Core News & Key Facts

Varun Tej’s Korean Kanakaraju has made a promising start at the box office, recording ₹3.95 crore in India net collections on its opening day. The horror comedy, which arrived in theatres on August 7, registered an average theatrical occupancy of 41% across 1,656 shows in India.

The opening marks a significant improvement for Varun Tej compared with his previous theatrical release, Matka. That period action drama opened to only ₹71 lakh net in India. Korean Kanakaraju has therefore delivered an opening approximately 5.55 times higher than Matka.

The Day 1 box office breakdown is:

India Net Collection: ₹3.95 crore

India Gross Collection: ₹4.66 crore

Overseas Gross Collection: ₹2 crore

Worldwide Gross Collection: ₹6.66 crore

Budget: ₹38 crore

Budget Recovery: Approximately 10%

With a production budget of ₹38 crore, the film recovered roughly 10% of its budget through its first-day India net collection.

Context & Box Office Details

The opening has also placed Korean Kanakaraju among the highest Telugu openers of 2026. Based on India net collections, the reported Top 10 list is:

Peddi – ₹69.5 crore

The Raja Saab – ₹62.9 crore

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu – ₹41.6 crore

Ustaad Bhagat Singh – ₹34.75 crore

Dacoit – ₹6.5 crore

Anaganaga Oka Raju – ₹5.5 crore

Maa Inti Bangaaram – ₹5.35 crore

Lenin – ₹7.15 crore

Chennai Love Story – ₹4.95 crore

Korean Kanakaraju – ₹3.95 crore

The source places Korean Kanakaraju at No. 10 in the 2026 Telugu opening rankings. The film's 41% average occupancy indicates that the opening-day audience response was strong enough to give the movie a notable start despite competition from other releases.

The overseas market also contributed significantly. Korean Kanakaraju recorded a reported gross of ₹2 crore overseas, taking its worldwide gross opening-day collection to ₹6.66 crore.

Impact & What's Next

The strong comparison with Matka gives Korean Kanakaraju an important early advantage in Varun Tej’s recent box-office run. The jump from ₹71 lakh to ₹3.95 crore represents a substantial improvement and suggests that the horror-comedy format and the curiosity surrounding the film helped attract audiences on the first day.

The film has currently recovered around 10% of its reported ₹38 crore budget from its opening-day India net collection. Its next major test will be the weekend, when sustained audience interest and positive word-of-mouth can determine whether the film records a significant jump in collections.

For Varun Tej, the opening provides a welcome change after Matka’s weak theatrical start. Korean Kanakaraju now needs to maintain momentum over the following days to move closer to the recovery zone and establish itself as a stronger theatrical performer.

Core News & Key Facts

xAI has launched Imagine Image 2.0, a new image-generation and editing model designed to improve instruction following, visual consistency and control over complex image workflows. The model is available as a new Quality Mode on Grok’s web-based Imagine platform and through Grok’s iOS and Android applications. xAI says API access for Imagine Image 2.0 is also planned for a future release.

The launch puts xAI’s image-generation technology near the top of current Arena rankings. According to the leaderboard data cited by xAI as of August 7, 2026, the faster Low variant of Imagine Image 2.0 ranked second globally in both major categories.

In the Image Edit Arena, Imagine Image 2.0 recorded an Elo rating of 1,439, behind OpenAI’s GPT-Image-2 at 1,463. In the Text-to-Image Arena, the model achieved 1,320, again trailing GPT-Image-2, which scored 1,380.

The results place Imagine Image 2.0 ahead of several competing image models, including Reve 2.1, Meta’s Muse-Image, Alibaba’s Qwen-Image-3.0-Pro, Google’s Gemini and ByteDance’s SeedDream.

Context & Statements

xAI says Imagine Image 2.0 has been built to interpret image-generation instructions with greater precision while maintaining cleaner typography and layouts in complicated visuals. The company also claims that the model can maintain greater consistency when users generate or edit images repeatedly.

The new release focuses heavily on iterative editing rather than image generation alone. Its Magic Wand tool is designed to modify selected areas of an image, while a segmentation feature allows users to identify specific regions for editing. A background-removal function can isolate subjects and export them with transparent backgrounds.

Another feature, Multi-Ref Editing, allows users to combine up to five reference images in one generation. This can be useful when users want to transfer elements, styles or visual characteristics from several source images into a single result.

Imagine Image 2.0 also includes Smart Resize, which can transform an existing image into a different aspect ratio while generating additional visual content to fill the newly created space.

Imagine 2.0 can generate consistent visual worlds with characters, props, and locations that serve as a starting point for video production, xAI says. | Image: xAI

xAI has also introduced preconfigured templates covering areas such as photo editing, product photography, marketing materials, design, game assets and streaming-related graphics.

Impact & What’s Next

The release signals xAI’s growing focus on creative AI tools and workflows that extend beyond basic text-to-image generation. One of the more ambitious capabilities demonstrated by the company involves creating characters, locations and props separately while maintaining a consistent visual style between generations.

xAI is positioning this capability as a foundation for more advanced video-production workflows. By keeping characters, environments and objects visually consistent, the company aims to make it easier for creators to develop complete visual worlds before moving into video production.

For now, Imagine Image 2.0’s position just behind GPT-Image-2 in the cited Arena rankings puts xAI among the leading competitors in the rapidly evolving image-generation market. With API availability still to come, developers may gain additional opportunities to integrate the model into creative applications and automated workflows once access expands.

Core News & Key Facts

Netflix’s Operation Safed Sagar: The Untold Story of the Kargil War brings the lesser-told aerial chapter of the 1999 Kargil conflict to viewers through the men of the Indian Air Force’s No. 17 Squadron, known as the Golden Arrows. The six-episode series was released on August 7 and has drawn attention for its emotional portrayal of the pilots who carried out dangerous missions in mountainous terrain.

Directed by Oni Sen and created by Abhijeet Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, the series features Siddharth as Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja, Jimmy Shergill as Wing Commander B.S. “Tony” Dhanoa, Abhay Verma as Flying Officer Rajpal Singh “Dhali” Dhaliwal, Mihir Ahuja as Flying Officer C.H. Bal Reddy, Taaruk Raina as Flight Lieutenant Jitendra “Sangy” Sangwan and Arnav Bhasin as Flying Officer Amit “Goofy” Gupta.

Context & Statements

Ajay Ahuja was the Flight Commander of the Golden Arrows. On May 27, 1999, while flying a MiG-21, he remained in the area while attempting to locate a missing pilot. His aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile and he ejected successfully. Indian authorities later said he survived the ejection but was killed after being captured. His body was returned the following day, and a post-mortem reportedly recorded bullet wounds and other injuries. Pakistan disputed India's account. Ahuja was later awarded the Vir Chakra posthumously.

Dhanoa commanded the Golden Arrows during the conflict and moved the squadron to Srinagar as the fighting intensified. He participated in early missions over areas including Tiger Hill and Tololing and later became Chief of the Air Staff in 2016, retiring in 2019 as Air Chief Marshal.

Impact & What's Next

The series also highlights the extraordinary circumstances faced by younger pilots. Dhaliwal had only 46 hours of night-flying experience and had not previously trained for specialised night strikes when he was called upon to undertake them. He completed four operational night missions and received the Vayu Sena Medal for gallantry. He later became a Wing Commander and served with the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team before dying in a 2009 aircraft accident.

Bal Reddy, Sangwan and Gupta represent another generation of Golden Arrows pilots whose careers were shaped by the Kargil conflict. Through these real-life stories, Operation Safed Sagar gives viewers a closer look at the people behind the missions and the risks faced during one of the defining military operations of the 1999 war.

Core News & Key Facts

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has officially crossed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office after only three weeks in cinemas. The epic starring Matt Damon as the Greek king Odysseus has earned $429.65 million in North America and another $578.8 million internationally, taking its global total to approximately $1.008 billion.

The achievement makes The Odyssey Nolan’s first film to enter the billion-dollar club since The Dark Knight Rises in 2012. The film is now only a short distance away from becoming the filmmaker’s biggest commercial success. The Dark Knight Rises currently stands at approximately $1.08 billion, while The Dark Knight finished its theatrical run at around $1.008 billion.

The rapid performance is particularly notable given the film’s format and subject matter. The Odyssey is an almost three-hour adult-oriented epic based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, a work that dates back nearly 3,000 years. Its strong theatrical performance demonstrates the continued appeal of large-scale filmmaking and premium cinema experiences.

Context & Statements

IMAX has played a significant role in the film’s performance. The format has generated approximately $257 million of The Odyssey’s worldwide ticket sales, and the film is expected to become IMAX’s highest-grossing release by the end of the weekend.

Another major market has yet to contribute to the film’s worldwide total. The Odyssey is scheduled to open in China on August 14, with the country preparing a major theatrical rollout. The film is expected to screen on nearly 800 IMAX screens as well as thousands of standard auditoriums.

Strong word-of-mouth and demand for premium large-format screenings are expected to keep The Odyssey in cinemas throughout the summer and potentially into the fall. Its performance also arrives at an important moment for Hollywood, with the industry hoping that major releases can help push North American annual ticket sales beyond $4 billion.

Impact & What’s Next

The Odyssey has already become the fifth billion-dollar movie of 2026. It joins Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has reached $1.18 billion and continues to earn, Toy Story 5 at $1.067 billion, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at $1.001 billion and Michael at $1.001 billion.

The number is significant because the post-pandemic box office has generally produced fewer billion-dollar blockbusters than the pre-COVID period. In 2019, a record nine movies crossed the $1 billion threshold. Since then, no year had produced more than three billion-dollar films before 2026.

With China still ahead and strong premium-format demand continuing, The Odyssey is positioned to add substantially to its current total. It is also expected to pass The Dark Knight Rises shortly, giving Nolan his highest-grossing film ever and further strengthening his position as one of Hollywood’s most commercially powerful directors.

🎥 The Odyssey | Official Trailer

Core News & Key Facts

OpenAI has announced a major ChatGPT update that expands access to its latest models and introduces new controls for reasoning. GPT-5.6 Luna will become the default model for Free and Go users this week, while the company is also expanding free access with unlimited text conversations and a new Think button.

The Think button is designed for questions that need deeper reasoning. When activated, users can give the model additional time to work through complicated problems instead of relying only on a quick response. Unlimited text chats are scheduled to arrive for Free users next week, although OpenAI says abuse guardrails will continue to apply.

For Plus and Pro subscribers, OpenAI is updating GPT-5.6 Sol with a focus on more accurate and better-targeted responses. The model has been adjusted to adapt its level of detail to the question, use tighter formatting and avoid unnecessary information. It is also designed to correct users when appropriate rather than simply agreeing with incorrect assumptions.

Context & Statements

According to OpenAI's update, the improved GPT-5.6 Sol is intended to reduce factual mistakes, particularly in areas involving dates, numbers, sources, rules and assumptions. Plus and Pro users will also receive a new reasoning slider across ChatGPT's web, mobile and desktop experiences, giving them greater control over how much reasoning the model uses.

The updated GPT-5.6 Sol is intended for everyday ChatGPT conversations. OpenAI clarified that the versions of GPT-5.6 Sol used in Work and Codex are not changing as part of this particular update.

The company is also introducing additional safeguards for users it believes may be under 18. These measures cover areas including romantic roleplay, sexual content, age-restricted challenges and goods, eating disorders, body-image concerns, dangerous activities and graphic violence. OpenAI says it has added evaluations for model performance with younger users and trained the system to encourage teenagers to seek support from trusted people when appropriate.

Impact & What's Next

The changes give Free and Go users broader access to ChatGPT's reasoning capabilities without requiring a paid subscription, while subscribers receive more control over how GPT-5.6 Sol responds to complex requests.

However, unlimited text chats do not mean unlimited access to every ChatGPT feature. OpenAI says limits will continue to apply to file uploads, image generation and other tools.

The rollout is therefore focused on making everyday text-based ChatGPT use more accessible while giving paid users additional control and accuracy improvements. Free users can expect the Think button and unlimited text conversations from next week, as the updated experience continues rolling out.

Breaking News & Core Facts

Amazon Great Freedom Sale 2026 has officially gone live in India, moving beyond the promotional announcements and bringing a wide range of confirmed deals to customers. The sale covers smartphones, consumer electronics, home appliances, fashion, beauty products and everyday essentials, with Amazon advertising discounts of up to 80% across selected categories.

The event also combines product-level discounts with additional savings mechanisms. Eligible HDFC Bank credit card and EasyEMI transactions can receive an instant discount of up to 10%, while customers can also find No-Cost EMI options, exchange benefits, coupons and Amazon Pay rewards on qualifying products. Prime members have access to exclusive offers and additional savings on selected products.

