Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Thursday announced in the state council that the government will take stern action against builders who deny Marathi people homes in their residential complexes in Mumbai. His announcement comes amid ongoing agitation launched by the Shiv Sena-UBT, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, demanding further development of the Marathi language while strongly opposing the “imposition” of Hindi language from grade one for classes 1 to 5.The question in this regard was raised by Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Milind Narvekar, who demanded that the government should enact a law taking strong action against builders and developers who deny homes to Marathi people in Mumbai.Narvekar said that there have been many cases of Marathi people being denied houses in Mumbai on the grounds of language and cannibalism.He demanded that 50 per cent of houses should be reserved for Marathi people in new buildings in Mumbai.Minister Desai, in his reply, said that the Housing Department has not received any representation from the Parle Pancham organisation.”However, as the legislator Milind Narvekar has cited that Marathi people are being denied houses in Mumbai, the action will be taken against the concerned builder,” Minister Desai told the state council.Minister Desai further said, “No one in Mumbai, Mumbai suburbs, and Maharashtra has the right to deny a house to a Marathi person. If a complaint of denial of a house is received, the Mahayuti government will take strict action against the concerned builders and developers. In Maharashtra and Mumbai, the first right belongs to the Marathi person. Mumbai belongs to the Marathi people. The rights of the Marathi person will not be denied in the state. The Mahayuti government will work to protect their rights.”BJP legislator Chitra Wagh raised a question about whether the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government proposed a law for 50 per cent reservation in housing complexes for Marathi people.Replying to Wagh, Minister Desai said no such law was made during that time, and there was no such demand.–IANSsj/svn

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on Thursday assured strict action in the incident involving schoolgirls being stripped for menstruation checks at a school in Thane district. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed stern action against all those involved, including the principal and staff members.The assurance came after Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan informed the Legislative Assembly that the government was treating the matter with utmost seriousness. His response followed strong condemnation from opposition legislators, including Congress MLAs Nana Patole and Jyoti Gaikwad, and NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad, who demanded immediate accountability.Calling the incident shameful, Patole said such actions have no place in a progressive state like Maharashtra. Awhad demanded that the principal be arrested, while Gaikwad called for accountability of the school staff and also urged the government to ensure better menstrual hygiene infrastructure in schools, including access to clean water and sanitary napkin vending machines.Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar also expressed grave concern, stating that the government must initiate action against the guilty and present a detailed statement in the House.The government’s response came after the principal and a female attendant of the Thane school were arrested on Wednesday. Four teachers and two trustees have also been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following allegations that around 10 girls were forced to undress for a menstrual check after bloodstains were found in a school washroom.Police said that after spotting the stains on Tuesday, school authorities summoned girls from Classes 5 to 10 to a convention hall. There, a projector was used to display photographs of the stained washroom tiles, and students were asked to identify who among them was menstruating.According to police sources, students who raised their hands were asked to provide thumb impressions, while others were taken to washrooms where they were allegedly stripped and physically examined by attendants. One of the complainants reported that the principal confronted her daughter, accusing her of lying about her period and forcibly obtained her thumb impression.The incident came to light after shocked students narrated the ordeal to their parents, prompting protests by guardians and swift police action. The arrested principal and attendant were scheduled to be produced before a local court on Thursday.The case has sparked outrage across the state, with child rights activists and political leaders condemning the incident and calling for long-term reforms in menstrual health awareness and gender sensitivity in schools.–IANSsj/skp

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Shubhangi Atre, best known for her role in the show ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain,’ has dismissed the long-standing belief that television is a medium dominated by women, while films are meant for male actors. Sharing her thoughts on the matter, she called the notion outdated and irrelevant in today’s evolving entertainment landscape. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Atre highlighted how the times are changing. She pointed to successful, female-led films like Queen and Mary Kom as examples of how strong storytelling and powerful performances can break stereotypes, regardless of the medium. She shared, “Not at all. That’s an outdated mindset. Today we see so many strong female-oriented films like Queen and Mary Kom. In the end, it’s about good content. Regardless of the medium—TV, film, or music—what matters is the story and the performance.”Shubhangi also opened up about the demanding nature of television shoots, acknowledging that daily soaps often come with long and tiring work schedules. Speaking about the contrast between television and film sets, the actress admitted that TV shows typically involve extended hours. “I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I am a little tired right now,” she shared with a laugh.Talking about her latest music video, “Kaahe Saiyaan,” Shubhangi Atre stated, “When I first heard the song, which is based on Raag Jog and has a touch of Karun Ras, I was deeply moved. It carries a certain pain and emotional depth, which inspired me to present it as a visual story. The moment I heard it; the visuals came to me instantly. I wanted to give the audience not just a song but a visual treat with a narrative.”Shubhangi has now ventured into production with her latest song. Opening up about what motivated her to take this new step, she said it stemmed from a deep desire to give back to the industry that shaped her. The ‘Kasturi’ actress expressed, “I’ve always wanted to contribute something meaningful to the industry that has given me so much. Acting roles come and go, but I kept wondering—what am I really giving back? This project is a humble attempt.”–IANSps/

