On January 1, 2026, Pakistan’s premier batter Babar Azam reached a significant career milestone during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, drawing level with former England captain Jos Buttler in the T20 record books. Representing the Sydney Sixers against the Melbourne Renegades at Docklands Stadium, Babar anchored a successful chase with an unbeaten 58 off 46 deliveries.

Babar Azam matches Jos Buttler’s elite T20 record

Babar’s latest performance has officially placed him alongside Buttler as the joint third-highest fifty-run scorer in T20 history. While both players now share a tally of 97 career half-centuries, the efficiency with which Babar reached the mark is notable, having taken significantly fewer matches than his English counterpart to achieve the same result.

The former Pakistan captain achieved this milestone in his 333rd T20 match, which also includes 11 centuries, while Buttler reached the mark in 476 matches with eight centuries to his name. The record for the most half-centuries in the format remains with former Australian great David Warner, who has 113 fifties in 428 matches.

Top T20 Half-Centuries (as of January 2026):

• David Warner: 113
• Virat Kohli: 105
• Babar Azam / Jos Buttler: 97
• Alex Hales: 92

Also READ: BBL|15: Check out the full list of Pakistan and Bangladesh players playing in the Big Bash League

Babar’s BBL 15 journey: Finding form after a challenging start

Babar’s stint with the Sydney Sixers in BBL 15 has been a journey of adaptation and resilience, characterized by a slow start followed by high-impact match-winning performances. Entering his debut season in Australia, the 31-year-old initially struggled with the extra bounce and movement, recording scores of 2, 9 and 2 in his early outings.

However, he has since found his rhythm, registering two crucial half-centuries in his last three matches, a 58 in the Sydney derby against the Thunder and his most recent unbeaten 58 against the Renegades. Currently, he has accumulated 129 runs at an average of 32.25, providing the stability the Sixers need at the top of the order as they climb to fifth on the points table. His ability to anchor the innings allowed teammates like Joel Davies to play freely, ultimately ending the Sixers’ losing streak and providing a perfect start to the 2026 calendar year.

Also READ: BBL|15: Cricket Australia unveils full schedule for Big Bash League 2025-26

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh has recorded remarkable growth in its agricultural sector, driven by government initiatives aimed at increasing productivity, supporting farmers, and promoting diversified farming. These efforts have led to historic outcomes, with higher crop yields, increased incomes for farmers, and a growing contribution to national production.Uttar Pradesh continues to be a leader in staple crop production. In 2024–25, wheat production reached 414.39 lakh metric tons, making the state the largest wheat producer in India, contributing 35.3% to the national total. Rice production also grew significantly, with 219.2 lakh metric tons, ranking Uttar Pradesh second in the country and contributing 14.7% to national rice production.Over the past eight years (2016–17 to 2024–25), wheat and rice productivity saw unprecedented growth. Wheat productivity grew by 42.8%, up from an average of 8.7% during 2001–02 to 2016–17. Similarly, rice productivity increased by 47.7%, compared to only 14.8% in the previous period. The state’s share in national wheat production rose from 12.5% to 30.5%, and rice production from 14.7% to 35.3%, reflecting the impact of progressive agricultural policies.

Oilseeds and pulses

In 2024–25, Uttar Pradesh produced 2.92 lakh metric tons of oilseeds, contributing 6.9% to India’s total production, up from 3.3% in 2016–17. Total pulses production reached 3.56 lakh metric tons, increasing the state’s share from 0.6% in 2016–17 to 1.4% in 2024–25.The government’s timely crop diversification efforts and supportive schemes have been credited for these gains, ensuring higher productivity and income for farmers.

Sugarcane, industrial crops growth

Sugarcane production in the state reached 2,455.3 lakh metric tons in 2024–25, making Uttar Pradesh the leading sugarcane-producing state with a 54.5% share of national production. This growth has also boosted sugar and ethanol production. Since 2017, sugarcane farmers have received fair prices, raising their income by about 7.2 times.Among industrial crops, potato production reached 244.65 lakh metric tons, contributing 40.7% to national output. Banana production increased to 7.17 lakh metric tons, making the state the top banana producer. Other vegetables totaled 42.34 lakh metric tons, and total spice production reached 3.7 lakh metric tons. Flower and aromatic plant production also saw remarkable growth, with the state contributing 20.9% to national output, up from 7.4% in 2016–17.

