The Union environment ministry is expanding prohibited mining areas in the Aravali hills following Supreme Court directives and public protests. The ministry has asked a central institution to identify additional zones for mining bans, aiming to further protect the mountain range’s ecology and biodiversity.

Pope Leo XIV held the first Christmas mass of his pontificate on Wednesday, greeting thousands of faithful in St Peter’s Square before the service in an usually informal style.

Annoyed by power cuts, Congress MLA Virendra Jati from Jhabreda in Haridwar district climbed electricity poles and cut the power to the houses of three of the department’s officials.