Month: February 2023

Actor Priyanka Chopra is having a fun time with her popstar husband Nick, daughter Malti and friends. She recently took the internet by storm by revealing her daughter’s face, has shared a new reel from a family vacation.

The ‘Desi Girl’ took to Instagram and posted a video montage of photos where she can be seen enjoying with Nick, Malti and friends on their ski holiday in Aspen, Colorado.
She also shared a picture of Malti sitting inside a hotel room, playing on the floor. In another photo, Priyanka and Malti are inside a car during an outing. Priyanka also shared some romantic photos with Nick. She also posted some group photos with their friends as they posed in the snow.

She captioned, “Hold your loved ones close.”

Recently, Priyanka Chopra revealed her daughter Malti Marie’s face. The actor attended an event in Los Angeles where Nick along with his singer siblings, Kevin and Joe Jonas, revealed the Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

As Jonas brothers took the centre stage, Priyanka sat in the first row with daughter Malti Marie, cheering for them. After that, photos of Malti Marie have gone viral on social media.

Priyanka and Nick tied the knot in a Christian and a Hindu ceremony in Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace on December 1 and 2 in 2018. Later, the couple also hosted two receptions in Delhi and Mumbai. Earlier this year, the couple welcomed their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas via surrogacy in January last year.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Priyanka will be seen in international projects such as ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me’, and the series ‘Citadel’. Produced by Russo Brothers, ‘Citadel’ will hit the OTT on Prime Video.

The upcoming sci-fi drama series is being directed by Patrick Morgan and stars Richard Madden alongside Priyanka.

She will be starring with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif in Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Jee Le Zaraa’, which promises to be another tale of friendship in the mould of cult hits ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’.

‘Jee Le Zaraa’ is reportedly going on floors soon. (ANI)

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Actor Kajol has often faced allegations that she underwent skin whitening surgery.

In her latest Instagram Story, Kajol hilariously replied to naysayers for “questioning her about how she became fair” over the years.
The ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ star posted a picture of herself wearing a black face cover. She is also seen wearing black sunglasses.

While sharing the pic on her IG story, she wrote, “To all those who ask me how I became so fair. #sunblocked#spfunbeatable (sic).”

Not only Kajol but often her daughter Nysa Devgan is tolled online for her appearance. Time and again netizens accused Nysa of undergoing a skin whitening treatment.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kajol she was recently seen in the family entertainer film ‘Salaam Venky’, which garnered a positive response from the audience. Helmed by south actor and director Revathy, the film was released on December 9, 2022.

She will also be seen in an upcoming web series ‘The Good Wife’. ‘The Good Wife’ is an Indian adaptation of the American courtroom drama of the same name starring Julianna Margulies in the lead role. The show has seven seasons and it concluded in 2016.

Kajol will be seen playing the role of a housewife who goes back to working as a lawyer after her husband’s scandal lands him in jail. Directed by Supan Verma and it will stream on Disney+ Hotstar. (ANI)

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Actor Kartik Aaryan is on a roll. After headlining the sequel of Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaan’, the young actor has now stepped into the shoes of superstar Salman Khan and has come up with the 2.0 version of the Bhaijaan’s hit song ‘Character Dheela’ from ‘Ready’.

On Thursday, Salman took to Instagram and shared Kartik’s song from Shehzada and sent him best wishes.
“Best wishes @kartikaaryan and #RohitDhawan #Shehzada,” Salman captioned the post.

Salman’s thumbs up to ‘Character Dheela 2.0’ made Kartik extremely happy.

“Sab Ka Bhai Sab Ki Jaan. Shehzada ka Swag se Swagat karne ke liye Shukriya..Means a lot..Thank you for your love and support Sir…,” Kartik commented.

Sung by Neeraj Shreedhar, the peppy track features Kartik in his coolest avatar. He can be seen dancing with girls in the music video. The recreation has been done by Abhijit Vaghani.

Helmed by Rohit Dhawan, Shehzada also stars Kriti Sanon , Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Ronit Roy, Sachin Khedekar. It is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Allu Arvind, Aman Gill and Kartik Aaryan and will hit the theatres on 17th February 2023.

‘Shehzada’ is an official Hindi remake of the Telugu film ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramloo’ which starred actor Allu Arjun in the lead role.

