Month: January 2026

Renowned poet Kumar Vishwas on Monday praised the government for making effective arrangements for devotees at the Magh Mela being held in Prayagraj.

Speaking to ANI at the Magh Mela Kshetra, Kumar Vishwas said that the administration has ensured proper facilities for pilgrims and visitors arriving from across the country. He noted that the arrangements reflected the government’s commitment to providing a safe and comfortable experience for devotees.

“…Airport, railway station, roads have become very good. This is the time for a cultural renaissance. Heartiest best wishes to all the devotees for the Magh Mela too…”, said Vishwas.

He also highlighted the spiritual and cultural significance of the Magh Mela.

Devotees continue to arrive in large numbers at the Magh Mela Kshetra on Monday to take a holy dip at Sangam. Ravi Shukla, a devotee from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, said that the government has made good arrangements for devotees at the Magh Mela in Prayagraj.

“It was a wonderful experience… Everything went well… yesterday I took a dip in the holy Ganga and today came here… The government has made good arrangements to accommodate the devotees. I didn’t face any problems,” he said.

Earlier, flower petals were showered on the devotees who arrived for a ‘snaan’ at the Sangam in Prayagraj on the occassion of Mauni Amavasya. During the festival, a helicopter showered flower petals on the large gathering of devotees present on the Ghat for a holy dip during the ongoing Magh Mela.

On this occassion, Prayagraj District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma stated that the ritual of the holy bath began at 12 midnight. He noted that despite heavy fog throughout the night, devotees continued to arrive in large numbers, and the influx of pilgrims remained strong since morning. He also said that around 3 crore devotees had taken the holy dip by 12 PM.

The Prayagraj District Magistrate further stated that the Magh Mela is proceeding in an organised manner, and security officials are deployed across all sectors to ensure safety in the area. (ANI)

Actor Rani Mukerji is currently busy promoting her upcoming film ‘Mardaani 3’.

She recently visited the sets of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’, where she not only promoted her film but also engaged in fun interaction with the team of Netflix’s show.

On Monday, the streaming giant shared a fun promo of the episode, which will be out on January 24. Check out here.

“Guess what? Rani Mukherjee aa rahi hai lene Kapil ka case Watch Rani Mukherjee, on The Great Indian Kapil Show, Coming 24 January, 8 PM, only on Netflix,” Netflix India captioned the post.

Speaking of Mardaani 3, it is the third instalment in the Mardaani franchise, which centres on Rani Mukerji’s fearless cop role, who strives to curb crime in her city, especially against women.

While speaking to ANI, Rani called ‘Mardaani 3’ an important film that can help raise awareness among women while also promoting women’s empowerment.

“When we watch this content, our awareness will increase. This is the story of women’s empowerment, to give strength to women. This film is made to give hope, and I want every girl, every woman, to watch this film and get inspired,” said Rani.

Written by Aayush Gupta and directed by Abhiraj Minwala, ‘Mardaani 3’ is produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films.The film is set to hit theatres on January 30, 2026. (ANI)

Amid US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats to impose tariffs on European countries, including the United Kingdom, over the sale of Greenland, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday stated that the use of tariffs against allies is “completely wrong”, noting that the Arctic island belongs to its people and Denmark, describing the right as “fundamental”.

Addressing a press conference on Greenland, Starmer emphasised the importance of maintaining strong alliances amid global turbulence created by Trump’s tariff threats, while underscoring the UK’s commitment to its partnership with Washington.

Started stated that matters of such seriousness must be handled through calm dialogue among allies, emphasising that Greenland’s security is important and will become even more significant as climate change reshapes the Arctic, opening new sea routes and intensifying strategic competition in the region.

“The security of Greenland matters, and it will matter more as climate change reshapes the Arctic. As sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies, the High North will require greater attention, greater investment, and stronger collective defence. The United States will be central to that effort, and the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through NATO. But there is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works,” Starmer said.

“Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental, and we will support it,” the UK PM added.

He reaffirmed the UK’s support for Denmark, calling it a close ally and a committed NATO member that has made significant sacrifices alongside its partners.

Starmer further underlined that alliances are built on respect and partnership rather than pressure, arguing that tariffs against allies are not an appropriate way to resolve differences within an alliance.

“Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and of the United States – a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, including at real human cost, in recent decades. Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I say the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance,” Starmer said.

