NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday concluded his three day visit to India with a “Thank You India!” message, after attending the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.In a post on X, Macron shared a video of moments from his visit along with a note saying “Thank You India!”, appreciating the warm welcome he received during the trip.

During the visit, Macron met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and interacted with global technology leaders, signalling deeper cooperation between Paris and New Delhi in artificial intelligence, innovation and strategic sectors.Addressing the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Macron began with a greeting that drew applause from the audience.“Namaste. Thank you very much for welcoming us to this magnificent city, in this magnificent country. It’s great to be back after my 2024 state visit for this Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit hosted by you, Prime Minister,” he said.Praising India’s digital transformation over the past decade, he said, “10 years ago, a street vendor in Mumbai could not open a bank account. No address, no papers, no access and today the same vendor accepts payments on his phone.”He added, “India built something that no other country in the world has built. A digital identity for 1.4 billion people. A payment system that now processes 20 billion transactions every month. A health infrastructure that has issued 500 million digital health IDs. Here are the results. They call it the India Stack Open Interoperable Sovereign.”On the sidelines of the summit, Macron met Google CEO Sundar Pichai and discussed digital cooperation and the priorities of the French G7 Presidency.“Solutions to our digital challenges are not found on Google, but built with Google and all stakeholders. At the Delhi AI Summit, together with Sundar Pichai, we discussed the priorities of the French G7 Presidency. And I shared one message: Choose France!” Macron posted on X.Pichai responded, “With its leadership of the G7, France has a pivotal role to play in unlocking the opportunities of AI, and we are proud to be a partner.”Macron also held talks with Meta’s chief AI officer Alexandr Wang.“Constructive discussions with Alexandr Wang from Meta at the Delhi AI Summit. We discussed what France has to offer: talent, research, and data centres. In two words: Choose France!” he wrote.“We also reviewed measures to protect young people on social media, in particular the proposal I support to ban access for those under 15. Good news: Meta is committed to moving forward with us,” he added.On the broader India France partnership, Macron said ties were at their strongest.“And as for the bilateral relationship, I really believe it’s at the highest point, and we want to do much more again because it’s based on our relationship,” he said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Macron in the capital on the sidelines of the summit.Macron described India’s progress in digital governance and technology as a global benchmark, underlining continued momentum in the India France strategic partnership with a focus on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

NEW DELHI: Data from the Digital Flight Data Recorder of Ajit Pawar’s crashed Learjet 45 near Baramati has been successfully downloaded at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s Flight Recorder Laboratory, the ministry of civil aviation said on Thursday, adding that a preliminary report into the January 28 accident will be issued within 30 days in line with ICAO norms and that all investigative actions are being taken with full transparency and professional integrity.Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others were killed in the crash.The ministry said the AAIB’s probe is technical and evidence based. It involves systematic examination of wreckage, operational and maintenance records and laboratory testing of components where required.The crashed VSR Ventures-owned Learjet 45 was equipped with a Digital Flight Data Recorder and a Cockpit Voice Recorder. Both devices were exposed to intense heat and sustained fire damage. Data from the DFDR, manufactured by L3-Communications, has been successfully downloaded at AAIB’s Flight Recorder Laboratory.“The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), manufactured by Honeywell, is undergoing detailed technical examination. Assistance has been sought from the Accredited Representative of the State of Manufacture for specialised support in data retrieval,” AAIB said in a statement on February 17.Following the accident, the ministry directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct a special audit of VSR Ventures. The audit covers regulatory compliance, operational control systems, maintenance practices, crew training standards, safety management systems and CVR and FDR monitoring.“The audit commenced on February 4, 2026, and is expected to conclude shortly. Findings will be reviewed, and action will be taken in accordance with DGCA’s Enforcement Policy and Procedures Manual,” the ministry said.The regulator has also been asked to carry out special audits of other major non-scheduled operators and aerodromes engaged in VIP and VVIP operations. These audits are being conducted in phases and enforcement action will be taken wherever required.In 2025, the DGCA conducted 51 regulatory audits of non-scheduled operators, the ministry said. It added that multiple surveillances of VSR Ventures were carried out in areas including flight safety systems, flight duty time limitations, maintenance compliance, documentation and station facilities, and that all findings were addressed and closed.“Stakeholders are requested to refrain from speculation and allow the statutory investigation and regulatory processes to proceed in accordance with established procedures,” the ministry said, reiterating that all investigative and regulatory actions are proceeding with full transparency and professional integrity.Meanwhile, political reactions intensified with fresh demands for an independent inquiry.Nationalist Congress Party leader Rohit Pawar called for the Aviation Minister to step down, alleging a possible conflict of interest.“The owner of VSR Aviation recently held his son’s wedding in Jaipur, Rajasthan, which was attended by a main leader of the TDP. The Aviation Minister belongs to that party. If they can attend the wedding of the VSR Aviation owner’s son, the investigation may not proceed in the right direction. That is why we believe he should not remain in that post while the investigation is ongoing,” he said.He further said, “Everyone should demand a different kind of inquiry. If everyone conducts a transparent inquiry, we can reach a proper conclusion. So, I welcome that move. Though it is a little late, it doesnot matter. What matters is that the investigation should be done by many organisations and investigation agencies, but along with this, some international agencies should also be involved.”NCP working President Praful Patel also demanded a CBI inquiry into the crash.” After the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar, we should also get information whether every aspect is being investigated in the right direction or not. Today, AAIB is investigating technical matters. I have heard that the black box is also going to America for investigation. Perhaps they have not been able to investigate thoroughly here. The state government has also given the investigation to the CID. But after such a big accident involving such a big leader, we feel that information should be obtained from every aspect. CBI is a reliable organisation. If the investigation is done by CBI, then some facts and aspects should also be taken into account. CBI can do this work.”

