Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai presided over the foundation stone ceremony for Chitrotpala International Film City and Tribal & Cultural Convention Centre on Saturday, marking a significant infrastructure push for India‘s central state to position itself as a production destination.

The 95-acre first-phase development is being spearheaded by creator Tarun Rathi through Rajnandini Entertainment Ltd. and Indradeep Infra Ltd. The project is receiving support under the Special Assistance Scheme from India’s Ministry of Tourism, signaling central government backing for the facility positioned as the country’s first fully-equipped international film city.

Industry interest is already materializing, with early discussions reportedly exploring the venue as a potential shooting location for upcoming tentpoles including “Golmaal 5” and “Gadaar 3,” alongside other titles in pre-production stages.

The development extends beyond soundstages, incorporating exhibition and convention infrastructure through partnerships with India Exposition Mart Limited and the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts. IEML chair Rakesh Kumar and EPCH chair Neeraj Khanna are developing facilities including an exhibition center, convention hall, hotel, business showrooms and helipad, aimed at creating economic opportunities for local artisans and tribal communities.

Veteran filmmaker Anil Sharma (the “Gadar” franchise) attended the ceremony, lending industry credibility to the state’s filmmaking ambitions.

The state government is committing INR150 crore $16.3 million in the initial phase, with subsequent funding of INR250–300 crore ($27.2 million to $32.7 million) earmarked for later development stages from the developers.

“There has long been a demand from the people of the state for our own film city, which will help take stories from Chhattisgarh to global audiences,” Sai said at the event. “I am glad that the government is supporting this new world-class film city with INR150 crore in the first phase and INR250–300 crore in later phases. It should take us about two years to fully develop this dream project.”

Rathi emphasized the facility’s positioning as a turnkey production solution. “We are trying to support filmmakers with all possible equipment and a complete ecosystem so that producers and crews from Mumbai and across India can come to Raipur to shoot and execute everything seamlessly,” he said. “The accessibility and the shooting friendly environment will help the filmmakers from start to finish.”

The project represents Chhattisgarh’s bid to diversify India’s production geography beyond established hubs in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, while leveraging the development to boost local employment in creative industries and related sectors.

Iran’s top prosecutor pushed back Friday on a recent announcement from President Donald Trump that Iran canceled more than 800 executions, alleging that the president’s remarks are “completely false.” 

Trump wrote on Truth Social last week, “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” 

However, Iran’s top prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, said Friday that, “This claim is completely false; no such number exists, nor has the judiciary made any such decision,” according to The Associated Press. 

“We have a separation of powers, the responsibilities of each institution are clearly defined, and we do not, under any circumstances, take instructions from foreign powers,” Movahedi reportedly added in comments published by the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency.

TRUMP CREDITS HALTED IRAN EXECUTIONS FOR DELAYING MILITARY STRIKES

When asked for reaction Friday, a White House official told Fox News Digital that Trump is monitoring the situation in Iran very seriously and that all options remain available if the regime in Tehran executes protesters. 

The official added that following Trump’s warnings to Iran, demonstrators who were set to be sentenced to death there were not. 

The White House official also said Trump believes this is good news and is hoping the trend continues.

IRANIAN SOLDIER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR REFUSING TO FIRE ON PROTESTERS DURING NATIONWIDE UNREST

“What I will say with respect to Iran is that the president and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that if the killing continues, there will be grave consequences,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters last week. 

As of Friday, there have been 5,032 deaths during the crackdown against anti-government protesters in Iran, the AP reported, citing the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

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Iran’s government offered its first death toll Wednesday, saying 3,117 people had been killed. It claimed that 2,427 of the dead in the demonstrations that began Dec. 28 were civilians and security forces, with the rest being “terrorists.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

A new Pentagon strategy document softens tone on traditional foes, China and Russia.

The United States military will prioritise protecting the homeland and deterring China while providing “more limited” support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, according to a Pentagon strategy document.

The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) released on Friday marks a significant departure from past Pentagon policy, both in its emphasis on allies taking on increased burdens with less backing from Washington and its softer tone towards traditional foes, China and Russia.

“As US forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific, our allies and partners elsewhere will take primary responsibility for their own defense with critical but more limited support from American forces,” it said.

The new document urges “respectful relations” with Beijing and describes the threat from Russia as a “persistent but manageable” one affecting NATO’s eastern members.

It makes no mention of US ally Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

The previous NDS, released under President Donald Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, described China as Washington’s most consequential challenge and said Russia posed an “acute threat”.

The Trump administration’s strategy document takes aim at the past administration for neglecting border security, saying this led to a “flood of illegal aliens” and widespread narcotics trafficking.

“Border security is national security,” and the Pentagon “will therefore prioritise efforts to seal our borders, repel forms of invasion, and deport illegal aliens,” it said.

The 2026 NDS also includes no mention of the dangers of climate change, which Biden’s administration had identified as an “emerging threat”.

Like Trump’s national security strategy, which was released last month, the NDS elevates Latin America to the top of the US agenda.

The Pentagon “will restore American military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. We will use it to protect our Homeland and our access to key terrain throughout the region,” it said.

The document mentions the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine”, a reference to the declaration two centuries ago that Latin America was off limits to rival powers.

Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly employed the US military in Latin America, ordering a shocking raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as well as strikes on more than 30 alleged drug-smuggling boats that have killed more than 100 people.

Trump’s administration has provided no definitive evidence that the sunken vessels were involved in drug trafficking, and international law experts and rights groups say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings, as they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the US.