News for 'Embassy Group'

India urges higher pay for millions of Gulf workers

India urges higher pay for millions of Gulf workers

Rediff.com17 Nov 2014

Migrants do many of the dirty and dangerous jobs in the region, from construction to the oil industry, transport and services

Database State to Surveillance State

Database State to Surveillance State

Rediff.com31 Jan 2017

The plan of UID/Aadhaar-based surveillance does not end with the collection of fingerprints and iris scan, it goes quite beyond it and poses a lethal threat to the idea of India, says Gopal Krishna.

The general, the 'spy' and no talks with India

The general, the 'spy' and no talks with India

Rediff.com9 Apr 2016

Nawaz Sharif may have permitted the trial of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists for the Pathankot attack. But this fell apart because of General Raheel Shareef's keenness to make Kulbhushan Jadhav the centerpiece of global attention. Ambassador G Parthasarthy, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, reveals the Pakistan army chief's gambit against India.

Robin Raphel, the American Indian diplomats hated

Robin Raphel, the American Indian diplomats hated

Rediff.com9 Nov 2014

On Thursday, November 6, the Washington Post newspaper reported that controversial American diplomat, Ambassador Robin Raphel, had her office and home searched by the FBI. This most unusual development likely raised much cheer at India's ministry of external affairs, in whose flesh Raphel had been a thorn through much of her tenure in the first Bill Clinton administration in the early and mid-1990s by her anti-India and pro-Pakistan stand. Seventeen years ago, as she was about to step down as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Raphel granted an exclusive interview to Aziz Haniffa and India Abroad, the leading Indian-American weekly newspaper, which is now owned by Rediff.com The July 1997 interview, which provoked a raging controversy in both capitals, Washington, DC and New Delhi, is reproduced here...

Colombo's denial mode over ISI doesn't help things

Colombo's denial mode over ISI doesn't help things

Rediff.com22 Sep 2014

Even without the ISI, ISIS and Al Qaeda, Tamil Nadu, otherwise acknowledged as a progressive and developed State in the Indian context, has been at the centre of 'multiple militancy' for decades now, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

How the government created Yoga Day euphoria

How the government created Yoga Day euphoria

Rediff.com23 Jun 2015

After the United Nations declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day in December last year at India's request, the officers in the Ministry of Ayush began ideating about how to celebrate it in the country.

Bon appetit Mr Modi!

Bon appetit Mr Modi!

Rediff.com9 Apr 2015

'Make in India' will be central to Mr Modi's visit to Europe and Canada. It is difficult to predict what will happen with the Rafale deal, but if it goes through, it will undoubtedly become the 'Mother' of all 'Make in India' projects,' says Claude Arpi.

Inside the ISI

Inside the ISI

Rediff.com16 Feb 2017

Hein Kiessling has the kind of access in Pakistan that journalists (and spies) would die for, says Kanika Datta.

Modi played his cards well in Washington

Modi played his cards well in Washington

Rediff.com30 Jun 2017

'This is the first time that the Americans have agreed to refer to "cross-border terrorist attacks" in a joint statement.' 'No wonder Pakistan has called the joint statement "singularly unhelpful" and has blasted it, and its all-weather friend China has applauded Pakistan's frontline role in combating terrorism,' points out former foreign secretary Ambassador Kanwal Sibal.

'We are here because of Modi and Obama's vision'

'We are here because of Modi and Obama's vision'

Rediff.com26 Apr 2016

'Big countries do not agree on every set of issues.' 'Look, one of the differences in the relationship is that when we do not agree, we are sitting down and talking to each other.'

10 most dangerous places to work

10 most dangerous places to work

Rediff.com2 Sep 2014

Global working conditions have worsened in 2014.

China opens Nathu La as 2nd pilgrimage route for Kailash pilgrims

China opens Nathu La as 2nd pilgrimage route for Kailash pilgrims

Rediff.com22 Jun 2015

China on Monday opened the second land crossing in Tibet via Nathu La to allow the first batch of Indian pilgrims undertaking the arduous Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra, in the latest confidence-building measure between the two neighbours.

