News for 'National Geographic News'

Rawat outlines plan to merge 17 single service commands into 4

Rawat outlines plan to merge 17 single service commands into 4

Rediff.com16 Sep 2021

The first joint theatre command would be responsible for the border against Pakistan in what the military refers to as the "western theatre"; while a second command -- the northern theatre command -- would be responsible for the border with China. A third, navy-heavy theatre, called the "maritime command" will be responsible for the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR); and an island command, already functional and called the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), would project power into the eastern Indian Ocean.

'Scanty, sketchy evidence': Court grants bail to Disha Ravi

'Scanty, sketchy evidence': Court grants bail to Disha Ravi

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

Ravi was arrested by a Cyber Cell team of the Delhi Police from Bengaluru and brought to Delhi. She was currently in police custody.

Does India measure up as a maritime power?

Does India measure up as a maritime power?

Rediff.com16 Feb 2021

At any time, there is a need to operationally deploy two aircraft carriers in the vast Indian Ocean, asserts Vice Admiral Premvir Das (retd).

EC bans entry of politicians in violence-hit Cooch Behar for next 72 hrs

EC bans entry of politicians in violence-hit Cooch Behar for next 72 hrs

Rediff.com11 Apr 2021

Invoking its Constitutional powers, the Election Commission on Saturday put in place certain restrictions, including extending the 'silence period' from 48 hours to 72 hours, for the fifth phase of polling in West Bengal after violence in Cooch Behar district.

2021: Olympians bring glory to India, Sushil's fall from grace

2021: Olympians bring glory to India, Sushil's fall from grace

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

An important factor in India's stupendous success in 2021 was the way the government opened its coffers to support athletes.

Despite road blocks, there's no shortage of potato, onion in Delhi

Despite road blocks, there's no shortage of potato, onion in Delhi

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

During this time of the year, potatoes and vegetables come from Punjab and Haryana.

AAP's national spread can damage Cong's Muslim vote base

AAP's national spread can damage Cong's Muslim vote base

Rediff.com29 Dec 2013

The Congress has already been deserted by the urban middle classes and the youth, but by outsourcing its battle against the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Admi Party, the grand old party could end up inflicting more damage on itself.

'Indian forces went 200m inside Pak to unearth tunnel'

'Indian forces went 200m inside Pak to unearth tunnel'

Rediff.com1 Dec 2020

A 150-metre long underground tunnel suspected to be used by terrorists for infiltration was detected near International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba sector on November 22.

Chief of Defence Staff will need to show tough love

Chief of Defence Staff will need to show tough love

Rediff.com30 Aug 2019

'Since each chief single-mindedly pursues his service's interests in the competition for turf and in core matters such as budget share. The CDS, therefore, must act as an "honest broker" whose decisions serve the broader national purpose, rather than narrow service interests,' says Ajai Shukla.

Why India's exports are likely to fly high in New Year

Why India's exports are likely to fly high in New Year

Rediff.com19 Dec 2021

After staging a strong recovery from COVID-induced slowdown in 2021, India's exports are likely to extend the growth story to the New Year also on increased demand in the global markets, boost in domestic manufacturing due to production-linked incentive schemes and implementation of some interim trade pacts. Expectations of positive growth in the country's exports are also backed up by the outlook of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) which predicts a 4.7 per cent expansion in the global merchandise trade volume in 2022. Exporters believe that the outbound shipments would cross $400 billion mark in this fiscal going by the current momentum and may reach $475 billion in 2022-23.

'Indian Navy will protect India's trade and economic interests'

'Indian Navy will protect India's trade and economic interests'

Rediff.com17 Sep 2020

'The Chinese navy is large and expanding both in numbers and capability by the day.' 'India too must take measures to safeguard its own interests, now and in the future.'

B School Curricula: Time for A Reset?

B School Curricula: Time for A Reset?

Rediff.com21 Sep 2021

... As the world swings from 'financialisation' to 'artificial intelligence', asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

'Goa's defectors are pawns on the chess board'

'Goa's defectors are pawns on the chess board'

Rediff.com8 Feb 2022

'Goa is a tiny state, but in terms of its Business of Politics, several powerful lobbies of India are involved in it, be it the mining lobby, hoteliers' lobby, casino lobby, hawala lobby, drugs lobby etc.'

