The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2025

  • MAESTRO AMJAD ALI KHAN WITH SONS PERFORMS SAROD TRILOGY

    MAESTRO AMJAD ALI KHAN WITH SONS PERFORMS SAROD TRILOGY

    • By Mabel Pais

    Sarod Maestro AMJAD ALI KHAN accompanied by his two sons, AMAAN ALI BANGASH and AYAAN ALI BANGASH will perform the ‘Sarod Trilogy’ on Friday May 30, 2025 at New York University’s Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place, Manhattan. The performance starts at 8 pm. Doors open at 7 pm. This is a World Music Institute presentation.

    Recognized by ‘Songlines’ magazine as “one of the 20th Century’s greatest masters of the sarod”, he has not only preserved the sarod’s legacy but has also enhanced the instrument with new dimensions by skillfully blending innovation with a deep respect for tradition. For this performance, he will be accompanied by his two sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, who carry forward the family’s extraordinary musical legacy.

    When AMJAD ALI KHAN gave his first recital of Sarod at age 6, it was the beginning of yet another glorious chapter in the history of Indian classical music. Taught by his father Haafiz Ali Khan, Amjad Ali Khan was born to the illustrious Bangash lineage rooted in the Senia Bangash School of music. Today he shoulders the sixth generation of inheritance in this legendary lineage.

    The world saw the Sarod being given a new and yet timeless interpretation by Amjad Ali Khan. Khan is one of the few maestros who consider his audience to be the soul of his motivation. He once said, “There is no essential difference between classical and popular music. Music is music. I want to communicate with the listener who finds Indian classical music remote.”

    He is a recipient of the UNESCO Award, Padma Vibhushan (Highest Indian civilian award), Unicef’s National Ambassadorship, The Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum and Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of York in 1997, England, Delhi University in 1998, Rabindra Bharati University in 2007, Kolkata and the Vishva Bharti (Deshikottam) in Shantiniketan in 2001. He has represented India in the first World Arts Summit in Venice in 1991, received Honorary Citizenship to several US States and Cities. April 20th, 1984 was declared as Amjad Ali Khan Day in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1995, Mr. Khan awarded the Gandhi UNESCO Medal in Paris for his composition Bapukauns. In 2003,the maestro received “Commander of the Order of Arts and letters” by the French Government and the Fukuoka Cultural grand prize in Japan in 2004.

    He has been a regular performer at the Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Kennedy Center, House of Commons, Theater Dela ville, Musee Guimet, ESPLANADE in Singapore, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Chicago Symphony Center, Palais beaux-arts, Mozart Hall in Frankfurt, St. James Palace and the Opera House in Australia.

    In his case, the term ‘beauty of the Ragas’ acquires a special meaning as he has to his credit the distinction of having created many new Ragas. It is love for music and his belief in his music that has enabled him to interpret traditional notions of music for a new refreshing way, reiterating the challenge of innovation and yet respecting the timelessness of tradition.

    Two books have been written on him: the first titled, ‘The world of Amjad Ali Khan’ by UBS Publishers in 1995 and the second, ‘Abba-God’s Greatest Gift to us’ by his sons, Amaan and Ayaan published by Roli Books-Lustre Publications in 2002. A documentary on Mr. Khan called ‘Strings for Freedom’ won the Bengal Film Journalist Association Award and was also screened at the Ankara Film Festival in 1996.

    He is married to wife Suhbhalakshmi Khan, a great exponent of the Indian classical dance, Bharatnatyam. They have two sons: Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash. He is a living example of a man who practices integration of love and music in his life. Learn more at sarod.com.

    Watch the trio perform – youtu.be/Dv5hdYNiPLU

    AMAAN ALI BANGASH is the older son and belongs to the seventh generation in an unbroken chain of the Senia Bangash School. He was initiated by his father into the fine art of Sarod playing and gave his first public performance at age eight. Amaan’s musical style is marked by its precision in tunefulness, bold and resonant strokes, along with tradition and continuity of Indian Classical Music. Amaan’s performances have evoked creditable applause.

    Today, Amaan is considered one of the finest Sarod players in the world and has obtained a very special place for himself among music enthusiasts across continents. He is an inspiration for the younger generation of musicians. He continues to enchant audiences with his virtuosity, sheer brilliance and charismatic stage presence. Learn more at amaanalibangash.com.

    AYAAN ALI BANGASH represents the seventh generation of a musical lineage known as the Senia Bangash School. The younger son and disciple of the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan, Ayaan stepped into the world of music and the Sarod, at a very early age, with confidence, clarity, consistency and technical mastery all of which he learnt on his father’s knee. Ayaan gave his solo debut when he was eight years old and since then has been performing concerts in India and abroad.

    He along with his older brother Amaan has assisted his illustrious father at concerts all over the world. Over the years today, Ayaan has carved out a special niche for himself in the world of music. His approach, vision and versatility make him an icon for the youth in the music industry. His contribution in making the Sarod a cross-over instrument in a variety of genres has projected him as an artist of high repute. Learn more at ayaanalibangash.com.

    MASTERS OF INDIAN MUSIC

    The MASTERS OF INDIAN MUSIC series of the World Music Institute presents legends from the two primary forms of Indian classical music: the Northern Indian tradition of  Hindustani classical music and the Southern Indian tradition of Carnatic Indian classical music.

    World Music Institute

    World Music Institute (WMI), founded in 1985 has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world; to enrich lives through the arts, promote awareness and appreciation for the world’s rich cultural traditions, and encourage cross-cultural dialogue and exchange. WMI presents at venues throughout the city and depends on both public and private funding to accomplish its mission. Learn more at worldmusicinstitute.org.

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Business, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, Spirituality, and Cuisine)

  • NJYC PRESENTS ‘SING INTO SPRING’ ANNUAL CONCERT

    NJYC PRESENTS ‘SING INTO SPRING’ ANNUAL CONCERT

    The New Jersey Youth Chorus (NJYC), a program of Wharton Arts, will present ‘Sing into Spring’ on May 18 at 4:00 p.m. at Ridge Performing Arts Center located at 68 South Finley Avenue in Basking Ridge. The annual spring concert featuring all five NJYC choirs offers a vibrant, moving, and culturally rich program that reflects both the diversity of music and the depth of the choristers’ growth throughout the season.

    NJYC’s  Founder and Director Trish Joyce said, “Audiences will hear music from across centuries and continents, from traditional spirituals and folk songs to contemporary works by living composers. Highlights include ‘Kuwa Furaha’ by Jim Papoulis, inspired by his work with children in Africa, where joy is expressed through rhythmic clapping and reaching to the sky. ‘The Beat of a Different Drum’ by Sarah Quartel invites singers and audiences alike to celebrate individuality and embrace what makes them unique, while ‘Family Tree’ by Stephen Hatfield poetically links generations through lullaby and memory. The concert also features spirited folk tunes such as the whimsical Scottish tale of Aiken Drum, the American railroad ballad ‘Nine Hundred Miles,’ and the hopeful Georgia Sea Islands spiritual, ‘Yonder Come Day.’ A barbershop-style rendition of ‘I’m Gonna Live Till I Die’ adds upbeat energy, while beautiful lyrical selections like ‘By Night’ by Elaine Hagenberg and ‘Stars Tonight’ by Judith Herrington provide moments of beauty and reflection.”

