Breaking News Live Updates: Russian court sentences pro-war activist, Putin critic to 6 years in prison

Breaking News Live Updates, December 26, 2025:  A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of President Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison. Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist Party, was arrested last year. According to Russian independent news site Mediazona, the charges against him stem from an article Udaltsov posted online in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Those activists were convicted earlier this month and handed sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years in prison.

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Jammu and Kashmir: Bant Bridge to be constructed over Tawi River, bringing relief to 20 villages in the Samroli area

Chenani Ghordi MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia says, "The night of 26 August was very unfortunate for everyone because rainfalls, storms and landslides began that day and continued for almost 2 months... Nearly five bridges were fully damaged... People will get connectivity again. The cost for all the bridges will be almost Rs 18 crore." 

RJD is a thief: Bihar's Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav 

On the allegations of fertiliser smuggling levelled by RJD, Bihar's Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav says, "The Rashtriya Janata Dal itself is a thief and corrupt, and they are the ones making noise... I challenge them to prove this allegation that all this is happening under my protection. The day they prove it, I will resign from my post... If the Chief Minister has given me such an important department as the Agriculture Ministry, I am fulfilling my duties... All our officers who are at the headquarters, I have directed them to conduct raids and take action... Action is being taken, and the result of that is that FIRs have been filed against people involved in irregularities at 86 places."

Air pollution India's biggest health crisis since Covid, warn doctors

Air pollution is arguably the biggest public health crisis India has faced since the pandemic and will continue to worsen each year unless urgent action is taken, a UK-based Indian-origin pulmonologist warned, noting that a looming tsunami of airway disease remains largely underdiagnosed and untreated. Speaking to PTI, multiple senior doctors practising in the UK asserted that a vast, hidden burden of undiagnosed airway disease is "building beneath the surface" and its incoming wave will exact a heavy, lasting toll on Indian citizens and its healthcare system.

India progressing under PM Modi, Karnataka heading towards decline: Union Minister Kumaraswamy

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said while India is moving steadily towards becoming the world’s third-largest economic power under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Karnataka is heading in the opposite direction under the Congress government. Speaking at a programme to mark the 101st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, along with the Atal Award presentation and Good Governance Day celebrations, the JD(S) leader said Karnataka was once a model state for governance and development.

"Karnataka was once synonymous with exemplary governance. It had adopted an outstanding development model and emerged as a leader for the entire nation. But under the Congress government’s administration, all these distinctions have been lost, and the State is now moving in the opposite direction,” Kumaraswamy said.

VIP darshan suspended at Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in view of the New Year

On the suspension of VIP darshan at the temple in view of the New Year, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra says, "...On December 24, 2025, the temple trust decided that it would not be possible to provide any special facilities, implement any protocol, or grant any special access for darshan. Therefore, it has been decided to postpone this for the time being, and once the crowds subside and the number of devotees returns to normal, we will consider what facilities can be provided. So, the general instruction is that it will not be possible to provide any special facilities during peak hours. Regular darshan, which we call "jhanki darshan", is available for all devotees."

Leopard movement detected in densely-populated area of Thane

A leopard was sighted on Thursday afternoon in the densely populated Pokhran Road No. 2 area of Thane, leading to panic among residents, forest department officials said. It was spotted in a shuttered factory near Bethany hospital, following which teams from the forest department and Vartak Nagar police station arrived at the site, he said.

Japan's Cabinet okays record defence budget that aims to deter China

Japan's Cabinet on Friday approved a record defence budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen (USD 58 billion) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defence with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region. The draft budget for fiscal 2026 beginning April is up 9.4 per cent from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan's ongoing five-year programme to double annual arms spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product.

Earthquake hits Gujarat Kachchh, no damage reported

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 occurred in Kachchh, Gujarat, at 4.30 am today: National Centre for Seismology

Smog engulfs Agra city in Uttar Pradesh

A thick layer of dense fog envelopes Agra city. The iconic Taj Mahal could not be seen from Taj View Point ADA, as it disappeared from view due to the smog in the city. 

Rehearsals for Republic Day begin in New Delhi

Rehearsals for the 26th January Republic Day parade underway at Kartavya Path.

Visuals around the ITO area as a layer of smog engulfs the national capital

AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 314, categorised as 'very poor', as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board).

Four arrested for pre-Christmas vandalism in Assam school

Four persons associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal were arrested on Thursday for vandalising decorative items used for Christmas celebrations at a school and damaging festive articles in shops in Assam’s Nalbari district, police said. The incident took place on Wednesday when the accused allegedly entered St Mary’s School at Panigaon village within Belsor police station limits and burnt and damaged decorative items meant for Christmas celebrations.

"Miscreants who vandalised the school have been arrested. They entered the premises unlawfully," a senior official said.

Man stabbed to death in northeast Delhi; probe on: Police

A man was stabbed to death in northeast Delhi's Welcome area, officials said on Friday. A police team immediately rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident late Thursday evening, they said, adding that the man was found lying injured. He was promptly shifted to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital for medical treatment. However, doctors at the hospital declared him dead, police said.

Turkey detains dozens of IS suspects planning attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations

Istanbul police launched scores of simultaneous raids on Thursday, detaining over a hundred suspected members of the militant Islamic State group who were allegedly planning attacks against Christmas and New Year's celebrations, authorities said. A statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said police were tipped off that the extremist group had called for action -- particularly against non-Muslims -- during the celebrations.

Kremlin says Moscow made offer to France regarding French citizen imprisoned in Russia

The Kremlin on Thursday said it was in contact with the French authorities over the fate of a French political scholar serving a three-year sentence in Russia and reportedly facing new charges of espionage. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia has made "an offer to the French" regarding Laurent Vinatier, arrested in Moscow last year and convicted of collecting military information, and that "the ball is now in France's court". He refused to provide details, citing the sensitivity of the matter.

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Russian court sentences pro-war activist, Putin critic to 6 years in prison

A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of President Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison. Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist Party, was arrested last year. According to Russian independent news site Mediazona, the charges against him stem from an article Udaltsov posted online in support of another group of Russian activists accused of forming a terrorist organisation. Those activists were convicted earlier this month and handed sentences ranging from 16 to 22 years in prison.