A BEST bus accident in Kurla West, Mumbai, killed six people and injured 49 others on Monday night. The bus lost control on SG Barve Marg, hitting pedestrians, vehicles, and a residential building. Officials said the driver, Sanjay More, has been detained. The 12-metre electric bus, leased from Olectra Greentech, ploughed through a 100-metre stretch before stopping. Rescue teams rushed the injured to hospitals. Traffic on SG Barve Marg remains closed, and buses are being rerouted. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with initial reports suggesting the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to speed up.

A Bengali literary festival at Visva-Bharati University’s Bangladesh Bhavan saw no participation from Bangladeshi poets and writers due to visa denials and rising political tensions. Organisers revealed that around 20 Bangladeshi participants refrained from applying for visas after initial refusals. The two-day festival, aimed at promoting Bengali culture, had participants from India and abroad. Political instability in Bangladesh, including reports of minority persecution, heightened concerns. Manabendra Mukherjee of Bangladesh Bhavan expressed regret, emphasizing the festival's reliance on cross-border participation for cultural dialogue.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls to halt the Gaza war, stating, “Ending it now allows Hamas to recover and attack again.” The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack killing 1,208 Israelis, has resulted in 44,758 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to UN-verified data from the Hamas-run health ministry. Renewed negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, show potential progress. Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s goal: the “annihilation of Hamas.” Families of hostages held in Gaza continue protests, demanding a resolution. The international community urges Israel to prioritize negotiations.

Veteran politician SM Krishna, Karnataka’s chief minister (1999-2004) and India’s external affairs minister (2009-2012), passed away at 92 in Bengaluru. Known for elevating Bengaluru as a global IT hub, Krishna also served as Maharashtra governor (2004-2008). Honored with the Padma Vibhushan in 2023, he retired from politics last year. A Fulbright Scholar, Krishna studied law in the US. Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge hailed his impactful leadership, stating, "His legacy shaped Karnataka’s progress." Krishna, who joined BJP in 2017 after decades with Congress, leaves behind his wife and two daughters.

US President-elect Donald Trump appointed Indian-American Harmeet K Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Born in Chandigarh, Dhillon specializes in election law, employment rights, and First Amendment cases. Trump praised her for fighting tech censorship and defending religious freedoms. Dhillon, who founded Dhillon Law Group in 2006, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, dedicating it to her late father and husband. She joins other Indian-Americans in Trump’s Cabinet, including Jay Bhattacharya, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Kash Patel. Dhillon emphasized her commitment to enforcing civil rights laws fairly.

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain in Dhaka to address attacks on religious institutions and Hindu minorities. Misri expressed concerns over rising violence and urged better protection for vulnerable communities. The discussions also focused on strengthening ties, which have been strained since Sheikh Hasina's ouster and Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus assuming leadership. Incidents of mob violence and prosecution of Hindu priests have worsened tensions. Misri called the talks "frank and constructive," emphasizing India’s commitment to mutual cooperation. Bangladesh attributed recent violence to political retaliation, not religious discrimination.                    

At least 3 people were killed and 20 others injured when a BEST bus lost control in Mumbai's Kurla area. The bus, on route 332 from Kurla station to Andheri, hit pedestrians and vehicles before crashing into the gates of a residential society. Authorities suspect a brake failure caused the accident. A nurse at Kurla Bhabha Hospital confirmed that three of the injured were declared dead. The driver of the bus was unharmed. The incident is under investigation by local officials.

With Bashar al-Assad's regime overthrown, India-Syria relations face uncertainty. Syria has supported India on key issues, especially Kashmir, and backed India’s decision to revoke Article 370 in 2019. India, in turn, supported Syria’s claims to the Golan Heights and promoted a peaceful Syrian-led resolution during its civil war. The fall of Assad raises fears of extremist groups regaining strength, posing security risks for India. Despite the turmoil, India maintains its embassy in Damascus and prioritises Syria’s sovereignty. Economic ties, including trade and IT collaborations, remain vital as India monitors developments closely to safeguard mutual interests.

Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light received two nominations for the 2025 Golden Globes. The film is competing for Best Non-English Language Motion Picture and Kapadia is nominated for Best Director (Motion Picture). In the non-English category, it faces contenders like Emilia Perez and The Seed of the Sacred Fig. Kapadia is up against directors like Jacques Audiard and Sean Baker. The film, released in India on November 22, has already won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2024 and other major awards. The Golden Globes ceremony will stream on January 6.

The BJP criticised AAP after it replaced nearly 50% of its sitting MLAs in its second candidate list for the Delhi Assembly elections. BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva called AAP a “sinking ship,” claiming Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi might change their constituencies like Manish Sisodia, who moved from Patparganj to Jangpura. Sachdeva alleged Sisodia’s poor performance forced the change and accused AAP of corruption. He criticised Kejriwal for giving tickets to relatives of MLAs despite opposing “Parivarvad.” The BJP is optimistic about ending AAP’s dominance and forming a government in Delhi after 25 years.