Month: February 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron included the title track ‘Na De Dil Pardesi Nu’ from the Hindi blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’ in a tribute video marking the conclusion of his recent state visit to India, drawing widespread attention across social media.

The 43-second montage, shared by Macron on X after concluding his visit, offered glimpses of ceremonial welcomes, warm embraces with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, temple visits, cultural engagements and even a street jog in Mumbai.

Accompanied by a heartfelt “Thank You India!” note, the video expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to him during his trip.

However, what truly caught the attention of the Indian social media users was the song playing in the background- the energetic and widely popular ‘Na De Dil Pardesi Nu’, the title track of ‘Dhurandhar.’

The unexpected inclusion of the track has since sparked excitement online, with fans celebrating what they see as a global nod to one of Hindi cinema’s biggest hits.

One X user wrote, “That Dhurandhar song in the background is just lit.”

Another wrote, “Nice song selection…”

A third X user commented, “Here India is the real #Dhurandhar in the world…,” while another user wrote, “Goated track. Goated leaders.”

Macron’s visit to India was marked by high-level engagements and strategic discussions. He attended the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi in the capital. Speaking about India-France ties, the French President said the bilateral relationship stands at its “highest point,” with both countries keen to deepen cooperation across technology, innovation and strategic sectors.

“I really believe it’s at the highest point, and we want to do much more again because it’s based on our relationship,” Macron said, underlining the strength of the partnership.

During his address at the summit, he also lauded India’s digital transformation and described its pioneering role in technology governance as a global benchmark. The visit signalled sustained momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, particularly in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies.

Amid these significant diplomatic developments, the subtle cinematic reference added a cultural layer to the trip’s narrative.

‘Dhurandhar’, starring Ranveer Singh in the lead and directed by Aditya Dhar, is currently regarded as a cult blockbuster.

The film has surpassed ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.

The ensemble cast includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R. Madhavan in pivotal roles.

The makers are now gearing up for the sequel, ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, slated for a pan-India theatrical release on March 19, 2026. The film will coincide with Eid, Gudi Padwa and Ugadi and release in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

The official teaser, unveiled earlier this month, features a blood-soaked action montage charting the psychological and physical transformation of Jaskirat Singh Rangi into the spy Hamza Ali Mazari. It also offers glimpses of returning cast members Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and R. Madhavan.

Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, with T-Series handling the music, the sequel is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. (ANI)

Israel has condemned the attack on two Indian workers in Ashkelon, calling the incident “absolutely unacceptable”.

The Israeli embassy in India informed that the perpetrators have been caught and assured that justice will be delivered.

“The attack on two Indian workers yesterday in Ashkelon by delinquents is absolutely unacceptable. The Israeli police have caught the perpetrators and will bring them to justice,” the embassy said in a post on X.

A video released by the Israeli broadcaster, KAN, showed at least two men being assaulted by a group of attackers in what appears to be a public park on Wednesday.

Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed concern over the incident and urged Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar to look into the matter.

In a post on X, Khera said, Yesterday, two Indian citizens were brutally attacked in Ashkelon, Israel. It was a premeditated racist assault, planned over private chats. This is not the first such attack. And sadly, it may not be the last.”

“The government’s failure to generate adequate employment at home has pushed Indian labourers to seek work in Israel. It celebrates Indo-Israel “friendship” when sending Indian labourers there. But when our people face barbaric treatment, it falls silent and shrugs off responsibility. S Jaishankar should urgently look into the matter, confirm the victim’s condition, and ensure he has access to adequate, free-of-cost medical care if required,” he added.

The incident happened ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel, Khera question will PM Modi would raise the “issue of racism” during his visit.

“PM Modi is visiting Israel soon, will he raise the issue of racism and violent attacks against Indian nationals in Israel?” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Israel “next week,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Addressing the conference of presidents of major American Jewish organisations, Netanyahu announced PM Modi’s upcoming visit, noting a “tremendous alliance” between the two nations.

This will be PM Modi’s second visit to the country, following his 2017 visit when he became the first-ever Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. (ANI)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appreciated Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and joining the Board of Peace.

He also held a meeting with the Pakistan PM and reaffirmed their strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism.

“Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Appreciate Pakistan’s ongoing support of POTUS’s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace. In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,” he said.

During the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, Shehbaz Sharif showered praises on Trump for his “mediation” in the Pakistan-India conflict, calling him a “man of peace” and “saviour of the people of South Asia.”

“Your timely and very effective intervention to achieve a ceasefire between India and Pakistan potentially averted the loss of millions of people’s lives. You have truly proved to be a man of peace and let me say you are turly saviour of the people of South Asia,” Shehbaz Sharif said.

