News for 'east-india'

Forest cover in country increases by 5,188 sq km

Forest cover in country increases by 5,188 sq km

Rediff.com30 Dec 2019

The total tree and forest cover in the country increased by 5,188 square kilometre in the last two years, said the India State of Forest Report 2019 which was released on Monday by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. The mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km (1.10 per cent) as compared to the previous assessment, he said.

McDonald's @ 25: A peek into its ambitious India plans

McDonald's @ 25: A peek into its ambitious India plans

Rediff.com14 Sep 2021

When Amit Jatia, vice-chairman of Westlife Development (WLDL), which operates fast-food chain McDonald's in West and South India, wanted to become the American fast-food giant's local partner in 1995, he had to first convince his family he would remain a staunch vegetarian. As McDonald's - home of the iconic Big Mac - completes 25 years in India, being one of the largest operators in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) segment in the country with over 300 outlets, Jatia has held on to the promise he made to his family. Not one to sit back and watch anyone flip the Big Mac, he gets straight to the meat of the matter when he says McDonald's success menu will see the QSR expand its ever-hungry 'foodprint' by doubling the number of joints and increasing its average unit volume by 35-40 per cent in five years.

Has Amazon actually broken India's e-commerce laws?

Has Amazon actually broken India's e-commerce laws?

Rediff.com19 Mar 2021

Last November, a lawyer for Future Retail Limited (FRL) told Delhi high court that Amazon is interfering with its lawful business and thousands may lose their jobs and FRL may go bankrupt. Senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for FRL, likened Amazon to East India Company. Senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, who represented Amazon, told the Future counsel to keep the "East India Company" rhetoric aside, as Amazon has invested $6.5 billion all over India and created 900,000 jobs. This drama played out in the case in which Amazon has challenged Future's $3.4-billion deal with Reliance, alleging the retailer's deal breached an agreement with the American e-commerce firm.

Taliban govt unlikely to survive: William Dalrymple

Taliban govt unlikely to survive: William Dalrymple

Rediff.com12 Sep 2021

"The most successful governments in Afghanistan tend to be those who have the biggest tents, which would include all communities and therefore leave all communities satisfied after a point and do not create massive resentments. Now, this is not a government which I would imagine would successfully govern Afghanistan," Dalrymple, the historian said.

'I am not waging a war against any government'

'I am not waging a war against any government'

Rediff.com18 Jun 2021

'But still they have filed FIRs against me under section 505 of the IPC.' 'These were draconian laws that were misused by the British East India Company against the soldiers who participated in the mutiny (of 1857).'

The E-Comm Debate In India

The E-Comm Debate In India

Rediff.com19 Oct 2021

Ajit Balakrishnan offers a thinking man's guide to the state of ecom in a nation of shopkeepers.

How BJP keeps the pot boiling

How BJP keeps the pot boiling

Rediff.com3 Jun 2021

Behind this never-say-die attitude of the BJP is probably the calculation of the Roman emperors that if bread is scarce, give the people circus, observes Amulya Ganguli.

Share a childhood habit you can't let go off

Share a childhood habit you can't let go off

Rediff.com14 Oct 2019

Priyanka loves eating aachar with sandwiches. What's your weakness?

Climate change not a problem of future but of past too, says Amitav Ghosh

Climate change not a problem of future but of past too, says Amitav Ghosh

Rediff.com26 Oct 2021

As the world grapples with extreme weather events and climate change becomes the buzzword of contemporary times, author Amitav Ghosh says the crisis has been in the making since the 17th century and it is imperative to take into account history before beginning to tackle the issue.

India gifts sub to Myanmar: The China angle

India gifts sub to Myanmar: The China angle

Rediff.com16 Oct 2020

In gifting the submarine to Myanmar, India is competing with China for influence in the region.

Koregaon-Bhima: Cong, NCP want withdrawal of cases

Koregaon-Bhima: Cong, NCP want withdrawal of cases

Rediff.com4 Dec 2019

Minister Jayant Patil said the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP government favoured granting relief to those who were falsely implicated.