    The ‘Sing into Spring’ concert will showcase the world premiere of ‘Long Ago Back East,’ a new work by Dr. William Linthicum-Blackhorse. Commissioned by Wharton Arts with the generous support of the American Composers’ Forum and Chorus America’s 2024 Dale Warland Singers Commission Grant, the piece is scored for treble voices, flute, strings, and piano. The choral piece honors the legacy of Nora Thompson Dean, one of the last native speakers and indigenous culture-bearers of the Lenape (Unami dialect) language before her death in 1984. Nora Thompson Dean was asked to officially represent the Delaware Nation and give a traditional smudging ceremony while speaking the Unami-Lenape language when the State of Oklahoma officially recognized the contributions of the Lenape people with the opening of the Delaware Room in the state capitol building in 1972. The Delaware Nation of Oklahoma is comprised of the descendants of those who marched the Delaware Trail of Tears and remained in the Oklahoma Indian Territory. New Jersey was once part of the homelands to the Lenape Native American Indian people, also known as the Delaware Tribe.

    Dr. William Linthicum-Blackhorse (b.1989) is a multi-ethnic music composer in North America that has been actively commissioned, writing music for ensembles and performers across the globe. He said, “Our elders, from all communities, teach us their important traditions, morals, and values so that we can pass along that knowledge to future generations and do our best to live our lives according to their teachings. This music gives tribute to one of those elders in a beautiful, meaningful way and who better to deliver the message than the children of tomorrow.” Learn more at linthicumblackhorse.com.

    ‘Sing into Spring’ also serves as a tribute to NJYC’s graduating seniors, many of whom have sung with NJYC for up to 12 years. They will be honored and recognized by the number of years that they have been a part of the program as well as the universities that they will attend in the fall. Their musical journey culminates with a performance of ‘Homage’ by Z. Randall Stroope — a piece based on the composer’s father’s poetry and written in memory of lost loved ones. Graduating seniors will also be honored through senior boards, a beloved tradition displaying each chorister’s photo and personal reflections on their time at NJYC in the concert hall lobby. These tributes give the audience a glimpse into the personal growth, friendships, and transformative power of music choristers experience at NJYC. The concert will conclude with ‘Blessing’ by Katie Moran Bart, sung by the entire chorus and alumni who are invited to join in a final, heartfelt farewell.

    TICKETS

    Tickets to the concert are available at NJYC.org. Adults pay full price. Students & Seniors get discounts with valid ID.

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    HONORING AAPI HERITAGE MONTH ON TRANSNATIONAL ADOPTION

    A transnational family (Credit: njpac.org)
    • By Mabel Pais

    In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month join the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for this month’s ‘Standing in Solidarity’ series to discuss transnational adoption and its effect on identity, acculturation, family ties and more. There will be a film to watch, access given to those who register in advance of a virtual panel discussion held virtually.

    TOPIC:  BLENDED FAMILIES: ADOPTING NEW IDENTITIES

    WHEN:  May 19, 2025 at 7 pm

    WHERE: Virtual

    Some children are born from their parents’ hearts, and the adoptive family’s race or ethnic background may be different from their child’s. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, ‘Standing in Solidarity’ discusses transnational adoption and its effect on identity, acculturation, family ties and more.

    How to participate

    Registration is required to participate.

    REGISTRATION

    Registration is required to receive access to the film prior to the panel discussion. Register at njpac.org/event/blended-families-adopting-new-identities/#register.

    Watch the film ‘First Person Plural’ in advance at home.

    Join the panel for a virtual panel discussion on Mon, May 19, at 7PM.

    FILM

    The PSEG Social Impact film is ‘First Person Plural,’ a documentary produced by Deann Borshay Liem who was adopted by a white family from an orphanage in Korea. The film tells the story of her startling revelation that she was not who everybody thought she was, and how she navigated relationships with her biological and adoptive families. A link to the film will be emailed one week in advance of the event to registrants.

    PANELISTS & MODERATOR

    Moderator

    Jong Song Nee, Attorney and Founder of Convergent Law.

    Panelists

    DEANN BORSHAY LIEM, Emmy Award-winning documentarian known for films that explore war, memory, family and identity including ‘First Person Plural.’

    KIMBERLY MCKEE, Associate Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Grand Valley State University in M.I., and author of Adoption Fantasies: The Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood.

    AMBER REED, Co-Executive Director of AAPI New Jersey, a nonprofit advancing the rights, representation and well-being of the state’s more than one million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

    JOY LIEBERTHAL RHO, a licensed clinical social worker and Co-Founder of IAMADOPTEE.org, an online mental health and wellness resource for the intercountry adoptee community.

    (Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Business, Social Issues, Health and Wellness, Spirituality, and Cuisine)

  • Anita Anand scripts history as six South Asians join Mark Carney’s new Council of Ministers

    Anita Anand scripts history as six South Asians join Mark Carney’s new Council of Ministers

    By Prabhjot Singh

    For 25 members of the House of Commons of South Asian descent, the swearing in of the new Council of Ministers headed by banker-turned-politician Mark Carney marked a new beginning.

    The community could not have asked for more, as six of its members—four as Cabinet Ministers and two as Secretaries of State—have been inducted into Carney’s new Council of Ministers.

    Prime Minister Carney has also tried to maintain gender equity by naming 14 men and an equal number of women in his Cabinet, excluding himself. Six of his Secretaries of State are men, and the remaining four are women. Besides Anita Anand, Ruby Sahota is the other woman of South Asian descent to figure in the new Council of Ministers.

    Mark Carney preferred Anita Anand as Minister of Foreign Affairs to her predecessor  Melanie Joly, who has now been named as Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for the Quebec regions, and Registrar General.

    Maninder Sidhu, on elevation as Cabinet Minister, becomes Minister of International Trade.

    Ruby Sahota will be Secretary of State for combating crime, and Randeep Serai has been named Secretary of State for International Development.

    Other than Anita Anand, Mark Carney named five other South Asians, including  Gary Anandasangaree,  Shafqat Ali, Maninder Sidhu, Ruby Sahota and Randeep Serai in his new Council of Ministers. Ruby Sahota and Randeep Serai would not sit in Cabinet meetings but would hold charge as Secretaries of State in different departments.

    Shafqat Amanat Ali was born into a Punjabi Muslim family in Lahore, to noted classical singer, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and his wife Almas Amanat Ali Khan, on 26 February 1965, making him the seventh generation of the Patiala Gharana, which was founded in the mid-late 19th century by his great-grandfather. He has made a name in the Real Estate industry in the Greater Toronto Area.

    Anita Anand has been the toast of ceremonies, for she continues to be in the top echelons of Canadian politics.

     58-year-old lawyer, academician and accomplished politician, Anita Anand has been going through her most eventful year of her career. She was the first Hindu to become a federal minister in Canada when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named her the first woman Defense Minister of the country. Later in her previous term, she was also the President of the Treasury Board and the Transport Minister.

