Month: March 2026

Continuing his yearly tradition of greeting fans from his home on Eid, Salman Khan once again waved to admirers gathered outside Galaxy Apartments.

This year’s Eid celebration became even more special with the spotting of his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, who was recently discharged from the hospital after treatment for a brain haemorrhage. Surrounded by family, Salim greeted well-wishers while seated in a wheelchair.

On Saturday evening, Salman shared a heartwarming video, expressing his joy that his father had returned home and thanking fans for their blessings.

“Eid Mubarak, Thank you very much for your blessings, Dad is back home thank you,” he captioned the post.

Last month, 90-year-old Salim Khan was admitted to the hospital after suffering a minor brain haemorrhage.

Doctors had earlier stated that his condition was stable and that he was being closely monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU). Dr. Jalil Parkar clarified that no surgery was performed.

“There was no surgery performed. It was a procedure we usually do. Yes, he had a brain haemorrhage, which was very minimal, and did not require any surgical intervention. There was no need for any surgery,” he said, adding that the haemorrhage was “very minimal.”

Several members of the film industry, including Javed Akhtar, Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, Sangeeta Bijlani, and Amrita Arora, visited the hospital to check on the health of Salim Khan. (ANI)

Hana Moataz and Abhay Singh rose to the occasion with commanding performances to storm into the finals of the Indian Open, registering hard-fought 3-1 victories in their respective semi-finals on Saturday.

According to a press release, second seed Hana Moataz shook off a slow start to outclass her third-seeded compatriot Nadien Elhammamy 3-1 (11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7).

The opening game was a closely fought see-saw battle, with the lead changing hands at regular intervals before Moataz edged ahead to take it 11-8. The second followed a similar pattern early on, but Nadien found momentum midway, breaking away at 7-5 and closing it out 11-5 to level the match.

Moataz, however, raised her intensity in the third game, dominating proceedings to win 11-5. She carried that momentum into the fourth, building a healthy lead before Nadien mounted a brief comeback, but Moataz held firm to seal the game 11-7 and wrap up the match.

In the men’s semi-final, Abhay Singh overcame a strong challenge from Malaysia’s Ameeshenraj Chandaran 3-1 (11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8).

The unseeded Chandaran matched Abhay for much of the contest, with both players trading powerful forehands and clever angles in an engaging battle. Abhay started strongly, racing to a 9-4 lead in the opening game, but Chandaran clawed his way back with five consecutive points to threaten an upset before the Indian held his nerve to take it 11-9.

The second game was evenly poised throughout. Trailing 8-9, Chandaran stepped up at the right moment, winning three straight points to claim the game 11-9 and draw level.

Abhay responded emphatically in the third, cruising to an 11-3 win. The fourth game proved to be another test, as he trailed 2-6 at one stage before fighting back to level at 7-7 and eventually closing out the match 11-8 to secure his place in the final. (ANI)

Former Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was “ill-advised” to publicly raise allegations linking India to the killing of Khalistani Separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, adding that the move put a strong bilateral relationship under strain.

Verma’s remarks come after the Canadian National Police Chief, Mike Duheme, said that there is currently no evidence linking the Indian state to the Nijjar case, an issue that had triggered a major diplomatic rift between India and Canada.

Commenting on Trudeau’s earlier statement about “credible allegation”, Verma said the decision to raise the issue publicly had been misguided.

“He was ill-advised. The timing was of his choosing, but he was ill-advised to put a very strong bilateral relationship on hold and move ahead with his political, I would say, motives,” Verma said.

Elaborating on the issue of “credible allegations,” he questioned the lack of evidence and legal action.

“So let’s try to sort of dissect that. And if we say credible allegations, it was still not evidence. But due to some reason, the then Prime Minister thought it appropriate to state that in their own parliament. I did not consider it well thought of on his part,” Verma said.

“But then moving ahead, even RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] in October 2024 said that they have credible evidence linking transnational repression and crime with Indian agents and proxies. Now even that has failed. Now my only question to those who had leveled these charges is if there was such a clinching evidence, why the charges have not been filed so far? So I look at it both from the logical point of view as well as from the international law point of view,” he added.

He added that India had consistently maintained that the accusations were politically motivated and lacked evidence.

“We always maintained that. If you recall, both from New Delhi and from Ottawa, the Indian interests, the Indian representation, always talked about this. We always said that this is politically motivated, we always said that this is vote-bank politics, we always said that there is no evidence available to say so,” he said.