'Kabaddi's inclusion in Olympics is our ultimate goal'

'Kabaddi's inclusion in Olympics is our ultimate goal'

Rediff.com27 Apr 2020

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju called upon all the Asian countries to come together to ensure Kabaddi's inclusion in the Olympics. Rijiju addressed over 700 kabaddi coaches from all over India and from other countries, including Korea and Malayasia at the Online Coaches Knowledge Enhancement session organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Sir Creek issue: Pakistan complains to UN chief

Sir Creek issue: Pakistan complains to UN chief

Rediff.com10 Jan 2012

Pakistan has complained to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon that the geographical coordinates notified by India of the Sir Creek estuary are "inconsistent" with international law and "impinge" upon Islamabad's territorial limits in the disputed area.

Can This Babu Be Punjab's Giant Killer?

Can This Babu Be Punjab's Giant Killer?

Rediff.com28 Feb 2022

'The honourable prime minister virtually handpicked me for the Amritsar East seat.' 'Amit Shahji announced that if I am elected, the whole of Punjab will be drugs free.'

Winners of World Press Photo of the Year are truly incredible

Winners of World Press Photo of the Year are truly incredible

Rediff.com21 Apr 2021

A photo symbolising "love and compassion" of an 85-year-old Brazilian woman getting her first embrace in five months from a nurse through a transparent "hug curtain" has been named the World Press Photo of the Year. This year, according to organisers, 74,470 images were submitted for judging, made by 4,315 photographers from 130 different countries. World Press Photo has been kind enough to allow to share some of this year's winning photos here with you.

Say no to grilled chicken, try Kadaknath: Kohli gets diet recommendation

Say no to grilled chicken, try Kadaknath: Kohli gets diet recommendation

Rediff.com3 Jan 2019

The head of an agri science centre in Madhya Pradesh wants Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli to stop eating grilled chicken and switch over to the 'Kadaknath' chicken, rich in iron and whose meat and blood are black.

'To oppose the BJP does not mean one is unpatriotic'

'To oppose the BJP does not mean one is unpatriotic'

Rediff.com24 Nov 2020

'The propagation of an absolutist narrative that shuts down any dissent is dangerous, irresponsible, and unbecoming of India's proud democracy.' 'The government must do better.'

US curbs travel from India from May 4; some exemptions allowed

US curbs travel from India from May 4; some exemptions allowed

Rediff.com1 May 2021

India is struggling with a second wave of the pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days, and hospitals are reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen and beds.

Covaxin safe, shows 77.8% efficacy against symptomatic Covid: Lancet

Covaxin safe, shows 77.8% efficacy against symptomatic Covid: Lancet

Rediff.com12 Nov 2021

The phase 3 trial findings indicate that Covaxin induces a robust antibody response with no severe vaccine-related adverse events or deaths reported among the trial participants, the authors of the study said.

India reached out to countries on CAA, NRC: MEA

India reached out to countries on CAA, NRC: MEA

Rediff.com2 Jan 2020

The CAA does not change basic structure of Constitution, MEA spokesperson said at a media briefing.

US reports record 3,157 Covid deaths, over 1 lakh hospitalisations in one day

US reports record 3,157 Covid deaths, over 1 lakh hospitalisations in one day

Rediff.com3 Dec 2020

The spike in coronavirus deaths came on the same day the number of people hospitalised broke the 100,000-mark, according to the Covid Tracking Project.

CRPF inducts women commandos into anti-Naxal CoBRA unit

CRPF inducts women commandos into anti-Naxal CoBRA unit

Rediff.com6 Feb 2021

The majority of CoBRA teams, whose commandos are expected to have tough mental and physical attributes, are deployed in various Maoist violence affected states while a few are based in the northeastern states for undertaking counter-insurgency operations.

India's Omicron count reaches 220, more states report 1st cases

India's Omicron count reaches 220, more states report 1st cases

Rediff.com21 Dec 2021

Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha on Tuesday recorded their first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID as the count of the new strain in 14 states and union territories crossed 200 even as the Centre said there is a need to 'activate' war rooms, take 'pro-active' action and consider night curfews.

