PIX: Pope stumped by Doves of Peace at Vatican
It was an embarrassing situation when the Doves of Peace released by Pope Benedict XVI during the weekly Angelus prayer refused to leave the Vatican and flew right in. 'The Congress can't digest a BJP govt in South'
BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu tells Gyan Varmathat the recent crisis in Karnataka is politically motivated Karmapa story: Right intentions, bad accounting
The young, extremely bright Karmapa should teach his staff proper accounting ways, advises Claude Arpi How will Dr Singh save his government? Tell us!
How will Dr Singh save his government? Tell us! Egypt protests worsen, stranded Indians return
With the civil unrest in Egypt showing no signs of abating, the Indian government has sent a special aircraft to fly back the hundreds of Indians stranded in the troubled country, where over a 100 protestors have been killed in the clashes with the police over the last one week. What is more dangerous than living in a war zone?
Prince Charles and Prince William, the second-in-line to the British throne, should be beware, as a new research has found that being a monarch is more dangerous than living in a war zone. Egypt protests may cost Obama a second term
The administration of President Barack Obama has as badly misjudged the gathering storm in Egypt before the riots broke out as the administration of then President Jimmy Carter had misjudged the gathering storm in Teheran in 1978 before the fall of the Shah of Iran, believes B Raman For 15 years, govt ignored report on oil mafia
As the Maharashtra government cracks down on the oil mafia in the wake of the gruesome murder of Additional District Collector Yashwant Sonawane, a 15-year-old report on curbing oil adulteration menace prepared by a former IAS officer is gathering dust at the state secretariat. Spectacular Beating Retreat enthralls New Delhi
Soul-stirring martial tunes and solemn drumbeats reverberated in the air while the majestic Raisina Hills was lit up coinciding with the sunset as part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony in New Delhi on Saturday. Ashok Chavan an accused in CBI's Adrash FIR
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was among the 13 people figuring as accused in the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday in connection with the Adarsh housing society scam which also names some retired senior Army officials. The horrifying tale of India's unjustly accused
For these innocently framed victims, to actually stand on the podium and recount their experiences itself is traumatizing. Many of them broke down while talking about the horrors they encountered. They are so disillusioned that they have concluded that they committed two crimes one they were born Muslims and two they are young. Why threaten oil mafia with MCOCA, Mr Patil?
Despite being a well-organised crime syndicate, the state police department has not been successful in booking even one adulteration criminal under the MCOCA 'Give me 10 yrs of your life. I'll make you proud'
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said political parties lack democracy and there was a "rot" in the political structure which needs to be changed by opening the doors of the system. Indian peacekeepers save 7 in world's rape capital
Indian peacekeepers have rescued seven women from Mai Mai rebels in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is often referred to as the rape capital of the world. Top PHOTOS: The world in the week gone by
We bring you a collection of the best photos taken around the world last week Egypt crisis: Mass protests erupt against Mubarak
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters clashed with police in several cities in Egypt after noon prayers today in a major escalation of nationwide demonstrations which gained momentum after pro-democracy leader Mohamed ElBaradei joined the wave of protests. 'It is wrong to assume Hindus can't be terrorists'
A day after Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh commented on the issue of 'Sangh terror', Communist Party of India - Marixist leader Sitaram Yechury on Friday cited ideologies propounded by freedom fighters V Savarkar and B S Moonje to insist that there was nothing new in the 'violent strain' of Hindutva. By 2030, 16 pc of India's numbers would be Muslims
The world's Muslim population is expected to increase by about 35 per cent in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030, according to new population projections by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life. K'taka church attacks: Clean chit for BJP, Parivar
The committee, which was set up almost two years back following a spate of attacks on churches particularly in the Mangalore belt, has said that there is no merit in the allegations made against the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. Duped Indian students in US plead for mercy
Duped by an American university, a harassed group of Indian students has met the Consul General in San Francisco seeking help to complete their studies and claimed that they have not violated any law. REWIND: The BEST images in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best images in the last 24 hours from across the world. 'Maulana Vastanvi is caught in a turf war'
Editor of the Milli Gazette and former president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat Zafrul Islam Khan tells rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa that this entire controversy is the result of a war between two factions of the Darul Uloom. Calls to free Binayak Sen grow overseas
A broad coalition of 55 civil society groups from the US, Britain and Canada are coming together to demand the immediate release of jailed Indian rights activist Binayak Sen, who was recently given a life sentence by a Chhattisgarh court. US stealth fighter for India? YES it's up for sale
The United States is open to Indian participation in its Joint Strike Fighter programme that would finally lead to its purchase of fifth generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, a top Pentagon official has said. IMAGES: GET OUT, angry Arabs tell their leaders
The echo of street protests in Tunisia has reverberated across other nations, triggering anti-government demonstrations in Yemen, Lebanon and Egypt. Rediff.com tells you why the Arab world is witnessing a winter of discontent. Exclusive! Interview with Headley's wife Faiza
Months before the Federal Bureau of Investigation finally arrested David Coleman Headley, his Moroccan wife Faiza Outalha had tried to warn the FBI about the Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative's terror links. PIX: Elbaradei returns as Egypt burns in dissent
Nobel Peace laureate and ex-IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei returned home on Friday to join the largest anti-government demonstrations in decades giving a boost to Egypt's mass protest movement, as authorities braced for a new wave of protests, which has left seven persons dead. IMAGES: Obama grounded as snowstorm batters US
A massive snowstorm hits United States, with upto 12 inches of snow expected in New York. Hundreds of flights were cancelled and schools closed following the wintry weather. REWIND: The BEST images in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best images in the last 24 hours from across the world. Arab world on fire: Will JK see copycat protests?
