Month: April 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday paid tribute to Rajput King Rana Sanga on his birth anniversary.

In a post on X, CM Yogi remembered Rana Sanga’s valour, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to protecting “dharma.”

“Heartfelt salutations on the birth anniversary of the mighty warrior Rana Sanga, who was devoted to the protection of dharma! His saga of patriotism and sacrifice is a golden chapter in history. His valour will continue to inspire and instil pride in the land of Bharat for generations to come,” CM Yogi Adityanath said.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman sparked controversy with his statement on Rana Sanga, a 16th-century Rajput king, calling him a “traitor” for allegedly bringing Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.

On March 26, violence erupted outside the residence of SP MP Suman in Agra. Unidentified individuals resorted to stone pelting, breaking window panes and vandalising vehicles parked outside.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also in the district during the attack, gave consent for this attack.

“The incident with Ramji Lal Suman is sad and should be condemned. Ramji Lal Suman is a Dalit MP and has a lot of experience and his residence was attacked when the Chief Minister himself was in the district. This attack took place with the consent of the Chief Minister of UP,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

Rana Sanga, also known as Sangram Singh I, was the ruler of Mewar from 1508 to 1528 and is revered for his bravery and sacrifices. Suman’s statement has been widely criticized, with many calling for an apology and action against him.

Earlier on March 28, members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Lucknow held a protest against Suman’s statement on Rajput king Rana Sanga. (ANI)

Carnegie Europe Director Rosa Balfour said that the European Union has the tools to respond to the trade war and has been preparing the tool box for several months. She said that Europe could reach out to other nations if there was a trade war between the US and China.

During the panel discussion “Tariffied World: T minus” at the Global Tech Summit on Saturday, Balfour said that Europe is accelerating talks with India and has also started talks with several nations, including Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the UAE. She stated that Europe is making a lot of effort to find other sources of trade agreements.

On how she sees Europe reacting to tariffs imposed by the US, Balfour said, “With a certain amounts of composure, I would say I think Europeans have stopped divining what the strategy actually is, and had they had they had Trump placed this in the context of the US-China rivalry, it would it would have imposed stark choices on Europeans, but because it’s been conducted in a way where the rationality is not clear. Europeans have really had to focus on, you know, finding an agreement, and in the end, there was an agreement. The EU has quite a toolbox. I mean, the transatlantic economy is worth USD 9.5 trillion and 16 million jobs. So, it’s a two-way thing.”

“The EU does have the tools to respond to a trade war. They have been preparing the toolbox for several months. But, there were..voices about hard to hit back and therefore the net results was composure in the face of the tariffs, which gave the EU the time for Trump to step back without facing the ire as the Chinese did. There was an interview with the President of the Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, where she said We can do this, we can do that, we have several tools. In the meantime, we are going to start reaching out to our partners, and that’s what we have seen in India. Europe can start reaching out to other countries. It has 72 free trade agreements around the world. It is now accelerating talks with India, and it is also starting talks with a number of other countries in Asia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the UAE. Just yesterday, there was a phone call. So, there’s lots of activity to try and hold back and find other sources of trade agreements,” she added.

During the panel discussion, Evan A. Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that it is not a trade war between the US and China but a war between US President Donald Trump’s policies and the markets. He said that the Trump administration has articulated four rationales for its actions and termed the first three contradictory.

When asked whether it is a US-China trade war, he said, “Not really, because the real war now is between President Trump’s policies and the markets, that’s the real world because what we’ve seen over the last several days is this broad liquidation by a lot of market participants of US assets, anything branded USA equities, bond yields, blowing out the dollar, and even things that are not risk assets or trading as if they are risking that’s situation. That’s a very different situation I think than just saying that this is some kind of trade war between US and China. And what’s more, between US insurance and tariffs aren’t that relevant anymore because when you’re at 145 per cent, on one side, 125 per cent, on the other side basically what you have is a two way trading partner. And that’s essentially what we have. The administration has articulated not one, not two, and not three but four at least rationales for what they are doing. The first three are contradictory, and the fourth is new. The China one is basically gaslighting, and we shouldn’t let the treasury secretary gaslight on this.”

