Times of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic visit to Kuwait, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, attending the Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony. Addressing the Indian diaspora, Modi lauded their contributions, describing Kuwait as a "mini-Hindustan" reflecting India's diverse talent. He emphasized India's potential as a global skill capital.

Maharashtra's new government has allocated ministerial portfolios. The Shiv Sena retained most of its previous portfolios. The BJP secured key departments like revenue and water resources. The NCP gained control of food and civil supplies, medical education, and other areas. Several ministers of state were also appointed with multiple responsibilities.

Pope Francis condemned the bombing of children in Gaza, calling it “cruelty,” following reports of an Israeli airstrike killing seven children. Israel accused the Pope of ignoring its fight against terrorism and displaying double standards. The conflict, sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack, continues to claim civilian lives as calls for peace grow louder.

During a practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, India captain Rohit Sharma sustained a blow to his left knee while facing throwdowns in the nets. Although Rohit continued to bat briefly after that, he soon sought attention from the physio, who applied an ice pack. While Sharma exhibited discomfort, the injury didn't appear to be severe.

A California judge ruled against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group in a lawsuit filed by WhatsApp, accusing NSO of exploiting a bug to install Pegasus spyware. The judge held NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract, with the case now proceeding to trial solely to determine damages.

'Pushpa 2' has now crossed Rs 1000 crore at the box office and saw a good jump on third Saturday. It made Rs 25 crore on Saturday and the Sunday numbers are expected to be even bigger.

Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the North Eastern Council, emphasized PM Modi's vision for the Northeast's development. He highlighted the significant infrastructure improvements, a 71% drop in violence, and the signing of peace treaties leading to over 10,000 armed youths joining mainstream society.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized the Northeast's economic potential, highlighting its role as India's export gateway via the Chittagong port. He urged banking institutions to tailor financial guidelines to the region's unique context, fostering growth in infrastructure, agriculture, and MSMEs.

Coast Guard members near Barnegat Light, New Jersey, report being shadowed by a fleet of unidentified drones, contradicting federal officials who dismissed the incident as a misidentification of commercial or hobbyist drones. The Coast Guard personnel described sophisticated, large drones with flashing lights performing coordinated maneuvers, unlike any commercially available drone.

Pakistan rebukes a US official's comments on its missile program, calling the allegations unfounded and harmful to bilateral relations. The Foreign Office defends Pakistan's right to maintain a credible minimum deterrence, emphasizing it poses no threat to the US and its missile development is purely defensive.

The GST Council waived taxes on cancer gene therapy and reduced levies on fortified rice kernels. Decisions on ATF inclusion, insurance rates, and food delivery services were deferred. Used cars will face 18% GST, while pre-packed popcorn and voucher transactions saw clarifications. A new GoM will address state-level disaster levies.

Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan revealed that ex-Finance Minister Arun Jaitley supported his decisive action on tackling bad bank loans. Rajan attributed the NPA surge to corruption, delayed clearances, and the global financial crisis. He also pointed to slow government recapitalization hindering lending.

Maharashtra's new government allocated portfolios a month after election results. Chief Minister Fadnavis kept Home while Deputy CM Shinde secured Urban Development, Housing, and Public Works. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar retained Finance and Planning, gaining Excise. Shinde's control over key urban bodies solidifies his position as second in command.

The Election Commission of India modified electoral rules, restricting public access to poll booth CCTV footage, citing voter privacy and safety. This change followed a court order to provide such footage. Congress criticized the move as damaging electoral transparency and vowed legal action.

Pop star Taylor Swift, sporting a stylish red ensemble, attended boyfriend Travis Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs game against the Houston Texans. Joined by her parents, Swift's appearance marks her return to Arrowhead Stadium after skipping away games due to security concerns following a concert terror threat and Kelce's home invasion.

Patrick Mahomes and his family celebrated Christmas early as he prepared for a game against the Texans, despite a recent ankle injury. Photos of the festivities, missing Patrick, surfaced online. A video of Mahomes walking seemingly injury-free sparked controversy among fans, questioning the legitimacy of his injury, though he downplayed its severity and returned to the field quickly.

Left-wing extremism influence in India has shrunk significantly, from 18,000 sq km to 8,500 sq km in a decade. A three-pronged strategy of intensified security operations, inter-agency coordination, and focused development has led to the neutralization of 287 Naxalites and the arrest of 992 in 2024. Forward operating bases are facilitating development in reclaimed areas.

BJP's SC/ST Morcha plans a counter-drive in Uttar Pradesh. The party aims to highlight anti-Dalit actions by previous Congress and SP governments. The Morcha will consolidate the SC/ST community. They will emphasize BJP's pro-Dalit measures over the past decade. The campaign follows recent by-poll victories and aims to counter opposition caste narratives.

Thirteen lives were tragically lost in a fiery gas tanker explosion on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway. The NHAI attributed the accident to a temporary road cut, approved by a joint committee, while a cloverleaf interchange remains under construction. This cut, intended for U-turns, poses significant safety risks. A new contractor is tasked with completing the interchange by March 2026.

Tech Mahindra's new CEO, Mohit Joshi, is aiming to significantly grow the company's banking and financial services revenue share to 25% by 2027. Joshi plans to leverage his BFSI expertise to drive this expansion and sees generative AI as an opportunity, not a threat, for the IT sector and the company's workforce.