Defending champions Mumbai Indians have made a strategic appointment ahead of the Women’s Premier League 2026, naming former Australian leg-spinner as their new spin bowling coach. The 41-year-old joins head coach Lisa Keightley, fast-bowling coach Jhulan Goswami, batting coach Devika Palshikar, and fielding coach Nicole Bolton in a revamped support staff aimed at securing a third title in four seasons. The fourth WPL edition kicks off on January 9, 2026, with MI facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This move underscores MI’s commitment to blending international expertise with their signature winning culture as they prepare for a high-stakes campaign.​

Mumbai Indians bring in Australia’s spin ace as bowling coach for WPL 2026

MI’s new spin bowling coach Kristen Beams carved out a notable international career for Australia from 2014 to 2017, featuring in one Test, 30 ODIs where she claimed 42 wickets at an average of 22.45 including a best of 4/15, and 18 T20Is with 20 wickets at 16.60. She shone in the 2017 ODI World Cup, ending as the third-highest wicket-taker, and played 45 Women’s Big Bash League matches for Melbourne Stars. Transitioning seamlessly to coaching post-retirement, Beams has built an impressive resume, including roles in the WBBL and The Hundred, head coach of Australia’s Women’s Under-19 team, National Development Lead at Cricket Australia, and Community Cricket Manager-South at Cricket Tasmania.​

In a video statement, Beams expressed excitement about her debut coaching stint with MI, highlighting the chance to collaborate with legend Goswami, whom she faced during her playing days. She praised the franchise’s “incredible culture” as a tight-knit family that consistently delivers victories, calling it the ideal environment for a new coach to thrive. Her leg-spin mastery and tactical acumen position her perfectly to nurture MI’s emerging spinners amid the WPL’s evolving demands for versatile bowling attacks.​

“Incredible culture. They have developed a winning culture over a really long period of time but a family, that’s what you hear everyone talking about that this group is so tight-knit and it’s a family. It’s what you want to be a part of. I think, as a coach coming in, that’s exactly what you want to be able to do — walk into an environment that feels really tight-knit and a team that knows how to win,” she stated.

Also READ: BCCI announces complete schedule for WPL 2026; Royal Challengers Bengaluru will battle Mumbai Indians in the opener

New spin coach’s strategic impact on MI’s WPL 2026 campaign

Beams’ arrival strengthens MI’s spin department, vital on subcontinental pitches where wrist-spin often turns matches, complementing Goswami’s pace expertise for a balanced attack. With Keightley—fresh from Delhi Capitals—leading the side, this all-star coaching lineup blends Australian precision and Indian nous, targeting another championship run.

MI’s two titles from three WPL seasons reflect their dominance, and Beams’ global insights could elevate young talents like Saika Ishaque or uncapped prospects in the auction pool. As the January 9 opener looms, fans anticipate how her strategies will fortify the defending champs against fierce rivals like RCB and UP Warriorz. This appointment signals MI’s proactive blueprint for sustained success in women’s cricket’s premier T20 spectacle.

