Month: August 2025

Heavy rainfall has triggered severe flooding across nine districts in Punjab, including Pathankot, Batala, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Hoshiarpur, prompting large-scale relief operations.

Superintendents of Police (SSPs) are actively engaged in coordinating rescue and relief efforts, according to official.

Affected individuals are being evacuated to relief shelters, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) deploying helicopters to rescue stranded citizens and air-drop essential supplies. Drones are also being utilized to deliver food packets to those in inundated areas.

DGP Arpit Shukla stated, “There is a flood situation in 9 districts including Pathankot, Batala, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Hosiyarpur. Our SSPs are engaged in relief operations. The affected persons are being shifted to relief shelters. With the help of the IAF, we are using helicopters to rescue people. Drones are being used to drop food packets to those who are in inundated areas. Seven control rooms are operational. “

Meanwhile, according to PRO Defence Palam, the Relief operations in flood-affected areas are continuing in the Punjab and Jammu regions with helicopters of the Indian Air Force and Western Air Command being used to rescue affected citizens as well as air drop relief material.

According to release issued by Ministry of Defence, IAF helicopters successfully evacuated 46 stranded civilians as flooding intensified. Further, over 750 kilograms of essential relief material was air dropped to support local communities. 38 Army personnel and 10 BSF personnel were rescued by winching them up from the severely hit Dera Baba Nanak region, reflecting the IAF’s quick response and professionalism even under perilous conditions. Additional missions towards rescuing affected personnel is ongoing.

On Wednesday, the Punjab government has deployed its entire cabinet to the worst-hit districts to lead rescue and relief operations on the ground to tackle the flood crisis.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has instructed all ministers to remain stationed in flood-affected areas until the situation is entirely under control, signalling the government’s zero-tolerance approach to delays in relief work.

The ministers have been tasked with supervising the evacuation of residents, monitoring the supply of essential commodities, and ensuring immediate medical and shelter assistance to those displaced by the rising waters.

Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, while conducting a detailed review of the situation with the Deputy Commissioners of Sangrur and Mansa over a conference call, said, “Our top priority is to save every life and protect every property. No stone should be left unturned in mitigating the hardships faced by the people in flood-hit areas.”Several other Cabinet Ministers have also been assigned specific districts to oversee relief efforts. Harbhajan Singh ETO has been supervising operations in Ramdas, Tarn Taran, Sri Goindwal Sahib, and Ajnala. (ANI)

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, participated in the 110th Anniversary Celebration of Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji at Sri Suttur Math in Mysuru.

Addressing the event, Union Minister Chouhan called for national unity on issues of national interest, urging citizens to rise above political differences.

Highlighting global challenges, he criticized leaders of some countries for acting like dictators, creating a crisis for the world.

“I want to make a request, there are political differences of ideology, but the whole country should stand together on the issues of national interest. Some countries’ leaders are behaving like dictators, which has become a crisis for the whole world. In such a situation, I have the courage to stand up and say that, if anyone will show the path of eternal peace to the world, humanity burning in the fire of materialism, it will be our India, our country. There is no other way, so it is important that our country becomes strong. Our country should strive to set a direction for the world. Therefore, I do not want to go into the details of the challenges that India is facing today, but our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made an appeal,” he said.

Referring to recent global economic pressures, including imposed tariffs, Chouhan echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to ignite patriotism across the country. He urged every Indian to resolve to use only domestically made products to strengthen the economy.

“Today’s fresh crisis, tariffs are being imposed, in such an environment, the feeling of patriotism should be ignited in the whole country. Every Indian should make a resolution that we will use only those products in our daily life that are made in our country. It is important that our country’s economy is strengthened. I have full faith that the countrymen will create a new history in this direction,” he added.

On Wednesday, the 50 per cent tariffs on imports from India to the United States came into effect. This follows the draft notice published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which stated that the order would take effect on August 27.

According to the notice, the additional duties are being imposed to give effect to the President’s Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation.”

The order set a new rate of duty on imports of articles that are products of India. The move follows the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. (ANI)

Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office for an ethics violation, local media reported.

Bangkok Post news outlet said that Paetongtarn, who was Thailand’s youngest prime minister, becomes the sixth premier from or backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family to be removed by the military or judiciary in a tumultuous two-decade battle for power between the country’s warring elites.

According to the Thai court, Paetongtarn violated ethics in a leaked June telephone call, during which she appeared to kowtow to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen when both countries were at the brink of an armed border conflict.

Fighting erupted weeks later and lasted five days.

Paetongtarn, 39, had issued a public apology on June 19 over the leaked call and said she was trying to avert a war. She had assumed office a year ago in August 2024.