Explaining the recent development, Verma said Canadian authorities had treated the issue in two separate categories.

“When I look at it, what he said, let’s be very clear what he said first. So he has kept it in two different buckets. One bucket is the Khalistani terrorist who was killed there. And another bucket is transnational repression and transnational crimes. So these are two buckets,” he said.

According to Verma, the first issue is already before the Canadian courts.

“So when you look at the first bucket, so there is a court case already on, charges have been filed against four Indian nationals. These four Indian nationals went to Canada as international students. God knows what happened in the society, and they became whatever they have been alleged to have become. And their trial is on,” he said.

On the broader accusations of transnational repression, Verma reiterated India’s long-standing policy.

“I always said it is not India’s policy to interfere in the internal affairs of any other country. Unfortunately, this was not accepted by the regime of that particular point of time,” he said.

Referring to the recent police statement, he said investigators currently see no link between India and alleged transnational crimes.

“What he (Canada National Police Chief) said was that right now he doesn’t see any link with any foreign entity, which includes India, I’m sure, any foreign entity having links with transnational crimes and transnational repression in Canada,” Verma said. (ANI)

Renowned sitar maestro Rishab Rikhiram Sharma mesmerised Mumbai on Friday evening with a soulful performance that captivated the audience.

The concert drew a star-studded crowd, including Bollywood luminaries such as Deepika Padukone, Gauri Khan, Maheep Kapoor, Mrunal Thakur, and Tara Sutaria. All were spellbound by Rishab’s magical performance.

The Mumbai leg of the Sitar for Mental Health India Tour 2026, produced by Team Innovation and District by Zomato, also saw Mika Singh, Raj Shamani, Jasleen Royal, Samay Raina, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Nikhil Kamath, Soha Ali Khan, Sayani Gupta, Bhavna Pandey, amongst others.

The concert opened with a calming guided breathing exercise led by Rishab, accompanied by the gentle hum of the tanpura, inviting the audience into a deeply reflective and mindful space. He then performed a rich repertoire of ragas, including Bihaag and Kedar, Tilak Kamod and Shyam Kalyan, seamlessly weaving them into the evocative Raag Tilak Shyam.

A defining highlight of the night was the Mumbai unveiling of ‘SITARA – The Next-Generation Electric Sitar’, developed in collaboration with his father, master luthier Sanjay Sharma of the renowned Rikhi Ram lineage.

The 10-city tour continues its journey across India with upcoming shows in Pune, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kolkata and before culminating in New Delhi in April. (ANI)

A behind-the-scenes (BTS) video from ‘Dhurandhar 2’ featuring Ranveer Singh has gone viral, drawing widespread praise for the actor’s physical endurance and commitment to his role.

The footage, released by MG Lights N Cam and AQUACINEGEAR, offers a glimpse into the technically demanding underwater sequences that have become a talking point among audiences.

The viral clip captures Singh performing a crucial underwater scene in which he holds his breath for an extended duration.

Social media users reacted strongly, with many expressing surprise and admiration. Comments ranged from calling his effort “incredible” to questioning how he managed such breath control, with several viewers stating that the scene stood out as one of the film’s best.

A fan wrote, “man, ranveer really gave it his all for this film.”

“For those who know filmmaking, this was Best scene of the movie,” another social media user commented.

A third fan wrote, “Wow! Just wow – what an incredible actor”

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the latest instalment in the franchise, has released in theatres on March 19 and continues to generate significant buzz.

While the film has received mixed reactions overall, Singh’s performance has emerged as a major highlight, with many describing it as a career-best turn.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has also garnered praise from members of the film fraternity. Kangana Ranaut lauded Dhar’s achievement, calling him a “superstar filmmaker” and emphasising his growing influence.

She noted that in global cinema, directors such as Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan are often regarded as central creative forces, suggesting Dhar’s success could inspire emerging filmmakers.

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli praised the project for “hitting it out of the park,” while Rakesh Roshan credited it with ushering in “a new era of filmmaking”. Actors including Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR and Allu Arjun also expressed their admiration.

The film features an ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal, among others. (ANI)

Two people were injured a kindergarten was damaged in the latest missile attack from Iran towards Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported on Saturday with contribution from Reuters.

