Month: August 2025

Actor Janhvi Kapoor is a true fashionista. There’s hardly any moment when the ‘Dhadak’ star has not left her fans in awe with her style.

On Friday, she once again served looks, and this time it’s for promotions of her upcoming film ‘Param Sundari’.

Earlier in the day, she stepped out in the city with her co-star Sidharth Malhotra. Both complemented each other in shades of pink.

Sidharth looked dapper in a pink t-shirt that he paired with a brown jacket and off-white pants. Janhvi stole attention with her floral jaal saree.

Janhvi’s saree features a soft pink hue and yellow colour, elegantly draped with a sheer netted overlay showcasing an intricate jaal design. Scalloped borders with similar rose-themed designs elevated her style.

Janhvi paired the saree with a matching sleeveless pink bralette blouse with noodle straps. For the glam, she opted for dewy makeup which features blushed cheeks and glossy pink lipstick. She resorted to minimal accessories, comprising a white floral ring.

Janhvi and Sidharth’s film ‘Param Sundari’ will be released in theatres on hit theatres on August 29.

‘Param Sundari’ marks the first on-screen collaboration between Janhvi and Sidharth. The romantic comedy is directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films.

Earlier, the first song from the film, ‘Pardesiya,’ was released and continues to keep fans hooked. It is a love song that features a sweet bond between Sidharth and Janhvi. From the scenic location to Sidharth’s breathtaking looks, the song has all the qualities needed to become the love anthem of the year.

‘Param Sundari’ is a romantic comedy-drama about a cross-cultural love story between a North Indian boy and a South Indian girl, set against the backdrop of Kerala’s backwaters. (ANI)

Gone are the days when celebrities constantly dyed their hair to look young. Be it Akshay Kumar or R Madhavan, a bevvy of celebs, including actors, are now seen flaunting their grey hair and salt-and-pepper beards in public lately.

Cricketer Virat Kohli has posted a new photo on his social media Instagram account in which he sports a ‘new look’ grey beard as he posed alongside Naeem Amin, who is an assistant coach with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Gujarat Titans (GT).

The backdrop suggests that Kohli, who hasn’t played cricket since the conclusion of the IPL 2025, could have resumed practice ahead of his return in Australia ODIs.

Kohli’s salt-and-pepper look garnered mixed reactions from his fans. While some expressed concern over signs of ageing, many lauded him for embracing his natural appearance with pride.

“Virat Kohli is getting older,” a social media user wrote on X.

“People these days just estimate someone’s age by their beard, and after seeing Virat Kohli’s recent photo, they’re saying he’s lost his fitness. But this is completely wrong,” a fan posted.

“Love how he is flaunting his natural look,” another one commented.

From October 19 onwards, India will tour Australia for a three-ODI and five-T20I series. Fans could get to see the ‘King’ back in action from October 19 onwards at Perth’s Optus Stadium, with two more matches scheduled for Adelaide (October 23) and Sydney (October 25).

Back in May, Virat sent a huge wave of shock and grief among the cricketing fraternity, announcing his retirement from Tests ahead of India’s tour of England, which kickstarted the team’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign.

In 123 Tests, Virat scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties and a best score of 254*.

He ended as India’s fourth-highest run-getter in Tests. He also ended his career as India’s most successful Test captain, with 40 wins in 68 Tests, including memorable wins in England, Australia and South Africa and a series win in Australia.

Virat’s final image in whites was helplessly edging a Scott Boland delivery to the slips in the final fifth Test at Sydney. He ended the horrific Australia tour with just 190 runs in nine innings under his belt, at an average of 23.75, despite a century at Perth during the first Test. His struggles with deliveries outside the off-stump channel and poor performances against Boland marked his final outing in white clothing.

Virat and more than him, his fans would be hoping that he scores in heaps during the ODI tour to Australia. He has an outstanding record in the country in ODIs, having made 1,327 runs in 29 matches and innings at an average of 51.03, with five centuries and six fifties. His best score is 133*.

