Spent a fortune on a coffee machine and those exotic beans to replicate that cappuccino you loved overseas? You are not alone. For many rich Indians, the coffee machine on the kitchen counter is no longer just for making a drink, rather it has become a lifestyle statement, as more people are trying to bring the cafe experience they enjoyed overseas, right in their homes.A growing number of young, affluent consumers are spending several lakh rupees on high-end coffee machines, specialty beans and cafe-style equipment to mirror the ambience of European coffee houses. These machines, which offer far more than basic espresso or latte functions, have become objects of prestige. Brands such as Versuni, SMEG and DeLonghi are increasingly being displayed as centrepieces in kitchens and lounges, erasing the line between appliance and art.

India’s coffee craze

From only a few hunderds six years ago, now, almost 20,000 premium coffee machines are estimated to be sold locally, every year, a figure that includes direct imports by companies, ET reported. This does not includes the large number of machines that individuals bring into the country themselves while travelling abroad or order through international e-commerce platforms. With limited availability of high-end brands and models in India, parallel imports continue to rise. Ravi Saxena, founder and chief executive of Wonderchef Home Appliances, links this trend to the rapid spread of neighbourhood cafes across Indian cities. He says this has created strong interest in recreating cafe-quality coffee at home. A trained barista, Saxena sells about 1.4 lakh coffee machines a year, including premium automatic models priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 90,000. The appetite for premium machines is also visible among frequent international travellers. Gurgaon-based hotelier Rajat Gera placed an order for an SMEG machine in December for Rs 1.3 lakh and is still waiting for it to arrive at Indian ports. “It’s a piece of art that deserves to be placed as a centrepiece in the kitchen or lounge,” he says. The overall coffee machine market in India is valued at Rs 250–300 crore and is growing at more than 15% a year. Total sales across price categories reached about 4.2–4.5 lakh units in the last calendar year, compared with roughly 1.8 lakh units in 2019. While machines priced up to Rs 15,000 continue to dominate volumes, premium models are steadily expanding their share.

Struggling for the right taste

For some buyers, the shift is rooted in dissatisfaction with cafe offerings at home. Satyendra Shukla, who runs a boutique investment firm, bought a La Carimali machine for Rs 1.5 lakh two years ago. “I had to struggle for every cup of coffee in India. No cafe could give me coffee I liked. The right texture, temperature or taste seldom came together. Now, my well travelled friends say I make the best coffee. I look after the machine and spend a lot of time sourcing the best beans.” Others are prepared to absorb heavy import costs. Kolkata-based independent professional A Banerjee purchased a Philips machine priced at Rs 57,000 from Amazon UK for Rs 95,000 after accounting for shipping, customs duties and currency conversion. Gulbahar Taurani, chief executive of Versuni India, attributes rising demand to young consumers exploring different beans, flavours, aromas and brewing styles, including coffee mocktails mixed with tonic water. He said the company’s pilot launch of premium models priced up to Rs 80,000 in India has been highly successful. Versuni plans to combine its global technology with adaptations for Indian preferences. While its entire range is currently imported, Taurani has not ruled out domestic manufacturing as volumes grow. Retailers are also reporting strong traction. Coffee machines are among the fastest-moving categories in stores. Vijay Sales sells 400–500 units every month. “Coffee machines have become a lifestyle product. While most of the demand is still in the entry- to mid-segment, premium models are also selling fast. This could become a big category in the next three to four years,” said Nilesh Gupta, director, Vijay Sales. What was once a simple kitchen tool is rapidly turning into a lifestyle statement, as coffee drinkers in the country are investing not just in caffeine, but in culture and cachet at home.

KALYAN: In a rare and emotionally charged moment in Kalyan’s civic politics, newly elected Shiv Sena corporator Vanita Duryodhan Patil chose to dedicate her victory to a party worker who was seriously injured while campaigning for her.After being elected on a Shiv Sena ticket, Vanita Patil accepted her official victory certificate not from an election officer, but from the hands of Tejas Patil, a party worker who is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital. In a symbolic gesture, she credited both her victory and her own safety to the courage and presence of the injured worker.

