Bessent says Australia, India invited to G7 meeting on critical minerals

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Australia and several other countries would join a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies that he is hosting in Washington on Monday to discuss critical minerals.

US warns Iran amid growing antigovernment demonstrations and clashes

United States President Donald Trump says Iran is in “big trouble” and again warned he could order military strikes as videos showed antigovernment protests raging across the country, and authorities blacked out the internet to restrain growing unrest.

Trump seeks $100bn for Venezuela oil, but Exxon boss says country ’uninvestable’

US President Donald Trump has asked for at least $100bn (£75bn) in oil industry spending for Venezuela, but received a lukewarm response at the White House as one executive warned the South American country was currently ’’uninvestable’’.

Trump says US needs to ’own’ Greenland to prevent Russia and China from taking it

President Donald Trump says the US needs to ’’own’’ Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so.

US seizes another oil tanker linked to Venezuela, officials say

US forces have seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea, officials said, as Washington continues its efforts to control exports of Venezuelan oil.

Protests in Iran cause widespread flight cancelations

Major airlines have canceled dozens of flights to and from Iranian cities as a result of widespread protests throughout Iran, fueled by economic hardship.

India plans to scrap curbs on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts

India’s finance ministry plans to scrap five-year-old restrictions on Chinese firms bidding for government contracts, two government sources said, as New Delhi seeks to revive commercial ties in an environment of reduced border tensions.

Germany to push for Type 214 submarine sale to India

The German Government and naval shipbuilder TKMS are planning to enter into discussions with counterparts in India regarding the latter country’s potential acquisition of six new diesel-electric submarines.

Pakistan: When the state does not fight terrorism, but manages It

ObituariesThere are moments when evidence speaks louder than official denials, and dossiers, despite their technical language, reveal a deeper political truth. In the case of Pakistan, the material that has emerged does not document isolated incidents but outlines a coherent model of state patronage, in which tolerance, political cover, and material support function as mechanisms for the “sanitization” of violence.

Venezuela’s interior minister says 100 people died in U.S. attack

(This Jan 7 story has been refiled to fix the last name of Venezuela’s interim president to Rodriguez, from Rodriquez, in paragraph 4)

Oxford University Press apologises over 20-year-old book about Indian warrior king

The Indian arm of Oxford University Press (OUP) has issued an apology over the controversial portrayal of a Hindu warrior king in a book published more than two decades ago.

The arrest of the Venezuelan President and the erosion of global norms

In an unprecedented action that has sent shockwaves through the international system, the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro marks a decisive rupture in the norms that have governed state sovereignty and diplomatic conduct for decades.

Release of Indian actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan postponed, disappointing fans in Singapore

The worldwide release of Indian film star Vijay’s much-anticipated movie Jana Nayagan has been postponed, disappointing fans in Singapore who had queued for advance tickets to what is widely thought to be the actor’s final film.

Bangladesh to resume direct flights with Pakistan after a decade gap

Bangladesh’s flag carrier will resume direct flights between Dhaka and Pakistan’s largest city Karachi from January 29, restoring non-stop air connectivity between the two countries after over a decade, officials said on Wednesday (January 7, 2026).

India strengthens access to justice with legal aid and Pro Bono

Access to justice has emerged as a defining pillar of India’s constitutional democracy, with legal aid and pro bono services increasingly structured as enforceable rights rather than discretionary support.

Alleged cybercrime kingpin arrested and extradited to China, Cambodia says

A prominent tycoon wanted by United States federal prosecutors for allegedly running one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal networks has been arrested and extradited to China, Cambodian authorities said Wednesday.

Trump to withdraw US from dozens of UN, international organisations

United States President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to withdraw the US from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including major forums for cooperation on climate change, peace and democracy.

US discussing options to acquire Greenland, including use of military, says White House

US President Donald Trump has been discussing ’’a range of options’’ to acquire Greenland, including use of the military, the White House said.

Russia sends navy ships to guard oil tanker being pursued by US forces

Russia has deployed navy assets to escort an oil tanker also being pursued by US forces across the Atlantic, CBS News, BBC’s media partner in the US, reported.

ICC rejects Bangladesh request to move T20 World Cup matches out of India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift their matches from India to Sri Lanka for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Trump says Venezuela to hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil to US

United States President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela will turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil.

Donald Trump’s other goal in the Venezuela strike was to get China out of Latin America

It seems an unlikely coincidence that just hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro met with a special Chinese delegation his country was bombed by the United States.

Six dead and hundreds of flights cancelled as snow causes chaos across Europe

Intense snowfall and icy weather conditions have caused widespread travel disruption across Europe, with six reported killed in weather-related incidents on the continent.

B.C. premier announces trade mission to India amid political tensions

B.C. Premier David Eby and Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon are headed to India in less than a week on a trade mission to promote local businesses and industries amid a backdrop of political uncertainty and tense international relations.

Rosenior agrees to become Chelsea manager

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior says he has ’’agreed verbally’’ to take over at Chelsea.

Global backlash over sexualised images by Elon Musk’s Grok AI

Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok faced growing international backlash on Monday (Jan 5) for generating sexualised deepfakes of women and minors, with the European Union joining the condemnation and Britain warning of an investigation.

Trump administration sets meetings with oil companies on Venezuela: Report

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from US oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production after US forces abducted its leader, Nicolas Maduro, the Reuters news agency has reported, citing unnamed sources.

The ’magical’ blue flower changing farmers’ fortunes in India

’’Until a few years ago, the butterfly pea flower was just another climbing plant in my village,’’ says Nilam Brahma who lives in Anthaigwlao, a village in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.

Maduro tells court ’’I’m not guilty - I’m a decent man’’ in response to drug trafficking charges

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after they were captured by U.S. military forces in a stunning overnight operation and brought to New York City for prosecution.

Selfies and smiles: South Korea seeks ’new phase’ in ties with China

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has called for a ’’new phase’’ in ties with China as he met its leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.