Month: January 2025

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt is back at work after a long vacation with family in Thailand.

On Tuesday, Alia took to Instagram and shared a couple of pictures from her working day.

The first image shows Alia flaunting her makeup.

“Back to the grind,” she captioned the post.

In another picture, Alia could be seen posing with her team.

The caption of the second image read,”With my team behind.”

Meanwhile, on the acting front, Alia will be seen headlining spy drama ‘Alpha’ with Sharvari. Directed by Shiv Rawail, ‘Alpha’ is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films’ acclaimed spy universe.

She is also set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love and War,’ which also stars Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor. Alia Bhatt earlier collaborated with Bhansali in the 2022 drama Gangubai Kathiawadi.

The film was officially announced in January 2024. The original announcement on Instagram read, “We Bring You Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Epic Saga ‘Love & War.’ See You At The Movies Christmas 2025.”

It was accompanied by the signatures of the lead trio, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal.

‘Love and War’ is expected to go on floors in the coming months. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader MP PP Chaudhary who is the chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on ‘One Nation, One Election’ has expressed confidence that a consensus will be built among the members of the Parliament who are part of the JPC.

He said that the efforts of the JPC will be to reach a consensus and scrutinise the bills in an “unbiased” manner. Chaudhary, highlighted that the parliamentary panel will hear from every stakeholder in this matter.

“Our efforts will be to listen to people from every field – be it from political parties, civil societies, or judiciary. We want to take everyone’s input. We will examine the bills introduced by the government in an unbiased manner and with an open mind. Our effort will be to reach a consensus since the members who are part of the committee are eminent (personalities). I have faith that we will work for the nation’s interest and reach a consensus,” Chaudhary told ANI.

He further added that the concerned ministry will brief the members on the first day of the meeting today. The BJP MP said that they will take everyone’s opinion to figure out how to move forward.

“Today, on the first day, the members will be briefed by the concerned ministry. We will take everyone’s opinion on how to move forward step by step. Our effort will remain to be transparent and rise above the party line to reach a consensus for the nation’s interest,” Chaudhary added.

The JPC is supposed to examine the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, which consists of members from Lok Sabha including Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, NCP’s Supriya Sule, TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee and BJP’s PP Chaudhary, Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Singh Thakur.

The members of the Rajya Sabha are also part of the panel.

Two bills – The Constitution 129th Amendment Bill, 2024 and The Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill, 2024 – were introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament to achieve one nation one election. They propose simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across the country. It was referred to the JPC for scrutiny and discussion on the bill.

Opposition members have been opposing the amendments, and have argued that the proposed change could disproportionately benefit the ruling party, giving it undue influence over the electoral process in states, and undermining the autonomy of regional parties. They have also argued that the bills proposing simultaneous elections are against the federal structure.

In reaction to this, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier said that the proposal is “practical and important” and will be discussed from the start of the new year with the first meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee to take place on January 8.

In an interview with ANI, Meghwal said the proposal for simultaneous elections to assemblies and Lok Sabha has been discussed for quite some time and is not against the federal structure. (ANI)

AIADMK MLAs on Wednesday were seen wearing black shirts for the third day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly session. AIADMK is likely to raise the issue of the alleged Anna University sexual assault case.

Various political parties have cornered the government on the Anna University alleged sexual assault case, accusing the DMK government of going slow on the case.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly session is scheduled to start shortly with a Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s Address.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday witnessed high drama on its first day of the winter session as the opposition parties were holding protests at the Secretariat against the alleged sexual assault case.

On Day 1 of the Tamil Nadu Assembly session of 2025, Governor R N Ravi did not deliver his customary address, citing a serious issue concerning the National Anthem.

According to an earlier statement from the office of Raj Bhawan, upon the Governor’s arrival at the assembly, only “Tamil Tai Vazhdu,” the state anthem, was sung instead of the national anthem, which is traditionally played during such occasions.

