For Chandrayaan-4, India May Head Back To Moon's "Gold Rush Zone"

India has opened the world's eyes to the Moon's south polar "gold rush region". Now Chandrayaan 4 - the first ambitious lunar sample return mission, likely around 2028 -- homes in on same region to land. From Shiv Shakti Point to Mons Mouton Mountain, the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO is now narrowing down potential landing zones near the Moon's tallest mountain.

India had drawn global attention to the Moon's south polar region nearly two decades ago. Now it could be the landing pad for its most ambitious lunar mission yet -- Chandrayaan 4 - which aims to bring pieces of the Moon back to Earth.

Scientists at ISRO say they have identified a promising cluster of potential landing sites close to Mons Mouton, the Moon's highest mountain and one of the most scientifically intriguing regions near the South Pole.

Using ultra sharp images from the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter, researchers have been quietly mapping hazards, slopes and sunlight conditions to zero in on terrain, which offers both safety and scientific payoff.

The move marks a significant moment in India's long and increasingly influential relationship with the lunar South Pole -- a region now seen globally as the Moon's most valuable real estate because of its ancient geology and the possibility of water ice locked in permanently shadowed craters.

India's Long South Pole Connection

India is the only country to have reached the lunar South Polar region three times. Chandrayaan 1's Moon Impact Probe struck close to the South Pole in 2008, sending back data that would soon change lunar science. Chandrayaan 2 followed in 2019 but crash landed during its final descent. In 2023, Chandrayaan 3 achieved a historic soft landing at Shiv Shakti Point, making India the first nation to land safely so close to the South Pole.

That continuity matters. It also underpins India's quiet but firm scientific claim to the region -- a claim rooted not in geopolitics but in discovery.

It was Chandrayaan 1 that, for the first time, detected clear signatures of water molecules on the Moon's surface. That single finding reshaped global lunar priorities. Since then, American, Chinese, Russian and private missions have all set their sights on the South Pole, hoping to tap water or ice that could one day support human habitats, fuel production and deep space missions.

In many ways, India opened the door to what is now widely described as the south polar gold rush.

Why Mons Mouton Matters

The focus on Mons Mouton is no coincidence. Rising dramatically above the surrounding terrain, the mountain sits in a region that balances competing demands: scientific richness, long periods of sunlight for solar power, and relatively gentle slopes for landing.

ISRO scientists have used high resolution stereo images, sharp enough to spot boulders barely a third of a metre across, to assess multiple candidate sites around the mountain. From these, a handful of kilometre scale zones have emerged as strong contenders, with one area standing out for having fewer hazards, smoother terrain and more consistently sunlit patches. The site being examined closely is called MM1located at about 86 degrees latitude which has the minimum hazards for a robotic soft landing.

For Chandrayaan 4, landing safety is not just about touching down. It is about taking off again.

A Mission Unlike Any India Has Flown Before

Chandrayaan 4 will be India's first mission to collect samples from the Moon and return them to Earth, a feat achieved so far by only a few countries. The spacecraft will land near the South Pole, scoop and drill lunar soil, seal the samples, and then launch an ascent module from the Moon's surface to rendezvous in lunar orbit.

The samples will eventually be brought home inside a re entry capsule, splashing down or landing on Indian soil for detailed laboratory analysis.

This leap builds directly on Chandrayaan 3, which proved that India could land precisely, operate robotic systems on the surface and even perform short "hops" with a lander. Chandrayaan 4 adds entirely new layers of complexity -- lunar lift off, docking in orbit, contamination free sample handling and a controlled return through Earth's atmosphere.

ISRO plans to launch the mission using two heavy lift Launch Vehicle Mark 3 or LVM3 rockets, assembling the spacecraft in Earth orbit before sending it onward to the Moon.

Why Samples Matter

Lunar samples tell stories that orbiters and surface instruments cannot. The Apollo and Soviet Luna missions returned material decades ago, but mostly from geologically similar regions. China's Chang'e 5 mission filled one important gap by bringing back younger volcanic material.

The South Pole represents something different: ancient, largely untouched lunar crust, potentially mixed with volatiles preserved for billions of years. Studying such samples could help scientists reconstruct how the Moon formed, how it cooled, and how water and other elements moved across its surface over time.

Once on Earth, the samples will be examined not just with today's instruments, but with technologies yet to be invented, ensuring their scientific value lasts for generations.

