Human Interest

Celebrity chef-filmmaker Vikas Khanna directs Shabana Azmi in his upcoming film *Imaginary Rain*, exploring grief, family, and Indian cuisine. Khanna also returns as a judge on *MasterChef India 2026*, which introduces a ‘jodi’ format celebrating culinary diversity

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year sentence for rape and murder convictions, has been granted a 40-day parole in Haryana. This marks yet another temporary release, drawing renewed criticism from Sikh organisations and opposition groups

Filmmaker Cibi Chakaravarthi will direct Rajinikanth’s upcoming film *Thalaivar 173*, produced by Kamal Haasan and R. Mahendran. The film is slated for a Pongal 2027 release, marking a major collaboration in Tamil cinema

A newly unsealed US indictment accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a cocaine-fueled narco-terror network. Captured in a US-backed operation, Maduro and his wife now face major drug and weapons charges in a New York federal court

X said it will remove illegal content, suspend offending accounts and cooperate with authorities, including for AI tool Grok misuse, after India’s IT ministry ordered takedowns of obscene material, sought action reports, and warned of legal action for non-compliance nationwide

Ranveer Singh’s spy action film 'Dhurandhar' has been declared tax-free in Ladakh by LG Kavinder Gupta. Shot extensively in the region, the blockbuster has earned over ₹1,100 crore worldwide, boosting Ladakh’s cinematic appeal and supporting the local film and tourism industry

In Varanasi, a BJP corporator’s son allegedly slapped a police sub-inspector Thursday evening in the Chowk area. Locals beat him, and police rescued him. Himanshu Srivastava faces a case and is being sent to jail, officials said

Calgary cab driver Hardeep Singh Toor safely transported a pregnant woman and her companion to the hospital during severe winter weather, with the baby born in the backseat just blocks from the hospital. Both mother and child are reported doing well

Around 200 parrots died near the Narmada River in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, due to food poisoning. Post-mortems ruled out bird flu. Officials blamed improper feeding, contaminated food, and pesticide exposure, and have banned feeding near the aqueduct bridge

“Leisure sickness” refers to people falling ill on weekends or holidays after busy work periods. Limited research suggests stress reduction, travel, lifestyle changes, and delayed symptom awareness may contribute. Staying active, rested, and mindful may help prevent it

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for January 2, 2026. May the day bring you happiness

Light snowfall hit higher reaches of Kashmir while rain lashed the plains on New Year, boosting tourist spirits and winter tourism. Resorts saw celebrations and full occupancy, though snowfall deficit during Chillai Kalan raised concerns over water resources and irrigation needs

As artificial intelligence reduces human labour, existential fulfilment calls first for securing oneself against an unpredictable environment and the indifference of other living beings, including fellow humans

On January 3, PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the “Lotus Light: Relics of the Awakened One” exposition in Delhi, showcasing the sacred Piprahwa Relics and associated antiquities, highlighting India’s Buddhist heritage, cultural preservation, and the universal values of peace and compassion

Experts suggest using moringa in sanitary pads, citing its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-nourishing properties. The plant may improve menstrual comfort, reduce irritation, control odor, and lower infection risk, offering a safer, chemical-free alternative for sensitive intimate care

Gaushalas in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have stopped using vulture-toxic veterinary drugs, helping stabilize populations of critically endangered long-billed vultures. Safe carcass disposal and alternative medicines like meloxicam support conservation, public health, and gradual recovery of these essential scavengers

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi participated in Bargarh’s Dhanu Jatra, presenting 123 development projects worth Rs 1,362 crore at King Kansa’s symbolic court. He announced new projects, lauded women and farmers’ schemes, and emphasized the festival’s cultural and economic significance

An 80-year-old man in Telangana’s Jagtial district has built his own granite grave beside his wife’s, saying it reflects acceptance of life’s realities. Healthy and active, he visits the site daily, calling it a way to spare his children future burden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi for winning bronze at the World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha. Erigaisi’s achievement, alongside his recent World Rapid bronze, highlights India’s growing prominence in global chess

Residents in Indore allege eight deaths from vomiting and diarrhoea due to contaminated water, while authorities confirm three. The Madhya Pradesh government announced compensation, suspended officials, ordered a probe, and cited pipeline leakage as cause opposition accusations of concealment persist

Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as vice president in July citing health reasons, has not yet been allotted his official post-retirement residence. He currently stays at a private farmhouse in Chhatarpur, despite requesting the entitlement from the Housing Ministry

The Centre, via Meity, warned social media platforms of legal action if they fail to remove obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, and unlawful content. Platforms must review compliance frameworks and adhere strictly to IT Act and IT Rules, 2021 provisions

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 29, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his 2026 New Year message in Hindi for the first time, urging global leaders to prioritise development over military spending. He warned of rising conflicts, humanitarian crises and soaring defence budgets, calling for peace and poverty reduction