Month: April 2025

Actor Hrithik Roshan and his girlfriend, Saba Azad, seem to be having fun in the United States, as the two joined actress and singer Sophie Choudry for a lunch outing.

On Sunday, Sophie took to her Instagram to share pictures in which she can be seen posing with the two. The pictures showed the trio smiling and having a good time at a restaurant.

The caption of her post read, “When the heart & stomach are full.”

Take a look

Recently, Hrithik and Saba also attended Nick Jonas’ Broadway musical The Last Five Years in New York. The show, which officially opened on March 18, 2025, has been receiving great reviews.

Hrithik and Saba were seen posing with Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra during their visit to the musical.

Meanwhile, on the work front, 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.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Rakesh Roshan wrote, “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)

India and France are set to sign a Rs 63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft on Monday in Delhi, defence officials said.

Officials from the Indian Defence Ministry and the French Ambassador to India will represent the two sides at the signing event. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh is likely to represent the Indian side, while the French and Indian defence ministers are expected to attend remotely, sources said.

Earlier, the French Defence Minister was scheduled to attend the signing in person but had to cancel his visit due to personal reasons.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the deal earlier this month.

The 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets are urgently required for deployment on Indian aircraft carriers, particularly INS Vikrant, which is now in service. The existing fleet of MiG-29K fighters has reportedly underperformed due to maintenance-related issues.

The Rafale M jets will be customised to meet Indian requirements and will be integrated into INS Vikrant. These carrier-borne fighters are being acquired as a stopgap solution until the development of an indigenous carrier-borne fighter jet is completed.

Sources said the signing event is likely to be held outside the Defence Ministry headquarters at South Block.

The French Minister is expected to arrive in India on Sunday evening and depart on Monday late evening, the sources added.

India had cleared its largest-ever defence deal for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft earlier this month on April 9 during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government-to-government contract includes 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, along with a comprehensive package for fleet maintenance, logistical support, personnel training, and indigenous component manufacturing.

The Rafale M jets will operate from INS Vikrant and support the existing MiG-29K fleet.

The Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 36 Rafale aircraft acquired under a separate deal signed in 2016. These aircraft are based at Ambala and Hasimara.

The new deal will raise the total number of Rafale jets in India to 62, significantly boosting the country’s fleet of 4.5-generation fighter aircraft. (ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday called for a “decisive fight against terrorism and its origin” following the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.

In a post on X, CM Abdullah urged that while punishing the guilty, care must be taken to ensure innocent people do not suffer as collateral damage.

“After the Pahalgam terror attack, there must be a decisive fight against terrorism and its origin. People of Kashmir have come out openly against terrorism and the murder of innocent people; they did this freely & spontaneously. It’s time to build on this support and avoid any misplaced action that alienates people,” his post read.

“Punish the guilty, show them no mercy, but don’t let innocent people become collateral damage,” the Jammu and Kashmir CM added.

The incident happened around 2 pm at Baisaran meadow, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

Following the incident, in a display of political solidarity, leaders from different parties united at an all-party meeting convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to vehemently denounce the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams, stationed at the Pahalgam terror attack site since April 23, have intensified the search for evidence.

The teams, led by an IG, DIG, and SP from the anti-terror agency, are questioning eyewitnesses who observed the April 22 attack.

Additionally, the Indian Army is on high alert, launching several search operations to neutralise the terrorists following the attack in Pahalgam. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with widespread protests erupting across the country, demanding stricter action against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met on April 23 and was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The CCS condemned the attack in the strongest terms and expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and hoped for the early recovery of the injured.

In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development.

As a security measure, India has decided to withdraw its Defence, Navy, and Air Advisors from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. These posts in the respective High Commissions are deemed annulled. Five support staff of the Service Advisors will also be withdrawn from both High Commissions. (ANI)

In a cabinet reshuffle, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended, and Governor RN Ravi approved significant changes to the state cabinet on Sunday.

