Iran Plans Live Fire Drills Near US Warships. Why Focus Is On Strait Of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, again has become a focus of tensions as Iran prepares to launch a military drill that could see fire into a lane crucial for global shipping.

Iran has warned ships that it will conduct a live-fire drill Sunday and Monday in the strait, which sees a fifth of all oil traded pass through the tight corridor between the Islamic Republic and Oman.

The U.S. military's Central Command issued its own warning early Saturday, telling Tehran that any "unsafe and unprofessional behavior near U.S. forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases risks of collision, escalation and destabilization."

Here's what to know about the drill, the U.S. warning, what caused the tensions and what might happen next in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz resembles a bend looking down from space. Its narrowest point is just 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide. It flows from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can then travel to the rest of the world. While Iran and Oman have its territorial waters in the strait, its viewed as an international waterway all ships can ply. The United Arab Emirates, home to the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, also sits near the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz through history has been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles moving from China through the region. In the modern era of supertankers, the narrow strait proved deep and wide enough to allow for oil to pass through it. While there are pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE that can avoid the passage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says "most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region." The vast majority of the oil and gas moving through the strait goes to markets in Asia. Threats to the route have spiked global energy prices in the past, including during the 12-day war Israel launched against Iran in June.

A notice to mariners sent Thursday by radio warned that Iran planned to conduct "naval shooting" in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday. The coordinates provided by the message put the drill potentially going into what is known as the Traffic Separation Scheme - a 3.2-kilometer- (2-mile-) wide, two-lane system in which ships coming into the Persian Gulf go north and ships exiting onto the Gulf of Oman go south. That northern lane is within the coordinates of the drill. While Iran has provided no other public details about the drills, it will likely involve the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard operates a fleet of small fast-attack vessels in the strait that routinely has tense encounters with the U.S. Navy.

Early Saturday, the U.S. military's Central Command issued a strongly worded warning to Iran and the Revolutionary Guard over the drill. While acknowledging Iran's "right to operate professionally in international airspace and waters," it warned against interfering or threatening American warships or passing commercial vessels. The command, which oversees the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said it "will not tolerate unsafe (Guard) actions" that could include its aircraft or vessels getting too close to American warships or pointing weapons toward them. The command added that "the U.S. military has the most highly trained and lethal force in the world."

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to launch a military strike against Iran after its bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. He has laid down two red lines - the killing of peaceful protesters and Iran launching a wave of mass executions of those held. In recent days, he's also included the fate of Iran's nuclear program. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and supporting guided missile destroyers are now in the Arabian Sea where they could launch an attack if Trump calls for it. Iran has warned it could launch its own preemptive strike or target American interests across the Middle East and Israel. While the 12-day war saw Iran fire off ballistic missiles and Israel target its stockpile, Tehran maintains an arsenal of short- and medium-range missiles that could hit surrounding Gulf Arab states.

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/bN0yCFi

N Sitharaman To Unveil 'Tariff-Proof' Roadmap For India In Budget 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on February 1 present her ninth straight Budget, which is expected to unveil measures to sustain growth momentum, maintain fiscal discipline, and contain reforms that could buffer the economy from global trade frictions, including US tariffs.

The presentation of the Budget for April 2026 to March 2027 fiscal (2026-27) will be on Sunday, a first in independent India's history.

Sitharaman's sweeping income tax and GST cuts, together with spending on infrastructure and the RBI's interest rate reductions, have so far helped the Indian economy withstand the punitive 50 per cent tariff US President Donald Trump has imposed on Indian goods. But now, she has to come up with measures to sustain the momentum.

The FY27 Budget comes against a complex backdrop. While domestic demand has held up and inflation has moderated from recent highs, global uncertainties - including geopolitical tensions, volatile commodity prices and uneven monetary easing by major central banks - continue to cloud the outlook. At home, the government faces pressure to boost consumption, accelerate job creation and step up capital spending, while keeping the fiscal deficit on a downward path.

However, the tax cuts have nibbled into government revenue, limiting her options to support the economy in the new Budget.

Her biggest challenge will be to find a new growth driver, particularly against the backdrop of a global economy ravaged by heightened uncertainty and fragmentation, financial markets on a precipice, and global commodity prices on a continued uptrend.

Sitharaman, economists said, also faces the difficult task of restoring investor confidence in the near term, as uncertainty over India's trade talks with the US has unsettled financial markets, with foreign investors continuing to sell Indian equities and pushing the rupee to a record low.

Some believe she may use the proven cash cow - petrol and diesel - to shore up revenues. Availing of a limited window available before international oil prices boil, the minister may raise excise duty on the two auto fuels. The duty hike is expected not to be passed on to consumers, but adjusted against the retail price cut that was warranted when global oil prices fell last year.

She may focus on simplifying regulations and pushing structural reforms to attract domestic and foreign investment.

Despite the tight purse strings, she is not expected to cut spending and may include new measures for the poll-bound states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam. Some schemes may be re-packaged.