The film was earlier supposed to release on February 10. However, the makers postponed it “out of respect for Pathaan”. (ANI)

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Millions of dollars are being smuggled into Afghanistan from Pakistan each day. This helps in providing support to the economy after the US and Europe denied the Taliban access to billions in foreign reserves, according to a report in Pakistan based The Express Tribune newspaper.

According to foreign media, for Islamabad, the outflows are worsening a rapidly developing economic crisis in the country.
According to general secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan Muhammad Zafar Paracha, traders, and smugglers are bringing as much as USD 5 million across the border daily.

That more than covers the USD 17 million that Afghanistan’s central bank injects into the market each week. The illicit flows show how the Taliban are evading sanctions after their 2021 takeover of the country, according to The Express Tribune newspaper.

The smuggling is contributing to the depletion of Pakistan’s foreign reserves and adding to the downward pressure on the rupee as the currency tumbles to record lows. “Currency is being smuggled without any doubt. This has become quite a lucrative business,” Paracha said.

US-based The Diplomat magazine recently reported that money exchangers on both sides of the Durand Line have bolstered the Afghanistan-Pakistan US dollar cartel by manipulating trade, both actual and forged.

The Diplomat said the black market is dominated by the flow of US dollars across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which unifies the economic crises of the two countries.

Currency notes are often found hidden in vegetable trucks with perishable goods passing through the Green Channel. These trucks dodge customs scanners. US currency is smuggled via food items ranging from orange crates to beetle nut sachets, claimed the report.

Those involved in dollar smuggling have used the hawala system to monopolise currency in the region, the report said, adding that through the hawala system, money is transferred without any physical movement of cash or documentation.

The system helps sustain a parallel economy without any government regulations, in turn maintaining ground for illegal monopolization by cartels.

In interviews with The Diplomat, money exchangers in both Afghanistan and Pakistan insisted that the dollar cartel isn’t a monolith, and sustains itself with cooperation between sections of the traders and currency markets. A consistent exchange rate is used for systematic hawala transactions, with anyone involved in the currency trading business along the Af-Pak border being a participant, active or passive, according to the report.

“We deserve the cut that we get in all this since the market forces determining the interbank exchange rate do not factor in the violent forces enforcing their own regulations,” an exchanger from Kabul’s Sarai Shahzadeh market, one of the hubs for the dollar cartel’s dealing, told The Diplomat. (ANI)

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The Indian army’s field hospital set-up in Turkey’s Hatay to provide assistance to the earthquake-affected people, has started functioning with running medical, surgical, and emergency wards; X-ray lab and medical store.

“The army field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkiye has started functioning with running Medical, Surgical & Emergency Wards; X-Ray Lab & Medical Store,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Thursday.

An Additional Directorate General of Public Information team will work 24 x 7 to provide relief to the affected people, according to Jaishankar.

The army field hospital has been set up under India’s ‘Operation Dost’ to provide assistance to Turkey’s earthquake-hit people.

Jaishankar, sharing photos of the facility on Twitter on Wednesday, posted: “This field hospital in Hatay, Turkiye will treat those affected by the earthquake. Our team of medical & critical care specialists and equipment are preparing to treat emergencies.”

Jaishankar on Thursday said the sixth plane from India carrying rescue personnel, essentials, and medical equipment for earthquake relief efforts has reached Turkey.

The sixth flight carries more rescue teams, dog squads, and essential medicines for the quake-hit country.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar wrote, “The sixth #OperationDost flight reaches Turkiye. More search and rescue teams, dog squads, essential search & access equipment, medicines, and medical equipment ready for deployment in the relief efforts.”

Turkey’s Ambassador to India Firat Sunel described India’s ‘Operation Dost’ as a “very important operation” that demonstrates the friendship between the two nations.

Firat Sunel made the remarks at the Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad from where Indian Air Force’s C17 Globemaster aircraft with the NDRF team, medical equipment, and relief equipment, took off for Turkey, as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Dost.’

He said, “‘Operation Dost’ is a symbolic operation. It already proves that we are friends. We have to deepen our relations.”

Meanwhile, according to CNN, the death toll from the devastating earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this week has risen to at least 16,035.

At least 12,873 people have died in Turkey, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) on Thursday.