Also READ: Top 10 most expensive buys in WPL 2026 Player Auction

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

NEW DELHI: The Army has launched a training programme for the Village Defence Guards (VDG) in Jammu and Kashmir amid the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in the higher reaches of Chenab valley.According to the Army, around 15 Village Defence Guards, including women volunteers, are undergoing intensive training in handling automatic rifles, minor tactics, self-defence, bunker construction and repelling enemy attacks, they said.Officials told news agency PTI that the raining is being conducted at Shingini panchayat of Balassa, around 90 km from the Doda district headquarters. It aims to equip volunteers with the necessary skills to protect their villages and act as a first line of defence, especially in vulnerable areas.The move complements the ongoing operation by the Army, police and paramilitary forces in the higher reaches to track down and neutralise the terrorists who had managed to infiltrate into Chenab valley, especially Doda and Kishtwar districts, a couple of years back, officials added.The VDGs welcomed the training and the recent upgradation of their weaponry. They expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for providing self-loading rifles (SLRs), replacing the older .303 rifles, which they said, has significantly boosted their confidence.“This is a major programme bringing together members from 17 Village Defence Groups. We are being trained in weapon handling, bunker construction and self-defence. Receiving such training at our doorstep is highly appreciable,” Surinder Singh, a VDG member from Shingani, said.He requested the government to provide more automatic weapons to the members, recalling the frequent terror attacks in the region during the early 1990s.Another VDG member, Rajesh Kumar Thakur from Gauala village, said the training by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police has instilled a sense of confidence.“Earlier, we only had .303 rifles. After receiving automatic weapons, our confidence has increased, and we now feel capable of defending our villages,” he said.This comes as he Army has intensified its counter-terrorism operations across the Kishtwar and Doda districts amid the ongoing Chillai Kalan — the 40-day bone-chilling winter period — in Jammu and Kashmir.According to sources, various intelligence agencies asses that there are approximately 30 to 35 Pakistani terrorists currently in the Jammu region.Inputs gathered over the past few months suggest that these groups, finding themselves cornered by successful counter-terror operations, have shifted deeper into higher and middle mountain reaches of the region — areas now devoid of habitation. These terrorists are believed to be seeking temporary winter hideouts to evade detection and avoid direct confrontation with security troops, they added.Meanwhile, the Army and security forces have also adopted a proactive winter posture, establishing temporary bases and surveillance posts deep within snow-covered areas to maintain continuous pressure on potential terrorist hideouts.

MUMBAI: In a major relief to 2 young doctors who resigned from Maharashtra govt-run JJ Hospital, the Bombay High Court vacation bench on Tuesday directed the return of their original documents without insisting on withholding the Rs 20 lakh they needed to deposit. The duo, who joined JJ for MCH Neurosurgery as junior doctors between June and August, soon resigned, citing allegedly “unsanitary” living conditions at the hostel and sleep deprivation.Navi Mumbai-based Swapnil Kolape and Lucknow-based Pooja Modanwal, both 31 years old, moved the HC, aggrieved by the non-return of the original documents and being forced by the State to deposit Rs 20 lakh as a bond.On December 29, the vacation bench HC Judge, Justice Ashwin Bhobhe, heard Aditya Sanghi, senior counsel who appeared for the young doctors, and Jaymala Ostwal, Additional Govt Pleader for the State and the hospital. The State lawyer said that if the duo were agreeable to give an undertaking in the format suggested by her, the HC could consider the release of the documents, subject to the final order that may be passed in the petition.Sanghi sought time until Tuesday to tender the undertaking and said they would not claim any equities. He argued that the duo are brilliant students who were granted admission by Sir JJ Hospital as junior doctors in 2025 and were allotted a super-speciality seat in neurosurgery at Grant Medical College.However, looking at the “deplorable and most pathetic condition of hostels where in 1 single room 5 students are made to sleep and there is no privacy for females in the hostels…”, they resigned on November 17, 2025, and demanded the return of their original documents so that they could appear in NEET for other colleges to get entry, Sanghi submitted.The college cited the rules and the clause of penalty and bond for non-completion of the junior residency tenure, and for a lapse of seat or admission cancellation after the cut-off, requiring students to pay Rs 20 lakh. It said the documents would be handed back once the penalty was paid, and the deposited fees would be non-refundable too.The students said they needed the documents for the next NEET, which was on December 26-27. Dr Modanwal submitted that she cleared the entrance exam for AIIMS New Delhi and she was in merit position 20 in the general category, but she could get admission in AIIMS only if she deposited all original documents by December 31, 2025. With the relief from the Bombay HC vacation bench for immediate release of their documents, she can now secure her seat at AIIMS, her lawyer said.

Year 2025 is ending, 2026 is knocking on the door, and most major global stock markets remain shut to celebrate the New Year. Investors are, therefore, wondering whether Indian stock exchanges will stay open for trading on January 1, 2026.

Are NSE and BSE open on January 1, 2026?

