The Economic Times News

The Election Commission has appointed five nodal officers for the First Level Checking of electronic voting machines. These officers are from different states. This preparation is for the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections.

The December horoscope emphasises adaptability. While progress may feel slow, astrologers recommend viewing this phase as preparation rather than stagnation. Strategic pauses, emotional awareness and realistic expectations will prove essential.

The opening leg of Messi's four-city 'GOAT India Tour 2025' in Kolkata descended into chaos on Saturday morning due to poor crowd management and security lapses, with the Argentine superstar surrounded and pushed by selfie-seeking politicians and VIPs.

News headlines for December 15: Delhi schools are now operating in a hybrid mode due to pollution. Prime Minister Modi embarks on a visit to Jordan. New tourism facilities have opened in Kashmir. The BJP has a new national working president. A mass shooting occurred in Sydney. India leads South Africa in the T20 series. The Odisha Masters badminton tournament has concluded.

India secured a seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20 International. Pacers delivered a strong performance, restricting South Africa to 117. Indian batters chased the target with ease. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill provided a solid start. Tilak Varma remained unbeaten. This win gives India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Today School holiday 15th December: Indian schools will operate as usual on Monday, December 15, 2025. No national holidays or breaks are scheduled for this date. Winter vacations will commence later in December for most regions. An exception is the Winter Zone of Jammu & Kashmir, which is already on a long winter recess. Parents in Delhi-NCR should monitor advisories for potential weather-related adjustments.

The proposed project, which will come up at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour, is aimed at positioning the state as a key hub for next-generation maritime and autonomous systems development.

Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrian rulers in the second century BCE and the rededication of Jewish worship at the Temple. Tradition holds that a single flask of pure oil, sufficient for just one day, miraculously burned for eight days, giving time for fresh oil to be prepared.

Hamas has confirmed the death of its top commander Raed Saad, killed by Israel. Israel stated Saad was a key figure in the October 7 attack. The conflict continues with accusations of truce violations from both sides. Israel seeks the return of a final hostage. The war has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties.

Russia is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and none of the defendants were present in court.

A Powerball ticket carrying a $1 million prize, along with five other tickets were sold in the US in Saturday nights draw, as the jackpot once again remained without a winner.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde targeted Uddhav Thackeray. He spoke about Rehman Dakait robbing Mumbai's treasury and vowed a reply from the Dhurandhar Mahayuti alliance. Shinde highlighted government schemes and development plans for Vidarbha. He asserted the Mahayuti will win upcoming municipal elections. The alliance aims to fulfill Balasaheb Thackeray's dreams for Mumbai.

Manik Saha said he had accepted the decision taken by the PM, though his family had been sceptical about it. There had been rumours that the two leaders had differences over party matters.

What happened in Australia today: A mass shooting at Sydneys Bondi Beach has left at least 11 people dead and 29 others injured, including two police officers, according to authorities.

Bihar minister Nitin Nabin appointed BJP's National Working President. Know about his career and more: Nitin Nabin's appointment as BJP national working president sparks speculation about a generational shift, positioning the 45-year-old Bihar minister as a potential successor to J.P. Nadda. Nabin, a five-term MLA with significant electoral success and ministerial experience, is seen as a dark horse choice backed by top leadership, including Prime Minister Modi.

Australia shooting at Sydney Bondi beach: Common man lauded as hero by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and citizens for disarming the gunman.

The Indian Navy is set to enhance its capabilities with two significant inductions. On December 17, the second MH 60R helicopter squadron, INAS 335, will be commissioned in Goa. This advanced helicopter will boost the Navy's combat readiness. Additionally, the first indigenously built Diving Support Craft, DSC A20, will join the fleet in Kochi on December 16.

The announcement was made in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak.

U.S. Stock Market: S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq are witnessing volatile movememt of AI-related stocks.

Retired Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh stated that 'Operation Sindoor 2.0' is inevitable. He highlighted Pakistan's continued focus on Kashmir, supported by China and Turkiye. Singh emphasized India's need to enhance its narrative-building and cyber warfare capabilities. He also called for a codified national security strategy and increased defense spending.

NYT Strands is a daily word-search puzzle available in The New York Times Games section. Distinct from Wordle or Connections, it permits words to be traced in multiple directions, up, down, across and diagonally, while each letter on the grid can be used only once.