In Syria, the total number of fatalities has been pegged at 3,162, including 1,900 in rebel-held areas in the country’s northwest, according to the ‘White Helmets’ civil defense group. (ANI)

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Hitting back at the opposition over their allegations about the Centre troubling non-BJP governments in states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted Congress and said its leader Indira Gandhi had scored a “half-century” in dismissing elected governments.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said the BJP-led government at the Centre has stressed on “cooperative, competitive federalism” while also framing policies keeping in mind national progress and regional aspirations.
“We are accused of troubling the states. I have been the chief minister for a long time. I understand the meaning of federalism. We have stressed on cooperative, competitive federalism. We have kept in mind national progress in our policies and also regional aspirations. Those who are sitting in Opposition today, they had tampered with the rights of states,” PM Modi said.

Opposition members kept raising slogans during PM Modi’s speech over their demands pertaining to Hindenburg-Adani row.

PM Modi said Congress repeatedly misused Article 356.

“Look at the history, which party and people in power misused Article 356 the most? Elected governments were toppled 90 times, who were those who did that? A Prime minister used Article 356 fifty times, and scored a half-century and that name is Indira Gandhi. In Kerala Communist government was elected which wasn’t liked by Pandit Nehru and was toppled,” he said.

“In Tamil Nadu too, governments of veterans like MGR and Karunanidhi were dismissed by Congress people. Sharad Pawar’s government was toppled too. We have seen what happened with NTR when he was in the US for treatment and attempts were made to topple his government. This was the level of Congress’ politics. They troubled every regional leader,” he added.

PM Modi also took potshots at Nehru-Gandhi family over several schemes and places named after their members and asked “why people from their generation don’t keep Nehru as their surname”.

“Some had problems with the names of schemes of govt and Sanskrit words in the names. I read in a report that 600 government schemes were in the Gandhi-Nehru family’s name…I don’t understand why people from their generation don’t keep Nehru as their surname, what’s the fear & shame?” he said.

PM Modi, who was repeatedly cheered by BJP members, said that the country is made from the common man’s sweat and courage and is not “any family’s property”.

“Some people will have to understand that this centuries-old country is a country made from the common man’s sweat and courage. This country is not any family’s property. We named the Khel Ratna award after Major Dhyan Chand. We named the islands in Andaman after Netaji. We are proud. There are some who do not leave an opportunity to demean the Army, we named islands after the recipients of Param Vir Chakra. This is our dedication. You have problems with it which is visible,” he said. (ANI)

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Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Pathaan’ has undoubtedly revived India’s theatrical business which took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film also brought housefull boards back in cinema halls in Kashmir for the first time in 32 years.

Seems like this welcome change in the cinema sector of Kashmir has made Prime Minister Narendra Modi extremely happy.
On Wednesday, during his speech in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi made a special reference to Jammu & Kashmir, where he said that the cinema halls are running housefull after a very long time due to improved security situation in the Union territory.

“Srinagar ke andar barso baad cinema housefull dekhe gaye (After years, cinema halls are running housefull in Srinagar),” PM Modi said.

The particular excerpt from Modi’s speech went viral, eliciting reactions, especially from Shah Rukh Khan’s fans.

Though the PM did not mention ‘Pathaan’ in his speech, SRK’s fans were left fans wondering if the PM was actually referring to the film.

Reacting to Modi’s speech, an Srkian tweeted, “This is huge.”

“After decades, the Theatres of Srinagar are going Housefull: PM #NarendraModi #ShahRukhKhan with #Pathaan has done unimaginable things,” another user wrote.

People of Kashmir used to throng theatres and enjoy cinema as much as other parts of the country before the militancy surge that crippled Kashmir in 1989, forced cinema hall owners to bring down the shutters.

The cinemas were banned by a militant group called ‘Allah Tigers’ and the youth of the state were deprived of the main dose of entertainment for three decades due to political turmoil.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Inox franchise in Srinagar on September 20 last year and described it as a ‘historic’ day.

The Aamir Khan-starrer ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, was shown as the first movie over there. Now, with ‘Pathaan’, the film business in Kashmir valley has seen a revival. (ANI)

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At least four people were killed after the 5.1 magnitude quake shook the capital of Papua province in Indonesia, The Jakarta Post reported.

“The 5.1-magnitude quake hit around 1.28 pm (0628 GMT) on land just southwest of Jayapura city at a depth of 22 kilometres,” the US Geological Survey said.
Talking about the incident, Asep Khalid, head of the Jayapura Disaster Mitigation Agency, said in a press release that a cafe collapsed and fell into the sea, resulting in the death of four persons.

