When AP Dhillon goes quiet, fans get suspicious. When he suddenly drops a new song, they get loud. And that’s exactly what’s happening now. Fresh from selling out massive shows and breaking hearts across continents, the Punjabi hitmaker is back. This time, he is bringing rock energy with him. Yes, you read that right. AP Dhillon has just released a brand-new track called ‘Raatan Lambiyaan’.

About ‘Raatan Lambiyaan’ by AP Dhillon

 

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Known for smooth, moody hits like ‘Excuses’, ‘Summer High’ and ‘Brown Munde’, AP Dhillon has surprised fans by stepping into a new sound space.

‘Raatan Lambiyaan’, made in collaboration with longtime partner Shinda Kahlon, is not your usual chill playlist track. It comes packed with guitar riffs and raw vocals. And, it has rock-inspired vibe that feels bold and loud.

Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh brings love beyond frontlines with ‘Ishq Da Chehra’ from ‘Border 2’ humming straight into hearts

From Instagram tease to fan demands

Interestingly, ‘Raatan Lambiyaan’ was not sudden drop. AP had teased the track months ago during an Instagram Live session.

Fans quickly caught on and started asking for the full version almost every day.

Talking about the release, AP Dhillon shared that the song gave him a chance to explore the “raw energy of rock.” He said fans kept messaging him after the teaser, pushing him to finally release it.

According to him, the idea was to create something powerful and different from his usual work.

Fresh after a massive sold-out tour

The release comes right after AP Dhillon wrapped up his One of One Tour, which was completely sold out. The tour saw him performing in front of huge crowds across cities.

In Delhi alone, nearly 20,000 fans turned up to watch him perform live.

AP Dhillon has slowly but surely built a global image. He blends hip-hop, pop and now rock, without losing his Punjabi identity. In 2023, he made history by becoming first Punjabi-language artist to perform at Juno Awards in Canada.

With over two billion streams worldwide, his influence continues to grow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad next week as the two countries explore the possibility of signing several key agreements during the much-anticipated visit.

The German Chancellor will be on an official visit to India on 12-13 January at the invitation of PM Modi. This will be his first official visit to India.

An official press note said that at around 9:30 hours on 12 January, the two leaders will visit the Sabarmati Ashram and then participate in the International Kite Festival at the Sabarmati Riverfront. This will be followed by bilateral engagements at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

The two leaders will review the progress made in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership, which has recently completed 25 years. Their discussion will also focus on further intensifying cooperation in trade and investment, technology, education, skilling and mobility, while also advancing collaboration in important domains of defence and security, science, innovation and research, green and sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

PM Modi and Chancellor Merz will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance, and engage with business and industry leaders of the two countries. The recent US action in Venezuela and the ongoing Ukraine conflict are expected to figure prominently during the discussions.

The German leader’s visit is expected to be followed by many other important trips by European leaders.

Top European Union (EU) leaders are expected to be chief guests at the Republic Day parade this year. India and the EU are also looking at the possibility of inking a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is expected to be a win-win deal for both sides in the backdrop of the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

French President Emmanuel Macron and other key European leaders are expected to be in India in February when New Delhi hosts the AI Summit.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday stated that Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is likely to visit Washington, DC, next week and that he expects to meet her during the visit.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “I understand she’s coming in next week sometime, and I look forward to saying hello to her, and I’ve heard that she wants to do that.”

The remarks follow Trump’s recent public comments on Machado’s political position in Venezuela. Addressing reporters earlier, the US President described her as a “very nice woman,” but said she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country” required to lead the nation.

Trump said the anticipated meeting would mark his first interaction with Machado, adding that she had previously said she had not spoken to him since receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in October last year.

Machado, for her part, had earlier said on the Fox News programme Hannity that she wanted to “personally” thank Trump for the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Commenting on the broader situation in Venezuela, Trump said the country would need extensive rebuilding, arguing that its democratic systems had broken down. “We have to rebuild the country. They couldn’t have an election,” he said, adding, “They wouldn’t even know how to have an election right now.”

Trump also linked political reconstruction with economic recovery, saying he would meet oil executives at the White House on Friday and signalling a major role for energy companies in reviving Venezuela’s oil industry.
He said the firms would be responsible for restoring the country’s energy infrastructure. “They’re going to rebuild the whole oil infrastructure. They’re going to spend at least USD 100 billion and it’s an unbelievable oil that they have, and an unbelievable quality of oil and amount of oil,” Trump said.

Venezuela possesses the largest proven oil reserves globally but accounts for under one per cent of worldwide production. Trump said on Tuesday that the country could supply between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, a deal he said could be valued at up to USD 2.8 billion at current prices.

India’s ace shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the semifinals of the women’s singles event at the Malaysia Open after her Japanese opponent, Akane Yamaguchi, retired mid-match due to injury at the Axiata Arena on Friday.

The two-time Olympic medallist was leading 21-11 when reigning world champion Yamaguchi informed the chair umpire that she could not continue, citing discomfort that severely hampered her movement.

PV SINDHU STORMS INTO SEMI FINAL !

She won the first game 21-11 against the Reigning World Champion Akane Yamaguchi of Japan , Later Akane had to retire due to injury concern!

