Dr. Shashank Vikram, Consul General in Birmingham, denied rumors of an extension, has gone back to New Delhi. He's set to take over the role of Consul General in Bali in upcoming New Year. Venkat Murugan steps in as his replacement in Birmingham, with Aman Bansal as the acting CG for now. Dr. Vikram, facing challenges in prior postings, successfully navigated the pro-Khalistani lobby during his three-year tenure, bringing positive changes, including a spike in visa applications from 5000 to 40000. His new assignment in Bali is anticipated to be less challenging due to the region's predominant Hindu population and strong cultural ties with India in the ASEAN partnership.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during a visit to Jammu and Kashmir, emphasized, "The Army does not have to only save the nation from enemies; it also has the responsibility to win the hearts of people." Following recent civilian deaths in Poonch, Singh added, "Ensure such things don't happen again," expressing a commitment to end terrorism in the region. The deaths occurred during an anti-terror operation, leading Singh to express prayers for the injured soldiers, assuring, "Each of our army personnel is important to us." Singh, accompanied by Army Chief General Manoj Pande, reviewed the security situation.

Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) carried out violent protests in Bengaluru, targeting high-profile areas like Kempegowda International Airport and prominent business districts. The group, advocating for the mandatory use of Kannada, damaged English signboards, claiming they "undermined the official language of Karnataka." KRV convener TA Narayana Gowda defended the actions, stating, "If you ignore Kannada, or put Kannada letters in small (print), we will not let you operate here." Police have taken preventive measures, detaining several protesters involved in the attacks.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday criticized the BJP government for politicizing the upcoming Ram Temple idol installation ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22nd. Launching an attack on the BJP without naming the party, Tharoor said he saw "religion as a personal attribute and not one for political misuse." "Temples are not the government's business; unemployment, inflation, public welfare and national security are. But the media allows the temple to turn the focus away from those issues," Tharoor said. The Kerala MP added that he hadn't been invited to the event but told the media that by making it a major news story, they were "playing into the hands of those who want to milk political benefit from the Ram Mandir."  

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has established a temporary committee to oversee the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) following the suspension of its newly elected administration. Led by Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, the ad hoc committee, including MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar, aims to ensure fair play, accountability, and transparency. The decision was prompted by alleged arbitrary actions by the WFI's President and officials, violating constitutional provisions and good governance principles. IOC chief PT Usha expressed concern in a letter stating, "The Indian Olympic Association has recently become aware that the recently appointed President and officials of the WFI have made arbitrary decisions in violation of their own constitutional provisions and against the principles of good governance espoused by the IOC and further without following due process overturned the rulings of the IOA appointed ad hoc committee."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medalist Bajrang Poonia, in Haryana's Jhajjar amid protests over Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election results. Wrestlers, led by Poonia, returned awards after BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide, Sanjay Singh, became WFI president. Poonia emphasized Gandhi's interest in witnessing their daily wrestling routine. Poonia previously announced returning his Padma Shri until justice prevails for those fighting harassment. The Sports ministry suspended WFI activities, citing violations of the Sports Code and control by former officials amidst sexual harassment allegations.

A thick blanket of fog wreaked havoc in Delhi-NCR today, causing significant disruptions to transportation. Indira Gandhi International Airport faced delays in 110 flights, both domestic and international, as visibility plummeted to near zero. Additionally, 25 trains to Delhi experienced delays due to the adverse weather conditions. The cold wave persisted, with the minimum temperature dropping to 7 degrees Celsius in the capital. Commuters grappled with low visibility on the roads, and night shelters witnessed an influx of homeless seeking refuge from the cold. The Regional Meteorological Department predicts continued dense fog until December 29, with relief expected after an active western disturbance in the Himalayan region from December 30.

Prabhas-starrer "Salaar: Cease Fire – Part 1" experienced a notable setback on its fifth day, securing only Rs 23.50 crore in box office collections across all languages. Directed by Prashanth Neel, the film's initial stellar opening of Rs 95 crore witnessed a sharp 49% decline on the fifth day, bringing its total domestic earnings to Rs 278.90 crore. Despite this dip, "Salaar" holds the distinction of outperforming Shah Rukh Khan's "Pathaan," Jawan, and Ranbir Kapoor's "Animal" as the top opener of 2023. The film's box office trajectory remains closely watched amidst fluctuating performances.

A late-night ammonia gas leak at a fertiliser manufacturing unit in north Chennai's Ennore led to the hospitalization of over 25 people. The incident occurred around 11:45 pm on Tuesday, causing discomfort, nausea, and faintness among residents. The leak, identified in the sub-sea pipe of Coromandel International Limited, triggered panic as locals evacuated their homes. Swift response from officials and effective evacuation measures prevented major casualties. Tamil Nadu's Environment and Forest Department reported that the leak was quickly detected, stopped, and addressed, with residents later given the all-clear to return home.            

After the cricket World Cup final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where over a ton of plastic waste was generated, an NGO has recycled it into a positive initiative. The plastic waste, primarily from plastic bottles, has been converted into 10 benches and reflector jackets. Fifty kilograms of plastic were used for each bench, soon to be placed in parks. Additionally, each reflector jacket, made from 10 plastic bottles, will be distributed to cleaning staff under the municipal corporation. This sustainable effort aims to repurpose waste for community benefit.