Driven from its self-styled caliphate in Iraq and Syria, Islamic State is down but not out. Where once they confronted armies, the extremist Islamist group's adherents have now staged hit-and-run raids and suicide attacks. In some cases, the group has claimed responsibility for atrocities, including the bombings of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed at least 253 people. Its involvement is not always proven, but even if the link is ideological rather than operational, Islamic State still poses a security threat in many countries.
Modi's plain-talk on zero tolerance against religious discrimination applies to those who convert tribal and poor Hindus "by deception".
The government had issued standard operating procedures for devotees and officials managing places of worship to ensure strict implement of coronavirus-related protocols and curb spread of the infection.
Union home minister says religious persecution will never be allowed.
'Our love for our great nation -- Bharat is second to none and our patriotism towards our motherland -- India is for the entire nation to emulate.'
What we have in the Congress is a useful glue to hold a non-cultural, unified Opposition together. That is the sacrifice the Congress must be willing to live with if showing the BJP the door is what the collective Opposition wants, observes Shyam G Menon.
Pope Francis on Sunday declared Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia Eluventhinkal from India as saints at Vatican.
On Thursday, maximum new cases were recorded in Balochistan where the number of infected people rose to 76 from 23. Punjab was the next where the number rose from 33 to 78, Dawn reported.
Chief Minister Stalin seems to have drawn a line between his personal beliefs and those of others in the family, beginning with wife Durga Stalin, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
The statue, which is across the road from the Indian Embassy, was vandalised on the intervening night of June 2 and 3, prompting the Indian embassy to register a complaint with the local law enforcement agencies. The incident happened during the week of nationwide protests against the custodial killing of Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
But his nature, temperament, his skill to listen to others, and empathise with their pain and hardships will make him a far better president, a leader America has been longing for four years, notes Aseem Chhabra.
During Sunday prayer in St Peter's Square, where tens of thousands of supporters turned out for Benedict XVI's ahead of his formal resignation, the Pope also assured people that he would not 'abandon' the Church.
Rediff.com takes a look at some of the prominent papabile cardinals who might take over from Pope Benedict XVI.
Here's the latest from the inauguration day of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.
President Maithripala Sirisena has issued a gazette notice banning three Islamic extremist organisations, including National Thowheeth Jama'ath that was blamed for the Easter bombings.
Senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes received the prestigious Nelson Mandela Award from the International Foundation of Minority Empowerment at the United Nation Church on Saturday.
World soccer great Diego Armando Maradona, who died on Wednesday less than a month after his 60th birthday, was worshipped like a god for his genius with the ball, but his demons almost destroyed him.
'Whatever the BJP tries to do, they will not be able to make a big mark in Kerala.'
The controversial circular directing all police stations in Madhya Pradesh to profile the Christian community has been withdrawn by the Police Head Quarters (PHQ), officials said.The circular was issued recently by the PHQ, directing all police stations in the state to profile the churches and their source of funding, schools run by the community, political leanings among others, officials said.The move attracted sharp criticism from the community.
'Here is a woman who has got widespread appreciation for her work.' 'Social media was full of posts wanting her as the chief ministerial candidate.' 'This kind of popularity did not go well within the party.' 'See, today the party is Pinarayi Vijayan!'
The former president will have two funerals -- a state funeral at the National Cathedral and a local funeral at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston.
As the campaign peaked, AAP leaders evidently realised they had to deflect their chief opponent's attempts to polarise the electorate over religious identity, explains David Devadas.
After offering prayers at the Kamakhya temple, Gogoi was slated to visit other religious places in Guwahati including churches and masjids to seek divine blessings. If his party wins these elections, it will be three in a row for them. Gogoi claimed before the media that the Congress was sure to win for the third time in a row and will form the next government in the state
Taking note of a Hindu outfit's assertion that a large number of people will be converted on December 25, district authorities on Friday issued a warning to those trying to disturb communal amity while asking citizens not to get provoked.
China on Friday said that any successor to the present Dalai Lama should be approved by it, ruling out recognition to any heir nominated by him or by his followers.
The mass marked the high point of the first papal visit to the Arabian peninsula.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday held talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama who raised the issue of human rights violation in Tibet and the recent unrest in his Himalayan homeland. Brown met Dalai despite protest from China and discussed many issues pertaining to Tibet. The closed door parleys between the two leaders was held at the Lambeth Palace, the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican church.
Capping a momentous journey, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the eighth chief minister of Delhi on Satutday, promising to make Delhi the first corruption-free state and act against communal elements.
Nelson Mandela's condition remained "serious but stable" as the former South African President continued to receive hospital treatment for a third day for a lung infection that has recurred, the government said on Monday.
After observing ritualistic stipulations for days, a massive "milk pot" procession was taken out in Madurai by AIADMK workers and supporters in which a sizable number of women cadres participated.
'PM Modi is not taking Kashmir's stance as far as the Naga issue is concerned.'
Reddy alone will take oath on Thursday while his Council of Ministers is likely to be constituted on June 7, party sources said.
The NIA had alerted the island nation that ISIS terrorists were planning to carry out strikes there.
One person lost his life while three were injured during celebratory gunfire at a wedding in Karnal, Haryana allegedly by controversial Hindu Mahasabha leader Sadhvi Deva Thakur and her security guards.
BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were among those who addressed public meetings in different parts of the state on Sunday.
Haley warned Americans that a Biden-Harris administration would lead the country on the path of socialism, which has failed everywhere in the world.
Sanjukta from Koraput, Naresh Kumar from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and Samuel Venkatesh from Tamil Nadu will head to Rome, where over 80 children from various countries will join them for the J-8 summit, organised by the United Nations Children's Fund.
'Raman Singh will certainly be defeated by the alliance we have created," says Chhattisgarh's first chief minister Ajit Jogi.
Sanathana Dharma has laid out some of the best principles for humanity to achieve equality, social justice, a violence-free society, and a prejudice-free mind. Let every Indian strive for educating oneself and the society in these golden principles.
