Month: April 2026

Superstar Salman Khan has come out in praise of Rajpal Yadav for his three decades of contribution to the film industry, lauding his consistency and the value he brings to every performance. Khan’s remarks in support of the comedian came in the wake of a recent award show in which the host apparently takes a dig at Rajpal’s ongoing cheque bounce case.

Reportedly, the controversy arose during the Screen Awards held in Mumbai on April 5, where the conversation between journalist Saurabh Dwivedi, Zakir Khan, and Rajpal Yadav was linked to his ongoing financial case.

In the viral clip, Yadav was seen saying, “Rupya, dollar sab upar neeche ho raha hai, kuch samajh mein nahi aa raha hai (There’s a lot of up and down in rupee and dollar, I’m not understanding anything).”

“Rajpal bhai, dollar kitna bhi upar-neeche ho jaye, aapko utne hi paise lautane padenge, jitne udhar hai (Rajpal bhai, no matter how high or low the dollar goes, you’ll have to return exactly the same amount you borrowed,” Saurabh said.

However, Saurabh’s comments didn’t go well with several netizens as they found his joke in poor taste.

Amid this ongoing controversy, Salman wrote on X, “Rajpal bhai aap 30 yrs se kaam kar rahe ho aur hum sabne aapko repeat kiya hai baar baar kyunki aap apna kaam jante ho aur ek value laate ho , kaam toh aapko bohot milega aur issi dollar rate pe milega aur milte rahega . Hakikat yeh hai . Aur yeh yaad rakhna ke kabhi kabhi flow mai kuch nikal aata hai ,dena hi hai toh dimag mai rakho dil se kaam karo , dollar upar ho ya neeche kya farak padta hai dena toh India mai hi hai @rajpalofficial”

After his post, Rajpal expressed his gratitude to Salman, saying, “@BeingSalmanKhan

Bhai, mere 30 saal ke safar ko sarahne ke liye bahut-bahut shukriya. Aap hamesha ek bade bhai ki tarah raasta dikhate aaye hain. Love you, Bhai, Naman!”

Rajpal Yadav was recently granted interim bail in a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case linked to a loan taken for his 2010 film Ata Pata Laapata. The actor had taken Rs 5 crore from businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal, and with interest and penalties, the amount later increased to Rs 9 crore. He deposited Rs 1.5 crore and has been granted interim bail until March 18.

Following the incident, several members of the film industry have reportedly extended support to the actor during his difficult phase. According to his manager, multiple prominent figures have reached out to assist him, reflecting solidarity within the industry.

The incident has sparked a wider debate online about the boundaries of humour, especially when it touches upon personal and legal struggles. (ANI)

In a high-voltage campaign rally on Tuesday, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a blistering critique of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of presiding over a regime of “oppression” and “betrayal.”

Addressing a massive gathering in the industrial belt of Barrackpore, the senior BJP leader argued that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has systematically dismantled West Bengal’s economic potential over its three terms in power.

Speaking at a public rally in Barrackpore, Rajnath Singh took direct aim at the TMC’s famous 2021 election slogan, “Bangla nijer meyekei chay” (Bengal wants its own daughter), framing the current state of affairs as a personal breach of trust by the Chief Minister.

“Mamata Didi, I respect you. You have been the Chief Minister of West Bengal three times. What have you done? You have inflicted injustice on the people of Bengal and caused oppression. Compared to other states in India, you have left Bengal behind. TMC, during its three terms, has worsened the condition of West Bengal. Mamata Ji had given the slogan “Bangla nijer meyekei chay” (Bengal wants its own daughter). Bengal did choose its daughter three times, but the daughter betrayed Bengal,” he said.

He emphasised that while other Indian states are surging ahead, West Bengal has been “left behind”, highlighting the state’s deteriorating industrial climate. He alleged that the TMC government has actively created an environment hostile to business.

“Across the country, investment and industrial development are progressing, but one state is not moving forward in terms of investment — that state is West Bengal. This is because the TMC (Trinamool Congress) government is in power here, and its Chief Minister is not allowing investments to come in. While the rest of the country is advancing in industry, the industries that existed here are also leaving. Those who thought of investing in Bengal are unable to gather the courage to do so because of the presence of the TMC government,” said Rajnath Singh.

Following the public rally, Rajnath Singh also held a roadshow.

