News for 'United Nation's National Goodwill Ambassador'

Alia Bhatt's 'Kanyadaan' ad sparks culture debate

Alia Bhatt's 'Kanyadaan' ad sparks culture debate

Rediff.com26 Sep 2021

The ad for a 'lehnga' brand featuring Bollywood star Alia Bhatt as the much indulged daughter and granddaughter has fired debate on social media platforms and elsewhere on the age-old tradition of giving away the daughter.

Rohingyas, their sympathisers should leave: BJP leader

Rohingyas, their sympathisers should leave: BJP leader

Rediff.com24 May 2018

Vinay Katiyar said that Rohingya Muslims had killed thousands of Hindus and humiliated their daughters so they should be sent out of the country.

Picture perfect: Priyanka meets Queen Rania

Picture perfect: Priyanka meets Queen Rania

Rediff.com14 Sep 2017

Two Queens making for one pretty frame!

'No one will marry you': Why Sania was told to stop tennis

'No one will marry you': Why Sania was told to stop tennis

Rediff.com3 Oct 2019

A trailblazer in Indian tennis, Sania Mirza revealed that as a child, she was once asked to stop playing as "no one would marry" her if her complexion turned "dark" due to the rigours of an outdoor sport.

Emma 'Hermione' Watson's POWERFUL message for YOU

Emma 'Hermione' Watson's POWERFUL message for YOU

Rediff.com23 Sep 2014

The hit Harry Potter series actress's speech touched on many issues, including the confusion over the word feminism.

Nadia Murad: The woman who refuses to be silenced

Nadia Murad: The woman who refuses to be silenced

Rediff.com8 Oct 2018

The Nobel Peace Prize winner's battle against Islamic State will go down in history.

A R Rahman to perform at UN on I-Day

A R Rahman to perform at UN on I-Day

Rediff.com12 Aug 2016

A R Rahman will be the second Indian artiste to perform at the UN General Assembly after M S Subbulakshmi.

Aarey protest: 38 arrested; Sec 144 imposed

Aarey protest: 38 arrested; Sec 144 imposed

Rediff.com5 Oct 2019

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd started hacking trees from Friday night to make way for a car shed, hours after the Bombay high court dismissed four petitions filed by NGOs and activists challenging the decision to allow felling of trees in the prime green lung of the city.

PM Modi receives UN's highest environmental honour

PM Modi receives UN's highest environmental honour

Rediff.com27 Sep 2018

rench President Emmanuel Macron and Modi have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

Gulf tour: Indian naval ships dock at Abu Dhabi

Gulf tour: Indian naval ships dock at Abu Dhabi

Rediff.com29 Aug 2007

The two warships have docked at a UAE port as part of a rare Gulf tour to foster maritime goodwill with the Arab nations.

Is The Taliban Breaking Away From Pakistan?

Is The Taliban Breaking Away From Pakistan?

Rediff.com18 Jan 2022

The Taliban's main challenge comes on the financial and economic front and there Pakistan doesn't have the capacity to be of any meaningful help, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

US shouldn't give Pak a dollar till they act on terror: Nikki Haley

US shouldn't give Pak a dollar till they act on terror: Nikki Haley

Rediff.com10 Dec 2018

Haley, the first Indian-American ever appointed to a Cabinet position in any US presidential administration, said the US did not need to give money to countries that wish harm to America, go behind its back and try and "stop us from doing things".

Did Modi Inspire This Grammy Win?

Did Modi Inspire This Grammy Win?

Rediff.com28 Apr 2022

'Now, no one can stop me from making music till the day I die.'

India-US Roller Coaster Reaches New High

India-US Roller Coaster Reaches New High

Rediff.com26 Feb 2020

'Many said his visit was very risky. But mercifully, Air Force One has taken off from Delhi without Mr Trump stepping on anybody's toes,' notes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Two Faces of Bangladesh

Two Faces of Bangladesh

Rediff.com20 Sep 2019

With Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh prime minister, all is well with the world of India-Bangladesh relations, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

'Ramazan Mubarak': Trump hosts 1st iftar dinner at White House

'Ramazan Mubarak': Trump hosts 1st iftar dinner at White House

Rediff.com7 Jun 2018

Last year, Trump broke with decades of precedent by not hosting the annual Iftar dinne.

'Howdy, Modi': Houston all set to welcome PM

'Howdy, Modi': Houston all set to welcome PM

Rediff.com21 Sep 2019

The gates of NRG Stadium will open at 6 am to accommodate and seat 50,000 people by 9 am, after which cultural programme will begin and continue till 10:30 am, and will be broadcast live in Hindi, English and Spanish languages followed by the address of the two leaders.

Meet the Brazilian guest on Republic Day

Meet the Brazilian guest on Republic Day

Rediff.com24 Jan 2020

As someone with nostalgia for the good cheer and friendly feelings of Brazilian people, former Ambassador to Brazil B S Prakash can only hope that when they see on their TV screens their President being feted on Rajpath, they will sense India's goodwill for Brazil.

Odd, curious, heartwarming: What Bollywood tweeted in 2014

Odd, curious, heartwarming: What Bollywood tweeted in 2014

Rediff.com23 Dec 2014

From odd to heartwarming, the best of Twitter conversations in 2014.

New UN chief has an Indian connection

New UN chief has an Indian connection

Rediff.com7 Oct 2016

'Antonio Guterres takes over as the UN secretary-general with tremendous goodwill as the process of his election was without the usual horse trading and compromises.' 'We have every reason to believe that he will be sensitive to Indian positions,' says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

America's Taliban deal: What does it mean for India?

America's Taliban deal: What does it mean for India?

