News for 'Special Action Group'

Victory for American diplomacy: Pompeo on Azhar's UN listing

Victory for American diplomacy: Pompeo on Azhar's UN listing

Rediff.com2 May 2019

'Congrats to our team @USUN for their work in negotiating JEM's Masood Azhar's #UN designation as a terrorist,' Pompeo tweeted.

US On Diplomacy Road With Taliban?

US On Diplomacy Road With Taliban?

Rediff.com29 Sep 2021

There is growing acceptance of the idea in the international community that engaging the Taliban government is a far better approach than ostracising it, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

The Lady Behind Alia's Mesmerising Dholida

The Lady Behind Alia's Mesmerising Dholida

Rediff.com2 Mar 2022

'The pressure was very high because I am not a Saroj Khan or a Vaibhavi Merchant.' 'I am someone from a reality show.' 'I was a nobody who was given an opportunity to express myself in the best way I could.'

Afghanistan is done with jihad

Afghanistan is done with jihad

Rediff.com7 Sep 2021

The Taliban have the ISIS in its crosshairs. The Taliban has shown the skill to assimilate extremist elements if they are reconcilable as well as the ruthlessness to eliminate troublemakers, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar

'Check authenticity': Union Min served notice on Rajasthan sting

'Check authenticity': Union Min served notice on Rajasthan sting

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

The Congress has alleged that Shekhawat wants to destabilise chief minister Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan.

Where is Prashant Kishor headed next?

Where is Prashant Kishor headed next?

Rediff.com18 May 2021

A second shot at UP?

Bomb blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house kills 3 in Lahore

Bomb blast outside Hafiz Saeed's house kills 3 in Lahore

Rediff.com23 Jun 2021

Three people were killed and over 20 others injured in a bomb blast outside the house of the Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed in Lahore on Wednesday, the police said.

Political storm erupts after 5 killed during Bengal polls

Political storm erupts after 5 killed during Bengal polls

Rediff.com10 Apr 2021

Five people were killed, including 4 in the firing by Central Industrial Security Force personnel, during the fourth phase of polling

Mamata's friend-turned-foe Mukul Roy returns to Trinamool

Mamata's friend-turned-foe Mukul Roy returns to Trinamool

Rediff.com12 Jun 2021

In a blow to the prestige of the saffron brigade, Bharatiya Janata Party's national vice president Mukul Roy along with son Subhranshu, rejoined the Trinamool Congress on Friday, with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other leaders of the state's ruling party welcoming the prodigal back to the fold.

1,200 protesters detained during anti-CAA protests in Delhi

1,200 protesters detained during anti-CAA protests in Delhi

Rediff.com19 Dec 2019

Around 1,200 protesters demanding scrapping of the amended citizenship act were detained on Thursday when they defied prohibitory orders imposed by the Delhi Police in Red Fort area. Internet, voice and messaging services by Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and Reliance Jio were suspended in parts of Delhi-NCR, in perhaps for the first time that the national capital experienced such restrictions.

'The severe cases are mostly unvaccinated people'

'The severe cases are mostly unvaccinated people'

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

'In our ICUs, the majority are unvaccinated people.' 'Out of the hospital, in the community, we see that -- whether you are vaccinated or whether you're not vaccinated -- the symptoms are more or less the same.'

Stalin Prepares For Battle Of 2024

Stalin Prepares For Battle Of 2024

Rediff.com6 May 2022

The going is not going to be easy for the DMK and its allies in Elections 2024. Despite the seats sweepstake in the 2021 assembly polls, the vote-share difference of 5.6% (DMK's 45.38% versus AIADMK-BJP's 39.72%) is not insurmountable on a bad day, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

Ayodhya verdict: All schools, colleges shut in Delhi, UP, MP, K'taka

Ayodhya verdict: All schools, colleges shut in Delhi, UP, MP, K'taka

Rediff.com9 Nov 2019

The Delhi government also advised all private schools to remain closed on November 9 as a precautionary measure in view of the verdict.

SC verdict tomorrow on case related to Ayodhya dispute

SC verdict tomorrow on case related to Ayodhya dispute

Rediff.com26 Sep 2018

The petitioners seeking reconsideration by a larger bench, the observations made by it in a 1994 verdict that a mosque was not integral to Islam.

Withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan to benefit China: Report

Withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan to benefit China: Report

Rediff.com7 Aug 2020

'If the Chinese are bringing Pakistan more 'behind the curtain,' in terms of intelligence and military cooperation, it will be tailored to their common interests like confronting India over territorial disputes'

Bengal, Odisha evacuate lakhs of people as 'Yaas' nears coast

Bengal, Odisha evacuate lakhs of people as 'Yaas' nears coast

Rediff.com25 May 2021

West Bengal and Odisha have evacuated lakhs of people from vulnerable areas to safety as severe cyclonic storm 'Yaas' is nearing the coast and is expected to make landfall near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district early on Wednesday morning.

REVEALED: Modi-Shah-Nadda's grand plans for BJP, govt

REVEALED: Modi-Shah-Nadda's grand plans for BJP, govt

Rediff.com23 Oct 2020

Modi, Shah and Nadda have created a strategy to boost the BJP and the government's image.

From the brink to recovery, India's retail sector pins hope on 2021

From the brink to recovery, India's retail sector pins hope on 2021

Rediff.com29 Dec 2020

With an epic battle of billionaires for supremacy in one of the world's most prolific markets and a pandemic-propelled surge in online shopping in the background, India's nearly trillion-dollar retail market is hoping to touch 85 per cent of the pre-COVID business in the first half of the New Year. In a year when the COVID-19 carnage ripped apart the retail business, circa 2020 will best go down for the unravelling of the war between Jeff Bezos, the world's wealthiest man, and richest Indian Mukesh Ambani for pre-eminence in the booming market that is estimated to reach $1.3 trillion by 2025. It all started with Ambani's Reliance Industries agreeing in August to buy assets of the nation's second-largest retailer for Rs 24,713 crore, just a year after Bezos' Amazon purchased an indirect stake in the indebted Future Retail.

'We haven't heard the last about Omicron'

'We haven't heard the last about Omicron'

Rediff.com31 Dec 2021

'Your body will be able to deal with Omicron at any time, but it depends (on when) if you are vaccinated.'

British MP denied visa for her anti-India activities: Sources

British MP denied visa for her anti-India activities: Sources

Rediff.com18 Feb 2020

Abrahams, who chairs a British parliamentary group on Kashmir, was denied entry into India upon her arrival at the New Delhi airport on Monday. Government officials had said on Monday also that she was informed in advance that her e-visa had been cancelled.

How dhakis breathe life into Durga Puja

How dhakis breathe life into Durga Puja

Rediff.com23 Oct 2020

The sound of the dhak is an essential part of Pujo celebrations, says Indrayanee Mukherjee.

Resolution condemning human rights violations in Kashmir introduced in US Congress

Resolution condemning human rights violations in Kashmir introduced in US Congress

Rediff.com22 Nov 2019

The resolution said that any changes to the status of Jammu and Kashmir must be made with the direct consultation of the Kashmiri people, who must play a central role in the determination of their future.

What A Dalit Student At Top Mumbai Medical College Endured

What A Dalit Student At Top Mumbai Medical College Endured

Rediff.com21 Jan 2022

Not just in the hostel, but in college too, they would block his way in the corridor; snatch his mobile; make him get up from where he was sitting; crowd around him in the mess; drag him into their room and threaten to hit him with a belt.

'The Pakistanis had state of the art anti-aircraft missiles to shoot us down'

'The Pakistanis had state of the art anti-aircraft missiles to shoot us down'

Rediff.com16 Jul 2020

'The Pakistanis were not the mujahids or terrorists as claimed initially.' .'They were trained soldiers who held state of the art anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down our airplanes.'

A Messiah For Humanity Passes Into The Ages

A Messiah For Humanity Passes Into The Ages

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

Where does one find a man who shows no bitterness or animosity towards Hindus, even after a frenzied Hindu mob burnt his house down?, Jyoti Punwani asks in this tribute to a truly extraordinary Indian.

Day 14: What's hot at the Beijing Winter Olympics

Day 14: What's hot at the Beijing Winter Olympics

Rediff.com18 Feb 2022

Cross-country skier Johaug to call time on Olympic career after Sunday's 30km.

'Pakistan will be China's eyes, ears in Afghanistan'

'Pakistan will be China's eyes, ears in Afghanistan'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2021

'India would not like to see Pakistani domination and tutelage of Afghanistan against Indian security and economic interests.'

WWE throws its weight behind India, its biggest global market

WWE throws its weight behind India, its biggest global market

Rediff.com2 Mar 2021

The WWE says that India is its biggest market globally in terms of television viewership -- around 350 million unique viewers annually -- social media engagement and YouTube consumption, even claiming that it is the second-most watched sport in the country behind cricket.

