The Indian rupee plunged to an all-time low of ₹85 against the US dollar on Thursday, following a 25 bps rate cut by the US Federal Reserve and a cautious outlook for 2025. The decline marks the fastest depreciation pace in years, with the rupee sliding from ₹84 to ₹85 in just two months. Weak capital inflows, a widening trade deficit, and slowing domestic growth have compounded the pressure. Other Asian currencies, including the Korean won and Malaysian ringgit, also weakened by 0.8%-1.2%. Analysts expect the rupee’s volatility to persist in 2025 despite RBI interventions.

A boat accident off Mumbai's coast on Wednesday killed 13 people, including 3 Indian Navy personnel. The Navy said the accident occurred when one of its speedboats lost control due to an engine malfunction. The boat collided with the Neelkamal ferry, which capsized. 101 people were rescued, with survivors being taken to nearby hospitals. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the deaths of 10 civilians and three Navy personnel. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered condolences and said search and rescue operations were underway, involving naval helicopters, crafts, and Coast Guard boats.

A 29-year-old Uzbek man has been detained in Moscow for the killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov. The explosive device was hidden in an electric scooter and detonated remotely as Kirillov left his apartment. Russia's Investigative Committee claims the man was recruited by Ukrainian special services, though no evidence has been provided. The suspect allegedly admitted to being promised $100,000 and a European passport for the killing. Ukraine's security service had already charged Kirillov for war crimes. Russia has vowed to find and punish those responsible for the assassination.

The Met Office has forecast no white Christmas this year, with mild and settled weather expected across the UK on 25 December. It will be cloudy and dry for most, with light winds, although parts of the far north may experience some rain. The agency also warned of strong winds affecting Scotland and Northern Ireland in the days leading up to Christmas, with gusts of up to 80mph in some areas. There has been no widespread snow on Christmas Day since 2010, and this year, hopes for a blanket of snow are unlikely to be fulfilled.

Sachin Tendulkar has praised Ravichandran Ashwin after the veteran spinner announced his retirement from international cricket. Ashwin, 38, retired following India’s draw with Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Tendulkar hailed Ashwin for his sharp mind and heart, praising his skill with the carrom ball and contributions with the bat. He also acknowledged Ashwin’s evolution into one of India’s greatest match-winners. Ashwin’s career includes 537 Test wickets, 37 five-wicket hauls, and 11 Player-of-the-Series awards. Tendulkar wished him the best for his future endeavors.

Ukraine's military expressed shock over the actions of North Korean troops in the war, stating they "don’t understand what's happening" with several hundred casualties. Meanwhile, France's foreign minister revealed evidence of Russia attempting to manipulate French influencers. Over 2,000 content creators in Europe were contacted to spread Russian propaganda, with at least 20 agreeing, including nine French influencers. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy admitted Ukraine cannot push Russian forces out of Crimea and eastern regions and called for diplomatic pressure to force Russia into negotiations.

Tragic boat accident that occurred off Mumbai’s coast on December 18, when a Navy speedboat collided with the Neelkamal ferry, killing 13 people. The dead include 10 civilians and 3 Navy personnel. The ferry was en route to Elephanta Island when the crash happened around 4 pm. Rescue operations involved Navy boats, Coast Guard, and helicopters, saving 101 people. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the toll and announced an investigation. PM Modi expressed condolences and offered ₹2 lakh for each deceased’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Sukumar's Pushpa 2: The Rule continues its strong run at the box office, earning over ₹971 crore in its first two weeks in India. The film, starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, made ₹18.83 crore on its second Wednesday. After a ₹725.8 crore net in the first week, the film saw a significant boost in the second week, with collections reaching ₹63.3 crore on the weekend. The film’s success is remarkable, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed 13 Indian business leaders to Downing Street to strengthen UK-India ties. The delegation, supported by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), met senior ministers, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, to discuss boosting investments, job creation, and advancing the UK-India trade partnership. “These discussions build on the strong relationship between our nations,” Starmer said. “India is a vital partner for the UK, and we aim to unlock more opportunities together, focusing on economic growth and innovation.” The Indian delegation included leaders from Bharti Enterprises, Tata Steel, and Reliance Industries, representing over £10 billion in investments and thousands of UK jobs. Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder of Bharti Enterprises, emphasized India’s fast-growing economy and the potential of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). “The India-UK FTA negotiations present significant opportunities for mutual growth. This delegation will pave the way for numerous collaborations,” Mittal said. The visit follows Starmer’s meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit, where they agreed to enhance cooperation in technology, defence, and climate. Talks on the trade deal will resume in 2025, with a shared goal of strengthening economic ties worth £42 billion.

Indian NSA Ajit Doval met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing for the 23rd Special Representatives meeting. They discussed border peace, disengagement progress in Demchok and Depsang, and solutions for the boundary issue. Both agreed to maintain calm at the border and avoid disruptions to bilateral ties. Measures for resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, river data sharing, and border trade were discussed. They emphasized stable India-China relations for global peace. Doval invited Wang to India for the next round of talks, reinforcing their commitment to resolving tensions that began in the Western sector in 2020.