Month: September 2024

Actor Aditya Roy Kapur’s new haircut has fans raving. Credits go to celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim for giving the ‘Aashiqui 2’ star a sharp look.

On Wednesday, Hakim took to Instagram and shared pictures in which Aditya is seen flaunting his crew-cut hairstyle.

In no time, fans flooded the comment section with their reactions.

“Haye he is looking so hot,” a social media user commented.

“Bole toh fire,” another netizen wrote.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Adtiya will be seen sharing screen space with Sara Ali Khan in ‘Metro In Dino’.

Helmed by Anurag Basu, the anthology film also star Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, and Konkona Sen Sharma in lead roles.

‘Metro…In Dino’ marks Aditya and Basu’s second collaboration. The duo first worked together in ‘Ludo’.’Metro In Dino,’ a film that apparently draws its title from the popular song ‘In Dino’ from ‘Life in a… Metro’, will showcase bittersweet tales of human relationships based in contemporary times.

Sharing more details about the film, Basu, in a press note shared by the film’s team, had earlier said, “Metro In Dino is a tale of the people and for the people! It has been a while since I am working on this one and I am glad to be collaborating with a powerhouse like Bhushan Kumar yet again who has always been like a pillar to me!”

“The storyline is very fresh and relevant as I look forward to collaborating with amazing artists who bring that essence of contemporary aura with them. As music plays a very important role in any film, I couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with my dear friend Pritam who has literally added life to the characters and story with his work,” he added.

Basu is known for his films like ‘Barfi’, ‘Life In a Metro’, ‘Ludo’, and ‘Jagga Jasoos’. (ANI)

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Actor Kiara Advani made heads turn with her latest airport look.

On Wednesday, she arrived at the Mumbai airport in full fashionista mode. Donning a chic co-ord set and the hottest black leather jacket, the ‘Kabir Singh’ star happily posed for shutterbugs.

She elevated her look with stylish glasses and white sneakers, giving a rather monochromatic and well-thought-out appeal.

This look of Kiara was enough to steal the attention of her fans. In no time, they flooded social media with compliments for Kiara.

“She is looking so hot,” an Instagram user commented.

“Full gangsta vibes,” another fan wrote on Instagram.

Meanwhile, speaking of Kiara’s work front, she is all set to be seen with Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr in ‘War 2’. An official announcement is still awaited.

Kiara is also a part of Ram Charan-starrer ‘Game Changer’. The film’s story revolves around an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who strives to combat corrupt politicians by advocating for fair elections to transform the way government works.

The Telugu movie is set to hit screens soon.

Kiara is also a part of ‘Don 3’, which will be headlined by Ranveer Singh.

In August 2023, Farhan in a special announcement video revealed that Ranveer Singh will be the new Don in the third film of the hit franchise.

In the teaser, Ranveer was seen seated in a building with his back to the camera. He lit up a cigarette, introduced himself as Don, and then turned to face the camera. He wore a leather jacket and matching pants for the dapper look and accessorised it with leather boots and matching sunglasses.

Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan played the character in the earlier versions.

The ‘Don’ franchise has always been associated with compelling stories, exhilarating action, and unforgettable moments.

‘Don’ starred Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Boman Irani in prominent roles. The film was released in 2006 and won Best Asian Film at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival. Later, its sequel was released in 2011 and was declared a hit.

Actor Hrithik Roshan was seen in a special appearance role in ‘Don 2’.

Farhan’s directorial was a remake of 1978’s ‘Don’, which featured Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role earlier. (ANI)

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‘Celebrate Cinema 2024’ is officially underway! Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai on Wednesday kick-started the new edition of the film festival.

Whistling Woods International’s festival’s opening session featured an insightful discussion with the team of the hit film ‘Gadar 2’. Director Anil Sharma, his son Utkarsh Sharma and music director Mithoon among others were present at the festival.

In conversation with ANI, Subhash Ghai shared how this festival helps creative minds to learn about different aspects of the film industry.

