Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan is a global star, and the international platforms keep reminding why he is one.

On Thursday, the Academy took to its Instagram, and shared a clip of SRK’s speech from ‘Om Shanti Om’. They wrote in the caption, “One thing about destiny... it doesn't miss. Film: OM SHANTI OM (2007) Directed by Farah Khan Written by Farah Khan, Mushtaq Shiekh and Mayur Puri Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade and Kirron Kher”.

‘Om Shanti Om’ is a classic from commercial Hindi cinema. It is directed by Farah Khan, and blends romance, reincarnation, and self-aware humor into a wildly entertaining package. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role and marking the debut of Deepika Padukone, the film follows Om, a junior artist in the 1970s who is reborn decades later to avenge his tragic past and lost love.

The film is known for its vibrant homage to Bollywood, complete with grand sets, dramatic storytelling, and iconic songs. Beneath its glossy surface lies a clever satire of film industry tropes and celebrity culture. Released in 2007, it became a massive commercial success and a cultural phenomenon, cementing its place as a modern Bollywood classic that celebrates cinema while playfully poking fun at it.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan was last seen in ‘Jawan’, for which he was feted with the National Film Award for Best Actor. He shared the award with Vikrant Massey, who was lionised for his work in ‘12th Fail’.

On the work front, SRK will be next seen in ‘King’, for which he has summoned practically the entire Hindi film industry. The film is helmed by Siddharth Anand, who directed SRK in ‘Pathaan’.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer struck their second successive half-centuries and shared a 139-run partnership for the third wicket as Punjab Kings cruised to a seven-wicket win with 21 balls to spare against the Mumbai Indians in Match 24 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Iyer read the pitch correctly and inserted MI in to bat first on a wicket that had a slight tinge of grass and some help for the pacers. With Mumbai deciding to rest Rohit Sharma for the hamstring injury he suffered in the previous match, Quinton de Kock stepped into the opener's role and carried his bat through for his first century of IPL 2026. He smashed 112 not out off 60 balls, and with Naman Dhir contributing 50 from 31 balls, helped Mumbai Indians reach 195/6 after slumping to 12/2 in the third over.

But their heroics were topped by Prabhsimran and Shreyas as they batted beautifully to help PBKS to victory.

Prabhsimran and Shreyas Iyer had scored half-centuries to help PBKS beat Sunrisers Hyderabad a couple of days back, and on Thursday, they mastered another chase with the former hammering 80 not out of 39 balls and the latter scoring 66 off 35 as PBKS reached 198/3 in 16.3 overs.

While Prabhsimran scored his second fifty of IPL 2026, Iyer hammered his third successive half-century in the tournament, but this one would be more satisfying for him as it came at his home ground and against a team that had three members of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team, for which he was not considered.

With this win, PBKS surged to the top of the points table with nine points, while the Mumbai Indians remained on two points from one win and four defeats.

Chasing a challenging target of 196, the Punjab Kings were off to Priyansh Arya (15) and Cooper Connolly (17) with 45 runs on the board. Impact Substitute AM Ghazanfar accounted for both of them to raise hopes for Mumbai.

But Prabhsimran and Iyer rescued them from the difficult position to put them on course to victory, sharing a massive partnership. They seem to have picked up from where they left off against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Mumbai Indians pay for their fielding lapses, three dropped catches.

Prabhsimran was in brilliant form as he played shots all around the ground, timing the ball sweetly and kept the chase going. He had a slice of luck early on when Jasprit Bumrah dropped an easy chance off Hardik Pandya.

Prabhsimran started with back-to-back fours off Chahar in the first over, followed that up with a six and four off the pacer in the eighth over; hammered Hardik Pandya for successive boundaries in the 10th over and struck the MI captain four and six in the 14th over. Ghazanfar and Shardul Thakur, too, were treated for boundaries as he reached his fifty off 23 balls as PBKS cruised towards the target.

Iyer, who picked a sensational catch to dismiss his counterpart, played able foil to his partner early on before blazing some brilliant shots towards the end of his knock, reaching his half-century in 31 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.

With PBKS needing 35 runs from 36 balls, Iyer struck Bumrah for a couple of boundaries before smashing Shadrul Thakur for sixes off successive balls in the 16th over after being dropped by Naman Dhir in deep once. Shardul and Dhir had the last laugh when they ended Iyer's sensational knock. Dhir picked a superb catch to make up for his earlier mistake, but the match was as good as over by that time. Iyer scored 66 off 35 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes.

