NEW DELHI: Defence sources on Thursday told ANI that two incident of drone spotting were reported in the Jammu sector, marking third such incident in recent days. Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems measures were activated by the Indian Army following the sightings, the sources said.The latest sightings come on Army Day, as the Indian Army underlined its focus on future-ready capabilities and indigenous systems. Speaking after the Army Day parade in Jaipur, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said the Army is moving ahead with well-trained soldiers, modern equipment and multi-domain operational capabilities, with technology playing a key role in enhancing combat readiness.Referring to Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi said it established a “new normal” by demonstrating the Army’s ability to respond with speed, coordination and precision. “The operation reflected a mature and confident force, capable of safeguarding national interests through measured, firm and responsible action,” he said.The drone sightings follow a series of similar incidents earlier this week along the Line of Control and the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir. On Tuesday, ANI sources said suspected Pakistani drones were sighted for the second time in 48 hours in areas along the LoC and the International Border, including Samba, Rajouri and Poonch districts. Counter-UAS measures were deployed, and ground search operations were launched in several locations.In the Nowshera sector of Rajouri district, Army troops opened fire with medium and light machine guns after observing drone movement over Gania-Kalsian village around 6.35 pm, officials said. Another drone was spotted over Khabbar village in the Teryath area of Rajouri district, while a drone-like object with a blinking light was seen hovering over Chak Babral village in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district. Similar activity was reported in the Mankote sector of Poonch district.The heightened alert along the border comes amid a strong warning from General Dwivedi to Pakistan over active terror camps across the LoC and the International Border. “At least 6 terror camps still active across the LoC & 2 across the International Border after Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Will act, if any (nefarious) attempts are carried out,” the Army chief said during the Army Day press conference.

Shashi Tharoor joins the trend.

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor surprised the internet in the most charming way possible by revealing his inner Swiftie. Showing that even veteran lawmakers with overflowing schedules have time for pop culture, Tharoor recently shared a playful Instagram reel dancing to Taylor Swift’s hit track ‘The Fate of Ophelia.’The video, filmed inside what appears to be his book-lined workroom, offers a rare glimpse of the politician’s lighter side. Gently grooving to the music, Tharoor seemed to be enjoying a brief escape from his packed routine. Sharing the reel on Instagram, Tharoor wrote, “When you have 35,000 unread emails, 5,000 unopened WhatsApp messages and 15 op-eds to write, but the social media girl decides it’s content time.”His caption, delivered in his trademark witty style, said, “Somewhere between bilateral meetings at the Speaker’s Conference and the tyranny of my inbox, even a parliamentarian can become a Swiftie. Do the Swifties agree?” he wrote, instantly striking a chord online.The comments section soon turned into a fan fest. Social media users were both amused and impressed, with many celebrating what they dubbed Tharoor’s “pookie side”. Swifties, in particular, delighted in the unlikely crossover, flooding the post with hearts, inside jokes and lyrical nods.One user commented, “Pookie Tharoor — that social media girl is a rockstar,” while another joked, “She deserves a raise for turning the pookie into a Swiftie.” A third quipped, “The only man in the country who can listen to her songs without opening a dictionary.” Another wrote, “Tharoor in his Swiftie era wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card.”The song featured in the reel ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ is the lead single from Swift’s 2025 album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’. The track has been a global sensation, topping charts worldwide and enjoying a record-breaking run on the Billboard Hot charts.

NEW DELHI: In a big setback to actor Vijay, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea against an order of stay passed by a division bench of the Madras high court over the certification of his movie “Jana Nayagan”.The top court asked KVN production to raise its grievances before a division bench of the Madras HC, which is examining the issue.A bench of Justices Deepankar Datta and AG Masih asked the Madras high court to decide the matter by January 20.On January 9, the Madras high court stayed a single judge’s order directing the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s film uncertain.KVN Productions LLP moved an appeal against the single judge’s directive, after a division bench of the high court last Friday put the order on hold and restrained the CBFC from issuing the certificate.Vijay recently launched his political party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.“Jana Nayagan”, widely projected as Vijay’s final film before his full-time entry into politics, was scheduled for a Pongal release on January 9. However, the release hit last-minute hurdles after the CBFC failed to issue certification in time.The division bench’s order came hours after Justice P T Asha directed the CBFC to clear “Jana Nayagan”, setting aside the film board’s decision to refer the matter to a review committee.Subsequently, the first bench comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan, acting on an appeal filed by the CBFC, granted an interim stay on the single judge’s verdict.Earlier, while allowing KVN Productions’ plea seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue the censor certificate, Justice Asha held that once the board had decided to grant certification, the chairperson had no authority to refer the film to a review committee.The film board immediately challenged the order before the division bench.

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday dedicated 81 new Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to the people of the national capital on Makar Sankranti, taking the total number of such centres in the city to 319.The new facilities were inaugurated in the Hari Nagar Assembly constituency. The expansion marks progress towards the government’s objective of establishing 15 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in each Assembly constituency and setting up a total of 1,100 centres across Delhi, according to a statement.