“This festival celebrates cinema in a true way. From masterclasses to workshops and screenings, ‘Celebrate Cinema’ offers a lot. At this festival, students will get to learn a lot. If you are passionate about cinema, then one must attend this 3-day film festival. Also, we try to make students introduce to different kinds of films here. This time, they will get to see films like ‘Gadar 2’, ‘Stree 2’ and ‘Laapataa Ladies’…all these projects are of different genres,” Ghai said.

Music director Mithoon, who attended the festival, added, “I really appreciate the efforts of Subhash Ghai sir to come up with this festival every year. I feel it’s very important to make films considering Indian ethos in mind…The films of Subhash Ghai’s sir are proof. There are so many films of Shubhash Ghai sir that showcase the beauty of Indian culture.”

‘Stree 2’ team will attend the festival on Thursday for an exciting conversation about cinema. Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee, Amar Kaushik and Niren Bhatt are expected to mark their presence.

A special session will also be held with the team of ‘Laapataa Ladies’, which is directed by Kiran Rao. The festival will conclude with a much-anticipated session featuring the team of Amar Singh Chamkila, with Imtiaz Ali and Yashika Sikka in attendance. (ANI)

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The Congress on Wednesday announced seven guarantees for Haryana assembly polls which will be part of its election manifesto, promising restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, two lakh jobs, caste survey, 300 units of free power and free medical treatment upto Rs 25 lakh.

Making the announcement about the guarantees, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said here that guarantees pertain to women, social security, youth, the poor, and the farmers.

Senior party leaders, including general secretary KC Venugopal, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan were among those present on the occasion.

Kharge said the party has ‘seven vade, pakke erade’.

The Congress has promised Rs 2000 per month to women above the age of 18 as well as the availability of gas cylinders at Rs 500.

As part of steps to strengthen social security, Kharge said old age pension, disability pension and widow pension will be Rs 6,000.

Even as the Centre has announced the Unified Pension Scheme as an option to the New Pension Scheme, the Congress has promised restoration of the Old Pension Scheme.

For the youth, the party has promised 2 lakh confirmed jobs and a drug-free Haryana.

Under the promise of “happiness to every family”, the Congress has promised 300 units of free electricity and free treatment of up to Rs 25 lakh.

The farmers have been promised legal guarantee of a minimum support price and immediate compensation for crop loss.

The party talked of ‘Rs 10 gaz plot’ for the poor and a two-room flat at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh.

Talking of rights of backwards, the party has promised caste survey and increasing limit of creamy layer to Rs 10 lakh.

Kharge expressed confidence that Congress will win Haryana polls slated for October 5.

“Haryana was a prosperous state; it was considered number one in India, but the BJP ruined it. People are going to elect the Congress party. Our promise is that as soon as we come to power, we will fulfil our seven promises,” Kharge said.

Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan said that the party is determined to make Haryana number one state again.

“When there was a Congress government in Haryana, it was number one in sports, agriculture, infrastructure, and per capita investment. Congress is determined to make Haryana number 1 again,” Bhan said.

Voting for the 90-member legislative assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8 along with that in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

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The officer in charge of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal has been suspended by the Kolkata Police on Wednesday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Mondal in connection with RG Kar rape-murder case on September 14.

He was produced in Sealdah Court on Sunday along with former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front requested one more meeting with the state government as some of their demand remained unresolved.

State Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant on Wednesday accepted the doctor’s demand for a meeting today at Nabanna with a 30-member delegation.

Dr Aqeeb said, “We sent a mail to the Chief Secretary. Today we received a reply also. We want to discuss on the disagreements over several issues in the last meeting…We want that all the issues should be resolved as soon as possible and we return to our work…We hope that the meeting will be successful…It will be held today from 6.30 pm onwards…We hope that the CM will be also present at the meeting…”

Following the meeting with the protesting doctors on Tuesday, the West Bengal government accepted some of their demands including the removal of the police chief of Kolkata and two senior health officials.

