India

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.

INSV Kaundinya, the Indian Navy’s stitched sailing vessel built using traditional techniques, will embark on its maiden overseas voyage to Oman on December 29, symbolically retracing ancient maritime routes and reviving India’s historic shipbuilding and seafaring traditions

Amitabh Bachchan praised his grandson Agastya Nanda’s performance in “Ikkis,” portraying Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. Bachchan lauded Nanda’s maturity, honesty, and on-screen presence, calling the film flawless and emotionally moving

Hundreds of VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters clashed with police near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, protesting the lynching of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, demanding justice and action against the perpetrators

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was summoned by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs over concerns about the security of Bangladeshi missions in India, including New Delhi and Kolkata, and was asked to ensure strengthened protection for these diplomatic missions

BJP leader Akshay Garg was hacked to death by three masked assailants at a road construction site in Korba, Chhattisgarh. Police are investigating the incident, have set up checkpoints, and the motive behind the attack remains unknown

A passenger at Delhi airport, Ankit Dewan, alleged assault by off-duty Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal, resulting in a displaced nasal bone. Police have registered a case under BNS 2023, and an investigation, including CCTV review, is underway

The Delhi High Court dismissed pleas by Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s sons challenging the framing of charges in a terror funding case. The case involves hawala transfers from Pakistan to fund separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir

Dhariwal Buildtech, ESDS Software Solution, and BLS Polymers have received SEBI approval for IPOs consisting entirely of fresh issues. The funds will be used for debt repayment, infrastructure expansion, cloud services, and working capital, with listings on BSE and NSE