The 14th edition of the Prathidhwani Qisa Film Festival (PQFF 2025), organised by Prathidhwani—the cultural and welfare forum for IT professionals at Technopark—is set to conclude with its much-anticipated awards ceremony on December 6. 

 

A total of 32 short films made by IT professionals from Technopark, Infopark, and Cyber Park are in this year's competition. Actor-writer Murali Gopy will be the chief guest at the function, which will be held at Travancore Hall, Technopark, at 6.30 pm. The jury for the short film competition comprises directors Fasil Muhammed and Sohanlal and actress Beena R Chandran. PQFF 2025 will also feature reels and AI microfilm competitions. 

 

GenAI storyteller Varun Ramesh and director Vidhu Vincent form the jury for the AI microfilm segment, while actors Jassim Hashim and Shameer Khan and screenwriter Mridul George will judge the reels category. The Best Short Film will carry a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and a memento. The Second-Best Film will receive Rs 10,000 and a memento. Awards of Rs 10,000 each and mementoes will also be presented for Best Script and Best Director. Special recognitions will be given for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematographer and Best Editor. 

 

Prathidhwani is hosting a week-long series of programmes alongside the festival, including acting and filmmaking workshops and a screening of the State award-winning film Feminichi Fathima. The drama Mathavilasam will be staged on December 4 at 6.30 pm, followed by a musical night on December 5 at the Technopark Amphitheatre. Entry to all events is free.

 

TPCC President and MLC Mahesh Kumar Goud on Thursday accused the Opposition of spreading false propaganda to divert attention from the Congress government's two-year public administration celebrations. Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, he said the people of Telangana are witnessing transparent governance and added that the Congress will return to power with renewed public support.

He said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is committed to transforming Hyderabad into a global, green and pollution-free city. Referring to the alarming pollution levels in Delhi, Mahesh said a comprehensive health policy is being framed to ensure Hyderabad never faces a similar crisis. “The government is farsighted and working with determination to make Hyderabad a model city,” he noted.

He said the state is creating a favourable environment for setting up industries within the Outer Ring Road, promoting balanced development along with residential growth. The new HILT policy, he said, is designed to benefit the public and encourage industrial expansion. Taking exception to Union Minister Kishan Reddy’s criticism, Mahesh questioned where he was when prime lands—both inner and outer—were handed over to private entities during the earlier BRS government.

His comments show that the BJP and BRS are no different. The previous government was steeped in exploitation, Mahesh said. He also refuted attempts to politicise cultural matters, including the installation of singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam’s statue. “SPB is an artist the entire nation is proud of. It is wrong to drag caste or religion into issues involving artists and writers,” Mahesh added.

 

In a major setback for Congress MLA Rahul Mankoottathil, the Principal District and Sessions Court on Thursday rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the sexual assault case registered against him.

The court, after examining prosecution documents, including medical evidence, witness statements and digital records, observed that granting anticipatory bail at this stage could hinder the progress of the investigation.

Mankoottathil faces allegations of sexual assault, impregnating the complainant, and pressuring her into undergoing an abortion. Meanwhile, KPCC President Sunny Joseph MLA announced that Mankoottathil already under suspension, has been expelled from the primary membership of the Congress. The action follows multiple serious complaints and the criminal case filed against him.

The MLA has remained untraceable for several days, prompting police to issue a lookout notice. With the court denying him protection from arrest, investigation teams have intensified efforts to locate him.

 

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has asserted that steps have been taken to bolster the Panchayat Raj system and a development officer’s office will be set up in every division. The Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the Divisional Development Office (DDO) here on Thursday, and later, he virtually inaugurated 77 DDOs.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan vowed to implement reforms in the Panchayat Raj system and reinforce its functioning. “A DDO office will be set up in every panchayat division to strengthen the functioning system of panchayat raj. We are appointing an RDO-level officer at all DDO offices," Kalyan revealed. 

 

The Deputy Chief Minister opined that revoking 7,244 clusters and making 13,350 village panchayat self-governing bodies, the panchayats could be provided decision-making powers. He also suggested that a gazetted officer should be appointed to the village panchayats whose population is above 10,000 to make the administration easier.

Kalyan promised to adopt a transparent process for promotions of panchayat raj officials. So far, over 10,000 employees have been promoted irrespective of recommendations or political pressures, he claimed. “The curtailing of the existing five grades of Panchayat Secretaries to three grades will smooth administration. We have given orders to set up a Sanitation Wing, Water Supply Wing, Country Planning Wing, Street Lighting and Engineering Wing and Revenue Wing, depending on the category of the Panchayat,” he clarified.

 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its probe into the deadly car blast near Delhi's Red Fort, returning to Bengaluru's Parappana Agrahara Central Prison for a fresh inspection after preliminary findings indicated that a suspected terrorist lodged there may have used an illegal mobile phone in the run-up to the attack. 

