Month: June 2025

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media to reply to Pakistan over China’s threat to stop the Brahmaputra water to India. Giving a befitting reply, he called Brahmaputra ‘a river that grows in India’.

Sharing a post on X, CM Sarma wrote, “What if China stops Brahmaputra Water to India? A Response to Pakistan’s New Scare Narrative After India decisively moved away from the outdated Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan is now spinning another manufactured threat: “What if China stops the Brahmaputra’s water to India?” Let’s dismantle this myth — not with fear, but with facts and national clarity: Brahmaputra: A River That Grows in India — Not Shrinks.”

He argued that China contributes to only 30-35 per cent of the river’s total flow, while the remaining is generated in India.

CM Sarma wrote, “China contributes only ~30-35% of the Brahmaputra’s total flow, mostly through glacial melt and limited Tibetan rainfall. The remaining 65-70% is generated within India, thanks to: *Torrential monsoon rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya *Major tributaries like Subansiri, Lohit, Kameng, Manas, Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Kopili *Additional inflows from the Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia Hills via rivers such as Krishnai, Digaru, and Kulsi.”

“At the Indo-China border (Tuting): Flow is ~2,000-3,000 m3/s. In Assam plains (e.g., Guwahati): Flow swells to 15,000-20,000 m3/s during monsoon. The Brahmaputra is not a river India depends on upstream — it is a rain-fed Indian river system, strengthened after entering Indian territory,” the Assam CM added.

Giving a reply to Pakistan, he wrote, “Even if China were to reduce water flow (unlikely as China has never threatened or indicated in any official forum), it may help India mitigate the annual floods in Assam, which displace lakhs and destroy livelihoods every year. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which has exploited 74 years of preferential water access under the Indus Waters Treaty, now panics as India rightfully reclaims its sovereign rights. Let’s remind them: Brahmaputra is not controlled by a single source — it is powered by our geography, our monsoon, and our civilizational resilience.”

Sarma’s response came after a senior aide to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Ihsaan Afzal, reportedly said that India suspended the flow of the River Indus to Pakistan; China can also do the same to India.

Meanwhile, experts from different countries have expressed deep concern over China’s proposed “Great Bend Dam” on the Yarlung Tsangpo, which is known as the Brahmaputra in Tibet.

Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh and senior BJP leader Tapir Gao said, “It is not going to be a dam, but a ‘water bomb’ to be used against India and other lower riparian countries.”

Chairman of Brahmaputra Board, Dr Ranbir Singh, pointed out that the Brahmaputra Basin is the only water-surplus river basin in India, with the rest being water-deficient. “With this dam in China, are we looking at a water-deficient Brahmaputra river basin?” he wondered.

Dr Singh also underlined the need for a multi-pronged strategy, including upping the ante against the project, garnering support in international circles, and through collaborations. (ANI)

A trade deal between India and the United States could be finalised soon, with both countries finding common ground that suits their interests, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said, expressing “strong optimism” about the direction of ongoing talks while speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Lutnick said, “I think to be in a very, very good place, and you should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future because I think we found a place that really works for both countries.”

When asked if he was hopeful about the outcome, Lutnick said he was “very optimistic,” and added, “It could be sort of the way I come across.”

Lutnick also praised India for moving swiftly in trade talks, noting that both sides were working to finalise a deal far quicker than is typical, a deal that benefits both countries. “Earlier countries get a better deal. That’s the way it is. I think India is trying hard to be one of the earlier countries which I appreciate. But these kind of deals used to take two or three years and we’re trying to get them done in a month, which is just not the ordinary DNA of trading relationships between countries,” he said.

The Secretary’s remarks come ahead of a July 9 deadline he referenced for ongoing trade discussions. Lutnick, who has decades of business experience in India, said the partnership between New Delhi and Washington has strong potential, especially given the “rare connection” between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, Lutnick did not shy away from raising concerns about India’s current trade practices. He criticised what he described as New Delhi’s ” very protectionist” policies. “You ask them why? The answer is, I don’t know why. It just is,” he said, referring to high tariffs on American goods. “Bring them down to a level that is reasonable and appropriate so we can be treated as partners with each other.”

