Month: October 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a commemorative coin of Rs 150 denomination and a stamp in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He also flagged off a fleet of e-buses as part of the celebrations.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat.

The Prime Minister arrived in Vadodara earlier in the day to participate in events marking Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. He was accorded a warm welcome at Vadodara airport by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a release. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Mayor Pinkyben Soni, Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar and Collector Anil Dhameliya were also present.

The Prime Minister later travelled to Ekta Nagar, where he laid the foundation stones and inaugurated several infrastructural and development projects worth over Rs 1,140 crore. He will stay overnight and take part in the main events of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Friday.

According to a release, the Prime Minister will participate in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations and offer floral tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

PM Modi will administer the Ekta Diwas pledge and witness the Ekta Diwas Parade. The parade will include contingents from the BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, and SSB, along with various state police forces. Key attractions this year include a BSF marching contingent comprising exclusively Indian breed dogs such as Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds, Gujarat Police’s Horse Contingent, Assam Police’s Motorcycle Daredevil Show, and BSF’s Camel Contingent and Camel Mounted Band.

The parade will also honour five Shaurya Chakra awardees from CRPF and sixteen gallantry medal winners from BSF who displayed exceptional courage in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand and counter-terror operations in Jammu & Kashmir. BSF personnel will also be recognised for their valour during Operation Sindoor.

As per the release, this year’s Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade will feature ten tableaux from NSG, NDRF, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Puducherry, depicting the theme ‘Unity in Diversity’. A cultural programme featuring 900 artists will showcase India’s classical dances, representing the richness and diversity of Indian culture. The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations this year hold special significance as the nation marks the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Prime Minister will interact with Officer Trainees of the 100th Foundation Course at the culmination of Aarambh 7.0. The 7th edition of Aarambh is being held on the theme of “Reimagining Governance.” The 100th foundation course includes 660 Officer Trainees from across 16 civil services of India and three civil services of Bhutan, added the release. (ANI)

Actor Sunny Deol is all cheers for his father, the legendary Dharmendra, following the trailer release of ‘Ikkis’.

Featuring Agastya Nanda in the lead as the young and courageous war hero, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, ‘Ikkis’ features Dharmendra in the role of Khetarpal’s father, Brig ML Khetarpal (Retd).

Giving a shoutout to the veteran actor, Sunny Deol, shared the film’s trailer on Instagram and wrote, “PAPA is going to ROCK again. Looking GOOD PAPA. LOVE YOU.”

He further extended a heartfelt message to Agastya and added, “Dear Agastya, all the very best, you will rock too!” Actor Bobby Deol also showered love on his father with several heart emojis.

The first trailer of ‘Ikkis’ was unveiled on Wednesday, presenting Agastya Nanda as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.

The trailer offered a glimpse into the soldier’s life, beginning from his days at the National Defence Academy to bringing glory to the nation with his “courage and conviction.”

It opens to show a determined Agastya Nanda who vows to earn the prestigious Param Vir Chakra for his regiment. As the trailer progresses, Agastya as Arun Khetarpal could be seen training hard at the academy, eventually joining the forces for the Indo-Pak war.

The trailer concludes with Arun Khetarpal’s famous final words, “No, Sir. I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working. I’ll get these b****rds.”

Since its release, the trailer has received rave reviews from fans and celebrities alike. Amitabh Bachchan also penned an emotional note for his grandson and expressed pride.

“Agastya! I held you in my hands as soon as you were born .. few months later, I held you again in my hands and your soft fingers reached out to play with my beard .. TODAY you play in Theatres all over the World .. You are SPECIAL .. all my prayers and blessings to you .. may you ever bring glory to your work and the greatest PRIDE for the family,” Amitabh Bachchan wrote.

Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan, ‘Ikkis’ also features Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Simar Bhatia.

‘Ikkis’ will hit theatres in December 2025. (ANI)

Karan Johar and Malaika Arora’s latest fashion entrepreneur reality show ‘Pitch To Get Rich’ has been making headlines lately, not just for the interesting pitches but also some fun moments.

In one such instance, Karan and Malaika’s remarks about a contestant caught the attention of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, prompting an instant reaction.

In a recent episode of ‘Pitch To Get Rich’, one of the contestants left the judges wondering as they found his resemblance to the Congress MP. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk and look like Shashi Tharoor?” Karan Johar asked the contestant, leaving him laughing.

Malaika also agreed with Karan, stating that the contestant has similarities to Tharoor’s looks and style.

The clip capturing the moment has since gone viral on social media.

The Congress MP also took a note and it seems like he disagrees with the duo.

