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Trump tells Iran the US is “locked and loaded” as protests intensify

Trump warned Iran he would intervene to protect peaceful protesters, saying the US is “locked and loaded”, as Tehran responded with counter-threats and unrest spread.

New Year’s night out turns fatal in Swiss ski resort bar blaze

A New Year’s celebration at Le Constellation, a bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans-Montana, ended in disaster after an explosion sparked a major fire, police said.

US blocks Afghanistan from $2bn UN aid over Taliban diversion claims

The United States has excluded Afghanistan from a $2 billion United Nations humanitarian aid package, saying it has evidence that some previous assistance in the country was diverted to the Taliban.

Pakistan stock market hits record high as KSE-100 crosses 174,000

Pakistan’s stock market surged to a new all-time high as the KSE-100 Index climbed more than 2,000 points to cross the 174,000 mark amid strong investor confidence

Trump says US struck ISIS targets in north-west Nigeria on Christmas night

US President Donald Trump said late Thursday that the United States carried out strikes against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria, describing the operation as “powerful and deadly” and linking it to attacks on Christians, without releasing details on targets or casualties.

Bangladesh to buy 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan

Bangladesh has cleared a 50,000-tonne rice import from Pakistan under a government-to-government arrangement, pricing the deal at $395 per tonne and setting up new shipments to reinforce food reserves.

Prof Yunus accuses exiled Shaikh Hasina of spending millions to disrupt Bangladesh election

Prof Muhammad Yunus has accused supporters of Bangladesh’s ousted regime, including exiled former PM Sheikh Hasina, of spending millions to undermine the electoral process.

UN report accuses India of illegal strikes against Pakistan and Indus water treaty violations

The United Nations has raised serious legal concerns over India’s May military strikes inside Pakistan and its handling of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Bondi Beach Shooter travelled to Philippines on Indian Passport

The Bondi Beach investigation has widened after officials confirmed the shooter, Sajid Akram travelled to the Philippines on an Indian passport weeks before the attack.

GoFundMe for Bondi Beach hero tops $1.3m after bystander disarms gunman

Donations have surged for the man who disarmed an attacker during the Bondi Beach shooting, with supporters saying his actions may have saved lives.

India left out of US-led Pax Silica as a trusted tech bloc takes shape

India’s exclusion from the initial Pax Silica grouping is fuelling political debate in New Delhi and highlighting how the AI economy is consolidating into tight, trusted supply-chain blocs.

Bondi Beach attackers were father and son aged 50 and 24

The attackers behind the Bondi Beach shooting have been identified as a father aged 50 and his 24-year-old son following one of Sydney’s deadliest recent attacks.

Australian resident Naveed Akram denies role after image falsely linked to Bondi Beach shooting

Naveed Akram has publicly denied any involvement in the Bondi Beach shooting after his image was wrongly circulated online, highlighting the dangers of misinformation during breaking news events.

Pakistan’s economy rebounds as IMF praises growth, surplus and reform momentum

Pakistan’s economic recovery has gained credibility after the IMF praised stronger than expected growth, improved external balances and the country’s first current account surplus in fourteen years. The Fund notes that reserves are rising and inflation is contained, though climate risks and reform challenges persist.

Trump Gold Card launched as wealth-based fast track to U.S. residency

President Trump has introduced the Trump Gold Card, a fast-track residency programme designed for wealthy applicants, billed as a revenue booster and a premium alternative to the traditional Green Card.

Afghan scholars declare foreign fighting illegitimate without state approval

Afghanistan’s top scholars have issued a joint decree reinforcing the Islamic Emirate’s Sharia authority, declaring national defence a personal duty and banning foreign military involvement without explicit state permission.

Kemi Badenoch has declared war on the welfare state

In a blistering London speech, the Conservative leader tore into mental-health diagnoses, child-poverty metrics, and Labour’s welfare vision — igniting the fiercest policy fight of her campaign.

Trump targets Indian ‘Dumped’ rice as new flashpoint in US-India trade

In a few pointed lines at the White House, President Trump accused India of “dumping” rice into US markets and demanded to know why New Delhi is “allowed” to do so without heavier tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent denied any exemption, but the exchange has raised the prospect that Indian rice could become the next flashpoint in US–India trade

Most Pakistanis say they paid no bribe as survey backs state’s stability push

A new nationwide corruption survey paints a cautiously positive picture for Pakistan’s state. Most respondents say they did not pay a bribe in the past year and many acknowledge economic stabilisation, but they also demand stronger accountability, cleaner political funding and real protection for whistleblowers.

Sikh rights group urges Trump to ban Indian nationals, citing Security threats and persecution

Sikhs for Justice has pressed the Trump administration to add India to the restricted countries list, alleging security risks, visa abuse and systematic persecution of Sikhs.

Afghan ISIS-K suspect arrested near Washington after entering US through Operation Allies Welcome

Homeland Security has detained an Afghan man with alleged ISIS-K links who entered under Operation Allies Welcome, escalating political scrutiny after two similar arrests last week.

