years, but would learn from them in the New Year.
The Rs 4,500 crore question for A K Antony
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the Bengaluru-based public sector aircraft builder, has challenged the Indian Air Force's plan to purchase more Pilatus trainer aircraft by building a basic trainer aircraft, using its own funding.
German Bakery bomber convicted
The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on April 18.
Weird superstitions of Karnataka politicians
The strange practices that politicians adopt before they file their nomination papers
Why India performs so poorly in fighting hunger
Dr Purnima Menon is a research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute's Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, and is based at IFPRI's Asia office in New Delhi. She conducts applied nutrition research in the South Asia region, with a focus on programs and policies to improve maternal and child nutrition.
'India must use special forces better against Pak, China'
Rediff.com's talks to Lieutenant General P C Katoch and journalist Saikat Dutta on how India has failed to strategically employ its considerable number of special forces especially in creating deterrence against the asymmetric war unleashed upon us by both Pakistan and China since past several years, and that we need to right this urgently.
April 14, 2013
Nitish's veiled threat: Will act if our voice not heard
Issuing a veiled threat to Bharatiya Janata Party over Narendra Modi's much-speculated projection as its prime ministerial candidate, Janata Dal-United on Sunday said attempts to bring 'genetic modification' will bring about negative results and it will take a decision if its voice is not heard.
'Rahul's critics must know he's Cong V-P, not India's PM'
External Affairs Minister and senior Congress leader from Uttar Pradesh, Salman Khurshid, tells that the Bharatiya Janata Party is extending support to Narendra Modi out of sheer desperation, for the party sees in him a trump card to power.
April 13, 2013
It is STUPID to use 1984 riots to defend Narendra Modi
Of all the many arguments in Indian politics that are stupid, hypocritical and wrong -- and there are many -- the one exculpating Modi because of 1984 is the most dangerous, says
Rogue UPA will never allow honest CBI probe: BJPAmid reports of alleged interference in the Central Bureau of Investigation's probe into the coal scam, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley on Saturday demanded the constitution of a special investigation team to probe the scam.
Bill Clinton vs Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi
Bill Clinton's address had lessons for both Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, says
Gandhi and Thatcher: Were two 'Iron Ladies' too many?
Equally admired and loathed, both Indira Gandhi and Margaret Thatcher have been so often memorialised in biography, novels and film that it's difficult to separate fact from fiction, says
The interesting videos this week!The interesting videos this week
April 12, 2013
Get ready to be stripped at Delhi airport!
You may soon be asked to take off your shoes and belts, and jewellery if you are wearing, at the security check counters of the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi.
'Modi is very calculative; he doesn't need friends'
Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of Narendra Modi: The Man, The Times, about Modi's vision, his psyche and his future that seems to be intricately linked with the future of India.
Dynasty rules: From Kim to Kim in North Korea
Rediff.com takes a look at the dictatorial journey of the Kims -- from 'The Great Leader' and the father of the nation Kim Il-sung, to the 'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il, and what little is known about the 'Great Successor' -- Kim Jong Un.
SC drops militant Bhullar's plea for lifer; he will hang
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed condemned prisoner and Khalistan Liberation Force terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar's plea for commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment on ground of delay in deciding his mercy plea.
The Hindus of Pakistan: Nobody's children
The Indian government needs to do more. India's responsibility towards the Hindus of Pakistan is not a matter of gratis; it is a political and legal obligation, says
April 11, 2013
Sidhu sidelined by BJP, feels suffocated, says wife
Stirring up a controversy over continuance of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu in the Bharatiya Janata Partu, his wife said he has "gone back to the profession where he is respected".
PHOTOS: The bizarre car stunts by young Saudis
There's nothing more thrilling for the young generation of Saudi Arabian than sidewall skiing or driving on two wheels.
April 10, 2013
With Yeddyurappa and Reddy out, BJP is now clean: Gowda
Forget the first three years of BJP rule in Karnataka as a bad dream and look at the honest governance provided after Yeddyurappa stepped down from power, says Sadananda Gowda, the former chief minister of Karnataka.
'Why is Sharad Pawar mum on nephew Ajit's drought remark?'
The Shiv Sena on Wednesday asked why Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was "silent" on the issue of the controversial remarks made by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on drought and load shedding.
Communists face TMC ire on WB streets for insulting MamataAccording to reports, the Trinamool Congress workers are staging rallies, holding protests in Kolkata and other parts of the state to protest against the SFI attack on their leaders. Understanding Pak DNA: Why it can't be friends with India
Except for people to people contacts, everything else cultural exchange, sports, trade etc should be conditional on Pakistan giving up its terror strategy. It is time to tell Pakistan that its 'death by thousand cuts' policy will not work, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale
The notorious link that Modi and Thatcher share
What ties together Thatcher and Modi is that their respective economic and political approaches are rigged in controversy, notes .
Photos: FUNKY GRAFFITI brings ghost ship back to life
A 1956-grounded streamer, built by the makers of the Titanic, has been transformed by graffitists from an old, rusting wreck into funky floating art gallery.
