Evening news wrap: ‘Trump, PM Modi friendship real,’ says Gor; Union Budget to be presented on a Sunday for 1st time, and more

Here are the top five news of the day:

‘Trump friendship with PM Modi real,’ says Sergio Gor on India-US tiesUS ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor highlighted the resilience of India-US ties, saying President Donald Trump shares a genuine personal relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that the partnership remains strong despite occasional differences. “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” he added amid ongoing negotiations over tariffs and a proposed India-US trade deal.Gor also recalled Trump’s frequent references to his India visit and rapport with Modi, even as both countries negotiate tariffs and a trade deal. Read full story
‘Will come to Mumbai, try cutting my legs’: Annamalai dares Raj Thackeray amid war of words over ‘rasmalai’ remarkBJP leader K Annamalai hit back at MNS chief Raj Thackeray, daring him to stop his entry into Mumbai, a day after Thackeray mocked him as “rasmalai” and questioned his right to comment on the city.“Who are Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important,” Annamalai said.“Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai—try cutting my legs. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village. If I say Kamaraj is one of India’s greatest leaders, does it mean he is no longer a Tamil? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it? These people are just ignorant,” former Tamil Nadu BJP chief said. Read full story
‘Forcing voters to re-establish identity,’ says Mamata Banerjee in a letter to to CECIn the letter, alleged that the Election Commission was overlooking legally mandated corrections made to electoral rolls over the past two decades and compelling voters to prove their identity again during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).She further accused the EC of serious procedural shortcomings, including not providing proper acknowledgements for documents submitted as part of the revision. Read full story
In a first, Budget 2026 to be presented on a SundayFor the first time, the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Budget 2026 will be tabled on February 1. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget, which will be the eighth of her tenure. The date was announced after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju recently shared the schedule for the Budget Session of Parliament. The session will take place in two parts, from January 28 to April 2. Read full story IND vs NZ: India first team to hunt down 300-plus targets 20 times in ODIsIndia defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the first ODI on Sunday, successfully chasing a target of 301 in Vadodara to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. With the win, India became the first team in one-day international history to complete 20 successful chases of targets exceeding 300 runs. Virat Kohli top-scored with 93, anchoring the chase with crucial partnerships alongside captain Shubman Gill, who made 56, and Shreyas Iyer, who scored 49. India crossed the target in a tense finish, underlining their reputation as one of the strongest chasing sides in world cricket. Read full story