Earlier in the day, BJP candidate from the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency Dilip Ghosh took a hit at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that the party wins elections through intimidation and obstruction of opposition forces, while expressing confidence that voters will decisively reject it in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters, Ghosh claimed that the TMC’s influence will wane rapidly as polling approaches. “The TMC always wins elections by threatening people and stopping the opposition. They were trying to move forward in the same way, but see, after a week, the TMC will slowly disappear from the market. They won’t be seen on the streets. Not a single goon will remain outside. All the leaders will look after their homes,” he said.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. (ANI)

Dozens of historically significant buildings have reportedly disappeared from the urban fabric of Faisalabad in Pakistan, raising serious concerns about administrative negligence and the unchecked influence of land grabbers, reports The Express Tribune. Many of these culturally rich sites have allegedly been replaced by commercial plazas, sparking criticism from heritage advocates, says the Pakistani daily.

According to The Express Tribune, Mian Ajaz Bashir, a senior journalist and art gallery chairman, stated that several of these demolished structures were deeply tied to the subcontinent’s history, including the independence movement and visits by prominent leaders. He highlighted the loss of the Arya Samaj temple, built in 1906 by the Sanatan Dharma community in Jhang Bazaar near the Lasoori Shah shrine. Once a major religious centre attracting Hindu devotees, the site later came under the provincial Auqaf department after Partition.

Over time, however, it was allegedly demolished by private parties and replaced with a commercial building. Bashir further revealed that a British-era rest house near Karkhana Bazaar, originally constructed for farmers and travellers, was also torn down. The land has since been converted into shops, reportedly allocated to oil depot operators, raising safety concerns in the area. He added that a historically important municipal corporation building nearby was similarly demolished and is now used as a parking lot.

Another notable loss includes the Sanatan Dharma Library in Montgomery Bazaar, which was repurposed as the Muslim League House after independence. This building, too, was razed and replaced by a plaza. Bashir also alleged that the Central Cooperative Bank building, established in 1921 in Katchery Bazaar, was illegally taken over through forged ownership documents and subsequently redeveloped, as cited by The Express Tribune.

He recalled that a residence once hosting Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1946 was also lost due to neglect. The site now houses a fast-food outlet and a private bank office. Criticising authorities, Bashir questioned the failure to enforce the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Act, 1982. He urged officials to review evacuee property records and take decisive action against illegal encroachments, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday alleged on Tuesday that recent threats from Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, were scripted at the behest of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Speaking to ANI, Dubey claimed the remarks were a strategic “diversionary tactic” intended to shift the public focus away from illegal infiltration in West Bengal.

The controversy follows a televised warning from Asif, who claimed that any future military escalation with India could reach as far as Kolkata.

“Modi ji, after Operation Sindoor, has already said that if even one of my citizens is troubled, then we will finish off Pakistan. There should be no confusion in this,” Dubey said.

Dubey suggested a direct link between the Pakistani establishment and West Bengal’s ruling party. He argued that the TMC is using external threats to shield its domestic vulnerabilities regarding border security.

He alleged, “I think at Mamata ji’s behest, such statements would have been given by Khawaja Ahmed because Bangladeshi infiltration is a big issue and Trinamool Congress is standing on the votes of Bangladeshi infiltrators. To cover that up, they would have made a minister from Pakistan say that. If it’s investigated, it’ll be known on whose request such statements were given.”

The remarks come after Asif, speaking in Sialkot on April 4, warned that Pakistan would respond to any “future misadventures” by India and claimed that any escalation could extend to Kolkata. He also alleged that India could attempt a “false-flag operation,” though he provided no evidence to substantiate the claim.

Reacting to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s comments cautioning voters about the BJP, Dubey asserted that the BJP stands for “Bengali pride.” “I think Bengali pride and respect will only be given by the BJP. Our identity is linked to Bengal. If Syama Prasad Mukherjee was not there, the BJP would not exist,” he said.

He added that the BJP is witnessing strong grassroots support and predicted a decisive victory. “There is no tough fight; it is one-sided. To save Bengali identity, people are standing together and will uproot TMC,” he said.

Dubey also highlighted his personal and historical connection with Bengal, stating, “If Syama Prasad Mukherjee wasn’t there, we wouldn’t be here. Today is the time for those things after Syama Prasad Mukherjee; we have become weak somewhere. The people here know that and they know that Bengali pride is the priority of the Bharatiya Janata Party.”

The BJP leader also expressed confidence in the party’s electoral prospects, claiming that the contest is “one-sided” and that people across Bengal are rallying to “uproot” the TMC. He said party workers are united to “protect Bengali identity” and ensure a decisive mandate.

His remarks come amid an election campaign by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Barrackpore today, who criticised the TMC government over governance and industrial decline.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. (ANI)

Amid escalating tensions and direct threats from the US to target civilian infrastructure, Iran’s Deputy Sports Minister, Alireza Rahimi, has called on the nation’s athletes and artists to form “human chains” around power plants, a symbolic and physical attempt to deter potential airstrikes following a series of specific ultimatums from US President Donald President Trump.

