In West Bengal's electoral chessboard, governments are rarely made in the hills of North Bengal or the forested region of Jangalmahal. Power is usually decided in the crowded plains of South Bengal, where elections are won less by momentum and more by mathematics.
Iran has presented a multi-layered proposal to the US in an attempt to break the deadlock in peace talks, focusing on de-escalation and nuclear programme discussions.
The ceasefire is still technically holding, to the extent that no overt hostilities have been reported yet, but the rhetoric has hardened dangerously. The week ahead will also clarify whether the Islamabad failure was a negotiating tactic or whether Washington has genuinely locked itself into a position from which the only exits are climb-down, escalation, or the slow bleed of a new status quo that nobody chose and nobody controls. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.
Shares of Indian life insurance companies, particularly SBI Life Insurance and Canara HSBC Life Insurance, saw significant declines after the Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary, M Nagaraju, stated that banks are being asked to avoid exclusive tie-ups with their own insurance subsidiaries and instead remain neutral.
Mumbai Indians will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat when they face a confident Rajasthan Royals side in their upcoming IPL match. The Royals will be aiming to continue their winning streak.
As industrial plants boost the village's profile, locals demand priority hiring, alongside better storage facilities and water security.
Already, within the week of the election results it became apparent that the Congress' DNA has not changed from its traditional approach to politics as but a game of thrones, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar informed TVK chief Vijay that his party lacks the necessary support to form the government. TVK is intensifying efforts to gain support from Left parties, VCK, and IUML. The Governor's decision has sparked protests and political debate in the state.
Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana is set to join Kolkata Knight Riders, providing a much-needed boost to their struggling bowling attack as they seek their first win in the IPL season.
Both sides have now revealed a preference for escalation over strategic defeat, and each new provocation narrows the space for the next pause. The Touska seizure, Iran's refusal to negotiate under blockade, Israel's strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure -- all of these add up to an increasingly untenable situation. This makes the wild card -- Trump and his motormouth -- more consequential than ever, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War.
Trump has made it clear: the US will not lift its blockade of Iranian ports until a deal is signed.
The Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, has renamed the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park as 'Patna Zoo' and the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology as 'Bihar State Institute of Dairy Technology'. The cabinet also approved significant allocations for electricity subsidies, college establishments, and infrastructure projects.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled draft norms for branch authorisation and business correspondents (BCs), introducing a two-tiered classification for BCs and redefining 'banking outlets' to include BC-Banking Outlets (BC-BOs), aiming to expand formal banking presence, particularly in rural areas.
The India Open retained its Super 750 status despite the organisational issues this year but the Syed Modi International was downgraded from Super 300 to Super 100 as the country saw its share of events reduced from four to two in the Badminton World Federation's revamped schedule announced on Monday.
The Indian rupee rebounded against the US dollar following intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, amidst ongoing concerns about foreign capital outflows, rising crude oil prices, and geopolitical instability.
Defending champions India look to do something they have never done in World Cups and retain the trophy.
Gaganjeet Bhullar will lead a strong Indian contingent at the International Series golf tournament, joined by other prominent Indian golfers.
The Supreme Court has declined to interfere with the Election Commission's circular regarding the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal, dismissing a plea by the TMC.
Diksha Dagar, the only Indian golfer to make the cut, finished with a strong performance at the Women's NSW Open, securing a top-20 position. Agathe Laisne of France won the tournament.
South African batter Heinrich Klaasen has confirmed his retirement from international cricket, choosing to prioritise family time and T20 leagues despite briefly considering a comeback.
Ravindra Jadeja praises Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless batting after his 15-ball fifty powered Rajasthan Royals to a dominant IPL 2026 win over CSK.
Beijing has been wary of Sanae Takaichi's efforts to boost Japan's military profile since taking office six months ago, points out Dr Rajaram Panda.
Pathum Nissanka calls IPL a dream platform for Sri Lankan players after his 41-run knock for Delhi Capitals, stressing the need to seize opportunities despite a narrow loss to Gujarat Titans.
Saptak Talwar and Dhruv Sheoran emerged as joint leaders after the third round of the DP World PGTI's Indorama Ventures Open Golf Championship, with Manu Gandas close behind.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Rajat Patidar says the team is focused on winning the IPL 2026 by 'ticking all the boxes,' moving past their previous season's victory. He praised Virat Kohli's performance and Jacob Duffy's bowling, while also acknowledging the solemn remembrance of fans lost in a past tragedy.
'Among the leaders whose names are going around, V D Satheesan is the leader who will fit this kind of situation.'
'My cricket training has been going on for months. It was difficult to learn to play left-handed.'
Ajinkya Rahane defends his batting approach amid criticism in IPL 2026, saying he has evolved into an attacking player while focusing on team roles for KKR.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to extend their winning run when they face Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2026 match in Vadodara on Monday.
Former India captain Anil Kumble criticises Mumbai Indians' lack of intent in their defeat to Rajasthan Royals.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 17, at Rod Laver Arena. The Australian Open main draw begins on January 18.
The BJP achieved a clean sweep in nine districts of West Bengal, securing all 68 seats in these regions during the recent election. This victory marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape, ending the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule and establishing the BJP's dominance.
Former India captain Anil Kumble advises Abhishek Sharma to balance his aggressive batting style with consistency, drawing parallels with Virender Sehwag's career progression.
The scholarships are expected to support both merit- and need-based categories, including students from non-metro regions and those enrolling in high-demand disciplines such as AI and other STEM fields.
The US military is considering a new wave of military operations in Iran, including potential strikes on infrastructure and securing Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, amid a fragile ceasefire and stalled nuclear talks.
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan praises Riyan Parag's captaincy and tactical decisions in Rajasthan Royals' thrilling win over Gujarat Titans.
Riyan Parag needs to lead from the front as Rajasthan Royals face a strong Punjab Kings side in their Indian Premier League match. Punjab Kings have been consistent, while the Royals have lost momentum after a strong start.
Sanju Samson's quickfire 24 off 15 gave India a flying start against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash, drawing mixed reactions from fans and praise from Irfan Pathan and Dinesh Karthik.
The INDIA bloc faces challenges after recent state election defeats for key members like TMC and DMK, potentially shifting internal dynamics and leadership considerations.
A Delhi family's sightseeing trip in Madhya Pradesh turned into a tragedy when a cruise boat capsized in the Bargi reservoir, resulting in the death of three family members. Negligence is alleged by relatives.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances