1. PM to release PM-KISAN instalment worth Rs 18K cr today
Amid the ongoing farmers' agitation against the recently enacted Central farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the next instalment of financial benefit amounting to Rs 18,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on December 25.
2. BJP targets participation of 1 cr farmers to hear Modi during money transfer programme
In a major outreach to farmers, the BJP has made plans to ensure participation of over one crore of them at thousands of venues across the nation on Friday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi transfers Rs 18,000 crore to nine crore farmers and interacts with a section of them.
3. GOP blocks $2,000 checks as Trump leaves COVID aid in chaos
Trump is ending his presidency much the way he started it — sowing confusion and reversing promises all while contesting the election and courting a federal shutdown over demands his own party in Congress will not meet. The President's sudden demand for $2,000 checks for most Americans was swiftly rejected by House Republicans, throwing a massive COVID relief and government funding bill into chaos.
4. Santa wishes everyone a merry Christmas
Santa Claus addressed people all over the world and wished them a merry Christmas just before embarking on his annual journey around the globe.
5. Kerala's Pambakuda Saint John's Orthodox Church steeped in the memories of Santa Claus
Saint Nicholas born in a Lycia in the Turkish port city of Patara, in AD 3rd or 4th century, was the one who later became the legend, Santa Claus. Saint Nicholas came to be known as Christmas Father and New Year father initially in Germany. In Germany, the feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the New year day. It was the Dutch migrants in America who first started celebrating Saint Nicholas’s feast in America. These celebrations on St Nicholas’s feast day gradually transformed into a tradition in America.
6. Had my head in the sand before BLM: Paine; Regret making hurtful one-liners, says Cummins
Australia Test skipper Tim Paine said he was living with "his head in the sand" before the Black Lives Movement while his deputy Pat Cummins admitted to making hurtful "one liners" to players of colour that he now regrets.
7. COVID-19: Cricket Australia declares Melbourne as standby venue for Sydney Test
Cricket Australia on Thursday said Melbourne has been placed on standby to host the third Test between India and Australia if Sydney's COVID-19 situation renders it "untenable" despite efforts being made to continue with the original schedule.
8. Indian vaccine Covaxin has drawn global attention: ICMR
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that the Indian vaccine against COVID-19, Covaxin, has drawn global attention.
9. Despite one month protest, govt-farmers talk still remain inconclusive
The farmers' protest against the Agricultural Laws completed one month today and the protesters are adamant on demanding that the minimum support price be made statutory (MSP). However, it appears that the farmers are ready to be lenient on their earlier demand that nothing less than the repeal of the new farm laws is acceptable to them.
8. Kisan Sena warns of bigger protest if farm laws repealed
Terming the three farm laws beneficial for the farmers, the Kisan Sena has requested the government not to repeal them and warned of a bigger protest if they are withdrawal.
10. Seven US lawmakers write to Pompeo on farmers' protest in India
A group of seven influential US lawmakers, including Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, have written to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to raise the issue of farmers' protest in India with his Indian counterpart.
