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Delhi robbery and murder case: Three held including victim’s niece, one on the run
New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Delhi Police have solved a house robbery-cum-murder case in Rohini with the apprehension of three accused, including the deceased’s niece, while efforts are underway to arrest a fourth accused who is absconding, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident came to light after a PCR call was received at 8:14 p.m. on September 1 from House No. G-30/67-68 in Sector 3, Rohini, regarding a house theft and an unconscious person inside the premises.
The victim, identified as Rakesh Khanna, approximately 60 years old, was taken to Jaipur Golden Hospital by his family members, where doctors declared him brought dead.
The operation was conducted under the overall supervision of Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order, Zone-I) Devesh Chandra Shrivastava and Joint Commissioner of Police, Northern Range, Vijay Singh. Multiple teams were deployed under the leadership and direction of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rohini District, Shashank Jaiswal.
Following the PCR call, senior police officers, including the DCP and Additional DCP, along with police teams, immediately reached the hospital and the scene of crime.
The scene was inspected by the local police team in coordination with the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and Crime Team. Preliminary investigation revealed that around 7:30 p.m., three persons allegedly entered the house while another associate kept watch outside.
Police said the accused had conducted a recce of the house before executing the offence. The recce was allegedly carried out on August 30, two days before the incident.
Approximately Rs 1.5 lakh in cash and certain gold jewellery were reportedly robbed from the house. Police have recovered around Rs 70,000 in cash along with some of the stolen gold jewellery.
During the investigation, three accused were apprehended and identified as Simran Taneja, Chirag and Paras. Police said Simran Taneja, the 23-year-old niece of the deceased, has prima facie emerged as the alleged main conspirator.
According to police, Taneja, daughter of Dalip Taneja and a resident of Burari, works as a primary school teacher. The second accused, 22-year-old Chirag, son of Avdesh, is a gym trainer at The Beast Gym in Baba Colony, Burari.
The third accused, 19-year-old Paras, son of Anil Kumar and a resident of Baba Colony, is a Class XII student. Police said he had previously been involved in a case registered at Mukherjee Nagar police station.
The fourth accused, Himanshu, a gym owner and resident of Burari, has been identified as an alleged associate and is currently absconding. Police teams are conducting raids to apprehend him.
Police said the role of each accused and the complete sequence of events are being established as part of the ongoing investigation. Further investigation is underway.
--IANS
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Bihar CM launches campaign for early detection, treatment of non-communicable diseases
Patna, Sep 2 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the 'Jaanch evam Upchar Chikitsa Aapke Dwar (Screening and Treatment at Your Doorstep)' campaign on Wednesday, aimed at ensuring early detection and timely treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the state.
Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with state Health Minister Nishant Kumar, were present at the launch event.
The campaign seeks to reduce risk factors and prevent premature deaths by promoting the early detection of NCDs.
Under the initiative, people will be screened and provided management support for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, three major common cancers -- oral, breast and cervical -- heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
As part of the campaign, health workers will visit households to provide free health consultations and facilitate registration at health institutions.
Patients requiring further evaluation will also be provided free essential laboratory and diagnostic tests at nearby health facilities.
ASHA workers and ASHA facilitators, accompanied by ANMs, will conduct door-to-door surveys, fill out family folders and Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) forms to identify high-risk individuals, prepare patient line-lists, and encourage patients to follow prescribed medication and follow-up schedules.
Meanwhile, Community Health Officers (CHOs) and ANMs will screen people aged 30 years and above at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs based on height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI).
Critical cases will be referred to higher-level health facilities, while medicines will be facilitated through tele-consultation where required.
Medical Officers will supervise necessary tests, OPD-based screening and treatment, and the management of complex cases.
They will also be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely data entry.
To ensure effective monitoring, a system of regular reviews has been put in place at the block and district levels.
At the block level, the Block Community Mobiliser (BCM) will act as the nodal officer while the Block Health Manager (BHM) and Medical Officer-in-Charge will conduct daily reviews and address any gaps.
At the district level, an NCD nodal officer will be designated to oversee the campaign.
The Civil Surgeon-cum-Member Secretary, District Programme Manager (DPM), and District Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (DM&EO) will review the campaign's progress, along with the availability of human resources and medicines, through video conferencing.
