Month: January 2026

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that with the blessings of the people, the record of former Chief Minister Devaraja Urs would be broken, asserting that political records are meant to be surpassed as times change.

Addressing reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said Devaraja Urs hailed from Mysuru district, and so does he. “With the blessings of the people, his record will be broken. There is no comparison between me and me. The situation was different then, and it is different now. Circumstances brought me this far,” he said.

Recalling the 1983 Assembly elections, the CM said that people had supported him by contributing money and votes, while Devaraja Urs became the Chief Minister during a different political phase. Records are there to be broken. Anyone can break them in the future. In cricket, Sachin Tendulkar’s record was broken by Virat Kohli. Similarly, someone may come in future who will become Chief Minister longer than me and present more budgets,” he remarked.

At the proposed equipment conference, Siddaramaiah said no final decision had been taken and noted that Krishna Bhairegowda had stated he would organise the programme.

Commenting on the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle, the Chief Minister said he would discuss the matter with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “He said he would call me in January. If he calls, I will go,” he said.

On the Ballari issue, Siddaramaiah said the BJP was demanding a probe by a sitting judge. “The police are investigating the matter. Let the report come first, then we will decide what kind of investigation is needed,” he said.

Responding to criticism of the VBG RAM G Guarantee, the Chief Minister said, “Ram is not Ram” in this context, and reiterated that changes to MNREGA were unwarranted. He added that 40 per cent of Rs 3,000 crore would place a burden on the state government.

Expressing concern about rising human-wildlife conflict, Siddaramaiah said the tiger menace in and around Mysuru was on the rise due to a growing tiger population. “Tigers are coming out of the forest. One was even sighted at the airport today. I have instructed officials to catch it immediately. The operation has started, and I have told them to release the tiger into other forests,” he said.

On the recent blast incident involving helium gas in Mysuru, the Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased.

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has strongly criticised the Modi government at the Centre over the VB G RAM G Act, alleging that it has systematically weakened village-level governance and damaged the rural economy by diluting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

He said the UPA government under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had empowered citizens through landmark legislation, including the Right to Employment, Right to Information, and Right to Education.

The Chief Minister stated that the new law was introduced in Parliament on December 17 and passed the very next day, without adequate discussion. He added that across the country, around 12.16 crore workers depend on NREGA, of whom 6.21 crore are women, about 17% belong to the Scheduled Castes and 11% to the Scheduled Tribes.

In Karnataka alone, there are 71.18 lakh NREGA workers, including 36.75 lakh women, accounting for 51.6% of the workforce.

He alleged that the present central government is dismantling the pro-people laws to benefit corporate interests.

The Chief Minister further said that under the earlier Act, employment was guaranteed locally, enabling rural asset creation and strengthening village economies, and workers had a legal right to demand employment for at least 100 days a year, but these guarantees have now been removed. (ANI)

The Bangladesh government on Monday has decided to suspend the broadcast of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 matches in the country after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. The IPL gets underway on March 26.

This development follows the announcement by the KKR that they had removed Bangladeshi player Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster in response to a directive from the BCCI regarding atrocities committed against minorities in Bangladesh.

“Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has informed through an official letter that, until further notice, all IPL matches and related programs will remain suspended from broadcast/telecast in Bangladesh”, the Press Information Department (PID) said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier, Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh commented on the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) formal request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup matches from India to alternative venues, citing safety and security concerns.

Harbhajan stated that India welcomes all teams but stressed that it is ultimately Bangladesh’s decision whether to participate on Indian soil. The former Indian cricketer further emphasised that the ICC needs to decide on their request.

The BCB had cited growing concerns about the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent as the reason for not travelling to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka.

While speaking to ANI, Harbhajan Singh said, “Due to the various events that have taken place in the past few days, Bangladesh does not want to come to India. Whatever happened in Bangladesh is wrong. ICC needs to make a decision on their request. We welcome everyone to India, but whether they (Bangladesh) want to come here or not is their choice.”

This development follows the announcement by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) that they had removed Bangladeshi player Muztafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster in response to a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding atrocities committed against minorities in Bangladesh.

KKR’s decision followed BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia’s statement that the apex cricket board had instructed the IPL franchise to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman “due to the recent developments”. (ANI)

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’, the third instalment in James Cameron’s acclaimed science fiction-fantasy franchise, officially crossed the USD1 billion mark at the global box office, just two weeks after its theatrical release on December 19, according to People.

