Bangladesh has urged India to speed up the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The request came during Indian envoy Dinesh Trivedi’s meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Monday. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Dhaka hopes India will respond positively. Hasina has been living in India since fleeing Bangladesh in August 2024. Bangladesh also asked India to hand over two nationals arrested in West Bengal over the killing of politician Sharif Osman Hadi. Trivedi said India and Bangladesh can resolve all issues through talks. He said both countries want good relations and should focus on the future.

Delhi has brought in “monkey whisperers” and new anti-bird measures ahead of the BWF World Championships at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. A four-member team will keep monkeys away by copying langur warning calls. Organisers are also working to stop pigeons from entering the stadium. Vents and other entry points have been sealed. A non-toxic gel used by the Railways has been applied to stop birds from nesting. Ten machines that produce predator bird sounds have also been installed. The stadium has also upgraded 80 toilets and refurbished locker rooms. The tournament will begin on January 17.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday morning, shaking large parts of the country, including capital Bogota. The earthquake hit around 7:34 am local time. Its epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province. Tremors were also felt in Ecuador, Panama and areas near Venezuela. Buildings were damaged in several cities, including Cali, Manizales and Pereira. Some people were seen running into the streets as buildings shook. Officials in Bogota said there was no major damage reported in the capital. Authorities in Choco reported injuries and building damage in Quibdo. Officials are checking the full extent of the damage.

The Indian Navy is escorting two crude oil tankers, MT Compass and MT Thalata, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait amid heightened piracy and security concerns following the Hormuz crisis. INS Trishul and INS Aditya conducted the escort operation on August 9-10, with a naval helicopter monitoring the vessels, according to the Navy’s Western Command. India faces renewed maritime security challenges in the Red Sea as attacks and instability linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalate. The Indian-flagged commercial vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya recently sank in the Red Sea, 13 nautical miles south of Hodeidah, Yemen, after being struck by a projectile. All 14 crew members were reportedly involved in the incident. (PC: Times Now)

A man posing as an IAS officer and claiming to be National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s undercover agent has been arrested in Bihar, police said. Manish Gupta was arrested from his home in Khagaria. Police seized a Tesla with a “Government of India” board, a Tata Safari, phones, bank cards and cheque-books. They also found over 31 litres of imported liquor and suspected wildlife trophies. Police said Gupta used fake government identities to cheat people in Bihar. His claims of working with Doval and the Central Vigilance Commission were found to be false. Officials are now investigating his assets and alleged fraud. (PC: India Today)

At least 13 people, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Tatarstan region, officials said. The attack took place in Nizhnekamsk, a major industrial city known for its oil refinery. Russian authorities said the drones targeted the refinery area. Several people were also injured in the attack. The strike is being described as one of the deadliest Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory since the war began more than four years ago. Emergency teams were sent to the site. Officials are assessing the damage. Russia and Ukraine have carried out repeated drone attacks during the ongoing war.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Jharkhand government over police action against protesting students in Ranchi, saying the use of force against them was unacceptable. The remarks came after security personnel used lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse students marching towards the state Assembly. The protesters have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and greater transparency in the selection process. Gandhi said students raising legitimate concerns should be heard rather than subjected to force. The crackdown has intensified political pressure on the Hemant Soren government, while the student agitation continues over examination-related demands and alleged recruitment irregularities. (PC: X)

A 47-year-old former Indian Army serviceman was killed and two others were injured after an SUV hit three bikes in Hyderabad’s Hydershakote early Monday. Police said the Mahindra XUV was driving on the wrong side of the road around 5:30 am. The victim, Ravinder, had served as a Subedar in the Army. The SUV driver fled after abandoning the damaged vehicle some distance from the crash site. Police said there were likely two people inside the SUV. CCTV footage is being checked to identify the driver. The vehicle had three pending traffic challans. Police have not confirmed if the driver was drunk.

Jharkhand’s student protests intensified as police lathi-charged and tear-gassed demonstrators marching towards the state Assembly in Ranchi. The protesters are demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and seeking reforms in the state’s examination system. The confrontation came as security forces tried to prevent protesters from crossing barricades near the Assembly. Amid the escalating agitation, the former chairman of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), Sudhir Tripathi, was arrested in connection with an alleged recruitment examination paper-leak case. The developments have heightened tensions, with protesters continuing to demand accountability, transparent examinations and action against those responsible. (PC: X)

Russia’s share of India’s crude oil imports has climbed to a record 48%, highlighting the growing importance of Russian supplies despite mounting pressure from the United States. The increase comes as Washington threatens to impose 100% tariffs on countries continuing significant trade with Russia. India has maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interests, including price and supply security. Russian crude became a major source for Indian refiners after Western sanctions disrupted traditional energy markets. The record share underscores India’s continued reliance on discounted Russian oil, while potentially increasing trade tensions with Washington over New Delhi’s energy policy. (PC: Reuters)