A Gujarat government delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi will visit Davos in Switzerland to engage with global business leaders, investors and policymakers during the World Economic Forum annual meeting there from January 19 to 23.The state government delegation will participate to take the resolution of ‘Developed Gujarat @2047’ to the global stage and present a roadmap on this, said an official release.As per officials, Sanghvi will take part in 58 high-level one-to-one meetings with top industrialists and leaders from around the world to boost employment and industrial development in the state and attract investment in key sectors like advanced manufacturing, textiles, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, food processing, chemicals, shipping-logistics and aerospace.Sanghavi, who is also the state industries minister, will visit the forum with the main objective to strengthen Gujarat’s industrial ecosystem and create new employment opportunities on a large scale for the youth, the release said.During the visit, the state government delegation will hold discussions with heads of global corporations such as AP Moller Maersk, Engie, EDF, Johnson Controls, Sumitomo Group, Linde, SEALSQ and Tillman Global, it added.“Special emphasis will be placed on bringing new technology to Gujarat, promoting innovation and developing long-term international relations through these meetings. The state government is trying to make Gujarat emerge as an important partner in the global value chain,” it said.Apart from attracting investment in this forum, Gujarat’s voice will also be heard in global policy discussions, with Sanghavi presenting the state’s vision as a keynote speaker in various sessions, the release said.“He will present Gujarat’s successful development model to the world on topics like ‘India in the New Geo-Economic Order’, ‘Power of Sports: From Glory to Heritage’, Energy Transition under the ‘Call to Clean Initiative’, Water Security through ‘Mission Water’ and ‘Sustainability’,” it said.In a separate release, GIFT City the delegation will include top officials from International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).The visit is coming at a time when GIFT City is witnessing strong momentum across international banking, fund management, fintech, asset leasing, Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and international education, the release added.“The GIFT City delegation will hold a series of strategic interactions in Davos with global players across financial services, banking, technology, fintech, institutional investment and multinational corporations. These engagements will focus on exploring collaboration opportunities, facilitating global capital flows, and positioning GIFT City as a preferred destination for international firms seeking to expand their presence in and through India,” it said.Discussions are expected to centre on areas such as international banking, fund management, aircraft and ship leasing, fintech innovation, GCCs, sustainable finance and emerging technologies, it added.

KALYAN: A pre-wedding celebration in Kalyan turned into a medical emergency late Saturday night after around 80 people, including the bride, suffered suspected food poisoning at a haldi ceremony, forcing the family to postpone the wedding scheduled for Sunday.The ceremony was held at hall situated in a private housing complex in the Khadakpada area, where more than 125 relatives and guests were present. According to the family, dinner was served after 10 pm and was supplied by a local caterer appointed by the bride’s family. Within a few hours of consuming the food, guests began complaining of severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness. By around 1 am Sunday, nearly 80 to 85 people had fallen ill, triggering panic at the venue. Several guests were rushed to nearby hospitals in Kalyan, while some who had returned to their homes in Ambernath and Murbad also sought treatment at local hospitals. Doctors administered saline and emergency medication, and a few patients were treated at the venue itself.The bride was among those severely affected. Family members said she was unable to walk or even stand due to extreme weakness and trauma, leaving the family with no option but to cancel and postpone the wedding ceremonies scheduled for Sunday.Following the incident, the bride’s father, accompanied by relatives, approached the Khadakpada police station to lodge a formal complaint. He stated that several affected guests are still undergoing treatment and claimed that the family has suffered financial losses estimated between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 12 lakh due to the incident. The family has demanded strict action against the caterer responsible for supplying the food.Talking to TOI, senior police inspector Amarnath Waghmode said, “Some of the affected persons are undergoing treatment at hospitals, while others are being treated at home. All of them are currently in stable condition. We have begun an investigation into the suspected food poisoning, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”Police officials said further action would be initiated after completing the inquiry and examining medical and other relevant reports.

