Over three years ago in Gandhinagar, 95-year-old Heeraben watched, teary-eyed, as Narendra Modi vowed to bear true faith and allegiance to India’s Constitution at a ceremony in New Delhi. Her age and health had prevented her from travelling to the Capital to watch her son become India’s fourteenth Prime Minister. But less than four months later, he would come to seek her blessings in person – on his 64th birthday. […]

Off the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu, some 500 km south of Chennai, lies Pamban Island. Seemingly a stone’s throw from neighbouring Sri Lanka, this is an island steeped in historical significance, and with some of the most resilient people alive. One of the longest sea bridges in the country, the iconic Pamban Bridge connects the mainland with the island, also known as Rameswaram Island. With breathtaking views of the […]

The spice saffron, as well as being famously expensive, is packed with antioxidants. It is said to help combat depression and lower blood pressure, to soften your skin and hair and is essential in a broad range of dishes from Swedish buns to paella. So what’s stopping it becoming as fashionable as turmeric and cinnamon? Is it just its high price? In my palm I have five tiny strands, like […]

Fifty-six years after the foundation stone for the Sardar Sarovar Dam was laid by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Narmada district’s Kevadia, the dam, one of India’s biggest, will be finally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, which is also his birthday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said. “The Prime Minister will dedicate the Sardar Sarovar project to the nation after opening the 30 gates installed […]

A bunch of small town simpletons with some big dreams is the central idea that is portrayed well in the trailer of Ranchi Diaries. Starring stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Satish Kaushik and Jimmy Shergill along with Soundarya Sharma, Himansh Kohli and Taaha Shah, the trailer of the film gives important insights into each character. A botched abduction is followed by a bank robbery that eventually fizzles out and lands the […]

It was the end of the road for Ankur Bindal, barely 21, when engineering subjects didn’t make any sense, finding a job afterwards seemed equally elusive, and to top it all, the first love of his life had left him. At the time the only solution that appeared alluring to him was ending his life. Speaking to PTI on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, Ankur, now a successful […]

The GST rates on 30 items of mass consumption were slashed on Saturday while the cess on mid and high-segment cars went up as the Council formed a five-member Committee to sort out technical glitches faced on the return-filing portal while the last date for GSTR 1 has been extended by a month. Briefing the media after the second review meeting post the Goods and Services Tax roll out, Finance […]

Call For Fun, a film which promises to show how “love gets phonier and funnier”, is set for a box office clash with Saif Ali Khan-starrer Chef, suspense-thriller Aksar 2, ensemble cast film Tu Hai Mera Sunday and adult entertainer Julie 2 on October 6. Going by the trailer of Call For Fun — that was unveiled on Thursday — the forthcoming film seems to be high on fun, laughter […]

President Donald Trump on Tuesday scrapped a program that protects from deportation almost 800,000 young men and women who were brought into the United States illegally as children, giving a gridlocked Congress six months to decide their fate. Trump’s action, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, rescinds a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program, created by Democratic former President Barack Obama, is supported by Democrats, many […]

Set to take charge as India’s first full-fledged woman Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said she would look into the issue of women in combat roles with an open mind and not as a matter of patronage. Asked if she would look into the case of combat roles in the armed forces, she said: “This is the matter where I definitely look into all the things before me with […]