In a major tourism boost, Iran has exempted Indian visitors from visa requirements along with 32 other countries, taking its visa-free list to 45 nations. Announcing the open-door policy on Friday, Cultural Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami said the move demonstrates Iran's eagerness to engage the world by easing access. Malaysia and Sri Lanka implemented similar visa waivers for Indians earlier. The relaxation also applies to Saudi Arabia, signalling a thaw after restored bilateral ties. However, European states only include Croatia so far. Iran ended visa rules for Qatar and several Muslim and Central Asian states too. But the absence of Western powers limits the ambitious effort to showcase Iranian attractions to global audiences.

On Hamas' 36th founding day, Israel substituted rockets for candles, expressing a wish for the Palestinian group's demise. Israeli spokesperson, in a post on X, stated, "Hamas was founded 36 years ago. May this birthday be its last." The ongoing land, sea, and air offensive against Hamas has lasted three months, resulting in over 18,500 deaths in Gaza. Amid global pressure, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged Israel to scale down, emphasizing the need to save civilian lives. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asserted, "It will last more than several months, but we will win and we will destroy them." Israel's leaders vow to continue "until victory" and "with or without international support."

The BSE Sensex achieved a historic milestone, crossing the 71,000 mark for the first time, with major gains from companies like Infosys, Tech Mahindra, and more. Market capitalization reached ₹357 lakh crore. The Sensex, launched in 1986, reflects India's financial health and has surged around 12,400 points in eight months. Asian markets also traded positively, while the US markets closed higher. This comes after the Sensex surpassed 70,000 earlier in the week, marking a continuous upward trend since March when it stood at 57,527. Nifty 50 also hit 20,000 in late November.            

The family of Nikhil Gupta, charged in the plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, seeks Supreme Court assistance. They claim Gupta's illegal detention in the Czech Republic and request intervention from the Ministry of External Affairs and Home Ministry. Gupta, held since June, alleges a political vendetta between the US and Indian governments. Procedural failures in the extradition proceedings are cited, including the absence of an arrest warrant and denial of basic rights. The Czech Ministry of Justice confirms Gupta's arrest at the US's request, accusing him of involvement in a 'murder for hire' plot targeting Pannun in the US.            

During his annual news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced an unexpected encounter with an artificial intelligence-generated version of himself. The AI double, appearing via video link, questioned Putin about his views on artificial intelligence. Amid laughter from the audience, Putin, in his fourth hour of questioning, responded, "I see you may resemble me and speak with my voice. But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that will be me." The incident added a surreal twist to the marathon event, leaving attendees amused.            

In a major tax evasion probe, the Income Tax Department's raids on the Odisha-based distillery linked to Congress MP Dhiraj Kumar Sahu's family result in an unprecedented ₹353.5 crore cash seizure, marking India's largest ever. Using cutting-edge technology, officials now deploy geo-surveillance systems to detect potential hidden gold at Sahu's residences. The raids, initiated on December 6, target alleged tax evasion and "off-the-book" transactions. The BJP seizes the opportunity to counter opposition claims, while Prime Minister Modi promises the return of "looted money" amid growing public scrutiny.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to retire the legendary No. 7 jersey worn by former captain MS Dhoni. This move pays tribute to Dhoni's remarkable leadership, guiding India to all three white-ball ICC trophies. Following Sachin Tendulkar's No. 10 retirement, this marks the second jersey number retired by BCCI. Young and current players are instructed not to choose No. 7, leaving emerging talents with limited options. The decision aligns with global sports traditions, mirroring instances in football and basketball where iconic jersey numbers are retired to preserve player legacies.

China has sought clearance from Sri Lanka and Maldives for another research vessel, the Xiang Yang Hong 03, to explore the South Indian Ocean from January till late May 2024 after Shi Yan 6 completed its controversial surveying. While India objected earlier over security concerns of enabling Chinese mapping of the seabed for military operations, the 4813-ton ship plans to dock at Colombo and Male during deep water probing. As Beijing rapidly expands its naval footprint ringing India via bases abroad, New Delhi worries about past missions scanning terrain south of the Andamans towards Africa. Despite PM Modi's protests last year, Ranil's government had greenlit Shi Yan 6 which also patrolled near Chennai. Now with intelligence inputs on the next ship's sensitive agenda, India aims to convince the island nations to deny access to safeguard strategic interests.

Bollywood actor Shreyas Talpade suffered a heart attack and underwent an emergency angioplasty procedure on Thursday night. The 47-year-old was rushed to Mumbai's Bellevue Hospital after he collapsed at home following complaints of uneasiness, likely triggered by his return from filming upcoming movie "Welcome to the Jungle" earlier that day. While an ICU stay was necessitated post-surgery, the medical facility's officials stated Talpade is recuperating well now. Urging privacy, his family member confirmed the actor, renowned for acclaimed roles in "Iqbal" and "Dor" alongside commercial hits like "Golmaal", is doing much better. They expressed confidence about his recovery from the sudden cardiac episode that cut short his busy schedule.

Rajasthan will get a new government today led by first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma who will take oath as the Chief Minister on his 56th birthday. PM Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda will attend the swearing-in along with Deputy CMs Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa at Jaipur's Albert Hall. Governor Kalraj Mishra will administer the oath to the trio at the heavily secured venue that has invited CMs from BJP-ruled states too. Roads are dotted with welfare scheme posters as final touches get done before the high-profile 12 pm ceremony. Sharma welcomed the VVIP guests' arrival on X while BJP state unit wished him birthday blessings that he acknowledged, thanking them ahead of his greatest political feat so far.