Month: September 2025

India at the United Nations reaffirmed its stance of dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward to end the conflict in Ukraine and said that New Delhi stands ready to support diplomatic efforts for an early end to the conflict.

The remarks were delivered by India’s ambassador to the UN, P Harish, on Thursday (US local time).

Speaking on the General Assembly Debate- ‘The situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine’, Ambassador Harish said, “India continues to remain concerned over the situation in Ukraine. We maintain that the loss of innocent lives is unacceptable, and no solution can be found on the battlefield.”

He underlined how an early end to the conflict in Ukraine is in the interest of everyone.

“As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said on several occasions, ‘This is not an era of war’. India stands ready to support diplomatic efforts for an early end to the conflict”, he said.

The Ambassador mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains in touch with President Putin, President Zelensky and European leadership on the evolving situation.

“We believe all these diplomatic efforts hold the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up prospects for a lasting peace”, Ambassador Harish said.

He brought to attention that India has consistently advocated that the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, no matter how insurmountable such a course may appear.

“The wholehearted participation and commitment of all stakeholders are critical for lasting peace”, he said.

Noting that India welcomes recent positive developments in this direction, Ambassador Harish said, “We endorsed the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. We appreciate the progress made at the Alaska Summit. We also note the subsequent diplomatic efforts by the US President in engaging with the Ukrainian President and European leaders in Washington, DC”.

“We continue to note with regret that the collateral consequences of the conflict, including prices of fuel, are affecting the world at large and particularly the countries of the Global South, which have been left to fend for themselves. From our perspective, it is critical that their voices are heard, and their legitimate concerns duly addressed.”, he added.

Ambassador P Harish highlighted that India’s approach to the Ukraine conflict continues to be people-centric, providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and economic support to the friends and partners in the Global South, including some of the neighbours who are facing economic distress.

Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a conversation with Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and highlighted that India supports an early end to the conflict. He also discussed the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Ukraine FM Sybiha said that they rely on India’s “authoritative voice” and active support in broader international peace efforts. (ANI)

A special screening of the film ‘The Bengal Files’ was organised on Thursday in Mumbai.

From Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty to Darshan Kumar, many came together for the screening of Vivek Agnihotri’s directorial ‘The Bengal Files’.

The film, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal, is set to release on Friday. However, it is facing problems with the release in West Bengal.

Prior to the screening, the makers held a press conference, claiming that theatre owners in Bengal were being “threatened by the police”.

Earlier in the day, Pallavi Joshi penned a letter to President Droupadi Murmu and “requested her to intervene in this matter” for the uninterrupted release of the film, ‘The Bengal Files’.

Pallavi spoke to ANI about the reason behind writing the letter, saying, “Our film is not releasing in Bengal. And obviously, when the name of the film is ‘The Bengal Files’, a film is being made on Maa Bharati, so it is very important for it to be released in Bengal. And when all the doors were closed for us, this was the only way, so I wrote a letter to the President as a woman. I have requested her to intervene in this matter, so that our film can be released in Bengal in a peaceful manner.”

In an open letter, Joshi alleges that the film faces an “unofficial ban” in West Bengal, with the theatre owners refusing to screen the movie due to alleged “intimidation” and “threat” by the state’s ruling party workers.

Pallavi added that she doesn’t want to talk about the threat as they are focusing on the release of the film, however, she shared, “The theatre owners in Bengal are telling us, that they have been informed by the police, that if the film is released in their theatres, there will be consequences.” (ANI)

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Thursday announced the opening of two new Apple stores in India, located in Bengaluru and Pune.

With this launch, Apple now has four official stores in the country. The first two were Apple BKC in Mumbai and Apple Saket in Delhi, followed by the newly announced Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru and Apple Koregaon Park in Pune.

Taking to social media platform X, Cook said, “Say hello to Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru and Apple Koregaon Park in Pune! We are thrilled to continue to bring the best of Apple to customers across India at these two new stores.”

Say hello to Apple Hebbal in Bengaluru and Apple Koregaon Park in Pune! We are thrilled to continue to bring the best of Apple to customers across India at these two new stores. pic.twitter.com/IrTiIA9hY1

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 4, 2025

The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had in May said that trade talks were still underway, emphasising that any deal must be mutually beneficial.

