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Raashii Khanna Signs Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh Without Hearing Script
Raashii Khanna, who is currently promoting her upcoming Bollywood film 120 Bahadur alongside Farhan Akhtar, found herself talking more about her upcoming Telugu project Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Powerstar Pawan Kalyan and directed by Harish Shankar. Alongside Raashii, Sreeleela also plays a lead role in the film.
Raashii revealed that she accepted the project without even hearing the script.
“This is the only film I signed without listening to the script. I said yes because it’s Pawan garu’s film. I have always wanted to work with him because of the huge stardom he carries. I know it’s his film and I’m just a part of it, and I’m fine with that. Sometimes you do commercial films for the scale and the reach,” she said.
Talking about her experience working with Pawan Kalyan, she added,
“I love that he is very respectful towards women. He also has so much love for people in general. I realized he’s a larger-than-life personality who is also a very good actor.”
This admiration is not unusual, as many actors hold Pawan Kalyan in high regard. Earlier, even Jr. NTR and Ram Charan mentioned signing RRR without hearing the script, simply out of respect for the filmmakers and the people involved.
The shooting of Ustaad Bhagat Singh has been completed, and the film is now in post-production. It is expected to release next year, ahead of the summer.
Suriya in Talks with Telugu Director Vivek Athreya for Next Film
Lately, several Tamil heroes are showing growing interest in collaborating on bilingual projects with Telugu directors. After KV Anudeep teamed up with Siva Karthikeya for Prince, and Venky Atluri joined hands with Dhanush for Sir, he is now working with Suriya on an upcoming film.
Meanwhile, another interesting buzz is doing the rounds in the industry. According to sources, talented Telugu director Vivek Athreya, known for hits like Brochevaruevarura, Ante Sundraniki, and Saripodha Sanivaaram, has initiated talks with Suriya for his next project. Vivek reportedly met Suriya recently and narrated the story.
The Retro star has shown interest in the script and is reportedly keen to work with Vivek Athreya. However, nothing has been finalized yet, and the director is waiting for a final nod from Suriya before proceeding.
Since Suriya is currently busy with Venky Atluri’s film, it remains uncertain whether he will immediately collaborate with a Telugu director for his next project. Earlier, there were rumours that Vivek Athreya had narrated a script to Superstar Rajinikanth, but that project has not seen any official announcement so far.
After a series of flops, Suriya is aiming for a strong comeback and is very confident about Venky Atluri’s film. It remains to be seen whether he will continue encouraging Telugu directors by giving a green signal to Vivek Athreya or opt to work with a Tamil director for his next venture.
Hyderabad Metro to Become 50:50 Centre-State JV: CM Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has successfully secured a significant commitment from the central government for the Hyderabad Metro project. Initially planned as a joint initiative funded by both the centre and the state, the project had evolved into a state-private (L&T) partnership under the previous BRS administration, a model that CM Revanth had been critical of.
Revanth Reddy had been actively appealing to the central government to become a partner in the metro project, and it appears his efforts have finally borne fruit.
Recently, during a visit to Hyderabad for a conclave, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar was requested by CM Revanth to consider central participation in the metro project. During their visit to the HMRL and HMDA stalls, Revanth showcased ongoing works, upcoming corridors, and key proposals awaiting central approval. He specifically urged the Union Minister to fast-track sanctions for Phase 2, a crucial step in expanding the city’s mobility infrastructure.
Following the meeting, Minister Khattar shared a major update: the Hyderabad Metro, previously managed by the Telangana government and L&T, will soon transition into a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Telangana, operating under a strengthened PPP model.
He further revealed that proposals for nearly 162 km of new metro routes are currently under review. A final decision on feasible corridors and the scale of expansion is expected by March, paving the way for Hyderabad’s next phase of rapid urban growth and improved connectivity.
Kodama Simham 4K Re-Release: Mega Star Chiranjeevi Returns
Megastar Chiranjeevi’s fans are in for a treat as his 1990 cowboy-action entertainer Kodama Simham is set to return to theatres on November 21. Audiences are eagerly awaiting the chance to celebrate the iconic “Mega Cowboy” once again on the big screen.
