The Times of India News

Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following a directive from the BCCI, triggering sharp political reactions amid concerns over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel warned he would cut off the hand of any individual who dares to touch Muslim women with ill intent, amid the hijab row involving Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Addressing a rally in Jalna, he accused BJP and other secular parties of supporting goons while neglecting Muslims.

Tamil Nadu CM and DMK president MK Stalin launched the DMK Election Manifesto Portal 2026 in Chennai, inviting people from all sections of society to submit suggestions for the partys assembly election manifesto. MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said the initiative aims to create a peoples manifesto and highlighted the DMKs record of fulfilling its promises.

India has significantly enhanced patient safety by implementing uniform pharmacopoeial standards for blood components used in transfusions for the first time. This move, alongside stricter quality specifications for essential medicines like those for tuberculosis, diabetes, and cancer, aims to curb risks from unsafe blood products and substandard drugs nationwide.

Indian students who began medical studies abroad before November 18, 2021, will be subject to older screening test rules, allowing them to practice in India via the FMGE. This exemption, however, mandates an additional year of internship in Indian hospitals for these students.

India is set to construct its first twin-tube underwater tunnel across the Brahmaputra River in Assam, connecting Gohpur and Numaligarh. This 15.8km project will feature one tube for a single rail track and the other for vehicles, significantly reducing travel time and boosting connectivity to northeastern states. The Rs 18,600 crore project is expected to be completed in five years.

Telangana has challenged Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project in the Supreme Court, arguing it unilaterally utilizes inter-state river water. Telangana claims AP's projects, disguised as flood water utilization, violate the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award and reduce its water share. The state seeks to halt AP's tendering and expansion works.

Karnataka HC ruled that a third party can challenge a Lok Adalat award via writ petition if fraud is proven by excluding a necessary party. Justice M Nagaprasanna quashed a civil court decree arising from a land partition compromise, stating that deliberate non-impleadment of claimants allows writ jurisdiction. The civil suit has been restored.

The Supreme Court has ruled that courts should generally avoid setting deadlines for investigations, as this infringes on the agency's autonomy. Timelines are only to be imposed reactively when there's clear evidence of unjustified delay or stagnation, ensuring a balance between prompt justice and the complexities of probes.

Allahabad High Court ruled that rent authorities can hear eviction cases even without written agreements or tenant particulars. The court emphasized the Uttar Pradesh Tenancy Act's intent to prevent landlords from losing eviction rights due to documentation flaws. This decision allows for quicker resolution of tenancy disputes, even in unwritten arrangements, ensuring the law's objectives are met.

Pakistan has now endorsed China's claim of mediating the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, a move that raises eyebrows given India's stance. Islamabad's foreign office spokesperson stated Chinese leaders were in contact with both nations, contributing to de-escalation. This assertion contrasts with India's position that the conflict pause followed a request from Pakistan's DGMO, not third-party intervention.

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that a trafficking survivor cannot be repeatedly cross-examined, setting aside a trial court order. The court invoked its powers to quash the recall order, stating the trial court had acted without assigning any reason. This decision is hailed as a victory for the voiceless.

A 50-year-old man convicted of beating his 10-year-old son to death died by suicide on parole. Damra Patel allegedly ingested poison at his native village, reportedly due to severe guilt and emotional distress over the crime. He had been released recently and remained withdrawn, avoiding interaction.

A professor and three students face charges after a 19-year-old student, who accused them of sexual harassment and ragging, died in hospital. Her father's complaint details alleged harassment and assault, leading to her depression and subsequent deteriorating health. The cause of death is under investigation, with authorities verifying all allegations.

IAS officer Rajendrakumar Patel was arrested by the ED in connection with a bribery and money laundering case in Gujarat's Surendranagar district. The ED alleges Patel received 50% of bribe money for land use change approvals, with over Rs 10 crore amassed from 800 applications. He has been remanded to ED custody until January 7.

Deaths in Indore's water contamination tragedy could have been avoided if warnings from a BJP corporator two years ago were heeded. Corporator Kamal Waghela had repeatedly alerted the Indore Municipal Corporation about old, worn-out pipelines in Bhagirathpura, alleging officials delayed necessary replacements.

Madhya Pradesh government took action following a contaminated water tragedy in Indore, removing municipal commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and suspending additional commissioner Rohit Sisoniya. The move comes as the death toll from the outbreak rose to 10. An in-charge superintendent engineer was also removed, with new officials appointed.

A deadly diarrhea outbreak in Indore, claiming 10 lives, has sparked a blame game between elected officials and Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) officers. Following the tragedy, the state government removed the IMC commissioner and suspended an additional commissioner amid allegations of ignored complaints and official apathy.

Former MP CM Uma Bharti has strongly condemned the contaminated water tragedy in Indore, which has claimed ten lives. She labelled the incident a maha-paap and criticized the state government and Indore mayor, demanding accountability and severe punishment for those responsible.

Punjab police suspect Pakistan's ISI orchestrated Thursday's explosion in Nalagarh, Himachal Pradesh, to destabilize the region. While Babbar Khalsa International and Punjab Sovereignty Alliance claimed responsibility, police dismissed their ideological claims, stating these groups act on ISI's behalf.

