Month: January 2026

Since the devastating earthquake of January 26, 2001, Kutch has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past 25 years.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi led Kutch’s revival, turning recovery into long-term development.Today, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, this progress continues, reflected in initiatives like Kutch District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd., popularly known as Sarhad Dairy. The Dairy, established in 2009 under PM Narendra Modi’s guidance, is Kutch’s largest cooperative and a vital livelihood source for local animal husbandry farmers, according to a release.

The dairy collaborates with over 900 cooperative societies, procuring nearly 5.5 lakh litres of milk daily from around 80,000 milk producers. It processes up to 4 lakh litres of milk per day, runs a 300-tonne cattle feed plant, and produces 50,000 litres of ice cream daily, with a peak production of 3.38 LLPD. It supports animal husbandry farmers by disbursing nearly Rs 3 crore each day. In 2024-25, the dairy achieved a historic turnover of over Rs 1,200 crore, reflecting a 9.09% growth from the previous year.

Sarhad Dairy is also a pioneer for the supply of pure Buffalo milk to many different dairy plants of Amul in various states such as Haryana, Hyderabad, and Maharashtra.

Considered the white gold of the Rann of Kutch, camel milk is rich in essential minerals, promotes overall health, and strengthens immunity. Sarhad Dairy has India’s first deodorising camel milk processing plant with advanced machinery, functional since January 16, 2019.

The dairy has also earned the primary organic certification for camel milk. Following the Amul model, camel milk is collected through four centres across Kutch district: Rapar, Nakhatrana, Gadhshisha, and Kotda Athamana.

In 2024-25, daily camel milk procurement reached 4,754 litres, with an annual payment of Rs 8,72,83,440 made to over 350 camel farming families. Additionally, the Dairy is the only facility in India producing camel milk Rajbhog-flavoured ice cream. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22, 2024, the ice cream plant has already launched 80 varieties within just one year. In 2024-25, it produced a total of 24.52 lakh litres of ice cream, with a peak dispatch of 58,000 litres.

The IDA Indian Dairy Association conference was held in Gandhinagar in January 2022. Sarhad Dairy was represented by Nirav Gusai, General Manager of Dairy, highlighting the dairy’s achievements. The Dairy’s pioneering camel milk initiatives were showcased at the first-ever Regional Dairy Conference by IDF (International Dairy Federation) 2024 in Kochi, Kerala, where Nirav Gusai presented its work as a model for camel milk production in the Asia-Pacific region. Sarhad Dairy also gained prominence at the Gulf Food Expo 2025 in Dubai, the world’s largest food show, with its camel milk products at the Amul stall attracting significant attention.

According to the release, the dairy was represented by GCMMF Vice Chairman and Dairy Chairman Valamji Humbal. The Dairy has received several prestigious awards, including the FOKIA Award 2014 for Social Growth and Infrastructure Development, the Rotary Club Vocational Excellence Award 2017 for developing the Kutch dairy sector, the FOKIA Award 2024 for Excellence in Agritech, and the Green Workplace Award 2025 from VNM TV for sustainability performance.

‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ is a visionary initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home and Cooperative Minister Amit Shah. Under this program, Sarhad Dairy has helped 900 milk societies and 31,067 animal husbandry farmers open accounts at the Kutch District Central Cooperative Bank (KDCC Bank). To further simplify banking, farmers have been issued RuPay cards, and 438 milk societies have received Micro ATMs. (ANI)

The Punjab Police on Tuesday launched a 72-hour operation to initiate a statewide crackdown against gangsters, aiming to dismantle the entire ecosystem of organised crime under the ‘War On Gangsters’ Campaign.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that 12,000 police officers have been conducting raids at 2,000 locations during the first phase of the operation. To extradite gangsters operating outside the state, a specialised cell has been formed under IG Ashish Chaudhary, comprising officers from all operational wings, he said.

