January 2, 2026

Captive Elephant Nellyakkattu Mahadevan Dies After Collapsing at Kerala Temple

Nellyakkattu Mahadevan, a 55-year-old captive elephant, collapsed and died at Thirunettoor Mahadeva temple in Maradu. The elephant showed uneasiness and was not paraded. Veterinary efforts failed, and a post-mortem is planned.

January 2, 2026

Deadly New Year’s Eve Fire at Swiss Ski Resort Bar Claims 40 Lives

A fire broke out at Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on New Year’s Eve, killing 40 and injuring 115. Photos show sparklers that may have sparked the blaze during crowded celebrations.

January 2, 2026

TTD Cuts Darshan Waiting Time Using AI Amid Vaikuntha Ekadasi Crowds

TTD launched an AI-powered Command and Control Centre to manage huge crowds during Vaikuntha Ekadasi at Tirumala. Over 67,000 devotees saw Lord Venkateswara daily with shorter waits and smooth flow. The smart system spots crowd build-ups and reroutes queues to avoid chaos. Plans to expand AI tech across all darshan streams are underway.

January 2, 2026

TTD Cuts Darshan Waiting Time Using AI Amid Vaikuntha Ekadasi Crowds

TTD launched an AI-powered Command and Control Centre to manage huge crowds during Vaikuntha Ekadasi at Tirumala. Over 67,000 devotees saw Lord Venkateswara daily with shorter waits and smooth flow. The smart system spots crowd build-ups and reroutes queues to avoid chaos. Plans to expand AI tech across all darshan streams are underway.

January 2, 2026

China Starts Taxing Condoms to Boost Falling Birth Rates

China has begun taxing condoms and contraceptives for the first time in 30 years to tackle its declining population. The government also offers child subsidies but birth rates keep falling amid high costs and aging.