A small new Brazilian study published in the international Journal of Alzheimer's Disease investigated the effects of microdoses of cannabis extract on patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The results found positive effects, without the associated “high” of cannabis.

The logic of microdoses
The study, led by professor Francisney Nascimento and colleagues at the Federal University of Latin American Integration (UNILA), recruited 24 elderly patients (60-80 years) diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's. It evaluated the effects of daily use of an oil prepared from Cannabis extract containing THC and CBD in similar proportions and extremely low concentrations (0.3 mg of each cannabinoid). These sub-psychoactive doses do not cause the “high” associated with recreational use of the plant.

President Droupadi Murmu today exhorted the Public Service Commissions in the country to make efforts to achieve the goal of equality of outcomes, besides working for equality of opportunity. Addressing the National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions, the President said the UPSC and PSCs should give the highest priority to the aspect of honesty and integrity in recruitment.

Recalling that the writers of the Constitution dedicated an entire part to the services and PSCs, the President said the Constitution highlighted the significance that the Constitution of India attached to them. The President said the constitutional ideals of social, economic and political justice, and equality of status and of opportunity are most pertinent to the functioning of the PSCs. The President further said the integrity, sensitivity and competence of the civil servants constituting the permanent executive are of utmost importance for implementing the people-oriented policies at national and state levels.

Jharkhand thrashed Haryana by 69 runs to clinch its maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday.

The T20 tournament helped unearth India’s future stars as well as gave out-of-favour players such as Ishan Kishan and Sarfaraz Khan an opportunity to return to the limelight. With the competition preceding the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, domestic players also had a point to prove and stake their claim in the world’s most competitive T20 league.

The Jharkhand captain led from the front, smashing 517 runs in 10 innings at a blistering strike rate of 197.32, including a 45-ball century in the final against Haryana. Kishan’s stunning form in the tournament saw him score two hundreds and two fifties, which helped Jharkhand clinch its maiden title.

PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife), one of India’s leading life insurance companies, has launched the PNB MetLife DigiProtect Term Plan (UIN-117N141V01) for salaried individuals.

Offered through a fully digital platform in collaboration with Policybazaar, it is an individual non linked, non-participating, pure term insurance plan. The digital-first approach not only simplifies access but also extends the reach of life insurance to salaried individuals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Exclusive benefits include a first-year, upto 21% discount, on the first premium, that significantly lowers the entry cost for policyholders.

The plan goes beyond traditional coverage features, empowering the growing number of India’s salaried individuals juggling rising aspirations, lifestyle commitments, and evolving financial priorities.

In time to celebrate the superstar’s birthday, HarperCollins India is delighted to bring out the ‘Bollywood book of the year’ by award-winning writer Mohar Basu – Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood. This book is not just a biography, but a love letter, a fan’s tribute and a deep dive into the incredible phenomenon called Salman Khan – through his iconic roles, memorable one-liners, unforgettable songs, rare photos and fan anecdotes, bringing to life an icon’s larger-than-life journey and his stardom that has only grown stronger with time. The book will be out on 20th December 2025.

Talking about the book, Mohar Basu says, “I have struggled to enjoy most of the films I’ve watched this year. The big-screen experience simply doesn’t feel the same anymore. When I ask myself what’s missing, the answer is clear – it is the uninhibited joy of watching a movie star on a 70mm screen. And there is no one who embodies this feeling like Salman Khan. The electric rush of a first-day-first-show at a single-screen theatre, the crowd comes alive the moment a superstar like Salman Khan makes his rousing entry. Salman Khan: The Sultan of Bollywood is my tribute to the phenomenon of Salman Khan. The book captures the euphoria of watching him on screen, why he has been a ritual for us for the past three decades and what makes him the greatest ‘mass’ hero of our time. As he turns 60, this book celebrates the old-school magic of movies and why no one commands the big screen quite like Salman Khan.”

The newly inaugurated Delhi Metro Museum at the Supreme Court Metro Station is now open to the public. In a social media post, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said that the museum aims to showcase the journey of the Delhi Metro through guided walkthroughs and curated exhibits. DMRC informed that the museum will be open from 10 AM to 4 PM. The museum will remain open throughout the week, except on Mondays and public holidays, with an entry fee of ten rupees.

Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom service provider, is undergoing an organisational change with the appointment of Shashwat Sharma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bharti Airtel India, effective January 2026. Shashwat Sharma, who is currently the CEO designate of the company, will succeed Gopal Vittal. Vittal will transition into the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel on January 1, 2026, overseeing Bharti Airtel and all its subsidiaries.

In his new role, Vittal will be responsible for driving group synergies in the areas of digital and technology, network strategy, procurement, and talent, in addition to providing overall oversight of the companies. He will also focus on group strategy and future-proofing the organisation for its next phase of development.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday convened a high-level meeting to initiate the constitution of a dedicated Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) to enhance the security of vessels and port facilities across the country, according to official sources.

The proposed Bureau of Port Security will be established as a statutory body under Section 13 of the newly promulgated Merchant Shipping Act, 2025. It will function under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and will be responsible for regulatory oversight and coordination related to the security of ships and port infrastructure.

Chairing the meeting, Shah emphasised the need for a robust and future-ready port security framework, directing that security measures be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner. He said the framework should factor in vulnerabilities, trade potential, geographical location and other relevant parameters to ensure effective protection of critical maritime assets.

Lejit.ai Launches Mobile App to Make Legal Assistance Accessible for Common People Trivandrum (Kerala) [India], December 19: Lejit.ai, a legal technology startup from Kerala, has announced the launch and expansion of its mobile application aimed at simplifying access to legal assistance for the general public. Built with the motto "Legal assistance for common people," Lejit.ai seeks to bridge the gap between the legal system and everyday citizens by making legal knowledge easier to understand and act upon.

Legal processes are often perceived as complex, intimidating, and inaccessible, especially for individuals without prior legal exposure. Lejit.ai addresses this challenge by enabling users involved in legal matters to clearly understand what steps need to be taken, what precautions must be followed, and which laws are relevant to their specific situations.

Deepinder Goyal of Eternal has topped the IDFC FIRST Private Banking-Hurun India Top-200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 list with a valuation of ₹3.2 trillion, up 27 per cent from last year.

Radhakishan Damani of Avenue Supermarts, last year’s leader, slipped to second place with a valuation of ₹3 trillion, down 13 per cent year-on-year. Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal of InterGlobe Aviation debuted at third place with a company valuation of ₹2.2 trillion.

The list featured self-made Indian entrepreneurs who created the most valuable companies of the millennia, post 2000.

The combined value of all companies on the list stood at ₹42 trillion, up 15 per cent year-on-year, with entrepreneurs from 51 cities. Bengaluru led with 88 entrepreneurs, followed by Mumbai (83) and New Delhi (52), together accounting for more than half the list.