Kolkata, May 14 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, expressed immense satisfaction…

Chandigarh, May 14 (IANS) Four days after the ceasefire understanding, Pakistan on Wednesday released Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw, who was captured and held captive on April 23. He was handed over to India at 10.30 a.m. through the Joint Check Post Attari in Punjab.Shaw is attached to the BSF’s 182 Battalion, deployed along the international border in Punjab.”Today at 1030 hrs, Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw has been taken back from Pakistan by BSF at Attari-Wagha border,” the BSF said.”Constable Purnam Kumar Shaw had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan territory, while on operational duty in area of Ferozepur sector on 23rd April 2025 around 1150 hrs and detained by Pak Rangers,” the paramilitary force said.Inspector General (IG), Punjab Frontier, BSF, Atul Fulzele, told the media that the jawan, Shaw, who had been in the custody of Pakistan Rangers since April 23, was repatriated to India.”The handover was conducted peacefully and in accordance with established protocols,” he added.Shaw was captured a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, as he had inadvertently crossed the international border along with his service weapon. He was immediately detained by Pakistani forces and remained in their custody amid heightened tensions between the two countries.Shaw is a resident of Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. The jawan’s wife had travelled to Punjab to pursue the case with BSF officers.After the jawan’s return to India, the Trinamool Congress wrote on X, “Home at last. After days of anxiety and uncertainty, BSF Jawan Purnam Kumar Shaw has finally been repatriated. “Mamata Banerjee personally reached out to his wife multiple times, offering reassurance and support during the ordeal. We wish Purnam a full recovery from the trauma he endured and hope he finds peace in the embrace of his loved ones.”–IANSvg/svn

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unannounced visit to the frontline Adampur…

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Actor Pankaj Tripathi is set to take on a gripping new challenge in the trailer for “Criminal Justice Season 4.”

In this latest installment, the actor finds himself pitted against a powerful family caught in the midst of a scandalous murder case. With high stakes and intense drama, Pankaj’s character is ready to dive into a high-profile case that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.The trailer reveals that in the new season, Madhav Mishra is thrust into a high-profile case involving a powerful family embroiled in a sensational murder scandal. What begins as a routine defense soon escalates into a fierce courtroom battle, with each party presenting their own version of the truth—each more convincing than the last. As always, Madhav finds himself navigating through a maze of secrets, lies, and emotional turmoil, using his sharp wit and strong sense of morality to make sense of the chaos.Speaking about the new season, Pankaj Tripathi shared, “This season of Criminal Justice is more than just a return to the courtroom for Madhav Mishra – it is an intense battle of minds, and he is facing two of his fiercest opponents yet fighting on a case that is multifaceted. Stepping into Madhav Mishra’s shoes and shooting for Criminal Justice is always a learning experience. He is such a lovable character and I feel like he has now become my alter-ego. We also have some very talented actors joining us this season who add so much value to the story. I am excited for all my fans to watch the show on JioHotstar.”Surveen Chawla added, “Anju is a very strong character supported by a very intricate and brilliantly written story. This isn’t just a legal battle; it’s a battle of emotions, truth, and ethics. It’s a courtroom case unlike any and is sure to keep the audience entertained. We also had an incredible team who made this journey of Criminal Justice – A Family Matter a memorable one. Working with Pankaj Tripathi especially was a big plus for me. I can’t wait for the audiences to join us on JioHotstar.”Directed by Rohan Sippy and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India, season 4 will stream on JioHotstar starting May 29. This season boasts an ensemble cast consisting of Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Surveen Chawla, Asha Negi, Khushboo Atre, Barkha Singh, and Aatm Prakash Mishra alongside Mita Vashisht and Shweta Basu Prasad in pivotal roles.–IANSps/

Patna, May 14 (IANS) As the political battle heats up ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp offensive against RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, through a new video titled ‘Ghotalebaz’ (scamster).The over three-minute song, crafted using AI-powered visual effects, accuses the father-son duo of being central figures in multiple scams, including the fodder scam and the ongoing IRCTC land-for-job case.The video, widely circulated on social media, paints a satirical yet scathing picture of the RJD leadership, reviving past corruption charges.BJP leader, Arvind Kumar Singh, said, “This video shows how Lalu Yadav was involved in one scam after another, and how Tejashwi Yadav became a crorepati despite being a minor. The new generation needs to know the truth.”Reacting sharply, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said, “The BJP has no moral authority to talk about corruption. The double-engine government is itself knee-deep in corruption and crime. What about the Srijan scam, Muzaffarpur shelter home case, or the collapsing bridges during the NDA rule?”Tiwari accused the BJP of diverting attention from governance failures while asserting that the public has not forgotten the “misgovernance” and “scandals” under the National Democratic Alliance’s watch.Despite Lalu’s limited political activity due to health and legal constraints, the RJD’s momentum is largely being carried forward by Tejashwi.Meanwhile, the IRCTC land-for-job scam, dating back to Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister, continues to haunt the RJD.Several members of the Yadav family, including Rabri Devi, Tej Pratap, and Misa Bharti, are under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).As the political slugfest intensifies, all eyes are now on the upcoming campaign strategies and alliances that will shape Bihar’s 2025 electoral narrative.–IANSajk/svn

