Emergency personnel survey the damaged portion of the building, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
Firefighters search for around 70 missing people.
Rescue efforts hampered by unstable structure, debris.
Anger rising over response speed, govt orders inquiry.
Firefighters and rescue personnel are pulling bodies from the smouldering remains of the sprawling Gul Plaza in Karachi on Monday, where around 70 people are still missing after a massive fire that killed at least 26.
The city’s biggest fire in over a decade started late on Saturday, which houses 1,200 shops in the multi-storey complex spread across an area larger than a football field. The blaze in Karachi’s historic centre raged for more than 24 hours before it was mostly extinguished.
Videos showed flames ripping through the building as firefighters laboured through the night to put out the blaze. On Monday, they began cooling the structure and clearing twisted metal and debris strewn across the street, along with fallen air-conditioning units and shop signboards.
Most of the building had crumbled by Monday afternoon; cranes demolished the remaining structure amid fears it might collapse.
Qasir Khan said his wife, daughter-in-law and her mother had gone to the mall on Saturday evening and were among those still missing.
“The bodies will come out in pieces from here. No one will be able to recognise them,” Khan said, blaming the rescue effort for not being swift enough. “They could have saved a lot of people.”
Hundreds of people surrounded the building as rescue teams searched for survivors, including shopowners whose life’s work was reduced to ash overnight.
“We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone,” said shopowner Yasmeen Bano.
Anger over the fire
Rescue workers were bringing human remains out in sacks before sending them for DNA testing. They stopped regularly to drink water after enduring intense heat from the debris.
Anger was bubbling when Karachi’s Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site on Sunday night, with people chanting anti-government slogans and protesting about the response time from the fire department.
Kosar Bano said six of her family had gone to the mall to shop for a wedding. The last time she heard from them, they said they would be home in 15 minutes.
“The only hope we have is how many hands we will find, how many fingers we will find, and how many legs we will find. That’s it,” she said.
Thick smoke filled the building
According to rescue services, authorities received the first emergency call at 10:38pm on Saturday, reporting that ground-floor shops were on fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the flames had already spread to the upper floors, engulfing much of the building.
Images of the mall’s interior revealed the charred remains of stores and a bright orange glow as flames continued to rise throughout the building.
Firefighters said Gul Plaza’s lack of ventilation caused thick smoke to fill the building and slowed efforts to reach people trapped inside.
“I’m admitting that there are faults. I can’t say whose fault this is. An inquiry will be conducted and heads will roll,” Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said.
Provincial police chief Javed Alam Odho earlier said the fire was caused by an electrical fault, but Shah said the reason was still unknown.
The blaze could be Karachi’s biggest since an industrial site went up in flames in 2012, killing more than 260 people. A court ruled in 2020 that the disaster involved arson.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Mario Cristobal sat in his office a few days after a humiliating loss to rival Florida State, nine games into his tenure as Miami head coach in 2022. The walls around him were still sparse because who has time to decorate when so much else needs to be done?
Already that season, the Hurricanes had unceremoniously lost to Middle Tennessee and Duke. More losses would follow.
“These are good pools of fuel for me because I don’t get down. I get pissed and determined to use it in a healthy productive manner,” Cristobal said at the time. “I feel the obligation to get Miami right. Call it a labor of love. I’m going to work myself to the grave to get this done.”
Three years and two months later, Cristobal stands on the precipice of delivering on the vision he sold when he took over the program: to restore the Hurricanes to their rightful spot atop the college football world, built with a blueprint Jimmy Johnson laid out when Cristobal committed to play at Miami in the late 1980s, then reinforced over the course of his own coaching career.
No gimmicks. No “hocus-pocus,” as Cristobal says.
“Within our group, as soon as he got here, we knew there wasn’t ever a doubt,” said his older brother, Luis, who also played at Miami. “It was going to be a matter of time before Mario was playing for a national championship. Because everybody knows he’s the type of guy that, if he puts his mind to anything, it’s a done deal. It’s going to happen.”
The road, of course, has not been smooth. Cristobal has weathered significant criticism throughout his tenure. During his four years at the helm, his Hurricanes have lost six times as a double-digit favorite. And when Miami lost to SMU in November, its second loss this season to an unranked team, all of that baggage started to get heavier.
His wife, Jessica, said she received nasty text messages about her husband following that loss, one that threatened to keep Miami out of the College Football Playoff. But Cristobal used the loss — and the onslaught of criticism — to galvanize his team. He went to the playbook that all the greats use. He told his players nobody wanted to see Miami win; that they had an opportunity to prove their “haters” wrong. Miami reeled off seven straight wins — including two in the CFP as an underdog — and now gets to play at home for a chance to win the sixth national championship in school history against Indiana on Monday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The story of this season might have started last January, but the story of this Miami Hurricanes era began five decades earlier, in a home off Southwest 67th Street, less than 4 miles from the University of Miami campus.
LUIS AND MARIO Cristobal were born in Miami to immigrant parents from Cuba who raised their sons with core values that revolved around hard work. Their dad, Luis Sr., owned a shop in Hialeah that sold car batteries, and their mom, Clara, worked for more than 30 years at Kendall Toyota. Luis says both parents worked “themselves to the bone” to provide for their kids. His maternal grandfather, a Cuban exile, learned how to build houses when he got to the United States and built the Cristobal home in the 1970s.
If the boys wanted some spending money, they would have to earn it — selling scrap metal from their dad’s shop as teenagers to make a couple of extra bucks.
Although they loved football — Cristobal was a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan growing up — he and Luis were not allowed to play, for fear they would get hurt. Instead, their parents enrolled them in judo and baseball, the two most popular sports in Cuba.
When Luis was a sophomore at Columbus High, the football coaches took one look at him and decided he would make a perfect offensive lineman. His parents relented and let both of their sons play. It quickly became clear that the Cristobal boys had a knack for the game, and earning scholarships to the University of Miami became their goal. The program had captivated them as young boys, when they would get free tickets through the parks and recreation department in Miami-Dade County and ride the bus to the Orange Bowl, sit in the upper deck and watch in awe in the late 1970s and early 1980s — just before Howard Schnellenberger transformed the entire program with the first national title at Miami in 1983.