One of the most prominent smartphone offers is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is listed at ₹94,999 for the 256GB storage variant with 12GB RAM. The device originally launched in India at ₹1,29,999, representing a ₹35,000 reduction from its launch price. Eligible customers may receive an HDFC Bank discount of up to ₹5,000 and exchange benefits of up to ₹43,000, potentially bringing the effective cost below ₹90,000 for qualifying purchases.

Background & Key Details

Smartphones are among the biggest attractions of the Great Freedom Sale, with Amazon highlighting discounts of up to 40% on smartphones and accessories. Other highlighted offers include the OnePlus N6x at ₹17,499, OnePlus Nord CE6 at ₹31,999 and iQOO Z11 Lite at ₹17,999. Amazon is also promoting 5G smartphones starting at ₹12,999, including the Redmi A7 Pro 5G at ₹14,499.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra offer is particularly notable because of its flagship specifications. The smartphone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a 200MP primary camera, an integrated S Pen and Galaxy AI capabilities. Customers purchasing eligible models can also choose No-Cost EMI plans, subject to the applicable terms.

The sale extends well beyond mobile phones. Amazon is offering discounts of up to 65% on selected washing machines, refrigerators and other home appliances. Samsung, LG, Haier and Bosch are among the brands highlighted in the appliance category. Samsung's 12kg 5-Star AI and Wi-Fi washing machine is promoted at below ₹40,000, compared with a listed price of ₹60,990. Samsung's 653-litre 3-Star Convertible 5-in-1 refrigerator is also promoted below ₹70,000 against a listed price of ₹1,21,000.

Bosch's 9kg 5-Star AI washing machine is available below ₹30,000 in the highlighted offers, while LG's 9kg 5-Star AI Direct Drive washing machine is promoted below ₹40,000. The sale also includes Smart TVs, laptops, gaming laptops, tablets, soundbars, smartwatches and headphones.

Official Statements & Reaction

Amazon is positioning the 2026 Great Freedom Sale as more than a conventional discount event by integrating AI-powered shopping features into the buying process. Its Rufus shopping assistant allows customers to ask questions in natural language and receive product recommendations based on their requirements.

Amazon Lens AI enables shoppers to search for products using photographs. The company is also promoting Price History features that can show pricing information over a 30-to-90-day period, helping customers assess whether a current deal represents meaningful savings. AI Review Highlights, Quick Learn and Buying Guides are designed to simplify product research before checkout.

The sale also places emphasis on Prime benefits, Amazon Pay and local sellers. Customers using Amazon Pay ICICI Bank cards can receive 5% cashback on eligible purchases, while additional benefits may include product-specific coupons, exchange offers and No-Cost EMI. Amazon Bazaar is promoting fashion, beauty and home products priced under ₹299.

Amazon Now is also participating in the wider shopping push in several cities, offering quick delivery for categories such as groceries, personal care products, fashion, beauty items and selected small appliances. The company is additionally highlighting Made-in-India products and products sold by local businesses.

What Comes Next

With the sale now live, customers can expect individual product prices and promotional benefits to vary throughout the event. The final amount payable will depend on the product, payment method, bank eligibility, exchange value, coupons and other conditions attached to each offer.

For shoppers considering expensive purchases such as smartphones, televisions, laptops or appliances, comparing the listed sale price with bank discounts, exchange benefits and available EMI options will be important. The Galaxy S25 Ultra, in particular, demonstrates how multiple eligible benefits can substantially change the effective purchase price.

Amazon's emphasis on AI tools also indicates a broader shift in how major online sales are being presented. Instead of relying only on headline discounts, the company is using price tracking, product recommendations, review summaries and visual search to help customers make purchasing decisions.

The Great Freedom Sale 2026 therefore combines large category-wide discounts with payment offers, Prime benefits, rapid delivery and AI-assisted shopping. As customers continue browsing the event, product availability, prices and eligibility conditions will remain the key factors determining the actual savings available on individual purchases.

US President Donald Trump has renewed his effort to limit birthright citizenship by signing two executive orders after the Supreme Court rejected his previous attempt earlier this year. One order broadens the categories of non-citizens whose children would not automatically qualify for US citizenship, while the other targets birth tourism, the practice of travelling to the United States to give birth so a child acquires citizenship. Trump said the measures address long-standing abuses of the immigration system.

The new orders are expected to face fresh legal scrutiny because birthright citizenship is protected under the 14th Amendment and has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court. Legal experts say the president may have authority to restrict entry for birth tourism in some circumstances, but argue that denying citizenship to children born on US soil raises significant constitutional questions. The debate is likely to become another major test of US immigration policy and executive power.

Gold prices traded almost unchanged on Thursday after reaching their highest level in seven weeks earlier in the day. The move came as oil prices surged following reports that Iran is reviewing restrictions on "hostile" vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, reviving fears of higher inflation. Spot gold held near $4,244 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures settled slightly lower at around $4,299.60 per ounce.

Investors are now focusing on the upcoming U.S. jobs report and the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook. Rising energy prices could increase inflation, prompting central banks to maintain higher interest rates for longer. Markets are currently assigning a stronger probability of rate hikes later this year, while analysts say renewed investor interest and technical buying have also supported gold despite the metal remaining well below its record high.

Crazy Love, starring Shanvi Meghana and Elan, is all set to skip a theatrical release and premiere directly on Netflix on August 21. Directed by Elan, the romantic entertainer revolves around the themes of love and marriage. The makers recently confirmed the OTT release date and also launched the song Pyaar Prema Kalyanam across music platforms, adding to the film's promotional campaign.

The film has already completed production and is expected to offer a mix of romance, comedy and emotional moments. Alongside the lead pair, the cast includes Radhika Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu, Senthil, Kumaravel, Maran and Geetha Kailas in key roles. With its direct digital release, Crazy Love is aiming to reach a wider audience through Netflix.

An old interview of actress Sobhita Dhulipala has resurfaced on social media, bringing renewed attention to her political views. During the interview, recorded around the promotional period of the film Goodachari nearly eight years ago, Sobhita said she held strong political opinions, identified herself as a leftist and expressed her belief that communism would one day prevail. The clip has recently gained widespread traction online despite having received little attention when it was first released.

The resurfaced video has sparked a wave of discussion across social media platforms, with users expressing differing opinions on her remarks. While some have voiced support for her views, others have disagreed with her political stance. The renewed interest highlights how older celebrity interviews can resurface and generate fresh public debate years after they were originally recorded.

Ajit Agarkar's future as India's chief selector has come under fresh speculation, with media reports claiming that the BCCI is considering appointing former India batter VVS Laxman to the role after Agarkar's tenure ends in September. Laxman, who currently heads the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, is reportedly being viewed as a candidate capable of strengthening coordination between the selection committee, team management and senior players. The board has not officially confirmed any decision.

The reports follow recent discussions surrounding selection decisions during India's England tour, particularly over Rohit Sharma's ODI future. Conflicting public statements from the selection committee and BCCI officials sparked debate over internal communication, prompting speculation about possible structural changes. If appointed, Laxman would be expected to work closely with head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players as India prepares for upcoming international assignments.

Five-time World Championships medallist PV Sindhu will open her 2026 BWF World Championships campaign against Ireland's Sophia Noble in the round of 64. Seeded ninth, Sindhu will be aiming to add a sixth World Championships medal to her remarkable collection, which already includes one gold, two silver and two bronze medals. In the men's singles, 14th seed Lakshya Sen will take on Austria's Collins Valentine, while unseeded Ayush Shetty faces a daunting opening-round clash against world No. 1 Shi Yuqi.

India also has strong hopes in the doubles events, with fifth-seeded Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty receiving a first-round bye in men's doubles. Mixed doubles pair Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, seeded 15th, have also advanced directly to the second round. The tournament offers India another opportunity to build on its proud World Championships legacy, with Sindhu once again leading the country's medal hopes.

The Supreme Court has clarified that recognised news organisations remain free to report on court proceedings despite its earlier interim order regulating the use of courtroom audio and video recordings. In its July 31 clarification, a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, stated that the previous order should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on courtroom reporting by the media.

The Court reiterated that the restriction applies only to the extraction, publication, sharing, monetisation or distribution of audio and video recordings of judicial proceedings without prior permission from the Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the concerned High Court Registrar General. It also directed the Union government and High Courts to continue efforts toward implementing live-streaming rules and improving judicial transparency.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson presented the first Budget of the TVK-led coalition government in the State Assembly, outlining an ambitious welfare agenda. Among the headline announcements were an eight-gram gold coin and silk saree for brides under the Annan Seer Thittam, along with a ₹560 crore allocation for the Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, which will provide a one-gram gold ring to babies born in government hospitals.

The Budget also proposed 'Thai Care' maternity support centres across the State, 'Aran' shelter homes for transgender persons in five districts and mangrove afforestation projects in eight coastal districts. Soon after the presentation, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticised the Budget, saying he would award it "zero marks," setting the stage for a political debate over the new government's first financial roadmap.

After emerging as one of Akhil Akkineni's biggest box-office successes, Lenin is now gearing up for its OTT debut. Directed by Murali Kishor Abburu and starring Bhagyashri Borse alongside Akhil, the film released in theatres on July 10 and quickly recovered its investment. Produced by Annapurna Studios, Sithara Entertainments and Manam Enterprises LLP, the film also featured Shivaji, Rajeev Kanakala, Brahmaji and Sunil in key roles.

Made on a reported budget of around ₹55 crore, Lenin secured a strong non-theatrical business valued at nearly ₹34 crore. Zee5 reportedly acquired the digital and satellite rights for about ₹19 crore. While trade estimates placed the worldwide gross at around ₹80 crore, the makers officially announced that the film crossed the ₹100 crore mark, making it Akhil's first film to achieve the milestone before its digital release.

Fresh overnight rainfall has intensified the flood crisis in Assam, leaving more than 1.22 lakh people affected across five districts and pushing the death toll to 89. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the Dhansiri River at Numaligarh remains in a severe flood situation, prompting authorities to warn residents to stay away from the river. Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat are among the worst-hit districts, with widespread flooding disrupting normal life.

Relief and rescue operations are continuing with medical, veterinary and emergency teams deployed across affected areas. Authorities are operating 55 relief camps and distribution centres, sheltering nearly 17,900 displaced people. The floods have submerged over 15,300 hectares of farmland, affected more than 26,500 domestic animals and damaged roads, embankments, schools and homes. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda is scheduled to review the relief and rehabilitation measures during his visit to the state.

Renu Desai has once again found herself at the center of social media attention after replying to an Instagram comment about her former marriage with Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan. Responding to a fan who suggested she should have stayed in the relationship, Renu said she was not the one who walked away and asked people to stop troubling her with such comments about her personal life.

The interaction quickly spread across social media, reigniting discussions among fans. Renu Desai has previously expressed discomfort over being addressed as "Vadina" by Pawan Kalyan's fans and has repeatedly requested that her personal life not be dragged into public conversations. Her latest response has once again drawn significant online attention.

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has revealed the intense work pressure she experienced while balancing multiple film and web projects. Speaking in a recent interview, she said she would finish shooting a song for one project and immediately head to another, often surviving on just six hours of sleep a day. She also admitted that her packed schedule left her with almost no time for dance rehearsals.

Tamannaah also addressed the industry's tendency to separate actors based on acting and dancing abilities. She said several legendary performers excelled in both fields and believes the two skills should complement each other rather than be viewed independently. The actress added that meaningful roles with lasting impact matter more to her than temporary success, and that the lessons she learned early in her career continue to help her secure opportunities across industries.

Actress Nivetha Pethuraj has once again found herself in the spotlight after posting a cryptic message on social media. After taking a break from films, the actress recently made a successful comeback and is currently busy with multiple upcoming projects. Her latest post about honesty, integrity, and the consequences of pretending to be someone else quickly caught the attention of fans and social media users.

The actress did not reveal the context behind the message, leading to widespread speculation online. Some users linked it to her reported personal life, while others believed it could be a response to growing concerns over online abuse and digital harassment faced by actresses. With no official clarification from Nivetha, the post has become a major talking point across social media.

Roman Reigns emerged victorious over Seth Rollins in the main event of WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 after a gripping contest widely praised as a match-of-the-year contender. Held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the bout featured numerous callbacks to their 12-year history as members of The Shield, dramatic near-falls, signature finishing moves and no outside interference. Reigns finally sealed the win with three consecutive Spears, securing his first clean singles victory over Rollins.

The match carried emotional weight beyond the result, with both wrestlers revisiting their shared history of friendship, betrayal and rivalry. Rollins briefly teased using a steel chair reminiscent of The Shield's most infamous moment, but Reigns rejected that path before finishing the match. After the final bell, the two former teammates exchanged a fist bump, a gesture many viewed as the symbolic conclusion of one of WWE's defining rivalries.

