Month: July 2025

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed his deep concern over the recent armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border, urging both nations to agree to an immediate ceasefire and resolve their disputes through dialogue.

In a post on X, the UN Chief urged for a ceasefire and assistance to facilitate a peaceful resolution between the two nations.

“I am deeply concerned about the recent armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand. I urge both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue. I remain available to assist in efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute,” Guterres stated.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh are engaged in a territorial dispute dating back over a century, when colonial-era France first demarcated the border between them, CNN reported.

Since the conflict erupted on Thursday, officials report that over a dozen people have been killed, many more wounded, and more than 150,000 civilians displaced.

The UN Chief’s call for a ceasefire came after US President Donald Trump stated that “Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace,” in a post on Truth Social following a “very good call” with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, informing him of discussions with Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister.

He noted that the negotiations were elaborated by trade talks with the US and that both nations have agreed to meet and work toward a ceasefire and eventual peace, expressing optimism about their shared history and culture.

“They are also looking to get back to the “Trading Table” with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! It was an Honor to deal with both Countries. They have a long and storied History and Culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!” Trump stated in his post.

Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayacha, responded positively to Trump’s initiative.

In a post on Facebook, Wechayacha stated that he expressed his gratitude towards the US President for his concern over the conflict.

“A few moments ago, I had a conversation with President Trump, who requested that Thailand and Cambodia agree to a ceasefire immediately. I thanked President Trump for his concern and expressed that Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place,” Wechayacha stated.

However, he emphasised the need for sincerity from Cambodia, requesting Trump to convey Thailand’s desire for a bilateral dialogue “as soon as possible” to establish measures and procedures for the ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.

“However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side. I also requested President Trump to convey to the Cambodian side that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict,” the post added.

According to CNN, the latest escalation has reignited hostilities, pitting Thailand–a seasoned US ally–against Cambodia’s younger, China-aligned military forces. (ANI)

A major emergency unfolded at Denver International Airport on Saturday (local time) as passengers on board an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate moments before takeoff due to a mechanical issue with the plane’s landing gear, Fox News reported.

The incident happened on American Airlines Flight 3023, which was scheduled to fly from Denver to Miami. The problem was reported while the aircraft was still on the runway. In a dramatic video shared online, passengers can be seen rushing out of the plane through emergency slides and running to safety, while smoke and fire could be seen under the aircraft.

The Denver Fire Department said it responded to the incident and managed to extinguish the fire.

“All 173 passengers and six crew members on board the Boeing 737 Max 8 were safely removed from the aircraft,” Fox News reported.

Five people were evaluated for injuries but did not require hospitalization. However, one person was taken to a medical facility for a minor injury, according to Fox News.

In a statement to Fox Business, American Airlines said, “American Airlines Flight 3023 experienced a mechanical issue on take-off roll at Denver International Airport (DEN). All customers and crew members deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience.”

The airline confirmed that the aircraft had a maintenance issue with a tire, and the affected passengers would travel to Miami on a replacement flight later the same day.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued a statement confirming the incident.

“American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a possible landing gear incident during departure from Denver International Airport around 2:45 p.m. local time Saturday, July 26. Passengers evacuated on the runway and are being transported to the terminal by bus,” the FAA said, as per Fox News.

Due to the emergency, Denver Airport issued a ground stop for incoming flights between 2 pm and 3 pm, which led to delays for about 90 flights, according to FlightAware data cited by Fox News.

The incident comes just a day after a Southwest Airlines flight from California to Las Vegas had to suddenly nosedive to avoid a midair collision, causing passengers to hit the ceiling of the aircraft, Fox News reported.

The FAA has initiated an investigation into the Denver incident. (ANI)

The Delhi Court, after noting a discrepancy in the prosecution’s story, has recently acquitted 6 persons accused of rioting, vandalism and burning property in the Khajuri Khas area during the North East Delhi riots in February 2020.