Livestock, dairy and fisheries development

Uttar Pradesh has strengthened livestock conservation and productivity through improved breeding facilities, medical services, and vaccination campaigns. Total milk production reached 414 lakh metric tons, accounting for 20% of national output. Under the “Rashtriya Gokul Mission,” artificial insemination has expanded to 80% of villages, improving cattle breeds and increasing milk yield from 4.9 kg per day in 2017–18 to 5.32 kg per day in 2024–25.Inland fish production is projected to reach 13.30 lakh metric tons by 2024–25, making Uttar Pradesh a leader in fish production. Egg production and other livestock-based activities have also seen steady growth, contributing significantly to farmers’ incomes.

Farmer welfare

The state government has implemented a wide range of initiatives to improve farmer livelihoods:

Additionally, schemes like Mukhyamantri Sahbhagita Yojana and Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana have supported cattle adoption and milk production, while Farmer Credit Cards and fisheries promotion schemes have strengthened farmer access to credit and income diversification.

Specialised agriculture and horticulture have also seen major investments:

As a result of these comprehensive measures, Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural growth rate increased from 8.6% in 2016–17 to 17.7% in 2024–25. The state now produces 400 lakh tonnes of fruits and vegetables annually, with farmers benefiting from higher yields, better prices, and diversified sources of income.The government’s efforts in irrigation, technology, livestock management, and specialized agriculture have positioned Uttar Pradesh as a model state for agricultural development, ensuring sustainable growth and improved livelihoods for farmers.

Siddhartha Bhaiya (Photo credit- LinkedIn account)

Siddhartha Bhaiya, founder and managing director of Aequitas Investment Advisors and one of Dalal Street’s most closely followed stock pickers, passed away on December 31, 2025, following a sudden cardiac arrest while on a family vacation in New Zealand. He was 47, ET reported.“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our Managing Director, Mr. Siddhartha Bhaiya, on 31 December 2025, following a sudden cardiac arrest,” Aequitas said in a statement.Bhaiya founded Aequitas in 2012 after leaving Nippon India Mutual Fund, where he had worked for nearly seven years as a fund manager. Over the next decade, he built the firm into a Rs 7,700-crore PMS and AIF platform, known for identifying smallcap and midcap companies at an early stage of their growth cycle.His flagship India Opportunities PMS Fund delivered a compounded annual growth rate of nearly 33% over 13 years, generating absolute returns of about 3,700%, making it one of the top-performing portfolio management strategies on Dalal Street, according to ET data.A chartered accountant by training, Bhaiya was widely regarded as a contrarian investor who combined value discipline with growth investing. He was known for avoiding crowded trades and for holding high levels of cash when market valuations appeared stretched. In 2025, his PMS was reported to be holding close to 80% cash for much of the year.“If anything, holding 80% cash is the easiest thing to do at this point of time. Given the valuations that the Indian smallcap is currently quoting at and the frenzy across investors about Indian capital markets, I don’t see any logic in being invested,” Bhaiya had told PMSBazaar in an interview cited by ET.In the last one to two years, he had become increasingly cautious on Indian equities, citing elevated valuations. At a public event last month, he described the prevailing market environment as a “bubble of epic proportions” rather than a sustainable bull phase.Reflecting this view, Aequitas had begun diversifying part of its portfolio into gold ETFs and overseas investments, reducing its dependence on Indian equities.“Siddhartha was the driving force behind Aequitas. He was not only a visionary investor, but also a builder of institutions — deeply committed to intellectual honesty, disciplined decision-making, and long-term thinking,” the firm said, adding that it remains aligned with his investment philosophy and long-term objectives.

Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, appears to be beating Facebok founder Mark Zuckerberg in the one area where Meta has focused its most aggressive resources: salaries to its employees – making company researchers and engineers some of the richest employees in Silicon Valley. Citing financial data that the company has shown to its investors, a report by The Wall Street Journal, OpenAI is paying its employees an average of $1.5 million each in stock-based compensation – which is more than any tech startup in the recent history. OpenAI is said to have a workforce of roughly 4,000.The report said that this compensation is more than seven times higher than the stock-based pay Google disclosed in 2003, a year before the company filed for an initial public offering. Moreover, the $1.5 million is about 34 times the average employee compensation of 18 other large tech companies in the year before they went public, as per to a Wall Street Journal analysis of major tech IPOs over the last 25 years. Notably, the compensation figures have been adjusted into 2025 dollars to account for inflation.In fact, Facebook’s figure was roughly 6% before it went public in 2012, according to data compiled by the Journal.

Mark Zuckerberg ‘poached’ employees for multi-million-dollar packages

In 2025, as the need for AI talent soared, Zuckerberg reportedly paid nine-figure, and sometimes billion-dollar (Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Mira Murati’s Al startup Thinking Machines Lab), packages to lure top-tier researchers. Meta even hired around 20 employees from OpenAI, which has reportedly issued one-time bonuses worth millions.It is to be noted that OpenAI recently told employees it would scrap a policy requiring them to stay at the company for at least six months before equity begins vesting, which means the employees can get access to their awards quickly.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt believes AI’s rapid advancement, already handling 10-20% of programming tasks, signals the end of traditional coding careers. He sees AI’s true economic power in automating corporate functions like billing and accounting, not just coding. Schmidt also predicts Artificial General Intelligence by 2029, urging human oversight to preserve agency.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt declared his own programming expertise obsolete after watching an AI system autonomously generate an entire software program, calling it a “profound” moment that signals the end of traditional coding careers. “Holy crap. The end of me,” Schmidt said during a forum at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum earlier this month. “I’ve been doing programming for 55 years. To see something start and end in front of your own life is really profound.”The tech veteran underlined the rapid development of AI from being a useful assistant to a possible replacement for qualified programmers. Schmidt revealed that at leading AI research facilities, like OpenAI and Anthropic, the AI system is already performing about 10 to 20 percent of the work in programming, adding that the said percentage will further increase at a very rapid rate.

AI’s real impact extends beyond replacing programmers, says ex-Google CEO

Even with that striking demonstration, Schmidt said that AI is underhyped rather than overhyped. In discussion with Professor Graham Allison, he emphasized that this is where AI’s real economic potential-exists: in automatically performing corporate operations, not just in coding.The real transformation is happening inside companies, where AI systems are taking over billing, accounting, product design, delivery, and inventory management, Schmidt explained. These routine processes consume billions in corporate spending, and automating them could fundamentally reshape business operations.“If anything, it’s under-hyped because you are fundamentally automating businesses,” he said. “There’s an awful lot there—it’s extraordinary.”

Eric Schmidt says artificial general intelligence may arrive by 2029

Schmidt predicted artificial general intelligence (AGI)—systems matching the smartest mathematicians, physicists, and artists—will arrive within three to five years. This timeline is driven by what he calls “recursive self-improvement,” where AI learns independently without human instruction.“The computers are now doing self-improvement. They’re learning how to plan, and they don’t have to listen to us anymore,” he warned at another recent event.However, Schmidt emphasized the need for human oversight as AI approaches these capabilities. “Somebody’s going to have to raise their hand and say, ‘We just went too far,'” he cautioned. “I think there’s no higher duty than to preserve human agency and human freedom.”The former Google executive suggested Wall Street is underestimating the magnitude of AI’s impact on business automation and scientific discovery, pointing to medicine, climate solutions, and engineering as sectors where automation could accelerate breakthroughs.