House of the Dragon surprised viewers in Season 3 Episode 7 by revealing that Sunfyre, the dragon ridden by King Aegon II, is still alive despite appearing dead after the Battle of Rook's Rest. The episode ends with Aegon confronting an approaching army before the badly injured dragon emerges from the forest and responds to its rider's command, dramatically shifting the momentum of the conflict.

The episode does not explain exactly how Sunfyre survived, leaving fans to speculate that the dragon remained in a dormant state while recovering from severe injuries. Its return also brings the television adaptation closer to major events described in Fire & Blood, where Sunfyre continues to play a decisive role later in the civil war. While the series has made changes from the source material before, the dragon's comeback suggests some key storylines may now unfold more closely to the original narrative.

Apple is reportedly preparing to launch its first AirPods with built-in cameras before the end of 2026, introducing a new way for wireless earbuds to interact with the surrounding environment. Reports claim the device, internally known as B790, has appeared in iOS 27 code and on Apple's product roadmap. The cameras are expected to power Visual Intelligence features by recognizing nearby objects and scenes.

Apple is said to be developing two versions of the product, codenamed B790 and B798, with the latter reportedly targeting a 2027 launch. Earlier findings in the iOS 27 beta also referenced the B790 model, strengthening speculation of an earlier release. The earbuds could feature longer stems to accommodate the cameras and an LED indicator that signals when data is being transmitted, though Apple has not officially confirmed any of these details.

Ajith Kumar's upcoming film has finally received its official title, ending months of speculation surrounding the project known as AK64. The makers announced the title Dare Devil and unveiled an eye-catching first-look poster featuring the title creatively designed on a set of dice. The stylish artwork hints at a bold and powerful character for Ajith, raising anticipation among fans eager to see his next big-screen outing.

Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, the film features music composed by Anirudh Ravichander, while Shalini Ajith Kumar is producing the project under the Bravehearts Production banner. With the title reveal creating a strong buzz across social media, fans are now eagerly waiting for the makers to announce the film's teaser, trailer and release date.

Visakhapatnam is set to welcome the new AAA 8-screen multiplex, which will officially open on August 9 with a grand inauguration ceremony before welcoming moviegoers. The multiplex has been designed with advanced projection systems, premium seating and modern amenities to deliver a high-end cinematic experience. Reports indicate that Allu Arjun may attend the launch, adding to the excitement surrounding the event.

The possible presence of the Icon Star has already generated significant buzz among fans, who are expected to gather in large numbers if he attends the inauguration. While anticipation continues to build around the launch, the organisers have not yet made an official announcement confirming Allu Arjun’s participation in the event.

Actor Naresh has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the title of Idupukagitham, calling for greater respect toward regional cultures and dialects. He said Telangana should not be stereotyped with drinking habits, just as Andhra Pradesh should not be reduced to food culture. According to Naresh, every region has its own traditions and customs, while the language that unites them all is Telugu. He also urged people not to give undue importance to social media posts made by individuals.

Recalling one of his personal experiences, Naresh said he was initially surprised to see people consuming drinks during a condolence gathering in Telangana. However, he later understood that the gathering was an occasion for friends and relatives to openly share memories about the deceased, reflecting a cultural practice unique to that region. He added that he was deeply saddened by the Idupukagitham controversy and maintained that the cultures of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are all equally meaningful and deserve respect.

Hollywood has lost one of its most recognisable character actors with the passing of Vincent Pastore at the age of 80. Widely celebrated for portraying Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero in HBO's landmark series The Sopranos, Pastore was reportedly found dead at his New York home after friends became concerned when they were unable to contact him for several days. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of death, and an investigation is underway.

Pastore built a career spanning more than 150 films and television productions, becoming a familiar face in gangster and crime dramas. Alongside The Sopranos, he appeared in acclaimed titles including Goodfellas, Carlito's Way and Shark Tale. His memorable performances and commanding screen presence earned him a lasting place in Hollywood, with tributes pouring in from colleagues and fans following news of his death.

Salman Khan made a surprise entry into the reality competition Alliance to support his brother Sohail Khan, who has been facing a challenging phase in the game. In a newly released promo, Salman entered through the show's signature yellow gate, leaving fellow contestants visibly stunned before walking straight to Sohail and embracing him. The emotional reunion saw Sohail tightly hug his brother, drawing an enthusiastic response from viewers.

The appearance comes shortly after Sohail's ex-wife Seema Sajdeh, who had entered the show as a wildcard contestant, was eliminated after advising him to play a stronger game. Earlier this season, Sohail also spoke candidly about surviving childhood sexual harassment, encouraging others to speak up without shame. Hosted by Kunal Kemmu, Alliance streams on Prime Video and features celebrities competing through strategy, alliances and demanding challenges.

The U.S. State Department has made its visa bond programme permanent after completing a year-long pilot project, with the new policy taking effect on August 3. The rule applies to B-1 business and B-2 tourist visa applicants from 50 designated countries, allowing consular officers to require refundable bonds of up to $20,000 before issuing visas. India is not among the countries currently covered, while Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are included alongside several African nations.

U.S. officials say the programme is designed to reduce visa overstays and improve compliance with immigration rules, citing positive results from the pilot scheme. The final policy increases the maximum bond amount from $15,000 to $20,000 and removes the earlier $5,000 option. Immigration advocates, however, argue that the measure could discourage legitimate travellers and reflects broader immigration restrictions introduced during President Donald Trump's administration.

The biggest attraction of the Asian Legends League 2026 so far will unfold on Sunday as Indian Royals face Pakistan Panthers in Lusaka, Zambia. The match begins at 4:00 PM IST and will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on FanCode. Shikhar Dhawan leads an Indian side featuring Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan and Ambati Rayudu, while Pakistan is captained by Mohammad Hafeez alongside Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal.

India heads into the contest with confidence after defeating Bangladesh Tigers by 19 runs in its opening match. Pakistan, however, suffered an 85-run defeat against Asian Stars and needs a victory to stay on track in the tournament. Running from July 30 to August 10 with 19 T20 matches, the league has once again brought together retired Asian cricket legends, making the India-Pakistan rivalry the tournament's biggest highlight.

Prabhas' upcoming period war drama Fauji continues to generate strong buzz as fresh reports claim veteran actress Jaya Prada has joined the cast in a pivotal role. According to industry speculation, she will portray Prabhas' mother in the film, which is being directed by Hanu Raghavapudi and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. Set against the backdrop of the 1970s, the film also stars Imanvi as the female lead and Mithun Chakraborty in a key role. However, the makers have not officially confirmed Jaya Prada's casting.

The film is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on December 3 and has already become one of the most anticipated Telugu releases of the year. Industry reports also suggest that a special glimpse may be unveiled on August 14, offering audiences a first look at Prabhas' character and the film's war-themed visual scale. While these updates have excited fans, an official announcement regarding both the glimpse and Jaya Prada's role is still awaited.

Varun Tej addressed fans at the trailer launch event of his upcoming Indo-Korean horror comedy Korean Kanakaraju and said he hopes audiences enjoy the film's unique blend of comedy, horror, and entertainment. He described the project as a memorable journey and revealed that he learned several Korean words and dialogues for the role, though he jokingly admitted he has already forgotten many of them. He even shared a few Korean words with the audience, adding a fun touch to the event.

The event turned emotional when fans began chanting "Jai Jai Babu... Kalyan Babu." Varun Tej said that Pawan Kalyan's name will always remain close to his heart. He also thanked Ram Charan for launching the trailer digitally, explaining that Charan could not attend the event due to surgery but conveyed his wishes over the phone. Directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, the film stars Ritika Nayak and Satya in key roles. Produced by UV Creations, First Frame Entertainments, and T-Series South, Korean Kanakaraju is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on August 7.

Raashii Khanna has revealed a heartwarming incident from the sets of Dharman, where she is sharing screen space with Superstar Rajinikanth. During a conversation about spirituality, Rajinikanth asked whether she had read Living with the Himalayan Masters. When she said she had not, he surprised her by personally gifting the book just two days later, encouraging her to read it carefully.

Raashii said she has been reading the book consistently, as Rajinikanth jokingly told her he would later ask questions about it. She added that the book has helped her understand an important life lesson—that true growth comes from removing the masks people wear to impress others and embracing their real selves. The actress described Rajinikanth’s thoughtful gesture as a meaningful gift that left a lasting impact on her.

Friendship Day celebrations in Hyderabad are moving beyond the usual café meetups, with the city hosting a variety of creative and entertainment-focused events on August 2 and 3. Visitors can explore traditional block-printing workshops at Lamakaan, participate in guided painting, resin art and clay craft sessions, or create personalised keepsakes through beginner-friendly DIY workshops at popular cafés across the city.

For those looking to celebrate with music and nightlife, Marquee Club and Kitchen will host a special evening featuring Bollywood, EDM and techno performances for guests aged 21 and above. With activities catering to creative enthusiasts, groups of friends and solo participants hoping to meet like-minded people, the city's Friendship Day calendar offers experiences that go well beyond conventional celebrations.

A deadly migrant surge has pushed Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta into one of its worst humanitarian crises in recent years. At least 34 people died while attempting to cross from Morocco, with local officials reporting that about 60,000 migrants entered the territory by land and sea within a single day. Many swam around coastal barriers, while others tried to force their way through border fences. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta on Friday, calling the mass crossings a violation of Spain's territorial sovereignty and confirming that authorities were accelerating migrant repatriations.

The crisis has triggered a wider European response as thousands of migrants, including families and unaccompanied children, remain stranded in overcrowded conditions. Local officials said many victims drowned while others were killed during a crush near the border. The European Union described the scenes as unacceptable, while France, Germany and Italy pledged closer coordination on border security. Spanish authorities blamed human trafficking networks for encouraging the crossings, even as debate continues over migration policy and humanitarian obligations.

The aftermath of a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has grown more severe, with the official death toll rising to 34. Rescue teams continue searching damaged buildings after the quake struck Kyushu island on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction to homes, power lines and key infrastructure. Several fatalities occurred after part of a shopping mall collapsed, followed by an explosion believed to have been caused by a gas leak, while a partially collapsed paper factory also claimed multiple lives.

Relief efforts are now focused on both rescue operations and protecting thousands of displaced residents from dangerous summer temperatures expected to reach 39°C. Around 9,000 people remain in evacuation centres, more than 30,000 households are still without electricity, and over 100 aftershocks have forced many residents to sleep in their cars. Authorities have begun supplying air conditioners and emergency equipment as concerns over heatstroke continue to grow.

Director Anil Ravipudi is reportedly maintaining one of the busiest schedules in Tollywood. He is currently working on a film featuring Venkatesh and Kalyan Ram, which is being planned for a grand Sankranti release. Known for delivering commercial entertainers at a fast pace, the filmmaker continues to enjoy strong demand among leading production houses.

According to industry reports, Anil Ravipudi has also agreed to direct an animation project for KVN Productions. He is further expected to collaborate with producer Dil Raju and later helm another film backed by Sahu Garapati and Satish Kilaru. While official announcements are awaited, the director's packed lineup reflects his growing popularity and consistent success.

Senior Tollywood actor Sumanth is currently promoting his upcoming film Newton's Third Law, which is set to release on July 31. During a recent interview, the actor shared that 2026 has been a memorable year for him, mainly because he was associated with Decoyit as a silent producer. He revealed that the film turned out to be profitable for him and described it as one of the highlights of the year.

Sumanth also expressed happiness over the blockbuster success of Akhil Akkineni's Lenin, saying both films brought him immense satisfaction. Speaking about Decoyit, he clarified that he only invested in the project as a silent producer and did not interfere in the story, production, shooting, or release process. He added that producer Supriya handled every major aspect of the film's execution.

The Hollywood biographical drama Michael, inspired by the life of global music legend Michael Jackson, is ready for its digital premiere after a sensational theatrical run. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film became the first Hollywood biopic to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, collecting more than ₹9,500 crore globally. The movie impressed audiences with its emotional storytelling, iconic music, spectacular dance sequences, and high-quality production values.

Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson, portrayed the legendary singer with remarkable accuracy, recreating his signature expressions, stage presence, and famous Moonwalk. His performance earned widespread appreciation from critics and fans alike. The film also features Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson. Michael will stream on JioHotstar from August 29 in English and Hindi, while it is already available for rental on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and BookMyShow Stream.

Ritika Nayak, who made her Telugu debut with Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam, has shared an emotional memory from the early days of her career. Speaking in a recent interview while promoting her upcoming film Korean Kanakaraju, she revealed that she was not invited to the promotional events of her debut movie. The actress admitted that she felt deeply hurt and even shared her disappointment with a close friend.

