Month: January 2026

A thin layer of fog engulfed Srinagar on Tuesday morning as the cold wave continued to tighten its grip on the Kashmir Valley, reducing visibility and intensifying the winter chill.

The iconic Dal Lake remained shrouded in mist, yet tourists braved the freezing temperatures to enjoy shikara rides and the serene winter landscape.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius on January 5, which was 2 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was minus 4 degrees Celsius, 2.1 degrees below normal.

The IMD on Tuesday forecast isolated light to moderate rainfall or snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Ground frost conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand.

In southern India, light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is likely over Tamil Nadu on January 8 and 9, while heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mahe on January 9 and 10.

The weather agency has also predicted a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3°C over Northwest India during the next four days, with no significant change thereafter for the next three days.

A similar fall of 2-3°C is likely over Central and East India during the next two days, followed by no significant change for the subsequent five days. No major change in minimum temperatures is expected over the remaining parts of the country.

Meanwhile, cold wave conditions are very likely at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, East Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Jharkhand and Punjab. Cold-day conditions are expected in isolated pockets across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Sikkim.

Dense fog is very likely at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Uttarakhand and West Uttar Pradesh.

Dense to very dense fog is anticipated at isolated places over East Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.

Over the seas, squally weather with wind speeds reaching 35-45 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph, is likely along and off the Sri Lanka coast, over most parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas, many parts of the southeast Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Mannar and the Comorin area.

Squally winds of 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, are likely along and off the Somalia coast and adjoining sea areas. (ANI)

As the temperature has dropped, migratory birds have arrived at the Chilika Lake, drawing in tourists. Birds arrive at the lake in the migratory season starting from October and ending in March, according to DFO, Chilika Wild Life Division, Amlan Nayak.

Speaking to ANI, DFO Nayak said that the birds congregate at multiple locations across Chilika. He also highlighted Nalbana and Mangalajodi as key destinations for bird lovers. In the recent bird estimation, the lake encountered about 11,27,000 birds, according to the DFO.

He said, “….Birds come here in the migratory season, which starts from October and ends in March. The birds congregate at many places throughout Chilika. Important places to visit for bird lovers are Nalbana and Mangalajodi…. In the recent bird estimation, we have encountered 11,27,000 birds…”

He also told ANI that 21 bird camps are established each year during the bird season. Additionally, many awareness programs for schoolchildren and the public are conducted to highlight the importance of migratory birds visiting Chilika. The awareness meetings are conducted at vulnerable locations. According to DFO Nayak, 24/7 patrolling and awareness have helped to reduce poaching to a great extent.

“Each year in the bird season, 21 bird camps are established… Many awareness programs for schoolchildren and the public are conducted to highlight the importance of migratory birds visiting Chilika… Awareness meetings are conducted at vulnerable locations, and 24/7 patrolling and awareness have helped us in bringing down poaching to a great extent…”, he said.

Odisha Bihanga Utsav 2026 is underway from December 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. The nearly 3-month-long programme is being held to celebrate migratory birds at Chilika Lake and attract bird lovers.

A tourist at Khordha told ANI that two locations, Mangalajodi and Nalabana, attract large numbers of migratory birds each year. She emphasised the difficulty of visiting Nalabana, as it is located within a protected forest and public access is restricted. However, the Odisha government’s initiative has made it easier for visitors to explore Nalabana every weekend for 3 months, i.e., from December to February. As a result of the initiative, the tourist observed many species of migratory birds. (ANI)

Stating that the US action to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is matter of grave concern, Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said United States has no right to kidnap an elected leader and noted that it can happen to any other country tomorrow including India.

Chavan told ANI that whatever happened in Venezuela is against the UN Charter.

“Whatever has happened in Venezuela is against the UN Charter. An elected President has been kidnapped and taken to another country. You may not like the policies. America is always fighting the Left political thought. So that may be so, but do you have a right to kidnap an elected President? The UN Security Council will debate exactly the same point. It’s a very grave concern that it could happen to any other country tomorrow. Tomorrow it can happen to India. If you allow one country to be hegemon, to have its will in international affairs, I think we are going for a very dangerous kind of a territory,” he said.

Chavan said India has not taken a categoric stance over the US action.

