NEW DELHI: A rally was organised in Kargil on Wednesday under the banner of the Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust to express solidarity with Iran and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, amid unrest and heightened international attention on developments in the country.The rally commenced from multiple locations across the town. One procession started from Zainabia Chowk, passing through Fatima Chowk and Isna Asharia Chowk, while another began from Jamia Masjid, proceeding via Lal Chowk and Khomeni Chowk. All processions converged at the Old Taxi Stand, Kargil, where the main gathering was held.

Visuals from the rally showed people gathering in large numbers, holding banners of Ayatollah Khamenei and chanting slogans.The rally comes amid continued unrest in Iran, which has drawn international attention. Iran has formally appealed to the United Nations Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, accusing the United States of inciting violence, interfering in its internal affairs, and threatening military action, according to an official letter circulated by Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN on Wednesday.Protests in Iran entered their 20th day on Wednesday. What began as demonstrations over record inflation and a sharp fall in the national currency has escalated into widespread unrest, with reports of agitation at more than 280 locations.Amid the rising tensions, Congress MP and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Shashi Tharoor described the situation as “very serious”, warning that developments could intensify in the coming days.Tharoor’s remarks followed an advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which asked Indians to “avoid travel to Iran” until further notice.Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said there was limited information emerging from Iran due to reported internet shutdowns.“It looks very serious. But we are not getting much information out of Iran; the internet has been cut. All we know is what we are getting in the media and their sources are also somewhat erratic. My understanding is that things are grim in Iran. 3000 protesters have apparently been killed,” Tharoor said.He added that the coming days would be crucial for the Khamenei regime.“It looks like we will be looking at some serious developments in the next few days. It is crucial that if the regime is going to survive, it will have to survive the next few days in very difficult circumstances,” he said.

Medical inflation is the most pressing concern at the moment.

By Srikanth KandikondaAs India prepares for the Union Budget 2026-27, stakeholders across sectors are sharpening their focus on measures that can strengthen economic resilience and citizen welfare in the coming year. In the healthcare and insurance space, expectations are anchored in a sustained commitment to making quality healthcare accessible and affordable for all. With rising medical inflation and evolving health risks, the budget presents a timely opportunity to bolster public health infrastructure and support insurance solutions that protect millions of Indian families.We recognize and applaud the proactive policy measures the government has already taken to support the health insurance sector and make coverage more affordable. A major development has been the passing of the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, which allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector. This year, the government has also taken steps to reduce the cost burden on policyholders by removing 18% GST earlier levied on insurance premiums. This initiative makes health and life insurance products more affordable for customers, especially for underserved communities. Medical Inflation: The primary challengeMedical inflation is the most pressing concern at the moment. As per industry reports, it is projected around 11.5-14% for 2025-2026, significantly outpacing general inflation, and among Asia’s highest. Customers unfortunately bear the brunt of it. With hospital bills, cutting-edge treatments, specialized medicines, and a heavier load of illnesses are all driving up out-of-pocket expenses, leaving too many without the care they need.Given this backdrop, we request the government to take steps in the Union Budget to increase public healthcare spending. Currently, public health expenditure in India remains below global benchmarks and even short of the National Health Policy target of 2.5% of GDP in 2025. Enhancing the budgetary outlay for public health would strengthen primary care networks, expand preventive services, and relieve financial stress on citizens. It would also support the expansion of community health infrastructure in underserved areas which are critical in bridging healthcare inequities.Prevention is the need of the hour While increased public spending is imperative, complementary policy measures can significantly accelerate the transition toward preventive healthcare, a proven strategy for reducing overall healthcare expenditure. Evidence from India and globally demonstrates that prevention fundamentally alters the economics of healthcare. For instance, primary prevention programs in cardiovascular disease management alone saved 3.6 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) annually at an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $469 per DALY averted when compared with the status quo of no coverage. The impact on hospitalization is equally significant. Individuals with Outpatient Department (OPD) coverage, demonstrate 5-10% reduction in hospitalizations compared to those without such coverage. In practical terms, this means preventing the need for expensive hospital visits and prolonged inpatient stays. To harness this prevention dividend and encourage wider adoption of OPD coverage, we recommend the government introduce separate and enhanced tax benefits specifically for OPD services and preventive health screenings in the Union Budget 2026-27. Currently, preventive health check-ups receive a modest tax deduction of ₹5,000 annually under Section 80D. This is a limit that does not reflect the true value of prevention in reducing long-term healthcare costs.According to a recent report by KPMG, by 2050, India is projected to account for 16% of the global population aged 60 and older. As per United Nations Population Fund, India’s elderly population is predicted to double by 2050 and overtake the number of children in the country. As people live longer, the risk of chronic illnesses also increases. This makes preventive healthcare even more critical. Regular health check-ups, early detection and timely care can help seniors stay healthier for longer and avoid serious medical complications later. Policy measures that support preventive healthcare are, therefore, the need of the hour. Looking forward, the Union Budget 2026-27 provides a strategic moment to reinforce a health-led growth framework that aligns with India’s long-term vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’. The combination of increased public investment, and pro-insurance reforms, and focus on preventive approach, can accelerate progress towards universal health protection and financial security for all Indians. As the budget announcement approaches, we look forward to constructive reforms that foster greater affordability, inclusivity, and resilience in India’s healthcare and insurance landscape.(Srikanth Kandikonda is Chief Financial Officer of ManipalCigna Health Insurance)

