Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) targeting infrastructure in Dnipro, Ukraine, Kyiv's air force reported, marking the first use of such a powerful weapon in the 33-month war. The missile caused fires at an industrial site, injuring 2, according to officials. Additional strikes included hypersonic Kinzhal and cruise missiles, with six intercepted. This escalation follows Ukraine's use of Western missiles on Russian territory. Analysts question if the U.S. was forewarned about the ICBM launch. Moscow views Western weapon use as a major escalation. The U.S. embassy in Kyiv briefly closed over attack threats before reopening.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Has Released Its First List Of 11 Candidates For The 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections, Featuring Six Former BJP And Congress Leaders Who Recently Joined The Party. Among The Selected Candidates Are Brahm Singh Tanwar, Anil Jha, And BB Tyagi From BJP, And Chaudhry Zubair Ahmad, Veer Dhingan, And Sumesh Shokeen From Congress. The List Was Announced After A Meeting Of The AAP’s Political Affairs Committee (PAC) Led By National Convener Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi Will Vote For Its 70 Constituencies By February 2025.

Maharashtra's 2024 Assembly election results remain in the balance as the ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) engage in a heated dispute over exit poll predictions. Of the nine exit polls analyzed, five favor the Mahayuti, suggesting a clear victory, while three predict a hung house, and one gives the MVA an outright win. The BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis argues that the increased voter turnout signals support for the government, while MVA’s Sanjay Raut dismisses the polls as "fraud," citing past inaccuracies. The final outcome will be decided as vote counting begins on Saturday.

The Adani Group has strongly rejected bribery and securities fraud charges brought by US prosecutors against its chairman, Gautam Adani, and other executives. Calling the allegations "baseless," the group affirmed its commitment to transparency and legal compliance. The statement also highlighted the presumption of innocence as per US law. This response follows a significant drop in the group's market capitalization, which plummeted over Rs 2 lakh crore amid heightened stock volatility. The Adani Group has pledged to pursue all available legal remedies to address the accusations.

In a remarkable discovery, a rare spotless golden cheetah was photographed for the first time in nearly 100 years at the Athi Kapiti Conservancy in Kenya. Captured by British wildlife photographer Guy Combes, this cheetah's golden hue, caused by a recessive gene, represents a significant genetic rarity. Similar to 'King' cheetahs found in South Africa, this sighting emphasizes the urgent need for conservation. With fewer than 1,300 cheetahs in Kenya, this rare sighting highlights the importance of preserving genetic diversity and protecting wildlife amid habitat loss and human development pressures.

Mohini Dey, the 29-year-old Kolkata-born bassist renowned for performing with AR Rahman, announced her separation from husband Mark Hartsuch. Their joint Instagram statement revealed the mutual decision, emphasizing continued collaboration on projects like MaMoGi and the Mohini Dey group. Mohini urged fans to respect their privacy, stating, “Please honor our decision positively.” Her announcement followed Rahman’s emotional note about his separation from Saira Banu after 29 years. Rahman and Saira cited “significant emotional strain” as the reason, requesting privacy. Both announcements have sparked widespread conversations about personal challenges within the entertainment industry.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of shielding Gautam Adani, following US charges of a ₹2,029 crore bribery scam involving Adani and his nephew. Gandhi claimed the case validates his allegations of Adani's law violations in India and abroad. Addressing a press conference, he demanded Adani's immediate arrest, asserting, “PM Modi is protecting Adani and complicit in corruption.” He vowed to raise the issue in Parliament’s Winter Session, reiterating calls for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe. Adani Group stocks saw a sharp decline, falling 9%-19%, reflecting growing concerns over the scandal.

Saudi Arabia has announced a ban on the personal and commercial use of religious and national symbols, a move expected to impact residents, including Indians. Commerce Minister Dr. Majid al-Qasabi stated that the decision aims to prevent the misuse of sacred and national emblems such as the national flag, Islamic Declaration of Faith, crosses, swords, and palm trees. The ban also extends to images and names of Saudi leaders. Businesses must comply within 90 days of the decision’s publication in the Official Gazette or face fines and prosecution. This reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to protecting the sanctity of symbols.

Russia and the US have intensified actions in Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Russia launched its largest missile strikes in months and eased nuclear weapon use conditions, aiming to maximize battlefield advantage. Meanwhile, the Biden administration approved Kyiv’s use of long-range Atacms missiles on Russian territory and pledged $300M in military aid, including anti-personnel mines. The moves follow Russia’s deployment of North Korean forces, seen as a “massive escalation.” Experts suggest both nations are positioning for negotiations under Trump, though skepticism remains about potential compromises.

Adani Group stocks fell sharply on Thursday after the US SEC charged Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Azure Power's Cyril Cabanes in a $250 million bribery case. Shares of Adani Green Energy dropped 17.44% to ₹1,165.50, while flagship Adani Enterprises nosedived 20.29% to ₹2,248. The SEC alleged Adani misled investors and secured Indian government commitments to purchase energy at above-market rates, raising $750 million globally. Other group companies, including Adani Power, Ports, and Total Gas, also saw significant losses. SEC Acting Director Sanjay Wadhwa pledged accountability for securities violations.