Meta is reportedly planning significant job cuts, around 10%, within its Reality Labs division, responsible for VR products like Meta Quest. This strategic shift prioritizes artificial intelligence development, potentially impacting CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s long-term metaverse vision. Investors have expressed concerns over substantial VR spending with slower-than-expected consumer adoption.

Facebook-parent Meta is planning to cut 10% of its workforce in Reality Labs Division which is behind the Meta Quest headsets, Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and the virtual reality social network known as the Metaverse. Quoting people familiar with the development, a Bloomberg report says that the job cuts come as the company shifts priorities to build next-generation artificial intelligence (AI). It states that the latest job cuts may put breaks on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg‘s long-chased vision of building virtual reality for the metaverse which started in 2014 with the acquisition of virtual reality start-up Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion. Another step in this direction came in 2021, when Facebook rebranded itself as Meta.

Meta layoffs may be announced soon

Meta’s Reality Labs Division roughly has 15,000 employees. According to the Bloomberg report, Meta may announce the cuts to Reality Labs as soon as January 13, 2025. Sources told the publication that layoffs are said to disproportionately affect those in the metaverse unit who work on virtual reality (VR) headsets and a VR-based social network. As per a memo sent by the company to employees last week, Meta’s chief technology officer Andrew Bosworth, who also heads Reality Labs, has called for a ‘most important’ meeting on Wednesday – January 14, asking staff to attend in person.Last year, Zuckerberg asked top executives to make cuts to their 2026 budgets while he pours money into A.I. research. As Meta faces competition from companies like OpenAI and Google, Mr. Zuckerberg has increased the budget for TBD Lab, the skunk works unit at Meta that aims to build superintelligence, a godlike AI system.As reported by Bloomberg, the company also plans to reallocate some of the money from virtual reality products to increase the budget for its wearables division, which builds smart glasses and wristband computing devices.

Meta investors raises concerns

Despite the company spending tens of billions of dollars on developing virtual reality headset, the consumer response has been slower than expected. Investors have grown wary of Meta’s spending.In December last year, a company spokeswoman said Meta was “shifting some of our investment from Metaverse toward A.I. glasses,” and was not planning “any broader changes.”

AGRA: A 19-year-old girl and her 23-year-old husband — who had eloped and got married at a temple last month — were called back home and brutally thrashed before their throats were slit by the woman’s family even as bystanders gaped in shock at the chilling crime. The double murder took place at Gadhiya Suhagpur village under Jaithra police station of Etah district in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening.An FIR was registered under BNS sections 103(1) (murder) and 191 (rioting) against five members of the woman’s family. Police said three accused — including the woman’s father, Ashok Kumar, 45; mother, Vitoli Devi, 42; and sister Shilpi, 20 — have been arrested. Her brothers Satish and Jabar Singh Vikas are on the run. SSP Shyam Narayan Singh said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that the woman’s father, along with his sons, are involved in the double murder.”Victims Shivani Kumari and Deepak Kumar, who worked at a private company in Prayagraj, belonged to the Lodhi-Rajput community and lived in the same locality. They had been in a relationship for the past three years, and on Dec 11, they eloped and got married at an Arya Samaj temple in Prayagraj against the wishes of the woman’s parents.On Saturday, Shivani returned to her parental home after her family called her back. Around 7 pm on Sunday, when Deepak came to meet her, the newly wed couple were attacked with sticks and a trowel while villagers watched in horror.“After thrashing the couple, the attackers slit Shivani’s throat. As Deepak ran to save his life, he was caught and his throat was also slit. The attackers then threw the blood-soaked body on the roof of a neighbour’s house,” said a villager.Police arrived soon, but by that time Shivani had already died. Deepak was breathing, and he was rushed to the nearby community health centre, from where he was referred to the district hospital, but he died on the way.In his police complaint, Deepak’s father, Radheyshaym, who works in the forest department, said: “Shivani’s family member attacked my son and his wife with a sharp weapon in front of terrified villagers.”(With inputs from Vikas Dubey in Etah)

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The retirement of Alyssa Healy on January 13, 2026, officially signals the end of an era for Australian cricket. For over fifteen years, Healy was the team’s heartbeat, a relentless wicketkeeper-batter whose aggressive intent at the top of the order redefined modern keeper-bats.