ALL THE BEST FOR SEMIS, SINDHU! pic.twitter.com/8M9LfulXeQ

— Kushal Sharma (@KushalSharma_89) January 9, 2026

Yamaguchi entered the court wearing a knee brace and appeared uncomfortable from the outset, as Sindhu raced to a commanding 10-2 lead in the opening game. The Japanese shuttler struggled to move freely and didn’t look happy when her shots drifted wide. Her strategy of pushing Sindhu deep into the backcourt earned her 11 points, but a number of errors limited her from putting up a serious challenge.

Sindhu closed the first game in just 12 minutes before Yamaguchi decided to concede, handing the Indian her first Super 1000 semifinal appearance in three years. The result also marked Sindhu’s first Malaysia Open semifinal in eight years.

Sindhu will next face either sixth-seeded Indonesian Putri Kusuma Wardani or second-seeded Chinese shuttler Wang Zhi Yi for a place in the final.

Earlier in the tournament, Sindhu defeated 19-year-old Tomoka Miyazaki 21-8, 21-13 in 33 minutes to reach her first Super 1000 quarterfinal of the season.

In men’s doubles, India’s two-time world championships bronze medallists Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy will take on Indonesia’s sixth-seeded pair of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri in the quarterfinals. The third-seeded Indian duo progressed after registering a 21-18, 21-11 win over Malaysia’s Junaidi Arif and Roy King Yap in 39 minutes on Thursday, extending their head-to-head record against the Malaysians to 4–0.

Meanwhile, India suffered a setback in women’s doubles, with Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand bowing out in the opening round after a closely contested 21-9, 21-23, 21-19 defeat to Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspita Sari on Wednesday.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday slammed the Centre over reports suggesting that the Indian government plans to scrap five-year-old restrictions on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts.

Ramesh, General Secretary incharge of communication in Congress, said that the government’s deliberations are “calibrated capitulation to Chinese aggression”.
He further criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the proposed move, despite Beijing’s continued presence in India’s border areas and its open support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

“Eight months after China gave full military backing (and fronting) to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and was described by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh as one of India’s ‘adversaries’, the Modi government is now proposing to lift five-year-old curbs on Chinese companies bidding for Indian government contracts,” the Congress leader posted on X.

Ramesh said that the “humiliating kowtowing” was taking place even as Indian troops were denied access to the traditional patrolling area.
“This is nothing short of a calibrated capitulation to Chinese aggression, born out of the Prime Minister’s own weakness – as demonstrated most shamefully by his public clean chit to China on June 19, 2020. This humiliating kowtowing is taking place even as Indian troops are denied access to traditional patrolling areas, China maintains its heavy military presence in eastern Ladakh, continues to provoke on Arunachal Pradesh, and builds the Medog dam on the Brahmaputra – less than a year after giving hyperactive support to Pakistan’s attacks on India,” he added.

Ramesh added that these relaxations for Chinese firms are part of the broader set of recommendations proposed by NITI Aayog to remove restrictions on trade with China.
“This move follows earlier decisions allowing Chinese firms to invest in India’s electronics sector, liberally granting visas to Chinese workers, and comes amid a continuing rise in India’s record trade deficit with China. It is part of a broader set of recommendations from NITI Aayog aimed at removing restrictions on Chinese trade and investment in India entirely,” he said.
Jairam Ramesh demanded an explanation from PM Modi on the government’s
“U-turn” on China policy.

“The Prime Minister’s evasions have gone on far too long. He must now explain his government’s sudden U-turns on China policy during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament – which has for a very long been denied an opportunity to discuss and debate the challenges and threats from China,” he said.
The restrictions on Chinese firms were imposed following the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in 2020.
The possible shift comes as India and China look to normalise ties amid US pressure on New Delhi.

Last year, PM Modi visited China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation.

Google has announced to introduce new Gemini-powered experiences, including AI Inbox, for more helpful and personalised insights for its users.

The new capabilities have started rolling out in the US to Gmail users as well as Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, said the company.

“We’re starting with English and excited to roll out more languages and to more regions in the coming months,” said Blake Barnes, VP Product, Gmail, in a blog post.

AI Inbox is like having a personalised briefing, highlighting to-dos and catching you up on what matters.

“It helps you prioritise, identifying your VIPs based on signals like people you email frequently, those in your contacts list and relationships it can infer from message content. Crucially, this analysis happens securely with the privacy protections you expect from Google, keeping your data under your control,” said Barnes.

“We’re giving trusted testers access to AI Inbox before making it more broadly available in the coming months,” he added.

Just like Google Search, AI Overviews turn information into answers without the digging.

When you open an email with dozens of replies, Gmail synthesises the entire conversation into a concise summary of key points.

“And when you ask your inbox a question, we use Gemini to generate a simple AI Overview with the answer,” said Google. AI Overview conversation summaries are rolling out for everyone at no cost.

Starting today, everyone can use ‘Help Me Write’ to polish emails or draft them from scratch. There are also new Suggested Replies (an update to Smart Replies) which use the context of your conversation to offer relevant, one-click responses that match how you write.

Help Me Write and Suggested Replies are also rolling out to everyone at no cost. The Proofread feature is available for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Next month, the company will update Help Me Write with better personalisation by bringing context from your other Google apps.

Today, 3 billion users rely on Gmail to connect and get things done. AI has been a big part of that — from Smart Replies to AI-powered spam blocking.

