Popular
Jasmine Sandlas asks internal team to take over after mishap at Dehradun concert
Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) Playback singer Jasmine Sandlas, who is known for songs like ‘Jaiye Sajana’ and ‘Illegal Weapon 2.0’, witnessed a mishap at her Dehradun concert. The mishap occurred near the audience area. It led to a brief moment of chaos at the venue.
A section of the barricading gave way, causing several attendees near the front to lose balance and fall, following which the concert was immediately paused. Jasmine, who noticed the situation unfolding from the stage, promptly stopped her performance and directed her internal team and on-ground security personnel to immediately take charge of the situation and ensure that everyone in the crowd was safe and attended to.
Eyewitness accounts at the venue shared that the singer appeared deeply concerned and was heard chanting “Waheguru” as efforts were underway to bring the situation under control.
The singer said, “I am so sorry guys, this is happening. Can my internal team take this over? I want my entire internal team to take this over. These security guys are very aggressive. I want my team to solve this immediately”.
Prioritising the safety of her audience above all else, Jasmine also addressed the crowd and urged the security team to handle the situation with care and sensitivity. She apologised to attendees for the disruption and specifically instructed the team to ensure that no one was hurt, reinforcing her commitment to audience welfare before the concert resumed.
Meanwhile, on the work front, the singer recently struck gold with her track ‘Jaiye Sajana’ from the Ranveer Singh-starrer blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’. The film, which was a follow-up to ‘Dhurandhar’, which was released last year, and set unprecedented records at the box-office.
--IANS
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IPL 2026: Pandey, Powell, and bowlers keep KKR’s playoffs hope alive
Kolkata, May 21 (IANS) Manish Pandey and Rovman Powell played key roles under pressure as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by four wickets in Match 65 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the playoffs stage.
Chasing a target of 148 on a tricky two-paced surface, KKR faced a few tense moments but crossed the finish line thanks mainly to Pandey’s steady 45 off 33 balls and Powell’s bold batting in the middle overs.
KKR started their innings aggressively despite an early loss. Impact substitute Finn Allen, who replaced injured Varun Chakravarthy, hit two clean square-driven boundaries off Deepak Chahar before dragging the last ball of the opening over into his stumps. KKR was 10/1 after one over.
Jasprit Bumrah then delivered an excellent second over in which Ajinkya Rahane and Pandey faced only two balls combined, illustrating the tough batting conditions.
However, Rahane quickly found his groove as KKR picked up the pace. Bumrah had an unusually expensive fourth over, with Rahane and Pandey both hitting boundaries to move KKR to 31/1 after four overs.
Mumbai Indians made a brief comeback when Corbin Bosch dismissed Rahane for 21 off 17 balls in the final over of the Power-play. After giving away nine runs on the first three balls, Bosch adjusted his length brilliantly to induce an outside edge, catching Rahane off guard. KKR finished the Power-play at 48/2.
The hosts faced another setback in the eighth over when Cameron Green mishit a poor delivery down the leg side from Allah Ghazanfar straight to a fielder, scoring only four runs off eight balls. At 54/3, Mumbai sensed an opportunity.
Pandey, however, expertly stabilised the innings while Powell shifted the momentum with a series of powerful shots. Powell almost got out in the 10th over when Deepak Chahar let a top-edged hook shot slip through for Robin Minz at fine leg, but the chance was missed amid confusion.
Meanwhile, Pandey kept the innings flowing by rotating the strike and punishing loose balls. He reached 45 before Bumrah finally got him out for the first time in T20 cricket after 49 balls in their matchups. Bumrah bowled a fantastic offcutter with the 15-over-old ball that sharply moved back through bat and pad.
Earlier, KKR’s bowlers set the stage for victory by limiting the Mumbai Indians to a modest 147/8 in 20 overs.
Cameron Green and Saurabh Dubey dismantled Mumbai’s top-order batter on a challenging pitch. Green removed Naman Dhir for a three-ball duck and then took an incredible over-the-shoulder catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma for 15.
Dubey also struck twice during the Power-play, including the wicket of Suryakumar Yadav for 15, as Mumbai fell to 46/4 after six overs.
After a rain delay at 57/4 in eight overs, KKR’s spin pair of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy tightened their grip on the game. Narine bowled exceptionally well, finishing with 4-1-13-1 by taking out Hardik Pandya for 26, while Varun delivered 4-0-28-0 despite having a hairline fracture in his foot.
