A bystander who disarmed a gunman during the Bondi Beach shooting was a former police and security officer, his family said. Ahmed Al Ahmed, 44, stepped in when two shooters opened fire at a Jewish gathering in Sydney. A viral video shows him grabbing one attacker and taking his gun. He was shot several times and is now recovering in hospital. His family said he earlier served with police and security forces in Syria before moving to Australia in 2006. His action helped save many lives. Leaders worldwide praised his courage. A fundraiser has raised millions to support his recovery. (PC: NDTV)

A 15-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in Weston-super-Mare. Police said the victim, Aria Thorpe, was found dead at a house on Lime Close on Monday evening. A post-mortem showed she died from a single stab wound. The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. He spoke only to confirm his details. The court remanded him in custody. He will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on Friday. Police said the case has shocked the town and support is being given to schools and families. (PC: BBC)

The Election Commission of India has flagged over 1.36 crore voters in West Bengal during the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The issues were found through progeny mapping and other data checks. Officials said many cases involve simple errors like father’s name mismatch or age gaps. The total discrepancy cases stand at 1.62 crore, as some voters have more than one issue. The Chief Electoral Officer said genuine voters will not face problems. Booth Level Officers will verify records. Voters can file claims or objections till January 15 with district officials or the CEO. (PC: The Hindu)

Delhi has announced stricter steps to fight rising air pollution from Thursday. The city’s air quality stayed in the severe range for three days. Offices have been asked to shift to work from home or hybrid mode. Only half the staff can attend offices in person. Vehicles without a valid PUC certificate will not get fuel. Old vehicles and those below BS-6 norms from outside Delhi are banned from entry. Trucks carrying construction material are also barred. Construction work has been stopped, and affected workers will get compensation. Enforcement teams will be posted at borders and fuel stations to check violations. (PC: ANI)

Venezuela has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump after he ordered a blockade on sanctioned oil ships linked to the country. Trump said the move targets Venezuela’s government, which the US now labels a foreign terrorist group. He accused it of drug smuggling and human trafficking. Venezuela rejected the claims and said the US wants to steal its oil. The order follows the US seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker last week and fresh sanctions on more ships. Caracas called the action a serious threat and warned it could raise tensions. Venezuela depends heavily on oil exports for its economy. (PC: Getty Images)

India on Wednesday closed its Visa Application Centre in Dhaka due to serious security concerns. The centre, located at Jamuna Future Park, stopped work in the afternoon. Officials said the move followed threats from extremist groups and strong remarks by Bangladeshi leaders. India also summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi to raise concerns about the safety of Indian missions. The Ministry of External Affairs said India expects full protection for its embassy staff. All visa appointments were cancelled and will be rescheduled. India also rejected false claims being spread against it and said the security situation in Bangladesh has worsened in recent days. (PC: India Today)

A London court has ordered the indefinite detention of a man who stabbed an 11-year-old girl in Leicester Square. The girl, an Australian tourist, was visiting London with her mother. The attack happened outside a Lego store in August last year. The accused, Ioan Pintaru, grabbed the child and stabbed her multiple times. She suffered serious injuries but survived the attack. Pintaru later pleaded guilty to causing serious harm and carrying a knife. Doctors told the court he was suffering from severe mental illness. The judge said the crime caused lasting trauma to the child and deep fear for her family. (PC: X)

A Goa court on Wednesday sent nightclub co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra to five days of police custody. The brothers owned ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’, where 25 people died in a fire on December 6. They were arrested after landing in Delhi following deportation from Thailand. The court ordered fresh medical tests before remand. Police said the brothers had fled to Phuket hours after the fire. Their passports were cancelled by Indian authorities. An FIR has been filed under serious charges, including culpable homicide and negligence. Police are searching for another accused linked to the case. (PC: ANI)

Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound has reached the Oscars 2026 shortlist in the Best International Feature category. The film stars Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa. It was chosen as India’s official entry and competed with 86 films worldwide. Only 15 films made the shortlist. This makes Homebound the fifth Indian film to achieve this feat. Earlier films include Mother India, Salaam Bombay! and Lagaan. The next round of voting will decide the final nominees in January 2026. While the competition remains tough, the shortlist spot is a major win for the film and Indian cinema. (PC: X)

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh seized 750 sacks of roasted chickpeas treated with harmful chemicals in Gorakhpur. The Food Department found that a synthetic yellow dye was used to make the chickpeas look attractive. Officials said the dye is meant for clothes and paper, not food. Tests confirmed high chemical content, making the product unsafe to eat. Health experts warned it can harm the liver and kidneys and may cause cancer. The chickpeas were brought from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. All seized sacks were banned from sale. Officials said strict legal action will be taken against suppliers involved in the adulteration network. (PC: India Today)