The Washington Post has laid off its Ukraine correspondent Lizzie Johnson as part of wide staff cuts across the newsroom. Johnson said she received the notice while reporting from the war zone. “I was just laid off… in the middle of a war zone. I have no words. I’m devastated,” she wrote on social media. The paper is owned by Jeff Bezos and is reducing about one-third of its staff, according to company statements. Several foreign bureaus and the sports desk are also affected. The editor said the paper needs “a new way forward” after financial losses.

Delhi Police have arrested two men accused of writing pro-Khalistan slogans at two places in the capital ahead of Republic Day. Investigators said the men were acting on instructions linked to US-based separatist figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and his group Sikhs For Justice. Police said a Canada-based associate arranged the plan and offered ₹2 lakh for the act. One accused works as an ambulance driver, while the other is his associate. Officials said the goal was to “create unrest” before January 26. An FIR was filed earlier after a threat video surfaced online. Police said further searches are underway. (PC: X)

India responded to US President Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi agreed to stop buying Russian oil, saying its main focus remains national energy security. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said meeting the needs of 1.4 billion people is the “supreme priority”. He said India will diversify supplies based on market conditions and global developments. Trump earlier said India would cut Russian oil imports and buy more from the US and possibly Venezuela after the trade deal announcement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the trade deal but did not mention Russian oil. Russia said it has received no official word from India. (PC: X)

The Indian government is working to bring back a Formula 1 race at the Buddh International Circuit after more than 10 years. Officials are trying to fix tax and rule problems that led to the Indian Grand Prix ending in 2013. Authorities earlier treated the race as entertainment, not sport, which raised costs through heavy taxes and duties. Sources said ministries are now reviewing these rules and speaking with Formula 1 officials. The race ran from 2011 to 2013 and drew large crowds. No return date is confirmed yet. India must still compete with other countries for a slot on the packed F1 calendar. (PC: India Today)

Young voters helped force out Bangladesh’s long-time leader after deadly unrest in 2024, but older parties now look likely to win the upcoming general election. Student-led protests grew after a police crackdown that killed hundreds, according to the UN. Some youth leaders formed the National Citizen Party, but it is split and has limited reach. Many young voters are now backing established parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP. “We are trying to prove ourselves,” one youth party member said. Women activists say they have been sidelined in candidate lists and alliances ahead of the vote. (PC: BBC)

An email said to be sent by Ghislaine Maxwell appears to support the authenticity of a photo showing Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre. Andrew has long questioned the image and said in 2019 he could not be in it because he was at a Pizza Express in Woking that day. A 10 January 2015 email includes a draft statement where Maxwell says she was in London in 2001 when Giuffre met “Prince Andrew” and that a photograph was taken. Giuffre’s family said the email “vindicated” her account. Andrew has denied all allegations and settled a civil case in 2022 without admitting liability. (PC: X)

A section of officials in the Bangladesh Cricket Board has raised concerns over Pakistan national cricket team boycotting the India match at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. They said the decision could hurt global cricket revenue. One BCB director told a local outlet, “If the India-Pakistan match does not take place, the entire cricketing world will face financial losses.” The official added, “We did not want such losses.” Reports say Pakistan skipped the match in support of Bangladesh after the team was removed from the tournament. Officials also warned that lower ICC income would reduce member payouts and affect smaller cricket boards. (PC: NDTV)

The UK aviation regulator has asked Air India to explain how a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flew from London despite a reported fuel switch fault. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said Air India must give full details within a week or face possible regulatory action. A pilot had reported a fuel control switch issue after a recent flight, and the aircraft was later grounded in Bengaluru for checks. The regulator asked for a “root-cause analysis” and a prevention plan for the fleet. Air India said reinspections found no faults. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said proper procedure was “apparently” not followed. (PC: HT)

A suicide note recovered after the deaths of three sisters in Ghaziabad points to their strong attachment to K-pop and Korean shows, police said. The girls, aged 12, 14, and 16, allegedly jumped from the ninth floor of their apartment building. The note included lines such as “We loved Korean pop music very deeply” and repeated apologies to their father. Police said early claims about a Korean gaming app were not correct. Investigators found the sisters had stayed away from school for two years and ran a social media account later removed by their father. The probe is ongoing. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has said it is “really time for the country to get on to something else” after the Justice Department closed its review of Jeffrey Epstein files. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the document review found no grounds for new prosecutions. However, a House committee inquiry is still moving forward, with Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton set to testify. Lawmakers and Epstein victims say key records are still missing. Trump denied wrongdoing and said, “Nothing came out about me.” His name appears thousands of times in released files, mostly in past contacts and mentions. Survivors say they will keep pressing for more disclosure. (PC: BBC)