A concert by celebrated Bangladeshi rock singer James, known as Nagar Baul, was abruptly cancelled in Faridpur on Friday night after a mob attacked the venue during celebrations of Faridpur Zila School’s 185th anniversary. Moments before the show, a group described as “outsiders” tried to force entry, hurled bricks and stones, and clashed with students, injuring 15–25 people, mainly students, according to multiple reports. Organisers, citing safety concerns and following district administration orders, cancelled the concert. James escaped unharmed. The incident reflects growing concerns about intolerance and safety at public cultural events amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh. 

India’s Ministry of External Affairs on December 26 issued a strong statement condemning recent violent attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, saying these incidents “cannot be brushed aside” as political violence or media exaggeration. New Delhi warned the interim government of Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus to take effective action to protect minority communities and ensure justice, following reports of lynchings and other hostile acts. The MEA expressed deep concern over documented cases of killings, arson and persecution, urging Dhaka to uphold human rights and safeguard minorities amid escalating bilateral tensions.

The Indian government has been unable to produce a clear, legally accepted definition of the Aravalli hill range despite more than a year of work, creating uncertainty over conservation and mining regulations. Disputes over whether landforms under 100 m should be classed as Aravallis have drawn criticism from environmentalists and opposition leaders, who warn a narrow definition could expose ecologically vital areas to mining and development, undermining groundwater recharge and biodiversity protection. The lack of a uniform definition has even led to legal challenges and growing public protests, reflecting deep concern over the future of this ancient ecological system. (PC: ANI)

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised the newly concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India as a landmark achievement, saying it will bring more jobs, higher incomes and increased exports by opening access to India’s 1.4 billion-strong market. The deal, part of his government’s agenda to “Fix the basics, build the future,” aims to double bilateral trade and attract investments. However, Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticized the agreement as “neither free nor fair,” arguing it was rushed and fails to secure sufficient benefits for New Zealand, notably protecting sensitive sectors like dairy. (PC: AP)

A 25-year-old woman has alleged she was sexually harassed by a fellow passenger during a Namma Metro ride near the busy Majestic interchange in Bengaluru. She said the 55-year-old man sat unusually close, repeatedly pressed against her and touched her despite her attempts to move away, making her feel distressed. When her station arrived, she slapped him on the train and again on the platform as he begged and smiled, according to her account. Metro staff intervened and the woman filed a police complaint, leading to a Non-Cognisable Report (NCR) being registered.

Satellite-tagged Amur falcons from Manipur have completed remarkable long-distance migrations to Africa, covering up to 6,100 km in about six days. Three tagged birds — Apapang, Alang and Ahu — flew nonstop across India, the Arabian Sea and the Horn of Africa to reach countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya and Somalia. Apapang’s journey is one of the longest uninterrupted flights recorded for a small raptor. Their epic journey highlights the endurance of these tiny birds, the interconnectedness of global ecosystems, and the importance of conserving migratory routes across continents. (PC: India Today)

US far-right journalist Matt Forney sparked outrage with a deleted X post proposing to "Deport Every Indian" as a solution to racist attacks. He warned that hatred against Indians will reach a boiling point in 2026, predicting violence, vandalism, and temple attacks by Black, Latino, or Pakistani perpetrators rather than whites. The New York-based journalist, known for racist blogs like "5 Reasons Why You Should Not Date Indian Girls," was fired by The Blaze in November for anti-Indian social media remarks. He founded Terror House Press in 2018, serving as chief editor until 2024. Forney previously called Etsy's new Indian CEO "unqualified" and demanded deportation of Indians. (PC: The Week)

Indian mountaineers led by high-altitude climber Narendra Kumar successfully summited Pico de Orizaba, Mexico's highest mountain and North America's tallest volcano, at 5,636 meters (18,491 feet) in December 2025. The team scaled the challenging Jamapa Glacier route from Piedra Grande refuge, requiring seven to eight hours and demanding technical skills including crampons, ice axes, and navigation across slippery rocks, glaciers, and fresh snow. Kumar shared the achievement on Instagram, stating "Step by step, breath by breath… summit tak ka safar." He revealed plans to climb Mount Everest Base Camp in winter next. Pico de Orizaba, known for thin air, icy terrain, and harsh conditions, serves as a training ground for the Volcanic Seven Summits.

Fourteen-year-old cricketing prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi received India's highest civilian honor for children, the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP), from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. Following the ceremony, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside fellow awardees. The Bihar batsman missed the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Manipur to attend the prestigious event. Vaibhav gained national attention after smashing a stunning 190 runs off just 84 balls in Bihar's opening match against Arunachal Pradesh. The PMRBP recognizes exceptional achievements by children aged 5-18 in bravery, art, culture, environment, innovation, science, technology, social service, and sports, celebrating India's youth excellence.

Harmanpreet Kaur created history by becoming the first captain to achieve 77 T20I victories, breaking Australian legend Meg Lanning's record of 76 wins. The milestone came after India's eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, sealing a 3-0 series lead. Harmanpreet has captained India in a record 130 T20Is, making her one of only three captains to lead over 100 matches in the format. She also became the first captain to win 16 matches against a single opponent (Sri Lanka) and holds the record for most Women's T20I appearances (185 games). This achievement follows India's historic World Cup victory two months ago, marking their first-ever ICC tournament title. (PC: X)