Breaking News, December 18

• Our support for each other during COVID was very good. We were happy to provide ‘Made in India’ vaccines and certainly, now we look forward to easier travel between India and Tajikistan through recognition of our vaccine certificates.
• When we look back at these 30 years, our bilateral cooperation has progressed very well and we are looking at new areas of cooperation. We have begun a very important development partnership.
• We have been very concerned about the developments in Afghanistan. And the participation of the Secretary of your (Tajikistan) Security Council in the Regional Security Dialogue, which we hosted in November, is something which is deeply appreciated.

A powerful typhoon left at least 19 people dead, knocked down power and communications in entire provinces and wrought widespread destruction mostly in the central Philippines, officials said Saturday.

Cold winds from the country’s northern parts swept Rajasthan as minimum temperatures in Fatehpur and Churu dropped below the freezing point, a meteorological department official said on Saturday.

Temperatures on Friday night dropped by one degree Celsius across the state, the official said and added that the department has issued a cold wave warning for many parts of Rajasthan.

Fitch has downgraded Sri Lanka's sovereign rating to 'CC' from 'CCC', saying there is an increased probability of a default in coming months in light of the country's worsening external liquidity position underscored by a drop in foreign-exchange reserves.

NASA is shooting for next Friday — Christmas Eve — to launch its newest space telescope. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed Friday that the James Webb Space Telescope will attempt to blast off on Dec. 24. A European Ariane rocket will provide the lift from South America's French Guiana.

Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi is presently at 319 (overall) in the 'very poor' category, as per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)-India