Mario Cristobal recalls watching the game that won the Canes that championship, a 31-30 victory over No. 1 Nebraska in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
“I remember my grandfather’s TV was going in and out, the wire antenna, black and white and fuzzy, in and out,” Cristobal said. “Nebraska scoring at the end and going for two, and Miami winning. Next thing I know, there’s cars and horns and pots and pans clanging all over the city of Miami.”
From that point on, the boys would often sneak out of the house, ride their bikes or sometimes hitchhike to get to Miami practice. “I was like, man, ‘I want to be one of those dogs. I want to be a University of Miami Hurricane,'” Mario said.
Luis, two years older, tells the story of then-coach Jimmy Johnson sitting in their living room with offensive coordinator Gary Stevens. “They offered, and I committed on the spot,” Luis said. “I had offers to go to Ivy League schools and my parents were just looking at me like, ‘Do you want to talk about this?’ I was like, ‘Nope.’ It was the same for Mario. When that dream became a reality for both of us, it was a special moment.”
Johnson recruited Mario, but he played for Dennis Erickson after Johnson left for the Dallas Cowboys. Those days shaped him and made him. The brothers played on the offensive line — Mario the more decorated of the pair.
“I was a nobody on an unbelievable team with insanely good Hall of Fame teammates,” Mario Cristobal said. “But the experience itself was an absolute game-changer for myself and my mentality. It shaped my DNA, everything that I believe in. My entire belief system was shaped and molded by what I learned during that time.”
Cristobal won two national titles at Miami in 1989 and 1991, and he was an All-Big East selection in 1992, a time that ultimately transformed his life.
He knew he owed a debt to Miami.
CRISTOBAL STARTED HIS coaching career as a graduate assistant at Miami in 1998, famously telling then-coach Butch Davis that one day he hoped to be the Miami head coach. At the time, the Hurricanes had lost their way following NCAA sanctions that cut 24 scholarships over a two-year period. Miami went 5-7 in 1997, and Cristobal had a front-row seat to watch Davis rebuild the program. Though Cristobal had his big football dreams, he had applied to join the Secret Service and got a message while Miami was at the Gator Bowl in 1999 that he had made it. Cristobal said goodbye and packed up the two drawers he had in the office.
That night, he woke up in a panic at 4 a.m. What was he doing? Why was he walking away from the sport he loved?
“I got cut as an undrafted free agent, and it was devastating,” Cristobal said. “I had found another avenue to football, and I absolutely loved it. I loved teaching, I loved coaching, I loved being part of it again. I didn’t want to be without it, so I went back and begged for my $2 an hour job and they took me back.”
His winding road to the Miami job first took him to another school in Miami — Florida International, in its infancy as an FBS program. When Cristobal played at Miami, FIU was largely known as a commuter school in South Florida, with zero need for a football program. But the appeal to add football grew, and FIU launched its program in 2004 under former Dolphins quarterback Don Strock.
FIU went 0-12 the year before Cristobal took over in 2007, his first job as a head coach. What he found was a program also reeling from NCAA sanctions and under-construction facilities that forced the staff to work out of trailers. Cristobal recalls multiple times when bills weren’t paid and the team was left stranded without transportation to games — including once when the coaching staff and players had to carpool to get to the Orange Bowl, where FIU also played its home games.
Cristobal rolled up his sleeves. It was slow going in Year 1. FIU opened 0-11 and played North Texas in the season finale at the Orange Bowl, where the Panthers would play the final football game at the iconic stadium before its demolition. Improbably, FIU beat North Texas 38-19. Though Cristobal was wearing different school colors, getting that last win inside the stadium that delivered some of the best moments of his life felt like a cosmic message.
He still has pieces of turf from the stadium that night.
“It looked like a Super Bowl celebration with the school president popping champagne bottles,” Cristobal said. “You never say you’ve seen it all, but we’ve seen so much.”
Cristobal made the program into a winner, delivering the first two bowl appearances in school history — including the first bowl victory in 2010. Cristobal spent six seasons at FIU but was fired following a 3-9 campaign in 2012. That moment served as a turning point.
“I swore I would never let that happen again at all costs, no matter what hours I had to work, the things I had to do, I was never going to let that happen again,” Cristobal said.
A month later, he took a job working for Nick Saban at Alabama. The four seasons he spent there as assistant head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator reinforced the core tenets in which he wholeheartedly believed: Work hard, make no excuses and build teams through toughness and competition — starting along the offensive and defensive lines.
“That time with Nick Saban more than anything proved that Jimmy Johnson’s processes were on point. The principles of discipline, effort and toughness,” Cristobal said.
Those years prepared him to be the head coach at Oregon, where he turned a flailing program into a Rose Bowl champion in two seasons. But they also prepared him for the most important job of his life.
MIAMI FELL INTO mediocrity following its decades of dominance, cycling through four head coaches over 15 years after Larry Coker — who delivered the last national title in 2001 — was fired in 2006. Finally, in 2021, the school grew serious about making a financial commitment to football. That meant school officials could finally go after the one coach their alums and fan base had always had atop their wish list.
Cristobal had a dream job at Oregon, but it bothered him to see how far Miami had fallen. The debt he felt he owed to Miami? His heart told him to go. But before he did, he had a conversation with his wife that started with one simple question.
“‘Do you understand this will consume my entire existence?'” Cristobal said to her. “Miami has lost its way. We are the ones to help it find its way back. Miami is going to hold up that trophy again.”
Recalling that conversation after the CFP semifinal win over Ole Miss, Jessica Cristobal said, “This is his entire life’s dream, to get to this point. And he was right. It has taken every ounce of his effort and time. But I am willing to do whatever it takes to support what our dreams are, and we’re here. It’s just incredible.”
Cristobal knew there would be early struggles, but he also said, “We are going to dig this thing through the painfulness of setting a foundation the right way.”
Five players remain from his first recruiting class, in 2022, a group that went 5-7 in that first year.
“After that 5-7 season, I was walking through that locker room crying, and I went to Mario, and I said, ‘I just want to win, coach. That’s all I want to do,'” said senior linebacker Wesley Bissainthe, a part of that 2022 class. “Over the next few years, we just went to work, getting people that fit the culture. Everything else took care of itself.”
