PHOTOS: When it rains, it pours in Mumbai
Mumbai city witnessed heavy rains for the second day on Sunday. In PIX: Another ship grounded at Juhu beach
In a repeat of the M V Wisdom episode, a much-smaller cargo vessel ran aground near the Juhu beach in north-west Mumbai on Sunday, officials said. Yeddy faxes strongly-worded resignation to Gadkari
Yeddyurappa's strongly-worded letter said: "I did not find the need to resign, as I enjoy the support of 80 MLAs. However, I am a committed worker of the party and I respect the decision of the party high command, which has told me to step down. I enjoy the support of a majority of the leaders who consider me their leader. I should be made the president of the party in the state." K'taka crisis: Is the BJP heading for a split?
The BJP seems to be divided on who would be the next chief minister of Karnataka. While the party high command is keen on Ananth Kumar, the Yeddyurappa camp has its own favourites. reports. Rakhi's C-String demands and more
Rakhi's C-String demands and more BJP cuts Yeddy to size, says quit and then talk
The talks between BS Yeddyurappa and the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders appear to have succeeded with sources now indicating that the chief minister has agreed to step down on Sunday afternoon at around 1 pm. 26/11: Kasab challenges death sentence in SC
Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab has moved the Supreme Court challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 28/11 Mumbai attacks. Will Shiv Sena be able to pull off Mumbai bandh?
It has been little over three decades since the iconic mills of Mumbai, then a significant cog in the nation's commercial capital have closed down and gone silent. Many have been razed and replaced by malls, commercial and residential complexes. Rs 215 cr: Amount Reddy bros have stashed abroad
A part of the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde's voluminous report on illegal mining, which has rocked the Karnataka government, deals specifically on the role of the Reddy brothers of Bellary in the multi-crore scam. Yeddyurappa WILL NOT give up so easily
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's followers spoke up for him before the Bharatiya Janata Party's high command on Friday morning. Now, they have decided to take on the report on illegal mining by Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde that indicts the CM and his family. What Pak media had to say about Indo-Pak FM talks
An element of greater trust was developed during the Indo-Pak foreign ministers' talks in New Delhi that raises hope for a tension-free relationship between the two countries, top Pakistani newspapers commented on Friday, highlighting the need to build on the achievement. Bush was projecting calm with 9/11 blank look
Nearly 10 years after September 11 attacks, former United States President George W Bush has broken his silence about his apparent "blank reaction" to 9/11, saying it was a deliberate effort to "project calm" in a crisis. Nikki Haley calls herself 'white', kicks up a row
Democrats have accused North Carolina's Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley of listing her race as "white" in her voter registration form in 2001 and playing on it for political convenience Why Yeddyurappa won't exit without a fight
Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament D B Chandre Gowda and party legislator B P Harish have come out in the open, questioning the decision of the high command to sack Yeddyurappa. Will BJP buckle to caste equations in Karnataka?
Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party meets to select a new chief minister in Karnataka, it would try not to make the mistake that the Congress made in the past in the state. PHOTO ALBUM: Hina Rabbani's charm offensive
Hina Khar Rabbani, the gorgeous and soft-spoken foreign minister of Pakistan, made quite an impression during her three-day official visit to India. PHOTOS: Inside Norway's luxurious Halden jail
Halden prison could be the home, if convicted, of Norwegian gunman Anders Behring Breivik who killed dozens of people in a bomb attack and shooting spree. But it could be home that Breivik would love to spend time in. Frenzy in Bengaluru, top leaders lobby for CM post
A crucial meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party legislature party, chaired by B S Yeddyurappa, will be held at 4:30 am on Friday at Hotel Ashok. Monsoon session of Parliament: What lies ahead
There has been much criticism of politicians and Parliament by some activists. It is for parliamentarians to regain their moral legitimacy by carefully considering the legislative proposals and passing them. The next few weeks are an opportunity to do just that, says . EXCLUSIVE EXTRACTS: The Karnataka mining report
Rediff.com brings you some explosive extracts from the 400-page report that has triggered a political tsunami. Who will be the next CM of Karnataka?
With just a few hours to go before Lokayukta of Karnataka Justice Santhosh Hegde submits his report on illegal mining, there is a lot of talk about a possible successor to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. Will quit on July 31 to upkeep BJP's image: BSY
Embattled Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa late on Thursday night issued a press statement which stated that he will tender his resignation to Governor H R Bharadwaj on July 31. Lokpal Bill: What about our draft, asks team Anna
Civil society members on Thursday came down heavily on the government's decision to present only their version of the Lokpal Bill. In PIX: Thackeray cousins rally for mill workers
Estranged Thackeray cousins -- Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray participated -- though not together -- in a morcha for the cause of textile mill workers in Mumbai on Thursday. In 1978, India knew of Pak's plan to go nuclear
Though the United States and the United Kingdom did not inform India of a covert operation to stop Pakistan going nuclear, New Delhi had its own intelligence in 1978 to conclude that Islamabad was just two or three years away from making an atomic bomb, according to declassified documents. Scientists solve 14-yr-old Saturn 'water mystery'
Planetary scientists claim they have finally solved a 14-year mystery by discovering the source of the water in Saturn's upper atmosphere. = Lokpal draft okayed; PM, judiciary kept out
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft of the Lokpal Bill, which will now be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament. After Yeddy, Reddy brothers may have to go too
The Bharatiya Janata Party's central leadership's decision asking Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to step down has also put a question mark on the continuance of the Bellary brothers in the Cabinet as they have too have been indicted in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining. Karnataka: Will Yeddyurappa sink or swim?