The State Health Society has directed officials to ensure real-time data entry on the NCD portal throughout the campaign, with the goal of achieving 100 per cent of the targets set under the initiative.
--IANS
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US Open: Zverev survives Sonego scare in five-set comeback
New York, Sep 2 (IANS) Top-seeded Alexander Zverev escaped an upset scare from unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego to prevail, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4, in the first round of the 2026 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Zverev, who captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year, was two points from defeat at 4-5 in the fourth set, yet he seized control in the latter stages to keep his title hopes alive after a gruelling four-hour, 53-minute battle.
The German entered the match with a perfect 6-0 ATP head-to-head record against Sonego, but that history counted for little as the World No. 89 delivered an inspired net-rushing performance, pushing the German to the brink.
In his 10th US Open, Sonego has never made it past the second round. Yet his shot-making and grit were on display throughout the 4-hour, 52-minute match, which was packed with big moments and massive drama.
Zverev, who holds a season-leading 47 tour-level match wins, including 19 at Slam level, will face Frenchman Quentin Halys in the second round.
Earlier, Flavio Cobolli rallied from two sets to love down for the first time in his career at the US Open, where he battled past Argentine Francisco Comesana 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round after enthralling 4 hours and 12 minutes of play.
Cobolli’s comeback kept the 25-year-old Italian from becoming an early casualty in the men’s draw, alongside No. 4 Novak Djokovic and No. 10 Arthur Fils, just three days into the year’s last major.
The Italian's Grand Slam breakthrough came when he reached the Roland Garros final, where he lost to Zverev in five sets. He followed that by reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals. Cobolli won at Acapulco earlier in the year and reached the Munich final.
Cobolli has never progressed beyond the third round in New York, but arrived at the final Slam of the season in form after reaching the semi-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati last month.
He will next face qualifier Tristan Schoolkate.
Notably, last year Cobolli recorded back-to-back five-set wins in the opening two matches. However, the physical toll caught up with him, and he was forced to retire in the third round.
--IANS
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UGC NET 2026 re-exam: City intimation slip released for English, Commerce and Sociology papers
New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Wednesday released the UGC NET re-examination 2026 city intimation slip for candidates who are scheduled to appear for the re-test.
Candidates appearing for the re-examination can download their exam city intimation slip through the official UGC NET website at ugcnet.nta.nic.in.
The re-examination will be conducted for the English, Commerce and Sociology papers at different examination centres across the country. According to the schedule, the re-examination will be held on September 9 and 10, 2026.
The English and Commerce papers will be conducted on September 9, 2026. The English paper will be held in the first shift from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, while the Commerce paper will be conducted in the second shift from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Sociology paper will be conducted on September 10, 2026, in the first shift from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Candidates who had selected any of these three subjects will be eligible to appear for the re-examination scheduled to take place over the coming days at various examination centres.
The decision to conduct the re-examination was taken after the NTA received several complaints regarding multiple errors in the English, Commerce and Sociology question papers.
The UGC-NET is held to determine eligibility for the appointment of entry Assistant Professors, admission to PhD courses, and for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in government and private universities.
The UGC-NET 2026 exam was held in June this year across 87 subjects. The NTA, however, was criticised for delaying the release of the answer key. The provisional answer key was then released on Sunday.
Following this, the NTA stated that it had received several complaints about multiple errors in the English, Commerce, and Sociology papers.
A committee was formed to enquire into these errors, and as per the committee's recommendation, the NTA will re-conduct the exams in these subjects to "ensure a fair and error-free examination", officials stated.
The testing agency also mentioned that no additional fees will be charged from the candidates and allocation of seats will not be reduced. Additionally, the results for the other 84 subjects will be declared as scheduled.
--IANS
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ISI cuts local recruitment in J&K, bets on Pakistani terrorists for long-haul operations
New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Pakistan has significantly scaled up recruitment into the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) in the last couple of months, for fomenting terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. However, there has been a noticeable change in the manner in which the recruitments are taking place. During high level meetings that took place in Pakistan recently, it was decided that there would be very less reliance on locals in Jammu and Kashmir to be recruited as terrorists.
