Syrian government forces evacuated took control of Sheikh Maqsoud, the last district in Aleppo outside state control, on Sunday. It came as US and allied forces carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State targets across Syria on Saturday,Government forces evacuated more than 400 Kurdish fighters from Sheikh Maqsoud, and detained around 300 Kurds, AFP reported citing an interior ministry official, marking the end of days of intense fighting in the northern city.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “360 fighters and more than 59 wounded” were transferred overnight from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighbourhood to Kurdish-run areas in northeastern Syria. Another 300 Kurds, including members of Kurdish security forces, were detained.According to the agency, there were buses filled with men leaving Sheikh Maqsoud under government security escort during the night. State television later said military operations in the area had been halted, while hundreds of residents displaced by the fighting were seen waiting at the neighbourhood’s entrances to return once operations formally ended.Syrian security forces began deploying in Sheikh Maqsoud on Saturday after several days of clashes with Kurdish fighters that left dozens dead and wounded. From early Saturday, forces launched sweeping operations in the area and urged residents to remain indoors, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported.Two Kurdish fighters blew themselves up while surrounded by security forces, without causing casualties. Gunfire was still heard around midday on Saturday.Later, an explosive-laden drone struck the Aleppo governorate building shortly after two cabinet ministers and a local official held a press conference, state TV said. State television blamed Kurdish fighters for the attack, a claim denied by the main Kurdish-led force, which said it does not target civilian sites, according to AP.The fighting erupted earlier this week in Kurdish-majority Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after talks between Damascus and the Syrian democratic forces (SDF) stalled over integrating Kurdish forces into the national army. Government forces have since taken control of Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.At least 22 people were killed over five days of clashes, with both sides reporting civilian deaths in areas under their control. More than 140,000 people were displaced.AFP reported that Syrian authorities later began transferring Kurdish fighters out of Aleppo after some announced their surrender. Separately, Jordan’s foreign minister discussed the situation with the US special envoy to Syria, offering support for efforts to consolidate a ceasefire and ensure a peaceful withdrawal of Kurdish fighters.

Ravindra Jadeja (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was seen putting in additional work during a specialised training session ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand at the Kotambi Stadium.In a video shared by the BCCI on Sunday, Jadeja was seen engaging in an innovative bowling drill. The all-rounder repeatedly landed the ball between different coloured cones placed on the pitch, following instructions from bowling coach Morne Morkel, who closely supervised and guided the session.

“Coach gave me a task: by the trigger, when I am going to pitch the ball, he will name the colour blue, green and red. He will pick from all three, and I have to pitch the ball closer to that colour with accuracy, like a normal match pitch.“And in between, he also kept two blue coloured balls for the full ball. So, at the same time, he will tell me where to pitch the ball at the last moment,” Jadeja said while explaining the practice.Jadeja heads into the series with form, fitness and confidence firmly on his side. The experienced all-rounder has looked sharp in domestic cricket this month, scoring an unbeaten 52 against Gujarat before following it up with a knock of 36 and figures of 1 for 48 against Services in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.The left-hander also boasts an impressive ODI record against New Zealand, built over a span of 15 years. Jadeja has amassed 386 runs in 16 matches against the Black Caps at an average of 48.25, while also claiming 10 wickets in those outings.After missing the ODI series against Australia, Jadeja made a return to the format during the home series against South Africa, producing a strong all-round performance.Following the series opener in Kotambi, the second ODI will be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14, while the third and final match will take place at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on January 18.

New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during an event marking the official launch of songs of the film Shatak, chronicling the 100-year journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday likened the organisation’s growth to that of a tree rising from a seed, saying the RSS continues to evolve and take on new forms while remaining fundamentally unchanged.Bhagwat made the remarks while addressing an event at the Sangh headquarters in the national capital to mark the organisation’s 100 years, which it completed in September last year.

