On Monday, Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria Beckham, broke his silence with a deeply personal and emotional statement, opening up about the pain, control and conflict he claims to have endured within his own family. In a lengthy tell-all post shared on social media, Brooklyn spoke about his strained relationship with his parents, alleging years of emotional manipulation, public humiliation and pressure that continued even after his marriage to Nicola Peltz.
Brooklyn Beckham made heartbreaking confessions in a tell-all post about his parents.
From distressing moments surrounding his wedding day to being forced to choose between family ties and personal peace, Brooklyn’s revelations have left fans stunned worldwide. Here are five of the most heartbreaking disclosures from his candid post about growing up with what he described as “controlling parents”.
Brooklyn says his parents are trying to ruin his relationship with Nicola
Brooklyn claimed that his parents have been “trying endlessly to ruin my relationship” since before his wedding to Nicola, and that it has not stopped. He revealed, “My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress. Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.”
He also recalled being called “evil” by his mother during the wedding planning, simply because he and Nicola chose to include his nanny and his wife’s naunni at their table.
‘Not blood, not family’: Brooklyn on being attacked by his own family
Brooklyn recalled that the night before his wedding, he was told that his wife, Nicola, was “not blood” and “not family”. He said the attacks began when he started standing up for himself. He shared, “I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders. Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer.”
How Brooklyn’s mum ‘hijacked’ his first dance with Nicola
Brooklyn admitted feeling deeply embarrassed when his mother allegedly hijacked his first dance with Nicola at their wedding. Recalling the incident, he said, “My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance, to a romantic love song. In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule, was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife, but instead, my mum was waiting to dance with me instead. She danced very inappropriately in front of me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life.”
He added that following the incident, he and Nicola decided to renew their vows in order to create new memories of their wedding day that would bring them happiness and joy, rather than anxiety and embarrassment.
Brooklyn reveals how his wife was disrespected by his parents
Brooklyn also spoke about the alleged disrespect his wife faced from his family. He said, “My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.”
He further revealed that despite the ongoing tension, he and Nicola travelled to London for his father’s birthday, only to be rejected for a week. According to Brooklyn, his father refused all attempts to spend quality time with him unless it was at his birthday party, which had a hundred guests and cameras at every corner. He added that David eventually agreed to see him only on the condition that Nicola was not invited.
‘I was controlled by my parents’
Brooklyn stated that he had been controlled by his parents for most of his life and said, “The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.” He added that he now wakes up every morning grateful for the life he has chosen and has finally found peace and relief.
Tushar Ahluwalia raises $12 million for AI venture out of stealth
BENGALURU: Tushar Ahluwalia, who previously co-founded ecommerce aggregator Razor Group and consumer fashion platform StalkBuyLove, has raised $12 million for his new AI startup GeneralMind, just months after the company began operations, as it comes out of stealth to scale an autonomous workflow automation platform for enterprises.Berlin-founded GeneralMind’s early-stage equity round was led by venture capital firms Lakestar, Leo Capital, Lucid Capital, Heliad and BOOOM, with participation from angel investors including Alexander Kudlich, Jens Urbaniak and Samir Sood. Founded in 2025, GeneralMind is an autonomous layer designed to execute repetitive operational workflows that typically sit between enterprise systems of record such as ERPs and day-to-day execution teams. The platform integrates with legacy ERP systems and automates unstructured coordination across email, spreadsheets and internal tools.“We integrate into legacy ERP systems and call different LLMs depending on what works best to automate certain workflows,” Ahluwalia told TOI. He added that the company owns the enterprise-level context layer and feeds it back into its system to enable what it describes as autopilot-grade automation, with human supervision where required.According to the company, several NASDAQ-, MDAX- and SDAX-listed enterprises are already using GeneralMind’s technology, though it did not disclose client names.The founding team also includes Shrestha Chowdhury as chief product officer, Dr Oliver Dlugosch as chief commercial officer, Lennart von Hardenberg as CTO for platform, Nishrit Shrivastava as CTO for deployments, and Sergiu Șoima as senior vice-president of engineering.While GeneralMind is headquartered in Berlin, the company operates a second office in Bangalore. Leo Capital, founded by Rajul Garg, is part of the investor group, while Samir Sood, formerly of Venture Highway, is backing the company as an angel investor. Part of the founding and engineering team is based in Bangalore.GeneralMind currently has 28 employees across Berlin and Bengaluru, with headcount evenly split between the two locations. The company said it will use the fresh capital to scale its technology and expand enterprise deployments across Europe.
