Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke by phone with Tarun Prasad Chakma, father of 24-year-old MBA student Angel Chakma, who died after a violent attack in Dehradun, and assured strict punishment for the accused, officials said. Dhami expressed grief over the incident and said five suspects have been arrested, while a sixth is believed to be in Nepal, with a reward offered and a team sent to apprehend him. He also spoke with Tripura CM Manik Saha and Union ministers, stressing the state stands with the victim’s family amid rising calls against hate crimes. 

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort to push forward the stalled Gaza ceasefire plan and negotiate its next phase, focusing on transitional governance and international security arrangements for the Palestinian enclave. Trump’s initiative, agreed in October, envisages Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Gaza and Hamas’s disarmament, but significant hurdles remain, including disputes over compliance, disarmament, and hostages. Discussions are also expected to cover Israel’s security concerns about Hezbollah and Iran. The meeting reflects pressures to revitalise peace efforts amid ongoing regional tensions. (PC: Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strongly rejected Russia’s allegation that Ukraine launched a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region, calling the claim a fabrication and “another lie.” Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of using around 91 long-range drones in the purported strike and suggested Moscow might adjust its negotiating stance and launch retaliatory strikes. Kyiv insists it is focused on defending its own territory and accused Russia of using the accusation as a pretext to justify future attacks on Kyiv and government buildings. (PC: X)

Dense winter fog and severely reduced visibility across Delhi and northern India have significantly disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and other airports, forcing pilots to rely on advanced CAT III landing systems. Multiple flights were delayed, cancelled, or diverted, leaving many passengers stranded and prompting urgent advisories from IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Air India to check flight statuses before travelling. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for very dense fog, while airlines activated special measures including rebooking options and refund flexibility to help travellers cope with the weather-related chaos. (PC: HT)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the Indian National Congress is fractured into two rival factions — one loyal to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the other to her brother Rahul Gandhi — signalling deep internal discord within the main opposition party. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed the division has surfaced at the national level, not just in states, with leaders publicly taking sides and some questioning Rahul’s leadership, while others align with Priyanka’s influence. The BJP asserts that calls to “remove Rahul and bring Priyanka” are gaining traction, although Congress has not responded to the allegations. (PC: The Hindu)

Russia has accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes targeting President Vladimir Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region soon after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming 90+ long-range drones were intercepted by Russian air defenses. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, condemned it as “state terrorism” and said Moscow might revise peace-talk positions. Kyiv strongly denied the allegations, calling them false and a possible pretext for new Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. It remains unclear whether Putin was present during the incident. (PC: Reuters)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Dec 29, 2025 strongly dismissed Pakistan’s criticism of India over treatment of religious minorities, calling the remarks baseless and hypocritical. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected Islamabad’s claims, saying Pakistan has its own “horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths” and that its “abysmal record speaks for itself.” India added that Pakistan’s accusations won’t change realities and urged it to focus on its internal issues rather than pointing fingers at New Delhi. The rebuttal highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions between the neighbors on human rights narratives. (PC: India Today)

The Supreme Court of India on Dec 29, 2025 stayed the Delhi High Court’s order that had suspended the life sentence and granted bail to Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the former BJP MLA convicted in the 2017 Unnao rape case involving a minor. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that substantial legal questions, including interpretation of “public servant” under the law, require scrutiny and issued notice to Sengar, giving him four weeks to respond. Sengar will remain in custody, also serving a separate sentence in the custodial death of the victim’s father. (PC: The Hindu)

The Supreme Court of India on Dec 29, 2025, paused its November 20 order that had adopted a uniform definition of the Aravalli Hills and ranges—a move that had raised concerns over potential expansion of regulated mining and loss of ecological protections. A vacation bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said key ambiguities in that definition need expert assessment, especially questions over conservation zones, mining eligibility and ecological continuity. The court issued notices to the Centre and four states (Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi) and formed a new expert committee to review environmental impacts before finalising any policy. Hearing set for Jan 21, 2026. (PC: India Today)

Two young women from Telangana’s Mahabubabad district, Pulakhandam Meghana Rani (25) and Kadiyala Bhavana (24), were killed in a car accident in California, USA, while on a trip with friends. They had moved to the US in 2023 for higher studies, recently completed their Master’s degrees and were job hunting. The vehicle failed to navigate a curve on Alabama Hills road, veered off, and plunged into a deep gorge, killing both on the spot. Two others in the car were injured. Families are seeking help for quick repatriation of the bodies. US police are investigating the crash.