NEW DELHI: To enhance civil-military cooperation and improve the quality of life in remote border areas, the Indian Army has constructed a 10-KW solar power plant in north Sikkim and a water storage facility in Arunachal Pradesh.“Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army has established a 10-KW solar power plant at Muguthang village, North Sikkim”, located at an altitude of around 15,000 feet near the China border, an official statement said. “Reliable electricity has enabled year-round habitation and improved safety in this remote border village,” it said.

Muguthang is a sparsely populated border village with 32 residents from 10 families. The plant has improved night-time safety, enhancing connectivity and eliminating the need for seasonal migration during the harsh winter months. Earlier, due to the absence of a dependable power supply, villagers relied on small personal solar panels and were compelled to migrate to other areas for nearly 5-6 months every year, leaving behind their homes and livestock.

In Arunachal Pradesh, Army troops from Spear Corps have constructed a log hut with water storage facility at Ojugo village in Taksing, Upper Subansiri district. The newly constructed facility will provide essential shelter and assured water availability. “The initiative under Operation Sadbhavana ensures basic amenities in remote areas, benefiting local villagers and graziers,” Spear Corps posted on X.Also, the Army on Monday flagged off an eco-tourism exposure tour from Along Military Station, Arunachal, marking a significant step towards youth empowerment and sustainable development in the border regions.

Prior to the tour, a comprehensive three-day homestay and eco-tourism training capsule was conducted at Aalo, during which 30 students and two instructors were familiarised with the fundamentals of community-based tourism, responsible travel practices, and the economic potential of eco-tourism in Arunachal.In Manipur, Red Shield Division under SpearCorps inaugurated a textile unit and Yarn Bank at Nungkot, empowering Kom women weavers through skill training and livelihood support. A visit to IDP Camp Lamlai was also organised and raw material for handloom and tailoring units were distributed.

Liam Rosenior (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Chelsea have confirmed Liam Rosenior as their new manager, signing the 41-year-old on a six-year contract until 2032 after he left French side Strasbourg on Tuesday. Rosenior, known for his attack-minded approach, becomes only the second Black manager in Chelsea’s history, following Ruud Gullit. Rosenior earned praise for transforming Strasbourg into a competitive Ligue 1 side, guiding them to a seventh-place finish last season and European qualification. “Liam has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch. While there will continue to be a focus on player development, the club’s expectations and ambitions remain high,” Chelsea said in their announcement. Before Strasbourg, Rosenior had a stint as assistant coach at Derby under Wayne Rooney, who commended his “incredible” work ethic and attention to detail. Despite his success in France, Rosenior has never managed a Premier League side. He succeeds Enzo Maresca, who left after 18 months at the helm. Chelsea, currently fifth in the league and 17 points behind leaders Arsenal, offer Rosenior a higher-profile and more pressurised stage. Reflecting on the opportunity, Rosenior said: “I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.” The move also carries personal significance. Rosenior added: “This opportunity for me is something I can’t turn down at this moment in my life… It means that I can go home and see my kids. I’m away from my children, I missed them. And I wanted to make the sacrifice of not seeing them worth it, with the success that we have here.” Son of former player and coach Leroy Rosenior, Liam had a 16-year professional playing career in England, representing Fulham, Reading, Hull, Brighton, and England Under-21s. He returned to Hull as his first head coach in 2022 before joining Strasbourg in 2024, leaving the French club with European football secured and a spot in the knockout phase of the UEFA Conference League. Rosenior defended his decision to move to Chelsea, stating: “I don’t think anyone can question how hard I’ve worked for the club, my integrity in the way I’ve worked for this club. I don’t think anyone can question the decision I’ve made to move on with my career.” This appointment marks a rare top-level opportunity for a Black British coach in the Premier League, and Chelsea will hope Rosenior can bring stability and consistency to a side that has seen five permanent managers since the BlueCo takeover in 2022.

