You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gas-leak-fire-at-ongc-oil-well-triggers-mass-evacuation-in-andhra-village-10335471” on this server.

Reference #18.f5493417.1767610821.225a7341

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.f5493417.1767610821.225a7341

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that he has zero interest in leading a publicly traded company, despite acknowledging that the ChatGPT maker will likely need to go public to secure capital and manage growth. Speaking on the “Big Technology Podcast” last month, Altman said, “Am I excited to be a public company CEO? 0%.” He expressed mixed feelings about a potential initial public offering for OpenAI, adding, “Am I excited for OpenAI to be a public company? In some ways, I am, and in some ways I think it’d be really annoying.” However, the AI startup’s CEO recognised the practical reasons pushing toward an eventual IPO, noting that OpenAI needs substantial capital and will eventually exceed shareholder limits.Altman said, “I do think it’s cool that public markets get to participate in value creation. And in some sense, we will be very late to go public if you look at any previous company. It’s wonderful to be a private company. We need lots of capital. We’re going to cross all of the shareholder limits and stuff at some point.”

OpenAI’s path toward becoming a publicly traded company

OpenAI was co-founded in 2015 by Altman and eleven others. The company has grown considerably since launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, in 2022. ChatGPT now has around 800 million weekly users, and OpenAI has signed deals worth about $1 trillion with major tech companies, including Oracle, Nvidia, and AMD.Signs point to the company preparing for an IPO. In October, Reuters reported that OpenAI is considering filing with securities regulators as early as the second half of 2026. However, when asked earlier this year on a podcast whether OpenAI would go public next year, Altman said, “I don’t know.”Recent reports claim OpenAI is taking early steps toward an IPO, with the company in early discussions and being valued at about $830 billion. A higher estimate from Reuters in October 2025 suggested OpenAI could be valued at as much as $1 trillion, citing three sources. The Reuters report also stated that chief financial officer Sarah Friar is aiming for a stock market listing in 2027, with a possible IPO filing in late 2026.Going public would help OpenAI raise the large amounts of money needed to compete in the AI industry. OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 but completed a significant restructuring in October that turned it into a more traditional for-profit company.Under this change, the nonprofit that controls OpenAI received a $130 billion stake. The restructuring also reduced Microsoft’s stake to 27% and expanded its research access, while allowing OpenAI to partner with other cloud-computing companies.OpenAI’s push to keep pace with competitors became clear in December when Altman issued a “code red” in an internal memo after Google quickly launched its Gemini 3 model. The “Code red” called for an eight-week focus on accelerating OpenAI’s core work while pausing other initiatives such as advertising and e-commerce expansion.The strategy seems to be working, as OpenAI recently launched its new GPT-5.2 model and followed it with a new image-generation model to rival Google’s Nano Banana. OpenAI’s apps CEO Fidji Simo said the release was not a direct response to Gemini 3 but added that the extra resources from the “code red” helped speed up the launch.

Mohammed Siraj (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)

Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers has said Mohammed Siraj has been unfortunate to miss selection for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, pointing to team balance rather than form as the deciding factor. Speaking on his YouTube channel, De Villiers explained that Siraj’s exclusion was more about combination choices than performance. “We see Siraj in the ODI squad, he is one of the unlucky guys to miss out. But that is once again down to the balance,” De Villiers said.

He highlighted India’s preference for a varied bowling attack, with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh leading the pace group and Harshit Rana offering added depth with the bat. “You have got Bumrah and Arshdeep. Harshit can hold the bat as well. So there are your three seamers. I think that is the reason why you went for Harshit because Siraj is only an outright bowler,” he added. De Villiers also pointed to India’s strategic focus on spin during the tournament. “They do not want to focus too much on seam bowling. The focus is on the spinners. If they get wickets with the seamers upfront, they almost see it as a bonus in a way,” he said, while stressing that Siraj remains firmly in India’s long-term plans. “So Siraj is unlucky but at least he is in the ODI plans moving forward for the 2027 World Cup.” Siraj had a solid IPL season with Gujarat Titans, picking up 16 wickets from 15 matches, but did not feature in a single T20I in 2025. De Villiers believes India have covered all areas heading into the World Cup. “The problem with Harshit Rana with the new ball is that he doesn’t have a lot of experience at the international level. But if he can give you a few overs with Bumrah and Arshdeep, there is enough overs, and then Shivam and Hardik can fill up,” he said. He underlined the depth in India’s bowling unit and its ability to shift momentum. “They also cover all bases with spin, and that’s where they will focus on trying to win games. When Bumrah has a quiet night, a Kuldeep comes through and gets you four and vice versa. Then there is Hardik coming through in the middle and turning the momentum around,” “Those are the kind of championship teams you want, and India has got all those bases covered,”De Villiers said.

