News for 'Department of State'

'China Is Competing In A Space Where India Was Dominant'

'China Is Competing In A Space Where India Was Dominant'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

'These efforts by Beijing can be weaponised one day with economic, security and political implications for India.'

Another school tragedy in Rajasthan: 6-yr-old killed

Another school tragedy in Rajasthan: 6-yr-old killed

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

A concrete slab holding up the main gate of a government senior secondary girls school in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district collapsed on Monday, instantly killing a six-year-old boy who was there to be accompanied home by his sister studying in the school, police said.

US Opens Student Visa Applications, But...

US Opens Student Visa Applications, But...

Rediff.com3 Jul 2025

'What we want students to understand when they're applying for that visa is that we want to see a use of that visa that is in line with their application.'

TN Dalit techie murder: Stalin's allies demand anti-honour killing law

TN Dalit techie murder: Stalin's allies demand anti-honour killing law

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

The alleged honour killing of a Dalit IT engineer in Tamil Nadu has sparked outrage and demands for a separate legislation to handle such incidents. Allies of the ruling DMK are calling for action after the murder of Kavin Selvaganesh.

Nitish Kumar's Sop Opera Ahead Of Polls

Nitish Kumar's Sop Opera Ahead Of Polls

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

Nitish Kumar has pledged to create 10 million jobs in the next five years apart from offering voters many other sops.

What You Must Know About The CEC

What You Must Know About The CEC

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

As an IAS officer in Kerala, Gyanesh Kumar -- who the Congress described as Amit Shah's 'right hand man' -- had a good working equation with the state's Congress and Left leaders.

Rahul Gandhi launches 'voter adhikar yatra' in Bihar for voting rights

Rahul Gandhi launches 'voter adhikar yatra' in Bihar for voting rights

Rediff.com16 Aug 2025

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar to advocate for fair elections and protect voting rights, alleging irregularities in electoral rolls and accusing the BJP of attempting to disenfranchise voters.

BJD's protest over Odisha student's death turns violent

BJD's protest over Odisha student's death turns violent

Rediff.com16 Jul 2025

Several Biju Janata Dal workers and leaders, including two former ministers, were injured in a scuffle with police personnel in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday during a party's protest over the death of a college student, who set herself on fire in Odisha's Balasore district.

Maha to act on forced conversions, SC quota misuse: Fadnavis

Maha to act on forced conversions, SC quota misuse: Fadnavis

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the state government's intention to introduce strong provisions to deal with religious conversions done using force or cheating. A panel has submitted recommendations, and the government will study and implement necessary changes. The move comes amid claims of misuse of religious freedom and concerns about conversions through coercion and deceit.

7 children killed as school building collapses in Rajasthan

7 children killed as school building collapses in Rajasthan

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

A regular morning alive with the chatter of students assembling for prayers quickly turned into tragedy on Friday when a portion of their government school building collapsed, killing seven children and injuring 27, some of them critically.

'It Was Not Suicide, But Murder'

'It Was Not Suicide, But Murder'

Rediff.com22 Jul 2025

'My brother was mentally tortured and harassed.'

'This Wasn't A Cloudburst...'

'This Wasn't A Cloudburst...'

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

'The lakes up there were already at the brink due to accumulated rainwater, and then snowmelt occurred.' 'When one lake breached, it triggered a cascading effect -- other lakes breached subsequently.'

Schoolgirls checked for menstruation: Principal axed after arrest

Schoolgirls checked for menstruation: Principal axed after arrest

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

Police in Thane have arrested a school principal and staff member after allegations that girl students were forced to strip to check for menstruation. The incident sparked outrage among parents, leading to protests and a police investigation.

Odisha student's death: CCTV footage shows a woman seen buying petrol

Odisha student's death: CCTV footage shows a woman seen buying petrol

Rediff.com20 Jul 2025

Odisha Police are investigating the purchase of petrol by a woman matching the description of a student who died by self-immolation after alleging sexual harassment. CCTV footage is being analyzed, and filling stations have stopped selling petrol in bottles. A UGC fact-finding team is also investigating the incident.

