Maduro says he is still the President of Venezuela, pleads not guilty in U.S. court

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism in a New York court on Monday (January 5, 2026), two days after being snatched along with his wife, Cilia Flores, by U.S. forces from Caracas. The judge ordered both Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores, who likewise pleaded not guilty, to remain behind bars and set a new hearing date of March 17.

India launches new e-Business visa for Chinese nationals

India has introduced an e-Production Investment Business Visa called e-B-4 Visa that Chinese businessmen can apply for to travel to India for specific business activities, including installation and commissioning of equipment. A latest advisory on the Indian Embassy website in Beijing said the e-B-4 Visa, which was introduced on January 1, can be applied online without visiting the embassy or agents.

India urges citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran

India on Monday (January 5, 2026) urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran as the country has been rocked by a wave of protests over inflation and currency devaluation. New Delhi also advised Indian citizens in Iran to exercise due caution and avoid travelling to areas witnessing protests or demonstrations.

U.S. will receive $600 billion in tariffs: Trump

President Donald Trump said on Monday (January 5, 2026) that the U.S. will be receiving more than $600 billion in tariffs, asserting that America is “far stronger” in national security and financially because of the levies it has imposed on countries around the world.

Bangladesh bans IPL telecast, cites ‘hurt sentiments’

Two days after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dropped pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its team, Bangladesh banned the telecast of Indian Premier League’s (IPL) upcoming season starting March 26 citing “hurt public sentiments”.

31.8% of Aravalli Range at risk after recent classification, says conservation group

A satellite audit has proved that 31.8% of the Aravalli range is under ecological risk after the recent classification by the Centre fixing the height of hills at 100 metres for legal protection, a people-driven conservation collective said in Jaipur on Monday (January 5, 2026). The group has demanded a complete ban on mining in the Aravalli hills.

Thirupparankundram issue: Madras HC to pronounce judgment on T.N.’s appeals on January 6

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court will on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) pronounce the judgment on appeals preferred against the order of Justice G.R. Swaminathan, who had directed the Subramaniya Swamy Temple management in Thirupparankundram to light the Karthigai Deepam at the deepathoon besides the usual places.

Kavitha says she will form political party in Telangana

MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha said that she will form a political party in Telangana. President of Telangana Jagruthi said that it will emerge as a political party and contest the next Assembly Elections. She made the announcement four months after resigning from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in September, 2025.

Police in States step up social media monitoring

Over the past five years, police forces across States have dedicated significant resources to monitoring social media platforms, an analysis of police infrastructure data shows. The number of dedicated social media monitoring cells rose from 262 across 28 States and eight Union Territories as of January 1, 2020, to 365 as of January 1, 2024.

Cricketer Mohammed Shami, Trinamool MP Dev summoned for SIR hearing in Kolkata

Actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Dev and cricketer Mohammed Shami have been called for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings in Kolkata. TMC leaders criticised the hearing notice sent to the two people and their family members.

Colombia to continue work with U.S. on drug trafficking, govt. says

Colombia will continue ‍to work with the United States to fight ​drug trafficking using Washington’s intelligence and technology, ‌the South American nation said ​on Monday (January 5, 2025). U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (January 4) called his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro “sick” ​and said ⁠a U.S. military operation in the country was possible.

Israel strikes south, east Lebanon after evacuation warnings

The Israeli military launched strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday (January 5, 2026), Lebanese state media reported, after warning it would hit what it called Hezbollah and Hamas targets in four villages. The Israeli military said in a statement it “began striking Hezbollah and Hamas terror targets in Lebanon”.

Neeraj Chopra parts ways with JSW, to set up Vel Sports

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s decade-long partnership with JSW Sports came to an end as he announced the decision along with the announcement of Chopra launching his own athlete management firm, Vel Sports. The contract between the two reportedly ran out in December 2025 with both sides agreeing to not renew it.

Supreme Court denies liberty to former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam even after six years of jail without trial

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 5, 2026) denied liberty to former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam even after six years of jail without trial by reasoning that constitutional guarantees of personal liberty and life are not “absolute” or “unregulated”, but subject to restrictions on bail under special statutes like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast in another retaliatory move

Bangladesh on Monday (January 5, 2026) banned the broadcast of IPL’s upcoming season in the wake of pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s ouster from the world’s biggest T20 league on BCCI instructions. A statement from the Bangladesh Information and Broadcast Ministry stated that no “logical reason” was given by the BCCI while instructing IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Rahman from its 2026 roster.

A ‘terrorist act’ is not just the finale, but the build-up of conspiracy and abetment too: Supreme Court judgment in Delhi riots case

The Supreme Court on Monday (January 5, 2026) interpreted that an ‘act of terror’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is not limited to the final flourish of violence but the build-up to it too. The statutory intent, the court said, was not to limit the definition of terror to the use of weapons. “Confining Section 15 [terrorist act] to only conventional modes of violence will be to unduly narrow its ambit contrary to plain language,” Justice Arvind Kumar said.

On 15th parole, Gurmeet Ram Rahim walks out of prison; to stay at Sirsa Dera

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples, walked out of the Sunaria jail in Rohtak on Monday (January 5, 2026) after he was granted a 40-day parole — the 15th time since his conviction in 2017. Gurmeet Singh will stay at his Sirsa-headquartered Dera during the 40-day period, said Dera spokesperson and advocate Jitender Khurana.

Maduro due for first U.S. court hearing after capture

Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is expected to appear in a New York court on Monday (January 5, 2026), just days after being seized in Caracas in a shock U.S. military operation that paved the path for Washington’s plans to dominate the oil-rich country.

Jail is my life now; happy for others who got bail: Umar Khalid after SC denies bail

Jail is his life now, and he is relieved that the others have got bail in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case, even though he has not, activist Umar Khalid told his partner Banojyotsna Lahiri on Monday (January 5, 2026) after the Supreme Court ruling came in. The Supreme Court on Monday (January 5, 2026) refused to grant bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the matter, saying there was a prima facie case against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

I never deviated from party line: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

Congress Working Committee member Shashi Tharoor, whose recent statements and article had put the party in a defensive mode, on Monday (January 5, 2026) said that he had never deviated from the party line.

Oil prices fall back after U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro

Oil prices fell back Monday (January 5, 2026) while the prices of precious metals surged as markets reacted calmly to the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a weekend raid. Asian shares rallied on heavy buying of tech-related stocks after modest gains on Friday (January 2) on Wall Street. The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was virtually unchanged.

Israel says ban on Gaza media access should stay: court document

Israel’s government has told the Supreme Court that a ban on international media access to Gaza should remain in place due to security risks in the Palestinian territory, according to a court submission. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, triggered by an attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israeli authorities have barred foreign journalists from independently entering the devastated territory.