Month: August 2025

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has expressed solidarity with India over the Pahalgam terror attack and on its fight against terrorism, saying his country stands by the Indian government and the people of India.

In an interview with ANI, Cho Hyun said South Korea is firmly against terrorism.

“We are very stern and firm on this issue. We are strongly against any terrorist attack. We stand by the Indian government and the people of India,” Cho Hyun said.

India had launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India conducted precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK and repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who had a bilateral meeting with Cho Hyun, expressed gratitude for South Korea’s condemnation of Pahalgam terror attack and recalled that the parliamentary delegation from India that went to Seoul later “got very good meetings”.

“I want to express our gratitude for the RoK’s condemnation of the terrorist attack that took place in Pahalgam on 22nd of April, and the fact that when our Parliamentary delegation went to Seoul, I think they got very good meetings, you yourself made an effort to meet them – it is something which we appreciate,” Jaishankar said.

Answering queries, Cho Hyun said the tariffs being imposed by the United States in the rapidly changing situation in global trade is not unexpected and that his country was able to sort out the problem and “make a win-win” through trade negotiations.

He said South Korea and the United States were able to strike a deal “that will again lead us to a win-win proposal”.

“This is something not unexpected given the rapidly changing situation in global trade. We were able to sort out a problem and make a win-win through these negotiations, and we were able to strike a deal that will again lead us to a win-win proposal,” he said.

US President Donald Trump had announced last month that he has reached a trade agreement with South Korea, which includes a 15 per cent tariff on South Korean exports to the United States.

Trump made the announcement on July 31 on his social media handle Truth Social.

“I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has agreed to a Full and Complete Trade Deal with the Republic of Korea. The Deal is that South Korea will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President. Additionally, South Korea will purchase $100 Billion Dollars of LNG, or other Energy products and, further, South Korea has agreed to invest a large sum of money for their Investment purposes,” Trump had said.

“This sum will be announced within the next two weeks when the President of South Korea, Lee Jae Myung, comes to the White House for a Bilateral Meeting. I would also like to congratulate the new President on his Electoral Success. It is also agreed that South Korea will be completely OPEN TO TRADE with the United States, and that they will accept American product including Cars and Trucks, Agriculture, etc. We have agreed to a Tariff for South Korea of 15%. America will not be charged a Tariff. I would like to thank the Trade Representatives who came forward today. It was an Honor to meet them, and talk about the Great Success of their Country!” he added.

The United States has imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods in July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

Asked about the Alaska Summit meeting between the US President and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the South Korean Foreign Minister said it was too early to assess the outcome of the meeting but stressed that avoiding conflict was crucial.

“It is too early to make any assessment of the meeting itself. We really hope that this will be the first step in the right direction. It is very important to avoid war and peace at any cost is better than war,” he said.

Cho Hyun said he had good meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday and recalled his tenure in Delhi as Ambassador from 2015 to 2017, stating that significant changes were made in India under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and that “more good changes” have been made during the past ten years.

Cho Hyun said it is great to be back in Delhi and when he landed in the city about 10 years ago, he was humbled by the depths of India’s culture.

“I feel great to be back in Delhi and ten years ago, I landed in Delhi and I was very much humbled by the depths of the culture and the largest of the subcontinent and the people. I was very proud to serve as the Korean Ambassador to India, during which time I recognised the significant changes made in India under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership…Now I see even more good changes that have been made during the past ten years. So I’m very glad to be back here, meet my friends,” Cho Hyun said.

Cho Hyun recalled that when he served as Ambassador, he had meeting with S Jaishankar who served as Foreign Secretary from 2015-18.

He said they discussed various issues and explored ways to enhance the bilateral relationship. The Korean Foreign Minister arrived in the national capital on Friday.

“It was a good meeting and I used to meet him when I was here and he was the Foreign Secretary. We discussed various issues and explored ways to enhance our bilateral relationship, addressing both the geopolitical and geo-economic challenges our countries face,” Cho Hyun said.

In his opening remarks during meeting with the visiting South Korean leader, Jaishankar said “it’s not very often that you have a chance to welcome an old friend as a new colleague”.