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) In some of the Muslim-majority districts of Bihar, Aadhaar saturation exceeds 100 per cent, BJP leader Amit Malviya said on Thursday, hinting at possible wrongdoings related to the 12-digit individual identification number, which serves as proof of identity and address for residents of India.“Something doesn’t add up,” said the in-charge of the BJP’s National Information and Technology Department on social media platform X to support the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) decision to disallow use of Aadhaar as proof of birth and residence by nearly eight crore voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.Pointing to the alleged mismatch between total population and the number of Aadhaar cards issued in Muslim-dominated districts in Bihar, Malviya said, Aadhaar saturation in the Muslim-majority districts of Bihar stands at “126 per cent in Kishanganj, 123 per cent in Katihar, 123 per cent in Araria, and 121 per cent in Purnia”.While Bihar’s average Aadhaar saturation stands at 94 per cent, the numbers from Muslim-dominated districts raise suspicion. The Muslim population in these four districts is – Kishanganj (68 per cent Muslim population), Katihar (44 per cent), Araria (43 per cent) and Purnia (38 per cent).“This raises the question: who are these additional Aadhaar cards made for, and why?” said Malviya, insinuating the existence of bogus or illegal Aadhaar card holders in the state.Malviya, who is the party’s co-incharge of West Bengal, also expressed fears of similar Aadhaar-related wrongdoings in the neighbouring Trinamool Congress-ruled state.“Now imagine what the situation must be like in West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is already squirming,” he wrote on X.“Who are these extra Aadhaar cards being issued to — and why? This also explains why the opposition and the Leftist lobby are so eager to push Aadhaar as proof of citizenship!” said Malviya, stopping short of alleging the presence of illegal Bangladeshis in the eastern states.The ongoing SIR in poll-bound Bihar has generated a lot of political heat with Opposition parties alleging irregularities, a charge denied by the ECI, which has reassured the timely and smooth completion of the exercise involving nearly 7.90 crore electors.The SIR, launched on June 24, aims to add the names of eligible citizens to the voter list and weed out ineligible voters. The previous such exercise in Bihar was carried out in 2003.As per ECI, submitting at least one of the 11 documents is a must for verification. Aadhaar is not part of the list.The nearly eight crore voters in Bihar are set to pick a new 243-member Assembly in the October-November election.–IANSrch/dpb

