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Opposition mounts attack on govt over G-Ram-G bill, says rights will be diluted

NEW DELHI: Mounting a sharp attack on the proposed legislation to replace MGNREGA, the Opposition parties on Wednesday accused the government of

National Herald case: BJP & Congress spar over court order

NEW DELHI: The Congress and the BJP traded sharp blows on Wednesday after a Delhi trial court declined to take cognisance of the Enforcement Dire

Ashes 3rd Test: England in Disarray at 59-3 at Lunch As Lyon, Cummins Pounce

England trailed by 312 after the hosts added 45 to their overnight 326-8 as temperatures soared to 39 Celsius

Delhis winter haze lingers, pollution could intensify severely by year-end

Dense fog continues to shroud the national capital, keeping air pollution in the very poor category for the third consecutive day and disrupting

Warner Bros Recommends Investors Reject Paramount's Offer in Favor of Netflix's

The Warner board said that Paramounts inferior offer carried significant risks and costs, in large part because it relies heavily on borrowed mon

BIG trouble for TMC! MLA Kirti Azad caught 'vaping' in Lok Sabha, BJP releases video, says, 'Imagine audacity...', WATCH

Bharatiya Janata Party has finally broken the 'suspense' over a Trinamool Congress' MLA 'vaping' in the parliament. The party has released a vide

Trump says will not let anyone go through Venezuela blockade who shouldn't go through

CSIR UGC NET 2025 Exam Today, Key Guidelines & Must Carry Admit Card Details

Candidates must bring their admit card, photo, and valid ID to the exam center and check all details carefully for discrepancies.

Third Ashes Test: Australia all out for 371 in 3rd Ashes Test

Australia resumed on 326-8 with Mitchell Starc not out 33 and Nathan Lyon yet to score with temperatures soaring towards a forecast 39 Celsius at

U.S. House passes ban on gender-affirming care for minors

The bill, sponsored by right-wing firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene, was approved by 216 votes to 211 and now heads to the Senate, where its fate

Morning Digest: Muslim-dominated segments mapped better in Bengal SIR; Pilot bodies complain to House panel on corruption in DGCA, MoCA, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day.

Bank Holiday on December 18: Are banks open or closed in your state? Check state-wise list here

December 2025 brings multiple bank holidays across India, especially in Meghalaya, Goa, Sikkim, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur. Key closures incl

Luis Surez To Play Another Season With Inter Miami Alongside Lionel Messi

Surez will join back-to-back MLS MVP Messi for the opening of the teams new stadium located near Miami International Airport

Trump demands Venezuela pay for seized U.S. oil assets after calling for 'blockade'

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuela's petroleum industry until the country's leaders moved to nationalise the sector, first in the 1970s and a

Quote of the day by Mark Carney: We all have a role in this adjustment. One of the most basic roles is

Mark Carney, a distinguished economist and politician, has been serving as Canada's 24th Prime Minister since 2025. His career includes leading t

Trump Demands Venezuela Pay For Seized US Oil Assets After Calling For 'Blockade'

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuela's petroleum industry until the country's leaders moved to nationalize the sector, first in the 1970s and a

Quote of the day by Howard Florey: Great ideas often come from unexpected places; never underestimate

Howard Florey, alongside his Oxford team, transformed Alexander Fleming's 1928 discovery into a life-saving drug. Their crucial work in isolating

Good news for Delhi-NCR residents: Namo Bharat Train to connect THESE two major cities through IFFCO Chowk; Check details here

The Namo Bharat Train project is progressing, with work underway for the IFFCO Chowk interchange station connecting Gurugram, Faridabad and Great

'He did a great job': Trump says FBI's Dan Bongino wants to 'go back to his show'

Survivor finale 49 to be interrupted by Trumps speech tonight: What time is Survivor airing, when it resumes, and how to watch online

Survivor finale 49 airs Wednesday night on CBS. President Trump's address will interrupt the broadcast at 9 p.m. ET. The show will resume after t

Delhi Pollution Crisis: Environmental Minister makes BIG announcement, directs strict enforcement of..., says, 'collective...'