The protest waves in Arab world may create ripples in the West and shake up Jammu and Kashmir, warns B Raman 'India's visibility creates more paranoia in Pak'
Admiral William J Fallon, a former commander of the United States Central Command and a key player in Afghanistan, says India can play a crucial role to bring stability in Afghanistan. Should the dragon be kept out of Kashmir?
Will China dump Pakistan? Will it continue to fluctuate in its policy on Kashmir? These intense questions and many more were raised at the international conference on the violence-hit state held in London on Wednesday. reports. R-Day in J&K: Empty streets and jammed networks
Unprecedented security measures were taken across Srinagar city, including Bharatiya Janata Party's professed flag-hoisting venue Lal Chowk and parade ground Bakshi stadium to ensure that the Republic Day was celebrated peacefully. Scintillating parade marks 62nd Republic Day
Colourful tableaux depicting the myriad hues of country's diversity, a vibrant performance by students and armed forces in full battle regalia -- the Republic Day parade on Wednesday had 'mini-India' in itself. BJP top brass released, hoist flag at Kathua
Police on Wednesday arrested seven Bharatiya Janata Party activists as they made a vain bid to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, which had been turned into a fortress to foil the party's plan. JLF Diary: Sex, drugs, Indo-Pak, all up for debate
After five days of cultural jamboree curtains drew on the Jaipur Literature Festival and writer-director Suparn Verma and Rediff.com correspondent Abhishek Mande witnessed all the extravaganza. From revisiting the '70s to an intense India-Pak debate, Day 5 was packed with action. And here's all. Swaraj, Jaitley arrested as BJP rally enters Jammu
Bharatiya Janata Party workers have begun their attempt to cross into Jammu from Lakhanpur in Punjab. Many Indian students in US may be deported!
Hundreds of Indian students, mostly from Andhra Pradesh, face the prospect of deportation from the United States after authorities raided and shut down a university in the Silicon Valley on charges of a massive immigration fraud. PIX: Lal Chowk turns fortress to keep off BJP men
Tension mounted in Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar, as state authorities shut the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to prevent entry of Bharatiya Janata Party activists who are planning to hoist the national flag in Lal Chowk locality of the city. 'We will go ahead and hoist flag at Lal Chowk'
Slamming the Jammu and Kashmir government for stopping them from entering the state, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday rejected Centre's appeal to turn back and vowed to go ahead with the proposed flag hoisting at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Republic Day. 373 disasters killed 296,800 people in 2010
Some 373 natural disasters killed over 296,800 people in 2010, affecting nearly 208 million others and costing nearly US$110 billion, according to the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). R-Day special: 'Indian democracy is in crisis'
'We are collectively ignorant about our intellectual legacies,' says writer-historian Ramchandra Guha. PHOTOS: Sneak peek into 62nd Republic Day parade
A glimpse of the spectacle that the nation will witness on January 26. Meet this year's Republic Day parade chief guest
This Republic Day one of the most distinguished leaders of South East Asia, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will be India's chief guest. IMAGES: Suicide blast kills 35 at Moscow airport
A suspected suicide bomber triggered explosives at Moscow's busiest international airport on Monday killing at least 35 people and leaving 130 injured, in the first major terror attack in less than a year. Flag fiasco deepens: BJP leaders driven to Punjab
There was high-drama at the Jammu airport after senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were not allowed to leave the airport ahead of the flag yatra planned in Jammu. Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Anant Kumar were asked to return to Delhi after they landed in Jammu to "take command" of the party programme to hoist the tricolour in Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day. Deoband: Rumblings in the 'Fortress of Faith'
Deoband chief Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi's statement praising Gujarat's progress is een by many as a tacit stamp of approval for Narendra Modi. Yoginder Sikand looks at the implications of Vastanvi's words. Shocking! Incest rape cases up by 30 pc in India
Cases of incest rape have "increased by 30.7 per cent from 309 cases in 2008 to 404 cases in 2009", said the 'Crime in India-2009' report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). A new breed of fighters against Naxals
Almost seven such "Malinois" breed dogs have been trained by the premier police dog training centre of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at their academy near Chandigarh for about 22 weeks. Indian Army goes shopping for 400 howitzers
After four failed attempts in the last 25 years, the Army has issued a fresh global tender for 400 towed artillery howitzers, the first to be acquired after the controversial Bofors deal. Tribute: A friend recalls Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
In 2009, Mohan Nadkarni, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi's biographer, wrote exclusively for rediff.com recalling his long association with the legend. We re-publish the feature. PHOTOS: It's an odd, crazy world out there
We bring for you a collection of some of the odd, crazy moments from around the world in recent weeks JLF Diary: Small-town stories to Af-Pak affairs
Rediff.com correspondent was attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, considered Asia-Pacific's leading literature event. He shares vignettes of Day 3. Bhardwaj wants a Congress govt in Karnataka: Yeddy
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Sunday took on Governor H R Bhardwaj alleging that he was trying to throw the Bharatiya Janata Party out of power and install a Congress government in the state. Flag row: JK surrendering to separatists, says BJP
Attacking Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for opposing its proposed flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Sringar, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday accused the Centre and the state government of "surrendering" to separatists who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be unfurled. Earth to get a second Sun in 2011!
