Month: August 2025

Shooting for ‘The Smashing Machine’ was quite challenging for Dwayne Johnson.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Dwayne Johnson revealed he spent three to four hours putting on prosthetics each day, as per Variety.

“It was very real. I had not experienced that in a very, very, very long time, where I was really scared and thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do this. Can I do this?'” Johnson said.

“I realized that maybe these opportunities weren’t coming my way because I was too scared to explore this stuff… I was so hungry for an opportunity to do something raw and gritty and rip myself open. And all of a sudden, ‘Smashing Machine’ comes along,” he added.

In the film, Dwayne will be seen as two-time UFC heavyweight champion Mike Kerr.

The film tracks Kerr’s professional triumphs and personal struggles, including his substance abuse battles and his tumultuous relationship with wife Dawn (Emily Blunt). Johnson and Blunt are close friends after starring in “Jungle Cruise” together, which helped Johnson lean into his vulnerable side on camera.

Actors Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots and Tom Bateman also play prominent roles in the film.

“The Smashing Machine” world premieres in competition at the Venice Film Festival before opening in cinema halls on October 3. (ANI)

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on an official visit to Japan on the evening of August 28.

He will be in Japan on the August 29-30 for holding the 15th India Japan, annual summit with the Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba.

It is Prime Minister Modi’s first annual summit with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This is his eighth visit to Japan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan and China from August 29 to September 1, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, PM Modi will travel to Japan from August 29-30 to participate in the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be Prime Minister Modi’s eighth visit to Japan and his first summit with Ishiba, the MEA added.

During the visit, the two leaders will review the Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan, covering defence and security, trade and economy, technology and innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. They will also discuss issues of regional and global importance. The visit is expected to reaffirm the longstanding bond of friendship between the two countries, the MEA said.

In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of China’s President Xi Jinping, PM Modi will travel to China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. On the sidelines of the Summit, the Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders attending the Summit.

India has been a member of the SCO since 2017 and held the presidency of the Council of Heads of State of the organisation during 2022-23, the MEA noted.

In a continuation of ongoing engagement, earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed over a message and an invitation from President Xi Jinping for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China. (ANI)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday apologised for reciting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) anthem in the Assembly.

Shivakumar said that he was pulling the legs of BJP leaders and did not want to hurt the feelings of anyone across party lines.

Addressing a press conference, he said, “I just commented and tried to pull their (BJP) leg. Some of my friends are taking a political leap, trying to misuse it and cause confusion among the public. I do not want to hurt their feelings. If anyone has been hurt, I feel sorry for them. I would like to seek an apology from all of them.”

Amid speculations of him joining hands with the BJP and RSS, he reiterated that he will stay with the Congress party.

“The Gandhi family cannot be questioned by anyone. I am a born congressman. I will die as a Congressman. I have a lot of followers and friends across the party line, in different political parties. I don’t want to hurt anyone,” the Dy CM said.

Earlier, DK Shivakumar had firmly denied rumours of joining hands with the BJP and RSS, reaffirming his loyalty to the Congress party.

“My blood is Congress, and my life is Congress. I am given the responsibility of leading the party in the state, and I firmly stand with the party,” he said while speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha.

This came after he sang the RSS anthem “Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome” in the Karnataka Assembly, which has triggered discussion on his joining the BJP.

The incident occurred during a debate in the Assembly on Thursday, when BJP MLA R Ashoka pointed towards Shivakumar, emphasising that the state government should take responsibility for the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede.

Dy CM Shivakumar retorted that he knew all about the BJP’s tricks, and then proceeded to recite a few lines of the RSS anthem. (ANI)

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has revealed the close bond he shares with Test captain Shubman Gill, highlighting both their on-field understanding and off-field camaraderie.

Speaking about their journey together, Siraj said while speaking to Boria Majumdar on Revsportz, “Shubman and I have been together for a long time. We have played India A. We have spent time off the field as well. We made our Test debuts together at the MCG, and also became ODI No. 1 (ICC rankings) at the same time. We have a lot of memories together. He’s also the captain of Gujarat Titans. We bat at the nets together and keep talking. I keep telling him that you’re my bunny. Our understanding is very easy and it reflects on the field. He understands what I want, what I don’t and vice versa. I am really proud of his growth as a captain, and now that he is the vice-captain for the Asia Cup as well, I would definitely want him to bring the trophy back. All the best to him and the team.”

