Dhanush is a big name down South. He made his Bollywood debut with Aanand L Rai’s Raanjhanaa in the year 2013. The movie, which also starred Sonam Kapoor, was a super hit at the box office. After Raanjhanaa, Dhanush starred in Shamitabh which didn’t do well at the box office. It’s been four years and we haven’t seen Dhanush in a Bollywood movie yet.
Recently, in an interaction with a tabloid, when Dhanush was asked about collaborating with Aanand L Rai again, he said, “Aanand L Rai and I are brothers. We will always end up doing something or the other. I just don’t know when or how or if it is going to be his next or mine. I don’t have any of those details. Someday, I will definitely work with him again.”
Rai’s last release was Zero starring Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. The movie failed to make a mark at the box office and moviegoers missed the small town touch that Rai always has in his movies.
Meanwhile, Dhanush is all set to make his international debut with The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir. Talking about the difference between the industry in the West and the Indian film industry, Dhanush said, “The language is different for starters but my job is the same. I am going there and trying to give life to a character. I didn’t find much of a difference and really enjoyed doing this film. I didn’t have to learn any new accent. I play an Indian and had to speak like an Indian. So, it was not difficult actually.”
The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir has received a great response internationally and now, Dhanush is excited to know how people in India will respond to it. The actor said, “I’m excited, not nervous. I am excited to see how the film is going to be received here. I can’t wait for people to watch this film. I am waiting for their feedback.”
The movie will hit the screens in India on 21st June 2019.
THE UNITED STATES has deported 1,563 Indian nationals since January this year, with the latest group arriving last week, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that most of these individuals were sent back on commercial flights.
“From January 20 to July 16, some 1,563 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States,” Jaiswal said. He added that most of these Indian nationals arrived by commercial flights.
He said that deportations take place only after the nationality of the individuals is confirmed. The US authorities share lists of people to be deported, and the Indian side verifies their nationality, he added.
“People have been coming in batches on commercial flights. Last week also, we had people who came back,” Jaiswal said.
Earlier this year, the deportation of over 300 Indians on three US military flights led to controversy, as women and children were reportedly handcuffed.
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Singh, the JUI-F nominee, hails from the Malik Deen Khel tribe in Bara, Khyber district.
A SIKH religious leader, Gurpal Singh, has been elected unopposed to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assembly on a seat reserved for minorities and allocated to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), the provincial election commission announced on Thursday.
Singh, the JUI-F nominee, hails from the Malik Deen Khel tribe in Bara, Khyber district.
The reserved seat was awarded to JUI-F after the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) formally withdrew its candidate, Gorsaran Lal, in favour of Singh. This gave JUI-F an additional seat in the provincial assembly.
Shahida Waheed of the Awami National Party was elected to a reserved seat for women through a draw. The draw was conducted on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s directive to allocate one reserved minority seat between PML-N and JUI-F, and one reserved women's seat between ANP and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers.
Following the draw, Shahida was declared successful.
The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday had announced its decision regarding the allocation of reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. These seats for women and minorities are distributed proportionally among political parties based on their numerical strength in the assembly.
Former prime minister Imran Khan’s party had formed the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following last year’s elections.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Yellow warnings remain across England and Scotland throughout the weekend
An amber thunderstorm warning is in place for parts of south-east and eastern England from 04:00 to 11:00 on Saturday
Rainfall could reach up to 100mm in a few hours, risking flash flooding and widespread disruption
Frequent lightning, large hail, and gusty winds are expected, affecting travel and infrastructure
Yellow warnings remain across England and Scotland throughout the weekend
Soil dryness from recent heatwaves increases risk of surface runoff and flooding
Hosepipe bans remain unaffected due to limited groundwater recharge
Met Office issues amber warning ahead of torrential rain and storms
The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for thunderstorms on Saturday morning, covering parts of south-east and eastern England. The warning is in effect from 04:00 to 11:00, with accompanying yellow alerts stretching across much of England and Scotland.
The warning highlights the potential for torrential rainfall, with 20–40mm expected in just an hour and isolated areas seeing up to 100mm within a few hours—more than a month’s worth of rain. This is likely to result in flash flooding, transport delays, and other significant disruption.
Where will be worst affected?
The most intense rainfall is forecast to move into central southern England, south-east England, and parts of the Midlands overnight on Friday. The system is expected to push into northern England and Scotland by Saturday.
