Friday witnessed a flurry of significant developments across the political, diplomatic, and entertainment spheres. From a high-profile protest in Kolkata to a sharp diplomatic rebuttal from New Delhi, and from a stern warning from Iran's supreme leader to a setback for a Tamil superstar, here are the top five stories that made headlines.
Mamata Banerjee Leads Kolkata Rally Against ED Raids
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets on Friday, leading a protest rally in Kolkata against the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The demonstration came a day after the central agency conducted searches at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its chief, Rishabh Sharma.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson gathered with a large number of party leaders and workers near the 8B bus stand in Jadavpur. Participants raised slogans accusing the central government of misusing investigative agencies for political vendetta. The area saw heavy police deployment to manage the gathering.
MEA Labels US Commerce Secretary's Remarks 'Inaccurate'
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a firm rebuttal to comments made by US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Lutnick had suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reluctance to call former President Donald Trump was a reason for the delay in a trade deal between India and the United States.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a media briefing, termed these remarks as "inaccurate." He clarified that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have held conversations on eight separate occasions in the year 2025 alone, countering the implication of a communication gap.
Iran's Khamenei Vows No Backdown, Targets Trump
Amid escalating protests in Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning, asserting that the Islamic Republic would not yield to the unrest. In a speech broadcast on state television, the 86-year-old leader blamed "foreign-backed elements" for trying to destabilize the nation.
Khamenei also launched a sharp attack on former US President Donald Trump, claiming that "the hands of the US president are stained with the blood of Iranians." He predicted that the "arrogant" leader would eventually be overthrown, vowing a continued crackdown on protesters within Iran.
Madras HC Stays Release of Vijay's 'Jana Nayagan'
In a legal setback for actor-politician Vijay, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court temporarily stayed a single judge's order that had directed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a UA certificate to his film "Jana Nayagan."
The court has posted the matter for further hearing on January 21, effectively ensuring the film will not release during the upcoming Pongal festival. Representing the CBFC, the Additional Solicitor General argued that the single judge had held a letter from the CBFC Chairperson as without jurisdiction, even though the letter itself was not formally challenged in the writ petition.
Jemimah Rodrigues Recalls Childhood Scare
Indian women's cricket team star batter Jemimah Rodrigues recently shared a harrowing yet amusing anecdote from her childhood. The incident occurred when she was just eight years old, long before her World Cup heroics for India.
Jemimah recalled being at a church program with her cousins. While the adults were inside the auditorium, the children were playing outside. Her playful antics led to a moment of panic where her cousin genuinely believed something tragic had happened to her, leaving everyone present in a state of shock at the time.
