After six decades of floundering through dozens of uprisings, India's govt is facing the Naxal challenge as incoherently as ever, writes Ajai Shukla
Satyajit Ray would have been a hundred years old on May 2. To mark the legendary film-maker's birth centenary, Rediff.com bring you a treasure trove of features from our archives.
Smoothly juggling Sandhya's curiosity and closure until her moment of awakening, Sanya Malhotra is emerging into one of the finest actresses of this generation, observes Sukanya Verma.
The titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad, Prince Mukarram Jah, says he wants a 'clean break' from a decades-old legal fight over funds lying in a United Kingdom bank account belonging to his ancestors, as he waived his right to a share in the estimated 4,00,000 pounds leftover after an English high court order from last year.
An ailing Rafael Nadal slumped out of the Qatar Open on Friday to deprive fans and organisers of an eagerly-anticipated final against his great rival Roger Federer.
"I won't deny that hailing from a political family benefits you once...the first time around. But subsequently, you have to show your work. If your work is okay, you have people's support or else it withers away," Ajit Pawar said in an interview to a TV channel.
Indian Premier League supremo Lalit Modi has accused player unions of using a security threat against overseas players as leverage to gain bargaining status with the IPL and the Indian cricket board.
Clearly Nikoloz Basilashvili had come to face Rafael Nadal with a plan but, like Mike Tyson said, everybody has a plan until they're punched in the face.
The National Anti-Profiteering Authority has ordered FMCG major Nestle to deposit Rs 73.15 crore with Consumer Welfare Fund for not passing GST rate reduction benefit to consumers. Refuting the charges, Nestle said the benefits largely have been passed on by way of reduction of MRP or by way of increase in grammage.
Andy Murray punished Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for one crucial error of judgement on Wednesday to roar into the Wimbledon semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Part of the problem with the Padma awards is that there are just too many. Instead of doling out 130 awards, may be the time has come to restrict it to no more than 30 -- five Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushans and 15 Padma Shris. This would elevate the awards, even if it intensifies the lobbying, and reduce the scope of some gatecrashers getting in!
These four youngsters turned their passion for books into a successful online book lending service, discovers Shivani Shinde.
Considering that Qatar is a trusted ally of Washington for decades, it is expected to be a steady influence on the Taliban leadership, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The Direct Taxes Code suffers from serious weaknesses.
The Reserve Bank of India has allowed withdrawal of cash from point-of-sale terminals, where customers swipe their credit or debit cards to pay for purchases. Noting that the use of debit cards has been steadily increasing, an RBI circular today said withdrawal of cash up to Rs 1,000 per day through debit cards issued in India was now being permitted. At present, customers are only allowed to withdraw cash at ATMs.
Very few policy makers in India dare to acknowledge the danger to the nation's territorial integrity. The security and integrity of the nation has become hostage to vote-bank politics. Democracy and more than eight percent economic growth will be of no avail if the country as such withers away.
'If a horror movie does well at the box office, it doesn't mean people like to scared these days. People might like to get scared on one Friday, fall in love on other, and laugh on the next.'
The Indian business community seems unenthusiastic about the new plan, but it's unclear how much more the government can do
Till July 26, kharif crops have been sown in around 68.87 million hectares, which is 6.43 per cent lower than the area covered during the same period last year.
The Congress is allowing successes in Delhi, Rajasthan, and (to an extent) J&K to blind its national alienation as seen in Karnataka.
International and Indian airlines are refusing to refund cash and giving credit that can be used later.
ISI chief Faiz Hameed coerced the Taliban to announce an interim government guaranteed to preserve Pakistan's control over the levers of power in Kabul, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Australia's Archie Thompson has made light of his comment that Brazilian Neymar, who recently moved to Barcelona for $74 million (47 million pounds), was overrated, putting the remark down to jetlag or mistranslation.
The withering, never-ending season of gangster movies continues in Tamil films with Thotta, starring Jeevan and Priyamani.
Switzerland's Roger Federer claimed a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title with a 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Croatia's Marin Cilic on Sunday.
India has no option but to shut China out, notes T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan.
New Delhi should resist any temptation to act as spoiler and instead should cooperate with its SCO partners in reaching a regional consensus behind the formation of an interim government in Kabul, argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Matthew Schneeberger gets his first dose of Bollywood stardom.
'A concerted attempt is afoot to try and create a new image of an intelligent man who knows what he is talking about and is far from the person that his critics in the media and Opposition have often portrayed him to be,' says Virendra Kapoor.
'It is to be fervently hoped that a person as rational and brilliant as Hamid Ansari will not be allowed to wilt and simply wither away.'
As the United Progressive Alliance led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh completes three years in power, Singh alleged that it is 'faceless, directionless and spineless'.
'The Citizenship Amendment Bill is a classic case of short-term gain over-riding long-term interest. 'We must welcome all persecuted minorities from our neighbouring countries and not just Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd).
Martina Hingis played spoilsport at the Australian Open on Monday by denying China another entry into the record books.
Delhi-based tractor maker Sonalika Group and Kolkata-based Global Automobiles have already announced their decision to take on the Tatas
The real story why the finance minister is not fighting the Lok Sabha election.