This development came after the resignations of V Senthil Balaji, the Minister for Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise, and Dr K Ponmudy, the Minister for Forests and Khadi.

Balaji’s removal followed a Supreme Court warning over his bail in a money laundering case, while Ponmudy was dropped due to his recent derogatory remarks that had sparked controversy.

According to the announcement made by Raj Bhavan, the following ministerial changes have been implemented.

SS Sivasankar, the Minister for Transport, has now been additionally entrusted with the Electricity portfolio. He will henceforth serve as the Minister for Transport and Electricity.

S Muthusamy, who was previously the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, has now been assigned the additional responsibility of Prohibition and Excise, making him the Minister for Housing and Prohibition and Excise.

RS Rajakannappan, who previously managed the Milk and Dairy Development, will now take charge of Forests and Khadi and has been appointed Minister for Forests and Khadi.

In addition to these reshuffles, the Chief Minister has recommended the induction of T Mano Thangaraj, the MLA from Padmanabhapuram, into the cabinet. This recommendation has also been approved by the Governor.

The swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed ministers is scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Raj Bhavan, Chennai. (ANI)

Jasprit Bumrah has made history by becoming the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Indian pace spearhead achieved the milestone during MI’s match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he produced a brilliant spell of 4/22 to guide his team to a crucial victory.

Bumrah, who has now played 139 matches for the franchise, has taken 174 wickets, surpassing the previous record held by Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga, who had 170 wickets for the Mumbai Indians. Bumrah’s best figures for the team remain an impressive 5/10, underlining his consistent dominance with the ball over the years.

Following him on the list are Harbhajan Singh with 127 wickets, Mitchell McClenaghan with 71 wickets, Kieron Pollard with 69 wickets, and Hardik Pandya with 65 wickets.

Bumrah’s four-wicket haul not only helped him achieve the personal milestone but also powered Mumbai Indians to their sixth win of the season. It was also their fifth consecutive victory, as the team gathers momentum heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Coming to the match, a brilliant performance from Trent Boult, who scalped three wickets, powered the Mumbai side to a commanding win in the ongoing Indian Premier League by 55 runs against the Super Giants. At the moment, they are at the second position in the IPL 2025 points table.

Chasing a target of 216, LSG began their innings with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. In the third over, MI’s veteran bowler, Bumrah, dismissed Markram for just 9, surpassing the record of MI’s bowling coach Lasith Malinga (170 wickets) to become the highest wicket-taker for MI with 174 wickets.

Nicholas Pooran joined Marsh at the crease, and Pooran aggressively took on Deepak Chahar in the final over of the power-play, hitting him for three sixes. LSG finished their power-play on 60/1, with Pooran at 27* and Marsh at 21*.

Will Jacks made an impact in his first over, removing Pooran for 27 and LSG captain Rishabh Pant for just 4. Ayush Badoni then joined Marsh at the crease. Badoni took on Karan Sharma in the 10th over, smashing him for two consecutive sixes, and LSG brought up their 100 in the same over.

On IPL debut for MI, Corbin Bosch bowled a brilliant first over, giving away only six runs, while Boult dismissed Marsh for 34 (24), including three fours and two sixes, in the 12th over.

Impact substitute David Miller joined Badoni at the crease, with LSG needing 93 runs off 42 balls. However, Boult got rid of Badoni for 35 (22), including two fours and two sixes, in the 15th over.

Bumrah took three wickets in the 16th over, dismissing Miller for 24 (16), Abdul Samad for 2, and Avesh Khan for a duck. LSG now required 74 runs off the last four overs.

Bumrah finished with four wickets in his four overs, giving away just 22 runs. Corbin Bosch cleaned up Ravi Bishnoi for 13 (14) in the 19th over, and Boult removed Digvesh Rathi in the final over. LSG were all out for 161, falling short by 55 runs.

Apart from Bumrah and Boult, Will Jacks (2/18) and Corbin Bosch (1/26) contributed with the ball.

