A plane, held near Paris over trafficking suspicions, departs for Mumbai with 303 passengers, mostly Indians. French prosecutors cleared the Airbus A340 after two days of questioning. The charter, bound for Nicaragua, faced grounding at Vatry airport after a trafficking tip-off. Departure approval was expected today, and the plane is anticipated to land in Mumbai this afternoon. While French courts questioned passengers, some hearings were canceled due to procedural irregularities. The Indian embassy collaborated with French authorities for stranded passengers' welfare, providing consular access. Legend Airlines, the Romanian company, plans to seek damages, asserting no wrongdoing.

India's Aditya L1 spacecraft approaches a crucial phase, set to enter a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1). Launched on September 2, 2023, the journey spanning 15 lakh kilometers aims to culminate on January 6, 2024. The insertion into L1, vital for studying the Sun's atmosphere and magnetic storms, demands precise navigation. ISRO's team navigates challenges, ensuring constant monitoring and protection from solar radiation. Success will enhance ISRO's capabilities, unlocking new insights into solar phenomena and space weather's impact. Aditya L1's mission signifies a significant stride in understanding the Sun's mysteries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends warm Christmas wishes, saying, "Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! May this festive season bring joy, peace, and prosperity to all." He encourages celebrating the spirit of Christmas, emphasizing harmony and compassion, and recalls the teachings of Lord Christ. Midnight mass prayers at Delhi's Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic Church and Bengaluru's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral marked the festive eve. Christmas, observed globally on December 25, unites billions in religious and cultural celebrations, resonating with carol singing, dazzling lights, and the joyous spirit of the season.

Dense fog wreaked havoc on flight operations in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, causing delays and disruptions. The India Meteorological Department predicts very dense fog across the country till January 2. In Delhi, eight flights heading to Indira Gandhi International Airport were diverted due to zero visibility. The Delhi airport issued an advisory, notifying passengers of potential impacts on non-CAT III compliant flights. The CAT III instrument, an anti-fog landing system, is crucial in poor visibility conditions. Airlines, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, informed passengers about low visibility, urging them to check for updated flight information.            

Paytm's parent company, One97 Communications, has reportedly laid off 1,000 employees, impacting around 10% of its workforce. While disputing the exact number, Paytm confirmed the job cuts, emphasizing a cost-cutting initiative during a business realignment. The layoffs, spanning the past few months, notably affect Paytm's lending business, which saw significant expansion recently. The company aims to save 10-15% of staff costs this fiscal year, with AI-led automation replacing many roles. Paytm is shifting focus to new products in wealth management and building an insurance distribution marketplace while streamlining other teams.

Ukrainian officials report five civilians killed in Russian attacks on Kherson, southern Ukraine. Simultaneously, Russian-installed officials claim one casualty in Horlivka due to Kyiv's shelling. Kherson, abandoned by Russian forces over a year ago, faced continuous shelling, resulting in deaths and infrastructure damage. Gas and water supplies were disrupted, impacting a medical facility. In Horlivka, Ukrainian shelling destroyed a shopping center, leaving one woman dead and six injured. Moscow and Kyiv deny targeting civilians, yet ongoing strikes on critical infrastructure reveal escalating tensions in the conflict, with independent verification challenging conflicting reports from both sides.

Former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was house arrested, preventing her visit to Surankote following the deaths of three civilians in Poonch. Security forces had questioned eight individuals in connection with a militant ambush, resulting in four soldiers' deaths. Mufti, expressing concern on social media, highlighted the grim "ground reality" in the region, accusing the government of neglecting the true situation. The incident underscores tensions in J&K, with Mufti urging awareness and questioning how long the facade of normalcy can be maintained amid perilous circumstances.            

India recorded 628 new COVID-19 cases, maintaining an active caseload of 4,054. The total fatalities reached 5,33,334, with one new death reported in Kerala in the past 24 hours. The country's Covid tally stands at 4,50,09,248, and the recovery rate is robust at 98.81%, with 4,44,71,860 people having recuperated. The case fatality rate remains at 1.19%. The health ministry's data indicates the administration of 220.67 crore Covid vaccine doses. As the year concludes, India continues its vigilance against the pandemic, emphasizing vaccination and recovery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 99th birth anniversary. Visiting the 'Sadaiv Atal' memorial with President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi acknowledged Vajpayee's enduring commitment to nation-building. In a tweeted video, Modi praised Vajpayee's unique humor, describing how he could defuse tense moments with a well-timed joke. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a pivotal figure in Indian politics, led the BJP to power and served as Prime Minister for a total of six years. His birth anniversary serves as a reminder of his profound impact on the nation's political landscape.

A fire on Christmas Eve disrupted the New York subway, causing chaos and delays in one of the world's busiest transit systems. Smoke engulfed the subway, trapping passengers who struggled to find their way out, captured in videos circulating online. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene for rescue efforts. Reports suggest the fire may have started from an electric bike, resulting in at least nine injuries. The New York City Transit Subway reported delays in both directions, with at least two trains canceled. The situation prompted a swift emergency response, as authorities work to investigate the cause of the subway blaze.