Month: February 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his two-day visit to Malaysia, received a warm welcome from the Indian community and friends of India in Kuala Lumpur.

The visit began with meetings, cultural programs, and time spent with members of the Indian diaspora, highlighting the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.

During the visit, PM Modi attended a lunch hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday evening.

PM Modi later posted on his X account about the moment and mentioned the “special song” played during lunch. One of the songs at the lunch hosted by the Malaysian PM was from the 1975 classic Tamil masala film, which starred M.G. Ramachandran (MGR).

In his post, he wrote, “At the lunch hosted by my friend, PM Anwar Ibrahim, one of the songs sung was Naalai Namathe, from a movie starring the great MGR! PM Anwar Ibrahim, like several of us in India, is a big fan of MGR!”

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also shared details of the visit on social media.

Part of his tweet read, “On the first day of PM @narendramodi’s visit last night, it began with a welcome at the Bunga Raya Complex, before we headed straight to Seri Kembangan to meet the Indian community. May the friendship between Malaysia and India, rooted in cultural, historical, and economic ties that have been intertwined for centuries, continue to blossom and strengthen for mutual benefit.”

The reception offered a vivid showcase of India’s civilizational legacy thriving far from its shores. Prime Minister Modi witnessed a series of traditional performances, including Nadhaswaram and Thavil recitals, the chanting of Thirumurai devotional hymns, Wayang Kulit shadow puppetry, and a Ramayana-themed Bharatanatyam presentation, reflecting centuries-old cultural links between India and Malaysia. (ANI)

A seven-year-old girl has been allegedly sexually assaulted by another minor boy in the Chandragiri outpost area under Mohana police station in Odisha’s Gajapati district, according to the police.

The rape case has been registered under appropriate sections of BNS and POCSO in Gajapati district, with the accused minor boy confessing to the crime.

Speaking to ANI, Gajapati Superintendent of Police (SP) Jatin Kumar Panda informed that the minor victim’s medical examination has been done. He added that the statements of the victim as well as the accused have been recorded, in which the accused confessed to the assault.

“A case has been registered based on a complaint. After the investigation, the allegations were found to be true. Our SDPO and I visited the spot. The minor girl’s medical examination and statement recording have been completed. The statement of the juvenile delinquent has also been recorded. He has confessed to his crime,” he said.

The SP further stated that the accused has been produced before the Justice Juvenile Board, according to which, further action will be taken. He said that the deadline to complete the investigation in the case has been set to 15 days.

“After that, he was produced before the JJB (Juvenile Justice Board) today, and further action is being taken based on the JJB’s orders. We have set a target to complete the investigation of this case within 15 days… In this case, we have applied the BNS sections related to rape. We have also applied Section 6 of the POCSO Act, and we have taken this very seriously. The investigation of this case will be completed within 15 days, and a charge sheet will be filed,” the SP said.

Meanwhile, Odisha Minister Nityananda Gond asserted “appropriate legal action” against the culprit in crimes against minors.

“If someone has misbehaved with a minor, there are laws in place to address such situations, and appropriate action will be taken according to those laws,” the Minister said.

On the other hand, BJD spokesperson Dr Lenin Mohanty launched an attack on the Chief Minister Mohan Majhi-led government over the rise in crimes against women, stating that the state, under the BJP government, is becoming the “rape capital of the country.”

“It is not only tragic, it is shocking. As an Odia, I am ashamed that a Tibetan origin minor girl, is being raped in Chandragiri Mohana of Gajapati district… We are defamed across the world. The worst part of it, the half of the population in Odisha are in a state of fear. We are in the process, under the double-engine government, to occupy the kind of defaming title of the rape capital of the country….,” he said.

Further questioning the CM, the BJD spokesperson called for a protest in case no appropriate action is not taken against the culprits.

“What is Mohan Majhi doing? Why is he taking charge of the Chief Minister if rapes and murders are happening every day? We hope that the lawsuit takes its own course. We know that people are frustrated. We have also demanded that this should not happen the way it is happening. And if it doesn’t happen, then the Biju Janata Dal, which is respected by people, will be forced to come to the streets and protest and ensure that the law takes its due action! he asserted.

Additionally, Congress leader Sonali Sahoo accused the state government of being lenient with crimes against women, which she said are increasing in the state. She further asserted support for the victim’s family and ensured an investigation into the matter.

