MUMBAI: The next Mumbai mayor will be elected through a vote by corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) House, with the candidate securing the highest number of votes declared mayor. The election is expected to be held on January 28, 2026, during a special meeting convened by the municipal administration, civic sources said. The Mayor will be elected through voting by corporators in the house. “Whoever gets the maximum number of votes is declared the Mayor and deputy Mayor,” said an official.While it is not mandatory for the party with the highest number of corporators to secure the Mayor’s post, past trends show that the party with a clear majority usually managed to claim the prestigious position. The last Mayor was Kishori Pednekar of the Shiv Sena, who won the election this time as well. According to sources, the Urban Development Department will hold a lottery next week to decide the reservation category of the mayor’s post—such as general, women or reserved classes. The mayoral election will be held some days after the lottery, placing the election firmly towards the last week of January. How Mumbai mayor is elected The process begins with the Urban Development Department conducting a lottery to decide the reservation of the mayor’s post. Once the category is announced, eligible corporators file their nominations. The election is then held at a special meeting of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). All elected corporators vote, and the candidate who secures a simple majority—more than half of the House strength—is elected mayor. If no party has a clear majority, alliances and post-poll negotiations become decisive. Given the present political equations in Mumbai, sources said the possibility of shifting loyalties or realignments during the mayoral race cannot be ruled out. Nominated corporators may influence outcome This will be the first mayoral election with 10 nominated corporators in the 227-member elected House, following a March 2023 amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act that doubled the cap from five. With the BJP emerging as the single largest party, it is expected to secure the maximum share of nominated corporators, which could play a crucial role in the mayoral vote. The remaining nominations are likely to be shared among alliance partners and opposition parties. While the party with the highest number of corporators is not automatically entitled to the mayor’s post, past trends show that numerical strength or alliance backing usually determines the outcome.

Aiden Markram of Durban’s Super Giants celebrates his century during match 27 of the SA20 season 4 between Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals. (SA20)

Aiden Markram blazed the second SA20 century of his career to keep Durban’s Super Giants’ season alive.The Proteas T20 captain showed he is the man for the big occasion, flexing his biceps by smashing 108 off 58 balls (12×4, 5×6) with DSG’s season on the line. The Super Giants’ 189/7 proved too much for Paarl Royals, with the home team cruising to a bonus-point 58-run victory.

Defeat for the Super Giants would have seen Lance Klusener’s team eliminated. Instead, they will now watch Joburg Super Kings’ match later this afternoon against Pretoria Capitals with bated breath, as a JSK win will bring an end to DSG’s playoff chances.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!But for now, they will celebrate an audacious Markram innings. The skipper has taken time to settle into his new surroundings at Kingsmead after moving from Sunrisers Eastern Cape, but here he delivered a batting exhibition of the highest calibre.The match was evenly poised when DSG were 53/3 after 7.2 overs, with all three of their big overseas signings, Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler and Kane Williamson, back in the hut.It was therefore left to Markram and Heinrich Klaasen to resurrect the innings with an 81-run partnership off just 48 balls. Klaasen (29 off 21 balls) does not often play second fiddle, but he could only look on in awe as Markram unleashed a power-hitting display of the highest order.Standing tall in the crease, Markram bludgeoned the ball straight down the ground for a flurry of boundaries. He made Royals rue dropping him in the deep on 79 off the bowling of Ottneil Baartman.Markram’s takedown of Royals’ ace all-rounder Sikandar Raza was particularly telling. Raza (0/57) has been one of the standout performers of SA20 Season 4, but on Saturday afternoon at Kingsmead, he met his match.Markram plundered 28 runs, including three sixes and two boundaries, in Raza’s penultimate over of the innings. In the process, he brought up his second T20 century to the great appreciation of the Kingsmead crowd.Even Hardus Viljoen’s excellent career-best figures of 4/21 could not halt DSG’s momentum.Super Giants carried the momentum into their bowling effort as the Royals wilted in Durban’s intense heat and humidity.Royals failed to contend with the high-quality spin of Super Giants duo Sunil Narine (2/18) and Simon Harmer (1/13). The spin twins combined to deliver eight superb overs, conceding just 31 runs and picking up three wickets.The result was inevitable from the moment Royals slumped to 68/8, with the Super Giants eventually restricting the visitors to 131/9 to earn the home side a lifeline, with their fate to be decided later this afternoon at the Wanderers.Brief Scores Durban’s Super Giants: 189 for 7 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 108; Hardus Viljoen 4/21) Paarl Royals: 131 for 9 in 20 overs (Bjorn Fortuin 35 not out; Sunil Narine 2/18, Geralnd Coetzee 2/31)