“So, it’s a very special privilege to welcome you back to India. Please accept my congratulations on your appointment, you have been barely a month in the job, the fact that you are here literally a day after your National Day, and our National Day, says a lot really about the value we attach to the relationship,” Jaishankar said.

“Let me also take the opportunity to extend our greetings to you for the National Liberation Day of Korea, and your visit, I think, in many ways, comes at a very important time – it is the 10th anniversary of our Special Strategic Partnership, and I had the privilege of being with the Prime Minister when he met your President in Kananaskis in Canada. It was, by the way, a very good meeting I must tell you, they had very strong bonding,” he added. (ANI)

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has left fans curious about his next big-screen outing after ‘Dunki.’

The actor, who is gearing up for his action-packed film ‘King’ alongside his daughter Suhana Khan, had to slow down the shoot after he reportedly suffered an injury during an action sequence.

Khan, who returned to his popular ‘Ask SRK’ session on X after a long hiatus, responded in his signature witty style when a fan asked about the release of his next film. “Did some good shoot… starting soon again. Only leg shots, then moving to the upper body… Insha Allah, it will be done fast. @justSidAnand is working hard to finish.” While his optimism reassured fans, reports indicate that King’s production schedule has been temporarily affected by the actor’s recent injury,” he wrote.

Last year, at the Locarno Film Festival, Shah Rukh had spoken about his preparation for King and working with filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh on the project.

He said, “There are certain kinds of films that I want to do, maybe it’s more age-centric, and I want to try something I’ve been thinking about for 6-7 years. I mentioned it to Sujoy one day while we were sitting. He works with us at our office; he’s made some films for us. He says, ‘Sir, I have a subject.'”

SRK also spoke about losing weight for his film King: “The next film I am doing is King. I have to start working on it, lose a little weight, and do some stretching,” he added.

While fans wait for his film, there is also excitement around his son Aryan Khan’s debut directorial project, The Ba***ds of Bollywood.

During the same Q&A session, a fan asked when they could see something from Aryan’s series. Shah Rukh playfully responded, “So many people are asking, so I have to tell Netflix… Beta show bana raha hai, Baap sirf wait kar raha hai… @NetflixIndia, Tum kya kar rahe ho??!!” to which Netflix responded that the first look of Aryan Khan’s show would be unveiled on August 17 at 11 am.

Shah Rukh reacted with excitement, writing, “Yes, yes, yes. Please tell me the time as well, since Aryan doesn’t tell me anything. Aapke saath toh purana rishta hai… so please tell me and everyone else. Too excited. Here’s to a great First Look. Thanks.”

Aryan Khan’s project, produced under Red Chillies Entertainment, was first confirmed earlier this year, and fans have been waiting eagerly for updates. The release date remains tightly under wraps for now. It is co-created by Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, who also share writing credits with Aryan. (ANI)

Actor Janhvi Kapoor, who is busy promoting her upcoming rom-com ‘Param Sundari,’ added to the festive spirit of Janmashtami as she joined a Dahi Handi celebration on Saturday.

Clips from the event have gone viral on social media, showing Janhvi dressed in a light-colored traditional outfit. She wore a shiny embroidered blouse paired with a long skirt. Her hair was tied back in a braid, styled with intricate accessories, while she completed her look with a stacked necklace and chunky earrings.

The highlight of the event came when the actress broke the Dahi Handi. Before hitting the pot, she asked with a smile, “Zor se marna padega,” and then smashed it successfully, joining the crowd in celebrations.

On the work front, Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra will next be seen in Tushar Jalota’s Param Sundari. The film tells the chaotic love story of a Punjabi munda and a Kerala girl. Sanjay Kapoor and Manjot Singh also have prominent roles in the film. The trailer for the movie was unveiled earlier this week, promising the perfect mix of romance, comedy, and action. Param Sundari will be released on August 29. (ANI)

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday shared a spoof video inspired by the film Laapataa Ladies, reiterating the Congress’s “vote theft” allegations against the Election Commission and urging people to join the ‘Vote Chori se Azaadi’ campaign.

Sharing the video on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Chori chori, chupke chupke… ab or nahi, janta jag gayi hai, (Secretly, stealthily… No more now, the public has awakened).”