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Actor Avinash Tiwary, who is known for ‘Laila Majnu’, ‘Bulbbul’ and ‘Madgaon Express’ will be seen sharing the screen with actress Medha Shankr in the upcoming movie ‘Ginny Weds Sunny 2’.
The lead duo, Avinash and Medha, took to Instagram to share clapboard pictures from the sets, marking the beginning of the film’s shoot schedule in Uttarakhand. The film is a sequel to ‘Ginny Weds Sunny’ which starred Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey.The sequel promises a blend of romance, family fun, quirky comedy, and heartwarming moments for all ages.It is produced by Vinod Bachchan, who is known for bankroling ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ and ‘Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana’.Talking about ‘Ginny Wedss Sunny 2’, producer Vinod Bachchan said, “We are excited to bring a new chapter to the Ginny Weds Sunny universe. The love the first film received encouraged us to explore new narratives and characters, and with Avinash and Medha, we have found a refreshing and dynamic pairing. We are confident the sequel will offer even more heart, laughter, and connection.”The sequel is written and directed by Prasshant Jha, and produced by Vinod Bachchan under the banner of Soundrya Production.Last year, Avinash Tiwary, who shared the screen with actress Tamannaah Bhatia in the streaming movie ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’, had shared his earliest memory of meeting the actress. The actor shared that he met Tamannaah for the first time when he was in 9th standard.Avinash revealed, “I don’t know if many of you know this, but I met Tamannaah for the first time when she was in 9th grade. I had just finished my 12th standard, wanting to pursue acting, and attended an acting workshop. I was quite young compared to the others there, but little did I know that someone even younger than me was also attending—and that was Tamannaah. Even back then, she had a remarkable presence”.‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’ marked the second collaboration between Avinash Tiwary and Neeraj Pandey.–IANSaa/

Seoul, May 14 (IANS) South Korean stocks extended their winning streak to a third day on Wednesday as the Washington-Beijing trade deal boosted investor appetite for the risky assets. The local currency fell against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 32.15 points, or 1.23 percent, to close at 2,640.57, following a 1.17 percent jump and 0.04 percent gain on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.Trade volume was moderate at 386.7 million shares worth 8.76 trillion won ($6.17 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 588 to 291, reports Yonhap news agency.Foreign and institutional purchases drove the steep rise. Offshore investors bought a net 470.5 billion won, and institutions scooped up a net 534.5 billion won, offsetting a net selling of 1 trillion won by individuals.Semiconductor, bio and entertainment shares were among the winners.Chip giant SK hynix, a key supplier to Nvidia, jumped 3.78 percent to 206,000 won on the U.S. artificial intelligent (AI) chipmaker’s deal to sell its Blackwell chip to Saudi Arabia.Samsung Electronics advanced 0.88 percent to 57,400 won, and Hanmi Semiconductor, a chipmaking equipment provider, rose 3.46 percent to 83,800 won.Leading bio tech firm Samsung Biologics increased 0.5 percent to 1 million won, and SK bioscience climbed 0.5 percent to 40,200 won.K-pop powerhouse Hybe went up 3 percent to 275,000 won, and CJ ENM, the country’s largest production studio, added 2.85 percent to 57,800 won.Defence firms also finished higher, turning around from a recent drop amid possible ceasefires in Europe and the Middle East. Industry leader Hanwha Aerospace increased 1.99 percent to 820,000 won, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) vaulted 5.23 percent to 90,600 won.The local currency was quoted at 1,420.2 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 4.2 won from the previous session.Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 1.9 basis points to 2.351 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds decreased 1.4 basis points to 2.482 percent.–IANSna/

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Actress Celina Jaitly shared a heartfelt moment with her half-Indian, half-Austrian children, explaining the cultural significance of sindoor.

