Cristiano Ronaldo may not be the most popular footballer in South Korea at the moment but he has an ardent fan in India cricket captain Virat Kohli, who changes his club allegiance every time the Portuguese forward is transferred.
Lionel Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the global football landscape for a decade, each winning the Ballon d'Or five times before Croatia international midfielder Luka Modric broke their stranglehold by claiming the coveted award last year.
Kohli is arguably the best batsman of his generation across formats and became the first to win the International Cricket Council's cricketer, test and one-day international player of the year awards together for a phenomenal 2018.
The 30-year-old rates former Real Madrid and Manchester United Ronaldo as the best he has seen.
"For me, Cristiano is above everyone else. His commitment and work ethic is unmatched. He wants it that bad – you can see it every game," Kohli told the FIFA website (www.fifa.com).
"In my opinion he has taken on more challenges and succeeded at all of them. He's the most complete player I have seen and his work ethic, as I mentioned, is unmatched.
"He inspires people. I don't think many people do that. He's also a leader and I love that. Absolutely love it. He has amazing belief too."
The Portuguese player with a huge fan following across the globe has, however, riled up his fans in South Korea who are exploring legal action to seek compensation after Ronaldo failed to play in a friendly during Juventus' pre-season tour in Seoul last week.
Kohli, a co-owner of an Indian Super League soccer franchise, enjoys cult status in cricket-crazy India and boasts 107 million followers across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
"I like watching Portugal play now because they are maximising their resources along with having a legend in their team," Kohli added.
"They play with passion and belief, so I like watching them. Otherwise, in terms of pure ability and impact, France are very, very strong.
"I support Juventus now because of Cristiano. Simple. I support every club at which he plays. He inspires me."
French forward Kylian Mbappe, 20, is Kohli's choice to rule the football world after Ronaldo and Messi.
"His sprint in the 2018 World Cup against Argentina is hard to forget," Kohli said. "He's a beast and he will definitely be at the top of the pile for me. Absolutely top-class player."
During the visit, they toured the temple and spoke about their impressions. Jay Shah said, “This Mandir is not just historic and iconic, it is the essence of harmony. It is a message that our world needs, more now than ever.”
BAPS Hindu Mandir shared the visit on Instagram, saying the two were “overwhelmed by the Mandir’s architectural beauty, intricacy and spiritual serenity” and described it as “a symbol of unity and timeless humanity.”
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
When Mounjaro was launched in Britain, Lilly set a list price 'significantly below' that in its other three European markets to avoid delays in NHS availability. (Photo: Reuters)
ELI LILLY said on Thursday it will increase the UK list price of its weight-loss drug Mounjaro by up to 170 per cent. The price change comes as the White House urges drugmakers to raise prices in Europe to enable price cuts in the United States.
The new price, which also applies to Lilly's type 2 diabetes medicine sold under the same name, will take effect in September. A month's supply of the highest dose will rise from £122 to £330, the company said.
The increase will apply to those paying for Mounjaro privately but will not affect patients receiving it through the National Health Service (NHS), which has a separate pricing agreement, a Lilly spokesperson said.
When Mounjaro was launched in Britain, Lilly set a list price “significantly below” that in its other three European markets to avoid delays in NHS availability. “We are now aligning the list price more consistently,” the company said.
The change comes as drugmakers adjust to policy shifts in the United States, their largest market, where president Donald Trump is seeking lower domestic drug prices while encouraging increases overseas.
Last week, Lilly CEO David Ricks told investors that price parity between the US and Europe was desirable over time, but said European governments “are not signing up to pay more for drugs.”
The US pays more for prescription drugs than any other country, often nearly three times more than other developed nations. Trump says he wants to narrow this gap to prevent Americans from being “ripped off.”
Reuters reported last week that the Trump administration has been in talks with drugmakers about ways to equalise prices across markets.
A list price is the amount set by a drug manufacturer before any discounts or rebates.
Lilly said it is working with private UK healthcare providers, including online pharmacies, which can set their own prices, to maintain access to the medicines.
Lilly launched Mounjaro in the UK in February 2023, while rival Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy became available in the country in September 2023.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
Members of rescue teams help stranded people cross a water channel using a makeshift bridge at an area affected by the deadly flood caused by sudden, heavy rain in Chasoti town of Kishtwar district, Indian Kashmir, August 15, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
RESCUE teams in Indian Kashmir used shovels and earthmovers on Friday to search for survivors under boulders and debris, a day after sudden floods triggered by heavy rain killed at least 60 people and left 200 others missing.
Floodwaters and mudslides hit the village of Chasoti on Thursday, sweeping away pilgrims who had gathered for lunch before trekking to a popular religious site. This is the second such disaster in the Himalayas in just over a week.
"We heard a huge sound and it was followed by a flash flood and slush. People were shouting, and some of them fell in the Chenab River. Others were buried under the debris," said Rakesh Sharma, a pilgrim who was injured.
On Friday, bags, clothes and other belongings lay caked in mud among broken electric poles, as rescue workers used ropes and crossed makeshift bridges to search for survivors.
At least 60 people were killed, more than 100 injured and 200 still missing, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah told reporters.
