Tokyo, May 21 (IANS) Japanese Agriculture Minister Taku Eto resigned on Wednesday following backlash over a controversial remark about getting rice from supporters. Addressing a fundraising party over the weekend, Eto had said, “I’m not buying rice. Thanks to my supporters giving me plenty of it, I have so much of it in my house that I could sell it.”The comment drew public ire as the consumers in Japan face soaring food prices, local media reported.Eto submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, hours before latter was set to face off in parliament with leaders of the opposition parties of the country. The Opposition was united in its demand for the removal of Eto from the Minister’s post, threatening a no-confidence motion against him.”I asked myself whether it is appropriate for me to stay at the helm (of the ministry) at a critical time for rice prices, and I concluded that it is not. I don’t think I can be the one implementing the government’s policy on rice at this time. Once again, I apologise to the people for making extremely inappropriate comments as Minister when they are struggling with surging rice prices,” Eto said, addressing reporters at the Prime Minister’s office after tendering his resignation.Eto’s controversial comments came when his ministry decided to release rice from emergency stockpiles to help curb prices that have roughly doubled from a year earlier due to a poor harvest, and the prices for the staple food remained high, Japanese news agency Kyodo News reported.The opposition lawmakers termed the comments as “insensitive” and “inappropriate,” while Ishiba apologised in an effort to control further damage as the regular Parliamentary session approaches.”I myself have to apologise deeply as someone who appointed him. The responsibility also lies with me,” Ishiba told reporters.Later on Monday, Eto told reporters that he was ready to step down if Prime Minister Ishiba wanted him to.”I retract my remarks fully and apologise,” said Eto, a lawmaker representing a constituency in Miyazaki Prefecture on Kyushu in Japan.According to a report of Kyodo News, the average price of rice sold at Japanese supermarkets between May 5 and 11 reached a record 4,268 yen ($29) per 5 kilograms, up from 4,214 yen between late April and early May, when it dropped for the first time in 18 weeks.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) Filmmaker Mani Ratnam recently opened up about the origins of his latest project, “Thug Life,” revealing that the idea was sparked by legendary actor Kamal Haasan.

In a candid conversation with the media, Mani Ratnam explained how Kamal Haasan’s influence played a pivotal role in shaping the concept of the film, marking the beginning of the creative journey that led to “Thug Life.” During a promotional event for the film in Mumbai, when asked about how the idea of Thug Life took shape, Ratnam stated, “The first thing that came was Kamal Haasan, and then Thug Life came in. So, it started from there.”Speaking about the scale of the production and assembling the film’s stellar team, Ratnam added, “I think the scale is designed by the story. Whatever that demands is what you go towards. And it is always a pleasure—and it always makes a director’s job easy—when you have the correct cast and crew. I’ve been lucky to have the best. So, it has been fantastic.”Talking about his multifaceted role in the film—as actor, writer, and producer—Kamal Haasan said, “The most exciting part was working with him (Mani Ratnam). Automatically, all the other things happened.”The actor also spoke about his first impression of Mani Ratnam. He recalled, “My first impression is that I knew him as a friend living in the same area. I didn’t even know that he belonged to a film family. He was a person, and I liked the way he spoke. We became friends, and we had a group of friends. We were talking only cinema and no gossip—and that’s where it started. All of the films you mentioned—we all know about them, including when we were doing Nayakan in, I think, near Colaba. And Ramesh Sippy Saab was shooting in Film City. So, we had some shots in Film City. We all went to see the shooting of Mr. Ramesh Sippy. Ultimately, the qualification that brought us here is that, like you, we have fans—we’re film buffs. That’s what brought us here. We’d go to any set to watch anybody work—especially those we consider talented. We’d like to watch them work. And that’s what we did.”Discussing the musical journey behind “Thug Life,” A.R. Rahman revealed that the process involved exploring different melodic styles. He mentioned that the initial piece they worked on, which is featured in the film’s trailer, stood out particularly. Rahman also highlighted a haunting vocal element in the track—sung in an unfamiliar language—that added a distinct and captivating atmosphere to the music, something that the team truly appreciated.The “Thug Life” team gathered for the first time in Mumbai for an exclusive media event to promote the film. The occasion featured the dynamic trio of Kamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, and A.R. Rahman, joined by key cast members including Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Abhirami, and Ashok Selvan, as they engaged with the media.“Thug Life” is all set for a worldwide theatrical release on June 5, 2025.–IANSps/

Seoul, May 21 (IANS) SK bioscience, a biotech arm of South Korea’s SK Group, on…

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) The makers of “Zootopia 2” have unveiled the new teaser trailer, which shows the characters Judy and Nick are back in investigation mode.

