In a significant moment for regional music’s expanding national footprint, Fossils 7, the latest release from Bengali rock pioneers Fossils, has climbed to the No. 1 position on the iTunes India Top 200 Albums chart across all genres.The achievement marks a rare crossover success for a non-Hindi album in the national digital marketplace and signals the growing mainstream visibility of Bangla rock beyond its

traditional listener base.According to real-time chart trackers, the album had already been performing strongly in the Regional Indian category since its release, holding the top spot consistently. Its move to the summit of the overall all-genres chart now places it ahead of releases across languages and styles, underscoring both the band’s enduring appeal and the widening reach of regional music audiences.

At the time of chart capture, Dhurandhar occupied the No. 2 position on the national list, highlighting the competitive and language-diverse nature of India’s streaming ecosystem. Yet the rise of Fossils 7 suggests that language barriers are becoming less relevant in the digital era, where fan communities, social media circulation and nostalgia-driven listening patterns often outweigh conventional industry hierarchies.For over two decades, the Kolkata-based band led by vocalist-songwriter Rupam Islam has shaped the sound and identity of Bangla alternative rock, combining introspective lyricism with a hard-edged sonic palette. Their new release continues that trajectory, blending political undertones, emotional intensity and stadium-scale arrangements , elements that have long defined their loyal fan following.

Industry observers note that the album’s chart performance reflects a broader shift in listening behaviour: regional music, once confined to linguistic markets, is increasingly travelling across states through streaming platforms, algorithmic discovery and diaspora engagement. In that sense, Fossils 7 may represent not just a band’s success, but a moment in which Bangla rock asserts itself within India’s national pop-culture conversation.If sustained, the album’s performance could open new commercial possibilities for regional rock acts , from wider festival bookings to national playlist penetration — reinforcing the idea that India’s music mainstream is becoming more multilingual than ever before.

Shivam Dube was furious over Rinku Singh. Again, a misunderstanding between these two batters cost Team India a wicket. Dube was batting nicely, well settled on the track, when Pakistan made him run out.

Dube was absolutely not happy with his batting partner, Rinku Singh. It was not the first time when the team had to suffer a run-out in the presence of these two batters. It was the closing moments of the first inning when the Men in Blue lost one of their big hitters.

Rinku Singh was on the strike against Shaheen Afridi

In the fifth delivery of the 20th over, Shaheen Afridi was up against Rinku Singh. Singh played with a soft hand as the ball pitched outside off. The right-handed batter had to reach for the ball before making a connection. After making the connection with the blade, the ball went towards the sweeper cover, where Mohammad Nawaz was there to collect the ball.

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In the meantime, Rinku and Shivam completed a single with comfort. Dube called for the second and quickly set off for that. It was the fifth ball of the 20th over, so the adrenaline rush was there in the batters for obvious reasons. While Dube wholeheartedly wanted to steal another run, Rinku hesitated.

Shivam Dube wanted the second

Rinku was then at the non-striker’s end and Shivam at the striker’s end after completing the first run. Shivam Dube turned quickly and ran a few yards as well, only to be denied by his batting partner. Nawaz, the fielder who collected the ball, made no mistake in throwing it in the striker’s end. The keeper, Usman Khan, precisely collected the ball and hit the stumps. The red lights on the stumps started to blink; Dube had to depart.

In this match, Shivam Dube scored 27 off 17, with three 4s and a 6, which took his strike rate to 158.82. On the other end, Rinku Singh remained not out for 11 off 4 with one 4 and one 6. Both of their knocks were crucial for the team’s perspective, as they were able to score 175 for 7 in 20 overs.

A decent batting display from Team India

Two key batters, Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya, were dismissed without scoring a single run, which were major blows for the team. Ishan Kishan appeared as the top performer for the team because of his fine 77-run innings against 40 balls. He completed the half-century facing only 27 deliveries, which sets an all-time record in the India vs Pakistan rivalry.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav continued with 32 against 29 balls. The total was very competitive, but the Indian cricket fans might have expected more fireworks from the star-studded batting lineup.