Abhishek Banerjee; Sunali Khatun

NEW DELHI: Sunali Khatun, the pregnant woman who was repatriated from Bangladesh on the Supreme Court’s directions after being deported on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi national, has delivered a baby boy in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.In a series of posts on X, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said he was “deeply moved,” noting that the occasion was made even more poignant by the “injustices” she had suffered.Also Read | The why and how of Sunali’s sorry state“I am deeply moved and genuinely heartened to learn that Sunali Khatun has given birth to a healthy baby boy at Rampurhat Medical College in Birbhum. This moment of joy feels even more profound against the backdrop of the injustice she was subjected to. In a shocking abuse of power, she was falsely branded as a Bangladeshi and forcibly deported to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police and the Union government,” Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, wrote.The Lok Sabha MP added that Khatun’s ordeal amounted to a “violation of dignity” that no citizen—let alone a pregnant woman—should be made to endure, and praised her for her “extraordinary courage” and resolve.Also Read | Kept saying we’re Indian, they didn’t listen: Sunali KhatunBanerjee also announced that he would meet Khatun on Tuesday.“This is a triumph of humanity. Tomorrow, during my visit to Birbhum, I will personally meet Sunali at the hospital to convey my best wishes to her and her newborn. My prayers remain with her family,” he posted.On December 5 last year, Sunali Khatun and her eight-year-old son—who had earlier been deported from India—were repatriated on “humanitarian grounds” following a directive from the Supreme Court.The top court had also asked the Centre to ensure free medical treatment for Khatun in view of her advanced pregnancy and to take care of her son.After returning to India, she expressed relief and gratitude, and appealed for her husband to be brought back as well. Khatun has maintained that she is the daughter of Bhodu Sheikh, an Indian citizen.(With agency inputs)

NEW DELHI: University of Delhi’s push to bring in philanthropic funding for campus development by offering timebound naming rights to major donors has had a slow start, with only one donation-backed construction project underway and no building renamed.Data provided by the university shows that donation inflow till last year amount to about Rs 2.3 crore, largely from a single trust for the expansion of the faculty of management studies, alongside corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions of laptops and tablets aimed at student support.

Just One Donation-Backed Construction Project Under Way

While university officials say the model marks an important shift from total dependence on govt grants, donations last year appear lower than in 2024, both in volume and the number of alumni contributors, indicating that the policy is yet to gain traction.

Between May 2023 and March 2024, 68 alumni contributed over Rs 1 crore. From April to Dec 2024, 32 alumni contributed Rs 43.1 lakh. Only four have given Rs 1.8 lakh so far last year.Donations from trusts, societies and companies have also declined. Between May 2023 and March 2024, DU received Rs 30 lakh from 10 donors, while only three donors contributed Rs 2 lakh from April to Dec 2024. The university is yet to receive any philanthropic corporate or trust funds beyond the instalments from a project committed earlier.The bulk of the Rs 2.3 crore received last year comes from a single donor — Rita Bhargava Mukerji Memorial Charitable Trust, which has pledged Rs 5 crore for the construction of a floor in the new extension building of the faculty of management studies. It is also the only donation-backed construction project currently underway at Delhi University.CSR support for the university has mostly been in the form of devices rather than cash grants for infrastructure. Since 2024, BSES companies have donated 824 laptops and 454 tablets worth over Rs 4.6 crore for projects like Sashakt Beti and e-Drishti, aimed at improving digital access for girls and visually impaired students.Scholarships and studentsupport programmes have also attracted contributions, including a grant of Rs 12 lakh per year from a Japanbased foundation to support 20 students annually for two academic cycles.The naming-rights policy approved earlier last year sets donation slabs that determine how long a facility may be named after a donor: up to 33 years for Rs 5 crore and above, 20 years for Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, and 10 years for Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. However, no facility has been renamed yet, DU officials said. The rules also require that a donation must cover at least 60% of the construction cost to qualify for naming rights.DU Foundation receives an annual grant of Rs 50 lakh, with a 5% yearly increase, to support operations and fundraising efforts, the officials said. Overall, Rs 4.3 crore has been raised by DU’s funding agency through alumni and philanthropic contributions since its inception in April 2023.Anil Kumar, CEO of Udhmodya Foundation, which oversees DU’s fundraising, said the foundation has begun organising regular alumni meets. Recent networking events have been held in Mumbai and Singapore.Delhi University’s alumni circle includes prominent names from govt, judiciary, media, academia and business, many of whom continue to contribute to their individual colleges. University officials hope to channel this network more effectively.Unlike in US, fewer alumni in India donate for the development of educational institutions. Even those who do often feel a personal connection with their individual college rather than the university as a whole, Kumar said.DU’s Hindu College, for instance, has built a strong alumni network over the years and continues to receive significant contributions from its ex-students for new laboratories, scholarships and renovation, its principal Anju Srivastava said.

On January 4, 2026, ahead of India’s first international series of the year, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and his girlfriend, model Mahieka Sharma, were spotted at Jamnagar Airport alongside veteran batter Rohit Sharma. The group, which included Rohit’s wife Ritika Sajdeh and their young son Ahaan, appeared to be in high spirits as they transitioned from domestic duties to international commitments.

Mahieka Sharma meets Rohit Sharma’s son Ahaan  at Jamnagar Airport

Mahieka, who made her relationship with Hardik ‘Insta-official’ in October 2025, was seen sharing a particularly warm and adorable moment with little Ahaan, who was being carried by Ritika. The viral footage has melted hearts on social media, showcasing a close familial bond between the two cricketing icons’ families as they prepare for a demanding home season.