After taking the torch from Meg Lanning, she ensured Australia remained at the global pinnacle, leading with a sharp tactical mind and a fearless persona. Her departure leaves a massive void, not just in her 7,000+ international runs and 275 dismissals, but in the psychological edge she provided the squad. As she exits after the final series against India, the focus shifts to a new leadership chapter. Australia now requires a figure who can manage a transition where veteran legends are stepping away, ensuring the team’s ‘winning DNA’ remains intact. Replacing a character as large as Healy requires a blend of tactical brilliance, individual performance and the authority to lead in high-pressure World Cup finals.

5 players who could lead Australia after Alyssa Healy announces her retirement

1. Tahlia McGrath 

Tahlia McGrath is the most immediate choice to succeed Healy, having served as the national vice-captain and interim leader during Healy’s injury spells. Her qualification is built on being a premier world-class all-rounder who remains remarkably calm under pressure. She has already proven her ability to win titles as a captain in the domestic circuit and has the full respect of the current veteran-heavy squad.

• Captaincy Record: Captained Adelaide Strikers to back-to-back WBBL titles (2022, 2023). Led Australia in T20Is and ODIs during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
• Leadership Stats: Maintained an elite T20I batting average of 42.00 and strike rate of 133+ while leading. Under her captaincy, the Strikers held one of the highest win percentages in WBBL history.

2. Annabel Sutherland

At just 24, Sutherland is the generational talent candidate. Known for a meticulous and professional approach, she is already the cornerstone of the Australian bowling attack and a powerhouse with the bat. Her qualification lies in her maturity; she was identified as a leader at 15 and has been groomed for this moment. She represents a ‘Lanning-style’ appointment – young, dominant and capable of leading for a decade.

• Captaincy Record: Current captain of the Melbourne Stars (WBBL). She has led various Australia ‘A’ and underage pathways teams with high tactical acclaim.
• Leadership Stats: Belinda Clark Medal 2025 winner. Holds the record for the fastest Women’s Test century (148 balls) and a Test double-century (210) vs South Africa.

Also READ: Meg Lanning picks Alyssa Healy’s successor as Australia’s next ODI captain after heartbreaking CWC 2025 exit

3. Beth Mooney 

Beth Mooney offers a ‘steady hand’ approach, ideal if the selectors prefer a bridge between the Healy era and the younger generation. Her qualification is her unparalleled cricketing IQ; as a wicketkeeper, she shares Healy’s tactical vantage point. She is widely considered the ‘toughest’ player in the squad, often performing her best when the team is in a crisis, making her an ideal leader for high-stakes tournaments.

• Captaincy Record: Captained Perth Scorchers (WBBL) and led Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL (2023) and 2024 seasons before transitioning into a senior advisor role.
• Leadership Stats: Holds a 48.00+ average in ODIs and 42.00+ in T20Is. She is a 3-time WBBL champion and was the T20 World Cup 2020 Player of the Tournament.

4. Ashleigh Gardner 

Ashleigh Gardner is the premier tactical choice, offering an aggressive and modern perspective. Her qualification is her status as the world’s #1 all-rounder, giving her a unique understanding of both bowling rotations and batting tempos. Her appointment would be historic, as she would be the first Indigenous person to captain an Australian cricket team on a permanent basis, reflecting a modern and inclusive era.

• Captaincy Record: Captained Gujarat Giants (WPL 2025/26) to their first playoffs and led Trent Rockets in The Hundred (2025). Current captain of the Sydney Sixers.
• Leadership Stats: Two-time Belinda Clark Award winner (2022, 2024). Holds the best Test bowling figures for an Australian woman (12/165) and has over 120 WBBL wickets.

5. Phoebe Litchfield 

Phoebe Litchfield is the bold choice, representing the face of the future. Her qualification is her fearlessness; she plays a brand of cricket that perfectly mirrors the aggressive intent Healy championed. By appointing her now, Australia would be following the successful blueprint of blooding a captain early to build a dynasty. She is already a global superstar and a marketing powerhouse for the women’s game.

• Captaincy Record: Youngest permanent captain in WBBL history, leading the Sydney Thunder at age 21 (2024/25). Captained NSW underage teams to national titles.
• Leadership Stats: ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year (2023). Averaging 41.00+ in ODIs with 3 centuries before the age of 22; scored 304 runs in the 2025 World Cup.

Also READ: Jemimah Rodrigues reveals how Richa Ghosh dismantled Alyssa Healy’s sledge with an unforgettable reply

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

File Pic: Bangladesh fans cheer for their team in the stands. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: A day after Bangladesh government’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul sent shockwaves through world cricket by declaring that Bangladesh would play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 anywhere except India, this report re-examines the allegations he levelled — and why the ICC has firmly pushed back against them.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Nazrul’s remarks on Monday came against the backdrop of strained ties between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the BCCI, triggered by the release of Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders and reports that Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram had emerged as alternative venues for Bangladesh’s World Cup matches. Speaking to reporters at the Bangladesh Football Federation, Nazrul insisted that Dhaka’s position was categorical.