The incident that led to Tejas Patil’s injuries occurred on the day of election campaigning on January 13. Tejas was standing near Vanita Patil’s campaign vehicle, holding the party flag, when the flag accidentally came into contact with a high-tension overhead wire. A strong electric current passed through the flag, creating a life-threatening situation. Reacting quickly, Tejas jumped off the vehicle, preventing the electric current from spreading to the vehicle. His swift action ensured that the candidate and several others nearby escaped unharmed.However, Tejas suffered severe injuries in the process, with both his hands badly burnt due to the electric shock. He was immediately shifted to a private hospital, where he continues to receive treatment. Vanita Patil has taken responsibility for all his medical expenses, describing it as her moral duty.Speaking to TOI, Vanita Patil said that Tejas not only saved lives but also embodied the spirit of dedication that defines grassroots politics. “Because of Tejas, our lives were saved. Workers like him are the real reason candidates win elections. That is why I felt it was right to accept my victory letter from his hands,” she said.Vanita Patil contested the Kalyan–Dombivli Municipal Corporation elections from Panel No. 2. The panel saw the victory of three Shiv Sena candidates and one BJP candidate. Her gesture has been widely appreciated within political and civic circles.

Another page was added to India’s political history on Friday, capturing the event that will echo through the corridors of power and serve as a reminder that even a slight strategic misstep can unravel a hold on power built over decades.Having first lost the father-founded Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray has now ceded his last power citadel, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a civic fortress once ruled unhindered by Bal Thackeray. In Asia’s richest civic polls, the Thackeray “brand” of politics had one of its key equities missing. Hindutva.

While Uddhav Thackeray never expressed hostility towards Hindutva, even after aligning with the Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP, he struggled to step into his father’s shoes in carrying the ideological banner, which Eknath Shinde wore on his sleeve after splitting the party in the 2023 rebellion.By contrast, Uddhav’s attempt to reset the party’s ideological compass by leaning heavily on Marathi manoos and regional pride, and to give it momentum by aligning with his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, ultimately ended in a damp squib.Marathi asmita: ApuriThe Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) combine had framed the BMC polls as a battle to “save the Marathi manoos” and Mumbai, projecting the contest as both an assertion of regional pride and a referendum on the Thackeray legacy.The reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades was billed as an acid test for the Thackeray brand.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray with other party members during a joint BMC Election Campaign Rally, in Mumbai. (ANI photo)

While sections of the Marathi electorate did rally behind the cousins, the consolidation fell short of what was required to retain control of the civic body.The ‘save Marathis’ narrative appeared to have a limited electoral pull. The combine managed to hold on to pockets of south and central Mumbai and parts of the western and eastern suburbs, including Dadar-Mahim, Worli, Dindoshi, Bhandup, Vikhroli and Bandra East.However, it failed to make inroads into BJP-dominated constituencies such as Colaba, Bandra West, Andheri West, Borivli, and Dahisar. Political observers noted that a significant section of the city’s upwardly mobile Maharashtrian voters, particularly in the western suburbs, gravitated towards the BJP.

BJP workers celebrating outside party office in Mumbai after the massive victory in the BMC polls.

The underperformance of Shiv Sena (UBT) was compounded by the MNS’s poor showing. The MNS ended up in single digits, dragging down the overall Thackeray tally and underlining the limits of the reunion’s electoral impact.In September, Uddhav Thackeray himself had described the BMC election as a decisive test. Sena (UBT) contested 163 seats, the MNS 53, while the BJP fielded candidates in 137 wards and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena in 90.

BMC seat share of political parties

BJP-led Mahayuti crossed the halfway mark of 114 in the 227-member body, but not by much. BJP won 89 seats and Shinde’s Shiv Sena 29 to gain a narrow lead. In effect, the BJP will need Eknath Shinde’s backing for big decisions.The Uddhav-Raj Thackeray combine won 71 seats (Uddhav’s Sena winning 65 and Raj Thackeray’s MNS taking 6), retaining a large chunk of wards in the city’s Marathi heartland.Although Sena (UBT) did receive backing from Muslim voters, with two candidates from the community winning, the support was far weaker than in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections, largely because the Congress was no longer part of the alliance.

BJP tops strike rate

Thackeray’s pivot to HindutvaWhen Bal Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966, the party was not conceived as a Hindutva platform. Its political grammar was rooted firmly in Marathi identity and regional assertion. The Sena positioned itself as the voice of the Marathi manoos in an increasingly cosmopolitan Bombay, railing against perceived economic and cultural marginalisation.

Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray addressing a Dussera meeting at Shivaji Park in Bombay on October 12, 1986. (Photo: Times content)

Its early campaigns focused on securing jobs for locals, resisting the dominance of South Indian migrants in the city’s clerical and industrial workforce, and asserting linguistic and cultural primacy. Hindu nationalism, at this stage, was peripheral rather than foundational.This began to change as India’s political landscape evolved in the late 1970s and 1980s. The slow erosion of Congress dominance, coupled with the rise of the BJP, altered the ideological marketplace. The mobilisation around the Ram Janmabhoomi movement created space for a more assertive Hindu political identity, particularly in urban centres. Bal Thackeray, a keen reader of political mood and mass sentiment, consciously pivoted to occupy this space.

Hindutva stalwarts (from left) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Balasaheb Thackeray, Lal Krishna Advani and Vijayaraje Scindia at a dinner hosted by the Maharashtra state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Septemebr 24, 1989 in Bombay. (Photo: Times content)

By the early 1990s, especially during the period surrounding the Babri Masjid movement, Hindutva had moved from the margins to the centre of the Sena’s politics. The party formally aligned with the BJP, and Bal Thackeray emerged as one of the most unapologetic and influential mass leaders of the Hindutva movement. Crucially, he did not abandon Marathi identity in this shift; instead, he layered Hindutva over Marathi asmita, fusing the two into a single, emotionally charged political narrative.This fusion proved potent. It gave the Shiv Sena ideological clarity, street-level mobilisation, and cross-community appeal within Mumbai’s Hindu electorate. Bal Thackeray did not inherit Hindutva as a founding principle; he evolved into it. His political success lay in recognising that Marathi pride alone had limits, and that when combined with Hindutva, it could be transformed into a durable and expansive political brand.Thackeray’s devolution from HindutvaUnlike his father, Uddhav Thackeray did not abandon Hindutva in one decisive moment. His departure was incremental and tactical, shaped more by political compulsion than ideological conviction. For much of his early political career, Uddhav remained within the broad Hindutva framework laid down by Bal Thackeray, often projecting himself as a custodian rather than an innovator of the Sena’s legacy.The first visible shift came after the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, when Uddhav broke with the BJP and stitched together an “unlikely alliance” with the Congress and the NCP. The formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government required ideological accommodation, and Hindutva, once the Sena’s most assertive plank, was deliberately softened. The rhetoric gave way to the language of governance, secular inclusivity and constitutionalism, signalling a recalibration rather than an outright rejection.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) meeting in Mumbai, 2023. (ANI)

This softening deepened during Uddhav’s tenure as chief minister. While he never publicly disowned Hindutva, he also stopped aggressively articulating it. Temple politics, street mobilisation, and confrontational cultural messaging, hallmarks of Bal Thackeray’s style, were conspicuously absent. Instead, Uddhav leaned into administrative legitimacy and coalition management, seeking to broaden the Sena’s appeal beyond its traditional base.However, this ideological dilution created a vacuum. The Sena’s core voters, long accustomed to ideological clarity, were left uncertain about what the party stood for. That ambiguity proved costly when Eknath Shinde split the party and openly reclaimed Hindutva as its defining identity. By positioning himself as the inheritor of Bal Thackeray’s ideological legacy, Shinde offered continuity at a moment when Uddhav appeared to be reimagining the Sena without fully replacing its ideological core.In the end, Uddhav’s deviation from Hindutva was not about renunciation but about subtraction without substitution. And in a political ecosystem built on legacy and emotional mobilisation, that proved to be a strategic miscalculation.The Thackeray reunionThe reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray ahead of the BMC polls was less a moment of sentiment and more an act of political necessity. For nearly two decades, the Thackeray cousins had travelled divergent paths, divided by personal rivalry and competing claims over the Marathi political space. But the BMC election altered the calculus. Having lost the Shiv Sena and facing a weakened organisational base, Uddhav Thackeray needed a fresh axis of mobilisation. Raj Thackeray, struggling with electoral irrelevance and a shrinking footprint, needed relevance. The reunion was thus driven by a convergence of weakness rather than shared resurgence.Together, they sought to revive the original Thackeray “brand of politics” that included Marathi manoos, regional pride, and cultural ownership of Mumbai. The pitch was deliberately crafted to bypass Hindutva and instead reclaim the emotional terrain of Marathi asmita, projecting the BMC polls as a fight to “save Mumbai” and protect Maharashtrian interests. The symbolism of the cousins sharing a platform after 20 years was meant to signal unity, closure, and a consolidated Marathi vote bank.

