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In the midst of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor counter-terror operation, both countries have taken a strategic approach to influence policy in their favour by hiring prominent figures from US President Donald Trump’s inner circle as lobbyists in Washington DC.

India has enlisted Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, to represent its interests in the US capital. Miller’s firm, SHW Partners LLC, will receive $1.8 million annually to provide strategic counsel, tactical planning, and government relations assistance. 

Miller’s role extends beyond traditional lobbying, having served as an informal liaison briefing Trump and members of Congress on India’s counter-terrorism strategy. Notably, Miller understands how Trump’s brain functions, which could help India’s diplomacy significantly. “This is not a new practice,” said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. “This has been in place for several decades and under successive governments since the 1950s.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan has hired Keith Schiller, Trump’s former bodyguard and close aide, to build “long-term economic partnerships” in the US. Schiller’s role involves strengthening Pakistan’s ties with the US government and private sector. 

Schiller, a former NYPD officer, rose through Trump’s ranks to become Director of Oval Office Operations during the Trump presidency. He has been described as “one of Trump’s most loyal and trusted aides” and “a constant presence at Trump’s side for nearly two decades”. Schiller is joined by Georges Sorel, former compliance chief at the Trump Organisation, who co-founded Javelin Advisors. Their firm will help Pakistan communicate its perspective to America’s executive branch, Congress, and the general public.

The hiring of these lobbyists comes after Trump’s unexpected announcement of an India-Pakistan ceasefire on May 10, and his offer to mediate the Kashmir issue, which New Delhi promptly rejected. With the US historically financing Pakistan as a strategic buffer against the Soviet Union and for its war on terror, both India and Pakistan recognise the importance of having their own representative in Washington DC.

Pakistan aims to secure investments for its mining sector, including from US companies, while India seeks to bolster its diplomatic outreach to the Trump administration.

New Delhi:

The internet has been abuzz with the ongoing feud between Deepika Padukone and Sandeep Reddy Vanga over her exit from Spirit. Last Saturday the film’s team and Triptii Dimri took to social media to officially confirm that the Animal actress is the new female lead in Spirit, opposite Prabhas.

India Today has now exclusively reported that Triptii Dimri is being paid a whopping sum of Rs 6 crore as she reunites with Sandeep Reddy Vanga for the second time.

WHAT:

• It’s a career-defining moment for Triptii Dimri as Rs 6 crore is her biggest paycheck yet. 

• Spirit is currently in its pre-production phase and will go on floors in October.

• Out of the many reasons cited for Deepika’s exit from Spirit, one of them was her demanding Rs 20 crore as her remuneration and profit-sharing.

What Led To Multiple Delays

Deepika Padukone was called out for her “unprofessional” behaviour and unacceptable fee demands for Spirit. There were also some allegations of Deepika not being on board for certain “bold scenes” in the film, which eventually led to the makers dropping her.

According to a Bollywood Hungama report, dated May 22, Padukone “refused to shoot for more than 6 hours a day” for Spirit.

“That’s not all, the actress, via her agency, also started to demand an amendment to the contract. Their point of contention was simple – if the shoot extends beyond 100 days, Deepika will have to be paid extra for every single day of shoot beyond the commitment on paper,” the report further stated.

Deepika had reportedly refused to deliver her dialogues in Telugu as well. Other than Deepika’s pregnancy, Prabhas’ injury also led to further delay in Spirit taking flight.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Jibe At Deepika Padukone’s “Dirty PR Games”

Yesterday Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s post took the internet by storm. He put out a long note on X, indirectly slamming Padukone’s “Dirty PR games.” He also questioned Deepika’s idea of “feminism”, and also revealed that she had violated the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1927064054515867817&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Fentertainment%2Famid-vanga-deepika-row-triptii-dimri-takes-home-her-highest-paycheck-yet-for-spirit-8521679&sessionId=78140aae99187e8e89b7de5e8ad3ea4b2b290855&siteScreenName=moviesndtv&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px

Vanga wrote, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA(Non-Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, You’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are… Putting down a Younger actor and ousting my story?  Is this what your feminism stands for?”

“As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it. Aisa karo… Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha. (Let’s do one thing… next time tell the whole story… because I don’t even care a bit) #dirtyPRgames,” the filmmaker added.