Capital Expenditure Push To Continue

Capital expenditure is expected to remain the central pillar of the budget. Over the past few years, the government has sharply increased spending on roads, railways, defence manufacturing, urban infrastructure and logistics to crowd in private investment.

For FY27, economists expect another meaningful rise in capex, though at a more measured pace compared to the post-pandemic surge. Railways, renewable energy, power transmission, defence and urban transport are seen as priority areas, with continued support for state-level infrastructure through interest-free loans.

Tax Stability Over Big Giveaways

On the tax front, major changes are considered unlikely. The government has repeatedly signalled a preference for stability and predictability, especially in direct taxes. Any tweaks to personal income tax are expected to be incremental, potentially aimed at easing the burden on the middle class to support consumption.

Corporate tax rates are also likely to remain unchanged, with the focus instead on improving compliance and widening the tax base through digitisation and data-driven enforcement.

Jobs, Manufacturing And MSME

Job creation is expected to feature prominently, with possible incentives linked to labour-intensive manufacturing, skilling and apprenticeships.

Schemes supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which have faced margin pressures from high input costs and tight credit conditions, could see enhanced allocations or credit-guarantee support.

There may also be refinements to production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes as the government assesses their impact on manufacturing capacity, exports and employment.

Green Transition And Energy Security

With India pushing ahead on its energy-transition goals, the FY27 Budget is expected to strengthen support for renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage and electric mobility. Measures to enhance domestic manufacturing of clean-energy equipment and reduce import dependence are also likely.

At the same time, allocations for oil and gas infrastructure and strategic reserves could be maintained to address energy-security concerns amid global volatility.

Political Undertones

Though not an election year, the Budget FY27 will be closely read for its political signals ahead of key state polls. Balancing welfare spending with fiscal prudence will be a delicate task, especially amid calls for higher rural support and targeted subsidies.

Overall, Sitharaman's FY27 Budget is expected to prioritise continuity over surprise, reinforcing the government's long-term growth strategy while navigating near-term economic risks. Markets will look for reassurance that India can sustain high growth without compromising macroeconomic stability.

According to economists at SBI Research, the Budget comes against the domino effects of a new emerging order of realpolitik, still largely opaque, yet frightening. A bigger concern is if crude oil breaks free from the artificially managed supply glut and joins the bandwagon, even for a short while.

"We expect modest growth in tax revenue and flat growth in non-tax revenue," they said. "Government capex may cross Rs 12 lakh crore in FY27, a YoY growth of around 10 per cent." Net tax receipts are on course to miss budgeted estimates due to the GST rate rationalisation measures, direct tax relief, and lower tax buoyancy on the back of weaker nominal growth, said Radhik Rao, Senior Economist, DBS Bank.

"We expect Budget measures to align with the economy's strategic ambitions, including on manufacturing and social welfare."

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/fWrSTNO

How to Register on the New Aadhaar App: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) highlighted that the new Aadhaar app is aimed at broad digital identity usage. However, before you can use the app, you need to register for it, which can be tricky for some individuals. Here, we have shared a detailed step-by-step guide for you to understand the requirements and learn how to register for the Aadhaar app without any hassle.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/fb1zhjW

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 LIVE Streaming: When And Where To Watch

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 LIVE Streaming: The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 is set to combine excitement and unpredictability, with the winner of each 30-member men's and women's Rumble earning the right to challenge for a championship at WrestleMania 42 in April. AJ Styles will feature in a high-profile showdown against Gunther, who enters the match having 'forced' the retirement of the legendary John Cena. Sami Zayn, on the other hand, is set to take on Undisputed WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble.

WWE Royal Rumble 2026 LIVE Streaming: Check Where and How to Watch LIVE Telecast

When will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 take place?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 1 (IST).

Where will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 be held?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will be held at the KAFD Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What time will the WWE Royal Rumble 2026 start?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will start at 12:30 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the WWE Royal Rumble 2026?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the WWE Royal Rumble 2026?

The WWE Royal Rumble 2026 will be live streamed on the Netflix app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/aPUbTpt

Trump's Long History With Venezuela's Elite Before He Decided To Fix It

President Donald Trump's years-long crusade to dislodge Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, a mission he finally accomplished this month, was billed as a way to thwart drug trafficking, check migration and revive Venezuela's oil industry. But behind the president's preoccupation with the South American nation is also the story of lifelong personal and business relationships with Venezuelan elites in New York and Miami.

From this tiny privileged class whom he got to know as a military academy student and jet-setting businessman, Trump would have absorbed memories of a country where petrodollars built a clutch of glittering fortunes not unlike his own, according to people familiar with his social interactions. That was before the 1990s rise of socialist icon Hugo Chavez, who seized on Venezuela's vast inequality and corruption to drive one of Latin America's wealthiest economies onto a path of ruin. Maduro - and then US sanctions - made it worse.

Although there isn't any evidence that he ever visited Venezuela, Trump's own words suggest that this riches-to-rags chronicle of more than a quarter century helped fuel his determination to restore the country to its former glory.