An FIR was registered at Police Station Khajuri Khas under sections related to rioting, arson, robbery, etc.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Praveen Singh acquitted the accused, namely Rajendar Jha, Tejveer Chaudhary, Rajesh Jha, Govind Singh Manral, Peetamber Jha and Devendar Kumar alias Monu Pandit, for offences under section 147, 148, 149, 188, 392, 427, 435, 436, 34 of IPC.

ASJ Praveen Singh observed, “There are serious discrepancies in the story of the prosecution which had emerged during the prosecution evidence and the prosecution failed to explain them.”

“Thus, I find that the prosecution has completely failed to prove its case against any of the accused persons for any of the charges that were framed against them. All the accused are accordingly acquitted of all the charges framed against them,” ASJ Singh ordered on July 23.

The court pointed out that none of the public witnesses supported the prosecution’s case that the accused were a part of the riotous mob which had looted, vandalised and ransacked the shops or houses.

The public witnesses were Vikas Sharma, Satish Chand Sharma, Gulzar, Alka Gupta and Altap, the court said.

The court noted that it was a surprising coincidence that, although the video had been shown to all these persons on March 20, 2020, none of them identified any of the accused prior to June 12, 2021.

Thereafter, the witnesses were cross-examined by the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) before the court, and they denied having identified any of the accused on June 12, 2021.

” Therefore, even this cross-examination cannot be of much help to the case of the prosecution,” the court said in the order.

The present case was registered on a complaint filed by one Alka Gupta. She alleged that on February 26, 2020, the riotous mob had come to her shop, broken the shutter of her shop and had taken away the articles from her shop. They also set fire to her shop. In response to this complaint, the present FIR was registered.

During the investigation, three more complainants, namely Gulzar, Vikas Sharma and Md. Irshad made complaints regarding the loss caused to their shops in the riots. These complainants were clubbed in this FIR.

The court also noted a discrepancy in the statement of a police constable regarding the direction of movement of the riotous mob. (ANI)

Air India has released Rs 25 lakh in interim compensation payments to the families of 147 of the 229 passengers who lost their lives, in the tragic crash of the Air India Flight 171 on June 12, and 19 who were killed in the accident site.

The interim payment of Rs 25 lakh per family was initiated over a month ago to support the immediate financial needs of the bereaved. These payments will be adjusted against the final compensation to be determined later.

In a statement on Saturday, Air India reaffirmed its commitment to the victims and their loved ones: “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn their loss and remain fully committed to providing support during this difficult time” the airline said.

Additionally, the airline noted that documentation for 52 more families has been verified, with interim compensation to be disbursed to them progressively.

Air India has, so far, released the interim compensation to the families of 147 of the 229 deceased passengers and also the 19 who lost their lives at the accident site. In addition, the requisite documents of 52 others have been verified, to whose families the interim compensation will be released progressively, the statement reads.

The Tata Group has also established The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust in memory of the victims. The Trust has pledged an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore for each deceased individual. It will also support the rebuilding of the B.J. Medical College Hostel infrastructure, which was damaged in the accident, and provide assistance to first responders, medical personnel, and other support workers affected by the tragedy.

The Tata Group has also registered ‘The AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust’, dedicated to the victims of the unfortunate accident. The Trust has pledged an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore in respect of each of the deceased, and support for rebuilding the B.J. Medical College Hostel infrastructure, which was damaged in the accident, as per the statement.

The Trust will also provide aid and assistance for alleviation of any trauma or distress suffered by the first responders, medical and disaster relief professionals, social workers, and governmental staff who provided invaluable institutional support and service in the aftermath of the accident, statement further said. (ANI)

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday visited Anand in Gujarat to meet the bereaved families of those who died in the Gambhira bridge collapse that occurred earlier this month.

His visit comes nearly two weeks after 20 people lost their lives in Gujarat’s Vadodara on July 9.