Country wants to know who benefited from corruption: Parrikar on chopper scam

Country wants to know who benefited from corruption: Parrikar on chopper scam

Rediff.com4 May 2016

Targeting the previous United Progressive Alliance regime over the controversial AgustaWestland deal, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said the ongoing probe will focus on those named in the Italian court judgement.

When Nixon broke US law and helped Pak army against B'desh

When Nixon broke US law and helped Pak army against B'desh

Rediff.com10 Sep 2013

More than four decades ago, the Nixon administration knowingly broke United States law to help the Pakistani army against Bangladesh and encouraged China to mass troops on Indian border to oppose the strong stand taken by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, according to a new book.

'Kashmiris are going nowhere'

'Kashmiris are going nowhere'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2017

'Their redemption is here. Definitely not in Pakistan.' 'They know if they step 20 steps on the other side of the Line of Control they will never return.' 'They will be ill treated.'

The business of Indian diplomacy is business

The business of Indian diplomacy is business

Rediff.com14 Jun 2016

Making it easier to do business is a key element of our strategy, says Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar.

Modi-Trump Summit: 'The buzzword is going to be continuity'

Modi-Trump Summit: 'The buzzword is going to be continuity'

Rediff.com25 Jun 2017

Aziz Haniffa, who has covered every Indian Prime Minister's visit to the US since Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, gives us a peek into what's happening in Washington, DC on the eve of the Modi-Trump summit.

US envoy: 'Human rights, religious freedom are issues we are going to raise'

US envoy: 'Human rights, religious freedom are issues we are going to raise'

Rediff.com30 Mar 2015

'We are encouraged by what the prime minister said recently on these issues... We will keep a close eye on these issues. They are very important and as are other elements of our human rights and religious freedom.' 'So, absolutely, we'll keep a focus on them.'

How much do you know about al-Zawahiri? Take our quiz!

How much do you know about al-Zawahiri? Take our quiz!

Rediff.com11 Sep 2014

Who exactly is Ayman al-Zawahiri? Take this quiz and test your knowledge of this diabolic terrorist...

Exclusive! US Ambassador Rich Verma speaks to Rediff!

Exclusive! US Ambassador Rich Verma speaks to Rediff!

Rediff.com30 Mar 2015

'India is part of our strategic and economic future,' says Richard Rahul Verma, the first Indian American to be appointed US Ambassador to India.

Nepal asks all foreign rescue workers to leave; quake toll reaches 7,365

Nepal asks all foreign rescue workers to leave; quake toll reaches 7,365

Rediff.com4 May 2015

Rescue teams from India and 33 other countries were on Saturday asked by Nepal to leave as it prepared to launch massive operations to rehabilitate millions of uprooted victims of the devastating temblor that has killed at least 7,365 people, including 41 Indians.

Did Cuban cigars thaw US-Cuba relations?

Did Cuban cigars thaw US-Cuba relations?

Rediff.com20 Apr 2015

'The irresistible Cuban cigars, which acquire their unique flavour as they are rolled on the thighs of Cuban women, have always been the ultimate temptation for cigar connoisseurs in the US.'

How India brought over 5,000 evacuees back from war-torn Yemen

How India brought over 5,000 evacuees back from war-torn Yemen

Rediff.com18 Apr 2015

The evacuation mission mounted by the government helped more than 5,000 Indians leave war-torn Yemen. The author goes behind the scenes to find out how this was achieved

Why the IAF needs a specialist intelligence branch

Why the IAF needs a specialist intelligence branch

Rediff.com11 Jan 2016

The Indian Army and more recently the Indian Navy have already set up dedicated intelligence branches. It is surprising indeed that the IAF, where real time and timely intelligence is most vital for effective and safe prosecution of the air war, has still not done so itself, says Group Capt (retd) P I Muralidharan.

Why the India-US relationship is in such a mess

Why the India-US relationship is in such a mess

Rediff.com23 Dec 2013

'Just how strong were the ties between the world's largest and oldest democracies that an incident involving a diplomat and a maid led to anger threatening the relationship itself? Or had the relationship been weakening in the past few years, masked by the empty symbolism of State dinners, asks Devesh Kapur.

