Human Interest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi for winning bronze at the World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha. Erigaisi’s achievement, alongside his recent World Rapid bronze, highlights India’s growing prominence in global chess

Residents in Indore allege eight deaths from vomiting and diarrhoea due to contaminated water, while authorities confirm three. The Madhya Pradesh government announced compensation, suspended officials, ordered a probe, and cited pipeline leakage as cause opposition accusations of concealment persist

Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as vice president in July citing health reasons, has not yet been allotted his official post-retirement residence. He currently stays at a private farmhouse in Chhatarpur, despite requesting the entitlement from the Housing Ministry

The Centre, via Meity, warned social media platforms of legal action if they fail to remove obscene, pornographic, paedophilic, and unlawful content. Platforms must review compliance frameworks and adhere strictly to IT Act and IT Rules, 2021 provisions

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 29, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his 2026 New Year message in Hindi for the first time, urging global leaders to prioritise development over military spending. He warned of rising conflicts, humanitarian crises and soaring defence budgets, calling for peace and poverty reduction

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu flagged off the inaugural flight of HAL’s next-generation Dhruv NG civil helicopter in Bengaluru. Designed for global civil aviation needs, the indigenous multi-role helicopter offers enhanced safety, performance, comfort and cost-effective operations across diverse terrains

Residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district are split over a khap panchayat diktat banning smartphones and half-pants for under-18s and opposing banquet hall weddings. While some leaders support preserving social values, historians and activists have criticised the move as impractical and unconstitutional

Spiritual leader Chinna Jeeyar Swamy urged the Telugu community to preserve language, culture, and identity at the inaugural Global Telangana Association convention in Hyderabad. Over 2,000 attendees celebrated GTA’s global expansion and cultural initiatives, with support from leaders and NRIs

A nationwide Indian study shows adolescents face a ‘food environment’ favoring cheap, unhealthy options while healthy foods remain expensive and scarce. Experts recommend taxing HFSS foods, restricting advertising to teens, and addressing economic barriers to curb obesity and malnutrition

The Indian Air Force’s Software Development Institute signed an MoU with IIT Madras to jointly develop an indigenous digital communication system for airborne applications, boosting secure defence communications and advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal of self-reliance in defence technology

The Delhi High Court restored the honour of a 72-year-old ex-CISF officer, compulsorily retired 20 years ago over alleged sexual harassment, ruling the complaint appeared motivated. The court quashed the retirement order and revised his pension accordingly

In Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, a seven-year-old girl walked nearly 5 km away after being scolded for watching cartoons. Police traced her via CCTV and rescued her within four hours, reuniting her safely with her relieved parents

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 27, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

Kashmir experienced freezing night temperatures, with Srinagar at −2.6°C and Sonamarg at −5.8°C. The region is expected to remain dry until December 29, followed by rains and snow around New Year’s Eve, with moderate snowfall in higher reaches

A 40-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly driving drunk and ramming her car into a police barricade in outer north Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy area, injuring a constable on duty. Police seized the vehicle and launched an investigation

Salman Khan’s longtime bodyguard Shera penned a heartfelt social media post praising the superstar’s strength, style and resilience on his 60th birthday, expressing gratitude for loyalty and respect earned, as Salman celebrated with family, friends and Bollywood celebrities nationwide gatherings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Guru Gobind Singh as a symbol of courage, compassion and sacrifice on his Parkash Utsav, recalling his teachings, Veer Bal Diwas, Sahibzades’ martyrdom, and government programmes honouring Sikh legacy and human dignity nationwide across India 

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 20 children from 18 states, recognising achievements in art, sports, culture, and innovation. The event coincided with Veer Bal Diwas, honouring the courage of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s sons

A Mumbai court fined businessman Nitin Sheth Rs 5,000 for feeding pigeons in a public place, ruling his actions could spread dangerous infections. The case follows the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s ban on pigeon feeding over health and nuisance concerns

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 26, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

Titan Co announced its entry into India’s lab-grown diamond market with the brand “beYon,” launching a Mumbai store on December 29. The move targets affordable, sustainable jewellery, with plans to expand to Delhi amid rapid market growth

The Election Commission of India will closely scrutinise domicile certificates issued in West Bengal after July 2025 during hearings on the draft voters’ list. The move follows opposition complaints of irregular issuance, with two-level verification ordered ahead of Assembly elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the release of the Constitution of India in the Santhali language, calling it commendable for boosting constitutional awareness among tribal communities. President Droupadi Murmu released the Ol Chiki script version, highlighting inclusivity and democratic participation