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New Delhi:

What does music mean to you? For some, it is just music – a good beat. For others, it is something deeper. It becomes a companion of sorts that helps you find company when you are alone, comfort when you’re hurting, and strength when you need it the most. 

For some, it may feel like an exaggeration, but others think of it as a way to find solace, and that’s what BTS became for me. They showed me that music not only transcends entertainment, but also transcends language. 

Before I dive into my story with BTS and their music, here’s a little background for you. 

Who Is BTS? 

BTS, which is an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan, roughly translates to Bulletproof Boys. The legendary South Korean band includes the leader RM (Kim Nam-Joon), alongside Jin (Kim Seok-Jin), SUGA (Min Yoon-Gi), J-hope (Jung Ho-Seok), Jimin (Park Ji-Min), V (Kim Tae-Hyung), and Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook). 

The septet was officially introduced in the K-pop industry in 2013 and has since rocketed to global stardom. While songs such as Idol put them on global charts, their fan group – called ARMY – have loved them way before that. 

The First Encounter

I first came across BTS in 2016 on a cold afternoon at home when my cousin nudged me to listen to this K-pop band. I didn’t know they would become such a big part of my life. At the time, it was casual – a YouTube video here, a song there. I was drawn in by their rhythm, charisma, and of course, the sharp choreography that made my dance-loving heart race. 

I didn’t know their names, the stories behind the songs, or the language. But the sound, it stayed with me. 

Once I started peeling back the layers of their music, I realised that they weren’t just a K-pop band. Their lyrics held meaning when I understood the meaning through translation, something deeper than what I used to listen to. Songs like Blood, Sweat and Tears spoke of growth and making choices even in difficult situations. 

New Delhi:

It’s difficult to pinpoint that one viral moment that crowned Pedro Pascal as the Internet’s “zaddy”. The Chilean and American actor’s evolution from a popular actor oozing loads of charm to becoming a social media sweetheart has been in the making for a while now.

Fans drooling over his quirks with The Materialists co-stars Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans to pining for him after videos of his sensational “Sleeveless Muscle Tank Top” moments at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival red carpet last month went viral on social media, the rise and rise of Pedro Pascal doesn’t appear to be a strategic move to promote his new movie, which hit the screens on Friday.

The 50-year-old actor shot to fame over a decade ago with his breakout role as the complex yet charismatic and a formidable fighter, Oberyn Martell who gained a fan-following in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.

i can’t wear a mask, i have breathing problems” ok?? Pedro Pascal literally has the BROADEST fucking shoulders know to man and still wears shirts pic.twitter.com/H3etuPiJ0M— jenna ☀️ (@seminerdist) February 7, 2021

What really cemented his standing as a beloved actor was his kinder onscreen versions in shows such as The Mandalorian and The Last Of Us. 

In The Mandalorian, he won hearts as a gruff but instinctively paternal character of Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter. He made the character humane and relatable which left a lasting impression.

In The Last Of Us as well, he portrays the character of Joe Miller, a post-apocalyptic survivor who’s consumed by internal conflicts and fatherly instincts as he escorts Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young girl with immunity to the fungal infection, across the United States.

pedro pascal in the last of us (2025) pic.twitter.com/4CN2vKUq0U— screencaps (@screenscaps) June 9, 2025

This adulation grew organically over time, with his mentions ruling Reddit conversations, social media memes, and TikTok reels. Pedro took it all in good humour and joked about playing an integral part in shaping the trend that is “Internet’s sweetheart”.

The year 2025 saw him reclaim this status.

Crazy, Stupid, “Affair”

Mumbai:

Popular singer-rapper Jackson Wang, who is on his second trip to India, says he is in the country to “observe, absorb and be inspired” by everyday lives, whether it is sampling Mumbai’s street food or playing cricket on the beach with locals.

Wang is in Mumbai to promote his upcoming album “Magic Man 2”. He previously visited the country for a performance at Lollapalooza India in 2023.

During his week-long trip, the singer said he has picked up words like ‘Namaste’, and ‘Shukriya’. He hopes to spend the rest of his time “without a direction and destination.” “(Where) I can just go out and experience it myself, and not someone trying to show me around the town. So, whatever the locals are doing, I want to just follow, observe, absorb, learn and also be inspired,” Wang told PTI.

The 31-year-old singer is a part of the popular K-pop group “Got7”, and is credited for hits such as “Blow” and “100 Ways”.

Wang’s new album “Magic Man 2” is a follow-up to his popular 2022 album of the same name.

The singer’s video of eating spicy street food like vada pav and meeting Hrithik Roshan has already gone viral on social media. His meeting with Roshan also sparked rumours of a possible collaboration on “Krrish 4”. But Wang said these reports are fake.

“When we’re together, especially Hrithik and I, we don’t talk about work. So work-related stuff is never brought up in our conversation”, he said, adding that “Krrish 4” is a big movie but he is not there.

Asked what all he has experienced during his short trip.