The video shows a middle-aged man at a police station submitting a theft complaint. When asked by a policeman, “What has been stolen?” the man hesitates before replying, “Vote.” The policeman reacts in shock and asks, “How’s this possible?” The video ends with the message, “Theft of your vote is theft of your right.” The clip is based on a scene in Laapataa Ladies where a husband goes to the police station to report that his wife has been exchanged.

This comes after Congress announced the launch of the ‘Vote Chori se Azaadi’ campaign, asking people to join the movement against alleged “vote theft” by the Election Commission and the BJP.

Earlier, the Congress party in a post on X urged people to change their display picture (DP) on social media to support the campaign.

“On the occasion of Independence Day, join the campaign for freedom from ‘vote theft’. Change your WhatsApp DP,” the post said.

On August 14, ahead of the Assembly elections in Bihar, Rahul Gandhi also announced the launch of the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He appealed to people to “join this people’s movement.”

“From August 17, with #VoterAdhikarYatra, we are launching a direct fight against vote theft from the soil of Bihar,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

He added, “This is not just an election issue – it is a decisive battle to protect democracy, the constitution, and the principle of ‘one man, one vote.’ We will ensure a clean voter list across the entire country. Youth, workers, farmers – every citizen, rise and join this people’s movement. This time, the defeat of vote thieves – the victory of the people, the victory of the constitution.”

On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had also criticised the Election Commission of India, saying elections are “choreographed”. Presenting Congress’s research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka, he alleged the theft of 1,00,250 votes.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has repeatedly asked Rahul Gandhi to submit a signed declaration to back up his claims of “vote theft”. (ANI)

The monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 257 lives since June 20, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HP SDMA).

District-wise data shows that Mandi (26 deaths), Kangra (28), and Kullu (11) were among the worst-affected in rain-triggered disasters.

Among the deaths, 133 were deaths reported in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, drowning, and electrocution, and another 124 fatalities in road accidents,.

The cumulative report released on Friday evening paints a grim picture of widespread destruction. The state has also recorded 331 people injured and 37 missing during the ongoing monsoon season.

Landslides and flash floods alone have caused 16 deaths, while 27 people drowned in swollen rivers and nullahs. Other casualties were reported due to lightning, fire, snake bites, electrocution, and accidental falls.

In addition to human loss, the state reported massive damage to property and infrastructure. Over 1,028 houses were fully damaged and another 2,157 partially damaged, besides 285 cow sheds and 699 shops and factories destroyed. Public property worth more than Rs 2,14,403 crore has been lost, including extensive damage to roads, power lines, water schemes, and government institutions.

Animal losses have also been severe, with 1,625 cattle heads and over 25,700 poultry birds perishing in the rains.

The HPSDMA noted that Mandi district alone accounted for the heaviest financial damage, exceeding Rs 1,180 crore, followed by Kangra and Kullu districts.

Meanwhile, Mandi district reported the highest disruption, with 203 roads blocked and 458 transformers out of service, followed by Kullu where 79 roads remain closed, including NH-305 at Jhed (Khanag) due to a major landslide. Water supply schemes were also severely affected in Chamba (24), Kangra (41), and Mandi (44).

In Kinnaur, six roads including NH-5 were blocked after heavy downpours, while Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti reported widespread outages due to flash floods and HT line faults.

Authorities cautioned that intermittent rainfall in the coming days may worsen the situation, and appealed to people to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches.

Officials warned that the situation remains critical with rains expected to continue, urging residents to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches and follow safety advisories. (ANI)

Around 70 per cent of India’s goods exports to the US, equivalent to USD 60.85 billion, are now exposed to the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US administration, according to an analysis by ICRIER.

This represents just 1.56 per cent of GDP and 7.38 per cent of total exports, far from a catastrophe for a USD 3.9 trillion economy.

A report by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, titled ‘Navigating Trump’s Tariff Blow’ authored by Ashok Gulati, Sulakshana Rao, and Tanay Suntwal, argued that the impact is heavily concentrated in labour-intensive and high-value sectors such as textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, auto parts and agricultural products, notably shrimp.

“These sectors not only anchor the merchandise exports to the US but also directly affect employment generation and the livelihoods of millions of workers and farmers,” the ICRIER report read.

The textiles and apparel sector faces a tariff disadvantage of over 30 percentage points compared with competitors like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam, threatening its competitive position in a key export market, the report noted.