“On the trade remarks. Let me say this that look between India and US trade talks have been going on, negotiations have been going on. In fact, we have, I think our team is just going at this point. These are very complicated negotiations. They are very intricate, intricate,” he said.

He added that no decision had been made yet and cautioned against premature judgments. “Nothing is decided, you know. But any trade deal, any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial. Any trade deal has to work for both the countries, and I think that would be our expectation from the trade deal and until that is done, I think any judgement on it would be premature,” he said.

The trade negotiations were also highlighted by then US President Donald Trump, who claimed that India had offered the US a nearly no-tariff deal on a reciprocal basis. “They have offered us a deal where we’re basically they’re willing to literally charge us no tariff,” Trump said while addressing a news conference in Doha.

Trump also addressed Apple CEO Tim Cook’s manufacturing plans, urging him to expand production in the US instead of India. “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good. You are coming up with $500 billion, but now I hear you are building all over India. I don’t want you building in India. You can build in India, if you want to take care of India because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world, so it is very hard to sell in India,” Trump said.

India stands as Apple’s fourth-largest market globally in 2024, after the US, China, and Japan. (ANI)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday unveiled the portrait of EV Ramasamy (Periyar) at the University of Oxford in England.

In a post on X, CM Stalin said, “A revolution that redefined freedom! Chains fell, dignity rose! Thanthai Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement shattered fundamentalisms, awakened dignity, nurtured a scientific temper, and made us a guiding light of social transformation. At #Oxford, I spoke with pride as an heir to #Periyar’s legacy, honouring the revolution that turned centuries of subjugation into the eternal anthem of #SelfRespect.”

தோட்டா தரணி அவர்களின் கைவண்ணத்தில் உருவாகி, #Oxford-இல் பெரியாரின் பேரனாக நான் திறந்து வைத்துள்ள அறிவுலக ஆசான் தந்தை பெரியாரின் உருவப் படம்!#CMStalinInOxford #Periyar #PeriyarAtOxford pic.twitter.com/9hgG48DHDA

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) September 5, 2025

‘Oppression is my enemy’, the rallying cry of Periyar now resonates at #Oxford,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.

E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to challenge Brahminical hegemony and uplift non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu. By advocating for rationalism, gender equality, and anti-caste reforms through its journal Kudi Arasu, the movement fostered a new sense of Dravidian identity and directly paved the way for the rise of the Dravidian Movement.

Chief Minister Stalin said that borders do not bind Periyar’s ideals of equality; they belong to humanity as a whole. “Before an assembly of international scholars, the movement that set ablaze caste tyranny and burned down barriers of gender in Tamil Nadu will be placed in dialogue with struggles worldwide for dignity, equality and freedom. Periyar’s ideals of equality are not bounded by borders; they belong to humanity as a whole,” he said.

The year 1925 is pivotal in the history of the Self-Respect Movement for two reasons: the May launch of the Tamil weekly Kudi Arasu (The Republic) and Periyar’s November departure from the Indian National Congress (INC). Although his exit from the Congress is commonly seen as the movement’s formal beginning, Kudi Arasu had already introduced a new dynamic into the Madras Presidency months earlier.

The publication demonstrated a strong zeal for social reform that extended beyond advocating for the political gains of communal representation. After leaving the Congress, Periyar used the paper to adopt an unrestrained approach in criticising both the INC and Brahminism–a term he used for the horrors of Hindu caste orthodoxy. (ANI)

Stressing that negotiations are underway with the United States over 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said that there is no need to “panic” as India and US will come to an equitable, balanced and fair agreement.

In an interview with ANI on Thursday, Piyush Goyal assured that India and the US continue to have good relations.

He said, “I do not think there is any need to panic. We should allow the negotiations to happen. We continue to have good relations with the United States, and I am sure we will be able to resolve some of these issues and come to an equitable, balanced and fair agreement.”

When asked about the timeline of the negotiations, he said, “There is never a timeline in negotiations. You should do it patiently, as you are doing it for the long term.”

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods exported to the US. Initially, Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, while later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

The secondary tariff came into force on August 27.

The higher duties are applicable to all Indian products that are either entered for consumption in the US or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption.

While the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms were announced amid the implementation of the US tariffs, Piyush Goyal said that the work on the tax reforms was being carried out for months, and the two have coincided by “chance”.