Featuring glimpses at new and returning characters, the trailer reunites rookie cops Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman. It teases a new team-up with a mysterious pit viper, Gary De’Snake, voiced by Ke Huy Quan.In the film, which opens only in theaters November 28, Judy and Nick find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, they must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.According to Disney Animation chief creative officer and director Jared Bush, who also wrote the script, a larger world is in store for fans.“We are beyond excited to welcome everyone back to the outrageous, expansive animal metropolis of Zootopia, and take audiences on a hilarious, wild ride into parts of the city we’ve never visited before,” said Bush.“Whether it’s the marshes of semi-aquatic mammals, the vast desert dunes or even greater mysteries beyond, our heroes, Judy and Nick, will meet a lot of new friends, and discover even more about the world, themselves and a brand-new snake in town.”Director Byron Howard said that the trailer features the original song ‘ZUTU’ by Zootopia’s finest lemming techno group, LEMEEENS.Howard added: “Fresh from touring with superstar Gazelle as her opening act, members Hans-Peter, Gūnther, Spielt and their DJ, Spaß, created the song to mark the occasion and welcome the world back to the City of Zootopia!”From the Oscar-winning team of Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” also features the voices of Fortune Feimster, Quinta Brunson and Shakira, who returns as Gazelle.Walt Disney Studios India will release “Zootopia 2” in India on November 28.–IANSdc/

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) It’s all but certain that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will finish as the wooden spoon holders of IPL 2025, after their downward spiral continued with a six-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals.The sizeable Tuesday crowd – comprising children, adults and senior citizens – braved intense heat and a working weekday to be at Kotla and show vociferous support for MS Dhoni & Co by sporting yellow jerseys and whistling at every small opportunity.But CSK’s muddled approach – like promoting Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Dewald Brevis and Shivam Dube – and bowling having no penetration whatsoever again let them down.Before Tuesday’s clash, head coach Stephen Fleming had talked about the opportunity to finish the season well being really important to them. But the defeat to RR, their tenth loss of the season, was another reminder of CSK being well behind the T20 curve. Hence, it wasn’t surprising to hear Fleming say that CSK certain of a bottom finish in points table is ‘probably fitting’.“We don’t obviously like being down here, but it’s not a motivation. We wanted just a good performance. We’re trying to string some performances together. The aim was two good performances. Now it’ll be just one good one to finish.“It’s probably fitting that we’re at the bottom. We’ve played that type of cricket, so you can’t hide away from it. But what we do want to do is just put a much better performance on the paddock that reflects the ability of the team,” said Fleming in the post-match press conference.Though it was commendable of CSK to post 187/8 after losing half of their side at 78, that total was always going to be grossly insufficient in challenging a motivated RR outfit, who won on the back of their youngsters stepping up to the occasion.“Some boys had training in Chennai as well. It was just that there was a bit of travel involved. The rest is a good thing, but I think it’s more to do with our position on the table in terms of if you’re up around the top four or five, then it’s a lot easier to come back and get motivated, get into it.“We’re looking at just trying to put good performances on the park. Our motivation for these two games has been very high. The training has been good. The intensity was fine. We’re just lacking the performances in the middle again,” added Fleming.Amidst all the chaos, CSK would be pleased with how Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, who displayed some breath-taking shots while making 43 and 42 respectively, fared on Tuesday. Though CSK amassed 68 runs in power-play, a phase which has been the foundation of their downfall, they did lose three wickets, including of Mhatre, and that did hurt their quest of reaching 200.“Our order is not right at this stage, and that is something that we are always looking to rejig. We’ve got some strong ideas for next year, so that all facets are covered. But that hasn’t been possible this year because of the lack of runs at the top.“A lot of the batting positions are determined by how well a start we have, and then guys can fall into line. So we haven’t had that, and we’ve been just patching innings up, really, rather than constructing good innings,” stated Fleming.With the ball, Matheesha Pathirana has been a pale shadow of his wicket-taking and run-controlling self, something which prompted CSK to retain him ahead of IPL 2025. Armed with a slingy bowling action, Pathirana has taken 12 wickets in 11 games, but has been mighty expensive – seen from his economy rate of 10.17.“It hasn’t been up to what we want. We have high expectations of him, which is why we retained him. But he is coming back into some form. He was really out of form when we had him in South Africa. He’s made improvements, but it’s still not to where we or he would like. So there’s some room for him to get some form and get some confidence, I guess.“But I think he’s just at that crossroads where batsmen are playing him better. They’ve seen more of him. So now he just has to drill down on what he needs to do to be as effective as what he’s been for the first part of his career. It’s a unique skill set, but it’s been a little bit off,” added Fleming.In a season where their bowling has been gloomy, seamer Anshul Kamboj managed to hold his own in New Delhi by picking 1-21, including castling a rampaging Yashasvi Jaiswal. Kamboj, picked for the India ‘A’ tour of England, found some seam movement to keep the RR openers quiet, and that found him some praise from Fleming.“Kamboj is good, you see his speeds are 138-139 – it’s deceptive, as his balls hit the keeper’s gloves harder. His big strength is his length and he just gets the ball to wobble on a flat wicket. I think he’ll do very well on that tour.“If he gets conditions that seam around and a little bit of swing, he’ll be an absolute handful. So, he’s got some real potential with both white and red (balls) and we’re happy with his development and the opportunity he’s taken this year,” he concluded, as another difficult night for CSK came to an end.–IANSnr/bc