Despite missing out on the promotions, Ritika said the audience appreciated her performance after the film's release, giving her the biggest recognition among the cast members. Following the success of Mirai, the actress has built a strong reputation with her natural acting skills. She is now hopeful that Korean Kanakaraju, starring Varun Tej and directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, will further strengthen her career when it releases on August 7.

Akhil Akkineni scored a major commercial success with Lenin, directed by Murali Kishor Abburu. The film features Bhagya Shri Borse as the female lead, with music composed by S. Thaman. Produced by Akkineni Nagarjuna and Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under Annapurna Studios and Sithara Entertainments, the film hit theatres on July 10 and received a positive response from both audiences and critics.

Although trade analysts believed the film might fall short of the ₹100 crore milestone after its collections slowed in the later weeks, Lenin surprised everyone by reaching the mark. The makers officially confirmed that the film has crossed ₹100 crore gross worldwide by unveiling a celebratory poster. The achievement has generated excitement among fans and is being widely shared across social media platforms.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has stormed into Indian theatres with record-breaking demand, generating more than ₹85 crore in opening weekend advance bookings, including over ₹45 crore for its first day alone. According to early trade estimates, the Tom Holland-starrer collected around ₹3.95 crore net by 8 AM on its opening day from 2,419 shows across the country. The film has also sold more than 1.3 million tickets on BookMyShow, placing it among the platform's biggest pre-sale releases since August 2023.

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film continues Peter Parker's journey after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the world forgot his identity. The movie has received a U/A 13+ certificate in India after a few CBFC-directed edits, including muted dialogues and the removal of an eight-second kissing scene. With strong fan response, positive early reactions, and expectations of a historic opening weekend, Brand New Day is aiming to become one of the biggest Hollywood releases ever in the Indian market.

Google has launched Ask Google Pay, a new AI-powered assistant built on its Gemini model and integrated directly into the Google Pay app. The feature analyzes users' spending patterns, provides personalized financial insights, recommends ways to save money and explains financial concepts through natural text or voice conversations. It is designed to help users better understand how they spend and manage their money more effectively.

Beyond tracking expenses, Ask Google Pay can answer finance-related questions, highlight recurring spending trends and offer tailored suggestions based on transaction history. By combining AI with personal finance tools, Google aims to make budgeting and money management simpler, giving users practical insights without requiring them to manually analyze their spending records.

The makers of Ramayana have released the film's first trailer, unveiling a visually ambitious retelling of the ancient epic. Running for just over four minutes, the trailer introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana before shifting its focus to Yash's imposing Ravana. Sweeping visuals of Ayodhya and Lanka, large-scale battle sequences and detailed visual effects set the tone for a grand cinematic spectacle.

The trailer also highlights the film's music, composed by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, alongside VFX created by DNEG. The ensemble cast includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher. The film is slated for a Diwali release, with the trailer positioning the timeless conflict between Rama and Ravana as the heart of the story.

Floodwaters continued to engulf villages across northern Odisha on Wednesday as relentless rainfall swelled major rivers, affecting more than 1.25 lakh people in five districts. Authorities described the situation as grim, with district administrations intensifying rescue operations and shifting nearly 50,000 residents from low-lying areas to relief centres where food and other essential assistance are being provided. Schools have also been closed in 10 districts as a precaution.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places across Odisha over the next 24 hours, raising concerns that river levels could rise further. Officials remain on high alert as rescue teams monitor vulnerable areas, while relief operations continue to support displaced families and reduce the impact of the ongoing floods.

Military tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it fired multiple ballistic missiles at US military installations in Jordan, while the United States said it intercepted the attack. On the same day, US and Saudi Arabian forces carried out coordinated strikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq, alleging they were responsible for recent drone attacks on Saudi energy facilities and US forces. Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces claimed at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in the strikes.

The latest exchanges have heightened fears that the conflict could spread beyond its current fronts, with attacks already affecting Jordan, Iraq, the Red Sea and other strategic regions. Regional governments, Gulf nations, Pakistan and the European Union have urged restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement to avoid a wider war. Security analysts believe both military retaliation and negotiations are likely to continue in parallel, while warning that any direct regional military confrontation could significantly worsen the crisis.

Petitioners in the Supreme Court case concerning the Eco Sensitive Zone of Hyderabad's KBR National Park have clarified that they never filed a complaint with the Central Empowered Committee over recent tree felling near the park. They said their June 15, 2026 email sought information from GHMC, forest officials and the district administration about the felling of a single tree, including the permissions granted, the agency responsible and whether a prior inspection had been conducted. The CEC was only marked as a copied recipient in that communication.

The petitioners stated that CEC member Anjan Mohanty acknowledged this during an interaction on July 26. They also said they were not included in the committee's official visit schedule and received only an overnight invitation without an agenda, allowing just one of the three petitioners to attend. According to the statement, discussions were limited to the single felled tree in the Eco Sensitive Zone, while all issues connected to the pending Supreme Court petition were kept outside the scope of the meeting.

India strengthened its medal campaign on the fifth day of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow as Gulveer Singh claimed silver in the men's 10,000m with a time of 27:49.78, while Harjinder Kaur secured silver in the women's 69kg weightlifting event with a personal-best total lift of 227kg. In boxing, Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas and Jadumani Singh advanced to the semi-finals, guaranteeing India at least three more medals. Vishal TK also qualified for the men's 400m semi-finals despite challenging weather conditions.

India's campaign also saw a few setbacks as Srihari Nataraj narrowly missed the men's 100m backstroke final, Kapil Pokhariya exited in the boxing quarter-finals and Pooja Singh finished eighth in the women's high jump final. Nirupama Devi Seram failed to complete the women's 63kg weightlifting event, ending India's medal streak in that discipline. With medal hopes still alive in athletics and boxing, India heads into the next day looking to build on its growing tally in Glasgow.

One of India's most wanted Maoist leaders, Misir Besra, was arrested during a security operation in Jharkhand's Dhanbad on Tuesday evening. Carrying a combined reward of ₹1 crore announced by the Centre and multiple state governments, Besra was taken into custody along with Maoist members Mochhu and Saurabh alias Gaurav, besides two villagers whose alleged links to the banned outfit are under investigation. Officials said Besra was wanted in dozens of cases involving murder, attacks on security forces, extortion and IED blasts across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Security agencies described the arrest as a significant blow to Maoist operations in eastern India. Investigators believe questioning Besra could reveal crucial information about the organisation's top leadership, weapons supply routes, extortion network, safe houses and active cadres. The arrest came on the same day that 16 Maoists, including six carrying rewards worth a combined ₹39 lakh, surrendered before Jharkhand Police, further weakening the insurgent network in the region.

Microsoft is preparing to roll out Project Perception, a new AI-driven cybersecurity platform, through a private preview beginning on August 3. The system introduces intelligent security agents that can function as virtual red, blue and green teams, helping organizations simulate cyberattacks, defend networks and automatically remediate vulnerabilities. The company says the tools are designed to help security professionals respond to increasingly sophisticated AI-powered cyber threats.

The platform is expected to create new opportunities for Microsoft's global partner ecosystem of more than 500,000 members by extending their capabilities beyond traditional Security Operations Center services. Microsoft Security General Manager Scott Woodgate said partners can use insights gained from monitoring customer environments to implement security fixes more efficiently, improving protection while addressing the industry's ongoing shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and potentially increasing service margins.

Larsen & Toubro delivered a solid start to FY27, reporting a 14% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit to ₹4,123 crore for the quarter ended June 30, comfortably beating market expectations. Revenue climbed 6.7% to ₹67,942 crore as execution improved across multiple businesses, while fresh orders rose 14% to ₹1.08 lakh crore. More than half of the company's revenue and order inflows came from international markets, pushing the total order book to ₹7.79 lakh crore.

The quarter highlighted strong demand in infrastructure, offshore wind, manufacturing and technology services, although EBITDA declined 3.2% and the operating margin narrowed to 9% because of changing business mix, supply chain disruptions and higher costs. Chairman S. N. Subrahmanyan said the company maintained momentum despite global geopolitical uncertainty and continued reshaping its portfolio through the sale of Nabha Power and the planned exit from the Hyderabad Metro project. L&T shares closed 0.75% higher at ₹3,832.75 after the results.

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Japan's Kumamoto prefecture on Tuesday, triggering widespread destruction and a deadly explosion at the region's largest Aeon Mall. Authorities said several people are presumed dead after the blast, while 20 to 30 workers remain unaccounted for. More than 90 people were reported injured, roads and bridges were damaged, power was cut to about 48,000 homes, and rail services, including Kyushu's Shinkansen bullet trains, were suspended. A tsunami warning was briefly issued before being lifted, and inspections found no abnormalities at nearby nuclear power plants.

The Japanese government ordered about 300,000 residents to evacuate as strong aftershocks continued across the region. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged people to remain alert for another earthquake of similar magnitude while emergency crews and hundreds of soldiers carried out rescue and recovery operations. The quake also disrupted operations at major manufacturing facilities, although companies including TSMC confirmed employees were safe. The disaster revived memories of the devastating Kumamoto earthquakes a decade ago that claimed hundreds of lives.

The makers of Summer Holidays have unveiled actress Vasuki’s character look, adding another interesting layer to the film’s promotions. Directed by Sreekar, the movie revolves around a heartwarming story inspired by childhood memories. Vasuki will be seen as Chamu, with her first look poster showing her in a traditional appearance near a Tulasi plant, creating curiosity among audiences.

The film has already introduced Jayasudha’s character Susheelamma, the grandmother figure in the story, through a special first look poster. Featuring child artists Rohan, Arun and Baby Khushi in important roles, Summer Holidays is expected to bring a nostalgic family experience when it arrives in theatres soon.

The Centre's first attempt to resolve the standoff over Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reportedly stopped short of seeking his resignation. According to the report, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh proposed moving Pradhan to a different ministry during talks with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) negotiators on July 20 in New Delhi. CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka rejected the proposal, maintaining that only Pradhan's resignation would meet the protesters' demand amid nationwide anger over alleged examination paper leaks.

The report says the negotiators feared accepting anything less than a resignation would spark a backlash from protesters. The BJP later dismissed the claims that such an offer had been made, calling the reports misleading. Pradhan eventually resigned as Education Minister before the third round of talks, after which the CJP ended its protest. In his resignation note, he said he stepped down to prevent the agitation from being exploited and to safeguard students' future.

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Kriti Sanon's sea-facing duplex penthouse in Mumbai's prestigious Pali Hill continues to attract attention for its scale and luxury. Located on the 14th and 15th floors of the Supreme Prana residential tower, the property reportedly spans around 6,636 square feet and was purchased for approximately ₹78 crore. One of its biggest highlights is a 1,209 sq ft private terrace offering uninterrupted views of the Arabian Sea.

The luxury residence also includes six dedicated parking spaces and access to premium amenities such as a rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre, yoga deck, landscaped gardens, clubhouse, banquet facilities and concierge services. On the professional front, Kriti Sanon was last seen in Cocktail 2 and has recently featured in films including Tere Ishk Mein, The Crew and Do Patti.

A major IPL trade rumour has put Hardik Pandya at the centre of attention, with reports suggesting Chennai Super Kings have offered Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis and ₹10 crore to Mumbai Indians in exchange for the star all-rounder. Mumbai are reportedly seeking a deal that includes promising youngster Ayush Mhatre, but CSK are said to be unwilling to part with the 19-year-old batter, whom they consider a long-term investment.

The proposed package is reportedly valued at more than ₹20 crore, highlighting Hardik's value as an Indian pace-bowling all-rounder and experienced captain despite a modest IPL 2026 season. No official agreement has been announced by either franchise, and the reported negotiations remain speculative. Meanwhile, reports suggest other teams, including Kolkata Knight Riders, are closely monitoring the situation if the talks fail.

Formula One has officially confirmed that the rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit on October 4 under the title "Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia." The race was postponed from April because of security concerns linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran and regional instability. The addition of Sepang restores the 2026 Formula One calendar to 23 races, pending final FIA approval.

Sepang last hosted a Formula One race in 2017 and remains one of the sport's most iconic venues. The event will be held between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, while uncertainty still surrounds the season-ending races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. If further Middle East events are disrupted, Italy's Imola circuit is reportedly being considered as an alternative venue for the championship finale.

IIM Visakhapatnam is preparing to shift to its permanent campus as construction enters its final phase with nearly 95% of the work completed. Built at an estimated cost of ₹450 crore on 241.5 acres of land allotted in December 2020, the campus already has academic blocks, student hostels, administrative buildings, faculty offices and most essential infrastructure in place. Only the auditorium and a few supporting facilities remain under construction.

