News for 'People and Culture'

FIFA World Cup: Seattle's LGBTQ community to turn Egypt-Iran tie into pride statement

FIFA World Cup: Seattle's LGBTQ community to turn Egypt-Iran tie into pride statement

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Seattle's LGBTQ community members say they hope that this Friday's World Cup "Pride Match" between Egypt and Iran, two countries where homosexuality is criminalised, can be an opportunity to change minds.

Modi calls Japan PM Takaichi his 'younger sister'

Modi calls Japan PM Takaichi his 'younger sister'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi as his 'younger sister' and hailed her as a 'visionary and popular leader' during a joint press meet, where both leaders unveiled initiatives to deepen bilateral cooperation and strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Bengal's mid-day meal shift sparks fresh egg vs veg debate

Bengal's mid-day meal shift sparks fresh egg vs veg debate

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

The move has sparked a political row, with the opposition accusing the BJP of promoting a vegetarian agenda.

FIFA World Cup: 'Hydration breaks add nothing but take away a lot'

FIFA World Cup: 'Hydration breaks add nothing but take away a lot'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said the hydration breaks introduced in each half of matches at the World Cup add nothing to football while destroying the sport's cultural essence.

'End fast, save your strength': Prominent citizens' plea to Wangchuk

'End fast, save your strength': Prominent citizens' plea to Wangchuk

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

A group of prominent Indian citizens, including Arundhati Roy and Naseeruddin Shah, have appealed to protesters on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar to end their fast due to health concerns, while fully supporting their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged NEET irregularities.

Restaurants, Multiplexes Eye World Cup Final Windfall

Restaurants, Multiplexes Eye World Cup Final Windfall

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Businesses across sectors are positioning themselves to capitalise on the expected surge in demand.

Police action ends 17-day Ken-Betwa protest, activist vows to continue fight

Police action ends 17-day Ken-Betwa protest, activist vows to continue fight

Rediff.com19 Jul 2026

A 15-day protest against the Ken-Betwa Link Project and other development initiatives in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, concluded after police cleared the agitation site and dispersed protesters. While police denied arrests, protesters alleged their leader, Amit Bhatnagar, was detained amidst claims of project irregularities and corruption. The project aims to provide irrigation and drinking water to the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.

Governor Parnaik Encourages Youth To Promote National Unity

Governor Parnaik Encourages Youth To Promote National Unity

Rediff.com27 May 2026

Arunachal Pradesh Governor K T Parnaik has urged young people to connect with others from across India, preserve traditional values, and work to eliminate regional barriers through interaction and mutual respect.

'Can't imagine Hindu Rashtra without...': What RSS chief told Muslim delegation

'Can't imagine Hindu Rashtra without...': What RSS chief told Muslim delegation

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi stated, "We thought we'll go to the fountainhead of this hate discourse. This whole hate narrative according to us was being spread by the RSS," explaining the delegation's decision to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2022.

Stars Salute Vijay's Win: 'The People Have Chosen You'

Stars Salute Vijay's Win: 'The People Have Chosen You'

Rediff.com5 May 2026

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has made a historic debut in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, securing a landslide victory in the Perambur constituency and leading his party to a strong performance across the state, with congratulatory messages pouring in from fellow film personalities.

Rural Sports Festival Isha Gramotsavam Reaches North India

Rural Sports Festival Isha Gramotsavam Reaches North India

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Sadhguru's Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival, is expanding its 18th edition into North India, covering 10 states and one Union Territory. This year's event will engage over 80,000 players from 40,000 villages in men's volleyball and women's throwball, offering a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the aim of social transformation through sport.

Muslim leader writes in blood to Modi to declare cow as 'Rashtra Mata'

Muslim leader writes in blood to Modi to declare cow as 'Rashtra Mata'

Rediff.com29 Jun 2026

Samajwadi Party leader Zeeshan Ansari has written a letter in his blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the cow be declared "Rashtra Mata" (Mother of the Nation). Ansari, a Muslim, stated his initiative aims to clarify the BJP's stance on the cow, highlighting its special place in Indian sentiments.

FIFA World Cup: Argentina's bizarre ritual to stop Kane before semis

FIFA World Cup: Argentina's bizarre ritual to stop Kane before semis

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

Ahead of their World Cup semi-final clash against England, Argentina fans are engaging in traditional 'cabalas' or superstitions, including freezing captain Harry Kane's name, to bring their national team good fortune on the pitch.

