Dark clouds fail to deter the spirits of people at Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day

Dark clouds fail to deter the spirits of people at Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day

The 79th Independence Day programme, themed around ‘Naya Bharat’ and Operation Sindoor, took place on Friday (August 15, 2025) morning under overcast skies. The grey skies and intermittent rainfall, however, did not dampen the spirits of those in the audience as they cheered during the 103-minute speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Red Fort. … Read more

‘The Lord of The Rings’ actor Ian McKellen in ‘good spirits’ after bad fall from stage

‘The Lord of The Rings’ actor Ian McKellen in ‘good spirits’ after bad fall from stage

Actor Ian McKellen is expected to make a full recovery after he toppled off a London stage during a fight scene and was hospitalised, producers said. McKellen, 85, was in “good spirits” after doctors said a scan showed he was expected to fully recover from the fall on Monday night, a spokesperson for the production … Read more

As South Africa Lifts Ban on Wine Sales, Many Vintners Fear It’s Too Late

As South Africa Lifts Ban on Wine Sales, Many Vintners Fear It’s Too Late

JOHANNESBURG—South Africa’s $1.5 billion wine industry is reeling after a series of pandemic-induced shocks, including successive bans on the sale of alcohol totaling some 14 weeks. The country’s Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons have become household staples world-wide, and wineries centered in the rolling farmlands around the Western Cape are among South Africa’s most successful and … Read more