“India has not spoken as usual, not taken a stand on the Venezuela matter… What is right, what is morally correct, nothing… Russia and China have taken a stand and criticised what America has done. But in India, Prime Minister Modi is more concerned about his own personal image than standing up for what is right and what is wrong. The same thing happened in the Ukraine war. We did not take any side… Both sides are correct, both sides are wrong. We did not take any stand on the Israel-Hamas matter, even when there was a clear case of genocide against the people living in Gaza. We kept quiet because Netanyahu is PM Modi’s personal friend,” he said.

“Now here we are, so scared of Americans that we are not even trying to criticise what has happened.. If America has a point that President Maduro’s regime was exporting drugs to America, it’s a serious charge. But we have heard before in case of Saddam Hussein, when Iraq was invaded by saying that Saddam Hussein is manufacturing nuclear weapons and ultimately we found it was a bogus claim. It was just an excuse to invade Iraq. Similarly, this whole claim about drugs export and Maduro personally involved in a drug-smuggling racket…I mean it’s a claim by Trump and whether its true or not, we don’t know it. Enough evidence has to be given. But, whatever happens, no one can justify kidnapping an elected leader of another free country,” he said.

India had on Sunday expressed its deep concern over the US action in Venezuela.

“Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. India reaffirms its support to the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region,” Ministry of External Affairs had said in a release.

The release said that the Embassy of India in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistance.

United States on Saturday carried out a “large-scale strike against Venezuela” and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores who were taken out of the country.

Trump later stated that Maduro and his wife have been indicted on charges of “drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies” in the Southern District of New York and will face trial.

He said that American forces, working with law enforcement agencies, captured Maduro and his wife in a nighttime operation. (ANI)

The situation in Iran is under control, and there is no threat to Indian citizens or interests in the Islamic Republic, Iran’s Ambassador Mohammad Fathali stated in an exclusive interview with ANI on Tuesday, a day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a travel advisory for its nationals amid ongoing protests in Iran, urging caution as the situation remains volatile in Tehran.

“In view of recent developments, Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice,” the MEA stated.

When asked about the assurances Iran can offer regarding the safety of the Indian community and the protection of Indian interests, the envoy said the situation in the country is under control, and public order is being maintained.

The unrest began in Tehran on December 28, fuelled by growing public frustration over Iran’s prolonged economic crisis, and has intensified into more violent confrontations in recent days.

Emphasising that public order is being maintained, Fathali said diplomatic, economic and consular activities are functioning normally. “I would like to state with full confidence that there is no threat to Indian citizens, like those of other countries residing in Iran,” he said.

Addressing the broader situation, the Ambassador said the Islamic Republic of Iran recognises peaceful protest and the expression of public demands as legal rights within its democratic system. He noted that Iranian leaders, including the President, have stressed the importance of hearing people’s voices through lawful and civil channels.

However, Fathali alleged that certain foreign media outlets and external actors have sought to exaggerate developments and spread misleading narratives to inflame tensions and divert some protests towards unrest and violence.

“I would once again emphasise that a significant portion of what is being reported in some media outlets does not correspond to the realities on the ground and is largely the result of exaggeration, media-driven narratives and biased reporting,” he added.

Reacting to statements by US leaders expressing support for protesters, the Ambassador termed such remarks as interference in Iran’s internal affairs. “Turning a domestic issue into an instrument of political pressure and media warfare is unacceptable and contrary to international law,” he said.

On Monday, the MEA’s advisory also outlined safety precautions for those already in Iran. It said, “Indian citizens and PIOs currently in Iran should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, and closely monitor news as well as the website and social media handles of the Embassy of India in Tehran.”

In addition, the MEA advised Indian nationals residing in Iran to ensure they are registered with the Indian mission. “Indian nationals living in Iran on resident visas are advised to register with the Indian Embassy, if not already done so,” the statement said. (ANI)

The makers of the upcoming film ‘Rahu Ketu’ have unveiled the much-awaited trailer, offering a glimpse into a storyline full of humour and chaos.

The film stars Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma in lead roles, with the trailer highlighting their camaraderie and comic timing.

The trailer opens with veteran actor Piyush Mishra lending his distinctive voice to narrate the story of Rahu and Ketu. It then moves into a fun introduction of Rahu and Ketu, played by Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma. Their innocent, clueless nature and easy chemistry, paired with silly antics, bring laughter.

