Actor Varun Dhawan is currently gearing up for the release of the war drama Border 2. Ahead of the film’s release, he has gone viral on social media for his smile and has also been subjected to trolling over his performance in the Border 2 song Ghar Kab Jaoge. Amid this, Suniel Shetty has come out in support of Varun and expressed his faith in the actor’s performance in the film. He also slammed premature trolling against the young actor.
Suniel Shetty defends Varun Dhawan
In an interview with Bombay Times, Suniel Shetty said, “Has anybody seen the film (Border 2)? Nobody has seen the film. We’ve only seen glimpses. Varun Dhawan will kill it in the film, he’s outstanding. Varun is not playing himself; he is playing a decorated officer who has given his life for the country. I think we should think a little before going out there and saying these things. Today, it’s very easy to trash someone and run them down.”
In the same conversation, Shetty spoke about failure in the film industry, saying, “We always want our kids to be happy, and I am not talking about success. I’m scared of failure in this industry, not success. In other fields, when you fall, you get up and start walking. Here, when you fall, the whole world watches and makes you feel like you’re nothing. People feel Hindi film actors are illiterate and don’t know anything. We know a lot and we are smart. In today’s times, failure is sometimes more celebrated than success, and that’s a fact.”
Varun Dhawan on his trending smile
Last week, Varun Dhawan went live on Instagram to interact with fans while travelling to the Karwar Naval Base for promotions of his upcoming film Border 2. He was accompanied by singer Vishal Mishra.
After greeting fans, Varun said while looking at Vishal, “I know my smile is trending.” He then flashed his now-viral signature smile, leaving netizens amused. As Vishal burst into laughter, Varun asked him to mimic the smile, instructing him to “give a full smile and drop it from one side.” The duo soon broke into laughter, with Varun adding that he was happy the whole of India was smiling along with him.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday took steps to reduce the “stress and pressure” faced by common voters. west bengalSpecial Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR), issuing several binding directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to make the process transparent, accessible and voter-friendly and reiterating that the main objective of the exercise was to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.
A general view of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi. (Shrikant Singh)
The move, welcomed by Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress, is likely to set a precedent for similar amendment exercises being carried out in other states.
In the 12 states and union territories where the exercise is being carried out, names of a little over 70 million people have been removed from the list, although an HT analysis found that most of the deletions were in areas that have seen significant growth over the past decade and a half, suggesting that the process of de-duplication is underway. Also, in the second phase of verification, wherever there are some discrepancies, the Election Commission is issuing notices – this process is underway in West Bengal – and the Supreme Court has directed that the names of all those to whom notices are issued be published.
“Look at the ongoing stress and tension for the common people. Notices have been issued to more than one crore (10 million) people… We are going to pass certain orders… Whatever reforms have to be done, they should be done in a transparent manner by giving a fair opportunity of being heard without causing any inconvenience to the people in the list,” a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant underlined, adding that although corrective measures in the electoral rolls were acceptable, they cannot come at the cost of fairness, due process and voter confidence.
The bench, also comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi, was hearing petitions challenging the SIR process in the poll-bound state, amid a bitter political battle between the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and the ECI.
In a move that significantly strengthens the procedural safeguards for affected voters, the court order ensured that those issued notices on alleged discrepancies receive fair notice, adequate assistance and a meaningful opportunity to authenticate their credentials. Now that hearing venues have expanded significantly and written receipts for submissions have been made mandatory, the Court has sought to eliminate uncertainty and allegations of arbitrariness in the process.
Noting concerns over the notices citing vague “logical inconsistencies”, the court directed the ECI to publish the list of all persons to whom such notices have been issued. These lists should be displayed in panchayat and block offices to ensure transparency and public accountability, the bench said.
The bench recorded that around 1.25 crore (12.5 million) notices were issued flagging discrepancies such as spelling variations in names, short age difference between parents and children, and instances where parents were shown as having more than six children.
