News

Here's a roundup of the major stories making waves today, drawing from global sources. I've categorized them for clarity.

Russia-India Ties Strengthen Amid Energy Pressures: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for a two-day state visit—his first since the Ukraine war—where PM Narendra Modi hosted a private dinner. Putin pledged "uninterrupted shipments" of fuel to India despite U.S. pressure to curb Russian oil imports, emphasizing Russia's role as a key energy supplier.
Taliban Public Execution in Afghanistan: Authorities in Khost carried out a public execution, highlighting ongoing human rights concerns under Taliban rule.
Europe Faces U.S. Criticism on Immigration: The Trump administration warned that Europe risks "civilizational erasure" due to immigration from Islamic-majority areas, sparking widespread outcry across the continent.
MH370 Search Resumes: Malaysia relaunched efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on December 30, over a decade after it vanished with 239 people on board.
Syria Uprising Plot Exposed: Exiled Syrian spy chief and billionaire cousin of Assad allegedly plotted uprisings with Russian involvement, per a Reuters investigation.

CDC Reverses Newborn Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommendation: In a controversial move, the CDC's advisory committee voted to drop the universal immunization for newborns against the liver-attacking virus, citing updated risk assessments.
Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Suspect Arrested: The FBI apprehended a man accused of planting pipe bombs near the Capitol on January 6, 2021; sources say he admitted to the act and expressed doubts about the 2020 election.
Supreme Court Backs Texas Gerrymander: The court approved Texas's racially gerrymandered congressional map, seen as favoring Republicans and potentially benefiting Trump in midterms.
Pentagon Probe on Defense Secretary: A watchdog found Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app risked operational security; lawmakers called a U.S. "double-tap" boat strike "one of the most troubling things" seen.
Immigration Surge in New Orleans: Border Patrol launched "Operation Catahoula Crunch," deploying 200+ agents to arrest 5,000 migrants over two months.

IndiGo Flight Chaos in India: The airline canceled 550 flights amid disruptions, with on-time performance at just 8.5%; operations expected to normalize by December 6, fully restored by February 2026.
HSBC Leadership Change: Brendan Nelson was appointed as the bank's new chairman, succeeding Mark Tucker and marking a return to internal promotions.
Deep-Sea Mining Impact: A study revealed a nearly 40% drop in sea-floor animal populations in mining zones, raising environmental alarms.
India's Smartphone Exports Boom: Exports to the U.S. surged over 300%, boosting the economy amid global trade shifts.

India Dominates FIH Junior Men's World Cup: India blanked Switzerland 5-0 to top Pool B in the tournament.
Lookout Pass Ski Resort Opens: The Montana resort kicked off its 91st season with discounted tickets and good snow conditions.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Nears: The group stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament (co-hosted by U.S., Canada, Mexico) are set to be revealed soon.