Mumbai: Bombay high court has directed Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) to take action if it finds that a structure allegedly constructed by a former corporator from Shiv Sena is illegal. The Sena functionary, Jyotsana Jadhav, is again contesting the civic elections on a party ticket.Justices Bharati Dangre and R N Laddha on Tuesday heard and disposed of a petition, filed in 2021, by Manoj Korade, husband of Shital Korade, a Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh candidate who had lost to Jadhav in ward 13 in the Feb 2017 UMC elections. Manoj sought a declaration from HC that Jadhav is disqualified under a sub-section of Section 10 (disqualification for being a councillor) of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act for construction of illegal and/or unauthorised construction. He also sought direction to UMC to demolish the structure constructed at Parmar Chawl, Ambikar Nagar, within a stipulated period. Manoj’s petition said the land belongs to the state govt. In 2018, after Jadhav started the work of soil excavation and murum, he had complained to the authorities. However, Jadhav without permission from UMC constructed a ground-plus-one floor structure and was residing in it, said the petition. Manoj made representations to UMC to demolish it. His petition mentioned that Jadhav and her husband, Suresh, in a Sept 2018 reply to the tahsildar’s notice, said they repaired the old house and sold it to another person. At the hearing, Manoj’s advocate Laxman Deshmukh conceded that as Jadhav’s term had already ended, the relief sought by him to declare her disqualified as councillor does not survive. However, he said Manoj’s grievance against the illegal structure continues and urged HC to direct UMC to demolish it. UMC’s advocate said if Korade makes a fresh representation, it shall be considered. “…We can only observe that if any structure is unauthorised or is illegal, the corporation is duty bound to take an action,” the bench said. Therefore, it directed Manoj to make a fresh representation to the municipal commissioner if his grievance still subsists and the structure continues to stand. The commissioner “shall immediately look into the same, and if it is found to be illegal, it shall be followed by appropriate action”, it said. Jadhav’s advocate Jayant Bardeskar said she is not the owner of the property and the structure. The judges noted that Bardeskar raised a “serious dispute” over ownership of the structure. Hence, they “clarified that in any event, if the structure is found to be unauthorised or illegal, we expect the respondent corporation to initiate action against the owner of the said structure”.

India is at the cusp of a historic economic journey, with government policies and reforms giving the country “wind in its sails” even as global trade uncertainties intensify, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Shaktikanta Das said on Friday.Delivering the inaugural Bibek Debroy Memorial Lecture, Das said India has emerged stronger from successive global shocks and is now positioned to pursue sustained growth despite a fragmented global economic order, PTI reported.Atmanirbharta as resilience, not isolation“At a time when the consensus that powered globalisation in past decades has frayed and multilateral cooperation has become harder to achieve, India has embraced Atmanirbharta as the overarching principle of our policies,” Das said.Clarifying the approach, he added: “Atmanirbharta is not being isolationist, but a strategy to build core competence and resilience. Economic Atmanirbharta means developing the capacity to produce critical goods and technologies at home and reducing over-reliance on foreign sources.”A self-reliant economy, backed by strong domestic capabilities and an autonomous foreign policy, provides India greater strength to sustain growth and navigate external challenges, he said. “Together, they ensure that India’s rise is resilient, sustainable and beneficial to us and to the world.”From global shocks to ‘wind in our sails’Das said India has successfully emerged from what appeared to be “perfect storms” triggered by multiple global shocks since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.“And now with the policies that the country has adopted, the wind is in our sails. We are indeed on our path to Viksit Bharat,” he said.India, he noted, stands at an inflection point where shifting geopolitical alignments and trade policies are reshaping the global economic landscape.“India stands today at the cusp of a historic journey — from being an incredible India to a credible India. There will be headwinds and challenges emanating from known and unknown sources,” Das said.Fragmenting world, India’s strategic responseDas flagged the strain on global institutions and multilateral frameworks, saying traditional multilateralism is increasingly being sidelined by geopolitical rivalries, protectionism and fragmentation.“Key international institutions are struggling to deliver on their mandates… Trade and supply chains, once seen as neutral conduits of globalisation, are increasingly being utilised as instrumentalities of disruption and dominance,” he said.Reshoring, friend-shoring and restricted technology flows are fragmenting global networks, reflecting broader geo-economic fragmentation, Das added.Against this backdrop, India’s approach is pragmatic. “India stands for a cooperative and rules-based global system; but at the same time, we are proactively forging partnerships and strategies to secure our national interest in a world where power is more diffused,” he said.“We, of course, acknowledge that the multilateral system must be revitalised, even as we adapt to new alignments,” Das added.

