Month: January 2026

As cold wave conditions continued to prevail in the national capital, dense fog enveloped large parts of Delhi on Saturday morning, leading to reduced visibility and delays in several flights at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Passengers are advised to check flight statuses with their respective airlines before heading to the airport, as foggy conditions are likely to impact operations intermittently.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a slight improvement in minimum temperature, which stood at 7 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning, compared to 4 degrees Celsius recorded on Friday. Despite the marginal rise in temperature, visibility remained low during the early hours, affecting road, rail and air traffic movement across the city.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain a major concern. As per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital stood at 368 at around 7 am on Saturday, placing it in the “very poor” category.

Earlier, on Tuesday, in view of deteriorating air quality in Delhi, the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas convened a meeting.

During the meeting, the Sub-Committee reviewed the prevailing air quality scenario in the region, along with forecasts for weather and meteorological conditions and the Air Quality Index.

According to an official release, the Sub-Committee observed that the AQI in Delhi has shown an increasing trend, and forecasts by IMD and IITM indicate that air quality is likely to deteriorate further and may enter the ‘severe’ category in the coming days due to unfavourable meteorological conditions and slow, variable wind speeds.

“In view of the prevailing air quality trend, and with a view to preventing further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee has decided to invoke all actions envisaged under Stage-III of the extant Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) – ‘Severe’ Air Quality (AQI range: 401-450) – with immediate effect across the entire NCR, as a proactive measure,” the release said.

This is in addition to the actions under Stages I & II of the extant GRAP already in force in NCR. Various agencies responsible for implementing measures under GRAP, including the Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR and DPCC, have also been directed to ensure strict implementation of actions under Stage-III of the extant GRAP, in addition to actions under Stages I & II of GRAP, during this period.

A nine-point action plan as per Stage-III of the extant GRAP is applicable with immediate effect, in the entire NCR. The nine-point action plan includes steps to be implemented/ ensured by different agencies, including the Pollution Control Boards of NCR and DPCC. (ANI)

Living a simple, grounded life has always been a core principle for veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar, regardless of his fame and success.

As he turns 81 today, Javed Akhtar spoke with ANI and shared a hilarious message for his fans.

“Main toh ek badi regular life guzarta hun…kabhi bhi so jata hun, kabhi bhi uth jata hun, jo jee chahta woh khaleta hun…Ice cream bhi khata hun…chai mein shakar bhi dalta hun..ek regular life hai meri. Aap bhi guzariye meri umar ke ho jayenge aap ya kamse kam meri umar ke lagne toh lagenge,” Javed quipped.

The way Javed Akhtar expressed it perfectly reflects how he has kept his inner child alive even today, a quality that truly deserves to be learned from.

Renowned for his remarkable contributions to Hindi cinema, the celebrated screenwriter has won five National Film Awards. His distinguished career has also been honoured with two of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007.

Javed penned stories for numerous films over the years, but the most successful phase of his career came through his collaboration with fellow screenwriter Salim Khan.

Popularly known as Salim-Javed, the iconic duo went on to script several commercially and critically acclaimed classics, including Zanjeer, Deewaar, and Sholay, leaving an indelible mark on Hindi cinema. (ANI)

‘Hum To Tere Hi Liye The’ song from director Vishal Bhardwaj’s directorial ‘O’ Romeo’ was unveiled on Friday.

The film stars Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Avinash Tiwary, and Farida Jalal among many others.

Set against the gritty, brooding backdrop of O’Romeo, ‘Hum To Tere Hi Liye The’ becomes a striking emotional contrast where harsh realities collide with fragile emotions. The composition by Vishal Bhardwaj bears his signature depth and melodic gravitas, while the poetic lyrics by the legendary Gulzar lend the song timeless elegance.

Brought to life by the soulful voice of Arijit Singh, the track lingers long after the final note, resonating with the ache of love remembered and love lost.

Sajid Nadiadwala presents O’Romeo, a film by Vishal Bhardwaj. Produced under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, O’Romeo will release in Valentine’s Week on February 13, 2026. (ANI)

With preparations gaining momentum for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly General Elections, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay announced the constitution of an Election Campaign Committee to coordinate and oversee poll-related activities across the state.

In an official letter issued to party functionaries and cadres on Friday, Vijay said that the newly formed committee will be responsible for managing and supervising election campaign activities at the state, district and constituency levels. He stated that the panel will cover all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and play a key role in strengthening the party’s organisational presence ahead of the elections.

According to the letter, the Election Campaign Committee will conduct consultative meetings, campaign meetings and other organisational programmes required for the effective execution of election-related work. Vijay said the committee will ensure coordinated efforts across constituencies and facilitate smooth implementation of campaign strategies in the run-up to the Assembly polls.

The TVK president also appealed to party members and office-bearers to extend their full cooperation to the newly constituted committee.

