During a BJP election rally in poll-bound Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paused his speech to warmly acknowledge a child holding his picture and a woman offering a book, promising personal responses and drawing applause from the crowd. Modi used the occasion to criticise opposition parties and urge voters for change in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, underlining the BJP’s development agenda. The rally also featured the launch of multiple infrastructure and connectivity projects, including key initiatives and new train services, aiming to boost regional growth and voter confidence. (PC: India Today)

A tragic incident in Noida has come to light after a video showed a young software engineer trying to call for help before drowning. The man’s car fell into a water-filled pit near a road late at night. He climbed out and used his mobile phone’s flashlight to signal rescuers while standing on the car. Due to darkness, fog, and deep water, rescue teams struggled to reach him in time. Despite efforts by police and emergency teams, he drowned. The incident has raised serious questions about road safety, poor barricading, and delays in rescue operations. Authorities have started an investigation.

Senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar has been appointed as the Municipal Commissioner of Delhi’s MCD, marking his return to the capital after more than three years. He was transferred out of Delhi in 2022 following a controversy where it was alleged that a stadium was cleared early for him and his wife to walk their dog, which he later denied. With his new role, Khirwar will handle major civic issues such as sanitation, road conditions, and the growing street dog problem in Delhi. His appointment comes at a time when the city is facing public concern over stray dogs and urban management challenges. (PC: X)

A Meitei community member, Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, was abducted from his home in Tuibong area and shot dead near Natjang village in Manipur's Kuki-majority Churachandpur district on Wednesday evening, police confirmed Thursday. The abduction and killing mark a fresh escalation in the state's ongoing ethnic tensions. Authorities suspect members of the United Kuki National Army is not part of the Suspension of Operations agreement between the Indian government, Manipur administration, and several Kuki-Zo militant groups carried out the attack. A Joint Action Committee formed following the killing has demanded immediate arrests and requested a central investigation into the case, as ethnic violence continues plaguing the northeastern state. (PC: Times Now)

Ten Indian Army soldiers were killed and nine injured when their vehicle fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Wednesday. The accident occurred at Khanni top along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families, stating "we will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers." The injured soldiers were airlifted to hospital for treatment. Sinha directed senior officials to ensure the best possible medical care and prayed for their speedy recovery. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the families affected by this tragic accident.

At least 10 Indian Army personnel were killed and 10 others injured after a military vehicle fell into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. The accident occurred near Khanni Top on the Bhaderwah–Chamba road while the vehicle was moving towards a forward post in a high-altitude area. Officials said the vehicle lost control on the narrow, winding mountain road and plunged nearly 200 feet into the gorge. Rescue operations were launched immediately by the Army, police, and local volunteers. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, with some airlifted for advanced treatment. Condolences poured in from senior officials and leaders.

The Supreme Court has allowed both Hindus and Muslims to offer prayers at the Bhojshala Temple–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar on Friday. Hindus can pray from sunrise to sunset as Basant Panchami falls on the same day. Muslims have been permitted to offer Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm. The court asked the Muslim community to submit a list of worshippers to the district administration. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant urged both sides to maintain peace and cooperate with authorities. The order came while hearing a plea seeking exclusive prayer rights for Hindus on the festival day. Security has been tightened in Dhar ahead of the prayers. (PC: NDTV)

A 38-year-old Meitei man was abducted by armed men in Manipur’s Churachandpur district and later shot dead, police said. The case came to light after a video showing the killing spread on social media. Police identified the victim as Mayanglambam Rishikanta, a resident of Kakching district. Officials said he was kidnapped on Wednesday evening and killed later the same night. The video shows the man pleading before at least two armed assailants before being shot. Rishikanta was married to a Kuki woman and had recently returned from Nepal on leave. Police have launched an investigation. The incident comes amid continuing ethnic violence in the state since May 2023.

Nearly 60 per cent of orders issued in the last three years by the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority cited breaches of its communal harmony code. Records show the NBDSA passed 54 orders between January 2023 and December 2025. Of these, 32 cases involved religious stereotyping or communal narratives. The regulator is set up by the News Broadcasters and Digital Association. Most penalties directed channels to remove content fully or partly. Financial fines were imposed in only six cases, totalling Rs 3.2 lakh. The review also found long delays in decisions, often over 11 months, leaving disputed content online during review. (PC: The Indian Express)

Sanjeev Khirwar, a 1994-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, has been appointed the new Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by the Union Home Ministry, succeeding Ashwani Kumar. Khirwar returns to Delhi after being transferred to Ladakh in 2022, following a major public row in which he was accused of clearing Thyagraj Stadium early so he could walk his dog, prompting outrage over misuse of public facilities. His appointment comes as the MCD prepares its budget and tackles administrative and financial challenges. Public reactions remain mixed given his past controversy. (PC: India Today)