Hyderabad

Polling for the second phase of gram panchayat elections began across Telangana on Sunday for Sarpanch and ward member posts. While turnout was slow initially due to cold weather, officials expect participation to pick up during the day.

A 35-year-old history-sheeter was stabbed to death by unidentified persons at Pahadishareef in Hyderabad. Police suspect the killing may be a revenge attack linked to a previous murder case.

A man was killed and his wife seriously injured in a road accident on NH 161 at Bachepally in Kalher mandal, Sangareddy district, on Saturday night. The couple were travelling from Hyderabad to cast their votes in the gram panchayat elections.

Hyderabad defeated Mumbai by six wickets in the BCCI Women’s Under-19 one-day cricket championship league match at Lucknow. Mumbai were bowled out for 94, with Hyderabad chasing down the target in 26 overs to secure a comfortable win

The Telangana Congress government is facing criticism over alleged spending of Rs 100 crore on Lionel Messi’s visit, which many claim was more about photo-ops for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy than football. Allegations suggest Singareni workers and government school students were denied welfare funds while crores were diverted to the event.

Saurashtra gained a crucial first-innings lead over Hyderabad in the Vijay Merchant Trophy Under-16 second-round match at Mulapadu. Hyderabad managed 142 in reply to Saurashtra’s 245, while Saurashtra reached 195/6 at stumps on the second day

The Kanumalla Muralimohan memorial Open carrom tournament will be held at Alkapuri Community Hall, Hyderabad, from December 18 to 20. Events include men’s singles, doubles, veteran men’s singles and women’s singles, with cash prizes up to Rs 20,000

V Srinivas Reddy and S Anand Swaroop clinched the 65-plus doubles title at the GVK-AISTA Senior National Tennis Championship in Hyderabad, defeating Manmadha Rao and Dhananjeyulu 6-1, 6-1. The event saw competitive matches across multiple age categories

Credicon Mavericks clinched the inaugural Hyderabad Pickleball League title with a 4-3 tie-breaker win over All Stars. The finale also honoured standout players, with Sameer Varma named MVP, marking a milestone for pickleball’s growth in Hyderabad

Telangana swimmer Srinikesh Kiran won three bronze medals at the Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai, becoming the first from the state to achieve the feat. India’s six-member squad delivered its best-ever performance, winning 19 medals including eight gold

Nine juniors, including Ananda Hariharan and Advik Sahasya, and six open players, including PV Satyanarayana and Rama Anjaneyulu, share the lead after Round 3 of the 235th Brilliant Trophy chess tournament at Brilliant Grammar High School, Hyderabad

Four members of a family from Kamareddy district were killed in a road accident on NH 161 at Pedda Shankarampet in Medak on Saturday night. The victims, who had been residing in Hyderabad, were travelling to their native village to cast their votes in the gram panchayat elections on Sunday.

BRS leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy alleged massive irregularities in the procurement of beds for government hostels, claiming tender norms were manipulated to inflate costs. He held the Chief Minister responsible and demanded an immediate probe into the Rs 170-crore deal

The Indian Christian Journalists Collective organised Semi-Christmas celebrations in Hyderabad on Saturday. Government Advisor Shabbir Ali said the Congress government is focusing on Christian welfare, while speakers raised concerns over minority rights and attacks across the country.

Burglars broke into a house in Aushapur village, Ghatkesar, while the family was away campaigning for a local election. They stole around five tolas of gold, cash, and clothes. Police have registered a case and begun investigations.

A delegation from the German Bundestag held discussions with BRS leader Dasoju Sravan Kumar in Hyderabad, focusing on the Telangana Agitation, post-Statehood growth and democratic governance. The meeting also covered industrial development and ways to strengthen Indo-German relations

Secunderabad police arrested a 68-year-old man for manufacturing and selling adulterated cow ghee. The suspect mixed plant-based oils with food coloring, packaged 200 kg as cow ghee, and sold it in local markets. Authorities seized the ghee and related equipment.

Thousands of devotees participated in the fourth annual Sri Radha Govinda Ratha Yatra organised by the Hare Krishna Movement in Kokapet on Saturday. The colourful procession, marked by sankirtans and prasadam distribution, showcased devotion, unity and community spirit.

The Niri9 International Film Festival will host its third edition in Hyderabad on January 10–11, highlighting cultural ties between the North East and Telangana. The film fest received 176 entries across feature films, short films, shorter films, and documentaries.

The Rajasthan government has signed an Rs 8.5 crore MoU with IIT Hyderabad during Pravasi Rajasthani Divas 2025 to develop AI- and ML-based predictive systems for identifying critical minerals. Executed in four phases over 18 months, the project aims to strengthen Rajasthan’s mineral intelligence and position India as a leader in exploration technologies.

 The Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy in Hyderabad culminated as the newly commissioned officers slow marched in two columns to the resonant notes of martial marching tunes, and with a special emotive moment as Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh flew and led a three-aircraft Kiran formation above them

Ravindranath Yarlagadda, founder of VIYONA Fintech, is emerging as a thought leader in India’s fintech space, combining technology-driven solutions with social impact. His initiatives focus on digital payments, agri finance, and inclusion for farmers, FPOs, and small businesses.

Rein Bazaar police arrested two more suspects in the murder of businessman Junaid Bharmoos in Yakutpura. With this, eight people have been arrested so far. The businessman was allegedly killed by a group of 12 attackers in public view.

Hyderabad Police have issued detailed guidelines for New Year’s Eve celebrations, mandating prior permission for post-midnight events, CCTV coverage, crowd control, noise limits, and safety measures. Violations will invite strict legal action, officials warned.