Month: July 2025

Amid a controversy over the Udaipur Files movie, based on the 2022 murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, Lal’s son on Wednesday emphasised that the movie is made to oppose the “terrorist mindset”, and does not target any particular religion or community.

The movie has faced sharp criticism for allegedly stoking communal tensions.

Speaking to ANI, Kanhaiya Lal’s son, Yash Sahu, said, “The movie is releasing on 11th July. There were controversies earlier too, it had to be renamed…Producer and Director did everything possible and showed what happened to my father; how he was killed under a terrorist mindset, under a sleeper cell base…They are terrorists.”

Sahu further claimed that he demanded a fast-track investigation into the case, and also an NIA special court’s enquiry, but nobody listened to him.

“This movie is against a terrorist mindset, not against a community or religion…It has been 3 years now, and the case has gone cold. I demanded fast track, but it wasn’t done. I demanded an NIA Special Court, but it wasn’t done. Statements of only 14-15 people have been recorded in 3 years. So, when will the statements of 150 people be taken?… How long will it take for us to get justice?” he said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed a special screening of the film before ruling on petitions seeking to halt its release, scheduled for July 11.

The directive came during Tuesday’s hearing, where Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), informed the court that 40-50 objectionable elements had already been removed from both the trailer and the film. The CBFC had proposed these cuts before certification, and they were duly implemented.

A bench comprising Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal ordered the screening of the censored version for all counsels, including Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for petitioners Maulana Arshad Madani (President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind) and Prashant Tondon. (ANI)

Content creator and actor Prajakta Koli has been honoured by TIME Magazine.

She was named in the inaugural 2025 TIME100 Creators List.

Elated over this honour, Prajakta said, “Being recognized as the first Indian creator on TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Creators List is both humbling and incredibly meaningful. This recognition represents not just my journey, but the power of authentic storytelling and the responsibility that comes with having a platform. I’ve always believed that creators have the opportunity to drive meaningful conversations and inspire positive change.”

She added, “To be acknowledged alongside such influential voices from around the world reinforces my commitment to using my voice for causes I believe in, whether it’s climate action, education or simply making people smile through my content.”

Prajakta was featured in the Entertainment category, along with Taylor Frankie Paul, Taylen Biggs, and Heidi Wong, among others.

Prajakta, who is famously known by her online moniker Mostly Sane, launched her YouTube channel in 2015, and since then, she has been enthralling audiences with her content on social media. Her global impact extends beyond entertainment, with her partnership with prestigious organisations like the International Olympic Committee, UN, Gates Foundation, World Economic Forum, and COP Summit.

In 2020, she made her acting debut with the short film Khayali Pulao and later gained massive popularity with her role in the Netflix series Mismatched. She also starred alongside Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani in ‘Jugjugg Jeeyo’ in 2022. (ANI)

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has launched the Nadi Utsav 2025 at Namsai in a bid to conserve aquatic life and restore fish populations in the river systems.

As part of the initiative, 30,000 fingerlings of various fish species, including Rohu, Catla, Mrigal, Grass Carp, Labeo Gonius, and Labeo Kalbasu, were released into the Marua, Teang, and Namtenga rivers on Tuesday.

The release also included endangered local freshwater species such as Pavi, Pahum, and Palao, with the goal of restoring their populations in the riverine ecosystem.

An awareness campaign was also held to create awareness about the importance of conserving the environment and restoring aquatic life to the masses.

On this occasion, tree saplings were also planted as part of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign to make the environment greener.

Addressing the gathering, Mein said that the ‘Nadi Utsav’ is being observed to restore fish populations in the rivers and said to extend the initiative to more rivers and areas in the upcoming phase.

He called upon the village heads and community leaders to spearhead the conservation movement and deploy youths to guard the forest and rivers from illegal hunting and rampant fishing in order to protect the rich flora and fauna and aquatic life.

He further called to preserve the river sites and keep them clean. Taking serious note of the conservation effort, he warned that any body found throwing garbage in the river site and engaging in illegal fishing will be taken to task and action will be initiated against the defaulter as per the law.

