Month: February 2026

Love is in the air ! As Valentine’s Day is around the corner, couples everywhere are going the extra mile to make their partners feel special. Celebrities, too, are turning up the charm, especially by flooding social media with heart-melting moments.

Look at all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s latest Instagram Story. It exudes just love, love, and love. He reshared Instagram post of Maheika, who made it to Delhi in time to cheer for Pandya at his T20 World Cup Match against Namibia.

She uploaded a cute picture of Pandya in which he can be seen holding a big bouquet of roses.

“Made it to Delhi in time. Man of the match of my life,” Maheika captioned the post.

Hardik reposted Maheika’s story and wrote, “Valentine and my baby’s birthday week starts.”

Hardik Pandya was previously married to model Natasa Stankovic. In July 2024, the couple announced their separation through a joint statement. They continue to co-parent their son, Agastya.

Hardik Pandya was at his best in the T20 World Cup match against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, scoring 52 runs and taking two wickets. At one point, he was on a hat-trick as well but the Namibia batter managed to block one out to deny a hat-trick to the swashbuckling Indian all-rounder.

He won the Player-of-the-Match award for his all-round show with the bat and ball.

India posted a commanding total of 209/9 in 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan hammered a 24-ball 61, with six fours and five sixes. Hard hitter Hardik Pandya played a fantastic knock of 52 off 28 deliveries, including four boundaries and four towering sixes.For Namibia, captain Gerhard Erasmus (4/20) took a four-wicket haul.

Ben Shikongo (1/41), Bernard Scholtz (1/41), and JJ Smit (1/50) were also among the wicket-takers.Chasing mammoth 210, openers Louren Steenkamp (29 off 22 balls, with three fours and one six) and Jan Frylinck (22 off 15 balls, with three fours and one six) couldn’t convert their start.Captain Gerhard Erasmus (18 off 11 balls, with two sixes) also failed to score runs with the bat as none of the batters crossed the 30-run mark. (ANI)

Beaming with utmost joy and pride, megastar Chiranjeevi has announced the names of his son, actor Ram Charan, and Upasana Kamineni’s twin babies, marking a heartwarming moment for the Konidela family.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Chiranjeevi shared the first glimpse of the twins, with the proud grandfather appearing delighted as he held one of them in his arms.

In his caption, Chiranjeevi revealed the twins’ names as Shiva Ram Konidela and Anveera Devi Konidela.

“With boundless joy and divine grace. We are delighted to announce the beautiful names of our two little blessings. ‘Shiva Ram Konidela’ & ‘Anveera Devi Konidela’. Shiva Ram is a profound confluence of two eternal ideals. “Shiva” is inspired by Shiva Shankara Vara Prasad, reflecting inner strength, spiritual depth and stillness. “Ram” from Ram Charan embodies righteousness, compassion and moral courage. Together, the name signifies the harmony between inner power and responsible action. Anveera Devi is a rare and powerful expression of the Divine Feminine. Anveera represents fearlessness, resilience and divine protection, inspired by the blessings of Kanaka Durga Devi. A name that reflects grace, courage and unwavering strength. We seek your blessings for Shiva Ram and Anveera Devi as they begin their beautiful journey of life. With love and gratitude,” the actor wrote.

Along with the post, Chiranjeevi also shared a picture which shows Ram Charan and Upasana seated on chairs, with their eldest daughter, Klin Kaara, comfortably accompanying her father. Their parents joined the frame as the entire family came together for the naming ceremony of the twins.

Earlier this month, Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela welcomed twins, a baby boy and a baby girl. Ever since, wishes and blessings have been pouring in from fans across the country.

The happy news was shared by Ram Charan’s father, megastar Chiranjeevi, on social media.

Ram Charan and Upasana had welcomed their first child, a daughter named Klin Kaara, in 2023. The couple has so far kept her away from the public eye and has not revealed her face. (ANI)

Over the past few days, social media has been flooded with speculation that Hrithik Roshan has replaced Ranveer Singh in Don 3.

Putting the rumours to rest, Hrithik, on Friday, via a statement, clarified that there’s no truth to the reports as he “was never approached for the film”

“What started off as just a rumour has now taken on an entire life of its own, and it’s important to set the record straight. I would like to categorically clarify that I was never approached for Don 3 at any given time. Requesting media to steer clear of any such unverified reports,” the statement read.