“The RSS is celebrating its centenary. But as the organisation evolves and takes on new forms, people perceive it as changing. However, it’s not actually changing; it’s simply unfolding gradually,” news agency PTI quoted Bhagwat as saying.“Just as a sprout emerges from a seed, and the mature tree, laden with fruits and flowers, is a different form, these two forms are distinct. Yet, the tree is fundamentally the same as the seed from which it grew,” he added.Bhagwat also remembered RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, calling him a “born patriot” who “dedicated his life to the service of the nation.”Referring to Hedgewar, a physician, he said, “The Sangh and Doctor saheb are synonymous terms.”The Sangh chief remarked that despite losing his parents at a very young age, Hedgewar did not allow the trauma to adversely affect his personality.“When such a great trauma occurs at a very young age, one often becomes isolated and prone to negative effects on one’s nature and personality, but that did not happen in his case. His personality had the ability to withstand even the greatest shocks without his faith or nature wavering in the slightest — a sign of excellent mental health and a strong, healthy mind, which he possessed from the beginning,” Bhagwat observed.He noted that such psychological strength could itself be a subject of study and research.

Sushant Singh Rajput‘s sudden demise in 2020 left everyone shocked and in grief and it also was a difficult year for Rhea Chakraborty.The actress was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau over alleged drug links, while his family accused her of abetment, theft and financial misappropriation. In 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted its closure report, giving Rhea and her brother Showik Chakraborty a clean chit in the case. The actress began her chapter two with a podcast with the same name, depicting her life journey. Now as Rhea released a promotional video from the season finale of her podcast, she revealed that during this tough time, some of her female friends stood by her, especially Shibani Dandekar. This finale episode features Rhea in an intimate conversation with these women who were by her side during her dark phase. The clip opens on an emotional note, with Shibani’s sister, Anusha Dandekar, breaking down in tears. Rhea is seen consoling her, saying softly, “If she will cry then I will cry.”

Then one sees Rhea opening up about the emotional toll of that phase. Reflecting on the year that changed her life, she says, “The year 2020 was a difficult time of my life. As my dad says, if it weren’t for these women, we would have never survived. Now we don’t need a temple in the house, we need a picture of these women.”Fashion stylist Anisha Jain, another close friend, also spoke about the resilience it took to get through that period. “2020 was a lot and we did what we had to. I don’t know where that courage came from,” she admitted.Rhea’s friend Samiksha Shetty recalled an unexpected conversation with the actor. “She just came to me one day and said ‘we have to do this one thing’ and I thought she wants to get her nails done, but she said, ‘Let’s go freeze our eggs’,” Samiksha shared.Rhea spent 28 days in judicial custody in 2020 before being granted bail by the Bombay High Court. In the years since, she has slowly rebuilt her life and career, as she also appeared on Roadies, apart from starting her podcast.

The combined market capitalisation of seven of India’s 10 most valued companies fell by Rs 3,63,412.18 crore last week, with Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest laggard amid a broader sell-off in equities, PTI reported.The benchmark BSE Sensex declined 2,185.77 points, or 2.54 per cent, during the week, reflecting weak investor sentiment.“Indian equity markets ended last week on a negative note, reflecting heightened risk aversion triggered by renewed US tariff threats and rising geopolitical tensions,” said Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, an online trading and wealth tech firm.Among the top-10 firms, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Bharti Airtel, Infosys, Bajaj Finance and Larsen & Toubro saw erosion in their market valuations, while ICICI Bank, State Bank of India and Hindustan Unilever ended the week as gainers.Reliance Industries saw its market capitalisation tumble by Rs 1,58,532.91 crore to Rs 19,96,445.69 crore, making it the biggest loser in absolute terms.HDFC Bank’s valuation declined by Rs 96,153.61 crore to Rs 14,44,150.26 crore. Bharti Airtel’s market capitalisation fell by Rs 45,274.72 crore to Rs 11,55,987.81 crore, while Bajaj Finance lost Rs 18,729.68 crore to close at Rs 5,97,700.75 crore.Larsen & Toubro’s mcap dropped by Rs 18,728.53 crore to Rs 5,53,912.03 crore, and TCS saw a decline of Rs 15,232.14 crore, taking its valuation to Rs 11,60,682.48 crore. Infosys’ market capitalisation edged lower by Rs 10,760.59 crore to Rs 6,70,875 crore.On the positive side, ICICI Bank’s valuation jumped by Rs 34,901.81 crore to Rs 10,03,674.95 crore. Hindustan Unilever added Rs 6,097.19 crore to reach Rs 5,57,734.23 crore, while State Bank of India’s mcap rose by Rs 599.99 crore to Rs 9,23,061.76 crore.Despite the weekly losses, Reliance Industries remained India’s most valued company, followed by HDFC Bank, TCS, Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Infosys, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever and Larsen & Toubro.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a landmark tenth edition of the tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. A total of 20 nations will compete in 55 high-octane matches, following the successful format of the 2024 edition with a group stage, Super 8s, and knockouts. The tournament will be spread across eight iconic venues, including the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