“The Constitution of Bharat and the National Anthem were once again insulted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today. Respecting the National Anthem is among the first Fundamental duties as enshrined in our Constitution. It is sung in all the state legislatures at the beginning and the end of the Governor’s address. Today on the arrival of the Governor to the House only Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was sung. Governor respectfully reminded the House of its Constitutional Duty and fervently appealed to the Hon’ble Chief Minister who is the Leader of the House and the Hon’ble Speaker for singing the National Anthem. However, they cussedly refused. It is a matter of grave concern. Not to be a party to such brazen disrespect to the Constitution and the National Anthem, Governor in deep anguish left the House,” a statement from Raj Bhavan had said.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore had slammed the Tamil Nadu Governor’s actions in the state assembly, calling them “completely ridiculous.”

A second-year student of Anna University was allegedly sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus in December, Chennai Police had said. One person had been arrested in connection with the case.

In her December 23 complaint to police, the student alleged that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her when she was talking to her friend on campus. (ANI)

As the row over the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence intensified, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders including Saurabh Bharadwaj and Sanjay Singh on Wednesday had a stand-off with the Delhi police personnel deployed outside the bungalow.

The AAP leaders had marched to the Delhi CM’s residence earlier today to refute the claims made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Labelling the CM’s bungalow as ‘Sheesh Mahal’, the BJP had claimed that the Chief Minister’s residence had swimming pools and a golden commode.

Meanwhile, Delhi Ministers Bharadwaj and Singh sat on a ‘dharna’ outside the CM’s residence after being denied entry by the police. They also got into heated arguments with the police personnel deployed outside the bungalow.

“BJP used to send new videos and photos every day. Today, we came here with all the media persons. Now, the BJP is running away. A three-layer barricading has been put up. They have also put up water cannons and deployed Additional DCP here. This has been turned into a border so that the media can’t go in. Show us where the swimming pool and bar are…BJP says that the CM’s residence was built for Rs 33 Crores. It is also being said that PM house is being built for Rs 2700 Crores. We will see both the CM residence and PM house. Let the public see both, ” AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

Earlier, Bharadwaj accused the BJP of drifting apart from the issue, saying they fear that they will have to show Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence as well since both the CM and PM’s residences have been constructed with taxpayers’ money.

“During COVID, the CM residence and the PM residence, both were constructed using taxpayers’ money. Both the residences should be shown to everyone through the media. The BJP claimed there is a swimming pool and a bar in the CM residence, let us find it if that’s the case… BJP is backing off now because they think they might have to show the PM’s residence too… We are now going to the CM residence,” the AAP leader said.

This comes after Sanjay Singh on Tuesday challenged the BJP to visit the CM’s residence along with media persons.

Even as the AAP leadership and Delhi Police were in a stand-off, the BJP’s Delhi unit posted a video claiming that it was the residence of the Delhi CM.

“The dirty secrets of corrupt and useless Kejriwal’s glass palace are now in front of the public. The people of Delhi have recognized this great fraud. The public has understood that this impostor who came as a common man is just a playboy who enjoys the pleasures of power,” the Delhi BJP said on X.

“Kejriwal, who came to power by lying and deceiving, had said on entering politics that he will not take a bungalow, but will live in a two-room house. He had distributed affidavits. The same big fraud built a den of loot called Sheeshmahal as soon as he came to power. That too when Delhi, plagued by a pandemic like Corona, was struggling for every breath,” the Delhi BJP further said.

The AAP MLAs also plan to march to the PM house as part of their protest against BJP’s claims. (ANI)

Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin suggested that legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stemmed from frustration over not being selected in the playing eleven.

The veteran all-rounder sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity by announcing his retirement from international cricket following the draw in the third Test at Brisbane. Notably, Ashwin had not played in that match. He featured in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, scoring 29 runs across both innings and taking one wicket. Before this series, he was part of India’s shocking home Test series loss to New Zealand, their first in 12 years. Ashwin had been one of the key architects of India’s dominant Test run at home.

Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Haddin said, “The first three Test matches, they played three different spinners, so they arrived here not knowing what their game style is going to be around here. It should not be a shock when you get here, they have played here enough, they have success here so the Ashwin retiring mid-series was a funny one. I do not think we have heard the last of that yet. I think he was just jack of not getting picked.”

