A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would be ready for talks with Ukraine, the Kremlin has struck a different note, saying there is currently no basis for negotiations as none of the prerequisites are in place. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine withdrew from talks in 2022 at Britain's behest. Ukraine insists peace can only come after a full Russian withdrawal. Meanwhile, Putin acknowledged Russia needs better military capabilities while praising its defense industry. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said no one knows when the war will end but expressed confidence the US won't betray Ukraine's trust. Earlier, Putin asserted Russia will keep defending its interests though open to talks based on its national interests.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday suspended two more Opposition MPs - Thomas Chazhikadan (Kerala Congress-M) and AM Ariff (CPM) - for the remainder of the Winter Session for misconduct. This takes the total number of suspended Opposition MPs to 143. The MPs were suspended for displaying placards and entering the Well of the House. The Opposition has been demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the recent Parliament security breach. They allege their voices are being muzzled by the government. The government says the MPs were suspended for violating directives of the Speaker. The Winter Session ends on December 22.

Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film 'Dunki' was promoted in a grand way at the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai on Tuesday. A drone show formed SRK's signature open arms pose, while he also danced to the film's songs at the event. His manager Pooja Dadlani shared videos on social media, calling it a celebration for the film and SRK. Meanwhile, trade analyst Ramesh Bala said 'Dunki' may have a solo release advantage over Prabhas's 'Salaar'. He predicts a moderate Rs 40 crore opening day for 'Dunki' in India, going up to Rs 75-80 crores worldwide. 'Salaar' though is likely to see big numbers thanks to its genre and dubbed versions.

The UK's inflation rate fell more than expected to hit a 15-month low of 3.9% in November, buoyed by declining transport, recreation, food and non-alcoholic beverage prices. This marked the first monthly decline since September 2021 and undershot the 4.4% consensus forecast. Core inflation also hit a lower-than-anticipated 5.1% annually. The larger-than-forecast drop challenges the Bank of England's hawkish stance that rates need to stay elevated for longer to control inflation. Experts suggest easing pressures signal the BoE was too cautious on rate cuts as a weakening economy may compel policy loosening by autumn. The data brings relief on mounting cost of living woes after inflation hit a 41-year high of 11.1% in October.

Amidst the threat of the JN.1 variant after 4 deaths, a survey reveals only 1 in 9 Indians are opting for RT-PCR testing despite COVID-like symptoms. 76% admitted not getting tested while 12% underwent RT-PCR and 6% took Rapid Antigen test after family members showed symptoms recently. People cited seeing no point in testing and found it convenient to simply take medication instead. With Singapore reporting over 50,000 JN.1 cases, India risks missing cases especially if the strain causes severe disease in vulnerable groups. Experts suggest mandating testing for international arrivals from outbreak countries and providing free testing to improve surveillance. The reluctance and gaps in tracking despite a new threat looming large highlights persisting pitfalls in India's pandemic preparedness.

India's Covid-19 cases hit a seven-month high of 614 on Wednesday, along with 3 deaths, sounding alarm bells. The surge is linked to the JN.1 sub-variant detected first in Kerala. With cases rising, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired an urgent review meeting asking states to remain vigilant against new strains and conduct mock drills every quarter for efficient coordination. Total active cases stand at 2,300 currently. Mandaviya advised tracking variants via genome sequencing and managing public information to avoid panic. Experts highlighted 16 recent deaths were those with comorbidities and outbreaks localized so far. The spike after sustained decline and emergence of new sub-variants warrants stepping up surveillance and preparedness.

Amidst controversy over a Trinamool MP mimicking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Parliament, Rajya Sabha BJP and NDA members will stage a unique protest today by standing in solidarity with Dhankhar for an hour. A video of Kalyan Banerjee imitating Dhankhar's gestures sparked outrage from the Vice President who said he felt "deeply pained" over the personal attack, especially Congress leader Rahul Gandhi filming it. Dhankhar slammed Congress, saying its official handle posted then deleted the video insulting his farmer background and position as Rajya Sabha Chairman. The protests signal escalating tensions between the opposition and chairman Dhankhar over parliamentary conduct, after 141 MPs were suspended for the security breach protest.

In an embarrassing gaffe during the IPL 2024 auction, Punjab Kings mistakenly bid for uncapped player Shashank Singh and were denied a reversal by auctioneer Mallika Sagar. Chaos ensued at the PBKS table as they gestured to correct the accidental bid after the hammer went down. However, Sagar stood firm saying the deal was done, leaving PBKS fuming over acquiring an unwanted player. The blunder occurred when PBKS were aggressively bidding for domestic names, but co-owner Preity Zinta mistakenly raised the paddle for Shashank amidst their discussions. Despite PBKS's immediate realization and failed attempts at retraction, Sagar upheld the binding auction rules. The viral video encapsulated a rare, mortifying error no franchise would want while assembling their squad under high pressure. (Video Courtesy: @PunjabKingsUK on X)

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a festive portrait of distant young stars assembled into a formation remarkably resembling a Christmas tree. Located 2,500 lightyears away, the stellar nursery dubbed "NGC 2264" houses fledgling stars spanning just one-tenth to seven times the mass of our Sun. NASA creatively enhanced the data into a cosmic holiday scene, adding color and synchronizing the stars' blinking activity. In reality, these dramatic variations result from flares, hotspots, and gas flows—byproducts of the volatile early stellar lifecycle. As another year filled with Webb's groundbreaking cosmic imagery draws to a close, this sparkling rendering offers one more wonder just in time for the holidays—a Christmas tree cluster ornamenting our vast Milky Way.

Facing criticism over mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee defended himself saying he intended no disrespect as mimicry is an art form. He claimed to hold Dhankhar in high regard and was unsure why the Vice President took offense. The controversial act outside parliament earned rebukes from PM Modi and President Murmu. Earlier, Dhankhar had slammed it as a personal attack. As a symbolic gesture, ruling alliance MPs will stand in the Rajya Sabha for an hour to honor him. Banerjee dismissed it as routine behavior, recalling PM Modi mimicking others in Lok Sabha during 2014-2019. Despite the row, the TMC leader insists he bears no ill will towards Dhankhar.