Venezuela is "a country I know very well, for a lot of reasons," Trump said during his second inauguration day in 2025. "It was a great country 20 years ago, and now, it's a mess," he said - comments that he echoed last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump's storied business career includes competing with, and ultimately outbidding, Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros, whom he admired, to buy the glamorous Miss Universe beauty pageant in the mid-1990s. The purchase fired up Trump's media brand and helped lead to the NBC reality show "The Apprentice" that burnished his popularity.

After US forces captured Maduro in early January, Trump has been working with acting President Delcy Rodriguez, the regime's former No. 2, whom he said is "willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again."

Asked to comment on the anecdotes in this story and Trump's relationships over the years with Venezuelan elites, Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, said Trump has been clear that his motivation for arresting Maduro was because he was "sending drugs and criminals into our country at unacceptable rates."

"The President will do everything in his power to secure our homeland from those killing Americans with illicit narcotics," Kelly said.

Amigos on the Pitch

Trump's friendships with Venezuelan elites date as far back as his teenage years at the New York Military Academy, a prep school nestled in the Hudson Valley. He played on the varsity soccer team in the early 1960s, when soccer was still niche in the US. Trump was one of the few non-Hispanic players on a team dominated by surnames like Rosas, Rocha and Jaramillo, according to a yearbook from the school.

"The soccer team was like a fraternity," Isilio Arriaga, a Venezuelan-American friend and classmate of Trump, said in an interview. "He knew about Venezuela since he was a young kid, and he had a special caring for our people, for Latinos in general."

When Trump moved to Manhattan in the early 1970s, he joined Le Club, then one of the city's most exclusive social clubs and one frequented by wealthy South Americans, the president wrote in "Trump: The Art of the Deal."

When Trump was a rising real estate developer in the early 1980s, Diego Arria, a former governor of Caracas and UN ambassador, introduced Trump, then in his mid-30s, to Italian-Argentine businessman Franco Macri, two decades his elder and father of Argentina's future president Mauricio Macri. The connection ultimately led to Trump buying a controlling interest in the Lincoln West project in Manhattan from Macri in 1985. Arria, in an interview, said that he and his wife became some of the first friends to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago after he bought it as a private residence that same year.

In the mid-1990s, Trump met Cisneros, dashing patriarch of the Venezuelan family that was once the richest in South America and owner of the Miss Venezuela pageant, among the world's most prestigious beauty contests. Trump, who in the 1980s had opened casinos in Atlantic City, home of the Miss America pageant, became interested in buying the rival Miss Universe when it came up for sale in 1996. Trump went to meet Cisneros, co-founder of Spanish-language media empire Univision, for breakfast at the Venezuelan magnate's Fifth Avenue apartment, "an absolutely magnificent blocklong duplex," Trump later recounted in his book "Trump: The Art of the Comeback."

Trump remembered Cisneros as "dazzlingly handsome" and said that "if I were casting a movie whose male lead was to be South American aristocracy, the role would go to him," adding "I learned something about style that morning." After briefly raising the idea of a partnership, Trump outbid him for the pageant.

"There were several meetings with Mr. Trump to discuss the acquisition of the Miss Universe pageant," recalls Beatrice Rangel, who served as deputy chief of staff to Carlos Andres Perez, the socialist-turned-neoliberal Venezuelan president whom Chavez tried to oust in a 1992 coup attempt. She later became a senior adviser for the Cisneros Group before the Miss Universe sale. "These conversations did not render any fruit in terms of a partnership, because Mr. Trump wanted to have the asset for himself."

During the two decades when Trump owned Miss Universe until 2015, four Venezuelans won the crown - establishing the country's brand as a pageant powerhouse in that era.

"It may be that Trump remembers Venezuela during its boom years, when the Miss Venezuela pageant was a huge spectacle, and Trump is undoubtedly a man who loves spectacle. It holds a special fascination for him," said Giovanna De Michele, a Venezuelan international affairs analyst.

The family of Gustavo Cisneros's cousin, soft-drink and telecoms mogul Oswaldo Cisneros, also knew Trump and his first wife Ivana socially, once renting an apartment in Trump Tower, right below the future president's apartment. 

"I'd have a cocktail party, and they'd go downstairs. They'd have a cocktail party, and I'd go upstairs," recalled Oswaldo's widow, Ella Fontanals-Cisneros, at an event in 2024 to promote a book.

The pageant circuit gave Trump opportunities to mingle with Venezuelan models at parties. He also established a professional relationship with flamboyant Cuban-Venezuelan Osmel Sousa, known as the "Beauty Czar," who prepared the women for competition.

"During the years that Donald Trump owned Miss Universe, whenever he saw me he would call me 'my king of Venezuela'," Sousa recounted in his biography titled "Osmel: An Unknown Man."

Arria, the former Caracas governor, remained friendly with Trump in the 1990s, and said that at one point Trump asked him to reach out to Sousa and attempt to hire him for Miss Universe. Arria says that Sousa declined the overture.