Setting Stage For The future

Chandrayaan 4 is expected to fly around 2028, and ISRO is already looking beyond it. Follow on missions, including Chandrayaan 5 in collaboration with Japan, are expected to deepen India's presence in the same south polar neighbourhood. 

The Indo-Japanese mission -- often called LUPEX -- will also target to land in the South Polar Region but hopefully closer to the South Pole itself and look directly for water ice.

Together, these missions will also serve a larger goal: preparing India for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit. The technologies being tested, autonomous docking, precision navigation, safe re entry, are essential stepping stones toward one day landing Indian astronauts, or Gaganyatris, on the Moon and bringing them back safely hopefully by 2040.

Nearly twenty years after Chandrayaan 1 changed how the world looks at the Moon, India is once again shaping the next phase of lunar exploration. This time, it is not just opening eyes, it is choosing where to dig.

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"Trade Negotiation A Two-Way Thing": Amul Chief Allays Farmers' Concerns

The India-US trade deal has sparked huge concern among the country's farmers, who feel that cheaper American products coming into the country will add to the challenges they face. The dairy sector, however, feels that those concerns might be misplaced. 

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Amul's Managing Director  Jayan Mehta said the agreement strongly protects the farmers and the agriculture sector and give them invaluable access to the US market. 

"Market access is a very important part and a trade negotiation is always a two-way thing," he told NDTV. 

"The negotiations were necessary to get larger market access and that was done with this deal. More importantly, the tariffs also coming down from 50 to 18 per cent, will bring in the Indian products, getting better access to those markets and paving a way for the brighter future for all those associated with this sector," he added. 

"One of the key important aspects of the dairy industry and the livestock sector is cattle feed," he said, citing the example of Amul which works with 36 lakh farmers across 18,600 villages of Gujarat and collect and handle about 350 lakh litres of milk every day. 

One of the things Amul needs, he said, is to provide good quality cattle feed, which has a "combination of variety of agricultural-based ingredients like de-oiled rice bran, which comes after the extraction of oil from the husk of the paddy, to maize, rapeseed extractions and molasses".

"At Amul, we have about 8 plants manufacturing close to 12,000 tonnes of cattle feed every day," he said, but even here, India is not importing items for which there is little use, he said, giving the example of DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles), a little of which is used in cattle feed.

India has also abundance availability of DDGS because we also started manufacturing ethanol from maize... but you cannot use more than 3 to 4% of DDGS in this.  So, there is no practical advantage of having that commodity coming into the country under the free trade agreement," he said.

"So, per se, there is nothing to worry for the cattle feed sector, for the dairy sector and for the farm sector... announced in the recent trade negotiation," he added.

The famer organisations of the country -- spearheaded by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and All India Kisan Sabha -- have announced a one-day strike on February 12.

In a statement, the SKM alleged that the deal was a "total surrender" of Indian agriculture and farmers to American multinational corporations. 

"The framework is an abject rejection of the claim of the Commerce Minister that the agriculture and dairy sectors are out of the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and the Government of India will not make any compromise on the interests of agriculture," read a statement from the farmers' groups.

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Video Shows 3 Men Catcalling Northeast Woman At Temple, Internet Fumes

A disturbing video documenting three men catcalling and following a woman while she was walking to a temple in India has surfaced on social media. The incident has sparked significant outrage and debate regarding women's safety. Chiro, who is from Northeast India, shared the video on Instagram, opening up about the incident. She mentioned that the men assumed she didn't understand Hindi. She wrote, "They thought I didn't understand Hindi, and, to be honest, this is so f wrong but then also, these kinds of things are happening to me just because I look a little different."

In the video, she's heard saying, "The weirdest species in the world would be Indian men when they see a girl walking alone. I'm on my way to the temple, and these guys have been catcalling me non-stop." The video shows three men following her, smiling, singing a Bollywood song loudly, and gesturing towards the camera. Despite being filmed, the three men continued to follow her. She clarified later that she only felt safe once she stopped and waited for friends to join her.

Here's the video:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chiro (@chiro_diaries)

Chiro also addressed accusations of staging the video for attention. She explained her reason for posting was to address the situation, not seek publicity. She also mentioned she's smiling in the video because she wanted to handle it calmly, and people shouldn't expect her to cry on camera.

Social Media Reaction

The video sparked outrage and concern, with many commenting on the men's audacity to harass a woman in a public space with no fear of consequences. Many also praised Chiro for her courage, noting how many wouldn't have dared to record the incident. One user wrote, "I will say again upbringing, morals, environment along with education on etiquette is what men in India need every sec."