Trump reiterated his claim of saving millions of lives during the India and Pakistan conflict in 2024, stating that he threatened to impose a “200 per cent tariff” and both countries halted the conflict as there’s “nothing like money.”

Speaking at his Board of Peace, Trump also increased the number of jets that were shot down during the conflict, taking the number to 11 from his previous claims of eight.

Trump again repeated that he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the conflict, despite India’s rejection of any third-party mediation.

“He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got on the phone with both of them, and I knew them a little bit. I knew Prime Minister Modi very well…I called them, and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up,” Trump said.

“And all of a sudden, we worked out a deal. I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries. They both wanted to fight. But when it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight…11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets,” he added.

Trump was referring to the conflict post-Pahalgam terror attack in April of 2024, in which 26 people were killed. India, in response to the attack, launched precise attacks on Pakistan’s terrorist infrastructure under Operation Sindoor.

India has consistently refuted Trump’s claims, stating that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally through the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs), without third-party involvement.

India has also reiterated its long-standing position that any issues with Pakistan, including those related to Jammu and Kashmir, are to be resolved bilaterally between the two countries. (ANI)

The father of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim on Thursday questioned the CBI’s investigation, alleging it’s a cover-up and the agency is not doing its job properly.

Speaking to ANI, he claimed that the High Court made a mistake by handing the case over to the CBI, saying they won’t admit their involvement in the crime.

The grieving father said, “The High Court can’t be this foolish as to hear this case in a single day and hand it over to a fool like the CBI. We are deeply saddened by this.”

The victim’s family is seeking custodial interrogation of police officers and doctors, including Sudipto Roy, who they believe are involved in the conspiracy. The CBI had arrested Sanjay Roy, who was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the victim’s family believes there’s a larger conspiracy and wants further investigation.

“Will the CBI admit its involvement? Will any thief ever confess to stealing? The people who conspired and killed my daughter will never come forward and say they killed her. The High Court has made a grave mistake by handing this case over to such an investigating agency… What can the state government say? It has been covering up this matter since day one. The Health Minister and MLA Sudipto Roy are complicit in this conspiracy. The Health Secretary is also involved. I have proof of that too”, he said.

Legal counsels representing the victim’s parents suggested a profound breakdown in trust–not just toward the local police, but now toward the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well, suspecting systemic cover-up involving high-ranking officials across multiple institutions.

The parents’ lawyers, Rajdeep Haldar and Amartya Dey, alleged that the investigation is being intentionally steered away from the “actual” perpetrators.

The victim’s counsel, Advocate Rajdeep Haldar, stated that the entire Kolkata Police fraternity might be linked to the case, and Sanjay Roy was framed to save the actual accused. He alleged that the Kolkata Police fraternity is deeply intertwined with the matter, citing “dereliction of duty” that they believe was intentional rather than accidental.

“We have presented our application in various parts. Firstly, CBI is not investigating in the manner in which they ought to, ASI Anup Dutta, who happens to be a suspect accused in this matter, has been set free. The petitioners, the parents of the deceased victim and their counsel, feel that the entire Kolkata Police fraternity is also linked with this matter. That has been well reflected in the judgment given by the ADG First Court in Sealdah. The dereliction of duty can happen from a single police officer… Sonjay Roy has been projected as an accused to save the actual accused… In every status report, the CBI specifies that they are investigating the matter, but without any proper specification…,” said Haldar.

The CBI had arrested Sanjay Roy, who was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, the victim’s family believes there’s a larger conspiracy and wants police officers and doctors taken into a custodial inquiry. They also point out inconsistencies, like Sudipto Roy’s release despite being implicated in the CBI’s report.

The counsel is now accusing the CBI of concealing the truth. They argue that the CBI’s status reports are vague and that the agency is actively objecting to petitions that seek deeper inquiries into specific doctors and officers.

Counsel claimed these individuals failed polygraph tests, yet the CBI has not moved for custodial interrogation.

“We have filed a petition to have some police officers and doctors taken into custodial inquiry. The CBI’s status report in the Supreme Court detailed their involvement, and they failed to pass the polygraph test. Following this, the CBI’s duty was to conduct a custodial inquiry, which has not yet been completed… So many days have passed. The CBI is objecting to our petition… The CBI wants to conceal the truth by any means necessary. This means the CBI is also involved in the larger conspiracy… According to the CBI report, Sudipto Roy is involved in this. A phone recording of his conversation with Sandip Ghosh was also found, based on which Sandip Ghosh was arrested. Why was Sudipto Roy released when Sandip Ghosh was arrested?” said Dey.