Notably, in his previous ODI outing, he won the ICC Champions Trophy for India back in March, scoring 218 runs in five innings at an average of 54.50, with a century and fifty each. In seven ODIs this year, he has been in a solid form, with 275 runs in seven innings at an average of 45.83, a century and two fifties.

In his most recent cricket assignment, he ended an 18-year-wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and top-scored for the team with 657 runs in 15 matches with eight fifties.

In 302 ODIs, he has made 14,181 runs in 290 innings at an average of 57.88, with 51 centuries and 74 fifties and a best score of 183. He is the third-highest run-getter in the format. Across all of international cricket, he has made 27,599 runs at an average of 52.27, with 82 centuries and 143 fifties.

With three more ODIs scheduled from November to December against South Africa at home as well, fans would be hoping that he posts some big scores as it could help him touch the 15,000 ODI run mark and 28,000 international runs mark. (ANI)

As Japan marked the 80th anniversary of atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, its ambassador to India has expressed deep regards to the people of India for their unwavering compassion towards the victims of the horrific tragedy.

“Japan has been advancing efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons to ensure that a tragedy of will never be repeated. The people of India have shown us deep sympathy as friends seeking peace,” Ambassador of Japan to India, Ono Keiichi said on Friday.

The Japanese envoy inaugurated a photo exhibition in the national capital today to mark the bombing in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and three days later in Nagasaki.

He called the exhibition held at the India International Centre here as an opportunity to reflect upon the preciousness of peace.

Addressing a gathering of students and guests, Ambassador Ono Keiichi said, “In August 1945, the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki claimed hundreds of thousands of precious lives in an instant. And even those who survived have had to live with indescribable suffering. Since then, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during war, Japan has been advancing efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons to ensure that such a tragedy will never be repeated. The people of India have shown us deep sympathy as friends seeking peace”, he said.

Ambassador Keiichi said “In October 1957, the then Prime Minister, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, visited Hiroshima as the first foreign leader to visit the city after the atomic bombings. Then in May 2023, Prime Minister Modi visited the city during the G7 Hiroshima Summit meeting. This marked the second visit to Hiroshima by an Indian Prime Minister since Pandit Nehru. Prime Minister Modi visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and laid flowers at the cenotaph for the atomic bomb victims. Prime Minister Modi also unveiled the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, which was donated to Hiroshima city by India.”

The Japanese envoy highlighted that the G7 Hiroshima Summit was a historic opportunity for G7 leaders and other world leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, to have a first-hand look at the reality of the atomic bombings and share their aspirations for a world without nuclear weapons.

The diplomat brought to attention the moment of silence which was observed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, in memory of the victims of the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “The moment of silence has been observed almost every year for 40 years since 1985. I believe that India is the only country that continues this practice to this day. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people of India for their unwavering compassion for the victims in both cities over such a long period,” he said.

Ambassador Ono Keiichi in his concluding remarks expressed hope that the event would serve as an opportunity to connect the hearts of Japanese and Indian people, “who seek a world without nuclear weapons and to reflect on the preciousness of peace.”

The Ambassador also signed the visitors book and wrote, “May the world without nuclear weapons be realized”.

Expressing his views on the exhibition, India’s first Ambassador to Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, former Ambassador Rakesh Sood told ANI, “The message to today’s generation- who will be leaders tomorrow, scientists tomorrow, diplomats tomorrow, remains the same, ‘never again’. “

Speaking on the topic of nuclear deterrence, Sood stated, “It would be reasonable to have both doctrinal and technical measures. We need to strengthen the nuclear fuses, need to have more communication, develop instruments to reduce nuclear risks through accidental or inadvertent escalation and we need to have doctrinal approaches like no first-use policies.”

Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran who was among the visitors at the exhibition told ANI, “The reason why we have this exhibition and have invited the Japanese Ambassador to be present here and inaugurate this exhibition is because over a period of time- 80 years since the bombing took place, the kind of concern– people being aware of the vast devastation which occurred, seems to have receded into the background”.