Earlier, asked to bat first, Mumbai rode on a brilliant innings by De Kock and looked to score in excess of 200 before PBKS pulled things back a bit.

With Rohit Sharma missing the match after failing to fully recover from a hamstring injury he suffered in the previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the Mumbai Indians were off to a poor start, slumping to 12/2 with Arshdeep Singh landing twin blows off successive balls, sending back Rickelton and India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav for a first-ball duck.

Rickelton (2) was the first to go, smashing a length-ball on his pads straight down the throat of Shashing Singh at deep backward square leg. He was Arshdeep Singh's 100th victim in the IPL 87th match. The lanky left-arm medium pacer made it 101 wickets when he swung one off the length, and Suryakuamr Yadav drove it straight to Yuzvendra Chahal.

De Kock took over after that and, with Naman Dhir playing an able foil, capitalised on the short boundaries. They exploded into action in the last over of the Power-play and maintained the tempo thereafter.

The seasoned South African, who had lost out to his compatriot Rickelton and missed the first four matches, scored a brilliant century off 53 balls, hitting seven boundaries and as many sixes, reaching his century in his first match for the Mumbai Indians.

De Kock was the more adventurous against Yuzi Chahal and made the most of the run-out opportunity that Shreyas Iyer missed, unable to execute a direct hit. QDK, who started with a superb six off the first ball he aced, reached his fifty off 28 balls. He was quite severe on Chahal, smashing him for a couple of sixes.

Dhir, who was promoted to No.4 and enjoyed a slice of luck when put down by Chahal early in his knock, hammered a half-century, making the most of his chance. He smashed Vijaykumar Vyshak for the two fours and a six off the last over of Power-play. They then smashed Chahal for two sixes and a four as they raised 100 runs off their partnership. Dhir completed his fifty off.

De Kock continued to prosper; he stepped up a gear after completing his half-century, smashing Shashank Singh for back-to-back sixes and reaching the three-figure mark in 53 balls, smashing seven fours and as many sixes in his superb knock.

Mumbai lost skipper Hardik Pandya (14 of 12) to a spectacular catch orchestrated by PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer, who leapt into the air, caught the ball with the tip of his left hand, exchanged it to his throwing arm and lobbed it in inside the field while in the air outside the rope for Xavier Bartlett to complete the catch. The sensation catch, which he celebrated in front of his home crowd animatedly, would be listed among the best of this season and helped PBKS restrict the Mumbai Indians to below 200.

The Mumbai Indians also did not help their cause by dropping three catches in all. Bumrah's horrendous tournament continued as he went wicketless once again and also dropped a catch off Prabhsimran Singh.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 195/6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 112 not out, Naman Dhir 50; Arshdeep Singh 3-22) lost to Punjab Kings 198/3 in 16.3 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 80 not out, Shreyas Iyer 66; AM Ghazanfar 2-31) by seven wickets.

--IANS

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Raipur/Sakti, April 16 (IANS) The death toll from the boiler explosion at the Vedanta Power Plant in Singhitarai village in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district, has risen to 20 on Thursday, with 15 workers still battling injuries in hospitals.

The tragic incident, which took place on April 14, at 2:33 p.m., has sent shockwaves through the industrial belt of Chhattisgarh.

The massive blast in boiler ripped through the facility, instantly triggering panic and widespread devastation among workers on shift.

Local police, led by Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, rushed to the site and launched an on-ground investigation.

The injured were swiftly transported to multiple hospitals in Raigarh district, including Medical College Hospital, Apex Hospital, and Metro Hospital.

While medical teams fought to save lives, 20 workers ultimately succumbed to severe burn injuries and trauma.

A preliminary technical report from the Chief Boiler Inspector pointed to excessive fuel buildup inside the furnace, which caused dangerous pressure surges and displaced critical piping, leading to the catastrophic failure.

The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti backed these findings, confirming fuel overload as the main trigger.

Further probes revealed serious lapses in maintenance and safety protocols by Vedanta Limited and its contractor NGSL.

Reports highlighted repeated negligence in equipment upkeep and failure to address pressure fluctuations, raising uncomfortable questions about corporate accountability in high-risk industrial operations.