To reduce the difficulty and make the process truly accessible, the court further directed that the affected voters should be allowed to submit documents or objections with the assistance of a representative, who could be a relative, neighbor or even a booth level agent of a political party, provided a signed or thumb-printed authorization letter is presented. If the documents are found unsatisfactory, voters should be allowed a personal hearing, in which authorized representatives can also participate.
Responding to complaints of voters being forced to travel long distances, the bench ordered that offices for submitting claims and objections be set up in panchayat buildings or block offices. Importantly, election officials were directed to issue written receipts or certificates acknowledging the submission of documents or the conduct of the hearing, thereby providing voters with concrete evidence of compliance.
Addressing the ECI’s fears of possible violence during the hearing, the court placed the responsibility squarely on the state administration. District Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SP) were directed to deploy adequate staff and forces at the centres, while the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) was made personally responsible to ensure that “no law and order situation” arises and the entire process is completed smoothly.
“We must ensure that the exercise is timely and individuals are given a fair opportunity,” the bench said.
Under SIR practice, “logical anomalies” are classified into seven types, including cases of voters involving more than six offspring; Age difference with parents less than 15 years; Persons above 45 years of age are missing from the 2002 list; Mismatch in fathers’ names between the 2002 and 2005 lists; Age difference with grandparents less than 40 years; Age difference with parents more than 50 years; and gender mismatch with the 2002 list.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for TMC leaders Derek O’Brien and Dola Sen, argued that minor spelling variations in surnames like “Ganguly” or “Datta” were being treated as anomalies, and notices were issued even where the age difference between parents and children was less than 15 years.
“Why is this a logical anomaly? How can an age difference of 15 years between mother and son be a logical anomaly?” the court asked the ECI, pointing out that child marriages are not uncommon in India.
Senior lawyers Rakesh Dwivedi and Maninder Singh, appearing for the ECI, said officials have been directed not to issue notices for spelling variations, but admitted that cases involving age difference of 15 years or less have been flagged. He also argued that booth level agents, being members of a political party, could not insist on attending every hearing, although a voter was free to authorize any representative, including BLAs.
Senior advocates Shyam Dewan and Kalyan Banerjee supported the petitioners’ case. Diwan alleged that important field-level instructions were being given through WhatsApp messages instead of formal written orders, thereby reducing transparency, while Banerjee claimed that notices were also issued to prominent individuals, including Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and sitting MPs, raising concerns of voter profiling.
Dwivedi rejected the allegations, saying, “If there is to be distrust in the ECI, then the ECI should not conduct elections at all.”
The matter comes in the backdrop of escalating political confrontation between the ECI and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose government has vehemently opposed the SIR exercise, alleging that it is a ploy to remove names of legitimate voters ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. “The factor of ‘logical inconsistency’ was not mentioned at the beginning of the SIR process. It was introduced later with the sole intention of removing names of genuine voters,” Banerjee has alleged.
After Monday’s hearing, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention, posting on Twitter: “We wholeheartedly welcome the Supreme Court’s historic direction to the Election Commission. This much-needed intervention has dealt a decisive blow to a cruel, politically motivated and deeply unjust process.”
“The Supreme Court has rightly ordered that the names of those who have been arbitrarily slapped with the vague, sinister label of ‘logical anomaly’ should be published publicly. The BJP-ECI alliance has been exposed as their anti-Bangla landlords,” he said.
The proceedings began with applications filed by TMC MPs, after which the Supreme Court on January 12 sought the ECI’s response on their plea seeking extension of the deadline for filing claims and objections by around 58 lakh (5.8 million) voters whose names were removed from the draft voter list.
The MPs alleged that West Bengal’s SIR process is completely different from the one followed in Bihar, claiming that an unknown software was used to identify anomalies instead of verification on the ground by booth level officials. They also reportedly objected to informal instructions issued through WhatsApp, restrictions on BLA participation and hearings being held at distant administrative centers instead of village level locations.