The viral video captured a rare, candid glimpse of the off-field camaraderie between India’s top cricketers and their families. As they exited the Jamnagar Airport, Mahieka was seen all smiles, playing and interacting with Ahaan Sharma in an adorable” manner while Ritika looked on. Hardik and Mahieka have been the subject of intense media interest since they went public with their relationship; however, this latest outing suggests Mahieka is now a well-integrated part of the team’s inner family circle. The group had reportedly gathered in Jamnagar, a city often used by the Ambani family for high-profile gatherings, possibly for a brief bonding session before the squad assembles in Vadodara on January 7.

Here’s the video:

Ritika holding Ahaan while Mahieka plays with him.🤍

-A cute moment.🤌👌 pic.twitter.com/RD7xWs5Sox

— Rohit Nation (@Rohitnation45) January 4, 2026

Also WATCH: Naseem Shah and Kieron Pollard engage in a heated verbal exchange during ILT20 final between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates

Rohit’s red-hot form and Hardik’s workload management

While the families shared a lighthearted moment, the professional contrast between the two stars for the upcoming New Zealand ODI series is significant. Rohit Sharma enters the series in peak physical and competitive condition, whereas Hardik Pandya will be watching the 50-over leg from the sidelines.

• Rohit Sharma’s dominance: Rohit has been in blistering form, recording scores of 73, 121, 57, 14, and 75* in his last five ODIs. He recently validated his readiness by smashing a massive 155 off 94 balls for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
• Hardik’s T20 focus: Despite a brilliant 133 for Baroda recently, Hardik has been rested for the ODIs. The BCCI stated he is currently not fit to bowl a full 10-over quota in the 50-over format. With the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled for February, the selectors are prioritizing his fitness for the T20I leg, which begins on January 21.

Also READ: From emerging player to WPL 2026 winner: Deepti Sharma shares bold predictions for the Women’s Premier League

Apple Inc’s manufacturing push in India has resulted in a dramatic surge in iPhone exports, with shipments crossing the $50 billion mark under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme period. The milestone was achieved by December 2025, just four years after the world’s second-largest company by market capitalisation joined the smartphone PLI programme in FY22, according to data cited by ET. With three months still left in the five-year tenure applicable to Apple, the export figure might climb further. “In the first nine months of FY26 alone, Apple has already exported nearly $16 billion, taking the cumulative iPhone exports past $50 billion within the PLI period,” ET cited the official familiar with the data. Apple’s performance under the scheme has far outpaced that of its closest global rival, South Korean electric gaint, Samsung. Samsung, another mobile phone exporter, shipped nearly $17 billion worth of devices from India, during its five-year PLI window from FY21 to FY25. India’s growing role in Apple’s global supply chain has been supported by five iPhone manufacturing units, three operated by the Tata Group and two by Foxconn. Together, these factories support a network of nearly 45 component suppliers, including a large number of micro, small and medium enterprises, catering to both domestic demand and global exports. Driven largely by iPhone shipments, smartphones now account for around 75% of India’s total mobile exports. The category has emerged as the country’s top export item in FY25, a dramatic jump from its 167th position in 2015. Although the smartphone PLI scheme is scheduled to end in March 2026, government officials have indicated that support for the sector will continue in some form. A new incentive framework is expected to be designed in consultation with industry stakeholders to sustain manufacturing growth. “We agree that there is still a disability with Indian manufacturers when compared with countries like China and Vietnam and we will continue to offer support to the industry,” an official told ET.Though some mobile phone exports were recorded before the PLI scheme was introduced, officials said the real momentum came after its rollout, particularly following Apple’s decision to bring its supplier ecosystem to India. India is currently the only country outside China where iPhones are manufactured at scale. Samsung was the only one among the 10 PLI beneficiaries to conclude its participation in FY25, having met production targets in FY21, the first year of the scheme, due to its existing manufacturing base. Apple, on the other hand, was still setting up new facilities and, along with companies such as Dixon, failed to meet initial targets amid the pandemic and worsening Sino-Indian relations. This prompted the government to extend the scheme by one year. Under the revised terms, companies were allowed to claim incentives for any five consecutive years within the six-year scheme period. Samsung opted for FY21 to FY25, while Apple and others selected FY22 to FY26. To maintain momentum beyond smartphones, Apple’s vendors and Samsung have now been included in the electronics component manufacturing scheme. Samsung plans to manufacture display module sub-assemblies, a move expected to generate incremental employment for 300 people. The Apple ecosystem, however, is set to dominate the next phase of expansion. Five of its vendors have been selected under the second tranche of the scheme, with Apple-linked companies expected to contribute over 60% of the total investments and employment generation. Major suppliers such as Motherson, Tata Electronics and Foxconn will manufacture iPhone enclosures, while Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) will produce lithium-ion cells. Hindalco will undertake aluminium extrusion for components, ET reported.India has also begun exporting electronic components to China and Vietnam for the manufacture of Apple products including MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch, Pencil and iPhones, marking a significant shift in global electronics supply chains.