Established in 2015 under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, IIM Visakhapatnam has operated from a temporary campus since its inception. The new eco-friendly campus includes smart classrooms, research facilities, residential quarters, sports infrastructure, green landscapes and a large solar power system. Once fully operational, it is expected to significantly strengthen Visakhapatnam's reputation as a leading centre for higher education, research and innovation.

Marvel Studios delivered one of the biggest announcements at its Hall H presentation during San Diego Comic-Con 2026 by confirming a standalone Ghost Rider film. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige introduced Ryan Gosling on stage, revealing that the actor will portray the legendary motorcycle-riding antihero. The studio also confirmed that Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy will helm the project, with the film targeting a 2028 theatrical release.

Speaking to fans, Gosling said Ghost Rider is a character he has wanted to play for a long time, while Levy revealed that the idea for the film grew from conversations the two shared during the production of Star Wars: Starfighter. Their collaboration eventually evolved into Marvel's next major superhero project, bringing one of the franchise's most anticipated characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after years of speculation.

Samsung dominated this week's smartphone launches in India by introducing the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra and Galaxy Z Flip8. The Fold8 arrives with a redesigned wider form factor, while the Fold8 Ultra offers flagship specifications including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a 200MP primary camera and an 8-inch foldable display. The Galaxy Z Flip8 focuses on portability with a slimmer design, a larger FlexWindow display and new AI-powered software features. Alongside Samsung, iQOO launched the Z11 Lite with a 6,500mAh battery, while Lava expanded its budget lineup with the Virat V1 and Virat V1 5G.

The week's launches reflect how smartphone brands are targeting different buyer priorities across price segments. Samsung continues to push premium innovation through foldable displays, artificial intelligence features and long-term software support, while iQOO emphasizes battery endurance in the sub-₹20,000 category. Lava, meanwhile, is focusing on value-conscious users with clean software, free home service and affordable pricing, giving first-time smartphone buyers more competitive choices in the Indian market.

Kiran Abbavaram's Chennai Love Story has opened on a positive note at the worldwide box office. The romantic drama collected an estimated ₹5.4 crore gross on Day 1, while the total worldwide gross including paid previews reached around ₹6 crore. India contributed ₹4.1 crore gross, and the film recorded USA advance bookings worth $53,801. The opening has also surpassed Kiran Abbavaram's previous film KA, which had collected ₹5.2 crore gross on its opening day.

Made on a reported budget of ₹32 crore, Chennai Love Story now needs sustained collections over the weekend to maintain momentum. The film has been released across nearly 700 screens worldwide, including around 450 screens in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with approximately 2,000 shows across 285 theatres in India. Opening occupancy was estimated at 30%, while trade expectations suggest the film needs around ₹32 crore worldwide gross or ₹16 crore distributor share to emerge as a theatrical hit.

Box Office Details:

Movie Name:

Chennai Love Story

Worldwide Collection:

₹6 Crore Gross

Day 1 Worldwide Collection:

₹5.4 Crore Gross

India Collection:

₹4.1 Crore Gross

Paid Preview Collection:

₹0.6 Crore Gross

Current Total Collection:

₹6 Crore Gross

USA Advance Sales:

$53,801

Production Budget:

₹32 Crore

Pre-Release Business:

₹16 Crore (Own Release)

Hit Target:

₹32 Crore Worldwide Gross / ₹16 Crore Distributor Share

Worldwide Screens:

700

AP & Telangana Screens:

450

Other Territory Screens:

250

India Theatres:

285

India Shows:

2,000

Opening Occupancy:

30%

2026 Telugu Opening Rank:

9th Highest Opening

Previous Movie Opening:

KA – ₹5.2 Crore Gross

Box Office Verdict:

Opening

Director Venky Atluri has shared an interesting story about how his upcoming film Viswanath & Sons with Suriya came together. Speaking in a recent interview, Atluri revealed that he originally narrated a biographical film to the actor. Suriya appreciated the script but decided not to take it up because he had already completed two biographical films and wanted to explore a different genre.

Atluri later returned with a fresh emotional drama centred on the relationship between a 40-year-old man with children and a 20-year-old young woman. The story instantly connected with Suriya, who agreed to do the film. Viswanath & Sons stars Suriya and Mamitha Baiju in the lead roles, features music by GV Prakash Kumar, is produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments, and is scheduled for release on August 14.

Naga Bandham has officially arrived on Amazon Prime Video following its theatrical release. Directed by Abhishek Nama, the period drama stars Virat Karna in the lead role alongside Nabha Natesh and Aishwarya Menon. Although the film received mixed reviews during its theatrical run, it managed to attract audiences with its visual presentation, production values, and historical backdrop.

The film has made its digital debut within three weeks of its theatrical release, making it accessible to a wider audience. It is currently streaming in multiple Indian languages except Hindi, allowing viewers across regions to experience the film. The OTT release is expected to give Naga Bandham a fresh opportunity to reach audiences who missed it on the big screen.

Google has expanded the capabilities of its Gemini-powered AI Mode by adding support for third-party connected apps, making the search experience more practical for everyday tasks. The feature is rolling out to users in the United States and currently supports Canva, Instacart, and YouTube Music. Instead of switching between multiple apps, users can now ask AI Mode to create shopping lists, recommend design templates, or generate music playlists and complete those actions through connected services.

The update is designed to simplify planning and productivity. For example, AI Mode can prepare a grocery list for a barbecue and send the selected items directly to an Instacart cart after user approval. It can also suggest Canva templates for presentations or social media graphics and create playlists that can be saved to YouTube Music. Google says additional app integrations are already in development, highlighting its growing focus on turning AI Mode into a personal digital assistant capable of handling real-world tasks across multiple platforms.

The Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned ₹150 crore to prepare for the Godavari Pushkaralu 2027, approving funds for key municipalities along the river. Rajamahendravaram received ₹100 crore, followed by Kovvur with ₹20 crore, Narsapuram with ₹15 crore, Nidadavole with ₹7 crore, Palakollu with ₹5 crore, and Mandapeta with ₹3 crore.

The allocated funds will be used to modernise Pushkar ghats, strengthen civic infrastructure, repair essential public facilities, improve sanitation, and provide safe drinking water for pilgrims. The government aims to ensure smooth arrangements and better amenities for the large number of devotees expected to participate in the sacred festival.

Entertainment fans have a busy week ahead as major OTT platforms prepare to stream a wide range of movies and web series from July 20 to 26. Netflix leads the lineup with titles including Musafir Cafe, The Truthers, 72 Hours, A Toxic Love Story, Elite Force, Ransom Canyon Season 2, and The Debt Collector. JioHotstar will stream Stuart Fails to Save the Universe and the final season of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, while Prime Video, SonyLIV, ZEE5, Apple TV+, and Sun NXT are also adding fresh content across multiple genres.

The theatrical release calendar is equally exciting. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s final film Jananayagan is set for a grand release, while Kiran Abbavaram’s Chennai Love Story will arrive in Telugu cinemas alongside films such as The India Story, Hey Chikita, Chandrappan, and Kagitham Padavulu. With romantic dramas, action thrillers, anime, documentaries, and comedy series releasing together, audiences will have plenty of entertainment options throughout the week.

Former TTD Chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy alleged that a centuries-old Hanuman idol located along the Tirumala footpath has been stolen. Addressing the media in Tirupati, he said the idol, which is visited by thousands of pilgrims every day, was an important religious symbol. He claimed CCTV cameras recorded the theft and questioned the security arrangements in Tirumala, demanding that the State Government take responsibility for the incident.

Bhumana further alleged that attempts were being made to portray the accused as mentally unstable and called for a transparent investigation. He demanded that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accept responsibility and urged TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu to resign. He also noted that the Hanuman idol receives special worship during Hanuman Jayanti every year and said the incident has deeply hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.

Protests have intensified in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Shantiniketan, and Jaipur after activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed from his protest site at Jantar Mantar. The incident has drawn strong reactions from supporters, who describe it as a setback for peaceful democratic protest and have taken to the streets demanding greater attention to education-related issues. Demonstrators continue to call for accountability and broader public discussion on education reforms.

According to Wangchuk's family, his wife Geetanjali Angmo has said that he will end his hunger strike only if political leaders assure that education will be discussed during the current Parliament session. The developments have added momentum to the ongoing debate over education policy, citizens' right to protest, and the government's handling of public demonstrations.

While busy with his upcoming film Raaka starring Allu Arjun, director Atlee took time to share his admiration for the trailer of Ramayana after attending a private screening. He said he was "absolutely blown away" by what he saw, praising director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra for presenting the epic on a grand cinematic scale. Atlee also commended the film's visuals, emotional storytelling and overall execution.

The filmmaker reserved special praise for lead actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, saying each looked exceptional in their respective roles. He congratulated the entire team and wished them success ahead of the film's release. Ramayana has already generated significant anticipation among audiences, and Atlee's enthusiastic reaction has further strengthened expectations surrounding one of the most awaited Indian films.

A nationwide campaign against artificial intelligence infrastructure gathered momentum on Saturday as activists organised 142 protests across 42 US states, marking the first coordinated movement targeting the rapid growth of data centres. Organised by grassroots group HumansFirst, the demonstrations highlighted concerns over water consumption, environmental damage, land use and limited community involvement in project approvals. Texas recorded 18 protests, followed by Georgia with 11 and California with eight, reflecting growing resistance in both Republican- and Democratic-leaning states.

The protests come as technology companies including Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and xAI continue expanding their AI infrastructure to meet soaring demand. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only about one-third of Americans support the current pace of data centre construction, while just 14 percent would welcome one in their own community. Protest organisers are calling for stronger environmental safeguards, greater transparency and better protections for local resources, while industry leaders say companies are working to minimise the impact of new facilities and deliver economic benefits to surrounding communities.

Prabhas has once again become the center of discussion after the release-date poster of Fauji revealed him in an unconventional appearance that immediately caught fans' attention. Dressed in what appears to be a Brahmin-inspired look with an intense expression, the actor looks far removed from the rugged action image seen in many of his recent films. The poster has fueled speculation that his character begins as a peaceful man before circumstances force him to become a warrior. Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, the period drama is scheduled to arrive in theatres on December 3, 2026.

Industry buzz indicates that the newly unveiled look is only one aspect of Prabhas' character, with reports suggesting he will appear in three distinct avatars representing different stages of the story. If those reports prove accurate, the transformation is expected to be one of the film's biggest attractions alongside its historical setting. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers, Fauji has already generated strong anticipation, and reports of a major Netflix OTT deal ahead of its theatrical release have added to the growing excitement surrounding the ambitious project.

The trailer of Srinivasa Mangapuram has offered audiences a first glimpse of a story that begins as a heartfelt romance before evolving into an intense action drama. Directed by Ajay Bhupathi, the film marks the acting debut of Jaya Krishna Ghattamaneni, while Rasha Thadani makes her Telugu cinema debut as the female lead. The trailer follows the growing relationship between Srinu and Manga until the arrival of the ruthless Venkatappayya Naidu, played by Mohan Babu, dramatically changes the course of their lives. The preview highlights emotional conflict, large-scale action sequences and the hero's transformation from a carefree young man into a determined fighter.

The film is produced by P. Kiran and presented by Ashwini Dutt, with cinematography by Jayakrishna ISC and music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar. The trailer has drawn attention for balancing romance, emotion and commercial action without revealing major plot twists, while Mohan Babu's powerful screen presence and the lead pair's performances have emerged as key talking points. Backed by polished visuals and an energetic background score, Srinivasa Mangapuram now heads toward its July 30 theatrical release with growing curiosity among Telugu cinema audiences.

An opinion article has raised concerns that Andhra Pradesh's ruling alliance may be underestimating shifts in public sentiment despite maintaining a confident political narrative. The commentary argues that signs of anti-incumbency are becoming more visible across several regions, particularly Rayalaseema, while political observers are also watching changing voter trends in Uttarandhra and the Godavari districts. It further highlights perceptions surrounding community outreach, coalition coordination and local leadership dynamics, suggesting these issues are increasingly becoming topics of discussion within political circles.

The article contends that electoral success in Andhra Pradesh has historically depended on broad social coalitions, strong grassroots organisation and effective coordination among alliance partners rather than public messaging alone. It suggests that addressing concerns raised by local workers, improving cooperation between coalition parties and responding to voter feedback could help the alliance strengthen its position before future elections. The views expressed are presented as opinion and analysis rather than verified electoral forecasts, reflecting one interpretation of the state's evolving political landscape.

After a mixed start at the box office, Lenin found fresh momentum on its third day as Sunday audiences pushed the film to its highest daily collection yet. The Akhil Akkineni-starrer earned an estimated ₹9.65 crore net in India on Day 3, an 11.6 percent increase over Saturday's ₹8.65 crore. Running across 2,324 shows nationwide, the film's domestic total climbed to ₹25.45 crore net and ₹29.27 crore gross, while overseas markets contributed another ₹2 crore, taking the international total to ₹7.80 crore and the worldwide gross to ₹37.07 crore in just three days.