Meanwhile, following the Gambhira bridge mishap, the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) has initiated a thorough inspection of all bridges under its jurisdiction.

As a precautionary and safety measure, AUDA is currently inspecting four major bridges on the Sardar Patel Ring Road, which circles Ahmedabad city.

Today, a detailed inspection of the Kamod Bridge, located on the SP Ring Road near Kamod village, is being conducted using a Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit (MBIU) — a specialised crane system brought in from Delhi. This advanced equipment allows engineers to closely inspect areas beneath the bridge, which are typically difficult to access.

According to AUDA Executive Engineer Sanjay Patel, “There are two major bridges on the Sardar Patel Ring Road. One is near the dam and the other is near the Kamod village. Currently, we are conducting a detailed inspection of the bridge near the Kamod village with the help of an MBIU (Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit)”

Notably, a section of the Gambhira bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand collapsed on July 9 and fell into the Mahisagar river below, killing 20 and injuring several others.

Following the incident, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level inquiry into the recent bridge collapse on the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge connecting Vadodara and Anand.

The Chief Minister has entrusted a team of experts to conduct a detailed investigation and prepare a report on the repairs, inspections, and quality checks carried out on the bridge.

Apart from this, the state government has extended compassionate support to the families affected and injured in the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge accident.

According to a release, as part of the announced financial assistance, cheques totalling Rs 62 lakh were distributed today. This includes Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, handed over by MP Jasubhai Rathva and MLA Chaitanyasinh Zala.

Considering the seriousness of the incident, this aid was approved immediately and disbursed without delay. As per the current list, cheques totalling Rs 62 lakh have been distributed, covering four injured individuals and the families of 15 deceased. (ANI)

Tech firm Astronomer, has hired actress and ex-wife of Coldplay singer Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, as its “temporary spokesperson” after the the viral kiss cam scandal whose fallout included resignations of its CEO and head of Human Resources.

Taking to their X handle, Astronomer posted a video featuring Paltrow as a spokesperson who spoke on behalf of the “300-plus employees” of the tech firm to answer some common questions from netizens that had popped up after the recent controversy regarding its former CEO, Andy Byron.

“Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days. And they wanted me to answer the most common ones. Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apace Airflow,” said Platrow.

She further explained the working of the company ‘Astronomer’ in the video without making any direct reference to the recent Coldplay-Andy Bryon controversy.

The video comes in the wake of the highly publicised kissing scandal at a Coldplay concert that rocked social media and the news last week. The incident resulted in the resignations of Andy Byron as Astronomer CEO and Kristin Cabot, who headed its HR, after the two were allegedly spotted on the kiss cam together, reported Variety.

During Coldplay’s July 16 concert at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a kiss camera captured a couple in an embracing state, reportedly Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot.

In a quick reaction, the two instantly tried hiding themselves to avoid being exposed, only for their activities to catch the world’s attention.

Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, also took note of the moment and commented, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Later, Martin issued a lighthearted warning to his fans, subtly alerting them to the presence of cameras at concerts.

“We’d like to say hello to some of you in the crowd. How we’re gonna do that is we’re gonna use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. So please, if you haven’t done your makeup, do your makeup now,” he said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

After the incident, Andy Byron has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of data technology firm Astronomer following the circulation of a video of him holding a woman at a Coldplay concert, reported Variety. (ANI)

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor gave a big shoutout to her brother Siddhanth Kapoor for his performance in the recently released thriller series ‘Mandala Murders’.

Taking to her Instagram handle, ‘EK Villain’ actress re-shared a post from her brother’s social media handle to express her happiness on Siddhant’s acting skills in the series.

She affectionately called him “My Bhaiya” as she shared an appreciation post for her brother. Shraddha Kapoor wrote, “My Bhaiya, packing a punch” while sharing the photo of Siddhanth from Mandala Murders.

Siddhanth also reshared Shraddha’s post on his Instagram story, writing “Love you my little sister”.