His incoming 2023 recruiting class featured Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola — the two highest-rated offensive linemen in the country. They would be linchpins to his blueprint to build the trenches, so much so that when he was recruiting running back Mark Fletcher from Fort Lauderdale, Cristobal banked on one message.
“He told me that he was going to have big guys get people out the way for me, so that was one of the best things I could have heard as a running back,” Fletcher said.
But Fletcher was not immediately sold, committing instead to Ohio State. “I think I had 247 unreturned text messages to Mark Fletcher when he was committed to another school. So I’m glad we kept at it,” Cristobal said.
Hard work, toughness, resilience — the throughline never changed. Not even after an embarrassing 23-20 loss to Georgia Tech in 2023, when Miami opted against a kneel-down that would have secured a win. Instead, running back Don Chaney fumbled, setting off a chain of events that ended in a loss.
Not even after two losses in the final three games of 2024, when Miami could have had an ACC championship game and potential CFP appearance locked up with a win at Syracuse in the regular-season finale. Instead, Miami blew a 21-0 lead and lost, despite having eventual No. 1 pick Cam Ward at quarterback.
Losses like that only fueled a narrative that followed Cristobal from Oregon, one that criticized him for not being a strong in-game coach, and for finding ways to lose games to overmatched opponents. Fair or not, that narrative cropped up every time Miami lost as a favorite.
“Leadership is about continuous improvement in pursuit of excellence,” University of Miami president Joe Echevarria said after the Fiesta Bowl. “So we make some mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes, including me, but you just don’t make the same mistakes. Mario cut no corners. But he learned. When you’re the CEO of football, you learn. As someone who’s been a CEO, you make a lot of mistakes. As long as you get it right more than you get it wrong, it’s all good.”
IN THE EUPHORIA following a 10-3 win over Texas A&M in the first round of the playoff, Michael Irvin did something unexpected. That is saying something for the unpredictable former Miami wide receiver, whose theatrics on the Hurricanes’ sideline over the past two years have become must-see TV.
As Cristobal began his postgame interview, Irvin walked up to the coach and kissed him on the cheek. Miami alums everywhere might have wanted to do the same considering what has happened over the past 12 weeks. Losses to unranked Louisville and SMU brought out the same negativity that has often sunk Miami seasons. To make matters worse, former Miami coach Manny Diaz led Duke to the ACC title — after the Blue Devils won a tiebreaker over Miami to make it into the championship game.
But on Selection Sunday, Miami was the last squad to slide into the 12-team CFP field. Cristobal told his team that now it was the underdog, and the team embraced that message.
“Everybody was ready to jump on my coach had he lost that game after Manny had won,” Irvin said. “Everybody would have doused him with gasoline and set him on fire, so when you stand in that kind of pressure situation and you go in and facing 110,000 people yelling against you — you have to be prepared to withstand things, and he had that team prepared to withstand things. A lot of teams would have folded and given up, and this team did not.
“It was a kiss for the sacrifices the man has made. He had better opportunities, but this was home and he knew how much it meant to all of us, and he showed up for us. Man, that’s a godfather kiss. ‘Yes, godfather,’ I was saying to coach.”
The deep connection Miami’s football alumni have with the program has been strengthened with Cristobal at the helm. This past spring, almost 400 former players attended a reunion. Their presence throughout the playoffs has been constant, whether it is longtime mainstays Irvin, Lamar Thomas and Gino Torretta, or Ray Lewis, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Edgerrin James.
They all believe Miami needed one of their own to truly understand what it means to coach at Miami, build a program at Miami, and win at Miami.
“I tell people all the time, Miami is like its own nation,” said Darryl Jones, a receiver on the 2001 team who is the team chaplain. “I think it took a guy like Mario that understands that. He’s a tough dude, so he’s going to instill toughness, but to understand all those dynamics and to be able to put the right people, the coaching staff, the support staff and culture in place — it’s been amazing to see.”
Playing and coaching at Miami is not for everybody. Cristobal is demanding — a self-described “tough son of a b—-” — and his demeanor on the practice field and in games rarely wavers. Akheem Mesidor, who transferred to Miami in 2022 from West Virginia, was asked to describe Cristobal’s intensity.
“I can’t describe it with a word. I can give you a scale level,” he said.
And that is?
“Ten out of ten.”
Cristobal has been tight-lipped this week about the opportunity to win a national championship at his alma mater, in Miami, the only place that will ever feel like home. For him, there is a process to follow, and thinking too far ahead will only distract from what must be done Monday night: Winning the next game. It just so happens that next game is against No. 1 and undefeated Indiana, at Hard Rock Stadium, with the weight of Miami Hurricanes football atop his shoulders.
A former lineman, Cristobal knows what it means to carry a heavy load. He has done that for four years now. But there is a chance now to ease the burden — if only for a day — to call himself a champion again, in the place that made him one for the first time nearly four decades ago.
“This is way long overdue, right?” Reggie Wayne said amid confetti falling in Arizona. “Way long overdue for it to be a great storybook ending with an opportunity to win it at home. You couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”
A Vermont lawmaker is setting his sights on the skies with a new bill poised to create a UFO panel within the state.
Rep. Troy Headrick (I-Burlington) has introduced legislation looking to set up the Vermont Airspace Safety and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force, according to the Vermont Digger.
The bill reportedly proposes the creation of a state task force to investigate reports of both unidentified aerospace and underwater objects, assess safety risks regarding airspace, and work alongside federal partners and researchers to discover improved policies.
The task force would be composed of officials from Vermont’s departments of transportation and public safety, while also opening up seats for lawmakers and experts on the topic.
Vermont Rep. Troy Headrick has introduced a new bill looking to establish a UFO panel to investigate UAP sightings within the state. (iStock)
“I am not a subject matter expert at all,” Headrick said, the Vermont Digger reported. “As policymakers, I think we have an obligation to remain attentive to emerging trends [in public safety.”
According to H.654, the panel would investigate reports of any unknown objects that exhibit “performance characteristics not consistent with currently understood technologies,” such as, “instantaneous acceleration absent observable inertia or hypersonic velocity without a corresponding thermal signature or sonic boom.”
Headrick initially introduced the legislation at the request of a constituent, lobbyist Maggie Lenz, according to Seven Days Vermont.