After the party high command ask him to resign immediately on Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is fast running out of options, and at the moment, is holed up in his residence in Bengaluru, where he is mustering the support of his members of legislative assembly. reports. PIX: Hina prays for Indo-Pak peace at Delhi dargah
Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday paid obeisance at the dargah of famous Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya at New Delhi and prayed for peace between the two countries. Bush talks about the 'hell' of 9/11, Osama's death
Recalling that walking through the wreckage of the 9/11 terror strike was like "hell" for him, former United States President George W Bush has said that he felt "a sense of closure" when he learned about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Step down NOW, BJP top brass tells Yeddyurappa
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa landed at Bengaluru from New Delhi following a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, and mentioned nothing about him stepping down. End of a love story: Chiru's son-in-law jailed
This is straight out of a Tollywood potboiler; only, this one does not end so well. Sirish Bhardwaj, the son-in-law of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi, on Wednesday surrendered before a local court after evading arrest for over four months in a dowry harassment case. India-Pakistan talks: A breath of fresh air
Though the various issues bedevilling the bilateral relations between India and Pakistan remain stuck, Hina Rabbani Khar has sought to change the ambiance of the bilateral interactions by introducing an element of decency in discourse that was markedly absent under her predecessor, says . No parallels between Norway massacre and Hindutva
Breivik's act of killing innocents is reprehensible in strongest possible words. But the attempts to link it to Hindutva movement are also equally reprehensible, says . EXCLUSIVE! An excellent job done: Justice Hegde
Justice Hegde takes us through his journey in this exclusive interview with rediff.com's , in which he speaks about various aspects ranging from the mining report, his future plans and also his successes and failures in all the roles that he has donned so far. 'India-Pakistan talks no longer on life support'
The meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New Delhi on Wednesday ended on a positive note with visiting Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar calling for a "new era of amity". Present a strong Lokpal Bill: Team Anna to UPA
As the government prepares to bring the Lokpal Bill to the Cabinet, social activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday pitched for a strong version of the law to be presented for the consideration of Parliament. Crucial to get momentum in Indo-Pak talks: Khar
Pakistan's newly appointed Foreign Minister Hina Rabani Khar following bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart S M Krishna on Wednesday speaks about engagement with India, 26/11 trial and her first official visit to India in this exclusive interview with CNN-IBN. India, Pakistan downplay Khar's Hurriyat meeting
Carrying forward their engagement process, India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced new Confidence Building Measures, notwithstanding the unhappiness in New Delhi about Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar's meeting with Kashmiri separatist leaders. What next for Big 4 after mining report release
Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde's report on illegal mining in the state is expected to be submitted any time now. Going by the 'leaks' from the Lokayukta's office, the report implicates around 600 figures, including Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. PIX: Krishna talks peace with Pak's gorgeous Hina
India and Pakistan on Wednesday announced additional Confidence Building Measures related to Kashmir, including increasing cross-LoC trading days and expanding travel to include tourism and religious aspects. Disarming SPOs will impact anti-Naxal ops: PC
The Supreme Court judgement on disbanding of Salwa Judum will impact on the anti-Naxal operations, says the Centre which is planning to call a meeting of chief ministers of Orissa and Jharkhand after Chhattisgarh's action on a new law on the issue. Drass memorial: Invoking memories of Kargil war
Every day dozens of vehicles carrying tourists make a stopover at Drass War Memorial - a grim reminder to what happened in this region in the last year of the previous millennium. I'm ready for the challenge: New K'taka Lokayukta
Justice Shivraj Patil, former Judge of the Supreme Court will replace Justice Santhosh Hegde as the next Lokayukta of Karnataka next month. Speaking for the first time after his name was cleared by the Karnataka administration for the post, Patil tells in this short interview, that he is up to the challenge. Norway mass murderer's link to Varanasi weaver
The recent terror attack in Norway that left 76 people dead in Oslo has a remote link with a temple town located thousands of miles away -- Varanasi. 'There's dearth of big ideas coming from Cong HQ'
In this interview with rediff.com's , Kidwai talks about the book, the challenges he faced while researching for it and the state of the Congress party today. Talking about party general secretaries Rahul Gandhi and Digvijaya Singh's experiments in Uttar Pradesh, Kidwai says that it is interesting, but that Rahul has to reconcile with what the Central government is offering in terms of agricultural reforms, etc. PIX: All eyes on Pak's glamorous foreign minister
All of 34, Hina Khar Rabbani, Pakistan's first woman and youngest foreign minister, was thrust into the spotlight as she landed in New Delhi on Tuesday. Yeddyuruppa, others indicted in illegal mining
Amid intense speculation on the fate of the indicted Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde will submit his report on mining scam to the State government on Wednesday. If BSY goes, who will be the next CM of Karnataka?
With just a few hours to go before Lokayukta of Karnataka Justice Santhosh Hegde submits his report on illegal mining, there is a lot of talk about a possible successor to Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. PC's right-wing jibe to save his corrupt skin: BJP
Strongly objecting to Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement on right wing extremism, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said he should not compromise on the fight against terrorism just to save himself from his 'neck-deep' involvement in the 2G spectrum scam. NGO files charges against Sibal with CVC, CBI
NGO files a detailed documented complaint against Sibal for reducing the penalty of Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance from Rs 50 crore to only Rs 5 crore. Sheela Bhatt reports. Baba Ramdev speaks on his mission, UPA and CBI
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday claimed that he was not aspiring for any political power but was only seeking "political purity" to lead the country on the path of "value-based development." New list of India's most wanted in Pakistan
There is no change in the order in the new list -- Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed continues to top the list. How K'taka govt IGNORED Lokayukta's first report
While the Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde gives final touches to the illegal mining report, the people of Bellary say they are not bothered, and Chief Minister Yeddyurappa is on a mission to save his chair yet again. revisits Lokayukta's first report that came out in April 2010, and dealt with the pathetic living conditions in Bellary. 'Home grown terror groups experts in bomb making'
Voicing concern over threats posed by indigenous terror groups, Home Minister P Chidambaram has said they are no longer fledgling outfits but are experts in assembling and transporting bombs. What BJP may do to save face, govt in Karnataka
The Bharatiya Janata Party high command, meanwhile, has indicated that it could accept Yeddyurappa's option of setting up an internal committee to look into the allegations against the CM and his sons. This would give the BJP time. IN PHOTOS: It's an odd world out there!
We bring you a collection of some of the odd moments from around the world in recent weeks. Raja's U-turn: PM, PC didn't know of 2G dealings
In a U-turn, former Telecom Minister A Raja on Tuesday told a Delhi court that he did not seek to implicate Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the 2G case. Designer Suneet Varma in Kamasutra row
Famous Indian fashion designer Suneet Varma has triggered off a controversy for reportedly calling Kamasutra the most celebrated Hindu text in the world. Prez has 2.5 cr; here are some richer politicos
President Pratibha Patil on Monday made public her movable and immovable properties worth over Rs 2.49 crore on the request of Central Information Commissioner as she completed four years in office. Rediff.com takes a look at the total worth of some other politicians in the country, and tries to find out where our President stands. Sikhs protest Bhullar's death penalty near UN
Bhullar was convicted for carrying out a bomb blast in New Delhi outside the All India Youth Congress headquarters in 1993, which claimed nine lives. His mercy plea was rejected in May 2011. 2G scam: Was Raja following NDA's telecom policy?
Former telecom minister Arun Shourie agreed with A Raja that the latter had discussed the 2G spectrum issue with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and then finance minister P Chidambaram before going ahead, but refuted his claim of following the National Democratic Alliance policy. We politicians have let India down: Jaswant Singh
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jaswant Singh tells Aditi Phadnis about his fears for India, various policies and stance taken by the government and the global environment. In PHOTOS: China goes to the bottom of Pacific
China, which initiated the Jiaolong project in 2002, is the fifth country to send a manned submersible 3,500 metres below sea level after the United States, France, Russia and Japan. Bumpy but promising: E-voting makes its inroads
If we can buy things online, there's no reason why we can't vote online too. Lakshmi Ajay describes India's first experiment with voting via the Internet. Why Fai's arrest needs to be celebrated
The recent arrest of 'ISI's event-manager' Ghulam Nabi Fai in the United States must be celebrated as it will make it very difficult for other Fais in places like London or Brussels to peddle their hatred of India in the name of 'struggling' for the 'right of self-determination' of the Kashmiris, feels . Congress is like a circus: Mani Shankar Aiyar
The Congress party is a circus and every party member has to be a part of it in his attempts to seek a greener pasture. 2G scam: How Raja indicted PM, Chidambaram
Former telecom minister A Raja on Monday sought to rope in Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and the then Finance Minister P Chidamabaram in the 2G scam case, telling a court that the issue of dilution of equity by spectrum licencees was discussed with them. Why Xi Jinping's visit to Tibet is important
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who will takeover as president next year, seems to have realised that the past policy of repression can't solve the long-pending Tibetan issue, says Claude Arpi. Saeed vows to launch 'battle for Hindustan'
Making provocative comments again, Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has vowed to enter India through Jammu and Kashmir. 2G scam: PM, Chidambaram SHOULD quit, says BJP
Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Monday demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in the wake of former telecom minister A Raja's claim that both of them were aware of his decisions about the 2G auction. K'taka CM Yeddyurappa's strategy to survive
When defenceless, you counter attack. This is the strategy that Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has decided to adopt against the Congress, which is gunning for his head in the wake of the soon-to-be-released report on illegal mining. reports. Pak to add 24 missiles in 2011; target India
This will be the highest number of missiles Pakistan has ever produced in a year if the government achieves the target, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources as saying. Don't question our 'neeyat': Pakistan tells India
Pakistan says its Constitution does not permit taking voice samples of any accused but still it would "exhaust" all possible means to give voice samples of 26/11 suspects to India. Cash-for-vote scam: Rewati Raman quizzed
Samajwadi Party MP Rewati Raman Singh on Monday appeared before Delhi Police for questioning in connection with the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, the fourth person to be quizzed in the past 10 days after the Supreme Court came down heavily on investigators for carrying out a shoddy probe. REWIND: The best PHOTOS of the week gone by
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the last week PIX: Indian gay couple among 100s wed in New York
Rediff.com's witnessed the reflection of the struggle for equal marriage rights for gay and lesbians in New York city on Sunday where over hundred same-sex couples took their vows. Among the couples was an Indian American couple too. Will continue as K'taka CM for 2 more years: Yeddy
"Opposition parties hoping that I would quit would be disappointed," Yeddyurappa told media persons at the Bangalore Airport, on arrival from Mauritius, where he was on a six-day holiday with his family Norway bloodbath: What we knew and did not
follows up on the investigation into the deadly July 22 terror strikes in Norway, which claimed 93 lives Why Prahaar may give deadly edge to India on Pak
India's ability to win a quick, pre-emptive war against Pakistan has just been enhanced by a useful new set of teeth. In PHOTOS: First gay marriages in New York
From Manhattan to Niagara Falls, hundreds of gay couples got married across New York on Sunday, one month after it was legalised in the state. Yeddyurappa must step down: BJP vice-president
Demand for the removal of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday emerged from within the Bharatiya Janata Party in the wake of the Lokayukta indicting him in his report on illegal mining in the state. Karnataka govt will not act on report: Lokayukta
Expressing doubts over the state government implementing his report on the mining scam in Karnataka, state Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde on Saturday said his only hope was the Supreme Court. 'Clinton, Jayalalithaa discussed situation in SL'
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had a long conversation over the current situation in Sri Lanka, a State Department official has said. Chidambaram takes on Pakistan at SAARC meet
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, India on Saturday said that no country can escape its responsibility by blaming non-state actors for terrorist activities emanating from its soil. PHOTOS: Over 80 killled in twin strikes in Norway
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is reportedly safe, government spokeswoman Camilla Ryste said. Salman's Bodyguard, Katrina's bike ride and more..
