News from November 13, 2025

Entertainment

Shefali Shah Reveals Producers ‘Hard-Negotiate’ With Actors: ‘Nobody Ever Has The Budget’ | Exclusive

Shefali Shah has often opened up on the lull she witnessed in her career. Early on, the film industry typecast her and put her in age-inappropriate roles. In Waqt, she played Akshay Kumar’s mother when she was all of 28. Soon, offers of playing mothers started flowing in, so much so that she had to refuse a bunch of film offers for several years. But everything changed in 2019 when the first season of Delhi Crime released. The industry once again took note of her and her performance won immense acclaim. Now, speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, Shefali states that despite starting her career with a bang, for a long time she didn’t see the highs she had anticipated. “My first film was Satya. I had a seven-minute role in it but it left a very deep impact. So, I learnt very early on that it’s not about the length but the strength. But sadly, in the kind of cinema that used to be made, there was no space for anyone apart from the hero, the heroine and the villain. Another other character was a supporting character,” she tells us. Before Delhi Crime had released, Shefali had lost the hope of getting do a meaty role – the reason being the ageist nature of Bollywood. “I wasn’t 18 or 20 or even 30. Anyway, roles for women actors were hard to come by, so for a woman like me who’s in her 40s, I had thought that there would be absolutely no roles for me. But then Delhi Crime happened and because of that, stuff changed. I started getting offered parts which were leads and parallel leads,” she recalls. While doors opened for her, navigating the film industry, according to Shefali, is still no cakewalk. Money continues to be a complex topic. But she chooses to look at the silver lining and expresses that she’s happy to be in a space today where she can ask for a seat at the table without having to overthink it. “After that, I got Jalsa, Darlings and Human. The moment that positioning changes, you’re also in a position to ask for what’s rightfully yours. Till then, it’s like you tend to let things go,” she says. The Dil Dhadakne Do and Three Of Us actor further continues, “Having said that, it’s not like today, people don’t hard-negotiate. I’ve never met a producer who came to me and told me that they’re paying me extra money. They haven’t even ever told me that they’ve money. Nobody ever has the budget or money. But I can at least ask for basics and for the things I rightfully deserve. So, all that has changed.” But she’s quick to add that respect isn’t something that she never got even when offers were far and few. And today, along with it comes interesting scripts. “The other way to look at it is that the respect that I receive changed. But it would be unfair for me to say that because I always got the love and respect even though it wasn’t translating into work. So, Delhi Crime completely shifted the trajectory of my career,” Shefali remarks.

News18,Titas Chowdhury 5 hours ago

World

Was im Koalitionsausschuss ansteht

Beim Koalitionsausschuss treffen Union und SPD aufeinander, um über Wirtschaft, Bürgergeld und das mögliche Aus vom Verbrenner-Aus zu beraten. Rasmus Buchsteiner ordnet ein, welche Kompromisse möglich sind und warum sich die Gespräche bis in die Nacht ziehen könnten.Im 200-Sekunden-Interview spricht Sebastian Lechner, CDU-Landeschef in Niedersachsen, über die Zukunft des Verbrennungsmotors. Er fordert eine gemeinsame Linie der Koalition und ein klares Signal nach Brüssel. Außerdem erklärt er, warum die Union auf eine kapitalgedeckte Rentensäule nach skandinavischem Vorbild drängt.Danach berichtet Hans von der Burchard über den Korruptionsskandal in der Ukraine, der Energieministerium, Justizministerium und einen Oligarchen betrifft. Die Enthüllungen gefährden den geplanten Ablauf von Gesprächen über weitere Finanzhilfen aus Europa, während die Bundesregierung eigentlich auf eine schnelle Einigung in Brüssel drängt. Zum Schluss erklärt Rixa Fürsen, wie sich Union und SPD in letzter Minute auf eine gemeinsame Linie bei der Wehrpflicht einigen konnten. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis:Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren. Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski:Instagram: @gordon.repinski | X: @GordonRepinski.

Gordon Repinski 5 hours ago

Technology

Young People and Social Security

The people who syndicate this column have just assigned a new editor to me. She’s a relatively young person. (Of course, when you are 76 years old, as I am, the majority of people I meet and deal with are younger than me!) I sort of apologized to my young editor for having to work with a guy who writes a column about an old people’s topic like Social Security. But she graciously let me know she was looking forward to learning more about the program. Anyway, this got me to thinking about the issue of young people and Social Security. And it turns out they are more involved with the program than most folks might think. And I'll use the rest of this column to explain.

