Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Friday, 26 December—politics, crime, sports, and more—all summarized for quick reading. Get instant access to breaking news, major developments, and trending stories in just one click. Perfect for busy readers who want news on the go.
Top news of the day
Violence erupted suddenly in Chomu, a town near Jaipur after a dispute between two communities over the removal of stones near a religious site.
Police arrived at the scene to try and calm the situation, but the dispute escalated, and the crowd began pelting stones at the police. Several police officers were injured in the incident. The security has been tightened in the area with the heavy police deployed in Chomu.
The escalating violence and communal tensions ahead of the general elections in Bangladesh are a growing cause for concern. A recent incident of mob lynching of a Hindu youth has sent shockwaves not only across Bangladesh but also throughout South Asia. Several Indian film personalities have openly expressed their outrage over the incident and raised questions about the safety of minorities.
The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, who worked in a garment factory in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. He was allegedly beaten to death by a mob. The incident sparked widespread outrage after a video of it went viral on social media. Many condemned it as inhumane and reprehensible.
Gold prices in India continue their upward trend. On the morning of December 26th, the price of 24-karat gold in Delhi rose to ₹1,39,410 per 10 grams. 22-karat gold was trading at ₹1,27,810 per 10 grams. According to market experts, this surge in gold prices is due to global cues and strong demand.
Gold prices remain strong in other major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. In these cities, 24-karat gold is trading at ₹1,39,260 per 10 grams and 22-karat gold at ₹1,27,660 per 10 grams. Similar rates are being observed in Pune and Bengaluru, indicating that gold rates are fairly uniform across the country.
On Friday, the last trading day of the week, the domestic stock market opened on a weak note. In early trading, the 30-share BSE Sensex fell by 116.87 points, or 0.14 percent, to 85,291.83. The NSE Nifty 50, meanwhile, declined by 29.90 points, or 0.11 percent, to trade at 26,112.20. Global cues and profit-booking pressure weakened market sentiment.
Along with the stock market, the rupee also faced pressure. In early trading, the rupee weakened by 22 paise against the US dollar, reaching 89.93. Limited foreign capital inflows and a stronger dollar contributed to the weakness in the currency market.
Zepto, which is giving Zomato and Swiggy tough competition on the streets in the food and grocery delivery sector, could now challenge the two giants in the stock market as well. This startup company, which delivers everyday essentials in 10 minutes, is now preparing to launch its IPO. According to market reports, Zepto is quietly filing its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI on Friday.
According to sources, Zepto's IPO could be worth around ₹11,000 crore or more. However, the company has not yet made any official announcement in this regard. All the information that is coming to light is from market sources. If this IPO materializes as per the estimates, it will be considered one of the largest startup IPOs in recent years.
A tragic bus crash in eastern Mexico has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, with 32 others left injured, according to authorities in Veracruz. The accident, which occurred Thursday, has prompted an ongoing investigation into the cause of the collision.
On Thursday, a large number of people, including Hindu saints, took to the streets of Janakpurdham in Nepal to protest against the atrocities being committed against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The protest, which began at the Janaki Temple complex in the ancient city of Janakpur, saw protesters chanting slogans demanding justice for Deepu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth killed in Bangladesh.
An Indian student has died in Canada. 20-year-old Shivank Awasthi was shot and killed in a shooting that took place in Toronto on Thursday, December 25. The Indian Consulate in Toronto has expressed its condolences on Shivank Awasthi's death.
The United States has carried out deadly airstrikes on ISIS (Islamic State) targets in Nigeria. The military operation was confirmed by US President Donald Trump himself. He stated that the operation was carried out by the US military under his direct orders. The attacks took place in northwestern Nigeria, where ISIS-affiliated terrorist groups have reportedly been active for a long time.
President Trump shared information about the operation on his social media platform, Truth Social. He wrote that the US military precisely targeted ISIS strongholds. Trump said that this operation demonstrates America's military strength and its commitment against terrorism.
A severe cold wave continues to grip the entire Himalayan region, from Kashmir to Darjeeling in West Bengal. Temperatures have plummeted to as low as 7 degrees Celsius below zero in many areas. The combination of a cold wave and clear skies is causing a sharp drop in nighttime temperatures. The intense cold has disrupted normal life.
After three days of respite, the cold has intensified again in the Kashmir Valley. Clear skies on Wednesday night led to a sharp drop in minimum temperatures. In Srinagar, the minimum temperature fell to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, compared to 3 degrees the previous day. Temperatures also dropped by about 1.5 degrees in the Jammu division.
Indian Railways has issued a notification regarding an increase in passenger fares. These new rates came into effect on December 26th. The Ministry of Railways stated that this step was taken to strike a balance between operational costs and providing affordable services to passengers. This is the second time fares have been revised within a year; the previous increase was in July.
The railways have clarified that there is no increase in fares for journeys up to 215 kilometers in second-class ordinary trains. This will directly benefit daily commuters traveling short distances. However, for distances exceeding 216 kilometers, a fare increase of 1 paisa per kilometer has been implemented for ordinary class.
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