According to astronomers, the Earth will undoubtedly have a front row seat when the dying red super-giant star, called Betelgeuse, finally blows itself into oblivion. 'Cong misusing Governor's office to settle scores'
In a written statement released by the party headquarters, Gadkari "Denotification of land is privilege and right of Chief Minister given by law. Nothing is wrong with it. Before Yeddyurappa, (former Chief Ministers H D) Kumarasamy, Dharma Singh and S M Krishna exercised it several times. Governor has not taken action against them because they belonged to Congress," he said. What Chidambaram feels about the Karnataka fiasco
Home Minister P Chidamabaram has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for its attack on Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj granting sanction to prosecute the chief minister and said the governor's decision was in accordance with the law. JLF Diary: 'Ruskin Bond is James Bond's uncle'
Jaipur Literature Festival 2011 Diary: Day One 135 'final journeys' from Pak end after 40 years
These 15 people have come a long way. They have not bridged just the 1,100 kilometers dividing Karachi and Delhi and the two-day travel. This group of Hindus from across the border has been waiting for 40-long years to bring the ashes of fellow Hindus, who could not make it to Haridwar to take a dip in the Ganga in their lifetime, reports Sahim Salim. 'Omar will insult tricolour if he stops BJP yatra'
In an exclusive interview with rediff.com's Onkar Singh, Thakur claimed that the Constitution gave him the right to hoist the tricolour anywhere in India. Hu's rough talk: Keep away from Tibet, US warned
Chinese President Hu Jintao has warned the United States to keep away from Tibet or else bilateral ties would be greatly affected, a day after his American counterpart Barack Obama asked him to talk to representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue. Delhi is most unsafe city; B'luru 2nd, Mumbai 3rd
Delhi has earned the dubious distinction of being the most unsafe metro in the country, topping the list in number of crimes as well as in atrocities on women and children. Why MF Husain was shown the door at Delhi art fair
Works of art by Indian artist M F Husain, who has been living in exile for the past five years, have been taken off from the ongoing Indian Art Summit following threats from various groups. Aarushi case: Talwars' plea for CBI docs dumped
Heated exchanges between the counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation and those appearing for parents of murdered teenager Aarushi Talwar took place in a special court in Ghaziabad on Friday after the agency protested their plea for copies of documents submitted by it along with the closure report. Fundamentalism growing dangerously in Pak society
Hard-line clerics are now turning their anger toward another leading member of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, Sherry Rehman, who, like Taseer, called for changes aimed at reforming the blasphemy law after a Pakistani Christian woman accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad was given the death penalty. Why Sabarimala pilgrimage is dangerous
Even as a debate is raging on the management of Sabarimala pilgrimage in the wake of the deadly stampede, a pictorial report prepared by eminent architect late Laurie Baker on creating essential amenities for devotees without harming nature has been gathering dust for the past 15 years. REWIND: Best PHOTOS in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best photos from around the world in the last 24 hours. Graham Staines murder: Dara escapes death penalty
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the Central Bureau of Investigation's plea for death penalty to Dara Singh, convicted for burning to death Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons. Did US, Pak botch up Daniel Pearl's murder probe?
A new report on American journalist Daniel Pearl's killing presents fresh evidence that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed executed the reporter in Pakistan nine years ago and four men imprisoned for the crime were convicted on the basis of perjured testimony. Why I want a united, independent Kashmir
People of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed more than once in various surveys that they don't want to be part of Pakistan. All that, however, fall on deaf ears and the old policies continue with some cosmetic changes. JLF 2011 Diary: Rajasthani charm and The Bookshelf
Writer-director Suparn Verma, and Rediff.com correspondent Abhishek Mande are attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, billed as the 'the greatest literary show on earth'. Sound Byte: 'India means I will Never Do It Again'
We bring you a collection of some of the best quotes in the last 24 hours. To Obama with love: Diamonds, rubies and olive oil
In his first year as United States President, Barack Obama, his family and and staff were showered with jewellery, ornaments and rare books worth more than USD 300,000 (Rs 1.3 crore) from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. The king is by far the most generous foreign leader, gifting Obama, his wife and daughters nearly USD 190,000 (Rs 86.5 lakh) in luxury gems, a news report in Dubai has said. Everyone agrees now, Dr Singh IS a weak PM: Advani
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a day after the Cabinet reshuffle, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Thursday said the Congress president enjoys more importance than the PM and everyone now agrees that he is a 'weak PM'. Will not allow BJP to hoist flag on R-Day: JK govt
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday decided not to allow the Bharatiya Janata Party to hoist the tricolour in Srinagar on Republic Day. The state administration also decided against allowing a march called by separatists on the same day. Pakistan epicentre of terrorism, says India
Dubbing Pakistan as the 'epicentre of terrorism', India on Thursday slammed it for its inaction against the perpetrators of the terror attack on Mumbai, saying it has not been able to punish any of those accused of masterminding the terror strikes. What's BJP president Gadkari doing in China?
Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari arrived in Beijing on Thursday on a goodwill visit, the first-ever by a head of the party, to interact with the country's top leadership on a host of issues, including the India-China relations. 'Rapist' BSP legislator's wife seeks DNA test
Claiming that Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Purshottam Naresh Dwiwedi was 'physically unable' to commit rape, his wife Asha on Thursday demanded DNA and medical test to prove his involvement in the assault on a Dalit teenager in Banda. Is Makara Jyoti man-made? Kerala HC wants to know
In the backdrop of the Pulmedu tragedy, which claimed lives of 102 Sabarimala pilgrims, the Kerala high court on Thursday asked the Tranvacore Devaswom Board that manages the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa, if 'Makara Jyoti' (celestial light) was man-made. Hartosh-Dalrymple spat: Reading between the lines
The lingering effects of colonial rule show up in a variety of subtle and not so subtle ways, says REWIND: Best PHOTOS in the last 24 hours
We bring you some of the best photos from around the world in the last 24 hours. PIX: Obama's star-studded American dinner for Hu
The State Dinner for Hu, the first for a Chinese leader in 13 years, was held at State Dining Room, unlike the huge tent that was pitched on the White House lawns for the State Dinner of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009 to accommodate about 400 guests. Sound bytes: Who said what and and why?
