Happy New Year! 🥳

☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-today-briefing-10447758/ Good morning, Well, this is it, folks. It’s the last day of 2025. It’s a time for quiet reflection on the year that has passed, as well as anticipation of what 2026 has in store. If you’re planning a quiet night in or inviting friends home, be advised that quick commerce and food delivery services may be disrupted today. Gig workers across various platforms have called a strike over pay transparency, the blocking of worker IDs, the growing use of 10-minute deliveries, and a ban on the model. The strikes have been called by gig workers’ unions in Karnataka and Telangana, with support from the Delhi association. https://www.inexp.in/QAhyP- On that note, let’s get to today’s edition👇 * An investigation into BMC funds * Walking back to Pahalgam * Khaleda Zia's legacy; and more 🔎 *Express Investigation* January 15 will see the first big elections of 2026, with Asia's richest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), up for grabs. The BJP is riding high on its success in local body polls in the rest of Maharashtra. Our investigation today has found another advantage for the ruling-party legislators. Over the past three years, more than 99 per cent of funds allotted by the BMC for development work went to wards in constituencies represented by Mahayuti lawmakers, an analysis of records obtained under the Right To Information (RTI) Act showed. Rs 1,476.92 crore of the overall Rs 1,490 crore funds sanctioned by the BMC for works such as road repairs, beautification and drainage upgrades, went to the ruling alliance of BJP, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP. Only Rs 13.74 crores went to the Opposition. 👉 The findings raise questions of fair governance as infrastructural development offers ruling-party candidates more visibility. Read Vallabh Ozarkar's investigation. https://www.inexp.in/ot9LMM 👉 We also spoke to nine MLAs, MLCs and MPs of the Opposition camp in Mumbai, who flagged stalled proposals despite reminders and appeals. Here's what they had to say. https://www.inexp.in/rgRfUr ⚡ *Only in Express* 2025 witnessed one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians, when 26 tourists were killed at Baisaran in Pahalgam. Once bustling with visitors navigating the bumpy, boulder-strewn trail and stopping for selfies, the road to Baisaran now lies deserted—closed pending a security review. The Indian Express trekked up to the meadow to speak with locals about how the attack changed everything. As the New Year dawns, hope still flickers. Naveed Iqbal reports. https://www.inexp.in/BypX2U 📰 *From the Front Page* | Delay: The publication of draft rolls under the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Uttar Pradesh has been postponed once again to January 6. Provisional data accessed by The Indian Express shows that UP could have the highest deletions of 18.70% of the electorate from the rolls. https://www.inexp.in/hjYzvZ Blueprint: India doesn’t need just medal-winners but a sporting ecosystem that supports that talent. As India bids for the 2036 Olympics' hosting rights, an Abhinav Bindra-led task force has flagged critical gaps in the current sporting administration. A 170-page report highlights ad-hoc decision-making, weak institutional continuity, and an absence of long-term professionalism within the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and state sports departments. Here are its recommendations. https://www.inexp.in/chV8UP 📌 *Must Read* Rest in peace: Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's first woman prime minister, passed away on Tuesday, leaving behind a nation that stands on the precipice of political transformation. National elections are set for February 15 after a year of unrest, and for the first time, rival begums — Khaleda and ousted PM Sheikh Hasina — will not contest. Their shadows, however, will loom large. Shubhajit Roy writes about Khaleda's legacy. https://www.inexp.in/UOBG2R External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will travel to Dhaka to attend her funeral. https://www.inexp.in/mnc7KZ ⏳ *And Finally...* 2025 was a relatively quiet year for sports. Yet, it delivered some spectacular moments. The year undoubtedly belonged to the women, as Harmanpreet Kaur and co clinched their first-ever World Cup title. A cohort of young woman athletes also emerged across events — from wrestling and boxing to archery and badminton. What's in store for 2026? Mihir Vasavda explains. https://www.inexp.in/6tF29J 🎧I leave you with the latest episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, where we look back on the five figures who shaped Indian politics in 2025. https://www.inexp.in/frdwVV That’s all for today! See you in 2026! Sonal Gupta

☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-today-briefing-10450967/ Good morning, What if the hottest party this New Year’s Eve wasn’t at a club, but in someone’s living room? Across cities, youngsters are ditching packed dance floors, long queues, and high cover charges to host intimate house parties instead. And many aren’t even stepping into the kitchen, thanks to at-home chef apps that work as seamlessly as booking an Uber. While these platforms have existed for nearly eight years, they have gained more popularity recently. Take ‘Coox’, for instance. The platform clocked around 500 orders across India on New Year’s Eve alone. Demand spikes vary by region and occasions such as Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, or India-Pakistan matches. At ‘Look My Cook,’ the trend is just as clear. Most customers are between 25 and 35 years old, and they are ordering beyond the usual Punjabi fare, opting instead for multi-cuisine spreads. Of course, the trend goes beyond partying, helping in times of crisis when your regular cook cancels, or you’re unable to eat out. https://www.inexp.in/bL3YcJ On that note, let’s get to the rest of today’s edition👇 * Red tape behind Indore deaths? * Govt to exit Vodafone Idea? * Uncrewed Gaganyaan mission by March, and more 🚨 *Big Story* At least eight people have died after consuming contaminated drinking water, while hundreds of others have been hospitalised in Indore’s Bhagirathpura in Madhya Pradesh. The cause appears to be a toilet built over a drinking water line without a safety tank, which allowed sewage water to mix into the water supply. But this was no unforeseen tragedy. My colleague Anand Mohan J looked into municipal records and helpline data, and sought testimonies from residents and officials, which reveal that warnings were ignored and bureaucratic processes that could have prevented the disaster were stalled. As early as October 15, residents had begun to notice that something was wrong with the water. Formal complaints later complained of "acid" in the water and "foul stench". Officials blame delays in securing tenders to build a new water pipeline and for repairs. Read the details. https://www.inexp.in/oPp2lp ⚡ *Only in Express* Territorial integrity is no longer a given. Recently, Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state. For years, Somaliland has sought international recognition after it established its own de facto governing system, distinct from Somalia, in 1991. Israel’s move drew condemnation from several Arab countries, which view it as a strategic play to secure maritime access, while others have chosen to remain silent. Together, these reactions point to a deeper trend: the breakdown of the so-called “rules-based international order” (RBIO), writes columnist C Raja Mohan. https://www.inexp.in/tIqW4U 📰 *From the Front Page* Abandon ship? The government has extended yet another relief package to the beleaguered telecom operator Vodafone Idea, freezing its hefty dues of Rs 87,695 crore for the next five years. Top government sources have told The Indian Express that this may set the stage for the government's potential exit from Vodafone Idea, while it considers bringing in a private investor. https://www.inexp.in/xpH6pF Heating up: The government late Wednesday night notified new duty rates for tobacco products, including cigarettes, and cess rates for paan masala. This could mean a 15%-40% increase in cigarette prices. Read how the complex duty structure on cigarettes works, and what will change. https://www.inexp.in/xnLz0F 📌 *Must Read* Mountain task: The Supreme Court has directed 'domain experts' to examine whether the new 100-m height definition for the Aravalli Hills narrows the scope of protection. Before this, a technical sub-committee of experts, formed by the Centre, had deliberated on the nuances of defining the hill ranges. What did they conclude? More studies are needed to find a suitable method. Read. https://www.inexp.in/JlRdFn Looking ahead: As we enter 2026, we took stock of a couple of key projects that have been in the pipeline and may come to fruition this year. 👉 India's first human spaceflight was slated for 2021. After multiple delays, the first uncrewed mission (to demonstrate a complete mission from exit to splashdown) will likely lift off by March this year. https://www.inexp.in/BPoZhb 👉 India's first sleeper Vande Bharat train will be launched later this month, between Kolkata (Howrah) and Guwahati (Kamakhya), traversing nine districts of West Bengal and Assam. As many as 12 VB sleeper trains are expected to be ready by the end of the year. https://www.inexp.in/U37bSn ⏳ *And Finally...* If you could live forever, would you? The year 2025 was all about living longer. Tech bros coughed up millions in longevity research, while Gen Z and millennials made wellness a priority. For years, our cinema has been obsessed with the fountain of youth or immortality elixirs (think Pirates of the Caribbean or Harry Potter). But 2025 has shown that the question may not be "how" we can live longer, but if we should. Read. https://www.inexp.in/vzSD4z 🎧 I leave you with the latest episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, where we look back at the biggest successes and failures of artificial intelligence in 2025. https://www.inexp.in/7C2w9K That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta

Happy New Year, folks! ☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-1-january-2026-briefing-10449523/ Here’s some heartening news to begin 2026 on a hopeful note. Last year, The Indian Express highlighted how officer cadets who had been disabled during military training were discharged and left to fend for themselves, paying for medical treatment with no support. In August, the Supreme Court stepped in, taking suo motu cognisance of their plight. Soon after, the Ministry of Defence issued an order extending Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) benefits to these cadets. This entitles to free treatment at military hospitals and empanelled private facilities. We spoke to some of these officer cadets, who described the move as a “huge relief.” The Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae has gone a step further, recommending disability pensions and rehabilitation support for them as well. Read our report. https://www.inexp.in/mdfsy- On that note, let’s get to the rest of today’s edition👇 🚨 *Big Story* The government is seeking public feedback on the draft rules for the four Labour Codes that were notified in November. These include the Code on Wages, the Code on Social Security, the Industrial Relations Code, and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions (OSH) Code. The government has given 30-45 days for comments. The final rules are likely to be notified in March, and the labour codes will come into effect on April 1, at the start of the next financial year. What's changing? According to the draft rules, employees will work not more than 48 hours a week. It introduces a night shift for women (7 pm to 6 am) with pick-up and drop-off facilities, and a mandatory safe, well-lit work environment. Read more. https://www.inexp.in/M3PZ9S ⚡ *Only in Express* In an ongoing series, where our newsroom editors reflect on the biggest trends in 2025, and analyse what 2026 has in store, today the focus is on the judiciary. Last year, the conduct of judges dominated the legal landscape amid a cash row involving Judge Yashwant Varma and the failed impeachment motion against Justice Shekhar Yadav. In the era of live-streaming, 2026 is likely to see continued public scrutiny of judges. The Supreme Court is also set hear some major matters, such as challenges to the Waqf Law and Special Intensive Revision. Apurva Vishwanath, National Legal Editor, explains. https://www.inexp.in/EhNYgn 📰 *From the Front Page* Fuelling ambitions: India has long projected thorium as a viable alternative to uranium for nuclear power. The reason is straightforward: the country has relatively limited uranium reserves but abundant thorium deposits. Successfully harnessing thorium could significantly reduce India’s dependence on imported nuclear fuel. Now, a step in that direction may be taking shape. NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power utility, is set to partner with Chicago-based Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) to develop thorium-based fuel for nuclear reactors. https://www.inexp.in/JxEJqI Banned: It's the season of coughs and colds. Be advised that the government has banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of nimesulide, a common pain and fever medication, in all oral “immediate release” formulations above the dosage of 100 mg, as it poses a health risk. Additionally, you soon require a prescription for cough syrups as the Ministry has released a draft notification removing them from the list of over-the-counter medicines. https://www.inexp.in/mSJnnv It’s official: Shortly after the New Year's Eve ball drops in Times Square at midnight (EST), Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in as the mayor of New York City. Mamdani captured most of the world's imagination with his social media-first campaign, becoming NYC's first South Asian and Muslim mayor. He will take the oath of office amid a small gathering of friends and family at an abandoned subway station, followed by a public inauguration at the steps of City Hall. https://www.inexp.in/hTmdVI 📌 *Must Read* Recalling roots: Dehradun prides itself as a cosmopolitan town. People from the hills, a large Nepali population, Tibetans, Punjabi refugees, Anglo-Indians and many government officers and staffers from all over India call it home. With Anjel Chakma's murder, the town now finds itself in the midst of the most primitive of all crimes: Picking on someone who you think doesn’t belong. Devyani Onial writes. https://www.inexp.in/84EYdE Temple run: From a Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha to a Mahakal temple in Siliguri, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is on a temple project spree ahead of elections scheduled for this year. Often targeted by the BJP for "minority appeasement", what explains Mamata's push? We decode. https://www.inexp.in/eaae2X ⏳ *And Finally...