Month: June 2025

It’s Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan’s 52nd wedding anniversary!

The golden couple of Indian cinema marked 52 years of togetherness on June 3. As wishes poured in from fans across the world, Big B took to social media to express his “gratitude.”

The ‘Sholay’ actor took to his blog on Tuesday to share throwback pictures from his wedding. The pictures, soaked in nostalgia, show a young Amitabh in a traditional white outfit, performing wedding rituals alongside Jaya, who looked beautiful in a red saree.

The actor also took to his X account to thank fans for their love and wishes. “To all those who have congratulated Jaya and me on our wedding anniversary, I express my gratitude and affection! I will not be able to reply to everyone individually, sorry,” the post, written in Hindi, read.

Take a look

Jaya and Amitabh tied the knot on June 3, 1973. They have two children — author Shweta Bachchan Nanda and actor Abhishek Bachchan.

They have worked together in scores of movies, including ‘Guddi’, ‘Ek Nazar’, ‘Bawarchi’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham’, ‘Abhimaan’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, among others.

On the work front, Amitabh was last seen in Vettaiyan alongside superstar Rajinikanth. The film also starred Fahadh Faasil and Rana Daggubati. Jaya Bachchan was last seen in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and will next appear in Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling, directed by Vikas Bahl. (ANI)

It’s a special night for RCB fans as Virat Kohli’s team is playing the IPL finals after nine years. On the field, all eyes are on Kohli as he gears up to take on the Punjab Kings to win his maiden IPL cup.

Kohli’s fans have turned up in huge numbers at the Narendra Modi Stadium, donning the RCB jersey. His “lady luck” and actress Anushka Sharma is also in the stands to cheer for RCB.

Several visuals from the stadium in which we can see Anushka rooting for the players of RCB.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After winning the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, “We’re going to bowl. Only want to give positive signs to my mind and body. It’s an amazing day. The crowd is electrifying. All we have to do is come here and cherish. Boys are in brilliant shape and mindset. All we spoke about in the team meeting is the more calm you are, the better. Nerves are fine. I won’t say it’s just like another game. It’s the final and we’re going to play like a final. Tremendous feeling just thinking about lifting the trophy. Same team.”

Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar said during the time of the toss, “We were also going to bowl. Pitch looks hard, will try to put a good score and put them under pressure. Till now we’ve played good cricket. It’s just another game for us. It’s a big stage, but as I said it’s just another away game for us. Same team. Pitch is looking good. I think it’s a flat track, a mix of red and black soil.”

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Priyansh Arya, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Punjab Kings Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlet, Harpreet Brar

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact Subs: Rasikh Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Suyash Sharma. (ANI)

The makers of ‘The Raja Saab’, which stars superstar Prabhas in the lead role, have finally got a release date. The much-awaited teaser of the movie is scheduled to drop on June 16.

Prabhas, the action hero of the Indian cinema industry, is ready to set foot in the horror-comedy genre with the film Raja Saab. After months of mounting buzz and speculation, the makers of The Raja Saab have locked in the film’s grand theatrical release.

‘The Raja Saab’ will be released in theatres worldwide on December 5, 2025. The release date came after several delays by the makers. It was originally set to release on April 10, 2025.

The movie is directed by Maruthi, who is known for his unique blend of humour and emotion. The director shared the new release date of the movie on his X handle.

He wrote, “A day that promises a festival on the big screens just like we all dreamt of seeing our dearest darling #Prabhas. A lot more exciting days ahead.”

The movie is produced by TG Vishwa Prasad under the banner of People Media Factory. The cinematography of the film is handled by Karthik Palani, while Thaman S composed the music of the movie.

Apart from the charming presence of Prabhas, the film’s cast includes Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal and Ridhi Kumar in prominent roles.

The film has been creating a buzz in the entertainment industry ever since its makers released its first-look poster on the occasion of Makar Sankranti last year.

The fans of Prabhas are eagerly waiting to watch their favourite actor in the horror-comedy genre, contrary to a string of action movies the actor has appeared in over the last few years.

