President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) signed a memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States (US) from several international organisations, conventions and treaties that he said are “contrary to the interests” of the country. According to the Presidential Memoranda statement released by the White House, the US will withdraw from 66 international bodies, including 35 non-UN organisations and 31 United Nations (UN) entities, news agency ANI reported. Among the non-UN organisations are the India and France-led International Solar Alliance, along with key environmental bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Other non-UN bodies from which the US will withdraw include the International Energy Forum, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the Global Counterterrorism Forum, among others, ANI reported. The UN entities listed in the memorandum include the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the International Law Commission, the International Trade Centre, the Peacebuilding Commission, UN Energy, the UN Population Fund and UN Water. The memorandum states that President Trump has directed all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal of the US from the organisations mentioned, as soon as possible. In the case of UN entities, the withdrawal would involve ceasing participation in or funding of these bodies to the extent permitted by law, ANI reported. Trump says US participation in global organisations is not in national interest The decision was taken after considering a report submitted by the Secretary of State and following consultations with members of the Cabinet, the memorandum said, adding that Trump determined US participation in or support for these organisations was not in the national interest. The move comes nearly a year after the Trump administration announced the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2025, citing mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic. The US had also exited United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in July 2025, stating that continued membership was not in the national interest of the country. (With ANI inputs)
08 January,2026 08:34 PM IST | Washington DC | mid-day online correspondentUS Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday (local time) said that President Donald Trump has given the green light to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that would provide the White House leverage against countries such as India, China, and Brazil to stop them from purchasing Russian oil and punish nations “fueling Putin’s war machine". In a post on X, Graham said the move comes amid ongoing peace negotiations over Ukraine and indicated that the legislation could be taken up for a bipartisan vote as early as next week. After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others.This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace… — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 7, 2026 “After a very productive meeting today with President Trump on a variety of issues, he greenlit the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that I have been working on for months with Senator Blumenthal and many others. This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent,” Graham said. “This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil, fueling Putin’s war machine. This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine. I look forward to a strong bipartisan vote, hopefully as early as next week,” he added. According to the official website of the US Congress, the proposed legislation, titled the Sanctioning of Russia Act of 2025, seeks to impose multiple punitive measures, including penalties on individuals and entities and an increase in the rate of duty on all goods and services imported from Russia into the United States (US) to at least 500 per cent of their value, news agency ANI reported. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met members of the US delegation, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during which both sides discussed a diplomatic approach towards ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier, President Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unhappy over the high tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil. Trump highlights tension over India’s Russian oil purchases, says relations with Modi remain good Speaking at the House Grand Old Party (GOP) Member Retreat, Trump said that while relations remain cordial, the tariff issue has created some tension. “I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said. The tariffs, totalling 50 per cent, were imposed due to India’s significant purchases of Russian oil, which the US views as supporting Russia’s economy amid the Ukraine conflict. Trump’s remarks came a day after he warned that Washington could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address US concerns over Russian oil imports, ANI reported. “They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump said. India has earlier rejected Trump’s assertion that Prime Minister Modi had assured him that New Delhi would stop purchasing Russian oil, clarifying that no such conversation or assurance had taken place. (With ANI inputs)
08 January,2026 01:32 PM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday (local time) stated that Washington is working closely with interim authorities in Venezuela, who have agreed to release millions of barrels of sanctioned crude to the US, underscoring Washington's leverage over the South American nation's oil supplies following the US' "large-scale strike" in Caracas. During a White House press briefing, Leavitt said that the Trump Administration is in "close correspondence" with Venezuela's interim leaders and stressed that their decisions continue to be shaped by American engagement and influence. "The Trump Administration is in close correspondence with the interim authorities in Venezuela. We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now... Their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States," Leavitt said. This comes days after the US launched a "large-scale strike" in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and also captured its former President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores on Saturday. Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies" in the Southern District of New York, and are currently facing trial. Following their capture, Delcy Rodriguez, the Vice President of Venezuela under Maduro, officially assumed the role of the country's acting president, according to CNN. Confirming the oil arrangement, Leavitt said that the crude oil in question was previously stalled in storage due to an effective US-led quarantine and now the interim authorities have agreed to release that oil for shipment to the United States, and it is expected to arrive on American shores "very soon". Leavitt described the arrangement as a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump and his team with Venezuela's interim government, adding that it is intended to benefit both the American and Venezuelan people. "This was the sanctioned oil that was basically just sitting in barrels, sitting on ships because of the effective quarantine... and the interim authorities have agreed to release that oil to the United States, so it will be arriving here at home very soon," Leavitt said. "This was a deal. This was a deal made by the President and his team with the Venezuelan interim authorities. This will benefit both the American people and the Venezuelan people," she added. Earlier today, the US announced a major energy initiative with Venezuela following its military operations last week, rolling back select sanctions to market Venezuelan crude oil globally while stabilising the South American nation's energy sector. In a Fact Sheet released by the US Department of Energy, the administration highlighted that all proceeds from the sale of Venezuelan crude and oil products will initially be deposited in US-controlled accounts at globally recognised banks, ensuring transparency and proper distribution for the benefit of both American and Venezuelan citizens. The deal is expected to begin with the sale of approximately 30 to 50 million barrels of oil, with further sales to continue indefinitely. According to the fact sheet, the US will also supply diluent (light crude oil) to Venezuela to upgrade its very heavy crude and facilitate transport and sales. "The only oil transported in and out of Venezuela will be through legitimate and authorised channels consistent with U.S. law and national security. The United States is selectively rolling back sanctions to enable the transport and sale of Venezuelan crude and oil products to global markets," the factsheet stated. The energy deal follows the apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, and is part of the Trump administration's broader strategy to restore "prosperity, safety, and security" across the Western Hemisphere. US President Donald Trump has also stated that the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States and noted that while the oil will be sold at its market price, the money will be controlled by Trump to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States. 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
08 January,2026 08:45 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIThe Department of Homeland Security issued a statement on Wednesday (local time), after a woman was shot dead by an US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Officer. The Federal Agency said that "the Officer fired defensive shots, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public." In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security said that ICE Officers were conducting "targeted operations" in Minneapolis when rioters began blocking the ICE officers. One of the "violent rioters" attempted to run over the officers in an attempt to kill them, according to Homeland Security, which it called "an act of domestic terrorism." "He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers. The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased. The ICE officers who were hurt are expected to make full recoveries." The post added, "This is the direct consequence of constant attacks and demonization of our officers by sanctuary politicians who fuel and encourage rampant assaults on our law enforcement who are facing 1,300% increase in assaults against them and an 8,000% increase in death threats." As per the Homeland Security, this is an evolving situation, and it would give public more information as soon as it becomes available. Today, ICE officers in Minneapolis were conducting targeted operations when rioters began blocking ICE officers and one of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them—an act of domestic terrorism.… — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 7, 2026 Responding to the statement, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said that the state will ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice. I’ve seen the video. Don’t believe this propaganda machine.The state will ensure there is a full, fair, and expeditious investigation to ensure accountability and justice. https://t.co/3faWW4bQvV — Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) January 7, 2026 On the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, "The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city. We're demanding ICE to leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities." I am aware of a shooting involving an ICE agent at 34th Street & Portland. The presence of federal immigration enforcement agents is causing chaos in our city. We’re demanding ICE to leave the city immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities. — Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) January 7, 2026 CNN noted that the shooting happened as Minnesota faces an immigration crackdown amid a nationwide enforcement push by the Trump administration. Around 2,000 federal agents were being deployed to Minneapolis, CNN reported citing two law enforcement sources. 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
08 January,2026 08:39 AM IST | Minneapolis | ANIIn a major announcement, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (local time) that Venezuela would now purchase only American-made products with the money they receive from the new oil deal. In a post on Truth Social, the US President said that the purchases would include American agri products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve the electric grid and energy facilities, amongst other things. "I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela's Electric Grid and Energy Facilities. In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner - A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!", he said on Truth Social. The statement by Trump comes days after the US launched a "large-scale strike" in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas to capture the country's now former President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores on Saturday. Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement. They were indicted on charges of alleged "drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies" in the Southern District of New York, and are currently facing trial. Following their capture, Delcy Rodriguez, the Vice President of Venezuela under Maduro, officially assumed the role of the country's acting president, according to CNN. Earlier on Wednesday during a White House press briefing, Leavitt said that the Trump Administration is in "close correspondence" with Venezuela's interim leaders and stressed that their decisions continue to be shaped by American engagement and influence. "The Trump Administration is in close correspondence with the interim authorities in Venezuela. We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now... Their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States," Leavitt said. Earlier, Trump had also stated that the interim authorities in Venezuela would turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States and noted that while the oil will be sold at its market price, the money will be controlled by Trump to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States. 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