Taking strong note of the evident violations, Superintendent of Police (SP) Praful Thakur ordered the registration of an FIR at Dabhara police station.

The case has been filed against Vedanta Director Anil Agarwal, Plant Manager Devendra Patel, and other officials under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita -- 106(1), 289, and 3(5) — for causing death by negligence and endangering lives.

A dedicated Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional SP Pankaj Patel and including Sub Divisional Police Officer Sumit Gupta, forensic expert Srishti Singh, and Station House Officer Rajesh Patel, has been formed to conduct a thorough probe with technical experts.

Authorities have promised stringent action and full support to the grieving families.

The accident has ignited widespread anger among labour unions and local communities, who are demanding stricter enforcement of industrial safety norms and swift justice.

As investigations intensify, this incident has once again spotlighted the urgent need for robust safety measures in India's power sector to prevent such preventable tragedies.

--IANS

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New York, April 16 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon aimed at bringing a temporary cooling-off along another front linked to the Iran conflict.

He said that after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, the two sides agreed to a 10-day ceasefire beginning at 5 p.m. Washington time (2.30 a.m. Friday in India).

The ceasefire is expected to pause hostilities that escalated when Israel opened a new front targeting Iran-affiliated Hezbollah.

Lebanon is not directly engaged in a formal war with Israel, but Hezbollah controls large parts of southern Lebanon and has carried out attacks on Israel, prompting retaliatory strikes.

Unable to rein in Hezbollah, Lebanon has borne the brunt of Israeli retaliation.

The durability of the ceasefire is likely to depend on Hezbollah refraining from further attacks.

While Hezbollah is not formally part of the agreement, media reports indicated that the group may halt attacks if Israel also exercises restraint.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf endorsed the ceasefire, stating in a social media post: “For us, a ceasefire in Lebanon is just as important as a ceasefire in Iran.”

Hezbollah had intensified its attacks on Israel following the escalation of the Iran conflict.

The ceasefire follows a meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon in Washington on Tuesday, facilitated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

This marked the first direct diplomatic engagement between the two sides since the 1980s, when Israel launched a large-scale invasion of Lebanon.

Earlier, when a 14-day ceasefire between Iran and the US was announced on April 7, there was confusion over whether it included Lebanon.

Pakistan had indicated that it did, but both the US and Israel clarified that Lebanon was not part of that arrangement.

Trump said on Truth Social that he has asked “Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, together with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, to work with Israel and Lebanon to achieve a lasting peace”.

He also said he would invite Netanyahu and Aoun to the White House to discuss a longer-term peace framework.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 2,000 people have been killed and over a million displaced during Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah positions.

The attacks have extended into the capital, Beirut.

There are 642 Indian personnel serving in the UN peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel.

UN peacekeepers operating in the region have come under fire from both sides during the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

“The United Nations, through its political and peacekeeping missions, remains ready to support these efforts,” he said.

The UN has urged both sides to work “towards a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict”, he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) Actor Babil Khan, who was last seen in ‘Logout’, has shared an unseen picture of his father, the legendary actor Irrfan Khan.

On Thursday, Babil took to his Instagram, and shared a series of pictures of his father from the time of his treatment. Babil revealed that during the treatment of the legendary actor, his mother Sutapa Sikdar, used to get foot corns, which his father would remove.

He penned a long note in the caption, as he wrote, “During baba’s most unbearable peak cancer period, mamma used to get corns on her feet, running around and taking care of him. So baba used to tie his phone on his head as a light source and operate on her corns. Both peeling off hardened layers of resistance towards the soft skin of love”.

Irrfan Khan remains one of the most distinctive actors to emerge from Indian cinema, celebrated for his quiet intensity, expressive eyes, and ability to convey profound emotion with minimal dialogue. From early roles in television to international acclaim in films like ‘The Lunchbox’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, and ‘Life of Pi’, he built a career that bridged Bollywood and global cinema with rare ease.

His performances often carried a philosophical depth, reflecting a man deeply attuned to life’s subtleties. In 2018, he revealed he was battling a neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of cancer. After prolonged treatment in the UK, he returned briefly to work, completing ‘Angrezi Medium’. However, on April 29, 2020, he passed away in Mumbai due to complications from a colon infection. His death marked a profound loss, but his legacy endures through performances that continue to resonate, intimate, human, and timeless.