The film has been fully restored in 4K with advanced visual enhancements, paired with upgraded 5.1 surround sound, promising the ultimate cinematic experience. Each frame has been meticulously cleaned, sharpened, and color-corrected, restoring the movie to its original grandeur. This restoration not only preserves the classic for future generations but also allows longtime fans to relive cherished memories with stunning visuals and immersive audio, making this re-release a true celebration of one of Telugu cinema’s most unique films.
Megastar Chiranjeevi recently reminisced about the fond memories associated with Kodama Simham. He spoke about how the film was a personal favorite for him and for Mega Power Star Ram Charan during his childhood. Chiranjeevi fondly recalled working with the ensemble cast, including Radha, Sonam, Kaikala Satyanarayana, and others. Mohan Babu’s performance added intensity, humour, and depth to the film’s narrative.
Renowned for its bold, Western-inspired visual style and powerful performances, Kodama Simham stands out as one of the most unusual and ambitious films in Chiranjeevi’s prolific career. At a time when such stylistic experiments were rare in mainstream Indian cinema, the film successfully blended Indian storytelling with Hollywood-style cowboy adventure. Marketed as an “Indian Cowboy” movie for Telugu audiences, it was one of the biggest productions of its time.
Produced by Kaikala Nageswara Rao on a budget of ₹4 crore in 1990, Kodama Simham was a commercial success and has since inspired filmmakers, including SS Rajamouli. Its chartbuster music, composed by the legendary duo Raj–Koti, played a major role in its lasting popularity.
స్వీటీ బాలయ్య, చిరంజీవి సినిమాలకు ‘నో’ అనడానికి కారణం!
సీనియర్ హీరోలు చిరంజీవి, నాగార్జున, వెంకటేష్, బాలయ్యల సినిమాల కోసం హీరోయిన్ల ఎంపికలో సమస్యలు వచ్చే విషయాన్ని ప్రత్యేకంగా చెప్పనవసరం లేదు. 60 దాటిన హీరోలకు సరిగ్గా సరిపోయే హీరోయిన్లను కనుగొనడం దర్శకుల కోసం పెద్ద భారంగా మారింది. ప్రీ-ప్రొడక్షన్ పనులు పూర్తైనా, హీరోయిన్ల ఎంపిక కారణంగా ప్రాజెక్ట్ చివరలో వాయిదా పడుతున్న సందర్భాలు ఉన్నాయని వార్తలు. హీరోల వయస్సు పెరుగుతున్న కొద్దీ ఈ సమస్య మరింత కష్టంగా మారుతోంది.
అందువల్ల, రిపీటెడ్ హీరోయిన్లను మళ్లీ తీసుకోవాల్సిన పరిస్థితి వస్తోంది. త్రిష, నయనతారల తప్ప మరొకరు పెద్ద హీరోయిన్ గా కనిపించడం లేదు. ఇటువంటి నేపథ్యంలో, బాలయ్య కొత్త సినిమాకు గోపీచంద్ మాలినేని నయనతారను ఎంపిక చేయడం కంటే ముందే స్వీటీ (అనుష్క)ను అప్రోచ్ చేసారు. అయితే స్వీటీ ఆఫర్ను తిరస్కరించింది. కారణం బాలయ్య కోసం కాదు, ప్రస్తుత పరిస్థితుల్లో సినిమా చేయలేమని తాను చెప్పింది.
అనుష్క ‘ఘాటీ’ సినిమా తర్వాత బహుశా బరువు పెరిగి, దాన్ని తగ్గించే ప్రక్రియలో ఉండటంతో సీనియర్ హీరోల కోసం తగినంతగా సెట్ కాకపోవచ్చని చెప్పింది అని వార్తలు వినిపిస్తున్నాయి. అయినప్పటికీ, స్వీటీ ఒకే స్థిరమైన ప్రతిపాదన ఉంటే, సీనియర్ హీరోలకు మంచి ఆప్షన్ అవుతుంది. ఇప్పటి వరకు చిరంజీవి, బాలయ్యతో ఆమె జోడీగా సినిమా చేయలేదు, దాని వల్ల ఆమె పేరు దర్శకుల పరిశీలనలో కూడా ఎక్కువగా రాలేదు.