In her upcoming film ‘The Bluff’, Priyanka Chopra steps into the fierce and fearless role of Bloody Mary, a woman who will stop at nothing to protect her family. The story captures the raw instinct of a parent’s love and the courage it inspires. For Priyanka, this isn’t just another role; it resonates deeply with her own life as both a mother and a daughter, giving her a personal connection to the emotional depth of the character.

Priyanka Chopra remembers her mother’s fearless act

In a recent conversation with ANI, Priyanka spoke about the extraordinary courage mothers possess for their children and shared a childhood memory of when her mother, Madhu Chopra, fearlessly confronted a driver who took an unexpected turn on a Delhi road late at night. “I remember where her inside Ka Bloody Mary came out once we were in a cab, I must have been 11 years old or something…raat mein hum Delhi ke kisi hotel mein jaa rahe the … we were driving and suddenly, I don’t know, all I saw was my mother holding the throat of the driver. And apparently he took a turn that she didn’t recognise and he said, ‘nahi nahi main short cut le raha hun’...raat ke 11 baj rahe the mummy aur main akele the but she just held his neck from the back and said drive back to the main road,” Priyanka remembered.

The actress continued, “And she slapped him..she said, drive back to the main road. She was like, ‘I’m here with my teenage daughter’…I had never seen that side of my mother. After that I never debated her on anything for the next four months. I don’t know if my mom would’ve reacted like that if she was alone. But because I was with her, she was shaking when we got back to the hotel.”

Priyanka Chopra says motherhood shaped her performance in ‘The Bluff’

Apart from this incident, Priyanka also opened up about how her own experiences of motherhood influenced the way she portrayed Bloody Mary in Prime Video’s ‘The Bluff’. “It’s very important when you’re going on a journey with any protagonist to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing…chaar gunde khade hai aap maarte raho ..it’s not interesting , but it becomes interesting when you have a reason of why. So for me that why really was how far would a mother go to protect her child. I had just had my daughter, she was two years old when I started filming the movie and agar uske peeche koi aaye tog main todh dungi na us insaan ko…woh jo woh feeling hoti and rage hota hai woh ek parent ko malum hota hai (if anyone came after her, I would have not spared that person. The feeling of rage, that protective instinct, is something every parent understands),” Priyanka shared.

Priyanka Chopra channels real emotions into her role

In every scene, she imagined what she would do to protect her daughter, Malti, and her family. “And every scene I just kept thinking about like what would I do to make sure that my child, my family is safe. And you know, that’s why Mary’s character, she’s gritty.She plays dirty. She will hit you from anywhere. She’ll make sure that her family is safe and that’s why you feel like she’s violent and grimy and has no apologies because you’re coming after my child. And that is such a universal feeling,” Priyanka emphasised.

Priyanka Chopra opens up about her action training for ‘The Bluff’

Talking about her prep, the actress shared, “You know the skill set required in this, I’ve never worked with swords before. The only other movie which I had done where it was close was Bajirao Mastani. But I was playing the Peshwa’s wife in it so I didn’t have any action or stunts in that movie. So I had to learn how to work with blades and that too, with both hands. While being able to fight someone with the expertise of Karl who had done this in the Lord of Rings before he’s done it in a lot of movies.”“So I wanted to make sure that I knew my job as well. So it took weeks and weeks of learning how to train, how to work with different kinds of rifles of the time, had to be filled up with gunpowder. And to do that in the middle of a scene while you are doing a big action sequence. It was a lot of detailing that was required, which is challenging and fun at the same time,” Priyanka recalled.

