European Union vice-president, Kaja Kallas, arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, marking her first official visit to India. The visit comes amid intensified diplomatic engagement between India and the EU.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the official in a post on X, saying the visit builds on regular high-level engagements and comes at a timely moment to further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership.

“A warm welcome to EU HRVP @kajakallas on her first official visit to India as the EU High Representative/Vice-President. The visit comes at an opportune moment to further strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, building on the momentum of regular high-level engagements,” he said in a post on X.Ahead of her visit, Kallas, the bloc’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy addressed the European Parliament, where she outlined the European Union’s plans to deepen cooperation with India. She announced that the EU had agreed to proceed with the signing of a new Security and Defence Partnership, aimed at expanding collaboration across several strategic areas.“Europe is ready to deliver on a powerful new agenda with India. Today, the EU agreed to move forward with the signature of a new Security and Defence Partnership. It will expand our cooperation in areas such as maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber defence. I look forward to signing it next week during the EU-India Summit in New Delhi,” Kallas said.India and the European Union are scheduled to hold the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi, where both sides are expected to adopt a new comprehensive strategic agenda to guide future cooperation.The diplomatic engagements coincide with progress in negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the two sides are nearing the final stages of the deal, describing it as one of significant scale.Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen highlighted Europe’s focus on expanding trade and strengthening international partnerships. Referring to the proposed agreement with India, she said, “There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals. One that would create a market of 2 billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP.”Von der Leyen confirmed that she will travel to India next weekend to advance work related to the proposed trade agreement. She said the visit would focus on strengthening economic ties and deepening cooperation between Europe and India, while reiterating that Europe remains open to engaging with partners across the world.European Council president Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will undertake a three-day State Visit to India from January 25 to 27. During the visit, they will serve as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.The two leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27. Their schedule includes meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, as well as restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The participation of EU leaders in the Republic Day celebrations and the upcoming summit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership and advance cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest.President Costa and President von der Leyen are visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their visit comes as negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement reach an advanced stage, with the deal expected to be concluded around the time of their visit.

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday launched a sharp attack on the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, calling for the overthrow of “foreign-serving puppet regime” to restore democracy and constitutional rule in the country.In an audio message played at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia in New Delhi, Hasina accused the Yunus-led administration of pushing Bangladesh into an era of terror, lawlessness and democratic exile.

She urged the people of Bangladesh to unite against what she termed a “foreign-serving puppet regime” and appealed for the revival of democratic institutions.“In this grave hour, the entire nation must rise united and galvanized by the spirit of our great Liberation War. To overthrow the foreign-serving puppet regime of this national enemy at any cost, the brave sons and daughters of Bangladesh must defend and restore the Constitution written in the blood of martyrs, reclaim our independence, safeguard our sovereignty, and revive our democracy,” Hasina said. Setting the tone of her address, Hasina painted a grim picture of present-day Bangladesh, linking the political turmoil to her removal from office following mass protests nearly a year and a half ago.“Bangladesh stands today at the edge of an abyss, a nation battered and bleeding, navigating one of the most perilous chapters in its history,” she said, invoking the legacy of the Liberation War and her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “The entire country has become a vast prison, an execution ground, a valley of death.”Hasina alleged that since August 5, 2024, when she was forced out, democracy had effectively been driven into exile. Directly targeting the interim chief adviser, she said, “Everywhere one hears only the cries of people struggling to survive amid destruction. A desperate plea for life. Heart-rending screams for relief. The murderous fascist Yunus, a usurer, a money launderer, a plunderer, and a corrupt, power-hungry traitor, has bled our nation dry with his all-consuming paradigms, staining the soul of our motherland.” “On August 5, 2024, in a meticulously engineered conspiracy, the national enemy, the murderous fascist Yunus, and his anti-state militant accomplices forcibly ousted me, though I am the people’s representative directly elected. From that day forward, the nation has been plunged into an age of terror, merciless, relentless, and suffocating. Democracy is now in exile,” ousted PM added.

Hasina lists 5 demands

Hasina said her Awami League was putting forward a five-point demand aimed at national reconciliation and democratic revival. These include the removal of “illegal Yunus administration,” an end to violence on the streets, guarantees for the safety of religious minorities, women and vulnerable groups, a halt to politically motivated legal investigation against journalists and opposition leaders and an impartial United Nations probe into events over the past year.“The Awami League calls for the following actions to help unify Bangladesh and banish the divisive actions of the past twelve months. We urge Muhammad Yunus to stop ignoring his own people and do what needs to be done in order to heal our country by following five crucial steps we believe will lead to a better and stronger Bangladesh,” she said.