The Himalayas are prone to floods and landslides, and scientists say the intensity and frequency of these events may be rising due to climate change.
The Machail Yatra pilgrimage leads to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine of Machail Mata, dedicated to one of the manifestations of Goddess Durga. Pilgrims trek to the temple from Chasoti, where the road ends.
Thursday’s floods came just over a week after a similar incident in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
"Nature has been testing us. In the last few days, we have had to deal with landslides, cloudbursts and other natural calamities," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a speech on the country’s 79th independence day.
The Indian Meteorological Department defines a cloudburst as an intense downpour of over 100 mm of rain in an hour, which can cause sudden floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions during the monsoon.
In Nepal, at least 41 people have died, 21 are missing and 121 injured in floods, landslides, heavy rains and hailstorms since the start of the monsoon in June, according to the country’s disaster management authority.
In Pakistan, more than 50 people were killed overnight in rain-related incidents in the mountainous north, rescue officials said on Friday. Flooding and collapsing roofs caused the deaths.
In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, eight people were killed, including six members of one family buried in their home. Evacuation operations were underway for stranded domestic tourists.
(Agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Jay Singh Sohal on Mandalay Hill in Burma at the position once held by Sikh machine gunners who fought to liberate the area
ACROSS the Asian subcontinent 80 years ago, the guns finally fell silent on August 15, the Second World War had truly ended.
Yet, in Britain, what became known as VJ Day often remains a distant afterthought, overshadowed by Victory in Europe against the Nazis, which is marked three months earlier.
That oversight does a disservice to the millions who fought, died, and suffered in Asia and the Far East. Among them were the staunch Indian Army soldiers Britain had drawn from the sub-continent to form the backbone of the Allied ground forces in the Asia-Pacific theatre of war.
A significant majority of Allied troops who fought against Japan in southeast Asia were from Commonwealth nations, the largest contingent came from modern day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. These brave men represented every faith and culture, every region, and stepped forward to do their righteous duty.
They were met with some of the fiercest fighting of the war in the harshest conditions, from searing jungles, through monsoons and horrific diseases. Their sacrifices were immense and their example inspiring, but their heroism has never been as prominent in popular narratives on the Second World War as those who fought equally bravery for our freedom in Europe.
It is high time that was addressed, and during this 80th anniversary year of VJ Day, we are changing it.
As a trustee of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and a veteran deeply invested in commemoration, I’m proud that we are using this moment to go beyond the act of commemoration to educate and redress historical disparity. Our For Evermore Tour shines a light on the diverse global forces from across the Commonwealth who helped secure victory in Asia. We’re hosting education and community events in Hong Kong, Kenya, Singapore, and Thailand, nations whose people fought and fell under the Southeast Asia Command banner. We are sharing their stories as central chapters of our shared history.
The reasons why this part of the story has been oft neglected are complex. The war in Asia was longer and more complicated than its European counterpart. It lacked a singular turning point like D-Day or the liberation of Paris. And many of the soldiers who fought there came from colonial armies. After all, the Second World War was an imperial conflict in which extant empires mobilised global resources to fight. The heroism of brown and black men did not fit neatly into Britain’s post-war narrative and the subsequent movement for independence across many of her colonies.
And, at Rangoon War Cemetery paying respects to those who fought to free Burma
That disconnect is still keenly felt today, with Savanta polling showing that half of those identifying as Asian agree greater education is needed on war zones outside Europe.
But the narrative is being challenged. As a migrant community, the start of our story, and contribution to Britain, is not fresh off the boat in the 1950s and 60s, but rather on farflung battlefields where our forebears spilt blood in the name of King and this country.
The Indian Army under the British was the largest volunteer force the world had ever seen. By 1945, more than 2.5 million people from the subcontinent were in uniform. They fought across the globe, from North Africa to Italy, but their role in Asia was pivotal. Be it Kohima or Imphal, Mandalay or Rangoon, Malaya or Hong Kong.
One such brave was 29-year-old Naik Nand Singh, a Sikh from Mansa, Punjab, who in March 1944 led a section near Maungdaw up a steep ridge under heavy machine gun fire to capture a trench. Despite sustaining injuries, including to his face, he crawled alone to capture a second and third.
Another is 23-year-old Naik Fazal Din, a Punjabi Muslim from Hoshiarpur, whose unit came under attack in Meiktila in March 1945. Despite being stabbed by a Japanese sword, the mortally wounded soldier fought on to subdue several enemy combatants while rallying his men.
And who could forget Subadar Netra Bahadur Thapa of the 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles? In June 1944, with his post under siege, he led his men through the night and refused to retreat despite being wounded. At dawn, with only two men left alive, he charged the enemy and died in handto-hand combat. But he delayed the enemy long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
All three received the Victoria Cross, joining 18 other VC recipients from the Indian Army; men who are commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial, which I had the privilege of paying my respects at on a visit to the battlefields of Burma a decade ago.
