The Hindu Morning Digest: 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.”

Congress warns Election Commissioners, threatens strict action over ‘vote theft’

In a no-holds-barred attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission, the Congress on Sunday (December 14, 2025) held a public rally at Delhi’s Ramlila ground in which party chief Mallikarjun Kharge said those indulging in alleged vote chori (theft) are “gaddars” (traitors) and need to be removed from power.

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.

Neither Amit Shah nor Sangh army can succeed in Tamil Nadu, says Chief Minister Stalin

DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday charged that right-wing and reactionary forces were working with unprecedented vigour following the BJP’s third consecutive victory [at the national level], but asserted neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor the entire Sangh Parivar would be able to win in Tamil Nadu.

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.