Hasina was removed from power in August 2024 amid widespread protests, after which an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge. Bangladesh is also scheduled to conduct polls in February this year. While the Yunus administration has pledged to hold free and fair elections, its decision to ban the Awami League has drawn criticism and raised concerns about political inclusivity. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have historically dominated the country’s politics.

On January 23, Pakistan announced their T20I squad for the Australia series, a 16-member group that serves as the final testing ground before the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. This high-stakes series, set to begin on January 29 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, marks a pivotal moment for a team looking to stabilize its identity under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha. With the World Cup opener against the Netherlands just weeks away, the selectors have made bold calls that emphasize a shift toward fresh talent while welcoming back veteran pillars who are under immense pressure to perform.

PAK vs AUS, T20I series: The return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi under scrutiny

The selection committee has placed its faith in the senior duo with return of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, both of whom missed the recent assignment in Sri Lanka. Their comeback is laced with urgency; Babar returns after a statistically disappointing stint in the Big Bash League, where his strike rate of 103.06 became a major talking point among critics. Similarly, Shaheen is back to lead the pace attack after a knee ligament injury cut his BBL campaign short, raising questions about his match fitness for the grueling World Cup schedule. For both players, the three matches in Lahore represent a critical final audition to silence doubters and solidify their roles within a tactical system that now prioritizes aggressive, high-intent cricket over traditional anchors.

PAK vs AUS, T20I series: Surprise omissions of two experienced campaigners

The most striking aspect of the squad is the continued exclusion of Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf, signaling a potential change in the guard. Despite Haris dominating the Big Bash League as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 20 scalps, selectors have reportedly looked past him due to his expensive death-over performances in previous international outings. Rizwan’s omission is equally significant, as it clears the path for Khawaja Nafay to take over the gloves as the primary wicketkeeper-batter following his impressive debut. This decision reflects a desire to move toward a more dynamic middle order, leaving the future of two of Pakistan’s most consistent T20 performers in recent years hanging in the balance as the World Cup roster is finalized.

Also READ: Harbhajan Singh picks a young star who can hit 1,000 sixes in T20I cricket

PAK vs AUS, T20I series: Final preparations and the spin strategy

Pakistan announced their T20I squad with a heavy emphasis on spin, naming a four-pronged attack consisting of Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and the uncapped Usman Tariq. This selection clearly anticipates the turning tracks of Chennai and Colombo, where Pakistan will play their major World Cup fixtures. With Australia scheduled to arrive in Lahore on January 28, the series offers captain Salman Ali a final chance to fine-tune his bowling rotations and settle on a permanent opening pair. As the only team among the favorites to delay their final 15-member World Cup announcement, Pakistan are using this Australian challenge to identify which of their 16 players can handle the pressure of a global tournament starting February 7.

Pakistan T20I squad for the three-match series against Australia

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

Also READ: ‘Bangladesh doesn’t want to play in India’: BCB chief slams ICC for ‘double standards’ over T20 World Cup venue controversy

Capital markets regulator Sebi has cleared initial public offering plans of 12 companies, according to a regulatory update released on Friday.These firms are Hella Infra Market, the parent company of construction-tech platform Infra.Market, Purple Style Labs, Jay Jagdamba Ltd, UKB Electronics, CMR Green Technologies, Transline Technologies, Medicap Healthcare, Oswal Cables, BVG India, Sai Parenteral’s, Commtel Networks and Sify Infinit Spaces. All 12 firms had submitted their draft IPO papers to Sebi between June and October. The regulator issued its observations between January 19 and January 23, which, in regulatory terms, amounts to approval to proceed with a public issue. Hella Infra Market, the parent company of Infra.Market and backed by Tiger Global, had proposed an IPO in the range of Rs 4,500 crore to Rs 5,500 crore and filed its papers through Sebi’s confidential pre-filing route in October last year, market sources told PTI. The issue is planned as a mix of fresh equity issuance and an offer for sale by existing shareholders. Sify Infinit Spaces Ltd, a subsidiary of Sify Technologies, has planned a public issue combining a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 2,500 crore with an offer for sale valued at Rs 1,200 crore. Purple Style Labs, which operates luxury fashion platform Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, aims to raise Rs 660 crore through an IPO that will consist entirely of a fresh equity issue. Transline Technologies, which provides video surveillance and biometric solutions, has proposed a public issue structured solely as an offer for sale of 1.62 crore equity shares by promoters and a shareholder. UKB Electronics, an electronic manufacturing services company based in Noida, has planned an IPO comprising a fresh issue of shares of up to Rs 400 crore, along with an offer for sale of shares worth another Rs 400 crore. Non-ferrous metal recycler CMR Green Technologies Ltd has proposed its IPO as a complete offer for sale of 4.28 crore equity shares, as stated in its draft red herring prospectus. Oswal Cables has proposed to raise Rs 300 crore through a fresh issue of equity shares, alongside an offer for sale of up to 2.22 crore equity shares. The company said the funds from the fresh issue will be used for setting up a new project, repaying debt and meeting general corporate requirements. Facility management services provider BVG India has lined up an IPO comprising a fresh issue worth Rs 300 crore and an offer for sale of up to 2.85 crore equity shares by existing shareholders. Commtel Networks has planned a Rs 900-crore public issue, which includes a fresh issue of Rs 150 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 750 crore. The company said the fresh issue proceeds will be primarily used to repay debt.