Another commented, "The fact that they aren't even threatened of you recording their inappropriate behaviour they still have the audacity to smile seeing the camera. The country is never going to 'progress' when women can't even walk around freely."

A third user stated, "The audacity of these type of men is scary."

"Bro, this is honestly terrifying to me. I don't think I would've had the courage to record it like you did; you are really brave. It's even scared me how normalised this has become at this level that they don't even feel shame anymore because they know the justice system rarely holds them accountable," a fourth added. 

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T20 World Cup Points Table: India Take Huge Net Run-Rate Lead Over Pakistan

Suryakumar Yadav batting just like he does and Mohammed Siraj's incisive first spell headlined defending champions India's scratchy 29-run win against the United States of America despite a stunning top-order collapse in the opening encounter of the T20 World Cup on Saturday. A veteran of many-a-battle here at the Wankhede Stadium, Suryakumar's 49-ball unbeaten 84 was a blend of fine rescue act and a defiant counter-attack against a USA attack that proved to be more than mere pushovers. The Indian captain garnered all his experience of playing at his home ground, reaped rich dividends for being patient but more importantly, disciplined, as plucky USA had India on the mat at 77 for 6 at one stage in the first half.

But Suryakumar's late onslaught which had 10 fours and four sixes after being dropped on 15, took India as far as 161/9 after being precariously placed at 128/7 after 18 overs.

USA, in reply, finished at 132/8 in a meek response with the bat, especially in comparison to their first-innings show in which bowlers kept the high-flying Indians on a tight leash and held on to their catches.

Siraj, who joined the team late Friday evening, came in as a replacement for an indisposed Jasprit Bumrah and bowled a fuller Test match length to take two wickets in his first spell and ended with 3/29 in 4 overs. Once USA were 13 for 3 within fourth over, they didn't have a chance to surpass the middling total. USA's fight petered out with Siraj accounting for openers Andries Gous (6) and Saiteja Mukkamalla (2) and Arshdeep Singh (2/18) removing skipper Monank Patel for a duck.

From 13/3 in the fourth over, USA stitched multiple partnerships but never really got back on track of their chase. Milind Kumar (34), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37) and Shubham Ranjane (37) played useful knocks which only reduced the margin of defeat.

None of them could really dominate and once Varun Chakravarthy (1/24) and Axar Patel (2/24) took charge of the post Powerplay overs giving only 48 runs and taking three wickets in those eight overs. Earlier, Suryakumar stood tall with a 49-ball innings, single-handedly driving India out of woods after a stunning collapse saw them reeling at 77 for six in the 13th over.

South Africa born Shadley van Schalkwyk returned with figures of 4-0-25-4 as India's famed batting line-up, barring Suryakumar, endured a horrendous outing with the bat and were in real trouble of being restricted for an under-par total.

The writing was perhaps on the wall when India failed to find a run on the first four balls of the innings with USA not giving any room for the Indian batters to free their arms.

While Ishan Kishan (20) smacked a six off the fifth ball to get rolling, the first blow to India came when Abhishek Sharma fell for a first-ball duck in the second over.

The world No. 1 Abhishek hit Ali Khan's delivery straight to Sanjay Krishnamurthi at deep cover, and for the first of the several times in the night the Wankhede Stadium fell silent.

The fielding set by US skipper Monank was top notch as he positioned fielders straighter than finer.

Tilak Varma (25) broke the shackles when he danced down to hit a straight off Saurabh Netravalkar (0/65) in the third over and went after van Schalkwyk for three fours in the next and it looked like India were finally up and running.

However, Ishan, having smacked Ali off his pads for a spectacular six, failed to make the most of a dropped catch and hit one straight to mid-on off van Schalkwyk on the first ball of the sixth over.

Van Schalkwyk couldn't believe his luck when Tilak failed to time a pull off a short ball off one that rose more than he expected, giving catching practice to USA captain Monank Patel.

Shivam Dube (0) is no stranger to the Wankhede wicket but the burly all-rounder was totally outfoxed by an innocuous slow bouncer failing to check his stroke.

Looking completely clueless, Dube was caught in an awkward approach during the time of connection with the ball flying to Netravalkar at short fine leg.