He also pointed to India’s defence ties with Russia as a matter of concern. “You generally buy military gear from Russia, some way that kind of get up, you know, under the skin of America,” Lutnick mentioned, while also acknowledging India’s recent shift towards purchasing American defence equipment.

On India’s role in BRICS, Lutnick said, “That’s not really the way to make friends and influence people in America.”

Lutnick highlighted India’s potential as a hub in America’s competition with China in artificial intelligence, promising a more open approach to tech-sharing under the Trump administration. “We are willing to sell our best chips, but they have to be done in certain ways,” he said, adding that the US plans to support the creation of “giant data centres” in India.

He also floated a proposal for a new immigration programme called the “Trump Gold Card,” aimed at attracting global entrepreneurs. “A wonderful opportunity for people to be part of two economies,” Lutnick said, adding that it would offer flexibility on tax arrangements and residency status.

On the trade front, Lutnick said certain industries would be relocated to India while high-end manufacturing returns to the US. “There are enormous numbers of industries that we’d really like to go to India,” he added.

Interestingly, according to the US Secretary of Commerce, he is a “great fan of India” and “even the people in the government know that that’s true.” He added that “one” of his “best friends” happens to be “Indian”, and they used to have “fun” together, going to house parties and even playing cricket. (ANI)

The flood situation in Assam continues to remain grim, with the death toll from floods and landslides rising to 11.

According to the flood reports of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 6 people died in floods and 5 others died in landslides in the state.

More than 5.15 lakh people of 22 districts of Assam have been affected by the deluge.

One more person drowned in flood waters, and two others are missing in the last 24 hours. One person drowned in Hojai district, while two others are missing in Hailakandi and Dibrugarh districts.

As of June 2, a total of 1254 villages under 65 revenue circles in 22 districts of the state – Hailakandi, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sribhumi, Karbi Anglong, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, Kamrup, Cachar, Golaghat, Darrang, Majuli, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Jorhat, Tinsukia, Sonitpur, Dima-Hasao, Sivasagar- have been affected in the current floods.

The Brahmaputra River, along with Barak and several of their tributaries, are flowing above danger levels at multiple locations, including Neamatighat, Tezpur, Badatighat, Numaligarh, Kampur, Fulertal, and Sribhumi, among others.

The flood waters have submerged 12,610.27 hectares of cropland, causing extensive damage to agriculture.

Sribhumi remains the worst-affected district with over 1.94 lakh people reeling under floodwaters. Other badly-hit districts include Cachar (77,961 people affected), Nagaon (67,880), Lakhimpur (47,127), Hailakandi (30,234), Dibrugarh (20,179), and Tinsukia (19,289).

As many as 1.85 lakh people have taken shelter in 322 relief camps and distribution centres set up by district administrations in flood-hit areas.

As per the ASDMA report, 4,67,851 animals have been affected in the floods, with 94 animals washed away in the last 24 hours at various places.

The flood waters have also caused infrastructural damage, as on Monday, 49 roads, four bridges, and three embankments were damaged or breached due to floodwaters.

As the northeast region reels under heavy rains, with various areas in Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and more are experiencing flooding, landslides, and increasing river levels.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 1 assured of every possible help to the flood-affected areas in the northeast region, and also spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Governor of Manipur.

In a press release issued on May 2, the India Meteorological Department said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue over the Northeastern states for the next 2 days and decrease in intensity thereafter.

It further said, “Heavy to very heavy rainfall recorded at isolated places over Nagaland and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal; Heavy rainfall at isolated places over Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura.” (ANI)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will lock horns against each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Tuesday in order to end their title drought in the competition.

RCB have qualified for the Indian Premier League final thrice in the past, losing all three times in 2009, 2011 and 2016.

PBKS, on the other hand, qualified for the final once in 2014 when they were known as Kings XI Punjab, losing the match to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru were the first team to qualify for the final. They finished the league stage in second spot with 19 points from 14 games before beating Punjab Kings by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 to book their berth in the final.

Virat Kohli has been RCB’s go-to man with the bat this season having accumulated 614 runs at an average of 55.82 and a strike rate of 146.53 this season.

