British former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, 36, was injured in a serious car crash on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria, local police confirmed on December 29, 2025. The Lexus SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck, killing two passengers at the scene. Joshua, seated in the rear, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities said preliminary investigations suggest excessive speed and a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre caused the crash. An official inquiry is underway, and details about the deceased are yet to be released. (PC: AP)

Indian ODI vice‑captain Shreyas Iyer is nearing a long‑awaited return to competitive cricket following a near‑fatal spleen laceration injury sustained during an ODI against Australia in Sydney in October. After being hospitalised and treated for internal bleeding, Iyer was discharged and has been progressing well in recovery. He recently resumed batting and is training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as he builds fitness. Reports indicate he could play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 3 and 6, before potentially rejoining India for the ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11, 2026. (PC: X)

India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has approved defence procurement proposals worth about ₹79,000 crore (≈ $8.8 billion) to significantly strengthen the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The approved acquisitions span advanced systems including loiter munitions for precision strikes, lightweight radars to detect low-flying drones, and long-range guided rockets for the Pinaka rocket system. The Army will also receive integrated drone detection systems, while the Navy gets high-frequency radios and leased high-altitude drones. The Indian Air Force’s plan includes automatic take-off/landing recorders, Astra Mk-II missiles, simulators, and precision guidance kits, bolstering operational readiness and modernisation. (PC: The Telegraph)

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)