All posts tagged: national

India declares one-day national mourning for Qatar’s Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

India declares one-day national mourning for Qatar’s Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Published by Parlour News

The Indian government on Sunday declared one day of national mourning on July 13 as a mark of respect for Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Father Amir of Qatar, who died at the age of 74. Qatar’s Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, former emir, passed away at the age of 74 (X/@HHShkMohd) The national flag will be flown at half-mast on Monday throughout India and there will be no official entertainment on the day, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Also Read | Qatar’s former emir Sheikh Hamad dies at 74; PM Modi, other world leaders express condolences Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of Sheikh Hamad and described him as a true friend of India and a visionary leader who led the development of Qatar. “A visionary leader who led Qatar to great levels of development and prosperity, we remember him also as a true friend whom I had the honour of meeting during my last visit to Qatar in February 2024,” Modi said on social media. Modi conveyed …

Chezhiyan, National Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer, dies at 57; Tamil industry mourns the immense loss

Chezhiyan, National Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer, dies at 57; Tamil industry mourns the immense loss

Published by Parlour News

The Tamil film industry has lost one of its most respected filmmakers. National Award-winning director and cinematographer R Chezhiyan passed away in Chennai on July 10, 2026, after a prolonged illness. He was 57 at the time of his passing and had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai’s Taramani area in recent weeks. R Chezhiyan passed away in Chennai on July 10, 2026, after a prolonged illness Industry mourns his death His death has prompted an outpouring of grief across the film fraternity, with actors like Vijay Sethupathi, directors such as Adham Bava and Kayal Devaraj, along with numerous admirers and industry colleagues, taking to social media to honour his enduring legacy. Vijay Sethupathi took to X to write, “Rest in peace, Chezhiyan sir 💔.” In Tamil, Adham Bava wrote, “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of my dear friend, cinematographer, and director Mr. Chezhiyan. His noble nature—always wearing a smile and interacting with everyone with simplicity and affection—along with his rare artistic contributions to the …

National award-winning actor starred in Oscar-nominated film, now drives an auto to survive | Bollywood News

National award-winning actor starred in Oscar-nominated film, now drives an auto to survive | Bollywood News

Published by Parlour News

4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 11, 2026 09:50 AM IST You might think that winning a national award for acting and featuring in an Oscar-nominated film might open new doors for an artiste, but not for Shafiq Syed. Despite being cast as a child star in Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay!, the actor’s journey in the film industry ended long before he expected it to. After being spotted by a casting agent on the streets of Mumbai, Shafiq ended up working as an auto driver due to lack of roles. Early life In the 1980s, he ran away from his Bangalore home and went to Mumbai without a ticket, to find out if the city is actually what it looks like in Bollywood films. While he was living on the streets near Churchgate station, he was approached by a woman one day, who offered him and other children on the streets Rs 20 to attend an acting workshop. While others ran away thinking it was a scam, Shafiq Syed accepted because he was hungry. Among several …

National Award-winning cinematographer R Chezhiyan dies at 57 | Tamil News

National Award-winning cinematographer R Chezhiyan dies at 57 | Tamil News

Published by Parlour News

3 min readHyderabadJul 10, 2026 05:39 PM IST Renowned cinematographer, director, and author R Chezhiyan passed away in Chennai on Friday morning following a lengthy battle with illness. He was 57 years old. Recognized for his realistic visual approach and compelling narrative technique, Chezhiyan had been receiving treatment at a private medical facility in Chennai’s Taramani area. Following news of his death, Tamil directors like Adham Bava, Kayal Devaraj and numerous admirers, and industry colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to his lasting influence on Tamil cinema. Many highlighted how his craftsmanship helped shape a distinctive visual language for realist storytelling in the region, inspiring a generation of younger technicians and directors who sought to move away from conventional commercial aesthetics. Throughout his career, Chezhiyan earned acclaim both as a cinematographer and as a director, developing a signature style characterized by authenticity and emotional depth. A native of Sivagangai, Chezhiyan initially pursued an engineering degree before redirecting his career toward his true interests in photography and filmmaking, a shift that reflected his willingness …

Centre to unveil digital platform TribeX as national workshop on Tribal Research Institutes begins Tuesday

Centre to unveil digital platform TribeX as national workshop on Tribal Research Institutes begins Tuesday

Published by Parlour News

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs is set to bring together policymakers, researchers, academic institutions and technology experts in Bhubaneswar for a two-day national workshop beginning Tuesday, with a focus on strengthening Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) across the country. The ministry also expects the platform to encourage research, facilitate cultural exchange and create livelihood opportunities for tribal communities. (Representational image\Pinterest.com) The workshop, scheduled for July 7 and 8, will serve as a platform to assess the current functioning of TRIs and prepare a national roadmap aimed at developing them into centres of excellence for research, policy support and the preservation of India’s tribal heritage, as per a press release. Also read | Tribal looms to luxury: Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Anju Modi and more designers join RISA’s mission to empower artisans A major highlight of the inaugural session will be the launch of TribeX, a new digital learning platform dedicated to tribal arts, culture, languages and traditional knowledge. TribeX to focus on preserving and sharing tribal heritage According to the ministry, TribeX has been designed …