Tilak Varma struggled with his rhythm, scoring 20 off 32 balls before Kartik Tyagi dismissed him with a bouncer. Will Jacks was run out for 13 after a mix-up with Bosch.
Late hitting from Bosch and Chahar helped Mumbai recover a bit, with Bosch hitting back-to-back sixes in the final overs, allowing MI to gather 52 runs in the last four overs for a total of 147/8. However, that total ultimately proved too low.
Even after Pandey’s wicket, Powell (40)continued to attack, hitting Ghazanfar for a huge six over long-on. But Bosch shone again in the field, diving to his right at backward point to take a stunning catch, dismissing Powell just as the game seemed secure for KKR.
Despite losing wickets late in the game, KKR crossed the finish line with four wickets in hand as Rinku Singh hit the final runs with a boundary over long-on, keeping their playoff aspirations alive.
Brief scores:
Mumbai Indians 147/8 in 20 overs (Corbin Bosch 32 not out, Hardik Pandya 26; Cameron Green 2-23, Saurabh Debey 2-34) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders 148/6 in 18.5 overs (Manish Pandey 45, Rovman Powell 40; Corbin Bosch 3-40) by four wickets.
--IANS
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Jain community in grief, outrage as car runs over three Sadhvis; two dead, accused held in MP’s Rewa
Rewa, May 21 (IANS) Deep grief and widespread outrage have gripped the entire Jain community following a road accident in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa that claimed the lives of two revered Jain Sadhvis and left a third critically injured, police said.
The sudden and horrific nature of the incident, combined with the driver's immediate flight from the spot, has sparked deep resentment among community members, who gathered in large numbers at the hospital and local Dharmashala to demand justice and express their profound sorrow, officials said on Wednesday.
In the wake of the crash, the driver of the car fled the spot, prompting an immediate police pursuit.
The accused motorist managed to drive nearly 270 km away from the city before being apprehended.
Acting on a coordinated effort, the Bargi police set up a strategic blockade at the Bahoripar toll plaza in Jabalpur, where they successfully arrested the fleeing driver and subsequently notified the Rewa police.
The horrific road accident unfolded in Rewa on Wednesday afternoon when a speeding motorist ran over three Jain Sadhvis, leaving two dead and a third fighting for her life in critical condition.
The tragic incident occurred directly in front of the local Collectorate, where the three female religious leaders were walking peacefully along the edge of the roadside before being struck with immense force by a vehicle that had suddenly lost control.
According to official reports, the deceased ascetics have been identified as Shruti Mati Mata and Upasham Mati Mata.
Shruti Mati Mata tragically passed away on the spot due to the impact of the collision.
The other two injured Sadhvis were immediately rushed to the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital with the assistance of nearby bystanders who ran to help amid the chaos and distress.
Upasham Mati Mata later succumbed to her severe injuries while undergoing medical treatment at the facility, while the third Sadhvi, Arika Mata, remains in highly critical condition under close medical supervision.
The heart wrenching incident has sparked widespread grief and deep resentment throughout the entire Jain community.
Following the news of the tragedy, a massive crowd of community members gathered at both the hospital and the local Jain Dharmashala to express their solidarity and sorrow.
The bodies of the two deceased Sadhvis were respectfully placed for a final darshan so that devotees could pay their last respects before the mortal remains were taken away for the performance of their final rites.
Top administrative and police officials, including Commissioner B.S. Jamod, Deputy Commissioner Narendra Suryavanshi, and Superintendent of Police Gurukaran Singh, visited both the accident site and the hospital to manage the swelling crowds, review security, and take complete stock of the situation.
--IANS
sktr/khz
Salman Khan forgives paparazzi as they apologize profusely after his outburst
Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) After Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s public display of anger both online and in real life, the paparazzi tendered an apology to the superstar at an event in the city on Wednesday.
As the actor walked into the success party of ‘Raja Shivaji’, he was swarmed by the paparazzi, who immediately apologised for their intrusive behaviour on Tuesday. The paparazzi were heard saying, “sorry” relentlessly as the actor walked in and greeted his friends from the industry.
Hearing the commotion, the actor leaned forward, and gestured the paparazzi asking what happened. As he heard their apology, Salman told them it’s alright in gesture.
Earlier, the actor had called out the paparazzi after being extremely miffed for creating a ruckus during his hospital visit and invasion of privacy. While the actor expressed his angst, netizens seemed confused by the captions put up by the superstar.