    After Deepak Obhrai, the longest-serving Member of the House of Commons representing the Canadian Hindu Community, Anita Anand has been holding the fort for the present without ever getting involved in partisan politics. Deepak Ubhrai represented Alberta in the House of Commons for seven successive terms.

    Incidentally, the new Canadian Prime Minister was elected from a riding in Nepean, in the capital city of Ottawa, after the candidature of another sitting Hindu MP, Chandra Arya, was revoked.

    In December last year, when internal strife started rocking the minority Liberal Government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered to quit both as Leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Canada.

    Anita Anand was considered one of the front runners as a replacement for Justin Trudeau. She, however, preferred to stay aloof. Instead, she announced that she would prefer to go back to academics and take a break from politics.

    Chandra Arya was among the first to announce his candidature for the Liberal Party leadership. The election committee of the Liberal Party, however, did not proceed with his candidature on technical grounds.

    Since Mark Carney holds Anita Anand in high esteem, he reportedly persuaded Anita Anand to change her mind and contest again. She agreed and returned to retain her seat in the House of Commons to become the Foreign Minister.

    More about Anita Anand

    Suave, sober and assertive Anita Anand has done Canada’s South Asian community proud. On Wednesday, May 14, she was sworn in as Canada’s first Hindu Foreign Minister to add yet another feather to her distinct cap.

    Anita Anand was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Oakville in 2019. She was re-elected in 2021. She served most recently as Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and has previously served as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, President of the Treasury Board, Minister of National Defense, and Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

    As Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Anita led contract negotiations to secure vaccines, personal protective equipment, and rapid tests for Canadians during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, as Minister of National Defense, she spearheaded initiatives to tackle sexual misconduct and bring about cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces. She also led Canada’s efforts to provide military aid and personnel to train Ukrainian soldiers following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    As President of the Treasury Board, Anita spearheaded a government-wide spending review and worked to reduce red tape for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Her time at Transport Canada yielded Canada’s first-ever high-speed rail project and historic progress in eliminating interprovincial trade barriers.

    In her latest portfolio, Anita has been focused intently on protecting Canadian workers and industries in the face of President Trump’s unjustified trade war.

    Anita is a scholar, lawyer, researcher, and mother of four children. Born and raised in rural Nova Scotia, she moved to Ontario in 1985. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Political Studies from Queen’s University, a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford, a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Laws from the University of Toronto. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1994.

    Anita and her husband, John, raised their four children in Oakville. She is a devoted leader with a proven record of service. In her Oakville community, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Lighthouse Foundation for Grieving Children, Oakville Hospital Foundation, and Oakville Hydro Electricity Distribution Inc.

    Incidentally, it is the 75th anniversary of South Asians in Canadian politics. In 1950 Giani Naranjan Singh Grewal had made a triumphant entry in Canadian politics when he was elected as a member of the Mission City Council in British Columbia. Since then, the community has come a long way.

    Anita Anand’s appointment also becomes significant as Canada’s relations with India are far from cordial. Both India and Canada have to discard acrimony to restore the bonhomie that the two nations once enjoyed.

    For the immigrant community, the most important portfolio is that of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Mark Carney has named Lena Metlege Diab as the new Minister of immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The immigrants would be looking forward to new and favorable changes in the immigration policies after several radical changes were made in the last six months of the previous Liberal government.

    (Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based award-winning independent journalist. He was celebrated by AIPS, the international body of sports journalists, for covering ten Olympics, at its centennial celebrations held at UNESCO Centre in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games. Besides, he has written extensively  about business and the financial markets, the health industry, the public and private sectors, and aviation. He has worked as a political reporter besides covering Sikh and Punjab politics. He is particularly interested in Indian Diaspora and Sikh Diaspora in particular. His work has also appeared in various international and national newspapers, magazines, and journals. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)

     

  • Indian firms pledge $6.8 bn in FDI; nearly $6 mn in Turkiye, Azerbaijan

    Indian firms pledge $6.8 bn in FDI; nearly $6 mn in Turkiye, Azerbaijan

    Four Indian entities committed foreign direct investments (FDI) worth nearly USD 6 million in Azerbaijan and Turkiye, accounting for a small part of the total USD 6.8 billion overseas investments proposed by Indian companies in April, according to the latest Reserve Bank data. India’s outbound FDI increased by nearly 90 per cent annually to USD 6.8 billion in April, led by Tata Communications, Life Insurance Company and JSW Neo Energy, according to the data. India’s outward FDI stood at about USD 3.59 billion in April 2024 and USD 5.9 billion in March. Among the investments, two Indian entities — Omega Plasto Ltd and Rama Pure Water Pvt Ltd — have committed equity investments in the ‘wholesale, retail trade, restaurants and hotels’ segment in Turkiye through joint ventures, as per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday. Axiro Semiconductor Pvt Ltd has committed funds in Turkiye’s manufacturing space through a wholly-owned subsidiary. Together, the three entities’ total commitment is around USD 0.28 million.
    The data showed that Project Aslan has committed an amount of USD 5.6 million in Azerbaijan’s agriculture and mining sectors.
    Tata Communications Limited has committed USD 1.12 billion, including a guarantee of little over USD 1 billion and equity of USD 88.77 million, in the Netherlands, the data showed. The investment is being made through a joint venture, Tata Communications Netherlands BV, in transport, storage and communications services.JSW Neo Energy’s financial commitment stood at USD 720.6 million through its wholly-owned subsidiary O2 Power Midco Holdings PTE in Singapore towards electricity, gas and water.

  • Markets end higher as inflation cools to 6-year low in April

    Markets end higher as inflation cools to 6-year low in April

    Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended higher on Wednesday, April 15, as retail inflation eased to a nearly six-year low of 3.16 per cent in April, creating enough room for the RBI to go for another rate cut in the June monetary policy review. A cooling US April inflation data and a pause in global trade tensions added to the positive trend in the equity markets, traders said.
    In a highly volatile trade, the 30-share BSE benchmark gauge Sensex climbed 182.34 points or 0.22 per cent to settle at 81,330.56. The gauge hit a high of 81,691.87 and a low of 80,910.03.
    The NSE Nifty rose 88.55 points or 0.36 per cent to 24,666.90.
    From the Sensex firms, Tata Steel, Eternal, Tech Mahindra, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra, Infosys, IndusInd Bank, HCL Tech, Tata Consultancy Services and Bharti Airtel were the major gainers. Telecom operator Bharti Airtel climbed nearly 1 per cent after it posted about a five-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 11,022 crore in the March 2025 quarter, mainly due to the tariff hike impact and one-time gain on tax benefits.
    However, Asian Paints, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, NTPC and Power Grid were among the laggards.
    Tata Motors dipped over 1 per cent after the firm reported a 51 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 8,556 crore for the March quarter, hit by lower volumes and operating leverage.
    Meanwhile, the retail inflation eased to a nearly six-year low of 3.16 per cent in April, mainly due to subdued prices of vegetables, fruits, pulses, and other protein-rich items, creating enough room for the Reserve Bank to go for another round of rate cuts in the June monetary policy review.
    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation was 3.34 per cent in March and 4.83 per cent in April 2024. It was 3.15 per cent in July 2019.
    The wholesale price inflation dropped to a 13-month low of 0.85 per cent in April, with softening in prices of food articles, fuel and manufactured products, with experts projecting further easing in the data for next month, government data showed on Wednesday.
    In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng settled higher while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index ended lower. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 476.86 crore, according to exchange data.

