'Time For New Leadership': Trump Calls For End To Khamenei's Rule In Iran

US President Donald Trump called for an end to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 37-year-old rule. "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran," he told Politico on Saturday after the country in the Middle East was rocked by weeks of protests against the Islamic Republic.

"The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago," Trump told the publication.

Trump argued that Iran's leadership relies on repression and violence to run the country. He blamed Khamenei for "complete destruction of the country" and for using unprecedented levels of violence. 

"In order to keep the country functioning – even though that function is a very low level – the leadership should focus on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control," Trump said.

He added, "Leadership is about respect, not fear and death."

Calling Khamenei a "sick man", Trump said that it is because of the leadership of Iran that it is the "worst place to live anywhere".

What Ayatollah Khamenei said

Trump's remarks come soon after Khamenei vowed to "break the back of the seditionists" involved in the protest. He also blamed Trump for "casualties" during the anti-government demonstrations in Iran.

"We do not intend to lead the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals," Khamenei told supporters during an address marking a religious holiday. He said that "international criminals" would also not be spared punishment. 

Iran's authorities have called the protests "terrorist" operations and "riots" and claim that it was an "American conspiracy" to dominate Iran militarily, politically and economically.

Trump had warned that if Iran killed protesters, the US would intervene militarily. He also encouraged the protesters to take over state institutions by saying, "help is on the way." However, that did not happen, and in the meantime, security forces killed at least 3,428 protesters.

What Reza Pahlavi said

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi had also urged Iranians across the country to "raise your voices in anger and protest with our national slogans". Many protesters have chanted the name of Pahlavi, whose pro-Western father fled in 1979 in the Islamic revolution.

Pahlavi, seeking to touch a nerve with Trump, called on him not to be like his Democratic predecessor Barack Obama, who negotiated with Tehran. "I believe that President Trump is a man of his word and ultimately he will stand with the Iranian people as he has said," Pahlavi said when asked if Trump had given false hope.

Pahlavi told reporters that he wants to lead a transition to a secular democracy, with a popular referendum to choose the next system of government, and said, "I will return to Iran."

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From Giving It To Nazis To Selling It: When Nobel Laureates Gave Up Medals

In an unexpected move, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House on Thursday. She described the gesture as "a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom." 

The Nobel Committee, however, was quick to clarify that such a transfer has no legal or symbolic standing. According to the Norwegian Nobel Institute and the Nobel Committee, once awarded, a Nobel Peace Prize cannot be transferred, shared, or reassigned. This rule is a core principle of the Nobel Foundation's statutes, as laid out in Alfred Nobel's will.

While a laureate is free to dispose of the physical medal or prize money as they wish, the official title and honour of being a Nobel Peace Prize recipient permanently belong to the chosen laureate and cannot be passed on.

However, Nobel laureates parting with their award medals is not unprecedented.

Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, with Maria Ressa of the Philippines, for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression in their respective countries. Muratov auctioned his medal the year after he won the prize for a record-breaking $103.5 million. The proceeds from the sales were donated to UNICEF's fund for Ukrainian child refugees after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Danish physicists Niels Bohr and August Krogh also auctioned their award medals to raise funds for Finnish War Relief after the Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939. The medals were later donated to Danish museums.

Niels Bohr's son, Aage Bohr, also won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1975. He had his medal sold in an auction in 2011 and then again in 2019. He won the prize with Ben Mottelson and James Rainwater for their work on the collective motion in atomic nuclei.

Norwegian author Knut Hamsun, who was a Nazi sympathiser, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 and presented his medal to Nazi Germany's Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of support during World War II. 

James D. Watson became the first living Nobel Laureate to sell his medal. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962 along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering the DNA structure. He said that the proceeds would go towards scientific research and conservation. However, in a twist of fate, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov bought the medal and returned it back to Watson, saying that the scientist "deserved" to keep it.

John Nash received the Economic Sciences Prize for his work in game theory. His medal was auctioned at Christie's in 2019, where it sold for $735,000. The proceeds went towards the John C.M. Nash Trust. 

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India Won't Leave Iran's Chabahar, Working With US For Middle Path: Sources

As the clock ticks down to the expiry of the US sanctions waiver on India's operations at Iran's Chabahar Port, New Delhi is engaged in quiet but intensive negotiations with Washington to protect what it sees as a critical strategic and connectivity asset.

Top sources in the Indian government have told NDTV that India is exploring a "middle-ground" approach that could address American concerns while safeguarding India's long-term interests at the port.

