India is set to get its first bullet train by 2027! Union minister of railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that India is likely to receive its first Bullet Train on 15 August 2027.

Speaking about the timeline of the project, he said, “The bullet train will be ready in 2027, August 15th, 2027.”The minister further informed about the routes, saying, “the first section to open will be from Surat to Bilimora. After that, Vapi to Surat will open. Then Vapi to Ahmedabad will open, and after that, Thane to Ahmedabad will open, and then Mumbai to Ahmedabad will open.”“For the bullet train … you can buy a ticket now itself, as it will be operational by 2027,” he further added, jokingly.The 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first high-speed rail line, has been steadily progressing, with significant work completed on viaducts, bridges, tunnels, and stations. The corridor, which will operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph, is expected to reduce travel time to under two hours. Officials earlier said that 320 km of viaduct work is already complete, with land acquisition, tunnelling, station construction, and electrification moving ahead simultaneously. The project, developed in collaboration with Japan, combines Shinkansen standards with Indian engineering at scale, and officials expect the first operational run in 2027, with full corridor operation by 2029.The minister also announced that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train is set to be launched this month. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service in the second half of January 2026.Speaking about the success of the Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said it has created a “new sense of confidence across the country,” and added that the train has been widely appreciated. “Requests are now coming in from all over India to run Vande Bharat trains, and almost every MP wants one. With the same comfort, safety, and standards, a new overnight journey will begin with the Vande Bharat Sleeper,” he informed.

A six-month-old boy, born after a decade-long wait, has died in Indore after allegedly falling ill due to contaminated drinking water.

INDORE: A six-month-old boy, born after a decade-long wait, has died after allegedly falling ill due to contaminated drinking water, leaving his family devastated in Indore.According to the family, the infant developed diarrhoea on December 26 and was taken to a local doctor, who prescribed medicines. He was brought back home and remained stable for two days. However, on the night of December 29, the child suddenly developed a high fever, began vomiting and died at home.

The child’s father, Sunil Sahu, said, “He had diarrhoea and fever. We took him to the doctor on December 26. The doctor gave medicine and we brought him home. The child was fine for two days but again, suddenly, at night, he developed a very high fever. He vomited, and he died at home on December 29. This child was born after 10 years. I have a daughter, and this son was born 10 years later. He was 6 months old.”On Wednesday, chief minister Mohan Yadav visited several hospitals in the district where people are being treated after reportedly consuming contaminated water. He reviewed medical facilities, spoke to patients and instructed officials to ensure timely and proper treatment for all those affected.After the visit, CM Yadav said, “I visited four-five hospitals and met all the patients undergoing treatment. Everyone’s condition is stable, and proper treatment is being provided in the hospitals. Primarily, action has already been taken against the concerned official for negligence. ACS (Additional Chief Secretary) Sanjay Dubey is here, along with minister and mayor to reassess the situation. We have stated that the government will not tolerate any negligence under any circumstances, especially in all areas where there are complaints related to water supply. A thorough investigation will be conducted to prevent such incidents in the future,” he added.The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and free treatment for all affected persons. He had earlier ordered strict action against officials responsible for the lapse.Following the directions, two officials have been suspended and one dismissed from service. Indore Collector Shivam Verma said Zonal Officer Shaligram Sitole and Assistant Engineer Yogesh Joshi were suspended with immediate effect, while in-charge Sub-Engineer (PHE) Shubham Shrivastava was dismissed.A three-member committee has also been formed to probe the incident. The inquiry will be led by IAS Navjeevan Panwar, with Superintendent Engineer Pradeep Nigam and Medical College Associate Professor Dr Shailesh Rai as members.

Oil marketing companies have raised the prices of commercial LPG cylinders from today, reversing recent reductions. The increase is set to push up operating costs for hotels, restaurants and other service providers across the country.The price of a 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been hiked by Rs 111 nationwide. In Delhi, the retail price now stands at Rs 1,691.50, up from Rs 1,580.50. Mumbai saw prices rise from Rs 1,531.50 to Rs 1,642.50, while Kolkata’s rate increased from Rs 1,684 to Rs 1,795. Chennai recorded a sharp rise in prices, climbing from Rs 1,739.50 to Rs 1,849.50. Prices of 5-kg free trade LPG (FTL) cylinders were also raised by Rs 27.The increase is expected to significantly impact operating expenses for businesses that rely heavily on cooking gas, particularly in the hospitality and catering sectors, which had seen some relief last month due to successive reductions.Household consumers, however, have been spared from the latest revision. Domestic LPG cylinder prices (14.2 kg) remain unchanged, continuing at Rs 853, where they have stayed since a Rs 50 hike in April last year.The hike comes after a phase of moderation in commercial LPG prices. Since April 2025, commercial cylinder rates had seen six reductions amounting to a cumulative cut of Rs 223 per cylinder, including small rollbacks in November and December. In contrast, Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices were reduced from January 1, offering some respite to airlines after months of elevated fuel costs. In Delhi, ATF prices were cut from Rs 864.35 to Rs 791.48 per kilolitre, a move expected to ease pressure on airline operating costs, where fuel accounts for nearly 40% of total expenses, according to ET. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum revise LPG and ATF prices on the first day of every month, based on international fuel prices and currency movements.

