Taking some time out from his hectic schedule, revered spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Wednesday watched the latest Kannada blockbuster film Kantara. He enjoyed a special screening of the film with his devotees at his ashram in Bengaluru.
In a video, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “This film’s success brings such pride to Karnataka. The acting and storytelling were very enjoyable. It shows Malenadu’s greatness in a beautiful way.”
Rishab Shetty thanked him and wrote, "We thank Guruji @SriSri for the screening of Kantara. It was our privilege to screen the movie at the @BangaloreAshram. We wish to be rooted in our culture & promise to carry it forward always (sic).”
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India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also watched the film on Wednesday with a team of volunteers. She watched the film in a theatre at a mall in Bengaluru.
After watching the film, she took to Twitter to share her review. “With a team of volunteers and well-wishers watched Kantara movie in Bengaluru. Well-made @shetty_rishab (writer/director/actor). The film captures the rich traditions of Tuluvanadu and Karavali,” she said in a tweet.
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Meanwhile, Piyush Goyal, Indian Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, also recently praised the film. He was speaking about the development and progress of Karnataka state during the Global Investors Meet ‘Invest Karnataka 2022’ in Bengaluru when he said, “Kantara is a low-budget film which showcases the culture of Karnataka. Investors and industry are attracted to India and the state which has very progressive policies.”
Fronted by Rishab Shetty, the film was released in Kannada version and Hindi version on 30 September and 14 October respectively. It has emerged as a pan-India blockbuster, garnering critical acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
A MAN has been convicted of assaulting two police officers and a member of the public during a violent altercation at Manchester Airport, which was widely shared on social media last summer.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, from Rochdale, was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of attacking PC Lydia Ward, PC Ellie Cook and a bystander during the incident on July 23, 2024, reported the Times.
However, the jury could not reach a verdict on separate charges against him and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, relating to an alleged assault on PC Zachary Marsden.
The Crown Prosecution Service is now considering whether to seek a retrial on the unresolved charges. The case centred on two confrontations—one at a Starbucks café inside Terminal 2, and the other in the airport car park.
The court heard that the Amaaz brothers had gone to the airport with their young nephew to pick up their mother, Shameem Akhtar, who had flown in from Pakistan. Akhtar claimed she had been racially abused and harassed on the flight by another passenger, Abdulkareem Ismaeil.
As the family passed the Starbucks around 8.20pm, Akhtar spotted Ismaeil inside. The brothers entered the café, where Amaaz headbutted and punched Ismaeil in front of his family. Amaaz later told the court that Ismaeil had been threatening him.
Shortly afterwards, police caught up with the family near the car park payment area. PC Marsden approached Amaaz to arrest him, but a struggle followed. The prosecution accused both brothers of attacking Marsden. The jury, however, could not agree on that charge.
Amaaz was convicted of punching both PC Cook and PC Ward, breaking Ward’s nose. Footage from police body cameras showed officers using force to subdue him, including a taser.
Marsden denied using excessive violence, claiming he had stamped his foot to retrieve his radio cable. Other footage captured an officer telling Amaad: “If you move, I will smash your f***ing face in.”
The defence argued that the brothers acted in self-defence after being grabbed by police without warning. Amaaz said he believed PC Marsden was going to “batter him to death”, while Amaad thought they were under attack.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC urged the jury to focus on the seriousness of the assault on officers, warning that Marsden had feared for his firearm being taken in an airport setting. Amaaz was remanded in custody ahead of a bail hearing.
Greater Manchester Police said they supported the jury’s verdicts and remain committed to any further proceedings. GMP Federation chair Mike Peake said the case highlighted the risks officers face:
“Thirty-five officers are assaulted every week in Greater Manchester. We are bloodied and bruised.”
Chief constable Sir Stephen Watson added, “While disappointed the full prosecution was not secured, we support a retrial and thank the jury for their work on this complex case.”
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Home secretary Yvette Cooper departs following a memorial service to mark the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 London Bombings at St Paul's Cathedral on July 07, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
ENGLAND and Wales saw their second-largest population rise in 75 years, mostly due to high levels of immigration, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Between mid-2023 and June 2024, the population increased by over 706,000 people, bringing the total to 61.8 million. Net migration — the number of people arriving minus those leaving — accounted for nearly all of that rise, with over 690,000 people added. Only about 30,000 of the growth came from natural change (more births than deaths).
This follows a larger rise the year before, when more than 821,000 people were added. That means the population grew by 1.5 million in just two years — the biggest two-year increase since records began in 1949.
However, more recent data shows net migration dropped sharply to 431,000 by the end of 2024, due to new visa restrictions. Fewer international students arrived, and more left after finishing their studies.
A ban on most students bringing family members also contributed. Rules were also tightened for foreign care workers, stopping them from bringing dependants, reported the Times.