సీనియర్ హీరోలతో ప్రయత్నాలు జరిగాయని, కానీ వర్క్ అవ్వలేదని తెలుస్తోంది. నాగార్జున, వెంకటేష్ వంటి స్టార్లతో ఆమె కెరీర్ ప్రారంభంలోనే పని చేసింది. ఒకే తరహా హీరోలతో స్వీటీ సినిమాలు చేయడం చిరు, బాలయ్యలకు మాత్రమే లభిస్తుంది. పవన్ కల్యాణ్తో సినిమాలు చేస్తే, టాలీవుడ్లో దాదాపు అన్ని స్టార్ హీరోలతో ఆమె పని చేసినట్లు అవుతుంది. కానీ అది సాధ్యమవుతుందా? అనే సందేహం ఉంటుంది.
ప్రస్తుతం స్వీటీ ఫాం కొంత తగ్గిపోయింది, అవకాశాలు కూడా తక్కువవయ్యాయి. ఆలస్యం చేస్తే మరిన్ని అవకాశాలు కూడా రావు. ప్రస్తుతం ఆమె బెంగుళూరులో ఉంటోంది. హైదరాబాద్ ను వదిలి చాలా కాలంగా అక్కడే ఉంటోంది. ‘ఘాటీ’ షూటింగ్ సమయంలో కొన్నాళ్లు మళ్లీ హైదరాబాద్లో వచ్చింది, కానీ తర్వాత తిరిగి వెళ్లిపోయింది.
International Men’s Day 2025: Celebrating Men’s Well-Being and Contributions
International Men’s Day, observed annually on 19 November, serves as an important global reminder of the unique challenges men face—ranging from mental health struggles and homelessness to abuse, violence, and social pressures. The day not only emphasises the need for open dialogue around men’s well-being but also honours their contributions to families, communities, and society at large.
In 2025, International Men’s Day continues to spotlight the importance of emotional health, positive masculinity, and supportive environments for men and boys. The global observance encourages compassion, understanding, and gender equality, while celebrating the men who inspire through resilience, kindness, and integrity.
International Men’s Day 2025 Theme
Honouring positive male role models
Supporting men’s physical and mental well-being
Encouraging gender equality
Recognising the cultural, social, and personal contributions of men and boys
A Brief History
International Men’s Day was first celebrated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, led by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh. He chose 19 November to honour his father’s birthday and to commemorate a significant moment in the nation’s football history. From a local initiative, the observance has grown into a global movement recognised in more than 80 countries, aiming to highlight the value men bring to society while encouraging discussions about their challenges and aspirations.
Heartfelt Wishes and Messages
Share these meaningful wishes to appreciate the important men in your life:
Happy International Men’s Day! Thank you for being a source of strength and kindness.
Wishing a wonderful day to the men who inspire us every day.
Here’s to the men who lead with empathy, courage, and love.
Celebrating the men who balance strength with sensitivity—Happy International Men’s Day!
May this day remind you of your worth, resilience, and potential.
To every man making a positive difference—you are appreciated.
International Men’s Day is a reminder to value, support, and uplift men everywhere, encouraging a more understanding and inclusive world for all.
రాజమౌళి – మహేష్ బాబు ‘వారణాసి’: 1200 కోట్లు, గ్లోబల్ అంచనాలు
దర్శకధీరుడు SS రాజమౌళి మరియు సూపర్ స్టార్ మహేష్ బాబు కాంబినేషన్లో తెరకెక్కుతున్న పాన్-వరల్డ్ యాక్షన్-అడ్వెంచర్ చిత్రం వారణాసి. ఇందులో ప్రియాంక చోప్రా హీరోయిన్గా నటిస్తుండగా, పృథ్వీరాజ్ సుకుమార్ విలన్ రోల్లో కనిపించనున్నారు. ఇటీవల, సినిమా నుంచి 3 నిమిషాల వీడియోను రిలీజ్ చేసి, టాలీవుడ్ మాత్రమే కాక, ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా వార్తల కోణంలో చర్చనీయాంశంగా మారింది.