Salman took to his social media account in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and expressed his utter disappointment in the behaviour of paparazzi. He wrote, “If I see any press at a hospital enjoying my pain. The press that I have stood for interacted with, took care to make sure that they also earn their bread and butter. But if they wanna make money from my losses, keep quiet, don’t enjoy. bhai bhai bhai matrabhumi picture ki maaa ki aankh, pic imp hai ya life (sic)”.
“Aise main sau jala doonga. Bhai k ek bhai k dukh par agli baar try kar lena mere sath. Buss try kar lena …. Jab bhi tumhara koi hospital mai hoga kya mai aisa react karoonga?”, he added.
In his final post, Salman warned, “Saath saal ka ho gaya hoon lekin ladna nahiiin bhoola yeh yaad rakh lena, jail mein dalo ge haaa haaa”.
The posts quickly grabbed attention online, with fans and celebrities flooding the comments section with support. A certain section of netizens seemed confused by the captions, and worried for the actor.
--IANS
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PM Modi concludes Italy visit, departs for India
New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday concluded his visit to Italy, marking the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour, which focused on strengthening India’s strategic partnerships, expanding economic cooperation, and enhancing engagement with key global players across Europe and other regions.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement issued after the Prime Minister departed from Italy, said the visit added “fresh momentum” to the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and further deepened bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
“India-Italy ties are going from strength to strength. The final leg of PM Narendra Modi’s five-country tour concludes. PM has departed for India after a successful visit to Italy marked by significant outcomes and fresh momentum in deepening the Special Strategic Partnership with Italy,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Italy comes at a time when New Delhi and Rome have been steadily expanding cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, technology, connectivity, and Indo-Pacific engagement.
Over the last few years, ties between the two countries have witnessed renewed momentum, following the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to India for the G20 Summit.
Since then, both countries have intensified high-level political exchanges and institutional cooperation mechanisms. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Meloni have also developed visible political engagement on the global stage, meeting multiple times during international summits and bilateral engagements.
Officials said discussions during the Italy leg of the tour focused on boosting investments, enhancing cooperation in advanced manufacturing and defence production, and expanding collaboration in clean energy transition initiatives.
India and Italy have also been exploring stronger cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors, space technology, food processing, transport infrastructure, and maritime security.
Diplomatic sources indicated that regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and challenges related to energy and supply chains, also figured prominently during the discussions.
Italy is among India’s important trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade growing consistently in recent years. Several Italian companies have expanded their footprint in India in sectors ranging from engineering and automobiles to renewable energy and fashion.
The visit marked the conclusion of Prime Minister Modi’s broader five-country diplomatic outreach aimed at consolidating India’s strategic and economic partnerships amid a rapidly evolving global geopolitical environment.
The Prime Minister is expected to arrive in New Delhi later on Thursday.
--IANS
scor/dan
Top Stories
International
PM Modi concludes Italy visit, departs for India
New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday concluded his visit to Italy, marking the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour, which focused on strengthening India’s strategic partnerships, expanding economic cooperation, and enhancing engagement with key global players across Europe and other regions.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement issued after the Prime Minister departed from Italy, said the visit added “fresh momentum” to the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership and further deepened bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
“India-Italy ties are going from strength to strength. The final leg of PM Narendra Modi’s five-country tour concludes. PM has departed for India after a successful visit to Italy marked by significant outcomes and fresh momentum in deepening the Special Strategic Partnership with Italy,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Italy comes at a time when New Delhi and Rome have been steadily expanding cooperation in trade, defence, clean energy, technology, connectivity, and Indo-Pacific engagement.
Over the last few years, ties between the two countries have witnessed renewed momentum, following the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to India for the G20 Summit.
Since then, both countries have intensified high-level political exchanges and institutional cooperation mechanisms. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Meloni have also developed visible political engagement on the global stage, meeting multiple times during international summits and bilateral engagements.
Officials said discussions during the Italy leg of the tour focused on boosting investments, enhancing cooperation in advanced manufacturing and defence production, and expanding collaboration in clean energy transition initiatives.
India and Italy have also been exploring stronger cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors, space technology, food processing, transport infrastructure, and maritime security.
Diplomatic sources indicated that regional and global issues, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and challenges related to energy and supply chains, also figured prominently during the discussions.