He said linking economic pressure to efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security is unhelpful and counterproductive.

The UK PM’s remakrs comes amid Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries, including the UK, unless they agree to sell Greenland.

In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China’s and Russia’s interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026 if a deal wasn’t reached, stating it was “time for Denmark to give back” after years of US support.

Warning against the consequences of trade disputes, Starmer said tariffs harm British workers, businesses and the wider economy, adding that his responsibility as Prime Minister is to act in the UK’s national interest.

“A trade war is in no one’s interest, and my job is to act always in the UK’s national interest,” he added.

Starmer noted that the global situation has become increasingly volatile in recent weeks, underlining the need for clarity on values and national interests. He also reiterated that the UK and the US remain close allies, stressing that the relationship is vital not only for security but also for economic stability and prosperity.

“The world has become markedly more turbulent in recent weeks. Events are moving fast, and in moments like this, what matters most is being clear about the values and the interests that guide us, even as circumstances change. The UK and the US are close allies and close partners. That relationship matters profoundly – not just to our security, but to the prosperity and the stability that people here at home depend on,” the UK PM noted.

Concluding his remarks, Starmer said the UK will continue to work closely with its allies across Europe, NATO, and the US, keep diplomatic channels open, defend international law, and use the full strength of government to safeguard the security, living standards, and future of the British people.

Meanwhile, Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland have sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland, while Denmark has increased its own military presence amid Trump’s call to acquire the Arctic island. (ANI)

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav on Monday said the Union Territory has been declared a slum-free city, with the administration now focusing on preventing fresh encroachments and addressing smaller violations across public spaces. He said sector-wise accountability has been fixed to ensure sustained enforcement.

“We have declared Chandigarh a slum-free city. Now, our action is ongoing against the smaller encroachments, whether they are in vending zones, on the sides of roads, or in green belts,” Yadav said. He added that sector-wise officers have been assigned responsibilities and directed to submit affidavits every fortnight confirming that no new encroachment has occurred in their jurisdictions.

“Our focus is on preventing the development of any new slums. While all existing large encroachments have been removed, we have initiated the process of removing smaller encroachments,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner also addressed concerns over reports of cattle deaths at a cow shelter in Raipur Kalan, operated by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. “A few days ago, reports came to our attention regarding the cow shelter. During a site visit, it was found that a total of forty-seven cows had died,” Yadav said, noting that the administration has taken the matter seriously.

He said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered under the chairmanship of the Additional District Magistrate, and the UT Administrator has also visited the site. “We expect to receive the inquiry report in the next three to four days,” Yadav said. Based on initial findings, he indicated that many of the carcasses appeared to be of cattle that had died in other parts of the city and were brought to the shelter for burial or incineration. “So, all these matters are under investigation, and we will receive the inquiry report in the next three to four days. We will take action based on the findings of the inquiry report,” he added. (ANI)

Farmers and orchardists from across Himachal Pradesh on Monday staged a massive protest and gherao outside the state Secretariat, demanding immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s directions to frame a clear policy for regularisation.

They also demanded protection of farmers’ land and urged the state government to raise the issue of apple and other agricultural produce being kept out of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the Union government.

The protest was jointly organised by the Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha, the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers’ Association and several other farmers’ and fruit growers’ organisations. A large number of farmers and orchardists from different districts participated in the demonstration, warning of intensified agitation if their demands were not met.

Addressing the protesters here, Sanjay Chauhan, Convener of the joint forum of apple farmers’ organisations, said the primary demand was that the state government must immediately frame and implement a policy as directed by the Supreme Court, instead of continuing evictions and cutting of orchards under the pretext of High Court orders.

“For a long time, the Revenue and Forest departments of the state government have been carrying out evictions of poor and marginal farmers and cutting apple orchards by citing High Court orders. Our first demand is that this be stopped immediately,” Chauhan said while speaking to ANI.

“Recently, two important decisions have come from the Supreme Court. In an order dated December 18, the Chief Justice of India-led Bench set aside the High Court’s directions related to eviction and cutting of apple trees. The Supreme Court clearly said that framing a policy is not the job of the High Court but of the government, and directed that a policy be made to provide land to small, poor and marginal farmers,” he added.

Chauhan said that despite the Supreme Court’s clear directions, the state government had not yet implemented the order on the ground.