These are but a mere glimpse of tales of individual gallantry, which alongside many thousands more stories of the brave weave together to form a tapestry of devotion to duty, discipline and sacrifice.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) works tirelessly to ensure their legacy is not lost to time. It maintains the graves and memorials of more than 580,000 Commonwealth service personnel who died during the Second World War, including over 15,000 between VE and VJ Day. It also commemorates 68,000 civilians, whose deaths remind us that the cost of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
Through the charitable arm of the Foundation, we are expanding education, digitising archives, and working with communities to uncover forgotten stories. In Kenya, one project helps veterans share memories of fighting alongside Indian units in Burma, while another brings British schoolchildren face-to-face with the legacy of war through digital storytelling and site visits. Earlier this year, I was privileged to witness the unveiling of a new memorial in Cape Town dedicated to the South African Labour Corps. Many more initiatives to remember the forgotten are planned.
These efforts matter. Two out of five people (42 per cent) who identify as Asian say learning about the human cost of war through personal and veterans’ stories worldwide has more impact than reading history books or watching films. That is why the CWGC is investing in storytelling – not only to inform, but also to move and connect.
For me, commemoration is personal. As a British Army veteran and founder of the UK’s first national Sikh war memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum – created to ensure my community’s sacrifices in the First World War are recognised far and wide – I volunteer with the CWGC to ensure all who served are remembered equally, whatever their background, faith, or rank. That matters more now than ever. In an age of identity debates and fragmented politics, commemoration highlights our shared heritage and values in the face of oppression, and has the power to unify.
This VJ Day, let us tell the whole story. Let us honour those from across the Commonwealth who served, fought, and sacrificed for our freedoms. Let us share and teach their stories, and reflect on where we would be without their contribution 80 years ago. They helped shape modern Britain and deserve to be remembered in all their glory – for evermore.
Keep ReadingShow less
Sholay turns 50 with global 4K comeback and untold stories
Fifty years have passed since that dusty road in Ramgarh first brought us Jai, Veeru, Basanti, Thakur, and a villain whose name still sends a shiver. It’s a film you don’t just watch, you inherit. Parents pass it to kids like a family heirloom. Every rewatch is a homecoming, yet it still surprises you.
And now, as 15 August 2025 marks its golden jubilee, Sholay is not just being remembered, it’s being reborn. Here’s how its fire still crackles, half a century on.
Sholay turns 50 with global 4K comeback and untold stories Instagram/rameshsippy47
1. Global 4K debut in Toronto
The Film Heritage Foundation’s painstakingly restored 4K version will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2025. A packed 1,800-seat Roy Thomson Hall will watch it in never-before clarity. The question on every Indian fan’s lips: “When’s it hitting home screens here?”
2. “Yeh Dosti” hits the UK stage
A full-scale musical and dance tour by LuvEntertainment is bringing Sholay’s beats to life across Hayes, Leicester, Coventry, and beyond. Think “Mehbooba Mehbooba” with blazing lights and live choreography. Like nostalgia, but with stage pyrotechnics.
3. The ending we were never meant to see
For decades, the true climax, Thakur kicking Gabbar to death, was a whisper among film buffs. Censors chopped it out in 1975. In June 2025, the Bologna festival unveiled it to a stunned audience.
4. Casting “what-ifs” and wild sets
Danny Denzongpa was first choice for Gabbar before schedules clashed. Amitabh Bachchan was billed fourth. Dharmendra allegedly bribed lighting crew to prolong romantic takes with Hema Malini. Meanwhile, Jaya Bachchan quietly shot her scenes while pregnant.
5. The jaw-dropping pay scale
Bachchan got £9,400 (₹1,00,000). Dharmendra, the top earner, got £14,100 (₹1,50,000). British stuntmen made £470 (₹50,000) each for the train heist scene, a sum that, at the time, could buy a small flat in Mumbai.
6. From flop to phenomenon
When it released, Sholay had slow ticket sales and mixed reviews. Javed Akhtar admitted he kept watching it himself, worried. Then word-of-mouth turned it into India’s highest-grossing film for nearly 20 years.
7. The records that won’t die
Five years straight at Mumbai’s Minerva Theatre. Over 25 crore footfalls worldwide. Proof that sometimes, the audience just needs time to catch up to genius.
8. Blood, sweat, and real bullets
Basanti’s tanga chase? Twelve days in scorching heat. Some action scenes used actual bullets for “authenticity”, Dharmendra’s idea. The first cut ran over four hours before it was trimmed for release.
9. Gabbar’s roots in reality
Amjad Khan modelled him on 1950s Chambal Valley dacoits. His gravelly “Kitney aadmi the?” didn’t just enter pop culture, it became shorthand for suspicion in Indian households.
10. Writers who never looked back
Javed Akhtar hasn’t rewatched Sholay since its 70mm re-release. His reasoning: “Those lost in their history have no hope for their future.” It’s a sentiment that keeps the film alive, we remember, even if its creators have moved on.
You don’t talk about Sholay like any other film. You talk about where you first saw it. You talk about watching it with people who aren’t here anymore. You talk about quoting its lines at weddings, in classrooms, in WhatsApp groups.
Fifty years later, it’s still more than cinema. It’s part of our vocabulary, our memory, our muscle. And as its 4K rebirth travels the world, Sholay reminds us: some friendships, some enemies, and some stories never fade.