Month: January 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a roundtable with Indian AI start-ups at his residence in the national capital on Thursday, ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 to be held in India next month, an official statement said.

Twelve Indian AI start-ups who have qualified for the AI for ALL: Global Impact Challenge in the summit attended the roundtable and presented their ideas and work, according to the statement from Prime Minister’s Office.

These Start-ups are working in a diverse set of areas including Indian language foundation models, multilingual LLMs, speech-to-text, text-to-audio and text-to-video; 3D content using generative AI for e-commerce, marketing, and personalized content creation; engineering simulations, material research and advanced analytics for data-driven decision-making across industries; healthcare diagnostics and medical research, among others, it said.

The AI start-ups commended India’s strong commitment to advancing the artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country.

They highlighted the rapid growth and vast future potential of the AI sector, observing that the centre of gravity of artificial intelligence innovation and deployment is beginning to shift towards India.

The AI startups said that India now offers a robust and enabling environment for AI development, firmly placing the country on the global AI map.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in bringing about transformation in society. He noted that India will host the India AI Impact Summit next month, through which the country will play a major role in the technology sector.

He highlighted that India is making efforts to bring about a transformation with and leveraging AI.

The Prime Minister emphasised that startups and AI entrepreneurs are the co-architects of India’s future and said that the country has immense capacity for both innovation and large-scale implementation.

He added that India should present a unique AI model to the world that reflects the spirit of “Made in India, Made for the World.”

The Prime Minister said that the world’s trust in India is the country’s biggest strength.

He emphasised the need to ensure that Indian AI models are ethical, unbiased, transparent, and based on data privacy principles.

He said startups should also work towards global leadership from India, and noted that India can promote affordable AI, inclusive AI, and frugal innovation globally.

He also suggested that Indian AI models should be distinct and should promote local and indigenous content and regional languages.

The meeting was attended by CEOs, Heads and representatives of Indian AI start-ups including Avataar, BharatGen, Fractal, Gan, Genloop, Gnani, Intellihealth, Sarvam, Shodh AI, Soket AI, Tech Mahindra and Zenteiq.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State, Jitin Prasada were also present during the meeting. (ANI)

In a major announcement, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (local time) that Venezuela would now purchase only American-made products with the money they receive from the new oil deal.

In a post on Truth Social, the US President said that the purchases would include American agri products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve the electric grid and energy facilities, amongst other things.

“I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities. In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner – A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”, he said on Truth Social.

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115856078669121098

The statement by Trump comes days after the US launched a “large-scale strike” in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to capture the country’s now former President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores on Saturday.

Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged “drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies” in the Southern District of New York, and are currently facing trial.

Following their capture, Delcy Rodriguez, the Vice President of Venezuela under Maduro, officially assumed the role of the country’s acting president, according to CNN.

Earlier on Wednesday during a White House press briefing, Leavitt said that the Trump Administration is in “close correspondence” with Venezuela’s interim leaders and stressed that their decisions continue to be shaped by American engagement and influence.

“The Trump Administration is in close correspondence with the interim authorities in Venezuela. We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now… Their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States,” Leavitt said.

Earlier, Trump had also stated that the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States and noted that while the oil will be sold at its market price, the money will be controlled by Trump to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States. (ANI)

The air force chiefs of Bangladesh and Pakistan held talks on a potential pact which covers the sale of the fighter aircraft JF-17 to Dhaka, Daily Star reported, citing Pakistan’s military.

Referring to Pakistani military’s press wing, Daily Star said on Wednesday that the talks took place in Islamabad. Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and his Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmood Khan had extensive talks on the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed with China.

According to Daily Star, the statement, which was shared on Tuesday, further mentioned that Islamabad assured Dhaka of fast-track delivery of “Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, along with a complete training and long-term support ecosystem”.

The meeting comes shortly after the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House in Dhaka on December 28. During the meeting, the Pakistan High Commissioner said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment and aviation, as well as scaling up cultural, educational and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations, it added.

Also in October, Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

“During the meeting, they discussed a wide range of issues concerning Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, including the growing importance of bilateral trade, investment, and defence cooperation,” the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said in a statement on Sunday.”Emphasising the shared historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries, General Mirza expressed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen cooperation in multiple sectors. He noted the vast potential for expanding trade, connectivity, and investment between Bangladesh and Pakistan,” it added. (ANI)

In view of the Sankranthi festival, South Central Railway has announced special trains due to huge demand from Hyderabad and other important railway stations in the South Railway zone, according to South Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) A. Sridhar. He said that 150 special trains have been announced for this purpose. In response to strong demands from Hyderabad to Coastal Andhra Pradesh, the South Central Railway announced additional trains from Narsapuram, Kakinada, Srikakulam, and Vizag.