Saran said that the exhibition serves as a medium particularly for the younger generation to understand the kind of catastrophe that the use of nuclear weapons could bring and how the new generation should come together to start championing the cause of nuclear disarmament.

The photo exhibition that will go on till August 14 is themed ‘Remembering Hiroshima-Nagasaki’.

It features survivors’ testimonies, physical after-effects, relief and rescue work, former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru’s visit to Hiroshima, visuals from the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, PM Modi unveiling Mahatma Gandhi’s bust in the city, amongst several other key historic moments. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea for the constitution of a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to audit Air India’s safety practices and maintenance procedures independently.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned the petitioner why he was singling out Air India.

“Why just Air India? What about others?” they asked while rejecting the petition.

That plea was filed in the wake of a recent crash of an Air India Boeing aircraft operating on the Ahmedabad – London route, which claimed 270 lives.

The PIL was filed by Narendra Kumar Goswami and Laxman Prasad Goswami seeking an independent probe by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into Air India’s safety practices, maintenance procedures, and operational protocols.

The petition also asked for a comprehensive safety audit of Air India’s entire fleet by an international aviation safety agency accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), addressing deficiencies identified in the 2024 ICAO audit report.

It further sought a time-bound report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the Ahmedabad plane crash. (ANI)

The teaser for ‘Jatadhara’, Sonakshi Sinha’s first Telugu film, is finally out. The actress stars alongside Sudheer Babu in what looks like a dark, supernatural epic filled with mystery, magic, and drama.

In the one-minute-12-second teaser, Sudheer Babu appears as a powerful character “born from sacrifice,” while Sonakshi Sinha is seen in a never-seen-before look as a mystical figure “created by greed.” The teaser hints at an intense face-off between the two.

Sonakshi’s look has caught many by surprise; she appears in a dark, magical form, with long hair and detailed ornaments. The background score and visuals set the tone for a gripping supernatural tale.

Jatadhara is directed by Venkat Kalyan and Abhishek Jaiswal. The film also stars Shilpa Shirodkar, Ravi Prakash, Indira Krishna, Naveen Neni, Shreya Sharma, Subhalekha Sudhakar, and Rajeev Kanakala.

Earlier this month, a new poster from the film was unveiled, which gave fans a glimpse of Sonakshi and Sudheer Babu’s look.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress was recently seen in horror drama in ‘Nikita Roy,’ which hit theatres on July 18.

The film follows Nikita (Sonakshi Sinha), a determined author who delves into the mystery of her brother’s death, convinced it was murder rather than the suicide the police insist it was.

The actress was also seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-talked-about Netflix series, Heeramandi. Set against the backdrop of India’s struggle for independence in the 1940s, the show explored the lives of courtesans and their patrons, delving into the cultural dynamics of Heera Mandi. It was Bhansali’s debut series. (ANI)

After facing multiple hurdles, including censorship delays, the film ‘Udaipur Files’ was finally released across India on Friday.

The film stars Vijay Raaz and is based on the real-life murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur in 2022, which shocked the entire country.

The film’s release has been closely followed by Kanhaiya Lal’s family, who have been vocal about their support for the project.

His son, Yash Sahu, while speaking to ANI, opened up about what the film means to the family. He stated that the film is not against any “religion or community,” but aims to “show the truth” and “raise awareness” about terrorism.

“I appeal to the people of the country to watch the movie and understand what happened to my father on June 28, and how the roots of terrorism are working in the country. This does not oppose any religion or hurt the sentiments of any community,” Sahu said.

He shared that his mother, still emotionally affected, would not be able to watch the movie, but a seat in the theatre would be kept “reserved” for his father’s soul, along with his photo placed on it.

“My mother would not be able to watch the movie, but a seat would be reserved for my father’s soul in the theatre, and his photo will be placed on it,” he added.