If passed, the new legislation would create a panel to investigate objects showcasing “performance characteristics not consistent with currently understood technologies,” such as, “instantaneous acceleration absent observable inertia or hypersonic velocity without a corresponding thermal signature or sonic boom.” (iStock)
Lenz, owner of Atlas Government Affairs, reportedly became interested in the issue after a string of UAPs, or unidentified anomalous phenomena, made headlines throughout New Jersey in 2024, sparking nationwide panic regarding countless mysterious flying objects.
“I’m certainly not saying that it’s aliens,” Lenz said, according to Seven Days Vermont. “But I do think just having the conversation here in Vermont will begin to allow for it to be taken a little bit more seriously.”
The proposed legislation replicates the federal government’s response to UAPs in recent years, following Congress passing the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Disclosure Act in 2023 and the U.S. Department of War’s creation of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office.
Rep. Headrick reportedly offered a more practical use for the proposed committee – including investigating drone sightings as use of the technology continues to grow within the state. (iStock)
The draft bill indicates that Vermonters have reported UAP sightings to police in various instances, signaling a need for a coordinated response between state and federal officials.
While speaking before Vermont’s House Government Operations Committee last week, Headrick offered a more down-to-earth reason behind the proposed bill – pointing to the surge of drones throughout the state.
“The proliferation of drone use — this is where I see the need for data,” Headrick told the committee, the Vermont Digger reported.
Headrick did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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While the proposed bill has yet to be voted on by the committee, Headrick reportedly tried to sweeten the deal by promising to look into Vermont’s famed sea monster if the legislation is passed.
“For the cryptids fans in the room, there’s an underwater provision to this as well,” Headrick said, according to the Vermont Digger. “So if we want to investigate Champ, we can do that.”
Julia Bonavita is a U.S. Writer for Fox News Digital and a Fox Flight Team drone pilot. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on all platforms and send story tips to julia.bonavita@fox.com.
Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated.
Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.
Jan 18, 2026, 10:11 PM ET
CHICAGO — The Los Angeles Rams‘ offense — a unit that led the league in offensive DVOA during the regular season — struggled for much of their 20-17 divisional round win against the Chicago Bears. Through three quarters, the Rams had 174 yards, their fewest of the season, according to ESPN Research.
But the Rams’ defense stepped up when it needed to most, with safety Kam Curl intercepting a Caleb Williams pass in overtime to give Los Angeles the ball back at its 22-yard line.
It was the Rams’ third takeaway of the game, with two other interceptions by cornerback Cobie Durant. The Rams’ three interceptions are their most in a playoff game since a franchise-record six in the 2001 divisional round against the Packers, according to ESPN Research. The Rams’ defense also held the Bears to 3-of-6 on fourth downs, including a stop near the goal line with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter.
While not a pretty game for the Rams, it was enough to send them to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since they won Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 season.
Now get ready for Rams vs. Seahawks Part III.
The Rams next Sunday will play the Seattle Seahawks, a team they split the season series with: a 21-19 victory at SoFi Stadium in Week 11 and a 38-37 overtime loss in Seattle in Week 16.
What to make of the QB performance: Stafford and the Rams’ offense went cold for much of the first three quarters but put together a drive when it mattered most to give the Rams the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Stafford was sacked four times by the Bears, his most sacks taken since the Philadelphia Eagles had five in the 2024 divisional round game that ended Los Angeles’ season, according to ESPN Research. This was his first game this season without a passing touchdown.
Stat to know: The Rams are the first team in the past 25 postseasons to complete a touchdown drive of at least 14 plays on their opening possession, according to ESPN Research. But then the Rams’ offense struggled to move the ball until the start of the fourth quarter, when they put together another 14-play touchdown drive. The Rams are the first team with multiple touchdown drives of 14 plays or longer in a single playoff game since the Eagles in the 2022 NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Davante Adams did not have a catch in the first three quarters. According to ESPN Research, this was just the second time in his career he was held without a catch through three quarters in his nine NFL seasons. He finished the game with 2 catches for 24 yards. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Seahawks
They were the Cardiac Bears until the very end.
After facing a seven-point deficit late in the game, Caleb Williams squeezed one more drop of fourth-quarter magic when he found Cole Kmet in the corner of the north end zone at Soldier Field for a 14-yard touchdown to force the extra period.
It was only the second overtime playoff game the Bears have played. But Chicago failed to score when its sole possession of overtime ended with Williams throwing an interception, his third of the game.
The Rams cemented their trip to the NFC Championship Game with a 42-yard field goal on their next possession.
Coach Ben Johnson’s first season with the Bears was a resounding success despite Chicago falling short of the conference championship game as the NFC’s No. 2 seed. The Bears finished with 11 wins in the regular season and got their first playoff victory in 15 years when they beat the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.
What to make of QB performance: All season, Williams has been able to put on his cape in the fourth quarter and lead the Bears to wins. But Sunday, his superpowers ran out. Williams threw a miraculous touchdown pass with 18 seconds left, and the extra point forced overtime. But Williams’ second-half struggles didn’t end in the fourth. He was just 10-of-23 (43%) passing in the second half/OT with two interceptions. He finished 23-of-42 for 257 yards, two TDs and three interceptions. It was Williams’ second straight game with multiple interceptions after having zero games with multiple picks in the regular season. He posted a career-high 13 off-target passes last week against the Packers, then had nine more such throws in the loss to the Rams, including his interception in overtime.
Stat to know: Colston Loveland‘s 18-yard reception on the Bears’ final drive of the fourth quarter broke Sam LaPorta‘s record for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a single postseason since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. Loveland had 193 receiving yards this postseason (LaPorta had 176 in 2023).
Most surprising performance: Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen dialed up pressure with sophisticated stunts and blitzes that had QB Matthew Stafford looking uncharacteristically inaccurate (11 off-target passes). With C.J. Gardner-Johnson back from a concussion, Allen was able to use Chicago’s full complement of defensive backs to pressure Stafford frequently, particularly out of dime packages, which led to three sacks. As a whole, the Bears blitzed Stafford on 37% of his dropbacks. He also finished 0-of-9 on play-action.
