Excise officials said many of these villages were located near Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad cities where there was easy access to water sources.

Pune: The state excise department has identified 25 villages having illegal liquor units in Pune district and issued notices to their gram panchayats directing them to stop such activities and immediately report any suspicious operations. The action comes after the recent hooch tragedy in Phugewadi (Pimpri Chinchwad) and Pandremala (Hadapsar), in which 20 people lost their lives between May 26 and 28.Confirming the move, state excise superintendent Atul Kanade said the notice sent through the Pune collectorate covered Sortapwadi, Kunjirwadi, Nandur (near Yavat), Rajewadi, Bhosalewadi and Apti in Shirur taluka, besides other villages. “Gram panchayats have been asked not to allow illegal liquor production in their jurisdiction and immediately alert the authorities or police if any such activity is detected. Contact numbers of excise officials have also been shared with residents to facilitate quick reporting,” he said.Excise officials said many of these villages were located near the cities of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, with easy access to water sources, making them conducive to illicit liquor production. “Many units are located along the canal network, such as the Mutha Right Bank Canal or near rivers, which ensures stable water supply. Additionally, some units operate from isolated locations, including government-owned land, helping operators avoid enforcement,” an official said.Kanade said liquor produced in these areas was largely supplied to the slums of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad as well as industrial centers like Chakan and Ranjangaon, where it was consumed by factory workers.However, a gram panchayat member from a village along the Pune-Solapur highway alleged that residents often face threats from people involved in illegal trade. The member said that some operators may have the support of some police personnel, making it difficult for local people to report such activities.Since May 28, the department has registered 142 cases and arrested 116 persons involved in illegal liquor manufacturing.Three patients recovered and returned homePCMC said all three patients admitted to the municipal corporation-run YCM hospital after consuming spurious liquor in the Phugewadi poisonous liquor case have fully recovered and have been discharged, adding that after being brought in a critical condition, they were given free treatment including intensive care, constant monitoring and medical check-up under expert supervision. PCMC Medical Officer Dr Laxman Gofen credited the timely intervention and prompt care for preventing complications and enabling his safe return home.

Several noteworthy developments made headlines in South cinema today, from a prestigious honor bestowed on a leading star to important court judgements. The teaser of a much-awaited film also grabbed attention, while news of a popular actor planning a sabbatical from work also added to the buzz. Here’s a look at the top five south cinema stories of the day.

Padmashree award missed Madhavan grateful and humble

R Madhavan expressed his gratitude after being selected for the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours. The actor shared a post from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on social media and thanked everyone for the recognition. Using the folded hands emoji, Madhavan expressed his happiness and honour, and described the honor as a proud and humbling milestone in his journey.

Ram Charan plans ‘well-earned break after’pedi‘

After the completion of ‘Peddi’, Ram Charan is reportedly planning a three-month break from films. The actor is said to be taking a sabbatical after spending more than two years preparing and shooting for the project. After undergoing rigorous physical training and dealing with injuries during filming, Ram Charan is expected to use the break to rest, recover and spend quality time with his family before starting his next venture.

vijay sethupathi‘The mysterious embodiment of ‘is at the centre’slum dog‘ Teaser

The teaser of ‘Slum Dog: 33 Temple Road’ features Vijay Sethupathi as a visually impaired beggar who speaks about the hardships of people living on the streets. Packed with action, emotion and mystery, the teaser hints at a deeper story behind his character, while also offering a glimpse of the lead roles played by Tabu, Samyukta and Duniya Vijay.

High Court rejects Ravi Mohan’s demand for additional time

Madras High Court Ravi Mohan’s plea seeking extension of time limit in the interim maintenance case initiated by Aarti Ravi has been rejected. With the petition dismissed, the previous order directing the Family Welfare Court to hear and decide the maintenance petition within two weeks will remain in effect. The court also advised Ravi Mohan to seek any further relief from the Family Welfare Court.