In a video message, he invited all youth, athletes, artists, students and faculty on Tuesday at 2 PM (local Iran time) to gather near power plants. “These are our wealth and belongings”, he said in the message.

The call for human shields comes in response to President Trump’s recent “8:00 PM deadline” (Washington time, Tuesday night) for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has warned that failure to comply will result in a simultaneous, massive bombing campaign aimed at “each and every one” of Iran’s electric generating plants and bridges.

Trump stated on Monday that the goal would be to leave these facilities “burning, exploding, and never to be used again” within a four-hour window.

During a White House press briefing, Trump said, “The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.”

Trump also gave an ultimatum to Iran to make a deal before Tuesday, 8:00 P.M ET, warning that there’ll be “no bridges, no power plants” after that.

Trump said that this is a “critical period” and Washington has given Tehran the necessary time to make a deal to put this war to an end.

“This is a critical period… They asked for an extension of seven days; I gave them 10 days… They have till tomorrow. Now we will see what happens… A lot of people are affected by this. We are giving them until tomorrow, 8 o’clock, Eastern Time. After that, they are going to have no bridges. They are going to have no power plants. Stone ages,” Trump said.

“Attacking public infrastructure is a war crime,” Rahimi stated on social media. “We will stand hand in hand to say: civilian lives are not targets.” Iranian officials at the United Nations have echoed this sentiment, arguing that the US threats constitute “incitement to terrorism” and a violation of international law regarding the protection of civilian life-support systems.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has also voiced “deep concern” after recent projectile strikes landed near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, emphasizing that energy infrastructure should never be a military target. (ANI)

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, on Tuesday was published in the Gazette after receiving the President’s assent, making Amaravati the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Sharing the Gazette publication on X, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced, “The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati.”

CM N Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the recognition of Amaravati as the state’s sole capital, expressing gratitude towards President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a post on X, Naidu said, ” On behalf of my people of Andhra Pradesh, I express profound gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu Ji for her gracious assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our capital. I thank the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for his commitment to our state and his guidance, all MPs who supported the Bill, our state leaders, and every citizen who stood with us. This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati.”

The Act amended the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, adding the phrase, “Amaravati shall be the new capital.”

After Telangana was formed as a separate state, the original Act of 2014 stated that Hyderabad shall be the common capital for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period not exceeding ten years, after which Hyderabad shall be the capital of Telangana, and there shall be a new capital for the successor Andhra Pradesh.

On March 28, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed a resolution supporting Amaravati as the single capital, paving the way for the introduction of the legislation in the Parliament.

After the Lok Sabha passed the Bill on April 1, the Upper House of the Parliament too passed it the next day, while the YSR Congress Party MPs staged a walkout.

YSRCP MP Golla Babu Rao called the legislation “a drama” and questioned the rationale behind it. Underlining the possibility of constitutional amendments, he said that the capital should be changed only if justice is being served to its people. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) spoke to the crew members of Artemis II mission and praised them for inspiring the world with their feat. Noting that they made history, the US President said that the mission paves the way for America’s return to the lunar surface. Trump also said that US would eventually establish permanent presence on the moon and then aim at Mars.

He made the remarks while speaking to the crew members after the mission broke the farthest distance record in human spaceflight.

Trump said, “Today you have made history and made all America incredibly proud”.

Recalling the last space mission, which was more than half a century ago, Trump hailed the Artemis crew for breaking the all-time record for the farthest distance from planet Earth.

“Humans have never really seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft. It’s really special. You all made this day possible. You’ve inspired the entire world.”

Praising US tech prowess, Trump said that travelling to the moon would become more prevalent and hinted towards the future trip to Mars.

“At long last, America is back, and America is back in many ways stronger than ever before. We’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. The Artemis crew flew in the most powerful rocket NASA has ever made, ever launched, travelled over a quarter of a million miles, and broke the distance record set by the legendary Apollo 13. America is a frontier nation, and the four brave astronauts of Artemis 2 are modern-day pioneers”.

“We’ll plant our flag once again, and this time we won’t just leave footprints. We’ll establish a permanent presence on the moon, and we’ll push on to Mars. That’ll be very exciting. America will be second to none in space and everything else that we’re doing, and we will continue to lead into the stars”, the US President added.