The draft electoral roll for West Bengal published on December 16, 2025, deleted 5.82 million names, reducing the number of voters from 76.6 million to 70.8 million after the 2025 special summary amendment.
Meanwhile, the ECI has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections under SIR from January 15 to January 19, while January 1, 2026 remains the last date. This extension applied to West Bengal, Goa, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and Puducherry. The ECI said the decision was taken after representations from Chief Electoral Officers and considering factors related to the ongoing vetting process. The state election machinery has been directed to publicize the revised timelines and strictly follow the updated schedule.
London Spirit have confirmed eight international signings as their first recruits ahead of the 2026 edition of The Hundred, underlining the franchise’s intent to build on recent success with proven T20 specialists. Three of the eight — Charlie Dean, Grace Harris and Jamie Overton — represented the side in 2025, while all signings bring extensive experience in the shortest format.South African prodigy Dewald Brevis will make his debut in The Hundred. Charlie Dean continues her long-standing association with London Spirit, having played for the franchise in every season since The Hundred’s launch in 2021. A member of the title-winning side in 2024, Dean captained Spirit in 2025, guiding the team to the Eliminator.
The making of Cooper Connolly: Australia’s 22-year-old star
Left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur joins from Manchester Originals. Grace Harris returns after a standout 2025 campaign in which she struck a match-winning 89 not out against Oval Invincibles in the season opener.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!All-rounder Marizanne Kapp arrives from Oval Invincibles, bringing vast experience and pedigree. England star Liam Livingstone adds explosive power and versatility. He was men’s Player of the Tournament in the inaugural 2021 season, during which he also smashed the fastest hundred by an Englishman, reaching the landmark in just 42 balls.Jamie Overton, another elite England all-rounder, returns after finishing as London Spirit’s leading wicket-taker in 2025. He was named Player of the Tournament in 2023.Completing the list is Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa, the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 internationals for his country. Zampa has claimed 30 wickets in The Hundred at an exceptional average of 13.13.Men’s Head Coach Andy Flower and Women’s Head Coach Jon Lewis both praised the quality and balance of the group, highlighting the experience, match-winning ability and leadership the eight players bring as London Spirit begin shaping their 2026 squads.
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Which player are you most excited to see debut for London Spirit in 2026?
“I’m excited to start working with Dewald and Adam and renewing my working relationships with Liam and Jamie. Each player brings phenomenal experience in franchise cricket both in The Hundred and across the world,” said Flower.Women’s Head Coach Jon Lewis said:“It is brilliant to be able to call upon players of such calibre in the women’s game. I am delighted that London Spirit fans will see the return of two favourites in Charlie and Grace and I know Mahika and Marizanne will provide real skill and experience to our bowling attack.”
Watch: At the scene of Spain’s worst rail disaster in over a decade
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has promised to get to the bottom of why two high-speed trains collided in southern Spain killing at least 40 people, as rescuers continue to search the wreckage.
After visiting the site of the crash, Sanchez also announced three days of national mourning for victims.
More than 120 more people were injured as carriages on a Madrid-bound train derailed and crossed over to the opposite tracks, colliding with an oncoming train in Adamuz on Sunday evening.
The crash is the worst the country has seen in more than a decade.
Rail network operator Adif said the collision happened at 19:45 local time (18:45 GMT) on Sunday, about an hour after one of the trains left Málaga heading north to Madrid, when it derailed on a straight stretch of track near the city of Córdoba.
The force of the crash pushed the carriages of the second train into an embankment, according to Transport Minister Óscar Puente. He added that most of those killed and injured were in the front carriages of the second train, which was travelling south from Madrid to Huelva.
Rescue teams said the twisted wreckage of the trains made it difficult to recover people trapped inside the carriages.
Sanchez visited the site of the crash with senior officials on Monday afternoon.