This edition also marks a historic debut for Italy, highlighting the growing global footprint of the T20 format as it approaches its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. Fans are eagerly anticipating the final, which is slated to take place on March 8, potentially at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

“You can never write them off”: Graeme Smith names his favourite team to win the T20 World Cup 2026

Speaking in Durban on January 10, 2026, South African legend Graeme Smith named India as a primary favorite for the upcoming World Cup, despite the team navigating a period of structural change. Smith highlighted that the combination of home conditions and raw talent makes India an automatic candidate for the final four. He described the current state of the team under head coach Gautam Gambhir as a fascinating watch:

“With India’s talent, you can never write them off. It’s a home World Cup. And it does seem an interesting transition phase in Indian cricket, you know, between Gautam (Gambhir) and senior players and, you know, who’s next and how that transition happens. And it seems to be in an interesting place. So, it’s going to be good to watch how things go. But certainly from a talent perspective, India, if they’re not in the last four at least, I’ll be very surprised.” Smith was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Also READ: Not Jasprit Bumrah! Sourav Ganguly picks ‘X factor’ for India in the T20 World Cup 2026

Smith reveals his T20 World Cup final dream

While acknowledging India’s prowess, Smith admitted that his heart remains with the Proteas, especially after their narrow seven-run loss to India in the 2024 final. He expressed strong belief in South Africa’s current group, particularly their ability to handle subcontinental spin, which will be the defining factor in matches across India and Sri Lanka. Smith candidly shared his hope for a rematch in the final:

“Obviously, I’d like us to beat India in the final (laughs). I think if Shukri [Conrad] and the team can get their combinations right, I think there’s a real opportunity that the team can do very well. And, you know, I think there’s enough quality of ability to play spin there as well in that middle order, particularly in India. So, let’s hope, you know, that there will be a good World Cup around the corner.” Smith concluded.

Also READ: Shubman Gill speaks out on T20 World Cup 2026 exclusion

MUMBAI: The Mahayuti alliance on Sunday unveiled a comprehensive manifesto for the upcoming Mumbai civic body elections, pledging technology-driven governance to transform the city into a “global powerhouse.” The document promises a 50% fare concession for women in BEST buses and aims to “free” the city from Bangladeshi migrants.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who presented the manifesto, said the BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI (A) alliance would integrate “Japanese technology” with local administration to address chronic civic issues and deliver services directly to citizens’ mobile phones.The manifesto has emphasised the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to curb corruption, speed up clearances and improve service delivery.“The city has seen 25 years of inefficiency in civic governance, and now I want to tell people to give us the opportunity to bring transparency in civic administration,” he said.“Our goal is a corruption-free municipal corporation,” Fadnavis said, outlining a “Municipality on your Mobile” initiative and an AI-driven platform to fast-track building approvals and ensure transparency in the real estate sector.He also promised to set up AI labs in all municipal schools to equip students with future-ready skills.Transport and women’s safety featured prominently in the manifesto. Fadnavis said the alliance plans to double the BEST fleet from around 5,000 to 10,000 buses, transition to electric vehicles, and provide a 50% fare concession for women commuters.Additionally, new “midi” and “mini” bus services will enhance last-mile connectivity near Metro and railway stations.“We will free Mumbai of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. With the help of IIT, we will develop an AI tool to identify Bangladeshi migrants,” Fadnavis said.He stated that Rs 17,000 crore had been pledged for a climate action plan, under which a circular economy will be prepared.Speaking about the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Fadnavis said an ecosystem will be created to ensure the upgradation of micro businesses in the area, and even ineligible residents will be included.The manifesto has also mentioned a “flood-free Mumbai” plan, promising the city would be free from inundation within five years by adopting Japanese techniques and collaborating with institutions such as IIT and VJTI for measures.Fadnavis said a research team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) will study the city’s topography, with plans to construct four new underground floodwater tanks, revamp existing drainage lines, and expedite work on the BRIMSTOWAD 2 project.He added that civic hospitals will be upgraded to AIIMS standards, and a digital health card system will be launched to store the medical history of every Mumbaikar, aiming to speed up treatment.On housing and redevelopment, the alliance announced the “Pagadimukt Mumbai” initiative to resolve tenancy issues and pledged to issue Occupancy Certificates for 20,000 stalled buildings, benefiting lakhs of residents.The manifesto also proposed incentives for high-rises that adopt sustainable “Living Forest” practices.Speaking on the occasion, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde stressed the preservation of Marathi culture alongside modernisation.He said that a cultural department would be set up in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to promote local art and heritage, and announced plans for Marathi libraries, cultural centres and a “Mumbai Fellowship” programme for Marathi youth.Shinde said that the school syllabus would include the history of Mumbai and the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, and reiterated plans for the Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical University.He also outlined a redevelopment plan for ‘koliwadas’ and ‘gaothans’ aimed at protecting the identity and livelihoods of the Koli community and other original inhabitants of the city. (With agency inputs)

