Month: November 2025

Nepal on Thursday issued its new banknote for the NPR 100, featuring an updated map that includes Indian territories of Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani.

The bank note came into circulation from today.

In a public notice, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the Himalayan nation, stated that the newly introduced NPR 100 note was designed to include “refined security and identification elements to enhance authenticity and usability”.

In October last year, the NRB entrusted a Chinese company with printing the new banknotes.

The design of the NPR 100 denomination was approved by the Nepalese Cabinet during a meeting led by the former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in May 2024.

The contract for printing was awarded to China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation.

On May 20, 2020, Nepal issued a new map incorporating Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani through a constitutional amendment.

India had firmly rejected the Nepal move and said Nepal governent has released a revised official map that includes parts of Indian territory.

“This unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence. It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. Such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs had said in its response on May 20.

“Nepal is well aware of India’s consistent position on this matter and we urge the Government of Nepal to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We hope that the Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues,” the statement noted.

India had in August this year also rejected Nepal’s objection to the resumption of India-China border trade through the Lipulekh Pass.

“Our position in this regard has been consistent and clear. Border trade between India and China through Lipulekh Pass had commenced in 1954 and has been going on for decades. This trade had been disrupted in recent years due to COVID and other developments, and both sides have now agreed to resume it. As regards territorial claims, our position remains that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Any unilateral artificial enlargement of territorial claims is untenable,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.

Under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, the NRB is responsible for designing the notes, though any changes to the design or size of the notes require government approval.

The new note features Mount Everest on the left side and a watermark of the Rhododendron—the national flower of Nepal—on the right. The centre of the note includes illustrations of Nepal’s map and the Ashoka Pillar, while the main design highlights a one-horned rhinoceros with its calf.

For visually impaired users, a tactile black dot has been added near the Ashoka Pillar to help identify the denomination by touch.

The note retains the colour and size of the previous version and includes a depiction of Maya Devi printed in silver metallic ink inside an oval on the left side.

The note carries the signature of the then-Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari and includes a series number marked “2081” in Nepali numerals at the bottom.

The NRB had commissioned the Chinese company to design, print, supply, and deliver 300 million 100-rupee notes. The total printing cost is estimated at approximately USD 8,996,592. At the current exchange rate, this amounts to over NPR 1.2 billion, making the cost of printing each 100-rupee note roughly NPR 4 and 4 paisa. (ANI)

Legendary actor Dharmendra carved a place in Indian cinema with his unforgettable performances, charm, and enduring screen presence over six decades. To pay tribute to his extraordinary life and contributions to cinema, the Deol family organised a prayer meet, ‘Celebration of Life’ at Taj Lands End in Bandra, Mumbai.

His sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, who shared a very close bond with their father, looked emotional as they thanked the guests with folded hands for their presence and support. They were joined by Abhay Deol, Karan Deol, and Aryaman Deol. A musical tribute was performed in memory of Dharmendra, honouring his contribution to Hindi cinema.

From superstar Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit with her husband, ace filmmaker Karan Johar, to veteran actor Rekha, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, several Bollywood celebrities marked their presence at the prayer meet.

The prayer meet was also attended by Subhash Ghai, Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer Iqbal, Chunky Panday, Anu Malik, Sonu Nigam, Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover, Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aryan Khan, Tabu, Manjeet Maan, Vidya Balan, Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Sharman Joshi, Priti Sapru, Tiger Shroff, Divya Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Suresh Oberoi, Sanjay Khan, Anil Sharma, Guddu Dhanoa, producer Babbu Mehra, Avtar Gill, and Yogesh Lakhani.

Shabana Azmi, Abbas-Mustan, Bhushan Kumar, Mukesh Khanna, Amisha Patel, Mahima Chaudhry, Nimrat Kaur, and Aditya Roy Kapur were among the prominent figures from the entertainment industry present at the prayer meet.

Dharmendra, widely regarded as one of Bollywood’s most iconic stars, passed away on November 24, 2025. His final rites were held at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle. He had been unwell for some time. Earlier this month, he was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital following a deterioration in his health. Two days later, Dharmendra was discharged from the hospital as the family opted for home treatment.