In August 2023, Farhan had, in a special announcement video, revealed that Ranveer Singh will be the new Don in the third film of the hit franchise.

In the teaser, Ranveer was seen seated in a building with his back to the camera. He lit up a cigarette, introduced himself as Don, and then turned to face the camera.

Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan played the character in the earlier versions.

Reportedly, things did not go well between Ranveer Singh and Excel Entertainment, especially after the Dhurandhar star walked out of Don 3. However, neither Ranveer nor Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have publicly addressed the issue so far.

It now remains to be seen who will step into the lead role in Don 3 or whether Ranveer and Excel Entertainment will resolve their differences and move ahead with what was originally planned. (ANI)

The Opposition MPs on Friday staged a protest outside the Makar Dwar in the Parliament House complex while demanding the resignation of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who is under fire after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioned his links with the infamous Jeffrey Epstein.

MPs from across the opposition parties held placards reading “Who’s grip, who’s choke” during the demonstration.

This comes after Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday, claimed he has verified information linking Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to the recently released Epstein files by the US Department of Justice.

Addressing reporters, the Rae Bareli MP questioned why Ambani, whose name reportedly appeared in the Epstein-related files, has not been jailed. “I have said that I will authenticate the data I have. There are Department of Justice files on Epstein naming Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani.”

He further claimed that there was pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US nuclear deal and criticised the government’s handling of sensitive issues.

Responding to Gandhi’s remarks, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri hit back at Rae Bareli MP and dismissed the allegations as baseless, describing them as “elements of buffoonery” and having “entertainment value.”

Later that day, soon after Gandhi’s remarks, Puri addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters. Puri criticised Gandhi for walking out of the Lok Sabha after delivering his speech.

“We have a youth leader (Rahul Gandhi) who placed a few things before the Parliament today. He has a habit of making baseless allegations. There are two kinds of leaders: those who assume responsibility in the political system and dedicate their lives to social service, transforming the country, and those who devote their lives and ensure that, during their lifetime, the country moves from the 10th-largest economy to the 3rd-largest,” Puri said.

Mocking Gandhi, the Union Minister added, “What Rahul Gandhi does has a lot of entertainment value! On one hand, you have leaders who dedicate their lives to transforming the country and work around the clock, and then you have elements of buffoonery.”

Puri clarified that any contact he had with Epstein was limited to official interactions over eight years and had no connection to the sexual abuse allegations.

“These facts are known in the public domain. Three million emails have been released. I was in New York for eight years, from May 2009, when I was appointed India’s Ambassador to the UN. In 2017, I became Minister. There are references to possibly three or four meetings in eight years. Any contact I had with him has no connection to the serious allegations of sexual abuse filed by victims,” he explained. (ANI)

Farhan Akhtar is set to portray Bharat Ratna awardee and legendary Indian musician Pandit Ravi Shankar in director Sam Mendes’ ambitious project, ‘The Beatles- A Four-Film Cinematic Event.’

The four-part biographical series on the iconic British band has officially begun production in the UK and is slated for a global theatrical release in April 2028 under Sony Pictures, Variety has confirmed.

Akhtar joins an expanding international ensemble that includes Lucy Boynton as Jane Asher, Morfydd Clark as Cynthia Lennon and Harry Lawtey as Stuart Sutcliffe. The films will chronicle the lives of the Fab Four, with each instalment focusing on a different member of The Beatles.

Akhtar, known for his performances in ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ and ‘The Sky Is Pink,’ as well as appearances in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel and most recently 120 Bahadur, takes on the role of Shankar, the globally celebrated sitar virtuoso who shared a deep musical association with George Harrison.

The principal cast features Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr.

Additional casting includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, James Norton as Brian Epstein, Anna Sawai as Yoko Ono, Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd, Harry Lloyd as George Martin and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey, as per Variety.

Behind the camera, Mendes directs all four films and produces alongside his Neal Street Productions partner, Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor, with Alexandra Derbyshire also producing.

The technical team includes cinematographer Greig Fraser and editor Lee Smith, among others. Production is underway. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Tarique Rahman after the projected results showed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading to a victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections.

PM Modi said the win reflects the trust of the Bangladeshi people in his leadership.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.”

He added that India will continue to support a democratic and progressive Bangladesh and looks forward to strengthening bilateral ties.

“India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals,” Prime Minister Modi wrote.