Sir Garfield Sobers leaves behind an unmatched cricket legacy

Sir Garfield Sobers leaves behind an unmatched cricket legacy

Rediff.com17 Jul 2026

Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.

Why Congress Is Suspicious About CJP

Why Congress Is Suspicious About CJP

Rediff.com22 Jul 2026

A Congress spokesperson, quoted in media reports, summed up the party's thinking by saying, 'Whenever BJP is in trouble on the ground, a new 'apolitical' or 'alternative' party appears with the same ideology and the same backers.'

Matthew Hayden: ETPL's future lies in developing Europe's next cricket stars

Matthew Hayden: ETPL's future lies in developing Europe's next cricket stars

Rediff.com4 Jul 2026

Matthew Hayden says the European T20 Premier League can establish itself as a talent-development platform for Europe's associate nations, stressing that ETPL's strength lies in creating pathways to global franchise cricket rather than competing with the IPL.

Sort of crazy, 'badly' wants deal: Trump on Iran

Sort of crazy, 'badly' wants deal: Trump on Iran

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

United States President Donald Trump claimed Iran 'badly' wants to strike a deal with Washington, DC, but expressed uncertainty over Tehran's willingness to honour any agreement, following US strikes aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

KJo To Manish Malhotra: 'You've Created The 'Mother' Of...'

KJo To Manish Malhotra: 'You've Created The 'Mother' Of...'

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

Sharing a heartfelt message on social media, Filmmaker Karan Johar reflected on a professional relationship spanning more than three decades and praised Designer Manish Malhotra's journey from his early days in Indian cinema to becoming a globally recognised name in couture.

How Hydration Breaks Are Reshaping Tactics at the 2026 World Cup

How Hydration Breaks Are Reshaping Tactics at the 2026 World Cup

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

FIFA's new hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup have sparked controversy, with coaches including Marcelo Bielsa and Gustavo Alfaro claiming they disrupt football's rhythm and serve commercial interests more than player welfare.

Hours after joining BJP, three ex-TMC MPs get RS tickets from Bengal

Hours after joining BJP, three ex-TMC MPs get RS tickets from Bengal

Rediff.com9 Jul 2026

Three former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MPs, including Sushmita Dev and Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday and, within hours, were named the saffron party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha bypolls from West Bengal, underlining both their political rehabilitation and the party's calibrated shift in inducting leaders from the erstwhile ruling dispensation.

Maneka Gandhi vs Jains: Peacock feather remarks spark row; complaints filed

Maneka Gandhi vs Jains: Peacock feather remarks spark row; complaints filed

Rediff.com5 Jul 2026

A row has erupted over former Union minister Maneka Gandhi's appeal to the Jain community to stop using 'picchis' (sacred broom) made of peacock feathers, claiming that their demand fuels illegal wildlife trade.

'People Voted In Anger Against Mamata Banerjee'

'People Voted In Anger Against Mamata Banerjee'

Rediff.com4 May 2026

'The nepotism, corruption, bad governance and 15 years of rampant crime that has happened across West Bengal under her rule led to her ouster.'

Major Step For Indus Valley Civilisation Research

Major Step For Indus Valley Civilisation Research

Rediff.com23 Jun 2026

Human skeletal remains from the ancient Indus-Saraswati Civilisation site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana have been formally transferred by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) for detailed scientific investigation. This transfer, under a new MoU, aims to advance multidisciplinary research into one of the largest known settlements of the Indus-Saraswati Civilisation, with archaeologists having uncovered eight burials, including three complete skeletons, during recent excavations.

SEE: How K-Pop, Cuisine and Football United South Korea and Mexico

SEE: How K-Pop, Cuisine and Football United South Korea and Mexico

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Thanks to major companies like Kia, Mexico has seen a huge influx of South Korean population in places like Monterrey, with Korean cuisine and K-Pop becoming major influences in the country.

Moana Review: Another Pointless Disney Remake

Moana Review: Another Pointless Disney Remake

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

The live-action Moana faithfully recreates the original, but rarely captures its magic.

Cape Verde dream big after stunning World Cup start

Cape Verde dream big after stunning World Cup start

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, have defied expectations by drawing with football giants Spain and Uruguay.

King Charles III, Queen Camilla to inaugurate scaled-down Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

King Charles III, Queen Camilla to inaugurate scaled-down Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Rediff.com10 Jul 2026

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will attend the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 23, where the King will read his message from the King's Baton, officially declaring the scaled-down multi-sport event open.

