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December 31, 2009
2009: Andhra Pradesh's annus horriblis   Reuters
2009: A year of scandals and tragedy for Andhra.

It's an odd world out there   Reuters
Rediff.com has listed some odd moments captured through 2009.

How India fought terrorism in 2009   Reuters
People could not usher in 2009 with great fanfare, with the memories of the horrific Mumbai attacks still fresh in their minds. The year was, by and large, peaceful compared to 2008, which saw a series of blasts across the country at various times, culminating with the Mumbai attacks.

'I tell myself, he is not looking at me but at the family'   Reuters
The Gandhi family's son in law opens up on marrying into India's first family.
December 30, 2009
Telangana bandh cripples Hyderabad   Snapsindia
Normal life in 10 districts of Telangana region, including Hyderabad, has come to a grinding halt due to the bandh called by an all-party joint action committee.
December 29, 2009
Japan proposes CTBT, India disposes   Reuters
Pressed by Japan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, India clearly put the onus on the US and China on Tuesday for taking a lead in this direction by ratifying it.

'Sonia rebuilt India's largest political party'   Reuters
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati are among the four Indians named in the Financial Times list of '50 People Who Shaped the Decade.'

India in images in 2009   Reuters
Rediff.com looks back at the events that captured the minds of the nation.

Longest annular eclipse of the sun on Jan 15   
"The annular phase runs from 10.44 am (IST), when the eclipse begins in the Central African Republic to the end of the eclipse on the Chinese Yellow Sea coast at 14.29 pm (IST)," Tamilnadu Science and Technology Centre Executive Director Dr P Iyamperumal told PTI on Tuesday.
December 28, 2009
The Return of the Indian National Congress   Reuters
Rediff.com takes a look at some of the events that made 2009 memorable, for the right and wrong reasons, and which left an indelible mark on India's collective opinion and imagination.
December 24, 2009
Christmas spirit warms up hearts   Reuters
Lots of fun and frolic, a dash of history and piety, fluffy cakes, fine wine and tons of festivities. That in a nutshell is Christmas.

Peace shattered, violence engulfs Telangana   SnapsIndia
Telangana region -- Hyderabad and nine other districts -- remained tense on Wednesday night with fresh protests erupting near Osmania University as Pro-Telangana agitators pelted stones on buses and demonstrations broke out in different towns.

'Kandahar hijack was India's diplomatic failure'   Reuters
A decade after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane, the chief Indian negotiator who engaged the hijackers blamed the then government for its 'diplomatic failure' in their inability to make the United States and the United Arab Emirates use their influence to help secure a quick release of the passengers.
December 22, 2009
This 'sufi rocker' has performed for Michelle Obama   
Columbia University professor of medicine Gaurav Shah and his wife Falu are emerging as a high-profile singing couple.
December 21, 2009
Meet Indian American community's first power couple   Aziz Haniffa
United States President Barack Obama recently elevated Dr Rajiv Shah, who currently serves as Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the United States Department of Agriculture, as administrator for the United States Agency for International Development. Earlier, the Obama administration had named Shah's wife, Shivam Mallick Shah as Director of Special Initiatives, Office of Innovation and Improvement at the Department of Education.

Marina Beach gets a makeover   Sreeram Selvaraj
A stroll on the famed Marina Beach in Chennai will never be the same again. One of the world's longest beaches, the Marina Beach has just got a Rs 25.92 crore make-over. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi threw open the new beautified four-km-stretch of the Marina on December 20.

L Rajagopal: Richest MP is face of united AP   SnapsIndia
Lagadapati Rajagopal, 45, an industrialist-turned-politician, is a second term member of the Lok Sabha from Vijaywada constituency -- the commercial capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Winston Churchill owes Rs 13 to Bangalore Club   Vicky Nanjappa
Former prime minister of Britain Winston Churchill has unfinished business at the Bangalore Club.

Nepal Maoists continue to parlayse normal life   Sreeram Selvaraj
A stroll on the famed Marina Beach in Chennai will never be the same again. One of the world's longest beaches, the Marina Beach has just got a Rs 25.92 crore make-over. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi threw open the new beautified four-km-stretch of the Marina on December 20.
December 18, 2009
Verdict very unfair, says family   Prasanna D Zore
"The material produced by the prosecution in court could not even damage a small door," says Farida, withholding her tears even as she maintains that the Spanish court has been "very unfair" to her husband.

I was arrested 20 days before 26/11 attacks: Kasab   
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured in the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, on Friday stood his ground in the witness box while recording his statement under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Power to examine the accused).
December 17, 2009
'India doesn't feel insecure about accepting anything foreign'   Abhishek Mande
On the eve of their 14th Chamber Music Festival Harvey De Souza of the Mehli Mehta Music Foundation is happy with the way western classical music is evolving in India.