Elaborating on the rationale presented by the Trump administration, he stated, “The first rationale was all about raising revenue in which case, you need high tariffs but not so high that trade seizes because then it cannot collect any revenue. The second rationale is all its resuring, but then you need trade prohibitive tariffs contradictory to the first objective. The third thing we heard was that this is actually about cutting deals. And if it’s about cutting deals, then you need to be prepared to actually roll the tariffs back, to take the tariffs off, which, by the way, they’ve not done, because they’ve left the universal 10 per cent and on top of that, you still have the sectoral tariffs in place….So, now we have this new rationale it is all about China, and I’m sorry it’s gaslighting, because if it had been about China, they would have gone about this differently from the get-go. They would never have tariffed allies in the way they had. And by the way, ask Canada and Denmark, among others, how they feel about the administration’s posture towards alliances. So, I think what we’re in is actually a struggle between the President’s policies and markets and in, having worked with the former Treasury Secretary who has dealt with the financial crisis in 2008. I would just say I would not bet on Mr Trump.”

On Friday, China hit back at the latest US tariffs by imposing 125 percent tariffs on imports of all US goods. Chinese official Xinhua agency cited the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council to state that it will lift the additional tariffs on products imported from the US to 125 per cent from 84 per cent, effective from April 12. China has also filed a lawsuit with the WTO following the latest US tariff hikes, the Chinese commerce ministry said as per a report in the official Xinhua Agency.

The current US tariffs on Chinese imports include a 145 per cent duty on all products imported from China, according to the White House. On April 10, Trump paused most of the tariffs for 90 days, but for China, the tariffs were hiked to 145 per cent. (ANI)

Calling the AIADMK-BJP alliance the “alliance of defeat,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and AIADMK leadership and said that the people of the state will never tolerate a “treacherous alliance” that bows to Delhi and betrays Tamil Nadu.

“The AIADMK-BJP alliance is an alliance of defeat. The people of Tamil Nadu are the ones who repeatedly handed down this defeat. Despite that, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has attempted to revive this failed alliance. The press briefing given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to Chennai yesterday was unworthy of the position he holds. Though it is his choice to confirm the AIADMK-BJP alliance, he did not clarify why this alliance was formed or what ideological foundation it stands on. Instead, he vaguely claimed they would work on forming a common minimum programme.” CM Stalin attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

CM Stalin attacked AIADMK and said that they claimed to oppose the NEET exam, the imposition of Hindi, the three-language policy, and the Waqf Act and was not allowed to say anything yesterday during the press conference with Amit Shah.

The AIADMK claims to oppose the NEET exam, the imposition of Hindi, the three-language policy, and the Waqf Act. It also asserts that Tamil Nadu’s seat count should not be reduced in the delimitation process. Are any of these issues part of their so-called “minimum programme”? The Home Minister said nothing about these matters. He did not allow the AIADMK leadership to speak either. Instead, he used the press conference solely to criticize the DMK, the DMK government, and me — a fact that anyone who watched the event would have clearly seen.

He further asserted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a movement that stands firm in protecting state rights, linguistic rights, and Tamil culture.

“On the other hand, the power-hungry AIADMK-BJP alliance stands in direct opposition to these ideals. No one has forgotten that Palaniswami, driven by a desire for position, mortgaged Tamil Nadu’s self-respect and rights to Delhi and brought ruin upon the state,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu CM further claimed that the Union Home Minister failed to give a proper response on NEET yesterday.

“When journalists repeatedly questioned the Union Home Minister about NEET, he failed to give a proper response. If he truly believed NEET was beneficial, he should have confidently defended it. Instead, he merely said that “opposing NEET is a distraction” — a response meant to divert attention. More than 20 students in Tamil Nadu have died by suicide over NEET. Did they take their lives just as a distraction? Students have also died by suicide in Bihar. What does the Home Minister have to say about that? Is the Home Minister aware that the CBI is currently investigating NEET-related scams in five states and that students and parents have been arrested? Under whose control is the CBI? Let him investigate that. Only then can he judge whether opposition to NEET is a distraction or a legitimate stand to protect medical education,” CM Stalin questioned.

Continuing his attack on Shah for stating that law and order had broken in Tamil Nadu, CM Stalin reminded him that this was “Tamil Nadu, not Manipur.”

“For a Home Minister to casually claim that law and order has broken down in Tamil Nadu is utterly irresponsible and deserves strong condemnation. I must remind him that this is not Manipur — this is Tamil Nadu. In the last year and a half, the BJP-ruled Manipur saw over 250 people brutally killed. A Home Minister who failed to restore peace there now comes to disturb the peace in a calm state like Tamil Nadu. It is because Tamil Nadu is peaceful that it continues to progress in all areas — even central government data confirms this. But the Home Minister, with his careless comments, has tried to instill fear without any basis,” CM Stalin added.

“For the Home Minister to speak about corruption while standing on a stage that declared an alliance with the AIADMK is laughable to the people of Tamil Nadu. It was due to corruption that Jayalalithaa had to step down twice as Chief Minister. She was sentenced to four years in prison in the disproportionate assets case by the Special Court in Bengaluru. Is ‘corruption’ the word to be used while forming an alliance with her party?” the Tamil Nadu CM said.