A majority of the terrorists who would be sent to Jammu and Kashmir would be Pakistani nationals. The ISI feels that the locals have very less sustainability when compared to terrorists in Pakistan. The terrorists from Pakistan are capable of undertaking the long-haul. They can wait for months within dense jungles and attack when they get orders.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that there has been a massive drop in recruitment of locals to fight alongside the Jaish-e-Mohammad or Lashkar-e-Tayiba in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ISI feels that the game in Jammu and Kashmir should be a long one and hence the Pakistani nationals are more suited, the official said. The official explained that apart from longevity, there are other factors too behind this decision taken by the ISI. The locals are not as hardened when compared to the terrorists of Pakistani origin.
Further, there have been many cases when the security forces have asked family members to intervene and get the locals to surrender. Moreover, such surrenders are not good for ISI’s narrative as the locals can spill out information about operations and other tactics to the security agencies. An official said that there are hardly any local terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the streak of encounters that eliminated local terrorists, the Hizbul Mujahideen was never able to recover, the official said. The morale of the locals went down drastically and many refused to take up arms.
Several youth, who were charged up when the likes of Burhan Wani were at their peak became completely demoralised following his death and others that followed.
In addition to the death of separatism and the elimination of local terrorists, the locals were so demoralised that they stopped indulging in stone-pelting. Another official said post the abrogation of Article 370, peace returned largely to Jammu and Kashmir. This also resulted in development and more opportunities for the youth.
This is something that the ISI took note of and decided that the locals currently care more about their livelihood rather than in carrying out terror attacks or indulge in stone pelting. The Kashmir study group that was set up by the ISI suggested that locals are not only weaker compared to the Pakistanis, but are also vulnerable. They tend to get caught or eliminated too soon and their life span on the ground is not over two to three months. Those caught easily break down during an interrogation and end up exposing communication and logistic networks of terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Officials say that while Pakistani terrorists would operate more in Jammu and Kashmir, the ISI would simultaneously create more smokescreen groups. These groups would be the ones taking up responsibility each time there is an attack.
Such groups would however comprise locals who would operate on the digital space and claim responsibility for the attacks so that Pakistan has the deniability factor. The ISI has also made sure that these groups should have secular names. Currently, the ISI has created groups such as The Resistence Front, Kashmir Tigers, All Tigers and People’s Anti Fascist Front (PAFF).
These groups have been created to claim responsibility for an attack that would originally have been carried out by either the Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad. While ISI has reduced its reliance on locals to be part of ground operations, it has however recruited a good number of youth to function as over ground workers (OWGs).
For the OWG network having locals is important as they are better suited to provide logistics and also shelter to foreign terrorists are they are well-versed with the geography of Jammu and Kashmir. While OWGs provide logistics and shelter, their knowledge about an operation is very limited. This automatically reduces the risk of operational or communication details being leaked to the Indian security forces, the official said.
--IANS
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ISI cuts local recruitment in J&K, bets on Pakistani terrorists for long-haul operations
New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) Pakistan has significantly scaled up recruitment into the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) in the last couple of months, for fomenting terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. However, there has been a noticeable change in the manner in which the recruitments are taking place. During high level meetings that took place in Pakistan recently, it was decided that there would be very less reliance on locals in Jammu and Kashmir to be recruited as terrorists.
A majority of the terrorists who would be sent to Jammu and Kashmir would be Pakistani nationals. The ISI feels that the locals have very less sustainability when compared to terrorists in Pakistan. The terrorists from Pakistan are capable of undertaking the long-haul. They can wait for months within dense jungles and attack when they get orders.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that there has been a massive drop in recruitment of locals to fight alongside the Jaish-e-Mohammad or Lashkar-e-Tayiba in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ISI feels that the game in Jammu and Kashmir should be a long one and hence the Pakistani nationals are more suited, the official said. The official explained that apart from longevity, there are other factors too behind this decision taken by the ISI. The locals are not as hardened when compared to the terrorists of Pakistani origin.
Further, there have been many cases when the security forces have asked family members to intervene and get the locals to surrender. Moreover, such surrenders are not good for ISI’s narrative as the locals can spill out information about operations and other tactics to the security agencies. An official said that there are hardly any local terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the streak of encounters that eliminated local terrorists, the Hizbul Mujahideen was never able to recover, the official said. The morale of the locals went down drastically and many refused to take up arms.