Odisha student sets herself ablaze over sexual harassment

Odisha student sets herself ablaze over sexual harassment

Rediff.com12 Jul 2025

The incident took place this afternoon after the woman student met the Principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore, Dilip Kumar Ghose. She had earlier lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor (Stage-l) in Educational Studies, who is also the head of the department and demanded action against him.

'Things Have Improved In Kashmir'

'Things Have Improved In Kashmir'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

'Often people outside paint a wrong picture of us of Kashmiris. We are not like that. We are cool and bindaas,' said the lady, a teacher, caressing my cheeks in the pressing crowds.

'Loktantra, not Loktantar': BJP mocks Oppn over misspelling in banner

'Loktantra, not Loktantar': BJP mocks Oppn over misspelling in banner

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

The BJP criticized opposition parties for misspelling 'loktantra' (democracy) on a protest banner during a demonstration against electoral roll revisions in Bihar.

Army deployed as heavy rains cause flood-like situation in MP

Army deployed as heavy rains cause flood-like situation in MP

Rediff.com30 Jul 2025

Heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri and Guna districts have led to a flood-like situation, stranding people including school children. The Army has been called in for rescue and relief operations. Other districts are also affected, and the IMD has issued a heavy rain alert.

Hope Rises As China Processes Rare-Earths Requests

Hope Rises As China Processes Rare-Earths Requests

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

China accounts for about 70 per cent of global rare earth mining and nearly 90 per cent of rare earth magnet production, making it a dominant player and giving it significant leverage in global supply chains.

'Pakistan Does America's Dirty Work'

'Pakistan Does America's Dirty Work'

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

'What the Americans want is to destabilise Iran. For destabilising Iran, you need access. 'One access is through Iraq. The other access is through Pakistan.'

Mandi cloudburst toll rises to 14, search on for 31 missing

Mandi cloudburst toll rises to 14, search on for 31 missing

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

The death toll from cloudburst and flash flood-related incidents in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh has risen to 14, with a search underway for 31 missing individuals. Extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and livestock has been reported across the district.

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

'Such Catastrophes Will Only Worsen'

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

'There is a clear relationship between the Char Dham road widening and these landslides.' 'The situation has further worsened with the massive influx of tourists whose number are running into several lakhs per month.' 'No parameters have been laid down to control tourist inflow and the result is that the Char Dham yatra has seen a sharp escalation in accidents and loss of lives.'

Did Pak assure US it would act against terrorists?

Did Pak assure US it would act against terrorists?

Rediff.com11 Jun 2025

In response to a question on President Donald Trump offering to "mediate" on the issue of Kashmir, Bruce said, "Well, I - obviously, I can't speak to what's on the mind or the plans of the President. What I do know is that I think we all recognise that President Trump in each step that he takes, it's made to solve generational differences between countries, generational war."

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

Official admitted Vadodara bridge unsafe in 2022: Activist

Official admitted Vadodara bridge unsafe in 2022: Activist

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

An activist claims to have alerted officials about the dangerous condition of a bridge in Gujarat's Vadodara district three years before it collapsed, resulting in 15 deaths. The activist alleges that despite warnings, no timely action was taken.

Public life likely to be hit as over 25 crore workers call 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday

Public life likely to be hit as over 25 crore workers call 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday

Rediff.com8 Jul 2025

More than 25 crore workers engaged in sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal to coal mining, highway and construction are expected to go on a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, potentially disrupting services across the country. A forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates has called for a general strike or 'Bharat Bandh' to "oppose the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government".