Two reasons why Bihar win was important for the BJP

Two reasons why Bihar win was important for the BJP

Rediff.com11 Nov 2020

This was a difficult election to win, but the Modi card, the caste divide and the division in the Opposition vote bank helped overcome many challenges.

'Ukraine has been consistently unhelpful to India's concerns'

'Ukraine has been consistently unhelpful to India's concerns'

Rediff.com8 Mar 2022

'If the Russian forces do capture Kyiv and set up some sort of provisional government, they might run into an insurgency, for which the geography is just right, it could prove costly for them.' 'In that event, the whole exercise could turn out to be counter-productive -- and costly in both foreign policy and domestic terms.'

Ayodhya mosque kicks off on R-Day with tricolour, tree plantation

Ayodhya mosque kicks off on R-Day with tricolour, tree plantation

Rediff.com18 Jan 2021

The mosque is coming up in the Uttar Pradesh district pursuant to the Supreme Court verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case.

UN race over before it begins

UN race over before it begins

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

The race for the UN secretary-general for 2022-2027 is already over and another term for Antonio Guterres is a foregone conclusion, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

COVID-19: Delhi to complete house-to-house screening by July 6

COVID-19: Delhi to complete house-to-house screening by July 6

Rediff.com25 Jun 2020

The plans also state that highly suspected cases testing negative on Rapid Antigen Test should be examined again using the gold standard RT-PCR test.

Delimitation commission to visit J-K between July 6-9

Delimitation commission to visit J-K between July 6-9

Rediff.com30 Jun 2021

The delimitation commission will visit Jammu and Kashmir between July 6-9 and interact with political parties, public representatives and officials of the UT to gather 'first hand' information of the mega exercise to carve out new constituencies, the EC said.

'Army is highly prepared in Ladakh'

'Army is highly prepared in Ladakh'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2021

'The PLA has continued to do exercises and drills and recently carried out air exercises with fighter jets.'

Congress spent Rs 61 lakh on Facebook ads for Bihar polls

Congress spent Rs 61 lakh on Facebook ads for Bihar polls

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

Pages for the Bharatiya Janata Party's Bihar arm (BJP Bihar), Janata Dal-United, and Chirag Paswan (of the Lok Janshakti Party) saw between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 30 lakh in ad spends.

'I am very fond of snakes and crocodiles'

'I am very fond of snakes and crocodiles'

Rediff.com27 Nov 2014

'I am the strongest contender of Khatron Ke Khiladi,' Harshad Arora tells Rajul Hegde/ Rediff.com

'We underestimated the virus'

'We underestimated the virus'

Rediff.com18 May 2021

'By the time actual action began, it was already too late.' 'The virus was raging.'

COVID cases increasingly reported from rural areas: Experts

COVID cases increasingly reported from rural areas: Experts

Rediff.com31 Aug 2020

The experts said there is a need to relook at the testing strategy in a way that it results in guiding the public health response and effectively limiting the spread of the disease.

Imran Khan is a Pak 'military puppet': Dissidents

Imran Khan is a Pak 'military puppet': Dissidents

Rediff.com13 Oct 2020

'The narrative of patriotism has been framed around the army and competing worldviews about Pakistan and those who do not fit the army's parameters are ostracised as rebellious, treasonous, and even blasphemous'

2 arrested in connection with blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house

2 arrested in connection with blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house

Rediff.com24 Jun 2021

Pakistani security agencies on Thursday arrested two suspects involved in the car bomb blast outside the house of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind and chief of the banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) Hafiz Saeed, an official said.

China's coronavirus kills 1,113; cases jump to 44,000

China's coronavirus kills 1,113; cases jump to 44,000

Rediff.com12 Feb 2020

The overall confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland has reached 44,653 by the end of Tuesday and 1,113 people has died of the disease.

No OIC meet in Pak: Great Game plays out within Islam

No OIC meet in Pak: Great Game plays out within Islam

Rediff.com10 Feb 2020

'The more emphatic denial of any proposal for an OIC foreign ministers meet in Islamabad appears aimed at keeping Pakistan on a leash,' notes Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).