Pushpa Impossible is engaging viewers with its rooted, real-life storytelling and deeply relatable characters. While Pushpa (Karuna Pandey) navigates life’s highs and lows with unwavering resilience, keeping her family at the center of everything she does, her daughter Rashi (Akshaya Hindalkar) steps into the spotlight with a compelling blend of vulnerability and strength.
In this candid conversation, Akshaya Hindalkar, who essays the role of Rashi, shares insights into the show, her character, and the nuanced journey of bringing Rashi to life on screen.
On playing Rashi
On playing the role of Rashi, “I was honestly very excited and grateful when I was offered the role. Pushpa Impossible is such a well-loved show with strong storytelling, so joining it as Rashi felt really special. What truly made me say yes was the depth and values of both the character and the show. Rashi isn’t just another character, she has a journey filled with emotions and purpose, and that’s what really drove and inspired me to be a part of this project.”
She further opened up about the response from the fans, “Yes, it was a little overwhelming, but in a positive way. I focused on understanding Rashi, her mindset, emotions, and place in the story. I had been watching the show even before joining it, and the previous actor had set a strong benchmark, so there was a sense of responsibility. I observed the tone of the show and rehearsed to blend in naturally while still bringing my own individuality to the character. Trusting our director, Pradeep sir, and Karun ma’am, who is the spine of the show, helped me feel supported and connected.”
Her bond with Karuna Pandey
When asked about how the character has helped her grow professionally, Akshaya said, “Playing Rashi has helped me grow as an actor, especially in terms of vulnerability. I hope to carry the maturity this role has given me into my future projects. Since Rashi herself is an actor and influencer, I relate to her a lot, which makes the journey even more personal. Credit goes to the director for creating a comfortable space where we can learn and grow, and with Rashi, I know I’ll continue learning something new every day.”
Akshaya went on to share her bond with onscreen mom, Karuna Pandey, she said, “It is an extremely amazing experience. Karuna ma’am is very grounded and genuinely supportive, and I truly mean that. On my very first day, she helped me a lot and made me feel comfortable. Getting to know her and working alongside her has been a wonderful experience for me. The entire cast and crew have been welcoming from the start. It’s the first time I’ve seen a production house that is so supportive and collaborative. Despite the long hours, there’s always fun and positivity on set, which really helps break the ice and makes the work feel lighter.”
Indian shuttlers would eye a drastic improvement after last week’s disappointing home run when they go up against a demanding draw at the USD 500,000 Indonesia Masters, which gets underway here on Tuesday.
Lakshya opens his campaign against Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh, while HS Prannoy faces a stern test against Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
This is the effect of President Trump’s attempt to annex Greenland and impose tariffs on several European countries Throwing the trans-Atlantic alliance into crisis. If a trade war breaks out, the US economy could feel the pain – from South Carolina to Silicon Valley.
President Donald Trump also linked his claims on Danish territory to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in a letter sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Storr. (AFP via Getty Images)
European leaders, many of whom are gathering in Davos, Switzerland, this week for the World Economic Forum, are considering the bloc Response optionsThat includes imposing tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods and making it more difficult for American multinationals to bid on European contracts. there will be a trade war disastrous for Europewho is already suffering steady progress.
Economists say the tit-for-tat tariffs probably won’t cause a recession in the US, but could slow growth, hit an already sluggish domestic manufacturing sector and raise prices for consumers and businesses at a time when the US is already struggling to get inflation back to comfortable levels.
In the long run, deteriorating relations could lead Europe to reduce its dependence on the US and deepen trade ties elsewhere, undermining a relationship that has been a driver of prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
For the US, the end result could be US companies selling less to Europe, reducing their profits and opening the door to competitors from countries like China, said Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank. “Once those new relationships are formed, they are very hard to change,” she said.
The economies of America and Europe are deeply interconnected. The EU is the US’s largest trading partner – and Europe is the largest source of foreign direct investment into the US, with $3.6 trillion invested in the US by 2024. It also goes the other way: American companies make money by selling software, financial products and oil across the Atlantic.
Director of the Economics Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Philip A. “There are basically no deep relationships in business,” Luck said. “If you look at AI (and) data center build-out right now, it’s being financed by revenues generated from Europe and other places.”
The trade war is not the only economic risk. Some analysts have warned that Trump’s threats against Europe could cause European investors to reduce investment in US stocks and bonds, causing the US dollar to weaken, US stocks to decline and US borrowing costs to rise. Higher borrowing costs, in turn, weigh on business investment and household spending, slowing economic growth.