Modi govt selling India's 'crown jewels': Rahul on NMP

Modi govt selling India's 'crown jewels': Rahul on NMP

Rediff.com24 Aug 2021

Gandhi said that the BJP government has clearly mishandled the economy that was built by the United Progressive Alliance government, and is now resorting to selling the country's assets as a "last resort" to generate some money.

'Caste, community, religion don't work in Goa'

'Caste, community, religion don't work in Goa'

Rediff.com27 Jan 2022

'The politics of Goa is moving around a sole entity, which is land.'

Heads Rolled, But Buck Stopped

Heads Rolled, But Buck Stopped

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

The BJP ignored the principle of the Cabinet's joint responsibility and the adage of the buck stopping at the top, observes Amulya Ganguli.

North India likely to have harsher winter: IMD

North India likely to have harsher winter: IMD

Rediff.com29 Nov 2020

Scores of people die every year due to cold waves that sweep across the north Indian plains.

Intense cold conditions forecast over next few days

Intense cold conditions forecast over next few days

Rediff.com13 Jan 2021

The minimum temperatures are very likely to fall by 2-5 degrees Celsius over most parts of East India, Central India over the next two-three days, while the spell of intense cold can extend beyond that in the Northwest part of the country.

'Like Scindia, many others in Congress feel alienated, wasted'

'Like Scindia, many others in Congress feel alienated, wasted'

Rediff.com10 Mar 2020

'Political convenience' and 'personal ambition' played a major part in Scindia's decision to the Congress, said a party leader.

Rains hit Konkan Railway services, 6000 passengers stranded in Maharashtra

Rains hit Konkan Railway services, 6000 passengers stranded in Maharashtra

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

Nearly 6,000 passengers were stranded as train services on the Konkan Railway route in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district were suspended on Thursday after a river overflowed following heavy rains, while incessant downpour badly hit road and rail traffic in several parts of the state, including around Mumbai, as authorities called in NDRF to help the administration in rescue efforts.

Land in Kalapani, Lipulekh belongs to India's border villages

Land in Kalapani, Lipulekh belongs to India's border villages

Rediff.com14 Jun 2020

Local land records also say the land at Kalapani and Lipulekh belongs to the residents of two villages on the Indian side of the border, an official recently said.

Budget focuses on wealth & wellness; has farmers at its heart: PM

Budget focuses on wealth & wellness; has farmers at its heart: PM

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

In televised remarks after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget, Modi said it has many provisions for the agriculture sector, including for making loans easier for farmers.

Monsoon 2019 likely to be below normal: Skymet

Monsoon 2019 likely to be below normal: Skymet

Rediff.com3 Apr 2019

East India, along with a major portion of central India, is likely to be at a higher risk of being rain deficient, especially during the first half of the season.

Extreme weather events killed over 1.4 lakh people in last 50 yrs

Extreme weather events killed over 1.4 lakh people in last 50 yrs

Rediff.com1 Mar 2021

The paper said 65,130 people were killed in 3,175 incidents of floods. Some 40,358 people died in 117 tropical cyclones, with 344.9 deaths per mortality event. There were 706 heat wave incidents that claimed the lives of 17,362 people, the paper said, adding there is a rise in the number of casualties because of this type of EWE.

Must See: Obama's favourite BOOKS of 2019

Must See: Obama's favourite BOOKS of 2019

Rediff.com30 Dec 2019

Barack Obama recently unveiled his list of 19 favourite books from 2019.

When are the BIG movies releasing?

When are the BIG movies releasing?

Rediff.com10 Mar 2021

Joginder Tuteja looks at the upcoming films and their release dates.

Drop Koregaon-Bhima violence cases: NCP MLA to Uddhav

Drop Koregaon-Bhima violence cases: NCP MLA to Uddhav

Rediff.com3 Dec 2019

Munde, whose party is a key ally in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, has made the demand in a letter written to Thackeray on Monday.

