Thane: The acrimonious battle between Mahayuti partners BJP and Shiv Sena for control of Ambernath municipal council took a new turn Tuesday as rivals BJP and Congress, in a rare move, joined hands to keep out Shiv Sena in its traditional stronghold falling within MP Shrikant Shinde’s constituency. The Eknath Shinde-led party won the highest number of seats— 27, just four shy of majority in the 60-member House— in the Dec 20 polls.The third party in the BJP-Congress front, named Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, is Ajit Pawar‘s NCP. BJP won 14 seats, while Congress won 12. Ajit Pawar–led NCP managed to win four seats, and two independent candidates were also elected. Sena suffered a setback in municipal president poll, where its candidate Manisha Walekar lost to BJP’s Tejashree Karanjule Patil.As the alliance between rivals took party cadres by surprise ahead of elections in bigger cities like Mumbai & Thane, BJP sources said these are local polls where local leaders have been authorised to take decisions. A state Congress spokesperson said “no decision has been taken so far”. BJP corporator Abhijit Karanjule Patil has been appointed group leader of Ambernath Vikas Aghadi, comprising BJP and councillors from Congress and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Speaking to TOI, Patil said BJP had contested the elections against corruption and a culture of intimidation under the Shiv Sena’s long rule in the civic body. “Our objective was to free the administration from fear and corruption and to ensure development in Ambernath. Keeping that in mind, we formed this alliance,” he said.BJP had captured the president’s position, but lacked the numerical strength among councillors to run the civic body independently. A municipal council functions in a manner largely similar to a municipal corporation, with the powers of the president comparable to those of a mayor. The president has the authority to decide which issues are taken up for discussion in General Body meetings. However, when it comes to passing a proposal or resolution by consensus, the matter must be approved by a majority vote in the General Body meeting. To overcome the lack of a majority, BJP initiated talks with opposition parties at the local level.These negotiations culminated on Tuesday with the formation of the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi. The Congress state leadership said “no formal proposal” for a tie-up has been received yet, but the alliance announced in Ambernath ow includes 14 BJP corporators, a BJP-backed municipal president, 12 Congress councillors, four of NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and one independent, giving the coalition a strength of 32—crossing the majority mark in the 60-member council.The development has drawn sharp criticism from the Sena, which has termed the Aghadi an “unethical and opportunistic arrangement.” Shiv Sena MLA from Ambernath, Balaji Kinikar, said while BJP campaigns nationally for a “Congress-free India,” it has strengthened Congress at the municipal level for the sake of power. He alleged that talks were held with BJP leaders, but BJP had opted for a coalition with the Congress instead.Several attempts to contact Congress’s Ambernath city president Pradeep Patil were futile. A Congress spokesperson said in Ambernath, the options are either align with BJP or the Shinde faction or keep off voting. No formal proposal for an alliance was received, he said.

Australia’s Travis Head (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Travis Head produced another commanding statement with the bat on Day 3 of the fifth Ashes Test, powering Australia to a dominant 518 for 7 in reply to England’s first-innings total of 384. Head’s magnificent 163 not only put Australia firmly in control of the contest but also took him past the 600-run mark in the ongoing Ashes series. Reflecting on his rich vein of form, Head admitted the run-scoring spree has been deeply satisfying, even if he does not usually see himself as the side’s main contributor. “It’s nice to contribute the way I have in the series like this. I am not normally the one who is doing the heavy lifting as such,” Head told reporters after stumps.