Italy is among India’s important trading partners in Europe, with bilateral trade growing consistently in recent years. Several Italian companies have expanded their footprint in India in sectors ranging from engineering and automobiles to renewable energy and fashion.
The visit marked the conclusion of Prime Minister Modi’s broader five-country diplomatic outreach aimed at consolidating India’s strategic and economic partnerships amid a rapidly evolving global geopolitical environment.
The Prime Minister is expected to arrive in New Delhi later on Thursday.
--IANS
scor/dan
Pakistan’s out-of-school crisis reflects social failure and economic self-inflicted wound: Report
Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) Pakistan's out-of-school crisis is not only a social failure but an economic self-inflicted wound, trapping families in cycles in which poverty causes illiteracy and illiteracy leads to poverty, a report has stated.
Currently, 25 million children aged between five to 16 years are not enrolled in school in Pakistan. The number of children who are not going to schools is roughly the entire population of Australia not accessing education system that was supposed to be their way out of poverty, Waleed Rabbani wrote in Pakistan's leading daily The News International.
"The link between being out of school and staying poor is not complicated. A child who never learns to read cannot fill out a job application. A girl kept home cannot become the nurse or entrepreneur her community needs. Research consistently shows that each additional year of schooling raises individual earnings. Across a household, across a generation, those returns compound into something transformative," opined Rabbani.
"Pakistan’s out-of-school crisis is not merely a social failure. It is an economic self-inflicted wound, trapping families in cycles in which poverty breeds illiteracy and illiteracy reproduces poverty. What makes this trap so persistent is the mismatch between where the problem sits and where solutions have been aimed. National averages mask brutal local realities," the author further stated.
Balochistan province of Pakistan has nearly 64 per cent of its school-age children out of school while the figure is 47 per cent in Sindh. The data from these provinces showcases that the distribution is deeply uneven and that unevenness is precisely what planners have lacked the data to address, according to the opinion piece.
Last month, families in Pakistan reported that enrolling a single child in school costs between Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 20,000 - PKR 30,000, with expenses including first-month fees and purchasing textbooks, notebooks, uniform, shoes and a bag.
People in Pakistan have protested against the increasing costs. In addition, 40 per cent shortage of new textbooks was witnessed in the market in Pakistan this year. Expenses related to school have also increased - uniforms cost around PKR 3,000, cost of school shoes ranges from PKR 2,500 to PKR 5,000 and price of basic quality school bag starts at PKR 1,500, Pakistan's another leading daily The Express Tribune reported.
Price for applying plastic cover to a single book, it stated, ranges between PKR 75-PKR 100. Cost of larger notebooks and registers is between PKR 120 to PKR 130. Increasing paper costs have raised the prices of all types of notebooks, registers, textbooks, drawing books, practical copies and other stationery items.
Parents have also alleged that such rising costs are intentional, aimed at making schooling expensive in order to make children from low-income families restricted to basic education, The Express Tribune reported. Families have contended that education and healthcare is free in many parts of the world, however, education in Pakistan has been made inaccessible for the poor.
--IANS
akl/as
Trump touts USD18 trillion investment surge
Washington, May 20 (IANS) President Donald Trump on Wednesday projected strong economic growth for the United States, claiming trillions of dollars in investments were flowing into the country as he predicted a manufacturing boom driven by foreign companies setting up plants across America.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the US economy is entering an unprecedented period of expansion. “We have 18 trillion being spent, and no country has had anything like that,” he said.
He pointed to automobile manufacturing as a key example of renewed industrial investment. “We have car companies and plants coming in from Germany, from South Korea, from Japan coming in by the billions, and they're being built now,” he said.
Trump argued that companies were shifting production to the United States to gain access to the American market.
“The reason to be there cause they wanna sell our market,” he said.
The President said Americans would witness economic developments unlike anything seen before.
“You're gonna see things that nobody thought were possible,” Trump said. “You're gonna see a lot of amazing things over the next three years for our country.”
The remarks came as Trump sought to reinforce his economic message amid continued focus on trade, tariffs, and domestic manufacturing. Throughout the interaction, he repeatedly pivoted from foreign policy questions to economic issues, signalling that investment and industrial growth would remain central themes of his administration.
Trump also linked the investment inflows to broader confidence in the United States economy.
“The economic numbers” were “phenomenal,” he said, while expressing optimism about future growth.