India’s automobile industry delivered a strong performance with passenger volumes up 20 per cent YoY in the October–December 2025 quarter, driven by GST reforms, a pickup in rural demand, and sustained festive momentum, a report said on Friday.

Financial services firm PL Capital said in a report that improved affordability, easier financing, and recovering consumer sentiment supported broad‑based volume growth across passenger vehicles, two‑wheelers, and commercial vehicles.

Passenger vehicle volumes rose due to GST‑led price cuts and year‑end discounts, while inventory days fell sharply to 45 days in November, about 38 in December, from over 55 earlier.

Small cars saw more pronounced benefits from GST cuts, even as SUVs continued to dominate demand, reinforcing the ongoing premiumisation trend.

Further, two‑wheelers recorded high‑teens growth, led by motorcycles in the 150cc and higher segments, with some models facing extended waiting periods due to strong retail sales and dealer restocking, the report said.

Commercial vehicles showed early signs of an upcycle during Q3FY26, supported by a revival in construction and mining activity after an extended monsoon season. Medium and heavy commercial vehicles outperformed light commercial vehicles as replacement demand picked up, and customers opted for higher-tonnage vehicles.

Improved affordability following GST rate rationalisation also encouraged fleet operators to advance purchase decisions, the report noted.

Construction equipment sales rebounded, although growth remained muted on a high base due to pre-buying ahead of emission norm changes last year. Tractor sales continued their upward trajectory, aided by state subsidies and supportive government policies.

“On the rural front, a healthy Kharif harvest and better Rabi sowing acreage strengthened farm incomes and cash flows, translating into improved demand for entry-level vehicles and tractors,” the report said.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) also benefited from new model launches, facelifts, and improved realisations, while exports remained stable and the rupee weakened.

The financial services firm warned that rising costs of raw materials such as aluminium, copper, and platinum, coupled with the reintroduction of steel safeguard duties from January 2026, could pressure margins in the coming quarters.

Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh along with the celebrated musician duo Sachet-Parampara is back to win hearts with his latest track, ‘Ishq Da Chehra’ from the upcoming film ‘Border 2’.

Also Read: Border 2: Diljit Dosanjh stuns fans with bloodied, intense look in first poster

Also Read: Diljit Dosanjh completes ‘Border 2’, leaves co-stars with love and laddoos

Song unveiled on social media

T-Series Films took to Instagram to share a glimpse and the announcement of the track from “Border 2” which has been sung by Diljit, Sachet Tandon and Parampara Tandon.

The caption read: “Ishq da yaara naam suna tha, tujhse mila toh main hua roobaroo! #IshqDaChehra out now!”

 

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Also Read: ‘Ghar Kab Aaoge’ teaser out: Sonu Nigam, Arijit Singh, Diljit Dosanjh unite for ‘Border 2’ song | WATCH

A soulful shift from war to love

Ishq Da Chehra is a soulful romantic melody that offers a glimpse into the emotional and yet the strongest world of the film. Rooted in love, longing, and quiet strength, the song beautifully shifts the lens from the battlefield to the hearts of the soldiers, presenting personal bonds that give them strength beyond the frontlines.

Romance amid duty and sacrifice

Through heart-warming montages, the track reveals intimate moments shared by the characters Diljit, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Sunny Deol with their partners, highlighting love as a powerful anchor amidst duty and sacrifice.

Music and lyrics

The song is composed by the celebrated duo Sachet-Parampara and the heartfelt lyrics are penne by Kausar Munir.

Stellar pairing in focus

‘Ishq Da Chehra’ weaves together the stories of Sunny Deol and Mona Singh, Varun Dhawan and Medha Rana, Diljit Dosanjh and Sonam Bajwa, and Ahan Shetty and Anyaa Singh.

About ‘Border 2’

“Border 2”, which as per Varun Dhawan is based on the 1971 war and some true events .It is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta’s J.P. Films.

The film is backed by a powerful production team including Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh.

Release date

Also Read: Border 2 teaser: War returns with Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty; cast, release date OUT

The film is will be released on January 23.

 

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A look back at Border (1997)

Meanwhile, J.P. Dutta’s blockbuster “Border’ released in 1997. The film stars an ensemble cast of Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Puneet Issar, Sudesh Berry and Kulbhushan Kharbanda in pivotal roles, along with Tabu, Pooja Bhatt, Rakhee Gulzar, Sharbani Mukherjee, Sapna Bedi and Rajiv Goswami.

After the buzz around ‘Jana Nayagan’, all eyes are now on Sivakarthikeyan’s upcoming film ‘Parasakthi’, which has officially cleared the Censor Board. The Central Board of Film Certification has handed the movie a U/A 16+ certificate, just in time for its January 10 release. Produced by Dawn Pictures, the film stars Sivakarthikeyan alongside Atharvaa and Ravi Mohan.

Also Read: Jana Nayagan: Madras HC slams CBFC, orders immediate U/A certificate for Thalapathy Vijay’s film

History behind ‘Parasakthi’

‘Parasakthi’ dives deep into a turbulent chapter of Tamil Nadu’s history. The film sheds light on the anti-Hindi imposition protests of 1965. It reportedly talks about tragic events in Pollachi. There the army reportedly fired on more than 250 people protesting against mandatory imposition of Hindi.

Legacy of the original ‘Parasakthi’ (1952)

Tamil cinema enthusiasts cannot help but compare this new film to the legendary ‘Parasakthi’ of 1952. Directed by Krishnan-Panju, the original starred Sivaji Ganesan in his debut role and featured Kalaignar’s dialogues on social reform.