The movie is set to have a pan-India release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. (ANI)

Major layoffs are underway at the Walt Disney Company, affecting hundreds of employees across Disney Entertainment divisions, including marketing for film and television units, reported Deadline.

Apart from these divisions, the layoffs will also affect the employees in the television publicity, casting, development and Disney’s corporate financial operations divisions.

Deadline cited the sources and reported that the size of the cuts on Disney Entertainment’s film and TV sides is comparable. The majority of the Disney Entertainment Television staffers are said to be based in Los Angeles.

According to the outlet, this is the fourth and largest round of layoffs in the past ten months that have affected various Disney television operations.

They are part of an ongoing cost-cutting process at the traditional media companies as they reshape their business to focus on streaming while facing economic headwinds.

Upon his return as CEO, Disney’s Bob Iger has established a goal of at least 7.5 billion USD in cost reductions at the start of 2023, with about 7,000 jobs eliminated that year.

Earlier this year, in March, just under 200 Disney employees were laid off, representing almost 6% of the workforce in the ABC News Group and Disney’s Entertainment Networks, including Freeform and FX, reported Deadline.

Before that, a big restructuring at the Walt Disney Company happened in October, involving the shutdown of ABC Signature, with its operations folded into 20th Television and the consolidation of ABC and Hulu Originals scripted drama and comedy teams, reported Deadline.

It resulted in about 30 Disney Entertainment Television layoffs.

According to the outlet, lower-level development executives, including a manager of drama programming at ABC Hulu, have also been affected. (ANI)

As India’s all-party delegation concluded its visit to Spain, Indian Ambassador to Spain Dinesh K Patnaik highlighted key meetings that underscored Spain’s strong support for India’s fight against terrorism.

“Today, we started in the morning by meeting the Association of the Victims of Terrorism, which was a very emotional moment… Then we met the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, they very clearly stated their support for India’s actions – they condemned terrorism and whatever action India has taken, they felt was the right approach. In fact, they were so keen that many of them suggested that they should bring a delegation to India to discuss this further…” Patnaik said.

These interactions signal Spain’s commitment to deepen cooperation with India against cross-border terrorism.

The all-party delegation has departed for India after concluding its visit to Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, Greece, and Spain. Kanimozhi will arrive in Chennai, while other delegation members will reach Delhi today. The delegation includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf.

The delegation briefed five nations on India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism.

On Monday, Kanimozhi said the delegation met Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, who assured strong support to India in its fight against terrorism.

In an interview with ANI, Kanimozhi called it a “positive day” for the delegation. She highlighted their meetings with the foreign minister, the Senate, the Spain-India Council, and the association supporting terror victims. She said the people in Spain are closely following recent terror attacks in India and that the foreign minister, already in touch with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, assured support to combat terrorism.

Kanimozhi added that the Spain-India Council showed eagerness for a better long-term relationship with India and the delegation will take back lessons learned from meeting the Association for Supporting Terror Victims, reflecting on India’s pain and resilience.

AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal noted Spain’s strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms and its pledge to support India’s counter-terrorism efforts.

“It was the last day of our delegation’s visit. In Spain, we met the foreign minister, parliamentarians, the trade association, and the association of terror victims. They all said that they condemn all forms of terrorism on every forum and will support India’s move to counter terrorism effectively,” he said.

Jose Manuel Albares conveyed Spain’s unequivocal support for India’s efforts to combat terrorism and reaffirmed the importance of global peace, according to the Indian Embassy.

The Indian Embassy in Spain posted on X that Foreign Minister Albares emphasised that terrorism will never prevail and Spain stands firmly with India on this issue.

RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta said, “We went to 5 countries and wherever we have gone, and to whomsoever we met–be it government, academia, intellectuals or others–they all have a similar view: they don’t support terrorism in either form.”

The delegation also met intellectuals, academicians, think tanks, and civil society representatives, reiterating India’s firm stance against terrorism and its commitment to global peace.