Majority wants a united AP, says Chiranjeevi   SnapsIndia
Film star-turned-politician and Praja Rajyam Party chief Chiranjeevi on Thursday announced his resignation from the state assembly in protest against the decision of the Central government to start the process for the formation of Telangana state by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.

Dalai Lama's queries leave doctors baffled   Reuters
Hundreds of medical experts were at their wit's end when Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama asked them point blank, "Do you give your patients true happiness?".
December 16, 2009
Proving everyone wrong   Sreeram Selvaraj
Being disabled does not mean the end of the world. Shobha Warrier narrates G J Siddharth's inspiring story.

Anti-Telangana protests, fasts continue in AP   SnapsIndia
Fast-unto-death by Congress Member of Parliament L Rajagopal and several other leaders, pressing for a unified Andhra Pradesh continued on Wednesday even as Chiranjeevi-led Praja Rajyam Party came under pressure from its MLAs to end its support for a separate Telangana.
December 15, 2009
Remember the Texas guy who was once President?   Reuters
Former US President George W (Dubya) Bush is clearly enjoying himself after leaving the White House.

Cong MP leading anti-Telangana tirade arrested   SnapsIndia
Ten members of legislative assembly and council, who were with him, were also arrested by the police and sent to Falaknuma police station in the city. This is the second time in the day that Rajagopal has been arrested.

Beautified Marina Beach to be opened to public on Sunday   Reuters
The beautified Marina Beach, which is sporting a new look with 14 viewing galleries and food courts, will be thrown open to the public on Sunday with the city corporation completing the Rs 25.92-crore facelift project.
December 14, 2009
What binds Mahatma, Mamata, Karuna and KCR?   Snaps India
Handed down by the Mahatma as a medium to peacefully protest for a cause, hunger strikes have, however, been used by many politicians for achieving individual and petty goals. Many leaders have been successful while some failed in getting their demands conceded, but fasting is still considered an effective weapon of protest in Indian polity.

Legendary photo journalist T S Satyan passes away   KPN Photos
Legandary photo journalist Tamabarahalli Subramanya Satyanarayana Iyer, better known as T S Satyan, was five days away from his 86th birthday when he passed away at Mysore on Sunday.

Italian PM 'knocked out'   Reuters
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was left with bleeding nose and teeth after being hit in the face by a statue at a political rally. The 73-year-old media tycoon-turned-politician suffered cuts that needed stitches after being attacked by a man called Massimo Tartaglia, 42, after giving a fiery speech to supporters of his People of Freedom party near the Milan cathedral.

Anti-Telangana protests rock Andhra   SnapsIndia
Protests continued in the Rayalaseema and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth day on Monday against bifurcation of the state.

'Money has become everything in BSP'   
I was not ready to spend money and they demanded money. I don't want to use money in politics. Unfortunately in the BSP, money has become everything. There is a mafia working in the party that controls everything.
December 13, 2009
Andhra politics heats up further over Telangana   SnapsIndia
The political crisis in Andhra Pradesh triggered by the Telangana issue showed no signs of easing on Sunday with four Telugu Desam Party leaders launching an indefinite fast opposing bifurcation of the state, even as ministers, who threatened to quit, maintained silence on their move.
December 12, 2009
Pakistan is close to my heart, says Hillary   Snaps India
As Pakistan battled growing Taliban insurgency, the US has said the country is at a "critical juncture", but acknowledged that the "trust deficit" between the two sides is holding back their cooperation.
December 11, 2009
The mess and mayhem of forming Telangana   Snaps India
A huge drama has unfolded within the Congress party after the dramatic midnight announcement by Home Minister P Chidambaram to initiate the process of creation of a separate state of Telangana on Thursday.
December 10, 2009
'It is freedom at midnight'   Snaps India
As an over-enthusiastic activist put it, it was "freedom at midnight" for the Telangana supporters. The entire region burst in to unprecedented celebrations at midnight after the Centre gave the nod for a separate state. Soon after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram made the announcement, the people, especially the youth, rushed out to the streets to witness history in the making.

Telangana supporters celebrate statehood   
A wave of joy and cheer on Thursday swept the Osmania University, the nerve centre of the Telangana movement, after the Centre conceded to the demand of carving out a separate state from Andhra Pradesh.

Dilip Chitre: Portrait of an artist   
Legendary Indian writer, critic, painter, and filmmaker Dilip Purushottam Chitre passed away on Thursday. We bring back to you an earlier interview with the rare multi-talented artist, who spoke about his passion, his work and his views on India's global reach to Rediff.com in 2007.

Prof Ramakrishnan receives Chemistry Nobel   Reuters
Indian-American Venkatraman Ramakrishnan received the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry at the Concert Hall in Stockholm on Thursday.