The latest chapter in the Avatar saga has earned USD 306 million domestically and USD 777.1 million internationally, according to figures from 20th Century Studios. This milestone makes it Cameron’s fourth film to surpass the USD 1 billion benchmark, joining the ranks of Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and Titanic (1997).

Comparatively, Avatar: The Way of Water reached the USD1 billion mark in 14 days, while the original Avatar did so in 17 days, highlighting the enduring popularity of the franchise. Avatar: Fire and Ash is among three films in 2025 to have already crossed USD 1 billion, alongside Lilo & Stitch (USD 1.038 billion) and Zootopia 2 (USD 1.51 billion), according to 20th Century Studios, People reported.

The film continues the story of the Sully family shortly after the events of The Way of Water, following the tragic death of Jake (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri’s (Zoe Saldana) eldest son Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), as antagonist Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang) intensifies his pursuit.

The ensemble cast includes Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Jack Champion, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Edie Falco, Oona Chaplin, Sigourney Weaver, David Thewlis, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass, and Dileep Rao, according to People.

Filmmaker James Cameron, 71, recently expressed uncertainty about the continuation of the saga, saying, “I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point. I hope it does. But, you know, we prove that business case every time we go out.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently playing in theatres worldwide. (ANI)

Cuba on Sunday (local time) announced that 32 of its citizens were killed during the United States military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife in the capital, Caracas.

The Cuban government said it would observe two days of national mourning on January 5 and January 6 to honour those killed in the operation. Officials in Havana said funeral arrangements would be announced at a later stage.

Cuba’s state-run news agency Prensa Latina said the deceased were Cuban military personnel who had been deployed in Venezuela on official missions. According to the report, they were operating at the request of the Venezuelan government when the US-led operation took place.

The Cuban personnel were killed either during direct clashes with attacking forces or as a result of air strikes on military facilities. It added that they offered resistance before being killed, Al Jazeera reported.

Cuba has been a close ally of Venezuela for several years and has deployed military and police personnel in the country to support the government of deposed dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also issued a warning to Cuba on Sunday, saying he believed the Cuban government was close to collapse.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Cuba had lost a major source of income following US operation in Venezuela.

“Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall,” Trump said. “They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it now.”

Trump also issued warnings directed at Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Denmark in a single day.

Following the operation in Venezuela, Maduro and his wife were flown to New York by US authorities. The 63-year-old deposed dictator is expected to appear before a US court on Monday to face drug-related charges. Maduro has repeatedly denied any involvement in criminal activities.

Images showing Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed while being escorted by US forces have circulated widely on social media and shocked many people across Venezuela.

Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez strongly condemned the arrest, describing it as a “kidnapping” and demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to local media reports.

The New York Times, citing a Venezuelan official, reported that at least 40 people may have been killed during the US operation.

Washington described the action as a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela. US officials said Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country during the operation.

Earlier, Trump told Fox News that there were only a few injuries and no deaths on the US side. He praised the US armed forces for carrying out what he described as a complex and highly professional operation.

“It was amazing to see the professionalism and the quality of leadership,” Trump said. “To have a few injuries, but no deaths on our side, is really amazing, ” said Trump. (ANI)

Union Minister for Power Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said that all power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including major hydroelectric projects in Kishtwar, are progressing strictly as per their stipulated timelines, asserting that long-pending issues which had earlier hampered their execution have now been resolved.

Referring to his recent visit to Kishtwar, Khattar said it was the first visit by a Union Power Minister to the region after recent developments related to the Indus Waters Treaty. He said clear and firm directions have been issued to concerned agencies to ensure that all projects are completed within the prescribed schedule without further delays.

Speaking about his inspection of key hydroelectric projects, Khattar highlighted his visits to the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project, the Salal Hydroelectric Project (Stages I and II), and the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project. He said that work on all four major projects has gained momentum and is now firmly back on track.

“All the power projects must be completed on time. These projects have been under construction for several years and have faced problems earlier, but all those issues have now been addressed. One by one, all four projects will be completed and power generation will begin as scheduled,” Khattar said.

The Union Minister emphasised that the completion of these projects would significantly benefit Jammu and Kashmir and contribute to the country’s overall energy security.

Responding to Pakistan’s repeated objections to India’s hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, Khattar dismissed them as mere rhetoric, saying that such statements no longer carry any relevance, particularly after India has taken a firm stand on reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty in the context of continued cross-border terrorism.

“There is no meaning to Pakistan’s statements. The Prime Minister has already made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty has been reviewed in the context of continued terrorism,” Khattar said.