The left-hander was quick to credit his teammates, especially those who have traditionally carried Australia’s batting in Tests. “The likes of Marnus (Labuschagne) or Smudge (Steve Smith) have been the heavy lifters. The guys who have really driven the game. Davey (David Warner) in the past as well,” Head said. He added that batting alongside them has been a privilege. “I have been very lucky to bat around those guys. Nice that I have put a finger out and help them out on the other side. But yeah, I wouldn’t have come into the series thinking that I will have a series that I have.” Head has now piled up 600 runs from nine innings in the series, averaging 66.67 and scoring three centuries, numbers that underline his impact across the five-Test contest. One of the defining moments of the series for both Head and Australia came in the opening Test in Perth, when he was promoted to open the batting. The move paid instant dividends as Head struck a match-winning hundred, setting the tone for the series. Asked whether his success at the top of the order has secured that position for the future, Head remained measured. “We have got a lot of time, haven’t we? Right now, you sit here and go, yeah, the next test we play, I will have come off a hundred while opening the batting. It’s probably got to look likely,” he said. However, Head stressed that team balance remains the priority. “But this role and order and where we think guys are going to match up and where we are going to fit the guys in, I think, is still where my head’s at. And I think with the leadership of the group and the selectors, we have been pretty open about that. How we match up and how we want to best suit this team. This series is the most important thing right now,” he added. Looking back at the call made in Perth, Head felt the decision had been vindicated. “I feel it was the right call in Perth to go that way, very pleased that I was able to get an opportunity to do that. There are never guarantees that I’m going to get the job done, but I feel like it helped set our team really well.” Australia currently hold a 3-1 lead in the Ashes and sit atop the ICC World Test Championship standings, having won six of their seven Tests in the current cycle, with Head’s form playing a central role in their dominance.

NEW DELHI: Over 9,000 birds across 131 species were spotted along Yamuna floodplains in the capital during the Asian Waterbird Census this weekend.The survey, carried out by a group of nearly 20 birders in collaboration with eBird, an online avian database, flagged several ecological threats to the habitat, including illegal sand mining on the floodplains, predation by stray dogs, dumping of construction and demolition debris as well as plastic waste along the river.Four teams of birders surveyed a 22-km stretch from Wazirabad Barrage to Okhla Barrage. Black-headed gulls (2,500) dominated the count, followed by 1,700 barn swallows. Pied avocet (136), ruddy shelduck (112), white wagtail (108) and house sparrow (90) were also spotted. The birders highlighted habitat degradation of these birds because of removal of aquatic reeds, cultivation on the riverbed and open burning of waste along the bank. They also flagged declining water quality of the river because of sewage and agrochemical runoff.

Four Teams Survey 22km Stretch On River Floodplain, Spot 131 Species

Pankaj Gupta, Delhi-NCR project coordinator of Asian Waterbird Census eBird, said, “If the condition of Yamuna floodplains is not improved, there is likely to be a decline in the number of waterbirds in future.”Akash Gulalia, director of Amaltas Nature Walks, said that the river ecosystem faces a massive threat due to increasing agricultural land on the riverbed and rampant use of chemical fertiliser in them. “Cutting and clearing of aquatic and riparian vegetation has left little space for these birds to breed. Illegal mining is another major issue,” said Gulalia. Apart from Yamuna floodplains, the birders will carry out surveys in smaller wetlands in north Delhi, including Rohini, later this month. Sultanpur, Chandu, Jhanjrola, Bhindawas, Dhigal, Mandothi, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Surajpur, Dhanuari and Dadri wetlands will also be covered. The census is coordinated by Wetlands International, a global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources, and is carried out in several countries every January.

‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ actor Kartik Aaryan has set social media ablaze over unverified link-up rumours, this time, not with an actress, but with a mystery girl. The actor, who is reportedly enjoying some downtime in Goa, following his sister’s wedding celebrations, sparked buzz that he may be dating someone new. Photos from the actor’s beach vacation went viral online after netizens found an uncanny similarity with a photo shared by a ‘mystery woman’.

Is Kartik Aaryan dating again?

The chatter began after Kartik posted a photo of himself relaxing on a beach bed while enjoying a sunset. Shortly after, Reddit users posted a photo by a woman, identified as Karina Kubiliute, who also shared a similar pic of herself on a beach bed enjoying the sunset. The similar beach towels and volleyball court in the backgound sparked buzz that the actor was with the mystery girl. Interstingly enough, screenshots began doing the rounds of the actor ‘following’ Karina on Instagram.

Kartik Aaryan and Karina Kubiliute unfollow eachother amid buzz

Amid the buzz around the link-up, the actor allegedly unfollowed the girl, only adding to the speculation of something brewing under the radar. Netizens also noticed that Karina also seemed to be following Kartik, but later unfollowed him amid the growing buzz.

Who is Karina Kubiliute?

Very little is known about Karina through her public profiles. However, photos featuring her at a high school graduation party in 2024 have sparked rumours that she may be a teen, currently studying in the UK. Photos of the girl in what appears to be her school uniform have gone viral, further raising questions over her age and her link to the actor. It is important to note that these claims made online remain unverified.

‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ box office performance

On the work front, Kartik was last seen in ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ alongside Ananya Panday. The romantic drama opened to a lukewarm response at the box office and has since been unable to get a footing at the box office. The film that was released on Christmas day, has earned a total collection of Rs 32 crore. This is far less than the Rs 21 crore Agastya Nanda‘s ‘Ikkis’ earned in its first weekend and Ranveer Singh‘s ‘Dhurandhar’, which scrored Rs 1212 crore in its month-long run at the ticket windows.

Mumbai: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the suicide of state BJP minister Pankaja Munde‘s personal assistant’s dentist wife has not yet found any evidence to prove abetment to suicide charges against the husband, his sister and brother, police sources said.An official said that the abetment to suicide charges may not stick and the offence may attract only criminal sections of cruelty by husband or his relative, which if proved, attracts three-year imprisonment as compared to 10 years for abetment to suicide.Munde’s aide, Arun Garje, married dental surgeon Dr Gauri Palave, 27, in Feb 2025. On Nov 22, she was found dead in their flat in the redeveloped Worli BDD chawl. Her parents alleged she had been mentally and physically harassed by her husband, who had been in a relationship with another woman, and his relatives. Arun Garje was arrested the next day for abetment to suicide, and given the high-profile nature of the case, a SIT, headed by DCP Ragasudha R, was constituted to probe the matter.A medical report found the dentist died due to asphyxia and ruled out strangulation or foul play. The SIT has so far looked at two medical reports. The first by state-run JJ Hospital said the doctor died due to hanging. The second, pinpointing asphyxia as cause of death, was submitted last week by another panel of doctors.The report and other circumstances leading up to the death has shaped the SIT’s view on the case. Advocate Prashant Patil said, “BNS Section 108 which talks about abatement to commit suicide is the most commonly abused provision of law. When we interpret the applicability of the section, we have to understand provisions of BNS Section talk about “instigation” with criminal intent of creating circumstances so bad for the victim that the victim has no choice but to commit suicide. We need evidence to that effect. Mere words or sentences uttered in a fit of rage cannot attract the provisions of this law.” Officials added that the SIT’s investigation has looked at reports from hospitals, CCTV footage and call detail reports, statements. “The panels have opined that Gauri’s death was due to asphyxia,” said an official.The sequence of events and the timings –when Gauri made her last call to Garje while he was travelling on the Bandra Worli-Sealink–have matched with his CDR and location.The initial police inquiry had found she had called her husband half an hour before the incident. He was near the Bandra-Worli sea link, and rushed home to find her dead.However, according to the police, Anant Garje, instead of calling the police, took the body off the noose and hid the piece of cloth she had used. When he was arrested the next day, he told the police he had hid the cloth to protect his family from shame. “He claimed he felt Gauri was still breathing and could be saved by doctors,” said the police officer.The dentist’s father Ashok Palave has maintained that Arun Garje would fight with her over minor issues. On Sept 30, 2025, she sent her father photographs of documents found while shifting residences. It included a consent letter and declaration from Mamta Hospital, Latur, dated Nov 16, 2021, indicating a woman was pregnant and Anant Garje was listed as her husband. On Oct 3, 2025, on Anant Garje’s birthday, her parents arrived unannounced and noticed injuries on her face and neck. She initially gave evasive replies but later said that she was being harassed over the document.

The fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to ignite on January 9, bringing a month of high-octane cricket to Mumbai and Vadodara. Following India’s historic ODI World Cup 2025 triumph, the domestic league has reached a fever pitch, with fans eager to see the world’s best talents return to Indian shores. This season features an expanded schedule and a renewed focus on aggressive, result-oriented play. Among the five competing franchises, the Gujarat Giants have become the center of attention due to a series of high-profile staff and roster overhauls.

Gujarat Titans bring in three-time World Cup winner as fielding coach for WPL 2026

In a landmark move to fortify their defense, the Giants have officially appointed legendary England wicketkeeper-batter and three-time World Cup winner Sarah Taylor as their new fielding coach for WPL 2026. Taylor, widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted cricketers in history, brings a wealth of tactical experience from both the women’s and men’s professional circuits.

Speaking to IANS on January 6, 2026, Taylor emphasized a culture of fearlessness and precision ahead of their tournament opener. “The focus is to get the girls ready for the first game on the 10th, while also ensuring they enjoy themselves and play with real aggression in the field. Matches can often be won or lost through fielding, catches, run-outs, and moments like those, so we want the girls to be fully prepared and ready for whatever comes their way,” Taylor stated.

Taylor’s appointment is a clear statement of intent from the Adani-owned franchise, which has identified fielding lapses as a primary reason for their previous struggles. By integrating Taylor into a coaching staff that includes head coach Michael Klinger and bowling coach Pravin Tambe, the Giants are banking on her ‘Gold Standard’ expertise to transform them into the sharpest unit in the league.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts the winner and Orange Cap holder for WPL 2026 edition

The Giants’ road to redemption ahead of WPL 2026 

The Giants will enter WPL 2026 with the weight of history on their shoulders and a desperate need for consistency. After finishing at the rock bottom of the points table in the first two seasons (2023 and 2024), the franchise finally tasted success in WPL 2025, achieving a historic milestone by qualifying for the playoffs for the first time.

Under the tactical leadership of Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, who replaced Beth Mooney as captain last season, the Giants secured a third-place finish with a balanced record of four wins and four losses. For the 2026 edition, the franchise has doubled down on this winning formula by retaining Gardner as captain for a staggering ₹3.5 crore.

The squad has been significantly bolstered with marquee signings, including New Zealand icon Sophie Devine and India’s swing specialist Renuka Singh Thakur. With a revamped roster featuring power-hitters like Danni Wyatt-Hodge and emerging Indian talents like Kashvee Gautam and Titas Sadhu, the Giants are no longer the league’s underdogs. Gardner’s retention as the first overseas player to lead the team full-time signals a long-term vision to move beyond the Eliminator and secure their maiden WPL title.

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

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

Nepal announces squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Tuesday announced a 15-player squad, captained by Rohit Paudel, for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. In the squad, Dipendra Singh Airee has been given the role of the vice captain. India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the tournament, which will run from February 7 to March 8, according to a release from CAN. The 15-member squad, led by Paudel, features a blend of experienced players and young talents. The team is expected to adopt an aggressive approach in the World Cup, where Nepal is scheduled to face strong opponents in the group stage.The 10th edition of the global event will feature 20 teams, with 29 days of high-intensity cricket played across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka, commencing on February 7.In the 10th edition of the mega-event that brings together cricket enthusiasts, Nepal’s spin attack will once again revolve around Sandeep Lamichhane, whose experience across leagues and international tournaments provides a genuine wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi adds variety, while Dipendra and Basir Ahamad offer additional spin options.All-round depth remains a key strength of the squad. Dipendra, Gulshan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, and Sompal Kami provide Nepal with flexibility with both bat and ball.At the top of the order, Kushal Bhurtel’s aggressive intent will be crucial in providing quick starts, while Aasif Sheikh offers stability with the glove, and Lokesh Bam offers solidity and shot-making ability through the middle order. Sundeep Jora and Nandan Yadav further bolster the batting unit, giving Nepal depth well beyond the top six.The pace department will be spearheaded by Sompal Kami and Karan KC, both of whom bring experience, movement with the new ball and the ability to execute at the death. They are supported by Nandan Yadav and Sher Malla, adding pace, variety and bench strength.Nepal’s previous outing at the T20 World Cup in 2024 saw them eliminated in the group stage with no wins from four games.Nepal squad: Rohit Paudel (Captain); Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-captain); Sandeep Lamichhane; Kushal Bhurtel; Aasif Sheikh; Sundeep Jora; Aarif Sheikh; Bashir Ahmad; Sompal Kami; Karan KC; Nandan Yadav; Gulshan Jha; Lalit Rajbanshi; Sher Malla, and Lokesh Bam.