12 odd PHOTOS from a mad, mad world

Here’s this week of photos that prove we live in a mad world. A visitor poses for a photograph in front of a 3D painting depicting China's late Chairman Mao Zedong at a 3D art gallery in......

The Best PHOTOS of the Year: Part III

As 2013 nears its end, rediff.com presents a selection of the most enduring images of year from around the world Also check out: Part I  '   Part IIThis is the last of the three-part......

Dancing alone at the Carnival

The Rio carnival is really not about 'what you see, but how you feel,' a German friend had told me. Trust the Germans to come up with wisdom of that order. Brazilians don't say such things. So, now......

India's austerity drive made a shaadi happen!

'Who am I to say that the happiness of individuals is any less significant than Memorandum of Understandings signed between governments?' Ambassador B S Prakash on a romance that bloomed at a......

Brazil Olympic mascots named after 'Girl from Ipanema' composers

The mascots for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be named 'Tom' and 'Vinicius' after the singer-songwriters who wrote The Girl from Ipanema, organisers said on Sunday. The names won......

Opening Ceremony: Vanderlei de Lima lights cauldron; Gisele steals the show

IMAGE: Brazilian top model Gisele Bundchen takes part in the opening ceremony. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters. Brazil unfurled a vast canvas celebrating its rainforest and the creative energy......

Russian Stepanova to not appeal Rio ban

Two Russian rowers to miss Rio despite winning doping appeal Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova will not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over her ban on running as an independent......

Rio opening ceremony will represent a slice of life in Brazil

Opening Ceremony also features Gisele Bündchen getting mugged Ceremony to break with opulent traditions IMAGE: Gisele Bundchen attends a book launch. Photograph: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for......

Room prices rocket in Rio as landlords dig for Olympic gold

- Taxi driver Vitor Hugo Alves is trying to rent out his three-bedroom apartment in the traditional neighborhood of Cosme Velho for 8,000 reais ($2,305) per night during the games. IMAGE: An......