India

Four thalassemia-affected children have tested HIV positive after receiving blood transfusions at a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district. The state health department has ordered a probe amid allegations of contaminated blood or unsafe medical practices

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has made extensive security, medical, and crowd-management arrangements for party chief Vijay’s campaign meeting in Erode on December 18. The event is expected to draw over 35,000 people, with police overseeing entry and security.

India’s unemployment rate fell to a seven-month low of 4.7 per cent in November 2025, driven by stronger rural employment and rising female participation, signalling improving labour market conditions despite urban joblessness remaining higher

West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned on Tuesday, taking moral responsibility for lapses in the management of a Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted his resignation amid mounting criticism

India has sought consultations with the European Union at the WTO over safeguard measures imposing import quotas on certain ferro-alloy elements. New Delhi said the curbs would impact Indian exports, even as India and the EU negotiate a free trade agreement

Three Indian students were among 40 injured in the Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack during the Hanukkah by the Sea festival. Two are reportedly hospitalized. Fifteen people died, including a child, while authorities investigate extremist links and international travel of the attackers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Jordan for Ethiopia on the second leg of his four-day, three-nation tour. Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein personally saw him off. Modi will address Ethiopia’s parliament, meet PM Abiy Ahmed, and engage with the Indian diaspora

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the state government will appoint separate nodal officers in all districts and consider strengthening legislation to curb female foeticides. Intelligence gathering, decoy operations, and stricter enforcement of PC & PNDT Act are underway

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot welcomed a Delhi court’s refusal to take cognisance of the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case, calling it a victory of truth over power and accusing the Modi government of political vendetta

Actor Rakul Preet Singh criticized a self-proclaimed doctor on Instagram who claimed she underwent cosmetic procedures. She urged fans not to trust such misleading claims, attributing her appearance changes to weight loss and hard work instead of surgery

Opposition MPs staged a protest in Parliament against the VB-G RAM G Bill, accusing the Centre of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by replacing MGNREGA. The government defended the move, saying the new law strengthens rural employment and infrastructure

A 31-year-old married woman was found hacked to death at her lover Sandeep’s house in Sahavpur, Barabanki. Police suspect Sandeep’s parents and four sisters, who are absconding, in the crime. Investigation and post-mortem are underway

India will send a 57-member delegation to the first Youth Delphic Games of SCO member states in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, showcasing national talent in music, dance, fine arts, and crafts, marking a milestone in global cultural diplomacy

The Luthra brothers, co-owners of a Goa nightclub where a fire killed 25 people, were deported from Thailand and taken into custody in Delhi. They face charges of culpable homicide and negligence amid allegations of serious fire safety violations

Two country-made bombs were found in a deserted plot near Sree Narayana Math in Kerala’s Kannur district. A bomb squad defused the explosives, prompting police to intensify surveillance amid concerns over law and order in the politically sensitive region.

In Amman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Jordanian companies to invest in India, highlighting its 8%+ growth and emerging sectors like healthcare, dry-climate farming, and food infrastructure. He emphasized long-term India-Jordan economic cooperation and mutual benefits for businesses and citizens

IUML MP Harees Beeran told the Rajya Sabha that marriage-related issues account for a majority of India’s 1.71 lakh suicides in 2023, citing NCRB data and calling for urgent reforms, better enforcement of laws, and stronger social and healthcare support systems

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha to raise FDI in insurance from 74% to 100%. Opposition opposed the move, while the government cited policyholder protection and sector growth

The VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, aiming to replace MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha, guaranteeing 125 days of rural employment per household. Opposition protested the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name, while the government cited modernization and infrastructure development goals

Olive Ridley turtles have begun mating near Odisha’s Rushikulya river mouth. Authorities have intensified patrolling to prevent poaching. Mass nesting is expected in February, while mechanised fishing is banned within 20 km to protect the endangered turtles during breeding season

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s awkward football moments with Lionel Messi have gone viral globally, after popular content creator Matty Farias shared humorous reels highlighting missed passes, a courtesy penalty goal and light-hearted family moments during the interaction.

Thirteen people died and 35 were injured in a massive vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, caused by dense fog. Seven buses and three smaller vehicles collided, sparking fires; victims were hospitalized, and relief compensation announced

Priyanka Chopra Jonas will appear in the premiere episode of the new season of “The Great Indian Kapil Show”, streaming on Netflix from December 20. The fourth edition features Kapil Sharma in multiple characters with returning cast members

Six BJP activists were arrested in Alappuzha for allegedly assaulting a local CPI(M) leader after he visited a BJP-ruled panchayat. Police said the victim sustained serious head injuries and is undergoing treatment, while multiple serious charges have been registered