On Sunday, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visited Kishtwar to review various projects.

On his visit to the Sawalkot hydroelectric project, he said that this project, being executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in Jammu and Kashmir, will generate “800 megawatts” of electricity, contributing to the country’s power generation capacity. He also visited the Salal power project. (ANI)

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice on the plea of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the IRCTC hotel scam case. Lalu Prasad Yadav has challenged the framing of charges by the trial court in the CBI case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and sought a reply. However, no instant relief against the order of trial has been granted. The court has not granted a stay on the order.

The court has listed the matter for hearing on the Stay application on January 14. ” Let them file a reply. I will hear you on the point of stay,” Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said. The high court has asked the CBI to file a reply. The next date of the hearing is January 14.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Senior advocate Maninder Singh, assisted by Ekta Vats, advocates Varun Jain and Navin Kumar appeared for Lalu Prasad Yadav. They pressed for a stay. ASG D P Singh, alongwith Advocate Manu Mishra, appeared for the CBI.

Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam.

In October 2025, the trial court framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of tenders by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. His wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and their son Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, have also been charged in the case for offences including criminal conspiracy and cheating.

While framing the charges, Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts observed that Lalu Prasad Yadav, during his tenure as Union Minister for Railways, had allegedly abused his official position to manipulate eligibility conditions in a land tender process. The court held that he was fully aware of the alleged conspiracy and had actively intervened in the decision-making process, resulting in substantial loss to the public exchequer.

The case originates from a 2017 FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Yadav, members of his family, officials of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, and other private individuals. The CBI has alleged that between 2004 and 2009, when Yadav was the Railway Minister, a criminal conspiracy was hatched to award IRCTC hotel tenders in Patna and Puri to favoured parties in return for bribes in the form of prime land and shares.

Following completion of the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav and other accused persons. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Somnath on January 11 to participate in the Somnath Swabhiman Parv celebrations.

A year-long series of spiritual, cultural and social activities will be organised at Somnath to commemorate the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, officials said.

The Somnath Swabhiman Parv will be observed from January 8 to January 11, during which a range of programmes highlighting India’s spiritual heritage, cultural pride and social values will be held.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned an ‘OpEd’, reflecting on the story of destruction and resurrection of the Somnath temple, asserting that hearing the word “Somnath” instils a sense of pride in hearts and minds.

PM recalled that the first destruction of the revered shrine took place exactly 1,000 years ago in 1026 AD, underscoring how, despite repeated attacks over the centuries, the temple stands in unparalleled glory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a blog post, highlighted the enduring spirit of India’s civilisation while reflecting on the legacy of the Somnath temple, saying, “The story of Somnath, a thousand years after the first attack, is not defined by destruction. It is defined by the unbreakable courage of crores of children of Bharat Mata.”

Emphasising the resilience and continuity of India’s cultural heritage, the Prime Minister added, “There can be no better example of our civilisation’s indomitable spirit than Somnath, which stands gloriously, overcoming odds and struggles.”

According to the blog, PM Modi mentioned the book Somanatha: The Shrine Eternal, where K. M. Munshi records that Mahmud of Ghazni began his march towards Somnath on 18 October 1025 and, approximately 80 days later, on 6 January 1026, attacked the fortified temple town.

He also mentioned that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel played a decisive and historic role in re-constructing the temple on November 13, 1947, and K. M. Munshi stood firmly with Patel.

The Prime Minister said that in 1951, the Somnath temple was ready for inauguration; however, PM Nehru opposed the participation of President Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the temple’s inauguration. (ANI)

After the Supreme Court denied bail to Umar Khalid, Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday took a dig at the country’s judicial system, alleging that in the “Vikit Bharat” bail is granted to alleged rapists but not to people raising their voices.

In a post on X, Priyank Kharge shared that the bail was granted to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, Asaram Bapu, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and Brij Bhusan Sharam Singh. All of them are accused of different rape cases.

In contrast, Priyank Kharge said that bail has been denied to Umar Khalid, Sonam Wangchuk, Sagar Ghorke and Ramesh Ghaichor. All of them, he believed, are in jail for “raising their voices” against the government.

BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala however took a jibe at the Congress after the two were denied bail.

“Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam were not merely receiving sympathies from the Congress and its ecosystem, but also letters from abroad. Not only has the bail been rejected, but the Supreme Court has also observed that the crimes committed – including charges of terrorism and burning Delhi – prima facie appear valid,” he said.

Another party Spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari claimed that the Court judgment was a slap on the face of the Congress and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.

