Four years have zipped by and we are crossing another milestone on 31st January 2025 – it’s our 4th Anniversary. It feels good. Looking back at the 1460 days, I must say Short Post has made its mark with people who matter via 4000 stories published in the areas of politics, business, entertainment and sports. All made possible by the unflinching commitment and dedication of our senior editors, most of whom have been part of this journey from Day One. Small pack, big impact is in essence the story of Short Post which was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. It shows our conviction. In all humility, I can say, we have created a new niche in the news segment space like Hindustan Unilever which created a new segment, when it launched CloseUp Gel. Yes, we have created a brand (in a limited sense), created demand (readers) and created supply (senior journalists). But we are facing teething problems like all start-ups. What makes us happy and confident is the recognition of our efforts. For instance, we have an arrangement with the OPEN Magazine, part of the $4.5 billion Kolkata-based Sanjiv Goenka-RPG Group. This arrangement sees around 10 Short Post stories posted on OPEN Magazine website every week. This arrangement is testimony that our content has been well received! Also, I may add that the Maharashtra government has recognised Short Post and has allowed our senior editor to cover the Assembly sessions. Ditto: Odisha. Our goal is to ensure that Short Post becomes a habit. I would like people to keep checking their smartphones to know the latest Authentic Gossip. As regards AI and the fear of it disrupting all businesses including media. On that, personally, I have no such fear as I am confident AI cannot smell news particularly Authentic Gossip. That’s the place we are well entrenched.

Quite a few things have happened after Jay Shah took charge as chair of the ICC. The youngest ever to helm the world governing body for cricket, Shah was faced with the  task of making the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accept the hybrid model in order to host the ICC Champions Trophy — at home and in Dubai — after the BCCI refused (when he was Secretary) to send its team to Pakistan citing the Indian government’s unwavering position on the matter that has been existent for over one and a half decades. The PCB had its way by getting an assurance from the ICC Board that it will not send its team to India for future ICC events. The ICC Chair is not exactly a hot seat and Shah’s predecessors — New Zealand’s Greg Barclay and India’s Shashank Manohar maintained a low-profile. With a professional structure in place the ICC Board is rarely involved in the daily routines. Shah made headlines recently meeting the Organising Committee of the Brisbane Olympics 2032 team in Brisbane and also the outgoing International Olympic Committee boss Thomas Bach in Lausanne. The feel good happenings came to a halt with the ICC CEO Geoff Allardice — after a 13-year stint at the Dubai-based world body — stepping down some three weeks before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy. Both Shah and Allardice have thanked each other for serving the game of cricket and getting an opportunity, but Allardice, an Australian, is the fourth ICC official to resign in recent times. People are not yet ready to say that the Shah effect has started in the Dubai office of the ICC.

Both PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Aditynath are in a deep state of shock after the stampede at the Maha Kumbha mela at Prayagraj on January 29. Despite the best arrangements, things came under stress because of an influx of more than 5 crore pilgrims. The number of pilgrims who came to Maha Kumbh crossed 18 crore in the last 16 days. Imagine the population right now in Prayagraj compared to the populations of some of the world’s most populated cities like Tokyo, Delhi and Shanghai. Since it was Mauni Amavasya on that day, pilgrims started marching towards the Sangam point in large numbers after midnight, and the barriers broke down. The crowd became unmanageable for the overworked police force. PMO has found out that entire families consisting of four generations had come to Prayagraj to take the holy dip. From the states people from a whole village or a locality had come. There are three main reasons behind this huge influx. One, the level of devotion and enthusiasm among the pilgrims; Two, videos and images on TV and social media of people coming to Maha Kumbh for the last two weeks, acted as a big influencing factor. Three, since the Maha Kumbh was taking place after a gap of 144 years, most of the devotees felt that they might not get another chance in their lifetime. Several buses, trains and vehicles had to be stopped away from Prayagraj town. Lakhs of people had to walk several kilometres to reach the bathing ghats. PMO feels that authorities should curb the number of VIP vehicles entering the Kumbh Mela area for a few days to tame public wrath.