Along with these changes, the Director of the Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Suparna Dutta, and Joint DHS, Dr Swapan Soren, have also been removed from the posts.

Following the meeting with the doctors, Dr Kaustav Nayak and Dr Debashis Halder have been removed from the posts of Director of Medical Education (DME) and Director of Health Services (DHS) from the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the West Bengal Government on Tuesday.

The body of the 31-year-old doctor was found at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. Since then thousands of junior doctors in the state have been on a strike. (ANI)

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All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal and said that the proposal destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge opposed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, saying it is impractical. He termed the approval of the one simultaneous elections proposal a poll gimmick ahead of elections, saying ‘when elections come, they (Bharatiya Janata Party) say all these things.

“I have consistently opposed #OneNationOneElections because it is a solution in search of a problem. It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the constitution,” Owaisi posted on X.

The AIMIM leader Owaisi rejected the concept of simultaneous elections and called it a need of PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah only.

“Multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi and Shah. Just because they have a compulsive need to campaign in even municipal and local body elections does not mean that we need simultaneous polls. Frequent and periodic elections improve democratic accountability,” he added.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said that One Nation, One Election is nothing but an attempt to divert attention from the Government’s failures.

“The Union Cabinet approves many proposals, after which they have to take the U-turn. One Nation, One Election is nothing but to divert attention from their failures. How will they implement One Nation, One Election? This is to divert the attention of you people but we will not get diverted,” Shrinate said.

Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra said that One Nation, One Election cannot happen, adding that the government will have to be made in the law and they do not have a sufficient majority to amend the law.

“One Nation, One Election cannot happen, amendments will have to be made in the law and they do not have a sufficient majority to amend the law. They do this to divert attention from their failures… The women’s reservation bill was passed, but was it implemented? This is how the propaganda of One Nation, One Election is going on,” he said.

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being organised in three phases and the government are talking about One Nation, One Election.

“J-K elections are being organised in three phases and they are talking about One Nation, One Election, I don’t know what does this mean…AAP party is the B team of the BJP and when the time comes everyone will agree…Congress will win the Haryana and J&K elections,” Randhawa said.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.

The recommendations were made in a report of a hight panel committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “The Union Cabinet has accepted the recommendations by the high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election. Cabinet approved the proposal unanimously.”

The Union Minister further said that the proposal will be implemented in two phases.

“In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be held and in the second phase, local bodies elections (Gram Panchayat, Block, Zila Panchayat) and urban local bodies (municipality and municipal committees or municipal corporations),” the Minister said.

Vaishnaw said that recommendations of former President Ram Nath Kovind’s panel will be discussed across India on various forums.

“Implementation group to be formed to take forward recommendations of Kovind panel on simultaneous polls,” the Minister said.

Vaishnaw further said that a large number of parties across the political spectrum have actually supported the One Nation, One Election initiative.

“When they interact with high-level meetings, they give their input in a very succinct manner and with a lot of clarity. Our government believes in creating a consensus on items that affect democracy and the nation in the long run. This is a subject, a topic that will strengthen our nation,” the Union Minister said.

The Kovind-led High-Level Committee on ‘One Nation-One Election’ led by former President Ram Nath Kovind in its report stated that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty and impact policy decisions, adding that holding simultaneous elections would bring enhanced certainty in policy making.

The report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work over 191 days, since the constitution of the High-Level Committee on September 2, 2023.

While highlighting the advantages of simultaneous elections, the committee stated that ‘One Nation One Election’ ensures ease and convenience to voters, avoids voters’ fatigue, and facilitates greater voter turnout.

The Committee was briefed by these bodies that intermittent elections had adverse consequences on economic growth, quality of public expenditure, and educational and other outcomes, besides upsetting social harmony.

The panel headed by former president Kovind had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

The proposal will now be tabled in Parliament and must be cleared in both houses the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – before it becomes the law. (ANI)

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India is seeking changes in a six-decade-old Indus water treaty and has formally notified Pakistan to amend the pact. The longstanding dispute concerning Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects has prompted India to seek a modification in the treaty.