  • India’s overseas borrowing surges to five-year high

    India’s overseas borrowing surges to five-year high

    In a strong signal of rising investment in India’s private sector, manufacturing and finance companies received approval to raise a record $11 billion through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) in March 2025. This marks the highest monthly ECB inflow in more than five years, according to data released by RBI.
    Of the total amount, about $8.3 billion was approved through the automatic route, while nearly $2.7 billion was approved through the approval route. The surge in ECBs highlights the growing confidence in India’s economic prospects and its ability to attract foreign capital.
    Several prominent companies were among the top recipients of ECB approvals in March. Yuzhan Technology (India), a subsidiary of Taiwan’s Foxconn Group, received approval to raise $220 million for working capital needs. Established in late 2023, Yuzhan focuses on the manufacturing of computer, electronic, and optical products.JSW Steel received approval to raise $900 million to refinance an earlier ECB, while ONGC Videsh and MRPL each received approval to raise $450 million and $500 million, respectively, for similar refinancing purposes. Power Finance Corporation received approval to raise $250 million for onlending, and IndianOil received approval to raise $400 million for refinancing an earlier ECB.
    Other companies that received approval to borrow included Tata Semiconductor, which secured approval to raise $625 million for a new project, and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, which received approval for $511 million. JSW Neo received approval to raise $675 million for investment in an overseas joint venture, while Hero Fincorp and Nissan Renault Financial Services received approval for $250 million and $233 million, respectively, for onlending.For the full fiscal year, total ECB proposals amounted to $61.8 billion, a significant increase from the $49 billion raised in FY24. Nearly half of the approvals were for ECBs by financial services companies.
    The top 10 recipients of ECB approvals in FY25 include major companies such as Reliance Industries, Power Finance Corporation, and JSW Steel. Reliance Industries, for instance, received approval to raise two loans: nearly $3 billion for refinancing earlier ECBs, and another $1 billion for the local sourcing of capital goods. Both loans have maturities ranging from 5 to 12 years.
    Others include ONGC Videsh, which received approval for $800 million, and companies like Muthoot Finance, Shriram Finance, IIFL Finance, and Tata Capital, which were approved for $750 million each for onlending purposes.
    India Inc raises a record $61 billion via ECBs in FY25, NBFCs lead way
    Fund raising by Indian companies through overseas loans jumped to the highest on record in FY25, led by non-bank lenders that borrowed beyond home amid a slowdown in lending by local banks. Data published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Wednesday showed that external commercial borrowing (ECB) registrations by companies, including non-banking finance companies, stood at more than $11 billion in March. This took the total number to $61 billion for FY25, compared with $49 billion a year ago.
    Source: TOI and Economic Times

  • OpenAI’s flagship GPT 4.1 model is now available on ChatGPT

    OpenAI’s flagship GPT 4.1 model is now available on ChatGPT

    OpenAI has officially rolled out its new GPT-4.1 series, including GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, and GPT-4.1 nano, to ChatGPT users. The company says that the new models bring notable upgrades in coding, instruction following, and long-context comprehension. “These models outperform GPT4o and GPT4o mini across the board, with major gains in coding and instruction following,” OpenAI wrote on its blog post.
    Access to these models on ChatGPT will only be available to paying users. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on May 14, OpenAI confirmed that its latest flagship model, GPT-4.1, is now live on ChatGPT. The announcement follows a broader launch of the GPT 4.1 family on OpenAI’s API platform a month ago, where developers can already integrate and test the three versions — full, mini, and nano. However, with the latest update, the models are now available to all ChatGPT users, except free users.
    OpenAI claims that the GPT-4.1 significantly outperforms its predecessor GPT-4o in areas like coding and instruction following. The model is designed with a larger context window, which supports up to 1 million tokens. This means that it can process and retain more information at once. It also comes with a knowledge cutoff of June 2024. GPT 4o’s knowledge cutoff is October 2023.
    OpenAI has shared benchmarks on its official blog post, that claims that the GPT-4.1 shows a 21 per cent absolute improvement over GPT-4o in software engineering tasks and is 10.5 per cent better in instruction following. OpenAI says the model is now much better at maintaining coherent conversations across multiple turns, making it more effective for real-world applications such as writing assistance, software development, and customer support. “While benchmarks provide valuable insights, we trained these models with a focus on real-world utility. Close collaboration and partnership with the developer community enabled us to optimise these models for the tasks that matter most to their applications,” OpenAI says. The mini and nano variants are scaled-down versions aimed at offering high performance with lower cost and latency. GPT-4.1 mini is reported to reduce latency by nearly half while costing 83 per cent less than GPT-4o.

  • It rains on Saturn’s moon Titan. But it’s not water falling from the sky

    It rains on Saturn’s moon Titan. But it’s not water falling from the sky

    Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is a world both familiar and alien and the mysteries just keep getting better.
    Cloaked in a thick, yellowish haze, Titan is the only place in our solar system besides Earth where rain falls from the sky and fills lakes and rivers.
    But on Titan, the rain is not water-it’s liquid methane and ethane, hydrocarbons that are gases on Earth but behave as chilly liquids in Titan’s frigid environment.
    Recent observations by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, along with images from the Keck II telescope, have provided the first evidence of cloud convection in Titan’s northern hemisphere, over an area dotted with lakes and seas.
    These clouds, made of methane, form much like water clouds on Earth: methane evaporates from Titan’s surface, rises, cools, and condenses into clouds, which sometimes unleash oily methane rain onto the icy ground.
    This methane rain feeds Titan’s lakes and rivers, mostly found near its North Pole, where the landscape is shaped by cycles of evaporation and rainfall.
    Titan’s weather is driven by a methane cycle that mirrors Earth’s water cycle. Methane clouds form, rain falls, and the liquid gathers in lakes and seas before evaporating again. Unlike Earth, where water is the key ingredient for life and weather, Titan’s atmosphere and surface are dominated by methane and ethane. The surface temperature is a bone-chilling -179C, so water is frozen as hard as rock, while methane flows freely.
    Scientists are fascinated by Titan’s complex chemistry. Webb’s recent observations even detected a molecule called the methyl radical (CH), providing a glimpse into the ongoing chemical reactions in Titan’s atmosphere.
    These reactions, driven by sunlight and Saturn’s magnetic field, break apart methane and build more complex organic molecules-some of the building blocks of life. Titan’s methane is slowly lost to space, so scientists believe there must be underground reservoirs or processes that replenish it, keeping the rain and lakes going.