“…Rape and gangrape have become daily occurrence in Odisha… Many girls have gone missing here and government has no words to say on it… I just got to know that rape has happened with one Tibetan origin girl, which is a very shameful incident… It should be appropriate if we do not look at the victim through the lens of the community. She is everyone’s daughter… We will not take this lightly, and government should also take it very seriously. But government is not serious about this…. We are with victim’s family, and we are trying to talk to them. We will investigate what and how it happened to her. After this, we will see what happen,” she said. (ANI)

AR Rahman is set to enthrall fans in Chennai, as he brings his Wonderment Tour to the city after a long gap.

The concert is being organized by Noise and Grains, along with Jo Entertainment and Fairgame Entertainment.

However, the music maestro won’t be performing alone. Several well-known singers will join Rahman on stage to make the show a mix of both old favorites and fresh voices.

His son AR Ameen will join his father on stage to entertain the audience. Ameen has been building his own place in music with live shows and global projects. He started his singing career with the film O Kadhal Kanmani, for which his father AR Rahman composed the music, and has since sung in several Indian languages.

Singer Chinmayi Sripada, who has worked with Rahman on many popular Tamil songs, will be one of the main performers.

The concert will also feature Adithya RK and Nakul Abhyankar, both known for their modern sound and strong fan following. Along with them, Nisa Shetty, Nitesh Aher, Amrutha Suresh, Rakshita Suresh, and singer Srinivasa will perform with Rahman.

The team is expected to sing well-known Rahman songs, along with new live versions of some classics. A few surprise appearances are also planned during the night.

For people attending the show, the organizers have also made travel arrangements. As per a release, ticket holders will get free Metro Rail passes so they can reach the venue easily and avoid traffic. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Monday extended by one week the deadline for publication of the final electoral roll under the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, while also issuing a show-cause notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), West Bengal, over allegations of violence during the revision process.

The final electoral roll, which was earlier scheduled to be published on February 14, will now be released after the extended timeline.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said the extension was necessary as Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) required additional time to scrutinise documents and take appropriate decisions.

The Court also took serious note of allegations of violence during the SIR process and issued a show-cause notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), West Bengal, directing him to explain the steps taken to maintain law and order in the State.

“To streamline the ongoing SIR exercise and address apprehensions raised by various stakeholders, we deem it appropriate to issue some additional directions (noting that omit had on the earlier hearing as well issued certain directions)”, it noted.

The Court directed the West Bengal government to submit, by 5 pm on Tuesday, a list of 8,505 officers proposed to be deputed by the State. It granted discretion to the ECI to replace EROs and AEROs and to utilise the services of these officers, if required.

“From these officers, the ECI may, after a brief scrutiny of their biodata, shortlist personnel equivalent to the strength of the micro-observers already engaged and provide them brief training to assist the EROs, AEROs and micro-observers,” the Court noted.

The Court clarified that these officers would only assist in the process and that “the final decision shall rest solely with the EROs.

Noting allegations raised in the ECI’s counter-affidavit that, despite complaints, no action was taken against persons allegedly burning Form-7 (objection forms) and other materials, the Court issued a show-cause notice to the DGP. The Court said it would take a final call on the extent of the ECI’s powers in this regard after receiving the response from the police chief.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, submitted that out of 7.08 crore voters in the draft list, 6.75 crore were mapped, while 32 lakh remained unmapped. He further stated that even among the mapped voters, about 1.36 crore names were placed in the Logical Discrepancy list due to “minor spelling and dialectal variations such as Dutta-Datta and Roy-Ray.”

Divan also informed the Court that the State had deputed over 8,500 Group-B officers and assured that “they can report to the EROs immediately.”

Senior Advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the West Bengal government, argued that while the State had offered assistance, the ECI instead engaged “micro-observers from outside Bengal” who were unfamiliar with the State’s language and administrative setup. He contended that the ECI “never sought deputation of Group-B officers” earlier and that trained State officials were unjustifiably sidelined.

Divan also argued that the manner in which micro-observers were functioning could potentially result in the large-scale deletion of voters’ names. Responding to this, the Chief Justice observed that micro-observers were meant only to assist EROs and AEROs and not to take independent decisions.

After hearing all parties, the Supreme Court issued the above directions.

