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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progressโ€”from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progressโ€”from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: January 23, 2026

Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar power India to 7-wicket win against New Zealand

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Raipur: India rode on explosive half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and skipper Suryakumar Yadav to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20 International at Raipur on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a stiff target of 209, India suffered an early jolt as both openers departed within the first seven balls. Sanju Samson was dismissed for six, while Abhishek Sharma fell for a first-ball duck, leaving the hosts reeling at 6 for 2. The setback, however, proved brief as Ishan and Suryakumar launched a counter-attack that quickly turned the contest on its head.

Ishan smashed a scintillating 76 off just 32 deliveries, peppering the boundary and clearing the ropes with ease, while Suryakumar played the anchor with flair, finishing unbeaten on 82 from 37 balls. The pair stitched together a match-defining partnership that dismantled the New Zealand bowling and carried India through the powerplay with remarkable momentum. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touches with a brisk 36 off 18 balls as India overhauled the target comfortably.

For his match-winning knock and sharp work in the field, including a fine catch, Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 208 for six after opting to bat first. Rachin Ravindra set the tone with a rapid 44 from 26 balls, supported by lively contributions from the top order. Indiaโ€™s bowlers managed to rein in the scoring through the middle overs, but Mitchell Santner ensured a strong finish, remaining unbeaten on 47 from 27 deliveries to push the visitors beyond the 200 mark.

Reflecting on the turnaround after the early wickets, Suryakumar Yadav said, โ€œI don’t know what Ishan had in the afternoon for lunch, but I have never seen someone batting that way at 6 for 2 and ending the powerplay on 60-odd. But that’s what we want for our batters to be able to express themselves.โ€

The India skipper added that the atmosphere in the dressing room is a key factor behind the teamโ€™s form. โ€œI am really enjoying what’s happening right now. The mood is happy in the camp and I want to keep them in that space,โ€ he said.

The comprehensive chase underlined Indiaโ€™s batting depth and confidence, placing the hosts firmly in control of the series as it moves forward.

India beats New Zealand by 7 wickets, leads the T20 series by 2-0

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Raipur India rode on explosive half-centuries from Ishan Krishna and skipper Suryakumar Yadav to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20 International at Raipur on Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a stiff target of 209, India suffered an early jolt as both openers departed within the first seven balls. Sanju Samson was dismissed for six, while Abhishek Sharma fell for a first-ball duck, leaving the hosts in early trouble. The setback, however, proved brief as Ishan and Suryakumar launched a counter-attack that quickly turned the contest on its head.

Ishan smashed 76 off just 32 deliveries, peppering the boundary and clearing the ropes with ease, while Suryakumar played the anchor with flair, finishing unbeaten on 82 from 37 balls. The pair stitched together a match-defining partnership that dismantled the New Zealand bowling. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touches with a brisk 36 off 18 balls as India overhauled the target with ease.

Bangladesh stays firm on T20 World Cup stance, ICC moves toward Scotland as replacement

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New Delhi: The International Cricket Council is preparing to move ahead without Bangladesh at the Menโ€™s T20 World Cup 2026 after the Bangladesh Cricket Board failed to respond within a 24-hour deadline on whether the team would travel to India for the tournament.

According to media reports, the ICC had sought a clear confirmation from Dhaka, warning that silence or refusal would activate contingency plans. With no formal communication reaching the ICC within the stipulated window, the governing body is now expected to initiate the process of inviting Scotland as a replacement.

Bangladeshโ€™s position has remained unchanged. Government officials in Dhaka have reiterated that the team will not travel to India, citing security concerns for players and officials. Sports adviser Asif Nazrul reportely said the decision was taken by the government and would not be altered, arguing that assurances from international bodies were insufficient in light of past incidents involving Bangladeshi players.

The stance follows a series of meetings in Dhaka involving the BCB, government representatives and senior national team members. While several players reportedly expressed their desire to participate in the World Cup, the board and the government held firm, insisting that matches be shifted to a neutral venue such as Sri Lanka โ€” a request the ICC has already rejected.

From the ICCโ€™s perspective, the options are limited. A written confirmation from Bangladesh would resolve the issue immediately. Continued refusal or ambiguity, however, obliges the tournament organiser to ensure the integrity of the event by filling the slot. Reports indicate that Scotland, next in line through qualification pathways, is ready to be called up at short notice.

Bangladesh are currently drawn in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Italy and Nepal, with their opening fixtures scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai. Their potential absence would not only reshape the group but also mark a rare instance of a full-member nation missing a global ICC event due to a political and security impasse.

For Scotland, an invitation would represent a sudden elevation to cricketโ€™s biggest stage. For Bangladesh, exclusion would carry consequences far beyond a single tournament, underscoring how unresolved standoffs at the intersection of sport and geopolitics can leave lasting marks on international competition.

Meghalaya CM seeks swift action in Odisha pastor assault case

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Bhubaneswar: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday called on the Odisha government to carry out a thorough probe and take swift action against those allegedly involved in the assault of a pastor in Dhenkanal district earlier this month.