Ashesh Jani, Co-founder & CEO of the Gibraltar-based Ribbon Plc, is on Cloud Nine. Naturally. His venture has got the green signal from the UK Financial authorities to launch Ribbon App in the UK market. It was launched in Gibraltar first. The App is tailored for students and professionals relocating to the UK. Ribbon offers multi-currency accounts and wallets for 32 currencies. Jani had chosen Gibraltar which is widely recognized as the “Gateway to the UK” in financial services, but its global business advantages extend well beyond the UK. In particular, Indian businesses seeking to enter the UK market (or elsewhere) find Gibraltar an ideal location for establishing a holding company or trust structure. Ribbon’s AI-powered technology is designed to offer a hyper-personalised experience to its users. The financial services super-app is loaded with features including multi-currency accounts, an embedded payments marketplace, and access to deposits, FX, Crypto & Equity trading platforms. Jani has picked his former ICICI Bank colleague in London, Manish Vaid to head marketing operations. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jani worked at ICICI Bank as the Head of Overseas Markets & Alternate Channels –Retail, SME, and Private Banking — in the UK and Europe. After completing his MMS in Marketing & Finance from the University of Mumbai started his professional career with Vodafone and then moved to Tata Internet Services.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has invited ire of the ruling saffron alliance in the state due to his controversial claim that the votes his party had received in the recent assembly election had ‘vanished’ somewhere. Addressing his first public rally after the election, Raj also attacked the NCP led by deputy CM Ajit Pawar as well as the BJP in general. This is one more example of his ambivalence since Raj has time and again either praised PM Narendra Modi or criticized him, never taking a firm stand. Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar has castigated his old friend Raj for the offensive remark, telling him that the BJP has never indulged into politics of adjustments. On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant has congratulated Raj ‘for speaking out the truth.’ But the most pointed barb against Raj has been fired by NCP(Ajit) leader Anand Paranjpe. “MNS contested 138 assembly seats and secured only 1.55% votes without a single win,” he has taunted Raj. The NCP is chagrined since Raj has raised doubts about its winning 41 seats. This free for all will impact the local body elections, likely to be held later this year. Raj has been advised to study the situation seriously and introspect about the defeat of his own son in the Dadar-Mahim constituency in which his family resides.

The perception that January is a challenging month for the film industry is not without merit. Historically, this month has often been viewed as a “jinx” for film releases, primarily due to the post-holiday dynamics that affect audience behaviour and box office performance. As people transition from the festive season to their regular routines, several factors contribute to the underperformance of films released in January. Films released in December often enjoy extended viewership due to the holiday season, leaving little room for new releases.  Several films released in January have struggled to resonate with audiences, reinforcing the notion that this month is not ideal for cinematic success. For instance, Chhapak, which was released in January 2020, faced challenges at the box office despite its critical acclaim and social relevance. Similarly, in January 2023, films like Fighter and Mai Atal Hu failed to garner the expected audience turnout, highlighting a consistent trend of underwhelming performances during this month. The recent January releases, such as Emergency, featuring Kangana Ranaut, and Fateh, starring Sonu Sood, also struggled to find traction despite significant promotional efforts. This pattern suggests that even with star power and marketing campaigns, films released in January may face an uphill battle to attract viewers. Given the historical challenges associated with January releases, filmmakers and studios may need to reconsider their marketing and timing strategies. To mitigate the risks associated with January releases, studios could explore alternative strategies, such as targeting specific demographics or leveraging unique marketing campaigns that resonate with the post-holiday mindset. As the film industry continues to evolve, understanding the dynamics of audience behaviour and timing will be crucial for maximizing box office potential.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s newly released book, Banglar Nirbachon O Amra (Bengal’s Elections and Us) has squarely blamed the Congress party for the BJP’s return to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With the book’s release at the 48th Kolkata International Book Fair, it has become clearer that Didi has decided that her party TMC will go alone in the 2026 West Bengal State Election. In the book, Didi argues that the Opposition alliance, INDIA Bloc, failed due to the grand old party’s rigidity and weak leadership. She further claims that the Congress won its seats in 2024 only because of support from other INDIA Bloc allies. She accuses the Congress-Left alliance in West Bengal of secretly helping the BJP by creating a larger anti-TMC front, which ultimately benefited the saffron party in the state. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP losing ground in West Bengal. The party, which had secured 18 seats in the state in 2019, saw its tally reduced to 12 in 2024. On the other hand, TMC improved its performance, winning 29 out of 42 seats. The Congress managed to win only one seat, while the Left failed to open its account. Incidentally, Mamata has stuck to her policy of supporting the strongest party against BJP, by sending its MP, actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, to campaign for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Political analysts see this as Mamata’s indirect message to Congress. TMC’s participation in AAP’s campaign indicates its commitment to the INDIA Bloc but also highlights the friction between the Opposition allies, especially after Didi’s criticism of Congress dominance within the coalition.