Pakistan and Indian players shake hands after the toss during the SAFF Championship 2026. — Reporter
In a rare display of sportsmanship amid strained bilateral ties, the women’s futsal captains of Pakistan and India shook hands at the toss during the SAFF Championship 2026 match at Nonthaburi Stadium on Monday, underscoring the spirit of the game beyond politics.
Ahead of the high-octane fixture, Pakistan captain Kayanat Bokhari presented a cultural souvenir to her Indian counterpart Jigmet Chunzen before offering each other the customary handshake.
The arch rivals met thrice in the continental tournament, and Indian players noticeably avoided post-toss and post-match handshakes with their Pakistan counterparts.
The controversy did not remain limited to the men’s events, as a similar situation occurred at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, where both teams’ captains, Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana, avoided shaking hands at the toss.
Meanwhile, Diti Kanungo’s late strikes led India to a sensational 5-3 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan.
The enthralling fixture got off to a contrasting start as Pakistan secured an early lead through their captain Kaya Bokhari, who netted the opener in the fourth minute.
India neutralised 10 minutes later through Arya More, forcing the match to remain tied at 1-1 at halftime.
Following the break, Pakistan pulled ahead, with Azwa Chaudhry finding the back of the net in the 26th minute, while Anmol Hira bolstered the lead the following minute.
Ritika Singh and Khushbu Saroj helped India draw level scoring in the next two minutes, respectively.
With the scoreboard tied at 3-3, Kanungo made a decisive stride as she scored two goals in the 37th and 40th minutes to propel India to a come-from-behind 5-3 victory.
The victory marked India’s second in the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026 and boosted their hopes for qualifying for the semi-finals.
Pakistan, on the other hand, suffered their first defeat in the seven-team tournament, ending their unbeaten run, which included a 1-1 stalemate against Bhutan in the campaign opener, followed by comprehensive triumphs over Sri Lanka and Maldives.
Michael Carrick has Manchester United DNA and, just one game into the interim head coach role at Old Trafford, is being heralded as the club’s savior, while the absence of any Tottenham Hotspur DNA in Thomas Frank’s background or football philosophy means he is now fighting to save his job.
OK, it’s not quite that simple, but it is heading that way. Coaching a leading football team has now become a zero-sum game whereby you either embrace the club’s traditions or do it differently and risk alienating supporters, as well as an increasingly vocal and influential cohort of former players — worse still, legends.
If you go your own way and ignore the club’s so-called DNA, you had better win … and win quickly.
But what is football DNA? It is a term that seems to be used only when a manager/head coach is struggling and the supporters and former players boil their difficulties down to that one simple, catch-all term for dissatisfaction.
When Man United fired Ruben Amorim earlier this month after a dismal 14-month reign as head coach at Old Trafford, former club captain and now pundit Gary Neville gave a clear statement as to what the club needed to pull itself out of a malaise that extends back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in May 2013.
“Man United have got to appoint a manager that fits the DNA of their club,” he said on Sky Sports. “Ajax will never change for anybody, Barcelona will never change for anybody. I don’t believe Man United should change for anybody.”
Whether by accident or design, United heeded Neville’s comments by interviewing three former players — Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy — for the role of Amorim’s successor until the end of the season.
Carrick won the race and masterminded a 2-0 win against Manchester City in his first game in charge. United played fast, attacking and winning football to beat Pep Guardiola’s side and revive hopes of a top-four finish. United DNA? Absolutely.
But here’s where the theory breaks down. No manager has won more trophies in United’s illustrious history than Ferguson’s 48, but when he arrived from Aberdeen to take charge in November 1986, he had no connections to United whatsoever. He had spent his entire playing career in Scotland and the only “United” on his résumé was a year with Ayr United in 1973-74.
Similar stories apply to Arsene Wenger, who had no Arsenal DNA before arriving at the club from Japanese side Nagoya Grampus Eight in September 1996, and Jose Mourinho before his move to Chelsea from FC Porto in the summer of 2004.
Until Wenger took charge, Arsenal’s DNA was one of defensive organization and little flair — opposition fans would sing “Boring, Boring Arsenal” when facing the Gunners — but the Frenchman ripped up the Arsenal playbook and turned them into serial winners that played jaw-dropping attacking football.
Chelsea were regarded as entertainers without a winning mentality when Mourinho arrived, but he imposed his own brand of power, organization and direct football to spark an era of success at Stamford Bridge with a style of play that had not a single root in Chelsea’s DNA.
Meanwhile, Manchester City arguably bought Barcelona’s DNA by hiring Guardiola in the summer of 2016. The club’s owners wanted City to win everything by playing Barcelona-style football and Guardiola duly delivered. So what kind of DNA will their fans and legends call for when Guardiola vacates his post?
One thing is certain: No Arsenal, Chelsea or City fan will ever complain about Wenger, Mourinho or Guardiola changing their club’s DNA and turning them into winners.
Football DNA is ultimately nothing more than a code word for nostalgia; a comfort blanket in times of struggle when the warm glow of the past makes everything in the present day appear to be wrong and misjudged. And if you are Man United and the embodiment of the club’s DNA — Ferguson — is a constant presence at games in the directors’ box, the temptation to measure today’s team and head coach against the feats of the 84-year-old is impossible to resist.
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Michallik: I can’t see Thomas Frank staying at Tottenham
ESPN FC’s Janusz Michallik reacts to Tottenham’s shocking 2-1 defeat to West Ham in the Premier League.
Spurs coach Frank doesn’t have an army of successful former players and managers to worry about because his club has become a byword for overpromising and underdelivering. If Spurs have a DNA, the code is recurring failure, yet the supporters still hark back the traditions of the 1950s and 1960s when the club won league titles and played an exciting brand of possession-based attacking football.
If a modern-day coach is expected to honor the traditions of the past, especially those from almost 80 years ago, they have no chance of success unless they are bold enough to face forward and do the job their way. As Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho did.
But having some connection to a club’s DNA does give coaches the benefit of a longer honeymoon period than those who don’t.
Spurs supporters embraced the appointment of Frank last summer after several impressive seasons at Brentford, but as soon as they saw goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario taking free kicks from inside the center circle and defender Kevin Danso hurling long throw-ins into the penalty area during the UEFA Super Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the season, alarm bells began to ring.
