NEW DELHI: Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday stirred a controversy after he criticised the government for not taking a stand after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying such an incident could also happen to India.“Whatever has happened in Venezuela is against the UN Charter. An elected president has been kidnapped. It’s a very grave concern that it could happen to any other country tomorrow. Tomorrow it can happen to India,” Chavan said.“India has not spoken as usual, not taken a stand on the Venezuela matter. Russia and China have taken a stand and criticised what America has done. The same thing happened in the Ukraine war. We did not take any side. We did not take a stand on the Israel-Hamas matter, and now here we are, so scared of Americans that we are not even trying to criticise what has happened,” he added.This comes after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured in Caracas and flown out of the country on Saturday in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement.Subsequently, the ministry of external affairs reiterated India’s support for the safety and well-being of people in Venezuela as the situation in the country remains tense amid US strikes.“Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation,” the MEA said in a statement.“We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability in the region. The Embassy of India in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistance,” it added.Meanwhile, this is not the first time Chavan has made headlines for controversial remarks. Earlier in December, Chavan claimed that India was defeated on the first day of Operation Sindoor and that Indian aircraft were shot down during the four-day conflict.“On the first day (of Operation Sindoor), we were completely defeated. In the half-hour aerial engagement that took place on the 7th, we were fully defeated, whether people accept it or not. Indian aircraft were shot down. The Air Force was completely grounded, and not a single aircraft flew. If any aircraft had taken off from Gwalior, Bathinda, or Sirsa, there was a high probability of being shot down by Pakistan, which is why the Air Force was fully grounded,” the Congress leader said.Later, Chavan refused to apologise for his controversial statement and said, “Why will I apologise? It is out of the question. The Constitution gives me the right to ask questions.”

Rupee began strong on Tuesday, strengthening by 18 paise to 90.12 against the US dollar, snapping its four-day losing streak.The currency’s rebound comes a day after it ended lower on Monday, closing at 90.30 against the greenback amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and weak domestic equities. According to traders, after the American military operation in Venezuela, US dollar had gained traction globally as investors towards safe-haven assets.Since December 30 last year, when it had ended at 89.75 against the dollar, rupee has fallen 55 paise. In calendar year 2025, the currency plunged almost 5%, marking its weakest momentum since 2022.“The Indian rupee has endured a persistent downward spiral, losing ground in nine out of the past ten trading sessions. This weakness is primarily fueled by ambiguity surrounding bilateral trade agreements between Washington and New Delhi, alongside a sluggish domestic stock market triggered by an exodus of foreign capital,” Dilip Parmar, Research Analyst, HDFC Securities, told PTI.He added that a surge in geopolitical uncertainty had further boosted the dollar’s appeal. “This flight to safety followed the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by American military personnel over the weekend,” Parmar said. According to him, the USD-INR spot pair faces resistance near 90.45, while support is expected around the 89.90 level in the near term.In global markets, the dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.27% higher at 98.68. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, was up 0.91% at $61.30 per barrel in futures trade.SBI has predicted that the currency will be declining by around 2% in the next financial year, with the exchange rate hovering near 92 against US dollar.Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India’s latest data released on Friday showed that India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $3.293 billion to $696.61 billion in the week ended December 26. In the previous reporting week, the reserves had increased by $4.368 billion to $693.318 billion.

Thailand on Tuesday said its Cambodian counterpart claimed that fresh cross-border fire was ‘an operational error’, following Bangkok’s allegation that Cambodian forces violated a 10-day-old truce.“A military unit in the area was contacted by the Cambodian side who claimed there was no intention to fire into Thai territory and said the incident was caused by an operational error by Cambodian personnel,” the Thai army said in a statement.