Both benchmarks, the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange will operate as usual on January 1, 2026, offering investors a trading day even as global markets across China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, France, Germany, the UAE, the UK and the US remain closed.

Upcoming holiday for stock markets in 2026

The NSE has released its official trading holiday calendar for 2026, providing traders with advance clarity. Next year, equity, equity derivatives, and currency markets will remain closed for 15 days, one more than in 2025. Key holidays in the first half of the year include Republic Day (January 26), Holi (March 3), Ram Navami (March 26), Mahavir Jayanti (March 31), Good Friday (April 3), Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), Maharashtra Day (May 1), and Bakri-Id (May 28). In the second half, markets will be shut for Muharram (June 26), Ganesh Chaturthi (September 14), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Dussehra (October 20), Diwali Balipratipada (November 10), Guru Nanak Jayanti (November 24), and Christmas (December 25).The stock market has a pre-market session that runs from 9:00 am to 9:15 am. Then a usual trading session, operating from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

Pakistan army chief field marshal Asim Munir hosted his daughter’s wedding last week in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, where she was married to her first cousin, Abdul Rehman, according to Pakistani media reports. The ceremony was attended by senior political leaders and top military officials but was kept low-key due to security considerations, with no official photographs released.Among those present at the ceremony were Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, the chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and several serving and retired senior army officers, including former army chiefs.

Pakistani journalist Zahid Gishkori said around 400 guests attended the event, which was deliberately kept subdued. Gishkori, in a video posted on social media platform YouTube, confirmed the family connection between the bride and groom. “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s daughter Mahnoor married his brother’s son, ex-army captain turned civil servant Abdul Rehman Qasim,” he said. The groom, Abdul Rehman, is Munir’s nephew. According to local media, he previously served in the Pakistan Army as a captain before joining the civil administration through a quota reserved for army officers. He currently serves as an assistant commissioner.Munir has four daughters, and last week’s ceremony marked the wedding of his third daughter.The wedding coincided with the arrival of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Pakistan on the same day, prompting speculation on social media about a possible link between the two events. However, Ghiskori said that the UAE president did not attend the wedding. Pakistan’s security and foreign policy under Munir remains critical. A report by Greek City Times said that global patience with Pakistan’s trajectory toward “religious extremism” was wearing thin, alleging that the country had moved toward a more theocratic posture while failing to curb radical elements at home.Another report by Asian News Post criticised Islamabad’s military-led approach to regional diplomacy, particularly in relation to Afghanistan, stating that the strategy had failed to stabilise borders or improve Pakistan’s international standing.

Magnus Carlsen (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI: World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen once again showcased his endgame brilliance, clinching a record-extending ninth World Blitz title to go with the Rapid gold medal he won two days earlier. However, Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi endured a dramatic collapse in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal at the World Blitz Championship on Tuesday.In the title match against young Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Carlsen turned down a draw and produced a stunning, unexpected pawn move in the fourth game to seal a 2.5–1.5 victory, further cementing his dominance in blitz chess.