Priyanka Chopra’s ‘The Bluff’ to release on OTT

‘The Bluff’, which is directed by Frank E. Flowers, will arrive on Prime Video on February 25.

As India march into the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with an unbeaten record, former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has provided a detailed assessment of the defending champions’ form, highlighting both concerns and encouraging signs ahead of their crucial clash against South Africa on February 22 . Through his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin has offered nuanced insights into the team’s performances, selection dilemmas, and the challenges that await in the tournament’s decisive phase.

India’s perfect record: The good, the bad and the unconvincing

India completed the group stage with four comprehensive victories, topping Group A with wins against the USA, Namibia, Pakistan and the Netherlands . However, Ashwin believes the team hasn’t yet fired on all cylinders, particularly with the bat. Following the 17-run victory over the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18, he described India’s batting performance as “below par” despite the win.

“India wasn’t extremely good today with the bat, not extremely efficient. But it is such a solid team that even on an ordinary day, they can put you away. They were below par, not at their best,” Ashwin observed . This assessment carries weight given India’s reputation as tournament favourites and the high standards they’ve set since their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph.

Abhishek Sharma’s form: The elephant in the room

The most significant concern heading into the Super 8s is opener Abhishek Sharma’s disastrous run of form. The left-hander has registered three consecutive ducks in the tournament, becoming the first Indian opener to achieve this unwanted milestone in T20 World Cup history . Against the Netherlands, he was bowled by off-spinner Aryan Dutt, continuing a worrying pattern.

Despite these failures, Ashwin has strongly advocated for patience, insisting that dropping Abhishek would be a mistake. “This is Abhishek’s game. It happens. He was not well either. He has scored runs, it’s not like that. Not like you will remove him from the team now. When he is on song, he wins games for India within the powerplay,” he stated.

Ashwin has identified a clear tactical pattern that opposition teams are exploiting against Abhishek. Off-spinners are being deployed early in his innings, bowling tight lines that restrict his ability to free his arms and clear his front foot for big swings.

“Abhishek clears his front foot and tries to swing. So an off-spinner bowling has become a trend now. When we played RR vs SRH as well, I bowled 3 consecutive overs and did not go for many. He had to get out but narrowly escaped. It is becoming a trend. They are trying to bowl tight lines. Because it is closer, it is not in his range,” Ashwin explained .

The veteran spinner remains confident this is not a technical flaw but a temporary rough patch. “It is not a technical glitch. Abhishek used to play like this always. But this can play on your head. But I really hope he gets some runs, and he has to come good. He has got three nots on the trot, but that doesn’t change how lethal a batter he is in T20 cricket,” he added.

Batting depth: India’s greatest strength

Despite concerns about top-order consistency, Ashwin highlighted India’s extraordinary batting depth as a crucial advantage. Against the Netherlands, when Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma struggled to accelerate, the middle order absorbed the pressure and delivered .

“Surya played a very diligent knock. For the acceleration point, Dube, Hardik, and Rinku were there. They knew they could catch up on the scoring rate,” Ashwin noted, praising captain Suryakumar Yadav’s responsible approach.

The platform provided by Shivam Dube’s 66 off 31 balls and Hardik Pandya’s cameo ensured India reached a competitive total, demonstrating that even on an off day, this batting unit possesses remarkable resilience.

Tilak Varma’s role: Timing over power

One of the more subtle points Ashwin raised was the importance of recognising different batting styles within the lineup. Tilak Varma, returning from injury, has faced criticism for not matching the power-hitting of his teammates. Ashwin offered a nuanced defense.

“Tilak Varma is coming back after an injury. We talk about power and strength, but also the sweet spot and timing as the basic essence of batting. Tilak is not a big power hitter. For him, timing and the sweet spot are most important. Please remember you can play like Vaibhav, but you can also play like Tilak, who relies on timing and picks the gaps,” he explained.

This insight reflects the tactical flexibility India possesses – the ability to adapt approaches based on match situations rather than adhering rigidly to a power-hitting template.

Bowling strength: The unsung hero

While batting concerns dominate discussions, India’s bowling attack has been consistently outstanding throughout the group stage. The return of Kuldeep Yadav has added variety to a spin department already boasting Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel.

Kuldeep is on the verge of becoming India’s highest wicket-taking spinner in T20Is, needing just two wickets to surpass Yuzvendra Chahal’s tally of 96 . His ability to extract turn and bounce even on flat surfaces makes him a potent weapon in the Super 8s, where matches will be played on diverse Indian pitches.