Paradise Lost

Decades later, President Trump has ironically embraced Rodriguez, who rose to power under Chavez's ideological banner of redistributing wealth. At the same time, he's sidelined opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a US boarding school graduate like himself whose father headed Sivensa, a company that saw its steelmaking subsidiary expropriated by Chavez in 2010. Still, after a recent meeting with Machado, Trump said he was "impressed" with her and thought she might be "involved in some way" in Venezuela's reconstruction.

That nascent process is imbued with Trump's musings about Venezuela's squandered glory, which have surfaced even during moments of high political stakes.

On Feb. 5, 2020, Trump hosted then-opposition leader Juan Guaido at the White House for the first time. Trump a year earlier had recognized Guaido, then head of Venezuela's National Assembly, as the country's rightful president and imposed "maximum pressure" sanctions in a bid to oust Maduro after the US and other countries alleged fraud in a 2018 election.

During a conversation about how to bring about change in Venezuela, Trump turned to the teams assembled and asked for the name of the man who prepared the Venezuelan contestants for Miss Universe, according to people with knowledge of the meeting.

Flabbergasted, the Venezuelans fumbled to respond. Finally someone suggested: "Osmel Sousa."

Trump excitedly confirmed that was the person he had been thinking of, the people said, and his fondness for the man and the lost era came pouring out.

Arriaga, Trump's classmate, returned to Venezuela after college and went on to have a career in business and politics for three decades before moving back to the US. He saw Trump at Mar-a-Lago a few years ago, between his presidential terms, as a guest of another friend. Arriaga recalls that Trump immediately greeted him by exclaiming "Chico!" -  Arriaga's childhood nickname.

They reminisced about their academy days. Before leaving, Arriaga made a plea: "Mr. President - don't forget about Venezuela."

"I will never forget this," Arriaga said in the interview. "He said to me, 'I'm on it.'"
 

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/znoBPeG

NASA, SpaceX Move Up Crew-12 Launch After ISS Medical Emergency

NASA and SpaceX have moved the Crew-12 launch to Feb. 11, 2026, following the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. The early launch will replenish the station’s crew after it was left with just three astronauts, ensuring safe operations and continuity of research.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/MUyTcY4

Pakistan Suffer Huge Setback Ahead Of India Clash In U-19 World Cup. Here's The Details

Pakistan will face India in an important Super Six match at the U-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe. The proceedings of that match will decide the fourth semi-finalist of the mega event featuring future top stars. Afghanistan and England joined Australia as the latest entrants into the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup on Friday, following impressive performances in their Super Six clashes. An unbeaten England became the first team from Group 2 to reach the final four, with Sunday's marquee clash between India and Pakistan serving as a virtual knockout match.

Pakistan suffered an injury setback ahead of the match, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shayan being ruled out due to an injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Friday. "Pakistan U19 wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Shayan has been ruled out of the ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup after being struck on the nose by a ball while wicketkeeping to a fast bowler during a scenario-based practice match," the PCB said in a statement.

"He was taken to hospital, where X-rays confirmed a fracture. A replacement for Mohammad Shayan will be named in due course."

The India U-19 team, currently competing in the ongoing U-19 World Cup, had a virtual interaction with batting great Sachin Tendulkar ahead of their crucial Super Six clash against Pakistan.

"In what was an invaluable experience, the next generation got insights and perspectives on the important ingredients for success and longevity in an ever-evolving sport," the BCCI said in a post on X, along with pictures of the virtual meet.

The interaction was "not just limited to technical skills and remaining fit, but also the importance of staying focused, disciplined, humble, and grounded in success," it added.

Tendulkar holds the record for playing in the most ICC Cricket World Cups (1992-2011), during which he set the all-time record for total runs scored - 2,278 in 45 matches.

He is the only player to appear in six World Cup tournaments, finishing his career by winning the 2011 edition.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Wb8SMdL

What Is Jakhiya Aloo: The Pahadi Dish Served At Rashtrapati Bhavan Banquet

At a state banquet hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 27, 2026, the spotlight was firmly on the Himalayas. Curated as a regional showcase for visiting European Union leaders, the menu drew from the food traditions of India's mountain states and featured various high-altitude ingredients. The meal presented a side of Indian cuisine that rarely appears at formal diplomatic tables. One of the delights served was Jakhiya Aloo, a simple Kumaoni potato dish cooked with mustard oil and a native hill spice. It was heartening to see a simple home-style treat served at such a diplomatic event. Given how wholesome and delicious it is, you should also consider trying it at home. Find out more about it below:

What Is Jakhiya Aloo?

Jakhiya Aloo is a traditional potato preparation from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It relies on boiled or parboiled potatoes cooked in mustard oil and tempered with jakhiya seeds, green chillies, turmeric, and salt. There are no onions, no tomatoes, no garam masala. The flavours are comforting and restrained. It is a dish meant to nourish and is often served alongside dal, rice, or mandua roti.

In hill households, this dish appears frequently, especially in colder months. It's filling without being heavy, comforting without being indulgent. It travels well too, which is why variations of it often find their way into packed meals for long journeys.

What Is Jakhiya?