According to the treaty, the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab waters were allocated to Pakistan, while India has rights over the Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej). India has the right to produce electricity from run-of-the-river projects.

However, Pakistan has time and again objected to these projects, thus affecting the water flow to India.

According to sources, “India has served a formal Notice to Pakistan on August 30, 2024, seeking review and modification of the Indus Water Treaty under Article XII(3) of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Under Article XII(3) of the IWT, its provision may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified Treaty concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.”

India’s notification highlights fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various Articles of the Treaty. Among various concerns, important ones include changes in population demographics, environmental issues–the need to accelerate the development of clean energy to meet India’s emission targets–and the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism etc.

The notification was issued in the background of a separate prolonged controversy concerning Kishanganga and Ratle Hydro Projects.

In this regard, the World Bank has simultaneously activated both the Neutral Expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration on the same set of issues. The Indian side has, therefore, also called for reconsideration of the dispute resolution mechanism under the treaty.

With this Notification, India has called Pakistan to begin government-to-government negotiations to review the Treaty under the provisions of Article XII(3). (ANI)

In the Land-for-Job money laundering case, the Rouse Avenue court has issued summons to several key figures, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and his sons Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. This is the first time Tej Pratap Yadav has been called in connection with this case.

The court said that Tej Pratap Yadav’s involvement could not be ruled out. Although he was not initially charge-sheeted, he was a director at AK Infosys Ltd and has now been summoned.

Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne issued a summon to Lalu Prasad Yadav, his two sons, and six other accused. They have been directed to appear on October 7.

Other charge-sheeted individuals have also been summoned. The court has included Akhileshwar Singh and his wife, Kiran Devi, in its summons.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary charge sheet on August 6, listing 11 accused. Four of these individuals have since died.

The court has directed Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Akhileshwar Singh, Hazari Prasad Rai, Sanjay Rai, Dharmendra Singh, and Kiran Devi. The court also clarified that while Akhileshwar Singh was made an accused by the ED, his wife Kiran Devi was not initially charged. However, she is involved in the case for selling land to Misa Bharti in exchange for a job for her son, Abhisek.

The court said that there is sufficient material to proceed further against the accused persons.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court granted regular bail to businessman Amit Katyal on medical grounds on Tuesday. Katyal, who is charged in the land-for-job money laundering case, was previously granted interim bail on medical grounds.

The case involves former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, who are named in the supplementary charge sheet. Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, Amit Katyal, and Hridyanand Chaudhary, had already been charge-sheeted.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna granted bail to Katyal, but a detailed order is yet to be uploaded. Katyal had earlier been on interim bail for 84 days due to medical reasons. Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, who represented Katyal, argued that Katyal was the only person arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), while the main accused, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was charge-sheeted without arrest. “Katyal was arrested in November 2023. Since then, he has been in custody. He is even a witness in the connected CBI case. His health was not good, and he had undergone surgery,” Pahwa said.

The ED opposed the bail application, arguing that there is substantial evidence against Katyal showing his involvement in the money laundering offence.

On August 17, the Rouse Avenue court reserved its order on summoning former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, among others, in the Land for Job money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

On August 6, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed its first supplementary charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi Yadav, and other accused in the case. This charge sheet names individuals such as Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Kishun Dev Rai, and Sanjay Rai. Four of these accused–Lallan Chaudhary, Lal Babu Rai, Kishun Dev Rai, and Sonmatia Devi–have died, and proceedings against them have been abated.

On July 6, the court had directed the ED to file an additional or concluding charge sheet by the next hearing date. The Joint Director of the ED updated the court on the investigation status. The ED’s Special Public Prosecutor, Manish Jain, along with Snehal Sharda, appeared for the ED, clarifying that the supplementary charge sheet is based on the evidence collected so far.

