James Webb Helps Astronomers Chart the Universe’s Hidden Dark Matter

Astronomers have created the sharpest map yet of dark matter using deep observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. By analysing the gravitational distortion of hundreds of thousands of distant galaxies, the team traced invisible dark matter across a large region of the sky. The results confirm that dark matter forms the scaffolding around which galaxies and galaxy clusters grow.

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US Deploys Aircraft Carrier In Middle Eastern Waters Amid Tensions With Iran

A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests.

A US-based rights group said on Monday that it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in the wave of protests suppressed by Iran's security forces, but emphasised the actual toll could be several times higher.

The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.

But rights groups have accused authorities of quelling the movement with unprecedented violence, shooting into crowds of protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown that has now lasted 18 days -- the longest Iran has ever imposed.

The clerical leadership who took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution remains in place despite the protests, with many opponents of the system looking to outside intervention as the most likely driver of change.

US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to step in, saying last week that Washington was sending a "massive fleet" to the region "just in case".

The deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group dramatically boosts American firepower in the region.

The United States backed and briefly joined Israel's 12-day war against Iran in June, and while Trump last week appeared to step back from his threats of new military intervention, he has never ruled the option out.

The Lincoln's strike group has arrived in the region, US Central Command said in a post on X, adding the ships were "currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability".

'Regret-inducing response'

Iran's foreign ministry warned on Monday of a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response to any aggression".

Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was "confident in its own capabilities".

In apparent reference to the Lincoln, he added: "The arrival of such a battleship is not going to affect Iran's determination and seriousness to defend the Iranian nation."

Meanwhile, a new anti-US billboard has appeared in the central Enghelab Square in Tehran that appears to show an American aircraft carrier being destroyed.

"If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," its English-language caption reads.

State news agency IRNA quoted the commander of the Iranian navy Shahram Irani as saying on Monday: "Iran's naval power is not merely defensive but also acts as an anchor of stability in the region."

In Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, whose capabilities and leadership were severely degraded in a war with Israel in 2024, organised a rally in support of the Islamic republic featuring an address by its leader Naim Qassem, who warned "a war on Iran this time will ignite the region".

Iran's Gulf neighbour the United Arab Emirates, which hosts a US airbase, said it would not allow attacks on Iran to be launched from its territory.

- Rising toll -

NGOs tracking the toll from the crackdown have said their task has been impeded by the internet shutdown, warning that confirmed figures are likely to be far lower than the actual number.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed that 5,848 people had been killed, including 209 members of the security forces. But the group added it was still investigating another 17,091 possible fatalities.

At least 41,283 people have been arrested, it said.

Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities last week said 3,117 people were killed, the majority of whom it described as members of the security forces or innocent bystanders killed by "rioters".

Confirming that the internet blackout remains in place, monitor Netblocks said the shutdown was "obscuring the extent of a deadly crackdown on civilians".

"Gaps in the filternet are being tightened to limit circumvention while whitelisted regime accounts promote the Islamic Republic's narrative," it added.

Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside the country, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces from January 8 to 9, citing reports, documents and sources. It was not immediately possible to verify the report.

Activists have said that the Revolutionary Guards, a military force separate from the regular army with the mandate of keeping the Islamic revolution alive, took a frontline position in putting down the protests.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Monday urged the European Union to list the Guards as a "terrorist organisation", as Canada and the United States have done, saying the "the losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests demand a clear response".

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: NZ Players 'Inspect' Abhishek Sharma's Bat After Record-Breaking Knock

Abhishek Sharma is currently playing at a level that has left opposition teams both shell-shocked and suspicious. During the third T20I against New Zealand in Guwahati on Sunday, the young Indian opener unleashed such a brutal assault on the New Zealand's bowlers that it prompted a hilarious mid-pitch inspection. In a video that has since gone viral, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner, along with Devon Conway and Jacob Duffy, were seen closely examining Sharma's bat with smiles on their faces, perhaps checking for a hidden "spring" or some secret advantage.

Yesterday, New Zealand players were checking Abhishek Sharma's bat after the match.

I don't recall any other player's bat being checked like this

The last time I remember opposition players checking a bat was during Sachin Tendulkar's era

pic.twitter.com/SEgwHktqcn

— Space Recorder (@1spacerecorder) January 26, 2026

The light-hearted moment immediately triggered nostalgia for Indian cricket fans, reminding them of the 2003 World Cup final. Back then, a popular urban legend suggested that Ricky Ponting had used a "spring bat" to dismantle the Indian bowling attack. Two decades later, Abhishek Sharma's explosive power has revived those myths, though the reality is simply a young batter at the peak of his powers.

