Students can catch today’s, 23rd December 2025, top news updates—from rising student-targeted violence in Bangladesh and India-New Zealand FTA talks to key domestic political and legal developments.

Top National Headlines

1. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Dy CM Samrat Choudhary call on PM Modi

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, a month after retaining charge of the eastern state following the NDA's landslide assembly election victory.

2. Demolition of MGNREGA will have catastrophic consequences, says Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi warned that the "demolition" of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) could adversely affect crores of rural citizens and called for united efforts to safeguard the scheme.

3. Goa nightclub fire: Police custody of Luthra siblings extended

Panaji: A Goa court extended by five days the police remand of Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub where a fire on December 6 killed 25 people.

4. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticises Election Commission over SIR exercise

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee alleged “gross errors” in the draft electoral rolls published after the enumeration phase of the Systematic Integrated Roll (SIR) exercise conducted in West Bengal.

5. Chinnaswamy Stadium matches under review after June stampede, says
Bengaluru: A committee has been constituted to assess the possibility of holding cricket matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Monday. Karnataka Home Minister

6. Arya Rajendran, Sachin Dev issued notice in KSRTC driver assault case

Thiruvananthapuram: Court issued notice to outgoing Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran and Balussery MLA KM Sachin Dev in connection with a complaint filed by a KSRTC driver alleging assault.

7. PV Anvar, CK Janu join UDF as associate members

Kochi: Leaders PV Anvar and CK Janu joined the United Democratic Front (UDF) as associate members, while Vishnupuram Chandrasekharan’s party will also receive associate membership, sources said.

8. India, New Zealand conclude FTA talks; pact to offer duty-free access, USD 20 billion FDI

New Delhi: India and New Zealand announced the conclusion of Free Trade Agreement talks on Monday, providing duty-free access for several domestic goods and committing USD 20 billion in FDI over 15 years.

9. Air India Mumbai-bound B777 suffers engine shutdown; returns to Delhi

New Delhi: A Boeing 777 aircraft bound for Mumbai returned to Delhi less than an hour after take-off due to a right engine shutdown, sources said.

10. Search operation in J-K widened to track terrorists in Udhampur forest belt

Jammu: Security forces expanded their search to locate terrorists hiding in Udhampur’s forest belt in Jammu and Kashmir.

11. RSS worker arrested for attacking children’s Christmas carol group in Palakkad

Palakkad: Police arrested an RSS worker accused of attacking a children’s Christmas carol group in Pudussery, raising concerns over the safety of festive activities.

12. Delhi HC seeks Gandhis' reply in National Herald case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court asked Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others to respond to the Enforcement Directorate’s plea challenging the trial court order that refused to take cognisance of its chargesheet.

13. Delhi HC protects actor R Madhavan’s personality rights

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court restrained several websites and online platforms from illegally using actor R Madhavan’s name or images for commercial purposes.

14. SC stays conviction of ex-Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate

New Delhi: The Supreme Court stayed the conviction of former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate in a cheating and forgery case and clarified he will not face MLA disqualification.

Top International Headlines

1. Another Bangladesh student leader shot in head after Hadi killing

Dhaka: Unidentified gunmen shot Motaleb Shikder, a key leader of the 2024 student uprising, just days after youth leader Osman Hadi was assassinated, highlighting escalating violence targeting student leaders in Bangladesh.

2. Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka as PM Modi’s special envoy

Colombo: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will arrive in Sri Lanka on Tuesday to meet with the island nation’s leadership on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3. India-New Zealand FTA to deepen bilateral economic engagement

Wellington/New Delhi: The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will enhance market access, promote investment flows, and strengthen economic ties, government officials said.

4. H-1B and H-4 visas as US expands social media screening

New Delhi: As the US expands social media checks for visa applicants, the US embassy in India has issued a worldwide alert for H-1B and H-4 applicants. The embassy advised applicants to anticipate longer processing times and apply as early as possible.

5. Top Russian general assassinated by bomb under his car

Moscow: A high-ranking Russian general was assassinated Monday morning in southern Moscow after a bomb planted beneath his vehicle detonated, according to federal investigators.