India

Actor Anupam Kher shared an emotional birthday tribute for Anil Kapoor on his 69th birthday, praising their long friendship, Kapoor’s kindness and talent, and acknowledging his quiet support after Satish Kaushik’s passing, wishing him health, happiness and continued success

Gold and silver prices surged to record highs on Wednesday, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, a weaker dollar and expectations of US rate cuts. Strong safe-haven demand and tight supply conditions further supported precious metals across global and domestic markets.

An NCP leader in Maharashtra’s Nanded was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted over a Rs 2 crore dispute. Seven people were arrested, while the victim accused a sitting MLA of masterminding the attack, a charge the legislator denied, calling it political conspiracy

Security forces recovered multiple balloons carrying Pakistani symbols near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, prompting heightened vigilance. Army seized the objects in Baramulla and Kupwara districts as part of ongoing surveillance to counter infiltration and cross-border activities

Indian equities opened higher as Sensex and Nifty tracked firm global cues and steady DII buying. RBI’s Rs 2 lakh crore liquidity infusion via OMO and swaps boosted sentiment, though FII selling capped gains amid consolidation in early trade Wednesday

A total of 127 US lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to withdraw proposed changes to the public charge rule, warning that it would create uncertainty in legal immigration. The move could particularly affect H-1B holders and Indian nationals awaiting employment-based green cards.

A vandebharat express was forced to stop after the loco pilot found an autorickshaw on the tracks. The auto driver was taken into custody.

ISRO successfully launched the US communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 aboard its LVM3-M6 rocket from Sriharikota as part of a commercial mission. The satellite will support a global Low Earth Orbit constellation enabling direct-to-mobile 4G and 5G connectivity worldwide.

Bengaluru police denied permission to hold the Vijay Hazare Trophy match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on December 24, citing safety concerns after the June stampede. The game will now be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence near Kempegowda International Airport

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy, adding star power to the domestic one-day championship. With Gill, Pant and other top names also in action, selectors will keenly watch performances of rising talents and bowlers

IPL founder Lalit Modi has shared a video from Vijay Mallya’s 70th birthday celebrations in London, jokingly calling the two “India’s biggest fugitives.” The clip, posted on Instagram, follows earlier posts showing a pre-birthday bash at Modi’s Belgrave Square home attended by high-profile guests including Idris Elba and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

India defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20I at Visakhapatnam, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. Shafali Verma’s unbeaten 69 and strong spin bowling from Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani sealed the win

Alpine SG Pipers defeated Triveni Continental Kings to win the Global Chess League title in Mumbai. Anish Giri and R Praggnanandhaa starred in the final, while Firouzja and Hou Yifan earned individual honours. PBG Alaskan Knights finished third

Indian coaches Rutuja Gunwant and Sudha Rani have successfully completed the AFC A Diploma Course in coaching through the FIFA Coach Education Scholarship

DRDO has successfully completed user evaluation trials of the next-generation Akash missile system, paving the way for its induction into the armed forces. The Akash-NG demonstrated precision against diverse aerial threats, including high-speed, low-altitude and long-range high-altitude targets.

The 52nd Institutional Table Tennis Championships began in Indore with PSPB favourites in both men’s and women’s sections. Railways and RBI are expected to challenge strongly, while reduced participation highlights waning institutional interest in the tournament

India’s Deepti Sharma has reached the top of the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings, while South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt reclaimed the No 1 spot in ODI batting. Jemimah Rodrigues and several other players also made notable gains in the latest update

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Bangladesh poses multiple challenges to India, including growing insecurity and infiltration along the 4,000-kilometre border

Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, has strongly criticised RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s reported suggestion that Muslims should worship natural elements like the sun, rivers and trees for environmental reasons.

The Trump Administration has announced sweeping reforms to the H-1B visa system, replacing the random lottery with a weighted selection process that favours higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign workers. The new rules will take effect from February 27 and apply to the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap season.

Gold prices surged to Rs 1,40,850 per 10 grams and silver to Rs 2,17,250 per kilogram in India on Tuesday, driven by global trends, Fed rate cut expectations, and rising geopolitical tensions, marking strong gains for both metals in 2025

As many as 22 Maoists, including a divisional committee member and six area committee members, surrendered to the Odisha police along with firearms, ammunition and explosives. The surrendered cadres carried a collective reward of Rs 1.84 crore and were given interim relief

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing maritime boundaries near the Palk Strait. The incident has renewed concerns among fishing communities, who are urging Indian authorities to intervene for their release.