Raising the issue on X, Sangma described the incident as deeply disturbing. โ€œThe recent attack on Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik in Odisha, forcing him to eat cow dung and chant religious slogans, is a grave violation of the constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen of India,โ€ he wrote.

According to the complaint filed by the pastorโ€™s wife, the incident took place on January 4 in the Parjang police station area. She alleged that a group of 15 to 20 people, armed with bamboo sticks, entered their home while her husband was praying. The mob allegedly assaulted him, dragged him out of the house, paraded him through the village, and forced him to drink drain water.

The pastor, identified as Bipin Bihari Nayak, was reportedly targeted over allegations of religious conversion. Media reports quoting his wife said the attackers accused him of โ€œindulgingโ€ in conversion activities before subjecting him to public humiliation.

Police have since detained four people in connection with the case following the filing of the complaint. Authorities say further investigation is underway.

Some locals had accused the pastor of being involved in religious conversion. His family, however, has firmly rejected the claims, saying the attack was a clear case of mob violence with no legal or factual basis.

PM Modi launches rail, startup and welfare projects in Kerala

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Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and flagged off a series of major development projects in Thiruvananthapuram, giving a fresh push to Keralaโ€™s infrastructure, connectivity and urban livelihoods.

The initiatives span rail services, urban welfare, science and healthcare, and are aimed at transforming Thiruvananthapuram into a major startup and innovation hub while strengthening links across the state and beyond, according to an official release.

Highlighting the broader impact of the projects, Modi said in a post on X, โ€œThe development works being launched today will strengthen Keralaโ€™s infrastructure, improve connectivity and create new opportunities for the people. Addressing a programme in Thiruvananthapuram.โ€

At the event, the Prime Minister said the Union governmentโ€™s efforts for Kerala had gained new momentum, pointing to enhanced rail connectivity and the launch of the PM SVANidhi Credit Card from the state. He described the scheme as a nationwide step for the welfare of street vendors, hawkers and footpath workers.

Modi underlined that cities play a crucial role in building a developed India and said the Centre had made significant investments in urban infrastructure over the past 11 years. He noted that more than four crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, including over one crore for the urban poor, with nearly 1.25 lakh families in Kerala benefiting.

Earlier in the day, Modi flagged off three new Amrit Bharat trains, Nagercoil-Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram, Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli, and a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur.

“Today, Kerala’s rail connectivity with other parts of the country has been strengthened. The Amrit Bharat Express trains, flagged off a short while ago, will bolster the ease of travel in Kerala and greatly benefit the tourism sector,” he said, adding that the new passenger train between Guruvayur and Thrissur will make travel easier for pilgrims. “All these projects will also accelerate Kerala’s development.”

The Prime Minister said a developed Kerala is essential for a developed India, assuring the state of continued support from the Centre.

Odisha police hoists tricolour on Udabali island

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Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the 77th Republic Day, Odisha Police on Thursday carried out a symbolic coastal security initiative by hoisting the National Flag on Udabali Island in Bhadrak district – an uninhabited island located off the Stateโ€™s coastline.

The flag-hoisting was led by DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, underlining the forceโ€™s continued focus on maritime vigilance, coastal protection, and national sovereignty, according to a post on X by Odisha Police.

According to reports, the Tricolour was unfurled in the presence of senior police leadership, including the ADGP, the IG of Balasore Range, the Superintendent of Police, Bhadrak, and other dignitaries.

Odisha Police also announced plans to unfurl the National Flag on 12 other uninhabited islands across Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Puri districts over the next three days, further strengthening the message of preparedness and territorial vigilance.

The upcoming locations include: Kanika Sands, Long Wheeler (Babu Bali), Coconut Wheeler, Small Wheeler, Nayatapu, Budhiabali, Hukitola, Kaduapal, Dhanichada, Parikud, Nalbana, and Kalijai.

With the Tricolour now standing tall amid the sea, the gesture is being seen as a strong message of unity, integrity, and security along the country’s eastern maritime frontier.

The move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modiโ€™s earlier appeal to hoist the National Flag on uninhabited coastal islands during Republic Day celebrations.

The initiative is being viewed as both a patriotic tribute ahead of Republic Day and a strategic reaffirmation of Odisha Policeโ€™s responsibility to safeguard coastal zones and reinforce Indiaโ€™s presence in remote maritime areas.

Rain, storms sweep Delhi-NCR; orange alert issued, temperatures set to dip

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New Delhi: Delhi and the wider National Capital Region woke up to spells of rain on Friday as an active western disturbance brought unsettled weather, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for the region and warning of a further drop in temperatures.

Light showers were reported from several parts of Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad in the early hours, offering brief relief from pollution levels. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed Delhiโ€™s Air Quality Index at 297 around 7 am, marginally better than the previous day.

The IMD said the city is likely to turn colder over the next 24 hours. While Delhi recorded a minimum of 12 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 19 degrees on Thursday, Fridayโ€™s forecast indicates a sharper chill, with temperatures expected to range between 7 and 17 degrees Celsius.

