Latest News from Kech 24
News18
27 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Amitabh Bachchan Buys Rs 40 Crore Plot In Ayodhya, His Fourth Investment In The City
Last Updated: Amitabh Bachchan buys fourth plot in Ayodhya worth Rs 40 crore, near Sarayu project. Amitabh Bachchan is steadily building his presence in Ayodhya's luxury real estate market. According to a recent Hindustan Times report, the legendary actor has just bought his fourth property in the temple town — a massive 25,000 square foot plot valued at Rs 40 crore. This premium land parcel is said to be located near 'Sarayu', an upscale development in which Bachchan had already invested Rs 14.5 crore. The area has rapidly become a hotbed for high-end real estate, drawing major attention ever since the Ram Mandir project gained momentum. Just days before this latest buy, the Piku star also invested Rs 10 crore each in a real estate firm owned by Bollywood producer Anand Pandit. His earlier investments in Ayodhya include a 5,372 sq ft plot purchased last year for Rs 4.54 crore, ahead of the Ram Temple inauguration. As per Mint, this was the beginning of his interest in Ayodhya real estate. Another significant acquisition was a 54,000 sq ft plot, registered under a trust named after his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Reports suggest the actor is planning to build a memorial on that land dedicated to his late father. Outside Ayodhya, the Bachchans have also been actively expanding their real estate portfolio. In 2023, Amitabh and son Abhishek Bachchan jointly bought 10 apartments worth Rs 25 crore. Jaya Bachchan, during her Rajya Sabha declaration last year, revealed that the couple's total assets were valued at Rs 1,578 crore. Their movable assets stood at Rs 849.11 crore, while immovable properties totaled Rs 729.77 crore. Given recent developments, those numbers are expected to have increased. On the acting front, Amitabh was last seen in the 2024 film 'Vettaiyan," an action drama film directed by T. J. Gnanavel. He is currently preparing for the next season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. He has hosted KBC since its launch in 2000, except for Season 3, which featured Shah Rukh Khan. Amitabh Bachchan has already featured in announcement posters and teaser videos for KBC 17, and is expected to shoot full-fledged promos in the coming weeks. The new season is scheduled to go on floors in July, with a premiere planned for the first week of August.
News18
36 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Jennie, IU Fans Outraged After ‘Damaging' Claims Go Viral: ‘K-Pop Stars Spend Night For Money'
Last Updated: A resurfaced clip from a podcast has sparked outrage for implying IU and BLACKPINK's Jennie were involved in 'paid sponsorship meetings'. A viral clip from a previously paywalled episode of the ABOVE the Influence Show podcast has sparked widespread outrage online for its controversial comments about Korean celebrities, including high-profile names like IU and BLACKPINK's Jennie. The remarks, made by hosts Michelle Kira Lee and Wootak Kim, have been called 'baseless" and 'harmful" by fans, especially those within the K-pop fandom. The now-viral footage, originally from a bonus clip shared three months ago, began circulating widely on social media on May 28. In the clip, Michelle is heard saying, 'All the K-pop stars in Korea are wh*res, all the Korean actresses are wh*res. Apparently, every Korean celebrity/actress there's a price tag on their head. And if you're rich enough, like a Chinese businessman, you can go to these entertainment companies and request to spend a night even with the top K-Pop stars. Even IU, 500 thousand dollars a night." To this, Wootak Kim adds, 'My friend, whom I went to some summer camp with, is the son of a BMW heir. And he f*d Jennie from BLACKPINK." When Michelle probes further, 'Like, he paid for her?" Wootak responds, 'Yeah. Paid for her. He showed me this video. That's how I know it was real." He later states that he had not actually seen the alleged video and that he was merely quoting someone else. Admirers of IU and BLACKPINK, especially Jennie, denounced the hosts for making defamatory and unsubstantiated claims. Many urged legal action, describing the clip as deeply disrespectful and damaging to the reputations of the artists mentioned. Facing mounting backlash, both Michelle and Wootak issued statements on social media clarifying their intent and context. Michelle Kira Lee wrote, 'I want to take a moment to directly address the viral clip circulating online and the rumours that have followed." She emphasised that the clip was 'edited out of context" and did not reflect her personal views. 'The circulating video is edited out of context and does not reflect my beliefs, intentions, or values," she said. Wootak also attempted to clarify his comments, writing on Instagram, 'All you kpop stans freaking out right now, get your facts straight. I am not hating or attacking Jennie, simply telling a story I HEARD. It was not bashing but simply repeating it because the topic was how dark the kpop industry can be and why idols have high suicide rates and how crazy these 'slave' contracts can be." First Published:
News24
an hour ago
- General
- News24
Rwanda joins criticism of M23 'parallel administrations' in eastern DRC
