Author: IND Media
Bollywood actor-director Anurag Kashyap recently shared his unfiltered views on cinema, politics and changing audience behaviour during a discussion titled Fearless Film Making at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival. The session was moderated by film critic Baradwaj Rangan.Reflecting on how the climate around filmmaking has changed over the years, Kashyap admitted that the kind of films that once defined his career may no longer be possible today. “In today’s times, making films like Gangs of Wasseypur or Black Friday is impossible. Some subjects have become politically sensitive and lead to controversies,” he said.‘Indian directors should draw inspiration from Iranian…
The story so far: Negotiations on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — dubbed the ‘mother of all deals’ by leaders on both sides — officially concluded on January 27, closing about two decades worth of intermittent talks. The deal, which has benefits for both, simultaneously avoids intractable sensitive issues while securing advantageous concessions on most others.Editorial | Mature and pragmatic: On India-EU FTAWhy is it the ‘mother of all deals’?The FTA has been called thus because of the size of the economies, markets, and bilateral trade involved. The deal brings together the second- and fourth-largest single customs blocs,…
Once global signifiers of elite intellectual achievement, many of the top universities in the United States have been subjected to scrutiny, investigation and federal action. Universities such as University of Pennsylvania, Columbia and Brown have engaged in extensive negotiations to try to carve out space for institutional integrity. Another broad measure launched by the Trump Administration has been a proposed compact, signing which would grant universities priority access to federal funding. The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education was first opened for nine schools, then 12, and then generally thrown open to all academic institutions. Commitment to intellectual diversity,…
Recently, Madhu Gottumukkala, the Indian-origin acting director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), came under fire after uploading sensitive government contracting documents into the AI model ChatGPT. The documents were marked “for official use only” and were not meant for public release. They were not classified, but the incident triggered internal security alerts, which led to a review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Following this news, a self-described ‘Christian nationalist’ and MAGA-supporting X user responded with a post blaming Indians in tech for incompetence. He said that while working in a tech company, “everything is…
Mumbai: Bombay high court has quashed and set aside disqualification of a candidate (25) from further rounds of selection to the Central Industrial Security Force for having a subtle lisp.Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri on Wed while allowing him to continue in the recruitment process, clarified he “would be at liberty to undertake focussed tongue exercises or minor practice or assistance of a professional speech therapist for overcoming the issue.”Sunetra Pawar Political Move, Jhanvi Kukreja Verdict, Savarkar Home Status And MoreThe judges noted there was no dispute that the petitioner is otherwise able-bodied person and can take further tests.…
Bengaluru: Indian Dental Association (IDA), in collaboration with the state govt, Indian Prosthodontic Society (IPS) and Rotary Bangalore Social Club, launched Ssmileathon — a statewide oral health awareness and smile contest.Designed to make oral care a daily conversation, the initiative offers free dental screenings at IDA-affiliated clinics for over 1 lakh participants. Ssmileathon aims to drive early disease detection and healthier lifestyles, with national data showing 90% of Indians face dental issues but few seek regular care.The contest is open to men and women aged 18–45, combining free check-ups, digital engagement and a grand finale on March 1 at Palace…
Hyderabad: A brutal crime rooted in jealousy shocked Keerthipally village in Nampally mandal of Nalgonda district on Saturday, where a widow allegedly set ablaze her former boyfriend’s wife and their six-month-old infant. The woman died on the spot, while the infant succumbed to burn injuries while being rushed to a hospital.The victim, K Mamatha (26), was at home with her younger son, Advith, when the accused, M Sujatha (42), attacked them around 11.30 am. Mamatha’s husband, K Nagesh Yadav (29), a farmer, had left the house for work shortly before the incident. Their elder son, Sadvith (5), was not present…
Chennai: To create awareness about disasters among students, the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed all higher education institutions to introduce a two-credit disaster risk reduction (DRR) course at undergraduate level. UGC also released the model curriculum for the DRR course which will be introduced as a skill enhancement course. “All higher education institutions may consider it for implementation, as appropriate, from the academic year 2026-27. Further, colleges are requested to take necessary steps for establishment of disaster risk reduction clubs,” UGC secretary Manish R Joshi said in a letter to educational institutions.The course will equip students with knowledge and skills…
Berhampur: At least five persons were killed and three sustained injuries after a speeding truck crashed into three motorcycles on the railway overbridge near Haladiapadar here on Saturday. While four of them crushed were crushed under the wheels of the truck, another person succumbed to his injuries on the way to MKCG Medical College and Hospital here. Bhubaneswar: Chopper Rides Over Landmarks, Coal Diversion CBI Search, Deportations And MoreThe deceased were identified as Surya Narayan Panda, 41, of Ayodhya Nagar here, Sibaram Jena, 35, of Gunthubandh, Jaga Nahak, 20, and Rakesh Nahak, 22, of Phulta and Satya Narayan Bej of…
In Assam’s Baksa district, local farmers have undergone essential training to elevate their bamboo cultivation practices. This initiative is a response to the surging national demand for bamboo, spurred by ambitious bio-ethanol goals and the pursuit of sustainable materials. Guwahati: As the national demand for bamboo grew steadily, driven by bio-ethanol blending targets, traditional bamboo farmers in Bhutan-bordering Baksa district received a three-day training to boost their scientific farming skills across the bamboo value chain.The Farmers’ Training Programme on Enhancing Bamboo Farming and Production covered nursery management, quality planting material (QPM), harvesting cycles, post-harvest handling, value addition, financial linkages and…