Rajinikanth’s rumored ‘Thalaivar 173’ role leaves fans excited

According to recent reports, Rajinikanth may play the role of a doctor in ‘Thalaivar 173’ directed by Ashwath Marimuthu. Speculations gained momentum after a look-test photoshoot reportedly showed the superstar wearing a doctor’s outfit. While Rajinikanth had previously played a psychiatrist in ‘Chandramukhi’, if the reports turn out to be true then this could be his first full-fledged doctor role.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic airlines rose nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday as state-owned oil marketing companies launched a government-backed price stabilization scheme that will allow carriers to lock fuel rates for three years.Under the new arrangement, airlines joining the scheme will have to pay a fixed ATF price of around Rs 115 per litre, while the previous rate was Rs 104.93 per litre. The move is aimed at protecting carriers from sharp fluctuations in global oil prices and reducing the impact of fuel volatility on airfares.The scheme, which is voluntary, allows airlines to choose between a fixed fuel price and market-based pricing. Carriers joining the program will be protected from fluctuations in global crude oil and jet fuel prices, while those remaining outside will continue to pay prevailing market rates and be exposed to both price increases and decreases.According to industry sources quoted by news agency PTI, participating airlines will have to pay a fixed free-on-board (FOB) benchmark price of Rs 86.32 per liter inclusive of airport charges, oil company margin and taxes. This means the effective selling price is around Rs 115 per liter in Delhi, Rs 114.5 per liter in Mumbai and Rs 139 per liter in Chennai.The move comes after domestic ATF prices remained unchanged for more than two months despite a rise in international fuel costs following the outbreak of the conflict in West Asia earlier this year. State-owned oil marketing companies suffered losses due to the limited impact of higher global prices.To address these losses and protect airlines from volatility, the Union Cabinet approved a price stabilization mechanism of Rs 10,000 crore. Under the framework, if global benchmark prices rise above the base rate of Rs 86.32 per litre, the government will provide interest-free advances to oil companies to bridge the gap. When prices fall below the benchmark, the excess amount will be recovered and returned to the Consolidated Fund of India.Officials said the arrangement is designed as a stabilization mechanism rather than a subsidy, with provisions for monitoring, accountability and eventual recovery of government support.ATF is one of the largest cost components for airlines, accounting for approximately 40 percent of operating expenses and rising to 60 percent during high fuel prices.International jet fuel prices touched around Rs 142 per liter in May, compared to around Rs 60.5 per liter before the West Asia conflict, raising concerns over airline profitability and the possibility of higher airfares, PTI’s industry sources said.

Having lost both their practice matches before the Women’s T20 World Cup, it has become very difficult for Pakistan to adapt to the conditions in England. They started with a heavy nine-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka, chasing the target of 169 runs in just 18.3 overs. However, Tuesday’s defeat may have hurt even more as Scotland defeated them by 41 runs via the DLS method at the County Ground in Derby.

Katherine Bryce, who led Scotland during their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, provided a tough challenge to Pakistan’s bowlers. The right-handed batsman completed his half-century off just 28 balls and then accelerated to remain unbeaten on 94 off 43 balls, studded with 11 fours and three sixes.

Also read: Women’s T20 World Cup Group A preview: India face tough test in three-way battle

On the strength of Bryce’s talent, Scotland scored 191 runs for five wickets when invited to bat first. Darcy Carter (45) and Katherine Fraser (19) provided a solid platform and led the Scots to a strong total before Bryce took charge. For Pakistan, Tasmiya Rubab, Sadia Iqbal and Ayesha Zafar took one wicket each, but no bowler was successful in stopping Bryce.

Pakistan’s batting collapsed

Pakistan had a very poor start while chasing the target and its score was 28 runs for three wickets in 4.1 overs. Left-arm fast bowler Rachel Slater did the damage at the top, while Gul Firozha, Saira Jabeen and Ayesha Zafar all failed to reach double figures. Muniba Ali, who has two T20I centuries to her name, put up some resistance, scoring 22 runs from 20 balls before Bryce took the wicket.

Iram Javed was looking promising before losing to Chloe Abel. When captain Fatima Sana tried to make a comeback by scoring 12 not out from seven balls, rain intervened and ultimately ended the contest.

Pakistan recently defeated Zimbabwe at home, but they failed to win a single match in the triangular series in Ireland. In one of those games, Ireland successfully chased down 177, exposing the weaknesses of Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Now after losing both the warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Scotland, Pakistan will face a tough challenge in the group stage. They begin their campaign against India on June 14 before taking on six-time champions Australia and 2024 runners-up South Africa.

