The rupee on Wednesday depreciated 31 paise to close at an all-time low of 91.99 against the US dollar, marking the second instance in less than a week that the currency has settled at its weakest-ever level, pressured by heightened month-end demand for the greenback and lingering geopolitical concerns, traders said.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a firmer note at 91.60 and touched an early high of 91.50, tracking a softer US dollar index and some optimism after a long-awaited trade breakthrough with Europe. However, it surrendered all gains as demand for dollars picked up toward month-end, sliding to an intraday low of 91.99.The domestic currency thus revisited its lowest-ever closing level of 91.99, a level it had earlier hit on January 23, when it also touched an all-time intraday low of 92 against the dollar. On Tuesday, the rupee had staged a brief recovery, gaining 22 paise to close at 91.68.Forex analysts said early support came from easing dollar strength and positive sentiment following the announcement that India and the European Union had concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Under the pact, several Indian sectors such as apparel, chemicals and footwear are expected to gain duty-free access to the EU market, while the bloc will get concessional access to India for products such as cars and wines. The agreement has been dubbed the “mother of all deals”, creating a market of nearly 2 billion people.Despite the positive cues, sustained dollar demand and geopolitical tensions weighed on the rupee through the session.The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was trading 0.07 per cent lower at 96.14. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, slipped 0.43 per cent to $67.28 per barrel in futures trade.Domestic equities provided some support, with the Sensex rising 487.20 points to 82,344.68 and the Nifty climbing 167.35 points to 25,342.75. Foreign institutional investors turned net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 480.26 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.

WWE 2K26 is drawing closer, and it is going to be one of the most ambitious entries in the franchise’s history. As already announced by WWE and 2K Sports, the title is set to receive several special editions, each celebrating different eras of professional wrestling. The game is scheduled for release in early March 2026, with pre-orders opening on January 30, 2026. It will be exciting to see what the game will be offering, and further specifics will likely be revealed over the coming weeks. In the section below, we take a detailed look at WWE 2K26’s editions, pricing, and more.

WWE 2K26 editions and pricing

WWE 2K26 will be available in a variety of unique editions, each priced differently. Here are the different editions and their expected prices:

The special editions mentioned above will feature cover superstars rendered in era-specific gear with unique entrances, animations, and gameplay styles. You will also be able to experience recreations of legendary moments.

WWE 2K26 bonus rewards and showcase content

The full details on pre-order bonuses have not been officially revealed. The only thing currently known is that the premium editions will be receiving early access to WWE 2K26. Speaking of WWE 2K26’s Showcase Mode, it is speculated to feature CM Punk. As part of the same, you are rumored to receive three sections: playable matches from his WWE career, “What If?” scenarios, and fantasy matchups. Additionally, the new Island mode will be returning with a narrative where Roman Reigns has been knocked off the top, and three factions battle for control.

WWE 2K26 gameplay features

There will be a lot of new gameplay content introduced as part of WWE 2K26. The same includes match types like the Dumpster Match, alongside returning types like I Quit Match, Inferno Match, and Three Stages of Hell. Coming to the roster, it is expected that over 400+ wrestlers will be available to use. This was all you needed to know about all the editions of WWE 2K26.

Hardik Pandya once again proved why he is considered one of the most elite athletes in world cricket with a moment of breathtaking brilliance in the field. During a high-stakes 4th T20I encounter against New Zealand in Vizag, his lightning-quick reflexes turned a routine single into a game-changing breakthrough for Team India. By executing a nearly impossible direct hit, he removed the dangerous Mitchell Santner just as the Kiwi captain was beginning to find his rhythm.

IND vs NZ, 4th T20I: Hardik Pandya produces a direct-hit stunner to dismiss Mitchell Santner

The dismissal of Santner at 16.1 was a masterclass in modern-day fielding, showcasing the explosive athleticism that Hardik brings to the Indian side. It began with a subtle back-of-a-length delivery from Jasprit Bumrah that cramped Santner for room, causing the batter to close his bat face slightly too early on 11 from 6 balls.

The resulting outside edge trickled away toward short third man, a position where batters often feel safe enough to steal a quick, opportunistic single to rotate the strike. Seeing a momentary lapse in concentration, Santner took off for the run, but he had drastically underestimated the speed of Pandya, who was prowling the inner circle. Hardik pounced on the ball with the grace of a predator, gathering it cleanly in one fluid motion before unleashing a searing, flat throw that behaved more like a guided missile.