Jakhiya is the soul of the dish. These tiny, dark brown seeds are native to the Himalayan region and are often mistaken for mustard or cumin by those unfamiliar with them. Unlike mustard seeds, jakhiya doesn't burst open aggressively. It pops gently, releasing a warm, nutty aroma with subtle bitterness. That behaviour matters. The spice perfumes the oil without overpowering it, creating a base that feels rounded rather than sharp.

Easy Recipe For Jakhiya Aloo

Ingredients:

• 500 g baby potatoes (boiled, peeled, roughly cubed)
• 2 tbsp mustard oil
• 2 tsp jakhiya seeds
• 1/2 tsp asafoetida
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• 4 dried red chillies (broken)
• 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
• 4-6 garlic cloves (pounded)
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1-2 tsp salt, or to taste

Method:

1. Heat mustard oil in a heavy-bottomed kadhai until it just begins to smoke; lower the heat.
2. Add jakhiya seeds and let them crackle gently for 20-30 seconds.
3. Add garlic, asafoetida, red chillies, turmeric and salt.
4. Add the potatoes, lightly pressing a few pieces to roughen them. Mix to coat them well.
5. Cover and cook on low heat for around 5 minutes, until the potatoes are lightly crisp at the edges.
6. Lightly stir the ingredients. Incorporate coriander leaves and top with lime juice. The jakhiya aloo is ready to be served.

Like most home dishes, Jakhiya Aloo changes subtly from kitchen to kitchen. Some households may add other vegetables too. Some may add ingredients like ginger for added flavour. The core technique remains the same, but proportions and textures vary.

If you love potatoes and want to enjoy a different recipe this season, we highly recommend Jakhiya Aloo. Try it soon!

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/A48OxiN

"Fingers On The Trigger": Iran Warns US Against Military Operation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Wednesday that its forces would respond forcefully to any US military operation -- but did not rule out a new deal on Tehran's nuclear programme.

"Our brave Armed Forces are prepared -- with their fingers on the trigger -- to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea," he posted on X.

"At the same time, Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL -- on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation -- which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS."

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/9NbuiLH

Mahesh Bhatt Reacts To Arijit Singh's Retirement From Playback Singing

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has reflected on Arijit Singh's decision to step away from playback singing.

What Mahesh Bhatt Said

In a conversation with The Telegraph Online, he said, "At the height of their powers, some artists step away - not from art but from noise. They choose silence, solitude, and truth over constant performance."

Recalling his first encounter with a young Arijit Singh during the making of Mohit Suri's Aashiqui 2, which Bhatt produced, the veteran filmmaker shared a vivid memory that has stayed with him over the years. 

"When I heard about Arijit's decision to stop singing for others, I was unexpectedly taken back to an afternoon at Super Sound Service in Khar - the old T-Series building - where the journey of Aashiqui 2 truly began. We were releasing the music, and Arijit was called to sing Tum Hi Ho," Bhatt said.

He went on to describe the defining moment that marked the beginning of Arijit's extraordinary rise. "A shy self-effacing young man walked up to the dais and sang a song that would quietly mesmerise the world. That moment became a springboard into a life that would never be the same again," Bhatt added.

Arijit Singh Announces Retirement

In an emotional note, Arijit reflected on his journey as a playback singer and wrote, "Hello, Happy new year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey."

Arijit first came into public attention through the reality show Fame Gurukul. 

Over the years, he has delivered some of Hindi cinema's most unforgettable songs, including Channa Mereya, Hawayein, Raabta, Hamari Adhuri Kahani, Kesariya, Satranga, O Maahi and Tu Hai Toh, among many others.

ALSO READ: Why Arijit Singh Quit Playback Singing At The Peak Of His Career

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/T6SrjZY

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.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/HvrCcMz

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.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/tvf7oYQ

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.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/DMjpSCG

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/0Wdjfwx

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".

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/ledTPup

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.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/XGzb341

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.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/1IjeZK9

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.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/D6KrC3V

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/HzKpsCm

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.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/MGNkAqP

'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.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/l2pNj9n

Video Shows How Northeast Trains Stay Clean, Passengers Collect Trash In Bags

Citizens exhibiting a disregard for cleanliness, especially in public places, is a topic of intense discussion in India. The passenger trains often witness the worst side of Indian travellers who litter without a care and unload the responsibility of maintaining sanitation on the authorities. While debates about the lack of civic sense continue, the North East region of the country has once again led from the front and highlighted how a progressive society should operate.

Shared on Instagram by a user named @daily.passenger, the widely shared video shows passengers on the Aizawl-Guwahati train taking personal initiative to keep their surroundings clean. They were seen diligently collecting their waste in bags, demonstrating a high level of civic awareness without needing reminders or enforcement from the authorities.

"People were tying their waste in small bags and hanging them neatly beside their seats. No announcements. No instructions from the railways. Just a habit," read the caption accompanying the video.

"As someone from North India, this made me reflect deeply. We often complain about dirty trains and roads, but rarely question our own behaviour. Clean spaces do not stay clean because of authorities alone. They stay clean because people choose to care. There is so much to learn from Mizoram and the North East. Respect for public spaces is not a campaign. It is a way of life."

