India recorded the highest global doping offenders for the third consecutive year, with 260 positive cases from 7,113 samples, a 3.6% positivity rate according to WADA's 2024 report. This figure more than doubles any other nation, as no country exceeded 1.75% positivity. Norway documented second-highest proportion at 1.75%, followed by the US at 1.15%. In absolute figures, France registered 91 violations, Italy 85, Russia and US 76 each, while Germany and China recorded 54 and 43 respectively. Global comparisons reveal despite more rigorous testing regimes elsewhere, India's doping rate remains significantly higher, highlighting concerns about banned athletic performance-enhancing drug use in competitive sports. (PC: Md Babul Hosen)

Sharif Osman Hadi's brother Omar directly accused Muhammad Yunus's interim government of killing the prominent youth leader to cancel Bangladesh's forthcoming elections. The 32-year-old activist and Inqilab Manch spokesperson was shot in Dhaka on December 12 during a campaign event, dying December 18 in Singapore, triggering nationwide unrest. Omar confronted authorities, warning "If you can't give justice then you have to flee," demanding accountability for "those in power" responsible. "You killed Osman Hadi and want to cancel election showing him," he charged. Tens of thousands attended Hadi's funeral under heavy security, chanting "Hadi's blood will not go in vain." Hadi gained prominence during July 2024's uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina.

A federal judge rejected the US Chamber of Commerce's challenge to President Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee, ruling it falls under his broad immigration regulatory powers. US District Judge Beryl Howell dismissed arguments that the fee conflicts with federal law and will force employers to cut jobs. "The parties' vigorous debate over ultimate wisdom of this political judgment is not within courts' province," Howell wrote. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security scrapped the H-1B lottery system, replacing it with a weighted selection prioritizing higher-skilled, higher-paid workers effective February 27, 2026. Amazon received over 10,000 visas this year, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple, and Google. California has the highest H-1B worker concentration. (PC: Times Now)

The Supreme Court accepted the Environment Ministry's 100-meter Aravalli definition on November 20, despite its own Central Empowered Committee opposing it. On October 14, CEC chairman Siddhant Das wrote that Forest Survey of India's 3-degree slope definition should be adopted instead, clarifying views attributed to CEC were actually Dr. JR Bhatt's individual opinion, not the committee's. Amicus curiae K Parmeshwar's presentation warned the 100-meter rule loses "integrity of Aravali as geographical feature" and enables mining on lower hills, accelerating Thar Desert expansion. FSI's internal assessment flagged 91.3% of 12,081 Aravalli hills above 20 meters would be excluded. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav claimed mining covers only 0.19% currently but hasn't addressed future development scope. (PC: The Indian Express)

Pakistan Muslim League youth wing leader Kamran Saeed Usmani warned India against threatening Bangladesh's sovereignty, stating "Pakistani armed forces and our missiles are not far away." Usmani claimed Muslim youth are alert to India's alleged regional conspiracies, including "cutting off Bangladesh's waters" and imposing "Akhand Bharat ideology." Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has emphasized strengthening Pakistan ties for mutual cooperation and trade. National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah previously threatened sheltering "separatists of seven sisters" if India destabilizes Bangladesh. India's MEA rejected "false narratives by extremist elements," stating the interim government hasn't conducted thorough investigations or shared meaningful evidence regarding recent incidents, criticizing Bangladesh's response to regional tensions.

A 30-year-old Indian national, Himanshi Khurana, was found murdered inside a Toronto residence on December 20, marking the city's 40th homicide of 2025. Toronto Police responded to a missing person call from the Strachan Avenue-Wellington Street West area on December 19 at 10:41 pm, locating her body the next morning at 6:30 am. Police issued a Canada-wide warrant for Abdul Ghafoori, 32, charging him with first-degree murder. Investigators confirmed the victim and suspect knew each other but didn't specify their relationship. The Indian Consulate in Toronto expressed being "deeply saddened and shocked," offering condolences and assisting Khurana's family while coordinating with Canadian authorities as the manhunt continues. (PC: Toronto Police)

ISRO achieved a Christmas Eve triumph, launching India's heaviest foreign satellite aboard LVM3-M6 "Bahubali" rocket from Sriharikota at 08:54 IST on December 24. The 640-tonne vehicle deployed AST SpaceMobile's 6.5-tonne BlueBird Block-2 communication satellite into 520-600 km Low Earth Orbit, marking ISRO's 101st orbital success. BlueBird Block-2, the largest commercial LEO communications satellite, features a 223 sq m phased-array antenna beaming 4G/5G signals directly to unmodified smartphones, partnering with 50+ global operators to connect remote regions. ISRO chief praised the "less than 2 km dispersion" orbital performance. This third fully commercial LVM3 mission strengthens NewSpace India Limited's market position, advancing India's space capabilities ahead of upcoming Gaganyaan crewed flights.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) published draft electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, revealing that nearly 95 lakh electors did not find their names in the draft lists. The deletions include about 42.74 lakh in Madhya Pradesh, 27.34 lakh in Chhattisgarh, 24.08 lakh in Kerala, and around 64,000 in the Union Territory. Those excluded can still file applications for inclusion during the claims and objections period, and the final rolls will be issued early next year. (PC: PTI)

A viral video from Ladakh’s Pangong Tso shows a Himalayan red fox calmly walking near a roadside as tourists watch and record the rare sighting, garnering widespread admiration online. However, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan cautioned that the fox’s lack of fear suggests it may have been fed by people before, leading to unnatural behaviour and dangerous habituation. Experts warn that such “sympathy-based conservation” can disrupt wildlife’s natural foraging, increase road dangers, and harm ecosystems. The sighting highlights both Ladakh’s rich biodiversity and the need for responsible wildlife interaction. 

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the BlueBird Block-2 mission on December 24 at 8:54 AM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, using the LVM3-M6 heavy-lift rocket. The mission will deploy a 6,100-kg BlueBird Block-2 satellite developed by AST SpaceMobile, making it the heaviest commercial payload carried by LVM3 into low Earth orbit. The satellite is designed to provide direct-to-smartphone broadband connectivity, supporting global 4G and 5G services. This launch highlights ISRO’s expanding role in commercial space missions and international collaborations. The launch will be livestreamed on ISRO’s official digital platforms. (PC: X)