Month: January 2026

Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan criticised Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 and said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) “did the right thing” by denying the BCB’s request to shift their tournament matches outside India. Wassan also said that Bangladesh’s absence will not make “much of a difference” to the World Cup.

Speaking to ANI, Wassan said the BCB’s stance is immature, harms their cricket system, and could lead to financial and long-term consequences.

“It’s sad, but it’s quite funny because they know the repercussions of bowing out of such a big tournament. And for what? Just getting miffed about one player being taken out of the IPL, and it escalated to this point, which actually shocks me. But they don’t realise that their whole cricket system will suffer. The ICC has made it clear, and you can’t just blackmail a big body like the ICC to change their matches at the last minute. I think the ICC has done well to put their foot down, and I think Bangladesh is now cutting the nose to spite the face, not realising that financial sanctions will also apply. But the long-term result will be that cricket will suffer,” the former Indian cricketer said.

The BCB had requested that the ICC shift their matches outside India to Sri Lanka, citing “security and safety concerns” for their players. BCB’s request came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had instructed the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur from their squad ahead of the 2026 season, amid violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

ICC on Wednesday rejected the BCB’s request to move their matches out of India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup via video conference, which was convened to discuss the way forward. The BCB President, Aminul Islam Bulbul, confirmed on Thursday that the BCB stands firm in its decision not to play its ICC Men’s World Cup matches in India, following the ICC’s rejection of its request.

Atul Wassan said Bangladesh’s absence from the World Cup wouldn’t greatly affect the tournament and criticised their government for escalating the issue. He called it a lack of maturity, noting they would forfeit the World Cup participation fees.

“I think things have escalated to this extent because their government has made this a pressing issue. If it’s the Bangladesh government that’s restricting their players from travelling to India, why? Because until a month ago, everything was fine. There’s a lack of maturity on their part. They would have gotten the participation fees. And I don’t think their absence would make much of a difference to the World Cup, because Scotland is also a decent team and Bangladesh were not favourites anyway. You’re the one losing out if you miss out.”

Atul Wassan said that if Bangladesh are trying to replicate the India-Pakistan tensions, then it is unwise and nothing to be proud of and urged all parties to act responsibly to find a solution. “The India-Pakistan situation has so much history. And if Bangladesh is trying to do the same thing, this is not something to be proud of. Mature people on all sides, I think ICC, BCCI, and BCB, should all try to think, as this will only impact the cricketers.”

As per the current schedule, Bangladesh are scheduled to kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The Litton Das-led side will then face Italy on February 9 at the same venue before facing England in Kolkata again. After facing England, Bangladesh are scheduled to travel to Mumbai to play Nepal at Wankhede Stadium. (ANI)

Amid the growing buzz surrounding Sunny Deol starrer war drama ‘Border 2’, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan also hopped onto a viral trend, highlighting his support for the film.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Rashid Khan shared a video of himself and wrote, “Border 2 toh mein zaroor dekhunga…… but let’s see what happens if I post this.”

He also tagged the film’s lead cast, instantly drawing the attention of Varun Dhawan and Ahan Shetty. “Haa bhai,” Varun wrote, while Ahan added, “Lots of love bhai.”

Actor Suniel Shetty also reacted to the post and commented, “Ye hui na baat.”

Prior to this, cricketer KL Rahul joined the viral trend to show support for his brother-in-law Ahan Shetty.

Taking to his Instagram handle, KL Rahul shared a video in which he was seen practising on the cricket field with the text “Agar Ahan Shetty ne iss video par comment kiya, toh main Border 2 do baar dekhunga (If Ahan Shetty comments on this video, then I will watch Border 2 two times)” written on it.

“Awaaz pahochni chahiye,” wrote KL Rahul.

The reel immediately grabbed attention, leaving Ahan, his father Suniel Shetty, and sister Athiya Shetty in splits. Ahan also replied to his Reel by dropping a hilarious comment that stole the show, writing “Bhai, do baar nahi, chaar baar dekhna padega! (Brother.. Not twice, have to watch it four times!)”

