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The Sammakka Saralamma Jatara in Medaram, Telangana, saw lakhs of devotees on its first day as Sarlamma arrived in a ceremonial procession. Special prayers and traditional rituals were held at Kannepalli and Medaram temples. Authorities deployed 13,000 police and 40,000 staff for security. Sammakka’s arrival is expected to attract an even larger crowd.
An 18-year-old Kashmiri cloth vendor was brutally assaulted in Dehradun’s Vikasnagar, suffering serious head injuries after an argument allegedly turned communal, police said. The victim was attacked with sharp weapons; protests followed. Police arrested the prime accused. The JK Students’ Association condemned the assault, citing rising attacks nationwide.
Mawlynnong, known as Asia’s cleanest village in Meghalaya, will be closed to one-day tourists on Sundays from January 2026. The village council said Sundays are for religious activities. All tourist services will shut that day. However, guests staying overnight in homestays will still be allowed to stay.
The government may raise the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month to expand social security coverage. If approved by the EPFO board, the change could take effect from April 1. Employees’ contributions and employers’ payroll costs will rise, boosting retirement savings but reducing take-home pay.
Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh said he retired in June 2019 because he felt disrespected and unsupported. After his last India match in 2017, selectors ignored him. Yuvraj said he stopped enjoying cricket, felt mentally and physically drained, and chose to quit for his own peace and happiness.
Indian equity benchmarks closed higher for a third straight session on Thursday, buoyed by optimism after the Economic Survey. The Sensex rose 222 points to 82,566, while the Nifty gained 76 points to end at 25,419. Metal stocks led gains, while healthcare and FMCG indices lagged.
Global gold demand rose to a record 5,002 tonnes in 2025, driven by a sharp surge in investment demand, the World Gold Council said. Investment demand jumped 84% amid geopolitical risks and rate-cut hopes. Central banks added 863 tonnes. Jewellery volumes fell, but value rose. Gold prices averaged $2,709 an ounce, reflecting strong safe-haven demand.
A Bloomberg investigation reveals how Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, allegedly built a vast overseas property and investment network through intermediaries and shell firms. Assets span London, Europe and Dubai, funded mainly by Iranian oil revenues despite sanctions. The findings show gaps in global financial oversight enabling elite capital flight.
A special NDPS court in Ahmedabad sentenced Ugandan national Mukakibibi Hana to 20 years in jail and fined her ₹2 lakh for international drug trafficking. Arrested in 2022 at Ahmedabad airport, she was found carrying 869 grams of heroin in 79 capsules inside her stomach. The court cited strong evidence and stressed strict action to […]
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, February 1, at 11 am, marking the first Sunday budget and her ninth straight. The session runs in two phases. The budget can be watched live on Sansad TV and YouTube. The Economic Survey projects 6.8–7.2% growth for the coming financial year.