The RG Kar Medical College rape and murder incident occurred on August 9, 2024, when a 31-year-old female postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in a seminar room on campus.

The case led to widespread protests and outrage across the country, with many demanding justice for the victim.

The investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of the case. The CBI has since arrested several individuals. (ANI)

As US President Donald Trump held an inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, he expressed his desire to have China and Russia on the board.

Interacting with the reporters, Trump said, “A lot of countries are going through the process of getting on the board… I would love to have China and Russia on the board; they have been invited.”

Both Russia and China have received the invitation from Trump, but have not announced any decision about joining the board.

During his address at the Board of Peace meeting, Trump flaunted his “good relations” with Chinese President XI Jinping

“I have a very good relationship with President Xi. I’m going to China in April. That’s going to be a wild one. Last time I went to China, President Xi treated me so well,” he said.

” He gave me a display. I never saw so many soldiers all the same height, exactly the same height. I said, if they put their helmets down, you could have played pool on the top of their heads. And it was pretty amazing,” he added.

Trump also said that the newly formed “Board of Peace” would “almost be looking over” the United Nations to ensure it functions effectively.

“The Board of Peace is going to be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” Trump said during the meeting, adding that the US would help improve the UN’s facilities and financial stability.

“We’re going to make sure its facilities are good. They need help, and they need help money-wise. We’re going to help them money-wise, and we’re going to make sure the United Nations is viable,” he stated.

During the meeting, Trump announced that the United States would contribute USD 10 billion to the Board of Peace to support its mission of resolving global conflicts and said the board would initially focus on reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

The Board of Peace, according to Trump, is aimed at strengthening international conflict resolution mechanisms and enhancing cooperation to address global crises.

Delegations from more than 40 countries participated in the meeting, but key United Nations Security Council members, including France, Britain, Russia, and China, did not join. While the European Union has opted not to take a seat on the board, as reported by Al Jazeera.

India has also been invited to the board but has not announced its decision.

President Trump first proposed the Board of Peace in September as part of a second phase of the US-brokered 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan.

The Board will oversee a “founding Executive Board”, which comprises Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as reported by CNN. (ANI)

Actor Rajpal Yadav, who walked out of Tihar Jail earlier this week, has shared his first message on social media after his release in a cheque bounce case. The actor posted a short note to thank people for standing by him during this difficult time.

Taking to his social media account on Thursday, Yadav wrote a message in Hindi to thank his fans and well-wishers. “Aap sabbhi ke pyaar aur saath ke liye dil se dhanyawaad (Heartfelt thanks to all of you for your love and support),” wrote the actor in his Instagram post.

Soon after the post was shared, fans reacted in large numbers, sending their warm messages in the comment section. One fan wrote, “You are a gem of our generation.” Another comment read, “Only good happens with a good person.” A user also wrote, “Good to have you back, sir.”

Rajpal Yadav also spoke to ANI shortly after his release, where he shared his thoughts on his three-decade-long journey in Indian cinema and thanked his supporters across the country.

“I got the privilege of coming out, and regarding the matter which is in the honourable High Court, for any legal questions that arise, the one who will give proper facts and truth-filled answers is our lawyer, Mr. Bhaskar Upadhyay. I have given him the responsibility to stay in proper touch regarding this,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court granted an interim suspension of Rajpal Yadav’s sentence until March 18. The bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, while passing the order, directed Yadav to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount. The court noted that Rs 1.5 crore has been deposited in the respondent’s bank account while considering the relief.

Yadav’s post and public statements mark his first interaction with fans and the media following his release, highlighting both his gratitude and continued engagement with the legal process. (ANI)

Days after the overwhelming response to “Lalla Anthem: A Warning from Subedaar,” the makers of the Anil Kapoor-starrer Subedaar have now released the official song video titled ‘Lalla.’

The song is composed by Rohan-Vinayak, with lyrics penned by Rishi Upadhyay, and sung by Vishal Dadlani. The video features scenes from the film, highlighting the tension between the characters. It also offers fans impactful glimpses of characters played by Aditya Rawal, Saurabh Shukla, Faisal Malik, Mona Singh and Radhikka Madan, raising the emotional and narrative stakes surrounding Subedaar Arjun Maurya, portrayed by Anil Kapoor.

Take a look

Speaking about the song, Dadlani shared how the track felt different in its full version. He explained that the song carries strong energy and control and he tried to match that feeling while recording it.

“When ‘Lalla’ first came out as part of the anthem, people instantly connected with its energy. But as a full track, it goes deeper, and what stood out to me was its controlled intensity. It carries the spirit of standing your ground and owning your space,” Dadlani said in a statement, as per a press note.