Earlier, Babil Khan shared his two cents on meditation, which he said that it shouldn’t be done as an act. Babil emphasized that meditation, for him, goes far beyond a routine practice, it is a state of being. He went on to explain that meditation should not be treated as a separate activity or a task to check off the list.

--IANS

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Mumbai, April 16 (IANS) The magical combination of Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer hammered half-centuries each in their second successive match and shared another crucial partnership as they helped Punjab Kings romp to a seven-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in Match 24 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Prabhsimran and Shreyas Iyer had scored half-centuries to help PBKS beat Sunrisers Hyderabad a couple of days back, and on Thursday, they mastered another chase with the former hammering 80 not off 39 balls and the latter scoring 66 off 35 as PBKS reached 198/3 in 16.3 overs after inserting Mumbai Indians in and restricting them to 195/6 despite a scintillating unbeaten century by Quinton de Kock (112*) and fifty by Naman Dhir.

While Prabhsimran scored his second fifty of IPL 2026, Iyer hammered his third successive half-century in the tournament, but this one would be more satisfactory for him as it came at his home ground and against a team that had three members of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team, for which he was not considered.

Their 139-run partnership for the third wicket ensured PBKS won the match with 21 balls to spare to post their fourth win in five matches and remain unbeaten. With this win, PBKS surged to the top of the points table with nine points, while the Mumbai Indians remained on two points from one win and four defeats.

Chasing a challenging target of 196, Punjab Kings lost opener Priyansh Arya early after they negotiated the first two overs by Deepak Chahar and Jasprit Bumrah. But the introduction of AM Ghazanfar, who came in as an impact player in place of Suryakumar Yadav, fetched the Mumbai Indians the breakthrough when Arya whipped it off the leg stump straight to Chahar at midwicket. He fell for 15 off 9 balls (2x4, 1x6) with the team score reading 27/1.

It soon became 45/2 as Cooper Connolly struck one four and two sixes during his brief stay before edging it behind to Quinton de Kock off Ghazanfar.

But Prabhsimran Singh and skipper Shreyas Iyer rescued them from the difficult position to put them on course to victory, sharing a century partnership for the third wicket.

Prabhsimran was in brilliant form as he scored his second successive half-century, as he played shots all around the ground, timing the ball sweetly and kept the chase going. He had a slice of luck early on when Jasprit Bumrah dropped an easy chance off Hardik Pandya.

Prabhsimran started with back-to-back fours off Chahar in the first over, followed that up with a six and four off the pacer in the eighth over; hammered Hardik Pandya for successive boundaries in the 10th over and struck the MI captain four and six in the 14th over. Ghazanfar and Shardul Thakur, too, were treated for boundaries as he reached his fifty off 23 balls as PBKS cruised towards the target.

He forged another crucial partnership with Iyer after doing the same against SRH a few days back. Iyer, who picked a sensational catch to dismiss his counterpart, played able foil to his partner early on before blazing some brilliant shots towards the end of his knock, reaching his half-century in 31 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.

With PBKS needing 35 runs from 36 balls, Iyer struck Bumrah for a couple of boundaries before smashing Shadrul Thakur for sixes off successive balls in the 16th over after being dropped by Naman Dhir in deep once. Shardul and Dhir had the last laugh when they ended Iyer's sensational knock. Dhir picked a superb catch to make up for his earlier mistake, but the match was as good as over by that time. Iyer scored 66 off 35 balls, smashing five fours and four sixes.

Prabhsimran propelled PBKS to victory, ending the match with 80 not out off 39 balls, with Marcus Stoinis to keep him company with 10 not out as the PBKS remained unbeaten in five matches.

Brief scores:

Mumbai Indians 195/6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 112 not out, Naman Dhir 50; Arshdeep Singh 3-22) lost to Punjab Kings 198/3 in 16.3 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 80 not out, Shreyas Iyer 66; AM Ghazanfar 2-31) by seven wickets.