He said that the Flying Squad will be deployed to check the illegal fishing along the rivers, and speedboats will be provided to facilitate 24/7 checking.

The Deputy CM further said that Arunachal Pradesh comes under the 12th biodiversity hotspot of the world, and we must strive to conserve it.

He called upon the youths to abstain from drugs and engage themselves in meaningful activities.

He assured that support will be extended to Drug De-addiction Centres and Rehabilitation Centres, and requested the Monks to extend their help in the fight against the drug menace and guiding the youths in the right direction.

Mein expressed optimism about the collective efforts to conserve aquatic life and the environment, stating that the united action and community involvement would lead to the revival of the rivers’ biodiversity in the near future.

The campaign saw enthusiastic participation from community leaders and people of all ages, HoDs, PRI members, party karyakartas and government officials despite the scorching heat.

The campaign was joined by MLA Namsai, Zingnu Namchoom, ZPC Nang Urmila Mancheykhun, ADC Namsai Kalyani Namchoom, ADC Chongkham K Tikhak, SP Sange Thinley, President of Arunachal Pradesh Bhikkhu Sangha Ven. Dhammakitti, Head Monk of Kongmu Kham Ven. Vimalatissa, Monks, HoDs, ZPMs, BJP karyakartas led by District President, Ningroo Ong Maio, and others. (ANI)

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently gave fans a peek into her relaxing vacation in Detroit, Michigan. She was joined by director Raj Nidimoru, who co-directed her latest project ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny.’

On Tuesday, Samantha posted a series of photos on Instagram from her time in the U.S. The actor attended the 2025 edition of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and spent some time sightseeing and relaxing with friends.

One of the first photos shows Samantha and Raj walking together on the streets of Detroit, both smiling. Samantha wore an oversized brown sweatshirt with jeans, while Raj looked casual in a navy jacket and denim. Another photo captured the two enjoying a meal with friends at a restaurant.

In other pictures, Samantha was seen relaxing at a cafe, dressed in a black T-shirt and cream trousers, wearing large sunglasses and smiling slightly. One sweet photo featured her lounging in bed in pyjamas, cuddled up with her pet dog.

Samantha kept the caption simple, writing just “Detroit” with a heart emoji.

Take a look

The actor and director recently worked together on ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny,’ the Indian version of the international spy thriller franchise Citadel, produced by the Russo Brothers’ AGBO. The show premiered on Prime Video on November 7, last year.

The series lost the Best Foreign Language Series award to South Korea’s Squid Game at the 30th Critics’ Choice Awards that took place in February this year. Despite the loss, the action-packed series gained significant attention in India after winning the Best Series (Critics) and Best Screenplay awards at the Filmfare OTT Awards 2024. (ANI)

Emraan Hashmi and Himesh Reshammiya, a pairing that ruled the 2000s with their iconic music and thrillers, are making a comeback.

The two are teaming up once again for an action-packed film titled ‘Gunmaaster G9,’ set to release in 2026.

The makers dropped a gripping announcement teaser on Wednesday, which caught fans’ attention in no time.

The film, directed by Aditya Datt, also stars Genelia Deshmukh and Aparshakti Khurana in key roles.

In a video shared on Instagram, a mysterious hand can be seen pulling a gun from a bucket of milk, while Emraan’s voice is heard in a dramatic tone: “Mujhe mach mach kiya, chalega. Galti se family ko touch kiya toh yaad rakhna, dhandhe se doodh waala hun, banda baroodwala hun.” (You messed with me–fine. But if you mess with my family by mistake, remember this: I may be in the milk business, but I’m a man who deals with gunpowder).

The second slide of the post included a video showing a woman’s hand pulling out a knife. Genelia’s voice is heard in the background saying in Hindi, “I’m the daughter-in-law of the house. But it doesn’t mean I’m only gentle and soft. If there are vegetables at home, I’ll chop them. However, if goons and thugs show up, I won’t just be chopping vegetables.”

