News18 Evening Digest: Ranya Rao's Bail Plea Rejected For Third Time, Putin's India Visit & Other Top Stories

The 64th City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru on Thursday rejected the bail application of actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case.

The 33-year-old actress was arrested on March 3 after she was caught at the airport carrying 14.5 kg of gold while she was returning from Dubai. READ MORE

Two More Hurriyat Groups Denounce Separatism, Repose Faith In Modi-Led Bharat: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said two more constituents of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Hurriyat Conference have discarded separatism and reposed their faith in the new Bharat built by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shah said Jammu and Kashmir’s separatist groups, Tahreeqi Isteqlal and Tahreek-I-Istiqamat, have “reposed their trust in the new Bharat built by PM Shri Narendra Modi". He made the announcement on X and said “separatism is breathing its last" under the Modi-led central government, and the “triumph of unity is echoing across Kashmir". READ MORE

‘It’s Our Turn’: Russia’s Lavrov Says Putin Will Be In India Soon, First Time Since Start Of Ukraine War

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday announced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan to visit India. He informed that arrangements are currently being made for the Russian President’s visit to India. However, he did not specify the dates of Putin’s visit.

“President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared," the Russian foreign minister was quoted by Russian news agency TASS. READ MORE

Who Is Asif Mahmood? Pakistani-Origin USCIRF Commissioner In Spotlight Amid Religious Freedom Report Row

India on Wednesday trashed a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and said its “persistent" attempts to cast aspersions on the country’s vibrant multicultural society reflect a “deliberate" agenda rather than a genuine concern for religious freedom.

The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan US federal government agency. It makes policy recommendations to the US President, Secretary of State, and Congress and tracks the implementation of these recommendations. The agency, according to many reports, has been spreading falsehoods about India, especially after the appointment of Asif Mahmood as one of its Commissioners. READ MORE

Actor Prabhas To Marry Hyderabad Businessman’s Daughter Soon? Here’s What We Know

Prabhas, the star who has become a sensation on the silver screen and is known as the heir of Krishnam Raju, is making headlines again. This time, it’s about his marriage being fixed with the daughter of a prominent businessman from Hyderabad, a secret closely guarded until now, reports News18 Telugu.

Prabhas has earned a special place in the hearts of fans with his remarkable performances, most notably in the Baahubali series, gaining a global following. However, discussions about his personal life, especially his marriage, have always been a hot topic on social media. READ MORE

‘Virat Kohli’s TV Debut’: Cricketer’s Doppleganger In Hit Turkish Drama Goes Viral

A striking resemblance between cricket superstar Virat Kohli and a Turkish actor took social media by storm after fans spotted a familiar face in the historical Turkish drama Ertugrul, a series that enjoys a massive global following, including in India.

The discussion began when a Reddit user posted a photo of the Turkish actor, humourously captioning it, “Anushka Sharma’s husband TV show debut". The uncanny resemblance sparked a flurry of reactions, with many users admitting they initially mistook the actor for Kohli. READ MORE