Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday received Oman’s national honour, the First Class of the Order of Oman. This is the 29th international honour given to PM Modi. The award has earlier been given to global leaders such as Queen Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela, and King Abdullah of Jordan. PM Modi is in Oman as part of the final leg of his three-nation tour. He was welcomed by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in Muscat. The two leaders held talks on trade and ties. India and Oman also signed a free trade agreement during the visit. (PC: HT)

Kartik Sharma’s IPL journey is a story of struggle and hope. The 19-year-old was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. His family faced deep hardship to support his dream. His mother sold her jewellery and the family sold farmland to fund his training. During a domestic tournament, Kartik and his father even slept hungry after running out of money. Kartik kept working hard despite years without selection. Strong domestic performances changed his fate. Today, his success brings pride to his family and hometown. (PC: NDTV)

Hospitals across England are on high alert after new data showed flu cases hit record levels for this time of year. NHS England said more than 3,100 flu patients were in hospital last week. The rise has started to slow in some regions, but pressure remains high. The warning comes as resident doctors continue their strike action during the busy winter period. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said flu and strikes are putting strain on services. NHS leaders urged people to seek care when needed and get flu jabs. Ambulance delays have improved, but hospitals remain under stress. (PC: Sky News)

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the G RAM G Bill, which will replace the MNREGA scheme. The bill guarantees 125 days of rural employment per household every year. Opposition MPs protested strongly, accusing the Centre of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by removing his name from the law. They shouted slogans and tore copies of the bill in the House. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the move and blamed Congress for politicising Gandhi’s name. He said the government follows Gandhi’s ideals through welfare schemes. The House was adjourned after continued protests by Opposition members. (PC: India Today)

Ukraine is secretly building new long range missiles to boost its war effort. The Flamingo cruise missile is made in hidden factories across the country. Workers assemble the weapons under strict security. Phones are banned and locations are concealed. Ukraine says it now makes more than half of the weapons it uses. The Flamingo can strike targets deep inside Russia. It has a range of up to 3,000 kilometres. Officials say these weapons help hit oil sites and factories. Ukraine is scaling up production despite constant attacks. Leaders say domestic arms give security when foreign support is uncertain remains fragile. (PC: BBC)

More than nine lakh Indians have given up their citizenship in the last five years. Since 2022, over two lakh people have renounced Indian passports every year. The data was shared in Parliament by the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials said the reasons are personal and linked to life choices abroad. India does not allow dual citizenship, which forces many migrants to surrender their passport. Better jobs, rights, and long-term security in countries like the US, UK, and Canada also play a role. Experts say the post-Covid period and growing global mobility have increased the trend. (PC: India Today)

New satellite images show repair work at Pakistan’s Murid Airbase after an Indian Air Force strike in May. A large red tarpaulin now covers a key building hit during Operation Sindoor. The strike caused major roof and internal damage. Earlier images showed only partial cover, but the full structure is now hidden. Experts say tarpaulins are used to conceal repairs from satellites. Murid Airbase is important for Pakistan’s drone operations. The IAF attack came after heavy drone activity from Pakistan. Other damaged airbases and runways have also been repaired in recent months. (PC: NDTV)

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was called off due to dense fog. The match never started as visibility stayed poor all evening. Umpires inspected the ground several times before abandoning the game. The decision has raised serious questions about planning by cricket authorities. Winter fog is common in north India, especially in December. Experts say hosting a night match in Lucknow was a clear mistake. The washout reduced India’s preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup. Fans and former players have demanded accountability for repeated scheduling errors in Indian cricket. (PC: HT)

Aditya Dhar’s film Dhurandhar has created history on Spotify. All eleven songs from the movie entered the Spotify Global Top 200. This is the first time a full Hindi film album has achieved this feat. Earlier, only single Indian songs made global charts. The album also debuted at number two on the Global Top Albums list. It ranked fifth in the US albums chart. Composer Shashwat Sachdev created the music. The film stars Ranveer Singh and is close to earning Rs 500 crore at the box office. The success shows growing global interest in Bollywood music. (PC: India Today)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a crackdown on hate speech after a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed when gunmen attacked a Jewish event during Hanukkah. Albanese said new laws will target people who spread hate and violence. The government will create a new offence for serious hate speech. Courts will treat hate as a factor in sentencing. Visa rules will be tightened for offenders. A taskforce will also work to stop antisemitism in schools and online. Albanese said Jewish Australians must feel safe. Some groups supported the move, while others warned about free speech concerns. (PC: BBC)