After the first three games, both the players were tied at 1.5 points each. The victory was all the more sweet and fulfilling for the Norwegian after a string of losses in the qualifying (Swiss round) where he literally struggled to secure a place in the knockout semifinals.A draw in Round 19 against Abdusattorov saw both Carlsen (13.5 points) and the Uzbek (13 points) secure the last two slots in the semifinals on Tuesday behind sole leader Erigaisi (15 points) and American GM Fabiano Caruana (14 points).Carlsen then went on to beat Caruana 3-1 to secure a place in the final, while an impeccable Abdusattorov inflicted a shattering 2.5-0.5 semifinal defeat on Erigaisi, as the Indian settled for a second bronze, after taking the third-podium spot in Rapid on Sunday.Nonetheless, the two bronze medals is a remarkable achievement for the 22-year-old Erigaisi, who will return home more resolute.The achievement also made Erigaisi only the second Indian male player after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to win a World Blitz medal in the ‘Open category’.Earlier, Erigaisi, after stunning the likes of Carlsen and Abdusattorov to emerge sole leader with 10 points from 13 games, went through the remaining six rounds on Tuesday with steely resolve.He won four and drew two to remain sole leader with 15 points to secure a place in the semifinals.The Indian was drawn against 2021 World Rapid champion Abdusattorov, who secured a place in the last-four by the skin of the teeth, nudging Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to fifth spot on ‘best tie-break’ rule after both the Grandmasters had ended on 13 points each.With Erigaisi in stunning form and having the advantage of beating Abdusattorov on Monday, the Indian was expected to go full steam.But things took a different and difficult turn for Erigaisi. He could not convert the advantage with white in the opening game, losing in 47 moves to be 0-1 down.A resurgent Abdusattorov turned things decisively his way in the second game by playing Rc5′ on the 75th move and finishing the game in 83 moves.With the Uzbek needing only half-a-point to seal his place in the final, Abdusattorov settled for a quick draw with black pieces after just 33 moves despite being in a winning position, rendering the fourth game redundant.(With inputs from PTI)

MUMBAI: With seat sharing within two major alliances (BJP-Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena UBT-MNS) finalised only late on Monday, the final day of filing nominations for the BMC polls on Tuesday saw a last-minute scramble for submission of forms. Several candidates were still in queue at 6pm to submit their duly-filled papers. Those who had queued up before the 5pm deadline were entitled to file their papers.In all, 1,668 candidates filed their forms on Tuesday for the Jan 15 polls to the country’s richest civic body which will see a multi-cornered fight. Till a day ago, only 401 had filed papers. The last date for withdrawal is Jan 2, 2026.

Poll battle in Mumbai

While there are three principal alliances in the fray – BJP-Shiv Sena, Sena (UBT)-MNS-NCP (SP), and Congress-Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi – two other political forces fighting on their own are NCP helmed by deputy CM Ajit Pawar and the Ramdas Athavale-led RPI(A). NCP, which has limited presence in Mumbai and is not part of the Mahayuti this time, has fielded 94 candidates (see gfx) for the total 227 BMC seats.

RPI, which has been with Mahayuti at the Centre and the state levels, has demanded 12 seats from BJP’s quota and said it will otherwise contest 38 on its own in a ‘friendly fight’.While candidates who filed nominations are expected to hit the campaign ground running on Wednesday, netas have the task of pacifying rebels who are significant in number across parties because of the alliances that have been stitched together, permitting nomination from one party in an alliance in a single ward. While parties have until Jan 2 to get rebels to withdraw their papers, political rallies will take off from the start of the new year. With campaigning ending in the evening of Jan 13, parties and alliances have close to two weeks to drum up support for themselves.Of the major parties, only Congress, NCP and NCP (SP) released official lists of candidates; the rest distributed AB (party) forms to nominees directly in a bid to avoid rebellion.The BJP-Shiv Sena arrived at a 137-90 seatsharing arrangement after a week of negotiations, and the Sena led by Dy CM Eknath Shinde-led Sena distributed AB forms to all its 90 candidates early Tuesday. It has fielded almost all 40-odd former corporators who have switched over from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT).The Sena (UBT) and MNS have finalised a 165-52 pact, with 10 seats set aside for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). The MNS too distributed AB forms to its candidates on Monday night. The Congress is contesting 167 seats, and its ally VBA 60. Most Congress candidates had filed their forms on Monday; the rest did so on Tuesday.Defections and rebellions continued on the final day of filing nominations, with some candidates jumping ship at the last moment and being rewarded with tickets by rivals.The BMC election is a high-stakes battle especially for the Thackeray cousins who are fighting for political survival.

As 2026 dawns, New Year’s Eve messages are shifting from grand pronouncements to heartfelt, honest sentiments. People seek genuine wishes for peace, health, and calm, acknowledging life’s complexities. The focus is on shared moments and simple hopes, moving away from toxic positivity towards messages that offer comfort and connection, making them more meaningful than ever.