Actors Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone were spotted arriving at the cremation ground to pay condolences to the Deol family. Amitabh Bachchan, Saira Banu, Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Salim Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan, Rajkumar Santoshi, Anil Sharma, Siddharth Roy Kapur and several others also paid their last respects.

Emotional tributes were also shared across social media platforms, as many honoured Dharmendra’s cinematic legacy and celebrated his journey.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences to the family of legendary actor Dharmendra, who passed away at his Mumbai residence at the age of 89.

Taking to his X, PM Modi paid tribute to Dharmendra by calling the actor’s demise an “end of an era” in Indian cinema.

“The passing of Dharmendra Ji marks the end of an era in Indian cinema. He was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played. The manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people. Dharmendra Ji was equally admired for his simplicity, humility and warmth. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family, friends and innumerable fans. Om Shanti,” wrote PM Modi.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan expressed grief over the demise of legendary actor Dharmendra, remembering him as a “father figure” and a guiding force in the industry.

Taking to X, SRK wrote, “Rest in Peace Dharam ji. You were nothing short of a father figure to me… thank u for showering me with blessings and love the way you did. An inconsolable and irreplaceable loss to not just his family, but to cinema and film lovers world over. You are immortal… and your soul will live through your films and your beautiful family forever. Love you always.”

The entire entertainment industry is mourning the demise of a legendary actor. Kamal Haasan earlier also expressed grief over the passing of the iconic Bollywood star.”Deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend and legendary actor Dharmendra ji. Dharam Ji’s charm, humility and strength of spirit were as real off-screen as on it. Indian cinema has lost one of its kindest icons. My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers,” he wrote on X.

Superstar Rajinikanth gave “farewell” to his late “friend” with a heartfelt post, “Farewell, my friend. I will always remember your golden heart and the moments we shared. Rest in peace, Dharam ji. My deepest condolences to his family.”

Known as the ‘He-Man’ of Bollywood, Dharmendra appeared in over 300 films spanning more than six decades and inspired generations with his versatility, charisma, and dedication to the craft.

Dharmendra has cemented his status as a film icon. His journey remained a testament to enduring talent and dedication. What is remarkable is that he was never confined to one genre and achieved a balanced mass appeal, playing distinct roles across romance, action, comedy, and social drama, which helped him become one of the most commercially successful film actors in the history of Indian cinema. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the takedown of obscene and AI-generated deepfake videos depicting actor Ajay Devgn in inappropriate scenarios with female celebrities, calling such content impermissible and damaging.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the interim order while hearing Devgn’s suit seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.

However, the Court declined, for now, to direct the removal of general content or fan-made posts featuring Devgn’s images.

The Court emphasised the need to differentiate malicious deepfakes from harmless fan activity, observing, You have to give some leeway to fan pages…This much freedom you will have to give to your fans. Otherwise, he will have to erase his footsteps completely.”

Senior advocate Pravin Anand, representing Devgan, flagged multiple listings on Amazon and other e-commerce sites where unauthorised posters, T-shirts and caps using the actor’s name and face were being sold. But the Court noted that the suit mixes several causes of action and said handling all of them together may be impractical at this stage.

A significant focus remained on deepfakes. Anand informed the Court that one YouTuber was circulating offensive, obscene AI-generated videos portraying Devgn in false and damaging contexts.

During the hearing, Justice Arora questioned why YouTube had not been approached first, “Have you registered a protest with YouTube beforehand? I will grant relief now, but in future petitions, such a protest will have to be filed first.”

While refusing a blanket purge of all content containing Devgn’s images, the Court said deepfakes and pornographic content merit immediate removal. In contrast, mere reproductions of photographs cannot be taken down ex parte.

The Court issued a summons to the defendants and directed the named online platforms, as pro forma parties, to provide basic subscriber information for the offending accounts within two weeks. The matter will next be heard by the Joint Registrar on December 26 and then by the Court in 2026.