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Backed by Zee Studios and Blive Productions, ‘Rahu Ketu’ positions itself as a light-hearted entertainer. Earlier, Pulkit and Varun opened up about what fans can expect from the movie, which is directed by Vipul Vig.

“This film captures everything audiences loved about Fukrey. Most importantly, it brings the two of us together again, and we had a fantastic time working on it. That joy and camaraderie truly come through on screen. The film is written by Vipul, who also penned all three Fukrey films,” Pulkit told ANI.

“So, there is their uniqueness and their unique characters in this film. There is a strange, fantastical, mythical world in this film. Also, we had the opportunity to work with Piyush Mishra sir for the first time, and he is truly outstanding. Alongside him were Manu Rishi sir, Amit Sial, Shalini, and Chunky Pandey sir. For us, going to the set every day felt like attending an acting workshop,” he added.

Varun assured that ‘Rahu Ketu’ will remind fans of ‘Fukrey’.”Just like Fukrey 1, 2, and 3 , this film offers the same spirit, but in a completely new world, with new characters and a fresh set of actors. Pulkit and I remain the common thread, and together we bring you a highly entertaining and fun way to begin 2026. Comedy is a genre that truly comes alive in theatres…when people sit together, laugh together, and share that joy, the emotion is unmatched. So come experience it on the big screen from 16th January,” Varun said.

‘Rahu Ketu’ is set to be released on January 16. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has remained silent on the issues raised by the Court and on the worsening AQI (air quality index) levels in Delhi NCR.

A bench of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the CAQM has clearly failed to identify the causes of the worsening AQI in Delhi and to propose long-term solutions to curb it.

“CAQM, instead of placing any concrete plan or proposal for visible long-term remedial measures, submitted only a status note, which is silent on most of the issues raised by the Court as well as by the learned Amicus Curiae. CAQM has failed to clearly identify the causes of worsening AQI or propose long-term solutions”, the Court noted.

Thus, in the circumstances, the Court was compelled to issue strong directions necessary to identify the causes and long-term solutions to the AQI problem.

The Court observed that CAQM, as an expert body, is primarily responsible for bringing domain experts under one umbrella and seeking a unanimous understanding of the causes of the worsening AQI. It stated that such an exercise would not take much time, as the issue essentially involves sharing reasons and collating existing data from institutions such as IITs and TERI.

“This would enable CAQM to form a broad understanding of the real causes and evolve proportionate solutions for each source”, it noted.

The bench further noted that, “Ideally, these reasons should be placed in the public domain with a citizen-centric approach so that people are aware of the causes and can offer suggestions. Some of the causes are inevitably attributable to citizens of the NCR, and public awareness programmes could help curb such factors”.

During the hearing, Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for CAQM, submitted a status report before the Court.

After considering the same, the bench noted. However, the report identifies various emission sectors contributing to air pollution, including transportation, Industry, Roads, and Construction. It also reveals that the expert bodies have expressed divergent views so far as the attribution of the AQI problem is concerned, particularly with respect to the contribution of each source (of air pollution).

“For instance, the contribution of vehicular pollution has been estimated to range from 12% to 41% by different experts”, it noted.

The Court further noted that, despite the issuance of 95 directions by the CAQM, the AQI situation in the NCR continues to persist, if not to worsen.

The Court recalled that it had earlier asked the CAQM to revisit specific long-term measures to address worsening AQI levels.

Additionally, issues such as the proposal to temporarily suspend nine MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) toll plazas in Delhi NCR, as suggested by NHAI, were also considered by the Court in the latest hearing, it noted.

However, the Court lamented that, instead of addressing the issue substantively, the MCD has filed an affidavit stating that toll collection is an essential source of revenue for it and has raised all possible pleas to continue operating the toll plazas.

Further, it noted that the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana, has also filed an application seeking directions to the MCD to apportion 50% of the toll collected at two toll plazas in Gurugram.

“The GMDA provided its own justification for apportionment of the said amount”, the Court noted.

After taking into account all issues raised during the hearing, the Court directed the CAQM to address these issues one by one and to explain its long-term plans, including those suggested by the Amicus Curiae.