Over the past few days, a lot of anticipation has been building around the release of ‘Border 2’.

The second instalment of the iconic film brings back Sunny Deol as the main lead, with Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty joining him to fight the enemies.

“Inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War”, the trailer opens the door to the powerful world of ‘Border 2’ and what happens when India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force come together to fight as one.

‘Border 2’ is produced by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with JP Dutta’s JP Films. The movie will hit the big screens ahead of Republic Day on January 23. (ANI)

Following the Supreme Court’s hearing regarding the Bhoj Shala-Kamal Maula Complex in Dhar, District Collector Priyank Mishra on Thursday said that any arrangements related to the Bhoj Shala complex would be made in accordance with the law only after a detailed understanding of the Court’s order and consultations with all concerned parties.

The Collector also appealed to the media and the public not to interpret the court’s order on their own, stressing that the administration would first formally receive the complete order and study it carefully before taking any further steps.

“I request the media and the public not to interpret the court’s order according to their own understanding. Let us receive the court’s order. We will discuss it with the state government and our addressee in the court to find out the true sense and act accordingly. Yesterday, as well, I appealed not to make any interpretation about the hearing. After receiving the court’s order, we will officially reveal our further steps,” the Collector told reporters here.

He further added, “There were many things highlighted during the hearing; it also mentions different places and different routes. That is why I am saying not to make any interpretation, wait for the order. The further arrangements will be made in accordance with the law only after sitting with all parties and understanding the order.”

There is a disputed site, the Bhoj Shala complex, situated in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. For Hindus, the Bhoj Shala complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while for Muslims, it is the site of the Kamal Maula mosque. According to an arrangement in 2003, Hindus perform puja at the complex on Tuesdays from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims offer namaz on Fridays from 1 pm to 3 pm.

As Basant Panchami (Saraswati Puja) falls on a Friday this year, the coinciding occasion prompted the administration to put the district on alert mode to ensure that both communities can follow their respective traditions peacefully and maintain communal harmony. (ANI)

As Border 2 is set to hit theatres this Friday, the film’s lead actor, Sunny Deol , took a stroll down memory lane and shared several BTS pictures from the sets.

From donning an army uniform to firing guns in intense action sequences, Sunny’s Border 2 BTS dump is packed with goosebumps-inducing moments.

Check out here

“Friday se #Border2 aap sab ki hai Usse pehle kuch jhalkiyaan #Border2 ke mere safar ki Hai Jurrat,” he captioned the post.

Border 2, which also stars Ahan Shetty, Varun Dhawan, and Diljit Dosanjh, will open in theatres from January 23.

Recently, at an event in Jaisalmer, Sunny Deol remembered his father Dharmendra’s war film ‘Haqeeqat’, saying that it had a “strong impact” on him as a child, which motivated him to make ‘Border’.

“I did ‘Border’ because when I watched my father’s (Dharmendra) film ‘Haqeeqat’, I loved it deeply. I was a child then. So, when I became an actor, I decided to make a film similar to my father’s movie. I spoke to J P Dutta, and we decided to make a film on the Longewala subject, which is extremely close to our hearts and lives in the hearts of all of you,” said Sunny Deol.

Sunny Deol reflected on the film Border’s impact on youth, saying he never imagined it would inspire young people to join the armed forces.

“Wherever I go, I never knew that we would give so much confidence to so many young people that they would choose to join the armed forces. Whenever I meet them, they tell me that after watching my film, they decided to join the army,” said Sunny. (ANI)

The Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Naresh Chauhan, on Thursday said that the bomb threat received ahead of Republic Day against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is a “serious matter” and is being dealt with utmost seriousness by security and intelligence agencies.