Trump has used the unparalleled strength of the American economy as a powerful tool with which to bend allies and rivals to his will. And so far, he’s mostly got his way. Europe, which is dependent on US military support against a hostile Russia, has much more to lose from a crackdown, giving its leaders an incentive to appease Trump rather than fight back. That’s what happened last year, when the EU agreed to an unbalanced trade deal rather than risk losing US support for Ukraine’s war effort. But some analysts say it is not a foregone conclusion that Europe will retreat again.
On Saturday, Trump said he would impose 10% tariffs on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1. Trump wrote on social media that if a deal is not made by then to sell Greenland to the US, the tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1. The European products that the proposed tariffs would affect include: luxury and high quality goodsFrom French perfumes, cheeses and wines to German automobiles.
While trans-Atlantic goods trade has grown more slowly since the 2007–09 recession, US services exports continue to expand rapidly. This includes financial, legal and insurance services, but increasingly it centers on digital services and cloud computing provided by major US technology companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google and IBM. The EU is the largest destination for US services exports, which totaled $294.7 billion for the bloc in 2024.
Sridhar Ramaswamy, CEO of American cloud-software company Snowflake, said every successful tech company makes a large amount of its revenue from places like Western Europe. “Whether it’s regulation or actual fees and taxation, I think it’s very consequential,” Ramaswamy told Davos.
Some EU leaders have said they may delay approving last year’s trade deal with the US, which cuts tariffs on many US exports to Europe. They are also considering imposing retaliatory charges. Economists say Europe’s response will likely be calibrated to maximize political pressure on the U.S., targeting U.S. exports that are both visible and “symbolically important to red states,” says Brad W. Setser, an economist at the Council on Foreign Relations. In past trade disputes, the EU has imposed tariffs on products such as bourbon, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and agricultural goods.
“Think about the high-end consumer goods that Europe loves but could do without,” Setser said.
As tariff rates rise and Europe’s retaliation expands, the stakes rise exponentially. Some economists believe Trump’s threatened 25% tariffs on top of existing duties of 10% to 15% in some sectors are beginning to be high enough to deter two-way trade in the affected categories.
Even if Europe does not retaliate, economists say the additional tariffs will put little pressure on the U.S. economy, at least in the short term, as they raise prices for American companies and consumers.
a new study The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, found that US companies and consumers paid 96% of the tariff costs in 2024 and 2025, while foreign exporters absorbed only 4%. So far the tariffs have not led to the increase in inflation that economists expected, and the U.S. Economy grew at strongest rate in two years-Far ahead of Europe.
Yet the US economy has weaknesses. Its manufacturing sector, already under pressure from trade tensions and high interest rates and in contraction by some measures, is particularly vulnerable because its supply chains are tightly linked with Europe, Lovely said.
Many American factories source machines, turbines and components from Europe, and tariffs increase their costs. If Europe retaliates by imposing tariffs on American goods, manufacturers exporting across the Atlantic could be hit. “This is just another blow,” Lovely said.
Among the places most at risk: Spartanburg, SC The area is home to a massive BMW factory that employs approximately 12,000 people and indirectly supports thousands of jobs throughout South Carolina. The factory receives some engines and parts from Europe and exports more than half the cars it produces, many to the European Union. Stuart Pearson, head of automotive and mobility research at Oxcap Analytics, said BMW may have to cut production in the US due to retaliatory tariffs.
Still, U.S. carmakers are much less dependent on the European market and could benefit if higher tariffs hit European auto imports, making them less competitive, Pearson said. The tariffs could attract more foreign companies to open factories in the US, which would boost the manufacturing sector in the long run.
European investors own about $8 trillion of U.S. stocks and bonds, “almost twice as much as the rest of the world,” George Saravelos, global head of FX research at Deutsche Bank, wrote in a report published Sunday.
He said, “In an environment where the geo-economic stability of the Western alliance is being existentially disrupted, it is not clear why the Europeans would be so willing to take on this role.”
This is perhaps the first time Wall Street has wondered whether other countries might try to become less politically and economically engaged with the U.S. Concerns about a potential “sell-out to America” trade emerged early last year when the Trump administration signaled it was wary of supporting Europe militarily and again later when it threatened tariffs on global imports.