The statement comes after Thailand earlier accused Cambodia of violating the same ceasefire, alleging that Cambodian forces fired mortars into a Thai border province, wounding one soldier.Thailand’s army said the incident took place on morning in Ubon Ratchathani province, along the disputed border. In a statement, the army said, “Cambodia has violated the ceasefire,” accusing Cambodian forces of firing mortar rounds into Thai territory. It added that one Thai soldier was wounded by shrapnel and was being evacuated for medical treatment.The allegation comes despite a truce agreed on December 27, which was meant to end nearly three weeks of fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. The ceasefire was signed after weeks of intense clashes that included fighter-jet sorties, rocket fire and artillery barrages, marking the worst fighting between the two countries in years.At the time of the agreement, the defence ministers of both countries said they would freeze troop movements along the border. In a joint statement, they said, “Both sides agree to maintain current troop deployments without further movement.” The statement warned that “any reinforcement would heighten tensions and negatively affect long-term efforts to resolve the situation,” according to CNN. The truce was signed by Thai defence minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha, ending around 20 days of fighting that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million civilians on both sides.The long-running conflict between Thailand and Cambodia dates back more than a century, with both countries contesting sovereignty at several undemarcated points along their 817-kilometre land border. While the dispute has simmered for decades, it has periodically erupted into violence.Tensions escalated again last year, with clashes in December killing dozens and forcing around one million people to flee their homes across border regions. The latest round of fighting was re-ignited in early December after the collapse of a previous ceasefire that had been brokered with the involvement of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.The agreement had also included humanitarian steps, such as the return of displaced civilians and a pledge that neither side would use force against civilians. Thailand had also agreed to return 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during earlier clashes if the ceasefire held for 72 hours.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday strongly criticised the BCCI’s decision to ask Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, insisting that sport should remain separate from politics.Speaking to The Indian Express, Tharoor said the move amounted to an unnecessary politicisation of cricket. His comments came after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided against sending its national team to India for the T20 World Cup next month, citing security concerns and government advice. The decision followed KKR’s release of Mustafizur on the BCCI’s instruction.

On Sunday, Bangladesh named their squad for the T20 World Cup beginning in February, leaving out middle-order batters Jaker Ali Anik and Mahidul Islam while selecting five fast bowlers. Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das was named captain for the tournament to be held in India and Sri Lanka, the BCB said.However, the squad announcement also coincided with Dhaka requesting that its four group matches scheduled in India be shifted to Sri Lanka, amid anger over India forcing a Bangladeshi player to quit the Indian Premier League.“I think it’s an absolutely appalling decision by the BCCI. It is an unnecessary politicisation of a sporting decision. And there are various aspects I object to. One is the fact that purely as a cricketing decision, it makes no sense because teams were invited to choose from a registered pool of players selected by the BCCI. So if a fellow was in the pool, why is KKR to blame for selecting somebody from that pool? So, the first question is that it makes no sense to object to the selection of somebody whom the BCCI has submitted to all the teams as an eligible player,” Tharoor told The Indian Express.“Bangladesh is not Pakistan. Bangladesh has not been dispatching terrorists across the border. It’s not a comparable situation at all. And besides, our relationship with the two countries is also different. And the stage of our negotiations or our diplomacy with Bangladesh is different from our relationship with Pakistan. You cannot make a simple equation between the two.“There is also a moral objection I have, which is why is it that sports and cricket alone have to bear the burden of social media outrage? There are so many other ways in which we are interacting with Bangladesh at various levels. But somehow, cricket has to bear this. And one particular player, that player has never condoned hate speech, he has never said anything against India or against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, he is just a sportsman. Who are we victimising here?“And if we have decided now that the social media outrage will mean that every Bangladeshi cricketer is ineligible to play in India, then what happens if a Bangladeshi Hindu cricketer like Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar — who are good players in Bangladesh and have played in the IPL in the past — if they had been picked this year, would they also have been kicked out? And if not, then what are we signaling? Are we such an intolerant country that we’re against Muslim Bangladeshis and not against Hindu Bangladeshis?“This entire thing has not been thought through at all by anybody who took this reflexive decision, presumably in response to social media outrage. And I find this absolutely preposterous. To my mind, it demeans us as a nation. It demeans our diplomacy. It demeans our bilateral relationship. It demeans our culture as a nation with a broad enough mind and a big enough heart to be able to look at these things in a broader spirit,” he said.Bangladesh World Cup T20 squad:Litton Das (captain), Mohammad Saif Hasan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Shaifuddin, Shoriful Islam.