We bring you a collection of some of the best quotes in the last 24 hours. Mayawati richest CM in India, Buddhadeb poorest!
There seems to be no place for the poor or middle class gentry in the top echelons of India's politics, which has become the exclusive fiefdom of crorepatis. Rediff.com takes a look at the richest chief ministers of India and their breathtaking assets (financial ones, that is). Hu admits to China's human rights mess
Chinese President Hu Jintao has acknowledged that a lot needs to be done in his country on human rights, an issue that was candidly and strongly raised by US President Barack Obama when the two leaders met at the White House. 'Hu's visit can lay foundation of Sino-US ties'
President Barack Obama in officially welcoming Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House at an elaborate South Lawn ceremony harked by to the visit 30 years ago by then President Deng Xiaoping and predicted Hu's visit could set the tone for the next three decades of US-China relations. Cabinet reshuffle with UP, Kerala polls in mind?
The reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, carried out on Wednesday, appears to have some focus on assembly election-bound states like Kerala and Uttar Pradesh. Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what
The reshuffle in the Cabinet of Ministers in the United Progressive Alliance II threw up a few surprises on Wednesday. Has Mecca Masjid blast probe met another dead end?
The confessions of Swami Aseemanand may have brought a certain about of clarity in the Malegaon and the Samjhauta Express blasts cases, but the Mecca Masjid blast case remains far from being solved, reports . '20th century saw high ideals, terrible slaughter'
An interview with author Ken Follett, one of the world's ten highest paid writers. Hu's US visit: Attempt to 'redefine' Sino-US ties
As Chinese President Hu Jintao arrives in Washington, DC, to begin his four-day state visit, senior analyst takes a closer look on the attempts to redefine the relations between the two most powerful nations in the world. Hu Jintao arrives in US for state visit
The Chinese President Hu Jintao was accorded a red carpet welcome by the United States after he arrived on a four-day state visit, even as lawmakers introduced a legislation against yuan manipulation. 'Aseemanand wants to bring Hindus, Muslims closer'
The confession of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak Swami Aseemanand about, his involvement in the blasts in Hyderabad's historic Mecca Masjid, Ajmer's Khwaja Moinuddin Dargah and many other places, has surprised his followers and detractors alike. Cabinet reshuffle: Moily, Jaipal to get the boot?
The stage is set for the Cabinet reshuffle, scheduled to be held on Wednesday evening at 5 pm, after the names of the outgoing and new ministers were finalised in a two-hour long meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. Indian Oil unit near Mumbai goes up in flames
A fire broke out at a lubricant-filling depot of state-run Indian Oil Corporation on the outskirts of Mumbai in the wee hours of Tuesdesy but was contained after six hours. Did Pak President pledge his support to Taliban?
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had a secret meeting with a group of senior Taliban operatives in April last year during which he expressed the Pakistan government's "support for their mission", a researcher studying developments in Afghanistan has alleged. Police use water canons to disperse BJP protestors
Police used water canons to disperse a group of Bharatiya Janata Party protesters when they tried to break barricades to march towards Parliament to protest the hike in petrol prices. In PHOTOS: India's 2nd UAV squadron commissioned
The INAS 343 squadron, which has two Israeli-made Heron and two Searcher MKII UAVs, was commissioned by the Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal on Monday. 'Why has CBI not yet filed an FIR in Adarsh scam?'
Pulling up the Central Bureau of Investigation for the tardy pace of its probe in the Adarsh Society scam, the Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the investigating agency to expeditiously conclude the investigation and take a final decision on registration of a First Information Report within two weeks. Cabinet re-jig: Permutations and possibilities
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amid speculation that a reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers is on the cards later this week. In PHOTOS: Tamil Nadu's dangerous bull-taming fest
Tamil Nadu's over 400 year-old bull-taming festival, popularly known as Jallukattu, has once again been a bloody affair. What's Russian Navy chief doing in India?
Admiral Vladimir Sergeevich Vysotskiy, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, is in India on a three-day visit from January 17 -19 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Admiral Nirmal Verma. PHOTOS: Meet India's bravest kids
Eight children from north-eastern states are among the 23 boys and girls who will receive National Bravery Awards for 2010 from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function in New Delhi on the eve of Republic Day this year. Cong's secularism=appeasement of terrorists: BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday questioned the secular credentials of the Congress and accused it of appeasing terrorists and engaging in a loot of the nation through 'scores of scandals'. ISRO to launch three satellites by April
The Indian Space Research Organisation, which had a recent setback with the failure of its latest communication satellite GSAT-5P, is planning three major satellite launches in the first quarter of this year. REWIND: Best PHOTOS in the last 48 hours
We bring you some of the best photos from around the world in the last 48 hours. 'What was CBI doing till now in Malegaon case?'
