India is unlikely to be affected by the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, in terms of material economy or energy, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) assured in a note. Though it was once a major buyer of Venezuelan crude, the think tank highlighted that New Delhi has been reducing shipments from the South American nation in recent years. In the 2000s and 2010s, Indian firms such as ONGC Videsh held stakes in Venezuela’s Orinoco belt, importing significant volumes of crude. But since 2019, US sanctions have forced the country to scale back imports and commercial activity, curbing trade to avoid secondary sanctions.

Now, trade between the two nations is relatively small and steadily coming down. In 2024-2025, India brought in just $364.5 million worth of goods from Venezuela, from which, crude oil amounted for 255.3 million. This marked a drastic, 81.3%, drop from the $1.4 billion in 2023-2024. Exports, meanwhile, stood at $95.3 million, led by pharmaceuticals goods valued at $41.4 million. “Given the low trade volumes, existing sanctions constraints, and the large geographical distance, the current developments in Venezuela are not expected to have any meaningful impact on India’s economy or energy security,” GTRI said. Looking beyond the immediate situation, GTRI said that global competition for raw materials and energy is likely to intensify in the coming years. It urged India to proceed with caution, protect its strategic autonomy, and secure access to critical resources and energy without succumbing to geopolitical pressure.The think tank’s approach comes after US forces carried out a large scale military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro, along with this wife. The duo was taken to US to face charges including allegations of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. Venezuela’s oil reserves were at the heart of the US operation. The country holds around 18% of the world’s proven oil reserves, more than Saudi Arabia, Russia, or the United States and even more than the US and Russia combined. “The United States has signed trade deals with partners such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom, getting commitments from them to buy US petroleum products and LNG, without having sufficient crude oil or refining capacity,” the GTRI note said. “Against this backdrop, Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven petroleum reserves, represents a critical source of upstream crude for the USA. Free access to Venezuelan oil was thus a central motivation for the US.”

Private sector lender Bandhan Bank on Sunday reported a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in its loans and advances, totalling Rs 1,45,227 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025.The bank had reported loans and advances worth Rs 1,32,019 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.According to the provisional business update submitted to the stock exchanges, the bank’s total deposits rose by 11.1 per cent to Rs 156,723 crore during the quarter under review, compared to Rs 141,002 crore as of December 31, 2024.On a sequential basis, however, total deposits saw a marginal decline of 0.9 per cent from Rs 1,58,075 crore in September 2025 quarter.The bank’s retail franchise continued to show strength, with retail deposits (including CASA) increasing by 17.2 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,13,420 crore. Retail term deposits witnessed a sharp surge of 35.8 per cent, reaching Rs 70,690 crore as against Rs 52,063 crore in the year-ago period.Consequently, the share of retail deposits in the total deposit bucket improved to 72.37 per cent from 68.65 per cent a year ago.However, the lender’s low-cost CASA (Current Account Savings Account) deposits declined by 4.5 per cent to Rs 42,730 crore, down from Rs 44,735 crore in the December 2024 quarter. This led to a contraction in the CASA ratio to 27.26 per cent, compared to 31.73 per cent in the same period last year and 27.97 per cent in the preceding September quarter.Bulk deposits also saw a decrease of 2.0 per cent year-on-year, standing at Rs 43,303 crore. The ratio of bulk to total term deposits stood at 37.99 per cent as of December 31, 2025, showing a significant reduction from 45.92 per cent in the corresponding period last year.On the operational front, Bandhan Bank reported an improvement in its pan-bank collection efficiency. The overall collection efficiency (excluding NPAs) stood at 98.1 per cent for the month of December 2025, up from 97.8 per cent in September 2025.The Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB) segment saw its collection efficiency rise to 98.0 per cent in December from 97.5 per cent in September. Non-EEB segments maintained a steady efficiency of 98.3 per cent.The bank’s liquidity position remained comfortable with the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) standing at approximately 149.14 per cent as of December 31.

Deepa Mehta is one of the most celebrated screenwriter-directors in the industry. From giving cinema the trilogy of elements, ‘Fire,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Water,’ she entertained the audience with ‘Bollywood Hollywood.’ The movie recently completed 11 years, and to celebrate the milestone, Deep Mehta, in an exclusive conversation, shares some interesting insights. She told us, “I wrote it in two months only.” She added, “I wanted to write and film something that would make me laugh. This seemed like just the medicine I needed.”

