India

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, providing up to Rs 1.50 lakh per person for the first seven days. The programme ensures timely care, especially benefiting daily wage earners and economically weaker families.

The Telugu Desam Party has defended the renaming of MGNREGA as VB-G RAM G, saying rural employment schemes must evolve with changing economic realities. TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu outlined reforms, accountability measures and implementation gaps during the Lok Sabha debate

Prolonged exposure to severe air pollution in Delhi is shortening life expectancy, increasing chronic illness and reducing productivity, experts warned. With AQI in the ‘very poor’ category, the crisis is straining healthcare systems and threatening long-term economic growth

Delhi Police busted two interstate cyberfraud rackets supplying mule bank accounts for online scams, arresting nine persons across four cities. The gangs used layered banking channels, social media and cryptocurrency to launder money cheated from victims nationwide

The Kerala High Court has extended interim protection from arrest to ousted Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil till January 7, when it will hear in detail a sexual assault case against him, amid multiple complaints and ongoing legal challenges

Parliament on Thursday extended the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining Bills related to the removal of the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, allowing it to submit its report by the last week of the Budget Session in 2026

The EPFO has launched the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025, offering employers a six-month window to enrol workers left out of EPF coverage since 2017. The one-time initiative aims to expand coverage, regularise non-compliance and strengthen social security nationwide.

Ajay Gupta, co-owner of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa where 25 people died in a fire earlier this month, has applied for bail before a court in Mapusa. The court is expected to hear the plea later today

The Supreme Court adjourned till January the hearing on Chaitanya Baghel’s plea challenging his arrest in a Chhattisgarh liquor scam and provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The bench said the matter cannot be heard piecemeal, as multiple probes into scams allegedly during Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure continue

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s ability to execute swift, high-impact air operations, asserting that the Indian Air Force has emerged as a technologically advanced and strategically confident force capable of meeting evolving security challenges

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said 21st century India takes bold and swift decisions, sets ambitious goals and delivers results within defined timelines, while addressing the Indian community in Muscat during his two-day visit to Oman.

Karan Johar’s production *Homebound*, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, has made it to the top 15 shortlist for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. The film, featuring Ishaan Khatter and Janhavi Kapoor, explores childhood friendship across religious and caste lines and now aims for India’s first nomination in decades

MTAR Technologies has secured a Rs 310 crore order from Megha Engineering & Infrastructures for equipment supply to Kaiga 5 and 6 nuclear reactors in Karnataka. This adds to previous orders, bringing total Kaiga reactor orders to Rs 504 crore, with deliveries scheduled in phases up to February 2030

In Kaushambi, 15-year-old Sarita Devi, a Class 10 student, was killed when a speeding dumper truck hit her amid dense fog while she was walking to school. The driver fled the scene. Police seized the vehicle and sent the body for post-mortem, investigating the fatal accident

Actor-politician Vijay attacked Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, calling it an "evil force," while describing his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a "pure force." Speaking in Erode, he invoked AIADMK legends MGR and Jayalalithaa, criticized DMK governance, and signaled TVK’s role in the 2026 Assembly polls, hinting at further defections

Global investment firm L Catterton has acquired a stake in Haldiram, forming a strategic partnership to strengthen its domestic leadership and international expansion. Led by former HUL CEO Sanjiv Mehta, the collaboration aims to boost brand building, product development, distribution, and talent initiatives

AAP MP Raghav Chadha urged amendments to the 1957 Copyright Act to protect digital content creators, emphasizing fair use, proportionality, and due process. He highlighted that livelihoods should not be controlled by algorithms and called for legal recognition of transformative, educational, and incidental content use

The Supreme Court criticized the trend of judges issuing numerous orders just before retirement, likening it to “hitting sixes” in cricket. It refused to interfere in a Madhya Pradesh judge’s suspension but allowed him to approach the high court for recalling the order

YSRCP leader B Karunakar Reddy accused the NDA government of conspiring to transfer over 20 acres of valuable TTD land near Alipiri to Oberoi Hotels under the guise of tourism development, alleging irregularities, illegal concessions, and threats to temple property sanctity

Paytm Payments Services Limited (PPSL), a One97 Communications subsidiary, received RBI approval to operate as a Payment Aggregator for offline and cross-border transactions, complementing its existing online aggregation license, enabling end-to-end payment solutions for merchants

Amandeep Singh-Bola, of Indian-Kiwi origin, helped restrain one of the Bondi Beach attackers during a December 14 shooting that killed 15 and injured 40. He acted alongside police to subdue the suspect, demonstrating courage amid the terrorist attack

Anini village in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley was awarded “Best Emerging Adventure Destination” at the 17th ATOAI convention in Srinagar, recognizing its trekking routes, natural beauty, cultural heritage, and efforts by local communities and tourism stakeholders

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu urged district collectors to use technology-driven innovations for best practices, directing the statewide implementation of the ‘Mustabu’ personal hygiene programme in schools to benefit students and improve public health across the state

A 19-year-old Rohingya man was allegedly stabbed to death by another Rohingya after a drunken brawl at a camp in Hyderabad’s Balapur area. The victim suffered 19 stab wounds; the accused has been taken into custody and a murder case registered