Rinku Singh (6 off 14 balls) couldn't control his first attacking stroke which went straight to long-on off Mohammad Mohsin (4-0-16-1). Hardik Pandya (5) fell to former Mumbai left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh (4-0-26-2) while trying to clear the sweeper cover, and Axar Patel (14) in his bid to get some late quick runs.

With the onus of getting India out of trouble once again solely on him, Suryakumar dug in deep to farm the strike and rarely missed connecting on the shots that have been his trademark.

Being the only Indian batter to have understood the nature of the wicket completely, Suryakumar opened up finally in the last two overs. He collected 34 runs off those, which included 21 in the last from Netravalkar.

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Sub-Contractor Knew Delhi Biker Fell Into Ditch, Did Nothing To Help: Cops

A sub-contractor has been arrested after a biker fell to his death in a pool-sized pit dug by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) in Janakpuri, officials said Saturday. 

A probe revealed that the sub-contractor, Rajesh Prajapati, was allegedly alerted about the accident hours before police received information about it, but he failed to take any action, officials said.

Twenty five-year-old Kamal Dhyani, a resident of Kailashpuri and an employee of a private bank, was returning home late Thursday night from his workplace in Rohini when he fell into the deep pit and died. His body, along with his motorcycle, was found inside the ditch the next morning.

A family passing through the area the previous night had noticed that the victim had fallen into the pit. They immediately alerted a security guard deployed at the site. 

The security guard informed a junior staff member the same night, stating that a person had fallen into the pit, police said.

The junior staff member then called Prajapati at around 12.22 am and asked him to reach the spot. Prajapati subsequently arrived at the site and saw a motorcycle and the man inside the pit but he didn't inform anyone and went back home, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said Prajapati knew that someone had fallen into the pit, hours before the matter came to the police's notice.

Call detail records showed that Prajapati was informed about the incident at around 12:22 am, following which he reached the spot within 15-20 minutes, the police said.

However, Prajapati neither informed the police nor any emergency authority at that time. Information about the incident reached police only the next morning around 8 am, Bhaskar said.

Kamal's twin brother, Karan Dhyani, said the family had visited several police stations, including Dabri, Vikas Puri and Sagarpur, while searching for him during the night but received no assistance.

"It has been more than 24 hours since my brother's death, and the police are still saying they are looking for cameras," Karan said, alleging negligence on the part of the DJB.

He further claimed that there were no warning boards, reflectors or barricades at the time the pit was dug.

A 20-foot-deep pit without proper barricading led to Kamal Dhyani's death, the lawyer representing the victim's family said on Saturday, alleging "complete carelessness" by the Delhi Jal Board and delays by police in collecting crucial evidence, including CCTV footage.

"The pit was not covered properly, nor was any barricading placed around it to warn commuters," the victim's lawyer said, adding that potholes were present across the Janakpuri area.

"The Delhi Jal Board showed complete carelessness," the lawyer added. 

On Friday, the Delhi government suspended three Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials -- an executive engineer, assistant engineer and junior engineer. 

The same day, an FIR was registered at Janakpuri police station under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the contractor and concerned DJB officials.

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In Wargame Simulation, Russia Invades A European Country. Then This Happens

European governments are stepping up military planning amid rising fears that Russia may move against NATO or European Union countries sooner than expected. Europe may not be fully prepared to respond to such a threat, a recent wargame has revealed.

The Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, are considered key risk areas. 

The wargame, held in December by Germany's Die Welt newspaper and the German Wargaming Center at Helmut Schmidt University, simulated a Russian incursion into Lithuania in October 2026.

It involved former senior German and NATO officials, lawmakers, and security experts. Wargames are designed to identify gaps, risks, and possible outcomes without real fighting.

In the simulation, Russia used a claimed humanitarian crisis in its Kaliningrad exclave to justify taking over the Lithuanian city of Marijampole, a transport hub near the borders of Poland and Belarus. The narrative created enough uncertainty for the United States to avoid invoking NATO's Article 5.

The article says - if one NATO member is attacked, it is considered an attack on all members. Each member must take action to help defend the attacked country.

Germany hesitated in the exercise. Poland mobilised its forces but did not cross into Lithuania. A German brigade already deployed in Lithuania failed to intervene after Russian drones laid mines on roads leading from its base.

Marijampole, a town of about 35,000 people, is at an important road crossroads. It links the Via Baltica highway to Poland with the road from Belarus to Russia's Kaliningrad region. Lithuania has to keep this road open for Russian traffic under a treaty, which makes the town strategically important.