ప్రారంభంలో 2027 సమ్మర్లో రిలీజ్ అయ్యే అవకాశం ఉందని సూచించబడినప్పటికీ, కొందరు అందుకు నమ్మకం చూపడంలో ఇబ్బందిపడుతున్నారు. అయినప్పటికీ, సినిమా ఎప్పుడు రిలీజవుతుందో సంబంధం లేకుండా, ప్రపంచం మొత్తం తెలుగు సినిమా వైపు ఆశాభావంతో చూస్తుందనే అంచనాలు ఉన్నాయి.
సినిమాకు మొదట రూ.1000 కోట్ల బడ్జెట్ పెట్టినట్లు చెప్పగా, ఆధునిక టెక్నాలజీ పెరుగుదలతో బడ్జెట్ రూ.1200 కోట్లకి పెంచబడినట్లు తెలుస్తోంది. దుర్గా ఆర్ట్స్ బ్యానర్లో కె.ఎల్. నారాయణతో పాటు SS కార్తికేయ, రాజమౌళి కొడుకు, ఈ సినిమాను నిర్మిస్తున్నారు. కార్తికేయ మొదటిసారిగా నిర్మాతగా ప్రవేశించనున్న ఈ ప్రాజెక్ట్ కోసం రాజమౌళి స్రావించటంలో ఏ రకమైన రాజీ పడడం లేదు.
రాజమౌళి ఆర్ఆర్ఆర్ తర్వాత నుంచి ఈ సినిమా కోసం కృషి చేస్తున్నారు. అనేక సంవత్సరాల స్క్రిప్ట్ వర్క్, సెట్స్ పై ప్రిపరేషన్ తర్వాత, సినిమా రెమ్యూనరేషన్ విషయంలో ఫ్యామిలీ ఫార్ములా పాటిస్తున్నారని సమాచారం. ప్రతి రాజమౌళి సినిమా క్రమంలో నెలకు ఫిక్స్ జీతం + రిలీజ్ తర్వాత లాభాల్లో 50% షేర్ తీసుకునే విధానం ఇక్కడా కొనసాగుతుందని తెలుస్తోంది.
మహేష్ బాబు కూడా సినిమా పూర్తి అయ్యే వరకు ఫిక్స్ జీతం తీసుకుని, రిలీజ్ తర్వాత లాభాల్లో భాగస్వామ్యంగా పొందుతారంటూ సమాచారం వెలువడింది. వారణాసి సినిమాపై భారీ అంచనాలు నెలకొన్నాయి, మరియు అది టాలీవుడ్కు మాత్రమే కాక, గ్లోబల్ యాక్షన్ ప్రేక్షకులకూ ప్రత్యేక అనుభూతిని అందించనుంది.
Eight-Month Pregnant Indian Woman Killed in Sydney Crash
An eight-month pregnant Indian woman lost her life in a devastating road accident in Sydney last week, just weeks before she was due to welcome her second child. The victim, 33-year-old Samanvitha Dhareshwar, was out for an evening walk with her husband and three-year-old son when the tragedy unfolded.
According to New South Wales Police, the family was crossing near a car park entrance on George Street in Hornsby at around 8 pm on Friday. A Kia Carnival had slowed down to allow them to pass when a speeding BMW rammed into the back of the Kia. The severe impact propelled the Kia forward, striking Dhareshwar.
She suffered critical injuries and was rushed to Westmead Hospital, where medical teams were unable to save her or her unborn child.
Police identified the BMW driver as 19-year-old Aaron Papazoglu, who was on a provisional licence at the time of the collision. Although both the BMW and Kia drivers escaped unharmed, Papazoglu was later arrested at his Wahroonga residence. He now faces several charges, including dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving causing death, and causing the loss of a foetus.
Given the seriousness of the charges, Papazoglu was denied bail. Authorities also confirmed that the case could be prosecuted under Zoe’s Law—a New South Wales legislation introduced in 2022 that allows enhanced penalties when an unborn child dies due to criminal negligence or dangerous driving.
Dhareshwar, an IT professional and test analyst with Alsco Uniforms, was widely respected in her field. Police have yet to confirm whether her husband or young son sustained any injuries during the incident.
A formal investigation into the fatal crash remains ongoing.
