Newly unsealed documents claim Ghislaine Maxwell introduced Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew in England, contradicting her previous denials. The revelation comes from Alfredo Rodriguez, Epstein's former mansion manager. Rodriguez, jailed in 2012, stated Maxwell took Epstein to meet royalty. A photo from 2006 at Windsor Castle supports the claim. Additional unsealed documents highlight scrutiny of Maxwell's emails, searching for Prince Andrew-related terms. Virginia Giuffre's case, alleging Andrew's misconduct, unveils details of orgies and toe-sucking, which he denies. The court order in 2016 requested specific searches, including "underage" and "sex." Prince Andrew's representatives have not commented.

Trinamool Congress leader Satyan Chowdhury was fatally shot by unidentified assailants in Baharampur, West Bengal. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, with the assailants, riding bikes, opening fire at close range. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Chowdhury was declared dead on arrival. The police have initiated an investigation into the murder. Chowdhury, who previously had close ties with Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, had later joined the ruling TMC. The motive behind the attack remains under scrutiny.

Maldives Deputy Minister's derogatory remarks against PM Modi trigger India-Maldives tension. Indians express outrage on social media with #ExploreIndianIslands, promoting domestic tourism. Celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, John Abraham, and Randeep Hooda join the trend, praising India's beauty. Political fallout in Maldives as opposition criticizes government; calls for reprimand of officials. Former Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid emphasizes the enduring friendship with India and urges decorum. Government signals possible action against the minister. Tensions escalate as diplomatic channels engage.

China imposed sanctions on five US defense firms for supplying arms to Taiwan, a territory claimed by Beijing. The move comes after the US State Department approved a $300-million arms package for Taiwan's defense. The sanctioned companies, including BAE Systems and AeroVironment, face property freezes in China. Tensions rise as China deems the arms sales a threat to its sovereignty. Both Washington and Taipei warn against Beijing's interference in Taiwan's upcoming elections. The strained US-Taiwan relations reflect ongoing geopolitical complexities in the region.

An Air Canada flight from Toronto to Calgary faced an unexpected detour when a 16-year-old passenger assaulted a family member mid-air. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that the teenager, from Grande Prairie, attacked an adult male passenger, leading to a diversion to Winnipeg. The family member received minor injuries and the teenager was detained for a medical examination. Fellow passengers and airline staff restrained the assailant. The motive behind the attack remains unclear. After a three-hour delay, the flight continued its journey. This incident follows previous controversies involving Air Canada, including a recent case where a British MP faced interrogation based on his name.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has denied harboring doubts over the controversial Rwanda asylum policy when he was the chancellor, despite leaked documents suggesting otherwise. BBC accessed Downing Street memos from March 2022 indicating Sunak told Boris Johnson's government he had concerns about the high costs of the scheme and its effectiveness as a deterrent for Channel migrant crossings. However, Sunak clarified that scrutinizing proposals as chancellor did not imply lack of support, adding that he funded the plan ultimately. The Rwanda policy, aimed at processing and resettling some migrants, has faced legal obstacles like the Supreme Court ruling it unlawful. Sunak defended himself stating that questioning a policy should not be misconstrued as opposing it.

The Maldives government has distanced itself from minister Mariyam Shiuna's offensive remarks against PM Modi, stating they were her "personal opinion". In an official statement, the Maldives government said it was aware of derogatory comments on social media against foreign leaders, but these do not represent its views. It believes freedom of expression should be exercised responsibly without spreading hatred or hurting ties with international partners. The government added it won't hesitate to take action against those making such remarks. The row erupted after multiple Maldivian politicians, including Shiuna, mocked Modi's recent Lakshadweep visit, calling him names in now-deleted tweets. The government's statement attempts to defuse the escalating tensions.

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has slammed minister Mariyam Shiuna's derogatory remarks against PM Modi, urging President Muizzu's government to disown them. Shiuna used abusive language against Modi over the Lakshadweep tourism row, taking down posts after backlash. Nasheed stressed India is key for Maldives' security and prosperity. He asked the government to distance itself from Shiuna's comments and assure they don't reflect its policy. The row erupts amidst strained India-Maldives ties since Muizzu assumed power in November 2023. Muizzu is considered pro-China while his predecessor Solih had good relations with India. Nasheed described Shiuna's language as appalling, underscoring India's instrumental role as an ally. He wants reassurance on whether or not such comments represent official government stance.

'#BoycottMaldives' trended on social media after Maldivian leaders mocked PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit, making racist comments against India. Politician Zahid Rameez and minister Mariyam Shiuna targeted Indians, triggering widespread fury. Indians cancelled Maldives trips, pushing Lakshadweep tourism instead. Celebrities like John Abraham and Akshay Kumar slammed the unprovoked hate and urged dignity first, exploring Indian islands now. Users shared photos of Lakshadweep's beauty. The provocation began with Rameez accusing India of copying small economies like Sri Lanka to profit from Lakshadweep. After Modi's snorkeling pictures went viral and Lakshadweep searches surged, the mocking posts invited calls for boycott. 

A Maldives minister's tweet criticizing India's beach tourism potential after PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep has sparked a social media furor. The tweet came as posts of Modi snorkeling in Lakshadweep went viral with suggestions for it as an alternative to the Maldives. This further strained recent tensions since President Mohamed Muizzu assumed power. Muizzu has pledged discarding the "India first" policy and removing Indian military presence. Meanwhile, Muizzu is scheduled to visit China on January 9th after an invite from President Xi Jinping. Despite previous Maldivian presidents visiting India first given close bilateral ties, Muizzu's vice president recently visited China instead - underscoring shifts in strategic regional alignments. The tweet row underscores debates around India competing with the Maldives in beach tourism.