The improved Sunday performance offers encouragement for the makers after the film opened to mixed reviews, suggesting that weekend audiences responded more positively than the initial advance booking trends had indicated. The next challenge, however, will come from weekday collections, which often determine whether a film can convert a strong weekend into a successful theatrical run. Produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni under Manam Enterprises LLP in association with Suryadevara Naga Vamsi's Sithara Entertainments, Lenin will now be closely watched by the trade as it attempts to maintain its pace through the crucial first week.

Maa Inti Bangaaram is on the verge of joining the ₹100 crore worldwide club after an impressive theatrical run spanning 22 days. According to the latest box office update shared by the film's team, the Samantha Ruth Prabhu-starrer has collected ₹99.96 crore globally, including ₹76.21 crore from the domestic market and ₹23.75 crore from overseas, where it has earned approximately $2.501 million. The domestic total includes ₹32.71 crore from Telangana, ₹23.91 crore from Andhra Pradesh, ₹12.68 crore from Karnataka, ₹6 crore from Tamil Nadu and ₹90.5 lakh from the rest of India.

The reported figures position Maa Inti Bangaaram as one of the most profitable South Indian films of 2026, with the makers stating that the film was produced on a budget of ₹12 crore and has generated an estimated theatrical profit of ₹34.64 crore after 22 days. The production team also claims the film became the first female-led Telugu film to reach the ₹100 crore worldwide milestone on its 23rd day and marks Samantha Ruth Prabhu's highest-grossing solo lead film. While these numbers reflect the figures released by the makers, the film's sustained theatrical performance has reinforced its status as one of the standout commercial successes of the year.

Aditya Dhar's espionage thriller 'Dhurandhar' continues its unstoppable run at the box office, crossing the coveted ₹1000 crore mark worldwide in merely 21 days. Produced by Jio Studios, the film added a massive ₹28.6 crore on Christmas Day alone, pushing its global gross to over ₹1006 crore as per official updates.

Starring Ranveer Singh in the lead as a covert operative, alongside Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan, 'Dhurandhar' has shattered multiple records. It has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian movie of 2025, surpassing previous benchmarks and marking Ranveer Singh's biggest career hit.

Fueled by strong word-of-mouth and patriotic appeal, the film has dominated despite competition from new releases. Its gripping narrative, intense action sequences, and powerful performances have kept audiences hooked, with exceptional hold in the third week.

'Dhurandhar' is now eyeing further milestones, cementing its status as a blockbuster phenomenon in Indian cinema.

Avatar's Indian Box Office Journey: A Disaster Collection?

While Avatar: The Way of Water captivated global audiences, its journey in India, particularly Hyderabad and Telangana, faced unexpected headwinds. Let's analyze its box office performance and the factors contributing to its perceived 'disaster collection'. Was it the hype, the price, or something else entirely?

Initial Enthusiasm vs. Sustained Performance

Strong Start, Weaker Hold?

The film opened strong across India, including major cities like Hyderabad. However, maintaining that momentum proved challenging. Several factors played a crucial role in its sustained performance.

Factors Affecting Collection in Telangana

Several reasons contributed to Avatar's collection figures:

• Ticket Pricing: Higher ticket prices, especially for 3D viewings, potentially limited repeat viewings.
• Competition: New Bollywood releases and other regional films might have diverted audience attention.
• Word of Mouth: While visually stunning, some found the plot lacking, impacting positive word-of-mouth.

Future of Hollywood Blockbusters in India

Despite the challenges, Avatar's performance shows the continued potential for Hollywood blockbusters in India. Understanding local audience preferences and addressing accessibility issues are crucial for future success. Are we going to see these same problems with future big releases in India?

Stay tuned to Krihaa News for more updates on movie trends in Hyderabad and across India!

Truecaller has rolled out a new voicemail feature for users in India, bringing a much-awaited functionality to Android smartphones. With this feature, users can now receive voicemail messages from missed calls, which are automatically transcribed into text. The service is currently available free for all Truecaller users in India, provided call forwarding is enabled on their mobile number. This allows users to quickly understand the purpose of a missed call without having to listen to the entire message.

The voicemail feature records messages left by callers and displays the transcriptions in a dedicated Voicemail tab within the app. While transcription may take a short time to appear, all messages are stored directly on the user’s device, ensuring better privacy and control. The feature also includes smart call categorisation, spam filtering, and adjustable playback speed. Notably, Truecaller supports AI-powered transcription in 12 Indian languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Nepali, Sanskrit, and Urdu.

Truecaller Premium users will receive an upgraded experience through the Truecaller Assistant, which can answer calls, interact with callers, and provide personalised greetings along with advanced call-handling options. Currently, the voicemail feature is exclusive to India, but the company has stated that it plans to expand availability to other countries after gathering user feedback. Users must ensure they are running the latest version of the Truecaller app to access this new functionality.

A recent viral video from Bengaluru showing a woman desperately seeking medical help for her ailing husband has sparked nationwide outrage. After being denied treatment by hospitals, the man later died in a road accident, while the woman was seen pleading for help as vehicles passed by without stopping. The incident once again highlighted the growing indifference among motorists and pedestrians, who often hesitate to assist accident victims due to fear of legal complications, police involvement, and financial burden.

Many bystanders avoid even informing police or ambulance services, fearing prolonged questioning and follow-ups. Helping an injured person is often perceived as an act that could spiral into endless trouble, discouraging people from responding humanely. This reluctance, driven by fear rather than lack of compassion, has contributed to preventable deaths on roads and highways across the country.

Addressing this concern in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari urged citizens to help accident victims without fear. He assured that there would be no legal or police trouble for Good Samaritans and announced incentives to encourage assistance. Those who help accident victims will be recognized as ‘Raahveer’ and rewarded with ₹25,000, while hospitals providing up to seven days of treatment will be reimbursed up to ₹1.5 lakh. Gadkari noted that timely medical aid could save nearly 50,000 lives annually and highlighted measures such as fixing accident black spots, mandating six airbags in cars, and providing two helmets with two-wheelers to curb India’s alarming road fatality rate.

Human–wildlife conflict has been rising sharply across India, with Andhra Pradesh witnessing a significant increase in such incidents. Farmers are facing heavy crop losses, villagers are encountering frequent wildlife intrusions, and displaced animals are entering human habitations, creating serious safety and livelihood concerns. These growing challenges have highlighted the urgent need for a structured and long-term solution to balance human safety and wildlife conservation.

To address this issue, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a focused initiative titled HANUMAN — Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife. Announced last month by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and formally launched through a Government Order yesterday, the initiative aims to prevent conflicts before they occur, ensure swift response during emergencies, and provide relief and compensation when losses are suffered. The programme also emphasizes community participation, encouraging people living near forest regions to become active partners in conservation.

Within a month of its announcement, the government approved the registration of HANUMAN as a foundation and constituted a strong governing body involving senior forest officials, wildlife experts, scientists, veterinarians, police representatives, and NGOs. Leveraging technology, data, research, and inter-departmental coordination, the initiative seeks to protect farmers’ interests while maintaining ecological balance. Led directly by Pawan Kalyan, who oversees the Environment, Forests, Science and Technology portfolio, HANUMAN reflects a broader vision that combines policy, passion, and symbolism—reinforcing the idea that protecting nature is a form of service rooted in responsibility and tradition.

Prabhas starrer Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi, is currently in the promotional phase with Niddhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, and Malavika Mohanan playing the female leads. Despite the film’s strong star cast, it has not yet generated significant excitement within film circles. The makers released two songs as part of the promotions to build early momentum. However, the overall buzz surrounding the project remains limited. Expectations were high considering Prabhas’ fan base and the scale of the film. The initial promotional material was expected to create a stronger impact. So far, the response has been relatively muted. This has raised concerns among trade circles about the film’s promotional reach.

The two songs released so far have received a lukewarm response from audiences. Many viewers feel that neither the tunes nor the lyrics are catchy enough to become chartbusters. As a result, both tracks have been subjected to criticism and trolling on social media platforms. Several users expressed disappointment, stating that the songs failed to leave a lasting impression. The music, which was expected to be a major highlight, has not met expectations. Comparisons with earlier hit albums have further intensified the criticism. This reaction has slowed down the film’s promotional momentum. The makers now face the challenge of regaining audience interest.

In addition to the songs, the lyrical videos have also come under scrutiny for their outdated editing transitions. Fans have pointed out that the visuals lack freshness and modern appeal. There are also allegations that some portions of the tunes resemble previously released songs. With such feedback, promoting the film aggressively could prove difficult for the team. Despite this, fans remain hopeful about the upcoming dance number. Featuring Prabhas alongside three heroines, the song is expected to create strong visual appeal. The team believes it could turn the tide in the film’s favour. All eyes are now on whether this track can revive the buzz around Raja Saab.

The much-anticipated launch of "Sahana Sahana," the second song from Prabhas's upcoming film The Raja Saab, took place yesterday at Lulu Mall in Hyderabad. What should have been a celebratory event quickly descended into chaos, culminating in a disturbing incident that has sparked widespread concern about celebrity safety and event management.

The Event That Went Wrong

Producer TG Vishwa Prasad, music director Thaman, and director Maruthi graced the event to promote the latest track from the highly anticipated film. True to form, Prabhas himself was absent from the public gathering, leaving the film's leading lady, Nidhhi Agerwal, to represent the movie and add star power to the occasion.

The event itself was marred by delays and organizational issues—problems that have unfortunately become all too common at such gatherings. Music director Thaman even took a moment during his speech to address concerns about the song's delayed release, acknowledging the fans' patience.

When Celebration Turned to Terror

However, the real crisis unfolded after the brief event concluded. As Nidhhi Agerwal attempted to exit the venue, she was surrounded by a massive, uncontrolled mob. What followed was nothing short of terrifying.

Multiple videos that have since gone viral on social media show the actress being literally crushed by the crowd. There was no breathing room, no path to safety, and no immediate help to extract her from the dangerous situation. The footage captures the sheer panic of the moment people pressing from all sides, with Nidhhi trapped in the center, unable to move forward or backward.

After what must have felt like an eternity, she finally managed to reach her vehicle. The viral videos show her sitting in the car, visibly shaken and distressed. Her facial expression and body language spoke volumes about the traumatic experience she had just endured. No words were needed her reaction said it all.

Who's to Blame?

This incident has ignited a heated debate online, with blame being assigned from multiple angles:

Lack of Civic Sense

Many are pointing fingers at sections of the audience primarily younger crowds who behaved irresponsibly and shamelessly in the name of fandom. The concept of personal space and basic human decency seemed to evaporate in the frenzy. The mob mentality took over, with individuals failing to recognize that their collective actions were putting someone in genuine danger.

Poor Event Planning

The event organizers and film's producers are also facing criticism for inadequate planning and preparation. Key failures include:

- Insufficient security personnel to manage the expected crowd

- Lack of proper exit strategy for the celebrity guests

- No crowd control barriers or designated pathways

- Poor choice of venue for such a high-profile event

The Mall Factor

Conducting such an event in a crowded public place like Lulu Mall where access is open to everyone and crowd control is inherently difficult has been called into question. Unlike controlled venues with ticketing and security checkpoints, a mall offers no natural barriers to prevent such situations.

A Recurring Problem

Sadly, this isn't an isolated incident. Celebrity mob incidents have become disturbingly common in India, with stars often finding themselves at the mercy of uncontrolled crowds. From airport chaos to event stampedes, the pattern continues to repeat itself.

Previous incidents involving stars like Rashmika Mandanna, Allu Arjun at Pushpa 2 events, and various other actors have shown that the industry has yet to learn from past mistakes.

What Needs to Change

This incident should serve as a wake-up call for the entire film industry and event management sector:

1. Mandatory security protocols for all public appearances by celebrities

2. Strict venue assessments before approving event locations

3. Professional crowd management teams at every public event

4. Legal consequences for organizers who fail to ensure safety

5. Fan awareness campaigns about responsible behavior

The Human Behind the Celebrity

It's crucial to remember that celebrities are human beings who deserve safety, respect, and personal space. Fandom should never cross the line into endangerment. The enthusiasm to see your favorite star should not translate into actions that put them at risk.

Nidhhi Agerwal's frightened expression in that car will remain a stark reminder of what happens when excitement overrides common sense and when organizers prioritize publicity over safety.

Conclusion

As The Raja Saab gears up for release, one hopes this incident prompts serious introspection within the industry. No song launch, no promotional event, and no amount of publicity is worth risking someone's safety.