Twelve African countries, including Rwanda, condemned M23's 'parallel administrations' in eastern DRC. The Entebbe statement calls for all foreign armed groups to disarm unconditionally. Rwanda reconsiders M23 support; Burundi sent 10 000+ troops to aid DRC. Twelve African countries, including Rwanda, on Wednesday condemned the M23 armed group for setting up 'parallel administrations' in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Kigali's condemnation of a group that it supports militarily comes as the M23 stands accused of human rights violations in the region, where it has seized large areas since January. The United Nations has notably denounced the M23 for summary executions of suspects, some of them minors, while on Tuesday, Amnesty International accused it of killing and torturing civilians that it was holding illegally. The group denies the charges. In a joint statement, the 12 African countries said they 'condemn the territorial advances and installation of parallel administrations' by the M23 and the Congo River Alliance (AFC) of which it is a part. The DRC also signed the declaration at a regional meeting in Entebbe, Uganda. Two analysts recently told AFP that Rwanda had begun to question its support for the M23 because of the financial and diplomatic cost. Belgium, the former colonial power in the DRC and Rwanda, has been vocal in the international community in criticising Kigali for its support of the M23. The text signed in Entebbe also calls for all other 'foreign armed groups' active in restive eastern DRC to be dismantled and to 'lay down their weapons without conditions'. They include the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was founded by former Rwandan Hutu leaders of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. The M23 accuses Kinshasa of supporting the FDLR and maintains that its offensive in the mineral-rich region is justified to neutralise the group. Another group is the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) of Ugandan-origin rebels, who swore allegiance to the Islamic State and are behind massacres that have killed thousands. Congolese troops are fighting the ADF, backed by Ugandan troops, who are also helping the DRC against the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO), a community-based militia. Also urged to lay down its arms is the Resistance for the Rule of Law in Burundi (RED-Tabara), which has been less active in recent years but has conducted attacks on Burundian soil. Burundi has sent more than 10 000 soldiers since October 2023 to help the Congolese army fight the M23 and other armed groups.
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
'I Have Grandchildren Too': Palestinian Envoy Breaks Down In Tears At UN Over Gaza
Last Updated: Addressing the UN Security Council, Mansour struggled to hold back his emotions and broke down mid-speech Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, on Wednesday broke down in tears as he addressed the UN Security Council, speaking about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Visibly distressed, Mansour struggled to contain his emotions mid-speech, as he described the suffering of Palestinian families. 'Dozens of children are dying of starvation. The images of mothers embracing their motionless bodies, caressing their hair, talking to them, apologising to them, is unbearable. How could anyone tolerate this sorrow?" he said in a trembling voice. 'I have grandchildren. I know what they mean to their families.'Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour breaks down in tears as he addresses the UN Security Council on the situation in Gaza. 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 — Sky News (@SkyNews) May 28, 2025 'I have grandchildren. I know what they mean to their families. To witness the suffering of Palestinians, while the world remains unmoved, is beyond what any normal human being can endure," he added, thumping the desk in front of him, overcome with emotion. 'Flames and hunger are devouring Palestinian children. This is why we are so outraged — as Palestinians everywhere, the 14 million of us, in the occupied territories, in the diaspora, in the refugee camps…" he said. 'We love our children. We love our people. We don't want to see them going through this tragedy and these savage attacks," the Palestinian envoy stated. Israel has stepped up its military offensive in Gaza, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 — the deadliest day for Israel since its founding in 1948. That attack killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage into Gaza. In response, Israel launched a prolonged and devastating military campaign, which has so far killed more than 54,000 Palestinians — more than in any previous conflict between the two sides, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry reports that women and children make up the majority of those killed, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures. Despite growing international calls for a ceasefire, efforts by mediators have yet to yield a breakthrough. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 28, 2025, 23:58 IST
France 24
an hour ago
- Business
- France 24
US firms plan to pass Trump tariff costs to consumers: Fed minutes
Since returning to office in January, Trump has embarked on a stop-start tariff rollout that has unnerved investors and shaken global financial markets. The Fed's meeting on May 6 and 7 took place after Trump had announced a 90-day pause on the most severe levies he had threatened against dozens of trading partners, and shortly before the White House unveiled trade deals with China and Britain, helping to soothe some market concerns. At that meeting, policymakers voted to hold the US central bank's benchmark lending rate between 4.25 and 4.50 percent as they continued to fight inflation, which remains above the Fed's long-term target of two percent. "Many participants remarked that reports from their business contacts or surveys indicated that firms generally were planning to either partially or fully pass on tariff-related cost increases to consumers," the Fed said in its minutes of the meeting, published Wednesday. Participants also "noted that the Committee might face difficult tradeoffs if inflation proves to be more persistent while the outlooks for growth and employment weaken," the Fed warned in its minutes. The Fed has a dual mandate to act independently to tackle both inflation and unemployment. The views of Fed officials chime with the opinions of many economists, who see Trump's levies as inflationary and bad for growth. Trump and his allies insist that tariffs are one part of a wider policy mix, and that the US president's overall package of economic plans -- including tax cuts and deregulation -- should boost economic growth. Given the high tariff-related uncertainty, Fed officials decided that it was prudent to keep rates where they were. "Participants agreed that with economic growth and the labor market still solid and current monetary policy moderately restrictive, the Committee was well positioned to wait for more clarity on the outlooks for inflation and economic activity," the Fed said.
