India has become the world’s fourth largest economy after overtaking Japan, the government said on Tuesday. The country’s GDP now stands at about USD 4.18 trillion. It is expected to surpass Germany to become the third largest economy within the next two to three years. A Press Information Bureau release said India is the fastest growing major economy. Real GDP grew 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of FY26, up from 7.8 per cent in the first quarter. Growth was driven mainly by strong local demand. The Reserve Bank of India has raised its full-year growth forecast to 7.3 per cent. (PC: HT)

India defeated Sri Lanka by 15 runs in the fifth women’s T20I at Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to complete a 5-0 series clean sweep. Asked to bat first, India were in trouble at 77 for five after early wickets. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the innings with 68 off 43 balls, while Arundhati Reddy added an unbeaten 27. India finished on 175. Sri Lanka fought hard in reply as Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani built a partnership. Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma then took key wickets. Sri Lanka ended on 160 for seven. (PC: India Today)

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)

Police in Assam and Tripura have arrested 11 people for alleged links with Bangladesh-based extremist groups, officials said on Tuesday. Ten were held in Assam districts including Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, and Darrang, while one was caught in Tripura. The arrests followed intelligence inputs from central agencies. Police said the suspects were part of the Imam Mahmuder Kafila module, an offshoot of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh. Officials said two Bangladeshi nationals were guiding the Assam cell through encrypted online platforms. No arms were seized, but documents and digital material were recovered. Further operations are under way, police added. (PC: HT)

An IndiGo flight travelling from Kolkata to Hyderabad reported a bird strike on Monday and landed safely at Shamshabad airport, officials said. The pilot followed safety steps and all 118 passengers on board were unharmed. The airline said the aircraft will be checked before it returns to service. No damage details were shared. A similar case was reported in October when an Air India flight from Colombo to Chennai faced a bird hit that was noticed after landing. That plane was grounded for checks and passengers exited safely. Airport teams said bird strikes are handled through standard checks to ensure aircraft safety before further flights. (PC: India Today)

Some Eurostar trains have resumed after hours of disruption in the Channel Tunnel caused by a power supply failure. The first service to run was the 15:04 train from London to Brussels, which left shortly after 16:00 GMT. However, Eurostar has told passengers not to travel unless necessary, warning of long delays. Only one tunnel line is open because of damage to overhead cables. LeShuttle services for cars have also restarted slowly, with queues earlier near Folkestone. The UK transport department said disruption is likely to continue for the rest of the day. Eurostar will offer compensation for hotels, taxis, and meals to affected travellers. (PC: BBC)

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)

Iran erupted into major protests Monday as the rial plunged to a record low of 1,390,000 against the US dollar, with demonstrations spreading across Tehran and several major cities. Western sanctions have devastated the economy, causing food prices to surge for Iran's 92 million population. Central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin reportedly resigned amid the crisis. Traders shut shops urging nationwide solidarity while protesters clashed with security forces, resulting in multiple arrests. President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the "legitimate demands," promising fundamental reforms to the monetary and banking system. He tasked the interior minister to engage protesters through dialogue. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani admitted authorities recognize the significant pressure on citizens and don't defend the current situation.