 

The agency's second visit to the high-security facility comes amid mounting concerns over a viral video that recently showed terror accused Juhad Hamid Shakeel Manna and several rowdy sheeters freely using mobile phones and availing prohibited amenities inside the prison, raising serious questions about security lapses and internal complicity. Thirteen people were killed, and more than 30 were injured in the Red Fort blast, which took place in a highly protected zone, leading to nationwide alerts and multi-state raids by the NIA.

According to sources, the NIA team conducted a detailed inspection inside the prison on Tuesday and interrogated Manna, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. Officials are reported to have retrieved documents and digital trails that shed light on the communications he made while using an illegally accessed mobile phone inside the jail. Investigators are also examining call records, communication logs and the identity of possible handlers who may have been in contact with him.

The agency questioned Manna specifically on whether he had any direct or indirect link to the Delhi blast, including possible coordination or facilitation from within the prison. The renewed visit indicates that evidence recovered during earlier searches had raised sufficient concerns for a deeper probe. The controversy first broke out after a video surfaced showing Manna casually holding a mobile phone inside Parappana Agrahara. Visuals of other inmates accessing amenities prohibited for prisoners further intensified criticism of the jail administration.

 

Former senior police officer S.K. Umesh, who served in Bengaluru for 35 years, said irregularities in jails were not new, but allowing terror suspects access to mobile phones amounted to a serious security lapse. He said such VIP-like facilities inside prison created insecurity among the public and could have dangerous national security implications. There have also been allegations that information about earlier raids inside the barracks had been leaked in advance, enabling inmates to hide or destroy evidence.

Jail authorities have denied any such breach, but the NIA is reportedly probing the possibility of internal support or corruption among prison staff. Manna has been under the scanner of national agencies not only for his alleged terror links but also for reportedly attempting to influence and recruit youths for ISIS, intensifying the gravity of the situation.

The NIA has been conducting searches across multiple states following the Delhi blast, seizing digital devices, documents and materials suspected to be connected to the planning and execution of the attack.

The Indian Navy celebrated Navy Day with great fervour and respect at the Victory War Memorial in Chennai today. As part of the celebrations, a wreath-laying ceremony was held to pay homage to the brave men of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

 

Lt Gen V Sreehari, General Officer Commanding Dakshin Bharat Area, and Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Area, led the ceremony, laying wreaths in honour of the fallen heroes. The ceremony was attended by senior officers, veterans, NCC cadets, schoolchildren, and personnel from the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard, along with their families.

 

The Navy Day celebrations commemorate the Indian Navy's victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak War and highlight the service and sacrifices of Indian Naval personnel.

 

The Indian Navy is set to celebrate Navy Day 2025 with a breathtaking Operational Demonstration (Op Demo) at Shangumugham Beach this evening at 4:30 pm, promising an extraordinary showcase of its air, surface, and sub-surface capabilities. With President Draupadi Murmu in attendance, thousands are expected to witness a dazzling display of skill, coordination, and precision, highlighting the Navy’s multi-dimensional operational strength.

 

The event will commence with the arrival of Chief Guest Murmu, followed by a ceremonial salute by an MH-60R helicopter, setting the stage for an action-packed evening. Warships will perform the striking Manoeuvre ‘W’, closing in on the beachfront and firing flares in salute, while Chetak helicopters soar past in banner formation, carrying the National Flag and the Naval Ensign. Hawk AJT aircraft will execute the dramatic Bomb Burst manoeuvre, showcasing their ground-attack agility.

Audiences will witness Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS) and helicopter-borne insertion operations by MARCOS, demonstrating the Navy’s expertise in counter maritime threat missions. 1241 RE missile vessels of the famed Killer Squadron will recreate combat scenarios with a simulated missile launch using flares. The demonstration will also feature submarines conducting a silent yet powerful sail past, complemented by high-speed runs by Fast Interception Crafts (FIC) and Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC). 

 

The Small Team Insertion and Extraction (STIE) drill will highlight the precision of demolition teams inserting via assault boats and extracting while underslung from helicopters. The skies will be alive with Hawk AJT combat manoeuvres and an impressive carrier-borne aviation display, as MiG-29K Black Panthers simulate launch and recovery operations from an aircraft carrier. A Helo Landing Demo on a moving ship will showcase unparalleled flying skill and ship-handling coordination. Chetak helicopters will perform a synchronised display emphasising their roles in logistics, medical evacuation, and search-and-rescue operations.

 

The underwater arm will demonstrate its might through an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) rocket firing, followed by a grand Composite Fly Past featuring aircraft from multiple naval air stations and ships, underscoring the precision and capability of naval aviation. Adding maritime elegance, sail training ships INS Tarangini and INS Sudarshini will glide past the dais in the Sail Past Demo. The evening will also feature the Hornpipe Dance by Sea Cadet Corps children, a ceremonial Beating Retreat, and a vibrant cultural programme celebrating Kerala’s rich heritage. The Navy’s ceremonial guard will perform a flawless Continuity Drill, highlighting discipline and teamwork.