On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood has been their leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 11 games at an average of 15.80 and an economy of 8.30.

Punjab Kings, meanwhile, topped the league stage with 19 points from 14 games and a better net run rate than RCB.

However, PBKS lost their Qualifier 1 game against RCB, leading to them facing Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2 clash, which they won by five wickets to secure their spot in the summit match.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer has been Punjab Kings’ best batter this season with 603 runs at an average of 54.82 and a strike rate of 175.80.

He also made a match-winning 41-ball 87 not out against MI in Qualifier 2 to help guide PBKS into the final.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been Punjab Kings’ main man with the ball, having claimed 18 wickets in 16 games at an average of 26.55 and an economy of 8.79.

In terms of the head-to-head record between the sides, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have played each other 36 times, with both teams winning 18 times each.

The two teams have met three times this season, with PBKS winning once and RCB winning twice. Punjab won the first encounter of the season between the teams, while Bengaluru emerged triumphant in the second match and Qualifier 1.

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Blessing Muzarabani, Nuwan Thushara, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh

Punjab Kings: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis (wk), Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, Praveen Dubey, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash. (ANI)

It’s crunch time for India’s All-Party Delegation that will now head to the United States in its outreach efforts post Operation Sindoor. Interestingly, the Indian delegation will see a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US at the same time.

India’s delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, however, is confident of pushing India’s message on terrorism across.

Tharoor, while speaking to ANI, said that the US media is a difficult space, but those who are against terrorism and deeply care about South East Asia and are against terrorism will listen to India.

“In Washington, we’ll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost exactly the same days… Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there’s going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two duelling delegations in the same city,” Tharoor told ANI, as the delegation he is leading will be in the US for its last leg of the visit.

Tharoor said that though India’s case might not be at the top of the agenda for the US media, India can get its message across easily.

“It’s a challenging environment. America is a very crowded media space, the world’s news generator. Therefore, our story may not be at the top of their minds. But if we can get the attention of those who care about South Asia, those who care about India, those who care about terrorism, we can get our message across very, very easily,” he said.

Tharoor said that the delegation has meetings set up with influential government officials and committees which formulate public opinion.

He said, “In Washington we have meetings set up with the entire range of public opinion in Washington, government officials, legislators, there are senators and congressmen, various committees in the House and the Senate, think tanks who are very influential in Washington, particularly those focusing on foreign policy, media and some public addresses, like, for example, the National Press Club… I’ve been asked to give six or seven interviews, seven or eight interviews to individual American channels and broadcasters, podcasters, and so on,” he said.

Tharoor said that the US is important to India in terms of defence, intelligence sharing, QUAD, etc.

“The US is important to us at all levels because frankly the Security Council in a sense is a small part of our relationship with the US which is huge, whether it comes to trade, whether it comes to defence, whether it comes intelligence sharing, whether it comes to our participation in the QUAD in the G-20, there are just so many avenues in which we cooperate with the US,” he said.

Tharoor added that it’s no coincidence that Pakistan sent its own delegation, but they are not covering as many countries as India is. They are covering countries that they deem important.

“It’s no accident that the Pakistanis have also sent a delegation abroad, but they’re not going to as many countries as the Indian delegations are. They’re focusing on what they consider a few key capitals, namely, Washington, Brussels. London. That seems to be the thrust of the Pakistani effort. We have gone to all those capitals and more,” he said.

Tharoor said that he has enormous respect for the US, but denied claims that the US had mediated in reaching the cessation of hostilities. He added that India never wanted war.

“We have enormous respect for the American presidency, and we will speak with that respect in mind. But broadly speaking, our understanding is a bit different… No one needed to persuade us to stop. We had already said to stop. If there was any persuasion by the American president or his senior officials, it would have been persuasion of the Pakistanis. They would have had to be persuaded. We don’t need to be persuaded because we don’t want war. We want to focus on development. That’s the basic message,” he said.

“We had consistently said from the very beginning on May 7th that we are not interested in prolonging the conflict. This is not the opening salvo in some sort of war. All it is is retribution against the terrorists, period. If Pakistan had not reacted, we would not have reacted,” he added.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on May 17 stated that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had tasked him to lead a delegation to present Pakistan’s case on the recent escalations of tensions between the two nations.

The delegation is led by Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The nine-member delegation includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting the vibrant and inclusive democratic character of India. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. (ANI)

Actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan returns as Han in ‘Karate Kid: Legends’, the latest instalment in the film franchise.

As per the press note by the team of Karate Kid, the film follows kung fu prodigy Li Fong as he adjusts to life in a new school, forges unexpected bonds, and is drawn into an intense showdown with a local karate champion.Under the guidance of his teacher, Han (Jackie Chan) and the legendary Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, courage, and growth.

“I feel like this film understands a really specific and fundamental difference between Hong Kong martial arts, which is all about the choreography and the moves, and American martial arts, where it’s all about basically punching,” said director Jonathan Entwistle, reported Variety.

Chan, who first joined the franchise in the 2010 “Karate Kid” starring Jaden Smith, shared that he didn’t need any training for this new entry. The 71-year-old added, “I don’t need to anymore. I’ve been training every day for 64 years. I’ve been fighting, fighting, fighting.”

Chan has been acting since the 1960s and is a legend of fight choreography. He performs all of his stunts “Karate Kid: Legends.” But he’s slowed down with age. Chan shared, “I’m not liked I used to be when I was 20, and could do a triple kick in the sky. Now, I do one kick.” But, it’s still all him.

Chan shared the valuable advice he has given to Wang. “I said, ‘Ben, we do have a double for you, but you should do your own thing. The audience respects you more. When you use a double, you become lazy.'”

In contrast, the 25-year-old Wang had a stricter training program. “I got a systematic ass-kicking,” Wang said, reported Variety.

While much of Li’s journey is about building confidence in his moves, Wang shared that he spent a month and half before shooting even began working with the stunt team. “We kept going. It was five days of formal training, from morning to night, and then, I trained by myself on the weekend,” as per the outlet.

Wang says the team had 90 days to get him to the point when he could “look okay doing a fight scene with Jackie Chan.” Wang shared, “When Jackie showed up, he was nothing but helpful.”

What does Chan think of Wang? Chan shared, “He’s like my young Jackie Chan,” reported Variety. (ANI)

Actor Ahan Shetty on Monday gave fans a cute sneak peek into his mamu duties.

Taking to Instagram, he shared a few candid pictures with his niece Evaarah, who is cricketer KL Rahul and actress Athiya Shetty’s daughter.

In the images, he could be seen cradling the little one in his arms.

“On duty”, wrote Ahan with a feeding bottle emoji.

Reacting to the post, Athiya commented, “Mamu (red heart emoji).”

KL and Athiya welcomed their baby girl in March this year. They had announced their pregnancy in November last year with a sweet message that said, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025,” accompanied by baby feet emojis.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ahan, son of veteran actor Suniel Shetty, will be seen in ‘Border 2’.

Last year, the announcement sparked excitement, with veteran actor Sunny Deol welcoming him aboard on social media.

“Welcoming Fauji @ahan.shetty to the Battalion of #Border2,” Deol posted, sharing a teaser that has further fueled the enthusiasm of fans.

The ‘Border’ franchise, directed by JP Dutta, is known for its portrayal of the India-Pakistan war, and Ahan’s entry into the sequel marks a significant moment in the legacy of the film.

The announcement video captures a powerful transition, showing a montage of Suniel Shetty’s iconic moments from Border, followed by Ahan’s voiceover, symbolizing the passing of the baton from father to son.

In addition to ‘Border 2’, Ahan Shetty is set to appear in the action-packed film ‘Sanki’, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. (ANI)

After ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’, actors Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday are coming together for a romance drama titled ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’.

On Monday, the first look of both Kartik and Ananya was shared from the sets of the film in Europe. In the image, the actors can be seen holding passports and sharing a romantic kiss by the shore.

‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ will be released in theatres on February 13, 2026, coinciding with Valentine’s Day.

“Flying together…again! #TuMeriMainTeraMainTeraTuMeri – in cinemas next Valentine’s Day : 13th Feb, 2026,” Kartik captioned the post.