Chennai, July 10 (IANS) Even as one of India’s most spectacular blockbusters ‘Baahubali The Beginning’ completed 10 glorious years on Thursday, the director of the franchise, S S Rajamouli, announced that they were to mark this milestone by releasing  ‘Baahubali -The Epic’, a two-part combined film, on October 31 this year.
Taking to his Instagram stories section, S S Rajamouli wrote, “Baahubali. The beginning of many journeys.Countless memories. Endless inspiration. It’s been 10 years. Marking this special milestone with #BaahubaliTheEpic, a two-part combined film. In theatres worldwide on October 31,2025.”It may be recalled that only a couple of days ago, one of the film’s producers, Shobu Yarlagadda, had recalled how nerve wracking and tense the moments before the film’s release were.Taking to his X timeline, Shobu Yarlagadda wrote, “In a few days, it will be 10 years of @BaahubaliMovie “The Beginning” theatrical release! Around this time leading up to the release and a few days after the release were the most nerve racking and tense moments me and all of us involved with the film lived through.”The producer went on to say, “I was looking back at some of the screenshots I had taken at that time and saved and these bring back a flood of memories. Do you remember what you were thinking about #Baahubali at the time of release of Part 1? “He went on to attach tweets of film critics, who had praised the film after the press screening in Mumbai on July 9. The producer also posted tweets of articles predicting the film’s performance at the box office and the craze for the film among audiences.It may be recalled that Baahubali: The Beginning, the first of a two-part franchise directed by S S Rajamouli and featuring actors Prabhas, Rana Daggubatti, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah in the lead, released on July 10, 2015. The film smashed box office records to emerge a huge blockbuster.It was producer Shobu Yarlagadda, who, in an earlier tweet, was the first to drop hints about the movie’s re-release in October this year. “I am thrilled to inform you all that we are planning an Indian and international re-release of @BaahubaliMovie in October this year. It won’t just be a re-release, it will be a year of celebration for our beloved fans! Expect nostalgia, new reveals, and a few epic surprises along the way. Stay tuned! #ReliveTheEpic! #BaahubaliReturns,” he had said.’Baahubali 2′, the second instalment of the immensely popular Baahubali franchise, released in over 9,000 screens worldwide in 2017.The film, which was made on a lavish budget of Rs 250 crore, raked in over a whopping ₹1800 crores worldwide, thereby becoming the highest grossing Indian film of all time. It also has the distinction of being the first Indian film to cross the Rs 1000 crore mark in terms of collections. As of 2025, Baahubali 2 remains the highest grossing film in India.The film, apart from emerging an emphatic global success at the box office, also won widespread critical acclaim. It won awards, both at the National and international levels. The film, which won three National Awards — For Best Stunt Choreography, Best Special Effects and Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment — at the 65th National Film Awards, also won the Saturn Award for Best International Film at the 44th Saturn Awards.–IANSmkr/

Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Hero Motors Limited (HML) on Thursday placed its fresh IPO document on the capital markets regulator SEBI’s website. According to the document, the company’s profit declined around 60 per cent to Rs 17.03 crore in the year ended on March 31, 2024 as compared to Rs 40.50 crore in preceding financial year (FY23).The company aims to raise Rs 1,200 crore through selling equity shares at face value of Rs 10 each — up from Rs 900 crore in its earlier filing.The company had originally submitted its DRHP in August last year, but subsequently withdrew the application.According to the fresh IPO document, the company’s profit for the 9 months of FY25 ended in December 2024 stood at Rs 22.39 crore.Meanwhile, its net revenue (revenue from operations + other income) increased marginally to Rs 1,083.41 crore in the year FY24. It was Rs 1,069.9 crore in FY23. The net revenue stood at Rs 823.8 crore for the 9 months of FY25.The public issue is a combination of fresh shares and offer for sale, wherein the company issues fresh shares worth Rs 800 crore, and stakes worth Rs 400 crore will be offloaded by the promoters.OP Munjak Holdings, Bhagyoday Investment, and Hero Cycles are among the promoters and promoter group offloading stakes.The shares of the firm are proposed to be listed on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).ICICI Securities, DAM Capital Advisors, and JM Financials are book-running lead managers, and KFin Tech is the registrar for the IPO.The company was incorporated in the name of ‘Hero Briggs and Stratton Auto Private Limited’ as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956, under a certificate of incorporation dated April 30, 1998.Thereafter, it became a deemed public company, and the name of our Company was changed to ‘Hero Briggs & Stratton Auto Limited’ with effect from August 25, 1998.–IANSaps/na

Kuala Lumpur, July 10 (IANS) Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita…

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) Legends League Cricket (LLC) is back for its fourth season. The tournament, which brings together former international stars, will take place from November 19 to December 13, 2025. Matches will be held across seven cities in India.
The tournament will be held in a multi-city format, taking the excitement of Legends League Cricket closer to fans across the country. The cities and fixtures will be revealed in the coming weeks, along with team compositions and marquee player announcements.“We are thrilled to announce Season 4 of Legends League Cricket. This year, we’re raising the bar – with more matches, expanded venues, and a larger pool of legendary players. It’s going to be a festival of cricket, and we’re ready to light up India again,” said Vivek Khushalani, chairman of LLC.Southern Superstars won a nail-biting encounter to become the champions of Legends League Cricket 2024. They defeated Konark Suryas Odisha in the super over at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. After a gap of 40 years, sports lovers in J&K’s Srinagar city got a chance to see international cricket players play the gentleman’s game in the 3rd edition of Legends League Cricket.Kashmir has hosted international cricket matches twice before, in 1983 and 1984, at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, with matches between India, Australia, and the West Indies.After three successful seasons, this year’s edition will be bigger, with more matches, more teams, and more players. Fans can look forward to watching some of their favourite cricket legends return to the field in the fast-paced T20 format.Legends League Cricket is a professional cricket league featuring retired international cricket stars from across the globe. The league aims to offer fans a unique opportunity to witness their favourite legends back in action in a competitive franchise format.–IANShs/bc