The viral videos of yesterday's incident should not just be shared for shock value they should serve as evidence of a systemic problem that demands immediate attention and reform. Until meaningful changes are implemented, we may continue to witness such terrifying incidents at celebrity events.

The question remains: How many more such incidents will it take before concrete action is taken?

Hyderabad is currently under the grip of a cold wave, with minimum temperatures dropping 2-3°C below normal levels, reaching around 16°C or lower in isolated pockets, while maximum temperatures remain at a comfortable 30°C

Today's Weather Snapshot

As evening sets in, Hyderabad residents are experiencing distinctly chilly conditions. GHMC circles including Rajendranagar, Serilingampally, Alwal, Secunderabad, and Kukatpally continue witnessing cold conditions with temperatures hovering between 11°C and 12°C.

State-Wide Cold Wave Alert

The India Meteorological Department has extended cold wave warnings in Adilabad, Komuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Sangareddy, and Medak districts until December 18. These areas have recorded temperatures between 8°C and 10°C, placing them under alert conditions.

What to Expect This Evening and Night

The evening will remain dry and clear with excellent visibility. However, as darkness falls, temperatures will plummet rapidly. Those heading out for evening activities should carry warm clothing, especially if traveling to northern parts of the city or rural areas where temperatures drop even lower.

Week Ahead Forecast

Independent weather tracker Telangana Weatherman predicts temperatures will remain chilly between December 16 and 18, with another powerful cold wave expected on December 19, 2025. The nights will continue to be significantly colder than usual, though daytime temperatures will provide some relief.

Health Advisory

Weather officials have advised people, particularly children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, to take adequate precautions during the cold spell. Morning fog between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM may also reduce visibility slightly in some areas.

Travel and Outdoor Planning

For those planning evening outdoor activities, the pleasant afternoon weather with 30°C temperatures makes it ideal for daytime outings. However, any events extending past sunset should account for the sharp temperature drop. Morning joggers and walkers are advised to wait until after 8:00 AM when temperatures become more comfortable.

Agricultural Impact

Farmers in rural Telangana should take note of the extended cold wave, particularly those with sensitive crops. The persistent low temperatures could affect winter crop yields in northern districts.

OpenAI is reportedly working to transform ChatGPT from a simple app or interface into a full-fledged operating system. This ambition was confirmed by Glen Coates, who has joined the company as the new Head of App Platform. His appointment comes at a significant time, as OpenAI is also collaborating with former Apple designer Jony Ive to build an AI-powered device, expected to launch around 2027, indicating a broader long-term ecosystem strategy.

Currently, ChatGPT functions as an AI-powered conversational interface that connects users with various apps and services. With features like ChatGPT Apps, built-in search, contextual understanding, and backend AI agents, the platform already acts as a central interface for multiple tasks. These capabilities place ChatGPT just one step away from becoming an operating system, with hardware integration being the remaining major challenge.

According to Coates, the goal is to evolve ChatGPT into a system where users can access different applications for writing, coding, and interacting with goods and services, all within a single AI-driven environment. Backed by strong data infrastructure and partnerships with platforms like Adobe, Canva, and Zillow, OpenAI could potentially pioneer the world’s first AI operating system. However, no official timeline has been revealed for when this transformation might be completed.

The upcoming film Gurram Paapireddy, starring Naresh Agastya and Faria Abdullah in the lead roles, is directed by Murali Manohar and is set for a theatrical release on December 19, 2025. After gaining strong buzz through quirky promotions, a well-received teaser and trailer, and chartbuster songs, the makers organized a grand pre-release press meet, expressing high confidence in the film’s content and reception.

Legendary comedian Brahmanandam attended the event and spoke about his role in the film. He revealed that he plays a judge who narrates the story to the audience and praised director Murali Manohar for presenting a fresh and contemporary narrative. Brahmanandam also highlighted Yogi Babu’s performance, calling it a major attraction, and appreciated the performances of Jeevan Kumar, Raj Kumar Kasireddy, and Vamsidhar Kosigi.

Expressing confidence in the film’s success, Brahmanandam stated that the producers have made Gurram Paapireddy without compromising on quality. He urged audiences to support new-age films made by newcomers, noting that such encouragement would help the industry grow. The film also features Yogi Babu, Prabhas Sreenu, John Vijay, Motta Rajendran, and others in key roles, and is produced by Venu Saddi, Amar Bura, and Jayakanth (Bobby), presented by Dr. Sandhya Goli.

Pradeep Ranganathan has emerged as one of the leading stars in Tamil cinema today, delivering a remarkable hat-trick of ₹100 crore films with Love Today, Dragon, and Dude. Interestingly, he began his journey as a filmmaker, starting with short films in which he often acted himself, before making his way into the mainstream film industry as a director.

He made his feature film directorial debut with Comali, starring Jayam Ravi and Kajal Aggarwal, which turned out to be a commercial success and established him as a promising filmmaker. His second directorial venture, Love Today, adapted from one of his own short films, marked his debut as a lead actor. The film became a massive blockbuster and transformed Pradeep into an overnight sensation, opening the doors to multiple acting opportunities.

Following the success of Love Today, Pradeep acted in Dragon and later in Dude, both of which also crossed the ₹100 crore mark at the box office. His upcoming film LIK, directed by Vignesh Shivan, is scheduled for release in early 2026. He will then return to direction with an ambitious long-cherished project, which he will also headline as the lead actor. Producer Archana Kalpathi has confirmed that this directorial will go on floors and release in 2026, making it another busy year for Pradeep.

The IPL 2026 Shake-Up: Predicting the Squads for the Next Big Season

The IPL 2026 auction promises to be one of the most dynamic events in cricket history. With retention cycles ending and teams looking to rebuild their cores, fans are eagerly waiting to see where the biggest superstars will land.

At Kriha, we’ve crunched the numbers, analyzed team needs, and created the ultimate "What-If" scenario. Imagine a world where Sanju Samson dons the Yellow jersey, or Ravindra Jadeja returns to his Royals roots.

Here are our exclusive squad predictions for the IPL 2026 season. Let the debate begin!

1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK): The New Era

CSK fans, brace yourselves! Our prediction sees a massive addition to the top order with Sanju Samson joining Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. And yes, Thala Dhoni is back for another glory run.

• Key Buys: Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Nathan Ellis.
• The Core: MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube.
• Predicted Impact Player Strategy: Kamboj or Matt Henry depending on the pitch.

Full Squad: Dhoni, Samson, Ruturaj, Dube, Brevis, Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer, Matt Henry, Kamboj, Gurjapneet, Overton, Mukesh Choudhary, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Urvil, Hosein, Matthew Short, Sarfaraz Khan, Aman Khan, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

2. Mumbai Indians (MI): The Powerhouse Returns

MI seems to have retained their terrifying Indian core. With Hardik, Rohit, Surya, and Bumrah in one team, they look unbeatable on paper. The addition of Will Jacks and Trent Boult makes them title favorites.

• Star Power: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
• Bowling Attack: Boult, Bumrah, and Deepak Chahar.

Full Squad: Hardik, Rohit, Suryakumar, Tilak, Bumrah, Boult, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, De Kock, Rickleton, Minz, Raj Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Santner, Bosch, Naman Dhir, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Rutherford, Markande, Thakur, Mohd Izhar, Danish Malewar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat.

3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): King Kohli & The English Power

RCB looks to have solved their bowling woes by bringing back Josh Hazlewood and adding Nuwan Thushara. The batting remains explosive with Virat Kohli at the top and Phil Salt providing the fireworks.

• Key Batters: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Will Jacks.
• Key Bowlers: Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Swapnil Singh.

Full Squad: Virat Kohli, Salt, Patidar, Hazlewood, Tim David, Yash Dayal, Venkatesh Iyer, Bhuvneshwar, Padikkal, Bethell, Jitesh, Krunal, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar, Romario, Suyash, Swapnil Singh, Mangesh, Duffy, Jordan Cox, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan.

4. Rajasthan Royals (RR): The Homecoming

The biggest shock in our prediction? Ravindra Jadeja moving to Rajasthan Royals! Coupled with young stars like Jaiswal and Parag, RR looks like a perfect blend of youth and experience.

• Top Picks: Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran.
• Young Guns: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel.

Full Squad: Jaiswal, Jadeja, Riyan Parag, Curran, Archer, Hetmyer, Jurel, Sandeep, Deshpande, Bishnoi, Milne, Ferreira, Maphaka, Lhuan-Dre Pretorious, Burger, Shubham Dubey, Suryavanshi, Yudhvir Charak, Ravi Singh, Sushant, Kuldeep Sen, Yash Raj Punja, Brijesh Sharma, Puthur, Aman Rao.

5. Delhi Capitals (DC): The KL Rahul Era

We predict a captaincy change for Delhi! KL Rahul takes the reins, supported by the pure pace of Mitchell Starc and the finishing skills of David Miller.

• Captain: KL Rahul.
• Overseas Strength: Starc, Miller, Fraser-McGurk (Stubbs).
• Spin Web: Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel.

Full Squad: KL Rahul, Axar, Kuldeep, Starc, Miller, Stubbs, Shaw, Mukesh Kumar, Natarajan, Nitish Rana, Abhishek Porel, Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh, Chameera, Karun, Madhav Tiwari, Rizvi, Tripurana Vijay, Vipraj Nigam, Auqib Nabi, Nissanka, Lungi, Duckett, Sahil Parakh, Jamieson.

6. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Mystery & Pace

KKR continues their philosophy of mystery spin and raw pace. With Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy spinning a web, and Matheesha Pathirana bowling death overs, Eden Gardens will be a fortress.

• Key Players: Rinku Singh, Andre Russell (Green), Sunil Narine, Pathirana.
• Batting Depth: Shreyas Iyer (Rahane), Ramandeep, Angkrish.

Full Squad: Rinku, Narine, Russell (Green), Pathirana, Chakaravarthy, Rahane, Ramandeep, Harshit, Manish Pandey, Angkrish, Anukul Roy, Rovman, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Fizz, Tejasvi Dahiya, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Tripathi, Daksh Kamra, Solanki, Tyagi, Sarthak Ranjan, Akash Deep, Rachin.

7. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): The Six-Hitting Machine

The aggressive intent continues. With Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH is built to score 250+ every game. Pat Cummins leads the charge with the ball.

• The Big Three: Head, Abhishek, Klaasen.
• All-Rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone.

Full Squad: Head, Abhishek, Klaasen, Cummins, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Livingstone, Ishan, Harshal Patel, Mavi, Unadkat, Aniket, Carse, Eshan Malinga, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Smaran, Zeeshan Ansari, Jack Edwards, Salil Arora, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Shivang Kumar, Krains Fuletra, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge.

8. Gujarat Titans (GT): Calculated Precision

GT focuses on a solid Indian core led by Shubman Gill. The addition of Jos Buttler at the top and Kagiso Rabada with the ball makes them incredibly dangerous.

• Top Order: Gill, Buttler, Sai Sudharsan.
• Spin Twins: Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore.

Full Squad: Gill, Rashid, Sai Sudharsan, Buttler, Rabada, Tewatia, Sai Kishore, Shahrukh Khan, Sundar, Siraj, Prasidh, Ishant, Jayant Yadav, Anuj Rawat, Phillips, Gurnoor Brar, Kumar Kushagra, Suthar, Arshad Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Holder, Banton, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Prithvi Raj.

9. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): The Pant Revolution

Another massive prediction: Rishabh Pant moves to Lucknow! Paired with the pace of Mayank Yadav and the explosiveness of Nicholas Pooran, LSG looks revitalized.

• Key Signing: Rishabh Pant.
• Pace Battery: Mayank Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Anrich Nortje.

Full Squad: Pant, Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Shami, Nortje, Hasaranga, Stoinis (Marsh), Bishnoi (Mishra), Samad, Markram, Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshin, Avesh, Ayush, Digvesh Rathi, Himmat, Siddharth, Breetzke, Mitchell Marsh, Mohsin, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Naman Tiwari, Inglis.

10. Punjab Kings (PBKS): A New Direction

PBKS looks to stabilize their ship with Shreyas Iyer likely taking a leadership role, supported by the bowling of Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

• Key Players: Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Marcus Stoinis.
• Spin Attack: Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar (Brar).

Full Squad: Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep, Chahal, Stoinis, Ferguson, Jansen, Shashank, Prabhsimran, Omarzai, Harnoor, Brar, Owen, Musheer, Nehal, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shedge, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Dwarshuis, Connolly, Praveen Dubey, Vishal Nishad.

Conclusion

If these predicted squads come true in 2026, we are in for the most competitive season yet. The movement of captains like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, and stars like Sanju Samson and Jadeja, would completely change the dynamics of the league.

What do you think of these squads? Which team looks the strongest? Let us know in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Kriha for more sports updates, predictions, and entertainment news.