“The CM has given us instructions that gangsters will not be tolerated in Punjab. We have made a strategy, and a war has been launched against the gangsters. A 72-hour operation has been launched today. In its first phase, 12,000 police officers are conducting raids at almost 2,000 locations. The CM himself is monitoring this,” DGP Yadav told reporters here.

“To bring the gangsters sitting outside (Punjab) back, a cell has been formed under IG Ashish Chaudhry. It will consist of officers of all operational wings. We will crack down on criminal financing. We have also started an anti gangster helpline today. Punjab government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for rewards,” he added.

On January 18, in a major breakthrough against organised crime, the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police busted an extortion module linked to gangster Goldy Brar and arrested 10 operatives. During the arrest, the police recovered a cache of sophisticated foreign-made weapons.

In a post on X, the DGP of Punjab announced that arrests had been made following a focused three-week operation. The Police further stated that these operatives were involved in illegal arms trafficking, extortion and planned murders and aimed to create lawlessness across the state.

“In a major breakthrough, #Ludhiana Commissionerate Police busts an extortion module linked to Gangster Goldy Brar, apprehends 10 operatives in a focused 3-week operation and recovers foreign-made pistols, including 2 Austrian #Glock pistols and 10 other sophisticated weapons. The arrested operatives are involved in illegal arms trafficking, extortion and planned murders aimed at creating lawlessness across the state. FIRs registered under BNS and Arms Act,” Punjab police said.

Further investigation is underway to nab remaining associates. @PunjabPoliceInd remains firmly committed to crushing organised crime and gangster networks and ensuring peace and security across Punjab,” the police added. (ANI)

Bangladesh on Tuesday rejected, what they termed were “unreasonable conditions” imposed by the ICC regarding their participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India, according to Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul.

After Bangladesh speedster Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) made it clear that the team would not play in India under the current circumstances.

Despite several rounds of discussions between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and BCB officials, no resolution has been reached, leaving Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup fate uncertain.

Speaking at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Asif Nazrul said, “If the ICC bows to pressure from the Indian cricket board and imposes unreasonable conditions on us, we will not accept them.”

“There are precedents in international cricket, when India refused to play in Pakistan, the ICC changed the venue. We have reasonably asked for a venue Change”, he added.

Previously, BCB denied that the ICC had set a January 21 deadline for them to decide on their participation in the T20 World Cup, starting from February 7, with media committee chairman Amjad Hossain saying that “no specific date” has been set for them.

As per ICC sources, the world’s cricket governing body had earlier given an ultimatum to BCB to give their final decision on whether they will send the Bangladesh cricket team to India or not for the upcoming ICC WC by Wednesday (January 21). If the BCB refuses to send its team to India, the ICC is likely to name a replacement, and, as per the current rankings, it could be Scotland. The T20 World Cup will kick off on February 7, the sources added.

However, speaking to the media in Dhaka, Amjad said, as quoted by Daily Star, “Last Saturday, on January 17, an ICC representative came, and our cricket board representatives held a meeting with him. Regarding World Cup participation, there was an issue with the venue, and we informed them of our reluctance to play there. We requested an alternate venue, and we held detailed discussions with the representatives. They told us that they will inform the ICC about the issues and will let us know about the decision later on.”

“In regard to these talks, they have not mentioned a specific date or when they will let us know. They just told us that they will let us know when the next discussion will take place. Thank you,” he added.

On the other hand, ICC is firm on not changing the original schedule, which has Bangladesh in Group C with Italy, New Zealand, West Indies and Nepal. For three weeks, no final decision has been made, and Bangladesh’s opening game against the West Indies is just three weeks away at Kolkata on February 7.

They will play two more group stage matches at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, followed by their final group stage game in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

During talks on Saturday, it was also understood that the ICC did not agree to Bangladesh and Ireland swapping groups, sending Bangladesh to Group B and making them play their opening games in Sri Lanka. ICC is also understood to have assured BCB that India poses no security threats to the Bangladesh team.