Indian-origin Zohran Mamdani on Thursday was sworn in as New York City’s mayor, beginning a four-year term at the helm of the United States’ largest city. The 34-year-old Democrat, known for his left-leaning views and criticism of US President Donald Trump, took the oath of office just after midnight at the long-abandoned City Hall subway station beneath Manhattan’s City Hall.Mamdani made history as New York’s first Muslim mayor, placing his hand on the Quran during the ceremony. “This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” he said after being sworn in.The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close political ally, at the historic City Hall station, one of the city’s original subway stops, famed for its elegant arched ceilings.Mamdani will be sworn in again later on Thursday in a larger public ceremony at City Hall, where US Senator Bernie Sanders, one of his political inspirations, will administer the oath.

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor at historic subway station (Photo: AP)

The event will be followed by a public block party along Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes,” traditionally known for ticker-tape parades.During the mayoral campaign, Trump had threatened to withhold federal funding from New York City if Mamdani won and even floated the idea of deploying National Guard troops.However, the president later surprised both supporters and critics by inviting Mamdani to the White House for what was described as a cordial meeting in November. “I want him to do a great job and will help him do a great job,” Trump said. Despite this, tensions are expected to resurface given their sharp policy differences, particularly on immigration.

Who is Zohran Mamdani

Born on October 18, 1991, in Kampala, Uganda, Mamdani is the son of Indian-origin parents and acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, known for films such as Salaam Bombay! and Monsoon Wedding, and Mahmood Mamdani, an Indian-born Ugandan academic. He spent part of his early childhood in Cape Town before moving to New York at the age of seven.Mamdani was educated at St George’s Grammar School in Cape Town, Bank Street School for Children, and the Bronx High School of Science. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. While in college, he co-founded Students for Justice in Palestine and later worked on several progressive political campaigns in New York.In 2019, Mamdani won a seat in the New York State Assembly from the 36th District, representing Astoria and Long Island City, where he focused on issues such as housing, transit affordability and immigrant rights, priorities that shaped his mayoral bid.A practising Shia Muslim, Mamdani married Syrian artist Rama Duwaji earlier this year. Her illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and The Washington Post. The couple will move from their one-bedroom, rent-stabilised apartment in an outer borough to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan.(With input from agencies)

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India and New Zealand will square off in an eight-match limited-overs series starting January 11, featuring three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals. The tour will run through January 31.The series assumes added significance, coming at a time when several senior players are set to return to the ODI setup, while the T20 side looks to finalise combinations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

The ODI leg, in particular, is expected to attract considerable attention with stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma likely to make their return to the 50-over format after the South Africa series.India’s ODI squad is expected to assemble in Vadodara on January 7. The series opener will be played there on January 11, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18.The T20I leg, meanwhile, will serve as a final trial phase for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side as it gears up for its T20 World Cup title defence.

Ind vs NZ ODI 2026 squad announcement: All you need to know

While the BCCI has already announced the T20I squad for the New Zealand series, the ODI squad is yet to be named.The selection committee is expected to convene an online meeting around January 3 or 4 to finalise the ODI squad for the home series.New Zealand have already announced both their ODI and T20I squads for the tour of India.

New Zealand’s ODI squad vs India

Michael Bracewell (C), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young

India vs New Zealand T20Is: Squads

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan KishanNew Zealand: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi

India vs New Zealand – Full ODI Schedule

NEW DELHI: Delhi woke up under a thick blanket of fog on Thursday, with visibility plunging across large parts of the city and the National Capital Region (NCR) as air quality stayed in the ‘very poor’ category. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 372 at 7am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).A station-wise analysis showed that 29 monitoring stations recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, while 7 slipped into the ‘severe’ bracket. Anand Vihar emerged as the worst-hit location, logging an AQI of 421, CPCB data from the SAMEER app showed. Under CPCB norms, an AQI of 0–50 is classified as ‘good’, 51–100 ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 ‘moderate’, 201–300 ‘poor’, 301–400 ‘very poor’, and 401–500 ‘severe’.The Air Quality Early Warning System has warned that air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the next 6 days.Officials attributed the sustained pollution levels to unfavourable meteorological conditions, including a low ventilation index of below 6,000 square metres per second and weak wind speeds of under 10 kmph, which hinder the dispersion of pollutants. On Tuesday, the city recorded an AQI of 388, a marginal improvement over Monday’s ‘severe’ reading of 401. Weather conditions remained cold as well. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature at Safdarjung and Ayanagar was recorded at 6.4 degrees Celsius, about 0.4 degrees below the seasonal average. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 23 degrees Celsius, with dense fog likely to persist through the day. Other stations reported similar chill, with Palam recording a minimum of 7.7 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 6.8 degrees, and the Ridge 7.8 degrees. For New Year’s Day, the IMD has forecast a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of light rain over the national capital. Meanwhile, a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has found that Delhi remained the most polluted city in the NCR in 2025, followed by Ghaziabad and Noida. While the annual average PM2.5 concentration in Delhi showed a decline compared with last year, the polluted-season average between October and December rose slightly over 2024 levels. The study noted that PM2.5 levels at all 40 monitoring stations in Delhi were at least 1.8 times — nearly double — the prescribed annual standard. Of the 29 cities in the NCR, only 14 had PM2.5 data coverage exceeding 75% in 2025. The remaining 15 cities, all located in Haryana — including Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, Panipat and Karnal — had inadequate monitoring coverage, underscoring persistent gaps in air quality surveillance across the region.