--IANS

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Jaipur, April 16 (IANS) Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma met Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Paatil in New Delhi on Thursday during his visit to the national capital. ​

During the meeting, the two leaders held detailed, meaningful discussions on key water-related initiatives and projects in the State of Rajasthan.​

The discussions focused on the progress of the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, which aims to strengthen inter-basin water transfer and improve water availability in the state. ​

They also reviewed the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to ensure safe, adequate drinking water for every rural household. ​

Emphasis was placed on expediting works under the scheme to achieve universal household tap water coverage in a time-bound manner.​

In addition, issues related to comprehensive water resource management in the state were discussed, including measures to improve water distribution efficiency, conserve water, and sustainably utilise available resources, particularly in Rajasthan's water-scarce regions.​

The meeting underscored the continued cooperation between the government of Rajasthan and the Union government to address the state’s long-standing water challenges and accelerate ongoing projects in the sector.​

CM Sharma went to Delhi after attending a couple of programmes in Jaipur. He made his presence felt as the chief guest at a state-level programme held at the Rajasthan Police Academy (RPA) in Jaipur.​

Speaking on the occasion, CM Sharma said that the crime rate has reduced in the state in the last two years. He added that security and safety issues have been maintained in the state, and hence, investors are coming with confidence.​

“Cyber crimes and drug addiction have come up as major challenges; we need to think afresh in modern ways to tackle these challenges. Society should stand active to check such a menace,” he said. ​

The CM further stated that the state government is working to control crime with a vision of zero tolerance towards crime and corruption.​

He specified that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force has been set up to check the drug mafia, and the paper leak mafia has also been exposed and sent behind bars. ​

“Further, not even a paper has been leaked in our tenure,” he added. “We take pride in the vigilant sentinels of peace and security in the state,” the CM said.​

--IANS

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Los Angeles, April 16 (IANS) Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal has shared that fashion shoots are not his thing. The actor said that he "never felt totally comfortable" with them.

The ‘Day After Tomorrow’ star, 45, has opened up about his ventures into the fashion industry in recent years after signing up as the face of several luxury designers, admitting he loves collaborating with brands but he doesn't enjoy posing for pictures as part of advertising campaigns, reports ‘Female First UK’.

He told WWD, "The irony is I've never really felt totally comfortable with it (posing for fashion shoots). I love performing and expressing myself, but I'm not focused on playing to the camera”.

He further mentioned, “My love is being able to connect with the other person in a scene, or with the artists around me. That's what I really love about it. It's not the posing, it's the collaboration and the connection. To me, art is collaborative, it's all about the people you're lucky enough to create and connect with along the way”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Jake's latest foray into the fashion industry is as the face of a jewellery line and he's posed for pictures showing off the brand's luxury watches and in the interview, the actor revealed he loves to express himself through jewellery as it makes him feel more confident.

He told the publication, "I think as a man, I really started to see watches as a way of expressing yourself. Any type of jewellery in general, something simple, can say a lot. In a lot of ways, it feels like an expression of self-respect, and sometimes a way to show your individuality. I also think there's something important about the idea of something that shines. Wearing something like that can be a reminder to carry yourself the same way, to show up with confidence and to put your best self forward”.

“I think jewellery is like art, and it's incredible to look around the world and see how everyone expresses themselves. Jewellery is art, each piece tells its own story”, he added.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Maharashtra NCP(SP) President Shashikant Shinde has written a commemorative editorial in the party’s magazine, shedding light on the hidden dynamics of the split and the alleged merger plans between the two NCP factions.

Shinde claimed that late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was forced to exit the original NCP due to threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers."

He further said that a final decision to merge the two parties was reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and was to be announced on February 12.

In a massive revelation, Shinde asserted that Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders had agreed to hand over the entire command of the unified party to Ajit Pawar following the merger.

“Fulfilling this merger and rebuilding the party with strength would be the only true tribute to Ajit Dada," Shinde wrote.

Shinde clarified, "It was our decision to hand over all party responsibilities to Ajit Dada once the merger process was complete. However, fate had other plans. We were all mentally prepared to accept Ajit Dada’s leadership.”

Shinde appealed to the party faithful, asserting that a merger is the only true tribute to the late leader. He noted, “Ajit Pawar’s dream remains unfulfilled, and it is now the party's responsibility to complete it. Unity: Reuniting and strengthening the NCP is the ultimate goal. Leaders and workers must set aside their differences and broaden their perspective to achieve this unity.”

Following the publication of the article, senior NCP(SP) leader and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh remarked, "I am unaware of what our State President has said. Since he wrote the article, he likely has more information than I do. I personally have no knowledge of this matter."