A round-up of the hottest new videos this week PHOTOS: 17 dead in twin strikes in Norway
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is reportedly safe, government spokeswoman Camilla Ryste said. Will 13/7 Mumbai blasts be solved anytime soon?
The status of the series of blasts that have occurred in India in the recent past is still 'unsolved'. What are the chances that 13/7 will be solved anytime soon? analyses the odds, with help from counter-terrorism experts. BSP govt promoting politics of caste: Rahul
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday charged the Mayawati government with promoting the politics of caste and religion in Uttar Pradesh and said there had been no development in the state in the last 20-25 years. In PICS: Assam floods displace 5.77 lakh
The flood situation in Assam has turned for better since Thursday with the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries showing a receding trend. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said that administration in flood-hit districts had been kept on alert, though flood waters were already receding in most parts of the state. PIX: Telangana bandh brings life to a standstill
Normal life was affected on Friday in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh following the day-long bandh called by the Telangana political Joint Action Committee. 'Fai funnelled millions, but ISI hardly benefited'
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pakistan's military and its power intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence funnelled $4 million over two decades to tilt America's Kashmir policy against India. But despite Kashmir American Council's executive director Ghulam Nabi Fai relentless efforts, he hardly influenced the Clinton, Bush or Obama administration, believes veteran diplomat Howard Schaffer. PM seeks detailed safety plan from railways
Amid concerns over increasing number of train accidents, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sought a detailed safety plan from the railways. Cash-for-vote scam: Delhi police grills Amar Singh
Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh on Friday appeared before the Delhi Police for questioning in the cash-for-vote scam. US pro-India policy can hurt war on terror: China
Against the backdrop of India and the United States firming up their counter-terrorism cooperation, an official Chinese think tank has claimed that Washington's "overtly pro-India stance" will hurt its overall goal to fight militancy in Pakistan. IN PICTURES: Atlantis, end of the US shuttle era
Space shuttle Atlantis touched down safely in its final landing at the Kennedy Space Centre in Houston on Thursday, bringing the curtain down on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 's 30-year space shuttle programme considered one of the most eventful eras in the US history of manned spaceflight. 'It's impossible to get an appointment with Sonia'
Fourteen ex-MPs of the Congress party have slammed the coterie around Congress president Sonia Gandhi and blamed senior managers and party general secretaries for the widening gap between the leadership and the workers and the lack of communication and interaction. Does Digvijay Singh battle for himself or Rahul?
tries to make sense of the rising stature of Congress leader Digvijay Singh and his brand of politics. Telangana JAC calls for bandh in the region
The Telangana Joint Action Committee has called for a bandh in Telangana region on Friday. Indian journos took junkets to Fai's conferences
There are some embarrassed faces, some awkward silences in newspapers and television channels in North India. They belong to some of those journalists and academicians who availed the hospitality offered by Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, who ran the Kashmiri American Council, also known as the Kashmir Center. Cash-for-votes: Clean chit for Congress, SP?
Congress and Samajwadi Party on Thursday virtually got a clean chit in cash-for-vote scam in a local court, which was told by the Delhi Police that nobody from the two parties had contacted Sohail Hindustani, the alleged 'master orchestrator' of conspiracy to bribe BJP MPs to vote in favour of Manmohan Singh government in a trust vote in 2008. BSY report: Cong smells blood; foul play, says BJP
In the wake of Karnataka Lokayukta's indictment of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the illegal mining issue, Congress on Thursday gunned for his removal, but a defensive Bharatiya Janata Party said the report had "lost sanctity" as it has been leaked. How will Yeddyurappa tide over the latest crisis?
The Karnataka government is contemplating the next course of action in the wake of the damning revelations of the report by state Lokayukta Santosh Hegde about the involvement of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and several ministers of the state in the lucrative illegal mining racket. 'Rs 1800 cr lost in 14 months due to mining scam'
In a strong indictment of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, state Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde on Thursday said he has given 'substantive' and 'voluminous' evidence against him in the illegal mining scam which has cost the state exchequer Rs 1800 crore in a period of 14 months. Teaching Gita in schools not policy: K'taka BJP
An initiative by a mutt in Karnataka to teach the Bhagavad-Gita has broken out into a controversy after plan by the Swarnavalli Mutt, was endorsed by the Karnataka state government. In PHOTOS: Europe, US cool off the summer heat
The Northern Hemisphere is sizzling like an ant under a magnifying glass. The Supreme slap in the UPA's face
The Supreme Court has, with its latest set of rulings, observations and orders hauling up the government, yet again established its supremacy as the apex judicial body in India. Many hailed its notings as a resounding slap in the face of government. How long will compensation last: 13/7 victim's kin
The Das family is a yet another victim of terror that struck Mumbai on July 13. Forty-two-year-old Baburam Das who breathed his last on Saturday is survived by an aging mother, an ill wife and a teenage son. Having lost the sole breadwinner of the family, the future may seen insecure for now, but Baburam's son is determined to pick up the pieces and make his father proud. Why US-Pakistan ties are at near break point
While these major changes are taking place in the US policies, India seems stuck in the old paradigm of wishing that somehow Pakistan will turn Gandhian someday, says Colonel Anil Athale (retd) Aamir Khan answers 20 key questions on Lokpal
Replying to a a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions on key issues on Lokpal Bill sent to him by the NGO India Against Corruption, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has given his thumbs up for the draft version put forward by Anna Hazare and his team. Illegal mining report names K'taka CM, Reddy bros
The Karnataka Lokayukta's report on illegal mining in the state is said to have named Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappaa, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, the Reddy brothers among others. Fringe groups are the newest terror threat
discusses the enormous security threat that fringe groups pose and why it's extremely difficult to track and tackle this new terror phenomenon. Rewind: Best PHOTOS in the last 24 hours
Presenting some of the best PHOTOGRAPHS from around the globe in the last 24 hours. How India can neutralise terrorism!