India sold were at 2.3 million units of electric vehicle in 2025, making up 8 per cent of all new vehicle registrations, according to a new report by the India Energy Storage Alliance, based on Vahan Portal data, cited by ANI. This boost was driven by incentives offered by the government and festive seasons. The majority portion of the sales were two-wheelers at 1.28 million units.The total registrations recorded in the overall passenger car market in the year 2025 stood at 28.2 million. Two-wheelers marked the most registrations 20 million registrations, while passenger cars were at 4.4 million and agricultural vehicles recorded 1.06 million. The recorded sales rose steadily throughout the year though slightly improved in the festival seasons due to GST benefits.Electric two-wheelers were the stars of the EV market, grabbing 57 per cent of sales. Three-wheelers came second with 0.8 million units (35 per cent), while four-wheelers logged 175,000 units. The report spotted good progress in electric delivery vehicles, especially in smaller commercial segments.Uttar Pradesh was at the forefront in this, with 400,000 units sold, taking an 18 percent market share in India’s EV segment. Maharashtra followed, with 266,000 units sold, contributing 12 percent to the segment, followed by Karnataka, with 200,000 units sold, contributing 9 percent to the market. The three accounted for over 40 percent in the country’s EV sales.Some smaller states recorded a very encouraging uptake of EVs. Delhi, Kerala, and Goa were able to reach an EV-to-ICE ratio of 14 percent, 12 percent, and 11 percent respectively. Meanwhile, states from the Northeast, Tripura, and Assam, achieved ratios of 18 percent and 14 percent, respectively.A major achievement was recorded in the three-wheeler segment, which attained a market penetration of 32 per cent. The government also created a record with their biggest ever order of electric buses—10,900 unit—valued at a massive Rs 10,900 crore through the PM E-DRIVE scheme.The report also stated that that while smaller vehicles led EV adoption, government efforts to electrify larger commercial vehicles and develop charging infrastructure were setting up India’s EV sector for continued growth beyond 2025.

NEW DELHI: South African pace great Allan Donald feels Virat Kohli may have stepped away from Test cricket a bit earlier than expected, but believes the Indian batting star still has the hunger to carry on until the 2027 ODI World Cup. Donald, who shared a strong rapport with Kohli during his stint as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling coach in the IPL in 2014 and 2015, pointed to the batter’s unmatched work ethic as the reason behind his belief.“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen hunger in a player other than Virat. I’ve got massive respect for him. I often talk about it in the dressing rooms and chats about being a champion trainer. There’s no one that trains as hard as him. He is just a machine,” Donald told a select media gathering during the SA20.

“I actually miss him in the Test match arena. I think he’s retired too early, but yeah, I look with no doubt we will see him in the white-ball arena in the World Cup very, very soon,” he added.Donald also spoke about South Africa’s prospects in the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, saying the Proteas have assembled a well-balanced and competitive squad capable of performing strongly.“It’s going to be a a heck of a tournament in India, isn’t it? South Africa picked a very strong squad. There might always be question marks about who’s not going and who should have gone and all that kind of stuff. I think India have got the best T20 wickets on the planet. It’s just so hard for any bowler and I’ve seen it in the IPL with scores 124 in a power play. That’s just where the skill of batting has gone.“If you can win the inches from a bowling point of view and plot your way very carefully and smartly, then, you know, it’s going to come down to that again. So, I hope to see South Africa in the final as well,” he said.