Ukraine received $1.34 billion under the World Bank's public expenditures for administrative capacity endurance in Ukraine, the Ukrainian finance ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said in a statement the financing consisted of a $1.086 billion loan from the World Bank, $190 million grant from Norway, $50 million grant from the United States and $20 million grant from Switzerland.

The ministry said the funds would be used to partially compensate for non-security and defence-related expenditures of the Ukrainian state budget, including old-age social payments and payments to employees of the state emergency service.

"International financial assistance is a significant contribution to maintaining Ukraine's financial and economic stability and allows us to provide priority social expenditures during the war," Ukraine's finance minister Serhiy Marchenko said.

QS World University Rankings has bestowed the QS 4 star rating to Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS) in its recently released rankings for the year 2023.

As acknowledgment of the strong teaching learning processes, MRIIRS has been rated QS 5 Star for TEACHING, EMPLOYABILITY, ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT, FACILITIES, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, INCLUSIVENESS, & COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS (B.TECH COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING). This is a testimony to the quality standards and exceptional performance of Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies across these six most important parameters that impact a student's career progression.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday announced that the state government will introduce a Rs 5 lakh accident insurance scheme and a state-run mobile application for the benefit of gig workers, which includes cab and auto-rickshaw drivers and food delivery agents. He also promised to extend the Rs 10 lakh Aarogyasri health insurance scheme for gig workers.

The chief minister held a meeting at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds with the gig workers — an extension of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s meeting before the Assembly polls — and said the government would keep the promise given by the former party president.

The Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Saturday launched Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) new venture “Namma Cargo- Truck service” and flagged off 20 new cargo trucks.

The 20 fully-equipped trucks were launched with the aim of enhancing the non-ticket revenue of the corporation. Mr. Reddy informed that 100 trucks would be inducted in a month and 500 trucks in a year’s time. “Basaveshwara bus station at Peenya will be utilised as a depot for operation and maintenance of these trucks, and remaining vacant space will be provided to government companies to get commercial revenue,” he added.

The KSRTC also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with KMS Coach Builders Pvt. Ltd. for lending its cargo truck services on a rental basis for a period of two months. Similarly, it has entered into an agreement with S.M. Kannappa Automobiles (P) Ltd. for a period of one-month, marking significant development in the transportation sector, KSRTC officials said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the first Intra District Chopper Service of the state from Bateshwar in Agra to Govardhan in Mathura on Monday.

The helicopter will fly from Bateshwar in Agra to Goverdhan in Mathura. A helipad has been prepared in Bateshwar village, 65 km from Agra city.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that Atal ji was the 'Ajat Shatru' of politics.

The world famous Shri Jagannath Temple, located in Odisha’s Puri has been envisioned to undergo full proof security, better facilitation of the devotees, and crowd management measures.

The chief administrator of the temple Ranjan Das said that the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the Special Security Battalion for Sri Jagannath Temple.

The temple has served as a centre of faith for Hindus drawing thousands of devotees every day.

In the post Covid period, the daily footfall of devotees was estimated to be about fifty thousand, whereas it doubled and tripled during the weekends and on important religious occasions.

Good Governance Day will be celebrated today on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The day is celebrated on the 25th of December every year to foster awareness among the people of the country about accountability in Governance and Government.

World record holder, world champion and 2020 Paralympic Games gold medalist Javelin thrower in the F64 category Sumit Antil, and recent Arjuna Awardee and double Asian Para Games gold medallist archer Sheetal Devi, won the coveted Best Male and Best Female athlete crowns at an award show held in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.

Sumit, who threw the Javelin 73.29 meters in the recent Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China for his world record mark and Sheetal Devi, who won two golds and a silver at the same Games in Compound Archery, were among 250 nominations received from as many as 20 federations in 23 award categories at the first-ever Radiant Differently Abled Sports Awards.

India's most valuable company, and Walt Disney signed a non-binding term sheet to merge their Indian media operations, the Economic Times reported on December 25, citing sources it did not name.

Under the merger Reliance would own 51 percent through a combination of shares and cash, with Disney holding the remaining 49 percent, giving more control to Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance group, the newspaper said.

The deal is likely to be completed by February, with Reliance aiming to finish the process by the end of January, subject to regulatory approvals, it said.

Christmas is being celebrated across the globe today. Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. On the occasion, people decorate their houses by putting on a Christmas tree, illuminated paper stars, and Holly wreaths and exchange gifts.

In Himachal Pradesh, a large number of tourists have arrived in Shimla and other destinations to celebrate Christmas and New Year.