Community policing and strict control over the sale and distribution of explosives and detonators will go a long way in curbing the menace, says Colonel Anil Athale (retd) Why China is growing tenser by the day
The situation in the Chinese-controlled Xinjiang region of China and in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region continues to haunt the leadership of the Communist Party of China, which has been observing the 90th anniversary of its formation this month, and the People's Liberation Army, which has been observing the 60th anniversary of its occupation of Tibet, says senior analyst . Why citizens have a right to be angry
It is time Indians woke up. We must keep this simmering anger and new found muscular mood alive. We must demand that the government investigate, prosecute and render speedy justice. And not just for this round of bomb blasts but for every bomb blast and communal riot that has happened in recent memory, says PIX: Shuttle Atlantis begins final trip back home
Atlantis was launched on July 8 on the 135th and last voyage of NASA's 30-year space shuttle programme. Digvijaya Singh: The controversy king
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh is known for his penchant for making drastic statements. His readiness to wade into tricky situations is seen as a costly addiction as it often leaves the party red faced. Instances of Singh retracting his statements and the party distancing itself from them are innumerable. Rediff.com takes a look at some of the remarks made by the Congress leaders that have raised quite a storm in political circles. Rupert Murdoch hit with a plate in UK Parliament
High drama marked the hearing of Rupert Murdoch before British lawmakers in the phone hacking scandal during which the media baron said that it was "the most humble day of my life" and apologised to the victims but denied responsibility for the fiasco. Meet Pak's youngest and 1st woman foreign minister
Hina Rabbani Khar, on Tuesday, became the youngest and first woman foreign minister of Pakistan. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Islamabad where Farooq H A Naik, chairman senate and caretaker president presided over the ceremony in the absence of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is in Kabul for a day-long visit. IN PIX: INS Godavari foils another piracy attempt
In a major development, INS Godavari has successfully foiled a piracy attempt on Greek ship MV Elinakos in the Gulf of Aden, a navy statement said on Tuesday. Indians as corrupt as anyone else: New CVC
The new Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar has spoken out in his first television interview since taking charge on July 14. In an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN, Kumar made it clear that there was no question of buckling under any kind of political pressure and that the battle against corruption will continue. The excerpts To check China, US must go the India way: Experts
The United States should pursue robust strategic and military engagement with India to limit China's geopolitical horizons and encourage a stable balance of power in Asia, two noted American scholars said on Tuesday. What would Narasimha Rao do today?
How would P V Narasimha Rao, who brought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to politics, have dealt with the crises confronting the UPA government? Veteran political commentator Kalyani Shankar assesses Narasimha Rao's likely responses. Stakes are high in Indo-US partnership: Hillary
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will lead their respective delegations in the Second US-India Strategic Dialogue that will be held in Delhi on Tuesday. How honest have you been Mr PM, asks Anna
Questioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's honesty, the Anna Hazare team has raised its pitch on the Lokpal Bill demanding that its version be placed before Parliament, saying that the "weak" government draft was a "joke" played on the nation. IN PICS: Tripartite accord on Darjeeling signed
The historic tripartite agreement for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was on Monday signed to resolve the vexed Darjeeling problem amidst protests and bandhs in the Terai and Dooars areas. Why US suspended, didn't terminate aid to Pakistan
The suspension of military aid to Pakistan is America's cumulative reaction to a series of events beginning with the Raymond Davis affair and ending with the killing of Al Qaeda's Osama bin Laden. The message to Islamabad is clear that duplicity in the war against terror will not be tolerated. But experts feel that being well aware of Pakistan's importance, the US has only temporarily cut off aid, which will be restored after a decent interval. Mumbai blasts: Cops turn on the heat for IM men
Four days after serial blasts rocked Mumbai and claimed 19 lives, security agencies and police teams probing the terror strike are yet to find any leads in the case. Several people have been detained across the country for questioning, but no arrests have been made. 'Clinton, Jayalalithaa WILL discuss Sri Lanka'
A senior official in the Barack Obama administration, who will accompany Clinton, has said that Sri Lanka would definitely figure in the discussions between the secretary of state and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha when they meet for the first time. 'The term Hindu terrorism is an insult to society'
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarkaryavah Suresh Joshi, popularly called Bhaiya Ji Joshi, tells Gyan Varma that India should suspend judgement on 'Hindu terror' till the courts decide on the matter. 'Build world-class museum near Padmanabha temple'
Malayankil Gopalakrishnan, a former journalist and a member of the Archives Advisory Council of Kerala has studied and researched the history of Thiruvananthapuram. PIX: Meet the new Central Vigilance Commissioner
Newly-appointed Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar, an IIT-Delhi alumni and Haryana cadre Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1972 batch, is a seasoned bureaucrat who has traversed the corridors of power in the capital having served in various key ministries. Stalin vs. Alagiri war heats up ahead of DMK meet
Ahead of next week's crucial general council meeting, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is at the crossroads with differences among Karunanidhi family members over the succession issue, threatening to make the two-day meet at Coimbatore a stormy affair. 'We need a Mumbai First security cover, Mr CM'
Senior analyst in this open letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan discusses ways to plug the loopholes in the security cover of Mumbai, which has already been a terror victim for five times. Bhakra Dam on Lashkar's hit list, warns IB
The Bhakra Dam is on the hit list of Pakistan-based militant outfits Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jamaat-ud Dawa, an Intelligence Bureau report has warned, prompting the Punjab and Himachal Pradesh governments to step up vigil. Indo-Pak human chain to protest Mumbai blasts
In a gesture of bonhomie, a group of Indians and Pakistanis joined hands to protest against the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai by organising a human chain at Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial on Saturday evening. Can't rule out RSS hand in Mumbai blasts: Digvijay
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday courted another controversy by saying he did not rule out the involvement of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Mumbai serial blasts, evoking sharp criticism and condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Let this be the LAST attack on Mumbai: Jaitley
The spirit of Mumbai cannot be to suffer an attack and wait for the next one, says Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley 13/7 blasts: Many haunting questions, some answers
The serial blasts that rocked Mumbai on Wednesday night have left a number of haunting questions on our minds. B Raman addresses some of them: Blast that shook Mumbai and more
Blast that shook Mumbai and more Bhatkal wanted to hit Mumbai as soon as possible
Suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Salman had given intelligence agencies warning about the outfit attempting to make an 'explosive' comeback. Indian Mujahideen's most wanted men!