Tom Margenau 5 hours ago

Health

Sunny Deol lashes out at media: ‘Sharam nahi aati’

Mumbai, Nov 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, who is currently under severe emotional distress considering his father, Dharmendra's health, lost his cool at the media on Thursday. The actor was clicked outside his Juhu residence, as he walked a bit further, he turned around from his course, joined his hands, and calmly expressed his anger at the media and the prying cameras. He said, "You have a family, parents, and kids at home, and you are clicking videos like c******". Aren't you ashamed". He then looked at the media personnel stationed outside his residence. After expressing his anger, the actor walked off. The reportage over Dharmendra's health by certain sections of the media has drawn heavy criticism from the veteran actor's family and the general populace. The veteran actor was declared dead by a few sections of legacy media while he continued to receive treatment and responded to it. Considering the news came from established mainstream media houses, many artistes from the industry including screenwriting legend Javed Akhtar, who worked with Dharmendra on 'Sholay', and many political figures offered their condolences to the actor while he was still alive. As the veteran actor's family refuted such false reports, many media houses deleted the false news from their social media handles causing confusion among people. Earlier, on Tuesday, actress Hema Malini took to her social media, and wrote, "What is happening is unforgivable! How can responsible channels spread false news about a person who is responding to treatment and is recovering? This is being extremely disrespectful and irresponsible. Please give due respect to the family and its need for privacy (sic)." Prior to this, Dharmendra's daughter, Esha Deol confirmed that her father is stable and recovering in the hospital. Esha wrote on her official Instagram handle, "The media seems to be in overdrive and spreading false news. My father is stable & recovering. We request everyone to give our family privacy. Thank you for the prayers for papas speedy recovery. Esha Deol (sic)". The veteran actor was discharged on Wednesday, and continues to receive treatment at home. Source: IANS

Gopi 5 hours ago

Politics

Assam CM warns stern action over offensive posts after Delhi blasts; 15 arrested

Guwahati, Nov 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state government would remain “uncompromising against those who glorify violence”, as police intensified a crackdown on individuals posting inflammatory and offensive content on social media following the recent Delhi blasts. Taking to the social media platform X, the Chief Minister informed that 15 persons have been arrested across Assam in connection with objectionable posts that allegedly attempted to justify or celebrate the blasts. He said that the government has directed the police to act firmly against any attempt to disturb communal harmony or spread hatred through online platforms. “In connection with the offensive social media posts following the Delhi blasts, 15 persons have been arrested across Assam so far. Assam Police remains uncompromising against those who glorify violence,” CM Sarma wrote on X. According to the Chief Minister, nine persons were arrested overnight in addition to six arrests made earlier. The latest arrests include Rafijul Ali from Bongaigaon, Forid Uddin Laskar from Hailakandi, Inamul Islam and Firuj Ahmed alias Papon from Lakhimpur, Shahil Shoman Sikdar alias Shahidul Islam and Rakibul Sultan from Barpeta, Nasim Akram from Hojai, Taslim Ahmed from Kamrup, and Abdur Rohim Mollah alias Bappy Hussain from South Salmara. Earlier, six others had been arrested from different districts for similar offences. Police said that all 15 individuals were apprehended for posting or sharing content that allegedly glorified acts of terror or attempted to spread communal tension. A senior police officer said that Assam Police’s cyber teams are actively monitoring online activities and will continue to take strong action against anyone found misusing social media. “We are keeping a close watch on digital platforms. No one will be spared if found promoting violence or disturbing public peace,” the official added. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma issued a sharp warning on Wednesday in the wake of the recent Delhi blast, describing it as a grim reminder that education alone cannot prevent radicalisation. On Wednesday, he called the Delhi blast incident a “new dimension of extremism”, saying that the nation must re-examine its assumptions about what drives people towards terror and ideological violence. The Chief Minister’s statement underscores the state government’s zero-tolerance policy toward online extremism and its commitment to maintaining peace and social order across Assam. Source: IANS