The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of pleas filed by various petitioners, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging irregularities in the SIR exercise carried out by the ECI in West Bengal. Banerjee has alleged that voters’ names were placed on the Logical Discrepancy list due to minor dialectal spelling differences and that objection notices were issued without reasons.

Earlier, Banerjee had appeared in person before the Court and submitted that the State was being selectively targeted by the ECI to delete voters rather than to include them or correct errors. After hearing her submissions, the Court had sought a response from the ECI. (ANI)

As fans are getting more and more excited about Rohit Shetty’s ‘Golmaal 5,’ several reports have started circulating on social media, claiming that the latest instalment of the popular comedy franchise is inspired by Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor’s iconic film ‘Do Aur Do Paanch.’

However, Shetty has now cleared the air, stating that these reports are “factually incorrect.”

In a statement shared by the director’s team, they stated that the stories are “misleading” and asked media outlets not to publish “unverified” news about ‘Golmaal 5.’

“We wish to issue a strict clarification regarding certain news reports currently circulating across online and digital media platforms claiming that Golmaal 5 is inspired by or based on the film.”

“We categorically state that these reports are factually incorrect, misleading and completely untrue. We strongly request all media houses, publications, portals, and digital platforms to refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information,” the statement added.

Any news, updates, or clarifications pertaining to Rohit Shetty or Golmaal 5 must be verified with us or the official PR representatives at Universal Communications prior to publication; otherwise, strict legal action will be taken. We expect your cooperation in maintaining journalistic accuracy and responsibility. We also request that incorrect reports currently in circulation be corrected or taken down at the earliest,” it concluded.

Helmed by Rohit Shetty, the Golmaal franchise has been making film buffs laugh for almost two decades now. The first instalment, Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, which hit theatres in 2006 and became a huge hit. It starred Ajay Devgn, Sharman Joshi, Arshad Warsi and Tusshar Kapoor. Paresh Rawal and Rimi Sen were also part of the first film. Over the years, the Golmaal series went on to become one of India’s most loved comedy franchises. (ANI)

The release date of Preity Zinta’s upcoming film ‘Lahore 1947’ has now been announced.

The period drama is one of the most-awaited films and will mark Preity Zinta’s return to the big screen after almost eight years.

As per the latest information from the film’s production team, Lahore 1947 will hit theatres on August 13, 2026, during the Independence Day week. The makers are aiming for a big festive release across India.

With this, the upcoming period drama also brings together Sunny Deol, director Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Aamir Khan for the first time. Aamir Khan is producing the film under his banner, Aamir Khan Productions.

Talking about the project, Aamir, as per a release, said, “This was one of the favourite scripts of Dharamji, and I am so glad he could see the film.”

The film stars Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preity Zinta and Karan Deol in key roles. Music for the film is by AR Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

Lahore 1947 was first announced in late 2023 and quickly caught attention because of its strong cast and period setting. Later, actors Shabana Azmi and Ali Fazal were also confirmed to be part of the project in crucial roles.

Meanwhile, Sunny Deol, is basking in the success of his latest film success of his latest film ‘Border 2’. The film which was released in theatres on January 23, is inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War and showcases how the Army, Navy, and Air Force fight together as one force. It brings Sunny Deol back in uniform once again. It also stars Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit Dosanjh in the lead roles. (ANI)

Just days after acclaimed singer Arijit Singh announced that he would be stepping back from playback singing, Bollywood actor and producer Aamir Khan visited the singer’s hometown, Jiaganj, in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

Soon after videos of his visit went viral online, fans speculated about why the actor visited the singer’s residence. The mystery has now been cleared, with Aamir Khan revealing that the visit was linked to his production venture ‘Ek Din’, for which ‘Tum Hi Ho’ singer has lent his voice.

The film is produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. The film stars Junaid Khan, Aamir Khan’s son, alongside Sai Pallavi in the lead roles.

The official social media handle of Aamir Khan Productions posted on Instagram to thank Arijit for lending his voice to the film. Aamir also mentioned that the time he spent with Arijit and his family felt very special.

“Thank you, Arijit, for lending your voice to our film ‘Ek Din’. The 4 days spent with you, your family and your team felt magical. Love, a,” he wrote.

Take a look

The film was announced in January, and its teaser has already shown the lead pair’s chemistry.

The film is directed by Sunil Pandey and written by Sneha Desai and Spandan Mishra. It is produced by Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. The music is by Ram Sampath, with lyrics by Irshad Kamil. Ek Din will release in theatres on May 1, 2026.