Investigators are still cautious about naming any particular organisation behind the July 13, 2011, Mumbai serial blasts. But behind the scenes, the direction of the investigation is fast moving towards the possible involvement of the recently declared terrorist organisation, Indian Mujahideen. Toral Varia takes you through some of the faces behind this terror outfit India successfully launches GSAT-12
India on Friday successfully launched its latest communication satellite GSAT-12 onboard a powerful variant of homegrown Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C17, from the spaceport in Sriharikota. 'Blast, then media frenzy and life goes on'
Hours after Wednesday's blasts, Abhishek Mande visits the three sites at Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House only to discover that there isn't a feeling of anger on the streets of Mumbai but rather a sense of deep hopelessness. 83.3 crore Indians live in rural areas: Census
Nearly 70 per cent of the country's population lives in rural areas where, for the first time since independence, the overall growth rate of population has sharply declined, according to the latest Census. View: The time for restraint is over
If India is not to be reduced to a Lebanon of yesteryears or another Pakistan we need to act with sense of urgency, marshalling our resources and spirits and acting with a single minded determination to eradicate the scourge of terrorism before it consumes us, says . 'I called my father on his phone; nobody answered'
Sixty-one-year-old Lalchand Radhakishan Ahuja was the sole breadwinner for his family. One of the victims of July 13, 2011 blasts in Mumbai, Ahuja succumbed to his injuries at the St George Hospital. Mumbai blasts probe: Piecing a jigsaw together
talks to officers of the special cell in New Delhi, and finds out what goes on behind the scenes during an investigation Why blasts may not remain a one-city phenomenon
Security expert say that the blasts in Mumbai show the continuing deficiencies in our counter-terrorism capability. 'My brother's in a coma and Kasab is still alive'
Rediff.com narrates the story of four families whose lives were wrecked by the serial bomb blasts that ripped apart Mumbai's calm on the balmy evening of July 13, 2011 Mumbai is not a soft terror target, says Chavan
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan speaks to Rajdeep Sardesai in this exclusive interview to CNN-IBN on Wednesday's triple blasts in Mumbai and how secured is the megapolis from terror. Edited excerpts: Scarred by the blasts: Tale of two wives
When Rinku Vishwakarma first saw the startling news of Mumbai's serial blasts on television at about 7 in the evening at her home in Sion-Koliwada, a northern suburb, she was seized with sudden fear. Patients' kin kept out as PM visits JJ Hospital
Over 200 relatives, friends and well-wishers of JJ Hospital's patients waited outside, their pleas falling on deaf ears. The Mumbai police had its orders: Keep the people out. report. Dozen teams get set to crack Mumbai serial blasts
Investigators claim that the all possible angles are being looked into. Toral Varia takes a look at the task cut out for them. The online samaritan who tried to help Mumbai
meets Delhi-based Nitin Sagar whose twitter/google spreadsheet went viral with offers to help those affected by the blasts in Mumbai Don't just salute Mumbaikars, protect them: Uddhav
Asserting that the government had promptly responded to the Mumbai serial blasts, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said though 99 per cent terror strikes in the country had been prevented due to vigilance and intelligence, the aim was to achieve a 100 per cent result. It is a failure of our policy on Pakistan: Advani
Alleging that terror attacks in India were a proxy war waged by Pakistan, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Thursday said the Indian government must adopt zero tolerance towards terrorism. How Indian Mujahideen tries to dodge investigators
analyses the Indian Mujahideen's modus operandi. Chaos sets in at Mumbai's JJ Hospital after blasts
Utter confusion and disorder was witnessed at the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai as tensed relatives scrambled to complete formalities ahead of taking custody of the bodies of 18 people killed in the serial blasts that ripped through the city on Wednesday evening. Mumbai blasts: A web of support for victims
As television channels flashed news about the Mumbai blasts and phone networks choked, netizens from across the country joined hands on social networking sites offering help to the victims in every possible manner. 'I was lucky to have survived the blast'
'There were no stretchers available immediately, so the people who gathered around tore down tarpaulin and cloth from adjoining shops and made them into makeshift stretchers to ferry the injured to the nearby Saifee Hospital.' Same IM module likely behind Pune, Mumbai blasts
The current leads in the investigation point to the same module of Indian Mujahideen that was responsible for the German Bakery blast in Pune, sources in the Anti-Terrorism Squad have told rediff.com. 'Mumbai is a brave city. We know its strength'
The United Nations Security Council and world leaders have strongly condemned the Mumbai serial blasts, saying terror acts are "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation." 'The Indian Mujahideen is very much alive'
An exclusive interview with Shishir Gupta, author of Indian Mujahideen - Tracking the Enemy Within. 'I was too scared. What if it was another bomb?'
reports from Karbutarkhana, Dadar, the location of the third blast in Mumbai, and Sushrusha Hospital. Hospitals struggle to cope with blast victims
Chaos reigned at various hospitals in Mumbai with over 80 injured people being rushed for treatment after serial bomb blasts rocked the metropolis on Wednesday evening. IN PICTURES: Mumbai's 3 deadly bomb blasts
Three blasts rocked Mumbai's crowded Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar Kabootarkhana areas on Wednesday evening, killing 10 and injuring at least 100 people. VIDEOS: Eyewitness accounts and the destruction
Eyewitness detail the devastation caused during Wednesday's ghastly terror strikes in Mumbai. First PHOTOS of the Dadar blast
Three blasts rocked Mumbai's crowded Zaveri Bazar, Charni Road and Dadar areas on Wednesday evening. Rediff.com's managed to get the first shots of the blast at Dadar. Chronology of major blasts in India since 2005
Here is the chronology of major blasts in the country: Three bomb blasts shatter Mumbai's peace
Three blasts rocked Mumbai's crowded Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar Kabootarkhana areas on Wednesday evening, killing 10 and injuring at least 100 people. NIA report reveals Pak behind fake currency racket
The National Investigating Agency recently filed a 'confidential' report before the special NIA court in Mumbai. accesses the report submitted before the court which has several findings that nail Pakistan's role in the manufacture and circulation of fake currency notes in India. From scribe to minister: The rise of Rajiv Shukla
becoming a TV baron and now inducted into the Union cabinet in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's second rshuffle, Rajiv Shukla's story has been that of rise and rise, writes . Caught on Camera: Murder in public glare
A youth was fatally beaten up in a drunken brawl by his four friends in full public glare in Coimbatore city -- an act which was recorded in a close-circuit camera leading to the arrest of the culprits. IMAGES: The last spacewalk of the US shuttle era
Two American astronauts wrapped up the last spacewalk of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's space shuttle era at the International Space Station, where Atlantis is docked on the final mission of the 30-year US programme. Telangana issue heats up: Leaders on hunger strike
As Telangana braces up for yet another round of battle demanding a separate state, all the Congress and Telugu Desam Party MPs and MLAs who resigned their posts embarked upon a mass hunger strike on Wednesday. 'Moily was shooting his mouth off too much'
analyses why Veerappa Moily was shunted out of the law ministry. In PHOTOS: Military insect drones are here!
The US Air Force is developing the miniature spy craft with the goal of making them so small that they resemble birds and even insects. IN PHOTOS: Martyr's day in Kashmir amid tension
Restrictions were imposed in old city areas of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar on Wednesday to foil separatist marches to the graveyard of martyrs who laid down their lives protesting the autocratic rule of the Dogras in 1931. In PHOTOS: Around the world in the last 24 hours
Presenting some of the best PHOTOGRAPHS from around the globe in the last 24 hours. 'It's a misnomer to call temple assets a treasure'
Since the treasure at Thiruvananthapuram's Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple has been discovered the value of the riches and what should be done with it has become the talk of the town. But little attention has been paid to the rich history and culture of the state that these valuables reveal, says P J Cherian, director, Kerala Council for Historical Research and the director of the archaeological excavations at Pattanam in Ernakulam district. 'Reshuffle will not do any good to UPA's image'
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had promised an expansive ministerial reshuffle, but Tuesday's exercise gave an impression that either the United Progressive Alliance is paralysed or unwilling to go for a fundamental reform. Why Rahul Gandhi's UP yatra has rattled Mayawati
Will the padyatra and mahapanchayat be stand-alone events or will they become part of a sustained and ongoing movement? That was the question on the minds of many in Uttar Pradesh. analyses the events and its effect on the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections. 'Human lives are not important in India'
In an interview with rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, consumer rights activist S Pushpavanam talks about the spate of rail accidents in the last few days and what the civil society can do about this. 'Human lives are not important in India'
In an interview with rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, consumer rights activist S Pushpavanam talks about the spate of rail accidents in the last few days and what the civil society can do about this. Reshuffle musical chairs: Who got what?