Those fears ultimately proved exaggerated. Foreign investors also showed strong demand for US financial assets last year, with the S&P 500 posting double-digit gains for the third consecutive year. US Treasuries remain the ultimate safe-haven asset for central banks and investors around the world, helping the country deal with huge budget deficits without facing higher interest rates.
Rich Nuzum, a top executive at asset manager Franklin Templeton, said markets have learned to ignore Trump’s tariffs and suggested the newly threatened levies on Europe would be similar. “There was a time when the market really cared about tariff announcements. That’s not the case anymore,” he said. “The market believes it will get done. It may be noisy, it may be disruptive, it may be scary, but it will get done.”
The most serious economic boost would come if Europe deployed its so-called anti-coercion tool, nicknamed the “bazooka,” which would allow it to target American services and investments. In such a scenario, the EU could raise taxes, tighten regulatory scrutiny or otherwise restrict US companies operating in Europe.
Sectors like pharmaceuticals will be affected by this. US companies often route R&D activities through countries such as Ireland and manufacture active ingredients there, allowing profits to be booked in the low-tax jurisdiction. Technology companies may also face similar risks. For example, Apple holds significant intellectual property and records a large share of global profits in Ireland, even though many of its devices are manufactured in China and around the world.
“The world’s most profitable companies have a significant European foot in their businesses,” said Setser at the Council on Foreign Relations. He said a move to Europe would then mean lower global profits for US companies, weaker stock market valuations, particularly in technology, and less ability to invest in areas such as artificial intelligence.
After a critically acclaimed first season that set a new benchmark for Indian police procedurals, Kohrra returns on February 11, reaffirming its place as one of Netflix India’s most prestigious and finely crafted investigative dramas.
The series is a Film Squad Production in Association with Act Three, produced by Saurabh Malhotra, Sudip Sharma, Manuj Mittra and Tina Tharwani.
Created and written by Gunjit Chopra, Diggi Sisodia and Sudip Sharma, Season 2 brings a fresh case and a new pairing, rooted once again in Punjab’s bleak, wintry terrain where silence often speaks louder than a confession.
Kohhra Season 2 Plot
Leaving Jagrana behind, Assistant Sub-Inspector Amarpal Garundi (Barun Sobti) is posted to Dalerpura Police Station, where he now works under his new commanding officer, Dhanwant Kaur (Mona Singh). Different as they may seem, both share the same passion to throw themselves into a case- even as the walls they’ve built to escape their pasts crumble right before their eyes.
With Barun Sobti returning as Garundi and Mona Singh joining the franchise in a nuanced, compelling new role, Kohrra Season 2 promises a haunting new chapter in Indian noir. One where truth emerges slowly, unbeknownst to greater but more familiar beasts lurking in the mist.
Creator Sudip Sharma turns director
Season 2 also marks an important creative evolution for the series. Sudip Sharma, the visionary creator and showrunner of Kohrra, steps into the director’s chair (alongside Faisal Rahman), bringing an even more intimate and immersive lens to the storytelling.
Sudip Sharma shares, “It’s quite exciting to be back. Season 1 allowed us to explore quieter tensions between people, between past and present. This season as well, we’ve tried to bring forth as authentic a portrayal of Punjab as possible, with the characters rooted in a universal reality we’ve seen play out across the country. The show`s an emotional roller-coaster. Barun and Mona have done a fantastic job, and I can’t wait for people to see it for themselves.”
Tanya Bami – Series Head, Netflix India adds, “Set in a new city against the backdrop of a new crime and new partnership, S02 is even more riveting. I completely credit the expert craftsmanship of Sudip Sharma, who is not only the creator & showrunner, but is also making his directorial debut with S2. For all crime fans, this is an unmissable crime drama thriller.”
Kohrra Season 2 begins its investigation on February 11, only on Netflix.
Tensions between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been escalating, days after they announced a ceasefire, which is being severely tested by renewed fighting, involving the withdrawal of the latter’s forces from areas west of the Euphrates River.
Talks in Damascus between Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa and SDF leader Mazloum Abdi, also known as Mazloum Kobani, have faltered, with the latter returning to the northeast.
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Contention and a blame game have surrounded the issues of ISIL (ISIS) prisoners who escaped from al-Shaddadi prison during the fighting between the army and the SDF. Syria’s Ministry of Interior said on Tuesday that 130 of 200 ISIL escapees had been recaptured.
The ministry accused the SDF of releasing ISIL fighters from the prison in the northeastern city of al-Shaddadi as a form of “political and security blackmail”. The army said it deliberately bypassed al‑Shaddadi prison in line with an agreement that the SDF would later hand control of the facility to authorities in Damascus.
