Howard County police in Maryland of US reported that 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala, an Indian woman healthcare professional, was allegedly found stabbed to death inside an apartment, reported the IANS. The incident was reported in Columbia on January 3. The apartment belonged to her former partner, 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, also from India. Authorities confirmed that Godishala had been killed shortly after 7 pm on December 31, New Year’s Eve. No motive has been identified yet, and the investigation remains ongoing. Howard County police said an arrest warrant has been issued following the discovery, charging Sharma with both first and second-degree murder. In a statement, the department said it is coordinating with US federal law enforcement agencies as efforts continue to locate and apprehend the suspect, as per the IANS. Sharma reported Godishala missing on January 2, stating that he last saw her on December 31 at his Twin Rivers Road apartment. Police later discovered that Sharma left the United States for India on the same day, according to the IANS. An arrest warrant has now been issued against him, charging him with first- and second-degree murder. Howard County Police are coordinating with federal agencies to trace and apprehend Sharma. Given the serious nature of the crime, international cooperation is being pursued under US-India extradition treaties, though such proceedings often require months of court and diplomatic processes. Victim’s professional background According to her LinkedIn profile, Godishala was a highly qualified healthcare and data analytics professional. She held a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India and a master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the news agency reported. Her expertise included healthcare data analytics, regulatory compliance, dashboard development, HIPAA standards, and tools such as SQL, Tableau, Power BI and Python. She was dedicated to improving healthcare systems and patient outcomes through data-driven insights. Legal context Under US law, first-degree murder involves premeditated killing, while second-degree murder covers intentional killings without prior planning. Police investigations are ongoing to collect evidence and establish the circumstances of the killing, as per the IANS. (with IANS inputs)
05 January,2026 11:19 PM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentIndia on Monday advised its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran until further notice, owing to the recent developments in the country. "Indian citizens and PIOs currently in Iran should exercise due caution, avoid areas of protests or demonstrations, and closely monitor news as well as the website and social media handles of the Embassy of India in Tehran," read an advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). "Indian nationals living in Iran on resident-visas are advised to register with the Indian Embassy, if not already done so," it added. Iran is witnessing major protests in a number of cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency rial. Clashes between the security personnel and protesters have resulted in several deaths in Iranian provinces. Earler on Monday, India time, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against using violence to suppress protests, saying the United States is closely monitoring the situation and would respond forcefully if Iranian authorities begin killing civilians. Aboard Air Force One on his way back to the White House from Mar-a-Lago, Trump was asked about reports of protesters being killed in Iran and his earlier comments that the US was “locked and loaded.” “We’ll take a look,” Trump said. “We’re watching it very closely.” Trump drew a clear line around the use of lethal force by Iranian authorities. “If they start killing people as they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” he said. The US President did not specify what form a US response might take, nor did he outline any immediate military or economic measures. Notably, the US has deployed considerable military asset in the region. Trump’s comments in response to a question, however, underscored that Washington is actively tracking developments inside Iran and considering its options. But he gave no timeline or trigger point. “We’re watching it very closely,” he reiterated. While Trump did not draw direct comparisons during his Iran remarks, his warning followed strong language directed at Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries he described as destabilising forces in their regions. Trump has previously accused Iran of violently suppressing dissent during past waves of protests and has used economic sanctions and military deterrence as pressure tools. In this exchange, he stopped short of announcing new measures, instead emphasising vigilance and readiness. “If they start killing people,” Trump said, repeating the condition under which US action could follow. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 10:22 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSAnother Hindu businessman, who was also the acting editor of a newspaper, was fatally shot in the head in Bangladesh, reported the PTI. As reported by local media reports, the man was shot dead by unidentified men on Monday in the Jessore district of Bangladesh. As per PTI, the deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi, a resident of Arua village in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore in Khulna Division. Bairagi, who owned an ice-making factory in Kopaliya Bazar in Monirampur, was also the acting editor of a newspaper called 'Dainik BD Khabar' published from Narail, as per PTI. Additional Police Superintendent Abul Basar, while speaking to the media about the incident, said that the incident in Bangladesh occurred around 5:45 pm at Kapalia Bazaar on Monday. Citing locals and the police, Prothom also said that three miscreants on a motorcycle called him from the ice factory and took him to the alley in front of Kapalia Clinic and Diagnostic Centre on the west side of Kapalia Bazar. The miscreants then shot him in the head from close range and fled. Media reports further emphasised that the deceased died on the spot, reported PTI. Monirampur Police Station Officer-in-Charge, while speaking to the Bangladeshi media, said, "Bairagi was shot three times in the head, and his throat was slit," reported PTI. Khan also said that the reason for his murder is not known. However, an investigation has been launched to find out who or what committed the murder. Police said that there are four cases registered against the deceased in two police stations. However, details of these cases were not known. The shooting marks the latest in a spate of violent incidents against the Hindu community members. Series of incidents against minorities in Bangladesh Earlier, on January 3, Khokon Chandra Das (50) died after he was brutally attacked, hacked and set on fire. Whereas on December 24, another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was lynched over alleged extortion in Rajbari town's Pangsha upazila. The heated scenario gathered international attention on December 18, when Dipu Chandra Das (25) was lynched by a mob and his body was set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh city. In another incident unidentified men set fire to Qatar expatriate workers Shukh Shil and Anil Shil's home in the Raojan area on the outskirts of Chattogram on December 23, but the residents managed to come out of the building unharmed, reported PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
05 January,2026 10:18 PM IST | Dhaka | mid-day online correspondentA man who broke windows at Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home and caused other property damage was detained early Monday, the US Secret Service said. The man was detained shortly after midnight by Secret Service agents assigned to Vance's home, east of downtown Cincinnati, agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. He has not been named. The Secret Service heard a loud noise at the home around midnight and found a person who had broken a window with a hammer and was trying to get into the house, according to two law enforcement officials who were not publicly authorised to discuss the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The man had also vandalised a Secret Service vehicle on his way up the home's driveway, one of the officials said. The home, in the Walnut Hills neighbourhood, was unoccupied at the time, and Vance and his family were not in Ohio, Guglielmi said. The Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the US attorney's office as charging decisions are reviewed, he said. Vance's office directed questions to the Secret Service and said his family was already back in Washington. Walnut Hills is one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods and is home to historic sites, including the Harriet Beecher Stowe House. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 07:16 PM IST | Cincinnati (US) | APChina has strongly condemned the United States’ (US’) capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, warning against unilateral coercion and emphasising that no nation has the right to act as the world’s “policeman” or “international judge” amid rising global volatility, news agency ANI reported. “China always opposes the use or threat of force, as well as any imposition of one country’s will on another,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday during the Seventh Round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with his Pakistani counterpart Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing. Wang noted that the current international situation is “more volatile and intertwined,” adding that “unilateral bullying [is] becoming increasingly severe”. “The sudden change of situation in Venezuela has drawn high attention from the international community,” he said, adding, “We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can claim itself to be an international judge.” Wang emphasised that the sovereignty and security of all nations must be fully protected under international law, ANI reported. He further stated that China remains committed to working with the international community, including Pakistan, to uphold the United Nations Charter, maintain fundamental international norms, respect the sovereignty of all nations, and safeguard global peace and development. China calls for dialogue and international law as Nicolas Maduro remains in US custody Wang also reiterated China’s vision of promoting a “community with a shared future for humanity,” underlining dialogue, cooperation, and adherence to international law as essential for resolving global challenges, ANI reported. Maduro was captured by US forces during a military operation on Saturday and is currently in American custody. Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of Venezuela’s acting president late Sunday. US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Rodriguez, stating she must provide the United States “total access” or face consequences “probably worse than Maduro.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the US needs full access to Venezuela’s resources, particularly oil. “We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he said. Trump also reiterated earlier remarks that Rodriguez could face a fate worse than former President Maduro if she does not “do the right thing,” without specifying the exact actions expected. US authorities confirmed that Nicolas Maduro and his wife are scheduled to appear before a federal judge on Monday at 12 pm (local time), marking their first court appearance since the US operation. (With ANI inputs)