Several youth, who were charged up when the likes of Burhan Wani were at their peak became completely demoralised following his death and others that followed.
In addition to the death of separatism and the elimination of local terrorists, the locals were so demoralised that they stopped indulging in stone-pelting. Another official said post the abrogation of Article 370, peace returned largely to Jammu and Kashmir. This also resulted in development and more opportunities for the youth.
This is something that the ISI took note of and decided that the locals currently care more about their livelihood rather than in carrying out terror attacks or indulge in stone pelting. The Kashmir study group that was set up by the ISI suggested that locals are not only weaker compared to the Pakistanis, but are also vulnerable. They tend to get caught or eliminated too soon and their life span on the ground is not over two to three months. Those caught easily break down during an interrogation and end up exposing communication and logistic networks of terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Officials say that while Pakistani terrorists would operate more in Jammu and Kashmir, the ISI would simultaneously create more smokescreen groups. These groups would be the ones taking up responsibility each time there is an attack.
Such groups would however comprise locals who would operate on the digital space and claim responsibility for the attacks so that Pakistan has the deniability factor. The ISI has also made sure that these groups should have secular names. Currently, the ISI has created groups such as The Resistence Front, Kashmir Tigers, All Tigers and People’s Anti Fascist Front (PAFF).
These groups have been created to claim responsibility for an attack that would originally have been carried out by either the Lashkar-e-Tayiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad. While ISI has reduced its reliance on locals to be part of ground operations, it has however recruited a good number of youth to function as over ground workers (OWGs).
For the OWG network having locals is important as they are better suited to provide logistics and also shelter to foreign terrorists are they are well-versed with the geography of Jammu and Kashmir. While OWGs provide logistics and shelter, their knowledge about an operation is very limited. This automatically reduces the risk of operational or communication details being leaked to the Indian security forces, the official said.
--IANS
vn/mr
Violence in eastern DR Congo drives fresh displacements, complicates Ebola response: UN
United Nations, Sep 2 (IANS) Violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is driving fresh mass displacements, complicating the response to the Ebola outbreak, UN humanitarians said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday (local time) said the hostilities are forcing people to flee their homes, and the insecurity and movement of people hamper disease surveillance and response efforts.
As of Sunday, national health authorities had reported more than 6,100 confirmed Ebola cases and nearly 2,950 deaths.
OCHA said that in Ituri province, local civil society sources reported that at least 37 civilians were killed and more than 35 people abducted during armed attacks in the territory of Mambasa on Saturday. At least 86 civilians were killed in attacks across the territory last month, reports Xinhua news agency.
In neighbouring South Kivu province, the office said its partners reported that clashes in Walungu territory have displaced at least 15,000 people since August 23. Most of the displaced are sheltering with host families and need food, shelter and health care. Fighting is also forcing displacements in parts of North Kivu province.
"Despite these challenges, the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to support the authorities' response," OCHA said.
The International Organization for Migration said it has conducted nearly 23 million health screenings in the DRC and neighbouring countries, helping to monitor people's movements, detect potential cases and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.
The United Nations repeated its call on all parties to protect civilians and facilitate safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, noting that maintaining access to communities affected by the outbreak remains critical for delivering life-saving assistance and supporting efforts to bring the Ebola outbreak under control.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said, "We cannot respond incrementally to an epidemic which is now growing exponentially."
Fletcher, speaking at a virtual briefing hosted by the World Health Organization, called for a sustained, large-scale operation to get ahead of the Ebola virus, adding that people need functioning health services, clean water, sanitation, food, protection and livelihoods. Above all, he said, they need trust.
"Time is not on our side. We have the experience, the tools, extraordinary people risking their lives to stop this epidemic. What we need now is political will, access, and resources. We have beaten Ebola before. And we can do it again," said the relief chief.
--IANS
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MoS Margherita holds bilateral talks with Palau Prez, Tonga PM on sidelines of PIF Leaders’ Meet
Koror, Sep 2 (IANS) Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita on Wednesday called on Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, with the discussions focused on current development cooperation initiatives and collaboration in multilateral fora.