The ball whistled through the air and crashed directly into the base of the stumps at the bowler’s end with devastating accuracy, catching the Kiwi captain short of his ground. Despite Santner’s desperate, full-length dive, the third umpire confirmed the ‘OUT’ signal, reducing New Zealand to 163/6 and halting their momentum. This act of brilliance was a reminder that Pandya remains India’s premier game-changer, capable of manufacturing a wicket out of thin air even without the ball in his hand.

Here’s the video:

Bullseye 🎯

Hardik Pandya with a superb direct hit 🔥

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/GVkrQKKyd6 #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/u2aFicOLL9

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2026

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Fans slam Gautam Gambhir as Shreyas Iyer misses out again in India XI for 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam

New Zealand sets a massive target in Vizag T20I against India

The 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam saw New Zealand post a formidable 215/7 after India won the toss and elected to field first in humid conditions. Tim Seifert led the charge with a blistering 62 off 36 balls, recording the fastest T20I half-century by a New Zealander against India in just 25 deliveries. Devon Conway provided stellar support with 44 off 23 balls, as the pair shared a century opening stand in just 8.2 overs to stun the Indian attack.

India finally found a breakthrough when Kuldeep Yadav removed Conway, finishing his spell with vital middle-over figures of 2/39 from his 4 overs. Bumrah quickly followed up by dismissing Rachin Ravindra for 2, eventually ending his quota with 1/38 despite a late-inning assault. The Kiwis suffered a significant middle-order collapse, sliding from a dominant 100/0 to a shaky 152/5 as Ravi Bishnoi removed Mark Chapman (9). Arshdeep Singh proved crucial at the death, removing the dangerous Seifert and Zakary Foulkes (13) to finish with tidy figures of 2/35. Rinku Singh was a magnet in the field, incredibly claiming 4 catches throughout the innings to keep the pressure on the visitors’ lower order.

Daryl Mitchell proved to be the late-innings hero for the Black Caps, smashing an unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls to propel the score past 200. Mitchell’s cameo included a massive six and a four in the final over against Harshit Rana, who struggled under the pressure, conceding 14 runs in the 20th. India, leading the series 3-0, now requires a mammoth 216 runs at a required rate of 10.8 per over to maintain their perfect record. All eyes remain on Sanju Samson, who is desperate for a big score after managing only 16 runs across his previous 3 innings in this series.

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Here’s why Ishan Kishan is not playing today’s 4th T20I match in Visakhapatnam

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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (PTI image)

NEW DELHI: Proceedings in the Karnataka Assembly were disrupted on Wednesday after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government of phone tapping.The house was in total ruckus following law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil remarks who suggested that the governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was acting on instructions received through calls from Delhi.

The controversy erupted during the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address to the joint sitting of the state legislature. BJP legislators alleged that the Congress government had accessed details of phone calls received at the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan), raising serious questions about surveillance and misuse of power.Last week, on January 22, governor Gehlot refused to read the full state-prepared address to the joint session of the legislature and concluded his speech in just three lines. The move drew sharp criticism from the Congress government. The governor had objected to certain references in the address that were critical of the Centre, including remarks on the alleged “repeal” of the UPA-era employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA.Intervening in the debate on Wednesday, BJP MLA Suresh Kumar accused the state government of disrespecting the governor and making unwarranted allegations against a constitutional authority. He observed that there have been earlier instances where governors did not read their full addresses.Citing precedent, Kumar referred to January 2011, when the BJP was in power in the state. He said that then governor Hansraj Bhardwaj had tabled his address to the joint session to be treated as read after the then Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah, urged him not to read it, alleging corruption by the BJP government at the time.Responding to this comparison, law minister H K Patil alleged that the present Governor had acted under instructions received over phone calls from Delhi.“Following calls from Delhi the Governor did not read the full speech, we will also have to speak about it now, as you spoke about the earlier incident (involving then Governor Bhardwaj),” Patil said.The remark triggered strong protests from the BJP benches. Suresh Kumar said that the law minister was making a grave allegation and questioned how the government knew about calls to the governor. “Is the government tapping the Raj Bhavan (Lok Bhavan) phones, to know about the Governor getting calls from Delhi?” he asked.As BJP MLAs rose in protest, the House descended into chaos. BJP MLA Sunil Kumar alleged that Patil’s statement amounted to an admission. “How can this be tolerated? This is the second time the Law Minister has said this in the House. Is phone tapping happening?” he said.IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge came to Patil’s defence, saying the law minister was only alleging that the Governor was acting like a “puppet in the hands of the central government.” However, the BJP maintained that the statements raised serious doubts about surveillance at the Raj Bhavan.Escalating the exchange, Kharge alleged that the governor was receiving calls from Keshava Krupa, the RSS’s Karnataka state headquarters. BJP members countered the claim by saying the Congress “gets calls from Italy,” further intensifying the verbal sparring.Sunil Kumar and other BJP MLAs reiterated their charge that the state government had stooped to tapping the Governor’s phone. “The Law Minister has repeatedly said that the Governor was getting calls from Delhi. How did they know? If they have records, let them place it in the House,” he said, alleging that both Patil and Kharge were involved in tapping phones at Lok Bhavan.Senior BJP leaders, including Suresh Kumar and Sunil Kumar, continued to accuse the Siddaramaiah government of surveillance and described it as a “phone tapping government.” Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also backed the allegations.Replying to the charges, Patil questioned why there had been no clarification from either the Governor or the Centre after he first made the allegation last week. “What is the Home Ministry doing in Delhi? Should they not at least issue a press note saying that there is no communication between the Governor and Home Ministry?” he asked.The remarks led to further heated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches, with Ashoka claiming that the statements by Patil and Kharge themselves proved that phones at the Lok Bhavan and the RSS office were being tapped. “Are our phones also being tapped? This is a phone-tapping government,” he said.As disorder continued in the House, Speaker U T Khader adjourned the Assembly for lunch.

Digvijay Singh, Ajit Pawar and Mallikarjun Kharge (Images/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders on Wednesday demanded a thorough investigation into the plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and four others. The calls are being ranged from a DGCA-led probe to a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry.Ajit Pawar (66) was among five people killed when a Learjet 46 aircraft crash-landed near Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday morning. The aircraft was operated by Delhi-based VSR Ventures and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said there were five people on board, including crew members.Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh expressed his condolences over the death of NCP leader. Raising concerns over the circumstances of the crash, he said that several questions needed to be answered, including visibility conditions, landing protocol and aircraft maintenance. “The question is, why did this accident happen? From the preliminary information I have received, a similar accident involving the same company occurred in Mumbai three years ago. This incident took place in low visibility. Normally, landing should not be attempted unless visibility is at least five kilometres,” he said. Singh added that the aircraft reportedly attempted to land twice before missing the airstrip. “The DGCA should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. It must also be examined who was responsible for the aircraft’s maintenance and whether DGCA clearance had been granted,” Singh said. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also called for a probe, describing Pawar’s death as untimely and deeply shocking.“We will demand an investigation into this accident. It is a very sad incident. Ajit Pawar died a premature death. The passing away of a hard-working man has shocked us all. We are with his family in this hour,” Kharge said.Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Kharge said Pawar had worked for the people and his death had hurt everyone. “This has hurt everyone, including his family members, and we share their grief and pray that they can bear this loss,” he said.Earlier, in a post on X, Kharge said Pawar’s death was “deeply shocking and profoundly distressing,” calling it an untimely loss of a leader with a long political career ahead. He said Pawar would be remembered as a seasoned politician who served Maharashtra in various constitutional roles.West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-supervised inquiry and alleging that existing agencies could not be trusted.“We trust only the Supreme Court. All other agencies have been completely compromised,” Banerjee told reporters before leaving for Singur, asserting that only a court-monitored probe would bring out the truth.She also alleged a possible political conspiracy, claiming there were reports that Pawar was considering leaving the BJP days before the crash. “Two days ago, I came to know that someone from another party had given a statement that Pawar was willing to leave the BJP, and now this has happened today,” she said, while adding that Pawar was reportedly preparing to return to the NCP faction led by his uncle Sharad Pawar.“It is truly a great loss. My condolences to his family, the people of Maharashtra, and to Sharad Pawar,” Banerjee said.The Biju Janta Dal also joined other opposition parties in demanding a thorough investigation. BJD VP Debi Prasad Mishra said, “It is shocking news that Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a regional party leader, died in a plane crash at Baramati. He was a vibrant leader with a strong reputation as a doer, held important portfolios in Maharashtra, and worked extensively for the people. He was also the cousin of the legendary leader Sharad Pawar. This is very unfortunate, and the matter should be thoroughly investigated.”