  • Meta working on making Ray-Ban AI glasses smarter, extended Live AI and Face Detect coming

    Meta working on making Ray-Ban AI glasses smarter, extended Live AI and Face Detect coming

    Meta appears to have some big ambitions for its next generation of smart glasses, which it has created in collaboration with Ray-Ban. The company reportedly wants to make its AI glasses more intelligent with features like face detection and allow more time for Live AI. According to a report by The Information, the company is working on two pairs of smart glasses, internally codenamed Aperol and Bellini, which will offer hands-free AI assistants and more smart features.
    According to the report, Meta is working on to release its next generation of smart glasses in 2026 and for that, the company is discussing software called “super-sensing” vision. The new software would allow the AI smart glasses to scan and read the surroundings for better assistance. The upcoming glasses are also said to offer extended hours of Live AI functionality, which is currently available for just 30 minutes. The feature allows users to interact with Meta AI in real-time interaction with voice commands.
    The report suggests that the future aim for Meta’s AI glasses is to allow the wearable to observe, understand, and even remember a user’s environment—functioning almost like a visual memory aid. This functionality could include features like identifying familiar objects such as house keys, your car, or even the faces of people nearby. With anticipated features like facial recognition, the AI could potentially identify individuals and display their names based on previously stored information.
    While the idea of a camera-powered memory assistant looks promising and futuristic, it also revives old concerns around privacy and surveillance. Reports suggest that Meta’s internal discussions include whether to keep the standard camera indicator—currently a blinking LED—active when facial recognition is in use. The company reportedly does not want to turn off this indicator, and disabling this signal during super-sensing mode could raise questions about transparency, especially since bystanders may be unaware they are being scanned. Although the Meta could possibly give the users control over when and how to use the face-tracking feature.
    Beyond glasses, Meta’s roadmap appears to include a wider family of AI-powered wearables. According to reports, Meta’s plans to include facial recognition technology could also extend to other devices, such as AI-equipped earphones with cameras—as the company plans to expand and interconnect its ecosystem.
    Meanwhile, Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses have been launched in India at Rs 29,900. The devices are slated to hit stores on 19 May. The smart AI wearable features an ultra-wide 12-megapixel camera and a five-mic system. It allows users to take high-quality photos and videos and can instantly share them on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

  • Women are at higher risk of lung disease

    Women are at higher risk of lung disease

    Women are about 50% more likely than men to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a serious lung condition, even if they have never smoked or smoked less than men, according to new research published in BMJ Open Respiratory Research. COPD is a group of chronic lung diseases, including emphysema and bronchitis, often caused by long-term smoking, air pollution and lung irritants. The condition makes a person hard to breathe.
    However, the large US-based study challenges the long-held belief that smoking alone explains why more women now suffer from COPD.
    Researchers analysed data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, which included over 23,000 adults aged 40 and above. The survey looked at smoking habits, use of tobacco products, and whether participants had been diagnosed with COPD.
    Interestingly, women reported smoking less than men. They smoked fewer cigarettes per day (18 vs. 22), were less likely to have started smoking before age 15 (19% vs. 28%), and were also less likely to have used other tobacco products like cigars or smokeless tobacco.
    Yet, COPD was more common among women (nearly 8%) than men (6.5%).
    Even among those who had never smoked, women were still twice as likely to have COPD compared to men – 3% vs. 1.5%. Among people who had ever smoked, 16% of women had COPD, compared to 11.5% of men.
    After adjusting for other factors such as age and smoking exposure, researchers found that women had a 47% higher risk of developing COPD. Among non-smokers, women were 62% more likely to be diagnosed with COPD than male non-smokers.
    The study relied on self-reported information and didn’t include possible influences like hormonal changes, environmental pollution, or workplace exposure, which may affect COPD risk. However, the authors argue that the findings suggest smoking alone doesn’t fully explain the higher rates of COPD in women.
    “If women were simply more sensitive to tobacco smoke, we wouldn’t see such high COPD rates among those who never smoked,” the researchers noted.

  • Working more than 52 hours per week could alter brain structure: Study

    Working more than 52 hours per week could alter brain structure: Study

    Spending too much time at work may not just exhaust your body, it could also be affecting your brain. A new study has found that working over 52 hours a week may lead to changes in the brain’s structure, especially in areas responsible for managing emotions, memory, and decision-making.
    The findings, published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, suggest that overwork could potentially impact a person’s mental and emotional well-being in the long run.
    Researchers from Yonsei University in South Korea found that people who worked too much showed clear changes in parts of the brain that help with decision-making and handling emotions.
    Researchers looked at healthcare workers who often work long hours, comparing brain scans of those working standard hours with those putting in 52 hours or more per week.
    The final analysis looked at 110 workers, most of whom were doctors or worked in healthcare.
    Out of these, 32 people worked long hours every week, while 78 worked normal hours.
    They found that people working longer hours had noticeable changes in certain parts of the brain that help with focus, emotional control, memory, and problem-solving.
    One of the key areas affected was the middle frontal gyrus, a part of the brain linked to working memory and language processing.
    In fact, this area was 19% larger in people who worked long hours. Other affected areas included the superior frontal gyrus, which plays a role in decision-making and planning, and the insula, which helps us process emotions and stay aware of ourselves and our surroundings.
    The study adds to a growing body of evidence that overwork doesn’t just increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and mental health problems, it may also lead to physical changes in the brain.
    While it’s not yet clear whether these changes are harmful or the brain’s way of adapting to constant stress, the researchers said that the findings are a wake-up call.

  • No transplant, no stitches: The eye surgery giving patients a second chance at sight

    No transplant, no stitches: The eye surgery giving patients a second chance at sight

    In a country where the shortage of donor corneas often stands between a patient and restored vision, an innovative eye surgery developed in India is offering new hope.
    Known as Pinhole Pupilloplasty (PPP), the technique is changing the way ophthalmologists treat patients with severe corneal conditions, without the need for corneal transplants or lengthy recovery periods.
    Corneal transplants are required when the cornea, the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, becomes damaged or diseased to the point where it affects vision or causes pain.
    Injuries from trauma, infections (like herpes simplex or fungal keratitis), keratoconus etc., would need corneal transplants.
    Pioneered by Dr. Amar Agarwal, Chairman of Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, this groundbreaking procedure has not only found takers across India but is also gaining recognition on the global stage.
    In fact, the eye surgery earned Dr. Agarwal an international award at the ASCRS Film Festival in Los Angeles.
    The technique, now widely practiced in several countries, has been credited with restoring sight where traditional methods fall short.
    “Some patients have very high astigmatism that cannot be corrected with usual methods, and toric intraocular lenses only work up to a certain level. This gave me the idea to create a pinhole effect in the pupil itself, which led to the first Pinhole Pupilloplasty,” Dr. Agarwal told IndiaToday.in.
    In traditional cases of corneal scarring, eye doctors often recommend a corneal transplant – a procedure that relies heavily on donor tissue, involves a long healing period, and carries the risk of graft rejection. The pinhole pupilloplasty method uses stitches to change the shape of the pupil without needing a donor cornea, and patients recover much faster compared to traditional surgery. The principle is simple: by reducing the size of the pupil to about 1-1.5 mm, similar to the tip of a pin, incoming light is focused more effectively onto the retina, bypassing irregularities in the cornea.
    The result? Sharper vision with reduced glare, especially for patients with complex eye issues like corneal scars, keratoconus, or radial keratotomy complications. Source: India Today