During the meeting, Margherita reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to enhance the deep and longstanding bilateral partnership between India and Palau.
Taking to X, Margherita said: “Honoured to meet H.E. Mr Surangel Whipps Jr., President of Palau, on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in Koror. Congratulated him on Palau’s excellent hosting of the PIF Summit. Discussed ongoing and new development cooperation initiatives, our bilateral partnership, and cooperation in multilateral fora. Reaffirmed India’s commitment to further deepening and strengthening our close and enduring partnership with Palau.”
Margherita also met Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua on the sidelines of the 55th PIF Leaders’ Meeting, where the two sides discussed ways to deepen India-Tonga partnership.
Consul of India to Tonga, Madam Fakafanua and Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, Tonga’s Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, were also present during the meeting.
The MoS underscored the importance India attaches to its friendship with Tonga and the shared vision for the wider Indo-Pacific.
Sharing the details of the meeting, Margherita took to X and posted: “Honoured to meet with Hon. PM of Tonga Lord Fakafanua, accompanied by Hon. Consul of India to Tonga Madam Fakafanua and HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces and His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, on the sidelines of the 55th PIF Leaders’ Meeting in Koror, Palau. A warm exchange on strengthening the India-Tonga partnership. India deeply values its friendship with Tonga and our shared commitment to the wider Indo-Pacific,”
On Tuesday, the MoS met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kalani Kaneko, in Palau, with the two sides exchanging views on issues of shared interest and India’s development partnership with the Pacific nation.
“Glad to interact with Hon. FM Kalani Kaneko of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) on the sidelines of the 55th PIFLM in Koror, Palau. Had a productive discussion on issues of mutual interest and India’s ongoing development cooperation with RMI.
Margherita also met Chris Bowen, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, on the sidelines of the 55th PIF meeting, saying, “The India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to scale new heights.”
--IANS
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Nepal flash floods: Death toll mounts to 1,114 as search operations continue
Kathmandu, Sep 2 (IANS) The death toll from the devastating floods in Rasuwa and surrounding districts has crossed the 1,100 mark, according to the latest search, rescue and relief update released by Nepali authorities on Wednesday morning.
As many as 1,114 bodies swept away by last week's deadly floods had been recovered by 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said.
The highest number of bodies had been recovered in southern Chitwan district, with 348, followed by Nawalparasi East with 217, Nawalparasi West with 190, Nuwakot with 155, Gorkha with 66, Dhading with 59, Rasuwa with 41 and Tanahun with 38. The figures include body parts recovered from different locations.
Authorities said 95 bodies have so far been identified and handed over to their relatives.
According to the NDRRMA, 3,916 people remain out of contact, including government employees, security personnel, elected representatives, foreign nationals, Nepalis accompanying foreign tourists, local residents and workers employed at hydropower projects.
However, there is a discrepancy between the figures released by the NDRRMA and Nepal Police.
According to data provided by Nepal Police based on information collected until 8 a.m. Wednesday, 4,858 people, including 583 foreign nationals, remain out of contact.
Meanwhile, the whereabouts of many people reported missing from 11 flood-affected hydropower projects remain unknown, as rescue efforts have so far produced limited results.
According to the Independent Power Producers' Association, Nepal (IPPAN), the status of 983 people associated with 11 hydropower projects along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river corridors in Rasuwa and Nuwakot remains unknown.
Nepali Army personnel, along with Indian and Chinese tunnel rescue teams, have been making efforts to reach deep inside tunnels at several hydropower projects to determine whether those reported missing can be located.
The private sector's representative body for power developers said Tuesday evening that rescue efforts were continuing at projects including the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project (60 MW), Chilime Hydropower Project (22 MW), Langtang Khola Hydropower Project (20 MW), Trishuli 3B Hydropower Project (37 MW) and Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project (216 MW).
At the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, 1,433 people were working when the floods struck, according to IPPAN.
Of them, 876 have either been rescued or have made contact.
Those still unaccounted for include 15 employees of the project company, 78 employees of EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor Doosan, 94 employees of Andritz Hydro, seven employees of consultant -- the Joint Venture of Lahmeyer International GmbH and Jade Consult Pvt. Ltd, and 385 workers employed by civil subcontractor PowerChina, according to IPPAN.
