Month: January 2026

Renowned devotional singer Anup Jalota on Thursday stepped out to fulfil his voting duty in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

He showed off his inked finger after casting a vote.

“Mumbai ko aur sundar banayenge, chamkayenge.., ” he said while asking the people to fulfil their responsibility and actively participate in the elections.

Director and producer Zoya Akhtar also cast her vote in Mumbai.

Many other celebrities, including Suniel Shetty, singer and music composer Vishal Dadlani, noted lyricist Gulzar, and John Abraham, also turned up to fulfil their voting duties.

Polling across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra began early this morning. The elections are taking place after an intense campaign and are seen as crucial for major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena are contesting the civic elections as allies under the Mahayuti banner, except in Pune.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has chosen to fight independently in most corporations. In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, both NCP factions have come together under a joint manifesto.

According to the State Election Commission, a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations. A total of 39,092 polling centres have been set up across the state.

Polling began at 7:30 am today and is set to continue until 5:30 pm. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place tomorrow. (ANI)

India’s export market in recent months has shown a clear post-tariff rebalancing, with the country reducing its dependence on the United States and expanding its presence across other geographies, highlighted a report by Elara Securities.

According to the report, India’s export market composition reflects a strategic shift away from excessive reliance on the US towards greater geographic diversification across West Asia, Asia and select emerging markets.

It stated “India’s export market composition also reflects a clear post-tariff rebalancing, away from excessive dependence on the US toward greater geographic diversification across West Asia, Asia and select emerging markets”.

The share of the US in India’s exports declined from 22.5 per cent in the pre-tariff period to 17.8 per cent in the post-tariff phase. In contrast, markets such as the UAE, China, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Hong Kong recorded notable gains, indicating effective trade redirection and market substitution by Indian exporters.

The report mentioned that traditional European trading partners broadly maintained stable shares. Marginal gains in countries like Germany, Italy and Spain helped offset the moderation seen in the Netherlands and the UK, the report noted.

Elara Securities said this trend highlights the resilience of India’s export ecosystem despite global uncertainties and tariff-related challenges.

The report expects export resilience to continue through FY27E. Merchandise exports are projected to grow by 4.5-5 per cent in FY27E, compared to an estimated growth of 2 per cent in FY26E.

Services exports are also expected to remain resilient, supported by the ongoing boom in GCC economies, with growth estimated at 12-13 per cent.

India’s merchandise exports have shown resilience despite tariff headwinds and global demand volatility.

The report mentioned that this performance has been supported by sustained strength in non-tariffed and higher value-added sectors. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals and engineering goods continue to anchor export performance, with their combined share rising steadily.

On a year-to-date basis, electronics exports expanded sharply by 37.3 per cent year-on-year. The report said this reflects improved competitiveness and deeper supply-chain integration.

Notably, tariff-sensitive sectors such as marine products have also shown a recovery in export share, suggesting partial absorption of tariff pressures by exporters.

Overall, the report indicated that India’s exports are adapting to a changing global trade environment through diversification, value addition and sectoral strength, helping sustain growth momentum despite external challenges. (ANI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday called for action against the Maharashtra State Election Commissioner, questioning the delay in conducting the state municipal elections.

Uddhav said that it should be revealed how the Election Commissioner is paid and demanded action against those responsible for the delay in the state municipal polls.

“It should be revealed how the Election Commissioner is paid. The Mumbai municipal elections are being held after a nine-year gap. What were the Election Commissioner and his staff doing for these years? Action should be taken against them,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also urged voters to cast their votes, stating that he and his family had exercised their right.

“Our entire family voted together, and we appeal to all voters in all constituencies where elections are being held to cast their votes,” he said.

29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra went to the polls today as a high-voltage campaign came to an end, setting the stage for a decisive political contest in key urban centres, including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The Mahayuti is contesting the local body polls largely in a joint alliance, except in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has chosen to ally with Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP).

In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, both NCP factions have come together under a joint manifesto.

