Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, will preside over a book release function on 2nd January 2025 in New Delhi as the Chief Guest. Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will be the Guest of Honour. Eminent authors, academicians, officials of the Ministry and other dignitaries will also be present at the event

The book, titled ‘Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages’ seeks to present the story of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. The title attempts to document the story of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh from a perspective and format that enables an overview for both the subject specialist and those less conversant. It is presented in seven sections that cover over three thousand years of the region's history. Each illustration selected for inclusion has been done with care, being representative of an age, its importance and contribution to the larger historical canvas of Indian history. Published in Hindi and English, this book is the result of collaborative efforts of the National Book Trust, India, and the Indian Council of Historical Research.

Senior IPS officer Vitul Kumar will take charge as Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after incumbent Anish Dayal Singh retires on Tuesday.

The competent authority has approved to assign the officiating charge for the post of DG, CRPF, to Vitul Kumar upon superannuation of Anish Dayal Singh, a 1988 batch Manipur cadre IPS officer, on December 31, 2024 till appointment of a regular incumbent or until further order, whichever is earlier, said an order issued by the Union Home Ministry.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, in presence of other political and cultural dignitaries including DMK MP Kanimozhi and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, unveiled India's first-ever glass bridge.

Located in Kanniyakumari, this major architectural marvel, connects two iconic landmarks, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the 133-foot Thiruvalluvar statue. The bridge, part of a Rs 37-crore initiative by the Tamil Nadu government, inaugurated on Monday evening, adds to the region’s tourism infrastructure, promising improved visual and travel experience for visitors.

The construction of the bridge was undertaken to enhance Kanniyakumari’s appeal as a premier tourist destination. The inauguration coincided with the silver jubilee of the Thiruvalluvar statue’s unveiling by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

The 18th edition of Exercise Surya Kiran, a joint military exercise between India and Nepal aimed at enhancing interoperability and fostering collaboration between the two nations' armies, began on Tuesday.

The annual training event is conducted alternatively in the two countries.

The exercise, taking place at the Nepal Army Battle School, Saljhandi in the Shivalik ranges of Western Nepal, will be conducted till January 13.

It "aims to enhance interoperability, primarily in the fields of Counter Terrorism (CT) Operations," according to an X post by the Indian embassy here.

"Exercise Surya Kiran signifies the strong bond of friendship, trust and common military linkages that exist between India and Nepal," it said.

In Russia, a new tourist tax has come into effect across the country from today, replacing the previous resort fee.

According to the RIA Novosti news agency, travelers staying in hotels and other accommodations will contribute an additional 1 percent of their lodging costs.

This is intended to bolster regional tourism infrastructure.

The tax was introduced as part of amendments to the Russian Tax Code in July 2024. This has added a new chapter titled “Tourist Tax,” granting regional authorities discretion to implement the tax as a local levy.

Many regions, particularly those with established or emerging tourism industries, have already embraced the initiative.

Under the current framework, the tourist tax will begin at a rate of 1 percent in 2025 and gradually rise to 3 percent by 2027.

In the Hockey India League, Hyderabad Toofans secured a bonus point with a 5-4 shootout victory over Delhi SG Pipers after a 2-2 draw in regulation time in Rourkela, Odisha, yesterday.

Hyderabad took an early lead with goals from Amandeep Lakra and Gonzalo Peillat via penalty corners. Delhi responded through Dilraj Singh and Gareth Furlong, who scored from penalty corners to equalize.

Both teams created several chances but failed to capitalize on penalty corners and open play opportunities in the third and fourth quarters. Hyderabad had a late opportunity to win the game, but their penalty corner attempt rebounded off the post.

The match went into a shootout, where Hyderabad held their nerves to edge out Delhi 5-4.

In a historic and unprecedented result, reigning World Blitz Champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway shared the 2024 World Blitz Championship title with Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi on Wall Street, New York, on Wednesday.

The decision to share the title was made after both players played three consecutive draws in the sudden-death stage. Earlier, Carlsen had started the final with back-to-back wins and needed just a draw to secure victory, but Nepomniachtchi demonstrated incredible fight and resilience. He achieved two must-win victories, forcing sudden death after the final score was tied at 2–2.

With nothing to separate the players in three sudden-death games, Carlsen offered Nepomniachtchi the opportunity to share the title before FIDE gave its final confirmation.

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Tuesday sentenced Gilgit-Baltistan’s former chief minister Khalid Khurshid Khan to 34 years in prison for threatening the region’s security agencies.

Cases of sedition and terrorism were registered against Khan following a protest in July 2024, where he was accused of delivering a threatening speech.

The Anti-Terrorism Court No. 1 of Gilgit-Baltistan stated in its ruling that according to the prosecution, Khan had threatened the Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan, police personnel, and intelligence agencies during the protest in Gilgit on July 26, 2024. The former chief minister reportedly claimed he would not spare anyone if he came to power again.

More than 100 people, including child rights activists from Nepal and India, children and civil society members have joined hands to launch ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ campaign amidst Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli‘s pledge to end this crime.

The event organised in Kathmandu on Tuesday was led by Nepal’s Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Kishor Sah Sudi alongside Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, former chief minister of Lumni province and founder of BASE (Backward Society Education) Nepal, and India’s child right activist Bhuvan Bibhu.

The campaign has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Children with support from Indian organisation Just Right for Children and Nepal’s Backward Society Education, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
Between December 2 and 8, three dozen countries from three continents participated in the JRC’s Child Marriage Free World pledge-taking ceremonies against child marriage.

The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday announced that legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar has accepted an invitation of an Honorary Cricket Membership at the club.

“An icon honoured. The MCC is pleased to announce that former Indian captain @sachin_rt has accepted an Honorary Cricket Membership, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to the game,” the MCC posted on X.

Founded in 1838, the MCC is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia and is responsible for the management and development of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the game’s premier venues.