Siraj’s remarks underline the deep connection between the two cricketers, who have risen together through India A. Their partnership, both in nets and in matches, reflects a synergy that Siraj believes will continue to benefit the Indian cricket team in upcoming tournaments, including the Asia Cup.

From Leeds to London, Gill’s robust technique stole the show and made headlines for changing historical records on numerous occasions. He pulled the curtains down on his stellar campaign as the leading run-getter with a whopping tally of 754 at 75.40.

Gill made subtle changes to his technique, with the most prominent being bringing his bat ahead of his pads on several occasions. He even made a couple of tweaks in his footwork to give himself more time to play his desired shot, which were at the forefront of his four blistering tons in England.

Gill silenced the critics who questioned his ability to thrive in the uncharted overseas conditions in the number four spot, which was previously held by stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. At Edgbaston, a venue where India hadn’t savoured success, Gill notched his career-best, a marathon 269 to pave the way for India’s maiden Test win on the ground.

In his first Test captaincy assignment, Gill led his side to a famous 2-2 draw against England. His next assignment will be two Tests against the West Indies at home, scheduled to be held in October this year. (ANI)

Continuous rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir has led to a sharp rise in water levels of several rivers and streams, triggering flash floods in parts of Jammu region. The Meteorological Department (MET) has issued an advisory on the matter.

“Possibility of intense/heavy to very heavy Rain/thunder at scattered places & extremely heavy rain at isolated places of JMU Div & moderate to heavy rain in South KMR during 26 Aug. Cloud burst/flash floods at few vulnerable places with landslides/mudslides/shooting stones etc. stay away from water bodies/nallas/river embankments/loose structures etc. Waterlogging/flooding in the low-lying areas of JMU Div. All concerned are advised to stay alert/updated,” the advisory read.

A bridge over the Sahar Khad river near the Jammu-Pathankot Highway in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J-K) Kathua has been damaged after the river began flowing in spate due to continuous rains in the region.

The incident has disrupted traffic on the highway, a key arterial route. Local administration teams are monitoring the situation closely.

The Jammu region has been experiencing intense monsoon showers for the past few days, causing rivers to swell, triggering landslides, and disrupting normal life in low-lying and hilly areas.

Earlier, seven people lost their lives and 11 others were injured in a cloudburst that struck Kathua district in Jammu & Kashmir on August 17.

The sudden deluge triggered massive landslides and flooding, causing the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to infrastructure. Reacting with urgency, Army relief columns with an Engineer detachment were immediately pressed into action to the worst-affected regions of Jhor Khad and Bagra villages.

A cloudburst during the Machail Mata Yatra on August 14 led to flash floods that killed at least 55 people in Kishtwar.

Following the incident, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on August 19 that it might be impossible to find anyone survivors. He said that the disaster took place due to a cloudburst rather than a breach of glacial lakes. (ANI)

Water level of the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir increased today due to heavy rainfall and has reached 899.3 meters.

Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh said that apart from the rise of water in the Chenab river, reports of cloud were also received, which lead to washing away of National Highway 244.

He further stated that while three people had been killed due to the rains, 15 residential houses, a cow shed and a private health centre had also been damaged.

“It has been raining continuously for three days. Especially in the areas of the Chenab River. Reports of cloud bursts have come from two places. NH 244 has also been washed away in a cloud burst. Our team is busy restoring that. Three lives have been lost so far. Two of them are in Gandhor and one is in the Thathri subdivision. 15 residential houses have been damaged, and cow sheds have also been damaged. A private health centre has been damaged. Three footbridges have been washed away. The highest flood level of the Chenab River is 900 feet, and currently it has already reached 899.3 metres, so there is a difference of one and a quarter meters,” Singh told ANI.

He further stated that movement of people near the river and roads adjacent to the river had also been restricted.

“The way it is raining, we are expecting that the HFL will be breached. We have limited the movement of people near the Chenab River and on the roads adjacent to the Chenab River. People have been shifted and they have been shifted to safe locations,” he further added.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that two people met with an accident near Drass in Ladakh after their vehicle fell into a river.

Rijiju shared a post on his official ‘X’ handle stating that his convoy was on the way to reach Drass during which the incident took place. He said that the two people who were inside the vehicle were safely rescued.

“Before reaching Drass in Ladakh, one vehicle fell into the river just ahead of our convoy. Luckily, we were on time and both persons survived,” Rijiju wrote on ‘X’. (ANI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out searches at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj in connection with a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in hospital construction projects in the national capital.

The raids began early morning at 13 locations, including Bhardwaj’s residence, across the Delhi-NCR region, based on a certain tip-off in connection with the case. The search operations are being carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).