The SDF has blamed the Syrian army for the prison break, saying it “lost control” of the jail after an attack by tribal fighters affiliated with the army.
SDF commander Fawza Youssef on Tuesday blamed the al-Sharaa government for failing to uphold the deal.
“There is no political will on the part of the government to implement a ceasefire,” he told Al Jazeera. “If the violations and attacks continue, the SDF cannot be disarmed.”
The agreement reached on Sunday between al-Sharaa and Abdi stipulates the withdrawal of the SDF from Raqqa and Deir Az Zor, parts of which are east of the Euphrates, within a month.
A spokesperson for Syria’s Interior Ministry claimed the SDF was “trying to deflect blame” as it faced internal divisions.
“We prefer peaceful solutions, but all options are open,” the spokesperson told Al Jazeera.
The deal included the SDF’s withdrawal from the area around the al-Aqtan prison. As it appeared on the verge of collapse, Al Jazeera correspondents on Tuesday reported that the Syrian army had begun artillery shelling around the prison and the SDF’s 17th Division headquarters in Raqqa.
Local sources in Hasakah province in the northeast of the country said the army reached the Panorama intersection, located at the southern entrance to the city.
The Interior Ministry confirmed its readiness to take over the management and security of ISIL prisons in Hasakah in accordance with international standards.
Information Minister Hamza Mustafa said the army secured the city of al-Shaddadi in the Hasakah countryside after taking control of the prison located there.
Taking control of ISIL prisons
The SDF, the United States-backed force that fought ISIL in Syria, controls more than a dozen prisons in the northeast, where some 9,000 ISIL members have been held for years without trial.
While al-Sharaa’s government has pledged to reunify Syria after nearly 14 years of ruinous civil war, the SDF has repeatedly underlined al-Sharaa’s previous affiliation with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly a part of al-Qaeda.
In a statement on Monday, the SDF referred to the government as “ISIS sympathizers, whose actions are directed and orchestrated by the Turkish state”, and pledged to respond in a similar manner to the battle to capture Kobane in 2014.
“Today we reaffirm that the will of the people is stronger than all forms of aggression and occupation,” the statement said.
The Syrian government responded to the statement, rejecting “any attempt to use the issue of terrorism as a tool for political or security blackmail”.
“The insistence on linking the actions of law enforcement and the restoration of state legitimacy with the danger of activating terrorist cells constitutes a blatant attempt to distort the facts and fuel the conflict in order to maintain an authority that was imposed by force of arms,” it said in a statement.
“The Syrian government warns the SDF leadership against taking any reckless steps that would facilitate the escape of ISIS detainees or open prisons for them as a retaliatory measure or as a political pressure tactic.”
Al-Sharaa’s offer to Abdi
Five hours of talks between al-Sharaa and Abdi on Monday aimed at salvaging the ceasefire deal ended without agreement, sources told Al Jazeera.
The president offered to appoint Abdi to the post of deputy defence minister and nominate him to be governor of Hasakah in exchange for the deployment of Syrian internal security forces to the city.
The offer also included the removal of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members from the territory. Turkiye sees the SDF as the Syrian branch of the PKK, an organisation that it has been at war with since 1984 and that it considers a “terrorist” group.
Abdi asked for five days for consultations, a request al-Sharaa rejected. The president gave the SDF leader until the end of Tuesday to accept the offer, warning that failure to do so would trigger military action and the collapse of the ceasefire deal.
Al-Sharaa on Monday held a phone call with US President Donald Trump, in which the two stressed the importance of preserving Syria’s territorial unity and independence and underlined the need to guarantee the rights and protection of the Kurdish people.
India have lost bigger games to bigger rivals. They have been outplayed by stronger teams. They have been ambushed by conditions, timing, and their own nerves. But when New Zealand do it, it lands differently, because it rarely looks like brute force. It looks like inevitability, the kind that creeps in quietly, and leaves India straight at a scoreboard that feels like it has been written by someone else.
New Zealand team after winning the ODI series against India. (X images)
New Zealand’s most painful wins over India aren’t all the same format or era, but they rhyme. They are pressure games where margins are thin, plans are clear, and the contest becomes less about spectacle and more about control. And in those moments, New Zealand have repeatedly been the team that keeps its shape while India briefly forgets theirs.