An orange nowcast alert has been issued for Delhi, warning of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. The alert, valid till the forenoon hours, cautions of wind speeds reaching 40 to 60 kmph. Similar conditions are likely across parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan.

The weather department said the influence of the western disturbance will continue through the day, bringing clouds, rain, lightning and strong winds across northwestern India.

In its detailed forecast, the IMD said Delhi can expect a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds during the morning and forenoon hours. Another round of very light to light rain is likely in the afternoon or evening. Shallow fog is also expected during the morning, and commuters have been advised to exercise caution.

A yellow alert is also in place for the day, signalling the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in multiple time windows from morning through night. While a yellow alert serves as an advisory to remain vigilant, an orange alert indicates more severe conditions and urges authorities to stay prepared for emergency responses.

Residents have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during periods of strong winds and thunderstorms and to stay updated on weather developments through official advisories.

Hoax bomb threats hit schools in Noida, Ahmedabad ahead of Republic Day

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Noida: A wave of hoax bomb threat emails triggered emergency security responses across several private schools in Noida and Ahmedabad on Friday, just days before Republic Day, prompting evacuations, temporary closures and intensive checks by police and bomb disposal teams.

Senior police officers, bomb detection and disposal squads, dog squads, fire services and local police units were rushed to the affected campuses. Authorities, according to media reports, conducted thorough sweeps of school premises, while cyber teams began technical analysis of the emails to trace their origin and intent.

Soon after receiving the threat, the Shriram Millennium School in Noida sent out an official communication to parents informing about the development and the measures they are taking. โ€œWe have received an email with a Bomb threat this morning and keeping the safety of our children as the priority and as a precautionary measure to allow for a security sweep, the children are being immediately sent back home,โ€ it said.

“All relevant authorities have been informed and the children are safe and being taken care of. This is only a precautionary measure so we request you to support us,” it added.

A similar message was issued by Shiv Nadar School. โ€œDear Parent, We have received an email with a Bomb threat this morning and as a precautionary measure to allow for a security sweep, the school will remain closed today, Friday, January 23, 2026,โ€ read the email sent by the principal.

Bal Bharati School, Army Public School, Father Agnel School, Cambridge School and a few other schools in Noida also reportedly received bomb threats and were closed as per established safety protocols.

In Ahmedabad, several schools received threat emails leading to the cityโ€™s crime branch deploying bomb squads and forensic teams to inspect the premises. Investigations are currently underway.

Police in both cities said there was no evidence of explosives at any of the locations, but stressed that all threats are being treated seriously given the heightened security environment ahead of Republic Day.

Nabarangpur’s Hirli Eklavya School wins national award

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Bhubaneswar: Among more than 800 schools across the country that took part in the Model Yuva Gram Sabha programme on Thursday, the Eklavya Model Residential School at Hirli in Odishaโ€™s Nabarangpur district has secured second prize.

The programme was organised to encourage local administrations to promote participation at the grassroots level by conducting shadow Gram Sabhas and actively involving school students in the process. A total of six teams from across India were selected for awards under the initiative. These included three Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and three Eklavya Model Residential Schools. The Hirli Eklavya school was among those chosen for the honour, according to an official statement.

The first prize went to the Eklavya Model Residential School, Kosambuda, Chhattisgarh.

Under the Model Yuva Gram Sabha initiative, schools that successfully organised shadow Gram Sabhas were evaluated, and the best-performing institutions will be formally awarded in New Delhi by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on January 28.

It may be noted that the first โ€œModel Yuva Gram Sabhaโ€ programme was launched in New Delhi on October 30, 2025, by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education and Literacy) and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

The โ€œAdarsh Yuva Gram Sabhaโ€ is an innovative civic awareness initiative aimed at promoting democratic values and a sense of public responsibility among young citizens.

Sindhu, Lakshya storm into Indonesia Masters 2026 quarters

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New Delhi: Indian shuttlers P. V. Sindhu and Lakshya Sen moved into the quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters 2026 with comfortable straight-game wins in Jakarta on Thursday.

Lakshya looked in complete control in the menโ€™s singles round of 16, brushing aside Hong Kongโ€™s Jason Gunawan 21-10, 21-11 in a match that wrapped up in just over 30 minutes, according to reports.

Sindhu, meanwhile, had to work a bit harder but still came through in two games, beating Denmarkโ€™s Line Kjaerfeldt 21-19, 21-18 after a 43-minute battle. It was Sindhuโ€™s fifth win over Kjaerfeldt in their six meetings so far.

The two-time Olympic medallist now faces a big test in the last eight, with top seed and World No. 4 Chen Yu Fei of China waiting next.

Elsewhere, it was a disappointing day for India in the menโ€™s singles as Kidambi Srikanth went down 11-21, 10-21 to Chinese Taipeiโ€™s Chou Tien-chen. In womenโ€™s singles, Anmol Kharb showed plenty of fight but eventually lost to Japanโ€™s Nozomi Okuhara 21-16, 14-21, 12-21.