National News

Four Maoists were killed and a head constable from the District Reserve Guard lost his life during an encounter with security forces on Saturday in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The joint operation in Abujhmaad forest resulted in the recovery of automatic weapons, and search operations are ongoing.

The gunfight broke out on Saturday evening at a forest in south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts

The Minister asked officials to organise awareness programmes about the importance of eye donation among people

ASHA president K. Vijay Kumar has said there had been no cash flow from the State government to hospitals since June

On Sunday morning, dense fog blanketed Delhi, disrupting flight and train schedules. The city saw a dip in temperature, leading to cold wave conditions. Delhi's air quality remained 'very poor' with an AQI of 377. Many homeless people sought refuge in night shelters as cold weather persisted. Similar conditions affected other parts of North India.

Arrangements have been made to issue 1.20 lakh tokens at 90 counters in Tirupati and four counters in Tirumala from 5 a.m. on January 9 for darshan on January 10, 11 and 12, says TTD Chairman B.R. Naidu

Namo Bharat trains will be available to the public at a frequency of 15 minutes; The fare from New Ashok Nagar Station to Meerut South is ₹150 for standard coach and ₹225 for premium coach

The Press Association and the Editors Guild of India also condemned the killing of the television journalist, and demanded the State government conduct a thorough investigation

The Nanded court acquitted nine individuals accused of involvement in a 2006 bomb blast that killed two people and injured four, citing the prosecution's inability to prove the explosion was caused by a bomb. The investigating agency's claims were not sufficiently supported by evidence during the trial.

In a Sealdah court hearing, Sanjay Roy’s lawyer questioned the location and method of the alleged crime, citing a forensic report that found no evidence of struggle at the crime scene. The report also noted the improbability of unnoticed entry. Victim’s family submitted additional details suggesting more individuals involved.

Shipping Ministry also seeks 100 acres of land with seafront for ship building, repair facilities, exim port; no mention of security and strategic concerns cited by Environment Ministry to deny RTI requests on Great Nicobar project

Former Australian pacer Brett Lee praised Scott Boland, calling him "Mr Consistent," and compared his situation to that of spinner Stuart MacGill, who struggled for opportunities due to Shane Warne's presence. Despite a solid start by Indian openers, Boland took four crucial wickets, putting India at 141/6. Lee emphasized the dominance of Australia's first-choice pace trio.

PM Narendra Modi celebrated the rise in rural consumption and the drop in poverty levels, highlighting the recent household consumption expenditure survey and SBI study. The rural poverty rate decreased significantly from 26% in 2011-12 to less than 5% in 2023-24. Modi emphasized the importance of empowering rural India for a developed nation.

Divers discovered the wreck of a probable European warship near Kalpeni island, Lakshadweep on Saturday. The ship, dating back to the 17th or 18th centuries, includes a cannon and anchor, suggesting historic maritime battles. Further underwater archaeological research is needed to uncover more details and confirm its origins, as the coral growth obscures precise identification.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav states the govt will address public concerns over the Bhopal gas tragedy waste incineration in Pithampur, awaiting further court orders. Protests, including attempted self-immolation, erupted in response to waste transport, demanding transparent actions to ensure safety.

Ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, BJP has announced its first list of 29 candidates, featuring notable figures like Parvesh Verma and Ramesh Bidhuri. The elections, set for February, will see key contests, particularly in the New Delhi and Kalkaji constituencies, involving prominent candidates from AAP, BJP, and Congress.

The Delhi assembly polls are shaping up to be a fierce battle as BJP, Congress, and AAP field heavyweight candidates. Notable contests include Arvind Kejriwal against Sandeep Dikshit and Parvesh Verma in New Delhi, Atishi in Kalkaji facing Congress and BJP rivals, and Manish Sisodia contending in Jangpura. The outcomes will significantly impact political dynamics.

Police in Beed arrested three suspects involved in the abduction-murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Two suspects were caught in Pune, while another was arrested in Kalyan. The Maharashtra CID is investigating the case, which may be linked to attempts of extortion and assaults on a renewable energy firm. Further arrests are expected.

Delhi experienced its worst fog of the season starting from late Friday night, causing widespread disruptions. The zero visibility condition lasted up to 12 hours, impacting flights, trains, and road traffic. The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for continuing dense fog and predicts poor air quality in the coming days.