Anti-ICE crowd chase off pro-ICE demonstrators from Minneapolis streets (AP photo)

A January 6 rioter pardoned by US President Donald Trump led a small pro-ICE rally in Minneapolis on Saturday, but was quickly swamped by a much larger counter-protest against Trump’s immigration crackdown and the surge of federal agents in the city.Jake Lang, one of around 1,600 people granted clemency by Trump on his first day back in office gathered with his supporters outside the federal courthouse, but was soon surrounded by counter protesters shouting slogans and holding anti-ICE signs. As tensions rose, Lang was chased from the area. Earlier, Lang’s group played the song Ice Ice Baby and made anti-immigrant remarks, claiming immigrants were “replacing” white Americans. Lang had promoted the event online as a “Crusader march” and used the term “Little Somalia” for the area, referring to Minneapolis’ large Somali population. He had also said he planned to burn a Quran during the protest.A local group, the People’s Action Coalition Against Trump, had called for a counter protest, and dozens of people turned up. Videos from the scene showed crowds surrounding Lang and forcing him away from the courthouse.After the rally, Lang claimed on social media that he had been attacked and stabbed. He later said he had been taken to hospital and accused city authorities of failing to protect him. Lang urged Trump to send in the National Guard and shared a fundraising link for his medical bills.“I just got stabbed by a crazie white commie leftist rioter today in Minnesota,” Lang wrote on X. In another post he said, “I was just literally lynched by an anti-white mob of liberals & illegal immigrants- I’m at the hospital now getting staples in my skull..Nearly ripped limb from limb in Minneapolis!!!!” The protests came amid rising anger in Minneapolis over a surge of federal immigration agents in the city. Earlier this month, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman. The shooting sparked protests across the country.Local and state leaders have openly criticised the federal presence. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey told ICE to leave the city, while Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration, arguing that the deployment of agents is unconstitutional. The White House has rejected the criticism and accused Democrats of encouraging violence against law enforcement. Trump has warned he could invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops against protesters, though he later appeared to soften his comments.

Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Saturday decided to shift all its 29 newly elected Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators to a luxury hotel in Mumbai, in a highly unusual instance of “resort politics” being deployed in a civic body election. The move came despite the Sena and its ally, the BJP, securing a clear majority by winning 118 of the 227 seats in the BMC, ending the Thackeray family’s over two-decade-long hold on the country’s richest civic body.Also Read: Did soft Hindutva hit Uddhav hard? Behind the setback of ‘Thackeray brand’ in BMCSo, what led to this decision?Shiv Sena (UBT) stirs the potEarlier in the day, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, whose Shiv Sena (UBT) came second with 65 seats despite being severely weakened by the June 2022 split in the then undivided Shiv Sena, made a veiled remark, saying his party could still have its mayor in the BMC, “God willing.”Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray alleges coercion, kidnapping in BMC polls; thanks voters for backing Shiv Shakti alliance“It’s my dream to install a Shiv Sena (UBT) mayor in Mumbai, and if ‘Dev’ (God) is willing, this dream will be realised,” PTI quoted Thackeray, interacting with party workers.If Uddhav kept cards close to his chest, his second-in-command, Sanjay Raut, was more direct. Raut pointed out that the party still has significant numbers in the Mumbai civic body and, together with other parties, could “topple” the victors.“We can topple them from the chair anytime, but we respect democracy,” the Rajya Sabha member remarked.What numbers sayGiven the number game, such a move cannot be ruled out. Together, the non-BJP/Shiv Sena parties have 109 corporators, just five short of the majority mark. With the BJP firmly established as the largest party, and given Maharashtra’s long history of politicians switching sides frequently—something Shinde himself has benefited from—the deputy chief minister finds himself vulnerable.His vulnerability also stems from another factor.Shinde’s ‘mayoral’ headacheThe Shiv Sena’s split led to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray government, after which Shinde joined hands with the BJP, which elevated him to the post of chief minister. The elevation came at Fadnavis’ expense, who was made deputy chief minister despite having earlier served as chief minister and despite publicly announcing that he would stay out of the government.Also Read: After BMC polls setback: Congress leader demands Mumbai unit chief’s resignation; gets party notice The roles were reversed after the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls, with Shinde also losing out on the coveted home portfolio, which stayed with Fadnavis, who had also held it as deputy CM.Now, Shinde faces the real possibility of the Shiv Sena being denied the Mumbai mayor’s post as well—one the BJP, too, would be reluctant to cede. A few disgruntled Sena corporators, including aspirants to the mayor’s post, and at least some from the flock could attempt a “ghar wapsi.”Officially, the party maintains that the corporators are being shifted to allow them to “refresh” themselves after a “hectic election season.”On his part, Fadnavis took a lighter view of the situation: “I am also called ‘Deva’… God above has decided that there will be a Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena alliance) mayor.”With the stakes high, the coming days would reveal whether Shinde ultimately has his way. Or else, internal dissent cannot be ruled out.