The first big scar sits at the start of modern India’s ODI confidence. In the 2000 ICC KnockOut Trophy final, India put up a solid 264/5 – the kind of total that usually lets you exhale. New Zealand didn’t. They chased it down, 265/6, and India’s first major shot at a global white-ball title in the new millenium slipped away with cruel neatness of a finished equation.
That result wasn’t an anomaly. It was a warning about what New Zealand can be on their day: calm under heat, clinical in the chase, and annoyingly resistant to narrative.
The early jolt that didn’t fit the script
Fast forward to 2007, the first ever T20 World Cup. India would go on to win that tournament, but New Zealand delivered a loud-group stage reminder that this new format wasn’t going to respect reputations. They scored 190. India got close, but not close enough. New Zealand won by 10 runs – a result that didn’t end India’s campaign, but did puncture the idea that India could simply out-bat early chaos.
The strange thing is, even when India recover later, New Zealand defeats remain sticky. It’s the tone of them. They feel like disruptions of momentum.
The upsetting results in the bilaterals
By the time India toured New Zealand in 2014, as the reigning World Champions, the relationship had developed a new edge: bilateral series where India’s aura didn’t travel. The 5-match ODI series ended 4-0 to New Zealand, with one no-result. It was a tour where India felt stuck in the same loop – a decent start, a wobble, and then a slow drain of control.
And then came 2020, a year that turned New Zealand into an uncomfortable mirror. India were whitewashed 3-0 in the ODI series. They were beaten 2-0 in the Test series. The pattern was unmistakable: New Zealand at home didn’t need miracles; they needed discipline, clarity, and conditions. India had talent, but not the same comfort in the small ugly moments that decide contests there.
The Heartbreaks
If there is one match that defined New Zealand’s ability to humble India on the grandest stage, it is the 2019 World Cup semi-final at Manchester. New Zealand made 239/8. India’s chase never really began before it was already in trouble. The top order collapsed, the conditions turned hostile, and even a fightback felt like it was happening inside a narrowing tunnel.
New Zealand won by 18 runs, but the margin didn’t capture the emotional reality. It wasn’t just a defeat; it was the kind of loss that makes a team look mortal in a tournament where they had felt close to inevitable.
And then, the next cut: the 2021 World Test Championship final. Over six days and a fickle weather, New Zealand were the better team in the moments that mattered. India’s batting couldn’t set the game on fire, and New Zealand’s discipline turned the match into a test of patience India couldn’t win. An ICC final, again, with New Zealand holding the trophy and India holding the questions.
Even in T20s – where chase is supposed to be India’s ally – New Zealand have found ways to keep the door shut. The 2021 World Cup Super 12 game in Dubai was brutally one-sided: India managed 110/7, New Zealand chased it down comfortably losing only two wickets with 33 balls to spare. It was not dramatic. It was worse. It was clinical, like being beaten in silence.
The unthinkable home series
For decades, India’s home dominance in Tests felt like a law of nature. Teams would arrive, win a session, maybe win a Test, and leave with a polite nod to reality. New Zealand didn’t just challenge that – they tore it up.
In the 2024-25 Test series, New Zealand won 3-0 in India. A full whitewash. That isn’t just a statistical shock; it is a cultural one. India do not lose like that at home. Not in a three-Test series. Not across different venues. Not with the kind of completeness that leaves no room for ‘one off’ explanations.
That series wasn’t about New Zealand being brilliant. It was about them being relentlessly correct: plans that held, disciplines that didn’t crack, and a willingness to play the long game without getting bored by it.
And when India thought the reset button might exist in limited-overs, New Zealand pressed again. The Kiwis have won an ODI series in India, 2-1 – a rare home bilateral series loss that stings because it feels like the problem isn’t format specific. It is psychological.
This is why New Zealand’s wins over India feel different. They don’t win by turning into something extraordinary for an hour. They win by staying ordinary for longer than India can tolerate – by refusing gifts, by embracing the boring ball, by making a chase feel heavier than it is.
India’s greatest strength is that they can overwhelm you. New Zealand’s greatest trick is that they can outlast strength, and in moments that shape legacies, they have done it often enough to become a pattern, not a footnote.
If India ever want to fully exorcise this particular ghost, it won’t be with rage or revenge. It will be with the one thing New Zealand have demanded from them repeatedly: a calm, unromantic commitment to the hard parts, even when the crowd is waiting for fireworks.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that Clare Binns, creative director of Picturehouse Cinemas and Picturehouse Entertainment, will be honoured with the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The prestigious special award, one of BAFTA`s highest honours, recognises individuals or organisations that have made a significant and inspiring contribution to film, particularly those whose work may fall outside BAFTA`s competitive award categories.