BMC elections in numbers

Both the Thackerays, recalling the 1961 Samyukta Maharashtra movement in which their grandfather, late Prabodhankar Thackeray, participated, claimed that the BJP was planning to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and merge it with Gujarat.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who led the BJP’s campaign, refuted the charge. Speaking in Nashik on January 11 and then again at Shivtirth in Mumbai the next day, Fadnavis made it a point to repeatedly refute these claims and ensured that Thackerays’ Mumbai and Marathi “asmita” (pride) and “astitva” (existence) card does not stick this time around.Thackerays’ arguments about growing unemployment and neglect of “son-of the soils” were counter-punched with a “Global Mumbai” narrative by Fadnavis. Also, BJP fielded over 90 Marathi candidates for the BMC and announced that the next mayor of BMC will be Marathi.The ‘pungi-bajao’ politicsThe Thackerays’ push for regional identity turned so intense that Thackeray mockingly referred to the BJP leader K Annamalai as “rasmalai” and questioned his standing to speak on issues related to Mumbai. Thackeray attacked Annamalai for suggesting that Mumbai is an “international city”. He also referred to his uncle Bal Thackeray’s “Hatao lungi, bajao pungi” slogan from the 1960s and 1970s.“One rasmalai came from Tamil Nadu… what is your connection to here? Hatao lungi, bajao pungi,” Thackeray said at a joint UBT–MNS rally in Mumbai.

Raj Thackeray’s remark on K Annamalai

Additionally, Thackeray also said that he would “kick” people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh out of Maharashtra if they “try to impose Hindi”.In July last year, the Thackeray brothers held an “Awaz Marathicha” rally to oppose what they called the state government’s bid to “impose” Hindi over Maharashtra.“We have come together to stay together”, Uddhav Thackeray said while addressing the gathering.Raj Thackeray launched a veiled attack on Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and said the CM did what even Balasaheb Thackeray could not — bring the two estranged brothers together.Thackerays also shared a hug at the joint rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two Government Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as the third language.“The Maharashtra Government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to the strong unity shown by Marathi people. This decision was a precursor to the plan of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra,” the MNS chief said with Uddhav seated on the stage.Attacking the BJP-led Mahayuti during his address, Raj Thackeray said: “How did they suddenly bring in the imposition of Hindi without any discussion? For what purpose, and for whom? This is an injustice to young children. Without any consultation, you’re trying to force it upon us. You may rule the assembly – but we rule the streets.”However, the reunion came with structural limits. While it generated attention and nostalgia, it failed to translate into a city-wide electoral wave.

Poll results in Mumbai and MMR

The limits of legacyThe BMC verdict laid bare the limits of legacy politics in a city that has steadily changed its political expectations. The Thackerays managed to revive old memories and emotional connect through unity, rallies and a renewed push for Marathi identity, but nostalgia alone could not compensate for the absence of a clear and contemporary ideological anchor. Mumbai’s electorate has grown more aspirational and diverse, and it appears less willing to rally behind a single, narrow identity pitch.

What went against Thackerays

For Uddhav Thackeray, the defeat completed a slow political unravelling, from losing the father-founded Shiv Sena to ceding control of the civic institution that once symbolised Bal Thackeray’s unquestioned authority. For Raj Thackeray, the outcome reinforced the challenge of converting sharp rhetoric into electoral relevance. Their reunion sent a message of solidarity, but solidarity without organisational depth and ideological clarity fell short.Ultimately, the BMC result was not merely about seats or numbers. It signalled a deeper shift in Mumbai’s politics, where legacy and sentiment must now contend with a demand for sharper purpose and direction.

Ayush Badoni with Morne Morkel (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Delhi cricketer Ayush Badoni feels that taking up bowling a couple of years ago proved to be a turning point in his career, helping him evolve into an all-rounder and earn his maiden India call-up. The 26-year-old was added to India’s ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against New Zealand after Washington Sundar was ruled out with an injury following the opening ODI.The series is currently locked at 1-1, with the decider scheduled to be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday. While Badoni did not feature in the playing XI for the second ODI, which India lost, he will be hopeful of getting an opportunity, especially given his recent form, to make an impact at the international level.