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) BJP MP Sanjay Jha on Wednesday stressed the importance of exposing Pakistan’s long-standing “proxy war” against India, as the rogue nation continues to fuel cross-border terrorism. He will head to Japan on Wednesday night, leading a multi-party delegation as part of India’s diplomatic counteroffensive, highlighting the country’s fight against terrorism and the strategic significance of Operation Sindoor.Jha, joined by MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal from the BJP, Abhishek Banerjee and John Barla from the Trinamool Congress, and Salman Khurshid from the Congress, will embark on a high-level mission to five key East and Southeast Asian countries — Japan (May 22), South Korea (May 24), Singapore (May 27), Indonesia (May 28), and Malaysia (May 31).Speaking to IANS, Jha said, “There are two things. First, the country has been facing terrorism for decades. This terrorism has always come from across the border from Pakistan. This is not a hidden thing.””In the past, whether it was the 2008 Mumbai attacks or the Pulwama attack, India always shared all the information and invited them to join the investigation. But if we share data with the thief, can we expect justice from them? The Pakistan government itself funds the terrorists, trains them through the army, plans and executes it. This is like a proxy war against India,” he said.Referring to the recent military action, he said, “Now India has clearly said in Operation Sindoor that enough is enough. Nine terrorist camps were completely destroyed by our Air Force personnel. The pictures that are coming out have all the information. Even a state funeral was organised for the terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor, and Pakistani Army personnel attended it.”Jha reiterated India’s new approach, stating, “Just like the Prime Minister has said that Operation Sindoor is the new normal, India will not tolerate terrorism, but it will continue its fight against it and end it from the roots.”Thanking the government for involving leaders across political lines, he added, “We thank the Prime Minister for involving leaders from across the political spectrum in these seven delegations. India stood united during Operation Sindoor, be it the government or the Opposition. When we go abroad, we don’t represent our parties but India.”This global campaign follows the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam and India’s strong military and diplomatic response. India is sending seven delegations to 25 countries aimed at presenting evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism and reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance stance.In parallel to Jha’s group, another delegation led by MP Shrikant Shinde is set to visit the UAE, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Meanwhile, a third group headed by DMK leader Kanimozhi will begin their mission on Thursday, travelling to Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.These delegations, composed of leaders from various political parties and supported by senior diplomats, are tasked with conveying India’s unified and unambiguous message against terrorism and strengthening international cooperation in combating the threat.–IANSsd/dpb

Mumbai, May 21(IANS) Actress Diksha Dhami, who won hearts with her portrayal of Chaina, is back but this time in a completely different avatar, as she is set to play the bold character of Raseeli in the show Badi Haveli Ki Chhoti Thakurain.”

Talking about her character, Diksha said: “Raseeli is nothing like Chaina. She’s strong, fearless, and full of life. While Chaina was quiet and soft-spoken, Raseeli speaks her mind and takes control of every situation. Even her looks are very interesting. It’s been a refreshing change for me as an actor.”Growing up in Dehradun, Diksha had to put in extra effort to master the thick UP accent required for Raseeli’s role.“I watched videos, listened closely to locals, and practiced a lot to get the dialect right. Playing Raseeli pushed me far out of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed every moment of the challenge.”Raseeli arrives with a clear mission, which is to win back her love, Jaiveer, and to expose the manipulative games of Chamkili and Tapasya. Unlike Chaina, who endured her pain quietly, Raseeli is fierce and ready to fight back.Her presence will shake the very foundation of the haveli, uncover hidden secrets, and bring new conflicts and alliances.“Badi Haveli Ki Chhoti Thakurain” airs Monday to Saturday at 9 PM on Shemaroo Umang. The show, set against the backdrop of Rajasthan’s vibrant culture. The show follows Chaina, a skilled puppeteer from Jaipur, who is shaped by tragedy after her mother’s disappearance and her father’s imprisonment.Talking about the actress, Diksha has also worked in other television series such as Mil Ke Bhi Hum Na Mile, which aired on Dangal TV in 2024.For more insights into her life and work, Diksha maintains an active presence on Instagram, where she shares updates and glimpses into her personal and professional experiences .–IANSdc/