“The Court is conscious that sweeping decisions, such as an immediate transition to electric vehicles, cannot be taken without examining their impact on the public and the public exchequer. However, with proper long-term planning, better alternatives can be implemented in a phased manner.”, it said.

The Court also noted that merely seeking adjournments and delaying the formulation of solutions would lead to further complications.

After considering various suggestions submitted by the Amicus and the need for expeditious action in this regard, the Court issued the following directions to the CAQM.

CAQM shall convene a meeting of experts, as shortlisted by it, within two weeks. Based on the deliberations, a report identifying the major causes of AQI deterioration shall be prepared. This exercise shall be completed before the next date of hearing.

CAQM shall also consider long-term measures, prioritising the sources that cause the most pollution. Additionally, CAQM shall independently assess the issue of toll plazas, uninfluenced by stakeholder views.

A further status report, in terms of the above directions, shall be filed before the next date of hearing. (ANI)

Actor Ram Charan on Tuesday extended warm birthday wishes to Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman.

He also expressed gratitude for the “magic” the maestro has created for his upcoming film ‘Peddi’.

On Instagram, Ram Charan shared a photo with Rahman and penned a heartfelt note wishing him “great” health, happiness, and “endless music.”

“Wishing @arrahman sir a very Happy Birthday.. May this year bring you great health, happiness and endless music. #ChikiriChikiri was just the beginning. Can’t thank you enough sir…for the magic you’ve woven for #Peddi..”

The first song, titled ‘Chikiri Chikiri’ from Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor starrer ‘Peddi’, was out in November. With AR Rahman’s magical music combined with Ram Charan’s effortless moves, the song has already struck a chord with fans, with many hailing the melodious track.

Also, the stunning visuals accentuate the song even more, offering a glimpse of what ‘Peddi’ has to offer.

In the video, Ram Charan could be seen acing the impressive hook step, which he teased earlier on Thursday. Looking stylish as ever with his long hair, dance moves, and bearded look, Ram has already had fans hooked to the foot-tapping number.

Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, ‘Peddi’ is touted to be a rustic emotional drama, marking one of Ram Charan’s most intense roles to date.

Ever since its announcement, the film has already built strong anticipation due to its scale, cast, and Rahman’s musical involvement.

Besides Ram and Janhvi, ‘Peddi’ also features Shiva Rajkumar, Divyendu Sharma, and Jagapathi Babu. Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru, the film is scheduled for release on March 27, 2026.

About AR Rahman, born on January 6, 1967, the two-time Academy Award winner and global music icon, is known for playing a key role in transforming the sound of Indian cinema.

With over 150 million records sold across more than 100 film soundtracks and albums, his landmark scores include Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Lagaan, Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours.

He founded the pioneering Panchathan Record Inn in Chennai and made a historic debut with ‘Roja’, which won the National Award and later earned six more, the most for any Indian composer.

He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. (ANI)

Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, is set to visit India later this month, sources told ANI.

The visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting in November on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa.

Japan had underlined its commitment to deepen cooperation with India in critical and emerging technologies, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence, during a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

According to a statement issued by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the meeting began at 1:40 pm local time and lasted for about 35 minutes. At the outset, Prime Minister Modi offered his heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Takaichi on her assumption of office and expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to hold a face-to-face meeting.

In her response, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her gratitude and conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and offered her sincere prayers for the swift recovery of those injured.

She also stated that she would like to work with Prime Minister Modi to make Japan-India relations more robust and prosperous. In response, Prime Minister Modi expressed his appreciation, the statement added.

Prime Minister TAKAICHI further stated that, based on the Japan-India Joint Vision for the Next Decade launched during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan, she is determined to achieve tangible results across a wide range of fields, including security and defence, the economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

She also mentioned that she aims to “leverage both countries’ strengths to foster innovation and growth in the areas of critical and emerging technologies, such as semiconductors and AI, and to concretise cooperation in the area of economic security,” as per the Japanese foreign ministry.

In response, Prime Minister Modi stated his intention to advance concrete cooperation in these areas.

The two leaders also concurred to cooperate in realising a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

MEA said that both leaders emphasised that India and Japan remain valued partners and trusted friends. Strong ties between the two countries are indispensable for regional and global peace, prosperity, and stability. The leaders agreed to stay in touch and meet again at the earliest opportunity. (ANI)