Month: February 2026

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the Gaza conflict when he addresses the Knesset in his upcoming visit to Israel, calling for justice for innocent victims and emphasising India’s historic commitment to truth and peace on the global stage.

In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote,” I hope that the Prime Minister Narendramodi mentions the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza while addressing the Knesset on his upcoming trip to Israel and demands justice for them. India has stood for what is right throughout our history as an independent nation. We must continue to show the light of truth, peace and justice to the world.”

Her remarks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a State visit to Israel on February 25-26.

The visit comes at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and marks the Prime Minister’s second visit to Israel, following his 2017 trip when he became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit the country.

During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The two leaders will review the significant progress made in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

According to the MEA, the leaders are also expected to exchange perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Prime Minister will also call on Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel.

This visit will reaffirm the deep and long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries and present an opportunity to review common challenges, as well as realign efforts towards achieving their shared vision for a robust partnership between two resilient democracies.

Reflecting the significance of the diplomatic engagement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday termed the upcoming visit “historic”, stating that the partnership continues to scale new heights. (ANI)

Even though the city administration has issued an official price list for essential commodities, shopkeepers continue to charge significantly higher prices during Ramazan, according to a report by Dawn.

The situation highlights the authorities’ inability to rein in soaring prices. As a result, consumers are bearing the brunt of ineffective enforcement measures.

Pushcart vendors selling fruits and vegetables are operating without displaying official price lists. Bananas are being sold at PKR 200-300 per dozen, whereas the government-fixed rate stands at PKR 237. Only lower-quality bananas are available at PKR 150 per dozen.

Melons are reportedly scarce and of inferior quality, yet customers are paying PKR 300 per kg compared to the official price of PKR 262 per kg, Dawn reported.

Several retailers are avoiding purchasing melons from the wholesale market due to their high cost. Guava, another popular item during Ramazan, is being sold at PKR 200-300 per kg despite its regulated price of PKR 150-152 per kg.

Apples and pomegranates have official rates of PKR 340 and PKR 239 per kg, respectively, but are being sold at PKR 400-500 and PKR 250-300 per kg, according to the Dawn report.

Watermelon is priced at PKR 150-180 per kg in the market, exceeding its official rate of PKR 115 per kg.

High-quality, large-sized oranges are being sold at PKR 300-400 per dozen, far above the government’s fixed price of PKR 136.

The official rate of cheeku is PKR 150 per kg, yet retailers are charging between PKR 250 and PKR 300 per kg, as cited by Dawn.

Onions and potatoes, among the most in-demand staples, have official prices of PKR 35 and PKR 23 per kg, but are being sold at PKR 50-60 and PKR 40-50 per kg, respectively.

The administration has set the retail prices of live broiler chicken and chicken meat at PKR 332 and PKR 500 per kg; however, these are being sold at PKR 400 and PKR 550-600 per kg, respectively, the Dawn report added. (ANI)

Former Tibetan political detainees, along with the Lhasa Boys’ Association Switzerland, presented a Long Life Prayer ceremony to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, according to a report by Phayul.

The ceremony, held on Monday, included a deeply emotional appeal on behalf of Tibetans living inside Tibet, read by former political prisoner Ngawang Sangdrol, who was arrested at the age of 13 and spent eleven years in prison. The message conveyed the collective longing of Tibetans for the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet and expressed sorrow over their current situation under Chinese governance, Phayul reported.

In the letter, the signatories voiced steadfast faith and deep respect for the Tibetan spiritual leader, referring to him as the “Protector of the Snow Land, Tenzin Gyatso.” They earnestly requested his early return, stating that, in his absence, the Snow Land has been reduced to “only a name, an empty remainder.”

The message combined devotion and grief, reflecting both the resilience of Tibetan faith and the hardships faced under Chinese rule. “Though our hearts rejoice in being included among the celebrations of the Protector, our minds are sorrowful, remaining helpless under the enemy’s domination,” the letter stated.

It added that the continued life of His Holiness remains a beacon of hope for the Tibetan people.

The letter also outlined what it described as the present conditions within Tibet, alleging systematic attempts to weaken Tibetan identity, language, and religious freedom.

It claimed that teachers of the Tibetan language are now required to secure Chinese-language certification at different levels to continue teaching, a move viewed as diminishing the status of Tibetans in their own land.

