New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a letter to jailed activist Umar Khalid, expressing support, Khalid’s family said. The undated note was shared by Khalid’s partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, after Mamdani took office this week. In the letter, Mamdani said he often thinks about Khalid’s words on not letting bitterness take over and added that he met Khalid’s parents. Khalid has been in Delhi’s Tihar jail since September 2020 under the UAPA in the Delhi riots case. A court recently granted him provisional bail to attend his sister’s wedding. He surrendered on December 29. (PC: NDTV)

A deadly fire in Germany claimed the life of Thokala Hruthik Reddy, a 22‑25‑year‑old student from Malkapur village in Jangaon district, Telangana, who had gone abroad for higher studies. The blaze broke out in his apartment in Magdeburg late on New Year’s Eve, leaving thick smoke and flames with no clear escape route. In a desperate attempt to flee, Hruthik reportedly jumped from the building, suffering grievous head injuries. He was rushed to a hospital, but died during treatment. His family and community are mourning the tragic loss as arrangements begin to repatriate his mortal remains to India. (PC: India Today)

An Indian professional returned to Bengaluru after seven years in the United States, sharing his reverse migration experience on Reddit. The man cited visa uncertainties, aging parents, and inability to envision permanent settlement as reasons for returning. Despite family warnings about regret, he reports no second thoughts and doesn't plan returning soon. He acknowledged India's challenges including poor air quality, littering, and bureaucratic hurdles, but noted the US equally faces homelessness, gun violence, and racism. Significantly, he found traffic congestion and work-life balance comparable between Bengaluru and major American cities like Houston, Denver, and Boston. He described Kannadigas as warm and welcoming, emphasizing the substantial gap between online narratives and lived reality, advising prospective returnees to treat social media commentary skeptically.

A controversy has erupted after cricketer Furqan Bhat wore a Palestinian flag on his helmet during a Jammu and Kashmir Champions League match. Bhat represented JK11 team against Jammu Trailblazers in yesterday's game. Jammu Rural Police have summoned him for questioning regarding the act. Additionally, league organiser Zahid Bhat and the ground provider will also face questioning as investigations continue. The incident occurs amid ongoing global protests supporting Palestinian statehood demands, months following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Gaza currently faces acute food insecurity and life-saving medicine shortages, with concerns mounting over Israel's planned ban on 37 aid groups. India maintains its long-standing foreign policy supporting a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. (PC: X)

At least dozens of people died and about 100 were injured after a blast sparked a major fire at a luxury bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Eve. Police said the explosion happened in the basement of Le Constellation Bar and Lounge while more than 150 people were inside for celebrations. Authorities said the case is being treated as a fire and not a terror attack. The cause is still unknown, though local media mentioned fireworks during a concert. Hospitals in the area were flooded with burn patients. A family helpline was opened and a no-fly zone was placed over the resort. (PC: X)

An Air India pilot was detained at Vancouver airport in Canada on December 23 after authorities raised concerns about his fitness for duty, delaying a Delhi-bound flight. Reports said a duty-free staff member alerted officials after noticing the smell of alcohol while the pilot was shopping. The pilot was taken for a breath test and later detained. Air India said the crew member was offloaded before departure and an alternate pilot was arranged to operate the flight. The airline said it is cooperating with local authorities and that the pilot has been removed from flying duties during the inquiry. It added that it follows a zero-tolerance policy and will take strict action if any rule violation is confirmed. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a condolence letter to Tarique Rahman after the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The letter was delivered by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who attended Zia’s funeral in Dhaka. In the message, Modi recalled meeting Zia in 2015 and said she made key contributions to Bangladesh and to ties with India. He added that her legacy would guide future cooperation. Zia, a three-time prime minister and leader of the BNP, died after a long illness and was buried with state honours. Rahman is a leading figure ahead of Bangladesh’s February election. (PC: X)

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)

A report by the US-based Council on Foreign Relations has warned of a possible armed conflict between India and Pakistan in 2026 due to rising terrorist activity. The study is based on a survey of American foreign policy experts. It notes that the Trump administration has tried to reduce tensions between the two neighbours. India and Pakistan were involved in a brief military stand-off in May after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam killed 26 civilians. India later carried out Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan. The report also said there is a moderate risk of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan next year. (PC: NDTV)

Nalin Haley, son of former US Ambassador Nikki Haley, accused India's government of raising H-1B visa delays with the Trump administration solely to protect remittance money, not professionals' welfare. The controversy follows India's complaint to US authorities about prolonged visa processing delays leaving thousands of Indian professionals stranded. Many H-1B holders who traveled home for mandatory visa stamping had appointments postponed from December 2025 to October 2026, preventing their return to US jobs. Expanded social media screening pushed stamping timelines to six months. Nalin, whose grandfather immigrated from Punjab in 1969, has consistently called for complete H-1B ban, arguing it disadvantages American graduates. India's Ministry of External Affairs raised concerns in New Delhi and Washington DC. (PC: News 18)