Back then, the movie faced strong opposition. There were calls for ban from both society and the government. Yet, it went on to become a massive, massive hit. It ran for over 175 days in theaters.

Audiences flocked to watch Sivaji’s intense court scenes, sometimes even sitting on theater steps just to catch a glimpse.

The 1952 ‘Parasakthi’ set a benchmark for Tamil cinema.

Promotions that built the hype

The makers of ‘Parasakthi’ have gone all out and loud to build excitement. First teaser trailer dropped on January 29, 2025. They revealed the film’s title at the same time.

The next day, promotional poster hinted at movie’s anti-Hindi imposition theme. And, it instantly grabbed attention. To give fans a taste of the 1960s era, the team also set up ‘The World of Parasakthi’, a special exhibition at Valluvar Kottam in Chennai, which ran from December 18 to 28, 2025.

The final trailer released on January 4, 2026 gave audiences glimpse of the movie’s historical intensity.

‘Parasakthi’: What to expect on release day

The movie now has CBFC certificate in hand. ‘Parasakthi’ is all ready to hit theaters on January 10, 2026. Audiences can expect a mix of drama and history.

Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday took a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly obstructing the Enforcement Directorate’s raid at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and taking away “key evidence” from the site.
In a caricature of the incident, the BJP, in a post on X, portrayed Mamata Banerjee running away with the evidence file while an ED official chased her, screaming that it was “an important file for the investigation.”

Mamata Banerjee alleged that the central agency had seized party-related materials, including hard disks, candidate lists and strategic documents, and accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing central agencies.
“Is it the duty of the ED, Amit Shah, to collect the party’s hard disk, candidate list? The nasty, naughty Home Minister who cannot protect the country is taking away all my party documents,” Banerjee said while speaking to reporters.

ये मेरी घोटाले की फाइल है… मैं इसे नहीं दूंगी! pic.twitter.com/eouu57KETF

— BJP (@BJP4India) January 8, 2026

Issuing a direct challenge to the BJP and Amit Shah, the Chief Minister dared him to come to West Bengal and fight her democratically. “If Amit Shah wants Bengal, then come, fight democratically, and win. Everyone must know what kind of operation has been carried out. Starting at 6:00 a.m., they arrived and seized the party’s data, laptops, strategies and mobile phones. Their forensic experts transferred all the data. I believe this is a crime,” she said.

Banerjee asserted that I-PAC was not a private organisation but an authorised team working for the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC). She alleged that the ED had confiscated sensitive documents, including data linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Countering the Chief Minister’s allegations, the ED accused Mamata Banerjee of entering the residential premises of Prateek Jain, director of I-PAC, during the ongoing search operation and taking away “key evidence”, including physical documents and electronic devices.

“Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices,” the ED said, adding that her convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office, from where “Ms Banerjee, her aides and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence.”

Clarifying its position, the ED said, “The search is evidence-based and is not targeted at any political establishment. No party office has been searched. The search is not linked to any elections and is part of a regular crackdown on money laundering. The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards.” It added that persons linked to the generation of coal smuggling proceeds, hawala operators and handlers were covered in the PMLA searches conducted on January 8, 2026.

This development in West Bengal has led to a sharp face-off between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

The first match of the three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on January 11 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Both teams have arrived in the city ahead of the series opener.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared photos of the Indian players taking part in their first practice session ahead of the much-anticipated series. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), the BCCI captioned the images:

“New year, fresh start.
Glimpses from #TeamIndia’s first training session in Vadodara ahead of the #INDvNZ ODIs.”

New year, fresh start

Glimpses from #TeamIndia‘s first training session in Vadodara ahead of the #INDvNZ ODIs @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/itTwA5fKDF

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2026

Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are set to feature in the ODI series, having retired from Test and T20I cricket. The duo recently turned out in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which began last month, and made an immediate impact with the bat.

Kohli produced a commanding knock of 131 off 101 balls for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh on December 24, 2025, in Bengaluru. The innings also saw him become the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 16,000 List A runs and also the fastest to do so, reaching the milestone in just 330 innings, compared to Tendulkar’s 391.

Rohit, meanwhile, smashed a sensational 155 off just 94 balls against Sikkim on December 24, 2025, including 18 fours and nine sixes. It was his fastest List A century, brought up in 62 balls, and earned him the Player of the Match award as Mumbai secured an eight-wicket win. However, the opener endured a contrasting outing in his second match of the tournament, where he was dismissed for a golden duck.

India’s ODI captain, Shubman Gill, is also in focus ahead of the series and arrived at Vadodara Airport on Wednesday. The 26-year-old received a warm welcome from fans and acknowledged them with a smile.

Gill, who was sidelined from India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad, will be making his first international appearance since then. He featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but had a disrupted start, missing the first match against Sikkim due to food poisoning before scoring 11 off 12 balls against Goa in the second match on January 6, 2026.

Despite recent challenges, Gill boasts an impressive record against New Zealand, having scored 623 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries. He has not played an ODI since India’s tour of Australia last year, where he struggled for form and failed to cross the 30-run mark in three innings.

As he returns to the 50-over format, Gill will be keen to rediscover his rhythm against a New Zealand side that will be without their talisman, Kane Williamson.

