యూకేకు భారతీయ వైద్యుల గుడ్బై | Why Indian Doctors Leaving UK ? Explained
Brahmanandam gifts Anjaneya Swamy pencil art to President Murmu
Legendary Tollywood comedian Brahmanandam paid a courtesy visit to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad on Monday. The President warmly welcomed the veteran actor and felicitated him with a bouquet and a traditional shawl.
In a gracious exchange, Brahmanandam presented President Murmu with a beautiful pencil art portrait of Lord Anjaneya Swamy, highlighting his widely admired talent as a pencil artist. Known for creating intricate sketches of deities, the actor often gifts his artwork to celebrities and dignitaries on special occasions. In the past, he has presented his hand-drawn sketches to notable personalities such as Krishan Raju, Allu Arjun, and Upendra.
Fondly referred to by fans as the “Meme God” for his iconic comic expressions in films like Adhurs, Venky, and King, Brahmanandam holds the Guinness World Record for the most screen credits by a living actor. He has appeared in over 1,000 films, with the record officially acknowledging 857 roles in 2010, a number that has continued to grow over the years.
Most recently, Brahmanandam was seen in the Telugu film Gurram Paapi Reddy. Earlier this year, he also headlined Brahma Anandam, a film that featured him alongside his son Raja Gautham, marking a special on-screen collaboration.
Phone Tapping Case: SIT set to question KCR and Harish Rao
The investigation into the alleged phone-tapping scandal has gained significant momentum, with the newly constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) intensifying its probe. The SIT, headed by Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjannar, is now focusing its attention on top political leadership, marking a crucial phase in the case.
As part of the investigation, the SIT has already examined members of the review committee that was constituted during the tenure of former Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) chief T. Prabhakar Rao, who is accused of playing a key role in the illegal surveillance operation.
According to sources, the SIT is preparing to issue notices to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and former minister T. Harish Rao, which could turn out to be a major turning point in the investigation.
So far, the SIT has recorded statements from several senior officials, including former Chief Secretaries Somesh Kumar and Shanthi Kumari, former Intelligence Chief Naveen Chand, former political secretary in the General Administration Department (GAD) Raghunandan Rao, along with other senior IAS and IPS officers.
During the interrogation of Prabhakar Rao, he reportedly named former DGP Mahender Reddy and former intelligence official Anil Kumar multiple times. The SIT has already recorded Mahender Reddy’s statement as part of the probe.
Investigators have reportedly found evidence suggesting that the phones of political leaders, businesspersons, and media professionals were tapped during the previous government’s tenure. It has also emerged that certain former IPS officers forwarded phone numbers provided by Prabhakar Rao to the Home Department without proper verification, raising serious concerns over procedural violations.
Meanwhile, with the Assembly session scheduled to begin on the 29th of this month, political circles are closely watching the developments, as the case continues to unfold with far-reaching implications.
Ram Charan chooses realism over comfort for Peddi and Game Changer
Top-league actors often enjoy certain privileges while working on their films. Many prefer indoor schedules or foreign locations to avoid public attention and logistical hurdles. This approach also benefits producers, as it helps cut down expenses related to travel, crowd control, and other unavoidable arrangements that come with shooting in public spaces.
However, Ram Charan seems to be going against the grain. Be it his previous outing Game Changer or his upcoming rural drama Peddi, the actor has shown a clear preference for authentic locations over controlled studio environments, aiming to bring an organic and realistic feel to the visuals and storytelling.
A major portion of Game Changer was shot in real, public locations. From songs to action sequences, the film relied heavily on outdoor shoots. Continuing the same approach, Charan has once again opted for real locations for Buchi Babu’s Peddi—a bold decision, considering the risks involved, including potential leaks of looks and crucial scenes.
In today’s era, many stars prefer shooting indoors, allowing directors and technical teams to recreate environments using green-mat technology. This has become an open secret, especially for big-budget films. However, Charan’s choice of realism over comfort highlights his commitment and conviction as an actor.
The recently released song “Chikiri Chikiri” received widespread appreciation, not just for its catchy tune but also for its visually stunning locations. The team reportedly braved tough terrains and challenging conditions to shoot the song in real, scenic locations. Additionally, some key scenes were recently filmed near Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, after securing all necessary permissions.
Ram Charan could have easily insisted on set-based shoots, avoiding the risks and effort that come with outdoor filming. Instead, he chose authenticity, setting an example of professionalism. Now, it’s crucial for the team to ensure that no footage or visuals leak before the film’s release, so that all the hard work and dedication truly pay off.
Parasakthi advances release to avoid Telugu Sankranthi box-office rush
These days, while finding a release date in the Tamil circuit has become relatively easier, securing a slot with strong positioning at the Telugu box office is proving to be increasingly difficult. In that context, Tamil hero Sivakarthikeyan’s upcoming film “Parasakthi” has reportedly advanced its release date—and the primary reason appears to be Telugu market constraints rather than Tamil competition.
