In the high-profile murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, prime accused Faisal Karim Masud has publicly denied any involvement, claiming in a viral video message that he is in Dubai, not India as alleged by Bangladeshi police, and was wrongly accused. He said his ties with Hadi were business-related and blamed a radical political group for the killing. Masud insists his family is being harassed and released evidence of his UAE visa on social media. Bangladesh authorities maintain suspects fled via the Meghalaya border; India has rejected those claims. Hadi was shot in Dhaka on Dec 12 and died later abroad. (PC: X)

The Union Cabinet on 31 December 2025 approved a major relief package for debt-ridden telecom firm Vodafone Idea, freezing its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of ₹87,695 crore and granting a five-year moratorium on payments. The dues will now be rescheduled for payment over a 10-year period from FY2032 to FY2041, with the Department of Telecommunications to reassess the frozen amount under audit guidelines. AGR liabilities for FY18 and FY19 remain payable under existing schedules. The move aims to bolster Vodafone Idea’s financial stability, protect the government’s stake, and maintain competition in the telecom sector. Shares fell sharply on the news. 

Police in Rajasthan’s Tonk district arrested two men and seized about 150 kg of explosive material from their car on New Year’s Eve. The action followed a tip-off received by the District Special Team. The suspects were stopped in the Baroni police station area. Officers found ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks marked as urea fertiliser. Police also recovered 200 cartridges and around 1,100 metres of safety fuse wire. The car used to carry the material was seized. The accused, both from Bundi district, were allegedly taking the consignment to Tonk for supply. Police are questioning them to find the source and purpose of the material. (PC: HT)

Police in Rajasthan’s Tonk district arrested two men and seized about 150 kg of explosive material from their car on New Year’s Eve. The action followed a tip-off received by the District Special Team. The suspects were stopped in the Baroni police station area. Officers found ammonium nitrate hidden in sacks marked as urea fertiliser. Police also recovered 200 cartridges and around 1,100 metres of safety fuse wire. The car used to carry the material was seized. The accused, both from Bundi district, were allegedly taking the consignment to Tonk for supply. Police are questioning them to find the source and purpose of the material.

A US District Court has upheld the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications. The US Chamber of Commerce has filed an appeal against the ruling. The fee was announced in September through a presidential order and aims to limit misuse of the visa system. The H-1B programme allows US firms to hire skilled foreign workers. Judge Beryl Howell of the District of Columbia court ruled on December 23 that the president acted within legal authority. The Chamber says the sharp hike breaks immigration law. Similar lawsuits have been filed by states, unions, and staffing firms. The case may reach the US Supreme Court. (PC: India Today)

Gelsenkirchen are hunting thieves who drilled into the underground vault of a Sparkasse bank branch and stole about €30 million in cash and valuables. The crime was found early Monday after a fire alarm went off. Officers say the suspects broke into more than 3,000 safe deposit boxes. They likely entered and escaped through a nearby parking garage during the quiet Christmas days. Witnesses saw several men carrying large bags in the garage stairwell. Video shows a black Audi RS6 leaving the area. No arrests have been made. The branch remains closed and customers were told to contact the bank. (PC: BBC)

A Ranchi court has acquitted Indrajit Rai in a major narcotics case after police said 200 kg of seized ganja was destroyed by rats. The drugs were seized in 2022 after police stopped a Bolero on a highway and arrested Rai, while two others fled. During trial, officers told the court the contraband stored at Ormanjhi police station was no longer available. A 2024 station diary entry claimed rats had eaten it. The court noted gaps in witness accounts and a broken chain of custody. It said the seizure, storage and sampling process was unreliable and gave the benefit of doubt to the accused. (PC: ai)

Israel will revoke the licences of 37 aid groups working in Gaza and the West Bank from January 1, ending their operations within 60 days. The list includes ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee and the Norwegian Refugee Council. Israel said the groups failed to meet new registration rules, including sharing full staff details. Ten foreign ministers, including from the UK and France, said the move would harm access to health care and other basic services. Israel said aid would continue through approved channels and denied that assistance would be disrupted. UN-linked groups warned the rules threaten vital humanitarian work across Gaza. (PC: BBC)

India has rejected China’s claim that it helped broker a truce with Pakistan after the May military clash. Government sources said there was no third-party role in ending the conflict. “India’s position on mediation has always been clear. There was no mediation after Operation Sindoor,” sources said. They added that Pakistan had requested a ceasefire through a direct call between the two sides’ DGMOs. The response came after Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Beijing mediated peace between India and Pakistan. New Delhi said the date, time and wording of the ceasefire were settled only in talks between the two armies on May 10. (PC: NDTV)

Food and grocery deliveries may face delays on New Year’s Eve as gig workers plan a nationwide strike on December 31. The action involves workers linked to Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Amazon and Flipkart. Unions say delivery partners are being forced to work longer hours while their income keeps falling. They also cite unsafe targets, lack of social security and sudden account blocks. The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers said a flash strike on December 25 had cut services by up to 60% in some cities. Workers want fair pay, job safety and talks with the government and platforms. (PC: ai)