A Rediff.com journalist reveals what it's like to live in a building sealed by the authorities because one of the residents is COVID-19 positive.

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

In a hope to improve ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed cooperation in areas ranging from agriculture and water management to defence and cyber security. A Rediff correspondent reports

According to official sources at the Imperial Guest House in Kyoto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat down with his host and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a traditional dining table for over one-and-a-half hours, "for an exceptionally warm and friendly conversation" over a traditional Japanese meal on Saturday evening.

What makes President Mukherjee's visit to the south Indian states interesting is the combination of engagements.

The suspense over the possible composition of the National Democratic Alliance cabinet seems to be nearing climax as sources informed that a list of names is being finalised to be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee on the sidelines of Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

On the sidelines of Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Sharif is expected to call on his Indian counterpart for, what officials in New Delhi describe, "exchanging messages of peace".

'According to a powerful section of the Congress the vote was anti-Congress, anti-dynasty and pro-Modi, in that order. They say Modi won because he represented and completely played upon "Bhartiyata".' 'Sonia is being accused, privately, of protecting her son at the cost of the party's interest.' 'For the first time ever, 24 Akbar Road, the Congress headquarters, is assessing the "neeyat (intent)" of the Gandhi Parivar, which has never happened before.' A Rediff Correspondent lifts the veil off the churning within the Congress party in the wake of the party's rout in the election.

India on Tuesday summoned Pakistan Acting High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmad in connection with the suspension of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot-Poonch bus services by Pakistan, which has demanded release of its national arrested for smuggling narcotics worth Rs 100 crore across the LoC.

'Only my friends know how I live here in Manhattan, saving every penny... Life in New York has not been not easy for me,' Devyani Khobragade told friends and colleagues.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's decision to go the whole-hog against the Supreme Court's verdict -- which recently upheld the constitutionality of Section 377 criminalising homosexuality -- is not very typical of how the grand old party handles such issues.