News Dabba for 09 January 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Karnataka's measures to tackle human-wildlife conflict, Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule sharing a stage for the first time since NCP split, to Iran protests.

Karnataka steps up measures to tackle human-wildlife conflict, Hindustan Times

Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said the state government has intensified efforts to address human-wildlife conflict, particularly incidents involving elephants and wolves, through coordinated action, technology-driven monitoring, and rapid response mechanisms, Hindustan Times reports. Speaking to reporters during his visit to Pilikula Nisargadhama for the ‘Hakki Habba’ programme, Khandre said the forest department is implementing comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of both people and wildlife in vulnerable regions. He added that Karnataka’s forest administration is among the most proactive in the country in dealing with wildlife-related challenges, the report says. Read the full report here.

Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule to share political stage for first time since NCP split: Indian Express

After unexpectedly striking a pre-poll alliance for the Maharashtra civic polls, Indian Express reports that NCP chief Ajit Pawar and his cousin, NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule, will appear together for the first time on a political stage after parting ways three years ago. On Saturday, Ajit Pawar and Supriya Sule will unveil the joint manifesto of both parties for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections. "This is the first time that the two will be sharing the political stage after the party split a few years ago,” said local NCP executive chief Pradeep Deshmukh. Read the full report here.

Al Jazeera on Sudan in need of urgent aid as it marks 1,000 days of war

Millions of people in Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian help, aid organisations have warned, as the war in the east African state marked its 1,000th day. Al Jazeera reports that fierce fighting and global funding cuts have pushed more than 33 million people towards starvation in what has become one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, nongovernmental organisations said on Friday as the grim anniversary passed. Warning that Sudan’s hunger crisis is reaching unprecedented levels, the groups called on global governments to raise efforts to end the war between the country’s military rulers and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023. Read the full report here.

Gauri Lankesh Murder Accused To Contest Maharashtra Civic Polls, NDTV reports

An accused in the sensational murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh is contesting the January 15 Jalna Municipal Corporation polls in Maharashtra as an independent candidate, NDTV reports. Shrikant Pangarkar is in the fray from ward 13. His opponents are candidates from the BJP and several other parties, though the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has not fielded a contestant. Incidentally, the report states that ahead of the November 2024 assembly elections, Pangarkar had joined the Shiv Sena. However, following an outcry, Shinde kept his induction into the party in abeyance. Read the full report here.

Huge anti-government protests in Tehran and other Iranian cities, BBC reports

Huge crowds of protesters have been marching through Iran's capital and other cities, videos show, in what is said to be the largest show of force by opponents of the clerical establishment in years. BBC reports that the peaceful demonstrations in Tehran and the second city of Mashhad on Thursday evening, which were not dispersed by security forces. Later, a monitoring group reported a nationwide internet blackout. Read the full report here.