Shashi Tharoor joins the trend.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor surprised the internet in the most charming way possible by revealing his inner Swiftie. Showing that even veteran lawmakers with overflowing schedules have time for pop culture, Tharoor recently shared a playful Instagram reel dancing to Taylor Swift’s hit track ‘The Fate of Ophelia.’The video, filmed inside what appears to be his book-lined workroom, offers a rare glimpse of the politician’s lighter side. Gently grooving to the music, Tharoor seemed to be enjoying a brief escape from his packed routine. Sharing the reel on Instagram, Tharoor wrote, “When you have 35,000 unread emails, 5,000 unopened WhatsApp messages and 15 op-eds to write, but the social media girl decides it’s content time.”His caption, delivered in his trademark witty style, said, “Somewhere between bilateral meetings at the Speaker’s Conference and the tyranny of my inbox, even a parliamentarian can become a Swiftie. Do the Swifties agree?” he wrote, instantly striking a chord online.The comments section soon turned into a fan fest. Social media users were both amused and impressed, with many celebrating what they dubbed Tharoor’s “pookie side”. Swifties, in particular, delighted in the unlikely crossover, flooding the post with hearts, inside jokes and lyrical nods.One user commented, “Pookie Tharoor — that social media girl is a rockstar,” while another joked, “She deserves a raise for turning the pookie into a Swiftie.” A third quipped, “The only man in the country who can listen to her songs without opening a dictionary.” Another wrote, “Tharoor in his Swiftie era wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card.”The song featured in the reel ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ is the lead single from Swift’s 2025 album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’. The track has been a global sensation, topping charts worldwide and enjoying a record-breaking run on the Billboard Hot charts.

MUMBAI: BMC has altered its spending pattern over the last two financial years. For the first time in recent history, the country’s richest civic body allocated a much larger portion of its annual budget to capital expenditure, while keeping revenue expenditure below half of the total outlay. This marked an aggressive push towards infrastructure creation and large-scale projects, a trend that has coincided with a period when BMC has been functioning without elected representatives.The change in priorities reflects massive investments in big-ticket infrastructure projects such as Coastal Road, Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) and multiple sewage treatment plants (STPs). Each of these projects involves an outlay of over Rs 14,000 crore and is either currently under execution or has just been completed.