Educators committed to safeguarding the Tibetan language reportedly face risks to their employment if they do not comply, as cited in the Phayul report.

According to the letter, students advancing through various stages of education are being encouraged, both directly and indirectly, to refrain from studying Tibetan.

They are reportedly told that learning the language offers little benefit for their future and may even obstruct academic progress.

In certain instances, students expressing an interest in Tibetan studies are allegedly ridiculed by teachers.

Concerns were also raised regarding the tourism industry in Tibet.

The letter alleged that Tibetans are confined to minor roles, while Chinese nationals hold key positions.

Tour guides, irrespective of their ethnicity, must be fluent in Chinese and adhere to officially sanctioned narratives of Tibetan history.

The letter cited claims that visitors are informed that monuments such as the Potala Palace were constructed “for China,” and that Tibet’s historical accomplishments originated from China, assertions the authors described as distorted and misleading, according to Phayul.

The communication further highlighted restrictions on religious activities.

It stated that government employees, private-sector workers, and even non-governmental staff are barred from visiting religious sites.

During sacred periods like Saga Dawa, Tibetans undertaking pilgrimages reportedly encounter increased monitoring, repeated checks of residence permits, and inspections of personal belongings, including mobile phones.

The letter also alleged that individuals seeking government jobs are required to denounce the 14th Dalai Lama as a condition of employment.

Parents are reportedly compelled to sign statements criticising their spiritual leader, while children are systematically encouraged to distance themselves from devotion to His Holiness.

The signatories described this as among the most distressing realities confronting Tibetans today.

The former political prisoners depicted a society subjected to widespread surveillance and repression.

They alleged that Tibetans face curbs not only on religious practice but also on freedom of speech, internet access, and even thought.

Even simple acts, such as performing traditional pilgrimages, can reportedly lead to sudden questioning and inspections, as highlighted in the Phayul report. (ANI)

Star couple Ajay Devgn and Kajol are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary. On this special occassion, Kajol posted an adorable picture of the couple alongside a sweet note highlighting their love and togetherness.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Kajol posted a candid photo of the couple, where they are seen looking at each other with affection and smiles, reflecting their happiness and strong bond.

The actress wrote, “In a rare moment of understanding we both agree that we both deserve a medal and a trophy!”

In the photo, Ajay Devgn is seen in a black suit paired with a white shirt and glasses, complemented by his signature beard. Kajol looks elegant in a maroon sari, and a choker necklace.

The actors tied the knot on February 24, 1999, and share two beautiful children, a daughter, Nysa, and a son, Yug.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kajol was seen in ‘Maa’, a mythological horror film directed by Vishal Furia and Kayoze Irani’s ‘Sarzameen’. She also hosted a talk show along with Twinkle Khanna ‘Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle.’

On the other hand, Ajay will be seen in ‘Dhamaal 4’ , directed by Indra Kumar also starring Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra and Jaaved Jaaferi.

Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar and Ravi Kishan are also a part of ‘Dhamaal 4’.

The film is produced by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit, and Kumar Mangat Pathak.

Dhamaal is a 2007 comedy film directed by Indra Kumar and produced by Ashok Thakeria. The film starred Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chaudhary, and Jaaved Jaaferi in the lead roles, while Asrani, Sanjay Mishra, Murli Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Manoj Pahwa, Tiku Talsania, and Prem Chopra featured in supporting roles.

The film became an instant success and later turned into a popular franchise with sequels Double Dhamaal (2011) and Total Dhamaal (2019). (ANI)

A team of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday reached the location of the tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district that claimed the lives of all seven people onboard, including two crew members.

The Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft, registered VT-AJV, was operating a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi when it crashed on Monday evening in Kasariya Panchayat, Simaria block. DGCA officials are collecting evidence from the wreckage to carry out further investigation.

Speaking to ANI, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Shubham Khandelwal said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has collected key evidence and will continue investigations tomorrow. He further said that locals reported the aircraft losing balance before it crashed, and recovery and postmortems of all bodies have been completed.

“AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau)’s team had come here. They collected all the documents and evidence they deemed important. They will collect evidence tomorrow as well. They will then inform us of their investigation. The local villagers have also given their statements regarding the manner in which the crash occurred. Locals say that they saw the aircraft losing balance. It crashed 2-3 seconds later. Deployment will continue here. Yes, bodies have handed over, and a postmortem has been done,” Khandelwal said to the reporters.