The main political battle remains centred on Mumbai and Pune, where the BJP-led Mahayuti will face the united Thackeray camp, as just ahead of the civic polls, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray joined hands on the issue of “son of the soil” in a high-stakes fight for control of the BMC, the country’s richest civic body.

The last BMC elections were held in 2017.

In Pune, in a major political realignment, both factions of the NCP came together just before the civic polls for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), following a split in 2023. Ajit Pawar joined hands with Sharad Pawar again and contested against the NDA partner BJP in Pune, whereas Shivsena, led by Eknath Shidne opted to go solo in PMC after failing to set up an acceptable seat-sharing formula with BJP.

According to the State Election Commission (SEC), a total of 3.48 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots to decide the fate of 15,908 candidates contesting 2,869 seats across 893 wards in 29 municipal corporations. A total of 39092 Polling centre has been set up across the state.

Polling will be held on January 15 from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, with vote counting scheduled to begin on Friday, January 16. (ANI)

The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) has issued an ultimatum to the Director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), M Nazmul Islam, that if he doesn’t resign from his post, the players will boycott all forms of cricket.

CWAB president Mohammad Mithun stated that due to various controversial remarks made by BCB Director Nazmul Islam about the cricketers — including calling former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal an “agent of India” — the players are demanding his resignation.

“The director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), M Nazmul Islam, must resign by 1 PM (local time) Thursday. If he does not resign, the cricketers will boycott all forms of cricket. The ultimatum is that he must step down before the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match, which will begin at 1 PM Local Time,” Mithun said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Earlier, former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal was derided as an “Indian agent” by none other than BCB director M Najmul Islam after Iqbal called for a dialogue to resolve current tensions in cricketing ties between the two nations due to the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Amid uncertainty about Bangladesh’s visit to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, former men’s team captain Tamim Iqbal said the BCB should resolve the issue through dialogue, keeping the country’s cricketing interests and future at the forefront. Tamim made this statement on the sidelines of the trophy-unveiling ceremony of the Zia Inter-University Cricket Tournament at the City Club ground on January 9.

“Since I am not involved [with the BCB], like any other regular person, I am finding things out through the media. But I am sure those dealing with these matters have a lot more information. So in that regard, I should not suddenly be making comments. What I am saying, however, is that Bangladesh cricket’s interest, future and everything else must be considered before making such a decision. There is nothing better than if something can be resolved through dialogue,” Tamim had earlier said as per The Daily Star.

Bangladesh’s visit to India for their T20 WC fixtures is uncertain as of now, with the BCB putting forth a request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its matches outside India due to keeping “safety, security concerns” of players in mind. This request came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release pacer Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad, and the move was carried out, amid atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

Tamim Iqbal said that sensitive issues should be discussed internally within the board before any public comments, as statements can be hard to retract. He again emphasised that Bangladesh cricket’s future takes priority, and since most funding comes from the ICC, decisions should focus on what benefits the sport in the country.

“What I feel, and I think I would have done the same if I were there, is that since this is a sensitive issue, before making public comments, we would discuss the matter ourselves [within the board]. Because when you make a public comment, right or wrong, it becomes difficult to step back from that position. Bangladesh cricket’s future comes before everything else, and 90 to 95 per cent of the finances come from the ICC, so decisions have to be made based on what will help Bangladesh cricket,” Tamim added.

The BCB Director’s remark had angered cricket fans nationwide, and several of Tamim’s teammates had also expressed outrage.

Standing by Tamim, players including Mominul Haque, Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam had posted statements on social media one after another, protesting the director’s comment.

After Mustafizur’s release from the IPL, BCB said it had received a response from the ICC regarding its concerns about player security and safety in India during the T20 WC, including a request to relocate matches to another venue. The BCB said that in its communication, the ICC reiterated its commitment to ensuring the Bangladesh team’s complete and uninterrupted participation in the tournament.

Bangladesh are scheduled to open their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After the West Indies, Bangladesh will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, then face the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, in Kolkata again. After facing England, Bangladesh are scheduled to travel to Mumbai to play Nepal at Wankhede Stadium. (ANI)

For the first time ever, Jaipur’s public streets witnessed the grand army day parade on Thursday, showcasing capabilities, valour, and discipline of the armed forces.