Speaking to ANI, CPRO A. Sridhar said, “We’ve announced 150 special trains. There is huge demand from Hyderabad to Coastal Andhra Pradesh, so we have also announced connecting trains from Narsapuram, Kakinada, Srikakulam and Vizag,”. He added that special services are also operating from Tirupati, Shirdi, Nanded, and other important stations in Maharashtra.

Sridhar said that, in addition to the special services, “around 600 plus trains are being continued for the festival season,” ensuring connectivity to the North, East, and South regions of India.

The CPRO cautioned passengers about likely inconvenience at Secunderabad station due to ongoing redevelopment works during the festive rush. “There is a huge rush expected at Secunderabad railway station. Moreover, it is undergoing redevelopment works, so it may create a problem for passengers coming into the station,” he said.

To ease congestion and streamline operations, several trains have been shifted from Secunderabad to other terminals. “We have shifted some important trains to Charlapalli, Kacheguda or Lingampalli on a permanent basis, and also shifted some trains temporarily,” Sridhar said. Passengers have also been advised to check updated schedules before travel.

He also told ANI, “We have high-tech cities, important stations, cities growing towards that area, the Western part of that city. In view of the festival season, we have announced the suspension of 16 regular mail express trains. In addition, many special trains are also being halted at high-tech city stations. Additionally, trains from coastal Andhra Pradesh depart from this region. So these trains, we have given halt at Charlapalli, Secunderabad, Begumpet, high tech state, Lingampalli, so that across the city, passengers can reach their nearest railway station to catch hold of the trains.”

SCR has urged travellers to plan their journeys in advance and cooperate with station authorities, especially at stations where renovation and upgradation works are currently underway. (ANI)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir was shot dead, while Abu Sufian Masud, General Secretary of the Karwan Bazar Van Association, was injured in a shooting, local media reported.

Musabbir was the former general secretary of Dhaka City North Swechchhasebak Dal, the volunteer wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The incident took place on Wednesday night at around 8:40 pm in the Tejturi Bazar area behind Bashundhara Market in the capital, where unidentified gunmen opened fire targeting them.

The death of Musabbir was confirmed by Fazlul Karim, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (ADC) of the Tejgaon Division. He said, “Two people were shot in an alley beside Star Kabab. Among them, Musabbir was killed. Another person was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.”

Around 8:00 pm, assailants on motorcycles opened fire in front of Star Kabab at Karwan Bazar after crossing Farmgate. Musabbir and Abu Sufian were critically injured by the gunshots. Musabbir was first taken to BRB Hospital, where he later died.

According to The Daily Star, Musabbir had attended a programme near the Super Star Hotel earlier in the evening with a group of Shariatpur residents. After the programme ended, Musabbir and Masud were walking along a nearby lane when two attackers opened fire at them before fleeing the scene.

Masud, who sustained gunshot wounds, was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. Inspector Md Faruq, in charge of the police camp at the hospital, said Masud was shot on the left side of his abdomen and was undergoing treatment in the emergency ward.

Family members and party activists said Musabbir had spent significant time in jail during the Awami League regime and had been arrested multiple times in political cases. A native of Shariatpur, he was the eldest of three siblings and lived with his family on Garden Road in West Karwan Bazar.

He had also contested the 2020 city corporation polls as a BNP-backed candidate for the councillor post in Ward-26 of Tejgaon, The Daily Star reported.

Following the shooting, protests were staged near the Sonargaon intersection by a group that included local BNP members. The incident has added to concerns over law and order ahead of the national election scheduled for February 12, amid reports of a rise in political violence across the country in recent weeks. (ANI)

The accused in the stone-pelting incident near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid at Turkman Gate were sent to one-day judicial custody, the lawyers of the accused informed. The bail pleas filed and hearings scheduled for Thursday.

Representing accused Kashif, Mohd Kaif, and Mohd Areeb, Delhi Advocate M Asad Beig said that the court granted one-day judicial custody after providing copies of the FIR to the defence.

“After the judge’s order, we were given a copy of the FIR. We have subsequently filed a bail application. The judge has granted a one-day judicial custody. The bail application will be heard tomorrow in Tis Hazari Court,” Beig told the reporters.

