After 16 years of serving authentic Indian cuisine in London's Hammersmith, Rangrez restaurant is shutting down. Owner Harman Singh Kapoor announced the closure on X, citing spiralling operational costs, repeated disturbances, alleged attacks by Pakistani groups, and inadequate support from the Metropolitan Police. Kapoor, a vocal critic of the Khalistan movement, previously claimed his restaurant was attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters in 2023 following his social media posts. He and his family reportedly faced death threats, abusive calls, and online intimidation. Defiant in his closure statement, Kapoor declared he would now dedicate himself fully to activism, warning radicals: "You can disrupt my business, but not my will."

Avtar Singh, a 57-year-old Sikh man of Indian origin, was kidnapped and murdered in a chilling case of mistaken identity in Tracy, California. Surveillance footage captured three suspects forcibly shoving Singh into an SUV outside a gurdwara at 2:30pm on Tuesday. His wife reported him missing at 9pm after returning home to find their three children alone. Authorities discovered his body near Lake Berryessa, two hours away, on Friday. Sheriff Patrick Withrow confirmed Singh was not the intended target. A devoted gurdwara head cook for 23 years, Singh had recently become father to premature triplets just six months ago. A GoFundMe has been launched for his grieving family. (PC: NDTV)

On the eve of PM Narendra Modi's two-day state visit to Israel (February 25–26), Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a "Hexagon of Alliances", a proposed regional bloc naming India as a core partner alongside Israel, Greece, and Cyprus, with Arab, African, and Asian nations expected to join. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on February 22, Netanyahu framed the alliance as a direct counterweight to the "radical Shia axis" (Iran and its proxies) and an "emerging radical Sunni axis." The announcement follows the Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement of September 2025. The Hexagon envisions structured cooperation in security, intelligence-sharing, and defence, moving beyond existing bilateral frameworks like I2U2 and the Abraham Accords. (PC: X)

A 32-year-old Indian professional who spent nearly nine years in the United States on an H-1B visa has sparked a widespread online discussion after sharing his reverse migration experience on Reddit. Laid off and forced to return to Hyderabad, he admitted that five months later, reality is sinking in painfully. While living with his parents offers comfort, he feels he has "gone back nine years." The emotional turmoil deepened after his girlfriend relocated to the US and friends moved there through company transfers. His I-140 petition was not approved, leaving his return prospects uncertain. The post drew thousands of responses, with many urging patience, perspective, and acceptance of the difficult transition. (PC: HT)

Padma Viswanathan, a Canadian-American writer of Indian origin, has been named on the longlist for the International Booker Prize 2026. She is recognised for her English translation of Brazilian author Ana Paula Maia’s novel On Earth As It Is Beneath.   The 13-book longlist was chosen from 128 entries. The £50,000 prize is shared equally between the author and translator.   The judges called the novel “a stark, unsettling exploration of power, violence, destruction and institutional corruption.” They said it is set in a penal colony built on land “scarred by slavery and colonialism.”   The shortlist will be announced on March 31. The winner will be revealed in London on May 19. (PC: The Indian Express)

It has been four years since Russia began its large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a “special operation,” which many believed would be short and end with Kyiv’s fall.   Instead, the war continues. European leaders travelled to Kyiv on Tuesday to show support for President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people.   Putin met senior officials of the Federal Security Service (FSB) but did not mention the anniversary. He said threats against Russia had increased. “They absolutely must have the defeat of Russia,” he said.   France and the UK said allies remain committed to a “just and lasting peace” and urged Russia to agree to a full ceasefire. (PC: HT)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a new “hexagon” of alliances and named India as a key partner. He said the bloc would include Israel, India, Greece and Cyprus, along with some Arab, African and Asian nations.   Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the aim is to counter “the radical Shiite axis” and “the emerging radical Sunni axis.” He said these nations “see eye-to-eye on the reality, challenges, and goals.”   The plan comes days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel. The framework is expected to focus on security, defence and intelligence cooperation. (PC: India Today)

Ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's upcoming visit to India, the Canadian government is actively moving to revoke the citizenship of Tahawwur Rana Hussain, a 64-year-old Pakistan-born Canadian national accused of playing a key role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Rana is a close associate of David Coleman Headley, alias Daood Gilani, one of the principal conspirators behind the devastating 26/11 attacks that claimed over 160 lives. The citizenship revocation move is widely seen as a significant diplomatic gesture by Ottawa toward New Delhi, signalling Canada's intent to repair its previously strained bilateral relationship with India ahead of Carney's high-profile state visit. (PC: AP)   

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking a two-day visit to Israel beginning Wednesday marking his second in nine years aimed at significantly strengthening bilateral defence, trade and strategic cooperation amid escalating US-Iran tensions in the Middle East. Modi will address Israel's parliament, hold comprehensive delegation-level talks with PM Benjamin Netanyahu focusing heavily on defence and security cooperation, and meet President Isaac Herzog. Key agenda items include exploring integration of Israel's Iron Dome technology into India's indigenous "Sudarshan Chakra" air defence system, advancing Free Trade Agreement negotiations, and reviewing the Bilateral Investment Agreement signed in September. Netanyahu will host a private dinner for Modi on Wednesday. Over 20,000 Indians currently work in Israel. (PC: X/@netanyahu)

Harman Singh Kapoor, owner of the Indian restaurant 'Rangrez' in Hammersmith, London, has announced its closure after 16 years, citing repeated "disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis," rising operational costs, sustained online harassment and inadequate support from the Metropolitan Police. Announcing the closure on X, Kapoor vowed to intensify his activism, warning radicals that disrupting his business would not break his resolve. The restaurant had previously faced controversy in March 2023 when Kapoor alleged a Khalistani attack following his TikTok videos criticising the Khalistan movement and mocking radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Kapoor had expressed nuanced views on Khalistan, condemning the violent approach while not entirely rejecting the concept itself.