Obama receives Nobel Peace prize, justifies war   Reuters
The Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Barack Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples and cited his push for nuclear disarmament"

Telangana sparks demands for more new states   SnapsIndia
Gorkhaland supporters called for a bandh in Darjeeling for their own state, while Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh threatened to resume the agitation for a separate Harit Pradesh, as the planned statehood for Telangana sparked fresh demands to create new states.

KCR: A man who turned disadvantage to opportunityt   SnapsIndia
By his astounding feat of forcing the government of India to bow before him and accept his demand for carving out a separate state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, 55-year-old Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhara Rao has forced both his friends and enemies to sit up and take notice.

Pune: 'Little Magazine's Dilip Chitre passes away   
Renowned poet, writer and critic Dilip Chitre passed away at his Pune residence in the early hours of Thursday. Chitre, 71, was suffering from cancer, family sources said.

The long, meandering journey of Telangana   
Till September 1948, Telangana region was part of Nizam's dominion, which was the biggest Muslim state in India under British rule, known as the Hyderabad state.

'There can be no Telangana without Hyderabad'   
Dr K Jayashankar, the father of the struggle for Telengana, on the road ahead.
December 09, 2009
The Secret of the Nobel Prize dinner   Reuters
A lavish ceremonial dinner will crown an evening of celebrations for Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and the 12 other Nobel Prize winners on Thursday at the Stokholm City Hall. The menu, like always, remains a well-kept secret.

TRS chief's condition worsens, Hyderabad turns into a fortress   Snapsindia
As his fast unto death entered its eleventh day on Wednesday, the condition of Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrashekar Rao has turned critical. Tension was mounting in the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, where Rao has been kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit.

Police crackdown on Osamania students continue   
A day ahead of the call for march to the legislative assembly to press their demand for a separate state, the police on Wednesday cracked down on pro-Telangana activists on the Osmania University campus, taking into custody around 50 of them.

TRS chief's condition worsens, Hyderabad turns into a fortress   Snapsindia
As his fast unto death entered its eleventh day on Wednesday, the condition of Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrashekar Rao has turned critical. Tension was mounting in the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, where Rao has been kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit.

Maoists have infiltrated Telangana movement: Andhra police   Snapsindia
Maoists and other outside elements have infiltrated the ongoing pro-Telangana movement in Andhra Pradesh.Inspector General of Police A R Anuradha told media persons that intelligence reports indicated that Maoists had definitely infiltrated the movement. "It is the old concept of Maoists that they should have a toehold in the Dandakarnya forest which passes through Telangana. The movement is to their advantage and they will support every such movement," she said..
December 08, 2009
So, just what is happening in Pakistan?   Reuters
Indian intelligence agencies and military experts, who have been watching the developments in Pakistan closely, say the military operation is a lot more complex than it seems to be and in the end, might even result in a direct threat to India.

'Bhopal gas tragedy cannot be forgotten simply because it happened to the poor'   
Photographer Samar Jodha's latest installation gives you a 3D experience of the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Thackeray's revival plans   Rediff Archive
Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray is back, in an implicit admission that he erred in his political judgement. A few years ago, Thackeray had annointed his son Uddhav as the party's executive president bypassing his cousin Raj, who went on to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Incidentally, the MNS spoiled the prospects of the Shiv Sena in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.

India, Russia to deepen 'time tested' relationship: statement   Reuters
India and Russia underlined their determination to deepen their "time tested" relationship on Monday, as they inked a path-breaking civil nuclear agreement that will ensure transfer of technology and uninterrupted uranium fuel supplies to its nuclear reactors and signed three pacts in the defence sector.

Writer Mridula Koshy wins 2009 Shakti Bhatt award   
Mridula Koshy's If It is Sweet, a collection of short stories, has bagged the 2009 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize. The New Delhi-based author will get Rs 1 lakh and a citation on December 14 at the capital's British Council.

PM winds up 'path-breaking' Russia trip; leaves for Delhi   Reuters
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday wound up a three-day visit to Russia, during which the two sides signed a path-breaking civil nuclear agreement and three defence pacts.

Car bombs rock Baghdad again; 127 killed   Reuters
A series of car bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday killed at least 127 people and injured nearly 500 others, according to Iraq's Interior Ministry.The first vehicle, reportedly targeted at a police patrol, exploded at southern Baghdad's Dora district at approximately 10 am local time, and was followed by four similar blasts.One of the blasts struck near the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs while the other two took place in crowded commercial areas.

State imposes prohibitory orders in Telangana   Snaps India
Worried over his deteriorating health, doctors have advised Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao to call off his nearly ten day fast-unto-death.
December 07, 2009
Telangana: Yesterday, today and tomorrow   SnapsIndia
The Telangana issue is on the boil again. Other than creating national interest in the last few decades, not much has been spoken about the movement. That said the release of the book titled Telangana: The State of Affairs recently could not have come at a better time.

