Newswallah: Bharat Edition

Jammu and Kashmir: A period of harsh winter weather, known locally as Chillai Kalan and expected to last 40 days, began in Kashmir on Friday, Kashmir Live reported. Low temperatures were recorded across the Kashmir Valley, but bright, sunny skies marked the first day of Chillai Kalan instead of the expected snowfall, the newspaper reported.

Manipur: Members of the film industry held protests in the state capital of Imphal on Wednesday against the alleged molestation and assault on an actress by a Naga rebel during a concert in the Chandel district on Tuesday, The Times of India reported. The attacker, who belonged to a faction of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland, opened fire on two actors who came forward to help the actress, the report said.

Arunachal Pradesh: The state government is prioritizing the conservation of Arunachal Pradesh's estimated 1,500 species of medicinal plants, which are particularly valued for use in ayurvedic medicine, according to a PTI report in Business Standard.  The state authorities and the Bangalore-based Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions are collaborating on the conservation process under the auspices of the U.N.D.P. and Global Environment Facility project, the report said.

Rajasthan: The state is set to conduct India's first-ever tree census, The Times of India reported. The Rajasthan Trees Bill, expected to be introduced in the state assembly during the budget session, calls for a census of protected trees by March of each year, to ensure proper monitoring of planted saplings.

Bihar: The state government is cracking down on illegal liquor production after more than 50 people died from drinking locally made “hooch” in a recent series of incidents around the state, according to a PTI report in Business Standard. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said raids were being conducted at places of manufacture or sale.

Kerala: On Thursday, the Kerala High Court gave two Italian marines charged with murder permission to go home for two weeks for Christmas, the New Indian Express reported. The court said that the Italian ambassador and consul-general would have to guarantee their return and that the government would have to approve the arrangement.   The marines in February shot and killed two Indian fishermen, who they mistook for pirates; Italy expressed regret for the killings but said they took place in international waters.