Lifestyle

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued his 2026 New Year message in Hindi for the first time, urging global leaders to prioritise development over military spending. He warned of rising conflicts, humanitarian crises and soaring defence budgets, calling for peace and poverty reduction

Residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district are split over a khap panchayat diktat banning smartphones and half-pants for under-18s and opposing banquet hall weddings. While some leaders support preserving social values, historians and activists have criticised the move as impractical and unconstitutional

Kothwal Krishna (43), a remand prisoner from Nirmal district, died of a heart stroke at Jagtial Government Hospital while in custody for a cybercrime case. Jail officials have initiated an inquiry into the incident

Arvind Fashions Ltd will acquire Flipkart Group’s 31.25% stake in Arvind Youth Brands Pvt Ltd for ₹135 crore, making AYBPL, owner of Flying Machine, a wholly-owned subsidiary. The transaction is expected to close on December 29, 2025

A nationwide Indian study shows adolescents face a ‘food environment’ favoring cheap, unhealthy options while healthy foods remain expensive and scarce. Experts recommend taxing HFSS foods, restricting advertising to teens, and addressing economic barriers to curb obesity and malnutrition

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 29, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

A Goa trip ended tragically for 15 friends from Narsapur, Medak, when one car met with an accident in Solapur, Maharashtra. Two people died on the spot, and two were injured, while the group’s return journey was disrupted

Dense fog disrupted air traffic at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, leading to 128 flight cancellations, eight diversions and nearly 200 delays. Low visibility slowed operations, with airlines and airport authorities warning passengers of continued disruptions

Producer Kumar Mangat Pathak issued a legal notice to Akshaye Khanna for allegedly breaching his agreement for “Drishyam 3” after refusing participation via text. The team signed Jaideep Ahlawat as Khanna’s replacement, citing financial and scheduling losses

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 27, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

In 2025, magicpin led food delivery in Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, adding over 6 lakh student and corporate users via its Inner Circle programme. The platform on-boarded 80,000+ merchants, scaled magicNOW quick delivery, and reported biryani as the top dish

A study by LV Prasad Eye Institute highlights rising antimicrobial resistance in post-cataract infections, with aggressive Gram-negative bacteria resisting standard antibiotics. Nearly 8% of cases are multidrug-resistant, forcing use of last-resort drugs like Colistin, yet vision recovery remains poor

Daily Horoscope: Your stars are bringing good tidings for you. Check out your astrological predictions for December 26, 2025. May the day bring you happiness

Titan Co announced its entry into India’s lab-grown diamond market with the brand “beYon,” launching a Mumbai store on December 29. The move targets affordable, sustainable jewellery, with plans to expand to Delhi amid rapid market growth

An Indian-origin man died of suspected cardiac arrest after waiting over eight hours in a Canadian hospital emergency room despite severe chest pain. His family alleges lapses in care, raising concerns over emergency response and patient safety within the healthcare system

Navi Mumbai International Airport began commercial operations, with the first flight from Bengaluru landing on Thursday. Initially operating 12 hours daily, it connects nine destinations, handled by multiple airlines, and aims to scale up to full capacity in phased development 

South Central Railway will run special trains between Hyderabad and LTT Mumbai during the Christmas and New Year rush. Trains 07458 and 07459 will operate on December 28-29, stopping at major stations and offering AC, sleeper, and general coaches

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Christmas prayers at Delhi’s Cathedral Church of the Redemption, highlighting messages of love, peace and compassion. He extended Christmas greetings nationwide, emphasising harmony and unity as Christians across India celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ

Nine people were killed in Chitradurga when an overspeeding container truck crossed the divider and rammed a luxury sleeper bus near Hiriyur, triggering a fire. The injured bus driver said he tried to regain control but failed as the truck struck head-on

In Balochistan, Pakistan, a bomb exploded on the railway track near Dera Murad Jamali, damaging the line and suspending Jaffar Express services. Police defused another device while a security operation was launched to find those responsible

Shooting for *Mirzapur: The Film* is underway in Rajasthan, bringing back fan-favorite characters from the hit series. Starring Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, and Divyendu, the movie will release nationwide in 2026, later streaming on Prime Video

Allu Arjun and director Trivikram Srinivas are rumored to reunite for a Rs 1000 crore mythological epic, marking their fourth collaboration. Scheduled to begin February 2027, the film promises grand visuals, cutting-edge technology, and a pan-Indian cinematic spectacle

The Bombay High Court quashed a 12-year-old FIR against Star Pravah programming heads over an allegedly objectionable dialogue in the serial *Laxmi versus Saraswati*, ruling they had no role in its creation and noting procedural lapses in prosecuting under the Atrocities Act 

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said legally binding FTA commitments on professional services will expand overseas opportunities for Indian professionals, stressing skill upgrades, global best practices, MRAs and stakeholder coordination to leverage India’s demographic dividend and boost services exports