ICC sources had said on Monday that independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognised security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India, noting that the overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which is consistent with the profile of many major global sporting events.

The sources said the independent risk assessments did not identify any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team, its officials, or the match venues in India. They said that, based on the professional advice received, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is assessed as low to moderate, with no indication of risks that cannot be effectively managed through established security planning and mitigation measures.

The sources said that ICC is aware of public comments made in recent days regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including references to the ICC’s security risk assessment. (ANI)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to introduce a revised central contract system, under which the Grade A+ category will be discontinued. If the new model is approved by the board, Team India veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to be placed in Grade B, according to BCCI sources.

The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has proposed changes to the central contract structure. The committee has recommended scrapping the A+ category (Rs 7 crore) and leaving only three categories: A, B, and C. Further clarity on the monetary changes and whether the BCCI will approve this new model is expected at the next apex council meeting.

If the proposed model is approved, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are currently exclusive ODI players, are likely to be placed in Category B.

BCCI Central Contracts are annual retainers awarded to Indian cricketers, categorised into A+, A, B, and C grades, with substantial yearly fees (Rs 7 crore for A+, Rs 5 crore for A, Rs 3 crore for B, and Rs 1 crore for C) in addition to match fees.

The 2024-25 list, announced in April 2025, features Rohit, Virat, Ravindra Jadeja and Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah in A+, while Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Team India Men’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant are placed in Grade A.

T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer find themselves in Grade B.

Grade C includes: Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana. (ANI)

Italian fashion designer and mogul behind the Valentino brand, Valentino Garavani, passed away at the age of 93 on Monday, according to Variety.

The designer’s foundation, Fondazione Valentino Garavani e Giancarlo Giammetti, announced the news on social media, writing, “Valentino Garavani passed away today at his Roman residence, surrounded by his loved ones.”

While sharing the details of his funeral, the foundation wrote, “The lying in state will be held at PM23 in Piazza Mignanelli 23 on Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The funeral will take place on Friday, January 23rd at the Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica 8 in Rome, at 11 am.”

According to Variety, the Italian designer Valentino Garavani founded his company in 1960 in Rome and quickly became known for his red dresses, a shade that became known as “Valentino red.”

The brand rose to prominence when First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy began wearing his designs in 1964, ordering six of his couture dresses in black and white to wear following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Garavani then designed her wedding gown for Aristotle Onassis.

The dress’s high neck, lace top and above-the-knee cut helped to solidify both her and Valentino as style icons.

Garavani also had a relationship with cinema, not only dressing celebrities but appearing as himself in the beloved 2006 film “The Devil Wears Prada” alongside Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep.

In 2008, a feature-length documentary about his career and life, titled “Valentino: The Last Emperor,” premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

The cause of death is still not revealed. (ANI)

On Monday night, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar’s security vehicle was involved in a serious road accident in Juhu after a chain collision.

As per the Mumbai Police, two people got injured following a collision between two cars and an auto rickshaw.

The incident reportedly took place after a car hit an auto-rickshaw from behind, causing it to overturn and ram into Akshay’s escort vehicle.

Further details regarding the incident are awaited.

Meanwhile, videos from the accident site emerged online, capturing locals helping authorities pull an injured man safely from the wreckage.

The auto-rickshaw driver also sustained injuries, and his condition is “serious”, as per his brother.

“The incident took place at around 8:30 pm…My brother’s rickshaw was completely destroyed. His condition is serious. Our only request is that my brother gets proper medical treatment, the required medicines, and compensation be provided for the damaged rickshaw,” Mohammed Sameer, brother of the auto-rickshaw’s driver, told ANI.

Akshay Kumar is yet to react to the incident. (ANI)

Approximately 10,000 special guests (including spouses) from different walks of life have been invited to witness the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, on January 26, 2026, the Ministry of Defence said in an official statement.