European leaders have pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, warning that using trade penalties in connection with Greenland is “wrong” and could damage transatlantic ties.Trump, on Saturday, announced a 10% tariff on all goods entering the United States from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, effective February 1.After the threat, leaders across Europe have emphasised that Greenland’s future cannot be controlled through economic pressure and insisted that security cooperation in the Arctic must not be turned into a trade dispute. British PM Keir Starmer took to X, saying that the status of Greenland was not open to outside interference and criticised the use of tariffs against Nato partners. “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes. We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.” He further added, “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.” French President Emmanuel Macron said that France’s foreign policy is based on defending sovereignty and independence and warned that Europe would not yield to threats. “France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere … Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner should they be confirmed. We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld. It is in this spirit that I will engage with our European partners.” Sweden’s PM Ulf Kristersson also criticised the tariffs, saying that Stockholm would not accept getting “blackmailed” and called for a joint European response. “We will not let ourselves be blackmailed. Only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.”He further added, “I will always stand up for my country, and for our allied neighbors. This is an EU issue that affects many more countries than those now being singled out. Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom for a coordinated response.” European Council President Antonio Costa said that Europe and the wider international community must defend territorial integrity and sovereignty, warning that tariffs could spark a dangerous escalation. “Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole. We have consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through Nato. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone.”Costa further highlighted the bloc’s support for Denmark and Greenland. “The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US. Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.“ Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Trump’s remarks were unexpected and insisted that the increased military presence in Greenland was aimed at stability, not confrontation. “The purpose of the increased military presence in Greenland, to which the president refers, is precisely to enhance security in the Arctic,” he said, adding that Denmark was coordinating closely with Brussels and other partners. “We are in close contact with the European Commission and our other partners on the matter,” Rasmussen added, following recent White House talks involving US and Greenlandic officials. In Germany, European Parliament member Manfred Weber warned that Trump’s stance could block progress on the EU–US trade deal agreed last year. “The EPP is in favour of the EU–US trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage,” Weber said. “The 0% tariffs on US products must be put on hold.”The EU and the US agreed to a preliminary trade deal in July under which most European exports would face a 15% US tax, but talks are still ongoing and the deal’s future is now uncertain amid rising political tensions.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to be played in India and Sri Lanka, discussions around ideal combinations have already begun. Australia, known for their aggressive brand of cricket and depth across departments, are expected to field a powerful and flexible XI suited to subcontinental conditions. Former India cricketer and analyst Aakash Chopra has weighed in with his preferred Australia playing XI, outlining a team built around power, all-round depth, and tactical balance.

Chopra’s selection reflects modern T20 thinking — long batting depth, multiple bowling options, and adaptability based on pitch conditions. His XI blends established stars with players who can influence games in short bursts, a crucial factor in World Cup cricket.