CM Stalin further said that the alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP is nothing but a product of corruption.

“The people of Tamil Nadu are well aware that central investigative agencies conducted two raids involving the relatives of current AIADMK leaders. They also know that these leaders ran to the BJP leadership for protection and agreed to an alliance as a condition to escape further action. The alliance between the AIADMK and BJP is nothing but a product of corruption — the people understand this very well. Those who mortgaged the AIADMK after just two raids are now preparing to mortgage the entire state of Tamil Nadu,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu CM alleged that the BJP leadership is systematically trying to destroy Tamil Nadu on all fronts.

“By imposing Hindi to suppress Tamil, implementing conspiracies to curb Tamil people’s growth, and planning delimitation to rob Tamil Nadu of its rightful representation. The BJP is trying to use the AIADMK — a party long enslaved to external powers — by threatening its leadership and forcing it to carry out its hidden agenda. Whether the BJP comes alone or with allies, the people of Tamil Nadu are ready to give a fitting response. The people will never tolerate a treacherous alliance that bows to Delhi and betrays Tamil Nadu,” CM Stalin said.

This comes after AIADMK, BJP, and all the alliance parties decided to contest the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu together under the National Democratic Alliance.

This significant political development comes ahead of the TN Assembly election, which will be held in 2026.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said , “These elections will be contested under the leadership of PM Modi on a national level and under the leadership of AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami on the state level…”

The BJP is eager to improve its prospects in Tamil Nadu following a determined effort in the last Lok Sabha elections, where it failed to win a seat in the southern state.

In the previous two elections–the Lok Sabha and the last assembly polls–the AIADMK has struggled to perform strongly.

The AIADMK entered into an alliance with the BJP after the passing of J Jayalalithaa in 2016.

During the 2021 state elections, the AIADMK and the BJP were in alliance, which resulted in the BJP winning four seats. However, the AIADMK severed ties with the BJP in 2023. (ANI)

Actor Hrithik Roshan and his girlfriend, Saba Azad, recently posed with Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas after attending Jonas’ Broadway musical ‘The Last Five Years’.

The group came together to witness Nick’s debut in the production, which has been receiving critical acclaim since its official opening on March 18, 2025.

Taking to social media, Hrithik Roshan shared several photos from the night, expressing his admiration for the performance.

In the first photo, Saba Azad is seen standing between Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra, while Adrienne Warren, Nick’s co-star in the musical, poses alongside them.

Hrithik’s Instagram caption conveyed his excitement and awe at the performance, which left him “mind-blown and inspired.”

Roshan praised Jonas’s role in the musical, calling him “simply incredible.”

He further wrote, “The Last Five Years is an unmissable experience! @nickjonas, you are simply incredible. What a performance. @adriennelwarren you are fabulous. Such an amazing show. Thank you @priyankachopra for an amazing night of theatre, music, fun and food.”

Nick Jonas responded to Hrithik’s post with a heartfelt thank you, writing, “Thank you so much for coming and supporting our show. Was great spending time with you guys.”

The musical, which marks Nick Jonas’ Broadway debut, is directed by Whitney White and is based on the beloved 2002 musical by Jason Robert Brown.

In ‘The Last Five Years’, Nick shares the stage with Adrienne Warren in a captivating tale of love, loss, and time, told in a unique, non-linear fashion.

Meanwhile, in the world of Hrithik Roshan, the actor is gearing up for his highly anticipated directorial debut with ‘Krrish 4’.

His father, filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, made the announcement earlier in March, revealing that Hrithik would be taking on the role of director for the next installment of the iconic superhero franchise.

The announcement was met with immense excitement as Rakesh Roshan shared his heartfelt pride in his son’s achievement, writing on Instagram, “Duggu, 25 years back I launched you as an actor, and today again, after 25 years, you are being launched as a director by two filmmakers, Aditya Chopra and myself, to take forward our most ambitious film Krrish 4.”

As Hrithik prepares for his directorial debut, fans can also look forward to his role in ‘War 2′, part of Yash Raj Films’ growing spy universe.

The film, slated for release on August 14, 2025, will also feature NTR Jr. and Kiara Advani. (ANI)

United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to discuss the conflict in Ukraine, Al Jazeera reported.

On Friday, Putin was shown on state TV, as per Al Jazeera, greeting Witkoff in Saint Petersburg’s presidential library at the start of the negotiations, and their talks lasted more than four hours.

