India

The WTT Youth Contender 2026 began in Vadodara with strong performances from Divyanshi Bhowmik, Syndrela Das, Miku Matsushima and Tanishka Kalbhairav in U-17 girls singles. Ritvik Gupta and Ved Panchal impressed in boys’ U-17, while Divija Paul dominated U-13 girls

Haryana’s Ameerah Arshad won gold in the 10m Air Rifle Women final, while Uttar Pradesh’s Zuhair Khan clinched the men’s trap title at the 68th National Shooting Championships. Karnataka’s Tilottama Sen secured a golden double in junior and youth women’s events

The Indian government has issued a stern notice to Elon Musk’s social media platform X, directing it to immediately remove all vulgar and unlawful content, particularly that generated by its AI app Grok.

Anger is rising over India’s drug regulators for failing to issue a public advisory on counterfeit Abhayrab rabies vaccines. Despite alerts from Indian Immunologicals Limited, authorities chose a quiet probe, prompting ethical concerns after global warnings were issued by foreign regulators.

Gaya GRP officer Rajesh Kumar Singh was arrested for involvement in a November gold heist worth ₹1.44 crore from a train passenger. Police are investigating other absconding personnel and attempting to recover the stolen gold, while statements and CDRs guide the probe

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death Thursday night in Delhi’s Sultanpuri. Police arrested the main accused, Vikram, with six prior criminal cases. Two accomplices remain absconding as authorities investigate the motive and examine CCTV and witness statements

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

PVR INOX will re-release Yash Raj Films’ 'Band Baaja Baaraat' on January 16. Starring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, the 2010 romantic comedy celebrates ambition, friendship, and love in Delhi’s wedding world, appealing across generations with its timeless charm

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

A female constable was assaulted and had her clothes torn during an anti-mining protest in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. Two men were arrested, and authorities are investigating further amid outrage over violence against police and escalating clashes over Jindal Power’s coal project

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

CDS General Anil Chauhan inaugurated the upgraded runway at IAF’s Car Nicobar Air Base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The enhanced facility strengthens India’s eastern front, improves quick air operations, and underscores the region’s strategic importance

Two Indigo flights from Delhi and Mumbai were diverted to Vijayawada’s Gannavaram Airport due to heavy fog in Hyderabad. Each flight carried around 200 passengers, who landed safely, with departures to Hyderabad scheduled after weather clearance

The makers of *Thottam*, starring National Award-winning Keerthy Suresh and Antony Varghese, released a new poster. Written and directed by Risha Sivakumar, the film showcases Suresh in a striking street scene, and she shared it on Instagram with a New Year message

As Indian Railways prepares to launch its first Vande Bharat Sleeper service, speculation is growing over a Secunderabad–New Delhi route. Hyderabad commuters hope the high-speed overnight train will reduce travel time and offer greater comfort.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have ordered a preliminary enquiry after a south Kashmir cricketer wore a helmet displaying the Palestinian flag during a private cricket tournament match in Jammu, citing sensitivity and possible public order implications.

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

Jammu and Kashmir Police ordered a preliminary enquiry after a cricketer from south Kashmir wore a helmet bearing the Palestinian flag during a private cricket league match in Jammu. Authorities cited sensitivity and possible public order implications

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