“This is a day of sorrow for all of Spain, for our entire country,” he told reporters.
“We are going to get to the truth, we are going to find the answer, and when that answer about the origin and cause of this tragedy is known, as it could not be otherwise, with absolute transparency and absolute clarity, we will make it public.”
Puente said an investigation could take at least a month, describing the incident as “extremely strange”.
Reuters
Rescuers are still searching the wreckage at the crash site
EPA
Pedro Sánchez travelled to Spain to pay tribute to the people killed
But Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed source briefed on initial investigations as saying experts had found a faulty joint on the rails, which was causing a gap between rail sections to widen as trains travelled over it. They added that the joint was key to identifying the cause of the accident.
Spain’s El País newspaper said it was not clear whether the fault was a cause or a result of the crash.
Four hundred passengers and staff were on board the two trains, the rail authorities said. Emergency services treated 122 people, with 41, including children, still in hospital. Of those, 12 are in intensive care.
Puente said the death toll “is not yet final”. Officials are working to identify the dead.
The type of train involved in the crash was a Freccia 1000, which can reach top speeds of 400 km/h (250 mph), a spokesperson for the Italian rail company Ferrovie dello Stato told Reuters.
Salvador Jimenez, a journalist with RTVE who was on one of the trains, said the impact felt like an “earthquake”.
“I was in the first carriage. There was a moment when it felt like an earthquake and the train had indeed derailed,” Jimenez said.
Footage from the scene appears to show some train carriages had tipped over on their sides. Rescue workers can be seen scaling the train to pull people out of the lopsided train doors and windows.
A Madrid-bound passenger, José, told public broadcaster Canal Sur: “There were people and screaming, calling for doctors.”
All high-speed services between Madrid and the southern cities of Malaga, Cordoba, Sevilla and Huelva have been suspended until Friday.
Watch: Footage inside Spanish train as passengers evacuate from crash
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia said they were following news of the disaster “with great concern” and offered their “most heartfelt condolences”.
The emergency agency in the region of Andalusia urged any crash survivors to contact their families or post on social media that they are alive.
The Spanish Red Cross has deployed emergency support services to the scene, while also offering counselling to families nearby.
Miguel Ángel Rodríguez from the Red Cross told RNE radio: “The families are going through a situation of great anxiety due to the lack of information. These are very distressing moments.”
In 2013, Spain suffered its worst high-speed train derailment in Galicia, north-west Spain, which left 80 people dead and 140 others injured.
Spain’s high-speed rail network is the second largest in the world, behind China, connecting more than 50 cities across the country. Adif data shows the Spanish rail is more than 4,000km long (2,485 miles).
Uncertainty continues over Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, with reports suggesting the ICC has set January 21 as the deadline for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to confirm whether the team will travel to India. If Bangladesh decide not to take part, Scotland could be brought in as a replacement.According to reports, the ICC has told Bangladesh to agree to play their matches in India or face the possibility of being removed from the tournament. The BCB has expressed reluctance to travel, citing “security concerns”, and has asked the ICC to move Bangladesh’s matches to co-host Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh seek T20 WC match shift from India after Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exit
Discussions were held in Dhaka over the weekend between BCB officials and the ICC, but no resolution was reached.“During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka,” the BCB said in a statement.The ICC has not issued an official response. However, as per multiple media reports, Bangladesh had been given a Wednesday deadline to take a final call.Scotland could replace Bangladesh if required, as they are the highest-ranked team that did not qualify for the World Cup, news agency AFP reported, quoting sources.The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7. Bangladesh are placed in Group C and are set to play their group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.One option discussed was a group swap with Ireland, who are in Group B and scheduled to play in Sri Lanka.“Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed,” the BCB had said.The controversy began on January 3 after the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL squad.As per the current schedule, Bangladesh will play three group-stage matches at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens, followed by their final group-stage game in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Farah Khan has finally announced that she is ready to make her next film as a director! Even as the choreographer-director continues to charm the internet with her candid, humorous YouTube vlogs, many fans eagerly await her next film. She has directed iconic Bollywood films like Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om, and Tees Maar Khan. In her latest vlog, in which she visited Nakuul Mehta’s Mumbai home, Farah gave a major update about her next film as a director. (Also read: Farah Khan’s reaction is priceless as cook Dilip says he often uses her BMW car to travel: ‘Kaha ghum raha tha?’)