Delhi Advocate Mohd Akif, who is representing the accused Sameer, echoed similar remarks, stating that the court has allowed one-day judicial custody. “The judge has given a one-day judicial custody. We have just received a copy of the FIR. We will see what to do next,” he said.

So far, Delhi Police have arrested five people in connection with the stone-pelting incident that broke out during an anti-encroachment demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in the Turkman Gate area in the early hours of January 7. The arrested individuals have been identified as Kashif, Mohd Kaif, Mohd Areeb, Adnan and Sameer.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Wednesday registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other laws in connection with the stone-pelting incident that occurred near Turkman Gate during an anti-encroachment demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), a senior police official said on Wednesday.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central Range) Madhur Verma told ANI that the case was registered under sections 121, 123 and 221 of the BNS, along with section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and section 191 (rioting) in connection with the violence that broke out Tuesday night.

The incident took place during an anti-encroachment demolition drive by the MCD near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid in the Turkman Gate area, which witnessed tension and stone-pelting, prompting police intervention.

Responding to queries regarding the presence of a Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament at the site, the Joint Commissioner said that preliminary findings indicate the MP was present earlier but not during the demolition itself.

“In a preliminary investigation, it has come to light that he was indeed present there, but he had left by the time the demolition began. This is being investigated. If something comes forth, it will be acted on,” Verma said.

The police have also taken cognisance of videos circulating on social media that allegedly attempt to provoke violence. According to Verma, law enforcement agencies are closely examining the content and the individuals behind it.

“A few videos have come on social media and our team has also detected a few videos wherein attempts are being made to instigate hooligans. They (people who posted) will be summoned and questioned as part of the investigation. If someone’s role is established in a conspiracy. Action will be taken against them,” he said.

Delhi Police said the situation in the area is under control and further action will be based on evidence that emerges during the ongoing investigation. (ANI)

Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Wednesday announced the tragic demise of his son, Agnivesh Agarwal, who passed away at the age of 49 following a cardiac arrest in the United States.

Agarwal described the day as “the darkest” of his life, saying his son had been recovering well after a skiing accident before the sudden medical setback claimed his life.

In an emotional post on X, Agarwal said Agnivesh was undergoing treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and was believed to be out of danger.

“We believed the worst was behind us. But fate had other plans, and a sudden cardiac arrest snatched our son away from us. No words can describe the pain of a parent who must bid goodbye to his child. A son is not meant to leave before his father. This loss has shattered us in ways we are still trying to comprehend,” he wrote.

Recalling his son’s journey, Agarwal said Agnivesh was born in Patna on June 3, 1976, and grew up to become a respected business leader and a compassionate individual. He studied at Mayo College in Ajmer and later went on to establish Fujairah Gold, before serving as Chairman of Hindustan Zinc, one of Vedanta Group’s key companies.

“Agnivesh was many things — a sportsman, a musician, a leader…Yet, beyond all titles and achievements, he remained simple, warm, and deeply human,” Agarwal said, adding that he was not only his son but but his “friend”, “pride” and “world”.

Expressing grief alongside his wife Kiran, Agarwal said the family was shattered by the loss. He added that in their sorrow, they found solace in the belief that the thousands of young people working across Vedanta were also like their children.

The industrialist also reiterated his son’s belief in building a self-reliant India, quoting Agnivesh as saying that the country lacked nothing and should never lag behind.

“We shared a dream to ensure that no child sleeps hungry, no child is denied education, every woman stands on her own feet, and every young Indian has meaningful work. I had promised Agni that more than 75% of what we earn would be given back to society,” he further wrote.

“I renew that promise today and resolve to live an even simpler life,” he said, adding that his son’s legacy would live on through the lives he touched.

Agarwal thanked friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support, concluding that while he does not know how to walk the path ahead without his son, he would try to carry forward Agnivesh’s light and vision.

Anil Agarwal is the founder and Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, a natural resources company, and also heads the Anil Agarwal Foundation, which undertakes the group’s philanthropic initiatives. (ANI)

Bollywood couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have now revealed the name of their newborn son, calling him their “ray of light”.

The two, on Wednesday, took to their Instagram account to share a joint post announcing the good news. They also posted an adorable picture showing Katrina’s hand, Vicky’s hand, and their son’s tiny hand placed together.

Alongside the photo, the duo added a caption announcing their son’s name as ‘Vihaan Kaushal,’ further expressing their feelings as new parents.