As per the Jerusalem Post, the two people were injured in what appears to be an example of a splitting warhead–a challenge for Israel’s missile defence shield.

It further mentioned that a kindergarten in Rishon Lezion was reportedly damaged on Saturday after a suspected cluster missile was launched from Iran that targeted the Gush Dan area in central Israel.

According to the Jerusalem Post, initial reports suggest that shrapnel caused significant damage to the structure, however no direct missile impact was reported. Meanwhile, a man in his 70s was lightly injured while making his way to a shelter and as per the Shamir Medical Center, a man in his 40’s was treated for mild injuries sustained from a blast in Rishon Lezion.

The report noted that the missile is believed to have weighed around 100 kilograms, according to Hebrew media, however it has not been officially confirmed.

As tensions continue to escalate in West Asia and the Gulf region, Jerusalem Post reported that initial reports suggested over 20 sites being impacted across Israel–including Rishon Lezion, Bnei Brak, Shoham, and Rosh Ha’ayin. MDA later confirmed seven impact sites in Rishon Lezion, including two residential buildings.

“We will restore everything to its original state,” Rishon Lezion Mayor Raz Kinstlich said while visiting the site of the struck kindergarten on Saturday morning.

“The windows were blown out, with some landing on the other side of the street,” he said. “This is a kindergarten, a place where children were supposed to learn,” he continued, emphasizing that, fortunately, the children were not at the kindergarten during the strike.

Iran has launched dozens of missiles with cluster munition warheads at Israel since the beginning of the conflict in West Asia.

As per Jerusalem Post, cluster munitions open in mid-air and scatter as many as several hundred “bomblets” over a wide area. Often failing to explode, they create virtual minefields that can kill or injure anyone who finds them later.

Earlier on Friday, Iran launched a missile barrage targeting large areas in central Israel and the Jerusalem area. Shrapnel fell in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City and Rehovot, causing damage but no major injuries, it added. (ANI)

The United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran’s key uranium-enrichment facility in Natanz early Saturday morning, according to the Iranian State Media Tasnim news agency.

Tasnim reported that the strike targeted the Natanz Nuclear Facility, one of Iran’s most significant nuclear sites. The news agency said no radioactive leaks had been detected following the attack and that residents living near the facility were not at risk.

The Natanz facility has been repeatedly targeted amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. It was also one of the primary targets during the June 2025 Israel-Iran 12-day war, when Israeli forces launched a series of strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. The United States later joined that conflict in support of Israel, the news agency reported.

The latest strike comes as hostilities between the two sides continue, with both countries carrying out attacks on strategic infrastructure and military facilities.

According to CNN, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) told the news platform that it was not “familiar with any IDF attack on that facility.”

This is the second time the facility has come under attack since the US-Israeli war with Iran began, CNN reported.

Earlier, CBS News reported on Friday (local time), citing sources briefed on the discussions, that the Trump administration has been strategising ways and options to extract Iran’s nuclear material.

According to CBS News, while the timing of any such operation, if Trump orders it, remains unclear, one of the sources said that the US President has yet to make a decision about it. However, plans have centred around the possible deployment of forces from the secretive Joint Special Operations Command- America’s elite military unit often tasked with the most sensitive counter-proliferation missions, according to two sources to CBS News.

CBS News reported that as of last summer, Iran had amassed about 972 pounds of 60%-enriched uranium, which is a short step away from weapons-grade material, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. It added that much of that uranium remains buried underneath nuclear sites that were bombed by the US last year as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.

While US officials have said that the Trump administration has not ruled out plans to retrieve Iranian stockpiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week that “it’s an option on the table for him.” (ANI)

South Korea is speaking to several countries including Iran to ensure that the key shipping route that passes through the Strait of Hormuz is normalised even as the West Asia Conflict is poised to enter its fourth week.

According to Yonhap, the Korean government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East while exploring ways to protect its citizens and secure energy transport routes

Yonhap quoted an official as saying, “We are communicating actively with relevant countries, including Iran.”

On Friday, Seoul said it will join seven countries, including European nations and Japan, in their joint statement condemning Iran’s attacks in the Gulf and de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz

The statement expressed readiness to contribute to efforts ensuring safe passage through the strait, welcoming the commitment of nations engaged in preparatory planning. It also endorsed the International Energy Agency’s decision to authorize a coordinated release of strategic oil reserves and other measures to stabilize energy markets, including cooperation with producing countries to increase output.