Chasing a target of 154, Abhishek turned the match into a highlight reel. He reached his half-century in just 14 balls—the second-fastest by an Indian in T20I history, falling just two balls short of Yuvraj Singh's iconic 2007 record. Remarkably, Abhishek did not play a single dot ball during his entire innings, finishing with an unbeaten 68 off 20 deliveries.

His blitz, combined with a quick-fire 57 from Suryakumar Yadav, allowed India to chase down the total in exactly 10 overs. This dominant performance gave India an invincible 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

New Zealand's Mark Chapman later praised the opener, stating that Abhishek's six-hitting ability is "second to none." The Punjab left-hander, who rose to fame with his fearless approach in the IPL, now boasts a staggering T20I strike rate of 195.22. As India prepares for their T20 World Cup title defence, Abhishek has sent a clear message to the world: it's not the bat, but the man wielding it, that is the real danger. With the series already in the bag, the action now moves to Vizag.

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Hema Malini Reacts To Padma Vibhushan For Dharmendra: "So So Proud"

Veteran actor Dharmendra has been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

The legendary star died on November 24, 2025, leaving behind an irreplaceable legacy in Hindi cinema.

Reacting to the honour, his wife and actor-politician Hema Malini expressed her pride on X. She wrote, "So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award." 

So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award🙏 pic.twitter.com/5zJnA53MT0

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 25, 2026

Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol on December 8, 1935, in Nasrali village of Punjab's Ludhiana district, he was the son of Kewal Kishan Singh Deol, a school headmaster. 

Drawn by his deep love for cinema, Dharmendra moved to Mumbai and made his film debut with the 1960 romantic drama Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere, directed by Arjun Hingorani. 

Although the film failed commercially, it marked the beginning of his journey in the world he had long aspired to be part of.

Dharmendra's final film, Ikkis, released on December 25, marked a poignant close to an illustrious journey.

When Were The Padma Awards 2026 Announced?

The Padma Awards for 2026 were announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the eve of Republic Day. These prestigious civilian honours celebrate individuals from varied fields such as arts, literature, social service, medicine, education, and public service, acknowledging excellence and long-standing contributions to society.

Among India's highest civilian honours, the Padma Awards are presented in three categories - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards are traditionally conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(With inputs from ANI)

ALSO READ: Dharmendra Honoured With Padma Vibhushan, Padma Awards For Mammootty, Madhavan And Alka Yagnik

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Trinamool, BJP Supporters Clash Near Kolkata, Makeshift Stage Set On Fire

Violent clashes broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP supporters over putting up flags for a political programme in Sakher Bazar in Behala, roughly 11 km from Kolkata, on Sunday.

The workers and supporters of the BJP vandalised the local Trinamool councillor's office. A makeshift stage, where former Tripura chief minister and BJP election co-incharge Biplab Kumar Deb addressed a public meeting in the afternoon, was also allegedly set on fire during the clash. The BJP workers accused the Trinamool (TMC) supporters of setting the stage on fire.

Deb addressed a crowd during the 'Parivartan Sankalp Sabha' this afternoon. Soon after, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site and set the stage on fire after Deb left the venue. It is also being alleged that the BJP supporters were putting up flags in the area during the meeting. The BJP workers then allegedly vandalised the office of Trinamool councillor Sudip Polley.

Putting up a video of the clash, BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X handle, "Fearing an impending defeat, TMC goons have once again unleashed political terror on the streets of Kolkata. Moments after BJP election co-incharge and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb addressed voters at the Parivartan Sankalp Sabha in Behala Paschim, TMC workers stormed the venue, vandalised the site, and after his departure set the sabha stage on fire in the middle of a bustling market."

"TMC has reduced Bengal to a theatre of terror. Mamata Banerjee's goons are rampaging across the state, torching democracy in a desperate bid to cling to power," Malviya added.

Anupam Bhattacharya, BJP's South Kolkata District President, said, "Today we had a political meeting of Biplab Deb in Behala Paschim. Permission for which had already been taken two to three days before the programme. We wanted a peaceful meeting today. But since TMC prevented us from putting up party flags from the beginning. They intentionally provoked the violence today to disturb Biplab Deb's speech".

Upon receiving news of the clash between the workers of the two parties, Trinamool Congress MLAs Debasish Kumar and Ratna Chatterjee reached the spot and spoke with the Trinamool workers. Police have been deployed in the area.

TMC's Behala Purba MLA Ratna Chatterjee said, "I had come to attend a badminton tournament by our boys, and came to know that BJP supporters tried to disturb the game. The BJP does not know we have our leader, Mamata Banerjee,e with us. The more they attack us, the more we become stronger".