According to the plaintiff, the actor has submitted that several entities and unidentified persons are misappropriating various aspects of his personality for commercial gain without consent. The suit describes widespread infringement through impersonation, fake booking platforms, unauthorised posters and merchandise, and AI-generated videos and images that portray him in false, inappropriate or sexually explicit contexts, causing reputational harm.

The plaintiff details how websites such as The Artists Planet allegedly offer paid “appearances” using Devgn’s name and photos without authorisation. Multiple sellers on platforms including Amazon, Meesho, and Redbubble are accused of selling posters, T-shirts, caps, and other merchandise featuring Devgn’s image and trademarked name. Delhi HC Orders Removal of Obscene Deepfakes Targeting Actor Ajay Devgan. (ANI)

NASA’s Perseverance rover has obtained evidence that the atmosphere of Mars is electrically active, detecting electrical discharges – what one scientist called “mini-lightning” – often associated with whirlwinds called dust devils that regularly saunter over the planet’s surface.

The six-wheeled rover, exploring Mars since 2021 at a locale called Jezero Crater in its northern hemisphere, picked up these electrical discharges in audio and electromagnetic recordings made by its SuperCam remote-sensing instrument, researchers said.

It is the first documentation of electrical activity in the thin Martian atmosphere.

“These discharges represent a major discovery, with direct implications for Martian atmospheric chemistry, climate, habitability and the future of robotic and human exploration,” said planetary scientist Baptiste Chide of the Institute for Research in Astrophysics and Planetology in France, lead author of the study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

“The electrical charges required for these discharges are likely to influence dust transport on Mars, a process fundamental to the planet’s climate and one that remains poorly understood. What’s more, these electrostatic discharges could pose a risk to the electronic equipment of current robotic missions – and even a hazard for astronauts who one day will explore the Red Planet,” Chide said.

Mars joins Earth, Saturn and Jupiter as planets known to have atmospheric electrical activity. Though not yet documented, other worlds in our solar system also may have this feature including the planets Venus and Uranus and Saturn’s moon Titan, according to the researchers. (ANI/WAM)

The members of France’s Tibetan community staged their 46th straight protest outside the Musee Guimet museum, condemning what they call an act of “cultural erasure” carried out under China’s shadow.

The demonstration organised by Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) France and the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress denounced the museum’s decision to remove the word “Tibet” from its artefact labels and rename its long-running “Nepal-Tibet” gallery as “Himalayan World,” as reported by Phayul.

According to Phayul, the controversy began in early 2024 when the Musee Guimet, France’s premier museum of Asian arts, revamped its Tibetan section. The change, which replaced “Tibet” with “Himalayan World,” immediately sparked outrage among Tibetans in France and across the diaspora, who see it as echoing China’s effort to erase Tibet’s distinct political and cultural identity.

Responding to the move, SFT France and several allied organisations launched weekly demonstrations, which evolved into a sustained campaign. In March 2025, the group issued a legal notice to both the museum and France’s Ministry of Culture, demanding the reinstatement of “Tibet” in exhibition texts.

Later in July, four Tibetan groups jointly filed a lawsuit accusing the museum of aligning with China’s narrative that seeks to subsume Tibet under vague regional terminology.

Despite growing backlash, the museum’s director, Yannick Lintz, has refused to reverse the decision, claiming the new title follows a “neutral curatorial approach.” However, another Paris museum, the Musee du Quai Branly, faced similar criticism earlier and publicly apologised after restoring the word “Tibet” to its displays, as cited by Phayul.

The dispute has since attracted international concern. The UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights stated that the erasure of “Tibet” from museum exhibits undermines Tibetans’ right to identity and heritage.

Prominent Tibetologists such as Nicolas Tournadre and Fernand Meyer have also criticised the Musee Guimet’s justification, arguing that “Himalayan” inaccurately collapses distinct cultures into one Chinese-favoured label.

Tibetan activists insist the fight will continue. “No matter the weather,” SFT France stated, “we will not stop until Tibet is rightfully named again,” as reported by Phayul. (ANI)

A large number of youth Congress workers held a massive protest against the Election Commission of India over the ongoing SIR (Special Intensive Revision) exercise in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Thursday.

