Month: January 2026

After losing the fifth and final T20I and also the series against India, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner admitted to the formidable challenge of beating the Men in Blue at their den.

During the post-match presentation, the New Zealand captain said they learnt a lot from the five-match T20I series, which will help them at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7.

“We learnt a lot of stuff. Tough to beat India on their home turf. When you’re challenged a lot, it’s a good thing. Results haven’t gone our way, have learned. It’s not easy to bowl against good batting units,” Santner said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

After the match, Arshdeep, who picked up a five-wicket haul, said that the talk was about giving it all while defending the target.

“Great learning for me to stay in the game. That was the message from the coaching staff. It’s just for the camera, I look calm. Lately, I’ve been going for runs consistently. I’m trying to stay in the game with Morne Morkel’s help. I enjoyed some of the shots Finn played, but I could’ve planned better. They were always going to come hard. (Huddle from SKY after the powerplay) The talk was about body language, giving it our all, and giving it our best shot to keep them under 180. Happy with individual performances, but the perfect team game hasn’t come. Hope that comes in the World Cup,” Arshdeep said after the match.

In the match, India won the toss and chose to bat first. While Sanju fell to a single-digit score, Abhishek Sharma (30 in 16 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) also fell, leaving India at 48/2. A 137-run stand between Ishan Kishan (103 in 43 balls, with six fours and 10 sixes) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (63 in 30 balls, with four boundaries and six sixes) enthralled the audience. Later on, a cameo from Hardik Pandya (42 in 17 balls, with a four and four sixes) took India to 271/5 in 20 overs.

Lockie Ferguson (2/41) was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand, while Jacob Duffy (1/53), Kyle Jamieson (1/59) and Mitchell Santner (1/60) leaked runs.

In the run chase, after the Kiwis lost Tim Seifert early, a century stand between Allen (80 in 38 balls, with eight fours and six sixes) and Rachin Ravindra (30 in 17 balls, with two fours and two sixes) threatened to make India sweat. However, Arshdeep Singh (5/51) and Axar Patel (3/33) ripped apart the Kiwi middle-order, and they were skittled out for 225 runs after being 191/9 at one point.

India has won the five-match T20I series 4-1. (ANI)

The Maru Mahotsav 2026, currently being held at Jaisalmer’s Shaheed Poonam Singh Stadium, has brought together locals, artists, and tourists to celebrate Rajasthan’s rich desert culture.

The three-day festival, which began on January 30, showcases the vibrant colors, music, and traditions of the Thar Desert.

Tourists from various parts of India and around the world have gathered to witness the beauty of Jaisalmer and participate in the festivities. The festival features a blend of folk music, dance performances, camel races, and cultural contests.

Manish Panwar, the winner of the competition titled “Maru Shri 2026,” held on Friday, January 30, spoke about how the achievement felt like a dream come true. Reflecting on his “childhood dream” and his long-held desire to participate, Panwar told ANI, “I participated in the competition, and I have won… This was my childhood dream…”

Kusum Panwar, who won the title of “Miss Moomal 2026,” also expressed her happiness. Speaking about her roots and the event’s role in promoting the region’s culture, she said, “I am from Bikaner… This program is held to move our culture forward… I just wanted to participate in this…”

Taj, who won the title of “Mrs. Jaisalmer 2026,” shared her excitement when her name was announced. Describing how she felt “very excited” and proud, she said, “I got very excited when my name was announced… I am very happy…”

The festival has drawn not only people from different parts of India but also international visitors. Lucia, a tourist from Brazil, shared her joy while enjoying the desert celebrations. Speaking about how “amazing” the festival felt, she said, “This festival is amazing. We are very happy here…”

The Maru Mahotsav 2026 will conclude on February 1, with the final evening featuring a grand fireworks display, lighting up the desert sky. (ANI)

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of misusing the name of the Supreme Court to defend his remarks on illegal immigration and “Miya Muslims”, saying that wrongly attributing the language of an executive report to the apex court amounts to contempt of court.

“The Chief Minister has become quiet after I raised his contempt of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Of course the rest of the BJP just runs on rhetoric and screenshots. They run the risk of contempt too. When a court cites a report relied on by a party it does not make the language of the report the court’s “own words”. Attributing it to the Hon’ble Supreme Court is a clear case for contempt,” Gogoi wrote on X.