These searches are in “connection with the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) recorded in the Delhi Hospital Construction Scam, relating to First Information Report (No. 37/2025) dated June 26, 2025, registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Delhi Police, against former Health Ministers of GNCT of Delhi, along with private contractors and unknown government officials.”

Officials, privy to the development, told ANI that the operations are based on “material collected during the course of investigation and allegations contained in the FIR regarding large-scale corruption, unjustified cost escalations, unauthorised constructions, and misappropriation of funds in health infrastructure projects of GNCTD.”

They further said that the search teams have covered the residential premises of Saurabh Bhardwaj, as well as the offices and residences of the private contractors involved in the projects, in order to trace evidence relating to the diversion and laundering of public funds.

ED is investigating financial transactions and suspected diversion of funds allocated for the construction of the Delhi hospital, said the officials.

“The case stems from allegations that contracts were manipulated and funds misused, causing delays and cost escalations in crucial health infrastructure construction,” the officials said.

Bhardwaj, a senior AAP leader and sitting MLA, served as Delhi’s Health Minister during a period when the government announced ambitious plans to expand healthcare capacity. However, the project came under the scanner after complaints surfaced about inflated bills, non-compliance with norms, and suspected collusion between contractors and officials. (ANI)

Following the Supreme Court’s order to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Vantara Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre on Tuesday said that the organisation will cooperate and continue to rescue and rehabilitate animals.

Vantara stated that the organisation will comply with the law.

“We acknowledge the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court with utmost regard. Vantara remains committed to transparency, compassion and full compliance with the law,” Vantara officials said in a statement.

The statement said that the organisation will extend full cooperation to the probe and will continue the work of animal welfare.

Vantara stated, “Our mission and focus continues to be the rescue, rehabilitation and care of animals. We will extend full cooperation to the Special Investigation Team and continue our work sincerely, always placing the welfare of animals at the heart of all our efforts.”

“We request that the process be allowed to take place without speculation and in the best interest of the animals we serve,” the statement read.

On Monday, the apex court formed an SIT headed by Justice Jasti Chelameswar to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the allegations of unlawful acquisition of animals and their mistreatment in Vantara Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B Varale directed the SIT to complete its inquiry and submit a report by September 12. The matter was listed to be heard next on September 15.

The four-member SIT will also examine and report on issues such as compliance with wildlife protection laws, international trade regulations, animal welfare standards and environmental concerns, the apex court added.

The top court passed its order on a plea filed by one CR Jaya Sukin, who alleged that animals are being unlawfully acquired and kept in the Vantara wildlife centre. The plea has alleged that animals, including elephants, birds and other endangered species, are being smuggled into Vantara in the name of providing a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility. (ANI)

Bollywood star Parineeti Chopra is all set to welcome her first child with her husband, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha. The couple made the announcement on Monday with an adorable social media post that drew love and congratulations from fans, friends, and fellow celebrities.

Amid dozens of congratulatory messages, Parineeti and Raghav have also received a sweet response from Priyanka Chopra.

Taking to the comment section of the announcement post, Priyanka wrote, “Congratulations” with a heart emoji. She also reshared the same on her Instagram story and added cute emojis to express her emotions.

In a surprise post, the couple shared a picture of a cake that read, “1+1=3.”

“Our little universe … on its way. Blessed beyond measure,” they wrote in the caption.

Many others from the industry also showered them with love and congratulatory messages. Ananya Panday wrote, “Awww congratulations Pari!!!” while Bhumi Pednekar added, “Congratulations.”

Katrina Kaif dropped heart emojis in the comments. Others to join were Soni Razdan, Anupam Kher, Huma Qureshi, Sonam Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Rakul Preet Singh, and Farah Khan.

The pregnancy announcement arrived on the heels of Raghav’s subtle hints about family plans on The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show. During a conversation with Kapil Sharma, the politician said, “Denge, aapko denge…good news jaldi denge,” leaving Parineeti surprised at the time.

The couple got married in September 2023 at the Leela Palace Hotel in Udaipur, Rajasthan, in the presence of their close friends and family members.

On the work front, Parineeti Chopra was last seen in ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ alongside Diljit Dosanjh. Next, she has an upcoming mystery thriller series. Directed by Rensil D’Silva, the show also features Jennifer Winget, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Soni Razdan, and Anup Soni.

While details about Parineeti’s due date are not known, fans eagerly await glimpses from the mom-to-be’s journey, as the actor remains quite active on social media. (ANI)