The Artemis II mission marks a key step in NASA’s plans to return humans to the Moon and advance future deep space exploration.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The Artemis II mission has broken the record for the farthest distance travelled by humans from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 mission’s record of 248,655 miles. (ANI)

The World Health Organisation suspended medical evacuation from Gaza after a person who was contracted to provide services to the UN agency was killed during a “security incident”, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement, said that WHO is “devastated to confirm” the death of the worker. He added that two WHO staff members were present at the incident site but were not injured.

“Following the incident, the WHO suspended today’s medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt. Medical evacuations will remain suspended until further notice,” he said.

The incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities.

“We are deeply grateful to our colleagues who work day and night despite the risks to ensure that the people of Gaza can access the health care they need. We call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. Peace is the best medicine,” Ghebreyesus

Al Jazeera, citing Gaza’s Ministry of Health, reported that more than 1,700 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

Gaza medical evacuation refers to the coordinated process of transferring severely ill or injured patients out of the Gaza Strip for life-saving, specialised treatment that is currently unavailable due to the near-complete collapse of the local healthcare system.

Earlier, Al Jazeera reported that an Israeli air strike killed at least 10 people and left several others injured near a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza,

“At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, including six in critical condition, by Israeli shelling and clashes east of Maghazi refugee camp,” the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said in a statement.

In the midst of the clashes, Israeli drones fired two missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding several others, the witnesses added. (ANI)

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that, as per President Donald Trump directions there will be “largest volume of strikes” on Monday (local time) since the beginning of Operation Fury, adding that tomorrow’s strikes will surpass today’s if Iran doesn’t make the deal to put an end to the war.

Addressing reporters at the White House, Hegseth cautioned Iran to “choose wisely”, warning that President Trump “does not play around”.

“Per the president’s direction, today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation. Tomorrow, even more than today. And then Iran has a choice. Choose wisely, because this president does not play around,” he said.

Additionally, Trump called out US allies who “didn’t help” Washington in the war with Iran.

“Japan didn’t help us, Australia didn’t help us, South Korea didn’t help us, and then you get to NATO — NATO didn’t help us,” Trump said at a White House news conference.

Trump added of US assistance to the nations: “We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea; we have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un.”

Trump then commended some Persian Gulf nations for their support, “Saudi Arabia has been excellent, Qatar has been excellent, UAE has been excellent, Bahrain, Kuwait.”

US President Donald Trump said that Iran could be “taken out” in a single night, suggesting that such a move could come as early as Tuesday amid rising tensions in West Asia.

He also claimed that American armed forces have conducted an extensive air campaign over Iran in recent weeks, carrying out more than 10,000 combat flights and striking over 13,000 targets over the past 37 days.

Trump’s remarks came as part of his warning to Iran over reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, for which he has set a deadline of Tuesday, 8:00 PM (Eastern Time). (ANI)

Star batter of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli was all praise for the recently released film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which starred Ranveer Singh in the lead role.

Taking to his Instagram handle today, Virat Kohli called ‘Dhurandhar’ a “cinematic masterpiece” of India. He lauded Aditya Dhar’s direction and Ranveer Singh’s performance in the film.

“Saw the film today and dare I say that I have never ever seen a cinematic experience like this made in india. It brought out every kind of emotion to the surface and I didn’t flinch once for almost 4 hours. Aditya dhar your talent and conviction is reflected in what you’ve created. Hats off to you. You’re a genius. And although all actors were great in their roles BUT Ranveer Singh you have attained a different level after this movie and your performance was beyond brilliant. Absolutely WOW,” wrote Virat Kohli on his Instagram handle.

Anushka Sharma also praised the movie while lauding Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh.

“What a fantastic film you’ve made @adityadharfilms! It takes so much conviction to make a almost 4 hr long film. Gripping and immersive, meticulously crafted, the film holds your attention through and through.

You are a fiercely original and assured filmmaker @ranveersingh. You seized a once-in-a-lifetime character and delivered a solid, flawless performance @actormaddy @rampal72 @therakeshbedi sir and each and every fantastic actor in the film-Every performance lands perfectly; the film is unthinkable without each of you.

Many congratulations to everyone behind this one,” wrote Anushka Sharma.

‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, the sequel to last year’s ‘Dhurandhar’, has shown remarkable performance at the box office.

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film crossed Rs 800 crore by the end of its second weekend.’Dhurandhar’ franchise marks Aditya Dhar’s second directorial venture after his National Award-winning debut ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, which starred Vicky Kaushal.

The second features a powerful lineup including Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Sanjay Dutt, with a cameo appearance by Yami Gautam. In the first part, Akshaye Khanna played a key role as gangster Rehman Dakait.

The film’s music, including the track ‘Aari Aari’ composed by Shashwat Sachdev in collaboration with Bombay Rockers, has also contributed to its popularity among audiences. (ANI)