World

Washington is closely tracking the Modi–Putin summit in New Delhi, with US analysts examining the optics, defence and energy outcomes, and potential White House reaction. Experts say the response will depend on India’s public embrace of Putin and the deals concluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit marked by high-level security and key talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit will focus on defence, trade and energy cooperation.

India’s junior women’s hockey team lost 1-3 to Germany in their second FIH Junior Women’s World Cup match in Santiago. Hina Bano scored for India, but Germany sealed victory with goals from Frerichs, Schönhoff and Reisenegger. India next play Ireland

Indian shuttlers dominated the Guwahati Masters Super 100 tournament, with Tanvi Sharma and Tharun Mannepalli leading the charge. Several home players, including Tasnim Mir, Ashmita Chaliha, Anmol Kharb and Meiraba Luwang Maisnam, advanced to the next round with impressive wins

India named Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in the T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa starting December 9. Gill returns as vice-captain subject to fitness clearance, while Pandya proved his fitness in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

New Zealand led West Indies by 96 runs after Day 2 of the first test in Christchurch. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries, but Jacob Duffy’s five-wicket haul and Matt Henry’s three wickets kept New Zealand ahead

New Zealand led West Indies by 96 runs after Day 2 of the first test in Christchurch. Shai Hope and Tagenarine Chanderpaul hit half-centuries, but Jacob Duffy’s five-wicket haul and Matt Henry’s three wickets kept New Zealand ahead

Md Rahmatullah, former India forward and Asian Games hero, passed away in Los Angeles at 87 after a prolonged illness. He represented India 12 times, scored five goals, and starred in the 1958 Asian Games. He also excelled with Mohammedan Sporting and Mohun Bagan

India achieved historic success at the FEI Asian Equestrian Championship in Pattaya, winning five medals. Ashish Limaye clinched gold and silver in Eventing, while Shruti Vora bagged three silvers in Dressage. Government support through TAGG and ANSF schemes boosted participation

South Africa chased down 359 to beat India by four wickets in Raipur, despite Virat Kohli’s 53rd ODI ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden century. Aiden Markram’s 110 and Dewald Brevis’ quickfire 54 powered the visitors to a series-levelling win

A raccoon caused chaos in an Ashland, Virginia liquor store, smashing bottles and ceiling tiles while drinking scotch and whisky. Animal control officer Samantha Martin rescued the drunken intruder, who was later safely returned to the wild

Three security personnel were killed in an IED blast targeting a police vehicle in Panyala, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; authorities blame unidentified terrorists and condemn the attack

Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar-Jones will star in Disney+ comedy series Mosquito, created by Tony McNamara, exploring a young couple’s unraveling secrets triggered by an intrusive mosquito

A new study shows coral reefs have regulated Earth's climate and marine evolution for over 250 million years. Reef growth and collapse affected ocean alkalinity, carbon absorption, and plankton evolution, revealing long-term climate recovery processes relevant to modern CO₂ increases

India and the UAE are streamlining visas, extradition, and legal cooperation to boost travel, business, and security. Talks focus on liberalised visas, faster extradition, mutual legal assistance, and smoother movement for workers, tourists, and professionals amid growing bilateral trade

Israel confirmed that remains returned by Hamas from Gaza do not match any of the hostages killed during the 2023 attack. With two hostages still in Gaza, both sides near completing the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised President Donald Trump for brokering multiple peace deals, including what he called “very dangerous” ones like India–Pakistan, asserting Trump deserves major credit for reshaping US foreign policy. India, however, continues to deny any third-party mediation

The FBI has offered a US$50,000 reward for information on Indian national Nazeer Hameed, wanted for the 2017 New Jersey murders of Sasikala Narra and her son. US authorities urge India to extradite him after DNA evidence allegedly linked him to the crime 

A system outage disrupted check-in operations at multiple airports on Wednesday, delaying several flights. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India Express were among the affected airlines. Airports switched to manual check-ins as Microsoft Windows reportedly faced a major global service outage.

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry before the actor’s fatal overdose, faces sentencing in Los Angeles. Prosecutors seek three years in prison, while his lawyers argue he’s already suffered severe personal and professional consequences

Severe, late-season storms and heavy rains have unleashed deadly floods across Southeast Asia, overwhelming governments and exposing weak preparedness. Scientists warn these increasingly destructive, unpredictable events reflect a climate-driven “new normal,” with rising losses, vulnerable communities hit hardest, and adaptation funding still insufficient

The Trump administration has halted immigration applications — including green cards and naturalisations — for migrants from 19 travel-ban countries, citing national security concerns after a National Guard troop was killed near the White House. USCIS will re-review all cases dating back to January 2021.

The rupee crashed to a record 90.13 per US dollar on Wednesday amid weak trade flows and uncertainty over the India–US trade deal. The sharp fall weighed on equities, with Nifty slipping below 26,000 and market sentiment turning cautious.

Malaysia will restart the deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on December 30, with Ocean Infinity set to conduct a 55-day operation in high-priority zones of the southern Indian Ocean under a no-find, no-fee contract.