Thrissur, Jan 4 (IANS) A major fire broke out at the Thrissur Railway Station on Sunday, destroying more than 200 two-wheelers parked at a designated parking facility adjacent to the station. The incident occurred at the two-wheeler parking area located near Platform No. 2, triggering panic among commuters and nearby residents. According to preliminary reports, the fire was first noticed around 6.45 a.m.

Chennai, Jan 4 (IANS) Allies of the ruling DMK have welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to implement the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), describing it as a landmark reform that addresses a long-standing demand of government employees and teachers and restores dignity in retirement. Leaders of parties aligned with the DMK said the announcement by Chief Minister M. K.

Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) Actress Sara Arjun, who made her debut as the leading lady in Aditya Dhar’s "Dhurandhar" opposite Ranveer Singh, posted a heartfelt note on social media showing her gratitude to the audience for showing love and support to the film. Calling the audience, her 'strongest Dhurandhars', Sara pointed out that this movie is proof that cinema has not lost its place in the growing era of short content.

Washington, Jan 4 (IANS) President Donald Trump said a US military and law-enforcement operation carried out overnight in Caracas resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, describing the mission as one of the most complex and precise operations ever conducted by American forces. Speaking at a Mar-a-Lago press conference, Trump said the operation involved “overwhelming American military power, air, land, and sea,” and was executed under darkness to maintain surprise.

Washington, Jan 4 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro was intended to send a clear message to governments and leaders around the world that the United States will act decisively when its national interests are threatened. Speaking after President Donald Trump announced the operation, Rubio told reporters in Mar-a-Lago that Maduro was “not the legitimate president of Venezuela” and stressed that his status as a fugitive was widely recognized internationally.

Washington, Jan 4 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said the United States will temporarily run Venezuela following the arrest of Nicolas Maduro, arguing that Washington must oversee a transition to prevent instability and rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure. Asked directly who would govern Venezuela, Trump said, “We’re going to be running it with a group,” adding that US officials were already being designated to manage the process.

United Nations, Jan 4 (IANS) The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the US operation against Venezuela, the council presidency said. "The presidency intends to hold the emergency meeting on Monday morning at 10 a.m. (1500 GMT)," said Khadija Ahmed, spokeswoman for the Somali Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Somalia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of January, Xinhua news agency reported.

Washington, Jan 4 (IANS) US Democratic lawmakers showed their anger and distress in the aftermath of the US raid on Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. They said that Congress had not been notified in advance and that US President Donald Trump's administration had previously lied to Congress about its goal in the oil-rich South American nation. Meanwhile, they demanded an immediate briefing on the operation and on the White House's next move, Xinhua news agency reported.

London, Jan 3 (IANS) Manchester City host a managerless Chelsea in Sunday's headline Premier League fixture, with the visitors arriving amid upheaval following Enzo Maresca's departure a couple of days ago, amidst their struggle for survival. Chelsea academy coach Calum McFarlane will take charge at the Etihad Stadium after the club parted company with Maresca following a 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth in midweek -- a result that underscored growing tension between the Italian and club ownership.

Washington, Jan 3 (IANS) President Donald Trump on Saturday defended the secrecy surrounding the US operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, warning that advance notification to Congress or others would have “endangered the mission” and insisting the action sent a clear message to adversaries in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence after the operation, Trump rejected criticism over the absence of prior congressional briefings.

Patna, Jan 3 (IANS) A notorious criminal was shot dead on Saturday in Bihar's Sitamarhi district, the police said. The incident took place at around 5 p.m. at Bhisa Chowk under the Dumra police station area of the district. According to police, Rambabu Rai, a notorious criminal with a long history of serious offences, was critically injured after unknown assailants allegedly opened fire on him, triggering panic in the busy locality.

Washington, Jan 3 (IANS) President Donald Trump said the United States will “run” Venezuela for a period following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, declaring that Washington would oversee a transition while rebuilding the country’s oil sector and maintaining a continued American presence tied to energy interests. Trump, at a news conference in Mar-a-Lago, outlined what he described as an extraordinary U.S.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) In a decisive push to maintain operational mobility and strategic connectivity in the Himalayas, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has launched sustained snow clearance operations across critical mountain passes, including the formidable Zoji La. The effort, aligned with the Indian Army’s winter deployment requirements, is being executed under Projects VIJAYAK, BEACON, and HIMANK - BRO’s flagship initiatives in the Ladakh and Kashmir regions.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) India’s U23 World Champion Sujeet Kalkal emerged as the standout name in the Category A round of players' auction in the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026, after being secured by Delhi Dangal Warriors for ₹52 lakh. Delhi Dangal Warriors was among the most active teams in this round, further adding Iran’s Hadi Vafaeipour in the men’s 86 kg category for ₹26 lakh, along with Mexico’s Karla Acosta in the women’s 57 kg division.