Alongside economic issues, Trump criticised California's election system, calling it “rigged” and “one of the most dishonest.” He claimed Republicans faced disadvantages in the state's voting process.
“Republicans have to call in,” Trump said. “It's a rigged system.”
--IANS
lkj/dan
Chinese scam networks target Americans
Washington, May 20, (IANS) Americans lost at least $10 billion in 2024 to China-linked scam networks operating from Southeast Asia, top Congressmen have alleged warning that this fraud ecosystem has grown into a national security threat.
House Select Committee on China Chairman, John Moolenaar said the scams were being run at “industrial scale” by criminal groups linked to China and enabled by corruption, weak governance and illicit finance.
“These victims are our families, neighbours and friends, and they are being ripped off by sophisticated criminal networks linked to China,” Moolenaar said.
The committee released a bipartisan investigative report that said the scam networks were not isolated criminal enterprises, but part of a larger ecosystem of fraud, human trafficking, cyber crime and illicit finance.
Moolenaar said the Chinese government did not centrally direct the scam compounds, but its “deliberate failure to combat this threat” had enabled their growth.
Ranking member Ro Khanna said many scam networks operate from compounds in Southeast Asia controlled by organised criminal groups with links to China.
“All too often, the person on the other end of the text is a human trafficking victim, locked in a scam compound with instructions to steal as much money from victims as possible,” the Indian American Congressman said.
He said the committee investigation found that the headquarters of Prince Group in Cambodia was constructed by a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
“I want to be clear. While there are Chinese ties, the scam is not a vast conspiracy by the Chinese government,” Khanna said. “We can't solve this crisis without their cooperation.”
Erin West, founder of Operation Shamrock, told lawmakers that victims were not getting adequate help from law enforcement.
“Why in the United States in 2026, are victims having to solve their own crimes?” she quoted one victim as asking.
West called the crisis a “Scamdemic” and said it was “not simply fraud”.
“This is national security,” she said.
Jacob Sims, an independent analyst, said the deeper threat was not only the compounds but “the political architecture that protects it”.
He described Cambodia as “an advanced case of what criminal authoritarianism looks like in the digital era”.
Jason Tower, a senior expert at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said China’s domestic crackdown had pushed scam networks abroad.
“This is not a Southeast Asia problem. This is a global China problem,” Tower said.
Lawmakers also pressed witnesses on the role of social media platforms, cryptocurrency networks and private companies in enabling the scams.
Moolenaar urged Congress to pass the bipartisan Dismantle Foreign Scam Syndicates Act. The measure would create an inter-agency task force to counter foreign scam syndicates.
--IANS
lkj/as
ShowBiz
Jasmine Sandlas asks internal team to take over after mishap at Dehradun concert
Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) Playback singer Jasmine Sandlas, who is known for songs like ‘Jaiye Sajana’ and ‘Illegal Weapon 2.0’, witnessed a mishap at her Dehradun concert. The mishap occurred near the audience area. It led to a brief moment of chaos at the venue.
A section of the barricading gave way, causing several attendees near the front to lose balance and fall, following which the concert was immediately paused. Jasmine, who noticed the situation unfolding from the stage, promptly stopped her performance and directed her internal team and on-ground security personnel to immediately take charge of the situation and ensure that everyone in the crowd was safe and attended to.
Eyewitness accounts at the venue shared that the singer appeared deeply concerned and was heard chanting “Waheguru” as efforts were underway to bring the situation under control.
The singer said, “I am so sorry guys, this is happening. Can my internal team take this over? I want my entire internal team to take this over. These security guys are very aggressive. I want my team to solve this immediately”.
Prioritising the safety of her audience above all else, Jasmine also addressed the crowd and urged the security team to handle the situation with care and sensitivity. She apologised to attendees for the disruption and specifically instructed the team to ensure that no one was hurt, reinforcing her commitment to audience welfare before the concert resumed.
Meanwhile, on the work front, the singer recently struck gold with her track ‘Jaiye Sajana’ from the Ranveer Singh-starrer blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’. The film, which was a follow-up to ‘Dhurandhar’, which was released last year, and set unprecedented records at the box-office.
--IANS
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Salman Khan forgives paparazzi as they apologize profusely after his outburst
Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) After Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s public display of anger both online and in real life, the paparazzi tendered an apology to the superstar at an event in the city on Wednesday.