Gopi 5 hours ago

World

Vivo X300 Series India Launch Teased: Zeiss Cameras And More We Expect To See

Vivo X300 series India launch teaser is here which means the official date can’t be far away. The X300 and the X300 Pro models have made their mark in global markets and now it is India’s turn to experience the new premium Vivo models that come totting Zeiss Optics cameras. The new X300 series is powered by high-end MediaTek Dimensity chipset, and you also get them with the OriginOS 6 version for the first time in the country. The highlight of the X300 Pro is the new periscope camera and a fancy accessory to make it better. Vivo X300 Series India Launch Teaser The Vivo X300 series teaser for India launch doesn’t have a date yet and it only says coming soon. The fact that Vivo has mentioned X300 series means we will be seeing both the X300 and X300 Pro along with the camera attachment in the country. Most rumours suggest the X300 series India launch date could be around early December and likely to wrap up the year with a bang. Vivo X300 Series Specifications And Price Expected Vivo X300 series is already available in China which gives us a good idea about its features. The regular X300 gets a smaller 6.31-inch LTPO OLED display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, while the X300 Pro comes with a 6.78-inch 1.5K display with similar traits. These get a flat frame like most premium phones in the market. Both the X300 phones are powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The OriginOS 6 version making it to outside of China is a big deal and Indian users finally got their wish this year. The X300 has a triple setup that includes a 200MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens. The X300 Pro has a 50MP Sony main sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS. Both these phones have the same 50MP front shooter. The X300 packs a 6,040mAh battery, while the X300 Pro is loaded with a 6,510mAh battery. Both the devices get 90W fast wired and 40W wireless charging speeds. The X300 and X300 Pro launch price in India is likely to be around Rs 75,000 and Rs 1,10,000, respectively.

News18,S Aadeetya 5 hours ago

World

Export Promotion Mission, Credit Guarantee Scheme a game changer for entire ecosystem

New Delhi, Nov 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) — a flagship initiative announced in the Union Budget 2025–26 — aimed at strengthening India’s export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labour-intensive sectors. The Mission, with a total outlay of Rs 25,060 crore for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, marks a major structural reform by consolidating multiple export promotion schemes into a comprehensive, outcome-based, and digitally driven framework. “The Export Promotion Mission reflects a pragmatic and forward-looking vision for India’s trade sector. By bringing together financial and non-financial interventions under a unified framework, the Mission provides much-needed continuity, flexibility, and responsiveness to global trade dynamics. It will particularly empower MSMEs, who often struggle with access to affordable finance and compliance support,” said SC Ralhan, President, FIEO. The EPM is a timely response to the structural challenges that have long blunted the competitive edge of Indian exports — from limited access to finance and high compliance costs to weak branding and logistics bottlenecks. By directly tackling these issues, the initiative will help sustain export momentum, safeguard employment, and diversify India’s export base into new geographies and emerging sectors, Ralhan added. Under the mission, special focus will be given to sectors impacted by recent global tariff escalations such as textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and marine products, thereby ensuring continued export orders and job protection. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will serve as the implementing agency, managing all processes digitally through an integrated platform to ensure transparency, speed, and ease of access. According to Ralhan, the Mission’s digital integration with existing trade systems will transform the exporter’s experience — reducing paperwork, improving coordination, and ensuring timely disbursals. The Credit Guarantee Scheme for exporters will not only provide the collateral free lending but also infuse additional financial liquidity which is the need of the hour. Source: IANS

Gopi 5 hours ago

Artificial Intelligence

What’s New In ChatGPT 5.1? Hidden Features And Human-Like Conversation Capabilities Revealed

OpenAI has officially unveiled GPT-5.1, the latest evolution of its flagship AI model, featuring two advanced variants—GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking. This major update focuses on delivering more natural, engaging conversations while dramatically improving reasoning and task performance. The release comes just three months after the debut of GPT-5, which drew criticism from users for feeling “cold” and inconsistent compared to previous versions.GPT-5.1 Instant now powers most ChatGPT conversations, offering faster, more lifelike dialogue, while GPT-5.1 Thinking handles deeper and more complex reasoning tasks. Both models can dynamically assess question difficulty, spending extra processing time on challenging problems and giving quicker responses to simpler ones—making conversations smoother and more efficient.GPT-5.1 Introduces Eight Personalities and Customizable Tone ControlsOne of GPT-5.1’s most exciting updates is its new personality presets. Users can now choose from eight distinct modes—Default, Professional, Friendly, Candid, Quirky, Efficient, Nerdy, and Cynical—to shape the AI’s tone and conversational style. Additional customization tools let users adjust warmth, brevity, and even emoji usage in real time, ensuring a more personal chat experience. The feature applies instantly across all chats, both existing and new.Paid users under Pro, Plus, Go, and Business plans will be the first to access GPT-5.1, while free-tier users will receive the update soon after. Enterprise and Education plan subscribers will enjoy a one-week preview window before GPT-5.1 becomes the default model.Stronger Performance, Clearer Explanations, and Broader RolloutOpenAI notes that GPT-5.1 delivers major improvements in mathematical reasoning and coding, outperforming GPT-5 in benchmarks like AIME 2025 and Codeforces. The Thinking variant also simplifies complex topics, removing unnecessary jargon and explaining intricate ideas in clear, accessible language.The update reflects OpenAI’s effort to make AI feel “not only smart but also enjoyable to talk to,” according to Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI. GPT-5.1 aims to balance intellectual depth with emotional warmth—a combination that many users felt was missing in GPT-5.Both GPT-5.1 Instant and GPT-5.1 Thinking will be available via the API later this week, with a gradual rollout planned to ensure platform stability. Legacy GPT-5 models will remain available for the next three months in a dropdown menu for paying users, giving everyone time to adjust to OpenAI’s smarter, friendlier new AI companion.

