Pathankot attack probe, Mehbooba Mufti to be next CM of J-K: Top stories of the day

Mehbooba Mufti to take over: PDP president and daughter of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba is all set to take over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir and become its first woman chief minister. As chief minister, Mehbooba faces challenges on all fronts after Sayeed’s death pushed the PDP into uncharted territory. Will she be able to reinvent herself now that the protective shadow of her father is no more? Read more here

Delhi pollution levels: The Delhi government asserted that the odd-even rule in Delhi will continue till January 15 adding that PM 2.5 levels in the city has shown consistent downward trends. The government statement came a day after the Delhi HC questioned as to why the rule was being imposed till January 15 causing inconvenience for the people. The government has been ordered to submit a report on the pollution data between January 1-7. Read more here

Constitution of NCTC: In a special column for the Indian Express, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has written about the constitution of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in the backdrop of the Pathankot attack. He wrote that NCTC was among the unfinished internal security tasks when the UPA demitted office. “I was convinced that the NCTC was an imperative, especially in a federal system with as many police administrations as there are states and Union territories,” he wrote. Read more here

Aamir ad row: After actor Aamir Khan was removed as the brand ambassador of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign following the termination of his contract, sources say PM Narendra Modi has asked for a report on the same. Speculations were rife that the move was because of the actor’s remarks on ‘growing intolerance in the country.’ Meanwhile, the actor said he respects the government decision to discontinue his services. Read more here