Rediff.com23 Feb 2020

'Washington is well aware that the Haqqani group was responsible for terrorist attacks on the Indian diplomatic establishments in Afghanistan.' 'But today US self-interest dictates that Sirajuddin Haqqani's mainstreaming in Afghan political life and a potential elevation eventually to a leadership role at the national level is useful and necessary, since he can deliver peace,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

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

'US Won't Pressure India On Russia'

'US Won't Pressure India On Russia'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

'Washington appears to be playing the long game, and making the argument to India that over the longer term, Russia -- sanctioned, cash-strapped, isolated by the West -- will no longer be a viable defence partner for India'

It's just not cricket, MS

It's just not cricket, MS

Rediff.com18 Jun 2019

'Insignias or not, Dhoni's will remain the deadliest pair of gloves behind the stumps,' notes Shekhar Gupta.

Pak releases soldier who 'inadvertently' crossed LoC last year

Pak releases soldier who 'inadvertently' crossed LoC last year

Rediff.com21 Jan 2017

Chandu Chavan's family said as he is now released, the ashes of his grandmother can finally be immersed in a river.

'Kim should be given benefit of the doubt'

'Kim should be given benefit of the doubt'

Rediff.com13 Jun 2018

'The sanctions are biting him.' 'He also has a chance to come out into the world and reshape his nation.'

President, PM Modi review naval fleet

President, PM Modi review naval fleet

Rediff.com6 Feb 2016

Pranab Mukherjee inspected the fleet along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi from aboard the INS Sumitra.

China: Modi's historic now-or-never opportunity

China: Modi's historic now-or-never opportunity

Rediff.com21 Jul 2020

Only he, with his tremendous political capital and personal stature, can pull it off, observes B S Raghavan, the veteran civil servant.

Why is Pakistan muzzling its terrorists?

Why is Pakistan muzzling its terrorists?

Rediff.com5 Mar 2019

'The Pakistani move to ban militant outfits and placate international opinion and Islamabad's openness to a UN security council resolution on Azhar -- instead of beseeching China to cast yet another veto -- enables Islamabad to occupy the high ground,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

On Dalai's visit, China accuses India of 'fuelling tensions' and 'damaging its interests'

On Dalai's visit, China accuses India of 'fuelling tensions' and 'damaging its interests'

Rediff.com6 Apr 2017

The papers said India is using the Dalai Lama as a "diplomatic tool" against China for its "vice like veto" against India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and United Nations ban on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar.

NaMo has warm water, Barack has red wine

NaMo has warm water, Barack has red wine

Rediff.com30 Sep 2014

Modi presented Obama with a richly silk-covered special edition of Mahatma Gandhi's interpretation of the Bhagvad Gita, and recordings of Dr Martin Luther King's speech when he visited India in 1959 and also a specially framed photograph of Dr King when he visited Rajghat. Modi had scrupulously researched and selected these gifts for Obama and more gifts would be presented on Tuesday during their summit for both the President and the First Family.

Why was Trump in a hurry to please Imran?

Why was Trump in a hurry to please Imran?

Rediff.com24 Jul 2019

'Trump's new discovery is that Pakistan and its army are virtually god's gift to mankind.' 'They are required to facilitate a relatively orderly American exit from Afghanistan,' points out Ambassador G Parthasarathy, who served as India's high commissioner to Pakistan.

US, China trade barbs over 'Chinese Virus'

US, China trade barbs over 'Chinese Virus'

Rediff.com18 Mar 2020

The US and China have sparred over the origin of the virus for days, with a Chinese official promoting conspiracy theories.

When US Presidents visited India

When US Presidents visited India

Rediff.com13 Feb 2020

United States President Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania Trump will be visiting India -- Ahmedabad and Delhi -- on February 24 and 25 on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Let's assess earlier American presidential visits to India.

60 years on: Unforgiving legacy of the Panchsheel Agreement

60 years on: Unforgiving legacy of the Panchsheel Agreement

Rediff.com29 Apr 2014

It is a dark legacy bequeathed by Nehru to India. In its DNA lies the subconscious fount of India's schizophrenic geopolitics that forsook in one sweep all its historically-entrenched strategic interests in Tibet in favour of China, says R N Ravi, on the 60th anniversary of the Panchsheel Agreement.

The US-India roller coaster has, once again, reached its zenith

The US-India roller coaster has, once again, reached its zenith

Rediff.com26 Jan 2015

The new equation between 'Namo' and 'Barack' may well 'convert a good start into lasting progress.'

Games Spies Play

Games Spies Play

Rediff.com6 Jun 2018

'Why has the rhetoric gone down on the Indian side, Durrani wondered aloud.' 'I said because almost total normalcy and peace had returned on the ground in Kashmir,' recalls Shekhar Gupta. 'The general gave me that career spook's laser look. And he said: "That situation on the ground can change in no time".' 'This was precisely when the Pakistanis began their first incursions into Kargil.' 'Durrani had been retired for five years.' 'But once the ISI boss, you are always in the know.'

India, Japan and the China threat

India, Japan and the China threat

Rediff.com20 Nov 2018

'Relations between India and Japan are robust and devoid of either shadow of history or any irritant.' 'In fact, there is plenty of warmth and goodwill earned over history. There are no negatives but only opportunities,' notes Dr Rajaram Panda.

How Indian diplomacy has changed!

How Indian diplomacy has changed!

Rediff.com30 Jun 2016

'Young IFS officers today would take it for granted that they represent a major country with strengths and capabilities.' 'They will be aware that India is seen as one of the 10 significant countries in the world and therefore their voice will be heard whether on climate change or regime change,' says Ambassador B S Prakash.

Xi preps Kim for Trump summit

Xi preps Kim for Trump summit

Rediff.com28 Mar 2018

'Kim has once again shown astuteness and statesmanship by securing China's support precisely just when it matters most to him,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.