News for 'first'

Mercedes open to expanding plug-in hybrids for more models

Mercedes open to expanding plug-in hybrids for more models

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Mercedes-Benz India is exploring a larger role for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in its portfolio, with plans to potentially introduce the technology in more models beyond the newly launched S-Class plug-in hybrid. This strategy aims to cater to luxury car buyers who are hesitant about fully electric vehicles due to concerns over charging infrastructure and range.

FIFA World Cup: Austria return in style with dramatic 3-1 win over Jordan

FIFA World Cup: Austria return in style with dramatic 3-1 win over Jordan

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Austria made a winning return to the World Cup after 28 years, defeating debutants Jordan 3-1 in a Group J opener. The victory was secured with a second-half own goal and a late penalty, following a tense match where Austria initially led, was equalised, and had a goal disallowed by VAR.

The Lifestyle Inflation Trap: Is Earning More Actually Making You Poor?

The Lifestyle Inflation Trap: Is Earning More Actually Making You Poor?

Rediff.com5 days ago

Rising income feels like success but unchecked lifestyle inflation traps urban professionals into financing a more expensive version of living paycheck-to-paycheck -- buying material upgrades instead of true future financial freedom.

Records Tumble as Jaiswal and Gurnoor Star in India's ODI Clean Sweep

Records Tumble as Jaiswal and Gurnoor Star in India's ODI Clean Sweep

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Yashasvi Jaiswal became the fastest Indian to score two ODI centuries while debutant pacer Gurnoor Brar set a new Indian bowling record as India completed a dominant 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan in Chennai.

Like Father, Like Son: Norway Field Three Sons Of 1994 World Cup Stars

Like Father, Like Son: Norway Field Three Sons Of 1994 World Cup Stars

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Norway made history at the FIFA World Cup by fielding three sons of former World Cup players in the same match: Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, and Kristian Thorstvedt. This mirrored a 1994 World Cup match where their fathers played together. Erling Haaland marked his debut with a brace, leading Norway to a 4-1 victory over Iraq.

FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi equals World Cup scoring record with hat-trick

FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi equals World Cup scoring record with hat-trick

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Lionel Messi equalled the men's World Cup all-time scoring record with a hat-trick in Argentina's Group J opener against Algeria on Tuesday.

Cocktail 2 Review: My Best Friend's Wedding Meets Judaai

Cocktail 2 Review: My Best Friend's Wedding Meets Judaai

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

As long as its purpose of throwing everyone on the dance floor as they flaunt their toned abs in fancy clothes is served, Cocktail 2 doesn't feel obliged to make any sense, notes Sukanya Verma.

Mourinho's Real Madrid Strengthen Defence with Cucurella Arrival

Mourinho's Real Madrid Strengthen Defence with Cucurella Arrival

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Real Madrid have signed Spain international Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a six-year deal, making him Jose Mourinho's first signing since returning to the Santiago Bernabeu as manager.

'Not your casino': Iran warns US over Trump's Hormuz 'takeover' threat

'Not your casino': Iran warns US over Trump's Hormuz 'takeover' threat

Rediff.com7 days ago

Ebrahim Azizi, Head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Committee, warned the US against interfering with the Strait of Hormuz, asserting Iran's sovereignty after former President Donald Trump threatened to 'take over' the strategic waterway. Despite the heated rhetoric, Iran and the US have established a direct communication line to prevent incidents during a 60-day negotiation period.

3rd ODI vs Afg: Rahul to bat down the order, Arshdeep could be rested: Ten Doeschate

3rd ODI vs Afg: Rahul to bat down the order, Arshdeep could be rested: Ten Doeschate

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Rahul to continue to bat down the order, Arshdeep could be rested, hints Ten Doeschate

'Just look at him!' Trump gushes over Modi at G7 meet

'Just look at him!' Trump gushes over Modi at G7 meet

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

US President Donald Trump lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'calm, cool, killer' persona at the G7 leaders' lunch in France, underscoring the deeply strategic relationship and formidable diplomatic skills of the Indian leader ahead of their crucial bilateral meeting.

Rebel MPs still in touch, scared of voters' wrath, says Raut

Rebel MPs still in touch, scared of voters' wrath, says Raut

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some dissident MPs are in contact with the party due to fear of public anger in their constituencies, with talks ongoing with at least two. He also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, who had made remarks about the Shiv Sena's legitimacy and the involvement of central investigative agencies. Raut asserted that there is only one Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray.