Check The Viral Clip Here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A (@daily.passenger)

Also Read | Meet Veronika, First Cow In Human History Known To Use Tools

'So Much To Learn'

As the video went viral, social media users lauded the passengers for keeping the train clean and hoped that passengers in other regions of the country would learn from their behaviour.

"There is so much to learn for all of us from our fellow Indians of the North East," said one user, while another added: "It's not about the area but the civic sense of people.

A third commented: "This is great to see from them. I'm from Tamil Nadu. I appreciate that and hopefully it is followed across India. I request one thing that the trash is desposed in a safe way, instead of throwing it out on the tracks @irctc.official."

A fourth said: "We were told since childhood to carry our waste in our pockets or bags and throw it into a dustbin when we see one."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/EOhjHpw

Trump Says Wouldn't Join Paris G7 Meeting Suggested By Macron

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not attend an emergency meeting of G7 nations to discuss the war in Ukraine that was proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, but which the French leader later said would not take place this week.

Trump was asked at a White House briefing about a "private message" from the French leader -- suggesting an emergency G7 gathering in Paris -- that the US leader posted on his Truth Social network earlier on Tuesday.

Asked if he would be open to such a meeting, Trump told reporters: "No, I wouldn't do that."

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/95lvLXW

Zakir Khan Announces Break From Live Shows Until 2030 Due To Health Concerns

Stand-up comedian Zakir Khan announced a long break from live tours during his Hyderabad show.

According to Zakir Khan's team, the comedian has decided to take an extended hiatus from live performances, reportedly until 2030, citing health issues and personal reasons.

Comedian Zakir Khan has announced a long break from stand-up due to health reasons, sharing the update during his Hyderabad show.
Wishing him strength and a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/viKN76pvg5

— Bharatiya Base (@bharatiyabase) January 20, 2026

Zakir also shared a story on his Instagram handle on Tuesday afternoon, hinting at the break. After arriving in Dubai, he posted another update confirming that the decision was final.

He wrote, "Every show is a celebration till June 20. I won't be able to come to many cities this time, so please make a little extra effort and come to the shows. Thank you for all the love."

Meanwhile, last year Zakir Khan made history by becoming the first Indian comedian to perform a Hindi-language show at New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden.

Loved across India for his relatable humour and 'sakht launda' persona, Zakir shared the emotional moment with fans on Instagram. Calling it a "big day", he wrote about how overwhelming it felt to perform Hindi comedy for an audience of 6,000 people.

He went on to thank his friends and team for their support, describing the performance as a special milestone in his career. Among those cheering for him were celebrity chef Vikas Khanna and actor Kal Penn, whose presence made the night even more memorable.

Zakir Khan first rose to fame in 2012 after winning Comedy Central's India's Best Stand-Up competition. Since then, he has built a massive fan base in India and abroad through stand-up specials such as Haq Se Single, Kaksha Gyarvi, and others.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan Explains Why He Cannot 'Do A Bad Job' While Adapting Mahabharata: "It Is A Big Responsibility"

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/nVmRyFj

Cigarette In Hand, Driving At 120 kmph: 4 Teens Die In Udaipur Car Crash

Four teenagers, including three minors, were killed and six other people were injured when two cars collided in Udaipur on Saturday. A video that has emerged shows that the car in which the teenagers were travelling was being driven at a speed of 120 kmph at one point and at least two friends of the man driving, who was nonchalantly smoking a cigarette as music blared and a video played on a screen next to him, had urged him to slow down moments before the crash.

While there is darkness after the collision, the phone keeps recording and at least one of the friends can be heard begging people to rescue him, telling them he can't breathe.

The six friends had left in one car after attending a 'Mehfil-e-Milad' programme in Udaipur and were headed to the old Ahmedabad highway to have some tea. Their car collided with another, which was headed towards Gujarat, and while four of the friends - Mohammad Ayan (17), Adil Qureshi (14), Sher Mohammad (19), and Ghulam Khwaja (17) - died, two were seriously injured. All four people in the other car also sustained injuries. 

The nearly nine-minute video shows one of the friends in the backseat recording Sher Mohammad driving as a Haryanvi song plays very loudly, along with the video, on the car stereo. As the car's speed crosses 100 kmph, the 19-year-old, still smoking, shows no sign of slowing down.

The friend recording says, "Haath hatao (move your hand)", and then focuses on the speedometer, where the needle can be seen crossing the 120 kmph mark. Soon after, a friend says the car is now at 140 kmph and asks Sher Mohammad to slow down. This is followed by another friend urging him to do the same. 

Just seconds later, the car swerves, a scream can be heard, followed by a massive bang, the sound of glass shattering, and then darkness. 

This is at the 1.23 mark in the video. Static follows for at least 40 seconds until two people can be heard groaning in pain

The cries of agony continue for over two minutes before one of the friends can be heard asking someone near the site of the accident for help. "Bachalo bhayya... Mummy... Bachalo (Save me, please)," he can be heard saying.

