Former actress Sana Khan is preparing for her fourth Haj, opting for a modern multi-storey tower in Mina instead of traditional tents. This shift reflects a growing trend among Indian pilgrims seeking enhanced amenities during the sacred journey. Saudi authorities have introduced these towers, offering a more comfortable experience, though some traditionalists express reservations.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) warns that the EU's new carbon border tax will shift decarbonisation costs onto developing nations like India. This measure, set to generate significant revenue for the EU, imposes tariffs on emission-intensive goods, potentially impacting India's steel and aluminium exports by around 25% and creating trade disadvantages.

J&K government convened a workshop with over 100 mosque imams to combat rising heroin addiction. Religious leaders were urged to destigmatize patients and raise awareness about substance abuse's harmful impacts. This initiative is part of a three-stage strategy focusing on awareness, identification, and rehabilitation to address the growing drug menace in the region.

Tech co-developed with IIT-M is now under development trial

A key Hindu candidate, Gobindadeb Pramanik, had his nomination rejected for the Gopalganj-3 seat in Bangladesh polls due to alleged invalid signatures. Pramanik, general secretary of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mahajote, claims political intimidation led to the rejection, despite having the required 1% voter support. He plans to appeal the decision.

A Meitei civil society group has alerted PM Modi about a Chin Kuki Zo organization's appeals to foreign governments and UN bodies, warning of threats to India's sovereignty and security. The group urged a review of security policies and Suspension of Operations agreements to ensure a lawful resolution for Manipur.

Following the encounter of top Maoist Madvi Hidma, his close confidant Barse Deva surrendered with 40 rebels in Telangana, marking the apparent wipeout of the feared PLGA battalion number 1. Deva, a Koya tribal from the same village as Hidma, was involved in numerous deadly ambushes, including the Jhiram Ghati attack.

Security forces have eliminated 14 Maoists in Bastar, including key figures like Sachin Mangtu, in separate operations in Bijapur and Sukma. This significant crackdown, following intelligence on armed cadres, has led to the recovery of a large weapons cache. Officials claim commanders involved in a recent ASP's killing are now neutralized, significantly weakening rebel presence in the region.

Rajasthan government controversially redrew Barmer and Balotra district boundaries just before census freeze, shifting thousands of voters. The move, impacting over 2.5 lakh voters, has sparked political accusations of manipulation for electoral gains and delimitation calculations.

The Allahabad High Court ruled that waitlisted candidates do not have an absolute right to appointment, and waitlists cannot exist indefinitely. This decision came after a petition by candidates who were initially not selected for assistant teacher posts. The court emphasized that selection processes must conclude within a reasonable timeframe.

Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide protest, the 'MGNREGA bachao sangram,' starting January 8, demanding the restoration of the job guarantee scheme. The party plans to challenge the new VB-GRAMG law in court, alleging it violates constitutional provisions by shifting financial burdens to states and undermining panchayat autonomy. This agitation aims to force the government to reinstate the scheme.

Nitin Nabin is poised to become the BJP's new national president, with elections anticipated post-January 14. This move signals a potential «generational change» within the party, as Nabin, aged 45, is expected to lead a revamped team of office-bearers. The organizational overhaul will likely follow his formal election, preceding the budget session.

Political clashes erupted in Indore's Bhagirathpura as BJP and Congress workers confronted each other over contaminated water deaths. Police intervened, detaining Congress leaders and workers who were attempting to meet affected families. The incident highlights escalating tensions amidst a growing death toll from diarrhoea.

Ten deaths in Indore's Bhagirathpura are linked to contaminated drinking water, with residents demanding accountability for negligence. A police toilet's faulty construction, with waste seeping into the water supply, is suspected as the cause. Authorities are investigating oversight lapses and collecting samples, promising strict action against those responsible.

A recent Union government assessment revealed significant disparities in potable water availability across rural Madhya Pradesh, with some districts reporting zero availability while others claimed 100%. The survey also highlighted operational issues like irregular supply and non-functional taps. Previous investigations in Indore had already indicated widespread groundwater contamination from sewage, rendering many sources unfit for consumption.

The TRAI data showed that Jio added 1.2 million subscribers, extending its lead over Bharti Airtel for the ninth consecutive month.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday called out the BJP-led Delhi government for insulting Dalits by choosing to install portraits of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Madan Mohan Malaviya in the Delhi Assembly on the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, instead of honouring the pioneering social reformer herself, AAP said in a press release.

Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following a directive from the BCCI, triggering sharp political reactions amid concerns over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

The year 2026 is set to be a pivotal electoral year, featuring crucial assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. These contests will significantly shape the careers of key leaders and test the national ambitions of major parties, influencing the landscape leading up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Telangana has scrapped its two-child norm for local body elections, a rule that previously disqualified individuals with more than two children. Citing a declining fertility rate below the replacement level, the state government argued the decades-old population control measure is no longer relevant. Officials believe maintaining the replacement fertility rate is crucial for the state's future demographic balance, as citizens increasingly opt for smaller families.

AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel warned he would «cut off the hand of any individual who dares to touch Muslim women with ill intent,» amid the hijab row involving Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Addressing a rally in Jalna, he accused BJP and other secular parties of supporting goons while neglecting Muslims.