There are more misconceptions than truth about south India in people’s minds and a development-oriented ecosystem in the region was already in existence, in which both the state governments and the Centre have played a role, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. 

In her first post-Budget interview to a private channel, the finance minister told NDTV on Friday that the education, skill and opportunity levels in the south have always been there and the number of people emigrating to foreign countries has also been high.  

To a question on the BJP’s plan for south India, a region in which it hasn’t done well, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Ms Sitharaman said in Hindi, “Development there… the ecosystem already exists. Private investment is higher than government investment, we need to face reality. The state governments and the Centre have both played a role in building the ecosystem. Human resource has also played a part… educated people, people who take an interest in science and technology.”

“Eminent people have played a role in building science and technology there. Because of this, you see phone manufacturers, IT companies, startups, the bio sector – all of this has also been mentioned in the Budget… because all of these sectors have been encouraged for some time now, private investment is being attracted there. And this is why there are more employment opportunities in technology-driven activities there and their contribution to the GDP in the services sector is higher,” she added. 

To increase the development of the region further, the finance minister said, policy support and fiscal support will also be given as needed.

“For example, why did the defence corridor go there… there were questions raised about this. But one was set up in Uttar Pradesh too. This is why we will keep both regional backwardness and regional strength in mind,” she said. 

Ghostbusters is back with fresh and familiar faces with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. On Friday, the makers dropped the film’s full-length trailer.

The trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire opens with strange encounters as the Ghostbusters collect some intriguing “possessed possessions”. We find out that all of New York City is facing a paranormal crisis and the gang is ready to fight them.

Check out the trailer here:

The film follows the events of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. 

The official synopsis reads, “In Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.”

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire features Paul Rudd, Bill Murray, Finn Wolfhard, Kumail Nanjiani and more.

The film will arrive in cinemas on April 19, 2024.

Poonam Pandey, a prominent model and reality TV personality, has succumbed to cervical cancer, as revealed by her manager’s statement today. The news has elicited shock and disbelief, given that the 32-year-old, who was recently featured on the reality show Lock Upp, fought courageously against the disease until her demise this morning, as stated by her team.

Her manager, Nikita Sharma, emphasised the urgent need for increased awareness and proactive measures against preventable diseases such as cervical cancer. Initial reports about her passing came from her media manager, Parul Chawla, who later clarified that Poonam Pandey’s sister conveyed the information, and they were awaiting further details from the family.

The announcement of her death was made earlier today on her official Instagram page. In the statement, her team expressed, “This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform you that we have lost our beloved Poonam to cervical cancer. Every living form that ever came in contact with her was met with pure love and kindness. In this time of grief, we would request privacy while we remember her fondly for all that we shared.”