Controversial Jairam Ramesh was on Tuesday elevated to Cabinet status and shifted from the high-profile Environment Ministry and Veerappa Moily replaced by Salman Khursheed as Law Minister in a substantive reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers, in which several ministers continued to hold additional charge of some key portfolios. Sulking minister Gurudas Kamat quits
Fifty-seven-year-old Kamat, a five-time MP from Mumbai, who was elevated as Minister of State with Independent Charge on Tuesday morning, has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he wants to be relieved of his ministerial responsibility. 'Bush, Cheney guilty of detainee abuse, torture'
Overwhelming evidence of torture by the George W Bush administration should compel United States President Barack Obama to order a criminal investigation into allegations of detainee abuse authorised by his predecessor and other senior officials, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Tuesday. No more reshuffle; this is it till 2014 polls: PM
In a surprise statement, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Tuesday's resuffle of his Council of Ministers is the last before the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, but two slots have been kept vacant for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as part of "coalition dharma". Tough job, says Salman; Trivedi to visit Fatehpur
Soon after he takes oath as Railways minister on Tuesday, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi will be heading to Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh where a train derailed two days ago, killing 68 people Analysis: A Mere Power Shuffle
The mid-sized ministerial reshuffle will not lead to better governance and has only kept the window open for another reshuffle after the UP election, says . Granting Telangana a double-edged sword for Cong
For the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh the ongoing crisis in Telangana will not end with granting statehood. The decision on making Hyderabad a common capital or Union Territory will be a crucial one if it wants to retain power in the state, reports Vicky Nanjappa. PIX: Big 4 in UPA-II keep their ministries
Four of the most important ministries in the United Progressive Alliance government remained untouched in the major Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday. Let's take a look at these ministries: In PHOTOS: The ministers axed by Manmohan
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday fowarded to President Pratibha Patil the resignation letters of the following ministers in the Union council of ministers with the recommendation that they may be accepted. PIX: Meet Dr Singh's new team of ministers
Let's take a look at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's new team: Dr Singh needs a new team, not a reshuffle
The UPA should realise that it cannot improve its own image, or that of the individual constituents of the alliance, including the Congress party, if it allows the prime minister's authority and image to weaken. 'Treasure belongs to the temple and nobody else'
In this interview to rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, Professor MG Sashibhushan goes back centuries to trace how the riches reached the erstwhile Travancore Royal family and the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple. Grover murder: Judgment rejects conspiracy theory
It was the motive and the conspiracy behind the murder of television executive that the prosecution really wanted to prove to secure a harsher sentence and conviction in the Neeraj Grover murder case. Ironically, it's on these very aspects of the case that the Sessions Judge MW Chandwani has come down heavily upon the prosecution. 'Pro-Telangana agitators threaten voices of unity'
Parakala Prabhakar, spokesperson of the Visalandhra Mahasabha, tells Aditi Phadnis that those in favour of a separate state need not be the well-wishers of Telangana. 'Treasure belongs to the temple and nobody else'
In this interview to rediff.com's Shobha Warrier, Professor MG Sashibhushan goes back centuries to trace how the riches reached the erstwhile Travancore Royal family and the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple. Where is the world of NEWS headed?
In the cut and thrust of British tabloid journalism, the fact that News of the World illegally accessed mobile phones to ferret out information to be used in sensational stories is not exactly breaking news. Why do so many rail accidents occur?
Three railway accidents in four days claimed over 100 lives and left as many as 400 injured. According to the latest official figures, between April 2010 and January 2011, over 300 people were killed and 437 were left injured in railway related mishaps. In all, this year alone has seen six major railway accidents. wonders why. PIX: Meet the most powerful women in the world
Let's take a look at some other women who continue to make waves in world politics. A timely chronicle of the Telangana struggle
In his book, Battleground Telangana - Chronicle of an Agitation, Kingshuk Nag dwells into the recent history about the creation of Andhra Pradesh. Nag has also spoken to a wide cross section of politicians and people of the all the three regions of the southern state to unravel the complexities of the situation. REWIND: The best PHOTOS of the week gone by
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the last week Ramdev blames Chidambaram for midnight crackdown
Yoga guru Ramdev on Monday alleged in the Supreme Court that Home Minister P Chidambaram was behind the midnight crackdown on him and his followers during the protests on the issue of black money at the Ramlila Maidan in June. Govt has no claim on temple treasure: Tharoor
With the world wowed by the incredible amount of riches found in the secret vaults of the Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, member of Parliament from the city Shashi Tharoor spoke to rediff.com's Shobha Warrior about the treasure, what should be done with it and the government's role if any as far as the temple goes. AP govt ready to hand over Telangana: Sources
Sources now confirm that the decision to hand over a separate Telangana has already been made by the government in consultation with the Union government. Promises unkept, justice delayed for 7/11 victims
The wait for justice is turning out to be a long and frustrating one for survivors of the 7/11 serial train blasts, finds Toral Varia on the 5th anniversary of the blasts The woman who conquered an acid attack
Thirteen years after a barbaric acid attack on her face, Shirin Juwaley has pulled herself from the brink of trauma to help other victims like her. Train mishap: 69 dead, 23 still unidentified
The toll in Sunday's derailment in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh went up to 53 with 15 more bodies, including that of a Swedish national, being recovered from the mangled compartments of the ill-fated Delhi-bound Kalka Mail. In PHOTOS: Smashing party with Spanish bulls
The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it is more commonly known outside Spain officially begins at midday on July 6 every year with the 'chupinazo', which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. Are India and Pak learning to like each other?
India is willing to look at terrorism in a broader sub-continental perspective than in a purely national perspective, says security expert . Corrupt netas, beware of Tihar Munnetra Kazhagam!
One of several jokes doing the rounds these days is about the launch of a new political party, called the Tihar Munnetra Kazhagam. 'We'll exclaim at the end: The horror, the horror'
An excerpt from the order of the Supreme Court in the writ petition (civil) no 250 of 2007, Nandini Sundar and others versus State of Chattisgarh, in the court of Justice B Sudarshan Reddy We lost our way: News of the World's last edit
Passionate readers trooped into corner shops at the crack of dawn on Sunday to pick up the last and special edition of the 168-year-old News of the World tabloid, which was abruptly closed down this week amidst allegations of phone-hacking. UP farmers repose faith in Rahul Gandhi
The rains played spoilsport at Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's much hyped farmer's rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Volunteers seemed to be at their wits' end to directing the crowds at the Numaish Ground in Aligarh. Bring 'em on! Hazare flays UPA for veiled threats
Lashing out at the government for criticising civil society activists, Gandhian Anna Hazare on Saturday vowed to continue with the proposed August 16 agitation despite "threats" to "crush" it, saying he was willing "to face bullets and not just lathis. Farmers brave rain for Rahul's mahapanchayat
Braving heavy rains, farmers and Congress workers on Saturday gathered in Aligarh for the 'kisan mahapanchayat', marking the culmination of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's four-day foot march in Uttar Pradesh. Speak up on Telangana: YSR Cong leaders tell Jagan
YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday faced the Telangana heat on the second day of his party's plenary session even as the newly-formed outfit sought to steer clear of the contentious issue by blaming the Congress for the current imbroglio. Cong-DMK alliance will continue: Pranab
In the backdrop of Dayanidhi Maran's exit from the Union cabinet over the 2G scam issue, senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday discussed the current political situation with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief M Karunanidhi and asserted that the alliance between the two parties would be strengthened. After Rahul, Jagan turns his attention to farmers
A special budget for farmers and interest-free loans for farmers and women are among the welfare programmes announced by Kadapa member of Parliament Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, which he said his YSR Congress Party would implement if it comes to power. Video: Sexy Jacqueline, John's Force
Sexy Jacqueline, John's Force Learnt more from farmers than in Delhi: Rahul
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday wound up his four-day foot march through the dusty heartlands of rural Uttar Pradesh here and returned to Delhi. Karachi: 95 dead, shoot-at-sight orders issued
Pakistani authorities on Friday issued shoot-at-sight orders and ordered deployment of 1,000 additional paramilitary troops in Karachi as vicious violence continued to paralyse the country's financial capital, leaving nearly 95 people dead in last four days. 'The themes of my novel are universal'
Debutante novelist Kamala Nair speaks to . New Jersey's Arya Dance Academy completes a decade
When about 900 students of Arya Dance Academy from age 4 to 20 danced in a number of four-minute segments June 12, arguably a record was set for a desi show in America, says California school celebrates Ramayan for 33 years
Last week, 200 students of the Mount Madonna School in Watsonville, California performed the 33rd version of their annual Ramayan production at the Mexican Heritage Theater in San Jose, California. The 3-hour play was performed June, 10, 11 and 12 by preschool to 12th grade students in what is the longest-running production of the Indian epic in the western hemisphere. PIX: All set for Rahul's Kisan Mahapanchayat
Rediff.com's has been following Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi throughout his walkathon. He reports on the massive preparations for Rahul's 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' in Aligarh, the last stop of his journey 'I felt like I was talking to my own son'
chronicles day four of Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's padyatra through the dusty villages of western Uttar Pradesh. The shameful demise of a 165-year-old newspaper
The largest-selling daily in Britain had confessed to and apologised for hacking the message banks of several celebrities, sports identities and politicians two months ago. In PHOTOS: Wet, flooded Mumbai
Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Mumbai for the second consecutive day on Friday, disrupting rail and air traffic, causing inconvenience to a lot of commuters. What to do with treasures found in Kerala temple?