  • Ways to boost hair growth and thickness

    Ways to boost hair growth and thickness

    Healthy hair growth is a common goal, whether you’re recovering from hair thinning, dealing with hair loss, or simply want longer, thicker locks. Hair growth depends on many factors including genetics, nutrition, scalp health, and sometimes medical treatments. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the ultimate hair growing tips based on the latest scientific evidence.
    Your scalp is the foundation for hair growth. A clean, well-nourished scalp supports strong follicles and healthy strands.
    Regular scalp massages may increase blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles, promoting thicker hair growth. Using gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and avoiding harsh chemical buildup helps maintain scalp health.
    Consider adding essential oils like rosemary or lavender oil, which have shown potential to stimulate hair growth by improving circulation and follicle nourishment.
    Nutrition plays a critical role in hair health. Hair is primarily made of protein, so adequate intake is essential.
    Protein: Include lean meats, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts, and soy products to provide the building blocks for hair.
    Iron: Iron deficiency is a well-known cause of hair loss. Eating iron-rich foods like spinach, beans, nuts, and fortified cereals can help prevent thinning hair.
    Vitamin C: Helps your body absorb iron better. Combine iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources such as oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes.
    Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish oil and flaxseeds, omega-3s reduce inflammation and may improve hair density.

  • Beware of early signs of ageing; keep your skin happy, healthy

    Beware of early signs of ageing; keep your skin happy, healthy

    Dull, tired skin, with fine lines and wrinkles despite your best efforts? These are signs of ageing that become apparent over time. A healthy and happy skin not just about the products you apply, it’s also about the habits you adopt.
    Multiple factors contribute to skin issues and premature aging. Genetics, environmental stressors, and lifestyle choices all play a role. Exposure to UV rays from the sun speeds up the breakdown of collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm and elastic. Additionally, poor dietary choices, lack of hydration, and insufficient sleep can lead to skin problems such as dryness, dullness, and the formation of fine lines.
    By making some lifestyle adjustments you can combat these issues and maintain radiant, youthful skin. Here’s how:
    Drink ample water
    Adequate hydration helps to maintain skin’s elasticity and suppleness. Drinking plenty of water aids in keeping your skin hydrated from the inside out, flushing out toxins and promoting a healthy complexion.
    Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, and consider including hydrating foods like cucumbers and oranges into your diet.
    Make nutrition a priority
    A balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats supports skin health and combats oxidative stress that can lead to aging. Foods high in vitamins C and E, such as berries and nuts, help protect the skin from sun damage and promote collagen production. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flaxseeds can also help maintain skin hydration and reduce inflammation.
    Never ignore a good sleep
    Quality sleep is vital for skin repair and regeneration. During deep sleep, the body produces growth hormones that help repair damaged cells and regenerate skin. Aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each nightto allow your skin to recover and maintain its youthful appearance.
    Protect yourself from heat
    Consistent use of sunscreen is one of the most effective ways to prevent premature aging. UV rays from the sun can cause sunspots, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily, even on cloudy days, and reapply every two hours when exposed to sunlight.
    Move that body
    Regular physical activity boosts circulation and enhances the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the skin. Exercise also helps reduce stress, which can negatively impact skin health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week to promote a healthy complexion and overall well-being.
    Stay stress free
    Chronic stress can contribute to skin issues such as acne, eczema, and premature ageing. Practice stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. Managing stress effectively helps maintain hormonal balance and supports a clearer, more youthful complexion.

  • Indian chicken curry

    Indian chicken curry

    Ingredients
    2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves,
    2 teaspoons salt, ½ cup cooking oil, 1 ½ cups chopped onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh ginger root, 1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon water, 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, 1 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    Directions
    – Sprinkle the chicken breasts with 2 teaspoons salt. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat; partially cook the chicken in the hot oil in batches until completely browned on all sides. Transfer browned chicken breasts to a plate and set aside.
    – Reduce the heat to medium and add onion, garlic, and ginger to the oil remaining in the skillet. Cook and stir until onion turns soft and translucent, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, and 1 tablespoon of water into the onion mixture; allow to heat together for about 1 minute while stirring.
    – Add tomatoes, yogurt, 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, and 1 teaspoon salt to the mixture; stir to combine. Return chicken breast to the skillet along with any juices on the plate. Pour in 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, turning the chicken to coat with the sauce. Sprinkle garam masala and 1 tablespoon cilantro over the chicken. Cover the skillet and simmer until chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Drizzle with lemon juice to serve.
    – Drizzle with lemon juice to serve.

  • Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor to reunite for SRK’s King

    Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor to reunite for SRK’s King

    The iconic ‘Ram Lakhan’ duo, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor, are set to reunite on the big screen in Shah Rukh Khan’s highly anticipated action thriller, ‘King’. The film, which is scheduled to begin filming on May 20, marks the first collaboration of the legendary trio, Shah Rukh, Shroff, and Kapoor, since their 1995 blockbuster ‘Trimurti’.
    While details of Jackie Shroff’s role remain under wraps, his addition to the cast has added to the excitement around the film. Anil Kapoor has been confirmed to play Shah Rukh’s handler and mentor, guiding his character through a gritty, high-stakes narrative. The film, headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, will see him in a never-before-seen avatar.
    “Siddharth Anand narrated the basic world of King to Jackie Shroff along with his character arc, and the actor took no time to come on board the film. Jackie is all excited to embark on this action-packed journey with Shah Rukh Khan and the team. Jackie feels that Shah Rukh Khan is the most accomplished and large-hearted producer of Indian Cinema, and is looking forward to be on the sets on King,” a source told Pinkvilla.
    “King has one of the largest ensembles for a feature film in modern times, as every character has been cast to perfection with actors who fit the bill to the T. Apart from this ensemble, King will also feature some more actors to play relatively small but important roles in the film,” the source added.
    Directed by filmmaker Siddharth Anand, ‘King’ will feature a star-studded ensemble including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Suhana Khan, Arshad Warsi, and Abhay Verma. The makers of the film are aiming for a 100-day shoot schedule across multiple locations, starting in Mumbai before heading to Europe for a major international leg.
    Set for a theatrical release between October and December 2026, the film will have an exciting collaboration between Sachin–Jigar, who will compose the songs, and Anirudh Ravichander, who will handle the background score.

  • Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty’s Dhadkan to re-release in theatres

    Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty’s Dhadkan to re-release in theatres

    The popular romantic film ‘Dhadkan’, starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Shilpa Shetty, is all set to re-release in cinemas on May 23. The film originally came out on August 11, 2000, and is now being brought back as part of a special celebration of iconic Bollywood movies.
    Directed by Dharmesh Darshan, ‘Dhadkan’ is a love story filled with emotion, drama, and heartbreak. Shilpa Shetty plays Anjali, a woman in love with Dev played by Suniel Shetty. But her family forces her to marry Ram, played by Akshay Kumar, a kind and successful man. Years later, Dev returns into her life, but by then, Anjali has started loving her husband. The story becomes a complicated love triangle that touched the hearts of many when it first released.
    ‘Dhadkan’ was a big hit at the box office, earning around Rs 26 crore worldwide. Its music was a major highlight, with unforgettable songs composed by Nadeem–Shravan and lyrics by Sameer. The soundtrack became the second highest-selling album of 2000, just after ‘Mohabbatein’. Songs like ‘Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se’ and ‘Tum Dil Ki Dhadkan Mein’ are still loved today.
    Now, the movie will return to theatres in a digitally remastered format, making the viewing experience even better. The re-release will take place in selected theatres across India
    Along with the main leads, ‘Dhadkan’ also featured veteran actors like Sharmila Tagore, Parmeet Sethi, Kiran Kumar, Sushma Seth, and Manjeet Kullar, who added depth to the emotional story.
    On the work front, Suniel Shetty was last seen in Netflix’s romantic-comedy ‘Nadaaniyan’ with Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. He will next appear in the action film ‘Kesari Veer’, alongside Sooraj Pancholi and Vivek Oberoi. Akshay Kumar recently acted in ‘Kesari: Chapter 2’ and will soon be seen in the horror-comedy ‘Bhooth Bangla’ with Wamiqa Gabbi, Tabu, and Paresh Rawal.

  • Sitaare Zameen Par: Aamir Khan’s film is a slam dunk of emotions

    Sitaare Zameen Par: Aamir Khan’s film is a slam dunk of emotions

    The much-awaited trailer of Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, a spiritual sequel to the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, was released on May 13. 18 years after the original film, Sitaare Zameen Par promises another heartwarming and joyful story, with a few new twists. In the three-minute trailer, Aamir Khan plays a basketball coach to a team of specially-abled children, setting the stage for an inspiring and entertaining narrative laced with emotion and humour. Genelia Deshmukh stars as his love interest in the drama.
    Sharing the trailer on social media, the official Instagram handle of Aamir’s production channel captioned, “1 Tingu Basketball Coach, 10 Toofani SITAARE aur unki journey.Watch #SitaareZameenPar #SabkaApnaApnaNormal, 20th June Only In Theatres. Trailer Out Now (sic).”
    The film that carries the tagline “Sabka Apna Apna Normal”, which champions inclusivity and aims to resonate deeply with audiences.
    Besides Aamir and Genelia, Sitaare Zameen Par introduces a team of debutants: Aroush Datta, Gopi Krishna Varma, Samvit Desai, Vedant Sharma, Ayush Bhansali, Ashish Pendse, Rishi Shahani, Rishabh Jain, Naman Mishra, and Simran Mangeshkar.
    Directed by RS Prasanna, popular for for his film Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Sitaare Zameen Par has been made under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. The songs are composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and the lyrics are penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Sitaare Zameen Par is set to release in theatres on June 20, 2025.

  • Superman: James Gunn ready to make Man of Steel the focal point again

    Superman: James Gunn ready to make Man of Steel the focal point again

    The trailer of James Gunn-directed ‘Superman’ is out, just days after teasing the Man of Steel’s battle in the Comic-Con footage, where he appeared blood-soaked and lifeless as his dog Krypto took the spotlight.On May 14, DC’s official YouTube channel shared a nearly three-minute trailer showing David Corenswet’s Superman being interviewed after his heroic acts are questioned. This time, Superman is in deep trouble after acting as a representative for the United States to stop a full-scale war. The trailer begins with Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan finally meeting Superman eye-to-eye for an interview, where she says he has come under a lot of fire. Superman replies that he stopped a war.
    The trailer shows Superman in the middle of a battlefield, having entered a country illegally without consulting the President or anyone else, intending only to do good. The following chaos includes Superman falling hard and being saved by fellow citizens. Nicholas Hoult is introduced as the film’s antagonist, Lex Luthor.
    This is the first film from the franchise since Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) and officially kicks off Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, previously titled Superman: Legacy. The trailer features Krypto the Superdog, who rescues an injured Superman and drags him to the Fortress of Solitude. The film also stars Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner. Brosnahan said she has always loved Lois Lane and described her as smart, ambitious, and funny. She praised James Gunn and expressed excitement about the role.
    James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ will launch a new DC Universe, separate from the DC Extended Universe where Henry Cavill played Superman and Zack Snyder was the leading creative force. The film also stars Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Mara Gabriela de Fara, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, and Neva Howell.

  • Jennifer Lopez suffers injury during rehearsals

    Jennifer Lopez suffers injury during rehearsals

    Jennifer Lopez suffered facial injuries recently during the rehearsals of the American Music Awards 2025. The singer ended up with a black eye and a cut on the bridge of her nose. She posted an update regarding her injury along with a photo of the doctor, who stitched her up. Lopez will host the music awards for the second time, scheduled to take place on May 26. She shared a series of pictures talking about the injury that she suffered almost a week ago. In one of the photos, she is seen holding an ice pack on her eye. “So this happened… (sic),” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
    Another selfie showed that she suffered a cut on the bridge of her nose and had to get stitches. She posted the photo with the caption, “during @amas rehearsals (sic).”
    The third post is her latest photo with the doctor who tended to her injuries. In the photo, her injuries seem to have healed. “Thank you for stitching me up Dr. Diamond. A week later and a whole lotta ice, I’m good as new (sic),” she posted.
    The Amercian Music Awards (AMA) will take place on May 26. While she has performed at the award show several times in the past, this is the second time she would be hosting the event.

  • Blake Lively ‘threatened’ Taylor Swift with private texts: Justin Baldoni

    Blake Lively ‘threatened’ Taylor Swift with private texts: Justin Baldoni

    Blake Lively has reportedly threatened her best friend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, with the release of private text messages unless Swift publicly supports her claims against co-star Justin Baldoni, according to a new court filing. Swift’s legal team is now working to keep her distance from the escalating legal battle.
    Legal documents obtained by Page Six reveal that Lively’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr, allegedly contacted Swift’s legal representatives with a demand. The filing claims that Gottlieb urged Swift to issue a public statement in support of Lively, implying that failure to do so would result in the release of personal and private text messages in Lively’s possession.
    However, Gottlieb has strongly denied these allegations. In a statement on behalf of Lively’s team, he said: “We unequivocally deny all of these so-called allegations, which are cowardly sourced to supposed anonymous individuals and are completely untethered from reality. Justin Baldoni’s team is attempting to cause damage without any supporting evidence.”
    Baldoni’s production company, Wayfarer Studios, maintains that they received the information from a highly credible source. The actor also alleged that Lively had asked Swift to delete their message history. According to Baldoni’s legal team, Swift’s attorney responded in writing, calling the alleged threat “inappropriate” and “extortionate,” and requested that Lively’s team cease all such communications.
    Baldoni’s lawyers are now pushing for access to the private exchanges, claiming that Swift is a key witness in the case. While the specific contents of the messages remain unclear, the documents note that Lively allegedly compared Swift and her husband to Game of Thrones characters while suggesting creative changes to a rooftop scene in ‘It Ends With Us’.
    Swift’s team has previously denied any involvement in the film or the ongoing dispute, aside from granting permission for her song My Tears Ricochet to be used in the movie.
    The controversy stems from a lawsuit filed in December 2024, in which Blake Lively accused Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment, along with additional abuse claims and allegations of a targeted smear campaign.