లెజెండరీ గాయిక ఉషా ఉతుప్కి ఎదురయిన ఫన్నీ సంఘటన
ప్రముఖ గాయని ఉషా ఉతుప్ గురించి చెప్పాల్సిన అవసరం లేదు. ఆమె మైక్ పట్టిన కొద్దీ వేదిక దద్దరిల్లిపోతుంది. ఏ భాషలోనైనా, ఏ రకమైన పాట అయినా ఉషా గాత్రం ప్రేక్షకులను మంత్రముగ్ధులను చేస్తుంది. క్లాసికల్ లేదా వెస్ట్రన్, మైక్ పట్టారంటే ఆ రణరంగమే. అన్ని వయసుల వారు ఆమె గాత్రానికి స్టెప్ ఇవ్వాల్సిందే. దాదాపు అన్ని భాషల్లో పాటలతో అలరించిన లెజెండరీ సింగర్ ఆవిడ.
ఇలాంటి ఫేమస్ సింగర్ను ఎవరో గుర్తించకుండా వుండిపోవడం సాహసమే. ఉషా ఉతుప్ తాజాగా ఒక సంఘటనను రివీల్ చేశారు. “ఒకసారి ఓ అమ్మాయి ఫోన్ చేతిలో పట్టుకుని రెండు-మూడు సార్లు నా పక్కన నడిచింది. నేను కూడా సెల్ఫీకి రెడీ అయ్యాను. చీర సర్దుకున్నాను. అయితే మూడవ సారి అది నా దగ్గరకి వచ్చి, ‘నువ్వు సింగర్ రూనా లైలానా?’ అని అడిగింది. నేను నా పేరును చెప్పి, ‘ఉషా ఉతుప్’ అని చెప్పాను. ఆ తర్వాత ఆమె వెంటనే వెళ్లిపోయింది. కనీసం సెల్ఫీ కూడా తీసుకోలేదు,” అని ఆమె తెలిపారు.
ఉషా చెబుతోంది, ఇలాంటి సంఘటనలను సీరియస్గా తీసుకోకూడదు. ఫాలోయింగ్, క్రేజ్ అనేది స్క్రీన్ వెనుక కూడా ఉండాలి. ఒకప్పుడు హీరోలే ఫేమస్, అభిమానులు వారిని మాత్రమే గొప్పగా చూస్తారు. కానీ ఇప్పుడు, సమాజంలో సమయంతో మార్పు వచ్చి, ఫాలోయింగ్ సులభంగా తెలుస్తుంది. సినిమా తీసి సక్సెస్ అయితే, గుర్తింపు ప్రత్యేకంగా ఉంటుంది. వారసులు, బ్యాక్గ్రౌండ్ లేని కొత్తవాళ్లకూ మంచి గుర్తింపు దక్కుతుంది.
Cloudflare Outage Disrupts Major Internet Services
A significant internet disruption unfolded on Tuesday morning after a widespread Cloudflare outage caused numerous popular services to go offline or respond sluggishly. Platforms including ChatGPT, Claude, Spotify, X, and several others reported issues, as all depend on Cloudflare’s global infrastructure to remain operational.
Cloudflare confirmed the incident shortly after 8 a.m. ET on its status page, stating that engineers had identified the problem and were deploying a fix. Within two hours, the company reported that the outage had been resolved, though monitoring and secondary fixes were still underway.
In a post on X, Cloudflare chief technology officer Dane Knecht attributed the disruption to a “latent bug” hidden within one of the firm’s internal systems. Such bugs typically remain undetected under normal conditions but can cause critical failures when triggered by specific changes. In this case, a routine configuration update caused part of Cloudflare’s bot mitigation system to crash, setting off a cascading chain reaction across the network.
“In short, a latent bug in a service underpinning our bot mitigation capability started to crash after a routine configuration change we made. That cascaded into a broad degradation to our network and other services. This was not an attack,” Knecht explained.
Knecht apologised to customers, acknowledging that Cloudflare had let down its users and “the broader internet,” and promised a detailed postmortem soon. “I know it caused real pain today,” he added.
While most services recovered quickly, Cloudflare noted that some users might still encounter issues accessing the Cloudflare dashboard. A separate fix is being worked on as engineers continue monitoring for any lingering abnormalities.
