TODAY NEWS ON December 15, 2025

After Bondi Beach shooting, Israel’s Netanyahu accuses Australian PM of fuelling antisemitism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Sunday’s deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday celebration in Sydney and said he had warned his Australian counterpart that the country’s support for Palestinian statehood would fuel antisemitism. Gunmen opened fire during an event marking the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 16 people in what Australian officials described as a targeted antisemitic attack. One of the suspected gunmen was also killed.

Survivor in actor rape case expresses profound disenchantment with trial court judgment

The survivor in the 2017 actor rape case on Sunday made a scathing social media post, signalling profound disenchantment with the trial court’s verdict last week. In the post narrating her uphill struggle for justice and the setbacks she endured, she pointedly says that as early as 2020, she as well as the prosecution “noticed changes in the way the case was being handled, especially when it came to one particular accused.”

Delhi chokes on toxic smog; air quality panel flags ‘recurring negligence’, high dust levels

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Sunday pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) over “evident gaps” and “recurring negligence” in the upkeep of roads in the city. It said flying squads inspected 136 road stretches maintained by the DDA. Out of them, 15 showed high levels of visible dust, 38 recorded moderate dust levels, 61 had low dust intensity, and 22 were found to have no visible dust.

Government plans umbrella commission in ‘overhaul’ of higher education regulatory framework

In its new Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, set to be introduced in Parliament this session, the Union government has proposed an “overhaul of the regulatory framework” of higher education in India by establishing a 12-member Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) umbrella commission, under which separate regulatory (viniyaman), accreditation (gunvatta), and standards (manak) councils will operate.

Never allowed territory for activities against Bangladesh’s interests: India

The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday (December 14, 2025) asserted that forces that are “inimical” to the people of Bangladesh have never found a foothold on the territory of India. The response came soon after the neighbouring country alleged that “incendiary” remarks by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—who is currently based in India—have been inciting her supporters to launch “terrorist” attacks in order to “thwart” the February 2026 election.

Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty elected first woman president of Press Club of India

Senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty was on Sunday elected as the first woman president of the Press Club of India. Ms. Pisharoty’s team swept all office-bearers and managing committee positions, scoring an emphatic 21-0, in the elections held on Saturday (December 13). The counting of votes took place on Sunday. Afzal Imam was elected as the secretary general of the Club while Jatin Gandhi emerged victorious as the vice-president.

Trade deficit falls 61% in Nov. 2025 to $6.6 billion on surging merchandise exports

India’s trade deficit plummeted by more than 61% in November 2025 to $6.6 billion, due to strong growth in merchandise exports and a fall in merchandise imports. Notably, India’s exports to the U.S. in November 2025 were higher than in October, as well as in November last year.

Polls for BMC, 28 other municipal corporations on Jan. 15, vote count on Jan. 16

Polls to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including cash-rich Mumbai, where elections are due since early 2022, will be held on January 15 and votes will be counted on January 16, the State Election Commission (SEC) announced on Monday (December 15, 2025). As many as 2,869 seats in these municipal corporations will be up for grabs, said the SEC.

CBI arrests three accused of sending bulk phishing messages

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three accused persons and unearthed a major network through which phishing messages were being sent across the country. The messages were tricking people into various cyberfraud activities, including fake digital arrests, loan scams, and investment frauds. The arrestees have been identified as Sonveer Singh, Maneesh Upreti, and Himalaya.

Lionel Messi winds up G.O.A.T. India Tour with Delhi leg; fans in frenzy

The Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour that began in shambolic fashion ended in a blaze of glory as devotional fans joyously gathered to catch a glimpse of a man that does things on the field that are often beyond human comprehension. Most importantly, the much-publicised and anticipated event had the ending it wanted, after a chaotic beginning in Kolkata on the tour’s first stop on Saturday (December 13, 2025).

Shafali Verma named Player of the Month for her Women’s World Cup final exploits

India opener Shafali Verma’s match-winning performance with the bat in the Women’s World Cup final against South Africa last month has earned her the ICC ‘Player of the Month’ award for November. Shafali, who came in as a replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal in the semifinal against Australia, smashed a 78-ball 87 -- the highest by an Indian opener in a Women’s World Cup final — as the hosts amassed a mammoth 298 for 7 and then secured a 52-run win to lift their maiden World Cup trophy in Navi Mumbai.

Jaishankar to visit Israel on December 16 to discuss bilateral and regional issues

External Affairs Minister of India, S. Jaishankar, will arrive in Israel on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) to meet the country’s top leadership and discuss bilateral and regional issues, according to sources in Jerusalem. Mr. Jaishankar will meet President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hold bilateral consultations with his counterpart Gideon Sa’ar during his short visit, they said.

Bondi Beach shooting: Australian PM proposes tougher national gun laws after mass shooting in Sydney

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday (December 15, 2025) proposed tougher national gun laws after a mass shooting on Sydney’s Bondi Beach left at least 15 people dead. Mr. Albanese said he would propose new restrictions, including limiting the number of guns a licenced owner can obtain.

Jimmy Lai: A Hong Kong rags-to-riches media tycoon who became fierce critic of Beijing

To his supporters, former media mogul Jimmy Lai is a fighter for democracy. To his opponents, he’s a traitor to his motherland. Now, he was convicted in the landmark national security trial, which began in 2023, and could send him to prison for the rest of his life. He was convicted of conspiracies to commit sedition and collusion with foreign forces.

Ukraine peace talks stretch into second day at start of pivotal week for Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will resume talks with the U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys in Berlin on Monday (December 15, 2025), after the U.S. side said a “lot of progress” had been made on ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. Mr. Zelenskyy will again meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner after five hours of talks on Sunday (December 14, 2025), with other European leaders also holding meetings in Berlin throughout the day.