AMBERNATH: The ongoing tussle over the numerical strength of the Shiv Sena and the BJP-led Ambarnath Vikas Aghadi in the Ambarnath Municipal Council has reached the Bombay high court, leading to the postponement of a crucial meeting for the formation of the standing committee and various subject committees.Following the high court’s intervention, the district collector deferred the special meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan 19, at 11 am, to 5 pm the same day. The order has prolonged the political deadlock in the municipal body, leaving the formation of key committees in suspense.

The Ambarnath Municipal Council comprises 59 elected members. Shiv Sena holds 27 seats, the BJ, Congress 12, the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) four, and there are two Independents. Despite the BJP lacking a clear majority in the House, its candidate, Tejashree Karanjule-Patil, emerged victorious in the direct election for the post of council president, defeating the Shiv Sena nominee and securing a significant administrative position for the party. A minimum of 30 councillors is required to form the ruling body. With no single party crossing this threshold and alliance talks between Shiv Sena and the BJP failing, the BJP forged the Ambarnath Vikas Aghadi with the support of Congress, the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), and one Independent. The alliance submitted a letter of support signed by 31 members to the Thane District Collector, formally staking its claim to power.However, the political arithmetic changed dramatically when all four NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) councillors withdrew their support from the Ambarnath Vikas Aghadi and pledged allegiance to the Shiv Sena. This shift increased Shiv Sena’s strength to 32 members, including one Independent, prompting the party to submit its own letter of majority support to the collector.Abhijit Karanjule, group leader of the Ambarnath Vikas Aghadi, filed a petition challenging the actions of the four NCP councillors.Taking cognisance of the matter, the high court directed that the meeting scheduled for 11 am on Jan 19 for the formation of subject committees be deferred until 5 pm the same day.

MUMBAI: Over 5700 cases were registered against drunk drivers in city in 2025, down 39% from 9462 cases recorded annually in 2024. Traffic Police have attributed this reduction in numbers to registration of FIRs against offenders which began around the middle of last year. Also, over 2400 driving licences of offenders were sent to Regional Transport Offices (RTO) last year for suspension.Earlier, the police used to record cases under local acts (LACs) against drunk drivers, but this was not proving to be deterrant enough.In 2024, an inebriated Mihir Shah, 24, was allegedly speeding at Worli Seaface when his BMW hit a couple commuting on a scooter. Pradeep Nakhwa, who was riding the scooter, fell on the bonnet while his wife was dragged for almost two kilometres and died. Shah was arrested two days after the incident. His father, a former member of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and driver were also arrested for shielding him and arranging his escape.

After the incident, then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde instructed the police to initiate strict action against drunk drivers and underscored the need to carry more checks at nights and at weekends. The number of drunk driving cases recorded in 2024 was very high.In mid-2025, the traffic police took the decision of registering FIRs against offenders. Between April and Dec 2025, the police recorded 3228 cognisable offences, under provisions of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act.“After registration of an FIR, the motorist’s driving licence is seized and sent to the RTO for suspension. He has to appear before court. After the case is chargesheeted, it goes to trial where evidence in the form of breath analysis report is produced,” explained an officer. Registration of FIR can also impact the motorist’s employment prospects and his passport application.“The impact of registration of FIRs against drunk drivers was seen on New Year’s Eve 2025 also when the number of cases (211) were lower as compared to 333 cases recorded on Dec 31, 2024,” said joint commissioner, traffic, Anil Kumbhare. Activist AV Shenoy of Mumbai Vikas Samiti commended the police’s move but added that visible policing on streets must be stepped up for improving traffic discipline among motorists. “Traffic violations should be segragated into categories on the basis of risk to life. For instance, riding in the wrong direction and extremely high speeds must be categorised as high-risk offences, just like drunk driving, and such offenders shouldn’t be let off with just a challan,” said Shenoy.

