India

Hou Yifan’s two wins with black pieces lifted Alpine SG Pipers to second spot in the Global Chess League. Defending champions Continental Kings sealed a final berth, while Mumba Masters and Ganges Grandmasters face uphill battles to stay in contention

Kashmir’s higher reaches saw snowfall and plains experienced rain as Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period, began. Snowfall in Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Sadhna Top brought relief after a prolonged dry spell, offering hope for a snowy winter

Sabarimala temple will host the Mandala pooja on December 27, with Lord Ayyappa adorned in the golden anki. A ceremonial procession begins from Aranmula on December 23. Devotees are served free traditional Kerala sadya, with 5,000 pilgrims participating daily

A 40-year-old man accused of raping a 4-year-old in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was shot in the leg by a woman police inspector when he attempted to flee during crime reconstruction. He is hospitalized and out of danger, police said

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said the organisation has no enemies and works solely for Hindu unity and social betterment. Addressing centenary celebrations in Kolkata, he dismissed attempts to link the RSS with politics and reiterated its cultural and social mission.

Indian Railways has announced a marginal fare revision effective December 26 to raise Rs 600 crore in revenue. The increase applies only to long-distance travel, while suburban and season ticket fares remain unchanged to protect affordability.

Delhi Police busted a fake premium mobile phone racket in Karol Bagh, arresting four men and recovering 512 counterfeit phones, fake IMEI stickers, and spare parts. The accused imported components from China, assembled the phones, and sold them as genuine units

Last week, the combined market valuation of six of India’s top-10 firms rose by Rs 75,256.97 crore, led by TCS and Infosys, while HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finance, and LIC saw declines amid a 338-point drop in the BSE index

INSPACe plans to establish 'Antariksh Prayogshala' space labs at seven Indian academic institutions, providing hands-on training in space technology, fostering industry-academia collaboration, and preparing skilled talent to support India’s growing space economy projected to reach $44 billion by 2033

India has suspended visa operations at its Chittagong centre in Bangladesh following heightened tensions after student leader Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, amid attacks on Indian missions and large-scale protests, with operations to resume only after a security review

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of promoting monopolies under a “one nation, one businessman” agenda, warning it could lead to profiteering, inflation, exploitation of workers, and marginalisation of farmers and minority communities

Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal reaffirmed commitment to regular dividends even after the NCLT-approved demerger into five pure-play entities. The group plans a US$20 billion expansion across metals, power, and oil & gas, aiming for significant domestic and global growth

The CBI is probing a former accounts officer at India’s Geneva Mission for siphoning over CHF 2 lakh (₹2 crore) using fake QR codes to fund crypto-gambling. The scam surfaced during an audit, leading to his repatriation

The Railway Ministry announced a fare hike effective December 26, 2025: 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond 215 km, 2 paise per km for non-AC mail/express and AC classes, expected to generate ₹600 crore by March 2026

Kerala bid farewell to legendary Malayalam actor, director, and screenwriter Sreenivasan, who passed away at 69. Thousands, including film personalities and politicians, attended his cremation with state honours, paying tribute to his wit, humane storytelling, and lasting impact on Indian cinema

A Parliamentary panel has recommended granting the Auroville Foundation INI status, citing UNESCO recognition and its global peace contribution. The report suggested amending the Auroville Foundation Act, providing sustainable funding, and maintaining independent visa procedures for residents

Actor Anupam Kher reminisced about meeting Kareena Kapoor Khan during her debut film *Refugee* in 2000. Sharing memories on Instagram, he praised her growth, talent, and enduring passion for acting after 25 years in the industry

Filmmaker Geetu Mohandas praised Kiara Advani’s transformative performance in his upcoming action film *Toxic*. Shot in multiple languages, the film features a high-octane technical team and a star-studded cast, set to release on 19th March 2026 during the festive weekend

In Ghaziabad, a teenager allegedly shot dead Imran, convicted of murdering his uncle 18 years ago, at Muradnagar’s Olympic trisection. The teen surrendered, police launched an investigation, and local traders protested over security lapses in the area

A parliamentary panel urged India to strengthen IREL with targeted budgetary support to boost rare earth element exploration and mining. Recommendations include domestic supply strategies, international collaborations, and leveraging GSI projects to reduce import dependence for critical minerals

Using 11 years of spectroscopic data from Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Indian researchers mapped Sun’s magnetic activity across latitudes, revealing hemispheric asymmetries and sunspot correlations. The findings refine solar dynamo models, aid space-weather forecasting, and may support climate research

Security forces launched a search operation in Chore Motu, Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, after terrorists reportedly took food from a local house and fled into nearby forests. The area, linked to a recent encounter that killed a policeman, was cordoned off

Two workers were trapped after a mine wall collapsed on a coal-loading truck at a CCL opencast mine in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district late Saturday night. Rescue operations are underway, while one injured worker has been hospitalised and mining activities suspended

Shooting has begun for 'Maa Vande,' a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi starring Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan. Announced on Modi’s birthday, the film explores his personal and political journey and is directed by Kranthi Kumar CH under Silver Cast Creations