The youth Congress workers staged their protest at Congress headquarters in the state capital and were heading to the state election commission office but the police stopped them by barricading at Vyapam Square in the city.

After that, the protesters tried to cross the barricade resulting in the police using water cannons and mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd. Additionally, the police also arrested a few protestors on the occasion.

National Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib said, “Today, we are protesting against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar. We know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the PM by vote theft. Gyanesh Kumar, who meant to protect democracy, has become the destroyer of democracy. He is working for the Prime Minister and his party. We are protesting against him and will continue to protest across the nation until he comes to his senses and starts working to protect the democracy of the nation,”

“We will not fear at all, be it water cannon or lathi charge. We will keep struggling for the democracy of the nation until Gyanesh Kumar comes to his senses and starts working properly,” he added.

On the other hand, state Youth Congress president Yash Ghanghoriya said, “Today, the youth Congress workers protested against the Election Commission of India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) misuse the government bodies. They have torn the Constitution to shreds. They have attempted to take away the rights granted to our voters. We will fight against this government.”

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl DCP) Shailendra Singh told ANI that the police had already informed them about their decided route and permitted them to move only up to the barricading.

“But among the protestors, they tried to cross the barricading and created a ruckus as a result of which, we used water cannons to disperse them. Some arrests were also made on the occasion,” the officer added. (ANI)

As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction is in full swing with high-intensity bidding, franchises opened up on their strategies and priorities for the season. UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants, in particular, expressed satisfaction after securing key players central to their plans.

UP Warriorz COO & Director of Cricket Kshemal Waingankar spoke about the franchise’s new direction under head coach Abhishek Nayar, emphasising the importance of giving him complete freedom to shape the squad.

“We have a new coach (Abhishek Nayar) at the helm. We wanted to give him a clean slate to be able to figure out what his sort of vision is and try to build a squad together,” Waingankar said at the press conference.

He added that the franchise always remained confident of retaining their star all-rounder, “We had no doubt that we would be able to bring Deepti (Sharma) back, which we have and we are very delighted to be able to bring her back as well.”

Waingankar also highlighted the value of acquiring senior overseas players, “To add to that, we have also been able to bring Sophie (Ecclestone) back and a leader like Meg Lanning in the mix as well. So, I think so far it’s played out well. Let’s see how the rest of the auction goes.”

Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger expressed satisfaction with the franchise’s early acquisitions, particularly the additions of Sophie Devine and Renuka Singh Thakur.

“Yeah, I mean, it adds eight overs of really high-quality bowling and experience. You know, both of them World Cup winners,” Klinger said.

“You know, Renuka obviously can give us some really good stuff with the new ball. Soph (Sophie Devine) can bowl in all three phases. It can bat anywhere from one to six,” he noted

He emphasised that the dual signings significantly enhanced the team’s tactical range.

“So, those two picks were really important for us in terms of giving us that flexibility,” he added. (ANI)

Actor Ravie Dubey, who attended the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, opened up about his excitement ahead of starring in director Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated mythological epic ‘Ramayana.’

The multi-starrer, already being hailed as one of the biggest cinematic ventures, has generated immense buzz due to its scale, cast, and creative vision.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the festival, Dubey reflected on the emotional intensity he feels towards the project and his role. The actor, who will be seen portraying Lakshman, described the experience with deep devotion and humility. While speaking about what the film means to him personally, he highlighted a feeling of “surrender” that surrounds the journey.

“I am excited, with surrender if I can articulate it correctly. Every time I think about the film, every time I think about Ramayana, that’s the one feeling I have in my heart: surrender,” Ravie told ANI.

As announced by the makers, Ranbir Kapoor will lead the narrative as Lord Rama, while Ravie Dubey will portray Lakshman. Yash will be seen as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman.

Made under the banner of Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with 8-time Oscar-winning DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the film is written by Shridhar Raghavan, with music by Oscar-winners Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman.

Earlier, during the film’s teaser launch, director Nitesh Tiwari described the project as a cultural milestone, calling it “more than a film.”

