Two Indian PhD students, Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya, secured a $200,000 (around ₹1.8 crore) civil rights settlement from the University of Colorado Boulder after alleging discrimination linked to a 2023 incident involving palak paneer. Prakash was reportedly told not to heat his lunch in a shared microwave because of its “pungent smell,” which they say led to hostile treatment, retaliation and lost opportunities. The couple filed a federal lawsuit claiming a discriminatory environment and kitchen policies biased against South Asians. The settlement also included the granting of their Master’s degrees, though the university denied liability and barred them from future enrolment or employment. (PC: India Today)

India has asked all its citizens in Iran, including students, pilgrims, businesspeople and tourists, to leave the country as unrest continues, according to an advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran on January 14. The advisory also urges Indians to keep travel and identity documents ready and to stay in contact with the embassy for support. It told citizens to avoid protest areas and monitor local developments. The Ministry of External Affairs has strongly advised all Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice. The warnings come as nationwide protests in Iran have grown violent and the death toll has risen. (PC: India Today)

Air India is facing a lawsuit in the United Kingdom from families and estates of victims of the June 2025 plane crash in Ahmedabad. Court records show that 11 claimants filed a personal injury case at the London High Court on December 18. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was flying to London Gatwick when it lost height seconds after take-off and crashed into a medical college hostel. The disaster killed 260 people, including 19 on the ground. One passenger survived. Air India has not yet commented. Separately, families of four victims have sued Boeing and Honeywell in the United States over alleged faulty fuel switches. (PC: Reuters)

Two Indian PhD students at the University of Colorado Boulder have won a $200,000 civil rights settlement after alleging discrimination over food smells. The case began in September 2023 when Aditya Prakash was told not to heat palak paneer in a shared microwave due to its smell. Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya later sued the university, claiming bias and retaliation. They said kitchen rules targeted South Asians and that they faced repeated meetings and job loss. In September 2025, the university agreed to pay the amount and award them master’s degrees. The university denied liability but confirmed the settlement. The pair have returned to India. (PC: India Today)

China has reiterated its territorial claim over the disputed Shaksgam Valley, rejecting strong objections from India regarding its ongoing infrastructure projects in the region. Beijing insists that development activities there are “fully justified” and part of its sovereign rights based on a 1963 boundary agreement with Pakistan, dismissing New Delhi’s protest. India maintains the valley, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, is Indian territory and has never recognised the Pakistan-China pact, calling the agreement illegal and invalid. Indian officials, including the Ladakh lieutenant governor, have condemned China’s claim and asserted India’s sovereign rights over the area, heightening geopolitical tensions. (PC: PTI & AP)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday. They discussed cooperation in trade, defence, energy, and security. Jaishankar said the conversation was positive and that both sides will stay in touch. US officials said the leaders also spoke about critical minerals and a possible meeting in February. India-US ties have been strained after US President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on Indian goods in 2025. Talks on a bilateral trade deal have remained unresolved despite several negotiation rounds. (PC: PTI)

Australia has moved India to its "highest-risk" category (Assessment Level 3) for student visa applications, effective January 8, alongside Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Indian students now face rigorous background checks, bank statement scrutiny, additional English certification, and educational verification, significantly increasing processing times. India ranks second only to China in Australian international enrollments, with 140,000 students versus China's 190,000. The reclassification follows Kerala Police uncovering a fake degree racket supplying fraudulent documents to over 1 million international university applicants, triggering political controversy in Australia. Australian authorities cited "emerging integrity issues" while emphasizing continued support for genuine students seeking quality education. (PC: Reuters)

Multiple drones were detected near the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir's Rajouri district on Tuesday, prompting Indian Army countermeasures and firing under standard protocols. The sightings occurred hours after Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi warned Pakistan against UAV intrusions, stating India had conveyed such activity was "unacceptable." Drones were spotted in the Dungala-Nabla and Thandi Kassi areas, triggering high alerts and search operations across Rajouri and Poonch districts. This follows Sunday's multiple drone sightings along the International Border and LoC. During DGMO-level talks Tuesday, India explicitly warned Pakistan to "rein in its drones." Separately, anti-terror operations intensified in Kathua's Billawar after a brief encounter with terrorists. (PC: India Today)

India will face minimal economic impact from Trump's 25% tariff on Iran-trading nations, government sources confirmed, as bilateral trade remains negligible at $1.6 billion just 0.15% of India's total trade volume. Iran doesn't rank among India's top 50 trading partners, with trade expected to decline further this financial year. India's exports to Iran totaled only $1.2 billion in 2024, representing 2.3% of Iran's $68 billion imports, dwarfed by UAE ($21B), China ($17B), and Turkey ($11B). Officials emphasized India's "extremely limited" trade exposure significantly reduces tariff fallout risks. This assessment comes despite India already facing elevated US trade pressures, including 50% tariffs on Russian oil purchases. (PC: X)

India is unlikely to face major impact from the United States’ new tariffs linked to Iran trade, government sources said. US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 per cent tariff on US-bound goods from countries trading with Iran. Officials said India’s trade with Iran is very small. Iran is not among India’s top 50 trade partners. India’s total trade with Iran was about $1.6 billion last year. This is only 0.15 per cent of India’s overall trade. Officials added that trade levels may fall further this year. Due to limited exposure, the tariffs are expected to have minimal effect on India’s economy.