The prestigious INS Shivaji, the Indian Navy's premier technical training establishment, was presented with the original 'Vir Chakra' awarded posthumously to Vice-Admiral Benoy Roy Chowdhury for his exceptional valor during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. In a solemn ceremony at Lonavala, Vice-Admiral Dinesh Prabhakar, Distinguished Chair-Marine Engineering at INS Shivaji, received the distinguished military bravery award. Vice-Admiral Chowdhury, the sole technical officer of the Navy ever decorated with this honor, showcased remarkable leadership and technical prowess during the war, earning acclaim and the title of 'An Engineer Par Excellence' from Admiral SM Nanda.

In a historic move, the Colorado Supreme Court rules Donald Trump ineligible for the state's ballot due to his role in the Capitol attack. Trump becomes the first candidate deemed unfit for the presidency under a constitutional provision. The decision, applicable to Colorado's primary, may impact the general election. Trump vows a U.S. Supreme Court appeal, setting the stage for a landmark case examining his eligibility. The lawsuit tests the 14th Amendment's application, raising questions about Trump's role in post-election violence. Trump's campaign denounces the ruling as undemocratic, promising a swift appeal.

Struggling with high unemployment, Haryana has advertised 10,000 construction jobs in Israel, which faces a labour shortage amid its prolonged war with Hamas. The move has drawn criticism from workers and opposition for considering sending Indians to a "warzone". It came despite the MEA recently informing Parliament that no discussion was held with Israel on replacing Palestinian labourers. Haryana has defended it, claiming the aim is to stop agents from fleecing people over foreign job offers and there's no compulsion to go. A worker, Chandan, said, "Israel is involved in a war, why is the government sending us there? The government keeps saying that our country is becoming wealthy." The opposition Congress also slammed the BJP-led regime for not providing enough local jobs to youth.

Savitri Jindal, India's richest woman, experienced the highest net worth rise among Indians in the past year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Her fortune increased by $9.6 billion, bringing her total wealth to around $25 billion, surpassing Wipro's Azim Premji. In contrast, Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man, registered a rise of nearly $5 billion with his total wealth now at $92.3 billion. Jindal is chairperson of the OP Jindal Group running listed firms like JSW Steel, JSW Energy, and Jindal Stainless. Savitri Jindal's significant wealth growth positions her as the fifth-wealthiest individual in India, marking a remarkable financial ascent. Gautam Adani was the only Indian billionaire whose net worth dropped during this period, by $35.4 billion to $85.1 billion. But he remains the second-richest Indian after Ambani.

The Reykjanes eruption is "unlikely, but not impossible" to impact air travel like the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcano that grounded planes for weeks, said Prof Matthew Watson, Professor of Volcanoes and Climate at the University of Bristol. "This type of eruption doesn't generally produce much ash, which is what tends to ground planes," he said. Unlike in 2010 when an eruption under a glacier caused explosive reactions with water that turned molten rock into harmful ash, volcanologist Dr Sam Mitchell of Bristol University said "The volcano is not erupting explosively with water. So people should not worry about the airspace over Europe because the current eruption is nothing like what happened with Eyjafjallajökull." The greatest risk locally is from volcanic fumes which are uncomfortable, especially to those with respiratory problems.

A 78-year-old billionaire British businessman and former UK honorary consul in Guayaquil, Colin Armstrong, has been kidnapped from his home in Ecuador's Los Rios province, BBC reported. Armstrong and his partner Katherine Paola Santos were abducted in the early hours of Saturday from a farm he owned near Guayaquil, according to police in the South American country. Local media reports say 15 criminals disguised as police officers forcibly entered his property and snatched the couple. The attackers drove the couple away in Armstrong’s black BMW, which was later found abandoned nearby. However, Ms. Santos has been rescued and is now being investigated by prosecutors and police in Ecuador over the kidnapping. Veteran lawyer Ricardo Vanegas said in a tweet, ''Following the kidnap of Colin Armstrong, it's become known that Katherine Paola Santos was born in the Colombian city of Barranquilla and began having surgery to look more feminine and that her birth name is Alberto Santos.'' [Photo: @Ricardo_Vanegas on X]

Hrithik Roshan shared a captivating poster from the upcoming film 'Fighter', featuring him and Deepika Padukone. The image showcases a shirtless Hrithik and Deepika in a backless black dress, sharing an intense gaze in water. Hrithik announced the release of the song "Ishq Jaisa Kuch" on December 22. The film's teaser, showcasing impressive aerial action, has generated excitement. Directed by Siddharth Anand, "Fighter" marks the first collaboration between Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, promising an exhilarating cinematic experience for fans. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in January 2024.

In a compelling encounter at St George's Park, South Africa secured an 8-wicket win over India, leveling the ODI series at 1-1. Tony de Zorzi shone with his maiden century (109 balls), while Reeza Hendricks contributed an 8th half-century (71 balls). Nandre Burger's remarkable bowling, leading to an IPL contract with RR, restricted India to 211 in 46.2 overs. Burger emerged as the pick of the bowlers with three wickets. Despite KL Rahul's 18th ODI half-century (60 balls) and Sai Sudharsan's 2nd half-century (65 balls), South Africa's dominant performance sealed the victory.

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee today proposed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's name for Prime Minister, taking a 180-degree turn from her declaration yesterday that the Opposition bloc will not take a call before polls. Twelve parties applauded the plan to have "the country's first Dalit PM," sources said. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, known for being out-of-sync with Congress, also seconded it, saying "This is a chance to have the country's first Dalit Prime Minister." However, Kharge poured cold water on the plan, politely refusing as he only wants to work for the downtrodden. "We have to win first and think what to do to win. What is the point in discussing PM before having MPs," he later told reporters.

Indian Navy successfully negotiated the release of an injured crew member from hijacked MV Ruen, shifting him to INS Kochi for initial first-aid treatment. The sailor sustained a bullet injury in a piracy incident 680 nautical miles east of Bosaso, Somalia. Stable but requiring specialist care, he was transferred to an Omani port. Promptly responding to a Mayday message on December 14, INS Kochi, aided by maritime patrol aircraft, intercepted the Maltese-flagged vessel. The Indian Navy continues to monitor the situation as the hijacked ship enters Somalia's territorial waters, reaffirming its commitment to maritime assistance.