The Indian Embassy in Spain added on X that the foundation members expressed staunch support for India’s efforts and discussed strategies to combat terrorism.

The delegation met the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Vice President Antonio Gutierrez Limones, to reinforce India’s call to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure.

They also met an organisation supporting victims of terrorism and shared India’s experience confronting cross-border threats, reaffirming a shared resolve to build a safer, more compassionate world.

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was a decisive military action targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)

Indian stock markets opened on a cautious but positive note on Tuesday, tracking mixed global cues amid rising concerns over tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and fiscal worries in the US economy.

The Nifty 50 index opened at 24,786.30, marking a modest gain of 69.70 points or 0.28 per cent. Similarly, the BSE Sensex began the session at 81,492.50, up by 118.75 points or 0.15 per cent.

Market experts noted that global stock markets are facing a cloud of uncertainty due to ongoing tariff tensions, renewed geopolitical concerns such as the Russia-Ukraine situation, and fiscal challenges in the United States. These factors have collectively kept investors on edge and added pressure on global equities.

Ajay Bagga, banking and market expert, told ANI, “Fiscal worries, geopolitical tensions, and tariff uncertainty are the defining trends for global markets. The US stock markets rose on Monday while the US dollar weakened. This morning, Asian stocks are mildly up. Trump is putting pressure on the US Senate to clear his Big Beautiful Bold Tax Bill. Markets and Senators are worried about the fiscal deficit issues it will lead to. Manufacturing PMIs in the US and Europe are pointing to a slowdown. But oil prices rose on geopolitical worries despite the economic overhang.”

He added that these factors are making markets very difficult to predict, with policy-related news becoming the main driver.

On the broader NSE indices, Nifty Next 50 also saw a gain of 0.28 per cent, while Nifty Financial Services moved up by 0.22 per cent. The Nifty Midcap index surged by 0.4 per cent and Nifty Small Cap also registered a 0.4 per cent rise, indicating strength in the mid and small-cap segments.

Among the sectoral indices, the Nifty Realty index led the pack with a gain of 0.7 per cent. All other sectors also opened in green.

Nifty Auto rose by 0.3 per cent, Nifty IT gained 0.37 per cent, Nifty Metal moved up 0.22 per cent, and Nifty Pharma surged 0.56 per cent. The market showed broad-based marginal gains across sectors in the opening trade.

VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, said, “During a consolidation phase, where the market moves within a range, buy on dips is the ideal strategy. And this strategy is working well now. With a lot of uncertainty in geopolitics, tariffs, and trade, the market will continue to remain volatile. Therefore, investors may persist with the strategy of buying on dips.”

In other Asian markets, most indices traded flat in the green, with the exception of Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and Taiwan Weighted, which saw strong gains of around 1 per cent each. Japan’s Nikkei was nearly flat with a 0.1 per cent gain.

However, South Korea’s KOSPI index remained closed due to a holiday, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded slightly in the red, down 0.1 per cent at the time of this report. (ANI)

Corporate performance of Indian companies in the fourth quarter of financial year 2025 remained satisfactory despite a tough global economic environment, according to a recent report by Bank of Baroda.

The report highlighted that most companies are optimistic about their future growth prospects, and there is potential for further improvement once consumption demand picks up in FY26.

It said “Corporate performance in Q4 FY25 was on the whole satisfactory and there is scope for an upward movement once consumption pick up in FY26. Importantly, despite a challenging global environment, companies remain positive on future growth prospects”.

The Bank of Baroda report pointed out that certain sectors are already showing signs of recovery. Sectors linked to infrastructure are experiencing steady growth even though they are being compared to a high base from last year.

In the case of consumer-related sectors like FMCG and consumer durables, strong rural demand and seasonal factors have played a key role in supporting recovery.

The services sector has also continued to grow at a steady pace, driven by strong demand.

The report noted that stable commodity prices, low inflation in India, a favourable monsoon outlook, trade agreements, government spending on infrastructure, and tax benefits are expected to be important drivers of growth and demand in the coming months.