“Earlier, the government kept saying it was bound by High Court orders. Now those orders have been rejected by the Supreme Court, which has given clear-cut directions to frame a policy. Our main demand today is that this policy be made and implemented immediately,” he said.

Taking strong exception to recent and proposed trade agreements, Chauhan said farmers were deeply concerned over FTAs under which import duties on fruits were being reduced.

“Under recent Free Trade Agreements, including one with New Zealand, import duty on apples, pears and kiwi has reportedly been reduced from around 50 per cent to 25 per cent. There are also talks of reducing tariffs on apple imports under bilateral trade discussions with the US,” he said.

“If apple imports are liberalised, it will put the livelihoods of nearly 15 lakh apple-producing families in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir at risk. We demand that agricultural produce be kept completely out of FTAs and that at least 100 per cent import duty be imposed on apples to protect domestic farmers,” Chauhan added.

He said apple cultivation alone contributes around 13.5 per cent to Himachal Pradesh’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), but policies of both the Centre and the state were pushing agriculture and horticulture into crisis.

Chauhan also raised several other demands, including the immediate release of pending payments under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).

“Around Rs 140 crore is still pending under the Market Intervention Scheme. Farmers need cash, not sprays or other products. The pending amount should be released immediately and transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts,” he said.

Other key demands included timely payment to milk producers, an increase in the minimum procurement price of milk, strict action against illegal mining in Kangra and other districts, repair of irrigation systems affected by mining, channelisation of the Beas river, and full implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

“The Forest Rights Act was passed by Parliament in 2006, but it has still not been implemented properly in Himachal Pradesh. Instead of implementing the Act, action is being taken against those who have filed claims. This is unacceptable,” Chauhan said.

He also opposed privatisation in the power sector and installation of smart meters, saying it would lead to job losses and exploitation of consumers in a power-producing state like Himachal Pradesh.

Another farmer, Deepak Chauhan, said the dispute between farmers and the government was not new and had continued for years.

“Earlier, the government used to cite High Court directions. Now the Supreme Court has given a clear decision and directed the government to frame a policy. If the government forms a clear policy, the Supreme Court’s directions will be fully implemented,” he told ANI.

“For the last two years, farmers have not received payments under the Market Intervention Scheme. The government says money has not come from Delhi and instead talks about giving machines or products. In today’s inflation, farmers need money first,” he said.

Deepak Chauhan also expressed concern over foreign apple imports.

“If import duties on apples are reduced, farmers here will not be able to compete with international produce. The agreements should be reviewed because they will cause huge losses to apple growers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

The protesting farmers warned that if the state government failed to implement the Supreme Court order and did not effectively take up their demands with the Centre, including keeping agricultural produce out of FTAs, they would intensify their agitation and take the protest to Delhi in the coming days. (ANI)

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader TKS Elangovan on Monday alleged that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay is being pressured politically, following his appearance before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Centre was “misusing” the agencies to meet its political ends.

“They (BJP) are threatening Vijay, and this is well known to the people. They have not given a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan and are deliberately delaying it. Their intention is to pressure Vijay into siding with them. BJP is like a washing machine. They accuse somebody of certain charges, and then if they join them, they drop all charges. They are misusing the governmental agencies for their political ends,” Elangovan told ANI.

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea filed by the makers of the Tamil film ‘Jana Nayagan,’ starring actor Vijay. The plea sought a stay on the Madras High Court order that put a halt to the film’s certification process.

A bench of Justices Deepankar Datta and AG Masih heard the matter and asked the Madras High Court to decide the case by January 20.

The plea was filed by the film’s producer, KVN Productions LLP. The producer challenged a Madras High Court division bench order that stayed an earlier direction given to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to certify the film.

‘Jana Nayagan’ was planned for a Pongal release on January 9 and is being described as Vijay’s last film before he stepped into politics fully. The actor has recently launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Meanwhile, today, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-turned-politician Vijay reached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Delhi in connection with the probe into the Karur stampede case, which claimed 41 lives during a party campaign in September 2025.

Vijay, who is staying at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi, is expected to be questioned by the CBI regarding the circumstances of the disaster.

The CBI had last week conducted a detailed line of questioning of Vijay as part of its probe into the Karur stampede case. The CBI’s line of questioning focused heavily on the mechanics of the disaster and the timeline of events on September 27, 2025. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to display the names of the electors falling under the ‘logical discrepancies’ category in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal.