05 January,2026 02:44 PM IST | Beijing | mid-day online correspondentUS President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to India, saying Washington could raise tariffs if New Delhi continues importing Russian oil, and added that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was aware of his displeasure on the matter, news agency ANI reported. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday (local time), Trump said it was important for India to address his concerns regarding Russian oil imports. “PM Modi’s a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy. They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said. The recent US strike on Venezuela has once again pushed oil to the centre of global geopolitics. Venezuela possesses massive oil reserves—over 303 billion barrels—making them the largest proven reserves in the world. However, output has fallen to about 1 million barrels per day due to US sanctions and underinvestment. According to OPEC data, Venezuela’s reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels, account for roughly 17% of the world’s total oil supply. Trump’s warning comes amid increasing scrutiny in Washington of India’s energy trade with Russia, even as New Delhi has maintained that its oil purchases are critical for domestic energy security. The remarks also come weeks after Trump and PM Modi held a telephone conversation in which both leaders emphasised the need to sustain momentum in bilateral trade ties despite ongoing tariff-related frictions. That call coincided with the launch of a new round of talks between Indian and US officials aimed at resolving a long-standing trade impasse. Only days before speaking with Modi, Trump had threatened to impose new tariffs on Indian rice imports, following complaints from a US farmer representative at a White House roundtable who alleged dumping by India, China, and Thailand. Trump says Ukraine did not target Putin residence in drone strike, contrary to Kremlin claims President Donald Trump said on Sunday that US officials have determined Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a drone attack last week, contradicting claims made by the Kremlin that Trump initially viewed with deep concern, news agency AP. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had said last week that Ukraine launched a wave of drones at Putin’s state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region, which Russian air defences reportedly repelled. Lavrov also criticized Kyiv for launching the attack during a period of intensive negotiations aimed at ending the war. The allegation surfaced a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to Florida for talks with Trump on the US administration’s still-evolving 20-point plan to end the conflict. Zelenskyy quickly denied the Kremlin’s claim. Trump said that “something happened nearby” Putin’s residence, but US officials did not find evidence that the Russian president’s residence itself was targeted, AP reported. “I don’t believe that strike happened,” Trump told reporters while traveling back to Washington on Sunday after spending two weeks at his Florida home. “We don’t believe that happened, now that we’ve been able to check.” (With ANI and AP inputs)
05 January,2026 01:10 PM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentPresident Donald Trump on Sunday told reporters that US national security officials have determined that Ukraine did not target a residence belonging to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a drone attack last week, disputing Kremlin claims that Trump had initially greeted with deep concern. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last week said Ukraine launched a wave of drones at Putin's state residence in the northwestern Novgorod region that the Russian defence systems were able to defeat. Lavrov also criticised Kyiv for launching the attack at a moment of intensive negotiations to end the war. The allegation came just a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had travelled to Florida for talks with Trump on the US administration's still-evolving 20-point plan aimed at ending the war, and Zelenskyy had quickly denied it. 'I don't believe that strike happened," Trump told reporters as he travelled back to Washington on Sunday after spending two weeks at his home in Florida. Trump addressed the US determination after European officials argued that the Russian claim was nothing more than an effort by Moscow to undermine the peace effort. But Trump, at least initially, had appeared to take the Russian allegations at face value. He told reporters last Monday that Putin had also raised the matter during a phone call he had with the Russian leader earlier that day. And Trump said he was 'very angry' about the accusation. By Wednesday, Trump appeared to be downplaying the Russian claim. He posted a link to a New York Post editorial on his social media platform that raised doubt about the Russian allegation. The editorial lambasted Putin for choosing "lies, hatred, and death' at a moment that Trump has claimed is 'closer than ever before' to moving the two sides to a deal to end the war. The US president has struggled to fulfil a pledge to quickly end the war in Ukraine and has shown irritation with both Zelenskyy and Putin as he tried to mediate an end to a conflict he boasted on the campaign trail that he could end in one day. Both Trump and Zelenskyy said last week they made progress in their talks at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on a 20-point peace plan. But Putin has shown little interest in ending the war until all of Russia's objectives are met, including winning control of all Ukrainian territory in the key industrial Donbas region and imposing severe restrictions on the size of Ukraine's post-war military and the type of weaponry it can possess. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 09:43 AM IST | Aboard Air Force One | APSouth Korean autonomous robot company ECOPEACE has announced it plans to expand its global operations for its water-quality management systems. To this end, the company is planning to launch new pilot projects in both Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the near future. Ecopeace combines sophisticated robots with artificial intelligence (AI) to clean up polluted waterways. Its systems primarily focus on algae removal to prevent disastrous bloom events before they become a crisis. These blooms are problematic as they deplete oxygen levels within affected waterways. This creates “dead zones” that suffocate aquatic life and can release potent toxins that are harmful to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 09:40 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesUkrainian intelligence pulled off an elaborate counterintelligence operation, faking the death of an anti-Kremlin Russian fighter to foil a Moscow assassination plot and seize the USD 500,000 bounty placed on his head, officials revealed on January 1. The Russian Volunteer Corps had announced on December 27 that Denis Kapustin, 41, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, was killed by a Russian drone strike while carrying out a combat mission in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The group also posted tributes on Telegram. But the announcement was part of a ruse. According to sources, Russian intelligence services had ordered Kapustin’s assassination and allocated $500,000 to carry out the operation. Ukrainian agents monitored the plot, staged the death, and collected the bounty money. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 09:38 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesThree persons were arrested on Sunday in the case of hacking and burning to death a Hindu businessman in Shariatpur district of Bangladesh, local media reports said. Khokon Chandra Das, 50, was assaulted near Keurbhanga Bazar in Damudya in Shariatpur district, about 100 km south of Dhaka, on Wednesday night. He died on Saturday. A team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the three accused on Sunday morning from Kishoreganj, about 100 km northeast of Dhaka. The arrested were identified as Damudyar Sohag Khan, 27, Rabbi Molya, 21, and Palash Sardar, 25. Das, who ran a medicine shop and mobile banking business, was travelling in an autorickshaw when the attackers intercepted the vehicle and allegedly beat him up, hacked him with sharp weapons and then poured petrol on his head before setting him on fire, media reports had said on Thursday. In a bid to save himself, Das jumped into a roadside pond as locals raised an alarm. The attackers fled the scene, police said, adding that he was rescued by locals, taken to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, and then referred to Dhaka due to the severity of his injuries. Doctors in Dhaka said Das suffered multiple injuries across his body, including a serious wound to his abdomen, along with burn injuries on his face, head and hands. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 09:36 AM IST | Dhaka | AgenciesNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he spoke with President Donald Trump directly to register his opposition to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by the US military, as he termed the unilateral attack on a sovereign nation an “act of war”. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York and are being brought to the city to face the charges against them. The extraordinary international development has come just two days after Mamdani was sworn-in as New York City Mayor. Mamdani was briefed on Saturday morning by his administration officials, including his chief of staff and the police commissioner, on the US military capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York City. Mamdani said the “blatant pursuit of regime change” impacts New Yorkers, including Venezuelans who live in the city. “Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law.” Meanwhile, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a post on X that Maduro and Flores have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices against the US. “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” Bondi said, as she thanked Trump for “having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers”. Delcy Rodriguez named acting prez Venezuela’s Supreme Court directed Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to assume the role of acting president. The late Saturday ruling concluded that President Nicolás Maduro was in a “material and temporary impossibility to exercise his functions”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 January,2026 09:33 AM IST | New York | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