* As gig workers called for a strike on New Year's eve, quick commerce platforms, Swiggy and Zomato, announced higher incentives for delivery workers during peak hours and year-end days. The move was presumably aimed at ensuring smooth operations. But why are gig workers striking? They are seeking a ban on 10-minute delivery models, among other issues. Read here. https://www.inexp.in/8zgTVf That’s all for today! Here’s hoping you have a great year ahead. Sonal Gupta

☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-today-briefing-10444169/ Good morning, IndiGo has reduced around 130 daily flights on 94 routes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked it to curtail its schedule owing to recent disruptions. Bengaluru saw the most cuts among the major airports, followed by Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The curtailment seems to be concentrated on relatively shorter routes, such as those within a state or between cities in neighbouring states. The busiest domestic routes, such as Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Bengaluru and Bengaluru-Mumbai, have not seen any cutbacks, according to an analysis of the carrier's operations schedule. Read. https://www.inexp.in/Pk3Y2l On that note, let’s get to the rest of the edition👇 * Aravalli question in SC today * Can AI help healthcare workers? * Sanskrit in Pakistan, and more 🚨 *Big Story* Amid mounting concerns over the protection of the Aravallis, the Supreme Court will hear suo motu proceedings on the question of the hills' definition today. https://www.inexp.in/+Q6c-w For context, as per the new definition, which the apex court accepted on November 20, the Aravalli Hills will comprise any landform raised 100 m above the local relief. The Indian Express has reported how an internal assessment by the Forest Survey of India revealed that the new definition will remove protection cover from 90% of the hill range, opening it up to mining and construction activities, and threatening the environment around it. Notably, The Indian Express reports today that earlier this year, the Rajasthan government formally opened large parts of urban hill terrain to a range of “low-density” activities. It categorised the Aravallis into three categories based on the slope, permitting activities such as farmhouses, resorts, amusement parks, wellness and yoga centres, camping sites and solar power projects on hills with slopes between 8 and 15 degrees. Experts suggest that this could erode the hills, one of the oldest mountain systems in India. https://www.inexp.in/iHtoXc ⚡ *Only in Express* It's a name that even the traffic cops fear: Raju, or more formally known as Rajkumar Meena. Raju sits at the top of a crime syndicate, extorting money and inappropriate favours from the Delhi Traffic Police personnel. Raju and his associates encouraged commercial vehicles to break traffic norms, entering no-entry zones or operating during restricted hours. When traffic cops intervened, these interactions were slyly recorded. The cops were then threatened with doctored videos, showing them accepting bribes. How did this system of fear and extortion unravel? We report. https://www.inexp.in/8vYgCv 📰 *From the Front Page* Hit pause: All personal hearings of voters found "unmapped" to the 2002 electoral rolls in West Bengal by the Election Commission's software have been put on hold until further verification. Why? Well, under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the EC’s central software “maps” voters to the 2002 rolls and generates notices for those it can’t find. However, the local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have flagged that they can trace some of those flagged by the system to hard copies of the 2002 rolls. https://www.inexp.in/LJozHD Tragic: Anjel Chakma, a 24-year-old from Tripura, had come to Uttarakhand for his MBA. He was in his final year and had even secured a job at a French MNC. But on December 9, things took a turn for the worse. A group of juveniles in Dehradun picked a fight with Anjel and his brother. It turned into a racial attack, with the boys calling the brothers "Chinese" and "momo". The brothers resisted, but the fight escalated, and Anjel was stabbed. He died 17 days later. This is his story. https://www.inexp.in/k6srPy 📌 *Must Read* In the neighbourhood: Tarique Rahman