He said, “This is more than a film. It is a vision meant to transcend borders while honouring the soul of our culture.”

‘Ramayana’ Part 1 is set to release on Diwali 2026, while the second instalment is slated for release on Diwali 2027. (ANI)

BJP leader Boora Narsaiah Goud on Thursday slammed the Congress for the ongoing power-sharing drama in Karnataka, alleging that the party’s internal rift is a “tussle of power and paisa” and is affecting the state’s economy.

He alleged that Congress national leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are making Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar compete against each other to secure more money from them under the garb of promising a CM post.

“Congress in Karnataka or anywhere in the country stands for power and paisa. The tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar is only a struggle between the paisa and power,” the former MP told ANI here.

“Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were able to keep both of them apart and give a competition between them on who will send them a lot of paisa,” he alleged.

Heavily criticising the state government for “plunging the state into chaos,” he alleged that economic instability has increased and the growth has nosedived in the state.

“The Karnataka state has plunged into chaos with economic instability and the growth has nosedived. It is time for the entire population of Karnataka to decide. Sooner or later, Karnataka is going to get rid of Congress,” he alleged.

There has been renewed speculation over the Karnataka CM post after CM Siddaramaiah completed half his term on November 20. Multiple DK Shivakumar supporters have backed him to become CM for the remaining 2.5 years.

Earlier, senior Congress MLA and former minister KN Rajanna said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) should decide the chief minister, and hence “dissolve the assembly and face elections.”

He said it was the CLP which had elected Siddaramaiah as the CM, so they should decide on their next leader.

“Let’s dissolve (the Assembly) and face the elections. Then let’s work together under the leadership of DK Shivakumar and come with a majority. Then let him serve as the CM for 5 years. Wasn’t it the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) that elected Siddaramaiah? Now the decision should be made by the CLP,” the Congress MLA told reporters on Wednesday.

However, Rajanna favoured Siddaramaiah and also threw in the name of state home minister G Parameshwara, suggesting him as the “second option” for the Chief Minister’s post.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah earlier said that the debate over the CM post is an “unnecessary debate”, attributing recent discussions within the party to being about a cabinet reshuffle.

The Chief Minister clarified that the senior party leadership would make the final decisions regarding the reshuffle, as two of the total 34 ministerial posts in Karnataka are currently vacant and would be filled during the process.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has reiterated his loyalty to the Congress and dismissed speculation over his resignation as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President. Shivakumar has also sought a meeting with party leader Sonia Gandhi on November 29 to discuss the ongoing issue. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine the matter related to the problem of increasing air pollution in Delhi NCR on a regular basis starting Monday.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also agreed with the submissions of amicus (court-appointed lawyer Senior Advocate Aprajita Singh), who sought an urgent hearing in the matter by highlighting the urgency of the situation.

While acknowledging that the problem of air pollution is “definitely an issue that every resident in Delhi NCR is facing, the Court also remarked that it doesn’t have a magic wand to quickly resolve the issue, which is caused not by one but various reasons.

The apex court added that each reason or cause for the increase in air pollution in Delhi needs to be identified first. Only then, the Court noted, will we be able to find solutions to deal with each of those causes.

“We will take up the matter. We don’t have a magic wand which courts can use to find quick solutions on this. The problems we have identified, solutions (to those problems) are what we need. We will have to identify all the reasons. There is no one reason for the problem. People may be thinking there may be only one reason but there are various factors. Only domain experts and scientists can find out solutions to deal with each reason (for causes of increasing air pollution). We hope and expect that the government may have come up with something. We’ll take up the matter on a regular basis. List on Monday”, the CJI said.

Earlier, the previous Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, while hearing the air pollution case, had directed the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to implement preventive measures to reduce air pollution and to ensure that their reviews are regularly conducted. The Court had also directed that these matters be monitored by the apex court on a regular basis.

CJI Kant today held a similar view and stated that the apex court would examine the issue on a regular basis and listed the case for Monday.

According to the CPCB, the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349 at 7 am on Thursday. (ANI)