Touchdown ✈️ Vadodara

Preps underway as #TeamIndia gear up for their first challenge of 2026 #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ryykzbrNCR

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2026

India vs New Zealand ODI squad

India’s squad:

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer (VC – subject to fitness), KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh.

New Zealand’s squad:

Michael Bracewell, Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, and Will Young.

Actor Prabhas have a huge fan base in Japan. And to target his huge fan base, the makers of director Maruthi’s horror comedy ‘The Raja Saab’, featuring the actor in the lead, have now confirmed that they are planning to release the dubbed Japanese version of the film in Japan, within three to six months of the film’s release in India.

Producers reveal release plan

The makers of the film organised a pre-release event. The producer of the film, T G Vishwa Prasad was asked if they had plans to release the film in Japan, considering the popularity Prabhas enjoys in the country.

 

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Responding to the question, the producer said, “We are at present releasing the film in Indian languages. We will have the film dubbed in Japanese and release it in Japan three to six months after the release here.”

Also Read: The RajaSaab tickets: Prabhas’s movie records ₹8.29 crore potential with 1.2 lakh seats booked before release date

Prabhas’s strong Japan connect

Prabhas had only recently visited Japan for the release of his film ‘Baahubali: The Epic’. Prior to ‘Baahubali’, the actor’s film ‘Saaho’ too was released in Japan to full houses. In fact, ‘Saaho’, which was directed by Sujeeth and which featured Prabhas and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead, went on to emerge as the highest opener for an Indian film in Japan when it released there.

Meanwhile, the producer said that they were uncertain about the number of screens ‘The Raja Saab’ would get in Tamil Nadu but they expected to get anywhere between 150 to 200 screens.

Massive expectations for the film

The Raja Saab’s makers released a trailer few days ago. Spine-chilling but really well cut trailer of the film has created a huge interest among fans and film buffs and a has only gone on to add to the excitement.

 

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Prabhas’s first full-fledged horror entertainer

This will be actor’s first full-fledged horror entertainer. The film has triggered huge expectations as Prabhas will be seen stepping into uncharted territory with this project.

Star cast and technical crew

The cast of ‘The Raja Saab’ includes the stunning trio of Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Ridhi Kumar, who are expected to add charm and freshness to the world of The Raja Saab.

The film has cinematography by Karthik Palani and music by Thaman S.

A day after the Enforcement Directorate carried out raids at the office of the India Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the residence of its co-founder Pratik Jain, the poll-bound state of West Bengal finds itself in the midst of a huge political storm. With the political atmosphere already heated up in view of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise, the ED raids at what Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described as the IT office of her Trinamool Congress party have only added intensity to the war of words that has been ongoing in West Bengal.

Mamata today led a protest rally from Jadavpur to Hazra Crossing in Kolkata against the ED raid. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court, where three petitions were scheduled to come up for hearing before the single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh, adjourned the matter till January 14 due to ‘an unmanageable crowd in the courtroom’. The main petition was filed by the ED against CM Mamata Banerjee for misusing her constitutional position by allegedly obstructing the searches being carried out by the central agency officials. The other two counter petitions were filed by the ruling Trinamool Congress and I-PAC head Pratik Jain, who is also in charge of the TMC’s IT cell.

ED raids on I-PAC in West Bengal: UPDATES

West Bengal BJP holds march

West Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha holds a counter-march against CM Mamata Banerjee, from Rabindra Sarovar to Deshapriya Park.

BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, who took part in the march, said, “Yesterday will be marked as a black day in the history of West Bengal. It is a matter of shame that, being a CM, she is using such words against the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. She then alleges being humiliated by the Central government. Mamata Banerjee’s life was stuck in that IPAC office yesterday. This is why she was there.”

#WATCH | Kolkata | BJP leader Locket Chatterjee says, “Yesterday will be marked as a black day in the history of West Bengal… It is a matter of shame that, being a CM, she is using such words against the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. She then alleges being humiliated by… https://t.co/UFKKgJTi68 pic.twitter.com/uijxmNN7DA

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026

Mamata speaks after leading protest march, slams BJP and EC

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has slammed the BJP for trying to use the ongoing SIR exercise to come to power in the state.

“If you speak in Bengali, they declare you Bangladeshi. They say that there are Rohingyas present in Bengal, but where are the Rohingyas? If there are no Rohingyas in Assam, why has SIR not been started there? This is all being done because they are trying to come to power in Bengal, as they did in Maharashtra and Haryana. But it is not possible,” Mamata said.

Issuing a warning, the Bengal CM added: “I never react, but if anyone hurts me, I never spare them. In the name of SIR, they target local people. They harassed old people and pregnant women.”

Mamata further slammed Home Minister Amit Shah, whom she has been addressing as “nasty and naughty” ever since the ED raids against I-PAC started yesterday.

“You know who is sitting in the Election Commission. He was the Cooperation Department Secretary of Amit Shah. I have no issues with that…. I challenge them that they came to power in Haryana and Bihar forcefully. In one more state, they come to power forcefully. Now they are trying to do this in Bengal. Ask me who used the coal scam’s money. Suvendu Adhikari used it and sent it to Amit Shah.”

