The Economic Times News

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to outlaw genital or bodily mutilation of a minor, which would effectively ban gender-affirming treatments for transgender children, a Republican priority. This important bill...will criminalize gender-affirming care on minors, not adults, on minors who have not yet grown up to make adult decisions, Greene said ahead of the vote.

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and former associate of Elon Musk, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as NASA's 15th administrator. His confirmation, with bipartisan support, comes as NASA aims to accelerate its return to the moon and eventually reach Mars, while also facing potential budget cuts and increased competition with China.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is stepping down next month. His time at the bureau was marked by disagreements over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Bongino, a former podcast host, faced challenges balancing his public statements with his official duties. His departure is a high-profile exit from the Trump administration. President Trump indicated Bongino wishes to return to his show.

What time is Trump speaking tonight: President Donald Trump will address the nation tonight from the Oval Office. He plans to discuss his administration's achievements over the past eleven months. Trump will also outline his future plans for the country. The speech is expected to cover policy initiatives for the coming year.

The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025 celebrated outstanding achievements. Sajjan Jindal received the Business Leader of the Year award. Bharti Airtel was named Company of the Year. N Chandrababu Naidu earned Business Reformer of the Year. KP Singh and Cyrus Poonawalla were honored with Lifetime Achievement awards. Neal Mohan was selected as Global Indian of the Year.

S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow today: US stocks experienced a downturn as investors shifted away from AI giants. Concerns over Oracle's data center financing, coupled with broader questions about AI profitability, triggered a sell-off. Major tech stocks like Nvidia and AMD also saw significant declines, signaling a potential rotation towards value investments for the coming year.

Blake Mitchell death: OnlyFans creator Lane Rogers, known online as Blake Mitchell, tragically passed away at 31 following a motorcycle accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Oxnard, California. He sustained fatal blunt force trauma after colliding with a box truck. Rogers, who boasted over 400,000 Instagram followers, began his adult film career in 2014. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Dan Bongino: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly preparing to leave his post, with President Trump suggesting he wishes to return to his media show. Bongino's tenure has been marked by controversy, including his appointment despite lacking FBI experience and past comments on conspiracy theories like the January 6 pipe bomb case and Jeffrey Epstein's death.

Barstool Netflix: Netflix is expanding its sports media offerings by partnering with Barstool Sports for a multi-year deal. Starting in early 2026, the streaming giant will exclusively feature video versions of three popular Barstool podcasts: Pardon My Take, The Ryen Russillo Podcast, and Spittin Chiclets. This move signals Netflix's focus on personality-driven sports content.

Republicans Obamacare: Four House Republicans joined Democrats on a discharge petition to force a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies, set to expire December 31. This move aims to prevent insurance costs from doubling for millions. The petition's success highlights Speaker Johnson's challenges with his narrow majority, with a vote likely in January.

Ursid meteor shower 2025: Look up for the Ursid meteor shower this year. It peaks on the night of December 21 into the early morning of December 22. This modest celestial event offers a chance to see 5 to 10 meteors per hour from a dark location. The thin crescent moon will aid viewing.

Flu cases are rising quickly across Europe, worrying health officials and hospitals. The World Health Organization says many countries are seeing very high flu activity this winter. A new flu strain is spreading fast, and the season started earlier than usual. Health experts are urging people to get vaccinated and follow basic safety steps.

Serum Institute of India, founded by Cyrus Poonawalla, has significantly impacted global public health by providing affordable vaccines to low- and middle-income countries for over six decades. The company's commitment to quality and affordability, exemplified by its role in the COVID-19 pandemic with Covishield, has saved millions of lives and positioned it as a leader in vaccine manufacturing.

Lalit Keshre, cofounder of Groww, has been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year for disrupting stock broking and wealth management. The digital-first platform, catering to millennials and Gen Z, has become India's largest mutual fund distribution and stock trading platform, achieving rapid growth while remaining profitable.