The Delhi government will begin strict enforcement of the No PUC, No Fuel rule from December 18 as part of an intensified multi-pronged drive to

India, Saudi Arabia sign agreement to boost official travels, bilateral exchanges

India and Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports. This agreement a

Ford cancels EV battery deal worth $6.5 billion with South Korea's LG Energy Solution

Ford Motor has cancelled a major electric vehicle battery supply deal with LG Energy Solution. The agreement was worth approximately 9.6 trillion

Morning Brief Podcast: From Age Gating to Content Rating, Microdrama Apps are Flouting Rules

US House passes ban on gender-affirming care for minors

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill to outlaw genital or bodily mutilation of a minor, which would effectively ban gender-

US Senate confirms private astronaut, Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA chief

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut and former associate of Elon Musk, has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as NASA's 15th administr

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau's No 2 official

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is stepping down next month. His time at the bureau was marked by disagreements over the Jeffrey Epstein files. B

Zelensky Pleads for Aid as Ukraine Claims Russia Preparing for Extended War

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said that they received signals that Russia was preparing for a war in the next year.

Speciale Invest to raise Rs 1,400 Cr for Growth Fund II

The seed-stage investment firm has also elevated Venture Partner Vijay Jacob to General Partner to help the firm make bets beyond seed stage in d

IFFK 2025: Actor-director Tannishtha Chatterjee on her film Full Plate, ongoing battle with cancer and her craft

Tannishtha Chatterjee talks about the story behind Full Plate and the struggle that went into finishing it

Congress protests in Chhattisgarh against misuse of investigating agencies

Congress party staged protests outside the BJP office following the courts dismissal of the EDs charge sheet in the National Herald case.

US Congress Ends Syria Sanctions

The US Congress on Wednesday permanently ended sanctions imposed on Syria under ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, paving the way for the return of i

Deposed Nepal PM seeks third term to lead CPN-UML party

KATHMANDU, Dec 17: Nepals CPN-UML on Wednesday voted to elect its leader with deposed prime minister K P Sharma Oli facing a tough challenge from

Awami League alleges BNP-Jamaat mob killed party worker

DHAKA, Dec 17:Under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Bangladesh is witnessing a severe deterioration in law and order, highlighted by t

European leaders to back unprecedented aid for Ukraine

BRUSSSELS, Dec 17: European Union leaders are preparing to attempt an unprecedented financial operation to support Ukraine, but the plan carries

A legacy lost to neglect and silence

Remembering Kashyap Bandhu Avtar Nehru Many stalwarts and scholars within the Kashmiri Pandit community privately concede that Pandit Kashyap Ban

US adds 20 countries to travel restrictions list

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Dec 17: The Trump administration expanded its travel ban to 20 more countries and the Palestinian Authority, citing national

ET Awards for Corporate Excellence: Defiance, disruption & daring seize the day

The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025 celebrated outstanding achievements. Sajjan Jindal received the Business Leader of the Ye

Diyas whisper echoes in global heritage

Diwalis UNESCO glory Sunny Dua sunnydua55@gmail.com In countless villages across India, far from the shine of city markets, lakhs of potters wake

SC: Growing trend of judges 'hitting sixes' before retiring

'What If Orders Are Palpably Dishonest?'

Be in harmony with Nature

Naseeb Bhagat evsnaseeb@gmail.com My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature. Claude Monet Nature has a vast stoc

Delhi HC questions government over failure to regulate sale of old vehicles

A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked the Delhi government to file a detailed response on the iss

Smart water meters to be installedin 1 lakh buildings early next year

Chennai Metrowater plans to install the meters in structures identified as intensive users, including commercial, partly commercial, industries a

7 years on, OBC list still to get Parliament's stamp

First Miss India, Meher Castelino, passes away at 81

Meher Castelino, the first Miss India and a celebrated fashion journalist, passed away on Wednesday. She was 81 years old, and is survived by her