has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of self-imposed exile. He is the de facto leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), currently the country’s largest political organisation and the frontrunner in the national elections scheduled for February. Historically, the BNP has maintained an anti-India stance. However, after a year of political unrest, the key question remains: will the BNP recalibrate its reactionary politics and move towards a more cooperative relationship with India? Bashir Ali Abbas explains. https://www.inexp.in/Z2Xp6B AI-sight: Can artificial intelligence (AI) assist the health sector? A host of AI-enabled tools, from an app recording cough sounds to a telemedicine platform for consultation, are not only helping doctors with quicker diagnoses and better treatment plans but also taking healthcare to remote areas. Anonna Dutt reports. https://www.inexp.in/cjXXPc Keeping up with the law: Justice Abhay S Oka retired earlier this year after a distinguished career that saw him largely as a conscience keeper of the judiciary. He is known for prioritising real issues, saying courts must show ‘zero tolerance’ for environmental law violations and should not be swayed by popular or religious sentiments. He joined us for the latest Idea Exchange session to answer questions on “democratising” the Supreme Court, the issue of judicial appointments and gender parity in the judiciary. Read. https://www.inexp.in/kZu8Ry ⏳ *And Finally...* The Partition may have sealed the fate of Sanskrit in Pakistan, but the language survived in the neglected corners of dusty libraries. Now, Shahid Rasheed, a sociology professor in Lahore, who has had a long love affair with Sanskrit, is bringing it back to the classroom. After stumbling upon old books at MAO College, he is teaching a four-credit Sanskrit course at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) — the first time the language has been formally taught in Pakistan since Partition. https://www.inexp.in/OjGmic 🎧 Before you go, do tune in to today’s ‘3 Things’ podcast episode, where film critic Shubra Gupta joins the host to discuss the best movies and shows of 2025. https://www.inexp.in/4YZepE That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta

*Fresh Take* | If you could live forever, would you? In 2025, we were obsessed with living longer. While tech bros pumped money into longevity research, Gen Z and millennials showed more interest in wellness products. Read: https://indianexpress.com/article/fresh-take/2025-health-trends-longevity-10448383/

☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/top-news-today-briefing-aravalli-hills-supreme-court-10446093/ Good morning, in today's edition👇 * Rethink on the Aravallis * A larger role for Priyanka Gandhi? * A phone-less future, and more 🚨 *Big Story* The Supreme Court has stayed its own November 20 order, which had accepted the 100-meter height definition for the Aravalli Hills. The court has decided to form a High-Powered Expert Committee with domain experts to resolve all critical ambiguities. Among the key areas, the panel would look into the exclusion of lower hills under the 100-m definition. You may recall that The Indian Express had reported that, according to the Forest Survey of India's internal assessment, the new definition comprises only 1,048 of the overall 12,081 Aravalli Hills that are 20 m or higher. Read the detailed role of the panel. https://www.inexp.in/aUEg7k The CJI Surya Kant-led Bench cited "public dissent and criticism" in its order, which it said arose “from the perceived ambiguity and lack of clarity in certain terms and directives issued by this Court." Read the order. https://www.inexp.in/4HCQuJ The apex court has reviewed its rulings in the past due to public outcry. However, what makes this case rare is that the court initiated a suo motu review, not at the behest of an aggrieved party. The court's intervention also speaks to how the Court perceives its own image as a guardian of India’s environment, writes Apurva Vishwanath in her case analysis. https://www.inexp.in/n5bark ⚡ *Only in Express* Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has everyone talking, whether it is about her speeches in the House or interactions with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Significantly, when the Congress Working Committee met last weekend, Priyanka was not in the room, but her politics was. The party chose to anchor its offensive against the Centre on her “MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan”. Within the Congress, the murmur is growing louder: Priyanka merits a larger role. The BJP and its allies may prefer to frame this as a Priyanka vs Rahul contest, but Congress leaders insist the comparison misses the point. Apples and oranges, they say. Manoj C G reports. https://www.inexp.in/0406hL As questions over Rahul Gandhi's leadership emerge once again, one wonders if he's alone to be blamed for the Congress party's sorry state. Columnist Sanjaya Baru suggests it may have to do with the centralisation of power in the party and missed opportunities. Read. https://www.inexp.in/44+H2q 📰 *From the Front Page* Breaking: Khaleda ‍Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away early this morning. Zia, who lost power in 2006, had a bitter rivalry with former PM Sheikh Hasina and had been jailed or put under house arrest on several occasions. Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, returned to Bangladesh last week after a 17-year self-imposed exile and is likely to take over her role as the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely considered a frontrunner in the February elections. https://www.inexp.in/52GmIv Questions of law: The Supreme Court has stayed a Delhi High Court order that granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who was serving a life sentence in the 2017 Unnao rape case. The apex court cited “peculiar circumstances of the case”, given that the HC had suspended Sengar’s life sentence, noting that he didn’t fall under the definition of a “public servant” under the POCSO Act. https://www.inexp.in/vnmOqb Case files: In the moments before Anjel Chakma was stabbed in Dehradun, the accused planned to buy liquor and party. They reportedly continued with their plan after injuring Chakma and hurling racial slurs at him. The Indian Express spoke to the police and the accused's family to piece together the events. https://www.inexp.in/B287rD 📌 *Must Read* Divided: With just weeks to go for the high-stakes BMC elections, the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party is facing a mass exodus of its leaders in Mumbai. Many of them are making a beeline for Ajit Pawar's NCP, which is in the ruling alliance. Sources suggest that the leadership is making no efforts to stop the exits. https://www.inexp.in/ArDV6g Interestingly, the two factions have joined hands for the civic polls in Pune. Will NCP merge once again? We decode. https://www.inexp.in/Usv5V+ Job search: Over 8,000 candidates appeared for the written test for recruitment to the Odisha Home Guard on December 16. They were competing for only 183 vacancies. A drone image from Sambalpur showing the candidates spread out on an airport runway lays bare the employment crunch. Read our report. https://www.inexp.in/IhrpQh ⏳ *And Finally...* Artificial intelligence (AI) was undoubtedly the biggest tech trend of 2025. Did it change the world a lot — or was it just riding through on hype? Nandagopal Rajan reflects on the technological advancements in 2025 and what we might see in 2026. A frictionless future may involve an app-less experience on phones and a phone-less experience in real life, assisted by goggles and earbuds. https://www.inexp.in/StQPVP 🎧 I leave you with the latest episode of Game Time, our sports podcast, where we chatted with reporters and editors across our newsroom to speak about their favourite sporting moment this year, throwing up some pleasant surprises and even sparking fierce debate. https://www.inexp.in/njLQKH That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta

☕ *Your Expresso is ready!* 📬 *Get this delivered straight to your inbox:* https://indianexpress.com/newsletters/ *Read this newsletter in a single page:* https://indianexpress.com/article/live-news/daily-briefing-top-news-today-10452954/ *Good morning,* *A comedy of errors & a reminder:* BJP’s Kerala mouthpiece _Janmabhumi_ , publishing the editorial page of the Indian Union Muslim League’s daily _Chandrika_ on New Year’s Day, has left readers flummoxed. While the Left leaders poke fun at their rivals, they are reminded of a similar blunder by their official party organ over 15 years ago, when CPI(M)-affiliated daily _Deshabhimani_ ’s Gulf edition had carried the edit page of _Chandrika_ in 2010. Sharing the paper, former legislator K N A Khader wrote on Facebook: “It created a major controversy. Deshabhimani took back the unsold copies following the blunder. I had witnessed agents flitting in and out of shops to collect the unsold copies.” https://www.inexp.in/ywLWzT _*With that, let’s move on to the top 5 stories from today’s edition:*_ 🚨 *Big Story* What began as a trickle with six patients being admitted at Bhagirathpura’s Urban Primary Health Centre soon turned into a deluge as clinics saw numbers jump from 129 to over 300 in a single day. Now, a week ahead, a mobilised army of health workers have screened 66,107 people across nearly 13,000 households in Indore. The contamination of drinking water by waste from a toilet in the Madhya Pradesh district has exposed faultlines and put civic infrastructure under unprecedented strain. My colleague, Anand Mohan J, speaks to several doctors on the