While Sharad Pawar has avoided commenting publicly on the matter, Shinde’s article has brought these behind-the-scenes developments to light. However, Shinde’s revelations have sparked a new controversy and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has reacted with sharp skepticism.

Party spokesperson Suraj Chavan questioned the timing of these claims. Chavan alleged that discussing a merger while the leader’s mortal remains were still at Vidya Pratishthan suggests a "lust for power" rather than genuine respect. He clarified that Sunetra Pawar is now the ultimate authority of their party and any dialogue must happen through her.

Further, the party legislator Amol Mitkari stated that no such merger discussions have occurred within their internal party meetings, attributing the rumours to the rival camp's leaders.

While the Pawar family continues to demonstrate a unique balance of political rivalry and familial bond — recently seen at family weddings — the political future remains clouded.

All eyes are now on Sunetra Pawar. Whether she will pursue the "unfulfilled dream" of a unified NCP or maintain a separate identity, remains a question that will define the next chapter of Maharashtra politics.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India’s share in global electronics demand has expanded at a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2 per cent, significantly outpacing global growth of 4.4 per cent between 2015 and 2024, driven primarily by the sharp rise in mobile phone exports, according to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly report for July-September 2025-26, launched on Friday.

Between 2016 and 2024, electronics exports increased nearly five-fold, reaching USD 42.1 billion. With global electronics trade valued at USD 4.6 trillion, the sector represents one of the largest and fastest-evolving segments of the world economy. India has demonstrated particular strength in products such as mobile phones, consumer electronics, and communication equipment, with exports increasingly directed towards major final-consumption markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the UAE, the report states.

Electronics, the thematic focus of this quarter's edition, has emerged as a cornerstone of India's manufacturing and export transformation. Now the second-largest item in India's export basket, the sector is both technology-led and deeply interconnected with industries such as automotive, renewable energy, telecom, defence, and digital services, making it a powerful multiplier for industrial growth.

The report states that having established a strong foothold in assembly and system integration, India is now entering the next phase of its electronics journey, moving decisively toward component manufacturing and higher value addition. This transition is supported by targeted policy measures, including the Union Budget's Rs 40,000 crore allocation under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities.

The analysis underscores that sustained competitiveness will be driven by deeper integration into global electronics value chains, encompassing printed circuit board design, semiconductor assembly and testing, power electronics, and embedded systems. Complemented by continued improvements in logistics efficiency, tariff rationalisation, and industry-aligned skill development, these shifts position electronics as a key engine of India's export growth and technological advancement in the coming decade.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said, "Electronics, as the organising core of modern manufacturing value chains, with semiconductors and components, plays a key role in determining trade balances and technological sovereignty. While India has achieved scale in final assembly, sustained competitiveness will depend on correcting structural cost disabilities, deepening domestic component ecosystems, and leveraging anchor investments in components to embed Indian firms more firmly within global production networks."

The publication also provides a comprehensive assessment of global and domestic trade trends at a time when global trade growth has moderated but remains positive, with services continuing to outperform goods and developing regions emerging as key drivers.

The analysis highlights that India's trade performance in Q2 FY26 was driven by export-led momentum sustaining the overall trade expansion amid heightened global uncertainty. Services and merchandise exports recorded robust growth of around 8.5 per cent, outpacing import growth in both merchandise and services.

At a structural level, the edition underscores the deepening of trade among developing economies, which has expanded nearly four-fold since 2005 and now accounts for a rising share of global exports, with India’s trade trajectory increasingly aligned with this Global South rebalancing through regional value chains and new trade corridors.

Further, this edition highlights the growing role of e-commerce as a key enabler of future export growth. India is now among the world’s top six e-commerce markets, with electronics accounting for nearly half of online retail.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) In a farmer-centric step to stabilise domestic markets and ensure remunerative returns to producers, the Centre on Friday approved the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat, along with an additional 5 LMT of wheat products.

According to a Consumer Affairs Ministry statement, wheat stock availability with private entities during 2025–26 stands at approximately 75 LMT, which is nearly 32 LMT higher compared to the corresponding period last year.