He said, “Such reforms cannot happen overnight; the work on this has been going on for quite a few months. A group of the Finance Minister, Secretaries and Ministers have been working on this. It was expected that the compensation cess would be over in the next quarter. It’s a matter of chance that the two have coincided.”

The 56th GST council meeting decided to rationalise GST rates to two slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent by merging the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates.

Along with this, the GST Council has decided to end the Compensation Cess on coal, carbonated beverages of fruit drink or carbonated beverages with fruit juice, mid-size and big cars.

Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced the decision on September 3, after she chaired the GST council meeting. This has reduced the previous GST slabs from 5 per cent, which consisted of essential goods and services, including food and kitchen items, agricultural equipment, handicrafts and small industries, and also medical equipment and diagnostic kits.

While the 18 per cent slab consists of a standard rate for most goods and services, including automobiles such as small cars and motorcycles (up to 350cc), consumer goods like electronic items, household goods, and some professional services.

Additionally, there is a 40 per cent slab for luxury and sin goods, including tobacco and pan Masala, products such as cigarettes, bidis, and aerated sugary beverages, as well as luxury vehicles, high-end motorcycles above 350cc, yachts, and helicopters.

Notably, some essential services and educational items are fully exempt from GST, including individual health, family floater, and life insurance. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan is a proud boyfriend. On Thursday, he took to Instagram and penned an appreciation note for Saba Azad over her captivating performance in the latest film ‘Songs of Paradise’.

“The genuine praise I’m hearing all around for the makers, technicians and artists associated with Songs Of Paradise is truly heartening. I watched this movie in its rough form many months ago and I remember being touched to my core. Tears that filled me up with such deep love especially for the character of Zeba. The humongous applause this movie is getting today has restored my infallible faith in the universe. You get what you deserve,” he wrote.

“And you @sabazad for the incredible artiste you are, for the exquisite art you create, deserve all the applause coming your way..I have seen your struggle, the helplessness, the frustrations, the agony that so many amazing artistes suffer from – of craving the basic right to opportunity that genuine talent deserves in a business that demands ‘followers’ before the “actor”. Which is why today I feel the lightness of unbridled joy watching you get what you deserve. And you my love deserve the world and more. This performance goes down as my top 10 performances ever. Rock on baby , My heart is full. I love you,” Hrithik expressed.

Presented by Excel Entertainment and produced by Apple Tree Pictures Production and Renzu Films Production, Songs of Paradise also stars Soni Razdan, Zain Khan Durrani, Sheeba Chaddha, Taaruk Raina, Shishir Sharma, and Lillete Dubey.

Sharing her experience working in the film, Saba in a press note earlier said, “Getting to play a character inspired by the legendary Raj Begum has been nothing short of a revelation. As a musician I pride myself for having a vast listening vocabulary and yet I was entirely in the dark about the phenomenon that is Raj begum. This film has led me to the incredible story of her life and times and her unending musical repertoire”

Created by Danish Renzu, ‘Songs of Paradise’ is inspired by the music, life, and journey of Padma Shri awardee, Raj Begum. (ANI)

Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress MP P Chidambaram on Thursday welcomed the GST reforms that slash the 12 and 28 per cent slabs, but said that the reduction has come eight years too late.

“I welcome the reduction. The other truth is that it has been done eight years too late. We have always advocated a single rate, with a small plus or minus. This is a huge progress over the six or seven rates they had. In the course of time, I believe, it will come down to a single rate,” Chidambaram told ANI.

Earlier, Chidambaram, while talking to reporters in Madurai, pointed out that the Congress party and several economists, including former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian, had raised concerns about the tax structure when it was first implemented.

Chidambaram said, “I appreciate the government for realising its mistake after eight years. Eight years ago, when this law was implemented, it was wrong. At that time, we had advised that such a tax should not be imposed. The then Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian, also advised that it was a mistake.”

While thanking the NDA government for realising their mistakes, Chidambaram slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers for overlooking Congress’s pleas about the shortcomings of GST, introduced in India on July 1, 2017, replacing previous indirect taxes under the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2016. The initial, unified tax structure featured multiple slabs, including 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%, to apply to different goods and services based on their essentiality and luxury status.