India's ties with third countries not at cost of Russia: PM   Reuters
Seeking to take forward the strategic partnership to new heights, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear that India's relations with third countries will never be at the cost of "time-tested ties" with Russia.

Internet star croons for Kashmir   Umar Ganie
American Singer Terra Naomi performed in Srinagar on Monday evening to create awareness about the adverse effects of climate change on Kashmir.

Indo-Russian defence cooperation key to bilateral ties: PM   Reuters
As he prepared to meet President Dmitry Medvedev for the annual summit-level talks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said defence cooperation has been a "very important aspect" in Indo-Russian ties.

'People of Assam are not with ULFA'   Reuters
The handful of United Liberation Front of Asom supporters, who raised slogans in support of Arabindo Rajkhowa when he was produced in court, and the anger of the outfit's chairman at being handcuffed, cuts little ice with the common people of the state.
December 04, 2009
Anti-Muslim violence on the rise in US: Report   Reuters
The number of bias-related incidents against Muslims in the United States of America increased in 2008, although hate crimes against the community recorded a fall, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said on Thursday in a report.

Obama's strategy is more about US than Afghanistan   Reuters
US President Barack Obama has fallen into the trap of trying to please all shades of domestic opinion on what his Afghan war strategy should be.

Not learning from Bhopal   Jewella C Miranda
We have no protocol for handling chemical accidents, managing medical relief or fixing the liability of polluters.
December 03, 2009
Mumbai residents seek water, get caned   Sahil Salvi
Mumbai's water woes claimed a life and left several injured on Thursday when police baton charged demonstrators protesting the cut in water supply to residential areas, in front of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters.

Bhopal mourns for victims of 1984 gas leak   Reuters
Victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy and their families held a rally outside the Union Carbide Factory to mark the 25th anniversary of the world's most deadly industrial disaster.

US presence in Afghanistan is a stopgap measure   Reuters
In understanding Obama's strategy, we must begin with an obvious but unstated point: The extra forces that will be deployed to Afghanistan are not expected to defeat the Taliban. Instead, their mission is to reverse the momentum of previous years and to create the circumstances under which an Afghan force can take over the mission.

Once again, the tricolour flies high at Gateway of India   Reuters
A Navy band practices robustly for the Beating of the Retreat ceremony, which will be held on Thursday and Friday at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, as part of the city's Navy Week celebrations.Last year, Navy Week celebrations were cancelled in the wake of the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, and the Gateway of India was cordoned off. A week after the anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the Gateway and the Taj Mahal hotel today form the gracious backdrop to the celebrations.
December 02, 2009
25 years on, lives are still poisoned in Bhopal   Reuters
Its been 25 years since the world's worst industrial and environment disaster ever -- the Bhopal gas tragedy -- claimed scores of lives. However, there seems to be no end to the victims' woes.

US to send 30,000 troops to Afghan, withdrawal in 18 months   Reuters
After three months of intensive review of his Af-Pak policy, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and begin withdrawal of troops in 18 months.

Meet the man who plans to put tobacco on trial   Sahil Salvi
Deepak Kumar, a Commissioner of Customs in Mumbai, is filing a complaint against ITC ltd for its tobacco products, which Kumar claims gave him throat cancer.
December 01, 2009
World unites to fight against AIDS   Reuters
The number of new HIV infections have declined each year by approximately 17 per cent from 2001 to 2008, says WHO. But the United Nations cautions that for every five people infected each year, only two start treatment.

Blame it on confusion and Intel goof-up   Rediff Archives
The Ram Pradhan committee that went into the response by the police to the 26/11 attacks has pointed out "total confusion" in processing of Intelligence alerts at the level of the state government and "inadequacies" in the existing mechanism for analysing alerts about possible strikes.

Freedom of sought, at last?   Reuters
The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday allowed nearly 1.30 lakh Tamil civilians housed in refugees camps in northern part of the island country to visit their relatives, as authorities lifted restrictions on their movement.

When politicians have baby trouble   Reuters
Some odd moments politicians have faced with kids in public.

With MNS help, Sena retains Mumbai mayor's post   Sahil Salvi
Shiv Sena candidate Shraddha Jadhav was elected as the new mayor of Mumbai on Tuesday. Jadhav defeated Congress rival P Kadam by 19 votes, helping Sena retain the mayor's post.

US Congress panel to summon White House gate-crashers   Reuters
A United States Congressional committee on security will summon the Secret Service chief and the Virginia couple who gate crashed into President Barack Obama's first state dinner, to testify before it on the breach of security at the White House.The House Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on Thursday, in which they will hear testimonies of aspiring reality TV stars Tareq and Michaele Salahi, who managed to gate-crash into the state dinner.
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