"Bachalo, main andar phansa hua hoon, mereko saans nahin aa rahi hai (I am stuck inside, I can't breathe)," he pleads and continues to do so as the video ends around the nine-minute mark.

Both surviving friends in that car, as well as the four in the other vehicle, are undergoing treatment, officials said.

(With inputs from Sanjay Vyas)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/38R01Vj

T20 World Cup Controversy LIVE: Scotland 'Ready' To Replace Bangladesh

Bangladesh T20 World Cup Participation Controversy LIVE: Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India is up in the air, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) sending an ultimatum to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). As per ICC sources, the BCB have been urged to decide on its participation by January 21, or otherwise "risk being replaced by another team". This saga follows a series of events kickstarted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s instruction for the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, amid ongoing political tension between India and Bangladesh.

Here are the Live Updates on Bangladesh's T20 World Cup 2026 participation controversy:

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/G0lNJx3

Jana Nayagan Crosses 1 Million Interests On BookMyShow Ahead Of Court Hearing

Despite being caught in a web of legal hurdles, actor Vijay's much-anticipated film Jana Nayagan continues to generate remarkable buzz among audiences. The film has crossed a significant milestone by registering over one million 'interests' on BookMyShow, even as its theatrical release remains uncertain.

Fans Eagerly Await Jana Nayagan's Release

A look at Jana Nayagan's BookMyShow page shows that more than one million users have clicked the 'I'm interested' option, signalling strong anticipation for the film whenever bookings open. 

This surge in interest comes at a time when the film is yet to receive certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The film was slated to hit theatres on January 9, but days before the scheduled date, it was revealed that the CBFC had not cleared the project and had instead referred it to a revising committee. Since then, uncertainty has loomed over the release, with no official confirmation on when audiences will finally be able to watch the film on the big screen.

Legal Roadblocks And Uncertain Release Timeline

Last week, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the film's producer, KVN Productions LLP, seeking immediate certification for Jana Nayagan. A Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Augustine George Masih declined to intervene, criticising the "blistering pace" adopted by the makers and pointing out that the matter is already scheduled for hearing before the Madras High Court Division Bench on January 20.

The producer had approached the top court after the Division Bench of the Madras High Court stayed an earlier Single Bench order that directed the CBFC to certify the film without delay. With limited legal options now available, the fate of Jana Nayagan hinges on the upcoming High Court hearing.

Adding to the significance is the fact that Jana Nayagan is being touted as Vijay's final film before his full-fledged entry into politics, following the launch of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). 

ALSO READ: What's Next For Vijay's Jana Nayagan After Supreme Court Setback?

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/E7nc9GS

Gill Gives Blunt Verdict After ODI Series Loss Against NZ: "Disappointed"

Indian cricket team skipper Shubman Gill expressed his disappointment after his side's ODI series loss against New Zealand on Sunday. Star batter Virat Kohli slammed a sensational century but it was not enough as India slumped to a 41-run loss against New Zealand in the 3rd ODI match in Indore. Batting first, New Zealand posted a mammoth total of 337/8 thanks to tons from Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. In reply, Kohli played a brilliant knock and was even supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy as well as Harshit Rana but it was not enough. Following the series loss, Gill said that he was disappointed with how the team played and added that there were many areas that they need to look back and reflect on.

"After the first match, coming here 1-1, the way we played - disappointed. There are areas we need to look back, reflect and do better. (On the positives) The way Virat is batting is always is a plus. The way Harshit has batted in this series, batting at No. 8 is not easy," he said at the post-match presentation.

"The way he stepped up and the way the fast bowlers bowled in this series was good as well. Keeping the World Cup in mind, we want to give him (Nitish Reddy) opportunities and we want to give him enough overs and see what kind of combinations work for us and what kind of deliveries work for him," he added.

Coming to the match,  Kohli's magnificent, combative century, forged with trademark resolve under mounting pressure, proved heartbreakingly insufficient as India slumped to their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decider by 41 runs.

Kohli's 124 off 108 balls was a study in controlled aggression and steely temperament. The chase master shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly, counter-punching a disciplined New Zealand attack with crisp drives, well-judged pulls and calculated risks over the ropes.

As wickets tumbled regularly at the other end, Kohli dug in, refusing to let the chase drift away, but once he fell late in the innings, India's resistance finally collapsed at 296 in 46 overs while chasing a stiff 338.

The defeat not only handed New Zealand a 2-1 series win but also marked a historic first -- India had never before lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis.

It was a sobering evening for the hosts, made more poignant by the fact that one of their finest modern-day batters had delivered a near-perfect response to adversity.

Earlier, Daryl Mitchell's second consecutive hundred and Glenn Phillips' blistering century powered New Zealand to a competitive 337 for eight despite early jolts from India's pace attack.

Mitchell (137) and Phillips (106) stitched together a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket that turned the innings on its head.