Zee Media Bureau 5 hours ago

Sports

Amid Sanju Samson's CSK Link, Ex-Teammate's Big Claim: 'MS Dhoni Definitely Won't Play...'

Will he, won’t he? That’s the question. In what would be a blockbuster deal, Sanju Samson is rumoured to be joining Chennai Super Kings. The India wicketkeeper-batter’s current IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals is reportedly locked in negotiations with CSK for a trade deal that could see Ravindra Jadeja move to the inaugural champions. However, the deal is currently stalled thanks to the involvement of a third player, an overseas cricketer. RR’s overall quota of overseas players is already full and to accommodate the third player (read Sam Curran), they will have to release one foreign player. Additionally, RR have a meagre purse of Rs 30 lakh whereas Curran was signed by CSK during the auctions for Rs 2.4 crore. MS Dhoni To Be Used As Impact Player? Should the hurdles be cleared and Samson is signed by CSK, it will also put a big question mark over the role of Dhoni who is said to be confirmed for the next season. Samson is a wicketkeeper-batter as is Dhoni whose role has been limited in the past few years. Will Dhoni then be used as an Impact Player? Subramaniam Badrinath, a former CSK batter, predicts Dhoni to feature as a wicketkeeper irrespective of whether Samson joins five-time IPL champions’ roster for the upcoming season. “MS Dhoni definitely won’t play as an impact player,” Badrinath told Star Sports. “I don’t think MS Dhoni will play as an impact player. If he plays, he will feature as a keeper. The main reason for Dhoni playing is he needs to be out there at the Chepauk. As an impact player, he might come out to bat only in the final two overs. We don’t know if he comes out to bat in that case. I don’t think that’s going to happen, that’s my observation, knowing CSK and Dhoni.” “He might not even play the full season but he will be there as a wicketkeeper, not sure as captain. But he will definitely be as a keeper on the field. He said he will be on the field to play. It will not happen that Dhoni is off the field and leaves someone like Sanju Samson to keep wickets. He will take this decision and speak to Sanju Samson,” he added. Badrinath argues that even though Dhoni is no longer CSK captain, he maintains a strong influence on the team. “That’s my understanding, I don’t think MS Dhoni is going to be an impact player at all. Either he is going to play or call it, ‘I’m done’. Look at these visuals, this is MS Dhoni, this is the value he carries, those small adjustments, some conversation with the bowlers. Even though Ruturaj Gaikwad is the captain, he still has some control over the proceedings. That’s where his value is,” Badrinath said.

Feroz Khan,News18 5 hours ago

Technology

Google Knows, We Don’t: Is ‘Digital Amnesia’ Making Us Forget How To Think Without Searching?

When was the last time you remembered something without reaching for your phone? Perhaps you tried to recite your best friend’s mobile number, only to dive into contacts instead. Or you sat down to recall the route to the café you’ve visited weekly then launched Google Maps anyway. These everyday memory drops feel small, but they point to something larger, a growing habit of outsourcing our minds. A 2025 study found that over 70% of university students who relied heavily on their smartphones showed clear signs of digital amnesia meaning they struggled to recall basic information without checking their devices. The researchers noted that this dependence was statistically very strong, showing that the more time students spent on their phones, the more their natural memory declined.

