Colombian President Gustavo Petro strongly rejected accusations and threats from US President Donald Trump, who claimed Petro was involved in drug trafficking. The remarks came shortly after US forces carried out a raid in Caracas, targeting Venezuelan military sites in an attempt to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made remarks suggesting that the United States should consider taking action against Russian President Vladimir Putin, following recent discussions about dealing with authoritarian leaders. Referring to the possibility of confronting dictators, Zelensky said that if such actions are feasible, the United States would know what steps to take next.

The United Kingdom experienced its hottest and sunniest year on record in 2025, surpassing the previous peak set in 2022, according to the Met Office. The average annual temperature reached 10.09°C, marking only the second time since 1884 that temperatures have exceeded 10°C.

Dubai Police have fined a driver Dh10,000 and impounded his vehicle after a video showing him performing dangerous stunts on a public road went viral on social media. The authorities took action after the footage circulated online, enabling them to identify and apprehend the driver.

An Indian court in Jharkhand has acquitted the main accused in a drug trafficking case after police reported that nearly 200 kilograms of seized cannabis had allegedly been eaten by rats while in storage. The case dates back to 2022, when authorities stopped a vehicle on a national highway and claimed to have recovered a large quantity of cannabis valued at approximately three crore Pakistani

Kerala Police have seized over 100,000 fake academic degrees connected to 22 universities and arrested 11 individuals in a major crackdown on certificate forgery. The operation targeted a large network involved in producing and distributing fraudulent degrees across multiple professional fields, including medicine, nursing, and engineering.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel to lift its ban on humanitarian agencies operating in Gaza, expressing deep concern over the move. Guterres emphasized that international non-governmental organizations are vital for life-saving aid, warning that the suspension could undermine fragile progress achieved during the ceasefire and worsen the humanitarian crisis for Palestinians.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on a state visit beginning Sunday, underscoring Beijing’s desire to deepen ties with Seoul amid tensions with Japan over Taiwan. Analysts note that this visit, only the second Xi-Lee meeting in two months, signals China’s strong intent to reinforce economic collaboration, tourism, and broader bilateral relations.

As 2026 begins, the UAE has rolled out several major policy changes affecting schools, taxes, travel, sustainability, parking, and digital services. These new regulations aim to align public services with national priorities, promote public health, and support environmental goals.

Indian telecom operator Vodafone Idea announced on Thursday that it has been slapped with a penalty of 6.38 billion rupees (around $71 million) by a goods and services tax (GST) authority for alleged “short payment” of taxes. The order comes just a day after the Indian government granted the debt-laden company a partial moratorium on its adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, a move that