India’s manufacturing sector continued to expand in December, albeit at a slower pace, as the HSBC Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined to 55.0 from 56.6 in November, marking a 38-month low, according to S&P Global. Despite the drop, the index remained well above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction.
Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that the sector ended the year on a solid footing despite the slowdown. She highlighted that the rise in new business should keep companies busy in the final fiscal quarter, while the absence of major inflationary pressures could continue to support demand.
New business continued to grow in December, but the pace was the slowest since December 2023. Factory output also expanded, though at its weakest rate since October 2022. The slower increase in orders prompted companies to be more cautious in purchasing raw materials, even though overall buying still rose.
Growth in export orders weakened during the month, with international demand increasing at its slowest pace in 14 months. Manufacturers who saw growth attributed it primarily to stronger demand from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. De Lima pointed out that the share of companies reporting higher international sales in December was about half the 2025 average, with exports largely confined to fewer markets. She added that with Indian manufacturers facing lower cost pressures than elsewhere, competitive pricing could help attract new business from other regions in the year ahead.
Job creation remained muted as manufacturers added only a small number of workers, marking the weakest increase since the current growth phase began in March 2024. Slightly higher unfinished work suggested that companies were generally able to manage workloads with existing capacity. While manufacturers remain optimistic about output growth in 2026, overall confidence fell to its lowest level in nearly three-and-a-half years. Although steady demand, advertising, and new product launches provide some support, concerns about strong competition and market uncertainty persist.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Shutterstock.
The Punjab government will provide residents holding Punjab Aadhaar and voter ID cards with health insurance coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh. The scheme, named the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, is set to be officially launched on January 15 by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Most beneficiaries are expected to receive their health cards within three to four months.
Under this initiative, individuals can access cashless treatment at over 800 government and private hospitals across the state. In response to the recent deaths in Indore due to contaminated water, Punjab’s Health Minister expressed condolences to the affected families and emphasized that their treatment should be provided free of cost. The minister also criticized the handling of the situation in Indore, noting that the city had previously received the Clean City tag, making the current scenario alarming.
Regarding water safety in Punjab, the Health Minister stated that treated canal water is being supplied in areas where uranium contamination has been detected in groundwater, and drinking water is being sourced from neighbouring villages in regions facing scarcity. Chief Minister Mann approved the scheme, which aims to provide free, cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh to every family in Punjab. The registration process for the scheme is set to begin shortly, and the health department has been directed to finalize all arrangements.
Mann had first announced the state health insurance initiative in September, highlighting that every family would be eligible for cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh. Beneficiaries will receive a ‘CM Health Card,’ allowing them to access these benefits. Registration will start in Taran Taran and Barnala districts, where special health camps will be held for two to three days. The process will be straightforward, requiring Aadhaar, voter ID, or passport for registration. This scheme aims to ensure that all citizens of Punjab can access free and improved healthcare services.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on friday invited South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to a state visit in Beijing, signaling China’s effort to improve ties with South Korea amid regional tensions, Al Jazeera reported. South Korea’s national security adviser, Wi Sung-lac, said Lee will meet Xi on Monday in Beijing before traveling to Shanghai to visit the historic site of South Korea’s provisional government during Japan’s 35-year colonial rule.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the leaders are expected to discuss “practical cooperation” in areas such as supply-chain investment, tourism, and responses to transnational crime. Wi added that peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula will also be on the agenda. The planned visit comes less than two months after Xi’s first trip to South Korea in 11 years during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, marking an unusually quick series of reciprocal state visits. This meeting precedes upcoming talks between South Korea and Japan. Relations between China and Japan remain tense, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November remarks suggesting a military response if China attacked Taiwan.
Wi reaffirmed South Korea’s stance on Taiwan, stating that the country “respects the one-China policy and acts accordingly,” which acknowledges Beijing’s claim over Taiwan while maintaining separate relations with the self-governing island. China’s recent live-fire exercises have further escalated tensions with Taiwan, prompting the United States to urge Beijing to ease military pressure. “China’s military actions and statements toward Taiwan and other regional actors unnecessarily raise tensions,” said Tommy Pigott, the US State Department’s principal deputy spokesperson.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
According to reports, Tommy Lee Jones’ daughter, Victoria Jones, has passed away. Victoria, 34, was reportedly found dead in a hotel room in San Francisco on New Year’s Day, January 1. TMZ was the first to report the news, citing law enforcement sources. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed to People that they were called to the Fairmont Hotel around 3 a.m. local time on Thursday for a medical emergency, where an unidentified individual was found dead. The San Francisco Police Department also told People that officers responded to the hotel that morning, where they met paramedics and officially declared an adult female deceased at the scene.
NBC Bay Area reported that Victoria was discovered in a hotel hallway early Thursday morning, citing police sources with direct knowledge of the investigation. The sources noted that her identity would not be officially confirmed until the body is examined by a medical examiner. Authorities have said there is no suspicion of foul play in her death.
Tommy Lee Jones, 79, had Victoria and her brother Austin, 43, with his ex-wife, Kimberlea Cloughley. Victoria appeared in a few of her father’s films as a child, including Men in Black II in 2002 and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada in 2005, which Tommy directed. Her passing has come as a shock to family and fans alike, marking a tragic start to the new year for the actor’s family.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Men in Black II.
As the clock strikes midnight, vibrant fireworks illuminate the night sky above Sydney Harbour Bridge, marking the arrival of the New Year in Sydney, Australia. Crowds gather along the waterfront to witness the dazzling display of colors and lights, celebrating the moment with cheers and excitement. The iconic bridge serves as a stunning backdrop for this annual spectacular event.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
In the “Made in SG” segment, Melanie Oliveiro sits down with Clara Teo and Alex Fan, the husband-and-wife duo behind Sunday Bedding, a homegrown bedding and textile brand. They discuss the origins of the brand, which began when the couple was searching for high-quality bed sheets and gradually grew into a more meaningful venture. Teo and Fan explain how Sunday Bedding creates sheets tailored for Singapore’s climate, how their experience in textiles has given them an edge, and why they choose to collaborate with other local brands. They also share insights on operating physical stores in Joo Chiat and Holland Village, as well as the effects of US tariffs on their American sales.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
This year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) flagged three students for academic misconduct, alleging that they relied on generative AI tools in their assignments. What boundaries should govern AI usage, at what point does it become misconduct, and is it time to rethink how assignments are structured and evaluated? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss these questions with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Jonathan Freedland and the Politics Weekly America team are on a break this week, so we’re revisiting a special summer series focused on the Trump family and the question of whether the president intends to hand over the political reins when his term ends. In the first episode, author Gwenda Blair along with reporters Rosie Gray and Ashley Parker introduce the family members who played key roles in Donald Trump’s rise to the White House and his tenure in office.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Polls have begun in Myanmar for its first nationwide election since the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in the 2021 coup. The vote is being conducted under strict limitations and is only taking place in roughly one-third of the country’s 330 townships, as ongoing civil conflict between the military and various resistance groups has made many regions inaccessible. To discuss the situation, Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman spoke with CNA Senior Correspondent Leong Wai Kit and Christopher Lamb, former president of the Australia Myanmar Institute, former Australian Ambassador to Myanmar from 1986 to 1989, and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