Cambodian leader Hun Sen released online a recording of his telephone conversation with her. In the June 15 telephone conversation to discuss the recent border clash between Thailand and Cambodia in which one Cambodian soldier was killed, Paetongtarn had addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and referred to Lt Gen Padklang as an adversary.

It also led to the exit of the main partner from her government’s ruling coalition, the conservative Bhumjaithai Party.

Paetongtarn had been provisionally suspended since July 1 as the nine-judge court considered its decision in the case. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a 2006 military coup

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Phumtham Wechayachai and the current cabinet will oversee the government in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is elected by the house, with no time limit on when that must take place, Bangkok Post reported. (ANI)

The Badrinath highway between Srinagar and Rudraprayag has been completely submerged by the Alaknanda River, causing a total blockade of traffic along the route.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pauri, Lokeshwar Singh, told ANI, “Traffic has been stopped at safe places. Arrangements are being made to send the pilgrims forward through alternative routes. Police has been deployed for security purposes.”

Meanwhile, The District Administration of Rudraprayag has confirmed extensive damage following a cloudburst in the Badeth Dungar Tok area of Basukedaar tehsil. Relief and rescue operations are underway on a war footing to aid affected communities.

According to the district administration relief and rescue operations are being conducted on a war footing by the district administration in the affected areas.

District Magistrate Rudraprayag Prateek Jain is constantly in touch with the officials from the disaster control room and action is being taken to deploy district level officers in the affected areas.

The District Magistrate has given necessary guidelines to conduct rescue operations effectively.

Under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, all the district level officers are continuously working in coordination with each other in the District Disaster Control Room.

Different teams from National Highway (NH), Public Works Department (PWD), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are engaged in opening the way in the affected areas. Relief and rescue teams are being sent by identifying alternative routes to reach the affected areas. Various officers from the district level have been sent to the affected villages along with the concerned Revenue Inspector and other personnel for immediate action.

Damage reports include one house damaged and a vehicle (Bolero) washed away in Syur, water and debris flow affecting Badeth, Bagaddhar, and Taljaman villages, and agricultural land covered by large boulders and debris in Kimana. Additionally, a fish pond and poultry farm have been destroyed in Arkhund, while the Chenagad market area suffered debris deposits and vehicle losses.

According to the District Administration, there are reports of missing persons in Chhenagad Dugar and Joula Badeth villages.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and the revenue department are actively conducting rescue operations and ensuring the swift evacuation and assistance of affected people to safe locations. (ANI)

The man accused of hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a political rally in Bihar has been arrested, Darbhanga Senior Superintendent of Police told ANI on Friday.

This comes after an alleged video on the internet showed the accused hurling abusive slurs against PM Modi during an INDIA bloc event.

This sparked a political row in the poll-bound state of Bihar.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday slammed the opposition parties taking out the ‘Voter Adhikaar Yatra’ over alleged abuses hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, and said that such remarks were an insult to 140 crore Indians.

“He (PM Modi) is the world’s most popular leader now. This undignified language from the INDIA bloc platform is an insult to 140 crore Indians. The people of Bihar will give them a befitting reply. No civilised society can accept such language. Congress and RJD leaders should apologise for this,” Adityanath told reporters

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also took on the INDIA bloc parties over alleged derogatory remarks during their ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar’s Darbhanga. He termed them an insult to the country’s women.

“I condemn the words used by someone against the late mother of PM Modi, from the stage of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav of the INDI bloc. This shows the ideology of the INDI bloc, which never existed in Indian democracy, and it is an insult to all the women of the country. The country will not tolerate this,” Sawant told ANI.

“The ideology of the parties of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav can insult women…. I show support to PM Narendra Modi on behalf of Goa and the entire country. This will not be forgiven even after a thousand apologies… Such a low level of people and words are brought into the politics because they (Congress and RJD) don’t have any issues to raise… Such people do not deserve to stay in politics. I once again condemn this on behalf of the people of Goa,” he added.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav also criticised Congress and RJD. Sharing an X post, CM Yadav demanded an apology, saying that the public will not tolerate such statements.

“I strongly condemn in the harshest words the indecent language used for the late revered mother of the successful Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji in the so-called Voter Adhikar Yatra of the Congress. This abusive language cannot be the language of this country, nor can it be the language of Bihar. Neither Bihar will tolerate such statements, nor will the country tolerate them. Congress and RJD should immediately apologise,” the Chief Minister wrote.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Krishna Singh Kallu has filed a complaint against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, calling for putting a stop to the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in the poll-bound state.