Such direct football is definitely not part of Tottenham’s DNA, so Frank had to win to avoid his style of play becoming a problem. But, six months on, Spurs aren’t winning and Frank’s football has become a lightning rod that could, as early as this week, lead to him losing his job.
Carrick has no such concerns; United beat City by playing Ferguson-style football — the same that Carrick played in a United shirt — so not only does he have plenty of credit in the bank, his United DNA means there will soon be a clamor for him to get the job permanently if performances and results continue to reflect the great teams of the past.
It is nothing to do with DNA, though. It is all about winning. Nobody complains about the wrong DNA when a team is winning.
The Syrian army’s rapid-fire conquest of important areas and towns previously controlled by the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), culminated on Sunday in a fragile ceasefire agreement with a stern warning from a powerful U.S. Senator and experts about the reported crimes of forces controlled by President Ahmed al-Sharaa,
Jim Risch, R-Idaho., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News Digital, “The Syrian government’s decree to respect Kurdish rights is a good sign, but the conduct of its forces on the ground must match. Division and violence in Syria between U.S. partners only benefit bad actors like ISIS and Iran who exploit Syria to use as a breeding ground for international terrorism, including against the U.S. I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire and will be watching its implementation closely.”
Al-Sharaa, a former U.S.-designated terrorist who was a member of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, greenlighted an incursion into territory ruled peacefully by the SDF for over a decade.
Amid Risch’s warning, reports coming out of Syria claim skirmishes between the Syrian army and SDF are continuing.
Some locals welcome the Syrian army following the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in Tabqa, Syria, Jan. 18, 2026.(Karam al-Masri/Reuters)
The news organization, Kurdistan 24, showed alleged footage of al-Sharaa’s forces releasing Islamic State prisoners. According to the report, “The Syrian Arab Army releases ISIS prisoners in al-Tabqah city.”
The footage has been widely posted on social media. Fox News Digital could not independently verify the video.
Jim Risch, R-Idaho., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News Digital, “The Syrian government’s decree to respect Kurdish rights is a good sign, but the conduct of its forces on the ground must match.”(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
The State Department referred Fox News Digital to an X post from the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, who also serves as the Special Envoy for Syria. Barrack wrote on X about the deal between SDF General Mazloum Abdi and al-Sharra.
“Two great Syrian leaders, driven by the shared vision of liberating their country and people from tyranny, have now come together to forge a brighter future for all Syrians. This agreement and ceasefire represent a pivotal inflection point, where former adversaries embrace partnership over division.”
Soldiers of the Syrian army in the entrance of Sheik Maksoud neighborhood during continuing fighting between the Syrian forces and the SDF on Jan. 10, 2026 in Aleppo, Syria. A ceasefire announced yesterday did not take hold as fighting continued between the Syrian army and Kurdish fighters in the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of Aleppo. Overnight, the army announced that it had completed a security sweep of the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. (Adri Salido/Getty Image)
Barrack added, “President al-Sharaa has affirmed that the Kurds are an integral part of Syria, and the United States looks forward to the seamless integration of our historic partner in the fight against ISIS with the Global Coalition’s newest member, as we press forward in the enduring battle against terrorism.”
However, the People’s Protection Units (YPG) commander Sipan Hamo — a Syrian organization that is part of the SDF — said on the Saturday meeting between U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and Kurdish officials produced no roadmap to a ceasefire. He denied Syria’s Kurds wanted to secede or create an independent state and said their future was in Syria.
“Our greatest hope is that there will be a tangible outcome, especially from the coalition and the United States, meaning that they will intervene more forcefully in the existing problems than what they are currently doing,” Hamo said.
The head of the main Kurdish forces told Reuters that the U.S. should intervene more forcefully to end a Syrian offensive that has gained key territory from Kurdish fighters in recent days.
U.S. forces provide military training to members of the SDF in the Qamisli district in the Al-Hasakah province, Syria on Aug. 18, 2023. (Photo by Hedil Amir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Government troops launched an offensive on Saturday into territory run for the last decade by semi-autonomous Kurdish authorities in the northeast of Syria, capturing towns on both sides of the Euphrates River and the country’s largest oil and gas field, officials and security sources said.
But given Kurdish “concerns about the changes taking place,” the U.S. should offer assurances of protection to them.
Hamo said that, “In the current situation and the chaos we are living in, the only ones who can offer guarantees are the United States or the coalition,” he added in a rare interview from Hasakeh province, which is still under Kurdish control.
“We believe that the responsibility for everything currently happening inside Syria lies with the Western countries, and especially the United States of America,” he said.
FILE – In this March 23, 2019, file photo, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters pose for a photo in Baghouz, Syria, after the SDF declared the area free of Islamic State militants. (Maya Alleruzzo/AP Photo)
“Of course, we consider Israel a powerful state in the region with its own agenda. We hope that the same stance taken by other countries in the region towards certain minorities in Syria will be extended to the Kurds as well,” Hamo said.
Asked if he was referring to Israel’s stance towards the Druze minority last summer — when Israel carried out air strikes on the defense ministry, near the presidential palace in Damascus and on Syrian troops advancing on Druze cities, Hamo said, “of course.”
Tom Barrack met with the Syrian president on behalf of the United States on Saturday, Jan. 10.(@USAMBTurkiye via X)
Mutlu Civiroglu, a Kurdish Affairs analyst, told Fox News Digital that, “President Trump has spoken about giving Syria and all its peoples a fresh opportunity to turn a new page. Yet, Ahmed al Sharaa’s actions appear to move against that intention, and many Kurds believe he is abusing the political space that was meant to support stability rather than deepen tensions. “
Civiroglu added that I don’t think the U.S. is abandoning the Kurds, but President Trump’s good intention is being abused by Sharaa. Lawmakers in Washington have also expressed unease about the interim Syrian government’s treatment of minorities, which reflects broader questions about its commitment to inclusive governance.”
A group of civilians smashes a statue of a female Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the city of Tabqa after the Syrian army took control of it, in Tabqa, Syria, Jan. 18, 2026.(Karam al-Masri/Reuters)
Civiroglu posted footage on his popular X account of al-Sharaa supporters toppling “a statue of a female Kurdish fighter after interim Syrian government forces seized Tabqa from the SDF. Kurdish fighters backed by the United States had liberated the town from ISIS in May 2017.”