Haddin further added that Ashwin likely sees himself as the “number one spinner” and decided to retire on his own terms rather than sit on the bench if he was not considered essential.

“I think he sees himself as the number one spinner. His record is elite, and he just went, ‘You know what I am not sitting on the bench. If you cannot decide that I am your best spinner, I am done. I have played enough. I do not need this.’ I do not think we have heard the end of that,” Haddin added.

India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3, succumbing to a six-wicket defeat in the fifth and final Test at Sydney after setting Australia a target of 162 runs. With this loss, India is officially out of contention for the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June next year, as Australia and South Africa have sealed their places.

In 106 Tests for India, the legendary all-rounder took 537 wickets at an average of 24.00, with best figures of 7/59. He claimed 37 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket match hauls in his Test career. He is the eighth-highest wicket-taker in Tests overall and the second-highest for India, behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). Ashwin also holds the record for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Tests, trailing only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (67).

With the bat, Ashwin scored 3,503 runs at an average of 25.75, including six centuries and 14 fifties in 151 innings, with a highest score of 124.

In 116 ODIs, Ashwin took 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also scored 707 runs at an average of 16.44, including one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings. He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker for India in the format.

Across all formats, Ashwin took 765 wickets in 287 matches, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker after Anil Kumble (953 wickets).

Ashwin was also a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. (ANI)

Actors and sisters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor have dropped an adorable video where they are vibing to the ‘Loveyapa’ song and the best part was that their father and producer Boney Kapoor made a special appearance.

On Tuesday, Janhvi posted a reel on Instagram where they can be seen recreating the hook steps of the song.

Boney photobombed them and can be seen lip-syncing the ‘alaap’ portion of the song.

Along with the reel, she wrote a hilarious caption which read, “Nikla tha love karne par papa aagaya #Loveyapa.”

Boney’s children Arjun Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor reacted to the post.

Arjun Kapoor wrote, “best alaap ever !!!” while Anshula said, “Hahahahaha best @boney.kapoor.”

Janhvi’s rumoured boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya reacted to the post and wrote, “Superstar @boney.kapoor.”

Varun Dhawan and Zoya Akhtar dropped laughing emojis in the comment section.

Recently, the title track of Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s film ‘Loveyapa’ has been unveiled.

The song shows a fun chemistry shared between Junaid and Khushi in the age of social media. Nakash Aziz and Madhubanti Bagchi have lent their vocals to the track.

Sharing the song, Zee Music Company on their YouTube channel wrote, “Babu Shona karte-karte ho gaya dimag ka Bhajiyapa? Well, this is the beginning of Loveyapa! #LoveyapaHogaya song out now.”

The upcoming rom-com will be released on February 7, 2025. Advait Chandan, who helmed ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, has come on board to direct the project. The film is produced by Phantom Studios and AGS Entertainment. As per the makers, Loveyapa is a “tangled tale of love and its complications with a mix of fun and laughter, shaping up to be a cinematic treat.” (ANI)

One dead body has been recovered from the collapsed coal mine at 3 Kilo, Umrangso, where nine miners were trapped on January 6.

According to a statement from an NDRF official, one body has been recovered by the divers of NDRF, the Indian army.

The joint rescue operation led by the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and other agencies resumed early morning to rescue nine miners trapped in a coal mine in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso, Dima Hasao.

The operation had to be temporarily halted the previous evening but resumed with full force today, January 6. According to NDRF Deputy Commandant, N. Tiwari, the efforts are continuing round-the-clock with an expanded team.

“The operation was closed yesterday evening, and we have resumed the operation again this morning. We expect and hope to reach our miners as soon as possible and rescue them,” he said.

Tiwari added that the combined forces of the NDRF and the Army are working on the ground, with support expected from the Navy in the coming hours.

“Everyone from our commandant, our team, the army are here. Later, the officials from the Navy will also join the rescue operation,” he said.

A miner who worked in the mine said, “A lot of people were in the mine and suddenly people started shouting that water is filling, around 30-35 people came up and nearly 15-16 were still trapped.”

Meanwhile, as the rescue operation continued in Umrangso, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced the registration of an FIR and the arrest of one individual in connection with the incident.