The Labour government plans to go further. From next year, foreign graduates will only be allowed to stay for 18 months after their course ends, down from the current two years.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper blamed the previous Conservative government for letting immigration get out of control.
She said, “Under the Tories, overseas recruitment shot up while training in the UK was cut. Lower-skilled migration soared while the proportion of UK residents in work fell.”
She added that Labour had already introduced new immigration rules to bring numbers down, linking visa routes more closely with skills training in the UK.
But the Conservatives argued the Labour plans don’t go far enough. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said: “Our population is growing at an unsustainable pace, almost entirely driven by record levels of immigration… Britain simply cannot plan or build fast enough to keep up.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the figures “disastrous,” saying they put “impossible pressure” on public services and damage community life.
The ONS also found more people moved from England and Wales to Scotland and Northern Ireland than the other way around.
Dr Madeleine Sumption, from the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory, said, “Migration is still the main reason for population growth — not because of births, but because migration remains high by historical standards.”
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FILE PHOTO: Members of the local Harrow community attend a memorial service for the victims of the crashed Air India flight and their families at the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre on June 14, 2025 in Harrow, England. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
BRITISH families awaiting the remains of relatives who were on board the London-bound Air India Flight 171, which crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, are expecting confirmation on DNA matches following high-level government talks between India and the UK, their legal team has said.
Keystone Law, which has been working with aviation experts to assist many of the bereaved families following the June 12 crash, has this week called for urgency in the process.
During Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK last week, Downing Street confirmed that prime minister Keir Starmer raised the Air India tragedy during bilateral discussions, following UK media reports of alleged mislabelling of some remains repatriated to Britain.
“The UK and Indian governments have held high-level talks, as a result of the international media coverage of this problem,” said James Healy-Pratt, Aviation Partner at Keystone Law.
“It is believed that some matched DNA remains may now have been located in India. Confirmation is awaited.”
A total of 241 passengers and crew died in the disaster, including 52 British nationals. Of the 12 caskets that have been repatriated to the UK so far, two were found to be incorrectly identified.
India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) responded to the reports, stating that “all mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased.”
“We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue,” an MEA spokesperson said last month.
When asked to assess the scale of the problem, Keystone Law said that in a sample of 12 repatriated caskets, two were mislabelled, mishandled and misidentified.
“Extrapolated out – with an unacceptable error rate of 15 per cent – that would suggest around 40 sets of remains may have been mislabelled, mishandled, or misidentified. That is a known unknown, and many of the families’ loved ones have already been cremated,” said Healy-Pratt.
Last month, an inquest into the deaths of several British passengers was opened and adjourned in London. Under UK procedure, the identification process is being overseen by the Senior Coroner.
Meanwhile, a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that fuel supply to both engines appeared to have been cut off shortly after take-off. Though the engines attempted to restart, it was too late to prevent the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from crashing into B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, killing 19 people on the ground.
Keystone Law has also called for more clarity on the transition of fuel cut-off switches, as well as a clearer explanation of the voices heard in the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR).
“The Indian AAIB has this evidence, and for unexplained reasons has not shared these details with the families of AI 171,” said Healy-Pratt.
“The Indian AAIB cannot complain about speculation when the evidence in its possession is not shared transparently with the families.”
The aviation lawyer also urged transparency regarding reported plans for compensation being considered by the Tata Group, the owners of Air India.
“There is talk of TATA setting up a £47 million fund for the AI 171 families – which would provide ex gratia support (legally a gift and separate from any court-ordered compensation against Air India or Boeing) of at least Rs 10 million (£94,000) per victim,” he said.
“Families deserve to receive details of this support urgently, especially as legal proceedings take time in India, England, and the United States.”
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) holds "expert status" in the Indian safety investigation and has confirmed it is reviewing the findings of the preliminary report, which was released one month after the crash, on July 12.
The UK-based families have previously called for expert representation in the India-led investigation, to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the inquiry process.
(PTI)
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The largest outbreak, linked to pre-packaged salad leaves
E. coli infections rose by 26% in 2024, with over 2,500 cases reported in England
Outbreaks linked to supermarket salad leaves, contaminated beef and fresh fruit
Two deaths and over 120 hospitalisations reported in largest outbreak
Children aged 1–4 most affected, with 357 confirmed cases
Experts advise strict hygiene and food safety measures to curb spread
Cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) rose by over a quarter in England last year, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). A total of 2,544 cases were confirmed in 2024, up from 2,018 in 2023—a 26% increase.
The rise is partly attributed to multiple foodborne outbreaks, with supermarket salad leaves identified as the leading cause of the largest incident.
Salad-linked outbreak leads to deaths and hospitalisations
The UKHSA investigated five outbreaks of STEC last year, involving 467 confirmed cases, of which 348 were in England. Contaminated salad leaves, beef and fresh fruit were among the sources.