Furthermore, eyewitness Pawan Yadav, from whom the DGCA team collected statements, said, “They asked me what I saw and where I was. I told them that we were sitting outside our house in our village when we heard the sound and saw the aircraft. We felt it was losing balance when suddenly we heard a loud boom. The weather was bad, and there was light rain. I told them everything I saw.”

Simaria BJP MLA Kumar Ujjwal Das described the incident as “unfortunate,” noting that he remained in touch with the local administration throughout the night, despite heavy rain and thunderstorms.

“I received information at around 8.15 pm when I reached Ranchi. I was caught in a thunderstorm near Budhmu. I then called up the local administration here. They told me that they were heading to the spot. I was in touch with the district administration all through the night. It was raining heavily. It is an unfortunate incident,” Das told ANI.

A tragic air ambulance crash in Jharkhand’s Chatra district on Monday claimed the lives of all seven people onboard, including two crew members. The Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd Beechcraft C90 aircraft was operating a medical evacuation flight from Ranchi to Delhi when it crashed in Kasariya Panchayat, Simariya block, at approximately 7:30 pm.

The aircraft had taken off from Ranchi at 19:11 IST and lost communication and radar contact with Kolkata at approximately 100 NM South-East of Varanasi.

As per an official statement from the Council of Indian Aviation, the aircraft had taken off from Ranchi at 19:11 IST and lost radar and communication contact near 100 NM south-east of Varanasi. (ANI)

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, on Tuesday, met a delegation from Israel who are in India for the first round of India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations and said these mark an important step towards enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

He said in a post on X that FTA negotiations aim at creating greater opportunities for businesses and people on both sides.

“Met a delegation from Israel today, visiting India for the first round of India-Israel Free Trade Agreement negotiations (23rd-26th February 2026). The FTA negotiations mark an important step towards enhancing India-Israel bilateral trade & economic cooperation, aimed at creating greater opportunities for businesses and people on both sides,” he said.

The first round of negotiations for the India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced in New Delhi on Monday and is scheduled to take place until February 26.

During this round, technical experts from both sides will engage in sessions covering various aspects of FTA such as trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, customs procedure and trade facilitation, intellectual property rights, among others, Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a release.

During the opening session, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal underscored that the FTA negotiations had begun at an opportune moment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel on 25-26th February, 2026.

Agrawal underscored the significant opportunities available to both sides in sectors such as innovation, science and technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, high-tech manufacturing, agriculture, and services.

He emphasised that the FTA will enable both countries to harness and fully leverage these opportunities.

Chief Negotiator of India, Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, reiterated the significance of this engagement for the two countries and encouraged both sides to work on a balanced agreement to build a forward-looking framework for an evolving partnership, the release said.

Chief Negotiator of Israel for the FTA, Yifat Alon Perel, Senior Director Trade Policy & Agreements and Deputy Trade Commissioner, Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Economy and Industry, Israel, expressed that the two countries shared a close relationship, and that the FTA has the potential to strengthen supply chains, enhance cooperation and open new markets for both countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a State visit to Israel on February 25-26.

This will be his second visit to Israel, following his 2017 trip when he became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit the country.

During the visit, PM Modi will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders will review the significant progress made in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and discuss further opportunities in various areas of cooperation, including science and technology, innovation, defence and security, agriculture, water management, trade and economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday said that Israel is excited to welcome PM Modi this week, noting that the two nations will move forward decisively during his visit.

He said that both India and Israel were moving towards a Free Trade Agreement, and it could get finalised this year.

During Piyush Goyal’s visit in November 2025, the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the launch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel were signed.

During the visit of Finance Minister of Israel Bezalel Smotrich to India in September 2025, a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) was signed to expand economic cooperation, protect investors and boost cross-border investments, laying the foundation for deeper ties and potential FTA discussions.

Total merchandise trade between the two countries stood at USD 3.62 billion in FY 2024-2025. India and Israel share complementarities across several sectors, and the FTA will be a catalyst to further enhance the bilateral trade by providing certainty and predictability to businesses, including MSMEs. (ANI)

The Bombay High Court on February 24 adjourned the hearing in Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi’s petition seeking to quash a 2019 alleged rape FIR filed against him, granting the complainant one week’s time to respond.