April 09, 2013
Daughter gets justice 31 years after father's killing
Set up by his own colleagues, Kinjal Singh's father, deputy superintendent of police K P Singh was killed in a fake encounter. reports on the fight for justice.
Modi woos Mamata on her turf; trains guns at Manmohan
But once again, Narendra Modi side-stepped questions on his prime ministerial ambitions, simply stating that he is an "apolitical person".
Life after winning 5 crores
A new house, an inverter for electricity and a scooty are the material things Sushil Kumar has acquired from his prize money. But what he misses most is his cycle. meets the first winner of Rs 5 crores on KBC at his home in Motihari, Bihar.
Saudi jobs rule: Indians hiding in their homes
As Saudi Arabia imposes its 10 percent reservations of jobs for locals stringently, there is a fear psychosis in the kingdom. "They would have arrested us if we had stayed back," says one Indian who returned. "I am not going back. I will find some work here."
The daughter who chose not to live at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Sharmistha Mukherjee, the fiercely independent daughter of the President of India, would rather not have her life and her father's official position cross paths.
Why it is wrong to compare Rahul Gandhi with Modi
The comparison, cleverly engineered, appears to work for Modi each and every time as he is a better orator, better informed, a politician of the masses, and certainly not diffident or shy. One almost feels sorry for Rahul Gandhi pitted against a politician who has calibrated his rise so successfully, and is still working to ensure national and international acceptability, says
How India must counter the China-Pakistan nuclear axis
Indian policy makers would be well advised to disabuse themselves of the notion of a Sino-Indian convergence in managing Pakistan. China doesn't do sentimentality in foreign policy, India should follow suit, says
April 08, 2013
Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher: Life in picturesFormer British prime minister Margaret Thatcher was the country's only female premier. She was a towering figure in post-war British and world politics.
Thatcher, a British leader who was both loved and hated
Dubbed the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, Britain's longest serving prime minister, has had a lasting impact on post-war British politics and beyond. And she was both loved and hated.
When Thatcher praised Rajiv, Manmohan for liberalisation
Margaret Thatcher had once hailed former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's vision for India's economic liberalisation, which was "boldly initiated" by the then finance minister Manmohan Singh.
Modi wows women with Jasubehn's pizza, pokes fun at Rahul
After corporates and youth, it was the turn of woman power that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sought to woo in his bid to reach out to audiences nationwide in a speech that also had digs at Rahul Gandhi and the woman Governor in his state.
British Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher dies after stroke
Thatcher's spokesman Lord Bell said: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning."
'It seems Musharraf is taken seriously only in India'
Rajiv Dogra, former ambassador and India's last Consul General to Karachi, talks to Avantika Bhuyan about the reigning mood in Pakistan and people's perception of Pervez Musharraf.
Rajiv was Swedish jet deal's middleman in 1970s: WikiLeaks
This revelation was made by The Hindu, in investigative collaboration with WikiLeaks, after accessing a new set of US diplomatic communications titled the 'Kissinger Cables'.
Terror's favourite target braces for the next strike
Twenty years after the 1993 blasts, Maximum City is still struggling with its security cover, says
Short life of LeT terrorists: They join at 16, die at 21!
A staggering 94 per cent of fresh recruits of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba see Jammu and Kashmir as a "fighting front" and hail mostly from Pakistan's Punjab province from families having links with the powerful army and intelligence network, according to a United States military report.
8 countries that are UNSAFE for women tourists
Recent cases have put the spotlight on the safety of women travellers around the world.
April 06, 2013
Modi slams Rahul: India beehive for Cong, mother for BJP
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi for terming India a "beehive", saying he was shocked that someone could describe `mother India' thus.
Take notes UPA! Here are Pranab's tips on good governance
President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday delivered the 14th D P Kohli Memorial Lecture on the topic of 'Good Governance: Empowering Institutions, Society and Public' on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation in Delhi.
Watch: The BEST videos of the weekWatch: The BEST videos of the week Does Modi want nothing to do with Karnataka?
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday kept away from BJP's Central Election Committee that met to finalise tickets for Karnataka polls, amid rumours that he did not want to get himself involved in the campaign where the party may not fare well due to corruption charges.
PHOTOS: Rescue ops called off at collapse site, toll 74
Heartbreaking tales like a male survivor losing 13 of his family members unfolded, as rescuers armed with sensor-fitted equipment still looked for survivors and bodies in the debris of bricks, mortar and twisted steel, a day after the collapse at Shil-Phata in Daighar in Mumbra.
April 05, 2013
Dawood handling terror cash via Bank of Baroda in Bahamas?
Fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is still allegedly laundering blood money through the Bank of Baroda's branch in the tax havens in Nassau, Bahamas.
PIX: K'taka Assembly poll not short on glamour quotient
While ticket aspirants, particularly in the Congress, are waiting with bated breath for announcement of the list for the May five Assembly polls, one thing appears certain at this stage itself -- that the elections would not be short on the glamour quotient.
Third term as PM? Not ruling in or out, says Dr Singh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday dismissed as a "useless" the debate over two power centres even as he did not rule out his accepting the third term.