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Rescue Team Left My Son To His Fate: Father Of Noida Techie Who Drowned

At 27, Yuvraj Mehta had a whole life ahead of him. This realisation is what added to the pain that his father, Rajkumar Mehta, has to live with, along with the knowledge that he will never see his son again.

Even the last glimpse of his bright son, a software engineer, gave him nothing less than true horror - a father saw his son trying to get out of a water-filled pit at a construction site in Uttar Pradesh's 'smart city' Noida, only to die with no help despite a long rescue window of two hours.

No parent should go through anything like this, the devastated father told NDTV.

Closure is uncertain for Rajkumar Mehta. He said his family will never get justice because his son is not coming back.

But if there is anything that he wants done in memory of his son, it is this: "We want the responsible people to face the harshest possible action and ensure that no other Yuvraj suffers such a tragedy in future."

Rajkumar Mehta said the negligent departments should not be spared.

"All those who were responsible for this tragedy should get appropriate punishment. My son was very brave. Even after falling into the water-filled pit, he struggled to get out and gave the rescue personnel a chance for two hours," Rajkumar Mehta said.

"But the rescue team showed only negligence and left my son to god's mercy," the father told NDTV.

He gave his regards to Moninder, a delivery rider who made the brave choice of tying a rope around his waist and going into the water in the pitch black night to look for Yuvraj. The delivery rider, who said he searched for at least half-an-hour, had also alleged that timely rescue would have definitely saved Yuvraj.

"I want to thank Moninder bhai for trying to save my son's life without caring about anything else," Rajkumar Mehta said.

He appealed to the UP government to ensure that all those who were responsible for his immense loss get punishment, and acknowledged the Yogi Adityanath government's decision to form a special investigation team.

The software engineer died in the early hours of January 17 after his car skidded in dense fog and plunged into the unbarricaded, water-filled pit in Noida Sector 150. The road, going over a large drain, turned a sharp 90-degree on his way home not far from the accident site.

Rajkumar Mehta had come there on getting a call from his son. Standing beside the police and fire department personnel, he could hear Yuvraj shout for help. He watched it all, helpless. Rajkumar Mehta said his son climbed to the roof of the partially submerged car and used his mobile phone's flashlight to signal his location in the thick fog.

Among the actions that followed after the software engineer's tragic end included the UP government removing the Noida Authority chief executive on January 19 and sacking a junior engineer.

So far three builders have been arrested and an investigation has begun against real estate developers MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens. The case filed into the accident includes charges for murder and violation of environmental laws.

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Mark Now Streaming Online: Where to Watch This Kannada Action Thriller Online?

Mark is an action-packed Kannada crime drama that explores corruption and the fight for justice through the journey of a determined police officer. Featuring Sudeepa in a powerful lead role, the film delivers intense storytelling packed into a 24-hour window. Now streaming on JioHotstar in multiple languages, Mark appeals to fans of fast-paced investigative thrillers.

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James Webb Captures Stunning Infrared Image of the Helix Nebula Eye of God

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a detailed infrared image of the Helix Nebula, also known as the “Eye of God.” The glowing ring of gas around a white dwarf star reveals filaments and knots formed as stellar winds collide with older material, offering insight into the fate of Sun-like stars.

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Karan Johar And Neeraj Ghaywan React After Homebound's Oscars 2026 Snub

While Homebound fell short of a nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards, the moment was met not with disappointment but with appreciation. Producer Karan Johar and director Neeraj Ghaywan took to social media to reflect on the film's journey and the collaboration that brought it to the global stage.

Karan Johar Expresses Pride In Homebound 

Soon after the Academy announced the nominations for the 98th Academy Awards, Karan Johar took to Instagram to share his feelings about Homebound. The filmmaker posted several stills from the film on his Instagram Stories and applauded director Neeraj Ghaywan for his vision and dedication.

"Proud!!! Love you @neeraj.ghaywan for allowing us to bask in your light!" Karan Johar wrote.

Neeraj Ghaywan Thanks Karan Johar 

Director Neeraj Ghaywan responded by resharing Karan Johar's Instagram Story and expressing heartfelt gratitude for the producer's backing throughout the film's journey. 

Ghaywan wrote, "Thank you @karanjohar! You have been an absolute rock. Couldn't have come this far without you. Love you."

Homebound was India's official submission for the Academy Awards and had earlier made it to the shortlist before missing out on a final nomination. 

Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film stars Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter in lead roles, with Janhvi Kapoor playing a key part. Produced by Dharma Productions, the film also boasts Martin Scorsese as its executive producer. 