As night falls, naval ships at anchorage will illuminate the coastline in a stunning Illumination of Ships, with flares fired in sequence to close the event with a spectacular flourish. Guided by the Government of India’s maritime vision MAHASAGAR, Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Region, the Indian Navy continues its commitment to safeguarding national maritime interests, Anytime, Anywhere, Anyhow. Today’s Op Demo offers the public a rare glimpse into this powerful, multi-dimensional force.

 

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday, extending a formal invitation to attend the Telangana Rising 2047 Global Summit and seeking the Centre’s backing for major infrastructure projects aligned with the state’s long-term growth roadmap. The Telangana Rising 2047 Global Summit is scheduled to be held at Bharat Future City, Hyderabad, on 8–9 December 2.

 

During the interaction, Revanth Reddy presented a specially printed summit invitation letter to the Prime Minister and briefed him on Telangana’s long-term development vision. He highlighted the state’s ambition to achieve a USD 3 trillion economy in alignment with the Centre’s Vikasit Bharat 2047 goals. As part of this effort, the state has prepared the Telangana Rising 2047 Vision Document, developed with inputs from NITI Aayog and experts from various sectors. The document is set to be unveiled at the upcoming global summit.

The Chief Minister sought the Centre’s support for major infrastructure proposals tied to the state’s growth roadmap. He urged the Prime Minister to grant approvals for the second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion covering 162.5 km, estimated to cost Rs 43,848 crore, and requested that it be taken up as a joint venture between the Centre and the state. Revanth Reddy also appealed for Cabinet approval for the northern part of the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road (RRR) and financial clearance for the southern section.

 

He pushed for early action on the proposed Regional Ring Rail project planned along the ring road. Additionally, he requested special assistance for major expressway projects, including a 12-lane Greenfield corridor connecting Hyderabad to Bandar Port via Amaravati and another Greenfield expressway to strengthen the Hyderabad–Bengaluru High-Speed Corridor. The CM also submitted a memorandum seeking approval for a four-lane elevated corridor from Mannanur to Srisailam through the Tiger Reserve to ensure smooth travel to the Srisailam temple, an official statement said.

 

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been recognised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge as one of the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (CSS) globally. BPCL is the only Indian organisation to feature in the prestigious 2025 CSS list, which honours leading corporates across the world for exemplary collaboration with startups and contributions to open innovation.

 

The announcement was made at an awards ceremony at the ICC headquarters in Paris. The 2025 Corporate Startup Stars Awards recognised 100 top companies from the Forbes Global 2000 and Fortune Global 500 for their commitment to supporting startup ecosystems, fostering innovation, and developing impactful partnerships, a release said. BPCL CMD Sanjay Khanna said the recognition reflects the company’s efforts to nurture innovation. “We are honoured to be recognised among the 2025 Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars. This global accolade is a testament to Bharat Petroleum’s commitment to building an open innovation ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship in the country,” he said.

 

He highlighted BPCL’s startup initiative ‘Ankur’, which aims to drive breakthrough solutions for cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy. “As BPCL marks its 50th year of shaping the future of energy, we remain committed to partnering with startups to advance technologies that will accelerate India’s energy transition,” he added.

Launched in 2016, Ankur has supported 30 startups working in robotics, AI, machine learning, industrial IoT, asset integrity, safety technologies, predictive maintenance, and other emerging domains. BPCL has also established the BPCL Ankur Fund to invest in early-stage startups aligned with its long-term strategy. Congratulating the winners, John WH Denton AO, ICC Secretary General, said innovation continues to drive global economic growth. “ICC is proud to support businesses that drive meaningful impact through collaboration from emerging startups to established corporations,” he said.

Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge, noted BPCL’s success in building a structured innovation pathway. “BPCL is a strong case of how a large corporation can strategically drive innovation by partnering with startups and investing in them. Through Project Ankur and the BPCL Ankur Fund, BPCL has created a platform that accelerates technology adoption and nurtures early-stage entrepreneurs in India’s evolving energy sector,” he said.

 

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The main opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu today suffered yet another setback, when party senior and two-time MLA R Chinnasamy quit the party and joined the ruling DMK. Chinnasamy joined the DMK in the presence of the Party President and Chief Minister

 

M K Stalin at DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam here. Chinnasamy, who is the AIADMK's trade union secretary, was elected from the Singanallur Assembly constituency in Coimbatore on two occasions. Chinnasamy, who has a considerable following in the Textile city, was the latest leader to quit the party, as desertions in AIADMK continued ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

Several senior leaders, including former MP V Maitreyan, AIADMK's minority face and veteran Anwar Raaja, also a former MLA, P Manoj Pandian, among others, quit the party and joined the DMK in recent times.