Vijay’s announcement comes at a time when political parties in Tamil Nadu have begun intensifying organisational exercises and groundwork in anticipation of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is aiming to reclaim power in the state after losing the 2021 Assembly elections. Despite a subdued performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK has renewed its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after severing ties in 2023.

Meanwhile, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is seeking to retain power and enters the electoral contest with confidence following its strong performance in the 2024 parliamentary polls.

As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections approach, senior leaders of the Congress from the state are scheduled to meet the party’s top leadership at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi later today at 4 pm. The meeting is expected to focus on election strategy, organisational preparedness and possible seat-sharing arrangements.

Tamil Nadu is scheduled to hold elections in the first half of this year. (ANI)

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi was “gifting” a dozen new trains to West Bengal, underlining that the first service of the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will begin from Guwahati to Kolkata.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

Speaking to ANI, the Vaishnaw said that 101 railway stations are being reconstructed with major development works underway at the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station, a major railway hub in the state.

“PM Modi is giving West Bengal a gift of more than one dozen new trains. The first service of Vande Bharat sleeper trains will start from Guwahati to Kolkata. PM Modi will inaugurate it. Amrit Bharat Express trains are going to run. Along with it, 101 stations are being reconstructed in West Bengal. Under this, the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station is in the process of turning into a world-class station, with the addition of two new platforms. A lot of area will emerge where IT hubs can be built,” he said.

India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will be flagged off between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) by PM Modi today.

PM Modi is visiting West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18.

On January 17, at around 12:45 pm, the Prime Minister will visit Malda and flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) at Malda Town Railway Station.

Thereafter, at around 1:45 PM, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the Nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 3,250 crore in a public function at Malda.

On January 18, the Prime Minister will also flag off 2 New Amrit Bharat Express trains between Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Rohtak and Dibrugarh-Lucknow (Gomti Nagar).

These new train services will strengthen rail connectivity between the Northeast and Northern India, enabling safer and more convenient travel for people.

The Prime Minister will visit Malda and dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,250 crore, aimed at strengthening connectivity and accelerating development in West Bengal and the North-Eastern region.

The Prime Minister, from Malda Town Railway Station, will flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya).

He will also virtually flag off the Guwahati (Kamakhya)-Howrah Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. (ANI)

Taking part in the viral 2016 Instagram trend, Alia Bhatt reflected on the year with gratitude, offering a glimpse into some of her most precious memories.

From sharing the screen with Shah Rukh Khan in Dear Zindagi to seeking blessings at the Golden Temple, Alia’s 2016 photo dump gave fans a sneak peek into the unforgettable moments from her life a decade ago.

“2016 ki kahaani

1 – 2016 started off pretty grounded

2 – some shoot moments with my fav co-actor ever

3 – a whole lot of love

4 – very tired boys on the dream team tour

5 – a whole lot of love part 2 (surprise bday in Delhi during kapoor and sons promotions)

6 – tamma tamma shoot with badri

7 – golden moments at the golden temple

8 – dearest pari giving me some relevant gossip during a press conference

9 – Elle 2016 cover shoot

10 – coldplay berlin 2016,” she captioned the post.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia will next be seen in the film ‘Alpha.’

Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is the sixth film in the YRF Spy Universe. The franchise includes films like ‘Ek Tha Tiger,’ ‘Tiger Zinda Hai,’ ‘War,’ and ‘Pathaan.’ Along with Alia Bhatt, the film also stars Sharvari and Bobby Deol in key roles. (ANI)

The much-awaited film Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas, has finally locked its release date after months of buzz and debate surrounding the project.

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga took to X on Friday evening to announce that Spirit will arrive in theatres on March 5, 2027.

Take a look

The release date follows the unveiling of the first-look poster featuring Triptii Dimri and Prabhas, which was shared on New Year’s Day. Earlier, during the New Year, Prabhas had shared the first-look poster of the film, which quickly went viral on social media.

The poster shared by the makers earlier showed Prabhas standing shirtless with his back to the camera. He had visible bruises and wounds, with bandages tied around his shoulder, back, and hands. With long hair, a thick beard, and a moustache, many fans said his look reminded them of Ranbir Kapoor from Vanga’s earlier film Animal. Triptii Dimri is also seen in the poster besides Prabhas as he holds a glass in his hands.

Along with the poster, Prabhas added a caption that read, “Here’s the first poster of #Spirit.”

The film also features Vivek Oberoi in a key role. It is being produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, in collaboration with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Bhadrakali Pictures.

Earlier, on Prabhas’s birthday in October last year, Vanga had shared the film’s audio teaser in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. That teaser also confirmed that Prakash Raj and Vivek Oberoi are part of the cast.

Initially, Deepika Padukone was supposed to play the female lead in the film. However, due to scheduling conflicts, she left the project, which eventually led to Triptii Dimri being cast in the role. (ANI)

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (UBT) on Saturday gave its first reaction following the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, striking a defiant tone and signalling that the political fight in Maharashtra is far from over and will continue until the Marathi community receives the respect it deserves.