‘Mandala Murders’ was jointly directed by Gopi Puthran and Manan Rawat. It also stars Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Surveen Chawla, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Siddhanth Kapoor, Rahul Bagga, Raghubir Yadav, and Monica Choudhary in prominent roles.

As per the makers, ‘Mandala Murders’ is set “in the quaint, mysterious town of Charandaspur, where two detectives unravel a chilling conspiracy of ritualistic killings tied to a centuries-old secret society.”

Sharing his experience directing the show, Gopi Puthran said, “From the start, our goal with Mandala Murders was to create a world that feels unknown yet grounded — where every truth has layers and every answer leads to more questions. Crafting the tension, weaving in symbolism, and watching this brilliant cast bring it to life has been incredibly rewarding.”

Vaani, who essays the role of an investigating officer, also opened up about her experience.

She said, “Collaborating with Gopi Sir on Mandala Murders is a masterclass in storytelling. His unparalleled ability to weave gritty realism with psychological depth transforms every scene into a layered experience. Gopi Sir doesn’t just direct crime thrillers; he immerses you in a world where every character’s motive is a mystery, every symbol holds a secret. Working alongside him isn’t just inspiring, it’s a journey into the heart of nuanced, atmospheric storytelling that redefines the genre.”

The show is the second series from Netflix and YRF’s creative partnership, following ‘The Railway Men’ in 2023.

‘Mandala Murders’ is currently streaming on Netflix. (ANI)

After the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had ordered the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms including Ullu, ALTT, Big Shots App, NeonX VIP, and Desiflix among others, for allegedly publishing obscene, vulgar and, in some cases, pornographic material, film producer Ektaa Kapoor has issued a statement clarifying that she and Shobha Kapoor “had stepped down from their association with ALTT way back in June 2021”.

The directive was issued on July 23, 2025, in consultation with multiple government departments and civil society stakeholders, according to sources.

The platforms in question, which include Ullu, ALTT, Big Shots App, NeonX VIP, and Desiflix among others, were found to be disseminating content that violated several provisions of Indian law, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Ektaa shared a statement that reads, “TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN..Balaji Telefilms Limited, listed on the BSE and NSE, is a professionally run media organization and following the recent amalgamation of ALT Digital Media Entertainment Ltd. (previously its wholly owned subsidiary) duly approved by the Hon’ble NCLT, it operates ALTT wef June 20, 2025. Media reports have been in circulation about ALTT being disabled by the authorities, however, contrary to such reports, Ms. Ekta Kapoor and Mrs. Shobha Kapoor are not associated in any capacity whatsoever with ALTT and they had stepped down from their association with ALTT way back in June 2021. Any insinuation contrary to the above facts is strongly denied and media is requested to report the accurate facts.”

“Balaji Telefilms Limited is fully compliant of all applicable laws and continues to operate its business with the highest standards of corporate governance,” the post concluded.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has ordered the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms for allegedly publishing obscene, vulgar and, in some cases, pornographic material.

The directive was issued on July 23, 2025, in consultation with multiple government departments and civil society stakeholders, according to sources.

According to the sources, the Ministry said that much of the content showcased by these platforms involved graphic sexual innuendos, long sequences of nudity, and pornographic visuals. “There was hardly any storyline, theme, or message in a social context,” it said.Some content was also found to depict inappropriate sexual situations involving family relationships, further aggravating concerns over legality and decency.

A total of 14 mobile applications, 26 websites have been ordered to be disabled by intermediaries under provisions of the IT Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The government had several rounds of communication with the platforms. In September 2024, all 25 platforms had received official warnings. Prior to this, in February 2025, the Ministry had issued an advisory urging OTT platforms to comply with India’s obscenity laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021.