Gupta inspected the facilities at the Hari Nagar Ayushman Arogya Mandir, including OPD rooms, laboratories, medicine distribution counters, vaccination units and maternal and child healthcare centres.She also reviewed patient registration and digital health record systems and directed officials to ensure transparency, accuracy and ease of access, it said.The chief minister interacted with doctors, nurses and paramedical staff to assess service delivery.Highlighting healthcare initiatives undertaken by the Delhi government, Gupta said these include the establishment of 319 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, construction of new blocks in five major hospitals, installation of additional dialysis machines and digitisation of government hospitals.She said patients can now access OPD appointments and medical records through mobile phones, improving convenience and transparency.Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, over six lakh people in Delhi have been registered, with thousands of families benefiting from free treatment, she said, adding that the income limit under the EWS category has been raised from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister Ravindra Singh Indraj inaugurated two Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in the Bawana Assembly constituency.He said development projects worth over Rs 1,100 crore are underway in the area, including works related to cremation grounds, chaupals, panchayat buildings, roads, drains, sewer lines and pipelines. He also said plans are in progress to develop two villages in Bawana as solar energy-based model villages.Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra also inaugurated an Ayushman Arogya Mandir at the MCW centre in Sonia Vihar, and he said comprehensive development works are underway in Karawal Nagar, including drinking water and sewer lines, electricity infrastructure, highways and metro connectivity.Sewer work will begin in Sabhapur after Sonia Vihar, while metro services are expected to start soon in Sonia Vihar, he added.Health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh inaugurated an Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Bhimnagari, stating that the centre is equipped with OPD services, a dental care unit and a yoga room, with panchakarma services to be introduced soon.He said in-house diagnostic facilities currently cover 100 tests, with plans to expand this to 200.Additionally, Education Minister Ashish Sood inaugurated an Ayushman Arogya Mandir in the Janakpuri Assembly constituency.He said the government is working towards upgrading Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital into a fully equipped super-speciality hospital. He also said additional Arogya Mandirs are being constructed in several parts of Janakpuri and nearby localities, including Mahavir Enclave and Milap Nagar.

NEW DELHI: Encroachments, deforestation, illegal mining and expanding urban infrastructure in the Aravali ranges have severely damaged groundwater recharge, biodiversity, air quality and climate regulation, according to a new study.The research, titled Eco-restoration of the Aravali Landscape, was undertaken by the Sankala Foundation with support from the Embassy of Denmark in India and the Haryana State Forest Department.

According to news agency PTI, it highlighted that large-scale diversion of forest land, particularly around the Sariska and Bardod wildlife sanctuaries before the 1980s, led to a sharp decline in native forest cover, fragmenting wildlife habitats and critical water catchment areas.Launching the report on Wednesday, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said the Aravali range, one of the world’s oldest mountain systems, is a crucial ecological barrier for the National Capital Region and the Indo-Gangetic plains. However, he noted that the fragile ecosystem, spread across four states and 29 districts and supporting over 50 million people, faces severe threats from deforestation, unsustainable land use and rapid urbanisation.The study said these pressures have weakened the Aravali’s role as a green barrier, accelerating desertification and threatening ecological stability in northern India. It found forest patches in the study area to be highly degraded and fragmented, with invasive species such as Prosopis juliflora, Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus suppressing native biodiversity and altering ecological functions.According to the report, all villages in the pilot area depend entirely on groundwater for irrigation, contributing to aquifer depletion and forest stress. Over 43 per cent of households rely on forests for firewood, fodder and medicinal plants, with women playing a key role in resource collection, while alternative livelihood options remain limited.The study proposes a site-specific, community-inclusive eco-restoration model in four villages of Gurugram’s southern Aravali belt. It aims to create a replicable framework combining scientific assessment, local participation and adaptive governance, with afforestation and water-retention measures identified as essential for climate resilience.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival observed across India in accordance with regional traditions. The festival marks the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar) and is celebrated as a mid-winter harvest festival.

“This sacred occasion of Sankranti is celebrated in various parts of the country according to local customs and traditions. I pray to Lord Surya for everyone’s happiness, prosperity, and excellent health,” PM Modi said through a post on X.PM Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Pongal, describing the harvest festival as a celebration of the bond between human effort and nature, and a tribute to agriculture, farmers, rural life, and the dignity of labour. Calling Pongal a reflection of the richness of Tamil traditions, PM Modi said India takes pride in Tamil as the world’s oldest language and noted that the festival is now celebrated globally by Tamil communities. He wished that Pongal would bring prosperity, success, and good health to all.“Pongal is a shining symbol of the richness of Tamil traditions. We in India take pride in the fact that we are home to the oldest language in the world, Tamil. It is gladdening to see Pongal emerge as a global festival. It is celebrated enthusiastically in Tamil Nadu, in different parts of India and by the Tamil community across the world. Once again, warm Pongal wishes to you. May this festival bring an abundance of prosperity, success and good health to everyone’s lives,” PM Modi said through a letter.

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The Prime Minister is also scheduled to attend Pongal celebrations on Wednesday at the residence of union minister L Murugan in the national capital.PM Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Magh Bihu, describing it as a festival that reflects the essence of Assamese culture and promotes joy, warmth and brotherhood. He said the festival symbolises contentment and gratitude, marking the completion of the harvest season and recognising the contributions of farmers. PM Modi added that Magh Bihu encourages generosity and care, and expressed hope that it would bring peace, good health, happiness, prosperity and success in the year ahead.“Embodying the best of Assamese culture, this beautiful festival is indeed an occasion of joy, warmth and brotherhood. The essence of Magh Bihu lies in contentment and gratitude. It marks the completion of the harvest season and offers an occasion to appreciate the efforts of those who enrich our lives, particularly our hardworking farmers. It also encourages generosity and care among us. May this Magh Bihu bring peace, good health and happiness in everyone’s lives. I wish that the year ahead is filled with prosperity and success,” PM Modi wrote through a letter addressing the people of Assam.

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Magh Bihu, a major harvest festival of Assam, marks the end of the harvest season in the month of Magh and is celebrated with community feasts. Along with Lohri, Pongal, Sankranti and Uttarayan, it reflects the diverse ways harvest festivals are observed across India.