The countries strongly condemned recent Iranian attacks on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, strikes on civilian infrastructure such as oil and gas facilities, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces.

The statement urged Iran to immediately cease its threats, mining operations, drone and missile attacks, and other attempts to disrupt commercial shipping, while calling for compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The nations reaffirmed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, warning that Iran’s actions will have global repercussions, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier told the Kyodo News Agency that Tehran is ready to allow Japan-bound vessels to pass through the key oil shipping route after appropriate consultations with Tokyo.

The Strait of Hormuz accounts for more than 20 percent of the world’s oil trade passes. All lanes accessible to oil tankers fall within Iranian territorial waters, making the strait a critical lifeline for countries in East Asia, including South Korea and Japan. (ANI)

The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Saturday announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, naming 17 nominees across key constituencies in the state.

In a press release dated March 20, the party said the list was finalised under the “guidance and inspiration” of its chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The candidates include Udangsri Narzary from Baokhungri in Kokrajhar, Mominur Islam from Bilasipara in Dhubri, Arif Akhtar Ahmed from Jaleswar in Goalpara, and Kaushik Ranjan Das from Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon. Other names feature Kalyani Kalita (Bajali), Dulu Ahmed (Chamaria), Bhogial Rabha (Boko-Chaygaon ST), Bikash Nath Yogi (Palasbari), and Amirul Islam (Barkhetri), among others.

The list also includes candidates from upper Assam and Barak Valley regions such as Jiten Nag (Digboi), Dilip Moran (Makum), Tapas Das (Udharbond), Fazlur Rahman Laskar (Katigorah), and Shahajahan Laskar from Sonai in Cachar constituency. The party extended its best wishes to all candidates, expressing confidence in their ability to serve the people.

Earlier on Friday, the AITC had submitted a list of 18 star campaigners to the Election Commission, led by Mamata Banerjee and featuring prominent leaders such as Abhishek Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, Sushmita Dev, and Shatrughan Sinha, signalling an aggressive campaign strategy in the state.

Meanwhile, the Congress has released its fourth list, taking its total to 94 candidates, while also firming up alliances with Raijor Dal and other regional parties to challenge the BJP-led NDA.

In the NDA camp, the BJP is contesting on 89 out of 126-seat Assam Assembly, while the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is on 26 and the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) is on 11 seats in the polls.

Assam will go to the polls in a single phase on April 9 for all 126 seats, with counting scheduled for May 4. (ANI)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it carried out strikes on multiple targets across Israel, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, Al Jazeera reported.

In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said it targeted cities including Tel Aviv, Acre and Haifa Bay, along with Kuwait’s Ali al-Salem Air Base and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base located southeast of Riyadh, as reported by Al Jazeera.

According to Press TV, Khorramshahr-4, Ghadr multi-warhead missiles were fired at 25 sites in Haifa, Tel Aviv in Israel, quoting the IRGC.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it had detected another wave of Iranian missiles, adding that its air defence systems were working to intercept them, as per Al Jazeera.

Sirens are expected to go off in central Israel, Al Jazeera reported citing The Times of Israel.

Earlier, at least 20 people were killed and 57 others injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Friday, Al Jazeera reported, citing the country’s Disaster Risk Management Unit.

The latest fatalities have pushed the total death toll from Israeli strikes since March 2 to 1,021, as per figures released by the National News Agency. The number of injured has climbed to 2,641, while over 134,600 people have been displaced and are currently sheltering in relief centres, as per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of retaliatory attacks targeting Israeli positions. The group said it carried out a drone strike on Israeli troops in the north, using what it described as a “swarm” of unmanned aerial vehicles near the town of Maroun al-Ras, Al Jazeera reported.

According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah also reported launching missiles toward Nahariya, stating that the strike was in line with an earlier evacuation warning issued by the group.

Earlier, the Israeli military had urged residents across a large part of southern Lebanon to evacuate as its operations against Hezbollah intensified and casualties continued to rise, CNN reported.

The IDF has directed people living south of the Zahrani River to leave their homes. The river lies around 25 kilometres north of the Israel-Lebanon border, according to CNN.

As per CNN, the IDF said its forces were operating “with great force in the area” and reiterated its warning to civilians. “We reiterate our call for you to evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Zahrani river,” the post read. (ANI)