“While recording it, I wanted my voice to match the grit, strength, and resolve that Anil sir brings to the screen. The song holds that same conviction, it’s as much about inner power as it is about dominance,” he added.

Subedaar is directed by Suresh Triveni and produced by Vikram Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, and Suresh Triveni under Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film and Communication Network.(ANI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday directed Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of 22 States and Union Territories to complete preparatory work for the second phase of upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which is expected to begin in April 2026.

The letter has been addressed to Chief Electoral Officers of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, the NCT of Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.

The ECI has requested that all preparatory activities related to the revision exercise be completed at the earliest to ensure a smooth rollout of the process from April 2026.

Currently, a nationwide SIR is being carried out in 12 states and union territories.

These states and UTs are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Earlier, ECI announced the schedule for the upcoming biennial elections to the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) to fill the 37 seats across 10 states, as the members are set to complete their term in April 2026, a press note stated.

According to the press note, the term of 37 members who were elected from Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will conclude in the month of April, vacating the seats for new members to be elected.

The notification will be issued on February 26, commencing the election process. The last date of nominations is March 5, followed by scrutiny on March 6. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till March 9.

The polling is scheduled to take place on March 16, with the counting of votes on the same day at 5 pm. The election process will be completed by March 20.

The ECI has instructed that only integrated violet colour sketch pens must be used for marking the preferences on the ballot paper. (ANI)

Actor-singer Rahul Deshpande opened up about how he landed a role in Shahid Kapoor starrer ‘O Romeo’ and how his journey into Bollywood began with a simple audition and a lot of trust.

In a recent chat with ANI, Deshpande, who plays a police inspector in the romantic action thriller, spoke about the moment that led to his casting. He shared that his long association with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj played an important role in the process. Talking about how the idea first came up, he spoke about being seen as an “interesting character” before being asked to do the audition.

“I have a very good relationship with Vishalji and we have sung together many times in concerts. We were in London when he said, ‘Rahul you are an interesting character, I think you should audition’. And then I auditioned for that role, he was there and everyone liked it. It was an amazing experience,” he said.

Rahul also shared what it was like working on the film sets. He described the “very good experience” he had with the team and spoke about the warm working space created by them.

“It was a very good experience. Everyone on the set was very respectful. The atmosphere on the set was very cordial and very friendly. So it was very easy,” he added.

Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and presented by Sajid Nadiadwala, O Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in lead roles. The film was released during Valentine’s Week.

A day before the film’s theatrical debut, Bhardwaj shared an emotional note on Instagram expressing immense pride in the project. Referring to his heads of department as the “real heroes,” he thanked his team for their “vision, integrity, sweat, blood, and unconditional commitment.” (ANI)

UK’s King Charles III on Thursday issued a solemn statement after the arrest of his younger brother and former Prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, saying “the law must take its course” and affirming full support for the legal process as the UK police investigate alleged misconduct in public office amid investigations on Andrew’s connection with the late convicted sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

In an official statement, the British monarch said he had learned of the arrest with “the deepest concern” and stressed that Andrew’s case must now be examined through a “full, fair and proper process” by the appropriate authorities.

Charles reiterated that Buckingham Palace would provide “full and wholehearted support and co-operation” with investigators.

The statement further added that it would not be appropriate to comment further as the legal proceedings continue and that he and his family will maintain their duties and service to the public.

“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation,” the statement read.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all,” it added.

Earlier, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, CNN reported, citing the police.

According to a statement issued by Thames Valley Police, a man in his sixties from Norfolk was arrested on February 19 as part of an ongoing investigation.

Police said searches were being carried out at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The suspect remains in custody.

“We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court,” the force said in a statement.

According to CNN, police arrived early Thursday at Sandringham, the private Norfolk estate of King Charles III, where Andrew had recently moved after vacating his long-time residence at Windsor.

The Sandringham estate falls under the jurisdiction of Norfolk Constabulary, which confirmed it is supporting the Thames Valley Police investigation.

Police had earlier said they were reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew, CNN reported.

Authorities were also examining claims that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

Andrew has previously denied all allegations, stating that he never witnessed or suspected any of Epstein’s criminal activities and has not commented on the latest allegations relating to misconduct in public office, as reported by CNN.

The arrest comes months after King Charles III stripped Andrew of his title as prince in October, amid renewed scrutiny following the release of additional Epstein-related documents by the US Department of Justice.

The King also initiated proceedings to remove Andrew from his residence at Windsor, where he had lived since 2003.

Reports earlier this month indicated that Andrew had relocated to Norfolk after the holiday season and was to be provided accommodation on the King’s private Sandringham estate, along with financial support, CNN reported. (ANI)