The whereabouts of 91 people reported missing from the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project (111 MW) remained unknown as of Tuesday.
A Nepali Army-led team conducted an on-site inspection on Monday and returned after reporting that it had found no one inside the powerhouse tunnel.
--IANS
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ShowBiz
Chunky Pandey reveals people had to hold David Dhawan back from entering shots during shoots
Mumbai, September 2 (IANS) Actor Chunky Pandey recalled filmmaker David Dhawan's infectious enthusiasm on the sets.
The actor revealed that the director would sometimes get so involved in a scene that people had to hold him back from entering the frame.
Chunky opened up about his experience of working with the filmmaker on the upcoming episode of Sony Entertainment Television's India's Best Dancer Season 5. He also called David one of the best directors he has worked with.
Recalling the time when filmmaking did not involve monitors and the technology available today, Chunky said, “Ek cheez main bataun, jab woh shoot karte hain na, hamare zamaane mein monitor yeh sab technology nahi thi. Toh director ‘Start, sound, camera, action!’ action mein logon ko David ko pakadna padta tha because woh almost frame mein aa jaate the jab shots chalu the, because woh itne khud excited ho jaate the scene ke saath. I think he is one of the best directors I have ever worked with. Aur woh khud pehle editor the na, toh unki editing shooting ke waqt hi ho jaati thi.”
(Let me tell you one thing, when he used to shoot, in our time there were no monitors or technology like that. So after the director said, ‘Start, sound, camera, action!’, during the action, people had to hold David back because he would almost enter the frame while the shots were being filmed. He would get so excited with the scene himself. I think he is one of the best directors I have ever worked with. And he was an editor first, so his editing would happen while he was shooting itself)
Adding to Chunky's anecdote, actress Karisma Kapoor spoke about David's ability to visualise a scene completely in his mind and his instinctive understanding of comedy.
She said, “Unke dimaag mein chalta tha unka scene, and comedy hoti hai toh he is editing, that's why he is so good in comedy also.”
(The scene would play out in his mind, and when it came to comedy, he would be editing it in his head. That's why he is so good at comedy as well)
For the uninitiated, David Dhawan and Chunky Pandey have worked together on films including Aankhen in 1993, which also starred Govinda and Chunky in prominent roles, and Rascals in 2011. Their professional association also extends to David's latest directorial, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai.
David Dhawan's association with Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, meanwhile, produced some of the most popular comic entertainers of the 1990s. The filmmaker, Govinda and Karisma worked together on films including Raja Babu, Coolie No. 1, Saajan Chale Sasural, Hero No. 1 and Haseena Maan Jaayegi.
David had earlier stated that Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, starring his son Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde, would be his final directorial venture.
–IANS
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Tom Holland says ‘Happy Birthday Z’ as Zendaya turns 30
Mumbai, Sep 2 (IANS) Hollywood star Tom Holland wished his ladylove Zendaya as she celebrated her 30th birthday.
Holland took to Instagram, where he shared three pictures of Zendaya. The first was a childhood image of his lady love. The second and third photographs featured the couple sharing a laugh together.
For the caption, he wrote: “Happy Birthday Z.”
Zendaya too had taken to Instagram, where she shared a childhood image of herself. She went on to express her gratitude and shared that she’s looking forward to her thirties.
“I can’t thank ya’ll enough for making the last year of my twenties so beautiful, I have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to, with love as always….here’s to 30!!!!!,” Zendaya wrote as the caption.
Holland and Zendaya met during screen tests and filming for Spider-Man: Homecoming, where he was cast as Peter Parker and Zendaya as MJ. They made their relationship public in 2021.
Holland posted a sweet birthday tribute for Zendaya, calling her "My MJ," and she affectionately responded with "my Spider-Man". The couple got engaged in 2024 and got married in 2026.
Talking about Zendaya, she began her career as a child model and dancer before gaining prominence for her roles in sitcoms such as Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover.
For her performance as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager in the teen drama series Euphoria, she won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest performer to win in the category.
Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle Jones-Watson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming.
She reprised her role in its sequels Far From Home, No Way Home, and Brand New Day. The actress has since starred in the musical film The Greatest Showman, Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy, and Christopher Nolan's epic The Odyssey, Malcolm & Marie, Challengers and The Drama.