Rainfall in northern Scotland could become slow-moving by Sunday, increasing the risk of localised flooding. Further downpours and thunderstorms are likely into Sunday and Monday as a low-pressure system establishes itself over the UK.
What other risks are expected?
In addition to heavy rainfall, affected areas may experience:
Frequent lightning
Large hailstones
Gusty winds
These hazards could bring delays or cancellations to road, rail, and air transport, and increase the risk of power outages.
Why dry ground could make flooding worse
The recent spate of summer heatwaves has left soils particularly dry across England and east Wales. According to meteorologists, baked ground struggles to absorb rain, especially when it falls quickly.
This causes water to run off the surface, dramatically increasing the likelihood of flash flooding, even from short bursts of rain.
Will the rain ease the drought or lift hosepipe bans?
Despite the severity of the rainfall, experts say it will not significantly impact current drought conditions. The Environment Agency reports that 2025 has seen the driest start to the year since 1976.
Much of the heavy rain will run off into rivers or out to sea, without effectively replenishing groundwater or reservoir levels. Additionally, water that does soak into the ground may be quickly taken up by plants and trees during this growing season.
As a result, hosepipe bans are expected to remain in place for the rest of the summer, potentially extending into early autumn. Only a sustained period of wet weather, typically seen in the autumn or winter months, would be enough to reverse the current water shortages.
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The diagnosis has prompted a wave of public attention
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a vascular condition affecting blood flow in the legs
CVI occurs when leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart, often leading to swelling and discomfort
The condition was confirmed following visible leg swelling and bruising
Though not life-threatening, CVI can worsen without treatment
Trump’s case has sparked public interest in the risks and management of the condition
Trump diagnosed with common but chronic vein condition
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that affects the proper circulation of blood in the legs. The announcement followed public speculation after Trump was seen with visible swelling in his lower legs and bruising on his hand during recent public appearances.
According to a statement from White House medical staff, tests ruled out more serious cardiovascular conditions. Trump, 79, remains under regular observation, with the condition described as benign and manageable.
What is chronic venous insufficiency?
Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a long-term circulatory disorder in which the veins in the legs fail to efficiently pump blood back to the heart. This is typically caused by weakened or damaged valves inside the veins, leading to blood pooling or flowing backwards—a condition known as venous reflux.
Unlike a sudden or acute event such as a blood clot, CVI develops slowly over time, often unnoticed in its early stages.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can range from mild to more serious, and commonly include:
Swelling in the legs or ankles
Aching, cramping, or heaviness in the lower limbs
Visible varicose veins
Skin thickening or discolouration, especially near the ankles
In more advanced cases, ulcers or open sores
The symptoms often worsen after long periods of standing or sitting, and may ease with movement or leg elevation.
Who is at risk?
CVI is more common among:
Individuals aged 50 and above
People with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Those who are overweight or sedentary
Individuals with high blood pressure
Pregnant women and those with a family history of venous disease
Age is a major risk factor, particularly for individuals in their 70s and beyond. Trump’s diagnosis falls within this common demographic.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis typically involves a clinical examination, followed by imaging tests such as duplex ultrasound to assess blood flow and valve function in the leg veins.
Treatment aims to relieve symptoms, prevent complications, and improve quality of life. Options include:
Compression stockings to improve circulation
Lifestyle modifications such as exercise, leg elevation, and weight management
Medications to reduce inflammation or thin the blood if needed
Minimally invasive procedures, such as laser therapy or sclerotherapy, for more severe cases
Trump’s condition is reportedly being managed conservatively, with no indication of surgical intervention at this time.
Why does it matter?
Although not life-threatening, CVI can affect comfort and mobility, especially in older adults. In Trump’s case, the diagnosis has prompted a wave of public attention, highlighting the pressures of health scrutiny for leaders in high office.
The condition itself is common and treatable, but left unmanaged, it can lead to chronic swelling, discomfort, and skin complications. Trump’s medical team has confirmed that his overall health remains stable, with regular monitoring in place.
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Urooj Ashfaq is quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices in stand-up comedy
Urooj Ashfaq is quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices in stand-up comedy – not just in India, but on the international stage. After years of building a loyal following with her sharp, playful humour and refreshingly honest storytelling, she made a major mark at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe, winning the prestigious Best Newcomer Award. It was a breakthrough moment that catapulted her from popular Indian comic to a global name to watch.