Civiroglu said, “al-Sharaa’s confrontations with Kurdish forces, following earlier pressure on Alawite and Druze areas, reinforce doubts about the interim government’s legitimacy and its ability to represent Syria’s diverse population.
“The International community must remember that the Kurdish people have long fought alongside the United States, France and the West in the campaign against ISIS, and many are watching closely to see how these partners interpret the latest escalation,” he said.
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Max Abrahms, a leading expert on counter-terrorism and a professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Fox News Digital, “The YPG and then SDF were America’s primary counterterrorism forces against Islamic State in Syria during the war. Unlike the so-called “rebels,” our Kurdish warrior friends exhibited both capability and moderation. It’s not surprising that the jihadists, upon taking power in Damascus, would turn their guns on the Kurdish forces. Of course, we need to stand with them.”
Benjamin Weinthal reports on Israel, Iran, Syria, Turkey and Europe. You can follow Benjamin on Twitter @BenWeinthal, and email him at benjamin.weinthal@fox.com
Reaches $244m in Dec, reversing last year’s surplus; FDI records outflow of $135m
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s current account deficit reached $1.174 billion during the first half of FY26, marking a sharp reversal from a surplus of $957 million recorded in the same period of last year, as rising imports, weaker capital inflows and persistent structural challenges weighed on the external account.
Every month, the country recorded a current account deficit of $244 million in December 2025, compared to a surplus of $454 million in December 2024 and a surplus of $98 million in November 2025, indicating renewed stress on the balance of payments despite relatively stable remittance inflows.
Analysts noted that the widening deficit reflects a combination of seasonal import pressures, subdued export growth in non-services sectors, and limited improvement in foreign investment flows. While services exports, particularly in IT and IT-enabled segments, continued to provide some cushion, they were insufficient to offset the overall deterioration in the trade and income accounts.
The pressure on the external account was further compounded by weak performance on the financial account, where foreign direct investment (FDI) flows remained subdued. According to market estimates, net FDI inflows during 1HFY26 declined by 43% year-on-year to $808 million, compared to $1.425 billion in the same period of last year, underscoring persistent investor caution towards Pakistan.
December proved particularly challenging, as net FDI recorded an outflow of $135 million, reversing a net inflow of $180 million in November, according to Arif Habib Limited (AHL).
Analysts attributed this mainly to a large one-off divestment in the telecom sector following Telenor’s exit from Pakistan, which resulted in a sizeable outflow. However, they cautioned that beyond this transaction, the broader investment climate remains weak due to structural and policy-related concerns.
“The largest net FDI outflow in this month was from Norway of $376 million in the IT sector, led by Telenor’s exit from Pakistan following the sale of its assets to PTCL, in our view. We expect FY26 FDI to clock in at $2.5 billion,” noted Topline Securities.
Country-wise, China, Hong Kong and the UAE accounted for nearly 86% of the total net FDI inflows during the first half of the current fiscal year, highlighting a narrow concentration of foreign investment sources. Market participants view this concentration as a vulnerability, particularly in an environment of heightened global uncertainty and tightening financial conditions.
Commenting on the deteriorating trend, economist Muzammil Aslam said the investment situation remains discouraging despite Pakistan’s engagement with the IMF. “Foreign investment is down 43% in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Companies have either exited or are planning to leave due to heavy taxation, non-competitive utility prices, and policy uncertainty,” he said.
Aslam added that the persistence of weak inflows raises questions about the credibility of the government’s stability narrative. “Being in an IMF programme has not translated into investor comfort. The core issue is political stability, without which economic adjustments alone will not restore confidence,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, movements in the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) suggest a marginal easing in currency overvaluation. The REER clocked in at 103.73 in December 2025, down from 104.76 in November, reflecting a 0.98% month-on-month decline. However, on a cumulative basis, the REER remains up 5.81% in FY26 to date, while posting a marginal increase of 0.06% in calendar year 2025, indicating that the rupee is still relatively overvalued against a basket of trading-partner currencies.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani rupee registered a slight appreciation against the US dollar in the inter-bank market on Monday, gaining 0.01%. By the close of trading, the local currency settled at 279.92, strengthening by Rs0.03 against the greenback, as reported by the State Bank.
The rupee had also posted a modest gain over the previous week, appreciating by Rs0.07, or 0.03%, in the inter-bank market. It ended the week at 279.95, compared to 280.02 at the close of the preceding week.
Furthermore, bullion prices registered a sharp increase in the local market, as 24-karat gold per tola surged by Rs7,500 to settle at Rs489,362 – an all-time high. The price of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs6,431 to Rs419,549, according to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association. Likewise, the price of 10 grams of 22-karat gold went up by Rs5,895 to Rs384,600.
Silver prices also registered a growth, with 24-karat silver per tola increasing by Rs300 to Rs9,782 and the price of 10 grams of silver rising by Rs257 to Rs8,386.
In the international market, gold prices increased by $75 to $4,670 per ounce, while silver prices rose by $3 to $93.07 per ounce, the association reported.
The son of Norway’s crown princess, who goes on trial in February accused of raping four women, has been charged with new crimes, including a “serious narcotics offense,” prosecutors said on Monday.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo said in a statement sent to AFP that an additional indictment had been issued on Monday against Hoiby, 29, covering a total of six counts.
One was a “serious narcotics offence” dating from one incident in 2020 “involving 3.5 kilos of marijuana.” Hoiby has admitted to the crime, Henriksbo said.
Hoiby’s lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told Norwegian news agency NTB her client had “on one occasion transported marijuana from A to B without earning a penny.”
Two of the counts concerned restraining order violations, while three others were traffic violations for driving a motorcycle at high speed, Henriksbo said.
“The additional indictment will now be sent to the Oslo district court for consideration during the main hearing, which begins on February 3,” he said.
Hoiby was arrested on Aug. 4, 2024, suspected of having assaulted his then-girlfriend.
Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is seen June 16, 2022, in Oslo, Norway.
Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB/AFP via Getty Images
Hoiby denies the most serious charges against him, but he plans to plead guilty to some lesser charges, his lawyer Petar Sekulic told the Reuters news agency last year.
“He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence,” Sekulic told Reuters.