“I was with the Delhi team, I was captain there and our next day match was the quarter-finals against Vidarbha. That’s when I got to know about it. Priyansh was my roommate, so I told him that this could happen and I’ll be going, so maybe you’ll be the captain. That was a great feeling and I feel very grateful and happy that I got this opportunity,” Badoni said while speaking about his selection in a video shared by bcci.tv.Sharing how his family and close friends found out about the call-up, Badoni said, “I got a call late at night, so I couldn’t tell them. It was announced in the morning, that’s when they got to know and they were also very happy and proud. All the coaches and the players were very welcoming to me and I really liked it. I’ve played with and against most of them so it was nice to meet everyone again.”Badoni also spoke about how expanding his skill set over the past two years played a key role in his selection. “Preparation was very clear. Earlier, I used to bat, but since the last two years, I’ve been focusing a lot on my bowling. I always feel that I can take wickets and contribute to the team with my bowling. So I got the benefit of being an all-rounder. I’ve bowled a lot for Delhi, taken wickets, and benefited from it.”Reflecting on sharing the dressing room with senior players, Badoni said he has previously played with or against many of them in domestic and franchise cricket and tries to absorb as much as possible from their experience.“A lot of the seniors in our team are legends in a way so I try to learn from them when I bat or bowl. I feel that it enhances my game and I just try to learn as much as I can. There are a lot of players with whom I have fun and have a good time. I’ve known Harshit because he plays for Delhi. I’ve a lot of fun with Arshdeep and Shreyas too. It’s a lot of fun to be with them,” Badoni concluded.

The three-match ODI series moves to the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore for the 3rd and final ODI, with the series level at 1-1 after New Zealand’s dominant win in Rajkot. This high-scoring venue is famous for its flat tracks, lightning-fast outfields, and short boundaries, promising a run-fest compared to the two-paced surface in the previous game.

Historically, the ground is a batting paradise, with average first-innings scores often exceeding 300, while India once posted a massive 418/5 here. The pitch is known to offer true bounce and consistent carry, making it one of the best surfaces in India for strokeplay. While pacers may find slight swing with the new ball initially, the small dimensions (square boundaries approx. 65–70 meters) offer little protection for bowlers once batters are set.

IND vs NZ, 3rd ODI: Indore Weather Forecast

The match on Sunday, January 18, 2026, is expected to be played in pleasant winter conditions with temperatures ranging between a maximum of 27°C during the day and a minimum of 11°C during the night as per AccuWeather. Current forecasts predict clear, sunny skies with a 0% chance of rain, ensuring no interruptions for the series decider. The afternoon will be bright, but as the sun sets, a slight chill will develop, combined with a humidity level of approximately 52%.

IND vs NZ, 3rd ODI: Dew Factor

The sharp drop in temperature from day to evening in Indore’s January climate typically leads to significant dew build-up. This dew is expected to be a major factor in the second innings, making the ball wet and extremely difficult for bowlers, especially spinners, to grip and control. The slick ball will likely skid off the surface, further aiding the chasing side by allowing batters to hit through the line with ease on an already fast outfield, effectively neutralizing any lateral movement or turn.

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Pitch Report for 3rd ODI, Holkar Cricket Stadium Stats and Records

IND vs NZ, 3rd ODI: Toss Prediction

Captains will likely choose to bowl first upon winning the toss for these key reasons:

• Dew Advantage: Heavy evening dew makes defending a total difficult, as bowlers struggle to maintain control with a wet ball during the second innings.
• Batting Paradise: The flat surface and short boundaries make chasing even large totals manageable, as seen in previous high-scoring encounters at this venue.
• Small Dimensions: The ground’s size favors the team batting second, as they can accurately pace their chase knowing that boundaries are easily accessible.
• Indore Statistics: While batting first has historically seen high scores, the tactical advantage of chasing under lights with dew is the preferred modern strategy at this stadium.

Also READ: 3 reasons why Shreyas Iyer’s selection for the IND vs NZ T20I series makes perfect sense