Aakash Chopra reveals his Australia playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Explosive top order

At the top of the order, Chopra backed Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head as openers. Marsh’s ability to muscle bowlers from ball one and Head’s fearless strokeplay make them a destructive pairing, capable of setting the tone inside the powerplay. Their experience in high-pressure tournaments further strengthens Australia’s starts.

Behind them, Josh Inglis slotted in at number three. Chopra valued Inglis for his versatility — he can anchor if early wickets fall or accelerate when the platform is set. His wicketkeeping skills also add balance to the XI without compromising batting depth.

Solid middle order ft. Cameron Green

The middle order revolves around all-round strength. Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis provide power, seam-bowling options, and flexibility depending on match situations. Chopra sees Green as a key player in Asian conditions due to his bounce, reach, and ability to clear the ropes even on slower pitches.

Following them is the ever-dangerous Glenn Maxwell, a player Chopra considers indispensable in T20 cricket. Maxwell’s unorthodox batting, combined with his off-spin, offers Australia a match-winner who can single-handedly change games in the middle overs.

Finishing duties are handed to Tim David, whose role is clear — maximise runs at the death. Chopra’s XI ensures that Australia bat deep, with genuine firepower extending well beyond the top six.

Also READ: Josh Hazlewood breaks silence on injury rehab ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Bowling balance and tactical flexibility

In the bowling department, Chopra opted for leadership and experience through Pat Cummins, who also captains the side in crunch moments. Cummins’ calm presence and ability to bowl at any stage of the innings make him a vital cog.

He pairs Cummins with Josh Hazlewood, whose accuracy and hard lengths can be extremely effective even on flatter surfaces. For additional variety, Chopra leaves room for either Nathan Ellis or Matthew Kuhnemann, depending on conditions. This choice highlights tactical adaptability — extra pace on quicker tracks or an additional spinner on turning wickets.

Spin responsibilities primarily rest with Adam Zampa, Australia’s premier T20 spinner. Chopra values Zampa’s wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, especially on Indian and Sri Lankan pitches where quality spin often decides matches.

While fitness and execution will ultimately determine Australia’s fate, Chopra’s chosen XI underlines why they remain one of the most dangerous teams heading into the tournament.

Aakash Chopra’s Australia XI for T20 World Cup 2026:

Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis/Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra picks replacement of Tilak Varma for the T20I series against New Zealand

INDORE: With their dominance in Tests on home soil now a thing of the past, India will hope for the ageless duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to fire in unison and complement the highly consistent KL Rahul as they strive to protect their proud ODI record at home against the resolute Kiwis in the series-deciding third ODI here on Sunday.While Kohli and KL Rahul’s sensational form is highly encouraging, the hosts would be worried by the poor returns of left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who appeared to be too slow in the air as he ended up conceding 1-82 in 10 overs.

Going by India’s intense threehour training session on Saturday, ace left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh could be back in the XI, probably at the expense of Prasidh Krishna. It will be interesting to see if India hand a debut to batting allrounder Ayush Badoni, a useful off-spinner, for the injured Washington Sundar, and leave out Nitish Kumar Reddy from the final XI.Reddy ended up bowling only two overs in the second ODI and was criticised for not making use of his chances by India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.

India last lost a bilateral ODI series at home in March 2023, when Australia reversed a 0-1 deficit to win 2-1.After winning their first Test series in India 3-0 in Nov 2024, New Zealand, who have travelled to these shores for bilateral ODIs since 1988, will be itching to do the same in ODIs.Considering that it’s an inexperienced Black Caps squad — eight players are touring India for the first time and they fielded two debutants in the first two matches — it’ll be a massive achievement.

Pacer Kristian Clarke, who took 3-56 in Rajkot, played his first ODI in Vadodara, while left-arm spinner Jaydon Lennox made a decent debut in Rajkot, taking 1/42 in 10 overs.With his massive appetite for scoring runs against India in India in ODIs, Daryl Mitchell has proven to be a major thorn in the flesh for the Men in Blue.Mitchell’s last four ODI scores versus India in India read: 130 (127), 134 (119), 84 (71), 131* (117).

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