The US military struck nearly 60 Iranian military targets while escorting 40 commercial vessels carrying about 18 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, according to CNN. The operation marked a wartime high for shipping through the strategic waterway amid fresh US-Iran clashes. American forces targeted air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites while defending the convoy from drone and cruise missile attacks. The operation came as global energy prices remained elevated and risks to commercial shipping increased. A Saudi-flagged tanker was attacked and caught fire on Monday, killing two Filipino crew members.

India’s largest drugmaker, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, has signed an agreement with the US government to make medicines more affordable for American patients. The Mumbai-based company will offer “Most Favoured Nation” pricing to US state Medicaid programmes, providing medicines at the lowest prices offered in other developed countries. The arrangement will also apply to Sun Pharma’s future innovative medicines in the US market. The agreement was part of a wider US government push to lower prescription drug prices. In return, the company has secured a delay of more than two years in proposed Section 232 tariffs on its innovative pharmaceutical products. (PC: HT)

Bengaluru has ranked 17th among the world’s 20 best cities for nightlife in Time Out’s 2026 survey, emerging as the only Indian city on the list. The ranking was based on a global survey of more than 24,000 residents and assessments by local experts. Bengaluru scored 71% for nightlife quality and 82% for community feel, highlighting its lively after-dark culture. The city’s street life and casual bars were particularly popular with locals. However, affordability remained a weaker point, with a score of 54%. (PC: The Hindu)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Kyiv, said India is ready to help end the Russia-Ukraine war and would assist in any way possible to bring the conflict to an end. “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there,” he said alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The two leaders also discussed attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Jaishankar’s visit comes amid rising tensions and after Indian seafarers were killed and injured in recent attacks. India reiterated its call for dialogue, diplomacy and the safety of all seafarers. (PC: X)

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has forecast a 100% chance that El Niño will persist through February 2027, with unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters expected to intensify the climate event. WMO said El Niño could become very strong by late 2026, increasing risks of extreme heat, drought and floods worldwide. For India, the development is a major concern as El Niño can weaken monsoon rainfall and worsen dry conditions. India ended August with a 16% rainfall deficit, while the 2026 monsoon has remained below normal. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole could, however, modify El Niño’s impact. (PC: India Today)

Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday offered to publicly show his Boston University degree if Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the same, amid renewed questions about his educational credentials. The challenge followed a podcast claim that there was no record of Dipke graduating from the US university. Dipke has rejected the allegations, saying his education was funded through a Boston University scholarship and an education loan. He earlier showed his scholarship letter in an interview. Questions over his education and funding had also surfaced after an RTI activist sought scrutiny of his family’s finances and education expenses. (PC: X)

Lollapalooza India will return to Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse on January 23 and 24, 2027, for its fifth edition, with Olivia Dean, Limp Bizkit, KATSEYE, Fontaines D.C. and 5 Seconds of Summer among the headline acts. The two-day festival will feature four stages and artistes across pop, rock, electronic, hip-hop, jazz, R&B and folk. Other international performers include St. Vincent and Steve Angello. The Indian lineup includes Aditya Gadhvi, Anuv Jain, Ricky Kej with Stewart Copeland, Indian Ocean and The Manganiyar Seduction, alongside several independent and emerging artistes.

Highly skilled Indian professionals seeking US employment-based Green Cards could face waits of up to 179 years, according to a National Foundation for American Policy assessment. The employment-based immigration backlog has crossed 1.2 million applicants, with nearly one million Indians accounting for about 79% of the backlog. Indian applicants face the longest delays because of annual limits and country-specific caps on employment-based visas. The EB-2 backlog for Indian advanced-degree professionals has grown sharply, while other categories also face long waits. The report highlights growing pressure on the US immigration system and the severe impact of existing limits on Indian professionals seeking permanent residency.

India’s reported interest in joining a sixth-generation fighter programme could bring advanced technology and strategic partnerships, but an NDTV opinion article warns that pursuing too many projects could overstretch its resources. The Indian Air Force is already developing Tejas Mk2, a 114-aircraft MRFA programme, and the fifth-generation AMCA. India has approached Europe’s GCAP and FCAS partnerships, though FCAS’s core fighter collaboration has collapsed. The article identifies advanced fighter-engine technology as India’s biggest challenge, with engine development estimated at $10 billion. It argues that India needs a clear air-power roadmap rather than multiple programmes competing for limited industrial and financial resources. (PC: NDTV)

A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Tibet on Thursday, days after catastrophic flash floods caused widespread devastation in the region bordering Nepal. The German Research Centre for Geosciences said the quake occurred at a depth of 10 km, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The August 26 disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse in Tibet and sent floods and debris through towns and valleys. At least 1,252 people are confirmed dead and more than 4,200 remain missing in Nepal, while Tibet’s death toll stands at 21, with 541 people missing. Rescue operations continue in the devastated mountain region. (PC: India Today)