States

The Supreme Court is set to hear on January 19 the plea of Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah challenging a high court order directing the registration of an FIR against him for using offensive language against Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi. Shah has expressed regret over his remarks. The top court had earlier reprimanded him for not placing a public apology on record

H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in crows in Edakkanam, Iritty, Kannur, prompting local authorities to issue alerts and strengthen precautions, though no domestic birds are affected and culling is not required at this stage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the Rs 6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor in Assam to ensure safe wildlife movement, reduce highway accidents, and boost ecotourism, while also virtually flagging off two Amrit Bharat Express trains to enhance connectivity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation for the Kaziranga elevated corridor project, a Rs 6,957-crore initiative aimed at safeguarding wildlife movement, reducing highway accidents and improving connectivity while boosting ecotourism in Assam

Olive Ridley turtle nesting is picking up along Tamil Nadu’s delta coast after a delayed start, with over 9,000 eggs secured in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam, as improving sea conditions and the new moon are expected to boost activity

Millions of devotees thronged Haridwar, Varanasi and Prayagraj on Mauni Amavasya, braving cold and fog to take sacred dips, perform rituals and prayers, as authorities enforced tight security and crowd management during the major Magh Mela bathing day nationwide peacefully

Parents of two trainee kabaddi players found hanging in an SAI hostel in Kollam have demanded a thorough probe, alleging inconsistencies, distress at the facility, suspicious handling by officials, and questioning whether the teenage athletes could have died by suicide

As the race for the Mumbai mayor intensifies, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has shifted its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel in Bandra, citing rest and orientation, amid tight numbers in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

BJP emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra’s civic polls, winning 1,425 of 2,869 seats across 29 municipal corporations. The party breached traditional Thackeray and Pawar strongholds, including Mumbai and Pune, marking a major political shift

Security forces killed four Naxalites, including senior Maoist cadre Dilip Vedja, in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district during an anti-Naxal operation. Weapons were recovered, and a search operation is continuing in the forested area

Pathanamthitta police booked Youth Congress leader Fenin Ninan for allegedly revealing a victim’s identity linked to expelled MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s arrest. Ninan denies wrongdoing, plans legal challenge, while the victim alleges selective chat leaks to mislead the public

A 16-year-old girl from Karuvarakundu, Malappuram, reported missing on Thursday, was found dead on Friday in an isolated area near Thodiyapulam. Injuries suggest murder. Police are questioning a minor boy and have launched a detailed investigation

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin flagged off the Palamedu Jallikattu with 1,000+ bulls and 500 tamers. Actor Soori attended, prizes included cars and tractors. Over 2,000 police managed crowds; 57 injured. Finale set at Alanganallur January 17

Odisha government directed state universities and colleges to identify non-performing teachers for compulsory premature retirement, reviewing performance, conduct, and integrity. Compliance reports must be submitted by January 31, ensuring adherence to service rules, natural justice, and government guidelines

Trends from 210 Mumbai municipal corporation wards show BJP-Shiv Sena alliance leading, poised to cross majority in BMC. Congress retained Latur, while NCP lagged in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Voter turnout was 52.94%, lower than 2017 elections

A daily wage labourer in Jodhpur was arrested for the prolonged sexual abuse of his two daughters. The crimes surfaced after the 15-year-old victim spoke out, revealing that her elder sister had been systematically exploited for over 12 years

A four-year-old girl died when a nilgai crashed through her family’s car windshield in Guna, Madhya Pradesh. Her parents were injured, and the animal, trapped inside the vehicle, was rescued by forest officials and is in critical condition

Following the discovery of 470 grams of gold ornaments in Lakkundi, Karnataka, authorities launched an excavation at Kote Veerabhadreshwara Temple. Archaeologists aim to uncover historical artifacts, inscriptions, and treasures, highlighting the village’s medieval prosperity and rich heritage

Amid Maharashtra civic polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called vote tampering “anti-national” as allegations surfaced that marker pen ink could be removed easily. The State Election Commission launched a probe and will revert to traditional ink for future elections

A leopardess carcass was found in Madhya Pradesh’s Kanha Tiger Reserve, likely killed by a tiger, forest officials said. Evidence such as bite marks, pug marks, and drag marks indicated a big cat attack; the carcass was disposed of per protocol 

Jharkhand Health Department issued an advisory to strengthen surveillance and preparedness against Nipah virus after two cases were reported in neighbouring West Bengal. Though no cases exist in Jharkhand, authorities urged vigilance, isolation readiness and public awareness due to high infection risk

As counting began for Maharashtra’s 29 municipal corporations, Shiv Sena leaders expressed confidence in a strong Mahayuti performance, citing consistent electoral outcomes and development work, even as controversies emerged over voting ink and phased counting delays

Iskcon Mayapur authorities warned devotees and tourists against fake websites offering fraudulent accommodation bookings. An FIR has been filed after several visitors were cheated through convincing online portals, prompting appeals to use only the official booking website

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo said hostile forces, including Pakistan-backed elements, will continue attempts to destabilise the region, but strong preparedness and coordination among security agencies have kept the 2025 security situation largely under control despite isolated incidents