The Khanna police in Punjab has initiated the process of registration of an FIR against 49 government personnel in Samrala subdivision who allegedly breached their official duty in connection with conduct of ensuing Panchayati Raj Institute elections. Most education department employees deployed as APRO/PRO/PO failed to join the mandatory duty during the rehearsal held on December 11.

Haryana Power Minister Anil Vij on Friday ordered the suspension of an ASI for delaying the recording of a victim's statement in an abetment-to-suicide case. Besides, he directed a committee to investigate the case. The committee will be headed by the ADC, with the DSP and social representatives as members, and asked for a detailed report within 10 days.

Air travellers are exposed to unexpectedly high levels of ultrafine particles and black carbon, a study has found. Measurements from 16 European flights showed pollution spikes during boarding, taxiing, and descent. Levels ease at cruising altitude but rise again on landing. The particles also spread kilometres beyond airports, affecting nearby neighbourhoods much like busy urban roads.

Biocon Founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw took to X to react to a post by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) wherein they shared a video of two men dumping garbage on a Bengaluru road. The GBA imposed ₹5,000 fine on the men. "These miscreants ought to have been fined ₹50,000...The 2 people in the video also should have been arrested," Mazumdar-Shaw wrote.

Astronomers have discovered an ultra-hot super-Earth named TOI-561 b that completes a full orbit around its star in just about 10 hours. Researchers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and found that the rocky exoplanet lies extremely close to its star. It causes surface temperatures high enough to melt rock. According to scientists, it may host a global magma ocean.

Brijesh Kalaria quit his movie editing job in a global media services company in Mumbai and started beekeeping in 2016. He began with ten bee boxes on a trial basis at his village in Rajkot and currently produces 5,000 kg of organic 'ajwain' honey annually, clocking ₹40 lakh turnover. He is also a government trainer and trains people for free.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a video showing a skydiver’s parachute getting stuck on an airplane’s tail at 15,000 feet during a jump in North Queensland. The skydiver was pulled backwards by a sudden force, causing the reserve parachute to deploy and tangle on the tail. The skydiver then cut the reserve parachute and deployed main parachute to land safely.

Keeper, a New York based AI matchmaking startup, has raised $4 million in pre-seed funding led by Lightbank and Lakehouse Ventures. Founded in 2022, Keeper focuses on long-term compatibility using psychometric data, values, and preferences, moving away from swipe-based dating toward intentional, relationship-driven matches.

During his visit to India, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani celebrated UNESCO’s recognition of Italian cuisine by serving risotto at a high profile event in New Delhi. A viral clip shows him personally plating the dish for guests. Tajani also met PM Modi and EAM Jaishankar to discuss trade, defence and cultural ties, highlighting growing India–Italy cooperation.

A viral video from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, shows a massive black bear calmly crossing a busy street as vehicles stop to let it pass. Moments later, a man recklessly attempts to approach and touch the animal, prompting the bear to charge at him. The incident sparked online outrage, with users criticising the man's behaviour and warning that such actions are prohibited.