India

The Federation of All India Farmer Associations has urged the Centre to roll back higher excise duties on tobacco products, warning that steep taxes could hurt farmers, trigger smuggling and undermine revenue neutrality promised under GST reforms.

Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar said a viral video claiming he “turned to God” is AI-generated and fake. He warned of legal action, saying such content harms reputation, and may approach cyber police against those responsible and sharing it

Police registered an FIR against BJP MLA Janardhana Reddy and 10 others after violent clashes over banner installation ahead of a Valmiki statue unveiling in Ballari. One person was killed, several injured, and security was intensified as investigations continue

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

A lottery vendor died from injuries after being hit by a car allegedly driven by serial actor Siddharth Prabhu in Kottayam. The accident occurred on Christmas Eve; police said the actor was speeding and intoxicated. Charges will be altered following the victim’s death

Indian-origin politician Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor, pledging bold, inclusive governance focused on affordability and equity, while marking a historic milestone as the city’s first South Asian and Muslim mayor

Police in Bhadohi registered an FIR after a 20-year-old woman accused her husband and in-laws of concealing his prior marriage and subjecting her to prolonged physical and mental abuse. The accused family has absconded; investigation is ongoing

Indian equities opened higher on Friday as Sensex and Nifty gained in early trade, led by Reliance Industries and domestic institutional buying, despite continued foreign investor selling, firm Asian markets, and a modest rise in global crude oil prices benchmark

Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya criticised Shah Rukh Khan over KKR signing Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, citing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and urging the Indian government to take a firm stand.

Laboratory tests have confirmed that contaminated drinking water caused the diarrhoea outbreak in Indore, killing four and affecting over 1,400 people. Officials traced the contamination to a leaking pipeline in Bhagirathpura, prompting inspections, advisories to boil water, and plans for a state-wide preventive SOP

A clash between followers of MLA Gali Janardhan Reddy and another MLA Bharath Reddy led to the death of a Congress worker in Ballari town of Karnataka

India lost 166 tigers in 2025, with Madhya Pradesh reporting 55 deaths, largely due to territorial conflicts and space constraints. Experts highlight natural causes, cub mortality, and limited forest corridors as key factors behind rising fatalities

Intelligence agencies have warned that Bangladesh-based terror outfits HuJI and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh are increasingly using proxy groups and aliases to operate in India, aiming to create deniability and expand recruitment across multiple States

Securities and Exchange Board of India has barred 26 individuals from the securities market for manipulating DU Digital Global shares on the SME platform, ordering disgorgement of Rs 98.78 lakh and imposing penalties of Rs 1.85 crore over an artificial price surge

Ravichandran Ashwin has raised doubts about the survival of ODI cricket beyond the 2027 World Cup, citing the rise of T20 leagues and ICC’s frequent tournaments. He suggested limiting ODIs to the World Cup every four years to keep relevance

The National Sports Governance Act has partially come into effect, paving the way for the National Sports Board and Tribunal. The phased rollout introduces reforms in sports federations, elections, and athlete representation, with full implementation set for January 2026

Rishabh Pant’s ODI future looks uncertain ahead of the New Zealand series starting January 11 in Vadodara. With KL Rahul established, Ishan Kishan and Dhruv Jurel in contention, selectors face a tough call on Pant’s place in the squad

Vadodara will host the WTT Youth Contender 2026 and WTT Feeder Series 2026 at Sama Indoor Sports Complex from January 2 to 11. Over 300 players from several countries will compete, with top Indian stars leading the challenge

The Draft Seeds Bill, 2025, erodes farmers’ rights, strips States of authority, and concentrates power in corporate hands 

Party veteran Digvijay Singh has belled the proverbial cat in the Congress by openly comparing its lack of organisational strength with that of RSS-BJP

Cigarette prices may rise by 20–30 per cent from February 1 after the government revised excise duties based on cigarette length and category. Here’s what changes.

PM Narendra Modi will soon flag off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Kolkata and Guwahati. The service, expected around January 18–19, will offer lower fares than air travel, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd AC options designed for affordability

The Indian Army recovered a consignment dropped by a suspected drone along the Indo-Pakistan border in Poonch. Dozens of ammunition rounds and a tiffin box suspected to contain an IED were found and examined by the Bomb Disposal Squad

Siddhant Chaturvedi and Alizeh Agnihotri have been cast in the Hindi remake of French film “La Famille Bélier,” directed by Vikas Bahl. The musical drama explores a young girl’s journey balancing her singing talent with family responsibilities