Times of India

A Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) outbreak in Pune, affecting 140 people, could have been contained within four days if adequate health measures were taken, according to virologist Dr T Jacob John. Key steps include prompt reporting, testing, water verification, public alerts, and disinfection of the water supply.

The Indian government is working with US authorities on procedural issues for the early extradition of Mumbai attacks accused Tahawwur Rana, following the US Supreme Court's refusal to hear his petition. The extradition aims to further the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with PM Modi's potential visit to the US next month under discussion.

India has cautioned the Maldives against entering trade agreements that may jeopardize its fiscal stability, after the archipelago nation signed pacts with China and Turkiye. New Delhi emphasized that these agreements could result in significant revenue losses for the Maldives, which will be considered in India's policy-making.

The Indian government has responded after a leaked UK government report listed Khalistan extremism and Hindu nationalist extremism as threats. The ministry of external affairs highlighted the known extremist threats from the UK and emphasized that these should not be wrongly equated.

Sixty-two-year-old Dinesh Nandwana, chairman emeritus of Vakrangee, died on Friday during an ED raid at his Andheri (East) home. The police await postmortem results to ascertain the cause of death. An accidental death report has been registered, and no complaints of ill treatment were made by the family amidst ongoing investigations.

India's tiger territory increased by 30% between 2006 and 2018, as per a study. This growth occurred in regions populated by around 60 million people, challenging assumptions of incompatibility between tigers and humans. The research highlights the importance of protected core areas and identifies expansion potential in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

Kerala's government has reduced funding for 27 out of 49 tribal welfare schemes amid a financial crisis, impacting housing, education, and self-employment programs for 1.5 lakh tribal families. Numerous significant initiatives have been either scrapped or had their budgets slashed, raising concerns about social justice and equity.

Gukesh Dommaraju ascended to World No. 3 after drawing against reigning champion Wei Yi at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025. Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa scored a stunning win over top seed Fabiano Caruana, elevating him in the standings. Leon Luke Mendonca, Pentala Harikrishna, and Divya Deshmukh also recorded notable victories, marking a remarkable day for Indian chess.

PM Modi remarked that this was the first Parliament session since 2014 without attempts from abroad to disrupt proceedings, alluding to past incidents like the Hindenburg report on Adani Group. He expressed optimism for the session, highlighting the government's efforts towards achieving 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and significant bills to be discussed.

The Karnataka government has authorized the 'right to die with dignity' for terminally ill patients with no hope of recovery, following a Supreme Court ruling. The decision mandates primary and secondary medical boards to oversee such cases, ensuring compliance with guidelines. This does not constitute euthanasia and applies only to non-responsive patients on life support.

A former Assam Rifles soldier, Lalneisung, was arrested by Maharashtra Police SIT for his involvement in a tiger poaching network. He facilitated deals between poachers and buyers of tiger parts. Lalneisung was tracked through his online transactions with poaching kingpin Ajit Rajgond, who was also arrested recently.

Following the tragic fire incident that claimed 27 lives, Rajkot Municipal Corporation has proposed a fire tax in its 2024-25 budget to fund major improvements in firefighting infrastructure. The budget outlines plans for seven new fire stations and the acquisition of 51 firefighting vehicles and equipment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will begin on February 1, as decided earlier dismissing reports that claimed the tariffs will be deferred to March 1. Leavitt also reacted to Justin Trudeau's latest statement on counter-tariff on US products and said he should directly speak to Trump before making 'outlandish' comments.

The Supreme Court will adjudicate whether an employed wife earning well can claim maintenance from her estranged husband or not. The case involves a working couple, both assistant professors, where the wife is demanding maintenance despite earning around Rs 60,000 per month. The decision could have broader implications for similar cases.

The government has amended Aadhaar authentication rules, extending their use to public and private sectors in services like e-commerce and healthcare. The new rules aim to simplify access to services and ensure secure transactions, with requests for authentication examined by UIDAI and approved by MeitY.

Uttarakhand government has identified 37 prohibited relationships each for men and women under the newly-implemented Uniform Civil Code. These include relations within three generations, such as great-grandparents and great-grandchildren-in-law. Marriages within these categories require a certificate from religious clergy and even then, may be rejected by the registrar based on public policy and morality considerations.