The Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjari said the allegations place them on a different footing from other accused. The ruling came weeks after the Delhi High Court also denied bail. BJP leaders welcomed the order. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Congress had shown sympathy to the accused. Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said the decision supports claims of a planned riot. Congress MP Imran Masood said bail is a fundamental right. CPI(M) criticised the order and raised concerns over long jail terms without trial. (PC: HT)

Indian police have arrested Arjun Sharma in Tamil Nadu after he fled the United States following the killing of his former partner, Nikitha Godishala. US investigators said Godishala, a 27-year-old data analyst based in Maryland, was reported missing on January 2. Sharma told police he last saw her on New Year’s Eve and left the country the same day. A search of his apartment in Columbia, Maryland, on January 3 found Godishala dead with multiple stab wounds. Howard County Police issued arrest warrants for first- and second-degree murder. US and Indian agencies tracked Sharma through international coordination. Extradition steps are expected to follow. The Indian Embassy said it is assisting the victim’s family. (PC: India Today)

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Sunaria jail in Haryana on Monday after being given a 40-day parole. Singh is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two followers. This is the 15th time he has been released since his conviction in 2017. A Dera spokesperson said Singh will stay at the sect’s Sirsa base during the parole period. He was last freed on a 40-day parole in August 2025. Singh was also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist. Past paroles were often granted close to state and national elections. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Venezuela’s incoming leader Delcy Rodríguez hours before her swearing-in. In remarks to The Atlantic, Trump said she could “pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro” if she does not act in line with US demands. He added that any form of regime change would be better for Venezuela. At her first cabinet meeting, Rodríguez urged peace and dialogue with Washington. Meanwhile, former leader Nicolás Maduro is expected to appear in a New York court after his capture during US strikes on Saturday. He denies drug trafficking charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is fighting drug groups, not Venezuela. (PC: BBC)

The Bangladesh government has ordered an open-ended ban on the telecast and promotion of the Indian Premier League after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. In a notice issued on January 5, authorities said all IPL shows, ads and event coverage must stop with immediate effect. The order said the move was taken in the public interest. Officials said the decision to remove Mustafizur was conveyed as a direction from the BCCI and had no clear reason. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has also decided not to send its men’s team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government advice. The ICC is expected to review the situation. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump has warned India that Washington may raise tariffs if New Delhi continues to import Russian oil. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “knew I wasn’t happy” about the oil trade. He claimed India has already reduced some purchases from Russia. The remarks came as Indian and US officials began a fresh round of talks to settle a long trade dispute. Earlier negotiations were disrupted after the US imposed higher duties on Indian goods, in some cases up to 50 per cent. India has said buying Russian oil is needed to protect domestic energy supply. Both sides have said they want to keep trade ties moving forward. (PC: NDTV)

The Indian Embassy in the United States said it is providing all possible consular help to the family of Nikitha Godishala, an Indian woman found dead in a Columbia, Maryland apartment. The 27-year-old, who lived in Ellicott City, was discovered with multiple stab wounds in the home of her former boyfriend. Police said the suspect, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, reported her missing on January 2 and left the US for India the same day. Investigators later searched his apartment and found Godishala’s body. Howard County Police have issued an arrest warrant for Sharma on murder charges and are working with federal agencies to trace and arrest him. (PC: HT)

The Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to student activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court said material on record shows a prima facie case and that national security and public order outweigh long pre-trial custody. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N V Anjaria said their role is different from other accused. The court, however, granted bail to Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd Saleem Khan and Shadab Ahmed. The police say the violence was pre-planned and aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty. Khalid and Imam have been in jail since 2020.

US President Donald Trump warned Venezuela’s incoming leader Delcy Rodríguez that she could face a “bigger price” than Nicolás Maduro if she fails to cooperate with Washington. His comments came as Maduro prepared to appear in a New York court on Monday on drug and weapons charges, which he denies. Rodríguez, who will be sworn in as president in Caracas, offered cooperation with the US under international law. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is not at war with Venezuela and called the action a law enforcement operation. Democratic leaders criticised the mission and questioned its legality. Several Latin American nations said the action threatens regional peace. (PC: BBC)

The Indian Embassy in Washington confirmed it's providing consular assistance to Nikitha Godishala's family after the 27-year-old Indian woman was found dead in Columbia, Maryland. Police identified her ex-boyfriend as the prime suspect who allegedly reported her missing before fleeing the United States. Authorities issued arrest warrants for first and second-degree murder, coordinating with federal agencies for next steps. The Embassy is assisting with documentation, coordinating with local officials, and monitoring investigation developments. Friends described Godishala as a young professional who moved to the US for higher studies and work opportunities. The case has raised safety concerns for Indian nationals abroad, prompting the Embassy to advise vigilance and encourage citizens to contact consular officials during emergencies. (PC: X)