Morning Digest: Made-In-India ‘Sher' Rifles To Boost Army Firepower & Other Top Stories
Amethi-made AK-203 rifles and Salem's fiery ritual anchor a brief that cuts across politics, science, culture, and the everyday stories shaping life in India.
☀️ Good Morning, India!
From digital vaccine records for kids to SBI's rate cut and a Tamil thriller's rapid OTT debut, today's news dose covers what's changing in homes, banks, and binge lists.
The Amethi-made AK-203 rifles will soon be 100% Made in India and renamed 'Sher'. With 70,000 units to be in Army hands by year-end, this is a firepower milestone. 👉 Read more
💉 You Can Now Download Your Child's Vaccine History: Here's How
Lost vaccine cards might be a thing of the past. With India's new U-WIN platform, your child's jabs are just a tap away. 👉 Check out U-WIN
♈ Daily Horoscope Forecast
Libra, it's a week for romance. Pisces, tread softly in family matters — empathy over ego.
Sizzling with spice and soaked in stories, Angamaly's pork fry isn't just a dish — it's an heirloom. 👉 Cook this legacy
Before dawn, flames dance across village courtyards in Salem — not for worship, but for an age-old ritual where coconut meets fire and faith in equal measure. 👉 Know the tradition
🌌 Ever Wondered What Happens When Two Black Holes Collide?
LIGO has detected the biggest black hole merger ever, 10 billion light-years away. It's cosmic, colossal, and rewriting what we know about space. 👉 Unpack the cosmic clash
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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Box Office tide turns as small films make big waves
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Mumbai: India's film industry earned ₹5,723 crore in domestic box office collections in the first half of 2025, a 14% rise from a year earlier, according to Ormax Media. This year's performance also showed a shift in industry dynamics, with reduced dependency on high-budget blockbusters, and stronger contribution from a wider pool of mid-sized films across said this trend is a welcome development in a sector that has long grappled with volatility linked to a few major releases. Seventeen films crossed the ₹100-crore mark between January and June, up from ten in the same period of 2024, according to Ormax's latest 'India Box Office Report'. The increase, however, was not driven by a handful of mega-hits, but by a consistent stream of mid- to high-performing the top earners, 'Chhaava' led with ₹693 crore, followed by Telugu-language film 'Sankranthiki Vasthunam'. Only one film crossed the ₹250-crore mark so far, underscoring the broader spread of box office revenues."Jan-Jun 2025 has laid a strong foundation for the year's box office performance. Compared to 2024, there is a reduced reliance on big-ticket blockbusters, with a greater number of films crossing the ₹100 crore mark. This indicates a more robust long-tail contribution," said Sanket Kulkarni, head of business development (theatrical) at Ormax Media. "The share of the top 10 films in the overall Jan-Jun box office has declined from 44% in 2024 to 39% in 2025, a sign of broader participation across titles.""The language-wise distribution of ₹100 crore-plus films is also healthier in 2025. For instance, while 2024 had no Tamil film in this category, 2025 has seen three Tamil films cross the mark, increasing Tamil cinema's contribution from 12% in 2024 to 17% in the Jan-Jun 2025 period," he said. "Additionally, Hollywood has seen significant growth, with its Jan-Jun box office collections nearly doubling compared to the same period in 2024." Industry executives also pointed to the encouraging performance of smaller-budget and mid-scale films, which are increasingly holding their own in theatres.
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
‘Celebrate Ganeshotsav Like Never Before': Shelar Blames Urban Naxals For Attack On Hindu Fests
Ashish Shelar in Pen: 'There has been a systematic attempt to undermine our festivals like Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Nagpanchami under the guise of environmental concerns." Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Adv Ashish Shelar on Sunday made an emotional appeal to the people of the state to celebrate this year's Ganeshotsav with unmatched fervour and pride, declaring it a State Festival while warning of a 'well-crafted plot" by so-called urban Naxals to target Hindu traditions. Speaking in the heart of Pen — a small town that has, for generations, given life to millions of Ganesha idols adorning homes and pandals across the country — Shelar's message struck a deeply personal chord with the community of sculptors whose livelihoods are entwined with this beloved festival. Addressing a packed gathering of artisans, local leaders, and residents at Tambadshet, of Raigad district, which is also known as hub of artisans, Shelar did not mince words. 'There has been a systematic attempt to undermine our festivals like Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Nagpanchami under the guise of environmental concerns. But behind this is a deliberate conspiracy by urban Naxal elements with backing from Congress, the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena," Shelar said, receiving thunderous applause from idol makers who see their craft as a sacred tradition. Shelar recalled how the ban on Plaster of Paris (POP) idols, which once threatened to choke the local economy of places like Pen, was part of this larger narrative. 'Had we not stood firm, thousands of idol makers would have been left without work. Our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji and I fought this battle shoulder to shoulder — in the courts, on the streets and with the people — and we won," he said, promising continued protection of age-old practices. For many sculptors in attendance, Shelar's announcement that Ganeshotsav will now be officially celebrated as Maharashtra's State Festival felt like justice served. 'This festival feeds our families, binds our communities and keeps our traditions alive. Today we feel seen," said Abhay Mhatre, President of the Maharashtra Ganesh Sculptors' Association. As Shelar ended his address with chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Morya!", the message was loud and clear — this Ganeshotsav, Maharashtra will not just worship an idol but also stand guard against forces that, he said, seek to dilute its cultural soul. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Over 200 children attend film fete
The Pondicherry Science Forum (PSF), in association with Alliance Francaise, organised a two-day children's film festival. According to the PSF, the free-entry festival was open to children in the 13-18 age segment. The screenings were held at the auditorium of Alliance Francaise. About 30 films were shown at the festival to participants who came from across the city. Over 200 children participated in the event over the weekend, organisers said. The selection of films in various languages such as Tamil, English, French, and Hindi, showcased diverse genres, including animation films, short films, and documentaries. The festival was launched by A. Muthamma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary in the presence of Mohammed Ahsan Abid, Culture Secretary, Nallam Satish, Alliance Francaise president, Murugavel Raja, R. Madivanane and A. Hemavathi of PSF. The festival opening was followed by the screening of 'Anaar Daana' (Sour Candy) Interactive sessions were held after each screening, organisers said.
