Bollywood legend Dharmendra died on Monday at the age of 89 at his home in Juhu. The actor had been recovering from a health scare earlier this month. He was cremated at the Pawan Hans crematorium in the presence of his family. Born in 1935, Dharmendra began his career in 1960 and became one of India’s most popular stars. He played romantic roles in the 60s and became Bollywood’s original action hero in the 70s and 80s. He worked in many hit films, including Sholay and Chupke Chupke. He is survived by wives Prakash Kaur and Hema Malini and six children. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist a saffron flag on the spire of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday. The flag marks the formal completion of the temple after the Pran Pratishtha in January 2024. It carries the image of a radiant Sun, an ‘Om’, and the Kovidara tree. Security in the city has been increased with 6,970 personnel, including ATS and NSG teams. Thousands of devotees have reached the temple for darshan. PM Modi will also visit several nearby temples and perform rituals. Ayodhya has been decorated with nearly 100 tons of flowers for the event. (PC: HT)

A Delhi court heard serious claims from protesters detained during a demonstration at India Gate over toxic air. Several accused said police beat them in custody. Some women told the court they were groped by male officers. The court spoke to them privately. Protesters showed injury marks, and one medical report noted a neck injury. Police denied wrongdoing and said the group used chilli spray and shouted slogans supporting Naxal leader Madvi Hidma. Seventeen people, including 11 women, were sent to judicial custody for up to three days. Police said they will seek custody after checking seized phones. (PC: PTI)

Legendary actor Dharmendra, one of Indian cinema’s most loved stars, passed away at 89. He was known for his charm, action roles, and over 300 films in a career lasting six decades. Born in Punjab, he came to Mumbai with big dreams and became a superstar with hits like Sholay, Phool Aur Patthar, and Seeta Aur Geeta. Fans called him the “Greek God” and “Garam Dharam”. He also had a brief political career and later returned to films in character roles. Dharmendra stayed active on social media, sharing memories and messages for fans. Bollywood and fans nationwide mourn his loss. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in mourning the death of veteran actor Dharmendra, who died at 89 in Mumbai on Monday. PM Modi said Dharmendra’s passing is “the end of an era” and praised his “simplicity, humility and warmth.” President Murmu called him “a great loss to Indian cinema” and said his work will inspire future generations. Home Minister Amit Shah said Dharmendra created “an indelible identity” through his roles. The actor was cremated at the Pawan Hans crematorium with family and film stars present. Dharmendra would have turned 90 on December 8. (PC: NDTV)

A protest over Delhi’s toxic air at India Gate turned tense after some people displayed posters of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, who was killed last week. Police said protesters tried to block traffic and used pepper spray when officers asked them to leave. Twenty-three people have been arrested, and two FIRs have been filed. Videos showed slogans praising Hidma during the sit-in. Delhi Police said protests cannot be held at India Gate as per Supreme Court rules. The protest group blamed the government for “cosmetic steps” on pollution. Delhi’s air quality remained severe, with many stations recording very high AQI levels.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said the Tejas fighter jet crash at the Dubai Air Show was an “isolated occurrence”. The jet went down during an aerial display on Friday, killing Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Namansh Syal. HAL said the crash happened due to “exceptional circumstances” but shared no details. The company added that its projects and future deliveries will not be affected. HAL will fully support the investigation. The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to find the cause. Videos showed the jet on fire as it crashed, with the pilot unable to eject in time. (PC: HT)

India’s new labour codes are now in force, replacing older laws with one clear system for workers and employers. The rules cover key areas like wages, leave, working hours and safety. Fixed-term employees can now get gratuity after one year instead of five. Staff need only 180 days of work to earn paid leave. Overtime rules are clearer and must be paid at double the normal rate. Appointment letters are now mandatory for all workers. Minimum wages will apply across all sectors. Commute accidents may count as workplace incidents. ESIC benefits will reach more workers, including those in media and digital jobs. (PC: India Today)

Delhi Police arrested 15 protesters after a demonstration against toxic air at India Gate turned violent. Officers said protesters used chilli powder and pepper spray, injuring several personnel. “Some of them suddenly sprayed chilli powder on our staff. It was unexpected,” a senior officer said. Police claimed the group blocked the route for ambulances and refused to move. Protesters said the government was trying to “silence citizens” instead of fixing pollution. Some were also heard shouting, “Hidma amar rahe,” praising slain Maoist Madvi Hidma. The clash began after protesters broke barricades. Injured officers were taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. (PC: PTI)

Justice Surya Kant took oath on Monday as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders were present. Justice Kant has worked on many major cases, including the Article 370 ruling and the Pegasus matter. Born in a Haryana village, he rose from a small-town lawyer to the top post. He said his main goal is to reduce the nearly 90,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court. He also plans to promote mediation, improve case management, and use technology to speed up work in the courts.