- Centre-farmer talks underway: The sixth round of talks between the Centre and farmer unions on the three contentious farm laws passed by the Narendra Modi government in September is underway at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. The farmers have been campaigning at different borders of Delhi since November 26 against the laws.
- UK flights suspended: Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that the Centre has extended the temporary suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till January 7, 2021. The flights operations were suspended because of a new coronavirus strain.
- 14 new cases of Covid strain: India has recorded 14 fresh cases of the new coronavirus strain that was first reported in the UK in September, taking the total number of such cases to 20, the government said.
- UK clears Oxford vaccine: Britain has become the first country in the world to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The development comes even as it battles a major winter surge driven by a new, highly contagious variant of the virus.
- Maharashtra extends lockdown: The Uddhav Thackeray government on Wednesday announced an extension of lockdown in the state till January 31, 2021. Maharashtra is one of the five states and Union Territories that account for 60 per cent of total active coronavirus cases in the country.
- R-Day parade to be shorter: Fewer people will be allowed to witness the Republic Day parade at Rajpath, with the government following strict social distancing protocols due to the pandemic, people familiar with the developments said. The parade itself will be shorter, with smaller marching contingents compared to previous years.
- 3 terrorists killed in J&K encounter: At least three terrorists have been killed in an encounter at Lawaypora area of Srinagar. After 18 hours of gunfight, the security forces finally succeeded in killing the terrorists in an overnight encounter.
- Rajnath on anti-conversion law: Union minister Rajnath Singh has said he personally does not support conversion for marriage and questioned why it should be required. The minister made the statement after being questioned about the alleged misuse of the anti-conversion law enacted by the Uttar Pradesh government recently.
- Post-Brexit trade deal signed: The European Union’s top officials have formally signed the long fought-over post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel signed the papers during a brief ceremony in Brussels. It will now be flown to London for British PM Boris Johnson to sign them.
- Nepal blow to China: The Chinese delegation deputed by President Xi Jinping to unite the faction-ridden ruling Nepal Communist Party has wrapped up its four-day visit, unable to deliver on its objective or even forge an alternative alliance led by the communists for national elections scheduled for next year, people familiar with the development said.