National News

Three tigers and a young leopard died from highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 at Gorewada Rescue Centre, Nagpur. This marks the first significant wildlife loss to the virus in captivity in India. Containment measures are in place; other animals tested negative. The virus cross-infected mammals possibly through infected prey or raw meat.

The Reserve Bank of India is working with fintech institutions to fight mule account cybercrimes. They have developed advanced algorithms to detect frauds and recently launched MuleHunter.AI, an AI tool to identify mule accounts. A pilot test with public sector banks showed promising results. This initiative aims to protect customers and curb fraudulent transactions.

India has increased its vigilance following reports of rising respiratory illnesses in China. The health ministry held a high-level meeting to assess the situation, emphasizing preparedness. Experts indicated that the surge is due to common flu viruses, including HMPV. The Indian government is monitoring the situation closely, ensuring hospitals are ready to handle any increase in cases.

The Union government is working on guidelines for investigating agencies to handle and seize documents while excluding personal, unrelated data to protect privacy. The guidelines came into focus following cases involving lottery king Santiago Martin and Amazon, where claims of unrelated personal data being at risk were raised.

Police in Mirzapur arrested five of six accused for beating a 14-year-old boy in Bardeehakala village over alleged theft charges. The boy’s uncle and cousins were involved in the attack, captured on video. Family disputes may have been a factor. The boy's mother reported severe injuries and the police are investigating.

Eight blackbucks in Kevadiya safari were killed by a leopard despite safety measures. The leopard attacked one blackbuck, causing panic that led to the death of seven others due to shock. Guards responded quickly, causing the leopard to flee. The incident is under investigation, and the fencing around the safari is being scrutinized for security.

In the newly designated Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, two rare caracals were photographed, marking the first sighting in over two decades in this region. Caracals, now critically endangered in India, face severe habitat loss, with their range shrinking significantly since 1948. Rajasthan has reported the highest sightings of caracals since 2001.

Tamil Nadu’s drive to combat plastic waste, launched in 2019, almost two years before the Union government announced its ban on single-use plastics, is commendable. However, has the ban been truly effective? Despite the legal framework, challenges in enforcement, raising awareness, and providing alternatives continue to test the State’s resolve in its fight, says Geetha Srimathi

Northern Railways completed another successful trial run on the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL project, which includes India's first cable-stayed rail bridge and the world's highest railway bridge. Statutory inspections and further trials are scheduled for early January, guiding the commencement of train services to Kashmir Valley.

Jammu Police arrested Ravinder Singh, a power department employee, for shooting and injuring BJYM leader Kanav Sharma over a parking dispute in Roop Nagar's New Plot area. Singh fired at Sharma in a fit of rage after an argument and fled the scene. Sharma is under treatment, and an attempted murder case is registered at Bakshi Nagar PS.

Rajagopala Chidambaram, India's leading nuclear weapons designer and key figure in the Pokhran nuclear tests, passed away at 88. He contributed significantly to India's nuclear programme and scientific advancements. Tributes poured in from top scientists and political leaders, acknowledging his groundbreaking work and immense impact on India's strategic capabilities and scientific community.

The project involves amalgamating the services of various government departments, people’s representatives, and the public to achieve the best results

A confrontation between IT minister Babul Supriyo and BJP MP Abhijit Ganguly on Vidyasagar Setu led to a 20-minute traffic snarl. The dispute was over the MP's driver honking. Both parties accused each other of verbal abuse. Police intervened to resolve the situation, and a complaint was later filed by a social activist against both politicians.

Sit-on-top kayaking, kite festival, paramotoring, and drone show mark the event

BJP accuses Trinamool of violence and extremism; Trinamool denies all ties with the suspect who has been injured in the explosion