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China to Begin Trial of 30-Day Visa-Free Travel for Russians Following Xi-Putin Summit
- China will allow Russian citizens with ordinary passports to enter visa-free for up to 30 days from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026, as a trial.
- The visa exemption covers visits for tourism, business, family, educational exchanges, and transit purposes.
- This move follows the recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, symbolizing strong China-Russia ties.
- The trial aims to boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
- Russian tour operators expect increase in trips to China due to the eased travel restrictions.
Minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh Allowed to Stay Without Passport Who Came To India Till 2024
- Minorities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians) from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh arriving on or before December 31, 2024, can stay in India without valid passports or travel documents.
- The exemption is for those fleeing religious persecution or fearing it, regardless of the validity of their documents.
- The order is under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, extending protections beyond the 2014 cutoff in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
- This landmark relief addresses concerns, especially of Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed after 2014.
- While stay without a passport is allowed, this does not automatically grant citizenship, which is subject to existing CAA criteria.
Kolkata Metro Crosses 8 Lakh Daily Ridership, Earns Rs 1.6 Crore from Tickets
- On September 1, 2025, Kolkata Metro achieved its highest-ever daily ridership with over 8 lakh passengers.
- New metro extensions added 14 km, boosting ridership by over 30% overnight.
- The East-West Green Line crossed 2 lakh daily passengers for the first time; the Blue Line carried 5.8 lakh.
- Ticket revenue hit a record Rs 1.6 crore, with Blue Line contributing Rs 1.1 crore and Green Line Rs 38 lakh.
- About 40% of ticket transactions were digital via QR codes, highlighting growing digital adoption.
Lokah Director Dominic Arun Pays Tribute to Priyadarshan Through Kalyani’s Kiliye Kiliye Scene
- Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra is a Malayalam superhero film directed by Dominic Arun, known for its unique storyline and technical brilliance on a ₹30 crore budget.
- The Kiliye Kiliye song scene marking Kalyani Priyadarshan’s on-screen entry was a special tribute by the director to her father, renowned filmmaker Priyadarshan, inspired by his movie Vandanam.
- Kalyani Priyadarshan delivers a career-defining performance as the lead character Chandra in this film, which is the first of a planned five-part franchise.
- The film blends folklore, mythology, and superhero elements, receiving strong audience praise and opening a new era for Malayalam superhero cinema.
- The sequel and future parts are already planned, with continued high hopes for the franchise’s success.
Shilpa Shetty Shuts Iconic Bastian Bandra Amid ₹60 Crore Fraud Allegations; Sister Outlet to Stay Open
- Shilpa Shetty announced the closure of her iconic Mumbai restaurant Bastian Bandra after 9 years, calling it “the end of an era” and planned a special farewell evening.
- The closure follows allegations of a ₹60 crore fraud filed by businessman Deepak Kothari against Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra, accusing them of misusing investment funds for personal expenses.
- The couple’s lawyer denied the allegations, calling them baseless and highlighting that the case involves an old transaction with full documentation.
- While Bastian Bandra is closing, the sister location Bastian At The Top in Worli will continue operations, including the popular event Arcane Affair relocating there.
- The case is under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing in Mumbai, and the controversy has drawn significant media attention.
India’s Services Sector Growth Hits 15-Year High in August; Inflation Pressure Intensifies
- India’s services sector PMI hit a 15-year high of 62.9 in August, driven by strong new orders and international demand.
- The Composite PMI for manufacturing and services rose to a 17-year high of 63.2, indicating broad economic strength.
- New business expanded for the 49th consecutive month, supported by export demand from the US, Europe, and Asia.
- Employment growth was moderate, with more part-time hiring, as business confidence rose to a five-month peak.
- Inflation pressures increased, with prices rising at the fastest pace in over a decade due to higher labor and input costs.