Speaking to ANI in Shimla, Chauhan said that an email threatening a “human bomb” attack on the Chief Minister was received at the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla’s official email ID around five to seven days ago. He said the threat mentions targeting the Chief Minister on January 26 if he attends the Republic Day function or hoists the national flag.

“This is a serious issue and it is being taken very seriously. Around five to seven days ago, the Deputy Commissioner of Shimla received an email mentioning a ‘human bomb’. Such threats are taken seriously as a defined threat. Security agencies, police and intelligence agencies are working in their own ways. The government and intelligence agencies are closely monitoring everything related to the Chief Minister,” Chauhan said.

Expressing concern, he added, “It is difficult to understand why such threats are being issued in a peaceful state like Himachal Pradesh, where people are peace-loving. The Chief Minister comes from a common family, lives a simple life and meets people openly. Similar things had happened earlier as well. I feel this could also be a mischief, as sometimes people create fake threats. However, all these matters are part of an inquiry, and only after the report comes will we be able to say who is behind it and what their intention is.”

Chauhan said that the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, and the Director General of Police have been informed, and the matter has also been reported to the cybercrime authorities. “All intelligence agencies are working on it in their own way. I believe it will be found out very soon who is behind this threat and what the motive is. The reality behind this and who is indulging in such mischief is a matter of serious inquiry, and agencies are working on it,” he said.

On the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directions to the state government to conduct Panchayat elections before April 30, Chauhan said the government was already prepared to hold the polls and rejected opposition allegations that the government was avoiding elections.

“The main reason for the delay was the natural disaster in Himachal Pradesh, which caused extensive damage. After the disaster, the entire administration’s priority was restoration work. Because of that, there was some delay. Ultimately, people approached the High Court, which directed that elections be held by April 30. I believe the government was already ready for this,” he said.

Targeting the opposition, Chauhan said, “It is completely wrong propaganda by the opposition that the government is not ready for elections. The opposition has no issues, so to remain in the headlines, they are trying to mislead people through social media and the media. There is not even one per cent truth in these allegations.”

He further asserted, “The government does not want to delay Panchayati Raj elections at all. Allegations are being made against a government that has contributed significantly to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system. It was during the time of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that women were given reservations and rights in Panchayati Raj institutions, and strong steps were taken to strengthen Panchayati Raj in the country.”

Chauhan said the opposition is spreading misinformation in Himachal Pradesh, and there is every possibility the Panchayati Raj elections will be held by April 30. (ANI)

The Union of India on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that decisive action has been initiated on the basis of the inquiry commission’s report into the IndiGo crisis marked by large-scale flight cancellations and passenger disruption.

The submission was made during the hearing of a plea seeking an independent judicial probe into the incident before a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya of the Delhi High Court.

Placing the steps taken on record, the Union told the Court that a Senior Vice President of IndiGo has been directed to be dismissed from service. It further informed the Bench that a monetary penalty of ₹22 crore has been imposed on the airline and a bank guarantee of ₹50 crore has been secured to ensure compliance with the corrective measures recommended in the inquiry report.

The Court was also apprised that warnings have been issued to several senior officials of the airline, including the Chief Operating Officer, the Director, the Deputy Head of Flight Operations, and a Resource Analyst, for lapses identified during the inquiry.

Regarding passenger relief, counsel appearing for IndiGo submitted that refunds for cancelled tickets have already been processed. He added that a structured mechanism for compensating stranded passengers is currently being finalised. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel pointed out that the airline had issued vouchers to stranded passengers with a validity period, raising concerns about restrictions placed on their use.

The Court queried counsel for the airline on the time limit prescribed for utilisation of such vouchers. In response, the counsel stated that the validity period was 12 months. The Bench observed that a 12-month period appeared reasonable but sought clarity on the airline’s position in the event a passenger is unable to utilise the voucher within that timeframe. Counsel for IndiGo submitted that instructions would be sought on this aspect.