New Year’s Eve has that strange, emotional energy no other night quite carries. The clock ticks louder. The air feels heavier. And suddenly, everyone is looking back and forward at the same time. Some of us are relieved the year is ending. Some feel hopeful. Some feel tired but quietly proud for making it through.And that’s exactly why New Year wishes still matter.A message sent at 11:59 pm. A photo shared just after midnight. A simple “thinking of you” dropped into a family WhatsApp group. These aren’t just rituals. They’re tiny ways of saying, I made it here, and I hope you did too.As 2026 arrives, people aren’t looking for perfect words. They want real ones. Honest. Warm. Something that sounds like it came from a human, not a greeting card factory.

Why New Year messages still hit differently

There’s something about December 31 that lowers our guard. Even the most emotionally reserved people feel a little softer. We message friends we haven’t spoken to all year. We forgive silently. We promise ourselves things we may or may not keep.And in the middle of all that, a good New Year wish can feel grounding.Not dramatic. Not overdone. Just thoughtful.In 2026, especially, people are leaning towards messages that acknowledge the mess along with the magic. Wishes that don’t pretend everything was perfect. Quotes that don’t scream toxic positivity. Words that say, I see you. I hope next year is kinder.

New Year wishes that feel real, not rehearsed

The best New Year wishes don’t try too hard. They sound like something you’d actually say out loud, maybe while holding a glass of something fizzy, maybe while sitting alone on your bed watching fireworks through the window.A good wish can be as simple as hoping for peace, health, steady money, better sleep, or fewer bad surprises. Not everyone wants “success” and “hustle” energy anymore. Many just want calm.

Some messages work because they leave space. Space for the other person’s story. Space for their version of a good year.You don’t need to wrap everything in grand promises. Sometimes, a line that says “I hope 2026 treats you gently” lands harder than a paragraph about ambition.

Quotes that people actually want to share in 2026

Let’s be honest. Not all quotes age well. And a lot of them sound borrowed, overused, or oddly dramatic for a simple New Year post.The quotes people are sharing now are quieter. More reflective. Less about conquering the world and more about surviving it with some grace.Lines about letting go. About starting where you are. About learning instead of winning. About choosing peace even when chaos is easier.Quotes that feel like they came from a conversation, not a poster.If a quote makes someone pause for a second before scrolling, it’s done its job.

Messages for friends you’ve grown with (and grown apart from)

Friendships change. Some deepen. Some drift. And New Year’s Eve often brings all of that into focus.A message to an old friend doesn’t have to reopen everything. It can simply acknowledge the shared history. A “thinking of you tonight” can say more than a long explanation ever could.For close friends, humour works beautifully. Inside jokes. Gentle teasing. A reminder of how far you’ve come together. Those messages feel like home.

And for friends you haven’t spoken to in a while, New Year’s Eve offers a soft opening. No pressure. No expectations. Just a small bridge.

Wishes for family that feel warm, not formal

Family messages tend to fall into two extremes. Either overly emotional or painfully generic.The sweet spot is somewhere in between.Parents appreciate messages that recognise effort. Grandparents love simple words that remind them they’re remembered. Siblings usually respond best to honesty mixed with familiarity.You don’t have to sound poetic. You just have to sound like you.Sometimes, the most meaningful New Year wish is simply saying thank you for being there, even when the year was hard.

Romantic New Year messages without the cringe

New Year’s Eve can be romantic, but it doesn’t need to be dramatic.For partners, the best messages often focus on shared moments rather than future fantasies. Acknowledging how you showed up for each other. Laughing about what didn’t go according to plan. Looking forward to small, ordinary things together.Not every relationship needs fireworks. Some just need reassurance.And for people in new relationships, New Year wishes don’t need heavy promises. A warm, present-moment message feels far more genuine than talk of forever.

New Year images that people actually post

The era of overly edited fireworks graphics with glitter fonts is slowly fading.In 2026, images feel more personal.Photos of quiet celebrations. City skylines at midnight. Candles, diaries, empty glasses, handwritten notes. Even blurry phone pictures taken at the wrong angle. These feel real.