The movie is based on the 2022 murder of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor in Udaipur, Rajasthan, who was brutally killed in broad daylight by two men allegedly angered by a social media post in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The incident triggered national outrage and raised serious concerns about radicalisation and communal violence. (ANI)

The Defence Ministry has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to replace its fleet of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters with about 200 modern light helicopters classified as Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters (RSH).

The new helicopters will serve both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force, with an expected requirement of 120 units for the Army and 80 for the Air Force.

The RFI aims to finalise technical requirements, decide the procurement method, and identify potential suppliers, including Indian companies partnering with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), who can supply Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters.

These helicopters will have multiple roles, operating day and night. Their duties will include reconnaissance and surveillance, carrying small troops or Quick Reaction Teams for special missions, supporting ground operations with internal and external loads, scouting alongside attack helicopters, casualty evacuation including search and rescue, and aiding civil authorities when required.

In March, the Indian Air Force had already planned to acquire more utility helicopters alongside other defence platforms. According to the Standing Committee on Defence report tabled in Parliament, key planned acquisitions for 2025-26 include low-level radars, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), multirole helicopters, and leased mid-air refuelling aircraft.

The Cabinet Committee on Security also approved the purchase of 156 Light Combat Helicopters worth over Rs 45,000 crore from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Army and Air Force.

These 156 choppers, similar to the RSH, will be divided between the Indian Army and Indian Air Force for operations along the China and Pakistan borders. This will also be a major step towards job creation and expanding the aerospace ecosystem within the country, defence sources told ANI.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) further emphasised that the IAF is focused on achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing and supporting the growth of the domestic defence industry. As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the IAF is working on indigenous production of fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters, trainer aircraft, air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, surface-to-air guided weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles, and radars.

“IAF is pursuing indigenous production of fighters, transport, helicopters and trainer aircraft along with air-to-air weapons, air-to-ground weapons, surface-to-air guided weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles and radars,” the Defence Ministry said in its report. (ANI)

Mike Andrew, the lawyer representing the family of a victim in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash, has outlined potential legal avenues depending on the findings of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.

He emphasised that if the crash is linked to a defect in the aircraft, such as issues with the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system or the throttle control, a product liability claim could be filed in the United States. Alternatively, if Air India is held responsible, claims would likely fall under the Montreal Convention.

“Potential legal options will depend on what the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder reveal in terms of what happened here. Suppose the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder indicate that there is a defect with the aircraft, for example with the with the FADEC system or the throttle control malfunctioning, in that case the options are to bring a defective product or a product liability claim in the United States for those claims. If it’s an Air India claim, then those would most likely fall under the Montreal Convention,” he said.

Mike Andrew highlighted the importance of aviation and product safety, stressing that the public deserves safe transportation.

“Aviation safety, product safety, matters to everyone. Whether you are a member of the flying public on an aero plane or, as some of the victims in this case, on the ground, in the building. As a whole, the public deserves safe products. We need to be able to count on transportation to be safe. And so, part of what product liability attorneys like myself do is to fight for improvements in products as we go forward,” he said.

“The FDR is digital data, and it contains the record of what the computers were doing, what the engines were doing, what inputs were being commanded into the software. And so in order for everyone to understand what happened here, we need that complete, unbiased, accurate record,” he added.

He noted the advantages of pursuing legal action in the U.S., where individuals can hold multinational corporations accountable, stating, “There are many advantages to filing cases in the United States. Our legal system is such that, in the U.S., one person can stand on a level playing field with a multinational corporation and ask for accountability, ask for answers, and ask to hold that corporation or company accountable for what they’ve done. And so, we feel it’s important, because the plane, in this case, was manufactured in the United States, that the families, the victims, have a voice in those claims in the U.S.”

Additionally, he cautioned against premature blame on the pilots, citing a 2019 incident involving a similar throttle control issue, and urged for the release of critical data to ascertain the cause of the crash.