Gems and jewellery exports, worth USD 11.9 billion, face similar challenges against suppliers such as Turkey, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Auto parts, which constitute 3 per cent of India’s exports to the US, are also vulnerable.

In agriculture, shrimp exports will be worst hit with 50 per cent tariffs higher than those applied to competitors like Ecuador, Indonesia, and Vietnam, in addition to the existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties India faces, the ICRIER authors argued.

“These are sectors where buyers can switch sourcing relatively quickly, which gives US importers bargaining power and weakens India’s negotiating position,” they supplemented.

Against this backdrop, ICRIER recommended a three-pronged strategic response.

“Firstly, smart negotiations with logic and rationality. Secondly, announce immediate and targeted relief support to hard hit sectors, and last on high priority, diversify our export markets,” it summarised its recommendations.

“The success of our leaders will be ensuring that short-term disruptions give way to long-term gains, reinforcing India’s position as a trusted and indispensable player in the global economy,” the abstract of the ICRIER report concluded.

Initially, US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

In contrast to India, competitors such as Vietnam (20 per cent), Bangladesh (18 per cent), Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (19 per cent), and Japan and South Korea (15 per cent) enjoy lower rates, as per reports.

However, the new US tariff regime excludes pharmaceuticals, energy products, critical minerals, and semiconductors.

Over the past few months, India and the US have been negotiating for an interim trade deal. Still, there are reservations from the Indian side on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors. Agriculture and dairy are critical for India as these two sectors provide livelihood opportunities to a large section of people.

India and the US initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in March this year, aiming to complete the first stage of the Agreement by October-November 2025.

US President Donald Trump had imposed reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries with which the US has a trade deficit. Since assuming office for his second term, President Trump has reiterated his stance on tariff reciprocity, emphasising that his administration will match tariffs imposed by other countries, including India, to “ensure fair trade”.

On April 2, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on various trade partners, imposing varied tariffs in the range of 10-50 per cent.

He subsequently kept the tariffs in abeyance for 90 days, while imposing a 10 per cent baseline tariff, providing time and space for making trade deals. The deadline was to end on July 9, and the US administration later pushed it to August 1.

Faced with tariffs, during the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement in both Houses, affirming that the government is examining the impact of tariffs and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the national interest.

On India’s import of Russian oil, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also made its position clear, stating that India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.

MEA said that the targeting of India is “unjustified and unreasonable”.

“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India made clear its stance yet again. (ANI)

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Saturday announced that its parliamentary meeting will be held on 19 August 2025 at 9:30 AM, according to an official notification.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the G.M.C. Balayogi Auditorium of the Parliament Library Building (PLB), and all NDA members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been requested to attend on time. The notice was issued by Dr Shiv Shakti Nath Bakshi, Office Secretary of the NDA Parliamentary Party.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its parliamentary board meeting on Sunday, 17 August, at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Sources said discussions were likely to include the NDA’s candidate for the Vice-Presidential elections.

A senior party source said, “The BJP parliamentary board meeting was scheduled for 17 August 2025 at the BJP office in Delhi. All parliamentary board members attended. There could have been discussions on the NDA’s candidate for the post of Vice-President of India.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other parliamentary board members were expected to be present at the meeting.

On 6 August, leaders of the ruling NDA had unanimously passed a resolution authorising Prime Minister Modi and BJP chief and Union Minister JP Nadda to finalise the NDA’s candidate for the Vice-Presidential election, scheduled for 9 September.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, 74, had resigned from his post on 21 July 2025, citing health reasons. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu posted on the Vice-President’s official X account, he wrote, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice-President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution.”

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the election of the Vice-President of India. If contested, the poll will be held on 9 September from 10 AM to 5 PM at the First Floor of the Parliament House. (ANI)

After a ruckus erupted during the release of ‘The Bengal Files’ trailer in Kolkata today, actor Pallavi Joshi said, “such a thing did not happen even in Kashmir.”