India Women Storm To Hockey Nations Cup Title; Secure Pro League Return

India Women Storm To Hockey Nations Cup Title; Secure Pro League Return

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

The Indian Women's Hockey team secured their second FIH Women's Nations Cup title by defeating hosts New Zealand 2-0 in the final.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Trump factor, political heat sour Canada's excitement

FIFA World Cup 2026: Trump factor, political heat sour Canada's excitement

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

US president Donald Trump in recent weeks has renewed threats to make Canada the 51st US state, and said he might not renew the trilateral trade agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico -- the co-hosts of this year's World Cup.

Before Alpha, 10 Times Bollywood Reimagined The Ramayana

Before Alpha, 10 Times Bollywood Reimagined The Ramayana

Rediff.com5 days ago

Long before Alpha, Bollywood had been retelling the Ramayana in modern settings, sometimes subtly and sometimes not so subtly.

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

India A vs Sri Lanka A: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falls after promising start

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India A's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed early for the second match in a row against Sri Lanka A, in the Tri-Nation A Series match in Dambulla, on Monday.

Papa Meri Jaan

Papa Meri Jaan

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Let's remember and celebrate all the countless things your dad did or does in our lives.

Reha Sukheja: The Reluctant Model Who Became A Runway Star

Reha Sukheja: The Reluctant Model Who Became A Runway Star

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

In this episode of The Rediff Podcast, supermodel Reha Sukheja opens up about her unplanned journey into modelling and how she found the courage and confidence to become a successful runway icon.

'Always United': Ronaldo Sends Message as Portugal Back Captain Amid Criticism

'Always United': Ronaldo Sends Message as Portugal Back Captain Amid Criticism

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo called for unity ahead of Portugal's crucial World Cup clash against Uzbekistan, while teammate Ruben Dias dismissed criticism of the veteran forward following a difficult tournament opener.

FIFA World Cup: Gun Gesture Celebration Sparks Controversy

FIFA World Cup: Gun Gesture Celebration Sparks Controversy

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Iranian footballer Mohammad Mohebi's goal celebration during a World Cup match against New Zealand sparked controversy after some interpreted his hand gesture as a 'gun signal'. Mohebi denied any political intent, stating it was a spontaneous reaction.

BJP rebel stuns Mahayuti, defeats Sena nominee in Nashik council polls

BJP rebel stuns Mahayuti, defeats Sena nominee in Nashik council polls

Rediff.com7 days ago

BJP rebel Gokul Gite secured a surprising victory in Maharashtra legislative council's Nashik district local governing body constituency, defeating the ruling Shiv Sena nominee Narendra Darade by 109 votes, despite senior Mahayuti leaders' attempts to resolve his independent candidature.

FIFA World Cup: South Africa seek to silence critics against Czech Republic

FIFA World Cup: South Africa seek to silence critics against Czech Republic

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

South Africa will look to bounce after a 2-0 loss to co-hosts Mexico in their opening FIFA World Cup match.

Big blow for India: Hardik ruled out of England series

Big blow for India: Hardik ruled out of England series

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India's upcoming series against England due to a leg strain. This injury follows previous back spasms that affected his IPL performance. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is also sidelined with a hamstring injury and is awaiting a fitness test. The BCCI has announced the T20I squad, with the ODI squad announcement pending.

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.

Smriti Mandhana Named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026

Smriti Mandhana Named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Smriti Mandhana is the only Indian named in TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, joining global icons such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James after another record-breaking year in cricket.

Toy Story 5 Review: Absolute Marvel!

Toy Story 5 Review: Absolute Marvel!

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

Toy Story 5 delivers a timely and visually stunning narrative that gently but firmly advocates for protecting children's imagination from the pervasive influence of digital devices, notes Deepa Gahlot.

Mahayuti bags 16 of 17 MLC seats in Maha amid cross-voting row; Oppn routed

Mahayuti bags 16 of 17 MLC seats in Maha amid cross-voting row; Oppn routed

Rediff.com7 days ago

Amid cross-voting from both ruling and Opposition ranks, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti on Monday swept 16 of the 17 Maharashtra Legislative Council seats from local authorities' constituencies even as Nashik delivered a surprise defeat to the governing bloc.