Must say to Karan Johar and Malaika Arora that’s it’s clearly been too long since they’ve met me!! https://t.co/wfkIYxNwqj

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 29, 2025

“Must say to Karan Johar and Malaika Arora that’s it’s clearly been too long since they’ve met me!!” Tharoor wrote as he reshared the viral clip on X.

His followers were quick to step in, bringing their own wit to the comment section.

A user wrote, “Evidently, it’s been an unconscionably long while since they’ve encountered the original Tharoorian cadence …wink wink,” while another added, “They clearly need a dose of your fabulousness! Time to schedule that reunion ASAP.”

Coming back to the show, ‘Pitch To Get Rich’ was recently launched at a star-studded event in the presence of Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra, and Malaika Arora.

Karan Johar spoke about the show and shared, “Fashion is not just about glamour; it’s a serious business. Pitch to Get Rich is where creativity meets commerce, and I’m thrilled to see how India’s young designers pitch, hustle, and dream big.”

‘Pitch to Get Rich’ will also feature special guest appearances by Saif Ali Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Ronnie Screwvala, Diipa Khosla, and Shibani Dandekar, among others, who bring their unique perspectives and star power to the series. (ANI)

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday hit back at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s “dance” jibe at Prime Minister Modi, saying that Gandhi’s comments reflected the “feudal arrogance” of his family and party.

Speaking to ANI, Naqvi asserted that PM Modi’s rise “from a poor and backward family” continues to drive the journey of good governance despite the opposition’s “Modi-bashing mindset.”

“This is the culture of his (Rahul Gandhi’s) family and his party. His feudal pride and arrogance have been to make the poor, from the backward class and from the weaker sections, dance on the stage… You are still not able to digest how someone coming from a poor and backward family, without any feudal support, is continuously taking the journey of good governance forward… He has no idea how harmful his Modi-bashing thinking is…,” the BJP leader said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Ansari also came hard on Congress MP and said that such statements reflect “irritation” behind Congress’ defeat in the Bihar polls.

“Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar and PM Modi, we have improved Bihar’s roads, electricity supply, economy, and provided a safe environment for the state. So all these are no longer the topics of discussion for the elections… The opposition wants to divert the public’s attention by saying such things…The public knows that Congress is making such statements to hide the irritation behind their defeat,” Ansari said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he would ‘do anything for votes’.

Addressing an election rally at Muzaffarpur on Wednesday, Gandhi reiterated his “vote theft” allegations, accusing PM Modi of attempting to steal votes in the Bihar elections.

The Congress leader said, “He (PM Modi) just wants your vote. If you ask him to do a drama for votes, he will. You can make him do anything. If you tell Narendra Modi to dance, he will dance.” (ANI)

India’s young boxing contingent achieved a milestone at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 in Bahrain, securing an impressive tally of medals, including three gold, one silver, and one bronze, marking the nation’s best-ever performance in youth boxing at the continental level.

In a gold-filled morning session, Khushi Chand (46kg) opened India’s tally with a confident 4:1 victory over China’s Luo Jinxiu, showcasing superior ring control and precision. Ahaana Sharma (50kg) followed with a statement win, forcing a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in Round 1 against Ma Jong Hyang of South Korea. Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari (54kg) then completed India’s golden hat-trick, dominating Uzbekistan’s Muhammadova Kumriniso in a commanding 5:0 decision, as per a press release from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

The medal count could rise even higher: Harnoor Kaur (66kg) and Anshika (+80kg) are set to compete in their respective finals in the evening session, with India eyeing a potential record haul of gold medals.

In the boys’ final, Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam (50kg) displayed tremendous skill and heart but narrowly missed gold, settling for silver after a tough bout against Kazakhstan’s Nurmakhan Zhumagali. Earlier, Anant Deshmukh (66kg) had secured bronze, rounding off a stellar campaign for the Indian contingent.

With five medals, including three golds, India’s youth boxers have firmly stamped their authority on the Asian stage. The success reflects the effectiveness of the national youth boxing program and the rigorous training camp held at NS NIS Patiala under the guidance of Head Coaches Vinod Kumar (boys) and Jitender Raj Singh (girls).

This performance signals a promising new generation ready to shine on the global stage, according to a release. (ANI)

India is further boosting its aerial combat capabilities with the planned acquisition of a significant number of Meteor air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force’s frontline Rafale fighter jet fleet.

The Rafale combat aircraft fleet is the only one in the Indian Air Force capable of firing the European long-range missiles with a range of up to 200 kilometres.