This is the first time the Army Day celebrations were held in public in Jaipur, outside the cantonment area.

The Army Day parade featured the various mechanical units, infantry units, paratroopers and other modern capabilities of the Army.

The parade showcased the newly raised Bhairav battalion, which was part of the Army’s recent restructuring, drawing operational lessons from global conflicts, including its own Operation Sindoor.

The Bhairav Battalion is positioned between the Para Special Forces and regular infantry units. The battalion was raised to meet modern warfare requirements to provide a quick and precise offensive solution against enemies’ threats to the nation.

The battalion, in its first public appearance came out with its feet thumping the concrete and shouting its war cry with paint on their face.

“The battalion warriors, unafraid, protecting day and night, have been keeping themselves steadfast, and protecting our lands,” the announcer said while Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan Anil Chauhan saluted the whole parade.

Multiple other units, ncluding the Garhwal scouts, Sikkim scouts, Arunachal scouts also marched past the saluting dais in their full kit and gear.

The all girls marching contingent of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) was also proudly displayed, representing the youth power of the nation, while being led by Senior Under Officer Kavitha Kumawar.

The army also showcased its capabilities, with robot dogs and all terrain vehicles leading the BrahMos missile, India’s indigenously made long-range, ramjet powered supersonic missile.

Highlighting its Artificial Intelligence, drone and technical capabilities, the Army displayed its ‘Integrated Drone detection and Interdiction System (IDDIS), with the contingent being led by 401 Light AAV regiment captain Priya Yadav.

The IDDIS identifies aerial threats and then marks them as ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ kill, and either destroys them or jams them accordingly.

Combat drones were also showed, led by 624 AAV battalion’s Major Anhad Singh Chatadar.

Indian Army’s ‘Drone Shakti’ initiative was also highlighted, showing multiple drones being carried for display on the vehicle, and being led by 10 Corps’ zone workshop’s Major Arun Kumar. The initiative integrates artificial intelligence, robotics, as part of the indigenous drone fabrication programme.

Other systems on display also included the upgraded BM-21 Grad multi-barrel rocket launcher and the SMERCH system, which can fire 12 rockets of 300 mm calibre to ranges of up to 90 kilometres. Artillery platforms such as the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System and the M777 ultra-light howitzer will also be part of the display. Other gun systems too were featured in the parade.

Air defence capabilities on showcase included the indigenous Akashteer system with its medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which proved their effectiveness in a high-threat environment during Operation Sindoor by shooting down a variety of Turkish and Chinese-origin drone systems operated by Pakistan and have since drawn global interest as combat-proven platforms. The Igla man-portable air defence system was also part of the display. (ANI)

Actor Aneet Padda has left her fans feeling nostalgic as she revisited some of her most cherished memories, including from the days of ‘Saiyaara’.

Taking to Instagram, Aneet shared a carousel of pictures that offered a glimpse into her journey during the film’s production, something that instantly struck a chord with her fans.

A couple of pictures featured Aneet alongside her ‘Saiyaara’ co-star Ahaan Panday and director Mohit Suri, capturing candid moments from the sets and beyond. From warm smiles shared with the entire team to behind-the-scenes camaraderie, the post reflected the close bond that she shared with the project.

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Aneet also included a picture of her birthday cake.

“Not all memories need moving on from,” she wrote in the caption.

Fans were quick to flood the comments section with love, showering love for the actor and her film. Ahaan Pandey’s presence in the photos also caught attention, with many admirers appreciating the easy rapport between the two actors.

One wrote, “Your pics with Ahaan hit different,” while another added, “Every picture is so magical.”

“Will never move on from saiyaara era,” one fan commented.

‘Saiyaara’ marked Ahaan Panday’s acting debut, while Aneet Padda, known for her roles in ‘Salaam Venky’ and ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, plays her first lead role in a film.