The Lower House of Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (Shanti) Bill by voice vote even as the opposition walked out. The bill will now be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua promises one of the years most eagerly awaited boxing matches, streamed exclusively on Netflix at no additional cost. Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer with a 12-1 record, faces former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua in an eight-round fight at Miamis Kaseya Center. Despite a size disadvantage, Paul vows to use his speed and tactics strategically. Joshua, making a comeback after a 15-month hiatus, targets to dominate both physically and mentally.

Mohan, who succeeded long-time CEO Susan Wojcicki in 2023, has helped strengthen YouTube as a formidable force in the streaming landscape. As per estimates, the company has seen its standalone valuation reach between $475 billion and $550 billion. This would represent approximately 30% of parent company Alphabets total valuation.

Vibha Padalkar, CEO of HDFC Life, has been honored as Businesswoman of the Year. Under her leadership, HDFC Life has seen significant growth and market capitalization increase. Padalkar navigated key events including an IPO, an acquisition, and a major ownership transition. Her strategic direction, particularly in digital transformation, has been instrumental in the company's success.

A distinguished jury of India's top business leaders met at The Malabar to select winners for the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence. The panel, featuring prominent figures like Sunil Bharti Mittal, Uday Kotak, and Roshni Nadar Malhotra, focused on future trajectories and impactful achievements. Discussions covered entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen.

Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Noida, RateGain provides software as a service (SaaS) solutions to global travel and hospitality companies, helping them grow their business through customer acquisition, retention and wallet share expansion.

Sajjan Jindal has been named Business Leader of the Year for FY2025. JSW Group's aggressive strategy and financial discipline have driven success across multiple sectors. The conglomerate has expanded significantly in energy, paints, and automobiles. Steel remains a core business, while JSW Cement and JSW Infrastructure are also growing. The group's net sales and profits show strong growth.

In a meticulous selection process, the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence nominees were identified through rigorous data scrutiny by the ET Intelligence Group. Firms were assessed on financial metrics including sales, profits, and market valuation, with an eye on their growth trajectories over the past three years.

Bryan Johnson immortality: Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson aims for immortality by 2039, believing current advancements in biological engineering make it a realistic goal. He cites nature's examples of longevity and the accelerating pace of AI-driven innovation as key factors. Johnson's ultimate aspiration is to achieve a youthful physical state combined with lifelong wisdom.

N Chandrababu Naidu has secured over Rs 10.7 lakh crore in investments for Andhra Pradesh. He is recognized for attracting businesses back to the state. Naidu's approach focuses on creating an environment for innovation and job creation. His leadership is seen as a new model for governance, emphasizing technology and efficiency. This has made Andhra Pradesh a sought-after investment destination.

Asian Paints is honored with The Economic Times Conscious Corporate Award, celebrating its commitment to social responsibility. By investing 3% of its annual profits into CSR initiativessurpassing the required 2%the company leads the way in fostering vocational skill development, promoting water conservation, and enhancing health services.

Millions of Amazon Prime users in the U.S. may get an automatic $51 refund after a settlement for unauthorized sign-ups. Eligible members should check their emails for PayPal, Venmo, or mailed payments. Refunds are available from November 12 to December 24, 2025. Those who dont get an email can claim money at subscriptionmembershipsettlement.com starting December 24.

For the first time since 1911, India's upcoming 2027 Census will include denotified tribes, aiming to elevate these historically marginalized communities into government recognition. This important step is designed to extend essential benefits and reservations to these populations, who were once categorized under the outdated Criminal Tribes Act before their denotification post-independence.

Spartacus House of Ashur Episode 4 release date, time, schedule and how to watch details confirm the episode airs on December 19, 2025. The story explains global timings, episode schedule, streaming platforms, cast, plot, and how viewers in different regions can watch the series.

Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate lost his portfolio Wednesday. This followed an arrest warrant in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. The Nashik District Court upheld his two-year jail term for fraudulently obtaining government flats. Kokate admitted himself to a Mumbai hospital. His lawyers are seeking urgent bail. This is the second NCP minister to face such a situation.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who along with his federation's decision-making Council, has been Ukraine's most high-profile supporter among sports governing bodies by imposing a blanket ban on Russian athletes, admitted the battle against doping was never-ending but there is a recognition amongst athletes -- and this is an important recognition -- that you know there is no fear or favour.

A Delhi court has refused to take cognisance of the ED charge sheet in the National Herald money laundering case. Congress leaders are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. They view the court's decision as a victory and a vindication of the Gandhi family.

The Supreme Court has taken a strong stance on the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR, calling for permanent solutions to this pressing issue. In its recent decree, toll collection has been paused at nine significant entry points to reduce traffic congestion.

India and Oman are set to sign a Free Trade Agreement. This pact unlocks major opportunities in sectors like textiles, food processing, and renewable energy. Oman's role as a gateway to other regions is highlighted. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade and Indian investments in Oman. This marks a significant step in economic cooperation between the two nations.

Exciting news for Delhi! Bharat Taxi is set to revolutionize the taxi scene with its official launch early next year. As India's pioneering cooperative taxi service, it stands as a homegrown alternative to traditional cab apps.

NYC subway fare increase 2026 represents a major turning point for millions of riders as New York transitions to a completely contactless transit system. Starting from January 4, subway, bus and express bus charges will rise after MTA approval. The base fare rises to $3, while minimized fares, express bus prices, and commuter rail tickets also increase.

In Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress is facing a surprising challenge as voter deletions reach staggering numbers in key strongholds. Constituencies like Jorasankho and Chowringhee are grappling with troubling statistics of voters marked absent, deceased, or even duplicated.

Moving the Bill for consideration, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the proposed Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Bill aims to make villages self-reliant and poverty-free, in line with Mahatma Gandhi's vision of rural empowerment.

Bitcoin price today: Bitcoin faces pressure near $86,000. Uncertainty over the next US Federal Reserve Chair and year-end tax-loss selling are impacting the cryptocurrency. Investors are cautious as long-term holders sell and leveraged positions are liquidated. Analysts warn of a potential slip below $80,000 if selling continues. Bitcoin's performance is diverging from the S&P 500.

Home prices, rents, rates 2026: Housing market predictions for 2026 show slower home price growth, not a collapse. Mortgage rates may ease slightly but remain above 6%. Inventory stays tight in many regions, keeping competition high. Renters gain options as new apartments ease pressure. Buyers and homeowners must focus on financial readiness, equity, and local conditions. Read on to see expert tips for navigating 2026.

Parliament took on the SHANTI Bill, a pivotal piece regarding nuclear energy. The government praised the bill as a cornerstone for elevating India's stature on the global stage and its commitment to moving away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, opposition voices raised alarms over the potential pitfalls of privatization and accountability in nuclear supply chains.

The EU agreed earlier this month on legislation to cut ties with Europe's former top gas supplier Russia, having vowed to do so after Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lawmakers voted 500 in favour, 120 against and 32 abstained. The ban still requires formal approval by EU ministers, expected early next year. Officials expect countries to endorse the deal without changes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's journey to Ethiopia felt like a homecoming, as he drew inspiring connections between the African nation and his roots in Gujarat. He delivered heartfelt greetings on behalf of India, reflecting on their rich shared heritage. In discussing a crucial defense cooperation agreement, Modi championed the importance of unified security efforts.

India and Russia are set to significantly increase trade. A new strategic economic plan targets $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. Trade has already seen substantial growth. The plan identifies key sectors and agencies for cooperation. Russia seeks to diversify trade beyond energy and defense. Moscow offers digital solutions for India's Smart City program.

Thousands of salad dressing cases from Costco and Publix are recalled nationwide due to black plastic found in granulated onions. Ventura Foods initiated the Class II recall affecting Italian, Caesar, and ranch varieties. While some Costco prepared foods were impacted, consumer-sold Hidden Valley products remain unaffected. The recall spans 27 states and Costa Rica.