A three-judge bench led by CJI Surya Kant issued directions to the ECI on various pleas alleging procedural illegalities in the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The apex court noted that the ECI has issued notices to certain persons described as falling under the category of ‘logical discrepancies’. Thus, with a view to enabling persons included in the category, the Court issued a direction to display the names of such persons at Gram Panchayat Bhavans, Block Offices, and Ward Offices.

The court asked the state government to provide adequate manpower to the ECI and the State Election Commission to entertain the documents and objections and to adhere to the hearing process for persons likely to be affected. In this regard, directions shall be issued by the ECI/State Government for the deployment of adequate personnel.

Persons likely to be affected shall be permitted to submit their documents before the authorised officers. The apex court instructed that an authority letter be issued in this regard. The bench instructed the persons in the category who have not submitted their claims and objections to do so within 10 days.

According to the directions issued by the court, notices for the submission of documents or objections may be submitted at the Gram Panchayat Bhavans. The Election Commission of India shall issue necessary instructions for facilitating the submission of documents by all interested persons.

The Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal has been asked to ensure that there is no law and order issue and that the entire exercise is completed smoothly.

The court stated that wherever the objection is found to be satisfactory, such persons shall be given an opportunity of hearing in accordance with the procedure already prescribed by the ECI in its Standard Operating Procedure. The hearing may be conducted at the time of submission of the objection itself.

The Electoral Roll Officers’ Network (ERONET) portal had flagged more than 1.2 crore names under the ‘logical discrepancy’ category, which had sparked a fresh row over the SIR exercise in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee had termed ‘logical discrepancies’ a “dubious category.” Accusing the ECI of working on the behest of the BJP, Mamata had said, “Acting at the behest of the BJP, ECI carried out SIR in Bengal in a reckless and ill-planned manner, resulting in the deletion of nearly 58 lakh names from the electoral rolls. When even this massive purge failed to satisfy the BJP’s political objectives, a new and dubious category called ‘logical discrepancies’ was invented, forcing 1.36 crore voters to face hearings without the Commission even disclosing the complete list of names.”

Even in Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s case, the ERONET portal flagged a “logical discrepancy”. The West Bengal CEO said that the age difference between Professor Sen, a voter in West Bengal’s Birbhum district’s Bolpur assembly constituency, and his mother, Amita Sen, was less than 15 years.

The deadline to file claims and objections (new voter name additions via Form 6, deletions via Form 7, and corrections via Form 8) was extended from January 15 to January 19, 2026, giving voters extra time to submit their applications. Hearings on these claims and objections will continue up to February 7, 2026.

The Final electoral roll for West Bengal will be published on February 14, 2026. (ANI)

Women’s rights activist Yogita Bhayana, closely associated with the Unnao victim’s family, welcomed the Delhi High Court’s decision refusing to suspend the sentence of former Uttar Pradesh MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao custodial death case.

Calling it a “fantastic judgment,” Bhayana said the ruling reinforces the principle that everyone is equal before the law and sends a strong message to those wielding power.

She observed that the verdict underscores that wealth or influence cannot secure special treatment, and described it as an important affirmation of justice for ordinary citizens.

Bhayana added that she has personally known the victim and her family, has visited them several times, and has witnessed first-hand the immense suffering they have endured over the years.

The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to suspend Sengar’s sentence in the Unnao custodial death case, which relates to the death of the father of the Unnao rape survivor. The Bench has listed Sengar’s appeal for a hearing before the roster Bench on February 3, 2026.

Earlier, Sengar had been granted bail in the minor rape case on December 23, 2025. However, that order was stayed by the Supreme Court of India on December 29, 2025.

Opposing the plea for relief, advocate Mehmood Pracha, counsel for the rape survivor, argued that Sengar does not deserve bail, citing an ongoing threat to the victim and her family. He submitted that the survivor has been subjected to harassment and defamation on social media through baseless allegations.

On the other hand, senior advocate Manish Vasisth, along with advocate Kanhaiya Singhal, appeared for Sengar and opposed the submissions made on behalf of the victim. They contended that Sengar has been in custody for nearly nine years in the custodial death case and that only about 11 months of the sentence remain. It was also argued that Sengar was not present at the site on April 3, 2018.

