Federal agents in Portland, Oregon, shot and injured two people during a “targeted vehicle stop,” Portland police said after responding to reports of gunfire on Thursday. The male and female victims were found with apparent gunshot wounds and taken to a hospital; their conditions are unknown. The FBI is leading the ongoing investigation, confirming Customs and Border Protection agents were involved. The Department of Homeland Security said the driver allegedly tried to run over agents, prompting a defensive shot. The incident comes amid heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement in the city. (PC: AP)

Berlin witnessed a major power outage after suspected arson damaged high-voltage cables, plunging nearly 45,000 households and over 1,000 businesses into darkness for two days. The blackout occurred amid sub-zero winter temperatures, forcing authorities to arrange shelters and hotel accommodations for affected residents. German federal prosecutors have launched a terrorism investigation, treating the incident as a possible act of sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. Investigators are examining claims by the far-left group Vulkangruppe, which reportedly took responsibility. Power has since been restored, but security concerns remain high.

India has raised serious concerns over what it calls “recurring attacks on minorities” in Bangladesh, following a series of violent incidents targeting the Hindu community and other religious minorities. The Ministry of External Affairs said extremists have repeatedly assaulted minorities, their homes and businesses, creating fear and insecurity. New Delhi urged Dhaka to address these communal attacks firmly and criticised attempts to dismiss them as mere personal or political disputes. The government’s remarks come amid a wider pattern of reported violence, including murders, mob attacks and property damage, which have drawn international attention and diplomatic unease. 

A potential India–United States bilateral trade agreement could not be finalised largely because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a direct call to then-US President Donald Trump at a critical stage of negotiations, according to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick said the deal was “set up” but required leader-level engagement to close, and India’s hesitation meant the window passed while the US concluded agreements with other countries. By the time India returned to pursue the pact, Washington had moved on to other partners and harsher terms, including higher tariff rates. The talks have yet to produce a formal agreement. 

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation as protests spread across the country for a second week. He said he would not “back down” against what he called “vandals” and “saboteurs”. Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of having “hands stained with the blood of Iranians” and claimed he would be “overthrown”. He also said protesters were “ruining their own streets” to please a foreign leader. The Tehran prosecutor warned against “anti-Iranian calls” and said cases were being formed against some brands and online figures. Several Dubai-Iran and Turkish flights were cancelled or turned back due to the unrest. (PC: x)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a large protest rally in Kolkata after the Enforcement Directorate raided offices of political consultancy I-PAC and the home of its director Pratik Jain. Thousands joined the march. The ED later moved the Calcutta High Court seeking an “urgent” hearing, alleging misconduct by the chief minister during the searches. The court hearing was deferred to January 14 after heavy crowding forced the judge to leave the courtroom. Earlier in the day, eight Trinamool Congress MPs were detained by Delhi Police while protesting outside Home Minister Amit Shah’s office. The Trinamool Congress called the raids arbitrary and illegal. (PC: India Today)

Fresh protests broke out across Tehran on Thursday night after exiled royal Reza Pahlavi called on Iranians to gather at 8 pm. Witnesses said people in several neighbourhoods shouted slogans such as “Death to the dictator” and “Death to the Islamic Republic”. Cloudflare and NetBlocks reported a nationwide internet outage as the rallies grew. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 42 people have been killed and more than 2,270 detained since unrest began last month. The protests were first triggered by anger over the falling rial and high prices. Iranian officials said security forces would respond to violence. (PC: X)

Minnesota officials said the FBI has blocked the state from taking part in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Governor Tim Walz said the move made it hard to trust the process. The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the FBI first agreed to a joint probe but later denied access to evidence, forcing it to withdraw. Federal officials said the case is a federal matter. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the agent acted in self defence. Videos show agents ordering Good out of her car before shots were fired. Protests have continued across the city. (PC: BBC)

Delhi, Noida and Gurugram saw early morning rain on Friday, worsening cold conditions in the region. The national capital recorded its lowest temperature of the winter so far at 4.6 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department data showed. Dense fog was also present across the area, adding to the cold. Rain was reported in parts of Noida and Gurugram. The minimum and daytime temperatures stayed well below normal, keeping winter chill strong. Cold day conditions have continued for several days, with earlier low readings on Thursday. The weather office said cold weather and fog may persist for the coming days. (PC: HT)

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a planned trade deal with India failed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Donald Trump within a set timeline. Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Lutnick said the deal was ready but needed a direct call from Modi to close it. He said India was given a window of “three Fridays” to act. When the call did not come, the US moved on to deals with countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Lutnick added that Washington has stepped back from the earlier terms. He said India could still return to talks in the future. (PC: India Today)