What happened in Calcutta HC? TMC MP explains

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, speaking on the Calcutta HC move to adjourn the hearing on the petitions filed in connection with the ED raids at I-PAC office, explained the circumstances under which the hearing could not take place today. “The court was overcrowded. The judge asked everyone except the concerned lawyers and their assistants to leave the court due to overcrowding. The next hearing is on 14th January,” said Banerjee.

TMC MPs, detained in Delhi, released by the police

TMC MPs who were detained by the Delhi Police during their protest outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s office today, have been released from Parliament Street police station. MP Mahua Moitra said, “It is our property where ED came in to do the robbery. All our election data is in the I-PAC office. Just before the elections, they came to tamper with our information. If someone comes into your house to rob you, then you are within your rights to go and protect your property. We have every right to protect our property, else ED will take it and give it to the BJP.”

Mamata leads protest march

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has started her protest march from Jadavpur in South Kolkata against the Enforcement Directorate raids at I-PAC premises in Kolkata yesterday. Ahead of the march, Mamata condemned the “shameful, unacceptable treatment” meted out to TMC MPs in Delhi. The MPs were detained while protesting outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s office in Delhi.

#WATCH | Kolkata | TMC Chairperson and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee leads a rally following the ED raid on I-PAC yesterday pic.twitter.com/CkYfedjywC

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026

Calcutta HC hearing adjourned till Jan 14

The Calcutta High Court has adjourned the hearing of petitions related to the ED raids at I-PAC premises till January 14. The single-judge bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh adjourned the hearing on the three petitions, citing an unmanageable crowd in the courtroom.

Mamata set to lead protest rally

TMC Chairperson and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is all set to lead a rally shortly against the Enforcement Directorate following the raid on I-PAC yesterday.

#WATCH | Kolkata | TMC Chairperson and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will lead a rally today against the Enforcement Directorate following the raid on I-PAC yesterday

Visuals from the 8B bus stand, Jadavpur pic.twitter.com/BkJ3x3fcT0

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026

CPI questions ED action, Mamata’s move

CPI General Secretary D Raja has commented on the ED-I-PAC raid matter. He said, “What is happening in West Bengal and Delhi has raised several questions. It has to be explained what the ED was doing until now, and woke up suddenly. The elected CM took away the files – why she did this has to be explained. Those who follow politics in Bengal know that there is an attempt to polarise politics in Bengal. All this is happening close to the elections. It is a sensitive development that the CM is protesting on the streets as ED continues its action. People of Bengal need to understand what the BJP and the TMC are doing.”

Mahua Moitra on ED action: ‘Not an investigation…this is theft timed before Bengal elections

Detained TMC MP Mahua Moitra accused the Enforcement Directorate of “stealing” political data, claimed the action was timed ahead of Bengal elections, and said TMC MPs were detained while peacefully protesting outside the Home Ministry.

“ED is not carrying out the investigation but is illegally stealing,” said Moitra, adding: “I-PAC is not a hidden organisation. Everyone in India knows that I-PAC is an election strategist, an election consultant. They’ve been working with the Trinamool Congress not just from today, but for the last seven or eight years, and all our services, all our candidate lists, all our election information is with I-PAC because that’s what they do. They raided their office. We would say it wasn’t a raid, the ED committed a robbery, and they were taking all our information, and it’s our duty, it’s our party’s duty to protect that information, and that’s where Mamata Banerjee, the lioness, went…”

I-PAC office raid: Home Ministry seeks detailed report from ED on Kolkata searches

The Union Home Ministry has asked the Enforcement Directorate for a detailed report on its January 8 raids at the I-PAC office and co-founder Pratik Jain’s residence, amid allegations of obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The CRPF has also submitted its own report. The matter will be heard by the Calcutta High Court on Friday.

‘Mamata’s behaviour unethical and unconstitutional: BJP

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad has slammed West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for her actions during the ED raids on I-PAC yesterday, stating that she has put democracy to shame.

“What happened in Bengal yesterday has never happened before in independent India. The entire action of the CM, Mamata Banerjee, is not only unethical, irresponsible and unconstitutional, but she also has put the entire democratic process to shame,” Prasad told a press briefing.

Mamata committed a criminal offence: Suvendu Adhikari

BJP MLA and LoP, West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has called CM Mamata Banerjee’s action to take away “evidence” from the ED raid site as “a completely criminal offence” and a direct attack on the Constitution.

“When the BJP government comes to power, we will take action against everyone. All agencies, including the ED and the CBI, follow laws and procedures to take any action. They did not take permission for the protest,” he added.

Abhishek Banerjee slams the BJP-led Centre

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has slammed the Central government over the detention of TMC MPs who were protesting outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s office in Delhi, stating that “agencies are weaponised, and democracy is punished”.

“Jail the protesters, bail the rapists,” Banerjee alleged, posting on X.

Democracy is punished.
Criminals are rewarded.
Agencies are weaponised.
Elections are manipulated.

JAIL the PROTESTERS.
BAIL the RAPISTS.

This is BJP’s version of New India.

Even if the rest of the country is forced to surrender,
Bengal will resist.

We will fight you tooth… https://t.co/YH8oAxuUnn

— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) January 9, 2026

What the TMC petition in the Calcutta HC says

ANI reports that the Trinamool Congress petition filed in Calcutta High Court against the ED raids states that the petitioner, TMC, has been standing up and protesting against SIR in Bengal, hence the ED is searching and seizing documents from TMC’s political strategy office (I-PAC) and the residence of the co-founder.