In A Nutshell:

Even though Vanga tried to sort out a solution with the producers, Deepika’s team was adamant about their demands. And the rest is history, as Triptii Dimri joined the cast as the female lead in Spirit, and is taking home her fattest paycheck yet of Rs 6 crore.

When Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt made her debut at the Cannes International Film Festival this year, it was nothing short of a moment of awe for all Indians. That wave of pride hit even harder when, during an interview, Alia casually mentioned that Gucci had done their version of a saree – a garment we, South Asian women, have been rocking for years.

It was one of those rare moments when we thought, “Finally! Indian clothing is getting the global spotlight it deserves.”

But hold that thought. A recent post from Gucci about Alia Bhatt slaying in their couture had the desi corner of the Internet seeing red.

“Global Brand Ambassador Alia Bhatt attended the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival in a custom Gucci gown with embroidered crystals in a GG Monogram pattern. The actress was also pictured in a custom three-piece set,” the post from Gucci read.

And the comments? Have a look:

The comments section was flooded with a common cry: call it what it is. A saree. A sharara. A lehenga. Not a ‘gown’.

Yes, everyone agreed Alia looked like an absolute star in the outfit, but that shimmer was dulled by what the Internet is now calling a mix of misnaming and cultural appropriation.

By the way, the Internet is also convinced that Gucci’s Alia Bhatt’s look was somewhat copied (sorry, inspired) by Talking Threads, an Indian brand by Pearl Uppal. Their “Naira mermaid lehenga”, released in December 2024, looks suspiciously familiar.

Not A New Thing

If you’re thinking that Desi Internet is overreacting to Alia’s saree situation, allow us to remind you – this isn’t the first time. Remember the “Scandinavian scarf” incident? In case you missed that fashion faux pas, it was when the West ‘discovered’ the humble dupatta (or chunni) and rebranded it as ‘very European core’ or ‘Scandinavian scarf’. Spoiler: they absolutely refused to call it what it actually is, and Desi folks online weren’t having it.

This kicked off a bit of an online rebellion, with NRIs and Indians alike sharing how the West has this habit of taking everyday South Asian cultural staples, rebranding them with a sleek Western label, and acting like they just invented the wheel. From chunni to oiling your hair, or ‘chai latte’ to ‘golden turmeric milk’ (where do we even begin!)… it’s suddenly chic again – but only after it’s been wrapped in a fancy new name and with zero credit to where it all came from.

The Internet is now full of Indians speaking out on the matter. One user even posted a detailed list of all the things the West has quietly borrowed, rebranded, and glamourised – that comment has racked up over 30,000 likes. Clearly, it struck a chord.

Another example? When beauty influencer Chiara King posted a look on Instagram wearing Dior. The outfit? Practically a sharara. A full three-piece set with what very much looks like a dupatta. Again, see for yourself and decide – inspiration or imitation? 

If you’re also irked with this trend like us, take solace in the fact that imitation is the best form of flattery.

New Delhi:

What’s the difference between ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ and ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’? The two popular Marathi epithets are commonly used in Mumbai, but have a difference in their meaning. A debate on their meanings came up in the Supreme Court during a hearing on a petition against the passenger jetty and terminal facilities project near the Gateway of India.

In Marathi, ‘Aamchi’ means ours, and ‘Tyanchi’ means theirs. But for Mumbai, it’s called ‘Aamchi’, meaning where common people live, and ‘Tyanchi’ means where the elite live.

The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, who was on the Supreme Court bench that was hearing the petition, gave his take and said, “‘Aamchi Mumbai’ does not live in Colaba. It is only ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’ that lives in Colaba. ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ lives in Malad, Thane, Ghatkopar.”

The senior lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioner against the passenger jetty project said, “It is between ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ and ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’ – sometimes that is where the difference lies.”

The Chief Justice-led bench rejected the petition and said, “It is like this – everyone wants a sewage treatment plant, but not behind my house. In the city, when something good is happening, everybody approaches the Supreme Court.”

“You can see what the benefits of the coastal road are? A person from South Mumbai reaches Versova in 40 minutes, and earlier it used to take three hours,” the CJI said.

CJI Gavai responded that such projects are implemented globally. There are such places all over the world. “If you go to Miami, there are so many,” he said.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners said the project is slated to be completed within two years.

“This huge project is going to come up for the benefit of only a particular section of society, and this is coming up without any public hearing, without any clearances,” the counsel claimed.