MELBOURNE: Extreme heat triggered a suspension of play on outside courts at the Australian Open on Saturday and briefly held up the match involving champion Jannik Sinner before his encounter resumed under a closed roof. Players, spectators and officials roasted on day seven at Melbourne Park, where temperatures were forecast to hit 40C in the late afternoon.The tournament has a Heat Stress Scale of 1-5, with five the highest.

It hit five in the early afternoon, when it was about 36C, prompting the suspension.The third-round clash between Sinner and the American Eliot Spizzirri at Rod Laver Arena stopped for about 10 minutes, allowing time for the roof to shut.“Play is suspended for all matches and practice on outside courts,” the tournament said on X.Roofs on the courts that have them “will close and remain closed for the remainder of the match”.Earlier, women’s defending champion Madison Keys revelled in the scorching temperatures to set up a last-16 showdown with fellow American Jessica Pegula.Matches started an hour earlier than usual because of the heatwave, and Keys had no intention of hanging about.She dismissed former world number one Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena in a statement victory that took just 75 minutes.After admitting to being nervous and timid in embarking on her title defence, this was more like the Keys that stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the final a year ago.The 30-year-old Keys said that being based in Florida meant she was well used to baking temperatures.“I am feeling really good and I was excited for the heat today, and ready for it,” she said.The ninth seed faces good friend and compatriot Pegula for a place in the quarter-finals.The sixth-seeded Pegula powered past unseeded Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in 66 minutes.“Nice to be first out on court and not a super long match and didn’t need to kill myself in the heat today,” she said.Another title contender, Amanda Anisimova, made light work of fellow American Peyton Stearns in winning 6-1, 6-4.Anisimova has emerged as a major force in the past year, reaching the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.Multiple major winners Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka also both feature on day seven at Melbourne Park.– Djokovic history bid –Serbian great Novak Djokovic faces 75th-ranked Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp for a place in the last 16.The 38-year-old former world number one Djokovic is in the evening prime time slot on Rod Laver Arena.Djokovic has looked in imperious form in his two matches so far, yet to drop a set and striking a confident tone.Djokovic, who has been scaling back the number of matches he plays to wring the most out of his ageing body, said: “It’s all been positive so far, positive signs.”Last up on centre court is two-time Melbourne Park champion Osaka, who wowed the crowds earlier this week when she emerged for her opening match in a jellyfish-themed outfit.On court she has not been so dazzling and faces home hope Maddison Inglis, a qualifier.The winner goes up against either six-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek or 31st-seeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya.Swiatek is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors, with Australia the only one missing from her CV.Other top seeds in action include number five Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who clashes with Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic.The winner goes up against either American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or the Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.The 40-year-old Wawrinka must try and rouse himself on his Australian Open farewell after a gruelling five-set win in round two.

Iran has issued a stark warning that it will treat any attack “as an all-out war against us,” amid the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets in the Middle East in the coming days.“This military buildup we hope it is not intended for real confrontation – but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran,” a senior Iranian official said on condition of anonymity, as cited by the Times of Israel.“This time we will treat any attack limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it, as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this.”The warning comes as tensions remain high following US-backed Israeli strikes in June aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of a “massive fleet” toward Iran, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that Washington is watching Tehran closely. “We’re watching Iran,” Trump said. “I’d rather not see anything happen but we’re watching them very closely.”

US increases military presence in Middle East

The Pentagon has been sending US military assets into the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying destroyers, which left the South China Sea earlier this week. The carrier strike group, currently in the Indian Ocean, will join other US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf and Bahrain, bringing roughly 5,700 additional service members to the region.