European defence officials say the risk of a Russian move has increased due to tensions with US President Donald Trump over Ukraine, Greenland, trade, and wider transatlantic issues.

Russia has also shifted to a war-driven economy. They have sharply increased weapons production, military recruitment and defence spending. Officials say this expansion goes well beyond the immediate needs of the war in Ukraine. They believe Russia is building the capacity to challenge NATO directly, as per The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier assessments in Berlin and other European capitals held that Russia would not be able to threaten NATO before 2029. That timeline is now under review. Many officials believe Russia could act much sooner, possibly before Europe completes its ongoing defence buildup.

“Our assessment is that Russia will be able to move large amounts of troops within one year,” the Netherlands Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said in an interview. “We see that they are already increasing their strategic inventories, and are expanding their presence and assets along the NATO borders.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken of restoring Russia's historic power. This raises concerns in countries that were once under Russian control. All three Baltic nations have been NATO and EU members for about two decades.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has also increased hybrid attacks across Europe. In Poland, authorities have investigated several infrastructure-related incidents. In Ukraine, Russian strikes have repeatedly damaged the power grid, forcing civilians to adapt, especially during winter months.

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70% Of Air India Planes Have Recurring Technical Issues: Centre

More than seven out of every ten aircraft reviewed in the Air India Group fleet have shown recurring technical defects, according to official data tabled in Parliament on Thursday, putting the airline group at the top of the list among Indian carriers reviewed for such issues.

The figures, presented in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, reveal that 191 of the 267 aircraft operated by Air India Group were identified with repetitive defects during inspections conducted since January last year.

Within the Air India Group, 137 of 166 Air India aircraft and 54 of 101 Air India Express planes were found to have recurring issues during inspections.

Responding to the data, an Air India official said, "We have, out of abundant caution, carried out checks across our fleet. Hence, numbers are higher."

Offering further clarification, a top Air India executive said there are different types of equipment which are checked on planes and that these are categorised into A, B, C and D segments, depending on priority and urgency.

"In case of Air India, most of the issues are with category D, which includes items like seats, tray tables, screens (on the back of seats) and so on. These are not related to the safety of the aircraft," the executive said.

The executive added that "as the retrofit programme for narrow-body aircraft rolls out over the next two years, these issues will be resolved too."

Across the industry, a total of 754 aircraft belonging to six scheduled airlines were analysed for recurring deficiencies, of which 377 planes were flagged for repeated technical issues.

India's largest carrier IndiGo had 405 aircraft examined during the period. Of these, 148 planes were identified as having repetitive defects as of February 3 this year, the data showed.

Other airlines also reported such defects, with SpiceJet recording 16 affected aircraft out of 43 analysed, while Akasa Air saw 14 aircraft flagged from 32 reviewed planes.

The government also shared details of aviation safety oversight carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). During the previous year, the regulator conducted 3,890 surveillance inspections, 56 regulatory audits, 84 checks on foreign aircraft, and 492 ramp inspections as part of planned monitoring.

In addition, 874 spot checks and 550 night surveillance inspections were carried out under unplanned safety oversight activities, the minister said.

On staffing, the government informed Parliament that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, had 637 sanctioned technical posts in 2022, a number that has now been increased to 1,063 following a restructuring exercise aimed at strengthening regulatory capacity.

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Class 12 Student Cuts Off Teacher's Lips In Roadside Attack In UP

A Class 12 student in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, allegedly attacked his teacher with a sharp weapon on January 26, severing both her lips, according to police.

The victim's brother stated in his complaint that the student had been consistently harassing the teacher, who worked at a private school on Agra Road. Despite a previous complaint made to the student's mother during a parent-teacher meeting and subsequent assurances that the behaviour would stop, the harassment persisted.

Distressed by the student's conduct, the teacher eventually resigned and moved to a different school. However, the accused allegedly tracked her to her new workplace and continued to stalk her daily.

On January 26, the student intercepted the teacher on her way to work and attacked her with a sharp weapon, cutting off both of her lips before fleeing the scene.

"A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the teacher's brother," said Kotwali Station House Officer Fateh Bahadur Singh. "We are currently searching for the accused and will take further action once he is in custody."