(With PTI inputs)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/P3TxV1F

Mumbai-Based Comedian Flags E-Challan Scam, Exposes Fake Site That Looks Real

A Mumbai-based comedian has shared an incident when he, almost, fell victim to a 'sophisticated' e-challan scam, where fraudsters created a fake portal mimicking the official Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) website. The comedian, whose name is Shridhar V, posted screenshots on X (formerly Twitter), which showed a message about a pending challan.

The fake portal, designed to look authentic, tricked the comedian into entering personal and financial details. The scammers aimed at stealing sensitive information and money.

The screenshot showed a text message for a fake speeding challan. Notably, the message was from a normal 10-digit number. He clicked on the link, and the URL of this page was 'echallan.pasvahan.icu', but the 'echallan.parivahan.gov.in'. The spelling or parivahan was also wrong on the fake portal as it was 'pasvahan'.

Also read | Breathtaking Photo Shows Noida High-Rise Towers Piercing Through Thick Fog, Internet Reacts

See the post here:

Who says Indians are not innovative? Look at the sophistication of this scam 😱 I almost entered my card details before googling the domain. Insane amount of fraud must be happening with so many people. By the time police starts acting on it, they'd make millions! Terrible 😠 pic.twitter.com/KZyg6R4RnI

— Shridhar V (@iimcomic) January 17, 2026

"Who says Indians are not innovative? Look at the sophistication of this scam. I almost entered my card details before googling the domain. Insane amount of fraud must be happening with so many people. By the time police starts acting on it, they'd make millions! Terrible," the comedian wrote.

Such scams have become so common in India, attempting to dupe hundreds of people every day. To curb such activities, the authorities advise citizens to verify such messages through official channels and avoid sharing personal details on unverified websites. Always check the URL and ensure it's the official MoRTH website (.gov.in domain).

Social Media Reaction

The post resonated with many on social media, with some users sharing their personal experiences, while other suggesting what not to do in such a scenario. "Not sure why you would click that link which obviously is explicit that it is a scam. I receive this regularly and I ignore this. But I understand how some people might fall prey. Good to put this out," one user praised Shridhar for highlighting the issue, while some simply suggested to always check the number, as the government will never send such messaged using normal numbers.

Also read | Bengaluru Woman's Auto Ride Experience With Female Driver Goes Viral: "Insanely Wholesome"

"Before any technical Attribution, its not fair to label this scam as 'Indian' origin. Hint: Call the person who has sent you SMS, he will not he aware that he has sent the message!" another user wrote in the comment section.

"Didn't you check whether pics are uploaded or not ? They won't be having your bike or car pics. Police always upload. Simple as that. But i wonder how they integrate payment gateway," another user added.

"Yes. I almost did the same last week. Felt something amiss and tried verifying and realised that it's a fake one. However got duped of Rs 999 with a fake HSRP number plate website," a fourth user shared their ordeal.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/oxh6ZnA

Indian Man Shares 7 Reasons For Choosing The Netherlands To Work

An Indian man living in the Netherlands has caught the internet's attention after sharing why he chose to move to the European country. Taking to Instagram, the user named Anuj Sharma, who works in finance, cited work-life balance and quality of life as key reasons behind his decision.

In a viral post titled 'Reasons I chose the Netherlands to work over any other country,' Sharma outlined seven compelling reasons why moving there was a no-brainer.

"This is purely based on my personal choices and experience. It can vary from person to person," wrote Sharma.

Here Are The 7 Reasons Listed By Sharma For His Decision:

• Sharma highlighted that one of the biggest reasons to pick the Netherlands was the 'game-changer' 30 per cent ruling under which an expat's salary is non-taxable for the first five years. He added that the in-hand salary becomes way better due to this rule.
• Job security feels solid here, Sharma stated, adding that strict labour laws and strong employee rights made the workers feel protected and stable at work.
• English is everywhere. Around 98 per cent of people speak English, so as an expat can settle in without feeling lost.
• Sharma said work-life balance, which is a concept in Indian was actually a reality in the Netherlands "People respect your personal time. Work ends on time and life doesn't feel like a constant hustle," he wrote.
• Safe streets, clean cities and peacefulness meant that the quality of life was high in the Netherlands.
• Public transport and cycling culture: You don't need a car. Trains, buses and bikes make commuting easy and affordable.
• Sharma stated that everything was organised in the country, ranging from paperwork to basic services. Systems are structured, which translates into less stress and more peace of mind.

Check The Viral Post Here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anuj Sharma (@anuj.abroad)

Also Read | Foreign Woman Travels In Indian Train At Night, Shares Experience: 'Way Better Than I Expected'

Quizzed on how an Indian should apply for job opportunities in the Netherlands, Sharma advised checking the list of visa-sponsoring companies and visiting their career pages. After finding relevant vacancies, they should apply directly.

The Netherlands is known for its work-life balance standards, with employees typically working 29-36 hours per week. The country's labour laws prioritise employee well-being. Earlier this month, an expat went viral, saying they sent a work email at 6:00 am, which prompted the management to call a meeting to discuss whether they were experiencing undue work pressure.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/KErQTOY