Deepa Mehta on the cast of ‘Bollywood Hollywood’

The film had an ensemble cast, and talking about them, Deepa said, “Rahul Khanna and Lisa Ray were perfect for the roles of NRIs. I also cast Moushumi Chatterjee, who had a prominent role in ‘Water’ as Rahul Khanna’s mother.” She continued, “One of my favourite actors, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, who was in both ‘Fire’ and 1947 ‘Earth,’ played Lisa Ray’s father.”

Deepa Mehta unveils it was never a story on Bollywood per se

Further speaking about the plot, she mentioned, “The film is about the ironies that rule the lives of NRIs, as we’re known. Though Indians abroad are physically distanced from their homeland, they remain emotionally attached to their country, hence the title ‘Bollywood/Hollywood.’ The greatest irony, of course, is that Indian cinema has become increasingly Westernised in tone and appearance.”She further emphasised that the movie was not about Bollywood per se and added, “It’s about the dreams and emotions of ordinary NRIs, with lots of beautiful songs composed by Sandeep Chowta.” “This one stands away from my other films. It is light and fun. I am normally known as a serious filmmaker,” she concluded.

Avenue Supermarts Ltd, which owns and operates retail chain D-Mart, has reported a 13.15 per cent rise in its standalone revenue from operations to Rs 17,612.62 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025.The company had registered Rs 15,565.23 crore revenue from operations a year ago, Avenue Supermarts informed BSE in a regulatory filing on Friday.“Standalone Revenue from operations for the quarter ended (QE) December 31, 2025, stood at Rs 17,612.62 crores,” said the filing on company update at the end of the quarter.The total number of stores of the Damani-family promoted retail chain stood at 442 as of December 31, 2025. This also includes its Sanpada in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, which is currently closed for customers due to reconstruction.On a quarter-on-quarter basis, D-Mart’s revenue rose 8.6 per cent. It was Rs 16,218.79 in the September quarter (Q2 FY26).“Standalone Revenue from operations for QE December 31, 2025…is subject to limited review by the statutory auditors of the company,” it said.The board of the company is scheduled on January 10, 2026, to consider and approve the unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and nine months ended December 31, 2025 Promoted by Radhakishan Damani and his family, DMart retails basic home and personal products across markets, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, NCR, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Rajasthan.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a detailed notice outlining strict instructions for the conduct of Practical Examinations/ projects/ internal assessments for Classes 10 and 12 for the 2025-26 academic session.The notice applies to all CBSE-affiliated schools and is a continuation of the Board’s earlier circular on practical examinations. As per the notice, practical exams will begin from January 1 and end on January 14, 2026.

What schools must ensure before practical exams

CBSE has directed schools to make all arrangements well in advance to avoid last-minute issues. Schools must ensure that:

Infrastructure, labs and examiners

Schools are required to ensure that:

Note: CBSE has clearly stated that only Board-appointed external examiners are allowed. Any practical exam conducted using an unauthorised examiner will be treated as null and void.

Special arrangements for Children with special needs

The Board has instructed schools to make suitable arrangements for Children With Special Needs (CWSN) so that they can participate in practical examinations, projects and internal assessments comfortably.

Attendance, marks and daily uploading

According to the notice:

CBSE has warned schools to be extremely careful while uploading marks. If marks are incorrectly uploaded, the result may not be rectified later.

Strict rules on marks awarding

The Board has laid down clear rules regarding evaluation:

Practical answer books for the 2026 examination will include an undertaking stating that the maximum marks awarded have been checked and given after following all instructions.

No exemptions for sports participation

CBSE has clarified that students participating in sports at national or international level will not be exempted from appearing in practical, project or internal assessments. No separate practical exams will be conducted for them.

Practical exam window and monitoring

The Board has fixed the practical examination window from January 1 to February 14, 2026.

Revised remuneration for examiners

CBSE has also announced that it has enhanced remuneration rates for functionaries involved in practical examinations, effective from the 2025-26 session. The revised rates are provided in the official appendix of the circular.

Final reminder from CBSE

CBSE has cautioned that if schools fail to follow Board directions, it reserves the right to cancel practical examinations conducted at the school.The Board has urged schools to maintain academic integrity and ensure a fair, smooth and transparent practical examination process for all students.Schools and students are advised to read the complete notice here to avoid any issues during the practical examination process.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday offered a first glimpse of the upcoming Vande Bharat sleeper train, describing it as a new-generation service designed to significantly improve comfort on overnight journeys. The minister, while reviewing the new train, said that focus was towards upgrading amenities to make long-distance rail travel smoother and more passenger-friendly.

He highlighted several upgrades in the sleeper version of the Vande Bharat train, including an enhanced suspension system across the coaches and the driver’s cabin.