Bollywood star Ranveer Singh has once again found himself at the center of controversy, despite having no intention to offend. During the IFFI festival in Goa last month, Ranveer praised Rishab Shetty for his powerful performance in Kantara Chapter 1. However, while expressing his admiration on stage, he attempted to imitate Goddess Chamundi, an act that upset a section of Kannadigas and Hindu audiences. Although Rishab Shetty had subtly cautioned him against such gestures beforehand, Ranveer went ahead, triggering discomfort among viewers.

The situation escalated further when Ranveer, caught up in the moment, allegedly referred to Goddess Chamundi as a “female ghost,” intensifying the backlash on social media. Devotional sentiments being highly sensitive, what was intended as praise was perceived as disrespect by many. Following the outrage, Ranveer Singh issued a public apology on Instagram, clarifying that he never meant to disrespect any culture and expressing regret for hurting sentiments unintentionally.

Breaking his silence on the issue, Rishab Shetty recently addressed the matter at a Behindwoods event in Chennai, without naming Ranveer directly. He stated that imitating divine elements on stage, in reels, or on social media is inappropriate and makes him feel “uncomfortable.” Rishab also revealed that he and the Kantara team have repeatedly urged people not to casually recreate divine references. The incident serves as a reminder that even well-meaning actions can spark controversy, underlining the need for greater sensitivity while engaging with faith, culture, and devotion on public platforms.

Former CID chief and IPS officer P. V. Sunil Kumar underwent an intense interrogation in connection with the custodial torture case involving former MP and current Andhra Pradesh Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju. The questioning, held at the Guntur CCS police station, lasted nearly four hours, though sources indicate that many of Sunil Kumar’s responses were vague and evasive. The interrogation began around 10:45 am and continued into the evening, with a brief lunch break in between, and was conducted under video recording in the presence of two VROs, following standard procedure.

Investigators reportedly questioned Sunil Kumar on key aspects of the case, including the use of force, who issued instructions, and whether senior officials were involved in the alleged torture. He was also asked about the personnel who allegedly covered their faces during Raghurama’s interrogation. According to sources, Sunil Kumar offered partial answers to some queries, chose to remain silent on others, and frequently responded with “I don’t know,” maintaining a guarded stance and providing little clarity on crucial issues.

The case dates back to 2021, when Raghurama Krishnam Raju was arrested by CID police on sedition charges during the previous YSRCP government. Raghurama later alleged that he was brutally assaulted in custody, suffering severe injuries to his legs, an accusation that sparked nationwide debate. Sunil Kumar, who was serving as Additional DGP of CID at the time, was named as a prime accused. Following the formation of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, the investigation has gained momentum, with Sunil Kumar’s interrogation marking a key development. Officials indicate that further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing probe.

Mega Power Star Ram Charan’s highly awaited pan-India film Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana, has been generating enormous buzz ever since its First Shot Glimpse was unveiled. The excitement reached a new high with the release of the first single Chikiri Chikiri, which instantly caught the attention of audiences and set social media abuzz, emerging as a sensation across platforms.

Composed by legendary music director A. R. Rahman, Chikiri Chikiri has achieved massive milestones in record time. Featuring Ram Charan in a rugged new avatar and showcasing his electrifying, high-energy dance moves, the song has crossed 100 million views in Telugu alone. Its cumulative view count across all five languages has now surged past an impressive 150 million views, highlighting its pan-India reach.

Rapidly becoming the anthem of the season, Chikiri Chikiri is trending not only across India but also in several international markets, reflecting its growing global appeal. With its popularity continuing to rise at a remarkable pace, the song is well on track to become one of the biggest chartbusters of all time, further intensifying the pre-release hype surrounding Peddi.

Less than an hour remains for the much-anticipated IPL 2026 auction to begin in Abu Dhabi, with excitement running high among fans and franchises alike. As many as 369 players will go under the hammer today, and all eyes are firmly on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who is widely expected to command a massive bid. Green could even surpass Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking ₹27 crore deal from last season. Meanwhile, Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan sent a strong message to franchises with a blistering 22-ball 73 for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Rajasthan.

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders, armed with a purse of ₹64.30 crore, and Chennai Super Kings, with ₹43.40 crore available, are tipped to be the biggest spenders at the auction. Apart from Cameron Green, several big names such as Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, Ravi Bishnoi and Prithvi Shaw are expected to trigger intense bidding wars as teams look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season.

Sharing his expert views, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted key pace options to watch out for. He named Matheesha Pathirana as a hot pick due to his unique skill set despite recent fitness concerns, while also pointing to Gerald Coetzee for his all-round abilities and Ashok Sharma for his raw pace and accuracy. With just minutes to go, anticipation is soaring as the IPL 2026 auction promises high drama, record bids, and major squad shake-ups.

For the first time in his career, Pawan Kalyan surprised the film industry by gifting a luxury car to one of his directors, making headlines across Tollywood. The special gesture was for Sujeeth, the director of They Call Him OG, and it instantly became a major talking point. While Pawan is known for openly appreciating his directors on stage, his bond with Sujeeth has stood out as something truly special, evident from the film’s making to its massive success.

Sujeeth brought out a side of Pawan Kalyan that fans had rarely witnessed before. At the pre-release event, Pawan made a striking entry in full costume while holding a katana — a moment no other director had managed to create. Even during the success meet, Pawan appeared with a gun alongside Sujeeth and music director Thaman, later explaining that it was purely an expression of affection and respect for them.

At the same event, Pawan spoke emotionally about his earlier directorial film Johnny. He admitted that while he once felt disappointed with its outcome, he now feels proud of it, as it inspired Sujeeth to pursue cinema. He added that with a team like Sujeeth’s, Johnny could have become a major success. Pawan also confirmed that he will be part of an OG sequel despite his busy political and administrative commitments, driven mainly by Sujeeth’s passion. They Call Him OG went on to collect around ₹300 crore, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2025.

Motorola has launched the Edge 70 in India as the latest addition to its Edge series, expanding its mid-premium smartphone lineup. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, the device packs a 5,000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 68W wired and 15W wireless fast charging support. The smartphone features a 6.7-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, high peak brightness, and a premium design available in three Pantone colour options.

The Motorola Edge 70 is priced at Rs. 29,999 in India for the single 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, with an additional Rs. 1,000 bank discount on select cards. It will be available for purchase via Flipkart, the Motorola India online store, and offline retail outlets. Buyers can choose from Pantone Bronze Green, Pantone Gadget Grey, and Pantone Lily Pad colourways.

Running on Android 16 with Hello UI, the Edge 70 is promised three major Android updates and four years of security patches. It comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings, MIL-STD-810H durability certification, and Moto AI features for smarter usage. In the camera department, the phone sports a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup with OIS and a 50-megapixel front camera, supporting 4K video recording and AI-powered photo and video enhancements.

Music director Thaman expressed concern over the rising fan-driven negativity in Tollywood while speaking at the success meet of Akhanda 2. He said Telugu cinema has something truly special with its wide range of star heroes and unmatched fan following, but felt that this very strength is gradually turning into a weakness. According to him, constant fan wars and social media clashes are creating unnecessary negativity within the industry.

Thaman pointed out that while Telugu cinema is widely praised outside the industry for its scale, reach, and star power, there is a lack of unity within. He mentioned that internal conflicts and online trolling are damaging Tollywood’s image. Recalling the sudden postponement of Akhanda 2 due to last-minute legal issues, he said many chose to criticize publicly instead of supporting the producers, who face immense pressure during such difficult situations.

Calling for unity, Thaman said the industry should stand together when any film faces trouble, rather than celebrating setbacks or attacking each other online. He added that he is ready to support any film through promotions or public appearances and urged everyone to reduce negativity. According to Thaman, only unity and mutual support can help Telugu cinema grow stronger and protect its positive reputation.

One of the key strengths of the NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh has been the visible camaraderie and coordinated energy between its leaders. Both Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have consistently highlighted the importance of synchrony within the alliance, and their efforts appear to be yielding positive results.

An interesting moment unfolded at the Andhra Pradesh cabinet meeting today, where several ministers, most of them from TDP, openly expressed their appreciation for Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The ministers came together to recognize Kalyan for his role as the Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, following the release of ₹2,123 crore in funds dedicated to rural road development across the state.

The cabinet ministers presented flowers to Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan as a token of appreciation for his swift action and commitment to quality road infrastructure. Kalyan acknowledged the gesture with a bright smile, and photographs of the moment have quickly gone viral on social media, highlighting the positive rapport between the deputy CM and his colleagues.

Instagram’s standalone video editing app, Edits, is receiving a fresh round of updates that introduce new templates, storyboards, enhanced customisation options, and even a lock screen widget for iOS users. The latest tools include access to pre-designed templates in select countries, the ability to add public Reels directly into projects, and new ways to personalise text using secondary background or outline colours.

According to a post from the Instagram Creators account on Threads, Edits now features quick-creation templates that help users produce videos using trending music, varied fonts, and timed clips. Creators can also design their own templates and share them with others. A dedicated templates hub is rolling out to select regions including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, with Instagram indicating that more template types and tools will follow soon.

The update also introduces a storyboard feature, allowing creators to convert idea stickies into structured plans with teleprompter cues, clips, and notes. Users can import public Reels for remixing or reacting, with original creators credited automatically. In addition, new customisation tools and the iOS lock screen widget enable faster access to the Edits camera and sticky notes, making content creation more efficient and intuitive.

The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) serves as a vital mechanism to support economically disadvantaged individuals who require financial aid for medical emergencies or other urgent needs. It acts as an important bridge between the public and the government, allowing the Chief Minister to directly extend assistance when a deserving beneficiary needs immediate help.

While some state leaders are often criticized for not utilizing the CMRF effectively, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stands out for his proactive approach. His administration has demonstrated exceptional responsiveness in ensuring that the fund reaches poor and middle-class families who are in dire need of medical support.

In the last two years alone (up to 6 December 2025), the CMRF has disbursed an unprecedented ₹1,685.79 crore towards medical assistance. This marks a significant jump compared to the earlier average annual expenditure of ₹450 crore during 2014–2024. Under Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the fund has been providing nearly ₹850 crore per year, setting a new benchmark in public welfare.

Kannada star Darshan Thoogudeepa, popularly known as D Boss, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film The Devil, which hits theatres on December 12th. The movie has generated massive buzz, with theatres witnessing strong hype ahead of its arrival. The film also marks his major comeback after Kaatera, adding to the excitement surrounding its release.

What makes the situation unusual is that the celebrations are unfolding while Darshan remains in prison in connection with an ongoing case. Despite this, his fan base continues to show unwavering loyalty and enthusiasm. Fans are celebrating the release as if nothing has changed, displaying the same passion they held even during the initial controversy.

Adding to the momentum, The Devil has received strong backing from several major Kannada film industry stars. Prominent actors like Shiva Rajkumar and Rishab Shetty have extended their best wishes to the team, creating a positive atmosphere. Meanwhile, netizens remain shocked at how fans continue to support a hero facing allegations as serious as murder, yet remain unfazed in their devotion.

Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra shared memorable highlights from his recent visit to Hyderabad, where he addressed the Telangana Rising Global Summit and engaged in discussions with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He noted that the conversations revolved around the state’s Vision 2047 plan and future development possibilities.

Mahindra revealed that the trip also brought an unexpected yet delightful moment — the chance to finally meet Megastar Chiranjeevi. In his post, he described the actor as a legend whose humility and genuine curiosity make him even more admirable. He emphasized that these two qualities — the eagerness to learn and the willingness to listen — form the foundation of lasting success across fields, whether in cinema, business, or public policy.

Beyond these virtues, Mahindra highlighted that Chiranjeevi’s remarkable journey stands as a testament to his hard work, discipline, grounded personality, and unwavering commitment to his craft. These traits, he noted, are what have elevated Chiranjeevi to the stature of a true megastar.

Actor Satya, who has been selectively choosing his film projects, is stepping into the lead role in the upcoming movie Jetlee. The film marks his third collaboration with director Ritesh Rana, who earlier worked with him on Mathu Vadalara. Promoted as a fast-paced, jet-speed adventure, the movie has already generated curiosity with its quirky first-look poster featuring Satya in a humorous avatar.

Jetlee also introduces Miss Universe India Rhea Singha to Tollywood, as she plays the female lead. On the occasion of her birthday, the makers released her dynamic first-look poster, showing her inside a burning aircraft while holding a gun. Her black and maroon combat attire, along with the fiery background, gives her a bold and powerful presence, amplified by the flying sparks and shattered fragments around her.

The film is produced by Clap Entertainment and is described as an action-comedy packed with chaos and high-energy sequences. The shoot is currently progressing, promising a quirky and adventurous entertainer for the audience.