Earlier, MI posted a total of 215/7 in 20 overs, thanks to impactful fifties from Ryan Rickelton (58) and Suryakumar Yadav (54). LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Rohit Sharma and Rickelton opened for MI. Rohit started aggressively, hitting two sixes off Mayank Yadav. However, Mayank struck back, dismissing Rohit for 14 off a slower delivery, caught at short third man.

Rickelton took charge, blasting 49 runs off 24 balls inside the power-play, as MI reached 66/1 in the first six overs. He and Will Jacks (29 off 21) put together a 50-run partnership. However, Digvesh Rathi dismissed Rickelton for 58 off 32 balls, which included six fours and four sixes.

Suryakumar Yadav joined Jacks, and MI crossed 100 in the 10th over. Yadav played an explosive knock, making 54 off 28 balls, including four fours and four sixes, before being dismissed in the 18th over by Avesh Khan.

Naman Dhir (25* off 11) and Corbin Bosch (20 off 10) finished off the innings strongly in the final overs. Dhir and Bosch smacked 19 runs off the 19th over, which included two sixes and a four. Avesh Khan dismissed Bosch in the final over, and MI ended their innings at 215/7.

For LSG, Mayank Yadav (2/40) was the standout bowler, while Avesh Khan also took 2/42. Rathi, Bishnoi, and Prince Yadav took one wicket each.

The Mumbai-based franchise will next face the Rajasthan Royals on Thursday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. (ANI)

A total of 537 Pakistani nationals have left India through the Attari border over the past three days after the deadline for short-term visa holders ended on Sunday, according to an official.

Speaking to ANI, Arun Pal, a protocol officer at the Attari Border, stated that 850 Indian Nationals have returned to India in the past three days. He added that on Sunday alone, 237 Pakistani nationals returned to their country, while 116 Indian nationals came back.

“Custom immigration counters opened at 10 am. Before the counters closed, 237 Pakistani Nationals returned to Pakistan from India, and 116 Indian Nationals returned from Pakistan. From April 24, 537 Pakistani Nationals have returned to Pakistan, and 850 Indian Nationals have returned to India. As per the latest information, Pakistani passport holders have until 29 April to cross the border. The same applies to Indian passport holders,” Pal said.

The Indian government on Friday revoked all categories of visas issued to Pakistani citizens, except long-term, diplomatic, and official visas, with immediate effect from April 27.

The Union government’s decision to suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals followed the Pahalgam terror attack.

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on tourists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, including one Nepalese national, who were brutally gunned down. The incident happened around 2 pm at Baisaran meadow, near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans.

Following the incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams, stationed at the Pahalgam terror attack site since April 23, have intensified the search for evidence. The teams, led by an IG, DIG, and SP from the anti-terror agency, are questioning eyewitnesses who observed the April 22 attack.

Additionally, the Indian Army is on high alert, launching several search operations to neutralise the terrorists following the attack in Pahalgam. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with widespread protests erupting across the country, demanding stricter action against Pakistan over the Pahalgam attack. (ANI)

After Covid introduced us to the practice of work from home, the Central government is working on the innovative idea of ‘job at your home town’.

If the initiative succeeds, first-time job seekers may no longer need to leave their native places or migrate to other cities for employment.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is developing a system where job seekers will get options to filter jobs by location, sector, employer, pay scale, required skills, and other attributes, a government source told ANI.

The department is mapping job data on the PM Gati Shakti portal. The Ministry’s National Career Service (NCS) portal functions as a digital marketplace connecting employers and job seekers – effectively aligning demand and supply in the job market.

Currently, 41 lakh employers have registered on the platform, and over one crore potential job seekers are listed. In the 2024-2025 financial year alone, approximately 2.7 crore job vacancies have been posted.

By integrating PM Gati Shakti with the NCS portal, these employment opportunities can be geo-tagged. A dedicated mobile app would enable youth to search for nearby job opportunities within a 20-40 km radius. The app would allow filtering by multiple criteria, empowering young people who prefer staying near their hometowns to find suitable employment easily.