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Stock market today: Why S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow dropped - AI stocks crash hit Oracle, Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, Alphabet

S&P 500, Nasdaq, Dow today: US stocks experienced a downturn as investors shifted away from AI giants. Concerns over Oracle's data center financi

Maha Periyavas grace

Jammu facing threat from drug abuse: JCCI

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that Jammu is currently facing a severe threat from dr

Amandeep Hospitals partner with Ujala Cygnus to bring 3D printing, VR into clinical practice

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: Amandeep Hospitals, in collaboration with Ujala Cygnus, today announced the inauguration of North Indias f

J&K Bank holds stakeholders meet to streamline implementation of HDP Scheme

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 17: J&K Bank today organised a stakeholders meeting at its corporate headquarters here to strengthen and st

POWERGRID hands over 128 Slice CT Scan Machine to CHC Sankoo

Excelsior Correspondent KARGIL, Dec 17: In order to strengthen medical infrastructure in the area, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWER

Newly elected Amar Singh Club team calls on Div Com

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: The newly elected executive committee of Amar Singh Club, Jammu, today held a courtesy meeting with Ramesh

Rupee rises 55 paise, ends at 90.38 vs USD

MUMBAI, Dec 17: The Indian rupee rebounded 55 paise on Wednesday to close at 90.38 against the US dollar, recovering from an all-time low of 90.9

Trying best to ensure no laxity in financial discipline: Omar

Highest priority on safety, security of adventure tourism Fayaz Bukhari SRINAGAR, Dec 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that his Govern

SMVDSB felicitates Para Archer Payal Nag

Excelsior Sports Correspondent KATRA, Dec 17: Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), feli

DB expresses displeasure over non-filing of response by Secy YSS

Non-compliance of Sports Code Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: A Division Bench of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh comprising Chief Justic

Santosh Trophy Row: J&K Govt forms Panel to probe football team selection

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: Following the assurance by Sports Minister Satish Sharma for a high-level inquiry into alleged irre

Govt working with seriousness to strengthen key sectors: Minister

Sat raises issues of cooperative exports Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Jammu & Kashmir BJP president and Rajya Sabha Member, Sat Sha

Kupwaras Rashid wins Gold at Intl Wushu Cship

Excelsior Sports Correspondent KUPWARA, Dec 17: Kupwaras Wushu player Rashid Shafi brought laurels to the country by winning a gold medal in the

Dr Jitendras historic SHANTI Bill passed in LS, Nuclear projects opened to Private sector

Excelsior Correspondent NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Lok Sabha today passed the historic SHANTI Bill 2025 that is, Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement o

DC Reasi flags off trekking expedition

Excelsior Sports Correspondent REASI, Dec 17: District Development Commissioner, Reasi, Nidhi Malik, today flagged off a five-day residential tre

Justice Sanjeev Kumar inaugurates common room, cafeteria for stakeholders at HC

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 17: In a significant step towards strengthening judicial infrastructure and enhancing facilities for court

Police-Cong workers clash near BJP office during protest

*Bhalla seeks apology from BJP leadership Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17. Police had a tough time controlling the leaders and workers of t

Kauvery Hospital launches institute of digestive sciences

Indians cut off from internet in flights, Maran complains; Telecom Minister says norms in works

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran complained of India being one of the few places globally cut off from in-flight WiFi; communications Minister Jyotiraditya

Justice Delayed, Purpose Defeated

The persistent backlog of nearly 500 cases involving crimes against women and children in Jammu and Kashmirs Fast Track Special Courts is not jus

World No. 1 Chakravarthy achieves career-best rating in ICC T20I bowler rankings

DUBAI, Dec 17: India spinner Varun Chakravarthy on Wednesday consolidated his position at the top of the ICC Mens T20I Bowler Rankings, reaching

Investigate selection of Santosh Trophy players: Manjit

Excelsior Sports Correspondent SAMBA, Dec 17: Apni Party provincial president for Jammu, Manjit Singh here today demanded fair investigation into

