States

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav announced Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve will host cheetahs before next monsoon, joining Kuno and Gandhi Sagar reserves. The state is expanding wildlife conservation, including tiger protection, rhinoceros and snake translocation, alongside initiatives to boost farmers’ income

Kashmir’s higher reaches saw overnight snowfall, raising night temperatures above freezing in Srinagar for the first time this December. Pulwama remained the coldest at –2.7°C, while fog enveloped the valley as the region approaches the 40-day ‘Chillai Kalan’ winter

Former Karnataka MLA and doctor Anjali Nimbalkar saved an American passenger’s life by performing CPR during a Goa to New Delhi flight after the woman suffered a medical emergency mid air, earning praise from passengers, crew, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah 

About 4,300 MW of solar projects in Rajasthan face full daytime curtailment due to limited transmission capacity, threatening Rs 20,000 crore of investments. Industry urges short-term relief, dynamic line rating, and better evacuation mechanisms to prevent stranded renewable assets

Goa launched a crackdown on nightclubs ahead of Christmas and New Year after a deadly fire killed 25 people. Authorities inspected venues across North Goa, sealing establishments violating safety and licensing norms to prevent further tragedies

A parliamentary committee praised the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives in Ladakh for exemplary experiential education and urged the University Grants Commission to grant long pending recognition, while recommending replication of its model nationwide despite recent controversies involving founder Sonam Wangchuk

A wildfire burning for three days in Nagaland Dzukou Valley spread toward Japfu range, prompting plans for aerial firefighting using an Indian Air Force helicopter, after strong winds worsened damage in the ecologically sensitive forest area near Kohima

Security forces in Manipur arrested six militants, including two women, linked to banned outfits for alleged extortion activities. The arrests across Imphal and Bishnupur districts led to the seizure of firearms and ammunition, police said 

Nine pilgrims, including two children, were injured after a tractor rammed into devotees at Sabarimala. Four of the injured were from Andhra Pradesh. Two victims are in critical condition, police said

Congress-led UDF achieved a decisive victory in Kerala local body elections, while BJP captured Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ending the Left’s 45-year rule. LDF faced major losses across municipalities and panchayats, signalling a shift ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections

Karnataka’s Hate Speech Bill risks becoming a cure more dangerous than the disease

Lionel Messi returns to India for a high-profile, non-competitive tour across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, featuring promotional events, celebrity interactions, and philanthropy. Fans anticipate spectacle, though former footballers critique the visit for lacking actual football action and engagement 

ZEE5 will premiere Mammootty-starrer “Dominic and the Ladies' Purse” on December 19. The Malayalam mystery-comedy-thriller, directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, follows former cop Dominic and his aide Vignesh solving a deceptively simple case that spirals into suspense and humour

Pradeep Ghadi Amonkar, claiming to be the original owner of land where the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub burned, alleges unauthorized conversion of his property from salt pan to settlement zone, amid a 21-year legal battle over ownership in North Goa

DGCA suspended four Flight Operations Inspectors after massive disruptions at IndiGo led to thousands of cancellations and stranded passengers. IndiGo’s CEO and COO were summoned as a probe examines manpower planning, rostering issues and compliance with new pilot duty and rest norms

A male leopard roaming Pune Airport since April was safely captured after a coordinated multi-agency operation. Using tunnels and low-footfall areas, it evaded traps for months before being tranquilised in an underground tunnel. The leopard has recovered and is under observation in Pune 

A 40-year-old teacher, Sanjeev Tiwari, died in Jaunpur after a banned Chinese kite string slit his neck while riding a motorcycle. Police are investigating, and locals demand strict enforcement against hazardous ‘manjha’ to prevent similar incidents

Sensex and Nifty recovered from early losses in late morning trade, led by banking and auto stocks. Kotak Mahindra, HDFC Bank, and Reliance gained, while FIIs sold equities. US Fed rate cut had limited impact on Indian markets

Three men were found dead under mysterious circumstances at a farmhouse in Korba, Chhattisgarh, allegedly during an occult ritual promising to multiply money. Four suspects, including a tantrik, have been detained, and police investigations are ongoing

Pallas's Gull, a rare migratory bird, has been sighted after nearly a decade at Udhwa Bird Sanctuary in Jharkhand, signaling positive biodiversity. Officials highlighted protection under the Wildlife Protection Act and ongoing conservation measures against threats

The Calcutta High Court upheld a life sentence for a man who had a consensual physical relationship with a 14-year-old minor, ruling it inexcusable. The court also directed compensation totaling Rs 3.8 lakh to the victim

Satya Nadella announced Microsoft’s US$ 17.5 billion investment to expand India’s AI and cloud infrastructure, including a new sustainable data centre by 2026. He emphasized digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, talent skilling and India’s rising global developer influence during the company’s Bengaluru event

Uttar Pradesh STF arrested Afsar Ahmed, a close aide of slain gangster-politician Atique Ahmed, for facilitating a jail meeting that allegedly planned Umesh Pal’s murder. Wanted in a Bareilly case with a Rs 50,000 reward, he was captured in Delhi and sent to jail

IndiGo cancelled 60 Bengaluru flights as DGCA intensified scrutiny amid major disruptions linked to staffing shortages and new crew duty norms. With declining pilot strength and planning lapses, regulators have deployed oversight teams while IndiGo leadership attributes the crisis to multiple “unanticipated” internal and external factors