Arijit Singh shocked his fans when he announced he would no longer take on new assignments as a playback singer, bringing an end to a “wonderful” journey.

In a message shared with his fans on Instagram, Arijit expressed gratitude for the love he has received over the years. “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote in his post. (ANI)

Delhi Police has taken cognisance of information found on various social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated and Special Cell has filed a case into the “purported leak/breach of a yet to be approved publication”.

Delhi Police officials said that an investigation has been taken up on the claims of availability of pre-print copy of the book.

The pre-print book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ has been authored by former Army Chief NN Naravane.

“Delhi Police took cognisance of information found on various online social media platforms and news forums, which claimed that a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated. It was also reported that the necessary clearance for the publication of this book is yet to be received from the relevant authorities,” a Delhi Police official said.

” Upon verification, it was found that a PDF copy of a typeset book with the same title, apparently prepared by M/S Penguin Random House India Pvt. Limited, is available on certain websites, and some online marketing platforms have displayed the finished book cover as if it is available for purchase,” the official added.

The Police said that in order to carry out a thorough investigation into “this purported leak/breach of a yet to be approved publication, a case has been registered with the Special Cell, and an investigation is being taken up”.

A political row has erupted after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to quote from the “pre-print book” during his speech in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address with the treasury benches strongly opposing his remarks. After facing several adjournments on the issue, the House last week adopted the motion of thanks by voice vote amid sloganeering by opposition benches. (ANI)

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the Opposition wants Parliament to function but insisted that the government must answer serious questions on the India-US interim trade framework, which he described as a “dheel” or concession rather than a fair deal.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Yadav said, “All of us in the opposition want the parliament to function, and it becomes very important when such a big deal has happened with America. It’s not a deal, it’s a ‘dheel’.”

Yadav further said the scale at which India’s markets were being opened made it imperative for the House to discuss the issue. “The house should function because after a long time, since 91-92, the market has opened on such a large scale. India’s market and economy are surrounded by America, Europe, China, and many other countries. Our foreign policy and relations will be decided by the economy. Therefore, the government should come forward and, instead of avoiding many things, directly answer the opposition’s questions,” he said.

Using sharp metaphors, Yadav questioned the intent behind recent policy moves. Referring to the traditional halwa ceremony before the Budget, he remarked, “Looking at the budget and the deal, one wonders for whom the halwa was made for.”

He also accused the BJP of offering contradictory explanations. “The BJP needs to explain whether 18 is bigger or zero. They are saying 18 and zero are equal,” he said.

Raising concerns about farmers, Yadav questioned why India was importing millets after aggressively promoting them domestically. “You promoted millets so much and now you are importing millets. Feed will come from there,” he said. He also attacked the government over unemployment, alleging that the Skill India programme had failed to create jobs. “You used to talk about Skill India. In Skill India, you didn’t promote anyone’s talent. You only polished your own image. Where is Skill India? Where are the jobs? Where is the employment? These are all the questions that the government has to answer,” he asked.

Meanwhile, proceedings in the Lok Sabha remained disrupted. The House was adjourned till February 10 after reconvening briefly at 2 pm, following repeated adjournments earlier in the day, as Opposition MPs pressed for a discussion on the India-US trade framework. (ANI)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from multiple civic and administrative authorities in Delhi regarding allegations of illegal construction activity on the floodplain of the Yamuna River, noting that the matter raises substantial questions about compliance with environmental norms.

A Principal Bench of the Tribunal, comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr A Senthil Vel, issued notices to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the concerned District Magistrate, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), calling the authorities to submit their replies by way of affidavits.

The Tribunal specifically directed the District Magistrate to disclose details of the persons responsible for the alleged construction and to clarify whether the structure in question has been raised on the floodplain of the Yamuna River.

The matter has been registered based on a letter petition dated August 13, 2025, submitted by Rohit Tyagi, a resident of Village Wazirabad, who raised a grievance about construction activity allegedly being carried out by encroaching upon the river’s floodplain.

According to the plea, the site in question falls within a green belt area and lies in the ‘O’ Zone under the Master Plan of Delhi 2021, where construction is not permitted.

Taking note of the allegations, the Tribunal observed that the case involves a substantial environmental issue and therefore required responses from the concerned authorities. The Registry has been directed to serve notices to the respondents. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on April 20, 2026. (ANI)