Wang said, “I forgot the name, but I liked the yoghurt and the crispy ball with beans in it (dahi sev puri). I’ve also had a sandwich on the street with mayonnaise and cheese, and the potato ball inside the bun (vada pav), I like that too. I am allergic to chilis, but I am okay with spices. I had a great time.” Wang, who previously collaborated with Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh on the track “Buck”, considers the actor-singer a close friend.

“We’re friends (Diljit and I), we are in shoots, and I’m a big fan of his. He shows me a lot of love, and I appreciate him as a senior, as a legendary icon. We never know when it will happen (collaboration). It probably will happen,” he said.

With nearly a decade in music industry, Wang said he has learnt the importance of taking time off.

“When I was recharging, I started writing my personal diaries, which turned into music. The The way the entire ‘Magic Man 2′ looks is what I felt internally, it’s not based on one thing, it’s everything in general. Every single song is about what and how I feel about reality, society, and humanity.” PTI KKP BK ATR ATR

New Delhi:

Imagine your favourite superheroes vanishing in the middle of a global battle, not because they lost, but because they had a duty to fulfil. 

Now, picture them returning, stronger, wiser, and with stories of their own. That’s what’s happening in the world of K-pop right now. 

After nearly two years of quiet anticipation and global longing, the seven-piece juggernaut known as BTS is officially back together, in uniform harmony, for the first time since their military enlistments began. And the air in ARMYland? Charg

The Hiatus That Changed Everything

When the members of BTS announced they would be fulfilling South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements – beginning with Jin in December 2022 – the global reaction was a mix of pride and heartbreak. 

It marked the first time in a decade that BTS would be on an official group hiatus. South Korean law mandates that able-bodied men serve in the military, typically for about 18 months and though there had been public and political debates about whether the group should be exempted (given their contribution to the Korean economy and culture), the members decided to enlist like everyone else.

What started as a simple doodle has now become a global phenomenon – case in point – Labubu dolls. The human-sized version of this toothy monster figurine has been sold for 1.08 million Yuan ($150,275.51) which is valued at more than ₹1.2 crore by a Beijing auction house. As per the reports by Reuters, this is a new “record for the ‘blind box’ toy as it moves from craze to collectibles.” 

Labubu dolls are plush toys and figurines based on a character from the 2015 book series ‘The Monsters by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung. He sketched a tiny elf creature inspired by Nordic fairy tales, which soon became a pop sensation. It was made popular by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart International. 

The auction was hosted by Yongle International Auction, a company typically known for selling modern art and jewelry. This marked the first-ever auction dedicated entirely to Labubu.

While there were other items at the auction, the highlight of the event was a mint-green Labubu statue standing 131 cm tall (4.3 feet), which was sold for 1.08 million yuan after a series of competitive bids. A set of three 40 cm tall Labubu PVC sculptures, titled “Three Wise Labubu” were also sold at 510,000 yuan. 

While already a popular figurine, Labubu’s fame surged when Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink was seen with one and expressed her admiration publicly. Since then, other celebrities—including British football star David Beckham – have also joined the craze.

You might fit into a pair of jeans labelled ‘medium’ or have a BMI that falls in the ‘normal’ range and yet struggle with belly flab, feel sluggish, or lack toned muscles. If that sounds familiar, you’re likely dealing with what’s known as a skinny fat body type.

It’s a term that has become increasingly relevant in the world of health and fitness, especially on social media.

A recent survey, released in March 2025 by the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), found that 28% of Indians (1 out of every 4) with a normal BMI also had excess body fat. It is also known as “thin-fat” or “metabolically unhealthy non-obese”.

What Is A Skinny Fat Body Type?

According to Kanikka Malhotra, Clinical Dietician and Consultant Nutritionist, “People who appear skinny or have a normal BMI but have reduced muscle mass and a larger percentage of body fat are referred to by this term. You may be able to wear smaller clothing, but your body composition isn’t as healthy as it appears.”

You might fit into a pair of jeans labelled ‘medium’ or have a BMI that falls in the ‘normal’ range and yet struggle with belly flab, feel sluggish, or lack toned muscles. If that sounds familiar, you’re likely dealing with what’s known as a skinny fat body type.

It’s a term that has become increasingly relevant in the world of health and fitness, especially on social media.

A recent survey, released in March 2025 by the Indian Institute of Public Health (IIPH), found that 28% of Indians (1 out of every 4) with a normal BMI also had excess body fat. It is also known as “thin-fat” or “metabolically unhealthy non-obese”.

What Is A Skinny Fat Body Type?

According to Kanikka Malhotra, Clinical Dietician and Consultant Nutritionist, “People who appear skinny or have a normal BMI but have reduced muscle mass and a larger percentage of body fat are referred to by this term. You may be able to wear smaller clothing, but your body composition isn’t as healthy as it appears.”

Kushal Pal Singh, Fitness and Performance Expert, Anytime Fitness, a 24 hour health and fitness clubs, adds that skinny fat individuals usually carry excess fat around the abdomen (think beer belly) while having low muscle tone, making their bodies appear soft and flabby despite being lean.