J-K was, is, shall forever be a part of India: Swarup at UNHRC

J-K was, is, shall forever be a part of India: Swarup at UNHRC

Rediff.com26 Feb 2020

Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of India, a top Indian diplomat asserted at the UN Human Rights Council's meeting in Geneva on Wednesday, a day after Pakistan sought the international community's intervention on the Kashmir issue. Speaking at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council which is being held in Geneva in Switzerland from February 24 to March 20, Vikas Swarup, secretary (west), the ministry of external affairs, described Pakistan as the "epicentre of global terrorism".

The protector of women from breast cancer

The protector of women from breast cancer

Rediff.com11 Jun 2022

'Having dedicated my life towards improving breast healthcare in my motherland. I shall continue to work with rock-solid determination following this "chosen" path.'

Delhi violence: Lookout notices issued against farmer leaders

Delhi violence: Lookout notices issued against farmer leaders

Rediff.com28 Jan 2021

It also asked the farmer leaders to submit their response within three days, explaining why legal action should not be taken against them as they did not follow conditions set for the parade.

Govt needs to pay for sin of cutting down trees: Sena slams BJP on Aarey

Govt needs to pay for sin of cutting down trees: Sena slams BJP on Aarey

Rediff.com7 Oct 2019

The party went on to say that the "the way the Aarey issue is being oppressed, it is nothing but dictatorship".

US war in Afghanistan will end on August 31: Biden

US war in Afghanistan will end on August 31: Biden

Rediff.com9 Jul 2021

he United States did what we went to do in Afghanistan, to get to terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 and deliver justice to Osama bin Laden, and to degrade the terrorist threat to keep Afghanistan from becoming a base, from which attacks could be continued against the United States.

Extinction Rebellion: Climate protests rock the world

Extinction Rebellion: Climate protests rock the world

Rediff.com11 Oct 2019

In the face of climate disaster, a new environmental movement by the name of Extinction Rebellion has risen up, and they will make sure you hear their plea -- 'To governments of the world: we declared a climate and ecological emergency. You did not do enough. To everybody else: rebel' The environmental group, which was founded in the United Kingdom, has planned a large coordinated movement -- called International Rebellion -- in more than 60 global cities. Demonstrators blocked roads and bridges leading to the Palace of Westminster in central London. They staged a "die-in" in Wellington, New Zealand. They obstructed a major roundabout in Berlin and splattered fake blood on Wall Street's "Charging Bull" sculpture. Here are some of the most powerful images from the movement.

COVID-19: 'Dummy vaccination' begins in 4 states

COVID-19: 'Dummy vaccination' begins in 4 states

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

As the country eagerly awaits an expected coronavirus vaccination drive in January, at least 125 intended beneficiaries each in four states who had registered on the Co-WIN App were on Monday sent SMSes informing them about the time and place of their 'COVID-19 vaccination' under a mock-drill to administer the shots at designated centres.

Opinion: Why US wants India-China conflict to simmer

Opinion: Why US wants India-China conflict to simmer

Rediff.com8 Jul 2020

The US has all along interfered in India-China issues. The objective is clear: Bring the Sino-Indian standoff to a flashpoint that would compel Modi government to take shelter under an American umbrella, argues Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

India is talking to the Taliban because the Taliban are winning

India is talking to the Taliban because the Taliban are winning

Rediff.com20 Jul 2021

But why should India be talking to the Taliban in the first place? There is no love lost there. India will never forget or forgive the humiliation to which the Taliban subjected it in the IC-814 hijack, notes Shekhar Gupta.

'Saddened but not surprised': Pilot on Cong MLA's allegations

'Saddened but not surprised': Pilot on Cong MLA's allegations

Rediff.com20 Jul 2020

Pilot said he will be taking 'appropriate and strictest possible legal action' against the MLA who 'was made to' level these accusations. Congress MLA Giriraj Singh Malinga alleged that Pilot had offered him money to join the BJP.

PM Security Breach: 'Real lapse happened at PMO'

PM Security Breach: 'Real lapse happened at PMO'

Rediff.com13 Jan 2022

'The Punjab police was taking the prime minister by road for 100 km for the first time, maybe in the last many years.' 'But the SPG keeps travelling with the prime minister every second-third day outside Delhi.' 'They are better aware of the drill; they understand the PM's security parameters better than the Punjab police.' 'They could have refused even if the clearance was given by the Punjab police.'

'People feel 'kuch toh nyay mila'

'People feel 'kuch toh nyay mila'

Rediff.com9 Dec 2019

'Trail and appeals for rape cases must end in a year. Then the Police will not feel constrained to justify encounters and people will not applaud it.'