The Kremlin said the meeting “focused on various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement”, without elaborating.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Witkoff might discuss the possibility of the Russian leader meeting Trump face-to-face.

According to Al Jazeera, Witkoff is now a key figure in the on-off tete-a-tete between Moscow and Washington amid talk on the Russian side of potential joint investments in the Arctic and Russian rare earth minerals.

The talks come as the US continues efforts to broker a ceasefire deal to end the conflict, which has stalled amid negotiations on the conditions of the deal.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday (local time) confirmed that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is currently in Russia to hold direct talks with the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of the ongoing efforts towards a ceasefire deal for the Ukraine conflict.

During a press briefing, Leavitt stated that it was a step towards the negotiating process for the ceasefire as well as an “ultimate peace deal.”

She added that US President Donald Trump has been “continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict,” indicating the administration’s intent to take a more active role in peace negotiations.

Putin and Trump have spoken by phone but have yet to meet in person since the US leader returned to the White House in January for a second four-year term.

Trump has been pressing Moscow and Kyiv to agree on a ceasefire deal but has failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin, despite several rounds of talks between Russian and US officials. (ANI)

Fifteen flights were diverted, and several were delayed at the Delhi airport on Friday due to dust storms and gusty winds, as per the Airport sources.

Delhi experienced dust storms on Friday evening. Several parts of Delhi were impacted due to the change in weather that also provided relief from scorching heat.

Air India issued a travel advisory for their passengers after the sudden change of weather in Delhi and northern areas. According to the advisory, heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds, have affected flight operations across parts of Northern India, due to which some of the Air India flights from Delhi have either been diverted or are delayed.

The officials are closely monitoring the situation and are doing the best possible to minimalise the disruptions.

“Poor weather, caused by heavy thunderstorms and gusty winds, has affected flight operations across parts of Northern India. Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are closely monitoring the situation and are doing our best to minimise the disruption. We advise our guests to check the latest status of their flights at https://airindia.com/in/en/manage/flight-status.html before heading to the airport”, the travel advisory said.

Several parts of Delhi witnessed a dust storm on Friday evening that led to trees falling in some areas and residents shutting windows to prevent dust from entering their houses.

Traffic was also disrupted as trees or their branches fell. Flight operations were also impacted in parts of northern India. Delhi had witnessed a dust storm on Thursday also.

Earlier, the India Meteorological Department had issued an Orange Alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and hailstorms in four districts of Himachal Pradesh, while Yellow Alerts have been issued for four other districts. (ANI)

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced the doubling of the Gondia-Balharshah railway line in Maharashtra, which is 240 kilometres long and will cost Rs 4,819 crore.

This transformative project is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing passenger and freight connectivity between northern and southern India.

“The Prime Minister recently approved doubling the 240 km Gondia-Balharshah railway line in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 4,819 crores. This project will play a pivotal role in enhancing passenger and freight connectivity between northern and southern India… Aspirational districts in the region will witness rapid development,” Vaishnaw told reporters in a presser here.

He said Maharashtra has received railway projects worth Rs 1.73 lakh crore, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the dedicated freight corridor.

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Maharashtra has received unprecedented support for railway infrastructure… Maharashtra has been given railway projects worth Rs. 1.73 lakh crore, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train and the dedicated freight corridor. In the current fiscal year alone, the state has been allotted more than Rs. 23,000 crore,” the Railway Minister said.

The approved project encompasses comprehensive upgrades, including the doubling of 240 km of existing track and the modernization of 29 railway stations.

“Construction of 36 major bridges, 338 minor bridges, and 67 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) to streamline operations and enhance safety,” an official release said.

The Gondia-Balharshah line serves as a vital corridor between North and South India. Doubling the line will reduce congestion, eliminate delays, and substantially improve the line’s freight-carrying capacity. This will be a game-changer for both passenger commuters and industries dependent on rail logistics.

The route runs close to popular eco-tourism spots such as the Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Nawegaon National Park, presenting an opportunity to develop the region’s tourism potential. The project is expected to catalyze growth across Vidarbha, increasing business activity and promoting regional development.

“With this doubling, connectivity between North and South India will be vastly improved. Aspirational districts in the region will witness rapid development,” Vaishnaw said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lauded the project as a historic step for Vidarbha and said, “This project will significantly benefit the Vidarbha region and strengthen business ties with Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. Compared to the UPA government, Maharashtra now receives over 10 times more funding for railway development.”

Additionally, a special rail tour connecting historic sites associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is also in the works, aimed at promoting heritage tourism.

Fadnavis also revealed that 132 stations across Maharashtra will be redeveloped under ongoing modernization initiatives. (ANI)

China on Friday hit back at the latest US tariffs by imposing 125 per cent tariffs on imports of all US goods.