News18,Tanya.dutt 5 hours ago

Sports

Sinner tops Zverev to seal SF spot in Turin

Turin, Nov 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defending champion Jannik Sinner sealed his place in the last four of the ATP Finals after beating Alexander Zverev for the third time in 17 days. The 24-year-old Italian delivered a high-quality performance en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory. Sinner holds a 2-0 record in the Bjorn Borg group and is yet to play Ben Shelton before competing in the semi-finals. Sinner earned his fifth consecutive win against the German and improved to 6-4 in their ATP Head-to-Head rivalry. Zverev’s last win against Sinner came at the 2023 US Open. "I felt like I was serving very well in important moments. I tried to play the best tennis possible when it mattered, which fortunately went my way," said Sinner. We both changed a little bit tactically, so I felt like we both were trying to hit quite fast, quite flat. But I’m very happy with how I returned his serve. It’s very difficult. One of the best serves in the game. The group I’m in, with Sascha and Ben, it’s very difficult to return their serves," he added. Sinner beat Zverev in this year's Australian Open final and more recently in a three-set Vienna championship match, followed by a 6-0, 6-1 win in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, ATP reports. Still alive in the chase for ATP Year-End No. 1, Sinner must win the title this week as an undefeated champion and hope that Alcaraz does not record another victory. Alcaraz, already safely into the semi-finals, faces Sinner’s countryman Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday. Sinner is on a 28-match winning streak on indoor hard courts since falling to Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals championship match. Since then, Sinner has not dropped a set in Turin. Last year he became the first man to win the event without losing a set since 1986 (Ivan Lendl), as per ATP stats. Source: IANS

Gopi 5 hours ago

Technology

Red Fort blast: Agencies hunt for missing third car linked to suspects

New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) Multiple security agencies are on the lookout for a third car believed to be linked to the Red Fort blast case, police sources said on Thursday. While a white Hyundai i20 exploded near Red Fort on Monday evening, killing 12 people and injuring 30 others, investigators later traced a second vehicle — a red Ford EcoSport — to Faridabad. However, a third car, suspected to be a Maruti Brezza, remains untraced. “The missing third car is suspected to have been used by the accused for reconnaissance or escape. Multiple teams are looking for the third car,” said the source. Searches are being carried out in Delhi-NCR and adjoining states to locate the Maruti Brezza, he said. PTI BM RUK RUK

News18 5 hours ago

Technology

Electricity Board official caught red-handed in Kerala's Kochi

Kochi (Kerala), Nov 12 (PTI) The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has arrested an assistant engineer of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for allegedly accepting a bribe for securing a permanent electricity connection, officials said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Pradeep N, a native of Palarivattom and serving at the Thevara Electrical Section office in Ernakulam, was caught red-handed by the VACB Ernakulam unit on Wednesday, an official said. According to officials, the complainant, an assistant manager at a private construction company, had taken a temporary electricity connection from the Thevara KSEB Section office for the construction of a four-storey apartment near Panampilly Nagar in Kochi. After the building was completed, the complainant and the building owner approached the Thevara office to convert the temporary connection to a permanent one. However, they were informed that the matter could be processed only after meeting the assistant engineer in person, the official said. When they met Pradeep, he allegedly demanded Rs 1.50 lakh as a bribe for providing the permanent connection and for avoiding procedural delays, he said. According to the VACB officer, later, the accused contacted the complainant and asked him to hand over Rs 90,000 on Wednesday afternoon. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant reported the matter to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, Ernakulam. Acting on the complaint, a vigilance team laid a trap and caught Pradeep red-handed at the Thevara junction bus stop while accepting Rs 90,000 from the complainant in the evening, VACB said. The accused will be produced before the Vigilance Court in Kottayam on Thursday. PTI TBA TBA KH

News18 5 hours ago

Technology

Man killed, wife injured in road accident in UP's Chandauli

Chandauli (UP), Nov 13 (PTI) A 40-year-old man has been killed and his wife critically injured after their motorcycle was hit by an unidentified vehicle on National Highway-19 here, police said on Thursday. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Station House Officer of Chandauli Sadar police station, said that the incident took place on Wednesday evening. The deceased has been identified as Vinod Kumar Kesari, a resident of Bhikaripur village, he said. The SHO said Kesari was returning home from Saiyadraja along with his wife on a motorcycle when the accident occurred. The injured woman has been admitted to the district hospital where her condition remains serious, he added. PTI COR KIS RUK RUK