In a public statement 10 days after his August 2024 arrest, Hoiby said he had acted “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument,” having suffered from “mental troubles” and struggling “for a long time with substance abuse.”
The four rapes allegedly took place in 2018, 2023 and 2024, the last one after the police investigation began.
It is the biggest scandal to hit the Norwegian royal family.
Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 21 and 19.
Unlike them, he has no official public role.
The trial will take place in Oslo district court from Feb. 3 until March 13.
From neighbourhood pizzerias and dessert-first cafés to culture-forward dining spaces, these new restaurant and café openings reflect how India’s food scene is expanding
From neighbourhood-focused outlets and delivery-first concepts to design-led cafés and purpose-driven restaurants, these launches reflect how modern diners seek more than a meal
India’s dining landscape continues to evolve with brands expanding thoughtfully, blending strong culinary identities with design, community, and purpose. Across cities, new openings are no longer just about food, they are about experience, storytelling, and creating spaces that resonate with changing lifestyles.
From neighbourhood-focused outlets and delivery-first concepts to design-led cafés and purpose-driven restaurants, these launches reflect how modern diners seek more than a meal. Comfort, inclusivity, nostalgia, innovation, and connection now sit at the heart of hospitality. As brands grow, they are choosing locations and formats that feel intentional, responding to local communities while staying true to their core philosophy.
Whether it’s reimagining familiar flavours, centring desserts as the main event, building culture-forward spaces, or creating inclusive dining experiences, these new ventures highlight how the food and beverage sector is expanding with clarity and confidence, one carefully considered opening at a time.
Circle of Crust
Circle of Crust has opened a new outlet in Uttam Nagar, New Delhi, marking another milestone in its steady expansion. Known for its philosophy of “Pizza But Better,” the brand continues to build a loyal following by pairing familiar flavours with Indian-inspired twists. The Uttam Nagar outlet, launched on 15 January 2026, carries forward this approach with a strong focus on consistency and customer experience.
Led by Founder Neha Anand and Co-Founder Kartik Anand, Circle of Crust was created to cater specifically to Indian palates. Over the years, the brand has expanded across Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana, and has also entered the international market with an outlet in Dubai.
The new outlet features a vibrant, youthful setting suited to students, families, and working professionals. The menu includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian favourites such as Paneer Makhani, Chicken Tikka, Butter Chicken, and Pijja Chatkare, along with specialty crusts made from whole wheat, beetroot, and spinach. Pastas, sides, desserts, and beverages complete the offering. To mark the launch, the brand is offering complimentary pizzas from its Super Singles range for three days.
FES Cafe and Desserts
Dessert-first café FES Cafe has launched its third outlet at Nirvana Courtyard, Gurgaon, further strengthening its presence across Delhi NCR. With existing locations in Greater Kailash II and Galleria Market, Gurgaon, the brand has built a loyal following for its indulgent desserts and thoughtfully designed spaces.
Founded by Vidur Mayor, FES Cafe is widely known for introducing New York–style chunky cookies to the Indian market and for placing desserts at the centre of the dining experience. Over time, it has evolved into a cultural “third space” where food, design, and community naturally intersect.
The Nirvana Courtyard outlet is the brand’s largest and most design-led space so far. It is also FES Cafe’s first split-level café, with the ground floor dedicated to service and takeaway, and the upper floor designed for relaxed seating and longer visits. A standout feature is the Music Corner, inspired by early-2000s headphone booths, where guests can listen to cassette tapes together, creating a tactile, nostalgic experience.
Depot48 – Khasta
Depot48 has launched Khasta, a delivery-only kulcha concept that reimagines the traditional tandoori kulcha as a complete, generously filled meal. Rooted in Punjabi comfort food, Khasta blends familiarity with innovation, offering slow-crafted kulchas designed for everyday convenience.
The menu balances classics like Amritsari Aloo-Pyaz Kulcha and Butter Chicken Kulcha with inventive options such as Mushroom Truffle Kulcha with Mirch Ka Salan, Pulled Jackfruit & Podi Kulcha, Goan Chorizo Blue Cheese Kulcha, and even a Gur-Dal Halwa dessert kulcha. Each kulcha is sealed and cooked in the tandoor to achieve a crisp, flaky texture while remaining easy to transport and reheat.
Founders Vikas Narula and Girjashanker Vohra describe the concept as an extension of Punjabi generosity, food meant to be warming, satisfying, and easy to share, adapted for how people eat today.
PHURR
PHURR Elevated Vegetarian Cuisine has opened its second outlet in Indiranagar, following the success of its consistently houseful Jayanagar location. Co-founded by Rahul Lunawat, the brand has carved a niche by making vegetarian dining indulgent, design-forward, and memorable.
The Indiranagar space builds on PHURR’s expressive aesthetic, combining playful maximalism with comfort. The menu continues to celebrate rooted vegetarian flavours, featuring favourites like Tender Coconut Fritters, Andhra Chilli Broccoli, Vegetable Kofta with Banarasi Pukhtan Curry, and Bhindi 2 Way, along with a new addition, Finger Millet Nihari.
The mocktail-only bar remains a highlight, proving that creativity and balance can stand independent of alcohol. PHURR’s expansion reinforces its belief that elevated vegetarian cuisine is here to stay.
Ishaara
Ishaara by Bellona Hospitality has launched a new standalone outlet at 1 Sobha, Church Street, Bengaluru, bringing its purpose-led dining philosophy to the heart of the city. Known for championing inclusion, the restaurant is run by a team of hearing and speech-impaired service professionals, where gestures form the language of hospitality.
Led by Prashant Issar, Managing Director of Bellona Hospitality, the brand continues to focus on empathy and meaningful human connection. The menu draws from familiar Indian flavours, offering refined yet nostalgic dishes across chaat, mains, and desserts. The Church Street outlet also introduces Taal, a cocktail programme inspired by rhythm and the elements, alongside zero-proof options.
Designed by Minnie Bhatt Design, the indoor-outdoor space blends concrete, wood, brass, and greenery into a grounded, welcoming environment, further strengthening Ishaara’s presence in Bengaluru.
First Published:
January 19, 2026, 21:28 IST
Newslifestylefood New Restaurant And Café Openings Across India: Fresh Concepts, Design-Led Spaces And Purposeful Dining
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