The matter has now been posted for next hearing on March 4.

Advocate Prashant Patil, representing Pancholi, spoke to ANI following the court proceedings and reiterated that the case dates back to 2019, when an FIR was registered at Versova Police Station under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the actor. The complaint was filed by a Bollywood actress.

Patil stated that the foundation of the case was based on what he described as “fake allegations.” He added that Pancholi had moved the High Court with a quashing petition, which had remained pending for several years.

According to Patil, during earlier hearings, no one had appeared on behalf of the complainant. The public prosecutor, representing the State of Maharashtra, had informed the court that despite 11 notices issued to the complainant, she had not appeared before the police station for investigation.

On February 12, the High Court heard Pancholi’s plea seeking to set aside the FIR, which includes charges under Sections 376 (rape) and other provisions of the IPC. During that hearing, the public prosecutor reiterated that multiple notices had been sent to the complainant without response. Subsequently, the court issued a fresh notice directing her to appear on February 24.

In Tuesday’s hearing, representatives appeared from the complainant’s side and sought one week’s time. The High Court granted the request and scheduled the next date of hearing for March 4.

The FIR against Pancholi was registered on June 27, 2019, at Versova Police Station in Mumbai. In addition to Section 376, the complaint includes charges under Sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 384 (extortion), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Soon after the FIR was filed in 2019, Pancholi maintained that he had been “falsely implicated” in the case. In his petition before the High Court, he has sought quashing of the FIR, citing the Supreme Court’s ‘Bhajanlal’ judgment to argue that the complaint is malicious and legally untenable. The petition also notes that the complaint was filed nearly 15 years after the alleged incident.

Advocate Patil further claimed that an individual had met Pancholi prior to the registration of the FIR and that a recording of that meeting remains in their possession. He said the recording has been presented before the court to demonstrate what the defence describes as wrongful intention behind the case.

On the question of whether a chargesheet has been filed, Patil said, “Filing chargesheet or not is a matter of the police and the State of Maharashtra. I can’t say anything. Since 2019 to 2026, I don’t think there is any evidence in this matter or there is any truth in it. We will challenge it in the High Court, whatever be the discretion on chargesheet, and we are confident that we will get justice.”

The case remains pending before the Bombay High Court, with further arguments expected on March 4. (ANI)

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday, trained guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-United States trade deal framework, calling him “compromised” and alleging pressure that the former is “under pressure”.

Addressing Congress’ Kisan Mahachaupal in Bhopal, Gandhi challenged PM Modi to cancel the deal after the US Supreme Court ruled against Trump tariffs. Repeating the “sold India” allegations against the Prime Minister, he accused the Centre of providing the data of Indians to the US.

Rahul Gandhi said, “The trade agreement with the United States was stalled for four months because it involved agriculture and agricultural products. The Indian government did not want American companies to sell their products here. India’s farmers, farm workers, and even the government didn’t want this. In my address, I was not just talking about (former Army Chief) Naravane ji. After I finished my address, without consulting his own cabinet ministers, PM Modi called Trump. He lied, pretended that Congress’ woman MPs were about to attack, but instead called directly and said he was ready to do the deal. You can see in his eyes that PM Narendra Modi is compromised.”

“Other countries decided to abandon the deal after the US Supreme Court decision, but PM Modi stayed silent. I challenge Modi ji from this platform that when the US Supreme Court has given its verdict on the deal, then cancel the deal with America. He cannot cancel the deal due to pressure from Trump. India has the largest population and the largest amount of data. But PM Modi gave all our data to the US. If there were no pressure on PM Narendra Modi, he would not have done this. He sold India to save his image and political future,” he added.

Congress’ criticism of the trade deal framework comes as India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.

While, as per the deal, the United States was to levy a reciprocal tariff rate of 18 per cent, after the US court verdict, Trump announced a global tariff rate of 15 per cent.

Gandhi had also recalled his address in the Parliament during the Budget Session, alleging that the Centre is not letting him speak in the Lok Sabha.

Reinvoking ex-Army Chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir, the Congress MP said that PM Modi “disappeared” when the army required him to make a decision amid the standoff against China in 2020.