Also READ: Dinesh Karthik settles the Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam ‘legendary batter’ debate with a blunt remark

Jasprit Bumrah’s precision and Hardik Pandya’s incisive medium-pace complete a well-rounded attack that Ashwin believes can defend any total.

India’s fixtures in the Super 8 round

India’s Super 8 campaign begins with a blockbuster encounter against South Africa on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final. They will then face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 before concluding the group stage against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.

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Ahmedabad: India may have ended the league phase of the World Cup unbeaten, but there are a few glitches they need to iron out before taking on much stronger sides in the Super 8 stage. India’s catching has been below par, but the most glaring shortcoming has been their batters’ failure to dominate spin, a concern that has also contributed to their home Test defeats in recent years. Two major reasons India have been bogged down by rival spinners—especially off-spinners—have been the presence of so many left-handers in the lineup and the poor form of explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has registered three consecutive ducks.

So far in the tournament, India have faced 42 overs of spin, scoring 315 runs at a run rate just above seven. Spinners have already accounted for 15 Indian wickets. On Wednesday, Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt returned figures of 2/19 in four overs. Thriving on some fine spells by their spinners, Associate teams like the USA and the Netherlands have given India a scare before eventually going down. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged that teams were targeting them with finger spin, particularly given that the Men in Blue have several left-handers in the lineup. The entire top three (Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma) are left-handed, while Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Axar Patel add to that count. “The Dutch guys took pace off the ball a lot of the time. And obviously teams are bowling a lot of finger spin to us, with so many left-handers in our lineup. That is a challenge. It has made it easier for the opposition. We don’t have many options. We’ve got Sanju sitting on the side,” ten Doeschate said. It is a problem area India need to address before their Super 8 opener against South Africa here on Sunday. The Proteas boast quality spin options in captain Aiden Markram, George Linde, and Keshav Maharaj. Even West Indies and Zimbabwe—the other teams in their group—are well stocked in the spin department and pose a threat that cannot be ignored. The Windies, as they showed in their league-stage match against England at the Wankhede Stadium, have an effective spin trio in Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, and Roston Chase. Zimbabwe’s four-pronged spin attack of Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, and Wellington Masakadza can also spring a surprise. Ten Doeschate pointed out that it was finger spin that was troubling India’s usually aggressive batters. “I’d say finger spin (is the problem). If you take the combined figures, Pakistan bowled 14 overs of finger spin in the last game and, off the top of my head, it was something like 4/78. So it’s not a great number. Colombo was a particularly difficult wicket. The numbers against the Netherlands improved towards the back end. But again, Dutt bowling four overs for what he did was a big challenge,” he said, adding that bigger grounds had increased India’s woes. “I think these two venues in particular—with a bigger boundary here and obviously a slower wicket in Colombo—exaggerate that. But it’s something we’re going to have to focus on. With the amount of finger spin we’re going to get in the next three games, it’s going to be important that we dominate that phase of the game,” he added. Ten Doeschate felt that India’s batters have also looked vulnerable because the league-stage wickets have offered some assistance to spinners. “It’s not a sudden thing. The wickets we’ve played bilateral series on over the last 18 months have been really good batting tracks. Then, as soon as you come to a wicket that offers a bit of hold, it becomes a challenge. “So it might look like a short-term issue. On better wickets, you won’t see it—you can hit through the ball with more confidence. But the point is we need plans for wickets that do hold and where the boundaries are bigger. We need a clear game plan to deal with that threat,” he said. Given all the talk of ‘intent’ and a ‘fearless’ approach in T20Is, India’s post-Powerplay drop in run rate has also been very surprising.