Uttarkashi floods: 2 bodies recovered, fear grows for trapped

Uttarkashi floods: 2 bodies recovered, fear grows for trapped

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

Landslides blocked arterial roads leading up to Dharali where dozens of people were trapped and many homes and cars swept away by the raging waters on Tuesday. Eleven Army personnel from the nearby camp in Harsil were among those missing.

Bengal varsity paper terms revolutionaries as 'terrorists'

Bengal varsity paper terms revolutionaries as 'terrorists'

Rediff.com11 Jul 2025

A controversy erupted in West Bengal after a history question paper at the state-run Vidyasagar University described Indian revolutionaries as 'terrorists,' triggering strong political reactions and forcing the institute to issue a public apology, calling it a 'printing mistake.'

162 students trapped in flooded Jharkhand school rescued

162 students trapped in flooded Jharkhand school rescued

Rediff.com29 Jun 2025

The students were trapped in the school located at Pandarsoli on the Haldipokhar-Kowali Road in Kowali police station area since Saturday night after the premises got flooded due to heavy rain.

Jails Hotbeds Of Extremism? Govt Urges Crackdown

Jails Hotbeds Of Extremism? Govt Urges Crackdown

Rediff.com13 Jul 2025

High-risk inmates who are inclined towards propagating the ideology of radicalisation should be segregated from the general prison population to minimise the risk of indoctrination.

Elon Musk launches 'America Party' to 'give back freedom'

Elon Musk launches 'America Party' to 'give back freedom'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2025

United States tech billionaire Elon Musk said he has formed a new political party to give Americans their freedom back, after a dramatic falling out with Donald Trump.

Student raped by 2 lecturers, their associate in Karnataka

Student raped by 2 lecturers, their associate in Karnataka

Rediff.com15 Jul 2025

According to police, the student alleged that one of the lecturers befriended her under the pretext of sharing academic notes and began chatting with her frequently.

Braving trauma, Kolkata rape survivor student appears for exams

Braving trauma, Kolkata rape survivor student appears for exams

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

A senior official from the state's higher education department said all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure that she could "write her papers feeling safe and secure".

US policy towards India takes 'unfortunate turn', says Kaushik Basu

US policy towards India takes 'unfortunate turn', says Kaushik Basu

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

Former World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu on Thursday said the US economic policy towards India has taken an unfortunate turn, noting that President Donald Trump's harsh stance against New Delhi appears baffling. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, amid signs of a stalemate in the ongoing bilateral trade negotiations between the two countries.

Akash Prime proves precision in Ladakh high-altitude trials

Akash Prime proves precision in Ladakh high-altitude trials

Rediff.com17 Jul 2025

The weapon system is customised to operate in altitude above 4,500 metres and has latest upgrades including indigenously developed Radio Frequency seeker, as per the release.

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Kolhapur: Thousands march to bring back Mahadevi from Vantara

Rediff.com3 Aug 2025

Thousands of people participated in a 'silent march' in Kolhapur on Sunday, demanding that 36-year-old female elephant Mahadevi (also called Madhuri), be brought back from Vantara wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.

Study US: Money-Saving Tips for Students

Study US: Money-Saving Tips for Students

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

Gaurav Batra, founder and CEO Infinite Group, suggests smart tips to help you reduce living and transportation costs while studying in the US.

Govt's obesity combat plan: Display oil and sugar in snacks

Govt's obesity combat plan: Display oil and sugar in snacks

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

The Union health ministry is urging all ministries and departments to display 'oil and sugar boards' in common areas to raise awareness about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods and promote healthier lifestyles.

Don't know...: Trump on India citing US trade with Russia

Don't know...: Trump on India citing US trade with Russia

Rediff.com6 Aug 2025

President Trump addresses questions about US imports from Russia and India's stance on purchasing Russian oil, hinting at potential tariffs.

'Bengaluru life very alluring': SC refuses docs' plea against transfer

'Bengaluru life very alluring': SC refuses docs' plea against transfer

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

The petitioners questioned the rules, citing only a week's time to file objections to the draft rules.