This system would particularly benefit first-time job seekers, those with limited skills, and individuals who aren’t yet highly employable, allowing them to earn while remaining within their own communities.

The Ministry is actively working on integrating NCS job data with the PM GatiShakti platform. Jammu & Kashmir and Gujarat have already made progress in this direction, the government source told ANI.

The Ministry has been in discussions with Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics (BISAG) since last year to advance this initiative, aiming to provide a robust facility for youth in the coming year, he said.

The Ministry is directly engaged with the PM Gati Shakti platform by onboarding and geo-tagging establishments under its two major social security arms – the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

Approximately 13 lakh establishments registered with EPFO, 51 under ESIC, and 104 ESIS hospitals are now mapped as a data layer on the PMGS platform.

This visibility helps assess and plan multimodal connectivity infrastructure like roads and railways. These layers will also assist EPFO and ESIC in evaluating current and future project requirements.

Additionally, a survey of 268 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) identified through the PM Gati Shakti platform is being examined to extend social security coverage to a larger workforce.

The Ministry also plans to enhance engagement with the PMGS platform by onboarding other schemes like NCS Centres – particularly those dedicated to differently-abled individuals – to promote inclusive development. This initiative targets support for the poorest and most marginalised sections of society, aligning with India’s commitment to equitable growth.

Launched in 2021, PM Gati Shakti represents a transformative approach aimed at driving economic growth and sustainable development. Powered by clean energy and Sabka Prayas (everyone’s efforts), it has the potential to create significant job and entrepreneurial opportunities for all. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and spoke about the “deep agony in his heart” while reassuring the families of the victims that “conspirators and perpetrators of the attack will face the harshest response.”

“Nyaye milke rahega”, the PM said. Referring to the April 22 attack in Pahalgam as a sign of the desperation of the patrons of terrorism, calling it an act that highlights their cowardice.

In the 121st episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi called the terror attack as an attempt by those behind terrorism to disrupt the peace in Kashmir.

“Today, as I talk my heart out with you, there is a deep agony in my heart. The Pahalgam terrorist attack of 22 April has left every citizen of the country heartbroken. Every Indian feels deep sympathy for the families of the victims No matter which state one belongs to, no matter which language one speaks, I understand every citizen is seething with anger after seeing the images of the terrorist attack,” PM Modi said.

“As peace was returning to Kashmir, the enemies of the nation and J&K did not like it. Terrorists and their masters want Kashmir to be destroyed again, which is why such a conspiracy was hatched,” said Prime Minister. He emphasised that the unity of the nation is its biggest strength in the ongoing war against terrorism and urged the country to strengthen its resolve to face this challenge.

PM Modi emphasised that the increasing number of tourists, the growing income of the people, and the strengthening of democracy in the region were not being accepted by the forces responsible for the attack.

“This attack in Pahalgam shows the desperation of the patrons of terrorism; it displays their cowardice…at a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, there was a vibrancy in schools and colleges, construction work had gained unprecedented pace, democracy was getting stronger, the number of tourists was increasing at a record rate, people’s income was increasing, and new opportunities were being created for the youth. The enemies of the country, the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir, did not like that,” he added.

PM Modi further reiterated that the unity of the country is the biggest strength in the fight against terrorism and stressed the importance of the solidarity of the nation and the determination of 140 crore Indians in facing such challenges.

“In this war against terrorism, the unity of the country, the solidarity of 140 crore Indians, is our biggest strength. This unity is the basis of our decisive fight against terrorism. We have to strengthen our resolve to face this challenge that has surfaced before the country. We have to demonstrate strong willpower as a nation. Today the world is watching; after this terrorist attack, the whole country is speaking in one voice,” he stated.

The Prime Minister shared that condolences from around the world have been pouring in following the attack, with global leaders expressing strong condemnation of the incident.