Farah Khan confirmed that she will direct Shah Rukh Khan in her next film. (HT Photo)
What Farah said
It all started when Nakuul said that he really misses the genre of films that Farah used to make. Farah said, “Abhi banaungi main! Abhi bachche chaley jayenge na college fir banaungi! There is a whole petition on the internet called wapas aao Farah Khan (I will make a film soon! My kids are going to college so I will make after that. There is a whole petition for me to return to direction)! So I think it is time, I think end of this year I will start.”
Farah then quipped that she is not abandoning YouTube because she wants to pay the fees of her kids! When Nakuul asked whether YouTube will also produce her film, she replied, “If I do (direct her film), I will do it will Shah Rukh! Otherwise, I will wait and do YouTube.”
About her last film
Farah’s last directorial was Happy New Year. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sonu Sood and Boman Irani. It was released in 2014 and became a box office success.
Meanwhile, Farah started her vlogs in 2025 after her team encouraged her to do so. She chose her cook Dilip as her on-screen companion and gave him punchlines to deliver in the videos. Their playful banter turned him into an overnight sensation on the internet.
Shah Rukh was last seen in Dunki, which was released in 2023. The actor will be seen next in Siddharth Anand’s King. A release date for the film is yet to be announced.
National record holder in men’s pole vault Dev Meena was asked to deboard a train at Panvel station by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE). A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, with Meena speaking openly about the harassment he faced at the hands of the Indian Railways official.
Alongside Meena, one of India’s top pole vaulters, Kuldeep Yadav, was also harassed by the TTE, who told the athletes that they were not allowed to carry their poles on the train.
Meena and Yadav detailed the incident through a video plea, stating that they were stranded at Panvel station for nearly five hours while trying to explain to authorities that the poles were essential equipment for their sport.
India’s top pole vaulter de-boarded and detained: the 5-metre jump and the 5-hour wait
Pole vault is one of the toughest events in athletics — and travelling with poles makes it even harder.
This time, the challenge came from Indian Railways officials.
The duo were travelling back to their base after participating in the All India Inter-University Championships.
Sports platform NNIS shared a video of the incident in full, in which Meena questioned the treatment meted out to athletes, wondering what kind of harassment junior athletes might be facing if an international-level competitor like him could be forced to get off a train at the whim of a TTE.
Who is Dev Meena?
Madhya Pradesh pole vaulter Dev Kumar Meena broke his own national record with an effort of 5.35m in the National Federation Senior Athletics Championships in April 2025. The then 19-year-old Meena dominated the men’s pole vault event as he bettered his earlier national mark of 5.32 m, which he had scaled while finishing on top during the Uttarakhand National Games in February.
Pole vault is one event in which there is a huge gap between Indian and international athletes.
The Asian record in the men’s pole vault is 6m, set by Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines in 2023, while the world record stands in the name of Swedish superstar Armand Duplantis at 6.27m.
Meena is far from both of those marks at the moment.
Sivakarthikeyan’s ‘Parasakthi’ has achieved a respectable Rs 49.45 crore in its first ten days, nearing the Rs 50 crore milestone. Despite a slight weekday dip, the film saw a strong weekend push. However, social media buzz reveals mixed reactions, with some criticizing the screenplay and historical representation, while others question casting choices.