In turn, the Opposition party has hit back, saying that the BJP is “raising ‘irrelevant’ issues to distract from the real ones. (ANI)

Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing of the White Hosue, Peter Navarro has taken a strident position while justifying US President Donald Trump’s decision to levy 50% Tariff on imports from India.

Navarro, considered the key driver behind the 50 per cent tariffs on India, again accused India of profiting out of Russian oil in scalding remarks.

“India’s Big Oil lobby has turned the largest democracy in the world into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin. Indian refiners buy cheap Russian oil, process it, and export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia–shielded from sanctions under the pretense of neutrality, he said in a series of posts on X.

The White House Trade advisor claimed that the Tariff were aimed at cutting off the Financial lifeline given by India to Putin’s war in Ukraine

In the post on X, he said, “President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect. This isn’t just about India’s unfair trade–it’s about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putin’s war machine.”

“Here’s how the India-Russia oil mathematics works: American consumers buy Indian goods while India keeps out U.S. exports through high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. India uses our dollars to buy discounted Russian crude. Indian refiners, with their silent Russian partners, refine and flip the black-market oil for big profits on the international market – while Russia pockets hard currency to fund its war on Ukraine,” he further said.

However, China, which is the biggest buyer of Russian oil, did not find a place in his arguments.

“Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian oil made up less than 1% of India’s imports. Today? Over 30%–more than 1.5 million barrels a day. This surge isn’t driven by domestic demand–it’s driven by Indian profiteers and carries an added price of blood and devastation in Ukraine,” he claimed.

Navarro also accused India of imposing high tariffs on the US, and filling Putin’s war chest instead.

“India now exports over 1 million barrels a day in refined petroleum–more than half the volume of Russian crude it imports. The proceeds flow to India’s politically connected energy titans–and directly into Putin’s war chest. While the United States pays to arm Ukraine, India bankrolls Russia even as it slaps some of the world’s highest tariffs on U.S. goods, which in turn punishes American exporters. We run a $50-billion trade deficit with India–and they’re using our dollars to buy Russian oil. They make a killing and Ukrainians die,” Navarro said.

The comments by Navarro appear lopsided, as Russian President Vladimir Putin noted during Alaska’s press conference with Trump on August 16 that bilateral trade between the two nations has increased by 20 per cent since Trump’s reinstatement as President.

“Incidentally, when the new administration came to power, bilateral trade started to grow. It’s still very symbolic. Still, we have a growth of 20%. As I’ve said, we have a lot of dimensions for joint work. It is clear that the US and Russian investment and business cooperation has tremendous potential,” Putin had said.

Navarro further said that US President Donald Trump looked to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and India bought Russian weapons.

“It doesn’t stop there. India continues to buy Russian weapons–while demanding that U.S. firms transfer sensitive military tech and build plants in India. That’s strategic freeloading. The Biden admin largely looked the other way at this madness. President Trump is confronting it. A 50% tariff–25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security–is a direct response. If India, the world’s largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to act like one. The road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi,” Navarro concluded.

Navarro also failed to note that the Alaska Summit between Trump and Putin did not arrive at any conclusions, after which the White House made the media a scapegoat for ‘rooting against’ the peace efforts. Similarly, here too, the Trump administration failed to note that China imports more Russian oil than India, or has spared it. (ANI)

Bollywood couple Shahid Kapoor and Mira Rajput turned friendly rivals as they took over Select Citywalk Mall in New Delhi for a fun game of pickleball, and yes, it was as fun as it sounds.

In a playful faceoff that had fans cheering from the sidelines, the duo brought their A-game to celebrate the grand launch of Athletifreak’s first physical store in Asia.

Dressed in sporty styles, Shahid looked casual yet sharp in a blue tee and black track pants, holding his pickleball paddle and smiling at the cheering fans gathered behind the barricades.

Mira, on the other hand, looked stunning in an all-pink coordinated athleisure outfit pairing a pleated skirt with a fitted top and jacket, ready to take on her husband in the fun faceoff.

Earlier, while speaking to ANI, Mira opened up about the aim of the brand saying, “Fitness and wellness have been an integral part of our lives. It’s not just fitness, but this project stands for movement and passion, which has connected with us. While it’s his disciplined approach toward work, wellness has also been an integral part of my life and my business.”

Mira also offered an insight about the brand’s vision for India stating, “The idea to bring the brand to India was a conscious decision. We wanted to bring quality apparel for Indian consumers, making it accessible, as people previously had to travel abroad to buy the products. We are ready for the competition in the Indian market, and the entire focus remains on offering the right thing,” she said. (ANI)

The much-awaited Telugu film ‘Akhanda 2,’ starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and directed by Boyapati Srinu, will not be releasing on its earlier date of September 25.

