follow us:
An encounter erupted in a forested area of Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, during a cordon-and-search operation on Sunday. Terrorists opened fire on security forces, triggering retaliation and a wider cordon with reinforcements rushed in. Sources say Jaish-e-Mohammed militants are trapped, though official confirmation on numbers and identities is awaited as operations continue.
Historian Ramchandra Morwanchikar passed away at 88 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, after a long illness. He led the History Department at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University and served as tourism director. Author of 16 books and nearly 200 research papers, including Pratisthan te Paithan, his last rites were held at Pratap Nagar crematorium.
The USFDA warned Telangana’s Palamur Biosciences for serious lab violations, citing poor animal care, missing records, and inhumane euthanasia. PETA India demanded government intervention to rescue 1,200 animals, including beagles. The FDA highlighted that unreliable data from the facility could endanger global public health.
The grand float festival of Simhadri Appanna to begin today at Varaha Pushkarini, located at the base of Simhachalam’s Simhagiri hill in Vizag, AP. Sri Swamy will be ceremoniously brought down from the hilltop at 3:30 PM, followed by the prestigious Teppotsavam at 5 PM. The celebrations will conclude with the traditional Thiruveedhi Utsavam.
After the huge success of ‘Sankrantiki Vastunnam’, directed by Anil Ravipudi and featuring Victory Venkatesh, the makers have initiated plans for a sequel. The team is concentrating on script development, and Venkatesh to join the sequel project soon. Meanwhile, Venkatesh’s next film ‘Adarsha Kutumbakam’ with director Trivikram is expected to wrap up by April.
Torrential rains continue to batter parts of southern Africa, triggering deadly floods across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Over 100 fatalities have been reported, including about 70 in Zimbabwe and 30 in South Africa. Nearly 200,000 residents in Mozambique were displaced as homes, roads, and bridges collapsed. Helicopter rescues are also underway.
Two US lawmakers wrote to President Donald Trump, urging action to reduce India’s import tariffs on pulses under a trade agreement. They said high tariffs are causing American farmers to face severe competition. Meanwhile, India and the US are in the final stages of talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has housed his 29 Shiv Sena corporators at Mumbai’s Taj Lands End to prevent poaching as BMC power negotiations continue. The move ensures loyalty for the BJP-Shinde alliance, which holds 118 seats. Opposition and Shiv Sena (UBT) criticized the tactic, recalling past “resort politics”.
Liquor sales in Andhra Pradesh soared during the Sankranti festival. From January 9 to 16, total sales reached ₹877 crore, with ₹438 crore sold in just the three festival days. On January 12, the government increased prices by ₹10 per bottle for all brands except quarter bottles, contributing to the surge in revenue.
Telangana has emerged as the national leader in organ donations relative to population, as per the Jeevan Dhan-2025 statistics. In 2025, the state collected 763 organs from 205 donors, including 604 big organs and 159 minor organs and tissues. While Tamil Nadu recorded donations at 268, TG’s population-adjusted organ transplant rate surpasses all other states.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met patients and families affected by the water contamination-linked vomiting and diarrhoea outbreak in Indore. He visited four patients at Bombay Hospital and later met bereaved families in Bhagirathpura. Residents claim 24 deaths, while the state government told the High Court the toll stands at seven, including an infant.
The countdown to Medaram Mahajatara, Telangana’s Kumbh Mela, has begun, and devotees are flocking in large numbers. Yesterday alone, over six lakh pilgrims visited the site, filling the deep forest with devotional songs and rituals dedicated to Sammakka-Sarakka. Devotees offer chickens, bulls, and symbolic bundles of gold while praying to the mother goddess.
Just days before the anniversary of the 7.6-magnitude 2001 Gujarat earthquake, a 4.1-magnitude tremor struck Khawda in Kutch district early today, causing panic among residents. The epicenter was about 55 km from Khawda. No casualties or property damage were reported, but the sudden shaking, felt more strongly in rural areas, forced people to rush outdoors.
Delhi battled biting cold and choking pollution today as dense fog cut visibility to 50 meters, delaying flights and triggering Stage-III GRAP curbs across NCR. The IMD forecasts fog for two more days. AQI stood at 368 (“very poor”), with Chandni Chowk and ITO in the “severe” zone, while several other areas remained hazardous, CPCB […]
Hyderabad’s first-ever Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Parade Grounds moved into its second day today, drawing growing crowds. After a successful opening, the colourful balloon displays continue today. The vibrant evening spectacle marks a new attraction for the city, with visitors able to book hot air balloon ride tickets online.