Kolkata, Jan 3 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday directed the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, to ensure that there is no intervention by booth-level agents (BLAs) or representatives of any political party during the ongoing hearing sessions on the draft voters’ list in the state. The hearings are part of the second stage of the three-stage Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal.

Kolkata, Jan 3 (IANS) A booth-level officer (BLO) in Dankuni in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Saturday alleged that she was physically assaulted after flagging the presence of an “illegal voter”. The incident triggered a controversy, with the Trinamool Congress questioning the BLO’s methods and authority in raising issues related to citizenship. The incident took place in Ward No. 2 of Dankuni and led to tension in the area.

Chennai, Jan 3 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran has strongly criticised the state government’s announcement of a remodelled pension scheme, describing it as an election-driven move aimed at misleading the public towards the end of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) tenure. Nagenthran said the DMK had categorically promised to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for government employees in its 2021 Assembly election manifesto but had failed to honour the assurance for nearly five years.

Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), Jan 3 (IANS) In a historic achievement for Indian motorsport, top driver Sanjay Takale delivered a standout performance in the Prologue Stage of the Dakar Rally 2026, finishing first in the high average speed Group H3 and 35th overall in the Cars category on Saturday. The Prologue, which determines the starting order and does not count toward overall standings, saw Takale dominate the Dakar Classic Group H3, making him the first Indian to stand on the Dakar podium in the Cars category on Day 1.

Guwahati, Jan 3 (IANS) The 11 arrested associates of the Bangladesh-based jihadi terror outfit Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK) have confessed to their involvement in the activities alleged in the FIR during interrogation, Assam Police sources said on Saturday. The Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam Police had arrested the 11 associates on December 30 during coordinated operations carried out across multiple locations in Assam’s Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa and Darrang districts, as well as in neighbouring Tripura.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court decision that ordered the framing of criminal charges against him and his family members in the alleged IRCTC hotel scam case. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief has filed a criminal revision petition assailing the order passed by the Rouse Avenue Court, which had found sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused for offences relating to corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating.

Kolkata, Jan 3 (IANS) Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched an ambitious outreach drive under its 'Banglar Samarthane Sanjog' initiative, targeting approximately 200 prominent personalities across West Bengal with 'Unnayoner Panchali', a detailed report card highlighting the state government's achievements over the past 15 years. Senior TMC leaders have begun personally distributing specially curated kits containing the 'Unnayoner Panchali' booklet, a personal letter from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and other materials to influential figures from diverse fields, including arts, films, sports, academics, healthcare, and music.

Vadodara, Jan 3 (IANS) India's Syndrela Das and Rupam Sardar registered comfortable victories to clinch the U-17 girls' and U-17 boys' singles titles in the WTT Youth Contender 2026 at the SAMA Indoor Sports Complex in Vadodara on Saturday, while Divija Paul and Dev Pranav Bhat were crowned the U-13 girls' and boys' champions, respectively. Syndrela, who had won the U-19 girls singles title last year, ended the dream run of Hansini Mathan 11-3, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8 in the U-17 girls' singles final while Rupam Sardar defeated Soham Mukherjee 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-3 in the boys' U-17 final.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela in view of recent developments in the South American country and the rapidly evolving security situation there. In an advisory issued through its media centre, the MEA urged Indian citizens to exercise heightened caution, though it did not spell out specific reasons for the warning.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) A day after some of the country's top football stars appealed to FIFA, the sport's governing body, players and fans for some good news, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announcing that the dates for the next season of the Indian Super League (ISL) will be announced next week. "The AIFF office bearers held an emergency meeting on Saturday to consider and acknowledge the report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee.

New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said that anyone using Grok AI to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content, a day after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) cracked down on X Corp for failing to prevent the generation and circulation of obscene, nude and indecent content on its platform.