The TMC petition also states that confidential data has been seized illegally by the agency ED.

Congress calls ED ‘BJP’s election department’

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate commented on the ED raids at I-PAC premises in Kolkata and slammed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for trying to intimidate the Opposition.

“The ED (Enforcement Directorate) is the BJP’s election department. Wherever elections are held, the BJP’s election department goes there and works to intimidate and threaten the opposition. I just want to know what the ED has done in the last 11 years besides acting as a front for the BJP? How many of the ED’s cases have reached a conclusion? I think their (ED’s) credibility and reputation have been completely destroyed,” she said.

Detained TMC MPs react

A group of Trinamool Congress MPs earlier today held a protest outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s office in Delhi, accusing the Centre of using investigative agencies to target the Opposition. The demonstration ended with police briefly detaining some of the MPs as security moved in to clear the area.

Detained TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “We have been detained and brought to Parliament Street police station. We were protesting peacefully outside the office of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who most shamelessly sent his Enforcement Directorate, the Extortion Directorate, to loot, plunder and do political espionage on our party and steal our election data and documents. They dragged us, the public representatives, here. Why is ED selectively only for the Opposition? No other Opposition leader has the courage to do what Didi (Mamata Banerjee) did yesterday to save our party’s documents.”

Detained TMC MP Kirti Azad said, “You have seen that we were doing a peaceful protest outside Amit Shah’s office against ED raid. BJP does not have the courage to win against Mamata Banerjee. She will hold a march at 2 pm today to protest against the ED action in Kolkata.”

#WATCH | Delhi | Detained TMC MPs at Parliament Street police station, following their protest outside Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s Office pic.twitter.com/FrWQyUhmmR

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026

BJP delegation to meet the Governor

A BJP delegation is set to call on the Governor of West Bengal at 12.30 pm today, following the ED raids on I-PAC and CM Mamata Banerjee’s protest against it, reports ANI.

WB Governor refuses to give ‘knee-jerk’ reaction on ED raids issue

“I have received petitions and representations from the public. Three legal points raised in those petitions are: number one, preventing a public servant from discharging his duties is a criminal offence.

“Secondly, intimidating or threatening a public servant in the discharge of his duties is a severe offence, which will attract a punishment of two years and a fine, or both.

“The third is that this is an allegation given to me by the lawyers… The third point which they are raising is that a constitutional authority is supposed to protect the Constitution. If such an authority disobeys the Constitution, that authority has no right to continue in that office… I do not want to risk a knee-jerk reaction now.”

– Governor CV Ananda Bose

Bengal Guv reacts to Mamata’s complaint

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has reacted to Mamata Banerjee filing an FIR against the ED, stating that one should wait for the Calcutta High Court to hear the matter.

“The law is always above you. You will see that the law is enforced in any manner that is required. Now that it is before the High Court, let us wait for the judgment, then I will give my comment,” the Governor said.

#WATCH | Kolkata: On Mamata Banerjee filing an FIR against the ED, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, “…. The law is always above you. You will see that the law is enforced in any manner that is required. Now that it is before the High Court, let us wait for the… pic.twitter.com/OeHdONTpad

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026

Mamata files complaints at two police stations

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has filed complaints at two police stations in Kolkata in connection with the ED raids on I-PAC. One of the complaints was registered at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station under Kolkata Police, and the other at Electronic Complex Police Station.

The complaints have been filed against unidentified individuals and do not name any officials of the ED or Central Armed Police Force (CAPF).

As per reports, the Kolkata Police have also registered a suo motu complaint at the Shakespeare Sarani Police Station.

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly molesting seven minor schoolgirls in a busy residential area of Malad. The girls are aged between 14 and 15.

The incident took place in Malvani, close to the girls’ school, during the morning hours. Police say the accused was taken into custody within hours of the complaint.

What police say happened

According to the police, one of the victims, a 14-year-old student from Santacruz, had left home around 7.30 am for school. She and her classmates were standing near the school premises when the man approached them.

Before the girls could react, the accused allegedly moved close, hugged them, made obscene gestures and molested all seven minors on a public road, reported news agency IANS.

Police said the man also tried to lure the girls by promising to take them for a drive in his car. He allegedly asked them to meet him regularly at the same spot.

Shaken by the incident, the girls raised an alarm. Local residents gathered at the scene, forcing the accused to flee.

Arrest and legal action

After recording the statement of the victim’s mother, Malvani Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accused was detained later in the day and formally arrested in the afternoon. He was produced before the Dindoshi court, which remanded him to police custody for further investigation.

Police officials said they are also examining whether the man may have been involved in similar incidents earlier.

Mumbai Police said strict action was taken considering the seriousness of the offence and the age of the victims. The investigation is ongoing.

The incident caused fear among residents in the area. Police said the swift arrest was aimed at restoring a sense of safety.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has claimed that the trade deal between India and the United States did not happen as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not place a call to US President Donald Trump.

In a conversation with American venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, as part of the ‘All-In Podcast’ on Thursday (local time), Lutnick said that while contracts were negotiated and the entire deal structure was prepared, the final step required direct, leader-level engagement.

“I would negotiate the contracts and set the whole deal up, but let’s be clear. It’s his (Trump’s) deal. He’s the closer. He does it. It’s all set up, you got to have Modi, call the President. They were uncomfortable doing it. So Modi didn’t call. That Friday left, in the next week we did Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, we announced a whole bunch of deals,” the US Commerce Secretary said.