The reunion of Kartik and Ananya left fans excited.

In the comment section, a social media user wrote, “Waited so long for this reunion still feels unreal can’t wait to see you two stunning people back on the big screen.””Best wishes to you,” another user commented.

The movie, directed by Sameer Vidwans, marks Kartik Aaryan’s second collaboration with the director, following their work on ‘Satyaprem Ki Katha’. It is produced under the banner of Dharma Productions.

The plot details are still under wraps.

In the coming months, Kartik will also be seen in ‘Nagzilla’ directed by ‘Fukrey’ fame director Mrighdeep Singh Lamba.

Announcing the film, Kartik recently took to Instagram and shared his first look. The motion poster featured a shirtless Kartik looking at a city from a snake-infested lair.

“Insanon wali picharein toh bahut dekh leen, ab dekho naagon wali pichchar #Naagzilla – Naag lok ka Pehla kaand….Funnn phailaane Aa raha hu main, Preyamvadeshwar Pyare Chand … Naag Panchami par aapke nazdeeki Sssssinemas mein. 14 August 2026 ko,” he captioned the post.

‘Nagzilla’ will be released in theatres on August 14, 2026. (ANI)

Bengali actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay and his wife Piya Chakraborty welcomed their first child, a baby boy.

The couple shared the joyful news on social media, bringing smiles to fans and well-wishers.

The ‘Kahaani’ actor posted a note that read, “It’s a Baby Boy Our hearts are full. Our hands will be fuller! Welcome to the world, Junior.”

Alongside the post, the actor also wrote, “As we welcome our first child into this world, we wish to thank each and everyone for their warm wishes and prayers!”

Take a look

Friends, fans and followers flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages and blessings for the newborn.

Parambrata, who is best known for his roles in both Bengali and Hindi films, was last seen in ‘Khakee: The Bengal Chapter,’ which premiered on Netflix.

The show featured actors Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jeet, Saswata Chatterjee, and Chitrangada Singh. Though Parambrata had a special appearance, his presence was well appreciated by viewers.

‘Khakee: The Bengal Chapter’ is a follow-up to Khakee: The Bihar Chapter and released on March 20, 2025. The series received mixed to positive reviews from critics and was well received by the audience. (ANI)

The Group-6 delegation from India, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi, on Monday (local time) met Jose Manuel Albares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain at Palacio de Viana.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Spain said, “The All Party Parliamentary Delegation called on the Minister of External Affairs HE Mr. @jmalbares to apprise him of India’s position and discuss India’s efforts in the fight against terrorism.”

It further stated that Albares conveyed Spain’s “unequivocal support” for India’s effort against terrorism.

“Mr. @jmalbares conveyed his understanding and Spain’s unequivocal support for India’s efforts to combat terrorism, and reaffirmed the importance of global peace. He emphasised that terrorism will never prevail and that Spain stands with India on this matter,” the Indian Embassy said.

Earlier today, the Association of Victims of Terrorism in Madrid met with the delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi.

The association, one of the largest such associations globally, works with over 4,000 victims of terrorism and provides psychosocial support to those affected. The meeting between the association and the all-party delegation aimed to exchange experiences and best practices in supporting victims of terrorism.

The Indian Embassy in Spain stated that the delegation engaged in a heartfelt exchange on the pain and resilience that emerge from such traumatic events, with the delegation highlighting India’s own experiences in confronting cross-border terrorism.

Earlier, Indian parliamentarians attending diplomatic engagements in Madrid conveyed a unified and strong stance on India-Pakistan relations and the global fight against terrorism, urging international solidarity with India’s position.

DMK MP Kanimozhi underlined the complexity involved in resolving conflicts with Pakistan, stating, “The Government of India has sent out delegations, and we’ve also reached out to friendly nations and nations which have some misconceptions that we can resolve issues just by speaking to them and calling Pakistan over for a coffee and saying we will resolve these conflicts. It’s much more than what meets the eye for many people.”

This diplomatic effort seeks to brief international partners on India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people were killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, and on the broader fight against cross-border terrorism.

Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor was a decisive military action targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen, underscoring India’s resolve to counter terrorism with strong measures. (ANI)