Earlier in the day, BNP said that it is set to form the government as vote counting is underway for the 13th parliamentary elections in the country.

In a post on X, the BNP Media cell said, “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority of seats.”

Local media reports indicate that the BNP is set to secure a historic win in the elections.

According to the Daily Star, vote counting has been completed in 249 constituencies, with just 50 remaining.

Of the 299 seats, the Daily Star reported that BNP and allies have secured 181 seats, while Jamaat and allies have 61 seats.

These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

The BNP’s chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic ‘Battle of Begums’ era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League. (ANI)

The Delhi Police Special Cell has questioned officials of Penguin India for two consecutive days in connection with the alleged leak of former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s book, sources said.

According to sources, the questioning continued for several hours on both days, with investigators seeking detailed information about the handling and circulation of the manuscript and its digital files. Officials indicated that representatives of the publishing house may be called again in the coming days as the probe progresses.

Sources in the Special Cell said the investigation is currently being conducted on two separate lines.

The first line of inquiry concerns the PDF version of the book that allegedly surfaced before its official release. During an examination of the available PDF file, investigators found that the field where the printer’s name is typically entered was left blank. Sources said this has led investigators to suspect that the file may have been leaked before it was sent for printing.

Police have sought detailed information from Penguin India regarding the PDF file’s movement, including the stages it went through before final printing, the number of individuals who had access to it, and whether it was shared online or offline.

Sources said the publishing house has sought time to compile the relevant data, noting that the publication process had been underway for nearly three years.

The second line of investigation relates to a hard copy of the book that was displayed by the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, in Parliament. It was also claimed that the book was available overseas and online. The Special Cell is examining the origin and circulation of that hard copy as part of its ongoing probe.

Sources further said that the Special Cell is analysing the responses submitted by Penguin India. Investigators are working to determine whether the alleged leak resulted from negligence in handling the manuscript or was part of a larger conspiracy.

Further action, sources added, will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation. (ANI)

Several schools across the national capital received bomb threats on Friday morning, police said.

Delhi Police teams, along with fire department personnel, rushed to the affected locations to conduct thorough security checks.

The first call reported as a threat was received at 9:13 AM by BD Tamil Education, Jhandewalan.

More details are awaited.

Earlier, nine schools across the national capital received bomb threat emails on Monday, according to the Delhi Police.

According to the police, the threats were received through emails between 8:30 am and 9:00 am. Following the alerts, Delhi Police, fire department teams, and bomb disposal squads were immediately rushed to the affected schools.

In South Delhi, three schools received bomb threats. These include Air Force School on Lodhi Road, KR Mangalam School, and The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar.

Other schools that received bomb threat emails included Loreto Convent School in Delhi Cantt, Cambridge School in Srinivasanpuri, Venkateshwar School in Rohini, Cambridge School in New Friends Colony, CM School in Rohini, DTA School in INA, and Bal Bharati School in Rohini. (ANI)

As the vote counting process is underway, the projected voting results show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading in 151 constituencies in the country’s 13th parliamentary elections, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the Dhaka Tribune, early morning vote counting showed BNP winning 151 constituencies so far. It further mentioned that the initial trends indicated Jamaat-e-Islami would emerge as the main opposition, securing 43 seats.

Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with the BNP alliance expected to surpass the halfway mark needed to form the government.

The BNP’s chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer.

Unofficial results on Friday show Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in a strong lead as Bangladesh continues to count votes after its landmark election on Thursday.

Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star.

According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.

Official results have not yet been delivered by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is expected to issue its announcement on Friday.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic ‘Battle of Begums’ era on Thursday.

This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League. (ANI)

At least seven people have been killed in a tragic chain road accident early Friday morning on the outskirts of Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district, police confirmed.

According to the police, the accident occurred near M Satyavara village on the Hoskote-Dabaspete National Highway. An XUV 700 car (KA 03 NW 0138) travelling from Hoskote towards Devanahalli first collided with a motorcycle moving ahead. The driver then lost control and crashed into a Canter vehicle.

Another car became involved in the ensuing chaos, resulting in a severe chain collision involving two cars, a canter, and a motorcycle.

Six occupants of the XUV car and the motorcycle rider died on the spot. The deceased are suspected to be residents of Kothanur, Bengaluru, though their identities are yet to be confirmed.

The bodies have been shifted to Hoskote Government Hospital. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.

More details are awaited. (ANI)