Nazrul’s allegations, claims and defiance“I already said India means India. We are talking about India; we did not say Kolkata,” he said. “If you change it from Kolkata and give another venue — Sri Lanka can be given, no problem. Hold it in Pakistan, no problem. Hold it in the United Arab Emirates, no problem.”At the heart of Nazrul’s argument was what he described as an ICC security assessment that allegedly validated Bangladesh’s concerns. According to him, the ICC’s security team had warned that risks would increase if Mustafizur Rahman was selected, if Bangladeshi supporters wore national jerseys in public, and if the tournament coincided with Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections.

“If the ICC expects that we will form a team excluding our best bowler, that our supporters cannot wear our national jersey, and that we will postpone our election to play cricket, then there cannot be anything more bizarre or unreasonable,” Nazrul said, adding that these points “undoubtedly proved” there was no environment for Bangladesh to play anywhere in India.Nazrul also framed the issue in political and ideological terms, alleging an “aggressive communal situation” and a sustained “anti-Bangladesh campaign” in India over the past 16 months. “No one should have a monopoly over cricket,” he said, accusing the ICC of bowing to India’s influence and urging the governing body to prove its global credentials by shifting Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka.ICC’s quick rebuttalHowever, within hours of his comments, the ICC poured cold water on those claims. Sources in the governing body clarified that its independent risk assessments — carried out by internationally recognised security experts — did not support the conclusion that Bangladesh could not travel to India. The overall security risk for the tournament, including Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai, was assessed as “low to moderate”, with no specific or direct threat identified.The ICC also rejected any suggestion that it had recommended changes to squad selection, fan behaviour or domestic political processes. “Routine contingency planning has been selectively referenced and misrepresented,” an ICC source told TimesofIndia.com.Bangladesh’s clarificationBangladesh deputy press secretary Azad Majumdar later acknowledged that Nazrul had misread an internal note, explaining that it was not an ICC response to Bangladesh’s request for relocation.As things stand, Bangladesh remain scheduled to play four group matches in India, with fans and the wider cricketing world now waiting to see what unfolds next in this evolving controversy.

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday justified his decision to align with Sharad Pawar’s faction of the NCP ahead of the upcoming local body polls in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.In an interview with news agency ANI, Pawar said a joint election strategy was decided after it was learnt that votes would split if workers of both factions contested against each other.

He, however, added that his decision would not affect his equations with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.NCP–NCP(SP) reunion“I view it very positively,” Pawar said about the alliance between the NCP and the NCP (SP).“It was because of the efforts of the workers that a joint election strategy was decided upon in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The workers knew that if they contested against each other, the votes would be split. That was something they wanted to avoid at all costs. The workers wanted to win the election… Some people from both parties tried to find a solution,” he added.When asked whether both factions of the NCP would merge in the future, Pawar said, “We haven’t thought about that yet because today is the last day of campaigning, so we are focusing more on ensuring that the voting takes place properly. That’s why we haven’t thought about it from that angle.”He added that such a decision could only be taken after leaders of both sides are taken into confidence, and not just workers. “Not just karyakartas, we need to talk to other leaders too because the party is functioning with them, and they have to talk with their leaders.”“Not just party workers, but we will have to discuss with both party leaders. Leaders run the party, so we need to have discussions first,” he added.Cracks within Mahayuti?During the interview, Pawar also dismissed reports of rifts with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after his decision to join hands with Sharad Pawar’s faction.“No, it will not be affected. 100%, it will not happen,” Pawar said, referring to differences between him and the chief minister.He also justified his decision to part ways with the NDA for the local body polls. Recalling how the NCP and Congress allied for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but contested local body polls separately, he said a similar situation existed between the BJP and the Shiv Sena as well.“Since I’ve been in politics, in all the elections we’ve fought since 1999, we had an alliance with the Congress. We were working together in the Lok Sabha, in Parliament, and fighting elections together. We were fighting on our respective symbols. The same thing happened in the Assembly elections. But in local body elections, to support and empower our respective party workers, we always fought against each other,” Pawar said.“The same thing happened with the BJP and Shiv Sena. In the 2017 elections in Mumbai and Thane, they were fighting against each other. So, there’s no need to think that something very different is happening here,” he added.Local body polls will not impact functioning of Maharashtra govtPawar also affirmed that the three parties contesting separately—BJP, NCP and Shiv Sena—against each other in the local body polls have agreed that the elections will not impact the functioning of the Maharashtra state government, even after results are declared on January 16.This comes after Chief Minister Fadnavis took a swipe at Ajit Pawar for criticising the BJP during the poll campaign.Speaking during an interaction with actor Girija Oak, Fadnavis said the BJP and the NCP had decided well in advance that they would not contest the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic elections as allies, since both were strong parties in the region.“Ajit dada only speaks, but my work speaks. We had already decided that even if we contest against each other, it would be a friendly contest and that we would refrain from criticising each other or each other’s parties. I have followed that rule till now, but his restraint is somewhat shaken,” Fadnavis said.However, Ajit Pawar will not “speak” after January 15, when votes will be cast, Fadnavis said, exuding confidence in the BJP’s performance.‘I have a secular mindset’Pawar also condemned attempts to give the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections a “communal angle”. Reaffirming that he has “a secular mindset”, he said that in a diverse country like India, everyone is an equal citizen.“I do not like this at all. I have a secular mindset. The ideology of Ambedkar does not teach us this. Our country is so big, and those who live in this country are all Indians. If someone is committing treason against the country, action should be taken against them, and they should be given the death penalty. A new law should be made,” Ajit Pawar told ANI.Pawar’s statement comes a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the new BMC mayor will be “from the Mahayuti, will be a Hindu, and a Marathi.”