How Narendra Modi rules by changing the lawsGujarat Chief Minister Modi has started changing laws that go against him. In last state assembly session he introduced three bills to change the prevailing legal provisions that were inconvenient to him, says .
42pc K'taka ministers have crime record, 75pc crorepatis
About 42 per cent ministers in Karnataka self-declared criminal cases pending against them in their affidavits filed during the last held assembly elections in 2008.
Obama, the anti-Christ? One in 4 Americans thinks so
About one in four Americans suspect that President Barack Obama might be the antichrist, a new poll has found.
PHOTOS: Thane building collapse toll mounts to 44Heartbreaking tales like a male survivor losing 13 of his family members unfolded, as rescuers armed with sensor-fitted equipment still looked for survivors and bodies in the debris of bricks, mortar and twisted steel, a day after the collapse at Shil-Phata in Daighar in Mumbra.
April 04, 2013
Modi: I want to repay my debt to Mother India
Virtually acknowledging his prime ministerial ambition, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it is the duty of every child to repay the debt he owes to "Mother India".
Sunita's gyan to kids: Listen to your mother, shun drugsAmerican astronaut of Indian origin, Sunita Williams on Thursday charmed the students of Mumbai, who had gathered at the Nehru Science Centre to listen to her experiences in space travel. Rahul@CII: This is how my politics is different from Modi
The Congress vice president made a political speech to the mandarins of corporate India. He charmed them with his good intentions but left them unsure with his ability to get things done. analyses the Congress scion's address at the CII.
Manmohan Singhji can't solve everything, says Rahul
"These are irrelevant questions. It's all smoke." This was how Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi described speculation about his becoming the prime minister and getting married while addressing business barons of the country.
Islamic law is BEST, believe 40 pc of Pakistan's youth
Ahead of crucial elections which will mark the first democratic transition in Pakistan's history, more than 90 per cent of the youth believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, while nearly 40 per cent think Shariah or Islamic law would be the best political system, a survey said.
Sudipta Gupta's death: 'What kind of fascism is this?'
Bengal is seething with anger over the death of a young Students' Federation of India leader Sudipta Gupta on Tuesday.
April 03, 2013
School girls to Sunita Williams: Please never forget India
Astronaut Sunita Williams was clearly overwhelmed by the love and affection she received upon her visit to Mumbai. reports
VIDEOS: Furore in Kolkata over student leader's deathThe blame game between the opposition Communist Party of India - Marxist and the ruling Trinamool Congress -- over the death of Student's Federation of India Sudipto Gupta -- intensified on Wednesday. PHOTOS: When world leaders go on vacation
Everyone deserves a break from the routine life. And politicians are no exception.
'Hypertension is leading cause of death in urban areas'
In this exclusive interview with Rediff.com's from Jaipur, Dr Gupta talks about the study and what the urban population to do to fight hypertension.
PHOTOS: In Ayodhya, no place for this Ram
One of the longest running Ramleela performances in the world has been stopped for the first time in nine years due to non-release of funds by the Uttar Pradesh government, an official said on Tuesday.
Inside the latest power debate in CongressWhile the likes of AICC General Secretary Digvijaya Singh strongly root for ending the Congress party's twin power centre formula and projecting Rahul Gandhi as the next prime minister, there are others who feel that this is the ideal path to follow. reports
April 02, 2013
'Modi will not actively campaign for Karnataka polls'
It appears to be difficult to predict who would be the clear winner in the May 5 Karnataka assembly elections, but according to leading psephologist Sandeep Shastri, the Congress looks to be on top of the table for now.
PIRATES! Sailor recounts the hijack of Royal Grace
After almost 12 months in captivity and the death of an officer, 21 crewmen of merchant navy tanker Royal Grace were set free. Rediff.com's spoke to one of the captives, a 24-year-old junior electrical officer.
PHOTOS: Obamas let the Easter Egg Roll @ White House
The 135th annual White House Easter Egg Roll saw more than 30,000 people visiting the South Lawn for games, stories, and, of course, the traditional egg roll.
PIX: Rajinikanth, Kamal Hasan fast for Tamils in Lanka
The South Indian Film Artistes' association -- also known as the Thenindiya Nadigar Sangam -- on Tuesday organised a one-day hunger strike to protest against the alleged atrocities committed against the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
Photos: Saudi Arabia allows women to ride bikes, but...
Saudi Arabian authorities have now allowed women to ride buggies and bikes in public.
DON'T MISS: The most SPECTACULAR photos of March
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the month gone by
April 01, 2013
Rahul falters in his choices
Is Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi listening to the right people before making crucial decisions? reports.
VIDEO: Sunita Williams discusses space walk, 'samosas'She holds a world record for the longest space flight by a woman. But as a child, Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams never wanted to become an astronaut. YouTube announces 'shutdown after 8-year experiment'
In an elaborate April Fool's prank, YouTube has announced that it will be shutting down after eight years and will no longer accept videos.
IN PHOTOS: Getting to school at ALL COSTS
We present some stunning images of students across the world attending school despite difficult circumstances and situations.
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