Sadhvi Pragya's statements will be crucial to the Malegaon investigation. Her advocate Ganesh Sovani, however, points out that they have not decided as of yet to challenge CBI's re-investigation of the case. When bulldozers razed a South Delhi mosque
For veterans of mob violence, the events in the Jungpura-Nizamuddin area of South Delhi through Wednesday and Thursday barely merited notice. Indian American appointed to US N-trade committee
Srinagar-born Dr Vijay Sazawal, 64, of Bethesda, Maryland, who has over 35 years of professional experience in the nuclear industry covering the entire fuel cycle, has been appointed by United States Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke to serve on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee for a period of two years. Sri Sri speaks on sex, spirituality and afterlife
Spiritual guru and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar talks to rediff.com's about life, death, sex and the prospect of peace in the Indian subcontinent. In 9 years, temple stampedes killed over 900
Stampedes at temples and other religious places in India have claimed nearly 900 lives in the past nine years, including those who died in Friday night's melee at Sabarimala shrine. Revealed: Italian PM's harem of 14 young girls
The women lived rent-free in the estate and were given large sums of cash by the billionaire Italian politician in return for sex, The Independent reported, citing leaks from prosecutors in Milan. Hu's 4 points to peaceful co-existence with US
In written responses to questions from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal published on Monday, Chinese President Hu Jintao insisted that his country believes in the principle of peaceful co-existence, as he prepared to meet his counterpart Barack Obama at the White House next week. Pakistan's 26/11 probe hasn't moved an inch: India
India on Sunday said attempt to bring the guilty in Mumbai attacks to justice "has not moved an inch" in Pakistan and hoped that country will learn from New Delhi's "fair" handling of the Samjhauta Express blast case and punish the perpetrators of the 26/11 carnage. Demolish Adarsh society, says Environment Ministry
The 31-storey Adrash Housing Society building should be demolished within three months, the Environment Ministry recommended on Sunday while holding that the scam-tainted project in Mumbai's upmarket Colaba was "unauthorised" and violated the spirit of coastal regulations. IMAGES: Indian Army displays its firepower
Honouring its troops who were severely injured and left disabled in military operations, the Indian Army has decided to observe 2011 as the 'Year of the Disabled Soldier'. IMAGES: Chilly, snowy days for north India
Some chilly, snowy images from north India PIX: 104 killed, 50 injured in Sabarimala stampede
At least 102 Sabarimala devotees were killed and 50 injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district, in the worst tragedy to strike the worshippers of the famed shrine in a decade. Pix: Kashmiris brave unusually harsh winter
While local Kashmiris are busy working out ways and means to brave the harsh winter with night temperatures falling to minus 6.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar city and minus 9.0 degrees in the foothill villages of north and south Kashmir areas, scientists are engaged in a hot debate about the real causes for the present harsh winter in the region. Indresh Kumar: Needle of suspicion is on the govt
Sheela Bhatt in the second-part of an exclusive chat with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar, the man who is under the national scanner for serious, but, so far unsubstantiated, allegations of mentoring a group of terrorists. Modi enthralls audience at kite festival
Modi enthralls audience at kite festival in Ahmedabad Hizbul chief slams strike calls by JK separatists
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has voiced his opposition to the frequent calls for strike during the unrest in the Valley last summer and said the leaders should now learn from their mistakes and not repeat them. Malegaon blasts case: The task before the CBI
The Central Bureau of Investigation got the nod to re-investigate the 2006 Malegaon case on Thursday. The decision by the MCOCA court throws open a lot of questions regarding the earlier investigation and the CBI now has its task cut out since it will not only have to deal with the new set of accused but also with the nine other accused who have been languishing in jail ever since the attack took place. We can't allow India killing its own children: SC
Upset over 'the Republic killing its own children', the Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government on a plea for judicial probe into the killings of top Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar and journalist Hemchandra Pandey in an alleged fake encounter six months ago. Indian Army: Standing the test of times
pays his tributes to one of the finest armies of the world ahead of the 62nd Army Day on January 15, 2011 Centre planning troop cut in Kashmir?
The government is considering reducing the strength of security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir by 25 per cent as a confidence building measure. PIX: Mudslides cause mayhem in Brazil, 430 killed
ve mudslides have killed over 430 people in what is being termed as Brazil's worst disaster in decades. A torrent of thick mud swept away homes, overturned cars and knocked away telephone and power lines. 'India should reach out to Pak to resolve Kashmir'
Former veteran diplomat Teresita Schaffer has blamed the failure of successive Indian governments to address the plethora of grievances of the people of Kashmir for the resurrection of violence in the state. The man who created Aishwarya, the fruit
While naming a special genetically-developed variety of guava as 'Aishwarya', 71-year-old Kaleemullah Khan is out to prove that no other guava could be as beautiful or sweet as his 'Aishwarya'. Exclusive: Terror-stained Indresh Kumar speaks out
Sheela Bhatt in an exclusive chat with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha leader Indresh Kumar, tries to get to know the man who is under the national scanner for serious, but, so far unsubstantiated, allegations of mentoring a group of terrorists. CBI to re-investigate 2006 Malegaon blast
In a fresh development in the 2006 Malegaon blast probe, a special court on Thursday granted permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation for reinvestigating the case in wake of "confession" statements made by Swami Aseemanand linking Hindu groups to terror acts. A Deputy Chief Minister from Telangana?
Seeking to buy time, the Congress high command appears to be toying with the idea of having a deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee chief in Andhra Pradesh from Telangana region amid a growing clamour for a separate state Satellites, GPS to track Naxal-hit areas
A state-of-the-art control room with giant TV screens that will help track the offensive of security forces in Naxal strongholds with satellite imaging and Global Positioning System has been activated at the Central Reserve Police Force headquarters in New Delhi. Samjhauta blasts: A tale of two confessions
While the National Investigation Agency is focusing on the confessions made by Swami Aseemanand about the involvement of Hindu extremist groups in the Samjhauta blasts case, the revelations by SIMI claiming responsibility for the attack cannot be overlooked. The contradictory statements by the two radical groups has left the investigators going in circles, reports Vicky Nanjappa. Defend me in 26/11 trial, JuD chief tells Pak
Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has moved the Lahore high court seeking direction for the Pakistan government to defend him, Inter Services Intelligence officians and others before a United States court, which has issued summons to them in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan is the epicentre of terrorism: US
In his first briefing for the new year on the United States National Security Strategy Update, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen, while replying to a query, blurted out that Pakistan is the epicenter of terrorism in the world. The worrying case of the booming jihadi media
The media is viewed by terrorist organisations as one of the fronts of jihad against their enemies. Activists and supporters of jihadis favour the media platform, both the print and the electronic media, as also the Internet. Will China and India grow together or grow apart?