Originally scheduled for a January 14 theatrical release, Parasakthi, directed by Sudha Kongara and starring Sreeleela as the female lead, is now planned to arrive in cinemas on January 10. With all the songs already released and aggressive promotions underway in Tamil, the makers seem confident that an early release works in the film’s favour.
Interestingly, the team doesn’t seem overly concerned about clashing with Tamil superstar Vijay’s “Jana Nayagan”, which is also expected to release around the same time. The bigger concern, trade sources say, is the packed Telugu box office during Sankranthi. If Parasakthi were to release on Sankranthi eve, finding theatres in Telugu states would be nearly impossible.
This Pongal season, Telugu cinema is expected to witness a heavy festive lineup, with at least five major films targeting prime screens. Big names like Chiranjeevi, Prabhas, Ravi Teja, Sharwanand, Naveen and others are already in the race, with distribution deals locked well in advance. Naturally, Tamil films are finding it hard to secure space.
Trade circles also point out that Telugu producers and distributors are no longer aggressively chasing big Tamil films, which further explains why the makers of Parasakthi opted to advance the release date.
Dating Sunday Sparks a Fresh Start for Indian Singles on Tinder
As the new year begins, Indian singles are embracing Dating Sunday—the first Sunday of the year and consistently Tinder’s busiest day—as a moment of collective reset. New insights from Tinder reveal a clear shift towards dating that feels simpler, more open, and emotionally direct.
According to Tinder’s Year in Swipe 2025, Dating Sunday in India witnessed a sharp surge in user activity. Logins increased, responses became quicker, and conversations reflected renewed optimism. The platform recorded an average of nearly 380 matches per second, making it the most active day of the year for new connections.
Beyond volume, speed stood out as a defining trend. Compared to last year, Indian users replied over two hours faster on average, highlighting growing comfort with direct communication and real-time engagement. Overall activity levels were nearly 13 percent higher than the annual average, while messages sent rose by almost 10 percent. Likes and conversations also saw notable growth, pointing to a more proactive approach to dating.
Dating Sunday also marks the beginning of Tinder’s Peak Season, which runs through Valentine’s Day. During this period, Indian users exchange millions more likes and messages each day than at other times of the year, indicating that the momentum generated on Dating Sunday extends well beyond a single date.
The data reflects a broader cultural shift in how Indian singles approach relationships. Many are moving away from mixed signals and emotional ambiguity, favouring clarity, honesty, and shared interests instead. Popular profile themes in 2025 included nostalgic and cultural touchpoints such as 90s Kids, Photography, Travel, Biryani, Foodie, Poetry, Harry Potter, Movies, and Music, helping conversations feel more natural and personal.
Food continues to be one of the strongest icebreakers, with low-pressure plans like coffee dates or discussions around favourite biryani spots shaping relaxed first meetings. This trend aligns with a growing preference for dates that feel effortless rather than performative.
Spotify Probes Massive Music Scraping Claim by Anna’s Archive
Spotify has launched an internal investigation following claims by activist collective Anna’s Archive that it illegally scraped a vast portion of the platform’s music catalogue and associated data. The group alleges it has harvested approximately 86 million audio files along with 256 million rows of metadata, describing the effort as part of a long-term “preservation archive” intended to safeguard humanity’s musical heritage.
Responding to the claims, the Stockholm-based streaming giant said it had identified and disabled the user accounts involved, characterising the incident as an instance of “unlawful scraping.” Spotify stated that the activity relied on illicit methods designed to bypass its digital rights management (DRM) protections and gain unauthorised access to audio content. While Spotify hosts more than 100 million tracks and serves over 700 million users globally, the company emphasised that the alleged data extraction does not represent its entire music library and has not compromised the platform as a whole.
The incident has raised serious concerns among copyright advocates, particularly over the potential misuse of the dataset for training artificial intelligence models. Critics warn that access to such a large volume of high-quality, contemporary music could significantly accelerate the development of AI-driven music generation tools. Ed Newton-Rex, a composer and prominent campaigner for artists’ rights, noted that the use of pirated content for AI training has become “sadly common” across the industry.
Anna’s Archive, which has previously been linked to repositories of pirated books and academic material, defended its actions in a blog post, arguing that cultural works must be protected against loss caused by wars, natural disasters and funding cuts. The group claimed its collection represents 99.6% of all music streamed by Spotify users and indicated plans to distribute the files via torrent networks.
“Of course, Spotify doesn’t have all the music in the world, but it’s a great start,” the group said, a statement likely to further inflame tensions between technology platforms, rights holders and digital preservation activists.
USCIS Opens Rare Green Card Filing Window for Indians Amid Visa Bulletin Surge
After years of limited progress, Indian professionals facing prolonged US Green Card backlogs have received an unexpected opportunity following two significant moves by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A sharply advanced January 2026 visa bulletin, combined with new filing flexibility, has widened eligibility for thousands of employment-based applicants.
