The economics and pricing of the Covishield vaccines and the government's own decision to pay higher prices raise more than a few questions, observes Prosenjit Datta.
Imran Khan knows Pakistan is holding a strong hand and doesn't have to flaunt it while claiming victory. But Pakistan has learned from the experience of the 1990s -- high risk of going out on a limb, asserts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'Our stomachs, accustomed now only to the blandness of stems and leaves, rumbled at unaccustomed aromas not intended for our consumption.' 'Heaven awaited on a platter -- but not for us,' sighs Kishore Singh.
Even as Standard & Poor's and Fitch have warned India's sovereign ratings could be cut to junk level, the government's chief economic advisor, Raghuram Rajan, says there is no point in grudging that India's ratings are on a par with debt-ridden European nations.
In March 2020, soon after the cessation of airline operations globally and domestic flights within India, many in the aviation sector had written Delhi-headquartered low-fare airline SpiceJet's obituary well before that of most of its rivals. Unlike IndiGo, GoAir (now rechristened Go First), Vistara and even AirAsia India, SpiceJet did not have founders or backers with deep pockets. Although it is the only other listed carrier in India besides IndiGo, it was considered the weakest and the least likely to survive the pandemic. But chairman and managing director Ajay Singh surprised everyone by not only surviving but taking the lead on many fronts. Within a few weeks of the scheduled flight stoppage, SpiceJet was doing as many charter flights as it could get hold of.
Vote for these Hindi horror movies coming up!
Afghanistan will remain a frontline state for Washington for a foreseeable future in terms of the potential threats to US national security from terrorist groups, asserts Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar, who played a stellar role in beginning India's dealings in Afghanistan in 1994.
'To further her story, Kangana has used a dead person and a suicide case.' 'She should be ashamed of herself. Ashamed.'
Sanjay B Jumaani, India's leading astro-numerologist, makes his predictions.
Even a rump Air India could not hope to get away with the shoddy service and scrappy fare for which I paid nearly two lakh, complains Sunanda K Datta-Ray.
Despite the Oscars, the box office glory, and the universal acclaim, Francis Ford Coppola, I am sure, remembers The Godfather with as much frustration as pride. Like Michael Corleone, he got into it with the best of intentions, and got out of it on top but lost in the heights. Sreehari Nair revisits the film as it turns 50 this month.
But the clear winner between them is yet to emerge.
After 18 months of closure, what really could be salvaged? And the answer sadly is, precious little, Patience, perseverance and plenty of moolah is the way forward even assuming intent is in place, says Anjuli Bhargava.
>The protesters should entrust the final judgement on the farm reform laws to the Supreme Court-mandated committee of experts and return to their villages, argues Virendra Kapoor.
'Unless he engages with the darkness within, unless there is remorse for what happened within his rule, I don't think he is going to be my leader,' says filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt in his forthright style.
Rediff reader Hari Krishnan Nair, 43 from Kenya shares his suggestions on how to make the most of the lockdown.
Raja Sen picks up 10 unpredictable Oscar winners over the years.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna saved a match point to breeze into the title clash of the ATP World Tour finale after defeating Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek via Super tie-breaker, in London on Sunday.
Judge's son continued to be critical.
A dedicated system to make district-wise, five-day forecasts can effectively deliver at one-tenth the Met's expenditure.
Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek won the ATP Shanghai Masters, their third tour-level title of the season, after defeating Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna 6-7(7), 6-3, 10-5.
'You knew that Shetty hai aur tere saath hamesha rahega. Then why???'
Regardless of the merits and demerits of foreign direct investment in retail, the fact is that a tie-up between organised retailers and farmers benefits both, as also consumers of farm goods, writes Surinder Sud.
Good intentions and elaborate roadmaps apart, there is an urgent need for the Tamil Nadu chief minister to come up with branded schemes like MGR's meal scheme, asserts N Sathiya Moorthy.
Nick Blackwell has announced his retirement from boxing after sustaining serious injuries against Chris Eubank Jr. in the British middleweight title fight last month that left him in an induced coma with bleeding in his brain.
"I want to make intelligent Punjabi cinema," says debutant director Gurvinder Singh, and proves it with Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan.
The 40-year old, whose identity has not been released yet, was arrested on Tuesday after the police tracked down his car that was seen at the site of the attacks through surveillance cameras as well identified by few witnesses, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
'Nothing in this house was going right, even in terms of feeling normal, feeling light for a moment. It was very difficult but it made me stronger.'
'The pay cuts have been very tough on those with entire families to support.'
Kevin Durant stole the spotlight from LeBron James to help orchestrate a stirring 152-149 All-Star Game victory for the Western Conference on Sunday that shifted from exhibition to grudge match in the closing stages.
Struggling to make ends meet, the railways have demanded a doubling of gross budgetary support from the government.
A New York man arrested for attacking an Islamic centre and a Hindu place of worship with firebombs has confessed to his role in the incidents, citing personal grudges with people at the targeted locations. The 40-year old, whose identity has not been released yet, was arrested on Tuesday after the police tracked down his car that was seen at the site of the attacks through surveillance cameras, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah will be seen together in Dirty Politics.
'Bigg Boss helped strengthen our relationship.'
'We fought back with and whatever little we were given -- little time, infrastructure, oxygen, medicines and people; and with whatever we had -- determination, common sense, experience and prayers!' 'Some of us lost our lives doing so.' Dr Sanjeeth Peter tells us in the final part of a fascinating diary of a Covid Warrior.
"Was any of these statements made by the Home Minister in Singh's presence? Otherwise this is nothing but hearsay," the court said.
Advocate Nandita Rao speaks to rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore about why she wants Baba Ramdev to come clean on how he built a Rs 1,100 crore empire, how he got huge plots of land in some Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states and why he is claiming to be apolitical when he is openly seeking support from the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Describing Afghanistan as a sovereign country that has a right to have bilateral relations with any nation that it chooses, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Quraishi has said that Islamabad cannot hold a grudge against Kabul for having ties with New Delhi.
Brown had blocked the honorary knighthood for Jobs in 2009 after the Apple boss snubbed an appearance at the then ruling Labour Party's annual conference, The Daily Telegrap' quoted a former senior Labour MP as saying.
