India’s aviation sector is set to expand with two new airlines, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress, receiving No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Civil Aviation Ministry. Al Hind Air, promoted by Kerala-based Alhind Group, plans to begin operations as a regional commuter airline using ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft, with Kochi as its main hub and a focus on underserved routes in southern India. FlyExpress has also secured approval, though details about its fleet, routes, and operational base are yet to be disclosed. The entry of these airlines is expected to enhance regional connectivity, increase competition, and provide more travel options for passengers across the country. (PC: HT)

A 30-year-old migrant labourer from Murshidabad in West Bengal, identified as Juel Sheikh, was beaten to death in Sambalpur district’s Shanti Nagar area on Wednesday night while returning from work. The assault followed an altercation with a group of men who stopped Sheikh and his co-workers, allegedly over a request for a bidi (cigarette) that escalated into violence. Sheikh sustained serious head injuries and died at a hospital. Odisha police have arrested six suspects and are investigating. While West Bengal leaders say the attack was due to suspicion of being a Bangladeshi immigrant, police deny this motive and call the incident a sudden provocation. (PC: The Hindu)

Kolkata marked Christmas this year with open street celebrations that drew people from many faiths and communities. Park Street and Bow Barracks again became key centres as markets stayed open late and crowds filled public spaces. Churches such as St Paul’s Cathedral and Sacred Heart held services that spread onto nearby streets. City agencies arranged traffic control and extended transport to manage the rush. Vendors sold cakes, lights, and festive items across neighbourhoods. The celebrations came amid reports from other states of curbs and incidents linked to Christmas events. In Kolkata, the festival remained a public affair, with streets, homes, and churches all taking part in the season. (PC: India Today)

Top CPI (Maoist) leader Ganesh Uike was killed in an encounter with security forces in Odisha on Thursday. Police said Uike carried a reward of ₹1.1 crore and led Maoist operations in the state. The operation took place in Kandhamal district after teams received specific intelligence on Maoist movement. Three more Maoists, including a woman cadre, were also killed in separate exchanges of fire in nearby forest areas. Their bodies were recovered during search operations on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Arms and equipment were seized from the sites. No injuries were reported among security personnel. Combing operations have been intensified in the region. (PC: HT)

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it has uncovered more than a million additional documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, significantly delaying the planned public release of all files mandated by the recently passed Epstein Files Transparency Act. The discovery by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan means the DOJ now expects the full release to take several more weeks, surpassing the original Dec. 19 deadline. The department says lawyers are working to redact sensitive details to protect victims before disclosure. Lawmakers and victims have criticized the slow pace and heavy redactions. (PC: AP)

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), the long-awaited greenfield aviation hub near Ulwe, officially commenced commercial flight operations on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, marking a major boost to air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The airport launched with around 30 domestic flights connecting key cities such as Hyderabad, Goa, Bengaluru and more, aimed at relieving congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport and improving travel options. Built with modern facilities and infrastructure, NMIA is expected to expand services gradually, enhancing regional transport capacity and passenger convenience across western India. (PC: PTI)

A passenger bus travelling from Bengaluru to Gokarna collided with a truck early Thursday on National Highway-48 in Chitradurga district, Karnataka. The impact caused the bus to catch fire and be completely gutted, trapping passengers inside. Police confirmed that at least nine people were charred to death and several others were seriously injured and rushed to hospitals in Hiriyur and Chitradurga. Preliminary reports suggest the truck crossed the central divider before the crash, triggering the blaze. Rescue teams and police are investigating the cause and working at the scene.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed states to completely ban any new mining leases across the entire Aravalli range to protect the ecologically sensitive region from unregulated mining activities. The move follows a Supreme Court order freezing new leases until a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM) is finalized.The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been asked to identify additional mining-prohibited zones beyond existing protected areas. Existing mines must comply with strict environmental safeguards. The directive aims to preserve the Aravalli geological ridge from Gujarat to Delhi and curb illegal mining. (PC: X)

The Unnao rape survivor and her mother were removed by police from a protest at Delhi’s India Gate on Tuesday. They were opposing a Delhi High Court order that suspended the life sentence of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and granted him bail during appeal. A day later, Uttar Pradesh minister OP Rajbhar laughed when asked about the incident and said the survivor’s home was in Unnao. The survivor later told media that the decision had caused deep fear for her family. She said security for relatives and witnesses had already been withdrawn. The high court barred Sengar from approaching the survivor or her mother and warned that any breach would cancel bail. (PC: India Today)

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has directed states to impose a complete ban on new mining leases across the Aravalli range, stretching from Delhi to Gujarat. The move aims to curb illegal mining and protect the Aravallis as a continuous geological formation. The ministry has tasked the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) with identifying additional zones where mining should be prohibited, based on ecological and geological factors. This follows a Supreme Court ruling defining Aravalli Hills as landforms 100 metres above local relief. Existing mines must comply with strict safeguards. The Centre emphasised the Aravallis’ role in biodiversity, aquifer recharge, and preventing desertification. (PC: X)