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)

Jammu and Kashmir Police booked three Kashmiris based in the US and Germany for allegedly weaponizing social media platforms to incite violence and disrupt public order. Counter Intelligence Kashmir named Mubeen Ahmad Shah, Azizul Hassan Ashai (US-based), and Rifat Wani (Germany-based) in an FIR registered under IPC sections 153-A, 505 and UAPA section 13. The special NIA court in Srinagar issued a proclamation directing them to appear by January 31, 2026. Police claim they operated as fake journalists and news portals, using Facebook, X, and WhatsApp to circulate fabricated secessionist content at the behest of anti-national forces. Despite absconding after arrest warrants, the accused allegedly remain active on social media, promoting destabilizing content. (PC: The Indian Express)

A US think tank has warned of potential armed conflict between India and Pakistan in 2026 due to heightened terrorist activity. The Council on Foreign Relations report, surveying American foreign policy experts, noted the Trump administration's efforts to end ongoing conflicts including between New Delhi and Islamabad. The warning follows May 2025's three-day military face-off after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 6, eliminating over 100 terrorists and nine camps. Pakistan attempted drone attacks on military and civilian targets between May 7-10, all neutralized by Indian forces. Pakistan's military sought de-escalation on May 10. The CFR report also flags moderate likelihood of Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict in 2026. (PC: NDTV)

India has overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy with USD 4.18 trillion GDP and is projected to surpass Germany by 2030 to claim third position. The country remains the fastest-growing major economy, with real GDP expanding 8.2% in Q2 of 2025-26, marking a six-quarter high. India aims to reach USD 7.3 trillion GDP by 2030. International agencies have revised growth forecasts upward: World Bank projects 6.5% growth in 2026, Moody's expects 6.4-6.5%, IMF raised projections to 6.6% for 2025 and 6.2% for 2026. The government highlighted strong fundamentals including controlled inflation, declining unemployment, improving exports, stable financial conditions, and strengthening urban consumption supporting sustained momentum. (PC: India Today)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. The visit is to convey India’s condolences. Zia died on Tuesday at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. She was the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. She became Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister in 1991. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over her death. She had a long political rivalry with Sheikh Hasina. (PC: Reuters)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend the state funeral of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka on December 31, government sources said. The visit comes at a time of strained relations between India and Bangladesh after the removal of Sheikh Hasina last year. Zia, who led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, served two terms in office between 1991 and 2006. Her son and party leader Tarique Rahman recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. During her rule, Dhaka moved closer to China, including in defence ties, which often caused unease in New Delhi. (PC: India Today)