A national religious council should manage temples and places of historical and cultural relevance to the followers of all Indian religions, says . REVEALED: The man who masterminded Osama hunt
The Central Intelligence Agency operative who was responsible for tracking down and ultimately killing Osama Bin laden may have had his cover blown because of his distinguishing yellow tie. The man, known as 'John'', is a career CIA analyst whose job for nearly a decade was hunting down the Al Qaeda chief. In PHOTOS: Around the world in the last 24 hours
Presenting some of the most scintillating pictures from around the globe in the last 48 hours. SC bars opening of Padmanabhaswamy Temple vaults
The Supreme Court on Friday restrained the seven-member committee from opening vaults of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, which according to various estimates contains wealth worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. Heavy rains lash Mumbai; air, rail traffic hit
Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Mumbai for the second consecutive day on Thursday, disrupting rail and air traffic, causing inconvenience to a lot of commuters. SCARY facts about Pakistan's nuclear stockpile
Pakistan has the world's fastest-growing nuclear stockpile and it could achieve 150-200 warheads in a decade despite the political instability in the country, two top American atomic experts have said. PIX: When Rahul had dry roti, slept on a charpoy
With just the right amount of rhetoric, provocation and promises, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's much-publicised padyatra struck a chord. Each step he took looked impromptu -- there were no announcements or itineraries or discussions. IMAGES: Dalai Lama celebrates 76th birthday in US
Thousands of people, including Tibetans, assembled in Washington to celebrate the 76th birthday of Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who also inaugurated the 11-day Kalachkra ceremony for World Peace PHOTOS: Mother of all dust storms hits Arizona
Residents of Phoenix, Arizona scurried for cover on Tuesday night as a massive desert sandstorm roared through their city. 'Kerala temple treasure may trigger a controversy'
Questions and speculations continue to haunt the Rs 90,000 crore treasure trove found in the secret cellars of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram continues to dominate the headlines. Next terror threat: Bombs implanted in humans
Were you subjected to uncomfortable patting down at the airport screening counter? Well, the scenario just turned worse as latest intel inputs point to a new kind of threat to air travel -- bombs surgically-implanted into human beings UP is run by touts. People are to be blamed: Rahul
"You are not together. Uttar Pradesh is divided and that is why dalals (touts) are running the state," Rahul said, addressing people in this village on the third day of his padayatra to Aligarh. Telanagana: Will Jagan dare to take a stand?
YSR President Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to break his silence on the Telangana issue at the party plenary. But will risk speaking in favour of Telangana or sit on the fence? Vicky Nanjappa reports A FAQ on CBI and the Right to Information Act
Why did the Centre hastily decide to exempt the CBI from the purview of the Right to Information Act? B Raman addresses some questions about the role of the investigative agency and the government's 'national security concerns' . 'India and the US may never be allies'
In an exclusive interview, Strobe Talbott, a key protagonist in resurrecting the United States-India relationship after India's nuclear tests in May 1998, talks about the US-India relations, Iran and the Pakistan situation to Rediff.com's . What to expect out of cabinet's Telangana meet
The Union Cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the Telangana crisis in detail and the government is expected to announce a time-bound programme for the formation of a separate state, reports Vicky Nanjappa. PICS: The men who fund terrorism across the globe
Russia has identified underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi as financiers of terrorism through money laundering. Top 5 treasures from around the world
Ever since the vaults of the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala were opened for inspection on June 27, it literally opened the floodgates for the treasure that had been lying there for centuries. INSIDE TIHAR: Rasam for Kani, chai for Kalmadi
It is official now: VIP prisoners do get VIP treatment inside Tihar Jail. Analysis: Why the BJP is fast losing the plot
Even as the UPA is struggling for credibility and ways to fight corruption, the BJP is merely waiting in the wings hoping to earn votes by default. But that is not likely to happen, says . 2G scam: Sack Maran, Jayalalithaa tells PM
With Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran coming under the Central Bureau of Investigation's scanner in the 2G scam, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday demanded that he should be dropped from the Union Cabinet immediately. IMAGES: When Raj Thackeray got fingerprinted
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray takes an Iris scan at the Aadhaar number/UID (Unique Identification Number) card enrollment centre. Rahul's love for farmers a drama for UP polls: BSP
As Rahul Gandhi continued his kisan padyatra for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party claimed that his "love" for farmers is mere a political drama in view of the forthcoming assembly elections in the state. Do terrorists attack temples for the money?
Will the revelation that Rs 90,000 crore lies at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, given birth to more Ghaznis and Ghoris? History would show at that point of time these emperors looted temples since they were rich. Rs 90,000 cr temple wealth belongs to Lord Vishnu
The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed a curator to look after the Rs 90,000 crore wealth found at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Speculations have been rife on what will be the eventual fate of the wealth -- whether it will be used for charitable purposes or remain with the temple authorities. Telangana paralysed, students clash with cops
As Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh remained shut on the second consecutive day in response to the 48-hour general strike call by the Telangana Joint Action Committee, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti has warned the Congress leaders of the region against any compromise with their central leaders. PHOTOS: India's richest temples
Spread over almost each and every part, the temples reflect the devotion of the followers of the Hindu faith. And their devotion often reflects in the balance sheets of temple trusts. In PICS: World's biggest yoga camp
The event: The biggest yoga camp ever. The place: Berlin, Germany. The occasion was the 30th year celebration of the Art of Living Foundation. Around 50,000 people from around the world attended the two-day event on July 2 and 3. The event saw around 6,000 artistes performing to a cheering crowd at the Olympiastadion, even though it rained persistently. Rewind: Best PHOTOS in the last 24 hours
Presenting some of the best PHOTOGRAPHS from around the globe in the last 24 hours Exclusive: Nikki Haley on her upcoming India trip
In an exclusive interview with rediff.com the Indian-American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley talks about the purpose of her India visit, the 2012 Presidential polls, her relation with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, her strong objections to United States President Barack Obama's health care plans and more. 'Pak has reserve terror army for war with India'
Pakistan has kept 12,000-14,000 fully trained Kashmiri militants in reserve and would use them, if needed, in a war with India, according to a former militant commander. Did prosecution bungle case against Maria, Jerome?
Between the Mumbai crime branch announcing the cracking of the sensational Neeraj Grover murder in May 2008 and the culpable homicide not amounting to murder verdict last week, lies a tale of shoddy case preparation. picks holes in the prosecution's case against Maria Susairaj and Emile Jerome Students set July 10 deadline for Telangana state
The Osmania University Joint Action Committee for Telangana has set July 10 as deadline for the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre to announce the formation of the Telangana state. Who was behind the failed coup plot in Pakistan?
wonders if the jehadi penetration of the Pakistani armed forces is deeper than feared. 'We are now closer to our goal -- Telangana state'
TRS general secretary Subash Reddy, in an interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, elaborates on his party's plans in the days to come. Is this the final agitation for Telangana?