She was last seen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day with Holland, a superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man.
It is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth film in the MCU Spider-Man film series following Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Destin Daniel Cretton directed the film, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers wrote it; Tom Holland stars as Peter Parker / Spider-Man alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei, and Mark Ruffalo.
In the film, Parker works alone and is dedicated to protecting New York City as Spider-Man. His personal struggles and overworking cause his superpowers to evolve while he faces a new telepathic threat.
--IANS
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Meghna Gulzar reveals when she got idea for Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kareena Kapoor Khan-starrer ‘Daayra’
Mumbai, Sept 2 (IANS) Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film ‘Daayra’ starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan, has said that the idea for the film came to her back in 2020 during the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The filmmaker spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film in the Andheri West area of Mumbai.
She told IANS, “Actually, the idea was sent my way in 2020. I still remember where I was. I was at my village home and there was a lockdown because of Covid-19. And it was a story written over a few pages. The idea had come from Junglee Pictures”.
However, while the idea was pitched to her in 2020, she was already quite deep into the creative process of putting together the biopic ‘Sam Bahadur’ starring Vicky Kaushal in the titular role of India’s war hero.
She further mentioned, “And yet, it grabbed me because the issues that it talks about are so prevalent and we, even Junglee Pictures and I, we both knew that I will be making Sam Bahadur next. And we were okay to make it after four years because we knew that it's not going to get outdated even after four years”.
‘Daayra’ is a crime thriller, and promises a sharp, socially grounded narrative, and stars Kareena in a complex, morally conflicted role that explores justice, power, and systemic grey zones. The project marks a significant collaboration, blending Kareena’s recent inclination toward layered, content-driven characters with Meghna Gulzar’s restrained, issue-oriented storytelling style seen in ‘Talvar’, ‘Raazi’, and ‘Sam Bahadur’.
Produced by Vineet Jain under the banner of Junglee Pictures, the film is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18, 2026.
--IANS
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Parvathy Thiruvothu-starrer Pradhama Dhrishtya Kuttakkar teaser promises a gripping crime drama involving cops!
Chennai, Sep 2 (IANS) The makers of director Shahad's eagerly awaited Malayalam investigative thriller, 'Pradhama Dhrishtya Kuttakkar', featuring actress Parvathy Thiruvothu in the lead, have now released a gripping teaser of the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.
Releasing the teaser of the film using the film's official handle on Instagram, the makers of the film wrote,"Sometimes, justice stands above the truth. Official Teaser Out Now | Link in Bio. #PradhamDrishtyaKuttakkar In cinemas September 11. #PDK #TeaserOutNow."
The teaser starts with an identification number of a pistol being read out by a police officer. It is followed by a chase sequence, after which anxious looking cops appear on screen. Parvathy is heard saying, "I'll never go anywhere leaving her all alone." We then hear a male police officer saying, "Even the deepest crime will eventually come to light. For that one day, I'll be waiting." Parvathy says, "He won't rest until this ends."
The teaser gives the impression that the story revolves around two women cops in junior positions being targetted by a senior officer after an unfortunate development. It also leads one to think that this story will be about a woman's decision to stand by her colleague undergoing a harrowing time.
It may be recalled that the makers had released a motion poster some days ago. The first look motion poster showed four cops --two male and two female-- seated next to each other, with an anxious and a worried look on their faces. Parvathy was seen as one of the four cops.
Sources in the industry claim that Parvathy plays the role of a woman, who gets a posting in the police department after the demise of her husband who was a cop.
Apart from Parvathy, the film will also feature actors Mathew Thomas, Unnimaya Prasad, Vijaya Raghavan, Sidharth Bharathan and Azees Nedumangad in pivotal roles.
Directed by Shahad, best known for having directed the family drama 'Prakashan Parakkatte', the film's story has been written by P S Subramanian and Vijesh Thottingal. Sources say the shooting for the film had taken place at a number of locations including Kottayam, Changanassery, and Kuttanad.
The film boasts of an equally impressive technical team.
Produced by Arjun Selva, the film has music by Mujeeb Majeed and cinematography by Ruby Varghese Raj. Editing for the film has been handled by Chaman Chakko. Costumes in the film have been designed by Sameera Saneesh while the stunts have been choreographed by Action Sandhosh, Kalai Kingson and Vicky Master. Sound design for the film is by Jayadevan Chakkadath and production design is by Makesh Mohanan.