08 January,2026 08:33 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIUS President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone on Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying the two had exchanged a friendly phone call and that he'd invited the leader of the South American country to the White House. "It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had," Trump posted on his social media site Wednesday night. "I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future," he added. Trump said the meeting would take place at the White House. This comes mere days after Trump said in the wake of the US operation in Venezuela over the weekend that "Colombia is very sick too" and accused Petro of "making cocaine and selling it to the United States" before adding: "He's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you". Asked whether US intervention was possible, Trump responded, "Sounds good to me". 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
08 January,2026 08:28 AM IST | Washington | APScientists have used NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarisation Explorer) to study a white dwarf star for the first time. By measuring the polarisation of X-rays, the mission allowed astronomers to investigate the structure of a highly energetic binary star system known as EX Hydrae. The observations revealed new details about how matter behaves in extreme environments where gravity and magnetism collide. IXPE observed EX Hydrae for nearly a full week in 2024. The system is located in the constellation Hydra, about 200 light-years from Earth. 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
08 January,2026 07:05 AM IST | Texas | AgenciesCheerble, a smart pet technology company, has developed an AI-based visual recognition solution — Pet Feeder Match G1 — to prevent “food thieves” from stealing out of their siblings’ bowls, and to maintain specialised diets that never seem to stay with the right animal. It doesn’t just dispense kibble but also recognizes your cat’s face with 99.9 percent accuracy. It supports up to six cats, allowing owners to manage individual diets and feeding schedules for each animal. Using a short-range infrared camera, the device identifies which cat is approaching the bowl. If it’s the correct pet, the feeder grants access. If it’s a hungry “intruder” — be it a housemate cat or a curious dog — the ‘Controlled Feeding Dome’ ensures they stay locked out. 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
08 January,2026 07:02 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesVenezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, on Tuesday (Wednesday India time) said that the country is being governed by the Government of Venezuela and not by any foreign power, rejecting claims by US President Trump, who said he needs “full access” to Venezuela. However, Rodriguez’s own legitimacy as the new leader of Venenuela is facing grave opposition. Nobel winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado alleged that Rodriguez is embattled in corruption and has relations with Iran and Russia. “Everybody in Venezuela and abroad knows perfectly who she is and the role she has played. She was sanctioned by the United States government because of the corruption and all the involvement she has in criminal activities... one of the main architects and director of the torture centers in Venezuela,” Machado said. Meanwhile, Rodriguez on Tuesday announced seven days of national mourning following the deaths reported during the recent US attack in Caracas and capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduru and his wife and also called for their return from US detention in New York. Russia comes to aid of tanker chased by US An empty oil tanker — formerly known as Bella 1 — has become a point of a face-off between the US and Russia as the latter sent naval assets including a submarine to bring it back. Bella 1 has been trying to evade the US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight. It failed to dock in Venezuela and load with oil. Although the ship is empty, the US Coast Guard pursued it into the Atlantic Ocean. 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
08 January,2026 07:00 AM IST | Washington | AgenciesIn another incident involving a Hindu man in Bangladesh, Mithun Sarkar died after he was chased by miscreants who claimed he was a suspect of theft. While he was being chased, Sarkar, 25, was forced to jump into a water body where he drowned and died. The incident took place in the northern district of Naogaon in Bangladesh, in an area called Mohadevpur. The police were informed and they recovered his body with the help of the fire service. As the date of the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh draws nearer, communal violence is increasing at an alarming rate. In December alone, at least 51 incidents of violence were reported. These included 10 murders, 10 cases of theft and robbery, 23 incidents involving the occupation of homes, business establishments, temples and land, looting and arson, four cases of arrest and torture on false allegations of religious defamation and being “agents of RAW”, one attempted rape, and three incidents of physical assault, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said in a statement. The trend of violence has continued into the first week of January this year. 10No. of Hindu murders recorded in new violence 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
08 January,2026 06:56 AM IST | Dhaka | AgenciesNvidia’s new AI computing platform makes a leap with new TSMC-made chips as the company moves into full production of its latest technology. Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang introduced the supercomputer platform on Monday, which features six concurrent chips manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC). The rollout marks a strategic departure from the company’s previous development cycle of releasing only “one or two chips” at a time. Meanwhile, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organisation of more than 500,000 worldwide, dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, picked Huang as recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal of Honor — the organisation’s highest accolade and its accompanying $2 million prize — for a lifetime of visionary leadership and pioneering work in accelerated computing. 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
08 January,2026 06:53 AM IST | Las Vegas | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
