The Centre on Monday said false claims were being made about the Supreme Court ruling on the Aravalli range. Union minister Bhupender Yadav said the court has clearly asked for scientific conservation of the Aravallis in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat. He said the government has always supported a green and protected Aravalli range. Yadav clarified that the technical committee formed by the court will only study mining issues. He said no mining is allowed in the NCR region. The minister added that new mining leases are barred except in rare cases. He highlighted the presence of wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves, stressing the ecological value of the range. (PC: India Today)

Hundreds of indigenous youth and students protested outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Agartala on Friday. The protest was organised by the Youth TIPRA Federation, one of Tripura’s largest tribal youth groups. Demonstrators objected to remarks by Bangladeshi leader Hasnat Abdullah, who warned of action against India’s northeastern states. Protesters also raised slogans against Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus. Security personnel stopped the crowd from moving closer to the mission. YTF president Suraj Debbarma said the protest was meant to remind Bangladesh of India’s support during the 1971 Liberation War. He urged the central government to strengthen security along the India-Bangladesh border. (PC: NDTV)

Japan is preparing to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. The move follows a confidence vote in the Niigata prefectural assembly backing Governor Hideyo Hanazumi’s decision. The restart is part of Japan’s effort to cut emissions and lower fuel imports. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports reopening selected reactors to boost energy security. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is run by TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima plant, raising public concern. Fourteen nuclear plants have reopened so far. The first reactor at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa could add about two percent to power supply in the Tokyo region. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Shubman Gill's exclusion from India's T20 World Cup squad has sparked troubling celebrations on social media, crossing from criticism into toxic territory. The 26-year-old Test and ODI captain struggled in T20Is, managing just 291 runs across 15 matches at 137.26 strike rate without a half-century. His inclusion altered India's aggressive batting approach, placing explosive responsibility on Abhishek Sharma while Gill anchored. After Gill's injury, Sanju Samson's return justified selectors' decision. While the exclusion made cricketing sense, fan toxicity threatens Indian cricket's future. As Test and ODI captain, Gill needs support, not vilification as excessive negativity risks undermining the team's transition phase post-Kohli and Rohit Sharma. (PC: AP)

A migrant laborer from Chhattisgarh, Ram Narayan Baghel, was lynched in Kerala's Palakkad district after being questioned about his identity. A video shows attackers asking "Are you Bangladeshi?" before beating him to death in Attappallam area. Police cite theft allegations as the trigger, though no stolen property was recovered. Baghel collapsed, vomited blood, and died at the hospital. His family refuses to claim the body, demanding punishment under the SC/ST Act, citing their Dalit background, and seeking Rs 25 lakh compensation. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan promised strict action. CPI(M) alleges the incident reflects "racial hatred spread by RSS."

Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, a senior leader of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party, was shot in the head by unknown gunmen in Khulna district Monday morning. Sikdar, central organizer and Khulna divisional convener of NCP's labour wing Jatiya Sramik Shakti, was planning a divisional labour rally when attacked around 11:45 am in Sonadanga area. He received treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital before being transferred for CT scan. The shooting occurred amid escalating political violence following radical leader Sharif Osman Hadi's death. Bangladesh faces intensifying tensions ahead of February 2026 elections, with attacks on minorities and anti-India rhetoric from NCP leaders threatening to sever India's northeastern states.

The brother of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu youth lynched in Bangladesh over blasphemy allegations, expressed his family's desire to return to India. Apu Das told CNN News18 his family feels scared and wants to leave Bangladesh if proper assistance is provided. Dipu, a factory worker in Mymensingh, was beaten by a mob, hanged from a tree, and his body set ablaze. Authorities arrested 21 suspects linked to the killing. Minority groups protested Monday in Dhaka, criticizing the interim government's failure to prevent minority persecution. The incident sparked widespread protests from factory workers, students, and rights groups, with India expressing concerns.

India's Defence Acquisition Council, led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, will convene December 26 to discuss Emergency Procurement for the armed forces. The Navy seeks over 700 MR-SAM medium-range surface-to-air missiles, jointly developed by DRDO and an Israeli firm, with 70km range capabilities against aircraft, missiles, and drones. The Air Force plans acquiring over 600 Astra Mark-2 Beyond Visual Range missiles with approximately 200km range, enabling strikes from within Indian territory. Following Operation Sindoor, over 300 Israeli SPICE precision-guided munitions may be ordered. The Army requires additional low-level lightweight radars. Emergency Procurement enables quick weapon delivery in limited quantities, with individual system budgets around Rs 300 crore. (PC: Times Now)

New Zealand has liberalized mobility provisions under the newly concluded FTA with India, offering extended post-study work visas and opportunities for 5,000 Indian professionals. For the first time, New Zealand signed an annexure on student mobility with any country, providing no numerical caps and guaranteeing 20 hours weekly work rights for Indian students. Students will receive two to four-year work visas depending on their qualifications. The Skilled Employment Pathways allows 5,000 Indian professionals including yoga instructors, chefs, Ayush practitioners, IT specialists, teachers, and nurses with three-year work permits. Additionally, 1,000 young Indians annually receive 12-month Working Holiday Visas. The FTA awaits parliamentary approval and implementation within seven-eight months. (PC: PTI)

Saudi Arabia's northern regions experienced rare snowfall last Thursday, transforming desert sand dunes into white landscapes. Snow was reported in Tabuk and Hail's mountain areas, particularly around Jabal Al Lawz nearthe Jordanian border. Temperatures plummeted to 2°C in several cities, with cold conditions expected to persist. The Saudi National Centre of Meteorology had predicted the unusual weather, linked to a deep low-pressure system sweeping the Middle East. Local astronomer Mohammed bin Reddah Al Thaqafi noted that while snowfall occurs periodically each winter in northern Saudi Arabia, it doesn't follow a fixed cycle. Residents enjoyed the rare spectacle, with videos showing people celebrating in the snow.