“The Anti National Tukde Tukde Brigade supported by Muslim League Maovadi Congress : Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam Bail stands rejected. Supreme Court said -” All accused cannot be treated on same qualitative footing” This is also a big slap on the face of Rahul Gandhi, and Congress party which backed this “Tukde Tukde Lobby”,” he said.

This comes after the Supreme Court on Monday denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in a case pertaining to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

However, the SC granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmad.

The Court noted that Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam stand on a “qualitatively different footing” both in terms of prosecution and evidence.

It noted that their roles were “central” to the alleged offences. As regards these two, though the period of incarceration is continued and long, it does not violate the Constitutional mandate or override the statutory embargo under the laws.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others were arrested in January 2020 under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the Delhi riots case in February 2020.

The violence had erupted during the protests against the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) and had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. (ANI)

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and JSW Sports on Monday announced the conclusion of their formal partnership. The move comes as Neeraj begins a new chapter with the launch of his own athlete management firm, Vel Sports.

Neeraj’s association with JSW Sports began in 2016, when he was first scouted through the JSW Sports Excellence Program (SEP) – a moment that marked the start of one of India’s most successful athlete-management journeys. He joined JSW Sports in 2016, and over the next decade, the partnership became a defining force in Indian sport, according to a press release.

Neeraj’s achievements have been historic. Fondly called the ‘Man with the Golden Arm,’ he became the first Indian to win an Olympic Gold in track and field at the Tokyo 2020 Games. He followed it with a World Championship Gold in 2023, and a Silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024, along with several podium finishes on the global circuit.

Neeraj now steps into entrepreneurship with Vel Sports. Traditionally, athletes embark on entrepreneurial ventures after retirement. However, Neeraj, always forward-looking, has chosen to begin this phase at the height of his career, and JSW Sports has supported him in shaping this evolution.

“Working with Neeraj has been an incredible experience for all of us at JSW Sports. His success story reflects our shared philosophy of excellence and purpose. We’re immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together and wish him continued success in all his future pursuits,” said Divyanshu Singh, CEO, JSW Sports.

“Over the last decade, our journey together has been one of growth, belief, and achievement. JSW Sports has played a defining role in my career, and I’ll always remain grateful for their support and vision. As we conclude this chapter, I carry forward the same values into the next phase of my journey,” said Neeraj Chopra.

Both parties part ways with deep respect and pride as Neeraj embarks on this new entrepreneurial chapter and JSW Sports continues its mission to support India’s most promising athletic talent. The decade they spent together leaves behind a legacy of trust, belief, and historic accomplishments; a foundation that will continue to inspire the future of Indian sports. (ANI)

Tourism and agriculture are offering fresh signs of recovery in Manipur, as normalcy slowly returns after years of disruption. Tourists were seen enjoying boating at Loktak Lake, Northeast India’s largest freshwater lake, famed for its unique Phumdis – floating islands made of vegetation, soil and organic matter. The visuals from the site show tourists calmly sitting in boats and taking in the scenic beauty.

Meanwhile, in Kumbi Terakha village of Bishnupur district, a progressive farmer’s journey is drawing attention for restoring hope through sustainable agriculture. Vegetable farmer Ningthoujam Inaocha has successfully revived his livelihood after suffering a severe setback during the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged unrest in the state.

Cultivating vegetables on one lourak of land, Inaocha has grown cabbage (Green Hero variety), cauliflower, broccoli (Queen Magic variety) and mustard, using a local mustard variety he has relied on for years. This season alone, he planted nearly 18,000 plants, including over 3,000 mustard plants, and recently harvested around 100 bundles of mustard in a single day.

Recalling the difficult past, Inaocha said he faced heavy losses during the pandemic due to the inability to sell produce, with violence further disrupting farming activities until last year. “This year, I feel hopeful that I can sell my produce properly,” he said.

He earns Rs seven to eight lakh per season and around Rs 20 lakh annually from vegetable farming, excluding paddy cultivation. He believes that if more farmers adopt intensive and scientific practices, Manipur can move towards financial self-reliance.

“If farming is done scientifically, production can increase further. Organic farming gives less yield, but the profit is more assured,” he explained.

His farm has also generated local employment. Farm worker Yumnam Ibemcha said several workers are engaged in planting, field cleaning and maintenance. With improving conditions and rising agricultural activity, farmers like Inaocha are hopeful that peace and productivity will restore livelihoods across Manipur’s rural areas. (ANI)