File photo of Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday made a strong pitch for generational transition in leadership, suggesting that the older generation should step aside once systems begin to function smoothly and allow younger people to take charge.Addressing a press conference in Nagpur ahead of the Advantage Vidarbha–Khasdar Audhyogik Mahotsav, Gadkari said he firmly believes in gradually handing over responsibility to the next generation. The industrial expo has been conceptualised by Gadkari and is organised by Ashish Kale, president of the Association for Industrial Development (AID).Highlighting Kale’s role, Gadkari said the initiative has actively involved young people. “I believe that gradually, the generation should also change,” he said.Referring to his long association with Kale’s family, Gadkari added, “Ashish’s father is my friend. Now we should be gradually made to retire and the responsibility be given to the new generation, and when the vehicle starts running smoothly, then we should withdraw and do some other work.”Gadkari, who serves as AID’s chief mentor, said this year marks the third edition of the Advantage Vidarbha expo, which will be held in Nagpur from February 6 to 8. He noted that Vidarbha has strong entrepreneurial talent across multiple sectors and said the aim of the event is to position the region as a growing industrial hub.“The objective of the three-day event is to establish Vidarbha as a strong and emerging growth hub on India’s industrial map,” he said.Emphasising the pillars of regional development, Gadkari underlined the importance of the industrial sector, agriculture and allied activities, and the services sector. He said balanced growth across these areas is essential for long-term economic progress.The Advantage Vidarbha expo will see participation from industries across a wide range of sectors, including textiles, plastics, minerals, coal, aviation, logistics, IT, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defence, real estate, renewable energy, and startups.

AR Rahman has been in the news for his comments about the Hindi film industry being communal. The composer dropped a video on Sunday morning clarifying on the same. Paresh Rawal has now reacted to it. After facing days of criticism over remarks made during an interview, music composer AR Rahman released a clarification on Sunday, reaffirming his deep affection for India. In his message, the Oscar-winning composer reflected on his bond with the country and his art, and stressed that he “never meant to cause pain.”

Actor-politician Paresh Rawal reacted to Rahman’s clarification by re-sharing the post on social media. A fan page dedicated to Rahman had earlier shared the composer’s video on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “A.R.Rahman speaks out & responds with clarity.” Paresh amplified the post and wrote, “We love you sir. You are our pride.” accompanied by folded hands and heart emojis.However, Rawal’s response sparked mixed reactions online, with many users unsure whether his comment was heartfelt or sarcastic. One user asked, “Was it sarcasm??” while another remarked, “Reason why I like u as a comedian sir.” A third wrote, “Sorry, sir. I am not part of that, unless it’s sarcasm.”At the same time, several Rahman fans interpreted Paresh’s message as genuine. One commented, “Sometimes you also say the right things!” Another urged, “Note: Please don’t delete this later due to ‘pressure.’ Let it stay.”Not everyone agreed, though. Some users took issue with Rawal’s wording, with one posting, “Speak for yourself, Paresh,” and others echoing that he was only expressing a personal opinion when he referred to Rahman as “our pride.”The controversy stems from Rahman’s comments in an interview with BBC Asian Network, where he was asked whether he ever felt sidelined in Bollywood for being a Tamil composer. He responded that he did not experience such feelings when he began his career in the 1990s, saying, “Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed by God, but I didn’t feel any of this.” He went on to add, “The past eight years, maybe, because a power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also… but it is not in my face.” During the same conversation, Rahman also criticised Chhaava for capitalising on “divisiveness.”