In her latest post on Instagram, the ‘No Entry’ actress took the opportunity to teach her kids about an important tradition from her Indian heritage, bridging the gap between their diverse backgrounds. Sharing a photo with her kids, Celina wrote, “#sindoor – “Mama, was ist das Rote auf deiner Stirn?” (Mama, what is that red thing on your forehead?) They asked me in German, their eyes full of curiosity when they saw me wearing SINDOOR during Puja. I told them it’s not just a mark; it’s a sacred symbol of love, commitment, and the eternal bond of marriage for a #hindu woman. They were fascinated, and the youngest would even feel sad when I didn’t wear it daily.”“Seeing my half-Indian, half-Austrian children embrace their roots with such wonder makes me realize our cultural heritage is not just tradition, it’s a living legacy. In today’s fast-changing world, I feel an even greater urgency to keep that legacy alive, to wear our symbols proudly, share our stories, and let our children carry the vibrant colors of their identity into the future,” she added.Celina went on to mention, “Funny how the things I once took for granted visiting a temple, wearing Indian clothes, the aroma of home-cooked Indian food, and the countless little rituals are now the things I miss the most. These simple moments hold the heartbeat of my culture, and I’m holding them closer than ever before.”Celina Jaitly is married to Austrian entrepreneur and hotelier Peter Haag. In March 2012, the couple joyfully welcomed their first set of twin sons, Winston and Viraaj. Later, in 2017, they were blessed with another set of twin boys, Shamsher and Arthur. Tragically, Celina experienced the heartbreaking loss of her newborn twin, Shamsher, in 2017.–IANSps/

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS) Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap, who is known for films like ‘Black Friday’, Gangs of Wasseypur’, ‘Ugly’, and others, has slammed fellow director Vivek Agnihotri for his alleged lies.
On Wednesday, Anurag took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and shared an interview in which Vivek called him a drunkard and an irresponsible artiste.Pointing his guns at Vivek, Anurag wrote, “Kitna jhootha hai ye aadmi. Shooting London mein hui thi (This man is such a liar. The shooting of the film took place in London). I was in india. He didn’t want the script by motwane or me. He wanted to make Lagaan of football and took his own writer to write that crappy script. Neither me nor @motwayne Went on the set ever. Stop posturing @vivekagnihotri (sic)”.The film in question is ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal’, which starred John Abraham and Arshad Warsi. While Anurag is credited as the dialogue writer in the film along with Rohit Malhotra, Vikramaditya Motwane has penned the screenplay for the film. Rohit shares the credit for screenplay and dialogues.Earlier, Anurag faced backlash after he made a comment while responding to criticism of the recently released film ‘Phule’, which is a biopic based on social reformers Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule. The remark, interpreted by some as casteist, sparked outrage online and triggered calls for legal action.Following the controversy, Kashyap’s daughter, Aaliyah, along with his family and colleagues, received rape and death threats from online trolls. The director also faced legal action as an FIR was filed against him in Jaipur for the use of abusive language towards the community.He later issued an apology following an uproar over his remarks on the Brahmin community.–IANSaa/

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) While Pakistan is taking out funeral processions of terrorists killed in Indian strikes during ‘Operation Sindoor’, some leaders back home are taking out ‘Saboot yatra’, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told IANS on Wednesday, taking a sharp jibe at the INDIA bloc-led Opposition.His critical remarks came in response to former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi’s objection to US President Donald Trump’s ‘mediation’ in reaching an ‘understanding’ between India and Pakistan over the heightened crisis.“INDIA alliance and Pakistan are two bodies but one soul,” he claimed, taking a caustic swipe.He said that the BJP is taking out ‘Tiranga Yatra’ across the country to celebrate the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ and honour the armed forces but the parties of INDIA bloc including the Congress and AAP are raising questions on its success.Atishi taking to X on Tuesday, demanded answers from Prime Minister Modi asking as to why the ceasefire was announced when the armed forces were still eliminating the terrorists and their supporters to avenge the Pahalgam attack.Shehzad Poonawalla, responded to the former Delhi CM’s jibe stating, “The whole world knows Atishi, whose parents supported Afzal Guru. She asks for proof and wants to see evidence that Pakistan folded its hands before India. Atishi does not want to listen to the Indian Army, but she will believe it only when Pakistan tells her that it had asked for a ceasefire from India.”He further said, “Pakistan does not accept defeat after losing to India in 1965, 1971 and 1999 but Atishi wants confirmation from Pakistan. Congress leader Hussain Dalwai says that 100 terrorists were killed, show proof of this.”He said that the Army has already given full details, during an extensive press conference, about how our military destroyed nine terrorist hideouts in PoK and Pakistan.He said that the INDIA bloc had earlier also raised questions on surgical strikes and the Balakot operation.“After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, there is again a race to give a clean chit to Pakistan. Their statements have shown that there are two fronts. The front that lives here, eats from here but sings the tune of Pakistan,” he remarked.–IANSmr/rad