The first mission in this series is expected as early as next week, signalling a tightly packed launch calendar with both strategic and commercial goals. At the heart of the schedule is Indias heaviest rocket, the LVM3. Under a commercial agreement handled by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the LVM3 will place the Bluebird-6 communication satellite of US-based AST SpaceMobile into orbit.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the shocking and distressing attack, which Australian police dubbed a errorist incident, was eyond comprehension as assailants fired on a gathering celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

Sixteen months and thousands of arson, firebombing, graffiti and hate-speech incidents later, the head of the nation's main intelligence agency declared that antisemitism was his number one priority in terms of threat to life.

India firmly rejected Bangladesh's allegations of its territory being used to harm Dhaka's interests. New Delhi reiterated its support for peaceful and credible elections in Bangladesh, emphasizing its consistent stance against allowing its soil for activities inimical to Bangladesh. India expects Dhaka to ensure internal law and order for peaceful polls.

Australia shooting: What happened in Bondi beach, Sydney? One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second arrested. The suspect was in critical condition, authorities said. At least 29 people were confirmed wounded

NYT Connections appeals to a broad audience by combining language, pop culture, and general knowledge. Its emphasis on pattern recognition over definitions makes it accessible while still offering depth.

Donald Trump, who vowed to reduce inflation if re-elected, insists he has succeeded in this campaign promise, despite opinion polls showing low approval ratings for his economic strategy.

Cameron Green will be available to bowl in the upcoming IPL season. A mistake by his manager led to him being registered as a batter for the mini-auction. Green is a key all-rounder and is expected to attract significant interest. The auction is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. He is eager to participate in the tournament.

Indian family businesses are showing robust growth with many reporting significant annual revenues and double-digit revenue increases. These firms are actively adopting technology, including AI, to manage economic challenges. Expansion plans are underway across various regions. There is also a strong focus on sustainability and governance.

Wordle is a daily word game that tasks players with guessing a five-letter word within six tries. Created in 2021 by software engineer Josh Wardle, it rapidly captured global attention, driven by its clean design and distinctive emoji-style results that are easily shared.

IPL Auction 2026 Lucknow Super Giants top players LSG is expected to target: Lucknow Super Giants head into the IPL 2026 auction at a critical stage, carrying a high ceiling but clear structural gaps. Known for bold calls, LSGs big-money bet on Rishabh Pant last season summed up their risk-heavy approach, which has delivered mixed results.

Nitin Nabin, a cabinet minister in the Bihar government, has been appointed as the BJP's national working president. The decision was made by the party's parliamentary board. This appointment is effective immediately, as announced by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh.

President Trump's policies are providing a national platform for Democratic governors like Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, and Wes Moore. They are using opposition to Trump's agenda to rally their party, sharpen their contrasts with the White House, and build networks, positioning themselves for potential 2028 presidential runs.

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing stroke care in India by accelerating diagnosis and treatment within the critical golden hour. AI-powered systems analyze brain scans rapidly, enabling faster decisions on interventions like clot-busting drugs or thrombectomy. This technology, extending to remote areas via telestroke services, promises to improve survival rates and reduce long-term disability, making stroke care more efficient and accessible.

Women and Child Development Secretary Rashmi Singh has mandated that women employees should not be required to stay late at the office unless absolutely unavoidable. In exceptional cases, the department must arrange secure transportation, with branch heads held personally responsible for ensuring safe returns. This initiative aims to create a safer work environment by prioritizing personal security over operational demands.

John Cena retired from WWE after a tap out loss to Gunther at Saturday Nights Main Event in Washington DC. Leaving his shoes and wristband in the ring, Cena thanked fans for their support, closing a 24 year career that included a record 17 world championships.

Thought of the day: In 2024, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first male footballer to reach the milestone of 900 career goals. By 2025, he continued his scoring momentum, delivering crucial moments on the field, including a match-winning goal in the UEFANations League semifinal against Germany.

Indian teenagers are proactively reducing their social media consumption. Instead of bans, they are setting personal limits and using tools to manage their screen time. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the importance of studies and other activities.

A 62-year-old property dispute in Faridabad has concluded. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled in favor of the original allottee's family. They will receive a 5,103 sq ft plot purchased in 1963 for under 14,000. The land's current market value is nearly 7 crore.