Rahul Bose’s National Award-winning English, August heads to Venice Film Festival after 31 years with 4K restoration

Rahul Bose’s National Award-winning English, August heads to Venice Film Festival after 31 years with 4K restoration

Published by Parlour News

More than three decades after its release, Dev Benegal’s English, August is ready to be rediscovered. Starring Rahul Bose, the 1994 cult classic has been restored in 4K and will make its world premiere in the Venice Classics section at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The restoration gives a new generation of movie lovers the chance to experience the film on the big screen. English, August to premiere at Venice after 31 years. The announcement was made by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), which continues its successful run at Venice. This marks the third consecutive year that one of the foundation’s restorations has been selected for the prestigious Venice Classics section, following Girish Kasaravalli’s Ghatashraddha in 2024 and Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zamin in 2025. What Rahul Bose said Actor Rahul Bose, who played the lead role in the film, shared his excitement over the announcement on Instagram, where he said, “So I have some news for you for all those people over the last 30 years who have been asking me for a …

National Guard outside Taylor Swift’s wedding venue? Viral video sparks security buzz at MSG | Watch

National Guard outside Taylor Swift’s wedding venue? Viral video sparks security buzz at MSG | Watch

Published by Parlour News

A video circulating online has sparked speculation after National Guard personnel were reportedly seen outside Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York, days ahead of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s highly anticipated wedding festivities. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, right, is congratulated by Taylor Swift as they celebrate the Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Jan 26, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) According to TMZ, “tons of National Guard members showed up to MSG on Tuesday night,” with streets around the venue reportedly being closed off as preparations intensified. The footage has fueled online chatter about whether the deployment is connected to the upcoming high-profile event. Reports show coordination near the venue TMZ also reported that a “massive meeting between NYPD and National Guard” was observed outside Madison Square Garden, suggesting coordinated security activity in the area. However, a representative for the National Guard clarified that the personnel presence is part of routine operations in New York City. The spokesperson stated that the agency …

NHAI asks IITs to vet the design of major bridges to be built on national highways

NHAI asks IITs to vet the design of major bridges to be built on national highways

Published by Parlour News

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has asked Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT)s to vet the designs of major bridges to be built on national highways across the country in all new projects. A bridge over the Sehar Khad on National Highway-44 in Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI) The initiative, announced on Tuesday, is aimed at ensuring that major bridges designed for a service life of 100 years or more undergo rigorous an independent technical review before construction. Around 12 IITs, including IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Kharagpur and several other premier institutions have expressed willingness to collaborate with NHAI. The proposed framework will establish a nationwide institutional mechanism for independent design vetting of critical bridge projects. The empanelled institutions will review structural design calculations, engineering drawings, construction methodologies, geotechnical investigations and hydraulic studies before construction starts. NHAI said the framework will apply uniformly across projects executed under engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), hybrid annuity model (HAM) and build-operate-transfer (BOT) modes, creating a consistent quality assurance mechanism across different project delivery formats. The move comes after the …

Ancy Sojan breaks Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old National record, Sarvesh clears 2.31m

Ancy Sojan breaks Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old National record, Sarvesh clears 2.31m

Published by Webster

Indian athletics witnessed a historic day at the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar as Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare shattered long-standing national records in the women’s long jump and men’s high jump, respectively. Ancy stole the spotlight by eclipsing Anju Bobby George’s 22-year-old national record in the women’s long jump. The 25-year-old from Kerala produced a stunning leap of 6.88m, surpassing the previous mark of 6.83m set by Anju during the Athens Olympics in 2004. The record had stood for more than two decades, making Ancy’s achievement one of the most significant moments in recent Indian athletics. Her effort also reinforced her credentials as one of India’s leading medal hopes ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. Kushare becomes first Indian to cross 2.30m Sarvesh Kushare also scripted history after clearing 2.31m in the men’s high jump to set a new national record and become the first Indian to officially cross the 2.30m barrier. The Maharashtra athlete improved on Tejaswin Shankar’s previous national record of 2.29m, set in 2018, and comfortably surpassed the …

Ancy Sojan breaks the 22-year-old national record of Anju Bobby George | Sports News

Ancy Sojan breaks the 22-year-old national record of Anju Bobby George | Sports News

Published by Webster

2 min readJun 27, 2026 08:00 PM IST Asian Games silver medallist long jumper Ancy Sojan breaks 22-year-old national record of Anju Bobby George with a 6.88m jump at the Inter State National Championships in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. The jumper from Kerala registered the massive jump of 6.88m in her fifth attempt. It looked like a great day for Ancy as she started with a jump of 6.73m in her first attempt. She bettered it 6.72m further and in the fifth attempt she broke it. After her jump, she looked anxiously at the board for her mark and immediately put her hands in disbelief as the audience broke into applause. She finished with a jump of 6.69m in her last attempt and also took the national title. The 25-year-old is having a great season after she jumped her personal best at the Federation Cup in Ranchi with a 6.76m mark. “It was good and the graph of my jumps was going upwards. The first target for me was to complete the event without a foul …