The train is equipped with new semi-automatic couplers to minimise jerks while travelling, CCTV cameras, redesigned seats, and modern washrooms aimed at reducing water wastage.

A new pantry layout has also been introduced, while berths have been provided for staff on duty.

Minister Vaishnaw said the broader focus of these improvements is to position the railways as a reliable and comfortable mode of transport for middle- and low-income families, especially on long-distance routes.The showcase comes ahead of the launch of the first Vande Bharat sleeper train, which will be taking place later this month. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service in the second half of January 2026. The Vande Bharat sleeper is a fully air-conditioned train set developed by Indian Railways specifically for long-distance and overnight journeys.According to the minister, two Vande Bharat sleeper train sets are already ready and have completed successful trial runs. These trains are designed to operate on routes spanning 1,200 to 1,500 kilometres. The first service will run between Guwahati and Kolkata, with the route covering Howrah and Kamakhya.Each Vande Bharat sleeper train will have 16 coaches, comprising 11 AC three-tier coaches, four AC two-tier coaches and one AC first-class coach. The total passenger capacity of the train is 823. Vaishnaw said that eight more Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be rolled out over the next six months, taking the total number to 12 by the end of the year.Indian Railways said that the new service will benefit several districts along the route. In Assam, Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon will be covered, while in West Bengal the train will serve Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly and Howrah.Fares for the Vande Bharat sleeper train will start at Rs 2,300 for a one-way journey between Guwahati and Kolkata. The AC three-tier fare has been fixed at Rs 2,300, AC two-tier at Rs 3,000 and AC first class at Rs 3,600.Furthermore, advancements have also been made on the route for first bullet train in India, which is expected to be launched by 15 August, 2027.

Mustafizur Rahman (Image credit: BCB)

NEW DELHI: In addition to seeking a shift of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup league matches from India to Sri Lanka over “concerns about players’ safety” following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL on BCCI instructions, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also been asked to suspend the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh.Government adviser Asif Nazrul said he has requested the adviser to Bangladesh’s Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to ensure that the IPL broadcast in the country is halted.

“I have requested the adviser for Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh is also suspended.“Under no circumstances will we tolerate any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers, or Bangladesh itself. The days of servitude are over,” he said.There is a sense of disbelief within BCB circles over how the situation escalated, particularly after India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral in Dhaka.“The BCB announced the schedule for India’s tour of Bangladesh because there was a sense of positivity but now we need to get an official confirmation from the Indian board as to why Mustafizur’s contract was cancelled,” a BCB source told PTI on condition of anonymity.“Till now BCCI hasn’t communicated anything to BCB officially. Only after official communication will BCB decide further course of action,” the source added.The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released the Bangladesh left-arm pacer — bought for Rs 9.20 crore after a bidding war at last month’s auction in Abu Dhabi — in line with the BCCI’s diktat.BCB president and former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul refrained from making any public comment after an emergency board meeting convened in the wake of the development.However, Asif Nazrul reiterated that he has instructed the board to approach the Jay Shah-led ICC to shift Bangladesh’s four league matches — three scheduled in Kolkata and one in Mumbai — to Sri Lanka.“As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC,” Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page.“The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup.“I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead,” he further wrote.Bangladesh’s four league fixtures are against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) in Kolkata, followed by their final group match against Nepal (February 17) in Mumbai.A BCCI source, however, insisted that such a shift is virtually impossible with just a month remaining before the tournament.“You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets, hotels are booked.“Also on all days there are three games each which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done,” the source said.India’s arch-rival Pakistan is already playing its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an understanding reached months ago.Meanwhile, Indo-Bangladesh relations have deteriorated sharply following the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year after anti-government protests.She was later sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation in which several students were killed.While the BCCI did not explicitly cite the prevailing political situation as the reason for seeking Rahman’s release, it indicated that the decision was triggered by recent developments.Hindus have been targeted in violent attacks since Hasina’s ouster.

Mustafizur Rahman (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been directed by the country’s sports ministry to seek a shift of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup league matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing “concerns about players’ safety” following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL on BCCI instructions.The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released the Bangladesh left-arm pacer — bought for Rs 9.20 crore after a bidding war at last month’s auction in Abu Dhabi — in line with the BCCI’s diktat.