Amid growing demand for a CBI probe into the 2022 Rishikesh resort murder case, in which a 19-year-old receptionist was allegedly killed under mysterious circumstances, CM Pushkar Dhami Tuesday said his govt was open to “all forms of probe” to get answers. The incident had triggered massive protests across Uttarakhand at the time. Dhami said he would also meet the woman’s parents and discuss the matter with them.Calling the case “extremely heartbreaking and sensitive”, Dhami said sentiments of entire state were connected to the case. “Being the CM, I will meet them. After examining all legal aspects, whatever they say regarding justice for their daughter will be followed”.The CM said those involved in the crime would not be spared. “Earlier, it was due to a probe by SIT that three accused were sentenced to life. Some audio recordings have recently come to the fore. We have formed an SIT to probe the matter and the ex-MLA and others whose names have surfaced must cooperate. Instead of remaining on the run, those who made allegations should appear before police so the truth can come out,” he said.Not ruling out a “planned political conspiracy” behind the latest row, Dhami said a similar audio leak had surfaced during the exam paper leak issue. “Hue and cry was created then too. Now another audio leak is being used to spoil the environment of Uttarakhand,” he said, taking a swipe at Congress netas for trying to revive their political careers through the case.Questioning circumstances surrounding the clips, Dhami said it was suspicious that the phone was switched off after releasing the audio and a presser was held in Delhi though the matter pertained to Uttarakhand. He said police and social media records confirmed that the party in-charge named in one audio did not visit Uttarakhand during the period mentioned.Cops tried to approach those levelling fresh allegations and pasted notices at their houses, but they continue to avoid sleuths, he said. Police in Haridwar have constituted an SIT to probe the audio involving a woman, Urmila Sanawar, whose allegations have led to the political storm. The row escalated after several audio clips were allegedly released by Urmila, in which expelled former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore was purportedly referring to a “VIP” who he alleged was a senior BJP neta. It was insinuated that the “VIP” had visited the resort and “sought favours” from the receptionist. Rathore later denied allegations, claiming that the clips were “AI-generated”.

NEW DELHI: Winter has set in. The monsoon withdrew months ago. Yamuna has shrunk to its narrow winter course. Yet in Shaheen Bagh, a key road remains submerged under stagnant gutter water. In this neighbourhood, best known for its famed Anti-CAA protests in 2019-20, now dark water blankets most of the road, carrying floating plastic, food waste and an oily sheen. The stretch, more than 100-metres long, near Okhla’s N block has once again turned into a dangerous, open manhole. “Several vehicles have broken down here in the past few weeks,” said Shahzad Ali Idrisi, a Shaheen Bagh resident. The drain has merged invisibly with the flooded road. “E-rickshaws have fallen into open drains. People have been injured. Accidents are waiting to happen.”As bikes splash through the water, guessing where the road ends and open drains begin, auto and e-rickshaw drivers often refuse to enter the stretch; most demand extra money. Pedestrians wait, calculate, and turn back. “I fear slipping every day,” said Rida, a student from Abul Fazal who walks this route to her coaching centre. “The water is filthy. If someone falls, who will take responsibility?” she asks.

What should function as a public road works only for SUVs and trucks with high ground clearance. Others with smaller cars hesitate to bring vehicles through the flooded patch, especially at night, fearing damage to engines and brakes. On municipal maps, it is an ordinary local road that connects the rest of Okhla to Shaheen Bagh. On the ground, it is one of Okhla’s most important connectors. Thousands depend on it daily, from office-goers headed towards Kalindi Kunj, students walking to coaching centres, daily-wage workers travelling to nearby markets, to funeral processions bound for a local burial ground.For local pedestrians, especially women, children and the elderly, the road has become an obstacle course.“This is no longer monsoon water,” said Shazia Khan, who lives in an adjacent N Block lane. “Yeh toh saal bhar ka paani hai.” This is year-round water.Shazia has two children. Her daughter’s school bus stop lies across the road, near Jasola Puliya. “It is barely a two-minute walk,” she said. “But I have to plan how she will cross every single day, make arrangements. I cannot send her alone.”“Children have to walk through this water,” she added. “Their clothes get soaked. Their shoes are ruined. And there is the constant fear of infection.”Parents say prolonged waterlogging has led to persistent health problems. Children complain of itching and rashes. Fever and stomach infections recur.

The Shaheen Bagh police station stands just metres away. Residents say multiple complaints have been made to the MCD, including by the police station itself, but with no lasting resolution.The waterlogging also threatens the Gore Ghabiran Muslim graveyard next to it. The caretaker of the graveyard, Mufti Abdul Raziq, said water collects directly against the boundary wall.“The water builds up right against the graveyard wall,” he said. “I have informed both the councillor and the MLA several times, nothing happened. The wall is at risk of collapsing.”Two years ago, a section of the wall gave way after prolonged water damage. Repairs cost in lakhs, raised through community donations. “Rebuilding is difficult. Every time, it brings fresh expenses,” Raziq said. Funeral processions are often forced to stop before reaching the gate. “The procession is on foot, and entering this impure drain water breaks their wudhu,” he said. If the wall collapses again, graves could be damaged. “This is not just a road problem,” Raziq said.Even road repairs when they take place, residents say, are largely cosmetic.

Akram Malik, a nearby shopkeeper with a scraps business, pointed to poor drainage design and chronic neglect. “In places, the road sits lower than the drain outlet, leaving water with nowhere to go. Before the monsoon, drains are often cleaned superficially, with silt pushed to the roadside and garbage left uncleared. Once it rains, the waste slides back into the drains, choking them,” he said. In the absence of lasting intervention, residents have repeatedly stepped in. This August during monsoon, locals pooled money and collected Rs. 50,000 to hire private workers to clean the choked sewer after appeals to the local MLA and councillor went unanswered. Mohammad Anis, who was part of this emergency effort, said residents pay twice. “Once by wading through flooded neighbourhoods. Then from our own pockets.”Residents say the physical hardship is compounded by a political blame game between elected representatives.Speaking to TOI, Ram Raj Meena, Executive Engineer (Maintenance) of the MCD’s Central Zone, said, “The issue is that the drain here connects to the Jasola drain, which falls under UP Irrigation and Water Resources’s jurisdiction.”He added that MCD’s mandate in unauthorised colonies is limited. “All complaints from residents, and the local police station have reached us, but the matter had to be referred to the Delhi Government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department (I & FC), since it’s an unauthorised area.”Insiders at the MCD also pointed to residents’ civic habits as a compounding factor. “People don’t follow civic sense. Garbage, construction debris, even old beds are dumped into drains. Desilting is difficult in thickly populated areas because the drains get choked with waste,” said one official.“Designated garbage spots should be used by the locals. With public cooperation, our manpower can work efficiently. Right now, in many houses, garbage is only cleaned from inside homes in the morning around 9-10 am and then thrown outside, further blocking the drains,” he added.Former Congress MLA Asif Muhammad Khan and local councillor Ariba Khan have blamed sitting AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan for flawed sewer planning. Asif Khan alleged that excess water from the Okhla tank, fed by an old canal originating near Jasola, was diverted into the Shaheen Bagh–Abul Fazal drain, far beyond its designed capacity. ‘“The canal was earlier discharged into the Agra canal during the monsoon, but now, for over a month, has started to flow into local drains,” he told TOI. “This drain is not designed to take that load,” Ariba Khan warned, adding that if more water is released, homes and basements in Shaheen Bagh and Abul Fazal Enclave could flood, with seepage already worsening in interior lanes.AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan maintained that a long-term solution is being worked upon. “Any work could not be done as pollution related restrictions were implemented in December. We will take it up now,” he told TOI.However, with the Graded Response Action Plan IV (for ‘severe pollution’) curbs now lifted, the timeline for the work remains unclear.By the time these arguments have played out, residents say, another season passes and the water barely recedes.“Shaheen Bagh is no ordinary neighbourhood. It became a national symbol of resistance,” said Manzoor Ahmed, referring to the women-led sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2019–20, with images of elderly women reading the Constitution travelling across the country.The irony is not lost on residents. “The same area that once hosted lakhs in a disciplined, self-organised protest now struggles to secure something as basic as a passable road,” he said. Months after the monsoon, with no rain left to blame, the stagnant water has sharpened anger. For women, children, the elderly and even the dead, the cost is paid daily in risk and indignity. Until authorities move beyond tenders, verbal assurances and surface-level fixes, residents say, this road will remain a pool of civic apathy.

Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in the first of the three-match T20I series. The SL vs PAK Match Preview provides today’s match details for the first match.

SL vs PAK Match Preview- 1st T20I, Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2026:

Date and Venue:

The SL vs PAK match will be played on January 7 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The game will start at 7:00 PM IST.

Squads:

Sri Lanka

Dasun Shanaka (c) Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pawan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Milan Ratnayake, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Trevin Mathew, Kamil Mishara

Your daily dose of cricket!