IREF pointed out that Indian rice shipments to the US are already levied with a 50% duty. (AI image)

India’s rice exports may bear the brunt of escalating tensions in Iran and US President Donald Trump’s latest move to impose 25% tariffs on any country doing trade with Iran. “Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social.Recent export figures show that India shipped Basmati rice worth $468.10 million to Iran during April to November of 2025–26, which is 5.99 lakh metric tonnes. Despite Iran remaining one of the most important overseas markets for Indian Basmati, the ongoing instability has increasingly strained order execution, delayed remittances and unsettled delivery schedules in the current fiscal year, according to Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF).

Trump tariffs & Iran tensions: What’s ahead for India’s rice exports?

Rising internal turmoil and large-scale demonstrations in Iran are starting to weigh on India’s rice export outlook to the country, disrupting trade flows and exerting downward pressure on basmati prices at home, says IREF. The uncertainty has spread across the export chain, affecting contracting, payments and shipment planning.These pressures are now clearly reflected in domestic markets. Prices of major basmati varieties have fallen sharply over the past week, driven by cautious buying, postponed deals and growing risk aversion among exporters.

India’s Rice Exports to US

Dr. Prem Garg, National President, Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF), said: “Iran has historically been a pillar market for Indian Basmati. However, the current internal turmoil has disrupted trade channels, slowed payments, and dented buyer confidence. The immediate fallout is evident in Indian mandis, where Basmati prices have softened sharply within days. Exporters must exercise heightened caution, particularly with respect to credit exposure and shipment timelines.”Dr. Garg noted that IREF has advised exporters to re-evaluate the risks tied to Iranian contracts, strengthen payment safeguards and refrain from excessive inventory build-up aimed solely at the Iran market. “We are not sounding an alarm, but urging prudence. In periods of geopolitical and internal instability, trade is often the first casualty. A calibrated approach is essential to protect both exporters and farmers. India’s rice sector is resilient, but it must be safeguarded through timely intelligence and responsible trade practices,” he said.The federation has also urged industry participants to expand their presence in alternative destinations across West Asia, Africa and Europe to mitigate the impact of any extended slowdown in shipments to Iran.Talking about Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs, IREF pointed out that Indian rice shipments to the US are already levied with a 50% duty, which is a steep jump from the earlier tariff rate of 10%.“Despite this substantial tariff escalation, Indian rice exports to the U.S. have not witnessed a corresponding decline in volume. This resilience is largely due to the fact that Indian rice—particularly Basmati—is not a like-for-like substitute for rice of Pakistani or U.S. origin. Additionally, Indian rice is deeply embedded in the culinary traditions of the Gulf region and the Indian subcontinent diaspora, ensuring sustained consumer demand despite price pressures,” says IREF.