The largest outbreak, linked to pre-packaged salad leaves, resulted in 196 confirmed cases in England alone. Across all outbreaks, 126 individuals required hospital treatment and two people died. More than a dozen supermarket products were recalled as a precaution.
Young children and travellers among the most affected
Children aged one to four years old were the most impacted demographic, accounting for 357 cases. Experts cite lower immunity, less developed hygiene practices, and a higher likelihood of seeking medical care as contributing factors.
STEC cases linked to foreign travel also rose sharply, increasing by 60%, with 183 travel-related cases reported last year.
Health experts issue hygiene warning
Dr Gauri Godbole of the UKHSA urged the public to take preventive measures, emphasising the importance of hygiene at home and abroad.
“STEC cases rose by around a quarter in 2024. While this rise is partly due to one foodborne outbreak, we have been seeing STEC cases gradually increase since 2022, and therefore it’s important for people to take steps to prevent infection.”
She added that symptoms—including diarrhoea (sometimes bloody), stomach cramps, vomiting and dehydration—should be taken seriously.
“Wash your hands with soap and warm water, clean surfaces with bleach-based products, and avoid preparing food for others if you are symptomatic or within 48 hours of recovery.”
Parents are advised to ensure children wash their hands thoroughly, especially before eating, after playing outdoors, or after visiting petting farms.
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Jr NTR's ‘War 2’ sparks UK fan frenzy with real World War II tank rally on battlefield
Jr NTR’s War 2 sparks massive fan celebration in the UK with real WWII tanks
Fans organised a ‘World War 2’ rally ahead of the 14 August release
The event went viral, marking one of the grandest overseas fan tributes
War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, releases in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu
The excitement around War 2 has reached new heights as Jr NTR fans in the UK pulled off an extraordinary celebration using real World War II tanks. Ahead of the film’s 14 August release, the actor’s British fanbase organised a full-fledged rally on a battlefield, securing all official permissions to roll out functioning historic military tanks, turning fan enthusiasm into a global talking point.
The event, dubbed the “World War 2 Rally,” quickly became a viral sensation across social platforms, with video clips showing tanks emblazoned with Jr NTR posters and flags. The celebration was more than just grand; it was a tribute to the superstar’s rising global appeal and the immense anticipation surrounding his Bollywood debut.
Posters and flags featuring Jr NTR adorn vintage military tanks at fan event
Why did Jr NTR fans use real tanks for the War 2 rally?
The idea stemmed from aligning the film’s core theme, military action with a fan tribute that reflected its magnitude. Fans of Jr NTR, often referred to as “Tiger Nation,” wanted something historic and symbolic to honour their favourite actor’s first Hindi film appearance. By recreating a war-like setup with real tanks from WWII, they created a visual spectacle that echoed War 2’s scale and drama.
This isn’t the first time NTR’s international fans have gone above and beyond. In Melbourne, fans famously hired jets to skywrite “NTR” across the sky. But the UK rally may just have outdone every tribute before it.
Tiger Nation gathers on a British battlefield with restored tanks for War 2 celebrations
What is War 2 about and when is it releasing?
Directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by YRF, War 2 is a high-stakes action thriller that brings together two powerhouse actors—Hrithik Roshan, reprising his role as Kabir, and Jr NTR, making his Bollywood debut as Kamanthan, a lethal scout. The film continues YRF’s Spy Universe legacy and promises to be one of the biggest releases of 2025.
War 2 will hit cinemas globally on 14 August, releasing in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, making it a true pan-India release with international reach.
Hrithik Roshan drops Aavan Jaavan hookstep challenge for fans
Adding to the pre-release excitement, Hrithik Roshan launched a global dance challenge for War 2’s first song, Aavan Jaavan. The upbeat track features him alongside Kiara Advani, showcasing their sizzling chemistry. In a special message, Hrithik urged fans worldwide to try out the song’s hookstep, post it online, and tag YRF for a chance to meet him in person.
“Create some fun reels on Aavan Jaavan and join the movement,” he said, inviting fans to be part of the film’s musical buzz. The track’s infectious energy and the actor’s invitation have already sparked a wave of user-generated content online.
Why the UK tank rally is being called a fan celebration like no other
From the scale of planning to the use of real war equipment, the UK’s World War 2 Rally has been hailed as one of the most unique overseas fan celebrations for any Indian actor. It reflects the kind of grassroots enthusiasm that Jr NTR commands internationally. The visual of tanks that once fought real wars now rolling out for a cinematic celebration of War 2 perfectly captures the larger-than-life aura surrounding the film and its lead star.
With the countdown to 14 August underway, fan activities are likely to grow even more intense, especially with War 2 shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year.