  • Arya Samaj of Long Island (ASLI) organizes a Bhajan Sandhya in commemoration of Mother’s Day

    Arya Samaj of Long Island (ASLI) organizes a Bhajan Sandhya in commemoration of Mother’s Day

    Vocalist Gita Setia honored with ASLI Empowered Women Award

    JERICHO, NY (TIP): Arya Samaj of Long Island (ASLI) organized a gala evening of Bhajans in commemoration of Mother’s Day, at Cotillion, Jericho on Saturday, May 10.
    While the Long Islander vocalist Gita Setia sang soulful Bhajans , renowned artists from India -Supriyo Dutta – a vocalist, Aarchik Banerjee, a Tabla player, and Sangeet Mishra on Sarangi added to creating an extremely pleasing musical evening of Bhajans.
    The Bhajan Sandhya was very well coordinated by Anju Sharma.
    Smt. Purnima Desai, President and Founder of Sriniketan Foundation, New York, a passionate promoter of Indian Classical music and dances, addressed the gathering and also sang a few Bhajans. Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead, NY presented citations to the artists and officials of the Arya Samaj of Long Island.

    Artists and ASLI officials display their citations at the Arya Samaj of Long Island Bhajan Sandhya on May 10.
  • Shabana Azmi appeals to the Indian diaspora to support CRY & children’s issues

    Shabana Azmi appeals to the Indian diaspora to support CRY & children’s issues

    NEW YORK (TIP): CRY America’s 2025 Gala series was held across 6 cities with legendary actress Shabana Azmi appealing to the guests to do “our duty as a society to support organizations like CRY that work at the grassroots with projects that make transformative changes in the lives of children”. The evenings were an amalgam of glamor and generosity, with a cocktail hour, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, dinner, donor appreciation, pledge session, Bollywood music and dancing. An online auction with paintings donated by Indian artists, designer outfits & jewelry added interest to the event. The CRY Galas raised $1.4 million which will be directed towards ensuring children’s rights to a happy, healthy & educated life.

    Shabana Azmi with CRY’s Project Partner Lalithamma

    Guest Speakers included NYC’s Celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna in New York, Subrat Tripathy from L&T Technologies leadership team in Houston, Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm’s Group General Manager in San Diego, MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora in the Bay Area and Sanjeev Sehgal, VP Caliber Collision in Austin. They spoke about their conviction that the Indian diaspora had the choice and resources to support organizations like CRY America that give children a better future. Shefali Sunderlal, CRY America’s CEO, talked about the ‘multiplier effect’ that these programs have, not only irreversibly transforming the lives of children in CRY supported Projects, but also lifting communities out of cycles of disenfranchisement.

    CRY’s Project Partner Lalithamma spoke about her work in the villages of Telangana district, Andhra Pradesh and shared stories of children whose life trajectories had been completely changed. Kalpana was pulled out of school to work as a vegetable seller to support her family. But due to the efforts of Project PORD, she was able to finish her schooling and now works as an engineer at a reputable company. Mahesh, too, had to drop out of school and work as a farm laborer. Project PORD intervened and he was not only able to finish his studies, he now works at a national bank and mentors other children who are in the same situation as he was.

    Thank you to our event sponsors Laxmi, SBI, GDB International, Guru Krupa, Parikh Worldwide Media, TV Asia, Dallas Venture Capital, MSR Communities, Morgan Stanley, Allstate Foundation, Alice, Minx Events, Merlin, Vantive, Cellpay, Meena Datt Radio, Texas Inpatient Consultants, Alphabet Club, Children’s Lighthouse, L&T Technology Solutions, Simran Patel Real Estate, Taproot Solutions, RockNGrill, Prime Dental, Shiva Jewelers, Trinity Texas Realty, Genpiper Solutions, DB World Foods, Marc Robinson Jewelers, among others.

    A view of the gathering

    CRY America thanks its Gala Committees, generous donors, project partners, media, volunteers & staff for their ongoing commitment towards turning children’s dreams into reality.

    About CRY America: 

    CRY, Child Rights and You America Inc (CRY America) is a 501c3 non-profit driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. With the support of over 35,000 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of 825,000  children living across 5,000 villages and slums through support to 111 Projects in India and the USA.

    For more information: contact Renuka Ramachandran at 617-981-2826; visit http://cryamerica.org or write to support@cryamerica.org

  • India ramps up efforts at UNSC to tag TRF as global terror group

    New Delhi (TIP)- India is urging the United Nations to designate The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Toiba offshoot believed to be behind the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam, as a terrorist group under the UN Security Council 1267 sanctions regime. A fresh dossier will be submitted with new evidence pointing to Pakistan’s involvement in supporting terrorism. The evidence will highlight TRF’s role in the Pahalgam attack.
    A technical team carrying all relevant material is in New York to press the UN Security Council sanctions committee. The UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee will meet this week over the matter. Pakistan, a non-permanent member of the UNSC, has been protecting TRF at the council with support from China. The 1267 Sanctions Committee, was established under a UNSC resolution in 1999. The committee decides on sanctions and travel bans for individuals and entities associated with terror organisations and ensures the enforcement of measures under UNSC resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), and 2253 (2015).
    Meanwhile, the Indian technical team had the first set of meetings with other UN committee on counter terrorism. The team met with Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Assistant Secretary-General Natalia Gherman of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).
    Voronkov and Gherman condoled the deaths in the Pahalgam terror attack. The discussions with the Indian delegation focused on collaboration with CTED and UNOCT within their respective mandates, particularly in support of implementing key Security Council counter-terrorism resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
    India, Pak agree to ease tensions
    India and Pakistan have agreed to continue with “confidence-building measures” that include reducing the alertness level of the two militaries which in turn is expected to further “cool down” existing tensions.
    The Indian Army said on Thursday, May 15, as per the understanding arrived between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) on both sides on May 10, “it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures so as to reduce the alertness level”.
    Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told his parliament that the country’s military had agreed to extend a ceasefire with India until May 18.

  • Indus pact on hold, Govt plans monthly flushing of Salal and Baglihar dams

    With the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and the government having already carried out the first flushing exercise at Baglihar and Salal — its two run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir — the Central Water Commission (CWC) has now recommended that such flushing become a monthly routine, it is learned. As first reported by The Indian Express on May 4, NHPC and the Jammu & Kashmir administration have begun flushing the Salal and Baglihar reservoirs to clear out sediment that hinders power output. This is the first such exercise since Salal was built in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008-09, after Pakistan’s repeated objections under the IWT had previously blocked these works. Sources said the flushing that began in early May removed just over 7.5 million cubic metres (MCM) of sediment from the 690 MW Salal and 900 MW Baglihar reservoirs. “The CWC has now recommended that forced flushing be carried out monthly for both projects, and an SOP will be issued shortly,” a senior official said.