Global oil prices showed mixed movement as markets balanced expectations of ample supply in 2026 with uncertainty over Venezuela’s future crude output following geopolitical developments and U.S. actions. Analysts say oil supply is likely sufficient this year even if Venezuela’s production stays constrained, keeping price pressure intact due to weak demand and oversupply concerns. Brent and WTI prices edged modestly, reflecting the cautious investor sentiment. The potential for increased Venezuelan output exists if political stability and investments improve, but any significant boost is expected to take time, moderating near-term market impact. (PC: CNBC)

Uttar Pradesh’s draft electoral roll saw a massive cleanup with 2.89 crore names deleted, about 18.7% of the earlier list after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission. Of those removed, 46.23 lakh were deceased, 2.17 crore had shifted or were absent, and 25+ lakh were duplicate entries. The capital Lucknow recorded the highest deletions.The draft roll now lists 12.55 crore voters from a previous 15.44 crore. A claims and objections period (Jan 6–Feb 6) allows affected citizens to appeal before the final list is published on March 6. (PC: NDTV)

US President Donald Trump said “many, many” Cuban soldiers were killed during a military raid that led to the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. He called the operation “brilliant” while speaking to party members. Local media in Venezuela reported that 23 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban troops died when US special forces stormed Maduro’s guarded compound. The US has not confirmed these figures. In Caracas, armed police were seen patrolling key areas, according to images shared by the interior ministry. Videos posted online showed security forces chanting slogans of loyalty. Many officials from Maduro’s government remain in place, and residents say fear continues across the capital. (PC: BBC)

Joe Root’s form since 2021 has moved him near Sachin Tendulkar’s long-held Test runs record. He has scored 24 centuries in the last five years and has averaged above 55 in each season. Root is now less than 2,000 runs behind Tendulkar. His career has also been helped by strong fitness, with few injuries since his Test debut in 2012. This has allowed him to play most matches each year. England’s heavy Test schedule gives him steady chances to add more runs. At 35, Root already has close to 14,000 Test runs, more than Tendulkar had at the same age. (PC: HT)

An intense cold wave is set to hit the northern plains from January 7, bringing biting cold and dense fog, weather experts said. Day temperatures may fall 4–8°C below normal between January 8 and 16 across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. Dense to very dense fog is expected in parts of Jammu and Kashmir and many districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Visibility may stay poor even during daytime hours. Madhya Pradesh may see a further drop in night temperatures with fog in several cities. Southern states may get light rain but will avoid severe cold for now. (PC: India Today)

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the Indian Super League will resume February 14 with all 14 clubs participating after being paused due to absence of commercial partner. The tournament will feature 91 matches in single-leg round-robin format on home-and-away basis. Participating clubs include Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammaden FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, SC Delhi, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, and Inter Kashi. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey revealed a Rs 25 crore central pool for ISL conduct, with AIFF contributing Rs 14 crore. The I-League will also resume simultaneously with 11 clubs playing 55 matches.

Jawaharlal Nehru University filed an FIR after students raised "provocative and inflammatory" slogans against PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a Monday night protest titled "A Night of Resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba" at Sabarmati premises. The administration warned of strict action including immediate suspension, expulsion, and permanent debarment, stating "universities cannot be converted into laboratories of hate." The gathering, initially 30-35 students commemorating 2020 campus violence, escalated after Supreme Court rejected Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam's bail pleas. BJP leaders demanded severe punishment while Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused opposition parties of turning JNU into a hub for "breaking the country."

Indian-origin Singaporean R Shanmugaratnam, 59, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for falsifying documents in the Wirecard AG fraud case, while Briton James Henry O'Sullivan, 51, received six-and-a-half years. Shanmugaratnam, director of Citadelle Corporate Services, was convicted of 13 charges for falsifying balance confirmation letters between 2016-2018 with fraudulent intent. O'Sullivan was found guilty of five charges for abetting by instigating fraudulent letters. Both misrepresented to auditors that Wirecard AG held hundreds of millions of Euros in Citadelle's escrow accounts, though no money was actually held. Prosecutors called the falsification "unprecedented," with misrepresented balances ranging from €20 million to €327.5 million. Both men will appeal their convictions. (PC: HT)

Controversy erupted at Jawaharlal Nehru University after students allegedly raised provocative slogans against PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during a January 5 event marking six years of the 2020 campus attack. The gathering, titled "A night of resistance with Guerrilla Dhaba," occurred after the Supreme Court denied bail to former JNU students Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. JNU's security department requested an FIR for "objectionable" and "inflammatory" slogans, calling it contempt of court. JNUSU president Aditi Mishra defended the slogans as "ideological," not personal attacks. The incident triggered political reactions, with BJP alleging treason while Congress suggested RSS-BJP involvement.

Communal tension erupted in Nepal's Parsa and Dhanusha districts after two Muslim men, Haider Ansari and Amanat Ansari, posted a video allegedly containing religiously insulting remarks. Locals handed them to police, but a mosque was subsequently vandalized in Sakhuwa Maran area of Kamala Municipality, intensifying unrest. Violent protests followed with stone-pelting at police and vandalization of stations; authorities fired tear gas shells and imposed curfew in Birgunj city. India completely sealed its border with Nepal, halting all cross-border movements except emergency services. Sashastra Seema Bal increased patrolling along Maitri Bridge and border areas. Indian migrant workers began returning home as shops and markets closed amid deteriorating security situation.