Text of remarks by Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean and Professor in the Practice of Public Policy of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi on January 8 In PHOTOS: The tragedy called Haiti
It's been a year since a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, killing more than 200,000 residents and leaving more than two million homeless I felt what Jinnah has gone through: Advani
Five years after courting controversy for praising MA Jinnah, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani still seems to be haunted by it as he remarked that he had "personally" experienced what the Pakistan founder would have gone through by advocating for a secular state. Australia flood woes worsen; Brisbane submerged
Floodwaters entered the low-lying areas of Australia's third-largest city today as the Brisbane river breached its banks, forcing thousands in the Queensland capital to flee their homes in the midst of frantic rescue efforts. In PHOTOS: It's freezing up north
Bone-chilling cold continues to sting east and north India. The death toll due to the cold wave has reached 103 in Uttar Pradesh. IMAGES: Prince Charles's dream shantytown in India
The Prince of Wales is planning to build a shantytown for 15,000 poor people in India, inspired by the one he saw in the film Slumdog Millionaire. PIX: China tests world's most advanced fighter jet
China's massive military lead over India has never been starker. On Tuesday, amidst fanfare, Defence Minister A K Antony travelled to Bengaluru for a milestone in the development of India's 'Tejas' Light Combat Aircraft, a fourth-generation fighter that is still two years away from full service. The same day, an advanced, fifth-generation stealth fighter -- so far only speculated about, as the J-20 -- made its first flight in China. IMAGES: Prince Charles's dream shantytown in India
The Prince of Wales is planning to build a shantytown for 15,000 poor people in India, inspired by the one he saw in the film Slumdog Millionaire. 'I did a favour to Cong by not toppling AP govt'
Former MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who staged a show of strength in New Delhi on Tuesday, virtually dared the Congress to take action against its MLAs and MPs who are with him saying the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh will fall if they withdraw support to it. I made the BJP more aggressive: Gadkari
Bharatiya Janata Party President Nitin Gadkari has released a report card on achievements during his one year in office, claiming his tenure had seen a more aggressive and energetic organisation, which successfully cornered the government on issues of price rise and corruption. Images: 'Unprecedented' Australian flood
A tsunami-like tidal water waves ripped through an Australian valley, killing at least ten people, including four children, as cars and trees were tossed around and military helicopters soared above to search for 72 people reported missing. Samjhauta bombing: Have you seen these men around?
The National Investigation Agency, which is investigating the case relating to the bomb blast in Atari Express (popularly known as Samjhauta Express) in February 2007 that claimed 68 lives, has announced cash awards for locating three key suspects. Pakistan on the road to disintegration?
In an interview to Council of Foreign Relations website, Stephen P. Cohen, a leading expert on Pakistan, talks about the ongoing political crisis, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer's assassination, growing sense of insecurity in Pakistan, importance of China and more. How India is flexing its muscles at the UN
India's entry into the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member has kicked off a flurry of consultations with the world powers over issues related to the powerful world body, including its reforms, under which New Delhi is seeking permanent membership. Congress is misusing CBI to defame RSS: Gadkari
In an interview with CNN-IBN, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari has slammed Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for questioning the 2G report and rubbished the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh's alleged links with terror. Here are some excerpts from the interview: These men could solve India's terror jigsaw
Investigators told rediff.com that the Malegaon blasts will be the key since it is concerned to be the mother of this terror jigsaw as the breakthroughs were first made in that case. NASA finds first rocky planet outside solar system
NASA's Kepler mission has confirmed the discovery of its first rocky planet, which measures 1.4 times the size of Earth and is the smallest planet ever discovered outside the solar system. US vice prez on a 'surprise visit' to Afghanistan
United States Vice President Joe Biden on Monday made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan to have an on ground assessment of the situation in the war-torn country, less than six months before the scheduled start of drawdown of American troops. No place for radicals in RSS: Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat admitted there were some members in the Sangh who had radical views but they were told to leave the organisation since this "extremism" will not work in the outfit. We had all clearances, says scam-hit Adarsh
Contesting Environment Ministry's show-cause notice, Mumbai's scam-hit Adarsh Housing Society on Monday demanded an immediate end to proceedings against it, insisting that it had got all the required clearances and the contention otherwise was "misplaced and incorrect". Meet winners of the Pravasi Bharatiya awards
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Sunday with President Pratibha Patil honouring 15 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India's image globally. Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore spoke to these awardees on what this recognition meant to them. In PHOTOS: 'Desi' fighter ready for IAF
In a feat that came a decade after the multi-role LCA took to the skies, Defence Minister A K Antony handed over the IOC certificate to Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik at the HAL Airport in Bengaluru. Can the innocent be released from jail now?