frontlines, who helped set up effective treatments and healthcare officials who screened panicked families door-to-door to ensure the damage was contained. https://www.inexp.in/EC+BB7 Taking stock of the crisis, the Madhya Pradesh government has removed the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) chairman, and suspended its additional commissioner and the in-charge superintending engineer (SE) of the waterworks section. Government sources have attributed the failure to coordinate lower-level officials who “wilfully disregarded senior officials”, failure to fix the broken water pipeline, and lack of movement on a tender to fix the water lines among the reasons for the removal. https://www.inexp.in/gEUdZJ ⚡ *Only in Express* *‘A typical Indian sport story’:* Since 2019, India has witnessed a multifold spike in the participation numbers (credits: women athletes) in some of the major sports, with players emerging as world champions. The real impact of India’s championship medals earned at global platforms is seen way beyond the podium, across the country’s sprawling geography. Shivani Naik, Mihir Vasavda, and Nihal Koshie trace the evolution of Indian sports through three iconic stories – a badminton dream nurtured inside a no-frills academy, a budding javelin thrower from the atolls of Lakshadweep, and lastly, a shooting prodigy from a chemical cluster in Gujarat. https://www.inexp.in/PA6gTg *World No 1:* India’s passion for badminton has continued to grow exponentially even after the Saina Nehwal-P V Sindhu crest, throwing up gigantic numbers. Doubles entries are now reaching unprecedented heights, on the back of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s success. They have become the first Indian pair to reach World No 1 after winning Asian Games & Championships gold and Commonwealth Games gold, besides world championship events. https://www.inexp.in/dgr4cp *‘Jave-lution’:* Since Neeraj Chopra clinched gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, its impact could be felt on the Indian javelin scene. Between 2019 and 2024, women’s participation in junior national javelin championships skyrocketed from 31 to 137, a staggering 125% spike. For Chopra, this trend feels “like a dream come true”. https://www.inexp.in/cwKbuk Meanwhile, Aditi Rajeshwari and Agam Aditya’s success is a testament to shooting’s wide reach, increasing popularity, consistent medals at the world level, and deep penetration into regions where the sport is not even in the general consciousness of the people. Here’s how India turned into a global shooting force. https://www.inexp.in/RLlBYJ 💡 *Express Explained* Zohran Mamdani has finally taken over as the Mayor of New York City – the beating heart of capitalism – promising to aggressively tax the rich. In our latest GDP column, Udit Misra shares the key takeaways of the Office of the New York State Comptroller (OSC) report on where NYC finances stood just before Mamdani took charge. “The main worry about any set of government finances is whether the budget is balanced or not. In other words, does the government have the money it intends to spend? If not, it means a budget deficit and forces such a government to borrow. If there is a surplus, such governments are well-positioned to handle a crisis such as a recession or a health emergency (like a pandemic),” Misra explains. https://www.inexp.in/MHfHj4 ✍️ *Express Opinion* In our _Opinion_ section today, Munish Tamang calls for our attention on the severity of racism in India, amidst the killing of Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura, in Dehradun last week. Tamang highlights the “lack of demonstrable institutional and political intent in fighting the menace.” He writes: “Clearly, more needs to be done to combat the casual racism that one comes across daily in the form of offensive jokes at its mildest, to racial chants, physical and mental assault, and grievous physical violence at its worst.” https://www.inexp.in/OXi6Kh 🎬 *Movie Review* *Not a war film:* Wondering what to watch this weekend? Well, we’ve got you covered! Sriram Raghavan’s _Ikkis_ has hit the theatres, portraying second Lt Arun Khetarpal, who did not live to be 22. He fought with his last breath during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, becoming the youngest Army officer to be awarded a Param Vir Chakra. Shubhra Gupta writes in her review that the movie stands out “from the overwhelmingly jingoistic, disturbingly violent features of the past few years. This is as anti-Dhurandhar a film as you can hope to watch in theatres this year, a film that speaks of the residual connections between people regardless of borders, as opposed to those whose intention is to stoke old wounds, and create new ones.” https://www.inexp.in/BORm-9 _*That’s it for today, have a lovely weekend!*_ *Until next time,* *Ariba*