On Republic Day, Vijay’s last film’s title and first look were announced — Jana Nayagan (hero of the masses) cracking a whip with the tagline Naan Aanai Ittal. Besotted MGR fans, even 37 years later were intended to be captivated hook, line and sinker by this iconic song and MGR’s cult charisma. TN’s DNA is conjoined twins — cinema and politics, a   predictable, popular combo that has enthralled the cinema hungry and politics punched denizens of this state. Vijay who floated his party TVK in 2024 to harvest the votes in 2026 has it all planned. Or so it seems. This popular actor was launched by his father S A Chandrasekhar in 1984. After 68 films, Vijay now considers himself worthy of the crossover to TN’s throne, a charismatic Lord of the rings. There was a time when Vijay cannily shifted his MGR style to clone superstar Rajinikanth … .action, style and mass appeal, of course with a watchful eye on the box office take. If imitation is the best form of flattery, then it has to be acknowledged that Vijay reaped rich rewards in terms of fan following. So his last film is planned to carry a significant payload…MGR’s legacy as the cult Samaritan, forever ready to wipe the tears of the poor and pull them up from mired poverty. For which Vijay needs power, endorsement and legitimacy. He has carefully trained his virulent guns on the DMK so far, not pricking the AIADMK. Soothsayers say, at best he can divide and divert votes from both the behemoths. Can Vijay take an MGR incarnation?

Is Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan walking into a trap over his government’s sanction of a controversial brewery unit in Palakkad? Joining hands with the BJP and the Congress, CPI has published an article in its mouthpiece Janayugom, suggesting that promotion of businesses that exploit agriculture and food security was against the interest of the state. The opinion piece, written by senior CPI leader Sathyan Mokeri, said the government’s approval for the brewery unit raised the question of whether paddy or alcohol should be made from the land of Palakkad. “From where did they get the water needed for the brewery unit? Once the (private) company starts exploiting the water resources, there won’t be enough water for agriculture,” he wrote. The Chittoor region of Palakkad district, where Madhya Pradesh-based alcohol manufacturer Oasis Group is set to establish the unit, has one of the lowest groundwater levels in Kerala, the CPI leader said. The state government approved the setting up the Rs 600-crore grain-based distillation and brewery unit on January 15. The Congress, which leads the UDF, however, alleged that the firm, embroiled in Delhi’s liquor policy controversy, got the permission without a proper tendering process. Like CPI’s Mokeri, it said that the setting up of the unit would worsen the water crisis in the agrarian region. Earlier this month, the UDF-ruled Elappully panchayat, where the unit is proposed to be set up, also requested the government to reconsider its decision given the water concerns. The Kerala government has been reiterating that the unit will not affect the availability of water in the area as its primary source would be harvested rainwater. With the state headed for polls in 2026, it is quite likely that the brewery scam could come to haunt Vijayan just as the excise scam has cast a shadow on Kejriwal in Delhi polls.

This one hit national headlines in December 2021 when it attracted a $ 4.1 billion investment from the American fund TFCC International. Such a massive investment into this little known Chennai-based group became the talk of the town. This one was able to attract such a huge investment because of its technology prowess. This enables it to convert un-segregated waste into energy without leaving behind any toxic residue. Ram Charan group has since been doing quiet work in the field of waste management and inked a pact with Bhilai Steel Plant and others for waste management and converting them into value added products and fuel. In the wake of urbanisation and population growth, waste management assumes criticality for municipalities especially. Ram Charan is pursuing a blinkered-horse like approach to sort out this issue. Significantly enough, it has run a successful pilot project for municipal waste conversion in Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu constituency Kuppam. Following this, the Naidu government is reportedly toying with the idea of extending association with Ram Charan group across the whole Andhra Pradesh. The residue sludge is converted into a syrup which is then used as a fertilizer for agricultural purposes. The carbon-rich syrup is found to aid crop growth. Well, Naidu appears to be on a mission mode, and has found in Ram Charan a good partner.