How To Figure Out If You’re Skinny Fat

The problem with skinny fat is that it might be difficult to figure out if you’ve a skinny fat body type. Here are some signs that might indicate you’re skinny fat, as highlighted by the experts:

• You have a normal BMI but little to no muscle definition (A normal BMI range for adults is between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m²)
• Your body feels soft or flabby, especially in the belly, hips or thighs
• You don’t strength train or eat enough protein
• You feel fatigued easily during workouts
• Your waist circumference is high despite a low body weight

To be sure, Singh recommends tests such as a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA),  or a DEXA scan (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), which can determine your body fat percentage and muscle mass accurately.

“Waist circumference (WHR) can also give you an indication of abdominal fat,” he adds.

Why Being Skinny Fat Is Dangerous For Your Health

Looking slim doesn’t always mean you’re healthy. In fact, the skinny fat body type can hide serious internal issues, according to experts.

Malhotra says, “Skinny fat is a risk for your health. Additional body fat and less than enough muscle on your body might increase your risk of various diseases.” Such as: 

• Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
• Heart disease & high cholesterol
• High BP
• Fatty liver disease

The main culprit? Visceral fat – the kind that surrounds your organs. It often goes unnoticed but causes inflammation and metabolic disruption.

Shilpa Shetty recently celebrated her 50th birthday in Croatia, with her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, her sister Shamita Shetty and her family. However, earlier today an Instagram user shared a video of the family amid celebrations, which recorded the Dhadkan actress fighting with a “foreigner”, who complained about them being loud.

Raj Kundra has now reacted to the viral video online that has sparked attention. He told Hindustan Times that the heated argument went overboard when the table was double-booked and handed over to another group.

What’s Happening

• A viral video of Shilpa Shetty celebrating her birthday in Croatia with family went viral online. The video claimed that Shilpa and her family had a flared-up confrontation with a tourist.
• The Instagrammer who had shared the video online, captioned it, “This incident occurred today (9.06.2025) in Hvar Island, Croatia. A foreigner was eating her food, and they (Shilpa Shetty and team) were speaking loudly. The foreigner girl asked them to lower their volume; however, Raj Kundra (Shilpa Shetty’s Husband) replied by saying, ‘You don’t know who we are.’ I could not record that line on the video because it was very sudden.”

A 34-year-old woman was hacked to death and her teenage daughter seriously injured in an attack in this hill district, police said on Monday.

A younger daughter who was missing after the incident has been found safe with the suspect, who is now in custody, they said.

The attack took place late Sunday evening at the woman’s rented home in Appappara village, under the Thirunelli police station limits.

The victim, Praveena, had been living there with her two daughters after separating from her husband, police said.

According to the police, the attack was allegedly carried out by Praveena’s male friend, identified as Dileesh.

Her 14-year-old daughter suffered deep wounds to her neck and ear and is being treated at a government hospital.

The suspect fled the scene with Praveena’s nine-year-old daughter, prompting a major search operation.

Police used drones and combed nearby forest areas despite rough weather conditions and difficult terrain.

Both the suspect and the missing girl were found on Monday near a forested area close to the house and the girl appeared unharmed, police said.

Authorities said that some containers have been found along the coasts of southern Kollam and coastal Alappuzha districts.

Containers from a Liberian cargo ship that sank off the Kerala coast have started washing ashore, while the oil spill spreading from the vessel has prompted authorities to issue a high alert along the state’s coastline, officials said on Monday.

Authorities said that some containers have been found along the coasts of southern Kollam and coastal Alappuzha districts.

In the wake of the sinking of the ship off the Kerala coast, a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to assess the situation.

An advisory has been issued urging coastal residents and fishermen to remain vigilant.

So far, nine containers have washed ashore, and an advisory has been reiterated for coastal residents and fishermen to remain alert, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The cargo ship capsized and sank early on Sunday, leading to a significant oil spill. According to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the sunken vessel had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks.

The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Idukki, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts and orange alerts for the remaining districts.

Heavy rain lashed many districts of Kerala on Friday, disrupting normal life and causing waterlogging.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for Idukki, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts and orange alerts for the remaining districts today.

Authorities in several districts have declared holidays for educational institutions under their jurisdiction.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), strong westerly winds are likely to persist at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and the Lakshadweep region for the next two to three days, resulting in widespread rainfall.

The IMD stated, “Strong westerlies likely to continue at lower tropospheric levels over Kerala and the Lakshadweep region during the next 2-3 days. Under the influence of these, widespread rainfall activity with scattered Heavy rainfall to Very Heavy rainfall with isolated Extremely Heavy rainfall is very likely to occur over Kerala on 29th & 30th May 2025. Heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places over Kerala on 31st May, 1st and 2nd June 2025.”

District administrations across Kerala have declared a holiday for all educational institutions in several districts on May 30 (Friday).

The precautionary measure applies to professional colleges, anganwadis, tuition centers, madrassas, and special coaching classes.

Kannur District Collector announced a holiday for all educational institutions, including anganwadis, madrassas, tuition centers, and special classes. The district declared a similar holiday on the previous day due to intense rainfall.