The court had previously ordered the ED to expedite the investigation and finalise the pending charges. In April, it instructed the ED to conclude the investigation within two weeks.

In the case, two firms, A K Infosystems and A B Export, are also implicated. The ED claims that A K Infosystems, founded by Katyal in 2006-07, was used to buy land parcels instead of conducting legitimate business. This land was later transferred to Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav for just one lakh rupees.

The ED has also revealed that A B Export, supposedly an export business, was involved in significant financial transactions and property purchases. The ED’s investigations indicate that land acquired at low prices was sold at high profits, with proceeds transferred to Tejaswi Yadav. The ED has found that Lalu Yadav’s family acquired land illegally in exchange for jobs in the railways, with a current market value exceeding Rs200 crore. The investigation uncovered significant unaccounted cash, gold, and other assets.

The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to quash the ED’s proceedings against Amit Katyal. The ED’s March raids led to the recovery of substantial unaccounted cash and valuable assets. The investigation has highlighted that several land parcels were acquired illegally by Lalu Yadav’s family, further indicating the misuse of funds and assets. (ANI)

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On filmmaker Vignesh Shivan’s birthday his wife and actor Nayanthara dropped a heartfelt post for him.

Taking to her Instagram handle, she shared a series of pictures with Vignesh.

In one photograph, she can be seen sharing a sweet kiss with her husband. The adorable couple can be seen sharing some romantic moments together.

Along with pictures, she wrote a sweet caption, “Happyyyy Birthday My Everything.. I love you beyond words could ever explain! God blessss u with everything u wish for in life my uyir ulagam..”

Take a look at the couple’s lovey-dovey moments.

Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan married in Chennai on June 9, 2022. It was an intimate wedding with only their close friends and select guests, including Shah Rukh Khan, AR Rahman, Suriya, and Rajinikanth, in attendance.

The couple welcomed their sons via surrogacy in 2022. The news was shared by Vignesh on his Instagram handle where he shared pictures of his twin newborns named Uyir and Ulagam. In the images, the duo was seen kissing the feet of their babies.

He captioned the post by writing, “Nayan and Me have become Amma and Appa. We are blessed with Twin Baby Boys. All Our prayers, and our ancestors’ blessings combined with all the good manifestations made, have come 2gethr in the form Of 2 blessed babies for us. Need all ur blessings for our Uyir and Ulagam. Life looks brighter and more beautiful. God is double great.”

Talking about Nayanthara’s work front, she made her acting debut with the Malayalam film ‘Manassinakkare’ in 2003. She made her debut in Tamil cinema with ‘Ayya’ in 2005 and in Telugu cinema with ‘Lakshmi’ in 2006. Following her breakthrough performance in the female-driven films ‘Anaamika’, ‘Maya’, ‘Kolamavu Kokila’ ‘Airaa’, and ‘Netrikann’, Nayanthara went on to become one of the most prominent actresses in South Indian cinema.

She also worked with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Jawan’, which turned out to be a milestone project for her. (ANI)

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Congress on Wednesday said that it is opposed to the proposal of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and elections need to be held as and when required for democracy to survive.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that ‘One Nation, One Election’ cannot work in a democracy.

He was responding to queries on the decision of the Union Cabinet to accept recommendations of the high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’.

“We don’t stand with this. One Nation One Election cannot work in a democracy. Elections need to be held as and when required if we want our democracy to survive,” he said.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the proposal is not practical.

“It is not practical in this country. They want to divert attention from present issues,” he said.

Responding to a query on Kharge’s remarks, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. who briefed the media on decisions of the union cabinet, said the opposition might start feeling internal pressure.

“The opposition might start feeling internal pressure (about One Nation One Election) as more than 80 per cent of respondents who responded during the consultation process have given their positive support, especially the youth, they are very much in favour of this,” Vaishnaw said.

The High level Committee on Simultaneous Elections constituted under the Chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu earlier this year.

The government said that the Report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work of 191 days, since its constitution on September 2, 2023. (ANI)

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