Times of India

Bastar police arrested three suspects, including a distant relative, for the murder of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar. The incident, provoked by a corruption dispute, occurred on January 1st. They killed Mukesh, disposed of the body in a septic tank, and fled. The discovery of Mukesh's body sparked city-wide protests and demands for justice in Bijapur.

Severe cold and heavy fog hit Punjab and Haryana, dropping visibility to zero in places like Amritsar and Hisar. Several areas recorded temperatures lower than Shimla. The dense fog reduced visibility significantly, while a slight rise in temperatures is expected over the next three days, with chances of rain in the region.

The additional sessions court in Thalassery convicted nine BJP-RSS workers for the murder of DYFI activist Rijith in 2005. Rijith was attacked during a clash over an RSS branch opening, suffering fatal wounds. The verdict, based on substantial evidence and testimonies, concluded a 19-year-long trial.

Chhattisgarh government forms an 11-member SIT to investigate journalist Mukesh Chandrakar's murder. His body was found in a septic tank at contractor Suresh Chandrakar's premises. Police have arrested three individuals, with Suresh still at large. A report on corruption in road construction is suspected to be the motive.

Three tigers and a young leopard died from highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 at Gorewada Rescue Centre, Nagpur. This marks the first significant wildlife loss to the virus in captivity in India. Containment measures are in place; other animals tested negative. The virus cross-infected mammals possibly through infected prey or raw meat.

The Reserve Bank of India is working with fintech institutions to fight mule account cybercrimes. They have developed advanced algorithms to detect frauds and recently launched MuleHunter.AI, an AI tool to identify mule accounts. A pilot test with public sector banks showed promising results. This initiative aims to protect customers and curb fraudulent transactions.

India has increased its vigilance following reports of rising respiratory illnesses in China. The health ministry held a high-level meeting to assess the situation, emphasizing preparedness. Experts indicated that the surge is due to common flu viruses, including HMPV. The Indian government is monitoring the situation closely, ensuring hospitals are ready to handle any increase in cases.

The Union government is working on guidelines for investigating agencies to handle and seize documents while excluding personal, unrelated data to protect privacy. The guidelines came into focus following cases involving lottery king Santiago Martin and Amazon, where claims of unrelated personal data being at risk were raised.

Police in Mirzapur arrested five of six accused for beating a 14-year-old boy in Bardeehakala village over alleged theft charges. The boy’s uncle and cousins were involved in the attack, captured on video. Family disputes may have been a factor. The boy's mother reported severe injuries and the police are investigating.

Eight blackbucks in Kevadiya safari were killed by a leopard despite safety measures. The leopard attacked one blackbuck, causing panic that led to the death of seven others due to shock. Guards responded quickly, causing the leopard to flee. The incident is under investigation, and the fencing around the safari is being scrutinized for security.

In the newly designated Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, two rare caracals were photographed, marking the first sighting in over two decades in this region. Caracals, now critically endangered in India, face severe habitat loss, with their range shrinking significantly since 1948. Rajasthan has reported the highest sightings of caracals since 2001.

Northern Railways completed another successful trial run on the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL project, which includes India's first cable-stayed rail bridge and the world's highest railway bridge. Statutory inspections and further trials are scheduled for early January, guiding the commencement of train services to Kashmir Valley.

Jammu Police arrested Ravinder Singh, a power department employee, for shooting and injuring BJYM leader Kanav Sharma over a parking dispute in Roop Nagar's New Plot area. Singh fired at Sharma in a fit of rage after an argument and fled the scene. Sharma is under treatment, and an attempted murder case is registered at Bakshi Nagar PS.

Rajagopala Chidambaram, India's leading nuclear weapons designer and key figure in the Pokhran nuclear tests, passed away at 88. He contributed significantly to India's nuclear programme and scientific advancements. Tributes poured in from top scientists and political leaders, acknowledging his groundbreaking work and immense impact on India's strategic capabilities and scientific community.

A confrontation between IT minister Babul Supriyo and BJP MP Abhijit Ganguly on Vidyasagar Setu led to a 20-minute traffic snarl. The dispute was over the MP's driver honking. Both parties accused each other of verbal abuse. Police intervened to resolve the situation, and a complaint was later filed by a social activist against both politicians.

Approval of two large soapstone mines in Bageshwar’s Karmi village raised significant ecological and safety concerns among residents. They fear the project will destroy forests, destabilize the Himalayan environment, and lead to similar disasters as past landslides. Villagers also contest the legitimacy of the project's approval process, urging immediate revocation of the mining permits.

"I had come from a broken home when I was young, and for me to not have succeeded in marriage was something which I really had to look back upon and see how did this go wrong and how did I not see... then I realised why it went wrong and what were the things, and I take responsibility for it," Arjun shared.

A man who drove a truck into New Year's revelers in New Orleans planned the attack six weeks in advance, had bomb-making materials, and supported ISIS. The attack killed 14 people, injured 30, and ended with the attacker’s death in a gunfire exchange with police.

Delhi experienced an unusually prolonged nine-hour dense fog episode with zero visibility, disrupting 81 train services and leading to 15 flight diversions. Visibility was lowest between 6 pm and 3 am. Maximum temperatures hit 20°C and minimum 7.8°C. Forecasts suggest continued fog and smog conditions, with very poor air quality recorded at AQI 378.