In the third slide of the post, Aparshakti can be heard adding his own wild flavour, introducing his role with, “Lohe Ki Kathi, Desu Rathi. Haath mein hain bomb. Gurgaon main log humse 70 kilometre door rehte hain kyunki bomb aur hum kabhi bhi fatt sakte hain.” (Iron rod, Desu Rathi. I have a bomb in my hand. People in Gurgaon stay 70 kilometres away from us because the bomb and I can explode at any moment.)

Along with the video, the makers added a caption that read, “Doodh to baroodh, Sabzi to Gundas, bullets to beats, Gunmaaster G9 is getting ready for mayhem… the team is locked, loaded, and lethal!”

Check it out

Fans, clearly thrilled by the reunion, flooded the comments section.

“Emraan + Himesh combo is back in business,” one wrote.

“OMG, Emraan x Himesh, 2025–what a year!” said another.

Directed by Aditya Datt (Aashiq Banaya Aapne, Table No. 21), the film marks the return of Emraan and Himesh’s musical-action combo that once defined an era. The film is produced by Deepak Mukut, Hunar Mukut, and Soham Rockstar Entertainment.

Gunmaaster G9 is expected to release in cinemas in 2026. (ANI)

The Uttar Pradesh government is going to plant 52 crore saplings this year, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday, adding that over the past eight years, the government has planted 204 crore trees and over 75% of them are alive.

“This year we are going to plant 52 crore saplings… In the last 8 years, we have planted 204 crore trees, and over 75% of them are alive,” CM Yogi said at an event after launching the state-wide mega plantation campaign.

He further shared that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s survey report confirms an increase in forest cover across 5 lakh acres in Uttar Pradesh.

“Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has sent its survey report that says the forest cover in Uttar Pradesh and the institutions that were declared as third party by the state, have also verified that forest cover increased in a 5 lakh acre area. This means we have moved from heatwave to green-wave, and in the future, we will be able to contribute to saving the planet,” he added.

Chief Minister Adityanath planted saplings in Rampur Halwara village on Dashrath Path in Ayodhya and took a selfie under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.

The Chief Minister began his visit to Ayodhya with prayers at the sacred Hanumangarhi temple, seeking peace and prosperity for the state.

He also circumambulated the temple complex to review the progress of the Ram Mandir construction and offered prayers at the Ram Darbar. The Chief Minister commenced his Ayodhya tour with a visit to the Sankat Mochan Hanumangarhi temple. He performed traditional rituals and prayed for the well-being of the people of Uttar Pradesh.

After Hanumangarhi, the Chief Minister proceeded to offer prayers at Ram Lalla’s sanctum sanctorum. He performed aarti, circumambulated the temple premises, and later offered prayers at the Ram Darbar.

He also took stock of the progress of the temple construction. Office bearers of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust briefed him on the current status and upcoming phases of the construction project, according to an official release.

On his arrival at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, CM Yogi received a grand reception from local public representatives and officials. This marks the Chief Minister’s first visit to Ayodhya in the month of July. He had last visited on June 5 for the inauguration of the Ram Darbar. (ANI)

The Dalai Lama’s recent affirmation that only his office holds the authority to identify his successor is a strong counter to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing attempts to interfere in Tibetan religious affairs, according to the Human Rights Network for Tibet and Taiwan (HRNTT), as reported by Taipei Times.

The 14th Dalai Lama, who turned 90 on Sunday, declared last week that the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and that his successor, the 15th Dalai Lama, would be born outside of China. “In accordance with past tradition, the search for my reincarnation and the naming of a 15th Dalai Lama will be carried out,” he said, firmly stating that only his office has the legitimate authority to determine his reincarnation, Taipei Times reported.

Tashi Tsering, HRNTT secretary-general, praised the Dalai Lama’s remarks as “a powerful statement striking back at the CCP”.

He condemned Beijing’s baseless claim that it has the right to choose the next Dalai Lama and reiterated that such authority resides solely with His Holiness and his institution.

