In Manipur's Kadangband, a volunteer, Jamesbond Ningombam, was killed in a gunfight with unidentified gunmen. Simultaneously, Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, editor of Kangleipaki Meira, got arrested for allegedly publishing provocative news, accused of inciting riots and outraging religious sentiments. His arrest follows claims of "instigating and unverified" news amid the ongoing ethnic conflict. All Manipur Journalists’ Union and Editors Guild Manipur condemned Shyamjai's arrest, demanding his immediate release. The state has witnessed over 200 deaths and displacement due to persistent ethnic violence.

The Sunburn EDM festival in Goa is under scrutiny as Congress and AAP leaders file complaints against organisers, alleging the misuse of Lord Shiva's image. The Congress leader filed a police complaint, claiming intentional insult to Hindu sentiments by linking Lord Shiva to alcohol and illicit activities during the festival. AAP's Amit Palekar demanded government action, emphasizing the compromise of "Sanatana Dharma." The festival, held from December 28 to Saturday, faces backlash for cultural insensitivity. Authorities are investigating the complaints, addressing concerns raised by political leaders over the festival's portrayal of religious figures.

Dense fog grips North India, including Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, with zero visibility in some areas. IMD predicts fog persistence until January 4, impacting travel. Jorhat, Pathankot, Bathinda, Jammu, and Agra record minimal visibility. Airport delays and 23 trains running late reported due to poor visibility. Very dense fog conditions expected in Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttarakhand. Cold day conditions in parts of Punjab and Haryana till December 31. Rainfall/snowfall forecast in northern regions and light rainfall in south India till January 3. Travelers urged to exercise caution.

Residents along Southern California's Ventura County coast received temporary evacuation warnings due to high surf, reaching up to 20 feet. Officials urged caution near the Pacific Coast Highway, and some streets were closed. Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder termed the surf as an "extraordinary event." While no injuries or damage were reported on Saturday, the evacuation warning remains until waves recede. Earlier in the week, eight people were rescued from surf-related injuries. Coastal areas experienced flooding, with some street closures. Despite challenges, surfers in Seal Beach took advantage of the impressive waves, describing it as one of the largest winter swells in years.

Russia reports 20 fatalities, including 2 children, and 111 injuries in alleged "indiscriminate" Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod. The Russian provincial capital faced unprecedented shelling, including cluster bombs, escalating tensions. Ukraine suggests responding to Russian bombardment. Belgorod witnesses damaged infrastructure, with missiles hitting a skating rink, shopping center, and residential areas. Both sides trade accusations, with Ukraine claiming defensive measures. Security Council meeting requested at the UN. Hours later, Russia reports missile strikes on Kharkiv, injuring 21. Conflict continues to escalate, leaving civilian casualties on both sides. International concerns rise as the region grapples with the aftermath.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares intentions to secure Gaza's border with Egypt amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, projecting a conflict lasting months. The Palestinian death toll surpasses 21,000, with over 56,000 injured. Tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians seek refuge in Rafah. Netanyahu emphasizes the necessity of controlling the Gaza-Egypt border for demilitarization. The conflict intensifies on multiple fronts. In related developments, an IDF strike reportedly kills a Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon, and Israel plans to demolish homes of Hamas operatives. The situation remains volatile with ongoing military actions and casualties.

A massive fire erupted at a hand glove manufacturing company in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, resulting in the loss of six lives. The blaze broke out at 2:15 am in the Waluj MIDC area, with reports initially suggesting five workers were trapped. Firefighters, responding swiftly, confirmed the unfortunate deaths. The workers, asleep during the fire, faced challenges escaping the engulfed building. The ongoing dousing operation aims to control the flames. The exact cause remains unknown. This marks another recent industrial fire, following Thursday's chemical factory blaze in Navi Mumbai.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has cleared the controversial resignation honours list submitted by his short-lived predecessor Liz Truss. Truss recommended 11 allies and donors for peerages in the House of Lords, including key Brexit campaign figure Matthew Elliott. Former Truss aide Ruth Porter was also named in the list published alongside the New Year Honours. Truss was forced to resign after just 49 days in October 2022 due to turmoil from her disastrous mini-budget. The opposition Labour Party slammed Sunak's decision as proof of his weakness and a slap in the face of working people suffering economic consequences. The move faced dismay for rewarding Truss loyalists despite her brief, crisis-ridden tenure. But Sunak ultimately approved the customary resignation honours per norm.

In a bizarre incident at London's Gatwick Airport, an impatient passenger waiting for luggage threatened to defecate on the baggage carousel belt after a 15-20 minute delay. The unidentified British traveller shouted into the abyss for handlers to "hurry up" before vowing to "lay a Richard", meaning defecate, if bags didn't promptly emerge. He furiously claimed he would "poo on the f***ing trail." The man later excitedly celebrated his bag arriving first, shouting "It's number one!" Avoiding an unsanitary public act, the traveler's volcanic eruption over a prolonged wait time still astonished onlookers with his meltdown reaching new heights of carousel drama. The vulgar threats and triumphalist glee highlighted frustrations with airport disruptions. (Representative Image)

A strong 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province on Saturday, centered 362 km east of the coastal town of Sinabang. Occurring at a shallow depth of 10 km, the quake was felt in several areas of Papua province including Jayapura and Wamena, according to reports. Indonesia's meteorology agency issued an aftershock warning but said there was no risk of a tsunami. Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and frequently experiences seismic events, including November's 5.6-magnitude tremor in West Java that killed over 330 people. With a population of over 270 million, Indonesia has a history of devastating earthquakes like the 2004 Indian Ocean quake that spawned a tsunami killing 230,000 Indonesians in Aceh.