Read More: Watch: Jasprit Bumrah gives Saim Ayub a death stare after dismissing him with a stunning yorker

Colours of the rivalry: Local vendors set up shop with India and Pakistan jerseys outside R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo ahead of the big clash. (Photo/TimesofIndia.com)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Saif, a fourth-division cricketer from Bengaluru, booked his flight, hotel and match tickets two months in advance. He even landed in the Sri Lankan capital three days before the match.“Pakistan is no match for India. Inshallah, we will beat them,” a jubilant Saif tells TimesofIndia.com on Sunday.Saif is among the 18,000 Indian fans who have travelled from India to watch the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match.Also See: IND vs PAK Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026Then there is Mohammad Infaz, a tuk tuk driver in Colombo who speaks fluent Hindi and echoes sentiments similar to Saif’s.“India are too strong. I think it will be a one-sided affair. Itna khatarnaak Indian team kabhi nahi dekha (This is the strongest Indian team I have seen). In T20s, on a given day anything can happen, but I have a feeling India will win,” he says while driving this reporter to the R Premadasa Stadium.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Usama, who has travelled from Lahore and is among the 12,000 Pakistani fans, carries a glimmer of hope.“We have never done well against India in World Cups. But this time, I feel we have an upper edge because we know the conditions better,” says Usama.The toss will take place at 6:30 PM local time and IST, but fans from both countries began lining up as early as 1 PM. All stadium gates will open to the public at 3:00 PM. A Sri Lanka Cricket official confirmed to TimesofIndia.com that all tickets have been sold out.Approximately 2,000 police officers and nearly 600 military personnel have been deployed to maintain security and regulate traffic for the match.

Sri Lanka Mirror, a local daily, has reported that India’s RAW intelligence agency, Indian security personnel, as well as private security officers assigned to the players, have arrived in Colombo to provide security for Indian players and spectators. It is also learnt that Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies have reached Colombo to coordinate and assist with the security arrangements.Prasanna, who runs an Airbnb on Havelock Road, complains about not getting a match ticket for his die-hard Hardik Pandya fan.“No tickets for the locals,” he laughs. “We are only here to provide hospitality to our Indian and Pakistani friends.”Ryan de Silva, an ardent Mumbai Indians fan who also drives a tuk tuk, says he too wanted to see Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah in action.“I have been trying to get a ticket to see my Mumbai boys in action for a month, but I didn’t get lucky,” says de Silva, a Lasith Malinga fan.

After so much build-up, the stage is set for the battle between two bitter rivals, and both captains admitted in their pre-match press conferences that this is far more than just a game.“If you play any game, there is always pressure. When you play India-Pakistan, it is more about the occasion. No matter how much you say it is just another game, at the back of your mind you know which game you are playing,” Suryakumar Yadav said.Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha echoed similar views. “This game between India and Pakistan has always been a high-magnitude match and will continue to remain so in the future.”Former England captain Michael Atherton, in his column for The Times, described the India-Pakistan contest as a “toxic and politicised spectacle.”Atherton argued that the fixture has become too big to fail, underpinning the fragile global cricket economy, even as it serves as a proxy for political point-scoring.Yet, his view comes with privilege. Ask the vendors outside the R Premadasa Stadium selling flags, the cafe owners, or the tuk tuk drivers who have waited for this match since the schedule was announced.“Today I will earn more than ten times what I make in a month,” says a 55-year-old vendor selling jerseys outside the stadium.The India-Pakistan game will always matter. Arrive seven hours before the first ball and you understand why. This fixture is not for the faint-hearted. Fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.