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Dussehra VijayanKnown for his content-driven films, has chosen something completely different for his OTT debut film ‘Exam’. Instead of choosing a glamorous or commercially safe role, the actress decided to play the role of Jhansi, a character that is deeply relatable to the struggles of many aspirants preparing for competitive exams. Dussehra Recently he opened up about what attracted him to the series and why meaningful stories continue to guide his career choices.

Dushara Vijayan prefers strong characters over screen presence

Speaking with Variety India about her approach to choosing roles, Dushara said, “I want my character to connect with the audience. It doesn’t matter how much screen time I get; what matters is the character.” The actress revealed that when director A. When Sarkunam narrated the story, he immediately felt a connection to Jhansi. “When he explained the character to me, I knew I had to do it,” he said. For Dussehra, the emotional depth and relevance of the role was more important than the length of her presence on screen.

Dushara Vijayan reveals why she liked this story

Dushara also explained why the central theme of ‘Pariksha’ struck a chord with her personally. “One of my relatives has been writing competitive exams for the last 10 years. He has decided not to get married until he clears it,” he said. The actress said such stories are common in many homes and should be highlighted. “It’s a real issue and it’s nice to be part of a series that talks about it,” she said. His comments reflect his interest in projects that reflect real-life challenges and social realities.

Action and emotion make ‘Pariksha’ a special project for Dussehra Vijayan

Apart from the story, Dussehra enjoyed the action elements featured in the series. “Stunts excite me,” he said, recalling the preparation process. He revealed that action director Dinesh Subbarayan trained the cast extensively, especially for the intense fight sequences. One of the most difficult scenes was the fight in the car, which had to be carefully planned and choreographed. ‘Exam’ is another unique production added to Dushara Vijayan’s growing repertoire through its socially significant storyline, emotional acting and tough action sequences.

Image: left/NatGeo/right/Canva

A torn sleeve, a piece of fabric left over from the tailor’s shop, a piece of material too small to be sewn into any fabric again; These are usually either left in a corner of one’s room or thrown out. However, from similar pieces in Lucknow, an idea emerged which later gained recognition across the borders.Aliya Fatima Rizvi, a Class 9 student of La Martiniere Girls College, Lucknow, started collecting scrap pieces of cloth and making colorful hand puppets from them. His idea of ​​converting waste materials into something useful not only proved innovative, but also became a means of educating children about waste utilization.This idea won first place 2026 National Geographic Slingshot Challenge.

From fabric scraps to award-winning innovations

Textile waste remains a big issue in India. Textile manufacturing plants, sewing centers and homes are major sources of textile waste. Most of these remain unused, even though they could be reused due to their perfect condition.This is what Aaliya thought of doing to resolve the issue. Instead of treating the discarded pieces as trash, they collected them and used them to make puppets that will help convey messages to children about recycling, reusing, and caring for the environment.The idea was recognized in the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge among other innovations from young innovators.

Bringing traditional art into modern classrooms

The project also holds a distinct local connection. Lucknow is famous for textile traditions like chikankari, while the northern part of India has an ancient tradition of storytelling through puppet shows. Puppets have been a source of entertaining people and conveying messages for generations.But now, this form of traditional performance is under threat due to competing forms of entertainment such as technology.But Alia’s idea brings together both the old and the new by using puppets to educate people on environmental issues. The result is something that is both familiar and fresh.

Teaching sustainability through puppets and stories

Children often connect more naturally to stories than lectures.This is why puppet-based education continues to be used in schools and awareness programs. They can make even the most difficult subjects accessible to children; Topics may range from health care, sanitation, or environmental protection.That’s exactly what Alia’s puppets do. To teach children about the importance of reducing waste, she demonstrates how such materials can have another purpose.It starts right from the beginning, when we see a doll made of bits and pieces of material. Every piece of stitching in this is proof that simplicity and sustainability can work together.

How Alia’s idea went from a small beginning to a grand vision

Although the entire project started as a small trial on behalf of her student at her school, she managed to expand its scope to a great extent.By transforming discarded pieces of cloth into puppets teaching environmental conservation lessons, Rizavi proved that environmental interventions don’t always mean lots of money and technology. Sometimes, this just means using materials that others would discard.In Rizavi’s project, craft activity, environmental protection and education are brought together in a common theme.