The outage comes just weeks after an Amazon Web Services disruption, highlighting the internet’s heavy dependence on a small number of infrastructure providers. Cloudflare alone supports an estimated 20 percent of all websites, operating data centres in 330 cities with connections to over 13,000 networks worldwide. As a major provider of DDoS protection, the scope and impact of Tuesday’s disruption underscore the fragility and interconnectedness of today’s digital ecosystem.
Google Unveils Gemini 3, Its Most Powerful AI Model Yet
Google has officially rolled out Gemini 3, its newest foundation model, now available directly through the Gemini app and AI-driven search. Arriving just seven months after the release of Gemini 2.5, the launch positions Google at the forefront of the race to build the most capable AI system on the market. The timing is strategic, coming only days after OpenAI unveiled GPT 5.1 and two months following Anthropic’s debut of Sonnet 4.5—highlighting the rapidly escalating competition among top AI labs.
A more research-heavy variant, Gemini 3 Deepthink, is also in progress. Expected to be released to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the coming weeks, the model is currently undergoing additional safety and alignment reviews before deployment.
“We’re seeing a massive jump in reasoning with Gemini 3,” said Tulsee Doshi, Google’s head of product for the Gemini model. “It’s responding with a level of depth and nuance that we haven’t seen before.”
Early benchmarks appear to validate that claim. With a 37.4 score on Humanity’s Last Exam—a leading test for advanced reasoning and general intelligence—Gemini 3 now holds the top global ranking, surpassing GPT 5 Pro’s previous high of 31.64. It has also climbed to the number one position on LMArena, a user satisfaction–based leaderboard.
Google reports that the Gemini app currently serves over 650 million monthly active users, while more than 13 million developers integrate Gemini into their workflows. These numbers underscore the model’s expanding influence across Google’s broader AI ecosystem.
Along with the model release, Google also introduced Antigravity, a new Gemini-powered coding environment. The multi-pane interface integrates a chat prompt, terminal, and browser view, enabling agentic coding where the AI can write, test, and refine applications in real time.
“The agent can work with your editor, across your terminal, across your browser to help you build that application in the best way possible,” said Koray Kavukcuoglu, CTO of Google DeepMind.
Google’s latest advancements make clear that the contest among AI giants is accelerating rapidly. With Gemini 3 setting new benchmark records and Deepthink approaching release, the company is signaling its determination to stay at the cutting edge of reasoning, coding, and agentic AI capabilities.
US Sees Sharp Drop in New International Students as Indian Enrolments Surge
A sharp 17% drop in new international student enrolments for the 2025–26 cycle has raised concerns among US colleges, even as Indian students continued to drive record growth across key academic and work-based categories. The latest Open Doors data shows that total international student numbers in the US rose 5% to 1,177,766 in 2024–25, highlighting a widening gap between overall growth and the weakening new-student pipeline.
India further strengthened its position as the largest source of international students. With 363,019 students in 2024–25—a 10% year-on-year increase—India now represents nearly one-third of all foreign students in the US. Undergraduate enrolments rose to 40,135, graduate numbers reached 177,892, and participation in Optional Practical Training (OPT) surged to 143,740, marking a remarkable 47.3% annual jump.
This rise contrasts sharply with broader trends: new international student enrolments fell 7.2%, dropping from 298,705 to 277,118. Institutions predominantly attributed the decline to visa-related challenges, with 96% citing delays, denials, and uncertainty. Travel restrictions were highlighted by 68% of institutions as a contributing factor.
Despite the slowdown in new enrolments, overall numbers continue to climb, rising from 1,126,690 in 2023–24 to 1,177,766 in 2024–25. Over the past four years, the US has added more than 230,000 international students, reversing pandemic-era declines. International students now make up 6.1% of the total US higher education population.
State-level data points to broad stability, with 45 states recording growth. Texas (+8.4%), Illinois (+7%), and Missouri (+11.3%) saw especially strong gains. California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois remain the top host states—and key destinations for Indian students.
While India posted strong double-digit growth, Chinese enrolments fell 4.1% to 265,919, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Other emerging markets, including Nepal (+48.7%), Vietnam (+15.9%), and Bangladesh (+17.9%), recorded substantial increases, signalling shifting global mobility patterns.
