Somy Ali donates to PM Cares Fund
Former Bollywood actress and noted humanitarian Somy Ali has stepped forward to support victims of the recent Kashmir violence by donating $1,000 to the PM Cares Fund. The gesture, though modest in monetary terms, carries immense emotional weight, as Ali dedicated the contribution to honor the families affected by the unrest and to stand with India in its fight against terrorism.
In a heartfelt statement, Somy expressed her deep-rooted connection with India, saying, 'India has always been close to my heart. As someone who believes deeply in justice, healing, and sacrifice, I wish to humbly contribute to the PM CARES Fund in support of our brave Jawans who put their lives on the line every day, and to honor the victims and families affected by violence in Kashmir.'
She further emphasized the spirit of global unity, compassion, and humanity in times of crisis. 'This gesture is small compared to their courage. But I hope it reflects the unity of humanity beyond borders, beyond religions, and beyond politics. I stand with India's fight against terrorism and with every family mourning an irreplaceable loss. As the world watches, let India also lead not just with strength, but with compassion,' she added.
Somy, who now leads the US-based NGO No More Tears, continues to use her platform to advocate for human rights and justice. Through her movement Somyism, she champions truth, healing, and empowerment across communities.
The actress also recently shared her vision for empowering girls in Pakistan, highlighting the potential of innovation and education. 'Imagine girls from Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Hyderabad becoming AI analysts, UX designers, and film editors. Women are already leading change in countries like Bangladesh, Kenya, and Vietnam. Why not Pakistan?' Ali's words and actions echo a call for unity, progress, and hope in regions affected by violence and inequality.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Viral Dubai chocolate gets desi spin. India can't get knafeh of it
Kochi-based Paul And Mike were one of the first to launch their own take Sometimes, a global trend finds its sweetest home far from where it began. Ashmeet Singh Dua didn't think a viral chocolate bar with a pistachio filling from Dubai would define his five-year-old Hyderabad-based dessert brand but the kunafa pistachio chocolate bar he introduced in Sept last year did just that. 'It's become our brand identity. In Hyderabad, people already love kunafa, so this was a hit the moment we launched it,' says the chef and founder of Xocolatl. If you haven't heard of Dubai chocolate, you probably don't have a sweet tooth. Inspired by the traditional Middle Eastern dessert knafeh (also called kunafa), it's become such a craze that global pistachio prices started climbing and every chocolate brand launched its own versions. Indian brands too have put their spin on it. Dua's take on the bar uses imported kataifi pastry for the crunch, house-roasted pistachio paste and a creamy filling. He's got a range of flavours as well: nutella, lotus biscoff, salted caramel. 'We've had celebrities try it and it's our best-selling product even today. Unlike other dessert fads, this one's here to stay,' he says. At Manam Chocolate, the award-winning craft chocolate brand from Hyderabad, the Dubai chocolate bar gets a layered, decadent spin. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Called 'The Kunafa Stack', it brings together their house-made custard, tart bursts of fresh mulberries, pistachio cake crumbs with toasted granola and chopped dates. It's topped with crisp pistachio kataifi and a scoop of house-made gelato, and a final flourish comes with a warm pour of molten Manam chocolate. Ruby Islam, head chef at Manam Chocolate, says The Kunafa Stack was launched during Ramzan this year. 'I always look forward to creating unique experiences. But it's also important to hear what people are asking for. When the Dubai Kunafa chocolate went viral, people started asking us if we had something with crunchy pistachio and milk chocolate.' The brand is opening a New Delhi outlet this month, where this version will be available. Mumbai's French pastry shop Le15 Patisserie has also tapped into the Dubai chocolate trend. Founder Pooja Dhingra, aka the macaron queen, tried the famed bar in Dubai earlier this year and immediately understood the hype. 'It was bold, sweet, crunchy and satisfying. But I knew I wanted to reimagine it through the lens of French pastry. A tart felt like the perfect format,' says Dhingra. Her kunafa chocolate pistachio tart, launched last month, features a buttery chocolate tart shell filled with pistachio cream, toasted kunafa and dark chocolate ganache topped with a pistachio macaron. Dhingra admits that viral trends come with their own set of expectations. 'Trends push you to stay current and experiment, which is fun and keeps the creative energy high. But there is a pressure to constantly be 'new' and sometimes, that can feel more reactive than intentional,' she says. Kochi-based Paul And Mike's bar has a golden kataifi pastry and a pistachio-rich filling. Founder and business head Vikas Temani says openness to global trends isn't just philosophy — it's now an operational reality. 'What virality has done is really compress the product innovation cycle. We wanted to be the first among reputed Indian chocolate brands to launch this, so we did it real quick in terms of R&D and sourcing. That also gave us a window of no competition,' he says. As kataifi pastry is hard to find, home bakers in India have substituted the ingredients with what's locally available. Some have used roasted sevaiya noodles to recreate that signature crunch. Arun Viswanathan of Chitra'm Craft Chocolates in Coimbatore didn't want to replicate the trending Kunafa chocolate. Instead, he used a base of nool peni — a South Indian festive sweet made with fine strands of deep-fried dough, resembling delicate vermicelli, layered with ghee and powdered sugar — and cheekily named his bar Dubai Return, almost saying we've been there and come back with something of our own. The nool peni is layered with pistachio, saffron, rose and a touch of gulkand (rose petal preserve). 'Nool peni has a flaky, crisp texture that reminds me of kunafa. So, I thought, why not reimagine the Dubai bar with it? Our Dubai Return is familiar, yet it surprises you,' says Viswanathan, who did his chocolate training in Belgium. Poetry by Love and Cheesecake, a cafe chain in Delhi, gave the trend a seasonal spin last month with their Chocolate Mango Kunafa Cheesecake. 'We've never done anything like this before,' says chef Amit Sharma. 'But after the Dubai chocolate went viral, people got curious—now we're seeing repeat orders and planning more Kunafa experiments.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sony Music India, The Hello Group form JV to expand global touring for Indian artists