Labour and employement ministry has detailed a compliance checklist for employers in order to tighten accountability and minimise legal disputes. The ministry has listed almost two dozen requirements under the four labour codes: the Code on Wages, the Code on Social Security, the Industrial Relations Code and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. A senior government official told ET that although most of the requirements existed under the earlier labour framework, the newly prepared handbook is meant to remove ambiguity and clearly spell out employer responsibilities during the transition. “It will act as a to-do list for establishments to ensure that no evasion on compliances happens for lack of clarity due to transition from the old labour laws to the new labour codes,” the official said on condition of anonymity.The four labour codes came into force on November 21, 2025, replacing 29 central labour laws with a unified structure.Under the new system, employers must complete seven foundational compliances from the time a business is set up or a new worker joins. Beyond this, establishments are also required to meet four monthly and five annual compliance obligations. The framework further specifies six event-related compliances that become applicable in situations such as workplace accidents, disease outbreaks, employee exits, maternity benefit cases, large-scale layoffs, and lockouts or strikes within factory premises. Officials indicated that the ministry is in the final phase of finalising central rules under the four codes. The government’s intent is to ensure employers begin complying with statutory requirements early, thereby reducing the scope for litigation later. Among the basic obligations are registering the establishment and securing required licences, maintaining key records on attendance, wages, deductions and overtime, fixing wage periods, ensuring minimum workplace safety standards, enrolling eligible workers for social security, and forming work committees along with grievance redressal bodies. Every month, employers must ensure timely wage payments, deposit social security contributions with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, and provide wage slips to workers. On an annual basis, establishments are required to file a unified return, revise minimum wages where applicable, renew licences, carry out safety audits, and conduct annual health check-ups for specified employees aged 40 years and above. In event-based scenarios, employers must report workplace accidents or disease occurrences within 24 to 72 hours, clear final dues within two days and gratuity within 30 days, obtain government approval for layoffs, retrenchment or closure in units employing more than 300 workers, extend maternity benefits where applicable, and issue lockout notices to workers and the relevant authority.

Shadab Khan of Pakistan celebrates (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly expressed its unhappiness with Shadab Khan following his pointed remarks about former players during the ongoing World Cup. According to a report, the board has cautioned the all-rounder to be more measured in his language after he responded sharply to criticism surrounding his selection. Shadab had answered his detractors after playing a key role in Pakistan’s 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday, contributing a brisk 22-ball 36 and returning figures of 3-13. Addressing the criticism from ex-cricketers appearing on television panels, he said, “Former cricketers have their own opinions. They (former players) were legends, but even they could not achieve what we have. We have beaten India in a World Cup.”

As per Telecom Asia Sport, team manager Naveed Cheema relayed the PCB’s concerns to Shadab, informing him that his comments had crossed a line during the post-match press conference. “Naveed Cheema has called to convey to Shadab that he was out of his limits in the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab should know that all former players – including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq – are respectable and are greats of Pakistan. Shadab should respect them and should not use such language,” the report stated. It further claimed that Cheema has been directed to remind other players to keep their public remarks confined to match matters, warning that disciplinary action could follow if boundaries are breached. Shadab’s father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, also voiced his disappointment. “Those were unwanted comments, and most of the players had played with me. In fact, I am also one of those who have not won an ICC event, but we won several big matches for Pakistan – Tests and ODIs,” Saqlain told Telecom Asia Sport. Pakistan are scheduled to face New Zealand in their first Super Eight fixture in Colombo on Saturday. They will then meet England in Pallekele on February 24, followed by a clash against Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later.

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Equity benchmarks opened flat on Friday after a crash on Thursday due to escalating geopolitical tensions. While Nifty50 was above 25,450, BSE Sensex was near 82,500. At 9:17 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,471.70, up 17 points or 0.068%. BSE Sensex was trading at 82,505.86, up 8 points or 0.0094%.Yesterday, the stock market crashed in trade bringing an end to its three-session rally. Market experts believe investors are likely to adopt a cautious stance in the short term amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies.Any intensification of the situation involving Iran may hinder cargo movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route. Such a development would pose significant challenges for India, which relies heavily on crude oil imports from that region.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The sharp spike in Brent crude to $72 reflects growing fear and uncertainty in markets. President Trump’s warning that “Iran has 10 to 15 days to strike a deal or bad things happen “ has put the markets on tender hooks. Whether there will be a deal after the standoff, or whether missiles will fly will determine the market behaviour in the near-term. The continuing weakness in IT stocks is another dampener for the market. Amidst the many crises, the strength of the Indian economy and the recovery in corporate earnings as reflected in Q3 numbers, are positives for the market. If, hopefully, the US-Iran standoff gets resolved in the coming days, the market will bounce back. Therefore, investors may wait and watch the unfolding developments in West Asia. Meanwhile, investors who are optimistic about a possible deal can use the current weakness in the market to buy fairly valued high quality stocks in banking and financials, autos, pharmaceuticals, hotels, leading capital goods and telecom. Crisis have proved to be buying opportunities, in hindsight.”In the United States, major stock indices closed in the red on Thursday. Declines in private equity firms, along with weakness in Walmart and Apple, weighed on the market, although gains in industrial stocks following earnings announcements helped contain the overall drop.Meanwhile, Asian markets also moved lower as growing tensions surrounding Iran dampened investor confidence, while oil prices climbed to their highest level since August.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)