The 2024-25 financial year saw BMC record a historic capital expenditure of Rs 36,900 crore — the highest ever spent by it on infrastructure in a single year. This was nearly the entire Rs 37,332 crore earmarked for capital expenditure that year. Officials saidthe pace of spending has continued in the current financial year as well. In 2025-26, senior civic officials said nearly Rs 19,000 crore has already been spent on capital works. Explaining the sharp increase, an official noted that capital expenditure during 2020-21 and 2021-22 had remained relatively low due to Covid, when most major construction activities were stalled or slowed.“Over the last two years, several major infrastructure works have been taken up simultaneously,” the official said. These also include road concreting projects, water conveyance tunnels and over a dozen bridge projects suchas Gokhale, Hancock, Carnac, Delisle and Vidyavihar. “Since many of these projects were executed at the same time, capital expenditure has increased substantially,” the official said.While infrastructure spending has surged, BMC’s fixed deposits (FDs) have declined. The civic body’s FDs, which peaked at Rs 91,690 crore in 2022, have now reduced to around Rs 80,000 crore. One key reason for the earlier rise — from Rs 78,745 crore in 2020-21 to Rs 91,690 crore in 2021-22 — was substantial revenue generated through premiums collected from development works across the city.However, in Jan 2021, the state govt issued a resolution slashing construction premiums paid by builders by 50% after cabinet approval. A senior BMC official said part of the funds collected during this period was also diverted to other agencies.“Out of this amount, BMC had to share funds with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, for which around Rs 2,000 crore was sanctioned,” the official said. “In addition, Rs 3,800 crore was given to MMRDA following a letter from the urban development department asking the municipal commissioner to contribute to metro rail projects,” the official said. BMC has also extended nearly Rs 2,000 crore in financial support to the BEST undertaking in the past year.But concerns remain about everyday civic needs. Milind Mhaske, CEO of Praja Foundation, said, “While large projects are important, basic services must not be ignored.” Advocate Godfrey Pimenta echoed this view, pointing to poor footpaths, internal roads and lack of open maidans in many areas. Political voices have also questioned accountability. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh said the absence of corporators raised concerns about oversight. Civic officials maintained that all works are properly scrutinised and supervised through established administrative mechanisms.

Cricket in India is more than just a sport; it is an emotion that often transcends boundaries. Sometimes, quite literally. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, during the high-stakes 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, the cricketing world witnessed another instance where overwhelming fandom clashed with ground security protocols. While the match itself ended in disappointment for Team India, a mid-game incident involving a fan and Virat Kohli became the biggest talking point of the day, highlighting both the intense passion surrounding Indian cricket and the grace of its biggest superstar.

Fan breaches security to meet Virat Kohli in Rajkot ODI

The incident occurred during a crucial phase in the second innings. India had set a target of 286, and the Men in Blue were on the field, attempting to restrict the Kiwi batting lineup.

Suddenly, the attention of the capacity crowd and the television cameras shifted away from the pitch. A young male fan managed to evade the stadium security cordon, jump the advertising barricades, and make a dead sprint onto the outfield. His target was unambiguous: Kohli, who was fielding at the time. Before security personnel could react effectively, the fan had reached his idol.

Kohli’s class Act response after meeting his fan

In high-pressure sporting environments, unexpected pitch invasions can often lead to tense or aggressive reactions from players worried about their safety. However, Kohli’s handling of the situation was widely praised as a class act. As the breathless fan reached him and went in for an embrace, Kohli did not recoil or react with anger. Instead, he reciprocated with a brief side-hug, acknowledging the fan’s devotion.

The most significant moment, however, came seconds later. As ground security staff rushed in to apprehend the intruder and escort him off the field, Kohli was visibly seen gesturing to them. He signaled the guards to be gentle, asking them to remain calm and not manhandle the over-enthusiastic young man. It was a gesture of empathy that immediately went viral on social media, with fans applauding Kohli for his maturity and kindness even in the middle of a competitive match.

Here’s the video:

During the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI, a fan of Virat Kohli jumped the fence at the Rajkot Stadium to meet him.

The security personnels caught the fan and beat him badly. 😅😭 pic.twitter.com/QrdnJeHo7e

— Jara (@JARA_Memer) January 14, 2026

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli shatters Sachin Tendulkar’s historic record despite quiet outing during 2nd ODI in Rajkot

A tough day at the office for India

Notably, throughout his career, especially in home series, Kohli has frequently been the target of pitch invaders hoping to touch his feet or get a hug. The sheer magnitude of his stardom means that for many, the risk of legal repercussions is outweighed by the chance of a momentary interaction with their hero.

Meanwhile, the heartwarming interaction was perhaps the only highlight of the day for Indian fans. On the cricketing front, it was a forgettable outing for the hosts. Earlier in the day, Kohli himself had a brief stay at the crease, scoring 23 runs before being bowled by Kristian Clarke. India posted 285, which proved insufficient on a good batting track. New Zealand chased down the target comfortably, winning by 7 wickets and leveling the three-match series 1-1.

Also READ: Shubman Gill reveals reasons behind India’s defeat in the second ODI against New Zealand

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