As the actor walked into the success party of ‘Raja Shivaji’, he was swarmed by the paparazzi, who immediately apologised for their intrusive behaviour on Tuesday. The paparazzi were heard saying, “sorry” relentlessly as the actor walked in and greeted his friends from the industry.
Hearing the commotion, the actor leaned forward, and gestured the paparazzi asking what happened. As he heard their apology, Salman told them it’s alright in gesture.
Earlier, the actor had called out the paparazzi after being extremely miffed for creating a ruckus during his hospital visit and invasion of privacy. While the actor expressed his angst, netizens seemed confused by the captions put up by the superstar.
Salman took to his social media account in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and expressed his utter disappointment in the behaviour of paparazzi. He wrote, “If I see any press at a hospital enjoying my pain. The press that I have stood for interacted with, took care to make sure that they also earn their bread and butter. But if they wanna make money from my losses, keep quiet, don’t enjoy. bhai bhai bhai matrabhumi picture ki maaa ki aankh, pic imp hai ya life (sic)”.
“Aise main sau jala doonga. Bhai k ek bhai k dukh par agli baar try kar lena mere sath. Buss try kar lena …. Jab bhi tumhara koi hospital mai hoga kya mai aisa react karoonga?”, he added.
In his final post, Salman warned, “Saath saal ka ho gaya hoon lekin ladna nahiiin bhoola yeh yaad rakh lena, jail mein dalo ge haaa haaa”.
The posts quickly grabbed attention online, with fans and celebrities flooding the comments section with support. A certain section of netizens seemed confused by the captions, and worried for the actor.
--IANS
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Nayanthara-Vignesh Shivan’s vacation has a ‘Melodi’ connection. Find out how
Mumbai, May 20 (IANS) Nayanthara is presently enjoying a fun family vacation with her director husband Vignesh Shivan and their two sons- Ulagam and Uyir in the Vatican City, Rome.
It is the same city where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday morning. The highlight was PM Modi gifting a packet of Melody toffee to Meloni, which went viral, breaking the internet.
Coming back to Nayanthara, she shared some romantic pictures with her husband Vignesh on her official Instagram handle.
In one of the photos, the lovebirds were seen walking the streets of the Vatican hand-in-hand.
Vatican City, despite being located within the city of Rome, is an independent sovereign state. It serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church.
We could also see Vignesh with his arms around his ladylove in one of the clicks.
In some of the other snaps, Nayanthara and Vignesh were lovingly holding their little ones in their arms, along with giving them a peck on the lips.
"Us from our favourite city...The VATICAN CITY...Surrounded by pure love & divine blessings (sic)," the 'Jawan' actress wrote the caption.
Nayanthara looked as beautiful as ever in a stylish black dress, while Vignesh kept it casual in cargo pants and a shirt, with a white t-shirt underneath.
For those who do not know, Nayanthara and Vignesh reportedly fell for one another on the sets of the 2015 Tamil film, "Naanum Rowdy Dhaan".
After being in a relationship for many years, the lovebirds finally tied the knot in a traditional ceremony on June 9, 2022, in Mahabalipuram.
The dreamy nuptials were attended by some of the biggest names from the industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, AR Rahman, Suriya, Vijay Sethupathi, and Atlee, to name just a few.
Later, on September 22, 2022, the couple entered the next chapter of their lives as they welcomed twin boys, Uyir RudroNeel N Shivan and Ulag Daiwik N Shivan, via surrogacy.
--IANS
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Ayushmann Khurrana performs at Indian Idol: The same stage which once rejected me
Mumbai, May 20 (IANS) Aside from his acting skills, Ayushmann Khurrana has also managed to win numerous hearts with his singing prowess.
Recently, the 'Dream Girl' actor performed the reprised version of his track "Dil Waale Chor" from his latest release, "Pati Patni Aur Woh Do" during an episode of the singing reality show, "Indian Idol".
The moment reminded him of the time when he faced rejection from the very same stage on which he now performed as a celebrity.
Recalling his struggling days, Ayushmann wrote on his official Instagram handle, "This is the extended version of Dil Wale Chor (reprise) which I performed at Indian Idol. The same stage which once rejected me during my struggling days. Surreal. Thanks for loving the song. Thanks for loving the film. #PatiPatniAurWohDo running successfully in cinemas! (sic)."
For the unaware, the 'Vicky Donor' actor was rejected during the second season of the reality show "Indian Idol".