Yet, the platforms allegedly continued to host and stream objectionable content.In one notable example, the series ‘House Arrest’ hosted on the Ullu platform was taken down in May following the Ministry’s intervention. However, the government alleges that certain platforms have continued their operations by creating new domains, even after previous blocking orders. Five such platforms reportedly resumed publishing similar content after being blocked in March 2024.

The latest action was taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Department of Legal Affairs (DoLA), industry associations FICCI and CII, and subject experts in the fields of women and child rights.Mentioning that previously,y the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC), a self-regulatory body headed by a former Supreme Court judge, found that content edited on ALTT was “totally distasteful and bizarre,” with sex and nudity being shown without any contextual justification.

Similarly, over 100 web series were also removed from the Ullu platform, with the council finding that the platform temporarily removed or edited the web series and then uploaded the unedited versions later to circumvent the warnings.

Several of the platforms had previously drawn the attention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which flagged Ullu and ALTT for alleged violations in July and August 2024. The Ministry also received multiple public grievances about the content hosted on these platforms. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said that there is a steady increase in marriage registration under the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

He said that the UCC law not only makes the society more legally organised but is also a decisive step towards protecting the rights of women and safeguarding their interests. Every registration under UCC is a symbol of social empowerment for the state, a press release from Uttarakhand CMO said.

After the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand on 27 January 2025, a historic increase has been registered in marriage registration.

A total of 3,01,526 marriages have been registered under the UCC Act so far. This number is an average of 1,634 marriage registrations per day, which is many times more than the previous system.

It is noteworthy that before the implementation of UCC, a total of 3,30,064 marriages were registered under the Uttarakhand Marriage Registration Act 2010 from the year 2010 to 26 January 2025, with an average of 67 per day.

With the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, the process of marriage registration has been made more simple, transparent, and effective. Due to this, enthusiasm is being seen among the citizens regarding marriage registration.

Keeping in mind the convenience of the citizens, the state government has increased the time limit for marriage registration under UCC from the previously prescribed 6 months to 1 year. A notification has been issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department in this regard. (ANI)

Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday strongly criticised Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate for calling the state government a “beggar.”

Sule said such remarks insult farmers and damage Maharashtra’s image, and demanded his resignation.

Speaking to ANI, Supriya Sule said, “It’s very unfortunate. He is consistently damaging Maharashtra’s reputation by insulting farmers and calling the government a beggar… Even if you are in opposition, it’s not appropriate to compare the government to a beggar. We are proud Maharashtrians and Indians. We will not tolerate this. He must resign because he is insulting the people, the system, and farmers.”

Earlier on July 20, after attending the all-party meeting, Sule called for the resignation of Maharashtra’s Agriculture Minister, Manikrao Kokate, following the release of a video showing him playing rummy on his mobile during a session of the state legislature.

Sule criticised the minister, pointing out that while 750 farmers had committed suicide in the past three months, the minister was engaged in playing games.

She urged the Chief Minister to take action and remove him from his position if he does not resign.

Speaking to the reporters, Supriya Sule said, “A video of the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra has come out. When the House was in session and the debate was underway, he was playing rummy on his mobile…750 farmers have committed suicide in three months and the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra is playing these games. He should resign for this dirty act; otherwise, the Chief Minister should remove him.”

Sharing the video, Rohit Pawar criticised the minister for his lack of attention to the state’s pressing agricultural issues.

In a post on X, Rohit Pawar wrote, “Since the Nationalist faction in power cannot do anything without consulting the BJP, even with countless agricultural issues pending and 8 farmers committing suicide daily in the state, the Agriculture Minister, with nothing else to do, seems to have time to play rummy.”

He also urged the government to listen to farmers’ demands for crop insurance, loan waivers, and price support, and also asked, ‘Will these ministers ever hear the desperate plea of farmers?’

“Will these misguided ministers and the government ever hear the desperate plea of farmers demanding crop insurance, loan waivers, and price support: “Come to the fields of poor farmers sometimes, Maharaj”?,” the post reads. (ANI)