News for 'Amnesty International'

This Chinese journalist gets 7 years in prison for leaking state secrets

This Chinese journalist gets 7 years in prison for leaking state secrets

Rediff.com17 Apr 2015

Gao Yu was found her guilty of leaking an internal Communist Party document to a foreign website.

REWIND: India in the last 24 hours

REWIND: India in the last 24 hours

Rediff.com17 Aug 2016

Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.

EU Parliament postpones voting on motion against CAA

EU Parliament postpones voting on motion against CAA

Rediff.com30 Jan 2020

The sources said friends of India prevailed over those of Pakistan in the European Parliament on Wednesday.

'Iron lady' Sharmila to end fast, fight Manipur polls

'Iron lady' Sharmila to end fast, fight Manipur polls

Rediff.com26 Jul 2016

She said she no longer believes that her fast will lead to the repeal of the 'draconian' AFSPA but she will continue the fight.

Modi and his ministers need a thick skin

Modi and his ministers need a thick skin

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

A wise politician would disarm his critics, try to take them along, co-opt them, or, at least, take the criticism in his stride. Developing a thick skin ought to be an essential part of any politician's toolkit, notes Virendra Kapoor.

Mammoth challenges India faces

Mammoth challenges India faces

Rediff.com4 Sep 2019

'As a nation we are tearing ourselves apart through decisions we have deliberately chosen to take,' argues Aakar Patel.

China's Nobel-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo dies

China's Nobel-winning dissident Liu Xiaobo dies

Rediff.com13 Jul 2017

Rights group vowed to continue the struggle for human rights in the Communist nation.

'India will take years to recover from what has been done and is being done by the government'

'India will take years to recover from what has been done and is being done by the government'

Rediff.com28 Sep 2020

'Today, the State is permanently going after politicians, but also civil society, academics and all those it is threatened by or irritated with.'

Defiant Blatter regrets not reforming FIFA

Defiant Blatter regrets not reforming FIFA

Rediff.com16 Apr 2016

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter acknowledged on Friday that he failed to reform the scandal-ridden world soccer organisation but asserted he was not responsible for corruption in its regional organisations.

'FIFA is not responsible for working conditions of labourers'

'FIFA is not responsible for working conditions of labourers'

Rediff.com3 Dec 2014

FIFA is not responsible for the working conditions of labourers helping to build stadiums for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, the president of world soccer's governing body Sepp Blatter said.

What the Kashmir masterstroke will mean for our soldiers

What the Kashmir masterstroke will mean for our soldiers

Rediff.com19 Aug 2019

'More members of the Indian Armed Forces have died in Kashmir, North East and Naxal areas than in the 1962 and 1971 wars against Pakistan combined. These deaths are the result of political failure and not war.'

Uphold rights of all citizens, allow them to protest: Kerry

Uphold rights of all citizens, allow them to protest: Kerry

Rediff.com31 Aug 2016

He said one has to respect rights of all our citizens, regardless of ethnicity, language or creed.

80 dead, 231 injured in Kabul suicide attack

80 dead, 231 injured in Kabul suicide attack

Rediff.com23 Jul 2016

Islamic State group jihadists have claimed responsibility for twin explosions.

Ayodhya verdict: Doctrine of Necessity

Ayodhya verdict: Doctrine of Necessity

Rediff.com9 Nov 2019

'What the long term repercussions of the Ayodhya judgment are will unfold in time.' 'And I hope the consequences are not going to be as damaging to us as they were to Pakistan,' says Aakar Patel.

No threat to any nation, will ensure women's rights under Sharia: Taliban

No threat to any nation, will ensure women's rights under Sharia: Taliban

Rediff.com17 Aug 2021

"We want to establish a government that includes all sides," Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah said, adding that they want an end to the war.

Pak enjoys killing us; Modi understands our pain: Baloch leader

Pak enjoys killing us; Modi understands our pain: Baloch leader

Rediff.com1 Oct 2016

Activist Mazdak Dilshad Baloch expressed satisfaction with the Indian response to the "Baloch appeal", saying Modi's Independence Day speech had played "a major role in spreading awareness" about the "atrocities" of the Pakistani State on Balochistan.

What will we achieve by boycotting Pakistan in World Cup?

What will we achieve by boycotting Pakistan in World Cup?

Rediff.com25 Feb 2019

'Random displays of anger will end in punishment from the IOC and the loss of points in the World Cup, without achieving what we seek,' says Aakar Patel.

4 Nirbhaya convicts executed in Tihar over 7 yrs after crime

4 Nirbhaya convicts executed in Tihar over 7 yrs after crime

Rediff.com20 Mar 2020

Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) were executed at 5.30 am for the savage assault in an empty moving bus on the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who came to be known the world over as Nirbhaya.

Going around in circles with Nirmala Sitharaman

Going around in circles with Nirmala Sitharaman

Rediff.com11 Sep 2019

A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com attends Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's presser in Chennai to tom-tom the government's achievements in its first 100 days in office.

'The focus now has to be on promoting Visaranai'

'The focus now has to be on promoting Visaranai'

Rediff.com23 Sep 2016

'Police brutality and lock-up deaths have been relevant forever. I believe this is why the film has appealed to everybody. We can all relate to the subject. We read about it every day. It is this harsh truth, this reality in society that has struck a chord with the people.' Filmmaker Vetrimaaran gets ready for the big Oscar race.