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Ravichandran Ashwin 'Disappointed' Over Two Veteran Stars Missing T20 World Cup

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his disappointment after the West Indies failed to bring back Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine from retirement for the T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Narine retired from international cricket in 2023 while Pooran quit in 2025. Both players are active in franchise T20 leagues. "I am very disappointed that the West Indies did not pick Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine in their squad for this World Cup. You need to sit across the table from them, talk to them, and bring them to the World Cup. How can you leave Nicholas Pooran and Sunil Narine out and go into a World Cup without them?" Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin added that he is a big fan of the West Indies cricket team and believes the board needs to reassess their planning for major tournaments.

"I am a big fan of the West Indies. They have a lot of ability. But the way they plan and sometimes even the infrastructure in the West Indies leaves me with my mouth open. I think West Indies cricket has a high ceiling and huge potential, but they really need to re-look at the way they approach and plan for World Cups," he said.

The two-time champions have lost more matches than they have won since their Super Eight exit in the last edition in 2024, but they head into the new tournament with several positives-especially the evolution of their skipper, Shai Hope, into a well-rounded T20 batter.

The Windies have often shown glimpses of the fighting spirit and explosive hitting that once made them a dominant force in the shortest format, though they have frequently fallen short in tight contests.

Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, the West Indies have won just 14 of 43 matches, losing 27, with two ending in no result.

The two-time champions are placed in Group C alongside defending champions India, Nepal, Scotland, and Italy. They will begin their campaign against Scotland on February 7 in Kolkata.

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"Regrettable": Afridi's Blunt Take On Pak's Refusal To Play Against India

Former Pakistan captain and cricketing legend Shahid Afridi shared quite an intriguing statement after his government confirmed a boycott of the Indian team at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Pakistan and India are scheduled to square off in Colombo on 15 February, but Salman Ali Agha's men have been asked not to take the field by their government as a mark of protest against the International Cricket Council (ICC). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been flirting with the idea of giving the India match a miss ever since the ICC booted Bangladesh out of the tournament.

Afridi, who has time and again advocated for sports and politics to be kept separate, expressed 'regret' over Pakistan's decision to not play against India in the T20 World Cup. However, he also stood behind his government's decision while asking the ICC to resolve the matter through impartial actions.

"I've always believed cricket can open doors when politics closes them. Regrettably, Pakistan won't play India at the #T20WorldCup, but I stand behind my government's decision. This is the moment for @ICC to lead and prove through decisions, not statements, that it is impartial, independent, and fair to every member," Afridi's post on X (formerly Twitter) read.

Afridi himself was at the centre of a controversy after India Legends pulled out of a match against Pakistan Legends in the World Championship of Legends at Edgbaston.

"Sports bring people closer, but if politics gets involved in everything, how will we move forward? ... Sometimes, there's one bad egg (or rotten egg) that spoils everything for everyone else," Afridi had said, in a dig at former India batter Shikhar Dhawan after he refused to play against Pakistan in the tournament.

It is rather bizarre that the same Afridi is now backing the political interference of his country's government, especially in an event of the stature of the T20 World Cup.

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Delivery Man Climbs Stairs With Huge Parcel After Society Denies Lift Access

A video has gone viral showing a delivery worker for a moving company, struggling to climb six floors of stairs while carrying a massive parcel on his back. Notably, the agent was forced to take the stairs after being denied elevator access by a housing society, despite the lift reportedly being operational. The video, shared by user @Abhishekkkk10 on X, shows the worker nearly losing his balance due to the heavy load. Upon reaching the flat, a voice from inside the apartment is heard saying "Aaram se" (be careful) as he maneuvers the oversized package through the door.

"Packers and movers not allowed to use lift by society members; the delivery guy had to use stairs to bring heavy stuff to the 6th floor," the video was captioned on X.

Watch the video here:

Packers and movers not allowed to use lift by society members, ad delivery guy had to use stairs to bring heavy stuff to 6th floor. pic.twitter.com/ILAOaGNS6Q

— AbhishekkkK (@Abhishekkkk10) January 30, 2026

The footage sparked intense debate online, with many users condemning the society's rules as "inhumane" and "discriminatory." Many users pointed out the physical toll on gig workers, while some defended the rules by citing lift maintenance concerns or the absence of dedicated service elevators.

One user wrote, "Coz in India, labour is cheap and anything cheap, doesn't get respect or humane treatment."

Another said, "This is one of those things I vehemently, unequivocally, without a single shred of doubt or hesitation, HATE!! When we have the tools, and don't let them use those tools, there is no reason to call ourselves human anymore."