'Entrepreneurs not only shape but create the future'

'Entrepreneurs not only shape but create the future'

Rediff.com23 Dec 2017

Five inspiring women who travelled thousands of miles to Hyderabad recently to grow their business and skills share their tales of global entrepreneurship. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel listened in.

India's Olympics report card: Sindhu, Sakshi save the blushes

India's Olympics report card: Sindhu, Sakshi save the blushes

Rediff.com22 Aug 2016

Two unassuming young women saved India the humiliation of returning empty-handed from the Olympics for the first time since Barcelona in 1992 with awe-inspiring performances at Rio.

Aftershocks haunt Nepal's villages, relief out of reach

Aftershocks haunt Nepal's villages, relief out of reach

Rediff.com16 May 2015

Quake after quake continue to jolt the Himalayan nation. Aid is arriving in Nepal, but its far flung villages remain cut off, two weeks after the April 25 horror

India-US ties: 'Fastest transforming and most important relationships for us today'

India-US ties: 'Fastest transforming and most important relationships for us today'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2013

National Shiv Shankar Menon asserts that all is well in the India-US relationship. Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC.

The Great Escape: India's unsung war heroes

The Great Escape: India's unsung war heroes

Rediff.com21 May 2014

Three Indian Air Force officers held as Prisoners of War in a jail in Rawalipindi made a heroic escape. They reached as far as the Pak-Afghan border in Pakistan's Wild West -- within sniffing distance of freedom -- only to realise that they had finally met their match. Or so it seemed. The three escapees were never feted for their audacious attempt 41 years and truly deserve official recognition. Why not honour them at least now, says MP Anil Kumar.

'David Headley has a very deep-felt hatred for India'

'David Headley has a very deep-felt hatred for India'

Rediff.com1 Aug 2016

If the radical Islamic movement had been largely peaceful, Headley would have probably found another way to ensure real life excitement.' 'But I really do believe that his relationship with radical Islam is real. Very real.' 'It was a match for his desires.'

General Jacob masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

General Jacob masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Rediff.com13 Jan 2016

Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command during the 1971 war, revealed how, armed with only a draft surrender document and an aide, he made the Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi surrender.

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Rediff.com13 Jan 2016

Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command during the 1971 war, revealed how, armed with only a draft surrender document and an aide, he made the Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi surrender.

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Rediff.com13 Jan 2016

Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command during the 1971 war, revealed how, armed with only a draft surrender document and an aide, he made the Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi surrender.

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Lt Gen JFR Jacob: The man who masterminded Pakistan's surrender in 1971

Rediff.com13 Jan 2016

Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command during the 1971 war, revealed how, armed with only a draft surrender document and an aide, he made the Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi surrender.

The American who rescues Indian treasures!

The American who rescues Indian treasures!

Rediff.com22 Aug 2016

'Cultural property crimes have been linked, by the United Nations and others, to terrorism.' 'These links show the perpetrators to be associated with major criminal and terrorist networks like ISIS.

How Pakistan surrendered in 1971

How Pakistan surrendered in 1971

Rediff.com16 Dec 2015

Lieutenant General J F R Jacob, Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command during the 1971 war, reveals how, armed with only a draft surrender document and an aide, he made the Pakistani army led by Lieutenant General A A K Niazi surrender.

May the Arctic chill pass

May the Arctic chill pass

Rediff.com15 Jan 2014

'Devyani -- she is a public servant and her personal life has already received far too much attention -- and her ambitious father now need to retreat to the background so that wiser diplomatic heads restore sanity to India-US relations as India prepares for parliamentary elections,' says Ambassador K C Singh.

An agenda for India's Hillary Clinton

An agenda for India's Hillary Clinton

Rediff.com2 Jun 2014

Sushma Swaraj, like Clinton, has a strong political base in her own party and is likely to have her imprint on foreign policy, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Zubin on Kashmir: 'Let healing start with the music's first note'

Zubin on Kashmir: 'Let healing start with the music's first note'

Rediff.com8 Sep 2013

Expressing happiness over the turnout at his concert in Srinagar's Shalimar Bagh, renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta said performing in Kashmir was a dream come true for him. The Mumbai-born music conductor and German Ambassador Michael Steiner, who organised the concert, spoke to CNN-IBN over what motivated them to come to Kashmir.