Announcing the honour on Monday, BAFTA described Binns as “a driving force in the distribution of films in the UK.” and praised her four-decade-long commitment to championing independent and diverse cinema across British screens.
“Over the last four decades and counting, Clare has built an exceptional reputation amongst the British film industry for championing diverse and fiercely independent work on big screens around the UK,” BAFTA said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her work has included supporting and showcasing filmmakers such as Danny Boyle, Francis Lee, Steve McQueen, Shola Amoo, Charlotte Regan and Alice Winocour, as well as films such as Deerskin, The Wife, Taste of Things, The Last Tree, Monster and God`s Own Country.
BAFTA also highlighted Binns` role in spearheading initiatives to broaden cinema audiences and strengthen community engagement. These include relaxed screenings, parent-and-baby shows, over-60s programmes and dog-friendly screenings across Picturehouse venues, as per the outlet.
In addition, Binns has overseen a significant expansion of Picturehouse`s social outreach efforts, including collaborations with Brixton Soup Kitchen and Poetic Unity at The Ritzy Picturehouse. Under her leadership, Refuge, a UK-based charity supporting victims of domestic violence, became Picturehouse`s charity partner, with regular fundraisers and awareness campaigns held across cinemas.
Emily Stillman, BAFTA chair of the film committee, praised Binns` influence on British cinema, calling her a visionary figure within the industry.
“Clare Binns` impact on the British film industry is profound – she is a hugely talented and beloved visionary,” Stillman said. “Clare`s unwavering commitment to bring a diverse range of storytelling to the big screen, her belief in the power of cinema, and her ongoing work championing emerging independent filmmakers are inspirational.”
Reacting to the announcement, Binns said she was deeply moved by the recognition. “I was totally blown away when I heard that I was getting this award,” she said. “I`m so thrilled not just for myself but for everyone who has worked with me throughout my career and for those who continue to support the mission to welcome audiences into local cinemas across the UK,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards are scheduled to take place in London on February 22. Recently unveiled nomination longlists are led by One Battle After Another, followed by Hamnet and Sinners, as per the outlet.
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Following the conclusion of free trade agreements (FTAs) with Oman and the UK in 2025, India finalized negotiations for an FTA with New Zealand on December 22, nine months after talks began in March. This makes it one of India’s fastest concluded FTAs, reflecting the strong political intent of both sides.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, welcomes New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ahead of his visit in New Delhi, India, Monday, March 17, 2025. (File photo/AP)
One of the elements of the agreement that gained popularity in India is the elimination of duties on 100% of Indian exports to New Zealand. This includes the immediate removal of tariffs on 8,284 New Zealand tariff lines. Existing New Zealand tariffs – averaging about 10% on key Indian exports such as textiles, leather goods, ceramics and automobiles – will be eliminated, in addition to the average applied tariff rate of 2.2%. The agreement enhances India’s market access to labour-intensive and manufacturing sectors including textiles, leather, footwear, a variety of engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. Zero-duty access is likely to particularly benefit Indian MSMEs in export-oriented sectors.
From New Zealand’s perspective, India has offered market access on 70.03% of tariff lines, covering approximately 95% of New Zealand’s exports, leaving 29.97% of tariff lines that are protected areas. Protected areas include dairy and animal products, agriculture, arms and ammunition, gems and jewellery. There will be immediate elimination of duty on 30% of Indian tariff lines; 35.60% of tariff lines will undergo phased tariff elimination over 3, 5, 7 and 10 years; And there will be reduction in tariff on 4.37% products. Thus, the FTA is a good example of how such Indian redlines can be respected in trade negotiations while also promoting lower tariffs in sensitive sectors.
Beyond trade in goods, New Zealand has committed to invest $20 billion in India over the next 15 years. The agreement also includes a major contract on student mobility and post-study work visas, as well as the first contract on traditional medical services. Meanwhile, PM Modi and his New Zealand counterpart have welcomed the FTA as a catalyst to potentially double bilateral trade within five years. Legislation for the FTA is expected to be introduced into the New Zealand Parliament this year.
The third FTA concluded by New Delhi this year reflects India’s ongoing efforts towards trade diversification and to ease the pain of exporters hit by US tariffs (despite the marginal impact of the FTA given the minimal export volumes). When viewed alongside India’s two other recently concluded FTAs, the New Zealand FTA also holds a significance in sending geopolitical signals to Washington, indicating India’s ability to develop sustainable economic partnerships beyond the US. This is especially important as negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement with the US continue to be at an impasse.