The four victims had been to a cafe when the quake caused the building to collapse, said Asep said in a statement. The quake was felt strongly for two to three seconds, causing panic amongst residents, he added.

Unverified footage on social media showed a harbourside building had collapsed into the sea and light damage to a mall and hospital in the city. Residents in Jayapura said people scrambled for safety, running from houses and shops when the quake struck, according to the Jakarta Post. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared a “personal account” of a student named Lopoli Melo from Arunachal Pradesh, who got the opportunity to participate in the ‘Parakram Diwas 2023’ celebrations in the Lok Sabha secretariat.

“You will enjoy reading this very personal account of Lopoli Melo from Arunachal Pradesh. I would like to laud Speaker Om Birla Ji for taking the lead for such an initiative which also gave me the opportunity to meet bright youngsters,” PM Modi said in a tweet.

Parakram Diwas is celebrated on January 23 in order to mark the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, who is fondly known as ‘Netaji.

Lopoli Melo, a student of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), Arunachal Pradesh, was selected to attend the ‘Parakram Diwas 2023’ celebrations in the Lok Sabha secretariat.

In her article titled ‘A day in the Parliament and PMO’, she recalls her journey throughout the day.

“I had to represent my university, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), and my state in the higher education institute (HEI) division in the Parliament for the ‘Parakram Diwas’, 2023 – a programme launched by the Parliamentary Research & Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha secretariat,” Lopoli pens in her blog.

“My journey started on 21 January. My brothers were so scared to send me alone that they accompanied me till the Guwahati airport. From there, I had to do it all alone. Delhi was welcoming, and felt like home,” she said.

Referring to her dress, she recalls that she wore her traditional dress ‘Idu Mishmi’ attire on the Prakram Diwas, and saved the ‘Nyishi’ attire for the Republic Day. She also brought a traditional ‘Monpa’ bag with her.

“My madam, Moyir Riba, RGU IDE assistant professor, was particular about my dress. She had told me that I was going to represent the whole state and asked me to be representative of the same,” she said.

Noting down her events in the day, Lopoli says, “I was seated in the fourth column from the left, fourth seat from the first, exactly at the centre of the hall. It had been around 10 minutes or so when I spotted our External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar coming in from the front door. I gasped in disbelief; I could not hold back my excitement. Me and my friends started giggling out of happiness, hoping he would look towards us. And so he did, and gave us a good namaste, and with huge grins we did the same. One after another, our cabinet ministers began to appear. I also spotted our Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Too many famous personalities in a single day!”

“Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia asked me, “How are you?” and “I am doing good, sir,” I replied, excitedly. And then Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju asked me, “From Roing?” “No sir, I am from Anini,” I replied, much excitedly again,” she further recalled.

Lopoli regrets not getting the opportunity of giving a speech, because in lack of time limit, speakers were selected on a random basis.

“However, the whole experience made it worthwhile,” she said.

Finally, talking about her interaction with PM Modi, she says, “The long-awaited day ended with an interaction programme between the students and the PM at his residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi.

“We were called in for high tea. The ambience of his residence was very soothing. Caterers waited on us; students were having their laughs, interacting casually with one another; there was a beautiful music in the background that was being played, probably practising for the Republic Day. Birds were chirping and flying around the residence. I spotted a peacock on a tree,” she said.

She said that they were instructed on how to present themselves and what things were to be avoided.

“After 10 minutes or so, we were gathered to wait on the PM. He arrived and we had a photo session and sat down for the interaction. It was a very casual interaction. There was an atmosphere of ease. He talked to us, cracked jokes, gave advice and stressed on being observant and to be aware of the moment and read more,” she points out.

Lopoli said that they all were taken around several places in Delhi in the next few days, including Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, and Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya. They also got the opportunity to witness the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path.

Giving a message to the youths of Arunachal Pradesh, Lopoli says that they must grab the opportunity and work to be in the race with the rest of the world.

“I had never dreamt that I would be visiting all these important places; one might never get a chance even after a hundredth visit to Delhi that I had on my first. To meet the prime minister of our country is on another level. The indication here is that we need to see beyond what we have been looking at; the youths of Arunachal must grab the opportunity and work to be in the race with the rest of the world,” she says.

“The other world, seen from afar, seems unreachable and unachievable until we reach it and we find out that it is not impossible,” Lopoli adds. (ANI)

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