Taking note of the submissions, the Court directed IndiGo to place on record, within two weeks, complete details of refunds, compensation, and passenger assistance by way of an affidavit. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on February 25.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed IndiGo and the Union government to ensure that compensation to stranded passengers is initiated without delay and that all norms prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation are strictly complied with. The Court had emphasised that passenger welfare remains its primary concern and that measures must be taken to prevent a recurrence of such large-scale disruptions.

The Bench had also expressed concern over the sudden surge in airfares during the crisis and sought clarity on the regulatory oversight exercised at the time. The Additional Solicitor General informed the Court that fare caps were introduced as a regulatory measure and that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had intervened once the situation escalated.

Flagging safety-related issues, the Court had raised concerns about pilots exceeding night-landing limits and questioned what steps regulators could take when airlines face staffing shortages. It also noted that the DGCA had issued a show-cause notice to IndiGo, reiterating that compensation obligations under the relevant clauses of the DGCA circular must be strictly adhered to.

The Court directed the Ministry and the DGCA to ensure the effective enforcement of all statutory obligations, including provisions relating to compensation and damages, and clarified that the Centre has the power to review DGCA decisions and take corrective action where necessary.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, appearing for IndiGo, submitted that such a situation had arisen for the first time in the airline’s 19-year history and urged the Court not to record any adverse findings at this stage. The Bench noted the submission but reiterated that the immediate priority was the timely redressal of the inconvenience suffered by passengers.

IndiGo has maintained that multiple unforeseen factors contributed to the crisis, and the Court observed that these factors would be examined in the ongoing inquiry. (ANI)

Actor Rani Mukerji on Thursday joined her friend and filmmaker Karan Johar for an interactive session, reflecting on her 30-year journey in cinema.

The conversation turned deeply emotional as she reflected on her early days in the industry, when her husky voice was met with scepticism by makers, and how Karan stood by her side.

Looking back at the film ‘Ghulam’, she revealed that her voice was dubbed in that film, and Aamir Khan had to play the bad cop, as he was the one who had to tell her that her own voice wouldn’t make it to the movie

“As a newcomer, you don’t have much of a choice…It was a big thing for me to do a film opposite Aamir because he was one of the superstars there. So I learned later from Vikram, who’s my director, that actually it was a decision taken by probably Vikram, Mukesh ji and Aamir, but they made Aamir become the bad cop,” she recalled.

Rani shared that Aamir sought to explain the situation through logic and examples.

“Aamir kind of explained to me that for films, we have to sacrifice certain things for the best of the film. Probably your voice is not apt for the character,” she shared.

Rani revealed that Aamir asked her who her favourite actress was, and when she named Sridevi. He said that even her voice had been dubbed in several films.

“He gave me an example how Sridevi’s voice was dubbed in a lot of her films. But it didn’t stop her from being the star that she became. So with that logic, he said, you must surrender to whatever is best for the film,” she said.

Rani admitted it was quite upsetting for her.

“It was a little upsetting for me. But obviously I couldn’t show the fact that I was upset because you need to be a team player whenever you’re part of a film…Even if there are personal disappointments, it doesn’t matter as long as the intent is true for the film,” she added.

While discussing this, Rani became emotional, recalling how Karan trusted her and went ahead with using her voice in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

“I remember that day we were shooting for the teaser. Karan came up to me and said, ‘Rani, are the people dubbing your voice in Ghulam?’ And I said yes…He said, ‘Did you dub your first film?’ I said of course I dubbed my first film. So he said, ‘I love your voice and you will dub for my film.’And thanks to you, Karan, I was able to retain my voice,” Rani said.

Speaking of Rani’s upcoming projects, she is all set to release Mardaani 3.

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)

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday expressed heartfelt condolences over the death of 10 Army personnel, who lost their lives in an accident in Doda.

In a post on X, LG Sinha stated that the entire nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved families. He further noted that 10 other soldiers who were injured in the incident have been airlifted to the hospital for treatment.

He further stated that the nation will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of these brave soldiers.

“Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of 10 of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate road accident in Doda. We will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers. My deepest condolences to the grieving families,” a post by the official X handle of the LG Office said.

“In this moment of profound sorrow, the entire nation stands united with the bereaved families in solidarity and support. 10 Injured soldiers have been airlifted to the hospital. Directed the Senior officials to ensure best possible treatment. Praying for their speedy recovery,” the post added.

Earlier, an Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district met with an accident, resulting in the deaths of ten personnel. An equal number of personnel sustained injuries during the mishap.

The incident occurred in the Khanni Top area of Bhaderwah, prompting immediate rescue and relief operations, said official sources.

According to the White Knight Corps, the Army vehicle carrying troops for an operation slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather.

“In an unfortunate incident, an Army vehicle carrying troops for an operation, slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather, in general area of Doda. There are multiple casualties, including fatal. The injured have been evacuated for further treatment,” said White Knight Corps.

Soon after the accident, the Army and local administration teams rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts despite the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. The injured personnel were provided first aid at the site and were later airlifted to Udhampur for specialised medical treatment. (ANI)

Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal on Thursday arrived at the residence of AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at Greenways Road in Chennai, amid expectations of crucial seat-sharing discussions between the two National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies ahead of the state Assembly elections.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami felicitated Union Minister and BJP Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal at his residence in Chennai.

The meeting, described as a breakfast interaction, is expected to focus on finalising seat-sharing arrangements between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan also reached the residence of AIADMK General Secretary to attend the meeting.

Speaking to ANI outside Palaniswami’s residence, Srinivasan said, “He is an NDA leader and NDA chief ministerial candidate. Our leader, Piyush Goyal, is meeting him today, and he will also address the press this afternoon.”

She further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a major public rally tomorrow in the state.

“The Prime Minister will address a big rally, which will be a turning point for the Tamil Nadu elections,” Srinivasan added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a public meeting in Maduranthakam, Tamil Nadu’s Chengalpattu district, on Friday (January 23), as the BJP intensifies its efforts ahead of the state assembly elections.

The public meeting will mark the clarion call for the National Democratic Alliance for the Assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a special address, and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, GK Vasan, John Pandian, and other leaders of alliance parties will also attend the event.

Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary Palaniswami on Wednesday welcomed the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and TTV Dhinakaran joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), describing the move as a step towards defeating the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and restoring what he called the “golden era” of governance in Tamil Nadu.

In a post on X, Palaniswami, “To uproot the tyrannical rule of the DMK with its evil forces and bring an end to dynasty politics, and to reestablish in Tamil Nadu the golden era of governance of the esteemed revolutionary leader Amma, I warmly welcome with affection Mr. @TTVDhinakaran, the General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, who has joined the National Democratic Alliance today, and convey to him my heartfelt best wishes. With people’s welfare as our sole goal, let us all unite as one to free #the_people_from_peril, #redeem_Tamil_Nadu from the clutches of the DMK family rule!” Palaniswami said.

The development comes nearly four months after Dhinakaran had quit the NDA. Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, the AMMK leader said his party was happy to rejoin the alliance, asserting that its primary aim is to bring back the government of “Amma”, former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“For AMMK and Tamil Nadu’s welfare, we have forgotten about all betrayal,” Dhinakaran said, adding that past differences had been set aside in the larger interest of the state.

Earlier on Wednesday, Dhinakaran met Union Minister Piyush Goyal. Goyal welcomed the AMMK back into the NDA, stating that the alliance would work collectively to defeat the DMK government in the upcoming Assembly elections.

He said NDA partners, including the AIADMK and PMK, are committed to removing what he described as a corrupt and incompetent DMK government and promised good governance, social justice and better opportunities for the youth.

With Tamil Nadu heading into Assembly elections this year, the AMMK’s return to the NDA is seen as a significant political realignment in the state’s opposition landscape. (ANI)