“Friends, the anger that we, the people of India feel, that anger is there in the whole world. After this terrorist attack, condolences are continuously pouring in from all over the world. Global leaders have called me up as well; written letters and sent messages too. Everyone has strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack. They have expressed condolences to the families of the deceased,” PM Modi added.

“The entire world stands with the 1.4 billion Indians in our fight against terrorism. Once again, I assure the victims’ families that they will get justice. The conspirators and perpetrators of this attack will face the harshest response,” he said.

The April 22 attack in Pahalgam that took the lives of 26 people is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to former ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and stated that under his leadership ISRO had gained a new identity, further stating that the space programs brought under the guidance of Kasturirangan had brought global recognition to India’s efforts.

Addressing the 121st episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi said that the former ISRO Chairman had the quality of prioritising innovation, further stating that his ability to learn something new was inspiring.

“His contribution to science, education and taking India’s space program to new heights will always be remembered. Under his leadership, ISRO gained a new identity. The space programs that progressed under his guidance brought global recognition to India’s efforts. Many of the satellites that India uses today were launched under his guidance,” Modi said.

“Another remarkable aspect of his personality which the younger generation can truly learn is the importance he gave to innovation and the vision of learning and doing something new which is truly inspiring,” the PM further said.

He also stated that Kasturirangan had also played an important role in shaping the country’s National Education Policy (NEP), further stating that he came with the idea of a forward looking education.

“He also played a big role in shaping the country’s new National Education Policy. He came with the idea of a forward looking education and his selfless service to the nation will always be remembered,” the PM further stated.

Former ISRO chairman Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan passed away in Bengaluru today at the age of 84.

in a post on X consoling his demise, PM Modi had highlighting Dr Kasturirangan’s instrumental role in advancing India’s space programme. In PM Modi’s post on X , “He served ISRO with great diligence, steering India’s space programme to new heights, for which we also received global recognition. His leadership also witnessed ambitious satellite launches and focussed on innovation.”

During his nearly decade-long tenure at ISRO, Dr. Kasturirangan was instrumental in the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which went on to become the country’s most reliable satellite launch system.

From 2003 to 2009, he served as a member of the Rajya Sabha while also holding the position of Director at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

A recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, Dr K Kasturirangan served as the chairman of ISRO for nine years from 1994 to 2003. He had also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003-09) and a member of the Planning Commission of India. He played a key role in shaping India’s education policy as the chairman of the committee that drafted the National Education Policy 2020. (ANI)

The Indian Navy warships have recently carried out multiple successful anti-ship missile firings, as per a statement by the Indian Navy.

Taking to the social media platform X, the spokesperson of the Indian Navy stated that the firings were done to revalidate and showcase the operational readiness of platforms, systems, and crew for long-range precision offensive strikes.

The exercise was aimed at demonstrating the Navy’s combat readiness and its capability to safeguard India’s maritime interests. The warships were deployed in the Arabian Sea.

“Indian Navy Ships undertook successful multiple anti-ship firings to revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long-range precision offensive strike. Indian Navy stands Combat Ready, Credible and Future Ready in safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests Anytime Anywhere Anyhow,” the post stated.

This came in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people were killed, following which tensions between India and Pakistan had escalated.

Earlier, the Indian Navy’s warship INS Surat carried out a successful test firing of the Medium range surface-to-air missile (MR-SAM) air defence missile system in the Arabian Sea.

The test has taken place before the scheduled surface-to-surface missile testing by the Pakistan Navy in the Arabian Sea. The MR-SAM is highly effective against surface-to-surface missiles and other aerial targets.

“Indian Navy’s latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea skimming target, marking another milestone in strengthening our defence capabilities,” the Indian Navy wrote on X.

This achievement demonstrates the Indian Navy’s growing prowess in indigenous warship design, development, and operations and underscores the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, according to a statement.

INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world. It has an indigenous content of 75 per cent and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities. (ANI)