Chinese official Xinhua agency cited the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council to state that it will lift the additional tariffs on products imported from the US to 125 per cent from 84 per cent, effective from April 12.

China has also filed lawsuit with WTO following the latest US tariff hikes, the Chinese commerce ministry said as per a report in the official Xinhua Agency.

Also in his first public remarks on US-China trade war, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said, “There is no winner in a tariff war, and going against the world will only result in self-isolation”. He made the remarks during his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing today according to Xinhua.

Xi further called on China and the EU to fulfill their international responsibilities, work together to safeguard economic globalization and the international trading environment, and jointly resist unilateral bullying.

The Chinese Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council today said that given that there is no longer any possibility of market acceptance for US goods exported to China under the current tariff levels, if the US side subsequently continues to impose tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the US, the Chinese side will not respond to any further tariffs imposed by the United States.

“Even if the US imposes even higher tariffs, it would no longer make economic sense and ultimately go down as a joke in world economic history,” according to the commission as reported in the Chinese state media.

The current US tariffs on Chinese imports include a 145 per cent duty on all products imported from China, according to the White House.

China said that the “excessively high tariffs” imposed by US President Donald Trump “seriously violates international economic and trade rules, goes against basic economic laws and common sense, and is nothing but unilateral bullying and coercion.”

However, should the US persist in substantially undermining China’s interests, China will take firm countermeasures and fight to the end, the commission added.

On April 10, Trump paused most of the tariffs for 90 days but for China the tariffs were hiked to 145 per cent.

Trump blamed Beijing’s retaliatory actions — including hiking the tariff rate to 84 per cent — and announced an immediate increase in US tariffs on Chinese imports to 125 per cent, on top of the 20 per cent rate the president had previously imposed on China — bringing the total tariff to 145 per cent. (ANI)

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli was elated after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Services (AMPAS) gave a special shoutout to his blockbuster film RRR while introducing a new category of Stunt Design for the 100th Oscars ceremony.

In a landmark announcement, the Academy introduced a new category for stunt design on Thursday. It will be for the films released in 2027, while the Oscars, for the first time under this category, will be announced in 2028 at its 100th edition, reported Variety.

Along with the Hollywood stunt community, filmmaker Rajamouli is also on cloud nine after his movie RRR got a special shoutout by the Academy, along with Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible, as they introduced the Best Stunt Design category for the Oscars.

Taking to his X handle, the RRR director expressed gratitude to director David Leitch, Chris O’Hara, and the stunt community for their efforts in making this historic recognition possible.

He wrote, “At last!! After a 100-year wait !!! Ecstatic for the new Oscars stunt design category for the films releasing in 2027! Huge thanks to David Leitch, Chris O’Hara, and the stunt community for making this historic recognition possible, and to @TheAcademy, CEO Bill Kramer, and President Janet Yang for honoring the power of stunt work. Thrilled to see #RRRMovie’s action visual shining in the announcement!”

At last!!
After a 100 year wait !!!
Ecstatic for the new Oscars stunt design category for the films releasing in 2027! Huge thanks to David Leitch, Chris O’Hara, and the stunt community for making this historic recognition possible, and to @TheAcademy, CEO Bill Kramer, and… https://t.co/QWrUjuYU2I

— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) April 11, 2025

According to Variety, the category rules for eligibility and voting for the inaugural award will be announced in 2027 with the complete 100th Academy Awards Rules.

The specifics of the award’s presentation will be determined later by the Academy’s Board of Governors and executive leadership. The last new award category created in the Oscars was achievement in casting, established in 2024. It will begin with next year’s 98th Academy Awards for films released in 2025.

In a statement to Variety, Jeff Wolfe, president of the Stuntmen’s Association, expressed his happiness at the announcement of the stunt design category. He called it a “historic moment” for their community (stuntmen).

“I can’t express enough how thrilled and proud we are to see the Academy recognize the art and craft of stunt action design with its own Oscar category. This is a historic moment for our community. For decades, stunt performers, coordinators, and action designers have played a crucial role in shaping the cinematic experience, often putting their bodies on the line to bring unforgettable moments to the screen. This recognition validates the passion, innovation, creativity and hard work that go into every fall, fight, and fireball. It’s not just a win for our industry — it’s a win for storytelling,” said Wolfe, as quoted by Variety.

On the work front, Rajamouli is set to direct a movie tentatively titled SSB29, starring Mahesh Babu. The film was written by Vijayendra Prasad. However, further details about the cast are still under wraps. (ANI)