The rupee slipped again below the psychologically important 90 level and settled 22 paise lower at 90.20 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, weighed down by disappointing domestic macroeconomic data and a stronger greenback in overseas markets, PTI reported.At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 89.95 and moved between an intra-day low of 90.25 and a high of 89.92 before closing at 90.20, down from its previous close of 89.98. On Thursday, the local unit had already weakened by 10 paise.Forex traders said persistent foreign fund outflows and strong dollar demand from importers continued to pressure the currency. However, softer crude oil prices and a sharp rally in domestic equities helped limit the extent of losses, while possible intervention by the Reserve Bank of India at lower levels offered some support.“Indian rupee fell on Friday, breaching the 90-mark once again amid disappointing macroeconomic data and a positive US dollar index… FII outflows too weighed on the rupee. However, weak crude oil prices and a surge in the domestic equities cushioned the downside. RBI reportedly sold dollars via state-owned banks, which also prevented the pace of fall,” said Anuj Choudhary, Research Analyst, Commodities, Mirae Asset Sharekhan.On the macroeconomic front, India’s manufacturing sector showed its weakest improvement in two years in December, driven by slower growth in new orders. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 55 in December from 56.6 in November, though it remained above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction.Meanwhile, the dollar index, which tracks the US currency against a basket of six major currencies, was trading 0.07 per cent higher at 98.38. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, declined 0.58 per cent to $60.52 per barrel in futures trade.Domestic equity markets ended sharply higher, with the Sensex jumping 573.41 points to close at 85,762.01 and the Nifty rising 182 points to 26,328.55. Foreign institutional investors, however, sold equities worth Rs 3,268.60 crore on Thursday, according to exchange data.

What was meant to be a celebratory end to 2025 took a troubling turn for singer–composer duo Sachet–Parampara after their New Year’s Eve performance in Balurghat, West Bengal. As Sachet Tandon and Parampara Thakur attempted to leave the venue, a large crowd surrounded their vehicle, leading to a chaotic situation that culminated in the car’s rear windshield being smashed.

Inside the car as panic sets in

A video that later surfaced on social media offers a glimpse into the tense moments that followed. Shot from inside the vehicle, the clip shows fans pressing dangerously close as the duo sits inside. Sachet is initially seen acknowledging the crowd with a wave, but the atmosphere quickly shifts when loud banging is heard on the car.

Startled by the sudden noise, Sachet reacts in shock, while Parampara repeatedly appeals for calm, asking those outside to step back. Within seconds, the rear windshield shatters, leaving the duo visibly shaken as security personnel struggle to regain control of the situation.

No official comment, but New Year wishes shared

Despite the disturbing visuals, Sachet and Parampara have not issued a direct statement addressing the incident. Instead, the duo shared a New Year message on social media, posting a video from the concert and thanking fans for their support.“Happy New Year to all our dear people who stood by us! May 2026 be extraordinarily good and healthy for all of you. Mahadev Sabki Raksha Karein,” they wrote, accompanied by religious hashtags.

Incident comes amid ongoing Bekhayali dispute

The unsettling episode arrives at a time when the duo is already in the spotlight due to an ongoing dispute with composer Amaal Mallik over Bekhayali, the hit song from Kabir Singh. Sachet–Parampara recently released a video accusing Amaal of making misleading claims about the song’s origins, saying the allegations affected their mental peace and professional credibility.According to the duo, Bekhayali was composed entirely during creative sessions with the Kabir Singh team, including director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and actor Shahid Kapoor. They also claimed Amaal suggested that his earlier composition may have been shared with them without his knowledge.Calling for accountability, Sachet–Parampara demanded a public apology, stating that the claims had damaged their reputation.

Amaal Mallik denies allegations

Amaal Mallik later responded by denying any attempt to take credit for the song. He maintained that he has never claimed ownership of work created by other composers and questioned why the issue was made public instead of being addressed through legal means.

In the electrifying 20th match of BBL|15 at The Gabba in Brisbane on January 2, 2026, Melbourne Stars posted a formidable 195/6 against Brisbane Heat, who won the toss and opted to field under the floodlights. ​ Stars’ aggressive batting set a challenging target of 9.75 runs per over, fuelled by explosive starts and late fireworks, leaving Heat with a steep chase ahead. ​

Jim Pierson takes an unbelievable catch to remove Glenn Maxwell in BBL|15

Jimmy Peirson produced one of BBL|15’s early highlight-reel moments in the 12.1 over, diving full-length to his right to pouch a glove off Glenn Maxwell, bowled by Matthew Kuhnemann. ​ Maxwell, shaping for the predictable reverse sweep on a tossed-up delivery around middle and leg, nicked it onto his pad, looping the ball tantalizingly close yet deceptively tough—Peirson tracked it masterfully before lunging to snag the screamer, dismissing the Stars’ danger man for just 1 off 2 balls at 113/4.