India-Iran Trade Overview

There is currently little certainty on how the proposed 25% tariff would be implemented. Even in a scenario where the overall tariff load increases further, IREF does not anticipate a big drop in Indian rice shipments to the US. “The United States remains the 10th largest market for Indian rice globally and the fourth largest destination for Indian Basmati, underscoring its strategic importance,” IREF said.In contrast, IREF flagged more serious risks emerging from Iran, where disruptions at the local market level have started to interfere with trade payments. Exporters have been informed by importers that they are struggling to meet contractual obligations and transfer funds to India, injecting a high degree of uncertainty into ongoing transactions. Although such episodes have been witnessed earlier, the direction and duration of the current disruption remain uncertain and are likely to trigger additional volatility in prices, cash flows, and overall market confidence in the near term.“As global trade becomes increasingly intertwined with geopolitics, the situation in Iran serves as a reminder that food exports—particularly strategic commodities such as rice—are highly sensitive to regional stability. For India’s rice ecosystem, timely caution today may help prevent deeper distress tomorrow,” IREF concludes.

Google recently unveiled Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), a new open standard for agentic commerce that the search giant claims works across the entire shopping journey — from discovery and buying to post-purchase support. UCP establishes a common language for agents and systems to operate together across consumer surfaces, businesses, and payment providers to enable commerce. So instead of requiring unique connections for every individual agent, UCP enables all agents to interact easily. The protocol has backing from some of the biggest American retailers and payment players including Walmart, Target, Shopify and Etsy.Announced at the National Retail Federation conference in New York, Google pitched UCP as a foundation for “agentic commerce,” a fast-emerging concept in which AI agents help shoppers carry out multi-step tasks on their behalf. “AI agents will be a big part of how we shop in the not-so-distant future,” wrote Google CEO Sundar Pichai on X, formerly Twitter.

Amazon vs Perplexity over AI shopping agents

Notably, there was one e-commerce giant not included in Google’s announcement: Amazon. And incidentally, this AI-led shopping is similar to what Amazon last year sent a legal notice to Perplexity over. And the two companies have been fighting over. In November 2025, Amazon sued Perplexity over AI shopping agents.In a lawsuit filed in Northern California, Amazon sued Perplexity to stop its Comet AI agents from accessing Amazon’s e-commerce website in what it alleges to be a covert manner. The lawsuit followed a cease and desist letter in which Amazon alleged Perplexity is “disguising Comet as a Google Chrome browser” and refusing to identify Comet AI agents when operating in the Amazon Store, making purchases on behalf of users without authorization.In a blog post on sending Cease and Desist notice to Perplexity, Amazon wrote, “We think it’s fairly straightforward that third-party applications that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers from other businesses should operate openly and respect service provider decisions whether or not to participate. This helps ensure a positive customer experience and it is how others operate, including food delivery apps and the restaurants they take orders for, delivery service apps and the stores they shop from, and online travel agencies and the airlines they book tickets with for customers. Agentic third-party applications such as Perplexity’s Comet have the same obligations, and we’ve repeatedly requested that Perplexity remove Amazon from the Comet experience, particularly in light of the significantly degraded shopping and customer service experience it provides.”

Amazon sends Cease and Desist letter to PerplexityAI

“As a general matter, Amazon shares the industry’s excitement about AI innovations and sees significant potential for agentic AI to improve customer experiences in a range of areas. But to successfully deliver for customers, AI agents that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers must operate transparently when taking actions purportedly on a customer’s behalf. Such transparency is critical because it protects a service provider’s right to monitor AI agents and restrict conduct that degrades the customer shopping experience, erodes customer trust, and creates security risks for our customers’ private data. It also facilitates dialogue between service providers and AI agent providers, who should share a common interest in improving customer shopping experience. Without transparency, no such dialogue is possible, which is why Amazon invites discussions with AI providers about how they can improve the experiences of Amazon customers. Yet, Perplexity has refused to operate transparently and has instead taken affirmative steps to conceal its agentic activities in the Amazon Store. This refusal is particularly troubling given that Amazon has, on multiple occasions, asked Perplexity to stop undisclosed agentic activities, which are not authorized by Amazon and violate Amazon’s Conditions of Use,” said Amazon in its Cease and Desist letter.