News18 5 hours ago

World

Rupee falls 7 paise to 88.69 against US dollar in early trade

Mumbai, Nov 13 (PTI) The rupee traded in a narrow range and depreciated by 7 paise to 88.69 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, as strong US dollar index and a muted trend in domestic equities weighed on investors’ sentiment. Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a tight range, with renewed optimism over US-India trade talks providing a steady anchor. In contrast, a steady US dollar index dented investors’ sentiment. The US dollar index is hovering near 99.50, as the market braced for the final chapter of the US government shutdown saga. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 88.66 against the US dollar before dropping to 88.69, down 7 paise from its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee depreciated 12 paise to close at 88.62 against the US dollar. “The USD/INR pair finds a crucial support at 88.40. A sustained break below this level could open the door toward 87.70–88.00, signalling further rupee strength. On the upside, resistance lies at 88.70–88.80,” CR Forex Advisors MD- Amit Pabari said. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.02 per cent higher at 99.51. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.13 per cent lower at USD 62.63 per barrel in futures trade. On the domestic equity market front, the Sensex declined 205.08 points to 84,261.43 in early trade, while the Nifty dropped 61.15 points to 25,814.65. Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,750.03 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data. Meanwhile, the government on Wednesday approved an Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with an outlay of Rs 25,060 crore for six financial years, beginning this fiscal year, a move which will help exporters deal with high tariffs imposed by the US. The mission will be implemented through two sub-schemes — Niryat Protsahan (Rs 10,401 crore) and Niryat Disha (Rs 14,659 crore). “These measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen exports and contain the trade deficit, a factor that ultimately supports the currency by easing pressure on the rupee and maintaining external stability,” Pabari added. PTI DRR DR DR

News18 5 hours ago

Entertainment

Jakes Bejoy calls Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Kaantha’ director Selvamani Selvaraj as Tamil cinema’s “new visionary director”

Chennai, Nov 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Stating that he was honoured to have scored the background score of Dulquer Salmaan's upcoming period film, 'Kaantha', popular music director Jakes Bejoy has now called the director of the film, Selvamani Selvaraj, as Tamil cinema's "new visionary director". Taking to his X timeline to pen his thoughts on the film, which is to hit screens on November 14, Jakes Bejoy wrote, "Honoured to have contributed to the background score of 'Kaantha'. Selvamani Selvaraj has arrived and boy, he’s here to stay…Tamil cinema has a new visionary director and I say this with confidence. 'KAANTHA' has probably some of the career best performance from the lead cast especially Dq, Samuthirakani Anna, Raana brother and Bhagyashri." The music director went on to say, "The soulful songs and themes of the film was composed by the amazing Jhanu Chanter, and I was happy to step in and complete the background score to support the team for the final stretch." "Wishing the entire cast and crew the very best for the release on the 14th. Don’t miss this gem of a film," he added. It is no secret that the film has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs. It may be recalled that the lead actress of the film Bhagyashrii Borse had recently penned a note of gratitude to the unit of the film. In it, she had said, "30.03.23 - The day a little girl's dream came true. The day I became Kumari." She then thanked the entire unit, beginning with her director, Selvamani Selvaraj. She wrote, "Thank you @selvamani.selvaraj87 Ayya, for believing in me and for this rare opportunity to a newcomer such as me. You’re my first teacher, director. This film is your vision, and soon our audience will witness your magic." She next thanked actor Rana Daggubatti, calling him her mentor. She said, "Thank you @ranadaggubati for supporting me from day one. You’re a true friend and a gem of a person, and I am lucky to have you as my mentor in this journey as an actor and without your support and constant guidance, I wouldn’t be able to do it." She then penned a paragraph for the film's lead actor Dulquer Salmaan. She said, "To my dearest co-actor @dqsalmaan, you’re a true Nadippu Chakravarthy, it was a great pleasure acting beside you and you’ve shined in every single frame. You’re an inspiration as an actor for us all!" The actress concluded the note, saying the team had made the film with so much love. She said, "This 14th Nov is extremely special to us all, and I hope it will be special to our audience to watch a film made with so much love." For the unaware, 'Kaantha' was originally scheduled to hit screens on September 12. However, the team then chose to postpone the film's release. It is now scheduled to release on November 14. A gripping period dramatic thriller set in 1950s Madras, 'Kaantha' will look to transport the viewers to the soul of that era. It captures a moment in time when tradition and modernity collided, giving rise to stories both personal and profound. The film, which is being jointly produced by Spirit Media and Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films, has cinematography by ace cameraman Dani Sanchez Lopaz and music by Jhanu Chanthar. Art direction for the film is by Tha. Ramalingam and editing is by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves. Source: IANS