STEM fields continue to dominate international interest, with enrolments in math and computer science growing 8.7%, engineering 3.3%, and health professions 10.4%. Together, STEM disciplines represent nearly 44% of all international student enrolments.
OPT has become a cornerstone of US competitiveness. The Fall 2025 Snapshot report noted that institutions increasingly depend on OPT to attract and retain global talent. Nearly 77% of schools cited OPT as essential for students seeking practical experience, 70% highlighted its importance for US industry, and more than 80% warned that students may look to other countries if access to OPT diminishes. Overall participation in OPT rose to 294,253 in 2024–25, a 21.2% increase, making it the single largest category of international student presence.
Despite evolving policies, the IIE reiterated that the US remains the world’s leading destination for international education. “International students come to every state. And 45 states experienced increases in their international student totals in 2024–25,” said Mirka Martel, head of research at IIE.
Musk’s Comment Rekindles Debate on US Labour Shortages and H-1B
Elon Musk has reignited the national debate over America’s labour shortages, particularly in physically demanding sectors, after asserting that the US no longer has enough people willing or able to take up such jobs. His comment, made during an online discussion about workforce gaps, quickly drew political and public backlash.
The debate intensified following Ford CEO Jim Farley’s revelation that the company is struggling to fill 5,000 mechanic positions offering salaries of $120,000 annually. The disclosure has fed into wider concerns voiced by industry leaders who say Americans increasingly “lack several skills” required across core industries.
Trump Reaffirms Support for H-1B Amid Worker Raids
Adding fuel to the controversy, President Donald Trump said in a FOX News interview that the US “will not terminate” the H-1B programme, arguing that the country continues to rely on foreign talent. He cited recent raids involving South Korean battery workers as evidence of ongoing skill shortages, stressing that these roles “require expertise currently lacking among American workers.”
Despite imposing a $100,000 fee on companies hiring foreign workers through H-1B, the administration appears unlikely to phase out the programme due to Silicon Valley’s continued dependence on specialised STEM talent. The mixed messaging has left businesses and workers questioning the government’s long-term plan.
Musk’s Comment Sparks Online Pushback
Responding to Farley’s concerns, Musk wrote on X: “America has a major shortage of people who can do challenging physical work or who even wish to train to do so.” His post drew heavy criticism, with many accusing him of echoing corporate narratives that misrepresent the realities faced by American workers.
One user countered Musk’s claim with a personal account: “You’re wrong. My white 22-yr-old son has been begging for this kind of work for the past 6 months… He is about to finish trade school… Can’t even get an interview with Walmart.”
Another user argued that the issue is not a shortage of American workers, but suppressed wages and diminishing employer loyalty: “We can’t find American workers to do challenging physical work at suppressed wages, therefore we must import cheap foreign labour with no exit options or bargaining power.”
As industry leaders, policymakers, and the public clash over the root causes of the labour gaps, the debate over the future of H-1B and American workforce development continues to intensify.
Rana Daggubati: Actor Turned Smart Entrepreneur
The film industry offers immense earning potential, but success requires not just talent, but also smart decision-making and foresight. Rana Daggubati has exemplified this, building a reputation not only as a versatile actor but also as a shrewd businessman who has successfully diversified his income beyond films.
Over the years, Rana has focused on investments, startups, and new-age businesses, often stating that backing good ideas is more stable and rewarding than relying solely on film roles. His entrepreneurial ventures span multiple sectors, from technology-driven platforms to creative companies and content development.
Through his company Spirit Media, Rana works on animation, high-quality visual effects, and diverse content creation. He also runs SouthBay, a digital content brand catering to younger audiences. Beyond these, he holds stakes in various startups and supports business accelerators that nurture emerging companies.
Rana’s business acumen extends to brand endorsements and promotional deals, contributing significantly to his annual income. He has also ventured into sports, owning a stake in Hyderabad FC. His personal lifestyle mirrors his financial success, with a luxury residence in Hyderabad and a collection of premium cars.
Overall, Rana Daggubati has demonstrated that an actor can successfully build wealth outside cinema, creating a strong business network while continuing to thrive on screen.