Vadodara, July 10 (IANS) After the Vadodara bridge collapse sent multiple vehicles plummeting into the river below on July 9, authorities on Thursday confirmed that 15 people have lost their lives so far and the search continues for at least three others still unaccounted for.Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local agencies, have been engaged in round-the-clock search and recovery operations.More than eight individuals have been rescued so far.Earlier, District Collector Dr. Anil Dhameliya addressed the media on Wednesday morning, providing updates from the collapse site.“The NDRF and SDRF are conducting extensive search operations across a 4-kilometre downstream stretch. Three more bodies were recovered this morning, taking the death toll to 15. Three individuals remain missing. The support from local communities has been commendable,” he said.Dr. Dhameliya also confirmed that two more vehicles remain missing — a car and an Eicher tempo — with the latter trapped in thick mud, complicating retrieval efforts.“We urge citizens to share any information regarding missing persons. Every lead helps our teams on the ground,” he added.Among the vehicles involved, an empty chemical tanker currently hangs precariously from the remnants of the bridge. “Moving the tanker without proper support may result in it falling. Our teams are working to stabilise it as rescue operations continue below,” the District Collector noted.Meanwhile, the Padra Police have registered a case of accidental death based on a complaint filed by Arjunsinh Madhavsinh Padhiar, a local resident from Dariyapura near Mujpur. Officials have announced that a detailed investigation will follow the completion of the rescue mission.Teams from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are on standby to collect structural evidence from the collapse site. Statements from survivors and families of the victims will also be recorded to assist the probe.Environmental concerns have surfaced following reports that one of the submerged vehicles was carrying chemicals.The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has conducted an on-site inspection, and emergency protocols are being observed to mitigate any risk of river contamination. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of demolishing parts of the remaining structure if deemed unsafe.The Gambhira Bridge, constructed over 40 years ago, had reportedly shown signs of structural deterioration in recent years, with locals frequently raising concerns about its safety.Despite these warnings, the bridge continued to serve as a vital route for heavy and light vehicles connecting rural pockets of Vadodara district to key trade and transport corridors in Saurashtra.Monsoon rains in the region had recently intensified, potentially weakening the bridge’s already weak foundation.Eyewitnesses noted that a loud cracking sound preceded the collapse, suggesting structural failure due to prolonged neglect and lack of timely maintenance.Local residents and activists had previously submitted memorandums urging the authorities to conduct a safety audit of the bridge, but no concrete action was taken.–IANSjhanvi/rad

Chennai, July 10 (IANS) In a major step towards enhancing the pilgrim experience, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department of Tamil Nadu is set to introduce a “break” darshan system at three major temples – Palani Murugan Temple, Tiruchendur Murugan Temple, and the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. This initiative, modeled on the popular system at the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, is aimed at reducing waiting times for darshan and streamlining crowd management.Under the new arrangement, devotees can book their darshan slots online in advance by selecting a specific date and time. This not only helps avoid long queues but also ensures a more comfortable and convenient experience by providing faster access to the sanctum sanctorum through dedicated entry points.According to HR and CE officials, those availing the “break” darshan will also be entitled to a set of added benefits. These include a special offering of prasadam, participation in aarti, and sacred theertham from the temple.At the Palani Murugan temple, a fee of Rs 300 has been fixed for the special darshan. Devotees opting for this service will receive a devotional package containing the famed Panchamirtham, a coconut, fruits, sacred ash (vibhuti), and a traditional yellow cloth bag (manjappai), which is symbolic in Tamil devotional practice.The officials confirmed that this system will soon be rolled out in other prominent temples across the state.Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple and Samayapuram Mariamman Temple have been identified as the next destinations for this upgraded darshan facility.Temple authorities believe that the new system will not only improve the overall devotional experience for pilgrims but also ensure better crowd control, especially during peak seasons and festival periods. With growing footfalls at major shrines across Tamil Nadu, the ‘break’ darshan initiative is expected to modernise temple management while retaining traditional sanctity and rituals.–IANSaal/svn