India's junior men's hockey team delivered a stunning comeback to secure bronze at the FIH Junior World Cup 2025, overcoming a 0-2 deficit to defeat Argentina 4-2 in Chennai's third-place playoff. Trailing deep into the match, the hosts unleashed four unanswered goals in the final quarter, clinching their first bronze medal at the tournament and ending a nine-year podium drought. The dramatic victory on home soil demonstrated India's resilience and attacking prowess, transforming what appeared to be a lost cause into a memorable triumph. This marks a significant achievement for Indian junior hockey, breaking nearly a decade without a podium finish at the prestigious tournament.

Iranian authorities arrested Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, 53, at a memorial for a deceased human rights lawyer, her foundation announced Friday. Mohammadi was violently detained alongside other activists, with supporters demanding immediate unconditional release. She had been serving 13 years nine months for collusion against state security and anti-government propaganda, plus backing 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. Released on medical furlough in December 2024 for three weeks, her freedom extended months despite risks. The engineer-turned-activist suffered multiple heart attacks in prison, underwent 2022 emergency surgery, and had a potentially cancerous bone lesion removed in November 2024. She's been imprisoned 13 times, convicted five times, totaling over 30 years in sentences.

India's 14-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi shattered world records by scoring 171 off 95 balls against UAE in the U-19 Asia Cup Group A match at ICC Academy Ground. The Bihar southpaw smashed 14 sixes, the most in Youth ODI history, breaking Australia's Michael Hill's 2008 record of 12. His century came in just 56 balls with nine fours. Suryavanshi broke Afghanistan's Darwish Rasooli's U-19 Asia Cup record of 10 sixes (2017) and posted the second-highest Indian Youth ODI score after Ambati Rayudu's 177* (2002). India posted 433/6 in 50 overs after captain Ayush Mhatre's early dismissal, with Aaron George and Vihaan Malhotra contributing 69 each. (PC: X)

For the first time since Partition, Sanskrit is being formally taught at Pakistan's Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), with students studying Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita passages alongside the Urdu version of the iconic Mahabharat TV theme song. Professor Shahid Rasheed from Forman Christian College spearheaded the revival after overwhelming response to a three-month workshop, now evolved into a university course planned to become year-long by 2027. Rasheed emphasized Sanskrit's regional heritage, noting grammarian Panini lived in present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Dr. Ali Usman Qasmi revealed Punjab University holds extensive untouched Sanskrit documents for decades. The university aims to train local scholars, potentially producing Gita and Mahabharata experts within 10-15 years. (PC: India Today) 

The IMF imposed 11 new conditions on Pakistan's $7 billion bailout, raising total requirements to 64 over 18 months. The fresh directives, announced after Thursday's $1.2 billion disbursement, target corruption reduction, governance improvement, and identifying government leaks. Key conditions include publishing high-ranking bureaucrats' asset details on government websites by December 2026, developing anti-corruption action plans for 10 identified departments, and allowing banks full access to officials' declarations. Pakistan must study remittance costs projected at $1.5 billion annually and submit an action plan by May 2026. The IMF demands sugar market liberalization policy by June 2026 to end elite capture. So far, $3.3 billion has been disbursed from the 39-month program. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a new "Core Five" (C5) forum comprising America, Russia, China, India, and Japan, potentially sidelining the Europe-dominated G7. According to Politico, the proposal appeared in an unpublished National Security Strategy version, though the White House denies its existence. The C5 would prioritize major powers based on population and military-economic strength rather than wealth and democracy. The first proposed agenda item is Middle East security, specifically Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization. National security experts call it "Trumpian," noting Europe's exclusion signals Russia's recognition as a regional sphere-of-influence power. The move departs from Trump's first-term great-power-competition approach, raising concerns about legitimizing strongmen and weakening Western unity. (PC: X) 

India expressed concern over damage to the 1,100-year-old Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Thai-Cambodian border, during renewed border clashes. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the damage to conservation facilities "unfortunate," noting India's involvement in preservation efforts. The 11th-century Hindu temple, built during the Khmer Empire's golden age, suffered artillery and aerial attack damage to gateways, statues, staircases, and conservation buildings. Despite a US-brokered ceasefire, fighting resumed at over a dozen locations along the 817-km border. Thailand's PM stated operations won't stop, while Cambodia claims self-defense. UNESCO invoked international heritage protection laws, offering technical support when conditions improve.

Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat announced her comeback on December 12, 2025, targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after retiring following her heartbreaking Paris 2024 disqualification. The 31-year-old was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight before her 50kg gold medal bout, despite becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Her CAS appeal failed, leading to retirement and election as Haryana MLA from Julana. Phogat revealed "the fire never left" her, stating she needed time away to reflect. She welcomed a son in July 2025 with husband Somvir Rathee, calling him her "biggest motivation." The three-time Olympian holds Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medals.

London Underground, Overground, and Elizabeth line fares will rise 5.8% in March 2026, 1% above inflation as part of TfL's £2.2bn government funding deal. Mayor Sadiq Khan proposes freezing Travelcards until March 2027, keeping weekly/daily caps unchanged, while bus and tram fares remain frozen until July 2026 as a cost-of-living measure. Pay-as-you-go increases are capped at 20p, with many rising just 10p. This contrasts with the national rail fare freeze announced last month. Opposition parties criticized Khan for burdening Londoners while other UK travelers enjoy frozen fares. London TravelWatch notes London already has Europe's most expensive public transport, with delayed train deliveries and worsening bus speeds undermining value. (PC: BBC) 

India has expedited business visa processing for Chinese executives to four weeks by eliminating administrative vetting layers, according to Reuters. This strategic shift aims to attract Chinese investments amid warming bilateral relations and punishing 50% US tariffs on Indian exports. India-China ties, which deteriorated after the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash killing 20 Indian soldiers, have improved through diplomatic dialogues. Full disengagement from Depsang and Demchok standoff sites occurred in December 2024. Bilateral trade reached $127.7 billion in FY25, with China becoming India's second-largest trading partner after the US. Early FY26 data shows exports rising 19.97% and imports increasing 13%, signaling economic momentum despite trade imbalances. (PC: X)