"This substantial year-on-year increase indicates a comfortable supply position in the country. Furthermore, as on April 1, 2026, total wheat availability in the central pool with FCI is projected at around 182 LMT, thus ensuring that export permissions will not impact domestic food security requirements," it said.

Moreover, wheat acreage in Rabi 2026 has also increased to about 334.17 lakh hectares compared to 328.04 lakh hectares last year.

This reflects strong farmer confidence in wheat cultivation supported by assured MSP and procurement mechanisms, and signals the likelihood of another robust harvest, the official statement further added.

The decision to permit export of 25 LMT of wheat and 5 LMT wheat products will help stabilise domestic prices, improve market liquidity, ensure efficient stock rotation, and further strengthen farmers’ income while ensuring national food security.

Meanwhile, to facilitate sugar exports, the government decided to allow export of an additional 5 LMT of sugar to willing sugar mills during the current Sugar Season 2025–26.

Earlier, the government had permitted the export of 15 LMT of sugar during the current Sugar Season 2025–26. This decision is expected to facilitate higher sugar exports and help in managing surplus sugar availability in the country.

As per data, only about 1.97 LMT of sugar has been exported up to January 31, 2026.

In addition, approximately 2.72 LMT of sugar has been contracted for export by sugar mills to date.

The ministry said that the additional export quantity of 5 LMT shall be made available to willing sugar mills, subject to the condition that at least 70 per cent of their allocated quantity is exported by June 30, 2026.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, April 16 (IANS) Hollywood actor Jake Gyllenhaal has shared that fashion shoots are not his thing. The actor said that he "never felt totally comfortable" with them.

The ‘Day After Tomorrow’ star, 45, has opened up about his ventures into the fashion industry in recent years after signing up as the face of several luxury designers, admitting he loves collaborating with brands but he doesn't enjoy posing for pictures as part of advertising campaigns, reports ‘Female First UK’.

He told WWD, "The irony is I've never really felt totally comfortable with it (posing for fashion shoots). I love performing and expressing myself, but I'm not focused on playing to the camera”.

He further mentioned, “My love is being able to connect with the other person in a scene, or with the artists around me. That's what I really love about it. It's not the posing, it's the collaboration and the connection. To me, art is collaborative, it's all about the people you're lucky enough to create and connect with along the way”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, Jake's latest foray into the fashion industry is as the face of a jewellery line and he's posed for pictures showing off the brand's luxury watches and in the interview, the actor revealed he loves to express himself through jewellery as it makes him feel more confident.

He told the publication, "I think as a man, I really started to see watches as a way of expressing yourself. Any type of jewellery in general, something simple, can say a lot. In a lot of ways, it feels like an expression of self-respect, and sometimes a way to show your individuality. I also think there's something important about the idea of something that shines. Wearing something like that can be a reminder to carry yourself the same way, to show up with confidence and to put your best self forward”.

“I think jewellery is like art, and it's incredible to look around the world and see how everyone expresses themselves. Jewellery is art, each piece tells its own story”, he added.

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Los Angeles, April 16 (IANS) Auteur Christopher Nolan has shared that his upcoming film ‘The Odyssey’ was a "nightmare to film, but in all the right ways”.

The 55-year-old filmmaker's upcoming blockbuster brings Homer's epic ancient Greek story to the big screen and he explained that he had an "amazing time" shooting the movie during a hectic production process across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland and Scotland, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking at a presentation for ‘The Odyssey’ at CinemaCon, Nolan said, "This has been a nightmare to film, but in all the right ways”.

The 'Oppenheimer' director reserved praise for The Odyssey's leading man Matt Damon, whom he referred to as his "partner on this journey".

Nolan shared, "He was there on the boats, up the mountains, in the caves, in the beating sunshine, sideways rain, wind. You'll be pleased to know how difficult it was. It was meant to be; that's the nature of the story”.

As per ‘Female First UK’, the attendees at CinemaCon in Las Vegas got an extended glimpse of ‘The Odyssey’, which will be released in July, and Nolan explained that he decided to adapt Homer's story for the cinema because it "has fascinated generation after generation".

The auteur said, "Why The Odyssey? The Odyssey is a story that has fascinated generation after generation for 3,000 years. It's not a story. It's the story”.

The picture tells the story of Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, and his long and perilous journey home to reunite with his wife Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway) following the Trojan War and Nolan quipped that the film's cast, which also includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya and Charlize Theron, is so talent-filled that he couldn't bring all of the stars to CinemaCon.