This massive breakthrough stifled Stars’ momentum after a blistering powerplay, with Kuhnemann’s economical spell proving pivotal, and social media erupting in awe over Peirson’s “freakish” athleticism. ​ Peirson, the experienced Heat gloveman, celebrated wildly as Maxwell trudged off, shifting win probability firmly toward Brisbane at a crucial juncture. ​

Here’s the video:

What a take that is 😳

Glenn Maxwell is out after Jimmy Peirson took this spectacular catch at The Gabba! #BBL15 #GoldenMoment @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/tx5XRcXKBV

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 2, 2026

Also READ: Fans erupt as Mitchell Marsh lights up BBL|15 with thunderous century against Hobart Hurricanes

Brisbane Heat face the heat as Melbourne Stars put up a massive total

Melbourne Stars came out flying, racing to 47 without loss in the powerplay as Sam Harper went on the attack from ball one. Harper smashed a quickfire 37 from just 23 deliveries, finding the fence five times and clearing it once, while Thomas Rogers played the supporting role with 13 from 12 balls. The Stars brought up their fifty inside five overs, underlining their intent early on. Harper’s charge ended on 52 for one when he was caught by Jack Wildermuth off Thomas Balkin, and soon after Rogers was bowled by Matthew Renshaw at 56 for two.

Marcus Stoinis then took charge, combining with Campbell Kellaway to steady the innings and rebuild momentum. Stoinis made a fluent 43 from 35 balls, while Kellaway chipped in with a rapid 29 off just 14, striking six boundaries. Their partnership lifted the Stars past 100 by the end of the 11th over, reaching 109 for three shortly after.

The innings briefly lost shape after Maxwell’s departure, with Stoinis dismissed at 134 for five and Tom Curran following soon after. However, Hilton Cartwright and Blake Macdonald ensured a strong finish, adding an unbeaten 58 in the final overs. Macdonald’s explosive 37 off 12 balls powered a late surge, as the Stars piled on runs despite an over-rate penalty. Brisbane Heat bowlers rotated well but were kept under pressure throughout, leaving them a steep chase of 196 under the Gabba lights.

Also WATCH: Hassan Khan plucks a screamer to dismiss Moises Henriques in BBL|15

Representative image (Picture credit: AP)

Iran on Friday issued a sharp warning against any US intervention, vowing a response after President Donald Trump said Washington would come to the aid of protesters in the Islamic republic.“Any intervening hand-nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X. “Iran’s security is a red line,” he added. Shamkhani also referred to past US actions in the region, saying Iranians were familiar with the experience of being “rescued” by Americans, citing conflicts from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza.The warning came amid rising tensions as protests over economic hardship spread across parts of the country.Trump had earlier warned Tehran against using violence against demonstrators. In a post on Truth Social, he said that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States would “come to their rescue,” adding that Washington was “locked and loaded”. His remarks followed days of demonstrations sparked by worsening economic conditions and the sharp fall of Iran’s currency.The exchange of threats comes as protests enter their sixth day, with unrest reported in several provinces. Demonstrations have been driven largely by economic grievances, including soaring prices and the collapse of the rial, though chants against Iran’s ruling system have also been heard, according to news agency AP. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence linked to the protests.Iranian officials have accused external forces of fuelling the unrest. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, alleged on X that the US and Israel were stoking the demonstrations, warning that American intervention would lead to “chaos in the entire region”.“With statements from the Israeli officials and @realDonaldTrump, what was happening behind the scenes has become clear. We distinguish between the stance of the protesting traders and the actions of the saboteurs, and Trump must realise that United States intervention in this internal matter will lead to destabilising the entire region and destroying American interests”, Larijani wrote.“The American people must know that Trump is the one who started this misadventure, and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers”, he added.The protests mark the most significant unrest since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations.