States

At least six people died when a bus traveling from Bengaluru to Gokarna caught fire following a collision with a tanker truck. Survivors and eyewitnesses recounted chaotic scenes as passengers tried to escape the rapidly spreading flames

A fire broke out at actor Sayaji Shinde’s Sahyadri Devrai plantation in Beed, Maharashtra, damaging trees. No casualties occurred. Shinde criticized the government’s plantation claims and highlighted the environmental loss caused to trees and soil microorganisms

Top Maoist leader Ganesh Uike, Odisha chief of the banned outfit, was killed along with three other rebels in a gunfight with security forces in Kandhamal district. Uike carried a Rs 1.1 crore bounty and had multiple aliases

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 

Visuals from the Chitradurga accident site showed a luxury sleeper bus completely gutted by fire after a collision with a container truck, killing at least nine people. Firefighters and police cleared debris as authorities managed traffic and began investigations

A 43-year-old school teacher, Rao Danish, was shot dead by unidentified assailants inside the Aligarh Muslim University campus, triggering panic. The attack occurred near the central library during an evening walk. Police have launched a probe and are scanning CCTV footage

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the Chitradurga bus accident that killed at least nine people and assured a thorough investigation. Leaders across parties offered condolences as a speeding container truck hit a sleeper bus near Hiriyur, causing a deadly fire

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

Clashes erupted between two Christmas carol groups in Alappuzha’s Nooranad area on Christmas Eve after a dispute escalated into violence, injuring several people including women and children. Police said injuries were not serious and an investigation is underway into incident

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

Delhi High Court has asked the Union government to explore temporary GST relief on air purifiers amid rising pollution, observing that if citizens cannot be provided clean air, reducing taxes on these essential devices is the least the State can do

After a 20-year political split, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s MNS have joined forces for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The alliance aims to consolidate Marathi voters, while the BJP dismisses it as a power-driven move

Unnao rape case survivor called the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s sentence “death” for her family and plans to move the Supreme Court. Activists and family members protested, citing fears for personal safety and justice

A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed in Odisha's Bhadrak district. An accused was arrested from Jagatsinghpur district in connection with the case

In Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, a CRPF jawan was injured when a leopard entered a camp in Kapran during breakfast. The animal attacked him before fleeing into the forest. The jawan is receiving treatment at a nearby hospital

In Uttar Pradesh, junior clerk Ashish Singh was arrested for allegedly raping a minor under the pretext of marriage and defrauding her of ₹7 lakh. The victim complained after discovering he had married another woman

Three blackbucks, including two females and one male under two years, were found dead with suspected gunshot injuries in Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru. Forest officials registered a case and are investigating possible poaching near the Basur Amrit Mahal Kaval reserve

A six-year-old girl in Thane, Maharashtra, died over a month after being bitten by a street dog, despite receiving timely anti-rabies treatment. Her condition worsened suddenly, and she passed away at a Mumbai hospital, officials confirmed

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court dismissed PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s PIL seeking transfer of prisoners to local jails, stating it appeared politically motivated. The court emphasized that PILs cannot be used for partisan gains or electoral advantage

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 

A Junior Commissioned Officer of the Indian Army died after sustaining a gunshot wound in a firing incident inside a military camp in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have ruled out a terror angle and ordered an investigation

Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new soil-dwelling micro-arthropod species, *Neelus sikkimensis*, in Sikkim. The finding marks the first Indian record of the genus Neelus, highlighting the Eastern Himalayas as a key biodiversity hotspot

An NCP leader in Maharashtra’s Nanded was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted over a Rs 2 crore dispute. Seven people were arrested, while the victim accused a sitting MLA of masterminding the attack, a charge the legislator denied, calling it political conspiracy

Security forces recovered multiple balloons carrying Pakistani symbols near the Line of Control in north Kashmir, prompting heightened vigilance. Army seized the objects in Baramulla and Kupwara districts as part of ongoing surveillance to counter infiltration and cross-border activities