NEW DELHI: The opposition’s notice for a resolution for Speaker Om Birla’s removal is likely to be taken up in Lok Sabha on the first day of the Budget session’s second part on March 9, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday, as govt looks to get on with its legislative agenda in the sitting after disposing of the move against the chair.As the BJP-led NDA has 293 members in the 542-member House and is likely to draw support of several fence-sitters, the opposition’s bid for Birla’s ouster for his alleged partiality looks set to fall through.“On March 9 in Lok Sabha, we will have the debate on the no-confidence motion moved against the Speaker. There will be a vote following the debate,” Rijiju told TOI .Official sources said the governing NDA is keen to deal with the issue urgently so that Birla, who has decided to not attend the House till the notice is dealt with, could return to preside over proceedings in the crucial session.Govt’s decision to send Birla for the swearing-in ceremony of BNP leader Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh PM on Feb 17 is being seen as signalling govt’s combative support for the Speaker who attracted Congress’s wrath for saying that the party had planned to deploy its women contingent in LS to do something unprecedentedly indecorous against PM Narendra Modi during his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s address.The lead up to the vote will see Congress making an effort to get TMC and AAP to support the anti-Birla move. Congress is learnt to have dangled the carrot of a motion to remove chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as a quid pro quo. TMC has been on the warpath against against the CEC over the Special Intense Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound West Bengal.Talking to PTI in Arunachal Pradesh, Rijiju expressed hope that Congress and other opposition parties would allow Parliament to function, but made it clear that the govt will carry on with its legislative agenda, noting that the Finance Bill will have to be passed. The Appropriation Bill will also be passed during the session.Amid deepening acrimony between the treasury and opposition benches, govt has at times got its key bills passed amid uproar, insisting that governance cannot be allowed to be obstructed by disruptions.BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s notice for taking up a motion for expulsion of the leader of opposition in LS, Rahul Gandhi, is also likely to figure on the session’s agenda. If the issue is mentioned in the House, it is bound to face massive protests from opposition parties.Rijiju termed the next part of the session interesting, noting that it coincides with the upcoming assembly elections in four states and a Union Territory — West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.“We will bring some important bills, including one critical bill. We will not disclose now as to what the bill is, but we will bring up one very important business in the second part. We will pass all these bills,” he said.

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NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected govt of Bangladesh led by Tarique Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in Dhaka on Feb 17. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri will accompany him, according to official sources.BNP had invited PM Narendra Modi for the oath ceremony, along with the leaders of a dozen other countries, including Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif. However, there was never any question of the PM travelling as the date and even the time of the swearing-in was clashing with his bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai that was scheduled weeks in advance.The foreign ministry said Birla’s participation at this “important event” underscored the deep and enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Bangladesh, reaffirming India’s steadfast commitment to the democratic values that bind the two nations.“As neighbours united by a shared history, culture, and mutual respect, India welcomes Bangladesh’s transition to an elected govt under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, whose vision and values have received an overwhelming mandate of the people,” MEA said in a statement.Modi was among the first global leaders to congratulate Rahman on X on Friday morning, shortly after it became evident the BNP leader was going to form the new govt with absolute majority. Modi said the results reflected the trust that the Bangladesh people had in Rahman’s leadership. Later in the day, he also became the first foreign leader to speak to Rahman and offer cooperation with him in his efforts to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.Importantly for India, BNP responded positively to Modi’s messages as it said Bangladesh remained committed to upholding democratic values, inclusivity, and progressive development for all its citizens.“We look forward to engaging constructively with India to advance our multifaceted relationship, guided by mutual respect, sensitivity to each other’s concerns, and a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in our region,” said the party.

A trans teenager who carried out one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings had previously tried to kill his own family by setting their home ablaze, a neighbour has claimed.18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot dead their 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their home in Tumbler Ridge earlier this week before driving to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opening fire. Six people inside the school were killed, including a teacher and five children. The gunman then turned the weapon on himself and died from a self-inflicted shot.

