"News coming in that ED is going to raid @ArvindKejriwal's residence tmrw morning. Arrest likely," tweeted Aam Aadmi Party leader Aatishi, hours after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refused to appear for questioning in the alleged Delhi liquor scam. Party sources said they are ready for any eventuality, though Enforcement Directorate sources denied plans to arrest him. Kejriwal has skipped summons for questioning three times, most recently on Wednesday. Under the rules, a non-bailable warrant can be issued and he can be arrested for not appearing before the agency probing money laundering allegations.

Following the two explosions at an event commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran on Wednesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the blasts and said: "The enemies of the nation should know that such actions can never disrupt the solid determination of the Iranian nation." The United States rejected suggestions that either Israel or Washington was behind the blasts. "The United States was not involved in any way, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. "We have no reason to believe that Israel was involved in this explosion," he added. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the twin blasts which claimed at least 103 lives and injured more than 200.  

Renewed economic turmoil looms in Britain after escalating Middle East conflicts disrupted vital shipping lanes, economists warn. Last night's Israeli drone strike on Hamas leaders in Beirut provoked missile attacks towards commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported three explosions in the narrow 30km-wide Bab al-Mandeb strait. A Malta-flagged container ship confirmed explosions fired from Yemen's coast. Several shipping firms are still avoiding the Red Sea, adding thousands of miles and over a week to journeys around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. The British Retail Consortium cautioned shipping disruption could impact prices and availability of goods in the UK.

Turkey has rejected Britain's bid to send two minehunter ships to Kyiv through its waters, saying it will refuse passage to any military vessels linked to Russia or Ukraine for as long as the war continues. "Our pertinent allies have been duly apprised that the mine-hunting ships donated to Ukraine by the United Kingdom will not be allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits to the Black Sea as long as the war continues," the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said. Turkey says it has an "international obligation not to allow ships belonging to either 'belligerent party' in the conflict to use its Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits."

A four to five-month-old baby elephant who became separated from his mother and herd at a wildlife park in Tamil Nadu, India has been reunited after a drone search located the herd 2.5 miles away. An aerial photo published by the forest officials shows the mother and calf enjoying a nap, with the baby nestled against her chest. Usually, a herd waits for a missing calf but sometimes moves away for safety from humans. Once the calf was found, a day after he was separated, drones were used to locate the herd. Before taking the calf to the herd, forest officials bathed him and spread mud on him to reduce any human smells. Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS explained, "It means the mother and aunts will welcome the calf back and it reduces their anxiety about any human imprint." The matriarch chooses between the herd's welfare and a single calf's. Drones helped ensure this baby's distressing separation ended joyfully.

The Indian rupee is expected to gain value against the U.S. dollar over the next 12 months, according to investment bank Goldman Sachs. This is because more foreign money is likely to flow into India. However, the Reserve Bank of India may try to limit the rupee's rise as it targets to keep building up India's foreign currency reserves. Goldman Sachs believes the rupee could reach 81 rupees per dollar within a year. Equity portfolio flows into India will be "robust" as the Federal Reserve starts its interest rate easing cycle in 2024, while debt inflows will be strong following India's inclusion in JPMorgan's global bond indexes, Goldman Sachs added. On Tuesday, the rupee was 83.3 per dollar, after barely losing value last year. 

At least 95 people were killed and scores wounded in twin bomb explosions at an event commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Kerman, Iran on Wednesday. The bombings struck a procession near Soleimani's tomb, with videos showing bodies strewn on the streets and ambulances rushing to the scene. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed a "harsh response" to the "terrorist attack", the deadliest in Iran in 42 years. No groups have claimed responsibility yet, but suspicion may fall on Arab separatists and Sunni jihadists who have targeted civilians in Iran before. Soleimani was Iran's most influential military figure before being killed by a US drone strike in 2020. Wednesday's attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region after the deputy leader of Hamas was killed in an apparent Israeli drone strike in Lebanon.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, criticizing Nehru's China policy, emphasizes a 'less rosy' perspective if India had adopted a more 'Bharat' approach. Referring to Patel and Nehru's divergent views, he underscores historical tensions. The minister highlights Nehru's request to President Kennedy for help during the 1962 conflict, revealing a left-wing influence. This follows Jaishankar's recent critique of Nehru's 'romanticism' in China dealings. He urges a shift towards a more assertive 'Bharat' stance. "If we had been more 'Bharat,' we would have had a less rosy view of our relationship with China," Jaishankar asserts, emphasizing the need for introspection in shaping India's foreign relations.

Four ancestral properties of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, located in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, will be auctioned by SAFEMA on January 5. These agricultural plots in Mumbke village hold a reserve price of Rs 19.2 lakh, with the smallest plot at Rs 15,440. Previously, 17 properties of Dawood Ibrahim were auctioned by SAFEMA in 2017 and 2020. The upcoming auction includes properties belonging to Dawood's mother, Amina Bi, in his ancestral village. The bidding process is scheduled between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm on January 5, with several bids already received.

As INS Imphal, India's latest guided missile destroyer, prepares for deployment, Manipuri sailors on board express unwavering commitment to their mission despite the unrest in Manipur. Serving on the country's first warship named after a north-eastern city, the crew, including Sunshine Meetei and Boris Laishram, emphasizes the importance of peace back home. The warship, commissioned on December 26, signifies a significant moment for the sailors who see hope for enduring peace. INS Imphal's capabilities position it to confront challenges in distant seas, reinforcing India's commitment to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region.