She said, ” I absolutely did not like the way my film (trailer) was stopped. Is there freedom of expression in this state? As filmmakers and actors, we are not able to screen what we have made. What is the threat they are feeling? Such a thing did not happen even in Kashmir. Can we derive that the situation in Kashmir is better than in Bengal? See what is happening in Bengal today. And this is why films like ‘The Bengal Files’ are important. I want every person in India to watch this film to know the truth about Bengal. It is the state’s responsibility to give respect to artists…”

During the event at ITC Royal Bengal, when the trailer was suddenly stopped, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri asked everyone to calm down, “Please bear with us..I mean, all this happened with the permissions and approvals, and now, at the last minute, they are saying that they have got some instructions that we cannot play (trailer)…Please sit down..you can see what is happening it seems there are two constitutions in India..one Indian constitution and one special constitution that runs here…”

He added, “If this is not dictatorship/fascism, then what is?…Law and order in your state has failed, and this is the reason that everyone supports ‘The Bengal Files’…” “I have just got to know what some people came here (event venue in a private hotel) and cut all the wires. I don’t know on whose orders this is happening? You know who those people are behind us. After all tests and trials, this program was being held. The hotel managers still can’t tell us why we are not allowed to continue with our program…”

Agnihotri earlier opened up on the cancellation of the trailer launch event of ‘The Bengal Files’ by a leading movie theatre chain and why he decided to unveil the trailer today, August 16.

Speaking to ANI, he said, “Mai America se aaya aur seedhe Kolkata pahucha kyunki trailer launch tha and movie trailers are generally launched in theatres; however, when I reached the airport, I came to know that one of the largest multiplex chains said that they can’t do it because there is a lot of political pressure and if they do it, there will be a political turmoil. So we spoke to another multiplex, they also said that ‘sorry sir’, there is a lot of political pressure, we can’t do it’. If we had known this from the start, why would we have taken on so many teams and actors and spent so much money to come here..”

The film explores the communal violence in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, including events like 1946 Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots of 1946, a Hindu genocide.

He added, “Aur Direct Action Day,.. Hindu genocide, Murshidabad riots suki film ka trailer kahan launch hona chahiye, Kolkata mein hi hona chahiye..par mai bhi harne vaalon se nahi hu..to aisa pehli baar ho raha hai mera ye andaaz hai ki film ka trailer theatre ki jagah hotel ke banquet hall mein..but mai janna chahta hu hamari awaaz dabane ki koshish kyu ho rahi hai..(And where should the trailer of the film dealing with Direct Action Day, Hindu genocide, Murshidabad riots, be launched.. It should be launched in Kolkata only, but I’m not one of the losers, so this is happening for the first time, I guess that the trailer of the film is being launched in the banquet hall of a hotel instead of a theatre..to hamari awaaz ko dabane ki koshish kyu ki ja rahi hai (but I want to know why efforts are being made to suppress our voice..)

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, ‘The Bengal Files’ features actors Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, and Pallavi Joshi. It is focused on the events of the “Direct Action Day,” aiming to unveil the “most brutal chapter” of Indian history. A poster of the film was unveiled on Friday morning, promising to deliver the “boldest film.”‘The Bengal Files’ is slated to hit theatres on September 5, 2025. (ANI)

After months of controversy, actor Shwetha Menon has been elected as the first-ever female president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

Speaking to ANI, Menon opened up about her recent appointment, stating that she has planned to bring changes to necessary matters.

“I haven’t planned anything..”I don’t have an agenda”…This is a very big matter…Please don’t expect miracles, but we will be doing something for a change,” Shwetha Menon said.

The much-awaited election results for the AMMA presidential position came nearly a year after former president, actor Mohanlal, resigned from his position in August 2024.

He resigned as the head of the 17-member executive committee over growing allegations of sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. The allegations surfaced in the Justice K Hema Committee’s report on the working conditions of women in Mollywood.

At that time, all other executive members also resigned from their positions.

The controversy stemmed from several complaints and allegations from many female actors in the wake of the Hema Committee report. The government also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the hardships faced by women in the industry.

A redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report was also made public, shedding light on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The 235-page report noted that the industry is controlled by 10 to 15 male producers, directors, and actors who have been dominating and exerting control.

Earlier in January this year, Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan stepped down as the AMMA treasurer, citing increasing work commitments that had affected his “mental health.”

With Shwetha Menon’s latest appointment, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists is expected to undergo a major transformation under new leadership. (ANI)