Two young women from Telangana’s Mahabubabad district, Pulakhandam Meghana Rani (25) and Kadiyala Bhavana (24), were killed in a car accident in California, USA, while on a trip with friends. They had moved to the US in 2023 for higher studies, recently completed their Master’s degrees and were job hunting. The vehicle failed to navigate a curve on Alabama Hills road, veered off, and plunged into a deep gorge, killing both on the spot. Two others in the car were injured. Families are seeking help for quick repatriation of the bodies. US police are investigating the crash. 

Bangladesh has stepped up criticism of India over comments on minority violence and the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka accused New Delhi of spreading a “misleading narrative” and said some incidents were being exaggerated. It also claimed that two suspects in the Hadi murder fled to Meghalaya. Indian border forces and state police rejected the charge. They said there was no proof of any border crossing and no such persons were traced. India earlier condemned the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das and cited thousands of attacks on minorities. Both sides have lodged protests through their foreign ministries as tensions rise ahead of Bangladesh’s national elections in February.

The death of Prashant Sreekumar, an Indian-origin father of three, after an eight-hour wait in an Edmonton emergency room has renewed focus on problems in Canada’s health system. He arrived with chest pain and rising blood pressure but was given only pain relief before he collapsed and died. Reports say many patients now wait up to 16 hours in emergency rooms. Experts point to staff shortages, lack of family doctors and rising patient numbers. About one in five Canadians does not have a primary care provider. Overcrowded emergency rooms now handle many cases that clinics should treat. This has led to long waits, delayed care and growing public concern. (PC: India Today)

Bangladesh police say two prime suspects in the killing of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi have fled to India via the Meghalaya border, following his fatal shooting in Dhaka earlier this month. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) identified the suspects and said they crossed into Indian territory, prompting Dhaka to seek cooperation for their arrest and extradition. The development has heightened tensions between Bangladesh and India, with authorities discussing cross-border law enforcement collaboration. Hadi, a founder of the Inqilab Moncho platform, died in Singapore after being shot, and investigation efforts are ongoing amid public outcry for justice. (PC: Reuters)

An Indian man has been awarded nearly £67,000 after a UK tribunal ruled he faced racial abuse and unfair dismissal at a KFC outlet in London. Madhesh Ravichandran, from Tamil Nadu, joined the West Wickham branch in January 2023. He said his manager denied him annual leave, made him work extra hours and referred to him as a “slave”. He resigned after raising the issue and said no proper inquiry followed. Judge Paul Abbott said the refusal of leave was influenced by race and that Ravichandran was humiliated. The tribunal found him to be a victim of racial harassment and wrongful dismissal. The firm was told to provide staff training on workplace discrimination.

Varun Vummadi, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco based AI firm Giga, said his startup is facing an extortion attempt for three million dollars in cryptocurrency. In a post on X, he said a small group got access to internal company data and is using it to demand payment. He said the group has already shared false claims online and is threatening to release edited data if the money is not sent. Former staff have accused the firm of unethical conduct, which Vummadi has denied. He said the company has reported the case to law agencies and plans legal action. Giga was founded in 2023 by Vummadi and Esha Manideep. (PC: NDTV)

Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman has raised concern over what he called a growing culture of “anti-India sentiment” after two Indians were killed in Canada within a week. Speaking to ANI, Bordman said the cases happened in different places and do not appear linked. He criticised Canadian police for slow updates and said the public knows few details about the latest shooting in Toronto. Bordman also questioned how such crimes are handled by law agencies. The deaths include 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, whose partner is a suspect, and 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi, who was shot dead on December 23. Police said suspects fled before officers reached the scene. (PC: NDTV)

More Indians were deported from Saudi Arabia than the United States between 2021 and 2025, government data shows. In a written reply, Ministry of External Affairs said deportations were mainly due to visa overstays and labour law violations. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh said illegal border crossings were not a major reason. Saudi Arabia recorded the highest deportations of Indians worldwide during this period. In contrast, deportation numbers from the US remained much lower. The government said Indian missions continue to help affected citizens and ensure their safe return. (PC: AFP)

The Indian rupee fell sharply in 2025 due to foreign fund outflows and global tensions. It hit a record low near 91 against the dollar. Analysts say 2026 may be better if key factors improve. A possible India-US trade deal could boost investor confidence. Fresh inflows by foreign investors may also support the currency. The Reserve Bank of India has stepped in to stabilise the rupee through bond purchases and swap auctions. Experts also see hope from India’s likely inclusion in global bond indices. This could bring large foreign inflows. Analysts expect the rupee to trade between 89 and 92 in 2026. (PC: Representative Image)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs on December 26 issued a strong statement condemning recent violent attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, saying these incidents “cannot be brushed aside” as political violence or media exaggeration. New Delhi warned the interim government of Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus to take effective action to protect minority communities and ensure justice, following reports of lynchings and other hostile acts. The MEA expressed deep concern over documented cases of killings, arson and persecution, urging Dhaka to uphold human rights and safeguard minorities amid escalating bilateral tensions.