While there is a debate still on whether Swami Aseemanand actually confessed on his own after being touched by the conduct of a former accused in the Mecca Masjid case or that he did so under duress, the fact remains that there is a ray of hope among many youths who continue to languish in jails after being implicated in the above mentioned cases. In PHOTOS: Spectacular ice wonders
The 27th Harbin international ice and snow festival themed 'Merry Ice and Snow, Passionate City' kicked off recently. A virtual tour Muslim women speak up! Want laws coded
Activists of the Muslim Mahila Andolan, who converged from different parts of the state in Lucknow on Sunday, also demanded "immediate ban" on the malpractice of divorce by sheer tripe utterance of the word 'Talaaq' on which a debate is already been going on in certain parts of the country. Hyderabad holds the key to Telangana dispute
Telangana protagonists may claim Hyderabad as an integral part of their region but the statehood demand does not arouse the 'same intensity of emotions' among the residents of the metropolis unlike people in other areas in the region. 'Omar has no business advising BJP'
The leaked Niira Radia tapes indicated that the health of every government institution is at stake and only a joint parliamentary probe could unravel the various facets of the 2G scam, including the 'role of power brokers' in the allocation of telecom portfolio, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley has said. Why Kapil Sibal trashed the CAG report
Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai has asked Public Accounts Committee Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi for permission to react to Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal\'s open attack on him over the 2G report, according to sources. Chinese army crosses India's border again
After remaining peaceful for most of the year, Chinese troops entered Indian territory in the fag end of 2010 along the Line of Actual Control in south-eastern Ladakh region and threatened a contractor and his team to halt work on constructing a 'passenger shed'. Explain Quattrocchi link, BJP tells Sonia Gandhi
Meeting against the backdrop of reports of Bofors kickbacks, the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive on Sunday decided to go after the first family of Congress, alleging that Ottavio Quattrocchi's involvement in the pay-offs lead 'directly to the doorstep of Sonia Gandhi'. How Bollywood helped build Brand India
Two authors, two well known film makers and a banker discussed how the world has started viewing India in the recent past at the PBD. 'We want people's Telangana not of a Reddy or Rao'
In this interview with rediff.com's , Lateef Mohammad Khan -- the convenor for the Muslim Forum for Telangana -- sums up his views on the report saying, 'Khoda pahaad nikla chuha, woh bhi mara hua (Dug up a mountain to find a rat, that too a dead rat) Gadkari to Sonia: 'Sermons won't make an impact'
Setting the ball rolling for the two-day BJP national executive right on the banks of Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, Gadkari launched a scathing attack on the 'corrupt and inefficient' Congress-led 'UPA -II' government and called upon the party to remain firmly united to make the lotus bloom in New Delhi in 2014. 'Policemen provoke and then fire on students'
Joint Action Committee head Professor M Kodandaram says that looking at the atrocities being committed on students by the Andhra Pradesh government, the political JAC has decided to act fast and not wait until February to start their aggressive campaign for a separate state. Why Srikrishna report is of no use to the Congress
Whether the Congress takes a decision for or against a Telangana state, its strongest bastion Andhra Pradesh weakens. Sheela Bhatt looks at the tough choices before the party. IMAGES: Battle for Telangana resumes at Osmania
Groups of students supporting the demand for a separate state of Telangana clashed with police at Osmania University campus for the second day on Friday. 'K Chandrasekhar Rao is fooling Telangana people'
Dr Sangam Prithviraj, who leads the students at the Osmania University in Hyderabad, says that they were foolish to trust TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao and that now all students in all the 10 districts of Telangana will take the movement forward themselves. Trinamool MP's book 'exposes party-Maoist nexus'
Causing serious embarrassment to the Trinamool Congress leadership, party MP Kabir Suman has written an autobiography and dedicated it to top Maoist leader Kishenji among others. 'All promises on Telangana have been broken'
In this interview with rediff.com, Professor K Jayashankar -- considered to be the idealogue of the movement since the year 1952 -- speaks about the report, the future of the movement while terming the commission's formula as the most unacceptable one. Is Pakistan army preparing for another takeover?
By his death, Salman Taseer has joined a growing list of liberal leaders in Pakistan who have been killed because they were against the radical Islamisation of their country. Mystery of Sun's hot outer atmosphere 'solved'
Scientists claim to have finally solved the mystery after they discovered a major source of hot gas that replenishes the corona -- jets of plasma shooting up from just above the Sun's surface, the 'Science' journal reported. Court clears the way for Raja's prosecution
A Delhi court on Friday held as "maintainable" a private complaint filed by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy seeking prosecution of former Telecom Minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum case. Indo-French naval exercise 'Varuna 10' begins
"In this edition of Varuna, the French Navy is being represented by ships from the French carrier strike group, including the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, destroyers FNS Forbin and FNS Tourville, supply ship FNS Meuse and nuclear powered submarine FNS Amethyste," Navy officials said in New Delhi. Tigers running wild in New Delhi!