During the episode, Ayushmann also credited the legendary actress and dancer Helen for changing the perception of cabaret performances in Indian cinema.
Pouring his heart out, he said, “Cabaret ko, jise aaj item songs kaha jata hain, aapne ek artist ka darja diya. Asha Tai ne jitne khoobsurat gaane aapke liye gaaye aur jis tarah aapne unhe perform kiya it was truly tremendous. (Cabaret, which is now known as item songs, was given the stature of an artist by you. The beautiful songs that Asha Tai sang for you and the way you performed them, it was truly tremendous)"
He shared that just like Helen, his mother is from Burma.
The 'Andhadhun' actor added, “Meri maa Burma se hain aur unki zindagi ka sabse bada flex yeh tha ki Helen Ji bhi Burma se hain. Main bachpan se yahi sunta aaya hoon. Maa ne mujhe bachpan mein ek rhyme bhi sikhayi thi aur maine socha tha ki jab bhi aapse milunga, woh rhyme zaroor sunaunga. (My mother is from Burma and the biggest flex of her life was that Helen Ji is also from Burma. I have been hearing this since childhood. My mother had taught me a rhyme in childhood, and I had always thought that whenever I meet you, I will definitely recite that rhyme)."
--IANS
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Pedro Almodovar: ‘Europe must never be subjected to Trump’
Los Angeles, May 20 (IANS) Filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has advocated for the protection of Europe from the US President Donald Trump. The filmmaker recently attended the Cannes press conference for his new movie, ‘Bitter Christmas’ where he made the statement.
He said, “Europe must never be subjected to Trump”. The statement earned a rousing applause from the international press in attendance, reports ‘Variety’.
The director was responding to a question about censorship concerns given what’s going on in the U.S. under Trump and in France with controversy surrounding Canal+, whose head threatened a blacklist against artists who signed an open letter opposing the company’s main shareholder.
“This does affect us a lot”, he said of censorship concerns before urging artists not to succumb to such fears.
He said, “I don’t want to judge anyone, but I think artists have to speak out about the situation in which they live in contemporary society. It’s a moral duty. Silence and fear is a symptom that things are going badly. It’s a serious sign democracy is crumbling. On the contrary, creators must speak out… the worst thing that could happen would be to remain silent or to be censored. We have a moral obligation to speak out”.
As per ‘Variety’, the filmmaker urged his fellow artists “to act as a shield against this madness”. Ahead of the festival, the director called out the Oscars for being blatantly apolitical this year.
He told ‘Los Angeles Times’, “You know, I’m not really blaming anyone in particular, but it was quite notable watching the Oscar telecast where there were not many protests against the war or against Trump”.
“Maybe he wasn’t the only one, but the only real example I can remember came from a European, a friend of mine, Javier Bardem, who did directly say, “Free Palestine’”, he added.
--IANS
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Lifestyle
India remains committed to maternal, child health agenda: Health Minister Nadda
New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to advancing the global agenda for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, according to an official statement on Wednesday.
During a bilateral meeting with Helen Clark, Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Nadda highlighted India’s longstanding association with PMNCH since its inception in 2005, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
The minister added that the country remains proud to continue its partnership and contribute meaningfully to its objectives.
Moreover, Nadda underlined India’s active leadership role in PMNCH as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Standing Committee, and informed that India’s annual grant contribution of $2 million in perpetuity is currently under process.
He emphasised India’s achievements in public health, saying that India has been a hub of innovation and large-scale delivery of health interventions with equity and accessibility, keeping the health of women, children and adolescents at the core of its service delivery and sustainable development efforts.
He noted that India was among the first countries to launch a dedicated national programme for adolescents in 2014, reaching young people through facility-based, school-based and community-based interventions across the country.
Referring to improvements in major indicators, Nadda said India has recorded significant reductions in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), at a pace surpassing global trends.
The minister also said India has much to offer the global community through evidence-based best practices and successful public health interventions implemented at scale and expressed readiness to provide technical guidance and support to other countries.
He invited PMNCH to showcase India’s successful models and innovations through physical and virtual platforms.
Reiterating India’s commitment as Vice Chair of PMNCH, Nadda said India is willing to support the organisation across priorities, including Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH) and the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He also noted India’s growing repository of technical resources and digital public health goods that can be shared globally.
In addition, Helen Clark appreciated India’s continued leadership and contributions to global public health and acknowledged its important role within PMNCH and the wider global health architecture.
--IANS
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