This comes amid the sharp criticism against the Assamese CM’s recent comments on ‘Miya Muslims’ to refer to the influx of immigrants from Bangladesh. Sarma had defended his remarks, stating that he had not coined the term “Miya Muslims” and that it had been in vogue within the community itself, which had migrated from Bangladesh to refer to themselves.

In a post on X, CM Sarma said those attacking him for his remarks on “Miyan” should note the Supreme Court of India’s observations on Assam and illegal migration.

“Those who are attacking me for my remarks on “Miyan”–a word used in Assam in the context of Bangladeshi Muslim illegal migration–should pause and read what the Supreme Court of India itself has said about Assam. This is not my language, not my imagination, and not political exaggeration,” he said.

Quoting the apex court, the Chief Minister highlighted its warning on demographic changes in the State. “These are the Court’s own words: “The silent and invidious demographic invasion of Assam may result in the loss of the geostrategically vital districts of lower Assam. The influx of illegal migrants is turning these districts into a Muslim-majority region. It will then only be a matter of time before a demand for their merger with Bangladesh may be made. Loss of lower Assam will sever the entire land mass of the North East from the rest of India, and the rich natural resources of that region will be lost to the Nation,” Assam CM said in his post.

Sarma also said that acknowledging such concerns does not constitute communalism or hatred. (ANI)

Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan’s close bond with Amrita Arora is quite well known. The two have been best friends through thick and thin, always standing by and supporting each other.

As it’s Amrita’s birthday today, Kareena marked the occasion with a sweet post dedicated to her.

Taking to Instagram, Kareena wrote, “You are sunshine in the rain… love you so much…

Happy birthday my Amolas @amuaroraofficial.”

She also dropped an adorable video which features her memorable moments spent with Amrita. Check out here.

Amrita also received a heartfelt wish from her sister Malaika.

“Happy birthday my baby sis @amuaroraofficial,” she posted.

Amrita stepped into Bollywood with the 2002 film ‘Kitne Door Kitne Paas’, co-starring Fardeen Khan. She has been a part of films such as ‘Ek Aur Ek Gyarah’, ‘Awara Paagal Deewana’ and ‘Hello’. She shared screen space with her bestie Kareena in films like ‘Golmaal’ Returns and ‘Kambakkht Ishq’. However, she has been away from acting for years now.

Amrita has been married to Shakeel Ladak. The couple welcomed their first son Azaan in 2010 and their younger son Rayaan Ladak in 2012. (ANI)

India recorded 31.5 per cent below-normal rainfall in January even as temperatures across the country remained above normal, the India Meteorological Department said.

Speaking at a press conference, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra Jenamani, said rainfall during the month remained deficient over Northwest India, East and Northeast India, and Central India, while South Peninsular India received near-normal rainfall, registering 10.9 per cent above the long-period average.

The deficit was particularly acute across large parts of East and North East India, and central India.

“Northwest India recorded 12.1 per cent less rainfall, while East and Northeast India saw a massive 86.2 per cent shortfall. Central India also witnessed the decline, with rainfall plunging 79.4 per cent below normal,” Jenamani said.

Jenamani also indicated that January 2026 temperatures were warmer than normal across several regions, continuing the recent trend of rising winter temperatures.

At the all-India level, the mean temperature stood at 18.31 degrees Celsius, which was 0.28 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature averaged 24.77 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature was 11.86 degrees Celsius, both higher than the long-term average.

In Northwest India, the mean temperature during January was 12.41 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal, while East and Northeast India recorded a mean temperature of 17.24 degrees Celsius, nearly one degree above normal. Central India recorded a mean temperature of 20.44 degrees Celsius, and South Peninsular India recorded 24.20 degrees Celsius, both higher than their respective normals, according to IMD data. (ANI)

The upcoming rom-com ‘Cocktail 2’ officially wrapped its shoot.

The film trio actors Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon completed shooting the movie and marked the moment with a fun celebration along with director Homi Adajania.

Homi took to her Instagram account on Saturday, shared an adorable picture from the wrap party. In the picture, Shahid, Rashmika and Kriti are seen smiling with the director. Along with the picture, Homi also added a caption, calling the “a tad special.”

“Cocktail2 shoot wrapped. I may be biased, but this one feels a tad special. Big love to my fab crew & cast for tolerating the absurdity that I am. Love you guys,” he wrote.

Take a look

Cocktail 2 is written by Luv Ranjan and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films. The makers have kept the details about the storyline under wraps.