MUMBAI: The next Mumbai mayor will be elected through a vote by corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) House, with the candidate securing the highest number of votes declared mayor. The election is expected to be held on January 28, 2026, during a special meeting convened by the municipal administration, civic sources said. The Mayor will be elected through voting by corporators in the house. “Whoever gets the maximum number of votes is declared the Mayor and deputy Mayor,” said an official.While it is not mandatory for the party with the highest number of corporators to secure the Mayor’s post, past trends show that the party with a clear majority usually managed to claim the prestigious position. The last Mayor was Kishori Pednekar of the Shiv Sena, who won the election this time as well. According to sources, the Urban Development Department will hold a lottery next week to decide the reservation category of the mayor’s post—such as general, women or reserved classes. The mayoral election will be held some days after the lottery, placing the election firmly towards the last week of January. How Mumbai mayor is elected The process begins with the Urban Development Department conducting a lottery to decide the reservation of the mayor’s post. Once the category is announced, eligible corporators file their nominations. The election is then held at a special meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). All elected corporators vote, and the candidate who secures a simple majority—more than half of the House strength—is elected mayor. If no party has a clear majority, alliances and post-poll negotiations become decisive. Given the present political equations in Mumbai, sources said the possibility of shifting loyalties or realignments during the mayoral race cannot be ruled out. Nominated corporators may influence outcome This will be the first mayoral election with 10 nominated corporators in the 227-member elected House, following a March 2023 amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act that doubled the cap from five. With the BJP emerging as the single largest party, it is expected to secure the maximum share of nominated corporators, which could play a crucial role in the mayoral vote. The remaining nominations are likely to be shared among alliance partners and opposition parties. While the party with the highest number of corporators is not automatically entitled to the mayor’s post, past trends show that numerical strength or alliance backing usually determines the outcome.

Aiden Markram of Durban’s Super Giants celebrates his century during match 27 of the SA20 season 4 between Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals. (SA20)

Aiden Markram blazed the second SA20 century of his career to keep Durban’s Super Giants’ season alive.The Proteas T20 captain showed he is the man for the big occasion, flexing his biceps by smashing 108 off 58 balls (12×4, 5×6) with DSG’s season on the line. The Super Giants’ 189/7 proved too much for Paarl Royals, with the home team cruising to a bonus-point 58-run victory.

Defeat for the Super Giants would have seen Lance Klusener’s team eliminated. Instead, they will now watch Joburg Super Kings’ match later this afternoon against Pretoria Capitals with bated breath, as a JSK win will bring an end to DSG’s playoff chances.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!But for now, they will celebrate an audacious Markram innings. The skipper has taken time to settle into his new surroundings at Kingsmead after moving from Sunrisers Eastern Cape, but here he delivered a batting exhibition of the highest calibre.The match was evenly poised when DSG were 53/3 after 7.2 overs, with all three of their big overseas signings, Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler and Kane Williamson, back in the hut.It was therefore left to Markram and Heinrich Klaasen to resurrect the innings with an 81-run partnership off just 48 balls. Klaasen (29 off 21 balls) does not often play second fiddle, but he could only look on in awe as Markram unleashed a power-hitting display of the highest order.Standing tall in the crease, Markram bludgeoned the ball straight down the ground for a flurry of boundaries. He made Royals rue dropping him in the deep on 79 off the bowling of Ottneil Baartman.Markram’s takedown of Royals’ ace all-rounder Sikandar Raza was particularly telling. Raza (0/57) has been one of the standout performers of SA20 Season 4, but on Saturday afternoon at Kingsmead, he met his match.Markram plundered 28 runs, including three sixes and two boundaries, in Raza’s penultimate over of the innings. In the process, he brought up his second T20 century to the great appreciation of the Kingsmead crowd.Even Hardus Viljoen’s excellent career-best figures of 4/21 could not halt DSG’s momentum.Super Giants carried the momentum into their bowling effort as the Royals wilted in Durban’s intense heat and humidity.Royals failed to contend with the high-quality spin of Super Giants duo Sunil Narine (2/18) and Simon Harmer (1/13). The spin twins combined to deliver eight superb overs, conceding just 31 runs and picking up three wickets.The result was inevitable from the moment Royals slumped to 68/8, with the Super Giants eventually restricting the visitors to 131/9 to earn the home side a lifeline, with their fate to be decided later this afternoon at the Wanderers.Brief Scores Durban’s Super Giants: 189 for 7 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 108; Hardus Viljoen 4/21) Paarl Royals: 131 for 9 in 20 overs (Bjorn Fortuin 35 not out; Sunil Narine 2/18, Geralnd Coetzee 2/31)

Anti-ICE crowd chase off pro-ICE demonstrators from Minneapolis streets (AP photo)

