The purge in Washington does not pause the war. Strikes continue, Hormuz remains closed, and Brent crude is still dancing around $109 a barrel. For India, the command chaos in the Pentagon is another layer of uncertainty piled on five weeks of conflict that was already straining every buffer Delhi has.
A police team in Indore was attacked with stones while confiscating illegal liquor, resulting in injuries to two officers. Authorities have seized a large quantity of liquor and are searching for the attackers.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance has asked the finance ministry to spell out a clear legal strategy, including options such as a "golden share" or indirect control structures, to maintain strategic oversight in public sector entities if state ownership falls below 51 per cent.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to express Pakistan's support for the Kingdom amidst escalating tensions in West Asia, reaffirming their mutual defence pact and commitment to regional stability.
In a statement issued by Iran's consulate in Mumbai, it said, "At present, Iran essentially has no floating crude or surplus available for international markets. The US Treasury Secretary's remarks appear aimed at reassuring buyers and managing market sentiment."
Among Sensex firms, Trent, HDFC Bank, Adani Ports, ICICI Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Bharat Electronics, Titan and Asian Paints were the major laggards. However, State Bank of India, Infosys, Axis Bank and Maruti were among the gainers.
India has expressed condolences over the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following a joint US-Israel strike, amidst rising tensions in West Asia and criticism over the sinking of an Iranian warship.
'What we have yet to see on either the US or the Iranian side is willingness to compromise on their ultimate demands and the flexibility to reach an agreement to end the war.
An Air India flight bound for Vancouver returned to Delhi after being airborne for seven hours due to an aircraft approval error. The Boeing 777-200 LR was not approved for the route, leading to the flight's return and subsequent rescheduling.
China has welcomed the appointment of Vikram Doraiswami as the new Indian Ambassador, expressing optimism for improved Sino-India relations. Doraiswami, a seasoned diplomat with experience in China, is expected to play a key role in managing complex bilateral issues and fostering cooperation.
The Ministry of External Affairs informed a parliamentary committee that nearly 1,000 Indians remain in Iran amidst the West Asia conflict, and 23,000 students in the Gulf region missed CBSE exams due to the turmoil.
The NIA alleged that the accused were in touch with ethnic armed groups in Myanmar and supported proscribed Indian insurgent outfits by supplying weapons, drones and providing training.
Stock markets are likely to trade in a range-bound manner in a holiday-shortened week where trading activity of foreign investors, currency movement and global macroeconomic data announcements are expected to drive sentiments, analysts said. Several global markets may see subdued activity on account of Christmas and New Year holidays, an expert said.
India's foreign trap coach Peter Wilson explains Zoravar Singh Sandhu's absence from the ISSF Shotgun World Cup, citing workload management. The team aims to avoid burnout ahead of the 2028 Olympics qualification.
The rupee slumped 5 per cent in 2025 as persistent capital outflows from foreign investors, alongside heightened dollar demand from importers, making it one of the worst-performing Asian currencies.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the West Asia conflict's impact on the global economy, particularly energy security, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also engaged with GCC ambassadors and his Sri Lankan and German counterparts on the same issue.
In his resignation letter to US President Donald Trump, Kent called the conflict with Iran unjustified, contending that Washington, DC entered the war due primarily to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby rather than clear, direct threats to national security.
Tedros said that the war in the Middle East has reached a perilous stage with strikes reportedly hitting the Natanz Enrichment Complex in Iran, and the Israeli city of Dimona, where a nuclear facility is located.
Border trade between India and China through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district is set to resume this year after a six-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bengaluru City Police arrested 16 individuals, including two women, for alleged drug peddling and seized contraband worth 5.24 crore. The Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch made the arrests, seizing MDMA ecstasy pills, MDMA crystal, ganja, and hydro ganja. Nine foreign nationals overstaying their visas and allegedly involved in drug peddling were also taken into custody.
A man was shot dead in Delhi's Chhawla area, with police investigating a possible connection to a foreign-based gangster.
The official statement highlighted that these "blatant Iranian attacks" have also targeted members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and several other Arab and Islamic nations.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning noting that the incident took place approximately 15 nautical miles north of Sharjah.
Two expatriate workers were killed after debris from a downed drone fell in an industrial area in the Sohar province of Oman.
The Bombay High Court has denied bail to a man accused of trafficking educated youth on the pretext of providing them jobs abroad, only to coerce them to carry out cyber fraud activities.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over 581 crore belonging to Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) and Reliance Commercial Finance Limited (RCFL), companies of Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, as part of an ongoing investigation.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is exploring ways for Russian trade counterparts to use accumulated Indian rupees (INR) for imports or capital investments in India, aiming to boost INR-Rouble transactions and reduce reliance on the US dollar.
Indian stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty experienced a significant decline, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising crude oil prices.
'We expect inbound numbers in 2025 to come close to pre-pandemic levels -- if not fully match them -- by early 2026.'
The United States, which entered this war in expectation of a short, sharp win along the Venezuela model, is now preparing for deeper involvement in a conflict it does not fully control, without the allies it typically relies on, against an adversary that is not behaving as expected, in a global environment that is already absorbing economic shock. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the country believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solutions to resolving disputes and that the continued escalation of the conflict serves no one's interests.
Bhowneesh Mendiratta leads a 12-member Indian squad at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, marking the start of the qualification cycle for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are actively pushing Trump to take the war to its bitter finish and 'erase' Iran's presence in the geopolitics of the region. Simply put, the two most powerful Sunni Arab oligarchies are on the same page as Israel. Such interference increases the risk of a breakdown in dialogue between the US and Iran, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
India on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in Iran and the Gulf region, urging all sides to exercise restraint and prioritise civilian safety.
The targeted eastern area is of immense strategic importance, as it is where the "majority of the country's oil resources are located."
Punjab Police busted a foreign-based terror module, arresting two individuals and recovering a fully assembled RDX-laden Improvised Explosive Device (IED), foiling a major terror conspiracy.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) arrested four passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for allegedly smuggling 64.394 kilograms of hydroponic ganja worth over Rs 64 crore.
'India's ties with Israel have to do with defence and general technology.' 'The war changes nothing in what India and Israel hope to get from the relationship.' 'It's not as though India will get significantly more benefits from Iran if India abandons Israel at this time.'
Equipped with advanced weaponry, the HMS Anson is fitted with "Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles" with a range of 1,600 km and "Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes," providing formidable offensive capabilities.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to host talks between the US and Iran to help resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, following reports of Pakistan's involvement in backchannel diplomacy.
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