The petition was filed by the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association, an association of over 400 residents of Colaba, along with the petitioner.

The bench said the Bombay High Court is already considering the issue and requested that the High Court decide the matter before the monsoon ends.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government for “hijacking” the litigation between two private parties in a plea pertaining to the management of the famous Shri Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said if the state government starts entering into a private dispute between parties it will result in breakdown of rule of law.

“Was a state a party to the proceedings? In what capacity has the state entered the dispute? If states start entering into a private dispute between parties, there will be a total breakdown of law. You can’t hijack the litigation. In a private litigation between two parties, state filing an impleadment application and hijacking it is not permissible,” the bench observed.

The top court was hearing a plea seeking the modification of its order approving the Uttar Pradesh government’s proposed redevelopment scheme for the Banke Bihari temple using temple funds

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioner Devendra Nath Goswami – who said he belonged to the Raj Bhog branch of the Shebaits and claimed direct descent from Swami Sri Hari Das Ji Goswami, the temple’s 16th century founder – submitted that fund of Rs 300 crore has been given to the Uttar Pradesh government without making us the party.

“How can you by an order in another petition direct that earning of a private temple be handed over to the state,” Mr Sibal asked.

The counsel appearing for the UP government informed the top court that the state has formed a trust to manage the temple and oversee work on the proposed corridor.

Entire money would rest with the trust, not with the government by virtue of the enactment, said the UP government’s lawyer.

“People have died in temple,” said the UP government lawyer, spotlighting the pinched streets around the temple and underlining that building a corridor is essential.

The top court directed the counsel for the state government to give a copy of the ordinance passed with regard to the trust to the petitioner and directed the concerned principal secretary to file an affidavit by July 29.

Built in 1862, the Banke Bihari temple is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in northern India. It is managed by Shebaits, a hereditary priesthood that oversees daily rituals and temple administration.

The demand for redevelopment arose after a stampede-like incident occurred during Janmashtami celebrations in 2022, resulting in two deaths.

In September 2023, the Allahabad High Court directed the UP government to develop a corridor plan to manage crowd pressure and ensure safety.

Earlier this month, on May 15, the top court paved the way for the state government’s scheme to develop the temple corridor for the benefit of scores of devotees. It then allowed the state government’s plea to utilise the temple funds only for the purchase of 5-acre land around the temple to create a holding area.

On May 19, petitioner Goswami said unchecked development could “irreversibly” alter the religious and cultural fabric of the “temple precinct”.

New Delhi:

What’s the difference between ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ and ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’? The two popular Marathi epithets are commonly used in Mumbai, but have a difference in their meaning. A debate on their meanings came up in the Supreme Court during a hearing on a petition against the passenger jetty and terminal facilities project near the Gateway of India.

In Marathi, ‘Aamchi’ means ours, and ‘Tyanchi’ means theirs. But for Mumbai, it’s called ‘Aamchi’, meaning where common people live, and ‘Tyanchi’ means where the elite live.

The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, who was on the Supreme Court bench that was hearing the petition, gave his take and said, “‘Aamchi Mumbai’ does not live in Colaba. It is only ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’ that lives in Colaba. ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ lives in Malad, Thane, Ghatkopar.”

The senior lawyer appearing on behalf of the petitioner against the passenger jetty project said, “It is between ‘Aamchi Mumbai’ and ‘Tyanchi Mumbai’ – sometimes that is where the difference lies.”

The Chief Justice-led bench rejected the petition and said, “It is like this – everyone wants a sewage treatment plant, but not behind my house. In the city, when something good is happening, everybody approaches the Supreme Court.”

“You can see what the benefits of the coastal road are? A person from South Mumbai reaches Versova in 40 minutes, and earlier it used to take three hours,” the CJI said.

CJI Gavai responded that such projects are implemented globally. There are such places all over the world. “If you go to Miami, there are so many,” he said.

The counsel appearing for the petitioners said the project is slated to be completed within two years.

“This huge project is going to come up for the benefit of only a particular section of society, and this is coming up without any public hearing, without any clearances,” the counsel claimed.

The petition was filed by the Clean and Heritage Colaba Residents Association, an association of over 400 residents of Colaba, along with the petitioner.

The bench said the Bombay High Court is already considering the issue and requested that the High Court decide the matter before the monsoon ends.

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