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Tuesday. While Nifty50 was below 26,200, BSE Sensex tanked 300 points. At 9:25 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 26,193.10, down 57 points or 0.22%. BSE Sensex was at 85,140.05, down 300 points or 0.35%.Analysts are of the view that Indian equity markets will trade with a positive bias in the near term, supported by stronger than anticipated third quarter earnings and expectations of higher capital expenditure announcements ahead of the Union Budget. However, analysts caution that bouts of volatility cannot be ruled out due to ongoing global geopolitical developments.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The US markets have largely ignored the Venezuelan crisis and moved ahead. It seems the market’s verdict is that the economic consequences of this major geopolitical event will not be negative; perhaps it can be even positive from the medium to long-term perspective, when the crude prices decline on increased supply from Venezuela. However, it is too early to take a call on this since further surprises on the geopolitical front are likely. We are in a highly uncertain phase. Therefore, investors can also think of increasing the cash position in their portfolios even while remaining invested. Heightened uncertainty triggered by unprecedented geopolitical events demands a cautious approach to investment supported by higher cash positions to exploit sudden movements in the market.” “The banking sector is moving to a stronger position supported by increasing credit growth even though deposit mobilisation remains a challenge.”Global cues remained supportive after Wall Street closed higher on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average scaled a fresh all-time high, led by sharp gains in financial stocks, while energy shares advanced after a US military operation resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.Asian markets opened marginally higher on Tuesday, extending the recent record-breaking rally in global equities, as investors chose to look beyond geopolitical risks and focused on improving risk appetite.In currency markets, the US dollar hovered near a two-week high in early Asian trade on Tuesday. The easing of immediate market anxiety following US military action in Venezuela, combined with dovish remarks from Federal Reserve officials, helped underpin risk-taking sentiment on Wall Street.On the domestic institutional front, foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of Indian equities worth Rs 36 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. Domestic institutional investors, in contrast, provided strong support to the market with net purchases of Rs 1764 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)

Australian opener Travis Head delivered a memorable performance on Day 3 of the fifth Ashes Test, producing a magnificent century at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Head brought up his hundred in emphatic style, completing the milestone in 105 balls with a crisp cover drive for four off Josh Tongue during the morning session.

The century marked Head’s 12th in Test cricket and his third of the ongoing Ashes series, further underlining his dominance against England’s bowling attack. Significantly, it was also his maiden Test hundred at the SCG, adding another special chapter to an already outstanding series for the left-hander.

Third Ashes ton takes Travis Head beyond 600-run mark

With this innings, Head crossed the 600-run mark in the current 2025-26 Ashes series, making it one of the most productive campaigns of his Test career. He earlier scored centuries in the first and third Tests, and his consistency across conditions has been a major factor in Australia’s strong position throughout the series.

Head’s ability to counter both pace and spin was once again on display as he rotated strike effectively and punished loose deliveries. His intent ensured England’s bowlers were kept under constant pressure, even as the pitch began to offer variable bounce.

Missed chance costs England dearly

England were given a brief opening when Head was on 121, but the opportunity slipped through their fingers. Will Jacks dropped a straightforward catch on the boundary off the bowling of Brydon Carse, allowing the Australian batter to continue his assault.

Travis Head looked to be a goner, but Will Jacks gave him a life with this drop on the boundary. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/iriHX0BzS7

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 6, 2026

The dropped catch proved costly, as Head capitalised on the reprieve by accelerating his scoring and further tilting the contest in Australia’s favour. His confidence grew as he began to manipulate the field and take calculated risks against England’s attack.