Defence sources told ANI that the around Rs 1,500 crore proposal for purchasing these Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles, manufactured by the European firm MBDA, is at an advanced stage in the Defence Ministry and is likely to be approved in a high-level meeting planned to be held soon.

The Indian Air Force has ordered Meteors, along with the first batch of 36 Rafales that it acquired from France in 2016, and they are also part of the 26 naval Rafales that are scheduled to arrive over the next few years.

India successfully destroyed Pakistani military and terrorist targets during Operation Sindoor, forcing it to seek a ceasefire within four days of the conflict in May this year.

The Indian fighter jets that attacked used long-range standoff weapons to strike enemy targets, after which the Pakistan Air Force tried to retaliate in a big way, using its air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons of Chinese origin, but failed miserably.

Sources said that the Pakistan Air Force fired a large number of PL-15 air-to-air missiles at Indian planes without any success. The Pakistanis have been acquiring missiles from the Chinese in significant numbers in the last few years.

India has now undertaken a major programme to equip all its fleets with strong BVR capability, as it plans to purchase around 700 Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missiles, which the Defence Research and Development Organisation will develop.

The missiles will have a capability of hitting targets at over 200 kms and will be equipped for the Su-30 and the LCA fleets. The Rafale fleet would be equipped with the Meteor and may receive an indigenous anti-radiation missile in the future. (ANI)

A 50-year-old man, identified as Rohit Arya, who had taken children hostage in Mumbai’s Powai area, was declared dead after being taken to HBT Hospital, police said on Thursday.

Police said that Arya was seriously injured in the incident and was admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Dinesh Goswami, who was present at the spot, said that a man conducting auditions in Mumbai’s Powai area for the past few days allegedly took 17 children hostage after extending the session, leading to panic among parents when the children did not come out for lunch.

Speaking to ANI, Dinesh Goswami said, “An audition was ongoing here for the past 3 days, the man (Rohit Arya) extended it by 3 more days. Suddenly, a message was received that he kidnapped 17 children. When these children did not come out for lunch, the parents panicked. Someone might have called up the Police. When the Police reached here, it was found that the children had been kidnapped. Mumbai Police team went in and safely rescued the children…It should be investigated whether the studio is legal or illegal, the perpetrator should be given strict punishment.”

Earlier, Mumbai Police detained Rohit Arya, who had allegedly held several children hostage in the Powai area of Mumbai.

According to the police, Rohit Arya had released a video claiming that he wanted to speak with certain people and threatened to set everything on fire and harm himself along with the children if his demand was not met.

Police officials said the man appeared to be mentally unstable, and they were trying to handle the situation carefully.

“A man, identified as Rohit Arya, has held a few children hostage in the Powai area of Mumbai. He has released a video purportedly saying that he wants to speak with a few people, and if he is not allowed to do it, he will set everything on fire and harm himself and the children. The man seems to be mentally unstable, and the Police are trying to handle the matter,” according to the statement from Mumbai Police.

Later, the Police confirmed that all the children were rescued safely and handed over to their guardians.

The police said the accused has been detained and is being questioned to determine the reason behind his actions and to assess his mental condition.”All children have been safely rescued from the spot. The man, Rohit Arya, has been detained by the Police. The Police are talking to him and trying to find out why he took such a step and if he is actually mentally unstable,” the Police said.

Authorities added that further details will be shared after verification.”All the children are safe and handed over to their guardians. Other details will be shared at the earliest after due verification,” Police said. (ANI)

India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for border tensions with Afghanistan, calling it “unacceptable” and reprimanding Pakistan for practising cross-border terrorism with impunity.

In a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan is “infuriated” with Afghanistan for exercising sovereignty over its own territories.

“I reiterate what I had said in my last briefing,” Jaiswal told reporters, “Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories. Pakistan seems to think that it has the right to practice cross-border terrorism with impunity. Its neighbours find it unacceptable. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan.”

The MEA’s remarks come amid worsening relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the failure of peace talks held in Turkey this week. The two countries have seen an escalation in border tensions, with both sides trading accusations and engaging in skirmishes.

According to Dawn, hostilities began on the night of October 11, after the Taliban government in Kabul accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes inside Afghanistan an allegation Islamabad has neither confirmed nor denied.

On Wednesday, the tensions deepened after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued a severe warning to the Taliban regime, threatening possible military strikes inside Afghan territory.

Speaking to reporters at Pakistan’s Parliament House, Asif said that if another militant attack occurred on Pakistani soil, the country would not hesitate to respond militarily.

“We will conduct strikes, we definitely will,” Asif said, as quoted by Dawn. “If their territory is used and they violate our territory, then, if we need to go deep into Afghanistan to retaliate, we surely will.”