The January 2026 bulletin delivered notable forward movement across multiple employment-based categories, with the strongest gains recorded in EB-1 and EB-5 for Indian nationals. This followed incremental progress already introduced in the December 2025 bulletin. Shortly after, USCIS announced that applicants may file permanent residency applications using either the Final Action Dates chart or the Dates for Filing chart, significantly expanding eligibility.
Immigration experts say the dual developments have created a rare filing window, particularly for applicants whose priority dates are not yet current under Final Action Dates. However, they caution that such opportunities are often temporary and may be followed by retrogression later in the year.
The bulletin shows EB-1 advancing by nearly one year and EB-5 by close to two years for Indian applicants. EB-2 and EB-3 categories also saw forward movement, offering partial relief to nationals from heavily backlogged countries, including India and China.
Michael Valverde told The American Bazaar that the scale of advancement was unexpected and may reflect USCIS efforts to prevent visa numbers from going unused amid processing delays and higher denial rates. Legal experts are urging eligible applicants to act swiftly, as the filing window remains open only through January 31.
Applicants must ensure all documentation is ready, including medical examinations, which USCIS now requires to be filed concurrently with Form I-485. Sangeetha Mugunthan of Somireddy Law Group PLLC emphasized the importance of careful preparation, particularly for EB-1A cases, urging applicants to clearly document their professional achievements and areas of expertise.
Trump Administration Raises Self-Deportation Incentive to $3,000
The Trump administration has significantly increased the financial incentive for undocumented migrants to voluntarily leave the United States, tripling the payout under its self-deportation programme to $3,000, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday. The move comes as the administration intensifies its crackdown on illegal immigration.
Under the revised policy, individuals living in the U.S. without legal status who register to depart voluntarily by the end of the year will be eligible for the stipend, along with a free flight to their home country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the initiative as a final opportunity for migrants to leave on their own terms, warning that those who do not comply will face arrest and permanent barriers to re-entry.
The increased payout follows the March launch of CBP Home, a rebranded mobile application designed to streamline voluntary departures. The app, previously known as CBP One, had been used during the Biden administration to facilitate legal migrant entry into the U.S.
According to DHS, voluntary departures are far more cost-effective than forced removals. The department estimates that arresting, detaining, and deporting an undocumented migrant costs an average of $17,000 per person.
President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January after campaigning on record deportations, has stepped up immigration enforcement despite legal and political challenges. While the administration has pledged to deport up to one million immigrants annually, approximately 622,000 removals have been carried out so far this year.
U.S. officials have indicated that enforcement efforts will intensify further in 2026, supported by billions of dollars in new funding. Planned measures include hiring thousands of additional immigration agents, expanding detention facilities, and working with private firms to locate undocumented individuals across the country.
OG success opens doors again: Sujeeth to reunite with Prabhas?
Some may call it a massive success, while others term it a mixed outing, but the overall box-office performance of Pawan Kalyan’s “They Call Him OG” has firmly established it as a resounding success. More importantly, the film has pushed director Sujeeth back into the spotlight, proving once again that he is well-suited to handle big stars and deliver stylish, cult-driven action entertainers.
The success of OG appears to have reopened major doors for Sujeeth. According to the latest industry buzz, the young filmmaker is all set to re-enter pan-India superstar Prabhas’ cinematic world. After delivering OG, Sujeeth has regained strong confidence among top production houses, and reports suggest that Hombale Films has signed him for a film starring Prabhas.
Currently, Sujeeth is busy working on Nani’s upcoming film, which is already generating positive expectations. Recently, he revealed that the project is a crime comedy, unlike the slick action entertainers OG and Saaho. However, considering that Saaho failed to fully meet Prabhas fans’ expectations, this upcoming collaboration could be Sujeeth’s opportunity to make amends and deliver something truly special with one of India’s biggest stars.
That said, Prabhas already has a packed lineup with big-budget projects like Spirit, Fauji, and Salaar 2. Given his busy schedule, the Sujeeth–Prabhas film may take longer than expected to go on floors. For now, an official confirmation from Sujeeth or the production house is awaited regarding this much-talked-about project.
Pragathi clarifies: “I’ll never quit films, dying on set was emotional expression”
Actress Pragathi, who has impressed audiences with films like Gangothri, is one of the most respected character artists in Telugu cinema. Beyond films, she has also been actively involved in weightlifting and has won medals at the Asian Games in the 50+ age category.
Recently, Pragathi created a buzz when she posted that she would “die on a cinema set,” leaving fans confused and sparking various rumours. Considering her recent successes in both sports and cinema, many wondered what prompted such a statement.
Clarifying her remarks, Pragathi stated that she has never quit films for powerlifting or wrestling. She explained, “I never said I’m leaving cinema. I am a reasonably good actress and will continue to do my work—it’s my bread and butter.” She added that saying she would “die on a film set” was simply an emotional expression of how deeply connected she feels to acting and the film industry.
Meanwhile, some observers noted that despite her impressive achievements in weightlifting and wrestling, Pragathi hasn’t received much recognition from the film fraternity, except for a few congratulatory messages from small heroes and directors.