The director said, "How do you go about bringing this to a modern audience? Obviously, we start with the cast. It'll be quicker for me to tell you who isn't in the movie. I would have brought them all here, but the massive weight of extraordinary talent would have collapsed the stage”.

‘The Odyssey’ is Nolan's first movie to be shot entirely with Imax cameras.

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Los Angeles, April 16 (IANS) The upcoming reboot of the legendary series ‘Baywatch’ has added another familiar face to its line-up. Actress Erika Eleniak will reprise her role as Shauni McClain in a guest starring capacity.

The actress starred in the first two seasons of the show before departing at the beginning of Season 3, reports ‘Variety’.

A former Baywatch lifeguard, Shauni is now a Santa Monica city councilwoman who returns to the beach to help Hobie Buchannon (played by Stephen Amell) kick off the annual “Beach Games” between reigning champions of Baywatch versus the Coast Guard.

As per ‘Variety’, she has joined returning cast member David Chokachi, who is reprising the role of Cody Madison, as well as an ensemble that includes Amell, Jessica Belkin as Charlie Vale, Shay Mitchell as Trina, Hassie Harrison as Nat, Thaddeus LaGrone as Brad, Brooks Nader as Selene, Noah Beck as Luke, Livvy Dunne as Grace and Nadia Gray as Lisa.

Decades after the original ‘Baywatch’ became one of the largest television properties of all time, launching David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson to global stardom, Fox and Fremantle decided to revive the franchise with a series that continues the storyline of the original. Matt Nix is the showrunner, executive producing alongside director McG, Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, Dante Di Loreto and Mike Horowitz.

The reboot received a California state tax incentive to shoot in Los Angeles, and Fox hosted an open casting call in February to attract new talent. ‘Baywatch’ blended action, sun-soaked visuals, and melodrama along California’s beaches. The show followed lifeguards rescuing swimmers, tackling crime, and navigating personal lives. It is known for its iconic slow-motion beach runs and catchy theme, it became one of the most-watched TV shows worldwide in the 1990s. Despite mixed critical reviews, its cultural impact and global syndication success made it a television phenomenon.

‘Baywatch’ is set to premiere on Fox as part of the 2026-2027 season.

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Los Angeles, April 16 (IANS) Hollywood actor Timothee Chalamet has shared that he was "deeply emotional" upon finishing production on his upcoming film ‘Dune: Part Three’.

The 30-year-old star reprises his role as Paul Atreides in the concluding installment of Denis Villeneuve's space opera and has described it as a "deep honour" to have worked on such a successful movie franchise, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Speaking at a presentation for the film at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Timothee, who was joined on stage by co-stars Zendaya and Jason Momoa, as well as director Denis Villeneuve, said, "It was deeply emotional. I've grown up on screen with Denis, I've been in three films now with Zendaya”.

“and it was just deeply moving to be a part of a sci-fi trilogy on the scale of Lord of the Rings, but in a time when movie theatres and movies aren't as necessarily successful as they used to be. It's a deep honour, if not the biggest honour of my career, to be working with the one, (who) is Denis Villeneuve, the real Paul Atreides”, he added.

As per ‘Female First UK’, footage from ‘Dune: Part Three’ was debuted at the CinemaCon presentation recently, and the actor has hinted that his character will be darker in this flick, which is set 17 years after the events of the previous movie ‘Dune: Part Two’.

The ‘Marty Supreme’ actor said of his alter ego, "He's become the worst vision, and it's 17 years later, and he's struggling to retain the parts of himself he sees the most and trying to figure out how to still protect those he loves in his life while becoming an all-powerful, dark emperor of the universe”.

The actor recently recalled how he pushed himself harder than ever for ‘Dune: Part Three’, which will be released in December.

Speaking at an event earlier this year, the four-time Oscar nominee said, "I didn’t want to be complacent about a single moment. Everything was sacred, and it was my last time doing a Dune film, so I really wanted to treat it as sacred. "Because people can get complacent, but I was more intense on the third one. It felt like that was the natural momentum, so I wanted to push against that as hard as I could”.

He got the chance to return to familiar sequences in ‘Dune: Part Three’ and described how this made him determined to elevate his performance from the original 2021 flick.

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