Rajinikanth’s ‘Chikitu’ from Coolie Goes Viral, Hindi Title Changed
Chennai: The first single from Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie, titled Chikitu, was released on 25 June 2025, sparking a frenzy online with over 4 million views in hours. The peppy track, composed by Anirudh Ravichander and sung by T Rajendar, Arivu, and Anirudh, features Rajinikanth’s signature dance moves alongside choreographer Sandy and a cameo by Pooja Hegde. Fans praised the superstar’s energy and nostalgic style, though some noted the song’s quirky vibe differs from Anirudh’s usual high-octane tracks. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, Coolie is set for a 14 August 2025 release in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi, now titled Coolie: The Powerhouse in Hindi after backlash against the initial title Majadoor. The film stars Nagarjuna, Upendra, Shruti Haasan, and Aamir Khan in a cameo.
Rohit Sharma Reveals Security Threat Before India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Clash
New Delhi: Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma disclosed that the team faced a security threat before their T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan on 9 June 2024 in New York. Speaking to Star Sports, Sharma revealed that the team was confined to their hotel rooms for two days due to the threat, with no access to practice facilities at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Despite the challenges, India defended a low total of 119, winning by six runs, thanks to Rishabh Pant’s crucial 42 off 31 balls and Jasprit Bumrah’s 3/14. Sharma also shared a light-hearted moment, recalling how he forgot the toss coin, prompting Pakistan’s Babar Azam to remind him, leading to laughter. The victory was a key step in India’s campaign, culminating in their second T20 World Cup title.
India Rejects SCO Statement Over Missing Terrorism Reference
New Delhi: India refused to sign a joint statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, on 26 June 2025, due to its failure to mention terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. Speaking at a press conference, Jaishankar backed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s stance, noting that the SCO’s primary goal is to combat terrorism. India insisted on referencing the 22 April Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, but one member, implicitly Pakistan, opposed it. The statement included unrest in Pakistan’s Balochistan but ignored India’s concerns about cross-border terrorism. As SCO operates on consensus, no joint communique was issued. Jaishankar stressed that omitting terrorism undermines the SCO’s purpose. Singh also held talks with Russia on S-400 deliveries and discussed border de-escalation with China.
India and US Push for Trade Deal Before July 9 Tariff Deadline
New Delhi: India and the United States are intensifying efforts to finalise an interim trade deal before the 9 July 2025 deadline, when US reciprocal tariffs of 26% on Indian goods are set to resume. A team led by India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal is in Washington for two-day talks focusing on market access, tariff reductions, and non-tariff barriers. The US seeks lower duties on agricultural products like maize and soybeans, while India demands tariff exemptions for textiles and leather. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal expressed optimism about concluding the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), aiming to boost bilateral trade from $190 billion to $500 billion by 2030. However, India’s sugar and soybean industries oppose concessions on ethanol and genetically modified crops. The Global Trade Research Initiative urged India to protect farmers and digital ecosystems like UPI in negotiations.
Five Tigers Found Dead in Karnataka Sanctuary, Poisoning Suspected
Chamarajanagar: A tigress and her four cubs were found dead on 26 June 2025 in the Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, in a suspected case of poisoning. Forest officials discovered the carcasses in the Hoogyam range during a routine patrol. The tigress, aged 8–10 years, had killed a cow days earlier, and authorities suspect villagers poisoned the carcass as retaliation, which the tigers consumed. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre called the deaths “unnatural” and ordered a high-level probe, with a report due within three days. A six-member team, including wildlife expert Sanjay Gubbi, is investigating. Autopsies are underway to confirm the cause. Karnataka, with 563 tigers, ranks second in India for tiger population. The incident has raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict and inadequate sanctuary protection.
Puri Celebrates Grand Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 with Millions in Attendance
Puri: The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India’s oldest and grandest Hindu festivals, commenced on 27 June 2025 in Puri, Odisha, drawing millions of devotees. The annual chariot festival, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, began with the ‘Pahandi’ ritual, where the deities were carried from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple to three massive wooden chariots. Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb performed the ‘Chhera Pahanra’ ritual, sweeping the chariots with a golden broom. Lakhs of devotees pulled the chariots to Gundicha Temple, 2.6 km away, amid chants of “Jai Jagannath.” Over 10,000 security personnel, including NSG snipers, were deployed due to recent Indo-Pak tensions. The Adani Group initiated “Prasad Seva” to serve pilgrims. The festival, spanning nine days, will conclude with the Bahuda Yatra on 5 July
Kannappa Hits Theatres with Vishnu Manchu and Prabhas, Draws Mixed Reactions
Hyderabad: The mythological drama Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu and featuring Prabhas in a pivotal cameo, was released on 27 June 2025 across India in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, the film retells the legend of Bhakta Kannappa, a tribal warrior turned devoted follower of Lord Shiva. Vishnu Manchu plays Thinnadu, with Akshay Kumar as Lord Shiva, Kajal Aggarwal as Goddess Parvati, and Mohanlal as Kirata. Shot extensively in New Zealand, the 2-hour-50-minute film boasts stunning visuals and VFX, with music by Stephen Devassy. Early reviews praise Prabhas’ 15-minute role as Rudra for its impact, while Vishnu’s performance shines in the emotional climax. However, some viewers noted a slow first half and uneven screenplay. The film outperformed Kajol’s Maa in morning show bookings.
Squid Game Season 3 Premieres as Darkest, Final Chapter on Netflix
Mumbai: The third and final season of South Korea’s global hit Squid Game premiered on Netflix on 27 June 2025, with all six episodes available for streaming. The dystopian thriller, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, picks up after Season 2’s cliffhanger, where Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) fails to stop the deadly games and loses his best friend Jung-bae to the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun). Gi-hun, Player 456, now faces deadlier challenges, including a new “Jump Rope” game featuring a giant doll, Chul-su, alongside Young-hee. The season, filmed back-to-back with Season 2, explores Gi-hun’s despair and his mission to dismantle the game. Returning cast includes Wi Ha-joon as detective Jun-ho, Park Gyu-young as No-eul, and new players like Kang Ha-neul. In India, the show dropped at 12:30 PM IST. Fans on social media praise its intense, heart-wrenching narrative.