Pakistan

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

SL vs PAK Key battles:

Pathum Nissanka vs Mohammad Salman Mirza

Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, who was in good form in 2025, would like to carry that into the first match of 2026 and deliver a match-winning performance against Pakistan.

Nissanka will have to tackle the bowling of Mohammad Salman Mirza, who has had a good start to his international career and would want to build on it by bowling his team to victory in this particular match.

Kusal Mendis vs Abrar Ahmed

Nissanka’s partner at the top of the order, Kusal Mendis would also aim for a good start to the year with the T20 World Cup in sight.

Mendis will take on Abrar Ahmed, who is expected to find a place in the playing XI for the first T20I.

Fakhar Zaman vs Dushmantha Chameera

Experienced opener Fakhar Zaman would look to play in an aggressive manner if he gets to open the innings in the upcoming match.

Fakhar will be up against Dushmantha Chameera, who will be entrusted to pick wickets with the new ball.

Sahibzada Farhan vs Wanindu Hasaranga

Sahibzada Farhan, who had a few decent outings last year, would hope to replicate the same performance in the first game of the year.

Sahibzada Farhan will face the challenge of Wanindu Hasaranga, who will handle Sri Lanka’s spin bowling department and will look to pick wickets at regular intervals for the team while maintaining his economy in order to create pressure on the batters.

SL vs PAK Key Players:

SL – Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga

PAK– Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmad

SL vs PAK Weather Report:

There is a 65% chance of rain during day two of the game in Dambulla, with a maximum temperature of 24°C and a minimum of 18°C.

Conclusion

Both teams will look to give it their all in the series opener in a bid to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

LONDON: Individuals from white British and Indian ethnic groups have seen substantial increases in median wealth in Britain since 2012, whilst the wealth of those of Pakistani ethnicity has seen a marked decline, a new report from the London School of Economics (LSE) shows.Individuals from Asian Other and white Other ethnic groups also experienced substantial increases in median wealth from 2012/2014 up to 2021/2023, In contrast, wealth among individuals from the Pakistani ethnic group dropped sharply and black African, black Caribbean, and Bangladeshi ethnic groups remained with “almost no accumulated household wealth throughout”, it said.The largest gains were experienced by the Indian and Asian Other groups, with median wealth rising by £93,000 for the Indian ethnic group.UK-born adults from the Indian group “have a clear wealth advantage” over both non-UK-born Indians and the white British group, it said.The report, titled “The Ethnic Wealth Divide in the UK: Mapping Disparities Across Time, Age and Immigrant Generations”, by Eleni Karagiannaki, research fellow at LSE, used data from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey to show how ethnic wealth gaps have widened in 24-month periods from 2012/14 to 2021/2023.Adults from Pakistani, Bangladeshi, black Caribbean, and black African ethnic groups reported significantly lower savings than those from the white British, Other Asian, and Indian ethnic groups, with PIOs recording the highest levels. More than 50% of adults among the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and black African groups had no savings.Whilst white British, white other, and Indian individuals are more likely to move up from the bottom quartile, Pakistani and black African individuals are more vulnerable to downward mobility from the top, it said.In 2012/14, adults in the white British, Indian, and Asian Other groups already had higher rates of home and investment ownership compared to other groups. By 2021/23, these gaps had widened further, as these groups increased ownership while Bangladeshi, black Caribbean, and Pakistani groups saw sharp declines, particularly in home ownership.“Indian and white British groups typically experience steadier income growth across the life-course, enabling earlier asset accumulation. Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups exhibit the widest income gaps relative to the white British group than any ethnic minority group,” it said.

Sikandar Raza of Paarl Royals celebrates getting the wicket of MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan during match 13 of the Betway SA20 season 4 between MI Cape Town (MICT) and Paarl Royals (PR) held at the Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on the 4th January 2026. (Photo Credit: Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20)

TimesofIndia.com in Cape Town: Sikandar Raza’s journey from Sialkot to Zimbabwe was far from straightforward. It took him through unexpected detours that included dreams of becoming a pilot and earning a degree in computing from a university in Glasgow, before cricket finally took centre stage after his family moved to Zimbabwe.After a sombre few years in international cricket, followed by a life-threatening bone marrow infection in 2021, the all-rounder, now in the twilight of his career has reinvented himself as a bona fide globetrotter across T20 leagues worldwide. Last week, he added another milestone by becoming the first cricketer from Zimbabwe to make an appearance in the SA20.