Gopi 5 hours ago

Sports

Lakshya Sen enters quarters in Japan Masters

Kumamoto (Japan), Nov 13 (PTI) Star Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen progressed to the quarterfinals of the men’s singles competition at the Kumamoto Masters Japan with a straight game win over Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh here on Thursday. A 2021 World Championship bronze winner, Sen, seeded seventh here, prevailed over world No. 20 Teh 21-13 21-11 in another 39-minute contest. The world No.15 Sen will clash with former world champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the quarterfinals. Lakshya opened up an 8-5 lead early in the opening game. Teh managed to briefly take a slender 10-9 lead before the Indian had his nose ahead at the break. The duo fought hard till 14-13 when Lakshya zoomed ahead with seven straight points. After the change of ends, it was a more dominating show from the Indian as he jumped to 5-0 and then 11-3 at the interval to quash his rival’s hopes. Lakshya stayed steady to comfortably close out the match. Later in the day, HS Prannoy will be up against Denmark’s Rasmus Gemke. PTI ATK UNG

News18 5 hours ago

Technology

34 lakh Aadhaar card holders identified as 'deceased' in West Bengal, UIDAI informs EC

p>Kolkata: About 34 lakh Aadhaar card holders in West Bengal have been found to be 'deceased' since the identity card was introduced in January 2009, UIDAI authorities informed the Election Commission..The UIDAI authorities also communicated to the EC that about 13 lakh people in the state never possessed Aadhaar cards, but have since died..The information was shared during a meeting between officials of UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) and the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal, amid the ongoing enumeration exercise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls..SIR 2.0 | Despite stirs, Bengal, Tamil Nadu lead in enumeration form distribution, Kerala drags its feet.The meeting followed an EC directive asking all state CEOs to coordinate with Aadhaar authorities to verify voter data and identify discrepancies.."The EC has received numerous complaints regarding ghost voters, deceased voters, absentee voters, and duplicate names in the rolls. The UIDAI data on deceased citizens is expected to help us in detecting and removing such entries from the electoral rolls," a senior official from the CEO's office said on Wednesday..Following the enumeration phase and publication of the draft rolls on December 9, if applicants are found to have submitted forms with names that have been removed from the Aadhaar database, they could be summoned by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) concerned for verification, he said..Poll officials said they were also gathering information from banks since Aadhaar is linked to most accounts.."Banks have provided data on accounts where KYC updates have not been completed for years, aiding the identification of deceased individuals whose names still appear on voter rolls," the official said..The SIR process is currently in progress across West Bengal to root out dead and fake voters. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are conducting door-to-door verification by distributing enumeration forms based on the 2025 electoral rolls and by subsequently mapping the data provided by applicants in those forms with the 2002 electoral rolls when the exercise was last held..According to information from the CEO's office, more than 6.98 crore (91.19 per cent) Enumeration Forms have been distributed in the state till 8 pm on Wednesday..The presence of ghost, deceased, or duplicate voters in the draft roll may lead to disciplinary action against the responsible BLOs, officials said..The Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been instructed to ensure accuracy and vigilance in the verification process, they said.

