Stay updated with the biggest headlines for Thursday, 4 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.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for a two-day state visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Palam Technical Airport to personally welcome the Russian leader a gesture signalling the continued strength of the decades-old strategic relationship between both nations.
India and Canada have resumed discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and investment, with a focus on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu, in Delhi to explore modalities, macro objectives, and the overall framework of the trade pact.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav strongly raised a serious issue concerning the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and teachers in Parliament on Thursday. He stated that following the Supreme Court's decision of September 1, approximately 2.5 million teachers nationwide, and over 200,000 in Uttar Pradesh alone, have been plunged into a state of insecurity and uncertainty.
Aanand L Rai’s much-anticipated romantic drama, Tere Ishq Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, has achieved a major box office milestone. The film crossed the Rs 100 crore mark worldwide in less than a week, solidifying its status as one of the fastest-performing love stories of 2025.
Breathing in Delhi has once again become a challenge as the city grapples with hazardous air quality levels. The National Capital has been waking up to smog-heavy mornings almost daily, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) slipping deeper into the poor and very poor zones.
Recently, a musician duo released a viral video on Instagram, using a parody song to shed light on Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. The video cleverly riffs on the popular 2000 track Maaeri, originally sung and composed by Palash Sen, and also featuring actress Rimi Sen. In their version, humor meets harsh reality, as the lyrics describe the struggles of dealing with Delhi’s smog in a witty yet cynical manner.
Many political implications are being drawn from the Delhi MCD election results. While the BJP suffered a setback despite winning the most seats, the AAP and Congress surprised with their victories.
Mayoral elections are scheduled for four months, so what do the equations say? Let's find out. The results of the by-elections for 12 seats in the Delhi Municipal Corporation will not significantly impact municipal politics.
In yet another security scare for India’s largest airline, an IndiGo flight bound for Hyderabad from Sharjah was diverted to Mumbai on Thursday following a bomb threat.
The development comes only hours after a similar threat forced another IndiGo aircraft, operating on the Madinah-Hyderabad route, to make an emergency landing in Ahmedabad.
Amazon Prime Video has officially announced the fifth and final season of its hit and globally acclaimed web series, The Boys. The announcement was made on December 3, when the platform shared a series of posters on social media, confirming that Season 5 will be the final chapter of the franchise. This announcement has generated immense excitement among fans, as Season 5 will feature the confrontation they've been waiting years for—the ultimate showdown between Billy Butcher and Homelander.
This morning, the nation lost a highly respected, serious, and honest administrator. Swaraj Kaushal, husband of Sushma Swaraj and father of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, a senior advocate and former Governor of Mizoram, passed away at the age of 73. His death was confirmed by the Delhi BJP, which stated that the last rites would be performed at 4:30 PM today at the Lodhi Road crematorium. His deep understanding of politics, the judiciary, and public life, along with his sharp intellect, set him apart. His passing is considered a great loss for the country.
The central government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the US has deported 18,822 Indian citizens since 2009. Meanwhile, 3,258 Indian citizens have been deported since January 2025. This information was provided by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in response to a written question in the Rajya Sabha.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informed the Rajya Sabha that state governments and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have also investigated human trafficking cases. According to government information, the highest number of human trafficking cases have been reported from Punjab. In a written response to a question, the External Affairs Minister told the Rajya Sabha that a total of 18,822 Indian citizens have been deported to India since 2009.
The admission process for Nursery, KG, and Class One in private schools across Delhi officially began today, December 4th. This process is for the academic session 2026-27, and all schools have made both online and offline forms available. Parents can apply for their children until December 27th. The Directorate of Education had already issued clear instructions to all schools to publish details of the admission criteria, point system, and the number of seats available on their websites and the DoE portal. This aims to ensure that parents face no confusion while applying and can understand the process with complete transparency.
Realme has launched its new mid-range smartphone, the Realme P4x 5G, in India. This handset features a large 7000mAh battery, providing long backup and reducing the need for frequent charging. The company has designed it specifically keeping gaming and heavy usage in mind.
The company has not yet officially announced the price of the device. According to reports, the base variant (6GB RAM + 128GB storage) may be priced at around ₹16,000. The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant will be available for approximately ₹18,000. The top variant with 256GB storage is expected to be priced under ₹20,000.
South Indian film star Samantha Ruth Prabhu and acclaimed filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, of the popular Raj & DK duo, exchanged wedding vows on December 1 in an intimate ceremony held at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore.
Shortly after the wedding, speculation surfaced online questioning whether Raj was still legally married to his ex-wife, Shyyamali De. While Samantha and Raj chose not to comment publicly, Shyyamali has now shared her perspective on the matter through heartfelt Instagram stories, opening up about her emotional journey in the wake of widespread attention.
December 4 marks India’s annual Navy Day, a day dedicated to honoring the Indian Navy’s valor, dedication, and contribution to national security. On this day, the nation recognizes the sacrifices and achievements of naval personnel who safeguard India’s maritime interests.
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all High Courts to submit all the information on pending acid attack cases across the country within four weeks. The Top Court expressed strong disapproval over a case pending for 16 years in a Delhi court, terming it a “national disgrace.” The case has been pending in the Rohini court since 2009.
A bench comprising Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued the order on a public interest petition (PIL) filed by acid attack victim Shaheen Malik. The Court also described the delay in Malik's case as a "national shame." The case has been pending in the Rohini court since 2009.
Work is progressing rapidly under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This process is placing immense pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Several serious incidents, including suicides by BLOs, have been reported. Considering the increasing workload, the Supreme Court has now intervened on behalf of the BLOs and directed states to deploy additional staff.
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued several clear directives to states to reduce the workload on BLOs. These include: reducing working hours, deploying additional staff, and considering requests for exemptions on humanitarian grounds. The court also stated that any BLO can approach the court directly with their problems.
An IndiGo Airlines flight 6E-058, en route from Medina, Saudi Arabia, to Hyderabad, was forced to make an emergency landing at Ahmedabad airport in Gujarat. According to sources, the aircraft received a bomb threat. Approximately 180 passengers and six crew members were on board. The airport security team and local police immediately responded, ensuring the safe landing of the aircraft and the safety of the passengers.
Whenever Vladimir Putin travels outside Russia, he is always accompanied by a full team of chefs. This evening, when his IL-96 aircraft lands at Delhi airport, it will contain Russian tvorog (cottage cheese), Russian ice cream, Russian honey, and bottled water, all packed in separate compartments. This is not a whim, but a measure taken under strict security and health protocols.
Putin doesn't always eat food prepared by Indian chefs. During his visit to the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in December 2014, the entire floor was taken over by the Russian security agency FSO. All Indian spices were removed from the hotel kitchen.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has sharply criticised the Modi government, stating that it appears “insecure” as it is reportedly not allowing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Her remarks come just hours before Putin’s scheduled arrival in New Delhi, triggering heightened political discussion across the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi today on his special aircraft. He is coming to India with his largest-ever cabinet delegation. Upon his arrival in Delhi, he will hold an important meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister's residence. Putin's high-profile visit has further intensified the political activity.
On the fourth day of the winter session of Parliament, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, told the media that the government does not want a meeting to take place between the Leader of the Opposition and the Russian President. He termed this as a matter of concern for the democratic process.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted extensive search operation in Haryana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into an illegal ammunition smuggling case. The network allegedly sourced weapons from Uttar Pradesh and supplied them to various parts of Bihar.
According to NIA officials, the raids were conducted at 22 locations linked to several suspects accused of procuring and transporting illegal ammunition. The raids were part of the agency's investigation under case number RC-01/2025/NIA/PAT, registered earlier this year. Teams of NIA officers, along with local police forces, simultaneously searched homes, storage facilities, and businesses believed to be used by those involved in the smuggling racket. The raids continued as of Thursday morning.
Opposition MPs on Thursday staged a protest in front of the Makar Dwar at the Parliament complex against the rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR and several parts of North India. The MPs wore oxygen masks and held a banner mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement, which read, "Mausam ka maza lijiye" (Enjoy the weather).
Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest. The protesting MPs demanded a discussion on air pollution in Parliament.
Renowned Tamil film producer AVM Saravanan passed away on Thursday morning in Chennai. He was 86 years old and had been battling age-related illnesses for some time. His death came just a day after his 86th birthday (3 December).
Saravanan's funeral will be held at the AVM Studios premises. His body will be kept on the third floor of the studio to allow family, close friends, members of the film fraternity, and the general public to pay their last respects. The family announced that the cremation will take place at 3:30 PM.
Indian airline IndiGo is currently facing a major crisis. Its flights from several major airports across the country are being continuously cancelled. On Thursday alone, more than 100 flights were cancelled. Technical issues and a shortage of crew members have resulted in long waits for passengers at airports.
The impact of winter is steadily intensifying in Delhi. The snowfall in the mountains is directly affecting the capital's weather. The mercury may drop to 5 degrees Celsius in the coming days, further increasing the chill.
The Meteorological Department has indicated that the skies will be clear on December 5th, but cold winds will blow throughout the day. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 22 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be around 6 degrees Celsius.
As the city woke up on Wednesday morning, a distinct chill was felt in the air. The sun shone, but its warmth was mild. As the day progressed, the weather slightly softened, but cold winds kept people wearing warm clothing.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India begins today (Thursday). He will be on an official visit to India on December 4th and 5th. During this visit, Putin will participate in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.
It should be noted that the Russian President will visit India after a gap of four years. He last visited India in 2021 to participate in the India-Russia Annual Summit. However, this visit of Putin to India is considered more significant than the previous visit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India begins on December 4th. This visit, taking place after a gap of four years, is significant because India-Russia relations are taking a new direction in the current geopolitical landscape. Putin's previous visit in 2021 lasted only a few hours, while this time his program will span two days and include several important meetings, felicitation ceremonies, and high-level talks.
A layer of fog and smog has enveloped the NCR, including the national capital and the air quality has been recorded in the "very poor" category.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average air quality index (AQI) at 7 am on Thursday was recorded at 300, which falls in the very poor category.
Air quality remains at dangerous levels in many areas of the capital even today. The AQI was recorded at 318 in Anand Vihar, 284 in Alipur, 343 in Bawana, 312 in Burari, 331 in Chandni Chowk, 324 in Dwarka, 257 around Delhi Airport, 304 in ITO, 342 in Jahangirpuri, 343 in Rohini, 319 in Vivek Vihar, 343 in RK Puram, 302 in Narela and 340 in Mundka. Earlier, on Wednesday, the average AQI of the capital in 24 hours was recorded at 342.
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