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, dropped in opening trade on Monday as fears of fresh Donald Trump tariffs spooked global markets. While Nifty50 went below 25,600, BSE Sensex was down over 350 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,578.70, down 116 points or 0.45%. BSE Sensex was at 83,211.00, down 359 points or 0.43%.Investors will weigh in Trump’s trade-related risks and shifting policy expectations, prompting analysts to forecast range-bound trading in the near term.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “It’s going to be volatile days ahead in the near-term for stock markets globally with big geopolitical and geoeconomic developments impacting markets. We don’t know now how President Trump’s disruptive policies are going to impact international trade and global economic growth. How the European nations are going to react to President Trump’s latest Greenland tariffs remains to be seen.” “If Trump walks his talk and imposes 10% tariffs on the eight European countries on February 1st and follows it up by raising the tariffs to 25% from June 1st onwards, retaliation by the European bloc is almost certain. In such a scenario a trade war will break out impacting global trade and growth. The likely impact of such a development on the market will be negative. It is also likely that Trump chickens out as has happened in the past. Investors can wait and watch for the developments to unfold. Long-term investors can utilise the volatility to selectively buy the dips focusing on high quality large caps which will eventually weather the storm.”Wall Street’s key indices ended Friday with marginal losses, even as earnings from major technology and banking firms largely met expectations. Market sentiment was unsettled by comments from US President Donald Trump suggesting he may not appoint his expected nominee, widely seen as favouring interest rate cuts, as chair of the Federal Reserve. The remarks pushed the US dollar close to a six-week high.Risk appetite weakened further after Trump proposed fresh tariffs on eight European countries, reviving concerns over trade tensions and their broader economic impact. The announcement triggered a pullback in risk assets and strengthened demand for safe-haven instruments, though the dollar later eased.Safe-haven buying intensified at the start of the week, lifting gold and silver prices to record highs on Monday. Investors moved to protect portfolios amid rising geopolitical uncertainty following Trump’s threat to impose extra tariffs on European nations over the control of Greenland.Market participants said near-term trends are likely to remain sideways, with stock-specific movements driven by earnings outcomes and developments on trade, while geopolitical escalation remains a key downside risk.In Indian markets, foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of equities worth Rs 4,346 crore on Friday. Domestic institutional investors provided partial support, emerging as net buyers with investments of Rs 3,935 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

The stage is set for a high-stakes encounter as the Women’s Premier League 2026 moves to its second venue, the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The 12th match of the season sees the league leaders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), face off against a resilient Gujarat Giants (GG). RCB enter this game with a flawless record, while the Giants are looking to regain momentum after a mixed start to their campaign.

Smriti Mandhana-led juggernaut is currently unstoppable. With four wins in four matches, they have balanced their aggressive batting with disciplined bowling. The form of Mandhana (166 runs) and the bowling brilliance of Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell (8 wickets each) have made them the team to beat.

Captain Ashleigh Gardner leads a side that has shown glimpses of brilliance but lacked consistency. Sophie Devine, playing against her former side, has been their standout performer, currently sitting in the top 5 for both most runs (141) and most wickets (8) this season.

GG-W vs RCB-W, WPL 2026: Match Details

• Date and Time: January 19 (Monday); 7:30 pm IST / 2:00 pm GMT
• Venue: BCA Stadium, Vadodara

GG-W vs RCB-W, Head-to-Head Record in WPL

Matches played: 7 | RCB-W won: 4 | GG-W won: 3 | No result: 0

BCA Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi is a classic black-soil surface that primarily acts as a batter’s paradise. It offers consistent, true bounce and good carry, allowing stroke-makers to play through the line with confidence. While the new ball may provide slight lateral movement for pacers, the surface tends to flatten out quickly. As the game progresses, spinners may find some grip, but the heavy dew expected in the evening will likely neutralize their threat, making the ball difficult to grip and favoring the team batting second. Consequently, the captain winning the toss will almost certainly elect to bowl first.

Squads:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D. Hemalatha, Sayali Satghare

Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Titas Sadhu, Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni

Also READ: Who is Nandini Sharma? Delhi Capitals pacer scripts WPL history with sensational hat-trick and five wicket haul

GG-W vs RCB-W, WPL 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• RCB-W wins the toss and bowls first
• Gujarat Giants’ powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
• Gujarat Giants’ total score: 175-190

Case 2:

• Gujarat Giants wins the toss and bowls first
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s powerplay score: 55-65 (6 overs)
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s total score: 185-200

Match result: Team bowling first to win the game.

Also WATCH: Nandini Sharma takes a sensational hat-trick in WPL 2026

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