'Paani Waali Train': 'This Is The Future Of Railway Mobility'

'Paani Waali Train': 'This Is The Future Of Railway Mobility'

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train, the 'Namo Green Rail', from Jind, Haryana, marking a significant step towards sustainable railway mobility. The 10-coach train, which emits only water vapour, is currently operating on the Jind-Sonipat route and represents a major technological advancement for the country's transport sector.

GDN To Dada: 10 Coming Biopics That Have Our Attention

GDN To Dada: 10 Coming Biopics That Have Our Attention

Rediff.com16 Jul 2026

From Dr A P J Abdul Kalam to Sourav Ganguly, these coming biopics are bringing some of India's most fascinating lives to the big screen.

Indonesian fighter jets escort Modi's plane in grand welcome

Indonesian fighter jets escort Modi's plane in grand welcome

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a grand welcome on his arrival in Jakarta on Monday, with Indonesian Air Force fighter jets escorting the PM's aircraft upon entering Indonesian airspace, marking a ceremonial welcome.

Haryana's Vasant Utsav: A Blend of Culture, Nature, and Environmental Awareness

Haryana's Vasant Utsav: A Blend of Culture, Nature, and Environmental Awareness

Rediff.com13 Mar 2026

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini inaugurated the 38th 'Vasant Utsav' in Panchkula, highlighting the state's commitment to culture, nature, and environmental conservation through various initiatives.

'Vijay's Government Will Be Pulled Down By December 2027'

'Vijay's Government Will Be Pulled Down By December 2027'

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

'You will have the President's rule for 7 to 8 months, And Annamalai will be the hero in those 7 months.'

Why Bosnia fans are taking over a California restaurant

Why Bosnia fans are taking over a California restaurant

Rediff.com1 Jul 2026

Ahead of Bosnia's World Cup Round of 32 match against the United States, a Bosnian restaurant in Northern California has become a gathering place for passionate fans. For many, the event is more than football-it's a celebration of their culture, resilience, and journey to a new home.

President Murmu Highlights Durand Cup's Role In Nurturing Indian Football Talent

President Murmu Highlights Durand Cup's Role In Nurturing Indian Football Talent

Rediff.com7 Jul 2026

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the Durand Cup 2026 trophy, marking the start of preparations for Asia's oldest football tournament. She highlighted the tournament's role in nurturing talent, promoting sportsmanship, and connecting people, while also drawing parallels to India's vision of becoming a developed nation.

BJP brought 50,000 people from UP for Assam polls: Mamata

BJP brought 50,000 people from UP for Assam polls: Mamata

Rediff.com10 Apr 2026

Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of importing voters for the Assam elections and plotting similar interference in West Bengal, raising concerns about electoral integrity and potential cultural restrictions.

Indrajit Lankesh: 'I Was A Bridge To Deepika Padukone's Glory'

Indrajit Lankesh: 'I Was A Bridge To Deepika Padukone's Glory'

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

'It was only after Aishwarya ran for 100 days and became a massive hit that Shah Rukh Khan signed Deepika Padukone.'

PIX: Yoga unites world as Indian missions lead global events

PIX: Yoga unites world as Indian missions lead global events

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Thousands of yoga enthusiasts across the world marked the International Day of Yoga on Sunday, as Indian missions abroad organised events to highlight the ancient practice's role in fostering health and well-being.

Revealed! The True Origin Of Maradona's $9 million 'Hand of God' Jersey

Revealed! The True Origin Of Maradona's $9 million 'Hand of God' Jersey

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Before Diego Maradona's famous blue shirt became a $9.28 million auction item, it may have had a humbler beginning in Tepito, Mexico City's market district.

De-list converted tribals from ST category: Tribal groups in Delhi meet

De-list converted tribals from ST category: Tribal groups in Delhi meet

Rediff.com24 May 2026

Members of various tribal communities gathered in Delhi to demand the de-listing of converted tribals from the Scheduled Tribe category. The event, organised by the RSS affiliate Janajati Suraksha Manch, saw participation from around 1.5 lakh people from over 500 tribal communities.

Why Indian Politicians Fear Youth Dissent

Why Indian Politicians Fear Youth Dissent

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

CBSE exams and unemployment are divergent concerns for the middle class and the poor, and the idioms of protest don't speak to all of India's young people, points out Kanika Datta.