Sony Music India has entered into a joint venture with Los Angeles-based The Hello Group (THG) to launch THG India , a new entity aimed at supporting Indian artists in the global live music sector. The venture combines Sony Music India's understanding of the local market with THG's international network in live touring and artist development. THG India will offer end-to-end services including artist management , event booking, and publishing support. "This is a great moment for the Indian music industry and its vibrant creative community," said Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director, Sony Music India. "THG India marks our first international collaboration of this scale right here in India, and it serves as a critical bridge. By combining THG's strength in global live touring and their international network with our deep local expertise, we are strategically empowering Indian artists with the resources, seasoned management, and global network essential to truly accelerate their careers and resonate on the international stage." Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Taylor Jones, CEO of The Hello Group, added, "The Indian music scene boasts an incredible wealth of talent, and its global influence is undeniable. THG India reinforces our deep commitment to building a robust platform for these artists, underpinned by our extensive experience in live touring, artist development and publishing. With our dedicated team in Mumbai and our proven track record of orchestrating worldwide tours for top-tier artists, we are uniquely poised to amplify India's voices like never before." THG India aims to address gaps in artist management and live touring infrastructure within India, offering new opportunities to artists. Sony Music India will provide investment and access to its creative and commercial platforms. THG's publishing division, administered by Sony Music Publishing, has contributed to over 50 Billboard #1 chart entries and numerous platinum singles and albums for artists including BTS, NCT 127, ITZY, IVE, and others. THG's booking agency has organized tours for artists such as Jeff Satur, Mark Ambor, I.M (of MONSTA X), and Kang Daniel.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Recalling John Cena's bombshell announcement at Money in the Bank 2024 before his upcoming tag team extravaganza at the 2025 mega-event
John Cena (Image via X) John Cena is one of the biggest names in the world of wrestling and now, even in Hollywood. The record-breaking superstar is currently on his WWE Farewell Tour, ready to take a step back from the ring and focus more on his acting commitments. He will next be seen at the 2025 Money in the Bank PPE, which will be held tonight, June 7, at the Inuit Dome in California for a thrilling tag team match. But before that, let's take a look back at the same event from last year when John Cena made an announcement that shook the fans completely. John Cena's retirement announcement happened a year ago at Money in the Bank 2024 It was a star-filled night at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 6, 2024. Trish Stratus hosted the explosive event where stars from the Stamford-based promotion came together to deliver some powerful performances. RAW's Drew McIntyre and SmackDown's Tiffany Stratton won the men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches. And in between all the nerve-wracking moments, John Cena made a special appearance to announce that he would be retiring from wrestling. He said: "Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from WWE... Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to play in a house that you guys built for so many years. Thank you so much for your voice because it's really loud and for your honesty because it's always brutal." John Cena announces he will retire in 2025: Money in the Bank 2024 highlights He announced that 2025 would be his last year as an in-ring performer, but also said that didn't mean he was leaving WWE for good, as it would always be a part of his life and legacy. The 17-time WWE Champion was seen entering the ring with a towel in hand that read a modified version of his renowned catchphrase, "My Time Is Now." It became "The Last Time Is Now," the phrase he has been using all throughout his Farewell Tour as of now. John Cena is coming to Money in the Bank 2025 for a fiery tag team match John Cena will team up with Logan Paul for yet another explosive match, this time a tag-team one, to face none other than Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso . He had lost to Uso earlier this year at the WWE Royal Rumble, becoming the last person to be eliminated out of the ring, making Jey Uso the champion. He then won the Men's Elimination Chamber match which led him to face Cody Rhodes at the 2025 WrestleMania. He turned heel, won the match, and took the Undisputed title from his opponent. And since then, it's been a brand new John Cena that fans have been witnessing. He was last present at the last Saturday Night Main Event show, where he attacked Uso during his match against Paul. Rhodes made his comeback as well, and now fans cannot wait to see what they have in store for Money in the Bank. Also Read: WWE Money in the Bank 2025: Date, match card, streaming details, and what to expect
