Centre Allows UPSC to Perform Aadhaar-based Authentication for Candidates’ Verifications

In Thoubal District, an armed militant was killed, and six others were captured by Manipur Police Commandos after a fierce gun battle. Two labourers were shot dead in Kakching districts by unidentified perpetrators. A cache of arms, ammunition, and electronic devices was seized in Thoubal, and border fencing work along the Myanmar border near Moreh has accelerated. Full Article

Sources reveal that Rahul Gandhi may visit the children of Manoj and Neha Parmar in Sehore district, MP, after the couple's post-death rituals. The Parmars, who were found dead after an ED raid, left a letter alleging harassment by the ED and pressure to join the BJP. The ED has issued a statement refuting the claims and stating that the search was conducted peacefully. Full Article

Russia is withdrawing its military from the front lines in northern Syria and posts in the Alawite Mountains after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, but is keeping its main bases in the country. The future of Russia's bases, including the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and Tartous naval facility, is uncertain following Assad's ousting. Moscow is regrouping and redeploying its forces based on developments on the ground, with equipment and senior officers being moved back...

The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, is visiting Indonesia from December 15 to 18 to strengthen bilateral defence relations and enhance Naval Cooperation. He will engage in discussions with top Indonesian officials, covering areas like maritime security and joint training initiatives. The visit highlights the strong maritime relations between the two countries in line with the India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo Pacific. Full Article

Avnish Kumar, a recent Bihar Public Service Commission exam passer, was kidnapped and forced into marrying a woman he allegedly had a relationship with by a group of assailants, adding to the rise of 'Pakadwa Vivah' cases in Bihar in 2024. Gunjan's family abducted Avnish after he refused to marry her, leading to a distressing forced marriage incident captured in a viral video, with Avnish denying any romantic involvement and filing a complaint of kidnapping...

A Dutch court rejected a request by 10 pro-Palestinian NGOs to halt the Netherlands' weapons exports to Israel, citing the state's policy discretion and advising against hasty judicial intervention, as reported by Al Jazeera. The court dismissed the NGOs' claims that the Dutch government, as a Genocide Convention signatory, should prevent genocide by Israel, mentioning civilian casualties in Gaza and alleged use of Dutch weapons by Israel in warfare. The ruling came despite the NGOs'...