India

Canada, US, UK, Australia and Germany are the top higher education destinations for Indian students, with over 13.35 lakh Indians studying abroad in 2024, highlighting persistent brain drain, a NITI Aayog report said

Punjab named Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh in their 18-man Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. Quarterfinalists last season, Punjab begin against Maharashtra on December 24 in Jaipur. Gill’s availability remains uncertain due to India’s upcoming ODI and T20I series

India will face Sri Lanka in the second WT20I in Visakhapatnam after an eight-wicket win in the opener. Harmanpreet Kaur stressed on improving fielding, while Jemimah Rodrigues and Vaishnavi Sharma impressed as India aim to continue their dominance

Ganges Grandmasters defeated Fyers American Gambits 12-3 in the Global Chess League, keeping their final hopes alive. Anand drew with Nakamura, while Keymer, Sadhwani and Tsolakidou won their games. Mumba Masters lost 10-9 to Continental Kings and exited the race

India and New Zealand have concluded talks on a Free Trade Agreement providing duty-free access to key goods, a $20 billion investment commitment over 15 years, and a new visa pathway for Indian professionals, with trade expected to double in five years

Fundamental rights of citizens cannot be eclipsed by social disapproval or hollowed out by stigma

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Telangana government, securing 102 acres of forest land in Sahebnagar Kalan. Retired officer K Buchi Rami Reddy and others were praised for exposing fabricated documents and helping the forest department win the prolonged legal battle

West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir, recently suspended by the TMC, launched a new political party, Janata Unnayan Party, ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. He named candidates, unveiled the party flag, and challenged Mamata Banerjee, prompting reactions from BJP and TMC.

Former IPS officer Amar Singh Chahal, accused in the 2015 Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura firing cases, allegedly shot himself on Monday. A note reportedly cites financial fraud. Chahal is critical in hospital as police investigate the incident.

A 50-year-old man was arrested in Navi Mumbai for allegedly pushing an 18-year-old student from a moving local train after she objected to his unauthorised entry into a ladies’ coach. The student survived and is recovering in hospital.

Around 62 per cent of Indians use GenAI at work regularly, with employers and employees widely crediting AI for improving productivity, decision-making and work quality. India leads global AI adoption and tops the ‘AI Advantage’ score, an EY survey said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy to hold talks with top leaders. The visit comes amid India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah.

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) will debut the Taj brand in Egypt with a 300-key Taj Cairo at Opera Square, featuring dining, wellness, and event facilities. The project, in partnership with state-owned EGOTH, aligns with IHCL’s global expansion strategy

Deccan Gold Mines Ltd has begun pre-commissioning trials at its Altyn Tor Gold Project in Kyrgyzstan, processing 20,000–30,000 tonnes of ore. The trials aim to validate gold recovery methods ahead of full-scale production, strengthening India’s global mining footprint

“Drishyam 3,” starring Ajay Devgn as Vijay Salgaonkar, is set for theatrical release on October 2, 2026. Directed by Abhishek Pathak, the film continues the story of a father crafting an elaborate alibi to protect his family

A 20-year-old BTech student, Princy Kumari, was found dead in her hostel room at OP Jindal University, Raigarh. She allegedly died by suicide, leaving a note expressing regret over disappointing her parents. Police are investigating the case

Ather Energy announced it will raise prices of its electric scooters by up to Rs 3,000 from January 1, citing rising input costs and adverse forex impact. The hike affects the 450 series and Rizta models across India

Experts caution Hyderabad residents against panicking over high AQI readings shown by car dashboards and private apps, saying official CPCB data remains reliable. They cite inaccurate low-cost sensors, confined cabin measurements and lack of regulation as reasons for misleading air quality readings.

In Adigoppula, Palnadu district, two men, Sri Ram Murthy and Hanumanthu, were allegedly killed by a gang over a prior dispute. Ten assailants, led by Y Naresh, attacked them with a knife and iron rod. Police have registered a case

A 40-year-old beauty parlour owner in Mokama, near Patna, was allegedly attacked with acid by two men on a motorcycle. She sustained minor facial burns and is stable. Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident

The Andaman and Nicobar administration is offering a New Year’s Eve cruise to Barren Island, India’s only active volcano. Departing Sri Vijaya Puram on December 31, the voyage includes sightseeing, music, food, and adventure, with tickets starting at ₹3,180

Security forces in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, destroyed a Maoist weapons manufacturing facility, seizing rifles, explosives, detonators, and other materials. The CRPF and local police operation dealt a major blow to Naxal operations, amid ongoing efforts to curb Maoist activity in the region

Actress Rashmika Mandanna shared fun behind-the-scenes moments from the sets of *Cocktail 2*, joking about working behind the camera. Busy shooting with Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon, the film is directed by Homi Adajania and is slated for a 2026 release

Actor Ahan Shetty revealed undergoing intense military-style training and gruelling action preparation for his role as a Navy officer in *Border 2*, calling the experience at real defence locations physically demanding and transformative. The war drama releases January 2026