‘Parasakthi’ has finished 10 days at the box office with a decent run. The film has earned around Rs 49.45 crore India net till now.On Day 10 the film collected Rs 80 lakhs as per early estimates provided by the Sacnilk website. This came after a good weekend push. In the first week the movie collected Rs 36.25 crore. Day 7 saw a strong Rs 5 crore. Day 8 followed with Rs 4.85 crore. Day 9 dropped to Rs 2.65 crore. Day 10 clearly slowed down which is normal for a weekday. Even with this drop the film is now very close to the Rs 50 crore mark.
Tamil occupancy numbers stay moderate
‘Parasakthi’ had an overall Tamil occupancy of 13.71 percent on the last day.Morning shows recorded 11.51 percent occupancy. Afternoon shows were slightly better at 13.64 percent. Evening shows went up to 14.18 percent. Night shows did best with 15.52 percent.‘Parasakthi’ is directed by Sudha Kongara. The film stars Sivakarthikeyan in the lead role. Ravi Mohan, Sreeleela, Atharvaa, and Rana Daggubati play key roles.
Social media divided
Social media is full of mixed reactions. Some viewers feel the film missed a big emotional impact.One user wrote, “The flavour of ‘Parasakthi’ could’ve been very different had we got Suriya, DQ, Nazriya, and Vijay Verma instead of SK, Atharvaa, Sreeleela, and Ravi Mohan, respectively. But the film’s biggest undoing is the lacklustre screenplay & dialogues, attributed to a whole bunch of names. A plot like this (dealing with language politics) needs to be emotionally compelling from start to finish. A 1-minute cameo towards the end and a moderately impressive interval block aren’t sufficient. In fact, choosing to go full-blown commercial (with romantic duets, etc.) with such a core conflict itself comes across as shooting oneself in the foot.”Another viewer raised concerns about history and representation. They wrote, “Not a revolution of Tamil people , history failed ,truth disappears. The movie doesn’t match with the original history of Tamil people , around 300 people we’re sacrificed but the movie had depicting the Malayalam , Telugu peoples .it is clearly says that they are making pan India movie instead of showing the real incident.”As it enters the coming days, all eyes are on whether the SK starrer can cross the Rs 50 crore mark.DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers and data in this article are compiled from diverse public and industry sources. All figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned, offering a fair representation of the movie’s box office performance. These totals may change as official studio data is updated or as additional international market reports are finalized. This data is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only.
The Reserve Bank of India has proposed that BRICS countries link their official digital currencies to make cross-border trade and tourism payments easier, two sources said, which could reduce reliance on the US dollar as geopolitical tensions rise.
The initiative to link BRICS digital currency to potentially bypass the US dollar can irk Donald Trump, who sees BRICS as “anti-American”. (Reuters)
The RBI has recommended to the government that a proposal connecting the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) be included on the agenda for BRICS Summit 2026, the sources said. They requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
India is slated host the summit, which will be held later this year. If the central bank’s recommendation is accepted, a proposal to link the digital currencies of BRICS members would be put forward for the first time.
The RBI, India’s central government and the central banks of Brazil and Russia did not respond to emails seeking comment. The People’s Bank of China said it had no information to share on the subject in response to a Reuters request for comment. The South African central bank declined to comment.
The RBI’s proposal to link BRICS’ CBDCs for cross-border trade finance and tourism has not been previously reported.
BRICS Currency vs US Dollar?
The initiative could irritate the United States, which has warned against any moves to bypass the dollar. US President Donald Trump has previously said the BRICS alliance is “anti-American” and he threatened to impose tariffs on its members.
The RBI’s proposal builds on a 2025 declaration at a BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which pushed for interoperability between members’ payment systems to make cross-border transactions more efficient.
The central bank has publicly expressed interest in linking India’s digital rupee with other nations’ CBDCs to expedite cross-border transactions and bolster its currency’s global usage. It has, however, said its efforts to promote the rupee’s global use are not aimed at promoting de-dollarisation.
While none of the BRICS members have fully launched their digital currencies, all five main members have been running pilot projects.