“This plane is equipped with a throttle control malfunctioning system. In other words, if the plane thinks the throttle is malfunctioning, it can turn the fuel back. It can cut power to the engines. We know there was at least one other incident in 2019, the All Nippon case, in which a 787 coming in on landing suffered an engine failure, both engines, but the plane was able to land. That’s interesting. In that case, despite both engines suffering a power failure and the computer dialling it back, a significant distinction remains: those pilots were not blamed because they are still alive. In this case, we believe it is highly speculative and a rush to judgment to blame the pilots, who cannot speak for themselves. We just don’t know what happened. And that makes the release of the data that much more important,” he said.

Mike Andrew advocated for respect and transparency for families. He said transparency is essential to accountability, finding answers, and identifying responsible parties. “The families deserve respect and transparency, knowing exactly what happened. Only with transparency can you hope to achieve accountability, find the answers, determine who is responsible, and seek accountability. And you’re fighting for them.”

Mike Andrew specializes in aviation litigation and has earned recognition as one of the Top 10 Aviation Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers Association. (ANI)

Responding to the tariffs on India imposed by the United States, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday said, that India must also safeguard its own interests.

“What is happening is concerning. A country with which we had close relations, and we were working as strategic partners. If that country has changed its behaviour, then India will have to think about many things…Perhaps in the coming two to three weeks, we can hold talks and find a way out. India will also have to look after its own interests…”.Tharoor said.

Tharoor had yesterday said that India should also raise tariffs on American goods to 50 per cent in response to the US imposing an additional 25 per cent duty on Indian exports. Tharoor questioned why India should stop at the current 17 per cent tariff and emphasised that the country should not be intimidated by such actions. He also said that no country should be allowed to threaten India in this manner.

Addressing reporters here, Tharoor said, “It will definitely have an impact because we have a trade of $90 billion with them, and if everything becomes 50 per cent more expensive, buyers will also think why should they buy Indian things?… If they do this, we should also impose a 50 per cent tariff on American exports… It is not that any country can threaten us like this…”.

“Our average tariffs on American goods are 17 per cent. Why should we stop at 17 per cent? We should also raise it to 50 per cent… We need to ask them, do they not value our relationship? If India doesn’t matter to them, they should also not matter to us,” Tharoor said.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India. Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.

Terming the United States’ move to impose additional tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that New Delhi will take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests. (ANI)

Countering Rahul Gandhi’s claim of voter list manipulation, sources in the Election Commission of India (ECI) pointed out on Friday that the Congress-led Karnataka government itself relies on electoral rolls for its crucial caste census policy.

The ECI sources told ANI that yesterday, the Karnataka government decided to use the electoral roll as a base for conducting a caste survey.

“At the same time, LoP (Rahul Gandhi) was dropping the Atom Bomb on Electoral Rolls, the Congress government, at the same time, vouching for the authenticity of the electoral rolls by basing their most important policy of caste census on the electoral rolls,” ECI sources said.

“The reason is that in the past, he (Rahul Gandhi) has never sent any self-signed letter by himself. Whatever reply we give is to other entities, and every time, he disowns it. For example, he raised the Maharashtra issue on December 24. Some Advocate writes to us from AICC. Our reply dated 24 Dec 24 is on our website. But Rahul Gandhi says that we have never replied,” ECI sources said.

On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi said 1,00,250 “fake votes” were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka to ensure a win for the BJP.

ECI also asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to sign the declaration by Chief Electoral Officers of Maharashtra and Karnataka or apologise for his “absurd” allegations, sources said.

ECI sources said, “If Rahul Gandhi believes in his analysis and believes that his allegations against ECI are true, he should have no problem in signing the Declaration.”

ECI asked Rahul Gandhi to apologise if he does not sign the affidavits.

“If Rahul Gandhi does not sign the Declaration, it would mean that he does not believe in his analysis and resultant conclusions and absurd allegations. In which case, he should apologise to the nation. Therefore, he has two options: Either sign the Declaration or apologise to the Nation for raising absurd allegations against ECI,” sources said. (ANI)