“But at that time, neither the Prime Minister nor the ministers listened. We spoke about this many times in Parliament. I have written several articles. Many leaders and economists argued that this was incorrect and should be corrected. At least now, I thank them for realising the mistake and correcting it,” the Congress leader stated.

Chidambaram noted that the middle class and poor people were “squeezed dry” by high tax rates, but welcomed the reforms, saying they would bring relief to these groups. He said, “For eight long years, it was the middle class and poor people who were squeezed dry. The 12% and 18% rates have now been reduced to 5%. For all these years, it was the very same people who bore the burden of paying 12% and 18%.” (ANI)

The ongoing monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 355 lives since June, including 194 in rain-related incidents such as landslides and flash floods, and 161 in road accidents, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

As of Thursday evening, 1,208 roads, including four national highways, remained blocked, 1,885 distribution transformers were disrupted, and 824 water supply schemes were hit across the state due to heavy rain-triggered damage, the SDMA’s daily public utility report said.

“Field teams are working around the clock to restore connectivity, electricity, and drinking water supply in affected areas. However, recurring landslides and fresh slips are hampering operations in several districts,” an SDMA spokesperson said.

The highest road disruptions were reported from Mandi (287), Kullu (230), and Shimla (211) districts, with multiple stretches of NH-03, NH-05, NH-505, and NH-305 blocked. In the power sector, Kullu (999 transformers) and Shimla (259 transformers) suffered the worst outages. Water supply was badly affected in Shimla (348 schemes), Mandi (78 schemes), and Kullu (63 schemes).

Officials said monsoon-triggered disasters have so far caused losses exceeding Rs 3,787 crores to public and private property this season, with road infrastructure, housing, and hydropower projects among the worst-hit sectors.

The SDMA has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel in vulnerable hilly stretches and to stay alert to weather advisories issued by the IMD. Restoration works, it said, may take longer in high-altitude and landslide-prone regions. (ANI)

Iconic fashion designer Giorgio Armani was passed away at the age of 91, the Armani Group announced on Thursday, according to CNN.

The Italian fashion designer was known for curating a quintessentially Italian aesthetic in his clothes, as well as taking Hollywood’s red carpets to new heights.

“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the Armani Group said in a statement, describing the founder as “a tireless driving force,” as quoted by CNN.

“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family,” read a statement provided by the brand on behalf of his family and employees. “Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”

In June 2025, Armani was not present to take his usual bow at the brand’s show during Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week, marking the first time in his career he had missed his own runway event. At the time, the company released a statement that he was “currently recovering at home” without specifying his health condition, reported CNN. (ANI)

Megastar Rajinikanth’s latest action thriller ‘Coolie’ is all set to kick-start its digital journey.

The film, which is helmed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, will hit the streaming giant Prime Video on September 11.

Set against the gritty backdrop of the Visakhapatnam docks, Coolie follows Deva, a former coolie turned rebel who uncovers a deadly smuggling syndicate while investigating his best friend’s suspicious death.

The discovery of a secret electric chair, buried truths, and a hidden mole pulls him into a dangerous game of betrayal and unfinished business. As the fight for justice collides with the ghosts of his past, Deva’s journey becomes a relentless battle of justice, loyalty, survival, and rebellion.

Nagarjuna, Sathyaraj, Soubin Shahir and Shruti Haasan also played key roles in ‘Coolie’, which faced a box-office clash with War 2 on August 14.

Rajinikanth, who began his acting journey in 1975, remains one of the leading actors in Tamil cinema. He debuted with K Balachander’s Tamil film, ‘Apoorva Raagangal.’ In a career spanning five decades, the superstar has worked in hit films like ‘Sivaji: The Boss’, ‘Robot’, ‘Robot 2.0’, ‘Thalapathy’, and ‘Jailer’, among others.

Recently, he completed 50 years in cinema.

On this remarkable moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rajinikanth on X.

“Congratulations to Thiru Rajinikanth Ji on completing 50 glorious years in the world of cinema. His journey has been iconic, with his diverse roles having left a lasting impact on the minds of people across generations. Wishing him continued success and good health in the times to come,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

In response to PM Modi’s special message, the ‘Coolie’ star expressed his gratitude.”Respected @narendramodi Modi ji, I am deeply grateful for your warm wishes. It is truly an honour to receive them from a leader I have long held in the highest regard. Thank you for your kind words. Jai Hind,” the actor wrote. (ANI)