Rahul Gandhi said, “After the President’s address in Parliament, the first speaker in the Lok Sabha is always the Leader of Opposition (LoP). But, for the first time in the history of India, the Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. I was interrupted as soon as I began my address.”

“Naravane ji wrote in his book that Chinese tanks were advancing towards the Indian border. When Naravane ji called Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the phone and asked for orders, he received no response. Naravane ji also called NSA Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, but got no reply. After two hours, Naravane ji called Rajnath Singh again, requested orders once more, because the decision to fire against the Chinese army was to be taken by the Prime Minister. An Army Chief cannot make a decision on war, as it is a political decision,” he added.

Citing General Naravane, he accused the Centre of leaving the army “alone.”

“Rajnath Singh spoke to PM Modi. The Prime Minister did not speak to the Army Chief and hid in his room. The PM told Rajnath Singh: Tell Naravane ji- ‘Do whatever you deem appropriate’. Naravane ji wrote in his book that on that day, the Government of India and the Prime Minister left him and the army alone. When it was time for the Army Chief to receive orders and stop China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi disappeared,” the Congress leader said.

Rahul Gandhi had cited a magazine article based on General Naravane’s unpublished memoir, which led to a heated political row in the country. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had denied permission to quote from unpublished literature in the House. (ANI)

Actor Sandeepa Dhar says her latest film ‘Do Deewane Seher Mein’ addresses the urgent issue of validation and self-worth among women in the age of social media, calling it a story that “needed to be told.”

In a conversation with ANI, Sandeepa opened up about playing Naina in the romantic drama directed by Ravi Udyawar. The film, presented by Zee Studios and Bhansali Productions, had a theatrical release on February 20.

In the film, Naina is perceived by others as a “perfect” woman, but she struggles with a internal loss of identity and self-worth.

Speaking about her character, she shared that Naina’s internal struggles deeply resonated with her. “There are many things I could relate to in Naina. In fact, I think every girl can relate to Naina somewhere,” she said, pointing to themes of insecurity and the constant need for validation.

The actor highlighted how societal pressures disproportionately affect women. “No matter which film you do, you’re judged for your looks, judged for your weight. Especially for girls- it doesn’t happen as much with boys,” she noted, adding that male actors are rarely scrutinised on social media for their appearance in the same way.

According to Sandeepa, the film explores how the pursuit of perfection- flawless skin, ideal weight, curated Instagram lives- often leads women to lose touch with their authentic selves.

“We’re constantly living for someone else,” she said, adding that Naina’s journey reflects the experiences of many young women who struggle with confidence and self-acceptance.

She also expressed gratitude to producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali for backing what she described as a “simple, sweet story” in an era dominated by high drama. “This film is slow-paced, a slow burn. Emotions are handled gently and patiently. That’s what makes it special,” she said.

The romantic drama stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur in the lead roles. In an earlier interview with ANI, Siddhant reflected on the February release, and called the month “lucky,” noting that his previous films, including Gully Boy and Gehraiyaan, also released in February. (ANI)

Akshay Kumar on Tuesday dropped a striking first-look motion poster of his much-awaited horror-comedy ‘Bhooth Bangla’.

Taking to Instagram on February 24, the actor shared an intriguing glimpse of his character, instantly sparking excitement among fans.

The motion poster presents Akshay in a dramatic ‘tantrik-like’ avatar, marking a distinct shift from his recent on-screen personas.

Seated shirtless on an eerie, intricately carved throne adorned with demonic faces, he sports black sunglasses and multiple strands of Rudraksha beads. Holding a rosary, the actor appears mid-scream, his mouth wide open, creating an intense yet theatrical visual that hints at the film’s horror-comedy tone.

Accompanying the poster was a playful caption that read, “Dus ko denge das-tak, intezar karo tab tak… Let the fun begin!”

Akshay also confirmed that ‘Bhooth Bangla’ has been preponed. Originally slated to release on May 15, the film will now arrive in cinemas earlier, on April 10, 2026.

‘Bhooth Bangla’ also marks the much-awaited reunion of Akshay Kumar and director Priyadarshan after a gap of nearly 16 years.

The duo last collaborated on ‘Khatta Meetha’ in 2010.

The film boasts a massive ensemble cast featuring Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Wamiqa Gabbi, and veteran actor Asrani.

Presented by Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, ‘Bhooth Bangla’ is produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. (ANI)