According to USA Today, Jesse was born male biologically but transitioned into a female 6 years ago. Nine people in total died, including the attacker. It is one of the worst gun attacks in Canada’s recent history. Police say they may never establish a clear motive.Melanie, a neighbour who lives several houses away from the Rootselaar family, said the violence had been foreshadowed years earlier and shared some eerie details about Rootselaar. She told The Telegraph: “A couple of years back, he lit their house on fire because he was trying to kill his own family… it almost completely burnt down.”She added: “He was just sitting out in the front when the fire trucks arrived.”Melanie said that everyone on the street saw the blaze and that most of the inside of the wooden plank home was destroyed. According to Melanie, the case was later “dismissed” by the police. Authorities have not confirmed the alleged arson.In a social media post from October 2023, seen by The Telegraph, Van Rootselaar appeared to mention the incident. The teenager shooter wrote: “I went crazy and burnt my house down the second time trying shrooms, but still have the desire to try alternatives.”The post continued: “I had a complete break from reality and did a lot of irrational things, I felt like I was dreaming. Many consequences ensued.”Police have confirmed that Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health-related contacts with officers. Firearms had previously been seized from the home and later returned. Investigators said the attacker acted alone and there is no evidence specific individuals at the school were targeted.Residents say there had been repeated warnings. “This all could have been avoided if there was proper mental healthcare,” Melanie said.Those killed at the school were named as Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, Kylie Smith and Abel Mwansa, all aged 12, along with 13 year old Ezekiel Schofield and teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.

A massive win for Team India, the defending champion of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026. And for the Pakistan cricket team, it is another heartbreaking moment for them. India won the match by 61 runs, with Ishan Kishan as the best performer of the game.

Ishan Kishan is named as the Man of the Match. He deserved the award. The keeper-batter almost single-handedly carried the team, especially during the powerplays, when Team India was reduced by one wicket. The opener scored 77 off 40 with ten 4s and three 6s.

Ishan kept faith on skills and strengths

India was in trouble when Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a duck. It could have been a devastating moment for the Men in Blue, but Ishan Kishan was there to repair the damage. He not only helped the team to sustain the early blow but also took the team for a flying start under overcast weather.

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After the match, Ishan shared that the pitch was not easy to bat on and scored runs at a quick pace. But he did not lose trust in his skills and strengths and continued to score runs. The southpaw informed us that he polished his batting more during the net sessions. He grew more confident while making shots on the off-side. That was the visible result of his hard work at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15.

“I think the wicket wasn’t that easy in the beginning. You just have to believe and focus on your strength. Wanted to make them run as much as possible to my side. I worked a lot on my offside play. I was just trying to keep it simple,” Ishant Kishan said during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Vowed t continue the momentum

Backed by Ishan’s 77, Team India registered 175 runs in exchange for 7 wickets in 20 overs. In modern cricket, a target below 180 is often considered a chaseable total. But Ishan knew that the pitch would make the Pakistan batters toil hard in front of a total of 170.

He also believed that the massive win over the arch rivals will boost up their confidence, which will help them in the upcoming matches of the tournament. The batter vowed that they will try their best to carry the moment for the rest of the title race.

“I had in mind that we need to put up a total like 160-170 runs, and it will be a very good total for us. India v Pakistan is always a special game, not only for us but for our country as well. So we had to win this one because it was a very important game, and they had pretty good spinners on their side, and we were just supposed to play the good shots, and yeah, winning this against the Pakistan team… it will give us a lot of confidence going ahead in the tournament, and we’ll try to just keep the momentum going,” he added.

Ishan Kishan praised Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah

Ishan also praised Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah for their bowling efforts. The combination of Bumrah and Pandya with the new ball claimed three top-order wickets of Pakistan’s batting lineup. Bumrah took the wickets of Saim Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha, while Hardik dismissed Sahibzada Farhan and later, Usman Tariq.

“I think they bowled tremendously well. Pace bowlers… when I was batting and Shaheen was bowling, I didn’t feel like the ball was doing much for the pace bowlers. But at the same time, looking at them (India’s new ball bowlers) bowl two beautiful overs,” Ishan Kishan explained.

Read More: Ishan Kishan breaks fastest half-century record with stunning knock against Pakistan