Bandh demanding statehood for Telangana, protests on streets and shutdown in the state is what Andhra has been witnessing for years now. But what is it that makes Tuesday's agitation different? Vicky Nanjappa analyses 'For God's sake, stop digging up temple treasures'
R Vaidyanathan, a professor of finance at Indian Institute of Management-Bengaluru, tells why the time is just not right to reveal details of the temple's treasures. Meet the men behind Team Anna
A journalist. A lawyer. A systems analyst. Behind the propagation of the words and philosophies of team Anna is a core group of 12 dedicated individuals, some of who have quit their jobs to work full time for Anna's cause. meets a few of them. View: BJP's Arun Jaitley on the Lokpal Bill
The ministers' draft of the Lokpal Bill has to be judged on the criteria whether it can subserve the object sought to be achieved, writes Leader of Opposition (Rajya Sabha) Arun Jaitley. In PHOTOS: Horse wrestling in Spain
Men and women alike would wrestle the untamed horses to the ground with their hands and arms to cut their manes and tails. Life at border: Thin line between life and death
"Before the fatal accident of 2002, I used to trade in warm clothes and shawls in Sar Hind Shareef, Punjab. When I returned to my village in 2002, as usual, I took my cattle to graze in the nearby forest. It was 4 o'clock in the evening. My daughter Jameela was accompanying me. I felt something beneath my feet. Before I could realize anything, a huge blast threw me off. All I could feel was intense pain, blacking out with the impact." Telangana bandh throws Andhra out of gear
Demanding that the Centre concede separate Telangana demand immediately in the wake of en masse resignations of members of Parliament and members of legislative assembly, the Telangana political Joint Action Committee on Monday called for a series of protests that include a two-day shutdown and rail blockade. reports. War on Terror cost: $4.12 trillion, 225,000 dead
If the wars continue, they are on track to require at least another $450 billion in Pentagon spending by 2020. Telangana: After MLAs, now 11 Congress MPs resign
Mounting pressure on the Centre, Congress and Telegu Desam Party legislators from Telangana asserted that they will resign on Monday in support of their demand for statehood to the region. Is your child obsessed with Internet? Read this!
Worried for your child's obsession for the internet and social networking sites? You are not alone, researchers say. Twists and turns in Telangana politics
Monday has been an eventful day in Andhra Pradesh politics with a majority of the elected representatives of Telangana region quitting their seats to press their demand for a separate state. 'We had to resign. We have waited a long time'
In an interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, senior Congress leader Keshava Rao says that people's patience had run out and that they will settle for nothing less than a separate state 'Telangana must be patient; it's a complex issue'
As Congress lawmakers from Telangana stepped up pressure by tendering their resignation, the Centre on Monday said it had not taken a final decision on the 'extremely sensitive and complex' issue of separate statehood. Part 2: Kapil Sibal on why Lokpal could harm India
In the second and final part of his analysis of the draft Lokpal Bill, Union Minister lists out how the Lokpal could be detrimental to the functioning of the judiciary and the exucutive Telangana resignations: 3 options before Centre
analyses the options before the United Progressive Alliance to save its government in Andhra Pradesh and amicably resolve the Telangana statehood demand Rs 90,000 cr in Padmanabhaswamy temple. What next?
As the treasure chests open in Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, debate sparks on how to safeguard the treasure considering its immense historical and cultural values PIX: Parading around the world queer, colourful
Two years since the Delhi high court decriminalised homosexuality there has been no looking back for the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender community, marked the second year of celebrations on saturday. AP govt in crisis as 73 MLAs quit over Telangana
reports on the dilemma that the Andhra Pradesh government headed by Kiran Kumar Reddy faces in the wake of Congress legislators from Telangana deciding to quit their seats to press for a separate state. Why PM's all-party Lokpal meet won't see results
The all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday is unlikely to come out with a common view on the Lokpal legislation with the National Democratic Alliance and the Left parties playing hardball and the government yet to finalise its draft bill. My god knows I am innocent: Maria Susairaj
Kannada actress Maria Susairaj, who walked out of jail on Saturday after serving more than three years behind bars in Neeraj Grover murder case, claimed she is innocent and the conviction is a "stigma" on her life. 'Why should the Prime Minister be immune?'
The Communist Party of India-Marxist has accused the Congress of reversing its own stand of bringing the Prime Minister under Lokpal purview, saying a parliamentary panel headed by senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee had made such a recommendation in 2001. Anna tries to convince Sonia, sends out warning
Addressing media persons on Saturday evening, Anna said that the civil society had put its view before the UPA chairperson, and added that she had promised to look into the issue. The Gandhian, however, warned that if the right draft did not go to the Parliament, he would go on fast again. In PHOTOS: Dramatic shots of a car bomb blast
This unfortunate Thailand bomb squad officer approached a bomb-rigged car in Narathiwat province after a second car, three yards away had detonated, wounding a soldier. But just before the officer could reach the vehicle it erupted. Grover murder: Maria walks free, visits church
Kannada actress Maria Susairaj, sentenced to three-year imprisonment in the 2008 murder of television executive Neeraj Grover, on Saturday walked free out of a jail in Mumbai as she has already spent the term behind the bars. Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar new CVC: Sources
Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar was on Saturday unanimously chosen the next chief vigilance commissioner, four months after the Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of P J Thomas to the post. Lokpal Bill row: Hazare to meet Sonia today
Social activist Anna Hazare and other representatives of the civil society will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday to seek her support on the Jan Lokpal Bill. US-Pak: Wedded deadlock
Want to eavesdrop on a spousal conversation and thank God that you aren't in an abusive relationship like this one? Read on. First Look: RGV's Not A Love Story
First Look: Ram Gopal Verma's Not A Love Story Why Dr Singh should interact with media more often
The simple lesson that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh should learn from his occasional interactions with the media is that he should do this more often. Of course, at a time and place of his choosing, focusing attention on issues he considers important (so that he can guide public thinking and political discourse) and addressing doubts uppermost in the public mind. 'Loss of intelligentsia is a disaster for Bengal'
Three years after the internationally acclaimed beginning to his masterful epic, the Ibis Trilogy, with the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted Sea Of Poppies, Amitav Ghosh returns with a spectacular novel depicting the further adventures of those aboard the Ibis. 'Absolute' Red! Communists turn 90 in China
China on Friday turned red as the ruling Communist Party celebrated its 90th anniversary with President Hu Jintao promising political reforms but only under the 'absolute control' of the CPC over military and government, as he warned that rampant corruption was eroding the party's legitimacy. Hazare calls meeting with BJP 'good and fruitful'
Civil society activist Anna Hazare on Friday held a meeting with the top brass of the Bharatiya Janata Party to discuss his draft of the Lokpal Bill. After the meeting Hazare said there was a consensus between his team and the BJP over the formation of a strong and effective Lokpal. IN PHOTOS: Around the globe in the last 24 hours
Rediff.com presents some the best photographs from around the world in the last 24 hours. What has silenced the rebellious Reddy brothers?
Battling challenges and threats of being toppled, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, heading the first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party government in the south, has been in office for three years. He is rightly termed as a master survivor in the media circles and one of the toughest challenges he faced was that from the mighty Reddy brothers of Bellary. Grover case: Jerome gets 10 yrs, Maria walks free
Three years after the brutal killing of television executive Neeraj Grover, a Mumbai court on Friday sentenced former navy officer Emile Jerome to 10 years in jail for the murder of television executive Neeraj Grover. The court also handed a 3-year jail term as applicable under Part 2 of Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code to actress Maria Susairaj. Kerala: Now terror's own backyard in India
reports on how Kerala, populary known as God's own country, is now a haven for hawala transactions and the perfect breeding ground for terrorists PHOTOS of the Month: June
We bring you a presentation of some of the best photos from around the world in the month gone by. June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | Sepetember 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | Jun 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010