The original ‘Cocktail’ (2012) centred on a contemporary love triangle between Gautam Kapoor (Saif Ali Khan), Veronica Melaney (Deepika Padukone), and Meera Sahni (Diana Penty). The first Cocktail (2012), starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty, was a huge success for its modern take on love and friendship.

Meanwhile, the release date of ‘Cocktail 2’ has not been announced yet. (ANI)

When Arijit Singh announced that he was stepping away from playback singing, it really hit hard. For millions of fans, it felt like they were losing a piece of the soundtrack to their lives.

For years, the ‘Mast Magan’ singer’s voice had been the background music to people’s love stories, heartbreaks, long drives, and so much more. So, when he announced that he wouldn’t be taking on new playback singing gigs anymore, it hit harder than expected.

It wasn’t just his fans who felt it; Bollywood felt it too. Singers, actors, and musicians began reacting to his decision, with the latest being Aditi Rao Hydari.

Speaking to ANI, the ‘Heeramandi’ actress admitted she would miss the singer, but not in a dramatic way. Aditi said she believes Arijit is the kind of creator who never really stops. The actress went on to add that although he may no longer be recording for films, she feels the “dream” and the love for creating will never leave him.

“Oh my God, I love Arijit Singh. He’ll be missed. I’ll miss him so much. I’ll miss his voice. But, you know, I believe that an artist is always an artist. A creator is always a creator. And anything can happen. But the power, the will, the dream, the love to create stays within you. And a creator will always create. So, he will always sing,” she told ANI.

“Whether he’s singing in a forest to the birds or he’s singing for us, you know, he’s singing. He’s singing somewhere. And I think that’s beautiful. And he will create, and he will do something incredible,” she added.

Arijit recently lent his voice to Aditi Rao Hydari and Vijay Sethupathi’s latest release, ‘Gandhi Talks’ on the song “Sunhari Kirne,” with music by AR Rahman.

Aditi Rao Hydari and Arijit Singh have also collaborated on the song “Sooiyan” from the 2015 film ‘Guddu Rangeela.’ In this romantic track, Arijit Singh lent vocals alongside Chinmayi Sripada, while the music video featured Aditi opposite actor Amit Sadh. (ANI)

The tranquil, snow-laden landscapes of North Sikkim turned perilous last week when a group of 29 tourists found themselves stranded amid extreme weather conditions. What began as a breathtaking journey through the high-altitude stretch between Shivmandir and Zero Point rapidly escalated into a life-threatening ordeal as nature unleashed its fury.

According to an official release, on the intervening night of January 27-28, severe weather gripped the region. Gale-force winds and relentless snowfall engulfed the narrow mountain roads, rendering civilian vehicles immobile. Several vehicles were buried under heavy snow, while others suffered mechanical failures due to sub-zero temperatures.

The stranded group included young children and senior citizens, compounding the gravity of the situation. As temperatures plunged well below freezing, the thin mountain air led to dangerously low oxygen levels, causing multiple tourists to experience acute mountain sickness and respiratory distress.

Recognising the escalating danger, the Indian Army launched a swift humanitarian rescue operation despite treacherous white-out conditions. Army personnel navigated snowbound routes through the night to locate the stranded tourists scattered along the valley, a release stated.

Braving the extreme weather, the rescue teams evacuated the tourists from their frozen vehicles and safely transported them to the Shivmandir Army camp. For many, the intervention came at a critical moment, as prolonged exposure to the harsh environment posed serious health risks.

Upon arrival at the camp, the Army initiated comprehensive relief measures. Medical teams immediately attended to those suffering from altitude-related ailments, administering supplemental oxygen and continuous monitoring.

As per a release, to protect the group from the biting cold, soldiers provided extreme cold-weather clothing, sleeping bags, heaters, and ensured a steady supply of hot meals, refreshments, and warm water. The camp was transformed into a safe haven, offering warmth and reassurance to all, from the youngest children to the elderly.

After spending the night under constant medical and logistical care, the tourists were served a hot breakfast the following morning. Once weather conditions and road access improved, the Indian Army deployed specialised vehicles to transport the entire group safely back to their hotels in Lachung.