--IANS
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Jackie Shroff shares funny ‘Last Will’ dedicated to his plants
Mumbai, Sep 2 (IANS) Veteran Bollywood star Jackie Shroff on Wednesday shared a mock “Last Will & Testament”. The tongue-in-cheek document mentioned that the actor leaves his farmhouse and a hefty sum for composting and gardening, while stating that his plants are his family.
Jackie took to the Instagram stories section, where he shared the fake document, which began as “LAST WILL & TESTAMENT”.
The document stated: “I, Jackie Shroff, son of Shri Kakubhai Shroff, residing at Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, being of sound mind and body, do here by declare this to be my Last Will and Testament.”
The pointers began with “I. CARE AND GUARDIANSHIP.”
“The farmhouse shall remain in the care of beloved Spider Plant.”
For, “FINANCIAL PROVISIONS”, it had: “A sum of Rs. 99 lakhs to be set aside for the composting section in the farmhouse and all the gardening tools.”
“III. CARE AND MAINTENANCE: A lifetime budget allocated for all my plants, pots and gardener.”
The fourth point mentioned that the plants are his “family.”
“IV. GENERAL: My plants are my family. They must be nurtured, protected and loved always. In the witness whereof, I have herein set my hand this 1st day of Sept 2026.”
The mock document was signed off with a disclaimer, which read: “DISCLAIMER: DIL PE MAT LE, JUST A JOKE SHROFF.”
On the work front, Jackie’s latest is Ahmed Khan’s comedy film titled “Welcome To The Jungle”.
The film has a huge star cast including names such as Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Mika Singh, Mukesh Tiwari, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Sayaji Shinde.
It is loosely based on the 2005 American film The Producers as well as the 2008 American film Tropic Thunder.
This film marks the ninth collaboration of Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal, who have reunited on screen after almost 17 years. Their last collaboration was Priyadarshan's De Dana Dan.
--IANS
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Lifestyle
Brain-gut signals can predict antidepressant response within 7-10 days: Study
New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) A combination of brain and gastric electrical signals along with clinical symptoms can help predict antidepressant treatment outcomes within 7–10 days of starting treatment, a study showed on Monday.
As per a joint study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College, the findings could enable earlier assessment of treatment response, compared with the conventional 4–6-week period typically needed to assess treatment response, the statement from IIT Kanpur said.
The ability to identify likely treatment responses quickly could help address a significant challenge in depression care.
Depression affects an estimated 5 per cent of adults worldwide and around 4.5 per cent of India’s population. Over half of patients may not respond adequately to their first antidepressant, often requiring weeks of trial and error before an effective treatment is identified.
“Our study showed that objective non-invasive brain and gut electrophysiological signals collected in about the first week of treatment already contain valuable information about treatment response to precisely guide the intervention," said Dr. Pragathi Priyadharsini Balasubramani, Assistant Professor, Department of Cognitive Science, IIT Kanpur, and corresponding author of the study.
"We found that different symptom profiles were associated with distinct patterns of brain and gut physiology linked to treatment outcomes," said Amal Jude Ashwin Francis, PhD Scholar, Department of Cognitive Science, IIT Kanpur, and the first author of the study.
Francis said that recognising these biological subtypes helps explain why patients respond differently to the same medication and facilitates personalised treatment strategies.
The study examined electrical activity in the brain and stomach using electroencephalography (EEG) and electrogastrography (EGG), respectively, together with clinical symptom data.
The study included 206 participants, including 144 treatment-naive patients with depression.
Researchers recorded EEG and EGG signals at the start of treatment and again approximately one week later, and examined whether these early biological signals, together with clinical information, could predict treatment outcomes assessed 4–6 weeks after antidepressant therapy began.
"The predictive model identified patients unlikely to respond to treatment with 84 per cent sensitivity and 78 per cent specificity during model evaluation," the statement said.
The model achieved 77.3 per cent overall accuracy, with 80 per cent specificity and 71.4 per cent sensitivity for identifying nonresponders, when tested on an independent patient cohort.
—IANS
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