Assets valued at approximately Rs 3.6 crore belonging to West Bengal minister Chandranath Sinha have been attached by the ED in connection with the school cash-for-jobs scam. The attached properties include homes, flats, land, and a market registered under Sinha, his wife, and son.

A 12-year-old boy in Nagpur was rescued after being chained and locked by his parents for hours daily over two months due to alleged cellphone theft. The school dropout, showing injuries from restraints and signs of trauma, has been moved to a government home for children. Police are investigating the incident.

India asserts its right to self-defense against terrorism without explanation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated. He emphasized that goodwill cannot coexist with hostility, citing the Indus Waters Treaty. Jaishankar also highlighted India's role as a supportive 'good neighbour' and its growing global influence through institutions like IIT Madras.

The Indian government has ordered social media platform X to immediately remove all obscene, sexually explicit, and unlawful content, particularly that generated by its AI app Grok. The Ministry of Electronics and IT issued a notice citing failure to comply with IT Act rules and demanding an action report within 72 hours, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance.

Trinamool Congress's Abhishek Banerjee launched the party's 2026 election campaign by highlighting alleged voter roll discrepancies. He presented individuals marked as deceased, accusing the Election Commission of targeting Bengalis and questioning the deletion of Bangladeshi names. Banerjee criticized the BJP for issuing notices to common people for SIR hearings, drawing parallels to demonetization.

Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee accused Congress and other parties of misunderstanding the vote chori issue, claiming it happens through electoral rolls, not EVMs. He stressed ground-level booth fights over social media campaigns. Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury sharply retorted, accusing Banerjee of copying Rahul Gandhi's agenda and questioning his anti-BJP silence.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav announced strict action against senior civic officials following a contaminated drinking water incident in Indore's Bhagirathpura, which affected over 1,400 people and led to confirmed deaths. Two officials were suspended, and the municipal commissioner was ordered to be removed due to negligence.

Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar defended the NCP's decision to field candidates with alleged criminal backgrounds, stating no one is guilty until proven. He cited allegations against himself in the irrigation scam to question premature labeling of guilt. Pawar also criticised the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's financial decline under BJP rule, promising a probe if NCP gains power.

Singer Zubeen Garg's family is establishing a trust in his name to champion his vision for society. The trust, to be housed on family property, will focus on nature conservation, nurturing young talent, and preserving his intellectual property. It will collaborate with existing foundations to advance social and cultural initiatives for future generations.

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics are boosting pregnancy care, with over 10,000 free ultrasounds and 20,000 monthly check-ups for expectant mothers. This initiative aims to improve early detection and monitoring, addressing concerns over maternal health indicators. The expanded services offer crucial tests and free scans, identifying thousands of high-risk pregnancies monthly and easing the burden on larger hospitals.

In an embarrassing mix-up, Janmabhumi carried the editorial page of Chandrika, the daily run by the Indian Union Muslim League, in its KannurKasaragod regional edition, while all other pages of the newspaper remained unchanged. According to sources cited by local media, the incident occurred due to a technical lapse at the printing stage. Both Janmabhumi and Chandrika are reportedly printed at the same press, and the error affected only the Kannur and Kasaragod editions.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defended Rahul Gandhi, accusing media and BJP of misrepresenting an administrative survey to discredit voter list manipulation allegations. He stated the survey, conducted before Gandhi's claims, assessed voter awareness, not electoral integrity, and its small sample size makes its findings statistically indefensible.

The Rouse Avenue court has recently convicted three people, including MCD's Junior Engineer, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe for allowing the construction of a house. It was alleged that the complainant was threatened if the demand was not fulfilled.

Congress MP Jothimani has voiced strong concerns, alleging that the Tamil Nadu unit is being hindered from performing election duties due to internal power struggles, potentially leading to its downfall. She warned of serious threats to Tamil Nadu from divisive forces, questioning the party's preparedness ahead of the Assembly polls and urging a commitment to its core principles and supporters.

Speaking at the 104th foundation day function of Bhupal Nobles' University, Singh referred to the November 10 car bomb blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, pointing out that those behind the attack were doctors. Today, an alarming trend of white-collar terrorism is emerging in the country. Highly-educated people are working against society and the country, Singh said.

Uttar Pradesh has achieved remarkable agricultural growth, becoming India's largest wheat producer and a leader in rice, sugarcane, and potato production. Government initiatives have boosted crop yields, farmer incomes, and diversified farming, leading to a significant increase in the state's agricultural growth rate.

The Indian National Congress, now 140 years old, is at a critical juncture. Facing upcoming assembly elections, the party is recalibrating its campaign calls and alliances. Efforts are underway to rebuild credibility from the grassroots. The Congress is navigating complex political landscapes in states like Kerala, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

In her letter, Priyanka Chaturvedi called for strict guardrails on AI chatbots such as Grok, saying social media platforms must be made a safe space for women. She also underlined the need for better education of men from an early age to prevent such behaviour. Calling the practice an unacceptable and gross misuse of an AI function, Chaturvedi also criticised Grok for enabling this behaviour by adhering to such requests.

A severe diarrhoea outbreak has struck Bhagirathpura in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Contaminated drinking water has caused at least 10 deaths and sickened over 1,400 residents. Officials identified a leakage in the main water pipeline near a police outpost, leading to sewage contamination. Residents are now fearful of the water supply, even from tankers.