People are sharing moments, not perfection.Images paired with simple captions tend to travel further. When the picture does the talking, the words can stay minimal.And sometimes, no image at all works just fine. A plain text post can feel refreshing in a sea of visuals.

Messages for work, colleagues, and professional circles

Work-related New Year messages walk a fine line. Too stiff, and they feel cold. Too casual, and they feel awkward.The best ones acknowledge teamwork, resilience, and shared effort without slipping into corporate jargon.A short note wishing clarity, balance, and growth feels appropriate in almost any professional setting.And no one minds if it sounds human. In fact, most people prefer it.

What makes a New Year message memorable

It’s not the length. It’s not the vocabulary. It’s the intention.Messages that feel rushed get forgotten. Messages that feel personal get saved.A memorable New Year wish usually does one of three things. It recognises the past year honestly. It offers hope without pressure. Or it reminds someone they’re not alone heading into the next one.You don’t need to cover everything. One sincere thought is enough.

Entering 2026 with softer expectations

There’s a quiet shift happening in how people talk about the future. Less obsession with big resolutions. More focus on small improvements. Less pressure to reinvent everything overnight.New Year messages are reflecting that change.People are wishing for steadiness. For health that holds. For work that doesn’t drain. For relationships that feel safe. For joy that doesn’t demand performance.

And maybe that’s what makes New Year’s Eve still special, year after year. Not the countdown. Not the fireworks. But the collective hope that the next chapter might be a little lighter.So when you send that message tonight, don’t overthink it.Say what you mean. Mean what you say. And step into 2026 carrying just enough hope to keep going.That’s more than enough.

MUMBAI: The Regional Transport Office as well as the technical team which conducted a preliminary inspection of the BEST bus that rammed into and killed four people and injured 10 outside Bhandup railway station on Monday night, have prime facie ruled out any technical issue with the vehicle, while hinting at human error. The bus driver, during preliminary inquiry, reportedly admitted to a judgement error. Police have also summoned the driver who drove the bus before handing over the shift to Sawant.The arrested driver, Santosh Sawant (52), has been booked under BNS sections 105, 110 and 125 (A) (B) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, rash driving, and negligence and endangering life, as well as under the Motor Vehicle Act. He was produced before the Vikhroli Metropolitan Magistrate court which remanded him to police custody till Jan 3.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for families of the victims. He offered his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. BEST has also announced a Rs 2 lakh compensation to family members of the deceased, and medical help to the injured, a spokesperson said.What has perplexed the BEST management is that Sawant is an “experienced driver working for nearly 15 years on full-time service with the undertaking”, though he has been operating e-buses since only three months. A senior official told TOI in all other major fatal crashes, the driver was on contract with wet lease operators. “Sawant is our own driver, with a less stressful job and has good experience driving bigger buses, and we are surprised how he was responsible for negligence while driving a Midibus.“His action brought back memories of a similar fatal mishap by a bus driver in Kurla in Dec last year, which claimed nine lives; trial in the case is yet to commence. The public prosecutor, while seeking Sawant’s custody, argued they have collected his fingerprints to match with the steering wheel of the bus. “It is not the case that he is a new driver. He has been driving the BEST bus since 2008 and he had knowledge his negligence would lead to disaster and yet he drove carelessly. We want to interrogate him and find the motive behind his act.” Sawant’s lawyer S V Rane said, “Firstly his alcohol test has come negative, secondly police have wrongly invoked Section 105 as there is no motive, he had no knowledge and the incident is purely an accident,” said Rane. In his statement, Sawant said while taking a U-turn, he released the pulled hand brake and then accelerated, leading the bus to jump on the footpath.While he has been suspended, BEST general manager Sonia Sethi has instituted a high-level probe. BEST has announced sensitisation of all drivers, counselling for psychological and work-related stress issues from Wednesday.Meanwhile, a lawyer approached the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, urging it to take suo motu cognisance of the mishap and ensure inquiry. (With agencies)