Violent protests over alleged illegal non-tribal settlements in Assam's Karbi Anglong region have resulted in two deaths and dozens injured. Tensions over land rights escalated, leading to clashes between tribal protesters and security forces. The state government has imposed restrictions and suspended mobile internet services.
A 34-year-old man from Mathura has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl. The incident came to light when the girl was found injured and bleeding. The accused, a neighbor with multiple prior criminal cases, was arrested and convicted under the Pocso Act.
A Delhi court ordered charges against Karti P Chidambaram and six others in a visa scam. The case involves allegations of bribery for facilitating Chinese nationals' visas for a power company in 2011. The court found prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy and illegal gratification, noting coordinated acts by the accused.
The Netherlands sees growing political and economic ties with India, amplified by global geopolitical shifts. Recent agreements in security, defense, and semiconductors underscore a shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Both nations are keen to strengthen cooperation in areas like semiconductor R&D and talent development, with the Netherlands also welcoming Indian students and a thriving diaspora.
Odisha's enhanced surrender package, offering nearly 20% higher rewards than Chhattisgarh, enticed 22 Maoist insurgents to lay down arms. This mass surrender, including 10 women and weapons valued over Rs 2 crore, marks a significant blow to the CPI (Maoist) ahead of the Centre's deadline to end left-wing extremism.
A retired Punjab IG, Amar Singh Chahal, attempted suicide after an alleged Rs 8 crore online fraud. Scammers posing as wealth managers lured him with fake investment returns via WhatsApp and Telegram. Chahal, who borrowed heavily, detailed his distress in a note to the DGP. Police have frozen 25 bank accounts and are investigating the digital trail.
An official order in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district has cautioned private schools against compelling students to dress as Santa Claus for Christmas. The order cited the area's predominantly Sanatan population and the lack of justification for such programs, following a complaint from a Hindu nationalist group. The state education minister's office clarified the decision was local.
India has pledged a $450 million assistance package to Sri Lanka for cyclone recovery, including $350 million in concessional credit and $100 million in grants. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the commitment, which will focus on rebuilding infrastructure, housing, health, education, and agriculture sectors devastated by Cyclone Ditwah.
Dense fog led to a massive pile-up on the Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway in Amethi, claiming the lives of two truck drivers and injuring at least 16 others. The accident involved multiple trucks, a bus, and a car, causing significant traffic disruption.
A Delhi court has partially eased bail conditions for Christian Michel James in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case. The court allowed him to furnish a personal bond and cash surety instead of a surety bond, acknowledging his seven years in custody and the case's initial stage. Strict safeguards remain to prevent him from leaving the country.
Renowned Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla passed away at 88 after a lung ailment. The first Jnanpith awardee from Chhattisgarh, Shukla was known for his quiet grace and focus on ordinary people's inner worlds. He continued writing even in the ICU, leaving behind a legacy of profound literature.
A UP-based YouTube influencer, Anurag Dwivedi, facing ED money-laundering probes for alleged ties to illegal betting, reportedly spent crores on a lavish Dubai destination wedding for over 130 guests. The lavish affair aboard a cruise ship, including flights and luxury stays, has drawn significant official scrutiny. The ED has seized assets worth an estimated Rs 20 crore.
Two people died and dozens of police officers were injured in violent tribal protests in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district. Demonstrators, armed with bows and crude bombs, clashed with security forces over alleged illegal non-tribal settlements on protected lands. Internet services were suspended as authorities vowed legal action against those involved.
Senior IPS officer Sadanand Date has been repatriated to Maharashtra and is poised to become the state's next police chief upon Rashmi Shukla's retirement. Known for his bravery during the 26/11 attacks and his commitment to police reforms, Date is a highly respected officer. His return to the state is a significant development for Maharashtra's law enforcement.
In a groundbreaking move, Indian Railways has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to safeguard wildlife, especially elephants, lions and tigers, on railway tracks. The cutting-edge technology uses Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) to detect animal presence, alerting loco pilots and control rooms 0.5 kms in advance - a potential lifesaver.
Madhya Pradesh has removed 42.7 lakh voters, 7.4% of its electorate, in a massive electoral roll clean-up. This extensive revision, involving door-to-door verification, aimed to ensure accuracy by deleting deceased, shifted, and duplicate entries. The process also identified 'unmapped' voters requiring further documentation.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the annual Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar to 24 distinguished scientists across four categories. The highest honor, Vigyan Ratna, was posthumously awarded to physicist Jayant Vishnu Narlikar for his lifetime achievements. Other awards recognized contributions in diverse fields like agricultural science, biological sciences, and space science.
A year after a special audit committee found AbbVie violated marketing practices by sponsoring luxury trips for doctors, no action has been taken. The National Medical Commission's ethics board, responsible for acting against the doctors, is largely vacant.
The US embassy in India will be closed from December 24 to December 26 due to a Presidential Executive Order mandating federal government closures. Routine consular services will be suspended, with only emergency assistance available for US citizens. Normal operations are set to resume on December 29.
The Election Commission has released draft voter lists for Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, showing significant deletions. Madhya Pradesh removed over 42 lakh voters, including deceased, untraceable, and shifted residents. Kerala also deleted more than 24 lakh names for similar reasons, with final rolls to be published in February.
Congress MP Imran Masood stated that Priyanka Gandhi would «deliver a decisive treatment» to Bangladesh if she becomes Prime Minister, drawing a parallel to Indira Gandhi's actions. Masood's remarks came amid protests in Dhaka over violence against minorities, specifically the mob lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das over alleged blasphemy charges.
India has pledged a comprehensive USD 450 million assistance package to Sri Lanka for reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah. This aid, comprising concessional credit and grants, builds on India's initial humanitarian response and aims to support critical infrastructure and recovery needs, reinforcing New Delhi's commitment to its neighbor's stability.
A political rift has emerged within the INDIA bloc as CPI(M) MP John Brittas criticised Rahul Gandhi's absence from Parliament during the Winter Session. Brittas also expressed disapproval of Priyanka Gandhi's participation in a tea meeting with Prime Minister Modi, deeming it a «wrong message» after the passage of key legislation.
The first meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Members of Parliament will be held on Tuesday and will be chaired by BJP President JP Nadda, along with National Working President Nitin Nabin. The meeting will be held on Tuesday at 9 pm through video conferencing.
Rahul Gandhi's remarks in Germany about India's institutional capture and China's production dominance drew sharp criticism from the BJP. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Gandhi of seeking chaos and unrest, calling his claims «fake news.» Gandhi argued that weaponized agencies and a shift of production to China are harming Indian democracy and job creation.
