Modi-Trump Talk Trade as Deal Remains Elusive; Don't Choke, 'India Sets Its Own Air Quality Standards'; Indigo’s Directors Can't Evade Responsibility for Crisis
Convicts say NIA offered sweet plea deals amid prolonged pre-trial limbo, With new social media vetting, US delays Indian H-1B interviews to mid-2026, Hindutva groups in Lanka now active
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Snapshot of the day
December 11, 2025
Siddharth Varadarajan
Two months after their last conversation — and a week after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Delhi — Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that he had a “very warm and engaging” phone call with US President Donald Trump. The call came as India scales back its imports of Russian crude and a US trade delegation in Delhi continues protracted negotiations on a bilateral deal. No further details of what the two leaders discussed are available.
The Election Commission has extended its deadlines for collecting enumeration forms from electors and publishing draft voter rolls as part of its special intensive revision in six states and Union territories: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Uttar Pradesh. The latter was given the lengthiest extension and officials in that state must finish enumeration by December 26 (as opposed to today) and publish draft rolls by December 31 (as opposed to December 16). West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry and Lakshadweep did not receive extensions.
Delhi’s Shahdara district court today granted interim bail to activist Umar Khalid, one of the still-jailed accused in the 2020 Delhi riots ‘conspiracy case’, from December 16 to 29 to attend his sister’s wedding. He must furnish a bond of Rs 20,000 and two sureties of like amount, and may not use social media during his time on the outside. The Supreme Court yesterday had indicated its willingness to decide Khalid and his fellow jailed accused’s bail pleas by the 19th. That day would mark his 1,923rd day of pre-trial custody (not including other interim bail days).
Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has submitted a detailed dissent note to the selection panel for top transparency and vigilance posts after finding that only 7% of shortlisted candidates for chief information commissioner, information commissioner and vigilance commissioner positions came from SC, ST, OBC or minority communities, reports Manoj C.G.. This followed his remarks in Parliament a day earlier about skewed representation in the committee that appoints election commissioners.
The Indian rupee plunged past 90 per dollar on today, marking Asia’s worst-performing currency, as weak corporate dollar sales and stalled US trade talks exposed India’s economic vulnerability. The currency has lost over 5% this year, hit by U.S. tariffs of up to 50% that have slashed exports and dented
