US ready to give India access to Venezuelan oil: White House

Lalit K Jha | January 9, 2026 6:35 AM

Washington, Jan 9 (IANS) The White House is prepared to allow India to buy Venezuelan oil under a new US-controlled framework, according to a senior administration official, signaling a potential reopening of supplies to one of Venezuela’s largest pre-sanctions customers as Washington moves to market the country’s crude globally.

JD Vance defends ICE after fatal Minneapolis shooting

IANS | January 9, 2026 6:32 AM

Washington, Jan 9 (IANS) US Vice President JD Vance defended an ICE officer who fatally shot a woman during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis, calling the death “a tragedy” while saying the officer acted in self-defence and accusing Democrats and parts of the media of stoking hostility toward federal agents.

US security drove Jaishankar 416 miles during govt shutdown

IANS | January 9, 2026 6:27 AM

Washington, Jan 9 (IANS) US security officials drove External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar 416 miles during a September government shutdown after commercial flights were grounded, according to a State Department report released this week.

UN chief vows to continue all mandated activities despite Trump's cuts

IANS | January 9, 2026 6:24 AM

United Nations, Jan 9 (IANS) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is defiant that the world organisation will continue all its mandated activities despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US was cutting ties to 31 UN-related entities and ending funding.

Pakistan’s self-determination rhetoric ignores oppression in PoK, PoGB: Report

IANS | January 8, 2026 9:22 PM

Dhaka, Jan 8 (IANS) Pakistan’s annual rhetoric of “self-determination” emphasises a selective reading of history and distracts from the unresolved problems in its occupied territories, a report said on Thursday. It added that real self-determination is reflected in how people live their lives and participate in public life, not through yearly statements.

Pakistan's ISI and Islamists fully exploiting power vacuum in Bangladesh

IANS | January 8, 2026 9:19 PM

Dhaka, Jan 8 (IANS) Bangladesh is undergoing an unstable transition following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, enabling Islamist extremists and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to exploit power vacuums. With decades of experience, the ISI is weaponising religious identity to destabilise the region, a report said on Thursday.

US cannot ignore Pakistan's role in expanding Islamic State terror network in South Asia: Report

IANS | January 8, 2026 9:18 PM

Washington, Jan 8 (IANS) The expanding operational reach of the terror group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) within the South Asian security landscape – combined with its declared hostility toward US interests – poses a risk that Washington cannot ignore. The existence of safe havens within Pakistan provides the terrorist organisation with strategic depth, operational resilience, and access to wider recruitment networks, a report said on Thursday.

Trump says US oversight of Venezuela could last years

IANS | January 8, 2026 9:17 PM

Washington, Jan 8 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has said Washington expects to oversee Venezuela and extract oil from the country’s vast reserves for years, signalling a prolonged American role with no clear end date following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Pakistan 'unreliable' US ally, 'extremely problematic' partner: Report

IANS | January 8, 2026 9:10 PM

Washington, Jan 8 (IANS) Although Pakistan enjoys Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the United States, which grants privileged access to military cooperation and equipment, Islamabad has consistently proven to be an unreliable strategic partner, a report highlighted on Thursday.