India

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi defeated five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in an all-Indian final to win the Jerusalem Masters. Erigaisi prevailed 2.5-1.5 in blitz tie-breaks, pocketing USD 55,000, while Anand finished runner-up with USD 35,000

Hyderabad and Kerala played out a draw in the Cooch Behar Trophy under-19 third-round match at NFC Ground, Hyderabad. Hyderabad secured the crucial first-innings lead, with Wafi Kachchhi scoring 130 and Jobin P Joby hitting 163 for Kerala

Veteran chess player Kandi Ravi won the Pawn’s Gambit Rapid Chess Tournament in Hyderabad with a perfect score of five points from five rounds. The 59-year-old also collected Rs 2000 and continues his long career as player, arbiter and instructor

Amit Sanghi, President of the Telangana Rifle Association, has been elected Senior Vice-President of the National Rifle Association of India for 2025–2029. His election marks the first time a representative from South India has taken this national leadership role

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita, calling it a source of inspiration for millions. The gesture came during Putin’s arrival in Delhi, where he was hosted for a private dinner at Modi’s residence

Hardik Pandya’s return to competitive cricket sparked massive fan interest, forcing organisers to shift Baroda’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Gujarat from Gymkhana ground to Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium for security reasons. Baroda won by eight wickets as Pandya took one wicket

Russian President Vladimir Putin began a 27-hour visit to India on Thursday, warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders will hold the 23rd India-Russia Summit, focusing on defence, energy, trade, Russian crude procurement, and strategic geopolitical issues

IndiGo cancelled over 550 flights on Thursday as operational disruptions continued for a third day, prompting long delays nationwide. After meetings with the Civil Aviation Ministry and DGCA, the airline said flights will be reduced from December 8, with full normalisation expected by February 10, 2026

Reviving lost species may help restore ecosystems, but it demands robust scientific oversight to ensure responsible use

India’s apex court’s decision to entrust the CBI with a nationwide probe into digital arrest scams should help in speeding up efforts to check this dangerous trend

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for a two-day visit to attend the 23rd India-Russia summit. Talks with PM Modi will focus on defence, trade, and small modular reactors, amid a backdrop of changing India-US relations

The TN government has challenged a Madras High Court single judge's order to light the Karthigai Deepam at the Thiruparankundram hilltop lamp post, citing exceeded jurisdiction and law and order concerns. The state objected to the deployment of CISF for a religious ritual, arguing the order incited protests and tension

The Gujarat ATS arrested a retired Army Subedar from Goa and a woman tutor from Daman for passing sensitive military information to Pakistani intelligence. The duo, lured by financial gain and honeytrapping, shared details about troop movements, war exercises, and officer transfers via text and malware

The Supreme Court directed States to provide additional staff to the Election Commission to ease the workload on booth-level officers engaged in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, following complaints of extreme pressure, FIRs, and deaths by suicide among BLOs

The Bombay High Court granted bail to former Delhi University professor Hany Babu, citing over five years of incarceration without trial in the Elgar Parishad case. The NIA’s request to stay the order was rejected as the trial remains far from completion.

Over 18.82 lakh Indian students are studying across 153 countries, with Canada hosting the highest number. The MEA revealed rising deportations linked to visa violations, incomplete documentation and enrolment issues, while highlighting advisories, support mechanisms and recent evacuation efforts for students abroad

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticised the Chandrababu Naidu government for alleged failures in agriculture, education and healthcare, and accused it of misusing institutions to target YSRCP leaders. He claimed corruption, political vendetta and deteriorating welfare services under the coalition regime

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said India will implement a barrier-free, electronic toll collection system nationwide within a year. Rolled out at 10 locations, the FASTag and AI-based system aims to reduce congestion and enhance motorist experience on highways

Former GHMC corporator Najma Sultana, wife of two-time Karwan MLA Syed Kausar Mohiuddin, has filed her nomination for Baswapur sarpanch post. The December 17 election sees local youth contesting despite Mohiuddin’s push for a unanimous outcome

Villagers across Adilabad district are on edge after tiger pugmarks were spotted near Odduguda and other villages. Forest officials have deployed trackers and advised locals to avoid forests, suspecting a tiger may have migrated from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Health and National Security Cess, levied only on demerit goods like pan masala, with revenues shared with states for health schemes. The move complements GST and aims to deter consumption while funding national priorities

Delhi Police busted a spurious desi ghee manufacturing unit in Alipur, seizing 1,500 kg of fake clarified butter and 55 litres of synthetic essence. The unit, operated by a long-time offender, was supplying fake ghee across Delhi and neighbouring States.

BNHS is preparing to release captive-bred Slender-billed and White-rumped vultures in Assam, working with communities to ensure safe habitats. The programme stresses eliminating harmful NSAIDs, preventing poisoning incidents, and restoring vultures’ ecological role in controlling carcass-related pollution and disease

RPF, Child Line, and Srishti Seva Sansthan rescued 22 minors from Dungarpur railway station, who were allegedly being trafficked to Gujarat for labour. Three agents were detained, and the children were placed in a care home. Authorities continue investigating the trafficking network.