Sengar’s counsel further submitted that the trial court relied upon evidence under Section 61 of the CrPC concerning statements attributed to Sengar’s secretary, Santosh Mishra, who allegedly spoke to the appellant over the phone on the day of the incident despite not being present at the spot. It was argued that Mishra was not examined by the court.

The defence also pointed to alleged contradictions in the statements of two prosecution witnesses, questioning their credibility and reliability.

Sengar, along with other accused, was convicted by the trial court at Tis Hazari Courts in 2018. He is also serving a life sentence in the minor rape case. These cases stem from FIRs registered in 2018 at Police Station Makhi, Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, and were decided by the District and Sessions Judge (West), Delhi.

The defence also highlighted that Sengar has been in jail since April 13, 2018, except for a brief period when he was granted an interim suspension of sentence by the High Court to attend his daughter’s marriage, during which he did not misuse the liberty granted to him.

The background of the case dates back to June 4, 2017, when the minor daughter of the victim was allegedly enticed on the pretext of being offered a job and taken to Sengar’s residence, where she was raped.

Subsequently, on April 3, 2018, when the victim’s family travelled to Unnao for a court hearing, the survivor’s father was allegedly brutally assaulted by the accused in broad daylight.

The next day, he was arrested by the police on allegations of illegal possession of arms and later succumbed to multiple injuries while in custody on April 9, 2018.

While refusing to suspend the sentence, the High Court noted the gravity of the allegations and the sequence of events leading to the custodial death, underscoring the seriousness of the offence and the broader implications for the rule of law. (ANI)

A day after a 27-year-old man died after his car plunged into a drain near Sector 150 in Greater Noida, the victim’s family has alleged gross administrative negligence, claiming that timely intervention could have saved his life as he struggled for two hours. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Knowledge Park Police Station on the night of January 16-17.

Speaking to ANI here, the victim’s father, Rajkumar Mehta, said his son struggled in the water for nearly two hours. “My son was struggling to save himself. My son was crying out for help, asking people to help him, but most of the crowd was just watching. Some people were making videos. My son struggled for 2 hours to save his life. The officials and staff present were unable to save him. They did not have any divers. There is negligence on the part of the administration in this entire matter,” he alleged, demanding strict action and improved safety arrangements to prevent such incidents in the future.

Satish Pal Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Noida Authority, said an investigation is underway to determine responsibility. “The investigation will reveal whose land it was, to whom it was allotted, and who was responsible for its maintenance. That road is in an area that is not yet a fully developed sector,” he said, assuring action after the inquiry.

Meanwhile, according to the police, the accident took place when the car broke through the boundary of a drain at the Sector 150 intersection and fell into the water. The deceased has been identified as Yuvraj, a resident of Sector-150, Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar. His body was recovered following a search operation by SDRF/NDRF teams and has been sent for post-mortem examination.

Joint Commissioner of Police Rajeev Narain Mishra described the incident as “very tragic” and said the police stand with the victim’s family. He said rescue efforts were initiated immediately with the help of fire brigade ladders, cranes, searchlights and a makeshift boat, adding that visibility was near zero at the time. (ANI)

Star cricketer Virat Kohli continues to inspire fans not only with his exceptional cricketing skills but also with his sharp fashion sense. His recent airport looks, in particular, have grabbed attention, especially among men.

Hours after scoring a century against New Zealand at Indore on Sunday, Kohli returned to Mumbai during the early hours of Monday.

He was spotted in a cool look, donning an off-white long-sleeve knit shirt with a deep V-neck. Beneath the V-neck, a dark undershirt provides contrast and depth. He paired them with black pants and white sneakers. The navy blue cap added a sporty edge to his overall look.

Soon after landing in Mumbai, he was spotted at the airport again, this time departing from the city. He might be heading to London, where he usually spends much of his personal time with his wife Anushka and children Vamika and Akaay.

Coming to the match, while team India failed to seal the ODI series win against New Zealand, Virat slammed a valiant century, almost a lone warrior effort, which gave Men in Blue and fans some hope, and to him, plenty of records and milestones.

Once again, just when India looked down and out at 71/4, Virat, who scored a 108-ball 124 with 10 fours and three sixes, gave India hope with an 88-run stand for the fifth wicket with Nitish Kumar Reddy and a 99-run stand for the seventh wicket with Harshit Rana.

This is Virat’s 85th international century, and the chase for Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 international centuries continues. Also, this is Virat’s 54th ODI ton, a record-extending one. (ANI)