The E-Rupee and BRICS
India’s digital currency—called the e-rupee—has attracted a total of 70 lakh retail users since its launch in December 2022, while China has pledged to boost the international use of the digital yuan.
The RBI has encouraged the adoption of e-rupee by enabling offline payments, providing programmability for government subsidy transfers and by allowing fintech firms to offer digital currency wallets.
For BRICS digital currency linkages to be successful, interoperable technology, governance rules and ways to settle imbalanced trade volumes would be among the topics of discussion, one of the sources said. The source said that hesitation among members to adopt technological platforms from other countries could delay work on the proposal and concrete progress would require consensus on tech and regulation.
One idea that is being explored to manage potential trade imbalances is the use of bilateral foreign exchange swap arrangements between central banks, both the sources said.
Previous attempts by Russia and India to conduct more trade in their local currencies hit roadblocks. Russia accumulated large balances of rupee for which it found limited use, prompting India’s central bank to permit the investment of such balances in local bonds.
Weekly or monthly settlements for transactions are being proposed to be made via the swaps, the second source said.
The idea of a BRICS currency
Founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS later expanded to include South Africa and has since broadened further, adding newer members like the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Indonesia.
The bloc has returned to the limelight thanks to Trump’s revived trade-war rhetoric and tariff threats, including warnings aimed at countries aligning with BRICS. At the same time, India has edged closer to Russia and China as it faced trade friction with the US.
Past efforts to turn BRICS into a major economic counterweight have run into hurdles, including an ambition to create a common BRICS currency, an idea that was floated by Brazil but was subsequently nixed.
Digital Currency vs Stablecoins
While interest in CBDCs has been dampened globally by rising stablecoin adoption, India continues to position its e-rupee as a safer, more regulated alternative.
CBDCs “do not pose many of the risks associated with stablecoins”, RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar said last month.
“Beyond the facilitation of illicit payments and circumvention of control measures, stablecoins raise significant concerns for monetary stability, fiscal policy, banking intermediation and systemic resilience,” Sankar said.
India fears widespread stablecoin use could fragment national payments and weaken its digital payments ecosystem, Reuters reported in September.
Do Deewane Seher Mein Teaser: Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur are all set to share screen space for the first time in the upcoming romantic drama Do Deewane Seher Mein. The makers have now unveiled the film’s teaser, offering a glimpse into an emotionally rich and contemporary love story.
Do Deewane Seher Mein Teaser Out
The teaser opens on a simple and introverted young man, Shashank (played by Siddhant Chaturvedi), seated at Roshni’s (played by Mrunal Thakur) home, surrounded by both families. It soon becomes clear that this is an arranged marriage meeting. While Shashank appears nervous yet sincere, Roshni is visibly unimpressed by the formal setup and her prospective groom, hinting at underlying tension and contrasting personalities.
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A Love Story of Imperfect Souls
Do Deewane Seher Mein is being described as a “perfect love story between two imperfect people.” The film promises a modern romance that feels intimate and nostalgic—“like a memory you didn’t even know you were holding on to.” Directed by Ravi Udyawar, the story explores love, hesitation, and emotional connection in an urban setting.
Set largely in Mumbai, the teaser is elevated by the timeless song “Do Deewane Seher Mein” from the 1977 film Gharaonda. Sung by Bhupinder Singh and Runa Laila, composed by Jaidev, and penned by Gulzar, the song adds a layer of poetic nostalgia to the visuals, beautifully bridging past and present.
Impressive Cast and Creative Team
Siddhant Chaturvedi, who rose to fame with his breakout role in Gully Boy, which screened at the Berlin Film Festival, has since starred in films like Gehraiyaan, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, and Dhadak 2. Mrunal Thakur, meanwhile, continues her strong run with notable projects such as Sita Ramam, Jersey, Son of Sardaar 2, and Netflix’s Lust Stories 2.