"India is considering some options that would indirectly protect our interests in Chabahar Port and at the same time satisfy the US side to some extent," top government sources told NDTV, underlining that New Delhi is not preparing to pack up and leave.

According to the sources, after negotiations with the US, a six-month waiver till April 2026 was granted "as a special case" to wind up operations, but that pathway is "not an option as far as New Delhi is concerned".

"India continues to engage with the US side to work out modalities. Exiting the port is not an option as it's of strategic importance to India. India is keen to show the US that New Delhi will work on the conditions of the sanctions. So the negotiations are a bit complicated," the sources added.

The official position was echoed by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"As you are aware, on 28 October 2025, the US Department of Treasury had issued a letter outlining the guidance on the conditional sanctions waiver valid till 26 April 2026. We remain engaged with the US side in working out this arrangement," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said to a question on the status of the waiver.

NDTV had reported on October 30, 2025 that American sanctions would not apply to India's Chabahar Port operations, with a special six-month waiver granted retrospectively from October 29. The reprieve came even as broader US sanctions on Iran remained in place.

In 2024, India had signed a 10-year contract with Iran under which the state-run India Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) committed investments of $370 million in Chabahar, underscoring the long-term nature of New Delhi's plans at the port.

For India, Chabahar is far more than a commercial venture. The port is central to New Delhi's connectivity strategy, offering access to the Indian Ocean and providing a crucial route to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan.

It has also been a key hub for India's humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. The strategic logic is not new: in 2018, during the first Trump administration, the US had issued a rare exemption to allow Indian companies to continue developing Chabahar even as sweeping unilateral sanctions were imposed on Iran, whose main port at Bandar Abbas was then facing overcapacity.

The current negotiations come at a time when New Delhi is also navigating a complex global sanctions landscape. The MEA had earlier said it was studying the implications of US sanctions on Russian oil companies.

"We are studying the implications of the recent US sanctions on Russian oil companies. Our decisions naturally take into account the evolving dynamics of the global market," the spokesperson had said last year.

Reiterating India's broader approach, the MEA added, "Our position on the larger question of energy sourcing is well-known. In this endeavour, we are guided by the imperative to secure affordable energy from diverse sources to meet the energy security needs of our 1.4 billion people."

Against this backdrop, Chabahar has emerged as another test case of how India balances strategic autonomy with its growing partnership with the US. For now, government sources are clear about the bottom line: while the waiver deadline looms, New Delhi is determined to find a workaround that keeps India anchored at Chabahar, even as it works to address Washington's concerns.

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India Coach Refuses To Defend His Team As New Zealand Expose Glaring Flaws

India's defeat in the second ODI against New Zealand highlighted various flaws in the team that were otherwise hidden due to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's exemplary performances with the bat. In a match where the veteran duo failed to continue their hot form, India lost the match while failing to even challenge the opponent team. Speaking at the post-match press conference, assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate refused to shield his players as he urged the bowlers, particularly spinners, to pull up their socks.

"We probably want to bowl a little bit better than we did tonight," Ten Doeschate said, pointing directly at India's poor spin performance and the need for sharper execution in the 50-over format.

India managed to pick just three wickets against New Zealand in the second ODI at Rajkot, with two of those going to pacers - Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. Kuldeep Yadav did bag a wicket, of Will Young, but it came after the Kiwis had put a 162-run stand for the third wicket.

"Particularly spinners, like you say, about lengths. But we'll go back and look at those lengths in more detail. But it's never just one reason for losing a game. There's a lot of different things going into that loss tonight," he added, underlining that India's defeat was a collective failure rather than an isolated issue.

Daryl Mitchell, the Player of the Match for New Zealand, revealed that the team had orchestrated a deliberate plan to disrupt Kuldeep early in his spell during the match.

"Kuldeep is one of the best bowlers in the world, he can turn it both ways," Mitchell said after being named Player of the Match.

"It was about adapting to different situations and finding different options against him," he added, explaining the planning that went into deciding the team's gameplan, especially against the dangerous left-arm spinner.

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"Quite The Opposite": US Senator On Reports Of Trump Not Attacking Iran

US Senator Lindsey Graham, whom President Donald Trump considers to be a "wonderful friend", has claimed that reports suggesting the US does not intend to attack Iran are "inaccurate" and further said that the situation is quite the opposite. In a cryptic post on X, Graham wrote, "Nothing could be further from the truth. Quite the opposite. Stay tuned."

In a separate post on X, Graham stated that the Iranian government is still killing protesters "in full swing" and added, "Hoping help is on the way."