Deeply moved by the experience, the tourists expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army, praising the soldiers’ courage, professionalism, and compassion. Many acknowledged that the timely intervention prevented a potential tragedy, turning a moment of despair into a powerful example of service, resilience, and humanity in the face of nature’s extremes, a release stated. (ANI)

Amidst chants of ‘Ajit dada amar rahe’, NCP Sunetra Pawar, leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and widow of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday took oath as the state’s Deputy CM at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath of office to Sunetra Pawar in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

She stepped into fill the post that became vacant following the demise of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28 in Baramati. With this Sunetra Pawar becomes the first woman Deputy Chief Minsiter of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra State President of NCP, Sunil Tatkare and NCP Working President Praful Patel, and Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal were also present at the occasion.

NCP leaders raised the slogans of “Ahjit Dada amar rahe (long live Ajit Dada) and ‘Bharat Mat ki Jai’ as Sunetra Pawar took the oath of office.

She was earlier elected leader of the NCP Legislative Party Leader earlier today.

NCP leaders then met with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to finalise Sunetra Pawar’s appointment as Deputy CM.

Sunetra Pawar is known for her work in sustainable development, environmental conservation, and rural empowerment.

A Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, she has emerged as a driving force behind several initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable progress

In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India (EFOI), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to raising environmental awareness and fostering eco-conscious communities. She has led extensive grassroots campaigns focusing on biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered species, water resource management, and drought mitigation.

Earlier, Chhagan Bhujbal welcomed the party’s decision to elect Sunetra Pawar as Deputy CM, saying it’s a good decision, and people want it following the untimely death of NCP chief Ajit Pawar.

Speaking to the reporters, Bhujbal said, “It is good. People want it, and our MLAs are also demanding the same. This is absolutely right. Under the current circumstances, Sunetra Taai should indeed be the Leader of the Legislative Party and Deputy CM.” (ANI)

Ajit Pawar passed away on Wednesday when a chartered plane carrying him crashed-landed in Baramati. Among the deceased were his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots. (ANI)

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief, Sharad Pawar, on Saturday refuted the speculation around the merger of two NCP factions after Ajit Pawar’s demise.

When asked if he would consider being part of NDA if both factions of NCP merge, Sharad Pawar told reporters, “This is all going on your side (media), there is nothing like that here.”

Member of Vidya Prathisthan and close associate of the Pawar family, Kiran Gujar, earlier said that NCP chief Ajit Pawar’s last wish was to unite the two party factions.

NCP and NCP (SCP) contested the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections in an alliance, and there were talks of an alliance for the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. Amidst this, there were speculations that the two factions would come together under one symbol before Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash in Baramati.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Sharad Pawar said that he has no information about NCP MP Sunetra Pawar’s name being pitched for the post of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

He said, “I have no information about it (Sunetra Pawar’s name for the Deputy CM post). Her party must have decided. What I saw in the newspaper today: some names like Praful Patel and Sunil Tatakare who have taken the initiative to make some decisions.”

Ajit Pawar, 66, died in a plane crash along with four others on Wednesday, after which his wife Sunetra Pawar is speculated to take up the vacant Deputy CM post. Maharashtra Minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said that the party has pitched Sunetra Pawar’s name and asked CM Devendra Fadnavis if the swearing-in ceremony can take place today.

When asked about the haste to make political decisions immediately after Ajit Pawar’s death, Sharad Pawar hinted that the decisions were being made by leaders in the Mahayuti government in Mumbai.

“If there is a problem in the family, the family stands together. There are no issues in the family… All these discussions are not taking place here; they are happening in Mumbai. Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and other senior leaders are having these discussions. Whatever is being seen appears to be decisions taken by them. I will not comment on this,” he said.

Earlier today, NCP spokesperson Rupali Patil Thombare said that Sunetra Pawar is set to take oath as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday.

Speaking to ANI, Rupali Patil Thombare said party leaders had urged Sunetra Pawar to decide on the Deputy CM post and emphasised the importance of timing in politics.

Thombare said, “Ajit dada’s death was very shocking. He is not with us anymore. Sunetra Vahini (Sunetra Pawar) is grieving much more than all of us. She lost her husband all of a sudden. This is the fourth day since his death. We, the workers, have urged Vahini to forget her pain and adopt Ajit Dada’s dreams and work style. For this, she has made a decision for today; she had to.”

“Timing is very important in politics. People will talk. Those who are speaking for him today used to comment on him when he was alive. Vahini is going to take oath as the Deputy CM today,” the NCP Spokesperson said. (ANI)