The BJP-led Maharashtra government has decided to modernize madrasas in the state by allocating Rs 10 lakh to each madrasa and introducing science and math as mandatory subjects. The government  has  issued a resolution saying as per PM Modi, the modernization of madrasas was an important task. As a part of it, the state minority department has undertaken various programmes to modernize the education system in Islamic schools and provide them adequate grants as well.

As per the resolution, the state government under Dr Zakir Husain Madrasa modernization programme will provide funds to set up libraries, develop infrastructure, and pay salaries to the teachers of madrasas. The eligible madrasas will be able to avail of the benefits of the state government’s grants and schemes.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hinted that the schemes launched during the earlier BJP government led by Raman Singh will start again in the near future. Sai, however, didn’t elaborate on the number of schemes that will be relaunched and what will be the fate of the welfare programmes of the Bhupesh Baghel government.

The programmes scrapped by the previous Congress regime included Charan-Paduka scheme, Ayushman Yojana among others of the earlier Raman Singh government. Under the Charan Paduka scheme, the tendu leaves pluckers who are mostly tribals were provided foot-wears free of cost but it was phased-out.

Similarly, the Baghel government decided to withdraw the universal healthcare scheme of the Centre Ayushman Bharat or Modi-care programme and replaced it with  Khoobchand Baghel Health Assistance Yojana in 2020.

Similarly, the BJP’s earlier ambitious scheme multi-crore ‘Sanchar Kranti Yojana’ was also brought to an end by the Congress regime with an allegation that the smartphones given away under the scheme were pre-loaded with the Modi and the Raman apps while the government revenue were used to campaign for the party. 

The new BJP government in Rajasthan has terminated the Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitra Internship Programme, a flagship initiative of the former Gehlot government. Under this program, 5,000 young individuals were engaged in internships, receiving a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000.

The initiative, launched in 2021, aimed to extend its reach by recruiting an additional 5,000 youngsters, as evident from ongoing advertisements. However, the newly established Bhajan Lal Government has abruptly issued an order, ending their services effective December 31.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is on a five-day visit to Russia, signed an agreement on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project when he met Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on Dec 27 .

South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", was found dead  on Dec 27 in an apparent suicide.

The actor was discovered inside a vehicle at a park in central Seoul.

Lee, 48, had been under police investigation over his alleged use of marijuana and other psychoactive drugs.  Once celebrated for his wholesome image, local news outlets reported that the actor was being dropped from television and commercial projects following the scandal.

A graduate of South Korea's prestigious Korea National University of Arts, Lee made his acting debut in 2001 in a television sitcom titled "Lovers". He later won acclaim for his performances in a variety of roles, including a charismatic chef and a diligent architectural engineer who learns his wife cheats on him.

Globally, he is best known for his portrayal of the wealthy and shallow patriarch in director Bong Joon-ho's 2019 Oscar-winning film "Parasite".

His last film, this year's horror flick "Sleep" -- in which he played a husband whose sleepwalking eventually leads to horrifying circumstances --  was well-received critically and featured in the Critics' Week section at the Cannes festival.

The administration of Argentina's new President Javier Milei said that his government won't renew contracts for more than 5,000 employees hired this year before he took office.

The move was part of a sweeping plan of cutbacks and devaluations announced by the right-wing libertarian since he took office on Dec. 10 to transform Argentina's struggling economy.

The contracts for other government employees, who were hired prior to 2023, will be reviewed, authorities said. The 2023 cutoff is apparently meant to target the practice of outgoing presidents padding the payrolls in their final year.

With inflation expected to reach about 200% by the end of the year, Milei has pledged to reduce government regulations and payrolls, and allow the privatization of state-run industries as a way to boost exports and investment.

The cutbacks have already drawn protests but Milei has vowed to forge ahead.

Approximately 300 changes announced previously would earmark many government companies for privatization, and loosen protections for renters, employees and shoppers.

The steps include a 50% devaluation of the Argentine peso, cuts to energy and transportation subsidies, and the closure of some government ministries. They come amid soaring inflation and rising poverty.

Milei, a 53-year-old economist who rose to fame on television with profanity-laden tirades against what he called the political caste, became president with the support of Argentines disillusioned with the economic crisis.

A key committee in the Turkish parliament on  Dec 26 gave the greenlight for Sweden's NATO membership, clearing another hurdle in the Nordic country's accession process in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Sweden's NATO bid had been stalled for months amid opposition from Turkey and Hungary and recently it was further complicated after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan linked it to Ankara's request for F-16 fighter jets from its ally the United States.

Sweden and Finland dropped decades of military non-alignment and sought to join the US-led defence organisation after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Their bids won fast-track approval from all NATO members except Turkey and Hungary. Decisions within the alliance must be unanimous. The two ultimately relented and Finland was accepted as NATO's 31st member in April.

Turkey and Hungary remain the only North Atlantic Treaty Organization members left to ratify Sweden's bid 19 months after it applied for membership.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan's former foreign minister and a close aide of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, was on  Dec 26 arrested at the Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi for 15 days in another case, a day after the Supreme Court granted bail to him in the cipher case.

Qureshi, Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, was arrested for 15 days under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, a colonial-era law that allows a government to arrest anyone if there was a threat of public disorder.

The 67-year-old two-time former foreign minister was incarcerated in jail along with Khan in the cipher case but the apex court granted them bail in the case last week.