ALSO READ: Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, India's Entry, Out Of Oscar 2026 Race

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NASA Selects Three New Lunar Science Instruments for Artemis Moon Missions

NASA has selected three new lunar science instruments to fly to the Moon under the Artemis program through its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Delivered by U.S. commercial landers by 2028, the payloads will map surface temperatures, probe subsurface heat flow, and measure radiation, supporting future astronaut safety, navigation, and long-term human exploration of the Moon.

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'You Have To Be AI Fluent For Employment Going Forward': Rishad Premji To NDTV

India has not missed the artificial intelligence (AI) bus and there are several opportunities available for the country's companies, which can help enterprises make use of the technology at scale, Wipro Executive Chairman Rishad Premji has said.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV CEO and Editor-In-Chief Rahul Kanwal on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, Premji emphasised that the people most at risk of losing their jobs because of AI are those who do not adopt the technology. AI fluency, he insisted, is going to be critical for any kind of employment going forward.

To a question on what AI will bring in 2026, the Wipro chairman said organisations will leverage the technology more and more to serve their businesses and their customers. 

"I think the language models don't have enough context and in-depth understanding of the workflow of individual organisations... So there's a huge opportunity in infusing specific context, domain and workflow understanding of organisations into that to make it relevant and really drive production scale. So, I find that presents a huge opportunity for companies," Premji said. 

"There's so much money being spent on infrastructure in many markets, including India and Europe, but ultimately somebody has to drive consumption of that infrastructure to drive returns for organisations. And I think the technology services companies from India have a huge chance to drive their adoption by helping enterprises make use of these technologies at scale," he explained 

On whether India needs to focus on the foundational AI layer instead of the application layer and try and have a DeepSeek moment of its own, the Wipro chairman said it does not make sense for companies like his to invest in replicating those models. Value, he said, can be unlocked in how they can specialise them. 

"So the value is in building highly specialised small language models. We had a conversation yesterday where you can build models that have 50 billion parameters and can do effectively 95% of the work that most large language models can do. So you can be highly specialised. There's a huge opportunity for enterprises to build highly specialised small language models. There's an opportunity for countries like India," he said. 

"These models can be for areas of importance like healthcare, education, agriculture and governance. So there's a huge play in just driving that specialisation as well as focusing on multilingual models. We have a huge opportunity to serve many different languages in our country. And so we, as a company, should focus on where our strengths lie, like talent on scale... We often get hugely focused on building out the technology. The magic is in the implementation of the technology," he maintained. 

India, Premji said, can become the scale deployment engine of the world and also build talent for AI globally, which is a big challenge. 

'Can Catch Up'

Asked whether he agreed with some commentators who say India has missed the AI bus, Premji asserted that is not the case. 

"The AI bus is still very early. A lot of the investments have happened in the infrastructure layer. They haven't happened in the adoption layer. That journey is going to unfold over the next five, seven, ten years. I think there's a huge opportunity for us as companies and as a country to participate in that journey," Premji emphasised.

"I don't believe at all that we have missed the bus. I think the bus is very much in starting mode and we can catch up and jump onto that bus quite easily without falling down," he added.

Layoffs?

To a question on layoffs at IT organisations and how AI will impact the employment environment, Premji said technology services companies have not seen a reduction in the number of people and have actually added more employees over the past few years. 

Jobs, he said, can largely be categorised in four buckets. 

"One is jobs that will get disrupted because of AI, and we have to accept that. Bucket number two is jobs that will get enhanced by AI, so you work with machines and humans to drive that impactfully. Three is jobs that will get created because of AI, and four will be human-only jobs. So we have to think of bucket one and figure out how we can retrain, repurpose those people -  through the right skilling, through the right opportunities - to move into buckets two and three," he said. 

The biggest challenge, the Wipro chairman explained, is getting people to adopt AI, and the people most at risk are those who don't do so. 

"I think it's the responsibility of organisations, industry and government to really give people the comfort that this change is important. AI fluency is the new digital currency. You have to be AI fluent to be relevant to do any kind of job going forward. So it's about how we can help people build those skills. They need to understand that if they disrupt what they are doing today, they still have a future, because the system will beat them anyway if they don't," he maintained.

Tackling Uncertainty

The uncertainty brought in by decisions taken by US President Donald Trump is now much more controlled, Premji said, because people and global companies like his have factored it into their calculus. 

"There was perhaps a little bit of a hiccup in April-May last year when the whole trade discussion unfolded, but I think customers have now learned to move forward knowing that this may be more uncertain than they had planned for," he said. 

"On the situation around visas and immigration, all of us are navigating that by leveraging the talent we already have and focusing more and more on local employment and local hiring. Almost 80% of our talent in the US is local, so we're not as concerned about that. We also focus on building talent locally everywhere in the world, like we have done in India," he added.

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