New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) A fire broke out early Wednesday morning in a market area of Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi, damaging at least six shops. The incident was reported at approximately 4:08 a.m., prompting a swift response from the Delhi Fire Service.According to fire officials, the blaze erupted in the Patthar Market area, which falls under the South District’s (SJ) jurisdiction.The fire reportedly began in a row of tin-shed kiosks that housed shops selling clothes, tarpaulin sheets (tirpal), stationery, and cosmetics.After the fire was reported, nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Firefighters worked tirelessly for over two hours to bring the flames under control. The operation was successful, and the fire was completely doused by 6:15 a.m.Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. However, the fire caused significant damage to the six shops involved, with most of the inventory and structures reportedly reduced to ashes.Initial observations suggest that the tightly packed market and the nature of materials stored in the kiosks may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.Fire officials are currently assessing the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation.Short-circuit or negligence during late-night business activity cannot be ruled out, though a detailed forensic examination will be required to confirm the exact cause, the officials said.Local shopkeepers and residents gathered at the site when the fire crews fought to control the blaze.Authorities have urged market vendors to follow fire safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.On Sunday, fire incidents were reported at a coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar and a hotel in Paschim Vihar.According to Delhi Fire Services officials, the blaze was brought under control, and no injuries or casualties were reported in either case.–IANSrs/svn

Mumbai, May 21 (IANS) Producer Boney Kapoor took a walk down memory lane as he shared a touching throwback photo of his late mother, Nirmal Kapoor, alongside veteran actress Rekha.

The candid moment, captured at a public event, shows both women smiling warmly as Rekha lovingly holds Nirmal Kapoor’s hand. Taking to Instagram, Boney Kapoor shared this unseen photograph, which reflects the deep bond Rekha shared with the Kapoor family. In his caption, Boney fondly referred to both women as “queens,” celebrating their grace and legacy.Nirmal Kapoor, the wife of late film producer Surinder Kapoor, held a central place in the Kapoor household as its matriarch. She frequently appeared at family functions and celebrations hosted by the Kapoors over the years. Sadly, she passed away on May 2, 2025. Confirming the heartbreaking news, the family released a statement that read, “Passed away peacefully on the 2nd of May, 2025, surrounded by her beloved family. She lived a full and joyful life, leaving behind four devoted children, loving daughters-in-law, a caring son-in-law, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a lifetime of treasured memories.”Her generous spirit and boundless love touched all who knew her. She will remain in our hearts—forever cherished, forever missed.” — Boney, Anil, Reena, Sanjay, Sunita, Sandeep, Maheep, Mohit, Akshay, Sonam, Arjun, Rhea, Harshvarrdhan, Anshula, Janhvi, Shanaya, Khushi, Jahaan, Antara, Anand, Aashita, Karan, Thea, Vayu, Ayra, Yuvaan.”In the days following her passing, Boney Kapoor paid tribute to her memory by posting an emotional message reflecting on her enduring legacy and the impact she had on their lives.On May 14, during the 13th-day Kriya ceremony for his late mother, Boney Kapoor penned a heartfelt tribute. The filmmaker wrote, “Today marks the 13th day since Kriya… As we mourn our beloved mother, I recall a few lines of remembrance. When you lose your mother, everything changes. You don’t just lose a parent — you lose your biggest comfort. The one who stayed strong so you could be soft. The one who made the hard things feel bearable. The one who always put you before herself. You realize the silence is louder.”–IANSps/

Seoul, May 21 (IANS) The top military officers of South Korea and the US vowed to further strengthen the allies’ trilateral security cooperation with Japan during their first video talks earlier this week, the South’s military said Wednesday.Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), and his US counterpart, Gen. John Daniel Caine, held the talks Tuesday, which marked the first between the two sides since Caine took office last month.”Through the South Korea-US-Japan Trilateral Chief of Defense meeting set to take place in South Korea in July, (the two sides) agreed to further strengthen the momentum of trilateral security cooperation,” the JCS said in a release.The three countries have recently ramped up trilateral security cooperation through joint military drills amid growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.Kim and Caine also stressed the importance of establishing the capabilities and posture to effectively respond to advancing North Korean threats in line with Pyongyang’s expanding cooperation with Moscow, according to the JCS.North Korea is suspected to have received military technology assistance from Russia in return for deploying troops in support of Moscow’s war against Ukraine.Earlier in March, 2025, South Korea, the US and Japan have conducted joint naval drills involving the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, Seoul’s defence ministry said, in efforts to better deter and counter North Korea’s chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) threats.The trilateral naval drills, was the first such exercise conducted this year and since US President Donald Trump returned to office in January — took place in international waters south of the southern resort island of Jeju.–IANSint/rs