Times of India

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shared a Ghibli-style anime artwork alongside a selfie with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on X. The post, celebrating cooperation between the two nations, quickly garnered attention online. Users praised the "extraordinary leaders" and the blend of diplomacy with pop culture.

X, formerly Twitter, experienced a significant global outage on Friday, January 16, marking the second disruption in three days. Users worldwide faced issues accessing posts, photos, and videos, with a majority reporting app problems. This latest technical fault adds to a string of disruptions affecting the platform recently, leaving many unable to connect.

Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand due to a side strain, with Ravi Bishnoi named as his replacement. Shreyas Iyer also joins the squad for the first three T20Is, replacing the injured Tilak Varma. Iyer brings significant T20I and IPL experience to the Indian team.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a decisive victory in the Maharashtra civic elections 2026, including the BMC polls, across 27 civic bodies. Key takeaways highlight the BJP's dominance under Devendra Fadnavis, the erosion of the Thackeray legacy, and the fizzling out of Ajit Pawar's political maneuvers. The Congress showed a minor resurgence, while AIMIM made notable inroads in urban pockets.

Sanjay Dutt adds Tesla Cybertruck (Rs 50 lakh) to his luxury garage, spotted zooming Mumbai streets. The stainless-steel beast packs steer-by-wire, massive screens, and towing power. US price: $80K+. Recently shone in Prabhas' The Raja Saab and Ranveer Singh's hit Dhurandhar.

Maharashtra's civic elections saw a significant political shift as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a dominant victory, particularly in Mumbai's BMC. Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP celebrated substantial gains, ending Shiv Sena's long-held control. Uddhav Thackeray's Sena and the Congress faced major setbacks, while Raj Thackeray's MNS and Sharad Pawar's NCP also saw diminished influence.

Danish shuttler Mia Blichfeldt has strongly criticized the hygiene at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, calling conditions "unacceptable" after bird droppings disrupted matches at the India Open. Despite BWF assurances, she doubts the venue's readiness for the World Championships, citing ongoing issues with animals and cleanliness impacting player focus and fairness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers and thanked Maharashtra's people for the NDA and Mahayuti's sweeping victory in municipal corporation elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attributed the success to a development-focused agenda, highlighting the alliance's strong performance, particularly in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

Mossad chief David Barnea visited the US for talks on Iran, following a call between Trump and Netanyahu. Israel requested a delay on military action, citing concerns about retaliation and the effectiveness of proposed strikes. Meanwhile, US military assets are being deployed to the region as diplomatic channels remain open.

Tom Brady admitted his divorce from Gisele Bündchen made his final NFL season emotionally draining. Speaking openly on The Herd, he said personal struggles affected his ability to play and helped him realize retirement was the right choice. After 23 seasons, Brady felt complete and chose to step away to focus on his children and life beyond football.

In a shocking viral clip, ICE agents are seen apprehending a man, with the leading officer attributing the detention to the man's 'accent.' Tensions rise quickly as the man challenges the agent's reasoning, resulting in a chaotic physical scuffle.

The BJP-led Mahayuti has achieved a significant victory in Maharashtra's municipal elections. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis credited the win to the party's development agenda. The alliance secured a majority in numerous municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. This outcome reflects public trust in Prime Minister Modi's leadership and the alliance's focus on governance and infrastructure projects.

Babar Azam was left furious during a BBL match when teammate Steve Smith refused a simple run to keep strike in the Power Surge. The incident occurred in the 11th over and went viral. Smith later smashed a record 32-run over and scored 100. Babar was dismissed soon after in frustration, but the Sixers won comfortably, with Smith named Player of the Match.

Israel's decades-long deep reliance on US military, diplomatic, and political backing is being re-examined. Prime Minister Netanyahu's call to taper US aid to zero within a decade signals a shift towards strategic self-reliance, amidst growing US involvement in Israel's war decisions and evolving American public opinion.

Delhi-NCR faces renewed pollution crisis as authorities re-implement GRAP-III restrictions. Non-essential construction, demolition, and mining activities are halted. Vehicular curbs target older diesel and petrol models. Essential services and critical projects are exempted, with schools offering hybrid learning. This move aims to combat the 'severe' air quality forecast.