Head receives standing ovation from the Sydney crowd

Head’s innings eventually came to an end at 163, a knock that spanned 166 balls and was laced with authority. Attempting a sweep shot against Jacob Bethell, Head was struck on the pads and adjudged LBW.

As he walked back to the pavilion, the Sydney crowd rose to applaud a performance that combined aggression, resilience, and flair. The standing ovation reflected not just appreciation for the innings but also recognition of Head’s impact across the series.

Also READ: Ricky Ponting selects Australia’s 16-man squad for Ashes 2027; picks two uncapped players

Here are the reactions of fans:

600 runs for Travis Head in this Ashes series. 🌟

9 innings, 600 runs, 170 HS, 66.66 avg, 3 hundreds. pic.twitter.com/hTb994Rbb8

— Danish (@BhttDNSH100) January 6, 2026

🚨 600 RUNS FOR TRAVIS HEAD IN ASHES 2026 🚨#ashes25

⚡️123 runs in 1st Test.
⚡️170 runs in 3rd Test.
⚡️163 runs in 5th Test.

🔥ONE OF THE GREATEST ASHES PERFORMANCE EVER – TRAVIS HEAD🥶…!!! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mhm2Dvp5LM

— lokesh logu (@lokeshl33240061) January 6, 2026

– 123 runs in 1st Test✅
– 170 runs in 3rd Test✅
– 163 runs in 5th Test✅

WHAT A PLAYER – TRAVIS HEAD❤🔥#ashes25 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/D7GP5aXVnX

— usman (@Cricbyusman) January 6, 2026

FIRST PLAYER TO COMPLETE IN THIS ASHES 2025-26:

100 runs – Travis Head.
200 runs – Travis Head.
300 runs – Travis Head.
400 runs – Travis Head (Only).
500 runs – Travis Head (Only).
600 runs – Travis Head (Only).

– THE DOMINATION OF TRAVIS HEAD. 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/8740DWWZrK

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 6, 2026

Travis Head is the 4th player in the 21st century to score 600 runs in a single Ashes series. Smith (twice), Cook and Vaughan did it before him.

— Vijay Anaparthi (@VijayCricketFan) January 6, 2026

Travis Head’s epic 163 is the fastest Test 150 of all time at the SCG.

His final strike rate of 98.19 usurps the old record held by Clem Hill, who belted 190 off 200 rocks against South Africa all the way back in 1910! @FoxCricket #Ashes

— Will Faulkner (@WillFaulknerFOX) January 6, 2026

TRAVIS HEAD, WHAT A PLAYER. 👏

163 (166) with 24 fours & 1 six in 5th ashes test against England in SCG, beast Head.💀 pic.twitter.com/X4inNWj4I7

— Danish (@BhttDNSH100) January 6, 2026

Travis Head got standing ovation from SCG crowd after hitting 163 of 166 at strike rate of 98 in final game of the Ashes pic.twitter.com/EuvJtA4CIm

— Achyut Mishra (@achyutmis22) January 6, 2026

Magnificent Knock. Take a Bow Travis Head 163(166)
4s ➡️ 24
6s ➡️ 1
SR ➡️ 98.2#ashes25 #Ashes

— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) January 6, 2026

Most 150+ scores in Tests without ever scoring more than 175
7 – TRAVIS HEAD
6 – Dilip Vengsarkar
4 – Murali Vijay
3 – 7 players

#AUSvENG

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) January 6, 2026

Travis Head has his first Test century at the SCG and his third of the series!#Ashes | #PlayoftheDay | @nrmainsurance pic.twitter.com/U3jcL2cRde

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2026

Also WATCH: Michael Neser takes a breathtaking catch to end Joe Root’s brilliant knock of 160 | Ashes 2025-26, Sydney Test

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/heard-audio-clip-of-donald-trump-on-pm-narendra-modi-mallikarjun-kharge-swipe-at-pm-on-russian-oil-10378319” on this server.

Reference #18.2ef63717.1767677094.15e52f66

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.2ef63717.1767677094.15e52f66