Jan 14 News Live: India vs New Zealand ODI: Mitchell's ton powers Kiwis to victory

SC to hear KVN Productions' plea on ‘Jana Nayagan’ on Jan 15

Kohli storms back to No.1 in ICC ODI Batting Rankings after more than 4 years

Virat Kohli’s brilliant form has propelled him back to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time since July 2021, replacing team-mate Rohit Sharma following a match-winning 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday.

Kohli has claimed the top spot for the 11th time in his illustrious career, riding a run of impressive scores that includes 135, 102 and 65 not out in a home series against South Africa in November-December, as well as a fluent 74 not out against Australia in Sydney in October.

The former India captain first reached the summit of the ODI batting rankings in October 2013 and has now spent a total of 825 days at No.1, which is the most by an India batter. He sits 10th in the all-time list, topped by the West Indies great Vivian Richards, who held the top position for an astounding 2,306 days.

Farmers' protest: RLP calls off march to Jaipur after administration's assurances

RLP convener Hanuman Beniwal on Wednesday called off a proposed march to Jaipur to press for farmers' demands, including adequate land compensation, after government representatives held talks with the protesters, a party leader said.

The meeting was held at a hotel on the Ajmer-Nagaur border late on Tuesday night. Nagaur district collector and superintendent of police were among the officials who held the talks with the farmers' delegation, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) leader said.

According to the leader, the administration agreed to take strict steps on the farmers' demand to curb illegal gravel mining by the mining mafia.

It also assured that adequate compensation would be given to farmers affected by railway line and high-tension power transmission lines projects in Nagaur, the RLP leader said.

The first round of talks between the farmers' delegation led by RLP leader Dilip Choudhary and district administration officials was inconclusive.

On Tuesday, Beniwal joined a farmers' dharna in Riyanbadi in Nagaur to press for their demands, which also include disbursal of crop insurance and withdrawal of police cases registered against farmers during agitations in the past.

He gave the administration an ultimatum till 4 pm to accept the farmers' demands.

After receiving no response from the administration, Beniwal, along with a large number of supporters and farmers in hundreds of vehicles, left from Nagaur for the Nagaur-Ajmer highway. The protesters halted at the Ajmer-Nagaur border.

Police had already put up barricades at Padukalan near the highway and heavy police deployment was made there. Seeing this, Beniwal's convoy changed direction and moved towards Jaipur.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor presents credentials to President Murmu

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on Wednesday, according to an official statement.

Gor, 38, was sworn in as the US Ambassador to India in mid-November last year. The US Senate confirmed his appointment in October last year.

He was serving as the White House personnel director when President Donald Trump named him the next US envoy to New Delhi in August 2025.

Murmu accepted credentials from Gor at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, said the statement issued by the President's office.

2nd ODI: NZ opt to bowl; India bring in Reddy in place of injured Sundar

New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell opted to bowl in the second One-day International against India in Rajkot on Wednesday.

The visitors made one change to the side, which lost the opening game by four wickets at Vadoara, giving ODI debut to 31-year-old left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox in place of Adithya Ashok.

India skipper Shubman Gill also made one change, bringing in pacer Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Washington Sundar, who got injured in Vadodara.

Playing XIs

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (captain), Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox.

India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Wholesale price inflation rises marginally to 0.83 pc in December

Wholesale price inflation extended upward momentum for the second straight month, recording at 0.83 per cent in December 2025, driven by an uptick in prices of food, non-food articles, and manufactured items on a month-on-month basis, government data showed on Wednesday.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation returned to positive in December, after witnessing a deflationary trend in the previous two months.

In November and October, the pace of price rise was negative at (-) 0.32 per cent and (-) 1.21 per cent, respectively.

In contrast, WPI inflation was 2.57 per cent in December 2024.

"Positive rate of inflation in December 2025 is primarily due to an increase in prices of other manufacturing, minerals, manufacture of machinery and equipment, manufacture of food products, and textiles, etc.," the industry ministry said in a statement.

Maharashtra tops NITI Aayog's export preparedness index

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have emerged as the top three states in the Niti Aayog's fourth Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024.