On Wednesday, Graham, who has become an influential member of the Trump administration on foreign policy, said that he wanted to see Trump move ahead with plans to strike Iran. "We must stop those who are responsible for killing the people by any means necessary ASAP. Make The Iranian People Safe Again," he wrote.

All the headlines like these are examples of reporting that are beyond inaccurate. The circumstances around the necessary, decisive action to be taken against the evil Iranian regime have nothing to do with President Trump's will or determination.

Nothing could be further from… pic.twitter.com/HrUtg7GfKu

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 15, 2026

Amid tensions, Graham also met Iran's exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi and wrote on X, "Help is on the way".

Iran's envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, on Thursday stated that Trump has assured Tehran that he won't attack the country and has asked Iran to exercise restraint, Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

A senior Saudi official also told AFP that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk Trump out of an attack on Iran.  The Gulf trio "led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention," the Saudi official said on condition of anonymity.

After threatening Iran with imminent attacks in support of anti-government protests, Trump had indicated that he might hold off on attacking Iran. He said that he was reassured by sources "on the other side" that the Iranian government had stopped the killing of anti-government protesters and planned executions would not go ahead. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office regarding military action, Trump said that he would "watch it" and "see what the process is".

However, Trump has always leaned towards diplomacy before launching a full-scale attack, as seen in the case of the Iran strikes in 2025 and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

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Rehman Dakait Akshaye Khanna To Return In Dhurandhar 2 On Fan Demand

Dhurandhar's massive success is now directly influencing the creative course of its sequel. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has decided to return to the editing table with Dhurandhar 2, planning an additional shoot that will bring Akshaye Khanna back into the fold after the unexpected and viral response to his character in the first film.

While Dhurandhar went on to deliver a historic box office performance, one of its biggest post-release talking points was Rehman Dakait. Akshaye Khanna's portrayal of the character struck a chord with audiences, triggering widespread online chatter, fan theories, and demands for more screen time. 

From menacing stillness to pivotal dialogue beats, the character quickly became one of the film's most discussed elements.

Adding to the buzz was Akshaye's appearance in the song Fa9la by Flipperachi. His brief but striking dance moves in the track went viral across platforms, further amplifying the popularity of Rehman Dakait and reinforcing the audience's appetite to see more of the character.

Sources tell us that Dhurandhar 2, which had already completed its principal shoot, is now set for selective reshoots. The additional filming, expected to begin towards the end of this month, will be supervised by Aditya Dhar himself and will specifically involve Akshaye Khanna.

What makes this move particularly intriguing is Rehman Dakait's fate in the first film. The character dies in Dhurandhar, making his return in the sequel both a narrative challenge and an opportunity. How Aditya Dhar, known for his sharp writing and layered storytelling, chooses to navigate this is now a key point of curiosity. 

Industry chatter suggests that the sequel may lean heavily on flashbacks to expand Rehman Dakait's backstory, his rise, and the choices that defined him.

Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026. With the sequel already locked and targeted additions now underway, the makers appear focused on strengthening the universe rather than altering its core.

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Bangladesh Board Finally Reacts On Top Official Calling Tamim 'Indian Agent'

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam recently stirred controversy after he called former captain Tamim Iqbal an "Indian agent". Iqbal had advocated dialogue between Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council (ICC), and the BCCI over the T20 World Cup venue row. Bangladesh are unwilling to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, starting February 7, after Mustafizur Rahman was barred from playing in the IPL 2026.

Then on Wednesday, Nazmul said the Bangladesh Board would not lose much if its cricket team did not play the T20 World Cup.

"The board has no profit or loss here," BCB Finance Committee Chairman M Nazmul Islam told reporters on Wednesday. "Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, there is no profit or loss for the board - at least for this World Cup."

Following that statement, the BCB reacted strongly.

"The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to address recent comments made by a member of the Board that have generated concern. The Board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful. Such comments do not reflect the values, principles, or official position of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket," it said in a statement.

"The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or Board member unless issued formally through the Board's designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board."

The cricket body also warned of "appropriate disciplinary action".

"The Bangladesh Cricket Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket," it said.

"The Board unequivocally reaffirms its full support for and respect towards all cricketers, past and present, who have represented the country with dedication and pride. Players remain at the heart of Bangladesh cricket, and their contributions and welfare continue to be a top priority.

"The BCB remains committed to protecting the interests, dignity, and well-being of its players and to upholding professionalism, accountability, and mutual respect across all levels of the game."

Bangladesh are scheduled to play four T20 World Cup group-stage matches in India.

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