"Don't societies with more than 4 floors have service lift? If not, then the local municipality authority should be questioned. If yes, then service lift should be used for goods movement. If RWA is not allowing to use service lift, they should be sued," added a third user. 

A fourth stated, "Whoever these people are that made a man with a load on his back use the stairs for six floors should be prosecuted. The man could have had a heart attack and passed on. The Indian middle class contempt for the working poor is sickening."

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Ranveer Singh And Aditya Dhar Hint At Dhurandhar 2 Teaser Release

Ranveer Singh has sparked excitement among fans by teasing that the teaser of Dhurandhar 2 will drop tomorrow, February 3. 

The actor took to Instagram to share the update, simply writing, "Tomorrow 12:12." 

Director Aditya Dhar also posted the same message on his Instagram Stories, heightening anticipation for the next chapter of the blockbuster spy franchise.

About Dhurandhar 2

Dhurandhar 2 is the upcoming sequel to the 2025 spy thriller Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar. While the makers are keeping plot details tightly under wraps, the sequel will continue directly from where the first part ended.

What To Expect From Dhurandhar 2

The story resumes with Hamza Ali Mazhari, an Indian undercover agent who has successfully infiltrated Pakistan's underworld. After eliminating Rehman Dakait, Hamza rises to power, earns the trust of influential politicians such as Jameel Jamali, and even marries Jamali's daughter, Yalina.

In the sequel, Hamza sets his sights on a far greater enemy - Major Iqbal, the ISI mastermind known as Bade Sahab, who is believed to be behind several terror attacks on India. 

Dhurandhar 2 is slated for a theatrical release on March 19. The first film's staggering box office performance has set high expectations for the sequel. 

According to Sacnilk, Dhurandhar collected Rs 836.95 crore in India net and Rs 1,303 crore worldwide. Notably, it became the first Indian film to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark while being released in a single language, unlike earlier record-holders that relied on multiple dubbed versions.

Directed by Aditya Dhar, the franchise features Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal in prominent roles.

ALSO READ: Shekhar Kapur Reviews Dhurandhar: "Aditya Dhar Deserves All The Praise He's Getting"

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Total Tariff On India To Be 18%: US Ambassador Sergio Gor to NDTV

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor today congratulated both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump after both leaders confirmed reciprocal tariffs have been reduced to 18 per cent.

This is one of the lowest tariffs the US has announced for competing export economies, which means India has gone from being charged a very high tariff to the opposite end.

The US tariff on other competing export economies are Indonesia (19 per cent), Vietnam (20 per cent), Bangladesh (20 per cent), and China (34 per cent).

Gor told NDTV that this tariff breakthrough is the result of a strong friendship between the two leaders that has developed over many years.

"It's a friendship that has endured and it's ultimately what got this deal done. I've often said that the relationship between the United States and India has limitless potential. And with this trade deal, now being behind us, it's an incredible thing. It unlocks the next chapter of the relationship between our two great countries," Gor said.

A key point the American ambassador confirmed to NDTV is the total tariff, which now stands at 18 per cent.

"The total tariff will be 18 per cent. And that will be finalised over the next few days. There's some items that need to be signed, but the total tariff will be at 18 per cent," Gor said.

While there are a few technical things that will be worked out over the next two-three days, Gor said the deal is official. "It's done," he added.

PM Modi, Trump On Tariffs Deal

Soon after the tariff cut announcement by Trump, PM Modi thanked him "on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India".

"Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent," PM Modi said in a post on X.

"Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement," the prime minister said.

In the announcement that first appeared on the Trump-owned social media platform Truth Social, the US president called the move a "trade deal". Trump also called PM Modi "one of my greatest friends, and a powerful and respected leader of his country."

The US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) in a statement said the reduction of India's reciprocal tariff to 18 per cent marks an important and positive first step.

The US ambassador told NDTV that many companies from India want to buy American products, and the message when Trump became president was that America was open for business.

"You know, our countries are in a spot today that frankly, the last four years, we weren't there," Gor said. "And under President Trump's leadership, the United States has come back to the forefront. As you saw in the last day or two, Air India is buying more Boeings. There's a 10-year deal that got signed between the United States and India on defence," he added.

"So there are a lot of things that are in common. We are great partners and because of the president's leadership because of the prime minister's leadership, that is something that we aim to take to the next level. The next three years will define the relationship between our two nations," Gor said.

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