of India's finest artists and 50 corporate companies came together for a cause saving the tiger -- and brought about the creation of The Tiger Trail in the national capital under an initiative christened Artiger Art for the tiger. REWIND: The best PHOTOS in the last 24 hours
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the last 48 hours 'Forming Telangana is the only option now'
In an interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, TRS legislator and the son of party chief K Chandrashekhar Rao, outlines the party's future course of action. IMAGES: Hyderabad erupts after TRS rejects report
The protests at the Osmania University, which has been the nerve centre of the movement, have intensified and two buses have been burnt down despite heavy police presence. Protests were also witnessed at the Dharna Chowk locality in Hyderabad. Centre releases Telangana report, appeal follows
Chidambaram appealed to political parties in Andhra Pradesh to read the recommendations of the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana with an "open mind" and give "impartial consideration" to them. 3 cr cases pending in courts! Moily decides to act
Struggling to bring down the whopping over 3 crore pending court cases in the country, the Law Ministry proposes to soon place before the Union Cabinet a comprehensive National Litigation Policy which aims at disposing of cases within three years. Srikrishna report on Telangana offers 6 options
The Justice Srikrishna committee is understood to have recommended six options to deal with the Telangana statehood demand, on which the government may take a call in approximately six weeks. REWIND: The best moments in the last 48 hours
We bring you a presentation of some of the best moments captured on camera in the last 48 hours from around the world The Deadliest Nations for journalists
Pakistan, often referred to as 'the most dangerous country in the world', has earned another dubious distinction. In 2010, it emerged as the most dangerous country for journalists. IMAGES: Pakistan Governor Taseer laid to rest
Pakistani investigators on Wednesday probed the possibility of a larger conspiracy behind the killing of Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer by his bodyguard as they arrested 23 people. IMAGES: Hyderabad braces for Telangana report
Security has been tightened across Hyderabad on the eve of the release of the Srikrishna Committee's report on the formation of a separate Telangana state. Expect more sea-borne terror attacks: Headley
Chilling confessions of Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Coleman during his 30-hour interrogation with the National Investigation Agency last year reveal that the 26/11 attack is not the worse the nation has experienced. In fact, the terror strike that massacred Mumbai has only inspired the terror group to continue waging "war" against India. Omar warns BJP not to hoist tricolour at Lal Chowk
Asking Bharatiya Janata Party to drop its plan to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday warned the party that it would be responsible for "any repercussions" in the Valley. US: Youngest son of Shah of Iran commits suicide
The 44-year-old younger son of the late Shah of Iran committed suicide by shooting himself at his home in Boston, his family said triggering an outpour of mourning from Iranians émigrés world over. Beauty treatment for Taj: Mud facial in the offing
The Taj Mahal will look more bright and beautiful in days to come as the Archaeological Survey of India is planning to give it a cleansing mud facial. REVEALED: How parties gain heavily from donations
When it comes to financial contributions/donations, political parties in the country seem to benefit a lot by them as a significant part of their income depends upon them. 'The CBI must be made independent'
In a freewheeling chat with Rediff.com readers former CBI director and author Joginder Singh talks about issues haunting the probe agency, the challenges it faces and its limitations. Peace caravan to Gaza gets rousing reception
A peace caravan to Gaza travels through the middle-east to a rousing reception. The caravan is part of an effort to lift the two-year blockade of Gaza by Israel. Pix: Pak governor Taseer killed by security guard
Salmaan Taseer, governor of Pakistan's powerful Punjab province and a key aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, was on Tuesday assassinated in Islamabad by one of his security guards who was angered by his opposition to a controversial blasphemy law IMAGES: Breathtaking view of a solar eclipse
The partial solar eclipse was visible from certain parts of India. Those who called me a liar should apologise: Diggy
Under attack over his claim about a call from late top cop Hemant Karkare, Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Tuesday produced a record of the conversation the slain Anti-Terrorism Squad chief had with him on 26/11 and sought an apology from Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil and all others who had dubbed him a 'liar'. Bihar MLA murder: Killer thrashed up, critical
Rupam Pathak, the school teacher who stabbed to death Bihar's Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Raj Kishore Keshari at his residence in Purnia on Tuesday morning, has been admitted at the Katihar Hospital in a critical condition, after she was badly beaten up by the member of legislative assembly's security guards and supporters. 'Thackeray, Jamnagar refinery on LeT terror list'
A team of the National Investigating Agency had interrogated Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley for nearly 30 hours in the presence of his lawyer and investigators of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the interrogation, Headley, who is currently serving a jail term in the United States under a plea bargain, offered some chilling insights into the workings of the terror outfit. In PHOTOS: Australia's worst flooding in 50 years
Floodwaters in Queensland are inching towards New South Wales, Australia's most populous state with authorities warning small communities south of the border to prepare for the deluge. My family is not safe in India: Binayak Sen's wife
Jailed rights activist Binayak Sen's wife on Monday said it appeared that the only recourse left to her is to seek political asylum in some 'liberal' democratic country as she felt that her family is not safe in India. Revealed: Quattrocchi bribed in Bofors deal
The Bofors ghost returned to haunt the Congress party with an income tax tribunal saying that kickbacks of Rs 41 crore were paid to late Win Chaddha, an agent of the Swedish arms manufacturer and Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Howitzer gun deal and that they are liable to pay tax in India on such income. '26/11 was preceded by two failed ISI-LeT bids'
While it is a known fact that he had scouted targets for the Lashkar-e-Tayiba which carried out the 26/11 attacks, the more important aspect is the manner in which Headley goes on to explain the nexus terrorists in Pakistan have with its spy agency Inter Services Intelligence. Bihar CM is poorer than his ministers!
Details of the assets of 30 Bihar ministers, including Kumar's, were uploaded in the government websites as a step towards ending corruption and promised by the chief minister. Why Hindu families are trying to flee Pakistan
Over 100 Hindu families in Pakistan's Balochistan province are making efforts to migrate to India after becoming the target of a campaign of kidnappings and extortion, according to a media report on Monday. Why in a hurry to close Aarushi case, CBI asked
The court may fix another date post-lunch to decide on the case in which the CBI has filed a report to end the investigation after a probe lasting two-and-a-half years on grounds of insufficient evidence. Another head rolls in Adarsh housing society scam
Lalla, who was secretary in the Chief Minister's Office when the Housing Society's file was being processed in the state secretariat, is the first bureaucrat to resign for his alleged involvement in the Adarsh scam. How China's nuke plants will last 3000 years
After decades of research, China has made a breakthrough in extracting uranium and plutonium from spent fuel, state-run CCTV announced on Monday. In PHOTOS: North India shivers as toll rises
Cold wave continues to have north India in its grip with the death toll rising to 30, as temperature dropped drastically in many areas. The engineer-turned singing star
Sreeram Chandra won the Indian Idol Reality singing contest this year. air met the talented singer who has already tasted the first notes of success. Dilma: She fought her way to the top
Brazil is set to elect its first woman president, an ex-revolutionary who was dubbed the iron lady for her curt and demanding management style. 2010: Al Qaeda down but not out
In 2010, Al Qaeda's attempts to export terror to India, United States and Europe failed to quite an extent, analyses B Raman. Images: How the World rang in 2011
People around the world brought in the New year with joy and pomp. December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | Sepetember 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | Jun 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010