The makers have announced that the film’s release has been postponed and a new date will be revealed later.

The production team shared the update on social media, calling the film “a festival of cinema.” In their statement, they explained that because of the film’s “scale” and the level of “expectations,” the re-recording, VFX, and post-production work need more time. They added that the team is “working tirelessly” to ensure the final product offers a “theatrical experience worth the wait.”

“For a film of this scale, the re-recording, VFX, and the entire post-production process demands meticulous attention, and therefore require additional time to present the film at its absolute best considering the weight of expectations Akhanda 2 carries following the blockbuster success of the first part,” read the statement.

“The team is really excited about this project and is working tirelessly, round the clock, to deliver Akhanda 2 on a truly unprecedented scale, with uncompromised quality, breathtaking visuals, and the ultimate theatrical Impact. In light of this, we have decided to move the release to a later date that will be announced soon, instead of the originally scheduled September 25th. We are fully committed to exceeding all the expectations and giving audiences a theatrical experience worth the wait,” it added.

Apart from Balakrishna, the movie also features Bajrangi Bhaijaan fame Harshaali Malhotra. It is produced by Raam Achanta and Gopichand Achanta under the banner of 14 Reels Plus and is presented by M Tejeswini Nandamuri. (ANI)

Union Minister for Information and Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday inaugurated the advanced Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility of CG Semi Private Limited in Sanand, Gujarat.

Vaishnaw also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will “soon” dedicate the country’s first chip produced at this facility.

“CG Power’s pilot line was inaugurated here today, and very soon, the chip produced from this pilot line will be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister,” Vaishnaw said.

CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd set up its semiconductor OSAT unit in Sanand in partnership with Renesas Electronics America Inc. and Stars Microelectronics (Thailand) Public Co. Ltd., with a total investment of approximately Rs 7,600 crore.

Speaking at the inauguration event, Union Minister Vaishnaw said, “This is a major milestone in our country’s semiconductor journey.”

About the progress in other chip plants, he said, “I also visited the nearby Micron’s plant, and the construction is going on at a very good pace. The Kaynes plant and construction are going on at a very good pace. And few months ago I visited Dholera, there also the construction is going on with very good pace.”

“Overall, out of the 10 projects that we have approved in the semiconductor mission. Very happy to report to all that this is a dream getting fulfilled,” the Union Minister said.

Vaishnaw highlighted a key achievement of India’s Semiconductor Mission, emphasising its focus on developing talent to meet a looming global workforce shortage in the semiconductor sector.

Speaking about the initiative, Vaishnaw noted that while the mission’s goals may seem ambitious, they are rooted in a clear global need as experts estimate a shortfall of nearly one million semiconductor professionals by 2032.

To bridge this gap, India has partnered with approximately 270 universities, providing them with access to some of the world’s most advanced chip design tools used by leading companies. These tools cover nearly every critical aspect of chip design, he added.

Vaishnaw said that the impact is already visible, as in 2025 alone, students clocked approximately 1.2 million design hours using these tools. As a result, 17 institutions have successfully designed chips, which are now in the final stages of production.

The CG Power’s Project will benefit from 50 per cent fiscal support on a pari-passu basis for the eligible CAPEX from India Semiconductor Mission, reflecting the commitment of the Government of India to strengthen India’s position as a key player in the global semiconductor value chain.

In January, a Fiscal Support Agreement (FSA) was signed by India Semiconductor Mission, CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. and CG Semi Pvt. Ltd, which highlights the government’s commitment.

The Programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in India was notified in December 2021 with a total outlay of Rs 76,000 crore under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

In June 2023, the government approved the first proposal for setting up the semiconductor unit in Sanand. In February 2024, three more semiconductor units were approved. Tata Electronics is setting up a semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat and one semiconductor unit in Morigaon, Assam.

Construction of all four semiconductor units is progressing at a rapid pace, and a robust semiconductor ecosystem is emerging near the units. These four units will bring an investment of almost Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The cumulative capacity of these units will be about seven crore chips per day.

Earlier this month, the government approved four more semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), two in Odisha and one each in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.

These four approved proposals will set up semiconductor manufacturing facilities with a cumulative investment of around Rs 4,600 crore and are expected to generate a cumulative employment of 2034 skilled professionals, which would catalyse the electronic manufacturing ecosystem, resulting in the creation of many indirect jobs.

With these four plants, the total approved projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) reach 10, with cumulative investments of around Rs 1.60 lakh crore in 6 states. (ANI)