A 25-year-old woman was gang raped and badly hurt in Faridabad after she accepted a lift in a white Eeco van, police said. The attack took place late Monday night on the Gurugram–Faridabad road. The woman was driven to a lonely stretch, assaulted for hours and then thrown from the moving vehicle near Raja Chowk. She is in the ICU of a private hospital. Doctors said she has a fractured eye socket, a broken and dislocated shoulder, and deep cuts on her face that needed stitches. Two men were arrested and sent to judicial custody. Police are probing the case. (PC: HT)

Seven people have died and 149 have been admitted to hospitals in Indore after drinking contaminated water, officials said. Most patients reported vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Doctors said the deaths were caused by severe diarrhoea. The city mayor said some victims died after being taken to hospitals. A leak was found in the main water pipeline in Bhagirthpura, which runs under a toilet. Officials said this may have allowed sewage to mix with drinking water. Two civic officials were suspended and one engineer was removed. A survey of over 2,700 homes was carried out and about 12,000 people were examined. A three-member panel is probing the incident. (PC: HT)

Indian government officials have firmly rejected claims by China and the United States that either played a mediating role in ending the May 2025 India-Pakistan military standoff following Operation Sindoor. New Delhi reiterated that the May 10 ceasefire was the result of direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, with no third-party intervention involved. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently listed the India-Pakistan conflict among global disputes Beijing said it mediated—a claim India dismissed as inaccurate. India’s longstanding policy opposes external mediation in bilateral security matters with Pakistan.

A magisterial inquiry into the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire in Goa, which killed 25 people on December 6, 2025, found document forgery, licence violations and illegal construction were key factors in the tragedy. The report revealed the club was built illegally on protected salt pan land and operated without a valid trade licence after March 2024, yet authorities failed to shut it down. Local officials, including the panchayat secretary, allegedly colluded with the owners, issuing licences with forged paperwork and ignoring regulatory lapses. The inquiry highlighted serious governance failures, environmental violations and systemic negligence that allowed the unsafe venue to function and endanger lives. 

A wild elephant in a national park reacted strongly upon seeing a camera installed to monitor wildlife. In a viral 28-second video shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, the elephant charges at the device and knocks it over, seemingly annoyed by the unnatural setup in its space. Kaswan joked on X that “privacy is important,” highlighting the animal’s awareness. The camera, part of a network of about 210 units used for habitat and population studies, survived the encounter and captured the footage. The clip amazed social media users, who praised the elephant’s intelligence and behavior.

As the world steps into 2026, people across continents have welcomed the New Year with fireworks, prayers, music, and quiet reflection. From Kiribati, the first place to enter the year, to India, where crowds filled Marine Drive and Connaught Place despite winter cold, streets glowed with colour and hope. Sydney paused to honour the victims of the Bondi Beach attack, while Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Seoul lit up the night sky. In Europe, swimmers braved icy waters and towns kept alive age-old customs. Each celebration, big or small, carried one shared wish for peace and better days. We thank our readers for their trust and wish every family in India and around the world a safe, healthy, and joyful New Year.

India rang in 2026 with large crowds at public spots and high security across major cities. In Delhi and Mumbai, people gathered at India Gate, Connaught Place, and Marine Drive despite cold weather. Police deployed extra staff and issued traffic advisories to manage the rush. Checkpoints were set up and action was promised against drunk driving. Gurugram and Noida also saw heavy footfall. In Rajasthan, teams inspected vehicles and enforced safety rules. Maharashtra allowed hotels and restaurants to stay open till 5 am. Hyderabad police warned drivers to take cabs after drinking. Bengaluru planned to deploy about 20,000 police personnel. (PC: HT)

Major Indian cities have announced traffic advisories and security plans for New Year’s Eve on December 31. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad will enforce road closures, diversions and vehicle restrictions at busy areas. Delhi Traffic Police has issued special rules for Connaught Place and Saket from evening till celebrations end. Mumbai will deploy over 17,000 police staff at tourist spots, with Metro Line 3 running longer hours. Bengaluru will shut parts of MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street at night. Chennai expects crowds at Marina and Elliot Beach. Hyderabad will restrict traffic around Tank Bund and Necklace Road after 11 pm. (PC: India Today)

Police in Rajasthan’s Tonk district arrested two men and seized about 150 kg of explosive material from their car on New Year’s Eve. The action followed a tip-off received by the District Special Team. The suspects were stopped in the Baroni police station area. Officers found ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks marked as urea fertiliser. Police also recovered 200 cartridges and around 1,100 metres of safety fuse wire. The car used to carry the material was seized. The accused, both from Bundi district, were allegedly taking the consignment to Tonk for supply. Police are questioning them to find the source and purpose of the material. (PC: HT)

A Ranchi court has acquitted Indrajit Rai in a major narcotics case after police said 200 kg of seized ganja was destroyed by rats. The drugs were seized in 2022 after police stopped a Bolero on a highway and arrested Rai, while two others fled. During trial, officers told the court the contraband stored at Ormanjhi police station was no longer available. A 2024 station diary entry claimed rats had eaten it. The court noted gaps in witness accounts and a broken chain of custody. It said the seizure, storage and sampling process was unreliable and gave the benefit of doubt to the accused. (PC: ai)