Nitish Kumar's Political Journey: From JP Movement to Bihar's Enduring Leader

The news bulletin highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the Kerala Kumbh Mela, set to occur from January 18th to February 3rd. Authorities have issued a memo halting bridge construction for the Mahamag festival near Navamukunda temple, citing encroachment on the Bharatapuram river and violation of the Kerala Protection of Riverbanks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act 2001. The main reason given is the environmental hazard and lack of a disaster management plan, especially with up to 50,000 expected daily attendees. The organizers have described the event as the 'Kumbh Mela of Kerala', but now face hurdles due to safety and environmental concerns associated with the bridge.

On this report, Pranay Upadhyay discusses the breaking news of Pakistan's central bank partnering with World Liberty Financial, a crypto business linked to US President Donald Trump's family. The deal involves integrating the USD1 stablecoin into Pakistan's regulated digital payment system for cross-border transactions. Pranay Upadhyay notes that 'this clearly shows that, you know, how Pakistan is trying to cozy up with President Donald Trump, his personal business interests'. The discussion highlights the role of Bilal bin Saqib and Field Marshal Asim Munir in fostering proximity with the Trump administration. This agreement, involving SC Financial Technologies, marks one of the first publicly known stablecoin tie-ups between a sovereign state and World Liberty Financial. The official announcement is expected during World Liberty CEO Zach Whitcock's visit to Islamabad, reflecting warming Pakistan-US ties and Pakistan's strategic efforts to regain US favours through personal and business inroads within the Trump inner circle.

On this report, India Today covers the sharp criticism directed at IndiGo airlines by Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa. The Minister lashed out at the carrier following a significant delay of flight 6E7191 from Chennai, which was scheduled for 9:10 am but departed much later. TRB Rajaa stated, 'A low-cost carrier does not mean that you treat passengers in a cheap way,' highlighting the lack of communication and the inconvenience of being held in a shuttle bus for extended periods. The Minister alleged that passengers were subjected to a 'graveyard bay' parking and a long bus ride without an apology or explanation from the captain. The incident has sparked a broader debate on the perceived monopoly in the Indian aviation sector and the accountability of private airlines toward passenger welfare. The programme details the Minister's account shared on social media regarding the nearly two-hour delay and the 'inordinate' lack of professional conduct by the airline staff.

On this Special Report, the focus is on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to his constituency, Gandhinagar, to celebrate the harvest festival of Uttarayan. Reporter Brijesh Doshi highlights that 'This is the style of Amit Shah that he always spends the time on these festival days with his family and the Karyakartas of his constituency.' The visuals show the Home Minister participating in kite flying on a terrace in Narayanpura, surrounded by Bharatiya Janata Party members. The programme explains that while the festival is known as Makar Sankranti or Pongal in other parts of India, in Gujarat it is celebrated as Uttarayan, marking the transition from winter to the harvest season. The report emphasizes how this festival binds the nation together, with leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah participating in celebrations across different states. The broadcast captures the festive spirit and the Home Minister's annual tradition of engaging with local supporters during significant cultural milestones in Gujarat.