The guests include those who have carried out exemplary work in income and employment generation, best innovators, researchers & start-ups, Self Help Groups and best performers under key government initiatives. They have been invited with the objective of honouring their contributions to nation-building and increasing Jan Bhagidari in events of national importance, as per the ministry.

These special guests will be prominently seated at Kartavya Path. In addition to the celebrations, arrangements have been made for the special guests to visit the National War Memorial, PM Sangrahalay and other prominent places in Delhi. They will also get an opportunity to interact with the respective Ministers.

Meanwhile, Ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, Delhi Police has put in place an extensive, technology-driven security apparatus across Kartavya Path and the entire New Delhi district, in view of multiple terror-related threat inputs received from intelligence agencies.

This year, the seating areas for the Republic Day celebrations have been named after Indian rivers. Several important changes have also been made to the security deployment pattern, keeping the guests’ convenience and safety in mind.

Moreover, the police have also appealed to all invited guests and ticket holders to carefully read the details on their invitation cards and to strictly use the designated routes. Complete information on routes, parking, and enclosures is available on the Ministry of Defence and Delhi Police websites. (ANI)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering sending soldiers to Greenland for military exercises with NATO allies, CBC news reported, citing sources on Monday.

As per CBC news, two senior Canadian officials said that a set of contingency plans were drawn up last week and presented to the federal government.

While a Royal Canadian Air Force contingent is already taking part in a pre-planned NORAD exercise in Greenland, PM Carney is considering whether to send additional forces as part of the sovereignty exercises being planned by the Danes. It further mentioned that both sources said they are not certain which way the government is leaning.

According to CBC, the options include flying in a small contingent of Canadian soldiers by the end of the week if called upon, the sources said. It mentioned that the news of the potential deployment was first reported by The Globe and Mail.

Earlier on Saturday, during a press conference in Qatar, PM Carney said that Canada is “concerned” by Trump’s tariff threat and “we always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location is.”

“Decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide,” the prime minister added.

This comes as Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland have sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland to join the exercise in a move to ensure the safety of the Arctic. Denmark had also invited the US to join the military exercise.

Meanwhile, strengthening his push to acquire Denmark’s territory, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries, including the UK, unless they agree to sell Greenland.

In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China’s and Russia’s interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026 if a deal wasn’t reached, stating it was “time for Denmark to give back” after years of US support.

On Tuesday, it was mentioned that the United States will deploy a North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft at the Pituffik space base, Greenland, as tensions rise over President Donald Trump’s move to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

NORAD said that the aircraft will arrive at the base to support various long-planned activities. They also said that this action is taken in coordination with Denmark and Greenland. (ANI)

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday walked out of the State Legislative assembly without delivering the customary address on the opening day of the first session of the year.

Governor R N Ravi arrived to address the House, with leaders from multiple political parties present.

The Governor demanded that the national anthem be played after the Tamil Anthem and when Speaker Appavu refused, the Governor walked without reading the opening address.

This is the third time that he staged a walk out after having skipped the customary address for the past two years.

In the years 2024, 2025 too the Governor did not deliver the address to the Assembly. Last year, he staged a walkout from the assembly as the national anthem was not played at the start of his address.

Lok Bhavan, Tamil Nadu, later issued a press release informing of the reasons why Governor RN Ravi walked out of the assembly before delivering his inaugural address.

The release says, “The Governor’s mic was repeatedly switched off, and he was not allowed to speak… Atrocities against Dalits and sexual violence against Dalit women are sharply increasing. However, it is totally bypassed in the speech… National Anthem is yet again insulted, and the Fundamental Constitutional Duty is disregarded.”

Meanwhile, separately, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla sent birthday greetings for the Tamil Nadu Speaker.

“Warm birthday greetings to Shri M. Appavu, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. May you be blessed with good health, happiness, and a long life,” Birla posted on X. (ANI)