BCB president and former Bangladesh skipper Aminul Islam Bulbul refrained from making any public comment after an emergency board meeting held in the wake of the development.However, government adviser Asif Nazrul said he has instructed the board to approach the Jay Shah-led ICC to shift Bangladesh’s four league matches — three scheduled in Kolkata and one in Mumbai — to Sri Lanka.“As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC,” Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page.“The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup.“I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead,” he further wrote.Bangladesh’s four league fixtures are against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) in Kolkata, followed by their final group match against Nepal (February 17) in Mumbai.A BCCI source, however, maintained that such a shift is virtually impossible with just a month remaining before the tournament.“You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets, hotels are booked.“Also on all days there are three games each which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done,” the source said.India’s arch-rival Pakistan are already playing their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka as part of an understanding reached months ago.Meanwhile, Indo-Bangladesh relations have deteriorated sharply following the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year after anti-government protests.She was later sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation in which several students were killed.While the BCCI did not explicitly cite the prevailing political situation as the reason for seeking Rahman’s release, it indicated that the decision was triggered by recent developments.Hindus have been targeted in violent attacks since Hasina’s ouster.

Caribbean air travel erupted into chaos over the weekend after US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, prompting sweeping airspace restrictions across the region. According to FlightRadar24, no commercial aircraft were flying over Venezuelan airspace on Saturday. The US Federal Aviation Administration also imposed restrictions that forced major airlines to cancel hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean, disrupting travel during an already busy holiday period. Airlines warned passengers that delays and cancellations could continue for several days.US transportation secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA acted in the interest of passenger safety. In a post on social media, he said “the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the SAFETY of the flying public.”“When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted,” he added on the social platform X. “Please work with your airlines directly if your flight has been impacted.”

Flights disrupted across key Caribbean destinations

Services were cancelled or suspended to and from several major destinations, including:

Airlines said they were waiving change fees for travellers forced to alter their plans. Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport, located just 15 miles (24 kilometres) off Venezuela’s coast and popular with US holidaymakers, saw widespread cancellations on Saturday, according to airport authorities, normal operations were expected to resume on Sunday. The disruption extended beyond aviation. In Barbados, PM Mia Mottley said that the situation had affected both air and sea entry points. Speaking at a news conference, she said “the consequences of the conflict have been exceedingly disruptive to both of our ports of entry,” referring to the country’s airport and its cruise ship terminal.

How are airlines dealing — Modifications, rescheduling & more

Earlier, the FAA said it had imposed a temporary airspace restriction affecting Puerto Rico’s main international airport and surrounding areas. A statement posted on X by Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan said the move was due to the “security situation related to military activity” in Venezuela.Most commercial flights operated by US airlines to and from the airport were suspended or cancelled as a result, although foreign airlines and military aircraft were exempt from the restriction. JetBlue: About 215 flights were cancelled “due to airspace closures across the Caribbean related to military activity.” However, services to destinations further west, including the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, were unaffected. Customers were offered rebooking options or refunds. United Airlines: Modifying its schedule to account for the closures and allowing passengers to change travel plans without fees as it continued to monitor the situation in coordination with US aviation authorities. Southwest Airlines: Cancelled all flights to Aruba on Saturday and suspended services to Puerto Rico until further notice, while flights to the Dominican Republic continued. American Airlines: Waiving change fees for flights to and from around 20 island destinations, including Anguilla, Antigua, Curacao, Saint Lucia, and the US and British Virgin Islands. Delta Air Lines: Issued a travel waiver for customers travelling through 13 affected airports until Tuesday. Dutch carrier KLM: Cancelled flights affecting thousands of passengers but planned to resume services on Sunday to Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire and other Caribbean destinations.

‘Really painful on the wallet’

For many travellers, the impact was immediate. Lou Levine and his family were due to return to the Washington, DC, area from Puerto Rico on Saturday morning when they discovered their JetBlue flight had been cancelled. Attempts to rebook by phone failed, and the family later turned to social media for help.Eventually, JetBlue rebooked them on a flight departing the following Saturday, extending what was meant to be a week-long New Year holiday into a two-week stay.Levine said that his employer had been accommodating, but the disruption has come at a cost as his daughter will now miss a week of high school, and the family will have to undergo additional expenses.“I love it here. But we have dog-sitting and cat-sitting and car rental. It’s fine. It’s just really painful on the wallet,” Levine said.The family hopes to secure an earlier return if flights resume sooner.

Peak travel season

The cancellations came shortly after the peak holiday travel period, during which, according to AAA, nearly 122.4 million Americans travelled at least 50 miles from home. However, many travellers were still in the Caribbean, attempting to return ahead of work and school commitments.“The Caribbean is a top destination this time of the year,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz. “We do have a lot of people who are trying to get back home this weekend ahead of work and school on Monday.”Diaz urged travellers to stay informed and allow airlines to send updates, noting that while “it’s understandable we want to unplug,” monitoring developments remains important.