AHMEDABAD: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Dr P T Usha on Friday expressed satisfaction about the efforts put in by the Gujarat government to create sports infrastructure to strengthen India’s prospects to host the 2036 Olympics.Ahead of IOA’s annual general meeting here on Friday, the Gujarat government gave a detailed presentation to IOA office-bearers on facilities and infrastructure being created keeping in mind India’s plan to bid for the Olympics, said the association’s senior vice president Ajay Patel.

Speaking at a press conference after the AGM, Usha said Ahmedabad’s sports facilities are becoming excellent.“A lot of new infrastructure is coming up. They have done a great job in building that indoor stadium where our event took place today. Ahmedabad is on its way to become a sports hub in the future,” the former athlete said.“They presented very nicely. Everyone was happy with the steps being taken by the Gujarat government,” she added.Patel said Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya were present at the meeting.“Gujarat government gave a presentation about the infrastructure that is being developed to strengthen India’s Olympic bid. Everyone present in the meeting were extremely satisfied with the steps being taken,” he added.Union home minister Amit Shah has said that India aspires to host the 2036 Olympics, and ten big stadiums will be built at the Sardar Patel Sports Complex in the Motera area to host the mega event.Last month, Shah had expressed confidence that Ahmedabad city will bag the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympic Games.Recently, Ahmedabad was awarded the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Amit Shah chairs NCORD meet

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired the ninth apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, reviewing India’s strategy to tackle drug trafficking and substance abuse.During the meeting, Shah said the government plans to launch a nationwide campaign against drugs from March 31, 2026, for a period of three years. He said the initiative would involve action on multiple fronts and aim to accelerate efforts towards making India drug-free.Shah said all central government departments should prepare a roadmap extending up to 2029, along with a monitoring mechanism, to address the drug problem in a comprehensive manner. He described the drug challenge as being closely linked to narco-terrorism rather than a routine law-and-order issue, calling it a threat to the country’s future generations.He noted that drug abuse affects the health, thinking ability and performance of young people, and contributes to social unrest. Stressing the importance of public outreach, Shah said sustained awareness efforts were essential to prevent drug use.According to the home minister, the government’s approach rests on three pillars: strict action to disrupt drug supply chains, strategic measures to reduce demand, and a humane response to address harm among users. He said there should be no leniency towards those involved in manufacturing and selling drugs, while individuals who have begun using drugs should be dealt with sensitively.Shah emphasised the need to strengthen command, compliance and accountability, adding that the focus should be on outcomes and impact rather than the number of meetings held. He said action against kingpins, financiers and logistics networks of the drug trade should be regularly reviewed, along with efforts to improve conviction rates through the use of FSL and timely filing of charge sheetsHe also flagged changes in drug distribution and payment methods, calling for strategies to be updated from time to time. Shah said state police forces would form permanent teams in mission mode, with greater use of intelligence inputs and artificial intelligence.The home minister also inaugurated the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Amritsar office.

In his latest scathing column for The Telegraph on January 9, 2026, England legend Geoffrey Boycott delivered a blistering post-mortem following the conclusion of the Ashes 2025-26 series. Having watched England fall to a demoralizing 4-1 defeat in Australia, the 85-year-old former opener spared no one in the leadership group.

Boycott argued that the ‘Bazball’ era has devolved from an exciting experiment into a dangerous culture of entitlement and recklessness. He accused the team of lacking basic discipline, highlighting that their stubborn refusal to adapt to Australian conditions was the primary reason for their downfall. With his signature bluntness, Boycott demanded a complete overhaul of the coaching structure before England’s next Test assignment in June.

Geoffrey Boycott names the three culprits behind England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat

Boycott took direct aim at the three most powerful figures in England cricket, Head Coach Brendon McCullum, Managing Director Rob Key and Captain Ben Stokes, labeling them as the architects of England’s failure.

“England’s three wise men turned out to be the three stooges. Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Ben Stokes sold a lie for three years.” Boycott wrote.

Boycott’s primary grievance was the lack of consequences for poor performances, noting that under the current regime, players feel invincible regardless of their mistakes. Boycott observed: “Nobody tells them off, no accountability, and nobody gets dropped, so they just keep doing the same daft things. Why should the players change, adapt, or improve if the coach and captain are okay with it?” He further criticized Key for failing to exercise oversight, warning that if Key continues to blindly back McCullum’s ‘slapstick’ tactics, his own job could be at risk.

Also READ: Geoffrey Boycott proposes ‘two strong candidates’ to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s Test coach after Ashes 2025-26 defeat

The gambler coach and the need for Ashes-winning counsel

Focusing his critique on the coaching philosophy, Boycott described McCullum as a leader who has fundamentally failed to evolve beyond a high-stakes gambling mindset. While acknowledging McCullum was initially a ‘breath of fresh air,’

Boycott wrote: “But he is a gambler who thinks he is always going to win his money back. That’s how casinos always win in the end… They don’t know when to stop or change their routine.” To fix this perceived arrogance, Boycott suggested that the ECB must force the leadership group to listen to “has-been” legends who actually know how to win Down Under. He urged Key to bring in greats like Ian Botham, Graham Gooch and David Gower to provide a “fresh and different” perspective, adding: “This sort of free license to do whatever you please with no consequence is holding England back. To get to the next level, we need a different discipline and structure.”

Also READ: 5 key reasons for England’s disastrous defeat in Ashes 2025-26 against Australia

Thane: Amid the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation election, the Shiv Sena delivered a major political blow to the BJP during a massive rally addressed by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Three-time corporator Prakash Nathani quit the BJP and joined the Shiv Sena at the rally. Several BJP office-bearers also switched sides, strengthening the Shiv Sena ahead of the polls.Shiv Sena is contesting all 78 seats in Ulhasnagar in alliance with its local partners Team Omie Kalani (TOK) and the Sai Party, while the BJP, its alliance partner in the state govt, is contesting all seats independently. In contrast, Shiv Sena and BJP are contesting together as part of the Mahayuti in Kalyan–Dombivli.Addressing the gathering, Shinde launched a sharp attack on the Thackeray brothers without naming them, saying, “When people played their band, they remembered their brand.” He accused the opposition of hypocrisy over EVMs, stating that EVMs are termed good when they win and faulty when they lose. He said the public has now seen through such tactics.Referring to Kalyan–Dombivli, Shinde pointed out that 21 Mahayuti candidates have been elected unopposed and asked the opposition why they failed to even field candidates. He said people withdraw nominations not out of fear, but because they know they lack leadership and public support.Calling Kalyan–Dombivli a Mahayuti stronghold, Shinde praised MP Shrikant Shinde, calling him a visionary leader and credited him for transforming the region through mega development projects. He asserted that Mahayuti will form the municipal government and hoist the saffron flag in Kalyan–Dombivli.In Ulhasnagar, Shinde emphasized unity between the Marathi and Sindhi communities, comparing their bond to sugar dissolved in milk. Sharing the stage with former MLA Pappu Kalani, Omie Kalani and SAI party president Jeevan Idnani, he praised Pappu Kalani’s leadership, saying, “A name needs strength; even kites fly on air, but leadership needs substance.”Recalling his tenure as chief minister, Shinde said he worked tirelessly and launched schemes like the ‘Laadki Bahin Yojana’ to empower women, assuring that the scheme would never be discontinued.Concluding his speech, Shinde said his dream is to transform Ulhasnagar into a “happy city” driven by development, unity and trust, expressing confidence that the coming civic elections would see the bow-and-arrow and lotus symbols prominently victorious.