According to the report, in Q4 FY25, aggregate net sales of a sample of 1,893 companies increased by 5.4 per cent, while net profits rose by 7.6 per cent. Expenses and interest costs remained under control, which helped improve the debt repayment ability of companies.

However, some slowdown in sales was seen in large sectors such as oil and gas, textiles, and iron and steel. This had a negative impact on the overall performance of the sample. But the report suggested that this is likely a one-time occurrence and not a long-term concern.

Similarly, the BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) sector, which performed strongly last year, saw some moderation in growth. This has been linked to a slowdown in credit growth.

Overall, the report painted a positive picture of India Inc.’s performance in Q4 FY25 and suggests that companies are well-positioned to benefit from improving demand and supportive policy measures in the next financial year. (ANI)

Union Minister for Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, on June 6. The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a post on X, Dr Singh shared the news, stating, “History in the making… Just 3 days to go! The mighty Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway bridge, stands tall in Jammu and Kashmir. Part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL). Built to withstand nature’s toughest tests. PM Modi to inaugurate the #ChenabBridge on 6th June, 2025. A proud symbol of New India’s strength and vision!”

The iconic Chenab Railway Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, will be part of this Katra-to-Sangaldan stretch, connecting New Delhi directly with Kashmir via Katra. Situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chenab Bridge is an engineering marvel standing at a height of 359 meters above the riverbed. It will officially connect the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India via rail for the first time in history.

The project, part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), faced numerous engineering and logistical challenges due to the region’s difficult terrain and seismic sensitivity. Yet, after years of meticulous work, the bridge now stands as a testament to India’s technological prowess and commitment to inclusive development.

It marks a transformative chapter in India’s infrastructural landscape, promising greater connectivity, economic growth, and social integration in the region. Earlier, a senior railway official highlighted the newly constructed Chenab Bridge’s structural and engineering marvel, calling it a reflection of New India’s resolve and capabilities.

Speaking about the bridge, the official told ANI, “If I talk about its features: its height is 359 meters, which is even more than that of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Secondly, this bridge is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. Thirdly, this bridge is capable of withstanding winds blowing at speeds greater than 250 kilometers per hour.”Describing the scale of the steel construction, the official added, “This is a steel bridge — I call it a ‘fauladi bridge’ because around 30,000 metric tons of steel have been used in its construction. You can get an idea of its vastness from the fact that its largest foundation, S20, is roughly one-third the size of a football field. This also reflects the spirit of New India — what it envisions and resolves, it achieves.”

He said, “The length of this Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) is around 272 kilometres. Out of this 272 kilometre, nearly 36 tunnels have been constructed with a length of nearly 119 kms. There are approximately 1,000 bridges in this project — a very large number. Building even one bridge takes several years. Here, skilled railway engineers from India have constructed around 1,000 bridges.”

The official also noted the challenges faced due to the region’s seismic sensitivity. “This line passes through a fault zone — an area where two different geological zones meet. This makes it seismically very sensitive. There are many tunnels, and their security is a major concern. So, security monitoring will be done for every inch of the tunnels, tracks, and bridges using live surveillance systems. At every station, you will find control rooms that will monitor all nearby tunnels and ensure complete safety and protection.”

On the rail engine and infrastructure, he said, “As for the railway engine — it’s an electric engine that draws power from the Overhead Equipment (OHE). A new type of OHE has been installed here. Instead of regular wire systems, you’ll see solid metal stanchions from which energy will be drawn. This engineering was extremely challenging.”The official said that the railway overcame severe geographic and weather conditions.

“Talking about the difficulties, it was once considered an impossible task, but it has now been made possible. Nothing was in our favor — whether it was the weather or the geology of the area.”Highlighting the social impact of the project, he concluded, “The railway built approximately 200 kilometers of roads so that construction material could be transported. Not only did this road help the railway work, but it also became a lifelong gift for remote villages, where earlier people had to walk 20-25 kilometers just to reach a road. Now, they have easy access.” (ANI)

US Second Lady Usha Vance has recalled her visit to India and her children’s experience in India and called the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi “very special.” She said that her children put PM Modi in the grandfather category, and they love him and were hugging him when they visited his residence during their visit to India.