Amazon on third-party AI shopping agents

Also what needs to be noted here is that Amazon’s legal notice to Perplexity is not being seen as a full indictment against third-party agentic commerce, but moreso an example of how Amazon wants to work with external agents on its own terms. Amazon has been experimenting with its own AI-powered shopping features, including its Rufus assistant and the “Buy for Me” initiative since sometime now. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged on during the last earnings call that agentic commerce “has a chance to be really good for e-commerce” and said that he expects the company to partner with third-party agents over time. At the same time, Jessy said that agents “aren’t very good” at personalization and often display incorrect pricing and delivery estimates. Jassy also said that the company is not against external partnerships for Agentic Commerce. During the call, Jassy said, “We’re also having conversations with and expect over time to partner with third-party agents.” “And today, search engines are a very small part of our referral traffic, and third-party agents are a very small subset of that. But I do think that we will find ways to partner. We have to find a way, though, that makes the customer exp

AMBERNATH: The Shiv Sena made a decisive backdoor entry in the Ambernath Municipal Council after days of intense negotiations, hotel politics and open confrontation with its state- and national-level ally, the BJP. With the support of four NCP councillors, Shiv Sena’s locally formed Mahayuti alliance succeeded in electing its candidate Sadamama Patil as deputy president, delivering a major political setback to the BJP.To prevent any last-minute defections, Shiv Sena kept its councillors in Thane, while the BJP housed its members at a hotel in Lonavla. On Monday, amid heavy sloganeering and heated exchanges between leaders and workers of both camps inside and outside the council premises, Shiv Sena MLA Shrikant Shinde personally led the Shiv Sena-led alliance to the council for voting. The strategy worked, as all councillors voted in unison, resulting in Sadamama Patil’s victory by a margin of four votes.Sadamama Patil secured 32 votes as the Shiv Sena Mahayuti candidate, while BJP-backed Ambernath Vikas Aghadi nominee Pradeep Patil managed 28 votes. The contest highlighted the sharp rivalry between Shiv Sena and BJP in Ambernath, despite their alliance elsewhere.Both parties had fought the municipal council elections against each other in the city and were now seen locked in a direct struggle for control of the civic body.Although the BJP had earlier won the directly elected post of municipal council president, its limited strength of just 15 councillors made it difficult to secure full control of the council. To overcome this, the BJP stitched together the Ambernath Vikas Aghadi by bringing along 12 Congress councillors, four from the NCP faction and one independent. This unexpected alignment with the Congress led to political embarrassment for both parties. The Congress later suspended its 12 councillors, who subsequently joined the BJP, giving the party confidence that its path to power had been cleared. Equations changed dramatically after intervention by Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Dyb CM Eknath Shinde. Acting swiftly, Shinde ensured that the four NCP councillors resigned from the BJP-backed group. Soon after, a new and legally constituted group named Shiv Sena Mahayuti Ambernath was formed, comprising 27 Shiv Sena councillors, four NCP councillors and one independent, taking the alliance’s tally to a decisive 32 members.Sensing the shifting ground, the BJP issued a group whip on Sunday, directing all councillors of its Aghadi-including the four NCP members-to remain present and vote in line during the deputy president election. Sena said that as per rules, councillors are allowed to leave a group within 30 days of its formation.

Priyanka Chopra proved once again that she will always be a desi girl at heart after she showed off a hack to get through the Golden Globe Awards in style. The actress, who was a presenter at the awards show, won hearts on social media after a candid pre-award moment caught the attention of her Indian fans. In a BTS clip, the actress was seen getting ready for the big show. While hubby Nick Jonas opted for a double-breasted suit, PeeCee rocked a stunning blue and black Dior gown. After getting her dress, hair and make-up done, the actress embraced her very ‘desi’ habit to get through the day with that flawless look.

Priyanka Chopra shows off her ‘desi’ hack

Speaking to the camera, she said , “My eyes will no stop watering.” She then dug into the top of her gown and fishing out a tissue she said, “But iI think it’s going to be good. Have my trusted tissue. ‘Humaare daadiyon ne achha sikhaya hai (Our grandmothers taught us well.)”Laughing at the hack, she then proceeded to her car.

Fans react to Priyanka Chopra’s tissue trick

Reacting to the actress’ very desi hack, one fan quipped, “DESI GIRL you will forever have my heart!”Another said, “The tissue, Priyanka is me!”

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’ Golden Globes appearance

Chopra, who attended the Golden Globes as one of the presenters, had earlier walked the red carpet with husband Nick Jonas. The couple turned heads with their glamorous appearance and for their loved-up photos on the red carpet.Priyanka and Nick also stopped for interviews on the red carpet. While taking questions, the two shared updates on their film slate. While Nick revealed that his next film ‘Jumanji 2’ is in production and that his new music will be out this week, Priyanka shared that the first trailer of ‘The Bluff’ will drop on Wednesday and that the film will have a digital release on February 25. She also teased that the film will be rated ‘R’ and will see her in an action-packed avatar, even “cutting off heads,” she said.