A January 6 rioter pardoned by US President Donald Trump led a small pro-ICE rally in Minneapolis on Saturday, but was quickly swamped by a much larger counter-protest against Trump’s immigration crackdown and the surge of federal agents in the city.Jake Lang, one of around 1,600 people granted clemency by Trump on his first day back in office gathered with his supporters outside the federal courthouse, but was soon surrounded by counter protesters shouting slogans and holding anti-ICE signs. As tensions rose, Lang was chased from the area. Earlier, Lang’s group played the song Ice Ice Baby and made anti-immigrant remarks, claiming immigrants were “replacing” white Americans. Lang had promoted the event online as a “Crusader march” and used the term “Little Somalia” for the area, referring to Minneapolis’ large Somali population. He had also said he planned to burn a Quran during the protest.A local group, the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump, had called for a counter protest, and dozens of people turned up. Videos from the scene showed crowds surrounding Lang and forcing him away from the courthouse.After the rally, Lang claimed on social media that he had been attacked and stabbed. He later said he had been taken to hospital and accused city authorities of failing to protect him. Lang urged Trump to send in the National Guard and shared a fundraising link for his medical bills.“I just got stabbed by a crazie white commie leftist rioter today in Minnesota,” Lang wrote on X. In another post he said, “I was just literally lynched by an anti-white mob of liberals & illegal immigrants- I’m at the hospital now getting staples in my skull..Nearly ripped limb from limb in Minneapolis!!!!” The protests came amid rising anger in Minneapolis over a surge of federal immigration agents in the city. Earlier this month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman. The shooting sparked protests across the country.Local and state leaders have openly criticised the federal presence. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to leave the city, while Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration, arguing that the deployment of agents is unconstitutional. The White House has rejected the criticism and accused Democrats of encouraging violence against law enforcement. Trump has warned he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops against protesters, though he later appeared to soften his comments.

Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Saturday decided to shift all its 29 newly elected Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators to a luxury hotel in Mumbai, in a highly unusual instance of “resort politics” being deployed in a civic body election. The move came despite the Sena and its ally, the BJP, securing a clear majority by winning 118 of the 227 seats in the BMC, ending the Thackeray family’s over two-decade-long hold on the country’s richest civic body.Also Read: Did soft Hindutva hit Uddhav hard? Behind the setback of ‘Thackeray brand’ in BMCSo, what led to this decision?Shiv Sena (UBT) stirs the potEarlier in the day, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena (UBT) came second with 65 seats despite being severely weakened by the June 2022 split in the then undivided Shiv Sena, made a veiled remark, saying his party could still have its mayor in the BMC, “God willing.”Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray alleges coercion, kidnapping in BMC polls; thanks voters for backing Shiv Shakti alliance“It’s my dream to install a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, and if ‘Dev’ (God) is willing, this dream will be realised,” PTI quoted Thackeray, interacting with party workers.If Uddhav kept cards close to his chest, his second-in-command, Sanjay Raut, was more direct. Raut pointed out that the party still has significant numbers in the Mumbai civic body and, together with other parties, could “topple” the victors.“We can topple them from the chair anytime, but we respect democracy,” the Rajya Sabha member remarked.What numbers sayGiven the number game, such a move cannot be ruled out. Together, the non-BJP/Shiv Sena parties have 109 corporators, just five short of the majority mark. With the BJP firmly established as the largest party, and given Maharashtra’s long history of politicians switching sides frequently—something Shinde himself has benefited from—the deputy chief minister finds himself vulnerable.His vulnerability also stems from another factor.Shinde’s ‘mayoral’ headacheThe Shiv Sena’s split led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray government, after which Shinde joined hands with the BJP, which elevated him to the post of chief minister. The elevation came at Fadnavis’ expense, who was made deputy chief minister despite having earlier served as chief minister and despite publicly announcing that he would stay out of the government.Also Read: After BMC polls setback: Congress leader demands Mumbai unit chief’s resignation; gets party notice The roles were reversed after the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, with Shinde also losing out on the coveted home portfolio, which stayed with Fadnavis, who had also held it as deputy CM.Now, Shinde faces the real possibility of the Shiv Sena being denied the Mumbai mayor’s post as well—one the BJP, too, would be reluctant to cede. A few disgruntled Sena corporators, including aspirants to the mayor’s post, and at least some from the flock could attempt a “ghar wapsi.”Officially, the party maintains that the corporators are being shifted to allow them to “refresh” themselves after a “hectic election season.”On his part, Fadnavis took a lighter view of the situation: “I am also called ‘Deva’… God above has decided that there will be a Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) mayor.”With the stakes high, the coming days would reveal whether Shinde ultimately has his way. Or else, internal dissent cannot be ruled out.