In a conversation at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC, on Monday (local time), Vance called the visit to India a “trip of lifetime for them” and added that it was her children’s first visit to India. She also spoke about visiting places in North India, including Taj Mahal and enjoying Indian food.

Asked about her India visit, she said, “It really was the trip of a lifetime for us. My children had never been to India, what with the pandemic and, JD’s entry into politics and all that. And so they’d grown up just knowing so much about this country, the stories. food, the relationships with grandparents and friends, but they had never actually seen it. So it was just sort of mind-blowing from their perspective. And then for me and JD, I think it just could not have been any more special. We had the opportunity to see some of the greatest sites in North India. We’re looking forward to our next trip and trying to get to the parts of the country where my family is from as well. And it just was sort of one hit after another, right. The most incredible food, the peacocks that we got to see, everywhere we went, getting to see the Taj Mahal in the morning and appreciate it as the sun was just sort of coming up and the cool skies and blue skies over in the background.”

Vance recalled how her kids had met PM Modi in Paris, and he had given her five-year-old son a birthday present that day. She said PM Modi was very kind and generous to the kids, and the talks between PM Modi and US Vice President JD Vance were “productive.” She also spoke about seeing a puppet show in India, which included bits from Ramayana.

Usha Vance said, “Meeting the Prime Minister, that was really very special. We’d actually had a chance to meet him before. And it’s funny, my kids saw him. They were sort of sleep deprived in Paris and they saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately. They are very into him. They just love him. And he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day. So, when we were able to visit his home, they just sort of ran up. They were hugging him. He was just incredibly kind and generous to them.”

“I think it was very productive conversation for JD and the Prime Minister, of course. But also, think it was a real opportunity for us to kind of cement that personal relationship that they have, which I think is only to the good. And as you mentioned, there was a puppet show. That was a particular highlight with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from. There were bits from the Ramayana. There were sort of comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit. My kids have been trying to recreate a home of construction paper, which is going about as well as you can imagine,” she added.

Talking about her children’s individual experiences, Usha Vance shared that her eldest son, Ewan, was particularly captivated by the temple sculptures, while her middle child, Vivek, was thrilled to see elephants, camels, and peacocks. Her daughter’s favorite moment was a ride in an auto-rickshaw.

Talking about her children’s experience in India, Vance said, “I think JD has probably told the story at some point, but when we were at the Prime Minister’s residence, our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat, that he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there and started making his plans…And our children, they talk about it all the time actually. They’ve been all over the place and they’ve had wonderful opportunities to see the world, but this was really special to them. Ewan, our oldest, was really taken by the sculptures in the temple that he visited. He just thought it was incredible craftsmanship and of course showed things that he was very familiar with from stories and from talking with me.”

“And then, Vivek, our middle child, was very excited to meet elephants and peacocks and a camel and just any animal that he could kind of get his hands on. And then our daughter thinks she’s sort of along for the ride. She really enjoyed her time in an auto rickshaw. That was maybe the highlight for her. The Secret Service was very generous and allowed us to kind of drive in an enclosed area for a few minutes. So we had lot of fun with that,” she added.

JD Vance and his family were on a four-day official visit to India in April. During the visit, PM Modi Modi hosted Vice President Vance and his family at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence in New Delhi.

During the visit, the children had several playful moments with the Prime Minister. From exploring the lawns to seeing the bird feeder inquisitively, the children indulged in an immersive experience at the Prime Minister’s residence.

While inside, PM Modi shared several lively moments with Ewan, Vivek, and little Mirabel. PM Modi presented the three children with peacock feathers. Mirabel Vance was seen enjoying a heartwarming moment with her father, holding the feather.

JD Vance, accompanied by Usha Vance and their children, visited the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra. They also visited Amber Fort in Jaipur and Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium. (ANI)