October Releases: The Sky Is Pink, Saand Ki Aankh

October Releases: The Sky Is Pink, Saand Ki Aankh

Rediff.com1 Oct 2019

So which film is releasing at a theatre near you? We tell you, right here!

We must have just 2 rates of income tax

We must have just 2 rates of income tax

Rediff.com3 Dec 2020

10 per cent for those who earn up to Rs 30 lakh a year and 25 per cent for those who earn more, suggests T C A Srinivasa-Raghavan.

What led the British to Leave India?

What led the British to Leave India?

Rediff.com14 Aug 2021

Attlee said Great Britain had concluded that the Indian element of the army was no longer reliable and that Netaji's Indian National Army had demonstrated that. That had shaken the foundation on which Britain's Indian empire rested, argues Lieutenant General Ashok Joshi (retd).

Bengal win will put Mamata in race for PM

Bengal win will put Mamata in race for PM

Rediff.com1 Apr 2021

The TMC expects to emerge victorious by way of a majority of minority votes and a minority of majority votes, notes Arun Bhatnagar, a retired IAS officer.

Monsoon to revive over East and North India soon

Monsoon to revive over East and North India soon

Rediff.com12 Jul 2018

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Gujarat, have been left out, despite a strong start to the monsoon in June

Behind-the-scenes: Aspiring models audition for LFW

Behind-the-scenes: Aspiring models audition for LFW

Rediff.com7 Jul 2016

Here are 10 candid moments from the Guwahati auditions of Lakme Fashion Week.

Why environmentalists are worried about rubber plantations in Northeast

Why environmentalists are worried about rubber plantations in Northeast

Rediff.com19 Mar 2018

These plantations are not only eating into the land occupied by the region's native forests, they could also disturb the ground water reserve and soil quality

PM gifts Rani Lakshmibai's petition to Abbott

PM gifts Rani Lakshmibai's petition to Abbott

Rediff.com18 Nov 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gifted Australian lawyer John Lang's 1854 petition on behalf of Rani Lakshmibai against the East India Company to his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott.

After Hathras, why BJP sees a global plot

After Hathras, why BJP sees a global plot

Rediff.com8 Oct 2020

If the Congress recovers some of its earlier influence among the Dalits, the BJP will be in a quandary since the Dalits were among the party's latest acquisitions. To lose them will be a disaster for the saffron camp not only in UP, but all over India, observes Amulya Ganguli.

Stand-up comedians post apology after old videos, tweets resurface

Stand-up comedians post apology after old videos, tweets resurface

Rediff.com15 Jul 2020

Earlier this week, Twitter users dug out screenshots of jokes of some comics, including Varun Grover, Aditi Mittal, Abish Mathew, which they had cracked in the past.

2018 was BJP's annus horribilis

2018 was BJP's annus horribilis

Rediff.com29 Dec 2018

In 2018, the BJP's rare successes in north-east India aside, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for the party.

Vistara is all set for global foray

Vistara is all set for global foray

Rediff.com22 May 2019

Vistara appoints Vinod Kannan as chief strategy officer; plans to launch its maiden international flight to Colombo in May

Kohinoor was 'surrendered' by Maharaja of Lahore to British: ASI

Kohinoor was 'surrendered' by Maharaja of Lahore to British: ASI

Rediff.com16 Oct 2018

The Kohinoor diamond, estimated to cost over $200 million (Rs 1,465 crore), was neither stolen nor "forcibly" taken by British rulers but given to East India Company by erstwhile rulers of Punjab

The BEST and WORST of 2020

The BEST and WORST of 2020

Rediff.com31 Dec 2020

Mediums may change, formats may alter but one thing remains constant -- audience making their likes and dislikes abundantly clear.

Bhima Koregaon violence: Dalits call for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday

Bhima Koregaon violence: Dalits call for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday

Rediff.com2 Jan 2018

Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front, besides 250 organisations, have supported Wednesday's shutdown.