In a post shared on social media platform X, Shiv Sena (UBT) said, “This battle is not over yet… It will continue just like this until the Marathi person receives the respect they deserve!”

Meanwhile, the BMC elections saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) alliance emerge as the single largest bloc, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance also secured a significant share of seats and votes across Mumbai.

According to official figures released by the Election Commission and the BMC, the BJP won 89 seats, polling 11,79,273 votes, which accounts for 21.58 per cent of the total votes cast. Among all winning candidates, the BJP’s vote share stands at 45.22 per cent, making it the single largest party in the civic body. Its alliance partner, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), secured 29 seats with 2,73,326 votes, translating into 5.00 per cent of the total vote share.

Together, the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) alliance emerged as the largest bloc in the BMC.

On the other side, the Shiv Sena (UBT), contesting in alliance with the MNS, won 65 seats. The UBT-led Sena polled 7,17,736 votes, accounting for 13.13 per cent of the total votes cast. The MNS added 6 seats to the alliance tally, with 74,946 votes and a 1.37 per cent vote share.

The Indian National Congress (INC) secured 24 seats, polling 2,42,646 votes, which represents 4.44 per cent of the total vote share.

Among other parties, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 8 seats with 68,072 votes, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured 3 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 2 seats, and the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) won 1 seat.

Overall, winning candidates from recognised political parties polled 26,07,612 votes, amounting to 47.72 per cent of the total votes cast. The total number of votes polled in the election stood at 54,64,412, while 11,677 voters opted for NOTA.

While Uddhav and Raj Thackeray tried to consolidate votes over the Marathi language and the revival of the Marathi manoos identity plank, the saffron Yuti’s development work, including the Metro Aqua Line and Coastal Road, helped them gain a lead in the BMC polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP-Shiv Sena-led victory in the Maharashtra civic polls, attributing the win to the “pro-people good governance” agenda. Expressing gratitude to the electors, PM Modi said that the NDA’s “vision for development has struck a chord” with the people of the state.

Addressing the BJP workers at the party office in Mumbai, Devendra Fadnavis said, “BJP and Mahayuti are going to form their 25 mayors after these elections.” (ANI)

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in coordination with the Crime Branch of Delhi Police, assisted in a major crackdown on the illegal printing of pirated NCERT textbooks.

Acting on specific inputs, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police conducted a raid at a printing facility in Village Jawli, Loni, Ghaziabad (U.P.).

During the operation, around 32,000 pirated NCERT textbooks of various classes and subjects were seized. The police also recovered two printing machines, aluminium printing plates, paper rolls, and printing ink, indicating large-scale unauthorised printing.

The action was initiated on the basis of inputs developed during an earlier case registered vide FIR No. 336/2025 dated November 11, 2025, by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police, under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Copyright Act, 1957.

Officials from NCERT’s Publication Division were present during the raid and seizure proceedings and provided technical assistance for the identification and verification of pirated material.

NCERT reiterated that unauthorised printing, distribution, or sale of NCERT textbooks is a punishable offence under law. Such activities not only violate copyright but also adversely affect students and the education system by circulating substandard and incorrect content.

Members of the public are encouraged to purchase NCERT textbooks only from authorised sources and to report any suspected cases of piracy to NCERT or local authorities.

Meanwhile, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is likely to be granted deemed-to-be-university status by the end of January, sources in the Ministry of Education said.

According to sources, the groundwork for granting the status has been completed, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) will hold a meeting to decide.

“The preparation has been done. The UGC has to hold a meeting to make a decision. We are hopeful that once the next meeting takes place, the update will come by the end of the month,” a source said. (ANI)

Actor Sidharth Malhotra is celebrating his first birthday as a dad today. And to make his special day even more special, his wife, actress Kiara Advani, penned a beautiful note on Instagram.

Calling Sidharth their daughter Saraayah’s favourite human, Kiara wrote, “Saraayah’s favourite human and the most beautiful one- inside out. Still crushing on you. Now so is our little one Happy Birthday, husband.”

She also shared glimpses from their midnight bash at home, which was attended by close friends, including Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra. One of the pictures showed a cake with the words “Saraayah’s papa” and “Daddy Cool” written on it.

There’s a video in which we can see Kiara singing Happy birthday song for Sidharth. Karan and Manish could be seen in the video.

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra welcomed their first child, daughter Saraayah, in July last year.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Kiara and Siddharth announced their baby girl’s name as Saraayah Malhotra while sharing a photograph of their daughter.

The couple shared a picture of them holding the baby’s tiny feet and wrote, “From our prayers, to our arms. Our divine blessing, our princess, Saraayah Malhotra.”

The couple tied the knot in an intimate yet grand ceremony in Rajasthan in February 2023. Their love story blossomed on the sets of the war drama ‘Shershaah’.On the work front, Kiara Advani was last seen in ‘War 2’.

She will be next seen in Yash-starrer ”Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’.Sidharth has ‘Vvan – Force of the Forrest’ with Tamannaah Bhatia in his kitty. (ANI)