Investors are anticipating that the decision could either trigger a sharp surge in the Sensex and Nifty or exacerbate the turbulence. (AI image)

Will the world continue to face US President Donald Trump tariffs or will the Supreme Court in America deem them illegal? It’s an important factor in the minds of investors world over, and Indian stock markets are also awaiting clarity on the same. While it was widely anticipated that the Supreme Court in the US will rule on the tariff issue on Friday, no ruling is lined up for today.For the past five trading sessions, Sensex and Nifty have tanked over 2% – the markets are reacting to a stalemate in the India-US trade deal negotiations, a fresh threat by Trump of higher tariffs on India, and a new bill in the US Senate which proposes 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian crude oil.

Investors are anticipating that the decision could either trigger a sharp surge in the Sensex and Nifty or exacerbate the turbulence that has already unsettled Dalal Street in the last few days.

Ruling on Trump tariffs: What would it mean for Sensex, Nifty?

Should the Supreme Court strike down the tariffs, India could emerge as one of the main beneficiaries in the world. India currently faces a 50% tariff rate on its exports to the US. However, the recent nod by Trump for a bill that looks to impose a 500% tariff on countries importing Russian oil poses an additional threat to India’s trade competitiveness. Experts widely expect the stock market to rally in case a verdict striking down the tariffs comes.Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The US Supreme Court ruling can have profound consequences. How the ruling will impact markets will depend on the details. If the ruling is that the tariffs are illegal and the president has exceeded his authority, that will lead to serious consequences like refunding the importers who have paid the tariffs. This will widen the US deficit and increase their borrowing leading to higher bond yields. The impact of this scenario on the US stock market will be negative.”“On the contrary, countries like India which have been at the receiving end of Trump’s tariffs will benefit from such a ruling. Particularly exporters to the US will benefit. It is also possible that the Supreme Court may partially nullify the tariffs, in which case, the impact will depend on the details. Even if the ruling goes against the US administration, it is highly likely that the president and his team will resort to other means to impose tariffs. The tariff drama is likely to linger for some time,” he tells TOI.A Supreme Court decision invalidating the Trump-era tariffs could offer immediate support to global risk assets, with Indian equities standing to gain the most. Analysts note that such a ruling would lower input costs, ease trade tensions, and enhance profit visibility for export-driven sectors that have been heavily impacted by the high US duties.On the other hand, if the court upholds the tariffs, markets may experience prolonged volatility and heightened policy uncertainty. Sustained tariffs would maintain elevated supply chain costs, squeeze corporate margins, and potentially delay investment decisions. Under such conditions, experts anticipate a lack of broad market gains, with trading largely limited to individual stocks.

The 500% Tariff Sword

Market participants are also going to closely monitor not just the verdict, but its specifics: whether the court will deliver a full invalidation of the tariff regime or a partial ruling that allows some trade frictions to persist.The Russia Sanctioning Act could impose a staggering 500% tariff on nations importing Russian oil. While the measure is intended to restrict Moscow’s energy revenues, it could inflict severe collateral consequences on India.“The trade dispute between India and the US has intensified, with former President Donald Trump endorsing legislation authored by Senator Lindsey Graham that would allow a 500% tariff on countries importing Russian oil,” said Harsimran Sahni, Head – Treasury at Anand Rathi Global Finance.Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, India has significantly increased imports of discounted Russian crude. Sahni cautioned, “If enforced, this tariff could sharply elevate the cost of Indian exports to the US, hurting trade competitiveness and straining an already fragile global economic environment.”He added, “The implications for India extend beyond trade alone. Higher tariffs could slow growth by impacting export-driven sectors, while rising energy costs might complicate inflation management. Government measures to stabilize supply and demand could affect liquidity and drive yields higher.”