Central Command has also deployed F-15E Strike Eagles, while the UK Ministry of Defence sent Typhoon jets to Qatar “in a defensive capacity.” Analysts have noted dozens of US military cargo planes heading toward the region, mirroring last year’s rapid deployments following attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.Trump indicated that the US fleet is “just in case,” leaving open the possibility of military action if Iran escalates, despite recently pulling back from threats over Tehran’s crackdown on protests. “Last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites would look like peanuts if they proceed with planned executions of some protesters,” he warned.

Over 5,000 deaths reported

The warnings come amid a domestic crisis in Iran, where nationwide protests erupted in late December over economic hardship and political repression. Activists estimate the crackdown has killed at least 5,032 people and detained more than 27,600, far higher than the official toll of 3,117, which includes security forces, civilians, and “US-backed rioters.”

Iranian military officials have framed the unrest as linked to foreign intervention. Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned the US and Israel to avoid “miscalculations” and said Iran’s forces “have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief.” General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi added that if the US attacks, “all US interests, bases and centres of influence” would be “legitimate targets.”Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of exploiting the protests as “cowardly revenge… for the defeat in the 12-Day War,” while the Revolutionary Guards maintained their readiness for “the hardest response possible.”

The precious metals refining industry is looking to the government to resolve customs duty imbalances that leave domestic refiners at a competitive disadvantage compared with bullion imports routed through free trade agreements, MMTC-PAMP Managing Director and CEO Samit Guha said on Friday.
Guha noted that the issue extends beyond MMTC-PAMP and affects the entire refining ecosystem, pointing to a clear disparity in duties, particularly under the SEPA route, between dore imported for refining and finished bullion brought into the country. According to him, this difference in duty structures materially weakens the position of local refiners, even though policymakers appear to be conscious of the problem.

He added that free trade agreements concluded after SEPA have kept bullion outside their scope, and the industry is hopeful that upcoming FTAs will adopt a similar framework by excluding gold and silver from concessional duty regimes.

Guha said that strengthening India’s position as a global refining hub and expanding the pool of London Bullion Market Association-accredited refiners would require policy support in the form of input-linked incentives through duty differentials, either under FTAs or by widening the existing gap. “We would request the government to see what they can do in terms of either input-related benefits, in terms of duty differentials…which will really encourage local refiners to invest in the refinery and get ROIs and up their refining capacity and capability to a global level,” he said.

He also said MMTC-PAMP is willing to assist the government or relevant ministries with technical inputs, drawing on its experience of operating an LBMA-accredited refinery.

At present, customs duty on dore is 6 per cent for both gold and silver, with refiners receiving a differential of 0.65 per cent, resulting in an effective duty of 5.35 per cent. As a refiner, MMTC-PAMP mainly imports gold in dore form, with gold and silver imports traditionally split in a 1:1 ratio. In 2024-25, the company imported about 40 tonnes of gold and 50 tonnes of silver.

Between April and December of the current financial year, MMTC-PAMP brought in 36 tonnes of gold and 60 tonnes of silver, reflecting particularly strong demand for silver, Guha said.

US President Donald Trump has reacted cautiously but positively to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that he could use frozen Russian assets to pay for entry into Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”.Also read: Who is in Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday, Trump said he was open to the idea if the funds were Putin’s own.

Asked whether he would allow Putin to use frozen Russian assets for the contribution, Trump said, “I don’t know about that. I mean, I’ve heard that.” After the reporter clarified that the comment came from Putin himself, Trump responded, “Very interesting. But he said he’s going to use his money. His money. I think that’s fine.”Also read: Trump withdraws invite to PM Carney after ‘Canada doesn’t live because of US’ remarkTrump added that Putin had indicated he would contribute $1 billion to join the Board of Peace. “He’s going to join the Board of Peace and he’s going to make a contribution of a billion dollars by using his money. I mean, if he’s using his money, that’s great. I think it’s important to have everybody,” Trump said.

Putin signals use of frozen assets

Earlier, Putin suggested that Russia could contribute $1 billion from Russian assets currently frozen in the United States to Trump’s Board of Peace. He also said frozen funds could later be used to rebuild Ukrainian regions after a peace treaty is signed. Putin said the proposal had been discussed with Washington and would be taken up during talks with Trump’s envoys in Moscow.Also read: Ahead of Russia-Ukraine-US talks, Kremlin lays down ‘very important condition’ — what is it

About Trump’s Board of Peace

Trump signed the charter of the Board of Peace at Davos on Thursday, with permanent membership likely requiring a $1 billion contribution. The body was initially tasked to oversee peace efforts linked to Gaza but is not limited to the region, raising concerns that it could function as a parallel forum to the United Nations. Around 35 world leaders have confirmed participation so far, with strong backing from several Middle Eastern countries, while key US allies such as France and the United Kingdom have expressed doubts and opted to stay away for now.