Lutnick went on to explain Trump’s broader trade negotiation strategy, describing it as a “staircase” model. According to him, countries that moved first received the best possible terms, while those that followed later were offered progressively higher rates.
Referring to the first trade deal with the United Kingdom, Lutnick said Trump was repeatedly asked about which country would be next, and India was publicly named multiple times.

India, he said, was given “three Fridays” to close the deal, effectively putting it on a “short clock.”
However, according to Lutnick, India did not meet the deadline and as a result, the US moved ahead with trade agreements with several Asian countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, announcing a series of deals across Asia.
Lutnick said these agreements were negotiated at higher rates, as the US had initially assumed that India’s deal would be completed earlier. When India later approached the US, around three weeks after the deadline, seeking to proceed, it was told that the opportunity had passed.

Earlier in September, Lutnick stated that despite India maintaining a firm position on continuing oil trade with Russia, New Delhi would eventually return to the table to strike a deal with Washington in the coming months.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Lutnick had said, “So I think, yes, in a month or two months, I think India is going to be at the table and they’re going to say they’re sorry and they’re going to try to make a deal with Donald Trump.”

He further cautioned that India would face consequences if it failed to align with the US. “If India does not support the United States, they will have to pay 50 per cent tariffs on its exports to the US,” he warned.
Trump has imposed tariffs on countries that were major exporters to the US, including India and China. There is a 50 per cent tariffs on goods from India entering the United States since August 2025.

In a fresh setback to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members, a Delhi court on Friday framed charges against them in the alleged Railways land-for-jobs corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order, holding that a prima facie case of corruption, cheating and criminal conspiracy is made out against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, and several other accused.

The court, paving the way for the trial, framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with offences under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

His family members have been charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

Pronouncing the order, the Special Judge observed that Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members were “operating as a criminal enterprise” and part of a broader conspiracy, wherein public employment in the Indian Railways was allegedly exploited as a bargaining chip to obtain immovable properties.

The court held that the Central agency’s charge sheet prima facie shows that close associates of Lalu Prasad Yadav facilitated the acquisition of land in lieu of jobs in the Railways across different parts of the country.

Rejecting the plea seeking discharge, it said that “the plea of Mr Lalu Yadav and his family members to be discharged is completely unwarranted”.

According to the court order, of the 98 surviving accused named in the case, charges have been framed against 46 people, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members, while 52 accused have been discharged.

It may be recalled that proceedings against five accused have abated following their deaths. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on January 29.

The case pertains to allegations of “large-scale corruption” between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Prasad was the Union Railway Minister.

According to the CBI, parcels of land were acquired in the names of Lalu’s family members and a company linked to them, often at rates below market value and largely through cash transactions. In return, railway jobs were allegedly provided across various zones. Parallelly, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the alleged money laundering trail linked to land transfers in Patna.

The Bangladesh government remains firm on its demand to have Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 rescheduled to Sri Lanka, citing security and dignity concerns. Sports adviser Asif Nazrul confirmed that Dhaka will continue to press the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the team’s match venues, insisting the global body has failed to grasp the gravity of the situation.

Tensions between the two neighbouring nations have escalated in recent months. The situation intensified after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In response, the Bangladesh government ordered the suspension of broadcasts of all matches from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

“We sat together with the BCB directors—Aminul Islam, Faruque bhai and everyone else. Today we discussed the situation and we all agreed that Bangladesh earned qualification for the T20 World Cup through hard work. We are a cricket-crazy nation, and we definitely want to play,” Nazrul was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying.

“But we do not want to play the World Cup at the cost of national humiliation, at the cost of the security of our cricketers, spectators and journalists, or at the cost of the country’s dignity. After reading the letter we received from the ICC today, it felt to us that they have not fully understood the serious security situation that has developed in India for Bangladeshi cricketers,” he added.

Following Rahman’s release, which triggered security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wrote to the ICC requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the tournament, which is scheduled to begin in February.

“To me, it does not feel like only a security issue—it feels like an issue of national humiliation as well. Still, we are primarily treating it as a security issue. When the Indian cricket board itself is telling the Kolkata team that they cannot provide security to this player and asking them to drop him from the team, that alone shows there is no environment in India where it is safe to play,” Nazrul said.

“We do not want to go into the wider communal situation in India. But when it comes to the security of our cricketers, the security of Bangladesh, and the honour and dignity of Bangladesh, there will be no compromise. We want to play cricket, we want to play the World Cup, and since there is another host country—Sri Lanka—we want to play there. We are firm on this position.”

Earlier, the BCB issued a statement clarifying that the ICC has assured Bangladesh of its continued and unhindered participation in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, rejecting reports that suggested the board was issued an ultimatum to play matches in India or risk forfeiting points.

According to the BCB, the ICC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh’s participation and expressed its willingness to work closely with the board on security-related matters.

“Why are we firm on this position? We hope we will be able to explain that to the ICC, and we hope the ICC will consider our arguments impartially and allow us to play in the T20 World Cup that we have earned through hard work,” Nazrul said.

“Our first step is to convince the ICC. We have strong arguments, and we will present them. On the question of Bangladesh’s security, honour and dignity, there will be no compromise. But we definitely want to play the Cricket World Cup.”