SLI will help people get a better understanding of the sport: Shriyanka Sadangi

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New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) With the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) unveiling the first-ever Shooting League of India (SLI) recently, rifle shooter Shriyanka Sadangi feels the league will play an important role in providing popularity and recognition to the athletes. Expressing her excitement about the inaugural edition of SLI, Shriyanka said, “I am very excited. We have been wanting for a long time to have a shooting league and let’s see how it unfolds. It’s a great opportunity for everyone. SLI will motivate a lot of young athletes to pursue the sport.”“It is a very good opportunity for the sport and for us. We have a lot of good, top international athletes who are going to be a part of this league. The standard of the Indian shooting team has gone up really high. I want them to get recognition at the world level. The sport should get a lot of popularity and I want people to know how much precision, finesse, and hard work goes behind it.“SLI will help people to get the understanding of the sport like how do athletes prepare, what are the formats, how do they train. Overall, they can get a more in-depth idea about the athletes. The league can play an important role in providing visibility,” she added. Reflecting on how to make shooting more exciting for audiences, the 30-year-old said, “We can incorporate a lot of day-to-day things which can be shown to people because everyone connects with that, like what do athletes do in their off time or show a glimpse of their life. While connecting with the journey of the athlete, people can get an aspiration and can get inspired while watching it. So, I think if it is made in a good, fun format, then people will find it very exciting and connecting.” Shriyanka shared her thoughts on the wider impact of sports. “If we can make sports a part of our culture, then society will benefit a lot from it. The energy of youth will go in a positive way. I feel sports enhance your character and personality a lot. So, I think it is a very good building tool for society in general,” she concluded. –IANSbc/ab

Kannappa is under attack from piracy, says Vishnu Manchu

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Chennai, June 30 (IANS) Lamenting that his magnum opus ‘Kannappa’, which recently released to a positive response from the audience, was under attack from piracy, actor Vishnu Manchu on Monday made a fervent appeal to audiences, asking them not to encourage piracy and to support cinema the right way.
Taking to his X timeline, Vishnu Manchu wrote, “Dear movie lovers, #Kannappa is under attack from piracy. Over 30,000 illegal links have already been taken down. This is heartbreaking. Piracy is theft — plain and simple. We don’t teach our children to steal. Watching pirated content is no different.Please don’t encourage it. Support cinema the right way. Har Har Mahadev.”It may be recalled that actor Vishnu Manchu, who plays the lead in director Mukesh Kumar Singh’s ‘Kannappa’, had just before the release of the film, announced that the journey he had undertaken to visit all the 12 holy Jyothirlingas, situated across the country, had come to a divine close with his darshan at the Sri Sailam Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple.Taking to his social media timelines to make the announcement, he had said, “Twelve Jyotirlingas. One journey. Eternal peace. Just completed the sacred darshan at Sri Sailam Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple — one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. With this visit, my journey to all twelve Jyotirlinga temples comes to a divine close.”The actor further added, “My heart is full. My soul feels blessed. Life right now is filled with nothing but positivity, gratitude, and peace. As I stand at the edge of this spiritual milestone, I now look forward to the next chapter #Kannappa, releasing worldwide on June 27. A film close to my heart. A story that reflects the very spirit I carry today. Har Har Mahadev! #Kannappa27thJune.”The film has Vishnu Manchu playing the titular role of Thinnadu(Kannappa), the fearless warrior-turned-devotee who transformed into the ultimate devotee of Lord Shiva. Akshay Kumar essays the role of Lord Shiva, while Mohanlal commands attention as Kirata. Prabhas sets the stage for an unforgettable cinematic experience with his role of Rudra. Priety Mukhundan plays the female lead in the film, which has music by Stephan Devassy.Cinematography is by US cinematographer Sheldon Chau and Siddharth. Dance choreography is by Prabhu Deva and editing by renowned editor Antony. The film has been produced by Vishnu Manchu’s father and eminent actor Mohan Babu. A vast portion of the film has been shot in New Zealand on a huge budget.–IANSmkr/

Avika Gor shares her story of dreams and struggles as she completes 20 years in the industry

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Mumbai, June 30 (IANS) Actress Avika Gor, who rose to fame with her portrayal of Anandi in “Balika Vadhu,” took to social media to celebrate 20 years in the industry.

Taking to Instagram, she posted a heartwarming video compiling memorable moments from her journey including scenes from her shows and films, stage performances, and highlights from her career over the years. Alongside it, she penned a note expressing pride in how far she has come. Gor shared that she began her journey as a little girl with dreams in her eyes and has now grown into a woman who truly believes in herself.The ‘Sasural Simar Ka’ actress wrote, “Sometimes we forget to pause. To breathe, to reflect, to just take it all in. We keep moving, chasing, growing…Until one quiet moment makes us look back. What felt like a few steps has become a journey. Filled with days, years, memories, and growth. Today, I pause to say thank you. To the stars in my sky, you all.”“From a little girl with dreams in her eyes to a woman who now believes in herself. I’m proud of how far I’ve come. And I’ll keep making you proud and never ever take any of this for granted #avikagor #grateful.”In the video, Avika thanked her fans by saying, “You all must be thinking what all I am going to say today. I am going to say a lot. 20 years, it was in front of the camera, but the real journey was with you. To reach your heart and stay there. A small girl, a big dream. And the love of all of you which never decreased. From my first shot to every moment till date, you never left my hand.”“I was never perfect, but you never considered me less. Thank you. To let a small girl live such a big dream. The silent prayers behind the claps, I feel them everyday. Sometimes I cry in a scene. Sometimes I break in real life. But your love is always supporting me. You not only gave me 20 years of success. You gave me 20 years of belongingness. Thank you from my heart. To make me realize that I am visible, audible, and, most importantly, I am yours. And this journey is not yet over. Now I am with you in a new story, in a new color. Always and forever. Because the story is yet to be told.”Avika Gor became a popular household name with her role as Anandi in “Balika Vadhu,” a performance that earned her the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Award in 2009 under the child prodigy category.She later became a household name as Roli in “Sasural Simar Ka.” Expanding her horizons beyond television, Avika made her Telugu film debut with “Uyyala Jampala” in 2013.–IANSps/

Number of new firms registered in India clocks 29 pc jump in May

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New Delhi, June 30 (IANS) The number of new companies registered in India surged by 29 per cent year-on-year in May this year to 20,718, reflecting the acceleration in economic activity, according to the latest monthly bulletin released on Monday by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The total number of registered companies in the country as on May 31, 2025, has now gone up to 28,96,943, of which 65 per cent (18,90,305) are active. There is an increase of 0.2 per cent in the total proportion of active companies when compared to April 2025, according to the Ministry.The economic-activity wise classification of new companies registered reveals that the predominant share of companies is in community, personal and social services (27 per cent) followed by trading (17 per cent) while manufacturing and business services account for 15 per cent each.A state-wise analysis of new registered companies shows that the top three states that received the highest number of new registrations during May 2025 were Maharashtra with 17 per cent which amounts to 3,458 corporates, Uttar Pradesh with 11 per cent at 2,379 and Delhi following closely behind at nine per cent accounted by 1,858 companies.As on May 31, 2025, there were also a total of 5,247 foreign companies registered in India.Out of these, 63 per cent (3,293) were active. Of the 28 new overseas business entities that were registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs during March 2025 to May 2025, 21 per cent were in Karnataka, 18 per cent were registered in Haryana and Maharashtra, 14 per cent were registered in Gujarat, 11 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, seven per cent in Telangana and four per cent each in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Tamil Nadu.When looking at the economic activity classification, it was revealed that 61 per cent of the companies can be classified as ‘community, personal and social services’.Meanwhile, HSBC’s flash Purchasing Managers’ Index data showed that output growth across India’s private sector regained growth in June, with business activity increasing at quicker rates among manufacturing companies and services firms while hiring of workers shot up to an 18-year high.There was also a substantial upturn in aggregate employment amid robust expansions in total new orders intakes and international sales, according to the data.–IANSsps/khz

TN to roll out 23 micro vans for tribal school students in six districts

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Chennai, June 30 (IANS) In a move aimed at improving access to education in remote tribal areas, the Tribal Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu will soon begin operating 23 micro vans covering 56 primary schools across six districts.The initiative targets tribal regions in Tiruchy, Dharmapuri, Salem, Kallakurichi, Erode, and the Nilgiris. It is expected to benefit over 2,000 children who currently face numerous challenges, including dangerous forest paths, unreliable transportation, and harsh weather conditions on their daily journeys to school.“For years, one of the challenges we have observed is that students often do not return to school after long weekends or term holidays, even though all tribal schools have residential facilities,” said an official from the department.“This issue, coupled with difficult terrain and safety concerns along forest routes, leads to gradual dropouts and prolonged absenteeism, severely impacting learning outcomes,” he said.In response, the state government has issued an order allocating Rs 3.6 crore for the procurement of the 23 micro vans. The move follows a pilot project launched at the end of the previous academic year, which saw micro vans operating to four schools in the Kalvarayan Hills of Kallakurichi district.According to the government, the pilot project led to a significant improvement in student attendance, prompting officials to expand the initiative statewide.Under the scheme, clusters of nearby schools have been identified so that each van can cover multiple schools in a single route. “The scheme has been designed in such a way that it benefits the maximum number of children possible,” the official said.The micro vans are expected to begin operations within the next two months. They will be run in partnership with NGOs operating in these districts to ensure effective implementation and monitoring.Stories of children trekking long and treacherous forest paths to access education remain common in many tribal areas across Tamil Nadu. Officials hope that this transport initiative will address these long-standing barriers, reduce dropout rates, and ensure consistent attendance. “We want to make sure that children are not deprived of an education simply because of where they live,” added the official.–IANSaal/dpb

Six killed in chemical factory blast in Telangana

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Hyderabad, June 30 (IANS) Six workers were feared killed and 20 others injured in a massive reactor blast at an industrial unit at Pashamailaram near Hyderabad on Monday.The incident occurred at a chemical factory in the industrial area in Sangareddy district around 9 a.m.The explosion triggered a huge fire, which engulfed the premises of Sigachi Chemicals. Firefighters rushed to the spot to douse the fire. Eleven fire engines were pressed into service to control the fire.Police, fire services and other personnel launched rescue and relief operations. Ambulances were also seen at the spot to shift the injured to hospitals.The injured were admitted to government and private hospitals. The condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.Six of the workers were feared killed on the spot while an injured worker reportedly succumbed at a hospital. Officials have not yet confirmed deaths.According to eye-witnesses, such was the impact of the explosion that workers were tossed in the air and fell several meters away. The manufacturing unit in the factory collapsed under the impact of the blast, while fire spread to the adjoining building within the factory premises.Several workers were working near the reactor when it exploded. Migrant workers from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and other states were employed in the industrial unit.The explosion and fire sent panic among the employees in the chemical unit and the adjoining factories. They ran out of the premises.The rescue workers were also using earthmovers to remove the debris of the demolished structure, as there are apprehensions that some workers may be trapped under it.Sangareddy District Collector P. Pravinya and Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj also rushed to the spot and were supervising rescue and relief operations.Personnel from various industrial units and staff of different departments also joined the rescue operation.More details were awaited as operations continued.–IANSms/dpb