Also, this agreement highlights the sustainable features of India’s trade negotiating posture. The complete exclusion of politically sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy – an issue that has attracted political opposition within New Zealand, reflects a long-standing complaint of partners such as the US regarding India’s use of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and limited reciprocity in sensitive sectors. India’s continued tough stance on ‘protecting’ these sectors is also evident from the fact that this is New Zealand’s first FTA that completely excludes the dairy sector, and agriculture accounts for the largest share of New Zealand’s exports to India and represents its single largest export sector globally. This has generated mixed reactions within New Zealand’s ruling coalition. The New Zealand First Party and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have expressed strong objection to immigration and access to the dairy and farming sector, calling it “neither free nor fair”. Whereas, due to its large market base, the opposition Labor Party and many industry groups have supported the agreement, despite acknowledging its limitations.
Despite its political and strategic signaling value, the utility of FTAs for expanding Indian exports is likely to be limited. While the agreement signals Delhi’s intention to reduce ‘over-concentration’ in export markets, it is unlikely to significantly increase exports given the minimal bilateral trade and exports of $1.3 billion and $711 million respectively.
Field studies further highlight this limitation. In agriculture and dairy – together accounting for about 17% of all product tariff lines and the largest sector within India’s export basket to New Zealand – existing tariffs apply to only 5% of exports worth about $700 million. Similarly, engineering goods face a 10% tariff on exports worth only $68 million. These figures show that tariff liberalization provides very limited benefits to Indian exporters due to the already low tariffs imposed by New Zealand. Furthermore, more than 58% of tariff lines 11 were already duty-free before the agreement.
Accordingly, the value of the agreement for India lies not in tariff cuts, but in regulatory alignment, particularly in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, auto components and machinery. New Zealand’s regulatory regime in these areas is extremely stringent, overseen by specialized agencies that enforce rigorous safety, efficacy and quality standards. Importers require official approval through extensive technical documentation on product safety and performance. Importers must also submit detailed justification, including design registration, to demonstrate that the risk profile remains uncompromised when products do not fully meet the prescribed benchmarks. Therefore, FTAs are likely to shape the composition and quality of India’s exports rather than significantly expand the quantity.
Concurrently, amid Delhi’s diversification efforts, the limited provision of 5,000 temporary employment visas underlines New Zealand’s constraints as an alternative destination for Indian foreign employment. While the contract (New Zealand’s first) signals growing confidence in India’s skilled workforce, it is modest relative to Indian employment in the US and Canada. This is especially important amid the US H-1B visa fee hike and the 2026 expiration of Canadian work permits, which could leave up to one million Indian workers undocumented.
While Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hopes to get enough parliamentary support to legislate the FTA into law, New Zealand First has decided to vote against any such legislation. However, it is likely to be confirmed as the party has only eight seats in Parliament.
The FTA brings some silver linings, including greater predictability in goods, services, mobility and investment, and the FTA is likely to avoid some of the common criticism of the growing trade deficit. It is also a constructive framework to deepen engagement with India, one of the most underdeveloped economic partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, criticism within New Zealand of labor mobility provisions as “extremely unwise” due to domestic unemployment does not seem justified. New Zealand faces well-documented skills shortages in a number of sectors, including those covered under the mobility contract i.e. health care, engineering, IT, construction and education. Therefore, mobility arrangements can potentially act as an essential complement to New Zealand’s workforce needs.
The success of FTA will also depend on its utilization. India is known to exhibit a low utilization rate in FTAs of around 25%, while developed economies reach 70%–80%. In this, knowledge and implementation of New Zealand regulations will be important for Indian exporters including MSMEs. Relatedly, making the most of trade agreements will require sharing of responsibility between businesses and policymakers to create awareness and use dialogue mechanisms to address potential challenges. Furthermore, consideration of direct flights and expedited visa procedures by both countries will help in realizing the objectives of the Mobility Agreement.
Overall, while the FTA will not significantly boost trade volumes in the short term, its value lies in the long term. This is likely to expand India’s trade footprint in the Indo-Pacific region. The inclusion of a high-standard based economy also indicates India’s potential to sign ‘high-standard FTAs’ to the international community.
This article is written by Araudra Singh, Research Assistant, Council for Strategic and Defense Research, New Delhi.