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films CEO Akshay Widhani, the film created history at the box office after it became the highest-grossing love story of all time.

On the work front, Aneet Padda will be next seen in Maddock Horror Comedy Universe’s (MHCU) next with ‘Shakti Shalini’.

The teaser of ‘Shakti Shalini’ was recently shown in theatres alongside Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘Thamma’.

Filmmaker Amar Kaushik, who has been part of the casting process for ‘Shakti Shalini, told ANI, “I’m very excited, actually. She’s a very good artist. I had seen her performance in Saiyaara and some of her earlier work too. I felt she was the perfect one for this film. When young blood joins your project, it brings a new perspective for everyone involved. With Aneet, I’m really excited and waiting for us to begin.” (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.

Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was greeted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh.

The high-level conference will be chaired by Birla and will feature 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers from 42 Commonwealth countries, along with representatives from four semi-autonomous parliaments, underscoring the event’s global scale and significance.

Delegations from several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, will also participate in the high-level gathering.

Other parties include the Deputy Speaker of Namibia, delegations from Trinidad and Tobago, Tonga, Cameroon, and Malaysia, and representatives from the Australian High Commission, led by High Commissioner Philip Green.

According to the release, CSPOC will deliberate on a range of contemporary parliamentary issues to strengthen democratic institutions and modern legislative practices.

Key themes include the evolving role of Speakers and Presiding Officers, technological innovation in parliamentary functioning, and enhancing citizen engagement with democratic processes.

Among the major topics scheduled for discussion are “AI in Parliament: Balancing Innovation, Oversight and Adaptation”, to be led by Malaysia; “Social Media and its Impact on Parliamentarians”, to be presented by Sri Lanka; and “Innovative Strategies to Enhance Public Understanding of Parliament and Citizen Participation Beyond Voting”, with contributions from Nigeria and South Africa.

Other sessions will focus on the security, health and well-being of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, as well as a special plenary discussion on the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions.

Earlier on Wednesday, Birla chaired a Standing Committee meeting ahead of the 28th CSPOC.

CSPOC is being hosted by the Parliament of India from January 14 to 16, and it will be the largest in terms of participation.

The 27th edition of CSPOC was hosted by Uganda in January 2024, and the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, and the Leader of IPD at that conference had taken over from Uganda as the host of the 28th edition of CSPOC, to be held in India in 2026. (ANI)

As tensions remain high amid protests in Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday (local time) launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump, warning Washington not to repeat the past mistake, referring to American strikes against three nuclear facilities in Iran as part of a 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, 2025.

Responding to a question from Fox News host Bret Baier on whether he had a message for President Trump, who is considering some kind of action to help the protesters on the ground, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, “My message is do not repeat the same mistake that you did in June,” the Iranian Foreign Minister said. “You know, if you try a failed experience, you will get the same result.”

“You know in June, you destroyed the facilities, the machines, but the technology cannot be bombed. And the determination also cannot be bombed,” Abbas Araghchi said.

FM Araghchi further said that Iran has always been ready for negotiations and diplomacy, further accusign the US of always escaping it.

“Now Iran proved to be ready for negotiation and diplomacy…we have proved that in the past 20 years, but it was the US who always escaped from the diplomacy, who cut the diplomacy and opted for war. My message is between war and diplomacy; diplomacy is a better way… although we do not have a positive response from the US. But still, diplomacy is much better than War,” he said.

The remarks come amid unrest and growing international focus on the developments. Iran has also formally appealed to the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, accusing the United States of inciting violence, interfering in Iran’s internal affairs, and threatening military action, according to an official letter circulated by Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN on Wednesday.

Iran continues to witness unrest, with the protests entering their 20th day on Wednesday. What began as demonstrations over record inflation and the steep fall in Iran’s currency has now escalated into widespread unrest, with reports of agitation at more than 280 locations.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump informed that “the killing in Iran is stopping” and that “there are no plans for executions.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House during a signing ceremony, Trump said, “We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping. and there are no plans for executions or an execution. I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it.”

