The Travel Photographer of The Year Awards winners have been chosen and they're a stunning selection celebrating the beauty of our planet and all its inhabitants. Photographers from 142 countries submitted over 20,000 jaw-dropping pictures that were shot on everything from high-end professional cameras to mobile phones, in categories including 'faces, people, cultures'; the natural world and the beauty of light. The winning images can be seen at the TPOTY exhibition, which is free, and will be on show at LondonBridgeCity next Spring. Rediff.com was kindly granted permission to publish 25 of the 150 winning and shortlisted images. Scroll down to see our picks of the bunch.
Sarees are worn by Indian women in every season. To combat the scorching heat in the summer season, one needs to opt for breathable fabrics like cotton. Traditionally, most women in India wear cotton sarees in summer as the crisp, cool natural fibre are the best way to beat the heat.
In our weekly round up, catch all the gossip in the field of fashion and entertainment from around the world.
If not for the hype and stunning teaser, which promised an all-out Rajini masala entertainer, Kabali would be far more enjoyable, feels S Saraswathi.
De De Pyaar De is a Radio Play being passed off as a Motion Picture, says Sreehari Nair.
Pujara was the dominant figure with his second century of the series, a dogged but faultless 106 off 319 balls
With the green cover gone, the bald roads to Puri are now reigned by lorries laden with electric poles, ambulances, fire service vehicles and cranes, signalling the rebuilding effort is in the works.
Is there a likeness between the characters from Ved Vyas's timeless epic and those prancing about on the political proscenium? Saisuresh Sivaswamy finds out.
The pollution board said that the situation will improve further by Sunday if favourable conditions prevail.
'Our throwaway culture today has little room for mochis and rafoogars who concealed rips and tears with imperceptible stitches and great skill,' says Geetanjali Krishna.
Sreehari Nair attempts to bring you up-close the pleasures of Javed Akhtar's poetry.
Dame Dench humanises the frumpy, myopic and overindulged Queen Victoria and the screen feels the warmth of the legendary actress's enthusiasm, says Sukanya Verma.
Skip Fifty Shades of Grey. Watch these well-made films recommended by Aseem Chhabra.
Everybody wants to make a great impression, learn it from Bollywood.
'I'll keep painting as long as I'm alive,' Madhvi Parekh, one of India's most influential painters, tells Rajendran Pottayil in New York.
'Freebies are yet be proven a 'pucca' vote-catcher. But don't say that to KCR because he takes pride in two things: His record of delivery and imagination,' says Shekhar Gupta.
Images from the third One-Day International between New Zealand and India in Mount Maunganui on Monday.
New Year's evening is around the corner & everyone is in full preparation mode for having a blast. Along with deciding the right outfit to flaunt at the New Year evening party, dinner or get together, it's equally important for women to wear the right make up.
7 Jewellery Pieces Celebrities Love Wearing on Ramzan Eid
'It would be nice if we could all just take a deep breath and focus on the only feeling that really matters, and for which previous generations worked a very long time at great cost: Freedom,' says Mitali Saran.
The weather was the number one topic of conversation at Wimbledon on Tuesday but for once it was not the prospect of rain that brought out the umbrellas but a beating sun on what was forecast to be the hottest day of the year.
'As the film progresses, you tire of the been-there seen-that spectacle.' 'You want a story. You want good dialogue, not the corny words you are hearing.' 'You want an emotional connect. You want a tighter film.' 'Sadly, with Padmaavat, that's not what you get,' says Savera R Someshwar.
Djokovic, playing his first tournament for six months because of an elbow problem, dropped his opening two service games and although he battled back to break Monfils twice he wavered again as scrappy opener went his opponents' way.
Riding high on an unbeaten half-century from Vijay Shankar, Tamil Nadu managed to score 192/3 on the opening day of their semi-final against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy match in Kolkata on Wednesday.
There's only one thing better than photos of animals, and that's funny photos of animals. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is back and they have announced its finalists. In addition to providing some light-hearted relief, the competition also aims to highlight the important message of wildlife conservation. From shopping responsibly by avoiding plastics and palm oil to restricting water use at home, this year's contest is aimed at making people think about the animals on the planet - as well as laughing at them. The winners will be announced on November 13.
A tally of less than 45 seats in the Lok Sabha reduces Congress to a regional party, just a shade better than the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's 33 seats, making it vulnerable to a split if the party leadership does not get its act together, warns Neerja Chowdhury.
Has a smaller engine taken away the reasons to love the F-Type or given us brand new one? Read on to find out
Pictures from a fun night!
'Which path should Muslims take politically as they have been completely marginalised?'
Fashion industry's 'it' girl is our very favourite. Here's why :-)
'With this success (of access to water) the women are convinced that their rights go beyond law books -- and the law is indeed powerful.' 'The women are now not afraid to file a police complaint or file a case in court.'
The new Surface Pro an impressive upgrade over its predecessors, says Aparna Banerjea.
Trend Alert: Pastel Colours Replacing Neon Colours
A recent Salem event was perhaps the first time many in the crowd were seeing Jayalalithaa in person in the past five years. A brief stint in jail had made her more reclusive. But none of that seemed to matter.
'There are sound commercial reasons to hope for the development of 'anti-fake news networks',' says Devangshu Datta.
'Don't resort to violence.' 'This is a civilised and democratic country.' 'You should have faith in the judiciary.' 'Otherwise, some person will have an objection for everything and not let you do anything.'
'I believe something like this wouldn't have been made five years ago. They would have felt it's arty in nature, and would be unsure about investing in it. One may wonder that since there is no action in it -- or despite me in it, no sex -- who will watch the film? But things have changed drastically.'
On his 84th birthday, the much loved author shares his latest thoughts.
South Zone took just 40 minutes into the third morning to crush East Zone by an innings and 118 runs en route their entry into Duleep Trophy final, in Lahli on Friday.
