World

A Russian missile strike on Odesa’s port killed eight people and injured 27. Ukraine later said it hit a Russian warship, oil platform, and radar system with drones, expanding attacks beyond the front lines.

A Pakistan accountability court sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years’ imprisonment each in the Toshakhana-II corruption case over alleged misuse of state gifts.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar invoked Lord Krishna’s battlefield teachings on meditation at the UN, stressing the relevance of Dhyana Yoga in today’s conflict-ridden world during the observance of World Meditation Day.

The Delaware Supreme Court has restored Elon Musk’s $55 billion Tesla pay package, overturning a 2024 ruling that scrapped the compensation and reinforcing Musk’s control and influence over the electric vehicle maker.

Bangladesh will hold the funeral of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi under heavy security on Saturday, a day after his death triggered widespread violence, vandalism and diplomatic concerns across the country.

Trump’s plan to slash US drug prices through global benchmarking and tariffs could reshape international pharmaceutical markets, including India’s generics-driven export sector, which relies heavily on the American market.

Travis Head’s unbeaten 142 and Alex Carey’s 52 not out powered Australia to 271/4 at stumps on Day 3 of the Ashes third Test in Adelaide, giving the hosts a commanding 356-run lead over England

Bangladesh is witnessing fresh unrest following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who succumbed to gunshot wounds in Singapore. His body’s arrival in Dhaka sparked arson attacks, vandalism, and clashes across the capital and other cities. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has declared a day of mourning and vowed swift justice against the perpetrators.

India defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in a rain-hit U19 Asia Cup semi-final in Dubai. Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George scored unbeaten half-centuries to guide India into the final, where they will face Pakistan on Sunday

India defeated South Africa by 30 runs in the fifth T20I at Ahmedabad to clinch the series 3-1. Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind fifty, Tilak Varma’s fluent 73 and Varun Chakravarthy’s four wickets powered the hosts to victory

Dhakshineswar Suresh stunned Daniil Medvedev to take Aussie Mavericks Kites into the World Tennis League final. The Kites beat Falcons 24-19, while AOS Eagles topped the table. Indian stars Shrivalli and Nagal also impressed in Bengaluru

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made history by becoming the first Indian men’s doubles pair to reach the semifinals of the BWF World Tour Finals. The duo beat Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in a thrilling comeback

Fabiano Caruana ended Alireza Firouzja’s winning run to help Alpine SG Pipers beat Triveni Continental Kings in the Global Chess League. Mumba Masters climbed to the top with victory over Ganges Grandmasters, while Alaskan Knights continued their revival with another win

A YouTube livestream by content creator Matt Farley unexpectedly appeared on the White House’s official live page for eight minutes, raising questions about a possible hack or accidental link. The incident comes amid a series of digital security challenges faced by President Trump’s administration.

The Trump administration plans to significantly increase denaturalisation of US citizens, targeting fraud, criminal links, and other categories. USCIS guidance sets quotas of 100–200 cases per month, raising concerns over fear, politicisation, and impact on law-abiding naturalised Americans

President Donald Trump suspended the US green card lottery following the Brown University and MIT shootings by Portuguese national Claudio Neves Valente. The move affects the Diversity Visa program, provoking likely legal challenges amid broader immigration policy debates

Actress Mallika Sherawat described her White House Christmas dinner invitation as surreal, sharing photos and videos on Instagram. She previously attended the 2011 Correspondents’ Dinner, and her career includes Bollywood hits like Murder and international films such as Hisss and Politics of Love

Over 2.17 million Afghans, including 60% children, have been forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan, straining Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure. Refugees face harassment, extortion, and human rights violations, while UNDP urges international support to prevent worsening humanitarian crises

A Cessna C550 business jet crashed near Statesville, North Carolina, killing seven, including retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and children. The plane caught fire during a return attempt after takeoff. FAA and NTSB investigations are ongoing

The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release nearly two decades of files on Jeffrey Epstein, detailing sexual abuse investigations and potential links to high-profile figures. Public demand for transparency grows amid past controversies and victims’ civil and criminal cases

Tom Cruise will star in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming English-language film Digger, releasing October 2, 2026. A comedy of catastrophic proportions, Cruise plays the world’s most powerful man. The cast includes John Goodman, Riz Ahmed, and Sophie Wilde

Police say Claudio Neves Valente, suspected in a Brown University mass shooting that killed two and wounded nine, was found dead by suicide in New Hampshire. Investigators also believe he fatally shot an MIT professor near Boston earlier this week

TikTok has agreed to sell its US business to investors Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, with the deal expected to close on January 22. The new venture will store user data locally, retrain its algorithm on US data and operate under American majority oversight, ending uncertainty over a potential US ban

Sharif Osman Hadi, a key leader of Bangladesh’s July Uprising and an election candidate, died in Singapore after being shot in Dhaka. His death triggered protests in the capital. The interim government announced state mourning and promised swift action against those responsible