Iran is set to witness more brutality as the administration has decided to execute its first protester on Wednesday amid mass arrests of anti-regime protesters, the New York Post reported, citing human rights groups.

Further, the Iranian Embassy in India on Wednesday issued a strongly worded statement on the decision by the United States to withdraw from key global bodies and the “imposition of unfair tariffs”, saying that Washington’s decisions have pushed the world towards a breakdown of global norms.

The Iranian Embassy claimed that these policies would affect all countries, regardless of size or economic power.

In a post on X, the Iranian Embassy in India said, “Unilateral actions by the United States against the existing global order — including the imposition of unfair tariffs and its withdrawal from 66 international institutions — have pushed the world toward a breakdown of global norms. Silence and inaction by countries do not mitigate these threats; they only intensify them. These policies will sooner or later affect all countries, regardless of their size or economic power.” (ANI)

Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban starrer ‘The Bluff’ trailer is finally out, offering a glimpse into high-octane action drama which centres on the survival of a family on an island.

The film is directed by Frank E Flowers with a script he co-wrote with Joe Ballarini. The film brings an epic period thriller to life, set in the uniquely historical and culturally rich Cayman Islands, featuring stunning real-world locations, including the Skull Cave and the iconic bluff.

The two-minute and thirty-second trailer begins with Karl Urban’s entry, who is seeking a bounty which appears to be placed on Priyanka Chopra.

Being a doting mother to her daughters, Priyanka navigates a treacherous battle against her violent past to protect her family.

It is followed by the high-octane action scenes performed by Priyanka to hunt down the infiltrators at her house.

Kar Urban also impresses with his swordsmanship, slashing the enemies in pursuit of her bounty.

Prime Video shared the trailer on its Instagram handle on Wednesday.

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Siblings Anthony Russo, Joe Russo and Angela Russo-Otstot serve as the producers of the film under the production banner AGBO.

The Russo Brothers are recognised for their projects like Avengers: Endgame and Extraction.

The movie is slated to release on Prime Video on February 15. (ANI)

President Droupadi Murmu extended warm greetings to the Indian Army on the occasion of Army Day, describing the day as a tribute to the courage, dedication and supreme sacrifice of soldiers who serve the nation with steadfast resolve.

In her message, the President noted that the Indian Army has consistently upheld the highest traditions of professionalism, commitment, and bravery, whether in safeguarding the nation’s borders or saving lives during natural calamities. She also commended the Army for its gallant performance and remarkable success in Operation Sindoor.

“I extend my warm felicitations to the Indian Army on the occasion of Army Day 2026. Army Day commemorates the courage, dedication and supreme sacrifice of our soldiers who stand steadfast in the service of the nation. The Indian Army remains at the core of national security of India. It has consistently upheld the highest traditions of professionalism, commitment and bravery in defending our borders and saving lives during natural calamities. I commend the Indian Army for its gallant performance and outstanding success in Operation Sindoor,” President Murmu wrote in her letter.

President Murmu expressed confidence that the Indian Army would continue to play a vital role in nation-building, contributing to economic progress and inclusive development. Saluting the soldiers, she reaffirmed the nation’s enduring gratitude to the Army and wished all ranks continued success, strength and glory in the discharge of their noble duties.

“I am confident that the Indian Army will continue its legacy in contribution to nation building to facilitate economic progress and inclusive development of the nation. I salute our soldiers and reaffirm the nation’s enduring gratitude to the Indian Army and wish all ranks continued success, strength and glory in their noble duty,” President Murmu said.

“On Army Day, we salute the courage and resolute commitment of the Indian Army. Our soldiers stand as a symbol of selfless service, safeguarding the nation with steadfast resolve, at times under the most challenging conditions. Their sense of duty inspires confidence and gratitude across the country,” PM Modi posted on X.

Army Day is commemorated every year on January 15 to remember the occasion of Field Marshal KM Cariappa taking over the command of the Indian Army from British Commander-in-Chief, General Sir FRR Bucher, in 1949 and becoming the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India. (ANI)