Since then, she’s been touring internationally, selling out shows in India, the UK and beyond, and earning rave reviews for her mix of relatable comedy, bold observations and joyful absurdity. Now, she’s returning to London and Edinburgh with her latest show How To Be A Baddie, previewing at Soho Theatre in July before another much-anticipated run at the Fringe.
Ahead of her 2025 summer UK shows, Urooj shares her Top 10 Comedy Moments – from viral sketches and food deliveries to unexpected dance parties, shoutouts from comedy legends and her hopes for the Fringe this year.
Urooj shares her Top 10 Comedy MomentsInstagram/uroojashfaq
Participating in Queens of Comedy:
It was India’s first all-female comedy competition! We did formats of comedy in every round. It pushed me to create well on a timeline, and it taught me a lot about being on sets and shoots. More importantly, all the girls had a great time just giggling and crying through the whole thing together. It is lovely to have made the friendships I did on the show.
The Ahmedabad audience having a dance party at the end of my show in February 2025:
I was touring with my new show How To Be A Baddie in February, which I am previewing at Soho Theatre in London in July and bringing to the Fringe Festival in August. I was on my period that day and was lying face down in the green room in pain before the show. I have a section in my show where I read One Direction erotica – and a song by One Direction plays at the very end of my show! I think the audience that day was lovely. The show went so well – there was so much joy in the room, the audience had a giant dance party at the end and I couldn’t feel my cramps anymore.
Meeting Phoebe Waller-Bridge:
In 2023 at the Fringe Festival, I met Phoebe Waller-Bridge. She came to watch my show and hung out with us later. It was so kind of her, and we had the best time chatting with her. It’s a core Fringe memory for me forever.
Daniel Sloss gave me a shoutout after watching my show:
Another memory from the 2023 festival was when Daniel Sloss came to watch my show and liked it enough to recommend it to people to come watch, it was surreal! I was overjoyed by his warmth – and it helped my sales so much. Phew!
Winning Best Newcomer at the Fringe in 2023:
That was a very big year for me.
Doing food deliveries after starring in a viral comedy sketch by the comedy group AIB:
I starred in a sketch called If Apps Were People by AIB, a legendary Indian comedy group, back in 2016. The video did really well and I was a delivery girl for my sister’s breakfast and brunch service Eggcetra at the time. I would show up outside their rooms with the breakfast for students at a nearby fashion institute and they would open the door at 8 am bleary-eyed, looking like they had seen me before and they just couldn’t tell where. One time, a man recognised me and asked me, “Do you still take tips?” I said, “Yes sir, I’m pursuing a career in comedy, please tip me!”
Releasing my first YouTube video:
It is a big day in the life of an Indian comedian when we release our first YouTube video. It is our debut into the online world of comedy, and it really helps build our audience. My first video really helped me build that and be able to tour. It was a very important moment for me.
Playing Tara on Pushpavalli:
Pushpavalli is an iconic Indian comedy‐drama series on Amazon Prime created by Sumukhi Suresh. I played Tara in the duo Tara and Srishti, who are the Siamese twins of evil. Srishti was played (both were largely written) by the hilarious Sumaira Shaikh, who is my college mate and we started doing stand-up comedy together. It was so fun to be on set and shoot this series. The characters were so mean and evil and funny, we had the best time playing them.
Being a question on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire hosted by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan:
On Season 15, Episode 31 (I’m really casual about it), this specific question was asked: “Which Indian comic won the Best Newcomer award at the prestigious performing arts festival, Edinburgh Fringe?” The guest on the show that day was a legend in the Indian comedy scene, Zakir Khan. My entire family watches this show and they were stoked to see my name pop up, everybody called my parents and they expressed some pride about me. It was really sweet.
I’m saving this spot for something magical at Fringe 2025:
Maybe One Direction will come to my show and applaud my erotica reading, maybe I will be the first person in history to receive a 15-star review – “We had to increase the number of stars for her! She was just so good!!” Or maybe, just maybe, I will have a Fringe with zero cries in the meadows.
Urooj Ashfaq: How To Be A Baddie At Soho Theatre in central London from July 21-26. Then Monkey Barrel 4 at Monkey Barrel Comedy, 9-12 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR from July 30 – August 24.