In a professional career spanning close to two decades, the 39-year-old Raza has featured for a whopping 43 teams, 22 just in different leagues, and continues to shuttle between tournaments with ease. One such move was ahead of him after wrapping the ILT20 campaign with the Sharjah Warriorz as he was set to join the Paarl Royals in South Africa. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The veteran, however, faced one of the biggest setbacks in his life as he lost his 13-year-old brother in Harare on December 29. It happened around the time he was scheduled to join his SA20 team for the ongoing fourth edition of the T20 tournament. Putting the personal tragedy aside, Raza made a strong statement by joining the Paarl Royals for the SA20 and has made an instant impact in his two outings so far.

Paarl Royals Sikandar Raza celebrates a wicket. (Photo Credit: Halden Krog / Sportzpics for SA20)

“I think that part of my life will always be difficult,” Raza said in a select media interaction after the Royals beat MI Cape Town on Sunday. “But I did say to my team as well, if I wasn’t mentally, physically and emotionally ready, I wouldn’t be here. ‘The fact that I think that I can add value, I’ve decided to join you, and I will take nothing away from you. I’ll give as much as I can to the team, the energy, the experience, whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it’. So yeah, it’s nice to be here,” he further added.Every wicket he took in the backdrop of the table top mountain at Newlands was celebrated with renewed gusto. The slight arch of the back, arms spread wide and the feisty fist pump with gentle raise of the right knee happened not once but on four occasions as he ran through the MI unit with figures of 4/13. A street-smart cricketer who offers a complete package in the shortest format, Raza has had outings in leagues like IPL, BPL, PSL and ILT20 and feels good performances by Zimbabweans opens up more doors for players back home.

Sikandar Raza of Paarl Royals sends down a delivery during match 13 of the Betway SA20 season 4 between MI Cape Town (MICT) and Paarl Royals (PR) held at the Newlands Cricket Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on the 4th January 2026. (Photo by Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for SA20)

“That is the whole idea, and that is the point as well. If you look at the last few years, whenever a Zimbabwean has gone to a league and done well, it has certainly opened doors for more Zimbabweans. I really feel blessed by the fact that I am the first Zimbabwean to play the SA20, and hopefully my performances can open doors for other Zimbabweans as well,” said Raza.Raza is a story of grit, faith and belief in the game. The personal challenges, professional setbacks have only pushed him to do better.“I remember there was a time when I used to look at the cricketers that used to do the circuit and I always used to say, Allah, when will my turn come? Now that my turn is here, I am grateful for every opportunity, for every team that have signed me, for every country I’ve been to. And I will not take anything for granted. I used to pray for times like this. Now that Allah has granted me this time, I will be forever grateful to Allah and to every single team that I’ve been part of,” explained an emotional Raza.

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, right, successfully appeals for LBW during the T20 International cricket match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, at the Harare Sports Club, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Wonder Mashura)

While there are rare off days in an year for Raza the T20 freelancer and he chooses to spend them indoors. Limelight isn’t something which excites him but the veteran does hope that his actions can inspire other Sikandars in Zimbabwe.“To be honest with you, when cricket is done, I try and stay away from the limelight, from people. I just try and stay indoors. I don’t like to hear or speak about myself, but if the conversations are happening, then Alhamdulillah, I feel very blessed. But having said that, hopefully my actions will inspire rather than hearing about what people think of me or what others are thinking about me. All I’m looking at is trying to keep doing the things I’m doing at the best of my ability, and hopefully my performances can inspire the other Sikanders in Zimbabwe and all over the world,” said the all-rounder.In around a month’s time, Raza will have the Zimbabwe jersey on for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Having beaten Pakistan in the 2022 edition of the multi-nation tournament, the captain is geared up for the challenge and asserts how respect in world cricket is earned by good performances in the World Cup.

“Well, that’s the idea because the World Cup is really crucial in every cricketer’s life. And I always think for Zimbabwe to gain more respect in world cricket, World Cups play a huge part. So we have the mindset to go there and try and do really well so that we can come back with our goals set high and so that our people back home can have their heads high as well,” said Raza.Raza has had ideal preparation for the T20 World Cup with outings in the ILT20 and SA20, and would now hope that the rest of the group finds inspiration to punch above the weight when the T20 extravaganza gets underway next month.