Machil fake encounter case: 5 armymen get life term

Machil fake encounter case: 5 armymen get life term

Rediff.com13 Nov 2014

Handing the verdict, the General Court Martial also suspended the service benefits of Col DK Pathania of the 4 Rajput regiment (the unit which was involved in the encounter), Captain Upendra Singh, Subedar Satbir Singh, Havildar Bir Singh, Sepoy Chadraban, Sepoy Nagendra Singh and Sepoy Narinder Singh.

Niyamgiri mining project: Dongaria Kondhs say no at 1st meet

Niyamgiri mining project: Dongaria Kondhs say no at 1st meet

Rediff.com19 Jul 2013

Verdict to decide fate of Vedanta Aluminium's Rs 40,000-cr projects in Odisha that will source bauxite from Niyamgiri.

What India can learn from South Korea, Japan

What India can learn from South Korea, Japan

Rediff.com5 Jan 2019

'We have had 27 years of liberalisation and in the same period Korea and Japan and China transformed themselves forever,' says Aakar Patel.

Why Congress-NCP must be wary of the Sena

Why Congress-NCP must be wary of the Sena

Rediff.com18 Nov 2019

'The Sena can quickly reduce most solutions to violence.' 'When in power, it will revert to this gene which is coded into it and we will no doubt produce entertaining and frightening moments,' says Aakar Patel.

What I learnt in Srinagar

What I learnt in Srinagar

Rediff.com21 Jun 2019

'There are no multiplexes, not a single cinema hall and no malls.' 'Because the government in Delhi constantly cuts off mobile services, there is no app-based economy in Srinagar.' 'There are 403 news channels in India, but there is none in Kashmir,' notes Aakar Patel after a journey to the Kashmir valley.

Why I salute Azim Premji

Why I salute Azim Premji

Rediff.com12 Jun 2019

'Azim Premji has given away about one-and-a-half lakh crore rupees of his wealth.' 'Most of us will not even know what that sum actually means.' 'To put it into context, it can fund India's health budget and education budget,' points out Aakar Patel.

'You can't sustain a campaign of hate'

'You can't sustain a campaign of hate'

Rediff.com24 Dec 2018

'You can't go on creating division and rhetoric of hate.' 'It comes to roost. We are seeing the first glimpses of that in the state elections.'

Why is the IAF still buying fighter jets?

Why is the IAF still buying fighter jets?

Rediff.com14 Oct 2019

'We spent Rs 59,000 crore on acquiring 36 Rafales and we do not know if we will ever use them. The chances are that we never will,' argues Aakar Patel.

Trump: Khashoggi likely dead, consequences would be 'very severe'

Trump: Khashoggi likely dead, consequences would be 'very severe'

Rediff.com19 Oct 2018

Turkish investigators have told local media and also to the US media that Khashoggi was brutally killed inside the consulate on October 2.

What Chandrayaan-2 will do for India

What Chandrayaan-2 will do for India

Rediff.com22 Jul 2019

'In a part of the world where the government tells people what not to eat and what slogans to shout and not shout, it is beneficial to develop a mentality that is science minded and therefore open-minded.' 'That is possibly why the space programme has always had support from all sides of the political divide,' says Aakar Patel.

How Congress can redefine party politics

How Congress can redefine party politics

Rediff.com16 Jul 2019

'There is no meritocracy or at least there is none that is visible and transparent.' 'The Congress has two opportunities to change this,' says Aakar Patel.

ISRO's attempt is the attempt of all mankind

ISRO's attempt is the attempt of all mankind

Rediff.com9 Sep 2019

'Space is dangerous and there will be many failed attempts as we try to use mankind's ingenuity to take the next evolutionary step.'

Jayasuriya handed two-year ban under anti-corruption code

Jayasuriya handed two-year ban under anti-corruption code

Rediff.com26 Feb 2019

Sanath Jayasuriya has been banned from all cricket for two years after admitting breaching two counts of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

Are we really different from Pakistan?

Are we really different from Pakistan?

Rediff.com16 Dec 2019

'We have done majoritarianism through other means.' 'The Citizenship Amendment Act, read together with the National Register of Citizens, will prove what I mean,' notes Aakar Patel.

As long as we fix Pakistan we are happy

As long as we fix Pakistan we are happy

Rediff.com4 Mar 2019

'The intensity with which we are focussed on Pakistan, particularly our government and our media, ultimately harms us and reduces our greatness,' argues Aakar Patel.

Does India need 'encounter specialists'?

Does India need 'encounter specialists'?

Rediff.com11 Dec 2019

'India has a conviction rate of about 25% for serious crimes. This means that 75% of the time the police probably get the wrong suspect, and this makes murdering them in an encounter more morally problematic for the officers concerned.' says Aakar Patel.

If Rahul was really the Congress boss...

If Rahul was really the Congress boss...

Rediff.com18 Dec 2018

'If Rahul Gandhi's authority was absolute, he could have picked his man.' 'Compare this with the ease with which outsiders like Adityanath, Khattar and Fadnavis were picked.'

Will Indian workers in UAE get a better deal after Modi's visit?

Will Indian workers in UAE get a better deal after Modi's visit?

Rediff.com17 Aug 2015

Prime Minister Modi chatted with the workers, enquiring about the place and their welfare and jobs.

Islamic State trying to gain foothold in PoK: Army

Islamic State trying to gain foothold in PoK: Army

Rediff.com3 Jul 2015

Terror outfit Islamic State is trying to gain a foothold in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, a senior Army official said on Friday.

Why India has not made a world-beating global invention

Why India has not made a world-beating global invention

Rediff.com15 Jul 2019

'If Indians are as smart as their counterparts in university, and have equal opportunity, then what is the reason that we cannot produce inventions of quality that are recognised by the world?'