Indian Golfer Diksha Dagar In Strong Contention At Dutch Ladies Open

Indian Golfer Diksha Dagar In Strong Contention At Dutch Ladies Open

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Indian golfer Diksha Dagar is positioned at Tied-5th after two rounds of the Dutch Ladies Open, carding a 2-under 70 to be 5-under overall. Fellow Indian Avani Prashanth is T-15, while Pranavi Urs moved up to T-25. Charlotte Heath leads the tournament at 8-under par.

Vijay's government to hold social justice survey, move court for financial devolution

Vijay's government to hold social justice survey, move court for financial devolution

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

Tamil Nadu Governor RV Arlekar announced that the TVK regime, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, will take steps to ensure fair financial devolution from the Centre, including pursuing the matter in the Supreme Court. The government also plans to conduct a 'Social Justice Survey' and address the state's severe financial deterioration.

Fit-again Kohli back for England ODIs; Bumrah recalled

Fit-again Kohli back for England ODIs; Bumrah recalled

Rediff.com21 Jun 2026

Virat Kohli was on Sunday named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against England next month, subject to fitness clearance.

P T Usha Receives Lifetime Achievement Award At Indian Athletics Ceremony

P T Usha Receives Lifetime Achievement Award At Indian Athletics Ceremony

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Legendary Indian sprinter and Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards. Other recipients included Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan, and Anju Bobby George, recognising their significant contributions to Indian athletics.

Qatar's keeper Abunada enjoys 'most beautiful moment' after setbacks

Qatar's keeper Abunada enjoys 'most beautiful moment' after setbacks

Rediff.com15 Jun 2026

Qatar's resilience against Switzerland owed much to goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada, whose key saves kept them in the game, a remarkable comeback for a player once close to retirement due to a serious back injury.

Trump officials, Iranian FM on way to Switzerland for talks

Trump officials, Iranian FM on way to Switzerland for talks

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are reportedly heading to Switzerland for a new round of US-Iran negotiations, following a recently announced memorandum of understanding to end hostilities in West Asia and a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

FIFA World Cup: Neymar back in training but unlikely to return against Haiti

FIFA World Cup: Neymar back in training but unlikely to return against Haiti

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

Neymar offered Brazil a flicker of World Cup encouragement on Tuesday when he trained on the pitch with the national team in the United States for the first time.

Keir Starmer resigns as British PM, Andy Burnham likely successor

Keir Starmer resigns as British PM, Andy Burnham likely successor

Rediff.com7 days ago

British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, stating he will remain in post until a successor is elected by mid-July. The decision follows questions from his parliamentary party regarding his leadership for the next general election, with Andy Burnham widely tipped as a potential successor.

Junior Women's Hockey Team Gears Up For UK Tour

Junior Women's Hockey Team Gears Up For UK Tour

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

India's junior women's hockey team is set to embark on a tour of the United Kingdom from July 5 to 14, playing seven matches against various international U-21 teams and Scotland's senior side. This tour, led by new coach Tim White, is crucial for the team's preparation for future competitions and aims to provide valuable international exposure.

Indian Women's Hockey Team Storms Into Nations Cup Final With 6-0 Rout Of Chile

Indian Women's Hockey Team Storms Into Nations Cup Final With 6-0 Rout Of Chile

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

The Indian Women's Hockey team delivered a commanding 6-0 victory over Chile in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final. Navneet Kaur and Deepika scored two goals each, contributing to India's fourth consecutive win in the tournament.

FIFA World Cup: Vinicius Jr rescues draw for Brazil against Morocco

FIFA World Cup: Vinicius Jr rescues draw for Brazil against Morocco

Rediff.com14 Jun 2026

Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup Group C opening match. Morocco took an early lead through Ismael Saibari, but Vinicius Jr's brilliant goal brought Brazil level before halftime. Despite Brazil's second-half improvements, Morocco's strong defence held them to a point.

Why Investors Are Exiting Gold

Why Investors Are Exiting Gold

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

The case for long-term investment in gold, however, remains intact.

Can Senegal Stop Haaland? Thiaw Faces Major Selection Dilemma

Can Senegal Stop Haaland? Thiaw Faces Major Selection Dilemma

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

Senegal face a major defensive selection dilemma ahead of their World Cup clash with Norway as coach Pape Bouna Thiaw weighs whether to drop Kalidou Koulibaly in a bid to stop Erling Haaland and keep knockout hopes alive.