“Our Ray of Light, Vihaan Kaushal vihaan kaushl Prayers are answered. Life is beautiful. Our world has changed in an instant. Gratitude beyond words,” read their Instagram post.

Take a look

Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal welcomed their first child in November last year. At that time, the couple had shared the news of their baby’s arrival through a joint post on social media.

“Our bundle of joy has arrived. With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our baby boy. 7th November, 2025. Katrina & Vicky,” their note read.

Katrina confirmed her pregnancy in September 2025 with an adorable picture from what appeared to be a maternity photoshoot. “On our way to start the best chapter of our lives, with hearts full of joy and gratitude,” the two wrote in a joint announcement on Instagram.

Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara in Rajasthan.

On Koffee With Karan, Katrina revealed that she met Vicky at Zoya Akhtar’s party, and that’s when romance started brewing between them. Sharing the details of her relationship with Vicky, Katrina explained how Vicky was never on her ‘radar’. (ANI)

As the cold wave tightens its grip across North India, fresh snowfall in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu delighted tourists, who had flocked to the picturesque place.

Tourists enjoy the season’s fresh snowfall at Rohtang Pass as snow blankets the mountains, transforming the region into a winter spectacle and offering breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks.

Ali, a tourist from Bhopal, praised the locals for their helpful attitude and said the place is very secure.

“The weather is very good. We are enjoying it a lot. The locals are very helpful. If you are coming here, it is very safe. There is no risk. The weather is also good,” Ali told ANI.

However, tourists have not come here only to enjoy the snow; many also plan to take part in adventure activities. Arshad, a first-time tourist from Delhi, said he plans to try several activities, including ziplining and ATV biking, and is eager to explore more adventure options.

“It is my first experience here I am very happy to be here We are going to Sissu and Koksar …We will see more snowfall, we will enjoy more and will do zipline and ATV biking There are many activities, we will see what else we will get. The weather is very good. If you want to see snowfall, you must come in December or January. I would like to give this message to the tourists, if you want to see snowfall, then there is no better place than Manali. You can see snowfall, mountains and you will get all the activities related to snow,” Arshad told ANI.

Meanwhile, Mayank, a tourist from Pune, said that although the snowfall at Rohtang Pass was not very heavy, but he had a good time.

“We came from Pune for the snowfall experience. We are very close to the Atal Tunnel, but we couldn’t go ahead… We thought we would get a lot of snowfall but we didn’t. It’s not very thick but it’s a good experience. Tourism is good. I really loved Himachal. We will click a lot of photos and videos,” Mayank told ANI. (ANI)

In a major push to strengthen its drone warfare capabilities, the Indian Army is raising 15-20 Shaktibaan regiments which would be equipped with swarm drones, loitering munitions and long-range UAVs which would be capable of striking targets from 5 kms to 500 Kms.

The Shaktibaan Regiments would be part of the Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery and initial units have already been operationalised, defence officials told ANI.

The major force restructuring, conceived by Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, is part of the forces’ transformation to tackle the challenges of modern warfare.

The raising of these Shaktibaan regiments is set to bridge the force’s capability gap to strike targets from 50 to 500 kms, they said.

For targets beyond 400-500 km, the Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery has the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and is now also receiving the 120 km-range Pinaka rockets.

To equip the first of the Shaktibaan regiments, the Indian Army will shortly issue a tender under a fast-track procedure to procure 850 loitering munitions, along with the required launchers, they said.

Indian industry will provide the drones through a fast-track process and is expected to deliver them to the Army within the next two years.

Indian firms, including Solar Defence and Aerospace, Adani Defence and RapheM, are likely to be the contenders for this Rs 2,000 crore project.

The Indian Army has already created a pool of over a lakh drone operatives and has now begun equipping formations with the required arsenal.

Along with the Shaktibaan regiments, the Regiment of Artillery will also raise around 35-40 Divyastra batteries as part of artillery divisions, equipped with drones of different types with lethal strike capabilities.

The Infantry is also modernising in line with new warfare requirements by raising Ashmi platoons in each Infantry battalion.

It has also seen the creation of a new Special Force, Bharav, to provide the Army’s Special Operations capability at the Corps Headquarters level, with every operative capable of launching drones to hit enemy targets.

The Indian forces used a number of loitering munitions like the Nagastra, Sky Strikers, Harpy and Harop to target enemy targets during Operation Sindoor to destroy enemy bases and Pakistan Army bases after extension of hostilities by Pakistan. (ANI)