“This clear position sends a resounding message that religious identity and Tibetan spiritual autonomy cannot be dictated by the CCP,” Tashi Tsering said. He also urged Tibetans–both inside occupied Tibet and in exile–to uphold the Dalai Lama’s legacy and resist Chinese coercion.

The HRNTT, alongside the Hong Kong Outlanders (HKO) and the Taiwan chapter of Students for a Free Tibet, participated in the 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamsala. These groups also engaged with the local Tibetan exile community to strengthen Taiwan-Tibet solidarity, Taipei Times noted.

Also in attendance were several Taiwanese civic leaders, including HRNTT board member Lin Hsin-yi, Human Rights Conventions and Covenants Watch CEO Huang Yi-bee, HKO secretary-general Sky Fung, and HKO president Lee Peng-hsuan.

Hollywood actor and long-time Tibet advocate Richard Gere spoke at the event, calling the Dalai Lama “a gift to the world, not just to Tibet,” Taipei Times reported.

In honour of the spiritual leader’s milestone, the HRNTT and allied groups have designated the following 12 months as the “Year of Compassion”.

A touring exhibition titled From the Snowy Ridges to the Ocean of Wisdom will highlight Tibetan history and the Dalai Lama’s teachings. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s civic groups plan to launch a city council group to raise public awareness of Tibet’s struggle. (ANI)

A twin-seater trainer version of the Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed today near Churu district of Rajasthan. 

The aircraft had taken off from Suratgarh air base with two pilots onboard.

Following the incident, the Indian Air Force choppers have been sent to the crash site, said defence sources.

More details awaited.

A similar incident took place three months earlier, in April, where a two-seater Jaguar aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed during a night mission shortly after taking off from Jamnagar Airfield.

According to the Indian Air Force, the pilots had encountered a technical malfunction mid-flight and ejected to avoid damage to the airfield and nearby populated areas.

One of the IAF pilot Siddharth Yadav tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during the ejection, while the second pilot was injured in the incident.

Earlier, on March 7, a Jaguar fighter aircraft crashed near Ambala in Haryana, with the pilot ejecting safely. (ANI)

Jasprit Bumrah is likely to replace Prasidh Krishna in the Indian playing 11 as India and England are all set to clash in the third Test of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, starting July 10 at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s.

India created history with a 336-run win over England in the second Test at Birmingham, as they not only secured their first-ever win at Edgbaston but also achieved their biggest Test win away from home in terms of runs.

Having won the Edgbaston frontier, India will seek to continue the winning momentum in Lord’s, where they have lost just one Test in the last three tours. The series is levelled one-one.

On the other hand, England, after chasing down the historic target of 371 to defeat India by five wickets at Headingley in the first test, will be looking to bounce back in the third test.

Indian skipper Shubman Gill sits at the top of the run charts in the series with 585 runs in two Tests, four innings at an average of 146.25 and an attacking strike rate of over 73, with three centuries and a marathon 269 (387 balls) at Edgbaston as his best score.

England seamer Josh Tongue has claimed the most wickets in two tests. In four innings, he has grabbed 11 wickets at an average of 33.63. India is expected to stick with their opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul as both the batters have a fifty and a hundred each in first two fixtures.

Karun Nair, despite low scores, could retain his spot at No. 3. Coming from a double hundred, Gill will lead from No.4 and wicketkeeper/batter Rishabh Pant, after historic centuries in both innings of the first test, will bat at No. 5.

Ravindra Jadeja, with his experience, brings balance at No.6 and at No. 7, Washington Sundar could be preferred for his handy batting and off-spin, as he made a vital 42 in the 1st innings of the second test. Nitish Reddy could retain his spot at no.8 for depth in batting, though he is yet to perform.

The duo of Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj, after a brilliant outing in the 2nd test, could be seen again sharing the new ball in the Lords test. India could go with one change as Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the second test, will be back in place of Prasidh Krishna, who has been going through a tough outing in the opening two fixtures.

Krishna took five wickets in the first test combined in both innings, but gave away runs at an economy of 6+. In the second test, he only managed to claim a wicket, but again, he was very expensive.

India’s probable playing 11 for 3rd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj. (ANI)