In a post on X, Sarma informed, “The police have registered an FIR under Umrangso PS Case No: 02/2025, citing Sections 3(5)/105 BNS, r/w Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, to investigate the incident. Prima facie, it appears to be an illegal mine. One Punish Nunisa has been arrested in connection with the case.”

The CM had also discussed the rescue operation with Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy and sought assistance.

“I also spoke to Hon’ble Union Coal Minister, Shri @kishanreddybjp, seeking assistance for our rescue operation in Umrangsu. He has promptly issued directions to @CoalIndiaHQ to extend full support to the Assam government in this mission. My sincere gratitude to him for his swift response and support,” CM Sarma posted on X. (ANI)

The Centre appointed V Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space on Tuesday.

V Narayanan will assume office on January 14. He will succeed the current ISRO chairman, S Somanath.

According to an official order from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Narayanan has been appointed to serve in these roles for the next two years, until further notice.

Narayanan is currently serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) of the ISRO in Valiamala, Kerala.

An official order from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training states, “The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri V. Narayanan, Director. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

V Narayanan is a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of experience in rocket and spacecraft propulsion.

He is a Rocket and Space Craft Propulsion Expert and joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of LPSC. During the initial phase, he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

He further contributed to the process planning, process control and realization of Ablative nozzle systems, composite motor cases and composite Igniter cases.

Currently, Narayanan is the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of the major Centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) having its Headquarters at Valiamala in Thiruvananthapuram, with a unit at Bangalore. (ANI)

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the “Cashless Treatment” scheme, under which the government will cover expenses of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for seven days of treatment for road accident victims.

Gadkari stated that the government would bear the cost of treatment if the police are informed about the accident within 24 hours.

The Union Minister also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs two lakh for the families of deceased victims in hit-and-run cases.

“We have started a new scheme – Cashless Treatment. Immediately after an accident occurs, within 24 hours, when the information goes to the Police, we will provide expenses for seven-day treatment of the patient who gets admitted or a maximum of up to Rs 1.5 Lakhs for treatment. We will also provide Rs two lakh for the deceased in hit-and-run cases,” said the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

He also underlined that the government’s top priority is road safety, citing the alarming statistic that nearly 1.80 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents in 2024. Of these, 30,000 fatalities were due to not wearing helmets, Gadkari added.

“In the meeting, the first priority is for road safety and in the year 2024, 1.80 lakh deaths have occurred in road safety. 30,000 people have died because of not wearing helmets. The second serious thing is that 66% of accidents have occurred in people between the ages of 18 to 34,” Gadkari added.

Gadkari further highlighted the deaths of 10,000 children in road accidents caused by inadequate arrangements at entry and exit points near educational institutions, such as schools and colleges.

“10,000 children have died due to a lack of proper arrangement at the exit-entry point in front of our schools and colleges. Rules have also been made for the autorickshaws and minibuses for schools as there have been significant number of deaths due to this. After identifying all the black spots, everyone decided together that we would try to reduce it,” he said.

The announcement followed a meeting chaired by Gadkari with Transport Ministers from all states and union territories at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on Tuesday.

The meeting aimed to facilitate collaborative efforts between the union and state governments and to discuss transportation-related policies. (ANI)

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday said that the poll body will issue an instruction to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be “no Delhi-specific announcement in the Union budget.

“The Union Budget will come on February 1 and Delhi will vote on February 5. Today itself, we will issue a standing instruction to the Cabinet Secretary that there should be no Delhi-specific announcement in the Union budget that can disturb the level playing field. For pan India, there is no problem. This is the practice always,” CEC Rajiv Kumar said while addressing a press conference in the national capital.

Delhi will go to the polls on February 5 and votes will be counted on February 8.

The last date for filing nominations is January 17. The date for scrutiny of nominations is January 18. While last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

With the announcement of the election dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force in the national capital and will remain in force till the completion of the election process.

The final voter list published on January 6 for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections recorded a total of 1,55,24,858 registered voters in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, showing a net increase of 1.09 per cent.

The Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. In contrast, the AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got only eight seats. (ANI)