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Business

New 'Call of Duty' video game launches amid rival success

Getty Images The world's best-selling war game saga, "Call of Duty", releases its latest instalment Friday, under pressure to rival the strong launch of longtime competitor "Battlefield"."Call of Duty: Black Ops 7" plunges gamers into the near-future and follows a special forces team facing off against a Nicaraguan terrorist.For the past twenty years, "Call of Duty" and "Battlefield" have dominated the first-person-shooter series with an intense rivalry.The former still claims the number on spot, with more than 500 million copies sold since the first game's release in 2003, according to its publisher Activision Blizzard. Several of its instalments are said to have individually surpassed 20 million sales.Live EventsHowever, setting the new game in 2035 could be seen as a risky choice with previous "Call of Duty" games set in the future proving the least popular.Rivalry"Black Ops 7" removes features unpopular with fans, like "jetpacks" and "wall running" gameplay, Activision communications director Stephanie Snowden told AFP. New feature allow characters to instead bounce off walls with a double jump.Overall, it remains close to recent instalments while cultivating the success of older titles in hopes of keeping fans happy. The latest story follows on from Black Ops 2 and 6, including familiar characters and maps. Stretching the formula would risk alienating Call of Duty's audience.At the same time, "the franchise doesn't innovate enough", said Lou Martin, a marketing student who tested the game at Paris Games Week. And then there is the blockbuster success of "Battlefield 6", released on October 10."Battlefield 6 Shatters Records Becoming the Biggest Launch in Franchise History," its publisher Electronic Arts said one week after its release.More than seven million copies of "Battlefield 6" were snapped up in what EA touted as one of the biggest gaming and entertainment launches of 2025.Some specialised media estimate that it has since surpassed 10 million sales. It marked a significant rebound after "Battlefield 2042," released in 2021, was deemed disappointing."I was planning to buy 'Black Ops' for the end of the year, but 'Battlefield' made me change my mind," said Martin. "Battlefield" challenges its rival with smaller multiplayer maps than usual and a "battle royale" mode where players eliminate each other one by one, similar to a popular mode found on "Call of Duty". "Even if there's not enough innovation, comparatively I prefer (it)... to the 'Battlefield' franchise, which is too complex for me," Reda Mbarki, a gamer aged in his thirties, said after testing the game.By continuing to offer a multiplayer and zombie modes, "Call of Duty" can still rely on a loyal audience.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News onCall of Duty Black Ops 7Battlefield 6Activision Blizzardnew video game releaseElectronic Artsgaming industry newsvideo game salesfuture warfare games (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onCall of Duty Black Ops 7Battlefield 6Activision Blizzardnew video game releaseElectronic Artsgaming industry newsvideo game salesfuture warfare games(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online....moreless

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Business

October CPI Inflation Bears Testimony To GST Rate Cut Benefits; Will It Give RBI More Headroom To Continue With A Soft Monetary Policy?

New Delhi: Indias inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined further to 0.25 per cent in October as the impact of the GST rate cut brought down the prices of goods and services during the month, according to figures released by the Ministry of Statistics on Wednesday. The retail inflation eased further, after having plummeted to an over 8-year low of 1.54 per cent in September, as prices of food items and goods across sectors fell during the month.The declining trend in food prices continued in October as food inflation fell deeper in the negative zone at (-) 5.02 per cent from (-) 2.28 per cent in September. Food inflation has now continued to stay negative for the fifth consecutive month, bringing welcome relief to household budgets.The decline in headline inflation and food inflation during October is mainly attributed to the full month’s impact of the decline in GST, favourable base effect, and to drop in inflation of cooking oils, vegetables, fruits, egg, cereals, footwear and transport and communication, an official statement said.The GST rate cuts, which kicked in on September 22, are bringing down prices across goods, leading to a further reduction in the inflation rate.The inflation outlook for 2025-26 has also become more benign due to large favourable base effects combined with the good southwest monsoon, healthy kharif sowing, adequate reservoir levels, and comfortable buffer stocks of foodgrains.The decline in the inflation rate gives the RBI more headroom to continue with a soft money policy by cutting interest rates and injecting more money into the economy to spur growth.The RBI’s monetary policy committee (MPC) on October 1 slashed its forecast for India’s inflation rate for the financial year 2025-26 to 2.6 per cent from 3.1 per cent in August, primarily on account of the GST rate cuts and benign food prices.RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra had said: The recently implemented GST rate rationalisation would lead to a reduction in prices of several items in the CPI basket. Overall, the inflation outcome is likely to be softer than what was projected in the August monetary policy committee resolution, primarily on account of the GST rate cuts and benign food prices.Addressing journalists after the MPC meeting, he said that the overall inflation outlook has turned even more benign in the last few months.Malhotra said that the average headline inflation for 2025-26 is now revised lower from 3.7 per cent and 3.1 per cent projected in the June and August policy, respectively, to 2.6 per cent. Headline inflation for Q4:2025-26 and Q1:2026-27 too have been revised downwards and are broadly aligned with the target, despite unfavourable base effects. Core inflation for this year and Q1:2026-27 is also expected to remain contained.The RBI Governor pointed out that headline CPI inflation declined to its eight-year low of 1.6 per cent year-on-year in July 2025 before rising to 2.1 per cent in August – its first increase after nine months. Benign inflation conditions during 2025-26 so far have been primarily driven by a sharp decline in food inflation from its peak in October 2024.Inflation within the fuel group moved in a narrow range of 2.4-2.7 per cent during June-August. Core inflation remained largely contained at 4.2 per cent in August. Excluding precious metals, core inflation was at 3.0 per cent in August.The RBI Governor further stated that the current macroeconomic conditions and the outlook have opened up policy space for further supporting growth.

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