He added that Pakistan had engaged in peace talks “to give peace a chance” at the request of friendly nations, but described the Taliban’s statements as “venomous” and reflective of a “devious and splintered mindset.”

The failed peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan were mediated by Turkey and Qatar, with the aim of curbing cross-border terrorism and reducing military confrontations. The negotiations, held in Istanbul, lasted four days but ended without any agreement or roadmap for de-escalation.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the discussions “failed to bring about any workable solution.” The talks were part of ongoing international efforts to de-escalate border violence after several deadly clashes earlier this month.

Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering militants, who have carried out several attacks on Pakistani forces and civilians. The Taliban, however, denies these claims and accuses Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty through cross-border strikes.

India has maintained its support for an independent and sovereign Afghanistan and has repeatedly criticised cross-border terrorism in the region. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar penned a heartfelt message for his niece, Simar Bhatia, as she made her acting debut in ‘Ikkis’, directed by Sriram Raghavan.

Taking to Instagram, Akshay expressed pride in Simar’s big-screen debut, sharing the film’s trailer on his story. “My little Simi’s not so little anymore… from your living room performances to the big screen in #Ikkis, heart bursting with pride! @simarbhatia18. And Agastya, what screen presence! Wishing the whole team huge success,” he wrote, extending his best wishes to both Simar and her co-star Agastya Nanda.

Recently, the makers unveiled the trailer for the upcoming war drama ‘Ikkis’, presenting Agastya Nanda as the young, courageous war hero, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal.

‘Ikkis’ brings the true untold story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee – Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was just 21 at the time of the war. “Woh Ikkis Ka Tha, Ikkis Ka Hi Rahega!” the makers said.

The trailer offers a glimpse into the soldier’s life, beginning from his days at the National Defence Academy to bringing glory to the nation with his “courage and conviction.” It opens with a determined Agastya Nanda, who vows to earn the prestigious Param Vir Chakra for his regiment.

As the trailer progresses, Agastya, as Arun Khetarpal, is seen training hard at the academy, eventually joining the forces for the Indo-Pak war.

The trailer also teases a sweet love story on the sidelines of Nanda’s selection for the war. It also offers a glimpse of Arun Khetarpal’s iconic tank, the ‘Famagusta’, which he commanded during the Indo-Pakistan war.

Actor Dharmendra is seen portraying the character of Arun Khetarpal’s father, while Jaideep Ahlawat essays the character of an army officer who says, “Your son is a shining example for the Indian Army and the Pakistan Army too.”

The trailer concludes with Arun Khetarpal’s famous final words, “No, Sir. I will not abandon my tank. My gun is still working. I’ll get these b****rds.”

Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan, ‘Ikkis’ also features Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Simar Bhatia.

‘Ikkis’ will hit theatres in December 2025. (ANI)

Actor Ananya Panday turned a year older today, and birthday wishes have been pouring in from the Bollywood industry, her fans, friends, and family across social media. Among the first to share a special message was Kareena Kapoor Khan, who referred to the actor as a “shining star.”

Taking to her Instagram stories, Kareena shared a glamorous picture of Ananya and captioned it, “Happy Birthday you shining star Big hug @ananyapanday,” followed by a red heart emoji.

The birthday celebrations were intimate, with close friends and co-stars joining in. Filmmaker Karan Johar offered fans a glimpse of the festivities, posting a selfie with Ananya, Suhana Khan, and Shanaya Kapoor, captioning it, “Me and the girls! And by the way, Happy Birthday @ananyapanday.”

Among the many greetings, one particularly heartfelt message came from her younger sister, Rysa Panday.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Rysa posted a throwback picture of a young Ananya lovingly holding her little sister as they pose for the camera. Alongside the adorable photo, Rysa wrote, “soul sistaaa 4 life,” expressing her affection for the birthday girl.

Their mother, Bhavana Pandey, also joined in the celebrations with a heartfelt post. Sharing a series of pictures, she wished her daughter on the special day.

Fans flooded the comments section with warm wishes and heart emojis for the Dream Girl 2 star.

Ananya Panday, daughter of veteran actor Chunky Panday, made her acting debut in 2019 with ‘Student of the Year 2’ and ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh’. She has since appeared in films like ‘Liger’, ‘Gehraiyaan’, and ‘Dream Girl 2’.

Ananya will be seen opposite Kartik Aaryan in the romantic drama ‘Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri’, followed by ‘Chand Mera Dil’, where she will star alongside ‘Kill’ fame Lakshya. (ANI)