Afghan TikTok bomb suspect in Fort Worth fuels backlash over Biden evacuee vetting

An Afghan man who entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome has been charged in Texas over an alleged TikTok bomb threat, as Republicans seize on a second high-profile case to question how Afghan evacuees were screened and whether Biden’s flagship resettlement programme is a security risk.

Trump orders sweeping green card crackdown after Washington Guard shooting

After a National Guard patrol was gunned down in Washington, President Donald Trump turned swiftly from outrage to action, ordering a sweeping review of green cards issued to people from 19 “countries of concern” and freezing all Afghan immigration cases. The move has alarmed Afghan communities and rights groups, who say one man’s alleged crime is being used to reopen settled statuses and to push a much wider “reverse migration” agenda.

Trump confirms death of National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom near White House shooting

President Donald Trump has confirmed that National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom has died from her injuries after an ambush-style shooting near the White House. With the suspect identified as an Afghan asylum seeker who once served in a CIA-backed unit, her killing has rapidly become a test case for America’s Afghan resettlement promises, its security vetting system and the contested deployment of Guard troops in the nation’s capital.

Indian Tejas fighter jet crashes during Dubai Airshow 2025 display

An Indian Air Force Tejas light combat jet crashed during an aerial display at Dubai Airshow 2025, forcing organisers to suspend flying and putting fresh scrutiny on India’s homegrown fighter aircraft programme.

Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death as Bangladesh tribunal rules on deadly student crackdown

A Dhaka tribunal has sentenced ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdown on student protesters in 2024. The verdict, delivered in absentia, cites extensive evidence of lethal force used under her command.

Zohran Mamdani wins New York mayoral race, defying the odds and reshaping city politics

Zohran Mamdani has been elected as the new mayor of New York City, achieving a landslide victory that prediction markets had placed at 95% likelihood. His campaign focused on housing, workers’ rights, and social justice, promising to return power to ordinary New Yorkers and usher in a more inclusive future.

Zohran Mamdani dominates NYC mayoral race with 95% chance of victory on Polymarket

Zohran Mamdani has emerged as the clear frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race, with Polymarket giving him a 95% chance of victory. The data, based on over $128 million in trading volume, shows a decisive shift in voter sentiment as Mamdani’s progressive campaign continues to outpace Andrew Cuomo and other contenders.

Pakistan awards 23 offshore oil exploration blocks in first bidding round since 2007

King Charles strips his brother, Prince Andrew, of royal titles

King Charles has removed Prince Andrew’s titles, with Andrew now to be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following renewed scrutiny after Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir; royal warrants have been issued, his lease on Royal Lodge has been surrendered, and he is expected to move to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate.

US seeks broader strategic partnership with Pakistan, says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signalled a broader strategic relationship with Pakistan, expanding cooperation beyond counterterrorism into trade, economic growth and regional stability.

Trump and Putin hold productive call, plan Budapest summit to end Ukraine war

Donald Trump said his phone call with Vladimir Putin was “very productive,” announcing plans for a high-level peace summit in Budapest aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The former U.S. president claimed “great progress” was made and that he would brief Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House.

Hamas agrees to Trump peace plan with conditions

Hamas has announced conditional agreement to President Trump’s Middle East peace proposal, pledging prisoner exchanges, humanitarian access and a transfer of Gaza administration to an independent Palestinian body.

Trump praises Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir in address to US generals

US President Donald Trump, in an address to American generals, praised Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir for recognising his role in stopping a potential Pakistan–India war and saving millions of lives. Trump called the praise an honour, referenced the downing of seven planes, and said trade pressure was used to defuse the crisis.

Netanyahu Issues Rare Apology to Qatari PM Over Doha Strike While Meeting Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare formal apology to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for Israel’s attack on Doha during a telephone call from the White House, held as Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump, in a move highlighting sensitive behind-the-scenes diplomacy and growing efforts to ease regional tensions.

Shehbaz Sharif highlights Pakistan’s military success and offers India peace talks at UN

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the UN General Assembly claimed Pakistan’s military success over India including the downing of seven jets and offered comprehensive peace talks while pledging support for a Palestinian state and calling for recognition of Pakistan’s sacrifices against terrorism presenting Pakistan as both a security bulwark and a bridge for regional peace.

Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir meet Donald Trump at White House as US praises Pakistan leadership

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir meet President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss bilateral ties, regional and global issues as the US praises Pakistan’s leadership.

Britain recognises Palestine as independent state in historic foreign policy shift

Britain under Keir Starmer has formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state to revive peace hopes in Gaza and Kashmir and push for a viable two-state solution while signalling a departure from longstanding UK policy.

Donald Trump Signs Proclamation Imposing $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas

President Trump signs a proclamation imposing a $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B visa applications, aiming to protect American jobs, tighten U.S. immigration policy, and curb abuses in the high-skilled worker program.

Israel claims full responsibility for Qatar strike on Hamas leaders

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office announced that today’s strike targeting Hamas leadership was an entirely independent Israeli operation as officials stressed that Israel initiated, carried out and takes full responsibility for the action.