The index is aimed at assessing the readiness of states in terms of their export potential and performance.

Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab, according to the government think tank's report released on Wednesday.

Among smaller states, Uttarakhand has ranked at the top position. It is followed by Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa, and Tripura.

Releasing the report, NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam said that as India expands its network of Free Trade and Economic Partnership Agreements, the importance of strong domestic foundations only grows.

"For states, this means fostering ecosystems that can respond to new opportunities, align with global standards, and build competitiveness across districts," Subrahmanyam said.

In recent years, he added, several states have already begun strengthening their export vision through dedicated policies, institutions, and infrastructure — indicating a clear shift towards a more proactive and structured approach.

Exports are a key driver of economic growth and play a significant role in helping countries strengthen their position in Global Value Chains (GVCs), earn foreign exchange, and increase global competitiveness.

For India – the fastest growing major economy in the world – exports are crucial for improving economic resilience, reducing trade deficits, and promoting inclusive growth.

The Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024 uses a consistent, data-driven approach to evaluate multiple factors, including export policies, business environment, quality of infrastructure, and export outcomes.

Data is collected from both state and central government sources, and each indicator is assigned a weight based on its importance.

Silver, gold smash new records in futures trade on Fed rate cut bets, geopolitical tensions

Silver futures surged by Rs 12,803 to a fresh peak of Rs 2,87,990 per kg on Wednesday, while gold rallied Rs 932 to hit a lifetime high of Rs 1,43,173 per 10 grams, amid rising expectations of rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve and intensified geopolitical tensions.

Extending gains for the fourth straight day, silver futures for March delivery appreciated by Rs 12,803, or 4.65 per cent, to touch a lifetime high of Rs 2,87,990 per kilogram on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).

With the latest rise, the white metal has zoomed by Rs 35,265, or 14 per cent, over the past four trading sessions, from Rs 2,52,725 per kg on Friday. So far this year, silver has skyrocketed by Rs 52,289, or 22.18 per cent, from Rs 2,35,701 per kilogram recorded on December 31, 2025.

Gold futures for the February contract also climbed by Rs 932, or 0.65 per cent, to hit a new record of Rs 1,43,173 per 10 grams on the MCX.

"Gold and silver surged sharply on Wednesday, hitting fresh record highs as softer US inflation data strengthened expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts this year," Rahul Kalantri, Vice-President of Commodities, Mehta Equities Ltd, said.

On the global front, silver futures breached the USD 91-per-ounce mark for the first time on the Comex, extending its four-day rally. The rate for the March contract increased by USD 5.03, or 5.83 per cent, to a new peak of USD 91.37 per ounce.

Magh Mela: Over nine lakh devotees take dip in Sangam

More than nine lakh devotees took a dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam here on Wednesday morning as part of Makar Sankranti festivities, officials said.

While many parts of the country are celebrating the harvest festival on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh will celebrate Makar Sankranti on Thursday.

The second major bathing festival of the ongoing Magh Mela, Makar Sankranti, is scheduled for Thursday.

Superintendent of Police (Magh Mela) Neeraj Pandey said devotees flocked ghats in the early hours.

"By 6 am, over nine lakh devotees had taken a dip in the Ganga and at the Sangam. The number of pilgrims is expected to rise to between one crore and 1.5 crore by Wednesday evening on Makar Sankranti," Pandey said.

Sabarimala all set for Makaravilakku; Thiruvabharam to reach by evening

Thousands of devotees began thronging Sabarimala Sannidhanam and its surrounding areas on Wednesday, with preparations in full swing at the Lord Ayyappa temple for the auspicious Makaravilakku festival.

The "Thiruvabharanam procession," carrying sacred jewels of Lord Ayyappa, would reach the traditional route by 5.30 pm under tight security and is expected to arrive at the temple complex at about 6:20 pm, temple sources said.

The idol of Lord Ayyappa would be adorned with the holy ornaments, and the 'deeparadhana' (aarati) would be performed at the sanctum sanctorum after that.

The devotees are expected to have the darshan of 'makara jyothi,' considered a divine light by devotees across the eastern horizon above Ponnambalamedu, a remote hilltop eight kilometers from the shrine complex.