The India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be credit positive for India, helping attract foreign investment, strengthen manufacturing and improve export competitiveness in labour-intensive sectors, Moody’s Ratings said on Wednesday.India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the long-pending FTA earlier this week, describing it as the “mother of all deals”. Under the agreement, about 93% of Indian shipments will enjoy duty-free access to the 27-nation bloc, while imports of luxury cars and wines from Europe are expected to become cheaper.The pact, concluded after negotiations spanning nearly two decades, creates a combined market of around two billion people across the world’s fourth-largest economy, India, and the EU, the second-largest economic bloc.In a commentary, Moody’s Ratings said India’s conclusion of trade talks with the EU reflects its continued efforts to selectively diversify trade relationships.“When in effect, the FTA will be credit positive, with lower tariffs and better market access supporting India’s ambition to develop its manufacturing sector, attract foreign investment, and strengthen the export competitiveness of its labour-intensive goods,” Moody’s said, PTI quoted.The free trade agreement is expected to be formally signed and implemented this year.Moody’s noted that lower tariffs on EU imports may also help ease input costs, although such imports currently account for a smaller share of India’s overall import bill.“European carmakers would gain easier access to the world’s third-largest car market, allowing them to introduce more premium models under a calibrated liberalisation framework—an opportunity for EU brands but adding competition for Indian manufacturers,” it said.The rating agency added that the broader benefits of the FTA would depend on progress in complementary areas such as improving business friendliness and streamlining regulations.Once implemented, almost all Indian goods — over 93% — will receive zero-duty access to the EU market, except for automobiles and steel. For the remaining over 6% of products, Indian exporters will benefit from tariff reductions and quota-based duty concessions, including for automobiles.Moody’s pointed out that the EU’s average tariffs on Indian goods are already relatively low at around 3.8% and will be reduced to about 0.1% under the agreement.However, duties are currently high in several sectors, including marine products (0–26%), chemicals (up to 12.8%), plastics and rubber (up to 6.5%), leather and footwear (up to 17%), textiles and apparel (up to 12%), gems and jewellery (up to 4%), railway components, aircraft parts, ships and boats (up to 7.7%), furniture and light consumer goods (up to 10.5%), toys (up to 4.7%) and sports goods (up to 4.7%).Duties on all these items will be eliminated by the EU under the pact.On the other hand, the EU will receive duty-free access for over 90% of its goods in India over a ten-year period. India will remove duties on about 30% of European goods on the first day of the agreement’s implementation.The main EU products that will get duty concessions include automobiles, wines, spirits, beer, olive oil, kiwis and pears, fruit juices, processed foods such as breads, pastries, biscuits, pasta and chocolates, pet food, sheep meat, sausages and other meat preparations.At present, these goods attract import duties ranging from 33% to 150%.Prices of imported cars from Europe are widely expected to come down, with India agreeing to gradually cut import duty to 10% from 110% for up to 2.5 lakh vehicles a year — more than six times the quota offered under the India-UK trade agreement.

Coco Gauff’s raw post-match frustration at the Australian Open has sparked a wider, unified pushback from players against what they describe as an increasing invasion of privacy during tournaments, with some of the sport’s biggest names speaking in one voice.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The issue came into sharp focus after third seed Gauff was caught on camera smashing her racquet deep inside Melbourne Park following her quarter-final defeat on Tuesday. The footage quickly went viral, prompting the American to speak out.“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” Gauff said. “So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”

A day later, she reinforced the point on social media, writing: “I’m a real person with real feelings. I care a lot & I’m trying my best. Thank you to those who understand that.”Gauff found strong backing across the locker room. Serena Williams came to her defence, posting on X: “Passion. Caring. Matters. Nothing wrong with hating to lose.”World No.2 Iga Swiatek, who was also eliminated at the quarter-final stage, said off-court cameras had gone too far, likening the experience to constant surveillance.

“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo?” Swiatek said. “It would be nice to have some privacy… some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”Swiatek pointed to her own recent experience, when footage of her being denied access to an area at Melbourne Park for not wearing accreditation spread rapidly online.“We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job,” she said. “It’s not our job to be a meme.”Sixth seed Jessica Pegula echoed those concerns after reaching the semi-finals.“Coco wasn’t wrong when she said the only place that is private is the locker room, which is crazy,” Pegula said. “People were zooming in on players’ phones. That’s so unnecessary. It’s really an invasion of privacy.”Amanda Anisimova admitted she tries to ignore the scrutiny but agreed Gauff’s moment should never have been made public.“She didn’t have a say in that,” Anisimova said. “That’s the tough part.”