Four houses gutted in massive fire

Excelsior Correspondent BHADERWAH, Dec 17: In a major fire incident that erupted in Karal Mohalla locality of Puneja village here today, four res

JU flags off students team for Ashtalakshmi Darshan Youth Exchange Programme

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: The University of Jammu today flagged off a team of students selected to participate in the prestigious As

Satwik-Chirag opens BWF World Tour Finals with gritty win

HANGZHOU, Dec 17: Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty showed nerves of steel to eke out a thrilling three-game victor

OnlyFans creator Blake Mitchell (Lane Rogers) dies after motorcycle crash here's what happened

Blake Mitchell death: OnlyFans creator Lane Rogers, known online as Blake Mitchell, tragically passed away at 31 following a motorcycle accident

PDP stages protest, blocks NH over NCs unfulfilled promises

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 17: The Jammu wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today staged a strong protest against the Omar led Na

Deeply moving: PM Modi on Vande Mataram rendition by Ethiopian singers

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as deeply moving a rendition of Vande Mataram performed by singers at a banquet hoste

Gipin adokni taxi-rangko champengsona niam dongja: Dy CM

SHILLONG: Gipin adokrangoni Meghalaya adokona manderangko salbaenggipa tourist taxi-rangko champengsona niam dongja ine adokni Deputy Chief Minis

NH-217 ramako apalbatatanio somoi gita uiatja ine songni manderang matnanga

RONGJENG: National Highway (NH)-217 ramako apalbatate tarianio, East Garo Hills ajani dingtang dingtang songrangna nangchongmotgipa uiatanirangko

Cops Crack 2 Theft Cases, Recover Haul Worth Rs30 Lakh

Superintendent of police V. Harshavardhan Raju on Wednesday commended the investigation teams and announced rewards for their efforts.

Education ultimately rests on the well-being of teachers

Editor, Apropos the article When Policy Forgets the Teacher: Reflections on NEP and Academic Life authored by Bhogtoram Mawroh and published in T

Administration flops: Court Intervenes

The water crisis in large parts of Shillong city caused by a major leakage of a water pipe at 101 area where a major road construction project is

Babu Soso Tham, Khasi Language and Eighth Schedule

By Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh December 18, 2025, marks the 85th Death Anniversary of Babu Soso Tham and to pay homage to the bard of Hynniewtrep land and p

Talent Without Political Will in Meghalaya

A Nail Without a Hammer By Roy Kupar Synrem A nail is useless unless driven by the hammer. In the same way, talents are useless unless driven by

Father, Son Killed In Road Accident

The incident occurred around 4.30 am between Kurnool Road and Durganagar Crossroads. According to police, the victims were asleep inside their hu

Careys ton, Khawajas 82 help Australia reach 326-8 on Day 1

3rd Ashes Test Adelaide, Dec 17: Alex Carey posted a hometown hundred and Usman Khawaja scored 82 after a dramatic, last-minute recall to help Au

BCCI scheduling under scanner as fourth India-SA T20I called off

Lucknow, Dec 17: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was called off on Wednesday owing to poor visibility after a dense layer of smog

Joe Burns set to miss T20 WC as Italy confirm Madsen as captain

Rome, Dec 17: Former Australia batter Joe Burns, who led Italy to its first-ever T20 World Cup qualification, will be omitted from the European n

Is Dan Bongino leaving the FBI? Trump hints FBI deputy director may exit role to go back to his show

Dan Bongino: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is reportedly preparing to leave his post, with President Trump suggesting he wishes to return to hi

HC increases maintenance of wife 7x, SC stays order

Starting price for non-India group games is Rs 100, Indias Super 8 game Rs 900

Kolkata, Dec 17: The Cricket Association of Bengal on Wednesday announced the ticket prices for matches to be held at the Eden Gardens during the

Div Com reviews process of Flood Plain Zoning along Jhelum

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 17: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Irrigation and Floo