Times of India

Actor Allu Arjun refuted allegations made by Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi regarding his presence at a crowded movie premiere. Arjun clarified he left due to overcrowding, unaware of the resulting tragedy. He expressed grief and denied accusations of neglecting the victims, citing legal advice against direct contact.

A car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, left five dead and over 60 injured, including nearly seven Indian nationals. Three of the injured Indians have been discharged. A 50-year-old Saudi doctor is under investigation. Saudi Arabia expressed solidarity with Germany and condemned the violence.

India's total forest and tree cover reached 827,357 sq km, about 25% of the geographical area, showing a slight increase. While forest cover grew marginally, moderately dense forests declined. Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh saw the biggest gains, while Madhya Pradesh experienced the largest decrease.

A car plowed into a Christmas market crowd in central Germany on Friday evening, leaving five dead and over 200 injured, with nearly 40 in critical condition. Elon Musk reacted by demanding Chancellor Olaf Scholz's resignation, labeling him an "incompetent fool." Musk shared the alleged attacker's profile, criticizing Germany's handling of a prior extradition request from Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Shami, recovering from ankle surgery, impressed fans with his powerful hitting during net practice at the NCA, even without helmet or pads. He recently returned to domestic cricket with strong performances in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, despite lingering knee swelling.

Actress Blake Lively has launched a lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' co-star and director, Justin Baldoni, citing sexual harassment and a smear campaign. Lively alleges Baldoni fostered a hostile work environment, prompting a meeting with studio executives where she and husband Ryan Reynolds outlined several demands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait, emphasizing India's support for Kuwait's development and praising the Indian diaspora's contributions. He highlighted the growing partnership between the two nations, driven by shared economic aspirations and strong cultural ties. Modi also interacted with the Indian community and acknowledged their role in strengthening bilateral relations.

Three loan sharks in Sabarkantha district, Gujarat, were arrested for allegedly trafficking a seven-year-old girl to Rajasthan. They sold her for Rs 3 lakh to recover a loan from her father, a daily wager. The girl was abducted after her father couldn't meet the inflated repayment demands. Police are working to locate the child and recover the money.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis retained key portfolios including Home, Law, and Judiciary, while Deputy CM Eknath Shinde received Urban Development and Public Works. NCP leader and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar secured the Finance Ministry. The portfolio allocations, announced after weeks of negotiations, follow the recent cabinet expansion of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP coalition government.

Christmas, a cherished global festival celebrating Jesus's birth, fills the air with excitement and joy. Homes adorned with lights and trees, carols evoke nostalgia, and the spirit of generosity prevails. From exchanging gifts to charitable acts, the season embodies kindness and togetherness, enhanced by the whimsical tale of Santa Claus delivering presents.

Congress opposed the changes made by Centre that restricted the public availability of certain electronic poll records. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the party will challenge the changes in court. The ECI says the changes protect voter privacy. Congress, however, says the changes reduce transparency.

Teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to shatter records. After becoming the youngest IPL signee last month, the 13-year-old debuted in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Bihar, becoming the youngest Indian in List A cricket history.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited an Indian labor camp in Kuwait, highlighting his commitment to the diaspora's welfare. He has consistently engaged with Indian workers abroad, addressing their concerns and implementing initiatives like the e-Migrate project to ensure safe and legal migration. Bilateral agreements and relief efforts further demonstrate his focus on protecting Indian workers' rights and well-being.

A Saudi doctor residing in Germany, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, has been arrested following a fatal car-ramming at a Magdeburg Christmas market. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser labeled the suspect as demonstrably Islamophobic. A refugee from Saudi Arabia, Taleb A, known for his anti-Islam activism and right-wing views, reportedly targeted the market in a suspected terrorist attack.

Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, Ajmer Dargah's spiritual head, lauded RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call to avoid new temple disputes. Bhagwat's advice against creating further religious conflicts, particularly after the Sambhal Jama Masjid survey and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah petition, was praised as promoting national unity and progress. He emphasized the importance of harmony and acknowledged the Ram Temple's significance while discouraging further discord.

AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi criticized actor Allu Arjun for his alleged insensitive response to a fatal stampede at a Pushpa 2 screening. Owaisi claimed Arjun, upon hearing of the death and injuries, remarked about the film's success and continued watching. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy condemned Arjun's actions and revealed the actor defied police denial of security permission for the event.